Description: The fencing team is minding its own business swatting at each other with antannaes. But unbeknownst to them, a certain gymnast has developed a crush for their captain, Vince. Anxious to show off her prospect, and indeed, future date, she phones up her friend to come oogle them during practice. The friend, Himeko, is suspicious! Oh noes!
Another day, another practice session with the fencing team. That's how Pacific High's maintains such skill and expertise, you know. Fervent practice, tutelege from a good coach, and.. well.. an experienced captain. Each of the fencers are in their garb, running drills on one another. The two females in the fencing team together, the rest all mish-meshed. The drills at this time are pretty simple, though. Parry-thrust techniques. Except with this, they're going back and forth. After one parries an attempted thrust, they thrust in return, which is immediately parried and counter-thrust... and it's an ongoing cycle. Each successful drill sees the next one going faster and faster.
But eventually the coach calls to change things up for sparring. Two are called out while the others move away from the practice area quietly. Vince is one who isn't up at the moment, sheathing his foil and strolling over to the benches. Of course, Vince is the most recognizable - not because he's the tallest, shortest, or most muscular, but because he's the only one who wears a belt with scabbard lined by rosettes.
Immediately after the interesting meeting in the auditorium, Alexis bolted back to the dormitory to harass Vanka about everything that happened. That's what best friends are for! Sadly, she was told by another girl that Vanka went off to watch some fight in the village and wouldn't be back until late and would Alexis please cover for her if a teacher wandered by?
This is why the little gymnast had the great idea of having /two/ best friends! She's just bursting to share this news with /someone/! After changing her clothing she picked up the phone and gave Himeko a call, quickly explaining the situation.
"Zomgboy!Fencing!Fake-kiss,askedmeout,c'merenow!Iwannapointhimout!"
She's quite a bit more bubbly and excited right now, so either Himeko will realize what she's said, or will be worried that Alexis is about to hyperventilate.
Making her way back across campus, she decides she's got to do what every girl must do at some point in her life. She's got to stalk him! At least enough so that she can point him out when Himeko shows up. Thus, after scoping out the auditorium, she's waiting halfway between the main campus and the athletics field, because that's where she figures he might have gone next.
It's not very often that reporter trainee Himeko Kashiwagi is running around on other campuseseses. Heck, it's almost a little embarassing she hadn't thought of it sooner, it's a really good way to a) learn the areas, b) work on her espionage tactics, and c) have a little fun! And since becoming friends with Alexis, becoming a free spirit has been getting, well.. A little bit easier.
Now when she got the phone call from the gymnast, Himeko was utterly skeptical, and obviously not sharing the same amount of enthusiasm for scary boys. She imagined this one would be another one of those six foot tall 'bad boys' with the long, cone-hair, black leather jackets and a motercycle who hangs out in the parking lot with his groupies. Oh well, maybe there'll be a story in it, so it brings her to the here and now since she wasn't very far.
Since she's slipping into Pacific turf, she's ditched her vest and schoolbag and entered the grounds in a long, white jacket over her turtleneck sweater and pleated skirt. However she has to keep on her orange 'Press' band by principle. But where is she? Well, there's a stone beside Alexis that suddenly lifts upward, wobbles a bit, and then falls back down. There's a bit of a struggle, and finally it gives a muffled cry of, "Help!"
Vince is completely unawares of the girls' presence. No, he's just settled into observing the ongoing training. But doing that is just slightly hindered by the mask - not too great a peripheral vision. His hands lift to set to either side of the mask, and he pulls it off slowly. As the mask apparatus is lifted, it reveals the young noble's fetching face, eyes shut at first as his sandy blond hair tumbles into place with a gentle shake of his head. Soft smile sets to his lips, and those sparkling icy blue eyes open.
He doesn't remove the mask like this on -purpose-. It's just how he is.
But then the mask is held under his left arm, and he just casually watches the spar in progress. Nothing terribly noteworthy taking place in it, though.
Sweatdrop!
Gee, Himeko! Don't give away their location or anything! Alexis' eyes widen as she sees a wobbling rock that seems to come toward her. Taking a leaping step back, she bites down on her lip so she doesn't shriek and give them away. At the muffled cry for help, she blinks, giggles and then reaches down to try to lift up the stone.
Then she's distracted. With the stone halfway lifted, she's paused, staring out toward the benches. Peridot eyes affix to the fencer, watching as the mask is lifted and the hair tumbles into place with perfect precision. Fanning herself, she sighs in a day-dreamy manner and hisses down at the stone, "That's him! OoOooh... would you just get out here and look! Isn't he /dreamy/?"
The little crush she had before has gone /way/ overboard thanks to that faux little scene in the auditorium. She can't help it! She's a hopeless romantic!
Luckily the prop isn't -that- heavy since it's hollow, but apparently too heavy for her to get off by herself. Which leads one to wonder how she got into it in the first place, but...
At the halfway mark, she doesn't need to see to know that her friend is distracted, and slips out from under it by crouching and crawling out instead, her trusty camera about her neck. She stands afterward, fixes up her hair a bit and then immedietly whips her camera to her eyes snapping a few pictures, first of the fencers, but then zooms in particularly on Vince. He was quite handsome, nothing like she imagined, she could easily see why someone like him could be popular. However after a moment she peers over said camera with e_e; eyes behind her spectacles. "... W- Wait a minute. You said you k-kissed him over the phone, didn't you? You.. You two aren't going out, are you?"
Obviously there's a bit of worry in her tone, but she's doing her best to hide it. But for no good reason whatsoever she's starting to get really suspicious!
Vince lifts a free hand to set to the shoulder of a teammate, leaning over to whisper something to him. But in the process, he catches a glimpse of something. Something blonde. Something perky. Something remarkably like Alexis. He blinks at her a couple times, then offers up one of those happy-squinty-eyed expressions with a smile. And look, she has a friend! ..Well, of course she has a friend, but a friend -with- her to watch the team. Someone from the cheerleading squad, maybe?
Vince steps around his teammates to lift a hand and wave to the girls, still all smiles. A few of the other fencers glance over and crack grins.
"Wha-what?!?" Alexis looks back at Himeko, shaking her head in a really rapid manner. "Nuh-uh! Fake-kissed! Like, stage-acting, not really lips touching kiss! It was still /really/ romantic though! He had this whole thing he said and..."
She's gushing, yes. She's still in that dreamy-happy-hopeless-romantic state. "He did ask me on a da---- ack! He saw us!"
Alexis scoots over to the stone and tries to hide behind it. Slowly raising up to peek over it, she glances across the field at him and then offers a friendly finger wave. "I... uhh... guess... we should go over there?" When did she turn into such a spazz?
Himeko... A cheerleader? Alexis maybe! Himeko seems.. Doubtful even as Alexis denies that the kiss was anything but real. She closes her eyes a moment to picture the situation herself.. Yes, an actor, and a fencer, a very interesting combination. And quite good looking. But inside deep down he is actually a predator.. And a werewolf! Looking to sink his teeth into her poor and innocent friend! Her eyes snap open, her dusky skin somehow going pale and tears stream down her eyes. "Nooooooooooo..." she whimpers.
But it's timed in such a way that her meek dismay comes right after Alexis mentioning they've been spotted. And when she looks, Alexis is then hiding behind the stone, and Himeko nearly falls over as a result. Almost. But for the first time ever she's actually burning with determination to meet and GRILL this fellow. Of course, not by herself, she reaches to take Alexis' hand and start to drag her over toward the club gathering. "Y- yes, yes we most certainly are, I'm going to get an exclusive interview..!"
Vince laughs softly at Alexis' retreat. She's behaving so oddly! So very unlike her usual manner! But then, their last encounter was kind've awkward and off-kilter. Imagine! Him! Acting all nervous with a girl! How deliciously absurd. But the two seem to be on approach towards the team, and he decides to play ambassador for the fencing team and the two ladies. So despite Himeko's super-determined, nigh confrontational look on her face, they're greeted with a bright, charming smile.
"Bonjour, ladies," Vince greets, voice soft and smooth with just a hint of a French lilt. "Nice of you to grace us with your presence. Did you come to watch the practice?"
"Himeeeeeeeko!" Alexis could just kill her friend right now for making such a show about dragging her over there! She could've walked there fine on her own! Pink bursts forth on the gymnasts cheeks and she struggles to get her hand free. Giving her clothing a quick check after she does this, she marches over there on her own, trying to affect her bubbly cheerful manner and put the spazzy girl out to the curb.
"Bonjour, Vince," she replies, her voice soft and seemingly even. The reason for this is that she's yet to actually look at him. "What? Oh! Yep! We came to watch the practice. I hope you don't mind? I know we're intruding..."
Himeko can't help it, she has the need! Completely unaware of the danger that may or may not befall her, it doesn't take much to break from Himeko's grip thankfully, though Himeko still stands close as they approach the charming young man.
Bonjour? She couldn't tell by looking that he was french so that was a bit of a suprise. She looks him up and down before answering, looking for something out of place, but when she tries to say something, her voice actually gets... Stuck. She can't get the words out and her cheeks darken, hands raised so she can poke her pointer fingers togeather and glance to the side.
".. Uhm.. I.. I uh.. I was just wondering.. Um.. Me too." She manages to mumble out.
Vince doesn't seem to miss a beat this time around, though. Apparently having a little time between the awkward asking-out and now has done him well. Head straightened out, thoughts cleared, and mind settled, he just smiles that charming, friendly smile of his. He first addresses Alexis with a, "Certainly not!," followed by looking to Himeko and nodding once. "You two are more than welcome to be our guests! I don't think anyone on the team would complain about having two beautiful young ladies watching."
He glances over his shoulder to the two females who are actually -on- the team, grinning wryly. "Except maybe those two. But I'm sure they wouldn't mind spectators, either."
And Vince then sets his gaze on the darker visitor. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure." His right hand lifts to her gently, palm upwards. "I am Vince LaRose."
Alexis cocks her head to the side a little, at this seemingly calm boy who was so nervous not all that long ago! What if he changes his mind now? That'd be just /awful/! Dipping her head forward in a nod of acceptance, she grins. "Thanks! I just didn't want to distract anyone, that's why we were over there," she replies, pointing to the hollowed out stone prop in the distance.
"Oh! Where are my manners! Vince, this is my very good friend, Himeko Kashiwagi. She goes to Taiyo High." Her gaze settles to his hand, but she has no outburst of jealousy at the action. He's just being chivalrous! It's part of what sets off that hopeless romantic in her.
Himeko is feeling the pressure.. She's not just feeling the pressure, she's starting to buckle under it! She sees Vince's hand from the corner of her eye, and. Well, it's pretty clear thus far that's he's quite a gentleman, and isn't france known to be a rather romantic place? Yes, it falls togeather again, it's simply no wonder Alexis is so giddy! Her eyes turn to look to the tall student, and then offers her hand as her friend very helpfully introduces the girl for her, leaving the reporter little more to do than nod in agreement.
It'd be easy at this point to just walk away and take a seat, then just watch the rest of practice and leave, but then a thought bubble forms over her head, and in that thought bubble is Ran Hibiki sipping a can of coffee milk. She blinks, looks around, and then throws her coffee can at Himeko's head. 'Hey! Get it togeather, dispensible assistant #3!'
The bubble pops and then suddenly she cries, "T- Taiyo newspaper, c- can I ask just a few questions please! M- Mister LaRose!"
But it's too late! Himeko's already turned her hand over to him. Short of yanking her hand free, she's at his mercy! Insert your favorite soundbyte of maniacal laughter here! The gallant swordsman curls his hand underneath hers, thumb settling along the top of her hand just below her knuckles to taper her figners downwards. From there, he dips into a smooth half-bow to just touch his lips to the back of her hand in a ghost of a kiss. "Charmed," he says, icy blues peeking up at Himeko's face from her hand.
But then Vince is releasing the hand and raising to his full height again. "Himeko Kashiwagi? A native name - and a curious one, at that. It means.. princess? Little princess?," he chances. He then releases the girl's hand, if he's still holding onto it at that point. "My etimology might be off, though. Either way, you two are most welcome to watch. Please, have a seat!," he invites. Vince turns aside and gestures with a sweeping hand out to the nearby benches.
But at that very moment, a loud voice barks out, "LaRose! Quit flirtin' and look alive! You're up!" Such is the vioce of the coach. Vince glances over to him, then back to the two girls. "Duty calls, fair maidens. I'll return as soon as I'm done." He steps back a couple feet, then pulls the mask down over his head. There goes the face, alas. He draws his foil as he turns and steps out into the practice area, met with one of the female fencers.
By now, Alexis has her teeth nipped onto her lower lip. This is not out of nervousness due to his flirtations with Himeko, nor any worry on her part. She has to do it to keep from laughing, because she's just /sure/ her friend's reaction is going to be absolutely priceless! No move is made toward the benches just yet, as she's trying to gracefully twist herself in behind Himeko in case she needs to catch the other girl.
"See?" Whispering this once she's in position, Alexis gives Vince another one of those swoony looks. "I told you he was dreamy!"
Attention turning to Vince, she calls out, "Not that you need it, but g'luck!"
Himeko's pupils dilate a bit and were this a cartoon her face would be completely red with smoke spewing out of her ears and alarms ringing like crazy the moment Vince leans forward toward her hand. Instead she looks like she's a bit pale again, her eyes crossed when he looks to her. But she does her best to look pleasent, which in the end only makes her look goofier, "L.. Nngh... Y- Yes, that's.. accurate.." But before she can press on with the interview he's.. he's called away! Noooooooooooooo!
Not that she really was going to, she ends up giving a 'good-bye' wave instead. It's good Alexis is behind Himeko, but the girl actually twists around to plant face first into the gymnast, her knees a bit weak. ".... I. I need to sit down. I don't feel good."
Vince hears the shout for good luck, and he turns to lift his foil to Alexis in a sort of salute. She likely wouldn't hear anything he shouts back, so that salute will have to be sufficient.
Whack!
The female opponent bops the young LaRose over the head with her foil whilest he's doing that, and he whirls around to face her while she very obviously is suffering a giggle-fit. "LaRose! Pay attention and quit flirtin' already! They'll either be there afterwards, or you ain't their type!," shouts the coach. And.. sweatdrop from Vince. And then the two fencers assume stances.. and they begin. Strike-parry-thrust-parry. But then the girl makes a lunge, which Vince catches along the flat of his foil to guide aside. In a flash, the button tip of his weapon has poked against her chest. Point!
"I /was/ going to catch you in case you fainted," Alexis says with a giggle. She's actually quite surprised that Himeko handled that as well as she did! Maybe the gymnast is a good influence on the bookworm! Unless you look at things another way, and make her out to be a bad influence. "Okay! Let's get you to this bench over heeeere..." Hands settle to Himeko's shoulders and she tries to direct her friend to the bench she indicated.
Glimpsing the bop on the head out of the corner of her eye, she blushes and palms at her face. She /so/ didn't mean to distract him that much! See? They maybe shouldn't be here, and should've kept stalking from a distance! Seating herself upon the bench, she turns to the girl with her. "Sooooo... what do you think? Be honest now!"
Haha poor Vince, Himeko is glad that she doesn't have a coach like that! Himeko borrows a tiny bit of swordsmanship in her style, she probably could gain something from watching a little of his match but needless to say she's not quite at one hundred percent for a bit. Alexis' help is much appreciated as she's brought to the bench and sat down; the girl slouches with her arms crossing over her knees to take a couple of deep breaths. Well, that wasn't totally humiliating in the very least!!
"He did.. Seem pretty happy to see us though.." the girl replies at first. But then she clenches a hand into a fist, and looks upward a bit, determination in her eyes. "He seems nice but.. But there's something suspicious about him. There is, and I'll definatly find it!"
DRAMATIC!!!
And then she slouches again. ".. Ungh. When I was in third grade, a really popular boy I liked told me he wanted to tell me something after school and to meet him out back. When I showed up there he pushed me into the mud and.. Everyone laughed. I get sick sometimes ever since."
"Keep it down, you two!," shouts the coach at the girls. Himeko's empassioned speech could be distracting!
But as for the spar in progress, Vince's head is back in the game, so to speak. The girl's a bit perterbed after the initial hit, and it really shows in her next attempts. She makes a deep lunge, which Vince swats aside and maneuvers around behind her back, striking her swiftly and smoothly. The girl visibly sighs under the fencing garb, and suddenly springs up to her feet, making a hard, frustrated slash at Vince's torso...
...Which is caught and stopped short by LaRose, making one of those dramatic X holds against her. And just like the movies, she tries to overpower his defense while he holds his ground.
"Oh, Himeko! I'm sorry to hear that..." Alexis thinks for a moment and holds up her index finger. "One second!" Hopping up off of the bench, she rushes down a few benches where she finds the football teams water jug. Plucking a styrofoam cup from the top of it, she peers into it intently to see if it's clean. Tilting it this way and that, she bobs her head in a nod and then begins to fill it with the cold water.
Then she's running back to her friend in a comical fashion. Thrusting out the cup, she says, "Drink this, it might settle your stomach." There she stays with the cup held out until Himeko decides to take it. "Boys are really stupid at that age. Lucas was! He used to beat up the daughters of all these dignitaries because he really thought they were cute. I kind'a don't get why boys act like that, but they do!"
Dramatic moves on the field don't go unnoticed though, and she springs up again with a loud cheer. "Go, Vince, go!" Now if she were on the cheerleading squad and had flashy little pom-poms, that might actually look decent instead of cute-girl stalkery.
Himeko squeaks, slapping her hands over her mouth to the coachs sudden yell and jumps in her seat. Darn her passion getting the better of her! But one hand raises up in apology to the coach, before she looks to Alexis once more seeming to actually seem a little better! But that doesn't mean she doesn't accept the cup, taking a couple of gulps as she looks out.. And spits some of the contents when Alexis suddenly starts cheering.
Ooookay, yeah it was probably not a good idea to bring her over here after all, and she abruptly jumps to her feet making a 'shhhhhhhhhhh!' motion to the gymnast, her eyes giving an 'are you nuts??' look.
She would respond to the story about Lucas, but instead she finds it a better idea perhaps to beat feet post-haste, "Uhhhhh, you know, I think.. Um.. I really think maybe we should get going after all. To do.. Something else. Like, quickly." Before they get yelled at again!
"Shoosh!," yells the coach at Alexis. Meanwhile, the rest of the fencing team snickers and laughs.
But as for the spar going on? It's drawing to a close. The frustration the female fencer is coping with is really getting the better of her, and Vince capitalizes on it. Instead of trying to overpower her in return, he shifts aside to let her lack of balance be her own undoing. She staggers forward, whirls around-... and finds the button of Vince's foil thrust against her chest again. Her response to this is to stamp a foot in a huff.
"Alright, alright, enough of that. Take a bench, you two," shouts the coach. He then motions two others to head on up. And as promised, Vince starts to head back over to Alexis and Himeko, sheathing his foil and removing his mask along the way. "You're really well on your way to being on the cheerleader squad," he notes to the blonde with an amused grin.
Alexis considers sticking her tongue out at the coach and blowing a raspberry at him when he tells her to shoosh. See, what she knows that he probably doesn't know is that the captain of the fencing team is looking to get the cheerleaders out for meets and such, so they probably /should/ have the same type of distractions at practice! She uses something like that in gymnastics training, when she knows she's got a meet or a competition that will involve a large crowd.
"Whaaaaat? Nooooo! Himeko... he'll be coming back soon! We can't just take off! That'd be so rude!" And as promised he begins to head back to them. This brings a somewhat bashful smile to her face, and she looks down at his feet. "Hey! Thanks! That kind've confidence in me will really help when I try out for the squad!"
Himeko gives another apologetic look to the coach.. And whelp, luckily they didn't get thrown out, that's a good thing! But she has to keep a VERY careful eye on Alexis because Himeko knows the girl well enough that she'd be at least -considering- a rude gesture.. Luckily she decides against it.
However despite the protest, the reporter isn't going to have her mind changed about making a retreat; besides she'll need to grab some spy gear from Taiyo! Himeko jumps a bit in suprise when Vince comes back though, and she gives a deep bow, "Ah.. Well.. I apologize but I do need to get going, so.. Um, take care. Thanks for having me!"
One more glance is given to Alexis, "I can and I will.. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" And she's gone. She's gone just like that, leaping off the bench and making off in a mad sprint! Of course it doesn't look quite as cool without her scarf.
Vince's grin widens a little at Alexis. "I'm sure it will. And I'm sure you'll do fine." But then his eyes go to Himeko, who apparently has decided to flee. He lifts a hand to wave to her, but.. well.. she's just off on her way. So his hand just lowers back down to his side, and he exhales a soft sigh. Eyes shift back to Alexis, brow furrowed a little. "She doesn't like me very well, does she?"
"Himeeeeko!" Alexis sweatdrops at her friend's sudden departure and sighs. "It's umm... not that. She wasn't feeling well, I don't think. Mentioned stomach issues." Toeing at the ground, she glances up at him and and shrugs. "Actually, I think your chivalry embarrassed her a little. I don't think she's used to boys as charming and sophisticated as you are. I'm sure she'll come around here again soon to do that interview she wanted!" C'mon! Alexis has gotten to know Himeko well enough in the short time since they've met that she's /certain/ the girl won't give up on a story just because she gets a case of the nervous-shy's.
Vince frowns a little more at Alexis. "I made her sick!?"
And the fencing team gets a laugh out of this.
But the girl clarifies everything, and Vince exhales a sigh. "Curious girl. Is she in your grade? A class of yours?," he asks. And a Japanese name, yet... she doesn't look Japanese! Himeko, a little conundrum to Vince. "But if I can expect to see her again, I guess I'll figure her out a little more." He then bobs a little on the balls of his feet. "So! Are we still on for our date?," he asks. From the chipper look on his face, upturned happy eyes and bright smile, and the lilt of his voice, one might assume that... he's anxious.
"Umm... well she goes to Taiyo High, but she's super smart. Likes to read a lot and..." Huh. Alexis never /thought/ to ask Himeko what grade she was in. They just got along once they both realized they had different 'identities' to fight with, and it was suddenly like they knew each other forever.
The date question catches her off-guard though, since it hasn't been that long since they made the plans. Quickly getting herself under control she gives an emphatic nod, and returns the upturned happy eyes and smile. "Yep!" Unless he wants to back out.
"Oh, right! You mentioned that," Vince recalls. "Taiyo High. I hope she doesn't try to smear us at Pacific, though..." Does Vince trust the other schools? Not completely. Will this effect his sociology? Not really. "So.. later, then?"
"LaRose!," barks the coach.
Vince exhales a sigh and glances back over. "I.. am apparently needed. I'll talk to you later, though!" And he starts to draw away from her, complete with a little fingerwave of his own.
"Himeko would never do that!" Alexis would try to pummel her in training if she did! "Tomorrow. I can meet you here after your practice if you'd like?" They agreed to a date, but never discussed where they'd meet or anything, and that's important!
He's called away again before he can answer though so she bends her three middle fingers, and holds the thumb and pinky finger up to her ear like a phone. Waving back at him, she mouths, "Call me."
Afterward, she allows him to go back to practice and decides it's probably best to leave the field before the coach has a coronary or something.
Log created on 18:41:10 01/07/2008 by Vince, and last modified on 23:42:39 01/07/2008.