menial | 4 ~ I have never believed in Santa, ever. [audio]

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4 ~ I have never believed in Santa, ever. [audio]

...So, it's getting close to the end of the month again, but nothing weird seems to be happening. Or am I missing something? Anyone know if we might just be getting a reprieve or something? Or maybe I just shouldn't look the gift horse in the mouth.

['Because I don't believe in the Malnosso being Santa Claus to us.'

However, that's not the main purpose for this post; instead, he goes on with a filter he worked for a while on. Ideally, Asakura won't suspect it at all.]

[filtered to Shiki, Minato, Winry, Rise, SOS Brigade members who have interacted with him before, and other close-enough CR (PM me if you're not sure) // 55%]

Yo. If you guys have seen a girl with blue hair who smiles a lot, by the name of Ryoko Asakura... Well, I guess I've got something to ask of you if you do attract her attention, but I'd rather not put it on the journal, so please talk to me if you've met her.

['So what if that makes it seem like I might have a crush on her? Better that than someone hacks it and realizes that I know what Asakura is.']

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

['Ah, the withering glare... an old friend of mine. Haruhi has directed it my way many times.']

I'm telling you because the danger, if it exists, is directed towards you, not her. But I can't tell you other people's secrets, sorry.

[...] I may already know more than you think.

...Oh, really?

['Another piece of the puzzle?

Because the damn puzzle is getting too big and I think an earthquake could come at any minute to shake it apart.'

He waits.]

Well... ever heard of a Closed Space?

['Apparently Shiki already told Haruhi I know about that particular bane of my existence, so acknowledging that can't do much further harm.']

...Yeah, I have.

['...Anything else, now?']

And you know what causes it? Haruhi told me herself- kind of.

Right... What did she say?

['Sorry for the third degree, Rockbell, but I need a lot of degrees here.']

Well how much do you know?

[Is this... information chicken?]

[Yes.]

I've heard about it from others who are more qualified than me to know. A fair amount. So, go on?

She said she had... abilities.

[Godlike abilities. Or, well, he. It was Haruki at the time, right? She thinks so, yes.]

...Yeah, she does.

That's why Asakura's group is interested in her.

[Winry nods.]

Yeah, I get that, but why? What do they want to use her for?

...They believe her power is enough to cause the next stage of evolution in life.

It probably is, [considering what she can pull even under the power cap in the barrier] but that's really what they want? Weird.

[So weird. Winry doesn't even think about Haruhi's powers that often- sometimes she even forgets she has them- but now... they seem really important.]

['They also happen to be aliens, but that's a bridge too far to go at the moment. Or a bridge and the ocean which the bridge spans.']

Asakura's faction in particular thinks that 'direct action' is needed to provoke Haruhi's powers into responding.

Figures. [Winry rubs her temples and leans forward. Maybe she should actually order something.]

Thanks, though... for telling me.

Yeah, any time. Just keep it quiet.

...Has Haruhi talked about our recent arrivals at all, by the way?

Like... how? What do you mean?

I mean about Asakura and Asahina-san arriving so soon together.

She hasn't said anything about that, but... I know she's excited you and Mikuru are around. It's been a long time since she's seen anyone from her world, so...

...Right.

['Not terribly informative in re: Asakura, though. Oh well.']

Well, thanks for listening.

[Well what do you want from her. This is the first time she's hearing that name. Anyway-]

Do you have other appointments to keep, or can I stay and order something?

Nothing for a while, so by all means, stay.

All right. [She considers the menu. She might get something sweetly flavored with a ton of whipped cream.]

Then I will, thanks! Aside from all this weird stuff, how have you been in Luceti? Make any friends not from home yet?

I guess most of them are also Haruhi's friends, but there's a few I've met on my own. It's not so bad, I guess. Only one of those fearsome experiments so far. I only have to deal with a hyperactive little kid every now and then, instead of every morning.

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