Touko Posts And Ideas. Maria's Too

"Oh, it's nothing special. It was a crumbling and shambling old wreck no one bothered to keep an eye on." Hm, she doesn't seem to mind the smoke that much. Touko

>Touko being an observer from several realities.
>Works as a Velvet Room Attendant for better observation.
>Once a kind of 'witch' who was able to 'look farther'.
>Uses puppets, demons (cath palug and abaddon), and runes.

Maria music.

"Eh? Oh! No, no, no no! It's not that. It's just... I j-just remembered something... Father Jorge needed me... I'll be right ba--"The smile felt almost artificial as it continued to remain on her face. She could begin to feel the cold sweat beading on the back of her neck. Her excuses were lackluster and there really wasn't much of a way out. She hurriedly began to stand onto her feet and swiftly begin her departure, as if to flee. But the moment she took a step, the Cadet fell to her knees with a hard slump. Then the rest of her body followed.


She groaned in pain while curling into a ball with the dome of her head touching the floor. Her teeth clenched together, as if threatening to break each other. Everything didn't feel right, nothing ever did. Brittany would notice black markings vein-like markings beginning to appear on her bare skin as her tattoos began to glow a concerning red... and the scent of blood beginning to waft from her as wounds began to slowly tear open. Maria couldn't even begin to move, but she began grasping towards the coffin she laid on the wall. Yet, no progress could be made when she couldn't even touch the cover from where she sprawled.

It was... pathetic. It took all she had to not scream from the pain as she began to writhe. Maria loathed to show this side to anyone, especially Brittany of all people. Brittany had her own worries. The worries of a normal person who didn't need anyone like the Psyche-Terrorists or the Cadets to taint it. But here she was, struggling to even get up and her friend of all people had to witness this sudden pathetic show of weakness. Why was this happening now of all times?


It hurt so much. Every nerve in her body burned in agony. She could feel the familiar vicious slashes that tore her open again and again and again in ad nauseam. After a moment of trying to do it all on her own, Maria pointed towards the coffin in defeat and hoped Brittany would be able to understand. Inside the coffin would be the secret the Cadet hoped she never needed to show to her friend. In the back of the cover was a kind of compartment that was easy to open and inside would be a case of full syringes...

Man, what a troublesome situation having to be the guy that has to explain it all. He sheepishly began to rub the back of his neck at first, as if deliberating whether to explain it to her or not. But if there was one thing he really appreciated, there actually was someone who really cared about her in this school. Jeez, if only the nurse was here. He gently began to pull out the habit from the coffin, at least to make her presentable despite all the blood that was on her body. Then he began to carry her aside from the small crimson puddle to wrap her in it. "Trust me, she'll be fine. She's... well, she's special. It doesn't look like you know, but Maria is a Cadet. Even then, she's a little special among them. Her condition is a result of her power."

Perhaps there was a reason why Maria never shared this. She was always the type who didn't want her friends and co-workers to show any concern for her. But that's not how it worked, because the opposite tends to happen anyway. It was always a worry with her, incessantly claiming that she was alright. But the reality said otherwise after every mission and in each night. Despite the strength she showed off, deep inside the nun was extremely vulnerable. Jorge spied a mop and bucket-wringer set nearby. He immediately went to work to clean up the mess to wipe away the crimson marks on the tiles. "I take it you're her friend at school? I'm glad, she never really has any in the Church."

Matthew 7:3

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-3.htm

Jorge quoting this to her about her wanting to save and help her Cadet teammates, most notably Cecilia. She can't help them if she can't help herself.

HP: 252
SP: 193
PEnd: 16%
MEnd: 16%
Ppstr: 114
Pmstr: 58
Dx: 53
Lk: 117

Skill 1: Regenerate 1 | Recovers 2% of max HP on each user turn | Passive | Tier 1

Skill 2: Charge Crush | Inflicts a moderate amount of Strike damage to one enemy. Skill does double damage against an enemy charging for an attack. | 13% HP | Tier 2

Skill 3: Arrow Rain | Inflicts a moderate amount of Pierce damage twice to all enemies. | 18% HP | Tier 2

Skill 4: Sukunda | Lowers one enemy's Agility by 30% for 3 turns. | 6 SP | Tier 2

Rank 5: Mediarahan | Recovers all HP to all allies. | 40 SP | Tier 3

Rank 6: Maziodyne | Inflicts a large amount of Electrical damage to all enemies. | 24 SP | Tier 3

Rank 7: Pralaya | Inflicts a massive amount of Pierce damage to all enemies with a 10% chance of inflicting the Fear ailment. | 25% HP | Tier 4

HP: 252
SP: 193
PEnd: 32%
MEnd: 32%
Ppstr: 114
Pmstr: 58
Dx: 53
Lk: 117


HP: 329
SP: 309
PEnd: 46%
MEnd: 46%
Ppstr: 149
Pmstr: 70
Dx: 65
Lk: 142

Skill 1: Regenerate 1 | Recovers 2% of max HP on each user turn | Passive | Tier 1

Skill 2: Charge Crush | Inflicts a moderate amount of Strike damage to one enemy. Skill does double damage against an enemy charging for an attack. | 13% HP | Tier 2

Skill 3: Arrow Rain | Inflicts a moderate amount of Pierce damage twice to all enemies. | 18% HP | Tier 2

Skill 4: Sukunda | Lowers one enemy's Agility by 30% for 3 turns. | 6 SP | Tier 2

Rank 5: Diarahan | Recovers all HP to one ally. | 20 SP | Tier 3

Rank 6: Maziodyne | Inflicts a large amount of Electrical damage to all enemies. | 24 SP | Tier 3

Rank 7: Riot Gun | Inflicts a massive amount of Gun damage to all foes. | 25% HP | Tier 4

Rank 8: Arms Master | Halves the HP cost for physical attack skills. | Passive | Tier 4

Constitution | Boosts Regeneration skills by 2%. | Passive | Tier 1

Armory Boost | Increases Physical damage output by 25%. | Passive | Tier 3

Black Keys | Inflicts a heavy amount of Slash damage to one enemy. Boosts the next physical attack by 40%, 60% instead when targeting demons. The boosts have a two turn cool-down when used. | 20% HP | Tier 3

Amalgamation Engine | Tension | Passive | Tier 4

It was a quiet morning just like any other day. Maria could hear the bustling activity in the Church. People of the cloth and laymen working about to set up for the next hours of daily religious service. She would be up and about, but there really wasn't any energy for it. Usually the Cadet could force herself into it, but she was listless. Not so much tired, but drained. Father Jorge initially told her to take the days off. After bringing successful mission after successful mission and taking the First Class rank, he was able to convince the Mother Superior to grant her such reprieve. But it felt... unearned, like a selfish privilege by nature. Yet, it was hard to get up with remembering what happened back at school.

The look on Brittany's face contorted into her sheer horror and the panic unnerved her. She laid her her back and then her head against the wall meeting her bed in quiet thought. When it really came to it, it was a bitter pill to swallow. As a Cadet and as an Executor, she resolved herself to be strong in the face of every adversity.

The Church was indeed dark and it was heavy with atmosphere from the sheer weight of its solemn silence. Mass was not in session at this time, which was obvious enough when the chapel lacked any activity nor any kind of lighting save for the rays passing through the colored stained glass windows. Even then, there were some candles with tiny embers flitting in place in honor of the holy Mother and her Beloved Son. Of course, there were others for Queen Isla's image as well. It seemed as if no one was present, save for--


The voice came from behind her, at least a good distance away. It belonged to a young man relatively taller than Brittany in what looked to be casual wear while holding onto a leather-bound book. Unlike the chapel's uninviting atmosphere, this person appeared friendlier than his environment. The very moment he was close enough to meet face-to-face in normal conversation, he introduced himself. "Welcome to the Sunlake Palms Church. We don't get a lot of visitors, probably because it's all spooky and Gothic here. Ha. So what do you need?"

"Very much so, more or less. At the same time, it was something necessary to keep her alive at the time or she would have died. As I said before, her circumstances were unfortunately in-line with what the Church needed." Jorge admitted, but not before raising an eyebrow at her. Man, it would be a good time for smoke just right about now. His fingers were feeling all twitchy from all of this. He wanted to feel more mellow of it all, but he figured Brittany wouldn't appreciate the reeking smell of burning tobacco. Instead, he opted to stand from his seat and walk back towards the stove when the tea kettle began to scream. It wouldn't be long until he returned with cups presumably with the tea he promised. "I once wondered about that for a very... very long time. I asked this question on many occasions. I even meditated and prayed on it. Perhaps, He deems it as a trial for them to overcome through her own will. Ever since my induction within the Church's ranks, I believed it is all the fault of Man's innate disgusting nature. Yet, we sought him out as our own custodian for our own failings and at our own struggles... Ridiculous. I can't say, really. For all of my efforts to enlighten myself, I don't know."

He blew gingerly on his steaming tea cup before taking a small sip from it. It was a sobering moment for the priest. What the Church stood for, but what it actually pursued, was more or less a sham to anyone who really knew what was happening behind the scenes. It eked out a question of what exactly was the point of it all? A question that posed itself in front of Jorge again and again. But there was a reason why he stayed even to this day. In the distance, there was a beeping sound. It was the tell-tale sign the gate was being opened for entry. "She's back. I'll bring her here."

Maria is reaching her limits. Her Demon Weapon will consume her at the rate it's going. Serenity will recommend she find another way of fighting than relying on Andraste.

Jorge gives her a hint to lessen a reliance and to look back on what she learned so far.

Combines Demon Weapon usage with Executor style of fighting. Instead of continuously using her weapon, she will continue drawing through Andraste's potential to power her Executor techniques.

She found herself smiling gently when listening to Brittany saying they were very similar. Maria had those same thoughts earlier. it was funny how true that was now with this new revelation. But, she was sad again when it was brought up that they were an orphan, even before the Divide. It felt really heavy when it was stated again how they were more or less the same. Maria had actual family of her blood, but Brittany didn't. But that didn't matter. A family was family regardless of blood relation. What her friend just said about remembering her now-departed family caused her lips to tremble. She remembered them all again, both the good and the bad. It was a strange thing sometimes when time pass by and when everyone you cherished were gone. It was easy to forget. Deep down Maria still remembered, but the gentle reminder Brittany gave her finally did her in.

For far too long Maria was too concerned with the present. Years went by when she dove into the grueling training and the cruel experiments on her body. Even when using her Demon Weapon, her trials and tribulations didn't end there. No, it only began. There was a time when the Cadet wondered if there was even a point to it, despite being driven by revenge and a weaker motivation to protect others as a Cadet. It was a hesitation and weakness Maria could never forgive herself for. She looked at the extended hand her friend offered. Tears began to spill from her eyes as she clasped it with both hands while she shook. She whispered to the cheerleader.


She struggled to keep it together as she sat with her neck bowed over the table as her hands still held onto Brittany's. Maria didn't want to cry nor did she want to show she was close to it. Weakness was pathetic. It was embarrassing. But just for this once, it may not be a bad thing.

Maria let her grasp both of their hands with hers. And when she did, she gently gripped tighter, taking heart at the fact that Brittany was there for her. The Cadet was silent while mulling over what else to say. What else was there to share, really? Brittany knew her secret and what life was like back then for her. But there was far much more. A lot more than Brittany would have bargained for. Maria didn't know where to go with this. Brittany, the civilian model, and Maria, the Cadet soldier, were from two absolutely different worlds. Could she even understand it?

She hesitated to even respond. But now that they were beginning to let out the floodgates, there was no point in hiding this one. And when the Cadet began, she was beginning to look more and more detached in her eyes as she began and continued her narration.




I wondered why. I was in an infirmary, a ward.
But I still felt too delirious to even make the connection.
When I finally looked down, I understood. Tubes.
Metallic and plastic tubes were lining through what was left of me.
They were filling in through my stomach, trying to keep me alive.
I noticed it also continued to line throughout my entire body.
They were there to keep me alive, but I felt as if they were taking
something from me...

She didn't care if people were staring at her. The coffin on her back lumbered about when she quickly ran through the sidewalk. The Cadet was already used to it by now. In fact, at this point, she figured she wasn't going to be an unusual appearance with how she kept going to this district for groceries. Even the usual stall who sold fresh eggs gave her a nice greeting and muttered something about her ominous coffin. Sadly, Maria didn't have it in her to respond back accordingly. You really couldn't when you were speeding through the streets like a lumbering juggernaut hooked up on steroids and speed.

Today was a little bit special. For once, after such a long while, they were able to schedule something to do together outside of Church or Cadet activities. It felt like a fresh gasp of breath from being under the water for so long. The water being all of the responsibilities and work she had on the day-to-day basis. Hell, she was beginning to feel as if her job was to be a babysitter at this point with all these eccentrics joining the Cadets.



Her feet thundered against the concrete and brick ground. She was late, or thought she would be. Maria was hurriedly passing through people with almost superhuman balance and speed fueled by her intense need to get there in time. It was hard to get around with that huge coffin on her back, after all. God forsake her if she should have to be held up by her own carelessness. This was not what she needed for this day. Especially when she had to take up so much time to help Father Jorge write up that asinine homily from his constant attempts to connect with the kids. No matter how much Maria told him how much of a lofty goal it was and how much he refused, she had to admire his tenacity to do his job and be the welcoming priest who everyone loves. At least, that's what he tried to be.

Unlike many of the outings she had, Maria decided to change out of her usual nun habit. It was starting to get old, she knew this painfully well. She really didn't want to be the one in the Cadets known to be "The Nun" in the forces. Though little did she realize, this was more or less the case after attending to missions and working with others in said clothes. Instead, she was wearing a casual set of attire. It really wasn't too common for her to be out of any uniforms given her line of work. However, for once, she can finally even wind down from those expectations...


She tried to keep herself from panting too much and make it obvious her departure was rather late. Hopefully the bright smile the Cadet was giving the Knight would keep him from taking note. But she had to admit, her battle brother looked rather dashing and sharp. Maybe it was the jacket or his looks, she couldn't quite put a finger on it.

She found it awfully ridiculous that kind of swill even counted as coffee. But it was amazing how you could market this kind of trash to pretentious morons raving about fair trade and environmental safety bullshit. Though thinking about it, it wouldn't even hurt to try out this kid's idea. The more she suggested the more the Attendant was beginning to realize it really seemed like a good idea. Provide a bullshit service to shit-eating morons. There were a lot to consider, especially the logistics of handling such a thing. But it would be an entirely better idea than having to deal with these mundane days passing by. "Well, on second thought, introduce me later. Perhaps a club wouldn't be such a bad idea... Especially if we need to burn all of this clutter. From the ashes to the flames or whatever they like to say."

Though she had to smirk when Irish coffee was requested. Booze at her age and at this hour? It wasn't unheard of underage kids trying out spirits. This kid was for sure one of them. Unfortunately, she had some bad news. "Sorry kiddo. The booze is only for special occasions. Hell of a purchase to make, mind you. Maybe once this gig gets going, I might be willing to share a grand opening glass."

The coffee machine was switched on after the filters and the coffee grounds were placed inside. It was all just a matter of time until it began to dribble out into the pot. She turned back towards her guest with a faint and amused smile. "Business, huh? I guess you could say something like that. You have your usual shifty person coming in for the usual. Then you have your "once-in-a-while"s stopping by. It ain't doing good and it ain't doing bad. It's that middle ground that's the worst. That's when shit gets boring and it sucks, y'know? But I guess a club would be a nice change this time."

She didn't seem entirely convinced of the explanation the girl relayed to her. Maria had reason to be wary. It really wasn't every day anyone would come meet them in the next night again. Though then again, that has been the kind of luck she's been having which was already strange in itself already. But as much as she wasn't quite sure of what to do with the situation, the Cadet finally came to a decision. After a moment of tense staring, her taut shoulders began to relax as she leaned further back into the wood. She was still feeling the stupor and didn't want to even bother.

"No... It's fine. It was rather rude of me to be so stand-offish," The Cadet sighed as she gave a glance towards the coffin before diverting her attention back to her. She noticed the book was still left open, but due to the lack of a bookmark, Maria had no way to know where she left off as the wind evidently blew away the pages backward. She regarded the text with annoyance as she closed it and set it aside. Searching for that desired page had to wait as someone apparently wanted her attention at this moment.


She was firm in her delivery. This was truly one of those times when Maria would want to wrap her fingers around the insane scientists who came up with such a ridiculous design for a weapon. At times, the Executor wondered if they were just bored people with nothing to do. Or if they actually had a thing about making her life miserable for... less than savory reasons. It didn't take long for her to realize there was what appeared to be a sketchbook and pencil. "You... you were drawing?"

The way how she handled each piece was like clockwork. Each movement was mechanical and every application was orderly and without inefficiency. Maria has done this so many times that it would be easy to clean and assemble all together with a blindfold on. Funnily enough, she has done so before. It was all a routine. It granted stability, but it also thrust stagnation and a state of being mundane. It was going to be all the same, save when she noticed a shadow from the corner of her eye and someone called her attention.

At first, her expression was blank while freezing in place and stopping the entire operation. Then, it shifted to somewhat confused for a moment. For what reason would this boy want to talk with her? He seemed relatively normal, save for that ridiculous sword on his back. It was hard to tell if it were real with it on his back, but it oddly reminded her of Albrecht, the sparse few of Cadets of Class Zero who used a sword. How did he know her? "Yes, I'm her. How did you--"

The sudden realization kicked in. Class One rank, nun habit, and coffin were the three things that rushed through her mind from the vastness of her memories. Of course, that was going to get some attention. Even before that, she knew people were talking about her coffin. But now, it was her new rank that got her to this point. It was odd... Having to be somewhat popular and it didn't sit too well with her.


She wasn't quite sure who he was, but he certainly knew who she was. Maria would wait for a reply while her hands were back to work again cleaning and oiling the parts.