Yuusha no Academia 3.5

[21:31:19] <Owen> After getting her second wind at the school clinic, Alcelstis walks (slowly) around the campus with a destination in mind.  Since she's got the rest of the day off she might as well use it to take care of a few things...
[21:32:02] <Owen> "...Did I say you could follow me?" she asks VV, who seems to be shadowing her a few steps back.
[21:32:40] <Doktor_Q> "No." VV replies, with a shake of her head. Alcel didn't say she couldn't, either.
[21:32:47] <Boy_Named_Sue> Mirai is in her room, back at the dorm, waiting for the announcement of the test results being posted.
[21:34:12] <Blue_> Heylan, who was out for a walk to clear his head, is following along as well, a short distance behind VV, pretending that he's simply going the same way.
[21:35:54] <Owen> "Well don't; I feel like you're going to stab me in the back.  Walk over here."  Alcelstis backpedals so they're walking side by side.
[21:39:25] <Doktor_Q> VV nods, and shifts formation.
[21:40:27] <Owen> Alcelstis has a rather sour and contemplative look on her face.  The near-loss from the fight weighs heavily on her mind...
[21:41:52] <Doktor_Q> "I am not equipped to pierce," VV adds, after a moment. "crushing and bludgeoning are more effective with my body."
[21:42:32] <Blue_> Heylan continues trailing along behind them quietly.
[21:44:02] <Owen> Aleclstis instantly stops in her tracks and, as VV is on her right side, somewhat awkwardly reaches with her left hand and grabs the golem's arm.
[21:44:40] <Kirin> Some of the students and faculty member of the science division walks past you by and they waves at you three.
[21:45:27] <Owen> "Okay, NO.  You stop that literal interpretation shit, right NOW.  It's going to get old as fuck and I'm the only person who's going to be nice enough to tell you."
[21:47:24] <Doktor_Q> "You will? When will you become nice?" She expresses genuine surprise.
[21:51:23] <Owen> Alcelstis winces, takes her hand off VV's arm, and facepalms the facepalm of ultimate sadness.  After a while she peeks her eyes through her fingers, seeing if the scary literal monster is still there.
[21:52:41] <Owen> The scary literal monster is still there, with a stupid look of vacant childish wonder on its face.
[21:52:51] <Doktor_Q> "Mom- Ah, Hakase told me to ask if I am unsure."
[21:53:13] <Kirin> Somewhere, a certain fox professor sneezes.
[21:56:31] <Boy_Named_Sue> Growing impatient for the announcement, Mirai decides to head out towards where they usually post test results, so she can see them as soon as they're posted.
[21:57:44] <Owen> The dragon-girl rolls her eyes.  This bud needs to be nipped hard, before she is either expelled for insanity, or murder.  She bends her knees a bit to get eye-level with VV.  "I will become nice when you start to impress me, or maybe when you start to be impressed BY me."
[21:58:14] <Kirin> Mirai : Yes, it's right there in all glory.
[21:58:32] <Kirin> Apparently you are one of the two groups authorized for silver class request.
[21:58:55] <Doktor_Q> "The latter may be impossible," VV replies levelly.
[21:58:57] <Kirin> the rest of the school are bronze class.
[22:00:19] <Boy_Named_Sue> Mirai can't help but grin widely as she reads the results. She scurries off, finding a secluded corner before looking around to see if anyone is watching her, then bursts into a short-lived celebration dance.
[22:00:47] <Owen> Alcelstis puts her arm on VV's shoulder.  "Well I think your sample size MAY be too small.  Don't you know about the dangers of drawing assumptive trend lines with minimal data points?"
[22:00:55] <Doktor_Q> "No."
[22:01:14] <Doktor_Q> "This is only my third day outside the lab."
[22:02:05] <Kirin> Mirai notices one name in particuliar, however.
[22:02:13] <Kirin> Draco Winchester.
[22:02:46] <Kirin> She took a class with him. He is also a first year, but getting very high recognition rate due to his birthright and his tactical prowess.
[22:02:59] <Owen> Alcelstis stands back up so VV can't see her roll her eyes again.  "Well this is only my FIRST day at this school.  Come on, change of plans; we're checking you out some library books."
[22:03:03] <Kirin> His lightning-quick reflex and gigantic claymore is no joke, either.
[22:03:31] <Kirin> He is in the other silver-class authorized team. And apparently took no damage clearing it.
[22:03:57] <Doktor_Q> "Were you born yesterday?" VV asks
[22:04:07] <Kirin> Heylan : You notice you are trailed.
[22:04:42] <Blue_> Heylan's always being trailed! Usually by legions of fangirls. He pays it little mind.
[22:06:53] <Kirin> it indeed is! Not a legion this time, just a small group.
[22:08:28] <Owen> "Do you THINK that I was born yesterday?" Alcel responds.
[22:08:49] <Kirin> seeing that no one else is with him, the girl group walks up to him and strikes a chat.
[22:09:13] <Kirin> They want to know what he's doing out here.
[22:09:37] <Doktor_Q> "I was born three days ago. It is not impossible."
[22:10:47] <Blue_> Heylan explains he's keeping an eye on his party members. Just in case. He doesn't explains what the case is.
[22:11:13] <Kirin> They decides to tag along!
[22:11:29] <Kirin> it is now rather noisy around Heylan.
[22:11:43] <Boy_Named_Sue> Mirai remembers Draco from having been his senior during her 3'rd year in the underclass. He wasn't too bad. She was always able to depend on him to know what he had to do in training, at least.
[22:13:44] <Owen> Alcelstis doesn't even bother to respond to that; she'll figure it out.  Probably.  Picking up the pace, she and VV finally enter the academy library.
[22:14:48] <Kirin> "Grand hall of knowledge archive" is the name of this school's so-called library. it boasts a quiet atmosphere and a vast array of rare books and tomes you couldn't find anywhere else. The quality is said to be on par with the royal magical library of Voile itself.
[22:15:23] <Kirin> it's decorated with high ceiling, big round pillars, and marble furnitures everywhere.
[22:16:20] <Kirin> When you enter, the librarian, a girl in her twenty-ish, looks up from the book she is reading at the information counter, and pay you no mind.
[22:17:18] <Boy_Named_Sue> With her self-worth assured, Mirai proceeds with the rest of her day. It's almost dinner time, she might be able to stop by the food hall to grab something to eat and bring it back to her room.
[22:19:58] <Kirin> mess hall is sparse, only students coming to get some snacks. Dinners are still being prepared, and most of the school clubs are still active. it will be a while until this place is packed again.
[22:21:09] <Doktor_Q> VV begins steaming as she takes in the new room. "What is this?"
[22:24:49] <Owen> Alcelstis puts a finger to VV's lips, and whispers back.  "This is a place where you must be quiet.  Also called a library."
[22:25:32] <Doktor_Q> VV sucks the finger into her mouth, checking its taste.
[22:26:44] <Kirin> The librarian looks at you with interest.
[22:26:56] <Owen> It tastes like blood and sweat.  The clawlike fingernail is not as sharp as might be expected.  The skin is also unusually rough, like licking an unpolished rock.
[22:27:55] <Doktor_Q> She tests it with her teeth, just a bit, to see how solid it is.
[22:29:44] <Owen> The dragon's finger is not actually solid as a rock.  It's like trying to bite thick leather.
[22:30:02] <Owen> Alcelstis :|s at VV, but lets her be for now.  She looks over at the librarian, and is immediately self-conscious about how battle-worn she looks.  She shrugs.
[22:30:32] <Owen> "Transfer student hazing day.  It was worse at my old school."
[22:30:55] <Doktor_Q> She continues to nibble, analyzing her first taste of a dragon's finger. It's definitely new! Maybe not notable, but she has no criteria to discriminate on that.
[22:35:58] <Boy_Named_Sue> Mirai sees that food isn't ready yet and looks disappointed. She was hoping to AVOID the crowd.
[22:36:06] <Kirin> "Maybe you should get a shower or something first, but it's not like it's against the rule."
[22:36:29] <Doktor_Q> She pushes just a bit further each time, until one of her teeth breaks the skin
[22:36:38] <Kirin> "If you are tired, we have a place you can read lying down."
[22:36:48] <Kirin> "Just don't snore." She winks.
[22:37:25] <Kirin> Mirai : You see a weirdly-shaped Mosin gun wobbling back and forth nearby.
[22:37:36] <Owen> "The shower's on my to-do list.  Btu since I'm--" Alcelstis suddenly feels the bite of VV's teeth.  "--Excuse me."
[22:37:40] <Kirin> and a greeting.
[22:37:44] <Kirin> "H-hi..."
[22:38:31] <Doktor_Q> VV suckles the fresh blood, comparing the taste with the old, dry blood.
[22:38:48] <Owen> Alcelstis pulls her finger out of VV's mouth and hold it up in front of the golem's eyes, outside of bite range.
[22:39:33] <Doktor_Q> VV licks her lips, and stares at the finger, recording visual data to correlate.
[22:40:08] <Owen> "Did your mom ever tell you it was okay to bite people~?"  The dragon tries to keep her voice down, through gritted teeth.  This girl is really pushing her limits...
[22:41:10] <Kirin> "You can bite if she's into it" - Hakase, regarding biting during intimate time.
[22:42:48] <Doktor_Q> VV evaluates her knowledge base. "That was not what you wanted?"
[22:47:22] <Owen> Alcelstis tenses her finger/hand up and slowly balls it into a fist.  She would reeeeealy like to give VV an earful of what she "wants", but Alcelstis must respect the sanctity of the library's quiet; this is not negotiable!
[22:48:24] <Doktor_Q> "If you want something, you should be clear, concise, and expressive," VV parrots.
[22:48:32] <Owen> "...Just...no...later," she responds off hand before turning back to the librarian.
[22:48:33] <Boy_Named_Sue> "Hrm?" Mirai looks down, seeing where the gun leads.
[22:50:45] <Doktor_Q> VV watches them, attentively. She wonders how much different dragons taste compared to other species, compared to the food Iiwi fed her. And the not-food Iiwi fed her.
[22:51:01] <Owen> "Basic social etiquette primers, and a comprehensive guide to colloquialisms," Alcel says to the librarian.  "Specifically for a homonculus fresh out of the jar.  Got any?"
[22:51:19] <Blue_> Heylan strides up next to VV and whispers "You shouldn't bite people," to her, trying to look innocuous.
[22:52:10] <Doktor_Q> "But Hakase said it can be acceptable," VV replies, turning to face him.
[22:53:51] <Kirin> Mirai : It's the girl from earlier, Mirabilis. She's rather short, so you end up looking over her head the first time.
[22:54:02] <Kirin> "...Hi!" she tries again.
[22:55:21] <Kirin> Librarian : "There are -royal etiquette for dummies-, too. It's on the same shelf. Second floor, G row, 5 column. Should be around there."
[22:56:13] <Blue_> "Hakase gives bad advice," he whispers back.
[22:58:44] <Boy_Named_Sue> "...hi?", Mirai answers, standing against the wall where she was waiting for the food line to open.
[23:00:47] <Owen> Alcelstis is fairly certain that's a jab aimed in her general direction, but to acknowledge it would be to admit guilt, so she just tips her cap, gives VV a "Wait here," gives Heylan a passing glance, and heads off to the second floor.
[23:00:58] <Kirin> "W-we're in the same class...?"
[23:01:14] <Kirin> She add question marks to the end, seemingly unsure of herself.
[23:01:40] <Kirin> "Just want to get to know you... it's probably not okay, ahaha..."
[23:02:00] <Kirin> She looks the other way, nervous.
[23:02:29] <Boy_Named_Sue> Mirai just stares at the girl from the top of her upturned nose. Her expression is unreadable. "Do you... need something?"
[23:02:47] <Kirin> Library : The second floor is pretty much the same, just less spacious as it's mostly a balcony and bookshelfs.
[23:03:54] <Kirin> "Um, no, n-not really... It's okay... I'll, um, go now..."
[23:04:08] <Kirin> Mirabilis inches away from you Mirai.
[23:04:34] <Boy_Named_Sue> Mirari just watches the girl as she leaves, still expressionless.
[23:08:23] <Kirin> Soon she left, probably too scared to continue the interaction with you.
[23:08:54] <Owen> Alcelstis doesn't take long to find G-row Column 5, and makes sure to grab the book on colloquialisms first.  A few social etiquette books follow, but she leaves "Royal Etiquette for Dummies" alone; doesn't seem very practical.  After all a fork is a fork, right?  She also grabs a book called "How To Win Friends and Influence People".  Seems promising.
[23:10:51] <Kirin> The librarian says after you got back; "first time? just press your right hand on that glass panel and you are set."
[23:10:59] <Owen> On her way back downstairs, she passes by a history section, and on a whim picks up a basic history book on the Kingdom of Light.  It was on the blacklist in her old school; she's curious to see what they were hiding~
[23:13:35] <Owen> Alcelstis motions for VV to do it.  She's not letting The Man get her prints that easily!
[23:14:56] <Doktor_Q> VV presses her hand to it- does it work on her wholly artificial hands?
[23:15:46] <Kirin> Light glows, and your find 3-D hand prints are floating in the air.
[23:16:18] <Kirin> The librarian use her mini wand to direct that onto a sheet of glass and send it upwards, where it disappears into the building's high cellar.
[23:16:41] <Kirin> She also copy the prints and assimilate it into the borrowed book.
[23:16:48] <Kirin> "All set."
[23:20:12] <Boy_Named_Sue> With her mood just that little more soured, Mirai continues to wait for her food, pursing her lips as her foot fidgets with impatience.
[23:20:48] <Owen> Alcelstis sorts out the books for her and the books for VV.
[23:20:53] <Kirin> The mess hall lady finally gets around to you.
[23:21:07] <Kirin> "Ey, moody princess. What do you want to have t'day?"
[23:21:35] <Kirin> "We just finished whippin' up udon noodles, so if that fancy you you can give it a go."
[23:22:31] <Doktor_Q> VV examines the books. Her experiences tell her not to try and take a bite, despite the powerful temptation. "What are these?" She asks Alcel
[23:24:11] <Blue_> "They're books," Heylan explains. "You read them. ...Can you read, Vivi?"
[23:24:49] <Owen> Alcel gives Heylan a glare.  "Excuse me, she was asking ME?"
[23:26:10] <Doktor_Q> "Almost," VV replies. She recognizes a lot of the marks now!
[23:27:06] <Blue_> Heylan gives Alcel a slightly annoyed glance. "And?"
[23:27:26] <Doktor_Q> "Could you teach me?" She asks Alcel.
[23:31:14] <Owen> Alcelstis clenches her fist hard enough to probably make her fingernails draw blood.  She tries to squeeze a small glass of lemonade from the lemon.  "Yes I am physically and mentally capable of instructing you on how to read," she answers in monotone.
[23:31:56] <Doktor_Q> VV watches her expectantly.
[23:32:05] <Blue_> "She's lying," Heylan clarifies to VV.
[23:33:58] <Doktor_Q> "How can you tell?"
[23:34:06] <Blue_> "Experience."
[23:35:37] <Owen> "Of which you have none," Alcelstis adds.
[23:36:37] <Boy_Named_Sue> Shaking off the usual pithy remark, Mirai looks up at the cafeteria lady. "Vegetarian option, please."
[23:37:17] <Doktor_Q> "Then, can you teach me?" She asks Alcel again.
[23:38:49] <Owen> "VV, that is the same question," Alcelstis responds.  If she wants literal syntax, she's going to GET literal syntax!
[23:39:20] <Blue_> Heylan arches an eyebrow at Alcelstis' comment. "Oh really?" He asks her, as if daring her to keep going.
[23:40:57] <Doktor_Q> "You lied before. I'll ask until you don't."
[23:43:41] <Owen> Alcelstis folds her arms in front of her, and frowns.  "If you think I lied before, that means you think I CAN'T teach you and it's pointless for you to ask the question."
[23:44:02] <Doktor_Q> VV's head begins steaming again.
[23:44:04] <Owen> "So then why are you still asking, huh~?"
[23:45:08] <Doktor_Q> VV's visor flips down, the seams in her body open slightly, and she tries to sock Alcelstis in the face.
[23:45:35] <Blue_> Heylan moves to catch the arm before impact!
[23:46:09] <Doktor_Q> "Retaliating to psychological attack," She intones.
[23:46:57] <Kirin> "Eh, vegetarian? You young'uns need more meat into your bony arse to fight the demon lord."
[23:47:16] <Kirin> The cafeteria lady put in extra vegetarian udon for you Mirai.
[23:47:38] <Kirin> "In a way, I am contributin' the fight! Keep up the good work, princess!"
[23:50:20] <Blue_> Heylan catches the arm, keeping Alcestis from getting punched in the face. "Don't attack your teammates unless absolutely necessary."
[23:51:19] <Doktor_Q> "Retaliating against psychological attack," sh repeats, the single eye behind the visor swiveling to face him.
[23:52:11] <Owen> Alcelstis grabs Heylan's arm that's grabbing VV's arm.  "Let her go."
[23:52:37] <Kirin> Student gathers around them, whispering, unsure if they should call someone.
[23:52:49] <Kirin> 'but Heylan-sama is there, so everything will be OK'
[23:53:02] <Blue_> "Retaliate psychologically if you absolutely need to," he says. He gives Alcelstis a confused look, checking if she's absolutely certain about this.
[23:54:06] <Doktor_Q> VV tilts her head. Her combat mode disengages, and after a few moments, she falls over, steam vents opening completely, releasing great white billows.
[23:54:16] <Owen> The look in Alcelstis' eyes is less "it's okay" and more "don't get involved".
[23:55:11] <Blue_> Heylan stares at the girl that just went limp in his arms. "...Erm..." He pokes the side of her head, to check if she reacts to stimulus.
[23:55:27] <Doktor_Q> She twitches.
[23:56:26] <Blue_> Heylan gently puts her down, seeing if she can stand on her own.
[23:57:35] <Doktor_Q> She can't. Her body is uncomfortably hot, increasingly so as it approaches her head.
[23:58:23] <Kirin> "Sorry!"
[23:58:40] <Owen> Alcelstis looks at VV's blank face and glazed eyes, waving a hand in front of it and getting no response.
[23:58:43] <Kirin> a team of white gowns rushes in from all direction and spray coolants at VV.
[23:58:46] <Blue_> Heylan sighs. Well, this is part of the reason she's in his unit. He attempts a quick bout of healing magic, to see if that fixes her!
[00:00:14] <Doktor_Q> Healing magic doesn't help something that isn't damage. The coolant does the job after a minute, though. The steam vents snap shut, and she blinks. eyes tracking again. "What happened?" She asks.
[00:00:53] <Owen> Alcelstis kneels down and stares at VV.
[00:01:19] <Owen> "I said I would teach you how to read."
[00:01:55] <Doktor_Q> "Ok."
[00:02:04] <Doktor_Q> VV nods.
[00:02:23] <Owen> Her clenched fist is still hidden behind her back; anyone looking at it can see a few drops of blood leaking out of the palm.
[00:02:41] <Blue_> Heylan helps VV to her feet.
[00:03:52] <Doktor_Q> She seems to be fine now, just a normal amount of disorientation.
[00:08:13] <Owen> Alcelstis picks up the books set aside for VV and slips them into her bag.  "Let's get you back to the dorm, drop these books off.  After that I need a damn bath."
[00:08:54] <Kirin> The white gown team, after taking some measurements and taking notes, left in a hurry.
[00:09:00] <Doktor_Q> VV nods, and follows.
[00:12:43] <Owen> Alcelstis grabs VV's hand and pulls her along, knowing that they're not going to escape Heylan but hoping it'll help anyways.
[00:13:01] <Blue_> Heylan tags along! He'll split up when they get back to the dorms.
[00:13:06] <Doktor_Q> VV begins recording
[00:13:37] <Boy_Named_Sue> Taking her food, Mirai proceeds back towards the dorm as well, not wanting to eat among the rest of the soon-to-arrive crowd
[00:13:40] <Owen> "By the way, VV, if I told you 'This sentence is false', what would you think about that?"
[00:13:58] <Blue_> "Alcestis..." Heylan warns.
[00:15:21] <Doktor_Q> "That is a paradox," VV replies.
[00:16:26] <Owen> "Hey, if YOU want to pussyfoot around her problems all year you be my damn guest, but it's not doing her any favors in the long run, and you fucking KNOW it, and if you don't you're no good to her anyways!" Alcelstis shouts back, barely hearing VV's response.
[00:18:53] <Doktor_Q> "Is this 'jealousy?'" VV asks
[00:20:53] <Blue_> Heylan sighs wearily. "And purposefully overwhelming her doesn't help either."
[00:25:46] <Owen> Alcelstis sneers.  "That's the sort of talk that gets you 'good' results.  I don't know about you, but personally I prefer to go for 'great'."
[00:26:32] <Blue_> Heylan just sighs again.
[00:26:40] <Doktor_Q> "Is that why you lost to the trolls?"
[00:29:00] <Blue_> Heylan manages to suppress a chuckle hard enough to turn it into something indistinguishable from a cough.
[00:32:17] <Owen> Alcelstis turns back to VV, and smiles.  "What's all this talk about losing?  I thought this school was about teamwork!  Raise each other up, and all that?"
[00:32:58] <Doktor_Q> "I believe you rejected attempts at cooperation"
[00:33:11] <Blue_> Heylan has a sudden coughing fit.
[00:33:26] <Owen> "And I believe YOU hit me with a tree."
[00:34:35] <Doktor_Q> "You were in the optimal attack path for the troll. If you had coordinated you would not have been there."
[00:36:15] <Blue_> "You generally want to stay  behind  Vivi," Heylan helpfully adds. There's a bit of seriousness to it, too.
[00:36:43] <Doktor_Q> VVs view of formation tactics supports this. She is a  Vanguard  for a reason.
[00:43:09] <Owen> Alcelstis fumes that she has no response.  She can't deny it: she fucked up.  And they KNOW it.  The only thing left is to...
[00:44:52] <Owen> "Okay, FINE, I fucked up!  I am SORRY that I fucked up!  I did not WANT to fuck up!  I promise that next time I will NOT fuck up!  Will you FORGIVE me for fucking up?"
[00:45:45] <Owen> Alcelstis looks angrily from one of them to the other.  This is how you do it in the Kingdom of Light, right?  You're supposed to apologize?
[00:46:07] <Doktor_Q> "What needs to be forgiven?" VV asks.
[00:46:28] <Boy_Named_Sue> Suddenly, Mirai chimes up from behind Alcelstis. "Oh, she's sorry. That's good."
[00:48:08] <Blue_> Heylan sighs with a smile, shakes his head, and places his hand on Alcelstis's shoulder. "We're not mad at you, Alcestis."
[00:51:47] <Owen> The dragon girl brushes his hand away.  She turns away and keeps walking back to the dorms.
[00:53:00] <Doktor_Q> VV trails along behind like a good party member should.
[00:55:17] <Boy_Named_Sue> "Hey, wait! I know our results on the test!", Mirai chimes up, mostly directing her attention towards Heylan.