open november catch-all ( haru okumura + princess yona )

[frombetrayal]

Who: Haru Okumura (frombetrayal) & you! Princess Yona (cutefaced) & you, too.
What: A post-event catch-all for November. Personalized starters will be in the comments.
When: Anytime after the event.
Where: Basically anywhere, though mainly Wyver for now.
Warning(s): Nothing at the moment, but I'll add them as things come up. Mephisto and Jae-Ha are in the middle of some 18+ shenanigans in one thread but that's probably getting cut short.

haru;

one - searching for supplies;
[Haru's up in the Old City today, taking a look at the marketplace. She doesn't seem too perturbed by the state of the Old City itself; sure, it's... definitely got a sort of dangerous feel to it, but she's pretty capable of defending herself if need be.

The axe she's got strapped to her back is something she knows how to use, after all.

That being said, she's not really anticipating a fight - it's more of a precautionary measure. She's calm and polite with the merchants as she looks through their wares, though eventually, she has to stop and ask someone for directions-]

Um, excuse me. [You! Yes, you! Help a girl out.] You don't happen to know where there might be someone selling gardening tools, do you?

[Do they even garden here? Man, she doesn't know. There's plants every which way down in the jungle itself, but they don't really seem organized - it's a very wild feel.

Which has its own charm, of course, but...]

two - foraging for foliage;
[Midway through the month, Haru decides it's about time to get her butt in gear. She's more or less decided that she will be returning to Olympia eventually, but she doesn't want to forget the nice parts of Wyver, either...

So.

She's got a pack full of supplies and a simple sketchpad in hand. You might catch her throughout the city, taking sketches of the various plants that are growing there -

Or you might catch her looking at one or two of them, puzzled.]

Hmm... I wonder if there's some way of harvesting seeds from this?

[If she can, she'd like to grow some of these back in Olympia - though she's not sure they'll take to the climate there.

...eventually, of course, she'll wander to the Undergrowth. She has, at least, stopped to grab her axe, but now she's lingering at the entrance, checking over her supplies.]

Well, no time like the present...

[In she goes!]

three - many hands make light work;
[Haru's spent a decent amount of time in Wyver - but, toward the end of the month, she joins the volunteer efforts to help get Olympia back on its feet. It's only fair, after all - Olympia was kind enough to take them all in when they first arrived, and she can't in good conscience leave them to flounder now.

So. If you're on the road to Olympia at the same time as her, she raises a hand and calls out -]

Hello there!

[Safety in numbers, after all; maybe you can travel together!

On the other hand, if you encounter her once you're both back in Olympia, you can find her basically anywhere in the city - helping move supplies around, working on general cleanup, et cetera, et cetera. She's pretty strong for a girl her age.

Of course, everyone needs to take a break sometime, and she's no exception. Catch her while she's taking a breather and getting a bite to eat, and she might wave you over.]

Are you hungry? I have enough to share.

yona;

one - bad decision time;
[So. Uh.

Here's Yona. Here's Yona at Falmi's Ring, watching some of the fights with interest while clutching a few coins in one hand. Gambling probably is not the best habit for a princess to get into, but she's heard that if you get good at it, it can be a way of making money quickly. And since she doesn't have a steady job yet - she's mainly been doing odd job around Wyver for some coin - this seems as good an option as any.

For now, she's observing the fights. Her eyes are fixed on a slender man currently in the ring, ducking and weaving to avoid his much brawnier opponents' moves. He's quick on his feet and his strategy seems to be wearing his opponent down.]

Hmm... He's doing pretty well...

[Maybe she'll bet on him in the next fight.]

two - practice makes perfect;
[Thunk.

What's that sound? Well, that's the sound of Yona hurling small throwing knives (which she, uh, "borrowed" from Jae-Ha, sorry Jae-Ha) at a tree trunk. But it's better than the alternative! The sound means she's hitting her target and not, you know, missing and nearly throwing a sharp object at your face.]

Hah! I'm getting better at this.

[She's run out... looking proud of herself, she hurries over to pull the knives from the tree and heads back to the line she's drawn in the dirt for herself. Time to get back to work... Oh, hey, there's a person.]

Oh, sorry! Was I bothering you?

[Alternatively -

Thunk. Thunk.

...

Silence, and then-]

Oh, oops!

[Looks like she missed. Maybe you're an unfortunate passerby that is now going to have to dodge the knife? Maybe you got hit. Who knows.]

three - fangirl mode, activate;
[By now, Yona's a pretty common face at the stables, especially now that the week of the full moon has passed, the dragons are back where they're supposed to be, and they're not trying to... you know, eat them.

Today, she's hanging around and peering at them when she gets the chance.]

They're so beautiful...! I wish I could ride one.

[But, uh, she's broke. Alas.

Alternatively, if you catch her in the West, you may see her watching some of the dancers with interest.

...later in the night, you might catch her in a secluded part of town, trying to mimic the moves on her own. She's not quite ready to join in the dancing herself, but she would like to learn!

She's a little unsteady on her feet, though. It's a lot of twirling and jumping.

Heck, she might even stumble out and smack into you if you're not careful.]

Oh— I'm sorry!

wildcard;

[If none of the above works for you, just hit me with whatever! Alternatively, hit me up by PM or at hungriest and I'll be glad to write a personalized starter for you.]

Comments

wild like a weretiger~ for Haru

[gekkajuu]

[A fighting pit... Atsushi has never so much as visited one of these, let alone one as crude and feral as the ones in Wyver. The desire to give up and turn back is overwhelming... but that's exactly why he refuses to do so. It's not just because he's come here with Haru, either, though he's happy to use that as an excuse: he just has to do it. Akutagawa is here, now, and that means Atsushi's time is running out. He's been training hard, whenever he had the chance, but he has to admit that too many other things have gotten in the way lately. Not to mention that his confidence wasn't great to start with...

But he's got speed and agility, if nothing else. Strength and technique, not so much, but Mr. Foster has taught him some of the latter, and he can borrow the former from the tiger if (when) he has to. Whether that's allowed or not -... Well, they'll just have to see. At least it will save his life; if he has to back out and never return afterwards, so be it.]

So... how does usually work? [He glances over at Haru, far more insecure than he has any right to be.] We just indicate our intention to fight, and wait our turn?

[frombetrayal]

I believe so, yes.

[It seems straightforward enough from Haru's observations, anyway. She's already suited up in her Phantom Thief outfit, and has her axe with her just in case there are any bouts that allow weapons - though she's prepared to use her bare hands if she must.]

...this place does seem a bit... chaotic, but they do seem to have found a method to make it work smoothly enough.

[gekkajuu]

The whole city is like that, I feel... While I prefer where we came from [both Olympia and their own worlds, neither of which he thinks are wise to mention in public] this does have a certain charm.

[Or would, if he wasn't nervous as hell.]

Do they even have anywhere to inquire about the rules? It seems pretty disorganized...

[frombetrayal]

It seems as though everyone simply... knows.

[Unspoken rules, perhaps? Maybe that's part of earning the right to fight here - being able to adapt to the local customs well enough to know what to do without asking. Haru hopes not, because breaking an unspoken rule would make them stand out more than she would prefer.]

Let's watch and wait, for now. Perhaps someone will ask for the answers we're seeking before us.

[gekkajuu]

[He nods.]

If worse comes to worst, I've already decided to go back. [To Olympia.] I don't mind fighting first, and handling whatever reaction I get from the audience.

[That way, Haru doesn't have to risk anything by him ruining her chance to fight here... probably. He doesn't mind testing the waters - and she's less likely to be caught using powers anyway, considering the nature of what she can do.

If Atsushi is chased out of town, that's no skin off his back.]

i'm sorry for the delay! i'll probably continue to be a bit slow until some irl stuff has cleared up

[frombetrayal]

...if that's a concern, I'd much rather we fight together.

[Either as partners, if they do allow team matches, or as opponents - then they can ensure that neither one of them will get too roughed up.]

Coming here wasn't something that you decided to do alone, so I don't see why you should be the only one to face consequences should something go wrong.

no rush, it's a busy month for me, too <3

[gekkajuu]

[He could argue with that on a number of grounds, especially the one that he plans to go back to Olympia anyway... but if he's made his decision, so has she. Arguing about it would be rude. Besides, he does appreciate the sentiment, presuming she means to fight as a team.

So he just offers her a tiny smile in gratitude, only a little uncertain.]

If you're sure.

Maybe I should transform my arms ahead of time..? I'd rather fight without, but whatever opponents we get won't be holding back, and it might save us a nasty surprise down the line...

[Unless they'll fight each other, of course.]

holidays are the worst OTL

[frombetrayal]

That's an option...

[Haru takes a moment to consider it, then shakes her head.]

...no, if you prefer to fight without them, then you ought to fight without them. Let's see if we can sign up for team matches so that we'll be able to watch each other's backs.

for real tho

[gekkajuu]

All right.

[He may doubt his own decisions, but he doesn't once doubt hers. On the contrary, it's just the push in the back he needs, and he's more than happy to look for whatever kind of registration Wyver expects.

It's simple, as expected - barely more than a jotting down of their names, and a scrutinizing look that's probably more because they're clearly not natives than that it's meant to size them up. That's one thing, good or bad: their opponents may or may not underestimate them, but the people in charge of signing up don't seem to be jumping to conclusions.

After that, it's just a matter of waiting for their turn to come, the names they used to sign up called out a lot more loudly than Atsushi is comfortable with.]

how does one convert holiday cheer into tagging energy

[frombetrayal]

[When the person taking down their names scrutinizes them, Haru doesn't bat an eyelash; instead, she merely shoots them a cool look right back. She's used to being scrutinized, but the reasons for that are neither here nor there.

And then there's little to do but wait. She watches some of the other matches with interest until their names are called, at which point she straightens up with a little jolt.]

—that's us!

[Into the ring they go.

Outwardly, their opponents seem to be a decent match for them - they're neither significantly bulkier nor notably smaller than either one of them. An easy win for either side doesn't make for good entertainment, after all.

She smiles at their opponents as they face off in the ring.]

Let's make this a good match, shall we?

[One of their opponents, a man of average height with a messy beard, shoots her a quizzical look before zeroing in on Atsushi. Apparently, he feels more comfortable fighting a man than a woman.]

you can't! they're in directly inverted proportion to each other

[gekkajuu]

Yes!

[It's more a squeak than a word, but Atsushi follows all the same. Ohno it's beginning...! He's nervous in spite of himself. It's almost easier to go into a fight to save the world than it is to fight mostly for training and perhaps some vanity, proving yourself the best by winning: there's no room for hesitation when there are huge things at stake.

He takes a deep breath, putting his game face on which looks only a little constipated. He just has to remember two things. Firstly, that he shouldn't chicken out and hide behind the tiger. And secondly, that it's okay to hurt these people. That's what they all signed up for.

Having the focus of that man with the beard on him is uncomfortable; he'd rather have gone with the other opponent, a young man who looks so smooth and polished compared to most people here that you wouldn't expect him to be into this kind of fighting... but then, maybe that's not a good sign, and he's more the sneaky, backstabbing type.

There's no gong to signal a start, and Atsushi is just wondering if it would be wise to make the first move like it often is when he uses his ability, but then the man with the beard comes running at him already. Thankfully Atsushi is fast, even without using his ability: he dodges a hit, ducks under a kick, and uses the same motion to get behind the bearded man and shove him, hard.

... It's not enough of an attack, really: the guy trips, but he's quick to get on his feet again, and this probably only made him angry. But Atsushi didn't freeze up, which is the important thing - and the crowd seems to like it, shouts and laughter erupting here and there.]

alas.......

[frombetrayal]

[Haru, for her part, watches their opponents carefully with her knees slightly bent, shifting her weight from foot to foot and back again so that she'll be ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

It leaves her in a position to be able to twirl out of the polished-looking man's way when he approaches, ducking down slightly and coming up with a curtsy before lunging forward for a quick strike with her fist.

...Phantom Thieves can be a little extra, and Haru's movements are smooth and elegant to start with, since she's not weighed down by the axe she typically fights with. (It would probably be in bad form to slice their opponents in two, though perhaps she could use the flat of the blade as a blunt weapon... something to consider for next time.)

The bearded man, meanwhile, lumbers toward Atsushi once more, though he's more aware of his movements this time. Rather than kicking him and potentially throwing himself off-balance, he's going to try and grab him to wrestle him down to the floor.]

[gekkajuu]

[Atsushi manages to escape the bearded man's initial grab, but a second try catches him off guard. Down he goes, with the bearded man diving after. Atsushi has speed and agility going for him, but he's not foolish enough to expect that he so much as stands a chance of winning if this man pins him down.

So he resolves to turn them around while he has momentum, and grab the man where he can - which happens to be that beard. It's not very elegant, but it proves to be effective: it offers just enough of a handle, and the bearded man ends up in just enough pain, that Atsushi can spin them around once more, pinning the bearded man under him, instead.

It's funny, but now that they've come this far, he doesn't feel the least bit guilty for hurting the man. Or maybe that's not so strange after all, when the "guilt" ingrained in him is often (though not exclusively) a fear of retaliation. Either way, he doesn't hold back at all - except for not using his ability - as he lands a nasty right hook on the man. With more power, it might have knocked the guy unconscious, but Atsushi only has so much strength: the guy stays conscious, and proceeds to knee Atsushi, hard enough to knock the breath right out of him. So much for his flying start.

The polished-looking man staggers back at that hit, but only a little, and it turns out to be at least partly an act: the moment Haru gets close to take advantage, he tries to kick her legs out from under her.]

[frombetrayal]

[If nothing else, the audience is having a great time - they let out a loud cheer when Atsushi's fist connects with the bearded man's face, and another when the man knees him in return.

As Atsushi's breath is pushed out of him, the man tries to buck up and flip them over to pin him to the ground - but that hit to his face has left him a little dizzy, and he's not quite able to get the momentum he needs. It leaves Atsushi with the opening for another hit, provided he's not too busy trying to breathe.

Haru, on the other hand, is caught unawares by the kick - but her reflexes are good, and when she hits the ground, she throws her weight in his direction to try and knock right into his knees.

...

This fight has apparently turned into a two-person wrestling match.]

[gekkajuu]

[Atsushi is used to pain, at least, and while it's a close call, he manages to recover enough to grab the bearded man by his hair and slam his head down on the ground.
... Well, never let it be said that Atsushi can't fight dirty. The bearded man groans as his body goes slack, and Atsushi is quick to look over at Haru. Even if this is literally two fights for the price of one right now, there's no need for it to stay that way.

The polished-looking man sees that kick coming and does a backflip that can only be called elegant. What is he, an acrobat?! There's no immediate attack, let alone an immediate danger, but Atsushi runs over all the same. He's good at butting in with the best intentions - and, in his defense, that isn't always a bad thing.]

Okumura-san!

[Meanwhile, though Atsushi doesn't realize it, the bearded man is already recovering, and likely planning a sneak attack on one or both of them, with or without the aid of his partner.]