[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5r7OTIh.png[/img] [b][color=Aquamarine]wordcount:[/color][/b] 4,179 (+5) [b][color=Aquamarine]Midna: level 8[/color][/b] EXP: [color=Aquamarine]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color](143/80) [b][color=Aquamarine]Location:[/color][/b] SOU Hideout - Suoh [color=Aquamarine]Warp Charges:[/color] 1 (+1 from fight reward) [hider=warp locations] Virgin Victory teleport room Top of the Split mountain Outside the Convent of Our Lady of the Charred Visage Tostarena Town [/hider] [/center] [center] [color=f49ac2]Sakura Level 9: 07/90[/color] [color=fff200]Karin Level 4: 27/40[/color] Location: Suoh Word Count: 4,179 Points Gained: 5 New EXP Balance--- [color=f49ac2]Sakura Level 9: 19/90 (pending) +6[/color] [indent][color=fff200]Karin Level 5: 03/40 [/color][/indent] (pending) +11 [/center] Midna had to cover her mouth to hide her sniggering regarding Sakura’s blatant bias about wanting to check out the sports center. [color=Aquamarine]”I don’t know how your lot got on over in the ocean, be we’ve managed to build plenty of good reputations in the desert…. and then ruin them by dropping a giant worm out of a mountain”[/color] Midna replied to Karin’s relief at maybe having a good reputation in town for once, doing so mostly as a joke. She had to wonder how badly things had gone for her before however, the princess unaware that the fighter was somewhat new and she already knew about all the bad reputation events the Karin had been involved in. [color=fff200]”As long as entire towns stop being rallied against us, I will be more than happy.”[/color] Karin said. [color=f49ac2]”Oh!”[/color] Sakura ran over and shook Midna on the shoulder, trying to find the words. [color=f49ac2]”Oh, uh- uh- Midna-san, uh- the- the radios. The radios!”[/color] She glanced around at everyone and stuck her hand in the air. [color=f49ac2]”I have six radios. We should give radios to everyone here who wants one. Walkie-talkies. They fit on your belt or in your pocket and we can talk to each other! Easy squeezy lemon peasy.”[/color] Either way, with agreement from all who cared to ‘vote’ afterwards, operation “find Raz’s friends and punch some Others” was a go. As was poke around the area Desperado and the Hermits where in for info. Midna got to look a little smug about her plan being picked up, even if it wasn’t the most complex or inspired one. She was, however, still a bit skeptical about the whole Desperado, but she had to put her faith in Riden and take him both at face value, and assume he knew how to handle them. After that, they had some down time as they waited to get some fake credentials to make navigating around the city easier. And legal. Or, seemingly legal anyway. Mention of needing pictures, and also that there was a shower, prompted the princess to swiftly claim one of the latter to deal with the built up dust and grime that had come with fighting for her life atop a speeding truck. While in there she had a shower thought and so, after exiting, once more clean, and picking out the one [url=https://imgur.com/a/ENOYKXu]outfit[/url] that actually fit her ( she was mildly surprised and rather please that there was even an option), she found a spot to summon a moogle and check a hunch she had. She and the little fluff ball talked for a little bit, and then once they were done and he was gone, she relayed what she had learned to the group: [color=Aquamarine]”Good news, the people who looked like they got lost in the metro made it, just, uh, to somewhere called ‘Edinburgh’ instead of the places they where meaning to get too”[/color] After that, the suited up princess checked in with the id creation, got the disappointing news that they would not be able to register her vehicles using this method, and then got a crash course in modern occupations while they figured out her cover story occupation. Princess was sadly not a valid option. Meanwhile, Sakura and Karin also needed their pictures taken. Sakura smiled big for her picture, and Karin settled for an ever polite-yet-restrained smile. Karin naturally insisted that she be marked as something like a financial analyst. Sakura settled for ‘arcade worker’ because she already did that job back home. Sakura and Karin both were down for punching monsters, but there was only so much room in both teams and if they were going to split evenly, they would have to go to Suoh. But they couldn’t complain. They could use the downtime to relax and rejuvenate and explore the city they were probably going to be spending the next few days in, or more. Plus, Raz wanted the back up. After that was all sorted, Midna the courier helped herself to some tea (which mainly resulted in her stomach reminding her that granola bars were not a meal, and then after that it was time to go. Midna, of course, went with the team headed for Suon to see her own plan through. To get there, the princess of twilight slipping into the shadows within the unstoppable Hummer to avoid taking up a seat, which left her unable to take in the sights (hard to see out the windows when the light was coming in through those after all) and so she spent most of the time either napping or pestering people to describe what it was they were gawking at out of the windows. That feeling of missing out did not go away when they got to the town of psychics, as to everyone but those the place was made for, it was rather drab looking, at least at first. While there were more interesting things for those with mundane eyes to be found, the princess paused before moving on to get a second opinion. She mounted her wolfos steed first, basically to get any bystanders used to the idea, and then summoned one of the [url=https://minionsart.github.io/aowp/Previews/amazon_initiate.mp4]Psynumbra Initiates[/url] strikers that she had claimed from the monastery and asked them [color=Aquamarine]”Describe it to me”[/color] The masked cultist scanned her gaze across the mental graffiti “All the powers of the mind, and they spent it on covering every surface in advertising … I don’t know whether to be appalled or impressed at how feeble minded consumerism has wasted their gifts'' which Midna found harsh, but somewhat reasonable. The follow up was not, as the woman who had embraced suffering and entropy and called both gods turned her dead eyes to the princess and told her “this whole place needs to be dragged screaming into the abysse” with absolute sincerity, and with what Midna was quite sure was an implication that, if they initiate had her way, it would only be the first to go, followed by the rest of the world. [color=Aquamarine]”Alright that’s enough from you”[/color] the princess said after a few moments of staring down the cultist, waving her hand and dismissing the malevolent specter. She shook her head, regretting asking anyone but Raz what the deal was, before looking around and realizing that she’d lost track of the only gifted one among them. [color=Aquamarine]”Guess I’ll just find my own way around. How hard can it be?”[/color] she resolved, before tapping her heels against her mount’s side and taking a ride through the street. She got lost almost immediately in the sprawl of small businesses, but they weren't exactly a bad place to get lost in, other than the fact that they were a drag on her funds, as after a few minutes she was down a bunch of gold. Not that all of it had been poorly spent, as the princess was now full of noodles and that was good. Less good was the cheap watch she had been scammed into spending several hundred gold (or zenny technically, but fortunately there was no need to mess around with exchange rates) on, due to her lack of familiarity with that kind of technology. Still, it did tell the time, so at least it did it’s job The main event of her wanderings was when she spied a place called Paradise Lost sauna, the Twilight princess finding herself drawn to its dark atmosphere … that and her curiosity as to whether a sauna was like a spa. In the front lobby of this place were the pair of street fighters, Sakura and Karin. Before Raz tracked down his friends they were doing some tourism of their own, but not before ending up a light sparring session in the middle of the street. Karin had to force herself to shut down the battle on the grounds that attracting attention too early would be a bad move. Since they were both looking to rest up before moving on to find the psychic friends, they wound up here, at this weird looking sauna. But Karin recognized class when she saw it. [color=f49ac2]”Ah!”[/color] Sakura said when she made eye contact with Midna. [color=f49ac2]”Hey! It’s Midna-san. Are you here for the sauna, too?”[/color] [color=fff200]”No, I imagine she’s here for the movie.”[/color] [color=f49ac2]”...shut uuup.”[/color] Midna could not help but smile at their banter, before confirming that [color=Aquamarine]”Yes, that’s why I’m here. We checked out this place called Shangri-Spa in the city town we visited, so I thought it would be fun to make it a thing to visit some other city’s spas and baths as well. Plus, the atmosphere is very nice on the eyes”[/color] as much as she admired the aesthetic, the light adverse princess also ment this literally. She then had a thought, and had to ask [color=Aquamarine]”What’s a ‘movie’ anyway?”[/color] Karin frowned, her sharp wit now lost on Midna. Sakura scratched her head. [color=f49ac2]”You don’t know what a movie is?”[/color] She asked. [color=f49ac2]”You’ve probably at least seen something like it by now. It’s a moving picture that can make noises, and people tell stories with them. There’s little reels with all the pictures that they put in a big projector. Or sometimes on tape that goes in a little box which you can bring home with you. It’s tech. I don’t know the specifics.”[/color] [color=fff200]”Well, essentially-”[/color] [color=f49ac2]”I don’t have enough room in my brain for whatever you’re about to start telling me, Karin-chan.”[/color] Sakura waved Karin’s explanation away. [color=Aquamarine]”Oh right, those things I see”[/color] Midna said, at least getting the picture somewhat, although she still did not get the specifics of the joke due to not knowing how those illusions (as she interpreted them) could be used for entertainment purposes. Even without the details, the gist/energy of the joke had translated perfectly fine however. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn_R4GQlvyQ[/youtube] After that, there was a bit of a pause in their talking as they checked into the sauna, or rather, what it actually was, which was a bathhouse, and got to admire the interior decoration. It had a gothic style right out of vampire fiction, as if they had just been invited into some secluded sun averse noble’s abode, and was decked out with dark wood, ornate rugs, candelabras, lamps with fancy lampshades, plush chairs, gilded mirrors, and big paintings, all of which gave a stylish yet haunting atmosphere to the palace. And that was only the foyer/changing room. After they’d swapped out their outfits for towels (with Midna doing her best but ultimately failing to hid the mottled healed burn look her torso had), and Minda had stashed their valuable possessions away, they exited out of the ‘mansion’ and into the ladies section of the sauna [img]https://i.imgur.com/OwSnvoS.jpg[/img] Styled after a rock pool filled with a water who’s mineral composition made it look more than a bit like blood. It also had a vision that made it appear that the room opened up into what looks like a vista of a sprawling ruin that extends infinitely into a starry night, covered by giant, softly glowing spike, though unfortunately for them none of the 3 ladies could see it, leaving them with a much less impressive blank wall where the projection was. Still, the water was warm and inviting, and so the trio eagerly joined the a [url=https://i.imgur.com/5a8ZbQ7.png]number[/url] of [url=https://i.imgur.com/Kuvi6qI.png]number[/url] bathers in the pool. The princess slipped in first, sighing as the warm rejuvenating waters washed over her body [color=Aquamarine]”Ahhhh, I‘ve needed this. Beats those weird shower things by a mile”[/color] Sakura happily sank in the water, the twin tails of her headband floating clinging to her shoulders. She left the radio in her sneakers which were at pond side. Karin, meanwhile, reached her arms up and undid her ribbon. Daintily, she lifted it off her head and dropped it on a nearby island of rock, where it hit with a [i]heavy[/i] thud. [color=fff200]”It is adequate.”[/color] Karin surmised. [color=f49ac2]”The red water is kinda badass.”[/color] Sakura mused, cupping some in her hands. [color=f49ac2]”If a bit, uh…”[/color] [color=fff200]”Macabre?”[/color] Karin offered, smirking. [color=f49ac2]”Yeah, that’s it.”[/color] She splashed it on her face. [color=f49ac2]”’A blissful death. Sink into the peaceful gloom after the end.’”[/color] She quoted the place’s grim tagline. [color=f49ac2]”If you say so!”[/color] She sank all the way down to her chin and closed her eyes. Karin kept her hair out of the water, resting her arms on a nearby rock. [color=Aquamarine]”It feels … homely. Not the water, but everything else is just, more familiar to my world than outside”[/color] Midna admitted, as she floated on the water’s surface, only her face poking out as she enjoyed soaking every inch of her body in the relaxing and rejuvenating waters Karin watched them both for a moment, before focusing on Midna’s floating little face. [color=fff200]”You lived underground, then? That would explain your complexion.”[/color] [color=Aquamarine]”Hmm? No, I lived in a place called the twilight realm where it's always, well, twilight. Like the town, but a fair bit darker shade of twilight”[/color] Midna explained simply before giving a slight correction [color=Aquamarine]”But I also ment, well, the technology. We didn’t have all these cars and guns and whatever all the roads are made from. It's a bit overwhelming at times I’ll be honest.”[/color] [color=fff200]”I see. Well, I’ve never seen any magic before, either, so I suppose we both have some things to get used to.”[/color] Karin said. Sakura peaked one eye open. [color=f49ac2]”I dunno-”[/color] When she opened her mouth some water got in, briefly interrupting her. She sat up a little straighter. [color=f49ac2]”I dunno, Karin-san. You know Dhalsim? He [i]calls[/i] it yoga, but… that guy gets weirder every time I see him. Besides, everything I’ve seen in the World of Light is kind of like something I’ve watched a cartoon about, or seen in real life.”[/color] Sakura says. [color=f49ac2]”Except it’s turned up to eleven. At least I don’t have to do any more algebra problems.”[/color] Karin considered this. [color=fff200]”Fair point. I suppose we are lucky in that way. By the way, Miss Midna, the roads are made of concrete.”[/color] [color=Aquamarine]”Well it’s impressive stuff, this con-crete”[/color] Midna said, wondering to herself how it was made, while also being presented with more questions such as [color=Aquamarine]”Are those fireballs you can throw not magic?”[/color] Sakura shook her head. [color=f49ac2]”Nope, not magic. That’s ki!”[/color] Sakura said proudly. [color=f49ac2]”It’s a form of energy within all living things. With enough training, you can harness it. We call ‘em fireballs but they don’t actually look a lot like fire if you get a close look at ‘em. I guess the name just kinda stuck.”[/color] [color=fff200]”If you can call what Sakura did training.”[/color] Karin said. [color=f49ac2]”Hey-!”[/color] [color=fff200]”I kid, of course. Just this once I must make myself explicitly clear.”[/color] Karin said, with emphasis. [color=f49ac2]”Good.”[/color] Sakura said, crossing her arms, satisfied. [color=Aquamarine]”Sound a lot like mana to me”[/color] Midna said, before thinking for a moment before correcting herself [color=Aquamarine]”Although I suppose if it is training rather than study then it probably is different”[/color] and then asking [color=Aquamarine]”What kind of training was it anyway?”[/color] [color=f49ac2]”Push ups, sit ups, and plenty of juice.”[/color] Sakura said succinctly with a smile. [color=f49ac2]”And I did this a bunch of times.”[/color] She mimes the motion of the Hadoken. Karin pinched her brow. It wasn’t fair. Midna had to agree. There was a little lul then in the talk, during which they soaked and the two dignified ladies sulked a bit about how Sakura had come into absurd power though push ups… and, admittedly, lots and lots of hard work and dedication. After a bit however, the inevitable topic had to come up, which was, well, work. [color=Aquamarine]”So … how are we feeling about this whole …. Things? I have to admit, it is a bit more daunting than being pointed at a mountain and told to ‘go there’ even if said mountain basically froze us all to death. Was the ocean stuff anything like this or?”[/color] Midna asked, ceasing her lazy floating and actually taking a seat while they discussed more serious matters. Karin was only on the ocean for a short while, but from what Sakura had said of her first mission as a Seeker, it wasn’t good. She looked at Sakura with concern. The brunette for her part bit her lower lip and stared off into empty space for a moment. [color=f49ac2]”It was…pretty bad, Midna-san.”[/color] She said. [color=f49ac2]”It wasn’t anything like this. It was a big war, and a very big boat full of horrible people. And I got turned into a little kid. It was definitely the worst day of my life.”[/color] Sakura summed up, never being very closed off about her emotions. [color=f49ac2]”But when I got turned back into my normal self, I felt strong again. The Guardian was scary, too, but not as scary as that big boat. We destroyed it.”[/color] Sakura looked at Midna again. [color=f49ac2]”So despite everything, we still won. I don’t think it can get as bad as it was on that boat. In a weird way, I feel stronger than ever.”[/color] Sakura said.[color=f49ac2]”Saving people- saving someone in particular named Bella, too- felt better than all the bad things, y’know? Made it worth it. As long as we can save people, we should keep going.”[/color] Sakura nodded to herself. [color=f49ac2]”I dunno how hard this is going to be, but as long as we stick together we’ll be okay.”[/color] [color=Aquamarine]”At least it was only a day,”[/color] Midna said in relation to the curse, vaguely pointing to herself, before pursing her lips and taking it back [color=Aquamarine]”Sorry, I shouldn’t say compare things like that. I’m glad you made it out ok and have recovered from your ordeal …. And it sounds like you where a real hero over there”[/color] the princess said approvingly, and with just a hint of nostalgia in her voice, before she added: [color=Aquamarine]”and I think real genuine heroes is what this city needs most of all. So I’ll be counting on you, while also having your back every step we take through this tangled web”[/color] Sakura blushed, rubbing the back of her head and wrapping her arm around her towel. [color=f49ac2]”Thanks.”[/color] She laughed apologetically. [color=f49ac2]”I think the Seekers have got plenty of those. You can count on me, Midna-san.”[/color] Karin smiled. [color=fff200]”Enjoying saving the world, Sakura-chan?”[/color] [color=f49ac2]”I-I dunno. Maybe? I think I’m doing pretty good overall.”[/color] [color=fff200]”With myself on board things shall only improve for the Seekers. For the first and only time in history, I wish you would have defeated me earlier so I could have joined you on that accursed ship, Sakura-chan. But we’re united now. And I believe my example will push you to greater heights.”[/color] Karin set a hand on her chest, proud. [color=f49ac2]”Yeah, me too.”[/color] Sakura said, genuinely. [color=f49ac2]”You woulda kept me grounded. I got all caught up in my own head pretty fast. But, hey. I’m the veteran Seeker. I helped destroy a Guardian. You’ve got a long way to go before you catch up to me, rookie. Isn’t that right, Midna-san?”[/color] [color=Aquamarine]”mmm hmmm, looks like you’ve got a ways to go till your on her level again if you haven’t even faced a guardian yet”[/color] Midna agreed teasingly, before adding with faux haughtiness [color=Aquamarine]”We can review your contribution to the team again one you have punched a big worm or something”[/color] Karin raised an eyebrow, seemingly unamused by their wit. [color=fff200]”That’s the second time today you’ve brought up this alleged big worm. Did you want to brag about killing a giant worm? I will allow this boast in the spirit of diplomacy. Feel free to demonstrate with your hands that it was: ‘this big.’”[/color] Minda tapped a rock, pulled the fourth of the fused shadow out of a portal she formed on it, plonked said helm on her head, and then summoned a small shadow hand and held it up above her head while she linked both other hands together and declared that it was [color=Aquamarine]”Thiiiiiiis big … and by ‘this’ I mean the cannon shells we shot out of a train mounted cannon to even tickle the big worm. It was deku nuts”[/color] [color=fff200]”...I see.”[/color] Karin said, looking up at the demonstration. [color=fff200]”Deku nuts indeed. No wonder people were so upset with you.”[/color] [color=f49ac2]”Yuck! Still, wish I coulda been there to see it. I understand [i]why[/i] we split up all the time but sometimes I wish we could just go around as a big group of like…thirty, or whatever. It’d be kinda funny. ”[/color] Sakura said. [color=Aquamarine]”Fortunately it mainly just spooked people … and destroyed a bunch of railway tracks, which in hindsight was lucky because we had no idea that was what was going to happen when we rang a massive bell at the top of the mountain… So, if we’ve learned anything, it’s that we need to be a bit more careful this time”[/color] Midna admitted. They weren't in a mostly empty desert, after all, and every stray mistake had dozens of people on the line, which was daunting. [color=Aquamarine]”As for a big group, eh, we’d probably start getting in each other's way at some point. I mean I know i’ve been having to hold back, or at least be more careful, in a team than I am when I am on my own”[/color] she pulled off and put away the fused shadow, which was the main thing she had to be very careful with to avoid slapping friendlies. [color=Aquamarine]”Plus there’s the whole speed thing we need to do now … but yeah it would be pretty funny”[/color] she admitted at last [color=f49ac2]”Woah. Yeah. We’re kind of in a big city so, let’s avoid any mysterious bells of power.”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”But I bet that Galeem thing is gonna be feelin’ real stupid when we all show up after all it’s Guardians are toast.” [/color] Sakura said, punching the air before emergency catching her towel. [color=fff200]”I am more interested in these Consuls. Not quite Guardian, not quite Galeem itself, yes? I suppose they are just his minions. I imagine we will have to defeat all of them, as well.”[/color] [color=Aquamarine]”We might, though is it just me, or is it strange that apparently they just haven’t been a factor, and then they suddenly make two moves one after the other? Did we get lucky? Were they just complacent? It’s not like part of Galeem’s force wasn’t aware of us with that hand showing up before the guardian, so why now? What changed?”[/color] [color=fff200]”Well…”[/color] Karin begins. [color=fff200]”[i]I[/i] did join the Seekers.”[/color] She points out. [color=f49ac2]”Oh, shut up!”[/color] Sakura says, shoving Karin on the shoulder while Midna quietly laughed. [color=fff200]”Ohoho! I am only kidding, of course. But that is a good question. Perhaps one or two guardians getting destroyed is within acceptable parameters. But three or four is worrying. I think you are right, Princess Midna. Complacency. They strive for a world of total control and lack of free will, after all.”[/color] Karin says. [color=Aquamarine]”I suppose … well, guess things will only be getting harder than here on out”[/color] which was not a prospect she was looking forward to. [color=Aquamarine]”and if we want to get anywhere we’ll need to work out how to go on the offensive against them … not sure how we do that though, other than asking around to see if anyone has seen any red helmeted people around”[/color] she said, mostly joking about that method, though she didn’t exactly have an alternative. [color=fff200]”It is not anything we cannot handle. If their power was so overwhelming they would have exercised it by now. Instead they must rely on trickery and deception. Perhaps if we capture one we can find out what hole they are hiding in.”[/color] Karin said confidently. [color=Aquamarine]”Sounds like a plan”[/color] Midna agreed before thinking for a moment and recognising some irony about the situation [color=Aquamarine]”Iand not one we’re gonna pull off soaking in a bath, lovely as this has been”[/color] she said, while standing up and stretching and then concluding [color=Aquamarine]”So how about we hit the streets again, and see if the rain looks to be coming in soon or not?”[/color] [color=fff200]”Very well. I feel refreshed.”[/color] Karin agreed. [color=f49ac2]”Let’s go. After this, I feel like I can work triple time!”[/color] Sakura said, squeezing the water out of her headband like it was hair. After that, it was a quick pop back into the changing rooms to redone their clothes and they were off. Well. almost. The place was cleverly set up to filter exiting through a gift shop, and so they, or at least Midna got briefly distracted by the selection, and by a quick chat with the proprietor of the sauna, a woman named [url=https://i.imgur.com/BtNjpm9.png]Coco[/url] who happened to also be staffing said gift shop. Compliment for the experience (and money for a bottle of very nice smelling ‘blood’ shampoo) paid and the trio of ladies were back out on the streets, ready to have the clean and rejuvenated feeling the soak had left them in ruined by the upcoming rain and violence that was to come if the plan came together. Still, it would be nice while it lasted.