2022-01-31: Dual Alliances

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<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

The fact that there was an 'outside Tsutsujidai City' that was immensely different from the outside Rikka's memories told her existed was one surprise. The fact that Calibur had friends - or at least connections - in this outside was another. Arrangements had been made to meet up at a train station around sunset, where they would take the train to Fujiyokidai. This was, from their experiments, the easiest way to make sure they'd up at their intended destination.

Not Fujiyokidai, of course, but Tsutsujidai. What was the connection there...? ...It's too much to think about right now. Rikka, presently sitting at a bench in front of the mostly empty train station, pushes the thought of her head, instead drawing out her cellphone from a sweater pocket and tapping away at the screen. To offset some of the trepidation she's feeling at these new people they're meeting, more than anything.

"...What do you think they're like? These people we're meeting, I mean. I hope they're not just a bunch of old guys..." Rikka asks, looking up from her phone at the others. 

<Pose Tracker> Sho Utsumi has posed.

Sho Utsumi had pitched the tests. He was as flabbergasted that he was ABSOLUTELY CORRECT about alternate realities as he was excited. Tarabaman Flash...

He was currently staring at a wall clock, sighing quietly. "If they are, we should at least be able to keep our story straight. Old guys are really bad at judging young people, after all." He mutters, because if someone realized the truth about Gridman without them being ready, it'd be a problem.

Sho then picks up his phone noticing Rikka's, realizing he had made an error.

He never once tested if he gets cell service to Tsutsujidai, because he had nobody to call. Presumably, he doesn't, which just makes it more curious how Calibur was able to call these people...

...in space. 

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

At this point, Riku had been an official hobo for a week or so. He wasn't unused to the Hobo-life, having had to be one a few years after moving out on his own, sometimes due to not having a job and sometimes due to monster attacks eating his home before he became an Ultra. There are still things on his mind, concerns he has...but right now things are going alright.

Getting a message on his phone from a contact causes him to raise an eyebrow. He didn't know this one directly, but a friend of a friend kind of situation. Zero was likely still looking out for him, even now. Riku had also more or less gotten the how to get in and how to leave the strange city, but not the why. Maybe this contact will know that? Well, maybe he'll know where Gillvalis escaped too?

So at the appointed time, a young Japanese man in jeans, a jean shirt, with an orange shirt with a blue painted log on its chest. He carries a smile on his face, a face that seems more at rest with a smile than a frown. He pulls out his flip phone, checking the message, looking around, and confirming he was at the right place...

"Hello, I'm Riku Asakura.." he pauses for a moment, "I was supposed to meet someone here.." another pause, "I'm guessing you are too?" 

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Calibur glances to the side, at Rikka, and offers a quiet murmur of assurace, " .. they're good people .. p-probably." he smiles. Borr blinks, "Did he just crack a joke..? Wow.."

Vit is sprawled across a nearby bench, ignoring the world as he read some raunchy romcom manga he found in one of the nearby stands, and Max stands waiting with one hand placed neatly over a fist held just at his abdomen. The epitome of a polite, formal, and taciturn man.

He seemed absorbed in thought.

With a blanch, "Guess Max's good humor had to go somewhere, huh?" Borr says.

Yuta scratches a cheek, having been seated beside Rikka, "Ha ha .."

He'd clearly had a lot on his mind, having been taking in the sights with everyone else. The Neon Genesis Highschoolers hadn't really seemed very perturbed about the state of the world, and the fact that Calibur had contacts on the outside meant that it was easy to put two and two together to realize they probably did have a good idea of what was going on - more than they'd been willing to share.

And they'd pretty staunchly deflected any attempts from Yuta to question that. It was .. troubling.

He didn't like how closed off he felt from them, in that instance.

It's like being shut out of part of my own mind .. but that's a pretty weird comparison, isn't it? We didn't meet until too long ago, so I shouldn't take this so personally.

He tried to think of something to say to Sho or Rikka that wouldn't bring down their spirits. Before he could say something inane like, 'so ... the weather out here is really crazy, right?' Riku shows up to curtail that cliche.

"Oh ... erm, yes ... my name is Yuta Hibiki. You're - " he felt something stirring in his chest, or maybe his brain.

" - Riku Asakura .. I see. It's nice to meet you ... we're waiting to meet a group of people, and you're coming to meet a group of people .. so it seems farfetched for that to be a coincidence, right?"

Calibur, his swords rattling as he walks forward with his hands slid into his pockets, nods. " .. welcome .."

A trashcan lid falls off from making contact with one of his hilts.

It's kind of incredible that it didn't just knock over the trashcan completely. " .. er .. "

Max inclines his head towards Riku, "Hello. I hope you don't mind if we coninue waiting for the others who are supposed to come." 

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

The others aren't far away at all.

NOT LONG AGO

Sayla sits in the lounge in of home, as she reacclimates to Spain's winter weather, with a hot chocolate that was definitely topped up a shot of Granadan Caramel Liquer. She didn't have the most fondness for the name, but the taste was excellent.

And then her phone rang, and she reached for it, only to pause. It wasn't that phone. It was the secure one. The Alliance one. She pics it up from it's charging cradle, and looks at it.

UNKNOWN CALLER

That's a cause for concern. Maybe someone had their secure comms lost. She grimaced, and answered.

"Who is this?"

NOW

Sayla is walking towards a train station in Tokyo. At least it was still cold. She wears a thick brown coat, and a green and white checkered scarf, a tasteful black beret and.. her sunglasses.

No she's not hungover. This time.

She made contact with others- particularly those involved in the 'Tsutsujidai Incident' and she had done her research. It was disconcerting, because frankly, there was nothing. She put her people on it. Also nothing. So she was coming with a group. She didn't know what to expect. Her sidearm was secured under her coat, just in case. It wouldn't be the first time someone has tried to lure her out to attack her.

At least Kai isn't here to rub it in after saving her this time.

She pauses, looking at the group gathered. A youg man in his 20s, three teens, a child in a suit, two older men- a too young pretty boy and a haggard looking man- and someone she'd guess as Zentradi, especially with the cybernetics around his jaw. It's an eclectic mix. She casts an eye to her companions. "Anyone you recognize?" She asks towards Sakura, before moving to the group.

"Good evening." She says, taking off her sunglasses and revealing her blue eyes. "I'm Sayla Mass." She pauses, like this question is going to be insane. "Which of you... wanted us to help Gridman?" 

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Shinguji has posed.

In a way, Sakura Shinguji looks a lot like someone from another world compared to Tsutsujidai.

Most people don't wear a kimono and hakama in this day and age. The short young woman has a pink kimono, with a floral print on it, and a red hakama. This is just sort of how she dresses unless it is completely impossible. She has a red ribbon tied behind her head. She also has a sheathed katana at her side. But, as she walks up the steps of the train station, she seems at home with trains.

She looks ahead -- and spots Rikka and Utsumi. She thinks she recognizes their voices, but the change in circumstance makes it harder. She looks to Riku, then, next; she is less familiar with that one. She also doesn't recognize Yuta or the Neon Genesis Junior High students, either.

She walks along a little after Sayla. She gave a report on the Tsutsujidai Incident. It didn't really explain much.

She shakes her head once. "No, but... we were in mobile weapons the entire time." She looks back at them, smiles, and ducks her head politely. Not quite a full bow. "Hello! It's so nice to meet you face-to-face. I'm Sakura Shinguji." A beat. "I was in the very small pink mobile weapon. With a sword."

She smiles and taps hers. 

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Chibodee shows up to shadow Sayla because someone's got to keep an eye on her. He always dresses the same. Economical, you know. He doesn't really understand all the politics in play here, but he knows that Sayla needs some extra eyes on her back for a while after the party. So he's here, hands taped, because he doesn't know what they're going to walk into.

Chibodee doesn't introduce himself. He's famous. Chibodee nods politely and hangs off to the side, keeping an eye on things. 

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

crreeak.

crrreaeeeaak.

Squeaky wheels turn. A shopping cart is approaching the gathering. It turns around a street corner and it seems there is more than one homeless person involved here as one has just decided to roll into view. The shopping cart is carrying a shopping bag within which are numerous coins that Nidaime has collected in time. It is being pushed by a strange child.

And the homeless child is not looking at Sakura, her buddy, or even Chibodee, who taught her about boys, nor even Auntie Sayla RIGHT THERE. Nope. She's looking straight at Yuta Hibiki.

And she grins wide after a moment of staring at him, "We finally meet."

She walks slowly like she has all the time in the world.

Nidaime? Well Nidaime is a young girl--maaaaybe thirteen? Maybe a little younger? Hard to tell. She has black hair that gets that really greasy like if you haven't washed it in a while and she just plain smells. She is carrying a sleeping bag on her back as well as a backpack and is wearing a brown and green hoodie. The strangest element are her eyes, though. They are sort of an orange-red color. And when she smiles wide, you can see the hints of fangs.

But she doesn't introduce herself either. She doesn't even call herself The Second. She just walks closer and closer with the shopping cart. Her earbuds remain, firmly, in her ear but the music is only for Nidaime right now. You can't quite hear it though there's the faint buzz of something playing from the music playing device in her jacket pocket.

"........."

She then turns her head towards Chibodee and Sayla. "Oh!!" She tells Yuta. "You don't know Chibi yet. He helps at a homeless shelter in New Yark. He has Uncle Max's job now. He got me milkshakes. You really should try milkshakes..."

She giggles boisterously, allowing Yuta to get a nice good whiff of Nidaime-breath. 

<Pose Tracker> Sumire Kanzaki has posed.

Sakura Shinguji is not alone in this sartorial choice. It may be more common on Neo-Japan? But that would be because of the blessing... of money.

Sumire Kanzaki, during the part of the walk where they are not in sight of their guests, has a fan out - Sayla and Chibodee might, if they look closely, recognize it as a much newer fan, made of thick paper and plastic instead of the gently-jeweled metal-and-fabric of the one she gave away - but the effect is the same. She's fanning herself.

She has not complained about the humidity. (Sakura in her turn probably knows that she's totally thinking it, though.)

As they get nearer, though, Sumire's hand flips round, folding the fan up as she steps forwards. "Good afternoon. I am Sumire Kanzaki; a colleague of Ms. Shinguji's. It's good to meet you." She bows as well, and also pockets the fan, and ALSO glances over to glance towards... A shopping cart carrying a bag of spare change.

Sumire does not move, other than her eyes, which go from a direct angle at Nidaime - to a momentary focus on Calibur - to a sideways look towards Sakura. Her eyebrows raise and her eyes widen with a slow, steady movement over the course of about a second and a half. 


<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Yuta cocks his head to the side at seeing Sakura face-to-face along with Sumire, with a blink as he leans forward on his bench. And then a second, owlish blink. They looks like they're from the middle ages, or something ... but I guess it's not that weird.

Samurai Calibur acknowledges her with a small nod and a smile, his own swords rattling from their position at the back of his waist. "..you were very brave to fight in that small machine..and, we're happy to have your ally here as well.." he says, quietly. It was easy to get the impression that he was a very softspoken person.

He was also the one who had called Sayla, and identifies himself accordingly.

Max turns to face Sayla and Chibodee fully. "My name is Max," he introduces himself. Borr cuts in, "Also, to save time, I'll run through the rest of us quickly - I'm Borr, that's Calibur, and the lazy bum right there is Vit."

Vit waves, just as lazily as he was nominated, without taking his face from his manga or leaving from his spot on the bench.

"Fuu..~ .. isn't this a great reunion?" he mutters, without addressing anyone in particular.

"Uhm, I'm Yuta Hibiki," he introduces himself again - "and these are my friends ... " he motions for Sho and Rikka.

And then a loud creaking fills the air while Nidaime rolls up basically uninvited. Looking at her, Yuta couldn't help but feel a kind of - void settling somewhere unplaceable, and a thick, throbbing ache assailing each side of his head. It was the same kind of frustrating pain he felt whenever Gridman would speak, before Calibur had modified Junk to allow the others to see and hear him as well.

"Nn...nn..."

Yuta places a hand against his head, and Nidaime's morning-afternoon-evening breath didn't really make the experience anymore pleasant.

Abruptly, the sensation abates and the only thing he's left to deal with is the assault on his nostrils. He decides to breath through his mouth instead.

Moving from a cringe into a small smile, Yuta stands up from his seat to actually address everyone properly - starting with Nidaime. " ... hello there." he starts.

The Neon Genesis highschoolers had all watched carefully, even Vit had shifted his manga to the side to observe in a rare show of actual interest.

"I'd love to try milkshakes with you - but .. before that .. would you like to try a mint? They're really yummy, I have gum too." he gives his gentlest offer.

His bright blue eyes look up to nod towards Chibodee and Sayla, "And uhm .. like I was going to say before, it's nice to meet you guys .."

If he recognized either of them for their fame, he certainly didn't show it. In fact, he looked like he didn't know them from jack.

Max can't help but laugh a little, his jaw shuddering lightly as he does, before he reaches out to place his large hand with on Nidaime's head with a favorable rub, seeming to not care too much about whatever got on his palm from the action. "It's rather fortuitous that you'd be here, also. And that you'd also be acquianted with the Shuffle Alliance."

Yuta tries very hard not to frown as he shoots Max a questioning look.

With a stutter, " .. t-then .. once we're all introduced .. we should board the t-rain. It'd be .. easier to explain everything 'there'..." Calibur murmurs. 

<Pose Tracker> Sho Utsumi has posed.

As the group arrives, they are not, in fact, old men. Oh no! They're young people! They might CATCH ONTO THEM!

"Sho Utsumi." He then spots Sakura, the nice pilot who aided them against Ghoulghilas. "Ah! I remember you. I pilot the Phormocannon." He waves, and then squints at Chibodee, before Nidaime introduces him. "What kind of name is Chibi?"

At Sayla's big question, he nods about boarding the train, but then says simply, "We're all here to help Gridman, though Calibur made the call. I assume you're another...friend of his? All of you?" Neon Genesis Junior High is getting very big. 

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

As far as Rikka can tell, she's been able to get a signal on her phone... the problem is, she can't connect to any of her friends and everything's Different, which is an endless source of frustration evidenced by the glower that crosses her face before she puts the phone away.

"...You're right." Rikka replies with a nod. But, fortunately, Calibur speaks up to them. ...She's just as surprised as anyone at the possibility that Calibur just made a joke, but his reassurance does get a smile out of her. She nods back at him. "...Alright."

If Calibur says they're good people (probably), then she trusts his judgment.

It's about this time that a stranger arrives - calling himself Riku Asakura and saying that he's supposed to meet someone. Rikka glances toward the others, then Yuta, Calibur, and Max as they greet him. Well, if they're doing it...

"...Rikka Takarada. Looks like it." She replies.

They aren't kept waiting long - soon enough, Sayla and her entourage. Rikka eyes her warily at first, but then she says the magic word - 'Gridman'. She must be the one Calibur called, then.

...Rikka feels momentarily embarrassed, but also relieved. It's decidedly not a bunch of old guys. One of them appears to be an actual child! ...Not that they can really talk, huh?

And then, introductions are made! A look of recognition crosses Rikka's face as Sakura introduces herself.

"Oh! Shinguji..." Rikka replies. She remembers her, of course - she'd been a big help against the kaiju. She looks toward Yuta as he gestures to her and Utsumi... but before she does, she notices a look of discomfort crossing Yuta's face.

"...Are you alright, Hibiki?" Rikka asks, lowering her voice for a moment. She doesn't understand where it's coming from, of course. She turns her attention back to Sakura, then, offering her a smile.

"I'm Rikka Takarada - I was piloting Synchrotank... Yes, it's good to meet you and your friend in person." She replies, and offers a nod to both Sakura and Sumire.

Her attention turns briefly to 'Chibi' as the young girl mentions him, and then to Calibur.

"...Oh, right. It'd be bad if we missed the train after coming all this way..." She says, standing up. 

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Riku nods to the Neon Genesis Highschoolers, and then to Yuta who addresses him directly. "Seems reasonable, though I hope it isn't too long. Took a lot of walkin' to get across Tokyo to get here on time," he says, giving his legs another stretch. He raises an eyebrow at Calibur's hilts, though his attention is taken away when Max speaks.

"I don't mind, this is one of the few times doing nothing will get us somewhere.." he says as if making a joke. Likely nobody will get it. Sayla introducing herself gets his attention, and he gives her a small bow. To her question, he shrugs. He doesn't know either.

To Sakura, he points a finger up after giving a proper greeting, "Oh that was you? I didn't think this would have such interesting swordswomen in it too!" After a pause, "I was trained with a blade by someone at home, though I can't say I'm anywhere near her equal," he says, with a laugh. It does bring some fond memories.

He has no idea who Chibodee is...and the shadowing of the first guests gives him a small pause. He leans over towards the Grid kids, "Uh...who is he?" he asks. Though THAT is interrupted by Nidaime. He scratches the underside of his chin, did he see her before..?

Sumire likewise gets a proper greeting. This gives him a proper chance to introduce himself. "Hi I'm Riku Asakura, You..." he pauses. Should he? It's definitely something he's debating on saying, but right now he knows of only himself here on Earth. Revealing himself might give him trouble, but standing still isn't good either.

"You'll probably know me better as Ultraman Geed." 

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

When Calibur identifies himself, she looks him up and down more seriously but... really isn't sure how to grasp him. Or... any of the group, really. Sho and Rikka seem... normal enough. If offput. "I see. Thank you for contacting, even if I have no idea how."

"Nidaime!" Sayla's voice is not harsh but it is firm. "Please, give Mr Hibiki some space." Max, Borr, Vit and Calibur, hm? All of them... feel odd.

Riku is odd in a different way. An almost... alien presence, if such a thing could be said? It's bizarre. And then he kinda just... "...Ultraman Geed?" She asks, baffled. She swears she heard something about that in reports? She'd have to go back and read up. "I... see."

Max mentions the Shuffle Alliance, and Sayla sighs. "I suppose you already have the advantage of us. And since he won't introduce himself, this is Chibodee Crocket. The Gundam Fighter for Neo-America, and the Shuffle Alliance's Queen of Spades." Sayla says that like it's entirely normal. To her it is. She also gives Chibodee a slight 'really' look, then back to the group.

Calibur says the should get on the train, and Sayla blinks. "I suppose that explains meeting at a train station." It'll be leaving soon anyway. "Alright, let's go then." She's nervous of course, but Sakura made her way back.

Naturally, Sayla pays for the groups tickets. It's a business expense. 

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Shinguji has posed.

"Oh, hello, Nidaime!" Sakura says, cheerfully. She smiles at the girl, then -- and she seems maybe a little confused at how she reacted to Yuta Hibiki. But, on the other hand, sometimes she could be a little strange. Everyone is entitled. "I didn't know you were here. It's good to see you, too."

She glances sideways at Sumire, and then she smiles at her and nods her head. "A friend!" she says. "We met when we decided to--" She leans a little closer, and grins. "--roll out our own noodles for ramen, instead of buying them from a fancy supplier."

'Like peasants,' her tone seems to say.

Then Sakura coughs and adjusts her posture. She lets them all introduce themselves, but she does smile and nod at Utsumi. "We're... friends, yes, after a fashion. Though I've never met him before. But, I make friends quickly." She smiles, and then she looks at Rikka, and smiles. "Thank you. I'm glad that I could be helpful!"

Then, she looks at Riku. Sakura pauses a moment, before she smiles. "I was. And I am! I learned from my father, and I've tried to keep my skills sharp. I'd be happy to practice sometime."

She hesitates a moment, though -- and then blinks, but nods. She understands; Ultraman Geed. She knows of Ultramen, at least. She looks at Sayla and nods -- even if she takes this on faith, rather than knowledge.

"We're all with the Shuffle Alliance," she says. "There are a few of us. Some different groups, too, that couldn't be here today." 

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

"Look, I've been on TV, I have a WcWonalds Meal," Chibodee complains at Sayla, but he doesn't really mean it and usually just does the looming bit to try to rattle rookies. Nidaime is here anyway and as such he needs to prioritize assessing Nidaime's shopping cart. He's doing math.

"It is nice to meet everybody though," he says, and starts to queue up for the train. He glances back at Yuta, trying to see if he's counter-fucking with him, and determines that reaction was sincere. "Man," he says, looking away. "Rough." To Sho: "She calls me Chibi, and it makes the kid happy, so I'm for it. Simple enough. I think my actual name is older Brittanian." Chibodee has no comment about a guy calling himself Ultraman Geed because he spent a significant fraction of his life being beaten up by Master Asia. 

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

"I dunno." Nidaime admits to Sho Utsumi. "What kind of name is Shout Sumi?" IT doesn't even sound like that! But nevertheless.

"Is mint yummy? Okay I'll try it." She doesn't seem to realize why Yuta is making the offer--or it doesn't bother her at least. She is just sort of looking at Yuta with ADMIRATION. But... "Yuta...?" She asks as if that's a strange thing to say.

But she doesn't press the matter. The good news for Max is that she is wearing a hoodie but it is pretty dusty. It's not like SLIMEY or anything, at least. Nidaime giggles again at the headpat. She seems to be enjoying it. "Yeah...! The Shuffle Alliance and my family go way back! Eheheheh...!"

She has never seen Max before in her life though?? Or maybe she has??? She certainly isn't questioning it. She still hasn't introduced herself. It's less evasiveness on her part and more that it doesn't occur to her usually.

She's about to pester Yuta omore when--

Nidaime! Please, give Mr Hibiki some space.

"But--" Sayla holds a power beyond that of Boss. She holds the power of ADULT.

"Okay." She wrinkles her nose a bit in annoyance but doesn't argue. She gives Max a quick hug and then waddles past Yuta and the others to make her way to Sakura, bringing her shopping cart along with her.

"Hi Sakura! Wow it's been a while... Did you bring any snacks today?"

She looks up hopefully.

She looks to Riku for a moment. DO they know each other?

But it's a brief look. Chibodee can do some guesstimation on that shopping cart and, more pertinently, the number of coins within the bag. Assuming Nidaime only eats vending machine food and she eats vending machine food three times a day she should have enough for about half a month in that bag.

"He's really nice you can trust him." Nidaime says of Chibodee. "He knows important life skills."

She nods to Riku as if to suggest he might be able to benefit from a lesson in Chibodeeconomics.

"Hm...? Are we going back to Tsutsujidai?" Nidaime asks Sayla. "We might draw attention in one big group like this..." 

<Pose Tracker> Sumire Kanzaki has posed.

Sumire's side-eye tension seems to turn into a slight but discernible momentary look of frazzledness as she is informed that Sakura *prepared her own food staples*, but that is a good segue out of the tension and into something more warm-facing.

Sumire smiles to the Neon Genesis Highschoolers, serene and poised. Keep the face on. She dips her head in greeting to the others are they're introduced, names digging into the back of her mind. Maxx, Borr, Calibur, Vit. Unusual names, but this is an unusual case. She feels the smile grow a little tense when Calibur proposes they all get on a train to go 'there'.

Riku puts a card on the table. Sumire's eyes widen again, this time with some surprise. "Thank you for putting your trust in us," she tells him. "We all, I think, have our own matters that we don't wish to publicize. Keeping your life private is often difficult..."

They move along. Sumire glances towards Sayla, but she gets out the Anaheim Express and handles it: Well enough. As they walk, Sumire asks - or says, really, towards the Gridmen supporters - "This train... it's not a typical sort of service, is it? I heard Sakura's summation of what happened, but I couldn't quite understand the context. I think there is something vital that we're missing."

"Though," Sumire says to Rikka and Sho, "'Synchrotank,' 'Phormocannon'. They're evocative names! What sort of machines are those?" ("I said Phormocannon correctly, didn't I?") 

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

"I'm fine .. I think, I just got really dizzy from a sudden headache," Yuta smiles softly, assuring Rikka that he was right as rain. He could figure out the details on why he'd almost had an episode like that later, when they weren't surrounded by - mostly - strangers.

He's Geed .. that recognition I felt earlier makes sense. Has he been wandering around outside of Tsutsujidai ever since that battle?

"Oh, uhm .. I'm - " he pauses. He hadn't thought of a good lie to tell about why he was here. Borr, thankfully, comes to the rescue. "As seaweed-glasses over there likes to say - we're the Gridman Alliance. This guy - " Borr jerks his thumb to Yuta, " - is the Operator, and hangs out with Rikka in the Synchrotank."

Yuta touches his fingers together, "Ha ha. . yeah, that's about the short of it."

Now that I've had a moment to recover - I wonder, that girl .. Max and the others seem to know her. 'Nidaime', right? I wonder what she meant, we've met at last? Does she .. know something I don't - no, I'm sure she does.

It was .. - aggrivating, he supposed, having everyone know so much that he was ignorant of. "Here - you can have this .. " he says, reaching down to her hand to hold it up, so he can place a tin of mints in it and show her how to open it. The flavor is spearmint. "Don't eat too many, though," he chuckles.

Looking to Chibodee, Yuta can't help but apologize on noticing the way the older man eyeing him up, "S..sorry ... I don't know a lot of things I really should .. " though, if Rikka and Sho also didn't recognize this apparently super famous guy, a 'Gundam Fighter', it wasn't something his amnesia affected either way. ....right?

"By the way - er, forgive me for asking, but what's a Gundam Fighter?"

With Calibur's suggestion, they all move onto the train just in the nick of time. It'll get moving once everyone finds their seating ... on an empty train.

Max shares a handkerchief with him to wipe his hands with, given the dirt and dust that had accumulated on Nidaime's person. "Er, Max - about that, is she someone you know?"

Max shakes his head, "No - though, I'm familiar with her father. You could say she's someone we know about but who has never met us .. I could tell who she had to be right away, is all."

Calibur scratches his jaw, " ... well ... yes, i-it's...something like that..."

"Oh, uhm, and - Phormocannon and Synchrotank are home-made MS we all put together - it was a lot of fun .. but they also mean a lot to us. Rikka and Sho are fantastic pilots for them, too."

He leaves explaining any nitty gritty details to the two of them. Well, Sho's the kind who'd want to brag about it, so probably, mostly him. 

<Pose Tracker> Sho Utsumi has posed.

"That's not how you pronounce it!" Sho responds to Nidaime, before nodding back to Sumire and Sakura as they board the train. He's about to ask about Gundam Fighters, but Yuta asks first. So instead, he takes the run at the Phormocannon and Synchrotank, glasses glinting.

"It was my idea. Phormocannon is built out of three Federation mobile suits - primarily the Guncannon - that we found in a junkyard. It exchanges the cannons' lethal ammunition for extinguisher fluid, while the primary armament is a glue gun, with a secondary mattock for rescue work. Synchrotank meanwhile is based off the Guntank design. I'll let Rikka talk about the armaments." 

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Chibodee hears something impossible. He takes a moment to just reflect on it. He lets it sink in. Really feel this one, Chibodee.

"A Gundam Fighter," he says, with care, "is somebody who gets picked to fight for a country. We get into a big brawl. The winner's country gets to be in charge for a while. It's an important job." A beat. "LOTS of sponsorships." 


<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Riku flashes Sayla a smile, "Yes, that's right. It's a bit complicated, my situation...and...well, that's not important right now, I can get more into myself later," less avoiding the question, and more concern that him saying too much now might make things too complicated with the kids.

Sakura mentions a spar, to which Riku's smile withers only slightly. He has the face of someone who's accidentally put their foot in a bear trap and just realized it. It also brings back memories of the times Laiha has put his ass on the ground. Well, he's gotta keep his form up somehow, he can't get rusty even if he's without the G-Raiser.

Sumire's talk about trust gets a brighter smile from Riku. "It's not as hard for me here as it was at home...though this place reminds me a lot of it. Though it's very different too.." he admits, "But you're welcome. People who jumped in to help others, and are willing to help out someone they barely know made the choice easier for me."

He hasn't had a chance to watch much TV the moment he came here, so he's not really familiar. Though when Chibodee mentioned the WcWonald's meal, he fetches something out of his pocket. It's the Chibodee figure he got from the meal. He brings it up to eye level to compare. He winds it up, and it makes a bunch of slow 'machine gun' punches. "Oh, so that's where the hair seemed familiar," he says after pocketing the toy.

Nidaime and he barely had a good look at the other, if they are familiar it is more passing. Ultraman and Kaiju have a sorted history, though not necessarily a bad one. He does give her a smile, and a bow, "Nice to meet you."

Riku takes a seat on the train the moment he can. He's exhausted, and it's obvious. Like someone who's been running around non-stop without a good chance to rest. The wary eye can pick out some self-bandaging, and care that'd come out of needing to rely on self-healing.

Though Sho mentions the units they use, he thinks about it. "They seem familiar..."

Chibodee goes on to explain what a Gundam fighter is, and the concept of fighting for rulership of the world was bizarre to him. "Huh...that's..." he can't really think of what to say. He doesn't want to insult anyone but it's just...so weird!

"Not how we did things at home.." 

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

"...Okay." Rikka says, nodding as Yuta assures her he's okay. If he says so, she'll trust him. She looks, then toward Riku. ...'Ultraman Geed'? Rikka thinks about that. He must be the other one that showed up today - the one that was like Gridman. Rikka nods, then looks toward Sayla as she introduces Chibodee properly.

...Gundam Fighter? Rikka looks confused for a moment. She sends a look Yuta's way that suggests, yes, she's just as lost as he in this situation. Apparently it's someone who does a lot of fighting for a country? And they get to be in charge if they win?? Rikka's expression goes confused for a moment, but she regains her composure quickly.

"And, 'Queen of Spades'... is that a leadership position?" Rikka asks, looking toward Chibodee. It sounds important enough.

Sakura gets a smile and a nod, then.

"You really were... It was a surprise, but you all couldn't have come at a better time." She replies.

Nidaime, though... Rikka looks her way as Max explains that he and the others are familiar with her father. That's interesting...

She looks toward Sumire, then, as she asks about the train.

"Um... it's hard to explain, but... the train itself seems normal? It's just... when you take it, sometimes you end up where we're from instead." She explains.

As for their machines... normally, she'd get after Utsumi for being so excited about it, but she'd be lying if she said it hadn't been exciting for her, too - to build something like that together for the sake of their own home.

"Um, yeah... Synchrotank has a pair of high-powered water cannons, and its regular missiles have been replaced with smoke and chaff missiles for distracting kaiju..." Courtesy of Borr, of course. "It has a shovel and bulldozer blades affixed to the shield for moving debris and digging people out."

She says all of this as she makes her way to the train and takes a seat in their appointed car. 

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

"I mean ish?" Chibodee says to Rikka. "I don't try to boss anybody around. But people ask me for stuff and I try to get it for them." 


<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

"O-oh...I think I see ... so instead of an election, the Federation assigns a position like a Prime Minister to the country who wins the Gundam Fight, while the others are relegated to the Internationa Diet .. is that about right?" Yuta wonders. "Thank you for telling me," he nods with an appreciative smile for Chibodee. "I can see why you're apparently so famous, then."

He pointedly chooses not to ask if he won a Gundam Fight before, feeling like that'd put him more on the spot than he already had.

The idea of having a fight like that instead of coming to terms in another more civil way felt - wrong, somehow, to him. Or maybe, just too strange to really agree with, yet.

That didn't mean he didn't have respect for Chibodee for going out to fight for it, though. Yuta was sure he had to believe in his home a lot to fight to make sure it got put on top. 

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Shinguji has posed.

Sakura will remember the sparring off, Riku. But for now, she is focud on the moment.

"Sorry, Chibodee," Sakura says to the Gundam Fighter with an apologetic smile. "Just means you have a chance to win some new fans, right?"

Then, she looks at Nidaime -- and she looks briefly apologetic. She glances to the side, and laughs. "Ah, I didn't, I'm sorry... I will make it up to you next time, though."

She glances sideways at Sumire, as they board. She looks at Yuta -- and her eyes widen after he ass that question. What is a Gundam Fighter? "You--ah..."

She hesitates, and interjects after Chibodee. "It's famous! So is Chibodee. You... haven't heard of it?"

She looks at Sho, then at Rikka, and she smiles after a moment. "I noticed. They're both very impressive! I like how they resemble the three Project V MSes, too." She beams at Sho and Rikka both. "And they were perfect against that kaiju!" 

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

"Hand rolled noodles, hm?" Sayla's a little surprised, but not badly so. Still, she nods. Sakura's report is what gave her her only heads up.

Concern crosses Sayla's face, of course it does. "I have some painkillers if you need them, but please let me know if that continues." You can't stop her being a doctor, after all.

"I'm still surprised you went for them over McDaniel's," Sayla teases, "not a fan of chicken burgers?" Sayla's Spanish, she refuses to call them sandwiches. She looks down at Nidaime. "Thank you, Nidaime." She blinks. "...This is how you get to Tsutsujidai? This train?" Sumire seems to back up that assertion. And Mobile Suits too, she's eager to hear how the Gridman Alliance answer.

Chibodee's surprised response means she doesn't need to explain it. "The Gridman Alliance." They have a name for themselves, huh. She listens to Borr's explanation. The Operator? She looks over to Max. "...You know him, then." That seems to answer another of her questions.

And then she pauses. "...Home. Made. Mobile Suits." This feels like a sentence she never wanted to say to anyone. Despite it being far more common than she would like. "A Guncannon and a Guntank." That too is... hard. She shouldn't be surprised, they're standard form factors for Mobile Weapons, even after the Guntank had no space capability.

But the combination of those units and the pilots. She can't help but dislike it.

The way Sho describes it, though. Non-lethal ammo, rescue work. That'd be a good application. Especially if she can get Job John to take a look. Riku also catches a wary eye. and nods. "Certainly. We can talk about it privately later, if you wish." In an exam room with medical supplies, if Sayla has any say in the matter. That's a lot of injuries. 'Not how we did things at home' certainly raises some alarm bells.

"It's complicated," Sayla says, "but fundamentally yes. The Queen of Spades is one of the visible parts of the Shuffle Alliance. It's... a long story." She sighs. "They sort of make the calls on what we do, and then we make it happen." Her comment is in direct contradiction of Chibodee's own comments, slightly pointedly so. "The rest is a long story."

Sayla takes a seat- more comfortable than Sweetwater's rail, that's for sure. Sakura's comments elicit a sigh. "Perhaps. Project V was more than three units though, and all had their problems. Though part of that were the pilots." She was one of them, after all, even if she only piloted the Gundam a few times.

"So, I have to ask the important question." She says, as the train starts. "Where's Gridman? This is my first time meeting all of you, but I haven't seen him. Or his... brother, was it?" 

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

Nidaime continues to unfortunately withhold information about Yuta that Yuta should know. Then again, why would she tell information about Yuta that Yuta should know? He should already know it!

Instead Nidaime says, "Okay!" about not eating too many thin mints and is working on getting it open. The tin is a little stuck and she kind of takes a foot, places it on top of the lid, and tries to pry the bottom portion free. This proves to be unsuccessful. Then she tries to pry it open with her teeth. No dice.

She frowns and starts studying the tin intently. "Who is in charge right now?" She asks of Chibodee, distracted by her very important focus on this tin of thin mints.

"Ehehehhhe..." She laughs at Sho's correction but she doesn't argue it.

"Like milkshakes," She adds, confirming that Chibodee does in fact get things for people.

"Is okay, Sakura..!"

She tilts the tin upside down. FOR CLUES.

Eventually she sees it...

The instructions: Push down on the tin, then SLIDE.

She does so and gasps with delight when it reveals colorful cool green candies. Green is her favorite color! She takes one and pops it into her mouth, giggling again with PRIDE.

She will follow the group onto the train.

"We really probably should split up and not draw too much attention--" Nidaime repeats again.

But she sits herself down, opening and closing Yuta's tin of thin mints with fascination.

...She brought the shopping cart along with her.

"Hm?" She asks of Sayla. "You're looking for Gridman? That's weird."

More giggling. 

<Pose Tracker> Sumire Kanzaki has posed.

Sumire seems to follow along with Sho's summary of the extinguisher machine. "A kinder thing than the original, for certain," she replies, nodding. Then she looks towards Rikka as she explains two things at once.

First: The train. "Ah," Sumire says; "then, it's a mystery train."

Second, Synchrotank. "These sound very noble... are you often driven to put out fires and such activities? I know that Tokyo has a long history of fires."

Third -- Sumire is briefly pulled away to look at Yuta, her mouth slightly ajar. She seems to be about to sputter something out, but Chibodee plays it cool. She closes her eyes for two beats, shakes her head once, and opens her eyes again. (I certainly am feeling strained, aren't I? Sumire tells herself. I suppose Count Brocken is as good an explanation as any.)

As they move onto the train, Sumire does get her fan back out, if only to absorb nervous energy in the form of fidgeting. She settles down once they are takeing their seats, looking out the window momentarily, the fan half-unfolding to partly veil her face.

Her eyes turn towards Nidaime, who is not saying a unique sentiment.

"Attention from whom?" Sumire asks. 

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Riku nods to Sayla, "Sure, I might have to ask if you know any places that need part-time help!" Riku wants to stop slumming it but also realizes that Tokyo is expensive. His luck at home wasn't going to transform here. Also, just like home apartments here were terribly priced.

When 'Gridman's brother' was mentioned, he speaks up, "I think you mean me. I was the Ultraman there who helped push that strange Kaiju back.." Riku speaks up, "That might have gotten left out of any reports.." he says with a grin.

Riku is also sure he's going to be very bruised after that match with Sakura. Very bruised. 

<Pose Tracker> Sho Utsumi has posed.

"A Gundam Fighter...that's a weird way to become a leader. Don't you have elections?" Sho asks, pointedly. "So, then, your country's in charge?" He also asks Chibodee, not being as thoughtful as Yuta.

"Gridman isn't here because he's seventy meters tall." That's all Sho has to say, as a quick deflection. Then, Sho remembers something important.

"Right...so, I think we're about to drift off again. Something you need to know - we're entering a parallel reality - our reality - where the One Year War was the last previous war, and we've had peace ever since. Crazy, huh...?" He just drops it as a bomb, hoping that the shock will distract from the Gridman questions. 

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

"McDaniel's offered me the same as Neo-Holland got and that's just not gonna fly," Chibodee says, of burger negotiations. He does not seem ego-damaged by the ignorance -- it was more baffling. He's on TV!

Mobile suit nerd stuff. Chibodee's brain just slips off it. "I really don't like being bossy," he asdies to Sayla, which isn't wrong, but also he barely knows what he's doing and is not what you would call a great strategic thinker. But he is trying very hard.

"Nah, Neo-America didn't win last time," he says. "We placed well. I mean that matters. But I couldn't take it. I'll do better next time. Neo-Japan has it right now. Domon went through a lot in the fight. It was hard on him. But like, that's just who is in charge, there's like senates and representatives and things." 

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

"This is the first time I've heard of it," Yuta says to Sakura, a little awkwardly.

By the time Sayla gets to the elephant in the room, though, he's less than prepared. "Br..other?" he questions, cocking one head to the side. Well, if Ultraman had appeared so similar to Gridman, he supposed it wouldn't be that unusual if Gridman had a 'brother' - literal or figurative.

Max, having elected to stay standing while holding onto one of the safety grips, lets out a small 'hrm' as a tense silence falls over the group.

" .. er .. about that - " Yuta pauses. He felt that if he were to try and lie to Sayla Mass directly, she'd know, somehow - so he just looks at her with wary blue eyes.

"Fuu..~" - actually, when did Vit get onboard? He kind of forgot about him, Yuta realizes.

"You'll have to wait to see Gridman, sorry~. The only way this group can contact him is through that ancient computer. It's been rigged into the Synchrotank to be portable, though! Isn't that neat?" Vit says, waving one hand while reclined in one of the train's chairs, one leg over the other and leaning on the armrest of the seat next to him.

" ... right. Gridman speaks to us through Junk and only appears when there's a kaiju attack." Yuta nods.

He looks very pleased that Nidaime managed to open the mint tin by herself and has already mastered it to such an extent that she's able to do it at will. Over and over again. It's a little cute, he realizes - as mysterious as she is, she's just as innocent as a little girl should be.

And then she says something strange, that makes him nervously fiddle with his uniform's tie.

Thankfully, Sho - as he had just demonstrated moments ago - has the tact of a bludgeon against your skull. But this time, it's actually pretty helpful. "Right. We were told a little about some of what's been going on in .. uhm, 'your world', I think .. but Tsutsujidai has never experienced anything like a 'Second Impact' or 'Axis Shock' or - any of the other terrible things we've heard about since coming here. And we're not sure if there are other ways into the city from this one, this is just the one we've found..." 

<Pose Tracker> Sakura Shinguji has posed.

"That's--that's something we can figure out," Sakura says to Yuta, with a smile. "It sounds like you missed many of the events that... defined our world, as we know it. We'll need to figure this out."

She blinks -- wondering for a second what 'Junk' is. Before she can ask, though, there is an ungodly racket that comes from her kimono:

BGM OVERRIDE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjPfsx_DcpA

"Oh!"

Sakura pulls out her mobile phone. It, too, is pink. "Ah--it's General Yoneda. One moment, I will be over here--" She steps further down the car and answers. "Yes, hello..?" 

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

"...Sorry, I haven't heard of it either." Rikka admits to Sakura, at the surprise of having not heard of the Gundam Fights. ...Or Chibodee. Sorry, Chibodee. She smiles, though, as Sakura compliments their mobile suits.

"...Thanks." She replies, then looks toward Sayla as she registers surprise about the mobile suits. "...Um, yeah. My mom owns the local junk shop, Aya, so we had to work with what we had."

...Not that Rikka ever told her mom that they were building mobile suits. (And not that she doesn't know anyway, not that Rikka knows that.)

As for Sumire...

"Well... lately, we've had a problem with kaiju attacks. We decided we'd be able to save more people if we'd be able to help more directly..." She nods, though, as Chibodee gives his answer on the Queen of Spades - and as Sayla gives her own contradictory one.

"...I guess it's good that you're so humble about it." Rikka considers.

She lets the others answer the question about Gridman and Junk, though - it's probably best to keep those particular cards in their hand for now, just in case.

"...Yeah. It's... been a lot to take in." She admits, as the difference in history is explained. 

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

Sumire asks the question Sayla failed to, caught up in memories. "Nidaime, is there trouble waiting for us? Beyond Kaiju?" Oh good she has her shopping cart. That makes Sayla uncomfortable, of course it does. When she has time, she needs to explain cards to the girl, and give her a prepaid one. It's what they would have done. But... Nidaime looked a lot cleaner before. Sayla blinks. "Well, Calibur called me asking us to help him, so..."

A mystery train, huh. Sayla whispers to the heiress, very quietly. "It sems as though Sakura was fine, as is everyone else. I'm sure that any problems will be manageable." Not 'everything will be fine'. Sayla's a realist. She looks over to Riku. "Certainly. We provide living expenses to our people, obviously, but as for accommodation..." She places a finger to her lips, tapping. "...We can work something out, certainly. And there's no shortage of places looking for workers." She'll have to check if there are any openings. Yeah, she's going to have to have a long conversation with Geed. And a decent meal, if she can do it like she's not hitting someone more than a decade her junior.

"This would be a much longer and more boring lesson than the train ride would allow, unless you all want to fall asleep." Sayla's tone is joking, but also, she doesn't want to spend time on Federation politics. She then shoots Sho what can only be described as 'a look'. "That's not what I meant." Fortunately Chibodee hits on a surprisingly sore topic. "...He did." Her tone is cold, but... Not because of Domon.

"He didn't stick around, so I only know some of the details. I suppose we can discuss it when we see him. I'd rather it not take a Kaiju Attack, though."

And then the implications of Sho's comments, followed by Yuta's. "Nothing... after the One Year War?" Sayla's eyes bore into Sho, then Yuta. "No Titans? No Gryps? No Neo-Zeon?" Her tone is... Her tone is frankly a mess. She's trying to keep it flat, but she can't. "Does that-"

She won't get the chance to ask the next question right now. 

<Pose Tracker> Sumire Kanzaki has posed.

Sumire glances at Sho. "Ah," she says. Well, that makes as much sense as anything, especially when it is easier to consider the question of McDowell's various forms of fried burger meats. Sumire straightens in her seat -

And then double-takes at Sho. "What? But -- how! What?! Do you mean the year of peace extended out for HOW long? That would change everything! How many more people would -- but -- I --"

"That would explain why you haven't heard of the Gundam Fight, at least," Sumire says, simmering down again, fan-tip resting on her chin as she looks downwards in thought. At which point Sakura's phone blows up. (With statements!) Her eyes flick after Sakura, but return soon enough to the Gridmen and the Alliance.

Inwardly, though, Sumire adds something to what she was stammering out: A world where they didn't steal Kyushu. 'They' is left unstated, although the unusually sensitive might pick up on a rankling there. But then again, it's a rather big row to hoe!

Either way, she is no longer looking out the window. "But even so... you're being attacked. And by great big things, as well," Sumire muses. "Perhaps peace isn't something you can find behind any sort of a boundary." 

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

"Oh," Nidaime says at Sho's point. "That makes sense." She pops open the tin again, picks out a mint and offers it to Chibodee Crockett Gundam Fighter of Neo America. And then she offers another one to ... Max.

"Don't worry," She tells Chibodee as Sho mentions the drifting off thing. "I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you, okay Chibi?"

She pats him on the hand. And then slides the mint tin closed again. This is the time of her life for her. "Domon Cashew... King of Hearts." She says.

Attention from whom?

Nidaime points up towards the ceiling of the train. "The God." She tells Sumire. This is very helpful.

Sayla asks for more details.

"Mmm.... That's a complicated answer," Nidaime says. "It depends on if we anger the God of Tsutsujidai." She says it like she's talking about some mystical spirit. "That's why we shouldn't make a big fuss. We were really careful to not get noticed before but then everybody started busting on in."

She then looks back to Sayla. "It isn't good." She says. "...I suppose it might not be bad either...?"

She considers this for a moment. "But it's something. But the more something happens, the more it can continue to happen, until it's not really happening at all--it just is."

She shoves another mint into her mouth. It isn't helping her breath much but it's something. Sometimes she acts her age, but that definitely wasn't it. 

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Domon didn't do anything wrong. Chibodee will carry that look in Domon's eyes until the day he dies.

Chibodee eases back in his seat. He is mercifully untroubled by comprehension of most of what people are saying around him.

"Pretty dope that the train goes into an alternate universe or something," he says, accepting a mint. "Magic rules." 

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Yuta gives Sayla a worried look while most of the Neon Genesis Highschoolers look some degree of somber. " ... " he stops to check the faces of Rikka and Sho. Of course, he already had a pretty good idea that they wouldn't recognize any of that, but since he was the least informed person in the room, it was best to be sure. Taking what he saw on their faces as a sign that he had assumed correctly, Yuta shakes his head. " ... I'm sorry .. but none fo that rings a bell. .. uh, that's - we'll give you some space. It was shocking for us to hear about, so this is just the other side of that, right?"

Max's eyes crinkle slightly, indicating his smile behind the large apparatus covering his lower face and torso as he accepts the mint, "Thank you."

A slot just over and above where his mouth should be slides open, similar to a dropbox, which he then deposits the mint into. The slot clicks shut a moment later.

Yuta stares with awe, realizing this is the first time he's seen how Max eats.

I always wondered if it was possible to take that off . . . but to think it just opened a little slot like that.

Calibur attempts to sit down, only for his scabbards to prevent him from doing so as they lay flat across the armrests. " .. oh .. "

The man stands back up after another moment. " .. the god of tsutsujidai .. "

Yuta frowns, "The god of our world?" before Borr, with lidded eyes, rubs one of his temples. "Well ... guhuhuhuh .. did you have to say it in such a roundabout why?" he complains to Nidaime. "Well, its basically right though. We're still not sure how, or why, people are able to come and go from Tsutsujidai as they please, now. Even Gridman's got no idea."

"Magic is cool," Yuta agrees with Chibodee. What was that about Kyushu, though? Someone took it over? Another violent difference between 'our' world and 'their' world, I guess..

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