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Team Timekeeper	Team Timekeeper is a project three months in the making, at minimum. An exhaustively political product of the intricate global tensions between humans and arcanists, the apocalyptic pressure of the Storm and the ideological battle between those attempting to stop it and those attempting to accelerate it, and the bureaucratic society-within-itself of the Foundation, Team Timekeeper's existence is both a triumph and bizarrely strained contradiction.     It isn't a secret that the Timekeeper herself is a member of the Watch, and that she kind of drags everyone involved with her into it too. Nonetheless, the Foundation is Commonwealth-affiliated, and Team Timekeeper, as an autonomous unit within the Foundation, is subject to oversight both from the organization and from the Paladins themselves. Furthermore, among the number of first wave applicants to the Team is Druvis Weyerhauser, ex-Manus Vindictae arcanist supremacist, current friend to the Timekeeper alone, as well as a collection of mundane humans.     And so, this tenuous, utopian team, balancing in the confluence of breathless idealism of a better future for everyone on Earth, sends out its first request for aid, to anyone who may listen and respond. Surely it's something *really* important.     The Suitcase has a warpgate; formerly Watch-exclusive, now officially documented. That it's derived from Laplace, and accessorized by Regulus, is apparent at a glance: a big chrome machine ran through with cables and wires, a record-patterned upraised platform teleported onto or off of, beneath an apple-red futuristic dome. It's housed down in the basement layers of the manor, in what used to be a secretive storage room and is now in the process of being renovated, stone floor swept and prepped for polishing, but incidentally cluttered due to the reality of architectural updating.     Typically, from here, you would go out into the larger basement hallways and chambers, find the languid wooden staircase that leads up to the main floor of Vertin's vast manor, and meet her somewhere, typically the plant-filled sunroom, the flower gardens, or her office. But not today! Today, the reason for her call for aid is right here in this very room!     Sonetto is here already, helping conduct the assistance where Vertin isn't. With her currently are Matilda and two other girls. One of them is tall and wide-set, wearing a cowboy hat and having a cartoonish curled moustache, but nonetheless with a high sweet-toned voice that would sound perfectly average coming out of any girl that wasn't wearing men's clothing and didn't have a handlebar moustache. The other one is nearly the polar opposite to both Sonetto and Bette, a straight-up Playboy bunny complete with sheer tights, heels, and headband.     The wall in front of Sonetto is stacked with dozens of 80lb bags of ready-mix concrete. Bette has one bag propped up on each of her shoulders, and Bunny Bunny has four stacked up on just one of her hands. When the Elites start coming through the warpgate, Sonetto turns to face them and gently claps her hands together, sending out a puff of concrete dust that also lightly powders her hair and uniform.     "Ah, yes. There you all are. Thank you very much for coming to assist Timekeeper with this endeavor." She turns and points to the many, very heavy bags of concrete. "We must carry one hundred and fourteen more of these bags to construction site A, and the other eighty six to construction site B."
Regulus	And there's Regulus! She didn't go anywhere either!! She didn't even question the curled moustache and actually asked if she had and moustache waxing tips for APPLe who also occassionally wears a cartoonish curled moustache. As for the Playboy Bunny, Regulus naturally assumed she was Bunny Bunny! She has asked both of them: "How do you know Vertin? How long have you known her? Have you seen your room yet? How do you like it?" because Regulus has spent a lot of her time trying to decorate and set up each new member of Team Timekeeper's room in order to help them feel welcome such as charlie chaplin movie posters for Bette and a little plush decorative bunny holding a coffee cup for Bunny Bunny. Because so many people are coming in all at once, this means she's really trying to do at least SOMETHING for everyone while not holding up proceedings for the sake of decorating. Regulus has already, before Vertin was even put into deep sleep, working on mapping the Wilderness because once she asked Vertin for something to do while she was excited and determined to do any work at all and so she has a map of the wilderness with a little markered on manor representing where everybody is right now. One spot is marked with a B and the other is marked with an A. "We'll be taking them right there...! And right there!" Regulus says. "The more of us doing this, the fewer trips back and forth we've got to make, but don't overdo it" She offers the map to anybody who wants to take a closer look. "And as a reward, we've got snacks after. The Rikulus cake is in the fridge waiting for all of you. And there'll be other snacks too!" She's dressed pretty lightly, wearing the same outfit she's been wearing for her frequent cleanup works since she doesn't want to mess up her usual outfits. She's pulled her hair back with a durag and her shirt is sleeveless but she's wearing long jeans with some star patches sewn on.
Riku Asakura	Riku comes through the warpgate like the other elites.  For him, though, he's dressed a little differently than normal.  He's wearing a blue workshirt and slightly worn jeans.  He's got work boots and isn't currently wearing a jacket because it was supposed to be a favor to Vertin, and he was expecting work.  He is not disappointed by the fact that the first thing he sees upon walking in is cement. He also sees two new people, and he waves at each of them politely.  "Hi, nice to meet you both.  I'm Riku Asakura. I'm with the Paladins."  He also gives Regulus a glance and a wave.  He also gives her a second glance, as well as the bags of cement, and then another glance as if to say, 'Are you sure you can carry these?'   He also takes a look at the map, scratching his head.  "So wait, is it very far?  Why do we need a map?  I thought the area in the suitcase wasn't /that/ big?" He has no idea just how large the Suitcase actually is.   Turning to Sonetto, he nods, "Alright, I can carry.  But that's a /lot/ of cement..." he says, not complaining, just noting it.   Though when Rikulus' cake is mentioned, he thinks about this.  "I thought that was supposed to be for my birthday?"
Kale Hearthward	> And so, this tenuous, utopian team, balancing in the confluence of breathless idealism of a better future for everyone on Earth, sends out its first request for aid, to anyone who may listen and respond. Surely it's something *really* important.     And so Kale Hearthward answers, after turning on his accidentally-muted mission alerts for the first time in months.     He's still being read in on the project, multitasking between reading a printout and listening to an operator via earpiece. The exact details are still a little hazy, but the overall political situation seems clear enough - joint project, ex-rebellion, Watch members but Paladin/Commonwealth affiliation, three failed votes. The short version is play nice and, if necessary, make it clear you didn't shoot first. Sure.     > "Ah, yes. There you all are. Thank you very much for coming to assist Timekeeper with this endeavor."     "Absolutely." Kale puts his printout away, mutes his earpiece and focuses in. "Kale Hearthward, Paladins. I've got search and rescue expertise, tactical expertise, certifications for holding combat training and non-commercial flight training, and-"     > She turns and points to the many, very heavy bags of concrete. "We must carry one hundred and fourteen more of these bags to construction site A, and the other eighty six to construction site B."     "..."     "I         see."     "Okay. It's a teambuilding exercise," says Kale, suckering himself into believing that he hasn't been suckered into doing manual labor. "Excellent. Watch and learn how it's done."     He rolls up his non-existent sleeves, grabs two of the 80-pound bags, one in each arm, hefts them up, takes one step forwards, and then falls over backwards, both bags landing on top of him and effectively pinning him to the ground.     "..."     "Any chance I can get that cake now...?" he wheezes.
Holly Asturias	"I like it so much better here, when it isn't raining, and we aren't besieged." Crazy how that works!     Holly is here, ever willing to assist; whether it's providing first aid, or just doing a bit of the labor, or just saying hi, keeping fed socially, or keeping herself from going bad.     Or all of those.     There are a million things on her mind still, but if there's one thing the Revenant excels at, it's not looking haunted over it.     "Oh my I *love* your outfit!"     ALERT: Holly Asturias is gravitating towards Bunny Bunny. "We must carry one hundred and fourteen more of these bags to construction site A, and the other eighty six to construction site B."     "Oh."     She looks towards Sonetto, distracted from her person-shaped discovery. "That is a lot. I suppose if we split it some ten-ways that is only twenty or so a head, so we should be alright."
Ein	Once again Mr. Karson is excused from the service due to being an old (human) man, but Sotheby does not get an exception to duty and neither does Druvis (arcanist supremacist). Particularly, neither does Druvis, knowing she does not have the option to decline service while Sotheby might beg and bargain for her share. Binding hair and wearing her dark woven clothes, Druvis attends to moving bags of concrete, handling perhaps one at a time. There wasn't cause for her to grow a huge quantity of plants to chain the bags up from the Suitcase, yet she had to answer the summons for work, so... She appeared as she was, droopy as she joined Regulus in moving bags and attending to simple labor, annoyed at having to handle the bags but knowing nothing for it. "Rikulus cake? Is that a cake you made with Riku?" Druvis asks, dry-sharp curiosity carving to the heart of this promised 'prize'. Meanwhile, Sotheby was dressed in simple whites only-slightly frilly skirts, hair of golden drills tied at neck with ribbons, and baby was carrying a big bag with the help from the efforts of an animated stuffie. Brave Typhon, empowered by alchemy, was certainly capable of the Two Hundred Labors Of Typhon (and Company), a task imposed by the wicked Jupiter against the brave, noble, and ultimately innocent Typhon! Soon, though, Typhon would acquire a sweet reward! A wonderful, empowering thing! Sotheby dreams, giggly-drooly, about the promise of cake while her big bag of concrete bows perilously close to the ground, only to be impossibly heaved by stuffie-limbs. And there were new people about! Even newer than the chessmen and the other Arcanists! Wow!! Sotheby goggle-eyes at a living bird-person wheezing just like her!
Storm Investigators	Although Marcus and Greta Hofmann may not be members of Team Timekeeper, they still arrive via the warpgate with only a brief bit of questioning from the latter. Having only received the vaguest of information from Regulus on the radio a short while ago, neither of them had much time to prepare mentally for seeing the wall of concrete bags in front of them. They exchange slow glances as Sonetto explains the situation concisely, with Marcus sweating already when she hears just how many bags there are. "Carrying so many bags... Where are these construction sites? I hope they aren't too far, but even if they aren't, what are they... Er. What is being built here, exactly?" Marcus asks, peering at the map Regulus shows off and groaning a little once she sees just how far the construction sites are. "Is it preparations for your next assignment? "Who drew up the plans for this project?" Greta asks with a quietly nonplussed noise as she takes a look at the bags, then at her coat. While she's taking it off to set it aside somewhere, she also takes a moment to introduce herself to the unfamiliar faces after Riku and Kale do. "Greta Hofmann, senior investigator with the St. Pavlov Foundation, and member of the Paladins as well. Our primary focus is in investigations rather than combat, so please keep your expectations realistic if we work together in the future." "Oh, yes. My name is M.. Marcus. I am also an investi-er. Junior investigator of the Foundation." Unlike Greta, who had spoken cleanly and plainly, Marcus struggles a bit with remembering how to introduce herself properly to so many unfamiliar faces. It doesn't help that she's also struggling with a bag of cement, too. Greta's having a far easier time with her bags, although she lingers behind Marcus to make sure her apprentice doesn't collapse under the weight of a single bag.
Lilian Rook	"Bette! Bunny!"     When Lilian had heard about 'applications flooding in', though it made absolutely no sense, she was secretly hoping these two would be on that list. Leilani was a wonderful surprise, but not that much of one; she was already a Zeno recruit, despite everything. The only way she's familiar with these two is through idle chitchat (subtly politically incendiary rhetoric) at the Foundation, and in the most civilian of civilian roles at that. And here they are! And--     "Holy shit Bunny!"     Lilian arrives in her Foundation 'uniform', with the sole recent exception of replacing her klein blue belt ribbon with a checkerboard patterned one. Though the first thing she notices is Regulus' garish(ly personal) decorations, the first thing she processes is the serving girl from the St. Pavlov Foundation employee food court single-gripping three hundred plus pounds.     "Girl what is your routine?! And stacking them?! Did you get all that practice from balancing trays?!"     'Ah, yes. There you all are. Thank you very much for coming to assist Timekeeper with this endeavor.'     Lilian stops, folds one arm behind her back, clears her throat with the other fist, and says, "Hello to you too, Sonetto. I am, of course, happy to be of assistance." like nothing at all happened. "I presume this was Regulus' work?" she says, glancing more at the dome than the floor design. "Was this really . . . No, never mind. If she built it then it's her choice." Lilian says, like a calming mantra.     'We must carry one hundred and fourteen more of these bags to construction site A, and the other eighty six to construction site B.'     "That's all?" says Lilian, tilting her head. Then she makes a bit of a Face. "That's all?" she says, in a completely different tone.
Lilian Rook	'We'll be taking them right there...! And right there!'     Lilian leans over to look at the map, and says, "Goodness. That isn't close. Are you certain you'll be alright, Regulus?" She pats her on the back, just to make her understand that there's no escaping this one. Most of what she actually thinks, though, is,     §At least she isn't dressed up as a butler.§     'Any chance I can get that cake now...?'     Lilian rolls her head to stare backwards at Kale. Her gaze is accusing. The expression menaces with implication. "Are you absolutely certain you didn't just spend four months on the sofa?" she says.     'Oh my I *love* your outfit!'     "I know what you are."     'That is a lot. I suppose if we split it some ten-ways that is only twenty or so a head, so we should be alright.'     Lilian clears her throat again. "You say that, and it'll seem easy after the fourth trip," What??? "But you'll understand what you're asking for by the fifteenth." she says. "My Master would have assigned something like this as training. Though, I suppose it'd have been the whole pile, and up the switchback trail to the cliff, and you could take as long as you'd like but you'd be on your own food until you finished." Now she's lost in rumination.     "At any rate, it's better if the physically weaker-- members work together to carry each bag." Phew. She nearly said 'arcanists' there! She points at Marcus and Regulus. "You two." But not Sotheby? "I'm certain Investigator Hoffman can manage, but I'd suggest working with Hearthward just to conserve energy. And Asakura, I'll obviously expect you to be carrying ten times more than them. If I catch you slacking off then I'll write you up without hesitation; and you're already in hot water." And now she thinks she can give orders???     "Oh, right. Sonetto. Which idea has the Timekeeper gone with first?" Meaning: What the fuck are we building?
Foundation Scions	Matilda Bouanich, now far-more freed from the burdens of being an intel-gathering lackey of the various Foundation bureaucrats and security-managers, has been now hard at work trying to fill her (limited) free time with good excuses to interact around people she's fond of- today, Vertin, still-recently awakened from their treatment, has been (at Matilda's suggestion,) deemed in dire need (by Matilda's opinion,) of help with the studying-over the dense new bills and ordinances, with none other than Matilda (Matilda!!!) volunteering to do so,     And to talk over tea on the lines of interior decoration, and interior design (she's brought Catalogs!) which risks, of course, the topic swaying to renovations, and that risks the topic swaying to Renovations, and before Vertin could even dangle the fact that Sonetto would be there, helping carry none-other than Bags of Concrete Mix, Matilda's already found herself volunteered.     Good job, Junior Investigator!     "À quel point les sacs peuvent-ils vraiment être lourds?" . . .     Matilda, is wearing her new, silly, Investigator Uniform ! She has to. She's so proud. But, sparing Matilda shame, the fact that this is a physical activity means her utterly silly oversized jacket sits tied (in a way sure to wrinkle) around her waist. She saves dramatically rolling her blouse's sleeves up until the other elites are present, and Sonetto so much as glances her way- hey, what's she even showing off? Her arms aren't muscular! 'We must carry one hundred and fourteen more of these bags to construction site A,'     "Hein? That many?" Matilda squeaks out, before the second site's number is said; at which she winces preemptively at the prospect of a third sight.     She waves big and bright to the newcomers, of course! Chit-chatting is exciting! That's what work is for, at least! 'Junior investigator of the Foundation.'     "Hah! What an exceptional coincidence! So am I!" There's a lot of Junior Investigators.     Matilda, bravely, goes to pick a bag up, with a faint-cute 'Hup!'. The Great and Magnificent Matilda Bouanich can carry one (1) cement bag at a time, with okay form; two would require her to stack them, somehow, rather than sorta-hugging it forklift style. She carries a thirty pound rock around frequently, but this is both heavier, and mostly bulkier, and she's just one diviner! She's medium sized at best. 'Did you get all that practice from balancing trays?!'     "She can carry quite a few of those, stacked! The cafeteria must be very thankful!"     "How, far away, are the construction-sites..?"
Shira	One of those arriving to help is the resident reptile; Shira's materialization on the platform finds her in her bipedal stance this time, clawed hands folded and arms tucked up to her chest *almost* like how one might do if they were pretending to be a dinosaur; except that she *actually* looks a lot like one. From the horns to the therapodal feet, the heavy distribution of metallic body scales, the tail, and the innumerable sharp spines, she certainly meant it when she announced her relationship with kaiju. > "We must carry one hundred and fourteen more of these bags to construction site A, and the other eighty six to construction site B." > Objective: Move construction materials to Site A. 0-114 > Objective: Move construction materials to Site B. 0-86     "Alright!" The text flickering across the upper corner of her vision once more agrees with her own desire and she hops off the warpgate platform. There are some people here she hasn't met in person before, though, and her bravado wavers. She finds herself slinking near Regulus with a less energetic, "Regulus, h-hello."     Some of these voices she recognizes, like Lilian and Sonetto. Some of them she doesn't, like Holly and nearly everyone else from the Foundation. > "Holy shit, Bunny!"     The kaiju girl puffs her cheeks out and straightens her posture, thrashing her tail a bit as she works up her courage, "I'm... um, I'm Shira. And I'm here to help too." She won't let Bunny Bunny show her up, Being Strong is the only way she can contribute! She can't back down now.     Approaching pallets of bagged concrete, Shira coils her tail around, flattens the spikes out, and stacks half a dozen bags on it. She pauses, considering the doorways she had to pass through last time, and opts for this; lifting her cargo and transferring it to one hand as well. She does have to use her free hand to keep it steady, lacking Bunny's experience with balancing serving trays, but the Flex is clearly intentional.
Team Timekeeper	"Kale Hearthward, Paladins."     "Hello, Chevalier Hearthward." Sonetto, rather than a handshake, does a little cross-chest salute that knocks another poof of dust out of her uniform. "Chief Investigator Sonetto, Assistant to the Timekeeper."     Sonetto, blandly unemotive, then proceeds to bend over and effortlessly lift the 80 pound bag off of where it's crushing Kale on the ground. "It's a pleasure to meet you. For your health it is advised to create a stable platform for lifting by using your legs rather than your bad."     Meanwhile, the two other girls, both presumably some mild amount of supernaturally strong-- probably? Three hundred and twenty pounds of concrete being carried like a tray of food doesn't seem plausible otherwise-- introduce themselves to the people they haven't met. Bette tips her hat, but both of her hands are occupied with holding the bags on her shoulders, so she can't get it any farther than her wrist can move.     "Howdy y'all, I'm Bette. Pleasure t' meet you!" "Heyyyy! Name's Bunny Bunny, darlin's-- you folks're all otherworld friends of Miss-- of Vertin's, ain'tcha?" "Oh-- yep, I'm a new sign-on to Team Timekeeper too! Isn't that cool?" "Oh my I *love* your outfit!"     "Thanks, love!" Bunny Bunny, while carrying her concrete, kicks up a foot-- she's wearing five inch stiletto heels with big floofy pom-poms. What the fuck. "And aren't you a catch too? Love the go~old!" "Holy shit Bunny!"     Bunny Bunny pumps the stack of concrete bags up and down just to show off. Given that her entire muscular structure from boob to fingertip is completely uncovered, it's easy to see that she's *strong*, but not absurdly so. "A good server's got t' be prepared for anything~"     Bette, with somewhat of a complicated expression, carrying half as many bags (still a lot!) with considerably more difficulty, adds, "I offered t' carry 'em for her, but... well gosh, I thought my arcane skill made me stronger, but it looks like I've got a lot to learn too. What *is* your routine, Miss Bunny?"     Stacking up yet another bag of concrete, probably just to show off given that it's now tall enough to be difficult to get through the door, Bunny Bunny *shushes* with her free hand. "Let a gal keep *some* secrets, okay~?"
Team Timekeeper	"So wait, is it very far? Why do we need a map?"     To the many questions of 'what are we doing and why the fuck are we doing it this way', Sonetto carries the bag she liberated from Kale and opens up the door to begin lugging it upstairs while explaining. "Ah, so... Timekeeper has been authorized on several construction projects to increase the self-sufficient habitability of the Suitcase and the surrounding Wilderness, to sustain a higher upper ceiling for team capacity. However...."     At the top of the stairs, it's another little hallway to get to the large main front doors, that lead out into the gorgeously half-tamed garden and the forest that stretches beyond the view of the lone manor. "Er, it is not feasible to drive a truck upstairs from the warpgate, nor down the stairs into the Suitcase. While attempting to solve that problem more elegantly... currently Timekeeper is relying on manual labour."     Sonetto seems to think that's a perfectly adequate explanation, and that this is a perfectly reasonable task to be doing. "Site A is a cafeteria, Site B is a water treatment facility, and Site C, which we have not ordered materials for yet, is a laboratory."     ... They are a little far away, but not *so* far. The full expanse of the wilderness is certainly measured in 'kilometers squared' rather than 'acres', as a vast island existing in a pocket world that seemingly contains nothing else besides the ocean that surrounds it, but none of Vertin's currently planned construction extends even a quarter of the breadth of the territory yet.     The furthest is maybe half a kilometer away, where the verdant deciduous forest surrounding the manor abruptly gives way to dim pine trees and carbuncles shuffling in the needle-piles. Which is... a long way to carry hundreds of pounds of concrete still.
Regulus	Regulus's plan is to drag her bags of concrete to a wheelbarrow she has set up and drag them out that way rather than try to carry 80 pounds all across the wilderness with just her two hands. That still means she has to bring bags upstairs but she figures that's still preferable than using her own two hands to get all the bags she's allotted up with nothing to help at all. "It is for your birthday. And my birthday. And also the birthday of Team Timekeeper." Regulus points out to Riku. "August has been a busy month, love! Don't worry, it'll be nice and tasty so look forward to it!" ''Any chance I can get that cake now...?'' "Nope!" Regulus says. And then after a moment adds, "I already asked!" ''Rikulus cake? Is that a cake you made with Riku?'' Regulus shakes her head. "Oh no, I made it myself. APPLe helped, of course, but it's a Rikulus cake because we were basically doing the protest and being in jail during our birthdays so I thought we could celebrate. And then Team Timekeeper also got ratified and then we also needed to do all this manual labor and there was gonna be pizza anyway so I figured it'd also be a nice extra treat for helping with all the concrete." She gives Sotheby a one armed hug before she can stop herself. "Of course, I saved a piece with a cookie on for you and there's extra green frosting too." ''Oh my I *love* your outfit!'' "Why thank you--" Regulus begins before realizing she's talking about Bunny Bunny. "Well she's got plenty of style too, of course!" ''Is it preparations for your next assignment?'' "Ahah, don't worry, I don't have any expectations at all." She pauses and then coughs into her fist. "I mean, like, I'm sure you'll do great at what you're good at, but I don't think anybody would expect you to throw yourself into battle or anything? Hopefully we don't have to do that for a long long time ourselves!" Though she does bob her head to Marcus. "But yeah, now that Team Timekeeper is official, we've got to properly set up our space." ''I presume this was Regulus' work?'' "I wouldn't have learned much if I just copied everything." Regulus tells Lilian. "So I added some rockin' spice to the design!" She remembers now that she sort of got in some serious trouble for the theft she engaged in to make it happen and she suddenly quiets down a bit as her cheeks pinken just a little. "Well, considering everybody's got different physical ability it's probably better if everyone just does what they can? But there's some wheelbarrows outside if you want some help. I uh I know that not everybody has the legendary and mythical training background." ''Are you certain you'll be alright, Regulus?'' "Nope!" Regulus admits with a smile that only gets bigger. "But I'll do my best. I can't let myself get shown up too much for the inaugural Team Timekeeper mission!" Well at least Regulus has enthusiasm and now she's determined to survive thanks to Lilian's 'encouragement'. "Sounds good." She says, to getting Marcus's help. It's not like APPLe will be much help in lifting here.
Regulus	''Regulus, h-hello.'' "Oh glad you could make it, love." Regulus says, patting Shira on the back almost identically to the way Lilian patted her on the back. The backpats of 'no escaping this now' seems to be trickling down. She nods along with Sonetto's further instructions as if she was supporting her whole authority by nodding while she's explaining stuff. "If you're gonna start complaining you should do it after you've already carried a bag or two, it's too early to whine! Even I haven't started yet. You don't want me to make you look like chumps right?" She moves over to one of the bags and nods over to Marcus, indicating she should grab the other end. "Honestly I'm really glad you two signed on. The space is so big it sometimes felt a bit empty even before the rebellion." She's also excited to have more people helping with the chores, but she's not saying that part.
Riku Asakura	'If I catch you slacking off then I'll write you up without hesitation; and you're already in hot water.' "...But we're the same rank..." Riku says, not really complaining but just kind of dumbfounded.  "Also, I wouldn't think of trying to slack off.  I'm not..." he pauses, thinking of someone who isn't in the room right now he could compare himself to.  "... Never mind." Riku tries not to laugh when Kale immediately falls over with two bags.  He picks up the other bag that Sonetto doesn't get and offers a hand up for Kale to get back on his feet.  "Maybe try one at a time; we're also going up steps and then marching a fair bit, it sounds like from Sonetto.  If you push yourself too hard, you'll hurt yourself!" Meanwhile, Riku is actually freakishly strong without the power of Ultraman Geed.  He manages to carry four bags of concrete, two in each arm; this way, he can see where he's going and not fall down the stairs or bump into other people.   'Is that a cake you made with Riku?' Riku shakes his head at Druvis. "It was supposed to be a cake made for my birthday, which is tomorrow." 'Howdy y'all, I'm Bette. Pleasure t' meet you!' 'Heyyyy! Name's Bunny Bunny, darlin's-- you folks're all otherworld friends of Miss-- of Vertin's, ain'tcha?' Riku nods at Bunny's question, "Sure am.  I was there in the last two Storms."  He doesn't want to talk anymore about that last one, and instead... "Well, it's nice to meet you both.  And... uh, wow," he says about Bunny's strength.   'It is for your birthday. And my birthday. And also the birthday of Team Timekeeper.' Riku wants to 'man' at this, but he can't really think of a real objection because she /is/ right.  He takes a breath and shrugs awkwardly with the load he is carrying.  "Well... fair enough.  Cake is better shared.  Especially after a long hard job." Shira gets a nod from Riku. "Hey Shira, come to help too?  Well, just remember to lift with your legs and not your back!"  Also, Marcus and Gretta are here too!  "Hey Marcus.  Hey, Ms. Gretta.  I haven't seen you two since the thing with the story book.  How have you been keeping up?"
Team Timekeeper	"My Master would have assigned something like this as training."     Pleasantly, Sonetto says to Lilian, "Yes, that is nostalgic, isn't it? We were assigned similar chores for training, though in retrospect, it was work that needed to be done, as well." "Hah! What an exceptional coincidence! So am I!"     "Ah, I forgot." Matilda is finally treated to Sonetto's attention, while Sonetto lugs a heavy bag far more casually than Matilda does, without even doing her the dignity of stripping down at all for the physical exertion. But what comes next makes it all worth it...!!!     "I have not congratulated you properly on your promotion, Matilda." She goes silent for a moment (really just catching her breath after climbing the stairs), which makes it sound so weird and awkward when she continues, and yet, genuine. "Congratulations on your promotion to Junior Investigator!" "How do you know Vertin? How long have you known her? Have you seen your room yet? How do you like it?"     It's Bette that falls in step with Regulus, chattering more than amiably with her as they all waddle around with their loads. "Met Miss Timekeeper in the library durin' work one day-- oh, I'm a paper-pusher for the Justice Department, nothin' special like y'all. She was lookin' up some old movie records, and we got t' chattin'. Turns out she was real curious 'bout Hollywood, so we hit it off! --Oh goodness gracious, did I see the room. Was that you? Aren't you the biggest sweetheart? *Thank* you!" "Greta Hofmann, senior investigator with the St. Pavlov Foundation, and member of the Paladins as well."     Bunny Bunny holds a hand up in front of her mouth, giggling, but also hiding a flush of nerves. "Well gosh. Is this the perk of Team Timekeeper? Gettin' a real fancy-pants introduction from a fancy-pants investigator. Yep, I remember your face, Miss Hofmann-- I'm in the cafeteria usually, here now!"     Along the way, the group passes by another inaugural member of Team Timekeeper: Poltergeist, a soggy little ghost wearing a sheet that completely obscures her from head to toe, trudging through the woods. Behind her, as she mimes hauling like she's playing tug-of-war, is a single bag of concrete floating in a lazy rotation, spiritually levitated due to her incorporeality but somehow exhausting her even more than you'd imagine carrying it outright would do.     A trail of salty-smelling seawater droplets pattern the leaves where she's valiantly floated over. "O-oh. Hi S-Sonetto. And-- hfffff-- and everyone. It's--" Poltergeist makes a frankly pathetic sound of exertion, which is matched by seemingly effortlessly floating over a fallen branch. "D-doin' great, over here! Just keeping on, keeping on...."
Kale Hearthward	> "Are you absolutely certain you didn't just spend four months on the sofa?" she says. BIGGEST BIRD [Trivial: Failure] - This is a challenge!!! You need to stand up right now with both bags or she won't ever look at you again!!! Maybe pick up a third!!! HEART LUNGS LIVER NERVES [Normal: Success] - Yeah that ain't happening, chief. Take the help, then one bag at a time. Actually just use Tabtrack instead of walking, too. WINGLEADER [Challenging: Success] - Do it discreetly, though. Let the people who can show off show off. Don't cheapen their moment. Over.     "Ha ha, no, I wasn't on the couch. I kept up with my training just fine," says Kale, managing to stand up with a single bag still in his hands (taking the advice about not lifting with his back).     "Thank you, belatedly," he adds to Sonetto. "I think I've got this one."     A few moments later, Kale discreetly clicks his heels together, and from then on he's not so much walking as much as hovering a few inches above the ground, jet boots kicking up a small aurora of concrete dust around him. There's still an energy expenditure and he's still having to hold the bag of concrete, but it's much easier.     > "Nope!" Regulus says. And then after a moment adds, "I already asked!"     "Hmph." Wanting the reward first is maybe indicative of how much Kale's actually kept up with disciplined training.     > Our primary focus is in investigations rather than combat, so please keep your expectations realistic if we work together in the future."     "Noted, combat is more or less solved with me on the case anyway, so you don't have to worry about that part. It'll be nice to have some investigation expertise on hand, also," says Kale, floating nearby, bag held in both arms. "Any investigative specialities I should know about?"     Oh, and there's Riku. Riku gets a simple nod of recognition.
Ein	'so I figured it'd also be a nice extra treat for helping with all the concrete.' "Did you really plan for moving bags of con-crete, Regulus?" Sotheby asks, wonder in her tone. It'd be very impressive! "Both nice *and* tasty? thats a tall promise, Regulus!" Sotheby returns, but seems eager for Regulus to meet that challenge. Of course, she would be, because it'd be ultimately her cake! 'Of course, I saved a piece with a cookie on for you and there's extra green frosting too.' "Hooray!" Sotheby cheers, lifting hand away from badly-carried object in joined carriage with Brave Typohn to exult the cheering tone, and then... **THUNK** Disaster? Normal thudding behavior? It's much more loud than any danger that actually happens. Sotheby, startled, seems apprehensive in the moment after, but slowly dips down to take her One Bag up again. Being big brave, Sotheby provides stiff upper lip and insistent pursuit of the end -- and cake! Cookies too! Druvis, on the other hand, is much more of a realist when it comes to tasks like this: that she doesn't want to do them and is real-ly not into it! "It might be possible to move the bags..." She imagines first the bags moving through the forest's channels that already exist, which don't seem likely. Then, she imagines the plants reaching up to meet her, here especially, and knows there must be a better way, so... "If the sites are still rough, it will be easiest. Where they are more developed, I might help less." Druvis admits, withholding faintly of her feelings. She did not, especially, want the Wilderness developed, but knew it was an inevitability. Especially with the Watch being as it was, the Suitcase and its Wilderness was too valuable to leave undeveloped. She knew, and yet.
Shira	> "Oh glad you could make it, love."     "I want to be dependable!" Shira emboldens a bit, "And that means, um... Doing what I say I'm going to do, no matter what." > "Well, just remember to lift with your legs and not your back!"     "I thought about carrying some on my back, but..." Shira pauses after a step, shaking her shoulders to accentuate the rows of sharp spikes down her back, "I think that'd really just make a mess." > "Er, it is not feasible to drive a truck upstairs from the warpgate, nor down the stairs into the Suitcase."     Ascending steps and getting outside, Shira straightens her posture and looks up, a thoughtful look on her face. Carefully, she turns in place and backs out of the way of any others trying to move through while searching for-- "Um, Sonetto? Do you know if there's a ... limit, to how big someone could be, inside the Suitcase?"     She turns a bit, eyes searching out the more distant water treatment worksite, "It might... um, it might be easier to pile it up here, and then-- Riku or me, one or-- or both of us, could Get Big and carry it all over at once to each place."     Druvis might actually be the one to answer that kind of question, regarding Ultramen and Giant Monsters, but Shira doesn't know that.
Lilian Rook	'She can carry quite a few of those, stacked! The cafeteria must be very thankful!'     "Oh! Of course you two would be familiar!" Lilian says, like that would be the cutest thing ever. Oh the magical walled garden of arcanist-to-arcanist communication that must exist within the snowglobe-world of the Foundation . . .     "Oho. Not bad." she says, about Matilda's cement-carrying form.     'A good server's got t' be prepared for anything~'     Back to enthusing. "God damn girl! Prepared for what? Holding off the entire lunch rush with one hand?"     'I offered t' carry 'em for her, but... well gosh, I thought my arcane skill made me stronger'     "I was wondering! Oh but don't you worry at all; it only matters that we get it all to the end before we clock out, and you're doing more than a usual share!" Lilian says, wholeheartedly; then Matilda-ly: "But surely it isn't just a 'be stronger' arcane skill, right?"     'And aren't you a catch too? Love the go~old!'     "Watch out." Lilian says, edging conspiratorially towards Bunny. "That one speaks her own special language when it comes to things like this."     'Ah, so... Timekeeper has been authorized on several construction projects to increase the self-sufficient habitability of the Suitcase and the surrounding Wilderness'     "Smart woman." Lilian sighs approvingly, ending up with a modest smile. "Worrying about supply lines is the absolute last thing I want this operation doing; and I'm not just saying that because my training emphasized minimizing them as much as possible." she says. "There are already too many people here to risk an unexpected exigency while away from the Foundation. Power cutting out and food going back, or an ordinary flu, can cause knock-on effects far outside the scope you think they would, even in spaces like these."     'Site A is a cafeteria, Site B is a water treatment facility, and Site C, which we have not ordered materials for yet, is a laboratory.'     Lilian's eyes widen at third. "Really? I understand the first two, but that one surprises me."     'I uh I know that not everybody has the legendary and mythical training background.'     "Naturally." Lilian says, murmuring "Láithreach." and snapping her fingers like an insufferable showman to teleport two bags to each arm. She tests one, then the other, takes an agreeable expression, and then starts up the stairs without checking anyone else's loads. "But Team Timekeeper isn't about how much of a badass you are. It's a vision of how the world outside should work, proof wrought in miniature for everyone to see, and you're part of building it." Lilian says, pausing to look at Regulus around her shoulder. "That proof has to include people who work at a desk, or play music on the streets, or serve food at a kitchen. Or, I suppose, carry cement around." Settling the weight again, she climbs the staircase.     '...But we're the same rank...'     Near the exit to the sunroom, Lilian scoffs her way into a short-sharp laugh. "Oh no we aren't." she says, exactly between practically every single person here. "You're looking at the official Commonwealth-Foundation liaison, signed and approved along with Madam Z, the St. Pavlov Foundation's Chief of Personnel, as the representative of the Paladins. As far as it pertains relations with the Paladins, and especially as pertains to the activities and policy of Team Timekeeper, I'm your boss in all but name."
Lilian Rook	'O-oh. Hi S-Sonetto. And-- hfffff-- and everyone. It's--'     "Polly!" Lilian sunnily waves back from the wrist, having no real option but the Queen's Version. "Take breaks when you need to, okay? You're doing great!" What a fucking change in tone.     'Yes, that is nostalgic, isn't it? We were assigned similar chores for training, though in retrospect, it was work that needed to be done, as well.'     "Physical conditioning is physical conditioning. She adores diligent types like you especially." Lilian smiles. "It's clearly served you well in the end. No notes."     'Ha ha, no, I wasn't on the couch. I kept up with my training just fine,'     "Oh wonderful! Glad to have you back in service again, Hearthward!" Lilian says, bright enough to make her preferences very clear. "And watch your coffee in future."     'It might be possible to move the bags...'     Lilian stares at Druvis on her way out the door, and imagines a cat sitting on the windowsill staring at the line and flicking its tail. "I'm certain the Timekeeper has already thought of it." Lilian says, choosing the title only because 'certain that Vertin' sounded silly in her head. "You're welcome to walk with us, if you like."     'Um, Sonetto? Do you know if there's a ... limit, to how big someone could be, inside the Suitcase?'     Lilian whirls and points at Shira, twice as accusatory as she had at Holly earlier. She narrows her eyes, and performs the classic 'I'm watching you' gesture without actually being able to reach her face.
Foundation Scions	'It was supposed to be a cake made for my birthday, which is tomorrow.'     Matilda is faced with a dilemma- it is important to wish people happy birthday, because then they go 'awww, thank you Matilda, you're so sweet and kind and generous and I should pay attention to you and attend your get-togethers and talk about your promising future', but Riku, recently, has been nothing but upsetting towards her! So, what Matilda says, with a little hmph, is, "I hope you have a... birthday."     Good job! 'My Master would have assigned something like this as training.'     "Hah! Then it should certainly be do-able! You know, I used to carry rocks and geodes quite a ways, for various prospecting-outings, and those bags, they, too can be quite-" Matilda lurches a little, grip ever so slightly re-settling on the concrete bag she's holding, "Hoopf-vy!"     The prospect of wheelbarrows immediately is a complicating factor- this is now, to Matilda, training, to show off about! She can't make it easier for herself! In fact, she has to chide Regulus a little bit with, "Regulus? Perhaps you should save assistive-tools until after you've worn yourself out?" 'I have not congratulated you properly on your promotion, Matilda.'     "Ah?!" Matilda nearly drops her bag. Re-grabbing it up, with a little squat and un-squat, near the top of the stairs, makes it almost look like she's doing a strange birds-of-paradise courting dance maneuver, before she says, "Yes! My assistance was, proven quite useful and valuable, in the recent, events, and so! I am now well-on my path to an extremely successful career! You shall see, quite up close, perhaps!"     Only after, wobbly, does she remember "Thank you for the congratulations! Perhaps, there is some manner of celebratory activity after-wards you could accompany me to? I can think of quite a few!"     Matilda's never actually gotten the chance to go out in the Suitcase wilderness! In her few times visiting, she's stayed to the manor house, but it's so refreshing, after a long period of time just going between campuses and buildings, offices and quarters, to actually just be out in nature! It drags her mind to nights of spying-on the Rescorla-Wagner encampment, and the strange sense of distance that invokes.     'It might be possible to move the bags...'     Muffled, due to being blurted-out from behind a rectangle of concrete-powder, "Your arcane skills are quite impressive, Ms. Druvis!"     Less related, just out into the air, "... I expect Timekeeper Vertin must have missed strolling through here!" is added, with also a little ansi116, 'Whew,') and then "The forests are very lively! I remember the woods, around mon grand-père's home, as being so big and wide, though they got smaller-seeming every year!" Because she got bigger.
Foundation Scions	'Oho. Not bad.'     "I would go as far as to say 'quite good', myself!" Matilda, who has not processed what Lilian is commenting on towards her, says, before (context-appropriately, somehow) bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet in ambient pleased-mood at attention.
Shira	> Lilian beholds Shira.     The kaiju girl straightens as if someone had poured cold water down her back. Just slightly at the waist and shoulders she turns slowly, just enough to behold Lilian's Glower Power.     "Wh... What did I do..?"
Regulus	Regulus promised a Rikulus cake and she also promised to have a little eye of providence somewhere for Flamel but since Flamel wasn't showing up today maybe she decided not to include it after all. It's probably going to be a pretty tonally disjointed cake, all told, but the good thing about cake is that tonal inconsistency doesn't make it less yummy. "Mhm! You'll love it." She tells Riku. "Right now APPLe is watching Floyd so Floyd doesn't get up all in our business and rip open a bag or something." She nods a little, as if agreeing that she too hopes Riku has a birthday. ''Regulus? Perhaps you should save assistive-tools until after yuo've worn yourself out?'' Regulus, who absolutely doesn't see this as training, is confused. "Huh? Why?" She asks. "I spent two hours getting them ready." She seems more confused than anything. She tries to work through the logic and keeps running up against ERROR: HUMANITY INVENTED TOOLS FOR A REASON. She might need a little more convincing than 'make things harder for yourself just to show off'. ''Oh goodness gracious, did I see the room. Was that you?'' "Eheheh... Sonetto and I work together!" Regulus is easily flattered!! But she is also just happy that it seems to have made Bette happy. "I don't think I've ever been this motivated before in my life. So I want to give it my best effort." She might calm down eventually but Regulus thrives on motivation so when she has it, she ppushes as hard as she can on anything she can. ''Polly.'' "Polly! You're doing great...! I had no idea you already gotten started... Pretty impressive, love." She pauses a moment to watch Poltergeist suffer. "Um, we've got all day though, so don't work TOO hard." ''Thats a tall promise, Regulus!'' "Any cake involving an Ultraman has to be tall, Gwen." Regulus assures Sotheby. "You two," Typhon and Sotheby together. "Don't be afraid to get help either, it's a team effort between all of us." But she smiles as Sotheby hits +continue and perseveres. God, she adores Stoheby. She lets Sonetto field Shira's questions since Regulus isn'tr really sure. She isn't sure getting super big would necessarily help much but she gets distracted before she thinks it all the way through. ''But Team Timekeeper isn't about how much of a badass you are.'' Regulus grins. "You're getting really into it, you should save that one, it'd sound real good on the radio. Once we GOT a radio, I'll make sure to save an interview slot just for you." She probably will, with Marcus, rely on the wheelbarrow for the first trip at least but maybe she can be convinced to make things harder on herself and also Marcus for no good reason in time for the second.
Storm Investigators	"So am I!" "Oh, Miss Bouanich. Hello, and congratulations. If you're an investigator now, then that means you've... Marcus starts, pauses to try and figure out the best way to ask if Matilda's gotten that promotion without accidentally rubbing it in if that isn't the case, and then... She actually comes up with something! "... Been cleared to go on field missions?" She asks, actually looking a little more relieved once Matilda confirms the promotion herself. "Then it won't be long before we do all work together, I imagine...  Er. Again, I mean, since we are... ALready doing that now, yes. Perhaps we could celebrate with... Oh,  yes, there is that Rikulus cake that was mentioned earlier." "You two." Oh thank god. Trying not to look too relieved at no longer having to haul a bag herself, Marcus takes the other end of the bag that Regulus motions at and hefts that side up with relative ease compared to trying to hoist a whole bag herself. Apparently, her bookcase-lugging routine is actually doing something for her! "Yes, Madame Rook. Alright, Regulus. We can..  Urk. One at a time." "but I don't think anybody would expect you to throw yourself into battle or anything?" "I would hope not, but with my luck..." Marcus whimpers briefly as she waddles along to keep pace with Regulus, apparently unused to carrying anything with someone else even though it's far lighter work than doing it herself. "Well.. Let us hope it doesn't override everyone else's luck. And this space of yours.. Er. The Team's. This place does look much more spacious for practicing without disturbing anyone. Especially..." She looks off towards the water in the distance. "That might be a good place to practice, actually. The.. Jumping, yes?" "Noted, combat is more or less solved with me on the case anyway, so you don't have to worry about that part." Greta, meanwhile, cracks the slightest of smiles at Lilian accurately gauging her fitness as she looks over at Kale while he's struggling. "Pace yourself, Chevalier. There's a few hundred more where these came from, and that posture won't move them any faster." She says with a somewhat flat tone, nodding in confirmation and vague appreciation at Sonetto getting the first bag off him. She steps back once he starts taking Sonetto's advice and gets up, remaining on standby to help him if it looks like he's going to tip over again. Luckily, he doesn't! Her eyes flit down briefly at the heel clicking as though she might have actually caught it, but she doesn't say anything before just moving along with him while keeping her own bag held. "I'll keep your combat skills in mind, then. Marcus' arcane ability is to read anything and everything pull information that wouldn't be normally observable. I keep her focused on what information needs to be pulled, and I otherwise use more conventional methods with tools and regular observation." She points at her eyes with her free hand to emphasize that last bit.
Storm Investigators	"Let a gal keep *some* secrets, okay~?" Marcus wants to know. She wants to know soooo badly. If she knew the secret, maybe she could be strong, too! Or at least stronger than she is now, rather than huffing and puffing even with just the one bag split between two people. The temptation to use her reading ability is strong, but fear of disappointing and angering people is even higher. She does sneak a glance at Bunny Bunny, but it's a regular eyeball glance rather than her zoned out Reading look, and she quickly forces herself to look away and focus on making sure she doesn't accidentally drop the bag on her or Regulus or something. Greta lets out a short, vaguely pleased sound at that, then goes back to helping Kale with a bag. "Yep, I remember your face, Miss Hofmann-- I'm in the cafeteria usually, here now!" Noticing the nerves, Greta slows down briefly in here bag hauling to greet Bunny Bunny properly. "It won't be so fancy by the fourth or fifth time. Hm... It's good to hear that you'll be working with everyone in the Suitcase. The residents won't be lacking in proper meals, then." She replies with a curt nod, although there does seem to be the slightest bit of softening in her eyes as she glances around at everyone else working on this project. "A healthy environment to work and thrive in, with proper support and self-sufficiency... We'll be counting on you." Spotting Poltergeist on the way past, meanwhile, Marcus actually perks up a bit upon recognizing the ghostly girl. She can't quite free a hand to wave at her without further risk to a foot or three, so she settles for... Taking her breath? "... Hello, Polly." Marcus exhales hard, like it took a lot out of her to initiate a greeting instead of responding to one herself. She's not actually sure what to follow that up with verbally, but she does look a little more relieved at seeing another familiar face (kind of). "I haven't seen you two since the thing with the story book.  How have you been keeping up?" "We have.. Ah. We have been doing well, Riku. Mostly in investigating other matters, but we will be here more often? Er. Working with the Timekeeper, that is." "Alongside." "Oh! Y-yes, alongside, since we are... Erm. Not formally assigned."
Riku Asakura	Oh, it's Poltergeist!  Riku hasn't seen her since before the start of the rebellion?  How did she escape being taken by the Foundation?  Oh, probably because she's a ghost, right?  Did she just stay hidden the entire Rebellion?  Oh, that's sad... she must have been so lonely!  "Hey Poltergeist.  You...you're doing a great job!" 'Riku gets a simple nod of recognition.' Riku nods back, not really sure why Kale just nodded at him.  He said things to the birdman.  Important things, even.  He doesn't understand or know Kale enough to get why.  So he just takes it as an awkward interaction and leaves it at that.   'It might... um, it might be easier to pile it up here, and then-- Riku or me, one or-- or both of us, could Get Big and carry it all over at once to each place.' "Uh, I have a limit on getting big; I have only so long, and then I have to wait for it to come back.  So I try not to use it unless it's important.  Aaaaand this isn't dangerous enough to warrant becoming Ultraman Geed.  Also... I think there is a size limit.  Probably just be better to carry things by hand, I think."  Riku explains for Shira.  Though as for Lilian's look, he shrugs and shakes his head at her.  "I'd just not question it and move along." 'As far as it pertains relations with the Paladins, and especially as pertains to the activities and policy of Team Timekeeper, I'm your boss in all but name.' Riku could just point out that she isn't his boss in name, which means something.  Of course, he'd also want to have to pick that fight, and he really doesn't want to go picking fights and making someone who is actually his boss in Trideag upset.  Really, there is no winning move except to just let it go.  "Alright." he squeezes through the top of the stairs. 'I hope you have a... birthday.' Matilda, who isn't Riku's favorite person either, right now, for several reasons.  The interaction is... weird.  It's just so... forced and awkward.  He doesn't even know how to respond right away; instead, he just stares at her for a moment.  "Uh.  Thanks, I guess?" 'Mhm! You'll love it.' "I'm sure I will, thanks again, Regulus," Riku says, getting off that awkward conversation and into one that feels a lot more heartfelt.   'That might be a good place to practice, actually.' "Uh, I'd steer clear of that place.  There is a spirit in that lake who seems to dislike people messing with the lake."  Riku tries to explain to Marcus.
Ein	In a 'just asking questions' tone, Druvis' regal path (carrying cement) crosses Lilian's and her expression hangs on a thought. "Do you think, Lilian," She pauses, almost-smirking but for her grave tone. "That it is more, or less, appropriate for the forest to help with its own colonization? Shall it move the mill into its heart? I wonder how close to swinging axes it is called to get, for us." And she leaves it broad if 'us' is the Suitcase denizens and 'Arcanists', generally. Sometimes the trees were just a metaphor. Not usually, with Druvis, but sometimes. 'Do you know if there's a ... limit, to how big someone could be, inside the Suitcase?' "Physically?" Druvis asks, and then looks up. "Not indoors." She reasons, but beyond that, is ignorant of Shira's true space and thus her incredible presence. She can guess, but... Ultraman was probably fine? Probably? 'You're welcome to walk with us, if you like.' "Perhaps I'll walk, then." Druvis ruminates, while carrying cement, and locked in to a particular activity already. Aloof even in forced roles, she could sit at a window and swat at air with her eyes in any situation just on energy. 'Your arcane skills are quite impressive, Ms. Druvis!' "Almost as impressive as yours, Investigator." Druvis returns, though the drawl over 'impressive' drags at her truer point. Her diplomatic roll was easier when she was unsettled on if she wanted to make a grand arboreal production of *industry*. 'Maybe the Scathach training would be good for her', she coped. 'Don't be afraid to get help either, it's a team effort between all of us.' Sotheby looks to the stuffie helping her, as if sharing a dramatic look with a close companion, and then exaggeratedly returns to Regulus. "Well, I've al-ready *asked* for help, and that's why Typhon is helping!" Sotheby exclaims, certain of herself, despite, well, animating her help.
Team Timekeeper	"Both nice *and* tasty? thats a tall promise, Regulus!"     "Well, li'l miss," Bunny Bunny squats down, holding the concrete above her head to boop her finger to Sotheby's nose. "Don't spoil the surprise, but Vertin's got a lot of nice and tasty treats planned as a reward after all the work. Hardworkin' girls get extra sweets, you know?~" "Do you know if there's a ... limit, to how big someone could be, inside the Suitcase?"     Sonetto tilts her chin to look directly up. The sky in the Suitcase, domed horizon shorter than the Earth's but otherwise indistinguishable from the world outside, elicits those sorts of ancient cosmic conspiracies of the firmament, the real genuine possibility that this world is encased in a crystalline sphere with the sun and stars painted on its surface. The moment she looks up, Sonetto is consumed by these thoughts, and forgets about Shira's question for a bit.     "... Ah? Oh! Er... no, I do not believe so, but if you encounter a solid surface, please do not break through it. --But, in addition, the Timekeeper has requested that we be very careful to not disrupt the Wilderness growth or soil while passing through. Please do not step on the trees, or kick them, purposefully or by placing yourself into circumstances where it could occur as an accident." "Oh! Of course you two would be familiar!"     "Yep! Matilda's a real nightbird~ cutie pie." Bunny Bunny idly fawns, until a thought comes to her, walking backwards through the woods to face Matilda. "I hadn't heard you were comin' to Vertin's team! Ain't that something? Small world!" "Holding off the entire lunch rush with one hand?"     "You never know~" Bunny Bunny sticks out her tongue and pokes a finger into her cheek, one eye closed. "But surely it isn't just a 'be stronger' arcane skill, right?"     "No ma'am!" Bette confirms, readjusting her grip on the bags on her shoulder with an airy 'hupf!'. "It's... pardon me, I'll just free up my hands here...."     The somewhat erratic placement of the facilities on Regulus's map makes much more sense when seeing it in person. The cafeteria, here, is situated on the west end of the Wilderness territory, where the treeline gives way to tall grass that pokes through sand. There's actually a clear path, tracing around the outline of the shore, where someone could build a road from the manor here-- it'd be a little longer than cutting through the forest, but a much easier line to trace. The water treatment plant, on the other hand, is near a large pond in the clearing, attached to the lake that defines the center of the Wilderness by a creek.     Both are outlined in builders' stones already, to form the foundation. There's tools set up here already too, as well as large mechanical components such as whole engines, sitting by the worksite looking like a garage in the midst of deconstruction. Bette tosses down her bags, where there's already a bunch piled up.     "There! Nowww...!"     Bette glances around, settles on Regulus, and then tips her hat towards Lilian. In the blink of an eye, Bette becomes shorter and slighter, hat changing to Regulus's durag, amber eyes big and wet, identical except her unchanged voice... and definitely some minor details, if you squint to inspect her. "Ta-daa! I was a professional stunt double in my past life! Bette, on the silver screen...! Well, I was hopin' to be, at least."
Team Timekeeper	"Really? I understand the first two, but that one surprises me."     "Yes, it surprises me as well." Soetto doesn't even have an argument queued up on behalf of Vertin yet, nodding in agreement with Lilian while depositing her bag. "I am unsure of the reasoning. It has not been approved yet on account of Timekeeper only requesting it recently." "Take breaks when you need to, okay? You're doing great!"     Polly was left behind by pacing, and then is passed by again when everyone treks back to the manor to retrieve another set of bags. She remains as she was, valiantly hauling her one bag, panting as she goes. "Y-yep! Will-- will do. But I'm-- not-- s-so... wwwweak...." "Um, we've got all day though, so don't work TOO hard."     Exerted of all her ectoplasmic energy, the bag flops to the forest floor, and Polly sinks down, sheet spreading like a jellyfish mantle as the exhaustedly phases through the ground, hands to her face. "Uuuuu... but c-come on! Why can't I do it! I can't even *work out*, since I *died*, not that ever was going to *anyways*! I don't wanna be uselesssssss....!"     "Ah-! Poltergeist!" Sonetto scurries over to pick up the bag, which is now completely useless for mixing concrete due to being damp with seawater. Bemusedly attempting comfort, Sonetto suggests, "It is okay. As a ghost you do not create any supply concerns through consumption." "Perhaps, there is some manner of celebratory activity after-wards you could accompany me to?"     "Yes," Woah!!! That was easy! Good job Matilda! "Timekeeper and Miss Bunny will be serving a meal after we are done." Okay.
Lilian Rook	'I hope you have a... birthday.'     "Right? Try not to die today, Asakura~" Lilian says, as if Matilda actually meant anything.     'Hah! Then it should certainly be do-able!'     "Obviously not." Lilian blinks at Matilda. "Do you really think it was that easy? Or do you think she'd take just anyone?" She was going to go a little further, but Sonetto actually remembering to congratulate Matilda requires a mental fistpump. It worked!     'Yes! My assistance was, proven quite useful and valuable, in the recent, events, and so!'     "So it seems! They're all terrified of you!" Lilian beams. "God they wouldn't shut up about it."     'Wh... What did I do..?'     "I'll know."     'Right now APPLe is watching Floyd so Floyd doesn't get up all in our business and rip open a bag or something.'     "I'm . . . sorry? Who or what is Floyd?" Lilian asks, resisting the temptation to stop walking. "I was under the impression that was a musician." She's forgotten.     'I don't think I've ever been this motivated before in my life. So I want to give it my best effort.'     "I know what you mean." Lilian says, pleasantly, not elaborating.     'You're getting really into it, you should save that one, it'd sound real good on the radio. Once we GOT a radio, I'll make sure to save an interview slot just for you.'     "Oh please." Lilian play-rolls her eyes. "We both know I'll be saving a slot in my schedule to grace you with such an exclusive opportunity. Do you have any idea how many people want to interview me?"     'And this space of yours.. Er. The Team's. This place does look much more spacious for practicing without disturbing anyone. Especially...'     "I still need to squeeze Vertin for a training area somewhere out here myself." says Lilian. "I was talking about it the other day, actually. I dislike simulators quite a bit, and there's nowhere suitable on family land, and it'd be super annoying to travel way out into the middle of nowhere just to swing my sword around." Like the international highways of the United States of America.     'Alright.'     "Good boy." Girl he is twenty!     'A healthy environment to work and thrive in, with proper support and self-sufficiency...'     "God willing."     'Do you think, Lilian, that it is more, or less, appropriate for the forest to help with its own colonization?'     Unlike she has so far, Lilian pauses to think, though she still keeps up her steady stride. The ability to stare ahead and perform a parallel activity is a boon. She eventually decides on, with equal indirectness, "I think if the forest can spare figs and chestnuts to feed birds and squirrels, there are things that this one can spare to shelter a handful of arcanists. Whether or not we bear and axe or a saw, we're animals too." Lilian breathes out slowly, tilting her head back to stare at the horizon line.     "Besides. Like La Source's lake, this is the only 'permanent', wild forest in the world. The last one. Even the pines in the mountains behind the Foundation might be numbering their days before long. And besides the trees, this suitcase contains many more 'lasts', doesn't it?" Rhetorical. Silence aired anyways.     "But I'd rather you not ask your friends to do anything you're uncomfortable with. So here I am." She pats the top of the coarse bag stacked on her right shoulder. "Carrying cement."
Shira	> "I'd just not question it and move along."     Shira lingers a bit on the Lilian subject, but eventually does turn back towards Sonetto regarding her question with a timid, "O-okay." > "That might be a good place to practice, actually." > "There is a spirit in that lake who seems to dislike people messing with the lake."     "Mmhm, Regulus told me about her. You'd at least want to ask first." The context was different but, as far as she knows, the principle should be the same. > "Physically? Not indoors."     "Um?" Druvis answering surprises Shira, but she nods once, "Thank you, ma'am." She'll keep the idea in mind, but considering Sonetto's warning about not trampling things or harming trees, she wants to have a better idea of how the wilderness is before she tries it so she can be as careful as possible. When she sets her bags down at the worksite and heads back, she's lost in thought, observing her surroundings. > "I don't wanna be uselesssssss....!"     Shira pauses, turning to glance back at Poltergeist, worry and familiar hurt all over her face. Sonetto is already tending to Poltergeist, but the poor girl *wants* to help, somehow... "Um. You could help guide me and keep others off my path when I get big, so I don't accidentally break something or hurt someone. Like... a spotter!" After all, any worksite always has someone in a bright orange vest making sure there's nobody running into the heavy equipment!
Regulus	Regulus gets bags onto wheelbarrow with her help. This is still not free labor, though it's definitely easier than just hefting it all the way over with just their hands. "Mhm one at a time." She tells Marcus before quirking her head to the side at her. "...Oh you've got bad luck too, huh? Well maybe it'll overflow and we'll have good luck together, ha ha ha!" Regulus smiles and laughs easily despite technically bemoaning personal difficulties with the Fates. "Yeah, the Wilderness is great for double jump practice, but we probably should save that for a day when we aren't already carting a bunch of bags around." She has no idea what the thing with 'the storybook' is and isn't sure how to ask about it especially since it sounds like a long story. Focus on the present and future! "It'll be fun having you two around." She says instead, though she is mostly being optimistic about Greta she doesn't really know Greta and Greta has never shown an interest in jumping double. ''--Appropriate for the forest to help with its own colonization?'' Regulus winces. "Um, are you worried, Druvis?" Regulus asks. "I'm hoping we don't take too much space up either, I might be a city girl but the wilderness is so so pretty." So far, of course, they aren't but these three upcoming buildings aren't going to be the whole of it, she knows already, because Vertin's already brought up an upcoming radio station. ''Well, I've al-ready *asked* for help, and that's why Typhon is helping!'' "Well that's true--" But she's distracted by Polly! "Hey, hey, you're not being useless at all. You're just trying to carry a bag all by yourself! Marcus and I couldn't do that either. Maybe you could help Sonetto? Or Sotheby and Typhon?" She'd offer herself but she already has Marcus and a wheelbarrow. ''Who or waht is Floyd?'' "Oh my familiar, the cat." Regulus says. "I named him after Pink Floyd." So really guessing a musician wasn't too far off, why one day Floyd may introduce everybody to his own kind of mewsic. ''Do you have any idea how many people want to interview me?'' "Ahah! Fair enough! Thanks for finding the time. But once we get you on the radio, you'll get even more requests! I bet you'll get your own Uttu cover in no time." ''Timekeeper and Miss Bunny will be serving a meal after we are done.'' "Don't worry I'll make sure you get a slice of cake too, Matilda." Regulus sets down her bags near Bette's and then-- --she jumps up, startled. "Blimey!! It's a RERegulus! You look just like me, that's incredible!" Regulus takes a moment to just walk around Bette and marvel. "A professional stunt double indeed! I could get out of so much trouble--" She coughs. "But don't worry, just some fancy thinking!"
Lilian Rook	'Hardworkin' girls get extra sweets, you know?~'     "Oh well shit! Let's go!" Lilian instantly picks up her pace.     'Please do not step on the trees, or kick them, purposefully or by placing yourself into circumstances where it could occur as an accident.'     "Just tell her no, Sonetto." Lilian huffs. "If I have to walk by even one giant footprint every day I will scream."     'I hadn't heard you were comin' to Vertin's team! Ain't that something? Small world!'     "Don't let 'em know what you're up to until it's already too late~" Lilian says, tongue-in-cheek, reprising her advice at the Walden only by accident. "Ah, by which I mean the suits; not you. Z understood the real thrust of the whole appointment straight away. They can't go complaining about 'secret terrorist activity' if one of their official allies is right here watching~"     Lilian suddenly turns around Regulas-ward, but speaking generally, snaps "So you'd better not go making work for me! Understood?! So help me god if I have to play policewoman to your bullshit, you will wish you were still in that goddamn Wagner building!"     Then she turns back around, and resumes walking on sunshine.     'You never know~'     She'd be a liar if she said that didn't provoke the tiniest ba-bump.     'Ta-daa!'     "Oh my god. For real?"     Lilian looks rapidly back and forth between Bette and Regulus. For a second, it'd be sensible to assume that she's just gassing her up. Except then she says "Oh! Regulus slouches more!" and then it all becomes a tiny bit worrying when she looks so pleased about it. "You know, for all this time in the Multiverse, I'm not actually certain I've really met a shapeshifter." She probably has, and just thought they were boring. "Do you practice voices, too? Or-- I suppose there'd be no need, back then, but now?"     Lilian suddenly jolts as if shocked. "Ah! Wait! It makes you stronger too? As in, all the muscles and everything work how they're supposed to? You have to come by my lab at Laplace later! Pretty please?"     'I am unsure of the reasoning. It has not been approved yet on account of Timekeeper only requesting it recently.'     "Perhaps to keep stocked on minor arcane items that we'd need to requisiton otherwise? Or arcanist-applicable medicines? But that's more of an apothecary than a 'lab'. I suppose we do have a few alchemists, but a whole building just to keep Little Ms. Sotheby busy seems . . ." Lilian thinks, trails off, then looks at Sonetto. "Well." She doesn't finish. It's too plausible.     'Y-yep! Will-- will do. But I'm-- not-- s-so... wwwweak....'     Lilian sidesteps the whole thing with "But you're using up arcane power to do it, right? So don't squeeze yourself dry."     'Uuuuu... but c-come on! Why can't I do it! I can't even *work out*, since I *died*'     Ah well.     'It is okay. As a ghost you do not create any supply concerns through consumption.'     Lilian whispers "Oh god was that really the best you could think of?" to herself. She clears her throat and raises her voice. "It's just a bit of lifting to work up an appetite, Polly! Don't worry about it! You should spot for the girls who are struggling instead!"
Riku Asakura	'I don't wanna be uselesssssss....!' Riku, after setting his four bags down on the now-forming pile of cement bags, watches poor Poly break down.  It's really sad and heartbreaking.  Come on, Riku, think of something to say... she needs a mood boost!  "Aw, it's okay, Poltergeist, you help in other ways!  Lifting heavy things is hardly the best thing you can do." 'Try not to die today, Asakura~' Wait, is Matilda predicting his death?  Or wait, did she see it and is not telling him?  This particular phrase has him staring at Matilda suspiciously.  Eventually he shrugs it off, "I'm not going to die from a little hard work," He finally says, still wondering what the meaning behind this phrase really is. 'Good boy.' "I'm literally a day away from being twenty-one..." he says, slightly complaining at being called a boy.  Of course, this just means he's going to be reclassified as eighteen or something in the ridiculous scale of age that she holds.   Bette's showing off causes Riku to look surprised, and then impressed.  "Oh wow, I bet you were a stunt double..." he says. She looks just like Regulus; it's definitely uncanny!  He claps because it's pretty cool, but he doesn't stick in one spot for too long because he doesn't want to be accused of slacking off.  So he starts walking towards the stairs again. 'Don't worry I'll make sure you get a slice of cake too, Matilda.' Riku isn't petty enough to ask Regulus to skip Matilda's slice of cake, but he considers it for an uncomfortable moment.  "I don't think she wants to celebrate my birthday, though," is something he does get out, however.
Lilian Rook	'...Oh you've got bad luck too, huh? Well maybe it'll overflow and we'll have good luck together, ha ha ha!'     "Perhaps you should start taking your luck seriously? You know. Get a proper appraisal. Perform some rituals. Get some talismans and such." Huh?     'Oh my familiar, the cat.'     Lilian regains one alertness level. "You got a familiar? Really? When? I thought with APPLe around, you wouldn't need to learn that sort of thing."     'I bet you'll get your own Uttu cover in no time.'     "Oh wouldn't that be . . ."     Lilian's smile turns a little sad. "Perhaps. You know?"     'I could get out of so much trouble--'     "That's aiding and aBetteing." Lilian says, warningly. "I know your games. Watch out."     'I'm literally a day away from being twenty-one...'     "Well I'm not saying good lad." Lilian says. "I'm taking it back for you being so fussy."
Storm Investigators	"There is a spirit in that lake who seems to dislike people messing with the lake." "Mmhm, Regulus told me about her. You'd at least want to ask first." "Oh, shoot. That would have made it far easier for Regulus and I to practice." Marcus purses her lips briefly, but nods at Riku and Shira after a moment. "Thank you for the advance warning, Riku. Madam... Shira, was it? We should still be able to use the grassier areas, at least, or even the softer areas of the sho, then, but..." She'll be mulling over that some more for a while. "Ta-daa! I was a professional stunt double in my past life!" Having looked away from Bette for that moment, Marcus looks over just in time to see... Two Reguluses! There's some minor details that set them apart enough to push that confusion away visually, though, even without considering that she already knows that she's working with Regulus to move that bag. She wants to clap, but her hands are still full! "What a useful ability...! Ah. I would clap, but... Um. Please imagine that I... Am?" "I still need to squeeze Vertin for a training area somewhere out here myself." "A training field right in the Suitcase... There does appear to be quite a lot of space here already. If you were to maintain a space here, then distance is no longer an easy excuse to be lazy for anyone living here. I've read that gym memberships often go unused, especially if they are located any further than walking distance from a member's home." A most terrifying thought forms in Marcus' head: What if a training field being here meant SHE had to work out here in addition to her exercise at the Foundation, too? She stops abruptly for a moment, then remembers that she needs to help Regulus get more bags into the wheelbarrow. "A-although.. Er.. Perhaps something on Foundation grounds might be suitable, too? Especially if there's no need to spend further money on making one here?"
Storm Investigators	"Well maybe it'll overflow and we'll have good luck together, ha ha ha!" "Is that how it works? I suppose if it did overflow like some kind of cup, and the bad luck around us was more than the bad luck inside us..." Marcus struggles to grasp the idea of overflowing, and even she doesn't sound too convinced by her own attempts to rationalize it as a liquid. Thankfully, Regulus re-diverts her mind right back to other things! "O-oh, not today. I think I'll be ready to collapse in bed after we've finished just one site's worth of bags." Marcus agrees with a quick nod, and it's only then that Greta realizes they're still committed to the topic of double-jumping. "Get some talismans and such." An idea forms in Marcus' head after hearing that suggestion from Lilian. "Oh. Perhaps we could... Ah. Miss Bouanich? And-" She pauses to look around briefly, then turns to Lilian. "Madam Rook, would you be able to get us in touch with Madam Tamamo sometime? Between Madam Tamamo and Miss Bouanich, assessing that might not be out of the question." "Do save your efforts for another day. Overworking yourself won't make it any easier to experiment. If you add it to your daily routine, you can pace yourselves better." "Well, I've al-ready *asked* for help, and that's why Typhon is helping!" "I don't wanna be uselesssssss....!" "You could help guide me and keep others off my path when I get big, so I don't accidentally break something or hurt someone." "Miss Polly. If you were to monitor the stairway, coordinating our movements entering and exiting could speed up our work considerably." Greta suggests, nodding at Bunny Bunny and Shira first before nodding at Sotheby and Regulus next. "With everyone moving at different speeds, it's guaranteed that members of this group will start bumping into each other just heading up and down the stairs. Calling out who's approaching the stairs will minimize accidents and wasted energy on who's going up or down and when."
Regulus	''So you better not go making work for me! Understood?!'' "I didn't do it!" Regulus says immediately before she realizes she actually didn't do anything, just barely avoiding tripping over a bag. ''Oh! Regulus slouches more!'' "I do???" Regulus cries, the double whammy inflicting critical damage. She's still suffering break! This isn't fair! But as for the lab. "Well it makes sense there'd be a lab right? Sotheby and I'd need a place to experiment--well I mean I did apply to Laplace, but it's good to have our own space too right?" ''I don't think she wants to celebrate my birthday, though.'' "Huh?" Regulus asks. "Why not?" She stares at Riku for a long moment, not exactly judging but so utterly oblivious as to why that might be the case that it somehow comes around to being a little bit biting anyway. "You're not a bad guy or anything." ''You got a familiar?'' "Yeah, I told you about it, made that pact with Tamiel and now there's a cat. I actually realized I can sort of see through Floyd's eyes? So familiar and--" She blinks, confused. "Huh? APPLe's my best mate, but he's his own fruit you know? I mostly just have Floyd be a cat though. Like, he seems pretty satisfied just doing cat stuff." She pauses a moment and adds, "Waking me up in the middle of the night... Jumping on top of me, meowing to be let out and then staying inside when I open the door..." ''Perhaps. You know?'' Regulus hadn't meant to raise a specter but she rubs at her neck a little sheepishly anyway. "Well, so long as they want to ask, right?" She offers. ''That's aiding and aBetteing.'' "I'll be on my Bette behavior!" Regulus quips back. "Well at least I wouldn't want to drag Bette into it, aha..." She doesn't even know what future crimes she might get caught up in yet! "Honestly though right now I'm focused on this space, I don't think I have time for getting into too much trouble right now. Is this the power.... of jobs...?" She's pretty grateful that everyone is trying to help Poltergeist feel helpful, at least. "I'm pretty proud of your commitment to trying new stuff, Marcus."
Ein	> Polly Sotheby pauses by Poltergeist, with Sonetto, free of first bag that was bravely carried all the way with (stuffie) help, both coming around the sinking Polly to crouch down and rest hand (or end of cloth rabbit limb) on the sheet-covered ghost girl. Typhon says nothing but there's a heroic gleam in its bead-eyes. Sotheby, on the other hand... "You got it really far! And maybe we can practice later on fantastic things you can do? So I real-ly hope to see you at the party today, okay?" Sotheby beams positivity at Polly, bright-eyed and a little bouncy in her cheery suggestion. Then Sotheby looks up as Shira passes to offer her own support. Crouched down, Shira is sooooooo big to Sotheby? Already! "Woww..." Sotheby gasps, pausing. "Did you eat something specific to grow so spectacularly strong and large?" She asks, having earlier figured out Bunny Bunny's secret was 'not telling' and so asking others around. 'Whether or not we bear and axe or a saw, we're animals too.' Druvis closes her eyes, losing a step. "Unfortunately." She sighs drearily, and then opens eyes to carry on a step, then following gaze to horizon line. 'Like La Source's lake, this is the only 'permanent', wild forest in the world. The last one.' "I know." Druvis murmurs. "And it is besides the forest, and the water, and good land for building. I do not disagree." Her tone dips, admitting, faintly annoyed. "And yet I still find in me... A disgust for it, a lingering bitterness. Will I learn differently?" For this one last forest she found herself forced to bend to the trusted Timekeeper and her judgement... mostly. Sometimes. After being pouty about how much closer they're creeping to doing a bunch of logging and deforestation. "It is the land of lasts, Lilian." Druvis returns, and shakes her head, knowing she was ruminating too much when there were bags to move. "I won't swing an axe or bend a branch, but I can carry a bag." 'Um, are you worried, Druvis?' "Enough to speak, but not to act. Enough to move bags." Druvis answers, not quite aloof, but a kind of tired about the topic even though she asked. She didn't really want to be 'resigned to moving the bags of her occupation', she was trying to put faith in Vertin. While yowling about how they were paving over nature tiles like the Mother Earth in a nature sim game getting pissy at urban development, of course. "It will be fine, or it will be fine because I am here. And if it is not, it will be as it will be." Druvis answers, ultimately trying to will the matter to be fine until it was actually fine.
Foundation Scions	'... Been cleared to go on field missions?'     "More-so than I had been, yes!" She clears her through, which, while holding concrete, is mostly a cough, "So, I suppose, we will definitely be working together more commonly! And, not only this time as Paladins Chevaliers, but, coincidentally-more symmetric!" She's *not* bringing up her position with the FDMO as a separating point. Strange! 'Yep! Matilda's a real nightbird~ cutie pie.'     Matilda giggles a little bit at that, does a little sigh, and adds, "I have an excellent work ethic!" That's a phrase to perfectly encapsulate 'her hours are very long and unwieldly'. 'I hadn't heard you were comin' to Vertin's team!'     "Hah! Er, as much as that would, I'm sure, be very exciting... I have other jobs, and am not at-present to be assigned to 'Team Timekeeper'? I am still Monitor Assistant to the SPDM; on top of other duties, handling which would make it very difficult to spend as-much time here as that would require!" She does a little sigh-laugh, to brush it off, a little twinge of left-out creeping in. She fights that off by adding, "Maybe some-day, there will be 'Team Matilda'!" 'God they wouldn't shut up about it.'     From just over the horizon of her bag of cement, Matilda's expression is a bit of a strange one! A little proud-pleased, and a bit upset-sad, visible all in her eyebrows, "I would hope they would bring it up, perhaps, a little bit less! If you consider all things, I did my utmost to be quite gentle!" . . . 'Almost as impressive as yours, Investigator.'     A little stiff, but still in the 'angling for casualness' way, "Psssh. You have not even seen me, perform a divination!" A pause, and a few scuffly-shuffly steps forwards, before she rushes out "But thank you." 'Ta-daa!'     Matilda gasps at the display, clapping her- not hands, those are busy, but fingertips, beneath the concrete bag she's hauling, in amazement. "Magnifique! You look just like her!" That much is obvious, but it's not easy to think of things to say when you're kinda busy getting tired!     Matilda makes a fully un-justified sigh of satisfaction at succesfully plunking down her (one) concrete bag on the first loop, feeling lighter-than air to have to hike back. It will continue, and be harder each time. Good luck ! 'not that ever was going to *anyways*!'     Unhelpfully, "Perhaps, you could try, and it might become fun anyways? The SPDM has published regimens! Maybe you will not grow, but!" Youth Camp Counselor saying 'exercise is fun, now let me spin my chair around and sit in it bad' tone. 'Timekeeper and Miss Bunny will be serving a meal after we are done.'     "I have heard that the Suitcase Wilderness' lakes and ponds, are quite picturesque! Perhaps the meal could be shared, between us, by some manner of shore..? The sun does set here!" SHE'S CLINGING TO HOPE! It will never work.
Lilian Rook	'A training field right in the Suitcase... There does appear to be quite a lot of space here already. If you were to maintain a space here, then distance is no longer an easy excuse to be lazy for anyone living here.'     Lilian nods along agreeably all the way up until the word 'anyone'. Then she looks sidelong at Marcus, faintly aghast. "A gym? Really?" she says, clearly exasperated already. "You people can discuss that with Vertin separately. I mean proper training. For me."     'Madam Rook, would you be able to get us in touch with Madam Tamamo sometime?'     "If you're on your best behaviour." Lilian says, because Regulus was included in the mix.     '--well I mean I did apply to Laplace, but it's good to have our own space too right?'     "Oh. Well congratulations on getting your act together." she says anyways. "Let's cross our fingers that they like you, hm?"     'Yeah, I told you about it, made that pact with Tamiel and now there's a cat.'     Lilian squints. "I think I'd know if that girl could do magic." she says, suspiciously.     'Well, so long as they want to ask, right?'     "I'm still sorting out a question of my own."     Lilian says those words, alone, possessed of far more meaning than they actually convey, as if anyone understanding a word she says is the least important thing about saying any of them. Even the sighing breath she takes is somehow clouded.     "Well, as long as they let me say something that a lot of arcanists might need to hear."     'Is this the power.... of jobs...?'     "Oh, yes, actually." Lilian's mood bounces right back to normal. "You'd be shocked how much power 'okay, but I want to keep my career' has over your worst impulses."     'And yet I still find in me... A disgust for it, a lingering bitterness. Will I learn differently?'     "I'd like to tell you that I'll buy up all the lumber we need and ship it all in myself, but I don't own the Suitcase, and I can't speak to what Vertin might think will be the best for us in the future."     But that isn't an answer.     "You won't. The most you can do is to add sweeter things to the mix, until you can only taste the bitter a little bit. Revenge has no treatment save burying it under as many other things as you can, and hoping the rain doesn't seep down far enough to nourish it again."     'I won't swing an axe or bend a branch, but I can carry a bag.'     "Every little bit helps." Lilian smiles thinly, eyes fixed on the middle distance.     'I have an excellent work ethic!'     "I'll be putting that to the test over at Trídéag before long." she says, glad for the topic change. "But if I'm here, and not too busy, you can always ask for a bit of private tutoring too."     'Maybe some-day, there will be 'Team Matilda'!'     "How I wish I could parcel out extra hours of the day to those hard-workers who deserve it." Lilian sighs.     'If you consider all things, I did my utmost to be quite gentle!'     Finally dropping all her bags, Lilian claps her hands, waves airily at the wrist, and half-scoffs, "Oh it's always like that. Be gentle for you, not for them." and walks past on the way back.
Riku Asakura	'I'm taking it back for you being so fussy.' Riku's shoulder sagged a little.  It was a literal unwinnable battle.  Like the one in your /totally favorite/ video game that makes you lose without telling you it's a losing fight.  He just sighs and moves on, not wanting to let this drag him down. 'Thank you for the advance warning, Riku.' "No problem, just didn't want you to get ambushed and thoroughly soaked by her," Riku says, upbeat.  He's always willing to try and lend a helping hand where he can! 'You're not a bad guy or anything.' Riku gives Regulus a stare, as if she missed the air between the two of them in these last encounters.  "Yeah... well, tell her that," Riku says with a shrug and moves on.  "I mean, you heard her wish me a 'birthday'."
Foundation Scions	'But if I'm here, and not too busy, you can always ask for a bit of private tutoring too.'     Matilda nearly jumps! "Oui!" is her first impulse, which sounds like 'whee!', and means she has to very quickly clarify it to "I will keep that in mind!"     She's so excited at the prospect of tutoring! On what? Anything, really! People have special knowledge they don't put into a curriculum, and instead save for the sacred task of direct instruction! Private tutoring is how diviners such as herself learn to divine, alchemists such as Sotheby learn to alchemize, and any and all teacher's pets get ahead of the coursework! Lilian might as well have said 'if you catch me in a good mood, I'll give you mid-line tickets to the big game'.     Well. Lilian did specify 'a bit'. 'How I wish I could parcel out extra hours of the day to those hard-workers who deserve it.'     Matilda nods, emphatically. That's a completely normal thing to say, to her, and running it over in her head makes her agree uncomplicatedly! 'Be gentle for you, not for them.'     That's a little saddening to hear, but, "... I would, perhaps, do it differently, next-time. I hope there will not be that, though!"
Shira	> "If I have to walk by even one giant footprint every day I will scream."     Shira sags, dejectedly muttering, "I'd fill them in..." but she's certainly soured on the idea. One of the only ways she could think to be useful, completely shot down before she could even try. > "Did you eat something specific to grow so spectacularly strong and large?"     The kaiju hesitates, blinking owlishly at Sotheby for several quiet seconds. It takes a moment to register that she *isn't* in her larger form and Sotheby is just impressed that she's taller normally. She eventually breaks the silence with a shy little, "N-no..." Her eyes shift nervously to one side with a tilt forward of her head, "It's...um... I-it's just a thing I can do."     "It does make me tired, but..." Wandering eyes find Regulus, "It's nothing I can't deal with, if it helps my friends out."     After a bit she closes her eyes and gets back to work, tail forming a graceful arc as she makes an effort to visibly Take It In Stride, "But... if it bothers people that much, there's the old-fashioned way too. Even if it takes longer..!"
Team Timekeeper	"Oh well shit! Let's go!"     Bunny Bunny kicks one of her feet back, clapping her hands delightedly. "Oh, goodness~! Look at that motivation soar, love! Good~ job~! Go~ go~ girl!" "Who or what is Floyd?"     "It is a cat," It's impossible to read any opinion whatsoever about cats off of Sonetto's tone. "That Tamiel gave to Regulus. It is a strange thing." "It's a RERegulus! You look just like me, that's incredible!"     "No miss, it's far from perfect." Bette's modest about it, but she's also right. On closer inspection, she's messed up Regulus's hair where it's poking out from the durag, and her body shape is juuust a little off, and the nose isn't the right shape-- more than enough to fool Lilian, but Regulus looks at Regulus in the mirror all the time. "It's a blessed talent, but I'm not too talented with it." "Do you practice voices, too? Or-- I suppose there'd be no need, back then, but now?"     "No need?" Bette seems uncertain for a moment, then snaps Regulus's fingers in realization. "Oh! I'm from the thirties, ma'am. In-fact, we were gettin' *color* films in theatres 'round when the Storm came. I was filming for one at the time. You ever heard of the Wizard of Oz-- er, I wasn't in that. But ain't it cool?!"     Remembering to answer the question only belatedly, she adds, "... Oh, but I never had a speaking role. And now there's not all that much filming goin' on. I worked on practicing the voice for a while, but sorta ended up discouraged about it, 'cause of never getting the chance to speak." "It makes you stronger too? As in, all the muscles and everything work how they're supposed to?"     Bette widens Regulus's big wet eyes, sunglasses sliding down to the end of her nose. She holds her hands up, waving them to ward off interest, but not actually having any grounds to do so. "Er-- no? Maybe? I-I'm not sure how it all works, very sorry! Can't turn into anything like a giant or someodd thing like that, if that's what you're imagining." "It's just a bit of lifting to work up an appetite, Polly!" "The SPDM has published regimens!"     Sunken into the ground, soaking in muddy seawater that starts to stain her sheet brown, Polly makes a pathetic tantrum-whining noise. "I can't even eatttt. And *Jesus* knows I'd need the lifting more than the appetite." "You could help guide me and keep others off my path when I get big, so I don't accidentally break something or hurt someone." "Marcus and I couldn't do that either."     Polly scoffs, and her residual arcane grip directionlessly yanks on the concrete bag in Sonetto's grasp, causing her to stumble. "I know when I'm being talked down to. I'm not an idiot. I know you can't pity-pick me any sooner than dead last."     Then, Polly glops back onto her 'feet', sheet hem trailing on the ground. Suddenly effortlessly, the bag is plucked out of Sonetto's hands, the glimpse of a sickly-pale tentacle writhing in the momentary gap between the sheet and the ground. Mournfully burbling to herself, Polly doesn't even notice how much of an easier time she's having exerting her arcane skill now. "Oh god, why am I so meannnnn?? Everyone was trying to be *nice* to meeee.... I've gotta go kill myself. This time I'm really gonna do it." "So I real-ly hope to see you at the party today, okay?"     Stopped in her path by the radiantly positive alchemist, soggy sheet-hole eyes widen to meet hers. When it's someone *younger* than her, and someone like Sotheby, it's impossible for even Poltergeist to neurotically perceive hostile intent in her voice, so she sort of just deflates. "O-oh, okay. Practice? Would you want to?"
Storm Investigators	"I'm pretty proud of your commitment to trying new stuff, Marcus." Marcus makes a briefly confused noise at Regulus' comment, then chuckles bashfully and nods. "Ah..? Th.. Thank you, Regulus. I.. Er. Am trying my best." "And, not only this time as Paladins Chevaliers, but, coincidentally-more symmetric!" Matilda, too, gets a slightly flustered noise out of Marcus! "How fortuitous... Then I will be learning from and counting on you as well, Miss Bouanich." She replies, looking both relieved and eager to have TWO whole investigators to learn from. "You people can discuss that with Vertin separately. I mean proper training. For me." Marcus tries extra hard not to look relieved about that, instead pretending to look at least a little disappointed. She is a terrible actor. "Ah... Of course, Madame Rook. Ah, but there's still so much work to be done, so I'll have to wait until things have settled down... Forever." She is definitely never going to ask.
Lilian Rook	'Oui!'     Lilian quietly laughs, then inexplicably shakes her head.     §God fucked up your romantic choices just to hold you back. It could have been anyone but Sonetto. You could have lived such an easy life, Matilda.§     '... I would, perhaps, do it differently, next-time. I hope there will not be that, though!'     "If they behave themselves." Lilian says, which was completely not the point of the Rebellion anyways. She thanked them all for it! Most of them at least! "But if something else arises, it'll likely be me they call on. So I wouldn't worry if I were you."     'Oh, goodness~! Look at that motivation soar, love! Good~ job~! Go~ go~ girl!'     Hurrying past on the way back, Lilian leans in close along the way; enough to Matilda to say still-not-quietly-enough: "I get it." with a very strange nod.     'No need? Oh! I'm from the thirties, ma'am.'     "I'm afraid I'm not quite familiar with the all the years and dates involved in the development of cinema." Lilian says, in her perfectly pleasant way that usually means 'I don't mind listening I guess', but here is actually much more attentive. "I think it's fascinating to consider. Being born a time where technology was constantly progressing like that, year after year, making all sorts of things possible that you'd never have expected." She lets off a wistful sigh. "That sort of optimism about the future, 'progress' with a capital P, is something I suppose you can only find in the city; provided you catch them at on a good decade."     'I worked on practicing the voice for a while, but sorta ended up discouraged about it, 'cause of never getting the chance to speak.'     "It's far from easy, isn't it? If it were simple, then you'd think everyone would do it, like dressing up." Lilian says, sighing commiseratively. "But it naturally goes with your arcane skill, doesn't it? I think that sort of thing is important to study even if it doesn't necessarily come in handy right away. Trying out things that run parallel to your specialty can often give you new perspectives on it, or help you overcome plateaus in your ability."     "And when you get back to the year two-thousand, you'll have all that built-up experience, in a brand new landscape of cinema; hot new talent out of nowhere! Think about that!"     'Er-- no? Maybe? '     "Please come to my lab? I can pay you for your time!" More likely blood.     'I can't even eatttt. And *Jesus* knows I'd need the lifting more than the appetite.'     "So don't take it so seriously." Lilian sighs. "Christ. If you can't eat and there's no point in lifting then why worry about it? People are just different from each other."     'Ah, but there's still so much work to be done, so I'll have to wait until things have settled down... Forever.'     Lilian scoffs. "Death flag."
Regulus	''Team Matilda'' "Oh are people allowed to be on two teams?" Regulus asks. ''Enough to speak, but not to act.'' "Well, I'll let Vertin know it's on your mind, alright? It's important to me that you don't feel left out." Or pushed to the corners. "It's your home too, and even better--you're an inaugural member of Team Timekeeper! Can't let our excitement drown you out, you know!" She's not sure she's really capable of being good at understanding of development in an ecological way. "You know, when I first got here, there wasn't even a Wilderness at all. I wonder if the space will expand more in the future." How many island tiles can be put down?! ''If you're on your best behaviour.'' "Oggh, Regulus under fire today..." Regulus slouches in exactly the way Lilian remarked she tended to slouch more before realizing she's slouching and she immediately straightens up because she must. "Why wouldn't they like me?" Regulus asks. "I'm an alchemical genius and all." She looks at Matilda for a long moment despite her not being in Laplace at all as her mind wanders to other shit. ''I think I'd know if that girl could do magic.'' "Well I don't know if it's magic or not," Regulus admits. "I just used the term familiar because Vertin did. It's nice to have some company when everybody's busy though." ''Well, as long as they let me say something that a lot of arcanists might need to hear.'' "Well if they don't you can come right back to the radio station and I'll broadcast it far and wide. Petra says we might even rival Uttu eventualy." ''You'd be shocked how much power 'okay I want to keep my career' has over your worst impulses.'' "The birth of a new Regulus star..." Regulus murmurs, feeling like she's in strange territory right now. "Well, my most important work will always be here. So long as they understand that, there's no problem!" ''Yeah... well, tell her that.'' "Riku...grudges don't suit you." Regulus chides, gently. "I'm sure she didn't mean anything bad." ''No miss, it's far from perfect.'' "Oh well... Now that I look closer, but if you were rushing around doing stunts I wouldn't notice, or if there was some distance. It's still pretty solid, though. I couldn't do that with my arcane skill!" "The Wizard of Oz, it's a classic." Regulus says. "But the work of actresses like you really laid the groundwork for modern cinema. People underestimate stunts, but not this pirate." ''I know when I'm being talked down to.'' "Er, I mean, I'm not lying though that's why we were sharing the load." Regulus is startled by the sudden scoffing tone of Polly, but also kind of impressed! Way to go, Polly! Show me who means business! "Oh but it looks--wow she's really moving now."
Lilian Rook	'Oh are people allowed to be on two teams?'     "About ten percent of them, but barely more than one will admit it."     'Oggh, Regulus under fire today...'     "I'm just getting it all out of the way before I go and decorate my room." Lilian says. "You know. Managerial quotas. You understand." Staring up at the sky dome, she realizes that the Foundation actually isn't spying on her (outside of Sonetto, really) here, and says, "Good job, though. We'd never have passed the bloody thing without you." If Sonetto asks, she'll say that she means 'at the Trial'.     'Well I don't know if it's magic or not'     Lilian shakes her head. This time it isn't about Regulus! "That one isn't right in the head." she mutters.     'Well if they don't you can come right back to the radio station and I'll broadcast it far and wide.'     ". . . Huh. I suppose that's true, actually."
Regulus	''I'm just getting it all out of the way before I go and decorate my room.'' "It's all groovy, it's actually encouraging for the most part." Possibly due to Regulus's tendency towards being contrary but at least she tries to use it for good? Who knows. Not Regulus. She just knows that she doesn't generally feel unhappy when Lilian gives her the third degree, usually, but finds it weirdly motivating? Maybe because it's not all stick, or maybe it's because at the end of the day, what they both want isn't really all that different. "You neither, though. You had the words, the presence, and the style to bend the right ears. Least I can do is give some respect that your name's on the line too with the rest of us." She certainly can't say Lilian hasn't earned her room and board here after all. "Besides, it's part of my job to do my best to make sure you're welcome too so that means I can only cause ''so'' much trouble." She's back to chirpy again, though not even Regulus knows exactly how her trouble meter bars are going to work out because she doesn't, right now, even want to get into trouble. She's been in trouble for months, if you count the rebellion, and for years if you count just her general in-trouble state with the Foundation. She needs a break from all this troublemaking! She wants to take naps, she wants a vacation from sitting around protesting, as unpleasant as carrying cement is, at least it's an activity that is doing something that has a direct result that can be observed right in front of her. It's frankly a relief after all that!