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

[actsmagnificent]

[ Interesting. Haruka looks thoughtful, considering her reply carefully before speaking.

Not that this means she'll answer the question, though. ] Do you think you might burn out soon?

[celebrity_commentator]

I did, at my radio job. That might have been because that's all I was doing. Right now I'm doing so much different stuff I don't know if it's better or worse, really.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka shrugs. Depending on whether Rise looks like she wants to head to the mess hall for breakfast or back to her bedroom, she'll adjust where she leads the girl accordingly. ] Isn't that fine? If I sprinted right from the starting gate, I'd never make it to the finish line. There's all kinds of paces before you reach the final spurt.

[celebrity_commentator]

[Rise considers for a moment, then heads for the dining room mess hall.]

So what you're saying is I should pace myself, right?

[She got a little distracted by "final spurt" there, even if she'd never admit it.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ She shrugs. ] You'll know when you hit your stride.

[ Like now, for example. You're not thinking about how fast you're walking, are you? But you have a goal in mind and you're naturally settling into the pace that works best for you. Life isn't as complicated as people make it sound; complications and nuance aren't the same thing.

But then again, that's just where Haruka is standing. It's different for everyone.

And Haruka, oops, takes very long strides. ]

[celebrity_commentator]

[And Rise's ended up rushing along slightly to keep up with her conversational partner. It's not that unusual for her considering that most of the adults in Union are taller than her - ncluding a lot of the Pokémon.]

[After thinking about what Haruka's saying, though, she slows down to a more natural pace.]

You're very philosophical. I don't think a lot of people know that about you.

[actsmagnificent]

That so? [ Philosophical. That's....new for her, too, but she finds she kinds of likes it. So it's hard to tell whether Haruka's smiling just because of that, or because she's also noticed that change in Rise's walking pace and it's amusing and encouraging her.

Here's another door, though. Since Haruka gets there first she holds it open. ] Here I thought I just had too much time on my hands.

[celebrity_commentator]

Well, how else would you have time for all this thinking about life, right?

[actsmagnificent]

See, you're an optimist. You'll be fine.

[ And look, here they are in the mess hall. Haruka looks around. It's....too early for anyone to have prepared food already, huh. She glances down at Rise. Part of her still feels responsible for waking the girl up. Another part of her is delaying thinking about her evolution, but that's okay. She can't fret about that in front of Rise anyway. ]

Can I get you anything?

[celebrity_commentator]

[Rise looks around at the empty dining room herself.]

Do you cook, too?

[actsmagnificent]

D'you doubt me?

[ Note that this is not an answer. Then proceed accordingly. ]

[celebrity_commentator]

I have no idea, but if you're offering, I'll give it a shot.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka grins. ] This'll be quick. Take a seat.

[ ....what do they even have in here, though. Is there anything she can heat up over the wood stove...?

She slips into the kitchen proper, where the sound of bowls clattering can be heard. Good luck, Rise. Perhaps it alone can save you now.

Then again, it's Haruka. There's nothing she can't do, right? ]