2023-04-21: The Miraculous Birthday?

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<Pose Tracker> Naoto Kozuki has posed.

You only turn nineteen once.

Kallen Kozuki's birthday may be belated, but it wasn't forgotten. In an 'Elevens-centric' neighborhood of Area 11, Kallen has been called to come casually by Ohgi and Tamaki. Of course, the two also called the rest of the Black Knights, and told them why they were actually coming.

They needed some morale, and they were going to have a party.

Kallen's favorite type of cake, plus some general flavors like vanilla and chocolate, have been setup on the main table of the small house that makes up their safehouse. Pizza and fried chicken has been brought in, and there's a little table to set up presents.

They may be fighting for their freedom, but they can also be normal once in a while. Remind them EXACTLY why they're fighting.

Tamaki's already getting into the chicken as Ohgi leads a probably-suspicious Kallen to the front door. "Okay, one, two..."

And he expects a birthday wish for her from everyone inside when they enter, as a banner reads 'HAPPY (LATE) BIRTHDAY!'

"Sorry it took so long, K. But tonight's about you, alright?" Ohgi says, as Tamaki waves a drumstick in her direction.

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

        The birthday party - an event innocuous enough, but a ritual that is a powerful tool in the right hands - a shorthand metric for gathering a large number of affiliated people all in one place. C.C. knows it well, and helped make a call on the specific domicile they were using to host this party.

        After all - C.C.'s turned 19 several times in this very household in the past year alone!

        "Surprise," C.C. states oh so bluntly, wearing a black bundling cat-ear hoodie and...shoes, and is making sure to seat herself on a table in juuuuust the right posture to perpetually invite a question on if she really is wearing just the hoodie. A little party popper is aimed right at Kallen's face.

        "I've intentinally cultivated my reputation to ensure this is as much a surprise as possible, you understand. The large blue present is actually from yours truly - do appreciate it when you get around to opening." C.C. lazily gestures towards the gift in question. There's slight noises emanating from the box. And it has...holes in the sides. I mean, that slightly gives it away, does it not?

        The gesturing hand then elegantly swipes Tamaki's drumstick mere moments before he swoops in to take a bite. 

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

Cascade has been with the Black Knights for a good six months now, and at Ashford for just as long, but she can count the number of birthday parties she has been invited to on one hand and have fingers left over. She started out being a little awkward at school, after all, and 'the daughter of Britannian nobles' (as far as she told anyone) is always going to be at least a LITTLE awkward around the Black Knights.

But she considers Kallen actually a friend, if not (yet) a super close one. Of course she was going to come if she was asked. She was even willing and able to help set up.

(Though, the Gamia part of her thinks, she probably shouldn't get TOO close... Cascade is trying not to think about that, at all, with mixed success.)

Regardless, Cascade arrived early. Remembering her... enthusiastic mistake the last time she tried to give a gift, albeit for the holidays instead of a birthday, she has restrained herself and dropped off only a very small box. It does not have holes in it.

And when Kallen shows up...

"Happy birthday!" Cascade is right there along with the rest. Including C.C., who has a lot more to say than Cascade herself does. 

<Pose Tracker> Rin Starking has posed.


When the hour comes...

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY" cries Rin Starking, who is revealing her true face now. Her glasses are off (they do nothing) and her hair is not quite down, but is definitely a lot looser than its usual big braid-chignon wrap.

"WHOOOOOOOOH" calls Rin. Just for accent.

Rin had showed up in her usual configuration carrying a bag, which now contains her uniform jacket. So that means Rin is right now in an undershirt and uniform skirt. Her own box is wrapped in holofoil-glossy paper - given its approximate dimensions, it PROBABLY has some kind of consumer electronics, but it COULD be something smaller that's just in a deceptive box.

They do that sometimes.

Lest Kallen think that a certain absent person forgot her, a box arrived, somewhere. Made of fine carved cedarwood, fragrant and lush. It contains several things. Those things remain mysterious, although the box does have some weight to it.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Kallen has been mostly LESS suspicious of people as a general rule, over the past few months. Having friends both inside and outside the Knights has helped with that. As have some other little happenings here and there. It's not been perfect. But it's better. And she is CERTAINLY less aggressive and temperamental than she used to be. Not... that the Knights saw most of that. After all. She couldn't possibly get mad at her brother's close friends over trivial things, or lash out at them.

That does not mean she's devoid of suspicion however. Tamaki is a terrible liar, and Ohgi's poker face is not great. So she can tell there's something up. Maybe they want to bring her in on some plan Ohgi's gotten authorization for, but they're keeping under wraps. The idea that this is more overtly about her, hasn't crossed her mind for a second.

As a result, when everyone hits her with the surprise, she's speechless. No... she's on the verge of TEARS. "G-guys... Y-you didn't have to do this, but..." She's glad they did, of course. She's overjoyed that everyone would want to celebrate with her. That people remembered, even when she herself kind of forgot about it. She starts making round almost immediately, running up and hugging people. Maybe a bit excessively tight even. And even C.C. won't be spared from it, she'll be sure of THAT. The gifts themselves can wait a little bit. First, greeting everyone here. A round of photos that maybe one day they'll be able to display outside of a base. Then she can open gifts. 

<Pose Tracker> Killy Garrett has posed.

Despite not being super close to Kallen, Killy gladly accepted the invite to the birthday party, arriving early to help set up. She was particularly fond of throwing surprise parties, and was not going to pass up on an opportunity to have fun with the other black knights.

Despite struggling to find a suitable gift, she settled on something she hoped Kallen would like, and now a small box wrapped in blue wrapping paper sat on the table among the other gifts, waiting to be opened.

"Happy birthday!" Killy exclaimed when the time came, seated at the table with her own party popper. A smile formed on her face as she saw Kallen's reaction, happily hugging the younger girl back.

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.



        "S-s-surprise!"
        Among the usual spread of pizza hut nonsense, there's something else freshly laid on the food table- three large, New Yark style pizzas, clearly hand made by the wonky edges and careful distrubition of toppings. One cheese, one pepperoni and one oyster mushroom and sausage, sliced each sliced into eight equal, giant slices.

        The person responsible is obvious, given she only just placed the last one down and is still wearing the somewhat dirty apron she was cooking in. Still, Emilia seems happy enough with her work.

        Her own contribution to the present pile is something small and soft, in plain brown paper with a ribbon around it.

        Now, she was standing near Killy when the lights come on. When the hugs come, Emmy gives Kallen a tight one. "H-h-happy birthday, Kallen!" She says, with a smile on her face. It feels really good to be the one in on the surprise this time. 

<Pose Tracker> Naoto Kozuki has posed.

Ohgi gladly hugs Kallen, as Tamaki dejectedly loses a chicken leg, yet gives her a hug anyways. "Happy birthday, K- is there an animal in this box." The latter turns towards C.C.'s gift, grabbing another piece of chicken and waving it to see if the package meows or barks.

Ohgi moves over to the pizza table, sighing at Tamaki, but stretching back. "Of course we did, K. You're a dear member of this crew."

Ohgi and Tamaki both have presents on the table. Ohgi's is about a shoebox in size, and indeed, contains a pair of really nice boots, while Tamaki's is so small he probably got her a gift card (though decently generous) to somewhere.

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

Cascade is not afraid of a hug. She matches Kallen in grip strength.

"I don't know if this is a special year," Cascade says, mostly because she has no ideas what birthday years are considered special; she hasn't even had one yet. But... What do you say at a time like this? "Congratulations?" she attempts, though not very sure of herself. 'Congratulations for not dying for another year' seems inappropriate to finish.

(Cascade's gift proves to have a very nice card, along with a gift card for a fashionable clothes store.)

Afterwards, Cascade steps back, both to get out of Kallen's way and, probably coincidentally, toward the food. It seems coincidental because she does not take any. "Did you make that?" she asks Emmy instead, mostly out of curiosity.

<Pose Tracker> Rin Starking has posed.


Kallen comes in for the hug. Rin returns it; she returns one firm enough that Kallen can smell the apple blossom hairwash she uses. "Geez~" she teases as she disengages. "You know you're blushing kind of, right? C'mon, c'mon~ What's the point of being together like this? If I hear you apologize I will put you over my knee, girl!"

Rin then winks. "Happy birthday~! Tell me if you already have what I got for you tho, I can exchange it~!" and with this, she spins herself around and makes her way to see some authentic new yark pizza pie. "OooOOooo," she says, scoring one of the sausage-and-mushroom slices. To Emilia she asks then, "Where's the forks and knives at?" It's obviously too big to just pick up and eat, after all.

As for Rin's gift, it will be revealed to be...!! A portable dedicated gaming device! It's a little larger than a phone and can be held in several positions. This one has the modelling for the OCU edition of PITFORGE, everyone's favorite dwarf-themed building simulator, which had a custom edition a couple of years ago. (It is not available in stores right now.) Preloaded with custom grips, it has rooms for other games, and it can even be used as a phone or a computer with additional peripherals. A small sticker in Traditional Chinese characters with a themed icon declares it "HARO.OS OK!" too.

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

        With a wave of formerly Tamaki's drumstick at his own face, C.C. gestures, "It's rude to try and predict what presents are going to be before it's time to open them." The waggling of chicken does incite...some shifting of material? But no distinct noises of any sort. It's all very quiet, so. That also gives a sign as to what class of thing might be inside the gift beyond its chemical composition!

        The squeeze comes as a surprise, and C.C.'s just a little bit...squirmy? Awkward? It's the reaction Kallen would expect from gripping any errant self-important cat - there's a sense of 'i'll put up with this until it's over', but eventually she relents and offers Kallen a few patto patto nade nades upon the head. It's probably the first time anyone here's seen her look even the slightest bit fidgety - it turns out it might just be as easy as 'not letting the smug witch constantly have her way and putting up with her BS enough to push at her space'? Who'd have known!

        "On the way here you did look pretty wary, but it was sort of cute seeing you sweat a little with suspicion, so making it a poorly concealed surprise was worthwhile. Good work, Tamaki," giving him the W for the first time in his life. Or is it damning with faint praise?!

        Emilia's ~Multiple Unusual Ingredient Pizza~ earns C.C. a passing grade, the witch nibbling upon each oyster lovingly. "I still maintain this style of pizza is anemic, to the point where an entire alternate reality seems to have been overlaid upon its source in the universe's attempt to spin a new doctrine of cuisine...but it's fairly good. A 6/10. ...Hm. I've had my eye on that Paradigm place for a little while now, but maybe a direct intervention on its pizza will be especially fruitful...any of you all ever been...?" 

<Pose Tracker> Killy Garrett has posed.

Pulling away from the hug to give other the chance to hug the birthday girl, Killy chose to stand at the food table alongside Emilia and the others. She looked over the handmade New Yark style pizza, turning to Emilia and giving her a smile.

"They look amazing, Emilia." Killy said before grabbing a slice of the pepperoni one, looking at it with great interest, trying to figure out the best way to tackle this giant slice.

Killy's gift contained an elegant silver bracelet, studded with a few colored synthetic gemstones. She thought it looked beautiful, and can only hope Kallen thinks the same. 

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.



        Emilia's gift is, like her cooking, rather simple but a lot of love went into it. It's a tote bag, in an asymettric red and black pattern- colours that complement her. It has two main pockets, and one smaller one on the outside of one side- and one carefully hidden on the inside. On top of it is a data card (taken from the Black Knights stash, they can wear that cost) loaded with photos.

        It contains a photo of every filled page in the journal Kallen gave Emilia for her birthday. All the photos, and artifacts of her life since.

        "I h-h-hope you like it." Emmy says, quietly. She never felt in place with Black Knights- she's the most obvious Britannian Citizen here, despite her spacenoid heritage- but Kallen decided she had a place, and she still had it.

        Even terrorism can give you a place to belong.

        "Mmhm!" She responds to Cascade. "I s-s-started the dough a f-f-few days ago. M-most of the ingredients a-are from the school, but Mi- my girlfriend g-grew the m-m-mushrooms."

        Rin and Killy get looks and then Emmy realize she's the only one who was raised on the Brittanian continent- and Killy's time was... rather occupied. She picks up one of the slices and folds it lengthwise in her hand, grabbing a napkin to rest it on. "L-like this."

        She takes a bite just in time for C.C. to give her rating. The six out of ten gets narrowed eyes as she chews, indicating the oregano and salt shakers with her slice. "Y-y-you're supposed to adjust to y-your taste. Th-that's traditional." She says, a little curtly.

        And then Emilia mentions Paradigm City and her eyes go wide. This isn't the time but... she's heard about the city in the ruins of her home. "I-I'm going." She responds, without a seconds thought. "M-maybe Miss Killy's contacts in M-MAFTY can-" She stops herself. No. This is Kallen's party not business.

        She muses thoughtfully. The pizza tastes closer to her memories here. She must be getting it right.

        "A-a-anyway, is a-anyone g-going to light the c-candles on the cake?" She asks- looking meaningfully/glaring at Tamaki. (His picture is still up in the backroom at work.) "Th-th-there's... other th-things we. H-have to do, r-r-right?"

        Look she's new to birthday parties, okay? She isn't sick of it.
Cascade Vermilion tosses a coin: Heads 

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Taking each hug in turn, Kallen has words for each person. First to Ohgi and Tamaki. "You guys really do go beyond everyone's expectations. But isn't that how it's always been?" She gives both a light jab to the shoulders. "Getting me back on my feet after those days. Making sure I'd actually eat right." A little look into how she was shortly after Naoto's passing. Of course she'd have taken it hard. As for the gifts, well she's almost certain to be wearing those boots before the night ends. And she'll find a proper way to spend Tamaki's as well.

Then to C.C., because Kallen is milking this moment for all it's worth. A little grin breaks out on her face as she gets people to come and take pictures of them like this. There MUST be proof of C.C. being awkward this way. "I knew there was more to you than the mystery and teasing~. I'll have to keep peeling back the layers as we push on." That's worrying, that she plans to unveil to herself the deeper mysteries of C.C. and her other assorted fake names. "I'll take good care of your gift." Which she is gradually going to reveal to the party. Hopefully it won't cause too much disturbance. "And we'll talk about the City later."

Emmy is immediately after, and while it's something meant as a gesture between friends, she's on the receiving end of a kiss on the cheek. "These must have taken forever to learn how to make just right! I can't wait to dig in. And ooooh, I'm so glad you were able to come tonight! It just wouldn't feel right without you here." Her present will also be opened immediately. And of course she adores it. Every single part. She's absolutely gushing over it.

Killy is next, given purely due to her proximity to Emmy. Unsurprisingly, she's wearing the bracelet the moment it comes out. "We've not spoken as much as I'd like, but it's great to see you here too. Maybe we can talk for a while after things wind down a little?" She needs to break the ice somehow, and this is a good opportunity.

Rin is next up, and her comments during disengagement get Kallen more red than she had been. "Hey, I'm just really happy! And if you're going to tease me, I might have to get revenge next time your big day rolls around!" Kallen in fact does not have one of these. Her actual gaming knowledge is SOMEWHAT out of date. And buying gaming consoles is something that would cause issues with her stepmother. So she is going to get MUCH enjoyment out of this device.

Cascade next, is greeted with Kallen's intense happiness and the squishiness of her hugs. "We're going to hang out SO much more after this, you can count on that." Sure, there may have been some weird moments here and there, but she's gotten into the swing of making new friends.

And finally on the list is the gift from the absentee Rakshata. "Everyone, tonight we're partying until we can't party any more!" 

<Pose Tracker> Naoto Kozuki has posed.

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

Cascade returns the hug with both firmness and squishiness. "Absolutely!" she says. "I am only sorry I couldn't find anything better for you. I am bad at picking clothes for anyone else." Honestly, she's bad at it for herself too; she found some that worked early and just stuck with it.

"I didn't know she blushed any more," is Cascade's comment to Rin. She is absolutely not going to respond to the rest of it herself.

It is unclear if Cascade was raised on the Britannian continent; she's never said, precisely, though most people's assumption is that she was. She was introduced as a Britannian noble, and she certainly doesn't look Japanese (the pale skin, red hair, and freckles certainly suggest a heritage from elsewhere).

Still, the way she looks at Emmy's style of pizza - she looks like it like she hasn't ever seen it before, that kind of intent stare. "I see," she says, thoughtfully, before she helps herself to one of the mushroom and sausage ones. She did say that those were the most unique one.

And so she is chewing on a piece of pizza in a considering frame of mind when they have a problem. Cascade swallows, looks around - not in a panic, but definitely in concern. "Maybe the Ashford students should be the last people out," she says, if only because having people all attend the same school connected as associates seems like it would be harmless - it's no secret that they have a way to all meet each other!

Which of course does not explain why they are *here*, precisely. Might be best to move. Cascade does run, though not out of the building - she really did mean that she was okay with being the last one out. But maybe there's a place to hide in here? If not she can always bail out a back window.

(You're in no danger, the Gamia part of her mind reminds her. They can't touch you unless you want them to.) (But, her cover...) 

<Pose Tracker> Rin Starking has posed.


"Some people can blush super hard," Rin semi-concurs with Cascade, even as she takes her first bite of New Yark Style.

When Kallen opens the gift from Rakshata, she finds several things. One of those things was a finely carved wakizashi with a cherry-wood grip and matching scabbard, containing what would seem like a miraculously ancient blade.

It is less ancient than it seems... but it was forged by a craftsman on a colony that perished in the One Year War. So perhaps there is a certain resonance. Even if it had gotten sold on, before that cruel dawn.

There was also a large red envelope. Inside are a few things. Three hundred and sixty-one gilla in crisp new non-consecutive bank notes. A piece of fine paper with a poem on it, written in English but according to a certain ancient form:

Springtime blooming
Fruit buds, dreaming of the bite
A happy birth-day

And... a scrap of miscellaneous stretchy fabric? (No; it's a sakura-pink sling bikini.)


These things are unlikely to help against--

"The cops," hisses Rin through her teeth. "Shit--" She had, in the interim, mimicked Emilia enough that she was able to nom up most of her pizza slice, and now she takes another, somewhat furious bite from it.

But...

What the hell can they do?

Rin tries to figure out what they have the resources TO do. Her face falls when the sound of a Knightmare pulling up into the neighborhood echoes. She had been forming an idea - "I could try to..." Rin answers Cascade in a small voice, even as she fishes for her glasses where they were dangling in her cleavage, putting them back on.

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

        For just a little while, C.C. can sink into the party's atmosphere, even if such lavish gatherings always did happen more around her than she could happen to them. A lot of it is spent just fidgeting with her phone, barely looking up to make a few snide comments. To Kallen especially, "You should probably consider it the 'solution' that the puzzle is, in fact, a puzzle. A woman's heart goes further from being solved the longer it spends scrambling."

        It should be pleasant enough.

        ...but just a little bit before Tamaki peeks through the blinds, a long sigh escapes from C.C. - and when they're confirmed to be a police convoy, the witch slips away from the tabletop perch.

        "...The rest of you, do make haste to the backdoor. I'm buying time. Don't wait up on me - don't think of trying to bust me out if you go a long while without hearing from me either. ...Annoying that it's come to this, but maybe-"

        Briefly, C.C. does stop to quickly open her present - ta-da! It's a hamster cage, with a suspiciously pink little fluffy...is it a hamster? It's a little longer and seems a little more patient, and doesn't quite have the right face. "Kallen, this is your present. Take him on your shoulder, name him whatever. He'll behave, he's smart. Don't worry about the cage."

        With that, C.C. waits by one of the windows, stealing furtive peeks between the blinds without visibly peering through. Waiting, waiting, waiting for personnel to make a move.

        As soon as people are at a certain distance from the safehouse door...

        C.C. pries open the window, seating herself upon the fire escape, hair tied back in a short tight bun peeking out of a baseball cap. With a clearing of her throat, she calls out, aggressively making small talk: "Care to tell me what this is all about, officers? I just got back from a long shift and I've got another at midnight, and my sleep's going on the haywire from all this, so could you pipe down and make it quick? Is this about the Hachizuris? I told them getting involved in that business was bad news. I keep getting stuff meant for them, are our buildings that easy to mix up?"

        It's a mildly futile effort - but it does get a few of the police to stop in their tracks for just a minute to address C.C., even if they don't entertain her chattering. That's better than them barging at full speed to the safehouse, but she's not getting them out of their hair.

        ...so that's why, abruptly, she leaps down from her perch, right into the fray of the officers surrounding the building - and bolting into a sprint, making moves on jacking a car, leaping atop the roof instead, making moves on jacking the KMF, running all sorts of circles and diversions to try and keep the cops at bay - and when that's finally run its course, she's just darting off into the night, hoping to pull some of the cops with her. The more the better in C.C.'s case - whether she makes her escape or gets caught is irrelevant. All she's trying to do is occupy as many of them for as long as she can... 

<Pose Tracker> Killy Garrett has posed.

"That would be most wonderful, I would love that." Killy responded to Kallen's offer, happy to see her put on the bracelet right after unwrapping it. "I'm very glad you like it."

"Ah, I see now." She watched as Emmy folded the slice, giving her a nod before doing the same to her own slice and taking a bite. She can't remember the last time she had pizza as she generally tends to stay away from fast food, but this one was delicious.

Things didn't stay happy for long, as two jeeps worth of Britannian police officers rolled up to the safehouse, alongside a very unwelcome Knightpolice, she really hated those things. Killy remained calm, gesturing the others to move towards the backdoor. "I agree, we need to get out of here as quickly as possible, and try not to make too much noise." Despite saying that, she made no move towards the exit, simply standing near the front, on guard.

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.



        Cascade is thankfully a voice of calm as Tamaki brings up that they've been found. Emilia, however, drops her pizza slice reaching for a weapon she doesn't have.

        "Th-they're not g-g-going to ask q-questions. C-Curfew laws, g-g-gathering laws..." Emmy knows Cascade can fight but...

        She remembers Milly in that hospital bed, where the Britannians put her.

        Anger rises. "Th-they're going to st-start shooting a-a-any second now." She moves, her feet soft, crouching down to a window. She looks to the Japanese people among them. "...G-get moving." They'll have it worse than Emmy or Cascade. Probably.

        And then C.C. moves and Emmy blinks. C.C. buys time- and Emilia reaches up to the Star Earring hanging from her ear, and removes it.

        And then she yanks the chain from the earring and hurls it out the door at the Knightpolice."R-Raimei!" She calls out. Her accent still terrible but she remembers the word for a thundercrash. A code word, as she closes her eyes and turns away, covering her ears.

        Three seconds later, a flashbang goes off- not as powerful as it could be due to the size, but more than enough for two jeeps.

        "Run!" She shouts, looking to Cascade. If she insists on being the last one out... Emmy will run.

        She still has a mission to complete. 


<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Tamaki's warning does not get Kallen into an outright panic. But it does get her to start directing people. Gesturing them at the rear door and the best directions to run from here. She has a strange mascot creature now. And she has to protect him and everyone here. If they wind up losing a gift somewhere, they can replace those... though she will be trying to get ALL the gifts out with the group, once she sees to her friends mostly escaping. "Stay composed. We'll deal with it. We'll all get out." Somebody has to be reassuring here. And when Emmy takes ACTION! She books it out right alongside everyone. "You've gotten so brave, it's amazing!" 

<Pose Tracker> Naoto Kozuki has posed.

C.C. deftly negotiates the group some distraction time, as Ohgi helps Kallen coordinate and Tamaki helps, for some reason, gather the gifts.

The cops are approaching, but Emmy pulls out her earring-flashbang, and blinds all the foot troopers. This is good.

The KMF is resistant to such things. This is bad.

The speakers go on. "You goddamn Elevens! We'll crush you where we stand! You're gonna be surrounded soon!"

The woman inside readies her machine guns, whirring up to fire through the house and indiscriminately slaughter anyone within if they can't move fast enough - such as Kallen, who's the last one out.

And then, a miracle occurs.

On a nearby rooftop, a Sutherland can be spotted. It suddenly leaps to the ground, skating across, and fires both slash harkens straight at the Knightpolice's legs, tangling them up. It whirls around, emptying the assault rifle into the cockpit of the Britannian KMF until the speakers short out and the cameras are dead. He ignores the flashbanged units - they're still stunned, and they're undermanned for this.

Whether or not Kallen brought her radio, Ohgi certainly did, as an old frequency sputters to life.

"O! K! T! Do you read me? Reinforcements inbound. No time to get in any units, but you have time to escape. Head-"

Ohgi grabs the radio, and pulls it to his mouth. The voice is familiar, but shaky over the radio right now. "Who is this? How did you get this frequency?!"

The voice replies hastiily, clearly trying to make their escape is covered.

"It's me. N."

There's a few seconds of freeze from Tamaki and Ohgi, until the voice speaks up again.

"No time to dally. Remember the old subway station where T spilled hot coffee all over his pants, before it got shut down?"

A bitter time. Many screams and curses were involved, as Tamaki groans, which is taken as a yes.

"Get everyone to the tunnels down there. I'll collapse them behind you."

"R-right!" Ohgi responds, nodding to Tamaki and Kallen.


The subway station is not guarded, but more Knightpolice are going to be approaching it soon. It's certainly abandoned, but pushing your way through the old doors is possible.

The Sutherland crashes through the ceiling after they are in the tunnel, urging them to move forward. Once they do, it follows, and then fires the slash harkens up to the piping...

And pulls down, creating a massive barricade blocking them in. There's luckily an out in another abandoned station down the way, according to Ohgi...

And once they're there, 'N' suggests they skip to the NEXT station as well, to throw off tracks. It's a lot of walking, but in the end...

They get a moment of respite in a dark train station, lit up by a Sutherland's high beams.

The cockpit is still closed, but the speakers fire up. The voice is unmistakable to the three old-guards. "Everyone alright?" 

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

While none of the Black Knights have actually seen Cascade fight outside a Knightmare Frame, she is at least athletic - athletic enough that there are rumours of her being a Coordinator at Ashford, given how well she (over)performed in her first couple gym classes until she throttled it down.

Cascade has never liked the rumours, but since they are significantly less awkward than the truth, she hasn't gone very far out of her way to stamp them out either. Certainly, even if she ends up not being able to fight, she can run.

The flashbang is unexpected, and Cascade immediately begins reconsidering her tendency to bring absolutely no weapons while she's in her disguise. "Don't worry about me," she assures Emmy. "I can keep up." But her actual plan is rather different than chasing them at ground level. Better to break up the group.

Cascade sticks her head out the window, twists around, and pulls herself up, climbing up toward the roof. Since she's on the far side of the building from the police's approach, she has a pretty good shot of getting up there - and she goes up *fast*. She could do it in one jump if she didn't want to keep her cover, but as is she doesn't want to give the game away to any of the Black Knights who happen to look up; she's limiting herself to humanly possible, if you're good. Despite that she pulls herself up quickly and then makes a running leap to the next roof over, parkour-style. Then the next.

Being up here gives her a good look at the Sutherland taking out the Knightpolice. She stares at it for a few long seconds before making her leap to the next building.

...

Cascade actually gets to the subway station at ground level, having come down from house roof level when she got out of houses and into the rest of the streets. She doesn't even look winded despite the fact that she must have had to run flat-out to circle around and catch up with the others.

Nor does the long walk through the tunnels seem to tire her out much, though she does stop at one point to make a few minor adjustments. Pulling her hair back so it stops falling in her face, for one. She wasn't expecting to do sprints when she got dressed today.

"Who are you?" she asks, because she has not been introduced to the person in the Sutherland. The old guard seems to trust him, but... that doesn't mean she's been a Black Knight long enough to recognize everyone who started in it.

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

        ...maybe C.C. assumed a little bit that she'd bear 100% of this on her shoulders. That it'd be her and her alone who barely buys time for everyone - that if they're 100 yards further away than if she hadn't acted, it'd be the best possible outcome.

        How nice that a) Emilia happened to have a nifty little flashbang, whose callout C.C. catches enough to cover her eyes just in time, and b) they have a mysterious benefactor waiting in ambush?

        -yeah, she's gonna need some explanations on how out of the loop she is, but C.C. can at least connect the dots on: 'oh, he's addressing Kallen, Ohgi, and Tamaki - he's an older member of the resistance', and it's not long before C.C.'s commandeered a scooter to zip her way through the streets, winding and divertin attention all the way to the addressed subway meetup.

        The tunnel collapse behind C.C., once she finally does make it to the designated point, does seem to put her on alarm - she's deep enough in the Black Knights' operations to feel the need to be in the know on anything, but doesn't know anything about Naoto. So all she introduces herself with, whilst sitting atop an emergency fire extinguisher box, is, "...All you need to know is that I work with Zero. Just call me C.C. while we're here, everyone will know who you're talking about. So, our knight in shining armor...what exactly is going on here? We certainly thought we covered our tracks on an ambush...and you certainly had a coherent plan in place right in time upon that surprise attack..."

        Her yellow catty leer seems to glow a little bit in the dim tunnel lighting. 

<Pose Tracker> Rin Starking has posed.


It's all fun and games until Emilia the pizza-bearer and sweet girl with a stutter throws a god damn flashbang. Rin is pretty glad she put on her glasses, because they have Gamer Tint.

And at that point

SHIT
IS
ON!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhF3O1xCBW4

For Rin, this doesn't make a huge difference. If she had a gun she might be able to do a lot but she might well just get her dumb ass shot if she tried for covering fire. While everyone's retreating, at least, she scoops up a handful of the plastic cutlery, which is pretty small potatoes, but her purpose becomes clear when she throws a couple of plastic knives off into the distance as they move briefly through the open air.

She's getting the range. Flimsy shuriken are better than nothing.

Of course it becomes pretty quickly clear they aren't actually going to be in a situation where she could put a cop's eye out. More's the pity. The cutlery is stuffed in a pocket as she keeps moving, and she doesn't seem to get fatigued, although at one brief halt she fishes out a pill bottle and stuffs several of the tablets into her mouth.

And then at last the voice within speaks. The Friendly Sutherland approaches and raises its high beams. "Ow," Rin complains, shading her eyes. "Yeah, what the hell," Rin complains with a nod and a glance towards Cascade, who managed, somehow, to pop an incisive comment before Rin did. (Rin cheats with a nerve anomaly, so this is not frequent.) "Explain yourself! I'm guessin' you know Big Oh but this is creepy!"

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

They say in a moment where death nears, one sees their life flash. Kallen sees her regrets in that moment. All the people gathered who would be left behind. The work left unfinished. Everything she MUST still do. But then... That voice? On THAT FREQUENCY!? ...That. That can't be. Who is...? How...? Who would pull such a cruel...

She follows along with everyone as they take the path that's been suggested to them. Down to the subways and a few stations along. But everything he says. Nobody else could know about those. While she had been crying before from happiness. Now the tears flowing are different. "But... that can't...? It is really... Nao-nii?" Is it... because of all those months ago? The haunted house? Her preparation to try and contact his spirit? Or... is it some other kind of miracle?

<Pose Tracker> Killy Garrett has posed.

Well so much for being quiet, but Killy doesn't mind, this is a much more effective way to escape. Emmy never ceases to amaze her, but her reaction is understandable. She makes sure most of the group leaves through the backdoor before following, taking a look back to make sure everyone made it out safely.

Their escape is guided by a seemingly friendly Sutherland, which Killy doesn't question for now, she is mostly grateful that everyone is alright. She can't help but get tired by the end of the walk, taking a moment to collect her breath while she shows her age.

She dusts herself off, shading her eyes as well before addressing the Sutherland. "Thank you that." She makes sure to properly thank the mysterious person, but she does not trust them fully. "But please do explain, it seems like a lot of us are out of the loop here."

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.



        Emmy is close at the heels of everyone, not having time to proces who 'N' is. Now's not the time. They habve to leave. The normal procedure is scatter and reunite-

        Emilia moves like one of New Yark's longest line of inhabitants as she ducks through small tunnels and side passages. She knows this area pretty well now, and not being observed was her natural pace for so long. She sees her best bet to avoid detection.

        When she drops out of an old subway maintenance tunnel- covered in dust and grime, her hair a mess and slightly drenched- she looks every bit the rat. But she's safe. Maybe she can even salvage her clothes.

        She looks up at the Sutherland who saved them. Everyone seemed in the dark and C.C. was taking charge. C.C. appreciated that. But it's Kallen who gets her attention with her comment. Her eyes flick hurriedly through her companions. She'd really like it if someone explained... Especially given the suffix Kallen used.

<Pose Tracker> Naoto Kozuki has posed.

The cockpit opens as people address it, lights dimming slightly. A man steps outside, hands in the air. He addresses those asking who he is first.

"My name is Naoto Kozuki. I am...was a resistance leader here in Japan."

Japanese-Britannian, clearly. Related to Kallen by appearance, certainly. Average height, reddish-brown hair, an easygoing but currently slightly tense smile, and a pair of full-gloves, turtleneck, and no shown skin on his torso or limbs. He's wearing a headband (it is not his old one, which would be tattered, but it's in the same style), as he reaches one hand into a pocket, carefully, to grab something.

"Kallen...I meant to return sooner, but I didn't know how to approach it, with...everything that happened to me. I've been watching you, making sure you were safe, for a while now."

"I made you this. Happy birthday, sis." It's a traditional wooden shrine charm, the type from their past, with the symbols for 'prosperity' etched into it with ink.

His eyes turn to C.C. "Fair question. As I said, I've been watching. Using this Sutherland to tap into Knightpolice comms when they're not secure enough. I saw the squad coming here and booked it as fast as I could. Can't hold on forever if it means you all die."

A turn towards Ohgi and Tamaki, who are still in muted disbelief. "Glad you two are doing well. I knew you'd make it without me."

Ohgi gets his composure back first, though Tamaki follows suit soon after. They speak in near-unison. "How?"

Naoto lightly shrugs. "I don't know. But I am."

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

        "A long-dead comrade revealing himself from afar, watching and struggling in the distance...how romantic." C.C. kicks her legs on the little metal box aimlessly, chin resting in one hand, peering and peering at Naoto, assessing for anything...off. After all, it's not like he's the first time a literal ghost has appeared, but...

        "You shouldn't pull a stunt like that, Naoto." the witch states firmly. "Clear coordination and a clear understanding of who we have on side is important to our operations." There's a tension in the air when she makes this proclamation...

        "...but I can't exactly promise I wouldn't do the same thing in your shoes. I'll just thank you for your help and move along. Be careful on how long you take with these things, Naoto-kun. After all, in your absence..." C.C. hovers a hand towards the pink creature still sat upon Kallen's shoulder. He's fine! He's not at all fussed by all this. Very chill animal. "...Kallen may have gotten herself a replacement brother~"

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

Cascade manages to look decently well put together at all times, and the reason why might be clearer: She's prepared.

She steps back to offer Emmy a handkerchief. It's hardly perfect, but it might help her clean off her face and hair a bit. (It's unused.) Sadly, she does not have another for anyone else. Including herself; she undoes the tie in her hair and brushes it out with her fingers to get the worst of her own ruin dust off.

Cascade doesn't seem to have a lot to say about this revelation at first, probably because she hasn't ever met Naoto Kozuki before and wouldn't be able to recognize him; that's reserved for the people who have actually been here long enough to have met him.

But her eyes narrow slightly. So that's who...

"I have to admit when I got up this morning I was not expecting to meet a dead man," Cascade eventually says. It's not her place to vouch for him, or not. "But, ah, thank you. For the assistance, if nothing else." She glances aside - at Rin and Killy, who also don't recognize him. Well, Killy is older, not someone she expected to see here, but Rin - she supposes she's in the same boat as Cascade herself. "Were you seriously going to throw those at the police?" she asks of Rin, sotto voce. "I don't think you could penetrate anything with them."

<Pose Tracker> Rin Starking has posed.


Naoto reveals himself.

Does Rin know who he is...? She does not; but the context seems clear immediately. She can see it on Ohgi and Tamaki's faces and she knows THOSE guys, and especially after two of her tablets, she is able to give these things a short stack of thick thought as she straightens up, a hand on her hip.

She glances at Killy; the older woman doesn't know him either, but she doesn't seem like a hardcore local Japanese either, and nor does Cascade. Rin loks towards her, and says, with a little pout, "I didn't have a bunch of options, you know. It's not like I had a gun or anything!" She lowers her voice, "I have a lot of places I can hide things, but a gun is bigger than you think, you know."

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Neither of them know how it's possible... but maybe they don't have to know right now. Watching for a while... Then maybe it really was... Doesn't matter. She reaches out, leaping at him to latch on in the single largest hug she's ever given. Crying against him, a brother who despite all she's grown, is still very much taller than Kallen herself. One hand is curled around the charm, even as she keeps clinging to him, as if he'll disappear again the moment she lets go. She can barely choke out the words. "I've missed you... Ever since then, it... I... Welcome home." Even if it's a lot different than when he left.

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.



        Emmy stares at their rescuer, as she sees the connection. Naoto Kozuki. Kallen's reaction...

        This makes Emmy more wary, not less, taking steps back. What her cousin told her... She's still unarmed, but for one more earring.

        Thoughts run through her head at speed. Could it be the same thing? Even if it is... Is it fair to Kallen to take away this chance to see her brother? To have her family back?

        ...No. It's cruel enough she's planning to take Mineva's father from her again. She can't make that resolve without the anger she had then. And there's no doubt in Kallen's voice... unlike with Mineva.

        There's something else in there too. Jealous and angry and hurt. Something she won't release now. Emmy doesn't move to Kallen this time, instead making slowly for C.C., quiet and careful as she can. The others can talk to him.

        Her voice is whisper quiet, next to 'Cyzarine' after this. "...I n-n-need to t-talk with y-y-you. And Zero. I-in private. S-soon."

        As she watches Kallen cry on her brother's shoulder, she feels something horrible in the pit of her stomach. Please let her be wrong.

        Please let this be a happy ending, just this once. 

<Pose Tracker> Naoto Kozuki has posed.

As Kallen approaches and hugs Naoto, he puts his hand on her back, clearly not intent to harm her. "Hey, it's alright. I don't plan on going anywhere."

Ohgi and Tamaki look at each other, as Tamaki approaches the two and Ohgi turns to the others. "We should all split up. We can take Naoto somewhere safe, make sure it's really him." He doesn't really have doubt, but there's weird shit out there.

"And if it is...then..." He shrugs. "We'll see what we do from there."

Naoto doesn't seem upset about this. "I understand. Thank you, Kaname."

Once everyone splits off, Naoto stays close to Kallen when they leave. He's not a threat at all, even if Tamaki and Ohgi are keeping close watch on himm.

He really is who he says he is...

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