View source for 3759/Seriously, TSAB Drones And Paperwork!

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/02/02
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Momoyo goes with Fate to the TSAB as an aide. During simulation training to burn off Momoyo's excess energy, Fate and Momoyo finally get into the argument that has been building all week long like a pressure cooker and find unexpected common ground. Kazuko shows up to pick up her sister after being lonely during her first week in the Union, but the conversation turns somewhat dark around her in ways she doesn't notice. Still, Momoyo and Fate part ways that night with a renewed understanding of one another after Fate finally unseals Momoyo's ki, convinced she's no longer quite as dangerous.
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|Cast of Characters=306, 928, 942
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>The promised day has come! And Fate does live up to her word. After finishing a morning workout and getting cleaned up and dressed again, the blonde motioned Momoyo out to her car for the drive to Long Arch. <br /><br />The drive is peaceful (which may disappoint her passenger) but at least it's fairly short! Before long, she pulls into Long Arch's parking lot and leads the way to the training grounds in the back. "The drones we use are real, but most of the terrain is holographic. It still feels solid, though." She waves vaguely in midair, and a keyboard and viewscreen pop into view. "I can set it for an old ruined city, unless you want anything in specific.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Momoyo was deathly bored, of course. Without having any Union identification, it took Fate filling out a bunch of paperwork marking Momoyo as an aide and filling out her personal details. She had slowly but surely come to adjust to the absolute quiet Fate's house offered when Fate, Nanoha and Vivio were gone... but she'd done everything from sleep on the couch upside-down to wander around a large amount of Mid-childa like they both knew she would despite having been told to stay within the house's environs. Mid-childa had a much lower crimerate than Kawakami City, so she found nothing interesting.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Today she was dressed in the uniform fitted to all the sizes Fate finally found on her clothes. The fabric was comfortable, so she didn't have to break it in... but since she insisted on arguing about her hair before coming on-site, it was down and therefore she looked like a Japanese neanderthal woman. Towering over most of the TSAB and baffled by all the children running around in uniform, her red eyes intimidated many of the lower class mages. While Momoyo usually had an easy time making and keeping friends, while she was shadowing Fate she wasn't in the mood.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stepping into the arena, she looked a bit more excited as her interest was perked. She knew it was as much Fate measuring her abilities as anything. Other officers milled about nearby watching Fate and Momoyo... but Fate had Bardiche's combat data. She could tell within a very educated ballpark what Momoyo could handle while Sealed.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For her part, she stood in the middle of the arena, waiting for it to widen out into the bombed out shell volunteered. "Just give me something to beat up." she replies, not thinking too hard about the fact that her opponents were going to be non-human.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Outside of the highly urbanized Cranagan, Midchilda has quite a lot of natural beauty. Even here, they're far enough from the capital that there are some beautiful forests just over the ridge. <br /><br />There was some fussing over Momoyo's hair, though not as much her uniform... okay, there was at least a little fussing over that as well. The fact Momoyo was with Fate at least keeps most passersby from being too scared. They're used to Vita and Signum as well, after all. <br /><br />"If you want to hit a wall to see how the terrain feels, don't hesitate. The ruins field was meant to be damaged." Fate taps a few more keys on her floating console, and several flashes of light can be seen randomly in the distance. "Drones spawned. Do you want to know their capabilities, or would you rather find out on your own?" Fate doesn't want to spoil if surprises are prefered.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Don't bother." she replies, her hand rising up as she deals with the simulated wind. Like a scene out of an action movie, she stood amidst the ruins as she scanned the horizon. She didn't bother to seek cover, either.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Walking through the landscape, she rubs her fingers over some of the charred remains and rubble, glancing over the sky. Because she didn't bring a Device she had very little way to tell she was in anything other than another city all of a sudden. In some ways it was the same as the Ring... and in others, much, much more advanced.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After a moment she finds one of the buildings that is more or less intact... and begins hopping up the side of it here and there, both on the wall itself and the ledges to go climb to the very top. All the while, the simulation was collecting even more data to fill in Bardiche's gaps. However even some of the officers present looking over Fate's shoulder started to notice something very unnerving... Momoyo's speed and agility shouldn't be possible without much magic. By now they were used to the Multiverse no doubt, but they started to comment on things other than her looks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I figured you might like to remain in the dark." A faint smile comes to Fate's lips as she sets the drones to autonomous mode. "Make sure you record it, Bardiche." ~<span class=" bold_fg_y bg_n ++ hy">Yes, Sir.</span>~<br /><br />Despite being holographic, the rubble does indeed feel real. If pushed too hard, some of it even crumbles. "Hmm..." Fate herself is a capable fighter even without magic or her Device, she just becomes even more so with Bardiche and her Barrier Jacket. Momoyo's speed doesn't surprise her too much, though she does turn to hush some of the onlookers. "I hope you don't mind if we talk while you're fighting. There are still some things I'm curious about."<br /><br />It doesn't take long after Momoyo reaches the rooftop before the first of the drones arrives. It looks like a large floating cylinder, rounded on top and bottom. Panels slide open on the sides, and metallic tendrils extend outward, whipping toward Momoyo. the surprise? The tips have tasers.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shaking her hand after trying to block one, she could ignore it by blocking faster, but it was easier to dodge. Even her head just moved as she weaved around the tentacles. When she was done examining it, she finally responded. "Yeah, go ahead. I bet you're gonna make these tougher, though."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:xterm93">"Kawakami Style: Musou Seikenzuki!!!"</span><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She finally decked the thing with her cannonfire punch, just to see how much damage it would take. Punching it didn't seem to hurt her fist at all, though it was only the first drone.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I can increase the difficulty, if you'd like." That first one isn't very tough at all, really. The punch craters in its armor, and although it's still in the air, it wobbles and floats unsteadily. Those tendrils whip out again, electricity sparking from the ends. <br /><br />A second, similar drone floats down from above not long after, aiding its fellow robot in the assault. Despite the fact that the tasers are nonlethal, they're incredibly strong, and the whipping tendrils are fast enough to shatter concrete, as a missed swing that hits the rooftop shows. <br /><br />While Momoyo deals with those two, a beam of energy sizzles through the air in her direction, courtesy of a smaller drone hovering down to get the right angle for a second shot.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Tch." she replies. "You had me cooped up in the house all week, I've got a lot of energy to burn off." She's finally forced to give up her footing on the roof, jumping off the collapsed building above the drones to smash an axe kick into one from above. <span style="color:xterm93">"Kawakami-Ryu Ougi Ten no Tsui!!"</span> she watches them spiral down toward the ground, ready if they survived the assault. "I shouldn't be surprised one of my punches won't completely down these things since you're mages." she replies, quickly scanning around for more drones. Even without her ability to heal herself, she was /aggressive/. "So... what did you want to ask me?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Oh? So the murmurings I heard about you gallavanting all over Cranagan and the forests nearby was someone else?" Fate sounds quite amused, though, and is probably teasing. "Mm hmm. The drones are pretty tough, but bigger ones are a little stronger." Case in point, as one of the drones explodes from being pummeled and sent crashing to the ground. A larger one, this one spherical, takes its place, firing another beam as it approaches.<br /><br />"I've been trying to understand you these past several days, Miss Kawakami. I was hoping getting to see you fight again would help pin it down, but..." Fate pauses, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Why do you fight?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Tch!" she didn't have time to protest, but she completely forgot that a high tech city would have non-intrusive surveillance. Or maybe it didn't cross her mind. Still, the forests didn't have anything for her to fight so she always came back frustrated.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:xterm93">"Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!!!"</span><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There went those two dozen punches on the tougher drone, but she wasn't satisfied. Now that she had forced a jagged edge on the smooth drone, her fist punched /into/ the drone and she tried to rip it apart to test her strength. Because these were non-human opponents, she could be especially vicious. That is, until a stray laser catches her. "Ghhh~!!!" She simply got caught up in the moment and lost track of her surroundings. Quickly darting away after ripping out the drone's mainboard, she avoids the explosion and takes cover long enough to answer. "Isn't it simple??? I have a lot of energy. My parents failed the test to become the Kawakami Dojo Assistant Masters so they went on a journey to train and haven't been back for years. I've exceeded both of them..." she checks her wound, since she couldn't heal herself. Just a minor burn... but this drone exercise was a half-assed test of her defensive skills as well after all. Mages didn't constantly heal themselves between attacks.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I fight to push past my limits, and feel more alive."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"You didn't think I was keeping tabs on you?" Once more, Fate's voice is much more amused than anything else. <br /><br />The drones may be tough, but enough punishment can still take them out. Once their armor is breached, they explode pretty readily. Unlike the Ring of Philosophy, though, the damage here isn't just simulated. It's quite real, even if the drones are non-lethal, and it can hurt quite a bit to be shot or zapped or whipped.<br /><br />"I can understand pushing past limits. It's important to give yourself challenges so you can grow. But..." Fate frowns just slightly. "It's the way you fight that concerns me. Is that a tenet of your martial arts school, or a personal one?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She steps out from behind the cover, now that the drones have been sweeping the area for her... and faces five of them head-on. A collection of the newest most difficult ones Fate's spawned so far... and a couple of the older ones.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You don't understand. You're a mage. You're strong, Fate... I cannot call myself a true warrior unless I can some day defeat you toe to toe." she admits, while all the officers see the woman that steps out from cover... no longer looks human. The vicious glare on her face only says she's here to destroy and massacre the drones before her.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But the simple reason the way I fight works, Fate... is that a martial artist is ready to /die/. Martial artists are trained this way. You... probably only accepted this as a veteran soldier and not a student. What will be, will be. There were officers who understood that concept that I passed... but most of them are children who do not. Including Vivio."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her harsh criticism of not only her audience but what she saw of the facility... there were at least a handful of high ranking officers in the facility capable of standing toe to toe with this woman, but the fact of the matter was she considered a mage at the same level as her not a warrior at all.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Charging into the drones, she snatches one out of the sky and violently throws it into one of the others. Waiting until the tentacles come at her for the next two, she dodges those and lets the drones hit each other... the drones were starting to bore her. The attack patterns were getting predictable.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Fate... /double/ the difficulty of everything on the field."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I'm not a warrior, no. Signum is a warrior. So are Vita and Zafira." The blonde glances at some of the readouts from the drones, though she doesn't react quite the same way as the onlookers. "The difference is a way of thinking. But that doesn't mean I ever stop trying to improve myself." <br /><br />That look.. Fate doesn't like seeing that look on Momoyo's face. Not because it's scary, but because she recognizes the shift in mentality it represents. "I'm not sure you realize just how much hard work goes into training magic, but..." Fate pauses again, tapping at the controls floating in front of her. "You say that you're ready to die whenever you step on the battlefield?" Crimson eyes blink slowly, and the blonde lets out a soft breath. "So am I. Every single time. But we're still different. You want to put your life on the line for the chance to improve yourself and... and sometimes it seems for the thrill of the risk, I'm sorry to say."<br /><br />Fate glances down at the palm of her hand, an old memory resurfacing. "I put my life on the line to protect those important to me. The innocent citizen who won't have to worry about a dangerous criminal trying to kill them. My friends, who have given so much to me. My family... I don't risk my life for myself. I risk it for others, which is why I refuse to risk it without cause."<br /><br />She considers for a moment, then increases the difficulty to day one training for Mages. "So, I suppose I'm asking you plainly.. Do you fight and risk your life for yourself, or for others?" There's no accusation in her question, just curiosity... and concern.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="color:xterm9">"Hmhmhm~."</span> she chuckles. "If you don't understand me, why is it you haven't asked the other warriors yet...?" she asks. While she preferred to do it differently, she picks up a trash can lid of all things, blocking a blast of magic and a few lasers before they were no longer any good for doing so. "It's the happiness of a warrior to fight strong opponents, Fate. I can protect my friends and family if it comes to that... but even the old man acknowledges and is concerned about the fact that I'm selfish when it comes to pushing my limits. I do it for myself."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:xterm93">"Kawakami-ryu Ougi, Chi no Ken!!"</span><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She performs a vicious roundhouse kick into two more drones... but then when her first foot lands, brings the second around as well. More drones were exploding as she was getting faster and faster at ascertaining weaknesses... that was the difference. This test was designed for mages to force thinking about overall battlefield strategy. In the earlier difficulties, Momoyo would do just fine without her ki using tactics and raw power... if the intent was to exhaust her, attacking her in ways not normally possible in her own world would be necessary. "Martial artists are sinful like that... we watch others fight and get primally excited ourselves, Fate!!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"There are some things I'd prefer to find out on my own." Besides, her friendship with Signum over the years has taught her a lot. Crimson eyes watch the fighting continue, as improvised shields come into play. That's part of the reason for the terrain, after all. <br /><br />One drone is kicked into another, the two of them slamming into and through a wall and exploding. This was a training ground, after all, so the drones were programmed less to be a challenge and more to really test the participants, though sometimes the difference is a fine line. The drones' tactics seem to be adapting, though, and some of them are getting better at dodging Momoyo's attacks or snapping a taser-tipped tendril in at an opportune moment. <br /><br />"That's the entire point, though!" Fate slams her hand down against the floating control panel. "You acknowledge your fighting is selfish, but you also want to protect your friends and family! I get excited when I see a good opponent as well, but... but what will happen to your friends and family if you come across an opponent you can't beat? One who will kill you because you are trying to make that happen? What..." The blonde cuts herself off, bringing a hand up to rub at her temple. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I've seen what destructive behavior can do to loved ones, and I wouldn't want to see anyone else have to go through that."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You... you..." she dodges a few more attacks... and then a glint happens in her eyes. Something about what was said, but also the present situation. She didn't feel like swinging anymore, being questioned was killing her motivation. Her killer instinct was fading from her eyes finally listening to the mother despair over her rushing headlong into Nanoha's mistakes.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You... DAMNED FOOL, FATE!!!" she viciously brings both her fists forward into the foundational bar of a near-collapsed building... fifteen stories started hurtling down on everything in the area. Including the four drones, even magic shields weren't going to resist several tons of rebar.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She was lost in the simulation now, though it was her first time in it. Both women were forgetting to spawn more opponents for her. She had broken a sweat it was true... but Fate likely didn't have enough time to watch her do this through lunch. So instead, she sat shouting at the simulated sky in what was actually a small boxed room.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What's the point of worrying about that!? How DARE you disrespect a warrior's heart by claiming you understand what they MUST do and then denying it!?" She punches the ground, putting holes in the concrete and blistering her knuckles. Without her ki, she was now going to have to go to medical after all this mess. Her uniform was torn up. She finally calms down, breathing slowly. "Que... sera sera." she murmurs, a saying that... wasn't Japanese nor did it get translated properly to Mid-childan. "What will be... will be. To worry otherwise is to destroy your performance, your pride... your identity." That was what she chose to say shortly after the apology.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's too late for you to go back and train as a warrior now. It's completely different from learning magic. I understand that now..." She brings her head back up finally, looking around the destroyed landscape. Getting to her feet, she kicks a pebble that ricochets off of several buildings and clinks off a drone's hull. But now the conversation was getting awkward for the listeners.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...Turn it off. We're done. I'm hungry."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>For a brief moment, Fate gets angry. Genuinely, furiously angry. And not because of the yelling, either. But... she's a mother, and she knows how to control her own annoyance. Taking a deep breath, the blonde rubs her forehead again. "I'm not disrespecting you. But you're right, I -don't- understand. There are a lot of things I don't understand."<br /><br />The blonde laughs softly, briefly. "I'm not a warrior, and I'd probably make a terrible one. I'm usually too busy worried for who I'm fighting." She tilts her head slightly. "Being a warrior and using magic aren't mutually exclusive... but they're also not necessarily linked. One is a mindset, one is a tool. I'm sure you know that." She gestures vaguely toward Momoyo. "Your power isn't what makes you a warrior." <br /><br />Fate can sense that waning enthusiasm in the fight, though. So when Momoyo calls it, the blonde nods briefly. "It's... a good time for a break, anyway."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There were no words spoken in medical, though the puzzled looks on the various officer's faces went unnoticed by Momoyo too, at least. The lady was pretty of course, and she wasn't as bad as some... but she wasn't a mage and the Ace was walking around with a psycho. People were already gossipping.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sitting with her bandaged hands, her burns taken care of, various wounds disinfected... this wasn't surprising in the least to Fate but Medical expected a non-mage on those difficulty levels to be much more banged up. Momoyo for her part was eating four times as much food as Fate.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I had a master." she admits, finally. "One of the assistant masters of the Kawakami Temple. For a martial artist, becoming an assistant master of the Kawakami Dojo is like an olympic medal." she explains between bites. She still didn't look Fate in the eyes, but her own eyes looked empty now that she had worked off all that steam.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I enjoyed my master. He taught me that strength and power is everything, in martial arts." Suddenly, it became extremely obvious where Momoyo went so utterly, terribly off the rails, even further than Nanoha. A young prodigy was trained by someone inherently evil.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Shakadou was later expelled from the temple for this point of view. I've never pursued it as far as him, but... it's what fuels that shock and trembling when people watch me fight recklessly." she explains. That was why her eyes looked so bloodthirsty and vicious when she fought... why she was even giving people stronger than her pause... and why she was here today Sealed in front of you. Had she not been Sealed there might have been a crisis if she challenged a strong mage.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Oddly enough, Fate isn't at all surprised by the amount of food Momoyo is eating. Nor is anyone in the Long Arch cafeteria. <br /><br />For her part, Fate eats quietly, though she glances up as Momoyo begins to talk again. "How old were you when he started training you?" She's a little worried that she might be able to guess that answer. And yet... "I'm going to ask you something personal. You can feel free to say it's none of my business."<br /><br />Glancing over at Momoyo, Fate tries to adopt the most level expression she can. "Outside of sparring, did he ever... do anything to you? Try to hurt you?" The way she phrases it isn't just as some concerned adult trying to poke her nose in, though. Something about her expression says that she is quite sincere in asking.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I was about Vivio's age... well, no. I was eight." she admits, leaving out whether her parents were around or not and when they started journeying. "I know what you're getting at. He was kicked out around when I was fourteen or fifteen. Like I said... I agreed with his views and liked him at the time, but never carried it to the same extreme or I'd have been kicked out the same as he was." she explains.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She does meet Fate's eyes briefly as she continues to keep her voice very quiet and level... Momoyo's answers were carrying farther than Fate's questions but Momoyo was just like that. Still feminine, but her voice was deep and carried. Chewing on the rest of her meal she eats rather quickly... but other than volunteering that information for Fate to get questions answered after the brief shouting match, she was very terse with her answers for the moment.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The past week has been rather busy for Kazuko between training, suppressing protestors, exploring weird ruins, and fighting obscene green things, but she's finally found a good day to kick back and relax! What better way to do that than to show up unannounced at her sister's kidnapper's domain? <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well, plenty. For starters, she could have remembered the directions better. She's only been wandering for an hour, at least, but she does look a little frazzled by the time she arrives at Long Arch's parking lot. Some leaves here, a torn sock there, a couple of scratches on her arms, but she's still made it! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of course, the first thing she does on arrival in that lot is peer right at one of the cameras and standing with her arms firmly at her sides. "My name is Kazuko Kawakami. I'm here for my sister!" She's a little stiff in her delivery, almost looking... Nervous? Anxious? Excited? Possibly all three. She's even got half a mind to just find another climb-y-er way in, but she'll behave for now.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Mm..." It's a sound of acknowledgement as she thinks of how to bring this up. "That's an impressionable age. My mother and her Familiar both had a big influence on me at that age. Mostly Mother..." Closing her eyes briefly, Fate takes a deep breath.<br /><br />"Let me put it this way. If you truly think that your method of doing things is in your own best interest and is best for all your loved ones, I'll step back. But in my experience--" Fate pauses. "--personal experience, if you want a change, no matter how small, no matter how much you try to tell yourself you don't want it... it can take an outside factor." The blonde holds one hand out. "Don't answer me now, though. Think on it, okay? Signum and Vita have both shown me that a warrior can still fight with others in mind. I think the two of us may have more in common than you know."<br /><br />Fate looks like she's about to say something else, but a soft chime sounds from her coat pocket. The blonde lifts a hand and summons a viewscreen in front of her, translucent enough that Momoyo can see the image backwards: feed from the outside camera of a certain Kazuko. "It seems like your sister is here. I'll have Shario show her in."<br /><br />A moment later, Kazuko can see a young brunette in glasses approaching the glass doors. She takes a moment to open them slightly, then close, then reopen, just to make sure they aren't locked, before smiling brightly at Kazuko. "Hi! I'm Shario Finieno, Fate's aide. She and your sister are having lunch now, if you want me to show you to them!" She pauses and slowly reaches out to pluck a twig from Kazuko's hair.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Wanko gets in the cafeteria door, she can see Momoyo wearing a strange uniform, similar to Shario's. The Mid-childan uniform was fitted to Momoyo's size, but she was torn up... and not healed. This was a rarity, but Momoyo had already explained she was Sealed right before Kazuko joined the Union. All her wounds were minor, just disinfected cuts with bandages and blistered knuckles wrapped up, a few cuts on her forehead with gauze taped in. Things that would likely only heal in a couple days, just like Kazuko. But the expression on her face... was dead. Very empty.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She and Fate were clearly having a serious conversation which Kazuko's sensitive ears could pick up from across the cafeteria already.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Tch. You beat me, I was undefeated before you challenged me to make this point. I can't just tell you it's none of your business how I fight my battles." she muses, is one of the things Kazuko can hear carrying from Momoyo's voice. She had clearly been angry not too long ago, but now she was having a respectful, if tense conversation with a very worried blonde that looks about Ume-sensei's age.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Spotting movement from the inside, Kazuko has her eyes practically locked onto Shario by the time she steps outside. It's not until the woman introduces herself that she finally relaxes, keeping still to let her get that twig out before nodding excitedly. "Yeah! Erm. I-I mean..." She clears her throat, obviously trying to put on the airs of someone more composed than she could ever hope to be. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "She's doing good, then, yes? |Very excellence.|" Even with the translation effect, it's easy to tell that English is not her native tongue, and she's just trying too hard to look composed (as if she wasn't already). Just to really seal the deal, though? As if on cue, the mention of lunch even has her stomach grumbling. It's been over three hours since her last snack, after all! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thankfully, there's not too much time for the awkwardness to set in, and it's all but forgotten when she hears her sister long before she even sees her. Not because she's overjoyed, but because something sounds off. Wrong, even. Kazuko's still trying to read the mood on the way in, and she desperately wants to just latch onto Momoyo, but she also doesn't want to interrupt the serious-sounding conversation. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Plus, the angle's all wrong. She can't get her face into her sister's chest from the side!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I still don't want you to make your decision right now. Just... think on it." Fate quirks up the corner of her lip into a smirk. "Consider it a challenge, to see if that's a direction you want to try to grow in." She looks thoughtful for a moment. "This isn't telling you how to fight your battles as much as... asking if you'd do a little self-searching. See if there's anything more you want. <br /><br />And then a puppy arrives! But not either of the ones who commonly visit Long Arch. Shario was quite amused at the attempt at English, and chattered the entire way to the cafeteria. Thank goodness for that universal translator, right? But when the girl arrives, Fate turns around and smiles warmly at her, crimson eyes shining. "And you must be Momoyo's sister. My name is Fate. Your sister has been staying with me for the past few days." She certainly doesn't look like some monster who could beat Momoyo in a fight.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Wanko." Momoyo's voice calls out clearly over the cafeteria during Fate's greeting. Unlike Fate, Momoyo kept her elbow on the back of the cafeteria seat at the booth they were sitting in. Instead, her chin nodded upward to Kazuko... like a boy. "Come, puppy."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Momoyo's mood brightened considerably when Wanko arrived. Momoyo wore her emotions on her sleeve as well... so her sudden positive change in mood was a hint for Fate as to her relationship with her sister. Since right before the drone battle Momoyo had essentially been following at Fate's heel like a caged beast... now she was just a playful tomboy inviting her sister to share her meal.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There's a momentary flinch from Kazuko as Fate turns to look at her. Even though she can't sense auras all that reliably, the fact that she's speaking with Momoyo after admitting defeat so easily has the puppy a little on edge. That, too, goes out the window when Momoyo gestures for her to come over, and Kazuko's practically bolting towards her sister (leaving poor Shario all but forgotten). <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Sis!" Latching onto Momoyo while looking and sounding happier than she has all week, she nuzzles her face against her sister's before peering at her intently. "Are you okay? Did you eat enough? You can come back now, right? You're..." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Isn't she forgetting something, though? Right. The unassuming, yet freakishly powerful magical girl! Or magical lady, at her age? Taking her eyes off Momoyo, she manages a slow bow of her head at Fate while climbing off her sister. "H... Hi. I'm Kazuko Kawakami. It's good to meet you." She sounds uncertain, possibly even a little terrified!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hahaha... yes. This is Miss Fate Harlaown. She is a horrible and frightening magical girl that can destroy a galaxy."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Fate notices that change in demeanor almost instantly. She also notices the way Momoyo seems to treat her sister. And yet, there's affection there, it's impossible to miss.<br /><br />All the hugging and cuddling gets a smile from Fate as she watches, waiting for the girl to get her fill. It's been a while, after all, and they seem so close. "It's very nice to meet you, Kazuko. I..." The blonde pauses and glances at Momoyo. "You can call me Fate, and I am neither horrible nor frightening. Come here for a moment." <br /><br />And should Kazuko get within arm's reach, Fate will get to work removing any stray leaves from her hair and clothes, then lightly patting the girl on the head.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Rubbing noses with her sister briefly, she does stroke through her hair and ruffle it a bit... and then feed her a piece of meat from her lunch. "You're probably hungry. But seriously, go say 'hi'. I know you flipped out when you heard she was a magical girl. She's one of the good guys." she murmurs, kissing her on the forehead lightly. It was obvious at a glance that Kazuko was likely the adopted one, as there was no resemblance between the two.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Let me guess, Wanko. You came to pick me up and forgot to pack an overnight bag in case I had to stay the night... I have no idea when Fate plans on unsealing my ki." She leans in a moment, closer to Wanko's ear... but Fate can read the words 'Chancer' on Momoyo's lips. She was likely reminding puppy that she was in the Union but Momoyo was still a secret agent, even here.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Even that one piece is enough to get Kazuko to lower her guard, munching on it happily and letting out a satisfied sigh. Meat cures all that ails a hungry Kazuko! After getting the go ahead from Momoyo, she scoots towards Fate. Although she's apprehensive at first, she does relax after not too long, and she's even leaning into the patting by the end of it. Has Fate won her over so easily? <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Mmrf... You do smell nice. So I guess it's okay." It'd probably sound more convincing if she didn't look so content at the headpatting and didn't start letting out a low, excited noise at being reminded of Fate's magical prowess. "Uh... Yeah! I forgot to get an extra bag for, so I..." She looks from Fate to Momoyo with a confused look, trying to parse what she was trying to get her to say properly. "Came to... Get you one from here...?" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She's not doing a very good job at it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Wanko... Fate is a Captain. She outranks you. It's okay. She knows."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Mmm... Probably tonight, once we get back home. Though if you're spending the night and don't want to feel restless about it, I can wait until morning." Fate isn't quite sure that Momoyo won't want to immediately go out and get into a fight the instant the seal is lifted. "But it would be nice if your sister could try some of the cookies you made, wouldn't it?" <br /><br />The blonde had no idea how well headpats would work, but she giggles softly at the reaction. "Oh, I..." Fate blinks a few times as her scent is commented on. "Thank.. you?" She doesn't usually go for anything strong, and Arf has never mentioned anything out of the ordinary... <br /><br />Clearing her throat, she gives Kazuko's head anohter pat before lowering her hand. "If you two like, you can both stay at my house tonight, then leave in the morning. And.." She glances at Kazuko, then nods toward the serving area of the cafeteria. "You can go get some lunch, if you'd like."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She shrugs her shoulders. "I'm sure this is the deal you wanted me to make, but I'll promise to think on what you said if you unseal my ki." she replies. She was going to feed Wanko the rest of her food, but now that she was able to go get a tray of her own, she didn't need to. "Yeah. Fate tried to teach me to bake cookies. Once we were both certain I wouldn't crack the countertop, they turned out okay." she muses, just a touch disinterested. But the constant bestial tension in Momoyo's frame seemed to stay gone with her sister nearby. The effect couldn't merely be accounted for by familial status... Kazuko was, this close up, clearly a very key pillar to Momoyo's emotional state. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Seems she didn't blow off quite as much of what Fate was talking about as she was trying to convince the mage, but rather was being her stubborn old self. On the bubble still, perhaps, but given how she treated Vivio and Kazuko both, not anywhere near as close to going off the rails as it appeared when she threw herself at Fate the first time.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kazuko giggles lightly as Momoyo gives her that little reminder, and her eyes light up when Fate mentions cookies. Specifically, her sister's cookies! "Ooh... You still have some of those?" She looks between the two with a hopeful expression, and almost all of her previous tension has been shoved aside already. "Yeah, I wanna try those!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Still, it's not hard to tell that Kazuko staying incredibly attached to Momoyo for the time being. As relaxed as she's sounding, she's still got some of her guard up between her unfamiliar surroundings combined with Momoyo's visible wound treatments. "I don't mind staying, but... Only if sis says it's okay." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Like her sister, Kazuko's wearing her emotions on her sleeve as well. Still, the call of food is tempting, and her hunger wins out after not too long. It's time to nab as much food as she can from the serving area!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I'm keeping my word, Momoyo. I hope it hasn't been too bad, this week." The blonde smiles to Kazuko, "I can teach you tonight as well, if you'd like." <br /><br />One would have to be both blind and deaf to miss the change that being around the girl has with Momoyo, though seeing that change at all helps relieve a little of Fate's worry. Just knowing that Momoyo's aggro isn't turned to max at all times tells her a lot. Once Kazuko has gone to get food, Fate leans forward and asks the elder sister in a low voice, "You really love your sister, don't you?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes." she replies. In fact, Fate's chatter reminded Momoyo of something she hadn't said... and Kazuko could easily have gotten hurt in the last week. Being in the Union was no slouch, and she knew her sister had no talent to be the best like her... but she could still be extremely useful as long as she was told to push forward and fight for her home.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yo. Wanko. You know I love my cutest little sister, right?" she yells, over the cafeteria even. It seems Momoyo lacked the reserve some siblings had... most likely because Kazuko was adopted, but still. It was comments like these that could make Kazuko forget just how believeably strong her older sister was.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes... she was left in a baby hatch. My grandfather adopted her when her foster parents died and an alcoholic uncle tried to adopt her. We won legally." she tilted her head a bit to Fate while Kazuko was preoccupied with food... extremely mindful of Kazuko's superior sense of hearing. Being around Arf as long as she was, Fate wouldn't be surprised by Momoyo's behavior if she thought about it a moment.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"She wants to become an Assistant Master of the Kawakami Dojo in order to support me... a role that leaves her in charge of administrative duties and my manager as representative. But..." her eyes soften just a touch. It looked like, just for a fleeting moment, the scratched up warrior was about to cry. "...she's an expert at hard work but has no talent for martial arts. She is a strong martial artist in her own right... but her dream... is impossible. It would be like... trying to teach an especially stupid girl with low grades how to be an Ace." Her analogy was clumsy and based only off a couple days in the TSAB but obviously every child in here could cast a stronger spell than either of the Kawakami Sisters.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If she had dog ears, they'd be perking up as she turns around at Momoyo calling out to her. "Eh? I love you, too, big sis!" She shouts back in return with a broad smile, not really paying much attention to things like general cafeteria etiquette. She doesn't even seem embarrassed by that, for better or for worse. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That's certainly helping to brighten her spirits even more than they were already. Conveniently enough, she doesn't hear a thing once she zeroes in on the task at hand: Getting that food. A good balance is usually something Kazuko strives for with her meals, but when someone's treating her? The temptation to cheat a little is strong. So, so strong. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alas, if she's going to be eating cookies later, too, she'll just have to grin and bear it. Eventually, she returns to the table with two plates full of meat and vegetables, taking a seat by Momoyo and wasting little time in digging in!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"You two are so cute. My brother would start to sputter and flail if I treated him like that in public." Fate knows this because she has before, and Chrono was pretty adorable. Such is the right of a little sister.<br /><br />She certainly has no issues with adoption, especially given her own kids. "I see... Though, you know..." Fate glances over toward the foraging puppy. "If she's that good at hard work, I'm sure she can find her own style. It may not be her current dream, but it can become one." The blonde waves a hand vaguely. "But that's not something I know enough about to be able to give many opinions of yet."<br /><br />Upon Kazuko's return, Fate gives the girl another pat on the head before the devouring commences. "I think we'll have fun tonight. It will be a nice send-off before you both head back home."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She continues to pet Kazuko's hair slowly, rubbing over her scalp. "Fate... I heard reports of something I haven't told High Command yet. This was a week ago and whoever passes through the Gate is none of my concern... but after talking to you..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She narrows her eyes a bit. "If you ever come across a man named Shakadou who wears a business shirt with rolled up sleeves, a watch, short hair in his fourties... and is with any delinquents of mine and Wanko's age..." she narrows her eyes a little toward the Captain. "...Kill Shakadou, if you can do so legally and I cannot. They know the Kawakami Style and are outside my family... he knows Wanko and often speaks to her before any of us notices and slips away before any of the other martial artists recognize him. He... will likely join the Feds." she says this without hesitation, right when Kazuko has food in her mouth. That would clue even someone as dense as Kazuko on the nature of her conversations with Fate. Despite all the affection she held for the ex-master, Momoyo was ready to execute him and the three siblings on the spot.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As if Fate didn't win her over before already. Headpats, free food, and more headpats? If Kazuko had a tail, it'd be wagging up a storm already! It's getting to be rather hard to even concentrate on the food with all the attention she's getting from both Fate and Momoyo, but she doesn't seem to mind. Really, after whatever her sister's been through this past week? She's just glad to see her again. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Mrmph... Yeah, that sounds fun~ We can..." Sensing that tension in the air as Fate finishes and Momoyo starts, she quiets down rather quickly. The whole situation behind Shakadou's ousting from the temple has never made much sense to Kazuko nor really explained, but even she can tell that this conversation is an important one. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She's even making sure to eat with her mouth closed.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I'll keep that description in mind, but..." Fate leans forward slightly, leveling her gaze evenly on Momoyo's face. "We don't kill. But if he appears, we'll subdue him. If he's as dangerous as you say, I'll make sure the Bureau knows not to take him lightly." <br /><br />Dropping the seriousness for now, Fate gives both sisters another smile, and Kazuko gets yet another pat on the head. "So, you two will have to decide what sort of cookies we're going to make tonight." There may be danger in the future, but tonight... there is only desserts.<br> <br>


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