2014-07-15 - Monkeying Around

Title: Monkeying Around
Summary: A monkey at the zoo gets hold of a jewel seed. Endo and Ren respond to it's activation. After wrestling it away from the simian, the two mages get into a bit of an altercation.
Who: Endo Naoki, Ren Aizawa, and Fate Testarossa as Saru-tan the Capuchin Monkey
Where: Ueno Zoo - Shitamachi Low City
OOC - IC Date: 7/15/2014 - 12 February 2014

<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [None] has posed.

"Someone! Catch that monkey!"

Ueno Zoo has seen better days. It all started when a tiny Capuchin Monkey fished out a strange azure gem from the small artificial stream in it's cages. The primate zookeepers scratched their heads trying to figure it out, before they finally sent someone in to take it away, figuring it must have been dropped by a tourist.

The monkey took offense to that in a big way, screeching like some sort of Irish banshee as the activation of the Jewel Seed was felt throughout Shitamachi, marked by a column of blinding light.

And in place of the Capuchin Monkey stood... a Capuchin Monkey. There was no difference at all. The phenomena scared off the Zookeepers, while the monkey itself.. was outside of its cage. Dematerializing and materializing rapidly in a shimmer of light for short range teleports which allowed it to play havoc on the guests of the Zoo.

Still, there was no panic, just a lot of irritated and confused people, with some scattered laughter amongst the youth. And a whole line of frustrated park employees trying their hardest to lay hands on the slippery scamp as it thwarted them every time by disappearing and reappearing a short distance away.

Right now, it sat atop a concession stand near the front of the park, eating a piece of a hotdog dripping with mustard and sauerkraut while the keepers called for ladders. In it's other hand? Obviously a jewel seed. It chittered cheekily at the people below.

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa transforms into Barrier Jacket!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

<YOUR MAJESTY. JEWEL SEED ACTIVATION DETECTED.>

In the next second Ren is transformed and streaking through the skies above the city, face hardened as she follows the ping of the active jewel seed. She still wasn't in the best shape after the attack... but if she could get to the seed before that girl... everything would be alright. The closer she gets, the more she realizes the location of the seed to be the Ueno Zoo. She hasn't been there in ages, though fondly remembers enjoying the monkey exhibit.

...What a coincidence that once she arrives on the scene she finds the unlucky holder of the seed to be none other than a real live monkey that's escaped from it's cage. "Eh...?" She tilts her head while looking at the mischevious simian, eyes blinking.

<WE SHOULD ATTACK IT IMMEDIATELY.> Souverain Heraut suggests. Ren makes a sound of unease. "...But it looks so harmless. I wonder if we could just go up and gently pry it out?"

Yeah. How about that? Ren flies closer, putting on a smile. "Hey there Mr. Monkey! Why don't you just let us have that pretty jewel you have?" She holds out her device, which glows a faint gold as magical energy starts to pour forth towards the animal.

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Ren Aizawa has used Can I Haz Jewel Seed? on Fate Testarossa.
COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fate Testarossa narrowly counters Ren Aizawa's Can I Haz Jewel Seed?, taking 2 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!  Fate Testarossa's Reverse ability activates!  Fate Testarossa's Tactician ability activates!
COMBAT: Fate Testarossa's counterattack, Monkey Shines!, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Ren Aizawa!
COMBAT: Ren Aizawa successfully grabs an item from Fate Testarossa!

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Endo was out for a stroll when his Device was kind enough to inform him of the nearby energy signature. He knows by now that that's probably a bad thing, and so he's set off to deal with it. The yelling and clamor of the people across the zoo doesn't encourage him, his mind flashing back to that bird as he sprints down the path toward the latest source of discontent.

He changes somewhere along the way, disappearing from sight between trees, re-emerging in a flash of white and purple armor. He also stumbles briefly at the weight of his device, nearly falling flat on his face before he begins to soar across the zoo, soon coming into sight of the monkey business. He seems to get the gist of it, his eyes flashing between Ren, the monkey, and the Jewel Seed flying through the air.

So, he goes for the latter. Better than letting the monkey get hands on it again. He already has the momentum behind him, so he plunges headlong toward the gem, fingers outstretched to snatch it up as he soars by.

COMBAT: Endo Naoki has fully healed himself.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki transforms into Barrier Jacket!
COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Endo Naoki has used No no no, not in my house on Ren Aizawa.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ren Aizawa narrowly counters Endo Naoki's No no no, not in my house, taking 4 Fatigue damage!  Ren Aizawa's Reverse ability activates!
COMBAT: Ren Aizawa's counterattack, Stop, Thief!, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Endo Naoki!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki successfully grabs an item from Ren Aizawa!

<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [None] has posed.

Here Saru-tan the Capuchin Monkey was, just trying to enjoy the best, and only hotdog it had ever eaten when... all of a sudden, this flying girl comes out of nowhere trying to grab his shiny thing!

It screeches terribly, as Ren's golden stream of mana tries to grab ahold of it. The monkey makes a desperate attempt to vanish.. only for the Jewel Seed to remain behind, caught in her magic. The monkey?

It reappears on Ren's head. As the mana stream tries to reel it in, he in turn skitters down her body with deft ease, trying to make it back to the jewel which gave him such a wonderful day.

As he reaches her arm and tries to grab it.. someone else flies by to snatch away his prize. The monkey leaps desperately at the individual zooming on by.. reachinnnggggggg...

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Fate Testarossa has used Yoink! on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: Fate Testarossa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki fails to dodge Fate Testarossa's Yoink!, taking 8 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Fate Testarossa fails to grab an item from Endo Naoki!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Of course, the monkey doesn't like what Ren's trying to do. But in the end she is victorious, plucking the jewel seed free of the animal's grasp. Tch! Easy! Ren smiles as the seed begins to float over to her. Though the last thing she expects is for the riled up monkey to reappear on her /head/ out of thin air.

"KYAAAAAAAAA!" Ren yelps, flailing all about as the monkey begins to run down her body. It's enough of a distraction to hinder her from keeping the jewel seed within her possession -- as proven by the way Endo just sails by and snatches it up. "Endo-kun?! Wha!?" She exclaims in shock. When did he get here?!

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Don't worry, I've got it!" Endo assures Ren as he goes sailing past. He also has a monkey, the creature latching on and scratching at Endo's flesh once he hits the ground. The young man makes a noise of discontent, dancing back and forth, trying to hold the Jewel Seed away from his body while his other fends off the angry creature. "Ow! Aah! Stop that!" He's not doing a real good job of shaking it loose, dancing madly around as he attempts to.

So he decides to try a different tack. "Ow you-ah-you want this?" Endo wags the Jewel Seed in his hand, shaking it enticingly in the air. "Look! Shi-ow-stop-no-Shiny! Shiny!" Much waggling ensures. Some of it isn't intentional.

And when the monkey goes for it Endo reaches over his shoulder to punch it in the face.

COMBAT: Endo Naoki has used Real Skills on Fate Testarossa.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Fate Testarossa fails to dodge Endo Naoki's Real Skills, taking 9 Fatigue damage!  Fate Testarossa is Quipped!  Stun applied to Fate Testarossa!
COMBAT: Fate Testarossa has left Fate Testarossa's item contest. Please check it with +item Fate Testarossa.

<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [None] has posed.

A crowd has gathered near the concession stand by now, many of them gawking and Oooing at what they assume are two people putting on a show. Recognition Inhibition, it's a trip sometimes!

The monkey scratches at Endo relentlessly, screeching and shrieking as it tries to get it back.

Until he's faked out, and falls for it because well, he's a monkey.

As the Jewel Seed hand is switched, he leaps for it, trying to dodge the incoming fist while reaching for his prize. He fails. The small monkey has it's clock cleaned by the solid punch. Unconscious immediately, it starts to fall, as people in the crowd gasp, believing this is part of the show.

Several of the Zookeepers are trying to push through the crowd, to try to catch him before he hits the ground...

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

He's got it alright. Ren blinks, watching Endo and the monkey face-off. She's about to step in and help when things are taken care of -- mainly by Endo punching said monkey straight in the face. Ren gasps along with the gathered audience. Though while they think it's all a dramatic form of entertainment, Ren knows otherwise. She moves faster than the Zookeepers can, diving forward to catch the falling monkey. The move is successful, and she stands up cradling the unconscious little guy. She then carefully steps over to one of the Zookeepers, handing the monkey over. "Please take good care of him!" She bows politely, then turns to face Endo.

And boy is she /angry/.

Stomping over, she gets right up into his face before pointing a finger at him. "Was that really necessary?! You didn't have to hurt it!" And then her finger is joined by the rest of its brethren to deliver an open hand SLAP to the knight's face! Oooooh.

Note: An angry Ren is a really rare occurrence. Endo has likely never seen this side of her. It's kind of scary.

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has used You're A Jerk, Endo Naoki! on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki accepts Ren Aizawa's You're A Jerk, Endo Naoki!, taking 7 Fatigue damage!  Endo Naoki is Quipped!

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Endo doesn't seem to feel too much guilt about hitting the creature. In fact, he lets out a sigh of relief when it goes toppling off him, turning to spot Ren catch it before it hits the ground. He rubs against a scratch at his arm while she returns it to the zookeeper, and then offers a bright smile as the girl returns, pleased to have snatched the Seed before it did any more damage.

His smile droops off his face when he notices that Ren is not pleased. He opens his mouth to defend himself, and finds that Ren's hand is not pleased either. The young man's head turns a bit with the impact, wincing visibly and clapping his free hand to his cheek.

"Ooooww. I didn't hit it that hard, it's fine." His hand rises, palm up to ward off further slapping. "What's with you!?" He complains, "You can't just go around hitting people like that!"

<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [None] has posed.

Fortunately Recognition Inhibition keeps the Zookeepers from questioning their good fortune too much.

One of them grasps the monkey gently in leather gloves and takes off, speaking briefly over the radio to security to call off the hunt and prepare the vets for incoming.

Saru-tan is quickly ferried away back to the veterinary office for brief treatment, before returning him to his cage.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

That slap felt good. Her palm is stinging, and her heart is racing, but she feels /great/. Her anger hasn't exactly subsided though. Especially given Endo's reaction to the "Slap Heard Around the World".

"Tch!" She grits her teeth, folding her arms in front of her as she leans forward into his face again. "You didn't hit it that hard?!" The crowd can be heard chattering as they watch the scene unfold in awe. Ren continues to pay them no mind at all. "And I can hit whoever I want if they go around harming innocent animals!" Seriously! The nerve of him! Ugh!

...But she can lecture him on that later. Right now she wants that jewel seed. "Alright. Just... hand the jewel seed over to me, alright? You're causing a scene."

Yes. Endo alone is the one causing a scene. Imagine that.

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Me?" Endo points a finger at himself incredulously. "I caused a scene?" He's sure punching a monkey might count, but he's pretty sure that Ren at least had some part in it. He does lean back a little when she tilts forward, ensuring that his head keeps a roughly the same distance from hers that it had been before. Apparently he doesn't want to be too close to that angry face.

"Ah-well. Ren-san." The boy glances off to the side, to the people still milling around, and back to the girl in front of him again. "I think it's probably safer if I hold on to it. These things seem dangerous." He glances down again, this time at the gem clasped between his fingers.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Wait. /He/ wants to hold on to it? Her face slackens a bit, though it's only for a split second. The pissed off look returns in full force. "Safer? What, do you think I can't handle it or something? You know, I'm not one to typically pull rank but I've been doing this longer than you have!" Again, the nerve! Of course she could really just be taking this the completely wrong way...

Nah.

Without saying anything else Ren proceeds to jump at Endo, attempting to tackle him to the ground and wrestle the seed from his grasp. Did this just turn into some kind of childish playground tussle?

Maybe.

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Ren Aizawa has used Gimme The Seed, Jerk! on Endo Naoki.
COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki fails to dodge Ren Aizawa's Gimme The Seed, Jerk!, taking 11 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Ren Aizawa successfully grabs an item from Endo Naoki!

<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [None] has posed.

Believing that this, too was part of the show. The people below start cheering as Ren literally jump tackles him to the ground. The civilians encircle them. One of the younger kids actually starts chanting 'FAITO! FAITO! FAITO!' ...The rest of the crowd soon follows in chanting it repeatedly!

The crowd is split on who to support. The younger girls, women, and a few men in the crowd are cheering for Ren. The rest of the boys and older men were squarely on Endo's side.

Security mills around nervously on the fringes, asking each other why this live action Sentai performance wasn't put on their schedules.

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Hey-" Endo's retort is short, but not because he chooses it to be. His raised hand isn't enough to stop the force of an angry Ren when she flat-out tackles him, the boy letting out a cry of surprise as he goes to the ground. Thump. She can get a good hold on the gem in his hand, though he attempts to yank it back, his palm still trying to keep her at bay.

"I'm trying to-oof-trying to keep you safe, you idiot!" He'd out it more tactfully, but now Ren isn't the only one upset. Endo's face shows clear annoyance now, his nose wrinkled up in distaste as he rolls around.

<SHALL I ENGAGE THE ENEMY?> Fallen Stern, sticking out of the ground where Endo left it, is eager to help.

"N-getoff-NO!"

COMBAT: ITEM GRAB! Endo Naoki has used my hated renemy on Ren Aizawa.
COMBAT: Endo Naoki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Ren Aizawa fails to dodge Endo Naoki's my hated renemy, taking 14 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Endo Naoki successfully grabs an item from Ren Aizawa!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Now who's causing a scene, eh? Ren rolls around on the ground with Endo, grunting as she feels some of her not-fully-healed wounds reopen. Souverain Heraut lays on the ground next to them, unable to contribute to the brawl his master is involved in.

<THIS IS HIGHLY UNORTHODOX, YOUR MAJESTY.>

Ren says nothing in return, managing to snatch the seed away from Endo. "Hah!"

Then he says it. The "safe" word. Ren pauses. Her mind flashes back to the attack in the park. She was by all means done for. Then, Nanoha and Endo stepped in. They got injured protecting her -- especially Endo, who alledgedly took a particularly nasty hammer blow to the chest. All... for her. Her grasp on the gem goes limp, and it doesn't take much for it to be jostled free and reclaimed by the sword knight. All of her anger has truly melted away. In fact, she now has tears in her eyes, accompanied by a look of shame. "I... I..." She immediately throws herself on top of Endo, burying her face in his chest as her body shakes. "Endo-kun... I'm such an idiot! Please forgive me!"

...Soap opera, anyone?

<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [None] has posed.

A lot of individuals in the crowd instantly 'Awww'. A few of the girls whisper 'So kawaiiii!'

One boy with no sense of Shoujo drama whatsoever shouts, 'KISS HER!'

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Endo's fingers grip the gem again, yanking it back, the boy preparing to attempt to shake off Ren's next attempt.

And it doesn't come. He boy freezes when Ren latches onto him in an entirely different manner, his eyes widening in surprise when her arms encircle him in a hug. For a moment, he seems entirely at a loss as to what to do.

Then he hugs her. Soft of awkwardly at first, but the sentiment is sincere, and his hands pat her back in a comforting gesture. "It's okay." The calls from the crowd don't help his embarrassment, the boy coughing and attempting to look away while he tries to pull both himself and the other Mage to her feet. "Geez. Don't...be like this. Come on. Seriously." Despite complaint, he's not exactly doing much to keep her at bay anymore.

<FOOLISHNESS.>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

There will be no kissing! The crowd will just have to deal with it. Letting Endo pull them both back to their feet, Ren sniffles, letting go of him to wipe her eyes with her arm. "I'm sorry." She repeats, looking up at him with tears still falling. "I shouldn't have freaked out like that. Not after what you did for me the other night. What kind of friend am I?" She smiles softly, looking down at the seed in his possession. "You can keep it, Endo-kun. I won't fight you for it anymore. I... don't know what came over me." She bends down to collect Heraut from the ground, gripping the scepter against her chest tightly. "I owe you an apology too, Heraut-san."

The device chimes, <APOLOGIES ARE NOT NEEDED AS LONG AS YOU HAVE COME TO YOUR SENSES...>

Ren nods. "I have." She then turns to look at the surrounding crowd, feeling her cheeks tint red. "Oh... I've caused quite a commotion, haven't I?" Eheheheh...

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"It's fine," Endo repeats, his hands slowly falling away, freeing Ren from that brief embrace. He might be a little flushed too, this turned out a bit differently than he thought it would. "We should go, right?" He reaches to grab his own weapon, eyeing the crowd and shuffling a few steps back. "We'll talk about it somewhere else." And then he jumps! He's pretty good at that, soaring above the heads of watches and toward the trees.

He keeps a tight hold on that Jewel Seed, too.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Ren watches Endo jump off, smiling still as he fades into the distance. "Well, I guess we'd better get going too!" But! Before she leaves she turns to address the crowd. "Ah! Thank you for watching! Be sure to come visit the zoo more often! The animals will really appreciate it." And then she hops into the air and flies off, leaving behind a clapping audience. People are going to be talking about this for awhile! And the zoo should profit from the impromptu display, too.