1414/Burgers, Devices, and Secret Lairs

Burgers, Devices, and Secret Lairs
Date of Scene:	24 April 2016
Location:	Nakajima Industries Warehouse
Synopsis:	Mikoto and Chloe meet at a burger stand, and talk Device fu at Miko's Sekrit Lair
Cast of Characters:	Mikoto Nakajima, Chloe Stingray

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Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
It was an ordinary Sunday afternoon in Tokyo, and Watanabe's Burger Stand was doing a brisk business for the student crowd. He was something of an underground celebrity, serving a good basic fare, but also - if you knew what to ask for - able to whip up amazing things on the fly. Mikoto had been standing in line, waiting her turn, when she spotted Chloe coming down the street and waved her over.

"Hey there. You hungry? Lunchtime is upon us, and all, and this is one of the best places for it." She waited patiently for the line to progress, chatting casually until her turn came up, and finally placed an order. Casting a brief glance at Chloe, "Let me order for you?" she asked, "We can get something really special."

Turning towards the proprietor, she nodded. "Four Ironhearts, and two strawberry milkshakes, to go please."

"You and your friend pretty hungry today, huh?" Ken Watanabe grinned and turned to the grill, slapping down four massive burger patties and a huge pile of onions. It seemed to take forever to cook, while the girls talked, but soon enough Mikoto was handing over a handful of cash and receiving a bag of four waxed-paper-wrapped burgers. Beef and caramelized onions in a teriyaki glaze, topped with cheese and mayonnaise, and smelling absolutely delicious. A second bag, with the tall paper cups containing the milkshakes, ended up in Chloe's hands.

"Come on, then, I'll show you my Secret Lair."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Chloe had been out for a bit of a walk, cuz her grandparents knew how to take care of her, and get her moving around a bit. Of course, running into people was a given, such as Mikoto. She waved, but then she had food being ordered for her, and caramelized onions tasted a lot better than the freshly cut ones, her stomach growled almost immediately, as if to confirm Ken's suspisions. She chuckled, but she looked to Mikoto. "your....Secret lair." She takes a deep breath. "All right, I'm gonna trust you. Because....what I dealt with, 'secret lairs' usually meant bad news."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto chuckles lightly at the mention of 'bad news'. "Enh, it's just my sense of humor being wonky," she explains, leading the way down the street. "I'm fairly good at snark, but several of my friends have absolutely forbidden me from telling jokes anymore."

Fortunately - the burgers are best fresh, after all - it isn't too far to go. The warehouse district, by the Uminari dockside, is quiet enough on a Sunday, and it's one of the smaller examples of the business that Mikoto leads Chloe to. "Besides, if it's a trap you can just blast your way out."

Then she opens the door, and leads you past a small section of offices to the main warehouse floor...

... which is dominated by massive piles of what looks to be, mostly, high-tech scrap. There are several workbenches set out, some with parts sorted on them, others with a combination of parts, tools, and laptops showing various graphs and tables of data.

Off to one side is a comfortable sitting area, with a pair of couches framing a carpet and a small table. A television sits at one end, a couple of popular gaming consoles connected to it and a stack of games on a shelf.

"Have a seat, relax, let's eat."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "If you say so", Chloe says as her stomach growls again. "No one asked for your opinion." She says looking at her stomach. She rolls her eyes and follows Mikoto to the warehouse. While the food is temporarily forgotten, Chloe's never really been much of a tech whiz. Sure, she was excellent at taking things apart, but putting them back together was another thing.

Her stomach brought her attention back to the here and now, as she sat down to eat.....as she literally inhaled one of the burgers. "I guess I was hungry." She says starting to drink of her shakes. "So...what'd you bring me here for?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto takes some time to work through one of the burgers, as well, interspersing bites with sips of milkshake. The burgers are, as promised, of the best quality. The milkshakes are pretty good, too.

"Well," she eventually says, "I wanted to have a chat, and this seemed like a good way to show that I trust you. After all, we have something in common." She taps the little sword-shaped amulet she wears, a familiar enough sight after the conversation at the Midori-ya.

"Thought we might talk about your plans for what to do, now that you've stepped into the Moonlight World."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    *Beeellllllch*

"Good burger. Excuse me." Yes, Chloe ate the burger that fast. When Mikoto mentions her device, she looks down at ehr own and lets a breath out of her nose. "Well...I'm still trying to figure out my own. I only got it a couple of weeks ago. My grandparents gave me enough allowance for my birthday to buy something cute, so...I did. Didn't even know it'd turn me into a superhero." She says the last word wryly. "What's the moonlight world?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"A term I use to refer to... all this. Heroes, monsters, mages, witches, alien spaceships... all the weird stuff that the average person tries to ignore."

Mikoto's still working on her first burger, taking it a bit more slowly to appreciate the taste. "I've had mine for a few months, now, and I've been spending a lot of time learning about it. Figuring out how it works, what it can do. All of that."

She waves her hand at the piles of tech-stuff. "Managed to get my hands on a chunk of the spaceship that some of the Virtue people came in... they use these things all the time, figured I might be able to dig up some maintenance manuals, tools, that sort of thing."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "Virtue....people?" Chloe is clearly out of the loop. She gets the second burger out and eats it a little more slowly. "There's a tech manual? Mine seems to...know what's going on and actually helping."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Well, if there is," Mikoto sighs. "I haven't found it yet. Or at least, can't read it if I have." She looks down at the table for a bit, one foot kicking back and forth under her seat.

"Virtue's a sort of organized group of people fighting the bad guys. The Senshi and such are all part of it. They're... mostly good people." She takes a sip of her milkshake and finishes off the last of the burger.

"Just kind of pushy now and then. I've worked with them now and again, but... I prefer to be my own woman, you know?"

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "I can imagine them being a little pushy. I mean, look at what they did to Haruna." She then sighs. "Haruna's a sweet girl and seems to look on the bright side of people while trying to help them out. So....why would they kick her out?" She then shakes her head. "Sounds like that bunch is a group I wanna avoid. Especially if they act like a certain sect of people I've heard of in Dungeons and Dragons."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Mmm, the 'Lawful Stupid' crowd, you mean? I know the type. And... well, like I said, most of them are good people. But throwing Haruna-chan out like that... yeah. That just stinks."

She leans back in her chair and stretches out, arms above her head. "So, to heck with them. I'll walk my own road. Anyone who wants to walk it with me is welcome."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "That's true. Could always form a team or something.....like a friendship. Anyways.....I imagine you didn't bring me here to......just talk." Chloe says looking to Mikoto. "and I meant the crowd that's one step further, but yeah, Lawful stupid." She then shakes her head.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Unwrapping her second burger, Mikoto nods. "Well, I had considered asking if you wanted to team up now and again. I'd be glad to offer some tips, help you work things out."

A bite of the burger is put away, and she continues. "I also wanted to ask if I could take a closer look at your Device. Like I said, I've been studying how they're put together, trying to figure out how they work, so I can fix them if they get broken, and such."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "Well....all right." Chloe says softly as she looks at her device. "Just don't mess her up okay?" Yup, she's so attached, she's given her device a gender. "I know how to do the barrier jacket, and a ranged attack, but everything else seems to be.....situational....except flight."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto nods and smiles softly. "Don't worry. She'll be fine. I'll show you mine as well, how's that?"

She lifts the sword-amulet out of her shirt, to hang openly on her chest. "But let's finish lunch first, hmm?" Her smile widens into a grin as she waves the burger, still held in one hand, then lifts it to continue eating.

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Chloe does the same with her own device. A simple blue orb that seems to fade back and forth between blue and red....usually staying blue. Chloe eats her second cheeseburger while sipping at her shake. "So.....why in particular do you want to team up with me?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto continues chatting while we finish the meal. "Why not? You wouldn't be the first I've taught the ropes of all this... well, alright, the second. Still. We're both mages, both have an appreciation for the wonder of the world we've discovered... and neither of us care to be bound by Virtue's rules."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "It's just what I've heard about Virtue so far. More than likely they're a good group, but perhaps a little too zealous about what they do. And.....well....I didn't really want to see the world until I moved here and made friends, Mikoto." She then takes a deep breath. "Lets just say, before I moved here.....I didn't want to live." She then looks to Mikoto and makes a face. "My grandmother and grandfather are amazing and not in the 'they'll let me do everything I want to' amazing. They actually care what happens to me.....and they know about..." She holds up her device. "because that's how we are. I couldn't tell my actual parents because they don't care."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto's expression turns unreadable, for a moment, then she looks down and sighs. "You remind me a lot of my own parents," she murmurs. "All they see is the Good Little Daughter, someone to trot out at business parties and find a husband who's going to inherit some other company so we can absorb them. They 'humor my childish hobbies' by letting me 'play around with my toys' in this place... they don't understand what's going on at all."

A pause, and then she adds, "They don't understand me at all."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Chloe nods to Mikoto. "Your parents treat you like a trophy. I was beaten by my older brother....told I was crap...couldn't do anything right...worthless. Until a couple of years ago......where I hear in a whisper 'You're kind of cute'." She takes a deep breath and looks to Mikoto. "I tried to stay out of the house, but when I refuse his advances, then show up later with a bloody lip, a black eye and bruises where I shouldn't have them.....and my parents don't say anything?" She lets the conclusion hang.

"it wasn't until a few months ago that my grandparents saw the state I was in......and they brought me out here. They asked and I jumped on it. Anything to get away from him." She then pops her neck. "So....I sort of understand your plight."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto stares, growing more horrified as the tale goes on. "That... that utter scum..." If said 'brother' was in reach, he'd be finding out just how sharp her sword is, to judge from the burning glare in her eyes.

She sets down the remaining quarter-burger and steps over to your side, her arms thrown around you in a tight, warm embrace. "Yeah... I've got nothing compared to that kind of hell. All I can say is, if you'll have me as a friend, I'll be there for you. And I'll help make you strong enough that no one can do that kind of thing to you again."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    CHloe hugs Mikoto tightly. "Thank you, Mikoto. But it's not just the device that needs to be strong. I do too." She says softly. "I ran into a person named Craft, with Steam Sentinel Joy. And....he made me relive it all. And that's when I unlocked Fire Blaster."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto is content to hold on for as long as you want to. The burger will wait. "I'm so, so sorry, Chloe-chan... that should never happen to anyone. Anyone at all." She lets out another soft sigh. "But at least you found your magic, hmm?" She doesn't think it's worth what you went through, but then, you're here, and alive, and that counts.

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "So am I. That's something I don't want anyone else to go through. Thank you....Miko-chan.....if that's the way to say it." Chloe then smiles and pulls back. "So you fix and work on devices?" Apparently she wants to change the subject.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto squeezes one last time, then retreats to her seat. "Well," she muses, "I'm trying to learn how to. So far I've managed a few little bits and pieces. I can identify some of the components, tweak programs, that sort of thing. Not much more, yet."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "yet. I imagine if it's anything like a computer, one wrong keystroke and it'll turn into a timebomb." Chloe says softly. "Which, I admit, I rather like having magic and being able to protect people. And it's not like you can just 'toss another together and practice upon it' with a device."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Yet," Mikoto agrees. "And yeah, it's a risk that's stupid to take, at this point. If I had a few extras to use testing things..." She shrugs. "But I don't. I really ought to go looking, see if I can find some more, but..."

She shrugs. "So I do the best I can with what I have."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "Seems I can talk to mine too, so....I don't know if calling them 'test subject 1' and 2 and 3....would be...." Chloe then giggles a lot. "It also seems like there are a bunch of different ones too. Like....yours is in the shape of a sword....mines just a gem."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto nods. "First lesson, then. There are two basic types of Devices. Mid-Childan, and Belkan. They're named after the multi-dimensional civilizations that created them. Yours is a Mid-Childan type - they tend to be very good generalists. You'll find she can do shields, blasts, flight, utility spells... just about anything."

She takes the sword-pendant off the chain to hold it up for you. "Mine is Belkan. She's optimized for melee combat, as demonstrated by the form. She can do all the other things, but she's a lot better at melee combat than a Mid-type, and a bit weaker on the other fronts."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Chloe turns her chair towards Mikoto and tilts her head. "That fits yeah." She then listens quietly. "Mid-childan. Strange name, but I guess that's because I'm not from there. So your shields and stuff aren't quite good? or are they 'passable'?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"They're decent." Mikoto's shields have held up to some fairly big things over the past few months. "Yours, once you've worked them out, will be better."

"As will your blasters."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "Didn't you say something about them talking to you telepathically? Is that even possible?" Chloe says, going off on a tangent.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"It certainly is, yes. And we can talk that way to each other, too."

There's a brief pause, and then her voice sounds, silently, her lips not moving. (~Just focus on what you want to say, and sort of 'push' it towards me.~)

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Suddenly Mikoto is BOMBARDED with a flurry of expletives and unladylike language that is coming from Chloe's devices. It suddenly shuts off and Chloe is as red as a ripe tomato. "Yeah.....don't spring that on me." She laughs.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Right, sorry..." Mikoto reddens a little at the language in use, but suppresses it quickly. "You learn pretty quickly to filter that sort of thing out. Your Device can help you with that, it's pretty much an automatic function."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "I may need to. Kind of like an 'indoor voice'." Chloe rubs her face a little. "I'm....sorry. What goes on in my head isn't.....usually how I speak in public, as you can tell."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto nods. "Yes... yes, I understand. Consider it forgiven and forgotten, and we'll set aside some time to work on filters."

She pushes her chair back and stands, walking over to an empty workbench. "But for now, let's take a look at the inner workings, shall we?"

She sets the tiny sword-amulet on the bench, then raises a hand. "Carnwennan. Maintenance mode, macro scale."

The Device glows for a moment, and then starts to unfold, again and again and again, repeating until a spread of componentry covers the available space and the table groans under its weight.

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Chloe stays out of the way as the device unfolds. "Wow. I didn't know they have a maintenence mode. Mine's been mostly adjusting to me all this time.....or so it seems. It actually gave me a recommendation on a spell one time." She says staying back, but looking the larger device over.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto nods, and walks along the bench, pointing out components. She can identify maybe one in three, right now, and some of them are the size of an old-fashioned CRT television set.

"These towers here," about the size of a common water glass, "are mana accumulators. They're what gathers energy to fuel the spells. Then it's channeled through this here, which does something to even out the flow, and into this storage matrix."

And so on she goes, showing off the main processing core, data storage, and other parts she's identified so far.

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "So, it's down to a magical science, hmm?" Chloe says as she looks at the different parts. "it almost looks like a computer's innards to me." She then makes a face. "it's funny. I'm partly understanding this and math has never been my best subject."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"You'll find you'll get better at it, quickly. Building new spells, even tweaking existing ones... it's all math. Very high order math, at that."

Mikoto pats one of the processor units. "That's why you have an AI to back you up."

Carnwennan's synthesized voice echoes from one of the boxes. ("Meister is learning the required skills very quickly.")

She reddens a bit, and pats it again. "Aww. You flatter me."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "All math? Oh crap. Welp...I'm screwed. I've mostly been going on instinct until now, but I need higher math....well....as long as it's not exact numbers, I think I can handle it." Chloe says as she looks at the components. "Mine doesn't really talk unless it's an emergency."

'That's because you said I freak you out when I talk.' her device speaks.

"That was at first....."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto points out a few more components, some of which she has only a vague idea of their function. "Like I said, you'll learn. It takes time and study, is all."

She casts a glance over at Chloe's Device. "And they don't tend to be terribly chatty, it's true."

Freaking her out when it talks? Well, it can be kind of surprising. "So, you're getting used to that sort of thing? Good..."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "I still jump a little when she speaks, but thankfully, it's usually useful." Chloe then crosses her arms and ponders. "I have to wonder something, Mikoto..."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto walks over towards another empty workbench, and turns to face Chloe. "Hmm? Ask away."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "Well.....You know the whole friend of a friend, etc etc. Well...that person needs help, and she's being forced to do....unspeakable things because her brother is being held hostage." She then takes a breath. "And I need to speak to the guardians in Seiyou public about this...."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto blinks. To her it's a very familiar story. Although she first heard it from the other perspective, of the brother doing things because the sister was held hostage. "Seiyou Guardians..."

It all comes together fairly quickly after that. "Would you be speaking of Utau Hoshina-san?"

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Chloe nods. "mmhmm. I just happened to be around when she asked a a couple of friends of mine, but I initially didn't like her. She seemed abrasive."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto nods. "Ikuto can be abrasive too, if you let him. You've just got to push past it. They're both decent people underneath... trapped in a pretty bad situation."

She doesn't mention, right now, that she and Ikuto are... involved. It's hard to think about, given his current status, and what Chloe's revealed about her own past.

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "Ikuto is her brother, huh? So I imagine you know about the corporation that is making them do stuff? Cuz I don't." Chloe says turning a bit. "SO they're both prisoners, hmm? the only thing I'm finding strange is.......what are they doing? I had to confront Utau once to keep her from attacking someone......."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"It's kind of a long story," Mikoto begins, and pulls up a chair to sit in as she tells the tale.

"Basically - and I'm glossing over bits here - children apparently have what's called a Heart's Egg, which is the manifestation of their dreams and hopes for the future. The Guardians are the ones whose dreams are powerful enough to manifest directly."

She waves her hands as she talks, gesturing to indicate the size of the egg, and then a little holographic 'guardian chara' materializes on her shoulder to demonstrate.

"What Easter Corp has Utau and Ikuto doing is stealing the Heart's Eggs of other children, for some nefarious purpose of their own. I don't know all the details, but ... it's still pretty bad."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Chloe holds up her hand. "I'm sorta familiar with the heart's egg and what comes out. One of my friends, the same one I protected from Utau, had her heart's egg hatch in front of me. I've also seen a few 'little ones' around the school. It seems only the magically gifted can see them." She then listens. "Stealing heart's eggs? Why? Isn't that like stealing the dreams of children? Easter Corporation. Hmmm....."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Exactly," Mikoto agrees. "It's horrible. And each of them is being forced to do it, or the other will be punished." She sighs and hangs her head.

"I promised Ikuto I'd help him get them out... and now he's stuck in there with them. His Guardian, Yoru, is around here somewhere... probably out chasing mice, right now..." She shakes her head.

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "Well...it looks like we'll need to get them both out, hmm?" Chloe says quietly. "We'll figure it out. I imagine Utau and Ikuto will be forced to fight us, or else.." She then looks at her device. "Hmmm.....I wonder if these have ever become gloves or something similar. Because a spear, a scythe and any other type of slashing weapon would be kind of.....unwieldy in close quarters."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"I've seen one person who uses gauntlets, at least. That kind of what you had in mind?" Mikoto's referring to 'Ms White', of course.

"The staff is kind of traditional for Mid-type devices... I'd say about three in four of them use it."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "I like the staff, but it's kinda hard to swing around when there's a hallway. KNow what I mean?" Chloe says with a smirk. "Can it change into gauntlets, armor, or something like that incause it's too unwieldy for a staff?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto muses, straightening in her chair. "Well... I know it's possible to have alternate forms that vary pretty widely... at least in a Belkan Device. I've never seen it done in a Mid-style, though... it ought to work."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "It's worth a try sometimes, I guess." Chloe says as she crosses her arms again. "Maybe this can be a testing area for us." She then smirks. "yeah, I suggested against it earlier, but well....it's out of prying eyes....."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"I work here a lot," Mikoto agrees, stretching out again. "There's room, there's gear, I've got a couple of bedrooms set up in case someone needs a place to stay over..."

She grins. "Nice and private, so we can work on your technique without anyone seeing the embarassing failures."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "Just as long as we don't practice huge attacks here, I'm sure we wouldn't be bothered here." Chloe looks about a bit. "Hmmm.....And this is your warehouse, so I'll ask you before I bring anyone here." She then thinks. "you can fly, right?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Flying is the best part of all this, yes." If there's one thing Mikoto thoroughly loves about being a Knight-Mage, it's the freedom of the skies.

"Huge attacks... I do those mostly in simulation, a Device can generate a VR environment for you to work in. Or we can go out over the ocean a few miles."

She considers for a moment, then ahs. "Carnwennan, send Burning Soul my contact - email, phone number, you know."

("Affirmative, Meister. Message sent.")

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Burning Soul bwips a couple of times before it glows blow. ("Message received.") Said in a easy to listen to voice. "Thanks Burning Soul." Chloe then chuckles. "I was thinking about a code name for myself, but I think I'll just forgo that. if I'm gonna fight, I'm gonna fight. No need for dramatic entrances."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Eh, you might as well think about it anyway. I use one. Carnwennan has some nice disguise spells, so people can't recognize me when I'm 'in costume'."

Mikoto grins and gestures. "Show her, partner."

Carnwennan acknowledges the order, and a hologram of a young woman in a sharp blue suit is displayed.

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Chloe looks over and hehs. "My barrier jacket is.....certain different than what I normally wear. But I'll think of a codename in time." She says softly. "I'd better get home though. it's a lot to think about as it is."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Sure, sure. You flying, taking the bus, taxi?" She curls up and out of the chair.

"Storage Form, Carnwennan." The Device on the workbench folds itself up and back into the tiny amulet, which drops into her hand.

"Let me at least walk you out."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    "Faster flying to get home." Chloe says pulling out her phone and dialing a number. "Hey Ma. It's Chloe. I'll be on my way home shortly. Flying.......yeah I know. I'll be careful." She then chuckles. "They worry when I fly.'

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Well, then." Mikoto walks with you to the door. "Thanks for coming out and all. I might like to introduce you to a friend or two, when you're ready for it."

At the door, she reaches up to squeeze your shoulder. "Have a good flight, friend."

Chloe Stingray has posed:
    Chloe gives Mikoto a hug before her barrier jacket comes on, and she flies off into the air. She's a fast flyer too.