[And so they go in and you don't. Talk or something.] * Rei watches them go, then goes back to monitoring BOX and Iron Waffle. "So... Prof," she says, "Um. How've ya been?" Not bad. I forgot to mention. Happy Birthday. * Rei looks up at Peter and smiles. "Thanks. Didn't think I'd hear it comin' from you. No offense or anything, it just looks like you're always so worried about everything else that you forget about little things like birthdays, even when you're at the party." I.. actually did get you a present. I may be a grouchy old man, but I'm not heartless. * Rei blinks and looks genuinely surprised. "You didn't have to." * Peter pulls a package out of his briefcase. It's rather obviously a book, although it's covered. "Here. Sorry if it's a bit late." * Rei grins. "Thanks!" She takes it, glances down at the monitors to make sure all is going according to plan, and starts unwrapping it. "It's okay, I tried to make my birthday a surprise, but that didn't really happen, and you probably knew when my birthday was anyway, 'cause you have files on us and stuff, I bet." * Rei stares at the book. "Prof." * Peter rubs the back of his head. "I.. honestly didn't know what to get you. I thought it would be amusing." * Rei looks at the professor, then breaks into that manic grin of hers and waves the book - Developing Your Psychic Potential - at him. You'd better watch it, Prof! Someone might start thinking you've got a sense of humor! Yes, we couldn't have that. * Rei laughs. "Thanks again, Prof. I'll be sure to read this. Might even work!" That would be a deep surprise. * Rei 's eyes twinkle. "Ya never know." She pauses, then puts the book to her cheek and looks back at the house. "I hope they get this guy. I really do. You know how many people play these games?" Not.. of the top of my head I'm afraid. Millions. Not all of 'em play Raze, of course, but just by hitting the servers... think about it. If that guy hit all the games of all the servers, and he could, with enough equipment, he'd get maybe five hundred thousand people. At once. .. terrifying. Was a lucky shot that I got him. My bot's death won't be in vain! I bet, though, that even if he does get into all the games, heart stopping isn't a sure thing, or a bigger deal would've been made of it. But if he refines the code... I don't wanna think about it. ( Aw. They didn't mention that all the deaths were Japanese people in Tokyo, did they? ) (Not to Rei, they didn't.) ( Oh well. Sucks for you. :P ) (It does! Half information isn't as fun as full. ^_~) * Peter frowns. "I'm surprised nobody has developed a way to prevent this." Prevent what? Hacking in? Prof, as defenses improve, so do the ways of getting in. Nothin's foolproof. * Rei points at the computers and looks to the professor. "If I can get in, so can other people. I can name three off the top of my head, just from my own family." Terrifying. Utterly terrifying. * Rei grins. "What, you wanna ship us back to the dark ages?" More people would read. Naw, in the dark ages they didn't all know how to read. That is a very good point. * Rei winks at Peter. "You should listen to me more often. I make good points. Sometimes. Well, depends on what you're looking for, I guess, but if you need to know about dipping birds, I'm your girl!" .. dipping birds? In what? I didn't say they were in anything, though I guess you could. Hey, did Makoto tell you about my mobile drinking bird slinky toy yet? It'll be the wave of... THE FUTURE! * Rei powerposes, then steadies her puters and checks on them again. The Future? Nono. THE FUTURE! .. Indeed. * Rei grins. "C'mon, Prof. Say it. You know you want to." Err.. I do? You sure do! That's.. odd. * Rei cackles. She flicks her eyes down at BOX's monitor and abruptly changes the subject, "So, Prof. I was wondering. How'd you get into this business, anyway? Did creepy events just attract to you or something?" It's a rather long story actually. Back when I was in school... my school was.. well.. attacked. Wanna tell it? If you don't mind telling things to me, that is. I know I'm not your favorite person in- you *were*? * Rei stares at Peter. Indeed. I believe your parents were there at the time in fact. They were the ones who saved us. I became very interested in the supernatural after that event. I studied every chance I got. That.. really all there is to it. Not too long at all. They... were? When was this? Wait, high school. That woulda been... before Dad joined Interpol. Probably when they were doing the Mystery Club thing supported by- wow. * Rei blinks a couple times. Indeed. It was back then. I.. believe that was when the original Mystery Club first encountered that sword. * Rei tilts her head. "That... oh yeah." She frowns a little. ( I doubt he remembers Mei-Yin, but he probably remembers the sword. ) I hope something can be done about Katsu. I mean... I hope something can be done about him. He's my little brother, y'know, and even still, I- I dunno if it's him calling the shots or the sword. I hope it's the sword. I.. I'm sure it's the sword. If not, you can beat some sense into him. * Rei smiles faintly, an odd look on her. "Lock him up." He'll be fine Rei. I'm sure. * Rei looks off at the house again. "I dunno." Come now. You are supposed to be the cheerful one, and I am supposed to brood and be cranky. What am I to do if you take my job? * Rei blinks, then looks back at Peter. She blinks again. "Take my job. Duh. You need practice." Sorry. I'm not very good at cheering people up. Then practice! C'mon, Prof, I know you had to be cheery at some point in your life. Did you ever have a girlfriend? Err... Not as of yet, no. You didn't? You've got to be shit- er, joking! I mean, c'mon, Prof. Ever look in the mirror? You must've been really cute back then if you can still look good even while being stuffy now. * Peter coughs. "I.. err.. I was always stuffy." Then there had to be some stuffy girl who went for stuffy guys like you! ... Right? Not that I know of. * Rei eyes Peter for a moment, then grins. This can't be a good grin. In fact, it looks downright evil. Weeeeeell... we'll just have to get you one! ( Fool. ) ( .. Can I run? ) * Peter is suddenly fearing for his life. (There's no escape.) Yeah! I now have another purpose in life! And it's all because I love you, Prof! In a purely platonic way, because if I didn't, I wouldn't be trying to get you a girlfriend. It'd be good! She could get you to loosen up. ... Oh dear. ( Peter and Rei should get together. It's only a 20 year difference. ) (HA! Shigeru would kill him.) ( Shigeru would kill him! ) ( Hello. .. ZAPPY .. I like pie. gurgle. ) (Shig. Look who HE's got for a wife! He's in no position to complain :P) * Rei keeps grinning madly. "Let's see. How to Get Professor Roivas a Girlfriend. I need to come up with a step by step plan with tons of subplans and then subsubplans that all get thrown out the window the moment something goes wrong, which is definitely going to happen." ... Oh dear. So, what do you think? ^^ .. I am fearing for my sanity.