2026-09-17: Reasons
- Log: Reasons
- Cast: Ririka Kawase, Fuuka Yamagishi, Reiya Aomori
- Where: Red Light District - Crossroads Bar
- OOC Date: September 17, 2026
- IC Date: Friday, January 11, 2013
- Summary: Ririka spearheads a SEES mission to investigate the Kingdom of Hana Fukami. They encounter unexpected challenges and find some unsettling information.
(|=================== Red Light District - Crossroads Bar ====================|) -===================================================== Tokyo/Shinjuku Ward ====- The door to this bar is hidden away beside a staircase and some discarded traffic signs, nestled in a hole in the wall, CROSSROADS emblazoned on a white sign lit up in pink. (There's a cute little snail, dragging along the end; the proprietor's personal logo.) A warm heart of a WELCOME sign draws visitors into this pink-lit bar, rows of nothing-too-fancy alcohol held behind a bar with purple backrest barstools. A classy plaque between the shelves informs visitors how much each drink costs, with a toaster oven and a small fridge tucked away behind the bar. Various hand-held musical instruments are scattered around to let patrons participate in the music softly playing, with posters for various music properties like 'The End of the Last' plastered across the walls. There are more private nooks in the bar, too, with curtains which can drawn across to allow one to have an intimate conversation. The proprietor, Lala Escargot, is a big woman with a big heart who walks as slowly as her namesake; a trans woman in Shinjuku, she is wise to the nightlife of the city, and she always makes sure to look out for any youngsters who come into her establishment.
MONAD: A party led by Ririka Kawase has begun the event Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4.
(|==================== Monad - Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4 ====================|)
-==== Round 1 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: Lot: Sitcom Situation |
| Approach Options: Guts or Understanding |
| Conditions: Fairy - Subtract 1 Fatigue on success., Heartening - Guts Up |
| L1, and Terrifying - Guts Down L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
A comfy couch; a soothingly-painted wall. Cognitions are all around in the
audience as one of the outer studios films a sitcom!
There's a laugh track and everything, which might be unsettling because what
it chooses to laugh at is entirely inscrutable. There's also a studio
audience... which happens to be made up of demons who are happy to just
watch, apparently.
The Cognitions--little Shadowy guys in costumes--have heartfelt problems and
require care and kindness. Alternately, if you want to fake it, the hammier
you can get the better. Either way, there's no escaping Security--bigger
Cognitions with big hats--without playing along for a little while. Not only
that, but the demons won't tolerate their show being interrupted. As you
watch, you see one of the demons crushing... wait, is that a Mindless
Shadow? Yes, a Cowardly Maya, a blob of a Shadow with a blue mask, is
smashed under Jack Frost's heel.
If you're really lucky, they'll point you on your way towards the main
Producer's Complex! The demons in the audience might even give rewards for
great performances!
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka's been an odd combination of focused yet distracted as she made her way to Tokyo today after class. She'd given her fellow SEES members a heads-up about the Kingdom and some of the recon she'd managed to gather on her initial trip. Their objective is to gain access to the Producer's office, so the Sovereign can be challenged.
On a brightly lit sitcom set a teenage girl cognition, Miyuki, enters from the kitchen holding a test paper. "I can't believe I got a B on this test! Mom is gonna kill me!" She's dressed very traditionally, in a warm sweater and a long skirt.
She's followed by a male teenage cognition, likely her brother. Daisuke shakes his head and says, "C'mon, sis. A b's not the end of the world!"
It's at that moment that Ririka stumbles onto the stage through another door, blinking at the bright stage lights as she holds her hand up to block them out. She's dressed in a black band tee, a purple flannel shirt, a winter jacket, cargo pants, and sneakers, with a leather bracelet on her right wrist.
She takes note of the mixed audience (she'd wanred them about the Demons and Shadows in the mix, too), and the presence of security. Meanwhile, the audience reacts with a mixture of laughter, cheers, and oohs, like the quirky neighbor girl just showed up.
Daisuke brightly says, "See, Miyuki-chan? A B never bothered her, right?" This gets a big laugh from the audience.
Oh no, Ririka's been cast as the quirky neighorhood girl for... the reasons you might expect.
Ririka's cheeks flush a little, and her other hand is tapping on her thigh. "Uh, yeah! Hey, don't sweat it, Miyuki-san, you just gotta... uh... Keep rocking on!" Ririka quickly pantomimes shredding on an air guitar, and then looks back towards her teammates. Little help here?
MONAD: Ririka Kawase has acted with Guts toward Lot: Sitcom Situation! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Another Kingdom... Fuuka doesn't really know Hana Fukami, but she does watch her show from time to time. Even if it wasn't someone she knew of, though, Fuuka would be more than willing to join in when Ririka informs everyone of what she's learned.
And so, she joins her as they head to the door in Tokyo...
...And, like Ririka, suddenly finds herself on the floor of a sitcom shoot. She's currently in her SEES combat uniform, that outfit altered for more protection in combat that still looks so much like the Gekkoukan uniform, even with the capelet about her shoulders.
"...Ah," Fuuka starts, unable to find the words. Roleplaying with her friends in Blade World is one thing - and just wearing a costume is one thing, too... but suddenly being thrust in front of a studio audience and expected to perform at the drop of a hat?? That's another thing entirely.
There's no time even to develop her deep and moving backstory...!
Ririka's arrival gets a laugh - and it can't feel good to greeted with a laugh...
"Um... it's alright, Miyuki-chan... We'll talk to her together?" Fuuka offers, clasping her hands in front of herself - thus casting herself as the understanding, if nerdy, older sister figure...
Unfortunately for the Jack Frosts in the audience, she doesn't do comedy very well. Here's hoping she doesn't get the cold shoulder...
MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Understanding toward Lot: Sitcom Situation! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Reiya was his usual self: focused, intent, and quiet. The Kingdom he's heard a bit about; as it happens, he's interested in television as an extension of his theatre arts... but he is not going for educational purposes. He's going to save someone.
but here, they have arrived at a sitcom.
Reiya is dressed in a coat over his own combat uniform--with plenty of room for throwing weapons. The coat conceals the non-uniform parts until he doesn't need it anymore...
So he's an action man when he steps inside the room.
Ririka gets a laugh--and well--
He can act, as it happens. But he is not here for comedy. instead--
"No," he says firmly. "...No, Daisuke-kun. You are wrong. A 'B' is a mark of trouble--a problem to be corrected. It is well to comfort her, but not to dismiss it as unworthy of attention."
"Our duty is to help her study so that it does not happen again. A man does not simply shy away from trouble. He confronts it."
MONAD: Reiya Aomori has acted with Man's Talk toward Lot: Sitcom Situation! Automap! (|============================ Monad - Results =============================|) -==== Lot: Sitcom Situation - Round 1 =======================================- Fuuka Yamagishi Understanding Failure Understanding Base Fatigue: 1 Morale: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ririka Kawase Guts Success Guts Base Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reiya Aomori Guts Success Man's Talk Automap Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2 -============================ Party Conditions: =============================- Starting Conditions: Fairy-0, Heartening-2, and Terrifying-2 Final Conditions: Heartening-1 and Terrifying-1 -====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 1/6 |= | ===================================================- (|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka gets a laugh from the audience and the Cognitions. She doesn't feel great about it, but she'll take that over getting tossed out by Security.
Sadly, there may be no chance to develop that deep and moving backstory.
Ririka is grateful for Fuuka's calming presence, even if the Miyuki cognition seems to panic more. "No, no, I gotta find some way of fixing it!"
But it's Reiya's serious advice that wins over the crowd in the end, as well as the Miyuki Cognition. "You're right. I have to just... buckle down and study harder!" The audience cheers.
The lights fade as the stage gets set for a scenery change, and Ririka, Fuuka and Reiya are ushered off the stage. They're given directions--and once they're off the stage Ririka's clothes snap back to her SEES uniform, with her jacket worn over it for warmth. The Kingdom just really wanted to make a point with her, for some reason.
"They made me the but of a joke!" Ririka scowls as she moves on. "I work hard for my grades too, you know!"
MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has drawn a new Challenge!
(|==================== Monad - Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4 ====================|)
-==== Round 2 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: Reception: Bluff, Bluff, Bluff! |
| Approach Options: Understanding or Guts |
| Conditions: Heartening - Guts Up L1, Magnetic - Charm Up L2, Scary - Guts |
| Down L1, and Terrifying - Guts Down L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
The group has arrived at the Producer's Complex, a big brown building with
lots of windows. On the bottom floor is reception: a desk near the elevator
that has a sign detailing what's on each floor. The bottom floor being
Reception, the next is the News Studio, Offices, Security HQ, and then of
course the Producer's Floor. However, simply going where you like is going
to be a problem...
Because this floor is absolutely crawling with security Cognitions. The
secretary Cognition has a nice computer and a nice hairstyle, but is as
small as the rest. The Security cognitions are twice as big Shadowy
creatures with suspenders and cigars. However, they're all following orders
from one Cognition with a big hat.
If you can convince that one that you belong here, maybe you can get through
this without a fight! With the Mindless Shadows and Demons they seem to be
dealing with, a bold story about how you're Shadow-Exterminating Specialists
or Demon Slayers might be just the ticket... or maybe you can just
sympathise with him about how hard it is to fight those lion wheels.
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Reiya takes the cool approach - and that seems to go over a lot better than hers did. The crowd acted coolly to her own contribution, but he seems to have moved them, at least...
They're ushered off-stage and given directions.
"It's alright, Kawase-chan. We all know how hard you work, even if they don't." Fuuka offers sympathetically. ...But why just Ririka? She doesn't understand that part...
Following the instructions leads them to the Producer's Complex - a large, brown building with a lot of windows. This place seems to be at the heart of everything that happens here... If they're looking for answers, they're most likely to find them here.
...But, of course, an important facility like this is bound to be defended. And sure enough, as Fuuka scans the floor, she can tell there are Shadow Legionnaires here. A secretary at the desk, with a nice computer and a nice hairstyle... and a bunch of large Security Shadows, all following orders from one with a big hat.
That's... a lot of Shadows. They'd be in a lot of trouble if they charged right in, and there's enough of them that it'd be difficult to sneak around, too. Fuuka looks toward the others.
"They've been having trouble with the other Shadows, so... maybe if we tell them that's why we're here, they'll be willing to let us through." Fuuka considers - and frowns thoughtfully. "...Maybe one of them knows why those Shadows are here, too..."
And so, Fuuka cautiously approaches the one who appears to be in charge of the Security here. It's a little dangerous to approach him so openly, but...
"Ah... Hello." Fuuka greets quietly. "We're here about the Shadows you all have been fighting. Fighting Shadows happens to be a specialty of ours, so... we'd like to offer you help, if you can."
It's only half a lie. That's really what they're good at. ...But she still feels a little bad about the deception.
Unfortunately, she doesn't cut a very convincing figure on her own, mysteriously... She'll need some back-up.
MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Analytical toward Reception: Bluff, Bluff, Bluff!! Automap!
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"You work very hard," Reiya agrees with Ririka. "...Sometimes too hard," he considers. But then he moves on; they appreciate his way of acting, and there's that. But soon, they make their way onward to the Producer's Complex...
"...i can get past," Reiya says, "But I could not bring Kawase-san." Fuuka, of course, has proven her stealth capabilities many times over, after her incident in Tartarus. "...But if we operate right in front of them... Yes, this is a good plan, Yamagishi-san."
he walks up after Fuuka. "She specializes in support so that the rest of us can eliminate the targets. Kawase-san, meanwhile, is expert and making the most of our team's strengths. I myself have eliminated many Shadows, in a variety of dangerous situations. But a man does not simply brag of his accomplilshments--his eyes will tell you all you need to know of his prowess."
"Look into mine, and you will understand that we are all up to this task."
MONAD: Reiya Aomori has acted with Man's Talk toward Reception: Bluff, Bluff, Bluff!! Automap!
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Thanks, Yamagishi-chan, Aomori-san," Ririka says to her fellow Navigator. "I appreciate it." Even if she still seems a bit distracted and upset. But Reiya adds on 'too hard' and Ririka cringes a little. "I know, I know, I'm... working on it."
Why her? Who knows...
"Yeah," Ririka says, as Fuuka speaks of the trouble. "I'm not sure how all the Mindless Shadows and Demons got in here, but... it seems like it's caused a lot of problems."
But the plan is proposed and set in motion to con convince Security that they're here to help. "Yeah, I like that better than getting stuck in a three-way fight," she says with a nod.
Ririka steps up with the others, standing up to her full height and crossing her arms over her chest. She channels a little bit of her stage persona, trying to come off as relaxed and confident. "Yeah, don't worry. We're all pros at this. And you won't find a better-synchronized team in the business."
MONAD: Ririka Kawase has acted with Band Leader toward Reception: Bluff, Bluff, Bluff!! Bravery and Escape! (|============================ Monad - Results =============================|) -==== Reception: Bluff, Bluff, Bluff! - Round 2 =============================- Fuuka Yamagishi Guts Success Analytical Automap Fatigue: 0 Morale: 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ririka Kawase Guts Success Band Leader Bravery and Escape Fatigue: 0 Morale: 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reiya Aomori Guts Success Man's Talk Automap Fatigue: 0 Morale: 3 -============================ Party Conditions: =============================- Starting Conditions: Heartening-1, Magnetic-2, Scary-2, and Terrifying-1 Final Conditions: Magnetic-1 and Scary-1 -====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 2/6 |== | ===================================================- (|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Working too hard... Fuuka quietly agrees with that. She's seen the result of Ririka's working too hard... but at least she's aware of it. Fuuka offers her a quiet nod as Ririka expresses her appreciation.
"I don't know, either. As far as I'm aware, they shouldn't be... They're an anomaly." Fuuka replies. And if Shadows are doing something they shouldn't, it's part of their job to investigate it.
Reiya agrees with her plan, and Fuuka nods. It's true that, individually, they might be able to sneak past... but not all of them could. And they'll need everyone. And, as Ririka says... they really don't want to be caught in the middle of a three-way fight.
"I agree..." She murmurs.
And so, they approach Security directly. The one in the big hat looks at them one after the other, looking at them with a critical eye(he has to crane his head way up for Ririka)... eventually settling on Reiya.
...He can't meet his eyes for long. Reiya's eyes do, indeed, say much - and so too does Ririka's confidence, as put on some of it might be. Fuuka's quiet support speaks volumes, too...
...And so, the team is directed, eventually, to speak to the people on the next floor to see if there's anywhere they can help.
MONAD: Reiya Aomori has drawn a new Challenge!
(|==================== Monad - Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4 ====================|)
-==== Round 3 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: Newsfloor: Political Guests |
| Approach Options: Charm or Guts |
| Conditions: Annoying - Charm Down L2, Chest - Add 2 Item/Money/Gear., |
| Magnetic - Charm Up L2, Reaper - Add 1 Fatigue., and Scary - Guts Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
The news floor is expansive. Is it bigger than the building outside? Don't
worry about it. Right now, your group has found themselves in a lovely
little section that involves a lounge with a big desk and a number of plush
chairs. A Cognition host--a little Shadowy guy with a bushy mustache and
neat hair--sits behind the desk. He turns to the group as you arrive.
"Ah!" Cognitive Chaki says, "My guests are here! Come on, sit down. We've
got a roundtable to discuss!"
You are not the only guests; there's a number of besuited
Cognition-shadow-men on the other side, looking very serious in their
business attire.
"This is a political show! Today's topics include 'The Producer: Savior or
Sensei?', 'Rebels: Threat or Menace?', 'Shadows: Invaders or Pests?', and
'Demons: Weird or Frightening?' I hope you're ready to debate the issues and
debate them hard!"
If you screw this one up, you're going to have a lot of very mad Security
cognitions down on you. But if you succeed, there might be extra rewards...
Whether by winning charism or the bravery to speak your mind, dazzle the
Cognitions!
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"That is all one can do," Reiya says to Ririka about working too hard, nodding once firmly.
But onward, as Fuuka doesn't know why either--well, that's their plan. The big hat guy cannot stare down Reiya; Reiya waits, and then they are directed. The next floor...
The next floor, as it happens, sees them bustled towards an interview room on the newsfloor. It's big out here, and the lounge is comfortable enough to sit on. Cognitive Chaki chimes in, "Hello, hello! My guests are here!"
Reiya follows along, and he watches the Shadows on the other side. This is going to be bothersome, one way or another; listening to the one-sided prattling of the Shadows is itself an ordeal. But--
"..." Reiya sits down in the chair. He looks down, thoughtful. He seems to be pondering something very intently, and Chaki sits on the edge of his seat.
"...?" Chaki wonders.
Finally Reiya looks up. "No," he says.
"I will not participate. Goodbye."
...!?
MONAD: Reiya Aomori has acted with Stoicism toward Newsfloor: Political Guests! Find and Focus!
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka gives Reiya a nod.
"It shouldn't be, but... Here they are. I think the Rebels have had to deal with them, too..." Ririka reports. She did say she came here to conduct some recon, after all.
But she keeps up her confident pose until they get past, and then lets out a quiet breath once their in the elevator together. "I'm glad that worked."
But they get to the news floor, and Ririka looks a little bewildered as they're shepherded to a table. Yes, she's confident on stage... when she's had a chacne to prepare, and especially when she's performing.
This is hardly a performance. Well, not the kind she's comfortable with.
Reiya just refuses to engage."Um..." Ririka looks at him nervously, then at the host and the other 'guests'.
But then the topics are introduced. "Savior or sensei...?" she mutters. "Wait, those are the same--" And then she catches the other topics, too. She doesn't care about the last two, but...
"The Rebels aren't a threat!" she suddenly blurts out. She leans forward, arms crossed on the table. "They're just trying to-- to stand up for people who want to just live their lives, even if people see them as different. They're not hurting anybody, and they just want the same things other people want. And as for this Producer, from what I've heard he just sounds like a sore loser. He can't stand to see someone be successful unless they do it his way. he should be happy that someone he knew is successful, not looking to tear them down just because they didn't do it the right way."
Wow. Rirka is... really fired up and intense about this.
... why is she getting so intense and passionate about this? It's almost like the topic is... really near and dear to her heart, for some reason.
But once she gets going, she won't let herself be cowed easily.
(She will agree that the Shadows and Demons are weird, at least. She's not defending them.)
MONAD: Ririka Kawase has acted with Band Leader toward Newsfloor: Political Guests! Bravery and Escape!
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"Yes, me too..." Fuuka agrees with a sigh.
When Fuuka said that they were here to offer help with the Shadows, and the big guy hat pointed them along to someone else, there were a lot of possibilities Fuuka considered. That maybe there was a Shadow problem that needed dealing with, or maybe they needed to track some down...
...So she is surprised, therefore, to find herself on the seat of a newsfloor interview room, and expected to give a talk on a political show.
"...Um," Fuuka starts uncertainly. ...And then Reiya states, in no uncertain terms, that he will not participate. "Um..."
...And then Ririka gives an impassioned speech - both about the Rebels, and about the Producer and his faults. It's a good speech, really - it's moving, and Fuuka can tell she really believes in what she's saying... But right now, put on the spot, the only reply she can give is...
"UM..." Fuuka starts, tone of her voice rising. ...She can see Security baring down on them in her mind's eye already.
"The..." Fuuka starts. She looks around - and she is fortunately, at least, good at thinking quickly, even if she isn't so great at public speaking. She... can work with this, she thinks.
"The... Shadows are the biggest threat right now. We don't know why they're here or what they're after... They act indiscriminately, attacking everything else around them. They don't care about what other fights we get involved in. I think... coming to understand them should be our highest priority right now." She says.
...That might be more difficult than actually fighting them would've been.
MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Analytical toward Newsfloor: Political Guests! Automap!
(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|) -==== Newsfloor: Political Guests - Round 3 =================================- Fuuka Yamagishi Guts Success Analytical Automap Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ririka Kawase Guts Failure Band Leader Bravery and Escape Fatigue: 2 Morale: 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reiya Aomori Charm Success Stoicism Find and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5 -============================ Party Conditions: =============================- Starting Conditions: Annoying-2, Chest-0, Magnetic-1, Reaper-0, and Scary-1 Final Conditions: Annoying-1 -====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 3/6 |=== | ===================================================- -==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================- Items: 0, Money: 1, Gear: 1 (|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"Wh!?" Chaki sputters at Reiya. "You can't just--say you won't--"
Reiya will not be moved. "This debate is poorly-considered, its positions biased. I will not participate."
Ririka, though, draws attention in the next moment, and Reiya at least is listening. Chaki's nice mustache bushes out in both directions in fury. "That's--you--"
While Fuuka tries to be reasonable... What it means, mostly, is that Fuuka doesn't suffer any of what comes next.
A number of Shadows rush Ririka, but between the group, they are able to take them out, while Cognitive Chaki runs away. Meanwhile, Reiya finally rises from his seat. He looks at Ririka.
"..." Does he suspect the truth? That Ririka, too, is different? That she might be--
"You are a kind person, Kawase-san," Reiya says. "To think of people who are different from you so warmly."
...Nope.
He nods to Fuuka. "Let's go onward." Pause. "...it is well that you were able to articulate your position, even if they did not listen."
MONAD: Ririka Kawase has drawn a new Challenge!
(|==================== Monad - Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4 ====================|)
-==== Round 4 - Challenge Level 4 ===========================================-
| Card: Office: Impress the Boss! |
| Approach Options: Charm or Academics |
| Conditions: Annoying - Charm Down L2, Chest - Add 2 Item/Money/Gear., Hard |
| - Understanding Down L1, and Sublime - Proficiency Up L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
Office space! Carpeted floors, wooden cubicles and tables, and of course,
the ever-present haze of cigarette smoke. Cognitions--little Shadow-guys in
collared shirts--scurry around trying to show themselves hard at work.
But there's a /boss/ Cognition here now. He is just as short as the others,
but he has a combover of black hair and Shadowy scalp, a bigger cigar than
most of the others, and a desk in its own room.
"Oh!" a Cognition says. "You're the new team! The VP is waiting for you!"
The Vice President!
"He doesn't like anybody... Good luck! You just have to show him that
presentation you've been working on!"
Oh no.
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka might've gotten a little too passionate, and forgotten the situation with Security, or keeping the heat off of themselves...
But she remembers herself, suddenly, as Reiya speaks. She blinks a little and then, for some reason, blushes. "U-um, right. Right. Yeah. Thanks, Aomori-san. I... try."
Oh crap oh crap oh crap.
She's ready to move on. "Thanks for coming up with something they wanted to hear, Yamagishi-chan," Ririka says with a sigh.
They can at least proceed to the next floor without too much difficulty. Ririka looks around cautiously as they emerge into an office. "Okay, so if we can just keep a low profile--"
'Oh! You're the new team! The VP is waiting for you!'
"Oh crud," Ririka mutter. "Um... thank you! Remind me which--" And the Cognition is already off, expecting them to follow.
"Shoot. Okay, um, VP, works under a producer, right? This is at least partly a TV studio, um..." Ririka's muttering frantically to herself as they go, then out loud she says. "I might have an idea. Play along."
The Boss Cognition looks like an unpleasant sort, wielding a fat cigar. He grumbles as SEES enters. "Well at least you're both wearing skirts unlike the last group of girls that came through here," he grumbles. "Alright, out with it. Time is money."
Ririka takes a deep breath and steps forward. "Thank you very much for meeting with us! We're here to today to pitch a music review show! There's all kinds of genres and new songs coming out every day, and you need people who are embedded in the culture to give their takes and reactions. Isn't that right?" she asks, looking to her teammates.
Yes, she went with something music-based. Try not to be too surprised.
MONAD: Ririka Kawase has acted with Music Talk toward Office: Impress the Boss!! Find and Patra!
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka gives her speech... but the newsfloor is still swarmed by Shadows. Fuuka manages to avoid the worst of it, and it means she's able to better provide support to help them deal with the problem.
"Thank you..." Fuuka replies to Reiya with a sigh, and then nods toward Ririka. "You're welcome."
They get up to the next floor, and immediately find themselves ushered into the Vice President's room without much time to figure out what kind of report they're doing.
Ririka, at least, seems to have a plan. Fuuka listens, nodding along.
They're brought before the boss... and Fuuka suddenly feels self-conscious when he points out that they're wearing skirts. Being used as an example to judge someone else doesn't feel great...
She looks toward Ririka as she starts to explain - they're here to pitch... a music review show? So that was her plan...
"Um... Yes, that's right." Fuuka replies with a nod. It's still public speaking... But it helps that there's only one other person here, instead of talking in front of a crowd. ...And it helps, too, that she knows the sort of thing a person like this is probably more interested. "Our research shows a marked increase in interest toward music-related media. If we can get in on the ground floor and take advantage of the trend, I believe our ratings will skyrocket among younger audiences - and from there, we can draw them into our other programming, too."
MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Bookworm toward Office: Impress the Boss!! Escape and Smarts!
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
She tries! That's good. Reiya is sure.
But soon on the next floor, they do not in fact keep a low profile. "I see," Reiya says, and looks to the others. Ririka appears to have a plan. "Very well."
He's willing to just start stabbing Shadows, as it happens. He usually is. But time is money, so--
A music review show...
He looks to Fuuka and Ririka as the man mentions skirts, lifting an eyebrow at the VP.
"Furthermore," Reiya says, "My findings are that this studio lacks a means to tap these demands at this time--that a new show is not only possible, but desirable in this space."
"Furthermore, I calculate a 99.9% chance that as a result, we'll all make it to the top."
Was that a joke?
MONAD: Reiya Aomori has acted with Analysis toward Office: Impress the Boss!! Escape and Smarts! (|============================ Monad - Results =============================|) -==== Office: Impress the Boss! - Round 4 ===================================- Fuuka Yamagishi Academics Success Bookworm Escape and Smarts Fatigue: 0 Morale: 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ririka Kawase Academics Failure Music Talk Find and Patra Fatigue: 1 Morale: 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reiya Aomori Academics Failure Analysis Escape and Smarts Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5 -============================ Party Conditions: =============================- Starting Conditions: Annoying-1, Chest-0, Hard-2, and Sublime-2 Final Conditions: Sublime-1 -====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 4/6 |==== | ===================================================- -==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================- Items: 0, Money: 3, Gear: 1 (|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka can talk peoples' ears off about music. But it's Fuuka who can handle the business side of things, and Ririka flashes her a discrete thumbs-up as she talks about market research.
Ririka wasn't pleased with the skirts comment, either. But she nods along as Reiya comes in with more analysis talk. It sounds good to her, but...
The VP grumbles a bit behind the desk. He stabs his cigar at Fuuka. "Now you're talking sense, girlie. Why don't you come over here and we can talk numbers."
He almost seems to be treating Ririka and Reiya as an afterthought. Ririka looks a bit uncomfortable with the look the VP is giving Fuuka.
... Eventually, at least, they'll be able to leave and get away from this man.
MONAD: Reiya Aomori has drawn a new Challenge!
(|==================== Monad - Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4 ====================|)
-==== Round 5 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: Security: An Indirect Approach |
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Academics |
| Conditions: Boss - Add 1 Fatigue on failure., Box - Add 1 |
| Item/Money/Gear., Hard - Understanding Down L1, and Sublime - Proficiency |
| Up L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
The security floor is ahead. When the elevator dings, the floor out there is
metal, with lots of glass and a /ton/ of security Cognitions, Shadowy men
with big muscles, suspenders, and important-looking hats. They don't notice
you immediately, but the offices on this floor include all the bigwigs in
the Producer's security team.
However... you impressed the workers on the floor below enough to be given a
keycard! if you can sneak your way through the floor and time your passage
well, you can learn a lot from these Security cognitions--and then make it
through with a minimum of battles.
But it'll be really tricky, but it may be quite rewarding.
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
'Girlie'. Reiya frowns sharply--but does not move to ruin Fuuka's efforts by striking against the VP. ...When they do leave and get away, he says, "Good work, Yamagishi-san, but I am not troubled to see the last of that one."
They got something for their efforts, though: a keycard. There are all sorts of big Shadows here....
So...
Reiya considers thoughtfully. "With our abilities, we should be capable of avoiding their notice. Yamagishi-san can warn of us coming Shadows, and I can discreetly destroy any that we cannot evade."
"Kawase-san... We'll be counting on you as well. Let's go."
It's tricky...
But maybe it'll work.
MONAD: Reiya Aomori has acted with Proficiency toward Security: An Indirect Approach! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Ririka flashes her a thumbs-up. She does smile just slightly in return - but the VP has a good way of draining any smiles in his vicinity, and it's not just the choking cloud of smoke that surrounds her. 'Girlie'...
"U-um, Aomori-san has my numbers." Fuuka excuses, looking Reiya's way. Even if he's just a Shadow... she really doesn't want to go anywhere near him without backup.
And when they leave...
"...No, I'm not, either." She says with an exhausted sigh.
But they get a keycard, and are able to move on up! ...She can already tell from here that there are a lot of Shadows on this floor - big, important ones, too.
"I'll do my best." Fuuka assures with a nod.
As they proceed, she focuses on scanning the floor for enemies... but she spots other points of interest, too. Convenient patches of cover they can use to discretely take care of Shadows, objects in the environment they can use get an advantage over them...
...and, most importantly, of course, useful hidden items.
MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Technician toward Security: An Indirect Approach! Find and Focus!
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Yeah, I'd rather not see him again," Ririka agrees with Reiya, frowning. "You okay, Yamagishi-chan?"
But they get up to the next floor, and there's a lot of Shadows there. Ririka nods along, as Reiya suggests a plan. Fuuka to warn of incoming Shadows, Reita to dispatch the ones they can't evade...
"I'll back Yamagishi-chan up in navigating if she needs it, but I'll start analyzing the Shadows as we come across them, just in case there's a fight."
That's the other part of a Navigator's abilities, after all.
MONAD: Ririka Kawase has acted with Proficiency toward Security: An Indirect Approach! Base! MONAD: Ririka Kawase has cancelled her action. MONAD: Ririka Kawase has acted with Performance toward Security: An Indirect Approach! Automap!
(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== Security: An Indirect Approach - Round 5 ==============================-
Fuuka Yamagishi Proficiency Success
Technician Find and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ririka Kawase Proficiency Success
Performance Automap Fatigue: 1 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reiya Aomori Proficiency Success
Proficiency Base Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Boss-0, Box-0, Hard-2, and Sublime-1
Final Conditions: Hard-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 6/6 |=====| ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 0, Money: 3, Gear: 3
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
(|==================== Monad - Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4 ====================|)
-==== Round 6 - Challenge Level 1 ===========================================-
| Card: Bonus: Breaking the Prisoner |
| Approach Options: None |
| Conditions: Revelation - The best result. |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
You now have a key to the top floor elevator, where Producer Matsumoto can
be found. But that's not all you've found! As Rebel Cognitions cheer you on,
you spy some papers that have a lot of useful intelligence... Including a
snippet on the prisoner, Hana Fukami:
'We've almost broken the prisoner. The next strategy we're set to use is his
ex-fiance: Naho Enomoto. He was on track to be a productive member of
society marrying her... up until that brother of hers found out about his
habits and went after him. The scare that beating gave him could keep him on
the straight and narrow for good, now--if we use it right. Above all, we
can't allow him to start rebelling... can we use those damn pest Shadows and
Demons to scare him?'
You also find some nice photography equipment that would function in the
real world--or sell pretty nicely.
Final Loot: 1 Item, 3 boxes of Money, and 4 Pieces of Gear!
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
MONAD: Ririka Kawase rolls for Loot from Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4! It may include: Gear: Glitzy Armor, Gear: Noir Armor, Gear: Old-Fashioned Armor, Item: Old-Fashioned Material, Money: Noir Gems, Money: Old-Fashioned Art, or Money: Old- Fashioned Gems!
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Reiya will tank it for Fuuka. He does not give the Shadow her numbers. With Ririka's backup, they can focus on their way through. And soon, they do just that: sneaking across halls, evading Shadows... occasionally destroying them in one round before they have a chacne to act. Eventually they make their way to the top floor elevator--where they have a key.
The room in which they find the key has a lot of useful intel, and the Rebel Cognitions cheer them on. But...
"odd," Reiya says. "That they speak of this woman as if she were a man..."
"...Prior violence, used to intimidate?"
He frowns. "We should warn her."
MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi rolls for Loot from Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4! It may include: Gear: Glitzy Armor, Gear: Glitzy Weapon, Gear: Noir Accessory, Gear: Noir Weapon, Item: Old-Fashioned Consumable, Money: Cash, Money: Glitzy Art, or Money: Old-Fashioned Gems! MONAD: Reiya Aomori rolls for Loot from Hana's Kingdom: Studio 4! It may include: Gear: Noir Accessory, Gear: Noir Armor, Gear: Old-Fashioned Armor, Item: Noir Material, Money: Cash, Money: Glitzy Gems, or Money: Noir Gems!
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Ririka asks if she's okay, and Fuuka considers that for a moment.
"...I will be once we're out of here." She decides. She's just glad he's a Shadow - even if she doesn't doubt there's someone just like him out there...
They expertly make their way through the floor, avoiding trouble as much as they can. They find useful items, but also... intel. Fuuka reads it, her brow furrowing, and then she clasps a hand over her mouth, as she realize what it says.
"How horrible... They don't have any shame at all." Fuuka murmurs. "How could they do that...?"
She nods, as Reiya suggests they warn her.
"Yes, I agree..."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Once they get out of here. Ririka nods to Fuuka. "Yeah, that's... fair. We'll get out as soon as we can." What is it with supernatural spaces being like this?
They make it through! But they find papers, and Ririka looks... really upset once she starts reading over them and what it says. Upset and angry.
Reiya notices the oddity. "... yeah. She's transgender. But some people can't deal with that."
Both Reiy and Fuuka want to warn her. "... Yeah. This isn't... Whatever they want to do to Fukami-san..."
Ririka's drumming her fingers on her thigh as she tries to regulate herself. "... fortunately she's not being held captive by the Sovereign right now. She's with the Rebels, I know where their hideout is."
Once they're ready, she can lead them there.