Start of #lunar-iog2 buffer: Sun Jul 22 23:41:19 2007* Now talking in #lunar-iog2 * Topic is '-= Interlude 45.1 | Location: Hylan Academy, Quad | Pool: 0 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/ =-' ==Lude Start and all that jazz== * Niri hops off the Destiny when they arrive in New Takkar. The party is spreading out to go make a quick last minute trip to buy supplies before they leave the mainland. Niri glances at Saki as she stalks off, then rushes after her, waving to the woman... * Saki has been all but about to disappear around a corner, but the wave catches the corner of her eye. Coming to a halt, she leans back a little around the building to blink at an incoming Niri. * Niri rushes up to join her. "Mind if I come along?" * Saki blinks twice. "... mn," she assents with a nod, "... though I didn't have much in mind." That's okay. I just wanted to talk a little. * Niri falls in next to Saki, hands clasped behind her back. * Saki huffs out a breath and nods, losing a little of her cheer and falling into step. "... mm. I figured." * Niri frowns. "Um...you don't have to talk if it's going to upset you or anything. I just...hmm." * Saki drags a hand back through her hair. She hasn't bothered to do it back up; it looks a little strange after all this time. "... mm, it's alright. I feel... better. Like a pressure valve?" Hmm...I see. *Gives Saki a sidelong glance* Well, I know there's not much point in asking a lot of questions about his morning, so I'll just cut to the chase. ...How can I help? * Saki huffs out, and scratches a temple. "... I really wish I had the answers, but..." A shake of her head and she's glancing around; without seeing anywhere to sit down, she keeps on ambling. "... mm. I'll tell you the original plan, and then what Yuriko told me earlier." * Niri nods. "Okay then. Shoot." * Saki digs her hands into her hair, just behind her head; apparently enjoying the climate. "... the idea was that Rachel needed to siphon off a little of the Prophetess' energy. That's what the gems in the gauntlets did; absorbed it. Then she could use that - especially because it'd be /her/ energy - to split us." ...Oh. And that failed because the gauntlets broke, right? * Saki tilts her head in a vague half-nod. "Mm. ... don't know why." She shrugs lopsidedly. "Maybe they were just worn out." Well then. The gauntlets need to be repaired, or you need to find a new power source. But in the meantime...is there any way to keep Rachel in check? I'm...worried about you. * Saki shakes her head. "... I'm really not sure. It... comes and goes. You've seen me in the ruins." She walks on a few paces, then continues. "... I think it was just everything at once. It's normally not even vaguely that--" she cuts herself off with a wince. Well, one thing I don't understand is....why does Rachel HATE us all so much? Is there any way to help her understand that we want to HELP her? * Saki shakes her head at that, rubbing at her forehead. "It's not-- I mean, I think--" With an aggreived noise, she pushes on. "... she just wants it to end. Wants out of my head. It's been twenty years and our one shot failed. We're... both at a loss right now, only she's more angry and less in check." * Niri frowns. "I wish I could talk to her. Without, you know, setting her off. But...the next time she does go nuts like she did today, I'm worried that you and she are both going to get hurt." * Saki puts her knuckles against her forehead, screwing up her eyes in thought. "... mnh. When I went to see Johnathan, he managed to bring her forwards and she was lucid; I've had... some success sometimes, too. It's not exactly reliable." If we could just find a way to control things so she IS lucid... But as it is, I'm worried about who's going to end up bloody and beaten next time. ...By the way, I'm sorry about the poking thing when you picked me up earlier. I know you were just kidding around. * Saki waves a hand absently, making a faint noise. "Mm. It was a little badly timed; I can't blame the Professor." She digs her hands into her pockets, frowning ahead. "... I'm trying to bring her forward a little. In private? She's... a little calmer, then. Maybe it'll help. I don't really know." She blinks; "... ah, I didn't tell you what Yuriko said." ...He's just a little...on edge himself, I think. *she blinks* Oh? What did she say? * Saki breathes out a long sigh, keeping up the easy gait. "... if I can fix the gauntlets - I've already asked Vytor about that - and find a 'great life energy'... maybe it can be done. ... she's like me, you know." Who? Yuriko? What...do you mean? * Saki fidgets for a moment, and seems to shrink in on herself a little. "... whoever else is in there told Rachel--" she closes her eyes for a moment in rememberance, then recites: "'The cradle of life, oasis, desert, east. Hope springs eternal.'" * Niri thinks about that for a moment. Hmmm. To be honest, it sounds cryptic but I don't think it really is. There's a possible answer for you and Rachel across the ocean, in the deserts to the east. So, there's no reason to despair just yet. * Saki huffs another breath out, rather agitated now. "... I'm getting a little tired of endless runarounds. ... but there's nothing to be done about it, I suppose. All I can do is go." She frowns down at Niri for a moment. "... and ... not to be rude, Professor, but if the Prophetess is still alive, I've another chance there." A wince. "... sorry." ...it's all right. If that's what's happened, you should do what you can with it. ...Hmm. I hadn't thought of it that way. It's.. possible... when I am complete, that I might be a sufficient source as well. * Niri starts at that suggestion. How...would that work? * Saki rakes her hair. "... I'd wondered. I've no idea how much power I'd need, though. ... I'm pretty much having to play this by ear." Mm. Yeah. I have no idea how much it would take either. Um. I...I suppose it's a possibility, but...I don't really like it. It would be better not to risk it until everything's settled, I agree. * Niri shakes her head firmly. "Definitely not. And we have other ideas we can try first." * Saki digs her hands further into her pockets, voice turning a little petulant and sulky. It's mildly bizarre. "... even despite recent developments, I'd rather not end up smacking you around." I'd...rather you didn't, either. Smacking Tanan around wouldn't do you much good, I think, and smacking me around...um. Might get you a faceful of spikes. Hmph. It wouldn't do much good now, no. I'm not strong enough yet. ...We need to get the rest of the armor for that, right? Yes. Whatever it is. * Saki frowns. "... about that. Not to be blunt, but--" She stops almost instantly, blinking at Niri, then clamps her mouth shut and walks onwards at a slightly faster pace. Hmmm. That's another thing I don't understand. Johnathan didn't design all of the armor, just you, right? How did he know about the rest of it? Or did he make it, too? No. It... might not even exist yet. Or it might. I.. didn't expect Lure to... * Tanan trails off ...I'm not exactly just this armor. It's complicated. I'm supposed to.. tie together, bind together, whatever seems appropriate. It's possible we'll find something to this ruin to the east. Ah, I see. *thinks* That's...kind of odd, but I guess whatever works. * Saki mutters from slightly ahead. "--east, east. Piece of armor, elementalor, and a great life energy?" She glances back, making a face. "... must be a busy place." * Niri grins. "I can't wait to see it." I suspect I'm intended to take in your father's sword. Hopefully you won't have a hard time convincing him to give it to you. * Niri blinks * Saki tilts her head a little, watching the conversation. That's...a really good question. I mean, if it's for me, and it's for a good cause, he'd probably say yes, but...it's my dad's SWORD. I've never been allowed to touch it. :P ...Ahem. ^^; Sorry Saki, hope I'm not being rude. * Saki waves a hand, frowning in confusion. "... any information at this point is useful. Just in general." Well. Just remember what I said. I want to help. You'll let me know if there's anything I can do, right? You always look out for the rest of us, so we should return the favor... * Zack is now known as ZackDriving * Saki breathes out openly, hand on her forehead, then attempts a wan smile. "... I will. Believe me when I say I wish I had more information; even what I know now is leaps and bounds ahead of a few months ago." Well... Rachel, if you're listening, we're trying to help Saki. Okay? So...please don't try to kill us. *she pauses* I would so take her out for coffee if I thought it would help. * Saki looks vaguely put upon and instantly deadpans, making a puppet out of her sleeve and miming very badly. "... rar, I am the great Mageguard Rachel, come to accept your hot beverage." * Niri giggles, deciding Saki must be feeling a bit better. Mission accomplished! * Saki shakes her head again, dropping her hand with an amused breath. "... somehow, karma tells me I'll pay for that later." No you won't. Rachel will get separated from you and she won't be crazy anymore, and you two will be the best of friends and will have pajama parties and stuff. * Saki pauses, and very carefully inclines her head just a little in Niri's direction. Her disbelieving look is almost certainly enough for two people. * Niri looks innocent. ;) ...what. ...You never know! It could happen! * Tanan slowly shifts, a small humanoid figure made of crystal rising out of Niri's shoulder. *It holds out a hand, gripping something that looks suspiciously like a yardstick, which it then reaches up to bring down on Niri's head. Hey! * Saki regards this with not a little pity. "... you're never more than a few centimetres away from detention, now." * Niri grumbles, rubbing her head. "You'd better watch it, or I'll...I'll..." * Niri tries to think of what she could possibly do in retaliation ...I'll take you out for a spin on Mikel's new car. * Tanan shifts back, the figure fumbling to hold on to its yardstick as it melts away. It pauses at the mention of the car, then disappears the rest of the way really quickly. * Niri sighs plaintively. "See what I have to put up with, Saki?" * Saki has a ghost of a smirk as she turns to continue pacing through town. "Mm. I've had to babysit you all for weeks." Aha! * Niri points. That looks almost like a smile! Well, close enough. * Saki glances behind her at Niri for a moment, then shakes her head - definitely a smile, and motions forward. "... come on. If we're missing then Ryllan will lose more hair fretting." * Niri snickers. "Yeah, you're right. We only have a quick break anyway before we have to catch the ferry." She hurries along after Saki. ==Lude End!== End of #lunar-iog2 buffer Sun Jul 22 23:41:19 2007