Finishing Touches

"Hai hai! We're back!" Announced the brunette as she barged into the room with Frederica just behind her. The pink haired girl was a good few seconds behind the two, closing the door right after with a tired sigh.

"Didn't expect you girls to be gone for half an hour." The Producer commented, eliciting amused giggles coming from Kanade and Syuko.

"I'm sorry, Producer. Things got out of hand." Mika apologized, as the three of them each carried bags that we're filled with a random assortment of foods and drinks.

"Don't worry too much about it Mika." He said, gesturing back to the sofa.

"Eh, where's Ushi-san?" Frederica asked, noticing the room missing one person.

"She's getting some hot water." Kanade answered. "Producer realized you girls probably went to Lawson, and assumed you might get some cup noodles." Her eyes trails down to he bags. "And he was right."

"I've been your Producer for a while now." He told them, eyes glued to the laptop as he finished up some quick paperwork. "I should know what make you girls tick."

"We also got something for you, Producer!" said the blonde to him, holding out a bag that seemed like it was all filled with things they decided for him.

He looked up briefly from his laptop, and smiled as he took the offered bag. "Thanks Freddie."

The blonde smiles brightly, her mouth opened to respond. But the click of the door signal the last arrival.

"I got them, Producer." Said the Assistant, her hands holding two large flasks.

"Wow, Ushi-san, you went all out." Syuko commented with a smirk.

"It's best to be over prepared than under prepared." The pale skinned woman replied, placing the flasks onto the table off to b the side.

"When you girls get comfortable, well get started again." The Producer told the room.

That got them moving, as Shiki made her way towards the thermoses that Ushi had gotten, with Syuko getting up from her spot and joining the brunette in preparing some instant cup noodles. Mika sat back down beside Kanade, offering the cool girl some of the ice cream she had bought, to which Kanade gladly accepted. Frederica sat herself back down, drinking a boxed green tea. Ushi kept to her assigned role, going back to taking pictures for the report the Producer would write up later.

A few minutes was nothing compared to the half hour that had transpired. "We're ready, Producer!" Shiki announced when they all had in fact gotten comfortable, as he had suggested.

"Good." He said, shifting his laptop aside as he took the chosen playbooks from the table. He looked over them one by one. Then he looked up, catching the eye of Kanade, who was almost startled by the attention.

"Wonderwood. Please answer your question."

"My question?" she retrieved her own playbook, reading through it once more. "Which question?"

The Producer nodded to himself, pleased that Kanade responded to her hero's name. "How your team came together."

The high school girl read through the question, and frowned. "This seems like a heavy question, Producer. Shouldn't the others also be asked?"

"They have their own questions to answer, Kanade. You can ask them for advise, or input, but it is you who answers the question."

Her brows furrowed as she looked over the question once more. "When our team first came together… We didn't trust each other at first, but that changed. How? Why?"

Kanade, along with the rest of LiPPS, took a moment to think of their answers. "We didn't trust each other at first because they thought I was together with whatever we fought. And it changed, when I proved to them that I was not."

"And she did that by dealing a mortal blow to the creature we fought." Mika added enthusiastically.

"Ohh, so we fought some kind of creature?" asked the blonde to the girl next to her.

The pink haired gyaru nodded. "Yeah. I think that's a good place to start for all of us."

"How did you deal the mortal blow, exactly?" Syuko asked.

"By shooting its heel with my bow."

The single brunette chuckled. "Did we fight Achilles or something?"

Kanade shook her head. "No, but I think that's what we, and eventually other people, called it."

"So the five of you individually ended up fighting a creature dubbed Achilles. You all thought that Wonder wood was involved with it when she appeared, but grew to trust her when she dealt a mortal blow to Achilles by striking its heel with an arrow." The Producer summarized, typing it all in his laptop while Ushi herself looked over his document.

"That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be." Kanade said with audible relief.

"That's because we're all so in sync!" Shiki proclaimed proudly.

"Who knew LiPPS was so dependable." The Producer deadpanned, earning laughter from the rest of the room. "Venus, your turn."

"Ok, ok!" she coughed purposefully before taking her playbook. "When our team first came together… We drew attention and ire from plenty during the fight. One important person in particular now hates and fears us. Who is it?"

"Oh, that's also very loaded." Shiki commented with her usual cat grin.

"Yeah, we barely started and things are already rough for us." Mika agreed with an exaggerated sigh.

"It fits very much with what we agreed Jupiter City to be like." Added Kanade. "Our image doesn't exactly fit in."

"I think the people that hate us, are a group of researchers and explorers that wanted to study Achilles." Frederica said, cutting through the conversation. "And the important person is the leader of this group, who has an important position in the city's council."

"Oh, that sounds juicy. I like it." The white haired girl said with approval. "What are they called?"

"Philosophers of Socrates." Shiki answered with a smug grin.

"Wow, we're really going in with the Greek." The gyaru commented amusedly.

"We got a theme, and were sticking with it." The other high schooler said with a chuckle. Her eyes widened as if she had realized something. "I'm sorry, Producer. We've been talking amongst ourselves, leaving you out." She said apologetically.

The sole male shook his head, chuckling himself. "It's fine. In fact, it's great that you girls are really into this."

The chuckles spread to the rest of them before the conversation resumed. "What if the person in charge was also a hero?"

"Then that makes the person super important!" the blonde agreed. "Some Silver Age hero named Grand Seer, who had retired and is now leading this group."

"Okay, in stopping Achilles, you girls earned the ire of a somewhat enigmatic group known as the Philosophers of Socrates. A group that is also lead by Grand Seer, because they wanted to study it." He repeated. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes." Frederica spoke up again. "I don't know about the others, but I have a feeling that they're connected to Achilles in some way."

"Like they're responsible?" She nodded. "Alright, Venus is also suspicious of them, that they might be more involved than expected." He finished the summary in his laptop with the Assistant Ushi peering over his shoulder. "Chiron, your turn."

The playbook was already in her hands, as she read it out without missing a beat. "When our team first came together… I created something lasting and beneficial for the whole team. What was it?"

"Oh, that's tricky." She immediately commented. "On the spot, for something long lasting? Hmm."

"What would you make that would help us?" Kanade reiterated, with the rest of them also seemingly having trouble at the innocuous question.

"What do you think, Producer?" Shiki asked, as they all turned to the waiting man.

"Do you want it to be focused on Achilles or the team?"

"The team, definitely." She answered with conviction.

"Then let's say one of you was also heavily injured, and you created something that would keep them alive."

"Oh, that sounds awesome!" the brunette said excitedly. "Who would it be though?"

"I would make the most sense." Syuko volunteered. "I'm the second most normal person in the team behind you after all."

"Yes, I like that! And it stabilized your body from injuries, but…" Her excitement tapered off. "How would it translate into the game? "

"We can flavor it as putting your bodies in some form of safe cocoon when you have all your conditions marked. Essentially a different form of passing out."

"Wow, Producer! You're so good at this!"

"It's not my first RPG session." He answered with a shrug.

"Just after Kanade said that we left Producer out, he pretty much answered Shiki's question for us." Mika commented, barely containing her laugh.

"Then I'll summarize it this time." Shiki coughed into her closed fist before continuing. "In the midst of our battle with Achilles, Heiki took a heavy blow that was aimed at me. I immediately went to create something to stabilize her injuries, and the first prototype of the Casket put her body in some kind of stasis. After that incident, and when we officially teamed up, I've been reiterating on it and improving its design. Eventually I created something like a pendant for all of us, that activates whenever we are in a critical state."

"Excellent. Nice additions by the way." He complimented as he typed them out in his laptop. "Rider. If you would, please."

"Alright, alright. I guess it's my turn." Mika turned to face Syuko. "Looks like you're last again, Syuko-chan."

The Kyoto born girl rolled her eyes. "I guess I'll have to close it for you girls."

A hearty laugh was shared among the group before Mika read her question. "When our team first came together… we saved the life of someone important, either to the city or to us. Who was it? Why are they important?"

"That's like, the easiest question we've got." Frederica said with a light giggle.

"So if its an easy question, then it should be an easy answer, right?" Syuko asked to the group.

"You mean like a daughter of someone important?" Kanade asked back with a raised brow.

"Probably like the Prime Minister's daughter, or something to that effect." Ushi suggested in between the flash of a camera.

"That does sound like the more obvious answer." The bluenette agreed.

"Obvious is good." Mika added with a nod. "I think we should stick with simple. We don't need convoluted and complicated things, especially since we're all new to this."

"That makes sense." Kanade relented with her own subdued nod.

"So who is this person's parent? Who is the Prime Minister of Jupiter City?" Syuko asked.

"A retired Golden Age hero, The Golden Sparrow. A symbol of hope, and one of Jupiter City's first heroes. Now, he is Prime Minister Kristoff Wagner." Shiki detailed with an excited smile on her face.

"Did you have that prepared?" Syuko asked amusedly.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she replied cheekily. Then both she and Frederica exchanged a knowing glance, giggling between the two of them.

"With a name like that, and being a hero from the Golden Age, I think The Golden Sparrow would also count himself as one of these people that doesn't have a cynical view of Jupiter City." Kanade offered her two cents.

"And if he's that old, then his daughter is probably a working adult." Mika further reinforced. "Caroline Wagner. She's not a hero like her father, not even a politician. But she's a famous actress as well as a prolific philanthropist."

"Yes, yes. And you save her by shoving the car she was in out of Achilles' rampage." Frederica added. "You're the fastest among us, so you were the one who saved her." She explained before any of the girls could question her.

"Alright then. Anything else to add." The Producer got shaking heads in response. "In the midst of your battle against Achilles, it's rampage almost caused a casualty that would have been debilitating to the city's morale. You all noticed this, and The Rider was the one who acted. She reached the car before Achilles could, and shoved it out of the way. In return, you received the gratitude of not only her, but also her father, the current Prime Minister of Jupiter City, Kristoff Wagner. The former Golden Age hero The Golden Sparrow."

"Our story is really coming together! This is so cool!" an excited brunette exclaimed, almost vibrating in her seat.

"And were almost done with it." Syuko agreed, anticipating her turn as she glanced to the Producer.

"Not just yet though. There are a few things left after were done with you. Heiki, if you would."

Her playbook had been in her hand since Canada's turn. "When our team first came together… we stuck together after all was said an done. Why? How'd we keep in contact?" there was a knowing smirk on her face as she read her question out.

"Looks like you already have an answer." The Producer commented.

"Being last has its upsides." She replied with a smile, before she turned to face the rest of LiPPS. "We stuck together because we all realized that we worked well together. Me personally though, I wanted to have friends my age that were also heroes. So, using my dad's resources, I searched for ways to contact them. Some of them were harder than others," she gave a knowing look to Mika, who stuck out her tongue back at her. "but eventually I established a connection between all of us, helped by Chiron. Then, subtly funded by him, our team was born."

The girls applauded her answer, being the most complete of them all. Even Ushi joined in the clapping as the Producer jotted down Syuko's answer.

"Alright. Time to establish relationships. Hope you girls read through them while we went through your team's history." He looked up from his laptop to meet their eyes. "One relationship at a time. Starting from, you guessed it, Chiron." The girls laughed at his deadpan humor.

"I told Wonderwood about my shame and asked for their confidence." Shiki responded. "I figured, she might have some sort if experience back from her world."

"I have some legends and folklore that I shared, in hopes to ease her burdens." Kanade added. The Producer smiled. The girls we're getting better at this.

"Let's go down the line like before. Venus."

"Heiki comforted me when I was at my lowest." Frederica took her turn as ordered. "When people's voices we're at their most venomous."

"And I told her that their words don't matter. What does is what we do, and prove to them that we are true heroes." Syuko elaborated her part on it.

There was a few seconds pause before Mika took her turn. "Venus knew from my civilian life first. It was a combination of my negligence, and forgetfulness that allowed Venus to see who I was beneath the helmet." There was a knowing ohh coming from Frederica before she snickered to herself.

Another pause between the girls, before Kanade took the metaphorical spotlight. "I've been learning about this world by spending time with Chiron. She is the smartest of us, so I was certain that she had the means for me to learn."

"Of course I did. I offered her my vast encyclopedia of knowledge. Helped her along with any questions she might have." the brunette said smugly.

Syuko gave a quick glance to see the Producer typing in his laptop. When it looked like he was done, she entered the fray. "Chiron and I teamed up a few times before the rest of us came together. It was easy, and obvious. Her resources, and my father's resources, made our earlier jobs easier."

"It sure damn did." Shiki said with fists in her hips. Then her eyes flashed briefly in realization. "Oh, it's my turn again." She coughed into her fist before proceeding. "I wish I could be a better hero, like Rider."

Mika shook her head in astonishment. "Me? Really?"

"Yep. I think, out of all is us, you're the most traditional hero. And I like that."

They all laughed at the simplicity of the reason, before Frederica spoke up. "Rider knew me before I changed. We went to the same school, before she dropped out and I turned to this. So, there's some connection between us, Titanic kind of cling to, even though she tries to stay by herself."

"Aw, why'd you have to guilt me like that Fre-chan!" the blonde stuck out her tongue in retaliation. They shared a laugh before Mika got in with her turn. "I refused to tell Heiki my secret identity when she asked."

"Yeah, because it was getting frustrating that there was so little about you." Syuko answered with a frown, l before it shifted into a smirk.

"I have a crush in Venus that I keep under wraps." Kanade spoke up in between the exchange.

"Eh? Really? With me?" Frederica replied in disbelief.

Kanade nodded, those that she kept her expression straight. "You did say that you were a cute monster, after all"

"Hehe he, I did." She giggled, getting a smile from Kanade's face.

"Woo, we're almost done!" Syuko exclaimed before she leaned in closer with her elbows in her knees. "My mentor is cautious, he asked me to keep an eye on Wonderwood."

Kanade nodded in understanding as the all turned to the Producer, waiting for him to finish up in his laptop.

A prideful smile formed on his face as he slowly looked up. "You girls give out your influences with one another. This isn't a long process, like the others. And then," he slowly breathed in through his nose, exhaling it slowly before smirking at the five of them and Ushi waiting patiently with the camera in her hand. "we can finally get started."


AUTHOR'S NOTE

my PC shit the bed, and i've lost a bit of my research and notes i've made for these. not about the girls' characters, and the books for Masks, i have them. but, the villain for the next chapter, is gone. i have to come up with their shit again, and it might be a while until we see another chapter.

the previous chapter didn't actually take that long (despite being the longest so far) i wanted to have this chapter be completed before i officially published it, but this chapter was taking quite a while, holding the last chapter back despite being done at least a couple of weeks ago.

the Masks RPG system is a lot of conversing. not much dice rolling, but it is about talking, even more so than vanilla D&D (5e, at least). which is why, the Producer has been nudging the girls to be creative on their own.

i think that's all, hope ya'll enjoyed it and i'll see you all next time!