Description: Arika comes through on a promise she made earlier to Roberto. Then someone recognized them both which leads to a public exhibition fight. The things fighters do for discounts. Near the end, Arika makes a wager on the fight. What's at stake?
Roberto for some odd reason decided to call that number Arika had given him in the park. Damned if he knew why actually. Perhaps it was because he wanted to figure out if Arika was being genuine as far as taking care of the tickets for him, perhaps he wanted to talk about how the fighting circuit has been treating her either way he's here now and waiting for her.
While Roberto waits, he's here with his little brothers Nelson and Elton playing what looks to be a hackey sack version of keep away with Roberto trying to get the ball. There's laughing all around and it looks like a few people are watching him as they play around.
Luckily for Roberto, Arika just set foot back in Southtown yesterday. After a week long jaunt to the Hawaiian tropics, her debut Neo League match (a win even!) and a nice vacation with her teammate, she's gotten herself settled back in at the hotel and was about to go shopping.
That's when the call came.
As for the punk rocker being genuine? At least she was for the tickets. In fact, as she comes up the way, she's holding four tickets out and has a few balloons with her; one green and one blue as she wasn't sure which colors were preferred. "'ey, football boy!" A wave is offered to Roberto, and a laugh as she watches the younger boys play monkey-in-the-middle with him.
"Wha?" is all Nelson gets out before he turns around and gets nailed in the back of the head with the hackey sack. Both Roberto and Elton suspect that Nelson planned on getting hit in the back of head seeing as it came in a high arc which gave him time to plan it and turn around but Nelson is a consummate clown and it still manages to get a laugh out of the both of them.
Roberto beckons for his brothers to follow him and as Nelson picks up the ball they begin to move towards her. Roberto smirks a bit and says, "Which one?"
"The older one," Arika says with a slight grin as she gives a look to the younger boys. The balloons are handed out to each of them, and she figures they can pick which color they like best. "Nice work with that 'ackey sack, boys. You'll both be pro's befor' long!"
A conspiratorial wink is offered to Roberto and three of the tickets are held out toward him. "As promised! Three tickets to this lovely amusement park. Figured while I was 'ere I'd take a wee peek meself. 'ope you don't mind, mate." Pause. "If you do, I've got not qualms wanderin' 'bout by meself."
"Not at all, actually. These are my brothers, this is Elton and the joker over there is Nelson." He then looks over at the punk diva herself, and this is my friend, Arika Fade.
After the introductions are made the brothers perform bows followed by extending hands for a handshake just in case she would prefer that. When that is done, Elton goes for a green balloon while Nelson goes for a blue one with both giving a simultaneous, "Thank you."
Meanwhile it looks like someone in one of the offices is getting some ideas as he looks at both Arika and Roberto. After a few moments Roberto moves towards the entrance with tickets in hand and all of a sudden a manager comes out to greet them both, "Arika Fade, Roberto Miura... It's good to see you here." Apparently a manager or one of the Park staff is a pretty damn hardcore fight enthusiast to recognize the two so readily. Either way, Roberto has an eyebrow raised a bit.
Or, in Arika's case following the music scene. Though, it's likely easier to accept that the guy is a hardcore fight enthusiast. "Er... 'ello, mate. What can we do for ya?" This offered to the manager just after she shakes the hands of both the younger boys and offers a 'pleased to meet'cha' to them.
After that, she turns to Roberto and raises her brow. Apparently she's curious as well, but really doesn't know how to react at this point. Is she being set up? Is this where the camera crews pop out and say 'surprise! You're being filmed today!' or is this just a guy who wants an autograph?
It's then that the Manager speaks up again. "Seeing as you're both fighters. We thought it might be possible for you two to have an exhibition match and if you do so we'll admit you and younger boys for free. But also, seeing as having fighters here in general is good publicity, and so even if you choose not to do the fight, we'll be happy to give you a discount on the food and souveniers."
And with that Roberto blinks three times in stunned silence. This is the first time The soccer star has ever been approached like that. He quietly looks over to Arika. Perhaps she has a bit more familiarity with this type of thing. When finally is able to make a sound other than silence he says, "Uhhhh?"
Arika does have quite a bit more familiarity with things like this, but... not in a fighting capacity. Quickly figuring out the costs for the tickets, the reimbursement versus the costs for discounted food and souvenirs she looks to the younger boys. "Wot do you say? Can you wait for the rides for 'bout twenty minutes or so, mates? I'll buy you some cotton candy if you'd like. Popcorn too if they 'ave it!"
Then her attention turns to Roberto and she nods. "I'm game if you are, though I've gotta warn ya. I've never fought in a locale like this befor', it's all new to me."
"Well I'm game then... Of course I would need at least one soccer ball." The manager smiles as he says, "Oh good! I'll get one right away since we have those available for prizes." Dollar signs go off in the manager's head. He's already planning for the possibility of makin money off the soccer ball as a souvenir as well. If anyone needs to look up opportunistic in the dictionary it would have a picture of this guy in it.
While the manager is rushing off for a soccer ball the younger brothers nod and head inside. They haven't yet had a chance to see Roberto in action in person for the first time so the two seem quite enthusiastic. Eventually the four get motioned to where the impromptu exhibition bout will take place and the two brothers move to the side while their brother steps into the 'ring.' The soccer ball arrives and he experimentally juggles it a few times before step trapping the ball to the ground.
COMBATSYS: Roberto has started a fight here.
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Roberto 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Arika has joined the fight here.
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Arika 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Roberto
Opportunistic is only the polite way of saying 'greedy'. Arika's met this type before. Anything for a quick buck, but at least the manager doesn't seem as sleazy as some she's met. While the manager goes off to fetch a soccer ball, she heads to one of the concession stands and loads up on the promised food, as well as two bottles of water and two sodas. The junkfood is handed to the younger boys, the bottles of water remain with her.
Stepping up into the impromptu exhibition ring she glances around. Spectators are already filing in to the area and she groans. Should've figured a promotional fight meant spectators, and she's positive the football-player has one up on her, having trained longer. But at least it's not a 'professional' match, so if she loses she'll just shrug it off. She hopes.
In the name of good sportsmanship, she tosses one of the bottles to Roberto and grins. "In case ya get thirsty while we fight, mate. It'll stop ya from bein' so parched'n'all." After the bottle leaves her hands, she leans backward stretching her body taut and showing off a little before twisting and waving to the gathering crowd. Minor showboating while she waits for the manager to declare the fights beginning.
Arika's not the only one who can showboat. Roberto juggles the bottle of water off of his thighs bouncing them back and forth before sending it up into the air and heading it over into the waiting hands of his little brother Elton who happens to be clutching the string of his balloon in his teeth.
Roberto smiles at Arika, "A goalie needs both his hands, you know." After a few moments, the manager announces the fight is beginning and Roberto waits for Arika to take her stance before kicking a soccer ball towards her leg. "Shall we kick things off?"
COMBATSYS: Roberto successfully hits Arika with Long Shot.
Glancing Blow
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Arika 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Roberto
A young man around her age comes up close to the 'ring' and whistles, "You looked hot in Hawaii, Arika! You should fight in your bikini more often!"
The only reply that's given to the young man is a wink, and as the fight is announced she turns to face Roberto. Only to hear the pun and see the ball coming toward her. Trying to sweep her leg out of the way, the ball manages to nail her in the shin and go rolling out of the ring. "See that your puns don't kill me, mate," she offers to the football player with a laugh - still in the name of good sportsmanship.
Then she rushes toward him, a swift jab with her right hand coming up toward his jaw. "Try not to wreck my face either! I've got a gig tonight!" Not that he's aimed for her face yet, it's just a standard precaution. Right after she says it though, her energy is focused upon her left hand, which takes on a bright violet glow before she slams it out toward his chest in a palm strike.
COMBATSYS: Roberto reflects Diva Allegro from Arika with Shining Clutch.
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Arika 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Roberto
While initially Roberto had set that soccer ball kick to not really hurt as much as unbalance her enough that he could get out of the way of whatever her opening move was. And yes it did exactly that even if it didn't hit as well as he wanted. However, the attack that she delivered provided an opportunity he had not planned on but he had to stand there instead. So when that glowing palm goes to his chest a pair of glowing hands are there to meet it in goalie style save which also in turn redirects the purple energy back into her hand.
"Well sounds fair to me. As long as you don't do too much damage to the legs. They might put me in as striker tomorrow instead of goalie." With that he backs up a bit while he waits for her to come in, rolling up on the balls of his feet as if waiting for a penalty shot to come in.
A yelp is issued as the energy is redirected back into her hand. That... has never happened before and not only does it catch her off-guard, but it sends an throbbing pain shooting up her arm. Arika gives her left hand a bit of a shake to make the pain and the on-setting numbness subside.
"Wot the bloody 'ell..." Then she remembers that there are children about and clamps her lips shut tightly. Mm. Maybe she underestimated the football player. Maybe she should have been paying more attention when she watched the televised match between him and Domino. Regardless!
Bouncing from one foot to another, in a move known both to dancers -and- football players, she picks up a quick rhythm and dances her way toward him. Once she feels she's close enough she swings her body around in a perfect three-sixty and then draws her right leg up in a vertical position before rotating it and snapping it toward his rib cage.
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Roberto with Rhythmic Roundhouse.
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Arika 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Roberto
Well to be fair, Roberto didn't use that move in his fight against Domino so how could she see that coming? Well other than his mention of being a goalie there wasn't much warning unless she did some scouting before hand which given the impromptu nature of this fight there wasn't much time to do.
As for the kick he's dealing with, he tries to match her spin for spin but doesn't quite get out of the way. Roberto probably should've stuck with goalie tactics instead of striker tactics for this fight. With this in mind, Roberto swings his hand out at Arika's torso not quite going for damage but to move her around a bit as if he were deflecting a soccer ball.
COMBATSYS: Roberto successfully hits Arika with Quick Punch.
Glancing Blow
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Arika 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Roberto
The moment Arika's foot plants itself on the ground again, she sees his hand coming toward her torso. An attempt is made to lean back out of the way, but she miscalculates the fist and it glides over her bare stomach anyhow. A glare is shot in his direction as she takes a few steps back, and then she rushes toward him and circles behind him.
From there she tries to loop her right arm about his midsection, and bends to hook his left leg with the other. If successful in this, she'll lift him up above her shoulder in a parallel manner to the 'mat' and then drop him down onto his tailbone.
COMBATSYS: Roberto dodges Arika's Strong Throw.
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Arika 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Roberto
Remember what was said about sticking to goalie style tactics? This when it gets completely thrown out the window. And while that is normally the type of attack Roberto would respond to with a Bicycle Kick, there was too much of a risk of hitting her face with it or driving her face down to the ground by hitting her in the back and neither scenario was exactly desirable.
Instead Roberto bursts into a short sprint putting enough distance that he's just out of punk diva's grasp and just over extended enough that would be a simple matter for him to slide for her foot with one foot extended as he moves along the ground.
COMBATSYS: Roberto successfully hits Arika with Sliding Kick.
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Arika 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Roberto
As he gets away from her, Arika groans. Wrestlers, she can handle. Brawlers? No problem. When up against someone that fights like this? She's really at a loss for what to do. "Fancy footwork, mate," she calls to him as she stumbles backward and onto her rear. Not the most eloquent or graceful fall and as embarrassing as it is, she's not about to stay down that long.
Kipping up to her feet, she gives the football-player a flirty little wink and then drops her left shoulder back a little while bringing up her hand as though holding an invisible guitar. Her right hand hovers over her mid section and she begins to hum. As soon as she hits the right note, she makes a strumming motion and an explosion of multi-colored energy bursts behind her before it's funneled into a beam that's directed at Roberto.
COMBATSYS: Roberto blocks Arika's Siren Song.
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Arika 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Roberto
"Thanks!"the soccer players says as he blushes slightly at the wink. After that he gets himself back into all business mode. Roberto brings his hands up to intercept the multicolored energy. This time there's no glowing so it should be to Arika's relief that it won't be coming back at her. He probably wants to catch his breath before he tries that again. Needless to say it's the first time he's ever fought against somebody using Music as an attack. "Well... That's a first. Some type of Sonic chi? I've fought along side someone who uses music styled attacks once in an exhibition bout. It's a new experience feeling it though" After that Roberto goes into a run as he attempts to close the distance between Arika and himself with a knee to the bread basket. Nothing fancy though.
COMBATSYS: Arika counters Heavy Kick from Roberto with Diva Allegro.
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Arika 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Roberto
Used to training with her teammate, Arika's not all that great with the in-fight banter. But she does note that the flirty little attitude is throwing Roberto a little, so she grins and then winks at him again. "There's a first time for everything, mate." Her voice is kept fairly light and almost bordering on sultry, but she doesn't want to go in for the overkill.
Standing there and allowing him to close the distance between them, she grins. Just before the knee reaches her stomach, she spins gracefully to the side and sends a quick right jab to his shoulder and then slams her glowing violet, energy-filled left hand to the center of his chest in a palm strike.
And that's how Roberto ends up staring at the sky. A not so new experience for him. Realization sets in that it's probably for the best that he shuts his yap. With that, Roberto gets back to his feet shakes the cobwebs out and whistles for a ball.
Turns out that one of his younger brothers, Nelson, managed to figure out where that soccer ball went and he tosses it back into the cleared area and to Roberto's foot. Roberto goes into a dribble faking left and right before stopping close to Arika to snap out a kick mid dribbling spin move right for her torso before spinning away from her again.
COMBATSYS: Arika blocks Roberto's Light Kick.
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Arika 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Roberto
A man down on his back? What fun! Arika contemplates going in for a pin, just for laughs, but figures that he's not worn down enough yet. Pity, it really would've amused her to do it. Instead of pinning him, she stops for a moment to catch her breath and try to loosen herself up a bit to continue the fight. It's only an exhibition match, shouldn't be -this- difficult.
That's when she gets caught up watching his foot movements. The attempt is nice, but since she relies on her own footwork a lot of the time, she's prepared for the kick that's coming. Her hands cross down over her torso, slowing down the kick enough so that when it hits it's not nearly as painful as it could've been. This gives Roberto enough time to spin away from her, which leaves enough time for her to unwrap the cord that's around her right hand and try to sneak up behind him and slip it around his neck and pull him backward whilst attempting a simple stranglehold.
COMBATSYS: Roberto interrupts Random Weapon from Arika with Bicycle Kick.
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Arika 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Roberto
It's rarely a good idea to get behind a soccer player. And while he let that go the first time he's not about to let it go this time. When people get behind him it usually provides a good set up for his Bicycle Kick. So he ducks the attempted strangle hold and then flips backward. Good thing that Roberto changed the delivery of his kick though. While usually it would crack somebody right on the head, he delivers it to the shoulder with a loud impact before he falls to the ground as well. He gets up, brushes off his shoulders and is ready to go again, settling into a goalie's stance.
Wrestlers get behind people for all sorts of holds! It's what they do. Thinking she's nearly got the stranglehold, Arika is quite surprised to see him duck and flip backward toward her. As the kick comes toward her, she tilts her body to the side to help him hit his projected mark and the subsequent pain to her shoulder sends her down to her knees on the mat. A softly muttered string of curses comes from her, but thankfully none are loud enough for little ears in the crowd to pick up on.
Struggling wearily back up to her feet she moves toward Roberto warily. Once she's close enough, her arms reach out quickly and attempt to encircle his waist and lift him up. If she can manage his weight without toppling backward, she'll spin in a one-eighty (a small bit of showboating for the crowd) and toss him forward onto his back in a spinebuster throw, after which she means to launch herself into the air to land on him.
COMBATSYS: Roberto blocks Arika's Strong Throw.
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Arika 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Roberto
Roberto goes with the throw but lets his body go limp forcing her to perform a sub optimal throw which doesn't hurt nearly as much as it could have. He still ends up on his back when she jumps to land on him he manages to actually catch her as she descends and holds her in the air before her body can drop onto him. He whispers in a low voice that no one else could hear but the two of them, "My my... You move fast... We haven't even had dinner together, yet." The hold is a lose one so she can still get out of it.
COMBATSYS: Roberto takes no action.
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Arika 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Roberto
Caught before she can land upon him, Arika hears his whisper. Impishly, she tilts her head forward so that her lips are right beside his ear. Voice dripping with a soft, sultry tone she whispers, "Tsk. Then you'd better ask me quick, befor' I get the wrong idea, mate." Lifting her head up a little, she winks at him and then pushes herself back up to her feet. Though, she doesn't move far before attacking again. The very second her feet touch the mat, she pirouettes to his side and leaps into the air aiming both feet down toward his stomach.
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Roberto with Heavy Kick.
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Arika 1/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Roberto
This seems familiar... Very very... familiar. The time he fought Arika's team mate he was in pretty much the same position. He started out with a commanding lead which eventually got whittled away until Drake came out the victor. And from the pace of things history's about to repeat itself. Though if Roberto has any say in the matter, that won't be happening.
He scrambles to his feet and gets his head back together. It seems as though everytime he's opened his mouth something bad has happened but this time he remains silent as he moves past her with his shoulder clipping the shoulder he used the Bicycle Kick on. It's a grazing blow but it also allows him to put a bit of distance between himself and Arika as he maintains posession of the soccer ball.
COMBATSYS: Arika counters Quick Punch from Roberto with Dominant Diva.
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Arika 0/-------/-------|=======\======-\1 Roberto
Not wanting to delude herself into thinking she can actually pull a win off during this exhibition match, Arika steps off of him and then waits for him to get up to his feet. "Care for a little wager, mate? Loser buys dinner for the winner?" Another wink is offered as she watches him move past her and as his hand comes out toward her she makes a grab for it.
Once in possession of his hand, she steps behind him and slides her left foot around his leg and situates it between his legs so as to trap him there. Then she wraps one arm about his head, the other about the arm she's still got hold of. While she keeps hold of his arm, she shifts her hand toward his side and grips onto it applying an extremely hard amount of pressure - surprising for the size of her - and pushes him down onto his side. In a softer voice she adds, "If I lose, I'll throw in free tickets to me next gig."
"You know, that's a possibility." Roberto slowly gets up to his feet. "It doesn't seem fair there has to be something extra to your scenario yet there's nothing extra to mine. What else would I have to give up if I lose. I would offer tickets to a game but I haven't gone pro yet. We'll discuss that after the match."
While he's speaking, he's thinking of his next move. The Blazing Juggle leads up to a Chi enhanced Bicycle Kick which is unappealing due to his tendency to hit the head with that, The Blazing Strikers well that burst of chi tends to engulf the whole body face included therefore that isn't such a good idea. That leads him to use Pass and Shoot. He runs up to Arika and kicks her around as he works the give and go with himself. For all intents and purposes Arika is a human soccer ball getting passed about until he makes a final kick that sends her away from him.
COMBATSYS: Roberto successfully hits Arika with Pass and Shoot.
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Arika 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Roberto
Punches can be easily handled. Kicks on the other hand are a little harder to dodge and block, so it's no wonder that the punk rock diva suddenly becomes a football of epic proportions.
The fight has been fairly taxing on her though, and in a last ditch effort she reaches out toward him as he comes in for another kick and tries to lift her knee to his chest as she pulls him down. It should cause him to double over, and if he does, arms will wrap about his midsection and hoist him up into a standing head scissors (a standard back-to-belly piledriver position). Instead of just driving his head and shoulders into the mat though, she means to fall forward so that his chest and face hit first with her weight following as she tries to land atop him.
COMBATSYS: Arika has reached second wind!
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Arika 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Roberto
COMBATSYS: Roberto dodges Arika's Femme Fatale.
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Arika 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Roberto
That's all well and good however Arika goes to grab him, nobody's home. Roberto performs a spin move out of the way and then dives at the diva with glowing hands as he rises into the air in a goalie-like save before using those chi engulfed hands to push her down to the ground.
When Roberto gets up from the ground himself, he begins to breathe heavily as he gasps for air. He looks at his opponent as his knees begin to buckle. Even still he beckons her to come in.
COMBATSYS: Roberto successfully hits Arika with Shining Save.
- Power hit! -
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Arika 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Roberto
After missing that throw, and having such a vast amount of energy pushing down into her body, surely Arika is down for the count. No way she's got the energy to continue at all.
Right?
Only, she gets back up to her feet in an extremely shaky manner and sets her hands to her hips. "Alroit," she calls breathlessly, "since you're likely to win this anyway, mate..." She begins to stagger forward, balled fists at her side. As she rushes toward his beckoning, the fists come up and she uses all of her remaining energy to send a flurry of hammerfist punches toward his ears, literally boxing them.
COMBATSYS: Arika can no longer fight.
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Roberto 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Roberto blocks Arika's Drum Solo.
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Roberto 1/-------/=======|
What's just as amazing is that he managed to keep up with the flurry of punches. The reflexes from playing soccer have come in handy for him and he manages to deflect each shot. Roberto wasn't sure he'd have enough in the tank to beat her if she got up again and so he looks down desperately gasping for air. Just remaining standing for long enough that he can be announced as the winner before dropping into a seated position right beside her. "Good match... Now what would you have asked for had you won?" He laughs for a bit and then coughs before the pain in his rib cage tells him it's not such a good idea.
COMBATSYS: Roberto has ended the fight here.
Thankfully this time, Arika doesn't spring back to life or send in another attack. She just sits there on the mat, drawing her knees up to her chest as she fights to catch her breath. Hard fight. A lot different than battling it out with Drake, that's for sure. More kicks and straight out energy attacks than grapples and throws. Even though she lost, the punk rock princess smiles. It was a good exhibition and she's kind of happy the football player won while his little brothers were watching. Sure, it'll likely give them a whole hero-worship thing now, but it was well deserved. "You too, mate, and I... hadn't gotten that far in me thinkin' to decide... wot I moit want."
Speaking of the little scoundrels, they manage to slip into the cleared area, giving Roberto a hug and that bottle of water from earlier. He's spent enough time on the ground he stands up and then offers a hand to Arika as well. "Well we have all day to decide on that. What ride would you like to go on first?" He chugs the water down and looks at Arika. Nelson pipes up, "The Arcade!" Elton in about the same volume shouts, "No the Rollercoasters!"
The offered hand is taken, and the punk rock princess pulls herself up to her feet with his help. A grin is given to the younger boys and she says, "Well... I think I could use a wee bit of a sit down. How's 'bout we hit the rollercoasters first, then the Arcade? That way the both of you lil' poppets get to do wot'cha want and us two old folks can have a tiny break, hmm?" For some odd reason, totally against her nature, she reaches down to ruffle the hair of the closest boy to her and then turns and winks at Roberto. "Looks like I owe you all dinner after this anyhow."
Log created on 10:16:20 04/19/2007 by Roberto, and last modified on 11:40:05 06/06/2007.