If there was anyway of telling that someone was having a very bad week, it was easy to see it with Sasami. Coming off from her injuries after the battle with the Ohm, she ended up snapping and attacking Evangeline over a massive misunderstanding concerning Negi. Then, when it came to the elections, she tossed her metaphorical hat into the metaphorical ring and it completely backfired on her: meeting one of her opponents, he'd tried to convince her to step down and reading some of the messages on the omnicomms, it seemed like her opponents were trying to tell her to back off as well.

You're too young. You're biting off more than you can chew. Why don't you shadow...?

"Why aren't they giving me a chance?" Sasami muttered to herself. "Why won't they? Is it because I'm a kid? O-Or..." she shook her head as she wandered aimlessly into the Media Library. She half-heartedly waved off a working Vivio as she took a seat and curled herself into a ball.

"...m-maybe I should give up..." Sasami muttered, trying not to cry. As she did, Vivio just stared at the poor girl, both mage and Device uncertain on how to cheer her up.

(OoC: Kinda doubling up here. You can speak to either Vivio or Sasami here if need be. Oh, heck, go for both! Don't matter at all!)

Lelouch had been quite busy following the battle for Zokez II. He spent most of his time in the cockpit of Shinkirou, analyzing all the data it had recorded. The main problem: There was no unified force, one single head of operations, coordinating the ground, air, space, support, and salvage missions that had been fought all over the former resort planet. This was inexcusable. This would be repaired and promptly. Thus, the reason for his analysis. Once he had finished this work, dissecting how these beasts move, determining their method of communication, and attempting to find a weakness, he would take it to whatever currently passed as a command structure, and attempt to become that head. He was not going to allow his survival to hinge upon this kind of disorganization. The stakes being as they were, it was inexcusable.

But, even a focused emperor needed a break. He left the hangar, and made his way back to the room he shared with Euphie. That was yet another problem he had to address. This ship was teeming with Japanese, and it was only a matter of time before it became a huge problem. He would likely have to eventually tell her about all that had occurred. Before Kallen did.

Thus, he was pulled out of his thoughts as he let himself into the room he shared with his beloved half-sister. However, he wasn't prepared for what he saw. She was midway through dressing. He whirled around, putting his back to her. "Euphemia, I'm sorry!" Anyone that could see his face would have found it a most surprising, uncharacteristic shade of red.

The dead of night—or at least a simulated night, but the crew took to it in their usual patterns and created a deadness that was acceptable—that was the time, the reason. The place was the Hangar, cluttered even now and moreso than ever with parts of damaged vessels in stages of repair, their insides strewn about their bases in careful (or careless) heaps, looming shadily in the subdued lighting. One particular ship, pure black like the darkness that surrounded her, was the destination; the lone traveler hobbling amongst the piles to reach her was Dustin.

For the few days allotted for him to heal, the frail genius had been making remarkable progress. He could breathe well enough to make this journey without becoming completely winded, he was strong enough to carry his backpack full of tools, his shoulder and ribs had healed to the point where both of his arms were mostly functional—but most importantly, Dustin now had the capability (and a properly sized crutch) to sneak his way out of the Medbay in the first place. He was well enough now, considering, and though it would take another few weeks for his shattered leg to completely mend he would’ve been released within the next day or so. This was merely a test, a way to see how well the ship’s technology was holding up and combining with his own internal synthetic systems.

He was also obviously checking in on the one patient not immediately attended to after the battle.

The Dart loomed in front of him, broken and forlorn. Only a week ago Dustin had finished the final adjustments, soldered the last wires; now she was a crippled veteran. Just like her creator, yeah?

There was a movement nearby. The scraggly man stumbled and froze, piercing green eyes searching his surroundings.

Title: Etched in Bone
Location: Stacy; The City





His thoughts kept coming back on themselves -- the thought from not so long ago turning onto the second tattoo. In all honesty, something in him was torn, whispering that perhaps some distance might be required. Still, another part of himself screams against that. He'd felt it, made it and sworn it, his Bond.

Thus, Renne knelt in front of the scroll-designed building and prayed. He prayed, seeking guidance, strength and an end to his own insecurities.


In front of this building too holy to think of entering alone, Renne kneels. Slowly, painfully, meticulously, he literally etches a second tattoo onto and into himself. His first had been done the same way, in honour of someone dead then gone.
This one, he carves into his flesh to honour those that he's met so far.

And to honour he that brought Renne to salvation.

The battle of Zokez II was proof that the Mobile Suits and the X-Wings were a bit out of their leagues. Overwhelmed by the Ohm's superior numbers, plenty of them got thrashed in their fights. It was time to fix that.

Since the end of the fight and the regrouping, Lowe's been busy in the Sensoriums working on a major project: the fusing of technologies. Realizing that he couldn't afford to work on the actual suits. Lowe went into the Sensoriums and began his work, modifying and remodifying the Astray Red Frame to the X-Wing's engines and power source.

At the moment, though, Lowe was taking his latest attempt to work the two technologies together. At a small hangar, there were at least four scrapped machines that were once the Astray Red Frame. If anyone walked in and saw him, they'd see the Red Frame with the back of an X-Wing attached to the back of the suit.

"YEEEE-HAW!" Lowe cried out. "Man, the speed on this thing is incredible!"

[It is, and so far, we've barely had any energy drained and what we do is quickly replaced.] 8 piped up from his spot in the cockpit. [I think we did it this time!]

"I think we did so, too, man!" Lowe said. "If there was only some way I could REALLY test this!"

Negi peeled the last of his bandages away as he stood in the park area surrounding the city center. "Looks like I'm all healed up Chamo-kun," said Negi as he started to stretch.

"Yeah, you really took it to yourself this time aniki," said Chamo as he finished marking out a circle on the ground, one that had Negi blinking.

"What's that for?" inquired Negi. "I'm not kissing anyone today."

"Insurance aniki! What if a beautiful girl comes along and you just have to kiss her?" Chamo grinned lecherously as Negi facepalmed. "Besides, every time you step out of that bus, you have a good chance of making an artifact."

"I know I know." said Negi as he pulled out his own card. "Adeat!"

In a flash of light, his card case appeared as he pulled out the roster of cards and flipped through them. "I'm going to familiarize myself with these things," said Negi. "Last time I didn't rely on them as much. This time I want to be ready."

Spinning a card around, he slotted it into the top and proclaimed, "Ruyi Jingu Bang!" Spinning the case around it lengthened into a wooden bow with two metal caps on either end. Testing the weight, he began to start a slow kung fu kata, incorporating spear fighting into the motions. So caught up in his workout, he wouldn't notice anyone else coming in to see him.

"EXTEND!" And the pole extended out, striking a tree. "Now grow!" And said tree got smushed. "Whoops."