Session Start: Sat May 28 15:22:02 2005

<Ked> Last time, on Hunters:
<Ked> The Feral Beast dropped in on an impossible hostage situation at Takeuchi 
Memorial, and much bloody chaos ensued.
<Ked> In the end, there were a bunch of student casualties, and the whole school 
building came down... but the team survived, most of the other Ladies survived, 
most of the bad guys that you saw are dead, and maybe - MAYBE - the team knows 
something more about its enemies.
<Ked> It was a longer-than-usual walk from the school grounds to the Agency, 
what with Leena not cooperating and the need to make sure they were not being 
followed, but they did make it...
<Ked> [Friday, March 5, 2004 - 1450 local time]
<Ked> [Blossom Detective Agency]
<Ked> [session start]
* Secretary gets up from her desk as the team piles in.  "Is everyone okay?"
<LadyMysteria> No. But we'll make it.
* Leena slumps by, silently. She doesn't appear to have heard her.
* Rin walks in, carefully in the middle of everyone, and taking care not to look 
at anyone. In fact, she seems to be using her hair as a veil to hide her face by 
simple expedient of hanging her head, and has the Tessen hidden in her uniform 
jacket somewhere. She says nothing.
* LadyNightshade hasn't said anything to anyone since leaving the school 
building. She walks with her arms crossed and a depressed look slowly creeping 
farther and farther into that of anger.
* LadyMysteria looks like hell, caked blood on her thigh and her eyes a watery 
red. "... let's just get this out of the way. What else do we know?"
<Secretary> ...okay...
* LadyNightshade's school uniform is full of bloody bullet holes although the 
wounds underneath have long since closed. The bullets are still inside though.
* LadyMysteria is quite pointedly not looking at Leena.
* Leena isn't looking at anything but her feet.
<Secretary> Sakura is in the back.  She got here about fifteen minutes ago, 
though she's been on the phone since then.
* Lady_MakeBelieve enters last, still thinking sadly of the Dragon Lord's noble 
sacrifice.
* LadyNightshade doesn't wait for anyone else and just storms inside looking for 
a corner to angrily sulk in.
<PrincessSakura> -on't care what Her Holy Majesty will think when she wakes up, 
we need to protect these people and this is the only defensible point we can 
keep all of them!
* Leena collapses behind the Secretary's desk, hugging her knees.
* LadyMysteria wastes little time in finding Sakura. Noting that she's yelling 
at someone, she waits for her to finish.
* PrincessSakura pulls the phone away from her ear as whoever is on the other 
end squawks back at her and makes a face at the others.
* LadyNightshade half-glares at Sakura waiting for her to get off her phone.
<PrincessSakura> YES!  The families too!  I told you!
* Rin slips into the back room quietly and demurely, and finds a corner of a 
couch to sit in unobtrusively, head bowed so her hair still hides her face from 
the sides.
<PrincessSakura> Squeej will handle that part, and probably me too.  Later.  Now 
if I hear that you're turning any of them away, I swear I will come over there 
and shoot you!
<PrincessSakura> ...okay.
* PrincessSakura slams down the phone.  "Hi!"
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyMysteria> Any other places hit?
<PrincessSakura> No.  Just the school.
* Secretary tries to herd Leena into the back room. "Come on, they're probably 
waiting for you..."
* LadyMysteria sighs, finally sitting down. "How in the world could they have 
just waltzed in like that?! Had they just started spraying crowds, we'd have 
lost a lot more people!"
* Leena doesn't respond to the words, just the herding. She puts up some 
resistance, but not enough to really stop the Secretary.
<PrincessSakura> How did it happen, anyway?
<LadyNightshade> We let it happen...
<LadyMysteria> The clubs got into a huge scuffle, the cops were called, the 
assassins came in as the cops, and people started dying.
<LadyNightshade> We could've done something-- ANYTHING and this wouldn't have 
happened the way it did. Instead we waited for them to come to us.
* LadyMysteria groans. "... Taki's so right. This defensive approach isn't going 
to work, if things like this keep happening..."
* PrincessSakura looks around and blinks.  "Waitaminnit.  What the hell?"
<PrincessSakura> How did... uh... Rin get involved in this?
<LadyNightshade> Who?
* Rin shivers, staring at her hands. Which are flexing like claws, at the 
moment. And seem to have a few drops of water on them.
* LadyNightshade looks at the strange girl on the couch.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Is that the poor girls name?
* PrincessSakura goes over to the girl and starts pulling Rin's hair back out of 
her face.
* Rin flinches, and turns her face away.
<LadyMysteria> Rin saved my life.
* Leena finally enters the room proper, glances around, then heads for the 
kitchen.
<LadyMysteria> He---she came in, Feral. Gave us the break we needed to fight 
them off.
<PrincessSakura> Shhhh... calm down, calm down, Rin.  It's all right.
<LadyNightshade> Wait, this is Darkmoon?
<LadyMysteria> ... apparently so.
* Lady_MakeBelieve doubletakes
<Lady_MakeBelieve> What?
* Rin mutters, not even a whisper, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
<Lady_MakeBelieve> The Dragon King will pay for this!
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Turning our protector against us!
<PrincessSakura> It's not the Dragon King's fault, Haruko, this is just what he 
- she is.
<LadyNightshade> Sorry for what? You saved people's lives today.
* LadyMysteria looks over, hugging herself. "It doesn't matter right now... it's 
small stuff. People are trying to kill us, and they did a rather good job of 
trying this time. And... Haruko, Darkmoon has *always* been like that. You've 
just never seen the Beast."
<LadyMysteria> ... we should've told you, but I suppose it didn't cross our 
minds.
* Rin turns on Haruko, pushing Sakura's hand away from her as she leaps to her 
feat. "THERE IS NO GOD-DAMNED DRAGON KING, YOU STUPID BITCH!" she screams.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Calm down now dear, you've had a terrible shock.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyMysteria> Rin-kun! Not now! Please! Not now!
<Rin> You ATTACKED ME! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGH! *leaps across 
the room, long, manicured fingernails lashing for Make-Believe's throat
* LadyNightshade steps in and catches Rin, holding her back.
* LadyMysteria moves to try and restrain Rin. "NO! C-calm down!"
* PrincessSakura leaps after Rin, tackling her from behind.
* Lady_MakeBelieve steps back concerned.
<LadyNightshade> Holy shit Darkmoon...
<PrincessSakura> Rin, stop it!
* Rin is tackled and restrained, clawing at the ground for a moment before 
pounding her fists into it, and breaking down into sobs.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Sakura, do you think she'll be all right?
* PrincessSakura looks up at MakeBelieve.
<PrincessSakura> ...tell me.  Tell me you didn't really do that!
* LadyMysteria holds on for a bit... then hugs Rin tightly, smoothing her hair 
down a bit. "Shhhh... shhhh..."
<Rin> I hate you. I hate you. I HATE THIS. *buries her face in the most 
convenient surface...which seems to be Mysteria's shoulder...and cries*
* LadyNightshade lets go of Rin, letting Maya hold onto her.
* LadyMysteria simply lets Rin cry, patting her back. "She didn't exactly know, 
Sakura, from the looks of it."
<Lady_MakeBelieve> I attempted to restrain hi..her, while I broke the spell.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Well, not me myself, but the celestial guardian.
<Rin> ...i'll kill her... *whispered, between sobs*
<PrincessSakura> ...spell?  ...sp - you mean you tried to hold down her werewolf 
form!?
<LadyNightshade> Just for future reference, if we're not attacking something, 
you shouldn't either.
<LadyMysteria> No, you will not. You are going to rest and calm yourself and 
settle, Rin.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> It was clearly a creation of evil.  Once the evil controller 
is gone, all of its minions would have come to their senses.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Basic tactics.
* LadyMysteria watches the goings-on evenly. "... Make-Believe. The Beast is 
part of Darkmoon's magical form. It's not evil, it's who she is."
<LadyNightshade> ...
* Rin grits her teeth and screams angrily through them at Make-Believe's 
continued ranting.
<LadyNightshade> Rin, if I can't yell at her, you can't either.
<LadyNightshade> It's just another fucking thing we have to _deal_ with.
<LadyMysteria> Just like I'm a magician and Taki's flavored by her art and you 
by your dreams.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> ... good things don't tear people apart like that.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Good things *protect* people.
<PrincessSakura> Listen to me, Haruko, you have to believe me.  The Feral Beast 
is not evil.  It's simply Rin's - Rinada's ultimate transformation.
* Leena peeks back in, blinking once, then retreating back to the kitchen.
<LadyMysteria> Haruko! We kill people!
* Rin pushes away from Mysteria, and GLARES at Nightshade. "Shut. Up. Shut. Up," 
she turns to Make-Believe, looking like she'll go for her throat at any second, 
"SHUT UP!"
<Lady_MakeBelieve> I don't!
<Lady_MakeBelieve> and I keep telling you all not to either!
* LadyMysteria grits her teeth, then rises to get a gentle grip on Rin again. 
"It's us or them! I've tried a lot of times to restrain them, but when bullets 
are flying, there's no time!"
<LadyNightshade> Sometimes there's no other choice!
<Lady_MakeBelieve> There is ALWAYS another choice!
* Leena then walks out, going for the door while they're all dealing with Rinada 
and Haruko.
<LadyMysteria> What else could we have done in the gym? Die?
<Lady_MakeBelieve> I told you, take out the controller and the controlled will 
return to their senses!
* Rin pulls against Mysteria's grip, fighting herself as much as the transformed 
girl, still glaring death at Make-Believe. Her teeth are even bared and clenched 
tightly.
* Secretary is at the door, blocking Leena's path.
* LadyNightshade stops Leena. "Hey, you're going to get your turn too. Now just 
sit down."
<LadyMysteria> ... there is no controller when people believe in something in 
their hearts so much that they'll die for it.
<LadyNightshade> ...
* Leena doesn't hear Nightshade. And seeing her way blocked, simply turns around 
back to the relative seclusion of the kitchen.
<LadyMysteria> It's not as simple as finding the magical evil source and 
breaking it. These are people!
<LadyMysteria> Who believe in the Emperor! Enough to kill innocent people!
<LadyMysteria> It's not magic, it's zeal!
<Lady_MakeBelieve> The Emperor is the DRAGON KING!
<Lady_MakeBelieve> OF course!
<LadyNightshade> There is no fucking Dragon King.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> A position of power, easy access to servants.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> It's all coming together now.
* PrincessSakura glances at Mysteria strangely, but looks back to MakeBelieve.
* LadyMysteria twitches, and looks ready to snap.
* Rin freezes, and seemingly calms down. "Haruko..."
<Lady_MakeBelieve> We have to tell people about this.
* LadyMysteria doesn't let go, but her fingers dig into Rin's back.
<PrincessSakura> There is probably a source of evil, Haruko.  But in this case, 
it probably isn't a monster.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Once they know his deception his spell will be broken.
* Rin wrenches herself in Mysteria's grip, trying to break out, and advances a 
step towards Make-Believe.
* LadyNightshade moves back towards Rin preparing to stop her if she has to.
* LadyMysteria doesn't let go. Even though she looks willing to do just what Rin 
is, and is thus dragged along somewhat.
<Rin> You. Do. Not. Insult. The Chosen. of Heaven. 
<Rin> THIS. is not. a FUCKING MANGA. *advances another step*
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Snap out of it, you don't need to be under his spell!
* LadyNightshade looks at Sakura. "Can you just order her to shut up? This isn't 
helping..."
<Lady_MakeBelieve> And this isn't the real emperor, he's obviously been 
replaced.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> The real emperor would never do something like that.
<LadyMysteria> Haruko, clam up until we can form some sort of plan.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> That's what I'm trying to work on.
* LadyMysteria puts as much Ordering as she can behind her words. And speaks 
softly, flatly, trying to contain herself.
* Rin pulls out the Tessen. "Let me go, Mysteria. I do not want to kill you, 
too."
* PrincessSakura grimaces, and gets in Rin's way.
* Leena transforms- a bright flare of rainbow light emits from the kitchen.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> She's obviously under some sort of spell.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> She wouldn't threaten her teammates otherwise.
* LadyMysteria doesn't let go. "Rin, sit down. Haruko, shut up and sit down. 
Everyone, sit DOWN!"
* LadyNightshade sits.
<Rin> You're no teammate of mine! YOU ATTACKED ME! *wrenches in Mysteria's grip 
again*
<LadyMysteria> We can bicker and scream all we want, but we're recovering from 
the worst day of our lives here!
<LadyMysteria> The spats can wait! We have a goddamned job to do!
* PrincessSakura blinks as she fights off the urge to sit down.  "You're getting 
good at that, Maya."
* Rin shivers again, grinding her teeth.
* LadyMysteria actually starts tugging Rin back from Haruko. "After we have a 
plan, you can do whatever. I don't care. We need to do our job first."
* Lady_MakeBelieve sits down and doesn't say anything else.
* Rin fights being tugged, not moving.
* LadyNightshade looks up at Sakura. "Why do these men think we're trying to 
replace the Emperor?"
* LadyMysteria moves around and looks Rin in the eyes. "... please. Just sit. 
For now, for me. Alright?"
<PrincessSakura> ...they think that?
<LadyMysteria> Apparently so.
<LadyNightshade> That's why they've been trying to kill us.
<LadyNightshade> Is this what that little secret you couldn't tell us is?
<LadyMysteria> Like I said, zeal. And the Ningyo are probably just capitalizing 
on that.
* Rin looks back into Mysteria's eyes, a hot seething rage boiling in her own. 
"Y-yes, my Lady--" her eyes widen, horrified once more, at the sound of her own 
voice, and she turns away, dropping the Tessen and moving back over to a seat, 
where she huddles in on herself once more, body shaking slightly.
* LadyMallet lets out a loud, choked sob. And stalks out of the kitchen, this 
time in full MG uniform. She again heads for the door.
<LadyNightshade> Someone order Mallet to sit down and wait her turn please.
* LadyMysteria watches Rin for a bit. "Leena, get in here."
* Rin doesn't move. Somehow, she manages to keep her legs curled under her, 
modestly, while curling into a ball that excludes the rest of the room.
* LadyMallet blinks, and looks back at Mysteria, glaring hot death at her. She 
then gives her the finger.
<LadyMysteria> GET IN HERE!
* LadyMysteria is practically turning red at this point. "Your cowardice can 
wait!"
* LadyMallet stops, and locks her angry gaze on Mysteria. "... be very very glad 
I can't hear too well what you just called me, you thief."
<LadyMysteria> Coward. I said it. Now sit down. I won't be intimidated by you.
* LadyNightshade nods at Maya.
<LadyMysteria> ... even still. Even still. This is what they want. They want us 
disorganized. They want us angry, lost, confused. And damn it all, it's working. 
We just need to focus...
* LadyMallet cocks her head to the side, and raps the side of her head with her 
knuckles. She singsongs, with a lovely malicious undercurrent to it, "I said, I 
can't hear you.... o/~"
* LadyNightshade looks up at Sakura. "So is this the secret?"
<LadyMallet> All I see is your mouth moving ... and nothing but lies and shit 
coming out, you thief!
<LadyNightshade> Leena, shut the fuck up!
* LadyMysteria turns away from Leena. "Let her go on, let her leave. If she 
can't get past herself to think about what's happening, then I have no time or 
patience for her."
* LadyMallet heads for the door, once again.
* Rin flinches at Mysteria's statement, as if physically struck, and curls up 
tighter. Despite it not being directed at her.
* LadyMysteria doesn't notice, too busy catching her breath and trying to settle 
herself.
<LadyNightshade> Don't bother coming back if you're too chicken shit to own up 
to your own mistakes either. *glares at Leena*
* LadyMallet doesn't notice the glare on her back. She dose slam the door, 
though!
<LadyMysteria> ... alright. Let's get to business.
<LadyNightshade> Seriously.
<PrincessSakura> ...
* PrincessSakura snaps back to reality, having been overwhelmed by everything 
going wrong at once.
<PrincessSakura> LEENA, DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE.  *it's an order*
<Secretary> ...she's sitting out here, ma'am.  Is that okay?
<PrincessSakura> ...I suppose.  For now.
<LadyMysteria> ... so. What do we know?
* PrincessSakura looks back at Mysteria. "Thief?"
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyNightshade> Who knows...
<LadyMysteria> As far as I can tell, Leena was either crushing on Rin, or more.
* LadyNightshade sighs and leans back, looking up at the ceiling.
<PrincessSakura> ...oh.
<LadyNightshade> That is so stupid.
* LadyMysteria exhales, sitting down next to Rin. "It can wait. It can all 
wait."
<PrincessSakura> Unfortunately, yes.
<PrincessSakura> ...so the police came to stop the club riot, but they weren't 
police?
<LadyNightshade> The police came but they weren't enough to stop it, so the SWAT 
was called in. Only, they weren't SWAT.
* LadyMysteria nods. "They herded everyone into the auditorium and gunned down 
Oldman, then started on about the Emperor and our kind."
* PrincessSakura makes "go on" gestures.
* Rin curls up tighter.
<LadyNightshade> If I wasn't so goddamn distracted with Leena and her crap I 
should've called you or Morioka or someone to make sure they were legit.
<LadyMysteria> ... poor Oldman.
<PrincessSakura> Why would you have thought they weren't legit?  Sounds like 
they were needed...
* LadyMysteria shakes her head. "Anyway... they called me up, told me to tell 
what I knew or die. The Beast showed, and the battle was on. Oh... the bomb."
<LadyNightshade> There was a girl, she was a friend of mine, I had a feeling she 
was a magical girl but I couldn't find her before the riot... They killed her 
first when she transformed in front of everyone...
* LadyNightshade chokes back a tear.
<LadyNightshade> The whole thing was stupid.
<PrincessSakura> Erm.  Called you... just randomly, or do you think they knew?
<LadyNightshade> It was the perfect opportunity to invite in an attack.
<LadyNightshade> We should've seen it coming.
<LadyNightshade> If we had any sort of answers... obviously something happened 
to invite all this.
<LadyMysteria> Randomly. Lucky for them, I guess.
<LadyNightshade> Or unlucky I guess. *looks at Rin*
<PrincessSakura> Mmm.  Luck does weird things around us.
<PrincessSakura> Rin, why were you there?
<Rin> ...
* PrincessSakura gently puts a hand on Rin's knee.
<PrincessSakura> Come on, it has to be a good story...
<Rin> K-kendo *flinch at hand-on-knee* club. Demonstration. --oh gods, are Sora-
kun and Natsuki-san okay? Did they get out!? *looks up, eyes wide and face 
streaked with tear-tracks*
* PrincessSakura looks at Maya.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyMysteria> I don't know. There's no telling how many girls they've killed 
until they go through the wreckage.
<PrincessSakura> I'm not sure how we could find out today... maybe if you try 
calling them later...
<Rin> ...Kenta would have gotten them out.
* LadyMysteria purses her lips. "... Sakura. How's the Palace taking this, aside 
from poorly?"
<PrincessSakura> Poorly.  Yeah.
<LadyNightshade> Sakura... About what they said...
<PrincessSakura> Hmm?
<LadyNightshade> What you couldn't tell us before... Is it about replacing the 
Emperor?
<PrincessSakura> ...no ...yes ...ah, not *really*.
<LadyMysteria> ... is there some truth to their concerns, Sakura?
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyNightshade> Why?
<LadyMysteria> Please, please say no.
<PrincessSakura> I mean, it's just not like that!
<LadyNightshade> Is this why you wouldn't let us talk to the Queen?
<PrincessSakura> I wouldn't let you go to the Queen with this because it would 
get you and me in trouble for no good purpose.
<LadyMysteria> But now we're going to have to speak with her anyway, one way or 
another.
<LadyNightshade> It might've saved peoples lives today!
<LadyNightshade> This is obviously why they've been targeting us!
<PrincessSakura> How?  This is all very someday-maybe-we-can stuff.
<LadyMysteria> Even if we can't... we're crippled until we can find a way to 
strike them back and force them to backpedal.
<LadyNightshade> They obviously know about it.
<LadyNightshade> We need to know everything that happened so we can find who was 
wronged where so we can put a stop to it!
<PrincessSakura> If they knew about "it" they wouldn't have that reaction!
<LadyNightshade> Then what is "it"?!
<PrincessSakura> Or... maybe.  If they were reactionary, fundamentalist 
assholes.
<LadyNightshade> ... DUH!
<LadyMysteria> What she's been ordered not to talk about. And from the sounds of 
things, that's what they are.
<LadyNightshade> You don't just start killing girls because you're a calm, 
rational thinker!
* Rin forces herself to uncurl, legs demurely together, sitting up straight, 
hands folded in lap, and expression calm, save for the gritted teeth and lines 
of stress around her eyes. "Tell us, please, Princess Sakura," her voice, too, 
is quiet. Very tight, but quiet, and forcibly polite.
<PrincessSakura> ...just a second.
* PrincessSakura pulls out her phone.
<PrincessSakura> ... ... ...yeah, it's Sakura.  Is Her Majesty awake yet?
* LadyNightshade face reddens as she tries to calm herself down enough to speak 
rationally.
<PrincessSakura> May I?  Thank you.
* LadyMysteria takes a deep breath, looking towards Rin.
<PrincessSakura> ... ... ...yes, hello.  No, I'm okay.
* LadyNightshade just watches Sakura while she thinks things over.
* Rin stiffly gets up, picks up her Tessen, and returns to her seat, where she 
unfolds it in front of her face, just barely peering over it.
<PrincessSakura> Uh huh.  Uh huh.  Good, Squeej knows what needs to be done.  
Yes... my Queen, there are certain steps I want to take but-
* LadyMysteria listens, looking worn down and more than tired.
<PrincessSakura> ... ... ...even if you've said-  Good.
* PrincessSakura bares her teeth in a feral grin.  "Thank you."  She hangs up.
<LadyNightshade> So?
<LadyMysteria> Hm?
* PrincessSakura puts her hands together in her lap and cants her head as she 
does her best impression of the Queen.  "Sakura, I don't care what you have to 
do - get these people."
<LadyMysteria> ... thank you.
<LadyNightshade> Excellent.
<PrincessSakura> Indeed.
* Rin nods, hiding any other reaction behind her open fan.
<LadyMysteria> We have the order. Now we need a plan of action.
<PrincessSakura> ...well... that's a bit harder.
<PrincessSakura> The problem is still, who is it?
<LadyNightshade> Let's figure out what our people did first to offend these 
people.
<LadyNightshade> And trace it back from there.
* PrincessSakura sighs.  "It's just not like that."
<PrincessSakura> Look, what you have to understand is the thinking over at the 
Palace.
<LadyNightshade> Something must've happened.
<LadyNightshade> What thinking is that?
<PrincessSakura> In their little world, they are the Queen and her court, and 
the rulers of their own little world.  The chosen ones.
<PrincessSakura> You've met Oak.
* LadyMallet knocks on the door to the room. She softly calls, "... is it okay? 
... to come in?"
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyNightshade> So they want to take over the world?
<PrincessSakura> Leena, if you can behave, get your ass in here.
* LadyNightshade doesn't even look at Leena.
<LadyMysteria> So, basically, there are those who think that us ruling the world 
is in the best interests of their own power and ego.
* LadyMysteria sighs. "I can see that."
<PrincessSakura> Well, they aren't that stupid.  The thinking is that 
eventually, someday, they will rule the world.
* LadyMallet slips in quietly, looking at Rinada for a long moment before taking 
a seat. She's obviously calmer, but no less troubled.
<PrincessSakura> It's just *claps* fate.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyNightshade> That's _not_ why we're here.
<LadyMysteria> Tell that to Oak, and maybe Tiara.
* Rin is not looking much like Rinada, what with the fuku and all. She's also 
hiding behind that fan, still.
<LadyNightshade> We're here to protect people not rule over them.
* Rin snarls a bit at the mention of Tiara.
* PrincessSakura shrugs.  "Who's to say why we're here?  And they may even be 
right, on some levels."
<LadyNightshade> ... No!
<LadyMysteria> But there's the problem that we're vastly outnumbered, and people 
tend to fear what they can't understand.
<LadyMysteria> ... still... mn.
<LadyMallet> ... well, it'll be us or the Ningyo.
<LadyNightshade> You don't think people are going to resist this?
<LadyNightshade> Just because we have abilities doesn't mean we're better than 
anyone else!
<PrincessSakura> Right, and that's all understood there.  They are not going to 
try to take over the world, or the country, or anything.
* Lady_MakeBelieve holds up a sign. "If you want people to believe that, you'd 
better hide Oak"
<LadyMallet> ... that may be true... but because we have them, others will 
believe that.
<LadyNightshade> So then why are you setting someone up to replace the Emperor?
<PrincessSakura> We're not.
<LadyNightshade> Then why do they think we are?
* LadyMysteria mmmns. "There has to be some reason they believe this, yes."
<PrincessSakura> To someone who truly believes in the religious components of 
the mythology surrounding the Emperor, simply the suggestion that there may be a 
monarch of some sort in this country that coexists with him might be enough to 
provoke a reaction.
<LadyNightshade> So what? This is all some big misunderstanding?
<LadyNightshade> That's bullshit!
<LadyMallet> ...
<Rin> Would that the Emperor had a male heir.
<PrincessSakura> No kidding.
<LadyMysteria> Faith can make people do very, very stupid things.
* Lady_MakeBelieve holds up another sign "Why can't we send them after the queen 
of the sea?"
* LadyMallet blinks at the sign.
<PrincessSakura> She calls herself the 'Queen of the Earth' - that's a claim of 
sorts right there, even though it is simply the title the magic has given her.
* LadyNightshade rolls her eyes at the sign. "Tell her she can talk."
<PrincessSakura> Haruko, you can talk if you're not going to provoke Rin.
* Lady_MakeBelieve signs once more "She seems easy to provoke"
<Rin> Is "of the Earth" the true title, or is it simply "earth"?
* Rin ignores Make-Believe.
<Secretary> It seems that the of-the is the true title.  And the Queen of the 
Sea matches it.
<LadyMysteria> Mmmmn. Still... that sort of a force does have a head. But who?
<LadyNightshade> Is there a chance that they're planning something and they just 
haven't let you in on it Sakura?
* PrincessSakura chews on her lip for a second.  "I don't think so."
* Lady_MakeBelieve pulls out a scroll this time, for variety "Is there a Queen 
of the Sky we could ask for help?"
<LadyNightshade> She already told you you can speak. Stop messing around.
<LadyMallet> ...
<PrincessSakura> I mean, there are real preparations for a couple of the 
Princesses to enter politics in a couple of election cycles.  Squeegee is 
leading that, along with the financial matters.
<LadyMysteria> ... that is something to wonder. A Queen of the Stars... or of 
the Sun.
* LadyMysteria then boggles at Sakura. "... you're not kidding, are you."
<LadyNightshade> ... I just don't like this.
<LadyMallet> ... doesn't surprise me, not with all that talk of a PR team.
* Rin murmurs, almost so only Mysteria could hear it, "Rethinking Lady Star once 
more, Lady Mysteria?"
<PrincessSakura> Just two Queens, so far.
* Lady_MakeBelieve points a sign at NS "She gave me permission under a 
stipulation I'm not sure I can meet"
<LadyMallet> Whether or not we're taking over or not, we -are- a organization 
unto our own that needs representation.
* LadyMysteria looks Rin's way and flushes a tad.
<PrincessSakura> Right - we are a group that is defending this country.
<LadyNightshade> It still doesn't mean we should take over...
<LadyNightshade> We're protectors. We're here to serve the people, not reign 
over them.
<Rin> It has ever fallen to the protectors to rule, Nightshade-san.
<LadyNightshade> When? How?
<LadyMallet> ... we might have to take over -to- protect.
<PrincessSakura> We're not going to take over.  It's not on the agenda.  There 
are just some that believe we'll get there someday.  Maybe in future 
generations.
<LadyMysteria> Mn.
<LadyMysteria> For now, though, we fight.
<Rin> The samurai's purpose is to protect his people. 
<LadyMallet> As long as we're on the defensive, we can't protect as well as we 
should.
<LadyNightshade> My father deals with this everyday.
<LadyNightshade> Just because a group has the power to take over, it doesn't 
mean they should!
<PrincessSakura> No disagreement here.
* LadyMallet shakes her head, mulling that over.
<LadyNightshade> If Squeegee is in charge of representing us to the government 
then we should talk to her about who in the government knows what about us. 
That'd be our best lead to who is in charge of all this.
<LadyMysteria> It's just that... maybe it will happen, anyway. Maybe they'll ask 
for us to.
* LadyMysteria sighs. "Just keep me out of all that mess if it does happen."
<PrincessSakura> Mmm.  Mostly she's just done some contacts with the Diet.
<PrincessSakura> Probably worth checking, though.
<Secretary> I'll make an appointment with her.
<LadyNightshade> If not... *goes quiet*
<PrincessSakura> We do need to talk about what's going to happen immediately, 
though.
<LadyMallet> ... immediately?
<Rin> The Emperor's word is law. If we wish to halt this group, we need only 
have him declare us his allies, or under his protection.
<PrincessSakura> Well, yeah.
<LadyMallet> ... we talk to the Emperor.
<LadyMysteria> We're on the defensive. We have to recover.
<PrincessSakura> Rin, that's awfully naive of you.
<PrincessSakura> The Emperor is a figurehead now - he has so little power that 
he can't even set his own schedule.
<Rin> That matters not.
<LadyNightshade> So then what are these people following?
* LadyMallet shakes her head. "Us tucking our heads and hiding is not 
recovering. Recovering will be going on the offensive, or making headway."
<Rin> Sakura-sama, if these men do this out of love for the Emperor, and what he 
once stood for, a declaration from him to this effect would stop them.
<PrincessSakura> He can't even keep the IHA from pestering his wife into 
neurotic fits.
<LadyMallet> ... and if the Emperor's just a figurehead, we can talk to those 
behind him.
<LadyMysteria> That's... the rest of the actual Japanese government.
<Rin> ...such a declaration, properly executed, could make him...what he should 
be.
* LadyMallet sighs. "So? Got a better idea?"
<LadyNightshade> They won't let us anywhere near the Emperor.
<PrincessSakura> Mmm.  Approaching him is so completely insanely hard, 
especially if it is those near him who are behind this.
* LadyMallet smiles a little, the first change in her expression since she came 
back in. "Let?"
<Rin> There are two avenues, Nightshade-san. Yours, and mine. Three, if you 
count Mallet-chan's, but let us not consider that.
<Rin> It would be unwise to provoke open military might against us.
* LadyMysteria shakes her head, slowly.
<PrincessSakura> Any of these are things I would want to run past Her Majesty, 
and Squeej, too.
<LadyNightshade> We need to talk with Squeegee anyway.
* LadyMallet shakes her head. "Force will not be necessary. Just a little 
political request, and our incognito states."
<PrincessSakura> If done wrong... we could cause more problems.
<PrincessSakura> But - back to the immediate problem.
<Rin> Messages gotten to him, and him alone, could be most... persuasive. We 
would have to feel out his thoughts.
<LadyMallet> The school.
* Rin goes silent, nodding to Sakura, as she declares change of subject.
<PrincessSakura> The school, yes.
<PrincessSakura> Why did they raid it?
<LadyMallet> ... because they called it our headquarters, for having the highest 
concentration of Magical Girls.
* Rin flexes her free hand in a claw, and growls, "To die."
<LadyMallet> That they knew about, anyway.
<PrincessSakura> This rather explains what happened - or didn't happen - to Oak, 
doesn't it.
<LadyMallet> ... yeah, it does.
<LadyNightshade> I've should've seen it coming.
<LadyMysteria> ... meh.
* LadyMysteria then pats Rin on the shoulder, lightly.
<LadyNightshade> By the time we were herding into the auditorium I knew-- I just 
KNEW that something was going to happen. But by then there was nothing I could 
do...
<LadyMallet> I think it's pretty obvious that the military group is back by the 
Japanese government, now.
<PrincessSakura> But so they knew that there were a bunch of us going there.
<LadyNightshade> I don't think they had any idea how many of us were there 
though.
<LadyNightshade> Or they would've had more men.
* Rin actually doesn't flinch from Mysteria's pat.
<PrincessSakura> And they're going to know that there are a bunch of us that 
escaped.  Maybe not a hard number, but if they had any observers around, at 
least a general one.
* LadyMallet blanches slightly, then bites her lip. "What about..."
<LadyNightshade> One of the men in the hall disappeared...
<LadyMysteria> What about what?
<LadyNightshade> There were 5 when I went in there. There were 4 that we killed.
* LadyMallet gulps. "The Queen. She can see ... the future, somewhat. Is it... 
possible to use that, set ourselves up to locate their headquarters?"
<LadyNightshade> I don't think she chooses what she sees.
<LadyMysteria> It all seems to be related to us.
<LadyMallet> ... it's triggered. By death. Danger.
<LadyMysteria> Us being her subjects. And... yeah.
<LadyMallet> Can we ... set something up like that?
<PrincessSakura> Yes.
<LadyMallet> Force it to trigger. Get a location or an area.
<PrincessSakura> That's sort of what I was thinking, but not so much to find 
their headquarters as just to draw them out.
<PrincessSakura> If I were them, I'd be investigating all the girls that escaped 
from the school today.
<LadyNightshade> So get them to come after us?
* LadyMallet closes her eyes. "What else do we have? That we can use? The Yakuza 
contact? the knowledge of which military group they are?"
<PrincessSakura> And... let's be honest.  It's not too hard to figure out if a 
given girl is or isn't, IF you can focus on one at a time.
<LadyMallet> ... yeah.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<Rin> I submit myself to aid in this in any way possible. I regret I am not a 
student of that school; they are only likely to fall for me as bait if any of 
those in the locker room survived.
<LadyMallet> ... get them to focus on one. Then illusion them into thinking that 
they're important, know a lot, would be worth interrogating.
<PrincessSakura> Now, all of the others have been evacuated to the Palace, and 
we're going to try to move their families as well.
<LadyMallet> Basically, convince them they're worth capturing alive instead of 
killing outright.
<LadyMysteria> Leena, they seem unwilling to interrogate.
<LadyMysteria> ... and even if that occurred, someone would need to extract them 
quickly, or you're out one capable girl.
* LadyMallet grins, toothily. "A girl can carry a lot of stuff in their 
untransformed state."
<PrincessSakura> And, mostly, I want to pull the rest of you out of the way as 
well.  But I want to leave one in place.
<LadyMallet> Say... bulky body armor, several pounds of suicide explosives, a 
homing beacon...
<LadyMallet> Which, of course, they don't see at all when the girl is 
transformed.
<PrincessSakura> Rin, they won't be looking at you, almost certainly, so you 
don't count.
<LadyNightshade> I'll volunteer myself.
<LadyMallet> I'll volunteer, too.
<LadyNightshade> I have the most skill untransformed.
* PrincessSakura grimaces.
<LadyNightshade> If something were to happen I can deal with it best.
<PrincessSakura> I was thinking that Mina would be the best choice.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Norcliff could follow them. No one ever notices him.
<LadyMallet> If something were to go really wrong I've got the best chance of 
making it out alive.
<PrincessSakura> She's really the best of us in a firefight, and that's the sort 
of attack that seems to be common.
* LadyMallet smirks. "Mallets tough. Mallet in a bulletproof suit and body armor 
would be unstoppable by most normal firearms."
<LadyMysteria> Hm... Mina? Any other reasons?
<PrincessSakura> ...toughness isn't everything.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> They have military forces, they may have non-normal firearms.
<PrincessSakura> She's also got the... best mindset for it.  I think.
<LadyMallet> ... I can also make my own exits.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyMallet> They won't be able to drop me fast enough to keep me from getting 
away, unless they pull out something scary.
<PrincessSakura> Well, that's going to take a little time to work through.
* LadyMallet nods. "It's a plan."
<PrincessSakura> The rest of you need to prepare to move in here.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyMallet> ... I've been ready. I've been staying here enough already.
<LadyNightshade> What about Mitsuko?
<PrincessSakura> Yeah, I know.  But it's just too goddamned exposed out there, 
and we can't afford it.
<LadyMysteria> ... what do I tell my parents?
<LadyMallet> ... the truth.
<PrincessSakura> Mitsuko can come along if she wants.
<LadyMallet> Lies won't serve us at all.
<PrincessSakura> Yeah, truth is good.  The press reports are going to say that 
Ladies were the target, so...
* LadyMallet glares at Rin for a moment.
<PrincessSakura> At some point, there's just no denying it.
<LadyMallet> It hurts when the truth comes out too late.
<PrincessSakura> That's another reason why I want to use Mina - her place is the 
closest to here.
<PrincessSakura> Rin, you won't move.  I'm going to hope your cover is still 
good.
<LadyMysteria> ... alright.
* LadyMysteria nods. "I hope they take it well."
<LadyMallet> ... well, keep in mind that I'm more than willing to deliver 
justice on their sorry asses.
<Rin> Yes, Sakura-sama. *flinched at Leena's statement*
<LadyNightshade> So... tonight?
* PrincessSakura sighs.  "Well, we'll have to arrange for tutors anyway, for the 
Palace, so it shouldn't be too hard to get one here."
<LadyNightshade> What about you Sakura?
<PrincessSakura> I already have other arrangements.
<LadyNightshade> At the Palace?
<LadyMysteria> ... everything's changing so fast.
* PrincessSakura grimaces.  "For now, though I'm working on that."
<LadyNightshade> You could stay here with us...
<LadyNightshade> It'd be like we were a team again...
<LadyMallet> ... tutors?
<PrincessSakura> It'll be cramped with four or five.  Adding me... it's just a 
bad idea.
<LadyMallet> ... get Ms. Sakamura if you can.
<PrincessSakura> Tutors.  Yes, you still need an education.
<PrincessSakura> And if you're hiding, we can't very well make you go to school.
<Rin> Were I our enemy, I would find where all the girls who have left home 
after this incident went, and destroy it. 
* LadyMysteria chuckles. "... yeah. I'd like to think of this as a long 
vacation, but..."
* LadyMallet nods. "Ms. Sakamura... well. She's too interested in us Hunters 
specifically. It'd be a bad idea to leave her out loose. I think."
<Secretary> I'll work up an itinerary.
<PrincessSakura> Mmm.  If you think she may know something, I'll look into 
drafting her.
* LadyMallet shakes her head. "I don't think so. I know so. ... especially after 
the ... school."
<PrincessSakura> A lot of people will probably put pieces together.
* LadyMallet sighs, and looks down. "I would really appreciate it if you did get 
her. And I think she would too."
* PrincessSakura sighs and looks around.  "I need to get moving soon - my 
district needs to meet too, to discuss precautions."
<LadyMysteria> Alright, Sakura. Be safe... and thank you.
<PrincessSakura> Is there anything I can arrange for you?
* LadyMallet blinks. "Sakura... be careful. I know... it might be dangerous to 
stop by here if they start looking... but if you can, stop by, okay?"
<LadyNightshade> ... Can I get a gun too? I think we all should.
* LadyMallet grins a little. "Yeah. A motorcycle."
<PrincessSakura> I'll try.  Um... I'll think about transportation.  And guns, 
sure.
<LadyMallet> Protective gear, too.
<PrincessSakura> Taki... could you - and Mitsuko, if she'll help - do some 
covert sweeps of the neighborhood here for observers?  Don't engage them if you 
spot any, but... you know...
<LadyMallet> I know you go on and on about how ineffective it might be, but if 
push comes to shove and we're under attack -here-, we'll want it.
<LadyNightshade> Sure.
<LadyNightshade> I could get more help too, I'm sure. ... If we need it.
* LadyMysteria looks over towards Rin again, then falls silent.
<PrincessSakura> No, I think that's a bad idea Taki.  We need to handle this 
ourselves.
* Rin doesn't meet Mysteria's glance, hiding a bit more behind that fan.
<LadyNightshade> ... Should I talk to my dad more about who hired them? I think 
if I pressed a little we might at least get a name and number.
* PrincessSakura walks over to Rin, and hugs the girl, and whispers to her.
<LadyMallet> ... we need to make arrangements with -our- families.
<LadyMysteria> ... Rin?
<LadyMysteria> We... should talk, later on. Alone.
<LadyMallet> ... ne, Sakura, is there any chance of faking a death for some of 
us? Ya'know, say we died at the school?
* Rin stiffens at the hug, surprised and...uncomfortable. And wipes a tear from 
her face angrily as she whispers something back.
<Rin> ...I am sorry, Maya-chan. *looks down, squeezing her eyes shut*
* PrincessSakura lets go of Rin, and looks around.
<LadyMallet> ... if they're going to be looking into survivors, the ones who 
didn't survive should be safe, yeah?
<PrincessSakura> Um.  That's... true?
<LadyMallet> ... so, if to everyone else we didn't survive...
<PrincessSakura> The thing is, the building wasn't so massive that they won't 
recover virtually all the bodies.
<LadyMallet> ... bribe the coroners, put in fake bodies.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> Could the tessen make bodies?
<PrincessSakura> Bribing leaves a trail.
<LadyMallet> ... well, it's an idea. I can't figure out how to make it work, 
though.
* LadyMallet sighs, and slumps.
<LadyMysteria> ... we'll talk later, Rin. For now... I'm tired, and I need to 
cry.
<PrincessSakura> If you get your families to say you're missing, that works.  
But... it would be a bad thing to really try to fake your deaths.
<LadyMallet> ... that might work.
* Rin doesn't respond to Make-Believe's question, still staring at her lap, her 
fan hiding her face. And she flinches at Mysteria's statement. "...I-- I am so 
sorry, Maya-ch- chan. So very, very sorry..."
<PrincessSakura> Haruko, we need to talk sometime soon.
<PrincessSakura> But... not now.  I'll see you all...
<LadyMallet> ... yeah. So do me and... *she narrows her eyes* Rin.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> When?
* Rin flinches, again, at Mallet's statement.
* PrincessSakura pulls out her phone and is talking to Anzu before she gets out 
the back door.  "Get Squeej.  Don't care what she's doing, I need-"
<LadyNightshade> ... Bye Sakura.
<LadyMysteria> It's more than you. It's everything.
* LadyMysteria curls up and hugs her knees, going quiet.
* Secretary also gets on the phone, to coordinate various thingses.
* LadyMallet lets out a deep breath as Sakura leaves, and looks at Maya for a 
moment. "... Maya. I also want to talk to you. ... but I need to talk to Rin 
first. Okay?"
<Ked> [session end]