003 // Action + Video

[actsmagnificent]

[ The city is burning.

Strange, then, that Haruka can't hear any screams. She can't hear anything, in fact - it's as if the world has gone utterly silent in preparation for its inevitable end. Buildings crumble unnaturally, from the ground up, and she can see the waves of fire spreading, heading towards the populace, frozen in time - she struggles to move and can't, even as the flames near a clump of civilians, near a girl with pigtails, no, not her, for some reason not her -

And then she wakes up in a cold sweat, scattering Sewaddle from where he'd fallen asleep on her chest; he curls up into a ball and rolls off the bed. The dreams have never been that vivid before. She's never had that kind of detail. Does that mean something's about to happen, or....what's going on....?

It's then she notices her hands are shaking, not from fear but some kind of heady mix of adrenaline and - power, isn't it, she feels stronger despite what she just witnessed. Her breath is still coming short from the dream, but Haruka feels a grin tugging her lips. Something's happened, all right. And if something else is going to happen - she's become more prepared for it. ]

[ Apologies to anyone who might happen to be up and about near the Divine Theater compound already. Extra apologies to anyone who lives around there and was trying to get some sleep. A newly-evolved Haruka (looking just about the same, but a bit broader about the shoulders and even more inexplicably stunning) has just decided to test her new powers by punching the ground in the outside courtyard.

Every building on the property shook, and now there's a huge crater. ] ...well, that answers that question.

[ Union really does have an Earthquake problem, huh. ]

[ video ]

The Union Divine Theater would like to reassure the populace that this morning's events were an anomaly. We're testing effects for our new show. [ Okay, so this isn't exactly an explicit apology, or an admission she was in the wrong. But Haruka's making up for the inconvenience with an extremely attractive smile, so isn't that okay? ] It'll be stunning.

Comments

[incousinswithyou]

[mmf. She sighs, runs her hands through her hair, and then pulls her robe tighter around her.]

So I see. [and that's a flicker of a smile as she walks closer. All that training paid off, huh?]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka laughs weakly. Sure, she was expecting a boost in abilities from training herself, but she just punched a hole in the ground. That is awesome. ] It's funny. I knew it happened to other people, but...

[ She steps aside to make room for Michiru in the crater - watch your step - and sobers briefly. ] The dream returned, too.

[incousinswithyou]

[she blinks. Looks like you're ahead of her - in a couple of aspects. For once.]

And? [any difference?]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka shakes her head, as if she can dislodge the dreamscape from her mind. ] There were images this time. I don't know if it's of what happened before, or what's going to happen, or just a warning - but it was silent. Eerily so.

[ She clenches her fists. Having all this power made her feel better about her chances, but a combination of the evolution queasiness and remembering the dream has her reconsidering. ] I just hope this is enough.

[incousinswithyou]

[another step closer, and then she's slowly reaching out for your hand.]

We'll make it enough. [looks like she's got some catching up to do, however.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka is slow to take Michiru's hand, but once she realizes that she's got enough control over her own body that she's not going to hurt her partner accidentally, she squeezes it. Hey, you've been training your Pokémon. She'll wait for you, if you want.

...and up close, the disheveled-hair look is incredibly attractive on you. ] Sorry I woke you.

[incousinswithyou]

[mm, that's better. She'll return that squeeze.] Just for future reference, I enjoy gentler methods.

[at least that's sort of over with, for the moment. Fewer vacations and more work is in store for them, apparently.

...She's not fixing the courtyard, however.]

[actsmagnificent]

I'll try that tomorrow. [ Funny, neither is she.

Oh well! ]

[incousinswithyou]

Something to look forward to, I see. [maybe if they leave quickly enough...but no, Sakura knows. So much for a clean get-away.

She twines their fingers together, thoughtful. Further training should probably take place outside of Union.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ No more swamps though, right? She'd never complain, but that was a really ugly fish. Like. Wow. ] We could try it today if you're still sleepy.

[incousinswithyou]

[you're going to hurt her fish's feelings, you know. Also you're most likely the one she's going to ask for help with the whole trading thing.]

I'm awake now, sorry to say. [stuff to do, Pokemon to see.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Hey, she's always true to herself. And herself believes, in her very heart of hearts, that that is an ugly fish.

But it's charming in an awkward sort of way, and there's no Pokémon Michiru can't turn into something amazing (look at Bass), so Haruka has faith it'll work out.

She undresses Michiru with her eyes - then promptly ruins it. ] Could've fooled me.

[ Love your fashion statement. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[mou, Haruka.

And she's disentangling herself and turning away. Hmph. Looks like she's striding back into the building before anybody else can see her like this.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka grins and follows her partner. They probably should get their day started, yeah. She's got to test her abilities properly, somewhere it won't inconvenience anyone...Michiru will be welcome to accompany her, as always...

And if that somewhere does happen to be as far as she can get from the existing property damage, coincidences do happen! ] You training today?

[incousinswithyou]

[she'll respond. Eventually. At least by the time she ducks into the bathroom to check on her hair.]

That depends on who I'm working with.

[actsmagnificent]

What's that supposed to mean?

[ You can't have just made a crater joke. Seriously. Who would do that to their partner? ]

[incousinswithyou]

Oh? What did you think I meant?

[there we go. Hair untangled, Michiru walks on over to their closet and starts digging out some clothes.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka is smart enough not to answer that question. Or maybe there's that training coming through again.

She flexes her arms, examining the new power dormant in her muscles, as she leans against the wall. Look at Michiru being so industrious and precise. Might as well make her own spontaneous plans and see if her partner's interested. ] I might show this to World Shaking if you had a moment.

[incousinswithyou]

[and she's shedding the robe and the nightgown for something relatively easy to move in. Blouse and skirt, probably.]

I think I can spare the time. [all day if you want, honestly.

Plus it's kinda important to figure out the extent of your new abilities. It's a partnership, after all.]

[actsmagnificent]

Dress for dust, then. [ Haruka threw some things on at random to go outside. She checks her side of the closet to see if there's anything more practical (or fashionable) that she could wear. Or maybe she should wear whatever and take exercise clothes... ]

[incousinswithyou]

[that's a long suffering sigh. Well, a quiet long suffering sigh. She'll pick out something older then. They'll still look good on her, but it won't matter as much if they get stained or torn.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka's best friend in the universe before meeting you smashes rocks with his head for fun. A crater in the courtyard is nothing.

She ties an ascot around her throat and grabs the bag containing her Rhyhorn riding uniform, just in case. ] Breakfast here or out?

[ They could probably have a whole café to themselves nice and early on a Saturday morning. When disaster could strike at any time, the little pleasures taste even nicer.

Or they could be practical and quick. Whichever. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[hmm. It might be better to leave before even more people wake up. You did just destroy the courtyard and she is nothing if not your accomplice.]

We could pick something up on the way.

[actsmagnificent]

I might be faster now, too. [ Fleeing the scene of the crime? Never. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[quickly buttoning up her blouse]

I can think of a few errands for you to run, if you want.

[quickly striding away in pastels and a rain of blossoms, then?]