bravenewworld | {01} Video/Action

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{01} Video/Action

{Video}
[A woman sits poised and holding the Warp Band carefully so that the video function is working properly. She would perhaps be familiar to those that frequent the University or the "richer" circles of Union. If not, well, she's about to introduce herself.]

Hello. It has certainly been awhile since I used the Warp Band to broadcast. I was told this would likely be the best way to get the ball rolling on a new job I've picked up at the University.

It would seem that in addition to my research, that they are wishing me to take up a few classes and also meet with students who need help with their assignments. A kind of tutor I suppose...

[Despite her words, she does seem legitimately excited for this task. Maybe she actually enjoys working with younger people.]

If you are interested, my focus is in history, legends, relics, and research, but I am quite knowledgeable in other fields as well. I will be in the cafe just down the way from the University should you like to meet me for tutoring or get to know one of your future part-time instructors.

Just ask for Setsuna, please. I'll be here for a few hours and working on updating some of my notes in the meantime.

[She smiles as she holds up a pen as if to demonstrate that, yes, she is serious about this task. Apparently someone felt like working in a new environment instead of at their apartment for a change.]

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{Action}

[At a small cafe near the University sits a woman pouring over several books and stacks of notes. She is reading and also adding to the notes at the same time. Despite her video broadcast, what you didn't see was a tiny Espurr sitting curled in the seat next to her. It is apparently asleep...for the moment and purring quietly.

Feel free to approach her since, despite all the work around her, she will be quite friendly if you talk to her. She probably needs to remember to stop and drink the tea that is quickly getting cold beside her anyway.]

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[The cat just stares at Sewaddle as only an Espurr can. What are you doing and please stop.

Espurr, apparently, is not quite as disturbed by these things as her partner. The psychic cat tilts her head back to look up at Haruka and mews, holding up paws that are still clean, thank you.

Setsuna, meanwhile, was watching the bug and trying not to make a face. It was just gross and then it had started making sticky things from its mouth...just GROSS, okay? Setsuna does not like this one bit. But, she does her best to remain calm and keep this to herself by taking a deep breath.

It didn't touch her. She's fine. It's not going to hurt her, it's just super gross.]

No. It's fine.

[She winces at the leaf on Haruka's face.]

I didn't peg you for someone to bond with a Bug type.

I'm not easily classified.

[ She'd also had no choice: the thing'd latched onto her arm and wouldn't let go. Haruka takes an open seat and swings herself into it, which puts Sewaddle more at Setsuna's eye level. He pats the leaf on Haruka's face to make sure it's nice and secure, then turns and burbles at her around some extra silk. Do you see? Do you see how pretty she is now??

Haruka nods at the Espurr, meanwhile. ]

What about you? Don't tell me you're secretly into cuties.

[ Yes, Espurr, that means you're cute. ~~Haruka likes kittens.~~ ]

Is that so?

[Setsuna wasn't sure what to make of Haruka really. This might be a good opportunity for that. At least by focusing on Haruka she can try to ignore the bug sitting right there.]

Hecate was a gift...but I would make no secret of that.

[Espurr or Hecate, tilts her head up and mews at Haruka. She knows she's cute and takes no insult in that.]

The giver has good taste. [ She grins at Hecate before turning her attention back to Setsuna. Someone may have a self-indulgent fondness for cute Pokémon in addition to cute girls.

Also, this Sewaddle can't stay here putting leaves on her face. She lifts him off her shoulder and places him in her lap, where he props his head up on the table and begins staring up at Setsuna. She is just so pretty. It is like at first sight. ] You probably run towards....practical Pokémon, right?

[ It was a tossup between that and decorative Pokémon. But from what little she knows of Setsuna, the woman's highly intelligent, driven, and studious. She'd want partners. Haruka can identify with that.

Not that anybody could tell from the bug burbling away in her lap. ]

I do. Hecate was a gift, but my other pokemon is a HootHoot. The flying type compensates for certain weaknesses.

[She eyes the bug as if this is one of the weaknesses she speaks of. She made sure to have her bird around to keep bugs away from her house. Apparently she'd need to start taking those precautions elsewhere. Why hadn't she brought Charon with her again?]

Plus, he'll stay up late with me. He's an excellent companion in the early morning hours.

[She pauses to consider something and then inquires.]

Why do you ask?

Same reason as you. [ Haruka leans back in her chair, but she's eying Setsuna with a sort of sharp amusement. This is funny. They're both circling each other, trying to figure the other one out....Well, she'd rather have that in an ally than someone who immediately assumed they'd work well together. It shows Setsuna's committed to this.

Sewaddle, meanwhile, pulls himself carefully onto the table. Completely ignoring the somewhat charged atmosphere, he begins worming his way towards Setsuna. She looks like she could use a leaf. He wants to give her a leaf. And maybe a hug. ]

[The two women just raise so many questions for her. Setsuna is fond of puzzles, but she's not used to people being like puzzles. Then again, up until recently, she hasn't gotten out much.

Setsuna catches movement and her eyes dart down to the table and spy the Sewaddle inching towards her. She stiffens and looks at Haruka.]

Could you...uhm...get him please?

[Why had she left HootHoot at the habitat? Why?]

Is something wrong?

[ Don't tell her you're - because that's ridiculous. There's no way a fancy researcher like you could possibly be...

The gears are turning. Haruka is scrutinizing Setsuna's face. And though her hand is outstretched to fetch the Sewaddle, he continues waddling towards his destination, tiny arms raised in greeting. Oh, this human is so very lovely. ] Sewa!

[Setsuna shifts uncomfortably, the chair moving back slightly.]

I just...I'm not fond of bug types.

[Her skin crawls at the mere thought of it. She bites her lower lip. She knows it's silly, but she just can't seem to talk herself out of such an irrational fear.]

Please. Could you?

[She gestures at Sewaddle.]

[ Haruka chuckles. ] Don't spill your drink.

[ Maybe it's her imagination, but she thought she saw a shiver there. But as you wish, here you go. One bug lifted up, headed for her pocket.

Sewaddle, however, really wanted to see Setsuna. He squirms in Haruka's hand. ] Sewa! S'waddle! Waddle waddle waaaah!

[ Big googly eyes at Setsuna. Let him love you. Haruka sighs and opens her jacket pocket with her free hand. ] You're embarrassing.

[Setsuna can't believe it but she actually feels a little guilty once the bug starts throwing a fit. She hadn't meant to upset it and a part of her understood that Bug types were just like any other Pokemon.

But she just couldn't get past her phobia...not right now anyway. She looks away so as to avoid the eyes of the bug. Setsuna takes a breath to calm her nerves and reaches for her tea again.]

I'm sorry.

[Whether she's apologizing to Sewaddle or Haruka is anyone's guess at this point.]

Swa.

[ The bug rolls back into a ball so that Haruka can more easily fit him into her pocket and button it up (fortunately, her very large jackets also have very large pockets). She shrugs off the apology and peels the leaf off her face. You're the one who the problem inconveniences most, since you have to live with it. ] I'd work on that if you're going to patrol. We comb the forests a lot.

[ Then again, you might be better-suited to research: interpreting anything strange the Force members like Haruka and Michiru find. Since there's no way Haruka's going to be able to decode ancient script or anything. ~~Michiru, being omniscient, is a tossup in her mind.~~ ]

[Setsuna nods but adds.]

I've been out a few times. Usually I keep Charon with me to handle the bug types. He's good at keeping them at bay.

[But Haruka has a point. Setsuna should work on such an obvious weakness if she wants to be of much help on important missions.]

I'll work on it.

[ Haruka sniffs in acknowledgement. You're aware of the issue, own it, and seek to correct it. Those are all very promising signs. ] Good.

[ She should probably work on getting this Sewaddle to listen to her, too. He doesn't mean any harm, but he's intrusive.

Anyway, bugs. That was unexpected, from a big girl like you. Haruka isn't about to laugh at it - everybody's got their own hangups - but she can't deny it's kind of amusing if she squints. It makes you more human. They have to be more than human if their mission's going to succeed, but it certainly helps break the ice. ] Anything else we should know?

[Setsuna considers the question carefully and seriously. She knows this might be important for later.]

I would consider that to be my biggest weakness. It's almost appropriate in a way...given my typing. I'm not sure there's anything else to tell you about.

[ Haruka nods. ] It all comes out in collaboration anyway.

[ Listen to her, talking so big about collaboration. It's not like she flew solo for pretty much all her life or something. No, Haruka has it all figured out at eighteen years old.

She taps a foot against one of the legs of this table (or, if it's got a center post, that), and then leans forward. One last thing. She needs to know one last thing before she feels satisfied. ] ....Do you get the dreams?

[ She does. Michiru does. She hasn't felt close enough with any of the other Defense Force members to ask them. But Setsuna...it's weird. There's something there. ]

Yes.

[She doesn't bother asking what dreams. There's a feeling there and Setsuna isn't sure if it's something she senses with her abilities, Analyst skills, or what. But it's there, in Haruka's eyes and the way she phrases the question. It cannot refer to any dream but one.]

It's fuzzy and unclear, but even from that I know that it is bad.

.....Mn. [ That seals it then - that, plus the feeling they'd gotten when she and Michiru first encountered Setsuna. This woman is meant to work with them. It'll be strange, having three sometimes instead of two...

Oh well. Haruka's managed this far. She isn't about to go getting insecure about her duty - not when thinking rationally, anyway. ] But it won't happen. I - we - won't allow it.

[ Congratulations, you passed the Haruka test. We're fresh out of confetti, but you're free to use rose petals. ]

[Setsuna had felt it too. She hadn't been able to explain it then and wasn't sure she could explain it now. But talking to Haruka, spending time with Michiru, it all felt right some how.

The dreams on the other hand. Well, she shudders and this time it isn't because of Bug types.]

No. We won't. We can't.

[ Looks like they agree on the important things. Haruka nods, gathering her thoughts in an immensely weighty pause and then deciding they're better off unspoken because Setsuna already gets it. Disaster is coming, but it won't succeed on their watch. There's nothing more to be said.

So she stands up. ] I don't want to disturb your reading, then. Sorry again about the bug.

[ Her pocket wriggles in apology. Sewaddle doesn't know what he did, but that's the kind of thing Haruka says when he does something bad. Her tone's more informal now, however, and not at all forced. They're on the same team. ]

[Setsuna looks up at the other woman as she rises. She then shakes her head.]

It wasn't a disturbance. It's fine.

[Okay so maybe the bug was a disturbance, but they'd already discussed that aspect and Setsuna didn't want to remind Haruka of the incidence if she could avoid it.]

I actually enjoyed this chance to speak with you more. So far it's mostly been Michiru and Hotaru having any sort of interaction with me.

[Her voice is teasing as to make it clear she's not upset at Haruka or anything. She smiles.]

[ Haruka grins back: Setsuna has a dry sense of humor. Working with her should be just fine. ] I'm starring in this play, y'see.

[ Time to go find something else to do besides learn her lines, though. She nods at the table. ] Enjoy your drink.

Thank you.

[She nods to Haruka as the other woman leaves. It was certainly an enlightening conversation. One she hopes they can continue another time.]

Later.

[ Oh, they will; Haruka'd like that too. And as a special favor to her new colleague, she might even leave the bug at home next time. ]

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{01} Video/Action

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