Description: Showing up late to the scene does have some advantages (beyond odd conversations with witches dressed in red). Just before boarding her designated bus, the punk rock princess runs into another Star that's heading out on this journey. Each has a different reason for wanting to be there, but both are willing to support the other no matter the manipulations that are sure to be coming... from everywhere.
Ill fathers, long flights and odd conversations should be enough to put anyone on edge. Add to that extremely odd invitations, a ship and a potential cult fighting tournament and 'on edge' can become 'pretty damn irritable'.
Or it -might- have anyhow.
Skulking around the buses in a very obvious fashion, the punk rock princess slings her bag off of her shoulder and glances around. No sign of the witch's opponent just yet. Despite the apparent little bargain, is it really worth her time to sit around and wait for someone who might not show? Not to mention the fact that at this precise moment Naerose could just be chatting up Arika's opponent and making the exact same request?
So, yeah. Someone has trust issues. She's on edge just a little because there seemed to be someone distinctly lacking from the little get together at the docks. Things didn't go as well as she would have liked back home in London, and now she's about to embark on the zaniest of journeys just to prove herself right.
Rifling around in her bag, she gives her head a shake. Times a'wastin' and she needs to get herself situated on the bus so that she can analyze her opponent in a way that watching them in a Neo League or Saturday Night Fight match wouldn't allow her to.
One last thing she has to do first though. Check to see if that really -was- her teammate she saw in the crowd earlier. Lord only knows she could use a little support during this pleasure cruise vacation, even if it's not coming from the person she'd like it to be coming from.
"Arika." Amongst the mumbling and shuffling of people getting into buses, there's the newest Shooting Star calling out Arika's name. No need to search for Eva; she's found you instead. And she looks much happier to see such a familiar face, to boot. "At first I didn't see any familiar faces at all... I'm happy that you're here." Even if it makes the two might be paired against each other in battle, but that was the way they first met, anyhow. Eva would see it as her duty to fight to her fullest, since Arika deserved at least that from her. "Listening to the man talk, it made me feel rather uncomfortable. I don't like to go into a tournament thinking I'll have to be extremely paranoid... And everything seems so cult-like..."
Bright blue eyes settle on Arika's bag. ".... Also, I didn't realize we'd be kept in one spot for the entire tournament. I didn't bring anything but my purse." Her face falls. "There's deodorant in there, and I'm sure there are going to be showers, but... It'll be impossible to keep up on clothing." Hinata was worried about snacks, but Eva? Cleanliness! "I'll manage, I'm sure of it, but... It makes me nervous."
Is it so odd that she hears her name being called? Through the din of people, she almost thinks the witch has returned to ask another favor of her. Tone is all wrong and the intonation is actually more friendly than scheming. Raising her head, she glances behind herself and breathes a silent sigh of relief.
"Didn't think I was gonna make it, actually. Wee little emergency back 'ome called me away and all that." Pause. Teeth gnaw onto the bottom left corner of her lip and she glances around. "No sign of 'im then?" Though it's not entirely obvious who the him she speaks of is, the look in her eyes should give it away. "Forgot to ask 'im if 'e was comin' or if I was on me own while scoutin' out this cult cruise."
Yanking something out of her bag, she nearly falls back onto her rear. Luckily she regains her balance before there's any mishap, and she holds a simple grocery bag out to Eva. "It ain't much, but it's clean. Found it in me pack when I got to London. Some'a your things must've gotten mixed with mine on the way back from Thailand." At least it explains why she's carrying a small parcel of someone else's clothing. "Wasn't plannin' on runnin' into you 'ere, but works better for me. Makes the bag lighter'n' all."
No, it's just Eva. And, while Eva can be analytical, she isn't a schemer. "An emergency at home...?" Eyebrows raise in shock and concern. "A family emergency? Did something happen?" Looking down, Eva adds, "No, I didn't see Drake at all. He could still be in it, however; it was hard to pick out any faces. No one seemed familiar." She offers a comforting smile. "Well, at least you're not alone in this. Though..."
Her thoughts are distracted by a change of clothes. "...!" Eva takes the bag, holding it to her chest casually. "... Arika... Thank you so much. This might seem random, but, one of these days, I'll have to cook for you. I'm an excellent cook! Or, at least, people say I am. When we get off this ship, alright? If there's a certain food you like that I can cook, let me know! I can even make pizza from scratch."
"Ain't nothin' important," Arika says, possibly a little more gruffly than she intends. Talking about 'home' and her father still hurt, despite the fact that she likes to pretend that those things don't really exist anymore. Frowning slightly, she glances off in the direction of the beach and gives her shoulders a somewhat disheartened shrug. "Guess we're on our own then. We'll compare notes or wotever on the ship." A wavering smile is offered in return. She may not trust Eva wholeheartedly yet, but at least they'll have each other to talk to.
Provided they both make it aboard without incident.
"That wasn't anything either, Eva. Just 'appened to 'ave'em with me from me flight. 'aven't stopped anywhere since landin' but 'ere." Which means, she's not even really had a chance to say goodbye to the model, beyond telling him what was up and then leaving him a hastily scrawled letter when the emergency arose. "You can surprise me with wotever you like cookin', mate. I ain't one'a those finicky eaters or nothin' like that."
The gruff tone is noted, and, with a soft frown, Eva nods. "I understand." The topic'll close for now, but she'll definitely be there for Arika if the other feels the need to speak with her. About anything.
"Right. If you need a hand with anything, let me know. We are teammates, even here. Though.... I'm afraid of what sort of manipulation may rise from all this. I think they know about us. At least, who we are as individuals." Why else would there be a note in her art studio? "They may use this information against us. That man was talking about war and adversity. After the things we saw in Thailand... I'm not so sure anymore if anything is impossible anymore."
But back to happier topics. "Bah. You must like something! Tell you what; you think about it, and tell me after this is all over."
Good. Let that be brushed off, because thinking back to how poorly things actually went in London really isn't going to do the diva a lick of good.
"Don't know 'bout you, Eva, but I ain't 'ere to let a bunch of cultists manipulate me into wot they want me to be doin'. I'm 'ere to get on that ship and find the proof I need to 'ave them all sent to the loony bin." Though that is quite worrying, all that blather she missed by coming in late. "Best thing we can do, mate, is stick together as much as possible and not let anyone come between us." Pause. "For Drake's sake if nothin' else. Wouldn't do for the Stars to fall apart, even if we do wind up paired against one another. Just fight your best and if one'a us gets knocked out for wotever reason, the other can stay behind and get the information."
Funny, how this is entirely -not- about winning for the punk rock princess. Normally, that would be the case. This time? While prize money would give her exactly what she desires - getting that club open in London - gathering the information is more important to her.
Cultists. Saying it like that makes the very goosebumps on Eva's neck rise. What if this whole battle has a lot more to it than Eva first thought? "... If we get paired up against one another, we'll fight. There's not reason to be apprehesive about it. Though, I really shouldn't act like I'll get on by default. I have no clue how I'm going to handle this first round. This whole thing about 'trying to get into the ship'. I will try my best to get on, however. For your sake and Drake's. Though..." She holds up her invitation. "Is yours the same color as mine?"
Saying it like what? Bluntly? Honestly? After the ordeal they put Arika through, she really can't think of them as anything else. A -real- tournament would not see people being randomly kidnapped, drugged and beaten. Nor would it see them being left in the wilds of Southtown with a large envelope of money for medical expenses.
"Doubt there's a thing we could do 'bout it any'ow, if we wound up paired against one another. We make the most of it, and consider it trainin'." The diva grins a little and then reaches into the bag for her invitation. "Don't plan on bein' voted off the island so quickly meself. Win or lose, I intend on stayin' on that ship as long as possible." Even if it means stowing away in a cargo hold at a port of call. Extracting the invite, she holds it up and frowns deeply. "Don't think it looks like we are, mate. We'll 'ave to catch up to one another aboard the cult cruise is all. Know you'll make it on. Let's just say I got a feelin' in my gut."
Clenching the invite in her hand, she glances beyond Eva, and out of nowhere asks, "You seen a guy in a skull mask around? Little witch tried to strike a bargain with me, and I trust'er 'bout as far as I can throw 'er. Figured I'd size up this apparent opponent of 'ers before I board the bus and either tell 'im wot she's got planned or..." Well, she's not exactly decided if it's in her best interest to distract anyone or just focus on her vague instructions.
Unfortunately, Eva is no clue about these turn of events. The kidnappings, the druggings. All she knows is that she was invited, and she accepted, if out of curiosity and a need to prove herself. ... Funny, she's been like that ever since she met up with Kurow, but it's not like she's made that association just yet. ... Let's just say Kurow had to work with what little he could gain.
"Same here. It can't be as bad as Thailand, no matter what happens." Well, now Eva *definitely* has a reason to get on this boat. If she doesn't Arika won't have anyone to at least partly trust and trade notes with. Comparing her invitation with Arika's, Eva's smile fades a little. "... We'll just have to make the best of it."
A skull masked man? ".... Not really, but, I haven't been able to get a good look." She furrows her brow. "I'm not good with this scheming thing... What if you distrust both of them?"
Ah, yes. The newcomer came late to the Stars meeting before they all left for the war torn shores of Thailand. Arika would just fill Eva in if she knew she didn't know. Perhaps she'll fill her in anyhow, once they're both aboard the ship and nervous tensions wash away.
"Heh." Monosyllabic responses are starting once again, but at least with Eva they can be elaborated upon. "Nothin' could be as bad as Thailand, mate." Nearly dying twice, and nearly losing the one she loves tends to have made that the worst possible time in her life. Even more so than what happened in her youth.
"Schemin' ain't really my thing either, though can't 'elp but wonder why she came to me of all people." Should have been able to remember that she didn't trust Naerose the day she just happened to appear at Drake's beach house. "If I distrust'em both, I turn 'round, board this bus and wait for further instructions I suppose."
"Yes. It's a wonder we all came through that without mental damage." If one thing's for certain, Drake and Arika are definitely two people Eva would trust with her life now, seeing as they have gone through the business of saving each other's lives many times. "One thing is for certain, however; I know I can trust you and Drake." What Arika knows may utterly shock Eva; especially since this has been happening for this long.
"I see." Eva looks to the bus. "You have my cell phone number, right? We can call each other after a day or so and confirm our locations after this. Even if I don't get on the boat, I'll try to keep up on things so you're not cut off. Drake, if he's not on either, will probably do the same. So, no matter what, you'll not be alone."
Trust.
Very odd that it should be broached in such a manner.
Arika turns to face Eva, the lights around the docks casting an odd glow around her as she does so. A hint of something flashes behind her eyes, but then it's gone and she gives a small, brief nod. Eva may have an easy time saying she trusts people, but for the diva it comes at an extreme cost to admit something like that.
"Got it, got me phone and provided we've got signal where we're bein' sent, we can chat up a storm if you'd like." Without realizing she's doing it, she turns to face the direction of the beach again. Softly, mostly under her breath, the accent drops and she murmurs, "Even if I leave my heart behind, I won't be alone..." Clearing her throat, she says a little more clearly, "Just worry 'bout gettin' on that ship win or lose, Eva. 'ere..." Reaching into her bag, she pulls out a small business card and scribbles a name and number on it. "You 'ave any troubles, call this number and then call me. Worst case, one'a the girls in me band can give you a lift 'ome."
Trust. It's very easy for Eva to lend it out, as much as she seems to act distant. Well, to people like Kurow. Kurow, who acted like he was just a goon that was on the wrong side at the wrong time. Would she forgive him? No. That was an issue up to the people who saved her on that battlefield, not her. But she allowed him to talk with her about art and music. Correlations.
Stupid? Yes, but Eva was never aware of his abilities. Or that he was more than just some goon that was stronger than her. To fight him was, at best, stupid.
"Right." Eva nods solemnly. "I have mine as well. And don't worry about me if I don't get on the boat; I got here via taxi, and I can leave via taxi." She looks over to the bus. "The buses are almost full. You'd better get on yours. I'll take care of things on my end."
Arika laughs softly at that. "As the most senior member of the Stars 'ere at the moment, it's my -duty- to worry over the junior member." Okay, so it's really not, but the diva is -not- about to admit that she -might- be concerned for her teammate. Eva's words are enough to pull her away from thoughts of misplaced goodbyes and telephone calls she really doesn't want to have to make.
Hoisting up her bag and slinging it over her shoulder again, she glances between Eva and the bus that bears her color. "Right, then. Guess I'll be off." One step is taken toward Eva, such a simple little thing it is too. Before another can be taken though, she tips her index and middle fingers of her right hand to her head and salutes the younger girl. "Good luck, Eva. Ring me when you're done, no matter wot 'appens, you 'ear me?"
At that, she spins to face the bus and climb aboard. Waiting to see what happens next.
"... There's only a few of us in the Stars. We have to stick together where it's needed." Eva offers Arika a smile and raises her hand in a small wave. "Take care, Arika. I'll see you on the ship." She hopes. Watching as the elder Star climbs aboard, she doesn't move until the bus seems to be loaded up. Then, she goes over to the other bus, and-
Well, that's where Eva's own little saga begins now, doesn't it?
Log created on 20:33:39 08/20/2007 by Arika, and last modified on 11:04:58 08/21/2007.