godbent | 29th: The of Haruhi Suzumiya

Welcome back, Chief Haruhi-chan! [ Ryoji is definitely very chipper and happy as he greets Haruhi and salutes her. ] I'm glad to see you back safe!

What else would I be?! [Haha]

Well, you were away, so you could have been anything!

I left a memo in the HQ I was out on a mission, have more faith in me, jeez. I should give you a penalty for your lack of faith.

Of course I have faith in you! But you are my friend, so I will worry about you anyway. That's what friends are supposed to do, right?

I'm also your illustrious leader who leads by example, you don't need to get hung up on the details!

Huh? But friendship is an important detail!

...I meant the worries! Friend- Come on, you're being silly!

Huh? No I'm not! I'm serious...

You- ....Seriously.

[ Ryoji seems confused, as he looks at Haruhi questioningly. ]

...Ugh, fine. Whatever. Friendship is important, sure.

[ Smiling again, Ryoji laughs a little. ] It is.

... but in any event, I really am glad you're back! It sounds like you had an adventure!

I did, yep! Evading traps, finding things in the dark, dropping things off, that sort of stuff.

Oh wow! What sorts of things were you looking for?

Pictographs! Artifacts! That sort of thing.

I don't know what a pictograph is, but that sounds really cool!

Do you know what hieroglyphs are? Cuneiform?

Hairo--what? What are those?

...Ancient writing with pictures.

Oh. ... that sounds really, really cool! Is it just -- drawings of whatever they're talking about or what?

Not always! But that's the idea, usually!

[Haruhi. Minato hasn't tried to speak with her since his awkward conversation with Kyon, but she's definitely been on his mind. More recent events had pushed that out of his thoughts, but... well.

Now she's home again.]

Welcome back.

[this is totally a report.]

Report! Report! If I wanted a ton of "welcome backs" then I'd have barged into Shiki's room last night! I'm sure I'd've gotten two!

[...]

She'll hear you saying that.

So what?

[maybe she doesn't want private business broadcast on the network?]

Never mind.

More importantly, give me a report or something of value, come on!

Minako is back.

-What?

She's back.

[He didn't stutter...]

...Oh.

That's it?

[Frustrated noise. she turns off the burner - she was collecting her thoughts, okay. She then turns to face the book more directly-]

[So she sets up a filter and then in the more sarcastic voice ever-]

Oh darling, what ever will you do? To have your twin sister once more?! Can I do something for you-? Dinner, a bath, or maybe... me?

[That last part is probably breaking her voice a bit with something which can't seem to decide if it's amusement or annoyance]

[wow Haruhi way to ~~reopen old wounds~~ make fun of his very serious life events. Well, two can play at that.]

And if I picked you?

[. . . ]

Iyaaaaaannn~

I'm not into 'no' means 'yes.'

You're a guy.

Yes. And?

And you're a guy!

You want me to ignore your feelings?

If you want to lose your balls!

Exactly.

So how's Minako?

She's fine.

[...]

She doesn't remember.

Again.

Yeah.

That sucks.

A little.

A little? How doesn't it suck?

She's still here.

...Hah. Yeah, I guess so.

Haruhi...

[maybe he should say what he's been thinking about the entire time she was away. But then, maybe he shouldn't. He hasn't even brought himself to talk to Shiki yet, how could he address Haruhi herself?]

You're doing okay? [wow Minato that cop-out question made a whole lot of sense.]

Am I- .... You sister just showed up and you're asking me that?!

Edited 2012-04-02 04:53 (UTC)

I already covered that topic.

And I'm continuing that topic.

Why?

[are you worried about him.]

Be...cause.

She'll adapt. She's good at it.

...And what about you?

[he's good at it too.]

I'm just glad she's back, like I said.

Fine, if you say so.

[SIGH]

[....]

But thanks for worrying.

...Shut up! You don't thank me for that!

Why not?

Because it's ... Because it's not something you should be thanking me for when you have bigger issues!

[the look here is kind of 'what ~~do you know about~~ bigger issues']

But knowing I have Haruhi Suzumiya's support is a good thing.

W....Well, that's true.

[HEEEEEH]

[Objective: flatter the tsundere
Status: success]

You should tell me about your mission.

Edited 2012-04-11 16:54 (UTC)

...Honestly.

Well, I was sent to those mines? Or tunnels? Both? Whatever. I spent almost all my time in the underground of this one building there, looking for artifacts and missives and stuff that the Third Party had left behind there, evading their traps and munching on rations.

All by yourself?

Well I had a handler at the depo to drop things off at.

[So many random things, Haruhi...]

Oh hey! Welcome back, Haruhi!

I said report, Atsuro.

[She's not even going to look at the book. Too busy frying something]

[So pushy gosh.]

Well as far as the Brigade goes, there isn't anything to report on. But there's the cultural festival that's coming up at school. [a pause.]

--Oh, and apparently some people are planning some sort of, uh... starfish festival too. [yup]

I've heard a few things about this "Starfish Festival" but my details are lacking. What do you know, #18?

Not much, aside from the fact that it's in the middle of next month and it's actually dedicated to starfish. [I mean really, what else is there to say to that...]

But why starfish?

The girl who wanted to start it in the first place really likes them, apparently.

That's all the information you have? Really?

That is all there is to it. [Honestly, Haruhi.. the girl fantasizes over starfish...]

Really. And if I find more will you accept a punishment?

Really! But... punishment for that? Really? [Does he even want to know... Well. Dammit starfish girl, that better be the only reason!]

Yes! You're so confident after all...

Well, that's what I heard, and I can't see there being anything else to it, so... [... bring it! 8I]

Alright, then that's how it goes!

Alright then. [..So unsure about this but oh well. ~~does he get a dog treat if there isn't more to it?!~~]

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, reporting for duty, ma'am! [He salutes cheerfully.]

I'm workin' on rounding up the new list of Hydra Social candidates. There's a couple of lazy bums who still haven't contacted their pen pal, so I'm gonna start hunting 'm down soon.

Hm, there's been that much resistance? Obviously there would be some, but if there's enough for it to be notable, then it's a good thing you're keeping on your toes.

Naw, it's not really resistance. It's more like they don't know who they're dealin' with. But they're gonna find out the hard way!

Alright! I'll be trusting you with that, so don't mess it up!

Hey, who d'you think you're talking to? I can take care of it, no problem.

Mmm, I guess you have proved yourself so far, yeah.

And I'm gonna keep on proving myself!

So, uh... Did you get any cool rewards for your mission?

I... did, yeah, I got something special.

Sweet! Maybe I should go on a mission too, sometime!

[He's already picturing the title card: "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in Malnosso Mission Mayhem"]

Oh yeah? What sort of thing are you gunna go for?

Oh, I dunno... I'm guessing none of the missions involve entertaining people, huh?

None of the ones on file, anyway.

Guess I'll have to ask that Catherine guy about it next time I see him. [And he is blissfully unaware of the irony of that concept.]

Yeah, be sure to do that. It sounds like a plan.

A bear trap?

[Luke and Layton have faced some pretty intense things but...whoa.

~~They have similar pointing icons it totally works.~~]

I know, jeez! How tacky is that?!

[Yep]

Edited 2012-04-01 21:07 (UTC)

Tacky? I think it sounds sort of cruel...

...Well of course it's cruel, it's war.

Mikage reporting in, boss! ...Not that there's really anything to report for the Brigade itself. There's some stuff going on at the school soon, though! We should probably do something for that.

Oh, like what?!

A culture festival! I think a bunch of people are going to set up booths for their worlds. And if the SOS Brigade had one, we'd end up with a ton of worlds in a single booth, right? It'd be awesome!

A cultural festival... A real cultural festival...

Do you know if there's a best booth prize?

I haven't heard anything like that... you should ask one of the teachers.

I'll have to do that... So! If we did some booth, what can you bring to the table?

Hmm... well, my world's got continents that float in the air, flying dragons, and zaiphon, of course. There's also the ghosts!

[ . . . ]

And you never told me about the dragons and floating continents?!

...Well... you didn't seem all that interested in zaiphon, so I figured you wouldn't care.

[It's hard to tell what's exciting when that kind of thing is normal...]

I was interested in zaiphon! Still am! Come on, use your brain!

[Booooooss you are so hard to read.]

Fine, fine, okay, I'll tell you whatever you wanna know.

O...okay then. Well then. You can tell me about ... the continents?

The continents, uh... well, like I said, they float in the air- what keeps them up is zaiphon energy, actually. I don't know much about most of the world, but I know the Barsburg Empire, the country I grew up in, has seven districts, and all of them float independently. I've never actually seen the surface of my world because I've only ever lived in the sky.

Why don't people live on the surface?

Um... well, actually, I don't know. It's been like that since before I was born. I think something bad might've happened, but it's not really talked about that much.

Huh... that makes sense, yeah.

Pretty sure it happened sometime around when the God of Death was banished from heaven, though, and the seven ghosts were created. Maybe he did something to the surface...

...God of Death. Ghosts.

Yep. And they really exist, too. [....] Sounds weird, huh?

No, interesting! Interesting! It sounds extremely interesting!

Really? [!!!] Then I'll tell you more about it! If you want, I could put the story of Verloren and Eve on my section of the display. It's a very popular tale in the churches back home.

Well I'd need to approve it, but that's certainly an idea!

Of course, of course! Shall I write you a report?

Yes, please do, so I can review it for a booth!

I'll get started on it right away, then!

If you want something to attract attention to the booth, I can do zaiphon demonstrations now and then, too.

Given our time frame, I wonder if anyone can give you enough mission points you can buy one of those hawk things too.

[......o m g]

Y-you think that would be possible!?

I don't see why not?! What's ours is mine and what's mine is ours, and the little thing in the back of the journal says "large" rewards can include animals and the little fine print at the bottom says in addition to direct requests you can do point exchanges.

[FFFFFFFFF HIS CUP FLOWETH OVER]

That would be amazing!! In that case, I'll definitely have a hawkzile demonstration for you!

Good, then that and Zaiphon, maybe that religious thing, and we've got our bases covered!

Awesome!

Oh man, I can't wait to see the look on Shuri's face if we get a hawkzile.

In a good or bad way?

[A pissy president is the very definition of a perk]

Maaaaybe a bit of both. I kind of made a bet with him about getting a hawkzile a while ago...

Go on.

Well, it's nothing special. I just bet him that I'd get a hawkzile before he did, so he won't be too happy if I win.

Well then you better get on that!

You got it, boss!

Asahina-san's gone.

-What?

...Gone home.

She- [...Already. She frowns.

Oddly, despite all their arguments, she finds herself thinking "at least Kyon's still here" She exhales. No, don't show much] - I see.

.....But Nagato's here.

['All the things for Haruhi today, I guess. What a time for her to be gone. But at least she's back ...

Not that that matters, really. I don't know why I thought that.']

-Yuki?! Yuki- what, really?!

You're pretty eloquent today, Haruhi.

Shut up! So... she's actually here, Yuki.

['We still seem to be making no progress.']

Yes. Nagato Yuki. The one and only. She's from the same time as me.

Oh, that's... impressive. Oh. Okay.

[A beat] So, she's probably going to be in the HQ, right? Of course she is.

Impressive? I don't think she was trying to be or anything.

As for that, she might be there or she might be back at my community housing building, I don't know which.

But not your apartment, right?!

['I can almost feel the finger in my chest over the journal.']

E-Even if she is, I'm obviously not, or I'd know where she was, so I don't see what the problem is!

The problem is if you convinced an innocent girl to room with you for seedy intentions!

Her being in my room at any moment doesn't mean she's rooming with me! Furthermore, none of my intentions are seedy.

['In fact I'm as far from gardening as anyone.']

I can't be a hundred percent certain of that claim!

Well, what claims can you be a hundred percent certain of?

Not many. Doubts are an important part of scientific study!

Well, then, no reason for me to have to prove it.

Except that a certain level of doubt can lead to a citizen's arrest.

After which one would probably be exonerated of all charges, while the citizen in question would be reprimanded.

Objection! That reprimand would be police brutality.

So then you'd have to sue the police.

Exactly! Sue them for all they have, extract a huge settlement and then buy a mansion out in Hokkaido!

Well, guess that turned out pretty well for you after all.

Yeah, then I'd just need to find a publicist... After all, with that sort of victory you could make a killer on the book you could write.

I think you could be a pretty effective publicist all on your own.

['Or at least that most professional publicists would shy away from dealing with. Bunny girls.']

...Oh! That's true, kill the middleman! Of course, I knew that!

Kill metaphorically, of course.

Duuuuuh. Who'd actually kill the middleman?

You never know, with some people. Reducing the middleman to abject poverty and the inability to feed his family sounds better, though.

...I never said that either! The middleman will find someone else to dupe! There's no shortage of stupid people in the world.

Well, I guess it's all good as long as someone's getting duped, then.

Yeah, because then he won't go out of business and the people duped can go on a support system or something.

Aha. So in the end, as usual, the taxpayer gets soaked.

We can blame it on the old generation.

Right, but the rising costs of healthcare are going to strain the social safety net either way.

Well I'm rich anyway, so I can just support the people I care about.

Well, I appreciate the thought, Haruhi.

You should, it would be a considerate loan! [LOAN.]

['...Paid back in labor, probably.']

...Depending on what interest rate you charge.

Edited 2012-04-12 00:08 (UTC)

Don't worry, you'll pay it back before you die! I'm a benevolent overtaker!

['Is an overtaker a cross between an overlord and an undertaker?']

If it's going to be that time frame, I'd rather not have to pay it back before I die, actually.

You better! I don't want to put your children into debt!

But you will if you have to, huh?

I can't go bankrupt for your mistakes, Kyon.

If you're that rich, it would hardly be bankrupting.

Don't you know the value of money, Kyon?! I bet you don't.

['Maybe one reason is that you always take my money and use it to pay for Brigade lunches!']

You can buy stuff with it. It's not very valuable here, that's for sure. What more do you need to know?

My point exactly.

['Did I just get outfoxed?']

So what's the value of money for someone who's just bought a mansion on Hokkaido?

Not losing their investment which they're generously giving out to help the less fortunate in the form of microloans.

Why not make them microgifts if it's so generous?

Because money which isn't earned is just insulting to other people! Use your head, do you want to be a parasite, Kyon?

I think they'd rather be insulted and have money than have to pay your undoubtedly onerous interest rates.

Exactly! No one wants to give up their pride!

['That's the opposite of what I said!']

...Pride isn't the most important thing in the world.

Without pride humans are insects! Are you a cicada, Kyon?

How would I even respond to that if I were a cicada, Haruhi?

I meant on the inside!

No, I'm pretty much ordinary on the inside. Which means that if I were starving I'd rather have food than pride, on the whole.

Fine, whatever. I'll note that for the future.

Don't make it sound so ominous.

[IGNORED. SO KYON DOES NOT VALUE PRIDE, CONFIRMED.

Heh heh ]

Giant boulders are fun. [ Yuri shrugs. ] Arrows in he wall always seemed a little difficult to do, but collapsing ceilings, floors, lasers, underwater passageways, huge hammers from the ceiling, et cetera were always pretty useful to me. [ She's kind of rolling her wrist while she speaks, like listing off things like that is average. ]

This is in a mine, a huge hammer could collapse the whole thing.

Mine was in underground tunnels. And in front of the principal's office. It only ever caused a small collapse.

It's not like I set these.

I thought we were just talking about cool traps.

No, no - I meant ones I had to deal with while I was out exploring some mines.

Yeah but from the sounds of it, those were boring so why not discuss what kinds of things they should have?

Definitely the arrows things, maybe collapsing floor tiles... oh! Walls of fire!

I've done collapsing floor tiles before! We lost Ooyama and Hinata to that trap. Walls of fire is a pretty good idea too.

[ No, she kicked Hinata down. That's not important. ]

-You're really candid about manslaughter.

Everyone was dead in my last world, it's not like we wouldn't get up in at most a few hours no matter what happened. It still hurts, but it's not like it mattered.

Ye...ah. I'd be gathering as much.

What?

It's a weird mindset to get into, okay?

If Hinata ever gets here I'll let you push him off a building once.

[ There's a pause. Okay, let's not kill Hinata. ]

..A short one though, since we're alive here. He'll still get better in a little bit as long as it's not a fatal wound.

[...Wait] You guys still heal well?

From what I've been told. I haven't exactly been going around stabbing myself to find out.

Who could have possibly told you that?

Another dead person, obviously.

And they know that, for sure?! Because that's a pretty important detail!

From the sounds of it. I think it depends on whether or not you had a conscious death, though. I'll just go grab a kitchen knife and put it through my hand and let you know.

I- hey, I'm not saying you need to do that. I'm telling you that before you tell someone to shove someone off a building you better at least be sure it's not going to just kill them or maim them.

..I'd push him off a small building so he didn't splatter on the ground or anything. It's Hinata, he'd recover and then he'd smile at me and yell at me and it'd be done with.

Anyway, I haven't gotten any weird scratches or papercuts from mysterious sources like people normally do when they're alive, so that should count as evidence.

...I'm not sure you're doing alive right if you're getting inexplicable injuries.

Not like big ones, just random scratches from bumping into things if you're bad at mornings.

You're that clumsy?

That's just an example of what normal people get. You'd think I would've gotten a papercut or something though.

Yeah, maybe you would. [Not her, gosh.]

Maybe you're just a weirdo who never touches anything.

No, I'm just not a klutz who accidentally injures herself!

Not even cutting food? Do you ever injure yourself?

Only a newbie [-or anyone who isn't naturally talented at everything the way Haruhi is-] would hurt themselves cooking. And of course I do, just not doing stupid everyday things.

No one's hurting themselves cooking over in our house.

[ Because no one's cooking.

They're eating raw ingredients and takeout shut up. ]

Well that's good... I guess?

You're back!

Oh- Winry- yeah! I'm back!

[It's a little later in the day from when Haruhi made the post, but-]

So you're all right, then?

Fit as anything, of course! How could a bear trap get me?!

Well... [EASY DUH. One got her once. It's not hard...]

I was all over it. I found the stuff and go out, no problem!

I'm glad to hear it.

But whew, it's been ... since White Day, so that's over a week.

It has been a while. Want to meet up?

Of course I do!

Where?

Wherever's good for you? I just want to see you.

How about your place?

-Yeah, that should be okay.

So I'll be over soon?

I'll be waiting for it!

[It'll take her the normal amount of time, and she'll be at the door knocking. She was too excited and forgot her key.]

[Oh, she's there? Haruhi was just sitting reading, but okay. Opening the door now, with a smile]

Winry!

[Winry smiles back, and brings the other girl into a hug.]

Hey!

Hey! [You know what. Hugs are good even if it's a little silly but okay]

[She pulls away a little to look at her again.]

You look good and intact.

You should see me in my fedora!

You have one?

Naturally! I was just exploring some ruins after all.

Ruin exploring warrants a fedora?

Of course it does.

How so?

It makes you look stylish and cool, ad on a more practical level if keeps the sun out of your eye!

Because looking stylish and cool is important.

Of course, you know how it is.

[Come on inside. You know you wanted to see me]

[She steps further inside the house. Fine.]

Not really.

The fedora's right in my room though, want me to go get it?

It's a hat.

...So?

[ :I ]

So why would I want to see it?

Because you came all the way over here anyway.

But I didn't come for the hat, stupid. I came for you.

Oh, well. [Then what do you want to do??]

[She wraps her arms around the other girl, and rests her cheek on the side of Haruhi's head. She settles into the soft, comforting embrace before-]

It's good to have you back.

[Her eyes widen, and then she smiles a bit to herself, leaning in to her girl]

Want to relax a bit? Was the mission tiring?

I rested most of last night... [so she wants to be active superficially, but. winry]

But yeah, I do.

[Winry rests her forehead on Haruhi's after a bit of shifting.]

So, want to do anything relaxing together?

When do I not want to do anything relaxing with you?

[...Doki she loves the forehead position]

When you want to do exciting things with me? I don't know.

Winry, I want to do a lot of things with you.

Right now?

Didn't you just offer?

[To do... things?]

You said a lot of things. How much is a lot? Or are we just going to do some things?

I meant there's a lot of stuff I'd enjoy!

Like what? Give me something to work with.

What, you can't think of anyone yourself?

You just got back from a mission! You deserve to be rewarded.

W-well, yeah, of course.

[So you reward her gosh]

Now what [kiss on the forehead] do you want [kiss on the nose] as a reward? [Brief kiss on the mouth.]

[....Heeee. Hehehe. She giggles at that, quite pleased in spite of herself]

S-surprise me?

You know, maybe... we can do something relaxing and exciting?

[Kiss.] What do you have in mind?

[She whispers in Haruhi's ear.] I think you know.

[The blond nibbles at the brunette's earlobe after that.]

[Shiver And she squirms a bit-]

D-down girl. [But she's so not sounding forceful with that]

Oh? You don't want to?

W-well, I just meant we should get more private.

Lead the way.

[...!

...

Well then, to the bedroom!]

...Nothing interesting to report, sorry to say. [He'll just skip the "welcome back" greeting.]

Nothing at all?

Well, I guess there's the cultural fair at school. I'm sure you'll hear follow-up announcements, so you didn't technically miss anything there.

More New Feathers, New Feather party... Nothing too surprising.

New feathers of interest? Requests for that alchemy thing you were doing with Sokka? Scientific achievements?

Lots of adults, from what I've heard over the journals. Law enforcement types, I think.

As far as achievements, nothing interesting. Just keeping up on checking my crests for any vandalism and whatnot.

Looking for a new assignment, Leon? I've got some things that need doing, after all.

[Law enforcement... huh]

Depends on what it is. But if it's chores, I'll just redirect 'em to my lookalike or something.

You have a lookalike?

Minus the ears and the brains, yeah.

Oh so he's just worthless. No, I want you to look into something neat.

[Pretty much his thoughts. He doesn't even have to get into the whole 'butler' thing!]

Something neat?

Okay, so you've made fireworks and those teleporters and electricity and that teleporting bag I drafted for Ed, right? So I've got a new proposition for you: I want you to figure out how to make a submarine. Or at least a way to survive water pressure. Also an engine for a boat, that'd be cool too, not not as necessary as this first part.

[A beat]

...Oh and specific sample jars for deep sea animals.

Edited 2012-04-01 22:05 (UTC)

[... ...Well, that's a ton of requests all at once.]

Wait, wait. I thought you had asked about this stuff during that town meeting awhile back?

I did, but I only got Helios as a response.

And he wasn't able to help with anything?

He can - theoretically - get us to breathe underwater. And this other guy offered a very small form of SCUBA. But neither of those does anything for the pressure.

Okay... So dealing with the water pressure in itself is separate from the submarine. You'd either need an individual suit method or the actual submarine. I'd ... probably prefer a sub, if simply because there's ways to keep people from being exposed to deep water altogether.

[...] But that has a whole lot of issues, the least of which being it's not my kind of expertise.

Are you telling me that you can't handle that, Leon?

[He scoffs.] You're talking to the guy you asked to build you protective armor and gave you a doll as a solution.

There are ways I can manipulate water and air pressure, but I'd have to experiment. And even when I get something workable, it's dependent on something I can't personally make. An engineer would need to be involved for the making of a vehicle.

Geez, you don't like to make things easy... Bypassing flight altogether and going straight to underwater exploration.

If there was a castle in the sky i'd tell you to build a zeppelin. As it is, though, that's not the priortity.

A simple hot air balloon, maybe. You'd run into the same problem with a zeppelin as you're running into with the sub -- engineering isn't my specialty. I can't clap my hands and have a perfectly-working machine.

[He hums thoughtfully as he thinks aloud.] Diving... Water pressure... If we knew how deep we were trying to go, even something like ... what's it called, an atmospheric suit would work. A hard suit like that would offer room for applying crests, too. But then there's the materials problem again. Tch...

I'm willing to tax the Brigade's participation points to get more if necessary.

It would help if we could figure out how deep the ocean is, and what exactly you're expecting. How many people are you expecting to dive at once?

[Even as he asks that, he's already coming to his own conclusions.] Well, I guess you'd want more than one person at a time, which is why you asked about a submarine... Because you could probably request deep diving equipment from the Malnosso if you really wanted to, right?

I'm expecting sea life and who knows - we could take a survey geologically, right? I mean... the ocean goes out for maybe... 160 kilometers at most. Maybe we can estimate from a slope?

[A beat]

As for SCUBA, that's definitely out. Those are really dangerous if you don't have training.

Anything at that depth would be really dangerous, Haruhi. And that's not counting mental strain from being in those conditions for ... however long it'd take to descend to that depth.

SCUBA can kill you from error. Ever heard of the bends?

I've read about decompression sickness and nitrogen narcosis, if it's related to either of those. It's the same issue -- if you don't know what you're doing, it's dangerous. Same with a submarine. Same with a diving suit.

[He sighs.] People end up training for years just to learn how to use those things and condition themselves for the stress. If I had a purely magical way to negate pressure and allow underwater travel, this would be easy. [Too easy, even.]

Look, just make it so we don't get oxygen bubbles in our blood and I'll be happy! If it's a submarine, we can work out the mechanical issues easier than we can train someone to use a personal dive suit.

Right, right. I'm just saying I'm not the one to go to for a working submarine. I can work on air compression to make it survivable, but mechanics? Might as well ask someone to construct a shell to work with.

So who do I go to for mechanics? ...Who isn't Sokka! [She could ask Winry, actually...]

I have a friend who's great with mechanics-- [genius even, not that he'd ever say that to Precis' face] --but I doubt she'd be cool with making something that'd be the sole property of the Brigade.

Hum, then she's out... I guess I can try to recruit Winry for it.

If you think she'd be okay with a big project like that, it's probably the best bet. [You know, in terms of not having to wrestle property rights...]

I'll consider it. I bet she'll tell me it's not her forte, but, it's better than getting in some mucky argument about outsourcing.

Maybe the next membership drive should include looking for an engineer or something.

Y-yeah, maybe.

[But she's unsure about more of those.]

[He leans forward a little. Did he hear something of a stutter there?]

Why maybe? It'd make things easier, wouldn't it?

I... guess, yeah. But maybe the Brigade is big enough?

You think so? [...] Well, it was your idea. I guess you of all people would know how big is "big enough."

Yeah, exactly. [Not really]

...Sure doesn't sound like how a club would work, though. Unless we're going for exclusivity now.

I... don't know. I'll decide later.

[...Okay, hard not to note that hesitance.]

Did I touch on something, Haruhi?

No. [...Huff] It's fine - like I said, I'll consider it.

[...]

...Okay. Okay, sure. Whatever you say.

Were they at least well-hidden traps?

Not terribly - most of them were pretty crude, actually.

Well then, it sounds to me like they didn't even try.

Well nothing I found seemed that valuable and people did rout them out of the mines, so I'm sure there were other concerns.

Then what was the point in the first place?

How should I know? Ask the Malnosso or the Third Party guys.

Was it fun?

Well... It wasn't that boring and I got what I needed.

So it wasn't fun.

I guess not?

[ He sighs. ] That's a shame. These things are so much more enjoyable when you can have fun with them, after all.

I got what I went out there for anyway, so it's fine.

Which was?

Something I'm not telling you.

Why not?

Because I said so.

And why do you say so?

Because I do! I've got Zero obligation to even talk to you!

Yes, but things tend to be boring if you don't talk to anyone.

And that's why I talk to people. [Just not. YOU]

What a coincidence! So do I! [ And that includes you. ]

Good! Then go talk to someone else!

But I'm talking to you right now.

I don't care.

[...

You know what, journal shut]

Not much really! I found someone else with a power like mine!

Oh, really? How similar?

He can turn into a werewolf like thing whenever he wants! Like, it's a different basis for why he can do it, but. he can do it whenever, like I can do my thing.

Well... almost exactly the same, just from different worlds!

Oooooh, that's good! I mean, that you found someone to bond with like that.

And he's kinda cute too, I guess... [[But mostly the bonding with similar powers thing! That's their social link!]]

[ . . . ] Oh, so when are you going to ask him out?

When I get to know him better... [[She means "when I find out how old he is..."]]

As long as you don't get too obnoxiously sucked up into it.

... what kind of mission were you on?

Collecting artifacts. Or well, I guess it was supposed to be ruins, but it wasn't a lost temple or anything so it didn't feel like that.

Aha! Indiana Jones type adventure. That's back in the mines, yeah?

Yep! Or well, my first time there, but I did.

I didn't know they used bear traps.

Well apparently they do - made with some weird red metal. [a beat] ...Or that was paint, or blood, I guess. I didn't look too closely.

Now it just sounds gross.

It was pretty ominous.

Maybe it was just paint. [He doesn't think blood would permanently stain something red.]

Yeah, hopefully.

Anyway, it would be brown if it was blood.

Yeah, because of the rust. I wonder if the metal could have been red in the first place though.

Maybe. If it is, that would be pretty cool for the sports car industry, yeah?

Well I know red metals exist, it's just if they have it.

I'll be sure to ask next time I see them.

Funny. ...I wonder if you could telepathically get them.

Teleporter, not telepath.

I never meant you, I meant in general. I just thought of it - keep up already.

I'd try to, if I could read your mind. But like I just said, I can't.

Ha ha.

So... on a less creepy note, what do you think about pizza?

...Pizza? I dunno, it's okay I guess?

Well, I'm in charge of the pizza shop now. I guess. I just have to figure out how to get it going.

What, so you're looking for a gimmick, or workers, or what?

It's pizza. I don't think it needs a gimmick, but I've never really run... anything.

So... what are you asking me?

Well... I don't know. Advice, maybe? You're in charge of stuff a lot, yeah?

[Shrug. SHE IS THE BOSS of everything]

O...okay~ So. What do you want advice in? What're your concerns? The problems you foresee?

Well, I'm going to need workers. I don't think I have what it takes to get people to show up and do stuff. I mean, I can't even pay them.

Well of course you can't pay them. But humans have more motivations than just a need for monetary stuff, you know.

Well... yeah. But what do you do to motivate people in the brigade?

Come on, you were in it! Isn't that obvious? I inspire them.

... I don't remember feeling inspired.

...What.

I was just there because it was fun!

...See, fun! Fun's part of it!

So how do you make washing dishes fun?

Music. Social environment as well, of course... taking them out to lunch, free food.

[ - and then suddenly]

Artifacts?

...Yes?

Details, Haruhi! How many did you unearth? Tell me more about those pictographs! How much did you see? Describe the area!

[Wow what---] A few things?! Mostly in the form of like, things I imagine were missives or order forms? I could try to draw some of them?

You can provide drawings?! That would be marvelous -- and you need to be more descriptive!

[ ... UH?? ]

Of course I can provide drawings! How would I not be able to do that?! I'm not stupid! But what sort of description do you want?!

What was the location like? The texture! The structure of the artifacts. How old were they? Weren't you taking any notes?!

Calm down and ask one question at once, jeez!

!

Haruhi, you're absolutely correct! I have a much better idea!

[And then there's writing -- all of her previous questions right there into one space. What is the location like? The size and weight of the artifacts? Any information as to how old they are? How many were taken out? Not to mention, in slightly larger writing: Details!!!]

Now you have my initial questions.

[...Wow. Okay. Looking at that...]

Remember that mine thing some people got drafted to? That was the location. Specifically, it was under the rubble in the places the TPs were holding.

The mine... yes, I was there. So you were able to get further into the underground city...?

Please continue!

Yeah, that's right. There wasn't any actual soldiers around, just a lot of traps and the like which I think were set up on the fly. Um... Specifically, the building which I was going through had numerous basement levels, and they had suspicions there were archival stuff.

Did they find out any information from what was left?

If they did, I wasn't privy to the insights! I just have pictures of what they analyzed in my brain.

Then the pictures will have to suffice!

[...

Okay then time to sketch in the book. First is a drawing of what looks a little like an owl (though it could be something else, the drawing is far from exact) which is either flying over or resting on top of a thing which may or may not be a fireplace mantle]

Maebara Keiichi, Vice-Chief reporting in for duty. Regarding the Brigade, Asahina Mikuru was sent back to her world, Nagato Yuki reported in. [She has probably already heard of this but, whatever.] Besides that functionality has been normal with little alterations, the situation is stable.

The New Feathers party was celebrated already. Aside from that the school has announced Luceti's First Cultural Fair, the location hasn't been determined yet but a sign up process for booths to represent the different worlds is already taking place.

There was a sale for adults this New Feather's cycle and the Malnosso got into it like crazy housewives with a new credit card. In other news, House 21 gained a new occupant. Minato's twin sister arrived a few days ago, she has settled in nicely and is getting along well with things. [Haruhi's smart, she will probably pick from there that this Minako is yet another different one. Still, there was a Minako that was a member of the Brigade once, and Keiichi feels he should mention it at least so she knows, if she doesn't know already because the mun is lame and late.]

[She did hear most of that. And she's shocked by half of it, but... she claps a bit. She's enjoying this set up, so-]

More reports, go!

[He already said the things he thought were more interesting and that he knew about!]

News that just got in, Suzumiya Haruhi has great expectations of this village during her absences. Do you really think we turn on all the exciting things while you're out? If you want more reports at least choose a category for them, because the general section of the news is done now and that part of the staff has gone to have lunch.

Politics! Also Weather, and maybe a bit of conspiracy theory.

Luceti has politics? Nothing new since you left, and the weather has been quite standard. No freezing rains this time. And unless the crazy calculations of a guy in love count as conspiracy theories there's nothing on that prospect either.

Crazy calculations, huh? How's that?

I've calculated that I'm only fourteen years older than Ange. So by the time she's eighteen I'll be thirty-two and will be able to marry her as she will be legal. I know the gap seems huge but think of it this way, when I'm ninety four she will be eighty years old, at that stage the gap doesn't mean that much. And we will still be in time to adopt Minato or Minako!

[He told you they were crazy calculations. He sounds pretty proud of those things.]

It's perfect, all I need now is to make sure I remember them, or at least I have enough of a feeling to go where they will be to meet them and get them.

[As if they were pokemons.]

[ . . . ] Keiichi, you have no idea how gross that sounds, do you?

Told you they were crazy calculations. And I told you, the age difference won't matter after a certain age, there are people with bigger age differences out there.

[What's wrong with him wanting to be with the girl he loves and take care of his best friend or the sister of his best friend?]

And I'm sure Ange wouldn't mind if I summoned her to this conversation right now.

You say it as if me wanting to be with the girl I love even outside of this place is bad.

Answer the question - should I call Ange?

[What has gotten into you, Haruhi?]

No.

[There's some movement.]

I'm calling her myself.

[And so he does, seconds later the journal is being handed to Ange.]

[ ... Huh.. Suddenly Keiichi called her, and then he just handed over his journal like this? 8| What's even going on-- ... oh. It's Haruhi. Suddenly a few things are already clear. ]

What is it?

Keiichi has an insane plan to marry you right out of high school when he's middle aged via stalking you when he gets home and then have you adopt a small child version of Minato.

Are you okay with this?

[ ...... what. ]

Considering it's Keiichi, I would be surprised if he didn't plan on something like that. [ she's vaguely grasping at the context here-- if it's about the age difference and adopting Minato (wait what) then it's back home, right..? ]

Which is it so say.. yeah, sure.

[From behind Ange.]

It's not an insane plan! I made serious calculations about this. Even if the idea of doing those calculations is crazy. There's only a fourteen age difference between Ange and me, and she's eighteen back home already so she's legal. And there's still a margin of a couple of years or so for us to enjoy a newly wed life before we adopt Minato or Minako, who would have lost his or her family by then.

...You're both perverts.

[With an air of shock. ANGE YOU TOO WHY?

This actually hits her before "lost his family" - which... I am not sure she knew about and either way this is in public]

Edited 2012-04-09 00:15 (UTC)

What does this have to do with being perverts?

[What's wrong with you, girl? He's starting to wonder if you even know what that word means.]

[ The whole "lost his or her family" thing makes something vaguely connect in the back of Ange's head too, even if she doesn't speak up about it now - not when Haruhi is calling them perverts, god.. ]

... Knowing her, it's probably some ridiculous reason. [ Half-mumbled. ]

Everything! It's so... you're so... that's ridiculous!

How is it ridiculous to want to be with the woman I love?

As long as we're both fine with it, then there's no problem, right?

...Y-yeah, I guess not.

[Creepy...]

Don't worry, we will invite you to the wedding. Even if you will be a snotty brat by then, most probably.

[Just joking. Though with him it's hard to know.]

Hey, Haruhi. Welcome back. [ With some humor. ]

... what does a hat have to do with giant balls or arrows in the wall?

Because of Indiana Jones.

... who?

He's a famous guy.

Oh. I guess he must be from Earth, right? Have you met him or something?

No, no! But it's really cool, everyone knows about him!

What was it that made him so famous? Getting out of traps and stuff?

Mmhm! And beating badguys through them. A famous explorer who found stuff in ruins, you know!

He sounds really cool. I can see why you'd want a hat like his!

[ A laugh. ]

But you got through your mission okay, right, Haruhi?

What do you think, Xion? It's me.

[OF COURSE]

[And you know, she's just going to enter the kitchen and hover behind her.]

I. Have a lot to ask you about what happened there, but...a fedora? I don't think you could pull off the Indy look that well.

I totally rocked it, shut up.

[Yep. Cooking]

Yeah, okay, but next time don't leave without me approving your traveling outfits. [She'll just lean against the counter and watch.] So...how was it?

Edited 2012-04-01 04:59 (UTC)

The fedora worked, Shiki. ...But other than that, it was fine. I mean, there were some traps, but I dealt with them just fine.

What kind of traps? Like...avoidable dumb ones, or "wow that was a close call" ones?

A little of both. [running her hands through her bangs... she should tie them back. Oh well] I was able to avoid them all though.

That's not the point, Haruhi. I was worried, okay? You're just...treating this so casually.

[...Hah]

I'm not. I was risking my limbs out there. But if I can't show some bravado, I can't do it.

Well...you're home. So you don't have to show bravado around me, okay?

[...sigh]

I was able to make it through, Shiki. It wasn't too much for me to handle, but I did have a few close shaves.

[She doesn't look that much more settled, but she'll have to accept it for now...right?]

Fine, fine. Just don't go anywhere else for a while if you can help it, okay?

...Why not?!

Because it's stressful, okay!? Either take me with you next time, or stay here for a while.

Take you?! What about your boyfriend?

...what about him? [This is serious business.]

You can just ship out with me whenever?

I'm not tied to him, you know. We're not dependent on each other anymore.

...The fact it's anymore reassures me so much.

...not like that! Don't you remember anything I've told you about the Game? You have to rely on your partner to keep you alive. Neku and I aren't in a Game anymore. We're...free to do our own thing, I guess.

Shiki... Shiki I remember that and lived that, a little back when that one math weirdo was still around, but that doesn't change what I've observed in this house over the years.

...Minamimoto. [That's all she says for a few minutes.]

Things have changed, that's all. You haven't noticed?

[...you know what, she's going to abandon breakfast in general. She leans into the counter more, crossing her arms under her chest]

Why don't you tell me about it, Shiki?

[She's just making a face, turning her attention toward breakfast.]

...do we have to do this right now? I mean you just got back and we should finish breakfast for the others. ["And I wouldn't mind stalling a little longer."]

Shiki, the last time we talk-talked was when you had your your birthday. [And Haruhi knows she's a private person herself, but shiki isn't. to be honest, her anger at the whole Kyon thing is even dying down somewhat]

...tell you what. We'll make a date. Like a bff-date. [Yes, she did just say that as bee-eff-eff.] You can talk to me all you want and we'll catch up and everything will be fine, but just...not now. Is that okay?

[...] When.

...we should probably give you some time to regenerate from the mission, right?

Yes, because I'm a being which grows things back.

[SIGH. Whatever, she turns back to the stove to get back to work on this breakfast]

Fine. Fine, what about this weekend? That way I can close up the shop, you don't have any of the Brigade meetings and we'll be totally fresh. Fair?

Sure, sure. This weekend. [On which Haruhi vanished from Luceti on Sunday and there was some setback on Saturday. No BIG]

Then it's settled. [And I will go tag that appointments post right now...] Need help, or should I just go get everybody?

I don't need the help, but I'll take it if you want. Just go get everyone.

I'll be back then. [And off she goes, and we will assume that things peter off into nice and normal land, thus ending this thread.]

[And shortly after Haruhi gets into the kitchen, Rhyme makes her way in as well only to stop and stare from the doorway. Oh! This must be the other housemate they others mentioned to her. So she smiles]

Oh, hello. You must be Haruhi, right?

[What door???

But she turns and- ack yooung person-] Who're you? But yeah-- I mean, that's me!

[THE MAGICAL ONE SHE HAPPENS TO BE STANDING IN]

Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Rhyme! It's very nice to finally meet you, Haruhi. [She walks over to her] I arrived here not too long ago.

Rhyme? [ :I But. Well. Okay. She. Um] You're friends with Neku and Shiki.

That's right! And Beat. He's my partner. [~~And sister~~]

Oh.

[...Beat are you a pedo] That's nice. I mean, to meet you.

It's nice to meet you too, Haruhi! [She pauses briefly only to giggle a little after a moment]

I feel like I should thank you, too.

Why?

[you know other than making breakfast right now]

Well... Shiki told me you've been living with her for three years. I wanted to thank you for being her friend and staying with her! And I wanted to thank you for taking care of Beat too, he can be hard to handle sometimes.

[ /// and then a start] You don't need to thank me for liking Shiki!

[She giggles lightly] I just felt like I should. If there's anything I can ever do for you, tell me, 'kay?

What can you even do?

Plenty of things! [Which is true. Unfortunately she doesn't have any special special qualities aside from organizing thoughts]

Like?

[When Neku walks into the kitchen that morning he does a double-take at Haruhi. Mostly because he had no idea when she was going to get back and she had been gone for quite a while. Still, it's good to see she's back and appears to be in one piece.]

When'd you get back? [He heads for the fridge.]

Last night. [Flip, flip. Fry things]

...how'd things go?

[Read: You're not hurt, right? I mean you don't look like you're hurt, at least.]

I got back and I got what I went out for.

[Chest puff out of pride]

...what did you go out for?

[Pulling some OJ out of the fridge.]

That's a secret.

[ :I]

[Raises an eyebrow.]

Now I'm trying to figure out what they gave you that's worth keeping a secret.

Well feel free to guess or whatever!

...nah. If it's a secret then it's a secret. Something good, at least?

If it wasn't would I have invested in it? Use your head.

Come on, a spike pit trap is also quite a classic worth of a fedora!

[Laughing a bit. He couldn't help it, the spike pit traps felt unloved with her complains.]

No - a snake pit, maybe, but not a spike trap pit!

Why not?

Because spike pits are over-used and not artful!

Eeeh, I don't think a trap is meant to be artful though.

[He can't deny the part of being over-used.]

Ahahaha, but giant balls and arrows in the wall are also over-used, aren't they? They appear in all the adventure movies with that kind of thing.

They're classics. That's different!

Classics. And what's the difference for you?

Classics are iconic. It's like saying Rocky as opposed to like, some old guys boxing in the forties or something.

But those are still decided on by people, aren't they? So it's still subjective, some people may not think that Rocky is really that iconic and feel more moved by the mention of other people, like Gushi Kenji for example.

[There's a pause before he laughs.]

Then again personally I don't really know much about those famous people until someone tells me about them. I'm not exactly into boxing.

[Or into much besides music.]

Besides it's too painful, just thinking of it makes me ache.

Being into Rocky's a little beyond being into boxing.

[...She does see his point though] In any case, it still would have been easier to run from a big ball than work with a bear trap.

Is that so?

[He's not much into films either, if it wasn't for Manta he wouldn't have ever heard of Lee Pyron.]

You think it would be easier to outrun a big ball than avoid a bear trap? Seriously?

Of course it would! I'm really fast.

You must be if you think that would be easy. But how can avoid a bear trap be harder?

Because the bear trap was hidden. I nearly stepped in the stupid thing before I took note of it.

[He laughs, ah, right, that makes sense.]

So that's how it is, yeah I guess that would be harder to avoid. But the trap setting off the giant ball would be hidden as well, wouldn't it? That's the point of a trap after all.

But I'd see the ball coming! I'm a fast sprinter, you know!

I suppose you would hear it coming as well, it would make a lot of noise after all. And yes, you mentioned being fast before, do you belong to a sports club or something?

Of course not. I tried them, they're boring. I'm just fast.

I've met people who didn't like the sports clubs [He's one, he always "cheated" with the spirits because he had no use for those things himself yet he could always use some more training as a shaman.], but I don't think I've ever heard someone say that they are "boring". People usually reserve that for the clubs that don't involve physical activity if anything.

Well let's take a track club for example: you just run in a circle. How dull is that?

Let's take the chess club: you just sit in a chair for hours looking at the game-board. At least with the track club you move and compete with others?

[He laughs, don't take him wrong, he's not saying that it's not boring. More like that all of them seem king of boring to him.]

They're both boring superlatively. Going for comparatively is beside the point.

The point that sport clubs are boring for you?

Yes! All things that are boring are simply forever boring!

Hmmm, that sounds pretty harsh judgment. There are no exceptions?

Absolutely none! If they weren't boring, they'd be interesting!

What if someone finds boring something you consider interesting?

Then they're tasteless, obviously.

[Yoh laughs again, as if she had said a joke.]

Isn't that a bit harsh? It's as if you think that only you are in the right regarding opinions.

Yeah, so?

Nothing I suppose. But it sounds lonely, if you can only see yourself when you look around without exceptions.

Don't be stupid, there's no one like me.

Then why do you want everyone else to have your same opinion? It sounds like that at least, if you're so convinced that you're the one who's always right.

Just because I'm right doesn't mean everyone is going to agree with me.

But you think they should, isn't that so? And that eventually they will have to, since you're the one who is right.

You're making it too complicated. Just because I'm right doesn't mean other people will see it like that, jeez.

That's a fact. But what about what you expect?

I expect that this conversation is pointless.

D-Did you g-get hurt?

[Luka's worried and terrified. A bear trap and a spike pit trap sound bad, okay? She doesn't even get why anyone would go on those missions willingly anyway.]

Huh? No, of course not!

I'm glad. I-It s-sounded as if y-you had f-fell in those traps.

[So she was worried.]

Eh? No way, I'd never fall for a lame trap like that!

It still sounds v-very dangerous. E-Even if you say that it's lame.

I guess for someone less talented than me, it might be...

I-it's a good thing that y-you were the o-one to go then, Suzumiya-san.

[Paaaauuuse.]

W-Why did you g-go?

Because I want to see what's out there! Don't you?!

...... N-Not really. T-There's no w-way out to h-home out there, r-right?

You can't know until you look.

I-If there was... I d-don't think they would l-let us out at all. T-They w-want us h-here for t-their experiments after all...

If it was something game-changing, they have no reason to keep people for "experiments." Or at least less need.

G-Game-changing? Y-You think this is a game?

[She's taking it literally, and it's terrifying.]

Y-You say it a-as if the e-experiments s-serve for a-any good.

[Ikki arches an eyebrow at the message.]

You really have high expectations about this place, don't you?

[What does she expect to have missed?]

For all I know, I missed another alien showing up or something! It's worth checking!

An alien? You consider that important in a place like this?

Why wouldn't it be? Ever notice all the humans here?

There are a lot of humans, but there are also many others who aren't humans.

There's a lot of humans.

And many of them aren't just normal humans. Doesn't that make up for it?

Human's still human, even if they're a monster like you in terms of power.

You don't even know how powerful I am.

[And he's not a monster.]

You must be really bored in your world, unless you're like this precisely because you're used to have more aliens and whatever around.

Of course I'm bored, there's nothing going on there.

Nothing going on? I doubt it.

You. Weren't. There.

No but you sound picky regarding your standards even for here. Though in here you can say that there's nothing going on.

In here my SOS-Brigade can make things go on.

I would have swore last time I heard something about that you had changed how it worked.

We still make sure people life worthwhile lives! That's the whole point!

Saying it like that almost sounds as if you think people here aren't living worthwhile lives.

[Not that he disagrees, but he finds it amusing.]

If they spend their time being depressed or pissed off or killing people or all of the above? Of course they aren't.

So what is a worthwhile life for you? Besides being not human.

Having something interesting happen to them! Interesting! Unique! Something where you life it's not been done millions of times!

Isn't being trapped here enough for that?

No, because this isn't beneficial in and of itself.

You said it just needed to be interesting and unique. Not beneficial.

There's nothing interesting about, for example, a psychopathic murdering sleaze.

Depends on how you define "interesting". So you aim to make things interesting for everyone here? That's ambitious.

Naturally! If there's nothing ambitious, there's nothing worth doing!

Maybe. But maybe you're being too ambitious.

No such thing!

If you say so. Let me know if you actually achieve it, I would like to see it.

[Just joking.]

Fine, then I will.

If I was in your place, I could have done without any traps at all.

[So annoying, and dangerous but mostly annoying if they are the type she has described.]

There was bound to be some anyway, so they might as well be cool ones, right?

I don't think a giant ball is a cool trap. And they could have just protected things with puzzles and passwords, many people can avoid a spike pit or escape from a giant ball, but not that many have the brains to figure out passwords and puzzles.

This was just in a mine, I don't think that they had the time to set up a password or puzzle set up.

A mine or an underground facility? I suppose you're right if it's indeed just a mine. But then a giant ball could become dangerous even for them, not just for intruders.

I think it's somewhere between the two of them, actually.

If it was an underground facility they could have bothered a bit more to protect their things. Though that worked better for you after all.

It wasn't their facility though I think. They just took control of it. so it's like a enemy fortifying their enemy's fort.

That sounds interesting. Any clue as to whom it belonged before? The Malnosso?

Yeah. I'm not sure if it was commercial or industrial, but it was clearly some sort of complex.

So they sent you to recover artifacts from one of their lost bases? At least you didn't encounter any Third Partier, did you?

Nope, just the traps they set, like I said. That's exactly what happened.

But that's a bit fishy, isn't it? If that's all there was they could have gone there themselves.

[Unless you're a secret badass and strong person.]

What's a pictograph?

...It's basically a drawing meant to convey a message.

Oh, like a heroglyfic? Ange-neesan told me about those! They were used by really old people.

Yeah, like those! It's the same principle!

Can you read those?

A little...?

Really? That's amazing! How do you do it?

I just watched it and interpret it! I'm a smart gir-- woman, after all!

Just like that? Really? You must be really smart then! As smart as Hakkai even!

[No one is smarter than Hakkai, sorry.]

Yeah, of course!

[Whose's Hakkai?!?!]

[Everyone knows Hakkai, how can you not know him, miss!]

That's great, do you often go out to search for those pictographs?

Actually this is the first time I've done it, but after this time, it was pretty fun so I dunno, I might just do it more often.

And it wasn't dangerous, either right?

[You sounded pretty confident with those traps.]

Of course they were dangerous, haven't you ever seen a beartrap? But the point was that I'm able to handle it!

No, I haven't. How is it? Is it really for bears?

Probably? I mean it's big enough to be - it's a large vice with sharp teeth which chomps down like a mouth.

Waah! But that sounds painful! And if it's painful for a bear it would be more painful for you! Why would anyone make such a thing?

Because they're trying to hide things, obviously! It's a secret conspiracy!

A conspiracy?! ... What's that?

Basically a huge secret which is also bad.

A huge bad secret? Or is it bad because it's a secret? But I thought secrets weren't bad.

There's nothing wrong with a secret in and of itself, but this is a nefarious one.

What's "nefarious"...

[Why do you use so complicated words...]

...Evil.

Ah... But why is it an evil secret?

Because it's being used to hide things from people which are mean! Or to have an advantage over people or something!

Aaaah, so this type of secrets are nefarious? Secrets that hide mean things from people or to have an advantage over people?

Yes, like that.

So... You go and face off those dangerous things to find out what the secret is? What will you do once you find what it is?

Spread the truth, maybe perform some action? There's any multitude of ways to handle it from there that depend on the situation at hand.

So you don't want to know that secret so you can have advantage as well? That's amazing!

Knowledge is power! The truth is out there, as they say.

29th: The of Haruhi Suzumiya

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