Session Start: Sat Mar 12 16:10:30 2005 Previously, on Hunters: The Club Wars have started up again at Takeuchi Memorial. Anime Club passed Tea Club a few months ago, but now Tea is about to be pushed into third position by Riding/Equestrian. Anime Club is also doing a recruiting push... or perhaps "shove" might be the better term, given their proclivities for strong- arm tactics. And all the other clubs responded defensively with retention and conversion efforts of their own. Last week started with a rash of kidnappings and intimidation, but things calmed down a little as the week went on and the clubs became more busy with posting signs and giving speeches. As the students file in Tuesday morning, they look wary but determined to survive another day at their wonderful school. [Tuesday, March 2, 2004 - 750 local time] [Just outside the gates of Takeuchi Memorial High School] [session start] * Leena runs! To school! While running! Haruko is running just a smidgen late this morning, and not looking out where she's going perhaps as well as she should be. Does this sound familiar? * Haruko hurries to school, upset because she wasn't able to find a group of girls to travel with as she has been doing recently. She's stopped dead in her tracks by a bokken-tip to the gut. * Hoodlum steps out of a handy shadow as her victim makes gagging noises. Glk. Oooh, that's gotta hurt. * Hoodlum grabs Haruko by the hair and pulls her back into the shadow. Fashion Club met yesterday afternoon without you, and they're a little unhappy about that. * Haruko just coughs some more * Hoodlum shakes Haruko. "Didn't you say you were coming?" "n-n-no" Seems to me that you did. Well, consider this a reminder. You don't want any more reminders, now, do you? Look, I'm already being threatened by other people. You can't *all* beat me up. If you want me to join your club, get rid of the other people. Doesn't matter - as long as Fashion Club is paying, I'll keep coming back. It doesn't cost me anything, after all. You mean you're just in this for the money, not to help a friend or for love of the club? * Hoodlum shrugs. "It's paying for college." So... please. Do me a favor and refuse again. It's just more cash in my pocket. * Hoodlum helps Haruko stand up straight, and brushes alley-grime off her uniform. "Now, go on, get to class." * Haruko fumbles with her clothing while the hoodlum brushes her off, taking advantage of the distraction to pull a stungun out of her purse and quickly press it to her assailants side. * Hoodlum 's eyes go wide in recognition and surprise an instant before the weapon sends her, spasming, to the pavement. AAAAGGH! * Haruko stands trembling, nervously waiting for a few moments to see if she gets back up. Before Haruko can decide what to do next, there comes the sound of a strange, aborted battlecry falling from above her. * PrincessOak lands in the alley from the roof above, a three-meter tree trunk staff in her hands. * PrincessOak is transformed, but in TM uniform yet. * Haruko gasps in surprise and stumbles backwards. ... Ch-Chiako! How long have you been up there? Okay, that's not what I was expecting. I just got here. Are you all right? And... don't use my name. Oh, right, sorry. You startled me. Um, I think I need to sit down for a while, and I feel nauseous, but other than that I'm just dandy! *weak smile* * PrincessOak eyes the stungun. "You know those are against school rules, right? Not that that matters much these days." Yes, I knew that, but I was beginning to feel like I needed it more in school than out. Anyway, should we call the police? I understand, but you shouldn't have needed it today. And no... no police. That would be a really bad idea. No one told me you were watching out for me. Well what are we going to do with her, we can't just leave her here. I shouldn't have needed to... Someone could come along and... * Hoodlum is beginning to stir. Oh, good she's going to be ok. No, no problem. * Haruko walks over to hoodlum. You tell them not to bother me again, ok? As the assailed assailant wakes, Princess Oak taps her on the head with her staff, just to get her attention. Hey, stupid. * PrincessOak bends down to get in the hoodlum's face as she sits up. Wha... oh. Y-you. Me. You know the rules. You leave the Tea Club alone. But she's not! Changed last week. Oh, shit. Yeah. She really shouldn't be hurting *anyone* * PrincessOak stands straight, and kicks the girl in the gut as hard as she can. * Hoodlum curls up again, retching. Check next time. R-r-*cough*... Right. * PrincessOak tosses her staff back into the alley, and walks off, towing Haruko. Wait, I want to see who she is. Learn to live with a little disappointment - she plays a role, and part of that needs privacy. I don't like her role, and I want her out of the cast. She won't bother you again. I can't stop this from happening, but I can at least stop her from doing it again. If it wasn't her, it would be someone else. This way, I can control her. But...*sigh* fine. And... whatever else, she is pretty careful about it. She's never permanently injured anyone, unlike some of the others. C'mon, I'll get Oldman to write you a late pass. She just doesn't want to hurt her income flow. If she hurt them permanently they'd have to skip school and she'd have fewer victims. * Haruko frowns. But lets go. Yep. A true professional. * PrincessOak strolls along to the school, unconcerned. * Hoodlum staggers towards the school, a couple hundred meters behind. * Haruko follows along in between, disturbed, but relieved. * Leena pauses on her run to school, to duck around a corner and de-trans. She immediately picks up her previous pace and continues running to school, now in the school uni and a backpack. She's perfectly on time today, and the front hallway is crowded with identically-dressed high school girls. Once again, Anime Club's flashing LED sign momentarily blinds her as she passes by. * Leena digs out a spray can, and covers it with green paint depicting a three- eyed frog. There's a startled sound behind her. * Leena ignores it. La la la. And goes on, whistling cheerfully. A hand grabs her shoulder and spins her around. Hey! You ruined our sign! * Chika is passing by, and stops. She what? She vandalized our front-entrance sign! * Leena smiles cheerfully. "No, I just corrected it. Chika's a three-eyed green frog who eats babies. And would you want to be in a club headed by someone like that?" Do you have any idea how much time it took me to put that together? * Girl looks like she wants to cry. ... not really. But I'll not forgive anyone who uses their talents for evil! * Chika shoves Leena back against a locker. "You're going to pay for that sign." * Leena 'oofs' slightly, and grins. "Make me." The hallway is clearing out, but several more anime club members have gathered around them, trapping Leena. I would love to. *cracks knuckles* * Girl walks away and comes back cradling the sign. * Leena looks around, then locks eyes on Chika. "But first you'll pay. You've gone about growing the wrong way." You do not corral people into corners, threaten and force them to make their choice yours. You crack me up, acro-girl. You always do. You think you're so great, but every time you open your mouth you show the world just what an idiot you really are. And... I really wouldn't try anything if I were you. Unless you really want you AV equipment and big TVs intact after today. ( Err. Really don't. ) There's eight of us. And one of you. And we have video surveillance of our facilities so that if you try anything, the police will know. ...and we're insured, too. Then it'll happen again and again and again. * Chika is bouncing in place, obviously looking forward to this. You may like this... But your members won't. Chika... maybe if she cleans off the sign, we can let it go? I think some acetone would work... They'll all be scared off, and since you're keeping them their by force and threats, they'll have no loyalty to stay. The knot of girls (mostly) sneers at Leena. They understand the advantages once they've been around for a while. * Leena shakes her head. "They won't last." I'm telling you, back off on your ambitions, or you'll get crushed. I'm not the only one against you. You and what army? You've always been delusional, girl. See, that would be telling. ^__^ * Chika shoves Leena against the locker again. * Leena, ya'know, tries to duck out of the way. Several of the other girls grab her arms and pin her against the locker. This... is going to hurt. A lot. *grin* * Leena grins wider. "This won't do anything." * Chika backhands Leena across the face. Hard. And it hurts. But not like beings shot does... * Leena doesn't lose the grin. "Like I said. Nothing." Okay, then I'll break your nose. * Chika pulls her fist back to do just that, but her arm is caught by an adult hand before she can strike. * Leena starts bawling, at the sign of teachers. "You're so mean! Quit picking on me, I hate anime! I like horses and running and music...! Whaaaaa!" The group scatters, save for Chika, who is held in place with her arm twisted behind her. Be quiet, Leena, you're not convincing anyone. Chika, isn't this just a little too... obvious? Even for you? * Leena scrunches up her nose, and quirks her mouth. "Mou..." She trashed our sign! Look at it! * Chika points to where it was just dropped on the floor. Did not! I think it looks pretty now, and it's not annoying everyone! Just you. She's been vandalizing our stuff all week, and just threatened to smash our monitors. Heh. After you tried to beat me up. Mmm, no, that was before. Leena, trust me, you don't want to get insurance companies angry with you. Like hell you were going to let me go without trying to beat me up. * HistoryTeacher sighs. * Leena shrugs. "They won't be angry with me. I won't have anything to do with it." Both of you have detention the rest of this week. I'm merely telling Chika here what will happen if she gets too big for her skirt. * HistoryTeacher lets Chika go. I'm late for home room... Too bad. And who's fault is that? * Chika grimaces, and takes off. Leena, pick up that sign and follow me. * Leena picks up the sign by the cord, and drags it along behind her. "Coming!" Pick it up nicely. You're going to be fixing it. * Leena picks it up, slowly. Then chucks it as hard as she can into a wall. "No I won't." Three weeks detention. I'm still not fixing it. The sign is made sturdily, and only makes a dent in the wall. It's annoying and blinding. And everyone hates it. It is somewhat gauche. However, it is not your property. And that makes what you're doing a criminal offense. How would you like to explain defacing it to the police? * Leena blinks. "Um... it was giving people seizures?" Hard to believe, but no. Chika asked me to! She didn't like that I depicted her so well, though, and now she's mad and denying she ever asked me to make it pretty for her? Now you're just being silly. For once, take responsibility for yourself. ... You're a mess, Leena - I don't know what's happened to you in the last six months, though I think it had something to do with this work-study bullshit. * Leena crosses her arms, and frumps. Talk to me. Help me understand. * Leena sighs, and stares at the floor. "... I want to. But you really don't want to know. You really, really don't." I probably don't. I hate these kind of secrets that I have to keep, from people who only want to help. But I need to. You are my job, Leena. And what's worse, if you knew, you'd be in the same position as me. You couldn't tell anyone. Trust me. You really, really, really don't want to know. And if anyone did find out that you knew... it wouldn't be good. None of the other teachers seem to see what's happening, but it's so obvious that something is ripping you to pieces... Can't you give me any part of it? Anything I can help with? ... one clue. That's all. I will only tell you one thing, but you must promise that you will keep anything you find out to yourself. I will... try. ... remember a little while back, about the magical girl in the newspaper? Junko. Of course - I had her last period. * Leena nods. "I had a part in saving her." And that's all I'm going to tell you. * HistoryTeacher chews on that for a second. Puts two and two together and gets five. Doesn't like it at all. * Leena sighs. "... perhaps even that's too much. But you do really care." ... I've got to get to class. Leena. * Leena turns to leave, then pauses. "You can't tell anyone." You still have detention. And stop defacing Anime Club signs. * Leena nods. "When they learn their place." No, now. Nuh-uh. We're watching Anime Club. They will be kept under control. And they really aren't bullying anyone. It's Riding Club and a few of the smaller ones that are causing the... disturbances. * Leena shrugs. "I don't care. Anime Club's the one I'm worried about." They're bigger than Tea Club, Leena. Get used to it - since Tea is restricted membership, it won't ever regain the lead. Anyway. For each Anime Club sign I see defaced, you get another day of detention. * Leena shrugs. "Anime Club is going to get crushed, one way or another. I know you're trying to protect me, but I'm trying to do it my own way, because if any of the other ways take place..." And I don't care how much detention it takes. * Leena snorts. We'll see. You're going to get sick of sitting in that classroom. Report to the principal after school. * Leena nods. "We shall see." And then jets. To class! And... I'll see what I can do about your so-called work-study. * HistoryTeacher picks up the sign, and takes it with her. * Later on that morning, Taki makes her way up to her favorite friendly club! * Taki is headed to the card club. She guesses. The stairs to the roof are dark, today. Funny how the lights aren't working. * Taki makes her way up the stairs, eager to be out of class, but not so eager to be around the screaming fangirls. As she turns the final corner to the roof door, two masked girls jump off the top step at her. Taki ducks around both tacklers, who roll to their feet on the landing with some degree of expertise. ...you're not supposed to dodge... Can I help you girls with something? You're not supposed to attack people in the dark. Yeah. I think so. You like horses. So why aren't you in Equestrian club? Because I don't like horses? Sure you do. * Hoodlum lunges for Taki again. She misses, but backs up again immediately. * MaskGirl circles around to block the exit to the roof. You love horses. No, I think you're mistaken. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend. * Taki moves towards the MaskGirl, ready to deflect whatever attack might come. * MaskGirl tries an expert-looking side kick. Taki easily knocks it aside. * Hoodlum moves forward as well, attempting to grapple with her intended victim. * Hoodlum just barely misses her intended hold, but does snag Taki's shirtsleeve, which rips. Oh now who is going to pay for that? Not I. * Taki swings forward and almost loses her footing, she misses twice while trying to maintain her balance. The air around the hoodlum really felt that one though. Um. Someone taught this girl how to fight! ...yeah. * Taki tries to make it look like she meant to do that. Nah, I just watch a lot of movies. * MaskGirl bobs and weaves, and then twirls with a wicked spinning backfist. Taki takes it on the side of the head, and staggers backwards. * Hoodlum moves to grab Taki again, but can't reach her before Taki recovers enough to weave away. * Taki spins on the MaskGirl, rather not happy with being hit and spins one right into her side and another one quickly follows into her midsection. * MaskGirl squeaks as the first strike smashes her to one side, then folds in two over Taki's fist to her gut. She slumps forward into Taki, clearly out for the count. * Taki still catches the girl so she doesn't fall down the stairs and get hurt anymore. * Hoodlum blinks, then runs. She's not being paid enough for this shit. What, you're not even going to help her? * Taki takes the girl down to the next landing and props her sitting against the wall. * Hoodlum throws herself down the stairs and around the corner. Taki hears the stairwell door slam. You okay? Should I take you to the nurse? ...ugh. You... why the hell aren't you in one of the combat clubs? Judo, or Kempo, or... I don't think they could keep up with me. *smiles* Fuck. * MaskGirl eyes Taki as she recovers. Anyway, if I catch you coming after me or one of my friends again, I'm not going to be so nice to you. Do you understand? Uh... who are your friends? Anyone who comes to me and tells me they've been picked on. Erm. * MaskGirl pushes herself to a standing position against the wall. I'll, uh... be going. Now. Alright. You have a good day. And watch yourself. * MaskGirl backs down the stairs, watching Taki closely. * Taki smiles again and makes her way up to the roof access, rubbing the side of her head when the other girl is out of sight. * Taki giggles to herself as she opens the door. The lunchroom is rather seething with activity today. People are running back and forth between tables - making deals, trading tips, and looking with fear over to where the Riding Club is sitting. Except... for the Anime Club table, which seems serene. * Minami dodges the majority of the chaos, taking her lunch to a relatively vacant table. * Haruko walks in, looking around with her friends to sit with, looking noticeably less worried than yesterday. The Tea Club, not being a club that interfaces with the rest of the world in the usual ways, is huddled together, speaking furtively. * Leena walks in, quietly, watching the Anime Club table. She grabs her lunch, and heads over to the Tea table. * Chiako gets up as she sees Haruko walk in, and goes to meet her. * Maya isn't exactly paying the activity much mind. She's busy eating... with the Tea Club. Odd, that. Let me get your lunch, Haruko. Are you doing okay? Er, I brought my own. Oh. And yes, I'm ok. * Chiako sits back down. * Haruko holds up homemade bento. * Leena plops down. "Hey." She starts on her food. I'm really sorry about what happened to you this morning. I didn't hear until it was too late to get there on time, and you are supposed to be protected. * Leena perks up a little. "What happened?" * Maya also notes Chiako homing in on Haruko, but doesn't say anything just yet. Fashion Club tried a followup move on Haruko. It went... variously. * Athena giggles. "Don't ask what Haruko has in her purse." ... ... I'm going to ask. By the time I got there, the hood was lying, twitching on the ground. I left her something to remember me by, too. * Leena eyes Chiako flatly, then glances down, sighing. It isn't always safe for a young girl to walk alone. Not around here, it isn't. I'm almost ready to ask Her Majesty to rework the system. I think it might be a good time for that sort of thing, yes. It would get my vote. Oh... Leena, while I appreciate the thought, maybe you want to have a few reinforcements with you when taking on Anime. ... better than drafting people against their will. ... you bothered the Anime Club, Leena. * Maya gives Leena a flat, 'oh, you did not...' look. * Leena raises her eyebrows at Athena. "... if you're volunteering to help me, can you get the Kidnapping Club on their case?" Not right away. I thought you all would approve. If you shrink the Anime Club, then there's no more threat to your precious Tea Club. But by yourself, Leena? The Anime Club is a lost cause. * Leena sighs. "No one else will." * Maya sighs heavily. "No offense, but you're going to get yourself in deep without some organized assistance. You don't just barge in and break things." *whispered* It's the Equestrian Club that we're using the thugs on right now. * Leena droops more. "Yeah. I already got a buttload of detention." Don't lower yourself to... THEIR level, Leena. I never figured that out. That level thing. I mean, why not? It's not like we're better than them, or vice versa. They just struck first. What bothers me is when you force people to give up a club they like. That seems low. It's not like this club is any better than the others. Just bigger. It's the way things were set up here. ...it's our fault, but now we just have to deal with it. Maya... thanks for joining. You too, Haruko. Could you maybe work on Taki some more? She has a slot open, and it's not like she has to come or anything.... I don't think Taki would listen to me. I... won't push. But I'll ask. * Maya rubs her temples. "That's the best I can do." * Leena eats, silently. Not the usual sad quietness, a lost in thought one. Kyouko and Mina as well... just... point out the advantages. We... *I* won't force them. I don't have the political clout to get away with that anymore, I guess. Yeah. It sounds like your star is in ascendance at court these days, Maya. Hell, I didn't even get an invite to Sunday's little meeting. * Athena pouts. * Leena looks up for a moment. A brief smile crosses her lips, then she glances at Maya. ... ah? Ascendance? * Maya looks slightly embarrassed. "No, no, it's just because the matter was in my line of work." Really, it was business as usual. Don't go reading too deeply into that... Yeah, but *she* listened to you guys. Hell, even Sakura lined up with me, and she's going with your ideas. And you're complaining why? ... new times call for new approaches. We have the most field experience, so we gave her what we thought would be the best ways to go. I'm thankful she did listen. Mmph. ... there are some serious problems that need to be resolved. ... your attitude of thinking of anyone who's not one of us as worthless only contributes. And apparently the six years of experience we have doesn't count. And rank. But you haven't been *there*, Athena. It's just a bitter pill to swallow to be shut out. Rank means nothing to them, and frankly, not a lot to us, either, other than who can boos who around. Which is a bad thing to base rank off of. Eh, we are the real heirs of this planet Leena. Don't forget it. * Maya looks ready to reply to Chiako, but lets it slide. ... * Leena looks coldly at Chiako. "We are still human, even if you no longer consider yourself one." * Leena returns her attention to her food. It may not happen in our generation. It will probably take centuries. But we are the ones that the Earth Magic has chosen, and what we do is in Its interests. I think that... rank is actually what makes us better suited for the job. I hate to say it, but we're somewhat expendable now that Sakura's in the position she is. There's little risk in sending us out, but the rewards are vital. Small deposit, huge return. It makes a morbid kind of sense. * Leena rolls her eyes. Well... whatever. * Chiako shuts up, looking vaguely like she didn't mean to say so much. * Athena looks around and spots Minami. "I'm going to talk to Mina. Seeya tomorrow, hammergirl. ... I'd like to ask how you two are doing right now. Work can stay where it is for---oh. See you, Athena. How we're doing? * Leena chucks a boiled egg at Athena for a goodbye. "Sure, seeya." * Athena dodges, and stands. Yes... you know. The usual 'hello, how are you' sort of thing? * Leena sighs. "Real heirs... that doesn't mean we can't coexist. I wish we could do away with this whole double identity thing..." Oh, well... things are quiet. Nobody's seen a Ningyo since the one we killed a week ago. They're probably sitting on their fishy heels, plotting. I'm worried about... the ship. ... yeah. Yes... but... maybe we shouldn't be talking about that here. Mmmmm. * Maya nods, slowly, then picks at her meal. * Chiako waves at the twenty-five or so other Magical Girls that are staring in transfixed fascination. * Haruko looks embarrassed. * Athena ambles over to Minami's table. "Hi..." * Leena glances at the other interested parties, then sighs yet again. * Athena sits down. Um... ... they're all... us? * Minami looks up from her food and swallows. "Hi." Look, things have changed a little, and I'm not going to try to pressure you... I'd just like to point out the advantages. The Tea Club... well, we've arranged for the thugs to leave the members alone. And there's good tea... And it's a group of friends who are going to be relatively important in the Hierarchy... And... You're just not interested, are you. * Minami rubs her forehead. "Sorry about that." Both my club slots are filled, and I was already harassed into dropping Performance for one of them. Fine. * Minami shakes her head. "Thanks for asking, though." I'm just saying that joining us will prevent further... extreme harassment. * Minami shrugs. "They got what they wanted. If they do bother me some more, there won't be a reason for it." And if that happens...I'll think about it. It won't be the same people. But... fine. I'll stop bothering you. * Athena stands. ...see you. * Athena wanders off. * Minami shrugs again. "Have a nice day then, I guess." * Haruko finishes her lunch and leaves. [end session]