Chevaleresse

I'm trying to think of how to get action going with that group. Keeping in mind that Takeshi's basically on patrol right now, and he's just having you tag along while your energy comes back.

Gavriil Kouta quickly made his way to an elevator. Fortunately, this building wasn't nearly as secure as the others, so they met little resistance on the way to the roof, though they had to find a set of stairs to actually get up there. Nagi "Given the absolute choice between the two? I would destroy the beast. Not through any hatred for them, unnatural though they may be, but because that one saved life might mean more lost to the creature's depredations. If it were possible to track it down and end it before it could kill again, I would save the life - after all, that is the true purpose of the Protectors." Noriko shook her head. "I don't know the circumstances behind why you left us, but I assume this question has to do with them. Before you assume that our ideologies are incompatible, I would like to press the fact that my decision is simply the one I believe leads to the greatest good." God knows I've had to make enough of those already.

I'll think of something. Though, Protectors live on the other side of town.

For a moment, Hiroki was tempted to throw a bag at the obnoxious girl - Ringo? - or at least send it in her general direction with some sort of organized drop. She wasn't sure if she could muster an actual throw with this amount of weight... whatever. Other girls started speaking, so she contented herself with an angry glare in her direction. She probably looked rather comical underneath the weight of her bags, but that didn't really cross her mind. Following Kagari's lead, she began to introduce herself. "I-I'm Yukimura Hiroki. I, uh, like to play guitars and stuff. And I'm pretty good at it." With every word she cursed at herself mentally. Ugh, what was that? Stammering and crap, I probably look like an idiot. She blushed slightly at her own awkwardness. "You can just call me Hiroki, though, since we're going to get to know each other pretty well anyway."

Alleyway Noriko noted the flare. She made a quick set of gestures at Kouta, who waved at Gavriil to follow him before walking towards the building the flare had come from. "That man either is poorly informed or has a death wish. He is technically correct; leadership ability does not come from strength. It comes from experience. However, in this world especially, strength is directly proportional to experience. Regardless, if he places himself in my path then I will remove him from it and feel no remorse." She let the ruthless statement hang in the air for a moment. "Under normal circumstances I would have a number of questions about your status as a Deviant, but that description doesn't apply here." The tension in the air seemed to change, if it didn't lessen. The blue-haired girl sighed as she began to address Nagi's statements. "You hit the nail on the head, there. I've done my best to keep my Protectors out of disputes, but I can't control them entirely, and that goes double for loners that line up with us more than Preservers." Her brow furrowed in thought again. "Though, perhaps the fact that you are not a Protector any more works to our advantage. You can operate in Preserver territory without sparking tensions. Well, at least between us and them. It would put you at great personal risk. By the way, you may call me Noriko." She added this last as an afterthought, a response to the other woman's implied question. Peacekeeper HQ The residence of the Peacekeepers was in significantly better condition than either the Preserver or Protector hideouts. This came from the fact that it was not an abandoned or unused warehouse of any sort; the building was actually owned by a Mediator posing as a wealthy businessman. It was listed as a small corporate office, but it had a large underground complex for the exclusive use of the magical police force that was the Peacekeepers. The interior was decorated in a minimalistic, streamlined fashion, and it was well-lit without being harsh. Wood paneling was what most of the walls consisted of, though thick steel-reinforced concrete contained rooms used for training. A man who appeared to be an employee stopped Faust a short distance into the building, though. "Do you have an appointment?" he asked. ((As a Peacekeeper, you should know that you simply need to partially or completely transform for a moment to prove your identity, since you haven't been to the HQ in this town.))

252 Atk Terrakion Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 204-240 (54.5 - 64.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 0 Atk Cubone Bone Rush (5 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Porygon2 on a critical hit: 270-330 (86.8 - 106.1%) -- approx. 6.3% chance to OHKO Just to give you an idea. This accounts for the Steel typing.

Where is Faust going, by the way? I figured he would seek out the other Peacekeepers at some point.

Takeshi's group "We're trying to avoid the other groups around here, yeah. The Protectors are across town, so generally you don't have to worry about that. Noriko isn't the 'war-party' type. Haruto is batshit crazy, though. He'll let one of those things rampage all over town if they can't knock it out fast enough to haul it to. . . wherever they put the things. Cops, too." He looked back at Krys. "Cops don't like me - and magical people in general, but particularly me - for a few reasons. The big one is that we're pretty much squatters. It's not like I can afford that building, it's just that no one's used it in years so I set up camp without anyone caring. The second one is that I look like a criminal. They assume I'm up to no good." His expression changed for a moment, going to something between a guilty and an amused expression. "They might be right, too. I don't get paid to do this." Krys's question made him think for a moment. "You know, I'm not really sure how that all works. Part of it is just that we try to avoid being noticed." "I can answer that," another familiar voice rang out from behind them. Astros padded up to the group, looking freshly groomed. "We Mediators work behind the scenes to ensure that word does not spread. It is not nearly as much effort as you may expect, however; you humans are quite adept at fooling yourselves without any help from us. To more directly answer the question; yes, humans can see you and the beasts you fight. However, seeing is not necessarily believing, and there is much work done to ensure that the transition is never made." Alleyway Kouta took a couple steps toward Gavriil and spoke in a low tone. He still seemed nervous around the large Russian, but the situation appeared to have distracted him from this. "I th-think those are Loners. They're not P-Protectors, and Preservers wouldn't have tried to kill the monster. The weird thing is that it ran away; I don't think I've seen one do that before. . ." Noriko's expression, as usual, did not change, but the edge seemed to have left her tone somewhat as she replied to Nagi. "I don't believe it would have done that simply to reach a better food source. That creature was incredibly fast, and it moved much further away than your theory would indicate. Additionally, magi radiate large amounts of emotional energy in the first place. As for your final idea, it is unlikely." She paused for a moment, brow furrowing ever so slightly as her head inclined slightly. "However, that's also the only explanation we have at this time, despite how disturbing that idea is. I have heard of this, and I have reliable reports of it, but it is a difficult thing to bend the will of even a weak beast." Her head abruptly snapped back upward, and she eyed Nagi with an analytical look. "I don't suppose you would be willing to assist the Protectors? We could use someone like you." Kouta seemed somewhat surprised by this last, but said nothing in response.

Alleyway "Watch yourself. I have no issues with turning you into an unpleasant memory if you get in my way." Noriko's tone took on a noticeable edge. Perhaps it was best not to press her. "This isn't an area we can operate in freely, and that beast wasn't normal. Pull your head out of wherever you've lodged it and think about it for a moment. Magical beasts don't have survival instincts, so why did that one run away?" Despite her first hostile statement, she also released her transformation, revealing her normal teenaged self. She made a cutting gesture in the direction of Kouta and Gavriil, and Kouta followed with his own reversion.

I should probably point out that administrative ability isn't the only reason the faction leaders got where they are.

Hiroki hurried inside the elevator, grateful for the other girl's interference. For a couple moments, she sort of just stood there awkwardly trying to shift her burdens to a more comfortable position without making it obvious that she was having trouble. Then, someone she recognized started to speak. As she made her statements, Hiroki gave her a flat and thoroughly annoyed look before replying to her. "Do I- we- look stupid to you? Being obnoxious doesn't mean that you get your own room."

As Chapter 1 has started, I'll be closing this thread.

Moe is basically cute things.

oops i thought vixen said that instead of nagi for some reason

Alleyway Noriko's eyes flicked back toward Gavriil, noting his transformation. Noriko let the spear lodged in front of Bark disappear, then re-materialized it in her hand. She let the other three surrounding her in various protective positions fall into place behind her, floating a few inches off the ground as Noriko herself lowered herself to it. Nagi's comment drew another sharp glance in her direction, but her attention remained focused on Bark. "Creatures like that cannot be allowed to exist. I take it you've had run-ins with the Preservers, then?" Her tone stayed even through the subject change, not betraying any of her feelings. Kouta simply stood where he was, with a determined-looking cast to his features.

*slowly dies inside*

we work quickly around here *points at Ymora RP*

I know what moe means >.>

not sure if my reaction should be "lol" or "oh god what have i created"

8/10 he's cute

Hiroki was slightly out of breath. She had insisted on carrying all of her things herself, resulting in two bulging bags and a backpack in a similar state weighing the smaller-than-average girl down. In hindsight, I probably should have gone with the rolling suitcase. . . but these looked so nice. Oof. She had to set one of the bags down to receive the lanyard, which she draped around her neck as quickly as possible. This place really is huge. She eyed the elevator panel, scanning it quickly to locate the button that lead up to floor 63, and walked up to it. This prompted the realization that she had no free hands to manipulate any of the controls or swipe her card. Without saying anything, she shuffled away from it rather awkwardly, though the look in her eyes dared anyone to comment - not that she really knew HOW she would defend the action, just that she would.