767/Congratulations, Dispatcher Osaka!

Congratulations, Dispatcher Osaka!
Date of Scene:	15 November 2023
Location:	The Shed
Synopsis:	Rashmi calls Naru to The Shed to give her a super special present from Chrono: an official TSAB ID hologram, labeling her an official Temporary Dispatcher. The girls catch up, gripes and plans are shared, and Rashmi has a Terrible Idea.
Cast of Characters:	Rashmi Terios, Naru Osaka

---

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Sometimes, first love is an *awful* thing. Rashmi has very much gotten used to Chrono's presence, and with him heading somewhere vaguely north for an *entire week,* Rashmi has been... subdued. Not to say mopey. Definitely not mopey. Maybe. Probably.

But, she still has something to do for him, which is the next best thing.

TXT to Naru -- Hey Naru-chan, wanna have lunch outside? I've got a =>secret<= present to deliver to you!

Hey, being helpful is a wonderful balm for missing one's boyfriend, right?

Naru Osaka has posed:
Mopey is in the air, it would seem, although Naru is so far mostly immune. At least mostly.

TXT to Rashmi: Sure! What kinda secret? A present? I'm super curious! Like picnic table secret, or Shed secret?

Naru is already picking up a coffee and her lunch, such as it is. She really only snacks.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
TXT ro Naru -- Shed secret, definitely. You'll like it, I think!

Rashmi is already waiting at the Shed when Naru gets there, sipping from a steaming paper container with the Korma logo on it. Curry soup, by the smell, because the days are getting colder and microwave time is easier to handle than lunch lines!

As Naru approaches, Rashmi beams, raising a hand to wave. "Hiiii, Naru-chan! How's things?"

Naru Osaka has posed:
Rather than reply by text, Naru just bring her coffee and snacks over to the Shed.

There's a bright smile as she spots Rashmi already there. "Hey Rashmi. Good to see you. I'm alright, all in all. How're you? Staying out of trouble, generally?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Enh... Chrono had to take a trip," Rashmi admits, lifting a shoulder as she turns the knob to the Shed in the proper way. "So, kinda down because you can't hug voicemail. But it's necessary, so I'm not upset *at* him, y'know? C'mon... let's warm up."

And Rashmi cannot *help* but pause as she crosses the threshold, staring around at the bigger-on-the-inside nature of the secret meeting room. "...I hope I *never* get used to this... oop! Sorry." Blushing, she hurriedly steps away from the door to allow Naru to enter.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Where did he take off to?" Naru frowns a little at that news. "I hope everything's alright." She waits for Rashmi to open the door, and step inside.

Within, its clear that there's been more cleaning up, and at least one of the desks is occupied with someone's wark. Based on Naru's comfort in going over to set her coffee down on the edge of that desk, its a good bet on who's ongoing work it is. "I can bet you miss him terribly."

There's a soft giggle at Rashmi's ongoing wonder. "It's still awesome, isn't it? Every time."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Somewhere north," Rashmi says with a sigh. "He's worrying himself to pieces looking for his crew, and he needed to take some time to search outside of Tokyo, just in case. It sucks, but I do get it."

Shaking her head, she leans against the desk next to Naru's, setting her soup down and summoning a bright smile that is -- mostly -- genuine. "But! Speaking of how awesome magic is, Chrono *did* want me to give something to you, specifically." With a tap on Nicomachea's standby-mode charm on her bow, she summons a small, crystal cabochon in a plain silvery setting, and offers it out. "Tap the crystal," she says.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"I hope he finds what he's looking for, and nothing exciting in the bad way." Naru mmms softly. "He knows to call if he has any trouble? Right? I suppose rhetorical to ask, I'm sure you said the same things to him."

Naru blinks in surprise, setting down her lunch as well. "Something for me?" She looks puzzled as she reaches out to accept the cabochon from Rashmi. She examines it from all angles, befroe she does as directed and taps the crystal.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"He does," Rashmi says, nodding. "I did, *and* he has Fenyx with him. So unless something *really* bad happens, I'll know if he's in trouble."

When Naru taps the thumbnail-sized crystal, it lights up, displaying a hologram of an official-looking info-card. Naru's face smiles out from the left side, and in official-style text on the rest of the display:

    Name: Naru Osaka
    Position: Temporary TSAB Dispatcher

"He says it's a field position," Rashmi says, "but it's still official. You're now, seriously, officially part of an interdimensional organization that protects lives from magical awfulness. And if the apparently-impossible happens and you end up *going* there? That means you're already halfway to having a government job there, immediately."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"I'm glad he's got Fenyx, not only in general, but for trips like this." Naru agrees with a little nod.

The hologram pops out at her tap and she blinks at it. It takes a lot of render Naru speechless, but she just pauses and looks at her face and that official writing next to it. "A temporary TSAB posiiton?" She reads it a couple more times and then she starts to giggle. "I don't even know where THERE is, let alone going there! This.. well... goodness."

Naru looks up at Rashmi and there's still a half giggle in her tone. "I'll look forward to thanking him when he gets back."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"I know, right?" Rashmi says, chuckling right along with Naru. "It's so wild!"

Tapping the charm again, she extracts a second one, tapping it to reveal her own ID -- Temporary TSAB Mage "We're not even old enough to drive, but we're *civil servants!*"

Her humor fades, just a bit, and she clears her throat. "But seriously... He means it. This is, like... Chrono recognizes that for all the magical insanity flying around, you've been developing one of the most important powers any of us *could* have; your contacts list. And it *is* important."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Seven months ago, I didn't even know magic was a thing, or that we went to a school where discussing interdimensional organizations would just be /normal/." Naru can't help but chuckle again. "When I think of it that way, it just seems so surreal."

Naru leans over a little to see Rashmi's ID and grins. "Oooh.. you've got ID saying you're a mage. That's awesome!"

Naru also gets a little more serious. "It doens't feel like much, but it's what I can do. I feel like I'm falling behind on meeting some of the mover and shakers, I need to get back to meeting more of the newcomers. There's just been so much going on." She gives a little shake of her head.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"I know, right?" Rashmi exclaims at the surreality of the magical world. "It's so wild!" And she beams, as Naru examines her ID.

But when she gets serious, Rashmi shakes her head. "Maybe it doesn't feel like much, but like... Naru-chan back in the summer I had *no idea* what I was doing. I was *flipping Nicomachea's pages to find spells* because I didn't know how Devices work. Maybe you don't know everyone, but you know enough people that nobody *else* will ever have to feel like that, if they stumble into our world." There's something in the way she says 'our' that explicitly includes Naru.

"You already know enough people right now, that..." Rashmi gestures around the Shed, taking in the chalkboard and all the work on Naru's desk. "This is *doable,* because of you. It might not feel like it's as important as punching people with the power of love, but like... Trust me. You *deserve* this."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"It's such a confusing world." Naru agrees and then her expression turns just a touch wry. "And it doesn't come with a glossary or a how to manual, much to my eternal frustration. Add in the fact that our rag tag pack of teens is up against a literal evil mega-corp.." She trails off and shakes her head a little.

"We don't have a giant building, or corporate budgets, or anything like that.. but we can at least all try and work together. Generally in vaguely the same direciton and share what we know. I am so grateful to Inai-sensei and the Headmistress for helping us get even this far." She gestures around the room, not the steel and modern lines of Obsidian Tower, but its something.

"By the power of coffee, we just might manage it." Naru grins, lifting her cup in salute.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"By the power of coffee," Rashmi echoes with a grin of her own, raising up her soup and tapping it against Naru's coffee in salute. "And congratulations, Dispatcher Osaka, and thanks for everything you do to help."

Taking a sip, Rashmi contemplates the enormity of the task ahead of them. "It really is terrifying when you stop and think about it, isn't it? And that's not even including everything that could be happening that we just *don't know about.*" Shivering, she turns her bowl in both hands, a frown touching her face. "But it's not important that we know everything... Just that we know enough-- know *each other* well enough-- to do what needs doing."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Dispatcher." Naru giggles softly. "I feel like I should have a headset and sit at a reception desk or something."

"I stop and think about it more often than I should, really. But I sort of figure that if I worry about it, then those of you in the front lines don't stress about it while you're standing between me and monsters" Naru flashes a smile. "And as I can't do much against monsters, I absolutely appreciate THAT too."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Once more, Rashmi looks around the magical Clubhouse of Operations. "...Honestly that *might* be doable," Rashmi says. "It'd be a serious project, but... Given enough time, I could *totally* see a radio station in the corner."

At Naru's semi-joke, Rashmi chuckles. "Well that's something I'm *more* than happy to do, anyway. ...Or at least, get the *real* front-lines people better able to do their jobs, which is just as helpful keeping you safe."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"As we're so often running around all over the place, my phone is probably the easiest." Naru points out. "Although the mental image of a little radio station in the corner is /so amusing/." She grins. "The couple of times I've either not had my phone, or struggled to use my phone it was really hard. Apparently I'm super addicted."

"It's all about making sure everyone has what they need." Naru grins. "You keep them upright, I hide behind the pack of you folks. It all works out."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Yeah, but c'mon," Rashmi chuckles. "It sounds like *such* a fun idea, and at this point *any* way to have fun is worth doing for all of us, especially if it helps. I... kind of wish I could say I have the same problem, but honestly I've been spoiled; Nicomachea's linked himself to my phone, so I don't even need to have it out to text anyone. I'm kind of concerned about what'll happen when I forget everything, and forgot to get used to actually taking my phone out to do stuff, but..." Rashmi shrugs, placing her soup bowl against her bottom lip. "That's not something that needs worrying about until it's time, I guess."

Rashmi is a terrible liar; it's pretty clear that the idea that she'll forget all, or even most, of this magical existence is something she worries about, *constantly.*

Naru Osaka has posed:
"We're a long way from being all /that/ worried about forgetting." Naru points out. "We have a lot of other things to deal with before we get that far, so I'm mostly just not thinking about it. I've far too many other things to keep my brain occupied that aren't stressing about that particular flavour of adulthood."

Naru considers. "And I suspect we'll get used to not having magic, almost as quickly as we got used to having it. Most of the other adults seem to have. With some exceptions, but still."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Yeah," Rashmi says uncertainly. "You're probably right... It just... bothers me, I guess." Setting her cup down, she draws in a deep breath, and claps her hands to her cheeks a couple times. "Anyway. I'm sorry Nico-kun's still working on the code, but... I can tell you for sure he *is* working on it. So it shouldn't be *that* much longer."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Telling you not to worry about it yet probably doesn't help at all." Naru smiles warmly. "But try not to worry about it too hard yet."

A wave of her hand. "I'd still be about a tenth as far as Nicomachea as gotten. I'll look forward to it whenever he gets it done, and without me having slaved over a desk for hours to get there." Naru grins. "Hopefully he hasn't gone mad with boredom yet."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Hey, he's all about 'disseminating helpful information,'" Rashmi chuckles. "Given how helpful this information probably is, I'm guessing the fact that he hasn't said much about it, means he's giving it his all. And... Honestly it's nice there *is* something helpful I can do, so I'm glad to give him the work."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"We're really hoping this information is useful." Naru wrinkles up her nose. "It's one of those spots where you dont' know how helpful it is until you know what it is, but it feels like a major hurdle that we've been running into for quite some time. It will feel really good to have gotten past it."

Naru sips from her coffee. "Anything else going on? Crisis, or happy, or anywhere in between." Naru smiles easily. "I'm not sure if there's a vague lull, or if I'm just out of loops right now."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Well someone else tried to kill Hannah-chan again," Rashmi sighs heavily. "It was over the weekend. Some shadow vampire? And a reaper girl? I don't know either of them, but... Hannah-chan almost got her throat cut, it was pretty terrifying. Thankfully there were a *lot* of us around, so we got to her and got her to the hospital, but..."

Rashmi takes off her glasses, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I *know* they were sent by Hannah-chan's uncle. And he's *not* going to stop."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Again!?" Naru blinks and then sighs. "Goodness, Hannah is having a rough go of it. That is vaguely horrifying."

Naru frowns deeply. "Why is her uncle trying to have her killed? That seems like it goes far beyond family cranky."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Space feudalism!" Rashmi groans, leaning back and throwing her hands in the air. "One noble trying to assassinate his brother's family for the right to rule a planet! And then somehow he was able to run here when he screwed it up! And the surviving child's out for revenge, and followed him! I could write Hannah-chan's story and it would *fly* off of science fiction shelves!"

Slumping back in her chair, Rashmi claps her hands over her face. "And while I don't expect it to be true forever, there is *no way off this planet* for anyone from TSAB space. So he's wasting his absolute time just trying to kill her anyway, when there's no good reason except *habit, I guess.*"

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Space feudalism?" Naru grapples with that a moment and then accepts it like so many other things about RHA that just doesnt' make nearly as much sense as it probalby should.

"So both of them are stuck on this planet, and he's trying to kill her." Naru mmms and nods. "Yeah, if he can't get back to the planet he wants to rule, its not going to help him much. I wonder how we stop him.. I'm going to guess that the veil doens't let him jsut get arrested, hmm?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Probably," Rashmi sighs. "And I mean... Hannah-chan isn't doing all that great herself about it... she *was* the survivor of the attempt on her family, so... You can probably guess how she's handling it all. So... Apart from everything else, we have this to worry about. And for me it's worse because it's *personal,* Hannah-chan's a good friend and I'd *really rather not* have my friend get killed, y'know? Uuuuugh..." Sighing, she puts her glasses back on. "I'm starting to think she shouldn't ever be alone until this whole mess is settled."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"I mean.. alright, so Hannah also is perhaps a touch light on the chill." Naru comments dryly. Understatement of the week really.

"I also would really prefer that my friend not get killed." Naru agrees on that point. "None of them, and that one in specific because it feels more likely than many." She mmms softly. "I suspect Hannah might balk at a rotation of people keeping an eye on her, but it's not the worst plan I've heard."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Not if you ask her," Rashmi grumbles. "Almost as little chill as Chrono, but *oh my word* she will take it so awfully if there's even a *whisper* of a *hint* of the *possibility* that she might not be the All-Powerful Belkan Super Knight she's trying so hard to be... Nrg." Shaking her head, Rashmi sets the soup bowl down, pacing the area in front of the tables. "...Which means we'll just have to apologize later for not giving her the choice now, I guess."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"This absolutely feels like a forgiveness rather than permission sort of situation." Naru agrees. "Because she's a pretty amazing Belkan Super Knight, but no one exists alone. Nor should they. Our strength, all of us, is in our community and working together."

"At least shes' got a girlfriend, doesnt' she? That should help for keeping vague eye on her at least." Naru mmms thoughtfully.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Two!" Rashmi says. "Apparently! And honestly that's the worst part! She's got *so much love* for practically everyone she meets, but when it comes to herself--" Biting the rest off, she finds a nearby chair and flumps into it.

"Sorry to rant at you like that, Naru-chan. ...This has been bubbling up for awhile, I guess. I just don't *not* worry."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"She forgets that love is a two way street and she needs to have some for herself too." Naru gestures a little with her coffee. "It's no worries at all. Rant away. I agree with you and clearly you need to get some of it off your chest. It /is/ frustrating as anything."

Naru quirks her head. "Two girlfriends? Amy.. yes? Who else.. goodness, I'm out of the loop!"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"...I don't actually remember her name," Rashmi admits. "But if you asked her, I'm sure she'd e happy to improv sonnets to her wondrousness. Because, I mean, *Hannah-chan.*" This last, said with fond exasperation.

"But you're exactly right. She *needs* to start at least *liking* herself, and I'm probably gonna have to write that on a folding chair and *hit* her with it before she notices. ...Which tells me what I'm going to need to do when she's back up and moving."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"I'll have to ask her sometime." Naru nods at that tidbit of information and then laughs softly. "Yes, I can only imagine the sonnets and the wonderousness."

Naru laughs more brightly. "Write it on a chair, hit her with it a few times, and then duct tape her somewhere to keep her still." There's a note of curiosity. "So what are you going to do?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"The thing I've been avoiding ever since I met her, because it's the last thing I want to do and I know I'll get crushed," Rashmi grumbles.

"Challenge her to a duel for *her* honor."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"/Dude/." Naru whistles softly at that notion. "That.. is going to be a /thing/. She might be so damn surprised by the very notion that she doesn't crush you."

That notion lasts only a moment. "Yeah, except Hannah brain doesn't work that way. Ooof. Keep us in the loop, so we can pick you back up in the end. It might get through to her. Bring that chair."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Yeah I plan to have people around when it actually happens, but whether or not I win isn't the point," Rashmi says, then pauses. "...Okay no that's not right. *Either way* I win, because either I beat her -- ha -- and she has to *accept* what she's doing to herself, or I lose and she has to *face* what she's doing to herself. And I mean... I'm not looking *forward* to needing infirmary time, but damned if I won't make it work for me."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Bring a healer." Naru advises. "At least to take the edge off right off the top. Not that we've got a whole lot of healers. More purifiers these days, which is also handy, but less so when you are throwing yourself against the brick wall that is Hannah."

Naru mmms softly. "I wish you were wrong, because that sounds like a very painful way to get the point across, but .. it WILL get the point across."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Thaaaaats the hope," Rashmi sighs. "But I can set things up for that in time. ...I think Chrono would be *furious* if I challenged Hannah-chan to a duel while he was *gone.*"

With a sigh, she returns to the table next to Naru, finishing off her soup. "And as insane a plan as it is," she says, "thanks Naru-chan. I probably would've just been worrying my butt off. How about you, by the way? I heard you got turned into a doll for a bit there, what else has been going on?"

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Chrono would, indeed, be furious. I don't think he's going to be /delighted/ by the plan if he is here too." Naru points out.

"I was a plushy for a little while, yeah." Naru pauses and then comments. "Words I never thought I'd ever utter in my life, but here we are." She considers. "Y'know, for the moment.. I feel like I'm in a little bit of a lull. Mostly? Generally? Ish? Worried for friends, trying to figure out what's up with the crystal that everyone's after. Still not sure how to protect against the guns, because 'just don't get shot' is terrible advice."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"I don't suppose 'stop shooting people' is on the table?" Rashmi says with a weary sigh. "Because it would be *really nice* if that was an achievable ask. But if not... yeah, a lull sounds right. And the crystal... Man, y'know it sounds like it'll cause more headaches than it solves, but I'm thinking people should do more like Nounamu did, just turning the Phantom Crystal into a city-wide fad for the next year."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"So far, we've at least gotten them down from lethal to not generally lethal?" Naru offers with an echoing sigh. "Which is something, but not shooting people doesn't seem to be on the table, no."

"The Crystal seems to be the fad of the moment, we'll see how it all settles out." Naru shakes her head a little. "There was apparently some rollarblading race for a fake crystal? It's craziness."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"No I mean like... *super* fad. Like when vegan food started coming back *real* hard a couple years ago. Just, Phantom Crystals *everywhere,* maybe even an idol group singing about them." Rashmi chuckles, shrugs. "It's a silly thought, but I might look into who could do what with that all the same. *Knowing* the majority of the fakes'd help *us* more than *them,* if nothing else."

"Bu-u-ut it's about time for class," Rashmi says, as Nicomachea *BONG!*s from her bow. "We should do this more often. Say, after Debate Club?"