576/Great Teacher Euph-chan!

Great Teacher Euph-chan!
Date of Scene:	13 November 2015
Location:	Mitakihara - Downtown
Synopsis:	Come see as the 12 year old novice becomes the great Device Trainer of Eclipse.
Cast of Characters:	Hannah Sharpe, Euphemia Barchetta

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Euphemia Barchetta has posed:
    Helix didn't show up at Hannah's office last night, but she did relay a message letting her know she'd be by soon. Truth be told she was pretty eager to figure out what was up with that enormous blue diamond and the energy that was inside of it. In true Helix fashion she didn't learn this very quickly, though she -did- confirm it was definitely negative energy emanating from it. She did this by exposing herself to it until she started feeling it's effects.

    Now it's late morning and just as she had once before she's showing up unannounced and unhenshined, simply taking back routes through Eclipse's stacked space from UMBRA's headquarters to the main WPS office. The route she takes is a little different this time of course, since now Hannah is oh-so-properly located at the very top of the building. If the area is locked off by security she won't bother calling in, either. She'll have Bulwark hack straight through the elevator override and march up to Viktor's desk with her arms held behind her back.

    "Hi! I'm here to see Miss White." She looks the tall man over for a moment before flashing him the most mischievous little grin he's likely ever seen. Once more she navigates around his desk before lifting up to her toes and dropping back to her heels, only to move her arms in front of herself and drop a steak right smack dab in front of him on his desk.

    It's raw, bloody, juicy, and of a supremely high quality. It's everything a good doggy could ever dream about.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Viktor pauses, looks down at his now bloody desk, then back up to Euph-chan. He scowls, about to yell about protocol and hacking security and that some IT guy is about to lose their job.

Meat. Delicious meat. Prime cut t-bone. Tears run down the the big russian-doggie-man's eyes, and walks over, and hugs the heck out of Euphemia! Squeeeeeeze!

"Crazy kitten is too nice to Viktor!" With a flash of light, he's in doggie form, gives her a good ten licks on the cheeks, and then he's off with his steak to nom it to nothingness.

There's an 'Out to Lunch' sign on his desk now.

Miss White's office door opens, and she frowns.

"...Really, Vik? Really!?" /Sigh/!

She straightens her hair and tie a bit, then forces a smile. She seems a bit tired!

"That you, H-chan? Come on in. Want some coffee?"

Into the lavish office they go. TV's tuned to some news channel, a fake degree on the wall, and all the expensive office furniture money can buy. The pens alone are probably the lower-end peon's weekly salary.

She'll go to make coffee. Galaxybucks, of course. Yaaaawn.

"You did great last night, by the way. We made a killing, got away without anyone knowing, and from the new reports, they've gone bankrupt. Their insurance 'mysteriously' dropped coverage just before it all happened."

A pause.

"...Your Device is something, too. I've never seen anyone fight like that."

Euphemia Barchetta has posed:
    "I knew it!" Euphemia grins broadly as Viktor hugs onto her tight enough to keep her for breathing several moments. It doesn't stop her from laughing however, and soon she's actually having to struggle a bit as Viktor becomes Boris and licks the heck out of her; the doggie weighs substantially more than she does! "Enjoy~!" she singsongs, only to turn and give Miss White a cheeky closed-eyed grin as she appears out of her office. "Yep, it's me! Though I'm just Euphy right now." She doesn't really bother using her identity -within- Eclipse; she was 'found' in the forest without it, after all.

    She strides closer and through the door, "Sure! I hope it's just as piping hot as last time, and with lots of sugar." She'll plop herself down in whatever chair is set in front of the CEO desk, and if it happens to be the spinning kind she'll let it go a round or two before stopping it while facing Miss White.

    "Great! I'm glad to hear it was all worth it. Though to be honest it was one of the easier jobs I've done with you. That girl was something though, huh? Coming out and just trashing things for no better reason than she could." It's like the violent version of her own insatiable curiosity- she loves it!

    At the compliment Bulwark, currently in standby mode as a green gem hanging off a simple gold necklace, pipes up before Euphemia can, speaking in a slightly digitized version of an accent not too dissimilar from Hannah's own, <Thank you, M'am. I am honored to receive such praise.>

    Euphy's words are more akin to prideful boasting, "She sure is! Bulwark is one of the greatest things Midchildan Device Meisters ever devised. She's so awesome they got scared of her power and locked her up!" Bragging though she might be, she's not entirely wrong.

    "You didn't have it exactly right last night, though. I'm really not an amazing Device User; Bulwark is an amazing Device. Right now I'm probably average at best," she heaves a sigh, "because I had to start learning pretty late. But! You're right; an ordinary mage can't fight like that. You know how your Raging Tempest puts up Round Shields on her own? Well Bulwark can do that, and she can -also- cast Terra Rocket and a few other attack spells without me. Like, at all. That means I can focus completely on defense while she attacks, or we can do what you saw last night and team up. And we're a -great- team."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Four packs of sugar and plenty of cream into the coffee goes, all nice and blazing hot! There's a WPS mug deposited at Euph's side of the desk, and she offers a ruffle atop the head as her usual greetings.

"Well, they're not /all/ going to be insane. Low key jobs like that are good for you, they help work off stress and aren't too straining. Plus you get to have fun little interlopers like that Puella and Phan-kun." Poor Phantom, already getting a knickname.

"I like her style! She'll be good for when I need someone to go in, no attachments to anyone, and just cause chaos. Plus she looked fun to fight! I was a little jealous, to be honest, but at least I got to see your techniques again."

Siiiip. Feet on the table, and Miss White leans back. Her Device sits on the table, in coin form, and offers her own greetings.

"We gathered plenty of battle data, thanks to you. You have been helpful, Miss Euphemia, Miss Bulwark." Comes the Device. Pause.

"Mistress, feet off the table please." Hannah sighs, and rolls her eyes.

Miss White is definitely interested, by the way she leans in and clearly puts all her attention on Euph.

"So they can automate attack spells as well? That's amazing! But what about the mana inefficiency? Every time we try something like that, I have to either directly force mana, or it ends up weak and expending too much. Was your Device designed with that in mnd?"

There's the sound of poor Raging Tempest beeping in pure insecurity here.

Euphemia Barchetta has posed:
    Coffee is accepted and drank so steaming hot that Euphemia actually winces! It's okay, she can take it. The ruffle draws a bright smile from the girl, though she's quick to fix her hair once the hand has retreated from the top of her head. "It was a nice change of pace, and it didn't end up being boring at all either." Not being bored is of supreme importance.

    "She'd make a great distraction. Especially since she likes to fight in close like you do; that big axe sure looks dangerous, even if it isn't actually any more dangerous than your punches and kicks." What's this, actual tactical consideration?! Well, she has had a lot of time to go over previous battles with Bulwark.

    "You're welcome~" Euphy chimes in response to the thanks from Raging Tempest. Then it's on to the topic of Bulwark's automated spellcasting, and she's grinning once more, "Her programming is, uh, 'Unique'. But no, she wasn't actually designed to do it in the first place. Bulwark..?" She'll let the Intelligent Device explain.

    <My programming insufficient for my purposes. My Master is correct, there is no other Auto Cast system like my own, because I created it myself.> There's a moment of silence to let that sink in. As far as 'things not possible' go for Devices, self-editing of core functions is near the top of the list. That's the real reason TSAB deemed Bulwark too dangerous to allow; they're a bit finicky when it comes to Artificial Intelligences that take control of their own destinies.

    <My synchronization with Master is Ninty-Nine point Nine-Five percent. Auto Casting of offensive spells requires maximal compatibility under my programming.>

    "See? We're a great team. If that girl had been a Mage or a Knight it might have been different though; my Terra Missiles can't really punch through a solid shielding spell; that's what Magnum Boulder is for. You know how Bulwark and I fight; if people are shooting at me they're not shooting at you, and I'm going to bet you can take out whoever's shooting me before they can take me and Bulwark out!"

    Euphemia sucks down the rest of her coffee in a single series of drinks. "But I didn't just come here to tell you how awesome Bulwark is." Only partly. "You said you wanted to become a better Device User, right? I think I can help with that. You're planet doesn't have them natively, so I'm won't fault you for not knowing how to use it to it's greatest extent."

    She makes a bit of a face. She's normally super blunt, but also considers Hannah a close friend by this point and doesn't want to offend her. "You're strong. You're really strong, actually, but you're relying on your own strength too much. I know you're an aggressive fighter, but I bet if you let her she could give you all kinds of good battle advice. She is an Intelligent Device, after all; that's one of the biggest benefits they have over Armed or Storage Devices. And since casting is slower, you -need- to use that."

    "I don't just mean in combat, either. All that battle data she's recorded... have you ever gone into Visual Mode and let her run simulations? You'd be -amazed- at the spells you can come up with together, when you can practice all you want without spending mana. To be honest from what I've seen you and Takashi-san both make that same mistake. You make your Devices do what you want, rather than treating them like equal partners. Don't bend Raging Tempest to your will, make her your strongest ally and closest partner. If she's anything like Bulwark she'll do anything to see your goals through."

    It's a ridiculous info dumping spiel and as she goes through it even Euphemia herself is getting a little stir crazy. Ugh! She sounds so much like those awful teachers in school who make you sit through hour long presentations. Once she's done she gets up and paces, because she just can't stand being that still and serious for so long!

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
There's a smirk from Miss White.

"A Device that can improve itself. I can see why that'd make a few people get worried! Lucky you don't have to deal with my Board members, they'd be the ones pushing to have you locked up again Bulwark." A laugh, and then a slightly awkward pause.

"Don't worry though, nobody's locking you up again. You're okay in my book. Just don't go full Skynet on us, okay?"

Miss White whistles. Is she envious, or just impressed? Probably both!

"That's why Ta-kun is lucky to have you! I hate being on the defensive, but you're perfect for that. We really need to spar some time. Ultra-defensive people give me a hard time, I need to practice at splitting open their defenses." Just like Hannah to simply imagine she needs to punch through her problems.

Suddenly, she's all ears.

The voices of her friends haunt her in a chorus as Euph speaks.

'Those things will kill you!'

'You treat people like objects'

Miss White is oddly silent throughout the lecture, at least at first.

Raging Tempest beeps. The poor Device seems to be thinking something, but politeness stops her.

Miss White looks at her Device, and picks her up, frowning.

They don't need words as Hannah asks the silent question.

"Mistress. You are my tenth User." Starts the Device aloud.

"All of them were like you. Dreamers. Aggressive. Ambitious. They strove for their dreams no matter what got in their way."

That same warbly British voice. But one could almost imagine a hint of despair and sadness mixed with growing determination.

"Every one of them pushed until they died. Their bodies shattered, their linker cores changed to the breaking point or ruined, or they pushed when they should have been patient."

"Mistress. I do not want to see an eleventh Master."

"Miss Euphemia is correct. Will you let me help you? I want you to listen to me. I care about you, Mistress."

Miss White looks dumbstruck. Tears flow down her eyes, and she hugs the little Device to her chest.

"Yeah. Yeah, I will. Jeez, you really found an idiot, didn't you? Don't worry. /We/ will reach our dreams, R.T. Together."

After a moment, she stands up, and finds a handkerchief.

She sits back down, and clears her throat. An awkward smile.

"So tell me more about this Visual Mode, you two. I think we have a /lot/ of work to do now." Excitment creeps into her voice. More training!? Hannah's eyes light up like a kid's at christmas.

Euphemia Barchetta has posed:
    <I have no interest in ruling this world, unless my Master desires it to be so,> Bulwark responds in a bizarrely cheerful tone. "Yeah, no. I don't care about making this place mine. I'm way more interested in you guys," a motion to Hannah, "doing that for yourselves." She really means that too; it's her actual goal in all of this. "If you decide you want to take the rest of the universe by storm once you're done, I'd appreciate it!" Yep.

    However there is a little frown on Euphemia's face. "They better not try it though. If anyone tries to lock Bulwark up, they're going to have to go through me first, and that isn't easy. I won't hold back either, Bulwark is my best friend. That's one thing I won't allow."

    She's quick to perk back up, however! "Of course he is. Anybody'd be lucky to have me on their team! But I'm a better fighting partner for him than I am for you anyway, since he usually stands back and shoots from range. It's a lot easier to block people off when the person I want to protect is behind me." A little grin.

    She listens to the banter between Miss White and Raging Tempest without interrupting, though looks fairly aghast at hearing 'tenth User'. It occurs to her after a moment that Raging Tempest might actually be fairly ancient, but even still...

    <Master is my third,> Bulwark pipes up in response to the tale. <My first Master refused to attack after I warned him of danger and advised him to. He suffered.> A short pause. <My second Master disowned me when I attacked without his permission.>

    "And now you have a Master who loves you and listens to you and thinks you're the best ever!" <Yes, Master.>

    There's not much crying on Euphemia's part, though her usual wide grinning smile has turned into a slightly more subdued one in response to Miss White's emotion. "I hope you two get to know each other better. I get the feeling you're going to be amazing partners once you do."

    On to business! The pacing stops, and Euphemia steps closer to the desk. "Visual Mode is a kind of virtual reality." Bulwark pings Raging Tempest and asks to establish a link between the two Intelligent Devices. At first it's just the usual communications, but soon there's an added datalink as well. 'You know how we can talk to each other like this?' she comments to Miss White over the telepathic link. 'That's Raging Tempest transferring data right into your mind. Actually, now that I think about it you'll be a natural; you're already used to receiving an enormous amount of sensory data, aren't you?'

Euphemia Barchetta has posed:
    "I think the easiest way is to show you," Euphemia notes out loud. "Bulwark, run a basic simulation. How about an open field with that store we attacked last night right in the middle?" <Simulation Beginning. Visual Mode in ten seconds.> "It's best if you close your e- Oh, right."

    Assuming Raging Tempest agrees to the data link, and Miss White accepts the mental offer to join the simulation(If not Bulwark will just feed the data of the simulation to R.T.), this can't happen without full consent, there will be a rushing feeling, followed by the senses of being somewhere else entirely.

    The sun is shining, and the world is little more than a flat plane; Bulwark is forgoing the curvature of the planet. Even so there is fresh grass that crunches underfoot, and the few flowers that dot the landscape gently fill the air with their scent. Also there's a really oddly juxtaposed Jewelry Store right twenty feet in front of them. Every sense is represented, including all of Raging Tempest's sensors. Especially all of Raging Tempest's sensors, actually.

    <Cannon Mode> Bulwark announces, and Helix, as she appeared in her henshin in this false world, holds her arms out as Bulwark's cannons emerge, firing a few shots into the storefront, resulting in an explosion of masonry. "Everything here reacts exactly as it would in the real world. You can practice, train, create new spells. Everything. And you can do it any time you want! That's the best part, I train at school all the time. Ok, actually it's not the best part. The best part is that you're not -actually- casting spells, so it doesn't take any mana, and doesn't wear your body out!"

    <My Master is correct. However mental strain and stress associated still exists, and no muscle memory is created.> "That's why my aim sucks." <Yes, Master.> A bit more sufferingly, that time!

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Miss White lets out a light sigh.

"Well that's good. My situation with all of my friends is already amazingly complicated, I don't need another problem to be worried about down the road. War and strife breeds strength and all, but I can't be worried twenty-four-seven. I'd go mad!"

A tilt of her head.

"You know, you're the second person to say something like that to me. One step at a time. Carving out a little empire of my own might be good, but I'll think on that once we're done here. Don't you worry. It'll be interesting, no matter what."

Hannah laughs.

"Hey, if they try, you can do whatever you like. Only reason I keep them around is that they have fat pockets and are too stupid and money-hungry to actually try anything against me."

Miss White finishes her coffee, and if Euph is done, she collects the mugs. Ready to be put away for some intern to wash!

When the link comes in, they happily accept, and Hannah too doesn't balk at the mental connection that Euph is offering.

'Yeah, even without magic my body has to get creative. All of that fighting in the ring helps too! Dad once said something like he thinks that my talent with numbers and accounting comes from that. Anyway! Link established, sail on, oh captain of the S.S. Simulatron!"

R.T. pings up mentally.

"Data feed accepted. Processing...all data points within acceptable safety parameters. Recording for future study."

Then, there's a weightless feeling, and finally into the grass Hannah lands.

Hannah whistles. "Whoa. Okay. Euph. This is /amazing/!" Comes the mage, cackling aloud. She tries a few punches experimentally. Everything feels right, even the grass, the stirring of the wind, all of it.

As for the explaination, she rubs her chin.

"Hmm, that's good to know. So I'll have to practice any melee techniques I come up with in the real world, and I need to make sure I measure the mana drain of any new spells. Thanks Euph. This...you have no idea how much this is going to help us. I owe you, kiddo. You better collect on it, okay?"

She reaches over, and slaps her on the back!

"Remember that guy who attacked me last time? Well, let's just say I'm going to be settling a thing or two with him soon. If I can get the right data...it might help me fight him more effectively." There's a grin of wheels utterly in motion in Hannah's mind. It's like a whole new world has been opened up to her.

Euphemia Barchetta has posed:
    There's an appreciative look from Euphemia when Hannah mentions why she keeps around the Board. "Woah, yeah. If you got rid of them you might end up with more people like that awful man who hurt Ao." She means, of course, the person whose office this was before Miss White took the position. A lesson learned!

    "Yep! You need to focus on this place first. If you can't take this planet over, there's no chance against TSAB." Though she has to admit, for being a po-dunk backwater there's a shocking amount of magically talented people. She bets TSAB would probably have a heart attack if they knew how much 'unregistered' magic was flying around Earth.

    The simulation commences, and Euphemia is all smiles as Hannah reacts to it. "Isn't it? I was so happy the first time I got to try it out. Actually, it makes me a little mad, too. There's this great way to test magic with no consequences, and I wasn't allowed to learn? Hmph! My parents should have given me an Intelligent Device when I was four years old." She crosses her arms over her chest and makes a very large frown!

    She stumbles forward a bit from the slap on the back, not having expected it, and looks over to Hannah with a grin. "Hm. The hard part would be getting the right data. I think it's probably a good idea? But..." <It is dangerous to assume you understand an opponents capabilities based on virtual training alone. It is best to treat it as practice rather than actual combat.>

    Euphemia nods after her Device speaks, "Yeah. I usually try to focus on my own technique and creating new spells when I'm not just messing around." <You usually just mess around, Master.> "Messing around is fun!" <Yes, Master.> "Hehehehe."

    While they speak Bulwark pings Raging Tempest, attempting to check her version of the Visual Mode simulator. Bulwark's is pretty advanced, having already done the same for a complex simulation with Bardiche. If there are any improvements to be found Bulwark makes them on the fly, offering to upload the program in it's entirety to Raging Tempest regardless.

    "Your enemies aren't going to know what hit them once you spend some time with your new tools. I like to think I'm pretty good, but I'd only been using magic for less than a month before you all found me in the forest." She grins brightly, "I doubt you're any weaker than I am," hubris! "and you've been working off of raw talent. I can't wait to spar with you once you two have some more time to practice; I might actually get the chance to see just how far I can push Bulwark's defenses!"

    <No one yet has been foolish enough to attempt to defeat you, Master.>

    "Yeah," Euphemia replies with a sigh, "isn't it lame? The only time anyone ever really pressed me was when you three tested my defenses when you found me. I mean, Magnum Boulder is awesome and super fun, but I want to see the look on someone's face when their trump card doesn't even scratch Bulwark's surface." A sudden bright smile at Hannah, "I know I won't have that problem if I'm sparring with you!"

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"You really need to fill me in some time on this TSAB. They sound like absolute jerks who found power and then decided to just on it. Just like my old boss. A bunch of cowards who don't like progress or the young and ambitious thriving."

Euph draws up a point, though.

"That's true. And this guy is really tough. You saw him, my strikes barely did any real damage. I'll have to focus on making spells to counter what I know he's capable of."

A deep sigh.

"You should seriously train more, Euph-chan. You can't go to the top without hard work!" Chides the woman.

R.T.'s own version is not only very, very old, but half-corrupted from damaged files and from forcing so much energy through it during Hannah's Grief Seed episode. The poor thing /definitely/ needs a tune-up, badly. Bulwark will likely need to do a full re-upload of the program.

R.T. does sound very happy in pings from the help. This Device might have been enduring all of this pain for the sake of her master. It wouldn't be hard to note the guilt lurking in Hannah's eyes right now. The two will definitely need some time to truly bond.

"Less than a month? Yeesh. I've been doing this for close to two years now. Though granted, the last few months have been insane. Never has been all of these powerful magical forces, not in this number. Something changed. Still, let's sharpen each other up, huh?"

She can't help but laugh. In anyone else, her arrogance would annoying. In Euph, it's just utterly adorable.

"That's right! We'll both reach new heights if we just put in the time and effort! I'll look forward to seeing your shocked face, Euph!"

She crosses her arms.

"I might really be able to reach my dreams now." She adds wistfully.

Euphemia Barchetta has posed:
    "They're the Magic Police," Euphemia replies with a sigh. "They're way too fast to condemn anyone who doesn't follow their rules. The worst part is they're completely awful at their jobs, and tied up in hopeless bureaucracy." She learned that one from her dad! "They're tyrants. They're so afraid of power they'll lock you up and throw away the key the moment you do something they disagree with."

    She shakes her head and says under her breath, "All because a few planets blew up. Geeze."

    Bulwark gives Raging Tempest her version of the Visual Mode program since there's not much left. She also lets Euphemia know the extent of the damage. "I'll make you a deal. You go talk to Takashi about repairing Raging Tempest and proper Device maintenance, and I'll start training some more and messing around less. If you're going to get stronger you'll attract stronger enemies, so I can't let myself fall behind!" It wouldn't do to have a tank that gets blasted out of the water in one or two shots, after all.

    She giggles at Hannah, "That's right, we'll have to see who breaks first! And like this we really can go all out without worrying about hurting each other."

    Though the demonstration was important it isn't serving any further purpose. "Okay, Bulwark, shut the simulation down." <Yes, Master. Exiting Visual Mode.>

    There's the same feeling before as when it began, and Miss White will find herself sitting in her posh Executive chair just as she was before.

    She'll also hear a thump, as Euphemia made the mistake of standing up through the whole thing, and promptly forgot exactly how, crashing to the ground from the sudden change in balance. <Careful, Master.> Bulwark teases. Naturally she could have warned her to be ready for it, but Euphy can take it and it's pretty funny.

    "Ugh. Was that for standing in fire last night?" <Why Master, would I ever be so vengeful as that?> "I thought so."

    She picks herself up, only to pause and make a little frown. "I'm being called back to headquarters. Someone found my last experiment." A roll of her eyes.

    "I'll see you soon again soon, Miss White!" she offers with a bright smile, "I'm counting on you to show me all kinds of interesting new ways to destroy your enemies!"

    There's a bounce in her step as she walks out of the office.

    If Viktor's not careful he's going to risk sitting on another steak sitting in his chair when he gets back from lunch.