2022-08-09 - Wariness and Trust
| Title: Wariness and Trust | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Kyouka and Setsuna move to a more secluded location to discuss various things related to Magical Girls, and a tentative trust is formed. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: A quiet forest near Asakusa Traditional District | |
| OOC - IC Date: August 09, 2022 - Saturday January 02, 2016 | |
| Previous: | |
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
After making sure their meals were paid for, Kyouka let Setsuna lead the way to a nearby park where they could talk in relative private and seclusion.
Kyouka... was tense. She was doing her best to retain her composure, but... All of this was still really new and unknown to her at the moment, and while she liked Setsuna well enough in the brief stint of time they'd spent together since leaving the school, getting made was not an eventuality she had even considered, let alone prepared for.
She wanted to trust the other girl--loud and brash as she could sometimes be when telling off someone treating others unfairly, she did genuinely consider herself more of an optimist than not. It did not mean, however, that she was an idiot. Any conventional dangers she was fairly prepared for, but magic... Well, magic had turned up in the culture and folklore of enough of the places she'd been to that she could imagine some pretty sucky outcomes to trusting the wrong type of magical entity.
Granted, none of the cultures had ever referenced 'magical pocket-sized super computers' or 'magical cell phones', but really that only meant that there was even less she could try and think about and prepare for.
So, Kyouka was tense. And pretty quiet and terse as they walked away from the hustle and bustle of the street to find that secluded spot to talk. Little glances left and right as she surveyed her surroundings, trying to keep her wits about her while also keeping one eye on Setsuna. But when they finally got there she took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and slowly let it out.
"So... I have a lot of questions."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
There are easier, faster ways to get to privacy, but Setsuna doesn't want to overwhelm her possible new friend, or scare her... so the teleportation tricks are right out for right now. And of course, there's still the possibility that this is some kind of trap... but admittedly, Setsuna finds that possibility unlikely. If Labyrinth wanted to trap her, they would use other methods.
But none of this shows on her face; she is as blank as ever when she walks along, though she does try to remember to be reassuring a little. It's hard; she's thinking very hard, and that makes it more difficult to remember to emote properly. But...
Eventually they find that secluded spot, and when Kyouka mentions she has questions--
"Yes. I'm sure you do." She pauses.
"...My other name is Cure Passion. I am a magical girl. And I'm not from this world."
"...I have a lot of friends with Devices like yours seem to be. I can't reveal them without their permission, but... if you're feeling alone right now, and afraid, or isolated... I want to help."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka is definitely not ready for teleportation yet. That was A Good Call (tm) on Setsuna's part. And besides, she likes nature, so the walk in a forest is actually a better choice to put her at ease, even if Setsuna might not have been considering that aspect specifically.
She doesn't seem to notice Setsuna's lack of emoting on the walk over--or if she does, she doesn't think anything about it as being more out of the ordinary than normal for Setsuna.
Kyouka is gearing up to try and figure out her first question when Setsuna lays... all of that on her, so instead she stops and blinks a bit, trying to take it all in. "Other name... Okay, so... like an alter ego? Huh." It's... unclear if she's asking Setsuna for confirmation or talking to herself and trying to process what she's being told.
She just nods a little at the 'magical girl' comment. Girl with magic, seems simple enough, even though it seems like an odd way of phrasing that. But maybe that's just another Setsunaism, like so many of the others she's heard tonight.
And then when you confirm that you're from another world, she draws in a sharp breath. That... well, she'd guessed it, but having that confirmation is a different matter entirely. She does consider the possibility that you're pranking her, but knowing what an Intelligent Device was does buy you some credibility, at least.
"Okay. Wow. That's... I'm pretty open-minded but this is... definitely a lot to take in."
She does respect you not outing your friends to her--as much as she's potentially suspicious of you, she does still recognize that you might also be suspicious of her--but when you mention the word 'alone'--there's just a hint of a pained look in her eyes, and she quickly glances away to try to keep from showing just how much that word struck close to home. For... a number of reasons.
She's silent for a good long few moments, before she looks down to her wrist. She pulls her blazer sleeve back, revealing the five-sided gem sitting on top of the leather bracelet that's her device's standby form. It might almost seem like they're having some kind of silent conversation, before she finally nods. "I'm... well, I guess I don't have an alias yet. But I guess the first thing I want to ask is... how did you know? Was it just seeing the device?"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Setsuna has come to like nature, too. It's still strange to her in places--utterly alien--but... it's beautiful, too.
"Yes," Setsuna agrees about it being much to take in. She can empathize there, even if she can't truly understand, given her own origin. "Take your time."
So, she waits; she notices that pained look, but other than looking concerned herself for a moment, she doesn't really seize on that. Instead, she waits, and there when Kyouka eventually mentions the name...
"You don't have to have one," Setsuna says. "I have one because it's what I am. It's what I made the the contract with Akarun to become." She considers, for a moment, pulls her henshin item, the cellphone. She opens it, and a tiny fairy--in the shape of a key with a heart on it--bursts into being. "Iiii!" she greets, and floats around them.
"...I heard the rumors," Setsuna says. "I couldn't confirm anything from just that. But I suspected that either you were also a magical girl, or that you were in trouble with magic. Most people who aren't... forget about it."
"But seeing your Device confirmed it for me. Like I said, I've seen a lot of Devices. Yours appears to be a Midchildan Intelligence Device. ...May I ask his name?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka is trying her best to follow along with Setuna's explanation, but, still, kiiind of a lot to take in all at once. She does mouth the word 'Akaron' to herself to file that away for later. And then the fairy comes out--
Kyouka blinks and flinches backwards half a step, hands half coming up in a fighting stance before she stops herself and forces them back down by her sides. "I... huh. Okay. Hi."
She looks to Setsuna as she continues, and then mentions those blasted rumors, pinching at the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "Dammit, now I really wish I hadn't said anything. It's hard enough being a new kid in a place without having stupid rumors attached to your name."
She pauses at that and then looks to the other girl. "Though... I imagine you'd know something about that, if everything you've told me is true."
Now that word piques her interest. She visibly perks up, and then looks down to the device on her wrist. Quietly, she asks, "Does that check out?"
It takes a moment for the reply to come back. <Affirmative.>
Kyouka looks to you, giving a little nod. "So... that's two things. I guess..." She takes a deep breath. "I guess the issue I'm having is... how do we know we can trust each other? My, uh... first encounter with a magical entity wasn't ~exactly~ a cordial one, if you get what I'm saying."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Oh, sorry," Setsuna says, and Akarun in turn when Kyouka flinches goes "Ii!!!" and rushes to hide behind Setsuna. "It's okay," Setsuna says. "But maybe you should come back for now." "Kiii..." The fairy, after swirling back out to look at Kyouka again cheerfully, whirls into sparkles and disappears again.
"I do," Setsuna answers about rumors. "I know it's difficult..." Though it was never excactly the same for her.
Setsuna looks to Strike Wolf again for a moment and then back to Kyouka. She considers the question. "We don't," she admits simply. "You could be in disguise, luring me out alone, and I could be someone trying to trick you into allying with me. But I'm going to believe in you, because that's the sort of person I'd like to be."
"...In fact, once I was the enemy. I came here to help take over Earth. I only changed because I made some very good, important friends who showed me how valuable and precious life can be..."
She trails off, and then nods firmly. "So if you don't want to trust me, I understand. You can walk away right now, and I won't follow you."
"...There are probably better people to try to explain everything to you," she admits, "But... I was worried, and I acted on my own."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"S-sorry..." Kyouka says to the fairy, when she realizes she's startled the little guy. "I'm just... kind of new to all of this right now."
She considers what you're saying when you explain that there isn't a way for us to absolutely trust each other yet, actually looking a bit less tense when you say that, paradoxically enough. "You know... if you'd said there was some method by which we could have instantly trusted each other, like a... spell or am oath or a contract or something... I'd have actually been more suspicious, not less," she finishes with a barest touch of a grin. "Sorry, seen too many stories where someone gets tricked into making some sort of a deal they don't understand, so..."
But then you continue, and she grows more somber for a moment as she listens to you describe your situation. And now she has something new to contemplate, and she's silent for a long time. "So... hmm. Here's where I'm at." She turns to pace a little as she talks through her thoughts, though she's careful not to turn completely away from you.
"I know I'm not not some agent in disguise, but you can't know that for sure--" she pauses, and looks over to you. "I'm guessing... your homeworld doesn't take defection well, huh?" She resumes pacing. "So, you could be trying to trick me. But you've said several things that would make me not necessarily try to trust you. So, either you're being honest with me, oorrr... you are playing some sort of complicated game where you know that saying things that will make me trust you will actually make me more suspicious so you say suspicious stuff instead to make me think you're being..."
She has to stop and rub at the bridge of her nose for a moment. "Okay, let me start over. If you were trying to trick me into trusting you, there's far, far easier ways for you to go about that than spinning a complicated web of... counterintuitive things like that that are more likely to fall apart. So..." She takes a deep breath to steady herself. "I'm willing to take you at your word, for the moment." She looks to the device on her wrist. "What do you think?"
The device seems to be processing it, before finally replying, <Okay.>
She nods and looks to Setsuna. "So... that's both of us."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Kiiii..." Akarun at least doesn't seem terribly offended, just shy. It's hard to tell though. She doesn't really 'talk'.
"Hmm. Yes, that would be very suspicious," Setsuna agrees. "There's no need to apologize for that."
But eventually, Kyouka explains, and though she doesn't show her back to Setsuna or anything, she does pace a bit. That's fine. So...
"It does not," Setsuna answers of her homeworld. Instead, as Kyouka goes on, she nods in place and doesn't interrupt until aftr Kyouka seems to finish. They both seem to trust her enough for the moment, so...
"Okay!" she answers. "I appreciate that. And I don't think you're an agent in disguise, either. You had plenty of opportunities to attack me and you haven't taken them."
She looks to the Device, and then back to Kyouka. "So, in that case..."
"What questions do you have for me?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka nods as Setsuna confirms that she doesn't think that she's an agent either. "Right. Thanks."
Kyouka seems to be relaxing a bit now that she's made the decision to provisionally trust you--especially since Strike Wolf seems to be in agreement. She hasn't completely let her guard down, but she's at least a bit less tense, for the moment.
"I suppose if we're trusting you, for the moment... proper introductions are in order." She looks to her partner. "Go ahead." Kyouka holds up her wrist, sleeve pulled clear so the device is fully visible.
White text crawls across the surface of the device as he says, <Strike Wolf.>
Kyouka gives a little nod and then lets her hand drop again. "Right, so... questions. I... mm. Where to start. Are there... really others who use devices like mine? I..." she considers how to say this. "Strike Wolf is the only device I've met so far, and you're the only other person with magic I've met so far. ... Well, unless you count that other guy I fought, I guess."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Hello, Strike Wolf," Setsuna grees the Device, turning to look at the device directly. "It's nice to meet you."
Then she looks back up to Kyouka. She puts away her phone (her Linkrun), and instead focuses on--where to start? It's a good question. But Setsuna can deal with speciic questions much more easily than with a general need to start. So that's where she starts!
"There are," Setsuna says. "I know a number of people who use both Midchildan Intelligent Devices and Belkan Armed Devices," she says first. "Hmm... I don't know the full story of what happened," she admits. "If you want to tell me about it I might have some guesses. But otherwise..."
"There's many of us, and some of us group into organizations, and some don't. My partners are Cure Peach, Cure Pine, and Cure Berry. We fight together against Labyrinth. But there's many other dark forces out there to fight against, and sometimes we have to do that, too."
"...Your instinct not to trust everyone is right. There are dangerous people out there, who want to use magic to hurt or control people."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Strike Wolf replies, <Likewise.>
And there's that Midchildan word again, and also a new one. She looks to Strike Wolf, and just asks, "Belkan?"
Strike Wolf only needs a moment to process that before replying, <Data not found.>
She frowns a little. Well, that doesn't necessarily mean it's not real. She does know that Strike Wolf's databases are incomplete.
"I'm guessing Midchilda and Belka are... not places on Earth." If there's one thing she knows, it's her geography. She leans against a tree as she listens to you talk and explain further.
"Whole organizations..." She takes in the names of your teammates--she's noticed a theme, but can't decide if it's rude or not to point that out, so elects not to.
"Just, to be clear, I don't know that I 100% trust you yet... just... enough to give you the benefit of a doubt, for now. But I trust you a lot more than... hmm."
She looks down. "So... I guess I could explain. I was going to have to tell somebody at some point. I... only found Strike Wolf less than a couple weeks ago." Which is right about when that rumor started and she started wearing Strike Wolf everywhere. "I was going to the store after school to pick something up, and... Strike Wolf called out to me. He was in trouble, so I went to go rescue him. There was... some sort of mage or a wizard there. I think he was trying to forcibly activate Strike Wolf, but he wouldn't let him. I managed to get Strike Wolf away from him and... I guess we made our own version of a contract. I drove him off, though... I guess thinking back on it that probably wasn't the best move, but I didn't know what else to do at the time."
"So... I think Strike Wolf was stolen, but he doesn't remember where he came from. I'm trying to find his owner." She'd left out a few detailed bits, like the fact that Strike Wolf seemed incomplete. No need to tip her hand fully just yet.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Setsuna smiles when Strike Wolf replies, though only briefly. That Strike Wolf is unfamiliar with Belka is interesting news, but not especially surprising news. When Kyouka asks, though, Setsuna replies, "Midchilda is another planet inhabited by humans. Belka is an ancient empire that faded away a long time ago."
There's totally a theme. It's a cute theme! Setsuna can explain Pretty Cure later, though.
"That's fine," Setsuna says of trust. And so she istens to the explanation...
"Mm.... That's concerning," she says. "There's someone out there who has been stealing Devices, or trying to. It's very dangerous to be on your own with one in the present world. If you were able to drive him off it was probably not one of the ones I'm thinking of, but... all the same, if you're with Strike Wolf now you might become a target."
"It makes sense if he couldn't activate Strike Wolf, though. Not everyone can activate every Device; it takes a special kind of compatibility. It's all very..." Her nose wrinkles. "Magical."
She nods, after that. "I could help you look; I know of some people who know a lot about Devices. But I would like you to at least keep my number--even if you don't trust me, I want you to have the option to reach out to me if you are targeted."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka looks a bit alarmed when you mention there's someone stealing devices, standing a bit more upright from where she'd been leaning against the tree. "That's... is really good to know. I've... I'll be honest, I've been a bit on edge since I found Strike Wolf. There's not really a lot that prepares you for 'oh by the way magic is real and you have it now', or like... an instruction manual or anything."
She nods along when you mention driving the mage off. "Yeah, uh... I kiiiiinda managed to rattle him enough to make him drop Strike Wolf even without powers, sooo..." She's not trying to brag; in fact, she actually sounds a little embarrassed, if anything. Attacking someone like that was incredibly foolhardy, regardless of the outcome. "Prooobably not one of those guys."
She nods about the details of device activation, smiling a just a bit wistfully as she looks down to Strike Wolf. "Yeah. I figured out that much. He chose me, but he didn't choose that other guy." She does give you a look when you say 'magical'. Was... that a pun? She's honestly not sure, and isn't sure if she approves if it is. She decides to let that one go.
Kyouka smiles at the offer of help, nodding, "I'd appreciate that, actually... I've been trying to look around a little but... I'm not getting very far." she nods and pulls out her cell phone when you mention keeping her number handy. "Um, sure." She takes it if you give it to her, and then offers her own in exchange--fair's fair, and she's given it out to a numbe of other students anyway.
"Oh, and... if you were wondering about those rumors. So.... Himeko Hasegawa, from our grade? She was there that day. I pushed her out of the way of some falling rubble. I actually went to talk to her the next day to make sure she was okay, except..." She heaves a long, weary sigh. "That's when I found out that she didn't remember anything that happened. So instead of doing a nice thing, I just... gave her something to tease me about."
Though it may or may not be remarkable that for 'rubble' being involved there's been no mention of it in the news, or even a sight of it if Setsuna happens to have been in that area of the city.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"I don't really understand," Setsuna admits, "But I have a lot of friends who were surprised by magic existing..." A pause. She may have literally had an instruction manual. It's fine.
"That's very lucky!" Setsuna answers. She can hear the embarrassment, but she's not going to weigh at her about it. Instead she'll focus on the bright side!
"Yes... That's how it works."
But Kyouka trying to look around. She nods. Then she gives her number, taking out her phone; she can do it via a little infrared thing on her Linkrun, and that makes it easy. "It's something I know about, so I'm happy to help."
But the rumors... Oh.
"I see," Setsuna says. "I'm sorry. That's difficult..."
"But I'm glad you saved her, even if it didn't work out very well for you. Maybe one day she'll come around."
It doesn't surprise Setsuna that the place is intact; she's used to that happening, after all.
"Did you want to know anything else?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka would dearly, early love an instruction manual right about now. But she doesn't voice that thought right at the moment.
"Yeah, difficult is... an understatement. Not really, the kind of thing I want circulating around, but... hopefully it'll just blow over, you know?"
She nods, "Yeaaaah, I, uh... didn't even have to think about it. Even if I don't like her too much or she doesn't like me, I couldn't just... stand by ahd do nothing, you know?" Which is, in fact, part of why Strike Wolf chose her, as it happens.
"Is... there anything else I should be aware of, aside from someone going around and targeting people with devices? Places in the city I should or shouldn't go, people I should avoid, that kind of thing?"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Yes, that would be good. I don't know, I don't usually pay much attention to rumors--it's just that in this case it seemed like there might be something more there..."
Setsuna smiles, when Kyouka says she didn't have to think about it. "Not everyone would think that way," she says. "I admire that."
But other things to be aware of? Setsuna tilts her head, bringing up a hand to tap her cheek thoughtfully through purple hair. "Hm..."
"Sometimes there are monsters; there aren't a lot of places they especially congregate, but..." Hm. Was that always true? No, it's fine. "Just be aware that there are people out there who are working for people like Labyrinth, or to try to control the world. And if you run into someone all in black with her face covered and a Device... run."
"Other than that I'm not sure what to advise..."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Yeah, well... thanks for reaching out. It's..." she gives a little sigh of relief. "It really helps to know I'm not he only person out there with..." She holds up Strike Wolf on her wrist and then nods towards your cell phone. "All this stuff going on. I wasn't really sure what to make of any of this so far."
She blinks and looks taken aback by your compliment. It hadn't seemed exceptional to her, she's always been that way--but Setsuna's right, that's definitely not how everyone would act. Definitely not that mage, for one thing. She's actually blushing just a little from that compliment. "Oh, um... thanks. And... if you left your home to try and better yourself and live a better life... I respect that. I really do."
"Monsters... okay, glad you warned me before I ran into one for real." That description, though... She actually shivers a little. "All in black, face covered, has a device. Got it."
She thinks a moment longer. "Mmm... I have so many questions still, but I don't know a specific one I want to ask right now. Um... is there anything I should be asking? Or something you want to tell me that I haven't asked about?"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"I'm glad that it helps."
Setsuna smiles faintly at the returned compliment, though. "...I had a lot of help," she says. "But I've come a long way since then. I'm... willing to acknowledge that." It's still difficult sometimes, but she won't burden Kyouka for the moment with those doubts. Instead, she continues, "There are a lot of them; usually if one shows up some of us will also find it... but it's possible you might find one on your own, and it's better to try to get backup. If no one's around to help, well... Sometimes that's how it is. But many of us do patrols to find such things."
She nods firmly at the warning. It's very important.
"Hmm..." She considers. "That's okay. Now that you have my number, you can ask me anything as you think about it! I don't... know of a good question offhand..."
"But I want to tell you that you don't have to be alone. There have been magical girls and mages and everything for a long time... and together, we can do much more than we can do apart."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka is definitely a believer in self-improvement. And also a believer in redemption, to boot. But no need to get into that right now. She's said her piece, for the moment.
"Patrols, huh... Is there a schedule, or a sign up sheet, or do people just kind of wing it?" She seems like she's mostly joking, trying to be a little lighthearted about it, though she is kind of curious. If there are organizations based around this stuff...
"Actually... if I do run into one, is there... some kind of signal to call for backup?" Non-magical things? She could handle it, no worries. Magic? Yeaaah, she's not sure where she falls on any kind of scale yet, so an abundance of caution is called for.
Kyouka offers a smile as Setsuna expresses that she doesn't have to do things alone. "Right, thanks..." She definitely looks far less tense than when this conversation started. Still a bit wary, of course, but less tense, at the very least.
"So... you said you know other device users, right? I'd, definitely like to meet them, if they're willing. I guess you've got my number too, so you can reach out. Or I guess we'll see each other at school, too."
She snaps her fingers as she remembers something, "Oh! Um... this, miiiight be kind of sudden, but... I don't suppose we could spar sometime, could we? I need somebody to train with, because I don't think using magic to beat up a punching bag is really going to teach me a lot."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"That depends on who you're with," Setsuna says. "I schedule." Of course she schedules!
"Hmm. If you can get a sign up high in the air, that would work. Make a beacon. But that depends on what kind of power you have; for a Device-wielder, that should be doable." Caution is good! And wise! No arguments from Setsuna.
She smiles at the 'thanks', and then says, "Yes. I'll mention you to them, if you don't mind. And then we can arrange meetings. And I'll see you at school, too."
But the question? Setsuna tilts her head, and then brightens. "Sure!" she says. "I'm good at hand to hand combat. I'd be happy to help you practice."
"It really comes down to your heart and your connection with Strike Wolf... but practice is never a bad idea!"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka just gives a little 'ahhh' of understanding to the answer to her scheduling question.
"Sign up high in the air, huh..." She looks to Strike Wolf. "We'll have to work on that."
<Affirmative.>
She nods at the mention of meetings. "Thanks, I appreciate it. It'll be nice to start getting some leads on Strike Wolf."
And when you say you're good at hand-to-hand combat, oh, she grins about as broadly as you've seen her grin yet--maybe even more. "Oh yeah? I'm the same! I'm actually really into martial arts so I'm kind of hoping that gives me a bit of a running start on things, you know? But I'll look forward to it sometime." She's actually rubbing her hands together a little for a moment, but then she catches herself and forces them down by her sides. Is it possible she's excited to learn a new fighting style? Perhaps.
To a worrying degree? Well, she does seem to have mostly positive vibes in her excitement, so it's probably fine.
"Yep. Always gotta make sure you and your partner are in sync, right buddy?"
<Affirmative.>
