2nd Broken Illusion

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Action : Mayfield High : Open ]
[ Somehow, he has gotten himself cornered by some of the drone boys from his class, despite wanting to eat lunch in peace. He's just sitting at the end of the table, munching on his sandwich with a bored look on his face while the others yammer on about girls, sports, movies... whatever. Touma can't be bothered to even try to feign interest as he has way too much on his mind from last week's "adventure".

Maybe someone with something to say can save him? ]

---

[ Action : Neutron Diner : Open ]
[ All done with his obligations for the day, he heads into the diner. He isn't looking for anything in particular; he isn't even that hungry. But he had called Mikoto because he really needs to talk to someone about what's been going on. Touma doesn't know who else can be any closer to the center of this situation than him, and still be someone he can trust.

Guess there's one way to find out -- but he arrived really early, so there could still be time for distractions... ]

Comments

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

I'll worry about that when I get back home. [ Not "if". ] Right now, I've got to stay focused on the people who are here with me, and what this place can do.

[misakanetwork]

[Well, now this is slightly awkward. Misaka has never had to make small talk before, so she isn't exactly sure how too.

Especially when it comes to Touma.

Here's hoping he'll bring up a topic while she's waiting for her food.]

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Small talk? With Touma? Well, he can try, but the important topics pertaining to zombies and sisters and all that have already been covered. ] So, uh... other than all that, you're doing okay?

[webfreedomftw.livejournal.com]

[Estonia adjusts his glasses a little.]

Miles better than forced confessions of communistic beliefs again.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

--I really don't think you can compare those two events. [ Even if it doesn't sound like it was the first time. ]

[notawhale.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. You at least care to learn about that aspect, right?

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

Right. Especially as since people keep telling me I should keep my head down and not try to resist.

But after seeing what happens here, how could I ever do something like that?

[notawhale.livejournal.com]

Such the hero. Well, at least our captors are nice enough to give you unlimited lives.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ He winces. ] I don't plan on taking them up on that offer anytime soon.

[notawhale.livejournal.com]

But you also plan not to stick with caution.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

I plan on doing what it takes. [ Glancing about, to make sure no drones have edged back over their direction. ] That's why I signed up with Sanguinius and the others. To fight back.

[notawhale.livejournal.com]

Oh, so you're part of that group? I guess I'm not surprised.

What sort of skills do you offer?

[webfreedomftw.livejournal.com]

Well, perhaps not, but I for one have begun to think of the sporadic events -- sheer horror or otherwise -- here as each being individual demonstrations of the same thing. Perhaps a little less so with the zombies, since they seemed a little haphazard and poorly organized, but the rest of them, certainly.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

...you mean they could be related, and not just happening randomly and for no reason? In other words -- a pattern? [ It's ominous but, at the same time, that gives him hope since patterns can be figured out, and broken. ]

[webfreedomftw.livejournal.com]

Precisely. It's semi-regular, with an emphasis on American holidays, such as the Fourth of July. I've been doing my best to figure out what precisely the pattern is, but there's only so much the people who have been here longer than I have want to talk about the crap they've been through.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Touma can appreciate being quiet about things like that but, at the same time, if it could help... ] Did you try asking anonymously? I mean, traumatic events aren't easy to talk about, but if it could help figure this place out and look for a way to break the cycle, people might think it's worth it if it can't be traced back to them.

[ A pause. ] People can be forced to do things against their will here, right? So I'm thinking that people are scared of being judged. But something like that can't stop the hope of escaping.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

I can hold my own in a fight, and I know some pretty powerful people from back home who are here, too. [ Scarily so, as far as he's concerned. ] I don't really want to see them involved, or get hurt, but I know this town won't obey my wishes and they would probably be insistent, too.

[notawhale.livejournal.com]

That's a pretty vague answer.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

Are you thinking about joining up too, or something?

[webfreedomftw.livejournal.com]

I've considered it, but I'm so far lacking the dedication, or printer, that I would need to do a thorough census of individual histories here. I'm lucky enough to be fairly close friends with someone who has been here... far too long, so she's told me quite a bit. I don't want to pry when it comes to her, though. [Estonia is actually looking a little bit sheepish just thinking about her. And this is how you know his crush is pathetic.]

Although -- [He clears his throat.] -- people are judged for the things they've done regardless of the extenuating forces. I can imagine there are people paranoid enough to not write down what they've done, even anonymously.

[notawhale.livejournal.com]

I'm more interested in studying the results than throwing myself in the line of fire.

[No she's totally going to help out she just doesn't want to appear to be a good guy]

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Oblivious to the change in the boy's demeanor, because he can only focus on one thing. ] Giving up before you've tried? How hard can it be to get things printed? Sure, they might not take kids seriously, here, but there have to be some adults who want answers badly enough.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

Someone who seems to know as much as you about strange things, just a bystander? Sounds like a waste. [ Shrugging a shoulder. ] The results should be obvious to anyone. Either we succeed or we fail, but not trying is the worst thing to do.

[ And hey, is that the lunch bell? Touma looks off toward the buildings and sighs. ] --oh man, I didn't even get to finish my sandwich! What luck... [ Maybe if he stuffs it into his face really quickly? ]

[notawhale.livejournal.com]

I prefer "observer". I'm a scientist.

[Just a sigh as the bell rings. Oh well. She didn't really eat anything at all, but she usually doesn't.]

Later, hero.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ No time for that, he just wraps the sandwich back up and tucks it into his bag. With a bit of a smirk, he slings it over his shoulder and rises from the bench. ] Then have fun observing, "Dagger".

[ Two can play the nicknames game. At this point, he doesn't have time for introductions, so he jogs off after all those drone kids filing back into the buildings. ]