Description: A mysterious masked horseman appears before the Saikyo Dojo in the middle of the night in search for Hurricane Hime! D8 They talk. A lot. And as one might expect, the battle of the stubborn comes to a draw! (No Sources)
The dead of night.
Cool, breezy winds.
A full moon hangs in the sky, silhouetting dark gray clouds. Pale beams of silvery light escape the drifting masses.
Traffic is very light at this time of the evening. People usually have gotten to wherever they mean to go, and it's one of those 'in-between' points for the workers' shifts. Therego, sounds are rather distant and mysterious in the courtyard of Hibiki Dojo.
One sound in particular begins to distinguish itself amidst the muted roar, however. As it grows closer, it gradually becomes clearer - a sort of 'clopping' noise in rythmic beat. It begins to echo more loudly through the connecting side street until it comes to a halt, just on the edge of the courtyard's entrance.
There comes a sharp, ghostly whinnying, followered by a nicker.
A moment later, and a jet black stallion enters the courtyard, carrying a nighted 'rogue', whom guides the animal towards the main entrance. The rider brings the animal to a halt at the center of the courtyard and peers about himself slowly, as if this sort of thing is perfectly normal.
For some reason or another, Vince expected the girl he's looking for to be right here in the open. Apparently being mistaken, his attention turns to the large door ahead. Now he faces a new challenge: how does one knock on a door and maintain this sort of demeanor? A mild frown tugs on the swordsman's lips as he chews this thought over. Throwing a rosette at it would be stylish, but probably wouldn't make a loud enough noise. Dismounting and strolling up to the door and just knocking like normal is completely out of the question.
He winds up settling on something a little more distinct. An image separates itself from the rolling clouds above and swoops in towards Vince, then directly past him on course with the door. Once reached, the entity comes to a halt, perching beside the sliding aparatus. The smoky gray falcon with opaque obsidian eyes cocks its head at the door, then leans in to rap its beak on the wood a few times. That's right. His solution was to get something else to knock for him.
The dead of the night? Shouldn't a certain pint-sized heroine be at home taking a nap? Maybe.. Maaaybe she should. Or maybe she's working on a Top Secret Project?
Either way, the spunky student of Saikyo is indeed within the dojo's quarters, by herself and taking care of very important work- Inhabiting the place are her usual items, stacks upon stacks of books, a bop-bag, her laptop computer and, most importantly, the girl herself; clad in pink as always and sitting cross legged on the floor in.. Meditation?
While she 'taded, nearly napping suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping on the dojo door.
"'Tis some student?" she muttered, "Tapping at the dojo door? Only this, and nothing more?" Hime hops to her feet rubbing her chin thoughtfully. Come to think of it it was late, who in blazes would be arriving at this time of night? The wooden doors rattle, and then are slid open by her hands,
Quoth the Hime, "HOLY CRAP!!"
Hurricane Hime of course looks clear past the bird in question, she flailing her arms and falls on her butt, apparently not having expected a horse and rider in the courtyard! Then again, who would?
When the door slides open, the falcon lifts from its perch, wings beating... and it seems to dissipate, deteriorating into the air itself. The stallion rears back, masked rider holding steady on the animal and cape flourishing out behind him. When all four hooves set to the courtyard grounds again, it cantors a few feet closer and turns aside, bearing its rider more to the female.
"Hurricane Hime," comes the soft, articulate voice of Vince. "I'm pleased I found you." But he won't rush the girl yet. Her reaction was... well, everything he'd hoped for. Why else would he do these things? But it's best to let her settle down a little first.. if, in fact, she'll settle at all.
"W- Woah! Woah!!" Hime immedietly outburts, pointing an accusing finger at the horsemans rider, "Woah! WOOAH! What is going on here!"
Freaking out is probably her specialty, however lately she's been able to snap back and forth between such emotions pretty quickly. She actually doesn't seem to catch on very quickly to her company's identity. In fact once she's on her feet and she gets a better look at the horseman, "W- Wow! That is cool, that's really cool!" she exclaims, particularly seeming pleased with the mask. What can she say, she has a weakness! A very broad grin on her features, seeming just short of squealy as snaps her hand up in a salute, "Greetings and welcome, to my underground lair! But why do you come looking for me so late in the evening, horsebound stranger?" Were she in a comic panel, there'd be about four red question marks over her head.
A pause. ".. Er wait, I'm not in trouble, am I?"
Oh, that's priceless. Now if past experiences were different, Vince might actually be a little endeared to her by that greeting. He has certain weaknesses, himself - one of which being theatrics. So she's warranted at least a hint of a smile at this point.
"No more than what it was prior to this rogue's arrival," he replies innocently. "I saw it fitting to move by shadow an shade, given our murky past. Do you not recognize me?" The horse is fairly well-behaved for the amount of freaking out she was doing, offering only a whicker and shake of its head.
Hurricane Hime, still all grins, seems.. Well.. Overly cheerful for a person who's answering the door for a masked horseman that's decided to trot into the courtyard! Maybe she's been hitting those books a little too hard lately. Still though, it does take her a moment to realize that she's supposed to know the person in question and quirks a brow. "... Huh? Geez, am I really supposed to- ........"
Suddenly the young heroine's shoulders droop, her eyes going half-lidded. Right. She remembers now. "You. I don't know what you mean by the fitting shadows and murk and all that, but unless you're here to undo your voodoo whatnot spell you have on Alexis, I ain't buying what you're selling!" a pause, "Unless it is a potion that undoes what I just said. I would buy two of those."
The exact moment where the fun seeps clean out of the situation can be pinpointed for Vince, and his faint smile turns into a frown. "Suppose you -do- recognize me, then." He doesn't elaborate on the conditional shadows or murkiness, though. So much for poetics. "I'm selling you nothing, for I have no need of your coin. I've in no way hexed Alexis, either. I simply came for you," he explains, tone a little less humored than before.
"Call it morbid curiosity, but you said something last I saw you. I heard you in perfect clarity, but what interests me is whether it was a base attempt at insult, or if you actually meant something a little more meaningful than that." With gentle guidance by the reigns, the horse's head turns over to face Hime, Vince rotating with the horse to face her fully. "And.. perhaps impart something on to you."
The young Hime sets her hands on her hips now, the temptation to tap her foot is there, but she decides not to. However the frown that forms makes her smirk; almost smugly so. But let no one say that the girl isn't a listener, because oftimes she can be! Why she doesn't even press on about the hex in question, now that's a good sport!
The tiny girl actually cringes slightly though, when the horse's head turns to face her and takes a small step back just to make sure she' not going to be eaten or anything? "Eh?" she replies intelligently, her eyes shifting up and down from the horse to its rider and back. "Y- Yeah I said a lot of things, I'm not sure exactly which you're referring to but.. I doubt I said anything I didn't mean. Of course it depends entirely on which phrase you want clarification on because if it's something super personal I reserve my right not to answer!" She could only imagine what the 'something' that would be imparted to her would be. Really, it could be anything in her mind.
"I see," muses Vince to himself. If her parting jab didn't last this test of time, perhaps it really -was- just a base insult. But he decides to give her the benefit of the doubt for argument's sake. "As I left this place last, you said I'm not a man," he reminds, a hint of humor edging back into his voice. "So, what precisely did you mean by that?"
Her small recession was noticed, but Vince isn't going to pursue it. People talk better when not angry, after all. But it can be acredited a little with his new amusement. He releases the reigns with his left hand to pet the deerskin glove along the mane of the patient, seemingly well-mannered horse he rides.
Hurricane Hime does have a bad habit of just talking and talking and talking a lot. It is true, their last meeting was a very emotional time and should have, in fact, had a strong enough impact to stick in her mind. But she is crafty in her own little way, and may even seem a bit relieved by the clarification; she had to make sure he wasn't referring to the mention of her feeling to her 'friend'.
Hime does smirk then, though, still keeping wary while rubbing the back of her head, "I meant exactly as I said, of course. Even you should be able to see how slimeball a tactic it is to use someones friend as a weapon just 'cuz I hurt your feelings. And you didn't even do it once, you did it twice! So yeah, I think you make for a pretty poor man. Just thinking back to it is starting to get me riled up."
Vince's expression drops, but he maintains his cool. It's highly aggravating, this accusation, but he's spent a few moments of mental preparation. "So it -was- a petty insult. You simply don't understand it, do you?"
The glove's fingers curl on the mane for a moment, then Vince simply removes his boots from the horse's stirrups to hop down to the ground again. His face is shadowed in the darkness of the night, but it's just as well - his look is rather neutral and controlled. "You might have been her friend, but you put her in a very strange position. You see, I as well am her friend. You can accept this in one of two ways, Hime." His hand lifts to set upon the neck of the animal as he talks, favoring it with a brief glance before turning his full attention back on the dark girl. "Either she saw your antics as childish and wrong, and thus refused to further associate with you... or she simply chose me above you. By antagonizing me with your graceless loss, you forced her to choose a side. I didn't direct her in any way... so those are your options to choose from." He then pauses a moment more to glance back at the horse. "I had hoped you became a better person since."
"... Uh huh. Yeah, it was a petty insult." Hime replies as she rubs the back of her head and mumbles to the side, "You've got to be kidding me."
At this point, though, she's not really sure what to expect as a reaction. He does seem alarmingly calm from her perspective though on the other hand she's not really trying to push his buttons, at least not just yet. She jumps slightly in suprise when he dismounts, her fists quickly raised as if preparing for a fight!
And there isn't one. Still though, she's in a cautious position, even though she does manage another smirk. "You know, I have to admit that those are two very well thought out points. I wouldn't expect anything less of you because despite being a 'so and so', you're a very crafty and intelligent 'so and so'. However there is just one small problem."
"What you say is only true because of her weakness. I -know- that you know that she is hopelessly boycrazy, that's an extremely strong personality trait people can't miss. No matter what I did, I was in a lose/lose situation, my only hope was making her see who you truely are and I put all my coins on one bet; which I lost pretty badly. Anyway the point is don't believe you didn't sway her. I wouldn't believe you even if you cut off your left pinky. Would you like to hear what my -real- two options are now?" she finishes with a slightly more nasty smile.
Vince exhales a quiet sigh and rolls his shoulders in a shrug. "Then you should have considered your options more carefully. But very well, go on." His hand removes itself from the horse's neck to settle over the hilt of his sheathed sword, and his other hand sets to his hip. The humor has drained from his face once more, now replaced with very evident disappointment. She -can- be complimentary when she wants to be, he's observed. And he's aware she's trying to push his buttons still. Or.. at least it seems that way. But he's determined to maintain a level head with her this time, however.
Hurricane Hime's eyebrow twitches suddenly. Considered her options more carefully? Rrrgh, that definatly makes her want to punch him in the cheek right then and there! Her fists tighten, but they lower at her sides, but it's quite clear that she's getting pretty annoyed too! But she's still trying to figure out why he still seems to be so calm. Is there something he's hiding from her? Or maybe he just feels she's some sort of fool, it's hard for her to tell.
Hime huffs, turning her head to the side, and then just.. Relaxes. She can't let herself get too emotional, or she'll just humiliate herself like she did last time. Her fingers suddenly splay outward, and the pink-clad fighter shrugs her shoulders, "One option is to kneel in a corner and cry like a little girl until someone helps me but.. I've decided to leave those days behind me. The other, well isn't it obvious? I fight! I fight and fight until I win.."
Her left hand then thrusts out into a thumbs up! ".. And then I get the girl in the end!! Though you could always concede right now, but that isn't very dramatic!"
Vince observes her quietly as she goes through her tension and anger, and he just waits for a few moments. He has no intentions to just stand there and let her beat up on him, if she opts for that, as body language might indicate... but to his surprise, she relaxes herself. Her clear decision, starts to get a small grin from him...
Until she proclaims her intent to get the girl in the end.
An eyebrow quirks over the mask.
There's an awkward silence for a few moments as Vince debates how to approach or even respond to that. His upbringing demands tact and finesse, while the rest of him pines for bluntness. But in the end, he adheres to his teachings. "I.. ah.. Hime. I should tell you that I'm not interested in Alexis in.. -that-.. way. She's a great friend, and undoubtedly beautiful, but I don't think she's really my... type." His head the inclines, bangs drifting out slightly. Ball's in her court as far as -that- goes.
After another awkward pause, Vince adds in, "Would you like me to be honest with you now, Hime? Or would you prefer I maintain this with you?"
"Ha HA!" Hime pipes in classic Saishu-esque manner; obviously she is very very pleased with her option. But if that's the case what in blazes is taking so long for her to take action? Only she knows for sure, of course. Hime seems completely and utterly oblivious to the awkwardness of the silence, save for the chirping crickets, and actually doesn't seem surprised that he doesn't have any romantic feelings for her. She had gotten that vibe long ago, not that she says it.
She supposed whatever he has to say next would be the parting words he spoke of earlier. The firey saikyo student twists her lips a bit. "Huh, this is new. All right, well sure I'll listen to what you have to say. But keep in mind there's no way you'll guilt trip me after what I've gone through these past couple of weeks."
The laugh is more than abrasive, and it seems forced to Vince. But he endures it for the time being, awaiting her response to his question. When it finally comes, he gives her a somewhat perterbed look. "Guilt trip?," he asks. "Hardly. I was going to tell you why I bothered looking for you, when I had every reason to expect you to be the same. And honestly, I've little interest in tolerating more insults. So this should indicate I've some -good- reason for being here this late at night, as you noted earlier."
Vince hesitates a few seconds, considering whether or not to actually say what he intended to. But hey, he tossed that much at her. He may as well. "There was a time that I liked you," he finally says, voice level and controlled. "I thought you were interesting. Comical, even. But in a good way. After you began your campaign against me following your defeat, I was very disappointed. I had hoped we'd be friends. ...Your quirks not withstanding."
His left hand lifts to set to the horse again, petting the quiet beast for a second or two. "I came to ask you what I did in the hopes that it wasn't merely an insult - that perhaps you weren't irrevocably poised against me. You have the capacity to be charming. So I came to attempt amends of some sort."
"Erm.. Hmmn.." That was a good point, somehow Hime had forgotten how late it was.. Way too late, she should be getting back to her practice before she passes out for the evening. Still, he shouldn't be suprised that she doesn't look entirely convinced. Still though she crosses her arms and listens carefully.
He has every reason to believe it started after her defeat, she didn't start acting weird until the matches end. But she knows it was actually a few minutes after the match started; and she'll keep clinging on to that even if the time frame is a moot point. "I believe you." she says with a smile, "I am charming and comical, and probably not being entirely right in the head aids in that. But I am hurting."
Hime's expression neutralizes then, and she raises her hand to her chest. "I hurt so much I can't even think rationally about the situation anymore, I only know that I want to flatten you. I'd probably be satisfied after that. Now is certainly a bad time to try and make amends."
Vince continues to pet along the neck of the horse. "I'd gathered that," he notes askance. The animal whickers, and Vince turns his gaze back to Himeko, a bit expressionless. "And if you find yourself unable to overcome my blade? What then?," he asks. "Are you to watch me with hooded eyes from then onwards?"
Vince lowers his hand from the horse and turns to face her fully. "If it's a fight you want, you may have it. But know this: I was wronged by you. I have made an effort already by saying what I have. What happens from here is up to you."
"Mmmnn..." Hime ponders aloud, more lax around the horse now. That's a good idea, come to think of it, she should get her own horse sometime. Though then she'd probably be accused of being a copy cat. Curses! However the pink-clad fighter seems pretty confident. "You're pretty confident, as well you should be. But there's no 'what if' here, in the end I am going to win; this isn't a fairy tale!"
Hurricane Hime reaches out and grasps the door at either side, "'You were wronged'. Man, you sure are stubborn. But I'm twice as stubborn as you are! It's obvious what's going to happen at this point, tch!" And she slams the doors shut.
A pause, and then she draws the doors open slightly, "I'll see -you- at the SUPERBOWL!" And the doors slam shut a second time.
Vince inclines his head at her again as she apparently mulls over this idea. Her response is amusing, to a degree. She's plenty confident, herself. And then she calls him stubborn. It's true enough, he supposes, but he still doesn't see what -he- did to earn the ire beyond defeating her in the Neo League. But she's retreated before he can get in a protest either way.
Then the door opens again.
Vince's mouth opens, index finger lifting.
...
"S-Superbowl?," the rogue asks, confused.
SLAM.
Vince is left standing there with a horse and a bewildered look on his masked face. Superbowl aside, she actually didn't take the opportunity to fight him there. That's surprising enough for him. But he's willing to leave conversation there. He just hopes he's given her something the think about.
"Goodnight, then."
And in a single swift motion, Vince has mounted the horse again. The steed is turned and trotted back out of the courtyard, where it and its rider disappear from sight.
Log created on 19:29:04 04/28/2008 by Himeko, and last modified on 12:52:34 05/03/2008.