| Winter Returns To the Earth; [Archangels] | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 25 2014, 08:37 PM (470 Views) | |
| The One True Nobody | Feb 28 2014, 07:01 PM Post #11 |
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
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Kyo's eyes went a bit deadpan at Aleksandria's first words. Was this a sign of how out-of-touch the Persona-user community had gotten with the mysteries of the ruins? Or was Aleksandria just having a stupid moment? Kyo sighed, and raised a hand to make a fake-sounding cough. "Yeah, well, espionage is a thing. Stolen plans are a thing. The big fuckin' complex built by some unknown company under the city's kind of a thing too, and I don't think they kept their corporate headquarters in the same place as the mysterious biohazard they were researchin', that's all I'm sayin'." The green-haired girl let out a frustrated sigh, and ran a hand through her hair on the left side, sweeping the bangs on that said violently back as her distracted eyes strayed toward the walls and ceilings. "I don't like that rats comparison much. Sounds disrespectful," she added in a halfhearted but genuinely uncomfortable tone. "I think what they'd really want are Persona-users with easy t' exploit weaknesses, though. I have one that's easy t' exploit--fire--and I have a pair o' good immunities that normal people wouldn't have any reason t' be concerned with: Gravity and Nuclear. But maybe you're right. They didn't seem too shy about attackin' Naoya, though, and he was about the same power level I am now. Unascended, but second-tier with a dash o' third, y'know?" Kyo turned toward Iemoto with a grimace. "I dunno how I feel 'bout usin' Charm magic on 'em, either. I admit I've been a bit trigger happy with it in the past, but... for people who don't understand as much as we do about our powers, if we go around givin' 'em the impression we can control minds... hell, maybe they have that idea anyways. And as much as we need answers, can't say I feel too good about goin' t' any lengths t' get 'em. Part o' me feels like... I dunno... if we're gonna win, we should win the 'right' way, yeah?" She turned back to the middle of the table, biting her lip as she fell into a short, thoughtful pause. She considered the question about how much they'd fight to retrieve an ally. After a few moments, she said: "I asked Chika about the time she fought 'em. She told me two things that were interestin'. First that the guy on the radio insisted they'd be allowed t' retrieve their wounded before they left. Second that the injured guy looked scared when Naoya moved t' heal him and stop his bleedin' by magic, tried t', what was it, push his hand away? Thing is Chika'd already said out loud for Naoya t' heal him, so they had to've known it wouldn't hurt him." Kyo looked to Aleksandria again. "I've been thinkin' a lot about their behavior, and, and I was thinkin' if we could nail down how they actually feel about us it might be possible t' talk 'em down." A pause, a blink, and then a guilty look as Kyo realized she'd misspoken: "Actually it's Masumi who suggested that, not me. Last time she'n I talked, I mean. I just--well, I think she's got the right idea." |
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| GKG | Feb 28 2014, 07:57 PM Post #12 |
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when ur team wipes but ur ult is at 15%
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Imagining normal folks building a device able to to detect Users and their weakness on their own did seem more than a little outlandish, and Iemoto wrote off Alexandria's statement as a small moment of airheadedness - everyone had these, after all, and there was no reason to dwell on that longer. He was satisfied to see that she seemed to agree with him on the matter of them needing to protect the weaker Users more, however. Kyo talking about winning the right way prompted him to turn his eyes to the ceiling for a moment. "I am... not going to say that we should pay evil unto evil there. That's not what justice is about, and that wouldn't take us anywhere. But the later we obtain the information the community needs, the longer it will take us to resolve this conflict, and the more it will escalate. That's how conflicts work." he replied, shifting back his eyes towards the green-haired girl. "I wish we could win this the right way just as much as you do. But the fact is that they've already started to attack us, and that I'm not willing to put innocents in danger just because I wanna stay in a purely white moral area. These guys try to take us down, I'd say they know the risk they are taking. Interrogating someone with some Charm magic should be an absolute last measure, but it's much less brutal than almost everything we could do to get some intel out of man." he continued. Kyo mentioned the option of learning how the Black hoods felt, prompting him to give a nod. "Yes, indeed. I'm not so sure about "talking them down" - I mean, they're already trying to use lethal force, I don't think they're gonna give up so easily -, but knowing how they feel would be valuable intel. That's something that can be taken care of with Charm magic if we need to." he added, sending a glance in Aleksandria's direction. He decided to move on to the new part of the conversation - mainly, how they should go about with their capture operation. "We need to be quick. If we capture one of these guys, we must bring them to somewhere that isn't there as soon as we could, before they can reogarnize themselves. But we also have to make sure we got something to offer to whoever we capture... Dunno how they'd react to one of them leaking important information to us. They might... punish them." |
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| Dante | Mar 1 2014, 05:36 PM Post #13 |
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WHERE THE FUCK IS MARIO
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Aleksandria shrugged. "The fact of the matter would be if they had something from the ruins, they would be Persona Users. If you discount that fact, they wouldn't be able to enter." She hadn't considered the theory because it seemed too strange. One person finds a device in the ruins and forms a group like this? How outlandish. "Imoto-san is a lynchpin to the community in what he does. Creating weapons for those who do not have the resource pool I have. Or rather... I had." She winced knowing that the house Fyodor was now closed to her, unless when her father passed away she was contacted. Either way for the moment she was not a Fyodor and those doors had been closed. "I am not saying you aren't a potential target. But I am saying you shouldn't rush into battle recklessly like that. There is a lot to these hoods we currently do not understand." The Russian pondered her thoughts for a moment before giving a non-commital shrug. "Regardless, if you were to put a black hood in front of me, I'll show them the woman who spurred them to action, perhaps uncontrollable emotions will make it easier for them to crack. These men aren't soldiers, nor are they soulless killing machines. They are civilians who are tired of feeling like cannon fodder in the middle of our combat." Aleksandria gave a smile. "Similar tactics to myself. I would never leave a wounded man behind. Even if it meant becoming wounded myself and I have the scars to prove that." She nodded slowly. "I'm sure you're aware of the saying: 'People fear what they do not understand.' I do not quite understand why everyone is so quick to fix every mistake they make with healing magic. Perhaps this man felt the same way. He wanted the scar to remind him why he fought. That is the mentality of a soldier." The Archangel nodded. "Yes. Perhaps it would be possible to talk with them. At the same time Kyo, you understand how highly risky that is. Incredibly risky. Talking someone down from their ideals is not an easy task. Just ask Kameko-san." She looked to the empty chair with a pang of sadness. She would feel the same. That violence wasn't the answer. That was the thought that had brought these people together. A shared agreement of forceful, yet non lethal. "If we could capture one, I could easily transport one to anywhere we needed with my armored form. Its risky, but you do not get ahead in war without normally taking a few risks, even if you have planned every step out in advance. After we capture one, we'll need to find out if the Black Hoods are tracked. From the sounds of their moments, their de facto leader no doubt keeps an eye on their soldiers." She rubbed her eyes. She was tired. This wasn't simply tiredness. It was a lethargy that had worn away at her. All this hiding and running and pretending to be something she wasn't. Wouldn't it be better if Aleksandria Fyodor just died already? Passed on, along with the horrors she had created. No-one would ever forgive her. She killed the thought as soon as it was created. There was still more to do. More to fight. "...It feels like we'll either have to bait them, which is risky, or capture one, which is even riskier. With sleep magic we could easily capture someone, Chloroform is readily available if we cannot provide that at least. Then we would need somewhere to take them. Out of town maybe." |
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| The One True Nobody | Mar 1 2014, 06:01 PM Post #14 |
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
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Kyo quirked an eyebrow at Aleksandria's logic. "Who's t' say the people who made the ruins kept everything they developed there in the ruins?" she asked rhetorically. Then, she closed her eyes, and pressed her palms to them, rubbing her eyes a bit an trying to figure out a way to make her logic fit. There was a certain amount of pride at stake, here. She wanted to find the right answer, true... but she also wanted to be right. "...There was a cargo elevator mentioned in the newer documents," she guessed randomly. "If there is then there's prolly a building or something above ground that's connected t' the ruins somewhere. It might not count as the ruins by itself though, so it'd be possible for normal folks t' enter and the Shadows wouldn't be lurkin' the place, yeah? So say someone wandered in and found some stuff there? Stuff that was related t' the Shadow research but didn't have enough info attached to it t' give anyone a clear picture? What then?" Kyo lowered her hands, there was a vaguely stubborn look in her eyes, but it died almost instantly. "Eh... never mind. I'm takin' shots in the dark here, I guess," she sighed. "I feel like--like because so much shit that's gone on lately is connected, I'm seein' fake connections everywhere else, maybe." The girl decided now was a good time to shut up. Her theory hadn't even been that sound anyway. Surely if such a facility existed, the company behind the ruins incident would have thought to clean out any vital research before calling Nagashima a loss, unless there was some stupid magic over the city that caused people to just forget about important things like that along with the batshit probability stuff. When sleep magic was brought up, Kyo raised her hand again, a look of deadpan returning to her face. "Yeah, sleep magic, I still got it," she stated blandly. "Charm and sleep seem t' be the only things about my Persona that never change." |
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| GKG | Mar 1 2014, 07:01 PM Post #15 |
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when ur team wipes but ur ult is at 15%
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"I agree. It's likely that they kept some amount of data there, but if the people who built the Ruins and worked there were employed by someone else, they must have forwarded some of the intel to them." Iemoto replied - why someone would go through all the trouble of digging up a gigantic underground facility to conduct some experiments in rather than do it in a more isolated location was beyond him, but the Ruins were there, and there was little point in trying to think about that right now. He'd always found underwater lairs cooler than those smack dab in the middle of a volcano. Bite him. He'd read the documents just like Kyo, and he had his opinion on the matter as well. "It's also possible that no one from the general public found about it, or that if someone did find them and went to investigate while the Shadows were already there..." He didn't finish that sentence, because the implication was obvious. "Whoever was overseeing these researchs might have tried to clean up the whole mess, but it's possible as well that the resistance they encountered from Shadows was too much for them to blow through at this point. Yeah, we're pretty much condemend to continue drawing blanks when it comes to that." He raised his hand as well when Kyo talked about her sleep magic. "I got agility-lowering magic and silence magic myself. Might help during a capture." |
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| Dante | Mar 4 2014, 08:03 PM Post #16 |
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WHERE THE FUCK IS MARIO
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Aleksandria wasn't convinced. But ultimately Kyo had a point. There could be technology floating around Nagashima. Maybe only now did the scanner activate, when in the range of such a high abundance of magic. Or in the presence of a Persona User? The theory was sound. It would explain how such a high value device fell into hands that want to use it for such a barbaric action. Was it truly barbaric? These people were defending their homes. They attacked the strongest Persona Users to make an example and failed, so now they go for the weaker ones. She smiled to her longtime friend. Her ally. "Your theory is not without merit. I apologise for seeming so snippy about it. It has definitely opened another dimension of this explaination, that's for sure. When they began talking skills the Russian nodded slowly. "Excellent. So if we encounter the black hoods, an interrogation would be easily possible. Perhaps there is still time for us to perform one final miracle as the Archangels." She looked to the side of her, the manacle cross she had placed her father on resting against the wall. To hang with his sins. Aleksandria was somewhat of a grandstander, to be sure. It worked against her as Gabrielle, as Elizabeta, as Alexis. Every identity thrown aside because of how much she liked to taunt, playing the hero of her own show. "If there is no other business, I would like to call an ajournment to this meeting. We have our objective, our final miracle. Our goal is to interrogate a Black Hood. If we strike like blitzkrieg, we'll be able to take the hood and vanish into the night without much trouble. Of course, a few of us will have to form a backup unit. In case the hoods try to give chase." The Russian sighed. "Be aware that they may be a Cell and know nothing about their leader. At which point we return to step one." |
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| The One True Nobody | Mar 4 2014, 10:07 PM Post #17 |
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
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Kyo grinned a bit and waved Aleksandria off when she apologized, shaking her head a little to show it wasn't an issue. The look on her face conveyed that she wasn't even terribly sure of her own idea, either. She settled down to just listen for the rest of the talk, glancing at the other Archangels in-between statements, watching their reactions. It felt like she and Iemoto were the only ones contributing to this... and that felt strangely discordant, like... the others had drifted away, somehow. Like Aleksandria's absence had affected them in a different way than her. Or was Kyo simply imagining that? She hoped she was imagining that. When the Aleksandria spoke of performing a "final miracle," Kyo leaned back in her seat, frowning down at the table, at her Archangel helmet and her butterfly mask. On the one hand she wasn't eager to see the Archangels drift apart or disband--it would mean she lost her one and only way of giving Aleksandria direct support. On the other hand... an end to vigilantism and groups exactly like this one, that was part of her own goal, wasn't it? It was. So this was a necessary thing, anyway. The girl remained still and silent when Aleksandria had finished, trying to contemplate Aleksandria's words but succeeding only in circling back around to those same thoughts and the question of which she wanted more: to stay by Aleksandria's side as an Archangel or to break off on her own and try to repair Nagashima in her own way. |
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| GKG | Mar 5 2014, 03:41 PM Post #18 |
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when ur team wipes but ur ult is at 15%
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Well, it looked like their course of action was pretty much set: they still had to plan the exact circumstances in which they would capture a Black Hood (and they'd better plan them thoroughly, if they didn't wanna get out-gambitted on that one), but that could come later. He caught himself thinking that there'd be no way he'd set himself up as bait, ever - he regretted the thought, because his companions had families as well. Just because his mother had woken up, just because he wanted to spend some time with her, didn't mean he had any privilege compared to the others... Yes, it did seem that the other Archangels were quiet - that probably meant they agreed with the plan, or at least that was what he hoped. Aleksandria had been a cement that had made them stick together, at first: but her presence hadn't been necessary to make them remain united afterwards. Perhaps they were just wary to talk after a long time spent without her ? "Well, we won't know until we try. Would help a lot if we could try to plant a mole within the ranks of the Black Hoods, but that ain't really an option." he replied, shrugging his shoulders. |
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| Dante | Mar 5 2014, 03:55 PM Post #19 |
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WHERE THE FUCK IS MARIO
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Much like her companions, she too had noticed her allies silence. "Anael, Michael, Zadkiel. Why are you so quiet?" She had spoken her question aloud, but she could tell. The bond they all shared, it had been torn asunder when she left in the middle of the night. She vanished off to confront her past and in it, lost everything she had ever worked for. Anael broke the silence. "Well.. you just show up again and... assume we're all just gonna listen to you. You abandoned us!" She could feel herself growing less scared with each word. "You've been off doing whatever while we've been trying to hold the fort." Zadkiel cut off Anael but incidentally, the man had no better words of his own. "We feel as if you only came back because you expected us to fall in line. We are family, not your soldiers." Michael however looked at the table. "...I can't... I can't do that to you. But I know how they feel. Anael.. Rika-san, she... she thinks you left us because you felt that we were no use to you. Why didn't you take us with you? We could have helped!" Aleksandria stared at each of them in turn. Their outburst was good. It showed they still wanted to trust her. "...I am sorry. All of you. Rika-san, I did abandon you and I'm sorry. There is nothing I regret more than allowing my father to push my buttons enough to make me chase him to Russia. But now... now I cannot abandon you again. There is no way for me to do so. I can never return home." Then Zadkiel. "Tachimukai-san. I have always thought of you as my family. I never once expected you all to fall in line. Had this meeting just been the two of us, I would have continued regardless. The Archangels do not supercede any of your own activities. I ask you the same question. You came back, despite this being the first time you have heard from me in months, why?" The larger man scratched his chin. "Because you're family. We always come to the aid of another member. Its in the tenets." Rika shook her head. "I came because... I still trust you sister. I just... I don't want to feel abandoned again. I'm sorry. I didn't say anything because I knew I'd say this." Michael on the other hand tapped his helmet. "This place is all that I know. The Archangels was the first time I got to make a difference. I grew stronger, but with the help of my brothers, I was able to save people. You gave us the means to help people and... I'm grateful." The Russian nodded slowly. "You still trust me. For that I am glad. I am sorry for my absence. It will never happen again." Turning to Iemoto she nodded. "All we can do is try Iemoto-san. There is only one chance at this and we can't waste it." |
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| The One True Nobody | Mar 5 2014, 04:10 PM Post #20 |
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
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Kyo's body tensed up, stiffened, when Aleksandria decided to directly confront the elephant in the room. The other Archangels had never been as close to Aleksandria as Kyo or Kira; it was a given that they wouldn't feel as accepting of Aleksandria's extended and rather sudden leave of absence. Kyo had hoped they would all be as calm about the matter as Iemoto seemed to be, but now she understood that this had been hoping too much. They wanted to trust, but they felt--in a way--betrayed. Or used. Or both. Kyo remained still, silent, eyes flitting from one face to the next as each spoke in turn. Before, she might have interjected, tried to argue the point. She was past that now, though, past thinking every problem or conflict or personal problem was something she needed to step into for everyone else's own good. As much as she wanted to see this resolve peacefully, it was between Aleksandria and the other Archangels; she would only speak up if they couldn't resolve it on their own. And, as it happened, that was exactly what they did. Kyo relaxed, and breathed out a silent sigh. Right. Right. See? Didn't need to say anything. Didn't need to do anything. You seem so surprised, Cereza noted in tones of quiet amusement. Still regretting what you did with the notebook? ...A little, Kyo admitted quietly. Just a little, though. Then, sitting a bit straighter in her seat, Kyo grinned a bit and said, "Well, glad that's all out of our systems. What now? ...Oh." Kyo snapped her finger and grimaced. "Wait, wait, one more small order of... business," she said in a stiff voice. "Nana said she had some terms for lettin' us keep workin' out here, and I almost forgot I never had a chance t' mention it t'ya, Aleks." The green-haired girl picked up her butterfly mask and spun it idly between her hands, looking over at their Russian leader. "There was a whack-job in an animal mask who attacked a couple o' her people. Killed one o' the younger ones. She wants our help findin' that guy and puttin' a stop to it. I say I'm all for it, since I don't really like people who go around murderin' teenage girls. They also seem to've had a shotgun, which suggests some unkosher connections. It's strictly normal-folks-killing-normal-folks, though, so a bit outside our jurisdiction, so t' speak." She shrugged. "I'll help out with that on my own time anyway, so it's up to y'all if we put any time inta that." |
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