Hero

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

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The faculty meeting was generic and dull as always. A return to form meant relearning the same things they normally did every year with little variation. Despite the shiny new coat slapped onto the building, it was painfully superficial and a topic most of the adults had the wisdom to avoid talking about too much. The excess of wealth thrown around felt largely unneeded, but with a majority of the structural issues solved with a bulldozer, there wasn't much point in complaining too much.

Eventually, there was a brief lull, and several teachers grouped up to have separate discussions. Suzuki let out a tiny sigh, rubbing her temples as she took advantage of the break and looked over her lesson plans. She would have liked to skip the meeting altogether--she swore these things could be summed up and better retained in an email--but working together as a team after a tumultuous end was what it was all about. At the very least the media stopped coming around, even if she was sure that the mother of one of the victims of the case was bound to pop up sooner or later. Not that she blamed her; closure was difficult to attain and the police reports did little to convince her of her daughter's fate.

At that point Taniguchi approached her, taking the open seat next to hers. "I was hoping to speak with you a moment, Suzuki-san," He spoke apologetically but went straight to his point. "I heard about the mishap that occurred in your homeroom. yesterday."

"Ito Maki's graffiti?" She asked.

"You already know the culprit?"

"Nakano-san's not very popular, but the students recognized Ito was in the wrong this time," She replied, closing her notebook. "Some of them quietly informed me of what happened since the evidence was gone. I was planning to bring this up to you and Wada afterward."

"I appreciate the initiative," He replied. "The things young people do...it was a shame, I was told Ito's talents would have put her on a good path. But a rotten apple spoils the bunch."

"Pushing back too hard could also result in good intentions backfiring," She pointed out. "I was considering referring her to Counselor Miyamoto, but I'm not sure how effective that would be."

Taniguchi fell silent as he watched Suzuki for a moment. After some contemplation, he shifting forward in his seat. "It's shown that having good peers to surround the troublemaker proves to be a good thing. Why not have her join Nakano's council?" He asked.

Suzuki's eyebrows shot up. That sounded like a terrible idea. For one, such a punishment would more likely result in sabotage than anything. And for another, it was up to them to correct Ito's behavior, wasn't it? "The council isn't a disciplinary committee," She said slowly. "I've heard you've placed Hoshino Noriaki under her care as well. You'd have her look after two problem children?"

"Hoshino?" A nearby Momoji overheard the conversation, stepping before the pair. "Hoshino hasn't shown any troublesome behaviors, why is Nakano looking after him?"

"Because Nakano is an exemplary student and a good influence," Taniguchi sighed.

Suzuki narrowed her eyes at the man. "Pushing problem children onto Nakano would harm more than help," She said. "Not to mention with Nakano Hiroshi's trial coming up..."

"Besides, Asakura Kazuyoshi has been looking after Hoshino," Momoji said. "I saw them together yesterday at a pet store."

"That's arguably worse," Taniguchi sighed, shaking his head. "Asakura's accident has drawn ire to us as well. Putting him along with the other two under Nakano's care--"

"With all due respect, Vice Principal, why are you pawning off responsibility onto a teenager instead of letting the adults handle it?" Suzuki couldn't help but cut him off. "You expect someone who should be thinking about her future and getting ready for college to take care of three unruly students?"

"They're not unruly," Momoji frowned. "But I agree."

Letting out a sigh, Taniguchi stood from his seat. "Ladies, there are times where you have to prioritize. The three of them need to be set straight one way or another. At the very least, we know Ito and Asakura have been problems in the past. Nakano will continue to look after Hoshino, and the other two will be called here so we can let them know how they're to act going forward."

They were running around in circles, it would seem. Suzuki let out a sigh of annoyance, shaking her head as the vice principal walked away towards the loudspeaker. "I can't believe this..." She muttered, crossing her arms.

"Attention. Ito Maki and Asakura Kazuyoshi, please report to the faculty room," The announcement rang out through the entire school, much to Suzuki's annoyance.

Momoji also let out a sigh. "I don't know why he's doing this," She said, dismayed. "If you punish students for something they haven't done, what does that say about us?"

Suzuki didn't have an answer for that, unfortunately.

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@WXer@psych0pomp

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The cat looked down at the boy calling to it, tail slowly curling as she stretched her limbs out. Peeking over the edge of the lockers, she stared at her own reflection in his glasses. She watched his movement for a moment, ears perked and alert, but evidently decided he had a point. Hopping down and landing seamlessly on her feet, she wrapped herself around his legs, looking up at him.

As Noriaki stopped at his locker, however, the cat immediately took notice of him, letting out a rather loud meow as she made a beeline towards him. She nuzzled his legs, stepping between them and tangling herself around them. She meowed repeatedly, looking up at him.

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@Scribe of Thoth@Asura

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Current Mood in One Gif

Fire Emblem: The Slumbering Goddess

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The princess-to-be let out a tiny groan, furrowing her brow. Her pinky nail was uneven and it was bothering her to no end. It was to be expected, of course; the rabble they designated as caretakers had no hope at keeping up with her standards. It was shocking, to say the least—The Officers Academy was always hailed as this elite housing of nobles and the rich, but seeing as they freely let the rabble join in if they can fish the coin, she should have known better.

Either way, her nails were vastly more interesting than running along with the bold Knight of Seiros. ‘Strength in numbers’ sounded like a good idea, but she was all too aware that the students were more likely to be fodder than anything else. Considering ‘Professor’ Michail wasn’t of any renown, she wouldn’t have gone along even if they didn’t have a choice.

Only one other was smart enough not to go: Lienna Orhneaht. She had seen her a few times lingering around Professor Malathice, but she was a little more interesting than others. For one, nothing about her said ‘highborn’ but the way she walked around would have anyone assume she thought she was someone of importance. It wouldn’t be the first time some pretty thing managed to wrap up a baron or a count around her finger to elevate her position, but it did surprise her that she was at a military academy of all places.

When she spoke, at the very least Veronica let out a hum of acknowledgement. “If the Knight does his job, then there won’t be anything to worry about,” She replied. “Assuming he isn’t too busy dragging back corpses.”

Lienna had turned her attention back to the wand, crossing her legs under her and removing the thing from her waist to examine it in her lap. Holding silver in her hands was still novel to her—even after learning that apparently every single piece of cutlery in the dining hall was made of the stuff—and the crystal on top, the way its many facets captured the afternoon sun and broke her reflection into a thousand pieces… well, it what could she say? It was breathtaking.

The other girl’s voice pulled her head up from admiring the wand, Lienna looking over her shoulder just enough to catch the Queenling in the corner of her eye. Sitting on a log looking dissatisfied, absorbed in her nails or something. Typical. Not that Lienna herself was doing much more, but this girl had a way of turning any little tick into something irksome. Lienna had to wonder if Veronica ever had to worry about birds flying up her nose, walking around like she did with it held up so high.

Still, she was talking more sense than any of the other students had, and Lienna had to surrender a grunt of agreement. That being said, she couldn’t resist a little jab.

“I’m not worried,” she offered offhandedly, crossing her arms and straightening in her carriage seat. She caught Veronica in the corner of her eye again, raising an eyebrow. “Aren’t you, though? What happens to you if our favourite Princeling doesn’t manage to limp his way back?”

“Then I don’t have to go through a marriage with a cowardly prince that I was against in the first place,” Veronica replied without skipping a beat, although she finally lifted her head to level a look on Lienna. She looked like she was inspecting her, eyes searching for something. “It’s not every day a noble speaks of such a thing so casually, especially since if that were to happen, it would throw the Empire into chaos.”

“So? I’m not Adrestian,” Lienna shrugged, “I’ll be spending my life about as far from the Empire as you can get, go nuts.” Throw the Empire into chaos, please. What made Veronica think she’d care? Or was that sort of arrogance just bred into her the same as her black hair and blue eyes? Lienna wasn’t sure she could even recognize Adrestia on a map before she came here, and this girl thought she’d quake at the idea of some faraway foreign country falling to shambles. It had once already with that plague, hadn’t it? Sure, her world might come crashing down if their precious Prince killed himself on some bandit’s lance, but it seemed a lot of these highborn fledgelings didn’t realize just how small their worlds really were.

Speaking of which… “Though, I find that puzzling,” Lienna continued airily, pointedly tapping her finger against her chin. “You were very careful to tell us all about your position on the first day here, remember? But if Kayden dies, how will you become the new Queen?”

Veronica stared at her for a moment, raising a finger to her chin as she narrowed her eyes. An understanding came over her, and she ended up rolling her eyes as she crossed one leg over the other.

“My sincerest apologies, I misunderstood you,” She stated airily. “After hearing your conversation with Professor Malathice on the first day, I found your line of questioning odd. Having a sheltered and naive noble isn’t uncommon—in fact, those with crests find themselves hidden away more often than not. But after what you just said about not caring about the Adrestian Empire, now I realize you aren’t naive, you’re just an idiot.”

A derisive snort escaped Lienna, the white-haired girl equal parts amused and livid. Oh, how the claws come out! Honestly, Veronica would be better off picking a side early: she could be either the dutiful damsel trapped in an unwanted betrothal, or the opportunistic future Adrestian Queen, but not both. It seemed she must have struck a nerve, though; an argument with a stuck-up wannabe Princess wasn’t what Lienna had planned while she waited for her peers to return, but apparently it was what she was going to get.

“If you’re so worldly, I’m surprised you weren’t tipped off sooner,” Lienna retorted sharply, turning in her seat. “Honestly, highborn rose you are, have you ever heard the name Orhneaht listed among the ranks of Faerghian nobility? Do the math, darling.” She couldn’t lie and say she wasn’t doing her best to fit the noble mold here—if nothing else, it would be good practice for her life after her wedding—but she’d be cold in the ground before she let some doe-eyed, soft-handed little shit make her feel inferior for the accident of her birth.

“My sincerest apologies for treading my peasant filth all over your pristine noble tapestry,” she snapped, “but given I managed to live most of my life without needing to know the colour of the Emperor’s underclothes, I’d hazard a guess that the affairs of Adrestian nobility aren’t as vitally important to the whole of Fódlan as you’d like to believe.”

“So quick to defend, oh my…” Veronica couldn’t help but giggle, taking a second to collect herself. “I know only of the major families, there are some that escape my memory—I suppose you think it’s a mistake to have given you the benefit of the doubt?”

She didn’t linger too long on that, however, letting out a tiny sigh. “You’re wrong about one thing, however. The Adrestian Empire collapsing would affect everyone on Fódlan, from high to low-born and both Faerghian and Leicesteran,” She stated plainly. “But tell me, who have you decided to use to improve your life?”

“Count Francis Gautier, younger brother of the current Margrave,” Lienna replied proudly, raising an eyebrow. What, did she think the question would sting? There was no way arrangements like hers weren’t common, and it was a win-win for the both of them: the Count got a Crest freshly injected into his family line, and Lienna got to live a warm, comfortable life of personal and financial security for the rest of her days. Her only regret was that she hadn’t done it sooner.

She did have a fleeting thought that the accusation of “using” her betrothed might offend the Count if it reached his ears via… whoever he’d sent to keep an eye on her, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Even if they weren’t openly using each other in equal measure—to quite the agreeable conclusion, she might add—she wasn’t so sure the conversation would be overheard. Not only were they desolately alone at the moment, but she hadn’t felt the weight of eyes on her since they left the Monastery; a welcome change, and perhaps the only pleasant thing about this entire farce of an excursion. Even after just three days, the inescapable feeling of being watched was already grating on her, raising goosebumps on the back of her neck even in her dormitory, where she should have been sure to be alone. Lienna wouldn’t deny agreeing to the Count’s terms of a chaperone—it was fair enough for him to make sure she didn’t take his tuition money and run away with it—but was it really so necessary that he keep her stalker’s identity a secret? At least then she might finally be able to relax out of his view.

“But yes, alright, the whole realm will fall into disarray if your betrothed bites an arrow today. The whole world, in fact. I bet the mice and the birds will each shed a bitter tear for your loss.” Lienna continued at last, already bored of this conversation. Were catty insults the way noblewomen settled their disputes? Maybe they’d all be a little less stiff if they had it out the peasant way. Children slinging dung at one another was certainly how a lot of the noble snits she’d witnessed looked from the outside.

“Except you, that is,” she continued. “I suppose you’ll just be relieved, because obviously the notion of ruling Adrestia by proxy never appealed to you in the first place. Hence, of course, why you make your future Queenship abundantly clear every chance you get. I understand now.” Lienna made a face of mock enlightenment, spreading her arms for effect.

Veronica looped a lock of her hair around her finger, absentmindedly toying with it. Even the hairdressers left much to be desired, judging from her less than impressive ends. As Lienna stopped speaking, she let out a small giggle, leaning back slightly to look up at the sky. "Do you?" She asked rhetorically, eyeing a cloud above them as she shielded her eyes from the sun, free hand dismissing the question. "Ah, why bother asking, you don't seem like the type to read between the lines."

Instead of continuing, however, she decided to turn back on a more interesting subject. "Count Francis Gautier...he just made a generous donation to the Academy, too. I assumed his contribution had come because the Margrave's son had long since graduated," She thought out loud. "Just low enough to take the apple off the tree. I'm impressed, most would try giving empty promises or seduction, but you seemed to have come out of the deal relatively intact. Do the two of you get along, or will you settle in a cycle of complacency?"

“I thought you only knew the major families,” Lienna retorted boredly, leaning back in her seat. A soft breeze blew past, and she watched lazily as it rippled through the grass of the surrounding field like a wave over water. Alright, this was fun, but with Veronica insisting on running her in circles like a guilty child, she was quickly growing bored. And exhausted. Indech’s teeth, was this how noblewomen spent their days, in the throes of catty pissing contests? She didn’t know how they could stand it.

“Anyway, if you don’t want to answer my question, fine; but could you at least do it quietly and spare me the shrill pitch of your voice?” she asked, though it sounded less like a question and more like a statement as her eyes wandered back down to the wand Michail had given her.

Veronica couldn’t help her laugh that time, standing from the log and brushing off anything that chose to cling to her skirt. "Have you considered that I simply find the prince insufferable?" She asked as she plucked a leaf off her sleeve. "If he lives or dies, as the princess consort, it would be a terrible thing. Personally? I couldn't care less if he got himself killed playing hero to a village that isn't even worth the time. Only fools go out of their way to bleed for people that don't matter."

She put on a smile as she turned to Lienna. "Contempt is common between husbands and wives—since you decided not to answer my question, I'll assume that's where you stand with your betrothed," She stated. "Now, to properly welcome you to the noble life, I shall do my part and impart some unwanted wisdom."

Lienna had to wonder if Veronica wouldn’t even admit to herself that she’d weep shameful tears if her precious royal future was taken away, insufferable fiancé or not, given the enthusiasm with which she dodged the question. Maybe it was something the little Queenlet just couldn’t bear to consider; in any case, it wasn’t Lienna’s problem. She assumed she’d get her answer regardless, when the professors came back dragging the Prince’s battered corpse.

“On what, the finer points of seizing some nobleman’s co—” she paused for a second, letting out a very loud and intentional cough for effect, “—oinpurse? Thanks, I’m good,” she replied, rolling her eyes.

Wrinkling her nose in disdain, Veronica needed to take a second to compose herself to return to something resembling neutral. Of course, she wasn’t going to be forgetting that anytime soon, but that wasn't what she was trying to say.

"No, no...as an unmarried woman, I haven't the foggiest idea to manage a man's...finances," The word came out uttered, albeit she cleared her throat before she continued with, "However, more important than pleasing your husband is navigating the nobility and their long time tradition of verbally tearing down anything they dislike. I won't bore you with lessons or lectures, but I can at least warn you, from one woman to another: be wary of wearing your heart on your sleeve. This doesn't manifest in weeping maidens, it manifests most in those quick to prickle at the first word uttered negatively in their direction. I'd so hate to see your engagement canceled simply because you took offense to something said and didn't know how to properly combat it."

Mhm, how convincing. Little spots of light glittered across Lienna’s face as she turned the wand in her hands, the crystal at its top breaking the sunlight into a scattered rainbow as she half-listened to Veronica’s “advice”. Yes, because Veronica cared so much about her success in the noble world. How considerate. Lienna would have assumed it was all garbage and done the opposite if not for the… ooh, was that embarrassment in the poor Adrestian flower’s voice? With a name like Gerth Lienna found it very hard to believe she hadn’t jumped on every nobleman with a connection to the Imperial family to work her way up to the Prince, but that was neither here nor there. What actually shocked her was that Veronica’s little tidbit didn’t sound that stupid. Sure, it was cute that saving face was the biggest thing noblewomen had to worry about, but she supposed she’d be lying if she claimed keeping her distaste under her hat didn’t make a bit of sense.

Still, she wasn’t about to give Veronica credit for that. “Mm, I’ll keep that in mind the next time one of you glowing mountain flowers dodges a question with a cutting remark; must mean I struck a nerve,” she answered absently, turning the wand once more before finally sitting up straighter.

Tossing her hair, she finally turned to look at Veronica, her gaze icy as ever. “I’m not one for favours, though, so I’ll trade you this: Li vra vrako; vrako balai jo erenj,” she stated proudly, crossing her arms. Surely a highborn scholar like Veronica could figure it out. “It’s simple, but it’s true. You’ll probably find it applies to any challenge you might face, Queen or not.”

Openly rolling her eyes, Veronica returned her attention back to her hands. No one could say that she didn’t try. She’d have to keep an eye to see how that turned out; no doubt it’d be greatly entertaining, at minimum. The conversation ended and the pair were plunged into silence, the vague sounds of nature and an extremely muffled sound of steps in the distance if you strained your ears enough.

After a while, the princess consort stood, smoothing out her skirt as she looked towards the forest. She shifted in place, eventually making a decision. “I’ll be back in a moment,” She stated, already departing.

@Obscene Symphony

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

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The room you awaken in is draped in a swathe of deep blue. It appears to be a luxurious train cart, a variety of cushioned seats on either side. You swear you can hear what sounds like music coming from all around you, though there are no speakers that you can see. The train feels like it is moving, though several curtains block the outside view. Any attempt at removing them is blocked, and a single wooden door decorated in an odd insignia appearing to be a mask. For some reason, it looks familiar, but you vaguely remember that it wasn't nearly as blue as it was now. Without realizing it, however, your hand is reaching out towards the handle. As your hand is just about to touch the doorknob, a voice calls out to you.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room."

The voice is decidedly male and coming from behind you; standing next to a small, wooden desk with a quill and paper on it is a young man dressed entirely in rich, blue clothes and platinum blonde hair with golden eyes gives you a warm smile, a large book residing in one hand with his other hand raised to his chest as he bows to you. You vaguely remember his name: William. As he straightens, his smile is much warmer than before.

"I have some wonderful news. The previous denizen of the stage has made it to your world," He informs you politely with a subtle relief in his eyes. "While the details remain unclear, it is certain now that hope is not yet lost. As I was bound to serve them as well, it is comforting to see them persevere. But that is not why you have come, is it?"

William taps the paper on the desk. "The corruption of that world has started to seep into your own. You are duty-bound to stop it but worry not. Multiple people have signed contracts much like yourself, and thus fate will work to bring you together," He assures you. "Tomorrow, you will find one another and be led to the Reflected World. But fear not, for you have the power to purify the corrupted land. While Lilith ever lurks and plants her seeds of destruction, you have the flames of rebirth on your side. The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed."

He bows his head once more. "We will meet again, I am sure. Until then, take care of yourself."

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Hinotori High School
Kyoto Prefecture
_{APRIL 10TH, 2018
CLOUDY DAY}

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"Ugh, this is why I don't trust the weatherman! He said it would be sunny all week!"

"It looks like it's gonna pour any second. I totally forgot my umbrella, too..."

The general grumbling escalated as the school day came to an end. Despite the soul-sucking drain of school, no one was quite eager to leave just yet. Thick, gray clouds covered the entire sky, a stark contrast from the previously sunny morning. Thunder rolled off in the distance, signaling a storm. Some students debated whether to leave now or wait it out, unsure of just how much it would rain. Some club leaders had decided to make things easier by canceling sessions, though others insisted the storm would pass by the time they finished. Regardless, it was universally agreed that the sudden weather change was downright weird.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn't the only thing that was weird. The gym had been closed off without explanation, with a myriad of rumors circling around as to why. Some say a random cat had trapped itself in there, others claim there had been faulty wiring that had caused a panic in the staff, but the truth was much less exciting. A few students had poked their heads in and had seen one of the floor-length mirrors on the wall had fallen and shattered, and so it was left until some professionals would come to dispose of and replace the broken mirror. Still, the truth did little to deter the rumors.

Meanwhile, a majority of the faculty had gathered to meet. While they would be otherwise indisposed, Sakuya was all too pleased to get to kendo practice. There would be a council meeting today, but she wouldn't be surprised if no one ended up showing up--the weather was looking pretty bad and she wouldn't blame anyone for deciding to go home. Personally, she was hoping to catch a certain someone before they left the building, but she wasn't sure if she'd catch the girl. It wasn't a total loss, as she had happened to catch Sanada-san and had gotten herself a shinai to take home. While taking out equipment from the gym normally wasn't allowed, apparently, they had planned to get rid of it, and she was all too happy to take it off their hands.

With bag and shinai in hand, Sakuya left the council room and ascended the stairs. Day two was going much better than day one, and she was actually happy--no, not happy per se, but being genuinely untroubled was a relief. Ueno-san's determination to save all the clubs and get through the financial crisis was a massive relief. While everyone would be stretched thin, it was better than the alternative. She was glad her council was serious, with Kinoshita already working to find a good day to collect all the club leaders for a meeting. One less thing to worry about, she supposed.

As she climbed, she spotted a pair of students a little too close to one another. She really wished she had a hose or something to spray them, but she figured telling them to knock it off would at least get them to relocate somewhere she wouldn't have to see them. Once she got closer, however, she noticed it was less of a makeout session than she had initially assumed.

"I said, let go!" The girl made an attempt to pull back her arm, wincing as the boy's grip tightened.

To Sakuya's shock, Yamamoto was the one keeping her there, a look of anger on his face. "I'm not finished talking to you yet," He insisted.

Their conversation yesterday immediately came to mind, and without hesitation, Sakuya approached the pair, clearing her throat loudly. The two froze, with Yamamoto loosening his grip. The girl slipped out and away, stumbling as she held the rail. "I--I have to go," She muttered, hastily taking her leave without another word.

Yamamoto looked ready to chase her down until Sakuya stepped into his line of sight. She was surprised to see the complete look of fury etched on his face, his eyes outright glaring daggers at her. It was a little unsettling if she was being honest, but his actions were inexcusable regardless of what happened.

With that in mind, she regained her footing. "Harassment is inexcusable," She reprimanded him. "Whatever happened, you shouldn't--"

"What, is it suddenly a crime to talk to someone?" He snapped, cutting her off.

"Conversations happen with words, not by grabbing someone's arm," She replied cooly. "Whatever the case may be, it would've reflected poorly on you had a teacher seen."

Scoffing, Yamamoto raised a hand to his head. "You're overreacting and sticking your nose where it doesn't belong," He grumbled. After taking in a deep breath, he seemed to have calmed himself down somewhat, leveling a look at the girl. "You said you didn't have time yesterday, but can I assume you have time today to talk?"

She would rather stick pencils in her ears, but that is indeed what she stated yesterday. Despite clearly knowing that there would be nothing positive about this conversation, Sakuya ended up nodding. "What is it that you wanted to talk about?"

"I'm a little concerned with how you're going to be handling your position going forward."

For the love of all that is holy, why? No, she had no one to blame but herself for this. "That concern seems to be misplaced considering I hadn't had the chance to actually do anything yet," She couldn't help her dry response.

"True. But I was speaking of your father," Yamamoto said. "I don't believe there are many who would know about it, but I believe his trial is coming up. How would it reflect upon the school if people were aware a criminal's daughter was Student Council President without earning the position?"

This was the absolute last thing she wanted to talk to anyone about, let alone this pompous idiot. Still, it was bound to come out sooner than later, so maybe dealing with it once and for all would settle the matter. A naive thought, for sure, but it was worth an effort. "Get to the point. Are you asking for my resignation?" She outright asked.

Fortunately, for whatever reason, Yamamoto was completely calm now. "No, no...the school has suffered enough change. But I would like to make an offer."

"An offer," She repeated in disbelief.

"Don't act so high and mighty, your reputation is already in shambles," He cut her off again, raising his voice as he took a step closer. "The truth of the matter is you're no better than--no, you're the absolute bottom of the barrel. Someone like you doesn't deserve to be here, you're nothing but a stain on the otherwise perfect reputation Hinotori has!"

To his credit, Sakuya was completely speechless. Had he lost his marbles? She would've laughed if it wasn't for the terrifying look of anger on his face. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't the only one angry. Snapping her mouth shut, she leveled her own glare at him. "What are you, stupid? Don't waste my time with such nonsense," She had enough of the conversation, turning around and descending the steps. No way was she sticking around--he looked about ready to do something reckless.

---

Stretching out its limbs, the cat let out a soft mewl of happiness. Sitting on the shoe lockers, it stared down at the many students. Most students ignored it, though the few that approached it were widely unsuccessful at getting it down. Its mismatched eyes and blonde coat indicated that it wasn't a stray, or at least it was a little smarter than most. The way it kept searching people's faces made it seem like it was looking for someone, though it lacked any collar to indicate who it belonged to. Occasionally, it would look up and stare at the ceiling, but otherwise stayed put.

---

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

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"If you have to do a tracheotomy, a knife should be preferable to a spoon," Taro replied nonchalantly, glancing at his watch. "Though you're right about Jirou, I'm pretty sure he'd struggle to pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel."

He let out a small sigh, slowly shaking his head. Jirou was a good guy, but his antics probably made things harder in hindsight. Ito probably wouldn't be the only one happy to hear he was gone. He had his two full-timers covering the graveyard and morning shifts, so if he stepped in to help during the afternoon and evening, he figured he could fill in the holes with a few part-timers. It'd be a rough time until he got some help, but he figured most of the locals were patient enough to suffer through one cashier for a while.

The thought didn't go too far as he was approached by one of the schoolboys he had greeted previously. The flyer had done the trick in record time, it seemed. He turned to face the kid fully, giving him a quick look. He didn't look like he'd struggle with merchandise and not dumb enough to get into the alcohol all at once, so it was a start.

"It's twelve hundred yen an hour. Flexible schedule--come in whenever you feel like getting paid. Ito here's pretty good at setting things up," He jabbed a thumb Maki's way. "You look like you've got a decent head on your shoulders. Just don't go eating the inventory and you should be fine."

He paused for a second, scratching his chin. "...you move here recently?" He suddenly asked, but as quickly as he did, he ended up dismissing it. "Not that it matters. I just tend to at least recognize everyone that comes in, though your face is new."

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@Asura@WXer@Scribe of Thoth@psych0pomp

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Of Blood and Magic

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It all happened so fast. One second, Lilie was confident they had succeeded without any issue, and in the next, there was the clash. Was it a clash? That felt like too strong of a word--she could swear their magic had only just barely touched one another. But no matter how small it was, the contact was enough to break their focus in more ways than one. "Ah--!" While Lilie's reaction was to immediately withdraw and step back as if to move away from the shock, Jonathan's reaction made sure to make the water from the barrel shoot out. Without really thinking, Lilie raised her hands as if trying to control it, eventually throwing her arms above her head as she ended up getting splashed.

Somehow, she didn't end up as drenched as Jonathan, but she was equally surprised. Was she too forceful? She was trying to be smooth and gentle, but then again, they both reacted in surprise. Once he started laughing, Lilie couldn't help her grin, wringing out her ponytail a touch. Well, at least the class wouldn't be boring!

At that point Baron had stepped in and easily gathered the water from both the floor and their clothes, explaining the importance of practice. Maybe she was too ambitious and started with too much. "Is this how all magic feels like when they hit each other?" She ended up asking as she dipped her finger in the barrel, deciding to start with a much smaller stream. Would a smaller source of magic result in a smaller shock? "Or is it because we're trying to mingle our magic together?" She sent the stream to Jonathan, bracing herself.

---

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

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---

The door on the far side wall opened, the sound of a few clicks punctuated with the last one signaling that whoever was coming through had missed the receiver of the phone a few times. Once he finished, the man stepped out and held the door, likely to prevent it from just slamming against the hinges. He was generally unremarkable with a mess of black hair and dark eyes blankly staring ahead, albeit he was definitely on the paler side. Unlike Maki, he wore a black polo and slacks, a nametag pinned to his left lapel reading the name Yamada Taro with a capitalized 'MANAGER' sitting underneath.

Right before the door closed, the phone rang again. Taro took a step backward to pick the phone up, only to place it back where it was before fully stepping out again. He approached Maki with a few papers in hand, though he noticed the trio of kids gathered around. "Welcome," He gave them a brief greeting before focusing on Maki. "Jirou won't be coming in anytime soon, said he ended up somewhere bad and ended up getting shot in the leg. If you want the extra hours, they're yours. But I'm going to need an extra pair of hands or two in the meantime," He stated as he let himself out of the cashier's area.

He placed down a 'help wanted' advertisement on the counter, smoothing it out. "I'd prefer a full-timer, but it'll probably be easier with more bodies," He mused out loud, hand scratching his neck and revealing the tip of what looked like a tattoo as he scratched, though once he stopped, it was easily hidden by his collar.

---

@Asura@WXer@Scribe of Thoth@psych0pomp

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Sora smiled sheepishly at Oka's comment, albeit he wisely chose to stow his gear away to avoid distractions. He chose to listen as she spoke, though before he could contribute, the last member they waited for arrived. He perked up considerably at Oka's introduction of him, bowing his head to Emi. "Ah...nice to meet you," He stated, moving to stand, though he saw that was pointless as he noticed that there was an empty seat across from him.

"Sit wherever, Ueno-san. This is just a casual meeting for us to touch base," Sakuya stated as she pulled the seat next to hers back. "I was just saying that the Vice Principal has asked that we assist with the rise in delinquency and briefly touched on budgetary changes. They're significant enough that the club leaders are aware that there are going to be some unwanted changes."

Taking a page filled with braille, she slid it over to Emi. "It's precisely around forty percent across the board. We do have the option of shifting some from lesser needed clubs and those that don't have enough members that'll probably end up disqualified, but this is what it looks like for now," She explained, looking at her own notes. "It's not too surprising considering how expensive the renovations were, but I mistakenly assumed that it wouldn't be this much."

"Forty percent? That's a lot," Sora said, surprised. "Mmm...it could just be that we're just unlucky this year?"

---

@Obscene Symphony@Entityx

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Anzu let out a giggle of agreement--she was glad to see she wasn't the only one that had seen the new bows as redundant. She did, however, lose a little bit of her smile at Yori's comment. While it was a little comforting to see not too much had changed, she was all too aware of how much she chafed with the other members. However, Yori's question completely flipped a switch in Anzu, the older girl openly rolling her eyes.

"I'm actually a little shocked she's only infamous in our grade. All the third years know that Hinotori's Tyrant is Nakano Sakuya," Anzu huffed. "I've had the misfortune of being in the same class as that bossy know-it-all three years straight--she was always our class leader and now she's the council president. Unlike Natsuhime-san, she's completely rigid and never compromises. She used to clash a lot with uh..." She trailed off, trying to remember.

"...with...ugh, I don't remember who," She shook her head, but returned to her angry rant right away. "Anyway, it doesn't matter. Giving someone who's so obviously power-hungry a position of power is a terrible mistake, and if I can't convince her to cut us some slack, we'll probably be in trouble."

---

@RiverMaiden

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---

Current Mood in One Gif

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

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---

Linda listened intently as Genki spoke, making sure to absorb everything he said. While he spoke, Kaito focused on the pot as he brought out a small, wooden box. Sliding it open, he plucked out what looked like a tiny seasoning shaker out, taking the lid off the pot and sprinkling its contents in. Placing it back respectfully, he hummed quietly to himself, though he looked over at the pair once Genki finished speaking.

"I'm hoping for at least three times a week starting on Tuesdays--with this week as an exception to focus on recruitment, of course," Linda finally spoke, holding up three fingers. "How long we end up staying varies depending on what dish we end up tackling, but we usually make enough for people to take home. That said, though, we won't be recognized as an official club until we get at least four members. So if you know anyone, try to drag them down here when you get a chance."

Kaito looked up from his cooking, his mouth agape. "Drag them down--Senpai, is that really a good idea?" He asked nervously.

"They'll all come running at the chance to have such a cute kouhai," She replied cheerfully as she slapped Kaito's shoulder.

"Shouldn't you use yourself as a recruitment tactic...?" He grumbled.

Linda ignored him, turning back to Genki. "Although, I'll probably be here every single day, so if you wanna learn something new or just need someplace to hangout, you'll always find me here!" She informed him.

---

@Lord Orgasmo

---

Anzu let out a small sigh, scratching her cheek. "It stands for now," She grumbled, though she ended up walking a little faster to end up in front of Yori. "If Natsuhime-san was president, I wouldn't be so worried. Instead, we get stuck with Hinotori's Tyrant. I don't doubt that if there's another budget review that we'll end up getting slashed further. Never mind that we reach nationals yearly, but if the Tyrant doesn't approve, well..."

Ansu stopped before a locker, entering a combination--she made no effort to hide what she was doing, clearly showing it off so Yori could access it herself in the future. "Supposedly we're supposed to be getting some modern bows in the future, but I really feel like they're missing the point of a traditional archery club," She said as she opened the lock, carefully sliding the locker open. Each bow was marked and in its place, with a blank sticker on the locker's wall.

Rummaging through her pockets, she pulled out a marker, offering it to Yori. "Here," She offered. After a few seconds, she looked over to the other members still chatting. "If morale gets brought down, I'm afraid it'll have an affect on people."

---

@RiverMaiden

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"I'll be counting on your support!" Sora gave Oka a small bow of the head, though he straightened up considerably once Sakuya walked in. The girl looked less than pleased, albeit she gave off an air of professionalism as she stopped next to the boy. "Ah--Nakano-san, thank you again for choosing me." He said, bowing his head once more.

Sakuya stopped in front of a seat, placing her bag down before sitting. "I heard good things from Hinotori Middle School's counselor. I was surprised you had an interest in serving on the council, I was sure you'd rather be in the Photography Club or on the school's newspaper team," She said as she brought out a small notebook and pen, her hand already working on writing down a few bullet points.

"Oh, I got the okay from Otsuka-senpai--I'll be prioritizing this, of course," He hastily explained.

Sakuya nodded in response, putting her pen down as Oka spoke. For a second, she seemed like she wanted to say something, staying quiet. "Busy is right," She eventually replied, folding her hands together as she rested her chin on them. "We've got our work cut out for us this year. Vice Principal Taniguchi has stressed the importance of cracking down on the rising delinquency for one, and for another, the budget changes have gotten the clubs all up in arms. We're probably going to have to support Ueno-san in her area to keep us from falling behind."

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@Entityx

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Fire Emblem: The Slumbering Goddess

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---

Overwhelming had been putting it lightly.

While Clarissa had managed to get Isolde onto the carriage, getting off was an entirely different ordeal. Even when she finally did, however, it was like she was having an out-of-body experience. Professor Michail wanted her on the frontlines?! Auberon and Derec she understood, but what good was she? She wondered if he knew about her training, but even then, her legs were trembling and she hadn't even taken a step away from the carriage yet. Her back had remained firmly against it, terrified to step foot into the village. She had her orders, yes, but to go out there was suicide!

She could only watch as her classmates all moved--Derec, in particular, responded greatly to Auberon's orders, going forward immediately. He didn't look afraid or showed any sign of hesitation. Honestly, if she didn't know any better, she'd assume that he had some actual experience. He successfully pushed back a bandit, though she let out a squeak of horror as he just as easily plunged his spear right through them. Derec and Auberon were definitely the right choices for the front line. Clarissa tried to appeal to the bandits' morality, helping in her own way. And everyone else moved, doing their part. Everyone except her.

Tomai watched both Kellen and Imogen, letting out a whistle of approval as Jorah's arrow plunged into one of their chests. As the second was distracted, he brandished his arm as a circle of runs formed in front of him, dark magic surging forward and striking the unguarded bandit. He let out a slight 'tsk' of disapproval, frowning at Kaira. "Let me borrow that," He said, holding out his hand. Once she gave him the staff, he pointed it at the staggering bandit, the runes forming quicker and the magic bursting forward notably stronger.

"There we go," He was much more pleased, ignoring the bandit's cries of pain as all the life left him. "Move forward, people. That means you, Clarissa." He called as he walked forward.

At that point Michail stepped into Isolde's view, looking down at her. She couldn't help but drop her gaze to the ground, ashamed. It was obvious what he was going to tell her. "Let's go," He said--ordered. And why wouldn't he? She was the only one who wasn't doing what she was supposed to.

Drawing in a shaky breath, Isolde pushed herself away from the carriage, following Michail as they joined the duo. Michail clapped Auberon's shoulder, gesturing for the trio to follow him as he charged forward. As if on cue, a few bandits charged at him, but with one swing, he knocked all but one back. The unfortunate one, it would seem, as Michail's next swing embedded the tip of his spear into his chest. Instead of ending it there, however, he was thrown into his comrades in time as a surge of lighting came down from the heavens.

"Fourteen left," Tomai yawned, casually walking up to the group with Kaira following suit. "We haven't been noticed yet, but as soon as we get deeper into the heart of the village, I'm pretty sure they'll react accordingly. Euphemia's making her way to the other side, undetected, but we have a pair of archers we should probably look out for."

Michail took a second to digest everything before turning back to the group. "Good job so far, make sure to keep it up," He told the students. "We're going to make sure to get as much attention as we can so the remaining villagers can make their escape."

A low rumble felt through the ground interrupted the conversation. Kaira looked around, a little surprised. "Tomai, can you feel that?" She asked worriedly.

"We all felt that," Michail replied.

"No, there's a lot of magic in the air right now," Tomai noted. "If I were a betting man, I'd say that this is what the air was like right before that explosion. We were too far away to sense it, but it's growing thicker by the second. How ominous."

"All the more reason to keep going as quickly as possible," The knight rolled his shoulder as he took back his place to the front. He stopped as he seemed to notice something, moving to his left as an arrow zipped past his cheek. "There's one archer," He muttered. "Jorah, you're going to have to find those two archers before they pick you guys off! Let's keep moving--"

A savage battle cry cut Michail off as a few previously unseen bandits charged towards them from the right. While the noisier ones made their presence known, a group of five came quietly from behind with the intention to surround the group.