Log: Karakura Sping Dance - Scene 1, Part 3
Who: Amuro Ray, Lalah Sune, Nao Yuuki, Sanji, Dizzy, Kazuki Mutou, Makoto Kino, Momo Hinamori, Toushirou Hitsugaya, Molly, Alicia Winston, Ling Yao, Tokiko Tsumura, Hot Rod (Both as himself and Jordan Wilde.)
Where: Karakura High School
When: Saturday, March 17 - St. Patrick's Day!
What: The Spring Dance at Karakura - Part 1!
Tags Needed for the following:
- Kazuki Mutou
- Momo Hinamori
- Alicia Winston
- Tokiko Tsumura
- Hot Rod
"I'm Makoto Kino," the girl softly introduces herself. The open smile and bright eyes still indicate she's lost in Sempai-land, but some sense of self-awareness kicks in as the music begins to play. "Isn't that lovely music? The school really went all out when putting on this dance, I hope I pass the acceptance test so I can come here next year."
Not that she would worry, they took Ichigo and Keigo, after all.
He's not aware of Maya's presence tugging upon Eva to urge her forward. Actually, truth be told..
...the kiss is very unexpected...
And this time, Eva Wei, Jordan Wilde doesn't vanish in glowy yellow bits.
His body does lock up as his mind processes the information that he has just been engaged. And instead of retreating, Jordan's eyes go from bright and wide surprise to drifting closed as he returns said kiss, one hand leaving her waist to caress the back of her neck.
Battle Mastery: First Second Kiss before the end of the first dance. Molly gains one rank. It only took four years! They seem to be doing good and well right. They always are, though.
Target. Cease fire.
It's actually Jordan that pulls away at first. It's not exactly the same way he hallucinated it would happen back on Oban, but it works. It works really, really well. His eyes partially unhood as he looks down at Molly. So much he wants to say in this moment. But the words just are not there.
Momo Hinamori had fallen into the mood so quickly that she hadn't even realized. So easily she slipped into it and when Hitsugaya's voice is heard, it causes her to blink, and the next moment she notices what she had just done. "I..." Go home? "No, we just got here." Raising her head she looks almost defensive as she answers. She can't leave just yet, and as hard as it will be, she has to keep from thinking about Aizen for now. "I don't want to leave now." There's still too much to take in, like the people dancing, the way they converse. "I'm just a little thirsty." Like anyone would fall for that excuse. Stepping away from Dizzy and Shiro, while she gets a glass of punch, she'll take that short time to compose herself even more so that she won't be forcing a smile or be mopey again tonight. Be strong Momo! D:
Nao has to hide a smile when she hears that now familiar phrase. "Let's do that." She nods, gradually pulling back from him. The other HiME would probably never believe their eyes if they saw how she was dancing with him. "I'll go back to my dorm and start to pack." Sanji could even help if her room mate was out and she could sneak him in! What a delinquent...and still in middle school too. Nao turns around, letting go of his hand as she leaves the dance. Of course he's welcome to follow her. No other guy can say that!
Of course, Kazuki is still unaware of the potential minefield he's treading here. "Makoto-chan, huh?" he says, and wow she clearly is young! Younger than his little sister even! "Yeah, it's pretty nice. My school doesn't really hold this sort of thing for some reason." Because they know the Four Idiots Plus One would cause trouble, most likely. "But uh, good luck on the test! Mine was pretty hard, but I'm a master of studying!" ...What?
Lalah might be amused at the concept of an 'Indian maiden,' although this is only because even in the future, there are Westerns. (Some genres never die; they just mutate to include giant robots and zombies and ghosts and magic and lots of use of apostrophies instead of 'g's at the end of words.)
She also doesn't mind having a hand put on her waist, and even returns the favor. She steps left, then right, and looks more or less directly at Amuro - her eyes are a bit downcast, but thanks to the fortunes of war and genetics, she is not taller than him. The nightmare of middle school is over, Amuro... the girls won't always tower over you.
Her own steps are deft and a little untutored. At least Amuro likely can't step on her feet, even if he tries.
"Really?" *_*; Again the hearts float into existance above the cook once the song is ended and Nao suggests leaving right away for another vacation. She's turning him into a real slacker for his duties lately, but somehow he still manages to keep his crew, or what's left of it, fed on board the Going Merry. Guess Sanji'll have to make sure there's enough meat on board for Luffy before he goes. Maybe if he hides it in various places on the ship it'll take Luffy a couple of days to find it all so he doesn't eat it all at once! Hm, a definite possible plan there. "I'll come meet you as soon as I go by the ship." He'll have to pack a few things as well. Sanji releases Nao, smiling as he watches her go on her way. He takes a moment to enjoy the atmosphere before heading for the exit. Before he's even out of the dance he's taken a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and shakes a single cigarette up to draw it free from the carton with his lips. As much as he enjoys the school dance, his bad habit still nags at him so he'll definitely have to go out of the school grounds for that. "I'm coming, Nao-chwaaaan!" He'll pack super fast!
Warmth spreads through her veins, pooling in her chest and the hands wrapped around Jordan's waist. If she's ever dreamed about this, Molly isn't telling!
Sure it's not the same as the hallucination in the desert temple, but /that/ Molly also disappeared as soon as the sun went down over the horizon, scattering into sand and dreams. (She WAS a pretty good likeness though.) Inwardly, she congratulates herself... not bad for her first 'real' kiss. Unseen by any of the attendees (except maybe those with second sight), a rainbow-mist figure smiles gently and nods her head in time with the slow music as her form fades into nothingness. The last feature that can be made out besides long pink hair is a crescent-moon on her cheek.
Molly doesn't have any words either. ...Aw, who needs 'em. She leans into his chest again, resting her cheek on his shoulder, and just enjoys the dance.
"I'm not that good of a student myself," Makoto admits sheepishly. "I'll just have to do my best!" And plead with Ami for help. Momo passes by on her way for another drink, and her change in attitude catches the young student's eye. It looks like she could use someone to talk to. Ack. Cute guy, friend in need... Its a hard choice, but Makoto knows where she's really needed. "I'm sorry, Kazuki, but I'll be right back," she bows apologetically. Whoosh, Makovanish! Another race across the dance floor and she's next to Momo, looking her over worriedly. "What happened? Did Hitsugaya say something stupid?"
In vague bemusement, Dizzy watches the sudden movement of people around the place: Momo, Makoto.... There's a bit of a frown on her face, as she too realizes that things are slightly amiss. But, well.... "Um, maybe you should go talk to Miss Hinamori?" she tries, looking over at Shiro. Something was definitely odd there, she just has no idea what it might be.
Either way, she does drift slightly over toward Kazuki. "Hi," she says to the young man. "Are you a friend of Miss Kino's?"
"That's all you can do anyway," Kazuki replies, grinning and giving Makoto a thumbs up. "If you try your hardest, then you can't help but succeed!" Which is totally not true, but he feels like it ought to be. Cheerful and encouraging is the way to go! "No rush!" he calls after Makoto as she runs off... And then there's a Dizzy headed his way. "Huh? Oh... I just met her, actually!" he responds, a bit sheepishly. "I'm Kazuki, nice t' meetcha!"
There's a rhythm to Amuro's dance steps by now. He's almost managed to sync up with Lalah's dancing, at least enough to avoid any clumsy accidents, and so instead concentrates on how her sari reflects the disco ball lights. Which is a strange thought, he decides, even if he really likes her sari.
Should he speak? It seems as if it would disturb the moment. So instead, he tries to send a thought at the fellow Newtype. *I hope you're enjoying yourself. I like dancing with you, aaaannnndddd*
The thought dissolves into a faint sense of 'green' and 'ocean' and the familiar image of a swan. It wasn't intentional, but it simply happened. He also wonders if the light he sees surrounding Lalah for a few moments is just from the disco lighting.
As the two stand there, Jordan's cheek leaning against the crown of Molly's head, the gunner enjoys the feel for a moment, then gets a small smirky type grin. "So.. uh.. Molly? When are you going to introduce me to your friends?" he asks.
How did he know? Phenominal cosmic powers granted as an avatar?
"I saw the look of recognition a few moments ago. Apparently someone you know is here?" he comments to her as he pulls up for just a moment to look down at her properly.
Since Dizzy drifted off to deal with Kazuki, Shiro grunts and heads off to join Hinamori at the punchbowl like Dizzy suggested. But there's Makoto. Well, who cares. His throat is a little scratchy from coughing up the watermelon. He needs something to drink. He hears the tail-end of Makoto's comment and immediately responds, "I'm not the stupid one." And then he so casually pours himself a glass of punch.
Toushirou Hitsugaya is also far too distracted by Hinamori to care about overbearing motherhen ghosts.
Just met? Odd, that look spoke of a familiar face.... Of course, Dizzy has no idea about Makoto's sempai-obsession, so there you go. "Ahh. Well, my name is Dizzy," she says, curtseying. "Nice to meet you, Mister Kazuki. Are you also a student here at Karakura?" She does give a quick glance back toward Hitsugaya, sort of vaguely wishing there was something she could help with there, but it's really not her business, she realizes.
The visual effects are perhaps more like an enhancement of reality, with her right there. Lalah doesn't seem afraid, even as she seems to sparkle; she brings her free hand up to touch, briefly, at Amuro's cheek.
'I like dancing with you, too,' she answers; it may sound like she's speaking even if she isn't, as opposed to the strange feeling of knowing what the other person just said, even though they didn't say it. She then turns her head slightly, lips curving back in a faint smile. She chuckles...
And then she speaks aloud, in a low murmur. "I think your friend wants to introduce us to someone." Perhaps she means Molly! Or perhaps she is being Cryptic.
Momo Hinamori had finished pouring herself a glass of punch before Makoto appeared, and the look on her face still wasn't completely gone so, when she's looked at, Mako gets to see the spiritless expression on Momo's face. Before she has a chance to reply though, Hitsugaya arrives to add his comment, and Momo looks guilty as she lowers her head and takes a sip of her drink. As much as she wants to stay, she knows she should, but ... right now. "It's nothing to worry about." She doesn't want to worry Makoto or complicate things... after all how could she explain to her what's bothering her without giving away details that she doesn't think she's at liberty to share? "I..." She stares down at the cup for a few moments longer before she sets it down. "Excuse me." Then turning away she leaves the table, and looks as if she intends to leave the dance. Maybe she's just going to the bathroom?
Uh-oh. She knows that smirk. "Wh-what?" Molly looks up at her partner curiously, wondering just WHY he's smiling like that. "Oh, you mean Amuro? He's in the Sheep too." Why'd he interrupt a perfectly good dance to be introduced to someone?
Well, maybe he thought it was getting awkward, or was afraid to let it go on too long. So, she's disappointed, but progress was made -- that's good enough for her.
For the record, Molly does not usually recognize her mother's presence unless she's dreaming.
Amuro blushes at Lalah's touch, but does not pull away. He likes the way she sounds in his mind, even when she's just laughing or smiling. It takes a moment for him to break out of that daze and register what she has actually said. "-Oh! Yes, that's my friend, Molly. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude..."
He pauses and turns to address Molly and Jordan. "Hi, Molly. Nice to see you here. This is Lalah Sune," he explains as he gestures to the dark-skinned woman, still blushing himself. "She's from the colonies. Who's your date, if you don't mind me asking...?"
Does Makoto Kino Have To Judo-Flip A Bitch?
All five foot six of the Sailor of Thunder, Courage, and Bully-Smiting looms over Toushirou Hitsugaya. "She asked you to join her at the dance, and you have the nerve to insult her!?" If there wasn't cops here and Momo wasn't running away- Aw hell. "I'll talk to you later," she growls before taking off after the retreating shinigami. "Momo! Wait!"
"Dizzy?" Kazuki repeats. That's kind of a weird name. But then... He's heard weirder! "Nope!" he chirps in response to the question of his being a student at Karakura. Not even remotely close. "I go to Ginsei Private Highschool, it's... Kinda far from here," he explains, giving some cursory effort at maintaining a cover story. "I guess you don't either though, huh?" Otherwise she likely wouldn't have asked!
Jordan doesn't want to ruin a magical moment, but eventually, one of them was bound to get awkward in all this. After all, it took them a while to even hug, much less to get to this point.
However, he'll let Molly handle the introductions as he tips a pair of fingers towards Lalah and Amuro. One of his arms remain around Molly, however, smiling over at her. Wow. This actually feels right.
Oh dear, it's going a bit pear-shaped...but.... Dizzy sighs, keeps watch over the two shinigami out of the corner of her eye in case things get worse. That'll have to do for now. "You aren't? Oh...no, I go to the school in the Hub. My home plane is...also kind of far away. But some of my friends are students here--like my boyfriend." Who is sadly absent tonight. Sadness.
Which then draws another question to mind. "What brings you to this dance, then, if I may ask?" she says, curiously.
Toushirou Hitsugaya gulps down his punch swiftly. His timing couldn't have been worse. He was insulting Makoto, not Momo! The situation is already complicated, and he doesn't need to have HER get in the way now! He throws the empty paper cup back on the table and follows the two girls. He really hopes that they don't head to the girl's washroom.
"Hello!" Lalah says warmly, and draws her hands back from Amuro - is that a negative sign?! She folds them behind her back - what does that mean, Amuro!? Secret hatred or disgust!?
Not if Amuro's empathic perception is worth a thing, because she isn't stepping away from the fluffy-haired young man at all. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she says, looking at Molly - who is her sister in facial decorations (even if Lalah's is only a small bindi).
Momo Hinamori slows down but doesn't stop as Makoto calls after her, and when the other girl catches up to her, she looks over with a soft smile. "I'll be back." She just has to leave for a bit... just needs to hide away from the crowd for a little while, and will return when she's sure she won't slip into another mopey worryfest. "Stay here with Shiro and make sure he doesn't try to sneak off while I'm gone." She raises her hand to give a small wave before she continues to leave. And off she goes to leave the dance and head toward the school... there must be someplace she can hide away in for a little while. And if Makoto and Hitsugaya insist on following... well she isn't going to run and try to lose them if they do.
"Hi! Nice to meet you, Lalah," Molly grins. She rests her hand on top of the one resting against her waist and smiles. "Good to see you too, Amuro! I'm glad you came to the dance." Because the other pilot needs more social time, darn it. All work and no play makes Afro go something something.
"This is Jordan Wilde. Jordan, this is Amuro Ray." Lalah has been introduced (and Molly is so going to ask where she got that dress, it's gorgeous!), and she's still riding a little high. Molly uses her free hand to smooth the sides of her dress and subtly make sure the ribbons aren't tangled. "Amuro's worked with us before, I think... remember that time in... uh... well, the White Base was there and there were lots of those big Mobile Suits..."
"Oh!" Jordan says with a chuckle. "Uh yeah, I'm Jordan, I'm the ball turret gunner on the Whizzing Arrow." the gunner says with a thin smile as he extends his hand to the two and smiles cheerfully.
Please to not be reading too much on that little glowy showy bit that his subconscious hides and protects. There are secrets there that are not meant for 99.9 of the universe at large to know about. "Any friend of Molly's is a friend of mine."
Aw, that's terrible! Kazuki immediately feels a surge of sympathy for Dizzy. "Is he supposed to be here? He might just be late!" the Alchemy Warrior suggests. Or perhaps he fell into a pit of spikes and is hurt and needs help! Or some other convoluted nonsensical explanation! "Oh, well... I heard about it and figured it'd be fun," is his simple and entirely truthful answer to Dizzy's question. "I told a friend of mine about it, but I dunno if she's gonna make it as well..." Or what horrors his sister might've visited upon Tokiko before allowing her to leave, for that matter.
Amuro never thought that he needed more social time, but Molly is probably right about that. The pilot spends a lot of time building, working and worrying, for the most part.
"I've worked with Molly," Amuro nods as he shakes Jordan's hand with a genial, quiet smile. "It's nice to meet you, Jordan. I thought the dance would be a nice thing to do tonight." Besides, Fokker was teasing! "Molly's friends with a lot of us, so you'd better treat her right!" He winks, to indicate that he is joking.
Mostly.
There's just a bit of wistfulness to Dizzy's smile. "Ah...he had some business to take care of, so he probably wasn't going to make it. It's too bad, but he's a very responsibly man, so I don't mind." Mostly. "Besides, I'll see him again soon enough." In that sense, it's probably healthier that these two don't have to be attached at the hip.
"Oh, your...would that be your girlfriend?" she asks, completely innocently. Hmm, maybe Hokuto's rubbing off on her after all. "Well, it does seem like it is fun, definitely," she says, turning back to look at the crowd.
Perhaps Lalah will help keep Amuro from fighting quite so much!
Her eyes widen slightly and she looks at Amuro. There is a brief and faint moment of surprise - even turbulence? - but she suppresses it. Her heart pangs, once, but she doesn't look more than astonished externally...
And her former state returns, likely to Amuro's relief. It does seem a bit different, though. A note of worry. Perhaps she's afraid he'll get shot and killed.
"It must be very difficult," she murmurs, head tilting to the side. After this, she looks back to Molly. "Is the Whizzing Arrow also a mobile suit?"
Makoto does stop for a moment, left adrift near the edge of the dance floor. Momo's request is met with great concern, and there's a definite tug at the heart urging to follow her. On the other hand, between this Hitsugaya creep and half of Karakura being in the IPA, there's more here than she may know about. Or, perhaps, more than Makoto Kino would know about.
Sailor Jupiter, on the other, may very well sympathsize.
"OK, but you have to promise me you'll come back, Momo," she answers with a sympathetic smile. "You'll never become Queen of the Dance if you're not here for the award!"
Amuro registers the confusion in Lalah's mind, though only briefly-it is interrupted by a flash of races and flowers that doesn't make a lot of sense. This is fairly normal. Every so often, the soldier hears someone else's thoughts whether he's listening or not.
Still, perhaps she's worried about his military position? There are those who want nothing to do with the soldiers of the One Year War, after all. Like his mother.
Trying to ignore that thought, he coughs. "Sorry if I scared your date off, Molly," Amuro jokes as he holds Lalah's hand, rather subconsciously. "The Whizzing Arrow is a...what is it?"
What-- oh. Amuro really /did/ just go there. She feels a loss of warmth as Jordan carefully untangles his hand from hers and goes off to get punch. Wow, she really did make good friends out here. The conflicting warmth of knowing someone cares and losing her date to Social Awkwardness just confuses her though, and pink spots rise up under the tattoos on her cheeks. "Aw, thanks for the concern, Amuro... but he's very thoughtful."
It'd be nice if Lalah could keep Amuro from fighting so much! "It's a twin-engine racecraft," she explains, touching the tips of her thumbs together and letting her fingers form an approximation of the reactor housings. "It's not as powerful as a Mobile Suit but it goes really fast, so it's useful for other stuff."
Toushirou Hitsugaya pushes past Makoto, and despite Momo's request, follows her to wherever she decides to go to mope and emo. Makoto's looming powers are weak to Hitsugaya's pure look of concern and worry. That is plain to see on his face, plain enough for even Makoto to see. He doesn't want to let Momo think that he thinks she's stupid unless he really means that he wants her to think that she's stupid because he's hiding his feelings and saying not what he means. In other words, he's going to have one of those long nights. (Paperwork is easier!)
It goes fast - but is it three times faster?
Lalah says, "Oh," while looking off towards Jordan. She did not quite percieve what Amuro did (such is the danger of a different set and degree of senses - perhaps one day they will discover that every Newtype is a unique suite of abilities?) but she can tell the awkwardness, and sense, to some extent, the connection...
But Jordan is over there, and Molly is here. "I wonder if we will have competitions like that some day..."
Momo Hinamori nods at Makoto's request and waves her hand with a smile to reassure the other girl. "I promise." She'll be back... she just isn't sure of when. Then off she is with Shirostalker in tow.
"Hey!" Ooh, you're lucky she's not Sailor Jupiter right now, Shiro, otherwise your white hair would be perfect for a Don King 'do!
And then he looks back at her, and all that looming anger disappears in an instant. They've been friends since they were young, right? Who was she to try to referee their relationship? Makoto touches her flushing cheek, she's truly embarassed now. She mouths an "I'm sorry" to Hitsugaya, then flees for the refuge of the snack table. "Dammit, how could I be so dumb~"
"We might," Amuro muses, "in peacetime. I'd like to look at that machine sometime, Molly, when we have a spare moment!" His inner geek shows, and a little bit of it flares in his mind over the awkwardness and racing heart. Should he really be this hung up on a girl he met less than a month ago? He's a cynic, after all. He doesn't believe in love at first sight. That's called 'infatuation', and it's something the brain does...
The internal rambling stops. "So," he asks Molly and Lalah in a lower voice, "is it ever a little strange to be going to a high school where people our age go every day, knowing that it's not really...normal for us?" He can assume this to be so for Lalah, though he isn't sure how he knows this.
Jordan just needed a few seconds to regain his own composure. Been a while since you've been around other humans for extended periods. Calm it down, Amuro didn't mean it.
After gathering four cups of punch, the gunner makes his way back over to Molly and company. And this time, after handing them out, his hand refinds Molly's quite naturally. And he has a lot more pleasant smile on his face.
She smiles as she takes her paper cup from Jordan and entwines their fingers again. "Mm. Kind of, I guess?" Her impression of 'school' is still prisonlike, with high gray walls you can't see anything over. Only grey walls and the sky above, and somewhere beyond them a small, burning hope. "You're welcome to take a peek under the hood anytime you like, Amuro... I bet Stan and Koji would be glad to tell you everything that goes on in the engines." There's no manual for a one-of-a-kind, extensively rebuilt craft like this, sadly. "Lalah, you should come to our earth sometime! The League finals begin this summer, if you guys want to come I can get you some tickets!"
"My what?!" Kazuki says, unduly freaked out by such an 'innocent' question. "N-no, no. Tokiko-san is more like... A teacher of mine, I guess." Definitely not his girlfriend, though people keep making that assumption for some reason. "Yeah, it looks like people are having fun..." Though he does kind of wonder what Nao was doing here... She didn't seem to be trying to do what she was doing the /last/ time he met her, unless that blond guy she was with was a victim. Hmm. "Plus the punch is really good!"
"A teacher?" Dizzy asks, looking surprised for a moment. "Ah, well...hm. I...see." Though she apparently doesn't. Well, not his girlfriend, okay, we'll stay with that. "Well...you should enjoy yourself as long as you are here. And--yes, the punch is good, isn't it?" She sips from her glass just then, as if to emphasize the point. "Oh...it was good to meet you, Mister Kazuki! I'm sorry, I need to use the restroom...I do hope to talk to you again." And with that, Dizzy makes her way to the washroom, and out of the scene for the evening.
Lalah takes her second cup of punch and sips it readily. She then realizes something faint and worrisome about what Molly says. She then realizes the solution: rent a post office box. "Thank you," she tells Molly with a slight smile. "I would love to go."
She then looks to Amuro, and weighs the faint urge to simply pour everything out into him and the instinct to conceal. The latter wins - but only on points; "I do not go to a typical school, so I cannot say that it is truly strange." She then realizes this is going to lead to questions, and therefore, interrupt! "Do you attend classes, Amuro...?"
It is, perhaps, an 'if' for him, not a 'when'.
It takes less than a minute for Makoto to get over her pity party of one. A watermelon tidbit later, and she's back in action. "I'll talk it over with Mina-chan, she'll know what to do." Until then... Kazuki's open again! With a quick primping and a check to make sure her dress and hair are in order, the tall call teenager in a black dress sashays back over his way. Don't blush, don't sparkle, don't mention the sempai, just play it cool... "Hello again, Kazuki!"
Oh, to be able to tell them about Alwas and Oban, and the crazy advenures the two of them have had. But the Earth - their Earth - says such a thing must never ever get out into the world at large. All because they stopped the Krogg. And the Earth government took credit for that. Losers.
"Totally, we're going to clean up there. Well, Molly will." the pilot rubs the back of his head, a little confused. "Are they arming League Racers now?" He's a gunner. That's a strange question to ask...
..but he could very well be out of a job.
Well, one of them.
Koji? Did Koji Kabuto get to see Molly's machine before Amuro did?! Pointless friendly rivalries aside, Amuro nods with visible interest. "I'd like that very much! -Oh, school?"
Lalah may notice a slight dip, a tinge of awkward regret as he speaks over the subject of school. "I can't, really. I'm military personnel, a draftee, and while the war's going I can't really attend any classes. They said they'd pay for my education after the war ends, whatever sort I choose..."
He scolds himself for the downer story and halts it right there. "Anyway, I wish you both luck in the race! I'm sure you'll be the ones to win."
Amuro will find a brother in arms in Jordan. "Hey, that's one of the reasons why I joined the military back home." Jordan offers to Amuro. After all, he's in his own version of the Earth Government uniform.
"I figured that I'd get a college education someday." Funny how things change, don't they? Molly's hand gets a squeeze as he shrugs his shoulders in a small roll. "That and my grandfather fought the Krogg. Figured I may have gotten a chance to do the same, but now there seems to be a more permament truce."
She squeezes Jordan's fingers gently. "No problem, Lalah! I know I'll do well if I've got you all cheering for me." Her mother won all three League titles, the only racer ever to do it. Can Molly try for any less?
Hell no.
"What'll you study when the war's over, Amuro? Engineering?" She's heard a /few/ rumors about his skills with mechanical things, and her own pale in comparison... though she feels like she does exactly as well as she needs to. "Whether or not I win, we ought to throw a party afterwards." Molly likes having friends. If you win they congratulate you and don't let your head get too big. If you lose, they buy you a soda and tell you what a jerk your opponent was, and how next time it'll go better.
"The Krogg?" Lalah asks with a quirk of the eyebrow, before glancing back to Amuro. Are these aliens going to burst through a door and lay eggs in their brains?!
But she relaxes, because they seem to be the regular sort of aliens that you might, in theory, fight a war with. She doesn't comment further on the War, instead taking another sip of her punch.
You paged Molly with 'You get to field the Krogg question~'
Molly pages: Ah, because Jordan may be biased XD Just a bit.
"Probably engineering, yeah..." There's only some truth in this, Amuro knows, but he'd rather not ponder his future or the fact that the war could last tens of years. "I think they're aliens," he answers Lalah, while squeezing her hand reassuringly. There's no killer aliens right here, don't worry! "And, um, well, I guess I joined because...well, don't want to think about that right now, it's alright."
He scratches the back of his head with his free hand.
Back on Oban...
Jordan, all glowy showy as the Avatar: So, with these powers, I could say.. wipe the Krogg off the face of the universe?
Creators: Theoretically, you could. But you'd upset the balance, so no.
Jordan: But...
Creators: No. Bad idea. Strong will, Great Responsibility.
Jordan: Well, damn, there goes what fun I was going to have. What good is phenominal powers of the universe if you can't smite your enemies?
Creators: Jordan.
Jordan: Okay, okay. I know, we're bunking for the next 10,000 years.
Molly would be better suited to answer Lalah's question.
Poor unsuspecting Kazuki is sashayed towards, and once more he's rather surprised by the return of a girl to his presence. "Oh! Hey, Makoto-chan," the Alchemy Warrior says cheerfully, lifting his punch glass in greeting. "Did you take care of whatever it is you had to do?" See, this is why he's lucky they don't have dances at HIS school. If they did, they'd be interrupted by horrible maneating monsters, and he'd have to go kill those instead of mingling. Lame!
Oh geez, where to start with the Krogg. "Well, the Krogg are basically like... they're these big aliens with darkness for skin and glowy yellow eyes, and they like cloaks and knives, and they're evil." This may be a biased account. "They tried to kill me and Jordan a lot so I don't like them."
Molly thinks about this for a minute, pursing her lips in contemplation. "And they were systematically taking over one planet after the other and were going to use the powers gained by the winner of the Great Race to make sure nobody could oppose them. Yeah, that too." She downs the rest of her drink in a long gulp, crushing her paper cup in a fist. "Like that."
"My goodness," Lalah says a moment later as she silently squeezes Amuro's hand back, lightly. "That does sound quite horrible..."
I wish we had a race we could win, she thinks, which Amuro may well overhear.
"I am glad they did not succeed - ah, unless, it is not over," she continues, looking at her punch cup and taking another sip.
Jordan blinks, "Ah, yeah, the Great Race of Oban is over. Molly was offered the prize, but she turned it down for a much better prize." he casts a wink towards the woman, squeezing her fingers. No need to get too far into all of that, right?
"There's not another Great Race for another 9,996 someodd years." the gunner says with a shrug. "In the meantime, the universe continues on."
"Yeah," Makoto admits guiltily. "They're taking care of it on their own." Hopefully. "I'm sure they'll come back, its a beautiful night for a dance." Her wide green eyes tilt up to look at sky above, and catch a familiar sight in the heavens. "All the stars and planets are out tonight. There's Venus, there's Mars, and there's Jupiter. Just like they are back in our Tokyo."
Amuro Ray would prefer a race to a war.
"I'm glad your plane is relatively safe, then, at least from then." The young soldier smiles, still standing next to Lalah and feeling curious about it. Maybe he is overthinking it. Why should he be so astonished at himself for liking a very pretty, gentle girl?
As the first set of songs draws to a close, many of the couples have left the floor, going off to their tables, or to hang out or get their pictures taken at the large area set aside for that. One couple has retaken the floor for a little bit longer, however.
Jordan holds Molly just a little closer now as they pull away from Lalah and Amuro. He's not ready for the song to end, nor the dance.. but especially this moment.
Therefore as the song dies down, he looks down at Molly, and turns a lovely shade of crimson. "...want to go for a walk, Molly?" And spend some time alone?
Where: Karakura High School
When: Saturday, March 17 - St. Patrick's Day!
What: The Spring Dance at Karakura - Part 1!
Tags Needed for the following:
- Kazuki Mutou
- Momo Hinamori
- Alicia Winston
- Tokiko Tsumura
- Hot Rod
"I'm Makoto Kino," the girl softly introduces herself. The open smile and bright eyes still indicate she's lost in Sempai-land, but some sense of self-awareness kicks in as the music begins to play. "Isn't that lovely music? The school really went all out when putting on this dance, I hope I pass the acceptance test so I can come here next year."
Not that she would worry, they took Ichigo and Keigo, after all.
He's not aware of Maya's presence tugging upon Eva to urge her forward. Actually, truth be told..
...the kiss is very unexpected...
And this time, Eva Wei, Jordan Wilde doesn't vanish in glowy yellow bits.
His body does lock up as his mind processes the information that he has just been engaged. And instead of retreating, Jordan's eyes go from bright and wide surprise to drifting closed as he returns said kiss, one hand leaving her waist to caress the back of her neck.
Battle Mastery: First Second Kiss before the end of the first dance. Molly gains one rank. It only took four years! They seem to be doing good and well right. They always are, though.
Target. Cease fire.
It's actually Jordan that pulls away at first. It's not exactly the same way he hallucinated it would happen back on Oban, but it works. It works really, really well. His eyes partially unhood as he looks down at Molly. So much he wants to say in this moment. But the words just are not there.
Momo Hinamori had fallen into the mood so quickly that she hadn't even realized. So easily she slipped into it and when Hitsugaya's voice is heard, it causes her to blink, and the next moment she notices what she had just done. "I..." Go home? "No, we just got here." Raising her head she looks almost defensive as she answers. She can't leave just yet, and as hard as it will be, she has to keep from thinking about Aizen for now. "I don't want to leave now." There's still too much to take in, like the people dancing, the way they converse. "I'm just a little thirsty." Like anyone would fall for that excuse. Stepping away from Dizzy and Shiro, while she gets a glass of punch, she'll take that short time to compose herself even more so that she won't be forcing a smile or be mopey again tonight. Be strong Momo! D:
Nao has to hide a smile when she hears that now familiar phrase. "Let's do that." She nods, gradually pulling back from him. The other HiME would probably never believe their eyes if they saw how she was dancing with him. "I'll go back to my dorm and start to pack." Sanji could even help if her room mate was out and she could sneak him in! What a delinquent...and still in middle school too. Nao turns around, letting go of his hand as she leaves the dance. Of course he's welcome to follow her. No other guy can say that!
Of course, Kazuki is still unaware of the potential minefield he's treading here. "Makoto-chan, huh?" he says, and wow she clearly is young! Younger than his little sister even! "Yeah, it's pretty nice. My school doesn't really hold this sort of thing for some reason." Because they know the Four Idiots Plus One would cause trouble, most likely. "But uh, good luck on the test! Mine was pretty hard, but I'm a master of studying!" ...What?
Lalah might be amused at the concept of an 'Indian maiden,' although this is only because even in the future, there are Westerns. (Some genres never die; they just mutate to include giant robots and zombies and ghosts and magic and lots of use of apostrophies instead of 'g's at the end of words.)
She also doesn't mind having a hand put on her waist, and even returns the favor. She steps left, then right, and looks more or less directly at Amuro - her eyes are a bit downcast, but thanks to the fortunes of war and genetics, she is not taller than him. The nightmare of middle school is over, Amuro... the girls won't always tower over you.
Her own steps are deft and a little untutored. At least Amuro likely can't step on her feet, even if he tries.
"Really?" *_*; Again the hearts float into existance above the cook once the song is ended and Nao suggests leaving right away for another vacation. She's turning him into a real slacker for his duties lately, but somehow he still manages to keep his crew, or what's left of it, fed on board the Going Merry. Guess Sanji'll have to make sure there's enough meat on board for Luffy before he goes. Maybe if he hides it in various places on the ship it'll take Luffy a couple of days to find it all so he doesn't eat it all at once! Hm, a definite possible plan there. "I'll come meet you as soon as I go by the ship." He'll have to pack a few things as well. Sanji releases Nao, smiling as he watches her go on her way. He takes a moment to enjoy the atmosphere before heading for the exit. Before he's even out of the dance he's taken a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and shakes a single cigarette up to draw it free from the carton with his lips. As much as he enjoys the school dance, his bad habit still nags at him so he'll definitely have to go out of the school grounds for that. "I'm coming, Nao-chwaaaan!" He'll pack super fast!
Warmth spreads through her veins, pooling in her chest and the hands wrapped around Jordan's waist. If she's ever dreamed about this, Molly isn't telling!
Sure it's not the same as the hallucination in the desert temple, but /that/ Molly also disappeared as soon as the sun went down over the horizon, scattering into sand and dreams. (She WAS a pretty good likeness though.) Inwardly, she congratulates herself... not bad for her first 'real' kiss. Unseen by any of the attendees (except maybe those with second sight), a rainbow-mist figure smiles gently and nods her head in time with the slow music as her form fades into nothingness. The last feature that can be made out besides long pink hair is a crescent-moon on her cheek.
Molly doesn't have any words either. ...Aw, who needs 'em. She leans into his chest again, resting her cheek on his shoulder, and just enjoys the dance.
"I'm not that good of a student myself," Makoto admits sheepishly. "I'll just have to do my best!" And plead with Ami for help. Momo passes by on her way for another drink, and her change in attitude catches the young student's eye. It looks like she could use someone to talk to. Ack. Cute guy, friend in need... Its a hard choice, but Makoto knows where she's really needed. "I'm sorry, Kazuki, but I'll be right back," she bows apologetically. Whoosh, Makovanish! Another race across the dance floor and she's next to Momo, looking her over worriedly. "What happened? Did Hitsugaya say something stupid?"
In vague bemusement, Dizzy watches the sudden movement of people around the place: Momo, Makoto.... There's a bit of a frown on her face, as she too realizes that things are slightly amiss. But, well.... "Um, maybe you should go talk to Miss Hinamori?" she tries, looking over at Shiro. Something was definitely odd there, she just has no idea what it might be.
Either way, she does drift slightly over toward Kazuki. "Hi," she says to the young man. "Are you a friend of Miss Kino's?"
"That's all you can do anyway," Kazuki replies, grinning and giving Makoto a thumbs up. "If you try your hardest, then you can't help but succeed!" Which is totally not true, but he feels like it ought to be. Cheerful and encouraging is the way to go! "No rush!" he calls after Makoto as she runs off... And then there's a Dizzy headed his way. "Huh? Oh... I just met her, actually!" he responds, a bit sheepishly. "I'm Kazuki, nice t' meetcha!"
There's a rhythm to Amuro's dance steps by now. He's almost managed to sync up with Lalah's dancing, at least enough to avoid any clumsy accidents, and so instead concentrates on how her sari reflects the disco ball lights. Which is a strange thought, he decides, even if he really likes her sari.
Should he speak? It seems as if it would disturb the moment. So instead, he tries to send a thought at the fellow Newtype. *I hope you're enjoying yourself. I like dancing with you, aaaannnndddd*
The thought dissolves into a faint sense of 'green' and 'ocean' and the familiar image of a swan. It wasn't intentional, but it simply happened. He also wonders if the light he sees surrounding Lalah for a few moments is just from the disco lighting.
As the two stand there, Jordan's cheek leaning against the crown of Molly's head, the gunner enjoys the feel for a moment, then gets a small smirky type grin. "So.. uh.. Molly? When are you going to introduce me to your friends?" he asks.
How did he know? Phenominal cosmic powers granted as an avatar?
"I saw the look of recognition a few moments ago. Apparently someone you know is here?" he comments to her as he pulls up for just a moment to look down at her properly.
Since Dizzy drifted off to deal with Kazuki, Shiro grunts and heads off to join Hinamori at the punchbowl like Dizzy suggested. But there's Makoto. Well, who cares. His throat is a little scratchy from coughing up the watermelon. He needs something to drink. He hears the tail-end of Makoto's comment and immediately responds, "I'm not the stupid one." And then he so casually pours himself a glass of punch.
Toushirou Hitsugaya is also far too distracted by Hinamori to care about overbearing motherhen ghosts.
Just met? Odd, that look spoke of a familiar face.... Of course, Dizzy has no idea about Makoto's sempai-obsession, so there you go. "Ahh. Well, my name is Dizzy," she says, curtseying. "Nice to meet you, Mister Kazuki. Are you also a student here at Karakura?" She does give a quick glance back toward Hitsugaya, sort of vaguely wishing there was something she could help with there, but it's really not her business, she realizes.
The visual effects are perhaps more like an enhancement of reality, with her right there. Lalah doesn't seem afraid, even as she seems to sparkle; she brings her free hand up to touch, briefly, at Amuro's cheek.
'I like dancing with you, too,' she answers; it may sound like she's speaking even if she isn't, as opposed to the strange feeling of knowing what the other person just said, even though they didn't say it. She then turns her head slightly, lips curving back in a faint smile. She chuckles...
And then she speaks aloud, in a low murmur. "I think your friend wants to introduce us to someone." Perhaps she means Molly! Or perhaps she is being Cryptic.
Momo Hinamori had finished pouring herself a glass of punch before Makoto appeared, and the look on her face still wasn't completely gone so, when she's looked at, Mako gets to see the spiritless expression on Momo's face. Before she has a chance to reply though, Hitsugaya arrives to add his comment, and Momo looks guilty as she lowers her head and takes a sip of her drink. As much as she wants to stay, she knows she should, but ... right now. "It's nothing to worry about." She doesn't want to worry Makoto or complicate things... after all how could she explain to her what's bothering her without giving away details that she doesn't think she's at liberty to share? "I..." She stares down at the cup for a few moments longer before she sets it down. "Excuse me." Then turning away she leaves the table, and looks as if she intends to leave the dance. Maybe she's just going to the bathroom?
Uh-oh. She knows that smirk. "Wh-what?" Molly looks up at her partner curiously, wondering just WHY he's smiling like that. "Oh, you mean Amuro? He's in the Sheep too." Why'd he interrupt a perfectly good dance to be introduced to someone?
Well, maybe he thought it was getting awkward, or was afraid to let it go on too long. So, she's disappointed, but progress was made -- that's good enough for her.
For the record, Molly does not usually recognize her mother's presence unless she's dreaming.
Amuro blushes at Lalah's touch, but does not pull away. He likes the way she sounds in his mind, even when she's just laughing or smiling. It takes a moment for him to break out of that daze and register what she has actually said. "-Oh! Yes, that's my friend, Molly. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude..."
He pauses and turns to address Molly and Jordan. "Hi, Molly. Nice to see you here. This is Lalah Sune," he explains as he gestures to the dark-skinned woman, still blushing himself. "She's from the colonies. Who's your date, if you don't mind me asking...?"
Does Makoto Kino Have To Judo-Flip A Bitch?
All five foot six of the Sailor of Thunder, Courage, and Bully-Smiting looms over Toushirou Hitsugaya. "She asked you to join her at the dance, and you have the nerve to insult her!?" If there wasn't cops here and Momo wasn't running away- Aw hell. "I'll talk to you later," she growls before taking off after the retreating shinigami. "Momo! Wait!"
"Dizzy?" Kazuki repeats. That's kind of a weird name. But then... He's heard weirder! "Nope!" he chirps in response to the question of his being a student at Karakura. Not even remotely close. "I go to Ginsei Private Highschool, it's... Kinda far from here," he explains, giving some cursory effort at maintaining a cover story. "I guess you don't either though, huh?" Otherwise she likely wouldn't have asked!
Jordan doesn't want to ruin a magical moment, but eventually, one of them was bound to get awkward in all this. After all, it took them a while to even hug, much less to get to this point.
However, he'll let Molly handle the introductions as he tips a pair of fingers towards Lalah and Amuro. One of his arms remain around Molly, however, smiling over at her. Wow. This actually feels right.
Oh dear, it's going a bit pear-shaped...but.... Dizzy sighs, keeps watch over the two shinigami out of the corner of her eye in case things get worse. That'll have to do for now. "You aren't? Oh...no, I go to the school in the Hub. My home plane is...also kind of far away. But some of my friends are students here--like my boyfriend." Who is sadly absent tonight. Sadness.
Which then draws another question to mind. "What brings you to this dance, then, if I may ask?" she says, curiously.
Toushirou Hitsugaya gulps down his punch swiftly. His timing couldn't have been worse. He was insulting Makoto, not Momo! The situation is already complicated, and he doesn't need to have HER get in the way now! He throws the empty paper cup back on the table and follows the two girls. He really hopes that they don't head to the girl's washroom.
"Hello!" Lalah says warmly, and draws her hands back from Amuro - is that a negative sign?! She folds them behind her back - what does that mean, Amuro!? Secret hatred or disgust!?
Not if Amuro's empathic perception is worth a thing, because she isn't stepping away from the fluffy-haired young man at all. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she says, looking at Molly - who is her sister in facial decorations (even if Lalah's is only a small bindi).
Momo Hinamori slows down but doesn't stop as Makoto calls after her, and when the other girl catches up to her, she looks over with a soft smile. "I'll be back." She just has to leave for a bit... just needs to hide away from the crowd for a little while, and will return when she's sure she won't slip into another mopey worryfest. "Stay here with Shiro and make sure he doesn't try to sneak off while I'm gone." She raises her hand to give a small wave before she continues to leave. And off she goes to leave the dance and head toward the school... there must be someplace she can hide away in for a little while. And if Makoto and Hitsugaya insist on following... well she isn't going to run and try to lose them if they do.
"Hi! Nice to meet you, Lalah," Molly grins. She rests her hand on top of the one resting against her waist and smiles. "Good to see you too, Amuro! I'm glad you came to the dance." Because the other pilot needs more social time, darn it. All work and no play makes Afro go something something.
"This is Jordan Wilde. Jordan, this is Amuro Ray." Lalah has been introduced (and Molly is so going to ask where she got that dress, it's gorgeous!), and she's still riding a little high. Molly uses her free hand to smooth the sides of her dress and subtly make sure the ribbons aren't tangled. "Amuro's worked with us before, I think... remember that time in... uh... well, the White Base was there and there were lots of those big Mobile Suits..."
"Oh!" Jordan says with a chuckle. "Uh yeah, I'm Jordan, I'm the ball turret gunner on the Whizzing Arrow." the gunner says with a thin smile as he extends his hand to the two and smiles cheerfully.
Please to not be reading too much on that little glowy showy bit that his subconscious hides and protects. There are secrets there that are not meant for 99.9 of the universe at large to know about. "Any friend of Molly's is a friend of mine."
Aw, that's terrible! Kazuki immediately feels a surge of sympathy for Dizzy. "Is he supposed to be here? He might just be late!" the Alchemy Warrior suggests. Or perhaps he fell into a pit of spikes and is hurt and needs help! Or some other convoluted nonsensical explanation! "Oh, well... I heard about it and figured it'd be fun," is his simple and entirely truthful answer to Dizzy's question. "I told a friend of mine about it, but I dunno if she's gonna make it as well..." Or what horrors his sister might've visited upon Tokiko before allowing her to leave, for that matter.
Amuro never thought that he needed more social time, but Molly is probably right about that. The pilot spends a lot of time building, working and worrying, for the most part.
"I've worked with Molly," Amuro nods as he shakes Jordan's hand with a genial, quiet smile. "It's nice to meet you, Jordan. I thought the dance would be a nice thing to do tonight." Besides, Fokker was teasing! "Molly's friends with a lot of us, so you'd better treat her right!" He winks, to indicate that he is joking.
Mostly.
There's just a bit of wistfulness to Dizzy's smile. "Ah...he had some business to take care of, so he probably wasn't going to make it. It's too bad, but he's a very responsibly man, so I don't mind." Mostly. "Besides, I'll see him again soon enough." In that sense, it's probably healthier that these two don't have to be attached at the hip.
"Oh, your...would that be your girlfriend?" she asks, completely innocently. Hmm, maybe Hokuto's rubbing off on her after all. "Well, it does seem like it is fun, definitely," she says, turning back to look at the crowd.
Perhaps Lalah will help keep Amuro from fighting quite so much!
Her eyes widen slightly and she looks at Amuro. There is a brief and faint moment of surprise - even turbulence? - but she suppresses it. Her heart pangs, once, but she doesn't look more than astonished externally...
And her former state returns, likely to Amuro's relief. It does seem a bit different, though. A note of worry. Perhaps she's afraid he'll get shot and killed.
"It must be very difficult," she murmurs, head tilting to the side. After this, she looks back to Molly. "Is the Whizzing Arrow also a mobile suit?"
Makoto does stop for a moment, left adrift near the edge of the dance floor. Momo's request is met with great concern, and there's a definite tug at the heart urging to follow her. On the other hand, between this Hitsugaya creep and half of Karakura being in the IPA, there's more here than she may know about. Or, perhaps, more than Makoto Kino would know about.
Sailor Jupiter, on the other, may very well sympathsize.
"OK, but you have to promise me you'll come back, Momo," she answers with a sympathetic smile. "You'll never become Queen of the Dance if you're not here for the award!"
Amuro registers the confusion in Lalah's mind, though only briefly-it is interrupted by a flash of races and flowers that doesn't make a lot of sense. This is fairly normal. Every so often, the soldier hears someone else's thoughts whether he's listening or not.
Still, perhaps she's worried about his military position? There are those who want nothing to do with the soldiers of the One Year War, after all. Like his mother.
Trying to ignore that thought, he coughs. "Sorry if I scared your date off, Molly," Amuro jokes as he holds Lalah's hand, rather subconsciously. "The Whizzing Arrow is a...what is it?"
What-- oh. Amuro really /did/ just go there. She feels a loss of warmth as Jordan carefully untangles his hand from hers and goes off to get punch. Wow, she really did make good friends out here. The conflicting warmth of knowing someone cares and losing her date to Social Awkwardness just confuses her though, and pink spots rise up under the tattoos on her cheeks. "Aw, thanks for the concern, Amuro... but he's very thoughtful."
It'd be nice if Lalah could keep Amuro from fighting so much! "It's a twin-engine racecraft," she explains, touching the tips of her thumbs together and letting her fingers form an approximation of the reactor housings. "It's not as powerful as a Mobile Suit but it goes really fast, so it's useful for other stuff."
Toushirou Hitsugaya pushes past Makoto, and despite Momo's request, follows her to wherever she decides to go to mope and emo. Makoto's looming powers are weak to Hitsugaya's pure look of concern and worry. That is plain to see on his face, plain enough for even Makoto to see. He doesn't want to let Momo think that he thinks she's stupid unless he really means that he wants her to think that she's stupid because he's hiding his feelings and saying not what he means. In other words, he's going to have one of those long nights. (Paperwork is easier!)
It goes fast - but is it three times faster?
Lalah says, "Oh," while looking off towards Jordan. She did not quite percieve what Amuro did (such is the danger of a different set and degree of senses - perhaps one day they will discover that every Newtype is a unique suite of abilities?) but she can tell the awkwardness, and sense, to some extent, the connection...
But Jordan is over there, and Molly is here. "I wonder if we will have competitions like that some day..."
Momo Hinamori nods at Makoto's request and waves her hand with a smile to reassure the other girl. "I promise." She'll be back... she just isn't sure of when. Then off she is with Shirostalker in tow.
"Hey!" Ooh, you're lucky she's not Sailor Jupiter right now, Shiro, otherwise your white hair would be perfect for a Don King 'do!
And then he looks back at her, and all that looming anger disappears in an instant. They've been friends since they were young, right? Who was she to try to referee their relationship? Makoto touches her flushing cheek, she's truly embarassed now. She mouths an "I'm sorry" to Hitsugaya, then flees for the refuge of the snack table. "Dammit, how could I be so dumb~"
"We might," Amuro muses, "in peacetime. I'd like to look at that machine sometime, Molly, when we have a spare moment!" His inner geek shows, and a little bit of it flares in his mind over the awkwardness and racing heart. Should he really be this hung up on a girl he met less than a month ago? He's a cynic, after all. He doesn't believe in love at first sight. That's called 'infatuation', and it's something the brain does...
The internal rambling stops. "So," he asks Molly and Lalah in a lower voice, "is it ever a little strange to be going to a high school where people our age go every day, knowing that it's not really...normal for us?" He can assume this to be so for Lalah, though he isn't sure how he knows this.
Jordan just needed a few seconds to regain his own composure. Been a while since you've been around other humans for extended periods. Calm it down, Amuro didn't mean it.
After gathering four cups of punch, the gunner makes his way back over to Molly and company. And this time, after handing them out, his hand refinds Molly's quite naturally. And he has a lot more pleasant smile on his face.
She smiles as she takes her paper cup from Jordan and entwines their fingers again. "Mm. Kind of, I guess?" Her impression of 'school' is still prisonlike, with high gray walls you can't see anything over. Only grey walls and the sky above, and somewhere beyond them a small, burning hope. "You're welcome to take a peek under the hood anytime you like, Amuro... I bet Stan and Koji would be glad to tell you everything that goes on in the engines." There's no manual for a one-of-a-kind, extensively rebuilt craft like this, sadly. "Lalah, you should come to our earth sometime! The League finals begin this summer, if you guys want to come I can get you some tickets!"
"My what?!" Kazuki says, unduly freaked out by such an 'innocent' question. "N-no, no. Tokiko-san is more like... A teacher of mine, I guess." Definitely not his girlfriend, though people keep making that assumption for some reason. "Yeah, it looks like people are having fun..." Though he does kind of wonder what Nao was doing here... She didn't seem to be trying to do what she was doing the /last/ time he met her, unless that blond guy she was with was a victim. Hmm. "Plus the punch is really good!"
"A teacher?" Dizzy asks, looking surprised for a moment. "Ah, well...hm. I...see." Though she apparently doesn't. Well, not his girlfriend, okay, we'll stay with that. "Well...you should enjoy yourself as long as you are here. And--yes, the punch is good, isn't it?" She sips from her glass just then, as if to emphasize the point. "Oh...it was good to meet you, Mister Kazuki! I'm sorry, I need to use the restroom...I do hope to talk to you again." And with that, Dizzy makes her way to the washroom, and out of the scene for the evening.
Lalah takes her second cup of punch and sips it readily. She then realizes something faint and worrisome about what Molly says. She then realizes the solution: rent a post office box. "Thank you," she tells Molly with a slight smile. "I would love to go."
She then looks to Amuro, and weighs the faint urge to simply pour everything out into him and the instinct to conceal. The latter wins - but only on points; "I do not go to a typical school, so I cannot say that it is truly strange." She then realizes this is going to lead to questions, and therefore, interrupt! "Do you attend classes, Amuro...?"
It is, perhaps, an 'if' for him, not a 'when'.
It takes less than a minute for Makoto to get over her pity party of one. A watermelon tidbit later, and she's back in action. "I'll talk it over with Mina-chan, she'll know what to do." Until then... Kazuki's open again! With a quick primping and a check to make sure her dress and hair are in order, the tall call teenager in a black dress sashays back over his way. Don't blush, don't sparkle, don't mention the sempai, just play it cool... "Hello again, Kazuki!"
Oh, to be able to tell them about Alwas and Oban, and the crazy advenures the two of them have had. But the Earth - their Earth - says such a thing must never ever get out into the world at large. All because they stopped the Krogg. And the Earth government took credit for that. Losers.
"Totally, we're going to clean up there. Well, Molly will." the pilot rubs the back of his head, a little confused. "Are they arming League Racers now?" He's a gunner. That's a strange question to ask...
..but he could very well be out of a job.
Well, one of them.
Koji? Did Koji Kabuto get to see Molly's machine before Amuro did?! Pointless friendly rivalries aside, Amuro nods with visible interest. "I'd like that very much! -Oh, school?"
Lalah may notice a slight dip, a tinge of awkward regret as he speaks over the subject of school. "I can't, really. I'm military personnel, a draftee, and while the war's going I can't really attend any classes. They said they'd pay for my education after the war ends, whatever sort I choose..."
He scolds himself for the downer story and halts it right there. "Anyway, I wish you both luck in the race! I'm sure you'll be the ones to win."
Amuro will find a brother in arms in Jordan. "Hey, that's one of the reasons why I joined the military back home." Jordan offers to Amuro. After all, he's in his own version of the Earth Government uniform.
"I figured that I'd get a college education someday." Funny how things change, don't they? Molly's hand gets a squeeze as he shrugs his shoulders in a small roll. "That and my grandfather fought the Krogg. Figured I may have gotten a chance to do the same, but now there seems to be a more permament truce."
She squeezes Jordan's fingers gently. "No problem, Lalah! I know I'll do well if I've got you all cheering for me." Her mother won all three League titles, the only racer ever to do it. Can Molly try for any less?
Hell no.
"What'll you study when the war's over, Amuro? Engineering?" She's heard a /few/ rumors about his skills with mechanical things, and her own pale in comparison... though she feels like she does exactly as well as she needs to. "Whether or not I win, we ought to throw a party afterwards." Molly likes having friends. If you win they congratulate you and don't let your head get too big. If you lose, they buy you a soda and tell you what a jerk your opponent was, and how next time it'll go better.
"The Krogg?" Lalah asks with a quirk of the eyebrow, before glancing back to Amuro. Are these aliens going to burst through a door and lay eggs in their brains?!
But she relaxes, because they seem to be the regular sort of aliens that you might, in theory, fight a war with. She doesn't comment further on the War, instead taking another sip of her punch.
You paged Molly with 'You get to field the Krogg question~'
Molly pages: Ah, because Jordan may be biased XD Just a bit.
"Probably engineering, yeah..." There's only some truth in this, Amuro knows, but he'd rather not ponder his future or the fact that the war could last tens of years. "I think they're aliens," he answers Lalah, while squeezing her hand reassuringly. There's no killer aliens right here, don't worry! "And, um, well, I guess I joined because...well, don't want to think about that right now, it's alright."
He scratches the back of his head with his free hand.
Back on Oban...
Jordan, all glowy showy as the Avatar: So, with these powers, I could say.. wipe the Krogg off the face of the universe?
Creators: Theoretically, you could. But you'd upset the balance, so no.
Jordan: But...
Creators: No. Bad idea. Strong will, Great Responsibility.
Jordan: Well, damn, there goes what fun I was going to have. What good is phenominal powers of the universe if you can't smite your enemies?
Creators: Jordan.
Jordan: Okay, okay. I know, we're bunking for the next 10,000 years.
Molly would be better suited to answer Lalah's question.
Poor unsuspecting Kazuki is sashayed towards, and once more he's rather surprised by the return of a girl to his presence. "Oh! Hey, Makoto-chan," the Alchemy Warrior says cheerfully, lifting his punch glass in greeting. "Did you take care of whatever it is you had to do?" See, this is why he's lucky they don't have dances at HIS school. If they did, they'd be interrupted by horrible maneating monsters, and he'd have to go kill those instead of mingling. Lame!
Oh geez, where to start with the Krogg. "Well, the Krogg are basically like... they're these big aliens with darkness for skin and glowy yellow eyes, and they like cloaks and knives, and they're evil." This may be a biased account. "They tried to kill me and Jordan a lot so I don't like them."
Molly thinks about this for a minute, pursing her lips in contemplation. "And they were systematically taking over one planet after the other and were going to use the powers gained by the winner of the Great Race to make sure nobody could oppose them. Yeah, that too." She downs the rest of her drink in a long gulp, crushing her paper cup in a fist. "Like that."
"My goodness," Lalah says a moment later as she silently squeezes Amuro's hand back, lightly. "That does sound quite horrible..."
I wish we had a race we could win, she thinks, which Amuro may well overhear.
"I am glad they did not succeed - ah, unless, it is not over," she continues, looking at her punch cup and taking another sip.
Jordan blinks, "Ah, yeah, the Great Race of Oban is over. Molly was offered the prize, but she turned it down for a much better prize." he casts a wink towards the woman, squeezing her fingers. No need to get too far into all of that, right?
"There's not another Great Race for another 9,996 someodd years." the gunner says with a shrug. "In the meantime, the universe continues on."
"Yeah," Makoto admits guiltily. "They're taking care of it on their own." Hopefully. "I'm sure they'll come back, its a beautiful night for a dance." Her wide green eyes tilt up to look at sky above, and catch a familiar sight in the heavens. "All the stars and planets are out tonight. There's Venus, there's Mars, and there's Jupiter. Just like they are back in our Tokyo."
Amuro Ray would prefer a race to a war.
"I'm glad your plane is relatively safe, then, at least from then." The young soldier smiles, still standing next to Lalah and feeling curious about it. Maybe he is overthinking it. Why should he be so astonished at himself for liking a very pretty, gentle girl?
As the first set of songs draws to a close, many of the couples have left the floor, going off to their tables, or to hang out or get their pictures taken at the large area set aside for that. One couple has retaken the floor for a little bit longer, however.
Jordan holds Molly just a little closer now as they pull away from Lalah and Amuro. He's not ready for the song to end, nor the dance.. but especially this moment.
Therefore as the song dies down, he looks down at Molly, and turns a lovely shade of crimson. "...want to go for a walk, Molly?" And spend some time alone?