~NRK~
Obito raised a brow as Marie kept going through her personal dual-wielding kata.
In her hands her spectral blue energy sparked in the shapes of… dust brooms if you'd believe it.
"Marie?" He spoke up as she stopped, the girl wearing a sleeveless white hoodie, black 'yoga' pants, and some light blue ninja sandals he'd made two nights back, just before his 'fate-inducing', Amelia's words not his, interaction with Princess Parasoul.
Or should he call her 'Parasoul' now? He got this odd vibe they were now 'something' and that wasn't unpleasant the more he thought about it.
"Yes, father?" The girl stopped, facing her dad. 'This unusual relationship is rather surprising,' she kind of liked it a lot.
Wearing similar clothes to her but with sweatpants in place of her 'yoga' pants and black in place of her light blue, Obito cupped his chin.
"Did you teach yourself that style?" Obito asked.
"Um," she looked down. "In the Skull Heart's memory banks, there were parts set up for learning all the styles of its past opponents," Marie explained as Obito blinked in surprise, the field they were in currently out in the middle of Maplecrest bustling with far-off individuals.
"So, you liked one of their styles?"
She blushed a bit before nodding. "I think her name was… Delilah?" Marie considered. "She apparently was a previous host to the Parasite, Samson."
Obito found that downright hilarious but kept his amusement down.
"I see… but brooms?"
"..." Marie looked down at her weapons and looked back up. "I… believe I followed my theme, father."
Obito smirked at that, ruffling her hair. "Come on, let's stretch before going for a run. I've got to get you a check-up soon and we have a meeting with the Egrets in an hour."
"... very well," she trusted him that much.
They went for what he called a 'run' and Marie found it rather invigorating as they worked their ways through a temporary 'obstacle course' he'd made.
From afar, many stared at the parkouring duo, the insanity of the most-wanted man of the month and the former Skullgirl not exactly an easy to ignore sight.
Phones, videos, and laptops aimed towards the two.
~NRK~
"Hmm?" She blinked, eyes on her laptop's screen with interest. "... Oh~," she grinned a bit, drying her hair. 'That's him, the oddly POWERFUL man of the hour.'
Bronze skin glistened in her lavish bathroom, sitting on a comfy wide seat by her vanity/sink/mirror. Her blue eyes closed as she pat down her chin-length dark blue hair.
"Honestly, they act like he's a destined savior," she said to herself despite her own interest in the man. 'But he's also tamed the Skullgirl and took her heart,' if he could separate individuals with Artifacts, who was to say he couldn't do the same for Parasites? "He's dangerous to keep around…"
But she could very much find some usage for such a man. Mmm~ What did his blood taste like?
What would the rest of him taste like?~
She giggled demurely, eyelids lifting to reveal blood-red pockets.
"We'll see~"
~NRK~
She blinked as she arose.
"H-Huh?" She blinked again, red eyes looking down at her hands, one made of bone and the other purple skin. "L-Leviathan?"
"I'm here," came a voice from atop the left side of the rising-from-the-dirt young woman, her dark purple hair, which came down to cover her left eyes and out into one pigtail on her right side, sporting an odd cream-colored attachment.
The 'attachment' stretched before 'sprouting' a long thin individual. Yes, 'individual', as the creature blinked into existence, his snake/dragon-like appearance punctuated by sharp edges on his reptilian snout and pure yellow eyes, another hole in the girls' head, below some hair, popping out to allow what was presumably his tail to curl out.
"Yes, it seems that she's awake again… but," the small Parasite frowned as he looked around, his host getting up completely from the ground to reveal candy cane-colored detachable sleeves, a dark maroon dress with a skull-like 'chest plate', and a long dark purple skirt that came down to her shins where candy cane-colored tights peeked out covering her feet. "Something is amiss," he said in confusion, blinking as they looked around the alleyway they'd awoken in.
"I don't hear screaming," the girl 'said' with a worried look. "This isn't normal, why… where's the Skullgirl? Why is everything so seemingly calm?"
"I don't know, Squigly-" Leviathan began to say only to stop as both host and Parasite balked at a large screen showing a video.
Videos of a man and young girl currently parkouring by what looked like a large lake.
Then two pictures expanded out of the video, the faces of the two, with… curious subtitles.
"What!?"
~NRK~
"...?" She blinked in her dressing room, completely confused. "The heck is going on in the world?" She balked at the videos once more, the latest one being of more insane interest than before. "Is he… training her?"
Bearing green hair with two long braided pigtails at the back of her hair, the young woman blinked, fair skin pulling as her mouth dropped again, and her one uncovered yellow eyes looking around the tablet in confusion that'd persisted for nearly a week.
"This isn't normal… What's his end game?" She frowned, wearing a fluffy green robe with yellow star patterns on the bottom towards her white slippers. "... Darn it," she groaned. "I'm going to meet these two, soon."
She needed to know what these two were planning to do from here on out.
~NRK~
Obito dried Marie's hair as they sat on the riverbank, the man chuckling as she pouted a bit.
"I-It's unreasonable, I can float," she huffed as he nodded.
"Not wrong but what you need to do is see if you can't fine-tune your control," he explained with a smirk, removing his flaming hands from her hair before smoothing it out with wind-based energy. "Besides, learning all your powers is still on the list of things we need to do. For now, we know you can fly, have increased strength and speed though not nearly on par with your previous state, and you can understand Artifacts."
"I'm… I-I don't really get those," she said. "They can't speak but I still 'hear' them."
"It's likely just something you gained due to being in contact with the Skull Heart for so long. Now, let's go."
They got up, fully dry, before heading off, Obito's hand coming off the floor as they did and returning the stone walls and blocks he'd made back to the earth.
Obito lifted Marie up before Kamui sent them into the Kamui Dimension.
"Father, this is… what is this place?"
"It's sadly a world without an easy explanation."
They found themselves home in a few moments, entering Obito's room and getting cleaned up.
Well, Marie did as the man stepped out to grab some things from the kitchen.
Obito stretched as the mostly empty house greeted him, Marcus's muted work on the next floor in a far room not even distractible as 'noise'.
As he went to the kitchen, and then the oven, he pulled out a warm aluminum pan full of sandwiches which was quickly followed by a large pan of muffins.
"I'm sure her team will be interested in this," he chuckled as he put both on a cooling rack, if only to hold onto for a bit as he gathered a generic picnic basket.
Packing it in with some large water bottles placed in a seal in the basket, Obito finished it all off by adding some bread and jam.
There, the world's most generic picnic basket.
"...?" He nodded as he raised his brow on Marie's signature, the girl's presence coming out the room maybe five minutes later. "Are you ready, Marie?"
"Yes, father," she said from the second floor.
"That was fast."
"I-I can dry myself with my energy?" She said unsurely as he blinked before coming out of the kitchen to look at the blushing teen. "Mmm," Marie pouted a bit and he chuckled.
Wearing a blue dress shirt, a black pinafore plaid dress, and some white socks, Marie put her hair up in her favored style once more, fiddling with her hands.
"Hm, hm, hm, it looks nice," he complimented the blushing girl some more. "I'll finish up and then we can leave. Just go and sit on the couch, Samson should be back in-"
"I'm back!" Came a voice from the yard as the backyard door opened to reveal the familiar Host & Parasite duo. "Hmm?" Dog sniffed the air before his tail wagged. "Oh, that smells choppin'."
"I made some dog-shaped muffins, too," Obito said, coming in and pulling out said items from the oven and placing a stack of three on the floor. "There."
"Thanks! Let's eat, partner!"
"Woof!"
With the two eating their treats, Obito wrapped up everything in his picnic basket before turning to the newly-arrived Marie.
"Samson, Dog, we'll be heading to the Black Egrets base, thankfully, I don't need to pick up Filia and Carol today so just do your best to protect them on the way home," Obito instructed as the hair face nodded.
"Gotcha! We'll eat up and stake out!"
Marie blinked. "I… believe those are puns, father."
"Essentially."
~NRK~
Parasoul nodded to the Black Egrets Training Ground as she hefted Krieg, her Living Artifact, over her shoulder.
Wearing her usual attire with her hair still in the style from the day before, she smiled as she looked over the large track field that surrounded a combat arena and a workout station.
"We probably should expand all of this," Parasoul considered. "If Young Marie ever joins, this would be quite small."
"Yo, sis!" Came the familiar call of Umbrella as she ran over, Hungern looking full and bloated. "I finally fed Hungern and he beat up that big bear on the mountain!"
"... wait, what-?"
"We're here," came Obito's call as he and Marie landed on the ground next to the redheaded woman who blinked before smiling. "... Parasoul."
She blushed a bit but smiled. "Obito."
Oh, this would be interesting.
"..." Umbrella's eyebrow twitched as Hungern wiggled.
Marie tilted her head. "I don't believe so but I don't understand adult relationships either," she told the Living Weapon, getting two blushes out of the 'adults' with them.
"A-Ahem!" Parasoul cleared her throat. "The others will be here soon enough, for now, how about we go through some exercises with Marie to see what she's retained?"
"Sure, I even brought some refreshments for everyone," Obito offered with a smirk as Parasoul and Umbrella perked up.
"C-Cake?!" The girl asked.
"No, muffins."
"... snff," she sniffed the air before her stomach growled and she blushed. "Y-Ya don't say? Mind, uh, passing on some muffins?"
"I'm sure you'll get some in a bit, for now, maybe help give some insight into Marie's skills with Hungern and I might guarantee a batch-"
"Come on, Mars, we're goin'!" Umbrella dragged the older girl off her feet towards a whiteboard. "Time for some muffin-I mean training!"
Obito and Parasoul chuckled before he gestured towards the girls.
Walking towards them, he figured he'd take a shot.
"Are you free next week?"
"Well…" She blushed but smiled. "I'm definitely not busy."
"There's this nice place in the River King's Palace I'm sure you'd enjoy, a special Sea Salt Winery," Obito said as Parasoul perked up.
"I've had some of their particular kind and I couldn't understand why I enjoyed it despite its salty taste, I never understood Undersea Chicory."
Chatting a bit more about the different kinds of 'sea wines', they found the girls currently scribbling on the whiteboard with markers.
Drawings ranging from a stick figure Marie to an, oddly hyper-realistic, rendition of a… feline-'enhanced' skeleton?
"What's that, Marie?" Obito asked, confused about the picture opposite her own.
"It's a Parasite from the Skullheart's memories," Marie tilted her head with a frown. "I think… I-I think I remember the Heart and even Double hating her with a passion."
"Truly?" Parasoul asked while cupping her chin, Marie's nod putting a frown on her face. 'Someone that even the Parasites and this 'Double' monster would hate with a passion?' And if that was true… was she still around?
Was there a Parasite-hated PARASITE, wait it was Theon now, still around in their time?
"I can already tell what you're thinking," Obito said as she hummed before nodding. "What do you know about this Theon, Marie?"
"Hmm," the former Skullgirl drew more and more about this odd Theon. "It was extremely vivid, Double even said that if I ever encountered her that I should tell her immediately," Marie said, finished. "She was extremely urgent about this. I think even the Skull Heart has some form of hate for it."
Stepping back, they all looked at all the imagery.
"Blood manipulation?" Parasoul considered as one picture showed the skeleton surrounded by rising blood. "Is that one of its abilities?"
"Yes," Marie said. "Her name is 'Sekhmet', she's the one Samson and his kind oppose."
"I see."
"Did the Skull Heart know who she is possessing?" Obito asked and Marie blinked as she covered her mouth. "... Marie?" He kneeled to his daughter's height before looking confused as she shivered.
"I-I think I saw her before? No! She's definitely here already!" She said, shocking them.
"What the heck?! Seriously?!" Umbrella asked.
"Y-Yes, because her Host isn't…" Marie grimaced. "Sehkmet's Host has NEVER changed."
Obito's eyes narrowed while Parasoul's own widened.
"So, her host hasn't-"
"Changed in over thousands of years," she finished for Obito with a frown. "This isn't good, this individual likely has been around for nearly every major event of human history."
"And if she has, she could have amassed any number of Artifacts or power structures," Obito grimaced.
Marie nodded as she drew out the Parasite's, they'd differentiate for this one, Host.
And their jaws dropped in horror.
"Eliza, the BLOOD DRIVE singer."
That wasn't just bad, that was downright horrifying.
"Sekhmet's power increases with the amount of blood she consumes, though she also needs blood to keep her Host's form as youthful as it is," Marie said before holding her head.
Obito considered something. 'Does… Did my father know about this?' He'd assumed not, Obito had never heard of such a thing before and he had been a favorite of his old man's.
"That's worrying, she was likely hiding this from even the Medici," Obito said as Parasoul frowned. "My former family used to support her at some point, I know it wasn't long, I'd only known she was a thing during our school years."
"If that's so, what is her alignment? Could you give some insight into it?" The older princess asked.
"Sadly, I don't know. Maybe she was being strong-armed but, if that's the case, she must be pretty weak."
"... Or…" Parasoul's eyes narrowed and Obito raised a brow. "If she's been alive for millennia, Obito, she has a powerful secret to keep," his eyes narrowed. "If your father found out…"
"It'd mean that they knew she was a Host the entire time… and I don't like what that could mean if she's capable of being forced to work for them."
~NRK~
She kissed her teeth, closing the phone. "Fucking humans," she hissed as she turned away from her bathroom sink with a glare. "It seems like we'll need to get rid of them soon."
In time, unfortunately. With the Medici's, unfortunate, numerous resources, she was sure that just attacking the main tower wouldn't be enough.
She'd need more…
'Albus and Horace should have some ideas, they might even know some 'people' to get us into places we can't go,' it was a thought.
As she got up, she considered her first course of action.
Meet up with the child, Cerebella, tomorrow and follow the trail to that man.
She smirked as she dropped her robes, nubile body on display as she walked out into her penthouse suite, not shying away from the flying blimps, possible helicopters, or even the scant plane.
This was a sacred view that likely only those who could reach the skies could even see, she might as well bless them a bit.
"If I'm to work with that child, I'll need to keep my motives away from her and the Medicis' eyes," she walked past a large 'King'-sized bed with all manners of cards sent to her by her adoring fanbase, the name 'Eliza' written on every single one. "But I can mask this as finding that Obito boy for both our goals," she bit her finger with an euphoric expression.
"This meal will likely be DIVINE."
~NRK~
She huffed as she finished stretching before a small figure sprung up from her couch with an open laptop on it, coming over with his stubby legs.
He was a small white 'rabbit plush' with no eyes and a big mouth full of teeth that held a familiar yellow eye.
"Sagan," the green-haired young woman lifted up the 'plush' as he kept waving his arms around. "... what?" She blinked again. "You can't sense it?!"
Sagan shook his head and she frowned, putting him down before going to her dressing closet.
"Then, we'll have to do this the old-fashioned way," she said as she pulled out a green outfit. "What's the latest news?"
The eye within the 'plush's' mouth glowed before she hummed.
"A new house? Oh, it's Empire-styled. Okay, I guess we'll stake out and approach him when we know he's there."
~NRK~
Squigly and Leviathan kept slinking, the alleyways of the bright city of New Meridian still a good enough cover for them.
"So, we're going to approach her?" She asked her Parasite who hummed.
"It's the best path of action we have," he said as they traveled to Maplecrest. "The Skull Savior, I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean but he's celebrated in some magnitude so I can assume it has a good connotation behind it," he told his Host who nodded. 'Still, what will this mean?'
They didn't have the full story, much less the deep details.
All they knew, for now, was that a Medici, 'Ex-Medici' notwithstanding, had tamed the Skullgirl in some fashion… and yet the Medicis were nowhere to be seen.
What madness had they been reborn into?
~NRK~
"For now, we'll have to deal with it as it comes," Obito said. "... Actually, Marie, you'll likely be sleeping over with Patricia for the next couple of weeks," he added as she perked up.
"R-Really?! W-What changed?" She asked, her hopeful expression softening Parasoul's gaze.
'So, the one she knew before,' it was honestly rather saddening to think a child had been preyed upon rather painfully.
She hadn't deserved this, no one deserved what the Skull Heart would do to them. Not Marie.
And especially not the Renior Queen.
"Hmph, for now, yes. It's safer for you there, anyway," Obito said as Marie nodded.
"What about you, father?"
"Well, there's a place I'll be staying. It's newly constructed and should be a good vantage point for me," Obito smirked. "You'll see it soon, for now, let's focus on your skills."
"Ours, too!" Umbrella said as Parasoul frowned a bit.
"Umbrella," she said with reproach as the girl waved her off.
"Come on! Why not?! I mean, think about it! Me and Mars could totally be workout buds!" She said as Marie blinked.
"Mars?"
"It's ma new nickname for ya!"
"... I don't mind 'Mars'."
"Awesome!"
Parasoul's flat expression said it all. "Hmm," Obito leaned near her. "Does it have something to do with how… curious she is to my senses?" He asked as her eyes widened before they dropped a bit, the woman sighing.
"... I'll tell you in private, for now, let's just say her being similar to Marie is more than anyone could imagine," Parasoul said and he hummed.
"... I understand your concerns, maybe not fully, I've not exactly had a child for that long," she smirked a bit at that. "But I believe that learning full control will help them more in the long run."
"Speaking from personal experience?"
"Oh definitely and, besides, who better to learn such experience from but me? I can handle anything they can throw at me, Parasoul, I doubt there's much that Umbrella could dish out that could compare to an actual Skullgirl."
That was likely true… but she also knew that Obito would need to know the full details before being able to grasp his concept.
"... Fine, for now, Umbrella," she said to her little sister who gasped with big eyes.
"YES! We've got this, Hungern!" She squealed.
*Wiggle*
"... I'm curious, is not 'Hungern' an extremely powerful Living Weapon?" Marie asked Parasoul who nodded. "How is she holding him?"
"She's… special, Marie," the woman said as Umbrella snickered. "Trust me, I'm going to inform your father as much as I can about Umbrella before he can truly train her… actually," Parasoul looked suddenly intrigued. "Obito, you can seal things, can't you?"
"... Ah, I see where you're going with this," he said. "Of course, anything can be sealed, I just need to understand the concept of what I'm sealing. Hell, I seal my own powers often if you'd believe it."
"You do?" Marie asked. "Father, why?"
"Well, it keeps me off anyone's radar if they have sensory abilities, though that's mostly moot when I'm moving in public now. That said, it's been a secret weapon for me for years, I'll likely not be doing it anymore now."
Marie thinks she gets it. "I think I get it."
"That's fine. Now, Umbrella?" The girl in question perked up.
"Bring it, sifu!" She said with a grin as Obito raised a brow.
"Sifu, huh?" Basically 'sensei' but in Empire Dialect. "Well, for the foreseeable future, I suppose that's fair. When it comes to me training you all, it'll likely be four times a week. I want you all to get something out of this while being able to rest in between. After today, I'll probably set up specific dates in the week where I can train you, Marie, Carol, and Filia together. Not just for efficiency but to give you all different sparring partners when you can handle it."
"Sounds rad!"
"Hmm, for today, I want to test both your and Marie's physical abilities. Parasoul, do you have machines for these kinds of things or should I just do this my way?"
"We do," she said as there was a murmur from across the way where a familiar group of individuals brought over some machines. "Ah, there they are."
"MORNING!" The most notable members of the Black Egrets had arrived.
"Good mornin', sir, ma'am!" Molly said with a big grin. "I've got all the Stats Machines! They're ready to be used whenever!"
"Good. For now, we can test their power, speed, energy readings," Parasoul looked hesitant on that one. "Reaction speeds, and general combat capabilities."
"Alright, we'll be doing only the physical tests, anyway," Obito said as she looked a bit relieved. "So, Marie, Umbrella… I want you both to only do this with your physical bodies until I say otherwise," he continued as Molly rolled forward what looked like a giant punching machine.
"Here! Hit this baby with as much force as you can muster, girls! In fact," Molly's head turned to Obito who shrugged. "NICE!"
"Is this your true strength?" Parasoul asked him, curiously.
"Mostly, that transformation of mine isn't much of a boost to all my physical skills," Obito said.
"But metaphysical ones?"
"You're as smart as I remember."
Parasoul smirked at him while Molly snickered along with Umbrella, Marie tilting her head in interest.
'Adults are so… flirty,' she grew a bit red. "S-So, we just… hit it?" Marie asked.
"Yes, I'd assume so," Obito said as he stepped up to the machine. "Let me teach you about proper reinforcement, Marie," he instructed as she perked up.
"Reinforcement?"
"Yes, think of it like this," Obito said. "Within me, my power is certainly active but it's not 'in use'. I'm normally just above-average in comparison to most races," he told her as her mouth dropped. "Now, don't get me wrong, my ability to reinforce my body is basically instantaneous so it's not like I won't be combat ready but perfecting that skill is likely what I'll have you working on. Now, watch."
He widened his stance with his fist held back before he unleashed it forward.
The blow rocked some of the taut chains on it and Molly tilted her head.
"You're almost as strong as that 'Beowolf' guy from wrestling!" She said in awe while Obito hummed.
"This man sounds rather incredible, even as I am, I'm not lacking peak physical condition nor passively-enhanced abilities."
"Hmm," Parasoul observed with interest before stepping forward, Obito's eyebrows rising before they lowered with a hum. "..." she blushed a bit. "I'm wearing spats, mister."
"I didn't say anything."
"You're a piece of work."
"Among the best," he smirked as she pouted a bit, Umbrella shooting the two a look of utter disbelief.
"Hungern, what the heck is this?!" She whispered in utter shock. "T-This goes beyond googly eyes!"
*wiggle*
"I know!"
Marie blushed at the weapon's 'whispers'.
"It's not like that," she mumbled.
"Hehehehe~." Molly snickered as Roxy smirked from the side of the machine. "Come on, chief! We'll see how you and your beau compare."
Parasoul blushed, fiddling with Krieg's handle before nodding with as much posture as she could manage.
Obito sweatdropped once he found Krieg in his hands, locking… 'eye' with the weapon.
It 'danced' and he was left utterly baffled.
"Um, hello?"
"Take your shot, princess!" Molly cheered on as Parasoul nodded.
Obito hummed before raising a brow at the 'feeling' within Parasoul. "Parasoul?"
"Internal energy and science," she told him with a smirk as he raised a brow.
"It's simple, Mr. Uchiha," Adam said. "All creatures on the planet have some form of internal power and you can even say that Living Weapons helped that theory along."
"Through the act of observin' 'em, we were able to understand somethin'," Roxy grinned. "The power of the soul."
Obito was intrigued. "Spiritual power," he said as Parasoul nodded.
"Through working with Krieg," she told him. "We realized that he synchronizes with my soul, the Living Weapons of the entire Royal Family have dealt with this phenomenon for generations, and that fact made my soul… more powerful for lack of a better word," Parasoul smiled. "I'm still human, completely, but I can push my limits more than most other humans like those with 'Spirit Skills' in the Empire. A little studying allowed me to make use of my full capabilities."
Obito was impressed. "I can tell, you're one of the most notable fighters of our kingdom, after all," he nodded as she smiled.
"It's been a long septet of years… though," she blushed a bit. "You see, I trained in every fashion to defeat the Skullgirl… but, well," Parasoul told him candidly.
"I understand, without that threat, it's odd to think about the power you've gained right?"
"Of course."
"In this regard, I sadly don't know what to tell you, you've power and that's the simple truth, Parasoul," Obito shrugged. "If nothing else, find another goal to pursue with it, perhaps you'll enter competitions," she chuckled as he smirked. "Maybe you'll be prepared for the Emperor?"
"Oh, about that," Molly said as he looked at her. "The meeting with him is in two weeks."
"I can imagine he'll be making his move-"
"Um, no, actually," Adam rubbed the back of his head as Obito blinked while Parasoul gasped. "You and ma'am might have been a bit preoccupied but, well, it's the most damndest thing."
"He wants to meet you," Parasoul elaborated as Obito blinked at her in confusion. "He's said nothing more about it, Obito, but he seems dead set on meeting you as well as myself."
Obito frowned. "Is he going to make claims for the Skull Heart?"
"Sadly, we don't know and it'd be best if we didn't assume, either," Roxy said. "So, you comin'?"
"... I might as well, though I don't want Marie anywhere near him. I'd trust her more around newscasters than the Emperor."
"Golden."
"Hmm, perhaps she could… sleepover with that Patricia girl like you said? With Umbrella?" Parasoul offered as Marie perked up and Umbrella gasped.
"S-Serious?! You're the best, sis!" The rain coat-wearer jumped for joy. "Hungern! We're gonna have a sleepover!"
*Wiggle*
"I know!"
"R-Really, father?" Marie asked and Obito nodded with a smile.
"It's for the best. You two shouldn't have to deal with, well, the Emperor. You because it's not something you're prepared for and, Umbrella, for basically the same reasons but because she's also too young."
"I-I understand."
"Alright!"
"Hmph, we've put off your demonstration for long enough," Obito said as Parasoul nodded. "So, I'm curious, is it something you activate or is it passive?"
"Passive."
The kick that slammed into the machine rocked its frame a bit, getting an impressed nod out of Obito.
"I see, I see, nice form and legs."
"Quiet you," she blushed a decent bit before pouting. "I didn't realize you were some manner of pervert, O-bi-to."
"On occasion, PRINCESS," he shot back with a smirk. "Now, please move, I want to actually put in some effort."
"You're one Royal Decree away from banishment."
"... I could make a very crass joke but there are children around," Obito's smirk remained as Parasoul burned up. "So, apologies, your chambers will have to w-"
"Obito, I swear to the GODDESS!"
"Yes, yes."
Adam coughed off to the side while Roxy laughed, Molly blushed, and Panzerfaust just saluted.
It was important to keep their image, he thinks.
He smirked, rolling his shoulder as he looked at her results before comparing it to his previous one.
[305]
[235]
'So, at bases, she's stronger than me,' that was actually rather incredible.
And from what he knew of Living Weapons, she could get stronger.
He smirked before the group watched as spiraling blue energy tore across his form.
"So, this power… what is this?" Roxy asked him as he smirked, looking away from the surprised Molly's small tablet. "We've observed your readings and this isn't magic… it's not spiritual energy, spiritual arts, increased vitality, or anything."
"... It's a mix of two of those," Obito said simply. "And that's not the only odd event about my powers," the blue glow coming off him cracked the ground. "The mix of spiritual energy and enhanced vitality, it's an odd mix but it's not the only thing. My body fuses it specially," like a 'Chakra Kekkei Genkai'.
He made 'chakra' that couldn't exist normally.
"You're becoming more curious by the day," Adam said. "A special body with special energy and a transformation that I assume brings it to its maximum?"
"Yes, Altered State is like removing all the limiters on the human body. Not like Ferals and their enhanced limits nor like magic's odd channels but like having my energy's limits unleashed all at once. That's why the change is so drastic."
"... flame energy?" Parasoul tried.
"Nope, try again," Obito said teasingly as she rolled her eyes.
"Demonstrations. Now, SIR."
"You win some, you lose some. Alright," Obito reared back his fist as his chakra vanished from view.
"Hit it when you're ready!" Molly said with intense eyes, watching her screen and her 'Punch-Out' Machine in tandem. 'What's the increase? Just how powerful can he become?'
Obito let loose.
And the floor around the machine cratered, his punch's more downward direction keeping it from hitting anyone.
But the [1500] made that completely missable.
"DAMN!"
Roxy whistled. "Whelp, that's… damn," she blinked while Parasoul cupped her chin in surprise.\
"I wanna beat it!" Umbrella said with excitement as Marie tilted her head before looking down at her hand. "See?! Even Mars wants to!"
"... I-I'd like to be as strong," Marie admitted. "Father's strong, he's likely fully capable…" She frowned before closing her hands. "... M-Mm!" She focused.
She thought about all the times she used the Skull Heart's powers, energy, and skills.
Marie glowed a slowly fluctuating blue glow with an ephemeral white outline, Molly turning her tablet from Obito to the glowing girl.
"... Golly Gosh!" She gasped as the readings on the girl slowly rose more and more, approaching Parasoul's own vitality levels. "S-She's certainly getting stronger!" How strong? Molly didnt know.
Obito's Sharingan activated and he watched with interest, eyebrows shooting into his hairline while Parasoul stood at his side.
"What do you see?" She asked him.
"... likely something even more incredible than my own 'mixture'," he said as her eyes widened and he nodded.
Marie pulled on her core and body, the feelings familiar but so much more difficult now.
"I-It's hard!" She said to herself, the air around her hissing in rebellion. 'I-It's so difficult.'
Then she blinked as she found a familiar man, her father, kneeling in front of her.
"Focus, Marie," he said as he ruffled her hair, confusing his child. "It's gonna be hard but nothing comes from things being easy. Focus."
She did, she really was trying.
Obito observed his daughter for a bit before nodding and reaching out to place a single finger to the center of her chest.
Marie looked confused.
"Focus," he whispered and she gasped a bit at the feeling of… his energy at that point on her sternum. "Focus only on this point. I can feel it, I can see it, Marie, you've power that could easily outstrip my own but you need to focus it, temper it, control it before you can make the largest step towards your goals."
Her eyes widened and that fluctuating goal pulsed before settling around her like an extra 'outline', the girl gasping as she looked down at her hands in shock and awe while blushing at the very presence of her own abilities.
"F-Father, I…"
"You did it," Obito answered with a smirk as she perked up in excitement. "But you've got a lot more in your future if you're to get it under control. Right now, I'm sure it's straining you, you're feeling the presence of it but you'll soon find it overbearing. Your own power shouldn't do that and so we'll need to expound on it," he got up as she looked up at her parent.
At her teacher, her 'rock', and her future.
"Come on, you need to hit it so we can truly see just what we're working with."
Marie nodded rapidly hurrying over-
She tripped in front of the machine, blinking as the uplifted gravel under her chin in shock.
Obito whistled from ten meters away.
"You've got a lot to work on," he chuckled before coming over and lifting his surprised daughter up onto her feet and a quick application of wind chakra blew away any possible dirt. "Now, focus," Obito turned her around to face the machine. "And just hit it."
Marie blinked before nodding resolutely, Obito stepping back while Parasoul moved to stand by him with Umbrella cheering the older child on.
"You got this, Mars!" She grinned as her sister hummed.
"You're an amazing father, I wasn't aware you were this good with children," the oldest Renior smiled as Obito smirked a bit.
"You'd be surprised to know, I did help raise my nephew and her friend a bit. With my brother wanting some alone time with his wife, at times, I would babysit and it was an eye-opening experience," he told her as she considered him.
"Curious."
"... you're gonna make me blush."
Parasoul smirked. "That'd be a sight to see."
Then there was a 'CRUNCH!' before they turned back to Marie and stared at her results.
"U-Um!" She blushed a bit at the small indent in the punching pad portion of the machine. "I-I did it, d-dad."
Obito raised a brow at the change in 'title' before looking at her score.
"... she's got a lot of potential," Parasoul noted.
[745]
~NRK~
The day following that event saw Marie and Obito inside of a familiar apartment living room-turned-doctor's office.
Wearing some casual kimonos, light blue for her and dark blue for him, with some normal sandals on, Marie sat on the adult-sized gurney while Obito stood at the back of it.
Easter came over with an array of tools in her nurse outfit. "Now, youngin, I know this might all look scary at first-go," she smiled calmly as she placed the items down. "But trust in Ol' Easter here, she knows quite a thing or two about handlin' children your age."
Marie nodded but still looked nervous.
"It's fine, I'm here if anything happens," Obito reminded her and she took a deep breath before nodding.
Watching from behind the divide of the kitchen and walkway between, Brain Drain's eyes glowed as he recorded everything.
"This will be new," he told his wife, Christmas, who nodded.
"If we can learn about the Skull Heart's effects on Marie, we might be able to predict more than we ever expected," she told him as he nodded.
"Hmph," Valentine grunted flatly as Hallow kept mixing syringes. "Is now the time for that?"
"What if I get inspiration?" She asked her in defense. "This will become my greatest creation if we can get some samples and make use of them."
The taller woman rolled her eye. "Right and he'd let that happen."
"You think he's open to an exchange of fluids?"
"..." Valentine's eyebrow twitched dangerously. "Hallow-"
"Oh, please, you could get a shot at him, too, I'm not selfish."
"Lying bitch," Patty said flatly. "As if we'd believe ya."
"Excuse me?" Valentine gaped at her shorter comrade who huffed.
"It's not exactly like I'm swimming in dic-"
"I don't want to hear it!"
"Prude."
Obito rolled his eyes so hard they nearly slammed out of his sockets. 'Talk about frisky women,' Lord knows that he wouldn't do it, for Marie's sake.
Maybe… if he wasn't pursuing Parasoul, he'd have 'made a pact' to get some.
He did get kind of 'lonely' sometimes.
Marie's check-up went fine, all things considered, the only thing left being her blood sample which… well.
It came with curious results.
"Now, under oath, I'm required to ask you both if you are willing to part with this," Easter said in shock, looking at the glowing blood under a blacklight, Brain Drain observing from the side of the small observation table they'd pulled out.
"It's shining! What in the world is this?" He wondered as he looked at Obito and Marie, the girl sporting a small blue bandage with a flower on it while also humoring a big lollipop in her mouth. "Any ideas?"
Marie turned to her father who smirked.
"Well, recently, we were training with Parasoul-"
"You were what?" Valentine asked in disbelief as the others followed suit in looking gobsmacked. "E-Excuse me?!"
"... Oh," Obito blinked before rubbing the back of his head. "Among other things, I asked to use her Egrets Training Grounds to help train Marie."
"N-No, hold on! How in the world did that dame let you do that?!" Patty asked.
"... You'd be surprised to know we went to the same high school."
"You did?" The entire group asked.
"Wait, hold on, how the hell did they not realize a Medici was… oh, duh, forgeries," Hallow realized. "That's not concerning or anything."
"Outside of some businesses, they don't use that expertise often if that helps," Obito said. "Anyway, Marie's been left with some of the power of the Skull Heart."
"WHAT?!"
"..."
He explained in vague details about her true capabilities but did divulge the make-up of her powers.
"No wonder," Brain Drain realized. "Composed of all matter, I'd assume it left its imprint because of just how impossible of a mixture it is."
"Still, in that regard, what does it mean?" Christmas asked and Obito crossed his arms in thought.
"I don't know," he said. "It's not like she can sense the Skull Heart, it's literally in another dimension."
"Wow, we're throwing that around, are we?"
"Yes. For now, we'll just have to see how she progresses."
~NRK~
The following night, Obito sat on the side-yard of his new home.
It was a 60 x 60 foot monster of an estate that was mostly enclosed on all sides save for the side and backyard.
Bearing a dark blue-shingled roof, tan-colored wooden walls, floors, and posts, a pond on the side, and a large space for the back, he hummed in his black yukata.
"So, will you be coming out now or should I just enjoy the moon some more?" He asked the night air, one half of his yukata hanging off his side as he formed random wooden sculptures from the wood paneling around him.
There was the sound of shuffling before someone vaulted the six-foot wooden fence around his estate.
"Hmph! I guess if you're as strong as the videos would show, you would be able to tell if I was there," a short figure said as she stood up and dusted off her clothes. "Good evening, citizen."
Obito raised a brow.
Wearing a long-sleeved green dress with a yellow star on her chest, thigh-high green boots, an eyepatch over her right eye with a yellow star, and a… plush? Was an odd young woman.
"Annie of the Stars, yes?" He asked her as she came forward before standing in front of the ex-Medici. "... Hmm," Obito really raised a brow at her. "So… even someone like you isn't a normal person?"
Annie blinked as Sagan latched onto her neck. "... I guess you have been meeting a lot of curious individuals as of late," she said as she crossed her arms and closed her eyes only to blink as Obito pat the place next to him, wooden creations slipping back into the floor. "... I guess you are from the Empire…"
"It's only manners from that kingdom," he said as she came over and sat down, the man replacing his yukata top before folding his arms into his sleeves. "So, what can I do for you, odd Annie?"
"Please don't say that," she groaned as he raised a brow. "... You don't seem like a bad guy despite your upbringing, no offense."
"None taken."
"... Huh," Annie's shoulders relaxed a bit. "So, lay it on me straight-"
"That'd be a crime."
"Shove it, smart butt, I ain't no snowflake," Obito raised an amused brow as she huffed. "You can tell, can't you?"
"Your energy is old, Annie of the Stars," he emphasized.
"Whoa there, hold on, I am human. It's just… darn it," she groaned as Obito blinked. "Look, there's a whole story there, I'm sure you'd know it."
"I… would?" He asked.
"... O-Oh," she blushed. "You probably didn't… I just assumed you watched my show."
"Apologies, I didn't really watch a lot of TV growing up."
"No, I get that, I assume Lorenzo's way of teaching his kid would be to not let them get brainwashed by common TV."
"Perhaps but I didn't really get raised by him, not much," Obito admitted as she shot him a look. "... For the sake of also keeping things vague or not, I suppose, I wasn't really raised by him."
"I guess even inside there's issues?"
"Well," Obito didn't look sure. "For the sake of some clarity, on the honest side? Lorenzo isn't a bad father, a horrible person, yes, but not a bad father. I mean, Marcus has been estranged for years but he doesn't hate him, not in the slightest, he even sends gifts for Filia's birthdays."
Annie blinked, looking completely confused. "... I guess I would get it, not every horrid person is going to be that way to everyone in their lives, I've lived long enough to know that."
"Willing to divulge your age?"
"Should you be asking a lady her age?"
He snorted as she smirked. "Probably not."
"... I've been alive for centuries," she admitted to him as Obito frowned softly. "Heh, you never really think about it a lot, I didn't by the first tenth year that passed, but it's sometimes hard to…" Annie frowned as Obito looked at her with intent. "... If you watched the show or even know the folktales, a young girl 'wished upon' by her Skullgirl mother to remain young forever."
"My God, I'm sorry for you," Obito said as she grinned a bit.
"Hey, I know what a pity party feels like, I've had tons of those."
"..."
"Bad joke?"
"I don't want to laugh at your suffering, that won't help even if it feels like it would at the time."
"Dang, are you trying to teach me something?" Annie asked him as Obito smirked a bit. "... Huh, you do own that smirk. You wouldn't believe it but internet forums are all about you."
Obito's face went blank. "I don't like the sound of that."
"Oh, definitely, some real perverted ladies there."
"Damn. On you, again," she smirked and he rolled his eyes. "Ignoring that, I'm just curious. Didn't you look for an Artifact that might let you… well."
"Hit the proverbial eternal hay? I… A few times," Annie admitted with a frown. "There is, supposedly, an Artifact that can do it but," she blushed and Obito raised a brow. "So, okay, here's the thing, I was 'wished upon' to stay a child forever… I-I can't curse, say innuendos in full, or e-even… grow up," she found the words, eyebrow twitching as Obito blinked thrice.
"Ah… I see."
"The thing is, I'm not a kid in mind but… I-I've always wanted to, at the very least, start a family. It's… it's the woman in me, I want to BE A WOMAN but that wish is a curse. I can't do anything like this!" She growled, looking down at her clawed-up hands. "D-Dangit!"
"..." Obito considered the 'Eternal Girl' for a moment. "... it's not my expertise," he began as she flinched. "But, perhaps, this isn't a guarantee… but I could possibly see about helping you."
The desperate look that turned his way actually pulled on his heartstrings of all things.
"R-Really?" Weak and small, Obito really understood what the… woman next to him meant.
She couldn't 'release stress' in all the ways her mind would be capable of, the way her adult mind would be capable of.
Humans were slightly perverse beings, no matter how truly celibate they were, eventually the mind went to 'SEX' and 'PLEASURE' inevitably.
And Annie had likely been that way for hundreds of years, possibly even getting close to a thousand… and he now wondered if she'd 'broken' somewhat by this point.
Was her show really just for the sake of telling the tales and protections from the Skull Heart? Or was it also a way for her to just tell the truth while not being obvious about it?
"I know people, scientists, individuals with odd powers, and more who could help you, hopefully, but you know that'd mean… the truth," she flinched. "Though, I can guarantee this, all of these people would be able to keep your secret, they're not necessarily 'on the radar' if you get my drift."
Annie swallowed at the idea, looking down at Sagan before petting the Remote Parasite.
"... I'm that desperate," she realized in embarrassment. "I-I don't know if this is right or not, I've lived for so many years and I'm not sure."
"It's a big thing to hear, Annie, I can't blame you for feeling hope but also concern."
"It's so stupid, I'm really just some… b-big perv!"
"... perhaps."
"Aren't you supposed to be helping me feel better?"
"Is that another bad joke?"
"..." She snorted. "Hahahahaha! Maybe, I don't get to make those often, it's weird to be able to," Annie let out a sigh. "Do you know which one is the most trustworthy?"
Obito smiled.
Then there was a dispersal of dirt in front of them before what had to be a zombie popped out of the ground.
"..."
"..."
"..." Squigly blinked before looking at the two blinking individuals. "... U-Um… sorry," she 'squeaked', fiddling with her bony and not-bony digits.
Then, Leviathan popped out and things just got confusing.
"Um, excuse me?" Annie asked and Squigly looked at her before gasping.
"A-Aren't you Annie of the Stars?!"
"Uh, yeah, I am… I don't have zombie fans, do I? Because that's a demographic I think we should know about."
"Apologies," the serpent Theon said as Obito blinked at him. "You see, sir, madam, there's just a small situation with us that we hope you can shed some light on."
"... You're a Theon, correct?" Obito asked and the Theon stared in disbelief.
"H-How do you know that title?! I-I… are you also from The Time Before?"
"I'm sensing capitals on those last three words," Annie told Obito who raised a brow.
"I believe there's a lot of things that need discussing," he said as the zombie girl popped out of the ground. "..."
"O-Oh! Sorry!" Squigly blushed, looking embarrassed and sheepish. "I-I don't, people will think things went crazy due to me being a zombie and all."
"So, even now, the Skull Heart's power calls on you?"
"I believe you are a bit mistaken, sir," Leviathan said as Obito hummed. "Well, that is, there's an explanation that might sound unrealistic."
"I've literally just met an Eternal Girl, trust me, a lot of things are more believable than you think," Obito said as the Theon blinked.
"I don't follow."
"He means me, Annie of the Stars," Annie said and the Theon blinked while Squigly squealed a bit.
"I loved her show as a kid, Leviathan!"
"Yes, I… I can assume so," Leviathan said. "I believe we're in need of more details, what in the world is happening? When Squigly and I awake, it's usually when the Skull Heart is active but I don't see it unless the one called 'Marie' still holds it?"
Obito gave the full rundown on that particular deal, pulling and putting back the Doom Capsule for the sake of emphasis. Squigly and Leviathan giving their own story despite how shocked they were.
"Whoa, that's crazy," Annie said as Sagan jumped up and down. "It's in there… in another dimension?" She asked in utter disbelief. "I-I've seen only glimpses of stuff like that and those weren't as… clean as yours is."
"..."
"Yes, I'm sorry, but it was so easy."
"Annie, I'm disappointed," Obito rolled his eyes as she snickered. "So, that's the current situation with the Skull Heart, the former Skullgirl, and myself."
Leviathan's jaw just stayed dropped while Squigly covered her mouth.
"T-That all sounds incredible but, still…" He looked embarrassed. "I don't blame you, it's better that it's sealed away instead of just arising again… but that leaves us in a predicament," Leviathan told them as Annie and Obito nodded.
"If it never gets destroyed but doesn't go away, what do we do?" Squigly asked. "I'm… I'm dead," she told them. "There isn't any coming back to life for me."
Obito considered her for a moment while Leviathan perked up.
"C-Could you?"
"I don't know, Leviathan, I'm not a miracle worker but, perhaps, if you have a soul it should work?" Obito considered as Squigly tilted her head while Annie hummed.
"I see where this is heading but, in that regard, what if it just… doesn't work?" She asked the two seriously, the men humming.
"We'll have to find something to, ahem, 'live for'," the leviathan creature shook his head. "Even in such a situation, I've no idea what we'd end up doing. We're not normal and I doubt Squigly will truly be accepted back into normal society… no, even if it did work," he growled. "No offense to you, sir, but your former father is scum."
"That's the truth, I can't deny it," Obito nodded. "Still, I mean, if you'd like, you could just stay by my new estate," he smirked as they perked up.
"R-Really? I know we're not… a pleasurable sight, sir," the corpse girl said. "And we couldn't even repay you."
"We could do nightly work," Leviathan offered her and Squigly perked up. "If that could work, consider us the undying bodyguards."
"I wouldn't force you to work, it's not like I could turn away what is basically a consequence of my own actions, I'm not that kind of man," not in this lifetime. "Though, there's something else… I know another Theon by the name of 'Samson'," Leviathan gasped as Obito nodded. "And he and Marie informed me of a worrisome Parasite by the name of 'Sekhmet' who's-"
"Within the city," Leviathan growled as Squigly covered her mouth.
"Leviathan?"
"... I'm sorry, madam," he bowed his head somberly. "I know you care for her music," Squigly's heart sank. "But that woman, the one known as 'Eliza', she is a Host to probably the most horrid Parasite known to even ones like us," he turned back to Obito with a frown. "And she's here, in New Meridian?"
Obito nodded as Annie frowned deeply.
"That charity singer? What? Next you'll tell me that the Emperor's gonna wage war on the Canopy Kingdom," she scoffed.
"..." Obito rubbed the back of his head as he looked away from the three. "Well… he won't be coming here for that-"
"WHAT?!" Leviathan and Annie choked while Squigly frowned.
"What's happening, Mr. Uchiha? Why is the Emperor coming here?"
Informing them of both the man's interest, the Life Gem, Lorenzo's current situation, and the Emperor wanting to meet him, the three blinked.
"You?" Annie asked and Obito nodded.
"We don't know why, it's odd, I'm of Dragon Empire descent, that's the truth, but I've only lived there for not even long enough to make any impression."
"..." Leviathan blinked in surprise at… a 'familiar sight'. '... No… There's no way LORENZO of all people had a child with her!' That'd be rather ridiculous… and right up that piece of trash's alley. 'He doesn't know,' that likely meant his mother had not told him. "I'm curious, Mr. Uchiha, do you have a family crest?"
"Yes."
That cinched it. "I see," the literal leviathan hummed loudly.
"What? You know something?" Annie asked him. "I mean, you have been around longer than me."
"Y-Yes, well, ahem," the Theon cleared his throat before looking Obito in the eyes. "You'll likely want to be aware ahead of time," he frowned.
"For what, Leviathan?" Obito asked, running a hand through his hair, slicking it back even for a moment.
"The resemblance is uncanny," he froze at the nodding Theon. "Did you ever learn what it meant to have a family crest, Mr. Uchiha?" Annie froze in total disbelief.
"Wait… W-Wait. Hold on! Y-You're not tryin to say he's-!" She pointed at Obito who slowly grimaced.
"Goddammit, dad," oh no.
Oh shit.
"I'm confused," Squigly pouted, crossing her arms and huffing. "What is it that you all know that I don't?"
"Sorry, Squigly… this man before you, this one with a family crest and Empire blood running through his veins… is likely the son of the missing princess of the Dragon Empire."
"...?!" Squigly squealed. "Huh?!"
"There you go, he said it," Annie said, scratching her noggin. "Look, I know that there's always coincidences but… if Leviathan is right, well," she offered him her hands. "What'd you do?"
"... I don't know," Obito grimaced as he held his head with a groan. "This just made this entire situation so complicated."
"Yes, I believe that's certainly apt," Leviathan said as Squigly shot him a look. "Imagine this, madam, if the notoriously easy-to-anger Emperor were to arrive and demand his grandchild back, what is the likely outcome?" He said rhetorically as she paled somehow. "Exactly, if this ends up being the case, life in New Meridian just got tense."
"But it's not like he can do anything, right? Obito could easily just lie," Annie said. "I spent a couple years in the Dragon Empire, the Soaring City where the Emperor lives is packed with quote-unquote, 'undead soldiers' but they're not that impressive."
"Yes, they shouldn't be but the fact remains, people will be caught up in a war of one man's ego, for the second time around."
All three 'humans' winced at the implication.
"Is there anything he could do?" Squigly asked. "Mr. Uchiha is a nice man, I don't understand why he'd have to listen to him. He's an adult!"
"Yeah, well, being an adult would certainly help matters," Annie grumbled.
"It's, sadly, not that simple," Obito said. "I can literally just ignore him, he can't do anything to me that I won't allow. That said, his temper is our problem. Though, I can just hypnotize him and have him forget me but then I'd be left worried about what'd happen if he tells his entourage about me."
"It'd be an international conflict that could very well cover the lands between both countries once more," Leviathan sighed. "For all our sake, I hope you can come up with something."
Obito agreed.
He hoped he had an idea for this… but that was for later.
For now?
~NRK~
"Look at her! It's good ol' Annie!" Peacock grinned as she laid on some pillows with Marie and Umbrella, the three in their pajamas. "Why, you'd think this show would get old but it doesn't!"
"It's like she's got real life adventures!" Umbrella snickered as Hungern wiggled next to her pillow. "I know!"
"Hmm," Marie smiled even as Big Band hung back with Leduc and the others.
"This got away from us pretty quick, B," Leduc said, his chef's apron shifting as he held a plate full of sandwiches in his hands. "Also, do you think I should make more?"
"Life's crazy," Big Band said. "And 'probably' to your last question, those toons over there are bound to eat us out of house and home."
There was then a swirl in the air, leaving them curious along with Dr. Avian as he walked over.
"Oh? Perhaps he needs to tell his daughter something," the scientist considered as Obito, Annie, and Squigly were deposited. "... What did you bring to my lab? This is all interesting but I'm now worried about what will come next."
Obito smiled apologetically. "Apologies, I was just wondering if we could talk about something serious and possibly life-changing for these two," he gestured behind him, his voice gaining Umbrella's, Marie's, and Peacock's attention.
"Dad-Annie of the Stars?!" Marie choked while Peacock and Umbrella's mouths dropped. "What's going on?!"
"Hmm? Oh, she's a fan? Crazy world we live in," Annie said without too much fanfare. "Nice to meet ya, I guess your dad had you stay somewhere else for safety, he's a smart guy."
"Howling howitzer! How in the hay do you know Annie?!" Peacock called out in shock and awe, Avery, her bird companion/summon/'imagination' coming out of her hair with a similar shocked expression. "What are ya?! Did ya have her on yer ol' family's dime?!"
"What? Patricia, no," Obito facepalmed as Annie smirked while Squigly tilted her head curiously. "There's a… well, it's not long but there's a BIG story behind this… maybe."
"Hmph, I had to figure out what was actually going on with you," Annie pointed at Marie. "And your dad, here, I guess he knew I was staking out?"
"Oh, immediately."
"Good for my ego, the point is, well, me and him discussed some things and he informed me that, maybe, he and you guys could help me with a… long time issue I've been having."
"Us?" Big Band asked while Annie blinked.
"Are you, uh, a robot? Or is that insensitive?" She asked, rubbing the back of her head.
"It's a whole story likely like, and not, yours."
"... S-So, what's her deal?" Umbrella asked, Hungern wiggling in excitement. "It's really her, Hungern!" She squealed.
"So, how can we help you, young lady?" Avian asked as Annie's mouth slowly settled into a smirk while Obito snorted and Squigly giggled a bit. "... Apologies, are you… well, young lady?" He asked the corpse girl who smiled kindly.
"I'm undead."
"Ah, I see, well, that's no reason to… apologies?"
"Also, 'young lady' doesn't really work for us," Annie smirked as the group blinked. "Doc, I'm easily older than everyone in this room combined."
There was silence before chaos.
The chatter, shock, squeals, and stares had Obito rolling his eyes while Annie grinned.
"You must honestly not get a lot of fun out of your career," he said.
"A bit but nothing like this," she smirked.
~NRK~
There we go, really wanted to get this one out since yesterday so I was kinda super-focused.
Ciao.
~NRK Out~