Walkabout: [Shortly after their arrival]

[professorwolf]

Randolph Lyall here. Anybody else dropped into the noisy arcade? Or were most of us lucky enough to wind up in a hotel room or a lobby? Can we have a check-in?

Also, anybody else stuck with animal ears and a tail, or aged up or down? I've heard about a Jaunt much like this place, a while back, though I wasn't here for it: a school for anime magic, basically. Sparkles and animal ears and flowers coming out of nowhere. All the symptoms I'm seeing seem to be lining up for that world.

I'm still working out what's going on. It seems like some kind of multiple-school event, from the signs and the brochure handily in my pocket. I'm even wearing a badge for one of them, so I suppose I'm some kind of representative. The aging up doesn't go all the way up to adults, and I haven't changed any.

Comments

[shantiprayer]

Sera here! I'm still me! And I was here the last time we Traveled to this world too!

You're right, it's definitely the same. Right down to the uniforms and the insignia for Doki Doki no Gakuen. Uhm, that's the school we were at before.

If anyone has animal features or are the wrong age, don't worry, even if you keep the X Pressure Virus after we go back, you'll be able to switch between the form it gives you and your normal one! Mostly.

Oh, and if you're not marked yet, be careful if PSYCHE-Chan has any Terminals here. Especially if you're not Marked yet. I haven't seen any here yet but they were all over last time. She's an AI, and... I'm fairly certain she's also a Trump.

If anyone needs any help, please let me know. I'd be happy to assist however I can!

[happyhalloween]

Cousin! I mean. Um.

[She's still used to thinking of you as her cousin, Sera. Sorry.]

So I'll get to be big even if I go back? [She is SO EXCITED about this.] Also, how do you know if you're Marked? And is there any way to break her in her terminal? I'm not good with computers.

[shantiprayer]

It's alright, you can call me Sera. Is your real name Maria, or was that just the other you?

I can't promise you'll get to stay older. It's a possibility, but not a guaranty. [Sorry to harsh your buzz, Maria, but probably better that she finds out now instead of being potentially disappointed later.]As for the Trumps. Have you had any new tattoo-like marks appear on your skin? If you have something like that, it's probably a Mark. Psyche-chan... I don't think it's a good idea to try to break her. You remember what happened when we started to break Empress, right?

[happyhalloween]

... there's a crown on my chest. Just above my tummy.

[DID THE TRUMPS MARK HER???? THOSE SNEAKY TRUMPS!!!]

Yeah. I remember. She brought her dumb friends and we got tore apart and I cried until Mei came.

[OH WAIT.]

And yes! My name's Maria. Only it's Ushiromiya, not Goldsmith.

[shantiprayer]

Oh no... Is there anything else about the crown? Like a number on it?

There's a good chance if we try attacking Lovers, she'll call in another Trump to help her. And if she's working with the Trump I think she's working with, we really don't want that.

It's good to meet you as yourself, Maria.

[happyhalloween]

It looks like the one that goes with my Family Conference outfit. And my witch outfit. Only you can only see three of the strappy bits.

... who is Lovers working with? I didn't like Empress' friends.

But it's nice to meet you too, Sera!

[shantiprayer]

Oh no... I'd recomend having someone you trust look at it to double check, but that does sound a lot like a Trump mark. Especially with the number symbolism.

If I'm right... she's allies with the Devil. He makes most of the other Trumps seem friendly.

[happyhalloween]

I'll have Beato look.

[awitchdidit]

Maria.

Did you forget something important?

[happyhalloween]

... ... ...

I was gonna tell you, Beato. I just... ... forgot.

[awitchdidit]

I'd like to keep track of who has an interest in my apprentice, that's all. It also helps establish a pattern for the Trumps' actions...

...speaking of which, did the Empress discuss anything with you before you were marked, or did it simply appear after your fight?

[happyhalloween]

I dunno when it appeared. I didn't take a bath for a while.

The dumb old Empress didn't discuss anything. She was too busy fighting. Yellow went and cursed her too, but the Emperor fixed that because he's a big meanie. Then there was the big, big fight and they took us apart and it hurt so I cried and the Empress went away. And Mei was there a little, but just long enough to make stop crying for a little and then she went away again and then she brought me Tomosuke's egg and then she went away again.

[awitchdidit]

Hm...and what did Mei say to you?

[She could ask "who's Mei", but she can more or less pick it up from Maria's unique turn of phrase and the fact that the Emperor also used a Chinese alias. Interesting that Maria would pick up on two different personas that quickly, but then again, people are very different in battle. Especially when they're the enemy.]

[happyhalloween]

Lots of stuff. But the last thing she said was that I'd be in her heart.

[awitchdidit]

It sounds to me like you were most likely marked as a result of your conversation with Mei. I'm not surprised she has a fondness for a brilliant child or for the Witch of Origins, honestly.

[happyhalloween]

... was the Empress spying on us?

[Oooooh, Empress, you meanie! If you're gone you should stay away and not spy!]

[awitchdidit]

Wait, it's a disease? Are there any other symptoms we should know about?

[Asking for a friend here.]

[shantiprayer]

Mmmmm, I don't think so. I think it's only classified as a disease because it gets into your data in the same way a virus modifies your cells. It's also contagious. But I don't think there's any direct negative effects?

[awitchdidit]

Hmph. So anyone who comes here is likely to be 'infected'?

[shantiprayer]

Unfortunately, yes. Whether you're already showing symptoms of it or not. It's also not a certain thing you'll remain infected returning to Liminal Space, even if you are showing symptoms now.

[awitchdidit]

Well, that's something.

[professorwolf]

Not marked, though from what I know of Lovers as a card, I'd probably be a terrible fit.

[Considering how low-level pissed off he is about the situation of his love life right now, and it's all due to the Trumps, as far as he's concerned.]

That's the consensus I've heard, that PSYCHE is the Lovers card. I almost hope she shows up, though, to be honest. The more chances to gather information about these Trumps, the better.

[shantiprayer]

If she does, I'll certainly try talking to her again. I wouldn't recommend talking to her if you're unmarked though, even if you don't think she's likely to choose you. ...Unless you want to do what I did and choose who you're marked by instead of being passively Marked as an Infiltrator.

[professorwolf]

It would at least be going into something clear-eyed. I've already spoken to two different Trumps, though, and both neglected to claim me. I'm not going to let that worry stop me from asking questions.

[shantiprayer]

That is true. I don't know if she'll really make an appearance but... If she does, and you choose to talk to her, good luck.