[h2][center][color=BFBFBF]Zenkichi Hasegawa[/color] with Sandalphon[/center][/h2]
[center]The Avenger[/center]
[center]Lvl 7 [color=BFBFBF]Zenkichi[/color] - (51/70) -> Lvl 7 (54/70) [/center]
[center]Word Count: 1,642 words[/center]
[center]Rapport Gained: 3[/center]

While the Seekers piled out of the room housing Spirit Chamber, Zenkichi belatedly realized he'd forgotten one step of the process, shaking his head in annoyance. [i]Can't believe I forgot to do that Striker thing.[/i] The capsule containing the Spirit he'd gotten from Kamek sat in his hands, and just as he was about to step forward to get back into the Spirit Chamber, Sandalphon beat him to the punch. He nodded as he leaned against the wall, waiting to see how she'd come out. 

Geralt, meanwhile, took the time to leave the majority of his legion of Strikers in the 'dugout', resulting in only the Judicator and Monsoon being available for him to call upon until he chose to exchange them later. He did not wait to see what Sandalphon emerged as, leaving as soon as he was done with a nod to the detective.

When Sandalphon emerged from the chamber, Zenkichi's eyebrows climbed. She was actually shorter than he was now, though he knew better than to mention that directly. [color=BFBFBF]"Oh, man, Goldlewis would get a kick out of that."[/color] He joked, giving the archangel a small smile.  [color=BFBFBF]"It looks good. Definitely different from your original look, but also not? I was never really a fashion guy, it's kind of hard to explain."[/color] Chuckling as he reflexively rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, he nodded. [color=BFBFBF]"Forgot something in the chamber, so I hung back a bit. Don't let me keep you, Sandalphon. See you at the meeting?"[/color] 

Naturally, Zenkichi wasn't the only one who noticed the newfound height difference. Having previously looking down on the detective, physically if not metaphorically, Sandalphon now found herself peering upward to meet his gaze, then coolly inspecting his altered form. If anything, his changes seemed more radical than hers. One would be hard-pressed to recognize the man as Zenkichi Hasegawa with his new appearance, and Sandalphon couldn't help but wonder what his daughter would think. Regardless, she still possessed her halo, which technically gave her the edge in height.

"Thank you," the archangel told him after a moment, her pupils briefly becoming stars as she returned his slight smile. Even if she didn't mean to emote more, her increased capacity for expression would be plainly evident. "I believe you look good as well," she added, being a little more direct than her counterpart. "It feels somewhat strange to look up at you now, but I don't mind it. There's something almost...angelic about you. I can only speculate, but perhaps one of your spirits happened to be of holy origin."

She ran her hand through her hair, shifting her weight slightly. For Zenkichi, subconscious displays of awkwardness or discomfort were old hat, but this was something new for Sandalphon. "I did consider going to freshen up, but I do not mind you keeping me for a moment longer, if something concerns you. I could assist you in recovering what you lost?"

[i]Oh, that's adorable[/i] Zenkichi thought as Sandalphon's eyes transformed into stars for a moment when she replied to him, and a little bit of blush snuck through, even on his now-darkened skin, when she complimented him directly. Conflicting memories flashed for a moment, before being blinked away at Sandalphon's comment about sensing something angelic in him. 

[color=BFBFBF]"Could be. Can be hard to tell with the Spirits, but one of the ones I fused with definitely seemed to have something like that going on."[/color] He replied, nodding slightly. When she offered to help him find whatever he had lost, he shook his head. [color=BFBFBF]"Ah, not quite like that. I traded with Kamek for a Spirit, and wanted to bind it to be a summon like some of the others have. Nothing too important, but figure'd I'd get it out of the way before breaking the news to Akane that I look nothing like her father anymore."[/color]

Frowning slightly, Sandalphon nodded as she realized her misunderstanding. Still, she wasn't about to move on just yet. Though Zenkichi mentioned the dissonance in an off-handed way, she was determined not to let that slide. Her sense of humor might be highly limited, but she knew that humans didn't just make jokes to make others laugh; they also sometimes joked to mask pain or misgivings. If she couldn't help out in one way, maybe she could lend a hand in another

"I see. If you're concerned, you could always try a different methodology of spirit usage. After observing the Koopa Troop, I am confident in my ability to correctly utilize the device they referred to as 'the Snaktivator' to localize spirit mutations to certain body parts. While our objective demands that we strive for more power, I believe it prudent that we endeavor to preserve what is important to us."

Zenkichi paused for a few moments, thinking it over, before nodding softly. [color=BFBFBF]"That's...a good point. Kamek did a quick demonstration on it, but I guess with how hectic everything was, it didn't occur to me to ask about it. Might be a good idea to track them down and see if I can get a redo...though I'll probably do that after the meeting if I do. Thanks, Sandalphon."[/color] Smiling more fully and gratefully, he turned his head over to the Spirit Chamber again. 

[color=BFBFBF]"Definitely still planning to bind that summon, though. As long as we don't do more than two, shouldn't affect anything, at least."[/color] He added. [color=BFBFBF]"I'll see you at the meeting, Sandalphon. Thanks. For everything you've done for us. For me."[/color]

The archangel bowed her head, her halo dipping slightly as she did. "You're welcome, please think nothing of it." She paused for a second, considering her phrasing. [i]Did[/i] she want Zenkichi to think nothing of it...? After a beat, though, she straightened up and gave him a tentative wave. "Goodbye for now." Then she turned to go, headed toward the showers. Though uneventful and less efficient than Sandalphon might hope, this exchange struck her as a positive interaction, and if trivial talks like this continued she couldn't imagine herself being too displeased. Her conversations with Zenkichi, Pit, Geralt, and the others had been highlights of her journey as a Seeker thus far. Hopefully, by the time the looming meeting concluded, none of them would think less of her.

After Sandalphon was gone, Zenkichi entered the Spirit Chamber and activated it once again.

[hider=For Zenkichi]
New Striker Spiritbound
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/pkOHZSj.png]Sosha[/url][/b]
A spear-wielding dragoon with a wind affinity, fiery spirit, and short cooldown. She can attack with her polearm, performing rapid stabs or a lunging stab, or perform a high jump followed up a plunging thrust that pierces defense to deal serious damage if she managed to land it. Additionally, she can be summoned to grab and carry her host prior to a landing, which will negate fall damage.[/hider]

He didn't feel very different once it was done, but he did feel [i]something[/i], so he wasn't terribly concerned about it. He'd have to ask the others how they did it. With his business concluded here, he left the Spirit Chamber’s room and headed to the bunk area where he’d left Akane before, shooting her a text to let her know he was on his way. 

Peaking his head into the room she was in, Zenkichi called out to his daughter. [color=BFBFBF]”Don’t freak out, it’s me. I fused with a couple Spirits, though, so…sorry about that. I know I look a lot different.”[/color] Stepping into the room fully, he rubbed the back of his head with his hand. [color=BFBFBF]”How’s Maru?”[/color]

“Holy crap, dad, you’re dark! And tall!” Akane shot out of the sofa she was sitting on, eyes wide as she looked at her father. “I’m sure Sandalphon was happy about that.” She snarked, turning away a little and folding her arms. So much was changing, and she hated it so much. Even if this ship was kind of cool, she was starting to understand why her father buried his head in the sand a bit. This was all so much, and she couldn’t do anything to help! Unless…she used her streaming skills? 

“Umm, forget about her, actually, dad. Do you remember back when we lived in Japan, how I did that Phantom Thief streaming?” She hated talking about her obsession with the Phantom Thieves with her father, or at least she used to, until he tried being a good dad again. Kind of. 

[color=BFBFBF]”Uh, yeah, I do. Why?”[/color] He asked, ignoring the comment about Sandalphon. It couldn’t have been easy for her, so he didn’t let it bother him.

“Well, I wonder if they have anything like that here? Like, to get people to rise up and fight back! Like the Phantom Thieves did with their calling cards!” Akane’s hands where held up to her chest, determination plainly visible in her eyes. 

Chuckling, Zenkichi shrugged. [color=BFBFBF]”Dunno, but propaganda is pretty powerful. We could ask the Lost Numbers at the meeting if they have anything like that. If not, maybe you could put that technical know-how to use with Tora and Poppi. Help them build gadgets or program stuff.”[/color] He didn’t know exactly what went into streaming, but he knew it had to involve a bunch of tech support and troubleshooting. 

“I’m not really a programmer, but I guess?” Akane shrugged. She wasn’t really the engineering type, but if it helped, it helped. “Just lemme know. And, dad? You look…I dunno, kinda weird. But like…cool, too? That’s gonna take some getting used to, so don’t go and turn into a woman like that old grumpy guy did.” Zenkichi chuckled at the mention of Geralt, shaking his head. 

[color=BFBFBF]”Actually, he just turned back into a man a few minutes ago. We got a bunch of Spirits at the carnival and used this weird super-soldier chamber on the ship to fuse with some of them.”[/color] Zenkichi explained, thinking that at least he wouldn’t go fusing with a bunch of female Spirits and risk becoming one himself. [color=BFBFBF]”You good if I head on to the strategy meeting? I can text you when it’s done and we can hang out and look around the ship or something?”[/color] 

Akane actually smiled a little at that, nodding. “Sure, dad. This place is huge.” Nodding, Zenkichi left the bunkroom and made his way to Bridge for the meeting.