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  1. - Top - End - #1
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Goblin

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    Default 9CR: Before and Beside

    This is a thread for stories before the beginning and to the side of the present.

    Namely, it's a place to play out scenes for Nine-Colored Roses that don't fit into the main IC thread timing-wise. For example...

    Session 0.5: Blazing Striker vs. the Bully - for MReav

    February X, 2015

    "Hey, nerd!"

    As far as insults went, it wasn't very creative, but William Ray's voice had a way of carrying. Frankly, it was his only qualification as a football quarterback, but he was the sort of person to gravitate to that position anyway - very much the traditional high school bully and very invested in the traditional signs of status, such as expensive clothes, sports positions, and looming over people shorter than him like he was doing to Shira in the cafeteria right now.

    Typically, he pitched more creative insults from farther away, but this time he'd made the effort to put himself between the new girl and the door, with a couple of his hangers-on idling behind Shira - no one close enough to say that a fight was about to start, but no one there coincidentally, either.
    Spoiler
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  2. - Top - End - #2
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Shira gave her usual neutral look. She was she didn't really care for the verbal barbs. After the fire, she wasn't going to let some trumped up jerk bother her.

    "Is there something that you want, William?" Shira asked, a slight tinge of tiredness modifying her voice.

    In her head, she was mentally considering the angles. Being surrounded was not an optimal place to be.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Remember, William is supposed to be holding Inari hostage, though without realizing just what he has, Inari is really good at playing his stuffed doll role, and Marie-Helene is supposed to see at least part of it, probably Shira will ask "are you okay?" like the weirdo that she is, only for the little plushie to give a slight nod.
    Last edited by MReav; 2015-03-05 at 10:30 PM.

  3. - Top - End - #3
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    Goblin

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    "Hey, don't be like that," he said, "I found somethin' of yours earlier, and I thought you'd like to know."

    He pulled a slightly squashed plush animal from where it had been stuffed in his pocket (thankfully, he's not a skinny jeans guy). Inari, recognizing that he's in public, remains limp and lifeless, although Shira knows him well enough to see the vague glint of panic behind the little bead eyes.

    "I didn't know you still played with stuffed animals!" William continued, feigning (very loud) interest and surprise. He held Inari up around the middle and waved him around. "Imagine that, a sixteen year old girl who carries a little stuffed animal to school. Your mommy make this for you, Rosenberg?"
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  4. - Top - End - #4
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Quote Originally Posted by Nerd-o-rama View Post
    He pulled a slightly squashed plush animal from where it had been stuffed in his pocket (thankfully, he's not a skinny jeans guy). Inari, recognizing that he's in public, remains limp and lifeless, although Shira knows him well enough to see the vague glint of panic behind the little bead eyes.

    "I didn't know you still played with stuffed animals!" William continued, feigning (very loud) interest and surprise. He held Inari up around the middle and waved him around. "Imagine that, a sixteen year old girl who carries a little stuffed animal to school. Your mommy make this for you, Rosenberg?"
    Concern crept ever so slightly on her face when she realized she left Inari alone and unsecured. Still, it was the most noticeable reaction she had given in response to William's harassment.

    "Please give him back." Shira said while still maintaining most of her usual vocal distance, trying to grab Inari out of the larger teenager's hands. She still kept her wits about her. She didn't want to be caught flat-footed, but she also didn't want to throw the first punch.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    If we're aiming to make William/his goon squad as unlikable as possible, then when Shira moves to grab Inari, either William will hold out his hand on Shira's chest to keep her at arm's length, or his goons will try to hold her back, again in groping position (though the positioning was somewhat accidental)

    Either way, someone with a proper handhold will say something like "Huh, I'd never have thought a freak/nerd/weirdo/*generic high school taunt* like this would have such a nice rack. At which point the violence will ensue.

    I guess this would help serve as a combat tutorial for everyone, and probably have Invocations thrown in for good measure. Shira is both protecting someone who cannot defend himself and on behalf of someone she deeply cares about.

    Edit: I've made a few edits based on UnEather's suggestion.
    Last edited by MReav; 2015-03-07 at 01:03 PM.

  5. - Top - End - #5
    Barbarian in the Playground
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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Spoiler: I am not in this scene, but...
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    I don't think this group should be made unlikable in that way. For one, it's been established that Ray still lives.
    More seriously, it was part of your backstory that what is about to happen here was an overreaction on your part, no? So you should probably stop piling up the justifications.
    Methinks it's enough if they start passing the "plush" to one another whenever you reach to grab it, until one or more of them get beaten up for their trouble.
    Also, it'd be pretty stupid of them to try to hold someone without holding the wrists.

  6. - Top - End - #6
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    Goblin

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Spoiler: Initative
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    Initiative Order:
    -Punks
    -Shira

    Will skips back out of Shira's reach, already prepared for this, while both of his friends attempt to grab her from behind, not knowing what they're getting into. One of them, Shira dodges easily, almost instinctively, but the other one fails in a much more impressive way - rather than getting an effective hold, he gets two handfuls of something else. He doesn't seem to mind...yet.

    "Wow! Didn't think a freak like you would be this stacked..."

    No one can tell the difference between it and a random movement as Will waves him around, but Inari covers his eyes in anticipation of the reaction to that.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    Rolls

    Will moves and leaves his action open for Dodging.
    Will's Friend 1 attempts to grapple Shira (Str+Brawl-Defense) and fails.
    Will's Friend 2 attempts to grapple Shira (Str+Brawl-Defense) and Dramatic Fails, getting in a good grope, but not grappling her at all and losing his Defense for the next round.
    Last edited by Nerd-o-rama; 2015-03-07 at 04:44 PM.
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  7. - Top - End - #7
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Quote Originally Posted by Nerd-o-rama View Post
    Spoiler: Initative
    Show
    Initiative Order:
    -Punks
    -Shira

    Will skips back out of Shira's reach, already prepared for this, while both of his friends attempt to grab her from behind, not knowing what they're getting into. One of them, Shira dodges easily, almost instinctively, but the other one fails in a much more impressive way - rather than getting an effective hold, he gets two handfuls of something else. He doesn't seem to mind...yet.
    Shira effortlessly dodged both attackers, keeping them from getting any sort of tactically advantageous solid grip. However, The second one, while he overextended himself and was not in any sort of position to defend himself, actually did manage to get a solid grip on part of her. Her face twitched at the awkward positioning of his hands, and she was only brought out of it when he opened his mouth.

    Quote Originally Posted by Nerd-o-rama View Post
    "Wow! Didn't think a freak like you would be this stac..."
    Her elbow came flying up into his nose, cutting him off.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    I roll 2 successes.

    Also:

    Brothers Daryl and Daryl? Or is that supposed to be Daryl's brother... Or is Daryl William's brother, and the other Daryl is not related like that.

    Edit: Realized I linked the wrong roll.


    Edit: I changed up the fluff a bit, but it means the same thing.
    Last edited by MReav; 2015-03-09 at 12:15 PM.

  8. - Top - End - #8
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    Goblin

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Spoiler: Combat Status
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    In initiative order:

    William - undamaged, Def 4, Knocked Down
    Punk 1 - undamaged, Def 0 (all-out attack)
    Punk 2 - 2 bashing damage, Def 0, Beaten Down
    Shira

    So I think what I'm going to do is Combat Status OOC blocks like this where I'll list Tilts and factors that would be relevant. In something other than a straight-up fistfight, I'd also list things like Resolve, Composure, Concealment, and Supernatural Tolerance so you can modify dice pools.

    Also the names were a joke based on an obscure TV show, ignore them.


    Shira's flying elbow whacks the offending groper mid-sentence, and he staggers back grabbing his nose.

    "W-what the hell?" Will says. He really hadn't expected any physical resistance, let alone martial arts. Blood up, he goes in for a punch, only to miss entirely and rather embarrassingly go sprawling on the floor.

    However, the crony not grabbing his face and checking if he's bleeding follows up by trying to clobber her while she's distracted, throwing a solid haymaker at the back of her head.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    Rolls
    Re-rolls

    Combat with minions is a comedy of errors. Mook 2 takes no action, Will is Knocked Prone, and Mook 1 deals 2 Bashing damage unless Shira wants to negate it.
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  9. - Top - End - #9
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Shira noted that one of the goons seemed out of the fight, so she turned towards William as he made an attack... only for him to slip on some soda the janitor had yet to clean up and he ended up landing on his face. Unfortunately, this made for a neat little distraction, and she took a nasty blow to the back of the head from the other brother. However, she's had worse both in the course of her duties as a Noble and in her mundane life, so she quickly recovered. In response, her foot slams into his gut hard enough to send him flying into the trash bins.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    Shira's retaliatory attack: 4 total: 3 successes and 1 on reroll.

    I think I can only negate damage while Transformed.

    Also, onslaught penalty?
    Last edited by MReav; 2015-03-07 at 11:33 PM.

  10. - Top - End - #10
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    Goblin

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Spoiler: Combat Status
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    William - undamaged, Def 4
    Punk 1 - 4 bashing damage, Def 3, Beaten Down
    Punk 2 - 2 bashing damage, Def 3, Beaten Down
    Shira


    Said goon went flying. He wasn't injured in any permanent way, but like his friend, he chose to recognize the fact of being way over his head and stayed down for the moment.

    William stood up, face contorted with rage, and brushed himself off before squaring up again. "You wanna go? You wanna go freak? That damn karate or whatever's not gonna cut it anymore!"

    The rest of the students in the cafeteria are just staring now, though whether at Shira's skill or Will's looking like an idiot is hard to say.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    William loses his action standing up, so it's Shira's turn again.
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  11. - Top - End - #11
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    With William's friends out of the picture and William too distracted with getting himself off the ground, Shira presses her attack without concern for herself, going so far as to channel her magic to help hersave Inari from his clutches.

    While she gets a decently solid hit in, she was hoping more for something along the lines of what she did to goon #2.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    Rolls

    1 Success.

    Dice roller not impressing me so far...

    Edit: I think we said we'd ignore my claim on the All-Out Attack in the OOC thread, chopping the extra dice off at the end of my rolls.
    Last edited by MReav; 2015-03-08 at 09:55 PM.

  12. - Top - End - #12
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    Goblin

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Spoiler: Combat Status
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    William - 1 bashing damage, Def 0 (All-out Attack)
    Punk 1 - 4 bashing damage, Def 3, Beaten Down Surrendered
    Punk 2 - 2 bashing damage, Def 3, Beaten Down Surrendered
    Shira


    The kid's knocked back just hard enough to start seeing red.

    "That all you got? Huh?!"

    He swings at Shira again, missing with his wild attack and leaving himself vulnerable.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    You can roll if you like, but as he's at a chance die to hit and too pissed to use social maneuvers, you have my permission to narrate the end of the fight now.
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  13. - Top - End - #13
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Shira easily side-stepped the flailing strike, spun around, grabbed William by the back of his shirt, lifted him up over her head, and slammed him into the ground on his back.

    With him now sprawled on the floor, she quietly walked over to where Inari ended up after he was knocked from William's hands, picked him up, and asked him, "Are you okay?"

    Inari nodded, to which Shira reacted by shaking him to make it look like she was the cause of the motion.

    Holding him gently and petting him almost like one would a pet, Shira walked back over to William's dazed body and knelt down next to him.

    "Thank you for finding Inari for me. He was always a great comfort growing up back in St. John's, where if I didn't want to be a victim for muggers, or gang-bangers, or drug dealers, or just plain violent and crazy people, I had to learn how to fight. So you can understand why I wasn't that concerned with you and your idiot goon squad's pathetic attempts to attack me." Shira's voice retained that quiet serenity it always had, though she did touch the part of her head where William's friend struck her, "And after the fire that destroyed my old home, killed several of my neighbours, and nearly burned my parents to death, I've been such an emotional wreck. I can still hear their screams and see their faces, you know. He's been such a comfort in these trying times. I don't know what I would do without him..."

    Her hand then shot out and grabbed him by the shirt, and she yanked him to less than an inch away from her face.

    And without changing her inflection or expression, she added, "... Pray that you never find out."

    She then slammed him into the ground, got up, and after considering for a moment, slightly slumped like she wasn't going to get what she wanted, readjusted where her feet were, then gave one more kick into his side for good measure.

    She then walked over to Anne, with Inari in tow.

    "Can you please take a look at this?" she asked, rubbing the bruise at the back of her head.

    She didn't notice Marie-Helene staring at Inari.

    Spoiler: OOC
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    Now that's more like it! 4 Successes on the attack, and 5 Successes from Intimidation.

    I'm also seeing about regaining my spent Willpower by way of Arrogance.
    Last edited by MReav; 2015-03-09 at 05:02 PM.

  14. - Top - End - #14
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    Goblin

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Spoiler: OOC
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    That looks good, but to be clear for the future, despite saying "mundane skill rolls", after reading over the rules, I am almost positive Charms can only be used while Transformed, even Permanent ones. Likewise with Invocations, and even if they weren't, both are magical effects on par with Transforming in obviousness anyway.

    All that said you got it completely right for a case where you had been transformed, and more importantly, you got the same amount of successes with just Strength+Intimidation+Specialty+Willpower+Practica l Magic-William's Resolve, so the results are unchanged.

    Also, combat ended, enemies Surrendered. Shira regains a point of Willpower, not that it necessarily mattered.


    William said nothing in response, only stared goggle-eyed at the girl who'd just almost literally wiped the floor with him, and proceeded to wet his pants.

    The fallout from this day was extensive, if mostly short-lived. Teachers intervened after the fight was over, as they were wont to do, and everyone involved ended up with a three day suspension - along with a mandatory detention-lecture on sexual harassment for Captain Handsy, per state law. Fortunately, there was no damage that couldn't be patched up at the nurse's office, although William spent most of his suspension lying on ice packs after that blow to his back. The faculty was mostly sympathetic to Shira as the attacked party, although both students and teachers began treating her as someone not to be messed around with, no matter how much of a weirdo she was. And, naturally, Grandma Goldie would have a solid half-hour lecture ready by the time Shira got home.

    More important for the long term, of course, is the fact that Marie-Helene was clued into the fact that her friend was not just suffering from poorly-understood stress disorders when she had conversations with that stuffed animal...

    Spoiler: OOC
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    Shira gains the Condition Notoriety (Pioneer High School), but the penalty applies only to Socialize rolls. Her Circle is exempt.

    And while I'm talking about Conditions, add Legal Minor [Persistent] to your sheet, if you don't mind.

    We can play out a follow-up scene with M-H and Anne or just leave it here.

    Also, take one Beat for roleplaying.
    Last edited by Nerd-o-rama; 2015-03-09 at 09:17 AM.
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  15. - Top - End - #15
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    -April 25th, 2015. Shira's home.

    Shira got Giovanni's email from Anne without much hassle and shot him one.

    "Mr. Minotti,

    It's Shira. I'd like to talk to you about yesterday. Can I meet with you?

    Shira Rosenberg."

    Simple message.

    "And now we wait. So, what games have you downloaded this week?" Shira asked Inari to pass the time.
    Last edited by MReav; 2015-04-21 at 12:31 AM.

  16. - Top - End - #16
    Barbarian in the Playground
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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Spoiler
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    Shouldn't this be on the main thread? I had thought this one would be for time-displaced scenes.
    Also, behold the power of ranting!

    Rosenberg. The name does ring a bell. Giovanni remembers reading it, specifically, but it's not one of his current students, no past student as far as he can recall, no famous person that he can think of...
    Wait, yesterday. That'd be one of the Nobles he met then, the one that claimed to be a student at Pioneer High. The one with the fox familiar, if memory serves.
    Still curious that he'd recognize the name if she's not on his classes, but there are any number of ways that could have happened. Giovanni starts composing a reply.
    ...then stops. This, too, may well be a trick, against him and/or miss Rosenberg. Should he reply?
    Well, yes. If it is a trap, it is important to spring it and try to learn who or what is behind. Crucial, even.
    And if true, it is equally important that they communicate. So he starts writing his answer.
    ...then stops. The mail doesn't give a reason for wanting to talk. General social call, or a specific secret bussiness? Or a dark plot under the pretense of either, of course. If it is a trap it would be irresponsible to spring it in a populated area, but the real miss Rosenberg would be too young to be meeting him in secret. Or at all, really, and damn the Light again for drafting children into its army. And of course, whatever reply he gives must also seem innocuous, in case her machine is compromised. Too many constraints to even begin choosing.
    ...no, that's not true. Not risking humans must come first, surely a fellow Noble would agree. A servant of the Darkness may or may not try to argue against it, but that would be evidence at least. They could coordinate their secrecy and damage control afterwards.
    Then he has a better idea, and finally sends his reply.
    "Sure. I was going back to the garden. See you there?".
    Then he deletes both messages, closes everything and starts going, groaning a little when he realizes he'll need to walk and/or take the bus.

  17. - Top - End - #17
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    While waiting for the response, Shira and Inari were playing on an old game console that she picked up at a garage sale for cheap.

    "Can't let you do that, Star Fox!"

    "Do you have to say that every time we play this?"

    "Only when I'm not player one."

    Shira rolled her eyes, then executed a maneuver.

    As if on cue, Inari said, "What the heck?"

    She shot the little computer graphic plane a little when she heard the email notification sound. Pausing the game, she stood up and noticed that it was from Giovanni. She read the message, and wrote back a response:

    "Right now/ASAP?"

    While she was doing so, Inari cheekily unpaused the game.

    "Looks like we win today, Star Fox!"

  18. - Top - End - #18
    Barbarian in the Playground
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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    A while after, Giovanni arrives back at friday's meeting point. After some consideration, he decided to show up in his human form this time, since the young girl knows his name and might call him out before thinking about it.
    He is also carrying a party-sized bag of chips, as a sort of peace offering.
    Spoiler
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    Well that was uninspired, sorry.
    Also, I want it on record that this instance of miscommunication isn't on me. I clearly said Giovanni was closing his computer and leaving immediately on my previous post.

    Also also, I'd like to know how crowded the area is, please.

  19. - Top - End - #19
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    Goblin

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Spoiler: OOC
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    It's a Saturday and sunny, so there's quite a few people around the park in general, although the Rose Test Garden is currently only home to a couple small groups of tourists who aren't really paying attention.
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  20. - Top - End - #20
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    She waited about 15 minutes before deciding that now probably was the time to go.

    Shira wrote a note for her napping grandmother before grabbing a large backpack to hold Inari in. She made her way to the meeting place from yesterday. It took a bit of time, but she eventually was able to find that teacher from her school.

    "Mr. Minotti, thank you for meeting me." Shira said as she approached him.

  21. - Top - End - #21
    Barbarian in the Playground
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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Quote Originally Posted by MReav View Post
    "Mr. Minotti, thank you for meeting me."
    You're welcome. Chips?
    Giovanni opens the huge bag and extends it towards the girl. Nothing fancy, the kind a street vendor would have and sell in smaller bags near a school or a church or a theathre or somesuch.
    Spoiler
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    MReav, I have to ask. What form?

    And NOR, blessed places are supposed to be able to give you a bonus vocation. What would it take to know what vocation is offered? That was my original motivation for returning to the garden, but then I forgot to mention.

  22. - Top - End - #22
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    Goblin

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Spoiler: OOC
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    It'll take some specific study (or maybe just asking Alison), but a Wits+Occult+Sensitivity-Shadows Extended Action would let you meditate on it and figure it out. How long do you want to spend studying the place?
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  23. - Top - End - #23
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Shira takes a few chips. "Thank you." she said as she too a few chips. She could feel Inari bumping into her back. She'll have to get him a few too when they get somewhere private.

    "How are you?" Shira asked, making awkward attempts at small talk, but feeling that she should get this over with as soon as possible, and checking to see that no one but them was in earshot, she said, "I'll cut to the chase. What's the deal with you and that magic I saw you use yesterday? The black stuff."

    Spoiler: ooc
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    Shira is in her Mundane form. She does have Inari with her, but he's stuffed in her backpack.

  24. - Top - End - #24
    Barbarian in the Playground
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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Black...? Do you mean my, er...
    Giovanni looks around at the onlookers discreetly, or rather a very poor attempt at such.
    ...let's say, "ammo". Is that it? Because I know I claimed I would teach if you would learn, and I stand by it of course, I am a very good teacher, you should have heard about it...
    He pauses to eat a single chip.
    Well, I guess you'd have heard I'm "talented, but lazy", I know Walter thinks that. Mister Davon, that is. And of course it turns out I have a rather good excuse for that, you have probably noticed, but. Well, I don't...
    He pauses again to scratch his temple, and then take another look at the sparse crowd in the area.
    The thing is, I don't think it's possible to learn, well. "Ammo". I certainly never learned, by any reasonable definition of the word, so I wouldn't know how to start, er...
    He starts looking around yet again, then stops and presses the bridge of his nose with his fingers, eyes closed.
    ...and of course constantly checking for eavesdroppers is the most suspicious thing I could be doing, isn't it? We should have a series of codewords, but it's probably too late to negotiate a set right now...
    He then looks directly at the girl, while he reaches into the bag for a handful of chips.
    Peut parler français pas, peut on? Car ç'aiderait.
    And he keeps his eyes on hers while he stuffs his mouth full of chips, mostly to signal that he's ceded the ground.
    Spoiler: spoilest
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    "We can't speak french, can we? 'Cause that'd help."

    Sorry I've been missing again. I kinda started rereading Ranma, heh.

    Also, I'm still assuming we the party can recognize one another on sight because of magic and/or plot, that's why Giovanni's paranoia went down hard when Shira arrived, but I forgot to write so that day because I was distracted, I don't remember with what. Sorry.

    Also also, regarding the garden: my first instinct is to go around collecting Vocations, because there seems to be no downside to them either. And this one is probably about gardenning, I'd guess, so it's relatively easy for a teacher to spearhead a "let's have more flowers" innitiative. But that's my mmorpg instincts talking.
    In-game, I established that Giovanni hadn't ever met a blessed place before, so of course he'd be curious and go do science at it. I figure he'll want to keep poking it until he has a more important thing to do, be it good, evil or mundane; that is, gaining a vocation, monsters attacking or work.
    Not right now though because he's in the middle of a meeting, of course, unless it can be done during a chat AND Shira doesn't want to relocate.

    And on that matter, what does it feel to gain a magical vocation? Like a compulsion to do the whatever it is? Or the knowledge that the magic of the place "wants" some deeds done in its name? Maybe even knowledge that you'll be rewarded with power for doing so? All/none/something else?
    (the book doesn't say either way, by the way)

  25. - Top - End - #25
    Troll in the Playground
     
    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Shira thought for a moment. "I don't know French, but I do have a tablet. We could pass it back and forth between us if you're that worried. Afterwards, we could just delete whatever we wrote." Shira offered. A foot kicked her in the back as hard as it could (which, given that it was that of a small plushie, barely made an impact), signalling Inari's displeasure at having the prospect of his tablet taken away from him.

    "I'm not actually interested in learning how to use your 'ammo'. If anything, I'm a little worried about the fact that you have it. From what I hear, that 'ammo' is dangerous stuff. Can make a whole neighbourhood 'polluted'. I know for a fact that there are people out there who would very likely shoot you for having it, and if they found you were using the... higher caliber... versions of the 'ammo' they might come by to burn down the school, and execute the survivors."

    Shira's face made a twinge. Given how expressionless the girl is under normal circumstances, that said something.

    She took a chip to cede the floor.
    Last edited by MReav; 2015-04-27 at 07:58 PM.

  26. - Top - End - #26
    Barbarian in the Playground
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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Giovanni looks at nothing in particular for a while, considering.
    I suppose I shouldn't give the "guns don't kill people" spiel, because that's idiotic, yes they do that is the point, but... I don't really see how you'd go about "polluting" a whole neighborhood. Unless you mean in the "drenched in blood" sense? But that's hardly special of the, ah, "ordnance" in question.
    His free hand starts waving around and he slowly walks to the apparent edge of Shira's field of vision, apparently without noticing.
    And of course you can always find people willing to shoot you for any reason, no matter how unspecial, but still, I get the feeling that you have something more specific in mind? And so I suppose I should ask whether this is a thread, reassure you that I'm extremely responsible with my, um...
    He scratches the back of his neck for a moment, then sighs.
    Bien, I officially declare this metaphor stupid. And not an actual metaphor, really. Tablet motion is seconded, if you'd be so kind?

  27. - Top - End - #27
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    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Shira took out the tablet much to Inari's grumbling, then opened up a text editor. She quickly typed, so not everything was prim and proper

    "Lacrima is used by the Cour of Tears. I told by crazzy lady that it steals souuls and malkes the world worse. Crzy lady part of Coutt of Storm, and they trioed to brn down my olld neighborhoood and killl anyone becase they wouldd be infected. Neighbrhood was craphole that was getting worse. Not sure to compllely disbelieve.

    Don't think youu're bad. Woild get headaches.

    ------------------------"

    She handed it over.

  28. - Top - End - #28
    Barbarian in the Playground
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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Giovanni takes the computer and, since they apparently will be spending speaking for a while, he puts the chips bag on the ground and sits with it in front and to his left, signaling the girl to sit facing him.
    He sets the machine on his legs and reads her message. Twice. Then he deletes it and starts writting.
    Code:
    i know writting on a touchscreen is annoying, and cannot request capitals or full punctuation but
    this is not a race
    at least spell things right
    
    now, if this is about dream politics
    the answer is simple, my magic is mine and i bow before no queen
    i was not lying, i never learned, simply had it one day
    not sure who else may use similar elements or how, but i at least have no powers that would let me corrupt anything, to my knowledge
    i am a teacher and a hunter and a spiritist, and that is that
    the specific power i used for destroying those things is the same that i need for seeing ghosts, which i also tried
    there was none by the way
    may that be what gave you worry? if so, rest assured that it is harmless
    by which i mean, the bullets made of it are rather harmful, there is a reason why i use them, please do not jump in my line of fire, etc
    but the power itself has no spiritual toxicity, nor has it ever given me cause for suspicion
    
    also i want to say, you should probably not trust me on account of your lack of headaches
    people can be evil without being supernaturally evil, even those who are otherwise supernatural
    and a truly dedicated monster may well develop a means to evade or trick your perception
    
    on the other hand, you should probably trust me
    on the grounds that i have been a teacher at your school for years
    all of your life, it seems
    and i dare guess you have not heard anything worth worrying about, have you
    should you look into my past my record will continue being clean
    if you dig far back enough my divorce was irregular, i guess, but i do not think it reflects poorly on me
    and in my childhood i was somewhat antisocial, but frankly who even cares, three decades thence
    
    and on the third hand, which i now have for some reason
    you probably know your own powers better than i would
    and if you have a functional evildar which leaves you little to fear from counterintelligence, i must ask
    would you say all the others we met yesterday are trustworthy?

  29. - Top - End - #29
    Troll in the Playground
     
    WhiteWizardGirl

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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    Shira obeyed his motions and when he was done, took the tablet and read it over. She didn't react to Giovanni's comment about her spelling. Instead, she added a few spaces and continued her conversation, without deleting it. She takes some time to clean up her punctuation and grammar for his sake, but she could tell Inari was a little upset at the whole "doesn't have his tablet" thing and the extra time she was taking.

    Code:
    this is not about your politics. this is about 
    crazy people who might see what you have and get
    the wrong idea. they want to destroy the darkness 
    and anyone that gets in the way or might be 
    working with it or might be infected with it is a 
    valid target. given their history with the tears 
    people, they probably wont care what you use it for 
    or how you got it, theyd still say you suckled at the 
    teat of the traitor queen. they were willing to burn
    an entire neighbourhood and kill anyone trying to 
    escape. i and my family only survived that night 
    because i first transformed to fight one of them off. 
    she seemed to have second thoughts especially 
    when we were interrupted by a darkspawn and we
    teamed up to beat it. not sure if she survived that
    night, and most of storms seemed to burn 
    themselves out that night, but im worried that they
    might get out of towners who wont have second 
    thoughts. maybe they wont go after the entire 
    school, try not to get too much attention, but at 
    least i am giving a warning about what could 
    happen given what were dealing with.
    
    i dont know much about lacrima (what you have) 
    but its not well liked by the other courts and it 
    gives me the creeps.
    
    more clear: i dont think youre some soulsucking 
    monster or do crazy evil ritual magic, and you dont 
    have any bad reputation around school. though i 
    only transferred there a few months ago.
    i wanted to tell the meeting 
    organizers yesterday but decided if that is an issue, 
    you should be the one to say something.
    
    my take on the others is that i dont think theyre 
    bad. any mistrust would be about judgement not 
    malice or dark magic. weve only met once so
    i cant tell you much more about them.

  30. - Top - End - #30
    Barbarian in the Playground
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    Default Re: 9CR: Before and Beside

    After a moment of thought, Giovanni does not clear the text this time.

    Code:
    -----------
    see, i do not know what to do with those statements
    i have known that life is harsh and people can be violent and evil, and that our kind is not immune
    that was a harsh realization, but obvious on retrospect
    
    but i cannot help but think your experience cannot be representative
    i have been active for almost a decade, now, without any trouble so dramatic
    not that such things cannot happen, they can and they do, but not so often as to always be surprised they have not yet
    so if you have any particular suggestion for improving security, that interests me, yes
    but if all you have is fearmongering, i refuse to live in fear
    
    on happier news, that is not what i was asking about
    you called me because your senses told you something that made you worry, and that is also interesting
    in as much as you and your senses are reliable, what you say they say is important information, which i would like to have
    so i was asking if anyone else present also triggered this
    though on second thought, i will understand if you do not wish to say
    
    one more thing, are you leaving the text in place because you want to keep this log?
    because if so, please be careful who has access to this
    Spoiler: Sorry!
    Show
    I had trouble thinking of a way to reply to this. I'm still having trouble, but it's about damn time this scene advanced.

    I think I know what to do with my next xp. Safe Place for Pioneer High. Maybe.

    And I'd still like to know what magic vocations feel like, please.

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