002 - closed

[groundzeroes]

🧙 WHO: Rei, Hitoya & Jyushi
⚔️️ WHAT: da upgraded hypnosis mic z0ne
🕒 WHEN: Early September!
🗺️ WHERE: a field outside Camelot
⚠️ WARNINGS: jyushi's inappropriate and very doomed crush, Lots of Rap


[It has taken several months, but Rei has finally augmented Hitoya's Hypnosis Mic to his satisfaction. In truth, tinkering with the Mic was the easy part; Rei knows his own engineering well enough to fix it with his eyes closed. Rather, it was testing the output of magical power that was the difficulty-- Hitoya's augmentations don't exactly line up with Rei's magic types, after all. So he had to augment his own at the same time for an approximate understanding.

So far, so good. Rei has contacted Hitoya too, ready to hand it back over. Still, he'd like to field test the thing before declaring the job fully done. And to do that, he needs a control factor.]

Jyushi-kun?

[Rei descends the stairs to the Roost's basement, looking for his tall, dark, and teenager audio tech. Kid's kinda funny, but he's a hard worker and good at his job. Even Princess, fussy phoenix that she is, likes him. But most importantly...]

I have some fieldwork for you today. C'mon up, will ya?

[...he has a Mic.]

Comments

[groundzeroes]

[Rei returns Jyushi's smile with a grin of his own, though it's distinctly less innocuous than the former's. Ahh, poor Jyushi. Kid's real sweet, and all Rei does is use that earnestness to his advantage. But it's not a scam if the other party comes away satisfied too, right?]

Just that Hypnosis Mic of yours. Got it on you?

[Rei does indeed have a Mic! Two, actually-- one in his hand and another in his pocket. The one he's holding looks a little different than usual-- taller, with a colored section added just below the mic head. He waves it at his familiar, who sits at the top of the stairs' banister and regards them with piercing eyes.]

We're heading out, Princess. Hold down the fort while we're gone.

["Don't let him get into trouble, child," she orders Jyushi sternly. She had discovered over time that Jyushi was an animal mage she could actually speak to (read: boss around); Rei remains none the wiser.]

[plenilunium]

[Most people would probably be a little suspicious about Rei. It isn't like the man works too hard to hide how unscrupulous he can be. But Jyushi never notices because he's all too caught up in that grin, how he wants Jyushi to help him. Rei is relying on him and this just makes Jyushi's whole week.

Even though that mic does look different and he's never seen it before. Going over to the bag he takes with him, he grabs his mic. It feels strange to just have it lying around and it's become something of a habit to bring it with him even if the likelihood of a battle here is very much slim to none.

So Jyushi nods excitedly and before he leaves, listening to Princess. Something about it feels foreboding? Like she knows something. But, well, she is a mythological creature so maybe she just knows things. Jyushi nods to her and follows after Rei.]

So, um, does it involve the mics? [But he is still very excited for any chance to spend time with Rei.]

[groundzeroes]

That's right. [Rei doesn't elaborate right away, leading Jyushi out of the city proper to the more grassy, open surroundings. If the magical output needs adjusted, it wouldn't do for them to find out by someone cracking their head open on the sidewalk....]

You've noticed that the mics aren't as powerful here, right? [This fact annoyed Rei, at first: the work he'd put into the microphones had evaporated in an instant. But as he thought upon it more, Avalon considering his work "magical" was actually pretty flattering. Did he really cross over the barrier of science that much?] A while back, that teammate of yours asked me to do something about it.

I've completed the ask, but it needs some final testing. [Rei turns to give Jyushi his most conspiratorial smile, as if he's letting the boy in on a secret.] And you, Jyushi-kun, are going to be particularly important for that.

[plenilunium]

Hitoya-san did?

[Jyushi hadn't known. There are a lot of things that Jyushi doesn't know about what Hitoya does and he knows it isn't really his business but he's curious to know why Hitoya didn't tell him about this. Not hurt or anything but he wonders what's going on.

But all thoughts leave his mind as Rei smiles and says Jyushi's going to help him.]

You think I'll be important...?

[Be still, his beating heart. Rei thinks he'll be helpful and he wants Jyushi to help. Not anybody else.]

I'll help any way I can!

[roppou]

[So it's finally time to pick up that tall order he'd placed months ago?

It didn't really come as any surprise that attempting to mix the technology of their world and the magic of this one might take a fair bit of time. Weeks without a word and even when it arrived, it was only the tersest forms. But patience is a virtue when there's a result your after.

Now the day has come. Rei provided the location and Hitoya figures any further details can be sorted out in person. He's waiting for them by the time they arrive though the first question, isn't one he planned for.]

Jyushi? [He's surprised though it only shows for a moment, as he wonders how much the kid's been told.]

[groundzeroes]

Ah, good. We're all ready, then. [Rei can't help his grin as the three of them meet up. Part of it is the amusement he always gets out of people slowly catching onto his plans... but the other part is that he is genuinely pleased to finally get to this part of the process. Finally, some actual field testing!!!! You can't spend your entire adult life working on hypnosis microphones without enjoying it, after all...]

Here, Sensei. Hope you weren't too inconvenienced without it. [Rei pulls out the completed product, handing it over.] Working on Jyushi-kun's should go more smoothly, provided everything turns out as expected today.

[plenilunium]

Mine?

[It doesn't exactly get past him that apparently Hitoya hadn't been expecting to see Jyushi either. How mysterious...just like Rei. Something that Jyushi has always been interested by, and always intrigued, but he's never really had to go through it like this before. It's not so much fun having questions.]

Why should mine go more smoothly? Hitoya-san and I have the same type of microphone, don't we?

[roppou]

Not like we're forced to defend ourselves against some monster of the week on the regular. [This sarcasm.

Though he takes the mic without further comment, noting the subtle differences. It's only as the mic changes form in his hand that they grow more pronounced. The scale proportionally longer, and the fleur de lis design accented in what look to be the very same gemstones he'd handed over to Rei, perfectly suited to the magic he finds himself with now.]

It's the same mic, Jyushi. I've just enlisted Rei's help in personalizing it a bit. The plan is to do the same for you once we've confirmed it works. [He looks between the two of them now. What comes next is obvious if a bit disingenuous being arranged like this.]

It's been a while since we've done any training. [At least he has the utmost confidence in his teammate.]

[groundzeroes]

[Rei only smiles enigmatically at the dig, then he turns to his victim assistant.]

Jyushi-kun, this is where you're key. [Laying it on real thick, Rei.] You've practiced standing lots of raps from the same Mic, right?

[Yeah, he heard from Ramuda about that "training" Kuko first put him through...]

I want you endure a stanza or two from this Mic and from your own Mic, and then describe the difference in effect. You can do that, can't you?

[plenilunium]

[Rei is a professional at getting what he wants but it isn't as if he needs these skills for Jyushi. His eyes light up as he listens to Rei because Jyushi is key. He's needed. All Jyushi hears is that Rei needs him and not much else.

And it's just the same as what Kuko and Hitoya did and Hitoya is right, they haven't trained in a while. And Hitoya did say that they couldn't slack off here. He isn't wrong.

Maybe it should stand out that Rei knows about the "training" but everything is golden right now.]

I can do that, Rei-san! Use my body as you see fit!

[Yes, please beat the shit out of me is what he's basically saying.]

[roppou]

[Oh. Oh no. After almost five years, Hitoya is too well versed in the language of Jyushi. All sides of it. Every persona. And the words that go unspoken but not quite unsaid by those bright, wide eyes.

He suppresses a groan, doesn't roll his eyes, not anything to draw attention it so they can take care of what they came here to do. But they'll talk about this later.]

Alright. Get ready kid. [That's all the warning Jyushi will get as he takes up his mic. A sort of energy swirls around him in the form of ghostly apparitions fading in and out. That's new but no time to give it much thought before launching into his verse.]

Playtime's over, time to get sober
Aren't you tired of all this one thing after another
Take this mic hear the sound
To bury all enemies underground
Then climb atop the mound

Taking the top like vandals
Calling all the shots, two commandos
this is the new level, full of new devils
That's what it means to be Bad Ass Temple

hi i messed up the order OOPS

[plenilunium]

[Jyushi has absolutely no idea how obvious he is being in his crush on Rei. If he did know then he would probably be hiding in absolute embarrassment and it would not be conclusive for this experiment.

He does notice how different the mic is but he's got no time to think about that too deeply. Not when he's about to just take on a beating. Very similar to how Kuko decided to train him, he thinks, but he's ready. It helps that he's already used to how this all works and has learned to withstand attacks a lot better. So while Hitoya's attack does make him stagger and go to his knees for a short moment, he's able to stand and take a breath.]

I-It's your turn, right, Rei-san?

OH NO, NO ITS MY FAULT SDFKJSDF OPE

[groundzeroes]

[Rei watches the proceedings with a piercing eye, hand on his chin. The enhanced Microphone's power is clear enough in its visuals, the whipping wind and eerie peripherals more akin to the battles of home. Just the sight of it makes Rei grin; this is good, this is what his tech should be. Still, there's only one way to be sure that it works.]

Good, very good. You're a resilient kid, aren't ya? Let me take a look at you real quick.

[Rei approaches Jyushi, hand out to take the mic Jyushi had obediently brought along. He gives the boy a careful once-over, turning him around, checking his pupils and pallor; he's a little worse for wear, but within the usual parameters for a seasoned mic user. Good.

But at the question:]

Oh, I'm just here to observe. If it were me rapping, that would be one too many variables. There's no telling the difference between me and Sensei's style, right? [Sorry, Jyushi... another time.]

Hitoya. [Rei tosses the unenhanced mic to the lawyer, retreating back to his place on the sidelines.] Do that again. Same lyrics. Jyushi-kun, you'll describe the difference after that.

[roppou]

[Rei has found himself at the center of Hitoya's plans here on more than one occasion now. But despite the constant omnipresence of Jyushi in his life, he hasn't really spent any time around the two of them together, at least not since Rei first employed the teen. Seeing it now, well, the picture is starting to form, one arduous piece at a time.

Jyushi comes across as a rather curious blend of timid and over-eager all at once. Blithely looking to appease those who have earned his respect. And this seems to overlap with traits he admires, desires to emulate in himself like confidence and authority. (Sound familiar?)

He almost misses the mic to his considerations, catching just at the last moment with only a hint of a fumble.]

Got it. [No comment about how just repeating versus doesn't really have the same effect either, does it? Or how Rei's getting a convenient preview with nothing in return.

Right now, it's probably best to just draw attention away from Rei like he wants. This time, Hitoya doesn't even give the warning before launching into the verse. There's none of the theatrics of the enhanced mic, nothing really to see at all, and he might have cut it short if he didn't notice for himself just how different it felt. Weaker, sure, but otherwise a completely familiar power unadulterated by this world.]

Interesting. [He turns the mic, plain in form, over in his hand a few times then looks up to Jyushi who has certainly weathered worse in training.] You noticed it too, right?

[plenilunium]

[Jyushi does not notice the same things as Hitoya. Not only blinded by his little crush but somehow, despite his struggles, he has never come out untrusting. Really, all he takes from Rei is that he thinks he's resilient! Which is really one of Jyushi's strengths. He can take a hit and take it well.

Jyushi's smiling and nodding but he doesn't have much time before Hitoya launches into another attack. At least with this one, he isn't unable to stay upright. He struggles to do so, stumbling a bit and grunting with the exertion to do so but manages.

Panting, he nods. ] Yeah, not as strong. The first felt more intense? I couldn't stand with that one but it didn't feel like I couldn't do that with the second attack. Is that good, Rei-san?

[groundzeroes]

[Hand on his chin, Rei takes in the scene carefully. The difference between the two attacks is stark, particularly its visuals; the second one looks like nothing, as if they are simply acting upon a stage. The smoke and mirrors is just a bonus, though: the real issue is whether the upgrades actually managed to restore any amount of power, of uniqueness, to the weapon.

It's not a perfect experiment-- Hitoya is right to think that the same verse wouldn't be as effective; this would not hold up in to peer review-- but it should be enough.]

Well, I think we can call this build a success. [Rei smiles again, stepping back within conversational distance.] If she wasn't frozen in time back home, I'd bet whichever Chuuoku missy invented these things would be rolling over in her grave right now!

[Leave it to Rei to crack an inside joke with himself, and laugh at it.]