1448/Nice Device

Nice Device
Date of Scene:	06 May 2016
Location:	Plot Room #1
Synopsis:	Mikoto and Hannah encounter a Nicola practicing in the park. Fortunately, in a barrier.
Cast of Characters:	158, Mikoto Nakajima, Hannah Sharpe

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Nicola Esprit has posed:
There's something about a barrier surrounding the park in the afternoon after school that might draw attention. As far as barriers go; it's not a particularly strong one, slipping in or leaving it ought to be easy for most mages, but it's there regardless.

Inside the barrier, there's a nine year old girl with twin handguns flying tightly past trees, almost as though deliberately trying to get as close as possibel without hitting them; the girl's velocity is high, and even as she moves she keeps firing basic red blasts of magic at a specific tree. Most of the shots hit, too; though some are close misses.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
On her way from school to her warehouse-slash-lair, Mikoto is pacing cheerily along, in anticipation of the work to be done that evening. She's finally starting to get a handle on the Device question, courtesy of a closer examination of some, and she's finally going to actually be able to experiment without risking blowing out her own.

The sense of a Barrier operating nearby, however, definitely catches her attention. It could be another monster, after all. Who knows?

"Hey, Vicki," she answers the bluetooth earpiece connected to her phone - or at least, to Carnwennan pretending to be her phone - "Going to check something out. Meet you at the Midori-ya tomorrow after classes?"

Satisfied with the answer, she turns to investigate the barrier, slipping through with ease to see what's to see.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah's had an awful week to say the /least/. Her building heavily damaged, a crucial warehouse up in smoke, the young woman finally decided to take a few days off for her own sanity. Thus, Miss White isn't far from the park, comparing a pair of ties at a clothing store. A big bald russian man with fuzzy dog ears that no one seems to notice watches.

"Little kitton should pick red. Good change. Good color."

"Which one's the red one?"

Boris' ears pick up, and Miss White blinks. A barrier. She puts the pair of ties down, and then both are out the door. One alleyway later, a quick teleport, and the duo arrive just outside the barrier.

"Keep an eye on things Boris."

The big bald russian man /barks/.

Hannah rolls her eyes as she simply steps through the barrier. She pauses, Device in her hand lighting up as a quick area search gives her the full story: a mage making quite some work on a tree. Miss White raises one eyebrow.

"...You know, kiddo, I admire anybody who trains hard. You could probably do with a better target than some poor tree though."

A familiar coworker is on the scene!

"Oh, hey Blue-chan! Investigating too?" She'll walk over and slap the woman on the back with a grin.

Then she turns back to Nicola.

"No, no, aim a little more to the left, and make sure you bank up a few degrees more! You'll climb faster!" 'Helpful' Miss White is here.

Nicola Esprit has posed:
And the arrival of people, especially people who talk to her, is enough to pull Nicola out of her concentration and cause her to come to a swift stop in mid-air, before turning around to swiftly land near Miss White. "Hello?" She sounds a little nervous, and instinctively hides the twin handguns that serve as her device behind her back.

"Uh, nice to meet you. I'm Nicola Esprit, a fourth year student at Seishou Elementary." Her accent is pretty strong; Japanese is not her native language. The accent isn't one that's from any nearby countries either, nor from any major European language. "I was just training a little..."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Nothing wrong with training," 'Blue' answers. "I do plenty of that myself, after all." She smiles lightly as she walks closer. "I'm Mikoto, actually. Mikoto Nakajima. Pleasure to meet you, Nicola Esprit."

She hmmms softly, then nods. She can't quite place the accent, but it's definitely not local. "You're not a bad shot with that, although she's right. You're a little off... hmm."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah gives the gun-girl a wave. "Hey there! The name's Kasagami White. CEO of WitchHunter Professional Services! All of your protection needs in one place, be you a senator from overseas, a japanese prime minister, have the local yakuza after you, or...heh, well, we have other services for particularly special people in need of protection or training. For the right price." It should be noted Hannah looks not an ounce Japanese. And her accent is straight southern USA.

"Ah, I knew I always liked you. Good, keep it up! We need to constantly be getting stronger!" A fist thrust in the air.

Raging Tempest blinks. "Raging Tempest. It is a pleasure to meet you." Pipes up the spiked knuckle.

Nicola Esprit has posed:
<I am Ruby Rose, be warned, I will not allow you to harm my Master> The voice comes from both handguns simultaneously, the dual handguns apparently manifestations of a single device. Nicola makes an uncertain sounding little giggle, "I don't think they had any ideas like that, Ruby..." She gives the two older girls an apologetic look. "Thank you for the compliments."

There's some weird red flecks in the girl's eyes, they're obvious and not a common feature; well... anywhere. Perhaps an influence from her Device, or perhaps some kind of disease, or perhaps something else entirely. "WitchHunter Professional Services? ... oh, do you hunt those creatures in those weird barriers?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Yep, that's them." Mikoto smiles casually once again. "I work with them now and again, 's why White-chan calls me 'Blue'. Pleased to meet you as well, Ruby Rose." She reaches up and pats a little sword-shaped amulet she wears as a pendant. "Say hi, Carnwennan."

("Hello, Nicola Esprit. Hello, Ruby Rose. Your master is in no danger from mine.")

"Well," Mikoto adds, "Unless you have no sense of humor, or hate sweets."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Suddenly, Hannah's grinning. It's almost a bit shark like.

"...That a challenge, Ruby Rose? I /LOVE/ challenges!"

"Mistress, please do not assault random Devices or Mages." Pipes up Raging Tempest. Miss White sighs.

"You're a buzzkill sometimes, R.T."

She rubs her chin. "Nice Device though. Think I could get a quick scan? For science." A pause, and a look to Miko.

"She's pretty good. Solid employee. Need more like her. Especially in HR, so hard to get good people." A shake of the head. "Ah, got it in one! I take it you've seen them? Amazing little monsters, aren't they? And the people who hunt them are even better. Some of my best customers in fact." Smirk.

She rubs her chin. "How long have you been Mage'ing, Gun-chan?" The nicknames begin.

Nicola Esprit has posed:
Nicola takes a step back when Hannah takes Ruby Rose's warning as a potential challenge. "Don't mind Ruby, she was designed to protect me, and can be a little overzealous sometimes." Clearly not some random Device she found on accident, then.

"I like to think I have a sense of humour, and sweets are the best, Nakajima-san." She smiles a little nervously; and then tries to think about giving an answer to miss White, but seems to have a problem. "Uh... I'm not sure when 'Mage'ing' starts?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto nods and keeps smiling. "Well, I'll have to show you one of the best sweet-shops in the city, if we get the chance. Unles you've already been to the Midori-ya?"

She finds a park bench to perch on and watch while she chats. "I think she means, when did you start doing magic. You say Ruby was designed specially for you? By your parents, maybe?"

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"Huh. You don't say? You someone in need of protecting?" Hannah can practically /taste/ potential profit.

But Miko has it. Point! Right at Blue. "What she said. And calm down, kiddo. You're going to hyperventilate. Hmm. Judging by your accuracy...don't get me wrong, you've got talent. Experience, though. Well, you're obviously working hard, so you'll get there. If you ever want some more...active practice, I never turn down a good fight." She laughs just a bit.

"Oh man, that place is an addiction Miko. Seriously. Best coffee anywhere, and the staff are /lovely/!" Particularly a certain Nanoha, for reasons more than just her being a wonderful person.

Nicola Esprit has posed:
"I know the place, one of my classmates, Nanoha Takamachi helps out there. I think her parents own it?" Nicola is apparently adequately familiar with Midori-ya. "And uh, I've pretty much always had Ruby Rose; I think. Dad made her." She looks a little sad when mentioning her father.

"I don't think I'm particular need of protecting. We're a long way from home, anyway, and..." She goes quiet, now looking even more sad. There's even a single tear welling up in her eye, though she tries to be brave.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"That's the one," Mikoto nods, agreeing. "Her family owns it. You're in Nanoha-chan's class? Cool! She's great." She's worked with Nanoha a few times before, and almost persuaded the girl to join her team. It didn't work out, but that's okay.

"So, your Dad made Ruby Rose? He must be a really good engineer... I've been trying to learn it myself but there aren't many good references here." She shrugs. "Just takes time, I guess."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah laughs. "Nanoha's a good kid. Huh, small world. You'd do well to befriend that one." There's honest respect in her voice.

The sadness, and Hannah pauses. She can hazard a guess.

"He must be a talented guy." She doesn't press, a small look of sympathy, and a nod.

Oh god, the kid's tearing up. Hannah's heart breaks a little. She's not yet a monster, after all. And she knows all about family. She walks over, kneels down, and pulls out a card and a handkerchief. "Hey. Chin up, kiddo." She'll dry her eyes if she lets her.

"Here. My card. I'm not going to pry, not my business. But if you ever feel like talking about it...hey, maybe I can help you out. Pro bono work's good for the soul sometimes." Grin.

"Think about it. Call me."

"Yeah. References." She adds to Miko, teeth clenched. Mental flashbacks to the stolen inventory.

"How's your work going, anyway, Blueness?"

Nicola Esprit has posed:
"He was." Nicola very softly agrees with comments that her father is a good engineer and a talented guy, the tense used leaves little doubt as to why this topic makes her sad. She takes the card as her eyes are being dried, and tries to focus her mental energy on changing the topic.

"So uh. Do either of you know Fate-chan?" She asks, there's worry in her voice; the kind of worry that shows she both wants Fate to be safe and has reason to believe she might not be.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto didn't notice the tear, but she eventually does figure it out. "Oh... I - I'm sorry." She's genuinely sad to hear it, even though she's not the best of friends with her own parents.

She has met Fate, but doesn't know her very well. "I've met her once or twice," she admits, "But mostly just in passing." By which she means 'in combat'.

"I do know she has some friends around the area, though."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
How awkward. Hannah lets the conversation slide by. Ahem. She fixes her tie absent mindedly.

"Heard of her, yeah. Why?" Miss White has suddenly become a touch guarded. There's a light frown.

A 'glance' to Miko. Miss White is looking somehow even /more/ awkward at this point.

Outside the barrier, Boris-kun sighs. He has half a mind to go and rescue his Master.

Nicola Esprit has posed:
"She seemed hurt last I saw her, and I wonder if she's in any kind of trouble." Nicola explains her questioning, nervously. The gem on one of her two guns suddenly gleams, and the girl looks at miss White with another frown. "Ruby tells me you're responding negatively to her name. Why?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto hmms softly. "When was this?" she muses, considering what happened the last time she saw Fate.

"Was she with anyone, or alone?" She seems genuinely concerned about the girl, despite Hannah's misgivings.

Mikoto reaches up to briefly clasp the pendant she wears. "I... should probably check in with some people."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Miss White smiles, and loads the deflection ammo into her voice.

"...Nothing you need to worry about kiddo. Sorry. Been a bit of a rough week. But the important part is, any ideas what that trouble might be?" Hannah doesn't have much contact with Fate, but one of Takashi's employees in a bind, particularly when they're part of Eclipse, is worrisome for Hannah. Mostly for her lab partner's sake.

"You hear anything, Miko?" She adds to her sometimes-employee.

"Yeah. Me too." Comes Hannah, then she's smiling.

"Nice to meet you, by the way, Nico. Take care huh? You too, Miko." A wave at the pair, and she and Boris teleport home.