51/When You're a Newbie Magical Girl...

When You're a Newbie Magical Girl...
Date of Scene:	09 July 2023
Location:	Pikarigaoaka Ward
Synopsis:	When you're a newbie magical girl, the world is a strange and dangerous place all of a sudden! Even more than it used to be! But thankfully... not everything you're about to face is a bad thing. And sometimes, there are those willing to help you prepare.
Cast of Characters:	Rashmi Terios, Koji Silvia

---

Koji Silvia has posed:
It's a balmy and cool Saturday night in Pikarigaoaka Ward, cars are going by the walking crowds sedately with their lights on, people are off to the rail stations to head into the city for a late-night adventure, or even trying to find a bite to eat after having had some Saturday fun!

For one person currently in the district, either work does not seem to have ended, or they're just being a busybody. Up on one of the higher roofs is the semi-masked form of Koji, several screen-like projections in front of him as he seems to be tracking someone. In this case? An exotic-looking girl with bright red hair. As he watches the image, he thinks to himself, "And you're sure this is the one from both incidents?"

    << Correct, Young Master. Linker Core signature match - 100 percent. Designation still unknown, but levels consistent with an Intelligent Device. >>

After a moments consideration, he asks, "Can we reach out and send a message to it?"

    << Negative. However, we can generated a false signal for the Device to follow, Young Master. >>

Koji shakes his head, "Not just yet..."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
When you're a newbie magical girl...

The world suddenly gets a lot more worrying. Will that ice cream man be turned into a horrific, soul-sucking popsicle monster? Are you going to have time to study for your civics exam, when an army of living shadows terrorizes a games arcade? What *do* all these weirdos want with energy, anyway?

But sometimes, the question of the moment turns out to be nothing more than 'Where do I want to read today?' Thus it is, that the exotic redhead in question seems to be blithely bopping down the street, novel tucked under one arm and starburst charm hanging from her neck. In her other hand, a cool cup of boba, and high spirits all around as she hunts for a nice little park with a bench that she hasn't yet sat in.

Koji Silvia has posed:
Waiting... Waiting... Waiting...

Thankfully, Koji is a patient young man, and it's not until Rashmi has found herself a place to settle and begin to read that he takes stock of things. Sending the four Blades he has to monitor Rashmi around to check the area, he actually DOES find something of concern. A guy who is watching her and has the typical punk look. There's a couple wallets at his feet, speaking to someone robbing people in the park. Two Blades and Guide Wires later, he's hung up and strung up upside down hanging from a branch and a call is made to the police via a remote-link to a public phone and Hanzo's voice sending the message

"Okay... let's do this."

    << 3 Blade Seal. Wide Area Obscure. >>

    Nicomachea detects it. A field of magical power around the space that the rookie Mahou is in. There's a fog-like field a the edge of it, and the one camera in the area is now getting nothing but static. Her phone will have no signal and begin showing screen glitches.

Walking out through the fog, Koji says in a slightly deeper pitched voice from his usual speaking habits, "Sorry for the surprise. I'm not here to hurt you... we just need to talk."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
The sound that comes from Rashmi's throat is far, far from anything that could be considered brave or impressive, and more like the startled *SQUEAK!* of a mouse pinned by a cat. "Nicomachea?!" she calls, looking back and forth at the fog-walls on all sides, and the charm hanging from her neck flashes in answer.

*BONG!*<<ERRANT PHENOMENA DETECTED. HOSTILITY UNCLEAR.>>

"Thanks, I thi--" Cut off as Koji walks through the boundary of the field, she blinks owlishly for a moment, adjusting her glasses and peering at the newcomer! "...Oh! I remember you from the popsicle man! ...Um. ... ..... .......Hi?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
All of the ominous cool of the entrance is kind of put on a halt as the reference for their first meeting is 'Popsicle Man', but Koji only drags his step a moment, and then just chuckles a little bit under the mask that covers his mouth and nose, "Sorry about this barrier, but I can't D-Shift like your Device can. Different specifications right now. This was the best way to speak to you without anyone noticing."

Motioning around for a moment, he then looks back again, "No electronics work well inside this field. It keeps things like cameras from seeing what's going on."

A few more steps forwards, and the empty right-hip sheathe suddenly glows a moment and three grips for weapons appear there to match the ones on his left, "My device is called Hanzo. So that's what you can call me for now. I know... plenty of Ninja jokes to be made... but regardless... what can I call you?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"I, uhhhh..." Hero-name questions have been the furthest thing from Rashmi's mind, even as she began her new life fighting monsters. Thankfully, the new person gave her an out already.

Removing her charm from its cable, Rashmi gives it a brief mental command. The charm surrounds itself in a shell of yellow hexagons, which resolves into a large, armored book, floating to one side of the girl's eye-level. "Um, this is Nicomachea? I'm not sure if that works for a, um, hero name, but anyway. Good to meet you?"

The redhead still has a fairly uneasy look on her face, as if to say 'I'm pretty sure you're not here to fight but this is all kind of weird, isn't it?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
It's an inborn reflex for him, not wanting to scare Rashmi, but her transformation causes him to momentarily shift his left foot back and to start to reach for one of his six Blades... but he stops himself from completing it, and then goes back to a more casual stance. Looking over Rashmi's Device like a cat trying to figure out a thing, he eventually nods once more and there's a slight drop to his shoulders, "You choose if you want to give people your name. That's not my decision to make. I just do this because the... person... who taught me to use my Device as much as they could, told me that not everyone who finds one will be a good person."

Instead he pats his hip and the kunai holsters, "Devices... which is what they are called... are not inherently good or evil. Some are just made to store things, like ours can, some are built specifically for combat... and some are designed to be partners for their wielders."

As he watches to see how Rashmi reacts, he concludes with, "If you want, I can give you a quick lesson here to help you next time you're in a situation like we were in?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Rashmi opens her mouth a couple of times through the explanation, but subsides, nodding along, as Nicomachea opens to an apparently random page, self-inking illustrations along with the subject. The book closes, and Rashmi nods firmly. "I mean, I'd always rather know more about what I'm doing than less... What've you got in mind, Hanzo-san?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
With a more casual air to things, Koji walks over and sits down on the bench close by Rashmi, but not completely next to her. His elbows rest on his knees as he presses his hands together and then turns his head to look over at her... or more specifically her book.

"First thing you need to know is that the reason you can use a Device is because you were born with the talent. It's not common among humans, but some have the native gift. And yes... they are not native to here. I don't actually know where they come from, and they're not too talkative on it."

Rashmi can almost see the chuckle under his mask, "The second thing you need to know is that Devices are designed to detect our intentions, as much as our thoughts, and then use the lexicon of spells they have in their system to to manifest those. Which means... you don't need to go through the pages to find what you need. Your Nicomachea probably did that because you expected to have to find the topic in the book to use."

As if to demonstrate, He closes his eyes a moment, and all six Blades float out of their holsters and then move out in front of the pair, beginning to lazily move in patterns like two little flights of jet fighters.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Well he's a *book,*" Rashmi notes, despite the blush creeping up her cheeks. "I've never known a book that didn't need to be *read* before."

*BONG!* <<SUBJECT *Hanzo* CORRECT, MASTER. FORM FOLLOWING FUNCTION CLASSIFIED AS *guideline.*>>

And now the blush becomes a bit more visible, cheeks quietly glowing. "...Okay well I guess that's on me, but... That's neat, Hanzo-san! So I can just think at him, and he'll be able to respond?"

*BONG!*

Koji Silvia has posed:
Motioning for Rashmi to stand up, Koji/Hanzo says, "I still find myself throwing my knives, even though I don't always have to, so I get it."

Sometimes simple is best, so he recalls the blades and they slip back into their slots, "So stand up, and think about floating a meter off the ground. Just that. Picture yourself doing it in your mind. If you need it a as a focus, say something like 'Make me float'."

For himself, he moves to stand back up and moves to one side to give her space, inwardly monitoring the status of his Obscure.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Dutifully, the girl stands up off the bench, carefully setting down her drink and book, and brushing her skirt. Once preparations are done, she takes a breath, and closes her eyes.

*BONG!* <<FLIER FIN>>

With a flash, dragonfly-like wings unfurl at her ankles, and she does indeed lift a meter or so off the ground. Opening her eyes, she beams in delight. "Oh hey! That's neat! Though... Nicomachea *did* teach me something, um... About making new spells? Since he has to do the math in realtime, it helps you concentrate if you say something a lot longer than the name... Kinda like praying, or poetry kind of thing? That way I can keep up the channeling while he's doing the work."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Walking around Rashmi as she floats and talks about the things she's learned so far, Koji nods quietly... sometimes the best way to handle things is to be ins<span style="color:rutable

    c#4059FF"><< Correct, Young Master. This Device can generate new effects with proper focus and time. >>

Another nod and then he speaks up, "That has to do with the level of power you are attempting to use. The more you need, the more it can take. In my case, I occasionally need to use multiple blades for my focus."

As if to demonstrate, he draws three Blades and tosses them away from him. They stop about 20 meters away and turn inwards, as the inscriptions for a Barrier to appear in the air.

    << 3 Blade Art. Enhanced Barrier. >>

One of his hands sweeps up to the Barrier, "Alright. Now... focus on a ball of light going from Nichomachea to the Barrier there. Once you have your intent in mind, it will create a bolt of energy. The default name for many Devices of this is Barret. Depending on your focus and intent, you could even break it."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Once again, Rashmi closes her eyes, and focuses, raising a hand palm forward. Without even a spell being named, a ball of golden light coalesces inches from her hand, and when she opens her eyes again, she loses track of the assignment for a moment, waving her hand back and forth and chuckling at the way it follows her movements, like liquid sunlight.

Then she remembers what she's doing, clears her throat, and points at the Barrier.

The ball of light launches away, evasive maneuvers apparently programmed into it as it manages to jink once before splashing against the target.

The Barret was not powerful at all. A person would definitely feel it, but this bookworm is not going to be busting concrete blocks anytime soon.

Koji Silvia has posed:
Around the pair, the fog begins to fade a little bit, and then reinstate itself, and Koji gets a mild frown under his mask.

The young Mahou comes over next to you and he gives a respectful nod to the floating book before looking you in the eyes, "We don't often get much time to practice. Things happen, and we end up having to jump right in. But when you find time, you should Dimensional Shift, and then take some time to try things. Inside that barrier is just you, and other magical things. You can damage things and that won't carry back over to our world."

Behind him, the barrier vanishes, and all three Blades come back to his hand, so he can put them away, "I've seen a few other Device users here. Two of them are bad news. He calls himself Riventon, and he works with a young blonde girl who he calls Deathscythe. Just... be careful around them. They're skilled, and they're intelligent... and the girl is very. VERY fast."

But after a moment, he adds, "The last is a young lady who calls herself Nanoha Takamachi. I'm going to find her and see what she knows. All I can tell you about her is she's powerful. Probably more than the both of us put together. But she's also very young and may need protection."

Koji-Hanzo then sighs, and finishes his little speech by saying, "I don't have much more time on the barrier, so you should change back. You'll also want to ask your Nicomachea what it knows about Lost Logia. They're better at explaining them than I would be. But they are something we need to watch for and contain. Badly."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"I... huh. Okay. That's a pretty good idea." The bell-like tone that emanated from the floating book says that Nicomachea clearly agrees on the need for practice.

The flickering of the Barrier snags her attention for a moment, but Rashmi seems to be a Good Student, and the moment Koji starts talking again, she's got the face of someone absorbing necessary information. 'Deathscythe' gets mouthed along with, pure disbelief that someone would voluntarily call themselves that.

"Lost Logia," she repeats, nodding, as Nicomachea shimmers, then melts down into the sunburst charm, which she takes from the air and hangs back on the string around her neck. "Okay good, more homework to do. Um... Oh!"

Digging in her bookbag, she pulls out a very, very familiar flyer, which she holds out to the ninja as if it were an everyday meeting. "Here! Show this to the host and you'll get a first-time visitor discount!"

Koji Silvia has posed:
Politely, the young man in the mask bows to Rashmi and accepts them flyer. It just vanishes in his hands, stored away inside his Device for later.

    << Reminder Young Master. You are not eligible to use this discount by the terms presented. >>

That causes him to not be able to speak for a half second, but the Barrier starting to stutter and fade again causes him to come back to alert, "Thank you very much. But for all you know... I may need to give this to someone else."

Drawing one of the kunai blades once more, he points his hand backwards and you see a small blade of light with a string chasing it emit out from a small seal-circle that floats just above the palm of his hand.

"Good luck out there. We'll see each other again soon.", and as the Barrier around you vanishes, so does he, fading like a ghost, and the last few moments of visibility you swear he's being pulled along back and away from you. But Rashmi's phone is working again and the camera on the lightpost blinks back into proper order...

...and she's alone...

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"...Di-- Did I just get Batman'd?" Rashmi wonders, as the ninja rides away on his magical zipcord. Because it's a thought that really needs voicing, and even with Rashmi's New Normal coalescing into shape, that's an event that gives one pause. Shaking her head in puzzlement, she turns back to look at her drink, half-melted, and book, unread.

After a few moment's pause, she tilts her head to one side.

"Hey Nicomachea... Is there a park nearby that'd be a good training spot, d'you think?"