Fandom Soul Eater: F.A.T.E

[QuirkyAngel]

Jarvis Briseis - DWMA, Lot C

Any response Jarvis would’ve given to Zari’s brief, almost non-sensical, introduction was cut off as Midori piggy-backed off the last line given by the upset-looking meister to continue talking. Instead, Jarvis closed his mouth, gave the boy hugging his knees a long, considering look, before his gaze drifted back to the autonomous 2-star, absorbing the information provided by the instructor like a silent sponge…all the while his mind worked to piece together the fragmented clues provided by the socially awkward boy.

There were two reasons Jarvis could of as to why a child would kill their own parent:

1. The child was evil/psycho.
2. The parent was abusive.

Given what he’d seen of Zari’s soul, Jarvis was inclined to believe the latter…though there was nothing that said the answer couldn’t be both. The human mind was quite fragile, after all. Azariah—whose name wasn’t really Azariah—didn’t strike Jarvis as the sanest meister he’d ever worked with…granted he’d only ever had one other meister…and she’d been quite insane (overcome by madness) when he’d killed her, such that her soul had become suitably “inhuman”. Did that excuse his actions? By DWMA’s standards, probably. However, that didn’t absolve the fact that he’d killed his former partner.

They were all killers.

Prior to becoming a bloodsucker, things had been simple to Jarvis; Black and white. Follow the orders of the DWMA to slay “evil” and protect the balance of the world. However, after stepping foot onto the other side, and coming to understand those that chose to walk in the night—who DWMA would be happy to drive a stake through—the lines that divided “good” and “evil” became blurred. Who was he to judge a killer for having a killed? An idiot for making mistakes? Every made mistakes. Everyone had their own reasons for doing what they did. Zari had “cried for plucking his father’s eyes out”…and probably had his own reasons for killing his father…just as Jarvis had for killing Atli. Was it right? Was it wrong? That was for a god to decide.

Jarvis wasn’t a god.

He didn’t fancy playing the judge either. Too much effort.

At the end of the day, he was just as selfish as any of them.

Letting out a relieved, happy sigh when Midori Hoshi called an end to the F.A.T.E session for the day, Jarvis glanced at the blonde, tattooed meister still hugging his knees. “Well? Whaddya want to do?”

The ‘homework’ Midori provided didn’t really affect Jarvis much as he was already intimately familiar with his soul space. It was his soul, after all. He’d been in there plenty of times with Atli…and already learned the very first step of ‘Calm Mind Training’—or the bloodsucker equivalent—in order to reign in his bloodlust. It was one of the first things Elvira had taught him—to meet with and accept the beast within. To tame it, so that he didn’t let the feral, basal, hunger get the better of mind. Bloodsuckers who went around dining wherever and whenever they wanted like savage animals usually ended up dead, after all—either by DWMA or other Vampire Hunters.

Jarvis…wasn’t especially textbook smart and, while he did know what Calm Mind Training was (from 16 years ago), the exact details on how it was traditionally done was lost to him. He only knew what he did by instinct to keep the bloodlust contained and satisfied. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t occasionally feed it either.

Perhaps if Atli had been better at Calm Mind Traning, she wouldn’t have been beaten by her madness. Perhaps if she had confided in him instead of keeping her infection to herself, it wouldn’t have gotten so bad. Jarvis didn’t like to dwell on what-ifs. However, the similar situation between his current meister and his previous one called for a bit of introspection. This was the second time Jarvis had to deal with having a mad meister. The coincidence would’ve almost been funny, if it weren’t so bothersome. Yet things were different as well. Unlike Atli, who ran away on her own, who hadn’t wanted to hurt or risk contaminating anyone in the school she loved, Zari had asked for help.

Zari had come to DWMA seeking help.

Red eyes flickered over to where Zosar approached the Blue Reaper’s apprentice, idly watching them, though his words for Zari. “Calm Mind Training sounds like it would help you out immensely. If you need assistance with it, let me know. I did tell you it took a shitty meister to abandon their weapon, but the reverse is also true. I may be a bloodsucker, but I’m still a proud demon weapon…one who scored a solid A in his Weapons Ethics Course.”

Back when he’d been a N.O.T student.

Funny how he barely remembered the Calm Mind stuff, but remembered the random class he’d taken in when he’d been in N.O.T just learning about what it meant to be a weapon of DWMA. Now Jarvis was neither a N.O.T student nor an E.A.T student. Now, he was a F.A.T.E student…along with all the stigma attached to it. So long as it didn’t impede his path to becoming a Deathscythe though, such things, like people’s opinion of him, didn’t bother him. Not anymore. While he was fairly young for a bloodsucker, 33 was far too old (in human years) to care about what a couple of little girls thought of him.

Or little boys.

He had little doubt that once he returned to DWMA’s Boys’ Dormitory, to get his much-needed nap, the students living there would recognize him for what he was…if they hadn’t already. At the very least, the meisters probably did. Unlike Valerija, Jarvis hadn’t yet learned soul protect…or whatever blood magic the 600-year-old vampire used to keep herself blended amongst humans. Then again, that only applied if they used soul perception…and were at least decent with it. Jarvis didn’t go out of his way to look especially bloodsucker-like, after all. Unless the individual knew the signs, Jarvis’s race wasn’t entirely obvious either.

“Though, I normally like to do this sort of training within the comforts of my coffin….” Or at least indoors where the sun wasn’t glaring down at him. Jarvis stretched and yawned before peeking back at Zari. “...which reminds me…you do know what a bloodsucker is, don’t you…?”

It hadn’t escaped Jarvis that Zari seemed to think blood was unhealthy for him. Not everyone knew what a bloodsucker was—especially if they’ve never seen one before and had no education about it to speak of—but if his partner didn’t know that at least that much about him, it would probably cause unnecessary hassles down the line. As much as Jarvis would like to spend his free time napping, he wasn't so lazy that he would make things more difficult for himself later on. Or avoid work. Possibly put in the minimal amount of effort required to finish, but he'd still do it if he knew he had to. Not like he'd die from lack of sleep anyway.

Prizzy Kriyze

(mentioned: Sir Les Paul The Regal Rper Kyuubey )

 

[Merciless Medic]

Zelda Zemo

After their speech, Zelda was aware there would have been quite a few people who would voice their opinions. Become introspectively quiet about why the assignment was what it was. Voice how much they disliked it. Voiced how easy it was and how shallow it could be. Voiced that it could be one of the reasons why they were here in F.A.T.E. to begin with, as some Type A's she was familiar with were here for manipulation, just like everyone's favorite residential rich boy.

She watched as the giantess, known as Nadia on her file, spoke with her new Weapon, Dani. Explaining her name probably. Zelda was near enough to catch most of the normal level of conversation. But it was nothing to focus her attention on. What did catch her attention was the rich kid, who went on a rant. Honestly, with how upset he was, Zelda would have scoffed. If he didn't like it, they can always add more things to do to the list. But the boy was in pain. He was acting out because of it. She was well aware what the bell's resonance had done to them, and well aware of what it felt like being targeted by a being of Madness only to have an expertly skilled user of wavelength reject the connection. She didn't mind that he was upset, more so a bit disappointed that he felt the need to put it into something less productive like arguing with them.

Double the work load? You're a Utility Meister. Get used to it.

She had no sympathy for him except for the pain he was going through. She didn't think his outburst was hardly appropriate, but he at least did do the homework assigned to him. A very slight curl of a corner of her lips, barely seen, played on her features as she decided to give more homework. In fact, she waited. She waited until everyone wanted to leave. To show that they meant business.

The pink-haired Weapon spoke up, the sword telling Thaddeus what he could do instead. Made sense. While Zelda caught the disapproving, confused look on the weapon when the assignment was brought up, she did at least try to be on their mentors' side. Intriguing.

Kindergarten? Are you asking me for more homework?

Thankfully for Zelda, Emmett came forward. He de-escalated the situation so well, something that Zelda was actually proud of. There were times that she would wonder if her partner was truly incompetent, but in moments like these she found herself pushing those thoughts away for something a bit more positive. That's really what this assignment was about. Opening up the gateway for future connections with your partners. This isn't just about getting to know them. This is about getting to know who they were, find their strengths and weaknesses, and become a stronger team for it. Still, Thaddeus was rather honest in his scrutiny, something she didn't mind.

She listened to Emmett calm the situation down, only to then catch Noah's look. Of course, he wouldn't trust them, as it said in his file. She hoped someone level-headed like Prudence or ambitious like Gauss would help him see that you don't have to put trust in someone in order to work under them. She watched as Noah, followed by Prudence then Gauss caught up with him, sharing their own opinions on the matter with each other. Good. Good.

She watched as Nadia questioned Gauss about his partners and his trust with them, who just wanted to leave. Gauss seemingly ignored her, and Nadia asked if there was anything else, showing she had no idea how to proceed further with the assignment.

Oh, yes there was.

Keeping her emotions to herself, Zelda's face was stoic as she spoke out, her voice clear and cut through the air like a chill breeze. "Before you all leave, there is something I'd like to tack on. Because of your response to this assignment, I have decided to add something else. It doesn't have anything to do with resonation." She looked to Emmett before proceeding, looking back at the others, especially those trying to leave, her voice clear for even those further away. However, most of what she said were towards those who were still presently in front of her. "I understand where Thaddeus is coming from. You don't really get to actually know anyone in just a day, but that's not what the assignment is about. I will give you all a message to your devices with this additional assignment and how to do it properly. If you have any questions, we are here."

She then fell silent, not adding anymore to the discussion.

Interactions: Suzu, Gauss, Prudence, Nadia, Dani, Emmett
Mentions: N/A
Prizzy Kriyze Sir Les Paul Mqueserasera RedArmyShogun EmperorsChosen

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[Merciless Medic]

Noah Wiley​

Location: Lot C's forest, heading towards DWMA's Infirmary
Interactions: Prudence ( Mqueserasera ), Gauss ( Sir Les Paul )
Mentions: Zelda and Emmett

"We don't know them well enough to trust them."

Prudence's words echoed in Noah's mind. Yeah, he didn't know them, but it didn't make it any better. He, like others outside of the DWMA, held some stigma with the academy that Noah swore was more like a monopoly in the US. He simply looked at her from the side when the monochrome girl said she was looking forward to working with him, and together as a team. He just grunted affirmatively in response.

Noah's pace was slow on purpose, making sure all of his partners came with him and caught up to him. He would ignore everything else that was said afterwards, but Gauss kept talking. And talking. Of course, it didn't hurt to hear his side of things. Living and working alongside Sara, it was common to hear differing views and he's grown a little curious since. Noah just shrugged as Gauss finished up. "Flattery is based on truths. Why would ya lie when flatterin' anyone?"

A counter argument.

His lip curled in disdain as Gauss said they came back willingly. Noah shook his head. "The only reason why I'm in F.A.T.E. was because Sara wanted to come back'n' work as an agent for the DWMA again. I wanted to help her, but the DWMA saw my behavior as a problem 'n' had me join anyway to get the therapy I needed. I came here as an obligation to my partner. I followed in her footsteps to make things easier on the both of us. We just decided to part ways because it would be easier, plus more experience 'n' more people to get to know."

As for the rest of the conversation, Noah barely had any grasp of business in order to make the conversation anything more than just him questioning how it came to that idea. He just shrugged at his final statement. "Well, given your soul's rather transparent unlike mine, pretty sure I can start trustin' ya anyway. It's the mentors I have an issue with. I can't trust anyone who's worked within the MIBVI crises 'n' be so smug like they just completed life's hardest achievement. That ain't a fuckin' video game."

Then, he heard the unmistakable voice of Zelda. As they were leaving. He stopped and turned, amazed at how well Zelda's voice traveled, yet he had a bit of a hard time hearing her. She said something about giving them more stuff to do.

Oh death, more homework?

Noah gave Gauss a side-eye glance. "More stuff to do? Hooooraayyyy." Noah's sarcasm can probably be seen dripping from his tone. "Let's hope nobody gets pissed 'n' get'cha for havin' 'em add more cuz it's so simple. Otherwise, I'll have to shock'em. Which," a sickening grin spread across his face. "That doesn't sound too bad." He pivoted on his heel after not hearing anymore from Zelda and walked back towards the direction they were previously taking. "Welp, let's hope no one chases us. Wonder what it is that she's havin' us do."

 

[Merciless Medic]

Sara Middleton​

Location: Lot C, near Zelda and Emmett, then to Zosar, then back to her original group again.
Interactions: Suzu, Zosar (brief The Regal Rper ), Zari (brief goodbye wave Prizzy Kriyze ), Adra (brief goodbye wave x2 Sybil ), Jarvis (brief goodbye wave x3 QuirkyAngel ), Midori and Emira (more brief goodbye waves x5 Sir Les Paul ), Adrian (another goodbye wave x6 Sir Les Paul ), Emmett ( Prizzy Kriyze )
Mentions: Gauss, Prudence, Dani, Nadia

As the teams were assigned, Sara felt a twinge of irritation pull at her heart. She wouldn't be in the same team as Zosar. She looked longingly at the man, only to wave with a huge smile when he called out for her and Noah. She wanted to go up to him and give him a hug, but she reined herself in. She had to stay as her new mentors were to speak. It was then that she realized there was something else in her hand. She didn't know when they got there, but they were probably there when Suzu transformed. Either way, looking down at the strange earbuds, she put one in, but found that her hearing didn't change. Pulling them back out, she noticed that they were Magitech earbuds. Confused but likely thinking they were for Suzu's ringing wavelength, she decided to keep a hold of them so she may ask Suzu about them later.

It didn't feel great, hearing how Cyrus had little faith in this new system. Lord Death the Second must have enough faith to fund this project, and hearing his personal Death Scythe disliking it enough to criticize it was something she didn't exactly like. However, she did agree with him. She was surprised nobody 'normal' wanted to partner up with them. Were they really that bad? Were they unpairable with normal people?

Maybe with those like Madness, but that's what people like those with Healing Wavelengths and those with Sound Mind Training were for. Were there really not enough people who wanted to help them?

That was a depressing thought. But maybe they were just too busy doing other things. They may not have time and they may not actually be suited for taking care of people. Yeah, they have other things to do. She was aware that those who came here were probably seen as lost causes if those who could help didn't know how to deal with people in these two groups. It hurt, but it was a nicer thought than just people completely writing them off as non-existent because they were scorned. She watched as the Hoshi and the strange pink-haired girl who was hugging Suzu earlier had Adra, Zosar, the workbench, Jarvis, and Azariah as their group. Maybe it was a good idea that Suzu wasn't among them. One had too good hearing and the other seemed to have gotten hurt by her ringing earlier. While Sara ignored it earlier, she could still remember people screams echoing in her head. Those that also suffered Madness probably found themselves struggling to fight against it if they somehow enjoyed their Madness.

Whatever the case, Sara will protect Suzu from those who would try to hurt her. If that put her at odds with those against her friends - Zari, Jarvis, and the others - then so be it. She would much rather protect her Weapon than just let a poor girl have to defend herself against an insurmountable force.

Those who were a part of her team - herself and Suzu, her former partner, that shield girl, that rich man, Nadia, and the pink-haired sword were among them - had other mentors. A strange woman and an even stranger man who seemed like he just woke up. Still, they both held the air of responsibility and she actually found herself warming up to them quickly. Zelda seemed harsh, but that was okay. Sometimes, it was nice to have a firm rock to anchor on to. Emmett seemed very easy-going, but that was fine, too. That meant he was very kind and can smoothen the sharp edges of his partner. Seeing that they were 3-Stars, she wouldn't have doubted it at all. The woman smelled like the cusp between winter and autumn, the chill of night air, and cold metal. Emmett smelled like spicy flowers on a spring day, and then sometimes she's reminded of a beach. So relaxed. Yet, he smelled of other strange scents she's never smelled of before. Who was he? What were those scents? She couldn't help but think drugs, but surely he wouldn't abuse substances, right? Still, she's heard of this Emmett being under Professor Davis, so maybe he can shed some light on these earbuds and maybe make some more if it will benefit the entire team.

Either way, it was a relief to know that these two mentors didn't mind the program and actually think it was a good idea. The fact that they'll be helped and pushed to better themselves just got her excited all over again, her soul buzzing with a thrill before she calmed herself down to help Suzu in the resonance so she didn't completely overwhelm her.

The whole compliment thing confused her though. Well, she already thought of several positive traits with Suzu. Then it dawned on her. It was establishing a rudimentary connection with her partner. Hey, that was cool.

They wanted the group to trust them. The fact that Zelda and Emmett were used against the MIBVI and Outlaw Witches at such young ages - it seemed - that Sara couldn't help but think that being under their tutelage was going to be great. She knew Noah wouldn't have liked them all that much though, considering his past.

The voices of the other group, while further away, can be heard crystal clear with Sara's hearing. Swiveling an ear towards the group, she can hear their stories. Putting away the little conversations that were happening in her group (even though it was interesting to hear Nadia had a more Russian sounding name), she was able to hear the stories made by everyone but Emira.

She felt general sympathy for Midori. The life he led and then was promptly taken from him by a sorcerer before being given a second chance for stuff he likely didn't commit was awe-inspiring and upsetting to hear. She wished she could give him a hug, let him know that he wasn't a horrible person, let him know that someone appreciates him for trying to lead a better life, even if it was confusing. She didn't know what it was like being half dead or being a golem, but she can at least figure it was a sad existence, something she heard in his tone sometime in the speech.

That was when she heard Thaddeus from beside her disliking the assignment they were given. She must have missed a good portion of it focusing on Midori's story as she just heard the last bit of what he said. However, it didn't take a genius to figure that he was a Type A given his attitude and that he was upset that the assignment seemed too easy. She lost interest as Dani tried fighting his opinion, Emmett de-escalating the argument, and Noah's new partners leaving the area. She ignored it as she listened to Adra's story. While Sara was good with multi-tasking, she can always ask for clarification from Suzu later about what happened in her group.

Adra's story was nothing new, but it was good hearing it from her nonetheless. Sadly, the group was too far for her to accurately scent them and understand their actual emotions to it all, but she can imagine Adra was irritated she had to talk about herself.

Zosar, on the other hand, was something she was treated to. His story. Jacob Straugg sounded somewhat familiar, but she never knew the guy. Now knowing it was just his alias, Zosar Raith being his full name, and that he was a traitor... Sara's head was completely turned to the other group as she held worry in her heart for him. She was treated to the story of his mission, what had happened to get him to fail the mission, and that his mistake caused him to be left behind, fighting to gain the trust from DWMA because his own people won't be coming back for him. His own code ripped him away from his former family. His story moved her to tears, and she had to quickly wipe away a tear before she showed anything to the others. He just wanted to be treated like anything else that wasn't underneath a second-rate citizen. She will gladly give him that support, vowing in her own heart that she'll make Zosar feel wanted, even if it was just her giving him that much-needed support.

It was thanks to Zosar's story that she was invested to learn about the other group. Adrian's was more of just not caring to listen to rules and hurting his allies. She understood that tunnel vision. She got affected by it sometimes, too. The sympathy she held for Adrian wasn't as immense as it was for Zosar, but she wanted to make everyone her friend, no matter what. And that meant understanding them all to the best of her ability.

As for Jarvis, she didn't realize how tragic his life was either. He had to kill his own Madness-infected Meister? After how long they've been together? She didn't know if it was just depression he was going through that made him lack the motivation to continue, only doing so by his partner's long-dead will, but it was tugging at her heartstrings. Technically, that meant she was still alive in his heart. But the fact he had to eat her soul... She wanted to give him a hug, too. But she didn't know how well he liked being touched, especially after Suzu hurt him accidentally.

As for Zari, she listened to his strange tale. He plucked his own dad's eyes out? What did his dad do to him? He needed help and everyone was dead? Again, the pang of sympathy and a longing to help him, nearly as strong as what she felt for Zosar, moved her. Her body rocked a bit on her feet as she felt upset that they had to go through all that.

When she refocused her attention on her own group, she noticed that Noah, Prudence, and Gauss had already made headway leaving the lot, and Zelda was speaking up about a new assignment since people thought their one assignment was too simple. She returned her attention to the other group and felt her feet moving in that direction, hearing how much Midori wanted to see everyone succeed and explaining about Soul Space. Was that also what Zelda was going to have them do? Soul Spaces? She technically knew what her soul wavelength 'looked' like, but she didn't think she's ever seen her own Soul Space. The fact that they were likely to learn Calm Mind Training was an interesting treat.

Still, this wasn't her group. She made sure to stay away from Zari and Jarvis, so as to not incur any wrath towards Suzu. She was only going to come in and then leave. She made it to Zosar as he was asking Emira about why she was needing to be trained to be wielded, and asking to show what she meant in a demonstration. That meant they were leaving!

Being quick, she appeared before Zosar, the bell's red and white strand around her shoulders as she held the top of the bell. Smiling wide and her tail wagging, she went in for a sudden hug, enjoying how surprised he was that she even appeared in the first place. "I just came by to say good luck and I hope we can see each other again later. I got your back, even if we are in different teams. Anyway, I gotta go, good bye." It was interesting, smelling him to be so surprised with such a sweet, awkward, happy smile told her that he didn't expect her to do this. Slipping away before he hugged back, she waved to him, then to Emira and Midori, then to Zari, Jarvis, Adrian and Adra with an apologetic and sympathetic smile for Suzu's loud ringing before running off into her own group.

Her presence was so quick, that it was likely no one would be able to say anything to her that wasn't just a few words. She had to get back as she didn't know how strict Zelda was.

As she returned, she ran up to Emmett. Looking at her earbuds, she walked up to him and smiled up to him. "Hello, sorry about that, had to say goodbye to a friend. Anyway, I know I can just ask my partner about these, but I tried putting them on and they did nothing to block any sound. I was wondering if you knew anything about them and, if they have anything to do with Suzu's ringing wavelength and just blocking that, if we can make copies for our team?" Thinking ahead and being considerate, things that Sara always thought about. She hoped Suzu wouldn't be too upset that she went to someone who can make more of them. Better to ask one person than asking two when she can just knock two birds with one stone.

 

[Mqueserasera]

PRUDENCE PONTMERCY
Location: DWMA - Lot C
Mentions: Zelda, Sara( Merciless Medic )
Interaction: Gauss ( Sir Les Paul ), Noah ( Merciless Medic )​

“I don’t see what’s so bad about flattery,” Prudence commented on the exchange between Thaddeus and Noah. “People like it when they’re flattered. And people who flatter get some benefits out of their flattering. It’s a win-win game. Isn’t that enough?” She found that to be true enough, and obviously so. Many people aren’t so willing to accept this truth, but it was still a safe enough opinion to share without getting herself into an argument, so she thought.

“And I think Thaddeus is right,” she continued while matching Noah’s slow pace, her tone just as evenly and unhurried. “There isn’t much point in trusting our mentors. I’m a Weapon. My job’s not all that mentally taxing. I follow my Meister, and by that extension, our superior’s orders. And I suppose that’s all there is to it.” Like a good little soldier. In truth, if Cyrus were to tell her to go on a mission with a certain chance of failure and death, she would start packing right away. It wasn’t as if there was much else to live for. One does what one must in life. Now that she thought about it, if that’s what honor, duty and morals are all about, then those lofty things didn’t seem so incomprehensible after all.

But sometimes, though rarely, there were small occurrences that puzzled her about the simplicity of it all. She looked at Noah as he appeared to be one such case. She asked, rather innocently, and despite herself, “You’re a strange one, Noah. I don’t see what’s easier about being separated from your Meister.” Experience? What for exactly? She mused on it for a moment, then “’More people’…? Are you looking for a replacement for your Meister then?”

In the span of a year, Prudence had been passed over from Meister to Meister. She had held no loyalty for any of them. It hardly mattered anyway. But she sensed it, vaguely as she could as someone inept at reading people’s feelings, that the partnership between this boy and the dog-eared Meister was something far more than a Meister-Weapon partnership. That was what puzzled her. Can one so easily move on from that kind of relationship for some abstract novelty? It was clearly none of her business. Yet it irked her.

Just then, before the answer could come, Zelda’s voice reached them from behind. Prudence mirrored Noah and halted just long enough to listen to what their more respectable mentor had to say. Her reaction was rather lacking. “Something tells me it won’t be that much of a hassle anyway, judging from the first of our assignments.” And in almost the same breath as Noah, she turned and resumed their little walk towards the infirmary.

 

[Sybil]

Adrasteia Chandrice

They were all some shade of fuck up. Adrasteia made the mental note that her suspicions were correct hearing the many admissions of guilt or apathy. Jarvis seemed to largely be unmotivated… Zosar was trying to be better than he was… Adrian was insubordinate… and Zari was just as nutty as she pegged him. Compared to some of them she even felt normal, a thought that made her smile just a little. After all her treatments maybe she was improving if she could feel normal.

She, however, was disregarding most of their stories right out of the gate after a few moments of hearing them. Sure confirming her initial analysis of these individuals was satisfying, but it held little more than that to her. She didn’t care about past behavior or incidents. Hell she barely could care about what someone’s species was. She couldn’t muster the emotions to judge someone on seemingly irrelevant things she never saw, preferring to put new people at a even playing field. She instead judged them all by their current actions, which of course meant first interactions could poison her views. Hell, with Midori, out of everyone in Paean she had no issues with the fact he was not human. The fact midori was a golem didn’t bother her, what bothered her was his attitude. An attitude which seemed to have… matured somewhat to her relief.

As she thought to herself, Sara made a quick appearance and disappearance. While it was mostly positive, the weapon paid her little heed, their interactions being too short and charged to really say much to the meister. In fact she pulled out her phone to mess with to avoid acknowledging Sara. As she messed with her screen, however, she heard her name but a few moments later. She looked up, her eyes looking at Midori with restrained discomfort, her gut reaction not able to be hidden. It would take time to heal that wound.

She would respond, however not until the group started walking and whispering it to herself. “…. Yeah I’ll fuckin join. Sure.” She had nothing to lose, and every card in her deck would enhance her chances of climbing the ladder of growth.

Definitely not in this program for fuckin’ social circles…

She would follow with the small group, watching the meister she ended up with now attempting to interact with the one girl she had noticed lurking and not interacting… Emira? Probably her name, she was introduced a handful of minutes ago by the administrator of this program. It seemed they had some issues, because not three seconds later after their initial contact he seemed to be wincing. Not exactly a good sign, seeing as it wasn’t supposed to hurt. Not normally. Since this was supposedly to teach Adra about seals and calm mind, she assumed something was wrong with the girl’s soul or her wavelength…

Or maybe the meister isn’t all he puts himself up to be… could be either.

coded by: @s e v e n​

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Interacts: Sir Les Paul
Mentions: The Regal Rper Merciless Medic Kyuubey​

 

[RedArmyShogun]

Nadia Semyonov - Daniella Ethalyn
Location: DWMA Lot C - Deaths Hollow Apartment Building​

Spoiler: A meeting of Spirits... or Spirit of a sort.

Given the two had nothing more to say, and the trio she did not care to respond much towards them. With a wave and a snort of sorts, she walks off, beckoning Dani to follow. That other one seemed a prickly sort, the woman she swears she knew from somewhere but could not place it, still she could talk to her later, that did not need to happen right now. A text showed up on her phone soon after, asking, or tasking them with knowing what there Soul Room was like, grunting a bit she would deal with that later.

“We shall have a nice little chat, some spirits and some food, I think. My place unless you wish to go to yours once I get the things I need.. Who knows maybe we are in the same complex, I live on an upper floor though. And yes, I am aware of your age, but most laws do not apply to those in the DWMA, you could even drive before now without a license if you wished to… Though more trouble than it is worth to not get a license.”

Glancing over to her new Meister, Dani somewhat begrudgingly turned to follow. Nadia seemed to be turning this into a little party. Dani had no issue with passing off shallow compliments. It wasn’t as if the mentors specified that it needed to be that deep or that they needed to get to know each other. Though, it seemed the woman had made up her mind, and she was offering free food and alcohol.

“Never really had an interest in alcohol before,” Dani remarked. Her mental and spiritual health only really began on a decline again after her brother’s passing. “Hm. Nice little chat.”

“Indeed.” Nadia says in terse reply as she leads them off, with the shorter route back and no need to kill time, they were in the “old city” full of haphazard construction and middle ages european styled architect, at odds with the new city that had taken hold of large swaths of Death City, a stark contrast that had likely been here as long as as the school, or rather the initial foundation of it. A relic of a bygone era, but it was among the more DWMA Agent friendly homes and apartments in the area with reasonable prices and varying levels of comfort and accommodation, with rent being low or high and the walls peeling paint or being well painted within the same single structure.

As Nadia led them on it would quickly dawn upon and be confirmed with Dani that one of her fears or maybe a hope was confirmed, Nadia’s off handed comment was true.. Widing past old streets, shops, restaurants and towers, they came upon what looked to be an old apartment complex structure that looked like something out of Old New York with a medieval facade, stark white walls, windows and Six entryways across the white painted building, with its red shingled roof standing four floors tall. People were coming and going and it was known that the rooms on the top floor were more spacious or accommodated than the lower floor by those that lived here, while not as massive as a modern apartment complex the size and total of 50 Rooms made it easy to see how one could not notice they lived here with others in the team and the small lifts and stairwells gave one plenty of space and ways out without coming upon another soul till the 1st floor if they wished.

It also had a basement and cellars from the days the apartment complex was more of an Inn, while it served little purpose now, the main desk was still manned, with a wrinkly old lady or her daughter behind it. Though in practice they mostly watched TV and held onto packages delivered to the tenants. Every so often the “Main” Kitchen would see use during the holidays with the main hall and dining room still operational and open to the Public. Nadia however did not speak much to them, though recalling their names as they entered the building. Laura and Emma Sullivan, the elder and the younger respectively, with the Apartment simply called, “Old Deaths Hollow.”

“...Fuck me…” Dani murmured to herself. The realization crept upon her slowly as the pair walked until finally they arrived. This was her apartment complex. Hopefully, Nadia was the only surprise neighbor. “How long have you lived here exactly?”

“Hmm.. On the upper Floor I have a room on the fourth. What you too?” Thinking about that, she was now a bit concerned, how correct was her prediction? “Hmm.. A few years, maybe four or five. I’m not here often though with missions.. Well till now at least, and I usually do not care to involve myself with the neighbors.”

“...Not the upper, I’m in the middle,” Dani replied with a sigh. A few years. That meant they had somehow missed each other. Though with what the woman said, it seemed she wasn’t around too much and Dani was more proactive as well when Mikey was around. She supposed it was possible. “I’m not very sociable either, surprise surprise.”

Stepping forward, she pauses a moment to look at the taller woman. “Well, your room, yeah?”

“Before the day is out, more of our group will end up living here I bet, now that I think of it, there is a rumor of a werewolf.”

With that said, she shrugs, giving a nod. “Yes, but we may head to your place, mine may come as a surprise to you.. Or maybe not.” With that she leads them upwards along the stairs in one of the leftmost entrances and makes their way past the desk, the old lady giving a nod. Universally all of the room doors were closed, occupants out or in, at times a person was seen here and there but they make it up to the 4th floor with little incident, fewer rooms were here than on the lower floors. “I used to live on the second and then the third floor, when I made Two Star I came to the 4th.. Not like I spend money on much.” She adds in offhandedly. Unlocking the door, her room had a table, some chairs, a bed and a music player, among other things, all of them however were antiques, beyond was a doorway where the outline of a small kitchen and another door could be seen.

“Please stop talking.” Dani said in exasperation, honestly worried more of the Russian’s predictions would come to pass.

Following her, Dani didn’t know why it would be a surprise. Her room was fairly normal, save for the antiques. The girl shrugged a bit as she stepped in. She didn’t really want to go to her place, especially if the woman started asking questions about the stuff in there that obviously wasn’t hers.
“We’re already here. No point in going back and forth, is there?” Dani asked, stepping inside. “What exactly was I supposed to be shocked by?”

“Hmm.. Fair enough, have a seat, though if you break anything I may break you.” With a slight stressing on the word, Nadia walks off, to take her headdress off, laying it on her bed as she motions to the chairs.

“Call it a ritual, we shall have a talk, some Vodka and some food. When all is done I will even help you walk to your room or you can pass out on the couch. Spirit Room visiting or all this will not be possible and doesn’t tell me anything. So Dani, if you care to stay we’ll just talk a bit and drink, then I may decide some of your worth for the two Mentors. We both have reasons for being here and there is nothing better than a casual drink.”

“I don’t make a habit of messing with other people’s shit,” Dani replied, idly glancing at the various knic knacks. Making her way to a chair, the girl slowly seats herself, hands still stuffed away in her hoodie pockets. She still wore a scowl, but it was plain that the situation was a bit awkward. “I’ll be able to walk just fine, and I’m already here anyway. The hell’s all this worth that you keep going on about?”

Returning with the Vodka and a couple glasses, she pours a shot for Dani and smiles thinly.

“My previous partner, I told him about my past, who I am, who I was, his personality was one that stunk of weakness. I shall not repeat that again. He had the nerve to attack what is true, so I broke him a bit and ended up here. I want to see if you are worth the effort, or if it will be like many of the weapons I went through before. But enough talk, let us drink.” With that she pours herself a shot and downs it and grins.

“The first burns like a fire, the second flows like an eagle and the third is like the song of a sparrow.”

Raising a brow at that, the woman half spoke in riddles. She was blunt, yet not always in a way that provided a clear explanation. Dani wondered if the weapon actually swung at her or just pissed her off.

Reaching for the glass, Dani paused a bit before emptying it. The slightly strained frown returned for a moment, but she set the glass back down with a small sigh.

“Do you always talk in prose?” The American asked.

Pouring another shot she scoffs a little before pouring her own. “When it suits me. Helps keep my English in practice. I’m not a native speaker Afterall. Though hmm, let’s make a game of this, a question for a question. Do you always talk so plainly or is it a case of when it suits you?”

“Hah… Fine,” Dani muses as she takes the newly-filled glass in hand. “I say what’s on my mind if I say anything at all. Sometimes I might stop to save myself bullshit to deal with.” Saying that, she downs the next glass with a bit more ease before setting it down. “Like today, I was liable to shiv the blondie and pretty-boy flirting with her if I didn’t walk off. But eh… What’d you mean when you said you broke your last weapon.”
“Hmm, a fair question and a little of my self. I was a War refugee the constant threat of madness, of bombs, of being bad days away from and even better ones, the Americans never really wanted the camps here, you hate a lot Dani, tells me you loved a lot and it was taken from you. Tell me after that, do you ever feel as if it's all over that nothing else will happen to you?” Pouring another drink she offers it.

“I Broke him physically, not him as a weapon. He said my war was long gone and I needed to learn to move on. For such words I used Soul Force upon him and pounded him into the ground for a bit. To ask him how safe the current peace was keeping him now. Other agents "arrested" me… Well held me. Your turn.”

Dani kept silent at that. She didn’t fully understand the impact of what went on between her old weapon and her, but that wasn’t what concerned her for the most part. So, Nadia had her pegged, did she? Perhaps. Sighing with a closed mouth, Dani took the next drink and slowly drank it down, recoiling a bit still at the purity of the alcohol. “Of course I fucking don’t,” She answered somewhat quietly. “I don’t plan on improving my life much. To be completely honest with you, I don’t much want anything to do with you, Zosar, or anyone else in the program. Nothing personal…”

Setting the glass back down, Dani leans back in her chair again, pausing as she stares at the woman across from her. “I don’t see you, or anyone, or myself for that matter sticking around one way or the other… and I’ve lost enough to know I’d rather spend the remainder of my time numb than leave out an open wound.”

Her words weren’t hostile, but rather matter of fact. It really wasn’t personal. The pink-haired girl would just rather prepare herself to lose an acquaintance than be marred by the loss of another cherished one.

“Uh… Why’d you choose me over the bloodsucker, I guess…?”

Listening to her words, Nadia took some offense to a few of them, though also understood. “Improving oneself, or at least maintaining, is important.” Pouring them another shot, Nadia decides to explain her choice.

“In all honesty, for as I said. I value the strong. He would not have grown with me and I rather not do my fighting so close, blood stains. Plus that would mean you would likely have to go to one of the others, ones without madness, of which only one was possible. And on what you said, I have something to say, but I shall wait. What would you do if not for the DWMA?”

Dani hummed a bit at that. It was true, she supposed. Even if she didn't want to grow any attachments, removing corrupt souls was another thing. They were a scourge, though that sentiment bore more malicious intent than out of wanting to do good. "Huh, why would you care where I went if you didn't want me? Ah, right…"

A question, an answer.

Taking the glass, Dani stares at it in front of her as if pondering a moment. No longer scowling, her expression had softened into a less guarded frown. Eventually, she shrugged, not really knowing the answer. "...I dunno…" She answered truthfully before ingesting the next glass. "I don't know."

Dani had no ambitions or goals. She was here originally, in part for treatment and in part for her brother. Now the latter was gone and the former took a nosedive.

“Hmm I see no path for me outside of this. As to why you, your angst is easy to see, but the reason is not, plus as a Meister I will not be broken or overwhelmed so easily.” With that Nadia gets up out of the chair and heads to her kitchen, opening a fridge from the sound of it she returns with sliced bakery bread that had butter on it with a topping of Sausage or cheese. “Butterbrot. I could cook something but this does for now. Also drink as much as you like. Here, I’ll join you.” Taking another shot and sitting the plate on the table, she nods.

“As to what else I had to say, whatever you lost, you must continue on so it is not forgotten.”

"You say that… till you're backed into a corner," Dani murmured, leaning her head back a bit as Nadia left for the kitchen. Glancing at the plate as it was brought out, she sits up, but doesn't yet partake. Her face was somewhat blush now, though she didn't quite seem to be drunk. "That sounds like something he might say… but ain't him. He wanted to do this. I just wanted… I was just holding on."

“He?” Nadia asks through an arched eyebrow. “Though I know the corner and loss more than you may think. The city I grew up in was a war-torn ruin, even now it is still being rebuilt. Even still and what awaited after, I have survived and I will continue to survive, because, ah yes.. Hmm, while you gather your own thoughts I will explain something, have you ever heard of the Jorguün?”

Taking up one of the appetizers, Dani bit into it as she listened idly. She paused a moment before shrugging again. "Giants? Or something like that…"

“Indeed that is so. Part of why my soul is so cold, or really the main reason, and that I am so strong and tall is as some of my Ancestors were them. You could say given the history of them and the offspring they had it is in my nature to fight and be in the thick of it. I am not given to running away.” Nadia says with a short nod. “Though I am “small” for one, my father was right at seven feet tall.”
"Huh," Dani mused as she swallowed before speaking again. "For the record, I'm not a bitch. I don't typically run from shit either… Still, explains why you're a friggin Amazon, though I guess that lady was even taller."”

“Eh she didn’t beat me by that much. Not like you are all that short yourself.” Still curious about the “he” Dani had mentioned she motions towards the food and drink, deciding she would need to prod the girl a little for that answer with some information of her own. “During the outbreak I lost contact with my father, mother and brother, one by one. I hold no illusions they are still alive. My father was an officer in the Russian Army, my mother was a housekeeper, maid if you will, and my brother was only a bit older than I.”

Hesitantly, Dani took the drink and stared at it a bit. "No, but I ain't a giant either," She commented before ingesting the drink. "Family… fine. I lost my parents when I was a kid. City we lived in had a pretty bad MIBV outbreak; everyone was pretty much stuck in quarantine. They took to it and didn't last until DWMA came and cleaned up. My brother and I were given the shot, not that it helped, and joined the DWMA originally as a way of treatment."

“Hmm, during the outbreak I was in the Far East of our nation, most of the locals were moved into the City, there were occasional problems here and there, casual shooting, checkpoints, then there was a massed outbreak in the Defense Units, the situation quickly became one of hell, as abominations and humans fought in the streets with heavy hardware thrown in, loyalist and the deranged, but more of that can come later, you said you and your brother joined the DWMA, take another drink and tell me what happened.”

"Yep… more or less the same. We just hid, for the most part," Dani said, scowling a bit at her urging, yet taking the glass nonetheless. "You can put two and two together. We joined, we fought. I'm here… he's not." Stalling at the last but of the sentence, she downs the next shot as instructed. "They're all dead, and I'm all that's left… My madness took a shit turn and fucked with my wavelength. That's why it's so… active.”

“Happens.” She says shortly thereafter as she stared at Dani for a bit with a bit of a exhale she sits the bottle down. “Still, what else is for either of us? The DWMA is all we have left, neither of us have a chance at “normal” work. Hell, I wouldn't do it if I could. Though I would say there is more less in our situations than the same, I am sorry about your brother. Still, we have no choice but to give this a shot and we must attempt Soul Resonance, or else we may not come back alive one day. If it does not work out maybe they will switch weapon and Meister sets around. But we should not count on it.

And don’t let your wavelength bother you with regards to me. As I said I am not so easily defeated, nor do I find your rage to be a negative solely. If anything, I see it as a worthy challenge.”

“What was your brother like?”

Dani stewed silently. The woman was right. It wasn't as if she had the will to go work as a waitress somewhere or something. This was all she knew and, as far as she knew, the only thing she was decent at.

Breathing out a large sigh from her nose, she leaned back again, her face more noticeably pink. "Fine… fine… Look. Bond Resonance is different; it's easy, apparently. I'll need to get used to your cold-as-tits wavelength, first… then we can… try an' teach you Complex Resonance, I guess…"

Shutting her eyes a moment, she breathes out again before opening them again. "Hm? Ah… heh. He was… I can fucking see it, today. He woulda jumped those two dumbasses fighting over the girl, just to knock'em down a peg. He woulda liked you. Hm…"

Sitting up a bit, she smiles a bit searching for some words. "He was the ambitious one. He wanted beat out everyone who looked down on us, either for the madness or that we were related. Always lookin for fights an to prove someone wrong. He was… exciteable, a little bit of a shit-stirrer like… uh… the gun. We were both way more recovered than that, though…"

“Hah, indeed I may have. My own brother was a bit different, but we watched out for one another, he was more serious, kind, strong. We would go out on salvaging trips after Mother didn’t return one day, I had to grow up quickly between that and the constant dangers.. Then the Americans came and he was heading West and I East, crammed like a Sardine with other refugees.”

Thinking more on her bringing up Resonance, Nadia closes her eyes for a bit, deep in thought, before speaking. “It is only fair that I must improve as well.. Though I will not change who I am, what I did was not wrong. Never has been.” Watching as the other was showing effects of the alcohol, Nadia pats the other alongside her face on the left cheek, a gentle slap before reaching away.

“I think we have some common ground, against my better judgment, I shall try and look out for you. But to be clear, I cannot nor will replace your Brother no more than you can or should mine. But there is nothing wrong with being Comrades… The rest of our class however, I am not likely to try helping them out.. Helping the Weak to walk alongside you only invites pain upon them.”

“No fuckin’ way he was any of that… Well, he was kind. Not so much traditionally strong as scrappy… heh,” Dani mused before the smile subsided. She reacted little to the touch, save for shutting the relevant side’s eye as contact was made. At least, the girl didn’t negatively respond to it. “Never told you to change… or expected you to replace Mikey… I don’t want you to. I told you already, I ain’t bearing any open wounds.”

Scoffing a bit at the mention of the class, she shrugged. Zosar was nice, she supposed. However, their display left a lot to be desired, though the “problem” ones had been taken out already. “Like I said… I don’t see anyone sticking around that long…”

“Heh, I doubt any of us are going anywhere too soon, well unless it is like those two this morning.. This program won’t let us go so easily. And like I said, I’m going nowhere, till I am done or if I must find another weapon. Plus I do like having a blade to do work with.. Though I did originally start fighting by hand. As to your wounds, keep them as you like, but if they are a problem then they are my problem because out there you aren’t the only one that goes down.”

“Ah yes, speaking of problems and things, she also wanted us to do the Soul Mind Training and find our Soul Rooms.. I’ve done this before, but the little shits will likely want me to do it on command. If I could do that then I likely would have not ended up here in the first place.” Nadia says off handedly as she turns her attention to the food grabbing a piece of bread topped with cheese.

“Relax… We don’t need to be besties for resonance or anything like that. An’ I told you, I don’t much run away,” Dani murmured in response, humming as the topic shifted to Soul Rooms. “Ah… I’ve seen it…Doesn’t work if I’m pissed. S’like a cave with dog or… somethin’.”

“I’m aware of that, still, like I said, if it's a problem I deserve to know.” Thinking on the later bit as she picked up her own glass, she gives a nod. “Friendship is not something I have much interest in. But we must learn things from one another for that assignment. As for the Rooms, we can say we have done this and send the call now, but that seems too cheap.”

“I’m tellin you it ain’t. Fuck’n hell… Madness will be more of a problem than that maybe…” Dani remarked from her slightly slumped position.

“You an’ the pretty-boy are overachievers. They just told us to access it. Besides, what’s going into the room gonna help?”

“If I knew that I wouldn’t be humoring them.” Nadia says in short about the assignment.

“Though on the note of Madness, a part of my soul wavelength could be a problem, I have what is called a Vanguard’s Heart, meaning in short, I like to fight up close and personal and prefer to break an enemy. Depending on your madness this may or may not be a problem.”
“Eh… What’d they call it… Angy? Murderous? Yeah… Basically when I get pissed off I get hyper focused on killin’ whatever. Usually that’s just toward corrupt humans though… Kinda like a blood rage? Like a trance… Either way, only a problem if you don’t wanna fight.” Exhaling, she perks up a bit as if thinking of something. “Ah… maybe that’s why the dog’s always been asleep when I go there… Maybe it’s the anger… or murder. Hm…”

“Hmm, then we should be fine, I just need not fall to your influence, or rather allow it to fuel my own aspects to a point. And it likely is. It is said madness influences the room and leaves a physical trace. My own room is a field of snow with a throne of ice and a collection of ancient weapons and treasures strewn about it.” She says after some thought, not considering Dani’s madness to be much of a hindrance to her own battle style. “Dead is easier than alive anyways, we aren’t bound to take an enemy alive. Well unless someone is up to something shady or above me needing to know.”

“Speaking of, are there any preferences or weaknesses you have or features for your control I need to know? Well provided we can resonate any time soon.”

“Yeah it’s only a problem if… Well, if that much shit hits the fan it’ll be your call to bail. I’m just the sword so I may bitch but ultimately I’ll just go where you do…” Dani mused before staring at her blankly a few seconds. “...That ain’t a fuckin’ room…” She stated definitively, despite her own not being a room either.

Stirring a bit, she hums at the latter question. “Eh… so, normal resonance is like… normal. Sword stab. We, uh… Mikey and I, came up with Complex Resonance cause Bond Resonance is so much weaker… You swing me and it does like a… energy slash thing. Makes you hit harder or you shoot it out. That’s about all I can do though…”

With that said, Nadia sits her glass down and mulls over what Dani had said. “A sword with a ranged attack.. Blyat, like I said we both have a bit to learn. Oh well, do you care for more to drink or have questions about me?”

“Eh… nah. I don’t need more… I’ll just home an’ we can deal with the resonance shit later,” Dani remarked, lazily pushing herself up from the chair. She wobbled a bit, and seemed to chuckle slightly while steadying herself on the chair arms.

“Ha… Walking is fucked… Okay…” Apparently talking to herself, she slowly raises herself and starts heading for the exit.

Exhaling a bit of a sigh at that, Nadia gets up and lays a guiding hand on the girl. “Tell me where your room is and I’ll help you walk there, otherwise you will fall down the steps and break your neck or fall asleep in the elevator.”

“Fuck you I’ll just transform,” She says, presumably in response to the accusation of falling down the stairs. “It’s… third floor… That’s not far.”

“Da, da, da, Tovarish.” She says, not wanting to point out how many rooms were on the third floor. Getting her down to the floor and near whatever door would be good enough. “Also drink plenty of water, or do that in the morning.” With that Nadia helps her down the stairs considering this exchange good enough. Now the question was if she could make it to her own room, the fact she had eaten nothing while drinking so much was about to not be Nadia’s problem.

“I dunno who that is…” Dani remarked to the Russian. “I have water…” Murmuring that, the girl stumbles off a few doors down and stops at one. She pauses to look at the door and then peers over to Nadia again. “Fuck ya’, you thought I’d pick the wrong one…! Hah.” With that gloating done, the pink-haired girl fiddled with the door and squeezed within.

Letting the girl go, Nadia shrugs and heads back off for her own, she didn’t need to see what was in Dani’s room, not yet at least, that would likely come with time. “Don’t lay face down.” She offers in parting before sniggering a little, the question was what to do with her time now. And if she should phone in having known what her Room is. Likely, with an explanation she could not just go there whenever.

 

[Prizzy Kriyze]

Emmett James

Gauss only gave a meaningful glare before leaving. Emmett didn't bother letting his smile drop for that, whatever rebellious emotions were going through Gauss at the time weren't something he needed to read into. Frankly, his lack of a response was the sweetest victory Emmett could have hoped for.

And as the three left, other students started moving as well. Zelda cut in with the announcement of a secondary assignment for the agents to carry out. Had he forgotten about this? Or was she improvising, buying time for herself saying it was to be texted to them later? It was clever in that case. With his arms crossed and a mildly amused look on his face, Emmett simply shook his head at Nadia's question and briefly watched her and her potential partner leaving.

He began turning back to Zelda to say something, but at that moment the excitable young werewolf appeared at his side, Suzu over her shoulders and with something on her mind. She held out a pair of the Magitech wavelength suppressors that had been developed to protect against Suzu's wavelength, and as she stated her question Emmett leaned his head in such a way that the light from the sun reflected brightly off of his glasses and obscured his eyes. His friendly smile turned ever-so-slightly maniacal, and before she'd even finished her inquiry he had his communicator in hand. "That is an excellent question, miss Middleton." He ran a finger across its interface, and the communicator emitted a green light that quickly took the shape of the ear buds. The projection was roughly ten times larger than it's real world counterpart, and with another quick gesture he caused the many pieces of the blueprint to separate and give an insight into the complicated mechanism within it. "These are what used to be called TACS - Takada Audio Counterfrequential Suppressor - for their express purpose of assisting Suzu here." She'd done it. She'd got him going. Emmett wasn't about to stop.

"As per usual they were slapped together haphazardly for effect, rather than spending any actual time in R&D. The units Cyrus were using were more expensive types of anti-wavelength hearing protection, but since those require a lot of custom parts we can't afford to equip all of you with them, so I made some improvements." He made motions towards some of the parts hovering in the air. "In my prototyping I realized that the conversion monitor from the model we sawed half the build off was still taking up space in the linear channel, so I chopped it and replaced it with an ordinary counterfrequency generator since a few of you have very sensitive hearing." He paused to nod to Sara with an acknowledging glance. "Since the space is cleared, I had to retrace some runes with the dev-witch, but the crystal required is so small we can keep these bad boys running for weeks and still not lose saturation in the synchronization ratio, heh, since we'd all be an ear shorter if that came to pass, and the good part is you could extract the materials necessary from a fucking baby monitor. Oscillators refurbished and pushed back into the chamber so there's no static, obruocalibrator refitted to the new design with preprogrammed periodicity trackers so they keep to Suzu's wavelength and don't overdetect, with the added bonus of limiting most known auditory inconveniences as well-"

Emmett stopped short as a very loud and very targeted AHEM burst out of his partner, and he looked back at her with an apologetic smile. He put his communicator back in his pocket and turned to face Sara. "They protect against Suzu's wavelength. Solid work, but I'm working on equipping everyone in class with better sets before the week's up. When those come in you shouldn't have to worry too much about any loud noises anymore." He was a little embarrassed of getting caught up in his own work, but he did his best to offer a reassuring smile to the student.

"Speaking of which, I really need to get back to my workshop. Zelda?"

Sir Les Paul Merciless Medic Mineczka
​

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Adrian Hackney​

"The Maiden"​

Species Human
Partner None
Rank Fate Agent

Location Death City, Lot C
Mission Free Time
Status Decisive

​

Mentions: Prizzy Kriyze QuirkyAngel

Released, although Adrian was somewhat underwhelmed. Admittedly, quite a bit had already occurred. A game, of sorts, pairing of Meisters and Weapons, the removal of two individuals from the program after a Madness Outburst, and assignment of mentors, and now some sharing among the group. It seemed like a lot, especially to have just occurred back-to-back within an hour, but Adrian found himself feeling somewhat... unsatisfied.

Of course, Adrian was also the one freshest out of EAT and actual classes. The instructors there were fast-paced. Rubric, assignment, and homework all on the first day sort. Their pace was fast and it always seemed they had too much material and not enough time to teach it. This was a new environment with a new pace. This would just be something he would have to get accustomed to, unless they were all genuinely being easy on the first day. He also considered the thought that this program was entirely brand new; teaching in a classroom was as old as history. It was far from perfect, clearly.

Then came the realization he had a choice to make. It seemed their mentor, the pink-haired wildcard, Zosar, and Adra were all headed off to another lot while Zari and Jarvis were headed off to do their own thing. Adrian wasn't really the focus of anything for the moment, which was fine, but it left him in a type of grey area as to what to do. Follow the mentor, or follow the only actual person he had established a rapport with? He was autonomous, so no need to consider a partner.

He weighed his options. Considered the outcomes. Anything he would learn from whatever Zosar intended on doing was probably hardly applicable for him and interjecting would likely just get in the way. Building some new friendships with the other two, though? That could be useful, especially given they were all likely to be on a team for missions. Logic won out, his decision was set.

Adrian didn't make much of a remark to the group leaving for Lot A and instead rushed after Jarvis and Zari as they were leaving. His pace a little quickened given they already had some distance between them.

Once he caught up, he at least offered his presence as a question to them: "Hey, mind if I tag along?" He kept walking with them, not sure how they'd respond, but in the event one of them just told him to go fuck off, he guessed he would. There was probably something he could do to pass the time.

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Thaddeus Thales​

"Gauss"​

Species Human
Partner None
Rank Fate Agent

Location Death City, Lot C
Mission Free time
Status Relaxing, thoughtful

​

Mentions: Merciless Medic Mqueserasera

To the infirmary the three went. It was a lengthy walk, but given the conditioning that just being a DWMA Agent required, it wasn't that intense. Out of the forestry, through the gate, a few blocks down the street, DWMA Campus, the infamous stairway, and then through the DWMA grounds towards the medical area between the academy, sports fields, but before the R&D and other miscellaneous labs. The out of the way nature of the lots was in fact fairly annoying and the staircase didn't exactly make an uber an option. Death making the entire city a constant training ground just to get from Point A to Point B was undoubtedly an annoying and tedious structural choice, and it didn't seem Kidd had any intentions on doing away with it.

What it did allow was plenty of time for small talk. A little time for Gauss to clear his head, too. The frustrations from earlier were doused with the waves of time and it made the conversation he would provide far less intense. Between that loss of intensity and his improving mood, it likely made him a lot more bearable than earlier.

Calling it an infirmary was a slight understatement. Death City had six hospitals not including the medical labs used in R&D, and the one on DWMA Campus was easily the most advanced. Largest? No. It didn't need to be given it didn't exactly tend to the general population of Death City. It had equipment that likely couldn't be found anywhere else in the world, often pushing Magitech, often straight out of beta testing from R&D. Gauss imagined Emmett had a decent hand in quite a few things there.

Now, Emmett could have been referring to the literal infirmary in the academy, but that was just a few extra rooms and a glorified nurse's office. The infirmary in the on-site hospital was the one equipped to help Gauss. And, of course, Gauss walked in like he owned the damn place. Through the automatic doors up to the receptionist whom he asked about some Wavelength treatment. She told him a nurse would see him soon. One did. Directed him to an area just for that type of therapy. Thaltek both held shares in half the medical Magitech here and supplied their use of it. The reality of just how much of a golden boy he was due to that shiny last name of his became more and more apparent with each step.

But, no matter his name, nothing was going to speed up this next process. The device they directed him to, once it was available, was a large seat with three huge spinning arms, somewhat like a gyroscope. Each one imbued with Magitech, all if it plugged into a computer. It was top of the line and had various uses, but specifically was intended for treating disruptions in the wavelength, such as Rejection, overuse, damage done by other Wavelengths, so on and so forth. The arms whirred as they rotated over Gauss and he sat there quietly was light from them shone onto his arm, the beams emitting what Noah would notice was highly concentrated bits of targeted Healing Wavelength, although it was far from "natural"--in fact, it was far weaker. Another reality might have sunk in that had Noah trained his own Wavelength, he could have done the job of this machine in a fraction of the time.

"I'm glad you've seen me this far, but this might be a minute. I might actually feel bad seeing both of you just waiting around for me," Gauss said. With his free hand, he pulled out his phone, swiped a few times, and brought up an app. "How about you two make it to my suite and I'll catch up with some food when I'm done here? We have some biometric security, so you'll need to put in through thumb prints and faces for recognition, but then you can go right by the gates and to my suite at the top floor. It's real hard to miss. There are only two suits at the top, and mine is the first," he told them, offering his phone to them for the sign up.

"Address is 849 West Harrow Street in the residential area, it's real hard to miss. Gated community, my father owns a condominium complex there. Just make yourselves at home, you won't find yourself at a loss for things to do," he explained to them, further giving his address.

"Unless, of course, you love the sound of this whirring machine and my voice," he off-handedly suggested, providing the alternative--unless the two came up with plans of their own. Also an option.

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Midori☆Hoshi​

"Dark Star"​

Species Death Golem
Partner Various / Autonomous Weapon
Rank Two-Star

Location Death City, Lot C
Mission Free
Status Curious, reflective

​

Mentions: The Regal Rper Sybil Kyuubey

To say Midori approved of what was about to occur to Zosar would have been an outright lie, but Midori knew Zosar. He knew if he didn't let him now, he would do it anyway and Emira would let him. Best be done in the presence of someone who could at least shut it down if the need arose. He rationalized it as better to allow in a controlled interaction than some back alley exchange. Midori was well aware of what happened in those alleys...

With Emira starting her brief exposition to Zosar about what was going to occur, Midori took a stand beside Adra and crossed his arms, activating his Soul Perception to watch the interaction as it unfolded. His dark eyes glazed to show the hints of blue in his left one. It had been a while since he saw Emira's full wavelength unleashed, but watching how it would tear into Zosar and how he responded to it would be an interesting interaction. He had absolute faith that Volatile Soul of his was going to make this an exceptionally excruciating endeavor. "He's about to learn the hard way that he can't just power through everything. He's stubborn. Thing about Emira is that it doesn't matter how stubborn you are... you have to put in the time and effort to make things work; and, he hasn't," Midori explained to her, both of them watching the exchange begin to unfold.

"I know you've started Calm Mind training, so you have a general idea of how hard it is and the results. To wield Emira for more than a few minutes, you basically need the First Seal at a minimum. I'd wager he doesn't last two minutes. That soul of his is quite dangerous, too, so maybe not even a minute," Midori further said, explaining what would be needed, but not quite why. He wanted to keep that a surprise for Adra to see unfold.

"Also, uh..." he said, trailing off with a slightly different tone. Before, he was focused. Confident in his assessment. His experience shone through, being quite sure of what he was saying about the two. That assurance was far less present when he was shifting the topic to Adra. What he was about to say, he was much less comfortable with. Not only because he wasn't as sure of what he was saying, but because he had no idea how she might feel.

"I mean it. I'm sorry for how things went back on Dall Island. It feels like a lifetime ago for me, but I know not everyone got off that lucky. I can't even... do that anymore. That thing I did to you," he said, apologizing again, but now in a more direct, personal way. It was true. The ability he had then, the one that caused Adra to have her outburst, he couldn't use it. He didn't know what, if anything, that would mean to her. But, something urged him to make sure she knew. Maybe, if anything, it would be some comfort that no one could do that to her again.

 

[Merciless Medic]

Noah Wiley​

Location: Hospital, hospital room
Interactions: Prudence ( Mqueserasera ), Gauss ( Sir Les Paul )
Mentions: N/A

Prudence's words were interesting. As she made her point about flattery, he just nodded. He noticed Gauss' mood was getting a bit better, but he was still silent, walking with a mission towards the hospital. It was a bit of time before they made it to a hospital, so he listened to what Prudence had to say.

He looked at Prudence when she said there wasn't much to being a Weapon. She was strange. She held no resignation with anyone else outside from what she must do. He didn't know what to say to that, so he waited. Pursing his lips as he tried to parse what else he can glean from that in any tactical setting - a habit he had. From his time reading up on strategy, combat, and gleaning what he could that was relevant to real life from his strategy games as they sometimes held a few truths, he started having this ability to just notice patterns within behavior and how that applied to combat. While he wasn't a whiz at it, it was enough to help keep Sara from hurting herself too much and being the voice of reason when she recalled he was there.

While her following orders to a tee and that of her superiors was a good thing, it seemed like he'd have to be the voice of reason if Gauss ended up doing something not wise. He regarded her a moment before going back to looking at their path, only to look at her once again when she spoke to him. He raised an eyebrow at her confusion. Valid.

"-- Replacement --"

Noah scowled and looked away, gritting his teeth. He inhaled deeply, and then let it out, trying to calm himself. Counting numbers like the therapist told him as he squeezed his nails into his palms as they were shoved further down his pockets. After a moment of gaining his bearings, he shook his head. As he spoke, his tone held annoyance and irritation at the question, but he didn't dare try to target Prudence with it. She was just asking out of curiosity. She even asked innocently. He couldn't do that to her. "I'll tell ya later."

Noah took the time to relax himself as they walked to the hospital, following Gauss' lead as he seemed to know where he was going. They walked through doors to the on-site hospital, raising an eyebrow at how Gauss walked. With confidence, yet he didn't know if it was misplaced or if his name was really that well off. Great, he just had to get stuck with the rich kid, did he?

At least, he wasn't that bad.

As they passed by some machinery, Noah noticed some of them were branded with Thaltek's logo. Thaltek? Thales?

Oh, of course his family was a multi-billion dollar family. They had to be.

As Gauss was situated on the cot and the device whirred to life, Noah noticed that the beams were concentrated Healing Wavelength lasers. With an interested eyebrow raise, he watched the machine for a bit before he heard Thaddeus speak. Looking over at him, he was telling him to go to his suite? He regarded him with lazy eyes, raising an eyebrow that his suite was high-tech with biometric scans. Considering that his family was the Thales family, he wouldn't doubt it.

Two suites at the top floor, his is the first.

Noah took Gauss' phone, looking the screen over to see it was already at the biometric sign up. Raising an eyebrow, he gave a scoff-like chuckle. "Damn, haven't touched stuff like this in a while."

He decided to just sign up, putting in his full name, putting in his fingerprint, and then having the phone scan his face. He then gave the phone to Prudence once he figured out how to bring the screen back to another sign up. At the address, Noah pulled out his phone and sent the address to Sara's phone number.

Furry Freak

them

Get up!! It's morning!!

me

Fuck off

them

Don't make me come in there!

me

Bite me

me

849 West Harrow Street, residential, gated, first suite on top floor, Gauss' secret multi-billion-dollar lair. Don't worry about this, just making sure you know where I'm at. Figured you'd ask anyway.

The whole ordeal with Gauss had put Noah in a better mood. "Eh, ya sure ya wanna be here alone?" Given Sara made sure he was around her all the time, this was an interesting change of pace. He then shrugged. "Aite, well, hope boredom doesn't destroy ya."

He then looked to Prudence, bringing up the topics he had neglected earlier, choosing to speak to her about this now so Gauss can also hear. "As for your question, no. I don't replace people." His tone dripped with disgust from the word. "That is insensitive and rude for any living thing. Life's not somethin' to just replace. I don't have many, so replacin' them's pointless anyway. My job as a Weapon is makin' sure my partners're alive and well, and I take what I am with pride. If that means I have to butt heads for the betterment of my Meister to keep him from doing somethin' stupid -- " He looked to Gauss before looking at Prudence. " -- I will."

"'Sides, I left my Meister not because I hate her or cuz she's worse. We both parted ways cuz we had a mutual understandin' that gettin' to know more people - and maybe establishin' friendships - would benefit us and those around us later. She's a werewolf of the Vena Clan. Her culture revolves 'round havin' a large social circle with as many grapevines the fence can hold. Ya can probably imagine what that benefits. Pretty sure Gauss knows."

Taking a breath, he stood up, back straighter than his earlier slouch as he looked at Gauss. "Anyway, anythin' else? Any people we gotta watch out for when we get to your place?" He wasn't particularly wanting to see his family, but considering he's curious and he'd like to snoop through Gauss' suite with what he had before Gauss came back, he'd rather take this chance.

And maybe talk shit about what he had out of Gauss' ear. For whatever reason that was.

 

[Merciless Medic]

Sara Middleton​

Location: Lot C, with Emmett, and then leaving Lot C
Interactions: Emmett ( Prizzy Kriyze ), Suzu
Mentions: N/A

Now, maybe it was just her intuition having failed her, or maybe it was just her naivety thinking head scientists and researchers under Davis weren't so absorbed in their own tech, but when she saw the light gleam off Emmett's glasses and he brought up the hologram, she realized too late what she'd done.

She watched as the blueprint blew up to show the earbuds and how they worked. Her ears, as they were turned to Emmett, slowly fell sideways as she had a confused furrow of her brow, her eyes blank with some mild levels of recognition for the basic words, and a nervous smile.

Takada Audio Counterfrequential Suppressor.... TACS. Huh.

As he continued, Sara's confusion only grew. R&D? Was that Repair and .... Destruction? No, that didn't seem right. But it was cool to know that Emmett made these with some special improvements, probably from cheaper stuff, too. She watched his hand motion to the parts he showed on the blueprint, her mind desperately trying to absorb whatever the hell he was saying. It was apparently a struggle for him from what she could get about how to get something to work so it didn't apparently dampen sensitive hearing? But apparently he figured it out.

Then he went on about retracing runes, something about losing saturation (color?) in the some kind of ratio that's definitely not the meme, something about whatever he said before losing hearing, and extracting materials needed from a baby monitor of all things??? Who was he? MacGyver's descendent?

Damn, wasn't that the relic of the past.

And then he completely lost her as he continued before saying something about whatever he said only affecting Suzu's wavelength and not bothering with.... other more useful hearing?

Sara's ear swiveled to Zelda as she heard her clear her throat. Suppressing one of those smiles of a 'ohhh, you got caught' kind of look, she continued to pay attention and now can fully understand him. Protect against Suzu's wavelength, and already planning on making better ones. Sighing in relief as they were done, Sara waved at both Emmett and Zelda as the two seemed to also be leaving. Zelda, after regarding the werewolf with a nod, went on her phone for the moment. "Thanks, you two." With a cheery skip to her step, Sara ran towards the exit of Lot C, excited to spend the day with Suzu.

That's when she noticed a little late the change in their resonance. Sara realized she wasn't using so much concentration to keep their resonance stable. In fact, it was different since Emmett went on his rant and she was thankful for it. Her own soul had echoed the sound of the bell ringing within her partner's soul, the resonance before was a weak bridge but not as thin as hair. Now, the connection was starting to grow a much stronger bridge as Suzu started taking more control of the resonance. It was far from perfect, but it was still progress. Pocketing TACS into her jacket, she held the bell in her arms, holding her to her chest as she walked away. "I see you're helping me out with this resonance thing. Thank you. That gives quite a bit of relief. Maybe when we get to know each other better and get used to each other more, we can do fifty-fifty on our resonance. I'd like to get to work on that and knowing about you because I love getting new friends." She rambled a little, clearly excited about what the day will bring.

 

[Sybil]

Adrasteia Chandrice

Seems the gods had their eyes on the scene, for they felt Adra should also struggle along with her new meister from a different source entirely. She hears him approach first, her eyes shifting to the peripherals to spot Midori. She didn’t move, only putting one hand in another to grip it at the slight worry. A reaction inside her mind, one that was afraid of a redo of the island, another break….

And yet here he was offering a conversation. Adra’s eyes remained on the duo in the middle of their lot, ears listening to the golem. The talk went mostly on about her fresh meister, Zosar all the while struggling to handle his assignment. To her, Midori was just reinforcing her doubts they would ever be impactful partners.

One more time sink….

She sighed, only to catch the shift in tone from the fellow weapon, her attention shifting back to him.

Another apology? Does he feel it or is this just for something down the road?….

“…. You know I’m terminal, right? Like the further my madness goes, there really isn’t a way back. Do you know that incident put me further along that path?” She kept her eyes off him, talking to him calmly as one hand of hers gently tugged at her metal collar lightly and just hung her hand by the fingers on the front.

I won’t tell him he pushed me into the intermediary stages of madness… he doesn’t need to know that….

“I don’t think me and Zosar will click at all, so don’t worry about downplaying him to me. As for the island, I can’t say the fact you cannot do that anymore helps, but you have a job and so do I. I won’t be against you, but you are mentoring me and I am learning. That is all. I don’t see us getting along just because you are sorry.” She shrugged, her mind wrestling to set her feelings on Midori to allow herself to be in the same place and time. She wanted to hate it, to lash out and hurl insults… but she knew it would set her back. As she went to continue, Zosar went down. She watched him stumble to a knee, the pink-haired girl falling to a knee as well. They both seemed tired, but it held little interest. Just seemed to sound like torture porn her, uninteresting and fruitless. Her focus went back to Midori, still not facing him.

“.....Not like you came to befriend me, we got too much history to be exactly besties.” She grinned, her pale complexion and sharpened teeth making a sickly bitter smirk form on her face. Adrasteia and Midori? Had to be a joke for them to be friends, the whip was amused by her own joke.

coded by: @s e v e n​

​

Interacts: Sir Les Paul
Mentions: The Regal Rper Kyuubey​

 

[Mqueserasera]

PRUDENCE PONTMERCY
Location: DWMA - Hospital
Mentions:
Interaction: Gauss ( Sir Les Paul ), Noah ( Merciless Medic )​

Prudence observed the infirmary’s interior with minimal interest. Her visits to this place due to incidents in the past were not few. She remembered being a patient, staring at strange ceilings after regaining her consciousness. She could never tell the differences anyway.

The last time she came here to visit a partner was full of awkwardness. Understandable how a patient would not much appreciate being visited by the cause of their injury. At least this time the relationship between her and the Meister hadn’t been strained, yet.

As the operation went on, she feigned interest in a leaflet she had picked up along the way, something about life insurance, and immersed herself deep in empty thought.

Then Thaddeus’s voice dragged her back to the reality of the sterile room. It seemed he wanted to invite Noah and her to his house. He even offered to register their biometric data in his house’s security system. Rather careless to trust some strangers so entirely. But he had said as much before, that he was that kind of person. Not that she would argue against his eccentricity.

“Sure,” Prudence took the phone from Noah and registered her information. She blinked, just one, before letting it scan her face.

After returning the phone to its owner, she rose, preparing to leave already. But before she could, Noah began to answer, unprompted, her question from earlier. Though his answer explained some of what was going on, it raised another, even more puzzling question. She stared at him, still and fixating, for a few seconds. Her eyes told no tales. But inside there was a happening, albeit insignificant, like an abandoned corridor wherein a stray gust had stumbled upon and went on, merrily, to stir lightly a century-old pile of dust. Benefits? What benefits? She couldn’t quite imagine.

She ended it abruptly – her long quiet stare and struggle to comprehend – and said, in a tone as if she was merely cautioning him not to overstep his tea. “Be mindful then, lest one day you regret neglecting the most important thing by your side, just to chase after some faraway benefit.”

Just like that, she made her exit from the room. Her pace was slow, so even Noah would be able to overtake her without putting in any significant effort.

 

[Prizzy Kriyze]

Azariah "Zari" Vasher
Zari's head sank deeper into his knees as the lecture went on. The homework given wasn't impossible to achieve, in fact Zari had been practicing Calm Mind training for long enough that it seemed quite elementary, but that didn't mean he hated his soul space any less. That wet cobblestone, those sounds, they might be metaphorical for Zari's mind being stuck in a time long past, but he wasn't ready to move beyond that just yet. A quiet sigh escaped his lips.

Then Jarvis spoke, and he raised his eyes once more. He seemed to be more cooperative now that they'd officially been paired, or perhaps it was the mild shared trauma after the madness incident earlier. Zari seemed to lag for a bit as he scrambled for an answer to Jarvis' words, but what with being mildly more comfortable around him the wait times were getting shorter. "I... don't know." Slowly he stood up to watch as everyone was going in their separate direction. Zosar seemed strangely interested in partnering with multiple people and went after the... teacher's pet? Zari was unsure of what her actual role was here, and he wasn't exactly great at paying attention.

"I know Calm Mind training, madness inhibitors don't work on my wavelength." He said blankly, then almost shied away as he added "I don't want to have to go to my soul space, though." He'd been there a few times before. It was an important first step in tackling your madness, giving it material form, physically seeing and believing that you can overcome it. Still, the fiery beast that fought him inside of his mind scared him far less than the street he had to walk every time he went. "Maybe... to the library? We were told to research."

Azariah continued to stare at the sleepy boy as he yawned and spoke. He felt a little out of the loop here. Coffins? Bloodsuckers? There was a brief pause where he didn't say anything, before looking up to the laughing sun, looking back to Jarvis, and then suddenly remembering he left his knife and communicator halfway across the field. "A mosquito?" He asked, then in his typical asocial manner immediately turned around and walked away to fetch his things. On the jog back towards Jarvis he unlocked the phone and saw how many messages he'd missed, but ignored them in favor of his new partner. Only a passing "Sorry." was given when he realized how impolite he'd been to run out on their conversation.

A slight movement betrayed Azariah's urge to leave the lot, a foot placed in the direction of the DWMA steps beckoning Jarvis join him. He returned Sara's wave with a slight nod of the head before she too left, and then looked back to the communicator and saw the footage of Adrian scoring the goal. As if called by the sound of the footage, Adrian appeared and announced his presence, to which Zari quickly snapped his gaze. "You cheated." It was matter of fact, almost stated like a question but harboring no ill will. Thanks to their brief interaction and initiation by combat in the field earlier, Adrian didn't scare Zari anymore. They'd traded blows, and Zari couldn't see another way in which people could get to know each other faster. "Want to go to the library?"

Merciless Medic Sir Les Paul The Regal Rper QuirkyAngel

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Adrian Hackney​

"The Maiden"​

Species Human
Partner None
Rank Fate Agent

Location Death City, Lot C
Mission Free Time
Status Decisive

​

Mentions: Prizzy Kriyze QuirkyAngel

"I'm down for the library," Adrian shot back an answer to the question he was asked.

The accusation of cheating was interesting. Adrian wasn't 'trying' to win with his stunt. He wanted to confuse the field with a ton of fakes. The fact it counted, so to say, was a surprise to him, and not exactly one he was fond of. He didn't at all even get to see what chaos duplicate ball halves could have caused, and honestly he was far more interested in that. Not to mention, Zari himself gave him the fight he wanted.

"And, in my defense, I wasn't even trying to win with that. I wanted to flood the field with fakes to confuse everyone. If you count that as cheating, then I suppose I'm a cheater," Adrian responded again, giving what little defense he could on the subject before moving on. His tone was also quite flat and matter-of-fact. Not argumentative insofar that he just didn't intend on winning that way. He did, at least, own up to the comment Zari had made, if that at all helped moved passed the subject.

"I know nothing about Calm Mind training. Not a lot about Madness, either. I focused on Partial Weapon Transformation and learning how to use Self-Resonance, so this is all entirely new to me," he responded, shifting to his viewpoint on the first topic Zari brought up. Mostly in an attempt to cover up his last topic. He was quick to keep up with Zari and Jarvis at this point now that he seemed to have assimilated into their group. "And, I know jack about entering my Soul Space. In class, it was just briefly glossed over as a trivial skill, so... you're the expert between us," he explained further, providing minor insight as to why he was so ignorant on the topic. As if he needed to, but the insight that the DWMA hardly taught it might have been useful nonetheless.

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Midori☆Hoshi​

"Dark Star"​

Species Death Golem
Partner Various / Autonomous Weapon
Rank Two-Star

Location Death City, Lot C
Mission Free
Status Reflective, insightful

​

Mentions: The Regal Rper Sybil Kyuubey

"We're all terminal, Adra. That's the nature of life," Midori responded to her in a fairly flat, dry tone. He was watching the exchange between Zosar and Emira closely. Zosar was actually doing worse than expected. He tried to power through it. Spikes in his wavelength all haphazard. Even if he could handle the echoes, the fact it distracted him from holding back his own soul only made the endeavor worse. His soul required control, Emira stole that.

"We don't have to be friends, I guess. I'd understand if you never truly forgave what I did, or if you just can't find it in you care enough. I'll let you in on an interesting fact," Midori went on, explaining his viewpoint on the matter. His specific perspective on what she said, and how things had unfolded until now.

"I was interviewed for quite a few people about this program, a lot from Paean. Including you. I was asked directly if I thought you had any hope of ever really become stable or safe, as they say," Midori explained to her, expanding on some knowledge she couldn't have possibly had--neither could the others. "I had felt so bad after Dall Island that I kept up with you. Saw how far you came before even the prelims for this program. So I told them I had faith that you wanted this bad enough that you would make it happen even if you had to fight your Madness 'til the very bitter end," he said, enlightening her on how he had vouched for her.

"That's not just my guilt, either. I think you can. Your paperwork shows you made strides with Calm Mind training, but haven't yet succeeded in the first seal. I believe if you can do that, your world will open up. The Madness becomes almost silent, little outbursts like earlier won't trigger you--or at least as bad--and over time that dark part of you that feels like its still growing start to shrink," he explained to her, trying to emphasize the importance of the first Calm Seal. It would be a day and night difference. If those that had some Calm Mind training thought what they had done was a reflection of the possibilities it had, they were wrong. They had just yet seen the tip of the iceberg.

Meanwhile, he continued to watch Zosar and Emira. Zosar was becoming unstable. His Wavelength pouring through him, striking the ground. Midori knew what he could do. A lot of power behind that volatile soul, but his body couldn't quite handle it. He was sure Zosar would be sore for a while after that, if not a few days. But, this was what he asked for. This was the lesson he needed to learn and he was still far from this being an actual hazard.

He sighed. "You don't have to like me. I don't even like myself sometimes. But I will do whatever I can to make things better for you," he said in a sullen tone. Some of his words sounded all too familiar. Promises he had made before, although in an entirely different light. Somehow, it was a burden he put on himself all the same. The thought made him scoff, whether it was audible or not wasn't something he paid attention to. Here he was again promising he would make things better, watching two other souls he promised the same thing to torture each other. All for entirely different reasons. Sympathy, guilt... more.

 

[Sybil]

Adrasteia Chandrice

The weapon couldn’t tell personally what spurred Midori, but something changed in him the two years they were apart. It was still definitely the kid she despised, but without all the arrogance he had before. Perhaps some arrogance was still in there, but nothing compared to the near tyrant he was on the island. Something must have changed him…. Whether it was someone or an event of maturing, it was a welcome change.

Listening to all of it, the weapon watched the duo and remained neutral as she did. The information was making her feel conflicted, but she would be damned before she showed it on her face. It explained some things, like her acceptance despite the words against her from some of the medical team. It wouldn’t have been damning, but some worried combat life was not for her anymore and that it was a unneeded risk. A recommendation inside the program however would likely have overpowered those few voices, and now she knew how she was here now. Bittersweet for sure.

“….Thank you for the recommendation… I possibly needed it. I’ll also have to trust you about that first seal, because it’s just not clicking for me. Been trying, but the Damn thing won’t come to me. Got my soul space, got the meditation and stuff down, but this seal? It won’t come to me.” She let out a sigh, spacing out as she thought on the calm mind techniques and goals. The first seal felt… unreal. For years she has had madness whispering in her ear, and even before her bud of madness and mental difficulties never left her feeling whole. She didn’t know what it was like to not have it, like a parasitic friend piggybacking on her and whispering it’s intoxicating desires and impulses. It even scared her slightly.

“… some people on the medical team are waiting for me to slip up. They think I should go back to normal civilian life, less likely to relapse that way. Keep that in mind if you want to help, that you are actually against people by siding with me.”

coded by: @s e v e n​

​

Interacts: Sir Les Paul
Mentions: The Regal Rper Kyuubey​

 

[QuirkyAngel]

Jarvis Briseis - DWMA, Library

“Mosquito…”

Mild irritation arose in Jarvis at being compared to bug (if this were an anime, there might’ve been a cross popping vein on his forehead), but the young bloodsucker simply sighed and let it go. Zari clearly didn’t know much about Bloodsuckers…which he couldn’t really be blamed for. Jarvis doubted the blonde meister had meant anything insulting by it either.

What interested the undead weapon was that Zari seemed to be afraid of his own soul space. Himself? Jarvis scratched his head. He supposed everyone probably had a different relationship with their inner place—had a hard time accepting themselves and all that. For Jarvis’s part, he loved his. If he could sleep in there all day he would. Alas, there would always be someone waking him, whether it be from the outside world, to the inner voice that told him he still had many things to do.

Watching Zari as the meister returned with his belongings, Jarvis shrugged, then nodded at the boy’s suggestion. “Sure. You can borrow a book about bloodsuckers while you’re at it.”

Libraries were at least quiet and indoors—thus excellent sleeping grounds.

Midori, Zosar, Zosar’s watcher, and Adrasteia had already left to do…whatever. Sara was waving goodbye at everyone—the extraordinarily friendly person in Group A-01 apparently. Or perhaps that was normal…greeting people with hellos and goodbyes that is. Red eyes flickering from the hyperactive puppy’s face to the resonating, anti-undead bell in her grasp, Jarvis once more shrugged before removing a single hand from his pocks and giving a lazy wave as he moved to follow his new partner off Lot C in his typical slouched, steady pace.

An eyebrow rose as Spikes caught up to them. Or rather, Maiden. Maiden seemed to be his preferred stage name.

Jarvis yawned, not really able to squeeze a word as Zari as the Maiden if he wanted to go to the library and the Maiden agreed. Not like Jarvis’s response would’ve made much of a difference because he really didn’t care one way or the other how the Iron Maiden liked to spend his free time. If he were to be completely frank, neither Azariah nor Hackney seemed like the type to be avid readers, but Jarvis wasn’t really one to judge a book by its cover…unless he was too tired to read the summary. Didn't take too much effort to throw up an opinion either. Jarvis was lazy. He wasn't mute. “He’s about as much a cheater as you were for bringing down the goal. No one won. It was a poorly designed game anyway.”

One with practically no rules but player interpretation.

Winning just for the sake of winning didn’t particularly appeal to Jarvis. For the win to be worth something, there had to be a prize. The F.A.T.E instructor had gotten him to play by putting up a suitable bait. Jarvis gambled…but then entering the F.A.T. E program had been a gamble. DWMA didn’t have to give a bloodsucker like him, who broke their rules, a way back in. Jarvis played their game because there was something he wanted. Even now, the exact criteria to pass the program was lost to him.

How ‘sane’ did one even have to be to be considered a ‘normal’ DWMA agent?

At what point did a Type E FATE agent like himself get off the chopping block for potential termination? He assumed just completing the program—without dying or killing anyone—was enough. At least, that was how the brochure had made it sound. Were they lying about that too? Jarvis didn’t know. He had no way of knowing. He could only play their game because what he wanted was worth it…probably.

Sometimes he wasn’t sure.

Jarvis yawned again. “I’m surprised DWMA didn’t set a whole requirement course for Calm Mind Training given the MIBVI outbreak, but then again what do I know. Don’t think I’ve opened a book in years...”

He’d been wandering around as bloodsucker with Elvira for most of it, then home-sitting in Siberia for the rest. How many of his old friends—besides Atli—had fought during those during those dark times? Died during those dark times? Jarvis didn’t know. He just didn’t want to think about it. DWMA. Everything that happened. He wanted to leave it all behind him. However, whether he remained still or not, the world would move forward with or without him.

Up the nostalgic staircase that led to DWMA.

Down the Hallways that still, surprisingly, looked somewhat familiar, Jarvis was pleased that despite all the new facilities and magitech-y gizmos, some things still looked unchanged. Whether Zari or the Maiden continued to talk or not was up to them, but Jarvis was perfectly fine with relaxing in silence. Short words or long words, the socially inept Zari could converse as he wanted, or not at all and it wouldn’t really bother Jarvis. He actually found the boy’s simple and straightforward bluntness easier to deal with.

What did it mean to be socially inept anyway? Jarvis certainly wasn't the best at speaking to people.

A couple of eyes turned their way when the trio entered into DWMA’s library, but most people seemed to mind their own business. Libraries were a place for a study, after all. Jarvis…did not learn best from books. However, he didn’t have a problem reading or retaining information—should the subject matter interest him—either. Calm mind training was going to be something Jarvis would have to improve given the meister he was now partnered with was suitably mad. Madness didn’t frighten him. Still didn’t. However, it never hurt to be cautious…and Zari would need a sane weapon to keep him in check should he ever lose to his madness again—through no fault of his own, of course.

The other thing that interested him, which the Maiden had spoken of, was Self-Resonance.

When he’d been partnered with Atli, it had never even been considered. There was no need. However, with the way things were now, if he and Zari couldn’t resonate, letting the meister leech on his wavelength in order to expand their own in a fight was the next best thing. If that were the case, being able to expand his own wavelength by himself would be useful in ensuring he lasted longer. Not that Jarvis didn’t think he couldn’t properly resonate with Zari, of course. He was just he practical sort. Always had been.

Jarvis looked to Zari and Maiden. “You two can read whatever you want. Learn whatever you want. Let me know if you find any interesting titles.”

Or not. Jarvis had really only said the last part to be polite. Disappearing behind one of the darker aisles of DWMA’s rather expansive library, the young bloodsucker pulled out a random book from one of the shelves and cracked it open, wondering how quickly it’d put him to sleep.

Prizzy Kriyze Sir Les Paul

(mentioned: some people)

 

[Meredith]

Chanterelle Fuir

In the Library, interactions are open.​

Chanterelle had to admit that the DWMA’s library had already been useful to her – even though her FATE term had not yet started. In the two weeks Chanterelle had been on campus, before and after the arrival of the larger student body, she spent a significant portion of her time in the institution’s large library - delving particularly into their botany and biology sections. This fact provided the young witch a glimmer of affirmation; the fleeting feeling that some of her decisions might prove well-made. Things could not seem so bad when the objects of her ambitions were freely offered.

The search for knowledge was not the only thing that drove the girl into the library. The remaining heat of summer bore down upon the desert, and Chanterelle felt like she was going to melt as soon as she stepped outside. The witch was not at all dressed for the weather. She wore a pair of faded blue overalls, cut off halfway down the thigh. A darker pair of ripped jeans spanned down her legs and tucked down into her red hiking boots. A white pair of thick cotton leggings peek through the holes in the jeans. Her shirt, navy-styled and long sleeved, characteristic horizontal stripes in red and white and blue. The cotton gloves on her hands were tucked into the cuffs of her sleeves tightly. Her curly hair was tied in a ponytail down her back, and although she did not don a hat (as her tutor had told her it was considered rude to wear one inside), she displayed a small pair of studs in her ears reminiscent of Fly Agaric. The outfit would have been suitable for the season – somewhere else in the country. If not for the dirt smeared across the front of her overalls, it would have looked neat.

The accommodating nature of the librarians also factored into this habit. At first, she had been disheartened by the lack of chairs in the library, and her inability to find a table had been frustrating. This had driven the girl to the checkout desk to inquire about study rooms. They didn’t have any open rooms to offer, but it turned out that they didn’t really mind if she made her own little study alcove – if she cleaned it up when she intended to leave.

Maybe the librarian that had given her the green light had been unaware of what she was really asking, but she had seen no resistance since that first day.
That is not to imply that this time had been overwhelmingly pleasant or easy. The library had a constant stream of low-level traffic that put Chanterelle on edge, although anyone that had spoken to her had been friendly, and some even interested in her activities. People were suspiciously welcoming here. It made the witch think that they wanted something, and it agitated her, but she bit her tongue and exchanged pleasantries. This was almost painful. Furthermore, the witch quickly found that her grasp on the written language was lacking, and though she had worn down her house mentor’s patience within the first few days with incessant questions she found what she perceived as unlikely allies in the staff on the library floor.

Today, Chanterelle took up shop at the edge of one of the stairwell doorways in the library, hoping for a good view of the floor around her (including the door) and to discourage others from talking to her without being welcomed. She first built up a layer of wood on the outside of the structure, and then pulled out a few thick fungal shelfs, thick enough to hold a substantial amount of weight. The addition of a curtain of vines around the protrusion had been made midway through the day. Maybe the witch felt she was drawing undue attention, but she had a desire to be comfortable that was far greater than her desire for anonymity. The lights of the library were bright and fluorescent. They made it difficult to read, but more importantly, they made it difficult to judge the efficacy of her own luminescence.

The "Field Manual to Mushrooms in the American South", the most recent botanical handbook to grace her eyes, was tossed onto the topmost usable shelf along with her bag. The satchel was mostly empty, excepting a small collection of tiny, painted pots. It had contained a small glass-domed terrarium, with a back port that allowed her to stuff her hand into the substrate from its back, and a selection of other objects intended for cultivation. They had been dispersed around her in her working space. A large jar of substrate sat opened between her knees. Two empty egg cartons, begged from the canteen, were strewn to her side. A small pot with a mushroom glowing a bright yellow-orange illuminated the darkened workspace. Cremini had wandered off somewhere again.

Chanterelle’s eyes flicked upward toward the main door. Another trio had stepped into the library. She could see them, and they could probably see her, but she did not pay them much mind. People had been in and out all day. As they made their way into the room, a group of five (two meisters, three weapons) left. This was the kind of motion that Chanterelle made the habit of tracking. Her hands moved to right the egg cartons.
But she dropped her focus to return to the work in front of her. Gently, she peeled back her gloves, folding them into a small heart and laying them on the toadstool beside her. Her hands dipped into the substrate before her. She mixed it for a moment, eyes closed, feeling the grit of the sand and feathers of the moss that was most ideal for her work. The dry air of the library might not be ideal for mushrooms, but it would certainly prevent them from spreading, as was polite.

Her left hand delved into the side pocket of her jeans. Out came the mushroom knife, brush on one end, blade on the other. She slipped both wrists into the jar, again, where her hands would be out of view at most angles. A prick of her finger, and she squeezed it with her other hand, dripping a splattering of blood agonizingly slowly into the jar. She pulled her hands back out when she assumed it was done. Pocketed the knife, pulled out a bandage, and wet her hands with the water bottle at her hip. After a quick wash she applied a bandaid to the mark. Her cotton gloves were pulled back on, tucked into the cuffs of her sleeves. A pair of floral gardening gloves were pulled over top in case the bandaid bled through.
The lid of the jar was screwed shut. Chanterelle shook it for a moment, held it up before her, and seemed pleased with the result. A swift motion and the lid popped off once more. She poured the substrate into the terrarium, and then into each of the twenty-four egg holsters. With that, the jar was returned to her backpack.

Her attention returned to the soil. She dug her thumb into each pile of substrate in turn, excepting the terrarium, which she set to the side behind her. It took seconds for the plants to begin to bud. They were in a strict colour pattern – white and red, alternating like a chess board – and she smiled at their twinkling luminescence. Her corner had become a lot brighter, now.

Patience made perfect. The prettiest things were grown slowly, in stages, so she could correct any of the imperfections that might arise in their construction. Haste was a product of necessity; all things could be done carefully and meticulously to better result. Chanterelle could feel the anxiety buzzing in her chest. Anything made to be a gift, she reasoned, had ought to be perfect.

She reached for the flask attached to a lanyard around her neck. Turning her head to the side, behind the vines and away from prying eyes, she took a long sip. The liquid burned her throat. It dropped back into her shirt as she screwed tight the cap, leaning forward again to check the plants, which had grown by a few centimetres if she had to guess. A smile threatened the edges of her lips. Her heart quickened to a higher extreme in her chest.

For now, they were perfect.

​

Do Not Touch!

 

[Prizzy Kriyze]

Azariah "Zari" Vasher
When Jarvis didn't object to Adrian tagging along, Zari made another awkward attempt at a disingenuous smile. Not so much that he didn't feel happy and relieved about that, but it was hard to make it show on his face. It was easier before, when he never had to, but if these were going to be his friends, he knew he had to make some sort of effort. It all seemed to come so naturally to them though. Words poured from either of their mouths like it was no harder than breathing. Adrian sounded sassy whenever he spoke. Jarvis tired, but that was to be expected. Zari might not know what a bloodsucker was, but it had been quite a few times by now that he mentioned wanting to rest. He wanted to engage in conversation too, and responded with the most immediate thought he had at their retorts about cheating.

"His way worked."

As if whether or not it was successful determined whether or not it was cheating. Still, Azariah looked so strangely proud of himself to just be part of conversation. In a vain attempt to deflect any praise leveled his way, Zari quickly shot back at Adrian with a "I don't know anything about partial weapon transformation, so you're the expert on that!" before he realized how dumb that statement was, and added "I only learned what I had to." His smile faded and he folded his arms as they left the lot. In truth, he couldn't explain much of anything about how to access his soul space or how to restrain his madness. The only approach he had to learning was obsessing over the task at hand and slamming his head against the proverbial wall until something gave and he made a little progress. Intense focus and manic dedication did that to him, but his therapist had mentioned something about it not being healthy in the long run. Not sure what that's about.

Jarvis' words about required courses in sound mind training caught his attention, and he looked back over to him. "They should." He nodded as if in agreement, though Jarvis had hardly made his opinion about the subject matter known. Curiously, he studied the outline of his tired would-be partner. During the brief resonation they'd attempted earlier, the "bloodsucker" (if that really was his real name) had attempted to manage and outpace the Soulfire's leeching effects. Not ignored resonation, no, but rather attempted both in tandem. Zari had never considered that, much less had a partner powerful enough to attempt. It could never work in the long run; the more energy the Soulfire absorbed the faster it would leech, and the problem compounds until there is nothing left to burn away. If they both tried to repress it though, if Zari couldn't keep his wavelength in check, it could work for a time. What an unlikely solution, but morbidly clever. He'd had to know more about bloodsuckers now.

Jarvis' silence rubbed off on him, and with a little smile playing at his lips he kept quiet. It was a lot more pleasant to just... exist in silence, absorbing surrounding conversation rather than having to actively participate. Not that silence existed much here at all, and Zari's face fell stern and focused the closer they got to the DWMA. The constant cacophony of the many, many huge and varied wavelengths bled out of the building like a thermonuclear explosion. Even with his unique senses dulled to a bare simmer, the Death City of Nevada never grew fully quiet. There was always the toll of death here. The most imposing soul ever always permeated this place, even when he was not around. It took a lot of getting used to.

---

Once they arrived inside the huge library Jarvis disappeared in between the shelves, leaving Zari and Adrian to their own devices. With a hint of determination, Zari turned towards Adrian. "I will research Bloodsuckers and Soul Space, so that I understand it and can not fear it anymore." From a back pocket he produced a beat-up looking leather eyeglass case, from which he retrieved a pair of thin-framed reading glasses that were only mildly bent out of shape. "Have you really never seen your soul space?" He casually wondered, before turning back towards the room and simply expecting the autonomous weapon to follow.

He didn't get awfully many steps ahead though, before his ever-changing mind got caught up on something else. Across the outer walls of the first spiral staircase he'd planned to traverse, there was bark. Large mushrooms, lines of vines that dangled dangerously close to the open torches, and what looked like a very small teenage gardener sitting in the middle of it all and playing with dirt. There were dimly glowing mushrooms lighting up the mildly obscured corner, and the girl herself wore earrings that looked like some fungus Zari wasn't familiar with. Mushroom? Fungi? Fungirl?

Only a handful of feet away from the recluse's corner he'd stopped, and with the confusion of several new realities being dumped on him Zari looked back to Adrian, then over the girl, then back to Adrian and loudly proclaimed, "That can't be allowed, can it?"

Sir Les Paul QuirkyAngel Meredith

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Midori☆Hoshi​

"Dark Star"​

Species Death Golem
Partner Various / Autonomous Weapon
Rank Two-Star

Location Death City, Lot A
Mission Free time
Status Reflective, insightful

​

Mentions: The Regal Rper Sybil Kyuubey

Adra thanked him. Despite the context, it was still a hard thing for Midori to process. The words didn't necessarily feel natural; whether that was due to his preconceived notion of their relationship or Adra herself. Honestly, the man really should take the time to learn more about her. About all of his new students, really. Aside from Zosar, he didn't have much actual one-on-one time with any of them. That would need to change.

One thing that Adra said was definitely wrong, though. The only thing she was wrong about that Midori wouldn't yet bring up to argue about. She still felt like everyone was out to get her. Like there was some force, like the medical team, in the background wanting her to fail. What she didn't realize is that Cyrus, despite his attitude towards them, wanted them to succeed as much as anyone else. No one wanted them to fail. Kidd created this program to give them the best chances they could to succeed. If he could have assigned each one of them a stable agent as a partner than the others, Midori had no doubt he would have--but that just plain wasn't an option. Everyone wanted them to succeed. Proving that to her would require more than his words or a promise.

Proving that would be a hill Midori would die on if he needed, but he knew it wouldn't be single battle won but a long-waged war.

"I won't lie to you, the gap between what you did today with your Madness and making that first step will be multiplicatively harder. From your Soul Space, you have to separate your mind and soul much further and for long enough that the gap becomes second nature to you. We call it a seal, but it's not a wall. It's more like a trench between your mind and soul," Midori explained to her. He was blunt. He was honest. He was also describing the seal unlike the other instructors or texts regarding it. The common perspective of the seal was that it was a barrier, but the perspective he had of it was different. It was distance. Internal segregation.

"I can tell you this, though, Adra. How you used the Calm Mind training today was nearly-perfect execution. It may not feel like it, but you're much further along than you realize. Just knowing how to use it is much different than actually doing so... don't sell yourself short," he added. He offered her a gentle smile. A sincere one. He meant it. She was doing well. And, he had faith she would continue to do so.

By this time, Zosar and Emira were exchanging pleasantries, but it was far from over. Whether Zosar realized it or not, his soul was in complete disarray. That Volatile Wavelength of his wasn't about to just return to normal after that. Zosar needed time. The Meister may not like to admit it, but the power of his soul had its drawbacks and they could be quite considerable. Like now. He hoped Zosar wasn't about to just rush into things with Adra now. His soul in this state with her Madness would probably result in shocks to both of them.

The two had finally returned. Emira didn't seem interested in chit-chat, but Midori had something for her, too. Catching up with her wouldn't be difficult, even she darted off at full speed. Still, there were some words he needed to impart on the Adra and Zosar.

"Zose, I'm going to level with you right now. Adra is your partner, and she deserves a good partner. Not one focused on using another weapon just out of reach, so don't be a dick--you have a tendency to be without meaning to. Adra is her own whole ass person, not a stepping stone to using another weapon, and wielding Emira is not just some goal for you to reach," Midori said to him. His voice was stern. In fact, there was a little irritation in his tone. How Zosar had been treating Adra and Emira didn't quite sit well with him. Midori knew Adra didn't quite have faith in him, and honestly, Midori saw why. He was over there making promises to some other weapon before he had even attempting to establish things further with Adra. This entire endeavor could have waited weeks and had the same outcome. His impatience had the cost of rubbing people the wrong way.

But then, wasn't that the pot calling the kettle black?

"Take this to heart, Zosar. No matter how hard you try, you won't be able to wield Emira without that Calm Seal. You may gain seconds here or there, but it would be nothing but wasted effort in the long run. So, this is my assignment for you. Dedicate yourself to Adra, and train with her dutifully. She is arguably the furthest along with Calm Training, but I am forbidding you from using her as a source for insight to it. Adra is not stop along your way, she is your destination," Midori told him. If one didn't know better, it might sound like he was white-knighting here for Adra, but that wasn't the case. He was trying to give Zosar a much needed change of perspective.

"And, Adra," Midori said, turning his eyes onto hers. "Keep him in line. I know you don't trust many, and I understand why. I know few people here as good as you at clearly seeing their goal and sticking to it, and that is something both of you would benefit from if it rubbed off on him. If Zosar is a racehorse, be his blinders to keep him on course. That is my assignment to you," he told her with the same sense of finality he did to Zosar just a moment ago. At the very least, his tone was much less harsh with her.

Then, in a tone imitating the pink-haired weapon had from before, he simply uttered, "Later." With that, the outline of his body distorted before he vanished. He had darted off at his absurd speeds to catch back up with Emira. He left them with the words he thought they needed, but he had one other topic of importance he wanted to deal with.

Just a few moments after that burst of speed, he found himself stationary in front of Emira a few dozen feet away from the other two. He flared his Wavelength just enough to get her attention, knowing she would at least feel that if she couldn't hear him or didn't catch him in that blinding speed. Although, by now she was likely accustomed to knowing the tailwind that followed either meant someone like him or Cyrus was there.

He stood in front of her silent. Hands in pockets. His eyes aimed at hers, locked if she looked back at them. It had been... far longer than he cared to admit since the last time they talked. Talked. Like, actually talked. Not under the program or in passing. Not from some assignment or indirectly through Cyrus. Not without some agenda.

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Adrian Hackney​

"The Maiden"​

Species Human
Partner None
Rank Fate Agent

Location Death City, Library
Mission Free Time
Status Decisive

​

Mentions: Prizzy Kriyze QuirkyAngel Meredith

Jarvis didn't seem too interested in learning what they were actually doing. This admittedly irked Adrian to some degree. He wasn't being useful or engaging. It made him wonder if he was just relying on Zari to do it all, or if he genuinely just had no drive. In either case, just the fact he was off in some corner doing nothing didn't sit right with Adrian. Not enough to necessarily make the weapon irate, but enough to scratch the corner of his mind. Regardless, it wouldn't be any more productive to address it. If anything, it would be quite the opposite, and probably result in the two not being so quick to invite him in the future.

Given what Jarvis said earlier about just lazing about, it did surprise Adrian that he hadn't read anything at all. With all the time in the world, literally, reading would probably have been some effective type of escape. But then, Adrian was also the guy that played a Tower Defense game earlier, so who was he to judge?

As Adrian was scanning the library and wondering if the books or the online resources would be better to utilize, Zari shot him a question. At least he was engaging.

"Not once, actually. No clue how to even start. The most advanced thing I can do is self-resonance, and that's a lot of focus on using different parts of your wavelength to do different things. One part has to amplify, the other you have to control while its being amplified. I would imagine splitting your Wavelength up like that is pretty opposite to getting inside it," Adrian answered him, also giving some insight into the Self-Resonance technique he could use. It wasn't necessarily a focus on him as much as it was to emphasize how he speculated it was different. Zari said he had seen his, so his input might confirm this.

Adrian looked over to see what Zari had raised his voice over. It wasn't a response to him, but the tone in his voice carried a specific uncertainty that definitely piqued the weapon's interest. He hadn't heard that at all from Zari, and it accompanied with his question most certainly was enough to draw attention. Perhaps even from Jarvis. What Adrian saw, though, was a unique corner of greenery in the otherwise pristine library and a peculiar new face affixing a flask to her necklace like it was some type of charm. Adrian stood there in the same awe Zari seemed to without an answer.

Before he could respond, though, another unfamiliar voice popped up between them. From him shot a sarcastic shush at them and a very disapproving look on his face. "Shh, young men. Don't you know this is a place of study?" he told them, his finger almost a caricature in front of his mouth. He sat down a thick book and just shook his head before turning away from them, mumbling something inaudibly. His brown coat fluttered with he turned, walking between the bookshelves in a quick pace almost the moment anyone would have paid him any heed. Even if he was a person of interest, chasing him down would have proven futile. Once he was out of sight, he was gone. Another mystery of the DWMA.

Little did anyone in that library known, this brief comment was the first from Quantum Wavelength Guy.

 

[EmperorsChosen]

Daniella Ethalyn | Apartments
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
​

Following the "team-bonding exercise" and returning to her room, Nadia likely expected the pink girl to crawl into bed and pass out. The now somewhat giggly ball of pink did plop down onto the top of her sheets, though that lasted for only a few minutes. At some point after, rather than drifting to sleep, the sword decided she was hungry.

Lethargically pushing herself up off her bed and proceeded out the door. Her face still held a reddish hue, and she was somewhat wobbly, though she wasn't swaying drastically nor was she crashing into anything. How dare the Ruskie look down on her and think she'd kill herself on stairs. She was great at walking!

Making her way to the elevator, Dani headed down and into the cellar, where there was known to be a vending machine with all manner of snacks. Exiting the lift, she made sure to internally chastise Nadia for believing she would fall asleep.

It did seem there was indeed a vending machine in the lower basement halls with a different assortment of food stuffs than what could be held on hand, a single long corridor lined the interior with open cellars alongside the right hand side and two doorways on the left, one was marked as a tornado shelter and storage while the other had caution markers with the words KEEP OUT in bold lettering with a door that had a number of locks and had never been seen open by the girl at least, near it was a hatch leading to the outside, a freight entry for when it was an Inn.

Stories of the hall being haunted would crawl up Dani's neck and in her alcohol addled thoughts after she reached the machine when the sudden sound of footsteps could be heard behind her, so softly were they that Dani was suddenly met by a girl with a blue dress on, having exited one of the cellars, a knife was in her hand and a shrouded with a cloth hood over her head and most of her body. "You..are in danger."

Dani jumped at the sudden appearance of the suspicious figure, jolting backward upon being startled. However, before the mentally encumbered woman could process the situation and respond, she felt a pain radiate from the back of her head and between that pain and the effects of the alcohol, the world went dark.

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