Lunar Interlude 5

[balancemod]

looks like i'm in charge now NAVIGATION Click here for the RNG thread! 1. FROM THERE TO HERE AND THERE IS GONE A. YOUR ARRIVAL For those of you who were just casually (or not so casually) pulled between the universes, depending on how you viewed your home world, your day just got a whole lot worse. You can't really remember what happened, but the grass beneath you is plush and comfortable, and out in the well manicured field of trees you're sitting in are ... well, a fairly sizeable crowd of people. The Director has pulled in new Reclaimers so often by this point that it's become something of an event. And quite frankly, according to the murmurs of other members of the Bureau, she's become pretty adept at picking some real weirdos. The Director, standing before you dressed in regal robes, clears her throat and begins to speak. She doesn't appear to be wearing any mics, but her voice is somehow amplified so that it booms through the Quad, and onto the Bracers of those who aren't in the Quad. When she's done, there's silence. In the distance, trains. No, really, you most definitely heard the sound of a train just now. That's probably normal. In any case, you have a few minutes to gather your bearings before you're taken to your initiation. You can talk with other newbies who are sitting there with you, or if you happen to spot somebody you know among the crowd watching, now's your chance to reunite with them. And maybe one of those people out there will be able to relay a fact to you, even if you can't remember exactly how: Your world, and the people who were there and are not here, are now gone. B. THE VOIDFISH Once you have your bearings, you are divided into small groups of three or four and brought to the easternmost geodesic dome, to an elevator in a well maintained, but sparsely landscaped field. There's nothing particularly ominous feeling about the space — in fact, the two guards who greet you at the elevator entrance seem pleased with your arrival. You are, after all, one of the few chosen by the Director, the few who will reclaim what the Hunger has destroyed. And in a few moments, you're about to find that out for yourself. After a tightly packed elevator ride, your group is ushered out to a rather grand looking hall, banners of the Bureau of Balance adorn both sides of smooth metal walls. And inside the Voidfish's chamber stands a tank — impossibly tall, and soaked in a black ink that obscures whatever the tank may be holding. Standing by the tank is a bard, who happens to be reciting the lyrics to a song. Considering what he's about to do with the sheets of paper in his hands, the lyrics might be apt enough. When he's finished, he takes the sheets of paper — sheet music — opens a drawer at the bottom of the tank, drops the papers in, and shuts it. And swiftly, you feel as if there's something you can't just shake off about the melody you just heard. If you seem alarmed, the bard takes notice of it. "Yeah, man, like... don't think too hard about it, it's like that every time. I'm guessing you're here to be inoculated? Just a heads up, you might want to, like, seriously, hold your nose while you drink it down. It tastes wicked gross, man." You sort of get the sense that he's said this speech once or twice in the past. It's well rehearsed, much like the stories you'd expect a bard to be able to recite. "Anyway, I'm supposed to tell you that you have a choice. If you drink the black stuff, you'll be able to hear through the, uh... Huh, how do I describe it? Through the [TSHCSCHTSHCHSC] sound. You guys like, hear that? Anyway, it's all about knowledge or something. I don't know, I'm just here to, like, feed the thing. We call it the [TSCHHSCHSCH], by the way. So, like. You get a choice. You can drink it and understand stuff, or not drink it and then hear that crackling noise all day every day. If I were you, I'd drink it. But, hey man, I'm not like, your dad or anything." The bard takes five cups and draws liquid from a spigot connected directly to the basin of the large tank. Stormy, muddy looking ichor is drawn into them, one by one. He offers each of you a sip. Drink it (he wasn't kidding about what it tasted like), and you're inoculated to the wisdom of the Voidfish. You try to remember the song this bard sang a few moments ago and the melody, the meter, every octave, all come back to you. And if you think back to your arrival, some of the things you may have heard other people in the Quad say, that simply sounded like static, are suddenly clear. Bureau of Balance. Grand Relic. Reclaimers. Yet you still can't remember the Hunger or what it had done to your world. And as you look back to the tank in front of you, the water has become clear. There's a jellyfish, as tall as a building, floating within. You look into the body of the creature and you can almost make out a beautiful, tiny universe floating within it. 2. TEST OF INITIATION You are immediately divided into pairs and brought to the Arena, a large building that is capable of running several simulations for combat training, events, or, in this case, your Test of Initiation. When you and your partner walk into the Arena, the simulators switch to Initiation Mode, the scenery shifts, and your test begins. The experience is wildly different for each group — that's because the test will be drawing from both of your experiences back home. Initiation Mode replicates an amalgam of thoughts, metaphors, and ideas between the two people who signed up in order to make an obstacle course suited to appropriately test their ability to stay focused. This is a good opportunity to introduce new CR to some of the thoughts and feelings that your character has going on through their mind, their preferences, or give away a piece of information about themselves that might not be on the surface level. For example, let's say that your character was born on a ship, and spent their entire childhood growing up at sea. Your partner's life involves a lifetime of academic research (setting aside our dearth of smart archetypes for a sec here). An amalgamation suited for the Test of Initiation may involve navigating a ship through choppy seas with flying book monsters that breathe fire. Be as creative as you want! The design is 100% left up to you. All tests will eventually lead toward a room with a relic locked within it. What that looks like is up also up to you! If you need a few ideas, though, it could be: A bright red pair of gloves that can manipulate matter, or a ball of yarn that can roll up pretty much anything. Regardless of what the relic looks like, all you have to do to pass is retrieve the relic without using it. 3. AROUND THE MOON BASE The Director's sudden absence isn't particularly anything new, given she spent the majority of her time on Lyrabar, leaving the Moon Base to manage itself. It is the first time Lucas has been left entirely in charge of it though. Controlled chaos becomes something of a much less controlled chaos. The sound of trains in the distance, though nobody can seem to pinpoint where they're coming from, isn't helping. Though, that isn't necessarily Lucas' fault It's largely the fault of a technomancer supposedly stuck on a different plane and infecting the Moon Base's tech. She's figured out where the Director went, and she's going to be using the next two weeks to her advantage. It's hard to say what her motives are here. But then, Miss Zarves has always been a little bit inexplicable. C. WHAT A CRUMMY WEEKEND THIS HAS BEEN Oh man, Miss Zarves has been wanting to try this thing she wrote for ages, and for a few weeks at least, she's figured out how to override the Director's simulation settings. Did you know the Moon Base has an arcade? You're about to find out if not: If you happen to wander into the Arena, you'll find yourself inexplicably trapped in a simulation based off of an arcade game — and no, you're not going to get out until you win. As a note, you can't die in these simulations, but you can be busted up a bit. You can repeatedly get game overs until you win. You can run with any game on the conveniently copyright infringement free list linked above however you like, but here are a few settings to get you started: ○ Mesozoic Park: The Lost Chult. You and a friend find yourselves in a lush jungle, with no clear path to the escape helicopter. Using your wits and path actions, you are going to need to clear one for yourselves. And thanks to not wanting to be sued by Michael Crichton's estate, the T-Rex that's chasing you down in this game is actually in the correct era. Once both you and your friend are safely strapped into the helicopter, the simulation will end. (As a side note, Lucretia would actually approve of this one — there are many very powerful monsters out there in Faerun, and learning to outrun/outwit/defeat them is a vital ability.) ○ Immortal Wombat: Actually becoming a wombat is optional. You and a friend will be situated in the middle of the arena, with a very loud and very rowdy simulated crowd surrounding you. As the name of the game implies, this simulation will not end until one of you is KO'd. Again, these are just a few examples! Feel free to use any of the games listed as you see fit. E. THERE'S NO ESCAPE The town, though it might not rely as heavily on Moon Base tech as the rest of the Bureau does, isn't exactly escaping unscathed either. It's more like, Miss Zarves find you Reclaimers a lot more entertaining than a bunch of shopkeepers who have had to put up with a deals warlock's shenanigans long enough that it's hard to surprise them. That said, if shopping or the occasional dining is on your agenda in town, then you'll find that you'll be able to do so largely unhindered. Shopping at Fantasy Costco is normal, too, if Garfield being himself falls under your usual definition of normal. There is one exception, though: It's a small alleyway that leads to the back entrance of Madame Frione's Tea Kettle. Step into it, and weirdly, you'll find that something unseen is blocking your exit. And then, a message appears on your bracer. From: Zarves♥Scarves hello!!!! since madam in charge is off tryin to fix something i thought id help out a bit you know like a team building exercise so you can do the bureau thing better sounds fun right??? anyway what would u say is your least favorite thing about yourself go on dont be shy You won't get a response from Miss Zarves, but you will find that you won't be able to leave until you respond to her text with something. And you'll also find that whatever you answer? It's automatically sent to the entire network. FYI: If you lie in your response, whatever's blocking you in will suddenly give way — you'll be able to move about three feet before there's suddenly another one blocking your escape. Unfortunately, it looks like if you want to escape this, you're going to have to be honest with yourself. And the network, as it were! E. LET'S JUST ESCAPE There is a very easy way to avoid anything a technomancer tries to do to mess with you, of course: Avoid the tech she's using to mess with you. And after the sort of messed up mission that Lyrabar was, and after the sort of screwed up ordeal that is being initiated into the Bureau to begin with, some of you will probably want to just chill out for a bit, too. Here are a few suggestions! ○ Another small art studio with a supply of magic paintbrushes has been set up in the Academy. Previously, the paintbrushes had painted in a color that represented the energy you're giving off. Nowadays, it's a bit more versatile: You can now change the color you're painting with by simply thinking about it. ○ Speaking of the Academy, there are a few new classes available: "Logic and Puzzles for the Easily Puzzled," led by a rather intelligent chemist who tends to speak in riddles herself; "Charmed, I'm Sure," led by a warlock who seems to have an uncanny sort of charisma, and knitting. What? You guys don't want to knit? Additionally, if you are interested in reading up on some of the advanced paths unlocked so far, the materials unlocked have been made available in the Artificer's Office. If there's an advanced path your character wants to reach someday, now's a good time as any for them to start studying it. ○ Before leaving, the Director set up a comfortable pile of large pillows and blankets out by the Whomping Willow in the Quad. Feel free to have as many sleepovers as you want. The Whomping Willow will also offer advice if you ask it, though it's particularly good at dispensing love advice. ○ WILDCARD: This is, of course, your time to rest as you see fit. Please feel free to use the setting however you wish!

Comments

Shuichi Saihara | ota unless otherwise specified

[diffidentive]

a. Initiation: An A-maze-ing Heist Investigation [closed to Kokichi]
[He was tired...so tired. Even though he'd just spent nearly a day (or was it several days? or maybe just a few hours? he dimly remembers the announcements playing but...it's so hard to be sure now...) lying in bed and doing absolutely nothing, he felt more tired than he ever had in his life.]

[Or maybe it's just the weight of the truth that made him feel that way.]

[He'd thought perhaps he was dreaming when he'd heard that stern-yet-gentle voice speaking to him. Or maybe hallucinating, when he'd seen her hand reaching out to him from a darkness somehow so much denser than normal. But he's come to realize now that it was neither of those things. It really had happened, despite all logic.]

[Under normal circumstances, he'd probably be more curious about the weird interference affecting the speech of the strange woman before him. Not to mention the fact that he's suddenly in the middle of a park he's never seen before in his life. But he's not. He's not curious about either of those things, or anything else for that matter. He just doesn't have it in him any more. What's the point to any of this? And so, he stares at her with unfixed eyes, barely taking in a word she says or registering just how many other people are there with him. Everything is just so hazy and unclear...]

[And then he'd been led away with a few other strangers, down into a dark chamber where a bard had sung words he'd only dimly registered. And when he was handed a glass of incredibly questionable black ichor, he hadn't protested or questioned it. He didn't care enough to be suspicious, and so he'd decided to take the bard’s advice and drink it. It’s not like he had anything to lose by drinking it. Their world had been destroyed centuries ago...all life had been wiped out, save for sixteen students who had now become seven thanks to the atrocious killing gam-- oh dear god that is definitely the most disgusting thing he's ever tasted in his life. And taking it on a day's empty stomach had made it even worse. But as he threw up in his mouth a little bit, some of the haziness started to go away. As the bard said it would, the more static haziness that had been affecting him since he’d arrived here (wherever "here" is) disappeared, leaving behind only the blurriness that had followed him here from his dorm room. The blurriness that he could only call despair. A despair that dulled his sense of wonder, surprise, and shock so much that he couldn't really react to the sudden appearance of a giant jellyfish in the formerly empty tank before him. He just stares at it, as unable to take his eyes off of it as he is to name the emotion stirring feebly in his chest at the sight of it.]

[He hadn't even realized he was being led away a second time until he'd found himself standing in the middle of a gladiator’s arena. Once again, people had been talking, but he'd barely understood a word. Something about a test; about simulators and a partner, how it would be "his turn soon" (they really should have taken them down to the voidfish in even-numbered groups, whose genius idea was it to take only three at once when the simulation requires pairs!!)...it had all been little more than meaningless buzzing to Shuichi. So he stands vacantly in the arena, waiting for something else to happen...]

b. Whalecome to the Moonbase [closed to Kaede]
[He...should have been paying more attention to everything that was said before he took his test. Or at least tried, even though his despair-fogged brain really hadn't wanted to. Because now that it's over, he doesn't have a clue what he's supposed to do next. He manages to find his way back to the quad, but he's not sure where he's supposed to go from there. There's nobody to guide him to his next objective, whatever it is.]

[He glances nervously around the quad, clutching the small plush killer whale he'd received after his test to his stomach. He has...no idea why they gave him this but he's not really complaining. He was oddly fond of Yacchi, hence why he'd kept it for himself after receiving it from the MonoMono Machine instead of giving it to one of his classmates. And it was nice to have SOMETHING familiar in the face of all this confusion and uncertainty. He really wishes Kokichi hadn't disappeared on him after their test, but he's not really surprised, given how things had gone in the maze (plus Kokichi's pressing need to obtain pants that WEREN'T covered in dried blood and a shirt so that he could give Shuichi his jacket back). But still...it would have been nice not to be alone right now.]

[He's just going to have to find someone to ask, that's really all there is to it. He's definitely not the only person in the quad, so it won't even be much of a search. Though...working up the nerve to approach a complete stranger is another matter entirely. He's gonna need a few minutes for that.]

c. Investigation Start!
[Kaede may have filled him in on the details of this place as much as she was able to, but Shuichi doesn't want to over-rely on her. He needs to see and do things for himself, so as not to be a burden. So once he's had a shower and good night's sleep and is feeling a bit more like himself, he heads out to explore the base.]

[For anyone who might have caught a glimpse of him during their arrival, they'll notice that Shuichi seems more cognizant of what's going on around him, rather than moving around like a despair-filled zombie. Gone is the dead to the world look in his eyes, and so is the pinstriped jacket he was wearing when he got here. Kokichi still has that...he needs to keep a look out for him as long as he's out investigating. Surely, the leader has had enough time to get a shirt of his own by now.]

[Shuichi's investigation will take him all over the moon base. You may come across him 1. in the greenhouse, walking around and looking at all the plants. Occasionally, he stops to look at a plant more closely, crouching down if necessary. The longer he looks at the plant, the more surprised (and vaguely unnerved) his expression becomes. Or perhaps you come across him later, when he's made his way to the 2. art studio, where he looks curiously through the supplies and at any works in progress that may have been left out. There's a weirdly melancholy look in his expression as he does so, though that's replaced with one of slightly judgmental dubiousness when he looks over the class schedule.]

[Eventually, he'll leave the quad and take his investigations to the 3. voidfish tank. As he expected, there isn't much to investigate here but he still spends quite a bit of time in the room. Once again, he can't seem to take his eyes off the jellyfish, though he can somewhat better identify the feeling that bubbles up in his chest at the sight of it than he could yesterday.]

d. un: Shuichi
Well...I don't have a "most" favorite thing about myself, or even just a regular favorite. So I don't really have a "least favorite", either.
Or maybe that just means my least favorite thing is everything?
Maybe I'm overthinking it. Hm...



The fact that I'm so weak, I guess?
I don't completely understand how this is team building, though. Can you elaborate on that?

[Give it a minute...]

e. A different kind of search: a research
[It doesn't take Shuichi long to decide which location in the moonbase is his favorite. That is, without a doubt, the Artificer's office. It's with great restraint that he keeps his initial investigation of the place very brief. He had an entire base to explore on that second day, after all, he couldn't afford to spend more time than necessary in any one location. But every day thereafter, he returns to the library for hours at a time.]

[Some days, he'll disappear into one of the quiet rooms to work on homework from his academy classes. (who else is taking that new class on logic and puzzles? This boy sure is.) On other days, he'll stay out in the main library itself, taking a seat at a table and surrounding himself with a small mountain of books. It always takes him several trips to build up this mountain, as he never seems able to carry more than three or four books at a time, depending upon thickness. But once he takes a seat, he pretty much doesn't get back up except when he's decided it's time to leave (after putting all the books away, of course), spending hours at a time flipping through tomes and occasionally scribbling something down in a notebook.]

f. wildcard
[ooc: Shuichi will be all over the base in his c. prompt so feel free to use one of the other public locations if you want. I had to force myself to stop at three for brevity's sake otherwise there would have been sub-prompts for half the alphabet. Hit me up on plurk (robokatar) if you want to plot something specific. I'm open to whatever.]

A, of course. Danganronpa V3 spoilers!!!

[slieght]

[The experience had been similar for Kokichi. Though his despair was brought on by something a lot bigger than secrets hidden within the cruel game they'd been playing. He'd died, sacrificed himself to try and ruin the game and help save the remaining players, only to find himself - as far as he was aware, initially - the only person left alive. Something had destroyed their world, and he'd selfishly accepted the offer to be saved when it was presented to him. And on top of that, everything hurt. Every single inch of him ached, coming and going in small waves, muscles and bones tensing as if they'd snap under some invisible weight at any moment. But the snapping never came. It would ebb away, the pain going with it, leaving him sore but alive.

Certainly alive enough to take in every word the Director says, turning it all over in his head once she's done speaking - she brought them here, but now she was leaving? How irresponsible - and they're lead off elsewhere. It isn't without questions that he drinks the strange liquid handed to him, but down the hatch it eventually goes. As disgusting as it is, if it's really all that important, he may as well do as told. What else is he supposed to do? And then, without given enough time to properly appreciate how stomach churning that strange liquid was and how vaguely horrifying the creature suddenly appearing in the tank is, they're lead away again. To take some "test", which is just downright unfair if you ask him.

This lady claims she's saving them, drags them to some other world, barely gives them an explanation before leaving, makes them drink some nasty fish piss swill and then wants to test them after all of that? What gives! But he has no energy to devote to protesting. Nor a lot of focus, that coming and going with what he assumes are some strange form of death throes by now. Lingering, maybe punishing him for choosing to survive over everyone else...and he doesn't focus enough on the other person in the arena as he's ushered in for his test before the doors are locked behind him and he can't escape.]

Saihara-chan?

[At least he makes his presence known pretty much immediately with a surprised yelp of the detective's name. He's also suddenly very aware of the state he's in, arms moving as if to cover his bare chest, or maybe a hand to hide the healed wound on his arm...wipe the blood off maybe?

But then the arena offers him a distraction from that entirely as their surroundings begin changing and shifting, which only herds the shorter boy closer to the other one as he looks around. He has no idea what's going on or what they're doing, but he doesn't want to get separated right from the start...but don't worry Shuichi. Maybe surprisingly, he keeps a comfortable distance away still. Just enough to stick together.]

right. yes. spoilers. i forgot to mark for those....

[diffidentive]

[It's not until everything begins to shift and grow darker that Shuichi realizes he's no longer alone in the arena. He turns around to face the newcomer, only to find that it's not a stranger at all. It's someone familiar. Very familiar.]

Oma...kun?

[He doesn't sound angry or even repulsed. There's some surprise in there, but mostly he just sounds as tired and dead as he looks. His hair is untidy and his clothes are a little rumpled, compared to the last time Kokichi saw him. He looks like he could use a shower and a nap, or at the very least some cold water slapped on his face and a cup coffee.]

[But his eyes don't stay on the leader for very long. There's kind of a lot going on around them, after all. His gaze is drawn away by the dark bars suddenly erupting from the ground and shooting skyward in arcs to form a great, domed cage far, far larger than the one around the Academy for Gifted Juveniles. Though it was obviously inspired by that, given the walls that along grow with it. The earthen ground beneath them becomes paved, though not smoothly so. The streets that stretch into being all around them are cracked and pot-holed, with faded paint to mark them. Likewise, the buildings that begin to fill the cage in close-knit formation are dingy and dark and the bulbs in the rusted lampposts flicker ominously over graffitied walls and chain link fences. It's a pretty bleak scene, to be certain. They've definitely found themselves on "the wrong side of town", and the fact that it's suddenly nighttime only makes that notion more powerful. A thin sliver of moon is visible between the bars of the cage and through the skyscrapers, but the sky is almost completely starless and even kind of smoggy-looking.]

Where...? [Wait, this is a simulation or something, isn't it? He's pretty sure he hear that word. So there's no point in asking where they are. They must still be inside that dome the arena was in. It's just...changed into this shithole, for some reason. So perhaps the better question is:] Why?

[slieght]

[The cage, the buildings, all of it springing up just pushes him closer and closer to the detective, eyes wide as he watches it all happen. Even the ground changes, and it's all pretty convincing. Too convincing, almost, causing his hair to stand on end as that feeling of "we shouldn't be here" creeps up his spine. He doesn't bother answering the first question, not even with some smarmy remark, but the second one Shuichi has brings his attention back to him.]

...we're taking some test of initiation.

[That's what other people had been saying. He doesn't even jab at Shuichi for not knowing that, despite being a detective. The boy looks like hell and he's not in any mood to push him away in a place like this...

As the city finishes filling out, the streets begin to do so as well. Faceless crowds slowly filter from the buildings nearby, pink and blue women and men milling about, minding their own business, doing whatever it is they need to do. Not the most polite, shouldering each other as they pass if anyone is in the way and even barking at people who are moving too slow. Hey Shuichi, Kokichi's just going to try and back you both out of the middle of the street, okay? Maybe towards this ratty looking awning that's just begging to have a conversation take place beneath it? It looks...........cozy?]

[diffidentive]

[Well that's not creepy at all! All these faceless silhouettes of people...definitely not creepy. Except, no it totally is, though Shuichi's body barely reacts to it. The prickling feeling on the back of his neck is so slight that he probably WOULD have just continued to stand there uselessly had Kokichi not been there to drag him away.]

[Which is to say, his attempt to get the detective to back away with him is an overwhelming success. He's almost like a limp ragdoll right now, and doesn't seem to mind the location Kokichi has chosen for them to move into. Sure, cozy. Totally cozy. What a nice awning.]

Ah...right. Right...

[He vaguely remembers somebody saying that, at some point between traveling from point a to b to c. Once they're cloistered away underneath the awning, Shuichi finally looks at the little leader more closely, frowning slightly at what he sees. Why...is he bloody? There don't seem to be any wounds, yet it does seem to be HIS blood, judging by the drip pattern on his arm. That can't have happened here though, could it? Kokichi's journey from the quad to here must have gone much the same as his own. So it must have happened before...]

...what happened to you?

[Where is your jacket??? Why are you shirtless, Kokichi?

u know the one

[gotyourbach]

[Oh my God. She'd missed everyone's arrival! There's sheet music sticking out of her backpack as she jogs toward the Quad, looking for familiar faces as she always has before to no avail. But surely, this time would be different! And if nothing else, maybe someone still needed help with their initiation test...?]

Aaaah, jeez!

[But it looks like most people have left already. She wheezes, resting her hands on her knees for a second to catch her breath before looking around more closely again. There's Minato, of course, and some people she doesn't recognize... well! At least she can check in with her friend and see if he met anyone he knew!]

Arisato-kun! [she calls, coming up alongside definitely-Minato and reaching up to smoosh down that stray piece of hair with a giggle.] Did you forget to brush your hair? It looks like mine today!

[Also something seems off about the color? She'll get to that in a second.]

i do. v3 spoilers in this one too, since i am a dingus who forgot that spoiler marking is a thing

[diffidentive]

[Shuichi's blood turns to ice. He knows that voice, though it's been days since he last heard it. He shouldn't be hearing it. He turns his head slowly and stiffly to look behind him. It's impossible...there's no way it's actually...]

A...Akamatsu-san?

[This is not Minato. This is not Minato at all. Even as he turns around face her fully, he may be a little hard to recognize without the bill of a ball cap obscuring most of his face. But that soft, almost feminine voice should be as familiar to Kaede as hers is to Shuichi. Though her name is all he can manage. His brain seems to have temporarily turned off at the sight of her. Because all he can do is stare in wide-eyed shock.]

i too forgot whoops

[gotyourbach]

...Huh?

[She jerks her hand back. That's not Minato at all! She could never forget his voice, not even after almost a full year of being apart from him. She meets his gaze, equally as wide-eyed. He looks a lot different without his hat, it's true, but he's definitely-]

Saihara...kun?!

[She's already in close thanks to trying to ruffle his hair, so it's only one more step to close the distance between them and wrap him in a tight hug. It's been literal months since everything that had happened in the killing game. She'd thought he and all the others were dead for so long, while she alone had survived. But he's here.]

I-It's been a while, huh? [she adds shakily, pressing her face into his shoulder as she squeezes him more tightly. She's a little taller than he might remember, certainly more muscular, and might be wearing a different school uniform, but she's still definitely Kaede, down to the way she's trying to keep her voice steady.

She truly never thought she'd see him again like this, so she doesn't have anything rehearsed to say. She just hugs him, laughing a little with an overload of relieved emotion.]

we so good at this

[diffidentive]

[Shuichi is still standing poker straight as Kaede wraps her arms around her. But that's what also makes it real. This is her, despite the fact that it completely defies all logic. He saw her die, and yet...the quaver in her voice she's trying to suppress, the feeling of her hands against his head and then his back...]

Y-yeah...it-- [He's spared having to string together an end to that sentence by a sudden interruption in the form of a cheerful, though slightly muffled robotic voice chiming from between them:] Get fifteen minutes of sunshine! Especially if you're in a cold climate. And don't forget the sunscreen!!

.....

[Is it too much to hope that Kaede didn't hear that? It's probably too much to hope she didn't hear that. Kill him.]

r-roommates

[mylawn]

[76 is used to shared quarters. It comes with the territory when you’re career military, but even after he’d escaped things like barracks and boot camp, 76 had never gravitated towards complicated living arrangements. He's used to things on the Moon Base by now, and doesn't spend much time in his designated room, but he will stop by at least once at the start, if only to look things over, reorganize his supplies, and see if anything needs to be repaired.

He’s not surprised to find an occupant, though he is a little surprised to note that it is not Akira. 76, for his part, is more-or-less filling the doorway, which is a great first impression to make. Well.]

This your room, kid?

[He’s just. Making sure. He isn't lost.]

[diffidentive]

[A great first impression to make indeed, as Shuichi is very easily intimidated. He'd just finished looking around the common area and was about to head into the bedroom to sleep, when it suddenly becomes apparent that he is not alone. He jumps upon being suddenly addressed, spinning somewhat unsteadily on the spot though managing to stay on his feet.]

I-I, uhm...y-yes? This is room 305, isn't it?

[mylawn]

Yeah.

[All right. So, a roommate shuffle then. 76 makes his way inside and starts to dump his pack on the other bed, seemingly with little concern for the fact that the room has another occupant.]

I had a different roommate last time. Wanted to check.

[diffidentive]

[Shuichi frowns thoughtfully. Odd that they didn't tell this guy he'd be getting a new roommate. He doesn't seem particularly bothered by the disappearance of his initial roommate either. He's...not sure what to make of that, honestly.]

Ah. Well...I don't know anything about that. I was just told this was my room, s-so... [So here he is.]

c.

[aviphile]

[Shuichi's in luck, because da Vinci is spending her rare downtime at the art studio today. She wanders in and, upon spotting the boy looking at the works displayed, decides to pop over by his side as soundlessly as she can.

Yes. She's trying to scare him a little.]

Well?

[... well, what?]

What do you think?

[It seems she's referring to the piece he's staring at...]

[diffidentive]

[Her attempt to scare him is a success, because Shuichi jumps as a little as he turns his head to look at the newcomer. He hadn't even heard anyone approach...]

Uhm, it's... [He looks back at the painting, and furrows his brow a little. He hadn't expected to be asked his opinion, and he's a little reluctant to give it. For one thing, what does he know about art? Nothing, that's what. For another, what if this painting is hers? He doesn't want to be rude.] It's nice? So far, I mean...it doesn't look like it's finished, so...

[He trails off, turning his attention away from the painting and back to the woman at his side.]

Is it yours?

[aviphile]

[His answer makes her lips quirk up in a smile.]

Oh no, no. It's not good enough to be mine.

[What a humble response. Da Vinci folds her hands behind her back with a chuckle.]

There must be something about these unfinished pieces that drew you to them. You looked awfully deep in thought while looking at them.

[Which is to say: not many people have a melancholy air about them when they're in an art studio.]

[diffidentive]

Ah...

[So modest! Wow!]

Well it's...not the pieces themselves, really. They just...reminded me of someone who isn't here. This whole building does, really... [He looks around the room vaguely, that same melancholy expression from earlier back on his face.] she would have liked it in here a lot, I think.

[He gives a small chuckle.]

Angie-san probably would have had plenty to say about these. I don't know anything about art, myself.

c-1

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael, as it happens, has a little plot of dirt all to himself in the greenhouse! He's also a bit self-conscious about his first attempts at actually taking care of a living being. Usually he comes here during the off-hours, so seeing Shuichi enter was a bit of a surprise, but he'd resolved not to let it bother him and focused on his seedlings.

...unfortunately, Shuichi then crouched down to stare at a plant just a little too close for Michael's tastes, and then stayed there just a little too long. What is this. You're freaking him out.]

Do you need something?

[diffidentive]

[To be fair, he's kind of freaking himself out. He's never really studied plants before, but thanks to his Herbalism skill, he's finding that he knows things about plants he SHOULDN'T know. Which is the reason why he bent down to examine Michael's seedlings closer.]

[What are you growing here, buddy? Anything with uses his Chemist senses might be able to pick up on?]

Ah, s-sorry! [He hastily gets to his feet and backs away. He was so hyper focused on the plants, he honestly hadn't noticed there was someone else there...] I was j-just...curious...

[eudaimonikos]

[He honestly just took the flowers that seemed to be beginner plants, so we've got like two different varieties of snapdragon and some marigolds here. They don't fill the plot, but he's starting small.

Also, the palpable nervousness actually makes him feel a little bad for snapping. Not that he's apologizing.]

About what?

[diffidentive]

[Shuichi gestures at the seedlings.]

These. I was...c-curious about what they are, and what uses they might have...

[He fiddles anxiously with a stray lock of his hair, pointedly avoiding eye contact with Michael.]

But I can leave, if I'm bothering you, I'm sorry! I didn't...realize these belonged to anyone...

D; UN: brighterdaysforever

[despairing_hope]

It just sounds like you're completely average. Maybe boring.

But, that's isnt necessarily a bad thing I suppose. I've known several completely normal, average, boring people who ended up defying all of the odds!

UN: Shuichi

[diffidentive]

[Shuichi stares at the words on screen of his bracer for a full minute, horror slowly sinking in with each passing second. He...he sure did post that to the public network instead of messaging Miss Zarves.]

Oh no...please just ignore that.
I mean...you're not wrong, I am pretty boring and I guess I am pretty average in most aspects.
But it doesn't really matter.
I was trying to message someone with the username "Zarves♥Scarves" but I'm not very good with computers... apparently I posted it to the network instead.

[What do you mean there's a Miss Zarves is a technomancer and redirected his message? No, this is definitely his fault.]

[gotyourbach]

[Someone's being unnecessarily mean to Shuichi in public?? Bark bark bark bark bark, guard dog Kaede to the rescue!!]

Komaeda-san, don't be so mean!! You're supposed to be an adult, you know! (Ò 皿 Ó ╬╬╬)

Anyway, that's definitely wrong!! Saihara-kun is the Super High School Level Detective, he's anything but average OR boring! He's amazing! (｡☉︵ ಠ╬)^nodnod

Saihara-kun, don't call yourself weak, okay?? You're way stronger than you think you are, I'm totally sure of it. Even if sometimes you don't sound really confident, or you don't look very intimidating, I know your heart is really, really strong!! (•̀o•́)ง
(๑•̀ㅂ•́)و^fightfight!!

[diffidentive]

[Kill him now.]

I appreciate the vote of confidence of Akamatsu-san but...no part of me is "really, really strong". Especially not my heart.
I AM weak...and that's something I have to acknowledge if I want to change it.

[Only Kaede could delude herself into thinking Shuichi is anything other than weak, honestly. Unfortunately, this isn't a problem you can fix with sheer force of positivity. But Shuichi appreciates it all the same.]

Is this the person you were telling me about the other day, though? The Super High School Level Lucky Student?

[Hey, subject change? Subject change.]