Session #3
[17:06:07] <~Charm> September 8, 2054 || 1126 hours GMT+1 || The Library, Small Collections Annex ||
[17:07:27] <~Charm> The past few days hadn't been terribly eventful. The Sage's Stone had been found, and a few other things had been dealt with. But now, there was paperwork. A surprising amount of it, really.
[17:08:51] <~Charm> Laura has a flyswatter next to her in case she gets attacked by the Giant Dragon of Lilliput again, but she's pretty sure it learned its lesson last time.
[17:09:37] <Laura> Laura leans back in her chair and rubs her eyes, groaning. Two massive stacks of paper dominate the desk in front of her; she's spent the last few hours moving them from one pile to the other one piece at a time.
[17:11:17] <Noire> "Nnnng~!" Frustrated Noire wiggles around in her incredibly comfortable chair, more worried about the progress she'd made over the past few days than what's going on here. Hardly any at all to the latter, in fact, considering it's obvious how little effort she puts in. She'd also been yawning every few minutes, which also shouldn't be a surprise.
[17:11:53] <~Charm> Requisition forms, insurance and workman's comp claims, non-disclosure agreements (TONS of non-disclosure agreements) and more shit like that. Was it really necessary?
[17:12:52] <Noire> That's for them to ask. Well, at the very least one of them knows she did, but it's not like she's not used to signing all kinds of nonsense. And she's VERY against letting her childish side continuously get out after the problems it caused, leading to the yawning being the only real problem here.
[17:13:39] <~Charm> "How are you girls holding up?" Julie walks by, with a round of drinks for all of you. How thoughtful.
[17:13:46] <Lilo> Lilo is taking her sweet time; in fact, she's intentionally going as slow as possible in the hopes the others will finish the work without her having to actually do much. To aid her ability to slack, Lilo's got a nice pair of pink headphones on blaring music to be just barely audible to those around her. So much for sound-cancelling.
[17:14:59] <Lecia> Paperwork paperwork paperwork…come on, though this is important (probably), isn't there anything…you know, more important to do? Lecia paperworks, but every so often, her mind is seen drifting off into space (in two different ways). "Fine." Though incredibly boring, nothing's going to be earned if she says that it is.
[17:15:24] <Noire> "Just great~!" She peps up, though it's a little more in guilt than in actual excitement. Stamp, file, sign, etc. Her face sure doesn't show that much excitement. But it definitely does when she grabs whatever the drink is and gulps it, slamming it on the table with a loud exhalation.
[17:16:57] <~Charm> "Well, I know it's tough, but I figure you can just do it once and never have to worry about it agai-" ringringring. It sounds like a phone.
[17:17:04] <Laura> Laura takes the cup without looking up, muttering a terse "thanks." It's hard to be too grateful to the person who'd assigned all this in the first place, but it didn't hurt.
[17:18:06] <Lecia> Whatever the drink is, it's certainly taken. And even if it's some bizzare veggie smoothie, at least one drink is taken out of it. Busy busy busy, no time to talk, paperwork time. …The moment Julie leaves, though, chances are it's back to space.
[17:18:18] <~Charm> "Sorry, I shouldtake this…" Julie steps aside and takes the call.
[17:19:24] <Lilo> Lilo is probably the last to notice Julie's entrance, exploding into a flurry of (entirely unproductive) activity, returning to slacking as usual shortly afterwards. Listening to hipster music vastly outweighs finishing paperwork on her priorities.
[17:19:58] <Noire> Next to uninterested Lecia, uninterested Noire (who probably by this point had at least one emotional scene with all of them convincing them she's only part-insane) lets out another yawn. This definitely is the most productive group ever.
[17:22:03] <Laura> It is. Laura's not the fastest worker, but at least she's done this sort of thing before. Honestly, it's a lot more plush than most of her jobs, and she's used to the long hours.
[17:23:16] <Lecia> It's not like she doesn't ca-that's a lie, she really doesn't care about any of this at all. And with Julie stepping aside to take the call…and then Lecia's mind was in space, working at the speed of a brick. What's going to happen with school, anyway…
[17:40:14] <Lecia> …NO, work on paperwork, Lecia. Even if hard work is boring, look where it's gotten you! If you didn't work hard, you'd never have been to Comiket in the first place! Lecia perks up once again, back to work, harder than ever, for now.
[17:51:11] <Laura> Laura's made some decent progress, herself. Pile A has been divided up into piles C, D, and E, one of which goes to each of her coworkers. That just leaves pile B for her. As she reaches over to hand a stack to Noire, she notes the girl's spaced-out expression and sighs.
[17:52:27] <Noire> "… Uh? Ah, whoa! I'm working, I'm working!" Her hands move around at breakneck speeds… okay, no they don't. Actually, they just scramble around until they accidentally knock her cup over onto a paper. Very fortunately, it doesn't spill anything out since it's empty. But it does start floating.
[17:53:49] <Laura> Laura chuckles. "Easy there, kid. Take it you haven't worked a data-entry gig before, have you?"
[17:57:35] <Lilo> Untz, untz, untz. The beats seem to get louder as Lilo grows increasingly bored, turning the volume up to compensate. Filling out paperwork like this? So. Not. Crisp.
[17:57:39] <Noire> "Wellllll~" Her head spins around a few times. Funny that 'kid' is more applicable to the rest of the group, but with her attitude that sure doesn't seem to be the case. "Not really, I guess. I spent all my time in school, and there was a lot of… a lot of, er, writing stuff. That doesn't count, huh?"
[17:57:50] <Lecia> …the working hard can only last so long. It slows once again, and if you pay any attention, you can hear Lecia mutter "This is a lot like school, only without the learning…"
[17:59:22] <Noire> "Hahaha!" STAMP, FILE, SIGN. "I didn't learn anything in school! I'd say it's more like… work, WITH the working." A nod, then another nod. "… Wait, I don't get it."
[18:04:51] <Lecia> "Work with more working? Yeah, that's it. Working with more working." A laugh, but it doesn't keep her from (slowly) working anyway.
[18:06:09] <Noire> A paper starts to begin blowing in the non-existent wind, but is quickly flattened along with the entire stack that slams down even harder on the table it'd been sitting on like a hammer hitting it. Noire only yawns once more.
[18:12:47] <Lilo> …You know, with everyone else caring just as little, there's little reason to maintain the pretense that she was actually doing any work. Lilo whips out her superfuturegeniusphone and begins playing some hip rhythm game in plain sight.
[18:20:26] <Lecia> Lecia totally cares-no that's still a lie. It being important in some way IS true, though (at least to her). Still, her ability to work despite the game playing can be seen as remarkable anyway. Stamp, file, sign, read, glance at the fine print, etc. Sick bastards making a little girl do paperwork like this. She had years ahead of her, people.
[18:22:10] <Laura> Laura frowns, but goes back to her own pile after leaving a stack in Lilo's general vicinity. "Yeah, my first real job was kind of like this. Well, inventory management, so half of it was this, and half was warehouses and such."
[18:23:31] <Noire> "Eh heh heh. Well, it's not like we have TOO much to pay attention to here, right? You can just let yourself float~" After a few more stamps, Noire's entire chair starts floating. Literally. She spins around in it a little, having become used to this.
[18:25:37] <Laura> Laura actually smiles a little at that. "You're having too much fun with that." She glances at Lilo and adds, "and speaking of 'too much fun'…"
[18:26:07] <Lilo> Lilo pulls the stack Laura gave her over and uses it like an armrest while she she vidyas. "Oh, thanks." Her voice was LOUD-not magically so, but the kind of loud voice used by deaf people or those wearing headphones. Or someone who's both deaf and wearing headphones, who knows.
[18:31:36] <Laura> Julie's been gone for a long time, and Laura's gotten a good chunk of pile B cleaned up. She stands up and stretches. Always good to move around every couple hours. "I'm gonna get something from the vending machine. Anyone want something?"
[18:32:11] <Lilo> "Where are you going?"
[18:33:44] <Laura> Laura pantomimes removing her headphones while saying the words "SNACK MACHINE" as clearly as she can.
[18:34:17] <Noire> Lilo - totally not Addy - gets a brief pout, as the floaty girl slams her chair back down on the ground. "Uh… Yeah, think you could gimme a Code: Fuschia?" Fishing the moneycard out, she realizes cash doesn't even exist anymore and… doesn't do anything with it. Of course she means the new Mountain Dew though; they're still making those.
[18:34:25] <Lecia> Whatever drink Lecia had, it's all gone now. "I'm fine~" Working…probably more dilligently than anyone else here, she is.
[18:34:55] <~Charm> "Sorry about that…" Julie turns back around, hanging up. "But we have a situation here."
[18:36:30] <Lecia> Lecia instantly perks up. "A situation?"
[18:36:33] <~Charm> "You all can finish the paperwork later, right now you four have an assignment. Follow me and try to not get left behind."
[18:36:41] <Laura> "Will it require us to leave this conference room? The horror!" Laura smiles at her. "What's the sitch, Jules?"
[18:36:55] <Lilo> Lilo lifts one side of the headphones long enough to get the message, "Oh! Something with caramel, pleoh come on."
[18:37:30] <~Charm> The woman starts walking through the Library at a good clip, doing her best to brief you as she goes. "Any of you know about the Council of Nicea?"
[18:38:04] <Lecia> "Yay~" Things are so much more fun after a long period of hard work, Lecia follows about, and pretty quickly at that.
[18:38:42] <Noire> Noire fortunately had stopped floating in time to look like she wasn't slacking off. Spinning around she jumps up. "'Kay~! And… can't say so. Why, they some kinda bad guys or something?" Her eyes are lighting up.
[18:39:07] <Laura> "Council of…nope." But that's not especially surprising.
[18:39:17] <Lilo> She shifted her headphones to hang around her neck, the music temporarily muted. "Council of Nicea? Wasn't that some American thing?"
[18:40:06] <~Charm> "The Council of Nicea was convened in the 11th century and tasked with deciding which books would become part of the Christian Bible. Fifty-some books made the cut although hundreds were rejected."
[18:40:53] <Lecia> Lecia listens on, like she was several years younger than she actually is. Story time fun~
[18:41:31] <Noire> "Huh…?" Her head tilts so hard to the side her neck almost snaps itself. "So… we're gonna time travel now?"
[18:42:35] <~Charm> "One such rejected book was penned by an ancient woman known as Sheba, the wife of King Solomon. As far as we can tell, she was the first Mage, her power only rivaled by her husband's boundless intelligence." Julie keeps walking and shakes her head at Noire's question.
[18:43:04] <Lilo> "So, what you're saying is… You want us to find it so that your bookshop can sell it?"
[18:44:01] <Lecia> "…or maybe it's just magical, because it's written by a mage or something?"
[18:44:37] <~Charm> "Not exactly. We have a copy of her tales. The problem rests with her final place of rest; she was buried alongside her husband in what's referred to as King Solomon's Mines. It's a sort of Mecca for mages, to be honest."
[18:45:42] <Noire> "… Hmm." Nodding along and trying to sound smart, it's at least clear that she'd cheered herself up over the past few days. Because now her feet raise from the ground slightly.
[18:46:05] <~Charm> "But someone - or something - has desecrated the Mines. The four of you need to figure out what caused the damage, neutralize the threat if needed, and make sure it doesn't happen again. Got all that?"
[18:47:40] <Lecia> MONSTERS! Go to mine, fight evil, prevent evil. That > Paperwork. "Got it~"
[18:47:48] <~Charm> In front of Julie is a familiar (and for two of the quartet, painfully so) portal, an azure energy filling the archway.
[18:48:23] <Laura> "So we're to go in there and take out whatever's fouling up the mines?" Laura asks, nervously glancing at the other three girls. "Sounds a little dicey."
[18:49:08] <Noire> "Gotcha! So… are we gonna…" She wiggles about a bit after landing. Of course, she'd given everyone else a brief run-down that amounted to pretty much 'by the way apparently I'm not insane, my bad,' but that may not spare them the terror of remembering what happened last time.
[18:49:45] <~Charm> "There is a good chance whatever struck won't do so again, so this should mostly be investigation and preventative measures"
[18:49:59] <Lilo> "Would you rather play secretron some more, Pillow? Let's just go, if we're lucky, we'll be off our shift when we get back. It might even just be some kids with paint-guns."
[18:51:26] <Laura> Laura nods. "Yeah, fair point. So this thing'll port us there? I'm ready when you are."
[18:51:40] <Noire> "Y-Yeah." A bit more nervousness than should be there, but it's backed up by deep breaths. Very deep breaths. "At least it's better than sitting in one place, huh?"
[18:52:01] <~Charm> "This here is a Mage Gate." Julie motions to the portal. "Basically it can link two locations together, but only active magic users can pass through. The mines are close to the city of Damascus, so you'll head there and meet up with a friend of mine. You'll know her when you see her. Any questions?"
[18:52:19] <Lilo> "This thing isn't going to drop us all in different random spots around the Mines, right?"
[18:53:27] <Lecia> …that gate again? A shiver. Last time she went through a particular archway…well, it hurt a considerable bit. Still better then paperwork, but…well, the result is better than paperwork. And hey, it was explained, all should be well. "No questions here."
[18:53:49] <~Charm> "Of course not. You'll show up in the city and make your way towards the mines proper. Once you're done, my associate will lead you guys back here. Just relax and let it take you through and there won't be any issues."
[18:53:52] <Noire> A nod. "Yeah, that could be kinda annoying. And it'll still be here when we wanna come back, right?"
[18:55:43] <Laura> Laura nods. "Active mages only? Does that mean we should trans before we hit the portal?"
[18:57:23] <~Charm> "That won't be needed - contact will trigger a short magical circuit, and the fact that you can manipulate magic will be enough to let you through. That's the general gist of it, anyway." Nodding at Noire's question, the woman takes a step back. "Well then. By your leave, ladies…"
[18:58:23] <Lilo> Lilo backs several feet away from the portal…
[18:59:04] <Laura> Laura approaches the gate, takes a deep breath, and plunges through.
[18:59:27] <Lilo> And then she charges at it full speed with a running start, jumping through the portal cannonball-style, as if into a pool. Interdimensional magic here we go.
[19:00:09] <Noire> Noire makes the most careful approach, poking at it once before entering. And we all know what probably happens when she does.
[19:00:50] <Lecia> "…and triggering that…that hurt last time I went through it…and I transformed anyway, so…" And she decides to transform anyway, all this be darned.
[19:01:23] <~Charm> As each Mage advances through the portal, an invigorating jolt of magic runs through their bodies. A swath of colors appears before their eyes as the feeling of silk brushes against them.
[19:01:35] <Lecia> And of course, she goes through afterwards.
[19:03:33] <~Charm> Damascus, Syria || 4:49 PM, GMT+6
[19:04:09] <Laura> Laura emerges from the portal, followed closely by her three comrades. She gives Lecia a once-over. "Nice dress."
[19:05:42] <~Charm> As the four mages step out into the Syrian sun, they find themselves…well, in a modern desert oasis. Over each of their current wardrobes is a soft robe, covering most of their body save the head and hands. it certainly fits in, for whatever it's worth.
[19:05:45] <Noire> One bright violet eye peers out from the gate, behind the rest. And then one of a much more dull brown color. Silver-streaked hair let down and swaying, much-less-hyper Noire emerges and puts a hand in front of her face, looking it over. Distracted from the scenery, she counts her own fingers to make sure she's capable of it.
[19:06:40] <~Charm> One, two, three, four…five? Did the thumb count? Oh well. Point is, her vision is fine.
[19:07:35] <Noire> It's not her vision so much as the fact that she didn't go batshit and try to kill anybody halfway through. Her thoughts feel a little jumbled, but she's at least fine in that regard. Shaking her head, she blinks a couple times. Blatant heterochromia is still there, how adorable and not Sue at all.
[19:08:15] <Lecia> …oh god Noire transformed-wait…no, she doesn't seem crazy, but hey, she totally does have a nice dress, if a robe counts as a dress…and looks impossibly big due to the robe, but that poofs as she untransforms. Can't really hide that. Of course, that fixes as she untransforms. "Do these count as dresses?"
[19:08:39] <Lilo> Lilo lifted up a sleeve of the silky robe, "Huh? How'd this get here? Julie had better not have been the one changing our clothes in that portal."
[19:09:31] <~Charm> "Are there any more of you?" a woman in her early 30's with a black robe and a small jewel on her forehead. "I am thankful that you have come. Welcome to Damasqas." she bows.
[19:09:34] <Noire> With another blink, it turns back to normal as well. The heterochromia, that is. Her hair's still down, though; Noire stands over to the side recounting her fingers again with a whisper. "Well… everything seems alright."
[19:10:16] <Laura> Laura examines her own robe, then shrugs. "All present. Oh, and you must be…?"
[19:10:24] <Lecia> "Hello~" A bow in return. Adorable.
[19:10:39] <Noire> "A-Ah, whoa! I mean, it's, I guess, er, well, um, I mean it's a pleasure to meet you!" Brown as ever (her eyes, not her skin, you disgusting fetishist) she jolts back in shape and stands to attention and gives a really nervous bow in return.
[19:11:06] <~Charm> "My name is Shirin Farrohk. I…well, I suppose one could call me a 'summoner' of sorts."
[19:13:28] <Laura> Laura gives her a smile. "Gotcha. It sounded like it was pretty urgent; mind walking while we talk? We'll need a brief on the situation.""
[19:13:42] <Lilo> "Summoner, huh? Mind if we just call you Summoner? If I try to pronounce your name, it might not turn out too well."
[19:14:25] <~Charm> "…If you wish. May I have your names? We can discuss more en route to the Mines."
[19:14:28] <Noire> "Right." Nod, taking a deep breath. If someone caught her while transformed it might have ended badly. "Noire Carolle. Hope we can help, anyway."
[19:15:46] <Lecia> "Lecia~"
[19:16:11] <Lilo> Give her the full name or no? Probably no-Lieselotte's too stuffy for her. "Lilo Devereux."
[19:16:13] <Laura> Laura nods to the Syrian summoner and walks briskly beside her. "Right. I'm Laura Ingram. We're from the Geneva Branch."
[19:17:21] <Noire> "Eheheh." She's a little more nervous than should be, not even floating around this time. It's embarrassing enough being the only one with a name that doesn't start with L.
[19:17:58] <~Charm> "I see. Well, I appreciate your help…to have such a place defiled, it's a travesty. Every Mage should spend at least a few moments here, to attune herself to the magic she holds so dear…but I digress. We should continue to the Mines."
[19:19:15] <Noire> "Right! Anything else you can tell us about this place? Like are there ghosts, or traps, or…" Oh, there she goes. Her head curiously cocks to the side as she does that Noire thing and prattles on.
[19:19:23] <Lecia> A nod. "Must be a really important place…" She continues along.
[19:20:10] <Laura> "What's the nature of the damage?" Laura asks. It'd be good to know what they'd be dealing with.
[19:23:11] <~Charm> "No traps except for a magical lock. As for the damage…" Shirin sighs. "Most of it was more or less cosmetic. A few idols were shattered, other relics scattered or otherwise destroyed…It's not as if there was an explosion."
[19:24:32] <Noire> Noire trembles severely at that word, before giving herself a second to do a quick fake giggle to calm herself down. "So… we're just gonna sit in there and guard it?" Her volume lowers substantially, to a whisper, "well, at least it's better than paperwork."
[19:25:43] <Lilo> "Well, there's no Julie to yell at us, right? That'd be cool, but what does anybody even get out of breaking some stuff?"
[19:26:21] <Lecia> …Noire trembled severely at a word that was probably either 'shattered', 'destroyed', or, most likely, 'explosion'. There's all the reason to still be wary. "…could be a monster or something…"
[19:26:34] <~Charm> "We have no clue - which is why I'm going to ask you to help me reinforce the barrier keeping non-mages away."
[19:27:05] <Noire> For the record, she didn't start until the end of that sentence, as far as suspicion purposes are concerned. Still, a nod while walking along… floating kind of now.
[19:27:15] <Lilo> "How do you make a barrier, anyway?"
[19:27:17] <Laura> Laura frowns. "My impression was that we're hear to investigate. Should we be prepared for an extended stay?"
[19:28:10] <~Charm> "I doubt that, Ms. Ingram. It may take a few hours, but certainly not an overnight stay."
[19:29:20] <Lilo> "That sounds awfully convenient that we'd have to come to watch over this place, but it will just take a few hours. You wouldn't happen to KNOW when whoever did it is coming, would you? You didn't DO it?" Obvious trap. Lilo stared at the woman suspiciously.
[19:29:44] <~Charm> "…" the woman glares at Lilo.
[19:30:29] <~Charm> "You aren't here to watch over this place. Collect evidence of who or what got in and help me keep it from getting back in here."
[19:30:41] <Noire> Noire shoots an unhappy glance too, but a little at both of them. Is such an exaggerated response really necessary? Something might be up. Of course, she shrugs it off and keeps moving.
[19:32:53] <Laura> Laura ignores Lilo and keeps talking to Shirin. "So we'll need to clean the place up, search for any leads on who did it, and help you reinforce the barrier, yeah? Should be no problem."
[19:33:41] <Noire> "Uhh… if we're gonna do ALL of those things, are we all gonna split up to do it?" Head-tilt. Her hair doesn't sway with her because it isn't pulled back, what a shame.
[19:33:57] <Lilo> Lilo folds her arms and glares back. Until they find a better one, Summoner is Suspect #1.
[19:36:33] <~Charm> It's not long before the five of you are inside the mines proper. It's blatantly obvious that there is a magical connection here. You can all feel it.
[19:39:20] <Laura> "Alright, gals. Who wants to do what?" Laura cracks her knuckles and rolls her shoulders, mentally preparing for the job.
[19:42:00] <Lecia> Feeling magic, how fun. In the mines…which, may or may not be dark/have a magical glow/something else. Either way, headtilt. "…aren't we all just investigating?"
[19:42:06] <Noire> "Wellll… I can control…" Cough, "IT now, but I'd kinda rather not be moving around doing a whole lot. Guess I could start with the barrier?" Following the knuckle-crack, she stretches to get into form too.
[19:43:14] <Lilo> "Splitting up is just what youknowwho wants. We'll stick together and get each thing done one at a time, real fast."
[19:44:58] <~Charm> "Well, Ms. Ingram, if you want to look for evidence and such, feel free. The rest of you I will need your help in strengthening this barrier."
[19:45:57] <Noire> "… Oh." So much for being alone, at least as far as she's concerned. "Isn't that… kinda dangerous to do alone? I mean, what if someone… or something…" A shiver.
[19:46:46] <Laura> Laura nods, happy to have the other girls under supervision. "I'll let you gals know if I find anything. Shirin's the boss, you three!"
[19:47:04] <Lilo> "Yeah! You can come with me, Noire. They'll be too afraid to try anything."
[19:47:56] <~Charm> "They'd have to get through the four of us first. And Miss Rodderick wouldn't have sent you if she wasnt confident in your abilities."
[19:48:16] <Laura> With that, Laura heads off into the deeper parts of the mine, leaving the other three girls alone with Shirin.
[19:49:14] <Lecia> And then the splitting up began. Still, Lilo is being a bit too suspicious of people…but, whatever. WORK HARD!
[19:50:42] <~Charm> "Now then…The Barrier is fairly simple, but that may be how it was breeched. If you will follow me…" Shirin leads you all to a stone wall with a circular depression on it.
[19:51:48] <Noire> Breached. You're thinking brooch. Noire only gives a little giggle at Lines' comment, knowing how right she is, before letting out a deep breath and following. "So, do we just… use magic on it?"
[19:52:42] <~Charm> "That's exactly it. As soon as it detects the presence of magic, the door will open. If you wish to try, feel free."
[19:53:18] <Lecia> Curious, Lecia tries immediately.
[19:53:19] <~Charm> "However, there is powerful magical energies on the other side. I would advise bracing yourselves before entering."
[19:53:30] <Lilo> "Wait, so whoever did this has magic?"
[19:53:34] <Lecia> A bit too fast, yes.
[19:54:01] <Noire> "And… ALL they had to do was use magic? No password or anything?" Seems like something's missing.
[19:54:12] <~Charm> "Most likely, yes. But I cannot discount other, more forced methods of entry."
[19:54:29] <@Charm> Lecia: roll magic to open the door.
[19:55:25] <Lecia> 2d6+9 OPEN SESAME SEEDS
[19:55:26] <DiceMaid-9001> Lecia, OPEN SESAME SEEDS: 13 [2d6=1,3]
[19:56:08] <~Charm> As Lecia's magic activates, the stone wall gives way to a door-sized hole.
[19:58:21] <Noire> "Kinda cool! So if all you have to do is magic it open…" Her head moves to the side a little again, "are we supposed to magic-proof it, maybe?"
[20:00:17] <Lecia> "But then it wouldn't ever open…right?
[20:00:54] <Noire> "Well…" Then her head swings to the other side. "Huh. It's all weird."
[20:01:02] <~Charm> Another nod. "Precisely. But I'm looking into a way to make it a little more stringent."
[20:01:25] <Lilo> "Make it a password."
[20:02:22] <~Charm> "…I suppose that could work. I will need some help with it, though."
[20:03:47] <Noire> A small pout. "Something's really fishy about all this. Isn't magic like, some big thing that's really tough to work with? Wouldn't you need big experienced Mages who're really high-ranking or something to do this kinda stuff?" She stands in place, puzzled. "I mean, we'll do it, but…"
[20:04:20] <~Charm> "You aren't sure you can handle it?"
[20:04:53] <Lecia> "We can handle it~" CONFIDENCE, even if it hurts!
[20:05:19] <Noire> Shake shake. "No no! It's just… why us? Were you short on hands or something?" Yet another pout. "And why it hasn't been done before, that's what totally gets me."
[20:05:58] <Lilo> "Yeah, isn't this some kinda of super important magical location? Shouldn't you have all the mages in the world to help?"
[20:07:33] <~Charm> "…well, you have a point. It is a truly historic place, and I think why the security hasn't been raised is that there was never a threat like this before."
[20:08:43] <Noire> "… Hmm. Okay!" A big smile, that's a good enough answer. But then her tone becomes a muttering that only Lines can hear… Lecia too maybe. Just kidding, this chick is definitely some sort of psychic or something, she probably knows anyway. "Wonder if we can take a tour later?"
[20:09:13] <~Charm> Shirin looks away for a bit. "I know that it seems a bit much, for a group with as little field experience as the four of you. But if Miss Rodderick trusts that you four are capable, I'll defer to her judgment."
[20:09:54] <Lilo> Lilo whispers back in an equally hushed voice, "Definitely, we can have a race through the Mines."
[20:10:16] <Noire> Noire giggles before turning back to Shirin with a confident smile. "Don't worry! You bet we can do it!"
[20:11:59] <~Charm> "Well then, there is no time like the present, I suppose…I think there is a way to set this up." Shirin has a smirk on her face.
[20:12:50] <~Charm> "If you could add your power to my spell, it should be much faster to complete."
[20:13:46] <Lecia> Headtilt. Ho hum, what's going through Shirin's mind-oh, faster completing~ "…how would we do that?"
[20:13:49] <Noire> A nod, holding her hands out… then a pause. "Wait, does it matter what KIND of power it is?" There is so totally no moon out when they're underground here.
[20:14:57] <~Charm> "Magic is magic. If it's just me, it would likely take an entire day to complete. With your help, it shouldn't be more than several minutes."
[20:15:59] <Noire> "Okay then~!" With a deep breath, Noire starts focusing. Of course, she has no idea what she's ACTUALLY doing, which may be partially the cause of why she begins floating during her efforts.
[20:16:32] <Lilo> "So, do I need to actually transform, or what?"
[20:16:49] <~Charm> "It would probably help."
[20:17:12] <Lecia> And on that note, she transforms again. Fun times!
[20:18:10] <Noire> … Sigh. "Right, right, I got it." Pulling the (probably hooded) robe down, her hair lines itself with streaks of silver and… well, we're not even for sure if costume changes remove the robes or not. Apparently not, but at the very least one eye becomes a deep violet. Her floating immediately ceases, as her lips form a tiny smile.
[20:19:58] <Lilo> Lilo starts humming some upbeat tune. Her cheeks swell up like she was holding her breath, and she suddenly expels musical notes from her mouth. They float around her body to quickly create her costume, complete with stereos and headphones. She continues to hum (with her face returned to normal) as she channels her magic through the tune.
[20:20:03] <Lecia> 2d6+7 Scary scary
[20:20:03] <DiceMaid-9001> Lecia, Scary scary: 11 [2d6=3,1]
[20:21:07] <Lecia> …still sort of scary, even if she doesn't go crazy anymore hopefully. Lecia shivers a bit, but it ceases soon after.
[20:22:28] <Noire> "I…" Focusing with one hand, the other one gets brought up for a quick counting to make sure she's not batshit. Yeah, all green. The smile is still a wicked one, however, and fades into a neutral expression as she turns to the side, facing poor Lecia. "You okay?" The tone it comes out in is a harsh one.
[20:23:31] <Lilo> Somehow, Lilo manages to speak without stopping the humming, "How DID you… uh, cure yourself?"
[20:25:21] <Lecia> She's not going insane she's not going insane she's not going insane "Y-yeah, I'm OK!" Had confirmation of her not going insane been said, she'd have said that she wasn't, but Noire said she's going to be fine so STOP THINKING SHE ISN'T, LECIA.
[20:27:18] <Noire> A deep breath, like she has to focus just to breathe. Magic emanates from her fingertips and does its work, though, so after a few more breaths she starts a response. "It's… a long story. Don't worry about it." A couple winces, like she's having trouble keeping it under control, but it seems to stay.
[20:30:28] <~Charm> "Are you sure you're okay?" Shirin looks concerned too.
[20:33:25] <Noire> "Yeah. It's fine." With a wince, her left eye that opens for a second seems to be off-color, but after another blink is a dull brown again. Enormous magic power comes out of her, anyway, much moreso than pre-transformation. So that says plenty.
[20:34:37] <~Charm> "Very well. I will start the summoning invocation, and then your magic will accelerate the process. Is everyone ready?"
[20:36:09] <Lecia> "Yep~" Stop worrying, worrying can come later, when they're not busy being important hero-types!
[20:37:20] <Noire> "… Yeah." Her cheerful attitude is completely gone, but at least it isn't a yangire one anymore.
[20:38:02] <Lilo> Just keep on humming, that's an easy enough way to focus the magic into the task. "Gotcha. This'll be nothing."
[20:39:49] <~Charm> "Very well then." Shirin calls on her own magic and starts weaving magic in the air, the earth beneath then starting to rise up and take a primal form
[20:39:57] <@Charm> 4d6+8
[20:39:58] <DiceMaid-9001> Charm, 4d6+8: 27 [4d6=6,3,5,5]
[20:40:03] <@Charm> 1d6
[20:40:03] <DiceMaid-9001> Charm, 1d6: 6 [1d6=6]
[20:40:07] <@Charm> 1d6
[20:40:07] <DiceMaid-9001> Charm, 1d6: 6 [1d6=6]
[20:40:15] <@Charm> 1d6 oh dear
[20:40:15] <DiceMaid-9001> Charm, oh dear: 2 [1d6=2]
[20:42:07] <~Charm> In an explosion of magic, a giant humanoid starts to take vague shape, but the features are still undefined. "If…if you could…p-pitch in…" Shirin stammers put, focused on the magic
[20:42:51] <Lecia> Lecia follows with this…what is that wave of overpowering bang she's feeling? Oh, right there. BANG. Lecia pitches in in a hurry. Magic time!
[20:43:10] <Violenne> 2d6 but nah, temp self if you don't mind me picking (inb4 23)
[20:43:11] <DiceMaid-9001> Violenne, but nah, temp self if you don't mind me picking (inb4 23): 8 [2d6=5,3]
[20:43:19] <Lecia> 2d6+9 I think I roll this now
[20:43:19] <DiceMaid-9001> Lecia, I think I roll this now: 19 [2d6=6,4]
[20:43:24] <Lecia> 1d6 Nuts
[20:43:25] <DiceMaid-9001> Lecia, Nuts: 6 [1d6=6]
[20:43:29] <Lecia> 1d6 Nuts
[20:43:30] <DiceMaid-9001> Lecia, Nuts: 3 [1d6=3]
[20:43:40] <Lecia> Well I have 2 now
[20:43:47] <@Charm> 28 more. So 69 total.
[20:43:59] <Violenne> 2d6+9 though
[20:44:00] <DiceMaid-9001> Violenne, though: 14 [2d6=1,4]
[20:47:08] <~Charm> Lecia adds her power, and with Noire's magic, the creature is almost finished. Just a little more…
[20:51:39] <Lilo> 2d6+4 whatever, magic is cool
[20:51:40] <DiceMaid-9001> Lilo, whatever, magic is cool: 12 [2d6=3,5]
[20:52:37] <Lilo> The speakers on her shoulders start to whir, and Lilo's voice blares out with a "Just push a liiii~ttle harder," but the encouragement wasn't important; the magic was transferred via the sound waves.
[20:54:08] <~Charm> The forme finalized, the stone golem arises and stands in front of Shirin, a black stone in her hand.
[20:55:16] <Noire> "Th… ere!" Barely able to push as hard as she wants, a good deal of wincing goes through and the heterochromiac stops pouring magic in. That is, assuming the others do too.
[20:56:25] <~Charm> The magic is finished. The guardian statue stands in front of the door, the Arabic woman inscribing things into its arm.
[20:56:55] <Lecia> Wincing, indeed. Lecia really gave it her all in there. Lecia stops, and takes a few breaths. "…Whew…"
[20:58:05] <Lilo> "Alright! Is it time for you-know-what, Noire?"
[20:58:33] <~Charm> "May I at least explain what needs to happen now?"
[20:58:52] <Noire> "Was that enough?" Noire stares coldly at the woman, before turning to Lines with a stoic-looking stare. It actually continues for tens of seconds, perhaps a minute, before her lips faintly curve. "… Alright."
[20:59:44] <~Charm> "This golem now guards the Mage's tomb. Only she who can speak the Progeny's name can gain audience with her."
[21:00:28] <@Charm> Sharp checks to decode cryptic message
[21:00:50] <Violenne> oh god I j- haha oh wow
[21:00:54] <Violenne> fuck mibbit
[21:01:11] <Lilo> 2d6+5
[21:01:12] <DiceMaid-9001> Lilo, 2d6+5: 8 [2d6=2,1]
[21:01:17] <Violenne> 2d6+6 k though
[21:01:18] <DiceMaid-9001> Violenne, k though: 15 [2d6=3,6]
[21:01:21] <Lilo> …Oh
[21:01:44] <Lecia> 2d6+6 huhwhat
[21:01:45] <DiceMaid-9001> Lecia, huhwhat: 14 [2d6=6,2]
[21:02:06] <Lecia> 6 x Dicemaid
[21:02:18] <@Charm> Noire figures out that to see Sheba's tomb, you'd have to call for her.
[21:01:21] <Lecia> …no, that doesn't look like Noire being alright. Noire is infinitely more cheerful what is happening this is sad…but, mission, mission…
[21:02:59] <Lilo> "…Maybe later. I don't think you're quite up for it, right now. What's bothering you, Noire?"
[21:03:21] <Noire> A brief stare at the magic going on, with a still-bored-looking expression. Though that only lasts until she tilts her head backwards and to the side in a really lazy way toward Lecia, who seems to be surveying the scene oddly. And then to the other side at Lilo. "… Something wrong?"
[21:05:23] <Lilo> "That's what I was asking you." Lilo stares at Noire with a look of confusion; could this be something to do with Not-Noire? Because this was not how Noire normally acted.
[21:06:01] <~Charm> "…perhaps the three of you would like to pay your respects?"
[21:06:44] <Noire> "I don't see the problem." Spoken coldly as ever. Her eyes are definitely mixed colors, if Lilo has any Mary Sue-Fu to help her out with this sort of thing. But with a small headshake, Noire turns back to the senior-mage. "Maybe we should. We were told… her name was Sheba, wasn't it?"
[21:07:22] <~Charm> A nod. The golem's eyes seem to light up for a second.
[21:08:13] <Lecia> Not paying respect in this sort of place, that'd be rude. But what would be ruder is Noire going batshit and destroying everything around here in such a place, and that is really worrisome. More worrisome. "…I guess, yeah, we should."
[21:10:01] <Lilo> Maybe Not-Noire was just… different, rather than crazy, now, and that's who this is. Regardless, Lilo subtly keeps a small distance between herself and Noire. She shrugs in response to Summoner's question-it wouldn't hurt.
[21:10:41] <~Charm> "Very well. Guardian, these three request audience with Sheba." the golem's eyes glow as it allows the three girls to enter. "Remember, there are strange magical energies at work. Do not lose yourself in them."
[21:10:59] <@Charm> 2d6+8
[21:11:00] <DiceMaid-9001> Charm, 2d6+8: 12 [2d6=3,1]
[21:11:19] <Noire> "All right." With a small nod, she gives an extremely faint smile. "Thank you." And then a few steps inside… yeah, who the hell IS this?
[21:12:17] <Lecia> Noire, the revolving door of alternate personalities magical girl. Still, inside Lecia goes.
[21:13:12] <Lilo> Lilo follows in last, cautiously. Too late to turn back.
[21:15:15] <~Charm> To say that there is a large amount of magic in this chamber would be an understatement. It's almost dizzying, the amount of power in here.
[21:16:51] <Noire> "…" Probably-Not-Noire only silently scans the area. No need to do more than necessary. Normal-Noire would be hyper and jumping around in a place like this… she probably realizes that and is at least thankful for suddenly gaining the ability to shut up. That's always nice.
[21:17:47] <Lecia> It's definitely a kind of Not-Noire. This said, Lecia's been hit with a wave of magical atmosphere before. It was no biggie.
[21:18:18] <~Charm> A single lantern illuminates the room, an enormous metallic grey slab in the center of the room. It's the source of this energy - this power. It's a bit awe-inspiring, really.
[21:18:36] <Lilo> Lilo takes a look around, too. She spends a few moments doubled over as her system processes the intensely magical atmosphere before cracking, "So, is there some kind of gift shop around here?"
[21:20:05] <Noire> "… Hm." A stare back at Lilo, which is eerie in the sense that half of her face is giggling and the other half is essentially telling her to shut up with the way she's glaring. It's some Batman villain nonsense going on here. Regardless, that series probably went out of print decades ago, anyway, so Noire only takes everything in worth a grain of salt.
[21:21:49] <Lecia> Definitely awe inspiring. Like…like some sort of shrine….which loses atmosphere due to constant worrying about Noire (and not Not-Noire, that one/two/etc just needs to go away). Is she really OK? Apparently not. But she's not destroying everything, sooo…..
[21:23:10] <Lilo> Lilo stares. And stares. And stares at Noire. There was no question in her mind-Not Noire was still around in some form, and she seemed to be coming to the forefront. "Can we hurry this up?" The the sooner they're out of here the better.
[21:23:32] <~Charm> It's apparent that just being here is something sacred. But you can tell that something is missing…you all know there is something youhave to do here.
[21:24:19] <Noire> "… Let's say hello to her." Maybe-Not-Noire takes a few steps ahead of the rest of the group, looking up at the slab. Or maybe down?
[21:25:51] <~Charm> Up is kinda close. It's a tiny bit taller than she is. Something about it is calling to her.
[21:26:28] <Lecia> In some direction or another. If there was anything else in disarray, Lecia would go fix it, but there's just that lanturn and the apparently just fine slab. And hopefully 'Hello' doesn't mean 'Blow it up'. But, she's in front, let Noire say those hellos, even if it…isn't her.
[21:26:34] <Noire> Calling. Well, not being a psychotic murderer or a goofy bounce teenager is probably a good thing at this point. With a few calm breaths, she reaches out and attempts to place a hand on it.
[21:26:56] <Lilo> Lilo follows Noire to the strange object, staying a step behind. "Alright, seen it. Can we go?"
[21:29:07] <Noire> She winces and bends over a little, before looking straight up.
[21:36:28] <Noire> Another series of winces. She makes attempts to draw her arm back and keep it there at the same time. It looks really awkward.
[21:39:11] <Noire> And then the mission succeeds. Drawing her hand back, Not-Noire shoots glares at the rest of the group as she turns around and marches in the opposite direction without a word.
[21:41:59] <~Charm> There's something about Noire that seems…stronger? Calmer? Something about her changed.
[21:42:49] <Noire> But she's still a goddamned heterochromiac.
[21:42:54] <Lecia> "…why does she keep on going scary…" This still doesn't stop her from touching the thing, but…well, she's still really scary. But still, Lecia touches the slab anyway, just in case something might happen or something.
[21:44:36] <Lilo> Lilo shakes her head at Lecia, "No clue WHAT her deal is-does touching it do anything for you?"
[21:49:30] <~Charm> Lecia seems attached to the stone. Just as Noire was earlier.
[21:49:54] <Lecia> Like a suction cup on a shower wall.
[21:51:10] <Lilo> "Are you okay? I'll help pull if you're stuck or something like that."
[21:53:10] <Lecia> "Yeah, I'm OK. Touching it lets you talk to her~"
[21:55:06] <Lilo> "Oh, is she nice?" Actually, that sounded pretty weird. Wasn't she dead? Maybe she possessed Noire or something and she wasn't actually crazy.
[22:02:31] <~Charm> Judging by Lecia's smile, she probably was. And Noire didn't exactly change much after her supposed chat.
[22:03:43] <Noire> In fact, she stood by the entrance waiting for the others. At least she didn't destroy anything… OR bounce around constantly. Isn't that nice?
[22:04:35] <Lilo> "Well… We'll be over here when you're ready!" Lilo walks off to wait near Noire. Near. Not right by; she's still keeping some distance.
[22:05:30] <Noire> But just because she's Not Noire doesn't mean she's Not Paying Attention. "Aren't you going to talk to her too?"
[22:05:58] <Lilo> "She's dead. Why would I?"
[22:06:29] <Noire> A tiny smile. "She's pretty nice, for a dead person."
[22:08:13] <Lilo> "We've got other stuff to do, don't we? The longer we take in here, the longer it'll take us to do everything else and get home."
[22:09:53] <Noire> "I don't think so. It should only be a few minutes. Besides, I told her…" A sudden wince, as the sentence cuts itself off. She goes through the am-I-still-sane processes again.
[22:10:59] <Lecia> And, in a surge of magic, visible or not, Lecia's hand is moved away from the slab. A polite thank-you bow to the slab, before Lecia runs along to catch up with the others.
[22:11:47] <Lilo> Lilo stares at Noire, "Told her… What?" That she had an evil dark side? Some dead person probably had great advice for handling such things.
[22:12:31] <Noire> "That you were in line." Simple and blunt. With a turn, she waves her hand as to say 'go up there' or something, but her smile is still only half-on her face, and a little eerie.
[22:15:41] <Lilo> Lilo frowns, "Way to volunteer me without even asking first." That was more of a grumble; pissing off a crazy person with magical powers isn't usually a great idea.
[22:15:42] <Lecia> And when she does catch up, she's probably going to wait around. All these people are sort of older than her, anyway. And one might be crazy. And the other is sort of rude, sort of.
[22:17:04] <Noire> "Don't worry about it. She's not going to get mad and tell you to leave or anything." A muffled chuckle from her mouth, but both her eyes seem to be saying 'shut up and go over there' as they stare… and then the right violet one reverts to normal color. It barely even changed at all.
[22:18:49] <Lecia> "Being dead for so long makes her pretty lonely…and she is nice, too." Come on, pllleeeeaaaasssseeeee, says her much more normal eyes.
[22:21:21] <Lilo> More grumbling. Noire turning out crazyish again really had Lilo on edge, and getting mindraped by some ancient dead lady wasn't high on her priorities. Lilo attempts to stare Noire down, enduring the harsh eyes for several moments before noticing Lecia, as well. Two of them, huh? Not fair. She reluctantly shuffles over to put a hand on the slab.
[22:22:52] <Noire> The staring contest ends in a victory for the heterochromiac. A bit confused, she looks over at Lecia from the other side of the room with a similarly cold stare after Lilo goes up there. "… Do I really still seem that different?"
[22:24:41] <Noire> … Other side of the room from Lieselotte, that is. Not-Noire-Maybe and Lecia are both by the door, one would thing. Exit, whatever.
[22:24:55] <Noire> One would also think that, because they likely thing far too often.
[22:25:30] <Lecia> "Kind of, yeah. Not like rampaging around and destroying everything, but kind of, yeah." The look on her face after she helped get Lilo to the plot is now filled with a sort of concern. "…I wish you…you know, you, you, luck with that."
[22:29:27] <Noire> "… Yeah, sorry." She makes a weak attempt at a smile. "It takes all I have to just push it back from wanting to blow things - and people - up all the time. If I pushed TOO hard, I don't think I'd be able to use any magic at all. But… I'll still try to help, alright?"
[22:33:53] <Lecia> Listening, and a mod. "You'll win this, I'm sure of it. Until then…well if you can't push yourself, I'll push myself for you!" The cheer, it doesn't end. Positive thinking~!
[22:35:04] <Lecia> A nod, even. Don't need a mod here, we only need the admin.
[22:35:06] <Noire> ".. Hehe. Thanks, I'll try." Her face is still way too serious to be Noire.
[22:40:10] <Lecia> And even if it is…actual Noire can hear, right? If she can't…well, she'll have to say this again later, and that other Noire knows who that message was actually for. It's odd and scary, but with courage and effort, anything is possible! The hotter the blood, the greater one is! So says nearly everything she has ever watched, ever. In any case, despite the serious look, there is still
[22:40:10] <Lecia> hope~! But for now, waiting.
[22:42:22] <Lilo> And Lilo finally detaches from the slab, returning with a "Hmph." That thing was weird-she might have learned something, but the fact they had made her go set off Lilo's rebellious teenage instincts.
[22:43:56] <~Charm> "Have you finished paying your respects?" Shirin stands at the threshold of the chamber, the lantern's light casting an intriguing shadow on her face. "Ms. Ingram has discovered something quite troubling."
[22:44:38] <Noire> "Okay. Let's go, then." A nod at all of them, probably leading the way out.
[22:45:30] <Lecia> "Yeah. What'd she find?" She must do this for dead lady!
[22:46:33] <Lilo> Lilo followed Noire out; hopefully Pillow had found whoever did it, and she could vent by beating up the jerks responsible.
[22:46:59] <~Charm> "Among the trashed relics and broken idols, she was able to find these - they didn't belong to anything that was here before, as long as I can remember." inside a clear bag is a shattered green orb, along with large slivers of wood.
[22:48:58] <Lecia> The orb is examined. What, oh what went on here?
[22:49:01] <Noire> "So… somebody dropped them? Or, maybe it…" A pause, to think of what it could be, and a headshake. A headshake with a sudden realization, assuming they're out of the chamber. "Oh right, I should probably…" With a deep breath, the silver streaks in her hair vanish and both eyes are the same color… but something's off.
[22:49:33] <Lecia> 2d6+6 Let's roll sharp
[22:49:34] <DiceMaid-9001> Lecia, Let's roll sharp: 17 [2d6=6,5]
[22:49:40] <Lecia> CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE
[22:49:52] <Lilo> 2d6+5 probably not
[22:49:52] <DiceMaid-9001> Lilo, probably not: 12 [2d6=3,4]
[22:49:35] <~Charm> "I remember a young girl carrying this…she was afraid she was being followed, and said she came here to try and hide."
[22:49:50] <~Charm> As for Noire…where did she go?
[22:51:04] <~Charm> Where the girl once was, there now stands a black-furred rabbit, with silver tipped ears.
[22:51:35] <Lecia> That…that's not a girl. That is a rabbit. That is an adorable rabbit.
[22:52:23] <Noire> "Mmmmrrmrrmrmmg!" Or rather, it struggles to poke its way out of a biiiiiiiig pile of clothes. Because you know that's how it always happens. The robes, especially.
[22:53:11] <Lilo> STARE. What in the world…? "Noire? Is that you?" Lilo was a little too confused and awestruck to really process very much. Noire turned into a…. rabbit?
[22:54:13] <~Charm> "Oh dear…this will complicate matters." Shirin groans as she shakes her head slowly.
[22:54:15] <Noire> "… Argh! I-" Pushing her way out and hopping up, she looks up… and stares in horror. "Oh.. Omigod omigod omigod omigod what happened what happened what happened I wasn't even I didn't mean it wasn't like I why did-"
[22:54:20] <Lecia> …is this…magic? When did she learn to transform into a rabbit?! …The clothes , masking a lot of the rabbit, are taken out of the way…and then Lecia, unaware that giving that the clothes are THERE means that if she transforms back, they won't be ON HER, picks up and carries the rabbit (unless it tries to get out of being carried by her, in which case it's gently let go of.)
[22:55:10] <Lilo> "Be gentle with her! Noire, are you alright?!" Not-Noire can be worried about later, what the fuck she's a rabbit.
[22:55:12] <Noire> It certainly does not, only trembling. But it's prattling on a lot, too, in a very Noire way. At least that's one thing to be happy about.
[22:56:34] <Lecia> "Of course I will~!" She totally wanted to hug her, yes, but this is fine too. Weird as all hell, yes, but adorable nonetheless. And normal…kind of!
[22:56:40] <~Charm> "Noire…see if you can try and transform back. I'd advise putting her on the floor for this." Shirin takes a few steps back as the Golem re-seals the entrance for Sheba's tomb.
[22:57:25] <Noire> "Ackkk, I don't know, I… I still feel like I'm ME-me… but… um…" Shaking around a bit, she motions to Lecia to follow Shirin's advice. Probably because only one person can put the pile back ON her but oh god it'll be uncomfortable.
[22:57:39] <Lilo> "If you can't change back, Lecia and I'll take good care of you! We'll make a little rabbit bed by the window."
[22:57:59] <Noire> "D-Don't say that, that's just creepy!"
[22:58:13] <Lecia> "Awww…." But fine, all good things need to end some time. They're sort of busy anyway. Lecia puts Adorable|Bunny-Noire down, to see if she can change back.
[22:58:24] <~Charm> "Don't worry about that…it appears to be temporary."
[23:00:03] <~Charm> "Just…do your best to focus on your magic. It should work."
[23:00:29] <Noire> "I… really really really hope. That was probably… well, something I did when THAT was happening. I got a little worked up a few days ago… eh heh heh…" She did use magic like a boss in her self-fight. Too bad nobody else got a chance to see that. On the ground, with a deep breath, she focuses all she can.
[23:02:59] <~Charm> Well, her magic still works. Now if only she could focus on her human body, and not this furry rodent's form…
[23:03:25] <Noire> Done! Preferably the one with only one eye color and natural-looking hair.
[23:04:34] <~Charm> She isn't *that* lucky. But a human body is probably preferable to that of a rabbit, even if it takes all her energy to keep it this way.
[23:06:08] <~Charm> "It's…well, if you get too caught up with your magic, your mind will go overboard on autopilot and then things like…that happen." Shirin rests her head in her hand. "Thankfully your affliction shouldn't last more than a few hours."
[23:06:50] <~Charm> "And it appears that by staying in your transformed state, you aren't affected by most of the changes."
[23:09:14] <Lecia> …Magic is weird. Awesome, yet weird.
[23:09:54] <Noire> "Ah…" Morphing and standing up, rolling out of Lecia's arms, she nods. "I'm sorry. That was kind of careless of me." At least her eyes aren't BOTH purple, that would be horrifying for the whole world.
[23:10:42] <~Charm> "But back to the matter at hand. The reason I'm so concerned about what Ms. Ingram found was that it doesn't seem like whoever opened the chamber did so willingly. The little girl may have been forced to do so."
[23:12:21] <Lilo> Lilo sighs. Good bye Noire, hello Sorta-Noire. "Don't forget about your clothes."
[23:13:12] <Lecia> …aww, it seems it's either Not-Noire or Adorable|Bunny-Noire, and Noire doesn't want to be a bunny, so….oh well. "…forced?" …Little girl? She's the only one that can truely claim that position, but hey, whatever.
[23:13:34] <~Charm> "She said she was afraid of being followed…I was wrong to not look deeper into it…"
[23:13:51] <Noire> "Right… sorry." She takes those too, oh man, transforming is weird. "Should we go try to find where she came from? Is there anything to look for?"
[23:15:03] <~Charm> "I…she may have fled, without any kind of weapon she isn't very powerful. I will keep my eyes peeled…but if you could keep your ears open for a name…I'd appreciate it."
[23:16:22] <~Charm> "The girl is truly a prodigy - she takes after her grandmother, really. You'd be hard pressed to tell them apart back when they were both that age." Shirin looks up, reminiscent.
[23:17:42] <Noire> A nod. "Can you tell us anything about what she looked like?"
[23:17:49] <Lecia> "…whoever this is, if I see her, I'll listen for a name." A nod. Serious matters fun….
[23:19:00] <~Charm> "Blonde hair, green when transformed. Green eyes, she's a young girl so i don't think she'll stand out…as for her name?"
[23:19:12] <Lilo> "Have you got a map of the area?"
[23:20:48] <~Charm> Shirin sighed. This was mostly her fault. The young Mage came to her for assistance and she turned the girl down. Now she was missing, possibly kidnapped by someone who used her powers to enter a magical shrine. This was all her fault. "Sorry…all I have is a name."
[23:21:09] <~Charm> "Her name…was Himiko Chitose."
[23:21:15] <~Charm> (/session)
Session #3.1
[12:20:05] <~Charm> King Solomon's Mine, Outskirts of Damascus || 1643 hours, GMT+6
[12:21:07] <Laura> After leaving the others, Laura moves deeper into the cavern, looking for any signs of the intruder.
[12:21:26] <~Charm> Laura peeled off from the rest of the group to investigate the scene of the crime - the chamber that housed the holy relics in the Mine. Shirin said that it would just take a spark of magic to enter, so that shouldn't be an issue.
[12:23:23] <Laura> She does a quick once-over from her position at the entrance of the chamber, trying to pick out any major details before starting a more meticulous search.
[12:24:19] <~Charm> Well, she needs a little something to enter…and their guide dud warn her that inside was a more powerful magic. So she probably should be prepared for…well, anything.
[12:31:22] <Laura> Laura tries to force her way into the room, feeling the resistance as she crosses the threshold. She's a little unfocused, and she has to close her eyes and mentally recenter herself before she can make it inside.
[12:32:53] <~Charm> As she does, she can sense a great well of magic from within, teasing her with its seemingly limitless power. Of course, she has work to do, and she has more than enough self-control to do it.
[12:34:29] <~Charm> However, this chamber is exceptionally dark. A single lantern provides a flickering light, casting arcane shadows on the wreckage.
[12:36:00] <~Charm> And wreckage is certainly a good word for it. Statues shattered, other stuff just strewn about. It almost seems like your common burglar just ransacked the place, looking for…something."
[12:37:41] <~Charm> But the thing that truly catches her attention is a large metallic slab in the center of the room. Laura can feel magic pulsing from it, almost as if calling to her.
[12:39:16] <Laura> Laura frowns. She'll need more light than just this. She walks to the lantern and picks it up by the handle, taking it with her as she searches.
[12:40:37] <~Charm> There's a lot of detritus. Whoever was scavenging this place didn't give a damn about what got destroyed or damaged - it's sickening, really.
[12:41:30] <Laura> She makes one circle around the perimeter, going through the broken relics piece by piece.
[12:42:06] <~Charm> She finds a lot of stone. But one thing does catch her eye: it looks like green glass, and it's shattered.
[12:45:28] <Laura> She approaches the greenish shards, setting the lantern on a nearby heap of junk. She makes a few exploratory attempts at reassembling the object; at least trying to figure out its original shape.
[12:46:13] <~Charm> It looks like it was some sort of orb. Attached to…something. Probably wooden.
[12:47:34] <~Charm> It seems like it is, or was, some kind of scepter.
[12:48:14] <Laura> Laura puts the glass back down from where she picked it up, searching the floor nearby for any sign of the wooden staff or handle it was attached to.
[12:50:22] <~Charm> She finds it, in pieces. There is a faint magical aura from them - perhaps a Mage's weapon?
[12:52:44] <~Charm> It's still strange…why would a Mage desecrate this place? It's sacred - even she can feel that. And what's more, why leave her weapon?
[12:53:16] <Laura> If anything she's seen on the holo is true, that'd certainly fit. She gathers up the pieces together with the glass shards and begins to leave. But something about that slab made her turn back, hesitantly.
[12:54:07] <~Charm> It's a holy place, as far as magic is concerned. It would be rude to not pay respects.
[12:56:16] <Laura> Respects to who, though? Julie had said something about an important Mage being buried in the mines. Laura tried to remember. Sheba? Something like that.
[12:57:25] <~Charm> Not just a Mage. THE Mage. Julie said that she was the first magic user of record, all the way back from biblical times.
[12:58:31] <Laura> Laura gives the slab a closer look. Could it be where the Mage was laid to rest?
[12:59:50] <~Charm> Well…it's a giant fucking slab of what could be silver or some other semi-precious metal. If it's not for her, it certainly signified something important.
[13:02:35] <Laura> She takes a step closer, leaning over it to get a better view. As she does, her foot slips on a few pebbles - not much, but enough. She stumbles and puts out one hand to steady herself.
[13:04:33] <~Charm> The hand finds itself resting against the slab. And…she doesn't feel any burning or pain. It just feels like metal.
[13:06:07] <Laura> Physically speaking, anyway. But the mental shock of… whatever that is, is enough to make her jerk her hand away in surprise.
[13:08:52] <~Charm> It was a shock. But at the same time…something about it felt calming. Like whatever rattled in her brain wanted to speak with her. It certainly couldn't hurt, right?
[13:11:05] <Laura> She looks around, confirming that 1) the voice wasn't coming from someone in the room, and 2) that it had cut off when her hand left the slab. And then, a bit more gingerly this time, she touched the metal.
[13:11:57] <~Charm> That was true on both counts.
[13:40:44] <~Charm> As Laura let's go of the slab, the magic in the air started to feel…lighter. Almost as if a part of it had become her.
[13:42:48] <~Charm> In any case, it felt like she could see a bit better in the flickering light.
[13:43:46] <Laura> She takes a step back, unsteadily, then turns and scoops up the remains of the specter, shaking her head ruefully. Then Laura heads back out of the chamber to tell Shirin what she found.
[13:44:51] <~Charm> The woman is standing outside, a large golem sitting motionless behind her. That certainly wasn't there before.
[13:46:00] <Laura> "Hey Shirin. I found what looks like a magic implement - a staff or wand maybe. Want to check it out?"
[13:46:45] <~Charm> "Hmm? Let me see…" the woman examines the pieces before blanching. "Oh dear…she tried to warn me…this is terrible."
[13:47:47] <Laura> "Terrible? Terrible how?" Laura is all business, and right now she needs the information straight.
[13:49:22] <~Charm> "Well…not 'end of the world is right around the corner' terrible, but I should have listened to her…" the woman sighs and leans back, idly attempting to repair the staff with minimal results.
[13:50:50] <~Charm> "Several days ago, I was helping another Mage on a pilgrimage through the Mines…she wanted to take a very circuitous route, afraid that she was being followed."
[13:52:48] <~Charm> "That scepter…belonged to her. I can't say for sure…but I suspect she was forced to open the shrine for someone who could not do it themselves. And for her weapon to be so badly ruined…I pray she is safe."
[13:57:22] <Laura> "I see. Where are the others? We should probably be heading back."
[13:58:17] <~Charm> She puts the rest of the weapon into a plastic bag so she doesn't cut herself any more than she has already. "your friends are paying their respects. Once they've finished, I will help you get back to where you came from."
[14:00:11] <Laura> Laura nods. "Alright. I think… to Sheba, right? By touching the slab?" She didn't want to say anything before, just in case, but… "I already did that, so I'll just wait."
[14:01:15] <~Charm> "I see. I just ask that you keep an ear out. Her name is Himiko Chitose…if you ever come across her, please offer her my apologies."
[14:04:21] <~Charm> With knowledge comes power. With power comes responsibility. With responsibility comes desire. With desire comes hope. Laura has knowledge, plenty. Hope? Not so much. But she knows one thing.
[14:04:37] <~Charm> No matter what she faces, she can trust herself.
Session #3.5
[19:05:46] <Noire> September 9, 2054 || Hôtel Olympique, Geneva, Switzerland || 1435 hours, GMT+1
[19:07:38] <Noire> "Mmmmnnn~! Okay!" Outside of a very familiar hotel room - or rather, in a hotel hallway - a weirdo talks to herself and gets all kinds of weird looks. That is, until she stops floating, then she just gets one or two weird looks. Standing outside a room for 10 minutes like that trying to decide on things kind of nets you that kind of response- or maybe it was that she was holding something behind her back in a really weird way? Regardless, a fist reaches up and makes friends with the door. SLAMSLAMSLAM.
[19:07:47] <Noire> "Heyyyyy~! You in there?"
[19:10:13] <Lecia> Thankfully, Lecia isn't deaf through her headphones. Because she's, you know, trying to get all the skill points in one SWR title or another. Either case, she opens the door with a "Yeah, come in~"
[19:11:34] <Noire> "Yay~" Instead of spinning in, she walks in kind of awkwardly, turning immediately after getting inside. "Didn't know if you were up to anything…" A look around. Whoops, she is. "Buuuuut…. have a minute?"
[19:13:59] <Lecia> She totally is, if the massive collection shown wasn't obvious enough (and it takes up a great deal of the room, so it should be). Regardless, she has all the time in the world(ish) to spend with someone that may or may not be crazy but usually only during work so whatever. "Sure~"
[19:16:08] <Noire> Tildes. Tildes everywhere. Finding a place to sit down is hellapain enough, and shows with all the awkward struggling she does to set something down in a comfortable position where it's not poking out or anything. Some shifting around to get a good seat on a bed in front of the thing, whatever it may be, as Noire's expression is more a snarky grin than a smile. It really should be a smile. And it is, as soon as it gets wiped off. "'Kay! Well, first things first, sorry 'bout yesterday." In rabbitmode she likely escaped and ran off or something, maybe those funtimes can be played out later.
[19:19:19] <Lecia> It's amazing that there's even room to manuver in here, god damn there's so much stuff. If there's any drawers, they're PACKED. The closet? PACKED. There actually is a few neat places to sit down, though Lecia's the only one to see some of them. "No problem~" She probably responded like that earlier too. Hum. In any case, the snarky grin is met like it was an actual grin, and returned with
[19:19:19] <Lecia> an actual grin. How about that?
[19:21:36] <Noire> "… Mmmmm~" What's that building up in her face? Oh no, it's not worry or concern or anything. It's EXCITEMENT. After a long staring with her lip quivering, Noire hops up and spins around, holding a black pile of something. "OHHHHHH I just can't TAAAAAKE it anymore, you are SO adorable~!" Stomping on the ground a couple times, she wiggles to get the excitement out. "I have to ask, you gotta try to put this on! Pretty please?" And then it becomes apparent what she's holding is the same thing as she's wearing. Oh boy.
[19:28:19] <Lecia> It begins. The excitement is met with curiousity, at least until it explodes, where it is then met with awe at the intensity of the returned adorableness. And now she wants to dress her up? Why not~ "Hmmmm…..OK~" There wasn't even any real hming to be done. It was just for the suspense value. The held clothes are taken, and NO she is not getting dressed right there, she's seen way too
[19:28:20] <Lecia> much things to not actually THINK about undressing in front of people, she's not COMPLETELY DERP. She's just heading to the bathroom to dress up instead.
[19:31:05] <Noire> "Eheheh… ohoho~ no, you're not going to say 'no' just li-" Her hands are outstretched with a REALLY REALLY CREEPY look on her face, which quickly ceases and turns into what. Not even confusion, just pure 'what.' "… Wait, you'll… really do it?" A long pause to just stare blankly. "… Huh. I didn't think it'd be that easy. With Lines it sure wasn't." A loud pout. "Okay~ sure you don't need me to show you how to tie it?" And then, very brown eyes start glancing around the room in very terrifying curiosity. In fact, they glow violet for a- okay no, they actually don't. But can you imagine if they did?
[19:36:10] <Lecia> And from the bathroom, because she really did move quickly there, an 'Of course~' comes from it. "Why not?" And then she undressed and redressed an-…how DO you tie that? Now that she's actually gotten there… "…um…OK so I don't know how to do this part…could you help me with this?" OH BOY. And if they really did glow violet, OH BOY would have doubled in intensity there.
[19:39:08] <Noire> Good thing OH BOY is pure narration. Noire does that very anime thing of smiling so hard her eyes don't even appear to be open, fortunatley for that notion, while SLAMMING the non-locked door closed. Oh and she pulled the memory card out of- okay that's a lie, that would be too much. There was a lengthy awkward stare at the screen of whatever was turned on while waiting, though. And then with an "eheheh" she's barely able to not explode with the cute upon entering, reaching forth behind the young teen to get to work. "It's reaaaally tricky; you do this, and this~"
[19:45:54] <Genshuku> By the looks of all the player units, the slightly well versed would see that she is in fact winning. But moving on to more IMPORTANT THINGS like loli dress up (don't tell her this, she won't believe it), she certainly paid attention to all the various quirks of the dress up. Tricky dresses and things. "Ahhh~, that's how you do that…"
[19:48:45] <Noire> And then Noire keeps liptrembling while it finishes, staring in the mirror. It's not even just her little japanese girl body because that would just be incredibly creepy, but that attitude is just something you never see in people, especially in a place like this where everyone's so focused on working and whatnot. And then Noire herself squeals. "Oh my gooood, how is it even POSSIBLE to be this cute?" Patting her down. In awkward places? You wish. Stop making me type this. "The sleeves fit really well… the skirt's just the right length… you hair totally matches it all… EEEEEEE~"
[19:49:22] <Noire> "Actually… this one's from when I was a freshman. I didn't know the size would be THAT good of a fit, though!"
[19:57:08] <Lecia> Focusing on work is best done during…work, where that attitude gets you cool stuff (an important life lesson). This isn't work, this is PLAY~ And speaking of play, LET'S OVERLOAD THE CUTENESS, because oh god Noire acting like this instead of SCARY/QUIET IS IN FACT HUG WORTHY. Lecia hugs Noire, imagine any height details as you will with that. It comes with a "Thank you~"
[20:00:27] <Noire> Two inches. There is a height difference of two inches. The size gap is… other things. Details? No. Still, for four years spanning an entire adolescence in the case of most people, that's not as much of a difference as one would expect. Noire returns it while giggling along, eyeing her own creepy grin in the mirror. And then it gets wiped off when they pull away. "Okay~! Now, let's- … oh wait a sec, you were in the middle of something, weren't you?" Oh god oh god, don't look into her eyes lest they create a supernova of adorable.
[20:09:09] <Lecia> Well, so much for accidental breast-in-face. Damn that height. BUT ANYWAY, A LOOK INTO THE EYES OF ADORABLE. "No, no, that can wait~" And it could, for she was a bit ahead to begin with- "-wait, one moment…" A run to the game, as she hits End Turn. She's seen these enemy's attacks far too much already, and with auto-actions on for MAXIMUM SPEEDPLAYING, the enemy's turn's reactions played
[20:09:10] <Lecia> themselves. Soon afterwards, Lecia ran back. "OK~"
[20:13:17] <Noire> It's still incredibly painful to look at that. Holy- whatever religions are still popular. Holy FSM. That said, a very sane Noire stares at the screen as it goes off, in that really annoying 'person who's older than you but doesn't understand your hobby' way. Or at least, that's how it seems until she suddenly gasps while pointing at it. "W-Wait a second, is that-!"
[20:19:52] <Lecia> You have to understand her hobby, it's the only way to achieve a good end with her in any way! This may or may not be happening, as the turn goes by. It was almost a critical to her until the 'is that' part, where she stares at Noire expectantly. DON'T MESS IT UP! Or rather, AT LEAST GET CLOSE!
[20:22:06] <Noire> "… Oh, nevermind. Eheheh." A nervous giggle signifies by trampling onto the hobby without knowing what it was, she'd done something horrible. "Just the way everything was set up… kinda reminded me of something that came out a few years back." Head-tilt. "Uhh, what was it again? Ice Badge?"
[20:29:25] <Lecia> OW, you dun messed up. The critical happened, and the disapointment is evident in the resulting "Oh…". Still, a shred of hope was said during the complete and utter failure to say Fire Emblem. At least she had a ROUGH idea as to what was actually going on. "Fire Emblem, yeah."
[20:33:18] <Noire> A whistle as the mob crits. Didn't expect that from Noire, huh? But then a pep up. "Oh, yeah! I… whoops. Eheheh. I had a lot of time for this kinda stuff when I was your age too. Then I… " Headshake, headshake. Can't get all sappy here. "Forget it! This looks like one heck of a part you're at. I was gooooing to ask if you were hungry, but… want me to just go down and grab something?" A triumphant thumbs-up. "On me!"
[20:35:32] <~Charm> *bzzzzzz~ bzzzzzz~* sounds like someone's phone vibrating.
[20:37:10] <Noire> Great. Well, they all have phones. Noire's weight zero pounds at any given time so even if it did vibrate it would be nigh-impossible to notice. "… Uh, wait a sec. That yours?"
[20:37:40] <Lecia> Who's phone? A look around is made to check. But anyway…let's avoid the sappiness. LET'S SALVAGE THE REMAINING GOOD FROM THIS ENCOUNTER! "OK, surprise me~" …she doesn't know what's there, but that's best for the surprisement, isn't it?
[20:38:18] <Noire> Who's phone? That's a good question. Who IS phone?
[20:38:25] <~Charm> It's probably hers. As stated previously, Noire's wouldn't buzz much
[20:38:26] <Noire> Or… who was-
[20:39:29] <Lecia> True, true. "Ah, that's mine." A movement is made to pick up the phone. Who could be calling?
[20:40:15] <Noire> The march out is very much halted. Gotta keep staring at how adorably she fills out that small-size outfit. Or, well, the one that shrunk in the wash a lot. Holy crap it's cute.
[20:40:35] <~Charm> Who the hell else would be calling? Its Julie.
[20:41:37] <Lecia> You never know. She has a bunch of other numbers on that phone. Like…2? 3? Maybe 4? Whatever. "Hello, Lecia speaking~"
[20:42:52] <~Charm> "Hey, it's me. What's up?"
[20:42:55] <Noire> Yeah, really, stop being so insensitive, it could've been Noire calling. Speaking of which, she's been inching toward the door as promised all this time but does so incredibly slowly. Floating toward it obviously.
[20:44:31] <Lecia> "Not much. Having fun, Noire is over~" Happy happy funshine~
[20:45:14] <Noire> A wave at the phone. Not like she can see that- just kidding, she can, she's obviously a Clairsentient. Not the point though.
[20:45:31] <~Charm> "Oh, cool. Listen, if you two have a moment, you think you could swing by the Library a little later? Something I wanna show you."
[20:46:55] <Noire> The question here is, is speakerphone on? Does speakerphone even exist in 2054? Because if not, a blank stare.
[20:47:15] <Lecia> "OK, we'll swing by later~" That last part was added on because she's totally aware she's getting stared at right now. She doesn't mind this.
[20:47:54] <~Charm> "Awesome. See you when you get here." *click*
[20:48:15] <~Charm> Well, that was interesting.
[20:49:43] <Noire> Guess not. "Huh, what happened?"
[20:50:53] <Lecia> Indeed it was. What could this thing be~? "Julie said she has something to show us, so we should swing by the Library later. I wonder what it is~?"
[20:52:36] <Noire> "Ohhh. Ohhhhh!" Still looking over. God damn that's cute. "Both of us, you mean? Why don't we like, go pick up something to eat on the way, then?" Her eyebrows narrow a little as if saying 'don't you dare change out of that,' but the tensing quickly fades.
[20:53:56] <Lecia> She wasn't dreaming of it. Hell, she might ask if she can keep it. But that's waiting until later. "Yeah, both of us-good idea~" Lecia's ready to roll!
[20:54:15] <Noire> "You sure you're okay… you know… leaving that on?" A point at the screen.
[20:57:24] <Lecia> …Right. RIGHT. In the excitement, she forgot about that. She hurries to it, and now that it's her turn, a tried and true Quick Save is made, quickly. Then a quick power off, and look, she's ready to roll again~ "Better~"
[20:59:33] <Noire> "Alriiiiight~!" This tilde habit is contagious. Kicking the incredibly light door open so hard it barely doesn't fall off its hinges, Noire peeks out and glances around the halls before skipping out. "Okay, let's go… that place downstairs okay? I mean… we could always just take the FUN route to the Library and see if there's something along the way, I guess, maybe."
[21:00:37] <Lecia> FUN route. "Fun route!"
[21:03:25] <Noire> "FUN route~!" Grabbing Lecia's hand, Noire… actually runs back into the room and shuts the door again. Then, assuming there's a balcony, they both run out and jump straight off of it like fucking insane people. There… IS a balcony, right?
[21:03:45] <Noire> 2d6+9 yes yes, don't even ask
[21:03:46] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, yes yes, don't even ask: 17 [2d6=6,2]
[21:03:50] <Noire> 1d6 oh damnit
[21:03:52] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, oh damnit: 4 [1d6=4]
[21:04:58] <~Charm> A small one. But yeah.
[21:06:55] <Lecia> FUN ROUTE! With how Noire can make things float if they like trip over themselves or something, there's not TOO much danger. So, FUN.
[21:07:00] <Noire> Yep. Leaping straight out like a lunatic… a lunar-tic. Hey look, Noire actually IS having fun on the night that the moon's out. Isn't it always great when you're right about something? Weighing an absolute nothing, they both begin to float up high enough to not be noticed by anyone. "Okay~ If we go this high, we can just go there and nobody'll see anything… you don't feel like you're gonna fall or anything, right?"
[21:07:13] <Noire> … Noire does, though. Something may or may not feel kind of weird maybe.
[21:08:22] <~Charm> It feels really weird - but at the same time it felt amazing, the moon's light peeking through the clouds and empowering the girl's magic even more.
[21:08:55] <Lecia> Oh god they're flying on THIN AIR. "K-kind of, but that makes it more fun!" Adawwwwww.
[21:09:30] <Noire> That's it? Really? … Oh, wait, there it goes, one eye starts glowing… but it stops after a second unless cued. And d'awwwwwww indeed. "You bet! Okay, look down and tell me if… urgh…"
[21:12:47] <Lecia> And oh god the eye glowed. She did look down, but at night, that glowing is probably a bit more visible. The amazement of HEIGHTS ON THIN AIR sort of has a struggle with concern about being stuck with our Not-Noire of the moment. Concern triumphs over all, especially considering that if it's an insane one, she might need to focus well enough to make a floating platform. "W-what's wrong?"
[21:17:40] <Noire> Without skipping a beat, she shakes her head and smiles softly. Something's odd though… maybe it's the silver streaks in her hair? Or maybe it's the fact that she isn't wearing a matching outfit anymore. "No, it's nothing. It's just difficult to manage the weight of two people to keep from falling down, but keep from floating off into space too. Hehe." As her two different-colored eyes stare back, she doesn't seem to notice anything being unusual.
[21:20:40] <Lecia> Will this stop Lecia from freaking out and panicking a bit? Of course not, and as such, non-verbal cues as to what she's feeling are a given, alongside the verbal ones. "A-ah, I see…"
[21:22:02] <Noire> A sudden expression of worry, still not noticing anything's glanced. Even her attitude. "Is… is everything alright? Are you feeling sick? We can land…" A point to a restaurant of the GM's choice, have fun fluffing. "… Over there, perhaps?"
[21:23:43] <~Charm> It's a fast food burger joint. No, they didn't go out of style yet.
[21:24:38] <Lecia> Feeling sick? Sort of. In a completely and totally different way. And hey, fast food. The sooner later is, the better, I guess. "I don't feel sick, but you kind of…yeah, let's stop there."
[21:25:32] <Noire> Oh damnit. Well, it's the place they hand at in nervousness, until Not-Noire gets to look into a window upon doing so. "I… whoa! When did this happen?" Looking over her face and hands frantically, some panic attacks and simultaneous attempts to take slow, deep breaths follow. They don't go well.
[21:25:38] <Noire> 2d6+6 how cool am I
[21:25:39] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, how cool am I: 14 [2d6=5,3]
[21:26:54] <Noire> Or maybe they do?
[21:28:43] <Lecia> Who knows if they do or don't? "…about when I started to panic. Eh heh." Yeah. But hey, they said they were going to stop, this is on the way.
[21:30:05] <~Charm> Well, it's not like the two girls get too many stares. Certainly no more than the hotel.
[21:30:52] <Noire> That sounds like an okay for detransformation. Okay then. But first: "I'm sorry. I should've paid more attention." Then a REAL deep breath as her clothing begins to disintegrate, streaks vanish, etc.
[21:35:35] <Lecia> And matching outfits once again! Because there's something there AFTER the disintergration, obviously. Lecia takes a sigh in relief at the detransformation. "That's OK, you're all better now~"
[21:36:27] <Noire> "Nnnnngaaaah! Why does it keep haaaaaaaappening?" Of course, matching outfits. But Noire stomps on the ground with a pout. Then a pause. "Eheheh… whoops!"
[21:36:37] <~Charm> Given the massive amount of people around, chances are no one noticed. Gonna get some food?
[21:36:55] <Noire> "'Kay, let's go inside. THEN we can stop by… maybe it won't happen again?"
[21:38:19] <Lecia> "Let's hope so." And INTO THE BURGER JOINT, THEY GO!
[21:39:15] <Noire> And do they describe their orders? Fuck no, they eat future-burgers and leave. TO THE LIBRARY.
[21:39:48] <~Charm> Of course. It's all the same shit anyway. Library actually has stuff worth describing.
[21:40:17] <Noire> Gotcha covered, chief. Hypenoire can only give a look upon exiting, though. "So… wanna walk?"
[21:46:10] <Lecia> Burger joints. Burger joints never change. "Hmm….sure~ After eating that stuff, I should exercise a little~" Walking isn't quite exercise, but it works, doesn't it? It's not like she can eat all the sweets she wants to without getting fat.
[21:46:24] <~Charm> The Library, Geneva || 1512 hours, GMT+1
[21:47:30] <~Charm> Julie is waiting for you outside, in a wardrobe that's notably casual for her.
[21:49:13] <Lecia> And if it's casual, that means it isn't business stuff! This can be a good or a bad thing. "Hi Julie~"
[21:49:14] <Noire> And notable casual for the two of them, both Noire and Lecia show in matching outfits. And it's so adorable that anybody looking at them takes 2 unreducable damage with no save. Hope Julie has a lot of resolve.
[21:49:26] <Noire> Still, a big, energetic wave. "Sorry we took so long!"
[21:50:50] <~Charm> "It's fine. The two of you getting along well I see?" Yeah, Julie has tons of resolve. "Anyway, I was going over a few things, inventory and such."
[21:52:42] <Noire> Getting along well? Ohh, too well. "Hehehe. You could say that." And then listening.
[21:52:42] <~Charm> "May have come across a few things that seem up your alley."
[21:52:59] <Noire> An excited jump up. "Giant monsters?!"
[21:53:28] <~Charm> "…" Julie just looks at Noire funny.
[21:54:24] <Noire> "… Aaw."
[21:54:49] <Lecia> "Yep~" Except the parts where she transforms, but even that might get better with time. And this something…perhaps magical? That-OR IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE AWESOME! What could it be? Collectibles? Games? …magic related things? Whatever Noire likes? "What is it? …or what are they?"
[21:58:26] <~Charm> "a couple little charms that am associate from the New York branch." In one hand is a silver heart-shaped charm, the other a strange black grey cube.
[21:59:33] <Noire> That cube gets a good eyeing. Something seems more suspicious about it than the other one. "… Huh. They don't shoot laser beams or anything, right?" A couple steps closer, but that's about it.
[22:00:46] <~Charm> "Not exactly…"
[22:01:24] <Lecia> Lecia looks closer at both. After all, "They're both pretty, though~"
[22:02:08] <Noire> Nodalong. "Yeah, they really are. But…" A pause, then her head tilts to one side. "You're showing us these because they have something to do with magic, right? With us, maybe?"
[22:02:49] <~Charm> "With magic, yes. I just figure you could use them better than I could.
[22:03:54] <Noire> And then a grabby hand reaches out for the black one, feeling oddly pulled to it. "So… lemme get this straight: you don't know what they do, but want us to find out? That close?"
[22:04:51] <~Charm> "Well I have sort of an idea, but I haven't tested the specifics. It'll make things a lot smoother for you, though."
[22:06:02] <Noire> Pausin'. "Well, if it's us you're giving these to, they must be something we really need. Eheheh."
[22:06:36] <~Charm> "This heart shaped one smooths things over if you accidentally transform, and the box…well it can just store a ton of stuff."
[22:07:26] <Lecia> Hey, she got that one first. So, the Silver Heart it is! After all, it's not purple, what could go wrong? She goes to get that one, because why not? "Thank you~" And then she hears that it smooths over accidental transformations. Those…definitely hurt for Lecia, but then there's Noire…
[22:08:16] <Noire> "… Oh." And then, turning to Lecia, an awkward stare-off. Really really really awkward.
[22:09:44] <~Charm> "…Something wrong?"
[22:10:31] <Lecia> …wait a second, wait a second. "…wait, define smooth over. Like, actually make it not happen as much, or just make it hurt less?"
[22:10:35] <Noire> "Well…" There's actually a DEEP backstory about Noire having left behind all her belongings except all those really cute uniforms. Or at least a lot of them. So a storage-box is totally worthless. The other one actually MEANS something.
[22:11:32] <~Charm> "…Oh." She figures out the dilemma. "It's something you both could use, isn't it…"
[22:12:46] <Noire> Cough. "D-Don't worry! I'll be alright! Thanks a lot for c-calling us out here any everything." Oh yeah, the nervousness is there..
[22:13:37] <~Charm> "No, no…now I feel like a jerk since I can't just give you each one…"
[22:14:41] <Noire> "Eheh." Headrub. "Why would you be a jerk calling out people you just met to give them things for free? That's silly! Lessy'd probably be happy with it anyway. And…" A stare at the box for a really long time. "… How does this thing work again? Does it, like, grow or something?"
[22:15:45] <~Charm> "Something like that. Push the button." oh, there is a small red button on one side.
[22:16:25] <Noire> Walking over to a good spot where there's a lot of space, Noire totally does push the button. The moon smiles and she grins evilly back at it.
[22:17:00] <Lecia> How DOES the box work? A look, who knows what it will do?
[22:18:45] <~Charm> What it does is expand quickly. Within a minute it's a 10-by-10 foot walk-in closet.
[22:21:14] <Noire> 10 feet? That high? Then it's not quite a climb. After Noire peers in it, she starts floating up higher and higher before landing on top of it, provided it has a stable enough ceiling. And then a giggle, leaning down and extending a hand. "… Okay! This can totally be like some kinda airship this way, can't it? Wanna see if it'll work?" The hand extended is intended for both of them, obviously, as very slowly some magic starts getting pumped into the thing to lift it off the air. It's really straining.
[22:22:04] <~Charm> Well, not *that* straining. It's a giant empty box.
[22:22:44] <Noire> Making an entire closet weightless to be able to fly on it? … Well, if you say so. Still an attempt to see if Lecia and Julie will actually climb on.
[22:23:11] <Lecia> "Whoa…I could totally put a bunch of my stuff in there!" SHOW INTEREST, LET HER HAVE THE HEART! But still, Noire poses a fun idea too! "Sure!" And the hand is taken, fun times~!
[22:23:37] <~Charm> Nah, Julie will stay on terra nova thank you very much
[22:23:49] <Noire> HOIST. And then a giggle, extending a hand down again, only to be disappointed. "… You sure?"
[22:24:24] <Noire> Then a small sigh, turning to the side. "Oh, I know! Why don't we just… um, y'know…" Wiggle wiggle. "Share?"
[22:24:43] <~Charm> "I…" she turns away. Seems she really doesn't want to leave the ground.
[22:25:18] <Noire> "Well… gimme a sec to see if I can at least lift it." Focus, focus…
[22:25:33] <Noire> 2d6+10 and hey if I transform that's so much more incentive to share the other thing
[22:25:35] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, and hey if I transform that's so much more incentive to share the other thing: 18 [2d6=2,6]
[22:25:38] <Noire> 1d6 yep
[22:25:40] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, yep: 6 [1d6=6]
[22:25:42] <Noire> 1d6 YYYYYYYYYYEP
[22:25:44] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, YYYYYYYYYYEP: 5 [1d6=5]
[22:27:28] <Lecia> "…What's wrong?" Something has to be wrong if you don't want to FLY ON AN AIRSHIP.
[22:27:47] <~Charm> "…I'm afraid of heights. Okay?"
[22:27:49] <Noire> And the giant box GLISTENS WITH MOONLIGHT, LIKE IT'S GROWING WIIIIINGS AND SOARING INTO THE SKY. As it takes off into the air, Noire starts glistening a little too, acting like she's a little sick while it happens.
[22:28:17] <Noire> "Okay~! Be r…" Vlip. "We'll return shortly." And a totally different voice too.
[22:32:54] <Lecia> What kind of magical girl person is she if she's afraid of heights?! …Not like Lecia thinks it, at least not like that-oh god. Lecia totally has the heart charm, and it's pretty much pushed into Noire's hands.
[22:33:05] <~Charm> "…You know, if you overuse your magic too much, it'll backlash." Julie looks a mite concerned.
[22:37:28] <Noire> "Ah… I'm sorry." After lifting up and spinning around a little, it THUDs back down on the ground. Noire doesn't seem to have changed back, still in her not-so-modest costume and not matching again. A few seconds are spent to stare at the charm. "Does it… not work?"
[22:38:41] <~Charm> "Well, that charm works in pretty subtle ways. You…feel okay?"
[22:40:12] <Noire> Headshake, with a small frown. "The same. The only difficult part about it is undoing it." A long time spent staring at the charm while trying to detransform again. Needs concentration. Better not be a rabbit this time.
[22:41:05] <~Charm> Lucky her. No rabbit.
[22:43:21] <Noire> Oh, how nice and comforting. "Aaaaargh! It happened again, didn't it?" A loud sigh as the box hits the ground with a thud; Noire jumps off. "Eheh… maybe my magic just doesn't work in the right way for it to work or something? Maybe you should hang onto it." A pause for a second. "… Oh, but you can use this too, because you actually HAVE stuff to put in it, right?" Another small giggle. "Don't worry then, take 'em both! And when we need to ride this thing… we could all hop on together, right?"
[22:44:52] <~Charm> As she does this, Noire is bathed in lunar light. Which is weird seeing as it's still mid-afternoon
[22:45:08] <Lecia> And success! "Whew…so it did happen again…well, I really COULD use this box, actually. …would I be able to go home and get some of the other stuff I left behind, maybe…" Probably not, but she'll say it anyway. And now, fancy stuff.
[22:47:37] <Noire> It's bright. She covers her eyes for a second too, but is already trying to think of ways to use this thing. "I wonder just how fast I could make it go~"
[22:47:58] <~Charm> "Well…If the two of you can figure out how to share that…I'm sure you'll find uses for these."
[22:49:15] <Noire> A big smile… well, no, more than that. Noire walks up to Julie WEARING that big smile.
[22:49:59] <Noire> … And then pecks her on the cheek once with a chuckle, drawing back immediately after. "Thanks a lot! We reaaaaally appreciate it."
[22:51:20] <~Charm> She just blinks. Unexpected, certainly. But she is collected enough to not get visibly flustered over it. "You're welcome. Now, run along, you two - I'm sure you have better things to do than stand around a dusty old relic like this all day."
[22:52:44] <Noire> Oh yeah, she's still glowing. "… Pffff. You mean you didn't really have more work for us to do? Aw maaan, and we already finished everything thinking we were going to too!" A pout.
[22:54:12] <~Charm> "Well, the four of you aren't my only employees. We have things well in hand - I'll call you all when something comes up that you all can handle."
[22:55:01] <Noire> A smily sigh. "Well, all riiiiiight." Lecia gets a snarky glance. "Wanna see how fast we can get back to the hotel?"
[22:55:54] <Lecia> …is she still glowing-she is still glowing. Either way, Lecia is totally listening along, and she can't help stare at GLOWING NOIRE all the while. "OK~" RACING! And exercise to work off those burgers, too.
[22:56:26] <Noire> Not quite that. The box is still open, and there's a motion to actually get inside it.
[22:57:49] <Lecia> …Oh. OOOHHHHHHHH. "Oooohhhhhhhhh~" IN THE BOX, SHE GOES. FUN TIMES.
[22:59:15] <Noire> 2d6+10 NOPE ONE MORE
[22:59:15] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, NOPE ONE MORE: 17 [2d6=6,1]
[22:59:21] <Noire> 1d6 DON'T YOU LOVE THIS GAME GUYS
[22:59:23] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, DON'T YOU LOVE THIS GAME GUYS: 6 [1d6=6]
[22:59:26] <Noire> 1d6 I SURE DO!
[22:59:28] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, I SURE DO!: 5 [1d6=5]
[22:59:45] <Noire> AND IT TAKES OFF. Lucky Lecia doesn't get to see what's going on above.
[23:01:19] <~Charm> As the two sail off on magical weightless wings, Julie stands there, quickly picking up her phone.
[23:01:25] <Lecia> Assuming the box is closed, a "whoooaaaaaaaaa" is heard inside. Otherwise, a "WHOOOOOAAAAAAAAA" is heard.
[23:03:39] <~Charm> "Talk to me. … both of them? Yeah, I made sure to pass that off. … no, I didn't tell them what was in it. … Okay honey, see you soon."
[23:03:50] <~Charm> (/session)
Session #3.7
[19:54:46] <~Charm> September 9, 2054 || Hôtel Olympique, Geneva, Switzerland || 1202 hours, GMT+1
[19:55:21] <Laura> Laura stands in the hall outside Lilo's hotel room.
[19:56:18] <Lilo> Lilo's presumably within her room, listening to hipster music or playing some futuregame.
[19:56:31] <Laura> She knocks on the door, then leans nonchalantly against the doorframe.
[19:59:10] <Lilo> …No response. Phones probably ISN'T wearing her headphones, considering some kind of beat is just barely audible through the door. The stereo could probably go even louder, though!
[19:59:40] <Laura> "Er…" Laura tries again, more insistently. That music sounded pretty loud.
[20:00:55] <Lilo> And the music quiets down a little bit, a louder voice calling back with, "Huh? Someone there?"
[20:01:30] <Laura> The knocking continues. "Hey-o, Lines!"
[20:03:19] <Lilo> Noire? That's the nickname she uses, definitely isn't her, though. Voice is all wrong! Clearly, Laura's outside. Why didn't she just say something? Whatever. The door swings wide open, "Afternoon, Pillow!"
[20:05:12] <Laura> "Sup Phones," says Laura, not really asking a question. "I was thinking I'd go grab some dinner. You want to come?"
[20:07:29] <Lilo> Dinner, is that what the Americans call it? Either way, food sounded good. "Yeah! I was starting to get pretty hungry."
[20:07:47] <~Charm> It's just after noon, so "dinner" might not be the right word. But food is food, right?
[20:09:25] <Laura> Yeah, definitely suspicious how she said "dinner." Almost like it was intentional… Laura smiled. "You have anywhere in mind?"
[20:11:59] <Lilo> Lilo frowns; she still really didn't have much of a feel for Geneva. Definitely doesn't consider it home and is just beginning to figure out her way around. "No… Don't have anywhere in mind. I can't even think of what's around."
[20:14:59] <Laura> Laura shrugs and puts her hands in her pockets. "Ah, okay, 'cause I was thinking…" Pause for effect: "Paris."
[20:15:38] <Lilo> "Sorry, what was that?"
[20:16:20] <Lilo> Paris? Maybe she said PALACE. Or something, who knows. Why would she say PARIS?
[20:17:48] <Laura> Laura smiles broadly. "Paree? The City of Light? It's in France?"
[20:20:25] <Lilo> She said it. Paris. As in, not-Switzerland France. It'd be like a visit home! Probably the closest thing Lilo has to a home other than the Hotel Olympique. "…Oh. Yeah, that sounds… ReallyniceohgodI'dlovetogocanwe?"
[20:22:05] <Laura> Laura chuckles and nods. "Get dressed for the road; I'll meet you in the parking lot in 5." She's already turning to go.
[20:23:21] <Lilo> "Wait! What's dressed for the road mean?"
[20:25:13] <Laura> Laura chuckles without turning back around. "Nothing that can't stand a headwind. We're taking my bike."
[20:29:49] <Lilo> Headwind? Bike? …Right, Lieselotte hasn't been on one of those. Well, shorts and a simple shirt shouldn't cause too much trouble; a skirt would be a pain, probably. A jacket for good measure (and fashion, dem stylin' musical notes). It's probably closer to 10, but Lilo makes it to the parking lot without being TOO late.
[20:30:44] <Noire> Lilo makes it to a collision. Outside the door, with laughing and giggling, a very familiar face walks in at the same time, completely bowling her over. And of course, "Oof!"
[20:33:08] <Noire> Oh, and she has ice cream on her face.
[20:33:37] <Lilo> …Or maybe it would be a little later. "Wah! Ambushing me like that isn't fair, Blackie!"
[20:34:41] <Noire> "Whoa!" Stumbling on top of her, they find themselves in one of those very anime scenes with a character being on top of another… or would if Noire didn't start floating up like a balloon immediately after it happened. Good thing nobody's watching. "I- my bad! I wasn't looking!"
[20:35:35] <Noire> Floating… floating down… floating down… landing. With a REALLY LOUD sigh, she shakes her head, flipping her hair side-to-side while doing, before leaning down and extending a hand. "You okay, Lines?"
[20:36:51] <Lilo> Lines pulls herself up with the hand (hopefully not pulling Noire down, it's hard to tell when weight starts acting funky like that). "I might have had to issue a challenge for that, but you happen to have caught me in a good mood! Are you okay, too?"
[20:37:21] <Giantree> 2d6+6 just for that, if I get a 1,1 on this cool we're going to charmland
[20:37:22] <DiceMaid-9001> Giantree, just for that, if I get a 1,1 on this cool we're going to charmland: 15 [2d6=4,5]
[20:37:25] <Giantree> but we're not
[20:37:41] <@Charm> That woulda been funny.
[20:39:02] <Noire> "Eheheh!" YANK. It's more like Lilo herself is the balloon here, getting up faster than one would think humanly possible. Lifted like a sheet of paper… or something. "Okay? I'm great! What happened, you gonna go somewhere?" A snarky grin shows up on her face as she leans closer. "Is it boys?"
[20:40:53] <Lilo> Frown, Lilo hadn't talked to ANY boy in forever. But that's okay, the frown can't last for long before an excited smile wins out again, "Nope! I'm going on a roadtrip."
[20:41:17] <Noire> A really weird look. "Huh? By yourself?"
[20:42:07] <Lilo> "No, I'm taking Pillow with me. Or, I guess she's taking me."
[20:43:21] <Noire> "Ohhh, okay!" A long pause, with a giggle at the end. "Say hi to her for me, 'kay? We don't talk a whole lot when we're not working."
[20:45:11] <Lilo> Lines nods, "Uh-huh! It's probably because she's the strong, mature type; not really chatty or anything."
[20:46:26] <~Charm> Well, Laura is probably waiting, since this has gone a bit longer than she had said…
[20:46:40] <Noire> "Hehe. Yeah, I'm kinda jealous. Have fun, alright?" Poking the girl on the nose once for no real reason, Noire continues her walk into the YES NARRATOR, WE KNOW, WE'RE GETTING THERE.
[20:47:16] <Noire> … Continues her walk into the building, floating up a few feet partway through the lobby. "Maybe I'll go see what that nerdy kid's up to~"
[20:48:05] <Lilo> …Huh, being poked on the nose is weird. "I will! See you later, Blackie." Well, okay! Lilo guns it to go find Laura-late late late late.
[20:49:24] <Laura> Laura's brought the motorcycle around to the front of the hotel. She's leaning against it, helmet under one arm.
[20:50:15] * UboaServ sets mode: +qo Charm Charm
[20:51:47] <Laura> "Looking a little out of breath there, Phones. You ready to go?"
[20:52:55] <Lilo> Lilo hurries to regain her composure (or at least as much as she ever does have), "Yeah, I'm totally ready!" Haha, next stop: Paris. But, wait, "…Um, how do I ride?"
[20:53:39] <Laura> Laura smiles and tosses something round to Lilo. Think fast!
[20:53:51] <Laura> Think fast: Sharp?
[20:54:04] <@Charm> Aggro to catch the hat
[20:54:05] <Giantree> no way dude that'd be co-
[20:54:14] <Lilo> obviously social guys come on
[20:54:20] <Giantree> ALL
[20:54:20] <Giantree> FOUR
[20:54:21] <Giantree> AT
[20:54:22] <Giantree> ONCE
[20:54:41] <Lilo> 2d6+5+8+3+6
[20:54:44] <DiceMaid-9001> Lilo, 2d6+5+8+3+6: 27 [2d6=4,1]
[20:54:54] <Giantree> The hat blows up.
[20:54:59] <Laura> Massive success, I suppose
[20:56:55] <Lilo> …Just barely fast enough! She knocks it up into the air, fumbles, knocks it again, catches… That's a really poor show for someone with a reputation for their athleticism. She grins sheepishly, "Ha… Got it…"
[20:58:09] <Laura> It's a motorcycle half-helmet, black with a big white eighth-note on either side. There's a pair of goggles hooked to the chinstrap, too.
[21:01:01] <Lilo> Wow, at least for a half-helmet, isn't that cute? Lilo turns it over, taking a look. "Where'd you get this, anyway?" Oh, right, she probably should put it on. Another fumble and it's on without trouble. That or it's on backwards; either way, really, the novice probably wouldn't be able to tell a difference.
[21:03:43] <Laura> Laura straddles the motorcycle. "Honestly, it was here when I came out. I think it's just…" She shrugs. "My bike's been kinda weird ever since the accident. Whatever got into us got into it, too."
[21:04:17] <Laura> "But c'mon, hop on already."
[21:05:35] <Lilo> Lilo nods, "Huh, I guess that makes sense. Your bike got saved by magic, after all! …Hop on? Okay, let's see. Where am I supposed to sit?"
[21:06:39] <Laura> Laura pats the seat, directly behind her. "And hold on tight, because we're getting there in record time!"
[21:08:31] <~Charm> Lilo can feel a tinge of magic coming from the bike. This is gonna be fun.
[21:09:21] <Lilo> Well, that's probably gonna be pretty awkward, but then again, Laura didn't earn the nickname Pillow for no reason, so this would probably be less of a bother than a collision. Assuming they don't colli-okay, not the time to think about that. Lines hops onto the seat, "Alright, ready!"
[21:11:56] <Laura> If she's feeling awkward, Laura's not showing it. After all, that's just how passengers work. "And we're off!"
[21:15:26] <Lilo> Okay, all good so far. Lilo sits in a relatively relaxed manner, maybe this would be like an airplane ride, or a train, or a hovercoaster.
[21:15:55] <~Charm> As Laura's bike rips down the roads, speed builds up as the green flame of magic starts to tinge Laura's vision. It was an unspeakable high, an addiction she never wanted to let go of.
[21:19:24] <Laura> Laura let's it take over. After all, Paris is about 6 hours away without magic, and Lilo said she was hungry! She could cut the trip down to about 2 without serious trouble.
[21:21:40] <~Charm> Laura's senses explode with magic as it takes control, taking thier speed to almost dizzying levels.
[21:21:57] <Lilo> Fast! Lilo hunkers down and holds tightly onto Laura. After all, falling off at this speed would make you explode or something crazy, and she's already escaped ONE explosive crashdeath.
[21:25:37] <Laura> With an shout of exultation, Laura guns the engine, magic flowing like a shockwave from the front of the bike to the rear. As it passes Laura, her everyday streetclothes are replaced with a sleek racing jumpsuit. Split-laning through traffic, she casts a quick grin back at Lilo in time to catch her expression.
[21:28:44] <Lilo> Lilo's eyes are at first like great saucers as the girl involuntarily screams, but soon she closes them, clinging onto Laura for dear life. It was simultaneously exciting and OHGODWHATISHAPPENING. "Don'tletmefallhowisthissofastohgodarewethereyet!"
[21:33:22] <Laura> Laura grins broadly. "What do you mean? We're not even going that fast." She taps the speedometer, which reads '284 kph', near the top of its dial. "Plenty of road left to go, so try to relax a little."
[21:34:51] <~Charm> The mystic rush kept them going as fast as Laura could imagine. Signs flash before their eyes: Zurich. Then Nice, then Ste. Sulpice. It wasn't gonna be much longer at this pace.
[21:35:39] <Lilo> Laura could feel Lilo's head shaking against her back, "No! Can't relax or I'll fall!"
[21:38:31] <Laura> "No you won't! Look!" Laura holds both arms out wide, guiding the bike purely with her legs. Only for a second; then she's back on the handlebars and speeding up again.
[21:42:03] <Lilo> The teenager's grip relaxes ever so slightly, and her head peeks out from Laura's back. All told, her arms were still attached, pretty tightly though, still too scared to let go, but at least she could enjoy the scenery while it changed every few seconds. "G-got it!"
[21:44:26] <~Charm> Before long, signs started popping up for Paris. 500 km. Then 250km. And just now she passed a 100km marker stone.
[21:44:47] <Laura> Laura reaches back to give Lilo's hand a reassuring pat. "So you've never travelled like this before, eh? How do you like it?"
[21:47:12] <Lilo> Lilo smiled anxiously, caught between the thrill and fear, "It's like I'm about to die, but I know you won't let me fall. So fast, really exciting!"
[21:48:49] <Laura> "Sure beats trains, don't it?" Laura hits the clutch and coasts down the off-ramp, leaning sharply into the curve.
[21:49:50] <~Charm> 25 kilometers. 10 kilometers. She probably needs to slow down or she will blast right through the city.
[21:50:22] <Lilo> Lilo opens her mouth to answer, but loses it in the sharp turn, swallowing her words down hard and nodding.
[21:52:20] <Laura> Laura begins to slow as they enter the last tunnel before hitting the city limit. As the bike reappears on the other end, it's returned to it's normal appearance. Laura's back in her jeans and leather jacket as well.
[21:54:42] <Lilo> "Ha… ha… That was awesome, Laura!" Easy to say once everything was back to relatively normal, but other than the panic and fear, it has to be one of the most thrilling things Lilo's experienced. "Have you been to Paris before?"
[21:54:42] <~Charm> Champs Élysées, Paris, France || 1341 hours, GMT
[21:57:14] <Laura> "Ah, can't say that I have," says Laura, pulling off her helmet and shaking out her blonde hair. "Figured I should at least see the Eiffel Tower at some point."
[21:59:17] <Lilo> Lilo nods thoughtfully for a moment before looking up, "Oh! There's a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, you know."
[21:59:56] <~Charm> The euphoria of magic still lingers in Laura's veins. Part of her wants that speed again. But she can put that away for now - her hunger at least keeps it in check.
[22:00:18] <Laura> "Wha- really? It's so skinny!" Laura seems incredulous. "Are you sure?"
[22:01:41] <Lilo> Another eager nod, "More than one, too!"
[22:03:51] <Laura> "Whoa… that's gotta be a pretty ritzy place! Lilo, you think we could eat there?" Laura's eyes are lit up, despite herself.
[22:05:23] <Lilo> "Bet you we could! If everything else fails, we have magic, don't we?"
[22:06:50] <Laura> Laura snaps her fingers. "Right! Let's see if we can make a reservation, and if there's much of a wait we'll sightsee in the meantime."
[22:08:54] <~Charm> The eiffel tower was still a half-click away, giving the two ample time to gaze at the streetside cafes
[22:10:35] <Lilo> "Let's do it! I'll call." A quick search on her futurephone and Lilo's ready to try getting ahold of a reservation-she speaks in French at first. Even though English is the official language, maybe speaking a little bit of the traditional tongue would be worth some bonus points on getting some seats?
[22:13:14] <~Charm> "Hallo, you 'ave reached Café Eiffel. Comment puis-je vouz aidez?"
[22:16:20] <Lilo> "Ah, je veux un reservation pour deux, s'il vous plaît."
[22:17:43] <~Charm> "Bien sûr, Madame. Il y aura un reservation à 20 minutes. Votre nom?"
[22:18:47] <Lilo> "Lieselotte. Merci!" Lilo shoots a grin to Laura.
[22:19:33] <Laura> "You got one? Awesome!" Laura's going by inference; she doesn't speak a word of French.
[22:19:38] <~Charm> "De Rein, Mademoiselle. A bientôt!" *click*
[22:22:12] <Lilo> "Yep! We got 20 minutes, so we better make sightseeing either fast or come after lunch!"
[22:23:19] <Laura> "Ah…" Laura glances around, uncertain in a strange city. "Well, you're the guide, so I guess its your call."
[22:24:42] <Lilo> "Haha, it'll take time to get to the restaurant once we're there, so we oughtta hurry over. We can look around sometime later!"
[22:26:17] <Laura> "Gotcha. Let's hoof it!" Laura finds a place to park the motorcycle. Preferably somewhere it won't get towed.
[22:27:49] <Lilo> Not that it can't magic back if it does! "Aren't you excited?"
[22:29:02] <Laura> "Tota- er, yeah, it's pretty cool." Laura puts her hands in her pockets and tries not to stare.
[22:30:46] <Lilo> Tourists always stare, that shouldn't be a problem! Regardless, Lilo leads the way-they'd presumably have to ride some futuro-elevators to get up, unless there were some kind of copters or similar nonsense.
[22:31:34] <~Charm> It's elevators
[22:33:55] <Lilo> Elevators it is. "Follow me! We'll tear through the sky like a bullet." Possibly a short line wait, but it probably isn't as bad as it used to be.
[22:35:47] <Laura> Laura starts to lean back against the elevator - until it begins to ascend, the iron latticework flashing past as the city dropped away beneath them. She stifles a gasp.
[22:37:47] <Lilo> Lilo can't help but giggle and tease Laura, "Who's the scared one now, Pillow?"
[22:39:45] <Laura> "Eh? I ain't scared; just surprised me was all," Laura replies gruffly. She doesn't quite succeed at hiding her blush.
[22:42:27] <Lilo> She shakes her head in response, "I know, I know. I'm just playing with you. I got waaaay more scared on the way over here-it was fun, though!"
[22:42:59] <~Charm> It's not that long before they reach the top. The view is really pretty breathtaking, acrophobia or not.
[22:46:30] <Laura> As soon as the elevator door opens, Laura rushes through, and out to the balcony overlooking the Champ de Mars. The view really is stunning.
[22:48:44] <Lilo> Lilo joins Laura in taking in the sight, "It's really been bothering me lately, but All this isn't so bad, is it?"
[22:49:48] <Laura> Laura cocks her head. "What do you mean?"
[22:50:41] <Lilo> She shakes her head, "…Nevermind, I lost my train of thought! Let's go eat."
[22:52:14] <~Charm> The next half hour is spent eating some fairly well-prepared cuisine. Something still seems a bit off, though. Laura swears she is being watched.
[22:52:22] <Laura> "You sure? You started to…" Laura shrugs. It probably /was/ getting pretty close to their reservation, anyway. She heads for the restaurant.
[22:57:16] <Lilo> Lilo happily devours a fine example of her native cuisine-she may have had better, but it might as well be homecooked to her. "Isn't it fantastic?"
[22:58:05] <Laura> Laura shakes off that uncomfortable being-watched feeling. Probably just nerves. She does her best not to shamelessly stuff her face. "Ips delibcious!"
[22:58:59] <Lilo> The girl giggles, "Don't make yourself sick!"
[23:02:11] <Laura> Laura slows down enough to swallow. "Ah, but anyway, what's in the pipe for later on? I've heard the tower is spectacular at night; I dunno how long you wanted to stay in Paris for, but depending on how long we take…"
[23:07:16] <Lilo> "You could hardly explore the entire city in a week, let alone an evening. I don't know about you, but I just told Noire that we were going on a roadtrip. We could stick around for the night, check out more before we head home tomorrow, or stay for a few days, or head home and visit again some time. It's a lot of freedom, isn't it? I'm not sure what to do."
[23:11:22] <Laura> "You want to spend the night?" Laura thinks about it a moment. "Well, we didn't exactly pack a change of clothes, so…" She turns the idea over in her head. "There's only one option: Shopping!"
[23:13:13] <~Charm> They did get paid a few hundred euro for the Damascus incident…so cash shouldn't be an issue.
[23:13:15] <Lilo> Lilo's eyes light up like a christmas tree, "Shopping! Really? That sounds amazing-a shopping trip in France!" …She's gone, carried away by fashionable fantasies.
[23:15:08] <Laura> "Ah haha… just what have I gotten myself into, here?" Laura mutters to herself, smiling. Finishing her plate, she waves a waiter over to ask for the check.
[23:15:55] <~Charm> "L'addition, Madame." The bill is illegible to Laura, save the price: 35 euros? Talk about steep…
[23:16:41] <Lilo> Lilo's voice is dreamy and her eyes are just slightly unfocused, "Gotten yourself into the greatest shopping trip you've ever seen… Paris!"
[23:20:30] <Lilo> …But oh right, the bill. Lilo pays the waiter and adds a small tip if for some reason it isn't included in the price already
[23:21:16] <~Charm> It is, but you silly Americans! The waiter won't complain though.
[23:22:29] <Lilo> shut up Lieselotte's not american
[23:22:45] <Laura> Laura smiles and nods. After all, she /is/ American.
[23:25:53] <Laura> Stomach suitably silenced, Laura rose and, with Lilo, made her way back down the elevator and into the sunny Parisian afternoon.
[23:26:26] <~Charm> Later that night, the two of them finish a long day of shopping. Among their wares were…well, why not let you describe it? After all, you bought the crap.
[23:32:07] <Lilo> Lilo looks over her bags triumphantly; noteworthy prizes included an eyecatching red scarf, some chic tall boots, a hip tee-shirt saying "Je ne parle pas anglais" and a ruffled black skirt.
[23:36:06] <Laura> Laura is sporting a slim, light blue dress with a lacy flare just above her knees. The top of the dress is supported by thin spaghetti straps, and she's wearing her leather jacket over her shoulders like a cape for warmth. She's also acquired a white sun hat and a pair of low heels. Her normal clothes have been stuffed into a shopping bag, which she carries like a purse.
[23:37:34] <Lilo> Lilo's unfortunately got several shopping bags; it's a sure sign of a good shopping trip.
[23:38:34] <~Charm> *ring ring* sounds like Laura's phone is ringing.
[23:39:18] <Lilo> "Sounds like your phone is ringing."
[23:39:19] <Laura> Laura sighs and smiles. It's been a long day. She shifts her bag to the other hand and answers her phone. "Yea'ello?"
[23:40:05] <~Charm> "Hello, Ms. Ingram. Enjoying your field trip?" Julie. You can never tell whether she is pissed or just there.
[23:41:31] <Laura> "You betcha! We-" Oh crap, were they supposed to ask in advance for leave or something? "Do you need us back at the shop, ma'am?"
[23:42:45] <~Charm> "Nah. Its been pretty quiet this week. One of my associates in New York thinks she may have tracked down the Crystal Skull again - the thing hates being locked up it seems. But that's their jurisdiction, not ours."
[23:45:37] <~Charm> "All I ask is that you not show up to work completely hung over. Think you can do that?"
[23:46:37] <Laura> Laura smiles. She'd considered it, but since it'd mean letting Lilo drive the bike home… "No problem, boss. See you at work."
[23:47:31] <Lilo> "Are we in some kinda trouble?"
[23:48:24] <Laura> Laura shakes her head. "Nah, just checking up on us." She shoots Lilo a teasing glance. "Told me to keep you out of the booze, is all."
[23:49:56] <Lilo> She blushes just slightly, "Well, that's totally unnecessary! I can watch myself just fine, and I'm not some alcoholic."
[23:52:03] <~Charm> The two of them could totally crash at a hotel or something if they just wanted to sleep
[23:52:17] <Laura> Laura giggles. Come to think of it, those tiny bottles in the hotel fridge probably showed up on whatever bill Julie was paying for them. "Anyway, we were parked pretty close to the Eiffel Tower. Want to go up one last time before we grab our room?"
[23:53:23] <Lilo> Lilo nods, "Okay, just one last peek."
[23:55:04] <Laura> The elevator seems slower the second time up. Paris spreads out beneath them, a blanket of stars across the earth.
[23:56:02] <Lilo> Lilo watches as the vast light show of the city expands before her in their ascent
[23:58:07] <~Charm> As if that weren't enough, the moon was out tonight. Noire likely would be having her share of fun.
[23:59:03] <Laura> Laura walks to the balconey and leans over the railing, staring wistfully at the city below. The urban din was starting to quiet, and a cool breeze raised goosebumps across her arms. She pulled her jacket in tighter.
[00:00:32] <Lilo> Lilo follows Laura's lead to the railing, enjoying the alternative of the view from earlier. The weather didn't particularly bother her. "Isn't it gorgeous?"
[00:02:09] <Laura> "It is." Laura agrees, looking sadly into the distance. "Hey, Lilo? I've been meaning to ask you something. Stop me if it's too personal or whatever."
[00:02:56] <Lilo> She tilts her head and looks at Laura, "About what?"
[00:05:19] <Laura> "You've been… pretty chill, about this whole magic thing. Even the bit about us getting erased. And I was thinking…" Laura stops herself, then starts again: "At first I figured you just, y'know, needed time to come to grips or whatever. But now it's been a while, so I've gotta ask:"
[00:05:52] <Laura> "How can you possibly be okay with this?"
[00:09:58] <Lilo> "I've always been pretty good at making friends, but I have a hard time keeping them. I guess I don't have as many people I'm close to as you do-it's really just my mom and dad. But even so… I feel really trapped. I try my hardest to tell myself this is temporary, that it's just for a little while, but… When you offered to take me here with you, away from all that, it made me really happy, because I got to feel free and didn'
[00:11:25] <Lilo> 't have to pretend I wasn't feeling locked up. I'm… not okay with this."
[00:15:36] <Laura> "But…?" Laura raised one arm out toward Lilo's shoulder, but it hesitated before making reassuring contact, and eventually returned to her side.
[00:18:08] <Lilo> "…But for right now, I'll stick around and keep doing the magical work, because that's the one option that might take me home. Some magic object or artifact somewhere can do it, I'm sure! Can't give up on going home, and can't quit everything until I do."
[00:22:26] <Laura> Laura turns her back to the panorama, resting her elbows on the railing. "You know what? You're right." She gives Lilo a playful nudge. "We'll figure out a way to set things right. And until then," she adds, smiling, "we'll be sure to have a little fun now and then, won't we?"
[00:32:21] <~Charm> The two Mages stand atop the tower, silently taking in the scene. Two others are taking in the scene, but from a much more concealed position.
[00:33:35] <~Charm> «Savient-elles le clé?» «Non, il n'y aura rien. Nous sommes secours…maintenant.»
[00:33:54] <~Charm> (/session)
Session #3.9
[19:05:46] <Noire> September 9, 2054 || Hôtel Olympique, Geneva, Switzerland || 1435 hours, GMT+1
[19:07:38] <Noire> "Mmmmnnn~! Okay!" Outside of a very familiar hotel room - or rather, in a hotel hallway - a weirdo talks to herself and gets all kinds of weird looks. That is, until she stops floating, then she just gets one or two weird looks. Standing outside a room for 10 minutes like that trying to decide on things kind of nets you that kind of response- or maybe it was that she was holding something behind her back in a really weird way? Regardless, a fist reaches up and makes friends with the door. SLAMSLAMSLAM.
[19:07:47] <Noire> "Heyyyyy~! You in there?"
[19:10:13] <Lecia> Thankfully, Lecia isn't deaf through her headphones. Because she's, you know, trying to get all the skill points in one SWR title or another. Either case, she opens the door with a "Yeah, come in~"
[19:11:34] <Noire> "Yay~" Instead of spinning in, she walks in kind of awkwardly, turning immediately after getting inside. "Didn't know if you were up to anything…" A look around. Whoops, she is. "Buuuuut…. have a minute?"
[19:13:59] <Lecia> She totally is, if the massive collection shown wasn't obvious enough (and it takes up a great deal of the room, so it should be). Regardless, she has all the time in the world(ish) to spend with someone that may or may not be crazy but usually only during work so whatever. "Sure~"
[19:16:08] <Noire> Tildes. Tildes everywhere. Finding a place to sit down is hellapain enough, and shows with all the awkward struggling she does to set something down in a comfortable position where it's not poking out or anything. Some shifting around to get a good seat on a bed in front of the thing, whatever it may be, as Noire's expression is more a snarky grin than a smile. It really should be a smile. And it is, as soon as it gets wiped off. "'Kay! Well, first things first, sorry 'bout yesterday." In rabbitmode she likely escaped and ran off or something, maybe those funtimes can be played out later.
[19:19:19] <Lecia> It's amazing that there's even room to manuver in here, god damn there's so much stuff. If there's any drawers, they're PACKED. The closet? PACKED. There actually is a few neat places to sit down, though Lecia's the only one to see some of them. "No problem~" She probably responded like that earlier too. Hum. In any case, the snarky grin is met like it was an actual grin, and returned with
[19:19:19] <Lecia> an actual grin. How about that?
[19:21:36] <Noire> "… Mmmmm~" What's that building up in her face? Oh no, it's not worry or concern or anything. It's EXCITEMENT. After a long staring with her lip quivering, Noire hops up and spins around, holding a black pile of something. "OHHHHHH I just can't TAAAAAKE it anymore, you are SO adorable~!" Stomping on the ground a couple times, she wiggles to get the excitement out. "I have to ask, you gotta try to put this on! Pretty please?" And then it becomes apparent what she's holding is the same thing as she's wearing. Oh boy.
[19:28:19] <Lecia> It begins. The excitement is met with curiousity, at least until it explodes, where it is then met with awe at the intensity of the returned adorableness. And now she wants to dress her up? Why not~ "Hmmmm…..OK~" There wasn't even any real hming to be done. It was just for the suspense value. The held clothes are taken, and NO she is not getting dressed right there, she's seen way too
[19:28:20] <Lecia> much things to not actually THINK about undressing in front of people, she's not COMPLETELY DERP. She's just heading to the bathroom to dress up instead.
[19:31:05] <Noire> "Eheheh… ohoho~ no, you're not going to say 'no' just li-" Her hands are outstretched with a REALLY REALLY CREEPY look on her face, which quickly ceases and turns into what. Not even confusion, just pure 'what.' "… Wait, you'll… really do it?" A long pause to just stare blankly. "… Huh. I didn't think it'd be that easy. With Lines it sure wasn't." A loud pout. "Okay~ sure you don't need me to show you how to tie it?" And then, very brown eyes start glancing around the room in very terrifying curiosity. In fact, they glow violet for a- okay no, they actually don't. But can you imagine if they did?
[19:36:10] <Lecia> And from the bathroom, because she really did move quickly there, an 'Of course~' comes from it. "Why not?" And then she undressed and redressed an-…how DO you tie that? Now that she's actually gotten there… "…um…OK so I don't know how to do this part…could you help me with this?" OH BOY. And if they really did glow violet, OH BOY would have doubled in intensity there.
[19:39:08] <Noire> Good thing OH BOY is pure narration. Noire does that very anime thing of smiling so hard her eyes don't even appear to be open, fortunatley for that notion, while SLAMMING the non-locked door closed. Oh and she pulled the memory card out of- okay that's a lie, that would be too much. There was a lengthy awkward stare at the screen of whatever was turned on while waiting, though. And then with an "eheheh" she's barely able to not explode with the cute upon entering, reaching forth behind the young teen to get to work. "It's reaaaally tricky; you do this, and this~"
[19:45:54] <Genshuku> By the looks of all the player units, the slightly well versed would see that she is in fact winning. But moving on to more IMPORTANT THINGS like loli dress up (don't tell her this, she won't believe it), she certainly paid attention to all the various quirks of the dress up. Tricky dresses and things. "Ahhh~, that's how you do that…"
[19:48:45] <Noire> And then Noire keeps liptrembling while it finishes, staring in the mirror. It's not even just her little japanese girl body because that would just be incredibly creepy, but that attitude is just something you never see in people, especially in a place like this where everyone's so focused on working and whatnot. And then Noire herself squeals. "Oh my gooood, how is it even POSSIBLE to be this cute?" Patting her down. In awkward places? You wish. Stop making me type this. "The sleeves fit really well… the skirt's just the right length… you hair totally matches it all… EEEEEEE~"
[19:49:22] <Noire> "Actually… this one's from when I was a freshman. I didn't know the size would be THAT good of a fit, though!"
[19:57:08] <Lecia> Focusing on work is best done during…work, where that attitude gets you cool stuff (an important life lesson). This isn't work, this is PLAY~ And speaking of play, LET'S OVERLOAD THE CUTENESS, because oh god Noire acting like this instead of SCARY/QUIET IS IN FACT HUG WORTHY. Lecia hugs Noire, imagine any height details as you will with that. It comes with a "Thank you~"
[20:00:27] <Noire> Two inches. There is a height difference of two inches. The size gap is… other things. Details? No. Still, for four years spanning an entire adolescence in the case of most people, that's not as much of a difference as one would expect. Noire returns it while giggling along, eyeing her own creepy grin in the mirror. And then it gets wiped off when they pull away. "Okay~! Now, let's- … oh wait a sec, you were in the middle of something, weren't you?" Oh god oh god, don't look into her eyes lest they create a supernova of adorable.
[20:09:09] <Lecia> Well, so much for accidental breast-in-face. Damn that height. BUT ANYWAY, A LOOK INTO THE EYES OF ADORABLE. "No, no, that can wait~" And it could, for she was a bit ahead to begin with- "-wait, one moment…" A run to the game, as she hits End Turn. She's seen these enemy's attacks far too much already, and with auto-actions on for MAXIMUM SPEEDPLAYING, the enemy's turn's reactions played
[20:09:10] <Lecia> themselves. Soon afterwards, Lecia ran back. "OK~"
[20:13:17] <Noire> It's still incredibly painful to look at that. Holy- whatever religions are still popular. Holy FSM. That said, a very sane Noire stares at the screen as it goes off, in that really annoying 'person who's older than you but doesn't understand your hobby' way. Or at least, that's how it seems until she suddenly gasps while pointing at it. "W-Wait a second, is that-!"
[20:19:52] <Lecia> You have to understand her hobby, it's the only way to achieve a good end with her in any way! This may or may not be happening, as the turn goes by. It was almost a critical to her until the 'is that' part, where she stares at Noire expectantly. DON'T MESS IT UP! Or rather, AT LEAST GET CLOSE!
[20:22:06] <Noire> "… Oh, nevermind. Eheheh." A nervous giggle signifies by trampling onto the hobby without knowing what it was, she'd done something horrible. "Just the way everything was set up… kinda reminded me of something that came out a few years back." Head-tilt. "Uhh, what was it again? Ice Badge?"
[20:29:25] <Lecia> OW, you dun messed up. The critical happened, and the disapointment is evident in the resulting "Oh…". Still, a shred of hope was said during the complete and utter failure to say Fire Emblem. At least she had a ROUGH idea as to what was actually going on. "Fire Emblem, yeah."
[20:33:18] <Noire> A whistle as the mob crits. Didn't expect that from Noire, huh? But then a pep up. "Oh, yeah! I… whoops. Eheheh. I had a lot of time for this kinda stuff when I was your age too. Then I… " Headshake, headshake. Can't get all sappy here. "Forget it! This looks like one heck of a part you're at. I was gooooing to ask if you were hungry, but… want me to just go down and grab something?" A triumphant thumbs-up. "On me!"
[20:35:32] <~Charm> *bzzzzzz~ bzzzzzz~* sounds like someone's phone vibrating.
[20:37:10] <Noire> Great. Well, they all have phones. Noire's weight zero pounds at any given time so even if it did vibrate it would be nigh-impossible to notice. "… Uh, wait a sec. That yours?"
[20:37:40] <Lecia> Who's phone? A look around is made to check. But anyway…let's avoid the sappiness. LET'S SALVAGE THE REMAINING GOOD FROM THIS ENCOUNTER! "OK, surprise me~" …she doesn't know what's there, but that's best for the surprisement, isn't it?
[20:38:18] <Noire> Who's phone? That's a good question. Who IS phone?
[20:38:25] <~Charm> It's probably hers. As stated previously, Noire's wouldn't buzz much
[20:38:26] <Noire> Or… who was-
[20:39:29] <Lecia> True, true. "Ah, that's mine." A movement is made to pick up the phone. Who could be calling?
[20:40:15] <Noire> The march out is very much halted. Gotta keep staring at how adorably she fills out that small-size outfit. Or, well, the one that shrunk in the wash a lot. Holy crap it's cute.
[20:40:35] <~Charm> Who the hell else would be calling? Its Julie.
[20:41:37] <Lecia> You never know. She has a bunch of other numbers on that phone. Like…2? 3? Maybe 4? Whatever. "Hello, Lecia speaking~"
[20:42:52] <~Charm> "Hey, it's me. What's up?"
[20:42:55] <Noire> Yeah, really, stop being so insensitive, it could've been Noire calling. Speaking of which, she's been inching toward the door as promised all this time but does so incredibly slowly. Floating toward it obviously.
[20:44:31] <Lecia> "Not much. Having fun, Noire is over~" Happy happy funshine~
[20:45:14] <Noire> A wave at the phone. Not like she can see that- just kidding, she can, she's obviously a Clairsentient. Not the point though.
[20:45:31] <~Charm> "Oh, cool. Listen, if you two have a moment, you think you could swing by the Library a little later? Something I wanna show you."
[20:46:55] <Noire> The question here is, is speakerphone on? Does speakerphone even exist in 2054? Because if not, a blank stare.
[20:47:15] <Lecia> "OK, we'll swing by later~" That last part was added on because she's totally aware she's getting stared at right now. She doesn't mind this.
[20:47:54] <~Charm> "Awesome. See you when you get here." *click*
[20:48:15] <~Charm> Well, that was interesting.
[20:49:43] <Noire> Guess not. "Huh, what happened?"
[20:50:53] <Lecia> Indeed it was. What could this thing be~? "Julie said she has something to show us, so we should swing by the Library later. I wonder what it is~?"
[20:52:36] <Noire> "Ohhh. Ohhhhh!" Still looking over. God damn that's cute. "Both of us, you mean? Why don't we like, go pick up something to eat on the way, then?" Her eyebrows narrow a little as if saying 'don't you dare change out of that,' but the tensing quickly fades.
[20:53:56] <Lecia> She wasn't dreaming of it. Hell, she might ask if she can keep it. But that's waiting until later. "Yeah, both of us-good idea~" Lecia's ready to roll!
[20:54:15] <Noire> "You sure you're okay… you know… leaving that on?" A point at the screen.
[20:57:24] <Lecia> …Right. RIGHT. In the excitement, she forgot about that. She hurries to it, and now that it's her turn, a tried and true Quick Save is made, quickly. Then a quick power off, and look, she's ready to roll again~ "Better~"
[20:59:33] <Noire> "Alriiiiight~!" This tilde habit is contagious. Kicking the incredibly light door open so hard it barely doesn't fall off its hinges, Noire peeks out and glances around the halls before skipping out. "Okay, let's go… that place downstairs okay? I mean… we could always just take the FUN route to the Library and see if there's something along the way, I guess, maybe."
[21:00:37] <Lecia> FUN route. "Fun route!"
[21:03:25] <Noire> "FUN route~!" Grabbing Lecia's hand, Noire… actually runs back into the room and shuts the door again. Then, assuming there's a balcony, they both run out and jump straight off of it like fucking insane people. There… IS a balcony, right?
[21:03:45] <Noire> 2d6+9 yes yes, don't even ask
[21:03:46] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, yes yes, don't even ask: 17 [2d6=6,2]
[21:03:50] <Noire> 1d6 oh damnit
[21:03:52] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, oh damnit: 4 [1d6=4]
[21:04:58] <~Charm> A small one. But yeah.
[21:06:55] <Lecia> FUN ROUTE! With how Noire can make things float if they like trip over themselves or something, there's not TOO much danger. So, FUN.
[21:07:00] <Noire> Yep. Leaping straight out like a lunatic… a lunar-tic. Hey look, Noire actually IS having fun on the night that the moon's out. Isn't it always great when you're right about something? Weighing an absolute nothing, they both begin to float up high enough to not be noticed by anyone. "Okay~ If we go this high, we can just go there and nobody'll see anything… you don't feel like you're gonna fall or anything, right?"
[21:07:13] <Noire> … Noire does, though. Something may or may not feel kind of weird maybe.
[21:08:22] <~Charm> It feels really weird - but at the same time it felt amazing, the moon's light peeking through the clouds and empowering the girl's magic even more.
[21:08:55] <Lecia> Oh god they're flying on THIN AIR. "K-kind of, but that makes it more fun!" Adawwwwww.
[21:09:30] <Noire> That's it? Really? … Oh, wait, there it goes, one eye starts glowing… but it stops after a second unless cued. And d'awwwwwww indeed. "You bet! Okay, look down and tell me if… urgh…"
[21:12:47] <Lecia> And oh god the eye glowed. She did look down, but at night, that glowing is probably a bit more visible. The amazement of HEIGHTS ON THIN AIR sort of has a struggle with concern about being stuck with our Not-Noire of the moment. Concern triumphs over all, especially considering that if it's an insane one, she might need to focus well enough to make a floating platform. "W-what's wrong?"
[21:17:40] <Noire> Without skipping a beat, she shakes her head and smiles softly. Something's odd though… maybe it's the silver streaks in her hair? Or maybe it's the fact that she isn't wearing a matching outfit anymore. "No, it's nothing. It's just difficult to manage the weight of two people to keep from falling down, but keep from floating off into space too. Hehe." As her two different-colored eyes stare back, she doesn't seem to notice anything being unusual.
[21:20:40] <Lecia> Will this stop Lecia from freaking out and panicking a bit? Of course not, and as such, non-verbal cues as to what she's feeling are a given, alongside the verbal ones. "A-ah, I see…"
[21:22:02] <Noire> A sudden expression of worry, still not noticing anything's glanced. Even her attitude. "Is… is everything alright? Are you feeling sick? We can land…" A point to a restaurant of the GM's choice, have fun fluffing. "… Over there, perhaps?"
[21:23:43] <~Charm> It's a fast food burger joint. No, they didn't go out of style yet.
[21:24:38] <Lecia> Feeling sick? Sort of. In a completely and totally different way. And hey, fast food. The sooner later is, the better, I guess. "I don't feel sick, but you kind of…yeah, let's stop there."
[21:25:32] <Noire> Oh damnit. Well, it's the place they hand at in nervousness, until Not-Noire gets to look into a window upon doing so. "I… whoa! When did this happen?" Looking over her face and hands frantically, some panic attacks and simultaneous attempts to take slow, deep breaths follow. They don't go well.
[21:25:38] <Noire> 2d6+6 how cool am I
[21:25:39] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, how cool am I: 14 [2d6=5,3]
[21:26:54] <Noire> Or maybe they do?
[21:28:43] <Lecia> Who knows if they do or don't? "…about when I started to panic. Eh heh." Yeah. But hey, they said they were going to stop, this is on the way.
[21:30:05] <~Charm> Well, it's not like the two girls get too many stares. Certainly no more than the hotel.
[21:30:52] <Noire> That sounds like an okay for detransformation. Okay then. But first: "I'm sorry. I should've paid more attention." Then a REAL deep breath as her clothing begins to disintegrate, streaks vanish, etc.
[21:35:35] <Lecia> And matching outfits once again! Because there's something there AFTER the disintergration, obviously. Lecia takes a sigh in relief at the detransformation. "That's OK, you're all better now~"
[21:36:27] <Noire> "Nnnnngaaaah! Why does it keep haaaaaaaappening?" Of course, matching outfits. But Noire stomps on the ground with a pout. Then a pause. "Eheheh… whoops!"
[21:36:37] <~Charm> Given the massive amount of people around, chances are no one noticed. Gonna get some food?
[21:36:55] <Noire> "'Kay, let's go inside. THEN we can stop by… maybe it won't happen again?"
[21:38:19] <Lecia> "Let's hope so." And INTO THE BURGER JOINT, THEY GO!
[21:39:15] <Noire> And do they describe their orders? Fuck no, they eat future-burgers and leave. TO THE LIBRARY.
[21:39:48] <~Charm> Of course. It's all the same shit anyway. Library actually has stuff worth describing.
[21:40:17] <Noire> Gotcha covered, chief. Hypenoire can only give a look upon exiting, though. "So… wanna walk?"
[21:46:10] <Lecia> Burger joints. Burger joints never change. "Hmm….sure~ After eating that stuff, I should exercise a little~" Walking isn't quite exercise, but it works, doesn't it? It's not like she can eat all the sweets she wants to without getting fat.
[21:46:24] <~Charm> The Library, Geneva || 1512 hours, GMT+1
[21:47:30] <~Charm> Julie is waiting for you outside, in a wardrobe that's notably casual for her.
[21:49:13] <Lecia> And if it's casual, that means it isn't business stuff! This can be a good or a bad thing. "Hi Julie~"
[21:49:14] <Noire> And notable casual for the two of them, both Noire and Lecia show in matching outfits. And it's so adorable that anybody looking at them takes 2 unreducable damage with no save. Hope Julie has a lot of resolve.
[21:49:26] <Noire> Still, a big, energetic wave. "Sorry we took so long!"
[21:50:50] <~Charm> "It's fine. The two of you getting along well I see?" Yeah, Julie has tons of resolve. "Anyway, I was going over a few things, inventory and such."
[21:52:42] <Noire> Getting along well? Ohh, too well. "Hehehe. You could say that." And then listening.
[21:52:42] <~Charm> "May have come across a few things that seem up your alley."
[21:52:59] <Noire> An excited jump up. "Giant monsters?!"
[21:53:28] <~Charm> "…" Julie just looks at Noire funny.
[21:54:24] <Noire> "… Aaw."
[21:54:49] <Lecia> "Yep~" Except the parts where she transforms, but even that might get better with time. And this something…perhaps magical? That-OR IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE AWESOME! What could it be? Collectibles? Games? …magic related things? Whatever Noire likes? "What is it? …or what are they?"
[21:58:26] <~Charm> "a couple little charms that am associate from the New York branch." In one hand is a silver heart-shaped charm, the other a strange black grey cube.
[21:59:33] <Noire> That cube gets a good eyeing. Something seems more suspicious about it than the other one. "… Huh. They don't shoot laser beams or anything, right?" A couple steps closer, but that's about it.
[22:00:46] <~Charm> "Not exactly…"
[22:01:24] <Lecia> Lecia looks closer at both. After all, "They're both pretty, though~"
[22:02:08] <Noire> Nodalong. "Yeah, they really are. But…" A pause, then her head tilts to one side. "You're showing us these because they have something to do with magic, right? With us, maybe?"
[22:02:49] <~Charm> "With magic, yes. I just figure you could use them better than I could.
[22:03:54] <Noire> And then a grabby hand reaches out for the black one, feeling oddly pulled to it. "So… lemme get this straight: you don't know what they do, but want us to find out? That close?"
[22:04:51] <~Charm> "Well I have sort of an idea, but I haven't tested the specifics. It'll make things a lot smoother for you, though."
[22:06:02] <Noire> Pausin'. "Well, if it's us you're giving these to, they must be something we really need. Eheheh."
[22:06:36] <~Charm> "This heart shaped one smooths things over if you accidentally transform, and the box…well it can just store a ton of stuff."
[22:07:26] <Lecia> Hey, she got that one first. So, the Silver Heart it is! After all, it's not purple, what could go wrong? She goes to get that one, because why not? "Thank you~" And then she hears that it smooths over accidental transformations. Those…definitely hurt for Lecia, but then there's Noire…
[22:08:16] <Noire> "… Oh." And then, turning to Lecia, an awkward stare-off. Really really really awkward.
[22:09:44] <~Charm> "…Something wrong?"
[22:10:31] <Lecia> …wait a second, wait a second. "…wait, define smooth over. Like, actually make it not happen as much, or just make it hurt less?"
[22:10:35] <Noire> "Well…" There's actually a DEEP backstory about Noire having left behind all her belongings except all those really cute uniforms. Or at least a lot of them. So a storage-box is totally worthless. The other one actually MEANS something.
[22:11:32] <~Charm> "…Oh." She figures out the dilemma. "It's something you both could use, isn't it…"
[22:12:46] <Noire> Cough. "D-Don't worry! I'll be alright! Thanks a lot for c-calling us out here any everything." Oh yeah, the nervousness is there..
[22:13:37] <~Charm> "No, no…now I feel like a jerk since I can't just give you each one…"
[22:14:41] <Noire> "Eheh." Headrub. "Why would you be a jerk calling out people you just met to give them things for free? That's silly! Lessy'd probably be happy with it anyway. And…" A stare at the box for a really long time. "… How does this thing work again? Does it, like, grow or something?"
[22:15:45] <~Charm> "Something like that. Push the button." oh, there is a small red button on one side.
[22:16:25] <Noire> Walking over to a good spot where there's a lot of space, Noire totally does push the button. The moon smiles and she grins evilly back at it.
[22:17:00] <Lecia> How DOES the box work? A look, who knows what it will do?
[22:18:45] <~Charm> What it does is expand quickly. Within a minute it's a 10-by-10 foot walk-in closet.
[22:21:14] <Noire> 10 feet? That high? Then it's not quite a climb. After Noire peers in it, she starts floating up higher and higher before landing on top of it, provided it has a stable enough ceiling. And then a giggle, leaning down and extending a hand. "… Okay! This can totally be like some kinda airship this way, can't it? Wanna see if it'll work?" The hand extended is intended for both of them, obviously, as very slowly some magic starts getting pumped into the thing to lift it off the air. It's really straining.
[22:22:04] <~Charm> Well, not *that* straining. It's a giant empty box.
[22:22:44] <Noire> Making an entire closet weightless to be able to fly on it? … Well, if you say so. Still an attempt to see if Lecia and Julie will actually climb on.
[22:23:11] <Lecia> "Whoa…I could totally put a bunch of my stuff in there!" SHOW INTEREST, LET HER HAVE THE HEART! But still, Noire poses a fun idea too! "Sure!" And the hand is taken, fun times~!
[22:23:37] <~Charm> Nah, Julie will stay on terra nova thank you very much
[22:23:49] <Noire> HOIST. And then a giggle, extending a hand down again, only to be disappointed. "… You sure?"
[22:24:24] <Noire> Then a small sigh, turning to the side. "Oh, I know! Why don't we just… um, y'know…" Wiggle wiggle. "Share?"
[22:24:43] <~Charm> "I…" she turns away. Seems she really doesn't want to leave the ground.
[22:25:18] <Noire> "Well… gimme a sec to see if I can at least lift it." Focus, focus…
[22:25:33] <Noire> 2d6+10 and hey if I transform that's so much more incentive to share the other thing
[22:25:35] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, and hey if I transform that's so much more incentive to share the other thing: 18 [2d6=2,6]
[22:25:38] <Noire> 1d6 yep
[22:25:40] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, yep: 6 [1d6=6]
[22:25:42] <Noire> 1d6 YYYYYYYYYYEP
[22:25:44] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, YYYYYYYYYYEP: 5 [1d6=5]
[22:27:28] <Lecia> "…What's wrong?" Something has to be wrong if you don't want to FLY ON AN AIRSHIP.
[22:27:47] <~Charm> "…I'm afraid of heights. Okay?"
[22:27:49] <Noire> And the giant box GLISTENS WITH MOONLIGHT, LIKE IT'S GROWING WIIIIINGS AND SOARING INTO THE SKY. As it takes off into the air, Noire starts glistening a little too, acting like she's a little sick while it happens.
[22:28:17] <Noire> "Okay~! Be r…" Vlip. "We'll return shortly." And a totally different voice too.
[22:32:54] <Lecia> What kind of magical girl person is she if she's afraid of heights?! …Not like Lecia thinks it, at least not like that-oh god. Lecia totally has the heart charm, and it's pretty much pushed into Noire's hands.
[22:33:05] <~Charm> "…You know, if you overuse your magic too much, it'll backlash." Julie looks a mite concerned.
[22:37:28] <Noire> "Ah… I'm sorry." After lifting up and spinning around a little, it THUDs back down on the ground. Noire doesn't seem to have changed back, still in her not-so-modest costume and not matching again. A few seconds are spent to stare at the charm. "Does it… not work?"
[22:38:41] <~Charm> "Well, that charm works in pretty subtle ways. You…feel okay?"
[22:40:12] <Noire> Headshake, with a small frown. "The same. The only difficult part about it is undoing it." A long time spent staring at the charm while trying to detransform again. Needs concentration. Better not be a rabbit this time.
[22:41:05] <~Charm> Lucky her. No rabbit.
[22:43:21] <Noire> Oh, how nice and comforting. "Aaaaargh! It happened again, didn't it?" A loud sigh as the box hits the ground with a thud; Noire jumps off. "Eheh… maybe my magic just doesn't work in the right way for it to work or something? Maybe you should hang onto it." A pause for a second. "… Oh, but you can use this too, because you actually HAVE stuff to put in it, right?" Another small giggle. "Don't worry then, take 'em both! And when we need to ride this thing… we could all hop on together, right?"
[22:44:52] <~Charm> As she does this, Noire is bathed in lunar light. Which is weird seeing as it's still mid-afternoon
[22:45:08] <Lecia> And success! "Whew…so it did happen again…well, I really COULD use this box, actually. …would I be able to go home and get some of the other stuff I left behind, maybe…" Probably not, but she'll say it anyway. And now, fancy stuff.
[22:47:37] <Noire> It's bright. She covers her eyes for a second too, but is already trying to think of ways to use this thing. "I wonder just how fast I could make it go~"
[22:47:58] <~Charm> "Well…If the two of you can figure out how to share that…I'm sure you'll find uses for these."
[22:49:15] <Noire> A big smile… well, no, more than that. Noire walks up to Julie WEARING that big smile.
[22:49:59] <Noire> … And then pecks her on the cheek once with a chuckle, drawing back immediately after. "Thanks a lot! We reaaaaally appreciate it."
[22:51:20] <~Charm> She just blinks. Unexpected, certainly. But she is collected enough to not get visibly flustered over it. "You're welcome. Now, run along, you two - I'm sure you have better things to do than stand around a dusty old relic like this all day."
[22:52:44] <Noire> Oh yeah, she's still glowing. "… Pffff. You mean you didn't really have more work for us to do? Aw maaan, and we already finished everything thinking we were going to too!" A pout.
[22:54:12] <~Charm> "Well, the four of you aren't my only employees. We have things well in hand - I'll call you all when something comes up that you all can handle."
[22:55:01] <Noire> A smily sigh. "Well, all riiiiiight." Lecia gets a snarky glance. "Wanna see how fast we can get back to the hotel?"
[22:55:54] <Lecia> …is she still glowing-she is still glowing. Either way, Lecia is totally listening along, and she can't help stare at GLOWING NOIRE all the while. "OK~" RACING! And exercise to work off those burgers, too.
[22:56:26] <Noire> Not quite that. The box is still open, and there's a motion to actually get inside it.
[22:57:49] <Lecia> …Oh. OOOHHHHHHHH. "Oooohhhhhhhhh~" IN THE BOX, SHE GOES. FUN TIMES.
[22:59:15] <Noire> 2d6+10 NOPE ONE MORE
[22:59:15] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, NOPE ONE MORE: 17 [2d6=6,1]
[22:59:21] <Noire> 1d6 DON'T YOU LOVE THIS GAME GUYS
[22:59:23] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, DON'T YOU LOVE THIS GAME GUYS: 6 [1d6=6]
[22:59:26] <Noire> 1d6 I SURE DO!
[22:59:28] <DiceMaid-9001> Noire, I SURE DO!: 5 [1d6=5]
[22:59:45] <Noire> AND IT TAKES OFF. Lucky Lecia doesn't get to see what's going on above.
[23:01:19] <~Charm> As the two sail off on magical weightless wings, Julie stands there, quickly picking up her phone.
[23:01:25] <Lecia> Assuming the box is closed, a "whoooaaaaaaaaa" is heard inside. Otherwise, a "WHOOOOOAAAAAAAAA" is heard.
[23:03:39] <~Charm> "Talk to me. … both of them? Yeah, I made sure to pass that off. … no, I didn't tell them what was in it. … Okay honey, see you soon."
[23:03:50] <~Charm> (/session)