fifth evocation ✧ orthrus

[complementing]

Minako Arisato June 9th near Birch Hills

Hi everyone, it's me again. I'll try and keep it short and sweet this time. First. Last month, during that week when everyone was super tiny, there were a lot of people who wandered into the woods because they heard voices calling out to them. It doesn't seem like whatever was calling to us is there anymore, thankfully, but I think this is a perfect chance to go back and go deeper into the forest, as deep as we can go to see if we can find the source of those voices, or anything else that might be there. I'm planning this thing for the 18th, and I wanted to know if anyone else wanted to come with. Keep in mind that even if nothing is likely to lure us in again, there's still a potential for danger. So in my opinion, the bigger the group, the better. We can all watch each other's backs. Which brings me to my next point. I know a lot of people have been exploring all the weird places in the city, and eventually I'd like to get accounts from you guys to compile together-- but for now, I wanted to ask if we could make a more concerted effort to explore together, instead of splitting up into our own tiny groups. The main reason being: Jim is constantly watching our movements and reading our posts. He's the only one we have any kind of contact with from Retrospec, and he's shown us in the past couple of months that he likes commenting on what we do and how we act. There's no telling if anything he says might be able to help us down the line, but in order to get him to talk at all, we have to get his attention. And a big group of people poking around for information on Retrospec is a lot more comment-worthy than tiny groups. Obviously there's a risk of exposing ourselves too much to him (though I'd argue we're pretty exposed as it is already). And I can't stop people from exploring on their own. I just wanted to put the idea out there that it might be better to do it together. There's one last thing I want to mention. Yosuke recently suggested that my dog Koromaru should try sniffing out a Retrospec employee by smelling something that was sent by mail. I'm not sure if it'll work, but me and Koromaru are willing to give it a try, so if you get something in the mail from Retrospec and want to let us have a go at it, text me any time of the day or night, I'll come running. Oh, and just to be safe, don't touch the box or wrapping it comes in. Thanks for reading. Hopefully I'll have something more fun to talk about the next time I post here.

[ooc: the open log for this mini expedition will be up on the 18th, for anyone who would like to have their character join! Nothing too exciting other than getting stuck in an infinite loop and attempting to escape said infinite loop will happen...probably ;3 I decided against making a post in the OOC comm for this so if you have any questions, feel free to PM me!]

Comments

[cattack]

I'm glad to help.
And I daresay I would be more help than guys, anyway.
It would be rather awkward to end up with just men in the group.

[complementing]

ahaha talking smack, Cleo? I love it

I have seven guys to four ladies right now and considering one of the guys is my kid cousin I'm slightly worried

[cattack]

No, I would never.
It is simply my experience that men have rather easily bruised egos when it turns out I can lift more than them.
Or lift them, for that matter.

[So, talking a little smack.]

How old is he? If it's dangerous, it may be best to leave him behind.

[complementing]

[Talking so much smack.]

ngl I wanna see you do it

he's seventeen

but he's also as stubborn as I am

if he does come I might just handcuff him to me

[cattack]

Lift him specifically, or just in lift someone in general?
If he comes, I'll guard you both, don't worry.

[complementing]

in general! Sora is thin as a stick and wouldn't be a challenge to lift up anyways (๑•ω•)

thank you, Cleo

I want to respect his decisions but he's also family and I would never forgive myself if something happened to him

[cattack]

Pick a target, I suppose.
I will do my best to live up to your expectations.

Don't worry. I doubt anything dangerous will happen, but if it does, I've been training in self-defense for quite a long time.
There will be nothing to fear.

[complementing]

hehe yeah prepare for the worst, hope for the best

it's my new motto (。-ω-)ﾉ

do you need camping equipment?

[cattack]

A good motto.
I don't have any, but if you tell me what I need to get, I can get it quickly.

[complementing]

no don't worry, a lot of people seem to have extras so if you let me know what you do and don't have, I can get you what you need

[cattack]

What do you need for camping?
A tent, a sleeping bag, food, I assume?

[complementing]

flashlight for sure, it might get dark in there

a lighter, just in case you lose your flashlight and/or get lost and need to set up a fire for the night

water!!! And also any weapons you think you might need...just to be safe

though now that I think about it idk if you have any ( ・◇・)

[cattack]

I do not.
But I have six years of karate training.
And if anyone you know owns a sword, I have never used one, but I have received a vision of learning how to use one.

[complementing]

getting a hold of an actual honest to goodness steel sword might be difficult

but I might be able to snag a bokken from kendo club

[cattack]

It is better than nothing.
And if I understand how Retrospec works correctly, it is only a matter of time until I receive a sword.

[complementing]

oh a special sword from your visions huh

whenever you get it, we should spar together!

[cattack]

That seems rather dangerous.
Incredibly so.
This sword was very strong.
But if I can find a wooden sword, I would quite enjoy to spar with you.

[complementing]

hey don't underestimate me~

I'm a tough girl, I'm sure I could go AT LEAST one round with you

but yeah that sounds great, I'll find one and we can figure out a good time to give it a try

[cattack]

In that case, would you care to go a round now? The gym should be open for sparring.
Of course, it would be with fists rather than weapons, unless you have practice swords handy.
But I don't mind either way.

[complementing]

I'd love to!

I can't say I know how to fight with my fists as much as I do with my spear, but I know how to kickbox a little

so if you don't mind going easy on me until I get better, let's do it!

[cattack]

I don't mind at all.
I'll likely need to get used to things as well.
Ears mean I have to learn how to focus all over again.
I'll be at the gym soon.

[switch to action?]

[complementing]

[Minako arrives in the gym dressed in her workout clothes and carrying a large duffel bag...which seems to be hiding her dog Koromaru, if the fluffy bit of tail sticking out from the side is any indication.]

Hi, Cleo. Hope I didn't make you wait long.

[cattack]

Not at all. I've just gotten a bit warmed up.

[Cleo's got her motorcycle helmet and a duffel bag nearby, and she's in workout clothes herself. Which, uh. Given that it shows her stomach, her arms, and her legs way more than her normal clothes do, it's suddenly very obvious how Cleo is absolutely, completely, fucking ripped. The girl's abs could stop a bullet.]

... Did you bring a guest as well?

[complementing]

[...dang Cleo. Dang. Minako is quietly impressed for two seconds before remembering all of the work out stuff in Cleo's apartment, and then it's not as much of a surprise anymore.

She's going to be at a serious disadvantage, isn't she.]

Shhhh, you didn't see anything. [She sets it down, and Koromaru wiggles around once, tucking his tail in to exchange it for a black doggy nose sticking out instead.] I have to head out in an hour to meet a few people with him, and he didn't want to be left at home alone, so...

[A gesture to the duffel bag.]

[cattack]

[mmmmaybe a little bit of a disadvantage. It's okay, she'll hold back.]

I see. I don't see anything, then.

While you warm up, can I take a look at this mysterious thing I don't see?