bravenewworld | 003 // Action + Video

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003 // Action + Video

[ 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.

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[that startles a breathless laugh out of her]

I like that look on you. [no extra clothes this time either, huh?

She drags herself to one knee and. Does she really have to? Can't she just stay here?

Pure willpower gets her to her feet. Almost done. A hand on her chest. That fluttery feeling there is distracting.]

[ .....Michiru? Strange. New powers aside, Haruka could swear she didn't hit Michiru there....

They better finish this up, then. Pushing herself back up, too, she summons as large a Gust as she can. This should decide it. ] Too bad. I'll have to air dry again.

[ She does have the unfortunate habit, however, of leaving herself wide open while preparing and launching her own attacks. This one is also not exactly subtle or refined. ]

[ah. Small tornado headed her way. Wonderful. No time to dodge or to think about it or to dwell on the feeling in her chest, even if it feels like it's spreading. She manages to get her arms up above her head, summons her usual attack, and. That's a tidal wave, complete with the tang of salt in the air.

...that's new. That's all she had time for before the Gust hits her full force and sends her skidding backwards against the ground. Ow.]

[ It's funny how partnerships help people sync up. Haruka's thoughts also tend along the lines of first "that's new" and then "ow".

Too startled to do anything but stare, she's hit point-blank with that tidal wave; it knocks her right over and washes over her as she lies there trying to process what just happened. Michiru just.....Michiru....

....why is it suddenly so hard to get up? Everything aches.

Haruka doesn't know why she suddenly starts laughing, staring up at the ceiling (complete with fake desert "sky"). But there's an explanation for this that's hovering just out of her conscious reach, and she finds it very amusing. ]

[Michiru rolls over with a groan. How do they manage to beat each other up so thoroughly?]

You certainly seem amused. [that makes one of them.

At least she manages to sit up, and she's placing a hand over her chest again. It's...like it's sunk into her bones.]

[ Laughter dwindling down, Haruka heaves a pleased sigh - ignoring the way it makes her ribcage ache - and stares up at the desert sky painted onto the ceiling. A shadow falls across her, and she grins. Hi, World Shaking. She's okay. The ground is just....very comfortable right now. ] And you're full of surprises.

[ Pressing against her Rhyhorn's nose, she props herself up on her elbows. Ow. Ow ow ow. Feels good, though, in a way. It means they both gave this their all - and came out even. ] Shall we call it a tie?

Please. [a wince as she shifts to get up, and then thinks better of it] I think I'm done.

[guess she'll just keep an eye on the proceedings, so she'll have an excuse to delay the inevitable.

She glances at her side, and experimentally shifts her arm. Ow, that's definitely scraped up. And her clothes are caked with dirt and are probably more suitable for burning than anything else. Of course.]

[ Ow ow. Curse her weakness to your typing. It makes her do things like basically need to climb her Rhyhorn to get back on her feet. What had that been, anyway? They know each other this well, and Michiru still has hidden depths....

Well, that's one of the things Haruka likes about her. She lopes over to offer her partner a hand. Michiru deserves nothing but the very best treatment today as thanks for being Haruka's ~~test subject~~ sparring partner. ] Can you stand?

[she'll take that hand, though she makes sure to offer the one that isn't attached to the shoulder that got up close and personal with the ground.

She leverages herself up, trying to convince her knees that they haven't been reduced to jelly from the shocks.]

Thanks.

[ She'll be careful. (You know better than anyone else that Haruka knows how to be firm, but gentle.)

...and there we go. Haruka grins at the sorry sight they both must make, while World Shaking dips his head and licks at one of the puddles of water left on the ground. Ew, salt. ] I could use the rest of that breakfast.

[ At least Haruka doesn't seem to be worried about her new powers any more...? ]

[sorry sight indeed. She's not quite sure she'll want to walk home like this.

Dryly (drier than you, at any rate):] I could use a place to sit.

[at least this was worth it. Probably.]

[ Fortunately for both of them, Haruka'd left the food propped up against the Rhyhorn racing pen. She fetches it, the attendant decides to "coincidentally" go check up on how the water troughs are doing, and now they have somewhere to prop themselves up. Haruka helps herself first to the chocolate pastry the shopgirl'd given her for free, World Shaking waiting to see whether anything that comes out of that bag is for him.

Ugh, she hadn't meant to grunt when she leaned back. Oh well. ] I might still have supplies in the stables here. If I'm smart, there's clothes.

[ And Potions, but she's kind of...dancing around that. She tosses a piece of the pastry for World Shaking, whooshing it even further away with a concentrated shot of wind. Off he goes, chasing it. Look at him run. What a glorious creature. ]

[she leans back a bit stiffly, but at least there's something to lean against. And that's a sidelong glance as she examines you. How many times did you get doused again?]

We might have to start keeping more clothes here.

[ Enough for that shirt to stick to her body in exciting ways. ~~You really do look out for yourself, don't you.~~ Laughing, Haruka offers Michiru the bag, making sure to put it closest to the non-bruised arm. ] I'll talk to the bug.

[ Awkward pause. She might as well just ask instead of these silly sidelong assessment attempts. It's even sillier to worry - they've sparred before, and Michiru's tough, she can take it, but... ] How're you feeling?

[mm. She can appreciate the results of her hard work.

Wryly.] Pounded.

[she'll take a look inside the bag and pick out something plain. She nibbles at it, but doesn't seem particularly interested.

Frown.] Deeper? [hand on her chest again] Like there's more potential.

[ She is two breaths away from a truly audacious "pounding" joke when Michiru keeps speaking, shutting her up. That description...it can't be.

She reaches to place her hand on top of Michiru's, as if she can feel the power welling there. But - she's the one who...this morning...that's bizarre. ]

....You too?

[she'll take that as an invitation to lean in a little, wet clothes and all.]

It would explain the new attack. [and everything else.

Which she still needs to play around with. But that's for another time and on a more appropriate level of the Habitat.]

[ Leaning is more than welcome. Haruka slips her fingers between Michiru's so that she's holding onto the back of the other woman's hand. ] "Partners", huh?

[ .....this actually makes her really happy. She didn't want to be stronger than Michiru. Not when, from where she's standing, Michiru has more fortitude than she could ever hope to possess. And now she's quietly gained the ability to summon tsunamis. It's perfect. ]

Aren't we? [and that's a quiet smile, even as it finally feels like her heartbeat is going back to normal.

Of course. They're equals. Even if one of them is getting blasted tall. But at least that means that shoulder is at just the right height to rest her cheek against.]

[ ....this is a good height, yes. (There are also many subtler advantages to having a tall significant other, Michiru. They can reach high places, and often are good at unscrewing particularly tight jars.)

Haruka relaxes. Funny. That was all she needed, and now she's at peace. ] ...I feel better now.

[she's shifting their hands so they lie in her lap instead.]

Good. We only had to half drown you. [turning her palm over. Have a squeeze.]

There's Potions in the back. [ The more she thinks about it, the more she's sure of that - provided nobody messed with her storage locker, but given the emphasis in the official rulebook about tampering with each other's pit crew supplies she seriously doubts anyone's tried to figure out the combination to her lock.

She'll worry about that when they get there, though. For now, it's nice enough just to look at their entwined hands and know whatever they do, they'll do together. Running at the same pace as someone else is much nicer than she'd ever thought it would be. ]

I wouldn't say no to that. [she'd sort of never complain ~~except when she does~~.

It takes her another good minute before she'll sit up, biting back a groan. Never mind feeling it tomorrow, she's feeling it right now.

She's not letting go of your hand, however.]

[ Oh, Michiru. Further sparring sessions are going to be all about practicing restraint - which is the true measure of a martial artist, anyway. Haruka keeps a firm hold on that hand. You're welcome to lean. She's sore, and wet, but she isn't bruised. ] This way.

[ World Shaking, get in the pen. Haruka twitches her head in the proper direction, and the Rhyhorn lumbers in their wake, stomping on a rock as he passes it without understanding quite why he's upset. It's because he didn't get a run, isn't it. Fine. She'll take him out again later. ]

[that would be nice. Otherwise she might let Gyarados play with you instead. At least she's got some nice, protective scales.

Michiru follows along, leaning in a bit.]

mwahaha :3c

what's this? your SPACE LESBIAN is evolving!

dont startle her now

haruka would never b-button her partner. there are so many better buttons to press instead.

are there? maybe haruka should show her.

you'll have to let her get out of these wet clothes first

...idk. if they're covered in mud, she's not touching that.

haruka will rinse herself off properly, then. and put on more cologne.

That sounds much more acceptable

she wouldn't want to offend your elegant sensibilities

...it might be a bit late for that

what if she sparkles really, really hard

enough to dazzle michiru? better hope theres nobody else around

a whole field of girls toppling over with hearts in their eyes

one heck of a field day

but her eyes are just on you, michiru. always on you. so don't hurt her. please.

uh huh. is that so?

well, you are pretty desirable. she figured you knew that by now.

well, she wouldn't mind a display of affection now and then

shall she start at the top of your head or with the bottoms of your feet?

surprise her

is that even possible

......she could pretend to be surprised?

that works every time!

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