This man was no normal man. From his dark attire to verbose vernacular, Celes felt a familiar sensation creep up her back. Pinpricks dotted marble skin. Was he…a vampire? Or just strange?
She continued picking at the plastic as she mulled this new revelation over. If this man was a vampire, no matter how preposterous it would be to meet one of a high-school age in a well-known academy, then it would be foolish of her to pass him by without a second glance!
Or maybe he was just strange. Which would make sense, with all of the odd beings that roamed these halls. Really, if Hope’s Peak had not accepted her she would reconsider their scouting agents’ credibility.
Tanaka knew that she wouldn't be able to resist the powers of his Dark Gods; no human, however capable, could compare. Though he was surprised that she backed down somewhat easily -- allowing others to interfere, he could tell, was not something this girl often did -- Tanaka paid it no mind.
Raising his hand, he spoke in a proud voice.
"I summon your dark forces, 'Steel Red Elephant' Maga-G!"
A small brown face poked out of his sleeve at his words. The hamster scurried out, heading for the snack pack at which Tanaka was pointing. Holding the plastic in its small hands, Maga-G nibbled at it for a moment, then pulled. A small tear opened in the pack.
i replied to posts like weeks ago and no one ever replied back
no one has been posting
i mean ive seen a few valiant attempts at being active but i didnt respond to starters because i didnt know if ishimaru would rly interact with them or…
((it was quite strong at first, but very few people accepted into the group actually made posts. we've been trying to revive it with ideas in the skype group, but it seems like now hardly anyone even signs in; i know i'm part of the problem, of course, but it's hard to motivate people who aren't around.
as of right now i'd be more comfortable saying the group is on a semi-hiatus. until more people decide to participate, it's up to those who are left to continue making an effort. i don't want to see EHP die out so early; the other mod is still dedicated and there's a core group of people who want to see it thrive, but again, it's hard when a majority of members seemed to sign up and then forget about it. i'm not sure if this is appropriate to say on an informal post like this, but it's tempting to start fresh with the group. drop those who are inactive, put in new efforts to recruit new members, make sure the group spirit stays strong this time.
my thankfulness and gratefulness goes out to every member who has continued to post despite the lull in activity in recent weeks. i feel i've failed a bit as a leader, but i want to redouble my efforts and make this a fun and active group again. i'm sorry that we didn't meet your expectations, kauburi; i appreciate your honesty, and your activity.))
((i'm really sorry about my absence, i'm planning to finish up the rest of my replies over the weekend!! if i owe you and you don't know if i know, please tell me. and if anyone wants a starter just let me know. i also have an open starter still!))
Tanaka slumped against the door of his dorm room, defeated. It was just no use -- it was firmly locked, and he had lost the key. No spare key and no roommate meant he had nothing, no way of getting inside.
"Of all my earthly possessions to lose," he muttered to himself.
Sliding down onto the floor outside his room, Tanaka sighed. The hallways were deserted. He turned his head left and right, but there wasn't a single soul in sight.
At least, not a human one. A tiny, furry face poked out of his scarf.
"What is it, Maga-G?" he asked. The hamster snuffled on his face. "Hm? You think you could seek out my key?" Standing up, the hamster put its front paws on Tanaka's cheek. "It is... dangerous to go alone. You are powerful, but --"
He shook his head. I'm doomed, he thought, resigned to his fate.
ஜ♛ஜ The Queen of Lies invitesthe Prince of Darkness for high tea and a game of wits. ஜ♛ஜ
No one had signed it. Tanaka re-read the short letter, written in curling script, wondering who had sent it, and who had known one of his many titles. Flipping it over, he saw a map drawn on the back of the paper. A single spot of red showed the place to which he was invited.
"The Queen of Lies…" he muttered to himself. He traced the map with his finger and, pulling on his coat, strode across the room and out the door.
*****
Following the map lead Tanaka to a mansion high on a hill, with a sprawling lawn and impressive wrought-iron gates surrounding it. He made his way up the path, stopping at the door. The invitation was still clutched in his hand. Knocking once, he waited, slightly apprehensive.
The door opened slowly and Tanaka entered. A vast hall greeted him, but there was no sign of who had opened the door. With each echoing step he took his trepidation grew; Tanaka hadn’t seen anyone else in the house yet, but felt like he was being watched. He passed by an open doorway and jumped when a voice spoke to him.
"I see you’ve found your way here."
Tanaka walked to the doorway of the room from which the voice had come, but went no further. Sitting at a round table edged with lace, on top of which was a tea tray with a steaming kettle and two teacups, and — oddly — a deck of cards, was a figure of black and red. He knew this had to be the Queen of Lies. She didn’t stand to meet him, but graciously inclined her head to the seat opposite her.
"Please, sit down."
Tanaka sat, not taking his eyes off his host. She poured tea — “Sugar?” — he shook his head — placed the cup in front of him, and smiled. It didn’t reach her eyes.
"Why have you summoned me?" he asked. He took a sip of the tea, so as not to look ungrateful.
"You are the Prince of Darkness, are you not?" she said, holding her own delicate cup close to her face. "We royalty must stick together."
Her voice was even, betraying nothing. Tanaka, though, was sure he wasn’t here only for a friendly chat over tea.
"How do you know my title?"
"Oh, there are rumours," she said. "There are always rumours, where I’m from. All I wanted was to see if they were true."
The two sat in the airy room, neither offering conversation, the silence hanging. Tanaka watched as the Queen of Lies — would he ever learn her name? — poured herself a second cup of tea. Her hand nudged the deck of cards.
"What are those for?" he asked.
"Have you ever played poker, Tanaka-san?" He didn’t ask how she knew his name. Instead, he shook his head. "Ah. Why don’t we go with ‘Go Fish’, then, for your sake. You do know how to play?"
He nodded this time. Though he had only played it as a child, with his hamster Cham-P as the other player, he remembered the rules.
She dealt the cards expertly, flashing through the air over to his side of the table.
"Shall we begin? You first, of course," she said. The ring on her finger glittered as she scooped up her cards.
"Hm. Hmhmhm. Do you have any… sixes?" Tanaka asked, scanning his cards. He still couldn’t see the point of this game.
"Go fish." At this he grabbed an extra card. "Might you have any aces?"
Tanaka passed over the card he had just taken. She laid down three aces, her hand considerably lighter.
"Ah… do you have an eight?"
"Go fish," she said, a smirk on her lips.
Back and forth they went, the Queen’s hand dwindling fast, Tanaka only having laid down 4 of his cards. When she had only one card left, he knew it was up. Who…? he thought to himself. Who is this?
"Do you have a two?" she asked.
Scowling, he looked through the rather large amount of cards in his hand — and was shocked to find no twos.
"Go fish!" Tanaka said triumphantly. She frowned, picked a card off the deck; then smiled and laid down her last two cards.
"Who are you? What is your name?" he shot at her. He had no idea what he was doing in this mansion, with this girl in her black poofy gown and massive ringlets, playing a children’s card game without even knowing her name.
Surveying him across the table with sharp, red eyes, the Queen of Lies leaned forward, lacing her fingers together. Tanaka could tell she wasn’t going to answer him, but may, at last, be about to tell him why he was here.
"Tanaka-san, what do you think of royalty —" he started to speak and she shushed him, "— what do you think of royalty working together to rule the world?"
Tanaka wasn't able to say anything as the girl grabbed his arm and pulled him forward a few steps. Though he still wasn't sure what he had gotten himself into, her enthusiasm for the topic had him intrigued enough to go along with it.
((im laughing at that scenario tho. tanaka has done something to his couch, something involving blood, and obviously he's unprepared for that outcome. so he calls asahina of all people for advice, either because he trusts her or because there was no one else, which leads to a multitude of other questions. Incredible))
Sitting alone in the practice room, watching the clock on the wall tick the seconds by, Tanaka sighed. Though it didn't show on his face, nervousness was bubbling inside of him; this was The Project, the make-or-break mark for his music course that would culminate in either a pass or fail --
-- and his partner still hadn't shown up.
Tanaka fiddled with his violin. He tuned it again, drew the rosined bow across the strings. It was clear and sweet, and the sound eased his mind a little, reminding him of the way the birds he took care of flew gracefully through the air. He played a soft, lilting tune with his fingers light on the fingerboard. The only time he ever unwrapped his bandaged hand was when the violin was in it.
When the door behind him loudly creaked open, Tanaka jumped, startled, causing the bow to screech on the strings. He had been so absorbed in his song that he'd forgotten he was waiting on someone. But the someone who walked in wasn't his usual partner.
