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Owner Pose
Kukuru Some nights ago, Kukuru began requisitioning materials, equipment, and workers to begin her grand project. Today, it is finally unveiled to the Multiverse (in Secundus) at large (over here).

"Welcome to Happy Friendly Land!" A friendly face with a mess of green hair calls out as she and a small squad of construction workers pop a series of those little confetti streamers outside a building that looks less like a hotel and more like a villa. A bed and breakfast, perhaps? Definitely bigger than a shack, and probably looking like it'd fit right in across the highway from a gas station for weary travelers to get some much needed food and rest.

There's no gas stations here, though. Any gas would probably get hijacked by roving bands of leather-chapped spike-shoulder padded psychos, but this place still acts as an oasis in the storm of suck. The papers flutter lazily on the ground, and then Kukuru gets right to work setting up meals for anyone that's coming by to visit or help with the decorating. She clearly doesn't have a great eye for decor, so there's plenty of space to add fun touches or make things look less disorganized inside and out.
Raziel Raziel shows up because he hears that The Concord needs help.  What he expects to see isn't what he sees.  He sighs, crossing his arms and looking at the very sleeping-looking sloth woman.  He walks up and holds his hand up at any offered food.

Raziel can not eat food, being a ghost.  A vampire ghost at that.

"What did you need aid in?" He asks briskly.
Staren     PARTY AT KUKURU'S PLACE!

    Since by total coincidence there is already a party in progress, it's sort of just... moved? Ren, who has promised to 'behave' for one (1) day in light of the occasion(?) just teleports anyone in the Tower's tea room who wanted to come straight here. Complete with almost cartoonish 'pop' sound effect.

    Staren is dressed in a casual T-shirt and skirt, Syril is a gloves-and-shoes-and-scarf cartoon animal, and Ren (two-tail anthropomorphic kitsune(?)) has poofed herself and Knight (teenage girl) into matching grey schoolgirl uniforms with maroon accents. Pink streamers and confetti just sort of trail from Ren at the moment, and she's poofed party hats onto all four of them.

    "Happy Friendly Land! Woo, yeah!" Ren floats over the ground to go for a high-five with Kukuru, before setting out a pink cake she wasn't holding a moment ago (strawberry icing and cake) on the food table.

    Staren smiles at Kukuru and waves, "Kukuru! Good to see you!" but is looking around at the wasteland with slight :concern: as it does LOOK like the sort of place that will be attacked by people in leather and spikes.

    "Niceta meetcha, thanks for the food!" Syril just goes right up to sample the food, which may involve awkwardly half-climbing onto them to see at his 3-1/2 feet or so of height. "Hey, ya gotta try this!"

    Knight is practically bouncing with nervous energy, looking around and giving Kukuru an awkward wave and smile, "Um, hi... Nice place ya got here..." although when Syril calls her attention to the food her eyes widen and she practically RUNS over to stuff her face. "Oh my god. REAL FOOD. I haven't gotten to eat anything but what the tower makes in I dunno how long!"


    Raziel is here, too! Staren is left to address him. "Uhh." She rubs the back of her head awkwardly. "Here? Rallying forces to fight the incoming attack from Kale's zones would be good. Kukuru feeding the locals might help with that. Also infrastructure, setting up defenses they can use, transport systems... teaching people to fight? Selecting good warriors? I don't know, I'm not the master tactician, that's more Albert's deal, I'm having to kind of wing this..." She hangs her head a bit awkwardly.
Alexis True to form Alexis only has the vagest idea of what's going on, but has gotten wrangled into helping because some friends have asked her to. And because, frankly, she was getting bored with trying to stay out of the big sort of fiascos that seem to claim the Multiverse every few weeks. But this was a chance to get out, do some exploring, maybe help a few friends along the way. More the speed of a wandering monster trainer.

"Not the most creative name," she muses. "But descriptive, I guess?" A pause as she snatchs one of the papers fluttering about. "Looks like it still needs a bit of work though. Is this what you've been up to lately, Staren?" She askes the friend in question. "Not this specifically, I mean, just... this." A vage hand gesture around them, at Secundus in general.

Best find someone that knows what needs to be done. And food. Someone mentioned food. Probably find both in the same place, like over there.
Staren     RE: Alexis
    Staren smiles, "Alexis, long time no see!" And runs up to hug her if allowed. "It's... complicated." She shows her tablet with the Secundus strategist interface on it. "There's a LOT. I've mostly been setting up in closer zones, I haven't actually BEEN here yet, I just directed my forces to bring some stuff in through the warpgate early this morning, because it was clear this would be a key tactical position in the war with Kale."
Raziel Raziel listens to Staren, before nodding once. "There appears to be bandits here. Perhaps they can be made to work for us, instead of against us."
Kukuru Raziel arrives, and Kukuru greets him with a friendly wave that's only partially halted by the raised hand. "He-llo, Ra-zi! I just wanted to get some visitors to this place, although if you have any ideas on how to make.. Um."

She turns and gestures at the villa while the construction crew mills about, munching on snacks, and messing around with a big water cooler. "I made the place feel as nice as I could, but it doesn't feel... Personal yet, you know? Do you have any ideas?"

More people arrive that Kukuru doesn't recognize! Ren gets a return high-five that's only a little confused (Kukuru's seen it a few times before, but her timing is always awkwardly off). Staren gets a bright smile in recognition, and she notices (surprisingly) the look at the wasteland around them.

"Ah, don't worry about all that. Once we get this place really appealing looking, I'm sure we'll get even those kids in to relax." She sounds like she genuinely believes it. A mind-reader would be able to confirm that.

Syril and Knight draw pleasant laughs from Kukuru, too, before she turns to Alexis as she shows up. "It's an easy name. Kale came up with it!" Kukuru answers proudly despite the person in question not being anywhere here, chuckling again as she looks from her to Staren with a curious eye. "Oh, do you know each other? That'll make it easier, then."

She doesn't actually say what 'it' is and just goes right on to explaining: "Um.. Oh. Thanks for coming, everyone! Eat, drink, rest up, and enjoy yourselves here. This is a place for everyone to relax and just.... Relax, you know? I still need help making this place look nicer and more homey, so if you've got any ideas on how to decorate or do any of that... Uh."

She looks towards the construction workers, gives them a quick signal, and then they shrug before leaving their keys in the machines. "You probably know how to do this stuff better than me, right?"
Raziel "I am a ghost.  A body is needed for rest, eating, and such.  However, I think I see a situation I can aid with," he says even as Kukuru says to not worry about it.  "I will be back, feel free to aid her with what she needs here," Raziel says to the others.

He turns to walk out into the wasteland, specifically aiming to meet some of these roaming psychos.  One thing he is sure of...future, past..?  At the end of the day, these people only respect strength.  What way better to both help Kukuru and make Kale's life a little harder than to make a buffer zone.  

Or one might call them...ablative armor.
Alexis Alexis accepts the hug. She's not the kind of tomboy that's against a bit of friendly affectionate greeting like that. "Yeah, I saw the files you sent me." Pause. "Well, Glitch did. I only skimmed the important part he showed me." Then nods towards Kukuru. "Yeah, we've been through our share of trouble together." Then turns her attention back to looking around. "Doesn't quite have that 'homey' feeling yet, though. Decorating, huh?" She plucks one of the small spheres from her belt, expanding it to full size in her hand. "I think I know just the Pokemon. Com'n out, Spikes."

The pokeball expunges its contents, the flash of energy consolidating itself into what resembles a large reptillian with a single rhino like horn, spikes down the back, big rat-like ears... and despite the macho sounding name sports a bow tied behind one said ear, and an apron. At which Alexis puts a palm firmly against his snout. "No me.." and nudges his head to look to the side. "This place needs a bit of tidying up to be presentable. Think you can help with that?" To which Spikes responds by pulling a feather duster out of the apron pocket. "That's what I thought. Get to it."
Staren     "You... want us to man the construction equipment? Uhh..." Unless other people actually *want* to do it, Staren will warp in some humanoid robots to drive them. Eventually, a gaggle of vehicles and constructs shows up from the direction of one of the warpgates as well -- hulking stone golems walking, more small golems and robots, and even carts pulled by various fantastic mounts recovered from Wonder.

    Dreams contain all kinds of weird stuff. One of the horses stands up on its hind legs, grabs its own long tail dripping with paint, and begins *painting* walls into existence. A robot places electrical outlets on the walls which Just Work, despite a lack of wiring.

    But for the most part, Staren is doing the Eggman thing, all manner of automatons working to set up structures.
Kukuru "A ghost...? Oh. Um. do you need to stop being a ghost?" Kukuru asks Raziel rather plainly, squinting at him a little closer as she starts putting some things together. "... Hmm. I don't know if I could do that, actually. Maybe if you could do one of those... Uh. Body jumpy things first?" She offers with a helpful tone despite how unhelpful that suggestion might actually be. "but even if you don't need to eat, don't feel like you're not allowed to. Okay? There's always gonna be stuff waiting for you here."

Alexis gets a nod from Kukuru along with a curious stare when that ball is brought out. "Ooh... Fancy. These could be nice to hang around the..." They are not for hanging, as the spiked rhino maid demonstrates rather easily when he appears. "Oh, that's a good idea... It'll take a while to clean this place up on my own after everything got put together, so extra hands would be great." She nods firmly, pauses, then pats Spikes on the arm before gesturing at the food.

"Make sure to eat and drink and rest up, too. You can't work too hard without taking breaks, okay?"

Staren's question gets a light shrug from Kukuru, then a long 'ooooh' when the robots start showing up. "I mean, you don't have to. Your friends there could do it, or... Um. I know you've got all sorts of cool techy stuff, right? This is just for if anyone needs it to reach high or something." She clarifies, not quite understanding that not everyone has the training to use such machines. "Or magic, if... Hmm."

Kukuru stares at the horse in particular, then at the rhino Pokemon again. There's a brief moment where it looks like she almost looks hungry, and then she turns away quickly before heading for the inside of the villa. "I'll get some more food out while you're at it, then. Thanks so much again, Staren! Alex! Ra-zzzzzz... -i? Where'd he go?"

MEANWHILE


It doesn't take long for Raziel to find some mohawked hooligans in the middle of polishing the bloody spikes on their pauldrons. When they see him approaching, they cackle and start approaching him while spinning chains dangerously at their sides. "Whadda ya want, freak?" The leader of the small gang (about a dozen in total) asks, every one of them sticking their tongues out to the side the whole time they're speaking for some reason. There's
Staren     Ren is watching it all holding a little martini glass with an olive and toothpick in it in one hand and a cucumber sandwich in the other. Even if those aren't things Kukuru set out. If asked if she'll sample the actual food, she smiles, "I already did! It's very delicious." Then tilts her head and furrows her brow. "Or, will have done. Or would have? Did I not eat any of the food in this timeline?" Smile again, "I remember tasting it, though! It was or will be very good." she repeats the compliment to Kukuru.

    Staren smiles and nods at Kukuru's thanks. "You're welcome! And thank YOU for drawing such attention here!"

    And then her face falls. "Ugh. I'm letting things get to me... Thinking too much about the war. How much your gathering people here will help against Kale, and I'm thanking you for THAT, and I didn't even try the food, or... or just appreciate the party. I'm sorry." She steps forward to hug Kukuru, and then goes to try some of the food.
Raziel Raziel turns to Kukuru before he leaves, "I am not physically capable of eating in this form, do not worry about it," Raziel says, a bit more gently towards the lady before he continues out.  Of course by the time she looks around again he was long gone.  Though everyone ELSE does know where he went...generally.

MEANWHILE

Raziel simply walks toward the group but stops when they start throwing jeers.  He looks at the leader, "I'm taking over all of you wasteland gang...bandits, whatever you call yourselves.  I am starting with you, it looks like.  You can surrender yourself to me peacefully..." he says, waiting for a response.  

Before the leader could order them to attack, or when he gives him the obvious, 'or what' he raises a claw towards the leader and grabs him with his telekinesis around the neck.  He just holds him there, above the ground, and lets him choke out while turning his head to the others.  

"My name is Raziel, and I am now in charge.  This is temporary because you will be following the orders of the leader of the place behind me," he says, motioning his head towards Kukuru's gazebo.  "But first, we'll be going from group of people to group of people getting their fealty first.  So I will ask your aid in educating me about your rivals and soon-to-be comrades."

He twists his hand suddenly, with a crack.  Aiming to twist the head of the leader and drop him to the ground.  "And his fate is the kindest I can offer.  There are worse fates for those who defy me," his eyes glowing looking at each one.  "So are there any more people who wish to challenge my claim?"
Alexis A pat on the arm and confirmation there's snacks for when needed is all it takes to motivate ... okay lets be fair, being given housekeeping chores in the first place was enough motivation for Spikes, the food is just a bonus. He'll make sure the place is tidy and clean even with all the other heavy work going on around them.

Alexis just shakes her head a little as she picks up a drink for herself. "Typical Staren. Sometimes you think a little too much." Takes a sip, then flicks open her pokedex in her other hand. Lets see, what else could be useful. Glances around. Notices the horse. Painting with it's tail. "Huh." Reminds her of Smeargle, but she doesn't have one of those. Flicks a few more. Then looks up as one of the carts of materials Staren called has gotten itself stuck. "Oh, hold on a moment." Alexis walks over, flicking another pokeball free as she does. This one releasing a minature (three feet tall is minature by elephant standards) orange pacyderm with tarnished green spots on its body. It trundles over when instructed, hooks the scoop-like end of his trunk under the back of the cart, and lifts it out of the rut until it's back wheels catch again on solid ground and it can continue on. "Phaaant"

Alexis snickers a bit at the trumpenting. "Yes, good job. Why don't you go help them unload while you're at it?" "Phaaa." A copper elephant child fits right in with the menageraie of forgotten wonders, anyways.
Kukuru "Time stuff, huh? That's complicated..." Kukuru murmurs with a knowing nod towards Ren, actually sounding somewhat sympathetic of all things. "I don't thin I could ever follow any of that, but you're doing a great job if you can even follow it half that good." That's probably why.

Staren gets a curious look when she mentions a war. "/Against/ Kale? Why would that be happening? Aren't you all working together?" She asks with a rather clueless tone. "I mean, he gave me this neat little idea when he was talking about... Something?" She trails off, instead settling for just running a hand through Staren's hair gently with a warm smile. She probably wasn't paying that much attention to the context of everything at the time of that proclamation.

"Don't be sorry. It's not like the food's gonna run away, you know?"

Alexis' elephant ball, like with the rhino, gets Kukuru's hunger flaring up again. Luckily, she doesn't get to see it for too long as she distracts herself with getting more food out, giving the orange creature plenty of time to get Staren's gear unloaded to help finish putting the finishing touches on this place together.

MEANWHILE

The toughs here are about what someone would expect from wasteland weirdoes with a penchant for leather and metal: Tough enough to beat down a regular person, but not nearly enough to contend with actual Elites or mysterious travelers trained in the ways of punching their bodies out of their bodies. Getting force choked is way above their pay grade, and they feed him whatever info they actually have that he asks for.

They don't have a lot of info, but they do know about self-preservation and not challenging the guy that just obliterated their leader. They're also quite good at selling out other like-minded bandits to survive: Where they operate out of, who the big names are (usually involving card faces or tarot names, weirdly enough).

EVENTUALLY

Kukuru comes back out from inside with a bigger pile of food than what the party had started with. Whereas it was a lot of generic catered stuff with some homemade dishes before, now it's all THE GOOD SHIT. A lot of it is fried, a lot of it will probably kill a diabetic or someone with bad kidneys, and almost none of it is vegan. There's even some fried desserts, too, along with a few coolers for the stuff that actually needs to stay cold: Ice cream, frozen cheesecakes, some kind of eggy custard, and coconut milk cream sticks in their own little cups for easy drinking of the melted parts later.
Raziel Raziel can in fact punch the souls out of people's bodies, and then eat them.  That is in fact, what he is very capable of doing.  He just tends to not visit that fate on the undeserving...or the weak.  

"Good, you...and you," he says pointing at two random people.  "You are to go to the two neighboring groups.  Tell them I am coming to get their fealty.  The rest of you, go back to where I came from and pronounce your loyalty to Kukuru.  She will feed you and take care of you, but if you take advantage of her...or cross her.."

Raziel motions toward the leader whose neck is in a very weird place.  "And that fate is the merciful one.  The Concord does not tolerate banditry or disloyalty.  However, if you follow us...you will have untold prosperity, riches, and your needs fulfilled.  There are those in our group that can help you cheat death, give you strength, or nearly anything you want...and all it costs is your loyalty and your continued surrendering of banditry."

"It's not a hard choice to make, is it not?  Now go.  I will be walking my way towards the next group soon."

True to his word, Raziel starts walking... let's say right.  He'll punch his way through any group if they fight him.  Or they can give him his loyalty.  Then he directs them to Kukuru's place.
Staren     Ren giggles. "Aww, thanks! But I'm not mortal anymore. My brain couldn't contain all this." Then she smiles as if watching something cute. "Awww."

    Staren looks up from the food she was trying at Kukuru's question. Chews. Swallows. "Did you miss his declaration of--"

    Hairpet.

    The catgirl briefly freezes. The previous day rushes back to her, how tiring dealing with aggressive action, constantly, for days has been. There have been allies to fight at her side, but... no...

    She hugs Kukuru tightly and doesn't let go for several seconds.
Alexis "Something something some conflict blows off steam and keeps the area stable so general reality doesn't blow up." Or that was the approximation of the situation Alexis got out of the explainations she's been given so far. "So in a way, working together, but not working directly with each other, or something to that effect." She picks up a cake and takes a bite out of it. "I'm just here to help and explore. Other people dealing with the whole running the show matters."
Kukuru WASTES:
When confronted with scary psychic punch guys, even henchmen know better than to tempt fate. They nod quickly to appease Raziel, then scurry off to get the word out. The others are given a chance to leave, and they take that opportunity to start heading in the direction indicated. Most of them might even end up going to the right place, surely making the party a lot more awkward for anyone who actually recognizes them.

If nothing else, they'll make for a good sacrifice when it comes time for the forces to clash. It's not going to be too hard for Raziel to repeat this process until he's bored of repeating this process until there's too many people to fit at the villa considering there's definitely not going to be enough beds for all of them.

PARTY:
"No, no, I heard it. He mentioned something about Happy Friendly Land, and then..." Once again, Kukuru trails off. For once, it's actually not clear if she remembers or if she's just really good at having a selective memory. Regardless, she holds still for as long as Staren needs to keep the hairpetting and shoulder ruffling going.

She can still try and work out what Alexis is explaining as far as the context of all of this Secundus stuff is about, though. "So that's how it's going... Hmm. Yeah, that makes sense. It's just like how there's different factions and... I get it." She nods slowly, eventually stroking her chin (and also sneaking a whole funnel cake into her mouth).

"Everyone wants things to be good, but not everyone wants to do it the same way. It's a shame you've all gotta fight out here over it, too, but... I'm sure we'll be able to get everyone to come around if we're persistent enough." She used a really big word!

Kukuru's also looking pleased and surprised as the mohawked freaks start showing up. They don't look as pleased to see her as she does to see them, but remembering the words of Raziel... They're actually going to help with getting the place decorated, too, in their own terrible 80s-to-90s way.

They'll work out the bedding situation later.
Raziel The thing about ghosts...

Is that they don't breathe, eat, or sleep.  It takes Raziel a LOT longer to get bored, or even see the passage of time the same way as other people.  It is far more likely that the wasteland runs out of bandit groups first.  

This means Kukuru is going to have a lot of work on her hands.
Staren     Staren... Staren may be awhile. Ren makes comments that vaguely insinuate *something* but her way of confusing timelines and forgetting what context others have just leaves it unclear. With all the hugging going on she does at one point call "GROUP HUG!" and tries to get all the girls in on the ongoing hug.

    Syril and Knight are happy to pig out on food that did not magically appear in Wonder's kitchen there is such variety and freshness and it's so good wow they kinda just need to lie down for awhile and nap off their food coma.

    Staren's forces, fortunately, are largely automated and don't need constant direction, working together with pokemon and whoever mans the construction vehicles to continue assembling things.

    Party social: Achieved!

    Build up zone: Achieved!
Alexis Alexis takes a step to the side... but it's not far enough or fast enough to avoid getting yanked into the hug. "Ack!" And then of course Spikes has to come over and join in to, though Alexis manages a quick. "ARMS ONLY!" which is what he does. Considering his spines are poisonous and his tail can crush like a python, yeah, please just arms big rhino-lizard dude.