Scene #9035: Tea, Cookies, and Cursed Artifacts

Owner	Pose
Rufus Shinra	Welcome to the Grand Dorado, the metropolis of metropolises. Here is where Rufus's penthouse is. Somehow, he's managed to invite two of his peers over - something as yet unheard of. It's been nearly a full week just because he's been trying to get the place reorganized and setup - this is not a chance he is counting on having again anytime in the near future. The building, as many here do, has its own warpgate in the lobby. It actually has two - a second 'service entrance' warpgate for anyone running food or groceries in - if you're rich enough to live in the building, the idea of doing your own food shopping is as anathema as the idea of cleaning your own bathrooms. The glass elevator (with attendant, because pushing your own buttons is so pedestrian) goes past dozens of floors of merely 'luxury' apartments, all the way up to Rufus's penthouse which is properly sized to take up the entire top floor. "Welcome. Do come in." Rufus is in his open concept kitchen, next to several trays of finger food and a pair of expensive bottles on ice. "I do hope the trip over wasn't too bad." His visitors would have to walk like, fifteen feet from the warpgate to the elevators. "I'll get the collection room opened in just a minute here - but I thought we should get to know each other first."
Sarracenia	Sarracenia is entering someone's home as a mere guest and not a close friend or a hated enemy. This too is as yet unheard of. She can count on one hand the number of times she has been to another person's actual house, be it friend or foe or somewhere in between. As such, the princess is quite nervous. And to make things worse, she is going to meet a self-proclaimed heroine who (as yet) does not hate her -and- seems to have been welcomed warmly by the Multiverse at large! The princess has perhaps dressed up a bit too much for it. She is in a royal gown of course, but this one is made of a shimmering material with swirls of twinkling gold vine embroidery going up along the skirt and torso and down the sleeves. It is rather tight fitting along the torso and arms as well, showing off that the Sundew princess is actually quite fit and somewhat curvaceous. There is noticeable yet graceful definition in her arms, probably from swinging that massive hammer around all the time. As usual her outfit is completed by long black gloves, her small golden crown, and a burgundy metal lotus in her hair. Despite her daring outfit, the princess's actual skin is covered completely below her neck except for a small amount visible between her short sleeves and her long gloves. "Thank you~" she says to Rufus as he welcomes them in. "Oh, the trip was fine! Though, I rarely visit the Grand Dorado so it was quite a surprise when there was no landing space for the Dyna in the lobby. I suppose I will have to pay for the damage." She laughs a high class laugh, though she is clearly somewhat embarrassed at having crashed her personal aircraft into her host's lobby. She curtseys politely before approaching Rufus and the snacks. "...am...I the first one here?" she asks as she looks over the finger foods, then pauses. "...is there no servant to gather our food for us? It is fine if not, but I assumed with the lobby and the elevator operator..."
Merelisa Shaynore	Merelisa's morning is similarly frantic to Rufus's, in terms of being fixated on her presentation, but with absolutely, totally different expectations. The invitation over to another Concord Partner's home, so that she can talk about a shared interest in relics with an avid collector of them, is a step forwards in her relationship with the Concord-- and the multiverse as a whole-- that she needs to perform correctly. It's the hopeful start of a new journey, with plenty of friends and allies who won't leave her because the work's never going to be over, and they're not going to chicken out and vanish either, because the Concord is just made up of sterner stuff, you know? So it's absolutely vital that Merelisa looks her best. Her house in the Kingdom of Venyth is far too big for just one person, and the general state of tossed sheets and dishes on the sink and empty cardboard boxes set around the place is reminiscent of the bachelor-esque mess of Rufus's place, but she doesn't need to do anything about that. Instead, after rolling out of bed and picking one of her nicer dresses out of the chair she had it tossed over, and then hurrying to a local drycleaner's to vaguely imply that she needed it done immediately for some important political meeting, all she has to do is self-care. And no matter how irregularly her skill might be applied-- she is quite good at it. So, Merelisa steps through the warpgate into the glittering gold and marble lobby looking for all the world as if she belongs nowhere else. Glossy red hair cascades halfway down her back, lightly curled for volume with golden moon-shaped earrings glimpsed when she moves. Her pale blue eyes are matched by the faint iridescence of the gem hanging around her neck, set in a golden corona of wrought spikes like a ritual treasure. Crimson heels clack against the floor beneath her long black-gold halfskirt and tights, flowy top cinched at the waist with a chain belt of more golden stars and moons. She's also got her massive red and gold sword strapped to her back. She was invited here on the pretense of artifact discussion, so she really should bring hers! Accordingly, her top is sleeveless, with only loose translucent cloth draped over her toned upper arms. "Oh, I love your place," is her obligatory small-talk greeting when Rufus invites her inside. "My last time in the city was when I talked to Yuuki about completing my task to join, and this is really a beautiful view of it.)]")] Sarracenia being the cause of the panic in the lobby downstairs gets a side-eyed glance from Merelisa, and then-- a snicker, a bit crassly at-odds with how professionally she's dressed up. "Oh, that was you? Oh noooo, your highness, that was such a mess." Finger foods and bottles of wine! Merelisa groans a bit, internally, at the showiness of it, but that's just how wealthy merchants are, she supposes. Surely, Rufus has no ulterior motives of any kind, or she would've noticed by now. "Get to know each other how? I have plenty of stories, so-- oh! But first..." Merelisa reaches over her shoulder and heaves her sword off her back, one-handedly lowering the huge slab of metal down across one of the kitchen counters. "Here's one of mine! Don't get too curious, it's not for sale, ahaha."
Rufus Shinra	"Oh - think nothing of it..." says Rufus, though he does have to wonder about just how much he's in the hole for re: building damage. Rufus Shinra, who is merely one of the ultra ultra rich, goes blank for a moment at Sarracenia's question. Do... the ultra ultra ultra rich have servants like that? "Apologies, no, I do not have servants for that part." When Merelisa brings out her sword, Rufus is on firmer ground. "Oh here we go-" he's around the corner of the kitchen island in record time to get a good look at it. "Oh, that is nice. Are you sure it's not for sale?" "Well - it's not enough to show it off. I need to see it in action now." Rufus schmooves his way around the kitchen, heading to a control panel, and punching in a code. Out in the living room, part of wall slides open - revealing a line of shooting gallery targets, as well as a melee training dummy. Not coincidentally, one of the open concept kitchen counters is at the perfect height and position to double as a shooting range counter... ... though firing at the targets from this position would involve shooting over Rufus's living room furniture. Maybe he's just too rich to care about stray shots like that? "I insist. Take a couple shots, swings, energy beams, whatever it is you can do," he says, watching her expectantly.
Sarracenia	When Merelisa arrives, Sarracenia's eyes practically sparkle! The heroine looks properly magnificent and is color coordinated with her weapon! Sarra considers herself good at fashion, but she is already taking notes. Can she perhaps get her hammer painted? Sarracenia laughs much more self-consciously when Merelisa brings up the crash. "Yes..." she agrees with a sigh. "...they really should mark one of the gates with 'landing pad' or something. But, as I said, I insist on paying for the damage." she says, aiming that last part at Rufus even as he says to think nothing of it. She is almost as close as Rufus when Merelisa presents her sword. "Oh my~ It is quite lovely! I do sometimes wish I had opted for a sword instead of a hammer. The elegance of a sword simply cannot be matched by any other weapon." she says, then reaches into her purse. She pulls with a bit of a grunt, and a wooden handle emerges from her purse. Nearly six feet is pulled free before she struggles a bit and with a final huff pulls the hammer free. The head is made of a dense black metal bigger around than the princess and a few times heavier no doubt. "I am afraid it is not as magnificent as your weapon. But, it is quite old. I am told hammers such as this were once used by heroes of my world to fight monstrous apes. It is not one of a kind, but there are few in existence. And even fewer that can be held." she says proudly. "I do not suggest either of you hold it. It is enchanted to me, and if anyone else holds it it thrashes about wildly and quite destructively." Rufus reveals he has a weapons testing area right in his home. She lets out an impressed 'oooh~' as the rooftop penthouse shifts around. "Should I show mine off as well?" she asks, clearly taking note of the fact that Rufus does not seem to mind collateral damage. Which Sarra is quite good at causing.
Merelisa Shaynore	"Mmm? We're all allies here, anyways. We don't need servants." Merelisa is, absolutely, not one of the 'rich' at all. Whatever she might look like, and however much experience among royalty she has-- which is quite a lot-- she's never had much interest in pursuing extravagance like her compatriots do. Exemplifying this is when she gets distracted and leans over the counter to peek at some of the foods that Rufus has available, scooping her hair up between two fingers so it doesn't spill onto the platter. "Ooooh, is that those garlic things? I love those." It's impossible to tell which of the hors d'ouevres she's referring to. With Rufus circling around the counter with that gleam in his eye, Merelisa automatically reaches back for the handle of her greatsword defensively, smiling at him. "We've been through too much together for me to ever sell it. And besides, I still need it! I'm not exactly planning on retiring on a mountain of gold just yet, you know." Sarracenia's admiration is taken much more happily, and Merelisa practically sparkles when she pulls the sword up to gesture around and show it off to her. "It is, it is! It's such a beautiful weapon. And the work that that old blacksmith did on it, there's really no one who could've done better by it. Look, see here, in the fullet, where that shiny part is, that's the crystal core that runs through the whole length, and these etchings here are runes in an ancient language that's been dead for a thousand years, and here's . . ." As Merelisa showed hers, so too does Sarracenia show off hers in return. "Apes, huh? Are monsters like that still common on your world?" Merelisa scurries all around the hammer, her undignified excitement at odds with the fact that she's still clicking her heels with every step. She bends all the way over to put her face near the head of the hammer, inspecting it closely, and pulls back to compare her bicep to it to assess how easily she'd be able to swing it. "Oooh... and it's cursed...." Merelisa claps her hands in front of her mouth. "Oh, or is it a magical lock you put on it on purpose, to keep it from being stolen? I've never thought of doing that on purpose-- though if you think about it, that's kind of what all cursed weapons started off as being, isn't it?" And then-- 'I insist. Take a couple shots, swings, energy beams, whatever it is you can do,'-- Merelisa is visibly excited by the prospect, but even as she hoists her greatsword up, she looks struck by sudden anxiety. She glances at Rufus, and then up at the high ceiling of the penthouse, and at the window behind the training dummy. "Are you sure? Well, I did just say I wasn't done using it! I hate seeing relics just sitting around, so--!"
Merelisa Shaynore	In the blink of an eye, Merelisa crosses the length of the floor, heat washing back after her like the shockwave of a dropped bomb. A sheathe of flame envelopes the blade, and when she two-handedly swings it upwards at the dummy, a massive trail of fire blooms out of its tip, splitting the dummy into a spray of vaporized ash, and continuing up in a pillar straight through the roof and the wall behind where it was. She pivots on her foot, despite the unwieldiness of the maneuver in heels, and brings the sword around sideways in the direction of the firing range. A fiery echo of the path of the arc spreads outwards, slicing through the dummies and exploding behind them, scorching a huge portion of the apartment. The fire pillar lingers for a few seconds longer, while Merelisa stands still in her finishing pose, and then it silently winks out. With the oppressive heat and light vanishing, the breeze and daylight of outdoors streaming in through the blackened hole Merelisa carved through Rufus's wall is a pleasant respite. Merelisa's quiet for a moment longer, and then slowly lowers her sword. "--Ah. Uh, ahaha, um, sorry. Theeere's the demonstration!" Hand behind her head, Merelisa smiles self-consciously at Sarracenia, eyes squinted shut. "Looks like we're both on the hook now, huh?"
Rufus Shinra	Rufus watches eagerly as she swings, and at the trail of fire... ... and then at the damage to his penthouse... and the new hole in the side of it... Furniture is easily replaceable. Structural repairs, especially at the top of an ultra-high-rise-building, however... "... Ah - ahem. Think nothing of it, really. But - I think that's plenty enough demonstrating for one night." He doesn't really want to let Sarracenia have a go, especially after that. "So! How about what you came here for! The artifacts." He opens another door, and ushers the other two in. It's a smaller room, seemingly dedicated to just displaying stuff. There's a bunch of minor trinkets and treasures lining the walls, but pride of place is taken up by sixth plinths each with a glass case - five uncovered, and one covered by an opaque cloth. "Alright, let me start showing these off..." "So this... is a card containing one fifth of a dark god. If all five are collected in one place it'll probably destroy the world. Neat, right?" "This is a holo thing, it's got a dark space wizard's soul in it, I think. Apparently you can get a lot of dark space wizard wisdom out of it if you use it right right way, all I know is that it sounds really mad when you shake it." "Here's a- oh. Hmm." There's bits of eggshell in the next case, and nothing else. "I guess it hatched. Oh well." Rufus moves on to the next glass case without lingering on it. "This... is Ultra Lord." It looks like it's just a still-in-box children's toy. "The purple vengeance version with power fist and nuclear knees. Highly collectable." "Here's a ninja thing." The fifth case has a single kunai in it. "It does... something. It cost twenty mil, that's all I know for sure, I haven't gotten it to work. If I didn't get it from a reputable seller I'd have written it off as a dud or scam, honestly." "And the final piece in my collection..." Rufus approaches the sixth case, which has the cover over it, and goes to stand beside it. He puts one hand on the cloth cover... "... is YOU!" He yanks the cover off. There's - there's Sarracenia and Merelisa inside it! They're trapped! - Oh, no, wait, it's just a mirror. "Hah, no, I'm kidding of course. It's supposed to be a Mirror of Truth, but it's a defect that only gives useless answers to questions. I bought it as a gag, really."
Merelisa Shaynore	Merelisa's shoulders slump at Rufus's tone, shamefully returning her sword to her back. She slinks into the room behind him, loitering back out of his hearing range for a moment with Sarracenia. "Uuuuu..." She moans quietly, pouting. It's not a dignified expression suited to the heroine's stature at all; she looks like she's a kid who accidentally pushed over an expensive vase. "Do you think he's mad...?"
Sarracenia	As Merelisa starts describing her weapon, Sarracenia listens with the gleaming eyes of a child looking at a magnificent toy they would like to have. She doesn't actually have much interest in relics, but weapons are a different story! "Oooh. Forged by a proper old blacksmith from mystical items? Such is the epitomy of a heroic weapon!" she says happily. She reaches out slowly to run a hand along the blade (if allowed) as she listens. As Merelisa starts asking about her weapon, Sarra beams proudly. "Such monsters are quite easy to find in my world, actually! Though, I believe that tribe of apes have become peace-loving, there is also a tribe of human-sized turtles called koopas that are led by a fire-breathing dragon turtle! There are similarly sized and dangerous carnivorous plants, bug creatures, giant man-eating fish and birds..." 'Oooh...and it's cursed...' Sarra nods delightedly! "It is indeed cursed! The magic only holds the curse at bay in my hands! Though, it does serve as a kind of magical lock, it is not really by design. And, if the curse energy is unleashed for too long, it is entirely likely that the hammer will teleport away! I suppose a quest to find my hammer might be fun, though. Would you like to see the curse in action? I can semi-control it for short periods of time!" Then, Merelisa puts on a display that leaves Sarracenia smiling brightly and with eyes once again sparkling in awe. The elegant movements even in heels, the fire, the destruction! Sarracenia quietly thinks to herself that if such a heroine turned out to be -her- heroine she would not mind at all~
Sarracenia	All revved up from Merelisa's display, Sarracenia tuts at Rufus saying that is enough...then hees mischievously. "Nonsense! He did say to go for it! And it is only fair to show you mine as well~" she says as a glittering, flowing, prismatic aura starts to form around the head of her hammer. "And it will only take about 30 seconds~" she says as that glow flows down the handle and starts to flow over Sarracenia. The princess's hair starts to float somewhat, as if gravity were not quite right or perhaps there were a slight magical breeze felt only by her as the glow surrounds her. "I will do my best to limit the damage, though~" she says even as her teeth clench and the glow finally infuses her eyes. The hammering that ensues surely wakes every neighbor in the building as the princess smashes any remaining bits of dummy into pulverized powder, her body seeming to act of its own accord. She seems only able to control where to aim the swings, and when there are no dummy bits left...well, she does her best to keep from smashing through the floor until the 30 seconds run out and the glow slowly fades from both her and the hammer. Sarra is left panting from the curse's forced efforts. She laughs a delighted, very slightly maniacal laugh, then straightens her hair and gives her hammer a flourish as she twirls in place before bringing it to rest on her shoulder. "So? What do you think?" she asks the other two as she follows them into the hall of treasures. The princess regards each treasure in turn. "Hmm. This card looks somewhat like one that I based an outfit of mine off of." she says of the dark god card. The holo thing gets a curious glance, but she stays clear of it. 'I guess it hatched. Oh well.' Sarra blinks in surprise. "Wait, what hatched? Is that a dragon egg?" she asks as she follows. She regards Ultra Lord and can't help a bit of a giggle. She does appreciate collectables to a degree. The kunai activates chuuni tendencies in her, and she is sorely tempted to throw it. Sarra gasps in surprise as it is revealed...they are part of his collection. She blinks, then laughs and rolls her eyes in a good humor sort of way. "Mirror Mirror where I stand. Who is the fairest in the land?" she says jokingly.
Rufus Shinra	> "Mirror Mirror where I stand. Who is the fairest in the land?" "Judge Anushka, of the third minor circuit, traffic crimes division," says the Sarracenia in the mirror using Sarracenia's voice.
Sarracenia	Sarracenia blinks in surprise, then huffs and crosses her arms with her cheeks puffing a bit. "Well, of course it would say something like that..."
Merelisa Shaynore	Earlier... "Would you like to see the curse in action? I can semi-control it for short periods of time!" Merelisa laughs, twisting away to not expose the princess to her brief fit with her arm squeezed to her chest. "Sorry, sorry, it's just-- 'semi-control' for 'short periods', ahahaha! I love that. I love the sound of that. Gosh, I've missed being around people who are just able to let loose like that, you know? They're relics, but they're our relics, and we should be free to have a bit of fun with them." "So? What do you think?" Merelisa can't wipe the smile off her face after the hammering subsides, relaxing her posture from where she was poised to run after Sarra when she strayed too close to smashing right through the weakened portions of the burnt floor. "You were right about semi-control, ahaha! That's a really impressive weapon; how did it become attuned to you like that if it wasn't on purpose?" Then, lowering her voice as she follows Rufus into the other room along with Sarracenia, she says aside, "Thanks, I appreciate the support." Now they're both in trouble for messing up the apartment, if either of them are. First... the card! "Oooh, that's nice." Merelisa leans in to inspect the card, murmuring its name out loud to herself. "Serpens used to love this kind of thing... cards, I mean. Ahaha, not so much 'summoning dark gods'-- but don't give her the idea! There was this game she tried to get us all into, but it was too complicated for me... only Cassiopeia really got it. I wonder if they still play..." "Hey, do you know if all four of the other cards are being held by someone who's searching for you right now, to try and harness the god's power?" It doesn't sound like she's warning Rufus. She sounds excited at the prospect, in fact! Next... the holo thing! "Hmmm... have you tried looking into how you're supposed to shake it?" Merelisa pokes at the device, seeing if that prompts a reaction. "Or is it maybe the kind of knowledge that no one should ever know? You seem to be doing a good job of keeping dangerous artifacts out of the hands of people who might misuse them." Next... fragments of eggshell! Merelisa tilts her head, hair swinging to the side. Is the case broken at all? "Oh, well, do you know what it was? Where you got it? Was it a dragon or something like that?" Next... Ultra Lord! Merelisa looks put off by this, and it's easy for Rufus to assume this is because he invited a woman to his house, who then got all dressed up for the occasion, and then showed off his action figures to her, but instead it's because-- "Doesn't it look kind of lame, though? It looks generic, like it's one of those kinds that's only for resell value. I've always regretted signing any in-box figures that people bring to me, since I usually hear that they got sold off right after...." Next... a ninja thing! "Serpens really would be having the time of her life here." Merelisa muses, not too interested in the kunai itself. She's a heavy weapon user! "Have you been waiting around for someone suited for it?" Last... the mirror! Merelisa giggles at Sarracenia's immediate, foreshadowed betrayal, leaning her elbow on one of the pedestals to watch. "If you were hoping it'd say you, Rufus did just say that it only gives silly answers."
Rufus Shinra	Sarracenia manages to not do any further major damage, but Rufus has a new noise complaint to deal with! The card says 'End Magus', and has a part of a picture of some sort of colorful monster. > "Hey, do you know if all four of the other cards are being held by someone who's searching for you right now, to try and harness the god's power?" "Maybe!" says Rufus, as if he's not really too bothered by the possibility. "Though I won it in a private game tournament, so until the person who had it before me gets kidnapped, tortured for its new wherabouts, and probably dies I'm probably safe. I've got a keyword alert set juuuussssst in case." The holo thing grumbles when its poked at. "Peace is a lie, there is only stabbing you," a female voice from within it mutters. > "Wait, what hatched? Is that a dragon egg?" "Something like that," says Rufus, as if it doesn't really matter much anymore. > "Doesn't it look kind of lame, though?" Rufus is quiet for a moment. "Does it?" He opens the glass case, grabs the Ultra Lord box, and pitches it into a nearby trash can. "I'll find something new to put there." > "Have you been waiting around for someone suited for it?" "Eh - maybe, though I'm not sure what exactly it does. You can try it, I guess?"
Sarracenia	Earlier... 'Sorry, sorry, it's just...' Sarra does look a bit uncertain as Merelisa laughs, but when the hero Andromeda is finished Sarra is smiling. "Exactly! Fun~! If one does not let loose and enjoy oneself, then I think one loses sight of the point of working so hard to help people and defend worlds!" she says happily. After the demonstration, Sarra laughs with Merelisa at the repeat of semi-control, then blinks at the question. "Oh! My apologies. It was tuned to me purposefully because the rampant hammering was too strong of a curse to eliminate completely. So, tuning it is all the wizard my family hired could do. 'Thanks, I appreciate the support.' Sarra giggles ever so slightly and nods. "You are welcome~" she says quietly back. Merelisa pokes the holo thing...and it speaks! Sarra blinks in surprise, then huffs. "...should a wizard not threaten us with some sort of magical attack...?" she wonders aloud. 'Doesn't it look kind of lame?' And Rufus just tosses it. Sarra once again blinks in surprise, but doesn't say anything about it. She has tossed away things similarly before, though seeing someone else do it so nonchalantly is a new one for her. "If you like collectables, I have my own line of them called 'Princess Plushies'. They are crafted from power-ups, and carry the added collectable risk of if you touch them they are likely to appear on you as an outfit, which if you are ever harmed or take it off willingly disappears forever along with the plushie. I had them developed as an April Fool's joke, but they became somewhat popular for their novelty value." 'If you were hoping it'd say you, Rufus did just say that it only gives silly answers.' Sarra sighs softly then laughs a bit. "Yes, but now I will forever wonder if it is actually telling the truth. Imagine, a minor judge outshining me." she says, trying to sound haughty but obviously full of doubt. Back to the ninja thing! "Serpens? One of your friends back home?" Sarra asks...even as she heads toward the case to take the kunai. She looks at it closely, then pulls out a plank of simple wood from her purse and sets it against a wall. She steps away from it, takes a deep breath while striking a sideways stance and lowering one hand in front of her with two fingers pointing at the sky and the others curled together. Then...she throws it at the plank! She then stands frozen, just in case something happens. And giving Merelisa a chance in the process.
Merelisa Shaynore	"Though I won it in a private game tournament, so until the person who had it before me gets kidnapped, tortured for its new wherabouts, and probably dies I'm probably safe." "Hmmmm, or maybe the proctor of the tournament has been organizing this kind of thing all along?" Lacking an evil conspiracy, Merelisa starts to daydream about one. "And then once all five cards have been handed out, they'll know exactly where they are? Who knows, right?" "I'll find something new to put there." Merelisa winces, smile strained. "Well, I don't think you'll have a problem doing that. You're some kind of merchant, right? Collecting dark artifacts to make sure they end up safely contained or used for good?" "If you like collectables, I have my own line of them called 'Princess Plushies'." "Oh? Princess plushies? Do they look like you, or is that just their brand name?" Merelisa's gaze lingers on the tossed action figure, and she fiddles with one of her dangling earrings, elbow tucked to her chest. "Those do sound cute... but I feel a little bad about a plushie you can never touch. Waste just makes me a little uncomfortable, you know?" "Imagine, a minor judge outshining me." "Haha, I wouldn't worry too much about that." Merelisa laughs airily. "Wouldn't the most beautiful woman in the world be up on stage, or in a castle somewhere? They wouldn't just be languishing in some normal job, without having wars fought over them and people scrambling to get their affection. It's just a joke answer." "Serpens? One of your friends back home?" While shaking her head at Rufus when he suggests that she use the kunai-- 'no, not for me'-- Merelisa hums at Sarracenia in acknowledgement. "One of my old party members. Maybe it's a bad habit for me to keep referring to them all by the names of their myths, when they've pretty much hung up their towels at this point. Festinia, is her name; we traveled together for years until recently. She liked playing around with little trinkets like this, especially if they were dangerous. Laurent too, but he was more responsible about it."
Merelisa Shaynore	Merelisa looks up from her reminiscing, plucking the gem pendant around her neck between two fingers. "Oh, but speaking of Serpens... I have another artifact to show off, if you're done with your collection, Rufus. The Stellar Heart Andromeda." She twists the pendant around, transparent gem catching the surrounding light of the display room and sending it gleaming along the golden spikes radiating out from it. Each spike is woven impossibly intricately with threads of ancient gold, the only sign of its age being the faint limning of black within the dull sheen. She handles the pendant almost lovingly, as intimately as if it's part of her own body, pinched between two of the spikes to hold it up in a way that's obviously learned through years of familiarity. "It's not quite as dramatic, but... I could try it out on one of you two, if you'd like to see it."
Rufus Shinra	> "You're some kind of merchant, right? Collecting dark artifacts to make sure they end up safely contained or used for good?" "Oh - yeah, of course," says Rufus. That's totally true and not a lie. Sarracenia offers a replacement plushie. "Why not. Have it sent over. Though - uh, disarm it first, if you would. I don't want the post office on my case too." > "It's not quite as dramatic, but... I could try it out on one of you two, if you'd like to see it." "Oh, sure, if you've got more toys- I mean, artifacts to demonstrate, I wanna see," says Rufus, turning his back on Sarracenia as she's testing out the artifact - and almost misses what happens next. Sarracenia doesn't make it to throwing the kunai before something happens. "Brave heroine!" it says in her hand, speaking with a female voice, though sounding a little off as though it had the mystical equivalent of speaker crackle. "Though you may not yet know it - you are destined to save our kingdom. For you are, secretly, an Elite!" "Keep this weapon close it hand, let no other touch it, and follow to where the light shines." A beam of light shines out of the kunai, pointing upwards at an angle - back towards the Sector Zero superplanet. "Please hurry! The fate of the kingdom is at stake!" "... It... didn't do that for me," says Rufus, narrowing his eyes at it.
Sarracenia	'Waste just makes me a little uncomfortable, you know?' "I do not consider it a waste any more than a painting or a flower. Both of those can be ruined if you touch them, yet are prominently displayed by many people on many worlds because they enrich those around them simply by existing and looking lovely." Sarra says with a confident smile on her face that says she is sure she is right. "As for the plushies, they do not look like me. They are merely cute plushies such as frogs, raccoons, foxes, and various others that are wearing princess outfits." 'Why not. Have it sent over. Though - uh, disarm it first, if you would. I don't want the post office on my case too.' Sarra hmms. "They cannot be 'disarmed'. But, I can have a set made that are made from normal plushies." she says to Rufus with a smile. It is nice to have someone show interest in your merchandise! 'Haha, I wouldn't worry too much about that.' Sarra considers what Merelisa says and hmms. "Perhaps..." That doesn't fully help since Sarra can only claim that she has a castle, not that anyone has fought over her or scrambled to get her affection. "And I suppose it is rather funny." 'You're some kind of merchant, right? Collecting dark artifacts to make sure they end up safely contained or used for good?' Sarra laughs rather uncomfortably when Merelisa says this and when Rufus agrees. She is not going to out him though. That would hardly be proper for an ally. Then...back to the ninja thing! Sarra is winding up when...it shines and starts speaking! Sarra yelps in surprise and almost fumbles it, then haphazardly juggles it a few times before fully catching it again. "What in the...?!" She stares a few moments, then as she realizes what it said she looks off toward where the beam is shining. "..do...do you think it is real?" she asks as she gazes in that direction. Then, her eyes widen. "...oh my goodness...it is a heroic quest!" she exclaims, holding the kunai up with both hands in a classic 'Link received an item' pose. "And since you two were here with me, you must accompany me to save that kingdom!" '... It... didn't do that for me.' Sarra smirks a bit smugly. "Well, it was waiting for a brave heroine! Not a crafty merchant. It is not your fault." she says. As her excitement from the kunai simmers down a bit, Sarra realizes that Merelisa asked them something. "Oh! I am sorry, Merelisa! Feel free to try that dazzling pendant out on me. If you are sure it is okay? It seems quite precious to you, and..." And people do not usually trust Sarracenia with precious things. Sarra isn't going to say that, of course. "In return, you may try out one of my favorite power-ups!" Sarra pulls out...a Bullet Bill power-up! "...though not in here, I think. I will not tell you what it does, but...yes, definitely try it in a big open area with nothing valuable nearby."
Merelisa Shaynore	"Please hurry! The fate of the kingdom is at stake!" "...oh my goodness...it is a heroic quest!" Merelisa lights up and claps her hands together, then pats Sarracenia on the shoulder excitedly. "Oh, wow! Look at that! Artifacts almost always have stories, but it's so rare for them to just tell it to you like that." "Do you have any idea where it's from, or how old it is? Saving a kingdom... I wonder from what?" Merelisa squirms in place, shifting her weight back and forth. She taps her foot on the ground quickly, obviously completely on board with the idea of leaping off to a heroic quest with Rufus and Sarra. "It must've been able to tell how much you wanted to do something like this. And I'll come with you!" Merelisa draws her sword and swings it around overhead, dropping it into a purposefully overly showy pose with the tip of the blade against the ground behind her, beaming. "Between the two of us, there isn't a kingdom we couldn't save. You can count on me, your highness." "It seems quite precious to you, and..." "It is precious to me," Hand wrapped around the pendant, Merelisa holds it close to her heart, eyes closed. "And that's why I'm always happy to use it. Sharing the name 'Andromeda' with my Stellar Heart isn't a coincidence; it's what made me who I am, all the way from the beginning. I couldn't bear to keep it locked away for safekeeping any more than I'd want to be trapped in a cell myself." "So it would be my honor to share the Stellar Heart with you, princess, especially when you've just been given a quest!" Light starts shining out between Merelisa's fingers, and sourceless magical energy stirs everyone's hair and clothing in the room. Tiny dots of light flicker into being in orbit around her, swelling into fist-sized orbs like a solar system in miniature, with herself at the center. Seven of the glowing 'planets' are pure white, and one is a murky green with swirls of grey, flowing like liquid light within itself. As Merelisa focuses on Sarracenia for longer, another of the orbs gradually suffuses with light, a trickle of color filling up the plain white, turning it to royal red-gold with a faint black outline glow of black. The magic pressure settles down, and Merelisa opens her eyes to behold the newly colored orb floating in orbit around her. "Oh! Red and gold, just like me. Now," Merelisa turns back to Sarra, brushing her hand through the circle and setting them all spinning faster as emphasis, "I'll absolutely be able to try your power-ups! The Stellar Heart Andromeda lets me keep up with any technique, any magic, throughout the millennia it's existed and now-- I wasn't certain before, but now I am, ahaha-- anywhere in the multiverse, too."
Rufus Shinra	> "And since you two were here with me, you must accompany me to save that kingdom!" "Now wait just a minute, it's still mine, I still own it," says Rufus, going to snatch it out of Sarracenia's hand. "I paid twenty million for it." Instantly, as soon as it passes from her hand to his, it stops glowing and speaking. He glares at it, and then shoves it back into Sarracenia's hand. "Brave heroine! Though you may not yet know it - you are destined to save our kingdom. For you are, secretly, an Elite! Keep this weapon close it hand, let no other touch it, and follow to where the light shines. Please hurry! The fate of the kingdom is at stake!" it repeats, shining the light in roughly the same direction. "I get half the reward," Rufus insists. Merelisa does her thing with the Stellar Heart. Rufus is watching, somewhat interested, but he's also a little bit checked out, maybe he's put out that Sarracenia managed to get a Destined Quest off of his artifact. "Cool."
Sarracenia	Sarracenia lights up even more when Merelisa lights up. And even -more- when she does that flourish and declares that Sarra can count on her. Merelisa may not understand why, but Sarra's eyes get a bit moist and she sniffles lightly before wiping at her eyes. "And...you can count on m-" Rufus snatches the kunai. "Hey, what are you-?!" He shoves it back into Sarra's hands and it goes through its little presentation again, which brings that smirk back to Sarracenia's face. 'I get half the reward.' Sarra mmphs in mild annoyance. "Fair, I suppose. Assuming there is a reward. If it is a true heroic quest, it may require..." She hees. "...pro bono work." She is playfully teasing Rufus knowing he seems more preoccupied with money than she is. 'So it would be my honor to share the Stellar Heart with you, princess, especially when you've just been given a quest!' Sarra listens closely as Merelisa powers up her Stellar Heart, her own heart practically bursting with just how well the night is going and how Merelisa seems to actually like her! She watches in fascination and wonder as the glowing dots and orbs are manipulated, then blinks in surprise. "Oh! We even share a color palette?" she says, giggling a bit at herself since it sounds a bit silly to say. 'I'll absolutely be able to try your power-ups! The Stellar Heart Andromeda lets me keep up with any technique, any magic, throughout the millennia it's existed and now-- I wasn't certain before, but now I am, ahaha-- anywhere in the multiverse, too.' Sarra freezes for a few moments. "...am I...the first from the multiverse on whom you have tried this?" she asks, then curtseys. "I am honored, Merelisa. Or should I say...Hero Andromeda?" she says. Then she pauses a moment. "...wait, what do you mean try my power-ups?" she asks, confused but curious.
Merelisa Shaynore	"...am I...the first from the multiverse on whom you have tried this?" Merelisa smiles awkwardly, still awash in the magical afterglow of the Stellar Heart. She ducks her head, back to fiddling with the pendant, while the surrounding lightshow of orbs practically makes her red hair glow in reflection. "Well... yes. I'm rather new to the Concord still, and... it hadn't felt necessary to use it on any of the trials I did to become a Partner. So, I guess you are my first." "You know, even though I'm not inexperienced at all anymore, coming out into the multiverse like this... it makes me feel a bit like a hapless little kid, making the first stumbling steps out into the world, all over again. Everything seems big, and full of promise, and everyone has so much going on and there's so much to learn about them... so I'm a little glad that you've all been so kind, too. I'm excited for the new adventure, your highness." Merelisa lifts her face back up and tucks her hair behind her ear, smiling at Sarra. "And my friends usually call me Merelisa." "...wait, what do you mean try my power-ups?" With one of her hands cupped, Merelisa scoops up the green-grey orb circling around her, plucking it out of orbit. With her other hand, she holds her sword out, gesturing to the domed impression in the blade at the intersection of the fuller and crossguard. "The Stellar Heart Andromeda is super old magitech, with an incredibly complicated mirroring spell inside of it. By scanning and reinterpreting the powers of my allies or enemies, it creates a processed copy for me to..." She gently guides the orb into the slot, where it fits perfectly and seamlessly. The crystal streak running through the center floods with the same color as the orb, and a low howl of wind starts to pick up around the sword. It tugs on the trio in the room, hard enough to make them stumble and increasing in speed every second, rattling the displays on the wall, before she pulls the orb back out and replaces it in orbit. "So I'm never unable to keep up. No matter what my enemies throw at me, I'll always be able to adapt. The multiverse might have kings or gods that no one's ever been able to touch before, but between the Stellar Heart and everything I've done, there's nothing that can stay out of my reach forever."