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]

[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?]

[actsmagnificent]

Let's not get ambitious. [ So much striding. Gliding, even. No one this perfect could have pounded a hole in the ground!

....They'd better be careful not to trigger the crooning theme music and wake up their colleagues, though. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[one more quick check in the mirror and. Alright, let's go.]

That was some quick backpedaling.

[Lulu is probably still sensibly sleeping.]

[actsmagnificent]

I just don't want the day to get too complicated. [ Except she didn't just punch a hole in the courtyard, so who the heck knows what she's talking about?

The dreams, maybe. Yeah, they can go with that. Off we go.

Sewaddle might now be balled up next to Budew. The coming apocalypse woke him up, too, and now he doesn't want to sleep on the bed any more. ]

[incousinswithyou]

Of course not. [and if they happened to take a back entrance, it's no big deal, right? It's simply more convenient. Maybe.

And neither Budew nor Michiru would complain about that change in sleeping arrangements.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Lulu and Natto can always try to be good Pokémon and make the bed once they're up! Until they get distracted by this trail of petals on the floor, anyway. Is there another Grass-type hiding somewhere???

A back entrance is indeed convenient. It allows them to skirt the thing that isn't in the courtyard. Haruka holds the door for Michiru and checks behind them as they leave, just to make sure they aren't disturbing anyone else's beauty sleep. ] Any preferences?

[ For breakfast. You're being a sport about the Ground level so it's only fair if Michiru picks pretty much everything else.

...Not that she doesn't anyway when it comes to things like this. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[who knows, but it's an adventure!! Maybe they'll make a new friend!

Why, thank you.]

Not particularly, as long as it's quick. [things to do, colleagues to not avoid...]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka grins. ] Great minds think alike.

[ Fortunately there's quite a few eateries around the Habitat - proprietors caught on quickly that training works up an appetite. They can stop in a bistro and get breakfast once they've put some distance between themselves and the theater. In the name of forward progress, naturally.

Maybe she should pick up a snack for World Shaking, too...But no. Today is supposed to be streamlined. "Oh, look, there's a bakery up ahead"-style streamlined.

Croissants and fruit sound good, Michiru? ]

[incousinswithyou]

[good enough. She's hardly picky, unless there are weird mushrooms involved.

Though she wouldn't say no to tea, either.]

Have you decided where we're going?

[actsmagnificent]

One moment. [ Apparently that's "getting breakfast will take one moment", since she's checking the door to this bakery and discovering it's unlocked, then slipping inside.

She emerges with a packet of food tucked under one arm and an earthenware mug of tea in either hand, then offers the mug in her freer hand to Michiru. It's a nice enough morning that if you wanted to sit for breakfast, they could perch in that little park area just off to the side. Some bits of Union are naturally green, apparently. ]

I said we'd be training and they threw in tea. [ She's still got her "there was a cute girl at the register" smile on, too. Which is a tip about what really happened. ] We're under orders to return the mugs, though.

[incousinswithyou]

[that gets a particular smile of hers, but. Well, she's not going to acknowledge it.

So have a quiet murmur of thanks as she carefully grasps the mug and then takes a seat on a bench.] Well, we wouldn't want to be mug thieves.

[mugging, that is.

Not on top of destroying property anyway.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka sips her tea and - mm, that's bracing. Perfect for morning training. Taking a seat opposite Michiru, she opens the packet and hands her partner a napkin before placing the food between them. There's an assortment of baked goods in there, help yourself. (All could pass as breakfast foods, however. Her sweet tooth isn't Usagi's bad enough that she'd buy cake as a meal.)

She swallows another mouthful of tea and breathes deeply. ] It hasn't settled yet.

[ She still feels unbelievably powerful - not quite unstable, but not quite normal. Hopefully this isn't a permanent side-effect. It's distracting. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[she'll take a sip of her tea and nibble a bit at her chosen breakfast pastry.

Carefully eyeing you.] What hasn't?

[she has an idea, but better hash it out. It's important enough.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ That it is. So Haruka tries to find the words. ] I....feel like I can do anything.

[ There's an eager light in her eyes as she says that that indicates she almost believes it, but it's quickly overshadowed by her soldier Divine Defense Force persona clicking into place. ] But that's dangerous. We'll do whatever we have to, but....

[ The star member of the Divine Defense Force stares moodily at her danish. ] I don't like feeling unlike myself.

[incousinswithyou]

[and that's concern in her eyes. This...might go better once they actually figure out the extent of your new abilities.

A smile, nonetheless.] Haruka is Haruka, no matter what.

[that, at least, she believes with her whole heart.]

If you feel like you need somebody to knock you down a peg, however... [a quiet tease, just to gauge your reaction.]