2053/Interview with a Mermaid Queen Candidate

Interview with a Mermaid Queen Candidate
Date of Scene:	10 November 2024
Location:	Sports Pavilion
Synopsis:	Chrono asks Laura La Mer for an interview so he can learn more about her powers and culture, as well as establish a possible meeting with the queen of her people. He learns, once again, that the magic of this world is so very, very strange.
Cast of Characters:	Chrono Harlaown, Laura La Mer

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Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown was... in the sports pavilion. He was even in uniform... mostly. If one looked closely, they might notice he lacked the spikes on his uniform...

And it wasn't magical. It was a toned down version of his TSAB uniform. He had had one made, so he could be in uniform while doing business... without having to expend his magic. Yes, this boy was, in fact, that serious. At all times.

He'd sent Laura a message, requesting her to meet him at the sports pavilion when she had the opportunity and now he was waiting, at the time she had offered. He had a notebook in hand and was filling out a report while he waited.

Fenyx, his lidth jay familiar, was nestled into his neck, between his skin and the collar of his uniform, and he occasionally would reach up to pet the little colorful bird.

Laura La Mer has posed:
Laura had been invited here after Chrono had brought up his lack of familiarity with her fighting style, preventing him from gaining any insight on training regiments he had offered. That was the sort of thing to be expected, really. She is from Grand Ocean, using power coming from there. It really couldn't be helped.

Considering it was still on school ground, the Sports Pavilion at that, she had deemed it more secure to walk there in her school uniform rather than casual clothes. Though she had also added her own accessories.

Kururun was resting in her Aqua Pot, inside Laura's school bag, which wasn't rocked much at all even as the mermaid walked towards the Pavilion. "I am here, officer Chrono", she waves at the boy, smirking lightly at how she sees him already hard at work.

"You don't do things halfway, I see", she comments, coming to a stop in front of him. "You had questions about my abilities, right?", she smiles, giving a glance at the three rings on her right hand with satisfaction.

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown glanced over to her and then gave a nod. "Indeed. I've encountered a plethora of different magical styles since coming to this world."

He left out the fact that said magical styles were *impossible* and shouldn't exist. He was just... going to leave that alone today. The last thing he wanted was to confused the girl.

"I'm trying to gather what information I can on all of them, to better understand them, integrate different ideas into training, help them develop their craft and for when I send a detailed report to my superiors."

Primarily to tell them to STAY! AWAY! FROM! THIS! WORLD!

"So, if I am correct, you use the 'pretty cure' abilities? I've encountered a few of yours, but I've seen there is variance in what they can do and how. Could you tell me where yours come from?"

Laura La Mer has posed:
Laura understands him quite well on that. It was quite the surprise when she was sent to find and awaken Pretty Cure and she was met with several different brands of magical warriors. She had been getting a handle on them since then, though!

Her brow furrows slightly when Chrono mentions 'help them develop their craft'. She understands helping someone stay on top of their abilities, but is Chrono thinking that everything could work like one of those devices?

"Before I go into that, you are aware that to get new abilities, we typically need the influence of some relic, right? We cannot work on them ourselves", she makes a point to clarify.

"I am indeed a Pretty Cure, even if that is exceptional among mermaids", she smiles, taking out the Mermaid Aqua Pact. "This is what a mermaid would use to become one, and there aren't many like it", she holds it in a position that allows Chrono to look at it.

"That and the Tropical Pacts I have been given for humans to use both come from my home, Grand Ocean. It was an emergency after we had learnt the Witch of Delays was starting to move to the human lands", she shakes her head slightly.

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown blinked a few times before shaking his head. "Not... entirely. So, for device users our talents usually develop through practice and testing our abilities in new ways. However, while I can't necessarily give someone with one of your styles new abilities, what I can do is help them learn to hone their capabilities."

"Believe it or not, I'm not actually anything exceptional when it comes to terms of power and mana reserves. However, while there are many mages more powerful than me, I am able to hold my own against all but the strongest through the use of tactics, experience and strategy. What I offer is a place for new mages to develop their craft, in a safe and encouraging environment."

"After all, the experiences and requirements of all of the mages on this world can be quite different. The last thing I want is for one of the mages to run into a situation where, say, a hostage has been taken and they have no idea how to rescue said hostage and they freeze up. Where new powers and abilities may help in those situations, training with your capabilities and learning how to apply them to deal with a wide range of different situations is often beneficial in all but the most specific situations."

"... So you are a mermaid, then. It seems there are quite a few mermaid races amongst this world. And the tropical pacts are tools developed by the mermaids, in order to give humans powers to fight this Witch of Delays? Would you mind if I scan the device in question?"

Laura La Mer has posed:
Laura nods when Chrono confirms that that he is actually aware of what he can and cannot do with his training regimen. "Well then, good. Focusing on keeping up the practice for those not using devices is the approach to follow, we are of the same mind there", she smiles cordially.

"I don't know about your magic, but I have noticed you have a solid grip on what to do in a fight", she compliments Chrono warmly. Even if them having someone to keep safe helped balance the playing field, holding out against three fully active magical warriors can hardly be called simple.

The pinkette listens intently to Chrono's aims during his training, adding gestures of agreements throughout, owing to her familiarity with the situation Chrono is elaborating on. "That sounds like a great thing, I think the bulk of our team work training comes from live fights."

Her smiles widens when Chrono addresses her mermaid nature. "That's right, I am one. Want to see me?" she offers before taking the Aqua Pot out of her bag and jumping inside to oblige Chrono's request. "Here, have it", she says as soon as she comes back out, throwing the Tropical Pact to Chrono. "Only humans with sunshine in their hearts and that resonate with us mermaids can awaken one."

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown gave a small nod in agreement. It seemed this girl was quite wise and understood what was necessary, that was good. "Thank you. I've been quite fortunate to have had a lot of experience with plenty of safeguards back before I landed on this world. However, the magic and threats on this world are quite different from those outside of it, as such I have been forced to adapt and leartn what I can. These training sessions have certainly helped me quite a bit as well."

His smile did twitch, just a little bit, when she just... swoop. Right into the aqua pot. Not that he wasn't familiar with such things, the concept of something being bigger on the inside than the outside, well, such magic existed. It was just... quite rare on this world. And to imagine a young girl just... walking around with such a device. A part of him, the TSAB Enforcer side of him, wanted to confiscate it.

He knew better now, of course. The TSAB was not in effect here and the rules were different. It wasn't dangerous for her to have such a thing. It still, on one lever or another, bothered him though. He took the compact and then pulled out a strange, metallic card. It scanned a strange light over the device before nodding, holding it back out to her.

"Thank you, while it's not magic I or my device is familiar with, it'll be added to the report and, hopefully, that will prove beneficial in some way. The catalogue of magical information I have been gathering has been quite beneficial in my understanding of this world. Alas, I very much doubt I have any of this 'sunshine' in my heart. Still, if I manage to find anyone I feel will be a valid candidate, I will endeavor to send them your way."

"One last thing I would like to ask. Would it be possible for me to meet with the leaders of your mermaid people in the future? As an Enforcer of the TSAB, the more allies I can make in regards to protecting this world, the better. And establishing contact between our forces and knowing where the territory of each resides has proven to be quite beneficial in all regards."

Laura La Mer has posed:
Laura makes a note of the similar issues they have had in adapting to the various threats around here despite Chrono being from another world entirely. If she sees someone else from the TSAB come here, she will be quite prepared on how to instruct them.

"I appreciate that very much, officer Chrono", Laura bows her head at the offer to look for valid candidates. He was already bound to a device, so she doubts the Tropical Pact would have done have done anything even if he did in fact have the right personality.

The more forces they have the better, even if Tokyo isn't exactly lacking on the matter. "If you find yourself having a doubt on someone qualifying, I would prefer being informed of them anyways", she asks him.

Shaking her head to indicate an affirmative reply, Laura just thinks about when the moment most opportune would be. Grand Ocean wasn't really in any kind of situation to have guests, especially official representatives.

"That is not a problem. The Queen and I talk frequently, I can certainly call her to ask when she could", the mermaid reassures Chrono. "And if you wait enough, I will maybe be the one to greet you in her stead."

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown gave her another small nod. "Of course. The more people who have access to the magic of this world and desire to fight the forces of evil that plague it, the better. I'll let you know if I find anyone."

He slid the card back into his pocket before giving her a small smile. "Thank you, I appreciate that. Though... greet me in her stead? Are... you an advisor to the queen? Her daughter? A liason between the queen and her outside forces?"

... There were so many royal hierarchies on this planet, he swore. He already had a flow chart to ensure which ones went where and it was already a bit overwhelming at times, trying to keep them all straight as it were.

Laura La Mer has posed:
Laura smirks when Chrono inquires as to the exact nature of her tie to the Queen. "You have met with a mermaid from the coalition of the seven oceans, haven't you? Unlike them, Grand Ocean's mermaids are all born from shells and their pearls, we don't have parents", Laura starts explaining with an assured nod.

"It's like what happens with their princesses, even if we don't naturally come out of them with awakened magical powers", she points to her neck, visibly lacking any sort of shell locket that could house a magical pearl.

"I am technically a Queen candidate that would be viable for the task of succeding her, even if I have earned the right to start my apprenticeship to prepare me for the throne", she shrugs. "I wanted to be here to fight with everyone I care about, so she granted me to postpone it. She is a very understanding and gentle Queen", Laura smiles softly.

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown gave a small nod, confirming her question. And then learning they were born from shells and pearls...

... Okay then. He wasn't going to even ask. It wasn't the weirdest weird magic thing he'd learned.

"Truly? Well, then congratulations. And that's good to hear, I do hope you'll make a good queen in the future and I hope we can all continue to count on your aid in protecting this world. I will do all I can to aid against this Witch of Delays where I can. And I'm pleased to hear you've become so attached to the people of this world. I suppose I have just one last question I'd like to ask...

And then he took a slow, deep breath. Considering the... wildness he'd seen so far, well...

"What can you tell me about the Witch of Delays? And why she is called such?" He was definitely hoping for not another strange, magic problem...

Laura La Mer has posed:
Her face shines with gratification when she receives the congratulations from Chrono. "Thank you, I will become a great Queen", she replies confidently. "And I want to help as much as I can. There are so many important and special things here, I am not going to let anyone touch them."

The mermaid's tone assumes a more focused timbre as she delves into the nature of her enemy. "The Witch of Delays is a selfish monster that wants to drain the world of motivation to create a state of eternal delay where nobody wants to do anything, nothing goes forward or changes. It will just be a place of living husks."

"She has already gathered a huge amount of the motivation power she needs with the assault on Grand Ocean that had occurred before I came here, or when I had briefly been kidnapped, so we really need to be careful", Laura warns Chrono.

Right after that, she grabs the Aqua Pot again with a smile as the explanation unfurls. "But as long as we have the Aqua Pot, things can still be remedied. It is what allows me to recover the motivation power she steals with the Layabouts she grants to her minions, and they haven't been able to gain any lately. With it, I am sure Grand Ocean will be saved too."

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown gave a small nod, writing more things into his files as she talked. A future queen, huh. It was... interesting, at least. He didn't know if she could do it, but it wasn't his duty to interfere. And her interest in keeping the world safe at least made him suspect she could be an okay ruler.

Learning about the Witch of Delays, however, made him concerned. While he kept his calm, relaxed smile on his lips, it didn't mean he was happy with this new information. Draining the motivation of this world...

But her belief that she would be stopped made him nod. "I believe so as well. It's good to know that you hold the tools to fight back. Thank you for discussing all of this with me, Laura, and I look forward to us meeting in the future. Before I go, is there anything you'd like to ask me? Otherwise, I feel this will be a good place to end our talk." He'd give a polite bow and, if there was nothing else, he'd depart as well. Ever more reports to file and work to do for the young Enforcer.

Laura La Mer has posed:
Anything she'd like to know? Chrono had talked about the TSAB, the fact they are not from Earth, how he deals with training between Device Mages and non, general info about anything they ended up talking about. Anything she is overlooking?

"Hmm, earlier you had mentioned you have your own enemy to deal with. I am not terribly familiar with a good part of Obsidian's directors yet", she confesses. "And those kinda details about Device Mages elude me."

She thinks for a little while about anything else that could be worth bringing up. "I think that would be all, unless you stumble on a way to free people from mirrors that doesn't require waiting for the Phantom Empire to be defeated. If you find it, I would like it if you told me as soon as you can."

She takes one of Grand Ocean's delicacies out of the Aqua Pot. "Food from my country before you go, if you want to try it. I assure you that you will find it delicious", she offers smiling.

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
"My current, most pressing enemy is a mage by the name of Precia Testarossa. She's after the jewel seeds and a threat to this world. A young girl by the name of Fate has been assisting her, but she is... not to be taken lightly. But I would consider anyone who threatens this world to be a threat. Figures like Riventon, Tellu and many others are all threatening this world, using magic to dark ends. I've actually been leaving minor reports on different figures in the organization at the shed, but there are quite a few of them. One, by the name of Beryl, was actually recently defeated through a coalition of multiple mages."

"Sadly, I do not yet know how to free any of those trapped within mirrors and I am still attempting to find a way, my apologies."

Finally, Chrono did reach out to take the small, gummy-like food. He gave it a little squeeze, then did a quick, subtle scan, just in case. Before biting into it. Huh. Chewy. "Thank you," he said after swallowing a bite. "I'd offer midchildian food but well... I've never been much of a cook and many of the ingredients aren't on this planet. It has been quite a pleasure to meet with you, however. I look forward to future encounters." He'd then give one quick, small bow before heading off. More new information to add to his reports. Hopefully they'd be as useful as... well. Hopefully they'd be useful.