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[Video / Action]
[Orihime's face is serious as she regards the screen. Once the device is turned on, she sits back and takes a breath. There's a lot she wants to talk about...the new branch of Cake Town in Fayren, the two-week disappearance. But the latter is still too raw to discuss without leaving a bitter feeling in her gut, and the former too trivial.]
I want to know...if there are other heroes out there, who don't really make themselves publicly known.
[Her fingers dig a little tighter into the mattress.]
Last year there was one who went by X-Ray. He didn't have a good reputation, but he was a good hero. He didn't sign up for any hero jobs because he didn't want to be paid for what he was doing. Being true to his ideals meant he didn't have a great place to live, and couldn't really afford to eat well either. And that didn't seem right to me.
[Her gaze drifts down for a moment, her jaw tight. Then she glances at the camera again.]
So I thought there might be others like that here too, in similar situations. It's been bugging me for a long time, so I've worked really hard at expanding Cake Town. That way, I could afford to do something about it that isn't just donating leftover bread. If you're in a situation like that, let me know. It doesn't have to be a public response, and you can use whatever identity you're comfortable with. I'll keep it confidential.
[Orihime eases her grip on the sheets, exhaling quietly.]
...And let me know if you're open to the idea of a team or if you prefer to do things solo.
[With a nod of her head, she reaches forward and disconnects the feed. She has some training of her own to do.]
[Training - Nova City / Working Out & Bakery - Genessia City]
[Orihime had adopted a lot of teachers for extra lessons, hellbent on becoming stronger. Now she's politely thanked those teachers and stepped down as a student. She was trying to do too much in too many different ways, and it hadn't helped her in the end. She's stuck with a few: learning to shoot with Faye and Ford, sparring with Bulla and Bakugou, but she's stopped all other lessons. It's better to focus on what she's good at, and learn one thing at a time.]
[When she's not with her friends and she has some spare time, she alternates between exercising and running through battle simulations at the holodeck. Three times a week she visits the gym to lift weights and swim. She jogs there for the extra cardio as well. The other three times she goes to Nova City, browsing through the action and adventure modules that were available to rent.]
[Though she still bakes, most of her work is performed before the shop opens. It's relaxing, the old radio playing in the back room as she pours batter into cake pans, whips up mousse and fluffy frosting, and prepares bread dough for baking. There's a machine that kneads the dough, but sometimes she'll take a round and do it by hand to work out her arms and lose herself in the rhythm.]
[When she sleeps, it's deep and dreamless, curled up on her side with a CD of forest sounds to chase away the silence.]
---------------
[Fayren - Magic Item Shopping]
[It's easy to get lost in a magic shop. The potions are lined up in a variety of vials and flasks, bottled, colored, labeled, and priced. She reads each one thoroughly, too fascinated to skim even though there's only one real effect she's looking for.]
[But she doesn't see any in stock, and what she wants would ideally be the sort of thing she can activate more than once.]
Do you have any magic rings? I need one that can make me fly, or run really fast.
[The shopkeep stares at her with a dull expression for a long time. Then he stoops below the counter and comes back up with a handful of assorted rings. The first he holds up is forged of stone, thick and cumbersome, as if someone drilled a hole into a granite disc and called it good.]
'This ring makes you slower.'
...I'm looking for something that does the opposite of that, ha ha...!
[He puts it back, still looking at her without blinking. Then he pulls out a small copper ring with a chunk of unpolished brown stone set unevenly into the band.]
'This ring gives you extra Cheerios if you're out of Cheerios.'
...
[Maybe the wizard who made the potions is on vacation. Finding a way to tighten up her weaknesses might be harder than she thought.]
I want to know...if there are other heroes out there, who don't really make themselves publicly known.
[Her fingers dig a little tighter into the mattress.]
Last year there was one who went by X-Ray. He didn't have a good reputation, but he was a good hero. He didn't sign up for any hero jobs because he didn't want to be paid for what he was doing. Being true to his ideals meant he didn't have a great place to live, and couldn't really afford to eat well either. And that didn't seem right to me.
[Her gaze drifts down for a moment, her jaw tight. Then she glances at the camera again.]
So I thought there might be others like that here too, in similar situations. It's been bugging me for a long time, so I've worked really hard at expanding Cake Town. That way, I could afford to do something about it that isn't just donating leftover bread. If you're in a situation like that, let me know. It doesn't have to be a public response, and you can use whatever identity you're comfortable with. I'll keep it confidential.
[Orihime eases her grip on the sheets, exhaling quietly.]
...And let me know if you're open to the idea of a team or if you prefer to do things solo.
[With a nod of her head, she reaches forward and disconnects the feed. She has some training of her own to do.]
[Training - Nova City / Working Out & Bakery - Genessia City]
[Orihime had adopted a lot of teachers for extra lessons, hellbent on becoming stronger. Now she's politely thanked those teachers and stepped down as a student. She was trying to do too much in too many different ways, and it hadn't helped her in the end. She's stuck with a few: learning to shoot with Faye and Ford, sparring with Bulla and Bakugou, but she's stopped all other lessons. It's better to focus on what she's good at, and learn one thing at a time.]
[When she's not with her friends and she has some spare time, she alternates between exercising and running through battle simulations at the holodeck. Three times a week she visits the gym to lift weights and swim. She jogs there for the extra cardio as well. The other three times she goes to Nova City, browsing through the action and adventure modules that were available to rent.]
[Though she still bakes, most of her work is performed before the shop opens. It's relaxing, the old radio playing in the back room as she pours batter into cake pans, whips up mousse and fluffy frosting, and prepares bread dough for baking. There's a machine that kneads the dough, but sometimes she'll take a round and do it by hand to work out her arms and lose herself in the rhythm.]
[When she sleeps, it's deep and dreamless, curled up on her side with a CD of forest sounds to chase away the silence.]
---------------
[Fayren - Magic Item Shopping]
[It's easy to get lost in a magic shop. The potions are lined up in a variety of vials and flasks, bottled, colored, labeled, and priced. She reads each one thoroughly, too fascinated to skim even though there's only one real effect she's looking for.]
[But she doesn't see any in stock, and what she wants would ideally be the sort of thing she can activate more than once.]
Do you have any magic rings? I need one that can make me fly, or run really fast.
[The shopkeep stares at her with a dull expression for a long time. Then he stoops below the counter and comes back up with a handful of assorted rings. The first he holds up is forged of stone, thick and cumbersome, as if someone drilled a hole into a granite disc and called it good.]
'This ring makes you slower.'
...I'm looking for something that does the opposite of that, ha ha...!
[He puts it back, still looking at her without blinking. Then he pulls out a small copper ring with a chunk of unpolished brown stone set unevenly into the band.]
'This ring gives you extra Cheerios if you're out of Cheerios.'
...
[Maybe the wizard who made the potions is on vacation. Finding a way to tighten up her weaknesses might be harder than she thought.]
video;
[Allen didn't know who the x-ray guy was, but Allen wished he could stick to his morals in a way. Yes, Allen did help people when he was able to with one job and if he saw trouble would deal with it, but at the same time Allen kind of had to eat in order to be able to do anything of the sort in the first place. Plus having to pay off debts for so long, he had to appreciate what he could earn.]
Though that x-ray guy sounds like he had it rough having to stick to his morals. I wish I could have, but if I did, I'd actually be unable to help anyone.
video;
[She rubs the back of her neck with a sheepish smile.]
Are you eating okay? Do you have a place to live?
video;
[He nodded slightly, giving off a reassuring smile.]
Yeah, I mean I earn enough and make sacrifices if I need to for survival. But I've lived the life of a traveller so it's really nothing new for me.
video;
[She smiles.]
[And switches to private.]
I'm looking for a secret base right now! If you need a place to sleep, I have an extra studio available above the Attleton bakery, or you can take the break room in Genessia City's bakery. It's pretty much just like my own studio with the same things. We have leftover baked goods every day so please come by and fill up whenever you need to!
Hang in there just a little longer, and you can focus on being an amazing hero without having to worry about money for rent or food.
video;
Ah, thank you. But I'll be fine, really. I'm sure there will be others would need the help from someone as kind as you.
video;
[Isn't he sold on that alone? Because she kind of is.]
Plus you'll get to be around other heroes. Where are you living now?
video;
[He figured she meant apartment-wise, but he figured that saying that made it obvious he didn't stay in one place for long really.]
Action
Andrea finishes her workout when she approaches Orihime during her break, flashing her pendant at the other woman with a slight smile ]
Yo. Saw your vid earlier. About putting a team together. I just might be interested in that.
[ Andrea extends her arm to introduce herself with a handshake ]
Andrea Hendricks by the way, but you can call me Andy.
Action
Yes, that's me! Orihime Inoue, nice to meet you, Andy-san.
[She brushes her forearm over her brow, her shoulder muscles aching in the best kind of way. She probably smells pretty heavily of sweat, though. Normal as her physique may be, she pushes herself.]
Really? That would be awesome! I know there's not a lot for people to do, but when emergencies do arise, it'd be nice to have a squad that can scramble to action no matter where it is or what the circumstances are. I want to sponsor a team like that.
[She sits down on the weight bench, her posture pretty good despite her weariness.]
Were you a hero back home too? What kind of things did you do? Do you have special powers too?
[She's getting more excited just from the questions alone. Orihime always did have a weakness for hero antics.]
no subject
Me? Hero? Well, that depends on who you ask really. I was in the US Air Force as a fighter pilot, but I switched to serve in a private corporation after getting discharged for an injury, and that corporation healed me.
[ That was the short of it, which sounds a little weird to say out loud. Andrea walks in front of the mirror to do some cool-down stretches ]
I wouldn't call what they gave me "special powers" or anything, it's not magical or something from a different dimension like what a lot of folks here have, but I did get physical enhancements and advanced infantry training from it. That's why I only work out here at this gym, like Terry over there! Yo Terry!
[ Andrea points and waves at a particularly gigantic alien creature, lifting weights in tons and only giving a low growl in reply. Andrea just laughs ]
He's a grumpy guy when he's focused. But he's cool.
[ She pauses to grunt quietly, stretching her arms ]
Shame I can't fly a fighter jet here, but I thank my lucky stars I arrive here with my power armor on. It amps up my physical strength and reaction time even further. It's really cool, it's so high-tech. You'd like it!
[Video]
Help me scout out some abandoned buildings. It's related to your PSA.
[Video - Private]
Are we going to find a location for a secret base?
[Because there's one she was considering buying.]
[Video - Private]
[Video - Private]
Mm! It has to be good, so it won't be easily infiltrated! There's a place I was scoping out too, I'll show you when we get to Nova City. You have some places in mind too, ne? Where do we start?
Re: [Video - Private]
I was thinking a volcano at Fayren!!!
[Video - Private]
[Of course he'd want a lair in a volcano. His powers do better when he's near hot places too, right?]
That would be fun! As long as it doesn't explode and melt everyone's secret vehicles, ne? I'll meet you at the Fayren gate!
Re: [Video - Private]
[Video - Private]
[She just blurts it right out. Honestly she's really excited about it, and with her salary, she can just barely afford to buy it.]
The brochure says it even has a big pool down there, and it's bombproof, and the only way to get in is through a plain looking elevator door.
There aren't any volcanoes, though.
[Video - Private]
[He could use the pool to train with strengthening his weaknesses.]
I want to see it.
[Video - Private]
[She knows his reiatsu well enough that she can meet up with him as soon as they're both in Genessia City, so there's no need to choose a place to wait.]
I'll have to ask if we can get one of those secret garages too, ne? Where it looks like a wall until you drive right through the mirage! And it would be pretty easy to convert one of the bigger rooms to a training room. It already has space for a gym, I just have to buy the equipment.
[Video - Private]
We'll buy the equipment, and if we don't have enough we can start fundraisers. [But...she actually owns a business, so she does make way more than him.] I can detonate the space for the garage from a not-bombproof area.
[Video - Private]
Mm! I wanted to start a volunteer organization for it, at least until I can get a fourth branch of the bakery, then money won't be a problem at all.
[She's glad he's bouncing the ideas back and forth with her, she's getting more hyped by the moment.]
Yay! That would be really useful, thank you! We can ask Smoker-san to help us build special vehicles for heroes to use, too. I know he does motorcycles. If I can learn to ride, I might get one. Patrols are more effective if I'm not just on foot.
[She can't fly like Bakugou does.]
--Oh, I just picked up your reiatsu. I'll run your way!
Re: [Video - Private]
Consider me your first volunteer. ...Who the fuck is Smokey?
[Video - Private]
[She's about to tell him when she remembers he was probably blind when he first met Smoker. She definitely remembers hearing him yell in the background when that video came out.]
He's from a pirate world. Aizawa-san seems like he enjoys drinking together with him. He's gruff and nice at the same time!
[Turning the corner, she's pretty sure that's him up ahead.]
I think I see you, so I'm going to hang up. I love you. Don't forget!
[She beams, then turns off the device so she doesn't run into a lamp post
againwhile being distracted. It isn't long before she catches up to him, brochure held out fist first.]Murder-sama! Here it is: L'élégant Survivant! We'll definitely have to pick a different name, though.
[And she wants him to choose it because she knows it's going to be hilarious.]
[Video]
[Video]
[She seems to be in much brighter spirits than when she made the video. Hanging out with Bakugou and talking about explosions does that for a soul.]
Anou...I heard you helped search for me too. Thank you, Monoma-san. It really means a lot to me.
[Video]
[Video]
[She looks like she wants to say something more as her gaze drops for a few moments, pensive. But nothing comes out.]
General advice would be good overall. Heroes don't really exist in my world outside of fiction, so I don't know much about secret bases or vehicles. I'm kind of going with things that sound cool, ha ha!
[Video]
Pro-heroes in my world have agencies that they work at rather than secret bases, so I don't know much about that either. For vehicles, you'll want to focus on mostly practical things. It doesn't really matter if something looks and sounds cool if it breaks down all the time, right?
[Video]
[And certainly more affordable than a magic ring that dispenses breakfast cereal.]
Do you drive anything?
[Video]
[Video]
Um...how do I put this...
[Really, the revelation that there were other heroes was kind of a big deal to him. He figures he can be a bit more open about things here, but there are other things he's determined to keep a secret.]
...I guess I should say that I'm trying to become one.
[Video]
That's definitely the first step, ne? How can I help you get there? Have you already started working on it?
Re: [Video]
[No one has said that to Shirou before. Even Rin is more determined to prevent him from becoming Archer than she is to help him achieve his dream.]
To be honest, I don't know if there's a way to help. Right now, the best I can do is train and help people out in whatever way I can.
Fayren
Unfortunately, he’s having about as much luck as Orihime. He takes off his green hoodie so that he can see the displays more clearly, with his green eyes glowing faintly. He’s moving things with his psychic powers, so it’s easier to see their price tags and descriptions.]
Nothing for memory... Then again, I suppose my problem is uncommon. [He pauses, noticing Orihime, then begins psychically moving items back in place.] Sorry. Did I move something you needed?
Video
[But mostly for the gun.]