[02:02] Maria Malibu says, "..."
[02:03] Maria Malibu stands next to Charlotte...stoicly.
(Maria Malibu)


[02:03] Yuki Akatsuki says, "Hello, Maria."
[02:04] Falke Bargiel says, "But I've realized what you say, is what I mean."
[02:06] Falke Bargiel stifles a cough with her sleeve.
(Falke Bargiel)


[02:06] Maria Malibu waves.
(Maria Malibu)


[02:06] A simple nod, a knowing one. It's paired with a forced, sharp breath. She got that one alot. Perhaps she was tired of it. Or perhaps content.

She speaks in the same soft, distant tone regardless, "I see. Perhaps I should visit it, when time permits. I tend to spend most of it keeping the church presentable, along with my other duties."
(Briar Ainsworth)


[02:06] Maria Malibu buzzes, "...Yuki! You are clear!"
[02:06] Maria Malibu thinks, "Transparent, I mean."
[02:06] Maria Malibu thinks, "...I can do that too."
[02:06] Yuki Akatsuki says, "Impressive."
[02:06] Maria Malibu thinks, "Thank you."
[02:06] Maria Malibu thinks, "We are twins now."
[02:06] Yuki Akatsuki asks, "How has your telepathy practice come along?"
[02:08] Maria Malibu thinks, "...It's goin..."
[02:08] Maria Malibu thinks, "I have not found many people to teach me."
[02:08] Maria Malibu thinks, "Kateto, yes. But I haven't felt like asking them yet. They...already do alot for me."
[02:09] Yuki Akatsuki says, "I see. Should you find me unoccupied, I'd be willing to teach you further."
[02:09] "Not too pleased at that comparison?" Kastore arches a brow.
(Kastore)


[02:10] Maria Malibu says, "..."
[02:10] Maria Malibu thinks, "You seem unoccupied."
[02:10] Maria Malibu says cheekily.
(Maria Malibu)


[02:10] Yuki Akatsuki says, "True. But soon I will retire to look after my children."
[02:10] Maria Malibu buzzes, "Do that buzzy thing again!"
[02:10] Maria Malibu says, "Aww..."
[02:10] Yuki Akatsuki asks, "Mm?"
[02:10] Maria Malibu thinks, "I understand."
[02:11] Yuki Akatsuki says, "I can offer it, yes."
[02:11] Maria Malibu ponders, "Do it again real quick?"
[02:11] Maria Malibu thinks, "I have an...idea."
[02:11] Yuki Akatsuki says, "A temporary strengthening of her circuits."
[02:11] Yuki Akatsuki says, "Of course."
[02:11] Maria Malibu buzzes, "Mhm!"
[02:11] Maria Malibu nods!
(Maria Malibu)


[02:12] A light shake of the head is her initial response. She looks towards Kastore with a tilt to follow it. She remained steady and poised in all other aspects.

"Perhaps. Imagine having to explain yourself the same way every single time its brought up? It becomes bothersome, doesn't it?"
(Briar Ainsworth)


[02:17] Maria Malibu waits for Yuki to do that thing she did with her to speak to Charlotte last time.
(Maria Malibu)


[02:17] Maria Malibu ...i think it was charlotte
(Maria Malibu)


[02:17] Shiri Shi Shigenobu offered a thumbs up.
(Shiri Shi Shigenobu)


[02:18] "Hah. Have to return home but fingers-crossed," he moves his middle finger over his index, "it doesn't happen again. Take care, Briar," the adolescent concludes.
(Kastore)


[02:18] Charlotte O. Nightwalker knew it was her from last time.
(Charlotte O. Nightwalker)


[02:19] Briar Ainsworth says, "Very well. Safe travels, Kastore."
[02:20] A small clawed hand extends from the veil of ghostly fire. Fingers that curl to form a vicious cage around a spark of blackened lightning. Arcs of it jump from claw to claw, before it erupts into a small pillar of unlight.

"[A temporary boon, I grant you. The loosing of shackles, fetters of your flesh and circuits. Authority over your own latent power. Freedom to pursue yourself, your Truth. In this we honor Creation, and the Nothing beyond.]"
A telepathic message weaves into Maria's circuits. Laced into synapses and thought processes, as if it were always there. Yet, never there in the first place. A strange feeling of deja vu. Energy fuels her circuits there after, forcing them to open as the Psi-Flame of the Irradiant of Unlight is cast over her. It burns away inhibition and blockages to thought. A small mote of Understanding to grant her the ability to speak without speaking.

Perhaps in time, there will be no need for this. Perhaps.

"It is done."
(Yuki Akatsuki)


[02:20] Kastore says, "That almost went poorly. Sir was right, the roads are dangerous."
[02:20] Gwyndolyn P. Kasca says, "Hnn?.."
[02:21] Falke Bargiel rights herself, pushing a sigh.
(Falke Bargiel)


[02:21] Kastore mentions to Gwyn on his way past but at her confusion he stops. "When they had you surrounded."
(Kastore)


[02:23] Gwyndolyn's lips curl into a lazy smile. Today, she is most content to sit on the bench. It is hard to say she is unaffected by the recent events, however; a tension remains, like a coil prepared to spring at any point in time.

"I have chosen to not relent and to not forget them their sins. They take issue with it, and ascribe to me more than what I am responsible for." Shoulders shrug. "I was never in any danger of an ambush."

"I could have escaped as easy as breathing."
(Gwyndolyn P. Kasca)


[02:25] "Almost want to ask how but I have to get back to my studies. Take care, Gwyn," he says farewell and departs then, without waiting a reply. What a selfish boy.
(Kastore)


[02:25] "!!!"

The 'buzzy' thing that Maria had talked so much about is applied once again. A temporary enhancement to the woman's circuits, blessed by Yuki's ghostly fire.

The fire envelops the woman once again. Apparitions of flames extend from a clawed hand, a cage forming over the girl's head to awaken her latent power.

A power deep within.

A simple gesture, but a mere window into her heart.

"!!!"

The loosing of shackles and the fetters of flesh and circuits unraveled. Maria would feel that selfsame tingle rapidly course through her body. Her mind is awakened. Moreso this time, that she was sober. And not wasted from a few two shots of whiskey.

A rarity.

She feels it course through her frame, an authority to the power within. More prominently, a connection. She felt herself further attached to the Lifestream. While she could open portals, it was only when she was at her best that she could siphon the power to do so. Such as with times like this...

A freedom to pursue one's self.

It was remarkable what one can do when the shackles were broken.

Her synapses fire rapidly. A controlled explosion of thought, weaving firmly into her circuits. Maria feels naught but deja vu, a latent truth escaping her psyche. For once, Maria felt as if she could finally speak. And while the days of her speaking properly were in the far future, for now?

She can express herself. A boon stolen from her from her own truth.

"..."

And with this newfound knowledge, with this opening of circuits and synapses.

She looks at Charlotte, a simple phrase bursting upon the bunny's psyche...

"..."
(Maria Malibu)


[02:25] Maria Malibu says, "..."
[02:25] Maria Malibu buzzes, "HI CHARLOTTE!!!!"
[02:27] Maria Malibu waves!
(Maria Malibu)


[02:28] Charlotte would look at Maria as she obtained the blessing from Yuki once more, tilting her head to the side as she wonders what was going to be said into her mind.

And she hears...nothing, no words, no sounds, no anything, which would cause some confusion to go through her mind.

"Uhh..ya try to say somethin Mari?"

She would ask, raising an eyebrow as the lapine confusedly waved back.
(Charlotte O. Nightwalker)


[02:31] Yuki Akatsuki says, "Touka. I need my drugs."
[02:31] Maria blasts beams of knowledge into Charlotte's psyche. She stares at them, narrowing her view to project her thoughts into her mind...

If one didn't know any better, it almost looked like she was trying to explode her with her mind...

"...U-...uh huh."

She'd seem downtrodden. Could Charlotte still not hear her?

["You can't hear me? But I can hear you. All your thoughts..."] she smiles. It was...hard to tell if she was joking or not.

Still, she'd seem a bit downtrodden that Charlotte could not hear her. At the very least, the awakening of her circuits would allow her to pursue telepathy, and perhaps her endeavors with the Lifestream in a more potent form.
(Maria Malibu)


[02:32] Briar Ainsworth says, "It is time for me to meditate. Good night, all."
[02:33] Touka Akatsuki asks, "O-oh, fiery ones?"
[02:34] Yuki Akatsuki says, "Yes. I think there are some in the Refinery."
[02:34] Charlotte would remain confused for a few moments longer, until the words would soon be put into her mind, causing a minor, but visible face twitch as the words were received.

"Now I can, now I can, I just couldn't hear ya at first Mari, you don't mind me callin you Mari right?"

She would ask, wanting to make sure the nickname was okay before she continued calling her it.

"But yep, loud and clear now, speak away cowgirl."
(Charlotte O. Nightwalker)


[02:34] Touka Akatsuki exclaims, "Mm, Touka will go grab!"
[02:34] Yuki Akatsuki says, "My thanks, sister."
[02:36] Yuki Akatsuki took the first Shinyworks Fire Crack Special (A normal Fire Attunement Potion) in a single go. Spicy.
(Yuki Akatsuki)


[02:38] Yuki Akatsuki rests a small clawed hand on Touka's head, the ghostly fires searing away inhibition as she placed another telepathic message into her sister's mind. Another in a long line of such. A familiar ritual for them both.
(Yuki Akatsuki)


[02:39] "..."

She gasps! The smile on Maria's face was quite like that of a child. Her eyes light up with glee, sparkling ceremoniously.

["Mari?"] She knew Charlotte was simply offering a nickname. Yet the scars of the one actually named Mari that had hurt her were still fervent in her psyche.

Something Charlotte might detect.

["That is the name of the person that tried to kill me. And...I am not her."]

["I am still not her."] the woman echoes. Perhaps the thought of that battle, as many years ago as it was would still haunt her.

The fangs, the teeth, no. That wasn't scary.

It was how similar familiar found those eyes.

["...Anyway! Ria is fine. That's what my siblings call me."] she nods. A much better nickname suited for her, she thought.

["This is so cool! I'm so happy I can talk to you, Charlotte!"] still, she seemed ecstatic. The thought of Mari long gone from her mind.

That was a fight she'd have another day.
(Maria Malibu)


[02:41] Touka spun around, letting psi-fire mix with floating shards around her body in fits of giggles.
(Touka Akatsuki)


[02:44] Charlotte would notice the discomfort quite quickly, the lapine putting her hands up, and her expression gaining a hint of regret to it.

"Ah! I'm so sorry, I just figured it was short for Maria so I thought that would work, my apologies."

Charlotte would say, feeling quite bad about the issue that she had accidentally caused, even if it wasn't her fault.

"I-I'll call ya Ria then, my bad."

She would say, awkwardly scratching the back of her head as her ears flopped down in front of her face.

Though Maria's excitement about being able to talk to her would cause Charlotte to lighten up a bit.

"I'm happy to hear ya Ria, its a nice mind voice to listen to, so I'm glad you're getting comfortable with it."

Charlotte would say with a nod.
(Charlotte O. Nightwalker)


[02:49] ["It's okay..."] Maria suggests. She knew Charlotte had any idea of her turmoil. Or the memories that haunted her looking into that girl's eyes.

Quite literally would she could have become.

She wondered why she didn't turn out like her.

["You didn't know! Don't worry about it, girl."] she taps her shoulder. A soft gesture, knowing that there was no hard feelings.

["...That's actually a reason why i'm joining Nightfall."]

["I want to see her again..."]

Maria pondered, she thought. Of any way she can somehow see that girl again.

To know what made her heart beat, just as much as hers.

["Y-you like my voice!?"] she blushes, placing a hand on her chest. Maria's voice had a bit of an accent too it! One might call it 'western'. Maria was born on an island that was pretty much the pinnacle of a countryside, after all. It was really no wonder she'd carry a twang to her voice.

Just like any cowgirl.

["I reckon my real voice is not like this. But...maybe someday i'll get a real one."] Another nod, and with that! A query for the lapine.

["I wanted to ask, do we...have a headquarters anywhere? I want to mingle with my mercenary friends. I can't be a mercenary without mercenary friends, yes?"]

["I wonder if there are any cute ones..."]
(Maria Malibu)


[02:56] Charlotte would nod, taking a deep breath as she had joined for a similar-ish reason.

"I get it, I get it, I joined for a similar reason, my home when I was itty bitty was broken into by wolves, most of my family nearly died and I haven't seen Olivio since."

She would say, looking off towards the side, a tinge of pain entering her voice as she spoke about the moment.

"So, yeah, I, I get it..though I never got the chance for vengeance, you deserve yours.."

Charlotte would say, though her emotional state would soon, mellow out as she noticed Maria's blushing, and heard her shock.

"Yeah, its a cute voice, a bit rural, but not a bad one."

Charlotte would say with a chuckle as she finished speaking.

"And, you'll eventually get a real one, I believe in ya, though a mental one will have to work for now."

"As for headquarters, we kind of hang out here for the moment, though we do have a headquarters in Prospera, most of us are here or wandering, you'll meet Rayn, someone who uses Red Cosmic Magic, a Plasmatic Occultist in Hail, along with potentially getting to know Yuki and Touka, who are..."

She would say, looking around before shrugging.

"Seemingly asleep."
(Charlotte O. Nightwalker)


[03:04] ["I know what it's like, to lose some you love."]

["...More than anything..."

"..."

Maria's psyche was indeed in turmoil. She wondered what she fought for. She told herself she wanted to protect others, just like her dear brother Levius. To fight for the pursuit of knowledge, like her lovely sibling Lavenza.

And yet, her heart would beat for her own truth.

Her vengeance.

Redemption.

["I know you feel."] her psyche utters. Perhaps Charlotte might. The emotions that echo through your skull when there is nothing you could feel but pain. When your entire body shuts down, knowing you are too useless to prevent all of it.

But alas...

Those thoughts were not what she had wanted today.

She was learning about someone. Getting to know someone. Making a friend. Something she found ever so difficult nowadays.

She clutched her heart as she spoke, smiling softly at the woman's words and gestures.

"Heh...aha..."

["Oh, you flatter me!"]. Her voice was indeed rural. So was her mom's of course. And most of her siblings. The ones that did not turn out like Penelope, at least. Who spoke more like a valley girl...

["I did grow up with momma's accent, I guess..."]

But when it came talk of their company. She'd nod with intrigue. To be allies of Yuki and Touka? To fight alongside someone who was one of her childhood heroes? A dream come true!

["Oh! I see! Well, we're small. But...as long as we get the job done, yeah?"]

["Mm. I don't blame them. It's getting rather late.."] the girl echoes. Her eyes dart toward the blackened sky. Canary scanning the sparklingdots that would litter across.

The sun was just about to come up, it would seem. Rays of light shining just beyond, barely within reach.

["...I'll see you around, Charlotte. Take care."]

["...And...thanks for talking with me."]

"..."
(Maria Malibu)


[03:10] Charltote would quietly nod, allowing Maria to talk about how she felt, at least a little bit, even though their situations were different.

Though upon things lightening up again, Charlotte would smile a bit, suppressing the feelings into the back of her mind where they belonged in her opinion.

"Hahah, I getcha, I getcha, I just sound, odd to some people, cause I grew up around a load of people so I got a load of different influences, I can even fully understand Goblin, though I can't speak it..."

Charlotte would say, only learning what Goblin words meant due to her constant exposure to them.

"Eh, we're kinda small, not a massive company, but a good chunk of pretty solid people nonetheless, though I'm planning on potentially hiring more people."

Charlotte would say with a nod, though when Maria talked about leaving, she would give the Cowgirl a wave.

"You take care as well Ria, be safe out there."

"And chat more soon, you're a delight."
(Charlotte O. Nightwalker)


[03:12] Maria Malibu exclaims, "Mm!"
[03:12] Maria Malibu waves!
(Maria Malibu)

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Pub: 13 Sep 2024 10:27 UTC
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