estoria | [Open] There's a Point Where It Tips, There's a Point Where It Breaks

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[Open] There's a Point Where It Tips, There's a Point Where It Breaks

Who: Everyone in Cerealia who figured out the code words for this meeting
When: Evening of IC 5/31, after Hawke's network post
Where: Sanctuary
What: "A pizza party" aka a meeting about the new masked figure that appeared.
Warnings: N/A, maybe some talks about what Alien-kun had to say, etc.

[It's evening by the time Hiro gets to the Sanctuary. Anyone who had seen him this morning will have spotted him with Baymax, both of them sans their normal armor and Baymax carrying what looks like a giant box. They had preparations to make, after all. He makes his way in and out of the building a few times but by the time the first of their guests arrive, everything's set up.

Upon entering the Sanctuary, Baymax moves to stand guard and collect your CereVice in a box at the door. Please don't cheat, he doesn't like when people aren't playing fair. In exchange for the CereVice, you will receive a form and a pencil before Baymax cheerfully waves you away.

Hiro's sitting on a table at the head of the lounge watching people come in. Hawke had promised these people pizza and cake (Hawke why) and he's delivering on that promise. The stack is about as tall as he is, more than enough to feed everyone who's shown up. He waits until a majority of the people show up before he clears his throat to gather attention.]

...uh, hey! [Well. That's a great, confident start.] I know this was sort of last minute and everything, but I really appreciate all of you coming by and actually listening to Hawke. [Sorry Hawke. But there's a grin which says he's more than appreciative.] I know you're probably here for free food, but there's a couple of things you should know. [Sliding off of the table, he moves to stand in front of what looks like a small mechanical box.]

When we all got back a few days ago, I started thinking about the fact that CERES can watch us from...pretty much anywhere. So I took some plans for something else I've been working on, improvised a little bit and created this thing. It'll deflect the signal from our implants and block them out completely as long as we're in this room. I've tested it out a couple of time already, the whole thing gets thrown off. It's...why I wanted to meet here! Because that sort of leads right to my next point.

[There's a small sigh as he paces the room, Baymax waddling after him. He moves back to the table he'd been sitting on to pull up the mask he'd been given a while ago.]

All of you probably received one of these either from that fortune teller, Aria, or it just showed up. And while we were out there? Some of you probably found the terminal like I did and spoke with a masked figure. [A beat.] I'm starting to realize that it told all of us something different, but the most important part is that it's with the Flamine Federation. You know. The guys who supposedly destroyed our planets. Baymax gave all of you a form--um. [And here he pauses, unsure if it's really appropriate to be ordering people to share information but then again that's what they all need. He's always believed everybody needs to be aware of what's happening.] Basically I guess just...answer what you can and tack it up on the board--[A gesture to a large bulletin board he pulled from who knows where.]--and talk amongst yourselves about what happened out there? Alien...the monsters, that weird altar? A bunch of you saw that, right? What was that about?

[Dear god somebody help him.] ...look, I tried. There's free food. This is about all I could throw together so fast before something else happens here. So...yeah. Let's just start figuring out what's really happening here, okay?

[Vague hand gestures? Vague hand gestures. He shuts up after that and sort of shrinks back into his hoodie, jumping back up on the table to hand out food and keep an eye on the room. All right, colonists. You know what to do.]

[ooc: Welcome to the info-sharing mingle! The idea behind this is for characters to ICly fill out this form (coded by the wonderful Fidgey/Katsura-mun) and have it displayed for everyone to view that information. You can post your sheet in your comment or link it to a post elsewhere in your journal, or even post it in the post I made that the form's posted into. HOWEVER this is open to everyone even if your character didn't speak to the alien and just wants to check stuff out! As a note: characters will start to feel sick after about two hours in the Sanctuary due to the frequency deflector. Sorry about that! Any questions hit me up via PM or plurk at

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Finally, things have come to light!

[ she's actually proud that her "CERES tour" didn't go wasted. she knew there was a reason they ended up in that part of the colony then. ]

And yes, it did. I'm so broke now, but I'm glad Ai is here for me.

Yes, that's good and all...but it took your money.

[She's rubbing her face with her palm, her expression unreadable. She's so perplexed by that. That's...all this talk of compensation and here she was thinking that they'd need something like energy or favors or some other underworld thing. It was almost laughable.]

That tells us something, which I had thought about...but wasn't sure. They want money. Which means that their form of compensation is something we can actually pay. IT's not blood, or sacrifices or anything. I know someone had theorized that the altar was to pay them. But I'd say that no, it isn't now.

[Which to her sticks out more than anything. At the same time...]

Also, you're going to come by for dinner more often now. I insist, since Archer still does all our cooking, and money is no problem. Ai's welcome as well. You need the help.

I don't think they need sacrifices, no... [ she shakes her head slowly. ] LILITH told me that Flamines consume worlds for sport. I doubt sacrifices are of any importance to them.

It makes me think now, though... maybe this is still connected to the Bridge, somehow. We offer things to the elemental spirits, and sacrifices are offerings, as well. Maybe- [ ugh, god. she stops for a while to tell herself that this is an outrageous idea. ] Just maybe, they know what's going on.

[ at the mention of dinner, though, athena smiles. ]

Thanks, Rei. I'll let you know when I have the time to drop by. I'm thinking of picking up another job just to get back what I lost. I might not have a lot of free time now.

Actually. Tell me about LILITH. I never interacted with it.

[And then she stops. Takes a breath. Stares at Phobos for a moment.]

Athena. I know you're fond of them. But I seriously think those spirits are bad news. They're probably involved somehow. Primal spirits often want sacrifices, and primal beings claiming the title of deity do too. If you talk to them, do so carefully. They are, as I've told you before, savage at heart.

[She makes a curt gesture]

Then I'll make sure it's delivered to you. I am supporting Minako and Usagi-chan at the moment, or I'd help you financially. I am not, however, going to allow you an Ai-chan to be hungry until you're recovered financially. That's not what friends do.

She... she showed up on the Auralia network once, and talked about a proposal for the worthy. But hours after that was posted, it was deleted. She never showed up after that. She knows about Julius Vincere, and the old CERES employees. She even filtered that post from them... as for why, I don't really know yet. And I guess we'll never find out now that she's gone.

[ well, "dead" seems like the more apt term, but she would dare not say that. ]

I'm just considering it. If I do ask Ardeo, I'll be sure to be with someone.

Thanks again. I can't speak for Ai, but I'm sure she'll appreciate it, too.

If you speak to Ardeo, inform me beforehand. I won't go near it's shrine again, unless there's danger. But I want to know what it says. Record it if you're able. This is something I obviously have a personal interest in, you know.

[The parts about LILITH though. That's...huh.]

Mosley seems willing to talk to you. Have you asked him about Lilith?

I'll get Widget to record it, don't worry.

I didn't ask him about Lilith. [ a pause, and she bites her lip. ] I feel like he won't give me an actual answer if I do.

Let me know in advance, too, so that I can be on standby in case of accidents. It's imperative that we stick together on things like this, Athena. [No chan. You've graduated! ~~It only took an OOC year~~]

You're probably right about that. It's probably a dead avenue, unfortunately. It's also unfortunate that so very few people here even remember the previous CEO so it's unlikely anyone in Cerealia has more information.

Something else I wanted to know. You said you didn't break your mask? Did it come that way, or what?

[ woohoo GRADUATION!!! ]

It came that way. We said it's about betrayal, remember? And I was betrayed at home.

But the Flamine kept insinuating that I was traitor. If I could show it a thing or two right now, I totally would!

[ she almost beat up the terminal.... ]

It said masks were earned, as well. I can't really think what happened to you warrants calling you a traitor though. Maybe it's tied to any form of betrayal? Though if that's the case then I should have had one too.

[You know, the whole Earth betraying the Moon and all that.]

Unless my specific condition for being granted the feathered mask overrides that. It did say that a feathered mask meant something old, powerful, and forgotten by it's people.

The mask effects don't stack, though... except if you deliberately break your mask.

I'm aware of that. What I'm wondering is why you have that mask, and I have a different one, despite also being betrayed, Athena.

Because you can only have one kind, obviously.

... And, I don't know, maybe there's more meaning to your mask than having one with cracks.

Which sort of makes me question the criteria.

Does the betrayal have to be something you've done? Done to you? Define your life? Because the alien said that maskbreakers would be put to death.

... [ her shoulders jerk slightly. it's barely visible, but to a keen eye, it may be different.

calmly, she asks: ]

It said that?

[Rei notices. She's better at reading people than most. A hand reaches over to take the girl's shoulder.]

I won't allow that to happen. You know that.

[ she's comforted by this, but she can't help but feel scared, anyway... ]

It threatened Merlin too, [ she says softly. ] I didn't put it in my form because not everybody should know about it, but...

But it's good to know.

[Rei reaches for more pizza, setting it down on a plate and looks at it dubiously. Could she manage another slice? Or did Athena want it?]

Merlin can take care of himself. And we'll stick together. All of us. If the Flamine want to fight, we'll give them one. Nobody hurts our legal team.

[ rei can eat it, if she wants. athena's good. ]

He might have magic, but that doesn't mean he'll be okay.

[ she looks away, and continues. ]

Do you think we'll be able to beat them, though? If they ever start a fight with us.

Have a little faith. Believe in him.

[She gives Athena the most serious look, and the words believe in me who believes in you who believes in me spring to mind.]

I don't think so. I know so. Do you really think that anyone here will fold easily? And what is this place but a way to get stronger. I'm sure we'll win.

It's not that I don't. I just don't want anything bad to happen to him.

[ she counters that look with one of her own. ]

... Right. I just hope we're ready when they come.

You've said this to me a dozen times now, so it's my turn. Athena. You worry too much.

[That's quite enough of that, Athena. You're acting like Rei did when she first arrived. Total doubting thomas. Don't be that guy. ]

We'll manage. When have we not? You may not be a fighter, or a warrior or a magician, but there are a lot of extraordinary people who are. This may be out of your area of expertise, but seriously. We'll be fine. Merlin will be fine, you'll be fine. Phoenix-san and everyone else will be too.

If the Flamines come, the impression that I got was that they were far more interested in CERES anyway.

... I just hope that's true.

I really, really do.

We'll manage.

[Athena, you are supposed to be sunshine and rainbows. Relax.]

Just have faith. There's no room for doubt. Doubt poisons resolve.

[ she should be, but sometimes, even happy flowers wilt. ]

Hah... I got it, Rei. Thank you.

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