witchoftrinity

[witchoftrinity]

"Hobbies?" The way he approached felt similar to those questionnaires people tried to get others to fill out in malls. Only unlike the intent to get another to buy hundreds of products 9S's felt clearly more genuine compared to before.

"Well collcting accessories was what I usually did before arriving here. Helps that this place keeps things pretty interesting with pieces I've never seen before." Even the most unusual ones managed to intrigue Mika on top of the "cute" ones she loved.

"...Though my roommate is trying to get me into other lately. Video games, other types of music, whatever else they want to shove my way. It doesn't feel like it'd be my cup of tea but I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt for now."

Okay, here's the plan. 9S is going to go up to a human and ask them about hobbies. He'll log data of ones he finds interesting, and then research that hobby, and then do the hobby!

"Excuse me, miss!"

He smiles and waves down what he thinks is a human... until he sees her wings and halo. Well. Close enough!

"My name is 9S, and I'm researching hobbies to get into! Would you mind telling me what your main hobby is and why?"

@witchoftrinity

[witchoftrinity]

Mika wished she paid a little bit more attention to who she was running into on the street rather then inside her own head. Especially when the individual looked as strange and out of place, the only signs of life being their eyes and only moments ago words escaping their mouth. Their appearance did look familiar but she couldn't quite put a finger as to why, only finally realizing once robots and oil were mentioned.

"O-Oil? Wait are you one of those drones as well?"

Something she probably shouldn't have said, given her unfortunate extensive history with each and every one of them that entered and left Spirale at this point. But there wasn't any chance of taking it back anymore, not when the gaze staring straight at her was both foreboding and a little bit freaky.

"I don't have any myself, not that I have need for it to carry on me. But there's probably plenty of places around here. Maybe even from a pipe if you don't care about the quality..."

@witchoftrinity (from x)

The source of the loud, pronounced slurping heard by some in Cotes that evening seemed to rove about the darkest corners of the fantastical ward. Few caught sight of what exactly it was beyond a couple glowing yellow symbols in the shadows, its lanky frame hunched over and looking about for a few seconds before moving on.

Eventually, the sound loses all fluidity for a few moments- whatever was being slurped had run completely dry. A heavy plastic CRUNCH!! breaches the night air, and a moment later...

" Spit-take!

bluh! What, a...TOTAL le-letdown."

From the outdoor cafe table she's perched on, Cyn raises a fingergun up toward the moon. At the end of it is what looks to be a plastic oil can with a prominent bite mark in it, a long bendy straw sticking out of one end. Rather than her hand, the can is held in place by a yellow glyph, three axes keeping it frozen in the air. This is not to last, though, as the can begins to vibrate slightly, then moderately, then INCREDIBLY violently until it fires off into the night sky with a percussive blast, its speed and the darkness making its arc nigh-untraceable.

"see you, Space... G A R B A G E."

After a couple of seconds of complete stillness, Cyn's body throws itself backwards, her eyes locking upside-down with the young woman behind her.

"HE-EY, buddy! You have, any clue about...finding D E L I C I O U S oil around here? This wa-ward is...just, slightly.

SEVERELY LACKING.

In robots and I, obviously, need more...to wash out the fla-avor of GROSS PLASTIC! And also. the oil it had in it, which was. Quite. m i d."

[witchoftrinity]

"That's...a lot to go through but I'm glad you all got out alive!" It really all sounded par for the course though given just how Uzi acted or talked about the two of them. All of it did make her wonder just how insane everything really was back in their own home. And even more important then that how they all were best friends now.

Or "friends". She still couldn't really tell...

"Well time is all weird here to begin with it. Some people have been here years but when someone they know manages to show up it seems like its only been a few days or even a week." Not that she knew what that felt like, but she trusted all her friends knowledge.

"Still I'm sure she missed you the most. Just a feeling that's all..."

"Oh! V's here too! That's great!"

N looks genuinely delighted at the news, clasping his hands together before him. From what it sounds like Uzi's been here longer than it's felt like for him. He just saw Uzi and V last night, so there was definitely some weird time stuff going on, nothing he entirely understood but he didn't have to to accept it!

"V's one of my friends too. I think. I'm pretty sure! She used to not really like me a lot but then we went through a bunch of scary stuff together and I thought she died, but she was fine and now we're all friends."

"I'm really glad Uzi's had you and V here. If it's been like, pretty long like it seems, I'm glad she wasn't alone."

[witchoftrinity]

"O-Oh I see..."

There was an influx of embarrassment hearing the words come from Uzi but she still did her best to try and not blush too much. The two of them really were helping each other out in a really unfortunate situation. Maybe the two really did have that "protective" instinct for each other even if they did fight and complain a lot.

"I mean it's about a few dozen stories up." Mika said approaching Uzi as she glanced over the side as well. "They haven't been able to get up here yet and we aren't too high up. So as long as nobody else let them in we should be fine..."

And even then it was probably only a few more glitched then usual. Nothing the two couldn't handle like they had so far.

"Seeing us is different from actually getting to us." The pink haired girl stretched out her hand towards the drone. "It's our only real place to go now isn't it?"

"N-no, I didn't mean it like that," says Uzi, frowning. "I wanna... make sure you're okay too. Or whatever. Like, this is one of those times where we all need to watch each others' backs, right? You've had mine, so... I got yours."

Is she blushing a little? Just because she's telling a friend she cares? Emotions suck.

"But yeah, I didn't bring my strongscreen. I put some on this morning, but I can't go get more, so I'm kinda on a timer here," she says, glancing up at the sky.

She should be fine for a few more hours at least, but being out in the open is still a little uncomfortable. Her infected systems run hot even on the coldest of days, and dying just because she got caught in the sun would just be embarrassing. Like, if she's gonna die, it'll need to be a way cooler death.

Her eyes light up a bit when Mika describes the nearby shelter. It's better than nothing, and Uzi rises from her seat on the ground.

"Okay, yeah, perfect! We'll find a place to rest for a bit, and... and go from there, I guess. Beats waiting to die, anyways."

Although they might just be waiting to die somewhere else, then. The goal here is survival, and while Uzi needs is an enclosed space and some oil, Mika needs... Actually, if she's not really human, does she need to eat and stuff? Does Mika go to the bathroom? No, let's not think about that.

Uzi shakes the thoughts away, then spreads her wings as she approaches her roommate. "You want me to fly you again? Or I could carry you with my Solver powers. Or we could try and make a run for it, I guess? Whatever you're comfortable with."

Uzi glances over the side of the building again, and the glitched still all have their eyes locked on her. "Hey, this place you mentioned, they wouldn't be able to get to us, right? Since they got the whole THEY SEE YOU thing or whatever going on."

[witchoftrinity]

"I guess not..."

Then again Mika didn't really know herself either. But the same could be said for Mira as well, who probably knew less then the her. The unknown was already a terrifying place but not having anything to back up on for feelings felt like a surefire way to really lose it. But her friend managed to put up with it constantly. It was impressive really, admirable for someone who only still arrived recently.

"I think I'm just overthinking things again that's all. Bad habit and all that never leaves. Really what I should be doing is enjoying this beautiful sight with you." A real once in a lifetime experience. "All those worries can wait a little bit longer. I don't think they'll mind too much while the two of us get to do this together."

Mira shifts again besides Mika, moving into a more 'laying down' position as she brings her hands to stomach, clasping her hands together as her hair floats in every direction around her, watching the flurry of snow move along the globe as she watches others float around as well.

"Even if I cannot understand, that doesn't mean I am beyond trying to comprehend it and see if I can form an inkling of what it may feel like. If I am.. To be amongst you all now, no matter the length of time, I would need to do so to make it easier, no?"

Mira asks out softly, before letting her gaze cut back towards Mika.

"I do not know if I would say you are alone. I imagine, like me, you had others help you try to understand various things here, or other things in general. Can one count that as alone even if they're strangers at first?"

[witchoftrinity]

For a brief moment it felt right to hold her gun again, even if everything immediately went towards a feeling of being foreign. Her hands were just a tad bit different causing the spacing that was drilled in her to be somewhat off. But it'd have to do, not like complaining was going to swap their bodies back in the first place.

"Wait you carry a knife?" She had to wonder just what caused her to but that was a conversation for another day as "Mika" shut the door behind her. taking the sheathed blade from the pocket.

"You should take it then. G-Granted since you are in my body I don't think a knife is really necessary for defense. You could probably just you know deal with it a bit more up close and personal..."

To further prove the point "Mika" swung her fists back and forth as if to shadowbox to the one in front of them. Almost trying to say to Yuri "you can probably just punch them, they'll definitely feel it."

"R-right! Got it!" 'Yuri' nods and makes a dash toward the store. She trusted Mika's instincts far more than she did her own. Better than running aimlessly, and easier to defend than the middle of the street or ally way. She didn't like being in the lead, especially when under so much stress.

She barrels shoulder first, relieved the door opened easily. The store seemed ransacked, but seemingly empty. Whatever trouble struck it must have been long gone.

"O-okay... Here, your gun." 'Yuri" carefully held it by its sides, butt first and muzzle towards the wall. Yuri doesn't know a lick of gun safety, but 'don't point the dangerous end at yourself or others' seemed pretty universal weapon etiquette. Like with handling knives.

Speaking of.

"Um... Y-you should know, I carry a knife in my left coat pocket! If you run out of ammo, um..." She trails off, hoping her message is clear.

[witchoftrinity]

things I managed to miss in my April downtime: Mika swinging a bat so fast she manages to crack tempered glass from force alone

thanks for the dothemath anon

[witchoftrinity]

"Don't worry about it. There's plenty of weird situations I had back at home as well. And most of them still manage to pale in comparison to what I have to deal with here."

It may have not helped going from a complete city of mostly individuals her age and one real adult figure. Here it was absolutely what many envisioned a "society" with adults and the like. Really the only thing she wished for now was others to see it so she didn't seem completely insane trying to explain it...

"Thankfully most people aren't like that. And if you are trying to find a way out like you did is usually the best option. This place is big enough that they'll probably not see you again."

And if they did one can just do the same thing they did before. Foolproof plan in her eyes.

❄ Noelle was lucky that the stranger had both caught on to what she was trying to do and was willing to help her. There was nothing worse than someone who couldn't take a hint, and that guy was really bad at it. The deer didn't say much else to him as she managed to slip away with the stranger, though she did bow politely.

She only found her voice once they were finally in the clear.

"Thanks for helping me out... I'm not really good in situations like that. Back home I'd be seen as pretty normal, but I guess in a world full of humans I really stand out." She had an apt comparison. "Coming here is like being isekai'd without the ability to blend in, haha!"

[witchoftrinity]

"Chiikawa...?" She couldn't think of a cuter name then that, only further being reinforced by their cute little sway and shy expression. It was like the cutest puppy right in front of her only not a puppy at all. A bear, or at least that's what Mika thought it was.

"Well you are super cute! Anyone who'd leave you behind would be the worst person out there." Or just too busy to take care of them in the first place. "Still Chiikawa was there anywhere you needed to go? I can't exactly take you 'home" home but if there was somewhere here the two of us can get there lickity split."

Chiikawa had been crying a lot since arriving to this new place. However, when they felt hopeless, they could remember Hachiware's face, and gain their confidence back. Although momentarily, Chiikawa had been able to reach out to get the attention of this stranger.

"Um..." They began. "....Chii....kawa." Then the placed their little arms behind their back and swayed shyly. "

[witchoftrinity]

"If you can I'd appreciate it." The student hobbled over to him, handing over half her bags with a weary smile. "We aren't too far from my home but I thought I could make it alone."

"I didn't want to call my friend for help because well, the gifts are for them ya' know. They'd figure out pretty quickly considering the size of everything."

Call it a habit or something. Juliyah is grateful for his fast reflexes, either way. "It was nothing. Don't sweat it." And she still does, though, offering a meal or something to repay him for her gratitude.

Huffing, Juliyah motions to the bags, "Do you need help carrying those?" He asks, instead.

[witchoftrinity]

Just looking at the hair sent shivers down Mika's spine upon hearing the word "braid". Mira's hair was in a similar state of absurd length but their multicolored hair felt like it went on forever. Still just thinking about how beautiful it was finished did intrigue Mika, especially with how beautiful the attachment was.

"Did you want it braided?" Mika said flashing her usual smile out towards her. "I've been helping a friend with theirs when she comes over. And once its all done you could use mine for practice if you wanted a chance. I'm sure you'll catch on pretty quickly to it once some hair is in your hands!."

"huh?"

she practically jumps out of her skin when this woman suddenly starts talking to her, holding up an accessory close to her bangs before she can even think to move or deny it.

a weird sense of deja vu comes to mind— ah, this was just like in the past with citrinne, wasn't it?

"oh uhm, i don't really do anything special to it. i brush it in the morning when i wake up like my mama taught me, but that's really it." she scratches her cheek with the tip of her index finger, a sheepish smile now clear on her face. "she used to braid it sometimes but i don't really remember how to do that."

[witchoftrinity]

"...Sorry. I know you'd rather be with him over me. If I knew where he was I'd say you could just drop me off back at home and go look for him. But really he could be anywhere around this city..."

Of course she hoped it was somewhere safe. But somehow she doubted that the other drone would just be sitting around when people might've been in danger. From the little she knew about him it just didn't seem like something that'd be in their bones. Or programming in the drones case probably...

"Right you would burn up pretty quickly on a day like today wouldn't you?" An upsetting thought to begin with given it was either that or being eaten by the very closely related zombies. Neither of which she felt Uzi really wanted to go through at all, not with the whole "internal teenager conflict" that seemed to be always happening.

"Well all my friends are probably taking care of themselves. They seem like the type of people who can fight someone and not be pushed back into a corner."

...Which only left one person. The one standing right by her.

"Somewhere nearby is a nice little building. It's all abandoned but part of the outside is shooting out with a cover over it. We can sit under for the most of the day. Or even rest up inside."

How smart are the glitched? Hopefully not smart enough to figure out stacking crates or using physics objects. Wow, another Half-Life reference, it would be nice if she could say it out loud to anyone that would understand it right now. Uzi just stares back as the horde that's assembling below them, a twisting feeling in her gut mounting that what they have right now is only some breathing room, and not real safety.

"Plenty of people around here got powers too, right? They're probably fine," says Uzi, turning away from the edge. "Probably. Don't really wanna worry about other people right now..."

If they have their full arsenals, then N and V are probably fine. Uzi takes out her phone to make some calls, only to find there's no service. She grumbles and tucks it away in her pocket.

"Ugh, frickin' figures... Could've had a cool and romantic zombie escape scene with my boyfriend, but nooooo..."

Her eyes flick to Mika for a moment. In the aftermath of the whole candy thing, Uzi made a small confession to her roommate, because it only seemed fitting; she has a crush on V. On top of having a boyfriend. Who is also in the city. Also, he used to have a crush on V. How does V feel about N? Is this a love triangle? Ugh, this isn't the time to think about this.

It's cloudy out now, but still daytime, and given their luck the cloud cover will break at any moment. Uzi huddles against an AC unit on the roof, squeezing as much of herself as she can into a small puddle of shadow.

"Obvious, I know, but we can't stay here. Not just because I've seen enough zombie flicks to know it's a death sentence, but also because once the sun comes out, I'll overheat and die. And then you're stuck, and you'll die too. And maybe we'd become zombies, then. I dunno, just trying to stick with the theme of the experiment."

She feels... vulnerable, on multiple levels. Not a great feeling, maybe they should've saved the teenage romance talk for later. Or never. God, this stuff sucks. She has god powers, why is she stressing about this?

"You know any places around here we could head? I can fly us wherever, but I figure... Maybe you've got someone you wanna look for? Won't take it personally, if you're worried. Just wanna make sure we have some kind of plan, because I figure just throwing shit at the wall is gonna get us killed."

[witchoftrinity]

hey gamers sorry for the delay on all my posts! I got dragged into the model kit mines again a little busy with life & helping a friend with prep stuff for this weekend. Normal posting should be coming back soonish!

[witchoftrinity]

"Oh of course! I'll have to double check my schedule just to be sure but even then we can figure out a time for all that."

Cleaning out that entire kitchen was going to be a hassle and a half but she doubted the two could mess up too badly. Sure the last time Mika tried everything that could go wrong did. Now she felt she improved at least somewhat to the point the stove might not catch fire instantly. Or chocolates would just "burn up" without any real reason.

"Let's just see right here. Maybe that date? I think it could work for the two of us..."

So, it could count towards close friends, interesting. A thing Mira would keep in mind or at the very least try to do so. One of Mira's hands idly goes to the ponytail Mika did her hair, mostly to play with it since it wasn't something she was used to, as she gives a simple head nod.

"It makes sense, yes. Then, shall we set up another time for us to do this 'baking', and we will reconvene then? For my hair is up, and your hair is up, so I believe that means we've done what we've set out for this getting together right?"

[witchoftrinity]

forgot to post this (since I've been off/on and I forgot I screenshotted it) but amusing event interaction from the last event in-game.

Mika being the voice of reason is both a terrifying thought and the funniest shit that Nagi's solution to most problems is just "Well you might have an army I have a pink gorilla so you might as well give up."

[witchoftrinity]

Hey, happy birthday, roomie. I don't know what you like so I got you a Steam gift card. Don't ask when my birthday is. Bye.

"What the hell is a Steam."

[witchoftrinity]

"Can't believe I managed to go through two whole birthdays here already. I don't know how anyone would react at home if I told them I was one year off from finishing up in my teens."