bravenewworld | 011 // action + locked video for ddf, locked audio for senshi

[ action - Ruins ]

[ So....Hotaru.

That's all Haruka gets out of the recent infodump, and it's enough. She'd known at least one scientist had been experimenting with combining Pokémon and humans - it says something about humanity, maybe, that the good Professor hadn't been the only one with that idea. Her species certainly doesn't make it easy to defend them against hostile, justice-wielding Gods.

She doesn't bother replying to Rory; what's the point? Nearly a year ago, she and Michiru had spared Hotaru because the girl wasn't yet volatile. The Enhanced, if what she sees when she encounters one matches what Rory's announced, have crossed that line. And while it's not technically Divine Defense Force jurisdiction anymore, well, Haruka's here. She's got experience. She knows what has to be done and she's prepared to do it.

But she sent Sanae, Takuto, and Rise out to one of these things. Can she ask them, who as far as she knows have no destined connection to the history of the world, to do the same?

It's not a difficult question. She'll talk to them in a bit. For now, she needs to just sit here, atop World Shaking as he squats in the Swamp and thinks about nothing and trusts her with every bone in his body, calming herself and rising above her own emotions. What she's prepared to do is terrible. Unforgivable.

But she won't forgive herself if she falters. So she'll be fine.

People who've also come out to the Ruins can either find her and World Shaking hanging out like a statue to The Eve of Battle or else notice she's gone off on her own to scout ahead a bit. She's not intending to totally go in alone - she's taking at least Michiru when that time comes - but the more they know the better, right? And she wants to find someplace solitary to make a few Warp Band calls.

That "someplace solitary" is "towards the Ruins, at the edge of the mist" is pure coincidence. ]

[ video - locked to Divine Defense Force members ]

This is Haruka. Determine whether the new information is accurate. What you do after that is your decision, but don't sacrifice yourselves.

Our enemy is bigger than this.

[ And fearless leader out. ]

[ audio - locked to senshi ]

Try not to die.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Harukaaaaa, she told you, it's Sanae! ]

You don't think--I mean, nobody would actually sacrifice themselves, right?

[ It's too sad. Judging from her not mentioning it too, it can be assumed she hasn't been keeping up on current events. ]

[ Oh dear. Haruka's concern about her new coworker's sensitivity takes a back seat to guessing she's not up on context. ]

You haven't been following your feed.

~~[ SOMEHOW THIS IS TAKUTO'S FAULT. ]~~

[ She looks a bit mareepish. ]

I saw some stuff come up, but nobody's awake yet. I didn't want to wake people up.

[ It is still pretty early, senpai... ]

[ Who needs sleep when you could sit on your Rhyperior in the Swamp like this is a totally normal thing to do in the dead of winter?

Okay, Haruka's not doing that any more, but World Shaking's still out. He rumbles behind her, but quiets down when he notices she's on the Band. ]

It's too bad. This didn't end up being our fight after all. [ She runs a hand through her hair and sighs. ] Sorry to drag you in on a false alarm.

[ Seriously, how absurd is this? They make a big stink about psyching the new kid up to go fight Gods and then there's no Gods to fight. If it were happening to somebody else it'd be hilarious.

No, it's still hilarious. But in one of those bleak, detached ways. ]

Not our fight?

[ She didn't know what was going on, but she could make assumptions. They were probably entirely off base, but she would make them regardless. ]

But there is a fight, right? People are suffering, right? I don't know what they're suffering from, but if there's something wrong, then doesn't that mean that we should make it right?

[ Friendship speech incoming. Are you ready for the coming storm, Haruka? ]

[ ...she doesn't need Usagi flashbacks right now. Conflating her issues with that girl and her new working relationship with Sanae will help absolutely nobody. So Haruka listens, stays calm, and thinks about what she wants to say before she says it. The issue here isn't learning jurisdiction. That can come later, since she has a feeling Sanae wouldn't buy that argument right now anyway. ]

And what will you do if you can't?

[ Beat them with the power of love and friendship. Duh.

Or, if that doesn't work-- ]

I know we can. If we work and fight together, we can do anything!

Pretty words.... [ That's not a plan. That's a hope for the future to cover the lack of a plan. Haruka can't believe she has to deal with this in both her secret organizations now. It's like the world is conspiring against her, as if she's living somewhere based off kiddie games where everyone has happy, fun times with their pet monsters or something.

But feeling sorry for herself is petty, as is picking apart Sanae's logic. She won't bother. ] Anyway, just get home in one piece. We'll see what kind of a world this ends up being.

I will, don't worry.

But what about you? You're taking care of yourself, right? You haven't run into any kind of trouble have you?

[ Once a worrier, always a worrier. ]

[ Maybe she should have pushed Sanae away a little harder instead of trying the mentor approach. The last thing Haruka needs is to think the girl's going to be distracted fretting about her. She laughs. ] Insubordination?

[ Sarcasm. THAT WILL FIX IT. ]

Not at all!

[ Okay, maybe she said that a little too fast. Sanae turns a bit pink, but she continues. ]

The Valkyries fight because they feel like it's their duty to, but they still take care of themselves and of each other. They know the dangers they might have to go through, so they look out for one another and take care of each other.

[ The Valkyries are surprisingly communal-minded, in that case. Haruka'll have to remember that the next time they decide to go on a kidnapping spree. Not that she's biased.

She smiles, though. Might as well reassure the girl, so Sanae can head into battle only worrying about herself. ] I'm fine. Coordinate your approach with Takuto.

[ A rumbly grunt behind her from what had looked like a pile of rocks and is now revealed to be her Rhyperior shows she has very large backup and everything! Don't distrust Trainer. Trainer can do anything.

~~And what she can't, her Trainer can.~~ ]

[ Nope, sorry senpai. You're not getting off that easily. You accepted her on your team, so now you're going to get her worrying about your well-being, whether you like it or not. ]

Don't forget to eat well! And make sure everyone's well taken care of! And check in and let us know if you're in trouble! [ Not like she could get there in time, but ]

[ ....Haruka has the first inklings at this moment that perhaps she should have put Sanae in charge of Takuto instead of the other way around. She also can't help but laugh a little. You're surprisingly persistent, aren't you? ] Unbeatable girl.

[ Now use that same determination for your mission. Okay? Mission. That thing you should be focused on right now. ]

What? [ No you're going to make her blush! ~~Too late.~~ ]

I just want to make sure you're taken care of is all. Although I'm sure Miss Michiru's taking care of that.

[ ~~Sanae doesn't realize quite how on point she is with that one.~~ ]

[ Haruka knows, though. Haruka knows so many things about Michiru. ~~Haruka has...known...Michiru for quite some time now....~~

She grins, feeling just better enough about Sanae's situation for it to clear off the list of things she dislikes about the current situation. ] Go bring down the house.

Yes, ma'am!

[ She's seen the Valkyries doing a certain motion to their superiors, that actually looks a lot like saluting. So that's what she'll do. ]

[ Takuto salutes her too sometimes. You guys are either perfectly matched or this is going to be a hilarious disaster.

But Haruka sees no point in dwelling on hypotheticals ~~at present~~, so she gives Sanae a two-fingered salute and a wink right back. And then cuts the feed.

Cute Skitty. But they each have their separate objectives right now. It's for the best. ]

011 // action + locked video for ddf, locked audio for senshi

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