Waking the Dead 2.0 || August 9, 2063 || Tuesday

[kalikat]

[Dinner is served late in the mess hall because it's a grand banquet in honor of the Magistrate of Kibo. It's a pretty modest celebration, all things considered: the people at Kibo are invited, along with her family, any Searing Wind members who feel like dropping in from wherever they've been as of late, and a few friends among the other Keepers of the Vigil. That's about it.

Still, Kalika looks like she's having fun. Her husband and her children are, of course, all in attendance, together with her husband's familiars and the entire division of the Strays from Seigi. The food, mind you, is excellent, and there is more than enough booze.

You're welcome to come and go as you please. Kalika's easy like that.]


OOC Notes:
+ Will have some threads for NPCs of note, but just to give you a general idea: many members of the three blades are in attendance, along with pretty much anyone whom Kalika views as family. If you want to request for somebody, lemme know!
+ Debby and Noey: feel free to put your NPCs in here. =w=
+ Feel free to start your own threads too. Just specify if it's open to all, or if you're going to thread something out with a particular PC.

Comments

welp

[redemancy]

[And because this one's timing is impeccable, she does, indeed, catch him at the right moment. She has, in fact, been watching him ever since he came in.

As such, right when you're about to go and get another drink (that bottle in your hand is empty), Aria's coming up and offering you one with a smile.]

Here. This'll save you the trouble.

it had to happen sometime, okay ;u;

[larue]

[ And because he knows better to think that he hasn't just been caught: ]

Thank you, ma'am. [ Accepting that bottle now and setting the one in his hand aside.

This is... mildly... awkward. ]

[redemancy]

You're welcome.

[Awkward? What u talkin' about? There is no awkward!

Case in point: she's still smiling, like nothing is wrong at all.]

[larue]

[ That's going to make him relax. Maybe he wasn't caught after all. ]

How're the legs?

[ Honestly, he's really glad to see you up and about. ]

[redemancy]

Pretty good, and I'm almost afraid to say that I owe Jessie for that.

[She's joking, though. She and Jessie are tight.]

[larue]

[ That gets a smile out of this one. ]

Yeah? Jessie's kind of great like that.

[ He looks down at his beer. He hasn't sighted Mr. Vice yet, and is quietly grateful for it. That one would know, on sight alone, that something was up. ]

[redemancy]

Mm-hm. It's a shame that he won't be able to turn up tonight. Pretty sure that I'll see him around here next month, though.

[Leaning back against the wall now, and taking a swig from her own bottle.]

[larue]

[ Josh is going to take his cue from Aria and sip from his own. ]

Or you could go and see him? [ A shrug. ] You were Methuselah before you were Netsach... right?

[ He read up. Most of Wolf's Choice -- and the other two blades -- were. ]

[redemancy]

Yep. And it's fine. I'd rather not embarrass him with sappy thank yous while he's at work. It ruins his game.

[Adding that statement with a wink.]

[larue]

[ And at the mention of that, he's going to laugh softly, tongue in cheek. ]

Can't have that. He's got a rep to uphold.

[ Heartless Hard-ass about covers it.

He takes a breath, pauses, and then looks back up at the mage. ]

I know I said it already but... it's really good to see you up and walking.

[redemancy]

It's good to BE up and walking. Kicking around in dreams just doesn't cut it.

[Now eyeing him from over her drink for a bit.]

It's nice to see you here, with the rest of the Hounds.

[larue]

[ There's a pause when she mentions dreams, and then Josh is killing the stub of his cigarette and lighting up a new one.

Could she be... like Brianna?

He won't ask though. He's not sure he wants to know. ]

Wouldn't have been right if we weren't complete. [ Yes, he's choosing his words carefully around her. He knows he shouldn't have to, but this is Josh, and whatever isn't right between him and Hikaru isn't something he's inclined to advertise. So... a segue: ] Besides, I'm going to be part of Zangyaku soon enough.

[redemancy]

[Nevertheless, she's catching that little turn of phrase --

-- but because she feels like she knows your type, she won't press. Not yet, not if she doesn't have to.]

Oh, you will? That's nice to hear. Have you decided on your roles and your division yet?

[larue]

I'll need to think about the roles a bit more. [ A small shy smile. ] But I'm definitely going to join the Rashinban.

[ He's already told a handful of people why, Gabriel included. His mentor's vote of confidence on his plan to choose different divisions per license acquired was also comforting. He doesn't want to spread himself thin, but if he can toggle different specializations per conspiracy or compact, he will. ]

I heard that Sin-Eaters are typically Morticians, but Stan's got that covered, and we already have a Whisperer and a member of the Senshi. It seems smart to have a Hound in each Division, though whatever Kaz and Brianna decide to choose, I'll support a hundred percent.

[redemancy]

[Nodding along, because she likes the way he thinks.]

Rashinban does seem to suit you too. You're the one who figured it out, right? The connection that my blade, Drake's blade, and Gideon's blade has to Hikaru.

[That sort of thing takes skill. All the information is there, yes, but weaving it together in precisely that way wasn't a simple matter.]

[larue]

[ The nod that he offers is slow -- and shy. ]

Yeah. Yeah, that was me.

[ He hasn't thought about that in ages, but he remembers how it had seemed odd how Hikaru seemed to be the consistent variable where it came to the members of the Three Blades. ]

It started out as a hunch, really. But then... patterns. [ He's ducking his head a little at that. ]

oops belatedly realized i repeated icons twice in a row orz

[redemancy]

Not nearly as many people pick up on patterns as they say they do, or think they do.

[Smiles.]

It's a good talent to have.

it is okayyyyy

[larue]

[ And that is a very big compliment, especially since you're a member of Wolf's Choice and his former teacher.

It brings to mind something else as well. ]

While we're on the subject of patterns, [ his voice goes soft, and he can't help the way he glances over his shoulder, as if checking if there's anyone closeby. ]

Can we uh, walk? Um. [ He doesn't spot Hikaru, but... ] Outside. If that's okay?

nearly missed this because notif skipped.

[redemancy]

[Hum.]

Sure thing.

[She pushes herself off the wall, and moves closer to you with a crooked smile.]

You might need to let me hold on to your arm, though.

[larue]

He's offering that readily, and then leading Aria out one of the doorways. He only really wants some distance between himself and anyone who might hear. He has no doubt that most of those in attendance know about the thing he's about to bring up, but he has always been careful with secrets that aren't his. ]

I wanted to say thank you.

[ He says that when you two are finally alone, voice soft and sincere. ] You were speaking about... bans on a general overview. But... I uh, I figured it out.

[redemancy]

[That, of course, makes her pause. It takes a bit before her smile returns, and she nods. The look in her eyes, though, is quiet.]

You don't need to thank me, really. I'm an instructor at Balamb: it's what I'm supposed to do.

[Squaring up to look at you now.]

It's just good that you got to apply that knowledge so quickly to something important.

[larue]

[ A small smile at that. ]

It was immediately after South Korea.

I just... it didn't make sense to me at the time. And he and I weren't... friends, not the way... [ he trails off. ]

I just wanted to understand.

[redemancy]

Because it didn't add up.

[Smiling at that point, although it's clearly forced. Defense mechanisms, right? Ways to put one's self back together, take the edge off the hurt.]

He does that often. It's how he makes sure that people don't get too close.

[Confuse them and frustrate them until they run out of patience and leave.]

[larue]

[ His reply comes in the form of a silent nod, hands tucking themselves away in his pockets.

It's only when one hand comes out with his cigarettes that his guard slips a bit, but he takes a breath and slides out a stick to light as he looks off to one side.

He is going to switch topics now, because this is getting too close to territory he can't maneuver now. ]

Inquisitor Tagabigay looks to be in good spirits tonight. [ He squints a little, remembering the mage's animal companion. ] Was that a bird with him inside?

[redemancy]

[She's watching him throughout all of that, trying to figure out why she's getting the sense that Something is Up. It would align with the way Hikaru's been acting tonight, and Alistair's presence, and something Kalika said...

Hmm.]

Yeah. Her name's Didi, and she's a dodo bird. It's amazing what magience can do for you.

[But first, deflections.]