Small footsteps came to answer the door; certainly nothing that sounded like a crazy man in bedroom slippers. Na'im might be missing his last chance to escape haunting by the ghost of the recently deceased Burt Blanchard. Then again, maybe Exorcist could help him out if that happened. Before he had time to give it any further thought, the door opened, revealing Burt's niece, a small girl with black hair held in a sideways ponytail. Her face shared a lot of Burt's thin, pretty features, but with less craziness and better hygiene. She wore a long, black tee with a big "A" printed on the front (could stand for anything), do big on her that her shoulders showed a bit and the hem nearly covered her white shorts in their entirety. She was barefoot and altogether looked like she wanted to get back to her cartoons.
"You're Burt's 'friend?'" she inquired, seeming at once surprised at his appearance and keenly aware that Na'im had misgivings about the term. "You're not a religious nut too, are you?"
A little boy with shorter make in a bowl cut, dressed in a pair of blue suspender overalls with a white, black-striped shirt, sprang off the couch and ran to their visitor, as if suddenly remembering something important. "Come in! Uncle Butt will be down in a... a hour," he started excitedly, then slowed down once he realized he couldn't remember the message. Regardless, be gave his sister'd shirt a little tug. "I won, right?"
"Knock it off, Joey. Anyways, I'm Jerry, and that lunatic just went upstairs. There's a woman up there too. I heard him yell but I have no idea why. Maybe he tried to kill him or something? Anyways, it's been quiet for a while... You wanna wait down here and watch DimensionMan on TV?" she asked, shutting the door behind him.
"MensionMan hooooo!" Joey cried enthusiastically, having already taken his place back on the sofa.
The Blanchard Household
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Na'im looked at the girl in front of him as a little voice cried out in the back of his mind, thankful it wasn't Burt opening the door. "As peculiar as it sounds," Na'im replied to the question of him being a friend, followed by him answering to the religious nut question, "Not at all. I'm not fond of religions." He had decided not to rattle on about the religious cult that was part of Djinni's origin, because what would a little kid do with such a story.
Shortly after this, he was met with the other child. As Na'im saw him approaching, he squatted to get a better view of the boy's face and listened to his words. "That's alright, there's no hurry," he replied, just smiling through the little scenario of the kids and their 'game'.
"My name is Na'im," he said after Jerry introduced themselves and explained where Burt actually was. Tilting his head he glanced he upwards, but decided to not go up there. Through the last mission he had at least made some guesses about Burt's interests and if anything about those interests were up there, he did not want to see any of it. The two children had already ran back to the TV to watch their cartoon. As he looked around, curious about how Burt lived, he took off his jacket and put it down in a place where no dust was. "Does he really live here...?" Na'im asked himself.
"So now what?" Szand's voice sounded. All 3 Navis were back into the PET's interface again, Djinni in particular as she knew what kind of person Burt was.
Na'im simply shrugged. Without even shouting at Burt to make himself known or any action whatsoever to get Burt to him, he just started to go around the room(s) in order to find the kitchen. "Joey, Jerry, would you two like a snack or something?" Na'im asked once he found the kitchen. "Does Burt even have snacks in here..." he asked himself as he went through the cupboards, "If not I'll just go the store to get something... Maybe even make some myself."
"Hey Na'im!" Djinni's voice sounded from the PET, causing Na'im to take it from his back and look at the screen, "Can you put us by the TV? Oasis would like to watch the cartoon too." Oasis, standing next to Djinni, was waving her arms enthusiastically while Szand was sitting in the corner with his arms crossed. "Pleeeaaase? We're not fighting yet anyway."
"I guess there's no trouble in that..." Na'im mentioned and walked back to the children. He placed the PET front up on a table near the TV and looked at the Jerry and Joey. "My Navis want to watch TV too. Can you keep an eye on them?" he said as three holographic images surfaced from the PET's screen.
"Well, we don't have a couch..." Djinni said as she sat down, "So this'll have to do." Looking over at her SPs, she gestured at them to get closer and sit down as well.
Oasis, being in a good mood, made a short dash at Djinni and quickly sat down on Djinni's lap to look at the TV. Her head was quickly smothered between Djinni's large bust, her pigtails flowing over them.
Szand, however, had no interest in a 'children's program' and decided to lay back on the PET's surface with his arms crossed behind his head. "Wake me when we're fighting," he said, followed by him closing his eyes and ignoring the rest of existence.
As Djinni and co. made themselves comfortable by the TV, Na'im had already returned to the kitchen and awaited the children's request for a snack while exploring the ins and outs of the Blanchard kitchen.
Shortly after this, he was met with the other child. As Na'im saw him approaching, he squatted to get a better view of the boy's face and listened to his words. "That's alright, there's no hurry," he replied, just smiling through the little scenario of the kids and their 'game'.
"My name is Na'im," he said after Jerry introduced themselves and explained where Burt actually was. Tilting his head he glanced he upwards, but decided to not go up there. Through the last mission he had at least made some guesses about Burt's interests and if anything about those interests were up there, he did not want to see any of it. The two children had already ran back to the TV to watch their cartoon. As he looked around, curious about how Burt lived, he took off his jacket and put it down in a place where no dust was. "Does he really live here...?" Na'im asked himself.
"So now what?" Szand's voice sounded. All 3 Navis were back into the PET's interface again, Djinni in particular as she knew what kind of person Burt was.
Na'im simply shrugged. Without even shouting at Burt to make himself known or any action whatsoever to get Burt to him, he just started to go around the room(s) in order to find the kitchen. "Joey, Jerry, would you two like a snack or something?" Na'im asked once he found the kitchen. "Does Burt even have snacks in here..." he asked himself as he went through the cupboards, "If not I'll just go the store to get something... Maybe even make some myself."
"Hey Na'im!" Djinni's voice sounded from the PET, causing Na'im to take it from his back and look at the screen, "Can you put us by the TV? Oasis would like to watch the cartoon too." Oasis, standing next to Djinni, was waving her arms enthusiastically while Szand was sitting in the corner with his arms crossed. "Pleeeaaase? We're not fighting yet anyway."
"I guess there's no trouble in that..." Na'im mentioned and walked back to the children. He placed the PET front up on a table near the TV and looked at the Jerry and Joey. "My Navis want to watch TV too. Can you keep an eye on them?" he said as three holographic images surfaced from the PET's screen.
"Well, we don't have a couch..." Djinni said as she sat down, "So this'll have to do." Looking over at her SPs, she gestured at them to get closer and sit down as well.
Oasis, being in a good mood, made a short dash at Djinni and quickly sat down on Djinni's lap to look at the TV. Her head was quickly smothered between Djinni's large bust, her pigtails flowing over them.
Szand, however, had no interest in a 'children's program' and decided to lay back on the PET's surface with his arms crossed behind his head. "Wake me when we're fighting," he said, followed by him closing his eyes and ignoring the rest of existence.
As Djinni and co. made themselves comfortable by the TV, Na'im had already returned to the kitchen and awaited the children's request for a snack while exploring the ins and outs of the Blanchard kitchen.
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"Not fond of religions...?" Jerry asked, squinting at Na'in like she was suspicious of something. Finally, she gave up with a big, childish smile. "That's great! I was beginning to think I was the only rational person here between Burt and that new girl." Even if he wasn't 100% truthful, Na'im had earned some brownie points. "Yeah, he lives here alright... it's still not pretty, but it's a lot better than it was this morning. Flo cleaned up before he got back, so yeah. He'd never clean this place himself..."
The two kids happily agreed to both Djinni's team sitting down for cartoons and to the new guy's offer to get them a snack. "I'm warning you, though: this guy has a house full of crap. Anything you find in his drawers is just gonna be more crap! We've searched the ones we can reach before and haven't found anything good... Flo hasn't gone in there either yet..." Jerry cautioned Na'im. Jerry turned her head to look at Djinni , then tilted it a bit. "Actually, I think I see one thing you guys have in common..."
The Whazzapian left her to her thoughts, entering the war zone known as Burt's kitchen. The decor may have been pretty at one time, but instead, what now awaited him was mountains of pizza boxes and Net-Cola crates (because he apparently purchased the drink by crate-load). Cup ramen and chow mein bowls, some only partially eaten, littered every flat surface, including pizza box tops. A lot of the crates had been refilled with empty cola cans.A narrow walkway would allow him access to a tiny table with three chairs (which had likely been sold as a cheap card table rather than a dining set), the refrigerator, or the cupboard.
The lower shelves were just as the two had said: barren and empty except for some pots and pans that looked like they hadn't been touched in years. In the upper cupboards, Na'im found a few interesting collections: drawer one held bowls and silverware (an odd place for silverware, drawer two held plates and cups, drawer three held many varieties of microwave dinners, packed incredibly dense into the small space, and drawer four held, of course, a wide variety of pornographic reading material to start Burt off right every day.
Finally, a lifesaver emerged: somebody had left two kid's meals on the table, along with two medium sized burgers and four Net-Colas. It almost looked like a trap...
The two kids happily agreed to both Djinni's team sitting down for cartoons and to the new guy's offer to get them a snack. "I'm warning you, though: this guy has a house full of crap. Anything you find in his drawers is just gonna be more crap! We've searched the ones we can reach before and haven't found anything good... Flo hasn't gone in there either yet..." Jerry cautioned Na'im. Jerry turned her head to look at Djinni , then tilted it a bit. "Actually, I think I see one thing you guys have in common..."
The Whazzapian left her to her thoughts, entering the war zone known as Burt's kitchen. The decor may have been pretty at one time, but instead, what now awaited him was mountains of pizza boxes and Net-Cola crates (because he apparently purchased the drink by crate-load). Cup ramen and chow mein bowls, some only partially eaten, littered every flat surface, including pizza box tops. A lot of the crates had been refilled with empty cola cans.A narrow walkway would allow him access to a tiny table with three chairs (which had likely been sold as a cheap card table rather than a dining set), the refrigerator, or the cupboard.
The lower shelves were just as the two had said: barren and empty except for some pots and pans that looked like they hadn't been touched in years. In the upper cupboards, Na'im found a few interesting collections: drawer one held bowls and silverware (an odd place for silverware, drawer two held plates and cups, drawer three held many varieties of microwave dinners, packed incredibly dense into the small space, and drawer four held, of course, a wide variety of pornographic reading material to start Burt off right every day.
Finally, a lifesaver emerged: somebody had left two kid's meals on the table, along with two medium sized burgers and four Net-Colas. It almost looked like a trap...
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The switch was flipped. Combat had officially started in the workplace that one had once called 'kitchen' as Na'im stared onto the mess in the kitchen. In his mind he could hear the sounds of life bars raising and an announcer shouting "Go!", immediately going for the first strike. With lightning fast moves he had opened a window, taken the pornographic magazines and thrown them out of the window. He dug with his hand into his pocket for his 'special move' as he took out a box of matchsticks. In a dramatic motion he lit a matchstick and threw it out of the window and onto the magazines. "Cleanse the impurities," he muttered to the window and then, with a quick turn on his heels, began his assault onto the kitchen.
While the battle of the century was ravaging in the kitchen, Djinni and co. were at the television minding their own business. "I'll have you know," Djinni started speaking, her attention momentarily directed at Jerry, "I chose the way I look myself." But after saying this, she realized there was little else to talk about. The little boy seemed to be engulfed in the story of the cartoon they were watching and the girl... Well, there was just nothing else to talk about. "I wonder where Exorcist is..." Djinni thought, looking at the TV screen.
Today was a day for weird sounds in the home of Blanchard as a loud cackle came from the kitchen. "This is clean! This is clean! This is clean!" Na'im chanted as he went through the entire kitchen while piling up bags of filth. While not immediately noticeable about the Whazzapian man, he was very fond of cooking and considered the kitchen as a place to treasure. It was not certainly not the first time a dirty kitchen flipped his switch. There was not a single damn in his body about the rest of the house, but the kitchen had better be clean and remain clean.
Moments later Na'im surfaced from the kitchen with two plates of sweet and spicy, but not too spicy for children, Whazzapian food and two sets of cutlery. But as his focus was completely on the kitchen and making something to eat, he had not realized that none of the tables were actually available. He also just now realized his PET was on a small pile of documents. He walked over to the kids on the couch and held out the plates to them. "I tried to make something good for dinner," he said, "You can keep the plate on your lap to eat, but..." He stopped for a moment, looked at the table and then back at the children, "You can also remove any of the documents to make place for yourself." With this said he handed the plates to the children with the cutlery on the sides of the plate, then picked up his PET to place it somewhere that wasn't a table.
Eventually he placed the PET vertically against the wall, while Djinni and Oasis sat on the top side of it. "So now what?" Djinni asked.
"We're just going to enjoy our meals," Na'im said, smiled at her and returned to the kids. "Also... When Burt appears..." he started as he brought his face closer to theirs, "Don't give him any." With those words he returned to the kitchen again, but stopped halfway and turned his face towards the kids. "Enjoy the meal. I am from Whazzap." At the kitchen again he took his own plate of food and decided to sit by the kids so they could talk. In a way it would've been nice if Burt would never show up.
While the battle of the century was ravaging in the kitchen, Djinni and co. were at the television minding their own business. "I'll have you know," Djinni started speaking, her attention momentarily directed at Jerry, "I chose the way I look myself." But after saying this, she realized there was little else to talk about. The little boy seemed to be engulfed in the story of the cartoon they were watching and the girl... Well, there was just nothing else to talk about. "I wonder where Exorcist is..." Djinni thought, looking at the TV screen.
Today was a day for weird sounds in the home of Blanchard as a loud cackle came from the kitchen. "This is clean! This is clean! This is clean!" Na'im chanted as he went through the entire kitchen while piling up bags of filth. While not immediately noticeable about the Whazzapian man, he was very fond of cooking and considered the kitchen as a place to treasure. It was not certainly not the first time a dirty kitchen flipped his switch. There was not a single damn in his body about the rest of the house, but the kitchen had better be clean and remain clean.
Moments later Na'im surfaced from the kitchen with two plates of sweet and spicy, but not too spicy for children, Whazzapian food and two sets of cutlery. But as his focus was completely on the kitchen and making something to eat, he had not realized that none of the tables were actually available. He also just now realized his PET was on a small pile of documents. He walked over to the kids on the couch and held out the plates to them. "I tried to make something good for dinner," he said, "You can keep the plate on your lap to eat, but..." He stopped for a moment, looked at the table and then back at the children, "You can also remove any of the documents to make place for yourself." With this said he handed the plates to the children with the cutlery on the sides of the plate, then picked up his PET to place it somewhere that wasn't a table.
Eventually he placed the PET vertically against the wall, while Djinni and Oasis sat on the top side of it. "So now what?" Djinni asked.
"We're just going to enjoy our meals," Na'im said, smiled at her and returned to the kids. "Also... When Burt appears..." he started as he brought his face closer to theirs, "Don't give him any." With those words he returned to the kitchen again, but stopped halfway and turned his face towards the kids. "Enjoy the meal. I am from Whazzap." At the kitchen again he took his own plate of food and decided to sit by the kids so they could talk. In a way it would've been nice if Burt would never show up.
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The kids watched Na'im in awe as he worked some sort of Whazzapian magic on the kitchen, like their very own fairy godfather. Jerry looked away for a moment to pull a PET out of her shorts pocket and place it next to Djinni's, then scampered to the door frame to watch Burt's friend work, peeking out slightly from behind it and keeping a curious and wary frown.
The PET she had taken out contained Exorcist and co.; despite being charged with the care of the kids, they'd been placed aside and forgotten about. The group didn't project out as holograms, but did hear Djinni's voice. "Djinni! That means Na'im is already here. Now that I listen, I think I can hear him... laughing," Exorcist claimed, deciding that it sounded better than "cackling."
"Are those navis old friends of yours?" Mary asked her sister in Counterinfectualism.
"Yes, although the other girl is an SP. I'm not actually familiar with the male yet. Bhikkhuni got along pretty well with Djinni and Fhyre, as I recall! Although the girl looks different than I remember," Exorcist responded. "They're powerful and reliable friends."
"Counterinfectualists?" Mary inquired, more out of curiosity than actual concern.
"... Probably not?" Exorcist sighed, unsure is anyone they'd ever explained the religion to could be labeled a believer any further than by virtue of Burt's optimism. "Anyway, it's good to hear your voice, Djinni. I was just speaking with Mary, who has joined the cause of Counterinfectualism since we last met."
-----
Jerry nor Joey had ever had curry before, but the two of them accepted it eagerly and plopped down at the table, using Burt's theories and divine inspirations as coasters for their plates and drinks. "Careful, Joey! It's super-!" Jerry started, surprised by the heat of the food. Joey was already shoveling through it, however, with the same ironclad stomach that allowed him to consume so much of Burt's writing. "... Don't worry, I don't think there will be any for Burt when he gets down here anyway..."
"Attention! Your attention please, little ones! I present to you your new-!" a young girl's voice rang out from somewhere in the house. It shut off once the voice's owner realized that the kids she was looking for were no longer seated at the couch. "Jerry? Joey?"
"In the kitchen!" Jerry exclaimed in a voice that reverberated through the open area.
"Uncle Butt's friend fixed us...! Uh... Hurry n'rice with spices!" Joey shouted, not wanting to be left out.
An unfamiliar face peeked into the room, wearing a confused expression and giant, circular glasses with swirls that only made her look more confused. Her rusty orange-red hair was tied into two twisted braids that bobbed like thick, backwards antennae as she looked in. She was clad in a ridiculously long greenish tye-dye shirt and a twisted white headband. Her feet were bare and although she might be about 3/4 of a decade older than Jerry, she was no taller. "Who's that?" she asked, adjusting her glasses with one hand while keeping a thin, plastic-bound book pressed to her chest.
From around the corner emerged a complete stranger, dressed in a black suit with a starched white collar and dark gold tie. His feet were clad in shiny black shoes rather than slippers and his long, shining black hair was drawn back into a ponytail, rather than hanging loose. He looked a little confused at first, but a combination of the half-oval spectacles he wore and the stupid grin on his face revealed his identity. "Na'im, buddy! I hope you brought that tasty, red-hot angel of a navi with you!" Burt exclaimed, then embraced his friend in a hug that smelled of shampoo and decent hygiene, as opposed to weeks of unwashed filth and masturbation.
"Wow, did you clean this all up yourself? We really double-teamed this house!" the little girl cheered. "I'm Flo, nice to meet you! I'm Burt's mistress!"
"I still don't believe you!" Jerry called back from the table.
Burt smiled and said nothing, perhaps because he could neither lie nor tell the truth without incriminating himself in some fashion. He stepped back, then patted his friend's shoulders. "Are you ready for another Djinni/ Exxy rendezvous? This is gonna be a good one, I can feel it!" he inquired, raising both eyebrows expectantly.
While this was going on, Flo grabbed up the fast food and moved it off the table quickly, as if worried someone would see it and the illusion of a happy family with a good friend would be lessened. "Are you guys going to do a little operating? Sounds awesome! I love seeing Counterinfectualists in action!" Flo exclaimed.
"Me too!" Burt cheered, gladly allowing his friend to be lumped in with his cult. He seemed utterly and genuinely unconcerned now about the girl who had broken into his house and whatever had caused him to be so urgent over the e-mail. "I'll put in a mission request right now. It'll be just like old times!"
The PET she had taken out contained Exorcist and co.; despite being charged with the care of the kids, they'd been placed aside and forgotten about. The group didn't project out as holograms, but did hear Djinni's voice. "Djinni! That means Na'im is already here. Now that I listen, I think I can hear him... laughing," Exorcist claimed, deciding that it sounded better than "cackling."
"Are those navis old friends of yours?" Mary asked her sister in Counterinfectualism.
"Yes, although the other girl is an SP. I'm not actually familiar with the male yet. Bhikkhuni got along pretty well with Djinni and Fhyre, as I recall! Although the girl looks different than I remember," Exorcist responded. "They're powerful and reliable friends."
"Counterinfectualists?" Mary inquired, more out of curiosity than actual concern.
"... Probably not?" Exorcist sighed, unsure is anyone they'd ever explained the religion to could be labeled a believer any further than by virtue of Burt's optimism. "Anyway, it's good to hear your voice, Djinni. I was just speaking with Mary, who has joined the cause of Counterinfectualism since we last met."
-----
Jerry nor Joey had ever had curry before, but the two of them accepted it eagerly and plopped down at the table, using Burt's theories and divine inspirations as coasters for their plates and drinks. "Careful, Joey! It's super-!" Jerry started, surprised by the heat of the food. Joey was already shoveling through it, however, with the same ironclad stomach that allowed him to consume so much of Burt's writing. "... Don't worry, I don't think there will be any for Burt when he gets down here anyway..."
"Attention! Your attention please, little ones! I present to you your new-!" a young girl's voice rang out from somewhere in the house. It shut off once the voice's owner realized that the kids she was looking for were no longer seated at the couch. "Jerry? Joey?"
"In the kitchen!" Jerry exclaimed in a voice that reverberated through the open area.
"Uncle Butt's friend fixed us...! Uh... Hurry n'rice with spices!" Joey shouted, not wanting to be left out.
An unfamiliar face peeked into the room, wearing a confused expression and giant, circular glasses with swirls that only made her look more confused. Her rusty orange-red hair was tied into two twisted braids that bobbed like thick, backwards antennae as she looked in. She was clad in a ridiculously long greenish tye-dye shirt and a twisted white headband. Her feet were bare and although she might be about 3/4 of a decade older than Jerry, she was no taller. "Who's that?" she asked, adjusting her glasses with one hand while keeping a thin, plastic-bound book pressed to her chest.
From around the corner emerged a complete stranger, dressed in a black suit with a starched white collar and dark gold tie. His feet were clad in shiny black shoes rather than slippers and his long, shining black hair was drawn back into a ponytail, rather than hanging loose. He looked a little confused at first, but a combination of the half-oval spectacles he wore and the stupid grin on his face revealed his identity. "Na'im, buddy! I hope you brought that tasty, red-hot angel of a navi with you!" Burt exclaimed, then embraced his friend in a hug that smelled of shampoo and decent hygiene, as opposed to weeks of unwashed filth and masturbation.
"Wow, did you clean this all up yourself? We really double-teamed this house!" the little girl cheered. "I'm Flo, nice to meet you! I'm Burt's mistress!"
"I still don't believe you!" Jerry called back from the table.
Burt smiled and said nothing, perhaps because he could neither lie nor tell the truth without incriminating himself in some fashion. He stepped back, then patted his friend's shoulders. "Are you ready for another Djinni/ Exxy rendezvous? This is gonna be a good one, I can feel it!" he inquired, raising both eyebrows expectantly.
While this was going on, Flo grabbed up the fast food and moved it off the table quickly, as if worried someone would see it and the illusion of a happy family with a good friend would be lessened. "Are you guys going to do a little operating? Sounds awesome! I love seeing Counterinfectualists in action!" Flo exclaimed.
"Me too!" Burt cheered, gladly allowing his friend to be lumped in with his cult. He seemed utterly and genuinely unconcerned now about the girl who had broken into his house and whatever had caused him to be so urgent over the e-mail. "I'll put in a mission request right now. It'll be just like old times!"
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"It's good to hear you too," Djinni exclaimed at Exorcist, after standing up and balancing herself properly on the vertically challenged PET, "Say we haven't seen your Operator yet! Where is he?" Right as Djinni asked this, she saw a man and a woman pass her vision on their way to the kitchen. Despite seeing them, she continued shouting at Exorcist. "You think he's still upstairs?"
Oasis had climbed his way onto Djinni and had her arms around Djinni's neck while hanging from Djinni's back. She just remained quiet and peeked at the PET over Djinni's shoulder. Szand, on the other hand, noticed the voice and got out of sight nonchalantly whether it was holographic image or on the PET's screen.
But while the Navi groups had new faces to introduce, the Operator group had new faces too and frankly, Na'im was confused. Many things confused him about this scenario. Burt looking like a decent male human being. Flo had a weird cute charm about her, but why was a girl like her so clingy around Burt. What was with the use of 'mistress' in their sentences. Jerry didn't seem to like Flo a lot. What was counterinfectionalism again. Why was Djinni considered tasty. It was a good thing Na'im's eyes were almost permanently in a squinted state or he would've had a really confused look on his face.
Realizing he must've looked like he was in a trance, he finally opened his mouth, "Ah, I apologize. I had something on my mind." Was he going to ignore the presence of this Flo and commence hanging out with Burt? He turned his eyes to Flo and smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Flo. I'm sure being Burt's mistress must be quite the chore, but I have worked as a maid once so I guess I can kind of understand the skill this requires."
He then turned to Burt and smiled again. With his 'friend' looking like this, he seemed to have no issues in actually considering him a friend and to be seen with him in places. "It's good to see you," Na'im said, adding 'like this' in his mind, "I hope you picked a good movie for this get-together. Or maybe Flo knows a good movie?" The presence of Flo still puzzled him, but maybe he just had to consider her as, say, Burt's girlfriend. Eventually he decided to trap himself in the delusion that the Burt he knew was all a dream and this 'new Burt' was the actual Burt. He just smiled and held his hand out to the living room. "But let us not keep our Navis waiting. Just as us, I'm sure they'd like to see each other again."
Oasis had climbed his way onto Djinni and had her arms around Djinni's neck while hanging from Djinni's back. She just remained quiet and peeked at the PET over Djinni's shoulder. Szand, on the other hand, noticed the voice and got out of sight nonchalantly whether it was holographic image or on the PET's screen.
But while the Navi groups had new faces to introduce, the Operator group had new faces too and frankly, Na'im was confused. Many things confused him about this scenario. Burt looking like a decent male human being. Flo had a weird cute charm about her, but why was a girl like her so clingy around Burt. What was with the use of 'mistress' in their sentences. Jerry didn't seem to like Flo a lot. What was counterinfectionalism again. Why was Djinni considered tasty. It was a good thing Na'im's eyes were almost permanently in a squinted state or he would've had a really confused look on his face.
Realizing he must've looked like he was in a trance, he finally opened his mouth, "Ah, I apologize. I had something on my mind." Was he going to ignore the presence of this Flo and commence hanging out with Burt? He turned his eyes to Flo and smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Flo. I'm sure being Burt's mistress must be quite the chore, but I have worked as a maid once so I guess I can kind of understand the skill this requires."
He then turned to Burt and smiled again. With his 'friend' looking like this, he seemed to have no issues in actually considering him a friend and to be seen with him in places. "It's good to see you," Na'im said, adding 'like this' in his mind, "I hope you picked a good movie for this get-together. Or maybe Flo knows a good movie?" The presence of Flo still puzzled him, but maybe he just had to consider her as, say, Burt's girlfriend. Eventually he decided to trap himself in the delusion that the Burt he knew was all a dream and this 'new Burt' was the actual Burt. He just smiled and held his hand out to the living room. "But let us not keep our Navis waiting. Just as us, I'm sure they'd like to see each other again."
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"Charmed!" Flo responded, doing a curtsey with her long shirt. She didn't seem to care to debate his understanding of the word "mistress," as if the title really held no meaning for her. Burt didn't seem to care either.
"Oh, a movie?! Terrific, I thought you were going to back out! Alright, before we start, I ought to ask: are you a 2D or a 3D guy? And next, I don't know your culture of anything, but what do you consider 'legal age?' Like, is it okay if they just say they're 18 or is it one of those things where if you know they're 17, it-?" Burt rambled on. Apparently, beneath the creamy, pristine exterior, the same old Burt was still lying in wait.
Realizing he was getting out if line, Flo gave a massive, throaty, rumbling cough, one that seemed like it must be coming from a large man rather than a little girl. There was a loud sound like a microphone being tuned just wrong, then silence. "Burt, why don't we let the kids choose?" she asked, continuing as if nothing had happened.
Before Burt could protest, Joey shot off the couch. "DimensionFriends Versus the Rouge Elephant!" he exclaimed, raising both hands.
"Okay, fine! Na'im, buddy, this is like the sixteenth time I've had to watch this movie with him cause he always gets scared when Drakkas comes on screen. You get a pretty good look at DimensionGirl's butt all the time though and there's like... a brother and sister who act like they're going to make out... but then they don't... kind of a letdown, but anyways, please, sit!"
Joey and Jerry each took either side of the sofa, wanting Na'im to sit between them. The other two sat down in a loveseat together, although they kept a respectable distance from each other. Burt grabbed up his PET and kicked up his feet, making it clear that Joey was going to have to pet up the TV himself; thankfully, he didn't object. "How's it shaking, Exxy? Did you speak with the Djinni bunch?" he inquired.
"Just a little. We can catch up more later, but for now, I'm eager to do the work of Counterinfectualism," she responded, although and seemed a little preoccupied.. probably with her own questions about Burt's mistress... As a matter of fact, she had the sense it was all a little fishy, even Na'im's sudden arrival.
"Just jack in to my mini-fridge there and we'll head over to the mission board," Burt suggested, calling attention to the tiny refrigerator next to the couch, shoved under a side table where it just barely fit. In the background, the booming narrator's voice announced that DimensionFriends Versus the Rogue Element was beginning. Burt just stared at his PET, as if intentionally trying to dissuade Na'im from asking any questions.
"Oh, a movie?! Terrific, I thought you were going to back out! Alright, before we start, I ought to ask: are you a 2D or a 3D guy? And next, I don't know your culture of anything, but what do you consider 'legal age?' Like, is it okay if they just say they're 18 or is it one of those things where if you know they're 17, it-?" Burt rambled on. Apparently, beneath the creamy, pristine exterior, the same old Burt was still lying in wait.
Realizing he was getting out if line, Flo gave a massive, throaty, rumbling cough, one that seemed like it must be coming from a large man rather than a little girl. There was a loud sound like a microphone being tuned just wrong, then silence. "Burt, why don't we let the kids choose?" she asked, continuing as if nothing had happened.
Before Burt could protest, Joey shot off the couch. "DimensionFriends Versus the Rouge Elephant!" he exclaimed, raising both hands.
"Okay, fine! Na'im, buddy, this is like the sixteenth time I've had to watch this movie with him cause he always gets scared when Drakkas comes on screen. You get a pretty good look at DimensionGirl's butt all the time though and there's like... a brother and sister who act like they're going to make out... but then they don't... kind of a letdown, but anyways, please, sit!"
Joey and Jerry each took either side of the sofa, wanting Na'im to sit between them. The other two sat down in a loveseat together, although they kept a respectable distance from each other. Burt grabbed up his PET and kicked up his feet, making it clear that Joey was going to have to pet up the TV himself; thankfully, he didn't object. "How's it shaking, Exxy? Did you speak with the Djinni bunch?" he inquired.
"Just a little. We can catch up more later, but for now, I'm eager to do the work of Counterinfectualism," she responded, although and seemed a little preoccupied.. probably with her own questions about Burt's mistress... As a matter of fact, she had the sense it was all a little fishy, even Na'im's sudden arrival.
"Just jack in to my mini-fridge there and we'll head over to the mission board," Burt suggested, calling attention to the tiny refrigerator next to the couch, shoved under a side table where it just barely fit. In the background, the booming narrator's voice announced that DimensionFriends Versus the Rogue Element was beginning. Burt just stared at his PET, as if intentionally trying to dissuade Na'im from asking any questions.
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Burt had finished up the day with Na'im while paying relatively little attention to his SP; they'd had to jump out of the mission partway, which Exorcist was feeling bitter about. Flo had been insistent, however; something was bothering her and it had amazed Burt, his navi, and his SPs at just how forceful she could be about getting her way. "This won't work," she notified Burt, adjusting her glasses with one hand and pointing an accusatory finger at her supposed lover with another.
Na'im had just vanished (literally vanished, possibly via magic) and Burt was already missing him. It was actually hard to say who was missing him more: Burt or his niece and nephew, who had been recipients of his friendship, warmth, and above-average curry. "C'moooooon," Burt groaned, sinking into his couch in front of the TV with a beer in one hand and the other on the crotch of his nice suit, which was being not so discretely adjusted. "I tried really hard, okay!? Na'im didn't seem as grossed out as usual, either! Until he disappeared, I mean. But he probably just had somewhere to be! See, I realized today that he's actually some sort of magic-man, or shaman, or maybe like a witch-doctor, so he's probably got all kinds of places to-"
"Not even the point!" Flo sighed, throwing up her hands.
"No fighting!" Joey pitched in, throwing his hands up as well, which didn't actually added enough to his height to put them over Flo's head for a moment.
"Sorry Joey," she smiled, before rubbing his head in an overly familiar gesture that his sister, Jerry, resisted. Burt didn't get a head-pat. "I'm just saying that if you really want to give me something we can use to prove to Mr. Justice... or at least the court... that you're not such a terrible person, you're going to have to try harder! You were acting like a perv all throughout that mission and you just sat around while Na'im and I cleaned up your house! I need you to do some actual good, somehow, and I need you to not act like such a creep while you do it!"
"H-Hey! You're my mistress, don't lecture me," Burt grumbled, wondering if other guys had to put up with the same sort of lip from women who mysteriously entered their homes and started professing to be their paramours. "What do you think I should do then, huh?"
"The only thing you seem to be any good at, I'd say."
"Well, we haven't actually done that part yet, hm hm hm. Let's not talk about it in front of the kids, though," Burt smiled, wiggling his eyebrows behind his oval-shaped glasses. When she didn't look amused (nor did the kids), he tried another stab. "You want me to go to the university and teach? Fine, but even if I'm doing the best religious studies teaching in the world- which I am, since I'm teaching the only worthwhile religion in the world- those kids will never acknowledge me! They'll make me look like a huge dou- er, dummy," he whined, pulling his punches slightly in the presence of his adopted family.
"Maybe if you'd just teach class like you used to, that would work. But you don't, so it won't," Flo disagreed, shaking her head. "More accurately, I should probably say what Exorcist and her company are good at: helping others. If you spend some time operating them and really pay attention this time, and try not to act like a total di- er, dummy, then maybe I'll have something good enough to show off!"
"Fine, fine! You want to see benevolence? Altruism? Geniality and goodwill towards my fellow man? Consider this: I'm a prophet! I brought the word of Counterinfectualism to man! I'm like uh... Jesus or Prometheus or one of those other fakers people think actually accomplished something, only difference being my stuff is real! What could I possibly do for humanity that's any greater than that?!" the professor ranted egotistically; he was cleaned up physically, but otherwise just as foul as ever. "Fine, fine! Pbfffft!" he blew a raspberry, perhaps making him the only divine prophet ever to have done so. "It'll be like when Jesus just palled around with all of those sinners and whatever. I'll lend a helping hand through the GNA, even though I highly doubt the recipient of my gift will be worthy of Exorcist's presence!"
Exorcist decided to interject here herself, trapping Burt in a pincer attack between women with better attitudes than his own. "You taught me Counterinfectualism isn't about worthiness, though! Anything in a person's worse nature is a result of the evil that's crystallizing all over the net, right? E-Even yours, maybe!" she started strongly, then tapered off into a whisper at the last part.
"What was that?"
"Even... Mary's maybe!" she corrected. Mary smiled and nodded, indicating that perhaps that theory for her behavior was as good as any. "Besides, I know what a great operator you are! The whole net needs to see that too. And when they see it, Miss Gladhammer will have what she needs to present to Mister Justice too!"
That show of optimism from his navi was just what Burt needed to lift his spirits. "You're right! Let's give the whole net the gift of your heavenly body!" he cried, raising one fist. Exorcist shook her head rapidly and babbled protest, to show that she didn't agree with that phrasing. "Hm hm hm! Don't be modest! Whoever we end up helping will be just as eager to see your full splendor as I am, indubitably! But we'll deny them that pleasure because, what the hell man, don't be a perv." With that hypocritical thought, Burt jacked his navi and SPs into the net (via his TV, which seemed decent a place as any) to search for someone to extend a helping hand to.
Na'im had just vanished (literally vanished, possibly via magic) and Burt was already missing him. It was actually hard to say who was missing him more: Burt or his niece and nephew, who had been recipients of his friendship, warmth, and above-average curry. "C'moooooon," Burt groaned, sinking into his couch in front of the TV with a beer in one hand and the other on the crotch of his nice suit, which was being not so discretely adjusted. "I tried really hard, okay!? Na'im didn't seem as grossed out as usual, either! Until he disappeared, I mean. But he probably just had somewhere to be! See, I realized today that he's actually some sort of magic-man, or shaman, or maybe like a witch-doctor, so he's probably got all kinds of places to-"
"Not even the point!" Flo sighed, throwing up her hands.
"No fighting!" Joey pitched in, throwing his hands up as well, which didn't actually added enough to his height to put them over Flo's head for a moment.
"Sorry Joey," she smiled, before rubbing his head in an overly familiar gesture that his sister, Jerry, resisted. Burt didn't get a head-pat. "I'm just saying that if you really want to give me something we can use to prove to Mr. Justice... or at least the court... that you're not such a terrible person, you're going to have to try harder! You were acting like a perv all throughout that mission and you just sat around while Na'im and I cleaned up your house! I need you to do some actual good, somehow, and I need you to not act like such a creep while you do it!"
"H-Hey! You're my mistress, don't lecture me," Burt grumbled, wondering if other guys had to put up with the same sort of lip from women who mysteriously entered their homes and started professing to be their paramours. "What do you think I should do then, huh?"
"The only thing you seem to be any good at, I'd say."
"Well, we haven't actually done that part yet, hm hm hm. Let's not talk about it in front of the kids, though," Burt smiled, wiggling his eyebrows behind his oval-shaped glasses. When she didn't look amused (nor did the kids), he tried another stab. "You want me to go to the university and teach? Fine, but even if I'm doing the best religious studies teaching in the world- which I am, since I'm teaching the only worthwhile religion in the world- those kids will never acknowledge me! They'll make me look like a huge dou- er, dummy," he whined, pulling his punches slightly in the presence of his adopted family.
"Maybe if you'd just teach class like you used to, that would work. But you don't, so it won't," Flo disagreed, shaking her head. "More accurately, I should probably say what Exorcist and her company are good at: helping others. If you spend some time operating them and really pay attention this time, and try not to act like a total di- er, dummy, then maybe I'll have something good enough to show off!"
"Fine, fine! You want to see benevolence? Altruism? Geniality and goodwill towards my fellow man? Consider this: I'm a prophet! I brought the word of Counterinfectualism to man! I'm like uh... Jesus or Prometheus or one of those other fakers people think actually accomplished something, only difference being my stuff is real! What could I possibly do for humanity that's any greater than that?!" the professor ranted egotistically; he was cleaned up physically, but otherwise just as foul as ever. "Fine, fine! Pbfffft!" he blew a raspberry, perhaps making him the only divine prophet ever to have done so. "It'll be like when Jesus just palled around with all of those sinners and whatever. I'll lend a helping hand through the GNA, even though I highly doubt the recipient of my gift will be worthy of Exorcist's presence!"
Exorcist decided to interject here herself, trapping Burt in a pincer attack between women with better attitudes than his own. "You taught me Counterinfectualism isn't about worthiness, though! Anything in a person's worse nature is a result of the evil that's crystallizing all over the net, right? E-Even yours, maybe!" she started strongly, then tapered off into a whisper at the last part.
"What was that?"
"Even... Mary's maybe!" she corrected. Mary smiled and nodded, indicating that perhaps that theory for her behavior was as good as any. "Besides, I know what a great operator you are! The whole net needs to see that too. And when they see it, Miss Gladhammer will have what she needs to present to Mister Justice too!"
That show of optimism from his navi was just what Burt needed to lift his spirits. "You're right! Let's give the whole net the gift of your heavenly body!" he cried, raising one fist. Exorcist shook her head rapidly and babbled protest, to show that she didn't agree with that phrasing. "Hm hm hm! Don't be modest! Whoever we end up helping will be just as eager to see your full splendor as I am, indubitably! But we'll deny them that pleasure because, what the hell man, don't be a perv." With that hypocritical thought, Burt jacked his navi and SPs into the net (via his TV, which seemed decent a place as any) to search for someone to extend a helping hand to.
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Very soon after Burt had jacked his navi into the television, he pulled her back out again. "Welp, folks, I've got to relocate. It's the evening and I," he paused, slicking his already slick hair and adjusting his coat, "have a date!" Of course, what he had was really more of a meet-up, but in his mind it was already a date. "The lovely Miss Regina and me! We'll bond over drinks and then when it's all over we can finish up at her place," he boasted, regardless of the children in the room and his supposed mistress.
Flo lowered her eyebrows behind her giant, circular-framed glasses. "Uh... So, are we coming?" she asked. "You know you don't have all the time in the world to do appease Mr. Justice. If you don't, then you could lose... everything." Her words carried gravity, but as usual, Burt was ready to deflect.
"Look, calm down, alright? The proof's in the pudding! If Exxy and the girls do a good job, we'll have it all documented on the GNA responses and all that. It'll prove what a great person I am!" he explained, placing both hands on his hips and grinning contentedly. "My disciples act for my religion, after all! Their good work is my good work. So that means that while my navis are on the clock, I can get Miss Regina on my c-" he started, pausing with a lewd face and looking to his niece and nephew. He thought the better of his rhyme. "I can knock back a few drinks with her, is what I meant. Anyway, I'm off to do that! You three enjoy your movie night!"
"Now, wait! The last thing you need to do while you're in Justice's crosshairs is to go out, get hammered, and neglect your adopted kids!" Flo protested, but Burt was already on his way out. Since she couldn't stop him physically, she urged the kids to follow her instead. "Rrrgh! Well, I'm driving you to and from the plane station, anyway! The last thing... well, the other last thing... we need is you drunk driving."
"Huh? You're old enough to drive?" Burt asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, stupid! I'm only a little younger than you," she murmured, looking unamused. "And what... did you think you were getting a mistress that wasn't driving age? Wait wait wait, hold on-"
"Ha ha ha, uh, right! That was just a joke! See, that's something good people do, make funny jokes!" he joked in a non-good way, as the four made their way to his old car, the low evening sun casting shades of orange and gray across the surroundings. "Wait... plane? Oh right, it's in Netopia. I guess even if I'm a prophet, I still can't walk across the ocean."
((Heading to Electown))
Flo lowered her eyebrows behind her giant, circular-framed glasses. "Uh... So, are we coming?" she asked. "You know you don't have all the time in the world to do appease Mr. Justice. If you don't, then you could lose... everything." Her words carried gravity, but as usual, Burt was ready to deflect.
"Look, calm down, alright? The proof's in the pudding! If Exxy and the girls do a good job, we'll have it all documented on the GNA responses and all that. It'll prove what a great person I am!" he explained, placing both hands on his hips and grinning contentedly. "My disciples act for my religion, after all! Their good work is my good work. So that means that while my navis are on the clock, I can get Miss Regina on my c-" he started, pausing with a lewd face and looking to his niece and nephew. He thought the better of his rhyme. "I can knock back a few drinks with her, is what I meant. Anyway, I'm off to do that! You three enjoy your movie night!"
"Now, wait! The last thing you need to do while you're in Justice's crosshairs is to go out, get hammered, and neglect your adopted kids!" Flo protested, but Burt was already on his way out. Since she couldn't stop him physically, she urged the kids to follow her instead. "Rrrgh! Well, I'm driving you to and from the plane station, anyway! The last thing... well, the other last thing... we need is you drunk driving."
"Huh? You're old enough to drive?" Burt asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, stupid! I'm only a little younger than you," she murmured, looking unamused. "And what... did you think you were getting a mistress that wasn't driving age? Wait wait wait, hold on-"
"Ha ha ha, uh, right! That was just a joke! See, that's something good people do, make funny jokes!" he joked in a non-good way, as the four made their way to his old car, the low evening sun casting shades of orange and gray across the surroundings. "Wait... plane? Oh right, it's in Netopia. I guess even if I'm a prophet, I still can't walk across the ocean."
((Heading to Electown))
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"Look, we got paid, right? That means my navis showed how good they are! By extension, Counterinfectualism, by extension, me! Exorcist proved how good I am! It was basically like I was there, beating up those navi slave traffickers with Exxy and Mary! It's like I was really there with Bhikkhuni, when she... nah, maybe not that part," the man of the household mused, adjusting his glasses and smirking with fond memories, before resuming a tone of outrage. "That means I proved how good I am and Georgie Boy can call the whole thing off, riiiight?!"
"It doesn't," Flo complained, lowering her eyebrows. She was still in the same foul mood she had been since Burt's date.
"Come ooon! Have a heart! Have some pity! My date dumped me! I'm at my lowest low right now!" he complained, stamping his feet like a child and ignoring the sighs of his children. "But you know what'll cheer me up? A gift!"
Flo raised her eyebrows, as if checking whether he honestly expected her to get him a gift. She was trying to be a good mistress, after all, so if she had to...
"And by that, I mean a new disciple! This one is a believer in Counterintectualism and all she had to do was read our manifesto! Comes from a Hindu monastery or something. That's kinda neat, huh? Maybe she's a cutie like Veda! Though I wouldn't mind if she was a little more, you know, hehehe..." he murmured, making orb like fondling motions at his chest. He glanced around the room with a grin on his face, searching for someone who would share his enthusiasm for the subject. He found no such person.
"Let's not be rude to Veda. She ended up in a pretty unfortunate spot on that mission," Exorcist spoke up from the PET, recalling how Veda had been EJO'd early into their adventure by colliding at high speed with some vendor's stall... then Regina had been too upset with Burt to stick around. She turned her attention to happier thoughts. "Tell me about the new disciple, though!" Exorcist wasn't always pleased with Mary and Bhikkhuni's questionable dedication to their sworn religion, but still, it was nice to have friends in any case. Past precedence indicated that she should approach this newcomer with cautious optimism.
"You didn't pick based on the picture again, did you?" Bhikkhuni added. "Cause let's not forget how I pulled one over on you!" She sounded pleased with her trickery, ignorant of her indirect insult to herself. It was also questionable what she had really won anything in this arrangement.
"I'm telling ya, this one reached out to me! No picture, but ya just know she's a hottie, cause I'm like... two for three so far! Though, little cone-head here moved herself up to at least .5 a hottie with her performance in that last mission," he chuckled, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his long nose and smiling meaningfully. Exorcist gave a small sigh of confusion while Bhikkhuni fought him back on topic. "Alright, alright! Her name is Yajna and she's a torch carrier, uses mantras and stuff to power up her allies. Everybody needs someone like that in their religion, right?" he asked, as though powering up was normal for most religions. "She sounds a little fuzzy on the details; she calls the evil spirits 'Ashura', nyehehe! Being all confused like that is kinda cute in it's own way."
"I see.." Exorcist murmured, crossing her robe sleeves and recalling what she knew of Hinduism from her studies. So far, the ally sounded ideal, from the standpoint of battle effectiveness and the alignment of their beliefs with Counterinfectualism. Part of her wanted to ask "so what's the catch?" but it would be rude to her allies to do so. Instead, she kept a positive tone. "I'm excited! When do we get to meet her?"
"... Well, I mean... She's already in the PET. Did you not see her?" Burt questioned.
The others looked around the net space in confusion, before spotting the alit torch of their ally's helmet; Bhikkhuni and Exorcist jumped back in alarm at the sight of fire, holding tightly to one another, before slowly calming down. The unfamiliar girl, Yajna, was just standing still, watching them with an expression that showed no amusement or severity. Exorcist thought she looked rather solemn. Bhikkhuni thought she looked either bored or dumb. Mary thought she looked well hidden by her robe. Having been quiet so far, the latter of the three spoke up. "Welcome! It's nice to meet someone I have an elemental advantage over for once, hm hm," the nun joked harmlessly. "Which means there's no problem if I get you wet, right?" she continued, lewdly.
"Ha ha ha. Sounds like you all are getting along!" Burt chortled.
Exorcist turned her head to one side to glance over her shoulder, with the look in her conveying "are we?" Yajna hadn't said a word yet. "I-it's good to meet you, Yajna. I'm happy you've already taken to our religion," she greeted her ally with a short bow.
"Yes. It seems favorable," the other girl answered in a low murmur. Under her breath, she seemed to be whispering additional mantra... boredly.
"Do you have any hobbies?" Bhikkhuni asked with marked dryness, sounding like a kid at a church group her parents had forced her to go to.
"Not really... I suppose... Prayer," the girl answered plainly, staring at Bhikkhuni with unchanging eyes. "I enjoy performing puja and various rituals... the burning of incense... burning of ritual tokens, often via Yajna, my namesake... the lighting of aarti..." she spoke quietly, finally managing a small smile as she gave her list. Exorcist thought to herself that it seemed like a very spiritual, impressive list of prayer rituals, privately wishing that Counterinfectualism placed that much- or really, any- value in prayer.
"And your preferences?" Mary jumped in, smiling sweetly.
"... Ablaze," the girl murmured, then went back fo humming mantras, as if she had said nothing strange.
"Excuse me?" Exorcist asked, with a face full of concern. "I don't think I heard correctly..."
A clap broke her train of thought. "Well! That was fun! Yes we learned a lot about how Yajna loves Counterinfectualism, likes all kinds of outdated Hindu crap, and is gay," Burt wrapped things up, unhelpfully.
"I think she said ablaze-"
"No, no, that's silly. I'll be looking forward to the gayness," Burt quashed that theory with a short shrug. "Now, you know what's a great bonding experience? Another mission!"
"Really?!" Bhikkhuni piped up indignantly. She was still getting over the excitement of the last one. Said excitement was the type that made one want to rest afterward.
"You can sit it out if you want, sheesh," Burt pouted, placing his hands on his hips and glaring into the PET. "But Exorcist and Mary want to get closer with Yajna! Right?"
"Right~" Mary cooed.
"R-right," Exorcist murmured, eyeing the fire on top of Yajna's helmet.
"Good! Off you go! Show me more Counterinfectualist goodness! Or like... if you can't find any opportunities to destroy evil spirits, at least find a good chance to prove we're great so we clear my name with Flo and this George guy, m'kay?" he requested, plopping lazily into his armchair for another session of busting.
With some trepidation, Exorcist nodded, wondering what secrets her mostly silent ally was hiding. The restless work of a Counterinfectualist didn't bother her... but she had some significant concerns about her new ally.
((Jacking in for mission board))
"It doesn't," Flo complained, lowering her eyebrows. She was still in the same foul mood she had been since Burt's date.
"Come ooon! Have a heart! Have some pity! My date dumped me! I'm at my lowest low right now!" he complained, stamping his feet like a child and ignoring the sighs of his children. "But you know what'll cheer me up? A gift!"
Flo raised her eyebrows, as if checking whether he honestly expected her to get him a gift. She was trying to be a good mistress, after all, so if she had to...
"And by that, I mean a new disciple! This one is a believer in Counterintectualism and all she had to do was read our manifesto! Comes from a Hindu monastery or something. That's kinda neat, huh? Maybe she's a cutie like Veda! Though I wouldn't mind if she was a little more, you know, hehehe..." he murmured, making orb like fondling motions at his chest. He glanced around the room with a grin on his face, searching for someone who would share his enthusiasm for the subject. He found no such person.
"Let's not be rude to Veda. She ended up in a pretty unfortunate spot on that mission," Exorcist spoke up from the PET, recalling how Veda had been EJO'd early into their adventure by colliding at high speed with some vendor's stall... then Regina had been too upset with Burt to stick around. She turned her attention to happier thoughts. "Tell me about the new disciple, though!" Exorcist wasn't always pleased with Mary and Bhikkhuni's questionable dedication to their sworn religion, but still, it was nice to have friends in any case. Past precedence indicated that she should approach this newcomer with cautious optimism.
"You didn't pick based on the picture again, did you?" Bhikkhuni added. "Cause let's not forget how I pulled one over on you!" She sounded pleased with her trickery, ignorant of her indirect insult to herself. It was also questionable what she had really won anything in this arrangement.
"I'm telling ya, this one reached out to me! No picture, but ya just know she's a hottie, cause I'm like... two for three so far! Though, little cone-head here moved herself up to at least .5 a hottie with her performance in that last mission," he chuckled, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his long nose and smiling meaningfully. Exorcist gave a small sigh of confusion while Bhikkhuni fought him back on topic. "Alright, alright! Her name is Yajna and she's a torch carrier, uses mantras and stuff to power up her allies. Everybody needs someone like that in their religion, right?" he asked, as though powering up was normal for most religions. "She sounds a little fuzzy on the details; she calls the evil spirits 'Ashura', nyehehe! Being all confused like that is kinda cute in it's own way."
"I see.." Exorcist murmured, crossing her robe sleeves and recalling what she knew of Hinduism from her studies. So far, the ally sounded ideal, from the standpoint of battle effectiveness and the alignment of their beliefs with Counterinfectualism. Part of her wanted to ask "so what's the catch?" but it would be rude to her allies to do so. Instead, she kept a positive tone. "I'm excited! When do we get to meet her?"
"... Well, I mean... She's already in the PET. Did you not see her?" Burt questioned.
The others looked around the net space in confusion, before spotting the alit torch of their ally's helmet; Bhikkhuni and Exorcist jumped back in alarm at the sight of fire, holding tightly to one another, before slowly calming down. The unfamiliar girl, Yajna, was just standing still, watching them with an expression that showed no amusement or severity. Exorcist thought she looked rather solemn. Bhikkhuni thought she looked either bored or dumb. Mary thought she looked well hidden by her robe. Having been quiet so far, the latter of the three spoke up. "Welcome! It's nice to meet someone I have an elemental advantage over for once, hm hm," the nun joked harmlessly. "Which means there's no problem if I get you wet, right?" she continued, lewdly.
"Ha ha ha. Sounds like you all are getting along!" Burt chortled.
Exorcist turned her head to one side to glance over her shoulder, with the look in her conveying "are we?" Yajna hadn't said a word yet. "I-it's good to meet you, Yajna. I'm happy you've already taken to our religion," she greeted her ally with a short bow.
"Yes. It seems favorable," the other girl answered in a low murmur. Under her breath, she seemed to be whispering additional mantra... boredly.
"Do you have any hobbies?" Bhikkhuni asked with marked dryness, sounding like a kid at a church group her parents had forced her to go to.
"Not really... I suppose... Prayer," the girl answered plainly, staring at Bhikkhuni with unchanging eyes. "I enjoy performing puja and various rituals... the burning of incense... burning of ritual tokens, often via Yajna, my namesake... the lighting of aarti..." she spoke quietly, finally managing a small smile as she gave her list. Exorcist thought to herself that it seemed like a very spiritual, impressive list of prayer rituals, privately wishing that Counterinfectualism placed that much- or really, any- value in prayer.
"And your preferences?" Mary jumped in, smiling sweetly.
"... Ablaze," the girl murmured, then went back fo humming mantras, as if she had said nothing strange.
"Excuse me?" Exorcist asked, with a face full of concern. "I don't think I heard correctly..."
A clap broke her train of thought. "Well! That was fun! Yes we learned a lot about how Yajna loves Counterinfectualism, likes all kinds of outdated Hindu crap, and is gay," Burt wrapped things up, unhelpfully.
"I think she said ablaze-"
"No, no, that's silly. I'll be looking forward to the gayness," Burt quashed that theory with a short shrug. "Now, you know what's a great bonding experience? Another mission!"
"Really?!" Bhikkhuni piped up indignantly. She was still getting over the excitement of the last one. Said excitement was the type that made one want to rest afterward.
"You can sit it out if you want, sheesh," Burt pouted, placing his hands on his hips and glaring into the PET. "But Exorcist and Mary want to get closer with Yajna! Right?"
"Right~" Mary cooed.
"R-right," Exorcist murmured, eyeing the fire on top of Yajna's helmet.
"Good! Off you go! Show me more Counterinfectualist goodness! Or like... if you can't find any opportunities to destroy evil spirits, at least find a good chance to prove we're great so we clear my name with Flo and this George guy, m'kay?" he requested, plopping lazily into his armchair for another session of busting.
With some trepidation, Exorcist nodded, wondering what secrets her mostly silent ally was hiding. The restless work of a Counterinfectualist didn't bother her... but she had some significant concerns about her new ally.
((Jacking in for mission board))