[Day: Saturday, April 17th. Time: 11:00 p.m.] [Weather: Nothing!] [Quite a number of Arcana are standing outside a forcefield that surrounds Tokyo Tower. Normal people are there, except not moving. Being abnormal, you guys aren't affected.] [Sho Shinjo showed up for no other reason than to brag about how he knew what was going on and wasn't going to tell you, then left. Shun Mijunkuro also left shortly after. Then Hinako Arai showed up, looking quite beat up. She told everyone they were in danger and dumped a pile of fresh guilt on your heads by informing you this was your fault. Yay!] [Session Start!] * Haruko blinks and thinks for a moment in response to Hinako's comment while tugging a bang. She then smiles slightly and prepares to speak. (Waits to see if anyone is acting while she's thinking.) * Katie is currently tending to her own burnt hand and arm. She's poured some water over it, and she's trying not to cry. [Akio runs a hand through his hair. "Ah, man. What'd you guys do?"] So it wasn't judgement causing people to disappear! It was the Lovers and the Black cards sucking them into judged world. Right? * Kaede is looking at Hinako somewhat irritatedly after pulling away from her. He's still staring, not knowing how to react to the accusation. ~Haruko, help Katie when you get a chance.~ [Hinako shakes her head. "No... It was only Kyoko Ozora they got to. While she was hidden, the Blacks made their move, waiting for the next time she used her power."] How did they get to her in the first place? So are the drugs a part of this? * Taki stands and listens and is still unaware of what happened to Katie. * Haruko frowns. ~I've got to keep you from getting lynched; why did judgement come up then? Gah, why is she injuring herself now!~ [Matthias offers his observation: "The Blacks are no doubt a part of the drug conspiracy."] * Haruko nods. "We can discuss the details later. How do we get that field down and face the Lovers?" * Haruko keeps healing Hinako for the moment. ~I appreciate that, Haruko. I really do. And she stuck her hand in the force field.~ * Taki looks back at The Tower again and then shakes her head. * Katie pours a little more water on. She caps her bottle, finds her medical kit, and starts gingerly bandaging her hand. That's where we last found her. So I'm presuming that's how they got to her. What tie do the dealers have in all of this? What's more, what tie do YOU have? * Kaede settles down and looks more directly at Hinako, since the accusations seem to have died down a little. * Haruko glances up at Katie and glances over to Hinako judging relative injury levels. [Hinako speaks! "There is, somewhere in here, a woman who is controlling the field. A Black. ] Yes. See, the problem is that she's in there. Or do you mean among us? * Taki looks at Hinako. "Wh... What does she look like?" ( * Haruko dramaticaly points at Kaede. "It's you! You're the mole! Sorry, I've always wanted to do that.") (Hee.) ( And you're a woman! I weep for my gender.) [Hinako stands up, her cloack billowing in a sudden breeze. "Many of you have already met her. She is both Death Reversed and the Devil."] ( That's cloak. Not clock. ) * Haruko nods. "You mean zombie Saki?" * Taki stares at Hinako and her eyes widen. Un-Saki? [Hinako nods. "And furthermore, there is only one person capable of harming her."] Saki? [Hinako nods again.] And she's not here, is she. (That was a statement, not a question.) * Taki starts to shiver. ["No, she's not. And I know not where she is. That is why I've come." Hinako points at Taki. "You must find her."] You sure about harming? My predecessor fazed her and we've got a lot more fire power. * Katie gets to her feet. "Are you sure that's safe?" Why Taki? H... H...h.h.hhhhhhhhhh ....ow? [Hinako's eyes shift to Haruko. "You know not what you deal with. Your predecessor was older, and far more powerful than you. Than any of you."] [Shika humphs.] Naturally. [Hinako's eyes shift back to Taki. "And it is for that reason that you must go alone. Every one of us will need to remain here to combat the Lovers when the force field dies."] Why Taki? She can port out of judged world. [She looks at Katie. "Nobody here could find the two faster."] * Taki sounds frightend and incredulious ."I... I... don't...how?" * Satoshi walks over and stands next to Taki, putting his arm around her shoulders. She's also drained. I don't even know if she can keep herself from getting hurt. [Akio rubs his head. "Man..."] * Katie is silent for a moment, then adds, "And I don't know how far in the field goes." * Taki slumps onto Satoshi and keeps on shivering. How, Arai-san? How can she find them? I believe you when you say she can, but how? [Hinako's eyes shift to Katie. "You believe we are in a field? You are sorely mistaken."] I think she meant the forcefield. Yes. No, the white thing. * Katie holds up her burned hand. "It goes at least a few feet. Can you *promise* it doesn't cover so much that Taki will be burnt into nothing if she tries to vanish in?" ["She is not to go inside. The women she needs to find are elsewhere in the city."] * Haruko nods unsurprised. * Katie tilts her head. "Then Black Saki isn't inside?" ["That is what I said."] Do you know of any way to re-energized Taki or protect her if she finds Black Saki first? That makes no sense. If I were to create a forcefield to keep people out, I would place the person responsible for the field on the inside. * Taki nods rapidly. * Katie opens her mouth to say something, then doesn't, as she's cut off by Haruko and Kaede. Maybe she can't create a field with herself inside it in this case. Who knows? * Haruko glares at Kaede and Katie. "Look, they're crazy and they want to destroy us all because they feel jilted. Let's not get stuck on the logic." * Haruko looks back to Hinako and awaits an answer. * Katie eyes Haruko. * Kaede looks at Haruko. "I wasn't trying to prove that they were rational." [Takeo nods at Haruko. "Yeah. Who cares what they SHOULD be doing. Find this chick so I can get to busting skulls."] * Haruko ignores the eyeing and retorts and continues to await an answer from Hinako. But what if they *are* doing what they should? [Akemi waves. "I know a way to reenergize her!"] [She giggles. "Like a battery."] * Kaede looks over at Akemi, as if noticing her for the first time. [Hinako closes her eyes. "The Lovers created the field, but they needed a focal point. They are using the Black in question for it."] * Taki blinks at Akemi and then takes a shaky step away from Satoshi. "...H. How? ... How do I stop being this tired?" ["If the Black's concentration is disrupted, however, the field will fall."] * Katie nods. "Fine. How is Taki supposed to find her?" So the focal point has to be outside the field? [Hinako's eyes snap open. "On the other hand, if nothing is done, the Lovers will trade our life force for their own. They will become human again, and we will cease to be."] And how did they manage this state? [Akemi grins. "It's what I do!"] * Satoshi blinks. "They need *that* much power?" * Haruko nods. "Right. Immense danger. Got it. Please Hinako ignore the questions about the details and tell us about what Taki needs to do." * Katie frowns. You re-energize people? * Kaede then just stares straight at Haruko. Unlike HER, he doesn't glare. * Haruko doesn't care. [The new guy none of you recognize speaks at Satoshi: "They're 70 years old, dead, and not living on the same plane of existence as us, dear. To return from that would require a great deal of power, don't you think? Mmm?"] * Satoshi looks at the new guy. * Haruko awaits an answer from Hinako. * Taki takes another step twords Akemi. "... Please? ... I." She stops to swallow. "I can't..." * Kaede glances at the new guy, then to Taki. "Can't? Can't what?" [Hinako speaks to Haruko. "Find the Devil of Life. Take her to the Black. And if possible, assist her in the battle. The Blacks must be destroyed."] [Akemi grins. "Sure, no problem. Come with me." She wraps an arm around Taki's shoulders and leads her towards the corner of a building.] * Taki speaks quitly and quickly for once. "can't think. can't act. can't handle. can't play." I still think someone should accompany Taki. * Satoshi eyes Akemi dubiously. * Haruko nods. "And the Devil of Life is in Judged World. Okay. Any tips on where they might be?" * Taki has her line moved up one and goes with Akemi. * Katie glances at Akemi and Taki, then shrugs to herself. ["I do not know. You might have a better guess than I."] ( Taki and logger, #Arc2 ) * Haruko is divided between really hoping that Akemi's method doesn't involve sex and wondering whether it would get Taki to chill about the whole Katie thing. (*snerk*) (Bwhahaha!) (I'm not divided! GO TAKI GO.) [Mamiya speaks up. "And the rest of us are supposed to fight these people? How am I supposed to do that?"] * Haruko nods and digs in her backpack for a notebook. "Alright! I'm going to compile a list of known hang outs for Life Saki and Death Saki! Anyone who has spotted them plese talk to me. One at a time!" * Katie rubs at her ear. (For simplicity sake, can you open a channel for the list Brett?) * Katie uses her good hand, darnit. ( Umm... Ok ) ( #list ) [Shika puts her hands on her hips. "Hm. Well I'm looking forward to it. Whoever it is that brought us here made a big mistake."] * Kaede sighs. "What do the Lovers do anyways?" ( They hug and kiss you in front of all your friends. How diabolical. ) (They're like obnoxious older relatives. ;p) ( Akemi's one of them!) [Hinako: "I don't know."] (Well, I'm doomed, but what a way to go!) What am I even doing here? (Setting fire to yourself mostly) * Katie sits down again. "I can't fight." She sighs. "Taki really needs someone to go with her," she says yet again. [Hinako shakes her head.] Why not? But we need people who can fight here at the same time... it's such a mess. * Haruko lets go of Hinako who is probably still injured. She walks over to Katie. "You could help me with the list." Why *not*? We have enough people here. You said someone should help Saki fight her opposite. [Yuji speaks up. "Uh... I can't really fight either. Can I go?"] * Haruko holds a hand towards Katie's burnt one and touches it if she doesn't shy away. * Katie doesn't. But she doesn't look pleased or acknowledge Haruko's request, either. * Haruko speaks in a low but urgent voice. "Taki burns energy when she ports with other people. She can't search effectively with partners, you know how fast she gets burnt out." [This time it's Yorihisa who speaks. How... bizzaire. "They have the Black Pentacle with them."] [He glances to Hinako. "Am I right?"] * Katie snaps, also low and to Haruko, "Thank you so much for mentioning that early." [Hinako closes her eyes as the rest of the Arcana murmer amongst themselves. "I cannot be certain... But that is a possibility."] * Haruko speaks low back. "I didn't want to discuss Taki's vulnerabilities in front of all of them." Black Pentacle? They have a Pentacle? I'm useless here, Haruko. There's nothing to figure out, nothing I can even ask - even you don't want that, but I shouldn't be too shocked - I'm told that I have to fight, and I can't even heal people. I *might* be good at making sure Taki gets killed, but no, I can't go. * Haruko keeps a low voice. "Like hell you're useless. You can bloody toss Chariot. You think that doesn't apply to these guys? And if Taki wants reinforcements she can bring them in." * Kaede sighs and looks at Yorihisa. "And how much else have you been hiding here?" [He doesn't respond!] I'm telling you that I'm not a fighter. Put down the place we saw the Black in the World Reversed. [Shika turns to Katie. "That didn't stop you from trying to kill anyone."] [Shika: "Why don't you just toss them down the stairs, hm?"] (Can Shika even *hear* them?) (Really.) (I was under the impression that they were speaking fairly quietly.) (It's certainly possible that she could, and if she does it tells us something interesting about her. ^_~) (We are talking quietly. Does she still hear?) ( *shrugs and gives Shika a hearing check. Yes. ) * Haruko looks to Shika. "Shika, at present we're trying to keep us all from getting killed. I'd think that's a mission you can get behind.": [Shika shrugs. "Just sayin'."] (Meanwhile, I await an answer from Hinako about the Black Pentacle.) (It may have fallen off the screen.) * Haruko then looks back to Katie. "Taki can teleport away so long as she has energy. I wouldn't support this plan unless she had the option of escape. We should let her search alone so she doesn't drain herself, after that if she wants reinforcements, she comes and gets us. Deal?" ( Sorry, doing lots at once. ) * Katie looks up at Shika. "I'll just say that it didn't stop him from controlling, drugging, chaining, and trying to sell me. It didn't stop him from making me lose a full day. I never did anything to him." (Or you might not have noticed my asking. Right.) * Katie sighs and looks back at Haruko. "Deal, but I still don't like it." [Hinako shifts her gaze to Satoshi. "Aside from the four artifacts, there are four Black Artifacts. There is a possibility that the Lovers have one."] Great. There's like 251 of *everything* out there, isn't there? Normal, Black, Reversed, Pinstriped, Chartreuse... * Haruko looks at Hinako. She keeps her voice in check for Katie's sake. "Four black artifacts! How evil were the people that made us?! No, never mind, I can find out later." That's because we're special, Satoshi. (Gotta kill them all!) [Hinako shakes her head. "No, merely eight."] We can't be *that* special if there are umpteen-thousand different variations of us. * Katie smiles just a teeny bit, despite the situation. "It's called sarcasm." ["There are less than three-hundred of our kind."] (Right. I said 251! ;p_ And they're already crazy so they're not afraid to use it. Wonderful. * Haruko looks to Katie. And snerks at Satoshi's comment. She then looks back to Katie. "I'm just saying we give her chance a shot. At the same time we work on backup plans. But we need to get Taki searching now if her plan is to work." She lets go of Katie's hand which is now healed. When she gets back, yeah. * Katie starts unwrapping her hand. "Thanks." * Haruko nods. "Alright. Anywhere else for the list?" The construction site, Haruko. * Katie keeps unwrapping her hand. She flexes her fingers. "It's where I first met her." * Haruko nods and writes it down. [Yuji blinks. "Hey! I think I know who you mean. That girl who always wears the leather jacket, right? She comes to the Yippie! Arcade sometimes."] Not quite the same from what I hear. [Nori scratches her cheek. "I bet Toshiki would know where to find her."] * Haruko nods and updates the list. "Thanks Yuji and Katie." She also adds a note of her own. (Toshiki is there, right?) * Katie looks over at Toshiki. ( Nope. ) (You said he is, Brett.) ( Or is he? @_@ ) (Yes.) (Look at your log.) (YUp. ;P) ( orz ) (You did.) (You actually said "Guy who likes Saki whose name I forget" I think.( (I think that got fixed in the edits.) (Yup.) * Haruko glances over to Satoshi and Kaede. "Could you two look over the list. You may have had an encounter I wasn't there for or that I forgot about." [Toshiki grins. "Heh. Maybe I would. But I don't know if I wanna tell you our secret romantic hiding spot. It's very personal and..." he stops when he sees Nori glare at him, then sighs. "Okay, sometimes she's at the river."] * Katie blinks. "By the bridge, right?" Who isn't? * Satoshi takes the list from Haruko and looks it over. * Kaede blinks. "Wait. Where by the bridge?" [Toshiki, "Yeah, there's a bridge there."] * Kaede rubs the back of his head. "Seems that's a fairly popular place..." (It's a good thing there's only one bridge over a river in Tokyo!) * Katie nods. "I remember that. We had a Black Saki there... it was fake, but it might be based in reality for either of them." [The new guy speaks, "Mmmm, did anyone think to check her home? Does anyone even know where it is?"] Don't even know if she has one really. She told me that it's a run down place, but I don't know where exactly. * Haruko looks to Hinako while people check over the list. "Can you tell us anything more about the Lovers' abilities?" * Kaede looks at Haruko. "I already asked her that. If you were listening, you'd have heard her say she doesn't know." [Hinako shakes her head. "As I've said, I don't know. But given they are the old Lovers, we should expect them to have a far greater mastery over their powers than we do."] * Haruko looks to Kaede. "I apologize Kaede." * Katie rolls her eyes. Great. So not only do we NOT know their powers, but their powers, whatever they are, are stronger than ours. Or at least they know how to use them better. What's to say that, since they're the Lovers, they won't try to charm us and turn us against each other? The more of us here, the worse it could be. * Haruko then continues walks over to him and proffers the list. "Could you please glance over this and see if I missed anything?" * Katie says, with a straight face, "Maybe we'll love each other and fall into a giant orgy." Perfectly possible. But then... Doubtful. If anyone had that power it would be Akemi. * Satoshi bites his lip and tries to keep from bursting out laughing. Or something. He's turning very red. * Kaede stops himself and snickers, then blushes. "Nevermind." [Several people eye Kaede.] * Haruko waits to see if Kaede acknowledges her request. * Taki chooses this moment to come running back from where she and Akemi were doing unspeakable acts. * Kaede looks at the other people, turning back to straight face. "What?" He takes the list and looks over it. Okay, I'm awake and Akemi can barely stand. Uh... Sa. Kaede? Could you give her a hand? * Kaede then looks up at Haruko. "Are you trying to compile a list of both Sakis in general or just the one we're searching fo--eh?" [The new guy sliiiiiiiiiides up to Kaede. "Say, you're charming. What's your name, boy?"] I'll help. * Satoshi recovers slightly and raises an eyebrow at Taki. * Katie gets to her feet and walks over to help with Akemi. * Kaede stops short out of his statement and looks over at Akemi. "Oh g--what happened to her?" * Kaede goes forward quickly to help, ignoring creepy guy and the notes in his hand. (Into the other channel?)\ * Taki blinks as Katie goes walking off. "She's about as tired as I was. So, what have I missed?" * Haruko looks to new guy. "Not the time." She looks to Kaede and hustles to keep up. "She gave Taki her energy I'd assume. And both of them. Life and Death." ( Sure ) (Which other channel?) They're not really life and death, Haruko. ( #arc2 ) ( #arc2) (#arc2) * Katie walks offscreen! * Haruko follows Kaede for the moment. * Taki blinks. "I thought they were both Death, but one was also The Devil Reversed." Nobody said that. Right. Black and normal, devil and death, good and evil... err.. evil and something. (Waiting for descrip in the other channel, Brettster.) * Taki watches everybody but Satoshi go where she just was. "Maybe I just should have staid there." Arai-san called the Saki we know the Devil of Life. (She also called the Black that.) (Like the Circle of Life. But more Leather) (No, I thought she was referring to the one specific Saki by that.) (THey can't *both* be it.) (She was. One's the Devil of Life, one's the Angel of Death.) ([Hinako speaks! "There is, somewhere in here, a woman who is controlling the field. A Black."]) ([Hinako stands up, her cloack billowing in a sudden breeze. "Many of you have already met her. She is both Death Reversed and the Devil."]) (Both referencing the same thing.) (And she's talking about the Black there. Saki has also told us that *she's* Devil/Death Reversed.) (They have the same cards.) [Hinako clears it up! "Both women are the Devil and Death Reversed."] Oka...y, assuming I survive finding them... somebody is going to explain to me very slowly and using small words and a large chart what the hell is going on here. (Ah. Right.) So there's no Death and the Devil Reversed? * Taki nods at Hinako. "Thanks for clearing that bit up. I don't suppose anybody here knows where they are, or could do a reading or something for me?" ["There is, but neither is of importance to us at the present."] [Matthias removes a deck of cards. "I can do a reading."] * Satoshi makes a mental note that this may become important in the future... if they make it to a future. * Haruko heads back to the group. "Taki, we have a list of our best guesses." She gets closer and then speaks quietly. "I think you should search alone to save energy. But if things go bad or you want reinforcements come and get us. Alright?" * Taki takes a step twords Matthias and then gets stopped by Haruko. "Sounds like a plan, and if I find the other Saki I'm not planning on sticking around long enough to need help." * Haruko grins. "Smart girl." * Satoshi follows Taki so he can see Matthias' reading as well. Thank you my queen. Now I'm going to find out if the cards know where they're hiding and want to share. * Taki finishes walking to Matthias. * Haruko also hands the list to Taki. "If they don't, here's what we got. Maybe they'll work in tandem." * Taki gains one list(s)! * Haruko then goes to do a quick check on Soleil. She can see the reading once she's done. [Matthias shuffles the cards.] [Soleil's still out.] * Haruko takes the time to do a full checkover in case her condition has worsened. This probably occupies her until the reading is up. * Taki glances at the list and then watches Matthias. [Matthias draws three cards. The first: The Devil Reversed. The second: The Tower. The Third, the Seven of Wands. He frowns. "The Black is in a Tower."] ["Which, I'm not certain."] "Or at the very least, the conflict will take place in a Tower."] * Taki counts on her fingers. "Well... not counting this one... that leaves four or five right?" [Matthias shrugs. "Who can say?"] Two are already on the list. Maybe check the others first, better if you find our Saki before black Saki. ( Why's it got to be black Saki? ) * Haruko keeps working on Soleil. [Matthias does another reading: Devil, Ace of Swords, Two of Cups.] [Soleil's about the same condition Haruko left her in.] * Haruko stands up and walks back. She whispers to Satoshi. "What were the first set of cards?" * Katie comes walking back, approaching the others. She waits for Haruko to get her answer before speaking. [Matthias reads. "She's with someone. The Ace of Swords."] Saki and Ryuji. Makes sense. (And I miss Haruko's question. Ooops.) ~Devil Reversed, Tower, Seven of Wands.~ * Taki looks up. "Thaaat's.. Ryuji. Right. So... still at the school maybe? Where else do they hang out together?" She looks down at the list for inspiration. * Katie doesn't know Satoshi answered the question and so keeps waiting. :P (Telepathy means you can be lazy about whispering if you want!) * Kaede comes back soon after Katie, walking slower, because he's taking Akemi along with him, arm across his shoulders. (Also, you can inadvertantly screw your friends. Yay. ;p) * Haruko checks her little Tarot booklet that had come with her now lost Utena deck. ~Seven of wands, Toshiki! The bridge! Stupid bridge hurt my bike. Err.. Kyon's bike.~ 2d6-8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-8) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 1. * Satoshi speaks this time. "Well, he's saying that the Black's in a Tower, or the conflict will take place in a tower." I'd say roof. Maybe the Kendo room. Maybe the gravesite. I know a restuarant Ryuji likes, but don't think he'd be there with Saki. * Haruko then looks down for a moment after that comment. She then looks back up. "Also, Seven of Wands is Toshiki's card, right?" She glances to Toshiki. "So that suggests the Black card is at the bridge." Satoshi, we're going to need to borrow you for a second. It's- * Katie looks away, turning her gaze down a street. She takes a few steps towards it, peering. * Satoshi looks over at Katie. "What?" * Taki nods. "Okay, I'll go to the school first and if I don't find her, I'll... What's happening?" * Satoshi turns to follow her gaze. [Toshiki tilts his head. "How do you figure?"] Taki, start looking. Now. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-5) and gets a natural 11 for a result of 6. * Taki nods and... 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6-3) and gets a natural 3 for a result of 0. * Taki vanishes. * Haruko looks back to Toshiki. "Well, it's where you suggested and a spot of conflict, right?" She then turns to look. Haruko's a joiner. (No, really?) * Kaede looks at Katie oddly. (Any report on what Katie's looking at?) ( Nope. Haruko lacks supra-vision ) * Katie 's eyes widen, and she takes a step back. "Something's coming. It looks like a demon." [In fact, this is a good time for a cliffhanger!] [End!]