heavenseclair | [Story/Post]

[Story/Post]

[Months Ago]

"You want me to hire you?"

Mamoru looked up from a manilla folder that a young lilac-haired woman handed to him, her hands clasped together in front of her as she closed her eyes and waited patiently.

"Yes, I would assume that my scheduling this meeting and bringing a detailed resume would have sufficed to convey my intentions."

Mamoru glanced through the folder as he pondered. He didn't expect much, but he was surprised at the number of qualifications she apparently had in the areas of research and development, was recently graduated from Domino High, but a lot of it seemed bizarrely redacted, as well.

Which he shouldn't be surprised about. This girl was clearly something else-- she had assisted when he had been transformed by one of those crystals, and the amount of force she was capable of suggested that she was more than human.

But at the same time...

"I would've assumed you'd have wanted to stay away from LDS, given the reaction you've had before."

Lulu's expression shifted slightly. "Usually, yes. But I feel more assured if I were to take on a proper position here... and it may open up more readily available dialogues concerning the crystals, as well."

Annoyingly, LDS had been doing some very secretive research into the objects, and Mamoru was at least half-aware of the whole thing-- at least enough that there's a genuine warning posted to staff to not touch them and to inform security, if found.

Being hired on wasn't necessarily a guarantee in her case, but those higher up on the ladder had to be aware of her by now, right?

"Would you be able to learn how to operate the control terminal to start up the AI Machinery?"

"I would only need a moment with the machinery itself to gain and understandi--" "A yes or a no will suffice, alright?"

Lulu pouted a little, before nodding. "Yes, I can learn."

"Fine, you show me that you can keep a duel running while I'm the participant, and if nothing goes wrong, you're hired." Mamoru stood up, serious as usual, but on the inside, he was at least a little excited at the prospect. Whoever this girl was, if her qualifications could be used to allow him to first-hand test the equipment without any strange interferences, then it was all the better. His main assistants weren't exactly free of their own caveats, after all... including himself.

So he had to take whatever chance he could get, here.

-- [Now] --

"I think you should quit."

Lulu looked up from doing a diagnostic test on the machinery, addressed by the young man that she had been keeping a subtle eye on-- Akira.

Akira looked a bit frustrated, as though he had been gradually more and more annoyed at her presence, and she wasn't sure if it was because of a misplaced sense of jealousy, or due to her target expressing some of his own desires upon him.

Either way, she quirked up an eyebrow in a Spock-like fashion.

"I see no reason to quit a position I requested to be in." She looked back down at the readout coming up on the laptop that was attached to the system, her main attention shifting back.

"No, really, I really think you should quit. I dunno why I think it, but it feels like something bad is going to happen if you stick around here." Was it worry, perhaps? She wasn't sure, her main attention was focused on her current task, so it took her a moment to register and respond.

"I'm equipped to handle any strange or unexpected circumstances that may arise. You are aware of this, at the current point, especially after we had me test the machinery."

Lulu had given a rather stunning display-- not just from her Virtual World monsters, but just from her reflexes. It made the spectators think of an opposite spectrum version of Labrys, really... fast on her feet and her reactions when focused, but not a lot of physical strength to translate into aggression. Instead her behaviors seemed more geared towards self-defense against the poor hologram of the Shaddoll Winda that was pitted against her. (Labrys seemed to miss the comparison when it was pointed out to her.)

Akira had watched it, of course. If there was any clear evidence that she wasn't entirely human, it was that, at least to him. Which may be why he felt uneasy around her--

"I know. I know you're pretty strong, but... why are you even here, doing this work?"

"It suits my needs, currently. Please wait until the diagnostic test is finished before speaking more. It's difficult to split my focus."

Akira grumbled a little looking over her shoulder at the feed being generated. He knew enough about the system to tell that everything looked fine so far, but his uncle seemed uneasy about him actually handling the machinery itself to start up duels, for some reason... So why was this girl given that responsibility instead? He had even tried to teach Labrys it before realizing that caused problems, before even considering the idea of letting Akira run it... and then this girl just walks in and knows how to run it perfectly fine within less than a day?

It bugged him, but he let her finish the task at hand and close the laptop, as she finally turned in the chair to face him.

"You have complaints as to how I perform?"

Akira raised a hand, in a "stop" motion. "No, no, you do your work pretty perfectly, even if it's pretty single-minded? You're not really good at multitasking it seems like, but nothing you do requires you to multitask, I guess?"

"Then why tell me that I should quit? You are the one with the second-most authority in this labratory. Such comments can be taken the wrong way..."

"I get that, but I just-- I feel like nothing good is going to come of you staying here, that's all. I dunno what it is, I can't put my finger on it..."

Lulu pondered a moment, trying to place whatever emotion he seemed to be struggling with. Even if she couldn't emote too well, she knew emotions well enough. Young man, a bit flustered, seems concerned and yet annoyed, telling her to leave...

"Are you attempting to ask me out?"

"Wha-- what? Where did you get that from?" Akira stammered a bit, dumbfounded at that response out of Lulu.

"You are flustered, you seem concerned for my well-being, but your reaction is to push me away. So I can only surmise that you have interest in me.

So, if that is the case, perhaps going for... Coffee, would be a good idea?"

"Do you even drink coffee? I haven't seen you ingest anything the entire time you've worked here."

"I am capable of eating and drinking as any other [normal human.]" Her inflection changed a little with the last words, but her slight smirk conveyed that she was playing it up as a joke.

"I mean-- it isn't what I'm doing at all, so--"

"I think we would gain much from having a small meal together. Perhaps next Sunday, when we will be off of our work?"

"That's just-- I--"

"I think it is a wonderful idea." Lulu stood up and took Akira's hand, clasping it and shaking his hand. "Here is to a lovely date. I will now go and consider what to wear."

She let go of the hand, and left the control terminal, as Akira stared ahead, before turning to look at the door that Lulu left through, letting out a rather loud sound of confusion at the turn of events, unaware of the confusion also coming from his hijacker in the backround of his mind.

-----

[Post]

I apologize for the extended silence. I finished my current schooling, and have since been in the employ of Mr. Yamada for some time, now.

I also have a date next Sunday, so I must have all advice concerning this for my personal reference.

My goals otherwise have remained unchanged, I just hope I will be able to get a small step closer to resolving this, soon...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I just assumed you returned to the moon palace in space, Miss.

...

I can only respond to that by saying "Despite all appearances, I'm not from the moon."

The Future of Planet X from the Shadow People Dimension?

Mom says Yetis and Bigfoots are those...

Oh. They are? I will file that away for future research.

But no, I'm not from the future, either.

I am a [simple girl] who is asking for advice on what to do to prepare for a nice coffee date.

Be firm but polite that you're too young to go past first base.

Be prepared to perform a German Suplex to say hello.

Don't wear clashing colors.

Lip gloss is vital.

Be prepared to be a lesbian because if your date is a guy they will become a girl.

Have a Duel Disk ready.

...

May I inquire further as to the second to last statement?

My step mom is eliminating the male sex through World Level Magic.

*[Processing...]*

... I see.

I am... going to step away and ponder the image that this has summoned up.

Get used to it.

But you're still investigating those um, crystal thingies?

Yes. Unendingly.

I am closer to my goal currently than I was before, but I'm at a bit of a...

"Safety" stopping point.

Like that point in a game where you know the end will come up rapidly, so you are attempting to prepare as much as possible before triggering it.

So what, you're doing all the side quests to get all the bonus gear, find all the backstories, get the bonus summons and magic, and clearing all the bonus dungeons before you trigger the safety point?

Edited 2023-11-26 20:24 (UTC)

Essentially.

...

Rethinking it, it is also similar to understanding that a Bad Ending trigger may be rapidly approaching, but not knowing what may cause it to happen.

... Mom calls that feeling Women's Intuition or The Bad Touch Radar.

Well she did.

It may be somewhat apt.

Either way, it's a very delicate situation, so I wish to have... All the tools available that I can muster, for it.

... Make sure you have pepper spray, brass knuckles or a nail bat with you.

Noted. I will seek out such equivalents.

I wondered where you'd gone, but congrats on the job and the date!

As for advice for the date, hmm... I guess I'd just advise you to be yourself and have fun!

Be myself? ... May encounter some difficulties there. But the advice is sound...

[Private to Yuya]

It is with Akira. I'm hoping I may be able to glean if he has any awareness concerning his situation on... any level.

He seems to have a weird reaction to my presence, but I'm not fully certain if it's due to Ren, or due to his own innate traits.

Oooh, so the date is a cover for you to get closer and see if you can get some information from it.

Hmm, well, it's a first 'date' and you'd probably want to get to know him, so it gives you the chance to ask questions about him.

Yes, hopefully. It just would likely be... pertinent if I create a script for myself?

Yeah, I think if you don't want to arouse any suspicions or anything, then thinking of what to say and ask in advance with a bit of a script is a good idea!

Just don't ask any questions that'd be too prying. Sounds like he's already a little odd around you, so you don't want to make him feel uncomfortable.

Hnm... I will try to avoid anything that seems unnecessary for what one on a date would ask, at least.

Such get-togethers are meant to be for learning more about one another, yes?

Yup, they are! So normal questions should be fine to ask.

... I just really hope this doesn't push Ren too far, somehow. I'm not... entirely confident in my ability to manage situations like this, especially with not being so certain of Ren's mental state at this point, but this seems like the best opportunity I could have to get any closer.

Avoid any paper bags and trash cans.

Wear your highest heels and sexiest lingerie.

Remember to slay the penguin god when it gets in the way.

Do not trust the elves with eggs.

Accept there's an above 60% chance your date turns into a cute girl.

...

The point of my date turning into a girl has been made twice now, and it's becoming mildly concerning.

How?

Just a bit of a trend I'm noticing.

Who is the penguin god?

Apologies, I promised to help but then I was, erm. Promoted, and also several other problems exploded in my immediate vicinity.

I... do not have good date advice, unfortunately. But any other assistance I can offer you right now.

Oh. Have you... never been on a date before?

[Private to Officer Haita]

It's with Akira, so genuinely, any advice to appear natural while I attempt to glean if he holds any awareness of his situation, even small, would be preferred.

...It's more like I've been married for so long I've forgotten how to do dates where you aren't already wedded to your partner. Which I know makes me sound a little. Old.

[Private to Lulu]

...Ah. I see. Using it as an opportunity to figure out the mysterious person riding shotgun with Mamoru's son, then?

Hrm... I assume he is aware, in broad strokes, your nature, yeah?

No, not necessarily. You have gone up slightly in my perception.

[Private to Onni]

You misunderstand, concerning the first part. I know Ren well enough-- at least from before he exhibited this behavior. But...

His mind may be so fractured at this point from what he's been doing, so his actions are more and more erratic. The Ren that I knew may not necessarily be the Ren that I'm dealing with, now.

... And yes, since I had to display my abilities when disengaging Mr. Yamada, previously, the lab is generally aware that I'm not human in a common sense. I also had to do a test against the AI myself, and...

Well, I had to refocus my priorities to get through it, so I may have exhibited more than intended.

Hahaha, well, you're kind enough to say so.

[Private to Lulu]

Ah, yeah, that could be... a significant dilemma.

So they know you're nonhuman, but don't really know where you're from or presumably why you're here. Okay. Hrm...

Is there any ticks or general behavior markers you associate with Ren that would be hard for Akira to pass off? Any other 'tells' you know of? If I had to deal with someone possessing someone else, I would first figure out if there are tells I know of that I would find hard for the possessed person to pass off as their own.

Not very sure. Since I don't know Akira very well, a lot of his behaviors that I see Ren in might just be how he acts-- apparently, he has a history of being more than a bit possessive concerning who his uncle is interacting with, due to previous circumstances.

The Ren that I know isn't a possessive person, but he is a very passionate one. He enjoys the work that he does, and reacts extremely poorly to when he's told "no", related to that.

Which is... how all of this effectively started.

Urgh... that makes things difficult.

I don't really know Akira that well, either, but I suppose Mamoru would know best. In terms of being incognito I can only advise 'be yourself, and note anything that you would flag as irregular'. But I doubt that's helpful, since the plan here is to gauge how much or how aware either Akira or Ren are of the situation.

I do think attempting any gambits might be outside the scope of this, admittedly.

I would assume that Ren is very aware of the situation-- at least in the sense that he willingly opted to Interface with Akira. It's...

I can at least tell you that it's something that cannot happen by accident, but yes, gambits would be a bad idea for this particular case.

Ahhh, okay. So it's mostly just figuring out how much Akira is aware of Ren, and the situation between you and him.

Then... yes. I'm not sure I have any specialized advice - the best I can say is do what you can to get Akira to open up about his various... insecurities. Be a friend. If he's overprotective of his dad, then maybe try and ask why - don't be excessively probing, if he doesn't want to talk about it, don't press him, but be direct without giving away the game.

I'll admit, I still don't understand the finer details of how such a possession would work, but I can say that in my line of work, possessions like these tend to feed on and foster certain insecurities. If you can get to know what he's afraid of, and why, that might give you a better insight as to how deep this particular rabbit hole goes.

Edited 2023-11-30 06:07 (UTC)

Yes, of course.

... I'm aware you made a mistake saying that, but I will admit... if I didn't know otherwise, I would say they are very much more like father and son, than uncle and nephew. I suppose that just exhibits how close their relationship is.

I'll try to steer the conversation in that direction. I suppose it wouldn't be too uncalled for, anyway.

Bah, yes, that's what I meant - I can't believe I messed that up. But... yeah, they are very close, now that I think of it. It wouldn't surprise me if Akira thought of his uncle as "as good as" a parent. Especially given how protective Akira is.

I know it sounds kind of corny, but it might just be Akira needs someone to confide in and talk to. At the very least, it can't hurt your investigation - or ours as a whole.

I'll see if I can try to be someone he can at least confide in about his worries.

... Hopefully, at least.

Even if you can't, reaching a hand out might just offer a clue we didn't have before, so it's worth the attempt.

I hope this helped a little bit - I'll admit this kind of thing is well outside my wheelhouse these days.

No, it's fine. It's good to at least touch base.

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