[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]間違い

[attr="class","skullbody"]Seconds ticked away as Thea let the hours pass in her collection of stolen memory. Her outing the other afternoon with Farrin had given her a whole new collection of memories to play with, and she would likely spend the next several days like this if left to her own devices. Unfortunately, She was almost never left to her own devices.[break][break]

Her door rattled, and a sliver of her mind perked up to listen as she drifted between family vacations and corporate secrets. It only took a single syllable for the rest of her mind to stop its playback and bring her mind wholly to the present. The rest of the sentence sounded through her door; it was etched into her memory. Not that this was anything out of the of the ordinary, her mind just worked that way.[break][break]

"Just a second!" She kipped up from the floor and gave her room a quick once over in her mind. She wanted to change into something nicer than black shorts and a red tank top that was a size larger than its label would suggest. But more than that, she wanted to open the door and see what it was Mimi had brought her. In one move, she slid a pile of clothes over to the back corner of her room, hopefully out of sight, before stepping to the door a little too quickly. [break][break]

The door opened just enough for Thea to see Miroru in full before she reached an arm out, pulled the vulpine figure heedlessly into her room, and kicked the door shut behind her. The room was dark, Thea never turned on the lights, and so the only source of illumination was a narrow beam of light that peaked its way through shut curtains. Even still, Thea made sure to watch where her hands landed as she pulled Mimi in for a hug that lasted perceivably longer than most. "Hi~," she said with a lilt before releasing her.[break][break]

"Is that a fucking cactus?" She couldn't quite see it in the dim light of the room, but she'd glimpsed in right before and already was laughing at the fact that Miroru had clearly slapped a pair of googly eyes on the vase. "God, you're so dumb," she said with a smile before flicking the lights on.[break][break]

The ceiling lights flickered to life, and Thea squinted as her eyes adjusted. While it wasn't clear if she had pupils or not, it was clear she didn't take the sudden shift kindly. "Sorry, I don't really need light to navigate, so I keep it off. It's weird, I know."[break][break]

The room was bare; aside from basic necessities, there was nothing to show that anyone lived there. Special accommodations were made to grant her a room alone so that she wouldn't need to worry about her quirk going off by accident, but instead of making use of the extra space, she kept it open, which only made the room seem even less lived in. [break][break]

Taking a seat on her bed, Thea used her hand to pat a spot next to her for Mimi to sit, one that would hopefully keep the mess of clothes out of her line of site. "So, what brings you to this neck of the woods?~"[break][break]

[attr="class","skullinfo"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]間違い

[attr="class","skullbody"]Crowds always carried with them a distressing duality. On one hand, she hated the presence of so many people all at once. It made it difficult for her to tuck away into the corners of her mind and enjoy something else; anything else. But at the same time, they were a prime hunting ground for new memories, and as of late, the mentat was growing bored of her collection. [break][break]

Thea was more personable than usual as the duo made their way through the crowd. Gliding through the crowd like a pickpocket, gently tapping people on the arm or an exposed shoulder to get them to move aside. She didn't dip through the crowd as much as she seemed to slide through it, intentionally aiming for the densest parts. Not that anyone in her way minded. She made damn sure of that with a faux smile and an injection of happiness for the encounter.[break][break]

"I've never been," It wasn't exactly a lie. You'd be hard-pressed to find a place in the world she didn't have memories from. "Like, I know about it, obviously. A ton of Dominicans over there, but I've only. Only ever been to Here and the DR. Travel kinda, used to not appeal to me." She still didn't really care to travel much, but there were places back home she'd promised to show to Miroru.[break][break]

The already sparse crowds grew thinner, causing Thea to abandon her hunt as she was led to some gods-forsaken corner of Tokyo.
"I like pizza. I mean, it's not my favorite or anything, but I enjoy a good slice. We have a bunch of places back home that try to pretend they're 'New York Style,' but they're really just not." She didn't have the same enthusiasm for pizza as the time-turner did. Her tastes were more refined, or at least that's what she liked to think as she recalled the flavors of fresh cloudberries and old wine. [break][break]

"So this place we're going to, Dougie's," The name seemed silly to her as if no one would name a pizzeria like that in real life, "This some like new hole in the wall?" She searched her memory for the place, but it was nowhere to be found. The Japanese had a weird way with pizza, topping it with ingredients she found anathema to the very idea of the food. Several dozen Italian grandmothers in her memory were probably rolling in their graves at the mere thought of Squid and Mayo pizza. [break][break]

[attr="class","skullinfo"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]間違い

[attr="class","skullbody"]The exam would give no pause for debriefing as machines continued their assault on Marlene, who was oddly undisturbed by the bolts pelting her torso. Thea pondered for a moment between breaths if she would be able to take tht kind of damage. She quickly deduced that while she'd probably survive, she'd never be able to take it in the same stride as Marlene. "She's just built different, I guess." Thea thought idly as she sprinted.[break][break]

"Cover me," she commanded of Jack. There was no way for her to stop the two remaining machines from approaching, Thea had no choice to rely on the dragon boy for cover. Considering he alone had enough personality for the three of them, Thea assumed he had the energy to manage this too.[break][break]

The mentat slid to a stop, placing herself opposite Marlene as she sent reams of capture tape flying through the air and around the machine's forearms, adding her strength to Marlene's and tipping the machine over and sending it crashing into the ground. Unfortunately, Thea lacked the strength to finish the red robot as it thrashed on the ground and would have to let another deliver the final blow.[break][break]

"Listen up," she raised her voice so that her allies could hear her, "There's two dudes waiting in the wings. They're gonna jump us as soon as it looks like we're gonna clear, so save your strength. I also know where all the actors are. Follow me and we'll pass this easy." She growned as the red robot's strength began to overpower her own. "Can one of you kill this fucking thing!?"[break][break]

[attr="class","skullinfo"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]間違い

[attr="class","skullbody"]"New rule: Don't taunt Miroru with quirk." The mentat learned her lesson and would not make the same mistake again. It was better this way for both of them. It didn't matter how much she trusted Thea. Thea did not trust herself. [break][break]

She wanted to respond to the fox's naive response. There was no way that would work out. Reaching for the top when those already there are gunning for you. It would be inevitably painful when those dreams crashed down on her with the weight of her efforts behind them. Thea wasn't sure she wanted to be there when that happened. She pondered a response as she swallowed the last bite of her meal and arms wrapped themselves around her. [break][break]

Her senses expanded, and as she fell forward, time dilated, expanding as her mind stretched to absorb the rush of unexpected stimuli. The fall felt like forever, yet she couldn't bring herself to think while she had the time. "I just, I mean," she stumbled over her words as her mind operated at speeds well above what her body could handle. She hadn't exactly looked for those memories. Everyone's memories carried a sort of metadata to them. Proprioception, fragmented thought, sense of self. Things we don't know we're doing or perceiving. That's not to say she didn't peek or put two and two together. Memory was inherently a messy thing. [break][break]

"Did she just."

"Didn't we just tell her not to touch us."

"We made her blush."

"Is that what you're worried about, she's accusing us of stealing more memories."

"It's just a hug."

"You know she's joking."

"She's warm"

"We could always find out."

"It's never just a hug."

"Do we even have to answer?"

"Why would she do this"

[break][break]

She focused her mind, and the hydras head receded one by one. She didn't know what to do or how to respond. The minds within her offered no help as their cacophony grew silent. She found herself wholly in the present, unsure if she wanted to leave or stay. Fortunately for Thea, what felt like an eternity in her mind was only a few seconds outside. She realized that she left a witticism unanswered, and despite her heart racing, she had a reputation to keep.[break][break]

"I mean, can you blame me~" She almost whispered her response as she moved to lean on her side and exit the redhead's embrace. She couldn't quite figure out what Miroru's reason for such brazen trust was. Most people kept her at arm's length, but this girl was steadfast about being in arm's reach and harms way. [break][break]

"You shouldn't trust me that much. Like, I appreciate it, but." She paused, wondering how you tell someone you will inevitably hurt them. How even the people closest to Thea eventually grew distant no matter how fiercely loyal she was. "I'm sure you'll make it to the top someday. I just hope you don't get hurt on the way." "I don't want to be the one that hurts you."[break][break]

The void grew, fed by emotion. Even though Thea berated Miroru for opting to be alone, her hypocrisy in this was palpable. She didn't want to be alone. She had to be. It was better that way. For everyone.[break][break]

[attr="class","skullinfo"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]間違い

[attr="class","skullbody"]"Flan, I haven't had flan in," She paused to consider how long it had been since she'd actually physically had Flan, "too long." She realized she'd never had it at all. A lone train of thought started cataloging what experiences she'd enjoyed only through memory. Quickly the tally crept up and became a sobering realization. "Yeah, I hope I make enough to go travel too." She'd seen the world but only ever been to two countries.[break][break]

Seeing Miroru reach out into space caught Thea's attention. She replayed the moment a few times to make sure she'd got everything. As much as she hated to admit it, staring off into space and being weird was a niche market she cornered with pride. Unlike Thea's episodes, the fox snapped out of hers quickly.[break][break]

"I don't hate every rule. I mean, I hate every rule ever placed on me but, like, I have my own rules, ya know." There was a small list of rules she did follow. Or, more specifically, she tried to follow them. It's hard to follow any sort of rigid guidelines when your whole worldview ebbs and flows like the tide. "I don't hurt animals. That's one!" She said as she skewered a meatball from Miroru's box. "Always look both ways before crossing the road." An awkward laugh lept from her throat. She was already low on rules she was willing to talk about. "It's just a lot of stuff about how not to touch people and what I can and can't do after I do," she thought between blinks.[break][break]

"Besides, rules are your thing, you egg-stealing scoundrel." It was hard for Thea to imagine Miroru stealing eggs or anything for that matter. The whole idea of her as anything other than heroic was preposterous at best. The mentat was somewhat jelous of that. Despite making it all the way to UAU, she still felt like she walked a fine line. There was something inside that compelled her to do horrible things to people. "If I followed them, then who'd be left to lead you astray?" She pulled the meatball off the chopsticks with her teeth. [break][break]

"You ever think about what it would be like?" Her eyes trailed to the side. She couldn't look Miroru in the eye and ask it. "What, like, going vigi would be like." She said. "What being a villain would feel like?" She thought in tandem. Her mind replayed the last few weeks. She'd already been in altercations involving the police once she even went on patrol. In all cases, she walked the darker side of grey. Torture, the removal of free will, avoiding the police. None of these were accidents. She chose her action; she wanted to do them. "The Thea-cracy demands an answer, or else." She pointed her palm at Miroru in a faux taunt. [break][break]

[attr="class","skullinfo"]Music

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]間違い

[attr="class","skullbody"]"Well then..."[break][break]

She had no idea what else to say, given the fact that Zenkai managed to drop-kick a man while still having fresh bullet wounds. To top it off, it didn't even appear to phase Zen, who Thea was now starting to see resembled his name more than he should. [break][break]

Checking her own wound, the Mentat drew upon memories of similar injuries before concluding that the painful damage was nothing she'd have to seriously worry about. The pain faded as she overwhelmed the sensation once more. [break][break]

"Fucker was keeping secrets from his own team," She kicked the now unconscious Alexi in the stomach before entering the room they'd worked so hard to reach. [break][break]

The sound of dogs barking echoed off the wall, and the metallic stench of blood was everywhere. "This is sick, who does this?" she said, moving up to one of the cages as a dog snarled and snapped in her direction, fear and rage openly on display. "Hey hey, it's okay. Mamma's here, you're safe now." Slowly she brought her hand closer to the cage until the dog's snapping jaws touched the edge of the cage and she could press her palm against its nose. [break][break]

The two stood motionless for a moment as if they'd skipped a moment together. The dog stopped its threatening display before giving an approving bark and handing her its paw. "Good boy," her voice was meek.[break][break]

"Hey, Zen. I'm gonna calm them all down. Alexi has the key in his back pocket. Free the ones that high-five you." While her eyes betrayed no emotion, Thea's voice was a well of it. As she went from dog to dog, she appeared to get slower and more hesitant. At some point, she stopped altogether. She stared at the dog in its cage with her hollow unfeeling eyes, hand raised to repeat the process now for the dozenth time. Her eyes closed as she tried to focus her mind. A single drop ran down her cheeks and spattered on the ground along with the blood and the muck. [break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","skullinfo"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]間違い

[attr="class","skullbody"]Thea didn't consider herself a guest. When it came to realms of the mind, she felt more like a conquerer, a tyrant, a queen. But in this place, Thea felt like an unwelcome invader. She continued to toss tomes aside, despite the repeated bops to the head she received. Her stubbornness wouldn't let her take it in stride. "Fuck you," she spat in response to the repeated meeting of book to head. She continued to multiply, spreading and growing like a cancer. [break][break]

It wasn't until Marlene's face took over a whole side of the library that she stopped to pay attention. "Damn, you're huge." They turned as a collective to look the massive face in the eye.[break][break]

Taking the tape, the mentat reviewed it quickly before casting it aside. "Yeah, it's the same as what I remember. Fuck," Her copies stormed around, searching for something, anything that could give her direction as to why she was getting these memories. She didn't even stop to consider what it was that drove her to this extreme. Not even Farrin provoked this reaction when be so much as admitted to having the same go on with his sense through time. [break][break]

She wandered the isles for a while, how long she didn't know. A quick examination of the outside world informed her that only a few seconds had passed. In here, time lost all meaning. [break][break]

Eventually, she encountered an isle between the isles. it existed only as a fragment of memory disconnected from the space around it. Thea approached it, but she felt her head begin to ache, her breathing becoming heavy. Everything in her was telling her that this was something she should not approach. That was precisely why she had to.[break][break]

"What are these?" Thea looked at the machine girl. Her voice distorted and broken as if mere proximity to the isle was unraveling her. [break][break]

Regardless of the answer, she would push forwards. Copies throughout the library began dissipating. She needed her whole focus for whatever this was. Memetic hazards were in place, though she was able to unravel them as simply as she would her own. She couldn't think of anyone else capable of something like this. It had to be her work; she had to of been here before. [break][break]

[attr="class","skullinfo"]Paroxysm