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beyondtheperfectlines-blog · 6 years

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Killing Eve 1x03

Wow. The ending of this episode was expected from the moment at the train station, but it was still really sad. And this episode was a real game changer, things are personal now! Reaction and thoughts under the cut.

The opening scene was beautifully shot with Eve in a trance describing Villanelle as the camera slowly turned around her, and I was totally enraptured, until the reveal of her surroundings and then it just became a lol moment. “She had a lost look in her eye that was both direct and also chilling. She’s totally focused… yet almost entirely inaccessible.” “So, is that like a square face or an oval face?” haha then Bill’s face, and Eve’s face in response. I’m also impressed by how much she got from a single interaction of like 30 seconds.

So now we get to see Berlin. I love how we travel all over Europe with Villanelle! And we’re at a kink clinic lol, I love this. So it was obvious the cover nurse would be Villanelle but how great was that shot of her turning around all “Take off your clothes” ! And her voice got so hot when she said “Hot Medica” and “Nobody gets special treatment” ! That close up of the man dying was creepy though and now we’ve officially established that she likes to look into her victims’ eyes when they die. I also love the little details that show she really doesn’t care about them like when she lets go of the man’s arm and it just falls back with a thump. So disrespectful to the dead!

Back with Eve and her husband, they have a hilarious conversation about their chicken’s egg and her new job. “I don’t think we should eat it.” “Risky?” “Yeah” “Is the job risky?” “Oh, it’s about as dangerous as eating that egg would be.” “You just said the egg was too risky!” “No, no. Wait, no. I mean, the worst that could happen is I would get the shits at my computer because of a bad sandwich.” Lmao! They have such a great dynamic.

Eve’s team finds out about 2 new murders. Carla’s induced asthma attack from last episode “Let me guess. You think it was a woman.” “Well, she was found in the ladies. So, yes, she’s going on the wall, you ass.” Hahaha. And now Zhang Wu. Chinese colonel visiting Berlin. Hacker for the Chinese military. So, so far most of the murders have been political. And Villanelle now left another witness behind her (first the mafia boy from episode 1 and now the receptionist who signed her in as a temp). This leaves me to wonder if she has stopped being careful recently or if there are rumors all over Europe of a fit woman in her mid-20’s linked to all sorts of murders. After all, maybe Konstantin was only angry about Katsia still being alive in episode 1 because she actually witnessed the murder whereas with the others there are only suspicions? Or was the boy a one-off and now she doesn’t care anymore because she knows Eve has seen her and can identify her?

“Why are you all being weird?” Lol! And then they’re all looking at Carolyn. “She said her name was Eve Polastri.” Wow, omg, etc. That was a really smart way for Villanelle to get their attention. So, Eve is understandably freaked out but wants to keep investigating. What I don’t understand is why she isn’t asking more questions about how Villanelle could have learned her name. Like who knows about their investigation? Is it possible they could have been hacked? Maybe it happened and we just aren’t privy to it. Maybe she thinks this has nothing to do with the taskforce and only with their meeting in the bathroom.

“Bill, you’re coming with me.” Bill: “Take Elena.” Elena: “Yes, take Elena!” hahaha I love her. Kenny: “I don’t think Elena should go.” Nobody asked you, Kenny!

“It’s one trip, Bill. Huh? One trip.” “Daddy’s going to die, isn’t he?” damn, Bill! At this point I just thought it was a disturbingly funny line. British humor or something. I should have known they were really going to go there! Also, Bill looks really good for 60. “Oh, come on. It’s not like she’s gonna still be there.” LOL. Oh, Eve.

And guess who’s stalking her own crime scene like they say a killer would? That’s right. Villanelle’s there wearing great camouflage outfits. Lol. And in one of the greatest TV scenes of all time, she’s also picked up an American tourist. “Take your hair down.” “You are sooo sexy.” (side note: I love how positively they portray middle-aged women on this show, making them desirable, same for curly hair) “No, no. Keep your clothes on, your bag on your shoulder.” “I’m going to call you Eve, okay?” OMG WHAT? LOL “Why?” “It’s just a little biblical fantasy thing” HAHAHA “Do you want me to call you Adam?” at this I just D-I-E-D. “No, no. That’s okay” hahahahahaa and they kiss and it’s super hot omg “Now I am going to hide and you are going to find me.” LMAO and that tourist is just like. What just happened? The whole scene was so unexpected and so delightful.

And then of course Villanelle steals Eve’s suitcase. Is she also eating Eve’s risky egg sandwich? Aww she’s so disappointed by her boring clothes. The scarf is nice though. “Poor baby” ha! Is that something she’s heard being said before? And was that some sort of cream? And of course Konstantin is there! I love them so much “I thought I could smell something.” “Sorry, are you having a nice little holiday here?” “Are you?” Lmao. “I booked you in for one night.” “So? I like Berlin. Have you been before?” “Yes” “Have you seen the Wall?” “Yes” “The Jewish Museum?” “Listen” “That is massively poignant.” Hahaha

“I have a job for you. Off the record. The woman, Eve Polasi” “Polastri” “She’s here. She’s investigating your work.” “Did you see where I did it?” “Very cute, yes.” So this means that she receives general intel along with her target’s identity and then she can choose how/where/when to kill them. Although looking back I guess it was established in episode 1 when he congratulated her on no CCTV at the crime scene.

“Why are you so worried?” “Aren’t you?” “No! I don’t even think about her.” “Why does she think it was you?” she shrugs. But she’s such a bad liar?! It’s like she’s not even trying to convince him. “I want you to watch her. I need to know who she meets. This is me asking you. Not them, okay?” And watch her, she does! She stalks her across town and in a clothing store and even picks out a belt for her lol. She sure has an eye for style.

Meanwhile, Eve has investigated the Chinese’s death. Poisoned with carbon monoxide. And his balls were clamped. Of all the tool Villanelle had at her disposal, she kept it quite clean. I was expecting something way sinister when we got that first shot of her at the clinic scrubbing the instruments clean. They meet with the Chinese attaché on the case, Jin Yeong, who’s a big deal within Chinese Intelligence. He gives them intel on the dead Chinese. “Internally, the guy was known as ‘Fat Panda’, which is a little racist. Fattist, come to that. But I hear that he started it so, you know, we went along. “ lol! This was a nice surprise to hear a seemingly traditional older Asian man mentioning racism and fattism. But that’s pretty much the only positive thing I can say about him.

“What’s the Chinese story?” “The new autopsy concludes that he took the initiative himself when the covering nurse left the room, working the forceps to experience a shock of pain that triggered a cardiac arrest. Not my thing.” “Not his, either.” “Why? He’s a masochist.” “Look, kinks are totally specific. It’s not just about pain, it’s a contract. It’s about someone else taking control. A ‘spankophile’ wouldn’t just spank himself, would he?” lol Eve’s face. But I love how respectful they are in their portrayal of kinks and that they keep calling the workers nurses.

Later on in Eve’s hotel room. “Have you ever fancied me?” “Uh… no.” “You me?” “No.” I love it! Male/female friendships are real! “So, tell me what happened in Charlottenburg.” “Everything happened.” “Wait. Men?” “Yes.” “Were you gay?” Well, I didn’t like that line, they could have used something more appropriate like ‘Are you bi?’… “Uh… I just fall in love with whoever I fall in love with.” “Does Keiko know?” “She’s got her own thing going on.” Incredible! “Wait, so you guys… “ “Well… I really wanted a baby, and she was rich and ovulating, so…” “But you guys are like the perfect couple.” “We’re a good team.” I loooved this exchange. Way to go, Bill! I’m all about convenient arrangements and friends raising kids together. Although I’m not sure how I feel about the show bringing up personal stories about him this whole episode to make him more likable and make us feel more for him knowing he’d die. And maybe also making Eve a little less guilty about the whole Keiko raising a baby by herself since she ‘has her own thing going on’.

“Do you want to hear something really freaky?” “What?” “The conditions have to be just right, but sometimes… we have sex.” Hahaha “You ever been interested in women?“ “Uh, no. Not like that.” “Not even ones with delicate features, sort of catlike eyes that are completely inaccessible?” LOL I love how he calls her out on her earlier description. “That is horribly unprofessional! Do you want to hear about her tits?” lmao

So before this scene Eve skyped with Niko. She’s so taken with her new job that she kind of neglects him and forgot about their plan to host their friends. It’s kinda sad. Hopefully they can get past this. But also, can I just say that I loved their earlier exchange : “You’re so strong.” “All that math.” Hahaha.

And Villanelle listens in to the skype call! Did she hack into Eve’s computer? And how did she know what computer to hack into since Eve is in a hotel? (I obviously know nothing about hacking lol) Or is it their home computer in London that’s tapped into? How many skills does Villanelle have? And she rewound the tape when Bill arrived… to know his knocking pattern? So she could maybe visit Eve later? And could she hear the rest of the conversation when the skype call was finished/the laptop was shut down?

Then at the train station, Villanelle is there!!! Wearing a suit. Lol. Dressing up for Eve! That silly cap she wore all day wasn’t going to do. And omggg Bill stops her from getting on the train. What are you doing, Bill??? So, was Villanelle planning to follow Eve to the restaurant and just watch her like Konstantin instructed? Also, I would be much more pissed if I were her, and had my arm grabbed like that. “Excuse me. May I ask where you got that scarf?” “Oh, my mother has a shop in Munich. I can give you the address if you like?” Now, that was an excellent lie! I envy her ability to improvise. And she speaks German! Another language to add to the list. So she leaves the train station. And Bill fucking follows her. And so horribly at that. She leads him to a club and of course the bouncer lets Villanelle go in without waiting… she hot. Bill… not so much lol.

So Eve meets with Jin. I did not find him funny. And unfortunately, I have this nagging feeling that he’ll be back on the show sometime. But for the moment, I’m glad Eve was equally annoyed with him and I loved that she did not play his game ‘however gross’ to get information which is what Carolyn would have wanted (although thankfully Eve missed that instruction due to her earphones falling out lol such a great detail). “Last week, Fat Panda hacked into the account of an agent of the Chinese Intelligence. An organization has been paying him millions. We don’t know what for, but a week later, both Fat Panda and the agent were dead. You might have a little creature yourself. Think of this as a friendly, little mole trap.” So there is a mole in the British Intelligence! And probably some Chinese agents as well or how would they know? I guess we’ll find out next episode what’s on that USB key.

Now, at the club, Eve is let in after speaking German (and sounded really good to my untrained ears). Villanelle managed to be spotted by Bill and lured him to the front. He looks pretty proud of himself to have found her. Oh, Bill. And then… she just turns around. And she smiles this terrifying smile at him. It is super creepy. And then the chase is on. Lmao you can see the exact moment he realizes this was a mistake and how much he’s screwed. Scheisse is right. So she catches up to him and stabs him like 20 times in the chest. Overkill much? And Eve, who’s found him pretty quickly considering how packed the club is, arrives just too late. And she just can’t get to him!!! I was so frustrated that she couldn’t get through and was left there screaming at him! And that’s how the episode ends. Wow. I swear the last 10 minutes or so were so stressful. Why did Bill decide to follow her like that? What did he think was going to happen? I guess we’ll never know.

So let’s talk about Villanelle’s motivations for luring Eve to Berlin. Even before knowing who Eve was, she looked thrilled that someone had taken an interest in her. Is she bored with her life because her kills are too easy? Is she ‘lonely’ because the only person she seems to interact with is Konstantin? Is she flattered that there is a whole taskforce with the sole purpose of finding her? Does the fact that they’ve already accidently met and that Eve has curly hair (that reminds her of Anna?) heighten her excitement? Probably. So, since she knows that Eve is investigating her, Villanelle could want to figure Eve out first to win some sort of internal game. She could be curious to know how someone who looks like Eve, someone seemingly innocuous from their meeting in the bathroom, could catch her and be curious about her skills. Maybe she wants to know about Eve’s psyche and what motivates Eve to find her. I was actually surprised at how fast the show moved and had them in the same place again. It was super bold of Villanelle to use Eve’s name to lure her in. Despite her talks of the trip being safe, did Eve subconsciously suspect that this was a trap but decided to throw caution to the wind because of her own curiosity to learn more about this female assassin?

Anyway, so Eve arrives in Berlin and Villanelle just wants to play a little so she steals her suitcase and wears her scarf as some sort of trophy or something. And it’s so funny how she just can’t help herself and has to bump into Bill on the streets to get attention. And she looks so thrilled to have succeeded. So, at this point it’s all fun and games, but then she decides to kill Bill! I guess it’s still all fun and games to her, but she has to know that this will change things for Eve. Did she just act impulsively and want to punish him for being annoying and stopping her from following Eve? Or to prove that she was not someone to underestimate? Was this something planned and she wanted to make this personal to make sure Eve would pursue finding her?

In any case, this fundamentally changes things for Eve. Until now all of Villanelle’s kills were people she didn’t know and she could admire her genius from an outsider’s perspective and be ‘just a fan’ as she said in the second episode. But not anymore. Now that she’s somehow responsible for a death, having decided to go to Berlin and pushed Bill to come with her, she’s directly involved. She’ll have to confront her conflicting feelings of admiration and guilt/anger.

Anyway, that’s it for episode 3! Thanks for reading!

#killing eve #episode review

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elliotthezubat · 6 years

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DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 96

from trips to tombstone and china to spring festivals

Tezca: "--and this is where they would put gigantic boulders onto people accused of being witches until they confess...or die. Or something else."

Anya: "..." *snapping pics*

mio: m-m-may i sit down? *she looks pale*

kirara: !! of course, meme, get her something to drink.

Meme: "On it!" *rushes to a vendor stand*

Tezca: OwO; "...Was it something _I_ said?"

mio: d-dont worry sir, it's just me.

tsugumi: are you sure?

mio: yeah, you all go on ahead, i-i'll catch up.

Meme: "I'll stay with you."

mio: t-thanks.... *sits down*

Meme: *smiles* "It's...not too bad here. Spring flowers are budding."

mio: yeah....sorry, it just....got a bit gruesome for me... *shaking a bit* i-i've seen blood and stuff before but...

Meme: "..." *nods* "I know...Directly..."

mio: .....*lays her head on meme's lap*

Meme: "..." *strokes her head, hums*

mio:...i-i think i'll be o-ok now...w-want to wait for the others?

Meme: *smiles* "Okay."

-elsewhere-

Kunikida: *yawns, wakes up from his nap--and discovers--* "..." *HE'S BURIED IN THE SAND*

kenji: ^^

aya: he awakes!

-the sand has been built to look like a mermaid body-

Kunikida: .\\\\.;;

Kyoka: *phone photo snap*

ranpo: nice tail.

Kyoka: "Ha."

atsushi: there's already a few comments on it.

yosano: [that's a nice look for you]

Dazai: [oh beauty, sing your siren song to me~<3]

kinako: [dude, that's rad]

Kunikida: -_-#"This is mortifying...I would grade this 'art' as a C."

sylvia: ...

Kyoka: "...So, it's under the C?"

aya: >3< *stiffling a laugh*

atsushi: *giggles*

ranpo: *pushes a button on his phone, playing a fail horn sound*

Kunikida: "GET ME OUT."

-elsewhere-

Asher: *locked in their room*

-...silence-

Asher: "Hmph." *lies back in bed, takes off headphones, opens flip phone* *texts* [hey]

izumi: [whats up? ^^ ]

Asher: [nothing] "..." [got roped in by classmates for movies]

izumi: [how was it?]

Asher: "..." [i don't get axel's film taste]

izumi: [what did u watch?]

Asher: [diamondhead rick and the heckpit. how many nut-shots can u fit into one film?]

izumi: [never heard of it tbh]

Asher: [sophomoric bro stuff]

izumi: [will take ur word 4 it haha]

Asher: "..." *smiling despite themselves* [how's your day been?]

izumi: [didnt pass the soul perception test =3= ]

Asher: "..." [oh. sorry.]

izumi: [cant be helped i guess]

Asher: [are u happy u tried?]

izumi: [i guess so]

Asher: "..." [well i am. i didn't want to come to this school at first]

izumi: [oh]

Asher: [so doing something uncomfortable even if i don't succeed at it is something i'm used to]

izumi: ...

Asher: [at least u tried]

izumi: [thnx]

Asher: [see u on monday?]

izumi: [u bet]

Asher: [cool. night]

-elsewhere-

liz: *still walking forwards*

Kid: *following, rubbing his arm*

liz: you gonna be ok, kid?

Kid: "I-I don't know...This was supposed to be for fun...Now, they're back..."

liz: they always seem to be in hiding somewhere....damn bastards.

Inui: *glances* "...You can stop glaring for a minute--I didn't know about this."

liz: no one's blaming you for anything.

Inui: "Tch...I've heard that before..."

Santiago: "When you've been a troublemaker ever since you showed up--no one wants you in town..."

inui: i dont even live in town directly, i just live on the outskirts, or is that illegal somehow?

Santiago: "Even that's too close! You're a nuisance, and worse, a witch--hardly any different than whatever a Kishin is..."

inui: oh here we go again, just because some of us sided with madness, suddenly we're _all_ evil. i've been hearing this bullshit for decades now.

Santiago: "Maybe if your kind would fix the mess your kind caused! But nope, you're just a troll, trying to embarrass people!"

inui: i'm just trying to live my life without trouble, and yet, you insist on bringing it to my doorstep with your racism and piss-poor attitude.

Santiago: "BECAUSE YOU MADE ME AND MY SISTER LOOK LIKE FOOLS! YES, I HATE PEOPLE LIKE YOU! And I'm sick of it! I'm sick of being mocked by you, having my sister dealing with bullshit from pervy men, and I just want to find whoever is killing people in this town! And all you do is think everything is a joke!"

inui: is it an apology you want?

Santiago: "Wh-What?! ...I-I don't know!"

inui: i mean, before the whole tar and feather incident, what did i, or any other witch, do to you to piss you off so much, huh?

Santiago: "I mean, look at me! You think I wanted this stupid weapon form?"

inui: ...

liz: ....

Patty: "...But you're a freaking cannon!"

Santiago: "WITHOUT A FREAKING MEISTER!" *slams her fist against a cave wall*

liz: so? there's plenty of autonomous weapons out there.

Santiago: "Have you seen the blowback from one shot? I fire, I don't know what building I will run into, or what cliff I'll fall off of...I have really big cannonballs!"

Patty: "..." *covering her mouth, suppressing her laughs*

inui: no comment.

liz: .....i think i see something.

Kid: *holding his head* "..."

liz: do you have your pills?

Kid: "Y-Yes..."

liz: better take one, just in case...

Kid: "O-Okay..." *opens the container...*

Santiago: "???"

liz:....guess we have a lot to explain to you about, well, all of this, huh?

Santiago: *sighs* "Seems like it...This is above my pay grade..."

-elsewhere-

mito: *walking into chuuya's room*

Chuuya: *curled up, hugging a pillow*

mito: *tries to jump onto the bed--but overshoots and hits the edge of the mattress* O^O

Chuuya: "..." *picks Mito up*

mito: *paws at his face* mii.

Chuuya: "..." *sad smile*

mito: *mewl*

Chuuya: *lies down, pets Mito*

mito: *purrs*

Chuuya: "You're still here..."

mito: *nuzzle*

Chuuya: "Mito..." *stroke*

Mito: =w=

Chuuya: *sniffs* "G-Good kitty..."

mito: zzz

Chuuya: *small sob*

{Chuuya: *holding his head* "Ugh...My aching head..."}

{rain: mr nakahara? are you alright?}

{Chuuya: *groans* "It's too bright..."}

{rain: would you like some coffee to make you feel better?}

{Chuuya: "Black..."}

{rain: ok, i-i-i'll be right back!}

Chuuya: *sighs*

mito: *purrs*

Chuuya: *scratches behind Mito's ear*

-elsewhere-

Relan: *signing* <How has the move been?>

rita: <pretty well so far. miss iris showed us where our rooms would be>

Relan: <That's good. Is it to your liking?>

rita: *nods* ^^

Petra: *setting up a bookcase*

-elsewhere-

Yohei: *sets Toru down*

toru: ba.

chie: he's getting so big already.

Yohei: "Healthy, growing boy..."

toru: hai mammy

chie: hi sweetie. *forehead kiss*

Yohei: *smiles, rubs his head*

-elsewhere-

Patty: *looking at the walls* "..."

liz: i think i see something up ahead.

Kid: "...Be ready..."

liz: *nods*

Santiago: "..." *looking forward*

Inui: *cracks her knuckles* "You ever deal with these people before?"

liz: more times than we can count.

Inui: "Weaknesses?"

liz: just hit as hard as you can

Inui: *smirks* "Then I think a cannon will be useful."

Santiago: "!!!!" >\\\\>;;;

-soon, they enter a room...-

liz: *covers her nose* urk-

Kid: "This is...This substance feels like a thousand souls..."

*Someone moves in the shadows*

???: it seems we have some unwelcomed guests, doctor.

liz: ?!

Kid: "?!!!"

-there is a man in a gas mask and a young girl in ceremonial robes-

Gas Mask Doctor: "Ah, ahead of schedule."

girl: i wonder, what are we to do with them?

Santiago: "!!! You! What was your name...That missing person poster..."

girl: oh?

Santiago: "What was it...Lena Ocura!"

lena: that would be correct, miss officer.

Santiago: "THAT'S OFFICER SANTIAGO! And people were worried sick about you! Come on, I'm taking you home--"

lena: hehehe...AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! ah....people? worried about me? what kind of fool do you take me for? *her eyes widen intensly* my own father treated me like a plaything, as did his friends. and no one in school even knew i was alive. i had no one to look after me. i was on the verge of despair...but then, the madness found me, and saved me.

Santiago: "?!!!"

Inui: "...Welp. This one's a goner."

liz: pretty typical kishinite.

lena: that's high priestess to you!

liz: yeah yeah, let's get this over with.

lena: *glares* doctor. i think it's time to introduce them to your new pet...

Kid: "Liz...Patty...I will need your support on this..."

liz: you already had it. *gun mode*

Patty: "Right-o!" *assumes her gun mode*

Kid: *proud smile*

Santiago: "..."

Gas Mask Doctor: "So soon? Darn...I haven't trained them well..."

lena: are you questioning me?

Gas Mask Doctor: "...Nah, I'm happy to keep my liver." *smashes a button*

-a metal door begins to open-

Inui: "???"

-a tall, emaciated figure steps out from the door. it seems to have a pair of goat horns on its head, and its face resembles a horse skull-

creature: *SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

Inui: "..."

Santiago: "?!!!"

Kid: *small gasp*

Patty: "LOOK AT ITS HORNS!"

lena: skinstalker, eliminate them.

skinstalker: *SCREEEEEE* *rushes at them*

Kid: *aims, fires--*

-BANG BANG-

skinstalker: *stumbles back, then lunges again*

Gas Mask Doctor: "Quite the show. Still, I had hoped to do more tests..."

lena: get the serum and let's leave-

*Something loud is heard--like wheels rolling against moving earth*

Inui: *riding atop Santiago in cannon mode* "ONWARD, GOOD STEED!"

Santiago: -_-#

lena: ??!! WHAT?!

*BLAST! BOOM! BANG!*

lena: GAH!

Gas Mask Doctor: "?!!!" *dodging, hitting the ground and desperately grabbing at folders of notes*

Santiago: "I'M GONNA WRECK YOU ALL, YOU LITTLE--"

lena: *over talkie* we need reinforcements! now!

skinstalker: *grabs kid and throws him at santiago*

Kid: "GAH!" *crashes into the side of Santiago, sending them both into the wall--*

-CRASH-

Inui: "?!" *leaps off in time, landing in a three-point pose in front of Lena* "..."

scientist: !!!

Santiago: *back in human form* @~@

priest: ?!

prisoner: marlene! you came to get us out of here!

Santiago: *shakes her head, looks* "?!!! How did you all--N-Nevermind! Stand back--I'm blowing you out of there!"

priest: *takes out dagger* you wont be going anywhere.

Santiago: "...Cute." *transforms her head into a cannon, aims--*

priest: .x.

*BLAMMO!*

*But the force of the blast knocks back Santiago, again, into a wall*

Santiago: @~@

-the priest is just a mess on the wall, and the prisoners are escaping-

Kid: *back on his feet, rushing towards Lena and the Doctor* "You are under arrest! By the authority of the DWMA--"

lena: you think we've been beaten so easily? you may capture us now, but there will be others to take my place.

liz: yeah, yeah, save the cliché monologues for someone who cares.

Kid: *aims*

skinstalker: *charges* *SCREEEEEE*

Kid: "GRK!" *swings, fires again at the Skinstalker*

lena: *runs*

Inui: *tries to bring down the the dirt--then spots Santiago passed out and Kid fighting* "..." *sighs* *moves her arm like a punch through the air--sending a pile of sand smashing into the Skinstalker*

-the skinstalker is smashed into the vat, and begins disintegrating-

Doctor: "That could've gone better..."

lena: have i failed my duties here? will i be forsaken? i cant go back to my old life! i wont go back! i'd rather die than go back! *she's shaking*

Doctor: *running with her...then picks her up* "No time for self-doubt! You can beat yourself up later!" *is searching through their pockets for some device*

liz: inui? mind giving us an exit??

Inui: "On it!" *picks up Santiago, opens her fist, pulling apart the earth above to reveal moonlight*

liz: everyone let's go!

Inui: *raises the dirt like a platform*

Doctor: *pulls out a small cylinder with a button* "There it is!" *presses it--and a jetpack explodes out of the back of their jacket, propelling them and Lena forward*

lena: >~<

-outside-

Marlee: O_O

officer john: ._.; *was in the middle of some night golfing*

Santiago: *passed out* X__X

Marlee: "..." *kicks Santiago*

Kid: "Damn it...Again..."

prisoner 1: are we out?

liz: kid? are you ok?

Kid: "...Just disappointed."

liz: ....*pats his back* still, we saved these people. that's something, right?

Kid: *weak smile, nods*

officer john: what the heck happened?!

Santiago: *holding her head* "Ow...Could this beast stop kicking me?!"

officer john: *goes over to her* easy now, easy...

Inui: *petting Marlee* "Good girl..."

-later, after the prisoners were returned home, and the others made it back into town-

Patty: *asleep on Liz's lap*

liz: *pets her head*

Kid: *calling on the Mirror* "And that's the report, Father."

lord death: sounds like you had quite the busy night tonight.

Kid: "...What are they planning?"

lord death: i'm not sure as of yet. but at least most of the scientists and cultists were caught and taken for questioning, and a warrant has been made on the two that escaped.

Kid: *nods* "Thank you."

lord death: so what will you do now?

Kid: "Well, we did come to sight-see--if-if that's okay?"

lord death: of course it's ok! dont forget to bring souvenirs~!

Kid: ^^ "Of course!"

lord death: also, dont you have a certain someone to give a call to~?

Kid: "Of-Of course! Good night, Father."

lord death: good night kiddo. *waves*

Kid: *ends the call* *calls up Stocking*

stocking: hey kiddo, i was just about to call you up!

Kid: "It's good to hear your voice."

stocking: so what's up with you in tombstone?

Kid: "...We had a serious mission. But we're safe."

stocking: oh jeez.

Kid: "But we're fine...We'll be visiting sites soon."

stocking: that should be fun. ^^

Kid: *nods* "I could bring home some rock candy for you..."

stocking: i would love that, kiddo~

Kid: "Okay, I will! How is your mother?"

stocking: well, we have a due date now.

Kid: "So soon!"

stocking: i know.

Kid: "I'll be home by then...Have you scheduled time off?"

stocking: yeah.

Kid: "Good, good...How do you feel?"

stocking: i'm kind of excited. i told mom we'd help with the baby if she needs it. is that ok with you?

Kid: "Of course! It'll be like when Shiori was born."

stocking: ^^

Kid: *smiles* "...I love you."

stocking: i love you too. sleep well.

Kid: "You too. Good night."

-morning-

Arthur: *kicking in his sleep*

shinra: zzzzz

Ogun: *yawns, shifts quietly out of his sleeping bag and steps outside*

nozomi: *taking notes*

Ogun: "Nozomi? What're you doing?"

nozomi: oh, good morning, ogun. i was just writing down some notes.

Ogun: *looking around* "About what?"

nozomi: about our findings mostly. captain pan said we'd likely reach our destination sometime within the week.

Ogun: "Long trip, huh?"

nozomi: yeah.

Ogun: "It'll be good to check out another spot--but after what that fox spirit said..."

nozomi: ...i think we'll make it.

Ogun: "..." *nods* "Right."

nozomi: *smiles*

Ogun: *smiles back* "So, what have you noticed?"

-elsewhere-

*Kid, Liz, and Patty stand in front of a display of crude steampunk audio-animatronic figures*

liz: wow.

Animatronic 1: *scratchy robotic voice* "We-Welcome to the Tombstone His-His-His-His--"

Museum Employee: *slaps Animatronic 1 on the back*

Animatronic 1: "Historama!!!!" OWO

Patty: Q_Q "Oh, God, the robot uprising would have to start here..."

Kid: "..."

liz: and now i'm getting flashbacks of that pizzaria.

Animatronic 1: "Here we have interesting be-be-bemusements and attrac-shee-ons, from the 360 theater m-movie, narrated by Walter Brennan, to a fully automated diorama of the famous gun fights in this gre-gre-great c-c-city!"

employee 2: dan, give nobel a call and have her come out and fix these darn things.

-elsewhere-

Dan: -___-; "That call's going to take most of the afternoon--you know that, right?"

employee 2: just get it done

Dan: *grumbles, presses his finger into the holes in the rotary phone* "Why don't the buttons work on this phone, though?"

-elsewhere-

Justin: *kneeling, praying*

oriko: *also praying*

Justin: "..." *lifts his head, looks up*

oriko: ...

Justin: "...How was it?"

oriko: peaceful...nostalgic

Justin: *nods* "I think I understand."

oriko: *wipes her eyes*

Justin: "..." *pats her shoulder*

oriko: thank you.

Justin: *nods* "You're welcome. If I can make lodging or anything easier for you, I want to help."

oriko: ok

-elsewhere-

Anya: "They even have a reenactment where you get to make your own colonial meal!"

tsugumi: that sounds tasty!

mio: it kinda does.

Meme: "Should be fun! Especially making the dessert."

Tezca: "Just remember--you also have to churn the butter, rotate the fowl..."

ao: *nods*

Anya: *suddenly in old colonial attire* "Then let's begin!"

mio:...h-how did she even...

-elsewhere-

Kyoka: "I warned you about sunscreen..."

ranpo: =3= *burnt*

sylvia: *hiding under an umbrella* QAQ;;;;

Kunikida: "Atsushi, buy some aloe..." *hands him money* "Return with change and a receipt."

atsushi: yessir!

-elsewhere-

Santiago: *holding ice to her head*

officer john: rough night, eh?

Santiago: "You saw it...Jeez, I hit the wall so hard..."

officer john: should i call up my sister?

Santiago: *sigh* "Yeah. Need to let her know I'm fine."

officer: i meant _my_ sister. she's a doctor.

Santiago: -_-# "Fine, that too."

-elsewhere-

teal haired woman: *runs in* *panting* s-sorry, my alarm clock bit the dust.

ango: good morning, tsujimura.

Taneda: *sets out cups for tea*

'bubblegum': so, how's the ankle?

'bowl cut': yeah mizuki, you were out of commission for a while.

mizuki: im much better now, thank you.

Ango: "Onto business..." *passes out file folders*

mizuki: *looks at folder*

*Inside is a map with different cities circled*

mizuki: hmm...

Ango: "We have had reports about recent incidents involving ability users..."

mizuki: *examines the photos*

Ango: "Reports vary as to what happened, but the outcome is clear: ability users are dying."

mizuki: !!

Ango: "Now we're going to find out why."

'bubblegum': what all do we know?

Ango: "Oddly enough, in more than one case, the ability was seen being used--before the user was killed."

mizuki: ....

Ango: "I want to see what these victims had in common..."

mizuki: *nods*

Taneda: "Also, if I may, I think you may want to look at certain individuals with an interest in eliminating ability users..."

mizuki: like dostoyevsky?

Taneda: *nods*

'bowlcut': we still dont know where he is.

Taneda: *shakes his head*

mizuki: so what now?

Taneda: "I suggest some old-fashion leg-work: speak to some previous contacts of ability serial killers..."

-elsewhere-

Kid: *sitting with the Thompsons in a mine-cart slow-moving amusement ride at the museum* "Look! It's a to-scale replica of the Showdown at the OK Corral!" *taking photos with his phone*

liz: ^^

Patty: "It's not even real fire, though--it's just paper with smoke blowing up underneath! Can't they add real flames? And projection tech?"

Kid: -_-#### "Don't ruin this for me..."

Patty: OxO;

-elsewhere-

Spirit: *looking up at the stained glass* "Oh, nice..."

sachiko: it's lovely, isnt it?

Spirit: "Yes!" *stands in the light* "Look at the colors!" *pulls her towards him*

sachiko: *smiles*

Spirit: "So..." *small dance with her* "Is this the spot for us?"

sachiko: i think so.

Spirit: "Let's sign the contract!"

-elsewhere-

katya: *looking at her cards* hmmm...

Akutagawa: "..." *poker face*

Gin: *mask on*

hirotsu: it's already down to the final 4.

Walter: *watching* "I still think Magic would've been more inclusive..."

katya:..hmm.....call.

Akutagawa: "Hmph." *sets down his cards*

Gin: *whines* T~T

Tachihara: "BAM!" *throws down his cards*

katya:....*raises a brow*

Gin: "?! Hey! My hand is better than yours!"

Akutagawa: -_-;

katya: tch- *puts down her cards* straight flush.

Tachihara: "DAMN!"

Gin: T___T

Akutagawa: "Hmph."

katya: nyehe~

Tachihara: "And I was saving it up for a gift..." Q___Q

hans: he does realize they're playing with play money, right?

Walter: "Shh...He's really getting into it!"

Kafka: *holding one of the dollars* "...Did you draw your face on this?"

-elsewhere-

Damon: *on stage* Q_Q

teacher: *watching*

Damon: "Th-The s-s-sum of the square r-r-r-roots of any two sides of an...eye...eye..."

student: is he gonna pass out?

Damon: "Um, teacher? I don't know how to pronounce this word..." >_<

teacher: do you need help?

Damon: *nod nod* *shows the script* *the word is 'Isosceles'*

teacher: it's eye-saw-sah-leeze.

Damon: "Thank you. 'The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an...eye-saw-sah-leeze triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side...'"

teacher: *claps* very good! i actually know a little phrase to help me remember it. 'i saw the leaves'. it rhymes, see?

Damon: OwO; "...'I saw the leaves'?"

teacher: 'i saw the leaves', isosceles. see?

Damon: "...Oh...I-I'll try that." ^^;

-elsewhere-

kyouko: hey, check this out.

Rin: "???"

-it seems to be a poster for the walpurgisnight festival-

kyouko: guess that explains all the commotion in town.

Rin: "True. What's the plan?"

kyouko: guess we'll be at the festival in a few days. and there's a huge parade at the end.

Rin: "...They got food?"

kyouko: what festival doesnt have food?

Rin: "Then I'm trying everything!"

-elsewhere-

*Just about everyone is now in old colonial attire*

Tezca: ^w^ *still wearing the bear mask but in a colonial outfit*

ao: the clothes back then were certainly simplistic.

esther: that's how it was in those days.

Meme: *scratching* >x<

Anya: *pumping water* ^w^

mio: =~= i'm gonna die of sweating in this thing.

Anya: "Hence the water!" *holds up a silver pitcher of it...it looks really dirty*

mio: ._.;

Tezca: "Historical accuracy!"

Tour Guide: "So, where you lot from?"

kirara: death city, nevada.

Tour Guide: "Wowy, long trip. What brings you out here? Our delicious honey-dipped biscuits?"

kirara: cultural lessons and a visit to the DWMA salem branch.

Tour Guide: "Neat! And that thing is your pet." *points at...Tezca*

kirara: -_-; he's a teacher.

Tour Guide: "??? Huh. You know, my sister told me they had a teacher at her school that was a donkey, but that was just for math."

tsugumi: ?

Anya: "...The teacher sounds like an ass."

mio: ..................*facepalm*

kirara: -______________-;;;;

Tezca: *clears his throat* "_I_ make the corny jokes around here, little missy!"

Enrique: *rings the bell loudly* "GOH!"

-elsewhere-

Kid: "Okay, thirty paces, turn, then fire!"

Patty: *determined face*

liz: ....

Kid: "1, 2, 3, 4--"

Patty: *marching away from Liz*

liz: *sigh*

Patty: "Better get ready to lose, Sis! I'm picking where we're getting lunch!"

liz: sure sure.

Kid: "--28, 29--FIRE!"

-POINK POINK-

liz: *corked* ow! >.<

Patty: "BOO-YAH! We're eating at 'Vaca Verde'!"

-elsewhere-

shiemi: *humming and making flower crowns*

Shima: "That's a cute one! These for the festival?"

shiemi: mmhmm!

izumo: *putting one on*

Bon: "Well, that's festive." *picks one up hesitantly*

shiemi: ^^ unagi, do you want to try one on?

unagi: y-yes.

shiemi: *puts it on her*

unagi:... .///. p-pretty...

Bon: "It'll help you fit in. Right, traitor--"

Shima: *already hiding behind Izumo*

izumo: *elbows shima*

unagi: ??

shiemi: unagi, want to help me pick more flowers for the crowns?

unagi: *shiny eyes* yes please. *follows her*

Shima: "Phew!"

-elsewhere-

Kid: *holding up a green salsa burrito* "Aside from the terrifying ordeal underground, this is a charming tourist trap."

liz: yeah, it sure is.

Patty: "And we got to meet new people!" *points* "See?"

liz: *glances* !!! isnt that dr john?!

Kid: "?!!!"

Patty: "What's up, Doc?!"

Dr. John: "!!! Oh--I thought I'd find you here..."

liz: what brings you to tombstone, doctor?

Dr. John: "My brother called me in to check on someone..."

liz: your brother?

Dr. John: "Andy and I are fraternal twins."

liz: oh, you mean officer john?

Dr. John: "Yes." ^^; "But I got turned around..."

liz: want us to help?

Dr. John: "That would be wonderful!"

-elsewhere-

Tachihara: *strolling through pages on a phone*

*He seems to be looking at jewelry*

bessy: *peeeeeeek*

Tachihara: "Hmm...Maybe that--AH!" *falls off the couch when spotting Bessy*

bessy: are you ok, mister?

Tachihara: ._.; "F-Fine!" *pockets his phone* "H-How are you, little...um...what's-your-name?"

bessy: bessy dean.

Tachihara: "Okay, Bessy...Um...Say, I don't suppose you're good at listening, are you?"

bessy: *sits down and stares at him*

Tachihara: "You ever hear what the adults talk about?"

bessy: i dunno.

Tachihara: "Do you know Miss Higuchi?"

bessy: yeah, she's really nice. she reads to us sometimes too. ^^

Tachihara: "Yeah? What kinds of things does she read to you all?"

bessy: my favorite is goodnight moon. ^^

Tachihara: "Oh, that one's good...She is a cool person."

bessy: and miss gin's really cool too!

Tachihara: ^^;;; "Yeah...She feeling okay?"

bessy: i think so, why?

Tachihara: "N-No reason. I think I get on her nerves sometimes."

-elsewhere-

Asher: *seated in class* "So, more guest speakers?"

izumi: looks like it.

Hiro: *standing in front of the class, nervous* "H-H-H-Hell-Hello..."

Black Star: "SPEAK UP! THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

EF: hello everyone. *smiles*

tsubaki: *nods*

Zeke: *raises his hand* "Excuse me! Which of you are weapons?"

ef: myself and miss nakatsukasa.

axel: cool.

Yafeu: "WHAT ARE YOUR WEAPON FORMS?!"

Asher: *covering their ears* =_=;

EF: well, i'm a butterfly knife and well, miss tsubaki is.

hibiki: one of those dark arm weapons, right?

tsubaki: y-yes.

Duncan (Collar Student): "I mean, it's obvious, right? She's from the famous Nakatsukasa Clan, capable of multiple weapon forms."

tsubaki: that's right.

Duncan: *smug look*

Saria: "How do you do partial transformations? I have difficulty doing that with just a limb..."

tsubaki: it takes a lot of practice. usually it requires a lot of focus and visualization before it just comes naturally.

Saria: "Oh..."

Asher: "How do you visualize? Does drawing help?"

tsubaki: i suppose so.

Zeke: "So if we draw ourselves with laser beams and visualize that, we'll get that to our weapon form?"

tsubaki: well i think it's pre-determined automatically. ^^;

Kazue (Ninja): *raises hand* "Black Star, how do you perform the proper assassination--"

Black Star: "RUSH IN, KICK DOWN THE DOOR, MAKE A BIG SCENE, AND SHOW THEM ALL WHO IS BOSS!"

tsubaki: *sweatdrop*

EF: *sweatdrop* i thought maybe he would have mellowed out a little through the school years.

Hiro: T~T "No one has a question for me...He must've relapsed, having returned here to the old haunting grounds..."

EF: ^^;

naho: *pokes her head in* OwO~?

Black Star: "???"

naho: *waves*

Black Star: "Um..." *wave*

blinding bangs girl: oh. you.

naho: ?? oh hi, genny!

genny (blinding bangs): 7-7;

Kanin (Burly Notetaker): "??? You know her?"

genny: she's an online friend. and a major fujoshi.

naho: <w<;

Kanin: "...A what?"

genny: best not to ask.

Black Star: "Don't you have classes, Naho?"

naho: oh right! see ya! *runs off* .....

Duncan: "Tch. What a weird girl--"

Black Star: *already grabbing Duncan by the collar* "YOU WANT TO SAY THAT TO MY FACE?!"

naho: ....

???: *trying to walk by* "Oh...Ex-Excuse me." ^^;

naho: that boy...with the collar...

???: "...??? Who?"

naho: *serious face* he'd be a perfect uke.

mitsuba: uh....huh...

???: O\\\\\O;;;;

naho: RIGHT! CLASS! GTG! *RUNS*

Yoichi: "...What the actual fluffernutter was that?"

mitsuba: typical death city weirdness.

-elsewhere-

Santiago: =_=; "This is embarrassing..."

amanda: well, better to get it looked at than to let it get infected.

Santiago: *grumbles* "Whatever you say..." *whimper*

amanda:..mar, are you ok?

Santiago: "This week has sucked..."

amanda: need some coffee?

Santiago: *nod nod* "Sugar."

-elsewhere-

Arthur: *looking through binoculars*

shinra: man, it just goes on for ages...

tamaki: TT^TT i miss my mom...

nozomi: *pat pat*

tamaki: *SNIFF* thanks nozomi.

Arthur: "We'll be home before you know it. This trip to Avalon can't take much longer. Plus, time moves more slowly there."

-distant rumble-

Ogun: "...What was that?"

shinra: thunder?

Takeru: "Without lightning?"

-rumble rumble-

Pan: *driving* "Hmmm..." *looks at the ground*

*CRASH*

shinra: WHAT THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR?!

???: *ROAR*

worm 2: *GODZILLA ROAR*

???: <HELP!>

Ogun: "?!" *looks around*

tamaki: what the heck was that?!

shinra: *jumps out of the truck and flies out*

Ogun: "Wait for me!" *grabs his board...*

shinra: *surveying*

???: <HEEEEEEEEELP MEEEEEEEE!!!!>

shinra: !!! (is that...a mole?)

*It is a mole, carrying a big bag*

Mole: Q______Q <WAAAAAH!>

shinra: !!! *flies down and picks the mole and bag up and drops it onto the truck*

nozomi: oh!

fang-hua: ah!

Mole: Q~Q <Wh-What?! Flying humans now?! This is not normal!>

fang-hua: <please, try to calm down. what's going on?>

Mole:

tamaki: <we're from death city. most of us anyway.>

Arthur: <It's killer.>

Mole: "..." <You all seem odd. And have...fire abilities?>

fang-hua: <yes.>

Mole: <Oh! Then you can help me escape the awful sandworm trying to steal my food!> *proudly holds up a bag--*

nozomi: *looks inside*

*It's full of potatoes*

tamaki: ah!

Arthur: "...Oh poop."

Mole: "??? 'Poop'?" <What do you-->

*LOUD INHUMAN SCREAM*

juria: AH! FUCKING HELL!!

Mole: OvO;;; <Um...Who is that-->

*Takeru starts throttling the Mole*

Takeru: <THIIIIIIEF! YOU STOLE MY FAMILY'S POTATOES!!!>

nozomi: takeru, please calm down!!

Takeru: <THE POTATO IS A NOBLE TUBER, NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, YOU THIEF, THIEF, THIEF!!!>

Mole: @~@ <STOP HIM! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!!!>

*CRASH*

tamaki: EEK!

shinra: hey! sand worm! *blows raspberries* over here!!

worm 2: *ROOOOOAR!!*

Sand Worm 1: *chases*

tamaki: mr paaaan! DRIVE!!!

Pan: "What does it look like I'm doing?" *does a drift to avoid Worm 2*

shinra: ogun, you got a plan?

Ogun: "You mind distracting while I pierce it?" *summons a lance*

shinra: you can count on me!

worm 2: *chasing after them*

Ogun: "Yoruba Blacksmith!" *summons more lances, following the worm, trying to constrain its path*

shinra: *leading the worms away from the truck*

Ogun: "Now to scare them away!" *fires a few lances at the worms*

worm 2: *SCREEEE*

Ogun: "Now head off, wormie!"

worm 2: *SCREEEEEEEE!!!*

Worm 1: *starts to retreat--diving into the ground and rocking the earth*

tamaki: go! go!

Pan: *hits the gas*

-elsewhere-

Meme: *playing with a hoop and a stick* "WEEEE!"

mio: *stares at her stick awkwardly*

Meme: ^w^ "Roll it down the hill!"

tsugumi: ^^

*Someone clutching a bag of groceries walks by, muttering*

???: "Oh dear..."

girl: *following her*

Meme: "WHOOPS!" *misses the hoop, as she heads towards the two...*

girl: !!

???: "!!!" *falls down, dropping her bag*

girl: !! teacher!

???: "Ow..."

Meme: "Oh! I'm sorry..."

girl: *helping the older woman up, glaring at meme*

Meme: "..." *downcast*

???: "L-Let's go...I'm cold..."

mio: ....

girl: right away. *walks away*

???: *muttering to herself*

Meme: "...Sorry..."

mio: *pap pap*

???: "..." *whispers* "Did you sense it on them?"

girl: yeah.

???: "Keep your eyes open--we can't have them interfere."

-elsewhere-

*At a clothing store, there's a man looking at kimonos*

clerk: might i help you, sir? ^^

Man: "Yes. I'm afraid I don't know what to wear to the upcoming festival...I'm not as familiar with fashion here in Death City." ^^;

clerk: well, the walpurgisnight festival is usually a festival for more western style clothes, like they wear in europe. such as suits and dresses.

Man: "Oh, I see. I thought given the Japanese aesthetic of the city...Well, I would like to see a suit, then."

*There's a mother and her young daughter walking by*

little girl: *humming, wearing a flower crown* ^^

Man: "..."

{Man: "Careful, sweetie!"}

{rosemary: ok, papa!}

{Man: *smiles, as he watches her picking flowers*}

{rosemary: hehe ^^ *smiles*}

Man: *wipes his eyes*

clerk: sir?

Man: *wipes with a handkerchief* "S-Sorry--allergies get to me this time of year." TwT;

-elsewhere-

Mole: *panting, collapsed on their back* <Phew! Finally safe...I was so scared I would die back there...>

shinra: well, we seemed to get away from those worms for now...

fang-hua: *to the mole* <are you from around here?>

Mole: <No! That's one reason I got lost! I left home to find more food, and on the way back, I fell into the sandworm pit...>

fang-hua: <where are you from, then?>

Mole: <...> >_>;

nozomi: …<do you know about the 'tear in space'? or the adora burst?>

Mole: <Y-Yeah? It's one reason I'm like this...> *thumbs at their flaming tail* <And it lets me talk.> *proud*

-silence-

shinra:

Mole: QwQ;

Pan: <Plenty of talking animals where we are.>

Mole: Q__Q

nozomi: *pat pat*

*SHNICK*

*FWOOM*

*POSE*

Mole: Q_Q "?!"

Ogun: <WE GOT CHASED BECAUSE OF YOU!>

Arthur: <SHOW US WHERE THE DRAGONS ARE!>

Takeru: <GIVE ME BACK MY POTATOES, YOU THIEF!>

tamaki: guys, calm down! you're scaring them!

fang-hua: ok, calm down, calm down everyone.

Mole: *hides behind Nozomi* >_<;;;

shinra: <why did you steal those potatoes? and where are you taking them back to?>

Mole: <We're running out of food back home! These--These...What are they called...Thieves! That's it! These thieves just keep taking what is ours! We have no food left! So I had to find food further away! None here in the Wasteland--and I kept going until I found these amazing tubers...> *rubs his face against a potato* =w=

shinra: <thieves, huh?>

Mole: <Yes...It's so awful there. Our Oasis is under attack.>

shinra: *looks at the others*

tamaki: <oasis?>

Mole: <Y-Yes...> *shivers, rubs their arms*

Pan: *looks up* "It'll be night soon..."

nozomi: <do you know a place for us to camp?>

Mole: *looks up* <!!! I know someone who does!> *waves* <Beauty!>

nozomi: ??

-a crow flies down-

beauty: <hello, schop.>

Ogun: "..." <'Alive'?>

shinra: *gulp*

beauty: ...<well, i do know of a place where they'll be alright. just follow us.

-elsewhere-

Dr. John: "There you go!"

amanda: ^^

Santiago: "Thanks...Hurts a little less."

officer john: thanks again, mel. ^^

Dr. John: "You're welcome, Andy." *soft nudge on his shoulder* "You taking care of yourself?"

officer john: yeah.

Dr. John: *nods* "Good--can't let you have too much of that good food here."

-elsewhere-

Zeke: "--and they were so cool! Black Star just went *WHAM!* and Tsubaki was *SLICE*, then Hiro just swung that knife around all *WOOSH WOOSH WOOSH*!"

Asher: *eating, saying nothing*

Saria: ^^;

axel: yeah, that was so epic!

Yafeu: "IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO DO ALL THAT STUFF!" *slams his fist on the table, shaking it* "I CAN'T WAIT TO GET INTO THE FIELD!!!"

hibiki: mmhmm.

Asher: "Tch. The only thing we're ready for are those jobs for NOT students."

izumi: which is why we have to do our best, right?

Asher: "...Yeah." =_=;

Saria: "Our cheerleader!"

izumi: ??

Saria: "You're full of optimism, Izumi..."

izumi: you think so?

Asher: "Sounds about right."

Zeke: *nod nod*

izumi: ^^;

Duncan: "Tch. Must you all be so loud?"

Kanin: *picking at his salad, looking disappointed*

genny: you alright?

Kanin: ^^; "Just trying a different diet."

genny: ah.

Kazue: *trying to put food with chopsticks through their mask--and failing* O_O;

loop hair: OwO~?

Kanin: "Any jobs anyone is taking?"

-elsewhere-

Viktor: *pokes a stick at the fire*

Pan: *passes the bag of marshmallows*

tamaki: ^w^

Schop: "..."

Bird 2: *CAW*

beauty: <so you're searching for the adora burst in the oasis?>

shinra: <so far, it's our only other lead.>

Pan: <How do you speak Chinese? Are you related to witches?>

beauty: *shakes her head* <it's because of the oasis.>

Pan: <You keep saying that--what Oasis? How does it let you talk human?>

Schop: <It's a long story...But the Oasis is our home in this desert, away from this arid land. It is plentiful with food...That must be why those thieves came. The human, riding a horse on fire...>

shinra: <did this person have a hood?>

Schop: <??? Yes?>

shinra: <want us to help get your oasis back?>

tamaki: *glances at lights in the distance*

Schop: <?! Hey! Don't underestimate me--I'm one tenacious mole!> *shows off a tiny flicker on his hand*

tamaki: do you see that?

nozomi: ??

tamaki: *points to the lights*

fang-hua: captain pan, do we have binoculars?

Pan: *hands them*

Schop: "..." *shakes*

fang-hua:...!!! infernals!

shinra: all of them?!

Ogun: "?! Oh no..."

tamaki: they dont seem to notice us, though...

beauty: they've been wandering the wasteland for over 250 years now.

Takeru: <They survived that long?>

Schop: *shaking still*

beauty: *she nods*

shinra: we should put them to rest.

beauty: there's far too many of them for you to handle all on your own. even if you do manage to put most of them to rest, their numbers will overwhelm you eventually.

Arthur: "We have a nun--that's all we need."

tamaki:.... *goes to a small area on the edge of the campfire's light and prays*

Arthur: "..." *sighs*

tamaki:....i hope that at least helped them...

Schop: <...> *looks at Shinra* <...Could you help? Would you?>

shinra: *nods* <of course. that's what heroes do.>

Schop: "???" < 'Hero'?>

shinra: *he nods and smiles* ^^

Schop: <...I'm not sure I understand.>

shinra: <we help put the infernals to rest in death city all the time. i'm sure we can help you get back your oasis.>

Schop: <And that's what a 'hero' is?>

shinra: <it's a lot to explain...>

Schop:

-elsewhere-

soul: *helping damon review his lines for the play* aaand go.

Damon: "...I haven't got a brain...only straw."

soul: *nods and smiles*

Damon: *smiles back, nods* "But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?"

soul: *claps*

becky: that was great, damon!

Damon: ^\\\\^; "I-I don't know how I'm going to do..."

soul: do you want to keep practicing a little more?

Damon: "Yes!"

soul: ok, and afterwards, we can get some mcdonalds.

Damon: *shiny eyes*

becky: yay!

-elsewhere-

Kid: *looking at the town* *pleased sigh*

liz: *packing*

-text message on kid's phone-

Patty: *holding the cow stuffed animal* "Moo moo moo!"

Kid: "???" *checks*

stocking: [hey kiddo <3 when u gonna be back?]

Kid: *smiles* [late tonight--1 am if traffic holds]

stocking: [glad 2 hear. will be waiting 4 u ;) ]

Kid: ^\\\\^ [excellent! love u]

stocking: [love u 2 <3]

*A knock on the hotel door*

liz: *looks through the peep hole*

*Looks to be Inui*

liz: inui? what brings you here?

Inui: "Wanted to see you kiddos off."

Marlee: *nudging Patty*

Patty: *pet pet* ^^

liz: ah, well thanks.

Inui: "...You be careful around those Kishin-things."

liz: we will.

Inui: "Also, keep at it." *pats Liz's belly*

liz: ??? ….. O/////O;;

-elsewhere-

Anya: "Okay, enjoy!" *sets out plates*

mio: *nom* mm, these are some good mashed potatoes!

Anya: "All farm-grown ingredients! The garlic helps..."

Meme: *picking at her food* "..."

tsugumi: ?? meme?

Meme: "S-Sorry...It tastes great." ^^;

mio: ....

Tezca: "...How about after dinner I teach you some old songs from the era? I only know them in Portuguese, but you can hum along..."

ao: that sounds lovely! ^^

Meme: "O-Okay..."

-elsewhere-

kim: hey goph, how's the float looking?

Gopher: "I could use more yellow flowers."

kim: got it!

Jacqueline: "It's turning out really well." *looks at the blueprint*

-elsewhere-

Chuuya: "You're doing great!"

sonia: *pedaling*

Chuuya: *points* "See?!"

kouyou: ^^

Chuuya: "She's really taken to it..." *proud smile*

kouyou: indeed she has.

Chuuya: "...I'm glad she is growing up."

kouyou: *nods*

Chuuya: "...Just this moment..."

kouyou: *listening*

Chuuya: "...If I could take each happy moment, and just have those in a row..."

kouyou: ....

Chuuya: "...Sorry. Just being corny."

kouyou: *pat pat*

Chuuya: *rubs his eyes*

sonia: *pedals up to them* papa?

Chuuya: "??? Yes, Sonia?"

sonia: *lifts her arms, wanting to be picked up*

Chuuya: *smiles, picks her up*

sonia: *hug*

kouyou: *snaps a pic* so sweet. ^^

Chuuya: ^^

sonia: *forehead kiss* love you, papa.

Chuuya: "Love you too, sweetie."

-elsewhere-

Kid: *opens the door*

lord death: welcome home!

Kid: ^^ "Hello, Father." *drops his suitcase*

lord death: *HUG*

Kid: ^\\\^ *pat pat

lord death: oh, stocking said she wanted to see you in your room then.

Kid: O\\\w\\\O;; "...Yes, well, I'll report the mission tomorrow, then?"

lord death: *he nods*

liz: i'll handle it from here. you go on ahead, kiddo.

Kid: *practically sprinting*

liz: ... ^^;

Kid: *opens the door*

stocking: *in a sexy saloon girl costume* welcome home~<3

Kid: O\\\\\O "..." *small moan*

stocking: hehe~ *finger curl*

Kid: *shuts the door behind him, practically crawling up to her* "I-I think I'll need something..."

stocking: oh~?

Kid: *puts on his own cowboy hat, smiles* "I think tonight is a lot of knocking boots..."

stocking: hmhmhm~ *pulls him close by his tie*

Kid: "Mmm~ Stocking...You're incredible..." *passes a hand along the tassels on her vest*

stocking: ah~ *whispers* tonight, i want you to completely fucking wreck me.

Kid: *holds her close, inhaling deeply* =\\\\= "We have to make up for lost time~"

stocking: *kisses him*

Kid: "Hmmm!" *pins her wrists to the mattress*

stocking: mmn~ god, i missed this so much.

Kid: "Yes--I yearned to be by your side every night..." *kisses along her ear*

stocking: ahhh~ you know, the vibrators dont compare to the real thing~

Kid: "Oh~? Was my saloon girl busy while I was out~?"

stocking: i was lonely without you here with me.... *hugs* im so happy you're home.

Kid: *hug, strokes her back* "I'm sorry...but I'm home now. And so happy..."

stocking: mmm... *holds him close* i love you so much, kid.

Kid: "I love you, too, Stocking...and I want to fill every day for you with all the happiness I can..."

stocking: *smiles and nuzzles her nose against his* ^////^

Kid: "Heh heh..." *nuzzles*

-morning-

fang-hua: <so how far is the oasis?>

Schop: *points* <Just above that rock wall at the horizon...>

shinra: hmm...

beauty: *flies up*

shinra: *follows*

Pan: *calling after them* "Careful! We don't know what we're facing!"

shinra: *nods*

nozomi: *checking the readings* seems the air quality is good here.

Schop: <Did you encounter those weird visions in the Wasteland?>

tamaki: <well, we do have gasmasks on to protect us from the gas, so...>

Schop: <That's good--she warned us to avoid those parts of the earth, too.>

tamaki: ?? 'she?'

Schop: <...The mysterious woman who protected us, years ago.>

shinra: hey guys! you should check this out! it's a whole 'nother forest over here!

Ogun: "Hang on! Some of us can't fly as well as you..." *uses his lances on his board to fly up*

shinra: *looking around* ...!!!!!! no way....

tamaki: wait up! *crouch, butt shake and jumps up the wall*

Schop: <...> *looks at Nozomi* <Your nun is a cat?>

nozomi: ^^; <well...>

Ogun: *reaches the top* "Jeez, you're right--look at those trees!" *looking around, not noticing Shinra's shock*

shinra: .....

tamaki: *phew* wow, how are we gonna get the others up past this-....shinra? are you ok?

shinra: *points*

Ogun: *looks* "...?!"

tamaki: ?? what are you looking a-.... !!!

-in the distance, is a structure like the amaterasu-

Ogun: "What...is that doing here?"

juria: oooi! what's going on up there?!

tamaki: you guys arent gonna believe this! i-it's an amaterasu!

Pan: "???"

juria: hah?

Schop: <Tiramisu?>

tamaki: get on up here and check this out!

-and so-

nozomi: it's...hard to believe, but no mistaking it...

juria: why the hell is that even out here?

fang-hua: in any case, we should investigate.

Schop: *hiding behind the rocks, sniffing the air* Q_Q <I-I smell them...>

tamaki: ...

Ogun: <'Them'?>

Schop: <Those thieves...>

shinra:... <let's head down then.>

Schop: <Okay...I'll lead you. But don't think you can talk through to them--they don't talk to us.>

shinra: *nod*

Schop: <We go northwest...>

-elsewhere-

Older Woman: *checking a jar*

girl: so what all else do we need, teacher?

Older Woman: "Waiting for the blooms to finish growing--we'll need one."

girl: *she nods, looking out the window*

*There's a potted plant on the windowsill*

-elsewhere-

Wes: *hug*

liz: *smooch* ^^

Wes: "I'm grateful...If you had been hurt..."

liz: im ok...

Wes: *nods* "Sorry...Just get worried. Some of these missions are dangerous."

liz:...*nods*

Wes: *rubs her hand*

-elsewhere-

Damon: *muttering his lines, re-reading them*

teacher: *puts a hand up to their ear, trying to hear him*

Damon: "...Pardon me, this way is a very nice way."

girl: who said that?

boy: *in a dog suit* -_-; bark bark.

girl: oh dont be silly, toto, scarecrows dont talk.

Damon: *pointing another way* "It's pleasant down that way, too!"

girl: that's funny, wasnt he pointing the other way?

Damon: ^^ "Of course, people do go both ways--" *points in both directions, crossing his arms*

teacher: *claps* well done! ^^

Student: "Scarecrow is dumb! And so is Damon!"

Damon: "???"

becky: *PUNCH*

teacher: miss evans!

Damon: ^^; "I mean, the Scarecrow is actually smart--'cause the play is ironic. Plus, my sister is strong..."

becky: and dont let me catch you saying that stuff about my brother again! >XP

Student: *rubbing their injured arm* O_o;;;;; "...The Evans kids are crazy."

teacher: *drags becky and the student to the principal* honestly, such behavior...

becky: >~<

girl: do you think they'll be ok?

boy: does this mean i can take the suit off now? it's making me itch everywhere.

Damon: "...I'm sorry you got stuck with it." ^^;

-elsewhere-

Rin: "Looking good, Shiemi!"

shiemi: thank you. ^^

madoka: ^^

Yukio: "..."

shiemi: oh, hi yuki. ^^

Yukio: "Hello, Shiemi..." *nods*

shiemi: want to check out the festival grounds?

madoka: sounds great!

Yukio: "...Sure?"

shiemi: great! ^^

Bon: "Would you watch where you're stepping?!"

izumo: then dont stand so close to me!

Bon: "I'M NOT TRYING TO! IT'S JUST CROWDED!"

madoka: ._. the festival only just started today....

*There is literally no one else near Bon*

Bon: "... ... ..."

izumo: .....

Rin: "...Oooooooo--"

izumo: s-shut up, okumura! >///<#

Bon: "YEAH, SHUT YOUR DUMB FACE!" -\\\\\-###

-elsewhere-

Arthur: *looking, looks at the trees* "...What kind of tree is that?" *points*

shinra: *looking around*

*It's not a tree--it's a tree growing around a car*

Ogun: "...Well, it's not a pedes-tree-an."

nozomi: *chuckles*

Ogun: ^^;

shinra: what the heck..? *examines the car*

*Looks rather old...*

shinra: hey pan, did they have cars 250 years ago?

Pan: "Is it attached to a horse?"

shinra: doesnt look like it.

nozomi: *examining the car*

Viktor: "That's just anachronistic. Odd bit of history..."

tamaki: *peers inside*

*looks like a bird inside*

tamaki: *steps back* woah!

Takeru: "?! I think that's a crested ibis--almost extinct..."

tamaki:..we should leave them be, then.

Ibis: *looks to be sitting on something...*

nozomi: ....?? *notices something*

-it doesnt look like the other trees in the area. looks almost as if it were manmade-

Arthur: "Are these 250 years old?"

-growls-

shinra: ???

Schop: "Th-The Pillars were set up as a warning--that the Thieves claim this as their territory!"

shinra: *looking around*

tamaki: *HISSSS*

*It sounds like...barking?*

nozomi: ?? .... !!!!

*It's Infernal dogs--animals made into Flame Monsters*

shinra: now that's just fucked up.

infernal dog: *tries to bite him*

shinra: QxQ;;; bad dog! sit!

tamaki: *praying* ashes to ashes, let your souls return to the flames. ratomu!

Arthur: *slicing the dogs*

Takeru: *one is biting him* "Owie! Bad dog!" *shaking him off*

tamaki: *tail whip* ratomu!

Infernal Dog: *yelps, running away*

shinra: ......

???: <Protect...>

shinra: ??? *glances at the amaterasu like structure* (what was...?)

Schop:

Ogun: "..."

Takeru: "..."

shinra: did you guys hear that voice just now?

Ogun: "Yeah--this guy just called <dogs> <thieves>!"

Schop: "???" <Oh...> ^^; <I'm still working on the language...>

shinra: no, not that, something from there *points*

Arthur: "...Oh, I get it--" *aims Excalibur, fully charged, at Shinra's neck*

shinra: OxO

-CHOP-

tamaki: he's fine, arthur.....you are ok, right shinra?

shinra: i-i think so...

Arthur: *face-down in the mud*

Ogun: "So...Adora Link?"

shinra: most likely.

-elsewhere-

Zeke: *passes the basketball*

axel: yeah! haha!

Yafeu: *rushing at Axel*

axel: *toss*

Asher: *catches...just stands there*

izumi: come on! pass it here!

Asher: *tosses to Izumi* "Fine."

izumi: *dribbling the ball*

Saria: *blocking* >_<

genny: ..

Duncan: "I'm open!" *standing underneath his own net*

lei-lei: (loop braids girl) ^^

Kanin: *wearing a headband and an old-fashion basketball jersey* O_O;

hibiki: over here!

izumi: *toss*

Kanin: *just lifts up his arms*

-nice catch-

Kanin: "..." *tosses into the net*

lei-lei: great job!

Kanin: ^^; "Thanks..."

Duncan: "I helped too!"

Asher: "...How does someone get that big?"

genny:...*shrug*

Zeke: "Milk."

-elsewhere-

Kid: *whistling*

shiori: *drinks from a juicebox*

Kid: "Tasty?"

shiori: mmhmm

Kid: "What would you like to do next?"

shiori: playground?

Kid: "Sure! Swings?"

shiori: yeah!

Kid: "Maybe you'll get even higher than last time, see the tops of the trees and their blossoms."

shiori: ^^

Kid: *grabs Shiori's shoes* "Remember how I tie your shoes?"

shiori: help?

Kid: "Sure!" *puts one shoe on...* "We make the tree roots..." *ties the first knot...*

-elsewhere-

Zeke: "Good game!" *fist bump*

axel: yea-heah! ^^

izumi: phew...

Asher: *lying on the bench* "Zzz..."

hibiki: *drinking from the fountain*

lukas: im exhausted from just watching you all.

Duncan: *basketball imprint on his face* X-X

-elsewhere-

Poe: *singing lightly*

karl: *snoozing on his shoulders* =w=

Poe: *stroke stroke* >w< ("Fluffy!")

rowena: ^^

Poe: ^^; "How was your meeting?"

rowena: it went quite well. one of miss warren’s friends is trying to start a petition in true cross to start up a divination class.

Poe: "Oh? What would it be like?"

rowena: i suppose it would involve tarot readings and tea leaf readings and such. ^^

Poe: "Maybe you'll find a teacher for it..."

rowena: *she nods*

-elsewhere-

fang-hua: <so, about this 'god' of yours...?>

Schop: <Our god gave us this Oasis...>

fang-hua: *listening*

Schop: <One day, shortly after the Great Disaster, she arrived...>

fang-hua:....

Schop: <She was clad in black, coming through this wasteland...We didn't know whether she was a threat--but we were starving...How could we fight against her if she was there to hurt us?>

tamaki: <what happened then?>

Schop: <Then she said she would rebuild this world--starting with us.>

fang-hua: <rebuild?>

Schop: <After the Disaster, we had no food...But when she gave us this...> *points to his tail* <...I no longer felt hunger.>

tamaki: <do you know where she is now?>

Schop: "..." *points at the other Amaterasu*

shinra: .....

Schop: <She built our god...saved our lives...She will come back...>

nozomi:.....??

shinra: ?? *looks in the distance*

*Something is shifting through the trees*

shinra: hello?

???: *growl*

shinra: ._.;

*A hooded figure appears*

shinra: !!!!!

juria: ah hell.

Ogun: "A human? Out here?"

shinra: *steps back* uhhh....guys?

*The figure's hood falls back, revealing--*

Infernal: "OUUUAAAAAHHHA"

juria: *flame gauntlets on*

Takeru: "EEP!"

tamaki: *runs in* return to the burning flames! *tail slash* ratomu!

Viktor: Q__Q "AAAAAH!"

shinra: hold on! *flies over to him*

*Viktor is flung towards--*

Viktor: "BURIED WOODEN SPIKES?!"

shinra *NICE CATCH* OwO;;; *gulp*

Viktor: Q____Q

shinra: for a moment, i thought your goose was cooked.

Viktor: T~T "Please don't say it like that...How did I survive this long..."

juria: *punches through one infernal*

*BARK BARK BARK*

tamaki: we got more coming!

Pan: *blows into his whistle*

*A dog rushes at Shinra--until a fiery lance descends in front of it*

shinra: nice save, ogun! *thumbs up*

Ogun: "No problem--now kick their asses!"

Infernal: "..." <Humans...>

fang-hua: ?!

Infernal: <Why are you here...?>

shinra: so it's another talking one, huh?

Ogun: "So, it has half a brain...”

Infernal: <Leave...or be sacrificed...>

shinra: <what are you talking about?>

Pan: <And why do you want the Shintai's regenerative power?>

Infernal: <'Regenerative'? No... It’s power is destructive!>

shinra: ??!! <what?>

Schop: <Liar! She regenerated our home!>

shinra: (is that why giovanni was searching for the key to the amaterasu? at least iris has it with her...)

Infernal: *cackles* <With that power, soon we will-->

*SLICE*

Arthur: "..." <No mercy.>

shinra: <like hell we'll let you people use it to destroy anything!>

Ogun: "So, what crazy plan do you think they were going to say before Arthur went Marie Antoinette on them?"

shinra: i think they wish to use this shintai for destroying something, whatever it is, it's not good...

Schop: <At least you avoided their leader...>

shinra: <their leader?>

Schop: <His name is Tempeh. He runs with others in cloaks, but you can recognize him by those ears.> *imitates with his claws...devil horns*

shinra: !!!!!!!

Ogun: "Oh no..."

Takeru: Q_Q

Schop: <??? You don't like big ears?>

shinra: <those werent ears. they're horns.>

Schop: <...Is that bad?>

shinra: <horned infernals are really, really dangerous.>

Schop: <...> *gulp* <They keep coming here. Killing us. Hunting for their stones...>

nozomi: <stones?>

Schop: *nods* <Flat stones, chipped away.>

shinra: ....<do you know where tempeh is?>

Schop: <He keeps his followers around God...>

shinra: <then we'll just have to lure him out.>

Pan: <Our mission is to explore the cause for the Adora Burst--I think we should be checking this 'God.' I am not interested in fighting against a Demon.>

shinra: well, if the demon is inside, then drawing him out is our best option while you look inside.

tamaki: he has a point.

juria: yeah, i dont mind fighting a few infernals. *cracks knuckles* otherwise i'll get rusty…

Pan: *sigh* "Fortunate to have some of our most fight-happy members here..." *looks at Schop* <Lead us to God.>

-elsewhere-

*A man looks at the flower floats*

Man: "Hmm...Remarkable work."

worker: thank you.

Man: "How many flowers does this one use?"

worker: i'd estimate about, ah.....over 200.

Man: "That's a lot of seed-growing." ^^

worker: indeed.

Man: "Keep up the good work." *pat pat*

-elsewhere-

Sakuya: ._.; "You okay?"

naho: hmm?

Sakuya: "You seemed concerned a few days ago. Someone bothering you at school?"

naho: not really, why?

Sakuya: "Just curious..." *hands her a wrapped bag* "Your new book arrived."

naho: YAY! ^w^

Sakuya: ^^; "Enjoy..."

-elsewhere-

Free: *scratching behind his ear*

milia: *looking around*

Free: "What'd you like?" *points at the flavors*

milia: can i get the strawberry? OvO

Free: "Sure thing! I think I'll go with the...No, not chocolate, I'll go with caramel. Excuse me? We'd like to order..."

kyouko: ok, what'll it be?

Free: "One strawberry, one caramel, please."

kyouko: coming right up.

Free: *looks outside* "Want to have the ice cream outside?"

milia: *nods* ^^

Free: *drops a tip into the jar, takes the cups--*

Kuro: *staying in the shadows under the tarp* =_=;

milia: ??

Kuro: "Too hot...Tired...Dying..."

milia: are you ok?

Kuro: "The sun..." *crawls more into the shadows, pants*

mahiru: dont mind him, he's tired. ^^;

milia: oooh.

Free: "...'Kay." *sits down with Milia* "Don't stare at the weird cat-hoodie man..."

-elsewhere-

Walter: *sets down his charcoal* "Okay...I think it's done!"

sonia: *peeeeeks*

Walter: *looks to be drawing the tree outside*

sonia: it looks really nice, mr walter.

Walter: "D'aw, I was hoping--thank you! It helps to practice..."

sonia: what did you want to be when you grew up?

Walter: "...Huh...Well, when I was really tiny, I think an animator or firefighter."

sonia: ah.

Walter: "Then I figured out I'm pretty good at observation, so I went into surveillance and just kept learning other things, like drawing, typing, programming, PhotoShop..."

sonia: *nods*

Walter: "What do you think you'll do?"

sonia: =A=; i hardly even know how to ride a bike. i'm still just a little kid, and i have no idea what skills i even have on me.

Walter: OwO; "...It doesn't hurt to dream about it?"

sonia: i guess...

-elsewhere-

Viktor: <Um...Beauty? Is this the right path?>

*Beauty is nesting in Viktor's hair*

beauty: yes. it's not that far now.

Schop: *sniffing around* <Those thieves--er...Um...'dogs' have a strong scent here...They can't be far.>

shinra:......

nozomi: wait, i see something.

-seems to be a door-

Arthur: "You think it goes somewhere?"

shinra: inside the shintai most likely...

Pan: "We need to investigate inside..."

fang-hua: *nods*

shinra: ogun, tamaki, juria, takeru and i will keep a watch outside.

Arthur: "I'll go inside to guard the investigators."

nozomi: *nods*

Pan: "And stay quiet so not to attract attention."

shinra: we'll try to.

Pan: "Okay." *blows his whistle*

shinra: >~< (YOU HYPOCRITE!)

Schop: *SHHH!*

Pan: ._.; "...Sorry."

-and so-

Viktor: *holding a flashlight*

nozomi: it's surprisingly clean in here.

fang-hua: yeah, you'd think a 250+ year old structure would have a bit of dust inside it...

Arthur: "Likely gnomes."

fang-hua:...*sweatdrop* right....

*Sounds like metal rustling...*

nozomi: ?! *turns*

*A metal shutter has slammed shut*

nozomi: !!!!

shinra: !!! ah heck.

Ogun: "They found us..."

tamaki: *battle stance*

*Cloaked figures emerge from the shadows*

juria: heh, alright. *flame gauntlets on*

Figure 1: <Intruders...>

shinra: ..... <i'm guessing you're tempeh?>

Tempeh: <Who are you?>

juria: <the group that's about to fuck you up, that’s who.>

Figure 2: *grabs Juria from behind* <LANGUAGE!>

juria: *grabs the figure’s arms and tosses them over her*

Figure 3: *GROWLS, rushing at Shinra*

shinra: HYAH!

Figure 3: *flame claws grab Shinra by the ankle*

shinra: !!!

Ogun: *TACKLE*

shinra: woah! thanks man!

Ogun: "Any time..." *tosses a lance behind Shinra, nailing a Fire Dog to a tree*

tamaki: ratomu!

Fire Dog: *evaporates*

shinra: <why are you trying to cause destruction? these animals did nothing to you!>

Tempeh: *chuckles* <Sorry...But to me...> *summons a fireball* <You're all just animals to me!>

shinra: !!

*The fireball rises--then splits into pieces, descending like meteors*

Tempeh: <I'LL BURN IT ALL!>

shinra: !!!! *dodging*

Schop: *hanging onto Shinra* Q_Q

Takeru: "EEK!" *trying to fling fire missiles back, knocking some fireballs away--but into the trees*

juria: *grabs one infernal by the head and slams it into the ground*

Infernal 4: *SCREAMS INTO THE GROUND--shooting up fire under the rocks*

Schop: <HEY! DON'T DESTROY THE FOREST, TOO!> D : <

shinra: <sorry.>

Schop: -^-

Ogun: <This jackass has a death wish...> *tosses another lance--*

Tempeh: *catches it*

Ogun: "?!!!"

juria: what the fuck?!

Tempeh: <...> *grins* <You have no idea...> *tosses it towards Juria*

juria: *dodge* heh, you're really...really...beginning to piss me off.

Takeru: <Um...Sir? Why are you doing this?>

Ogun: "WHY ARE YOU BEING NICE TO HIM?!"

Tempeh: "..."

tamaki: <then please, let us put you to rest!>

Tempeh: "..." *points at Juria* <Her. Let her try.>

juria: alright then. i'm gonna enjoy this! *THROWS A PUNCH*

*CRACK*

juria: *SCREAMS* FUCK!!

Ogun: "Juria!"

Tempeh: *taps his chest* <No matter your flame, it is not strong enough to kill me...But her...> *looks up at the Shintai* <Your 'god' can.>

juria: shit...at least i still have my left, you cant kill an oni so easily, after all...

shinra: ....

Tempeh: <She was made to destroy...With the flame my follows are creating inside, tapping into the shintai's power, will create an explosion that should reach...How far? Maybe to Qingdao.>

Takeru: <!!!! No!>

tamaki: <you're really willing to risk innocent people's lives, just to die?!>

Tempeh:

tamaki: *flips him off* <SCREW OFF, OLD MAN!>

Tempeh: <SINCE WHEN HAVE PRIESTESSES BEEN SO POORLY MANNERED IN THE LAST 250 YEARS?!> >_<###

shinra: <she's rather unorthodox, to be fair->

tamaki: GET BENT, KUSAKABE!!

Schop: <JUST DIE ALONE, YOU BIG-EAR FREAK!>

shinra: still, we'll need a lot of firepower...come on, think, shinra, think...

*FWOOM*

shinra: ?!

-inside-

nozomi: *examining the tablets*

Pan: "Numbers?"

nozomi: ah! i recognize these numbers!

Viktor: "Really?"

Arthur: "It's pi."

fang-hua: really?

nozomi: arthur! you know pi too?! *shiny eyes*

Arthur: "I'm a Knight of the Round Table: I know all things round."

nozomi:....

fang-hua:....what?

nozomi:.....*facepalm*

Pan: *sad whistle*

Viktor: "...Um, no offense, but pi is 3.14, not 3.41..."

nozomi: actually, there is more to pi than 3.14, you see the number's in pi- *ramble ramble ramble*

Arthur: "..." *already walking away* "It's the hundred thousandth's place..."

fang-hua: *sweatdrop* she really knows her stuff, huh?

Pan: "At least someone does..."

Viktor: ^\\\\^;

-outside-

Ogun: "Shinra! Snap out of it!"

shinra: hu-huh? wha?

Ogun: *tossing lances at remaining Infernals* "You zoning out again?! Was it that link?"

shinra: i think so, but it didnt seem as homicidal as the last time.

Takeru: "...Yay?" *swinging arms to knock back Infernals*

tamaki: *DOUBLE TAIL SLASH*

Ogun: "Come on, Shinra--while she starts the prayer!" *tosses more lances*

shinra: right!

tamaki: burning soul, ashen smoke, the soul that desires release, ashes to ashes, may thy soul return to the flames. ratomu!

Ogun: *runs at one, shoving into their chest--* "Yoruba Forge!" *shoves more into the remaining Infernals--then lifts his arm to increase their heat*

Infernals: *SCREAMING*

Ogun: "...Riveting."

shinra: nice one. *thumbs up*

Tempeh: <...> *shaking*

juria: *slams two infernals heads together*

Tempeh: <M-My servants...Stop...Stop!>

tamaki: <we're only trying to help put them to rest!>

Tempeh: <I'LL PUT YOU TO REST!> *rushes forward*

tamaki: !!!!

Tempeh: *pulls back his hand--then thrusts it forward--*

*SLICE, CRUNCH*

tamaki: !!!!!!!!!!

Takeru: "..." *coughs* "...Ow..."

tamaki: TAKERU!

Tempeh: *withdraws his arm* <That's one animal put down-->

tamaki: why you-!!!

-nine fiery tails appear-

~CAT-O-NINE TAILS!~

Tempeh: "?!!!"

tamaki: *charges at him* MREOW!

Tempeh: *knocked back by the force of her blow*

Takeru: *collapsed*

shinra: takeru, dont you die, patti's gonna kill us if you die!

Takeru: "...'Die'? But...I'm fine?" *sits up*

shinra: ._. b-but how-

*The hole in his jacket...starts to re-assemble?!*

shinra: .____. WHAT THE-?!

Takeru: ^^; "I guess that clothing Patty had made for me helped..."

shinra:.....what?

{Patty: "Show it to him!"}

{felisia: here, this sweater will keep you warm and protected from harm. it's also inflammable~ ^^}

{Takeru: QwQ "This is so kind--thank you!"}

{Patty: ^w^ "This way if someone stabbed you through the chest, you won't die!"}

shinra:.......better not to ask.

Takeru: "In any case, the worst is over--"

*BARK BARK BARK*

shinra: aw dangit.

*Dogs rush at Takeru, grabbing onto each of limbs*

Takeru: Q___Q;

shinra: *kicks them away* FUCK OFF, FIDO!

Takeru: "I can only regenerate clothes, not limbs!" *tosses two dogs*

tamaki: hyah!

Tempeh: *struggling to get up* <Damn you...Can't you let me have this...Not for me...but for God!>

shinra: <we're not about to let innocent people be killed.>

Tempeh: <If they are innocent, God will welcome them to Heaven! But you? There's only Hell for you!> *summons a scythe...*

shinra: *takes a stance*

Tempeh: <Your souls are mine!> *swings the fire scythe*

shinra: woah! (hey, whoever that adora link was just now, please help!)

???: <Protect...>

shinra: *looks at the shintai*

-inside-

*BA-THUMP BA-THUMP BA-THUMP*

fang-hua: ?? is that a heartbeat?

nozomi: *looks down the corridor* .....

Pan: *looks...* "An inner chamber?"

fang-hua: now how do we get in there?

beauty: *BEAK SLICE*

Viktor: "...Huh." <That's helpful!>

beauty: <just dont break anything in there.>

Pan: "Hmm...This chamber has boards around it, likely increasing the sound of each vibration..."

fang-hua: hmm.... *looks up* ?? an arrow?

Viktor: "...Arrow?"

-there are 9 other arrows on a pedestal-

Arthur: "A white arrow, fitted into the space above the door, like a key in a lock..."

Viktor: "..." *shakes*

nozomi:...viktor? are you alright?

Viktor: "Vibrations like heartbeats...White feather arrows...Genkoku...S-Sacrifices!"

nozomi: what are you talking about?

Viktor: "There's a human in here--a human sacrifice!"

nozomi: ??!!!

fang-hua: a human?

Viktor: *nods* "Likely the traveler Schop saw..."

-outside-

shinra: (so, you're this 'god' schop mentioned, huh?)

*It's dark...A face emerges...*

Woman: "..." *shakes her head 'no'*

shinra: (then, who are you?)

Woman: (Not a god...A willful sacrifice...)

shinra: ?!

Woman: (I came here, knowing I could use this power to restore...)

tamaki: *slice slice*

Woman: (Why did you call to me?)

shinra: (please, help me fight this demon.)

juria: oi, ogun!

Ogun: *taking off his jacket* "I think we need to give Shinra some time..."

tamaki: good call.

Ogun: *pulls off his shirt, as flames snake off his fists and around his arms* *flame tattoos cover him* "Flamy Ink..."

Tempeh: "?!!"

Ogun: *his fist collides with Tempeh's face--and instantly sends him sailing across the ground towards Juria*

juria: *PAWNCH*

Tempeh: *slow motion "WWWWWWAAAAAAHHHHH--* *knocked into the dirt*

tamaki: wow.

juria: huh, not bad at all. if things were different, you'd make a great addition to the hell blaze gang.

Ogun: >_>; "Yeah, I'll pass..." *shoves Tempeh at Juria with another punch*

shinra: (so will you help us? schop and the others are waiting for you.)

Woman: (With what? My power is focused on maintaining the restoration of this Oasis...I have only enough power for one second of your time.)

shinra: .....*grin* (a second is all i'll need)

Woman: (What can you do?)

shinra: (whatever it takes to protect this place.) .... (you have the adora burst too, right?)

Woman: (Yes.)

shinra: (something about you is like the preacher from the ashen flame...what are you, exactly?)

Woman: (I am no different than you.)

shinra: ....

Ogun: *panting, swinging--and missing Tempeh*

shinra: (ok, i'm ready.)

Woman: (Then I bestow onto you...Divine Protection.)

shinra: ok, here goes nothing! *charges*

*Everything is motionless...Tempeh stands, ready to pierce Ogun's heart*

shinra: *rushes in and kicks* HAH!!

*Tempeh's body immediately sails up to the sky and across the Wasteland*

shinra: *jumps up and...*

-…-

shinra:....(am i....floating??)

*The Wasteland is below him...but the Oasis is gone!*

shinra: ?!?!?! (WHERE THE FUCK AM I?????!!!!)

*It's windy below...There's one cloaked figure below...*

shinra: ??

Cloak: *clutching a staff, walking* *pants* <...Why, God...>

shinra: ?? (is that...?)

*It's Tempeh, 250 years ago*

Tempeh: <The Great Disaster took all from me...My fortune, my home...my wife...my daughter...>

shinra: .........

Tempeh: <Why was I the only to survive...I hate this...I hate it all!> *slams his staff against the ground*

-fwoom-

-a figure emerges....the preacher-

preacher: ......

Tempeh: "!!!" *falls to his knees* "Wh-Who...?"

preacher:....*she says nothing. she just smiles*

Tempeh: <...God?>

shinra: (so then the preacher came from the tear in space...?)

Tempeh: *clasps his hand* <Lord! I beg you! Return to me that which the fire took!>

preacher:... *takes a bug from off her sleeve, and places it upon tempeh*

shinra: !!!!!

Tempeh: <??? What--URK!>

preacher: *walks away*

Tempeh: *panting--before he screams, clutching his face*

shinra: !!!! (so he lost everything in the disaster....)

Tempeh: *his eyes are ripped apart as horns form from them, a fire emerging from the center of his face...and he laughs*

shinra:... *he is slowly returning back to the present, tears falling*

Woman: (You cry?)

shinra: !! *rubs his eyes* (y-yeah....i'm still only human, i guess...)

Woman: *nods* (He is not the last to fall for her deception...)

shinra:.....(sho....inka....)

Woman: *nods* (A charlatan, playing God, infecting religions with lies...)

shinra:....(are you....from the tear in space as well?)

Woman: (...I spent an eternity in Adora...)

shinra: .....

Woman: (That 'preacher' and their bug awoke the Burst within me...I followed her here, brought by the will of that Shintai...to create, not destroy.)

shinra: hmm.....

Woman: (She has deceived your world to imagine her as the God of many religions...I do not have much more time--my energy is running out...Thank you...)

shinra: ....(any time)

-CRASH-

tamaki: !!!

shinra: *he fell through some trees to the ground*

Ogun: *collapsed on his back, panting* "H-Hey...Just drop on in...Heh."

tamaki: what the heck happened just now?

shinra: a lot....mm....*he collapses to his knees and vomits before passing out*

Takeru: "!!! Oh no!"

tamaki: *runs over to him*....h-he's alright, he's just fainted....

????: my, my, my~ i was wondering what all the ruckus was~

juria: ??

Ogun: *sits up* "?!"

kii-tan: hello, little humans~

Ogun: -_-# "How long have you been there?"

kii-tan: a while, enjoying the show. hope you dont mind~ fufufu~ oh, and hello to you too, schop-schop~ ^^

Schop: >3< <Stop that!>

-the door opens-

Pan: "What was that noise?!"

Viktor: "??? Did you fight or something?"

nozomi: is everything alri-....... !!!!!!!!!! o-o-o-OGUN! Y-Y-YOU'RE NAKED!!! >/////< *covers her eyes*

Ogun: O\\\\\O "I-I still have my pants on!"

nozomi: *hands him his coat* h-h-here! >////< y-you'll get cold!

fang-hua: ....hey, what's wrong with shinra?

tamaki: *she explains the situation*

kii-tan: *yawwwn....* hmm~? *glances at pan* *tiny blush*

Pan: "???"

Ogun: >\\\\<;;;

Viktor: *frowning*

tamaki: so what did you find inside the shintai?

Arthur: <We think it's her...>

Schop: <...> Q_Q

-later that afternoon-

shinra: ......*places a hand on the door* thank you...

Pan: *looking on*

*silence*

juria: so they're using human beings with adora burst to power these things?

Viktor: "It's the only explanation that makes sense, based on previous history I read...Maybe even that one woman who keeps talking to Shinra..."

shinra:.......*shaking*

Pan: "And who is to say she went in willingly? This traveler who approached Schop and the animals went in on her own--but what did the Church do? Or Haijima? Or even...our own forces?"

shinra: .....

{hitohashira me: *screaming*}

Ogun: "...Shinra..." *pat pat*

shinra: *wipes eyes* i-i'm gonna be ok...cant go breaking down and crying over every little thing, r-right? *tries to smile*

Ogun: "...Heh. Hero's smile?"

shinra: yeah.

nozomi: so how does 'pi' come into play with this?

shinra: not sure, but we know the preacher's plan, now. sacrificing the 9 remaining adora users in the amaterasu and re-create the disaster from 250 years ago. we know where the first 6 are, we just have to find the remaining 4.

Arthur: *walking around* "...I mean, this is a round facility...And pi is the ratio of the circumference to diameter, like a magic number, maybe the 'Pillars' are pi..."

Takeru: "How do we find the remaining four? We all don't have the Link, and investigations don't seem to be getting us very far..."

shinra: maybe me and mikami's psychic dreams might come into play to help? it's a stretch, but it's the best we got.

Ogun: "This kind of news could shake the foundation of Death City...again."

Pan: "So we better be discreet. This information does not leave this group, except to your commander, Shinra."

Viktor: "..."

shinra: understood.

nozomi: right.

Schop: *carrying a small satchel* <Nozomi, a little help?> *holds up the bag*

nozomi: <ah, right.> *helping to carry the bag*

Takeru: -^- <What do you want, potato thief?>

tamaki: takeru, dont be rude to schop.

Takeru: -3-

nozomi: ^^

Schop: <I'm sorry for stealing your tubers, so now that we got our Oasis back, I gathered these. They don't have the same flavor, but maybe it'll feed you?>

Takeru: *studies one, bites in--* "MMMM!"

Schop: ^^;

Pan: *looks around* "I think we had best head back to our vehicle..." *looks at Kii-tan*

kii-tan: you know, i can show you a shortcut through the mountains to get you to yao-ming~ *wink*

Pan: "???" <And I should trust you why?>

kii-tan: <even though i dont care too much for humans, your group did keep me entertained, so i figured i'd pay you back~ fufu~>

Pan: "..." >\\\>; "If you aren't lying, it'll be helpful."

kii-tan: would you rather risk the sand worms?

tamaki:... alright, we'll take your word for it.

Ogun: "Will we need gasmasks?"

nozomi: we better wear them just to be safe.

Pan: *nods*

Viktor: *hands them out*

Arthur: "Come along, Shinra..."

Schop: "..." *climbs up on Shinra's shoulder* <How is she?>

shinra:

Schop: QwQ <...Thanks.>

shinra: <so what will you do now?>

Schop: <...Wait for her return, and protect this land.>

shinra: .....<you do your best, ok?> *smiles*

Schop: <...Will you come back? Maybe explain more what a 'hero' does?>

shinra: <maybe someday.>

Schop: ^w^ <Okay. I'll keep digging until I'm strong enough to fight them! And if I'm not, I'll find you to help me get stronger!>

shinra: <sounds good.>

Pan: <It would take us about 2 days to get back to Qingdao. How much time will this short cut save us?>

kii-tan: about a few hours.

Pan: "Hmm..." *gets into the driver's seat*

-elsewhere-

axel: *nom*

Asher: *walks by*

axel: jellybean?

Asher: "...Those are akin to death."

axel: i keep them in my pockets, what's in yours?

Asher: "...My wallet? Tissues?"

axel: oh?

Asher: "Why? You have something more interesting than diabetes-in-a-bag?"

axel: i once kept a lizard in my pocket one day during 6th grade.

Asher: "...It get out?"

axel: i just fed him sunflower seeds. megatron's pretty chill. that was the lizard's name, btw.

Asher: "..." *small laugh* "Not 'Dino-Bot'?"

axel: how about 'eletro-rex'? nah, that sounds like a pokemon......*writing something down*

Asher: "??? What are you...?"

axel: taking notes to send to the pokemon company.

Asher: ._.; "...Um...You think they read them?"

axel: who knows.

-elsewhere-

Kid: *walking hand-in-hand with Stocking* ^w^

stocking: hehe~ ^^

Kid: "This is so perfect...Just you and me..."

stocking: enjoying the festival. *smiles*

Kid: "Seeing how colorful everything is~"

stocking: ^^~<3

Man: "Excuse me, Miss! Miss!"

stocking: ??

Man: "I need a favor!"

stocking: *looks at kid*

Kid: "???"

Man: *smirks* "Could you suck my--"

-PUNCH-

Kid: ^^;

stocking: but sir, you seem to be doing a good job at it yourself~ ^^

Kid: "Excellent work!"

Man: X-X

stocking: look at that, kid. some people just cant bother to throw out their trash. so rude.

Kid: "Want to dump it?"

stocking: on three?

Kid: "1...2..."

stocking: hup!

-into the trash he goes-

stocking: marvelous.

Kid: "Perfect~"

stocking: can we get ice cream now~?

Kid: "All the flavors you want~"

-elsewhere-

sonia: ...

Chuuya: *washing plates*

sonia: *peeeek*

Chuuya: *smiles* "How's my little girl?"

sonia: doing homework.

Chuuya: "How is it?"

sonia: ok....*looks out the window*

Chuuya: "Anything you need help with?" *looks as well*

sonia: .....do you think we'll be able to go back into the city someday?

Chuuya: "..." *smiles* "Of course." *pats her head*

sonia:.....

Chuuya: "Care to go for a walk after you finish?"

sonia: ok.

Chuuya: "Okay...We'll look at the blossoms."

sonia:...*small smile*

Chuuya: "Now, finish up..." *sets down a bowl of fruit*

-elsewhere-

Benimaru: *reading a book*

kirei: *laying down, rubbing her stomach*

Benimaru: "??? Kirei?"

kirei: hmm?

Benimaru: "Are you well?"

kirei: *she nods*

Benimaru: "..." *lies down beside her*

kirei: mmm....

Benimaru: "..." *rests a hand over her stomach*

kirei: *holds his hand*

Benimaru: *buries his forehead in her shoulder, holds her hand*

-elsewhere-

Ogun: *looking out the window* "..."

nozomi: *resting on his shoulder*

Ogun: "..." *pats her shoulder*

nozomi: *sleepy smile*

Ogun: *small smile*

Pan: *driving...yawns*

fang-hua: want me to take over?

Pan: *nods* "Yes, thank you..." *pulls over, steps out, stretches*

kii-tan: still able to catch up~?

Pan: "??? Catch up? You mean our hours back home?"

kii-tan: i suppose sooo. hope i'm not going too fast for you~ *wink*

Pan: "..." *folds his arms* "What is with you? You don't strike me as how the others described speaking with you in that cave."

kii-tan: i was rather bored in there. i've been around for a very long time, so i tend to get bored easy, so i enjoy finding things to entertain myself.

Pan: "...And how long have you been around to be bored?"

kii-tan: quite a long time....*she looks at him*

Pan: *stares at her* "...Oh."

kii-tan: you know, if circumstances were different, you'd make a fine mate~ *wink*

Pan: O\\\\\O "...Are we even the same species?"

-inside the truck-

Arthur: "..." *looks at Tamaki*

tamaki: zzzz

shinra: *snoring*

juria: zzzzz.....

Arthur: "..." *leans back, looking up*

-elsewhere-

Kyoka: "Sylvia, did you want to go out?"

sylvia: i-is that a-alright?

Kyoka: "Sure. Would you like company?"

sylvia: *nod nod*

Kyoka: "Very well...Let's take a walk. Hungry?"

sylvia:...*nod nod*

Kyoka: "Let's get tofu."

sylvia: o-ok.

Kyoka: *picks up a wallet* "Then I can show you some games and the Ferris wheel."

sylvia: ...

Kyoka: *opens the door* "...Ready?"

sylvia: ...o-ok...

Kyoka: "..." *puts on gloves, offers her hand*

sylvia:...*takes her hand* .///.

Kyoka: ^^ *guides her down the stairs*

-elsewhere-

Inka: "So...How many 'Pillars' are there?"

guruna: i thiiiiiink 10?

Inka: "And how many are left to find?"

guruna:....4 maybe? 6 including the two we havent captured yet.

Inka: "And how do you intend to do that?" *leans back, looking up*

guruna:....*shrug*

Inka: "I see...So, you do anything for fun?"

guruna: oh yes! jonah and i like to play pranks on the senior members, kururu~

Inka: "...Even Charon?"

guruna: he's fun to mess with, kururururu~ ^^

sasori: that sounds....rather bad for your health... *sweatdrop*

Inka: "..." *grabs Guruna's hands, shiny eyes* "Let's do it!"

sasori: =A=

-elsewhere-

Dr. John: "And that was the trip..."

sachiko: that's nice you got to visit your brother, melinda. *smiles*

Dr. John: *nods* "I'm glad he's well." ^^

sachiko: *nod nod*

Dr. John: "How goes wedding plans?"

sachiko: going great, the wedding will be sometime in the summer.

Dr. John: "D'aw! How's the venue?"

sachiko: it looks quite beautiful.

Dr. John: "You deserve it."

sachiko:...*smiles*

Dr. John: "And the honeymoon?"

sachiko: who knows.

Dr. John: "One step at a time, then."

-elsewhere-

Hibana: *looking at an old photograph* "..."

hanako: *peeek*

*It looks like Hibana and Iris as children, along with other nuns*

hanako: is that you and aunt iris, mom?

Hibana: *nods* "Yes, dear. And those were our sisters."

hanako: that's a looooot of sisters.

Hibana: *laughs* "That's what nuns are called."

hanako: oh?

Hibana: *nods* "It's a close relationship, in worship of...God."

hanako: ??

Hibana: "...Sorry. Just thinking..."

hanako: ....is that what rino means when she says 'goddammit'?

Hibana: "..." ^^; "No, sweetie, that's what Rino says when she's upset. Let me go make sure she's alright..." *cracks her knuckles*

hanako: ok, mommy. ^^

Hibana: *walks away* "Oh, Rino~" ^^#

Rino: "..." *running*

-elsewhere-

Kyoka: "Nervous?"

sylvia: .~. *nods*

Kyoka: "Don't worry--the Ferris Wheel is safe."

sylvia: *gulps* i-it looks rather h-high up...

Kyoka: "But sturdy. I promise."

sylvia: ....

Kyoka: "..." *pat pat* "I won't let anything happen."

sylvia: o-o-ok...*follows her*

Kyoka: *holds her hand, helping her onto the Wheel car*

Hyde: "Stay seated during the ride, you two!"

sylvia: *gingerly steps in*

Kyoka: *sits across* *smiles*

sylvia: .////.;;;;

Kyoka: *points* "You can see the top of the Academy."

sylvia: oh wow...

Kyoka: ^^

sylvia: .....

Kyoka: "...I'm proud of you."

sylvia:...t-...thank you....*she's crying*

Kyoka: "..." *hug*

sylvia: !!!!! o////o m-m-m-m-ii-isss kyoukaaaa???

Kyoka: "It's okay...You can cry."

sylvia: uu....*she just breaks down*

Kyoka: *pats her head, hums*

-after reaching the ground-

sylvia: *there's tears and snot all on her face* m-may i *sniff* h-have some tissues?

Kyoka: *offers a handkerchief*

sylvia: *wiping herself up as best as she can*

Kyoka: *rubs her back* "It's okay..."

sylvia: *hic*

???: are you alright?

Kyoka: "???"

mami: *gives a warm smile*

sylvia: !!! *wipes her face*

Crona: "???" *pops up from behind Mami*

sylvia: um...uhhhh.... uhhhhhhhh....

Crona: "Hello. You're at the Academy, yes?"

sylvia: t-the d-d-dwma? y-yes... *looks down, nervous*

Crona: ^^; "How was the Ferris Wheel?"

sylvia: *looks at kyouka*

Kyoka: "Enjoyable."

mami: that's good to hear. ^^

Crona: "...I'm Crona."

sylvia: s-syl..via...

Crona: "It is nice to meet you." ^^

mami: ^^

Kyoka: "...Where were you headed? I was thinking of getting ginger ale."

mami: well, there's actually a little cafe not far from here we wanted to check out. 'the vortex cafe'.

Kyoka: "We work near there."

mami: oh?

Kyoka: "It is quite nice. Just be careful around the redhead."

mami: we'll keep that in mind. ^^; (is kyouko working there now too?)

Crona: "M-Maybe some ice cream?" *smiles*

mami: sure. ^^

-elsewhere-

Lucy: "And the mixer has 4 speeds."

kyouko: *nods*

Lucy: "Any questions?" *adjusts her own apron*

kyouko: i think i'm good, ma'am.

Lucy: ^^; " 'Lucy' is fine, Miss Kyouko."

kyouko: alright then.

*Door chime rings*

Lucy: "Ready to begin?"

kyouko: *nods*

*Lucy looks to see who came in--*

Lucy: "..." -______-;;;;;

Dazai: "Hello~"

kyouko: ?? hi, welcome to the vortex cafe, may we take your seat today?

Dazai: "Oh, I know where mine is--I wrote my name on it!"

kyouko: ?? for real?

Dazai: *turns--he has his name on the bottom of his pants*

kyouko:..........................................*gives a weird look to lucy*

Lucy: -_-# "Please sit your backside down, make your order quick, pay, and tip our new waitress generously."

Dazai: ^^ "Just put it on my tab."

Lucy: >_<###

kyouko: oh one more thing *intense look* dont you dare waste any food or so help me, you will be regretting it.

Dazai: QwQ "..." *squeaks* "Y-Yes, ma'am..."

-morning-

Ling: *looking through the forest trees* <???>

jin: <see anything?>

Ling: <I'm not sure you'd believe me if I told you...>

jin: ??

*An engine is heard*

Ling: *points* <See for yourself.>

jin: ??.. !! <dad! come see this!>

Mr. Huo: <??? ... !!! Oh my...Fang-Hua!> *runs up*

Ling: *laughs, follows*

fang-hua: *hugs*

Mr. Huo: *group hug with kids* <I'm so glad you're safe!>

shinra: <hi mr huo.>

Mr. Huo: <Hello, um, Shinra, yes? How did you get back?>

shinra: <it's kind of a long story.>

-fang-hua explains all she is able to reveal to them, minus the sacrifices-

Ling: <Wow...Sister, you were inside while the fight happened?>

fang-hua: <yeah, but in a nutshell, the exploration was a success>

mrs huo: <that's glad to hear.> *smiles to the group* <the things you left here for us to look after are in the guest room for you>

tamaki: <thank you very much, ma'am.>

Ogun: <Thank you, ma'am. Is there a place to get a bath?>

Arthur: <Yes, Shinra's feet smell like spoiled soup.>

shinra: >3<#

mrs huo: <why yes, there is a spring not far from here.>

Ogun: <Just point us in that direction.> ^^

Pan: "..."

-elsewhere-

sonia: happy birthday, papa.

Chuuya: "Ah, thank you." *hug*

sonia: ^^ i think my birthday was in september?

katya: yeah, the 20th of september.

Chuuya: "Yes...We'll have a good party, then."

sonia: ok.

Chuuya: "..." *pats her head* "Let's start with some breakfast."

sonia: ok. aunt leo said she'd teach me how to make 'syrniki'? i think they're like cheese pancakes?

Chuuya: "That sounds delicious!"

sonia: i've never had them before, but aunt leo says they're really yummy.

Chuuya: "Worth a try."

-elsewhere-

Jacqueline: "I think we're about done with the float."

kim: awesome! this will look so great tomorrow!

Jacqueline: ^^ "Good work, everyone!"

-elsewhere-

felisia: *in the waiting room*

Mephisto: *pacing* Q_Q

stocking: it's gonna be ok, mom.

Kid: *seated wth them*

felisia: thank you. i'm kind of nervous, w-when i gave birth to you, it was cold and dark and i was all alone and scared-

stocking: shhh, it's ok, just breathe, the people here are professionals and you're in good hands.

felisia:...o-ok...

Dr. John: "I'm here...Sorry. Felisia, let's get you to your room."

felisia: thank you. *follows*

stocking: the room's really nice and cozy.

Mephisto: "Only the best..."

stocking: think of it like a little hotel room. ^^

felisia: *she nods*

Kid: "... ... ..." *adjusts a painting on the wall*

stocking: ^^;

Mephisto: "Just don't go crazy, Kid."

Kid: -3- *sets down Felisia's overnight bags*

-elsewhere-

Kunikida: "Atsushi, review this." *hands him folders without turning around, thumbing through cabinets*

atsushi: *examines folders*

*looks to be reports from a few nations...*

atsushi: hmm... *examining reports*

*Look to be some murders and suicides...*

atsushi:......

Kunikida: "Pattern?" *not looking at him*

atsushi: most of them died from their own ability?

Kunikida: "..." *sighs, nods*

atsushi: hmmm....there's a connection, there has to be...

Kunikida: "That's what I hope we find...Look up abilities we have on record."

atsushi: yes sir.

Kunikida: *pinches the bridge of his nose*

atsushi:...are you alright?

Kunikida: "...I want this solved."

atsushi: *he nods*

Kunikida: "...Do your best."

atsushi: i will.

-elsewhere-

Ogun: *splashes water on his face*

Arthur: *shoves Shinra into the spring*

Pan: *looking into the forest* "..."

shinra: >3< .... sir?

Pan: "...Sorry. I'll be right back." *walks into the forest*

shinra: he's been acting weird since the shintai...

Ogun: "What do you think is up with him?"

Takeru: "He was acting odd since that kitsune..."

shinra:... ._. you dont think-

Arthur: "???"

Ogun: "...I mean, the Captain is kind of closed off..."

shinra: -he fell for the kitsune lady?!

Ogun: ._.;

Takeru: "...She wants to wet his whistle?"

shinra: D8

Arthur: -_-#

Ogun: "...Dude, your girlfriend is rubbing off on you."

-in the forest-

Pan: "..." *sits on a tree stump*

kii-tan: so you waited here for me~?

Pan: "...Hello. We need to talk."

kii-tan: ....

Pan: "...I need to understand some things. I tend to be a methodical thinker, so forgive me if I am inquisitive."

kii-tan: sure, sure.

Pan: "So, not human. Gods? Spirits?"

kii-tan: a spirit might fit the bill

Pan: "Hmm...Age?"

kii-tan: a few hundred years at least.

Pan: "...The things you must have seen...The people you must have met..."

kii-tan: *she nods* once upon a time, i was once a queen, and then when i was found out, i was split into three foxes. i dont know where my two sisters went.

Pan: "That answers my next question, about whether there are others like you...Do you remember much about being Queen?"

kii-tan: bits and pieces. and yes, other fox spirits do exist. most of us keep to ourselves, though some do show themselves to others.

Pan: "Like to those children...Why?"

kii-tan: like schop, i was trying to help the oasis. i suppose i get along better with animals than i do with humans.

Pan: "...You seemed to get along with us."

kii-tan: well, you did keep me entertained a while, so thank you for that~

Pan: "That was all?"

kii-tan: perhaps~ i tend to go by my whims, that's just how i am.

Pan: "And did those 'whims' ever...bring you close to someone?"

kii-tan: why do you ask~?

Pan: "...Did you ever have someone like that? Or...a 'mate'?"

kii-tan: ....a few times. does that make you jealous~?

Pan: "Hardly...Just confused, I guess. If you had a mate, it's not like you procreated...Did you?"

kii-tan: ......

Pan: "..." *clears his throat* "Sorry. I over-stepped."

kii-tan: it's fine. no skin off my nose.

Pan: "..." *walks up to her*

kii-tan: ??

Pan: *stares into her eyes, just standing in front of her* "..."

kii-tan:..........so do you want to screw or what?

Pan: "..." *grabs her wrist*

kii-tan: OwO well arent you bold?

-ELSEWHERE-

Mr. Huo: <...You'll be returning to Death City soon...>

fang-hua: <yeah.>

Mr. Huo: <...> *rubs his eyes*

fang-hua:.... *hugs*

Mr. Huo: *hug, pat pat*

fang-hua: <i'll be sure to write to you all.>

Mr. Huo: *nods* <Please do...You're so smart...Please, be safe.>

fang-hua:

-elsewhere-

Ling: *shiny eyes, listening intently* <And then you put the Infernal's soul to rest, Sister Kotatsu?>

tamaki: <that's right! i think i did quite a good service.> ^^

nozomi: ^^;

Ling: <That's so cool! And Miss Juria, how is your wrist?>

juria: <had worse.>

Ling: <Do you need some ice?>

-elsewhere-

Saria: "Your mom is working late again, Izumi?" *today's sweater: a sunflower with sunglasses*

izumi: yeah.

Saria: "If you ever need anything, my dad is a great cook."

izumi: i'll keep that in mind.

Saria: ^^ *looks around* "...Hmm."

izumi: ??

hibiki: whats up?

Saria: "Oh? Um, nothing..." ^\\\^;

-elsewhere-

Mephisto: *walking*

stocking: ...want to check out the festival?

Mephisto: *shaking his head* "No...I think my place is with your mother."

stocking:...ok then.

Mephisto: *smiles* "Could you bring your mother something sweet?"

stocking: of course.

Mephisto: "..." *hug*

stocking *hug* love you, dad.

Mephisto: "Love you, sweetie."

-elsewhere-

Benimaru: "..." *pacing*

kabuki: commander?

Benimaru: "...Yes?"

kabuki: you seem on edge.

Benimaru: "...Hmph. Hardly more than usual...Okay, maybe a bit more."

kabuki: want to discuss it over tea?

Benimaru: "...Very well."

-elsewhere-

Joker: "I need you to find someone for me..."

izzy: oh? and what's in it for us?

Joker: "Ever wanted to make a Fire Pope shit bricks?"

izzy:....what

Joker: -_-; "Read between the lines. I need someone people to go bother the Church of the Sun."

izzy: really now?

lust oni: this is quite a task~

Mantis: *clicks tongue* "A challenge..."

izzy: what do the rest of you think?

pixie: well if we're getting paid for this, it better be good~ hehe~

Pride Oni: "We cannot let ourselves be defeated!"

taoka: it shall be done.

hyouga: well, a job's a job.

Nate: -_-; "Don't think we need help from you and...whoever you hang out with." *glances behind Joker*

ivy: *glares*

Mantis: *growls*

nailfile: *not even looking at them* now now, no need to go picking fights with customers.

Joker: "Agreed. Now, I need you to scope out the main church..."

-elsewhere-

Ling: *sets out bowls of rice* <We're almost done with dinner.>

shinra: <thanks for the meal!>

Takeru: ^w^ *nom*

Mr. Huo: <Of course! You'll need energy for the long trip home.>

Ogun: *passes bowl of rice*

nozomi: thanks. ^^

Arthur: *passes fish to Tamaki*

tamaki: *nyom*

Viktor: *fiddling with a tracker* <How was the pond?>

shinra: the spring? it was nice.

Arthur: <Shinra just dove right in.>

shinra: D8<

Mr. Huo: <??? Where is your captain?>

shinra:...i dont know.

-elsewhere-

Rin: *setting up flowers*

shiemi: looking good. ^^

Rin: "Thanks! This festival looks to be blooming!"

shiemi: ^^

Shima: *pops up behind Shiemi* "But is this all too thorny?"

izumo: =A= *PUNCH* enough puns.

Bon: "Don't find them appealing?"

izumo: shush.

Bon: *smirks, keeps peeling an apple*

Rin: "Ha."

izumo: i will stab you both in your sleep.

Rin: ._.;;;

Bon: "Joke's on you--I'm a light sleeper."

Shima: X_X

konekomaru: ._.;

unagi: is this normal?

konekomaru: i dont even know anymore.

Rin: "We're all buds here--just some good-natured teasing." ^^ "Besides, Shima had it coming."

unagi: ???

izumo: want to check out some of the stands, unagi?

unagi: yes please.

Bon: "We still need someone for the dunk tank."

Rin: "..."

Bon: "..."

Shima: X_X

-elsewhere-

Belkia: "--so if they're all named after flowers, this festival should be for us!"

naho: ~?

Sakuya: "It doesn't work that way. Otherwise, every toilet would be for you."

Belkia: "... ... ...HEY! I JUST GOT THAT!" >3<

naho: ???

tsubaki: ^^; regardless, let's just enjoy the festival today.

lilac: o-ok...

Black Star: "Here's some money--go catch goldfish."

-elsewhere-

Kid: "How is she?"

stocking: she seems to be doing well. she's really nervous, though...

Kid: *nods* "I imagine an expecting mother would...Did her doctor say anything to be concerned about?"

stocking: i dont think so, so good news.

Kid: "Indeed..." *holds her hand*

stocking: mmm... i wonder if i'll be as nervous when we have children of our own...

Kid: "!!! ...We'll know when we get there, yes?" *smiles*

stocking: yeah...*nuzzles up to him*

Kid: =\\\\= *puts an arm around her*

-elsewhere-

Yumi: "And for you..." *hands a rose to Lord Death*

lord death: d'aww~ *smooch*

Yumi: ^\\\^ "It suits you..."

-elsewhere-

Walter: "Neat-o flower crown!"

etta: hehe~ ^^

Kafka: *walks by--stops* "??? What's that for?"

leroux: hm?

Walter: "Just getting into the Spring Festival mood!"

-elsewhere-

Gopher: *falls onto the couch*

eibon: *cooking* busy day?

Gopher: *nods* "But successful." ^w^ "It feels great to do something...*yawn* creative." =w=

eibon: *smiles* dinner will be ready in 30 minutes.

Gopher: "Thank you, sir..." *hugs a pillow* =w=

-elsewhere-

Akitaru: "...'Joseph'?"

Vulcan: " 'Joseph.'"

Takehisa: " 'Joseph'?"

Vulcan: *nods*

Relan: "...That's just weird."

iris: is that your first name or your last name?

Vulcan: "Yes."

iris:...

-elsewhere-

Pan: *enters the village, alone...walks to the van*

fang-hua: captain? are you alright?

Pan: "Hmm? Oh. Sorry. Didn't notice you." *smiles...but it looks awkward*

fang-hua: ....

Pan: "...I assume everyone already ate?"

fang-hua: yeah.

Pan: "...That's a shame."

fang-hua: ??

Pan: "..." *sits in the driver's seat, rests his head on the steering wheel*

-elsewhere-

#death city days

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