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[trivialization]

Welcome to podtown, here's some cash, get a job?

[Her face twists slightly in irritation.]

Now, listen... I understand every community wants its unexplained supply of human flotsam to do something productive with their time. Suspicion of the idle you can consider basic human nature. And the lackadaisical approach might be calming, for people who need that kind of thing.

But for all this is preferable to, I don't know, being told I have to claim the heads of 99 other pod people to be anointed champion of this timeline, it doesn't quite resolve the frisson of waking places unexpected.

So this is your collective invitation to tell me something interesting and get in my good graces. Not an opportunity that comes around often, have at it.

Comments

[im_gonna_heal_u]

[ That cunning ability to wax poetic and put you on the spot at once? Definitely Eva. She couldn't even stop herself from blurting out a comment that would probably get her murdered if she was in the same room. ]

Your glamour looks pretty good, Eva-chan.

[ Fortunately, no one outside of their world would know what that meant. Konoka was sweating buckets mentally while still talking as easygoing as usual. ]

You could say that. I um... where do I even begin? I guess I can start when I woke up here.

It's been more than a year. Before I got pulled here, many of us were helping solve incidents caused by the fallout of Negi-kun's plan to link Mars to Earth. I got drawn here, among many others, for reasons we still haven't figured out. I get the feeling that we may be even further from home than we thought, and I don't mean just distance. It's hard to describe, and I can't put it in words.

I um... got charmed by a succubus the second day I came here and was forced to live in a giant place called Castlevania. It's run by Lord Dracula, and he's... powerful. [ For lack of a better word. ] He paid me no attention though, and in a few months I was able to make my charms store. After that, someone abducted me to break the succubus's hold over me. This actually made it possible for me to talk some sense into that succubus, and about five or so months ago, we left Castlevania for good.

I made a charm store! I've been using that as an excuse to learn more about eastern magic, so I can sell barriers and other protective wares. I'm still training in healing, of course!

[trivialization]

Uh, hold up there kid, I meant in person. It's been how long and you don't even invite me by when I ask you a question?

[Okay, a lot longer for her, but still.]

And since you think this is just a 'pretty good glamor' maybe you can give me your expert opinion on how I should improve it while I'm there.

[im_gonna_heal_u]

Ah! Oh sorry! I though you would have wanted it right away. Let's meet, okay?

No offense meant on the glamour, it really is amazing.

[ She wanted to avoid giving to specific praise, because if she started doing that it would inevitably start getting perverted. Noticing women as she had now made things just a little more difficult. ]

You're not far from the Bay, right? Sit tight! I'll be there in 15 minutes or so!

[trivialization]

[ If she was the sort to sweat the little things she might feel bad for making Konoka rush when she's in no hurry at all, but... she's not, so intimidating one of her old charges and getting them scurry around is really just vaguely nostalgic for her.

Instead she just makes her way back towards the bay, wondering vaguely if she should tell Konoka... anything, really. Probably better to let the future lie, especially as things were now. ]

[im_gonna_heal_u]

[ True to her word, the brunette arrived just fifteen minutes later, dressed pretty casually for the weather. Frankly she still hadn't settled on any sort of uniform for her work.

Aside from being a little older than Eva remembered her from their 3-A adventures, she might notice how Konoka has three red and white balls attached to her belt. She was holding a few charm papers as well. But Konoka's an affectionate creature, so Eva better watch out for the oncoming glomp attack. ]

Eva-chan! I missed you!

[ She didn't hold on for too long even if Eva didn't complain though, she'd rather not make things uncomfortable. ]

[trivialization]

[ This was less nostalgic, if equally familiar. Her groupies among the Holders weren't really that different in behavior, but batting Konoka into the sky was a lot less justifiable than with her hardy demon underlings, and even with that singsong voice to recall buried memories of what was about to happen she couldn't do much but... well, complain about it. ]

Ugh how do you stay this clingy...! Why can't even one of you give your master a proper greeting on your knees?

[ She grumbled on, palming Konoka's head but refraining, barely, from actually prying her off. At least at this height Konoka couldn't nuzzle her face or anything like that. ]

[im_gonna_heal_u]

[ What? Konoka, change that much? Naaahhhh. ]

Hehehe.

[ She bounded back off. ]

Well, I'm alright. So what was the first thing you wanted to know about Genessia?

[trivialization]

You seem like you're doing well for yourself. Have enough energy anyway. [Still grumbling.]

I'm sure if there's anything really important you'll think to tell me. [ Anything that's not life and death she doesn't mind picking up as she goes. ] Let's see this shop of yours, hm? Master is going to make an inspection.

[im_gonna_heal_u]

Cool!

We're going to Everglade. You might find it cozy despite all the danger.

[ And so, Konoka would lead her there. It was a bit of a walk, given she had to get back to the gate. But the brunette led her from Genessia's sunny skies to the grayer tone of Everglade. The foggy roads were now familiar to the healer, enough that she could navigate them easily.

Konoka's shop was a small place on a corner of a main street. She opened up the door leading to her shop. Neatly organized, with charms and trinkets of all kinds, some humming with faint magical power. ]

We're here! I've called this place Mahora Fortune and Onmyodo.

[trivialization]

You remember who you're talking to, right? [ After all, she'd always been aloof of Mahora's various intrigues and dangers... and for good reason, since she sat on top of that particular heap. Though speaking of Mahora...]

Named it after the alma mater? Doesn't feel very personal. [ Though in reality her distaste probably had more to do with those years of imprisonment on her part. She poked at an evil-sealing talisman, which obligingly crumbled into dust. Whoops. ]

Not a bad stock, though. You've been teaching yourself?

[im_gonna_heal_u]

Yeah. Matter of fact, I graduated high school just before I wound up here.

[ She looked around her little place, a little happier for Eva's subtle approval of the place. ]

And yes, I've taken up training myself in eastern magic. Most of what I learned was Western style under Negi-kun. And not a moment too soon, either. Castlevania seems to have gotten more dangerous lately, if what I heard a few days ago was any indication.

[ Yes, she figured out not too long after it happened that the strange, horrific roar she heard that day belonged to Castlevania. The monsters that normally roamed around here at night seemed to have gotten more aggressive, as if the cry had put them on the same amount of edge as it did her. ]

[trivialization]

All the stirred-up spirits are a recent addition? At least it makes for good practice. So long as you don't get eaten over a half-practiced spell, anyway.

[She chuckles, as she's wont to do when she makes black comments like that.]

[im_gonna_heal_u]

Yikes. I don't want to die that way.

[ She's fully aware Eva's using black humor and not being dismissive. That's pretty much how Eva rolls. ]

I've also got a little more protection than that, too.

[ It was now that the brunette removed the red and white balls attached to her belt, and let them drop to the ground. In three flashes, three creatures emerged. ]

These are my Pokemon. Momo-han helps me with my healing! [ The adorable ear creature waved. ] Negi-kun helps with the store! [ The little panda cub attempted to take a cool pose. ] And Yuunagi-han helps protect me when I have to go home late! [ The dark creature seemed to be gazing at Eva with one eye. ]

[trivialization]

Pfhahaha-

[Evangeline greeted the sudden appearance of the creatures with a raised eyebrow, but when Konoka named the panda-thing she couldn't help but burst out laughing.]

'Negi-kun', huh. A pity the boy isn't here to see his namesake. And a guard...

[She gave the Umbreon an appraising stare back. At least it met her aesthetic approval with that sleek black look. She didn't really question where they'd come from, with all the magic apps in her time summoning creatures out of balls wasn't too strange to her, and apparent mixing-pot that the city was she didn't see much point in questioning where, exactly, they'd come from...]

So you don't live here? You just, what, walk in to run the shop?

[im_gonna_heal_u]

[ Konoka knows what Eva means when speaking of a guard. She wisely decides not to take any bait.

Seeing that Eva wasn't a threat to Konoka, Yuunagi slinks off like a cat to just take in the surroundings, while Momo and Negi-kun do their usual friendly bickering. ]

Yeah. The gates make it convenient to walk to work, I own an apartment in Genessia, the main city. Doesn't even take me ten minutes to get home.

[ Sometimes having skates helps out too. ]

[trivialization]

Craftsmen used to live in their shops, you know. Still do, in many places. [She always thought that made more sense for this kind of work, having grown up long before the industrial revolution...] Well, ten minutes on foot is just about nothing, but you like living in the city better?

[im_gonna_heal_u]

That's a good point, but... yeah, I do prefer city life. Everglade is full of strife. Great for training, not so much for sleeping at night. Not to mention I know more people in Genessia.

[ She'd also be pretty lonely being stuck in Everglade, as had been the issue with Castlevania. ]

[trivialization]

You did say what, that you'd been kidnapped again? [She found a place to hang her coat and sit. No point in standing around like she was ready to run off when nothing could be further from the truth.]

Put it that way and I'm surprised much of anyone lives out here. Feels like the sort of place that'd be given up to the adventuring types.

[im_gonna_heal_u]

Yes.

[ Konoka looked a little ashamed at that. ]

Technically twice, though the second one was actually to undo the first.

[ And it may not be the last. She had been comparatively low key during her stay so far, but she had to admit she might get much braver with Eva around. ]

Kind of, but for people who aren't regular humans or mages, they prefer calling this place home. And though I don't trust him, I've heard Dracula being pretty adamant about their protection. I think I've heard that the barrier that keeps Everglade in line is run on fear.

[ Which is why everything is so spooky. ]

[trivialization]

My kind, you mean.

You had any trouble since because of that? Anyone trying to take you back again?

[im_gonna_heal_u]

Nope. None that I know of.

The one person most likely to do so was the same person I managed to talk some sense into and then flee the castle with. Though I haven't seen her lately...

[trivialization]

Sounds like I missed all the interesting stuff.

[She pointed at the ceiling.]

You have any room up there?

[im_gonna_heal_u]

[ Konoka looked up at the attic. Aside from a few supplies, she hadn't really used it. ]

I do, but... why you ask?

[ Wait, is this about the craftsmen living in their homes, thing? Konoka didn't want to live here. But she also didn't want to make any assumptions before Eva actually said anything. ]

[trivialization]

I think I'll set up there while I figure out where I'm going.

[Well, unless Konoka objected. Probably. It wasn't her habit to share space with strangers so she didn't have much interest in the communal housing. Normally she'd probably have just went off to rough it in the woods or found somewhere to squat for a while, the dubious lifestyle choices of a former vagabond wanderer.]

[im_gonna_heal_u]

As long as you're comfortable.

[ Because Konoka can't convince Eva otherwise, but she was also sure that she'd need to do everything in her power to be sure she was as comfortable as possible. Probably quite a bit of work, but doable. ]

If you find a good job, I hear you can buy a house.