Session Start: Wed Dec 01 18:33:13 2010 <@Ked> [H-1] <@Ked> I knew I'd do that eventually. ;_; <@Ked> [The Hunt] <@Ked> [Monday, July 5, 2490 - the dorm mezzanine level] <@Ked> It was a long weekend, and there are a significant number of students here looking forward to a good long week of classes. <@Ked> Looks like they're going to have to wait a few more minutes, as everyone's EI notifies them of a brief student assembly downstairs before the normal day starts... <@Ked> [session start] <@Ked> It's probably not a good sign that two of the three RA's are waiting for everyone to arrive, just outside the ice cream store. * Sei rushes down the steps, too full of energy this early in the morning to be patient enough for the elevators. In fact, he's jumping down half a flight at a time and swinging around the railings at the 180-degree turns. He skids to a stop after barreling out the doors, the sight of the RAs wiping the excited grin from his face. * John comes strolling in alone, sunglasses flipped up, and a friendly, if slightly confused, expression up. * Jaimie slows to stand off to one side, brow furrowing in confusion. * Farah strolls. She's in no fucking rush at all. The RAs do little more than make her roll her eyes. * Tasiya comes out of the elevator with a gaggle of other girls, her Bouyer- dataglasses still on, a couple of bobby pins still in her mouth, and an expression on concentration on her face as she puts on the finishing touches for her chosen hairstyle-of-the-day. * Carter is missing, if anyone does a complete count. * Tasiya grabs another couple of pins from her mouth to finish off her hair. Today it's straightened, with a braid artfully skimming the left side of her face, which gathers more and more hair with it until it's practically a side- braid, long enough to just start to skim her curves. * Jason yawns mightily, and looks like he needs some tea. Mmm, I think that proverbial hammers are going to be dropped on people's emotional fingers. Should be fun. * Rachel bounces, perceptibly HAPPY! about something. * Sei doesn't do a complete count, but Carter and the other guys from the, erm, spelunking expedition, as well as Masako, were on the list of those he WAS looking to see if they were there. * Tasiya notices the lack of Carter in her group of friends as she heads over to them, glances at the looks on the RA's faces, and does her best to look totally unconcerned and only a little put out by the inconvenience of the morning meeting. * Jaimie is just waiting patiently to see what's going on. <@Ked> Everyone except Carter and the dour third RA is in the lobby. <@Ked> The ice cream shop is notably open. Which it usually isn't before lunch. All riiiiiiight! We're all here, and I promise you this won't take long. There's really just two important announcements we need to make. Wait! Two and a half. * Rachel counts on her fingers. "Two and two halves!" * John laughs a little, despite himself. * Jaimie smiles to herself. Isn't that three wholes? Except it's not! * Farah rolls her eyes some more. First of all, we finally have the results of the Student Council elections, which I know you all were expecting late Friday. * Sei 's eyes brighten with enthusiasm that he attempts to keep properly damped...and fails miserably in all but surface ways. The bylaws of the *yawn* council state, though, that everyone must vote before the results of an election are revealed. We finally, after searching all weekend, tracked down that missing voter. And, uuuuh, encouraged her to vote. Just an hour ago. * Farah mutters 'encouraged' and starts to chuckle under her breath. Without further ado, your new student council: President - Alicia Waters. Veep - Masako Ichiyuri. <@Ked> A fair amount of whooping ensues. It's hard to tell for which girl. * Tasiya barely manages to control a wince at the mention of "tracking down" and "encouragement". * Tasiya also claps and cheers with what might as well be genuine enthusiasm. * Sei rocks on his toes, on the edge of his proverbial seat. Can't be literal; he's standing. Sei Murdon came in a very close third place, and is the Frosh *yawwwwwn* Frosh rep. Shizuko Nakamura is the sophomore rep. * Farah smiles, just a touch. * Sei grins, and stifles a cheer. It comes out as a close-mouthed yelp. He does jump and put a fist in the air before getting control of himself, though. * Jaimie claps harder when Sei's name comes up, smile widening. <@Ked> There's general applause - those two classes had no drama. * Tasiya claps and cheers about the same for Sei and Shizuko as well, though there's a brief look of--pride?--when Sei's name is announced. * John doesn't react particularly to any of the names. He seems generally cheerful, though. In the junior class, in another very tight race, is John "Lord Wind" Strong. * John blinks. Twice. O_O * Tasiya claps...politely as John's name is announced. <@Ked> There's a good round of applause for John, but more than a few groans as well. * Jaimie is still clapping, because you clap at this kind of thing. * Tasiya just looks neutral about the whole "John is my class rep now" thing. * Farah has nothing to say there, simply rolling her eyes once more. * Sei claps for the remaining victors, though his grin is probably entirely selfish. * John claps too, once he catches himself. And finally, with the lowest vote total but the largest margin - it's a weird system, don't blame me - is Santiago Desmond. <@Ked> A large, athletic guy with a bewildered look on his face stands up in the back. "How the hell did I win?" * Sei turns at the one name he didn't recognize, and strides over anyway. "Dark horse candidate! They happen, I hear! Congratulations! I look forward to working with you this coming year!" No kidding that's weird, but oh well. <@Ked> The guy shrugs, and grunts "I resign." ... * Sei looks disappointed. Oh, but Mr. Desmond! You can't! Oh. * Tasiya starts clapping like she did for Waters and Masako, then stops mid-clap at Santiago resigns. * Jaimie blinks a little, and waits more. * Sei whirls. "Wha?" You can, of course, be defeated in the semester elections. But welcome to rest of your first term! <@Ked> Santiago looks mad, but shuts up. * Farah chuckles a little bit more "Well, that's one piece of news..." * Sei frowns, and mutters some notes to Hantsuki. Anyway, the second thing on the agenda is somewhat important. We had to add to the school rules over the weekend. Much to my surprise, the powers that be have declared that you may possess firearms on campus. I know this is a little appalling- * Jaimie 's eyes go wide. "What?" That is odd. I know I was appalled! * Farah whistles. * Tasiya quirks her eyebrows and joins in the spurt of mumbling that bursts out in the student body, gesturing a little as she comments with her friends. * Jaimie waits, less patiently now, to hear why. I guess it makes a little sense, with magical weaponry around. Can't exclude individuals. ... maybe. * Sei nods firmly. "Good." -but there are some caveats. They must be stored in the campus armory. You may check them out at will, but you must carry them at all times - not even putting them down to eat, and you can't sleep with them. And you absolutely must have your EI with you at all times. No exceptions. * Sei raises his hand. * Tasiya makes a sweeping gesture that may or may not translate to/accompany a phrase such as "GIANT freaking Blaine!!" Student Councilman SEI! *points* Wasn't the EI thing already a rule? Not exactly. Not to the same level of strictness. But we want you to carry them all the time, yes. * John raises a hand, after Sei's done. Okay. * Farah idly picks at her fingernails. So far, she is massively underwhelmed by this meeting. Windy? * John stands up, and nods. "This is me as Lord Wind talking, not as the new rep. If you're carrying, and some weird magic stuff happens, I would appreciate it if you don't get trigger happy unless it's self defense. Let us Snowflakes deal with it, please." I'm saying this because whatever it is, guns probably won't be enough, and I don't want any of you attracting hostile attention you shouldn't be. That's all. * Jaimie mutters under her breath, "Amen." Running away is often a good plan, yes. And you shouldn't think you'll get "lucky" and have it with you. Also, infractions of these rules will be dealt with by Lady Spoon, not us. * John waits to see if there's any comments. * Sei says "good" before thinking about it to Jason's last comment. * Tasiya flicks her eyes up in a brief roll, and snerks a bit at a quietly- muttered comment from one of her friends. That was fast! Then there's just the two halves. The first is a reminder! There are four weeks until the talent show. We need! Your proposals! Next Monday. * John sits back down. Talent show... ngh. * Jaimie bites her lip a little at the mention of the talent show. <@Ked> Farah isn't the only one unhappy at that deadline. * Tasiya exchanges shoulder-bumps with a couple of people, at that one. Aaaaand finally. The late voter was dear, sweet Carter Deegan, who led us on a merry chase all weekend! * Tasiya winces for real this time and switches her exchange to worried glances with her friends. * Sei listens carefully. * Jaimie winces a little, too. We don't like it when you do that. * Farah smirks, just a tad. No! So we have resorted to some mild corporal punishment! Sayori? ... Whoa, hey, *what*? * Farah pauses. "... wait, *corporal*?" * Carter comes stumbling out of the ice cream parlor as if booted in the rear end. She's in her underwear, and bedecked with about a dozen cold-but-sticky balls of ice cream. * Jaimie looks horrified. * Sei blushes, but also looks rather upset. Even if he's trying hard not to stare. * Farah has to fight the urge to snicker uncontrollably, and just *barely* reins herself in. She masks this by looking away. * Carter is shivering, and a mess, but grinning crazily. She waves and sprints towards the elevator, leaving sticky footprints behind. * Tasiya pales and starts talking and gesticulating heatedly with her group of friends. Brave girl, there. * Sei types off a message to Carter, asking her if she's okay. He figures she'll get her EI shortly and answer in her own time. <@Ked> There's a little gasping, and a little laughing, but mostly the crowd radiates silent anger. Don't! Mess with us. * Rachel turns and walks into the ice cream parlor. That's all. Go to class. * Jason joins her. * Jaimie turns on her heel and walks out. It might almost be possible to see the anger radiating off her like heat waves. * Tasiya and her friends break off and start towards their respective classes, still talking and gesturing sullenly, with the occasional cautious/furious glance behind them in the direction the RAs went. * Farah gets up, lets out a snicker, then moves along, the amusement fading fast. * Sei moves towards the other Student Council winners. "We need to talk after class today." <@Ked> The couple he is able to round up propose tomorrow afternoon, but agree about the need. * Sei nods, and sends EI messages to the others. <@Ked> The school day itself rolls by fast - Carter shows up halfway through her first class looking freshly showered, but refuses to talk about her morning. Otherwise everything rolls right along the rails of normality... even the late- afternoon train to the far Zone which all the Snowflakes board for the scheduled conference on the magic monkey. Well. Time to face the proverbial magic monkey. Wonder if it's alive still. * LadyCrystal pauses. "... wait, I don't think there are any proverbs about magic monkeys. Well, monkey's paws, and Sun Wukong, and Hanuman and..." I think we would have heard if it didn't make it. I'm wondering if it's friendlier. * LadySwarm is looking out the window, as usual, though she seems more thoughtful than usual. She glances aside at Crystal. "As long as they could keep it contained, I'm sure it is." * LadySpitterwing doesn't seem to be on the train with everyone. <@Ked> The train rolls out of the station, tooting an electronic playback of the traditional steam whistle. * LordWind doesn't seem concerned that Spitterwing hasn't shown up. Though he has cast a searching glance in an off direction every now and then. * LadySwarm sighs and turns away from the window. "I hope they could learn something useful from it. Though they haven't had much time..." * LordCharybdis has been surreptitiously splashing various likely-looking shadows to see if any get wet in a Spitterwing shape, but he doesn't expect to find her, really. I hope it's okay... Poor thing. Wouldn't be surprised if they have something worked out already, or at least a little more info on the mojo sitting inside it. Well, they're super experienced at this kind of thing, I'd think they'd be able to find *something* about it. * LadySwarm shakes her head. "Me neither. But still...how experienced can they be? They've never gotten ahold of one before." * LadySpitterwing unblends slowly as she says that, and reveals herself to be sitting in the row behind Jaimie, arms folded across her legs, looking pensive, with some traces of this morning's sullen look still lingering. * LadySwarm looks around behind her. "Hi, Tasi." * LordWind nods at Spitterwing, as she makes her appearance. Hey. ...how's Carter doing? * LordCharybdis was about to say "hi," but it'd been said. She put up a strong front. I don't know her well enough to know how she's actually taking it. Yo. Aw, c'mon, corners up. You look so miserable when you're not smiling. * LadySpitterwing wrinkles her brow a bit in a flash-frown, almost too quickly to be seen, and pointedly ignores the question. * LordCharybdis looks down and away. "Sorry." Oh, congratulations on the win, Sei. ....you too, John. Thanks! ...maybe we can do something about the RAs. *frowns again* * LordWind laughs, softly. "I wonder how much of the congratulations I deserve. Even if I had an unfair advantage, though, I'm going to try my best to do it right." Of course you will! You're a good guy, Wind. * LadySpitterwing ...eyetwitches weirdly at Wind's reply, as though a clear third eyelid of some sort flicked over and back. She shrugs. "I dunno, I mean, I didn't expect to say this, but wouldn't you think it'd be better to 'do something' about the RAs as MGs and not as student council members?" <@Ked> The train breezes along quietly. In the fenced-off area between the Q- Zones, there's no need for a drivetone. * LordWind grins a little. "Thank you, Spitterwing. You too, Chary." * LadyCrystal sits back, crossing her legs. She seems to notice her fuku for a moment. "Ugh." No! Not at all! That's a tricky one. We're students, first and foremost, and we have to handle things like students. Yeah, Windy, you'll be fine. Same for you, Charybdis... man, that comes to naturally, it's eerie. I think before the tackle that, though, we need to figure out exactly needs to be done about the RAs. Something, obviously, but what? Now, if the students need magical help, I'm willing...--what comes too naturally? * LadySpitterwing 's uniform is in shades of ochre and purple today, both super dark and super light. "Well, exactly...and students shouldn't be 'in charge' of their RAs." That's why we do it through the Council. It may be a council, but it's still made up of *students*. * LadySwarm nods in agreement. The titles. 'cause that's where the students have a say. We couldn't do anything if they weren't being unconshunble. Unconscienful? Unconscionable. I'm not sure doing it as Snowflakes would be any better, though... Just because the rest of us students elected you guys doesn't mean you're not still students like the rest of us, I mean that's the whole point. Not really. As snowflakes, we'd make the problem worse. Maybe, maybe not But at least there's some kind of vague justification for *that*. Once we figure out what we want to do about them, the proper angle to do it from will present itself. Didn't you hear their spiel about not being afraid of the magical girls in the student body, and how they had latitude precisely because they had to have authority over them? * LadySwarm blinks. "How? It's not like we're in charge of anything." I hate to say it like this, but...you guys do know this particular school wouldn't exist if it weren't for us, right? They would never have needed to hire them as RAs if not for us. If we were MGs in some normal school, yeah, obviously it'd be unfair. Well, *I* didn't change 'til I came here. ...dunno if I never would've, though. Well no, but...that still doesn't mean we're in charge. I think they meant that more as a, we-as-MGs-shouldn't-try-to- break-rules kind of thing. I'm not saying we *are* in charge. 'Cause we're totally not. Yeah, but it's also 'bout 'fluence and stuff, and not letting us think we can get away with changing rules just 'cause we're 'flakes, right? Honestly, though. If something is going to be done about the RAs, it should be done through the council. The RAs haven't done anything to us, specifically, and it would seem odd if the resident Snowflakes pulled rank on them out of the blue. They've wronged the students, more. Right. But we're not changing the rules for *our* benefit. Plus, if we *did* do something about it as MGs, I definitely wouldn't want to make it *open*. And I ask again. What exactly are we going to do? * LadySwarm 's eyes squinch shut. She looks like she's getting a headache following all this around in her head. And the Council is how the students are supposed to govern themselves, and interact as representative authority with the faculty. So if we formally take action against them to get them reigned in, it'll work right. ...well. Hang them from a rooftop? Threaten them, bribe them, give them a stern talking to? Well, we're the nexus of everything. It's all there because of and for us. But I guess at the same time... dunno about the RAs. They're kind of irritating, but if Spoon condones this, you may have to end up having words with her... but true, doing it under the magic would just leave a lot of sour tastes in mouths, and we're still juniors to begin with. Trade them in for new ones? We could just try to get some ground rules set on them. We *are* the students. We just happen to be the only students that can talk to the PEOPLE RUNNING THE SCHOOL about this. * LadySpitterwing rolls her eyes openly at Wind's more over-the-top suggestions. So, yeah, Spoon. Aim higher than the RAs, and I'd like think she'd at least listen to us without actually ratting us out at the same time. I... think. Or... we could openly, as the council, lodge a formal complaint and issue explanations of why their methods are going to cause problems. Yeah, 'cause *that*'ll work. * LordCharybdis grins, lowering his voice. "And then we could talk to people upset with them and return every improper 'punishment' on them as pranks. hundredfold. And then the Council can point out that this is exactly why what they're doing is counterproductive!" Ground rules. Okay. So, no harassing or threatening the students. No hunts. The kids of Snowflake's most influential are in the school, and those RAs just openly humiliated one of them. I'd say they think they're pretty safe from any mundane forms of punishment. No ... shoot, ancient history mentioned this in a government somewhere... "unusual" punishments? No, ah... 'unusual punishment'? I think that's the main one right there. That's really not a smart idea, Sei. That'll just escalate, and you'll never be able to rein people in, after. * LadySwarm nods. "If it's wrong for them to do it to us, it's wrong for us to do it to them." * LadyCrystal shrugs. "Seems simple enough, then, I guess. Unless you're meaning talking to them directly about it under fuku." Ew, NO! Because fuck if I'm doing that. That's a TERRIBLE IDEA. What I figured. *sigh* You're right, Swarm. ...even if they REALLY deserve it for today's stunt. *has apparently been fuming silently about it all day* We should do it though the council, or through Spoon. Get the idea across that it's the students that don't like it, not us. I just think we should drop a word in the ears of the people in charge. I mean it's not like we're doing it to help *ourselves*, here. * LadySwarm nods. Through the Council, TO Spoon. Though...the Ladies seem to do some weird things, with the introduction to Orders... Ugh, that'd take forever. As in, we should lodge a formal complaint as the Council. Hopefully unanimous. Let's just do both. * LadySwarm makes a face in memory. * LordCharybdis blushes dark grey and looks away from the Ladies at the reminder about Orders. You guys on the Council can lodge a complaint, and we'll all mention it when we see the Ladies today, too. * LordWind summons up his EI display, checking the school's code of conduct, to see if there is anything in there about, err, underwear and ice cream punishment. Sounds like a good idea. I mean, OK, she broke the rules, I wouldn't've cared if they'd had her, like, sonic-scrub the toilets or something. But this is like, is like, it's like that "hazing" stuff they used to do. SO not cool. Eh, talking's not my thing, but I guess I'm with. * LadySpitterwing has pretty obviously been *non*-silently fuming about this all day. It wasn't. At all. But... I think Carter handled it right. Exactly right. She took it, she didn't act ashamed...and I don't think she'll let it deter her. The biggest thing is if Carter herself is going to complain or not. If we champion her, directly or indirectly, and she doesn't take the opportunity, then it's not going to work. <@Ked> Unsurprisingly, Lord Wind finds there isn't. However the notes about RA powers are very vague, indicating they are in charge of all things in student life other than MG development and answer only to the Headmistresslady. ...I need to tell Dad about being elected! *grins* Wow, you're *totally* not a girl. Are you crazy? Yeah, Carter's awesome, but it really doesn't matter whether or not she backs it. There is NO. WAY. all the other girls in the school are just gonna shrug and move on about it. I mean, if they could do that to her, they could do that to *any* of us. * LadySwarm clearly agrees with Tasi, though she doesn't say anything. It's not like she even hurt anybody or broke anything! It does matter. 'Hey, Spoon, the RAs went too far with Carter. But Carter doesn't mind. Can you do something?' No, it doesn't. Not terribly fond of being undied in public, no. Well, not when it's not my decision. If you do something wrong, even if the person you did it to doesn't complain, you still did something wrong. The wrongness isn't in question here. It's more how punishable the wrongness is. * LadySpitterwing looks at John like he's an absolute IDIOT. "It's not just about *Carter*, Wind." * LordCharybdis does blush gray again at the mention of underwear, and tries not to picture Carter again. ...or any of the Ladies present that way. His trident has turned back into a fan, and he hides behind it. Punishable? You mean what *you're* going for is to have them punished for it? I think 'wing here wants a llllllot more. I just want them to *not* have the power to do *that* to *anyone* else. Punishment as in limitations of authority. They abused it, they get it taken away. Punishment. * LordCharybdis nods, lowering the fan and snapping it shut. Exactly. And even if Carter doesn't push it, I guarantee you, that doesn't mean all of us in Takeuchi and Bouyer are just gonna be okay with it. Look, I'm not saying Carter is crucial. But having her, the person wronged, make a formal complaint would help a lot. It may work without her, but having her word will help. A formal complaint is good. I'm just proud of her keeping her dignity in the moment. * LadySwarm shakes her head. "It shouldn't matter." <@Ked> The train gracefully slows to a stop, not disturbing the passengers until the doors open. True. Dunno if the RAs would retaliate, though. There is that risk... oh great, ride's done. Every. Single. Student. Here. saw it. I tell you there isn't a lot more her "word" would do for it than that would. And if you're going to chase after her and hound her about that, then I'm glad we agreed to take *two* methods of bringing this up. * LadySwarm springs out of her seat, obviously glad to be arrived. I know she's your friend. I understand you're angry. And I promise that I'll do what I can about the RAs. I'm not going chase her or hound her, I'm simply going to ask if she'd like to file a complaint. If she says no, I'm not going to pressure her like the RA's. * LadySpitterwing rolls her eyes again and spins on her heel to stalk out of the doors. * LordCharybdis winces at Spitterwing's ire as she passes. "There's gotta be a way I can ride these things without getting them soaked..." he mutters, distracting himself as he flows off the train. * LordWind furrows his brows, and shakes his head. * LadySwarm glances at Sei, covertly - or perhaps not-so-covertly - happy at the change of subject. "Only if you left your water behind, I guess." * LadyCrystal moves along lazily. "I don't think you're making the lady happy, Wind. Just sayin'" * LordCharybdis seems equally grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, but then I'm flopping along uselessly." I know I'm not. But she's running a little hot, since it's her personal friend. Not much I can do about that. * Jason is now known as LadyNeko Hm, but you can pick up new water, right? Anyways. We're gonna do what we're gonna do. Let's go see the monkey. * LadySwarm grins. "Or maybe you could just bring a tarp." * LadyNeko steps out of the car behind them, and waves to one of the vehicles standing beside the platform. I *can*, but finding enough's a bit of a hassle. I think I've got more'n a bathtub worth with me right now. Um. Maybe one of those foldable watertight coolers? * LadyCrystal moves to join Neko. "Well, I bet you're a happy camper, ma'am Lady." How's that? Unfold it when you get on the train, stick all your water in it? * LadySpitterwing waves at Lady Neko, and follows Neko's wave to the waiting vehicle. * LordCharybdis flows his column of water and tentacled mass over to the car. "That...might work. I don't know just how much the fan can transform; it might let me stow it somewhere convenient." * LadySwarm spots Lady Neko and starts heading to the transportation with the others. * LordWind nods at Lady Neko. "How's the monkey doing?" * LadyNeko transforms into kitten-mode and does an impressive leap onto Lord Wind's shoulder. Just with the monkey and all. More for your to study, right? * LordWind gives the kitten a little scritch. He can't help it, it's a kitten! ;_; Not the best, I'm afraid. And I'd rather there was nothing to study at all. * LadyNeko doesn't purr, but she rubs into the skritch. Yyyyyeah that's not good to hear. * LordCharybdis edges unconsciously away from the feline. Maybe he just doesn't want to be sniffed intimately again. * LadySpitterwing cocks her head, most of the traces of her anger having smoothed out. "It's doing that poorly?" * LadySwarm 's mouth crimps up at that. "But - as long as there's strange magic around, better to be able to study it?" Driver, the lab. <@Ked> The driver puts his foot down with a "Yes m'lady", and the van zips around the base to the tunnel. Maybe the, uh, turtle can help. * LadySwarm nods. "I thought it wasn't degenerating like the others?" * LordCharybdis blinks as, on cue, the maidens' song starts up again. Within a few moments, with a cry of o/~ Kame-O! o/~ the turtle and Nami and Mizu erupt from his water column. Yeeeesss. Though historically studying hostile magics is a very dangerous game. I'm actually shocked we've not had any breach in this exercise so far. Not in the car! * LadyNeko clambers on top of Wind's head. * LordWind flips up his cape a little to try and shield the kitten from the water spray. What! I didn't! They did! *sarcastically* Pleased to see you, too, squid-boy. *chirp!* *waves a flipper* It's worth a try anyway. * LadySpitterwing half-smiles and nods politely at the cute turtle and the freaky tiny people. <@Ked> The driver isn't getting paid enough for this. You suspect he's glad it's not his own car. * LadySpitterwing grins a little, almost reluctantly, and curls a finger in a return wave to Shimatama. * LadySwarm doesn't appear bothered by the tiny women and the turtle. Maybe it's just because she's used to them. * LadyCrystal chuckles a little at the antics. "Looks like we're in for something, though... anything you can tell us right now, Neko ma'am?" Let's get to the lab first. You were here just yesterday, you know how quick this is. * LadySwarm nods. * LordWind makes a dour face, momentarily. <@Ked> It's a cramped and slightly wet drive down, but as the Lady said it is mercifully short. The procession down the laboratory ramps is less unpleasant, due to some well-engineered drainage slopes. Yeah... bleh. * LordCharybdis does try to keep his water to himself. * LadyAcne is waiting for them on level nine in a small conference room. * LadySpoon is there, but only as a small cartoonish holo avatar. * LadySwarm says politely, "Hello, Lady Acne. Hello, Lady Spoon." * LordWind waves at the Ladies, a neutral, some-what cheery expression worn. "M'Ladies." * LadySpitterwing makes a weird motion somewhere between a wave and a mini- curtsey at both Lady Acne and Spoon's avatar. * LadyCrystal nods to all and sundry, looking about for any idea on what could be discussed. * LadyAcne bows slightly. * LordCharybdis offers a formal half-bow. "Ladies." It still looks kind of weird coming from a squid-boy floating in a column of water, especially since his tentacles keep writhing to hold him in place. Lords, Ladies, this is the 1800 local Hierarchy status conference on live silverdart infestation subject #002. * LordCharybdis 's companions bow, too. Shimatama over one fin, despite his shell's unbending nature, and the twin minigirls in very formalized style. I like it when she gets all formal. ...2? Technically the one peep we got back to the lab was alive. Though it was not infested at that time. Oh. * LadySwarm winces a little in memory. Mmmmn. The subject has not awakened, despite our discontinuing sedative medications eighteen hours ago. Its magic signal has faded in each successive reading. Biological higher brain function has ceased, though autonomic processes continue. * LadySpitterwing makes a face. Brain dead, then. * LadySwarm takes a little while to figure out what this means in normal language. Cellular degeneration? Maybe the magic left when it figured out it couldn't do anything? Yes, but still only to a minimal extent. I don't think that's it. When the magic left the peepmice cluster... .. it left all at once. It didn't fade out. Well, yeah. But we hadn't imprisoned them, we'd beaten them up. The magic is actually still there. It's reading like a badly injured Lady would. Hm. Do you think the sedative might have something to do with that? I'm not really sure on how chemical reactions and magic interact all the time. * LordCharybdis is interrupted from some meaningless sentimentality by the Otome twins hopping over to it. "Aw, the poor thing..." "Do you think we could help, Nami?" "We should ask if they want us to try, Mizu." <@Ked> (There's a display of it - the actual monkey is a room over.) (Then they probably hopped to the display for a better look) No... at least it doesn't match anything recorded of a drug's effect on magics. We don't think it's a threat any more? Huh. Maybe it's 'cause the monkey's system is stronger than a peepmouse's, then? I'm not going to have to head back to the school and Spoon it? That's my big concern. Wait, ba-- I don't think it's going to go berserk and get too far from here, with all of us assembled. I project the magic will fade and the subject will die in fifteen to thirty hours, depending on progression. * LadySpitterwing stops herself before she gets too up in her Headmistress' business. If it's nonlinear, it could be even faster. But, uh, just in case. Any bananas around? But yes. This is far, far slower than the peepmice, and what we projected for the blaine. ...welll.... Why not try to heal it? Peepmice and blaines are native Snowflake species. Maybe that's got something to do with it? Since the monkey's, like, Earth-descended or whatever. You'd think native species would do better with the native magic, though. Well, exactly. Maybe it enters them faster, and leaves them faster as well. That's just so silly, though! Yeah, what Lady Swarm said. * LordWind shrugs. ...what if it really IS like a dying Lady? Aren't you and me natives, Spitterwing? You know, the others were just random magics, this thing Became, like we do, but with Snowflake magic? It's hard to say exactly what native is as far as foreign magic. * LadySpitterwing shudders at Sei's insinuation. * LadySwarm shakes her head. "But the magic exists outside them and then...takes them over and kills them. That doesn't sound like us." With all the firepower you've got on hand, I'd say go for it. Just clear out the lab first. Uh, yeah Wind, but that doesn't have much to do with my point. The monkey, the peepmice and the blaine all seemed to use their powers just fine. * The turtle cheers. It's a cute little squeak. Besides, even if we've lived here for a while, we're still Earth-descended lifeforms, and our magic's Brown like all the other MGs. This is something different. * LadySwarm smiles at the turtle. I wish Turbulence was here - she was talking at some length about compatibility, discussing Reds and the effects their magic could have on Ningyo, among other things. * LordCharybdis scratches a head with his tentacle. *his head with a tentacle ....huh. Well, what if this magic isn't "native" either? It's a sound theory, Spitterwing. I'm afraid there's just not enough to make any predictions yet, though. The earth biome part doesn't seem to matter as much since it did take a monkey. That's what I think, personally. Something just doesn't seem compatible with the, uh, silvers. The monkey is closer to what it's looking for, but it's not the right thing. That the silverdarts magic isn't .... Snowflake magic. ...so what happens if a silverdart grabs a human? That's the real question. Wow, Wind, I like totally thought we could answer this issue in like a day. We're just coming up with hypotheses, here. ... ...I really don't want to know what happens then. If it ... grabs a human. That's a line I hope doesn't get crossed. * LordCharybdis coughs at Spitterwing's acidic remark. * LadySwarm looks faintly ill. Right now... guessing wildly? I think would still be unstable. ...what if it grabs a Lady? * LadySwarm blinks. "Can it?" I don't think it can grab a Lady? We've no way of being sure... God, what a thought... Ew. Don't be so morbid, Charybdis! * LadyNeko shakes her head. "If there's one thing that shouldn't happen, that's it." Once you're Earth, you're Earth, from what I know. But maybe that isn't all there is to it. The magic wasn't considerably more powerful than a Lady's, right? ...have we ever seen a Ningyo Become? Or a Red? Or a ... how DO the super-magic Ningyo become that way? Lots of questions. Maybe having the girls do their stuff will give an answer or two. I mean, I know you said I'm not Ningyo-magic, but...what if a human got it? It's not something you should discuss with normals, but Ningyo are all designated and chosen by their Queen. * LordCharybdis nods. The girls smile beatifically. "Let's do this!" they chime in unison. Oh. So we're the only ones who do it randomly? The Reds are born with powers. ...could she turn a human into a magic-Ningyo-Lady? The Ningyo Queen, I mean. The Queen can choose, too. From the time they're kids? You'd think that if the magic were the same, uh, level of power, that it wouldn't be able to grab a Lady any more than a Ningyo or a Red could turn into an actual MG instead of just having their own formulas of powers. But I think our Queen can't empower someone who's already got other magic. ....besides... That's how the Whites kept them down - they controlled all the Red breeding. *shudder* ... * LordCharybdis and the girls all make horrified faces. Shimatama is obliviously cooing at the monkey's image. * LadySwarm shudders, too, then shakes her head. "So...are we going to try to heal the monkey?" ...when our magic gives us Pets, they can talk and stuff, right? I mean, like, they become sentient and whatever. But when this magic enters animals, it doesn't seem to give them the same gifts. That's just degrees. But look. How separate is a Lady from their Pet? Is that within the like standard deviance of what we know about other kinds of magic, then? Or could it be like, we're at the ground floor of watching a brand new kind of magic evolve from the ground up? 'Cause doesn't magic kinda develop in sets of two? Charybdis and Shimatama-sama are quite separate! We really have a better rapport with Shimatama-sama, but he likes the squidboy, for some reason. * LadyAcne calls up holos comparing Lady Swarm's scan from last night to the monkey when it first arrived. The auras are almost matched, with the monkey's fading at the edges. The two worlds we know about, yes. In twos. I'm not sure what the implications are here. ... how does that look compared to, say, Lady Neko's scan? Small sample size. Neko's would actually be brighter - she's older and the magic tends to grow, even if you're not promoted. Well, yeah. But the magics always seem to have at least started, like, against each other. That could just be power struggle stuff, though. It'd be more powerful, but it'd look the same? Like with us and the Ningyo and the--hey, neato! Swarm, izzat you? Uh...yeah. But - how - when did you take that scan? But look, the silverdarts are manifesting in the same magnitude as a young Lady, so they're scaled like all the other Magics we know. And if one tried to bond to an avatar, the present magic would at least be able to fight it to a draw, if not win on the basis of home turf. Is that from her swarm form or human form? That's just as she started last night. * LadySpitterwing nods after hearing Acne's point. "Yeah, exactly, that makes sense." * LadySpitterwing blinks a little. You're a good looking blob of light, Swarm. * LadySwarm looks really relieved. * LadySwarm smiles a little self-consciously. "Uh, thanks." * LordWind kneels down so he's not towering over the miniature girls. "Let's point the esteemed turtle at the real thing, shall we?" * LadyAcne taps orders out to her EI. Give the staff time to get away first. Absolutely. Wow, did you take scans of all of us? What do I look like? * LadySwarm glances sideways at Sei, looking...uncomfortable. "No. Just me. We were testing some of my magic, last night." I don't think that Turbulence has put you in the chamber, has she? Right. The who-wha...oh, testing your magic? Like how? Oh. Some of the details of her swarm form. Ooooh. Yes, and that was incredibly creepy of you to suggest it to her, Wind. Um...yeah. How far I can spread it, if I can split it up, and - what? Nevermind. I think it was a good idea. I'm still not over it myself, M'Lady. I mean, not that it was fun, or anything... ...? You weren't hurt or anything...? * LordCharybdis looks suspiciously at Wind. "WHAT did you suggest to her?" * LadySwarm is not meeting Sei's eyes. "Not...permanently." * LadySpitterwing just looks confused and the eensiest bit sketched out, now. * LadyAcne transfers Spoon to the next room over, then leads the procession. * LordCharybdis looks sympathetically at Swarm. "...I'm glad you're okay, then..." * LordCharybdis follows, and the twins ride on Shimatama's back as the turtle glides surprisingly rapidly through the air to keep pace with Neko. Not my place to say, nor is now the time. * LadySpitterwing leaves Swarm to it, since she doesn't want to pry, and follows Acne. * LadySwarm smiles a little at Sei, reassured that someone else isn't going to freak out at her. "I'm fine." Monkey. <@Ked> The monkey is shimmering oddly in the dim lights, and smells faintly of feces. It looks very sick, breathing with terrible difficulty. * LadySwarm pulls back a little from the sight, looking unhappy. * LordWind focuses his senses on it, all six of them, then pulls back to just the sixth. * LordCharybdis follows, a bit subdued, but the Otome twins ride their Turtle- sama right up to it, and hop down on the table to flank it. They make it look like a gorilla in comparison. "Poor thing." "Let us know when you want us to start, Lady Neko." * LadySpitterwing wrinkles her nose just a tiny bit, then flattens it out in a surprisingly good expression of scientific neutrality. <@Ked> It is not so much strapped down as clamped in place - you're not sure how they could have engineered such a perfect set of monkey restraints so quickly. Medical apparatus is strewn all around it, monitoring every possible aspect of its existence. A bowl overhead is suspended by a small crane, ready to set up an MRI chamber. * LordWind looks at it, and then the entrance, then shakes his head. He backs up to give the working ... girls... some space. I'm curious. Does it have flake flu? * LadySwarm is staying back well out of the way. Or are monkeys immune? Monkeys are not immune - that's why we used them, and still keep a stock. But this one has no microbial disease. * LordWind nods. You shouldn't have snuck them into the colony, Acne. And now we have an unknown colony somewhere we need to suppress, dammit! Well, Carter said they were in some labs under the school. So...maybe they won't be that hard to find. * LadyAcne moves back out of the way to let the critters in. * LadySpitterwing blinks hard at Swarm in shock. "She t--said that?" Um, under the school? ...oh, the abandoned lab. That makes sense, though it was sloppy, Acne, real sloppy and you know what we'll have to do. Um, WHAT will you have to do? The way it probably smells like by now, it'll need it. * LordCharybdis wrinkles his nose in memory. * LordWind makes a confused face. Full sterilization. Big expense, big waste of time, and I'll end up having to supervise. * LadySwarm glances over at Spitterwing, a little surprised. "Yeah, after it popped up in the soccer field." It did! And I coulda sworn someone said something about it then... well, sorry. Ewwww. * LordCharybdis coughs and hastily interrupts, "You don't mean to kill the monkeys, do you?" Hey, that's not another word for "explode" or something, right? * LadySwarm blinks. "I don't think they could explode something that was *under* the school..." Dammit, they're an unauthorized Earth biology. The projections show they'd breed out of control. I think they mean relocate the monkeys and clean it up. Just checking. If they were made pets or mascots of the school, their breeding could be controlled... Because it'd be a waste to go and exterminate something the good Lady here worked so hard to bring in. No. * LadyAcne sighs. "We mean we'll go in with chlorine gas first, then if the mess is too bad follow on with flamethrowers. No monkey pets. ... * LordWind sighs. That's right. No monkey pets. * LordCharybdis bites his lip, but doesn't say anything more about it for the moment. Just like we didn't bring turkeys, rabbits, or panda bears. ...though I regret the pandas. ...look, this is an old policy debate. You broke the rules! Can we just try this healing thing? * TheOtomeTwins nod, and stand to either side of the little monkey, and raise their hands in front of them, palms out. A glow streams from their body to envelop the sickly creature, though it somehow doesn't manage to obscure it in any way as their powerful healing magic takes hold. Shimatama floats overhead, watching with regal curiosity. Um. If I may suggest something. Talk about it over a desk, not argue in front of us? *he's got an awkward smile, like he's hoping this won't turn on him* Hmph. * LordCharybdis watches over the top of his unfolded iron-ribbed fan, the purple circle with the earth animal below facing out. * LadySpitterwing tunes out the Lady-argument once the Otome twins get started working, instead watching intently. <@Ked> The magic takes hold, and the monkey's vital signs spike, looking better for a few seconds, then wobbling all over the place. We've got brain funct- no we don't. ...whoooaaaa! * TheOtomeTwins frown as one, and each gesture with one hand, mirroring the other, as if trying to direct their magic to counteract the instability. come on.... * LordWind focuses his magic sense on the monkey and the healing magic pouring in. * TheOtomeTwins start to sway a bit as the same sort of music that heralds Shimatama's arrival starts to play softly. * LadySwarm watches, looking unusually focused. * Monkey sits halfway up, somehow passing right through the head restraints, and squeaks - it's not the laughing cry you remember, or anything that sounds natural at all - it's more reminiscent of fast electronic music you would dance to if it had a beat. That doesn't sound good. *wincing* You can do it, girls... I think the magics are clashing! That doesn't sound good. Stop it! Back it off! * LadySpitterwing shudders and backs up just a bit. * TheOtomeTwins take a deep breath, and back away, pulling back on their magic as well...but slowly, feeling for the poor thing's life. * Monkey throws its head back, twists to face south, and looks like it screams in that direction and perhaps slightly downwards... but this time there's no sound at all. After a second there's a visual effect like a hemisphere of silver light which jangles all of your magic senses... and then it totally collapses. It's... about in the same condition it started in. * LadySwarm jerks back instinctively, then leans forward again. * LordCharybdis flinches and lifts the fan over his face, then lowers it slowly. Is it...still magic? Or was that the silverdart leaving? Should they try again, if the magic's gone? * Monkey still gives off that slick, tricky sense of Silver magic. * LadySpitterwing backs up so fast she bounces off the wall a little, clutching her arms tightly. Doesn't feel like it... but something happened there I don't understand, and I'm not in the mood to tempt fate again. * LordWind calms himself, then say, softly, "If we're doing that again, we're doing it slow. Trickle feed, not a flood." * TheOtomeTwins look disappointed. "That's the first time it's failed like that. Shimatama-sama must be displeased with us." * LordCharybdis 's flying turtle Pet is actually floating over near the wall or floor in the direction the monkey screamed, looking curiously at wherever it called out. * TheOtomeTwins look to Shimatama when he chirps at them. Mizu nods her understanding, and explains, "Shimatama-sama says that was a communication of some sort." Was it just panicking? Or was it calling for help... Uh-oh. That doesn't sound good. From the monkey, from the magic, or from the dart? Can't be from the monkey, it would've just screamed. * TheOtomeTwins listen to more chirping, and Nami says, "Shimatama wishes to point out that this means that way is the direction to something with which it wanted to communicate." That means it's the magic or the dart, then. That was mostly the magic, somehow. The monkey had no brain function at that point, though it could have lost a few sensors when it pulled that escape trick... Well, yes, but...oh, dear. ... if it's the magic, and not the dart, then for the capability to send a message... Would the South Pole be in that direction, since Snowflake's a ball? I mean, STRAIGHT that way? Maybe we should go looking? Or...will it be coming here? ...no. I think that would come out somewhere in the seas to the south of us. I can actually give you a position within about ten kilometers from the recordings and some geometry. ...I can go there! * LadySwarm says in a voice of horror, "Not on your own!" Not alone, you don't. Who knows what's there? I've always gotten a bit of a ... slimy, cold feel from them. The open ocean would be a good place for Shimatama-sama's true majesty. The rest of you could relax on his island back while we travel. I was hunching a well or an underground cave or something. That fits. * LadyAcne can't help but chuckle at the girls. * LadySpoon sighs. "This'll keep Her Grace up late again tonight." <@Ked> [end session] * LadySpitterwing does the weird eyetwitch thing again at the twins' offer. It's like some kind of membrane is involved or something?