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Post by anton on Nov 3, 2015 0:31:14 GMT
Well things backfired quickly enough. The man seemed harmless enough, though he began to feel something was off. Then the little Kuroishi spoke and oh god the glare. Anton reeled a bit, he knew he'd done something wrong. What? He wasn't sure but that glare, he'd seen it enough times to instantly feel like he had screwed up and was being mentally stabbed. He had to wonder really hard how that kid was making the same kind of death glare as Ayame. Was this kid some sort of clone modelled after her?
He shuddered.
He admired Ayame but he wasn't sure he wanted more than one running around the world. Better yet, he had to wonder how exactly was this kid related to Ayame. "Uh..." He fixated his eyes with some confusion at the glaring kid. He coughed and avoided the glare, returning his attention to the man.
"You can send them to me." He said, for one he wanted to peek in them so he could figure out who this kid was and how she was related to Ayame, the other was that he was beginning to feel some guilt and decided to take on all the consequences with him, well he would have anyway for a Kuroishi.
"Anton Artzen, serial K032. Provisional Master and I also work in research station F."
Anton unlike his sister or mother had a different degree of denseness. He was also far more academically inclined than socially unlike them. So he flew past most of the cues getting passed around. "But who might you be, if you don't mind me asking?"
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Post by Atha on Nov 3, 2015 1:38:17 GMT
Yes, this was rather embarrassing. It was rather rare that someone else could catch Athanasios cleanly in the act of reading thoughts, still rarer for someone to be able to -see- it happen. But then, those were those impressive eyes that Miss Kuroishi had...and assumably her entire family, as they were also in the possession of this young girl. Seeing the sight of his own prana through her eyes was a rather interesting experience, well worth the time spent in this chat. It might even help him later on as he worked to improve upon it.
Her mind shifted almost immediately to the young man, a bizarre mix of thoughts, images, and sensations. One thing in particular struck him. The feeling of pride in someone’s growth. That implied seniority. She felt older than the man in his early twenties. It wasn’t impossible, it was clear just from Ayame, and this young girl all but confirmed that the Kuroishi family wasn’t human...not fully, at least. Delayed aging wasn’t off the table.
What made that significantly harder to believe, though, was Anton’s lack of recognition of her. He knew her much as he did: as a young girl of the Kuroishi family, who looked and acted suspiciously similar to Ayame herself. This was in contradiction with Ayame’s thoughts, she recognized him all but immediately, and had rather specific thoughts regarding him and his relationship to her.
Very, very interesting.
“You’re a very smart girl, miss. Keep that attitude and you shouldn’t end up dead.” Turning to Anton, he nods. “I should have it sent by the end of the week.” At the request, he nods. “Of course I don’t mind. Athanasios Zacharias. I go by Athanas, or Atha for short.” He grins a bit. “Do call me ‘Mr. Zacharias or ‘Ambassador’ when we’re on duty, but no need for formalities now. I work with regional governments and regulatory agencies in order to ensure a continuous cash flow for the organization...and I dabble as a Provisional Master as well.”
Turning back to the little girl, his grin turns into a full smile. “Oh? What’s so inevitable now that I know your name, Ms. Kuroishi?”
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Post by Kuroishi Ayame on Nov 3, 2015 2:05:20 GMT
She closed her eyes for a moment after allowing them to leave Anton's image. Afterward she seemed to mull through various things in the depths of her mind--hopefully where Atha couldn't get to them unless he actually attempted to pry. The situation was complex...but it didn't have to be as complex as she was making it, she decided. This was what caused her to hum softly and slowly open her eyes in faint realization. A soft nod followed the act. She looked toward Athanasios, and then at Anton...Then stepped toward the center of the hallway.
"The end of this charade, naturally.", she'd finally answer gently,"Hum. The most advantageous action in this scenario is to rely on the both of you. If only because currently...We are each others most convenient allies."
She gently crossed her arms and glanced between the both of them casually before walking toward Anton and moving to his side. Once she was there she glanced back at Athanasios and faintly smiled before beckoning him to follow with a simple wave. She'd look up at Anton also, as if to suggest he also come. This matter...as far as its public image was easy enough to solve without prolonging this scene before them. Also naturally...it benefited them all so far that each of them were present and connected to each other.
" Kuroishi Ayame's papers are currently in her dorm room.", she'd say while starting to walk. " At this point I'd be baffled if the both of you didn't have a lot of questions...So let's just handle those somewhere not in the middle of a hallway. I know just the place, actually~. Anyone hungry?" As she spoke she'd begin turning toward where the cafeteria would be from this place. She'd only pause to watch the reactions of the two, a half lit expression present. Expectingly she'd await their answers...But she would allow it to be completely clear that she had no intention of staying out in the open for any longer. After all...the only two she could trust to any degree right now were in front of her. She imagined the both of them wouldn't disappoint her by suddenly being completely disinterested. "Let's call it a lunch break, ne?" tags : Atha anton
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Post by anton on Nov 3, 2015 23:29:23 GMT
Athanasios Zacharias.
Athanasios Zacharias.
Where had he heard that name before? Did he overheard from people in Chaldea? Anton couldn't quite place that name in his memory, and his memory tended to be quite good. But somehow he had the nagging feeling he had heard it before. Zacharias in particular made him it sound like a proper magi family name. But what they did it escaped him, if they worked in a similar field to the ones he did he might have paid more commitment to his memory.
Then he switched gears as the conversation changed and it was NOW that he started to realize the subtleties going on. It was that realization that came just as the bomb exploded in your face and it was way too late for anything. Anton didn't hide his surprise.
"How could I be SO BLIND" He silently screamed.
Anton placed one of his hands over his face. "Yeah...Uh... Yeah I think could use a chair." He said.
Somehow Ayame had ended up in a younger form. Naturally that was very unusual and almost unheard off, even by Magi stories. There were forms of sustaining your age, but there weren't forms of getting younger, unless it became it was an artificial body but even then transferring your consciousness. It was a theoretical nightmare, that Anton couldn't see Ayame willingly doing.
He followed after Ayame. He didn't even bother glancing at Athanasios, he was far too troubled with his thoughts. "How did she end up like that? Does mother know? Why the hell is she working here in that condition? Is she also a Provisional Master?" He tried theorizing some of his concerns. But quickly brush the thoughts aside, if anything Ayame would explain at her leisure.
Then another feeling creeped in. Anton realized that he had done goof hard. He was starting to feel the full impact of embarrassment of treating a person he admired as a kid, in their face.
"Shit, I want to run way..."
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Post by Atha on Nov 4, 2015 0:27:33 GMT
Of all the answers to the little conundrum he’d expected, this wasn’t one he expected. How fun. It seemed that Miss Ayame Kuroishi had been up to something intriguing since their little bout in the Grail War. Intriguing, and highly irregular. He could think of hundreds of people by name who would kill to get the ability to regain lost youth as Ayame seemed to...and by all accounts, it was an impossibility even by thaumaturgical standards.
“Hmm? If you say so, Miss Kuroishi. Though I would like to know just what you have in mind when you say that. I don’t particularly like to be relied on for little things. I suppose it’s to do with your...unusual...circumstances?”
Anton’s thoughts betrayed his own surprise and confusion, though he was equally less adept at hiding the expression on his face as he was mentally, compared to Ayame’s uncanny knack for thinking quietly.
Following along with Ayame, Athanasios shrugs. “I wouldn’t mind getting something to eat, but do be sure to get the paperwork properly filed as soon as is convenient. You wouldn’t believe how touchy some of the paper-pushers can get about that, and I’d rather not suffer through ranting in the hallways as I attempt to work.” Most of them were perfectly quiet, though their minds were far more vocal. With that, he simply allowed himself to be led out to the cafeteria.
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Post by Kuroishi Ayame on Nov 5, 2015 20:06:06 GMT
"I'm no stranger to the quirks of paperwork and those whom have to deal with them. It's the private sector I wind up dealing with the most in almost every 'mundane case'. The paperwork will be sent through the proper channels before the end of the day.", she'd reply lightly while strolling her way toward the cafeteria, decidedly ignoring any external reactions around her. If she didn't look natural it'd just draw even more attention.
"Also I doubt either of us have time for other people's problems without incentive. I realize we've never worked together before, so I'll state this for your benefit : Time is an extremely valuable resource that I honor and I repay all of my debts regardless of how big or small. I also expect others to do the same.", as she spoke she turned and walked into the cafeteria. Upon entrance she paused to note the largeness of the crowds present with-in. She'd note the area most dense and scanned carefully for an open spot with-in that zone. Expecting them to follow, she made her way through and went to a place she saw to be most 'private'.
Although the other two might not catch on, she believed if one was observant they could find placement in crowds where those surrounding are too focused on their companions to properly eavesdrop on conversation. Toss in the roar of common-talk and you have a natural obstacle defending your conversation from unwanted listeners. Granted she was also taking into account that Athanasios could likely fill-in the blanks with what she was beginning to assume was a sorcery trait or some kind of long-term passive spell. All she'd need to do for Anton was make sure he was sitting next to her...
'So...I guess you aren't telepathic. I feel like I'd have found that out by now.'
"So, Anton. What do you do for work in this place anyway?", she'd ask at normal volume--she wanted to test how well Anton could hear her voice. Also whether or not he'd notice it apart from anyone else's. She imagined most of the people here would ignore a child's voice due to common magus perception and habit.
Though she did consider that people might be curious about a child hanging around Chaldea, she also imagined they'd be too personally disgusted and self-centered to think it anymore than an annoyance. She almost wondered if perhaps this predicament would have its uses if it could be controlled...
tags : Atha anton
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Post by anton on Nov 6, 2015 22:03:19 GMT
On the short walk, Anton had some time to collect his thoughts and calm his initially embarrassment as well as die out his wish of fleeing. He looked at his current situation and what he had seen with it and examined everything carefully. He concluded on several things as they moved into the Cafeteria. One, there was some history between Ayame and Athanasios or people was associated with. Two, Athanasios was also out of the loop like him on why Ayame looked like she currently did, reasoning being that until his blunder he did not know for sure she was a Kuroishi and once the cover was blown, Ayame addressed him like someone she knew and wasn't exactly trusting toward. Granted it was a common thing for Ayame not be trusting of other people but she rarely seem to be in that quiet guard and tension of hers, he'd seen it especially when Malia was about to take her and do something Ayame would rather they didn't. Also a child's body was more honest. Thirdly, now that he calmed down he stopped worrying about being scolded.
Anton was lightly surprised by Ayame's choice of sitting, going into the thick of the bustle was not something she often did, so there was a reason to it. He did notice some side-way glances and some probably comments from some of the people around them but to him it looked like most people were minding their business.
He sat next to Ayame.
Also the man was telepathic. He remembered! Zacharias was a line of magi that he had heard about from his Mother. Back on the day she was teaching him the different branches of telepathy. Anton nodded, alright Ayame was putting him up to speed. His mind began to calm down he consciously chose to slow down his thoughts instead of getting mentally on guard and resisting. Now he knew why Ayame chose a more populated location, she was testing the parameters of Athanasios telepathic finesse. Anton moved his thoughts further from his memories of Ayame and more to the present moment. Still he wanted to know what exactly was their past.
"I got hired as a researcher and I'm a field agent for the Ray Shifts." He replied, there was no point in hiding it and besides he was repeating himself. It surprised him lightly that Ayame didn't hear him the first time, that worried him. "Can't say that I'm fond of the danger or where I get send thought." Anton commented, scratching the back of his head. "I had no idea you got scouted by Chaldea, thought."
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Post by Atha on Nov 7, 2015 5:48:25 GMT
“Well. I’m glad we understand each other.” Athanasios’ reply was simple, but honest. Following her into the cafeteria, he sifts through the crowds calmly, avoiding bumping into people magically. Knowing where people were going to step tended to help with that. He was impressed by Ayame’s smart thinking as well...the dull roar of the crowd was a far better guarantee of privacy than any sealed office or locked room could possibly be.
As they sat down, Ayame’s mental question amused him. “I’m afraid that’d depend on your interpretation of what a telepath is.” Still, that brought up the notion that there were actual telepaths, with abilities beyond what his own stolen Magic Crest gave him. That could wait, though.
The noise was, of course, no obstacle to him in keeping up with the actual conversation going on. Even if Anton did not try and broadcast things as well as he did, he could have fully understood what he was saying at an even volume. The front of one’s mind was wider than people imagined, if one was talking, one was necessarily thinking about the words one said. It was reflex, even if someone “talked without thinking,” that was more an expression for low inhibitions than anything relevant to the term.
Still, he was kind of sad that his memories of Ayame stopped playing. Any information he could dig up on the enigmatic woman would be helpful, especially if he was going to be working with her.
Interjecting himself in the conversation, he shakes his head. “I wasn’t aware either, if I’m being honest. I don’t spend much time in recruitment. I’m sure that must be a story to tell.” He then shrugs. “Or not. If it was anything like me, someone just arrived at my door, gave me very convincing evidence the world wouldn’t be here a year from now, and told me how I could stop it. And well, here I am!”
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