[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.]