pawnstorm | [OPEN] it's not so bad

Entry tags:

[OPEN] it's not so bad

Who: Hakuno Kishinami and you, yes, you!
When: Throughout June
Where: Caissa and Lasker, K101 if you're a resident of she told you where she lives
What: Jobs and adjustments
Rating: None (will change if necessary)

one: you can (not) have a drink
Hm...

[Hakuno is standing at the edge of a safe zone, like some mischievous child dancing at the edges of an irritated beasts cage. Or, well, maybe without the dancing; she seems more concerned with getting her hair under control. Her water gun is at her feet, all but forgotten for the moment as she stares uncertainly at her reflection in a nearby window. There are two hair ties pinched between her lips, and her hands are buried in thick, long, dark hair as she wavers between several different hairstyles.

She... she's literally spoiled for choice, is the problem. Back in the Moon Cell, she was incapable of modifying her appearance, even if she had the theoretical knowledge of how to do it. It's so weird, seeing herself like this.

She doesn't know which one to pick. Feel like lending a helping hand, so she can finally get started with her glorious water combat experience?]

two: law & order: dunyaland
Okay, so, we'll need a culprit, and some decoys...

[After a surprisingly popular impromptu ploy not too long ago, Hakuno has been given the green light for a full-blown mascot murder-mystery. More to the point, she's been given responsibility for plotting the whole thing out, which leaves her here in the break room, with her bunny head on the table next to her and her costume shoved down around her hips as she pulls faces at the collection of notes in front of her.

- culprit: The Mysterious Melter (?) (find a volunteer who can ham it up)
- victim(s): find volunteers/be the victim
- weapon: Melting Ray (find water gun)
- motive: ?
- clues: ???
- witnesses: find volunteers
- crime scene: gonna need more chalk
- other stuff: ?????? why did I do this to myself

...it looks like she could use some help.]

—ah. That's right, we'll need a lead detective too...

three: FADE IN: king 101, interior
[After everything, Hakuno has to take a minute to sit on her new Real Life Bed, in her new, shared(!), Real Life Room. She's had personal rooms in the Moon Cell that she shared with her Servant, but those were much sparser aside from what few accessories and decorations she could trade Taiga for. So far, all she has are her clothes, her bow, her quiver, the Gilgamesh figure that Gilgamesh himself forced upon her, a small toy lion she bought on a whim at Dunyaland, leaned up against the still-unsealed figure-box, and a tiny snow globe-esque cube she actually searched for.

Hakuno hugs her pillow to her chest, mindful not to disturb Francis Xavier, who is peacefully snoozing on her lap in a little, fluffy ball. Her hair is damp from a recent shower, with a towel draped around her neck to keep dripping and puddles to a minimum.]

This... is my home now.

[The words are quiet.

She's a soft-spoken girl to begin with, but her voice is even softer now, as if scared to actually voice the words. As if scared to take the chance and believe them.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Since I asked about alchemists Vietnam knew, and she mentioned some of your early attempts ended with burning.

[That implies a certain level of combustion.]

But, it's nice to meet you either way. She spoke highly of you.

[Hakuno bends down to pick up her water gun, before remembering something.]

Also, she left an open invitation for me to visit, so I might be intruding some time soon.

[. . .]

[damn it. he's never going to live down his fiery accident, is he? nevermind that!1 he lets the reminder of his own failure roll off of his shoulders like water, choosing to address her other statements]

Did she? Heh, she's a pretty smart lady herself, y'know. I was impressed by her in the battle we fought in together.

[also impressed by her oar-turned-shotgun. that was Vietnam for you]

. . . d'you even know what my room number is? Can't visit without a room number.

I haven't heard much about her fighting style, but she's... I like her a lot already.

[She offered to become Hakuno's family. Just like that. She's a very striking woman, that Vietnam.]

Yes, since Vietnam said you were one of her roommates. Queen's Hall, Room 208, right? Or... no, wait, were you one of her roommates?

[She frowns, tilting her head to one side thoughtfully. Here, your friends aren't all in assigned in one place, she needs to remember that.]

[a light laugh, and Kaito finally leaps off of the rooftop and lands on the ground in a graceful crouch. he approaches Hakuno to continue the conversation, hands in his pockets. this is much better, since now neither of them have to yell]

No, not me. I'm rooming with Maki-san and Lupin-san. Queen's Hall, Room 105.

Though 'course, you can still visit if you wanna. Vietnam did say you wanted to learn more about alchemy.

[and even though Kaito's still learning himself, he's more than willing to teach the new kids everything he knows to help them adapt to this world]

[That's a pretty good call, given that hakuno is normally fairly soft-spoken.]

Oh, my mistake, then. I'll take you up on the offer, though.

[His roommates are possibly more forgiving of accidental explosions than her own, after all.]

Thanks in advance.

[She smiles gently, sweetly, and then quickly takes two steps forward and shoots him right in the chest.]

[well, they haven't kicked Kaito out yet, even though he almost set his bed on fire. so they have to be at least somewhat forgiving! he pulls up a genuine smile for Hakuno and waves a hand]

Heh! Don't mention it--

[and then he is shot in the chest]

[and he can't do anything but stare at her, hand held out in the air mid-wave, expression a mixture of the cheery smile he was wearing earlier, shock that she actually managed to shoot him, and regret that he let his guard down for this long]

H. . . hey!

Huh.

[Hakuno lowers her gaze to her own water gun, lifting it up and squinting her eyes, as though deciphering something only she can see.]

Kuroba... Kaito. Huh, I guess my gun was the one with your name on it, after all. How funny.

[She looks up, blinking up at him with an expression like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.]

[honestly? he has no one to blame for this but himself]

. . . d-doesn't count! We were busy talking!

[excuses, excuses]

[Talk shit, get hit, Kaito. Hakuno doesn't make the rules, okay.]

Oh, well in that case—

[SPLASH, another one, right in the kisser.]

...unfortunately, it seems communications have broken down.

[he stands there, water dripping from his chin, expression contorted into an irritated scowl. but if that's how she wanted to play it, then. . .]

[he wipes at his face, leaps back to put some distance between them, and points at her, index finger and thumb extended]

Ha, fine! If that's how it's gonna be, then try this!

[his thumb twitches, like he's pulling a trigger, and his hand jerks back in a (faux) recoil. FINGER GUNS!! also a stream of water suddenly shoots itself at her face. he left his water gun on the rooftop, so he's gotta improvise with some impromptu magic]

[nevermind that he actually looks kinda surprised that it worked]

[She's ducking back as soon as his hand goes up, because again, people have been trying to kill her in new and creative ways until very recently, and squeezes her own trigger as soon as she realizes she won't be dodging this one.

He catches the top half of her head, leaving her to blink water out of her eyes and slowly circle away from the safe zone as she finger-combs her wet bangs back out of the way.]

You're innovative, I'll give you that much.

[he's prepared for that retaliation, and this time he's able to duck and dodge her next shot. a couple of droplets manage to catch his shoulders, but hey, that's okay. he's already soaking wet]

Innovation is an important trait to have, don't you think?

[and with that, he spins on his hell and bolts back towards the building he was perched on moments earlier. the water magic may have worked, but he knows spell casting isn't one of his strong points. time to retrieve his weapon!]

Among other things, yes. Endurance, technique, determination—

[—God damn it, mouth. Stop that.

She bolts after him with a surprising swiftness, honed from (you guessed it) running for her life and scampering around labyrinths day in and day out. She aims, fires, misses, tries again and catches the back of one of his his knees.

Then he turns a corner and she skids through a puddle, letting out a short, soft shriek as she scrabbles to stay upright.

She stabilizes, catch her balance against a wall, but by the time she's calmed down he's no where in sight, and probably at least halfway to the roof.]

...damn.

[. . . and now the pieces of innuendo are starting to fall into place. that, coupled with her earlier comment, which had flown over his head at the time, causes him to let out an amused snort as he skids around a corner]

You sure do have a way with words-- ack!

[he feels his knee get soaked as he bolts down the street, hears her hit the puddle and splash about as she seeks purchase against the slick ground. by the time she manages to steady herself, he's already grabbed a low-hanging gutter and has hoisted himself back up onto the rooftop, where he retrieves the water gun he had abandoned earlier]

[he stays hidden behind the chimney, watching her carefully from above, waiting for the perfect time to shoot. and once he has her clearly within his sights, he aims. . . and fires! STREAM OF WATER COMIN' RIGHT AT YOU, HAKUNO]

[Shoot. Well, she supposes it's too much to ask for two instances of a loose tongue to fly over his head, but at least he has to focus on dodging more than teasing her, she consoles herself.

She tilts her head up and scans the roof just in case—

AHA!

She jerks backwards so hard she nearly collides with a wall, sacrificing her feet in lieu of a full-frontal assault, and ducks behind a corner.]

You sure do have a way with missing.

[grrrrr. she sure did have a way of hitting his pride buttons and getting underneath his skin, and he just met her! with a scowl, Kaito hops up to and perches on top of the chimney. he scans the ground below, seeking her out so he can take aim and fire again, although every muscle in his body is tense and ready to move should she take another shot at him. he won't be taken off guard twice]

I didn't miss earlier, did I? Don't hide! Face me like a brave water gun warrior!

I didn't either.

[Hakuno pokes her head around the wall just long enough to stick her tongue out at him and zip back around.]

If you want me to face you then get on my level, you gargoyle.

[gargoyle??!!?!]

A good warrior uses the environment to their advantage. I'm not giving up my upper hand just 'cause you're too afraid of my shooting skills to step out into the open.

[the smack talk is strong with these two, isn't it??]

[He's getting mouthier. Good. That means he's starting to get invested. Hakuno retreats a little bit more, softening her voice to hide just how far exactly she's gone. She casts her eyes about for things she can use, not missing a beat.]

Well, then I guess you'll be up there a while. But hey, if you get too hot from the sun, there's a gun up there with your name on it, right?

[meanwhile, he keeps a keen eye on the area below, gaze darting back and forth as he waits for her to make another appearance. he's like a hawk. a hawk with. . . a water gun?? sure, that analogy works]

Don't underestimate the levels of my patience. And it's your name! It's a water gun with your name on it.

[He'll be waiting quite some time. Hakuno finds something that might help her out, but it would take some tricky timing.]

Uh... huh. Because that worked out so well the first time.

[he might not be very patient, but he is stubborn. and it's the stubbornness that keeps him perched atop the chimney with his water gun tucked in his hand]

I still say that doesn't count, 'cause you cheated.

[it's not her fault you weren't paying attention, Kaito]

[Hakuno is so stubborn she literally walked off her near-death multiple times and ate an entire hellfeast, Kaito. One of them is going to crack eventually.]

Was I in the Safe Zone?

[battle of the stubborn sass masters]

You were. Or at least, it looked like you were. That's why I asked you to move in the first place!

Next time, I'm just gonna shoot you. Safe zone or not.

Actually, I was not. I stepped out.

[She also looked him dead in the eye and smiled as she pulled the trigger, pretty as you please.]

I don't think I should be blamed for your lack of situational awareness, especially when you had the gall to talk down to me only minutes beforehand.

[OPEN] it's not so bad

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