338/Chameleon meets Firefly

Chameleon meets Firefly
Date of Scene:	31 August 2023
Location:	Obsidian Tower
Synopsis:	Firefly meets the one and only Double Trouble. She likes them! Until... the end there.
Cast of Characters:	Hotaru Tomoe, Double Trouble

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Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly was a teensy, eensy bit frustrated. Why? Because a certain SOMEBODY who would be unnamed (Kaolinite) had once again brushed her off. Like she always did. So instead she was sitting in the break room and eating an apple. ANGRILY. An angry apple. Also, playing solitaire because she was bored and waiting for dad to finish with whatever project he was doing today so she could try and talk to him.

She hated this. Why did she KEEP getting brushed off all the time? She was working so hard, doing all she could to help Obsidian... she even had power now. She was USEFUL.

So why didn't anybody listen to her other than Takashi? Some days she felt like the only person in the entire organization who wanted to hear what she said at all was him...

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble enjoyed spending time at Obsidian Tower because it mean they could be themselves without any pretense. Okay, probably with some pretense. They're Double Trouble after all. But they weren't stuck as Dianora. Although, that had been fun so far. Especially since classes aren't quite in session just yet.

They're thorough, but there's only so much adorably wandering around campus one reptile can do. So, today they're wandering around Obsidian. There are interesting people here. People who know about magic and dark energy. These are things they need to figure out. Seems like a great place to spend some time.

Meeting people takes energy, though, and energy takes food. And so it is that Double Trouble finds themselves in the break room, heating up a frozen burrito. High quality fare that. While the microwave whirrs, they look out across the room and spot Firefly.

"What did that poor fruit ever do to you?"

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
"Existed," Firefly grumbled for a moment. "Go away, youma. I know you're not real. What, did one of the witches 5 send you to..." She trailed off, the apple halfway to her mouth when she finally took a moment to look at the chameleon. And realized that they weren't one of the 'faceless youma'. They were more like Wolfrun. A not-human-but-still-sentient creature. Her cheeks turned scarlet and she quickly got to her feet, bowing quickly.

"I-I'm so sorry! I-I thought you were a, I-I mean, I shouldn't have just assumed that you, I-I didn't mean, I'm so sorry! I-I'm so, so sorry. T-that was so rude of me. Are you okay? I-I thought you were one of the Witches 5's.... I thought you were just here to tail me like the other ones they used. I'm so sorry." She did, at least, seem genuinely apologetic and horrified that she had treated an actually sentient creature like that.

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble watches with an amused smile on their face as the young girl stumbles over her words apologizing for her honest mistake. They don't say anything right away, though, because the microwave beeps. They turn away, open the microwave, flip their burrito over, and then close it, punching some buttons to start it cooking some more.

Still looking at the microwave, they say, their voice low, and almost ice cold, "You thought I was a _monster_?" They sound pissed.

Then they turn back around to look at Firefly and grin. "_Thank you_! I'm glad somebody around here is at least a _little_ scared of me."

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly blinked and then... motioned towards the burrito. "I mean... you're planning to eat one of those frozen burritoes. I honestly didn't imagine any living creature would want to. Are ummm... are you okay?"

The worst part? She... she sounded legitimately serious. Like the idea of someone willing eating one of those was THAT strange. And she wasn't entirely wrong.

She still looked a little meek when the girl looked mad. Then... blinked when she was told 'thank you'. She was about to say she wasn't scared... then... "I-I mean, you are kind of intimidating. Very frightening!" she said as encouragingly as she could. Awwwww. The chameleon wanted to be scary. "Your tail looks very dangerous."

Double Trouble has posed:
The microwave beeps and Double Trouble doesn't even turn around. Their tail presses the button for the door to swing open. A little puff of steam escapes and then they reach behind them to blindly retrieve their plate. "I mean, I'm on a world so distant from my home that I can't even see a blip in the sky of where I'm from. That wouldn't be so bad, except magic is all locked away in this world, and hard for me to use. But, Obsidian hooked me up with a place to live and food to eat, and this burrito," they say, lifting the plate up in between them, "Is so much better than what I was eating before I got here."

They regard the girl for a minute, and then smile. They walk right past her and go find a table, calling out over their shoulder after they pass. "I'm Double Trouble, by the way."

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly nodded. "Oh. You're... an alien then," Firefly said. "Are, ummmm, has... my... daddy met you?" she asked. "Professor Tomoe? Daddy does research on aliens. Or he... was. To find better life forms," she said. And that last name likely made her realize... exactly who this kid was. Hotaru didn't necessarily walk around as Firefly to keep her identity hidden in Obsidian, so much as because it made her tougher.

"Oh! Right! I'm Firefly! I'm part of... well. Okay. I'm Takashi-senpai's assistant. Kind of. Is... is the burrito really better than... than what you were eating?" she asked, looking at her with such wide, pitying eyes. "... Would you like me to see if I can have better meals brought for you and stuff? Nobody should have to live on those..." She had a REALLY low opinion of those burritoes.

Double Trouble has posed:
Several thoughts race through Double Trouble's head as they let their burrito cool on the plate: the girl did look a lot like Hotaru, she was definitely the same kind of uncertain as Hotaru, and with a name like that, there was only one conclusion. Firefly was Hotaru Tomoe. Hinoiri had said that the magic made it hard to connect such obvious similarities in appearance, but to experience it first hand was wild.

This was an opportunity for some fun.

"Oh, aren't you just a sweetheart," they say, as they situate themselves on a chair, their tail wrapping around one of the legs. "It's not as if I'm spending every night hunting rabbits and rats _now_." Mmm, rats. They pick up their burrito--it is totally still too hot--and take a bite, releasing steam into their face.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly stared at they. "You... you had to do that? I... wait. Is that... a good thing? I ummm... don't know... what your world is like. Do you have some kind of like... hunting culture? But I don't know if you should eat rats. I hear they're really bad for you. Or maybe they just get a bad reputation. Not to mention all of the polution that has likely infected them by now. So... Though... I guess you're not human, so that probably... I'm sorry."

She leaned in a little closer, looking up at the person. "Are... you part of Pierrot Publishing?" she asked. Well, they were a giant lizard thing. It seemed fitting for Wolfrun's group...

She walked back to her seat, sitting down and biting into her apple. Eyeing the reptile person and... "Are... are you a dragon?" she asked in a hushed tone.

Double Trouble has posed:
They apparently don't care that the burrito is too hot, and seem to actually take _pleasure_ in eating it. Or, well, eating their first bite of it. While they chew, they consider just how much fun they should have. They had no idea just how wild this girl's imagination was after their previous discussion. So many ideas. So many opportunities to mess with her.

"I've had it worse than that. The Crimson Wastes are not friendly to living creatures, not really. At least here I had shade and water easily accessible," they explain. They take another nibble of their burrito, and then go on. "But before I ended up on this forsaken planet, I ate prepared meals just like everyone else. This burrito is _not_ better than _those_, just better than what I was eating a week ago."

Ted definitely talked about the org chart. It was a lot, but Double Trouble committed it to memory. It's important to know who's who, so they know who to become in any situation. Majorina left it open what they might end up doing, and they're not a big fan of taking orders, so, they answer, "No, though that witch is the one who brought me in. I'm my own person, so I'm working freelance."

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly nodded. She honestly wasn't surprised the reptile didn't mind the heat. After all, they were a cold blooded creature, right? That meant they could eat anything, no matter how hot it was! Hotaru... Hotaru was not the best biologist.

"Crimson wastes?" she asked. "That place... sounds... very red," she finally said. "Was it nice there?" she asked. "Well, I guess without water or shade, no. Ummmm... I'm happy you're not there. For what it's worth. Nobody should have to suffer like that. Welcome to the company. If you need any help, feel free to let me know. I'm sure we can get along great so long as you're not an idiot."

Double Trouble has posed:
"It's a desert on the world I'm from. It's a ruthless place. The only creatures who survive are the ones who can _do what it takes_," Double Trouble says before taking another bite of their burrito. That's definitely necessary for survival in _these_ wastes. This world is a magical desert, as far as Double Trouble is concerned.

"Thank you," they say. "I'm happy to be here. The company has already provided me with so much help." Really, for a bunch of villains, they're quite nice. Clearly they understand that evil is a team sport, even if Double Trouble does not.

They consider her for a moment, tilting their head to one side and blinking. They blink weird. They blink _sideways_. Then, before taking another bite of burrito, they ask, "So just what is it you _do_ as Agera-san's assistant?"

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly nodded and gave a small shudder. "That sounds terrible," she said gently. "I mean, being... having to do all that to survive. It's much nicer when everyone works together. Then people can optimize. It's how civilizations even exist," she said. As... as if that wasn't the most basic of stuff. She really was twelve.

"Yeah, the company has some good in it. And some... not... so good," she mumbled, glancing off to the side. "I like the good parts more. As for ummmm... what I do? Honestly, not much. I mean... mostly he's just in charge of making sure I don't nearly die anymore. I uhhh... I'm sick, you see. And I... have seizures. I used to have them a lot more frequently. But when I'm Firefly, I'm a lot stronger and I don't get sick! I can even get wet without worrying about my arms or legs breaking! It's super cool! I get to be like... useful! Mostly I just help him get energy and do experiments and stuff. What are you going to do?"

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble stuffs the last of their burrito into their mouth and chews. Opening wide as they are, it makes it apparent that they have _very sharp_ teeth. Lots of them. But they come together to make a dashing smile. They listen thoughtfully as Firefly speaks and then smile some more. "I'm in espionage. Infiltration. Sabotage. Right now I'm building relationships. Later? I'll exploit them to cause so much chaos," they say. The way they say it, it's clear how much delight they take in what they do.

They unwrap their tail from around their chair, and then snag their plate, rising up from their seat. "I'm curious about energy collection. What is it that you _do_ to get energy?"

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly nodded, but then gasped. "You... you're a spy?" she asked, staring at them with wide eyes. "Y-you're like the third I've met. Do... do you have a really fast car?" she asked.

And... and that probably made no sense. However, the rest of it clicked after a moment. "Wait... to exploit? Why... would you want to do that? Wouldn't it be a lot better to like... make them your friend? I mean, if you exploited them you'd only get help from them once. But if you became their real friend, you could get stuff from them all the time, and do things for them, and then they'd like you and cheer you on and think you were even cool!" she said, practically beaming and actually holding her cheeks.

"Oh, Energy collection is where we like, draw a little energy from a bunch of people so we can use it for big things, like spells and stuff. Takashi-senpai uses it for his research. I'm... not always able to follow his research, though. He's... smart, though. And it's for good reasons. Usually... but... not everyone in Obsidian has good reasons..." Oh, she... she was a naive little thing. Trusting, too, it seemed.

Double Trouble has posed:
Drawing a little energy from a bunch of people made sense. It's not _ambient_ like it was on Etheria, and a single individual only produces so much. But if they draw on many people, they could draw much larger amounts without even being noticed if they were careful. If Double Trouble could figure out some way to draw energy from the people around them, they wouldn't have to be just one face most of the time. They'd be able to be _themselves_, and whomever else they fancied. They just needed the energy.

"How do you draw the energy. That's where I'm stuck," they say as they put their plate where dishes go. "Etheria was full of magic. It was in the air. I'm a _magical creature_. Using my magical abilities is like _breathing_, and I'm struggling here. My magic works with the dark energy, but I sure don't have a ton of my own. But if I could harvest it? That would be _perfect_."

They turn around and look directly at Firefly, then, and say, "You are adorable, did you know that?" They dart over to the table Hotaru's seated at, inhumanly fast, and pull out the seat next to her. Their tail wraps down around the leg of the chair as they sit, facing the young woman. "Of course I'll become their real friend. What do I look like, some kind of _monster_?" They feign indignance, and then burst out laughing. "I'm not going to put in the effort of building relationships just to burn them." Then they pause, and consider. "Well, not _usually_. Sometimes it's called for. Anyway, the point is, you can exploit a relationship without ending it. Most of the time people don't even realize they're being used."

Double Trouble is clearly not a good person.

They wave a dismissive hand, "Anyway. I'm curious. Why would your arms and legs break if they got wet? You are pretty sweet, are you _made out of sugar_?!"

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly gave a shrug. "I'm not entirely sure. I think a few people can do it without using something else. I've always had to use a youma or a... thing to do it? I did it with some cards, once. But most of the people just threw them in the trash. I didn't get a lot of energy, either. But I think that was fine. There's like... limits? It's kind of like... you probably get a cup and a half of energy, then have to spend a cup for the next time, or something like that? It's slow going because of that. And... wow. That must be rough. I imagine like... going somewhere new and there's no water except a little icky water you need or.... okay, maybe not entirely that. But... wow..." she mumbled softly.

She did smile and positively glowed when she was called 'adorable'. "You think so? Thank yo-- EEE!" She almost toppled backwards... no. wait. She did. The reptile darting in next to her. And rather than hitting the ground, she just kind of... floated there. "Um... L-Luminous Titan? Can... can you...?" And, after a moment, she was righted and back in her chair.

"Well... I guess it's not bad if they don't mind being used a little, right? And if it's for the right reasons."

She then blinked again, looking up at them. "O-oh. Um. Right. They're... prosthetics. Heh. You can't tell though, right?" she asked, holding up her right hand. "It's the henshin. It really helps a lot. It manages my dark energy so I don't have as many seizures, makes me look like I'm not torn apart even without sweaters, lets me fly and be a lot more durable. I can even fight! It's so cool!"

Double Trouble has posed:
"Yes, when done for the right reasons," Double Trouble agrees. Of course, the girl surely has a different notion of what those right reasons are, but that's her problem. Double Trouble knows that the right reasons are always _theirs_, but they can't ever let anyone know that.

They look at Firefly for a moment in silence, studying them. They blink a couple of times. It's so weird. Then they finally raise up their finger and gesture in a little circle toward the girl. "So, uh, what just happened there? _Luminous Titan_?" Forget the prosthetic limbs, the floating was much more interesting.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly was actually pretty happu with this turn of events. The lizard person seemed pretty friendly. Weird, but nice. Definitely weird. I mean, someone who said they were going to trick you couldn't really be a tricky person, right?

She cringed when Double Trouble asked about 'happened there'. Until she realized what, exactly, she meant. "Oh! Floating? That's my device," she said, before motioning to the glaive resting against the wall. "Luminous Titan. It's... kind of like... my friend... and battle partner... and watchkeeper all at once. Takashi-senpai got him for me. Apparently he's some kind of really advanced AI. He helps monitor me and make sure I don't get hurt too much when I do things. And to call Takashi-senpai whenever I have an episode."

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble looks at the polearm resting against the wall, and then immediately darts over to inspect it more closely--casreful not to touch it though--and then darts back to their chair. No doubt about it, they're not human. Humans do _not_ move like that. "Wow, what a beautiful implement. Although, I got to say, not what I'd expect for a girl of your stature. That must strike _fear_ in the hearts of civilians who see you." They grin. "That kind of bold play is fun, but not what I tend toward. With my skillset, it's all about finesse. Me? I just have a necklace." They laugh. "But that just makes me look human, without me having to use my limited energy."

They lean back in their seat, tail wrapping around the leg once more, and they inspect Firefly with their bright yellow eyes. Finally they grin, showing their many sharp teeth, and say, "It must feel good to feel so able, through the henshin. Why do you need such extensive prosthetics? You sound like you are quite delicate, without the henshin." They sound concerned, but really, they're just curious.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly shook her head. "Oh. No. I only wear it here because... well... sometimes people here are mean. They only listen to you if you have power and the ability to defend yourself. Sometimes I'm here as me, other times as Firefly. But... I only have to keep my secret identity hidden from people outside of Obsidian, anyway."

"I... really don't like scaring people. But sometimes it's what we have to do. Otherwise, they fight and get hurt. It's much better to frighten someone a little so you don't have to hurt them a lot, you know?" she said with a small smile.

She did cringe when it came to *the* topic. "I... was in an accident, years ago. It... killed my mother and I nearly died. The only reason I survived was because of my father's hard work. Since then he's worked ever harder to... try and let me have a real life. Like... a normal girl. But... I'm not really a normal girl anymore. I'm... actually very delicate... without this. Even with it, I likely won't..." She trailed off then. Finally shaking her head. "But daddy's getting better all the time. Maybe I'm just worrying too much."

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble is very good at reading people, but it's so much easier when they just _tell_ you about themselves. They listen attentively, their blonde eyebrows arching. "That must have been quite the accident," they say, with their hand held against their chest. "I'm so sorry." They laugh quietly and exhale sharply. "Seems like we've both had it rough."

They look at Firefly for another long moment. They really do seem quite curious about her. "You're too good for this place, Firefly. You've got _princess_ energy."

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly gave a small nod. "It... it really was. It wasn't... the best... it sucked. But... but sometimes accidents happen. People get hurt. Sometimes... sometimes you're the one who gets hurt. Daddy... never expected this to happen. It was all just a freak accident," she said with a small smile. Oh, that was... a bit right there. He was responsible?

"Oh! I'm nothing special. I just want to help my daddy and Takashi-senpai. I know Obsidian does some... bad things. But they do good things, too. They can help people. And... I guess I am daddy's little princess," she said with a giggle, completely missing what she meant by 'princess' energy.

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble just stares at Firefly for a long moment. That's a lot to take in. "Yes, you definitely are," they finally say with a light laugh. "So do you go to that Radiant Heart Academy Ted told me about?" Even henshined, she looks school-aged. And besides, Double Trouble doesn't usually ask questions they don't already know the answers to. Not if they can help it.

"Don't sell yourself short, Firefly," they say, and they lean forward, their face getting closer to hers. "But, like, the witch said she is trying to bring around _everyone's_ bad ending. Is that really what you want? I think you belong with the sparkle skirts, not us villains. You're just too pure."

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly gave a small nod. "Yeah. I've been going there for a long time, actually. Though I don't live there. I live with daddy... technically." If he was ever home, that is. "Though, I think a lot of people do. It's a really big school. Are you going to be attending? I... I guess not, huh?" Firefly asked. "It'd be... silly for... I mean... people would notice, right?" she asked sheepishly.

The comment on the bad ending made her pause. She looked thoughtful, before shrugging. "I don't think she'll succeed, it's simple as that. Besides, my daddy works here. I can't just abandon him, now can I? But... there's a lot of different people here. Some of them have just... awful ideas. Some have good ideas. And some are... some just need the right help. I think it'll all turn out right in the end. Besides..."

Her smile wavered slightly. "I... don't... mind being the villain for the right reasons. And some of them are the right reasons."

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble leans back in their chair and laughs, shaking their head. "I don't think you could be the villain if your life depended on it. You're good deep down inside," they say, sounding dead serious. "At least for now. Just listen to you." Then right there in front of her face, they change their shape, into _her_. Except it's her from yesterday. Hotaru Tomoe in her black skirt and black tights and purple sweater and wine-red beanie. The Hotaru Tomoe that Double Trouble met as Dianora.

"Wouldn't it be better to make them your friend?" Hotaru says as she steps up out of the chair, her eyes pleadingly cute as she peers at Firefly. "I guess it's not bad if they _don't mind_ being used a little, right?"

Espionage. Infiltration. Sabotage.

"Here you are, Firefly, trying to fight the good fight from the inside. Why? Because Daddy is on the board? Because your senpai is kind to you? If you were a sparkle skirt, you'd have _allies_. Those girls all fight with the power of _friendship_ and _love_. And listen to you, that's so clearly who you are."

And with that Hotaru turns on her heels and marches out of the break room.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly was shocked, to say the least. Her eyes wide, mouth open. The uhhh... the shock was clear. "How... how did you..." she asked. But it didn't matter. Because by the time she had a mind to ask... That Hotaru was already leaving.

And Firefly didn't have it in her to follow. Instead, she wrapped her arms around herself. She looked down. Those words hurt. They cut deep. Because... admittedly?

It was what Firefly wanted. she WANTED to be with them. To have friends. To have allies. To be... to be one of them.

But that'd never be her. That wasn't who she was. No matter how desperately she wanted it to be. Even if... even if every single part of her practically screamed with the desire, the need, to be like them. She wouldn't, couldn't be.

If she tried... it'd just make things worse. She was supposed to be on the outside looking in. A part of her just... knew that. Instinctively. She wanted to be them. But she could never be them. No matter how much she tried to be.

And she doubted Double Trouble could ever understand just how much that hurt.