14th Guitar Drive-By - Action, The Park

[ukelelenogood]

[Today is not a good day for Haruko.

Oh. The whole disappearing carnival wasn't so bad. Hell it was kind of fun the way Haruko saw it. What was bad was what was waiting for her at "home".

There's a big rule Haruko operates under or at least endeavors to. And that rule is to keep away from attachment. It was something she just picked up during her adventures due to how often she'd go from place to place and how disposable she'd come to think of people. You hang out with people for a time, use them up for what you can, then leave on when you have what you want or all you can get. That was the ideal for how she operated. But it'd be a lie to say she always accomplished it. Fleecing kids was part of her shtick in trying to find Atomsk, the being that held the power she so craved. And while she'd always try to keep as impersonal as she could while getting them to trust her it was hard. And in a way she always felt SOMETHING about them. Hell. Even in this town she was growing fond of people which she recognized was a bad thing.

But Naota had been...something special. Her favorite of the kids she guessed. It wasn't even because he was the one who had gotten her the closest to capturing Atomsk so much as the fact that there was a spark in him. Despite all his pouty, whiny bullshit he actually could grow with a little prodding. Haruko had to admit she liked that. Hell she'd even admit if pressured enough that she was happy he was in Mayfield.

Or had been. It's a bit easier to tell she's less happy he's gone now, at least mentally. She doesn't even know if she wants to call whatever is in front of her when she looks at him a drone. The whole thing is just so tasteless. So bland and stupid and obnoxious and so obviously meant to piss her off.

After almost nine months the town has for the very first time hurt her. But she won't admit it. At all. Instead she'll deal with this the most proactive way she can think.

She'll be taking Naota's drone to the park and give him a baseball bat. Hell she even seems almost nurturing as she gets on a knee and takes a handkerchief out of her pocket.]

Gee mom it sure is swell you're going to help me practice baseball! But don't you think dad would be better for it?

Sorry Ta-kun. Dad's busy right. And I'm pretty sure I know a thing or two.

[Her voice is her usual tone but deep down...there's something wrong. The people who've known her the longest in town, in fact, would possibly tell that it sounds like she's forcing her voice. As if it's some kind of shell with something else waiting underneath it.

Haruko takes the handkerchief and ties it over drone!Naota's eyes, leaving the boy confused as she walks back towards a sack of baseballs.]

Haha mom! Is this some kind of prank?

Oh, no prank.

[Haruko takes one of the balls out, tossing it up and down for a moment. Feeling it. Testing it.]

We've just got some hardcore training to do.

[The speed of the ball as she throws it at the drone is incredible, and the crack it makes against the drone's side as it hits is audible. The drone cries out in surprise and pain before falling to the ground, clutching his side.

Haruko just laughs.]

Oops! Looks like you weren't ready, huh?

[She takes another baseball out of the bag, gripping it so hard her knuckles go white and one of the seems on the baseball pops. Haruko cusses a little under her breath as she tosses the ruined baseball away and picks up a usable one. Her eyes turn to Naota's drone, still down on the ground, and she glares.]

Get up.

[Get up dammit. Get up and get the bat and hit the ball. You did it back in Mabase. You proved you can do it. Show her that there's something of you still in there dammit.]

I said get up!

[And she's throwing another ball.

And another.

And another.]

[OOC Note: Attempting to interfere with Haruko at the moment can be incredibly dangerous. She's extremely volatile and likely to attack people who refuse to move, and is an astoundingly physically powerful fighter. The possibility of injury and harm is pretty high in this case, so please specify if you want to avoid it.

I apologize for how late I was to getting this warning up. That was my bad.]

Comments

[ukelelenogood]

[OOC: Okee dokee!]

Oh. You wanna talk huh?

[She DOES smile at that, but it isn't a nice one. It's twisted. Crooked. Cruel. She shakes her head a bit, a flighty gesture as she continues to move forward.

She lets the bag of baseballs fall out of her hands, so hey. That's something at least.]

So when we're on the topic of perception, you know what I see?

[guiding_starlight]

[ Nanoha relaxes her stance somewhat, but her eyes are watching the woman's approach. ] Tell me. I wish to know what is bothering you so much.

[ukelelenogood]

Not what I asked!

[She's still just coming closer. Still smiling.]

I asked if you knew what I saw. Because it's not like there's anything bothering me.

[guiding_starlight]

[ Patiently. ] Then tell me that much. [ Just talk. That's all she wants.]

[ukelelenogood]

I see a stupid shit whose face I'm going to smash in.

[And that's when she charges.

She is fast. Not superhumanly so but how quickly she can get from walking to running is impressive. She does not have time for this, and the idea of talking about her feelings is sickening.

They're her damn feelings. No one elses.

Once she reaches Nanoha, she'll be aiming a punch at her stomach, attempting to go for the solar plexus.]

[guiding_starlight]

[ She is thankful for that warning. Though she is not a physical combatant by a long stretch, she has enough training and has seen more than a few hand-to-hand fights in her day.

It doesn't help her much. The hand turned palm out might catch the punch — and there is something about her glove that absorbs a portion of the blow — but there is more strength behind it than she realizes. The impact still slams both into her gut and she doubles over when the wind is nearly knocked out of her. ]

[ukelelenogood]

[Haruko just smiles in satisfaction as Nanoha doubles over even if she doesn't feel any better after hitting the other woman. And that confounds her. She wanted to hit Nanoha, hell to hit something so she should be doing great by this point. Usually this kind of acting out works just fine.

Why the hell isn't it working now?

She doesn't show any of her self-doubt or lack of enjoyment as she leans over Nanoha, grinning an empty grin.]

Hey I thought you said you wanted to talk but it doesn't look like you speak my language too well!

Looks like we don't have much to talk about, huh?

[guiding_starlight]

[ She coughs once and straightens up, her right hand still clutching high on her abdomen. ] That isn't the level I hoped we would communicate on.

[ukelelenogood]

Can't always get what you want kid.

And now that we've had this great little talk maybe it'd be best if you go, yeah?

[guiding_starlight]

"Kid"? [ Nanoha eyes the other woman. She supposes that she'll have to take that as a compliment to her youthful complexion and vigor. Or something like that. ]

Very well. Then if we are finished... [ She steps back, turns, and tucks her skirt so she can crouch and offer the frightened child a hand. ] Here. Why don't you show me where your house is?

[ukelelenogood]

2237 Stevens.

[Haruko replies before the drone even gets a chance.]

Sure. Take him back "home".

[guiding_starlight]

[ Dusting the boy's clothes off carefully, she mostly ignores what the drone has to say. Though you wouldn't be able to tell from the way she smiles at him, because she is actually addressing the woman behind her. ]

You live together...? [ Straightening up the collar of the boy's shirt, her expression a little strained by his words. ]

Aw, c'mon, Mrs. Kurenai. You don't have to do that.

[ Quietly. ] It must be hard for you.

[ukelelenogood]

Yeah. Sure. Whatever. Living with one of you monkeys is like living with any other. Living with one that's dead isn't too much different.

So are you going to keep this crap up or are you going to wise up and leave.

[guiding_starlight]

Their idea of living in this town might differ from ours, but that does not mean that they are not alive.

[ Having finished straightening the boy up, Nanoha rises once more and turns to face the woman, her expression quite serious. ] Though if we go by your definition, the dead are still owed some respect.

[ukelelenogood]

Their idea is that they have no idea. They're corpses with voice boxes.

[And Haruko's mouth just changes to a mirthless smirk.]

Well we're going to have to disagree on that one.

[guiding_starlight]

We seem to disagree on many things. That's unfortunate, because I was hoping that I was wrong about your attitude from the beginning. That we might be able to work together when it comes time to watch over the children of this town while they sit and learn.

[ Nanoha smiles calmly. ] I am hoping that something will change your mind before that time comes.

[ukelelenogood]

Yeah you're right.

Because you know everything about the situation going on huh? Sorry. I forgot just how much you knew.

[guiding_starlight]

I know what I am seeing, and that is abuse. Nothing you say can convince me otherwise and I won't stand idly by if that is what the situation appears to be.