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Kushiko New Years--or at least, the morning of--or after. Such things are technically relative when it comes to people who are close to being spaceborne as anyone could be. Given the request made--and some other aspects long in the coming--Setsuko would be bidden to at first meet the Tenno at the Relay in Mercury's orbit. Yet such a thing was simply a transitory thing: the Landing Craft wasn't too spacious, but it had a compact area in the back modified to carry an additional passenger.

The Tenno was uncertain why, but she felt it was time. The Upheaval and events aside, she had been slowly been coming out of her shell and this sort of meeting was long overdue.

Valkyr would be the one whom Setsuko met at the docking platforms at Larunda, not long after another transport dropped her off there, her Liset already moored and ready for departure. Kushiko may be intent on bringing Setsuko aboard her Orbiter soon enough, but no transport could properly handle the Void like a Tenno's craft.
Setsuko Kaminagi     The sight that greets Valkyr at the Relay's docking area is a peculiar one. Enough so to have drawn a small crowd.

    There is a large, black warhorse in the Larunda Relay.

    Fitted with a saddle suited to a general, the massive horse snorts irritably when people draw too near, but otherwise remains surprisingly calm.

    Of course, it's not the only peculiar sight. It might be difficult to recognize Setsuko, at first; gone are the sleeveless black top and grey cargo pants, replaced with what looks like a formal uniform of sorts, with a long blue coat trimmed in gold and adorned with black, lightly-spiked shoulder pauldrons, over pants and boots that suit the look quite well. Her hair is also symmetrically short, now - gone is the long-on-one-side, short-on-the-other look, in favor of neatly-swept, slender silver spikes.

    The most important difference, though, is one that only the Tenno would notice... in fact, only Kushiko in specific. That divine 'presence' of hers is no longer a raging bonfire to be felt for hundreds of miles. No, it's become a calm, steady 'light', a beacon of sorts that seems much more in control.

    As if sensing Kushiko's arrival, the woman turns, regarding her with clear blue eyes. There's a new scar, as well; from the middle of her forehead, down over her right eye. "Hello, Valkyr. I'm sorry for going silent for so long." She's been out of contact since the fall of Njorun, in fact.
Kushiko There's been alot of strange things in Relays before. This? Yeah, this took the cake, at least for the time being.

Nonetheless, it was the presence of that warhorse, hell that change in uniform, in demeanour that seemed to tilt at the Tenno even more--and more to the point, that change in the way she sensed her power--in her mind the 'Oro' within. Through Valkyr's neuroptics, she found herself staring a bit.

<"We did not know well of Njorun as perhaps we should have. We had hopes at some point to spar with you but it seemed our respective duties and other affairs..."> Valkyr shook her head slightly. <"You look different. Not the clothes, either."> The Warframe's tail flicks slightly, head canting to and fro. Kiras pads her own way over, making a few light sniffling sounds in Setsuko's direction, before making a rather pronounced *Wuff!* in the Demigoddess' direction.

Scar was very new too. <"... missed seeing and talking to you."> Stupid radio things and what have you--it was about as much of a prelude to her closing the distance and reaching to clasp and grip Setsuko's arm in an aggressively friendly kind of greeting.
Setsuko Kaminagi     "Mm. That's right, you could feel it, couldn't you?" Setsuko's lips tug into just the faintest smile. As Kiras approaches, the horse turns its head, pointing one eye straight at the dog, and whinnies once, the noise somewhere between warning and irritation. The woman turns to look at it, and says simply, "Kuro-no-Tatsumaki, be nice." The horse falls silent. One gets the sense it wouldn't do so for anyone else. Then, she says, "...in fact, begone for now. I'll call for you when I need you." It doesn't seem very happy about this, but then it turns, and begins to canter off - through a crowd that gives it a sudden, very respectful distance - and simply... fade away.

    The swordswoman turns to return the greeting, giving Valkyr a similar greeting, and nods. "I was in my own world for a time. I had... business to attend to. Unfortunately, I can't stay long, but I wanted to visit for the new year." There's something... different about her, this close. Something in her eyes. They seem to shine faintly, and a deeper look might just catch the faintest glimpse of... a storm? "Lead the way," she adds.
Kushiko <"Here and there,"> Kushiko admits through projection of her voice--not through any measure of transmitters on her Warframe, just the voice is... /there/, that ephemeral quality to it sometimes flickering through.

Kiras on the other hand almost looks nonplussed, before tilting her head once, twice, ears folding down for a moment and then making a little grumpy noise at the steed's fading... At herself? Maybe. It was hard to tell for certain to be honest, before the Kubrow returned to a slight scritching. <"Valkyr, I think can feel it better than the others could. She's... an easier focus for that sense of war we felt once."> Part of her wants to say, to comment on something else but this... state of being, this exchange did not help much for it, so she moves on. <"We know what that's like. Me and a bunch of the others stuck to borders and making sure certain things did not get out."> Like the Infested. Not a fun prospect no.

<"Right. This way, sorry it won't be too luxurious in there. Our Landing Craft's not designed for many passengers."> Indeed, once they were embarked (with Valkyr occupying that slot underneath) the ship would reorient to allow the back to unfold a ramp for Setsuko to board at.
Setsuko Kaminagi     "Hmh. I've never been much for luxury," Setsuko replies. "I had a room of my own on Njorun. I never used it, for a number of reasons."

    The woman steps on when offered, her bootfalls smooth as she walks up the ramp and into the passenger chamber, looking around with quiet interest.
Kushiko For what it's worth, when one actually steps into the back of the Liset, there's a lot of foldable and unfoldable elements to it that definitely speaks to modularity and adaptability, something Ordis chimes in about. "Indeed. It's a pleasure to hear from you as well, Ms. Setsuko and to have you aboard. Where you sit there is actually one of our ah, very /few/ seats we have available."

There's a tiny pang of regret there.

Kiras pads in afterwards, making his way into a secondary recess that is revealed with a slight hydraulic hiss, sortof like a doghouse except on the sleak Prisma Liset that she owned. "Please strap in we wouldn't want you to be OBLITERATED-D-d-... all over the inside there. Wait no that wouldn't be the issue there would it. Hm." Blp!

<"... yeah, still, brace yourself. Once we've pulled away, acceleration will hit pretty hard."> And it's true; once the Demigoddess straps in, two things happen--acceleration gives a slight /pull/ once the vessel heads to light speed, but the other is via a screen that lights up. Initially it gives a panoramic view of their departure from the station, but as it goes into FTL speeds, the view blossoms into a sky bluish tinting of green... /sky/? Or sea? Or ocean? It's a maelstrom is what it is, as the concept of space as it nominally exists opens up into the blinding hellscape that is the Void.

It's pure chaos for a little while--stormy and turbulent as it appears, it seems to not actually be all that rocky. There's some measure of phasing going on as the ship approaches a decloaking object within the Void itself, yet there's not much time to reflect or admire it as the smaller vessel docks with the Orbiter itself in order to allow for Kushiko's guest to be brought aboard.
Setsuko Kaminagi     Setsuko is calm about settling into her seat, looking towards the ceiling and replying, "Thank you, Ordis. It's been a while. I think that as I am now, I'd be fine, but I'll do so anyway."

    She watches the screen with quiet interest as they travel... and Kushiko and Ordis might want to be doing so as well, because as they pass through the formless chaos, there's a curious moment where it... isn't formless. The nebulous aether nearest the vessel begins to reshape, as if impressed upon by their nearness, briefly taking on the shape of thunderheads, complete with small, silent 'arcs' of lightning. Entirely harmless, but it's an odd phenomenon.

    As the lander finally allows her to exit, Setsuko stands in a smooth movement and disembarks, looking around with silent interest. She's not sure entirely what to expect, of a place hidden away where Kushiko controls those Frames of hers.
Kushiko "... Operator?" Even now, Ordis is one to insist on some degree of formality. Hn. Okay, that's... a little odd, to put it nicely. But given the similarities that exist... even ones she herself could not fully recognize... well. "... don't worry about it right now Ordis. Keep an eye on it, just in case." This, unfortunately for Setsuko was not transmitted across the local band, as it were. Hopefully that didn't change things too much with bringing her here--or causing problems. Doubtful.

... hopefully.

In the meantime, once they arrive and disembark, there's a simple lift--circular that leads to the bridge; notably without any actual places to /sit/. There's glower of a projector behind where they are, along with that beautiful view of the Void behind.

... And Christmas decorations. Snow (actual snow), a snowman, holly and lights--done up in a slight Lotus patterning. Lights, and unbelieavably a faint bit of snow flakes coming from somewhere. If she could show a grin as the ramp lets out a hiss of air as it lowers down into the heart of the Orbiter, she might show it.

<"... I like these decorations. I might keep them around a while,"> she admits through Void projection. Wait, was there a jingling sound one heard?
Setsuko Kaminagi     Setsuko can't help it. She arches an eyebrow. "...it's very festive," she replies, looking around. Unexpected, but not bad. She steps into the navigation area with an interested look, glancing here and there, then turns her head to look in the direction of the jangle. Interesting.

    But it's the Void around them that draws her eye - she looks out at it for a few moments, before murmuring a soft, "Interesting." Then she turns back around, and says, "That's my fault, I think. My... existence, pressing itself on the Void. I could rein it in if need be, but it should be harmless." Down the ramp and into the main area she goes, walking smoothly and looking around. Granted, most of this technology will be far beyond her, but it's of interest regardless.
Kushiko "... given what it is..." Kushiko's voice begins. At some point, Kiras had rejoined them, or had simply found her way back to her sleeping pad at the Incubator. The molecular Foundry, the Modding 'table' which resembled an industrial press and more if at a highly advanced tech level. "... it's not surprising. There's something similar to what's in you and what's in us. As much as we know, at least."

Valkyr isn't the only one there, however. To either side is Mag Prime and Mesa, making for something of an escort, or is it honor guard? Hard to say specifically but there's... definitely something unusual in the air about this. Even though none of them have anything that resembles a point for 'eyes', Setsuko could feel all three 'staring' at her now. "It should be reduced here, at least, now that you're aboard my Orbiter. You'll see why soon enough, I think." Further down they go--past what is totally not at all a troublingly Infestation-marred doorway. It's only nanospores there.

Either way, the two doors on either side are darkened, but the way forward, into the true heart of the Orbiter itself, once past the Arsenal and approaching that final barrier--there's the first little /difference/ to everything so far. An elegant pattern of lilac colors--really, one might notice the overall theme of the Orbiter has dark purples and blues, with lilac and bluish tones overall.

... One might get the sense of approaching some kind of hallowed ground even before entry, really.
Setsuko Kaminagi     "I find it interesting," Setsuko replies, on the topic of the Void's reaction to her. "And I think twenty-four hours ago, it wouldn't have happened. I've... changed, in the past several hours. Some things have happened on my world."

    The presence of Mag and Mesa both draws another curious look, but she walks on in silence. She has an inkling of what's going on, and the change in the motif - in the /atmosphere/ - doesn't pass unnoticed. She stops before the doorway into the Transference Chamber, waiting once again... this time, with no small amount of interest for what she'll see beyond the door.
Kushiko "... hmmmmnh." The air has indeed changed, and now Setsuko has Kushiko /even more/ curious about what the deuce might have actually happened to her, coupled with the fact she hadn't /heard/ from her... well. It was all she could do /not/ to just about grab Setsuko in a completely un-Tenno-like hug right there at the docks themselves.

Mesa and Mag Prime on the other hand are ornamented in different ways--there's not much in way of visible weapons (after all they /are/ the weapons) but they aren't necessarily presenting themselves in a threatening way--but as the sigils begin to fade from sight and the interlocking plates come undone, revolving away, one such as Setsuko would undoubtedly notice a faint... /mist/. The Void itself, what she saw just beyond the windows. It gave a look of a starscape briefly before the hydraulic hiss gave way to the Transference Chamber and the Somatic Link just beyond it.

Light radiated from the far side of the room as past the little entry corridor, as Mesa and Mag stepped in with Valkyr falling in lock step behind, was the centerpiece of the room. Well, given where it was, 'center' wasn't accurate. But it resembled some sort of sculpture, curving back then forward, two pylons sweeping forward on the raised platform.

Nova Prime, the controller of antimatter stood, waiting expectantly, and when Setsuko was close enough, the door would close shut again, and all four Warframes would simply kneel, sitting seiza with Valkyr and Nova walking up to take positions upon either side. Clicking sounds resonated--the smooth surface of the edifice broke apart, plates lifting up and away forward and above, while the lower half slid forward and away, as both halves sunk away from it and rose out of the way. It was a cushioned... chair?

But most important was the being inside. She couldn't be older than fifteen, at best, adorened in some futuristic uniform of some kind. It pulsed in places, brimming with energy much like her eyes did. Eyes that bore scarring upon the right in a haphazard circular pattern, blackened nearly as the short-haired youth opened her eyes.

"... it's nice to meet you properly at last, Setsuko Kaminagi. We... I... am Kushiko."
Setsuko Kaminagi     The trappings of an honor guard, the suggestion of a shrine or throne, Setsuko doesn't miss these things. Her step grows a bit slower, her manner more respectful, such that by the time she stands before the device itself with Warframes on either side, her posture is straight and still, watchful and expectant. It opens, and... she's seen the girl before, but only briefly. Only a projection. This is a meeting in person. And seeing the Tenno through new eyes...

    The soldier's face softens slightly.

    "...you're more like me than I had realized," she murmurs quietly.

    And then Setsuko bows at the waist, deep and formal. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Kushiko. But for a formal introduction, there is a different name I must give now. I am Kaminagi-no-tachi Kiri-no-musume, Sword of the War God, Goddess of War and Storms." The given names thrum with significance, with divinity. With War. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you as well. ...And you can still call me Setsuko," she adds, straightening. "That is a name reserved for close friends, now."
Kushiko There's a curious sense of... /life/ the Warframes have because technically speaking they should not be as active as they can be, but... not all things are as they should be sometimes, no? Nonetheless, she's silent at first, a small smile given what Setsuko says at first. Proper affirmation, face to face, as it were, and before anything else given?

The Warframes, as one, look up in response to the thrumming, given name--each of them suddenly shimmering with currents of Void energy tinged lilac, swirling about and wavering at different points.

Resonance.

Gripping the armrests, she pushes herself a little bit. Then a little bit more, easing herself out of the chair properly, eyes glimmering with that Voidlight of hers, before she too, would bow in respect and consideration. "Kaminagi-no-tachi Kiri-no-musume." she repeats, before stepping forward to look up at Setsuko with a bit of a different "We, I wish we had something to give to you in that regard, though we are honored to know it. I, am honored to know it." In this presence, it's not difficult for one to see the truth of Kushiko, the Child of the Void--that 'we' is her and her Warframes speaking as one.

But when she manages to simply use /I/ and /me/, well that's her, properly. "You've awakened. Like I did, once, yet more. It's control." She turns her head to the side, as if looking at something beyond. "... I like it, Setsuko. Now I know why you felt so similar to us." Yet born to it. Memories locked and hidden away would tell so much more, but... not yet--not just yet.
Setsuko Kaminagi     "Yes," Setsuko replies, inclining her head slightly. "And... no. It... wouldn't be accurate to say that this was within me the entire time. Even after I freed Tatsumaki, made his power my own... I was more divine than human at that point, but I was still not a goddess, and would have stayed this way. No, I earned the mantle of War, by besting a God of War in the realm of warfare. It has not been seven hours since I slew him in fair combat."

    Here, she reaches to her belt and unclips Zanjintou - the sword, perhaps the only thing about her that hasn't changed. "This sword belonged to the Forgotten God of War. In his time, he was the God of Honorable War. But the God of Treachery, Ura, used his honor against him, to slay him and usurp his domain. And strike his name from record. The Kaminagi, chosen people of the Forgotten War God, refused to bow to a God of Treacherous War. So for the next thousand years, they... we, declined."

    She returns the blade to her side. "I've told you of the Sacking of Blue River. How the Kingdom of Emberwood, Ura's favored, poisoned them, slew them all, burned it to the ground. Of how I and the few survivors, years later, perished in the act of stalling an Emberwood army. The price for accepting this sword, for being allowed to stand up once again and take a chance at my vengeance, was that I must take vengeance for the Forgotten War God as well. To slay Ura... that was the cost."

    She closes her eyes, letting out a soft, amused breath. "I didn't know until three days ago, that besting a God of my world at whatever domain they govern means taking their mantle onto yourself. This was the Forgotten War God's plan all along, and I think I was the only person who didn't realize."
Kushiko There's a momentary pause out of Kushiko, confusion and searching of her own memories, before she steps back to lean against the Somatic Link again. She might be a bit better strengthwise than she once was but that was no excuse to strain oneself.

"We've felt it in some degree. We think... I think, I've heard you tell of this tale, bits and pieces, but I cannot be certain. Our--my, memory is not what it was." she remarks as Setsuko pulls free the Zanjintou, causing her to cant her head just so, her eyes shimmering slightly with that odd blue-purple luminescence as she speaks, before going silent once more.

She does grimace a little. She's had more than a few encounters of late before all this as it goes to Gods, to other forces and plans within plans. She didn't like them necessarily, but she could understand it. "Used, but given a chance to make something of it," she remarks softly of the situation herself.

"... I think I would have done the same, gladly, in your place." she admits after a few moments. Kiras pads her way forward and presses up for her to lightly pet and scritch at the great hound. "... there's more to this, to why you were not heard from, isn't there?" she asks.
Setsuko Kaminagi     "It isn't a tale that I've told many," Setsuko admits. "Just small parts of it. But the fullness of my story, that's something I've only given to a scant few." The goddess absently rests her hand on the blade at her side. "I disappeared because I went home. I felt the ending of the great war, and coming so close to death... it reminded me of obligations. So I returned to my homeland. I discovered that my actions there a couple of years ago inspired a rebellion against the Kingdom of Emberwood's occupation of Seiryuu. It wasn't going well for them," she adds, closing her eyes. "So... I helped. Ura took notice of my presence and power, and sent champions to stop me. One of them was Kuro-no-Tatsumaki, who belonged to the Forgotten War God a long time ago. I freed him, made him my own. I allied with the Duchy of Bran - the Archduchess was an old, old friend I met in my youth. And together we drove back Emberwood. I met and challenged their king, and in killing him achieved my own vengeance. And Ura finally deemed me enough of a threat to come and deal with me personally."

    She opens her eyes, and they crackle with azure lightning briefly. "That was his final mistake."

    The swordswoman lets out a breath. "That was also just hours ago. And already I feel my world calling to me. I have responsibilities there, now. Ones I can't set aside easily. I... I wanted to spend New Year's with those important to me, one last time."
Kushiko Slowly did the purple-haired teen nod as Setsuko explains; some of it's over her head, the other part rings true in different ways. Honor. Betrayal. "That's part of where the scar came from, I imagine." And as Setsuko continues to relate her story, she can't help but smile just a bit at that last part, though her expression turns wistful at those last words, nodding. "... it sucks that I really don't have the things here like food or other stuff people do for New Years." She didn't eat. For all she knew, she might just be Void energy and not much else.

And now, she demonstrates herself the part, the child that was never really allowed to grow up--for whom memories were hidden and locked away by Margulis for her own protection so long ago in the Dreaming.

"... but I do understand." And then she walks down that slight ramp up to Setsuko. Looks up at her. Then jumps up and wraps her arms around her in what she thinks is a HUGE hug. Technically, to someone like Setsuko, it really isn't. She's a child, and she doesn't have the strength her Tenno do, even if Kiras does /wuff!/ in approval.

She means it lots, really. "I'm going to miss you." she murmurs.
Setsuko Kaminagi     "The scar came from Ura's own blade, yes," Setsuko replies with a soft smile. She reaches up, absently brushing fingertips over it. "I have two more new ones as well, but they're under the uniform." She listens with a slightly tilted head, for several moments, expression softening again at that regret over New Year's; it's a sentiment she can understand herself.

    The hug, though. The hug surprises her for a moment or two. And then, gently, she wraps an arm around Kushiko's waist, and gives a little squeeze. "And I'm going to miss you, too. Didn't know you as long as I've known some others... but in a sense, we know each other better than most, don't we?"

    The goddess gingerly sets Kushiko down, and then reaches into her pocket. Out of it she pulls a simple golden pendant, set with a gemstone. A gem of clear, pure blue that matches her eyes. "But here. It will grant you no special gifts, but it has been touched by Storm and War. A keepsake. And if you should ever find yourself in Seiryuu or the Duchy of Bran, present it, and you'll be known as a friend."
Kushiko This close, she could get a better look at that scar. And then she mused a little bit inwardly on that scar and her own Somatic-based scarring around her eye. If it was even that, or something else. She'd definitely miss the now War Goddess as opposed to Demigoddess now.

"We are family without having known it." she says, affirming the sentiment. "Never something I could put to words. Both like us and unlike us." The Void--to her mind, the Void of Setsuko's world was something that filled the Goddess, the young girl giving another squeeze at Setsuko's own before being let down, smiling as she looked up. "Always a place here if you find the time." she offers. I uh."

She blinks a little bit, before accepting the pendant itself, smiling quietly as she holds it close, nodding quietly. "I will. Thank you... and I am actually... very relieved you came back to." She takes a few steps back, her skin flushing once she's back in the chair. Her eyes glow radiant for a moment, and as she does this, all four Warframes stand, though Kiras among them is curling up closer at Kushiko's feet.

"... I had something made for you. Even though I couldn't find you, I... the Solstice. I wanted it made." Ordis chimes in, "She was very insistent, she was. /We did like her choice/." A faint smile as she directs the Warframes out, then back once more, though this time, it's only Mag Prime. The first part of her foremost as it were. Regal and majestic, the silver gildings, the fact that parts of her armor simply /floated/ as part of the electromagnetic control she held.

And speaking of things she held--in her hands rested a blade--well, it would be rude not to consider the sheath itself of the Nikana she brought forth, presenting it to Setsuko. It's coloration was not unlike Setsuko's own, but instead of the typical sheath one might think, it was pure energy, nearly, bordered by elegant Tenno steel. The energy itself... flowed like a river from the top where the flowery hilt rested against it.

"... this is a Nikana, but it is more than a Nikana. There are two sheathes. This is one half of the Gemini--Ymir. I would like you to have it for I will have it's twin: Surt." To this point, Nova Prime steps in as well--and upon her side is a similar sheath, but the energy within rages with molten furor. "Consider this our own show of bond. We know you have your weapon, and it may never compare to ours but..."
Setsuko Kaminagi     It doesn't look like Setsuko expected a gift. Her eyes widen, just faintly. And those gloved hands reach out to gingerly take the weapon in hand. She carefully holds it, smoothly draws the Nikana within, and holds the blade vertical; then flourishes it once, before returning it to its sheath once more. "It's wonderful. Thank you, Kushiko," the goddess says gently. And then she reaches out, to the girl in the chair...

    ...and lightly ruffles her hair.

    "I should be going. But perhaps, some day, when I can find the time... who knows." She turns then, and says in a quiet voice, "Fare you well, Kushiko. I don't know how well I can grant my blessings to those living outside of my world, but if I can give you fortune in battle, I will." The warrior woman walks, then, taking simple, calm steps towards the exit from the Transference Room... but never reaches it. Instead, she simply fades, slowly and steadily.

    Outside, the storm-shaped Void lets out a faint, distant rumble of thunder, and then begins to dissolve, returning to the formless chaos it should be.
Kushiko There's quite a smile on Kushiko's lips--an unexpected sense of fulfillment, happiness, really at seeing Setsuko with the blade. She hoped, privately, that she might return. "I'll look more forward to the chance you can come back and spend some time, maybe." She couldn't help but giggle just a little, despite herself after all's said and done.

She was about to suggest something else--but instinctively, she felt it; that this was something she could only watch, that when she faded, when she felt the Void beyond shimmer and shift, she simply closed her eyes, and murmured, "Thank you, my friend." at last, eyes opening briefly. "Until that day comes where we can fight as one." It may never come to be for a thousand years. But she hoped, and with that, simply turned her gaze to Mag and Nova each. "... let's go. Give her something to go out on." she concluded with a grin, the Somatic Link's enclosure shutting. The Infested, the Grineer... there would be GLORIOUS combat in honor this day.