synopsychic | Open Video Broadcast/ Filtered Message

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Open Video Broadcast/ Filtered Message

Open Broadcast

[Though it may be somewhat alarming to those who have yet to experience the telepathic network, Armin's image appears in everyone's mind. It's been a while since they arrived back, and nobody else seems to be taking the lead getting everyone organized, so he figures someone needs to step up.]

To all the newcomers arriving, please stay calm. Try not to panic, and try not to project your thoughts so chaotically - with all of you that are arriving, it'll only make things more confusing for everyone. No one should hear your thoughts if you're not actively projecting them - except in Gate A2.

I know you all have a lot of questions. There are many of us who've been here a while, so try to find someone who looks like they know what they're doing, and they can help you. I'll try to help as best I can too - we can talk like this, or if you'd prefer face to face, I'm in the hallway connecting the V1 and V2 lounges.

Filtered from New Arrivals

Does anybody know if one of the Trumps was actually present, whether it was PSYCHENet or not? Was anybody marked this time?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When Chizuru puts it that way, Mai really can't disagree at all--wouldn't want to, even if she could. It's true--so long as it's Hijikata and Chizuru that she's with, she thinks it's probably going to be okay. It's frightening, confronting something unknown like this, but...

She's happy, too, a little. Because if this means she has something in common with Chizuru, then there's nothing she can't hope for. Chizuru can do anything, after all.]

I... I think so too...! [officially adopted thanks Lovers family] So long as we can stick together, I'm sure everything will be fine...

And...maybe the Trumps just need a little help. If...if we can help a little, then I want to do my best for sure.

[completely unfounded optimism as ever]

Hmm, in that case, I'll definitely help out too.

[ The true purpose of these marks has been.. well, rather vague at best, after all. There's no saying if it's something negative, despite most people treating them like it is. Hijikata wasn't really pleased to find them either and she knows it, but--

She wants to believe it'll be okay, one way or another.

All of them always have ended up alright somehow, after all. ]

I don't think anything special has happened to already marked people before, anyway.. so I'm sure we won't have anything to think about for a while yet.

Edited 2015-04-01 22:23 (UTC)

[Overall, it's still quite daunting to think that she'd been marked by the very Trumps that had brought them here--and Chizuru and Hijikata and others too. But they don't know anything about it, and...that makes it even scarier somehow.

Mai takes a slow breath.

They have to believe it'll be okay, because they don't have anything else if they can't do that. And talking to Chizuru honestly is helping.]

...Right. [A faint pause for a slow breath in.] Thank you, Chizuru-san... I don't feel as scared anymore as I was... I guess I was a little surprised.

[ She doesn't blame Mai at all for being scared and surprised at first. Honestly, she was too, but she had Hijikata right there with her in the same situation which made it all feel a whole lot less intimidating. They had been through so much back home, and even here - it's not like this would be any worse than any of that.

So if she can be the one to reassure Mai in turn.. isn't that just paying it forward? ]

Are you still feeling a little uncomfortable? If you want, we can talk in person for a while.. I don't mind.

Is...that really okay, Chizuru-san?

[It's not that Mai wouldn't love Chizuru's company, because like always, she absolutely would. She just doesn't know if it's right to pull Chizuru away from Hijikata and the people she's undoubtedly helping at a time like this, when everything seems so uncertain and frightening.

It's a tough otome life, truly.]

Of course!

[ At least she can answer that with exactly zero hesitation.. Mai is someone who's important, who deserves this sort of stuff. She's always so kind to everyone and helping everyone, so there's got to be at least one person who will help her in return, right?

And since she knows Mai will worry if she doesn't add it-- ]

I don't think there's anything else I really need to do right now.. so I'm sure it'd be fine. [ See, you're not inconveniencing her!! ]

O...okay then!

[If Chizuru is fine with it, and so certain that it would inconvenience her, then Mai really doesn't have much of a leg to stand on when it comes to refusing. Even if part of her still worries that it's an inconvenience...

Well, she has to trust that her otome protag senpai knows what she's doing.]

I'm...um, in one of the hallways outside of the V2 Lounge...um, the really strange floaty one.

[hence why she's outside of it now, instead of in.]

[ Yes, let's not talk while they're both practically floating away.. that seems like it'd be inconvenient. But outside of the V2 Loungue is something she can easily find at least. ]

I'll be there right away, so please wait.. maybe we can even compare markings. [ You know, to make it into slightly more of a normal thing - it'd be a good way to make it seem less scary and daunting, right? ]

[Is this what galpals do.... compare the branded markings of questionable Higher Powers to see what fun designs they got...

Either way, it really does make Mai feel better, so she nods slowly to herself.]

Mm! I'll wait for you!

[And she really will, settling herself on an airport chair (and it's amazing that Liminal Space manages to replicate how uncomfortable airport chairs are....)]

[ They're like a brand of really, really weird Barbies..

But Chizuru puts actions to her words, of course! Mai is her friend, one of her most important friends - it's needed to make that difference clear, okay, considering how friendly Chizuru easily is with people - so there's no way she can leave her alone if there's something going on that can make her nervous with good reason.

So she quickly makes her way over to the outside of the lounge, jogging the last distance once she spots Mai sitting there. ]

Mai-san.. you're looking alright. [ Aka that marking had no weird side effects.. ] I'm glad.

Oh...!

[Mai stands immediately when she sees Chizuru jogging the last bit of the distance, hands clasped before her like usual, purse still on the ground beside her seat. She didn't mean to make Chizuru hurry so much, and she ducks her head a little sheepishly, though she can't wipe away the smile.]

Yes, I'm fine. Please don't worry....

Um, are you and Hijikata-san... [are they both also okay?] ...nothing bad has happened, right?

[ DEAL WITH IT, MAI.. she's forever going to hurry for you, since that's just what friends do for each other, okay..!!

But Chizuru keeps smiling even when Mai asks that question, making sure there's absolutely no needless worrying going on here. ]

We're fine. Discovering it was a slight surprise, and.. um, I don't think Toshizou was too happy about it. But he wasn't too mad, either. [ She figures it's worth adding that before Mai thinks he flipped his shit.. ] Probably since we saw it coming.

[Yes, that does reassure her quite a bit. Because she can easily imagine Hijikata flipping his shit, and it's not a pretty picture at all.

...At all.

Even if he's never been any worse than grumpy at her.

Either way, Mai just breathes a sigh of relief.]

Oh... I'm so glad that you're both okay...

[...wait.]

... You...saw it coming?

Um, well, it's maybe better to say we knew the risk was there..? Since everyone was discussing that PSYCHENet might be a Trump and all.. [ And even though Chizuru wasn't necessarily convinced of that fact, she did know it meant the two of them had to calculate in the possibility that involving the computer in their wedding meant that they might get marked if it turned out to be one after all. ]

Toshizou seemed worried about doing it to me, but.. I don't mind. [ Chizuru smiles - fairly confidently, too. ] It might help everyone figure out things more, maybe, so.. I'm glad it turned out like this, actually.

Oh...

[And here Mai had been, obliviously carrying on like usual, not even thinking about Trumps or markings or the like... she hadn't even considered that PSYCHENet could have been a Trump.

Aren't there limits to how oblivious she can be...?]

Chizuru-san... you're so brave. [A pause, and she twines her fingers together hesitantly.] ...How do you...stay so brave?

[ Brave.. is that what it is? After spending so much time with the Shinsengumi, Chizuru honestly can't think of little things like these as "brave" anymore - they're the brave ones, they're the ones fighting for what they believe in, against all odds. All she's doing is trying to contribute what she can..

But she does suppose there's one thing she can tell Mai about it. And she did promise to tell the other girl sooner or later, so why not do it now..? ]

Truthfully.. there's a reason I kept staying with the Shinsengumi back home. [ Aside from the rasetsu discovering thing, but, you know.. she can't just tell Mai that part when it's not her secret to reveal. ] It's what I mentioned to you before, Mai-san.. would you listen to it right now?

[Immediately, Mai nods, and gently takes Chizuru's hand to tug her over to the airport chairs. They're not very comfortable, but...at least they can sit while they have this serious conversation, right...?

And when they're seated there, she simply doesn't let go of Chizuru's hand, other hand resting easily in her own lap, body turned slightly to face Chizuru and give her her full attention.]

Okay.

[This much is easy--she has no hesitation when it comes to this sort of thing.]

I'm happy to listen, Chizuru-san. To whatever you want to say.

[ Sitting is more helpful, actually. Especially since it's a story that involves a lot of things, so if she's going to end up having to explain them all then they're going to be standing here for a while -- so she willingly lets herself be dragged over to the chairs and sits down as well, not bothering to pull back her hand. ]

I..

[ .. it's still hard. She trusts Mai with everything she's got, Mai is the first real friend she's made other than Sen and the Shinsengumi, a real close friend-- but that's what makes it so frightening, the idea that Mai might just start looking at her differently.

But she can't hold it back any longer from someone so important to her. ]

Actually, I-- I'm not human. I'm a demon. [ She's sure that's surprising enough in itself, but she speaks on quickly to avoid lingering on it too long, and explain it in context of what she wanted to say to Mai's question first. ]

Because of that, there was another demon who tried forcing me to be his bride, but.. the Shinsengumi protected me. Even though they just took me in and I was probably a burden, they protected me from him every single time.. when I kept seeing that, I started to think that I had to try and be brave as well.

[That's...a lot to absorb. It's not that Mai doesn't know of the existence of people other than humans by now, of course--and not just because of Jaunts. Back home, she had Orion, after all...and even if he was a little odd, he was her companion, and her friend, and she never saw any reason to treat him differently because he was a fairy.

This too... Chizuru may be a demon, but weren't Raidou's demons kind as well? Regardless of whatever stories there were of demons, the Chizuru right here in front of her was the kindest person Mai had ever met.

(As for the rest... well, she'll get to that.)]

Chizuru-san.... I think--before anything else, Chizuru-san is my precious friend... so... I hope you won't worry about being a demon. Because I...think that no matter what, you're amazing.

[Always and forever amazing

apparently amazing enough to attract a...demon stalker...?? Okay, Chizuru, we can't have any of that, really.]

That sounds really scary... but I think I understand. [In a situation like that, there'd be no way to be anything but brave, right--that just shows how amazing Chizuru is again.]

[ Mai accepts it. Just like this, just so easily.. she accepts the fact that Chizuru is a demon. That even with that, she's still an important friend to Mai, that she's still amazing.

(Maybe she shouldn't have worried about it at all, maybe she should just have trusted Mai's unlimited kindness that would surely accept anything.)

Her heart swells a little with warmth at the realisation, although she tries to linger on the last part rather than that when she speaks up. ]

It was really scary, honestly.. [ She can admit that to Mai, since.. well, if the other girl is not going to judge her for being a demon, then as if she would judge her for anything else.. ]

The fights were so hard on them, since of course the men of the Shinsengumi are just human.. [ Or. Well. .. Were..?? ] Some of them even.. died for it. For me. And even when I said that I would leave so I wouldn't cause those sort of things to happen to them anymore, none of them let me leave. Not Toshizou, not anyone else.. they all told me to stay.

So-- they're the amazing ones, honestly. Moreso than me.

[Honestly, Mai can't even imagine dealing with a demon stalker on top of a war, so yeah, "really scary" seems like an extremely fitting description. She's certainly not going to judge Chizuru for that, either--even so, as scary as it was, she was still brave throughout it, which just makes it even more amazing...

But as for the rest... She smiles a little to herself. That's just like Chizuru, isn't it...? Always seeing how amazing other people are, but never herself...]

I think they really are amazing... everything they do, and how they try so hard to protect everyone...

[she's certainly not going to argue that. Chizuru is 150% correct. It's just the "Moreso than me" that Mai takes issue with, naturally.]

But...even so, Chizuru-san made it through such a scary and dangerous situation...and I'm sure that you helped them however you could, too...

[That's just how Chizuru is.]

So... it's really no wonder that Hijikata-san loves you so much...!

Eh? That's..

[ .. well, she can't rely deny it. She's been through a lot of scary and dangerous and especially difficult situations together with Hijikata, up to a point where there wasn't anyone else left to go through those things with him anymore but her. Even though it's maybe a little awkward to put it that way, all of those things really did help her and him grow closer. ]

.. well, I suppose you're right.. [ Besides, she hates saying Mai is wrong since Mai is so amazing? Obviously Mai can never!! be!! wrong!! ]

But ever since you got stuck here with the rest of us, you've made it through a lot of scary and dangerous situations as well, right..? Even though you're only human, so you don't have special powers-- surely that takes even more courage.

[That's right--she's never wrong, so Chizuru has to admit that she's amazing!! Because Mai will never back down when it comes to that little factoid. So she's satisfied with that, even though a moment later Chizuru turns it right back on her again and she's flustered all over again.

Nervously, she drops her gaze, fiddling with her hands. Yeah...she's just a normal human, and honestly...]

You...don't think I've just been...trouble for everyone? I--I mean, everyone is so strong, or has special powers, or isn't human...a-and everyone is so amazing....!

[...and then there's the inevitable--]

But I'm just...normal... [so maybe she's brave, but even so, isn't she just a burden?]

[ It's a thought she recognizes very much. Feeling like you're a burden, like you're causing trouble for everyone because of what you are. Or feeling like you're too normal - even as a demon - compared to a bunch of highly skilled swordsmen. It's not as if she hasn't felt that way a lot, and hasn't felt that way sometimes even in this place, but she's gotten a little bit better at it over time. Even if it took years of enduring manpain with Hijikata. ]

I don't think so.

[ Because by now, she can see a little more what the men of the Shinsengumi must have seen at first too to keep protecting her like that - so she lightly shakes her head, confidently. ]

No matter whether you have special powers or not, there's no way you've been trouble to everyone.. Mai-san's got the kind of smile that can't be beaten, after all. [ That thought pulls a smile from her as well. ] That kindness and warmth must have made everyone feel a lot stronger during all the Jaunts.

[...Chizuru is really...so very kind. It strikes Mai again, just like always. And so Mai blushes, ducking her head, a little flustered, and...she relaxes a little. If Chizuru thinks that she's been help, even if just a little, then... isn't it okay?

Besides, she never wanted this to be about her anyway.]

...Thank you, Chizuru-san... You're always looking out for me, and Hijikata-san too. [whether she means Chizuru is always looking out for Hijikata also, or that Hijikata is always also looking out for Mai is up for interpretation.

Maybe both.

And then, enthusiastically and suddenly--]

I really...really want to be able to be just as helpful and amazing someday...!

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