jigokulogs | OPEN; SUB-STORY THREAD

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OPEN; SUB-STORY THREAD

Who ⬤ Croix Meridies and you [OPEN]
What ⬤ Substory: Can't Download a Clue
When ⬤ September
Where ⬤ Executive's son's internet cafe
Content Warnings ⬤ Theft? Will Update as needed.

This was almost too easy.

Security at this cafe was, frankly, as embarrassing as its attendance. All Croix had to do was show up and claim to be from the "head office" and explain that someone had complained about one of the computers malfunctioning. She was here to provide "tech support", but she had to take it in to the "head office" to ensure it was working properly.

And so she was walking out of said place of business carrying a box with the computer tower, monitor, and all associated accessories in a box, and was being trusted to bring it back. This had gone off without a hitch, and Croix was practically almost home free.

It'd be a bad time for someone with reason to question her to immediately question her to walk in, wouldn't it?

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[ Honestly, Ursula barely knew the first thing about computers for the most part, but she could at least give the requested astral consultation to give this poor rich kid sop some direction (though from the sound of it, she had her doubts he'd actually listen to her advice). She'd packed up the astrolabe and crystal ball from the booth, carrying them with her in a re-enforced backpack and began to head out to the location, and... oof. What a dump.

Well. Hopefully she could get the consultation done and get out of there quickly enough. The guy really did seem to need the help, all things considered. And it would be good for her and Mona to spread the word about their services. What she hadn't expected was almost run into someone else heading into the 'cafe' itself.

Boom. Crash. Her weight was already off balance thanks to the backpack, and Ursula spilled ass over tea-kettle out onto the thoroughfare in front of the shop.

Well, if nothing else, she was still just as clumsy as before. ]

[Croix could barely see anything over her box as she headed out of the cafe, so she was forced to stumble back as they collided. Irate, she lowered her box, and began, curtly:]

What's your problem? I—

[Her eyes widened.]

Char-Ursula?! [What was Ursula doing at a place like this?!] Are you alright...?!

[Never mind that Croix was in the process of theft. Helping her friend took priority.]

I-I'm fine... mostly.

[ Bruised dignity was usually the worst of it. Thankfully the astrolabe and ball would be fine in that backpack, but the same protections meant little help for her back when she hit the pavement below.

So probably some bruising, while she was at it. ]

Did you also get called out here to help? [ Nevermind that she was still on the ground, looking a fool. ]

Here, let me help you up.

[She places her load down and reaches down to offer Chariot a hand. Then, of course, she blanches as she hears the question.]

...Eh? Help? Y-Yes, of course...

[ Croix was always the more steady, between the two of them. It didn't take much effort for her to get Chariot back to her feet, though the other was still wincing.

And... hmm. That response. A mix of things hit her; of course the immediate suspicion, but also guilt over being immediately suspicious. Croix was trying, she needed to give her a chance, and not just dismiss her intentions at word freaking one.

But still... ]

I was requested to come do an astral reading. While you're here, did you want to help out?

[ She knew Croix's access to mana would be limited, same as hers was at first, but she'd at least know how to set up an astrolabe and help explain what they were doing. ]

[Well...]

I'd, um. I'd have to set this device aside, first. I, err, promised to take it home and fix it, you know?

[Crap. Now she really does have to return it.]

[In truth, Kaede had only half paid attention to the briefing. Something something rich kid stocking an office (arcade...?) with computers and needing help with something about it.

So when she walked to the location, she didn't bat an eye at the sight of someone with a moving box. She did pause a moment at the doorway, though. Kaede didn't recall any moving experience being required, but. Maybe the kid was having something replaced? This place was a mess, it could use it.]

That what we're doing here?

[Kaede? Aiding and abetting crimes (unintentionally)? Why, she'd never.]

[ Hm... Well, she supposed it was good Croix was finding work that suited her talents. ]

That's fine! I promise it won't take too much time...

[ She was pretty sure nothing the stars had to say about this place would convince the owner to just. Not. ]

[Azula is, honestly, utterly indifferent to the suffering of an incompetent brat with an ill-advised internet cafe. Other Enma may be interested in dealing with the petty thieves who plague him, but everything she's heard tells her the fool has it coming. She's only in the area at all because it's apparently rife with black market activity, which strikes her as far more valuable to investigate.

But she can't ignore the brazenness of just walking out of the cafe with a box of stolen material. Ugh, all the fool would have had to do is at least try to be more subtle and Azula could have ignored her.

She puts on the carefully controlled smirk and steps out into the path of the would-be thief.]

You must pardon me- computers are new to me, they don't exist where I'm from, but I didn't think you were supposed to take the computers home from an establishment like this.

[She even manages to keep the sarcasm from her voice. Mostly.]

[Despite herself, Croix actually found herself smiling.]

For you, there's no such thing as "too much time", I assure you.

[Croix regarded the young woman with annoyance as she was stopped, lowering the box with a frown.]

I assure you, I was given permission. This device is in need of repairs, you see.

[Sticking to her cover story. It would be hard to disprove, assuming that Azula didn't know much about computers.]

[Croix stopped, and ended up staring at this young lady. Was she for real?]

Yes, actually. Ah, if you could assist me...?

[Time to see how far she can take this.]

[She may have skimmed the assignment. Anything to keep her hands busy and her thoughts quiet.

So, Kaede just shrugged.]

Sure.

[Accomplice: acquired.]

[Frustratingly difficult to disprove, it's true- in her time in Jigoku, she's gotten better with technology than she let on, but certainly not good enough at it to contradict somebody's diagnosed tech problems.

However, it's very, very easy for her to be skeptical of. Largely because she's just not trusting as a rule.]

Oh, of course, but I'm afraid I had to check. Nothing personal, Department business, I'm sure you understand. This internet cafe has been the target of several thefts and scams recently.

[The smirk widens slightly.]

Could I just get the details of your repair business? The Department would like to have it on file in the unlikely event that we need to follow up with you, purely a formality.

[Croix grins, and passes the box over to Kaede.]

This way, then.

[Why carry it when you can have someone else do it for you.]

[Croix narrows her eyes.]

It's not a business, I'm afraid. I'm doing this as a member of the Sutoku Alliance, for the good of the community.

[Crap. Now the alliance will be on the hook if she doesn't return it. But it was the only explanation she could offer...]

[At first, Kaede's shoulders stiffened like a cat about to hiss. It's automatic, she can only help it sometimes. But the thought occurred to her that she was getting huffy at a box, and that was stupid. With a sigh, she accepted the thing.

Her knees bent a bit more than she liked; Kaede's physical frame was never particularly impressive, and without her vectors to prop her up, getting very far with this cargo would be bothersome. But she was nothing if not stubborn.]

The hell did you put in here? It's heavy.

[The horned girl had no hope whatsoever of seeing over the box, and leaned around the side of the box to scowl a bit.]

[ There was a certain pang of familiarity that came with hearing that. Any time Chariot would get apologetic about making Croix stay up with her to figure out a certain spell, or to just help her study, practice something, to sharpen up those metamorphism spells that had started her notoriety...

All nature of helping a friend aside, they both kind of knew a lot of it was just an excuse to spend more time together, in halcyon moments...

Despite how often her past could tug at the chains of her heart, she smiled, despite herself, dwelling instead within the warmth of that nostalgia. She gave a nod. ]

Then let's get started. I'll get the crystal ready and charged, you can balance the astrolabe. The stars here match up close enough with the stars over our own Japan you can probably eyeball the measurements easy enough.

[ Not that the stars were out, at the moment, but hey, one could easily use the relative position of the sun, too. ]

That's what I appreciate about the Sutoku, they're so civic-minded.

[Alright, she may have let a hint of sarcasm creep into that one, but that's fine. Still smirking, she continues-]

But that's fine, your personal contact information will do. Just as long as we have a means of reaching you.

[Croix smiles a very crooked looking smile. Through grit teeth.]

Yes, of course. My personal contact uses "misstech" as its username.

It's a computer, along with the monitor and keyboard.

[Croix smiles sweetly...she won't let Kaede suffer much. Not for long anyway.]

[Croix nods, and wordlessly begins setting to her task. This isn't her field of expertise, but she did well enough in her astrology course to set it up properly, using the position of the sun, just as she was taught all those years ago.

Eventually, she speaks.]

Heh, this reminds me of the time I helped you set up for your final in astrology, way back when.

[Briefly, Kaede's brows furrowed. Weren't they supposed to...?

Whatever. She didn't remember. The horned girl sighed.]

Where do you want this thing?

[Sure hope no one else walks in, that'd be dreadful.]

I was pretty sure I was going to vibrate myself into another dimension, if I hadn't had you there to help calm me down.

[ If the inheritor of the Shiny Rod had failed astrology, she'd have a whole new shame to drag her down into hell with. Well. More figurative than the hell they were currently in, at any rate.

By that point, the owner had pulled away from their own busy work (playing solitaire) to check out what it was they were doing. Ursula, thankfully, fielded their questions well enough. ]

... Of course, keep in mind that cosmic mana works in ways we don't fully understand, still, so there's a chance the reading results could be difficult to interpret.

[ The guy nodded, not at all deterred by that fact. Ursula, at that point, gestured at Croix to keep the guy busy while she focused on channeling her magic into the crystal ball, letting her eyes close as the gentle, viridian mana poured out from her hands and into the translucent sphere, light starting to form within it, forming an array of miniature stars... ]

All I did was be there for you. You aced the test on your own.

[Croix nodded when Ursula passed the owner off on her, and began explaining something about how he might improve the connection in his cafe...which he seemed to be half-listening to.]

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OPEN; SUB-STORY THREAD

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