So he's a little bit surprised when it turns out that talking at his Mark for a few minutes is what it takes to finally get access to Astræa's space again. He'd thought of it as a ridiculous option, but since everything else over the last few Liminals had failed...
Well. In any case. Kinji's consciousness had transferred into Yakumo's body before this last-ditch attempt had begun, just in case it somehow worked. Now that he's familiar with the game and its players, Yakumo's in a better position to understand Justice's input - but he's part of a team, he's part of a sentai, and Kinji will likely have important additions to make. And since they don't know of a way to get both of them to the conversation space otherwise... it seems the logical thing to do.
Nope. Sorry. You don't have Psychic Bridge and this is an entirely different network because you're in an entirely different liminal space than the normal big one for Travelers.
So when Yakumo makes it to Justice's conversation space, he'll be quite alone. And she'll be waiting for him at the Judge's bench, looking slightly harried.
"Yakumo," she says in acknowledgement. "I might have brought you here sooner if I hadn't been in the middle of something when you called."
His head is, oddly, his own when the room appears around him. Yakumo blinks as the familiar presence of his best friend disappears, and his brow furrows into a frown. How on Earth--?
(Experience with different liminals and networks, Yakumo has none.)
His concern for Kinji's will have to take a momentary back seat, he decides as he registers the Arcana's state. Slightly less composed than when he last met her; that can't be a good sign. Is it something to do with Lovers' apparent return?
"Is everything alright?" He takes a few steps forward in concern, glancing around the room as he goes. Checking for traps and changes habitually, forever automatically identifying any points of interest. Who knows how secure this conversation space is, really. He won't risk letting his guard down.
"I do not know," she says honestly. "It is my wish that it will be. Some Travelers went where they should not have. One almost would have done himself great injury had I not been alerted and intervened."
"Ah." Of course there must be graves, or at least shrines, for the fallen. And given how Travelers seem to somehow be impervious to death, it must be for the deceased Arcana. Which--you know--it makes sense to have somewhere to put their bodies. It isn't as if Yakumo assumed they would just explode into dust or anything like that, of course not, that would be ridiculouseven though that's exactly what happens every time anything superpowered dies back home--.
"--Who were they?" The question he actually wants to ask is 'how did they get in there', but somehow he doesn't think that's information Justice will just go handing out.
"There were eight of them," Astræa says. "Two of Mortimer's, three of Lune's, and one each of Hakan's, Mei's, and my Many-Named Sister. It was one of Lune's who almost did himself injury. It was one of Mortimer's who attempted to subvert Fortuna's mechanism--and foolishly so, for what indeed would the subversion of a mechanism that runs upon randomness gain him? But he tried anyway, using tools of enslavement and coercion to fight what he called slavery."
"I'm not so familiar with your siblings' names," he points out. The first time they spoke he assumed he'd come to know them somehow, but for the most part the Travelers seem disinclined to talk about their Arcana. Mortimer can't be anyone but Death, Lune is obviously Luna... the other three he can't guess at. "What would have happened, if you hadn't interfered?" Other than the injury.
"Their current designations are Death, the Moon, the Emperor, the Empress, and the High Priestess," Astræa explains. "If I had not interfered, Lune's chosen might have inadvertently caused another incursus like that which my Many-Named Sister finally closed. His act was the more dangerous, for all that it was more innocent. If Mortimer's chosen had been given time to finish subverting the Automat-- I do not know. I believe that the amount of Fortuna's randomness which she had imbued the mechanism with was too strong for a mortal's Convert, but in truth, I cannot be sure. And I do not know what he planned to instruct the Automat to do, only that his intentions were malicious."
That's... really concerning, honestly, that Travelers are breaking into and messily attempting to gain information from the deceased Arcana's rooms. Mostly the messily part is what's getting to him - because, well. Ninja.
Yakumo would love to get more information on this from her (particularly regarding the grave-shrine-rooms), but he has to shake his head (he really can't believe they were overconfident enough to get caught) in condemnation of their actions and move the conversation along. He did come here for a reason, and he can't keep Justice away from............. whatever she does, for very long.
"I'm sure it will come out in time." Travelers are bad at keeping information to themselves, he's learned. And it actually leads him to a question he's been needing to ask since he first heard the Network buzzing to life in his mind. "--When it does, will you learn of it at the same time as us?"
"Perhaps," she says. "I think it might be likely if they speak of myself upon what you Travelers are determined to call the Network. Talking of myself over your Network would likely grab my attention."
That's pretty much what he expected. Privacy in this place is going to be impossible to find, and teaching others codes is also too likely to be seen...
Well. Anyway. Yakumo gives a slight nod in response, and now that the pleasantries are over he can move right to the point.
"There's actually something in particular I came here to ask. Have you made any progress in finding allies?"
"Mm," she says. "Perhaps. Cairbre and I were working together to preserve Fortuna's wishes at our last joint meeting. That could deepen to further alliance in time."
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Well. In any case. Kinji's consciousness had transferred into Yakumo's body before this last-ditch attempt had begun, just in case it somehow worked. Now that he's familiar with the game and its players, Yakumo's in a better position to understand Justice's input - but he's part of a team, he's part of a sentai, and Kinji will likely have important additions to make. And since they don't know of a way to get both of them to the conversation space otherwise... it seems the logical thing to do.
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So when Yakumo makes it to Justice's conversation space, he'll be quite alone. And she'll be waiting for him at the Judge's bench, looking slightly harried.
"Yakumo," she says in acknowledgement. "I might have brought you here sooner if I hadn't been in the middle of something when you called."
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(Experience with different liminals and networks, Yakumo has none.)
His concern for Kinji's will have to take a momentary back seat, he decides as he registers the Arcana's state. Slightly less composed than when he last met her; that can't be a good sign. Is it something to do with Lovers' apparent return?
"Is everything alright?" He takes a few steps forward in concern, glancing around the room as he goes. Checking for traps and changes habitually, forever automatically identifying any points of interest. Who knows how secure this conversation space is, really. He won't risk letting his guard down.
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"Where did they go?" And how on earth did they get there?
At least he knows it wasn't his or Kinji's fault, this time.no subject
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"Ah." Of course there must be graves, or at least shrines, for the fallen. And given how Travelers seem to somehow be impervious to death, it must be for the deceased Arcana. Which--you know--it makes sense to have somewhere to put their bodies. It isn't as if Yakumo assumed they would just explode into dust or anything like that, of course not, that would be ridiculous
even though that's exactly what happens every time anything superpowered dies back home--."--Who were they?" The question he actually wants to ask is 'how did they get in there', but somehow he doesn't think that's information Justice will just go handing out.
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Yakumo would love to get more information on this from her (particularly regarding the grave-shrine-rooms), but he has to shake his head (he really can't believe they were overconfident enough to get caught) in condemnation of their actions and move the conversation along. He did come here for a reason, and he can't keep Justice away from............. whatever she does, for very long.
"I'm sure it will come out in time." Travelers are bad at keeping information to themselves, he's learned. And it actually leads him to a question he's been needing to ask since he first heard the Network buzzing to life in his mind. "--When it does, will you learn of it at the same time as us?"
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Well. Anyway. Yakumo gives a slight nod in response, and now that the pleasantries are over he can move right to the point.
"There's actually something in particular I came here to ask. Have you made any progress in finding allies?"
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