Chris - Hunting Crows

Description: In Southtown's forest, Chris encounters Miu at one of her favorite lonesome hangouts. Cheery introductions turn to bitter cynicism, curiousity becomes aggression, and in true MotM style, a fight breaks out. Just what is the deal with Chris, anyway? What's the deal with Miu, for that matter?? God, these kids are creepy!



Sometimes, it seems, Miu's reputation as a slightly creepy loner is something she actively works at.

Take tonight, for instance. School has finished for the day, and Miu has obtained permission to take a walk from the confines of Seijyun High. She's come to this shrine, in fact. She liked it here. Something about the half-broken nature of the place and the quiet that it usually exudes makes it a wonderful place to stop and think for a time. That is what Miu spends a lot of time doing. Contemplating life, and her place in it.

Three crows are keeping the young girl company this evening, as the sun just starts to dip below the horizon. She's settled near the miniature building, and is reading a book of poetry. She's quite content to sit there in silence, in the company of her own thoughts and the quiet birds who she seems to attract on such a regular basis.

NOT EVEN A MILE NEARBY:

Chris, recently of C-Y-S fame, is taking a break from the tour stress, the constant onslaught of fans, the horrors of thrown panties, slipped phone numbers, and otherwise outright -creepy- attempts at getting his attention. The news has been all OVER him lately, and really, the J-14 spotlight hasn't been helping.

For now, he's wandering through the Southtown's northern forest, compass in hand, eyes bright, expression calm, joyful. He's not even thinking about the fleet of news vans on the forest's street-side, the reporters braving its depths to find him. There's something very zen-like about scouting out a new orienteering course; even now the Swedish youth jogs towards a large, collapsed tree. It's the sort that's doubtless home to all manner of small animal, but visible from a good mile away, a veritable fallen king. It's going to be a GREAT landmark for people taking his course.

Chris jumps atop the log, stamps atop it, and hops off in the direction of his newest landmark, obviously glad to have stumbled onto something like a SHRINE to finish off his course. Just as he's leaving the forest proper, entering that clearing, he finds Miu chilling out over there, by the crumbled walls.

Save for the three birds, she's alone.

Chris smiles.

"Hello~!"

Behind him, that fallen tree shudders, groans, and crumbles into so much dust. It had been there for over a hundred years.

The crows scatter, flying up and away at Chris' approach, and the girl looks up. Her brow quirks with irritation. Not, just because of Chris randomly popping out of nowhere and being all, you know, social. Like some kind of awful socializing demon. But also because behind him, that tree... she used to like that tree. It had always been there. It was old, and Miu can appreciate the age and beauty of natural things like that.

She carefully replaces her bookmark (black), and then closes the book, before she dignifies Chris with a response. "Hello." She says, as the quiet at least makes an attempt at returning to the area. Miu just has, a strange way of looking at people. Her eyes are tired, but as she looks up at Chris, it is hard not to feel like she's looking /through/ him. Creepy.

"You broke that tree." She says, pointedly. "You should be more careful. The forest is not a playground."

"Everything dies~", chirps Chris. He's got no trouble meeting Miu's eerie gaze - she'll only find curiously bright eyes, a practiced, fawning smile. There's a challenge in there somewhere, but it's one of those things one might attribute to Chris being Chris. He walks the short distance between himself and Miu, unconcerned for the crows flapping about either of them, or the very real risk that he's about to get crow-shit on his shirt.

"Grandfather Tree's time came and left. There's no point in crying over spilled, rotten milk, is there?" Now he's reaching forward, extending a hand to the seated introvert. There's an understated compulsion in the gesture - it's in the eyes.

"Let me help you up. It's dangerous to hang out in the middle of the forest at nighttime." A grin. "All sorts of bad people could come out and get you... and you don't look like you're much of a fighter. I'll walk you home?"

"Looks can be deceiving."

The words are spoken with a hint of irritation. The crows flap away, leaving her all alone with this strange, too-cheerful boy, and she returns his enthusiasm only with cold, harsh indifference. There was a funny vibe from this young man, and the psion does not like it. Though she can't put her finger on what it is, exactly. Perhaps it's just that he's too cheerful. Cheery people annoy her.

She stands up in one smooth motion, under her own power. Completely blanking the kind offer from the young man to help her, and lets her book hang at her side. There's no real challenge in her eyes, no real acknowledgment of Chris' in turn, either. She's just cold, like ice. A chill which is echoed as much in her words as in her gestures.

"I don't need your help. I can look after myself."

Miu can do whatever she wants, figures Chris. Dogs chase cars, wolves howl at the moon, the ocean laps against the beach. It won't change anything.

To that extent, Chris' expression remains static - there's a touch of amusement behind the boy's glacier-blue eyes. He takes a single, gliding step towards the gothy girl, turns on a heel, and effectively blocks off whatever avenue of escape she might've been going for.

"Are you saying you don't need my help? Pretty haughty of you, huh?" He's genuinely confused.

A step backwards, as though Chris is preparing to keep apace with her. He matches the girl's apathy with a cat's expression and pride. Eyebrows spike into his hairline.

"I was always told beggars couldn't be choosers. Guess I'm getting proven wrong~"

Miu stops in her tracks, but by this point, her frustration with Chris is becoming obvious. Normally, she'd be more hesitant about trying to scare an annoyance off. But he broke a tree, too. She'd have needed to move on from here soon enough anyway, she had little light to read by, but she resents the damage to one of the most beautiful spots in Southtown. At least, as far as she was concerned.

The girl slides the slim volume into her pocket, and then lets her hands fall to her sides. Soft, white, glowing feathers begin to drift from her fingers. Darker patches in the gloom of the night also follow them, but it is harder to see. The palpable aura that surrounds the girl becomes even more intense, and though she speaks quietly, weight far beyond her years hangs heavy on her words.

"I am not a beggar." She says. "You, are annoying me. I don't need a bodyguard. I need to be left alone."

Her eyes seem, just a little more focused now, some of the sleep blinked out of them with the minor effort of focusing her power.

"Get out of my way."

Uh-oh. Miu is -angry-. Chris fades back, ever careful to avoid being caught up in some completely unprecedented explosion - to an extent, he's aware of the buildup around the young woman, but to that same extent, he's aware of a great many things he doesn't quite understand. It's the sort of thing that reminds you, constantly, that you've got the slightest advantage.

"It's sad that you're more interesting when you're pissed off," comments the kid. He stands tall (well, "tall), and glances around the clearing, ambivalent. It is a peaceful place, but there are others, and Miu is just too -interesting-.

"I guess it's gonna be sad when you start doing stupid things because of it, too. All I wanted to do was walk you home and trade recipes. Are you sure you want to break this beautiful place?"

There is no palpable aura around Chris, but nonetheless, something is different. His movements hold a touch of unnaturallity, of perfection. Grace suffuses him, his balance is suddenly -perfect-. Idly, the youth shifts his weight from foot to foot, and between. Fingers curl at his sides, in and out, over and over. He's anxious.

"Or are you still going to pretend you're too good for help?" Smiling eyes regard Miu.

Miu's expression is carefully neutral. She refuses to let it be broken any more. Trading recipes? What is this kid talking about? She's definitely not happy, but she's doing her level best not to completely lose her temper, too. She so rarely let anything crack her mask. Never mind that he might actually have a point; it would be a tragedy if the shrine was to get any more damaged because of anything she might do.

"I do not want to hurt you." She says, truthfully. "But I'm not interested in you. I'm not too good for help. But I don't need yours. I've never been attacked walking home. Even if I was, the chances of someone being able to seriously hurt me..."

Her look is more meaningful now, "A compromise. I'll give you my phone number. You'll leave me alone right now. Otherwise, I'll force you to leave me alone." A look is given to the shrine, and the faintest hint of a frown crosses her features.

"It's a pity when good things are broken before their time."

Miu's words - all of them - split that everpresent smile into a broad grin. The gothy girl might keep her countenance flawless, but certainly, one learns to read between the lines, and this is what Chris does. When she's looking back from the shrine, she'll find he's still staring at her. As she finishes speaking, he simply shakes his head, eyes closed.

"Oh, I never really wanted your number. You're too drab. Since I don't need much help getting to sleep these days, I don't think there's much of a point to asking for dates - mostly I just wanted to get a photo-op out of helping a frail, emo little girl get out of the big, bad, woods." The slightest sneer.

"But now I think you've gone and hurt my feelings -- what did I do to you, in the first place? Not too good for help, but mine isn't good enough?" Chris' expression intensifies, deepens. He takes a step back, and in wordless invitation, hands raise. Fingers curl, in and out, anxious, expectant.

"Make it quick, though. I'm hungry."

COMBATSYS: Chris has started a fight here.

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Chris            0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Miu has joined the fight here.

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Chris            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0              Miu


COMBATSYS: Chris focuses on his next action.

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Chris            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0              Miu


There's a spite in those words that Miu hadn't been expecting. How quickly irritating cheer can turn to dark cynicism! It seems that she is validated in her dislike of the young man. But Miu has always been a good judge of character. In some ways, it is comforting to know that she hasn't misread him. The girl is irritated, yes. But if she was going to have to fight him, she'd at least do her best to do so quickly.

The Psion lets her energy flow freely, invigorating her limbs, and the fact that she's small, smaller even than Chris, doesn't seem to be quite so obvious any more. The girl instead takes one step backwards...

And her hand whips out in a smooth arc. From her fingers a bright purple feather is shot, lancing towards Chris, and aiming to impart a painful, stinging snap between his eyes. More of a test than anything else. Most people who think they are badass fighters would almost certainly be scared off by it. His reaction would help her decide how she should proceed.

COMBATSYS: Chris overcomes Amagakeri from Miu with Thrown Object.
- Power hit! -

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Chris            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0              Miu


That feather gets Chris' attention pretty readily, mind you. He'd known there was something to the girl - something that seperated her from the rest of the other too-somber, sad-faced emotional trainwrecks so common to Taiyo High's Arts classrooms, but this is a pleasant bonus.

After all, proving your worth to somebody is one thing. Proving your worth to a FIGHTER... completely another.

In any case, Miu may have incredible abilities at her disposal, but Chris equally so. Hardly blinking, the youth pulls his orienteering compass from a pocket - this is a bulky, plastic thing intended for all sorts of heavier-duty work. Quickly, Miu's projectile is swatted to the side, and a shuddering crack rent through the plastic. Chris follows the action through, brings that compass up and around, even executes a flawless, picturesque piroette.

He comes down to a momentum-gaining kneel, grinning wickedly, and softball-lobs that compass directly at Miu's midsection.

"Heads up!!"

COMBATSYS: Chris successfully hits Miu with Thrown Object.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Chris            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0              Miu


Miu raises her hands to try and catch the compass, but, it's too late. She's hit full in the gut, and, well, it hurts. But just look at her. She's not exactly built to take a punch at the best of times, let alone a chunk of heavy orienteering equipment when she'd been expecting him to... well. In truth, she'd been hoping he'd take the feather to the face and run off crying. But that's just too much to hope for.

The girl takes a deep breath, and then, without another word, she pushes forwards. She's on the back foot, but she doesn't intend to remain there for long. Instead, she aims to grab hold of Chris by the shoulder.

If she can get a firm grip, he'll likely find a little more pain than he's expecting. Bright white energy comes with it, as she aims to pull him down and over her foot. The little psion pouring some power into him as she goes. It just, happens really. If she's not deliberately reigning herself back, it makes it so much easier to push and yank and punch, with some of her power backing her up where her physical form might let her down.

COMBATSYS: Chris just-defends Miu's Quick Throw!

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Chris            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0              Miu


Chris recovers from his throw -quickly-, and is actually standing properly at about the same time Miu's doubled over in pain. The boy's eyes twinkle at the sight... and then his opponent is recovering her composure. The sudden lurch forwards is fearsome, to be sure - Miu is a powerful psion.

Chris just doesn't care. Briefly, his expression drops into mock surprise, but it's at about the time the girl's hands touch to his shoulder that the grin returns. It's a jackal's grin, an utterly, insufferably confident thing.

"I thought you said you could take care of yourself~"

He's in the air, thrown, Foreign energy courses across his form, and the ground rises to meet him, HARD. He tucks, rolling, twisting flawlessly, while that dark force rolls off of his form like water off of Hakan. Something's -wrong- - it has to be. Chris rolls to a stop in a three-point position, toe digging into the ground before the shrine, eyes locked onto Miu.

"You need a hint - I'm coming in close~!!"

Chris is -gone-. Blindingly fast when he chooses to be, it's an additional -choice- that has him materializing BEFORE Miu, grabbing her school uniform's top in one clenched fist. A kick to the gut turns into a step - he's plowing his other foot into her chest, and then bringing his first up to her face before brutally kicking off, into an effortless, spinning backflip.

COMBATSYS: Miu fails to interrupt Step Turn from Chris with Psi-Launcher.

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Chris            0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0              Miu


Miu is disturbed at how swiftly things have turned for her. Sure, she's not the most experienced warrior in the world, but she liked to think she knows how to handle herself. She is rapidly being overshadowed by this cocky young man, though. The frustrating thing isn't that she's being beaten. It's that she's being treated like an idiot; a silly little weak girl. Miu's dignity wouldn't allow her to be escorted back after this.

She moves to try and intercept the boy, but she's too slow again. The first kick knocks aside her attempt to grab him, and the second makes trying to keep up an impossibility. She's kissing the dirt after the third, and when she gets up, it is to exhale, and find her center... as much as she can, at least.

"Alright, you are a better fighter than me." She admits, "Do you have a point, other than that?"

It's a damn good question.

This is easy to tell - it causes Chris to pause, mid-forward movement. The cocky smile falters, if only for a moment, and he's clearly considering what he's been told. She's right, of course - he didn't have much of a point to this. He hadn't even wanted to start a fight in the first place. Miu was pretty, in an understated fashion. To an extent, she and he had a lot in common. It's lonely in the spotlight.

Words, half-formed, rise to Chris' mouth. Briefly, he is intent, earnest, apologetic. The wind blows. It becomes clear that he's alone with Miu. Nobody's going to -see-.

"...Nope." Chris is sprinting forward. It's compulsion, it's wicked glee, it's instinct. He vaults into a half-handspring, planting into the ground a foot before Miu. One leg lances down in a harsh handstand-heelkick, angled for the goth girl's head.

COMBATSYS: Miu dodges Chris' Reverse Anchor Kick.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Chris            0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0              Miu


For a moment, Miu thinks she may be able to talk her way from a painful defeat.

That hope is broken the moment he comes forwards again, and a look of utter disdain passes on the girl's features. It lasts for only an instant, the same instant, in fact, that he is sailing past her. His leg comes close to her, but she twists at the last moment, allowing it instead to crash into the ground.

The next moment, the girl is stepping forwards. She might not be able to move with the frightening speed that Chris can call on. No teleportation for her. But he's riled her up enough to at least draw her out of her shell, put her on the offensive and make her really go for it.

In this instance, she tries to go for it by putting her full weight behind a clothesline blow aimed at Chris' neck. The attack is somewhat clumsy, and were it just physical, it'd be easy to shrug off. But darkness follows it. A trail of thick black which adds the sleepy burn of psycho power to the attack. Maybe she could turn this around, if he was arrogant enough to start underestimating her.

COMBATSYS: Chris dodges Miu's Aggressive Strike.

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Chris            0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0              Miu


Other fighters might 'crash' into the ground, aggressive momentum failing them in any sort of unplanned result. Chris is beyond this - awkward contortion of his form allows him to continue his single-legged front-flip into a smooth gymnastic cartwheel. It's this fluidity that keeps him alert, keeps him fully able to adapt to what aggression Miu's handing him.

Her clothesline sails over a suddenly ducking, twisting Chris. The youth rises in a continuation of that twist, rapid, one fist brought to bear. It's angled for Miu's passing hip - hit or miss, he's taking two quick steps back, gaining his distance.

"What's your name?"

COMBATSYS: Chris successfully hits Miu with Quick Punch.

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Chris            0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0              Miu


Miu just can't seem to keep up with Chris. Maybe it's the strange movement style, or his attitude has thrown her off. Maybe she's tired, or she's just not thinking clearly as she normally would. Whatever the case, despite her best effort to turn the punch aside, it still smacks cleanly into her, and she stumbles back a couple of paces. To her credit, she doesn't panic. Her demeanor is unbroken.

"Don't take this the wrong way." She says, straightening to look the boy in the eye, and brush a lock of hair back behind her ear. "But I don't give my name out to people who think that beating me senseless is a fun way to spend an evening."

Still cold, still acidic-tongued. It might not be working so well for Miu right now, but she must be who she is. If that meant getting beaten up, well, she could live with that.

COMBATSYS: Miu gains composure.

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Chris            0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0              Miu


It's a livable answer. You punch a girl in the hip, you don't get her name, even if the only reason you're interested is for record-keeping reasons.

"You must be in an awkward spot, huh. Self-esteem's a funny thing~" The soft smile returns to Chris' face. It's sympathetic in the sense that he's obviously feeling sorry for Miu.

"And don't bother playing with your hair. It's not going to help the way you look~" Chris walks forward, seemingly larger than he is, and breaks into a quick, forwards dash. He moves from a low hunch to a sudden, backwards lurch once he's within arm's reach of Miu-

A foot lashes upwards, effortlessly lifted over Chris' head, towards Miu's own.

COMBATSYS: Miu dodges Chris' Light Kick.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Chris            0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0              Miu


Miu actually smiles at that, though it is a very thin-lipped thing. She didn't care how she looked. Not really. Except that she wanted to keep her hair out of her eyes so that she can see what she's doing without any irritating distractions. The worth of this course of action is proven rather conclusively when Chris attacks her again, and she hops backwards from the kick.

What he's probably not expecting is for Miu to swing her arm around as she jumps back, and another of those feathers to come shooting out. But it isn't just one, this time. No. Now, with Chris halfway in the air, three glowing feathers shoot across in a diagonal arc to try and catch him in the middle.

She really has no idea if this is likely to work any better, but she has to give it a shot. She wasn't just going to let him beat her down without a struggle, even if she had yet to land a conclusive hit.

COMBATSYS: Chris blocks Miu's Kakure Amagakeri.

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Chris            0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0              Miu


Chris spikes an eyebrow into his hairline. She's dodged - again. The turnaround (and it is a turnaround, when you're acting like Chris is) does not go unnoticed, but it'd take a perceptive opponent to realize it. The Swedish boy keeps that grin on his face, even as he's regaining his posture.

Miu's launching feathers at him - the two on either side go a bit far of the mark, but that projectile in the middle is spot-on, aimed perfectly for the drummer's thin chest. It's the slightest sign of respect for Miu that has him extending one forearm to intercept it, to disperse it against his flesh with the slightest wince.

"Mmh. Alright~"

Miu'd have an excellent view of Chris moving forwards, undeterred by her attack. The thing is, his feet aren't moving at all - he's sliding forwards, unnaturally fast, unconcerned for the lay of the terrain. One hand is extended in a low-angled straightarm. As Miu lands, she's likely to receive an open-palmed, spread-fingered touch to the midsection, right beneath the bellybutton. There'd be explosive force.

COMBATSYS: Chris successfully hits Miu with Slide Touch.
- Power hit! -

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Chris            0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0              Miu


Miu doesn't see the angle of attack coming. It catches her by surprise, and the explosion of force literally lifts her off her feet. The girl impacts heavily with the dilapidated shrine, which doesn't do it any good at all, and she bounces off with a choking gasp. That had hurt. A lot.

She doesn't let herself stay down for long, though. It'd been proven that hanging back and trying to play conservative with the boy hasn't gone very well for her, so she comes forwards as swiftly as she can in a long roll. Her power is glowing and roaring all around her now, a long stream of black and white feathers painting a pretty trail in her after image.

She breaks the roll in the last three paces to favor a somewhat clumsy lunge. She's relying mostly on the change in tactic to take her opponent off guard, as she aims to barrel bodily into his legs. If she can manage it, she'll grab, and hurl him back into the trail of beautiful, burning feathers she left in her wake.

All in all, it's a rather calculated way to try and make up for ones frustrations; a calm, determined change up in tactics that just happens to involve burning a lot of power and trying to force him to soak it all up.

COMBATSYS: Chris effortlessly dodges Miu's Power Throw.

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Chris            0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0              Miu


*BOOM*

Chris remains in-place after colliding with Miu - a thumb slips through one beltloop, while his other hand remains raised, ready. His attention is diverted by the shuddering ruins, and for a moment, blue eyes scan its decaying brick, the wear of time upon its foundation.

"This isn't long for the world either, huh..." Miu has recovered herself, and comes -dashing- towards Chris. Other fighters might panic, scatter, but the musician is instead glancing upwards, eyes to the stars. Miu lurches into her roll, Chris thinks he might see the Big Dipper. His smile widens.

Miu tumbles into the space Chris had used to occupy. At some point in her dodge, he'd taken it upon himself to flicker - and appear six inches to the side, ever-cocksure. Her passage brings his attention upon her, and with a viper's compassion, Chris is following her, dashing -through- that cascade of feathers she's left behind. Zip, zip, flicker, flash. Nothing touches him. He's smelled blood.

Chris angles a scooping kick towards the downed psion, his goal to launch her into the air. This is followed with a sudden standing backflip, one complemented by the vicious arc of a chi-lit foot into the airborne girl's form.

COMBATSYS: Miu dodges Chris' Hunting Air.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Chris            0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0              Miu


Miu is, at this point, genuinely worried. She's not someone who scares easily, but, that teleportation... it takes the fight to a whole new level. She can't keep up with that level of speed. The casual confidence of the boy, that easy skill with which he was evading her... it's difficult not to feel a thrill of fear. What kind of person could treat her like this? Nobody is that skilled. Nothing human is.

There's a sharp intake of breath from the girl as she rolls across the ground, managing, just, to evade the scooping swipe. There's the scent of a predator in Chris' bearing, and it is in that moment that Miu decides to flee.

There's just no way she can keep up with that kind of pace forever. Sooner or later, the boy was going to wear her down, and who knows what is going to happen then? As she recovers to her feet, she gathers her power about her once more, letting it flare bright and dramatic...

And then she lets it rip directly into the ground, and takes off as fast as she can towards the relative safety of Southtown proper. Bright psychic light and a shower of dirt bursts up for a moment to help cover her trail, and she does her best to bottle her energy back up inside her. It's frightening, being undeniably prey to some ... force, that she had never encountered before. But if she could stay ahead, if she could keep a clear mind, she could get back to the school. If nothing else, she'd have backup there even if he *did* try to follow her.

He's not going anywhere. Miu comes out of her roll to drop to a crouch, to *SLAM* the earth beneath her feet in such a fashion so as to obfuscate the entire battlefield. Her foe remains in place, cheer undeterred, though he does have to lift a hand before his eyes to avoid irritating them. There is a LOT of debris to deal with. Of course, by the time it fades, Miu is gone. Chris had expected this, but the sudden -lack- of an opponent, that active engagement... it has an odd effect.

Being what she is, Miu might detect a muted, intense frustration. It is tinged, if subtly, with profound sorrow. It is gone in moments, both as a result of distance and other mechanism.

Chris does not leave the forest for hours.

When he does, it is to the flash of paparazzi cameras, to the cheers of anxious, hormonal teenaged girls. In his hand, he holds an injured crow - wing broken - and uses this as an excuse to cut through the mass of media. Bodyguards escort him to his SUV, and with the roll of four-wheel drive, he is gone.

Tomorrow's J-14 Headline: "Is Chris The Perfect Boy For You??? Better Love Nature!!"

COMBATSYS: Miu has left the fight here.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Chris            0/-------/----===|


COMBATSYS: Chris has ended the fight here.

Log created on 18:36:26 11/11/2010 by Chris, and last modified on 22:14:24 11/11/2010.