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Measure 1
WHO: Kafka and YOU!
WHERE: Around the city/the network.
WHEN: Early September.
WHAT: Kafka is here.
WARNINGS: None so far, but it's Kafka so?
[Labyrinth - Open]
[Kafka doesn't know where she is.]
[That part isn't strange. Kafka is used to visiting unknown planets. What's strange is that she doesn't know why she's here. Everything she's done the last several years has been part of a perfectly executed plan. This is an anomaly. Exciting.]
[Each step echoes as she walks through an empty space station. She hears the cries of her comrades in pain. A decent facsimile, most certainly. To someone well-acquainted with methods of torture, it's extremely clear what they're hoping to achieve here. Too bad it won't work.]
[For now, she'll keep her composure as she walks along. Ignoring the small feeling, coming from somewhere deep, deep within.]
I appreciate the effort. Unfortunately, it won't work on me.
[Testing Limits - Open]
[Kafka doesn't take long to get acquainted with the city. Still, there's something...missing almost. And there's only one thing she can do to check.]
[She finds herself at a cute cafe on the side of the road, treating herself to a cup of coffee. Without warning, she turns to the gentleman seated next to her.]
Listen, would you believe this? I was in a hurry when I left this morning and I forgot my wallet at home this morning. Would you be a darling and cover for me?
[She sounds incredibly insincere, and it's clear to anyone looking at a distance that she is not the type to "accidentally" forget anything at all. The man shakes his head and looks almost offended as he leaves. Once he's out of sight, Kafka takes a sip of her coffee and pulls her wallet out of her purse.]
Interesting.
[Network - UN: Anonymous]
Tell me, what makes you afraid?
WHERE: Around the city/the network.
WHEN: Early September.
WHAT: Kafka is here.
WARNINGS: None so far, but it's Kafka so?
[Labyrinth - Open]
[Kafka doesn't know where she is.]
[That part isn't strange. Kafka is used to visiting unknown planets. What's strange is that she doesn't know why she's here. Everything she's done the last several years has been part of a perfectly executed plan. This is an anomaly. Exciting.]
[Each step echoes as she walks through an empty space station. She hears the cries of her comrades in pain. A decent facsimile, most certainly. To someone well-acquainted with methods of torture, it's extremely clear what they're hoping to achieve here. Too bad it won't work.]
[For now, she'll keep her composure as she walks along. Ignoring the small feeling, coming from somewhere deep, deep within.]
I appreciate the effort. Unfortunately, it won't work on me.
[Testing Limits - Open]
[Kafka doesn't take long to get acquainted with the city. Still, there's something...missing almost. And there's only one thing she can do to check.]
[She finds herself at a cute cafe on the side of the road, treating herself to a cup of coffee. Without warning, she turns to the gentleman seated next to her.]
Listen, would you believe this? I was in a hurry when I left this morning and I forgot my wallet at home this morning. Would you be a darling and cover for me?
[She sounds incredibly insincere, and it's clear to anyone looking at a distance that she is not the type to "accidentally" forget anything at all. The man shakes his head and looks almost offended as he leaves. Once he's out of sight, Kafka takes a sip of her coffee and pulls her wallet out of her purse.]
Interesting.
[Network - UN: Anonymous]
Tell me, what makes you afraid?
un: fortuneclovers
no subject
I could be an innocent child for all you know.
no subject
no subject
Perhaps I've been looking in all the wrong places.
no subject
just gotta show 'em whos boss by smoking 'em in the game then they usually shut up
no subject
It's certainly a novel approach, if nothing else. Unfortunately I've seen the way my protege behaves in such games. I doubt it would have the intended effect.
But, it would be entertaining.
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but kids dont usually have proteges, you're gonna have more luck in your minecraft server if you come off anon, mate.
no subject
[She turns on her video feed. The picture is one that's quite striking.]
You caught me. I'm not a child at all.
text -> video
Oh, that's a woman. An attractive fucking woman, oh dear. Oh she's fucking hot.
You know what in a show of solidarity Eunie will also turn her video feed on. She cuts her own rather striking image but the vibes are very different and the wings on her head really stand out.]
Well, you're a far cry from a kid or a greasy anon, eh?
no subject
[This is a lie. The only thing she plays with is her food.]
Although I enjoy baths far too much to ever become greasy, I fear.
no subject
[Sarcasm comes as easy to Eunie as lies to do Kafka.]
Puts you a step above them, then. I don't recognize you from 'round here. You got a name?
no subject
[She smiles. If people here don't know her name, that means this place isn't peppered with wanted posters.]
I'm from out of town, you could say.
no subject
Out of town on this app usually means from another world.
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They tell you in the "sea of stars beyond" that askin' what blokes're afraid of on anon isn't gonna do you any favors?
labyrinth
Then again, maybe that doesn't really help his case. Because while he's glaring at everything around him, he rounds a corner and damn near slams into Kafka. It's only by the grace of good reflexes that he manages to dodge to the side.]
Watch it.
[... Wait. He's getting a better look at this lady, and... he just stares. There she is, the lady from his dreams. Her features fill in now that he has the genuine article in front of him, whereas before they had been fuzzy and vague. He remembers a soft smile, a gentle touch. A tender voice whispering things into his ear.
Listen, Bladie. Don't worry about those researchers. Leave them and continue the mission.
Listen, Bladie. Unleash the mara.
Listen to me: stop fighting.
To him, she is familiar even though he doesn't know her name. To her, he might not even look all that different from how she remembers. He's dressed in a black collared shirt that might have been nice once, and he has bandages on his left arm and hand, and his incredibly long dark hair has been swept up into some kind of lazy updo with a hair clip.
Combined with the leather scabbard and steel sword, it's certainly some kind of look.]
... It's you.
[The one who holds the leash. The one who loves the violin...]
no subject
[She nearly stops. Something is...wrong. Blade certainly doesn't look "different" than the last time she saw him, but there's a change to her temperament that she can't quite ignore. He seems more put together than the last time they met.]
[In a way that shouldn't be possible in a span of a few days.]
It certainly is me, yes. But is it you? That seems to be the question.
no subject
Still, he doesn't draw his sword. He had been warned about this.]
I have seen you. In my dreams... in memories that were mine in another life. You...
[He tries to gather the pieces up.]
Even the beast would listen to you. It usually doesn't listen to anyone.
Who are you?
no subject
It’s nice that you’ve remembered me all this time. I’m touched. Really.
[There’s some genuine emotion behind it, as sarcastic as it likely comes off.]
You can call me Kafka. In your memories from “another life,” we were coworkers. Allies, even.
no subject
I didn't remember anything until I moved here. [Wait, where is here again?]
You're from another world. [He remembers this part. He doesn't remember a lot, but he remembers that.] ... Kafka. We need to get out of here. I'll explain outside.
[Though his breathing is uneven and he feels like the walls are closing in, he has a strong sense that he should look after this woman, as she looked after him. He takes point and starts down the hall, unsheathing his sword in one smooth motion.
He lifts his head as he hears a tortured scream that sounds a lot like his voice.]
... Hm. Convincing.
no subject
[She struts forward, not letting any emotion show on her face. Deep down, there’s probably a part of her that’s hurt. Disappointed.]
[But she’s never going to let it show, if it exists at all.]
Dare I say it, this is less troublesome than your previous affliction, at least.
[She takes note of the scream. It probably feels different to him than to her.]
It certainly is. If I were someone else, I might have fallen for it.
no subject
[He can't imagine how she must feel. Mostly he just thinks it's... strange. He knows this woman but he does not. The fragments that filter in are confusing and lacking context, and they're accompanied by a headache that is only growing the longer they're in here.
He glances over his shoulder briefly.]
I do not remember the circumstances of the madness. I only know it was you who controlled it.
[He has so many questions, but first they need to find a way out of here. He pauses at a junction and closes his eyes for a moment, concentrating. He can detect the faintest bit of air flowing from the left, so he heads that way.]
no subject
[Now she’s just being a butt.]
[She isn’t going to hesitate to follow Blade though. She trusts him (as much as she’s ever trusted anyone), and she also knows that whatever lies ahead she can take.]
Control? Hardly. All I did was pluck the strings.
[She mimes a violin.]
Each person’s actions are their own. All I do is give people a “nudge,” send them in the right direction. You understand.
no subject
I recall it as less like a string and more like a leash... one that was necessary.
[So this is the kind of person he entrusted his life to before. ... Somehow she's looking shadier than the Black Order, but this is fine.
So far, there isn't a whole lot going on besides the screams. He's a bit disturbed, but he's doing his best to hide it. She can probably tell, though, because nervousness is not something seen on her Bladie often. His hands are wrapped around the hilt of this plain steel sword he forged, so tight that they're white, and his breathing is less than calm... though the latter is more due to memories than true fear. He knows he won't die despite whatever gets thrown at him. Probably.]
no subject
[She follows him without question. Should he look back to her, she'll look entirely unperturbed. Which is somehow even more concerning.]
[Black Order ain't got nothing on her.]
You can put that sword away, Bladie. Nothing here poses a threat.
no subject
Perhaps, perhaps not. The beast takes what it wants. It fights me constantly. Only music seems to sate it... music and whatever it was you whispered to me.
[He isn't sure why he's telling her this. Maybe because he knows he can trust her despite everything.
At last they find a door, and when they approach, it slides open to reveal a city park. He turns to face her, and holds out his right hand. It's ungloved—a hand that has obviously seen a lot of crafting, with the occasional smear of ink.
His expression is difficult to read.]
Come.
Testing Limits
Pardon if this is prying, but that seemed more an experiment than a true request. What is it you seek?
[That is... definitely not a normal human voice.]
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I’m from out of town. Things are done differently where I’m from. I simply wanted to know how things are done here.
[This is a lie.]
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Ah, we are the same then, though I have dwelled here for some time by human standards. How far have your travels taken you?
[There is an attempt at a smile, which looks just a little like he doesn't quite have a grasp on how those muscles should move, but is nonetheless sincere.]
no subject
[She takes a sip of her coffee. Nothing about this is disturbing her.]
But this is certainly the most "unique" planet I've ever been to.
text | un: laluna
why do you want to know?
no subject
I’m new here, and I simply wanted to know how everyone felt.
no subject
as for myself, i haven't really found anything that makes me afraid yet. (ﾟヘﾟ)
no subject
[The lie detector has determined this is a lie.]
We’re in a similar boat, then.
no subject
of course not.
is that why you're curious about what people are afraid of?
no subject
The human mind is always curious about what it doesn't understand.
no subject
especially since it's a question from someone who doesn't want to share their name
text: un: trienemybest
no subject
I was merely curious.
no subject