The First Winter Festival at Falner, 2063 | September 5 to September 12

[clayce]

WHO: Open to All!
WHAT: Netsach has decided to lighten the mood within Falner Estate by holding two Winter Festivals this year. This one will be the first: might as well take advantage of the climate, eh?
WHERE: South District, the Falner Estate
WHEN: From the morning of September 5 all the way until the unholy hours of September 12
SAFE FOR WORK? Probably? Will be updated if that changes.
OTHER NOTES:
+ Always make sure to put the date and time of your interaction in the subject field of your comments.
+ Open threads are welcome; just put a note down in the subject field of your comment, together with the date and rough timeframe.
+ NPCs are available for bugging, so just let me know if you want somebody in particular?




[Yes, it isn't supposed to be winter yet.

This is how Netsach will show that they no longer give a shit.]

Comments

September 7, 2063 || Closed to Josh

[habub]

[The timing of this text is going to be very eerie. Your phone will ping with it the precise second that you finish your day, and are in the position to answer it immediately.]

SENT: 8:31 PM
Mr. Larue of the War Hounds, correct?

I am Inquisitor Kaizen Tempesta. My little sister has told me to contact you as soon as I was available. So here we are. You are free to talk, of course.

[Of course you are. He checked.]

'^' kaizen

[larue]

[ He's actually just stepped out of the locker area and is making his way up to those stands. He'd already told the boys that if any of them were thinking of heading over to Falner, he could offer them a ride -- no one took the offer; they all have ways to get to the Winter Festival on their own. ]

SENT: 08:32 PM
Yes sir. I am. On both counts. I'm currently still
at Ateneo, but I can drive over to wherever is most
convenient for you.

lmao yes =w=

[habub]

SENT: 8:33 PM
Come to the Winter Festival, then. I have a table to myself.

[And here are the exact GPS coordinates, ayup.]

[larue]

[ He's committing those coordinates to memory just as he makes his way to his car ( his car, still getting used to that, yup ) and hits the road.

Give him about twenty minutes ( he doesn't drive like your brother, sir ) to get from Katipunan back to Falner, and another ten to find you because there are a lot of people tonight. ]

[habub]

[Don't worry: he has taken that into consideration. As such, by the time you find Kaizen, he appears to be perfectly settled where he is, and going through an after-dinner cigarette.

Fixing his gaze on you the moment you're close enough, and nodding. There is only one other chair at his table beyond the one that he is sitting on, and it's right in front of him. There is also a plate of food for you, and a drink. Both are favorites of yours.

He's done his research.]

[larue]

[ Huh. Then again, he shouldn't be surprise. You're his assigned mentor in the Rashinban. ]

Pleasure to finally meet you, Inquisitor Tempesta.

[ He's going to sit down and offer his hand for a shake before he joins you for a stick. He's hungry because of practice, but he can afford to enjoy the meal slowly. ]

[habub]

The feeling is mutual for the moment.

[That might sound offensive coming from anyone else, but coming from Kaizen, it feels... neutral. Completely neutral.]

My brother and my sister both insisted that I mentor you. [Tilts head.] I am not quite sure why yet.

[larue]

[ Brother would mean Hikaru. Sister would mean... the Magistrate? ]

I can't really speak for the why behind that, sir. But I'll do my very best to pick up on whatever you think I'll need to learn.

[habub]

Conviction. A desirable trait in a Keeper and in a student.

[Nodding, looking almost satisfied.]

I have not read your dossier. I prefer to hear, straight from the source, what one is capable of doing.

[larue]

[ Hngh. It's okay, LaRue. Just lay it straight. ]

I'd like to believe I'm a fairly good leader, sir. I'm also the thinker on the field. My blade's got more than enough heavy-hitters, but in the even that our mage isn't around, I'm the one keeping track of where everyone is.

[ Because, Boneyard. ]

As a Sin-Eater, I'm getting stronger. [ He's worrying on his bottom lip before he realizes he's doing it, but the moment he does, he stops. ] But I've a ways to go before I can say that I'm at the level I want to be.

[ And by that he means unlocking Manifestations that can address the gaps in his own performance. ]

[habub]

[And see, the real reason why Kaizen liked to hear things "straight from the source" was because watching said source and combining it with the way one moved and what one did or did not say provided a man such as himself with a lot of insight.]

And what "level" would that be?

[larue]

[ Blinking up at you now, sir.

He hesitates, but only because he's looking for the right words. ]

A solid enough presence that I'm not a liability on the field.

[ Someone who can confidently call the shots and know that while his blademates are out there doing their thing, that they won't need to worry about him. Not too much, anyway. ]

[habub]

[Ah.]

Would this be the reason why you chose to be a part of the Rashinban in Zangyaku, or am I missing something here?

[larue]

[ Oh. Right. ]

I joined the Rashinban because I'm a firm believer in making sure that resources are well-allocated.

My second is our Whisperer. My third is a Mortician. And we have a Bodhisattva and a Senshi in Kaz Zobel de Ayala and Brigade.

[ He contemplates having a drink, fingers light around the bottle.

Maybe later. ]

I heard that it was typical of my particular supernatural class to join the Morticians, but I'm all about information. And I confess I didn't think that redundant roles would do the Hounds much good.

[ It also won't fly that he's right out there doing the Social Thing, that he take on tasks like those handed to the Morticians. In another life, maybe, but Stan is better equipped to the role. ]

[habub]

They tend not to, and neither does "typical" actions of one's nature on an excessive scale.

[ Interesting, interesting. ]

And your reasons for joining Zangyaku in the first place. What are they?

[larue]

[ His initial reasons for joining Zangyaku had been the offer that had been made by Alistair Mordechai his way in light of the information that had come to light about his mother's associations with TFV.

Get to Fifth Circle, license with Zangyaku, and they would have the resources to assist in Angela Brennan's rescue. ]

Selfish ones. [ He says that evenly. ] An option was presented made my way, but on the stipulation that I make it to Fifth Circle.

My mother was coerced-- [ no, it was worse ] --forced, years ago, to leave her family and return to the conspiracy that made her into a weapon to ensure our safety.

I wanted in on the op that would get her back. [ He's looking at his hands now. ] It didn't end up having to be that way, sure. But it was my driving motivation at the time.

[ Nobody. Nobody fucks with my family. I'm gonna put a bullet through Howard's head for that. ]

[habub]

You call such an inclination selfish, yet Zangyaku is also about family inasmuch as it is following the Wolf.

[ He'll leave it at that. ]

You say "at the time". When did that change?

[larue]

[ He's thoughtful. ]

I didn't know how big Zangyaku was about family at the time. [ There had been hints, in retrospect, but the conversation that had brought the possibility up had been at a time when he hadn't even been sure about pursuing a life as a Hunter. ] I got my mom back even before I hit Fifth Circle. Most people would have changed their goals.

[ He didn't, though. ]

I can't say the exact moment, but I can say -- roughly -- when I was sure.

People I respect are part of Zangyaku. So are those I believe that I can learn a great many things from. [ Like Kalika Shinta. Like Makoto Kuzunoha and Malia Saab. ] So are people who I care deeply about.

[ Even if he hadn't known that you were Wolfborn, you said 'brother', and that could only mean so many people. ]

[habub]

[ Nodding, as if he understands. Truth be told, his primary reason for joining Zangyaku was Setsuna and Hikaru. ]

And you are prepared to follow our cause to its possible end.

[ That end being the possibility of having to put the Blade King down, of course. ]

[larue]

I am.

[ He's flexing one hand as he says that, as if testing how to curl his fingers properly in a fist.

His conviction is in the way he says the two words: without hesitation, and with equal amounts of regret and understanding.

( He's flashing back to a month ago when Elias Tagabigay allowed him to face his shadow. He hasn't forgotten how real it had felt, all the way down to the familiar weight of Hikaru's body in his arms. )

Love is a double-edged blade. He gets that now. ]

[habub]

[ An appraising look, one that actually shows a hint of approval in Kaizen's eyes, and then yet another nod. ]

Now I can see why I was asked to mentor you. I believe that you will not be a waste of my time.

[ He... actually means that as a compliment. ]

[larue]

[ And he's going to take it as a compliment because he read up on you and the rest of Wolf's Choice and he wouldn't want to waste your time either. ]

Thank you... brother. [ Better get into the practice of things, yeah? He is in Zangyaku now. ]

I am eager to learn and glad for this opportunity.

[habub]

Good, because before we actually start, I will need you to do something.

[ Said "something" is what he's pulling out of his coat now. You might just recognize the book if you've been to the Abubot.

Sliding it over in your direction. ]

[larue]

[ The cover is familiar, but he hasn't been to the Abubot in a while and it never occurred to him to go poking around if it wasn't anything of immediate concern.

He's setting a hand over it though and turning it around. It looks old, the book, and he doesn't miss that the binding of the black leather tome looks like bone. The pages look black as well and he's sparing a tentative glance to Inquisitor Tempesta before he turns the cover over to see what's inside. ]

[habub]

It is the Book of the Dead. I cannot read any of it, of course, but you should be able to within the language that is most comfortable to you.

[ In fact, as he's saying this, the gibberish on the pages is now correcting itself into proper English. The book in itself is starting to feel warm, and... is it breathing? ]

Your dossier has emphasized that while you are an incredibly skilled mortal operative who is well-attuned to his "condition", you have not had many opportunities to explore more of your nature as one of the Bound. Studying that book will mitigate this weakness, and - given your work ethic - eventually remove it entirely.