[Day: Monday, March 10th. Time: 2:50 p.m.] [Weather: Warm and Sunny. Sure is a nice day out.] [Saturday you beat up Tenjirou. Good? Bad? We'll see. You all gather at the lockers, as usual.] [Session start] * Kaede walks quickly to his locker, his kaban swinging outward behind him. He looks like he's in a bit of a rush and has a determined look to his face as he switches out stuff of the locker, then sits down and flips open his kaban. * Haruko walks up still wearing her hair in a ponytail, charms, and hair in a ponytail. She's got a couple sheets of paper in her hand. * Katie doesn't look up from the novel she's reading. "Hi Kaede." * Kaede doesn't respond, pulling out his laptop quickly and starting it up with a bit of a frown. * Satoshi is, for once, not the first one to reach the lockers. He walks slowly up to his, avoiding eye contact with the rest of the group, and opens it. * Haruko smiles slightly to see Katie here and well and then walks over to Kaede, holding out the papers to present them to him. "I've got gift for you." * Taki comes walking in from her usual direction, looking around, she smiles when she sees Satoshi arriving from the other side. * Satoshi exchanges his books, then shuts it and turns around. He leans back against the lockers, still not looking at anyone in particular. * Kaede waves it off, looking at his screen. "In a bit...I've got to know..." * Kaede opens his webbrowser and checks the local news headings, just to make sure. * Haruko looks slightly pouty and then walks over to Taki. * Taki walks twords Satoshi, but stops when she's intercepted by Haruko. "Hi Haruko." * Haruko gives a little wave and then comments quietly. "Let me know if I can do anything to chear him up." She then steps out of Taki's way. * Taki nods at Haruko and continues untill she reaches Satoshi. "How are you feeling?" * Kaede gets a hardened look as he keeps searching. He pushes up his glasses every once and a while but he seems to be half holding his breath. * Satoshi looks down at Taki. "Hm? Oh, I'm doing okay. Are you all right?" * Kaede lets out a sigh of relief and detensifies, leaning his back against the wall and closing his laptop. ...God, I was so worried we'd made the papers or something.... * Taki gives Satoshi a hug, "I'm doing a lot better now, I just had to get that out of my system." * Satoshi blinks and hugs back. "Good. I'm really glad. I'm sorry that whole thing happened." * Haruko smiles slightly at Kaede. "That's good. So, want it now?" * Kaede looks up. "Want what?" * Haruko holds out the papers again to him. * Kaede blinks and takes a paper, looking at it and turning it over. * Kaede blinks. Twice, then looks up. It's hard to tell what his expression is exactly. "You want me to be a guinea pig?" It wasn't your fault, I'm just glad you were there to get me away from that...that... * Katie bookmarks her place and looks up to watch Haruko and Kaede. * Haruko gives a faint grin. "No. I want to help you be self reliant. Once you know your powers, dealing with problems as an Arcanaa will be at least slightly easier." [Makoto and Makoto walk by, remarking to each other: "That little guinea pig in Science was soooooo cute!" "Yeah, it sure was."] * Kaede rubs his forehead. "Look. Haruko...I appreciate all the trouble you went through to make this but.." * Haruko tilts her head a bit. "I want you as a guinea pig later to be sure. But you have more important matters to deal with for now." * Satoshi keeps a hand on Taki's shoulder. "Yeah... I just kept thinking about how it could've gone so wrong, though. I'm glad it didn't." It's...a little overwhelming for me. I don't know what exactly you want me to do. * Haruko nods. "I'm sure it is. I need about an hour of your time at the Tower, I'll arrange an escort and all the gathering of supplies." * Kaede 's eyebrow twitches as he looks at the table. "Steam...engine? Just what are you thinking of building, Haruko?" * Haruko shrugs. "Nothing just yet. It just seemed a reasonable thing to test. I'll save clever gadgets for later." * Taki nods at Satoshi. "I'm glad everybody is okay now." This... * Kaede blinks as he finishes the list. "This is actually a pretty good idea..." I hope they are. * Haruko gives her biggest grin in, dunno, quite a while. * Kaede looks over at Katie and hands her the sheet, since she's looking and all. * Katie blinks, then takes it and has a look. * Katie bites her lip and one of her hands twitches, then she reaches into her satchel and pulls out a pencil and paper, and starts jotting things down in English as she reads. * Haruko tilts her head, looking confused but hopeful. ( Katie writes: "No." "No." "NO!" "No." "No." "Probably not." "No." :P ) * Kaede tilts his head to the side, just watching Katie. (*laughs*) (o/~) * Katie reads and jots and pauses, frowning. She mouths something to herself, then jots a few more words down and continues reading. * Taki would count on her fingers, but they're otherwise occupied, "You're allright, Remi's allright, I'm allright...Tenjirou's... ... probibly going to be allright." * Kaede looks over at Taki cooly. "He is? Darn." * Satoshi frowns. "Hopefully, it'll be a while before he is, though." * Haruko decides not to deal with Tenjirou for a moment and keeps watching Katie with interest. And hopefully, he'll have learned his lesson. I kinda doubt it, though. * Kaede shakes his head and sits back against the wall, folding his arms. "If he tries anything like that again..." * Katie finishes, reads her notes, rereads the paper, and hums. "It's a good idea." * Satoshi looks over at Kaede. "He'd better not." I hate to say it but... * Kaede smiles slightly, looking down at the floor. "It WAS rather satisfying." * Haruko smiles. "Thank you. I have other ideas to test, but it seemed wise to get some concrete facts first." I'd help but he'd just....I never want to go through that again. I hate to admit it, too, but... yeah. * Kaede turns back to Haruko. "When do you think we should test it?" * Haruko thinks for a moment. * Katie hands the papers back to Haruko. "It usually is." * Haruko takes them back and glances to see if Katie wrote any notes on them directly. "I'm ready whenever. We may want to concentrate on the possibility of a band counter attack first, but we could discuss that while testing." * Satoshi sighs. "Counterattack? You really think they will?" You really think they will? They didn't seem to care for him any more than we did. I think we have hope of avoiding a fight because of that. And he started it. * Haruko nods. "You and Kaede did the right thing." But he'll probably lie anyways. You don't hear me compaining. [Chikako comes along!] * Kaede sits back and rubs his forehead. "I just hope today's a quiet day..." * Katie waves to Chikako. If the Band thinks we're starting to pick off their members, even the ones everyone hates.. * Chikako waves a newspaper. "Hi everyone! I brought copies of the school's newspaper! It's so cool!" * Satoshi looks over. "Oh, heya, Chikako." * Haruko looks over to Chikako and waves. * Kaede snorts. "If we were trying to pick him off, we wouldn't have called the ambulance." * Taki makes a face and lets go of Satoshi. "Is there any news?" * Haruko looks at Kaede. "They won't know that was us. Look, like I said, you and Satoshi did the right thing. I just don't expect rational behavior from them." * Chikako nodnods. "Uh huh." * Kaede sighs and adjusts his glasses. "I hate irrational people." * Haruko looks over to Chikako and takes a paper. * Kaede opens his eyes quickly and his eyebrow twitches. "Ch-chikako..when did you get here?" * Katie snickers. "Can I have one?" Just a minute ago. Why? * Chikako hands Katie a paper! Oh...um...no reason. Nothing. * Kaede blushes a bit as he looks away. * Katie takes it and reads! [The only headline worth noting is an upcoming martial arts tournament.] * Haruko reads the article. "Huh, wonder how many of the competitors I know." * Taki takes a paper if/when one is offered and looks it over. Competitors? * Chikako turns to Katie. "And I found out that stuff for you, too!" * Kaede turns back and stands up, reading over Haruko's shoulder. * Katie blinks. "That quick? Wow." * Chikako grins. "My information network is super-cool!" * Haruko looks over to Kaede and points to the martial artist article. "Lots of students stop by the shrine where I'm a Miko." What do you want to bet our favorite Kyon-despising swimmer is going to be there? * Katie nods. "Oh, I talked to Kyon. He thinks he knows who's pretending to be him. But you first, Chikako." * Satoshi reads over Taki's shoulder. Back to being rude again. ;p * Kaede turns quickly to Katie. "Wait. You did?" * Haruko thinks for a moment. "I think that's almost certain." She then glancecs up at Katie. "Oh.. great!" Oh, that girl you wanted to know about? She goes to Shunyo High. Cool, huh?" Shunyo? Who's this? * Katie nods. "Yeah, it is." I wonder why two different schools, though. Fuyuko, Kaede. It is strange. If I was her...I'd try to get as far away from him as possible. You think they were both supposed to go there and then he switched over here because of us? * Kaede raises an eyebrow. "Oh. Her. So she IS in Tokyo." * Haruko nods at Taki's comment. "No, I don't think so Satoshi, she thought her problems were over once she got to Tokyo, I think this is why." * Katie nods. "Could be. And yeah, she is." It's cool either way. * Satoshi frowns. "Her problems won't be over until he's not around, I think. And there's nothing we can do about that." He sighs. I still...want to know what he knows about what happened to Nanami. * Taki nods. Yeah. * Kaede tenses a fist slightly but only for a moment. * Haruko looks at Kaede. Well, I gotta get back. It was cool to see you! * Katie taps her pencil against her knee. "Wait, Chikako! One second." * Satoshi waves. "Later, Chikako... or maybe not. * Haruko nods and waves to Chikako. "Lemme know when you think of something on that thing we talked about." * Chikako blinks. "Huh? What's up?" You really should know. * Katie looks up at Chikako. "Like I said, Kyon thinks he knows who's pretending to be him. It's an old friend of his." Here, she switches her gaze to Haruko. "Souichirou. Does it sound familiar?" * Chikako taps a finger to her chin. "Hmmmm...." * Kaede coughs out slightly. "It's him?" He thinks so. I don't think so. I've heard that name before... * Haruko tilts her head. "Huh... Thought it might be... Guess that makes my job, wait, how'd you know I knew?" Who? Oh, wait... * Katie looks back at Chikako, more or less ignoring Haruko. "Well, maybe you can try to find some stuff about him? I think he's Riko's cousin, so maybe they have the same last name." * Chikako nodnods. "Sure! It's cool." * Haruko tilts her head and looks confused. * Katie grins. "Thanks." * Kaede just folds his arms and shakes his head slightly. Cool. Anything else? Nope. Ok, cool. Good bye! * Chikako waves and takes off. Zoom! Bye! Bye Chikako! * Haruko gives a half wave to Chikako, she keeps watching Katie. * Katie sets her pencil back in her satchel and picks up the notes she made, looking at them. "What?" * Haruko thinks for a moment, head still tilted. "Put it together from my request for permission to research it?" * Kaede interrupts before Katie can respond. "I told her." They're translation notes. I almost had to take out my dictionar- * Katie blinks and looks up at Kaede. "Kaede?" * Kaede closes his eyes and leans against the wall with his arms folded. I'm forgetting something again...I know it. * Satoshi folds his arms and leans back against his locker, watching Haruko and Katie carefully. * Haruko looks over at Kaede, more than a bit shocked. "If you felt it was important that she be told, I would have listened. I even ask your opinion about that." * Kaede doesn't respond to that, leaning back a little more. * Haruko blinks and still looks shocked. Kaede, you don't have to lie for me. * Taki blinks. * Kaede gets up off the wall and unfolds his arms, opening his eyes and adjusting his glasses with a neutral look. "Shall we get..." * Haruko rubs the side of her head and then goes back to looking at Katie, switching from shock back to confusion. * Kaede looks over at Katie with the same look. * Katie just looks back at him. * Kaede looks back to Haruko. "Why don't we do those experiments now?" * Satoshi just watches, although he does look pretty confused. * Haruko bites her lip and keeps thinking. * Haruko gives a weak nod to Kaede. "I should try to tell Riko first though. I owe her that much." If you want to. I don't think she'll believe Kyon's actually her cousin posturing though. * Katie lets out a sigh. "I overheard." She sounds vaguely annoyed. "And either Riko's already been told or she won't believe you." * Taki blinks again. * Haruko nods. "Not that bit just yet." She then looks back to Katie and blinks. "Oh... so... Ah, right. Did you tell Kyon?" Yes. He already knew, too. * Katie puts her notebook back into her satchel. "But he wasn't happy that you didn't tell him when he asked." * Haruko nods. "I tried to balance things, I probably would have had to give him the information about Sho directly." Haruko furrows her brow at Katie's comment. "I told him what I was doing, he approved, I had a promise to keep." * Taki shakes her head, 'I honestly couldn't remember his name when Kyon asked...There's a reason I started to make that list..." * Haruko looks over to Taki. "Yeah, but don't blame yourself for that, I changed plans afterwards." * Satoshi looks down briefly. * Katie closes her satchel. "I bet you did. Promises are messy." She pulls on her jacket, picks up her satchel, and starts walking out. * Haruko nods and looks a bit disheartened. "Alright, I'll meet everyone at the Tower, I have to talk to Riko first." * Taki nods at Haruko. * Kaede watches Katie and just shakes his head. "You're impossible sometimes." * Satoshi nods. "Sure." He looks uneasily after Katie. "Guess we should follow her..." * Haruko begins walking towards Satoshi before the pool. "Oh, and Katie, next time you talk to Kyon, please tell him that she's under my protection." * Katie glances back at Kaede, gives something that might nearly be a smile, and says, "I'll tell him." She goes back to leaving. * Haruko turns to Satoshi before he heads off, she has a bit of an odd grin and speaks softly. "And don't you dare blame yourself for this. I don't think I coudl face Riko if I stuck with my original plan." She then walks off. * Satoshi just blinks in confusion. "Okay..." * Satoshi follows Katie. Satoshi...wait. Let her go. If she wants to go, just let her go. * Kaede closes his eyes and lets out a deep sigh, uncrossing his arms. * Satoshi stops. "Okay. Yeah, I'm having a good day understanding what's going on, aren't I?" He looks embarassed. ...shoot. What is it? We didn't get a chance to tell Katie or Haruko about Jin's message. * Kaede blinks slightly. "...you're right." * Satoshi sighs. "Guess it'll have to wait." We'll see Haruko at the Tower, at least. Alright, I guess we have to go after her anyways. Taki, are you alright staying here and waiting to tell Haruko? It's too important to wait. ...or we could do that. You're right. * Taki nods at Kaede, "Sure, I'll see the two of you at the tower." * Kaede nods and picks up his kaban, heading out the door quickly. * Satoshi waves to Taki, then hurries after Katie. * Taki slowly walks twords the pool, hoping Haruko is mostly done by the time she gets there. [Time: 3:50 p.m. Satoshi and Kaede get to Tokyo Tower.] * Satoshi eyes the Tower. "Should we just head on down?" I...guess so. I don't really feel comfortable with this place yet to be honest. Neither do I. * Kaede heads into the front lobby regardless. * Satoshi follows Kaede in. "A gathering spot for all the Arcana has its advantages... but I think the disadvantages outweigh them." [Katie is inside the tower. In front of the elevator. But not actually *in* the elevator.] * Katie stands, with her arms folded, waiting for the elevator to get there. * Satoshi quickly walks over to her. * Kaede walks over with his arms folded too. "So you ARE here.." I didn't say I was going anywhere else. Wouldn't surprise me if you did, Katie Andrews. * Katie shrugs, still not looking at either of them. "That's a good point. I didn't say where I was going." There's something important we need to tell you. But you took off before we got a chance. * Katie looks at Satoshi. "Yeah?" Yeah. We should probably wait until we're... down, though. Okay. * Katie presses the button again. Pressing the button makes it get there faster. * Kaede speaks off-hand, to a corner of the ceiling. "Are you upset?" * Katie sighs. These days, Kaede, I think I'm always upset. [The elevator arrives!] Do you know what at though? * Kaede enters calmly. * Satoshi frowns. "I was afraid of that..." * Katie gets in, thus proving her button theory. "In a second." [Inside, the elevator is nice and roomy. Unless you're Katie.] * Satoshi steps into the elevator. * Katie stays right next to the door. * Kaede looks for the down button. Going down. * Katie takes a deep breath, then presses the button. You do realize that other people are perfectly capable of pressing buttons, don't you? [The elevator moves.] * Katie sounds very, very tense. "Shut up." * Kaede frowns and looks concerned at Katie. "It's worse than I thought.." * Satoshi leans back against one of the walls and just watches again. * Katie doesn't seem to notice Kaede at all, as she wraps her arms around herself and just stares at the doors, practically willing them to open. Katie...? * Satoshi taps his foot, but keeps quiet. * Katie doesn't respond. [The doors open at the Tower Reversed. It's pretty much the same as when you last left it, except for one small difference: There's a very... unusual looking man sitting in a recliner, facing a window. He's got a pencil and a tablet, and looks like he's busily sketching the outside. A small dufflebag is right next to his seat .] * Kaede gets quiet, watching her carefully. [The man himself looks to be pretty tall, maybe as tall as Kyon, maybe even more. His hair is a a shade of red-blond and is bizzairly shaped like a V at a 30-degree angle. Also, a small braid falls down the right side of his face (the half you can see), reaching halfway down his torso. He's wearing glasses that are completely flat across the top. ] [The man looks to be about as old as you are; maybe a bit older. His clothing (though you can't see it all yet) is strange, too: white slacks, blue dress shoes, and one grey glove on his right hand. He's wearing a long (nearly knee-length) purple shirt with a white cross design on the front, a turned-up collar, and wide sleeves (unbuttoned cufflinks) under what is apparently a red tuxedo jacket (with the tails and all). ] [He's also got a small, pointy beard.] (Thank you, Brett! ^_^) (He's evil! Probably someone's evil double.) * Satoshi steps out of the elevator, then stops short as he notices the guy. * Strangeguy looks evil. Or maybe just freaky. * Katie stumbles out of the elevator the moment the doors open, gasping for breath and trying not to cry. She really doesn't react to the person. ( This better not be judgement. Or we just found out everyone who disappeared just laughed themselves to death.) * Strangeguy really doesn't react to you people, either. So Nyah! * Satoshi blinks at the dude a couple of times, then looks at Kaede and Katie as if to say, "So, what now?" * Kaede watches Katie get out, blinking a bit at the reaction. He's not looking at the strange guy at all. * Kaede also doesn't notice Satoshi. Poor Satoshi. * Katie stays that way for a bit, but manages to pull herself together. She rubs at her eyes and says, very quietly, "I hate that." * Satoshi nods in what he hopes is a sympathetic fashion. * Kaede frowns a little, but doesn't say anything, instead looking around and blinking at the new creepy addition to the otherwise creepy decor of the Tower Reversed. * Katie gradually notices the world around her. She blinks. "Hello?" Fancy meeting...well, anyone here. * Strangeguy scratches away at his tablet, and doesn't respond. Yeah. Hi. * Kaede resists the urge to say Nice Hair and instead raises an eyebrow to Katie. * Katie gives Kaede a questioning look before walking over to the guy. "Excuse me?" * Strangeguy doesn't respond. He's sketching the surroundings. * Strangeguy isn't sketching them exactly, though; the buildings outside are all distorted. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-5) and gets 3. [For some reason, he's chosen to sit right infront of a break in the windows, so there's a blank bar running down the center of his page.] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6) and gets 9. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6) and gets 7. * Katie peers. "Why the... um..." She frowns for a moment, then comes up with the word. "Perspective choice?" * Kaede isn't taking a step forward. He looks around at the rest of the lobby to see if there's anywhere privater to talk. Not hopefully though. * Satoshi watches Katie and the guy. He's very good at watching, apparently. * Strangeguy still doesn't answer. He seems very focussed. * Katie watches him draw, then shrugs and goes to have a seat herself, before pulling out her current project and a knife. She gets to work. * Satoshi shrugs and goes to sit relatively near Katie. * Kaede stands where he is, folding his arms. ( Gimme an awareness check, +3 for everyone but Kaede. ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-1) and gets 2. (DR) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6) and gets 12, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "I can recommend some good Dice Cleanser, if you like." 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kaede (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6+1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6+1) and gets 5. (Last one...) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6) and gets 8. [You all notice yet another peculiarity: There's a CD-player on a small table near the man. It's running, but of course not producing any sound.] (He's not wearing headphones, is he? ;p)* Kaede looks down at the player and hmms. * Katie glances at the player, then goes back to carving. * Satoshi eyes the CD player curiously. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6-2) and gets 7. * Satoshi sighs, gets up, and walks over to Kaede. He whispers something to him. * Kaede looks over at Kaede and blinks, gesturing his head over to Katie and whispers back. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-4) and gets 2. * Satoshi nods and whispers back. * Katie rubs a rough spot out of the carving and gives a small nod. * Kaede looks over at Katie and turns back to Satoshi, whispering back. * Kaede shakes his head slightly and talks to Satoshi. Or somewhat in his direction. * Strangeguy draws the antenna on top of one of the buildings as a spoon, for whatever reason. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6-2) and gets 4. * Kaede whispers over towards Satoshi. "Katie, Jin said he remembered something about a message. That there's someone out to get us that isn't related to the drugs." * Katie doesn't show much of a reaction beyond another nod. She frowns at her carving, then looks through her satchel for another, more precise knife, and uses that. * Kaede looks at Satoshi, trying to look natural whispering to him. "And...something about a visit. That 5 people from the last generation are important to us and still alive." * Katie blinks, then nods again. * Satoshi nods. "Yeah, and that it was important to one of us in particular." He couldn't remember which one, though. He never said where though... No. He said to stop by and visit the one giving us the message, but he didn't say where or who. Or even what message. That almost makes it sound like somebody else was speaking through him. * Strangeguy starts whispering, suddenly. * Kaede nods to Satoshi and turns around, adjusting his glasses to look at the guy, keeping his voice low. "Anything else?" * Katie pauses for a moment, tapping the flat of the knife on the wood. * Satoshi shakes his head. "Nope. Then Jin went back to being, well, what we're used to." * Kaede blinks slightly, and turns back to Satoshi. "Oh yeah. Satoshi thinks I can read minds too." * Katie blinks a few times, then looks up and at the man. "You aren't much older than we are." * Satoshi starts to say something, then stops when Katie talks to the guy. * Kaede turns around to the break in semi-silence * Strangeguy doesn't respond to that, just keeps whispering. * Katie says, casually, "Well, you don't look much older. I can't say I've ever met you before." * Satoshi eyes the guy curiously. So I don't think you are. Why the fake accent? And what do cufflinks have to do with anything? * Katie snickers. "Well, I don't think cufflinks are a good judge of... well, anything. Besides shirts." * Satoshi whispers to Kaede. "Again, I'm totally lost." * Kaede looks at his sleeves, then goes over to have a seat. * Satoshi follows Kaede. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6) and gets 8. Maybe not, but I think what I think anyway. Would you mind me asking who you are? * Katie nods, a smile touching her face. "Who are you?" It's alright to speak to the rest of us too. * Strangeguy looks over at Katie. "I, madam, am an artist." (He says it like "ar-tiest") * Katie nods, and holds up her carving. "I guess you could say I'm one, too." We didn't mean to disturb your work. We didn't think anyone else would be here. * Satoshi nods. There was someone else here. Said someone being me. I. The artiest. * Katie looks mildly amused. "Do you have a name?" I...don't think anyone else could immitate being you. I certainly do have a name. It's my name. It belongs to me. * Kaede tilts his head slightly then watches the guy carefully. "Then do you have a card? That's a start." I happen to have an entire deck of cards. I use them, too, when it suits me. So you have a name, but you don't want to share it? * Kaede smirks slightly. "May I see it?" * Satoshi snerks. "It's not like we can take it and not give it back." You may call me "Sir Gustave von Rothenschienheimer XIV, esquire", if you wish. Can we call you something else if we wish that too? * Kaede says that expressionlessly. * Satoshi blinks. "...right." No. You may call me Sir Gustave von Rothenschienheimer XIV, esquire. So, may I see your cards, Rothenschienheimer-san? Certainly. * Strangeguy goes to his dufflebag and opens it up. He scoops out a deck of cards in a black sheathe. * Katie goes back to carving. He might be too much of an ar-TIEST to work and talk at the same time, but Katie isn't. * Kaede looks at the deck oddly and reaches out for it. * Gustave adjusts his glasses. When he finishes, they're slanted. * Kaede takes the deck and looks through them. Not that he doesn't suspect what they are but it never hurts to check. * Katie keeps carving. "I was wondering, Gustave. Why is your CD player on?" * Gustave has one yellow eye and one orange eye, by the way. Probably contact lenses. As an ar-TEIST, I appreciate the fine music of Johanna Sebastian Bach (note, he says that exactly like it looks) as I work. (So he says it like "Botch"?) But can you hear it in the field? ( Joe-Hannah Sebastian Batch. ) (....eww.) (Ow. I'm sorry, Bach. ;_;) As an ar-TEIST, my imagination is such that I needn't actually hear the music to be able to contemplate on it. So, in other words, no. You could just say so. So why not just turn the player off and save the batteries? I could, but I chose not to. * Kaede looks at the deck some more and shuffles them out, holding. "Well, as an "ar-TEIST," do you know this drill?" * Satoshi just shrugs. Whatever kind of drill are you referring to? Clearly not an oil drill or a power drill. * Kaede 's voice turns very dry. "Just pull a card, "Rothenscheinheimer-san." Therefore, I assume you refer to the type of drill that represents a pattern. Aha! It appears I was quite right. ( Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention this, but... ) ( This guy speaks with a very obviously fake British accent. ) * Kaede deadpans. "Yes. How perceptive of you." * Gustave draws a card. (Oh, I couldn't figure that at all. Nope. ;P) (It was that or French.) (I was picturing French, actually.) ( It could be French. It's hard to tell. ) (Either way, it's bad!) (Yes.) (It's a very bad European-style accent..there ;P) (If it's french then it's very obviously not a real british acceent. ;P) * Kaede looks at the card he drew. * Gustave has drawn... a Forest magic card, except there's an ace of spades cut out and taped over the forest part, and a customized description at the bottom: "The holder of this card has the power to ignore all patents." (...okay, I hate this guy now. ;p) ...Interesting deck...care to try mine? Unless it deviates from the dry, conventional cards, absolutely not. * Satoshi eyes the card. "That's... definitely one of a kind." He refrains from adding that it's also stupid. Oh I assure you, these cards aren't ordinary in any sense. Oh? Who was the designer? * Kaede pulls out his deck and flashes a few of the choice cards. The Emperor, Judgment, Chariot. Seen these before? Absolutely. How very dull. So which one do you draw then? Why, I draw my own, of course! * Kaede shuffles his cards casually. "And which card is "your own." And if you say something along the lines of "The one that is mine" I WILL hurt you." 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-2) and gets 4. * Gustave twitches. "Was that a threat? I assure you, "Good sir", you would not wish to cross paths with one such as I, lest you feel my cane against your backside!" * Satoshi snickers. No. Do I look like a threat to you? * Kaede adjusts his glasses and tilts his head, looking neutrally at Gustave. Besides, I think you're simply upset because I beat you to your own response. * Gustave humps. "Hardly." * Kaede keeps casually shuffling the cards. So what is the name of the card you draw? MacDuffy XII. * Katie glances up from her work to watch the interesting exchange, then looks down at his duffel bag. "Ah, Gustave. Is that bag yours?" Of course it is. Then why is someone else's name on the tag? There is only my name on that tag. So your name is Uehara? * Kaede nods slightly and flips through the cards looking at them for a while. * Satoshi resists the urge to bang his head against something. [The elevator door opens, and out comes Haruko and Taki.] It is. [Haruko and Taki see a very odd man I'm not going to describe again, because it was so durn hard the first time.] * Taki starts to apologise for being late, but stops midword when she sees the Oddball. * Katie nods. "How about your first name? It starts with an M, but will you tell me the rest?" * Haruko walks out and also looks over the oddball and gets that confused look again. * Satoshi turns around and waves at Haruko and Taki. * Kaede reaches in the deck and pulls out The Hanged Man, showing it to Gustave. "So this is yours then?" * Taki quietly walks up to Satoshi and asks him, "Who is that?" when she reaches him. Don't ask. No, really. * Haruko finds a place where she can set up the experiments within earshot of the stranger and the rest of the group. The M. is an initial, short for Masaru. I...see. Ah, I see. Thanks for the straight answer. Certainly. * Katie tilts her head towards Kaede. "Would you mind giving him a straight answer, too?" * Gustave looks to Kaede. "Clearly not. It is yours." * Haruko takes out the supplies she's carried in and arranges them in a spaced and organized pattern. "Taki, could you please bring over the kettle and the car." Hmm? Oh right. * Kaede chuckles. "It is and it isn't. But is it one that represents you?" * Satoshi decides he's had enough of Mr. Ar-TEIST here and walks over to Haruko. "Can I help you any?" * Gustave ignores Kaede in favor of Haruko. "My, but aren't you a lovely young maiden? And so original, too." * Taki stops staring confusidly at Gustave and takes Haruko her things. * Kaede shakes his head and walks over to Katie, dropping the card in her lap. "You remember what this one represents?" Of course, I could be way off anyways, unless we get a straight answer from him. * Katie picks up the card and looks at it. * Haruko pauses in setting up and walks over to Gustave. She goes for her best ladylike posture and offers her hand, palm down. "Thank you, and [with a terrible Japense accent of course] my name is Kinsha, Haruko Kinsha. I am also called the Queen of Cups." * Taki idly swings the teapot. * Gustave bows with a flourish, in a very Eurpoean-eqsue manner. "You may call me Fredrick." Mmm. Knowledge. Looking at things from a different direction. * Katie cracks up. * Satoshi , in a disturbingly Kyon-like gesture, rolls his eyes. * Kaede looks over at Rostenscheinheimer and smirks a little. "Then my guess may be right." * Katie giggles and hands the card back to Kaede. At least about the "different direction" part..not sure about the first. * Haruko curtseys. "It is a pleasure to meet you Fredrick. You would this lady a great honor if you could tell me your Arcana title so that I may refer to you properly in polite company." * Kaede puts the card back in the deck and sighs. If she gets it this easily... Then I shall, because it would please me to do so. * Haruko smiles as broadly as is proper. * Taki politly waits her turn. I am he who is the first, and not the last, of those who carry canes. And occasionally hit ruffians who deserve it with them. The first and not the last who carry canes... the King of Wands? Wouldn't that be the Ace...But that's you... * Satoshi shakes his head. "No, I'm guessing that I'd be the last. The King would be the first." Ace is usually one, but in a playing deck, it can be high. I just hope I don't get hit by a cane. * Kaede shakes his head and responds dryly. "All hail Macduff. I should have known." And I don't carry a cane. Just a hockey stick. * Haruko tilts her head slightly and smiles demurely. "You honor me sir. Both with that infomration and by allowing one of lower rank to refer to use by your first name, Fredrick." She says it all straight faced, but those who know her well can probably see a giggle coming. * Taki shrugs. Fredrick is not my name. * Taki blinks. * Haruko giggles ever so slight and then continues to speak. "Oh, I misunderstood, it is merely a name that I may call you by." * Satoshi says, to no one in particular, "Yeah, Kyon's gonna just *love* this guy." The Queen and King united at last. * Gustave nods. "That is so." * Katie doesn't say a word, but she looks *really* amused. * Taki just shakes her head. * Haruko then gives a polite bow, reverting a bit to Japanese form. "Perhaps you will choose to tell me your true name someday, until then I shall call you Fredrick or whatever you choose. Now if you could be so kind as to excuse me, I will return to my experiments." I will happily tell you my name now, if you would wish it so. * Haruko tilts her head and does the demure smile thing again. "I would." My name is Masaru Uehara. That is a lovely name, shall I call you by it, or shall I continue with Fredrick. Perhaps we shall compromise, and you may instead call me Pierre. * Haruko slightly bites her lip to keep from giggling again. "Certainly Pierre. Oh, and as you are obviously a gentleman I'll share with you that I am hoping to reform the Council Arcana someday. As one who hits ruffians and only ruffians I presume with canes, perhaps we should speak on it next time we meet." Haruko then bows again and goes back to her experiment. * Kaede rolls his eyes a bit, then looks at Haruko, and then rolls his eyes again. * Satoshi exchanges a "you too, huh?" look with Kaede. * Haruko hums the Bond theme to herself as she organizes the gear Taki handed her. Perhaps we shall. As it stands, I am running a bit late. I believe I shall finish my artwork and then take my leave. * Haruko giggles a bit to herself as she works, then turns and waves. "Fare the well Pierre." She then resumes working and humming. Then I wish you a safe journey, your highness. * Gustave heads back to his chair and picks up his tablet. He draws a big X over one building in the distance, then says, "Perfection!" and stows the tablet in his bag. * Gustave picks up his bag and heads to the elevator. [Session End]