Horror [Akira]

[Amane Mana]

Amane must’ve dozed off when she was resting on Ran’s back as she carried her over to a place to eat. She came to this conclusion as her eyes slowly began to open and her brain started to analyze the colors she is seeing. She arched an eyebrow as she rubbed her eyes in an attempt to clear her sight. Amane groaned as her vision cleared to see Ran. Okay, she took her somewhere safe but…

…how come the uniforms here have a strange amount of frills…wait…Amane shuddered when she realized where she was. Out of all the things to follow her out of Japan, why must one of these places follow suit?! Amane rubbed her eyes once more to check if she didn’t just hit her head too hard or if she was just dreaming…but alas, Amane could only see maids.

“Ran…” Amane began, trying her best not to look disgruntled. "If I'm not mistaken...this is a maid cafe." Amane hoped that was clear to Ran. "...well...thank you anyhow." Amane said, laying back against her seat and sighing. "Did you carry me for long?"

[Akira Nakajima]

”I did warn you that I'd take you to the nearest food place I saw. Food is food.” Akira easily defended himself over his choice of place. And, truthfully, it was the nearest place that he saw. He knew a normal place was in the opposite direction, and, therefore, refrained from looking in that direction as he exited the terminal system. ”You're quite welcome, though. It wouldn't do to just abandon you on the streets. People are weird sometimes, y'know?” Sitting back in his own chair, the gothic lolita trap just relaxed. His back felt better without the weight on it. Nostalgic as it might have been, he was not built for menial labor.

”Well, I carried you for a bit, but then I just decided to drag you. Much easier on the back.” He nodded, purely joking. Of course, it was also easy from the tone he used. He obviously didn't seem to mind the distance he carried her. ”So, in your half-conscious reverie where you were cutely murmuring, I seem to recall something about wanting to ask me more questions, right? Outside of a heist, places don't get much safer than this. There's also food and drink. You should be able to at least replenish some of what you used down there.” He pointed that out before reaching for a teacup. He had already ordered something for himself.

And in front of Amane was a cup full of milk.

”Tea is an acquired taste. Everyone prefers different styles and brands. Coffee might have gotten cold. So I ordered you milk. It'd likely help more, given your lack of energy.” The boy explained.

Actually, it was innocent patronizing for reminding him of his younger sister. It was purely good-natured.

[Amane Mana]

”I did warn you that I'd take you to the nearest food place I saw. Food is food.” Amane couldn't exactly argue with Ran's logic there. Its just that now Amane is red with embarrassment here. ”You're quite welcome, though. It wouldn't do to just abandon you on the streets. People are weird sometimes, y'know?” Amane was at least thankful for that. Waking up in the middle of the side walk was not going to be pleasant.

”Well, I carried you for a bit, but then I just decided to drag you. Much easier on the back.” Ran said. ”So, in your half-conscious reverie where you were cutely murmuring, I seem to recall something about wanting to ask me more questions, right? Outside of a heist, places don't get much safer than this. There's also food and drink. You should be able to at least replenish some of what you used down there.” Amane started to look away. She was murmuring? Now she was afraid she is a sleep talker on top of everything. She slowly eyed the glass of milk. ”Tea is an acquired taste. Everyone prefers different styles and brands. Coffee might have gotten cold. So I ordered you milk. It'd likely help more, given your lack of energy.”

"Thank you." Amane reached out and started to sip on the milk. She eyed left and right before asking her question after they were few maids. "Where did you get those scissors? A bat isn't going to last me in the long run." Amane said. If she could get a better weapon it should make her explorations a little easier.

[Akira Nakajima]

Amane asked the same question she had back in the subway. Well, it was all well and good, seeing as how the girl had passed out. Twice. Even if he had answered back then, it was highly unlikely that she would have been able to remember it clearly, given her state. He quietly sipped his tea before setting the cup down. There were two ways to go about answering- literally, or figuratively. Then again, there was no reason to simply limit himself to left or right. He could go up or down. Or diagonally, as well.

”The concept came from the weapon shop in the Gensou marketplace. Golden Alice District. The actual weapon came from our shed, however. I just modified it slightly to serve my needs a bit better. If you need something better than a bat, a quick upgrade would be adding nails to it. But that's a bit dangerous. What are you looking to branch out into?” He tilted his head to the side slightly, blinking. He was honestly curious.

[Amane Mana]

”The concept came from the weapon shop in the Gensou marketplace. Golden Alice District." Now that Amane is more awake, she committed the information to memory. Gensou Marketplace, Golden Alice District. The actual weapon came from our shed, however. I just modified it slightly to serve my needs a bit better. If you need something better than a bat, a quick upgrade would be adding nails to it. But that's a bit dangerous. What are you looking to branch out into?” Amane looked at her bag with the bat inside it that was placed on the side.

"Yes. I believe I said that a bat won't last me long. Maybe a mace or a staff. Something more manageable for someone of my structure so to speak." Amane started to finish up her milk. "...I'd like to thank you for all the information...though I still have to ask for more." Amane looked at Ran in the eyes. "They're more people like us...aren't there?"

[Akira Nakajima]

"Yeah, sweetheart. The power sets you above the level of a normal human, but those with it aren't unique gods. I don't know too-too many, granted, but enough to say that there's more of us than you might think. We need organization. Something I'll be working on as time goes on, but something we're in dire lack of right now. But, yeah. More of us. More of those things, too. It extends well past the terminal. Dunno how far you went, but it'd be wise to get a good grip on your own capabilities- what you can and cannot do, as well as the hard limits placed on your power- before you head further in. You'll find that the. . . common sense that applies to our world doesn't apply to Shadows."

He shrugged slightly before sipping the rest of his tea- practically downed it, even. While not necessarily hungry, he did quite enjoy sweets when coupled with tea prepared by others. He was in a good mood overall. Despite having carried Amane on his back for the better part of fifteen minutes. He actually did not mind treating the girl. That was why the boy in gothic lolita, as he sat back, simply smiled.

"Be it with tea or milk, sweets often taste better. I don't mind treating you. Would you like something, or will you refrain?" The question, punctuated with a slight head-tilt, was delivered in an entirely different tone than his answer. His answer was serious and, while friendly, very logical. That question, combined with the offer, was no less sweet than the sugary confections it mentioned.

[Amane Mana]

"Yeah, sweetheart. The power sets you above the level of a normal human, but those with it aren't unique gods. I don't know too-too many, granted, but enough to say that there's more of us than you might think. " Amane started to think about what this meant. Where did these powers originated? Was it triggered by the lock down and why only certain individuals? "We need organization. Something I'll be working on as time goes on, but something we're in dire lack of right now. But, yeah. More of us. More of those things, too. It extends well past the terminal." Amane nodded in agreement with Ran but come to realize something. That tunnel can't be the only place where shadows are located. "Dunno how far you went, but it'd be wise to get a good grip on your own capabilities- what you can and cannot do, as well as the hard limits placed on your power- before you head further in. You'll find that the. . . common sense that applies to our world doesn't apply to Shadows."

"I'm already learning that the hard way..." Amane said. The notes she has on the various shadow's weakpoints and vital areas is proof enough. They don't match most biological creatures at all. "If I had to give a rough estimate of how far I went in, I only went about a hundred meters deep is how far I've gotten. I'm...well...despite the state you find me, I think I'm getting better at dealing with them."

"Be it with tea or milk, sweets often taste better. I don't mind treating you. Would you like something, or will you refrain?" Amane looked at her empty glass and the place around her. "...well...maybe a slice of ice cream pie...vanilla." Amane looked to the table as if in denial of the fact she was ordering something in this place.

[Akira Nakajima]

Akira motioned for a maid to come by, placing an order. It would take some time, sure, but the order didn't have to arrive for the orders to be known. Vanilla ice cream pie for the milk-girl. For the gothic lolita trap, the prize was a serving of chocolate mousse. Chocolate was the best. Heavy in calories, sure, but nothing he couldn't work off through diet-balancing and excursions into the Shadow-ridden lands. Still, the flavors were rich and perfect to him. Though he did notice that most people couldn't tolerate it. Said it was too rich, or something; such a travesty.

”Well, just keep it in mind, all the same. So, Amane, what else can I inform you of? Regarding Shadows, at least. I'd prefer to finish up on that before switching gears to something out of the left field.”

[Amane Mana]

”Well, just keep it in mind, all the same. So, Amane, what else can I inform you of? Regarding Shadows, at least. I'd prefer to finish up on that before switching gears to something out of the left field.” Amane thought about Ran's questions for a moment as she watched her slice of ice cream pie to arrive. She could ask about details and what locations Ran has been to but she has given Amane enough to think about. Amane picked up a fork and began eating.

"Nothing else, I'm fine for now." Amane said after swallowing a bite of her cake. Though one thing Ran said did concern Amane…”By the by, what do you mean by ‘switching gears to something out of left field’?” What other topic of conversation could Ran possibly discuss in the face of their situation?

[Akira Nakajima]

Akira simply shrugged when the girl questioned his meaning. It also seemed that she had no further questions. That was highly lamentable. That meant that any excuse they might have had to linger and talk was pretty much gone. Oh well. He could always head back into the verge once their engagement had reached its conclusion. Which, after eating such a sugar-filled snack, did not seem like a terrible idea at all. He'd have plenty of energy and calories to burn. That was as close to perfect as the circumstances would be. After all, he wasn't just going to get the Infinity+1 sword yet.

”Anything you might have needed or wanted to discuss. This is reality, after all. It's not an RPG where all you need to worry about is your HP and MP. There's a bit more to it than that. But if you're good, then that's fine, too.”

[Amane Mana]

”Anything you might have needed or wanted to discuss. This is reality, after all. It's not an RPG where all you need to worry about is your HP and MP. There's a bit more to it than that. But if you're good, then that's fine, too.” Amane blinked. So Ran was the type for games huh? Suddenly her choice in...outdoor eating locations is starting to make a hint of sense. Then again Amane admitted she wished she played more of those. It helped her burn time anyhow.

"I see..." Amane took another bite of her cake. She might as well start getting into the small talk. Get to know the goth lolita sitting across from her. "Is that home made? I never seen anything like that even back when I was living in Japan." Might as well inquire about her fashion choices. Not that Amane would put on any form of cosplay. The thought terrified her. She gets enough from her parents as it is.

[Akira Nakajima]

”You've never seen this style? Well, granted, it is mainly in certain circles that you'd see it. Alas, this is not an object purely of my make. I helped with the design, as it was made specifically for me, but the actual crafting was not a labor I took part in. I find it to be both unique and attractive. What of you, Amane? Are you one that is filled with awe?” He tilted his head to the side slightly before smiling. It was outwardly innocent, but inwardly impish. ”Or are you of the persuasion that it is odd and unsightly?”

Truthfully, he didn't mind it either way. Some people were awe-struck by gothic lolita. Others thought it was too “otaku”, which was amusing, since it was fashion. So, keeping a pleasant enough smile, he just awaited an answer.

[Amane Mana]

”You've never seen this style? Well, granted, it is mainly in certain circles that you'd see it. Amane arched an eyebrow. Alas, this is not an object purely of my make. I helped with the design, as it was made specifically for me, but the actual crafting was not a labor I took part in. I find it to be both unique and attractive. What of you, Amane? Are you one that is filled with awe?” Amane scratched the back of her head in thought. She wasn't exactly sure. It was cute yes but she wasn't much into fashion nor did she know much about trends really. ”Or are you of the persuasion that it is odd and unsightly?” Okay that was the out of left field area.

"What are you talking about?" Amane asked with an arched eyebrow now looking at Ran. "I was just curious that's all." Amane said. She took another bite of cake as she looked at Ran. The girl sure knows a lot of people. Where to get weapons where to get clothing...She's just one oddity after another.

[Akira Nakajima]

Akira puffed his cheeks out when he received the confused question. Was it the girl trying to be polite by refraining from giving a negative response? Or was it simply speech going entirely over her head? Either way, it was pout-worthy, he figured. With a huff, the boy in drag shrugged, keeping his cheeks puffed out in that act of a pout. Of course, while it was exaggerated, he was still mildly disappointed. With his left hand gripping the spoon for the mousse, he slowly regained a more neutral expression that gradually phased into a small smile.

"It was just my means of trying to get a grip on your opinions. Opinions are what make people different on the inside. Physical differences, like your body to my body or your clothes to mine, are plentiful. Even in the world of fashion, there are different takes of the same outfits. Opinions, thoughts, beliefs- these are the clothes of the mind, the accessories differentiating one ego from another. They're also so much more precious than the physical differences. I feel great joy in coming to know and understand another, you see." Another slight shrug.

"So I was looking to get a feel for what you liked." He summarized before taking a spoonful of that glorious chocolate substance.

[Amane Mana]

"It was just my means of trying to get a grip on your opinions." Amane arched an eyebrow at Ran's words. "Opinions are what make people different on the inside. Physical differences, like your body to my body or your clothes to mine, are plentiful. Even in the world of fashion, there are different takes of the same outfits. Opinions, thoughts, beliefs- these are the clothes of the mind, the accessories differentiating one ego from another. They're also so much more precious than the physical differences. I feel great joy in coming to know and understand another, you see." Amane can't help but to be a little bit unnerved by the statement. "So I was looking to get a feel for what you liked." Amane took the last few bites of her cake.

"I...see..." So she was just being judged. "You're kind of incredible in a way..." Amane admitted. "I could never say those types of thing...if anything I have reason to be weary of people as much as this lock down." Amane sighed as she looked up at Ran. "To answer your earlier question I find it nice." It was her just expression an opinion. "I find it a little bit cute even but I'm not exactly one for 'cute' things."