Sanguine Rose

Anepool Academy for the Gifted

I will be updating the information on this page either tonight or tomorrow, but just some quick notes for anyone that cares to read them without digging through the long version:

This school takes international students, so students can be from anywhere in the world.

This school will be taking interdimensional and extraterrestrial students. They will be overseen by this universe's version of the Men In Black - which will be based on a mix of pop culture and real life lore - and who work out of the LVA. Unless desired otherwise, non-terrestrial students will be housed in the gender neutral dorms.

Age range for terrestrial metahumans, for those that aren't familiar with US school ages, are going to be 12-19.

If you're looking to play something outside of that age range - PM me.

Anyone looking to play a non-terrestrial character should PM me with information on what their race can do. We're pretty lenient with stuff, but it's more to get race characteristics kinda set in stone because I will admit I don't like things sprung on me for race abilities once an RP has started. If there's something you come up with after the RP starts to add to a non-terrestrial race, just PM me and we'll figure out if it will be too much to add or not.

And last, but not least, once I have finished getting information updated in the initial post here, I will be working on getting an OOC started as well as a discord. Joining the discord is optional. It's obviously the easiest way to get to know each other and get my attention (as I run the app on my phone and get notifications from it) but any information that everyone needs to know will get posted in the OOC as well.

Anepool Academy for the Gifted

Sorry for being quiet for a bit. RL comes first tho. I'm trying to get a better mix back into my life of how often I get on here, so don't get discouraged if I don't get on for a day or three to respond.

Anyways...

@Hyyde322 Everyone is allowed 2 characters. I will outline more about character creation when I get a chance to update/create the OOC.

@Martian I'll be honest to say I only know who one of those characters are, but yes - this would be a possibility. If you come up with more stuff and discuss it in private, and/or want to toss some ideas at the wall to see what sticks for you, you can feel free to PM me and I will eventually respond.

Anepool Academy for the Gifted

@Phi Chisym ah, yes there will be more information forth coming regarding the school itself and building off some glossed over concepts and such.

I'll tag all that posted interest thus far when I add more info.

@Dead Cruiser PM me and @Gittarackur with what you have in mind and I'll be able to give more information/way we can work that in - that's easiest for me right now. If you could include basic info in the race would be helpful too.

I'll add the info publicly on how extraterrestrials and other worldly beings attendung the school will work, and officially add it into the basic info dump when I get a chance to get on my computer on Monday.

Pokémon: There and Back Again

Faye Wrexlyn

Appearance:

Height: 5’6
Typical Clothing: Pants or shorts, tank top or short sleeve shirt under a hoodie, and sneakers or hiking boots (depending on if in the city or going through the woods)
Rarely wears makeup or jewelry, but generally wears a sports cap with her hair in a ponytail through the back part.

Age: 15

Gender: Female

Personality: Spunky is one of the more commonly used terms to describe her, followed closely by sassy and resourceful. She strives to push ahead even if the road is tough and dangerous, trying to not let obstacles stand in her way. Faye tries to be level headed, but doesn’t back down from threats, and is willing to fight for what is right and what she believes in. This has gotten her in trouble more than once in school, stepping in and fighting kids that were bullying others; it was a habit she couldn’t break though. She does have a bit of a competitive side, and is usually up to see who is better at certain tasks; the only way to improve is to see where your failings are, after all. While she does have a tendency to tease people and be pestersome, she always means it in good fun and doesn’t usually mean for it to be in offense (though that’s not to say she doesn’t actually enjoy trying to get a rise out of people she doesn’t like); she will apologize for actions if she realizes it’s hurt someone’s feelings.

Inquisitive, she never shies away from looking for answers to questions and has been known to spend hours buried in books diving into the proverbial rabbithole her curiosity has led her. She has little issue with getting dirty, exerting however much effort is needed to get to where she wants/needs to go, and occasionally has “wandered” past barriers when it meant getting to what she wanted. She doesn’t necessarily mean to break the law - she does respect laws are there for a reason - but the thought of “I’ll only be inside that barrier for a minute” gets the better of her impulse control at times; this only happens when she’s looking for the perfect angle or a better view for a picture. Faye enjoys exploring more than just books, and often goes on long hikes and extended camping trips. She enjoys photography and wilderness exploration, just as comfortable mapping her way through forests as she is navigating her way through city streets. She often dreams about becoming a famous photographer, and submits pictures she takes for publication.

Hometown: King’s Cross

Background: Although she remembers only bits and pieces of her childhood under Cipher control, it had lasting effects on her family. What she remembers from her youth was that her mother was away a lot, and when she was home she had fierce, powerful pokemon partners with her. Mom didn’t talk about what she did, but Dad said she had to do stuff she didn’t want to talk about to keep them safe. When Cipher was defeated, Mom came home without her pokemon. Dad became the main support for the family as a pokedoc, while Mom withdrew and went through a long bout of depression; mention of Cipher or their activity would generally trigger further depressive episodes.

It wasn’t until Faye was 8 that she finally got meaningful time with her mother that wasn’t just being careful about what she said or did to keep from setting Mom into an agitated state. Dad took them on a retreat to Fenris City, a temporary transfer to a calmer location where he could both treat pokemon and give Mom a quiet, peaceful place to relax away from the more bustling city of King’s Cross. Between hikes and hot springs and the general tranquility helped give Mom new direction and sparked an interest in photography for Faye herself. After a year living in the town, it seemed to help draw her mother out of the slump and Mom reinvigorated an early passion of painting. Moving back to King’s Cross was a welcome return to normal for Faye, but a better normal with a calm and decent life with her parents.

While Faye grew up not really knowing much of what her mother may have done, she knew her mother didn’t take her actions lightly and didn’t want to let evil enterprises such as Cipher gain or keep power elsewhere. Knowing more about what Cipher did to gain control and how they kept it is a topic of interest to her, as the best way to prevent people like them from happening again you must look to those that had been successful in the past. It also sparked an interest in becoming a pokemon trainer and hopefully becoming strong like the Champion that helped save Evig and those that lived there.

Kind of Pokémon you like: Appearances are everything. There’s no proper way to quantify exactly what makes me like a pokemon as there’s no specific type I prefer, just a visual preference to start and then I figure out if I like them from there.

Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: Aspires to be a famous photographer.
Secretly wants to be a pokemon champion.
Really good at navigating with map and compass, researching, and photography.
Terrible at staying on task, and following someone else’s lead (and sometimes with following directions she disagrees with).
Fears failure, and deep oceans.
Can't stop being sarcastic to save his or her own life; she may unintentionally end up antagonizing fights just being sassy and backtalking.

Random oddities: She has a tendency to hum quietly to herself when studying/researching or doing idle tasks like cooking or dishes.
Faye plays with her hair when deep in thought (twirls it) or stressed and trying to calm down (petting it/lightly pulling/running her fingers through it).

Items: 1x Potion; camping backpack with a cold weather sleeping bag with a sleeping pad added to it, waterproof canvas tarp, 50 ft of rope, mess kit, extra clothes, a week of food (granola, jerky, a few canned soup, pokemon food for Sage, etc), water purification kit and canteen, compass and maps of the region, magnesium fire starter, multi-tool knife, and a camping saw.

Pokédollars: 500p.

Pokemon Team

1) Sage

Sage

♂

Species: Eevee
Type: Normal
Level: 5
Status:
Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Growl, Sand-Attack
Ability: Adaptability - Increases STAB from 1.5x to 2x
Held Item:

2) Tilia

Hider

♀

Species: Rowlet
Type: Grass/Flying
Level: 5
Status:
Moves: Tackle, Growl, Leafage
Ability: Overgrow - Powers up Grass-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is low.
Held Item:

3)

Hider

blank

4)

Hider

5)

Hider

blank

6)

Hider

blank

pokemon currently not being used

Anepool Academy for the Gifted

Awesome, @Phi Chisym. Any questions in particular or just interested in learning more in general?

Anepool Academy for the Gifted

@LadyAnnaLee Of course you're welcome here! ❤ I definitely would love to see you be part of this.

@Blazion No worries, there's still plenty of time to think on it. If you have any questions that might help you think up ideas, feel free to ask 'em.

Anepool Academy for the Gifted

Great to hear even tentative interest @Crimson Flame

@Martian I havent done one in a while either so this helps fill that itch.

If you think of any questions, feel free to ask and either I or Gittarackur will do our best to answer them.

Pokémon: There and Back Again

Faye Wrexlyn

Appearance:

Height: 5’6
Typical Clothing: Pants or shorts, tank top or short sleeve shirt under a hoodie, and sneakers or hiking boots (depending on if in the city or going through the woods)
Rarely wears makeup or jewelry, but generally wears a sports cap with her hair in a ponytail through the back part.

Age: 15

Gender: Female

Personality: Spunky is one of the more commonly used terms to describe her, followed closely by sassy and resourceful. She strives to push ahead even if the road is tough and dangerous, trying to not let obstacles stand in her way. Faye tries to be level headed, but doesn’t back down from threats, and is willing to fight for what is right and what she believes in. This has gotten her in trouble more than once in school, stepping in and fighting kids that were bullying others; it was a habit she couldn’t break though. She does have a bit of a competitive side, and is usually up to see who is better at certain tasks; the only way to improve is to see where your failings are, after all. While she does have a tendency to tease people and be pestersome, she always means it in good fun and doesn’t usually mean for it to be in offense (though that’s not to say she doesn’t actually enjoy trying to get a rise out of people she doesn’t like); she will apologize for actions if she realizes it’s hurt someone’s feelings.

Inquisitive, she never shies away from looking for answers to questions and has been known to spend hours buried in books diving into the proverbial rabbithole her curiosity has led her. She has little issue with getting dirty, exerting however much effort is needed to get to where she wants/needs to go, and occasionally has “wandered” past barriers when it meant getting to what she wanted. She doesn’t necessarily mean to break the law - she does respect laws are there for a reason - but the thought of “I’ll only be inside that barrier for a minute” gets the better of her impulse control at times; this only happens when she’s looking for the perfect angle or a better view for a picture. Faye enjoys exploring more than just books, and often goes on long hikes and extended camping trips. She enjoys photography and wilderness exploration, just as comfortable mapping her way through forests as she is navigating her way through city streets. She often dreams about becoming a famous photographer, and submits pictures she takes for publication.

Hometown: King’s Cross

Background: Although she remembers only bits and pieces of her childhood under Cipher control, it had lasting effects on her family. What she remembers from her youth was that her mother was away a lot, and when she was home she had fierce, powerful pokemon partners with her. Mom didn’t talk about what she did, but Dad said she had to do stuff she didn’t want to talk about to keep them safe. When Cipher was defeated, Mom came home without her pokemon. Dad became the main support for the family as a pokedoc, while Mom withdrew and went through a long bout of depression; mention of Cipher or their activity would generally trigger further depressive episodes.

It wasn’t until Faye was 8 that she finally got meaningful time with her mother that wasn’t just being careful about what she said or did to keep from setting Mom into an agitated state. Dad took them on a retreat to Aegis City, a temporary transfer to a calmer location where he could both treat pokemon and give Mom a quiet, peaceful place to relax away from the more bustling city of King’s Cross. Between hikes and hot springs and the general tranquility helped give Mom new direction and sparked an interest in photography for Faye herself. After a year living in the town, it seemed to help draw her mother out of the slump and Mom reinvigorated an early passion of painting. Moving back to King’s Cross was a welcome return to normal for Faye, but a better normal with a calm and decent life with her parents.

While Faye grew up not really knowing much of what her mother may have done, she knew her mother didn’t take her actions lightly and didn’t want to let evil enterprises such as Cipher gain or keep power elsewhere. Knowing more about what Cipher did to gain control and how they kept it is a topic of interest to her, as the best way to prevent people like them from happening again you must look to those that had been successful in the past. It also sparked an interest in becoming a pokemon trainer and hopefully becoming strong like the Champion that helped save Evig and those that lived there.

Kind of Pokémon you like: Appearances are everything. There’s no proper way to quantify exactly what makes me like a pokemon as there’s no specific type I prefer, just a visual preference to start and then I figure out if I like them from there.

Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: Aspires to be a famous photographer.
Secretly wants to be a pokemon champion.
Really good at navigating with map and compass, researching, and photography.
Terrible at staying on task, and following someone else’s lead (and sometimes with following directions she disagrees with).
Fears failure, and deep oceans.
Can't stop being sarcastic to save his or her own life; she may unintentionally end up antagonizing fights just being sassy and backtalking.

Random oddities: She has a tendency to hum quietly to herself when studying/researching or doing idle tasks like cooking or dishes.
Faye plays with her hair when deep in thought (twirls it) or stressed and trying to calm down (petting it/lightly pulling/running her fingers through it).

Items: 1x Potion; camping backpack with a cold weather sleeping bag with a sleeping pad added to it, waterproof canvas tarp, 50 ft of rope, mess kit, extra clothes, a week of food (granola, jerky, a few canned soup, pokemon food for Sage, etc), water purification kit and canteen, compass and maps of the region, magnesium fire starter, multi-tool knife, and a camping saw.

Pokédollars: 500p.

Pokemon Team

1) Sage

Sage

♂

Species: Eevee
Type: Normal
Level: 5
Status:
Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Growl, Sand-Attack
Ability: Adaptability - Increases STAB from 1.5x to 2x
Held Item:

2)

Hider

blank

3)

Hider

blank

4)

Hider

5)

Hider

blank

6)

Hider

blank

pokemon currently not being used

Anepool Academy for the Gifted

At some point you have received this welcome letter.
Are you a new student eagerly awaiting your turn to start at the first ever official school for metahumans?
Or are you a returning student eager to see what the new year has in store?

---

This RP will be Co-GMed with @Gittarackur.

The World

This will take place in an alternative timeline from our own.
While most world events will be the same, elements of them are altered to include the introduction of magic/metahumans. If there is a world event you would like to know our spin on, feel free to ask how it happened for our RP. Examples of such events will be covered in the History section, but for the most part we're looking at highlighting pieces of American history as this world has altered them.

As far as technology goes, there are all sorts of tech we view as futuristic that have been around since the 90s here. While fossil fuels aren't a thing of the past, it is the alternative energy source now as opposed to the main source. While flying cars still aren't a thing, electric and self-driving cars are the prolific mode of transportation for many, and technology continues to advance at an accelerated rate.

Magic, as well as meta-humans in the form of mutants and beings of lore, has been public for only a little while. While it has mixed reception in some communities still, it is - for the most part - accepted as something that is not going away, and people have learned to cope with the fact that humans really aren't the only sentient life out there; that reality itself is far more than what they previously thought.

Every day, you pass someone on the street - usually unaware there is anything more to them than what they appear. That's just as true for this universe. The barista that just made your coffee could be teaching herself how to use magic, or perhaps that "self-made millionaire" was born with the superhuman ability to see probabilities and uses it to pick just the right stocks to amass his fortune. Perhaps the guy that you always see working the night shift isn't actually as human as he appears.

Not everyone in the world can learn to use magic; some are born with innate powers, while others can study to learn it. Whether or not you can is something you are born with, or perhaps was thrust upon you by some external force. It is illegal in many countries to experiment on people, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, and sometimes pesky extradimensional beings will leave their mark after a visit - that was how this all began, after all.

But let's stick to the basics. There are 2 major categories all meta-humans fall under:

Those with innate magical abilities, and those that have the ability to learn to use magic.
From there, magic breaks down a bit further into a few more categories:

Nature - this covers all abilities that utilize elements, beasts, plant life, and/or even summon beings of such elements to you.

Personal - this covers abilities that come from the mind (psychics, telepaths, telekinetics, etc) or augment bodies (strength, speed, endurance, invisibility, shapeshifting, etc).

Intellect - this covers not just hyperintelligence, but also those with an innate knack for building complex and advanced devices.

Void - this covers powers akin to interdimensional access, such as teleportation, summoning/communicating with things beyond this world, extradimensional travel, and even drawing on powers from a dimension called the Void (top scientists are still trying to get a firm grasp on what that exactly is, but their best explanation currently is a realm of negative energy.)

Ki - this deals with the ability to manipulate the latent tangible energy found in all living objects and manipulate it for various purposes such as energy blasts, flight, and - in a few rare cases - healing.

Mutants - while previously believed to be the proper term for those born with the innate ability to use magic, it is far beyond that; aliens, beings of supernatural lore such as vampires, and people that were experimented on into being able to use magic all fit into this category. Mutants tend to already have a handle on how to use their natural powers, but some (particularly those that experimented on) do not.

History

While history in this world has unfolded much like our own, below are highlighted differences that have lead to where we are today.

- Early 1900s saw the first encounters with beings from other dimensions and the depths of the Void.

- Chaotic energies seeping from these locations lead to unrest and corruption of minds leading to the events that proceeded WW1.

- Uncontained locations where extradimensional beings appeared and through several of their continued presence continued to corrupt human minds.

- This corrupting influence indirectly resulted in the Holocaust.

- Both wars ended in much the same way, but lead to secret investigations of the appearance sites and containment efforts to prevent such issues again.

- 1952: The first sightings of magic and fantastical abilities reported

- Reports scattered around the globe varying from people creating fireballs to shooting blasts of energy to augmenting physical abilities, and more.

- 1955: The 1st Meta-Human Crisis

- Superpowered African Americans engaged as domestic terrorists to help protest segregation

- Crime syndicates use meta-humans to take over a number of cities across the US

- Legion of Hope created: a task force of sanctioned meta-humans designated to help combat criminal meta-humans

- 1958: Crisis ended through use of Legion of Hope

- The Legal Vigilante Association (LVA) created by the US government, used to oversee and sanction actions of meta-humans

-1960s saw a period of unrest, not only for those fighting for civil rights, but also with a growing distrust between humans and meta-humans

- Dr ML King became known as a powerful figure fighting for both civil rights unrests, becoming known as the first widely accepted and inspirational meta-humans with his gift for persuasion

- Dr King assassinated in the 70s as Nixon gains power.

- June 10th, 1976: 2nd Meta-human Crisis

- Elemental and other dimensional forces invade Earth

- Heavy losses incurred, but through coordinated effort Earth managed to win and sealed off gateways to prevent a second invasion.

- Throughout the 1980s, following the end of the 2nd Crisis, public opinion sharply declined toward meta-humans

- Meta-humans blamed for attracting the alien forces, and thus starting the war

- Most meta-humans try to live in secret to prevent discrimination and violence toward them.

- February 18th, 1993: US government, among others, discovered to be experimenting on humans to try to create meta-human mutants

- Determined to be lead by a meta-human (though there is still debate whether this is merely a scapegoat or not) public opinion further plummets for meta-humans

- Remainder of the 1990s sees continued unrest and simmering potential for another crisis or civil war

- September 11th, 2001: Hijackers attempt to crash planes into prominent US locations

- 2 meta-humans manage to stop the planes from hitting the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon with minor loss of life, and brave passengers down the plane destined for the White House.

- Public opinion shifts sharply

- Government and media focus on highlighting positive events surrounding meta-humans intervening to prevent loss of life, as well as Op Ed pieces from prolific public figures regarding how they have been living double lives hiding their meta-human status

- August 20th, 2003: Anepool Academy for the Gifted sanctioned by the LVA and opens its doors for the first time.

- Anepool Academy for the Gifted remains open and active, hosting students from around the world.

The Setting

We will be students at the Anepool Academy for the Gifted, a boarding school dedicated to teaching meta-humans not only standard school courses, but also helping them understand, control, and utilize their magic in productive ways. There are plenty of extracurricular opportunities outside of learning magic, and even their standard classes offer a wide range of interests outside of standard curriculum and magicks. They host students in 7th - 12th grade, and graduates have the same opportunities as those graduating standard schools.
The campus is enclosed and monitored, so sneaking onto and off of campus will be difficult (but not impossible, if you were to ask some alum). Students are assigned dorms based on gender, but recent years have seen some shift to that with transgendered students being offered housing in a newly constructed dormitory that is based on a gender neutral concept; students housed here will still share a dorm room with another student, but both students will be of the same gender identity.

Anepool is one of the top most prosperous cities on the east coast, and is known for it's food, diversity, and has recently become an economic center for the US. It consists of six boroughs - Lewis, Minks, Sphinx, Roldo, Polis, and Cannes.

Lewis

The largest borough, it sports a major residential section.
It is known for being ethnically diverse, while sporting a large Asian and black immigrant population.
Noted as one of the safest boroughs of the city, it's commonly said to be a great place to raise kids.
While it does sport commerce, most shops are department stores or small shops.

Minks

The most populated district, it is subject to gentrification for many years.
It is known for having an extremely active street life and lots of gang violence.
Minks, being the most populated, is known to be referred to by its two distinct sections - South Minks and North Minks.
South Minks is home to an affluent business sector and a great place for many aspiring to start large businesses to move to. It is also the home of Anepool Academy for the Gifted.
North Minks is, colloquially, a ghetto - known for its violence, as well as producing very talented drill artists.

Sphinx

Considered to be the upscale borough out of the six, it's known for its high rises and banking centers, as well as it's fashion, art, and entertainment destinations.
This is where the seat of the city's municipal government resides.

Roldo

Known to be the most violent borough, most of the city's organized crime is based here.
It has several street gangs, and almost all major criminal syndicates and organizations have roots here as well.
It's known to be the city's hub for illicit trading and black market dealings, especially for advanced weaponry and other illegal goods.

Polis

A small island off the coast of the city could be considered a town of its own - this happens to be Polis, the 5th district of Anepool.
It is known to be a fishing town, and is also known to be the quietest borough as it does not boast any real attractions aside from great fishing spots.
Many believe it to be cursed, as it is one of the many locations where otherworldly invaders first appeared.

Cannes

This borough was recently designated an experimental section created by the Anepool city council to be host exclusively to meta-humans.
Known for being the base for many major technology and manufacturing corporations, it makes start competition with North Minks for business ventures.

Some Groups of Note

Bioforst Comp. - A major tech manufacturer based in Cannes, they have a heavy focus on computers and phones and are seen as the company to watch regarding the next best in computing technology.

Reo Mafia Family - A major crime syndicate based our of South Minks, they are renown for their drug ring.

Big Baller Street Gang - A growing nuisance from North Minks, they worked as drug runners and enforcers for the Reo Mafia before starting to make a name for themselves as a more serious threat than petty thugs.

Legal Vigilante Association - With branches in every major city, it's no surprise they have a branch here as well. Their headquarters in Anepool is located in Sphinx, and closely advises the Anepool Academy as well as A.M.E.M.

Legion of Hope - Resurrected after the failed hijackings, the Legion of Hope keeps their headquarters in Anepool's Sphinx borough.

Anepool Ministry of Education and Meta-humans - Also located in the Sphinx borough of Anepool, the Ministry of Education and Meta-humans is a separate body trying to develop a program in association with other countries for regulating the education of meta-human youths. It works in conjunction with the standard city board of education to ensure education requirements for meta-human students are comparable to that of regular humans.

Nefarious League - A criminal association exclusively of meta-humans, it remains elusive to both the Legion of Hope and the LVA. Rumor has it their headquarters is based out of Roldo, but it has yet to be confirmed.

AnTech Comp. - A manufacturer with its primary plant in Minks, it has several plants across the country and dabbles in a little of everything, after growing and acquiring a few related industries before branching out. It's mainly known for its manufacturing of "next gen military tech" but has started becoming a household name for camping gear, and airsoft and paint ball guns and gear.

Rerah Labs - A bio-chemical company linked to the government scandal in '93, it has done its best to stay out of the news since then. It operates out of Cannes, and has been linked to several high profile mutants.

RVC Street Gang - Still minor leagues compared to the Big Baller street gang, they are still known to be the ones to go to if you need something boosted. They operate out of a garage in North Minks, but their base of actual illicit activity is unknown to the authorities.

Melynk Crime Family - A relatively mysterious organization based out of Cannes, they seem to have a leg up on most of their competition. Rumors have it the main family are meta-humans that have controlling stock in several businesses around Anepool, authorities have trouble getting any real dirt on the big players.

---

Like I said before, we'll be playing students at the Anepool Academy for the Gifted.

More information about character creation and further information regarding the setting and major players will be available if this garners enough interest to move into a proper OOC.

Phoenix Wing: New Dawn

Location: Phoenix Wing Guildhall

Interactions: Dalton @hatakekuro, Jarvis @MarshiestMallow

Nyssa blinked. “Fight?” She blinked again, but smiled a bit wider after a look around. “Oh, right. The fight. Your guild is putting on a show. That will be interesting to watch. Ariel said they have lots of different powers. Others are going there now, right? I know what a few of them smell like so at least I can find them that way.” She grinned.

“It was nice meeting you, Jarvis, Dalton. I look forward to future talks.” With a cheerful wave, she hopped off the barstool and headed off after the rest of the group leaving the guildhall for the show.

She wandered for a bit, occasionally stopping to admire some display in a store window. Every time she stopped, she put her nose to the air and sniffed. This human form didn’t catch all the scents in the air though. It couldn’t separate them the way the fox could. So she stopped at a relatively empty section and transformed with a little flip. She’d almost trotted away when she remembered the dress again. A bit of maneuvering, and she managed to get it looped around her neck like a scarf.

There, she thought. Another sniff, and she was on her way tracking Ariel’s not-lifemate-mate, Nolan. She’d spotted him leaving with the one that shouted about a fight, and that meant he was one of the ones fighting since he left before many others. But he was the one that she was tracking and if he turned red from a kiss by his not-lifemate-mate then he would surely turn red if he saw someone naked. People seemed uncomfortable about nudity.

Once more, she trotted off, sniffing the air every now and then until she finally found her way to the arena.

---

---

Location: Phoenix Wing Guildhall

Interactions: Jasmine @Lunarlord34, Elena/Percy @PandaBrady

“Of course,” Markovis nodded. Was he surprised by Jasmine’s offer? No. Would he likely take her up on that offer? It was uncertain. He didn’t truly see anything she could help with, but then again, if she wanted to help he could figure out something. Like just letting her serve while he just made sure he kept everything the proper temperature. Not a hard task, and certainly one she would likely do well.

He stepped out of the kitchen with the food for Trinity and headed over to where he’d last seen her, only to stop a few feet short. Had he been in the kitchen that long? Where did she go? She wouldn’t have just left knowing he was making her food.

Neil noticed the stoic member of their little trio step back out of the kitchen, and looked over to see a touch of puzzlement in Markovis’ eyes. “Yeah, she’s gone.”

“Where?”

Neil shrugged. “I don’t know. She got abducted.” He put a hand up almost instantly. There wasn’t any real shift in Markovis’ features, but the look in his eyes definitely suggested dark thoughts. “Sorry, poor choice of words. Ariel - you know, Nolan’s girlfriend? - showed up and grabbed her. She had something she needed Trinity to look at, and I think they’re likely going to end up at the event.”

Markovis nodded. “I see.”

Neil glanced back at Perry for a second. “Oh hey -” By the time Neil turned back to catch Markovis, the man had already disappeared back into the kitchen. He shrugged and turned back around to face his guildmate. “Well, it was going to be a long shot getting Mark to work with you anyways. But...” He offered Perry a smile. “My schedule is open. Sounds like a lark. So, how about you and I work together for this, hmm?”

Markovis stepped back into the kitchen and placed the dishes down on the counter. He looked at Jasmine. “Trinity is no longer here. Neil suggested she will be at the event. It appears most have left for it already. Were you planning to attend? I can escort you, and - if you would like - you could assist in serving the food, but there is no obligation.”

---

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Location: Outskirts of Shirotsume

Interactions: --

The Middle of the Night

That mission had been quite the cakewalk. Anthony was prepared for a long drawn out ordeal given he was dealing with missing kids and mysterious happenings around the town. Turned out they were related. Unfortunate, but at least he was able to give solace to the families of the missing kids, and solve why weird things were happening around the town. The kids understood they were dead and were trying - for the most part - to just communicate with their families; there were the two brats that seemed to enjoy torturing the town in general, but that sounded much in line with how the town viewed them before they went missing from what he heard. Maybe next time he’d pass on actually helping the families get closure and act as a medium for the kids and parents to say their final goodbyes. As much as he understood people liked that sort of thing, and as much as he knew that might be the right thing to do, he hated it. But - from what he saw - witches kinda needed some better optics. So for going in there with his card magic first, it was easier to work with a whole town dealing with some lingering spirits using his other powers than he figured it might be for a more well practiced witch to pull off their rituals. It didn’t mean he had to like it, or even feel like he needed a shower after all that crying and emotions, and the snot and ugliness that came with it.

He shivered just remembering the hug. A deep rumble in Kyros’s chest made him laugh. “Yes, that’s true.” He gently ran his hand through the lion’s mane. Emotions were never his thing. He was taught they were tools to be used against those that had them and that anger was the only one worth having; sadness and fear were useless to have and just cannon fodder for enemies. Over the past three years, through his meditations with Kyros and just generally exploring the ways witch magic worked, it was getting easier to not be so disgusted when faced with them. He always managed to fake the sympathy, but it wasn’t immediately revolting now. Growth, as Kyros put it.

“How about we get something to eat when we get back to town, huh? I know, I certainly would appreciate having something better than my cooking.” He laughed again when Kyros mewled quietly. The job paid well, with a little more on top. Why shouldn’t they splurge a little? Priscilla would get her cut for the guild, and he and Kyros could eat something good before reporting back. It wasn’t like they needed him at first light, right? It would take at least the rest of the night to get back, anyways.

* * *

Ria hummed softly to herself as she painted. She’d tried sleep, but when it didn’t come quickly she figured she might as well just do something. The chores were done. She needed a new book if she was going to read since she’d already worked her way back through the collection a second time this week. Sure, she could draw or even patch up her winter blanket - it needed to be done eventually - but painting just felt right.

“Oh, did I tell you I saw Micha in the market yesterday? He said Saddy and Kyoki were taking good care of him. He’s looking very well. He seems to be doing well too.” She giggled softly. “I know what you’re thinking. That dirty old man is just being nice to get a better look at you. Don’t you fall for his giles. You always said that whenever he’d come by the stand. But he’s just sweet. He even gave me the rose to give to you. You never did believe he came around to see you and not me. But that’s okay.” She sighed wistfully. “But he asked if I would make him another painting. He can’t travel much further than the farmer’s market, you know. Saddy says they all like my paintings. So I figure why not?”

She paused and shifted a little. It wasn’t necessary, but it was an absentminded habit. Minerva never needed her to move when she’d been alive, but she still did anyways. Minerva’s favorite spot was just to the side and behind where Ria had her easel set up, and now - on the side table next to the chair - was where Minerva remained.

“What do you think? It was my favorite place to go. Nice and peaceful. I -” She lost her smile for a moment. No, it was best not to think about that. After a hitch in her breath, she got it back. “You would have loved it.”

Ria started painting again. “Anyway, I finished with the latest batch of ripe berries. They’re all set for delivery first thing. Just like always.” She hummed softly to herself once again.

The witch and the lion had just left the diner when Anthony paused in his tracks. At the far end of the street, where the fruit vendors set up, a lilac haired woman caught his eye. She moved and smiled and certainly looked a lot like - it couldn’t be. What were the odds? For a long moment, he stared at the woman as she unloaded fruit from a cart. Maybe it was just one of his hallucinations. He’d thought he saw Astoria a month ago in the valley near Mt. Hakabe. A few months prior, it had been on a job that took him to the border of Seven. Before that, and before that - hell, there’d been the time last week he thought he saw her in the guildhall. At least that time he hadn’t drawn too much attention to the specter since she’d been arguing with her brother; if he knew for a fact one wasn’t there, then the other wasn’t either.

But here...there were people - townsfolk he saw on his trips through - that were talking with her, responding, interacting. Was it just that he didn’t come to this side of town so early in the morning? Perhaps it was just a partial illusion. Someone with a similar facial structure just getting superimposed with her hair and eyes. Yeah, that had to be it. But the longer he watched her, the more uncertain he was.

Kyros nudged him. Anthony blinked and looked away. It felt like for a second but when he looked back, the girl was gone. “I -” The witch looked back out at the crowd, searching for a trace of the girl he’d been watching only to spot a cart heading out of town from the market. He looked back at the lion beside him. “Look, I know they’ll probably be wondering where I am, but...” He started walking off in that direction. “I have to make sure.” This wasn’t the first time he’d chased a mirage, but maybe...maybe it would be the last.

* * *

Ria hummed to herself as she finished putting the cart away. Zek had been just as sweet as ever with little Cassidy excitedly chittering away about the latest cute cat she’d seen. This time, it was a grey tabby no bigger than her fist - or so she said. Perhaps it was good Cassidy was talking so much, though. It meant she didn’t get distracted by Ellie being at the stand to show off baby Xavior instead of unloading the latest batch of fruit and getting paid; Zek would have made sure she didn’t get too distracted, but it would still delay what should be a quick delivery. She’d have to mention that to Minerva, but that would have to wait for a bit.

She swayed with each step, in rhythm to the tune she hummed, as she headed into the gardens. If she hadn’t set out first thing, she would have already watered the garden. Right now wasn’t too late, yet. A few small clouds formed where she motioned, and drizzled controlled amounts over the rows of plants and bushes with very little effort. If any spell should come naturally to her at this point, it was one that she used almost exclusively for the past few years.

“Astoria?”

The rain stopped and clouds dissipated almost instantly. Her mismatched eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat. She stopped moving, and stood stiff as stone. You’re just hearing things. How long had it actually been since she last slept? Surely not that long. She had trouble falling asleep last night. Usually -

“Astoria Ocenade? I-is that you?”

She almost didn’t want to turn around. Her head refused to turn initially, so she forced her whole body to pivot. But there, on the other side of the fence, stood an apparition from years ago. “Y-you’re d-...I-I saw...” Tears pricked in her eyes before she closed them and shook her head.

Anthony vaulted the fence and picked his way around the plants to get to her. He hesitated to touch her. After a tentative withdraw of his hand, he wrapped his arms around his long lost friend and pulled her into a tight hug. “Shh, hey. It’s okay. I’m not dead, see? You don’t have to cry,” he whispered against her head. Of all the places, of all the times, he found her here? How was it possible he’d lived nearby for this long without ever discovering this?

“A-Anthony...I - you - how -?” Ria pulled back enough to look up at him. Her eyes sparkled as she sniffled and fought to choke back the tears.

“It’s...complicated. Here, come on, can we go inside? You should dry those eyes and calm down a bit. Then we can talk.” He offered her a soft smile.

She nodded, and smiled back, before leading him inside. “Here, um, ha-have a seat...” She motioned to the couch as she headed for the kitchen section of mostly open floor plan of the house. “I - You still drink tea, right? Because I need some tea. I think that will help.”