i'm the drudge that goes again and again [open]

[hauntedsavior]

WHO: Anna Lehmann and you!
WHERE: All around the city
WHEN: Throughout June
WHAT: Birthday stuff, event stuff, it's a catch-all, who knows
WARNINGS: Swearing, weed drugs, alcohol, monster blood, slight body horror but more psychologically?, will keep this updated

a. upload me to the robot brain [apprassage, 6/4, closed to Astin]

Come over.

The message gets sent out early, maybe around 7:00AM, when Anna wakes up and it feels like her legs have completely fallen asleep. She can't even kick out of her sheets. Fine, god, she'll do this the old-fashioned way—

And she sees it. It's started. Her legs look fucked up, unnatural, and she bends forward at her waist and runs her hand over the smooth black material on her right leg and the patches of skin on her left and her breath hitches because she still has breath to hitch. It's not done.

Her hands reach behind her and fumble for her phone. Shortly after the first message, she tries pulling herself up to a sitting position on her futon and her legs just feel like dead weight. None of it's really hit her yet but it's sure as hell going to. Another desperate text gets pounded out.

Not a request.

b. loosen up, time to drop [apprassage, on and around 6/16]

Christ. 27. Well, she can't say she expected to make it this far. She's taking the entire 16th as a personal day, staying inside and only leaving the complex if she absolutely has to go out and get something. She's been pushing herself far too hard lately and she just needs time to relax so she doesn't burn out in a different way. Maybe Astin's on their way over. Maybe Rose, maybe somebody entirely unexpected. She doesn't know and frankly she doesn't really care.

At least by now she's mostly used to being part robot. There's still... feeling in her legs, and her brain is starting to connect the dots there and register them as her own. It doesn't hurt, and she can walk just fine. Hell, she feels like she could walk for miles without even getting tired. But she could still use some time to unwind. Which means getting impaired to her comfort level and trying to relax.

c. the robot's here if the robots paid [all districts, all month]

This is her city. It's always going to be her city. And if Retrospec needs her help to bring it back to the way it should be, it's an easy fix. She's doing everything she physically and emotionally can, based off Zee's suggestions, in each district of the city. Catch her in Enprise delivering packages to people on her own two (robotic) feet, or run into her shoplifting in Chata! Sneak up on her doing some vigilante gardening in Viea Village! Challenge her to an eating competition in Tisse! The choices are yours and yours alone.

((if it's in blue or green, that's definitely something she's doing this month and is totally open to jump into. yellow ones will need some OOC discussion, and red are things she wouldn't be caught dead doing.))

d. fuck shit up, don't forget about it [outskirts, all month]

The problem with getting a couple new limbs—well, replacement limbs—well, one of the problems—is that they really need some breaking in, don't they? And lucky Anna, because she's fixing to break some things. She'll more likely be on the paths that would normally lead to Pesgare or Magatus, taking out some of her extremely complicated emotions on the encroaching monsters there. It's not often that a bloodstained swordswoman with what appears to be way-too-high black stockings shows up and starts killing things, starts severing limbs. But hell, if it's a war they want, she's good at that.

?. nonagon infinity opens the door [additional top levels to come as things happen]

Comments

[reaquila]

Sure, let's garden.

[He doesn't know shit about gardening, but hey. Doesn't hurt to try. ]

Do we need to dig holes for the plants or are we using pots? What do you have over there?

[hauntedsavior]

[oh, like Anna does? she's never gardened once in her life. but she knows where to get seeds and shit, and that's what she's been working with. turning back around and getting on her haunches, she indicates a dirty trowel she'd been using to dig, a small watering can, and a few empty packets of seeds. mostly roses.]

I don't know how everyone else is doing it, but I'm just going into people's yards and planting seeds wherever I can find dirt that looks like it'll hold a plant. [she's at least doing it in neat lines, making some sort of flowerbed with it.] You got any more experience with it than I do, you're welcome to chime in.

[reaquila]

I got something that can help.

[Nanashi waves with his hand and calls for one of his demon friends. There's a female knight in shining armor standing next to Anna.]

This is Jeanne. She knows about flowers and wildlife. We can ask her to teach us how it's done.

[For once...his abilities in his past life are useful. They've got an extra set of hands now! ]

[hauntedsavior]

Jeanne...

[okay, well. she's sure there are lots of female knights named Jeanne. but she looks up at the one who's now here, then at Nanashi, and can't stop herself from finishing the question.]

D'Arc? Nanashi, did you just summon the fucking Maid of Orléans to help us garden?

[reaquila]

I totally fucking did. [Because he could and so he did it. Is that enough of a reason?]

Jeanne doesn't mind so it's fine. [Jeanne silently nods and opens her palm towards Anna for a handshake.]

I think she's trying to greet you in her own way. She's friendly, it's okay.

[hauntedsavior]

She's the most famous martyr in the world. I'd hope so.

[god, this is absolutely wild. dragons, sure. the city getting hacked, sure. la fucking pucelle herself? no way. but Anna shakes her hand nonetheless, feeling some kind of indescribable way at the route her life has taken to get her here.]

You're sure this isn't beneath her? I mean, fuck, I thought she only answered to capital-G God.

[reaquila]

That's what I figured too. Jeanne told me that she didn't mind being my ally as long as I helped humanity in some way.

[This is really weird without context so he shrugs.]

You know how my past self was a hunter? He got stuck in some kinda war with angels and demons. He must have gained her trust somehow. Fuck if I know.

[Shin Megami Tensei will never make sense to him, ever. He stopped trying to understand what goes on in there.]

[hauntedsavior]

[yeah, honestly, she's getting lost in the weeds on this one. fine. if Jeanne d'Arc wants to help with gardening for the good of humanity (or robot...ity?), then Anna can deal with that. she hands off the trowel to the Maid of Orléans.]

I'm trying to bring back the city by planting flowers. If you dig, I can get the seeds ready.

[and her attention goes back to Nanashi.]

Angels and demons? Shit, dude. That's a lot of responsibility to lump on a kid no matter how good a shot he is. Hope it turns out okay.

[reaquila]

Uh, no he didn't turn out okay. That guy went through a lot of crap.

[Nanashi starts digging a couple holes in the ground with his palms. ]

I'll be fine because I'm not him. You're not A2 either. We can still be ourselves.

[They don't have to be their past selves. ]

[hauntedsavior]

We don't have to be them. We can still take the stuff that actually helps us out, though.

[she's got a packet of seeds in her left hand and dirt covering her right, and these jeans are definitely gonna need a wash by the time she gets back. but she's doing something productive with friends, so it doesn't bother her much. while she helps actually plant these things, she continues.]

A2 led people. Not a bunch of them, but enough that people looked up to her. Got me doing some thinking about what I want to do with everything. You feel me?

[reaquila]

Kinda. [This is complicated. He's not sure if he completely understands.]

So we should take advantage of the good parts. Not everything was crappy and garbage.

[He thinks about this for a minute.]

We should still be careful though. The worst thing we can do for ourselves is repeat the mistakes of the past.

[hauntedsavior]

Exactly. I figured if A2 didn't spend her time moping around like a sad sack about her whole situation, why should I?

[hence the vigilante gardening, of course. and the newfound pride in her city—which she's always had, but now she's forcing herself to get up and do something about it.]

Don't know a lot about the people she led, but I'm pretty sure it's past tense for a reason. That's not a mistake I'm eager to repeat. [she glances toward Nanashi.] Long as you're on the list of people I care about, you've got my sword on your side for anything. And since I let you shoot at me, I think you're on that list.

[reaquila]

Thanks Anna. You know I didn't mean to put you through that. You're important to me too.

[It makes him feel happy knowing he's got Anna on his side. Theres so few people he can actually confide in. Her friendship isn't something he wants to take for granted.]

Glad you didn't get too hurt back there. I'll be damned if we can't even plant a fucking flower.I think we've got it this time.

[hauntedsavior]

[Anna gives a low chuckle. no hard feelings on her end. she really was more concerned about saddling him with something like that for his entire life—still is. there's nothing to be gained from shielding people from every atrocity, but...]

Yeah, we got this. And I'm not gonna repeat that whole incident, so don't worry about it. I was a depressed piece of shit about losing my wings last month, but like I said. [she takes a moment to gather her thoughts while she fumbles with a packet of seeds.] Not anymore. Finally found something to do that makes me feel like I'm worth a shit.

[reaquila]

[ Nanashi had two months to dwell on stuff. He figures that it's time to move on too. They've got the right idea. ]

You know you're really strong. I figure you'll be alright somehow. When I look at you I don't feel worried or anything.

[ Anna can hold her own. He learned that much about her. ]

How'd you lose the wings though? Did it go away on its own?

[hauntedsavior]

[eh, she's okay. still weird that other people look up to her and that she can make them feel safe, apparently, but she'll take it.]

Yeah. Stroke of midnight on May 1st they just disappeared, but they stuck around that whole month. I guess because I had the spirit inside me for so long? [she shakes her head and looks up at Nanashi sheepishly.]

I was getting all up my own ass with metaphor about it. I was two steps away from dyeing my hair black and going full goth. You backed off at just the right time. I was a real insufferable piece of shit.

[reaquila]

[ He chuckles at the mental image of Anna wanting to dye her hair all black going goth. Well, at least she's alright. That's what matters. ]

We've all got our crappy days. Sometimes it just happens when you don't expect it. Happened to me too before.

[So he understands. ]

I spent all of last month getting wasted... Don't tell anyone I said that.

[Underaged drinking, rip. Nanashi's talking and digging holes at the same time.]

[hauntedsavior]

[she's used to having secrets about other people die with her. this is just one more for the pile.]

Shit, dude. I know the feeling. [she sighs and looks down at the ground, then back over to Nanashi.]

You're not gonna make me be the mom friend at you, are you? You actually have stuff to lose if this turns into a problem. [turns into?]

[reaquila]

Ugh, you understand what that's like. Alcohol can be your best friend when you don't want to give a fuck.

[ Nanashi shrugs. ]

I only drink like that when it gets really bad. It's not a common thing for me so don't worry too much.

[ He won't let it get too out of hand...he is still young and it would be troublesome if people caught him doing some underaged drinking. ]

[hauntedsavior]

[unsupervised underage drinking is her bigger concern. people can do what the fuck they want with their lives as long as they're doing it responsibly, and, like, yeah, she does care that much about Nanashi.]

Of course I understand what it's like. The day I lost the wings, I tore into a fifth of Jack and only left the apartment when people yelled at me to talk to them. [she's exaggerating a little.] Hell, I went on a full-on bender after me and Rose broke up.

So yeah. It's easy to go to and we have a lot of reasons to go to it. But if you're gonna get that wasted again, like. [she doesn't know where she's going with this, necessarily.] Text me or something? Text someone.

[reaquila]

There's no one to really watch me at home. Kinda noticed I was in trouble a little too late.

[ Big oops on his part. Nanashi turns over and looks at Anna directly. ]

I promise I'll talk to someone next time.

[ If there's something he's good at doing it's keeping his word on things. Nanashi doesn't like to break trust. He doesn't want Anna to lose faith in him because of this.]

[hauntedsavior]

That's all I wanted to hear.

[she takes a long moment to attend to her gardening after that. it's hard to figure out what to say without coming off as overbearing.]

Thanks. I know it's a pain in the ass to have someone mom you. Sometimes I like to pretend I'm a role model.

[reaquila]

It's not really a pain in the ass. I just think it's weird?

[ Nanashi's not used to having a mother figure. What is this? He doesn't even understand this kind of relationship. ]

Never grew up with my mom so I don't know what that's like.

[hauntedsavior]

[...really. well then.]

I hear it's supposed to be a good experience. She's supposed to teach you shit about life and how to avoid her mistakes or something. Never had that with mine. She just told me how to sit there and listen to shit that she wanted me to do.

[absolutely no love lost between her and her parents. unsurprisingly.]

I trust you enough to not run your whole-ass life into the ground, but sometimes you gotta have someone giving more of a shit about you than they normally would. I guess.

[reaquila]

I fucking get it.

[He straightens himself up and sighs. Nanashi removes some of the mud and dirt off his hands. ]

Sometimes I'm trying to look out for others even when I don't have my own crap together. You just wanna take care of people that are important to you.

[So he understands...even if Anna's not his mom the fact that she gives a shit means a lot to him.]

You're more like an older sister than a mother.