Persona Flashpoint 6 - Bout The City

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Danjuro:
Honestly, just continuing to invest in HP and defenses seems like the way to go.

Danjuro:
Toughness exists

Danjuro:
The question is really whether Boundless Endurance is better than Unstoppable

Danjuro:
Boundless Endurance Fighter Utility 2 You shake off the worst of your wounds. Daily ✦ Healing, Martial, Stance Minor Action Personal Effect: You gain regeneration 2 + your Constitution modifier when you are bloodied.

Danjuro:
I assume that's just "you regain (5) HP at the start of each turn while your HP is under half for the rest of the encounter"

Danjuro:
I have -three- Players' Handbooks, for some reason

Danjuro:
but no CRB
Phatthrice:
PHB1 IS the core rule book lol

Danjuro:
whew this thing has an INDEX?

Danjuro:
I remember indexes.

Danjuro:
They were way more goddamn useful than Ctrl+F+Pray
Phatthrice:
I think the most relevant PHB2 feat for you is like
Phatthrice:
Timely Respite
Phatthrice:
which lets you make a saving throw when you use your second wind

Danjuro:
Improved Grab Prerequisite: Str 13 Benefit: When you use the grab action, you gain a +4 feat bonus to the attack roll. The bonus increases to +6 at 11th level and +8 at 21st level.

Danjuro:
sinister
Phatthrice:
I mean if you're gonna do that you might as well go the Brawler route lol

Danjuro:
it still doesn't let me DO anything.

Danjuro:
just makes it more likely that I succeed in doing nothing
Phatthrice:
oh there's also this I guess
Phatthrice:
REDOUBLED EFFORTS Prerequisite: An y martial class Benefit: When you use your second wind, you can forgo the bonus to defenses to gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls until the end of your next turn.
Phatthrice:
From Martial Power
Phatthrice:
or
Phatthrice:
RESILIENCE OF STONE Prerequisite: Dwarf, any martial class Benefit: You can use your second wind as an immediate interrupt when you are damaged by an attack.
Phatthrice:
Also that's why I said you'd be better off just going with like
Phatthrice:
the fighter path that lets you hit people

Danjuro:
kinda like Redoubled Efforts
Phatthrice:
and also grab them

Danjuro:
is that the thing that happens at 11th level

Danjuro:
or is it buried in some supplementary product somewhere
Phatthrice:
it's in martial power
Phatthrice:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1e2QsDFQiHdNnY1NnlYYzNJOVk/edit
Phatthrice:
martial power 2 apparently
Phatthrice:
the Good one

Danjuro:
well damb I was just about to dig into the bad one

Danjuro:
yeah fuck if I knew about this I'd have gone straight into it

Danjuro:
so I'll lose the +1 to Attack with 1-handed weapons I only just remembered about last session

Danjuro:
and the Combat Superiority feature I never once remembered that IIRC only came up once anyway.
Phatthrice:
Mainly you trade off the ability to stop someone's movement for the ability to knock them prone after the movement

Danjuro:
god I like these
Ci Tsukino has connected.
Ci Tsukino:
I am here.
Phatthrice:
so we believed in you...............................................................
Phatthrice:
Did you ever pick a Feat for 2nd level my guy
Ci Tsukino:
Probably not.
Phatthrice:
well the obvious options are like, toughness or improved initiative
Phatthrice:
there's also uhhh
Phatthrice:
DEFENSIVE HEALING WORD Prerequisite: C l e r i c , healing word p o w e r Benefit: W h e n y o u use y o u r healing word, t h e target also g a i n s a p o w e r b o n u s to all d e f e n s e s e q u a l to y o u r C h a r i s m a m o d i f i e r against t h e n e x t attack m a d e against h i m o r her.
Phatthrice:
oh boy
Phatthrice:
also
Phatthrice:
VERSATILE CHANNELER Prerequisite: A n y d i v i n e class, C h a n n e l D i v i n i t y class f e a t u r e Benefit: C h o o s e a d i v i n e class o t h e r t h a n y o u r o w n a n d a C h a n n e l D i v i n i t y p o w e r a v a i l a b l e a s a class feature for that class. A d d that C h a n n e l D i v i n ­ ity p o w e r to y o u r list of a v a i l a b l e C h a n n e l D i v i n i t y p o w e r s .
Phatthrice:
yeah these

Danjuro:
I f o u n d o u t t h a t t h e r e i s a f ig h t e r p a t h t h a t f o c u s e s o n g r a b s
Phatthrice:
blow for pasting into maptool
Ci Tsukino:
Can you post the first one in OoC chat
Ci Tsukino:
That sounds pretty coo'.

Danjuro:
so yea I'm gonna replace Sure Strike with "Slightly less accurate sure strike that also grabs"
Phatthrice:
the second lets you snipe any channel divinity use from any other class
Phatthrice:
those are the most interesting ones I see for human clerks
Phatthrice:
the "best" option is probbably just improved initiative as it always is
Phatthrice:
speaking of I did not yet pick a feat for Takara
Ci Tsukino:
Yeaaah, what does improved init give me again?
Ci Tsukino:
I've got no modifier for init lol
Phatthrice:
+4 initiative.
Ci Tsukino:
swag
Ci Tsukino:
Let's do this

Danjuro:
Study says, acting first? Often good.

Danjuro:
I guess my AC is just

Danjuro:
going to go UP

Danjuro:
from getting rid of the "shield"
Phatthrice:
Takara should probably ALSO just grab improved init
Phatthrice:
BUT
Phatthrice:
he might instead take
Phatthrice:
Destructive Wizardry Prerequisite: Dex 13, wizard Benefit: When you use an arcane attack power and hit two or more creatures, you gain a +2 bonus to that power’s damage rolls. This bonus increases to +3 at 11th level and to +4 at 21st level.

Danjuro:
oh I def don't have Tide of Iron anymore h

Danjuro:
lessee if I can get one of those Invigorating attack

Danjuro:
s
Phatthrice:
You can uh, still take powers available in the phb lol

Danjuro:
yea but attacks that give me temp HP seem good.
Phatthrice:
You're not locked to the ones in martial power just cause u took brawler lol

Danjuro:
I may not be locked but I am interested

Takara:
yeah unfortunately as a controller I am obligated to take improved init

Danjuro:
Special: When charging, you can use this power in place of a melee basic attack.

Danjuro:
When charging, eh?

Danjuro:
Charge You throw yourself into the fight, dashing forward and launching an attack. CHARGE: STANDARD ACTION ✦ Move and Attack: Move your speed as part of the charge and make a melee basic attack or a bull rush at the end of your move. ✦ +1 Bonus to the Attack Roll: You gain a +1 bonus to the attack roll of your basic attack or bull rush. ✦ Movement Requirements: You must move at least 2 squares from your starting position, and you must move directly to the nearest square from which you can attack the enemy. You can’t charge if the near est square is occupied. Moving over difficult terrain costs extra squares of movement as normal.

Danjuro:
Hmmmmmmm. I like this.

Danjuro:
Not even sure what the DOWNSIDE is

Danjuro:
No Further Actions: After you resolve a charge attack, you can’t take any further actions this turn, unless you spend an action point to take an extra action.

Danjuro:
Like, just use your Minors beforehand
Takara:
the downside is that you can normally only use a basic attack
Ci Tsukino:
Also i dibs the glitter pen :V
Takara:
which is worse than literally any other option you could possibly have

Danjuro:
So with Grappling Strike, am I correct in reading that "you grab your target" means "you automatically grab your target"

Danjuro:
and not "you may make a check to grab your target"
Takara:
Yes it's automatic, they become grabbed

Danjuro:
neat

Danjuro:
where should we start off?

Danjuro:
Less importantly, full HP?

Takara:
Eveyone ready?

Takara:
And yes you're at full hp
Danjuro: (( Good here ))
Ci Tsukino: (( yush ))
Danjuro: (( feelin BEEFY ))
Danjuro: (( 42 HP, 19 AC, hugging people to death out here. ))
Takara: (( 42 HP? my god what did you have at L1 ))
Danjuro: (( 15+con score ))
Danjuro: (( so 31. ))
Danjuro: (( plus 6 from L2, plus 5 from toughness ))
Takara: (( ah okay toughness explains it ))

Takara:
doesn't explain taking toughness but it does explain that
Ci Tsukino: (( Wait, how much should I have? I have zero con modifier :V ))
Phatthrice:
It's not mod at level 1, it's full stat
Danjuro: (( Con mod just... doesn't seem to come up much. ))
Phatthrice:
So at level 1 you had 12+stat
Phatthrice:
con mod determines healing surges
Phatthrice:
the number, not the amount
Ci Tsukino: (( Oh, okay, you already did mine then I guess. ))
Phatthrice:
Yeah, I did last session lol
Phatthrice:
so that yall wouldn't double die
Ci Tsukino:
Just making sure
Ci Tsukino:
Anyway, where to :V
Phatthrice:
DAWN OF THE WHATEVER DAY IT IS, SOME NUMBER OF HOURS REMAIN
Danjuro: (( I like to have the big numbers ))
Phatthrice:
Kaori and Dandan board the bus to the station Takara told you about. You step out smack dab into the middle of downtown, and look back down at the text Takara sent you. Looking around, you find the building...you think...? It's a huge sky-rise. Suddenly the random string of numbers at the end of Takara's text make sense; it's a room number: 1108. You tell the receptionist, who calls up Takara's room. He gives the okay, of course, and the receptionist leads you through the swanky lobby to the elevator. The ride is smooth as silk, and before you know it, you're in Takara's room. It's no penthouse, but it's still far outside what you'd expected. Leather couches, wide-screen TVs, and the kind of potted plants only rich people keep. Takara is sitting at a computer, pecking away, while Lethe is lying down, in human form, on one of the couches. She seems to be reading the school paper. She doesn't even go to the school, what a madlass.
Phatthrice:
oh that was longer than i thought
Tokens dropped onto map 'Takara's Place' by player Ci Tsukino (Player)

Danjuro:
Danjuro whistles. "Damn, chief, you could have told us your family was loaded! Spent this whole time thinking we were gonna get thrown outta here!"
Kaori: (( new map is up btw ))

Lethe:
"From this high up? That'd hurt!"

Danjuro:
aw mane casual tokens

Lethe:
"You guys can't fly, right?"

Kaori:
"Fwuhuuuh? This place is like, crazy huge...! This is like bigger than my entire apartment!" Kaori looks around in amazement. She's also dressed a lot more casually than her normal school outfit, which is probably a bit of a change for everyone else who appear to be dressed up just as much as usual.

Lethe:
what you think this is my school outfit hell no I only have one mode: cute
Danjuro: (( man I just don't have a whole lotta options. ))
Danjuro: (( https://i.pximg.net/img-master/img/2015/10/06/17/37/46/52901081_p0_master1200.jpg ))

Takara:
ah yes

Takara:
403 forbidden

Takara:
the best of images
Danjuro: (( mrgrgr ))

Takara:
"Sorry for not mentioning it. My mother pays for this..."

Takara:
He clears his throat, embarrassed, "L-let's get on to why we're here. We need to discuss our plan of action..."

Kaori:
Kaori scoots out of the doorway...or, elevator doorway, rather and heads inside, "Right...!"

Danjuro:
Danjuro drags a chair in from the dining room, sitting on it backwards

Kaori:
"Sorry this is just like....SUPER NICE. I'm really jealous...!"

Danjuro:
He'll grab one for Kaori too unless he sees her going for the couch
Danjuro: (( Pretty wide-open area here. ))

Lethe:
do not sit on me

Lethe:
fatty

Lethe:
"Yeah, it's great! Do you wanna move in, too?"

Danjuro:
"I think she's keeping her moving options open for the worst-case scenario."

Takara:
"I-it's nothing. Really...It's not like I earned this..."

Kaori:
Kaori flinches at that, "Right...so...abotu the situation..."

Kaori:
"So...we know it's not Kodaira-chan...and whoever that place belongs to is using her like a puppet. We also know that they view the school as a farm...but like, what does that mean? Or like, what does it mean to them..?

Takara:
"Hrg...a place to grow resources, maybe...?"

Danjuro:
"They're raising us for the slaughter..." Danjuro grins. "Getting us all nice and fat."

Danjuro:
"The obvious take is that it's a teacher, I think. A pretty sadistic one, at that."

Takara:
"For slaughter...Well, that might be it..."

Kaori:
"Well...that would explain why there were no animals on the farm. Like, if this person views the students as livestock or something?"

Takara:
"A teacher would make sense. Before, when I entered...Agh.." He grips his head again, but shakes it off, "Sorry. As I was saying, every time I went in before, it took multiple trips before I could piece everything together. But we need a new way in...I doubt the locker room will work anymore."

Takara:
there WERE animals I just didn't have time to place them and I was tired lol

Takara:
They differered though

Danjuro:
some of em were haggard n shit

Danjuro:
in the pictures
Danjuro: (( which I assume translated to the actual livestock we saw ))

Takara:
there were haggard sheep, haggard sheep with human faces, and the same for robust, healthy cows as well as a few ranch hands

Takara:
You couldn't make out any faces, though - they were all too far away or fuzzy
Danjuro: (( One of them was Idris Elba ))

Takara:
the other was jason derulo's dick
Danjuro: (( How long do we -have- on Kaori's thing ))
Danjuro: (( Friday? ))
Kaori: (( Less than a week now. ))
Takara: (( yeah ))

Kaori:
"Ughhhh, that lady's voice was super familiar though, even if I couldn't recognize her with that goofy outfit on..."

Lethe:
"She was hot!"

Danjuro:
"How do you even 'find' a new way in? Just. . . take pictures around every part of the school?"

Danjuro:
"It's gotta be where something traumatic happened, is that it?"

Takara:
Takara glances at Lethe before responding, "Well...not necessarily. It needs to be somewhere tied to what's going on."

Takara:
"Somewhere that has left an impact on the Shadow controlling that area."

Kaori:
"Well...wouldn't a logical place be that person's classroom or somethin'?"

Danjuro:
"Y'think it'd be possible to make a place like that? In theory?"

Takara:
"Yeah. The obvious areas are classrooms, offices, the teacher's lounge..."

Takara:
"Assuming it's a teacher."

Takara:
"Since this world is already in place, I don't think so, Danjuro. It...might be possible to force the formation of a shadow realm in that way, though...

Takara:
"

Takara:
"But if one already exists, if we did something drastic enough to change the entry point, it could wind up altering the entire realm. ...and if we chose the wrong person, we could add whole extra layer of complexity, not to mention emotionally torment an innocent person."

Kaori:
"She was saying junk like...'abandon those worthless failures.' That sure sounds like something someone in power would say...but I guess she's in power in that world regardless of who she is in the real one..."
Kaori: (( Can I roll insight to see if I remember anything now that I've had some time to think? :V ))

Takara:
Memory I think is a straight Intelligence check

Takara:
And you can do that
Kaori: (( Gross. That's a way worse check :V ))

Kaori:
21

Takara:
my ass it is
Kaori: (( Swag. That's a baller check. ))

Lethe:
owl be damned
Danjuro: (( damb ))
Danjuro: (( You will not roll above a 5 for the rest of the session. ))
Kaori: (( *my life ))
Danjuro: (( until you GM again ))
Kaori: (( Killberg's gonna getcha. ))

Danjuro:
Danjuro shrugs. "I DID get a lead fed to me when Nari pulled me aside the other day... technically, I think she made me swear to secrecy, but it's gonna come up if we do any more digging anyway."
Phatthrice:
Kaori recalls that this woman called Kodaira by name, and seemed to know her well; she specifically called her a failure in school AND life. She also remarked that Kaori had 'potential', indicating that she was probably fond of her in the real world, and that she(the fire queen) was Kaori's only shot at getting ahead in the world
Phatthrice:
You also noticed a brand on some of the livestock, likely caused the queen herself. It was sort of snake like, but it had a big rectangle on one end, like it was biting a brick or something

Kaori:
Kaori relays everything she remembered to see if it sparks anything in the bois.

Danjuro:
harsh but fair

Danjuro:
"Like, a spiraling snake? A coil?"

Takara:
Nah just a curled one, kinda like an S, with a big ol block at the head end

Takara:
It wasn't super distinct, but she'd notice it if she saw it again

Kaori:
"No..just like, a regular squiggly snake."

Kaori:
"Like an S."

Takara:
"I think we need to quickly get ahold of Kodaira. She seems like the key to this... But I don't know her very well. ...I think.":

Danjuro:
"Yeah, you're not alone in that."

Danjuro:
"She's always been weird."

Kaori:
"Doesn't help any that everyone's alway so mean to her...it's no wonder she doesn't like to talk to anyone.."

Lethe:
"Hey, don't be mean! She's just sad..."

Danjuro:
"Chicken or the egg, man."

Kaori:
"I would've thought that you'd get it more than anyone, Danpachi-san. Everyone always thinks you look like some Yakuza thug or somethin'."

Lethe:
"..is...is he not??"

Lethe:
"He doens't just look like one, he ACTS like one!"

Takara:
"Alright, alright, back on track... We don't have any time to waste."

Danjuro:
"You find a look that works, you lean into it, alright?"

Kaori:
"Right! Er, not alright to you. Kodaira-chan is our biggest lead in this and the sooner we find her the better!"

Takara:
"Does...anyone know where she lives? Even a general idea? Or where she hangs out?"

Lethe:
those are the same thing my guy

Danjuro:
"Ehh, crap. Alright..."

Danjuro:
Does she have a Facebook or did she get bullied off of it

Lethe:
if I'm being entirely honest but also kind of mean

Lethe:
her parents probably deactivated it so she wouldn't kill herself due to cyberbullying

Danjuro:
fuck

Danjuro:
Alright, but deactivated doesn't mean deleted.
Danjuro: (( MT and I JUST had this conversation. ))
Danjuro: (( She might have the odd post in there alluding to hobbies and/or hangouts, or her ao3 page. ))

Lethe:
she would not link her yaoi fanfiction to her facebook page

Kaori:
"Bluhhh...I know she hides out in the library at school most of the time...but she seems like the type who'd rather just stay at home when school's out..."

Danjuro:
yeah right what kind of loser would do that

Takara:
Takara creeps up on her Facebook page, and it actually has a bit of relevant info. The account was shut down about a year ago, toward the start of the first year of high school, but there are multiple images of middle school and early high school Kodaira with varying cats, in a cat cafe, most likely

Danjuro:
well shit I'm down.

Danjuro:
I wonder if she's into the rabbit thing
Kaori: (( Now you're shipping yourself :V ))

Kaori:
"Whatcha find?"
Danjuro: (( Nah I'm just proposing it as a line of conversation ))
Danjuro: (( something to lie about. ))

Takara:
He relays the kodaira cat cafe info to you, and asks if you know of any around here

Danjuro:
I AM trained in Streetwise

Danjuro:
according to my increasingly beat-up physical character sheet.
Kaori: (( Okay, but I'm trained in Religion. ))
Danjuro: (( Are you Egyptian? ))

Takara:
hohari was a fox not a cat

Takara:
you recall nothing of cat gods

Lethe:
"Eugh...cats..."

Danjuro:
20 The owl would eat the cats

Lethe:
She scowls, "I went to one of those cat cafes once, and they get REALLY MAD if you try to eat the cats! Why even call it a cafe at that point?!"

Danjuro:
"You're supposed to just hang out with the cats, girl!"

Lethe:
"Do you go to a seafood buffet to pet crabs?!"

Danjuro:
"Sometimes they let you watch the lobsters."

Kaori:
"Cat cafes aren't on my usual routine so uhhh, I'm kinda stumped."
Danjuro: (( I assume a 20 gives me some knowledge. ))

Lethe:
Danjuro knows where a few cafes are, and Lethe knows of another(though Lethe makes it clear she's not allowed in the one she's aware of)
Kaori: (( But does that 20 let him know where the maid cafe is ))

Lethe:
Most of them are downtown, and one of them is pretty close. There's also one that's further toward the outskirts

Lethe:
takara knows where the maid cafes are.

Danjuro:
"My sis has made me take her to a couple 'round town... never been there at the same time as Kodaira, though. Maybe she was just hiding from me."

Lethe:
kodaira is probably not in a maid cafe.
Kaori: (( *Probably.* ))

Lethe:
she may however be in a boy maid cafe if kaori knows of any
Danjuro: (( That feels a bit *too* niche ))

Kaori:
"Your sister, huh?" She gives Dandan a teasing sideways smirk as if to call him out.
Kaori: (( Don't make me start linking the various yaoi cafes. . . ))
Kaori: (( Because they exist :V ))
Danjuro: (( exCUSE me ))

Danjuro:
"Yes, my sister." His cheeks do turn a bit red. "It's... not like I MIND cats or anything. Just not the sort of place a guy's meant to go on his own, y'know?"
Danjuro: (( I'd throw Ayumu in there too as a guest but IDK how she'd react to cats ))

Kaori:
"Well this is a lot of ground to cover in not a lot of day off...should we split up?"
Danjuro: (( Calling ahead seems like it would make sense ))
Kaori: (( Dunno how that would fly just calling over the phone. At least if we go in person we could be like "Hey, have you seen our friend? :V" ))

Lethe:
just fuckin call em up like

Lethe:
"YO IS THERE A REALLY CREEPY GIRL THERE PROBABLY SWEATING BUCKETS OR SOMETHING"
Danjuro: (( What's even the angle we go for when we see her ))

Lethe:
"DEFINITELY ALONE"
Danjuro: (( Hey, we fought your shadow puppet self in the metaverse ))
Danjuro: (( what's up with that ))

Lethe:
throttle her and demand she tell you everything she knows

Takara:
"Splitting up seems like a good idea, gang. We have to make sure Lethe goes to....a cafe she's allowed into. Actually, she may be our best bet - Kodaira won't recognize her."

Takara:
"Just, please. Don't try to eat the cats."

Kaori:
"You hear him, Danpachi-san. No eating cats!"

Lethe:
She clips her teeth like a beak, "Fiiinnnnee...Unlessonelooksreallytasty"

Danjuro:
There's a joke here that's simultaneously too easy but too hard to make funny

Danjuro:
"Yeah, yeah, we'll be fine."
Phatthrice:
And so you split up, gang, each taking on a different catfe. Truly, a dangerous task
Phatthrice:
So two ways to go about this - we can either decide who finds Kodaira ooc, or we can all roll Streetwise for it
Phatthrice:
note, danjuro is literally the only person trained in streetwise
Kaori: (( I can roll another 20 ))

Danjuro:
Yes! I am!
Kaori: (( What stat is streetwise? ))
Kaori: (( Is it wis ))
Danjuro: (( Charisma. ))

Kaori:
9

Takara:
oh i'm bad at that

Takara:
8

Lethe:
10

Danjuro:
I could still roll a 4 or below.

Danjuro:
13

Danjuro:
I didn't.
Kaori: (( But you didn't. ))
Kaori: (( Now you have to talk to her. ))

Danjuro:
I do.

Danjuro:
This should be good.

Kodaira:
Danjuro chadwalks into the catfe, hip-thrusting through the door. This startles the cats, but no one is more alarmed than the nerdy, panicky girl at the corner table. She EEPs very loudly, and ducks under the table. You did catch a glimpse of her, though

Kodaira:
The map is visible

Kodaira:
it is not very important

Kodaira:
but it is there

Kodaira:
your tokens are already on it

Danjuro:
Dandan sighs. For basically having drawn the short straw, having been SPOTTED, and for it being basically the reaction he expected.

Danjuro:
Calling in an air strike of the rest of the party seems like it would be way too much, but now that he had a lock on her. . . nothing to do but press the issue. Had to break the tension first, though.

Danjuro:
I need a cat token

Danjuro:
Protips: Do NOT google Cats right now.
Kaori: (( DON'T EAT THE CAT! ))
Tokens dropped onto map 'Downtown' by player Ci Tsukino (Player)
Danjuro: (( that is the UGLIEST cat I've ever seen. ))

Danjuro:
Danjuro scoops up the ugly cat, gives it a couple pets, and puts it on his shoulder

Danjuro:
He then moves to sit down at Kodaira's table.

Kodaira:
i do not have any cat tokens.

Danjuro:
Biggles will suffice
Danjuro: (( whatever happened to Hendrix? ))

CompletelyNormalCat:
Oh wait

CompletelyNormalCat:
I do have this

CompletelyNormalCat:
it is not hendrix, but it is haze
Kaori: (( Wait wait wait ))

Danjuro:
"Hey. You doing alright down there?"

Danjuro:
"Can I get you a coffee?"

Kodaira:
She cowers under the table, breathing rapidly, "I'mnothere i'mnothere i'mnothere i'mnothere"
Kaori: (( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjoc1ZnGjX8 ))

Danjuro:
"Yeah, but - you are, though. I can hear you."

Danjuro:
"Look, I get that this is a bit weird... it's just me, alright? Banchou's got nothing to do with this."
Kaori: (( You're also a scary guy tho :V ))
Danjuro: (( yea... ))
Danjuro: (( with an UGLY CAT ))

Kodaira:
"W-what? Th-the Banchou's here...?" She looks up at that, then jerks her head back down, "W-what do you want...."

Kodaira:
a VERY ugly cat

Kodaira:
at least hers is only freakishly extradimensional
Kaori: (( Also, isn't the banchou like, a protector dude? Wouldn't he be better than you? :V ))
Danjuro: (( afaik I answer to him ))
Kaori: (( Oh, I didn't know it said in your backstory that you WAS A LITTLE BITCH >:V ))

Danjuro:
"No, no, nothing like that. Just . . . egh, how do I start..."
Kaori: (( Also people are walking by this cat club and see you forcing Kodaira-chan under the table, baka hentai ))
Kodaira: (( the banchou looks out for his fellow students at times, and he's not all bad - one of his big sticking points is never taking lunch money from people, for some reason ))

Danjuro:
"You never found that case of Ayumu's you were looking for the other day, didja?"

Kodaira:
"H-huh? Uh...n-no..." She's still visibly shaking and is EXTREMELY CONFUSED why you are assaulting her so

Kodaira:
just end her life, bring this misery to its predetermined conclusion

Danjuro:
"Okay - you're sure you don't want a coffee, tea, or nothin'? More cats? I can bring more cats over. This one was just... kind of the first one that showed up. He got a name?" Danjuro looks at the beaver quizzically

Danjuro:
"I know the line 'I just wanna talk' gets thrown around a lot, but I really just wanna talk. It's on me, you can have whatever."
Danjuro: (( I'm not seeing a Charm or Persuasion skill. . . oh, there's Diplomacy ))
Danjuro: (( but I will hold off rolling it until necessary ))

Kodaira:
Her eyes remain clamped shut, her head down, "Why are you here?!" She pleads, "No ever...just...talks to me! No one! They always want something! They make me their errand girl, or they push me around, o-or they see who can make me cry first! What do YOU want?!"

Kodaira:
"It was only a matter of time before somebody found out about this place...but why'd it have to be YOU..."

Danjuro:
"...yeah, that's fair. I'm not going to act like I don't have a motive here, but it IS pretty damn unfair the way you've been treated. Not going to pretend otherwise."

Lethe:
well know she KNOWS you want something out of her

Lethe:
shoulda just kept it cool and laughed at her
Danjuro: (( Should I have? ))

Lethe:
I dunno how much do you trust the girl who eats cats
Danjuro: (( idk I've had a similar conversation with my dad at one point ))
Kaori: (( About eating cats? ))
Danjuro: (( kinda came to the conclusion that all conversations have a motive ))
Danjuro: (( about why you even talk to people in the first place ))

Kodaira:
99% of the time my motive is "I want to say something because my voice is glorious"

Kodaira:
and everything i say is greatmazing

Kodaira:
Kodaira crawls up from the floor and slumps down in the bench, staring at the wall, absentmindedly stroking the cat in her hands, "Just...get it over with. Whatever you came to do...call me names, hit me...I have enough to pay for your visit if that's what you're after..."

Kodaira:
"Just...don't tell anyone else about me coming here..."

Danjuro:
"I'm just worried about the crowd you're falling into, girl. Or... ending up at? Shit. We've both been burned by Ayu, alright? I don't know how she's reacted to her shit going missing, but I can't imagine she's been nice about it."

Kodaira:
A sour expression passes over her face, "...ugh...don't mention her... A-anyway, can you stop bringing that up? It...It wasn't even hers...I just thought saying that would keep me out of trouble..."
Danjuro: (( oh well now I can't NOT bring it up ))
Danjuro: (( So the chances of her being the one snapping the pics are like... 100%, right ))
Kaori: (( I unno, I'm over here at this cat cafe :V ))
Danjuro: (( I'm considering - not ACCUSING her, but bringing it up, the girls quitting clubs and all, asking her if she's been affected by it, offering support ))
Danjuro: (( I feel like if she's the one doing the pics she'll flip out though ))
Danjuro: (( oh well it's the angle I have ))

Danjuro:
"But it hasn't, huh?" Danjuro considers for a bit, before lowering his voice and leaning in. "...hey. You've heard about... all those girls quitting clubs, flunking out and stuff, right? I've heard there's - well, blackmail involved. They don't have you tied up in that, do they?"

Danjuro:
"You've just seemed... I don't know. Extra stressed lately."

Danjuro:
"Got me worried about you."

Kodaira:
She freezes, the cat idly licking the back of its paw, "W-what?! N-no, that--I just meant - there were four of you! I-if I said the case was mine, I-I figured you wouldn't give it back! You'd play keep-away o-or dump it into the toilet!"

Kodaira:
she might be panicking but i mean that's a solid idea

Danjuro:
"Keep-away? Really?" Danjuro laughs. "Come on, girl, we aren't in middle school anymore! 'sides, Hiroki, Kaori? You're really worried 'bout those two?"

Danjuro:
I don't remember who the fourth was

Richly Unfortunate Man:
On Kaori's end, a man with eyes as sharp as his suit saunters in and throws a fistful of money at the registrar, saying in a chipper, almost singsong voice, "Keep the change, love! In exchange, I wanna pick my cat!" And so he does. Plops himself down in a booth, and caaarefully picks up a kitty. He raises it to his face, making playful babby talk... and the cat goes BALLISTIC, screeching and hollering, twisting about, and clawing up the man's cheek! "Ow, ow, ow! No--not again!!"
Kaori: (( At least he's not an Unfortunately Rich Man? ))

Kodaira:
neither do I maybe there were only three

Kodaira:
"You'd be surprised...if they think it'll get a rise out of me, people will do anything..."

Kaori:
"Huh...this is...painfully awkward..." She pulls out her phone and shoots a text to the group. "Any luck with the cat cafes? ヾ(*ΦωΦ)ﾉ"

Danjuro:
"I feel like people've mostly got their own shit to worry about now... clubs, sports, midterms coming up here... man, for what it's worth, I'm sorry for joining in on it. We were just stupid kids, you know? I'd say we didn't know any better, but we really should've. s'just what everyone else was doing. Doesn't make it right."

Danjuro:
Dandan gets the buzzing, and gives his phone a quick look before setting it face-down on the table

Kodaira:
She glares at you, snarling, "Better things to do?! Yeah! Now they make me get their food, or give them test answers, or join their petty schemes! They didn't STOP! They just changed how they go about it! ....you wouldn't understand. Nobody would dare do that to you."

Richly Unfortunate Man:
After the cat struggles free of the man's grip, he seeks out other tables, but they turn him away. Eventually, he gets to Kaori's, "Heeeey! That little thing looks pretty docile! Nothing like that other beast! Do you...think I could pet it?"
Kaori: (( Is he talking about my bag or do I have a cat ))

Richly Unfortunate Man:
the catte
Danjuro: (( oh this guy is giving weird vibes. ))

Richly Unfortunate Man:
I mean I'm assuming you have a catte
Kaori: (( I assume I got a table to sit and wait for her if she came then :V ))

Richly Unfortunate Man:
i mena

Richly Unfortunate Man:
unless you're just standing awkwardly in everyone's way

Richly Unfortunate Man:
which is possible
Kaori: (( I assumed that's what the new kid was doing ))

Lethe:
i am playing with my fodo

Lethe:
food

Lethe:
drooling

Takara:
i have taken many pictures of catte

Danjuro:
"Well yeah, there's still going to be dicks that take advantage of you as long as you let them! How long do you plan to keep letting them?"

Kaori:
"Nyuh?" she pokes the sleepy cat's tummy lightly, "I guess?"

Kodaira:
She glares even harder at you, but maintains a soft grip on the catte so as not to harm it, "Easy for you to say. What am I supposed to do? Fight them? Look at me! You couldn't even fight off four or five people! They're just scared to try it! They're not AFRAID of me! What're my other options? Go tattle? The teachers never do anything! Maeda doesn't even CARE! Maybe if I had better grades..."

Richly Unfortunate Man:
He geeently pats the kitty....and as soon as he does, it springs awake, clamping his arms in an upside-down death grip, you know the one, and latching on, "YeeOW! Why!? How do you even KNOW?!" He yanks his hand away, sporting fresh, stinging scratches, "Agh..." The cat immediately calms back down. "Now you're just mocking me!"
Danjuro: (( ooh I love that death grip ))
Danjuro: (( that's the main reason to own a cat ))

RUM:
His name was getting too long, so he shortens it

RUM:
He looks at Kaori, dejected, "Do they do this to you?"

Kaori:
Kaori rubs the cat's tummy, wiggling it in place, "Nah. Maybe you're just bad with cats?"

Danjuro:
"Yeah, well, Maeda doesn't know shit. Don't try and hold yourself to her standards. The whole staff's too damn afraid to do anything without rock-solid proof."

RUM:
"Gh...Well, yes, that, I had gathered...But they're so cute! How can they hate me so?"

Kaori:
"Maybe you're trying too hard?"

Kodaira:
"Then WHAT?! Transfer schools?! I might as well, the only friends I have are as bad as I am...."

Danjuro:
Danjuro sets the ugly cat down on the table. "Come to me next time, alright? And seriously, try and do some asking around. Join a club or something, Takara's always trying to get me to recruit new members. ...that came off as a pitch. Wasn't meant to be. But if you're interested, or got nothing better to do..."

RUM:
"How can I not? Have you SEEN them? I just - when it comes to cute things, I can't control myself! But they never like me..."

RUM:
"Well, of course, not to say my fans aren't cute, but it's just not the same! Though I hope they never claw me so..."

Kodaira:
"...is that what you came here for? Really...? Why ME? Are you that desperate for club members?"

Kaori:
"Well yeah, cats are cute and all...hrmm, here. " She sits the cat up on the table. "Just like...let him sniff your hand a little bit."

Danjuro:
"Man, I just said it's not! Just... look. I kind of got off track with this whole thing. I guess I don't think it would be fair to you to press for anything else."

Danjuro:
"Sorry to bother you. Hope things go better."

RUM:
"...Well, I've tried that before, but...it can't hurt..." He holds his hand out gingerly, and the cat lightly sniffs...and then attacks! "Ow! Ow--it DOES hurt! It does!" He snatches his hand away - his reflexes seem amazing, no doubt honed by years of cat petting. "Agh...w-well...thanks for the suggestion, anyway... Maybe it's just cats... Perhaps bears would be more amiable?"

Kodaira:
"Just...can you leave me alone, yet..."

Kaori:
"W-..why would you go bigger and more aggressive?!" she asks, flustered. "Bluh, sorry, that usually works. Er, what'd you mean by your fans?"

Danjuro:
"I'm going, I'm going. You need my number or anything, 'case you need me to rough someone up? I'll stick around so you can confirm it's not a Pizza Bear."

RUM:
"W-well, I figured, they're less ostensibly cute... I find them so, but many others do not! So perhaps..." He thinks for a minute, "Oh. Did I let that slip? Er, nevermind that! Truly, it's nothing!"

Kaori:
"Nyuh uh, you let that slip so now you have to tell me! It's payment for using my cat time!"

Kodaira:
She reluctantly accepts, mostly because she doubts you'll go away unless she acquiesces to your demands - that's how this usually goes

RUM:
"Geh...me and my big mouth... Very well! But you must promise not to tell anyone I was here! Especially not...him..."

Kaori:
"I don't know who 'him' is, but sure!"
Danjuro: (( does she have her own number blocked or is it safe to say I have her contact info ))

RUM:
You have her info yes

RUM:
you can now booty call the sad sweaty girl
Kaori: (( Now send her dick pics ))
Danjuro: (( she's broken ))
Kaori: (( Do not ahegao the sweaty girl. ))
Danjuro: (( I don't plan to even come close ))

Danjuro:
(Texting back) yeah, sorry. found her. she's in her usual mood. pretty vocal about it. didn't get much other than that it wasn't Ayu's case. invited her to come to the club, though. we'll see if that goes anywhere.

RUM:
"Excellent! In that case..." He leans back in his seat, resting his feet on the table, relaxing, and speaks in a much less formal, but still airy, tone, "I can be myself." He runs a hand through his hair, ruffling the perfectly parted 'do into a tousled, but still handsome, style. He hangs an arm over the back of the bench, "Call me Karakuto. The prim and proper thing, don't mind it! Best way to avoid detection."

Kodaira:
she does not like the ugly cat but is not mean spirited enough to do more than stare at it in disgust

Cat:
I am a reflection... the true slef

RUM:
"Oh, I guess that won't mean much unless you're a fan. You'd probably know me better by CRACKT. Good to meet ya...Sorry, I didn't get your name?"
Danjuro: (( if she's SOMEHOW not the Hermit Arcana idk who is ))

Kodaira:
gun arcana

Kodaira:
your bond is not yet close enough to discover that she is the HUNGER arcana
Danjuro: (( she seems more knife than gun ))

RUM:
damn MT died

Kaori:
"...fwuh...?" Kaori slouches down in the booth, "This would be the best week of my life if it wasn't the worst week of my life..." Her eyes narrow as she looks at the guy in front of her...she can definitely see the resemblance, but when he's not in the CRACKT persona, it's a little harder to tell..."Y-...you mean like, Choc:olat, CRACKT? Like, reinvented jrock when you released Lunar Deception?" She studies the guy some more, "I'm not sure why I'm meeting so many famous people but uhhh, this is pretty sweet..." she thinks inwardly.
Kaori: (( Sorry, I keep having to invent music for these people on the fly :V ))

RUM:
"Hahaha! You got me! Or, rather, I got myself. I'll have to watch that particular habit. Yeah, that's right, it's me. I don't wanna make a big deal out of it... That WAS the point of the disguise, after all! Of course, if you want an autograph, I'd be happy to oblige."

Lethe:
Danjuro runs into Lethe, as she's booted out of yet another catfe. This time, the owners are coming after her with brooms as she scrambles to her feet, "Agh! These human appendages are so clumsy!! Why am I so heavy?!"

Lethe:
not as heavy as kaori tho

Danjuro:
"What'd you manage to DO? Better start running!"

Lethe:
"I didn't do nothin!"

Kaori:
"Hrmm, I dunno what I'd have to sign even..."

Karakuto:
have him sign your tits with that nifty new pen you got
Danjuro: (( see that felt like too low-hanging of fruit. ))

Danjuro:
"C'mon, then, before your 'nothing' gets you locked out of the whole of downtown!" Danjuro bats away a tin can thrown their way, giving the birdbrain the opportunity to collect herself

Lethe:
lethe will remember this
Phatthrice:
We SHOULD probably end it off here, or else advance to the next scene, which would probably take place tomorrow after school, unless Kaori has anyother business with cat-man-don't

Kaori:
We can end here.

Danjuro:
there's absolutely no chance Kodaira shows up tomorrow is there

Danjuro:
god. One day off.

Danjuro:
imagine

Karakuto:
anyway crackt said his fans were cute and kaori's a fan so he indirectly called her cute, she can die happy now

Kaori:
I'm already dead.

Kaori:
Atatatatatata