6/Princesses and Punks

Princesses and Punks
Date of Scene:	21 May 2015
Location:	Mitakihara - Downtown
Synopsis:	Runealy and Hannah save Hannah's best friend from a group of punks.
Cast of Characters:	Hannah Sharpe, Runealy Waldia

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Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Downtown Mitakihara is generally /not/ a good place to be at night. The beautiful parks aren't quite as well lit as other areas of the city, and more than one shadey deal goes down there by the more delinquent students in the area. Thus it is that, her back up to a bench, a black-haired, stick-thin figure of a girl is huddling her legs to herself as a trio of tall leather-jacket wearing punks laughs and looms over her.

"...And you skipped out on last week's payment, Ao-chan! Now that's just /terrible/! We're down on our luck, and here we are makin' sure no jerks hurt ya! Ain't we just the spittin' image of gentlemen?" Laughs the tallest, pompadoured punk as he shoulders a shinai. The rest laugh alongside him, one a fat teen and the other a skinny, wimpy looking guy.

All three lean in.

"So you gonna pay up the rest, or what?"

For her part, the girl finally just screams. The trio laughs again.

"Ain't nobody out here this late to come save ya Ao-chan!"

The henshined figure of one Hannah Sharpe clutches the twin knuckles of Raging Tempest as she rushes across Mitakihara's rooftops. She'd gotten a text from Ao, a scared one. But the park is quite a ways away, even for a magical girl!

Runealy Waldia has posed:
Rune is scouting Mitakihara at night because the daylight hours were spent in the alleyways of other parts of the city. Digging up trash. Literally. Her new 'home' had no furniture whatsoever, so she and Gaofele had been finding discarded mattresses, chairs, and other things they could use. It wasn't glamorous, but when the other option appears to be 'nothing'... you'll settle for trash furniture.

Now she trudges through the park, hoping to simply learn more about this massive city's layout and notable features. That was the plan, but some might say she's about to find a different kind of 'trash.' She hears that scream, and it could mean so many things. It could just mean someone was startled. Or excited. Or angry.

...Or being hurt, whether by accident or on purpose. And so the alien princess gives up exploration for now, instead hurrying toward the noise... toward Ao and her tormentors, with no idea what she's about to find.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
It doesn't take long to find the source of the screams. Ao has managed to trip /over/ the bench, flat on her back, and the three goons are walking around it to once again flank her. The fat goon has his ears covered by his hands. The black-haired girl is /very/ loud for such a petite thing, desperately scrambling to get back on her feet. There's a shinai being pressed to her chin by the big punk, the man almost growling.

"Shut up before you make me angry!" He yells at her.

Hannah, meanwhile, is about a block away, leaping off of a coffee shop's rooftop and landing on a light pole. Taking a deep breath, she speeds towards the park!

Runealy Waldia has posed:
Rune skids to a halt as she sees what's happening at the bench. Someone just fell over, surrounded by three people... one of whom is using a wooden sword to make threats. That really leaves only two possibilities: They caught a thief, or they're trying to intimidate a victim.

The swordfighter's shouting makes 'caught a thief' less likely to her, though. The smart thing to do would probably be to stay out of this, and Runealy considers that between sharp breaths. She could just turn around and leave, continuing her search for what she needs to save her world.

...And it would eat at her, constantly. A few headshakes, then she calls out to the gathering: "Hold on!" Well, for a moment she sounded 'cool' and confident. It shatters as her next words are more stammering and worried, "Wh... what's going on here...?"

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
The girl by now has stopped screaming, and has her eyes shut in abject terror. Her knees tremble, and is making noises not unlike a crying kitten. But all four suddenly pause as a figure calls out, in that dress and pink hair. Hope blossoms in the eyes of Ao, and the three punks seem surprised.

The lead punk, sword still at the girl's chin, glares at Runealy!

"We were just havin' fun with our friend here, that's all! Mind your own business anyway, girlie! Get that cotton-candy hair out of here!" He shoo's.

Ao, once again, is happy to be vocal.

"I'm no friends of yours, you /jerks/! These three have been stealing my money for the past month whenever I walk home! They're thieving /stalkers/!"

The punk raises his sword, about to smack it down upon Ao's head!

A black-and-red figure comes running into the park down the path, one familiar to Runealy! It's the 'Head of Security' from the concert! Even /she/ is gasping at the quickness she's used to come after her best friend when she's in danger. But she's been beaten here! Seeing that stick being raised, she yells out!

"AO! Get away from her you filthy degenerates!"

But she's not close enough to help just yet!

Runealy Waldia has posed:
Rune shudders, tense as they confront her and Ao's dismay confirms who's in the right here. This is turning very nasty. What can she do? Without magic, not much. With it... ...is that even okay? Her mother taught her how to fight other people, but it was /always/ from the context of 'how to remove them from a demon's control.' Seriously fighting them with intent to defeat /the person/, not a demon, is a completely new and frightening idea... one that would seem to run contrary to her place in life.

So with the situation going wildly out of control, even as the corner of her eye notices the 'security chief' approaching, Rune makes a move. Her first one is to pull out a silver coin and throw it at the swordfighter, hoping to distract him from striking Ao!

Even as it flies through the air, Rune shouts in a shaky voice: "S... Summoning Princess' Tiara!" Gold headwear appears in one hand, arms crossing to meet at the elbows and form a 'slash' symbol in front of her. She doesn't have time to fully transform just yet, but she's definitely getting ready to. A throbbing 'hum' of energy pulsing can be heard from the royal jewelry...

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
COIN! As it turns out, through skill or luck, Rune makes for an impressive toss. WHAP! Right in the eye. The man drops his sword, hand to his now bruised eyesocket, stumbling around and all but growling.

"You stupid little...GET HER BOYS!" He yells out, and the other two pull out knives and a chain.

The one with the knives is working to grab Ao, only for a fist to impact his stomach. Hannah's punch sends the punk flying on the winds of Mid-Childan magic, landing in a heap of pain. Thankfully, it's set to non-lethal right now. Grabbing Ao's hand, she shoves the girl behind her protectively, leaving two punks left.

The swordsman is still rubbing his eye, dazed. The fat punk with a chain swings for the fences! Or, in this case, for the Princess, trying to knock that weird tiaraout of her hands!

"Leave now, and I will not break every single bone in your bodies!" Barks Hannah to the punks.

Runealy Waldia has posed:
Knives. Runealy makes a startled cry, eyes wide! This has stopped being a matter of 'keeping order'... these guys are now threatening to kill her! This forces her hand, though she hesitates as the 'chief of security' arrives... another enemy? Is it time to run?

Maybe. Rune dives aside from the chain swung at her, rolling up and running for a tree. It's not specifically an attempt to hide her identity... she's trying to get some distance, and some protection, to transform! And so she can be heard even as she tries to duck behind the tree, "The Line of Succession..." Tiara is brought to head. "Transform!"

She might be out of sight, but the bright red glow surrounding her will be really easy to see in the night air!

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Thankfully, Rune's dive is more than enough to give her breathing room. That chain goes 'thwack' against the ground with the sound of metal. Likely not lethal once transformed, but it sure would have hurt! The chain-wielder covers his eyes from the great pink glow! But the kid has guts, if not smarts, charging around the tree where that glow came from in a double-fisted swing with the chain! Aimed, more by luck than anything, towards the Princess' throat!

The punk with the sword has his hands full with Hannah, swinging and flailing with the wooden blade at her. Ducking and weaving, she hardly needs to rely on magic. Indeed, she finally just stops bothering, punching the sword hard enough to shatter the wood like a twig. The resulting faceful of splinters has him crying, some of them in the eyes.

"ARgh! I'll get you for this!" He yells furiously, quick to run away. The only one that's left is the chain-wielder!

Runealy Waldia has posed:
Runealy emerges from her transformation just in time to raise her wand and block the chain! Her eyes fix on the metal wrapping around it, realizing that could have been her neck. Yet even with that... she hesitates to go all out against another person.

A chill fear courses through her, even as adrenaline pumps and gets Rune to move. She tugs on her staff, but the chain is still wrapped around it! And so even with its user shouting in her face, Rune has no witty reply. Instead, she makes a terrified "G... get away from me!"

Funny that this is her request, yet her boot wings light up. Blue-silver energy flares around them, launching her forward! ...Toward him. She's trying to tackle her attacker into the tree! It's not as refined as anything Hannah is doing, but... she hopes it will be enough.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
The sound of metal on metal fills the air as the chain wraps around Rune's wand, the punk trying to yank it out of her hands almost immediately! That terror only makes the punk more bold, a tug-of-war briefly erupting. He's nothing, however, next to a magical girl's strength!

Particularly when light-wrapped feet sends her flying towards him in a move he was not suspecting at all. WHAM! There's bark and leaves shaking from the tree that she slams him into. The punk makes a groan, and then goes limp, wind and consciousness knocked out of him.

It's about then that Hannah comes running, the girl from before huffing and weasing behind her.

"Are you alright, Miss!?" Comes Hannah and Ao at nearly the same time. For their part, aside from her clothes rumpled and a bit of dirt on Ao, they both seem fine.

Runealy Waldia has posed:
Runealy winces as she crashes against the chain-wielder; it might have been effective, but bashing yourself into people and things hurts. Yet... he is down. Rune stumbles backward a few steps, staring at her attacker. Is this over? Is he really out?

He seems to be. Still very startled, she continues to back away from him and is about to turn and run when... 'Are you alright?'

Who? Wait, are they talking to her? The alien princess goes tense. They seem to be checking on her, but she remembers the 'chief of security' from the concert. The chief whose pursuit sent Runealy into a blind panic, running as hard as she could until she got back to the abandoned store. The twist of fate wasn't lost on her; just the day before that, Rune had been outright crying at the thought that she and her friend would be living in such an awful place. Then it was the only shelter she could think of when Hannah was chasing her.

Now that same person - and Ao, it occurs to her - is asking if she's okay? Runealy ends up not answering the question directly. Instead, she stammers: "Whatever I did, I'm not here to fight you!?" Her fright is such that it almost sounds like a question. Rune's remarks weren't a stand-offish declaration of confidence, someone offering to let their would-be attacker walk away. No, she is scared that a second fight is about to begin... and it's one she's pretty sure would end in disaster for herself. This is 'please please please do not fight me', not 'I am letting you off the hook, be smart and do not push my generosity'.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Ao practically clings to Hannah by now, breathing heavily and definitely still out of sorts. But there's concern in her eyes, now mixed with confusion. One of Hannah's hands goes up, and the other is kept around Ao's waist.

"Miss, you just saved my best friend from being hurt, or worse. Why would I start a fight with y..." Pause. Recognition finally dawns as she speaks up.

"Wait...are you the one from the concert?" There's a slight frown here, but she doesn't move to attack. Indeed, she tries to look as non-threatening as possible. Pondering, she speaks to her Device.

"Raging Tempest, cancel Wind Divination."

The Device beeps, "Acknowledged". Her 'sight' fades, Hannah completely unable to feel the air around her once more.

"While I admit I was a little irritated about your running through a crowd of youma-effected people and causing property damage, I was acting as security, not a police officer. That was a temporary job. So do calm down please. Besides, with that spell off, I cannot even see you." She waves a hand in front of her eyes. They don't even track.

"Now care to take a deep breath and let Ao-san look you over? She is a trained EMT." With a squeeze to her shoulder, Hannah smiles in the girl's direction. Still trembling she steps foward.

"Y...yes. Let me check you over. Please?" She comes nervously.

Meanwhile, Hannah puts her hands on her hips.

"Thank you, by the way. If you had not been there..." She shudders.

"Call me Miss White, if you please. Who are you? Aside from in need of a trip to the spa and a massage, perhaps cutting back on the caffeine as well."

Runealy Waldia has posed:
She did that? Runealy calms down slightly upon hearing this and looks Ao over to make sure the would-be purchaser of... 'insurance' from those guys is okay. Rune is relieved when this appears to be the case, then fear gives way to confusion as Hannah shares many interesting things.

Hannah doesn't recognize her? ...How could that be? Wait, Hannah's magical equipment talks? Rune stares at Raging Tempest, surprised. Then she sees Hannah's hand, and the realization sinks in several seconds later. "Ohh..." Okay. Things are making a lot more sense now.

And so the frightened princess finally settles down. She's still tense and on guard, but no longer speaking with squeaks and gasps in her voice. Rune finally relents to 'Miss White' and her request; "Alright." A nod to Ao, "Thank you, then."

Then Miss White wants the introduction returned. "I'm Ru--" NO. She cuts herself off abruptly. The less the people of 'Planet Japan' know about her, the better, she thinks.

And so Runealy comes up with an incredibly uninspired disguise identity on the spot: "...'The Princess' will do. And... what is an 'EMT', or caffeine for that matter?"

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Ao is quite efficient in her work, looking the other woman over quickly. No broken bones, no sprains, just perhaps a few bruises. She lets out a sigh, and claps her hands.

"Hime-sama, you're in one piece. I..." She backs up, and bows deeply.

"Thank you, Hime-san, White-san." Comes the woman, before standing straight. She /stares/ at Rune and her outfit.

And giggles. "Ahhh, a real Princess! I wish I was a Princess. Then I wouldn't have to worry about punks or being bullied or..." Hannah reaches over, grabbing her friend, and pulling her into a noogie.

"Which would not happen if you would stop taking shortcuts! I am not the magical city watch, you know?" Huffs White, before looking to Rune with a smile.

"An EMT is an Emergency Medical Technician. When someone is hurt, and the authorities are called, they arrive and keep someone stable until they are able to be brought to a hospital. Ah...caffeine is a stimulant in drinks like coffee. It makes one energetic, and can cause jitters and nervousness."

She tilts her head. "Are...you not from around here, Hime-san? Not used to life in the city? Erm, that is...pardon, I am being rude. Thank you again. Is there anything I can do to repay you?" She asks, beaming a brilliant white smile.

Runealy Waldia has posed:
A few bruises from intentionally crashing into someone, in turn driving them into a tree, are probably to be expected. Getting confirmation that she has no major injuries is a welcome relief though, one Runealy acknowledges with a grateful "Thank you..." before stepping back to give Ao some space.

Yet the attention and wistful praise make Rune very self conscious. "It's... not everything you think it is. Castles and tea are there, but it's because you need to be at your best for important things."

As White offers a quick lesson, the princess pays rapt attention. She needs information like this if she's going to understand Tokyo! So as EMTs are described, she ventures a guess: "So... they're the healers before someone sees other healers? That's weird. Guess it's a good thing you have so many of them that people can be helped by more than one, though." So 'Planet Japan' reportedly has very good health care. That's worth knowing.

"And no, I'm not from here." That much is obvious. "I'm from W..." Again with almost letting out too much. She hurriedly thinks back to what others guessed about her the other day. Europe was one theory. There was another one, though. The princess goes with it: "I'm from Bermuda."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Ao wilts a bit. "Mmm...I guess you have a point. Running a government, getting petitioned, do they still do knights and stuff?" Seems Ao's willing to believe the whole princess thing. Hannah just has a raised brow.

Who knows if she's buying it, but she's not going to give guff to someone who just saved her friend. She rubs the side of her head. "Well, of course! Traffic gets terrible here, without them, someone could well die before they see a doctor if it is a serious accident. Little Ao-chan here..." Ruffle!

"Is going to become a hero that way." Ao, for her part, just blushes.

Both girls blink. "Bermuda? Mmm...oh! Like the triangle. An island if I remember my geography. I did not know that it was a monarchy. Ah, well. I lived in the United States for a while. We were just a few thousand miles apart! I have heard it is /beautiful/!"

She pauses, and then grins. Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out a card with cute stationary on it. "Here, my number. Call me if you ever need a favor. I owe you that much." The card reads 'Miss White', no job title. It's a number to a throw-away phone on a prepaid card.

Then the two pull close, and Hannah take out her cane.

"We should get home, and you too Hime-san. It is dangerous out here. Nevermind once the authorities arrive. Good evening, I hope we meet again!" Then, the duo are off.

Runealy Waldia has posed:
Do they still have knights? It's a pretty innocent question, but simultanously very revealing and actually something Runealy is willing to answer. "We do now, at least." She's jarred from elaborating on that by White enthusiastically steering the conversation. "So you're a healer, then." A nod to Ao. "Thank you very much... it's important work."

The card doesn't make much sense to Rune. She takes it and looks at it while commenting, "'Just' a few thousand miles? Wow..." The idea that /any/ measure of distance measured in 'thousand' would be quantified by 'a few' is daunting; just how do people get around here? And why would anyone identify themself with a string of numbers? "Ahh... right. Please be safe, both of you!" She's glad to let the pair depart, and heads off in her own direction afterward.

Yet Rune's mind keeps wandering back to Ao's and White's questions. 'Do they have knights'? Not knowing a place is a monarchy? It gives Rune questions of her own to ponder. Does Planet Japan not have a queen? Just how different is this world from her own? Who protects the people from monsters, in that case? Miss White and others like her, perhaps. The concert was proof of that. This world seems to have the magical power she'll need to save her own, but the natural consequence is that taking it is going to be quite the challenge.

And so she begins the long walk back to the abandoned store. Tokyo's 'glass candles', mounted on posts throughout the streets, give her enough light to keep looking at Miss White's card. A name, and a nonsensical string of numbers. Numbers that can apparently be used to ask for a favor from the 'chief of security' who is, it seems, no longer immediately her enemy. ...Can she use that?

It's worth thinking on.