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Unequally Rational And Emotional Thread; It's Negima with Everything Else Added!
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Topic Started: Apr 15 2012, 06:40 PM (11,715 Views)
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OverMaster
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Jun 15 2012, 07:40 PM
Post #196
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Oboy. Whee.
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Post Kyoto Snippet.
- Quote:
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Fumika: That Gift of Yours
For a long time, he had filled only relatively low quotas. Not exactly low, but neither outstanding. Ironically, it had taken his first contact with Homura-chan and Madoka-chan to hit his stride.
His repeated contacts with that particular group of girls had taught him a deceivingly simple but extremely useful trick of gathering Puella Magi. He didn't have an actual name for it, but if anyone had asked him about it, and he would have seen fit to share such information (which was a near impossibility on itself), he would have called it the Five Magical Girl design.
Most of his colleagues recruited Puella Magi one by one, concentrating on making each Puella a very powerful Magical Girl, then allowing their loneliness and stress to take their course and create powerful Witches. It was widely accepted acting alone tended to produce the desired results faster.
Kyubey out of them all had learned that was not always true. Gathering Puella Magi by teams not only netted him more prospects at once, but also created a whole field of interpersonal frictions that yielded the expected end results often even faster than the traditional method.
Human emotions were that race's greatest trait; they spurred their development despite their reduced raw abilities and gifts compared to other species in the galaxy. However, and this was the key point at work there, they also were their greatest foil. The more humans you put together, the bigger chances you had they would find a way to hurt each other. Often, it was not even a result of active malice, but the effects were still the same.
Kyubey favored a six-person model, regardless of how he would have named it if he had been pressed into it. Part of the success relied on disguising the six Puella model as a five Puella operation. The sixth member tended to be one who prefered working alone, yet kept on gravitating around the team, out of an unspoken need for company and acceptation. Popular human entertainment, which was, after all a result of mankind's desires, called that type of person a Sixth Ranger.
Out of the five other members, which always remained more tightly knit until the unavoidable end, the most important one was The Heroine. She tended to be the one granting the biggest quota in the end. The Heroine kept the group together as well, so her importance was twofold. Usually she was the leader, in addition to that. She had to be charismatic; intelligence was not a big issue, since actually, humans very often disliked being led by their intellectual superiors. It seemed it made them feel diminished.
The Lancer, no direct relation to the Servant Class of the same name (since they had no straight links to the Entropy matter, the Grail Wars were of no interest for Kyubey, and he held little information on them, although he had been filed on the basics) was the Heroine's second in command or rival, but most often, she was a combination of both. They were either surprisingly stable on sheer stubborness or highly volatile on sheer temper, so they were either the first or the last to turn Witch.
The next two roles also were linked to each other. The Big or Strong Girl, to use vernacular human lingo, used to be the most physically powerful member of the team, and that marked them more often than not. They rarely were particularly smart, although exceptions were not especially impossible to come across. Even if they were smart, everyone tended to overlook their cleverness for their power, as humans often did in most areas. Moved by their feelings of physical superiority, they often took upon themselves to declare themselves as the team's protector or big sister figure, which often made them very emotionally vulnerable, especially once the others were felled.
The Smart Girls, although Kyubey personally considered that term to be inadequate on describing the whole spectrum of rational development, tried to use their superior for human standards intelligence to stay at the same level as their teammates. However, they had glaring emotional weakness with a very high frequence, so they tended to be vulnerable to psychological damage. The problem with human rationality was they very rarely exercised it to a point where it could eliminate their behavior weak spots.
Finally, there was another type of Puella Magi, one Kyubey had no real name for at all in mind. Humans frequently called that kind of girl The Chick, however, so if asked, he'd have suggested that term just to comply. The Chicks most often were seen as the weakest members, and most of them were also the youngest. Despite their fighting handicaps, however, they bottled high amounts of valuable anguish, and they were underrated linchpins of the team, almost as much as The Heroines themselves. Very often, a whole team of Puella went Witch after their Chick's demise in battle or corruption.
Those roles were not set in stone, to use another human term, and it was not rare at all for a single Puella to exhibit two or three of those typologies.
In the current course of events, which looked like a promising and interesting one, he already had recruited a Heroine in Sayaka-chan and a Lancer in Kyoko-chan. He still was undecided on the others; every type had several candidates spreaded across the Mahora area.
He had a special interest on establishing at least one Puella on the study group with the highest magical potential of the zone, but it was an unexpectedly difficult task. Most often, a Puella Magi couldn't be contracted if the girl in question already had a previous magical contract. The Pactio, for instance, tended to prevent a Puella contract to germinate, since the magical systems, for some reason, didn't seem to recognize both links at once. So, out of the whole class, that already eliminated Chisame-chan, Ayaka-chan, Haruna-chan, Sakurako-chan, Misa-chan, Konoka-chan, Misora-chan and Yuuna-chan. Most especially Makie-chan, who had contracted a goddess and could warrant decidedly negative retaliations, plus being covered by Kaname Madoka-chan's wish in the previous timeline. And then there was Asuna-chan, who couldn't be contracted even before that. It seemed her magic cancel abilities would simply negate a contract; it puzzled Kyubey the Pactio with Negi-kun had ever worked at all.
Being of demonic origins, Zazie-chan and Mana-chan wouldn't be accepted by the system as candidates, and neither could Evangeline-chan. Besides, she was way too scary.
Kugimiya Madoka-chan would have been a good prospect, except because her proximity to the Kyon anomaly made her a prospect best left untouched.
Chachamaru-chan was, in Kyubey's opinion, not an option. Puella Magi needed physical bodies, so Sayo-chan was out of the question as well.
Valkyries, also known as Hime, were difficult to contract, and so were those born with the potential to become Kampfer, so that eliminated Satsuki-chan and Fuuka-chan.
Chao-chan just could not be convinced.
Yue-chan was a good candidate, except because her proximity to a Negi Ministra and the current heiress of Clow Reed meant her eventual downfall could lead to dangerous risks to Kyubey's whole schematics in the area. Again, he had desisted on following that course.
After considering carefully every option, Kyubey logically narrowed his choice to the best single candidate in the whole study group. The sole problem was waiting for the right moment to offer a contract. It would have to be later, once her main source of emotional stability and comfort had been compromised.
Still, with any good project, a big part of success was laying the foundations early in the proccess, so he decided establishing a tentative first preliminary contact late that afternoon.
As the pink haired duo marched energetically back home after a long session of strolling in the Walking Club, Fuuka felt a sudden tug on her shoulder.
"Wai! Wai! Look, Onee-chan, look! Over there! What a weird but cute little animal!" Fumika gushed excitedly.
Fuuka looked towards the wall Fumika had pointed at. There was no animal in sight there. "What are you talking about, Fumika-chan?"
"Oh!" she sounded disappointed. "It jumped down and out of sight before you turned, Onee-chan! But it was so pretty, with that long tail, and those bright eyes, and its fur was so white...!"
"Are you sure you didn't just see Negi-kun's pet ferret?"
"Ermine! And no, this animal was much much much cuter!" Fumika's cheeks swelled up childishly.
It seemed he had found his Chick.
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What is the point anymore?
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Darkenning
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Jun 15 2012, 08:17 PM
Post #197
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Pervert. Also, Witch.
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... oh dear.
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"Hello! I'm Rurin, the Magical Mouse! My favorite food is cheese! My favorite pastimes are tormenting cats and facilitating romance! I have the power to bind the souls of guys who mistreat women to the depths of hell and subject them to everlasting karmic suffering! Isn't that cute? Pleased to meet you!" -- Rurin, the Magical Mouse, Magical Patissiere Kosaki-chan.
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OverMaster
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Jun 16 2012, 09:55 AM
Post #198
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Oboy. Whee.
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From your tone I assume you already checked Madoka Magica?
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What is the point anymore?
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Hyp3rB14d3
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Jun 16 2012, 03:38 PM
Post #199
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Not secretly a sentient cat
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I don't think he needs to for that segment. You made it pretty clear that Kyubey creates teams of magical girls for the sake of turning them into witches, then revealed near the end that he looks like the cute animal that magical girls often have with them.
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Ryouga Quest
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OverMaster
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Jun 16 2012, 06:44 PM
Post #200
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Oboy. Whee.
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Post Kyoto Snippet.
- Quote:
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Konoka: Animal Attraction
"So, " a stony faced Asuna asked, "Your grandfather's excuse is that animal originally came from—?"
"Australia, " Konoka smiled, holding the small brown furry creature on her lap and petting her head.
"I don't read a lot of books on Australian animals or anything, Konoka-chan, but I've watched Animal Planet, and I don't think there are things like that in Australia. C'mon! Your grandpa knows you were held captive in a demonic ritual to awaken an evil god, so what's the harm on telling you that critter is magical?"
Konoka shrugged as she fed the happy animal with a carrot. "Does it matter if she's magical or not?"
"Well, not like I pay a lot of attention to Makie's babblings, but she's always talking about those evil wish granting critters..."
"Grandpa would never bring something that could hurt me and you know it, Asuna-chan, " her roommate gently chided her. They were alone in the bedroom after dinner, making small chat before sleeping. "My cousin Tenchi has owned Ryo-Ohki for two years now; don't you think he'd have noticed if there was something wrong with her?"
"Mya! Mya!" the small animal meowed loudly at the mention of Tenchi's name.
"Huh-huh. And have you ever met that cousin of yours personally?" Asuna questioned.
"Well, no. Apparently, he lives far too deep into the hills. And maybe he had secrets Grandpa didn't want me to learn, just like myself. Maybe this loan is their way to begin introducing me into their secrets, one step at a time."
"Betcha she can talk and offer contracts just like Chamo, " Asuna came closer, pulling her face down before Ryo-Ohki's. "I'm on you, hairy thing! Confess! You're another kiss pushing little pervert, aren't you?"
Ryo-Ohki sniffed the air, felt Asuna's agressive intent, and took a bite on her nose.
"AHHHHH! IT TRIED TO KILL ME! IT'S EVIL INCARNATE! MY NOSE! MY PRECIOUS NOSE! IT'S BITTEN OFF NOW!" Asuna's arms flailed around.
"Asuna, it was only a tiny chomp, " Konoka said. "It didn't even draw blood. You scared her..."
"IT'LL TRY KILLING ME IN MY SLEEP!"
"Now you're just being silly. She won't..."
"I REFUSE TO SLEEP IN THE SAME ROOM AS IT, AND SO SHOULD YOU!"
In the end, Konoka ended up having Ryo-chan sleep over at Ayaka's every night after playing with her all day long. It worked great, actually, since Makie loved Ryo-chan, and Ayaka and Ryo-chan found... some common ground of sorts.
Asuna was bitten ten more times before the week ended.
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 17 2012, 06:22 AM
Post #201
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Oboy. Whee.
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Freaktastic Four
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"Now there's something I don't see every day unless I skip my meds, " Harley mused as she took a second from the fight to look at the giant demon god towering not too far from where they were. "Hey, Red, what if we just turn tail and get the hell outta Dodge? I forgot the bazooka at home!"
Always the living definition of cold professionalism, Deathstroke ignored the uncanny sight and kept on pressing the attack on Ivy-Neptune. Not even asking why they were there, just concentrating on trying to gut her out. He already had put a few surface slashes on her stomach area with his katanas, but the fabric of the Senshi outfit was deceivingly strong and protective.
He had to switch from guns from his blades when they got close enough for direct hand to hand combat. Although they sorely lacked training, they made up for it with raw stamina and strenght, and although he had those in spares as well, being outnumbered evened their odds.
"It has started. Get out of our way NOW!" the faintly green skinned growled, trying to kick the mercenary on a temple. He caught the kick with a hand and twisted her ankle around, slamming her against a tree just as the blond one ducked under his arm and rammed both fists against his stomach, sending him back into a haymaker from two massive green scaly fists.
"You, " Slade said, bringing both swords up to try and stab the just appeared Killer Croc through the jaw. Since he still was stunned, he missed with one blade, and the other only made a grazing cut that managed to draw blood, but not that much. That scaly hide was very thick.
"Grrrr..." Croc slammed a foot down on Deathstroke's chest. "Another smug masked man, thinking you're better than everyone..."
Once again using the attack on his own favor, Deathstroke grabbed Croc's clawed foot and lifted his huge weight up, judo slamming him against the ground. But then, just as another blast of water hit and momentarily blinded him, he was shot several times from behind before he could react.
He fell bleeding intensely, at the same time Croc got back up and kicked his head. Neptune and Uranus were also approaching, and so did his shooter. The frail old man in the black suit, with the wooden puppet in a hand.
"Dis is Deathstroke da Terminator, right?" Scarface huffed, holding the still hot Thompson gun. "He's famous stuff, but not so tough now! Still, no kill is overkill!" And he shot him three more times in the chest. "Dere! Now this will make me an even gigger name, gut I needs me some proof! Dummy, take one of his swords! An' some of dose grenades in his gelt too! Dey might come handy here!"
"But sir, what if his belt is rigged against theft like Batman's?"
"Oh yeah, forgot dat. Ya do it, Croc!"
"Hngr, " the behemoth grumbled, ripping the belt of Deathstroke's still body. A massive electric discharge shook him for a moment, but after it passed, without even blinking, he handed the belt over to Scarface. "Here."
"Dat's it. Good goy, Crocky, good goy..."
Ivy was already turning back on her heels, marching quickly towards the lake.
"Red, please reconsider!" Harley ran after her. "Hell, I'm insane and stupid, and even I know this is a bad idea! Let someone else handle it! Like Squirrel Girl, or the Army, or Ultraman!"
"Japan doesn't have an actual Army, Ultraman is only an actor in a bad suit, and I hate Squirrel Girl's guts, " Ivy said without looking back. "She is in pain, Harley..."
"Who, Squirrel Girl? Good riddance, although she's kinda funny and cute..."
"No. The one calling me. It's all about to happen, Harley. It will explode, and if she isn't saved soon..."
Then they saw the giant naked woman growing up over the landscape.
"... Uh. Now that's something I don't see every day even if I skip my meds, " Harley commented.
Croc licked his lips and left Deathstroke's body behind before he could cannibalize it, going in the giant woman's direction instead, as well. "Oh, so much meat...!"
Scarface pointed ahead with Slade's katana. "Onwards, Dummy! Dis is somethin' I don't wanna miss!"
"You do realize we could be killed, don't you, sir?"
"Yer idiot or what? Of course I do! Gut wit' things dat size, little difference if we're here or across town! At least I'll get first row seats if we hafta guy the farm! And if we don't, we ain't leavin' without a great story ta grag agout all over Gotham!"
A sigh. "Of course, Mr. Scarface, sir..." Left behind as they walked away, his healing factor having to kick up in overdrive, Deathstroke silently cursed to himself.
Worst job he'd ever had, and he surely wasn't getting paid in the end, even..
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 17 2012, 08:08 AM
Post #202
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Oboy. Whee.
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Post Kyoto Snippet.
- Quote:
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Cocone: The Fear
"Shouldn't you be with your friend?" the man asked her, seeing her sweep the church's front entrance all alone.
"Shouldn't you be elsewhere?" the kid asked, with rather heavy bluntness despite her quiet, unassuming tone. "I heard you were an Atheist."
He made a slight disapproving sound with his tongue. Modern children. "I came to visit Father Kotomine. While we may disagree on the principles of his doctrine, I have found we happen to share several viewpoints on the world in general."
"That's good. He's inside, but talking in private with Sister Yukariko."
"I'll wait."
She only made the vaguest of all shoulder shrugs.
After a while, he idly asked, "Weren't you two always together? Every time I passed here on my way back home, I saw you two playing, but lately, not so much."
"She is... running errands."
"I see. Well, taking serious tasks is an important part of growing up." Cocone only nodded.
Finally, despite herself, she found herself saying, "She needs to grow up."
"And you should find yourself friends your own age anyway, " he mused.
Well knowing there were not any others of her age working at the Church.
Often, a simple and short look at the physical features told a whole world about that person's insecurities. Dark skin in a Japanese environment meant she was most likely seen as an alien element by her peers to some degree or another. Probably an outcast by her own will, judging from how silent and introverted she was.
Only one actual known friend, not her age, who wasn't there anymore for her. Doing big girl things out now. In the age to think of boys, not about child friends anymore.
The diagnose was a fear of loneliness. And often, only the simplest short words, innocent, innocuous words, were enought to kickstart the most fascinating of processes.
The young adult nun with the milky skin and the worried eyes walked out of the church then, bowing polite and nervously. She had all the signs of awkwardness about her, probably a result of being afraid and undecided about her path in life. The things he had overheard Ishigami saying about her had helped him on reaching that conclusion, as well.
"Oh! Oh, good evening, Professor—"
He bowed back, with cold confidence. "Good evening to you as well, Ma'am. Ishigami-sensei sent you his regards."
The ephemeral faint blush was only confirmation. "Ah! I see, that's very kind from him. Send him my best wishes as well..."
Cocone kept on sweeping even after Rance-sensei walked in for his meeting with the Father, even after Sister Caren left, even after the entrance was spotless.
She kept on waiting for Misora's return.
Alone.
Never afraid of anything that could happen to her while being alone, but of being alone on itself.
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 17 2012, 02:41 PM
Post #203
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Oboy. Whee.
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Random Snippetage.
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Source of Income. (Adapted from a Colonel Aki 4-Koma).
"Hey, want an apple?" Kyoko offered her one.
Sayaka looked dubiously at the huge bag of apples Kyoko was carrying, and she huffed. "From where did you get enough money to buy all that? I know your family is still going under finance troubles! Don't tell me you did something... underhanded!"
Yuuki Nao passed by next to them absently sending cellphone messages.
Kyoko frowned. "What are you talking about? I earned my money through perfectly legal means!"
"Such as?" Sayaka pressed on.
"The Chao Bao Zi's 'Finish It All in 30 Minutes or Less' Ramen Extravaganza Challenge!"
"Ah?" Sayaka blinked.
The redhead continued, "The '10,000 Yen-Prize All Star Curry Buffet Contest'! You have no idea how hard it was, beating that crazy Excel girl!"
"No, seriously, what--"
"The 'Survive Three Bowls of Tendo Akane's Cooking' Ultimate Challenge! They had it in Extreme TV, you know!" Kyoko proclaimed.
The blue haired girl postrated herself before her. "Say no more! Sorry I ever doubted you at all!"
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 18 2012, 09:37 AM
Post #204
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Oboy. Whee.
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URAE Post Kyoto snippet.
- Quote:
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Misora: Moved by Feet not my Own
She tightened the hoodie of her sweater around her head. "This, " she said, "it's a frankly stupid and bad idea."
"Then why did you go along with it?" Misa asked, walking ahead without a care in the world.
"Because Sister Shakti told me to, that's why, " the runner mumbled bitterly. "You don't know that woman, she's only second to Eva in how bad she is."
"Well, it makes sense she'd want to send you. This wacky priest knows every adult in your church, doesn't he? And Cocone-chan is far too young for this. It had to be you!" Haruna stated, walking between both of them with her hands in her own sweater's pockets.
The three girls were walking down the lonely cold street, under a dark gray sky, the night approaching at breakneck speed.
"They could have put on some darn disguise glasses, you know, " Misora lamented. "But no, as long as they have this goat to test the road for them, why should they bother themselves?"
Haruna rolled her eyes. "You should be grateful now they trust you enough for this. Didn't you always want recognition and respect? Well, this is part of the package!"
"I don't think they are respecting me, " Misora disagreed. "I still only get the assignments no one wants!"
"My God!" Misa tossed her hands up. "If this weird cult demands for someone from the audience as a human sacrifice, we'll push the crybaby ahead, won't we, Haruna?"
"Very funny, Kakizaki!" Kasuga hissed.
"Don't worry, " replied Misa. "I'm sure their evil elder god will toss you back to Earth as soon as he sees how much you whine."
Misora stopped. "Wanna fight, queen bee? Fine with me, I can pull your sting outta your ass!"
Misa sneered back at her. "That's the only way you ever could tap any ass, wouldn't it?"
"Girls, please!" Haruna put her hands together piously. "We are going to visit the house of the Lord! We are about to join a rapture of Love! Leave your sinful thoughts of anger and envy behind!"
They both glared at her. Then they looked at each other.
"At least I didn't volunteer myself for something this pervert-sounding, " Misora reasoned.
Misa smiled. "Of course not. You'd have needed some guts..."
Misora grumbled and marched ahead again. "Whatever happens in there, I'm gonna tell Negi you two loved it."
There were two young girls greeting the newcomers at the church's gates, barely any older than the 3-A students, both red-haired, one with long hair, while the other one's was short. They handed Negi's students some pamphlets; Haruna began reading hers quite avidly, while Misa pocketed hers just after getting it. Misora tried to read it to see what was in store for everyone in there, but then they were herded inside to make room for the next group of newcomers.
It was very crowded in there. That thing definitely was as successful as the street talk was saying. No wonder why the Mahora Church wanted to investigate it. Donations had plummeted down recently, and even Sister Shakti had stopped receiving so many love letters. Oh yeah, and there were those concerns about the guy's honesty, too.
"I think someone just grabbed my ass, " Misa blinked while they pushed their way through the crowd. "Oh, they did it again!"
"Big or small hand?" Misora asked. "Because I just felt one on mine too, but it didn't feel like a man's..."
Trudging behind them, Haruna whistled innocently. Then she felt a hand on her ass, and angrily elbowed the man behind her, who doubled down muttering apologies.
Again, Misa and Misora glared at her. "What?" asked Haruna.
"Double standards, much?" an angry Misora growled.
"Not at all, " Haruna said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Between beloved friends, anything is fair play, but only a creep would make a move on a perfect stranger. I mean, at least introduce yourself first."
"Funny, I don't remember ever becoming your dear friend, " Misa said.
"It comes with the territory of sharing a man's lips, Misa-chan, " Haruna winked saucily, making a few heads tilt back to them. Misora felt more mortified than ever. "I mean, we have even kissed indirectly, haven't we? There's no point on being petty with each other."
"Another nugget of wisdom from Saotome Haruna!" a playful female voice teased from very near them. The three girls looked on to see a grinning Asakura Kazumi coming closer, with a stern faced Tatsumiya Mana in close tow. "Good evening, gals!"
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 18 2012, 06:21 PM
Post #205
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Oboy. Whee.
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Flights of Fancy
- Quote:
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Setsuna flew higher up, a speck in the tumultuous height now, coming near her older alternate counterpart, who was watching from above like a hawk suspended in the stormy streams of air gathering quickly around the lake area.
"What's been taking you so long?" the younger Setsuna demanded, following GA Rd's stare down, to where Chigusa held the Konokas in midair, surrounded by two titanic monsters. "For all the gods! What were you waiting for?-!"
"I was waiting for you, " Sakurazaki said, and that, just like that, made Setsuna's emotions turn on their head, shifting quickly to shame and self despise.
"S-Sorry. I knew I should have been faster, I'm nowhere as good as you, I—!"
Sakurazaki imposed silence with a simple hand held up. Her expression was grim and concerned, but her voice showed no anger or contempt for the other girl. "No. Don't go there. Focus."
"S-Sorry again."
"I would have swooped down for Ojou-sama already if there was only one of them to rescue, but although I'm faster than Chigusa, I'm not sure I can take both Ojou-samas away from her in time. Not with Sukuna, and now that other beast, there as well. And that isn't even counting Sextum-san, although I hope your Negi-sensei can at least stall her briefly. But with you here, now we can gamble on a joint rescue."
Setsuna nodded firmly. "So be it. You're faster, so you go first. I'll be right behind you."
"Yes. I'll use the surprise factor, and you'll capitalize on it. Let's move as quickly as we can and bring the Ojou-samas down with the others. But whatever may happen, don't worry about me. Concentrate on your Ojou-sama and trust me on my side."
"I wouldn't do it any other way, " Setsuna replied, quite truthfully.
They exchanged a brief gaze and a nod before zooming down, swords ready in a hand each, their other hands prepared to catch a precious cargo.
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 19 2012, 10:25 AM
Post #206
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Oboy. Whee.
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Post Kyoto Snippet.
- Quote:
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Kazumi: Snoop of the Century
"Oh, Asakura, " Misora muttered with no humor at all. "And Mana-san, too. Glad to see you, " she said, in a completely flat delivery.
"Likewise, " Mana replied just as cheerfully.
"Whatcha doing here?" Haruna asked with a playful smirk. "Didn't you worship Lois Lane and Money, respectively?"
"Ah ha ha ha, always the kidder, " Kazumi winked an eye. "Well, I'd love telling you right now, but I think I drank a bit too much before coming, and you know..."
"Oh ho ho ho, don't say more!" Haruna got the hint quickly. "To be honest, I could use a quick visit, too! Don't you, girls...?" she turned to those who had arrived with her.
"Yeah, sure, fine, " Misora grunted.
Misa nodded. "Going alone to the bathroom in a group activity is against the Sis Code, after all."
Once all five of them had retreated into the small restroom area and away from indiscreet ears, Asakura opened fire with a business-like whisper. "You sure we are safe talking here? Mana?"
"The coast's clear by now, " the mercenary whispered back after glancing carefully in all directions. "There are two others in that stall at the bathroom's end, but they... are too engrossed to pay us any attention. And they sound sincere. We should be okay as long as they keep it low."
Misa quirked an eyebrow up, looking in that direction. "What kind of church is this anyway?"
"You can hear all of that from here, Mana-chan?" Haruna chuckled, trying to perk her ears up while Tatsumiya frowned. "Experienced, much?"
Mana slapped her across the head just short of actually hitting her bad, although her expression didn't change.
Asakura hummed thoughtfully before starting again, "Naturally, I'm researching for the school paper, at least in theory. If what I find here is too much for that rag, I'll send the info to a real newspaper and that will be my ticket to big time..."
"'That rag'?" Misora grunted. "I thought that newspaper was your whole life."
"Let's not kid ourselves, it's just a tiny starting step, " the redhead said. "I may have put a lot of time and effort into it, but even the best school paper will always be a rag compared to the real deals. You gotta start thinking big ahead, Misora-chan."
"Yeah, sure, that's a given, " Haruna brushed the issue aside. "You, Mana-chan?"
"I can't comment on that, " said the miko.
"Well, not like you'd ever come here out of your own will, so it's obvious you were hired to sniff in, but it doesn't concern us exactly who did it, right?" Misa said.
"If you say so, " Mana monotoned.
"You know, they are rising in pitch, " Haruna was looking towards the closed stall. "I think I know those voices from somewhere..."
Completely ignoring her, Kazumi rubbed her chin. "What do you guys think? Do you feel anything supernatural behind this?"
"I don't think so, " Mana said, folding her arms.
Misora breathed in relief. "You do?"
"Of course, that doesn't mean this place couldn't be dangerous, " her dark skinned classmate cautioned. Misora shuddered again.
"You know more than you let on, don't you?" Kazumi accused.
"Should I?" asked Mana.
"I'll give you a twenty percent of any payment I get on this, " promised Asakura.
"Thirty, " asked the priestess.
"Wow, you are generous today, " Kazumi blinked. "I expected a forty...!"
Mana shifted her gaze over to Misa, Misora and Haruna. "Since the payment will be split between you, I can allow myself an offer."
"Um, you know we're doing this for Ala Alba, right?" Misa asked. "We are making no money out of this."
"You always can pay me with something other than money."
"Oh, Mana-chan, you...!" Haruna cooed.
Mana slapped her head again. Kazumi, Misa and Misora winced as Haruna hit the floor with a weak giggle and "Worth it..."
"I nee— want something to get a definitive edge over Nagase, " Mana stated. "I want leverage to visit Evangeline's place."
"You do?" Misa blinked. "Uh, well, you could just ask Negi, but okay, I don't guarantee Eva will listen at all, but... You know, it's kinda weird hearing that from you..."
"It is foolish not recognizing your own limits. If you never do it, you never will rise over them, " Mana mused.
"Just to make something clear, you don't want a Pactio with Negi, do you?" Misora dared to ask.
"I have absolutely no interest on a Pactio with anyone, " Mana stated icily, in such a way the girls were instantly sure it held no denial or irony. "I simply wish for a good place to train, and judging from how much you have improved since you started on that path, there must be something really good in Eva's property, since you go there every day."
"Wait, have you been stalking us to see where we go after classes!-?" Misora gaped.
"It isn't stalking, it's DEEP RESEARCH!" Kazumi declared.
"You too?-!-?" Misora's voice went dangerously high, so much that Asakura had to press a hand over her mouth.
Haruna, meanwhile, had sneaked over to the stall and carefully peeked into it. After some giggling, she mischievously sprinted back to the other girls.
"Don't tell me those are Honya and Ayase in there, " Misa deadpanned.
"Oh, then I'd have joined in, " Haruna said, making the others wince a bit. "Nah, they're Rito-kun's classmates Mio-chan and Risa-chan. I've always liked those two for a reason. No wonder they wouldn't listen; they are with their heads stuck too deep into each other's—"
"Let's go back outside. We might be missing something really important, " Asakura wisely decided.
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 19 2012, 08:23 PM
Post #207
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Oboy. Whee.
- Posts:
- 7,839
- Group:
- Ala Iridia
- Member
- #2
- Joined:
- April 6, 2012
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For my Daughter's Sake
- Quote:
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Once the second Evangeline had arrived, the fight had finally spilled out into the open, mostly because what little had been left of that wing of the villa had just collapsed around the battling vampires.
"DIOS CHUCOS!" "Hah! YOU CALL THAT A DIOS CHUCOS?-! PRETENDER! HAVE AT THEE! Ensis Exsequens!"
"I didn't even feel that! IACULATIO GRANDINIS!"
"MALLEUS AQUILONIS!"
Erebus and Kagurazaka stood at the sidelines, even they reduced to gasp in awe at the vicious and continued clashes of both unleashed primal forces of evil and (sorta) evil, which were steadily and nosily destroying the whole landscape around them. Meanwhile, unable to intervent anymore for now, the Chachamarus traded a sedate look and nod.
"Did you remember to feed the kittens?"
"Of course I did. Chad-san and Sakaki-chan helped me, as well. Your kittens are very fortunate. At our Mahora, no one but me cares about our kittens. As a matter of fact, I hope they are doing okay right now. I left instructions with our Hakase for Sakurako-san to look after them in the event of my disappearance, but..."
Chachamaru nodded. "It isn't the same thing, is it?"
Meanwhile, Eishun, regaining his ragged breath, looked at the towering figures in the distance and tightened his grip on his blade's handle. "Takamichi, " he called out.
Lighting a cigarette, his friend limped slightly to his side, with an even expression. "Well, now Amagasaki has really done it. Mind if I go with you?"
The association's elder shook his head. "You may be of use here yet. Remember, yours is the duty of looking after the princess. Mine is that of looking after my daughter." And he jumped ahead to start his path to the lake.
Takahata leaped after him easily. "That princess has gone that way too, " he reminded Eishun before taking a short glimpse back over his shoulder at Kagurazaka. And he made a small sad smile. "This one already found a better defender."
The swordsman nodded briefly as he ran. "True. I can trust them to survive there."
"Your house, on the other hand..."
"Houses can be rebuilt. Symbols of power can falter if struck down, but the trust they inspire can be regained, " Eishun mused, gaining speed while spurring himself. "We'll thrive past this."
Takahata nodded in silence. Eishun's repressed but evident anger and frustration, his concern and worry, were perfectly understandable, and yet, somehow, it still felt like something else was troubling him as well.
Takahata wanted to believe he knew Eishun very well, and so he was fairly sure his feeling was a founded one. Still, now it wasn't the time to ask.
But Eishun himself talked then, as they ran. "Takamichi. In the event I die tonight, tell Kuga-san I'm sorry."
"You? For what? You hadn't even met before tonight."
"I'll explain it later, if this happens to have a happy conclusion. For now, I just want you to know you're a priceless comrade, and I'm sorry I ever held secrets from you."
"Oh. I see. Sure."
And Eishun sighed. "I met Kuga Saeko shortly before my engagement to Konoeko, back when I had just left the group and took over this association. Both Konoeko and me still thought of our union as nothing but a—"
"Eishun, not to be rude, but we can discuss this later. Really. Not like we're going to die tonight. This is a picnic compared to a standard Tuesday hanging around Nagi."
"I wasn't an old man then, Takamichi."
"Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll protect you so you don't break any of your frail, weak bones."
"That's quite a strange way to cheer me up, coming from you, Takamichi."
"Well, you know. We're going at it like in the old times, but without Nagi and Jack around, someone has to take that slack..."
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 20 2012, 06:56 PM
Post #208
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Oboy. Whee.
- Posts:
- 7,839
- Group:
- Ala Iridia
- Member
- #2
- Joined:
- April 6, 2012
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Post Kyoto snippet.
- Quote:
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Kaede: Introspection
Often, to find yourself, you need to be alone. I love Fumika-dono and Fuuka-dono dearly, I do. However, they aren't that good at helping anyone with enlightenment. That's why I scurry out while they sleep, to sit out, alone in the night, looking at the stars.
I can't deny it feels well, in a different way than their company. One such as me must appreciate quiet and peace whenever it is available.
Maybe I will come to lead an actual kunoichi's life, one fraught with nothing but deceipt, blood and an early demise. Or maybe, like my parents hoped, I will live the existence of a normal modern girl. I would marry a hopefully good man and become a housewife, since let's face it, I'm not the career woman type unless that career involves ninjutsu and espionage.
I'm fine with either option, actually. Happiness doesn't depend on hoping your single selected path comes true, but on being able to adapt and find joy whenever you can get it. You must be like the river, flowing and changing your course until you eventually reach the sea.
I close my eyes and enjoy the cold breeze on my face. Find solace in the present. Live each day by itself. It is a cliche, and maybe it is wrong to some degree, especially for those who must plan everything ahead, like Negi-sensei. But it is the way I've chosen to live. The only one I can actually follow. I suppose I'm simple minded like that, but it can't be helped.
I'm just a dumb ninja retainer, but don't get me wrong, I'll never hate myself for it. No one ever should hate themselves for being what they are, unless there is evil in their hearts.
That's a lesson several of my classmates and my teacher will have to learn by themselves, I'm afraid. I'm not good at teaching at all, as Fuuka-dono and Fumika-dono can testify. Testify is the right word for that, isn't it?
It is almost the time when Fumika-dono gets up to use the bathroom, by the way. I should head back now before they notice my absence. I have had enough me time for a night.
However, I still haven't managed to clean my mind of its biggest stain yet, much to my shame.
Because I'm still wondering what's that stupid priestess doing right now.
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 21 2012, 10:27 AM
Post #209
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Oboy. Whee.
- Posts:
- 7,839
- Group:
- Ala Iridia
- Member
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- Joined:
- April 6, 2012
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Dark Knight Takes White Pawns
- Quote:
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After defeating Mad Hatter and dealing with Garrett, Batman had pulled Tsukuyomi's assassin twins out of the fight with the girls by battling them himself. They were still locked in 2 to 1 combat when Sukuna and the Type Moon emerged; for such young people, they were surprisingly competent and vicious. The profiles on them had not lied.
"Oh! Oh!" Hansel cried excitedly (in pretty much all senses of the word) while trying to chop a ducking Dark Knight's head off with his axe. "Look at that, sister! Doesn't Big Sister Yomi always bring us to all the best places?"
His twin giggled while shooting wildly for Batman's midsection, which would have perforated him if he hadn't jumped out of the way right on time. "Indeed, brother! Ah! Isn't that the cutest little bunny you have ever seen?"
"You never I've never been fond of bunnies, sister. Not since watching that Night of the Lepus movie..." he tried to cut one of the Dark Knight's arms, but had the axe wrestled away from him and tossed into the lake. "Wait, that is stealing! Evil evil man!"
"Honestly, brother, we used to star in snuff! You must get over that movie alr— UHH!" Gretel tried to take aim for the Bat's chest, but he back kicked, hitting her in the face and dropping her long wig, revealing her hair as short as her brother's. As she hit the ground and hit herself in the head, losing what she was left of awareness, Batman punched the other sibling in the gut, knocking him out.
Only then he breathed easier for a moment. He hated this. Fighting children, even if they had deranged and twisted beyond all redemption. It made him feel ill.
Wasn't that the kind of things he had Robin for?
He looked way up at the monsters lurking over the landscape. Maybe those children from the other world were on something when they had mentioned that 'Justice League' from their origin place. A team of the most powerful super powered defenders of the world, united to fight threats none of them could take on alone? Beyond the social club-support group the Titans were, or the X-Men, who were basically only out for the sake of mutantkind and nothing else? It was an insane idea, but then again, it was an insane world.
Maybe he'd suggest it to Superman next time they met.
For now, he ran ahead to rejoin the youngsters, trying to think of a plan all the way through.
For once, it was difficult coming up with one. That was the scary part.
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Jun 21 2012, 08:25 PM
Post #210
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Oboy. Whee.
- Posts:
- 7,839
- Group:
- Ala Iridia
- Member
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- Joined:
- April 6, 2012
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Post Kyoto snippets.
- Quote:
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Nagi: The Fallen
He kept on sleeping soundly, undisturbed in the darkness.
Ayaka: Mommy Dearest
"Okajima-san, " she asked as they went over the papers, "Why does my mother spend fifteen thousand yen a month in an Italian massageur named Alessandro?"
Rock, as his friends knew him, struggled hard and desperately for a few moments to find a suitable answer. Sweating streams of ice, the accountant simply ended up saying, "Greeks are more expensive, she said...?"
She shrugged while flipping another page. "Just asking. Wait, Father also has one named Piero..?"
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What is the point anymore?
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