[Day: Sunday, February 9th. Time: 8:00 p.m.] [Weather: colder than it was in the afternoon, but otherwise much the same.] [After a fun day at Disney Tokyo, going on every ride twice, you finally parted at the gate. Kyon took Chikako home, Kaede took his sister home, and supposedly Satoshi was going to escort Taki home, but who can say for certain? Anyhow, that leaves Katie and Haruko still there.] [Session Start] * Katie has her hands stuffed in her pockets and a grin on her face. "I still think we should have gone on Space Mountain *one* more time, though." * Haruko responds with a grin. "I completely agree, although I'm not sure Taki's hand could have taken it." * Katie chuckles and starts walking to the station. Still, that was lots of fun. I just wish Taro could have come with. * Haruko follows along. "Yeah, I realized in the afternoon that there was something missing. Was he too busy to be able to make it?" * Katie nods, tilting her head back and making a cloud with her breath in the cool night air. Yeah. He had to go camping with his father. * Haruko keeps walking, rubbing her arms to warm up. "That's a shame, but at least he got to do something worthwhile. I'm sure he'd have particularly hated to miss a date with you because of work or the like." * Katie shrugs. "Yeah, well. I know family's important." At least we're going out tomorrow. Ice cream and Tokyo Tower. * Katie smiles a little, then frowns. * Haruko smiles, and then looks quizically at Katie's expression. "What's wrong?" It's... nothing. Well... * Katie sighs. Go on, if you want. I'm happy to listen. It's the whole Arcana thing. It's started to run my life. It has been, really. Even today, I had to interrupt Kyon's fun with something about it. And tomorrow, I'm going to Tokyo Tower, and I can't help but be nervous and afraid. * Haruko nods. "I'm begining to know the feeling. It can be pretty all consuming, particularly when other Arcana are involved. I think Kyon had mentioned something about Tokyo Tower when I was first 'educated.'" Tokyo Tower is The Tower. I've been doing some reading. [They get to the station. Not many people there, this time of night.] The Tower is the disaster magnet of the Arcana. It's a major one, too. Symbolizes violent, usually bad, events. * Katie enters and starts for the subway train towards home. * Haruko walks in. "That's not good at all." Have there been any real world disasters at it? Anime and such aside. [It was destroyed twice in earthquakes.] Well, there were the earthquakes. And for some reason all the Arcana have been pulled in some way or another to Tokyo Tower. Do you think the whole war and judgement and Saki thing works? And the drugs. Can't forget about those. And the illusions. * Katie sighs. * Haruko goes for the same train, as they are headed in the same basic direction. * Haruko has a thoughtful look. "Oh, yeah, forgot about those...." [Right before Katie gets on the train, a guy steps in front of the doors. He's very dirty, wearing a ragged brown trenchcoat and clothes. He's missing teeth, and looks frantic.] And then there's the phone call I got- Don't go! Don't go! Can't you see? It's a disaster! It's all a disaster! * Katie blinks. "What's wrong?" They come! They come and devour! You don't understand! * Haruko stares at the crazy man. Who are they? So many and so few! Agh! * CrazyHobo grabs at his head. Then he looks at the girls and takes a step forwards. "They'll come for you too." * CrazyHobo raises his hands and grinds his teeth. "It's all there! I can see it! Can't you?" * Haruko grabs Katie's arm and backs up a few paces. Wait, wait. Who are they? * Katie doesn't move and shakes her head slightly at Haruko. ... no. No! They don't want to know! Nobody wants to! * Haruko stops. "We want to know, we just don't understand you." * CrazyHobo grabs hold of Katie's shoulders and shakes her. "Don't you understand?! It's more complicated than the complications!" * CrazyHobo is suddenly shoved aside by a big, tough looking guy. "Hey, leave the girl alone, you freak." * CrazyHobo gets up and runs from the station! * Katie is shaken, but puts her hands on the Hobo's shoulders. "Calm down. Maybe if-" She blinks as he breaks free and runs, then turns to the voice. * CrazyHobo is now known as Ken * Katie stares. "Ken?" * Haruko glances at Katie. "Thank you, oh...." * Ken dusts off his hands. "Stupid freak. Are you oh---" He stops when he sees who it is. "Oh." Yeah, 'oh'. Going to say sorry for helping me out now, because I'm a gaijin and don't deserve it? I thought he was bothering you, but maybe I made a mistake. Was he your boyfriend? * Haruko glares at Ken. "You tried to do the right thing, why ruin it?" * Katie grins. "What if he was? I don't see why you would care." Who said I did? Hmph. Really, I've never seen him before. * Katie grins wider. "I appreciate your concern." * Haruko ends her harsh look and smiles, but stays quiet. * Ken rolls his shoulders and cracks his neck. "Well, I'd better not keep my girlfriend waiting." He heads towards the station exit, but pauses just before the stairs. "Luckily for me, she's not an ugly hobo." * Ken leaves! That was, strange. Did that man act like the drug addicts you've encountered before? Hmm? No. * Katie turns and gets on the train. "The drug addicts all liked attacking me on sight. * Haruko looks puzzled and gets on the train. [Katie and Haruko have their own private car!] Think he was an Arcana then? It could just be a bizarre coincidence, but I doubt it. * Katie settles into a chair. "And the guy who chased him off was Ken, who hates me because I'm prettier than he is. Or because I'm gaijin." * Katie nods. Actually, I think he is. Or could be. ( He hates you 'cause you're a PC and he's not. ) Ken is, too. I don't think he knows, though. And if he does, I don't think he knows I am. (He's just jealous.) * Haruko keeps standing, the better to pace. "That's probably for the best, given how Arcana tend to treat other known Arcana." [The door closes, and the train is on its way!] But, maybe you should chaange the venue of your date. It sucks to let crazy people and cards rule your life, but for now... I don't know. Taro said he wants to go to Tokyo Tower, and you know Taro... or maybe you don't. [a horn blows as another train passes parallel to yours, going the opposite direction.] * Haruko shakes her head, "Actually no, I don't, aside from him being in one of those sword clubs." If you like I could hang around the tower. I do want to see the upside down world. Although that wind thing you can do is better than anything I could offer. * Haruko sighs and paces up and down the car for a bit, not particularly phased by the raddling of the train. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6) and gets 4. * Katie shrugs. "Well, what I meant was that Taro isn't very... assertive or anything. And he said he wants to go to Tokyo Tower. Him saying he wants to do anything is different and, well, he seems to really want to give it a try." [As another train passes, time seems to slow down just long enough for Haruko to see a man in the other train through a window. Though she hadn't known him long, she could swear it was Jiro. She could also swear that he was staring straigh at her as the cars past. And there's something about his eyes that makes him seem very different from how he was before.] [But in reality, it's only for an instant, and then the other train speeds by.] * Haruko nods, "Yeah, being assertive is definately worth encouraging. Shame it isn't practical to just explain the situation for him." * Katie sighs. No, it's not. Though if... well. * Katie blushes a little. "I might tell him eventually anyway. If things work out, I mean." * Haruko double takes at the passing train. "I could of sworn I just saw Jiro on that train. Sorry to interrupt, go on." * Katie blinks. Jiro? Really? * Katie looks out that window, but the train's gone now. [Long gone :P] I haven't seen him since the whole... Meimi thing. Yeah, I only really spent a little time with him, so I'm not sure, but he looked different, and as if he was watching us. Probably just my imagination though. * Katie blinks. [And it was moving so fast that it should have been impossible for Haruko to single Jiro out, anyhow. But she thinks she did.] * Katie chuckles a little. You do know, Haruko, that even if it was just your imagination it's probably important anyway. * Haruko giggles. "I'm afraid you're probably right. At least that was probably far too subtle for Meimi." ^^ [Katie sees a slinkey on the chair. It says "You betcha."] Now, if I were Meimi, I'd be much more direct. * Katie eyes the slinkey. "Hello." * Slinkey bows. "Good day, ma'ams." So, you were saying? * Haruko glances back again and then instinctually bows. "Hello, uh, slinkey- san." Nothing, really. Just killing time. Speaking of which, I've got an appointment with the teapot. Toodles. * Slinkey vanishes! Well, at least we'll never have to question what we're missing by not taking drugs. No. My life has turned into a giant acid trip. ( Nah. You haven't met the Mad Hatter yet. ) (The Mad Hatter was mad due to mercury lining in the hats and his creator smoking too much opium.) * Haruko nods whistfully. "Anyways, I don't like not being able to really talk to my parents about this, we're close and I rarely hide things from them. It has to be far worse in a relationship." (Huh, I always figured it was something in the tea. ^^ ) Such things are built on trust after all. At least we have our merry band so that we don't have to be alone in this.... * Haruko suddenly looks pensive, and then frowns. Is something wrong? No, wait. What's wrong? I haven't trusted you guys with one bit of information, and today reminded me how quickly that could become a problem. * Katie blinks. What? * Haruko leans against a pole and closes her eyes. ( "I'm really a guy" ) (Wow, that almost beats really being an illusion. ;P) ( "Well, that would explain why the computer guy hit on me and Kyon" ) OK, I'm gonna be a bit oblique, I don't like talking about this and... * Haruko briefly smiles. "The slinkey may be listening." * Katie chuckles. As you noticed, you and Satoshi weren't the only ones to have, ummm, difficulties, at Tokyo Disney. ( Yeah, the poor GM had difficulties, too ;_; ) * Katie nods. (Heh.) ( Yeah, I think its time the PCs worry more about the GM then their petty problems. ^^ ) ( ;_; ) You may have also noticed that I lost it when we first met Remi. Actually, I did. It's not my place to pry, though. I appreciate that, but I need someone to know in case it happens in a real disaster. * Haruko loses any trace of a smile. "Aside from the fighting, can you think of anything those two situations had in common? And don't say it out loud please." * Katie nods. "Yes, I can." * Haruko looks slightly better. "Good. It's something I can't really handle, and it can make it hard to help at times. Worse yet, it may cloud by people sense towards someone a bit." * Katie smiles faintly. I understand. I'm the same way. * Haruko opens her eyes. "Good, please be discrete, and if you want to know why I'm like this ask Chikako, she'll doubtless know." I don't think its just fear, I may be particularly vulnerable. But then, I'm not rational about this by definition. * Haruko lies down on a bank of chairs, stretching and letting out tension. * Katie watches. "I can guess. It'll be okay." Thanks, with trust I should be able to deal better. But trusting this someone has been a slow process. * Katie nods, then smiles more fully. "It's all right." * Haruko then squirms to a seated position. "And perhaps, we can move to a happier topic. I believe that slightly unkempt man was telling us we're all going to die." * Katie laughs. * Haruko grins, slightly maniacly, then dropping to her standard cheery expression. Of course he was. He might be right. Really, I think it has something to do with a phone call I got last night. Yeah, I forgot about that. Who called you? I don't know. * Haruko tilts her head. "Oh?" * Katie folds her hands behind her head and leans back to look at the ceiling. "But it has something to do with our condition." * Haruko giggles nervously, "But then what doesn't lately. Sorry, go on." There was a lot of static. I'm surprised I managed to pick out anything. * Haruko nods. * Katie looks back to Haruko and holds up four fingers. "Four words, in this order. Black, and then static. Cards, and then more static. I think the third was 'coming', but I can't be for sure, and right after that was my favorite. Judgement." * Haruko furrows her brow. Does black mean anything in Tarot? I don't think so. I'll check, though. I wonder if it would be possible to trace the call. Though it would probably either not register or just be some street person's favorite public phone. * Katie chuckles. Good question. Too bad I don't have caller ID. * Haruko smiles. "We should have Kaede break into the phone companies records, ideally via a highly complicated conspiracy with provisions made for at least two double-crosses." * Katie laughs. That comes standard, Haruko. Oh you mean I don't too many spy movies? Good! ^_^ But, frankly I couldn't understand a message like that even if it was in Shinto terminology, and I've been dealing with that stuff my whole life. Shinto terminology? Really? Yeah, my Dad's a priest, a couple of the other temple maidens try to dabble in divination. They always can tell my future involves cars, but I'm just not impressed. ^^ I'm content just to pray for health and good fortune, and try to handle whatever comes my way as best I can. It's worked up til now. * Katie hmms. "Well, maybe it'll keep working. We need all the help we can get." * Haruko grins. "Don't think I haven't asked for it. I'll bet all these clues and hints of coming disaster will be perfectly clear once its too late to do anything about it. I think it always works that way." At least someone's looking out for us. After all, trying to make us afraid of the future would just be redundant. Heh. Maybe it was Reiji. * Katie frowns a little. That's Kyon's other ally? The one who isn't obviously evil, right? Yes. He vanished a while ago. I may not understand the Terot thing at all, but why is judgement making the good guys vanish? That seems completely backwards! * Haruko rises to her feet, needing to discharge energy from sitting for too long. * Katie considers. Judgement is... mmm... a change. Unlike the Tower, though, it's not supposed to be a violent change. ( It hasn't been very violent ^^ ) * Haruko hangs briefly on the hand holds. Somehow, vanishing without a trace in a peaceful manner doesn't seem remarkably better to me. I like my life! It's not perfect, I have no one to give good chocolate to on valentine's day and my parents won't let me get a vehicle til I graduate, but I'm happy. We don't know what happens after people vanish, though. Or even if it's Judgement making them vanish. * Katie smiles. "That's good. I like my life, too, even if it isn't perfect." [The train travels!] * Haruko hangs on the handrails and briefly glances out the window. "Did anyone ever explain why they thought Judgement was involved? There's some sort of connection to you, but thankfully you're still here." No, they didn't. The connection is Shingo's dream. It looks like both the illusion and the real Shingo got a dream with me being Judgement. And now this call. I assume it sounded nothing like Shingo, not that the real Shingo would even know how to contact you. I- * Katie frowns. "I really couldn't tell." * Haruko grins, "Maybe it was Shingo with a very low quality voice disguiser. But as weird as that would be, it simply seems too mundane." * Katie chuckles. Nothing can be that simple, huh? * Haruko shakes her head. "Only in the workshop." * Katie nods and plays with one of her sleeves a little. * Haruko lets go over the handholds and stands again, having a game of trying to keep standing without using any handholds. * Katie grins as Haruko teeters. "I don't think that's working too well." * Haruko smiles. "Although, the subways have been strange to me before tonight, on occassion I've traveled from one station by way of other stations not on my maps. I've always wondered what would happen if I got off at one of those stations. Good question. * Haruko grabs a hand hold, and then starts again. "Just practicing, maybe I'll be less of a menace to myself and others if I get better at this." Haruko grins widely until she teeters again. * Haruko gives up and sits down, gazing out the window a bit more. * Katie laughs. Maybe if I were a little more adventerous I'd get off on one of those stations with you. But given everything that's been happening... Yeah, we can wait til everything else makes sense, or at least more sense. ^^ * Katie grins. "Right." * Haruko kicks he legs out and leaves them resting on the floor in the center of the car. "For once I don't resent having to take public transportation. I'm just not good enough at driving to be able to sustain a conversation like this." Really? What do you drive? * Haruko blinks, then grins sheepishly. "Racing games mostly, and my Mom occassionally lets me play around in the family car. And I wouldn't be a good mechanic if I let cars or bikes leave the school's autoshop without verifying that they worked." That's most of it, not as much practice as I'd like. * Katie nods and shrugs. "Well, driving age in Japan is... what, eighteen?" * Haruko nods and smiles. "Another year. Don't tell the cops about my illicit driving please!" * Katie grins. "Not unless I tell them about Kyon's, too." * Haruko giggles. "Fair enough, besides, if we rat him out he'd never let us ride." Heh. He doesn't usually offer rides, anyway. * Haruko nods. If I really wanted to, I could probably ride wherever I want to go. All in all though, I think I'm happier having a conscience. Ah, the mechanic club? Yeah, and I ::cough:: have been known to keep track of what students have nice vehicles in the parking lot. ^^ * Katie laughs. Now Haruko, you wouldn't use a boy for his hardware, would you? * Haruko shakes her head, then thinks for a second and shakes her head more vehemently. * Haruko blushes slightly. "I certainly consider wheels a bonus, but I try not to lead people on or manipulate them in ways that don't benefit them." * Haruko giggles slightly, "And we are using hardware in the same sense, right?" Oh, I see. So you'll maniuplate them in ways that *do* benifit them. * Katie smiles innocently at Haruko. "What other sense is there?" * Haruko blushes a bit more. * Haruko is still smiling, despite a bit of embarrassment. "Oh, no other sense. And it doesn't quite so good when you put it that way." Why, Haruko. I'm shocked you'd think I would come up with something like that. I mean, what do you take me for? * Haruko grins sheepishly. She then glances out the window in a manner that despite her best efforts does not seem remotely casual. * Katie laughs. * Haruko just giggles for a bit, giving up on digging her way out of a hole. * Katie stops laughing and just grins. She looks out the window, too. [Session End]