2015-11-07 - Airport Chaos!
| Title: Airport Chaos! | |
|---|---|
| Summary: As the Sister Schools wait to board for Okinawa, disaster strikes: The flights are delayed. It's up to a few enterprising individuals to keep the youngest among their number from raising a ruckus. | |
| Who: Fuu Hououji, Hikaru Shidou, Mana Aida, Kuniko Saito, Garnet, Lera Camry, Hibiki Houjou, Nagihiko Fujisaki, Kanade Minamino, Chitose Shiratori, Nanoha Takamachi, Steven Universe | |
| Where: Haneda Airport | |
| OOC - IC Date: Sep 06 2014 - 11/07/2015 | |
<Pose Tracker> Honoka Yukishiro [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Here are truths that have transpired: the collective mass of students, several thousand in all, who are today flying direct from Tokyo to Okinawa, assembled first not at the airport but rather the train station. There, without major incident, they boarded trains in class groups and made it to the airport.
For a while on this journey there were matching school uniforms as far as the eye can see, but at Haneda Airport that stops being true. Like a river disgorging into the ocean, the plume of Juuban red and Ohtori yellow and Infinity blue are quickly subsumed by black business suits and navy flight attendant uniforms and tourists, tourists of all shapes and sizes. Many are foreigners, but more are domestic, for Haneda primarily handles interisland flights. Traveling to the United States or China is not its regular purview.
It is a Herculean task to get all of these students' luggage properly collected -- they keep a carry-on pack, but their single allotted suitcase needs to be turned in to the airport staff, and those students who have failed to follow instructions, and brought many suitcases, are forced to decide very quickly what to take and what to leave... or what to purchase, in the case of those who have the money to separately pay the fee for multiple bags. The Sister Schools budget is not infinite, after all. It has only paid for the one per child.
And it is another task of epic proportions to get everyone through security. The nascent orderliness of class is put to good use here, with teachers and class representitives working together to get head counts before, during, and after the checkpoint.
For simplicity's sake, all the flights are departing from one gate, consecutively. It will take several planes in all, and the occupancy is not exclusive to the schools, either -- there are plenty of other people standing about, waiting in line, checking their phones and tablets and generally passing the time.
The first plane is planned to be boarded by the very youngest, kindergardeners and first-graders, the theory being that they bear long waits the worst. Excitement has kept them largely clustered as they should be, nearest the gate, teachers and chaperones scattered here and there amongst them. Many are sitting amid the backpacks, their handheld video games -- or books, or phones, or toys -- out and played with intently. Others are standing and chatting, and hundreds of sopranos make for a rich tapestry of happy, eager conversations.
The chaperones are older students, who previously volunteered for the task when a sign-up sheet made the rounds last week. There appears to be no minimum age for the job; third-grade chaperones are as effectively senior to a six-year-old than those from grade twelve. Perhaps moreso, as they more closely know the minds of their charges.
Everyone else is nearby, regardless, looking washed out and strange in the yellow and gold lighting of Terminal 1. It is a crush of people. A cheerful crush, on the whole, with a minimum of danger, but nonetheless the sheer density is marked.
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
One suitcase, one week. And she'll be wearing her uniform on the flight, which saves some room in said suitcase for a week's clothing for sunny-and-warm Okinawa. Fuu has packed as efficiently as she could, and is reasonably confident in her choices; if push comes to shove, she can always entrust something to the hotel's laundry service.
Her backpack holds her laptop, a couple of handheld game systems, and chargers/power adapters for all of the above plus her smartphone. Also a couple of old-fashioned paper notebooks (one lined, one unlined) and a long-cherished pencil case.
Fuu tried to make sure she'd have room in there for souvenirs. It feels like the backpack might be lighter than it should be, but she has everything she needs.
And the backpack still leaves her hands free to help watch over the younger students, if her help is required. Having as many handheld games as she does means she can help keep them entertained with local wireless play, after all - and there's no shame, for her, in losing to somebody who's younger but loves the games as much as she does. She learns a lot from losing in Pokemon matches, for instance.
<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.
Like Fuu-chan, Hikaru's also chosen to wear her uniform on the flight to ease up the baggage she'll have to bring with her since she can't bring too much with her at once. Then again, she really doesn't have much to bring with her, save for clothing and things like that, along with a portable gaming system as well to play with Fuu-chan as well, since things might get boring. A couple of books and some room for souvenirs, and Hikaru's all packed and ready to go. A trip like this is going to be so exciting to Hikaru, and it's gonna be fun too since Fuu-chan will be going too.
While Fuu is entertaining the younger students, Hikaru is looking out the window and watching the airplanes coming and going, just like a little child. Occasionally, a younger student does get her attention, but aside from that she's more interested in looking out the window for now.
<Pose Tracker> Mana Aida [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Presumably Mana Aida is booked in a seat next to a blue-haired girl whom she's known for years.
She's also carrying a checklist, because as Juuban Middle School student council president, she has duties. With a smile, she rises on her toes to spot someone, before darting over. "Mm! Hello! Do you have your ticket yet? --Okay! Great!" On to the next student - "Hello! Do you have your seat number?! Okay! Good!" Her checklist is rapdily filling up.
Only after loading up much of her checklist does she pause to take a breath. She exhales and fans herself with one hand before going up on he tip-toes again, making sure she's accounted for every student. "Some of them must still be coming in," she muses as she turns to head out into the terminal, past a row of shops. She tucks the clipboard under her arm.
In spite of herself, she smiles and indulges in a twirl. "I can't believe everyone's going to Okinawa!" she exclaims, beaming. "I can't /wait/ to try the food. It'll be great to see how they eat there! Everyone says it tastes really good! My heart's beating a mile a minute!!"
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Kuniko Saito looks slightly smug as she stands in the crush of the crowd. She's wearing her "civilian" Infinity outfit - which makes her a little unusual, as she's typically worn her chef's whites at all times whenever wandering around Infinity. But her slightly rough haircut and her knowing expression stand out.
Why is Kuniko Saito so confident, looking as if she's gotten away with something?
Let the mind's eye wander through a largely empty suitcase that's actually older than Kuniko, containing mostly enough stuff that it doesn't rattle around too much. A couple of T-shirts. A pair of jeans. A windbreaker just in case.
Let it wander through her backpack, carrying a spare traveller's change of clothes (shirt, underpants), toothbrush, DS, phone charger, a bar of dark chocolate for the flight, a bottle of water, and a carefully folded up blue apron -- and in THAT apron is, nestling atop the stack of fluffy white hand towels (slightly precariously), is a basket of mixed fresh clean laundry.
Anyway, having checked in with the brisk redheaded president of her grade, Kuniko is taking it easy. "Yeah!!" she says, when Mana enthuses about the cuisine.
<Pose Tracker> Garnet [None] has posed.
Garnet looks frosty as usual, seeming to recline in relaxation, but those who know her could pick up on a ghost of nervousness. She's never been around this many people before, and it's to her benefit that she doesn't sweat.
She sits in one of a row of chairs, shapeshifted down in size a bit to fit into it and has shapeshifted a more subdued outfit, right now a sportcoat and dress combo with hosein dark maroon, with a silk black and red tie Very professional, or so she thinks. She subtly and gradually changes it ever so often if it appears to clash too much with the people around her. and observes the bustle, doing her best to acclimate herself to the sights and sounds of So. Many. Humans. She keeps her eye over to where Steven is shopping to make sure she doesn't lose track of him in all the motion.
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
Lera Camry stares as she walks through the airport. Her luggage bounces after her, rolling on wheels. At a glance, it is like any other luggage; much like her Infinity Institute uniform is also completely normal. She glances sideways, taking in everything as they make the trek to the gate that these planes are departing from. The girl reaches her hand back, brushing some of her orange-red hair back.
She is ostensibly supposed to look after children. She doesn't have a lot of familiarity with kids. She doesn't quite know what to do. Because of this, she is /that/ chaperone.
The one staring at kids, in confusion, while they do things.
Lera is periodically checking her iPhone -- and then looking out the window, at the jets. She doesn't quite trust them. They look sort of primitive to her Midchildan sensibilities.
<Pose Tracker> Hibiki Houjou [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Because she remembers the past, Hibiki did not make a plan to meet her best friend at the doors of the airport. Even a small airport has several entrances, after all, and Haneda not being a small airport...that would just be asking for another years-long feud. And they've done that piece already, so...
Instead, they did the sensible thing - suggested by Hummy - of getting together at the bakery, and setting out from there. Since then, they've tried to stick more-or-less close together, steadily making their way through the various security checkpoints with only a few hassles along the way.
"Still can't believe they wouldn't let me bring that box of cupcakes on the plane...what kind of country is this turning into, anyway?! I hope the security team appreciates your baking, Kanade, because I can't right now..." Grousing as she proceeds with a duffel bag packed enough she almost needs to drag it, she glances to her friend - but can't spend too much time dwelling on that. (Besides, there may be a backup box hidden in her checked luggage...) "Anyway, we just have to keep them in line, right?"
Filled with confidence verging on hubris, Hibiki Houjou looks out upon the hordes of gradeschoolers waiting as impatiently as she. The bag on her shoulder is heavy enough that she really should set it down, but instead she just jogs it a bit, leaning up against a pillar. Slowly, a smile finds its way onto her face...because Okinawa. She mutters under her breath - "Beaches and adventure and a total lack of actual lectures...this is going to be great!"
Inside her bag, nestled among wadded up clothes, toiletries, and a soccer ball - somehow, Hibiki crammed in a small pet carrier. And inside -that-, a happy little white cat should be sleeping. Hopefully, anyway...
<Pose Tracker> Nagihiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (6)] has posed.
Lingshen Chao made a nuisance of herself during the train roundup and ride with her usual antics (see: aggressive pursuit of free market capitalism), but airplanes think girls with steamer baskets are a lot less funny, so she's currently secluded herself with her little enclave of nerds, doing nerd stuff, like math, and different math, and planning the final conquest of the world of the past at the hands of their righteous Martian masters.
Nagihiko Fujisaki, on the other hand, is the Jack's Chair of the Ohtori Guardians, and never shys away from an opportunity to help manage kids. He's dressed in the unique uniform of the Ohtori Guardians: Black blazer and white shirt and blue tie, with blue check-pattern shorts under a blue check-pattern cape. It helps him to stand out amid the crowd, with the handful of Guardians rushing around trying to keep at least Ohtori's kids somewhat in line. Specifically, he's taking his third headcount in ten minutes, quietly checking faces against names on a list he holds in his hands.
<Pose Tracker> Kanade Minamino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Kanade shook her head. "I did warn you they probably wouldn't allow cupcakes on the plane, especially the cream filled ones." She hummed to herself as she brought out her notebook.
"I can't wait for the beach either, and I planned out the whole trip." She gleefully showed Hibiki her through researched notes and a map with several red 'x' on it. "I figured we should start with some of the historic sites, but we'll have to get up around 7 am if we ant to have breakfast and by noon, we'll head to the beach. Then at 1:30, assuming we don't end up going back to the hotel because you forgot your swimsuit again, we'll hit the water and at 3:00 we'll go find some shaved ice. Then we'll sun bath and be back in time for dinner."
She promptly shut her notebook. "And that's just the tip of the iceberg I have. We're going to make use of every second of this trip!"
<Pose Tracker> Mana Aida [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
"Mm! Kuniko-san!" Mana exclaims with a big smile, grasping her clipboard in both hands and coming to bear on the older girl with a smile so bright, it could push back the dry yellowish lights of the terminal with its sheer glow. "What should we try first? I've heard the taco rice is really good, and super unique! And maybe the goya chanpuru, too..." She trails off, tilting her head back and looking thoughtfully up to the ceiling. "I hope I left enough room for souvenirs, now that I think about it...."
When she looks down again, it's with a warm smile for Kuniko. "This is definitely going to be great! I can't wait! The food, the souvenirs... and we'll even get to learn while we're there!"
"You seem very excited, Ojou-sama," calls a voice from the side.
There is, inexplicably, a toothy brown terracotta gnome. It is sitting on a cart, about a foot and a half high, waving a little terracotta hand.
"Eeh?" Mana gasps as she turns with a touch of surprise, ending up with a face full of... the gnome. She blinks a time or two before her eyes migrate to the man standing behind the booth full of chintzy accessories and little bits of jewelry - a blond man with matching eyes and a bucket-style hat.
The man in the hat flashes a charming smile to Mana and Kuniko alike. "I have the perfect accessory for you," he invites with warmth. "Would you like to stop and look at it?"
<Pose Tracker> Honoka Yukishiro [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
A digitized three-note bell sounds across the gate area.
"Attention. Flight 2184 to Okinawa has been delayed. I repeat, Flight 2184 to Okinawa has been delayed. Please anticipate a three-hour wait. Thank you."
Uh oh.
The teachers cluster together to confer about this turn of events. The students buzz with the news, a mixed chorus of sighs and groans and complaints intermingling. The mood hasn't soured completely yet, but it's definitely put a damper on things. The airport, while exciting for its own sake, is not the sky, or the beach.
The littlest children, the ones who have been waiting to board as opposed to /waiting for their plane to show up/, take it the most personally. There are a few sniffles, and a few jeers from the ones who want to sniffle and need to distract themselves from doing so.
The natives are restless already from waiting around in the gate for half an hour... and now it is going to be another three.
Two groups lunge to their feet, on opposite sides of the sea of tots.
"I'm hungry! I wanna snack!" declares the primary troublemaker of Juuban's class 1-A, Kenjiro Tamasaki.
"I'm boooooooooored! Let's go to the arcade!" whines that of Infinity's First Grade Sakura class, Mina Koruske.
Other students start popping up to voice their agreements like weeds in a flower garden. Quickly, quickly, if they aren't distracted or placated, the kinder-garden will be overrun with chaos.
Nearby attractions include:
1) There is an actual arcade, with actual games, a few gates down from here. It is dark and loud in the manner of such places, a bit of a maze of a place despite the relatively cramped confines of the airport.
2) There is, in the opposite direction, a food court. It has a good dozen options, none of them particularly healthy or cheap, but all of them fresh and attractive in the manner of food-while-traveling, especially for those who have never been in an airport before (including most of the first-graders).
3) There is a nearby souvenir shop, filled to bursting with little Tokyo snow globes, candy treats, and so forth.
4) Up a set of escalators, there is an indoor playground, with chutes, ladders, parallel bars, etc.
They are all a tantalizingly short distance from the gate.
"Just for a miiiiinute," begs Mina, her sweet blue eyes full of yearning. Of hope.
<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
"Oh," Chitose Shiratori said to herself, when notice of the school trip occured. "I don't need to go to the school trip this year, I've been every other time, right? As a University Student I at least get the chance to say no, right? I have all this studying to do, anyway."
So when this very day rolled around, Chitose woke up... to realize she wasn't in her bed. Well, that last part wasn't true, she most definately was in her bed. It was just, for some reason outside, and in the grass outside the Itazura family mansion. And while she spent a lot of time at the mansion, it most definately wasn't where her bed was supposed to be! She looks around for a few moments, until she notices a small note next to her impromptu bed.
"Chitose,
Your mother called late last night, and told me to tell you that you should go on adventures while you still can! So have fun at the school trip! Bring me back something nice.
Love, Your Father"
The note is instantly scrunched.
This may explain why, a few hours later in the here and now, Chitose lurches out of the bathroom, sensibly dressed. She stuffs a recently used toothbrush back into its bag, and she has her hairclip in her mouth as she attempts to braid her hair into her normal pattern. Chitose finally manages to catch up with the vague mass of students, swishing her hair back and placing her hairclip where it should be on her braid. Chitose takes a slight moment to press her hands together in a silent apology to her hairclip the Device, and it's at this she remembers a detail. Wasn't she supposed to chaperone today? Chitose sighs, before thinking about it for a moment. She's had to keep Yakuza heiresses in line, how hard could chaperoning a school trip be?
She turns back towards the group, and sees the thousands of assorted school students.
"Ah." She says aloud.
<Pose Tracker> Nanoha Takamachi [Infinity Institute (4)] has posed.
So! Trip to Okinawa!
GO!
So this is something a little different for Nanoha Takamachi. Most of the ten-year-old Infinity student's travel has not been precisely long distance-- or if it has, it certainly was not by plane. On the
thought of 'flying' her mind goes to a very different place that most certainly is not 'board a flying tin can'.
STILL! The fourth grader is present, her lone bag checked, she made it through security without incident, and she's not waiting at the gate with everyone else!
Mission accomplished.
At least for now, anyway, and that leaves her with time to do what any ten-year-old would do, when at an airport, no matter how mature they may be.
She's pressed up against the nearest window staring outside at any, and all, planes.
This is, of course, a natural thing, until the announcement breaks out.
"-Eh? Eh? Eh?"
A delay?
"Does that happen often?" Just an idle think-out-loud musing.
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
"Sky," Lera hisses softly, "the kids want me to do--"
<Sleep mode activated. Preparing software upgrades...>
Lera's eyebrow twitches slightly. Then, she turns her head, and looks around. She spots Nanoha Takamachi; her eyes widen like saucers and she bolts. There may be a line of dashes from the seat she sat in to the girl's position. She stands next to her and looks down before she grins brightly. "Hey, Nanoha-chan!" she says loudly. "It sure is delayed, I guess that happens with... flights!"
SHe laughs awkwardly. "Um, maybe we should... try to help one of the younger kids, y'know?" she asks. "The... six year-olds."
Help.
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
A three-hour delay?
Fuu's first thought is that none of her devices (except her phone, charged last night) are going to last that long. The second thought, more practical, is that it's going to be VERY difficult to keep all of the children from scattering if they don't organize something, fast. Right now.
"Koruske-san, isn't it?" Fuu asks the first-grader, smiling. "Three hours is an awful lot of time in an arcade, you would probably spend your whole allowance for the trip in that time if you aren't careful. However ..." She purses her lips briefly, counting heads - and not just of the elementary students. Who can she call on for help .. ?
"How about this. Everyone who'd like to go into the arcade, gather around and I'll make a list of your names. Then we can go to the arcade in small groups, but I don't want anyone to get lost, so -"
She pauses, looking towards Kuniko and Lera, trying to catch their attention. "Kuniko-san, Lera-san, could you help me organize small groups for the arcade? We'll check names and make sure everyone is accounted for at ... fifteen- to twenty-minute intervals, perhaps?"
Where are the teachers at a time like this, she wonders. Admittedly, she'd love to look through the arcade as well, but she volunteered to watch over the children; she can't shirk that duty just because something unfortunate came up. Hopefully it won't be TOO many kids who want to hit the arcade while time permits. It'd probably also be a good idea if somebody previewed what games are in the arcade, make sure nothing too disturbing is there where the kids might get an eyeful of DOA 5 or Time Crisis or the like.
Fuu pulls her phone out of her pocket, checking the battery charge, then sends a quick text to Hikaru: > Would you like to help me organize some of Infinity's elementary students, to keep them out of trouble during the delay?
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Kuniko folds her arms loosely as Mana speaks to her. Her grin crinkles a little more. "Yeah, it's gonna be great. Just don't blow all your spending money the first day, huh?" And speaking of which -
Her head swivels as she looks at the man with the bucket hat. Her head tilts slightly to the side. "... sure," she answers him, arms unfolding slowly. "Watcha got."
And then comes the ringing announcement of THE DELAY. Kuniko's head turns to look towards the rumbling crowd and she tells the man in the hat, "Please excuse me a moment," tilting her head as she does towards Mana. "Aida san, good luck, don't take all the best stuff, OK??"
She ambles over - right smack into Hououji's organizational plan.
"Uh... I was gonna call them over to the shop there... but I guess that could work," she says a bit blankly, scratching her cheek with her index finger as she eyes the small folks. "But I can just like, not do it first, or something. Yeah, sure."
<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.
At first, Hikaru's reaction is to grab her head and collapse to the ground in frustration before banging her hands, but then she remembers that there are younger students present. Being an older student means she should be setting a better example for the younger children. So Hikaru simply pretends to be stretching her arms over her head and taking a deep breath. As she blows it out she turns to face the children with an obviously forced smile. "Well, children, it looks like we're going to have to wait here for awhile. It stinks, I know, but there's no sense in getting upset about it, since we really have no control over this! So let's try to make the best of the situation, shall we?"
Hikaru glances around, looking for something to do. Before she can try to offer a suggestion to the students, she feels her phone vibrating, and she pulls it out of her pocket. Smirking a little as she sees who it's from, she sends a quick reply:
> Gladly, Fuu-chan. It seems the Juuban staff have things taken care of here, so I should be able to assist you. I'll be right over!
<Pose Tracker> Hibiki Houjou [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
"Yeah, but they even took the chocolate frosted - what kind of monsters, I ask you! Oh well - there's plenty to try when we get there!" Hibiki beams to her friend - and then that joyful expression turns to horror as Kanade brings out a map. And an agenda. And a -schedule-. "Kanadeeee! The teachers are already going to be setting the schedule part of the day, did you really need to add to that misery?!"
She huffs, folding her arms. "Anyway, we'll be there soon enough, and then I'll be free of all this timing trou-"
There's a triple chime, and a pronouncement promising dire consequences. Hibiki's immediate reaction mirrors that of the younger kids - absolute outrage, taking a deep breath to begin some very vocal whining. But...she's beaten to it by the mass outcry of all those she's supposed to be outmatching in maturity. She looks around, at the vocal outcries, at the whines or boredom -
-and so help her, that playground looks like an ideal solution.
Hibiki glances to her upperclassman - at least, assuming Fuu is from the uniform - and comments a bit louder than necessary. "We should probably make sure they stay entertained - a bored kid can get into a looot of trouble." She flashes Kanade a grin - then strides toward the nearest group of gradeschoolers, whichever one looks the most antsy.
After helping her father out the other day, this might just work...
Hibiki plants her hands on her knees, and grins to the first-graders. "Hey! So, we're stuck waiting - but big sister Hibiki has an idea! Want to learn a song?" She crouches down, making a face like some wild ape, and starts pounding her chest with her fists. "Hoo hoo hah! Hoo hoo hah!"
It's a kind of music. Not much for lyrics, but there's a simple melody - and acting like a gorilla, she sets off to try to lead an ape parade around.
<Pose Tracker> Mana Aida [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Mana seems, at first, a bit indecisive - until the voice rings through the gate.
"Three hours?" Mana gasps with a widening of her eyes.
The surprise vanishes behind a smile. "Well! That means we'll have plenty of time, though I guess people are going to be a little upset...." As Kuniko wanders off, Mana offers her a smile. "Mm! You should definitely send them over."
She pauses. Then she rises on her toes, and raises her voice, waving broadly. "Hey!" she calls out towards the nearest group of impatient students. "There's a souvenir stand over here! You should come get some accessories!"
That good deed done, Mana turns to the souvenir stand with a smile - she'll take a moment, at least, before moving on to try and solve every problem imaginable. She smiles up to the man in the bucket hat. "I don't have too long, but I'll look!"
Bright magenta eyes rove through the accessory pile. She gasps, beaming. "Iaaaaa~ it's all so pretty!"
SHe blinks, then; her smile breaks to a flicker of surprise. "Huh?" she murmurs as she reaches for something. It's a small clip of some kind, round and gold with a magenta gem set in it. "...It's just like the one Makopi had at the concert," she murmurs.
The man in the bucket hat smiles a wide, satisfied smile. "You sure have sharp eyes, Ojou-sama. Those are called 'Cure Loveads.'"
"Cure Loveads?" Mana asks as she stares at the bead. "What are...."
She trails off. Blinks, once.
She stays that way for what seems like a long time.
<Pose Tracker> Nanoha Takamachi [Infinity Institute (4)] has posed.
"I wouldn't know, I've never had a flight delayed before." There's something of a tease in Nanoha's voice when she replies to Lera, a small secret shared between friends, veiled in a giggle. But... The delay means three hours to kill- and three hours of sad, jilted, children to take care of.
This may be a problem.
Not to say that Nanoha isn't willing as she finally has an excuse to break herself away from the window.
It can't be too hard, right? What's the worst that can happen?
<Pose Tracker> Garnet [None] has posed.
"This place. Is a model, of inefficiency." Garnet comments to herself, and adjusts her mirrored shades, appearing wholly unimpressed and unsurprised by the delay, but this is her first time to a relatively primitive human airport, the Crystal Gems teleporting or space travelling everywhere they need to go.
Still, there's not an active teleport pad in Okinawa as she could recall, and Steven was exploding in excitement to go as soon as he heard about the trip. This delay will give him more time to shop and play, and socialize. To have fun and be a child, and that's what's important.
Garnet feels like this downtime should be enjoyed, a tug from her extra-senses, ((Future Vision(!)) suggest that trouble could be on the horizon in Okinawa, and that her more... formidable talents might be needed to protect the youngest and seemingly most vulnerable people of her new home.
<Pose Tracker> Kanade Minamino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Kanade went to open her mouth, but the intercom beat her to it. She blinked and gave a mournful sigh. "Oh great, that means we won't arrive until late afternoon, that completely throws off my schedule."
The whining of the children gives Kanade flashbacks of the times her own little brother would complain during family vacations when she was younger, except this was multiple by a dozen at least. It was going to be a long wait...until Hibiki started to do her gorilla dance again. She snickered to herself. "You're becoming a real expert at this, Hibiki," she muttered and looked to the kids. Well, might as well have some fun with this.
"Gorillas are all fine and good, but if you really want to sing you need to howl like a wolf!" She pretend to throw her head back and did her best to give an elegant howl. "Awooo!" she cried. "Come on, kids. We need more wolves and gorillas for a proper chorus!"
<Pose Tracker> Nagihiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (6)] has posed.
Nagi can tell from some of the other chaperones that 'delayed' made them feel like someone had walked over their grave, which is more or less the correct feeling. Nagi's not terribly happy about it either, and the kids are quick to voice their own frustrations. But just takes a brief step back to assess things. Think fast, man!
"If we take them to the arcade," he mutters aloud, "it'll settle them down now, but they'll be even more upset the next time the mood strikes them...the jungle gym is better for them, but..." He taps his foot, eyes casting across the sea of faces. Actually, they probably need to do both, for this many students, but, uh, hm. Hm. ... ...hm.
"Dude," Rhythm hisses to him, quietly, because in this mixed a crowd /somebody/ is guaranteed to hear him at his usual volume, "just do somethin'! It'll be cool!"
"You say that," Nagi mutters, and then his eyes find a few familiar faces. Familiar faces he can conscript to ensnare the minds of children!!
He motions that he's got an idea to one of the overseeing faculty and then dashes off into the churning sea of kiddies. He emerges some meters later, calling, "Nanoha-chan!" with a high wave of his hand. "We need help getting the kids coralled, can you and your friend," refering to Lera, because he has no idea what to call her right now, "help me with..."
And then, a zoo attacks.
... "...not, that, but instead, something else?"
<Pose Tracker> Honoka Yukishiro [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
The teachers break up from their huddle and scatter for some reason. One of them pauses to nod at the chaperones. "Keep an eye on them. Make sure they don't get lost. We're going to go make arrangements before things really get out of hand."
And so they do. This isn't as totally absurd as it seems; with these back-to-back-to-back flights planned, older students may well be stranded in the airport for six hours. They may be trying to book different flights, or reserve a room away from the gate, or something.
The mixed lectures and gorilla chanting that the group of kids receives goes over... incredulously, that is definitely the right word. "Obaa-san," one particularly snot-nose brat says pugnaciously to Hikaru, "This delay ain't the only thing that stinks! What is there to make the 'best of', anyway!"
(Ed. note: 'Obaa-san' is like 'Auntie'. It is a sassy way of calling her an old lady. 'Onee-san', like 'big sis', would have been inoffensive in comparison.)
The kids who've noticed Hibiki's gorilla antics, though, are collapsing into giggles. They are, for the moment, immobilized with laughter, though not quite yet chanting and grunting along. More encouragement may be required. Body humor on six-year-olds: it's super effective!! There are a lot of kids transfixed by this display, fortunately, but... not all.
"WAIII! THE ARCAAADE!" shouts Mina happily as Fuu grants her wish. She does not stick around to listen to the tangled web of plans about an organized march -- she leads the charge, and a gaggle of a dozen kids stream after her, bouncing down the terminal towards their goal.
They're going the wrong way. And a second group of kids have set their chins and clenched their fists and already begun to conduct a mission of exploration in the opposite direction, too.
Kenjiro meanwhile has gone totally ignored, and, with a defiant sniff, has elected to get into the abandoned backpacks of the students who've left. Another child reaches out to stop him... hesitates... and then, as she sees the candy he's unearthing, decides to join the scavenger hunt, instead.
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
Lera guffaws at Nanoha's joke. It's maybe not that funny, but something about it hits the funny bone. The thought that they could have simply flown on their own power to Okinawa occurs to her -- or can they? She should check the distance. She grins, sheepishly, and then she looks down at Nanoha. She hears Fuu's call, then, and she looks up. She cries out after that: "U-uh, I can try, sure!" Lera calls back at Fuu. "I think--oh!"
Nagihiko calls out. She stares for a moment, before she spots the children running for the arcade. Or, rather, in the wrong direction to the arcade. They're venturing deeper into the airport. "H-Hey! We gotta stop them!" she says. "Or they'll get in trouble! Let's get those kids, and get them to the arcade!"
Lera goes running after the children, arms waving in the air. "HEY! HEY KIDS! This way!" she yells. "The arcade's this way, not that way! Nanoha-chan, Nagihiko-san, help!"
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Cue a massive, MASSIVE sweatdrop on the back of Fuu's head as a dozen children run in EXACTLY the wrong direction. "Ara ara ara ... thank you, Lera-san. Hikaru-san, Kuniko-san, let's go!"
She joins the chase, grateful that everyone *IS* in their school uniforms, even the elementary students. That'll make them easier to identify. Thirteen elementary children, four middle- and high-schoolers to attend to them ... this should be manageable. If Nanoha-san and Nagihiko-san can contribute as well, all the better.
... she hopes.
If nothing else, something like this HAS to be worth the real-world equivalent of 'sidequest experience'. If only such a thing actually existed, she thinks wistfully.
<Pose Tracker> Hibiki Houjou [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Hibiki ooks, and does a pratfall at that snot-nosed brat's insult. "Obaa-san?! Who do you think you are?!" Wheeling around dramatically - doing a big ape stomp for dramatic effect - Hibiki puts her hands on her hips to face her critics.
Still acting rather ape-like, for the benefit of those amused by these antics.
There's actual laughter, though, and even with those running off to the arcade she still has at least some of the kids' attention. And with Kanade joining in...well, whatever the other chaperones might say, it's working. Kind of. For now.
"Ook! If you're so smart, kid - let's see if you can do better!" She gorilla-walks forward, beckoning to her 'supporters'. "What do you all say? Come on, sing along with me - and you, kid, you can lead your own group of singers! Best singing wins!"
There's a pause, and then Hibiki turns to the brat with an expression verging on sinister - the kind of immature taunt she can do better than anyone in her grade. "Unless you're scared to, that is~"
Another beckon to the assembled kids. "Come on, my ape choir! Let's sing!" And pounding her chest, she starts marching around, ooking out a familiar children's tune...
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
In the immortal words of a singularly non-cute fox, "chaos reigns." Kuniko frowns as the teachers leave them to their own devices for the moment, as Arimura goes off to make a call, as everything goes to heck in a handbasket! She puts a hand on her hip and exhales, even as Fuu says 'let's go!'
Things move around and reveal... Kenjiro. Neglected, alone, and hunting for candy, along with another and nameless friend. (or ally. or co-thief. who knows.) "Oi, oi!" Kuniko says, advancing upon them. "Hey! How would you like it if I went digging for your candy!?" she says, leading with a sharp note. Just the one, though.
"If you two want candy," she says as she approaches Kenjiro and the other child, squatting slightly to get near to their level, "Come on, there's a bunch over at the souvenier shop. I'll treat you, and you can get what you want. OK?" She attempts a smile after this.
<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.
Obaa-san, quite an insulting term to use towards a young lady like Hikaru. She has an idea of who might have said it, but does she respond to them? Believe it or not, she doesn't. In her opinion, it's natural that these children are upset about the whole thing, and they're too young to most likely appreciate the lesson being taught here. So Hikaru simply brushes it off, namely since there are far more important things to worry about right now. Like chasing after school children who are running the wrong way! Fuu-chan will find she's not the only one sweatdropping either!
The sound of her school shoes clicking on the floor can be heard as Hikaru rushes after the children. "Please, come back here! You can't be wandering around a place like this!" She calls out, knowing most likely her words will be in vain, but she has to make an effort of some kind.
<Pose Tracker> Mana Aida [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Outwardly, Mana appears to be transfixed on a mere trinket.
Inwardly, something's happening. It's like a flash cutting through her senses as some part of her heart feels to almost melt into the Cure Lovead, like a shining light pulsing somewhere behind her chest. Her heart beats a mile a minute. She stares at the bead in her hand, a lump rising in her throat.
(What is this...? Is it because it's like Makopi's...?)
The man behind the counter just smiles. "It seems you've taken a liking to it, huh? I'd like you to have it," he says with a wink.
Mana gasps almost without thinking. She holds the bead out in her palms, eyes wide. "But I can't accept that! Grandpa always told me it's wrong to take anything for free!"
With a shake of his head, the bucket-hatted man gently takes the bead from Mana's hand. He leans forward, carefully affixing it to her bow. "The value of things can change depending on the person," he explains with a smile as he holds up a mirror.
A part of Mana still protests, but as she catches sight of her reflection, the Lovead gleaming at the heart of her ribbon, all she can do is smile. Her eyes shine.
That's about when a classmate suddenly grabs her by the arm. "Class prez, class prez, we need you!" the student squeals, beginning to drag Mana back into the sea of chaos.
"Iyaaaa~n~," Mana exclaims.
<Pose Tracker> Kanade Minamino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Kanade snickers at Hibiki being called 'Obaa-san' by the kids. "Well, to be fair, Hibiki, there are times you can complain like an old woman." She folded her arms. "Wasn't it just the other day you were actually telling kids to get off your lawn?"
She turned her attention back to the children they still had to entertain. "Come on, Kids. Let show the 'obaa-san' what great singers you are! AWHOO!" she howled once again.
She noticed some of the children wandering towards the cafeteria and mildly ponders if someone is going to chase after them. Kanade was tempted herself, but she had her hands full entertaining these kids.
<Pose Tracker> Nanoha Takamachi [Infinity Institute (4)] has posed.
Okay so. Dealing with small excitable children. Should be a snap right? But where to begin? For a moment, Nanoha folds her hands together behind her back, rocking on her toes.
As an aside, it was a pretty great joke. At least to a fellow insider anyway.
Her name is called yet again though, and blue eyes dart in the direction from whence it came. That's... Nadeshiko's brother isn't it? She's still squinting for a good moment, as though really trying to piece something together and utterly and completely failing at it. But regardless... "Oh! Hi Nagihiko-san!" Chipper as ever, "Lera-chan and I can help, sure!" Lera tugged on HER for the very same purpose anyway.
"It shouldn't be too hard, I've got plenty of experience keeping the temps in line at Midori-ya."
Somewhere, back at a pastry shop far far away, Akira Kinotori, and Tobi Houren shudder with instinctive terror for a reason they cannot understand.
Off go the children, the lot of them blitzing for the bright lights and booping sound effects of the arcade-- except it's in the other way.
"Heeeeey~. If you all slow down and walk calmly, I'll show you all a ~magic trick~."
Nanoha does not mention that most of her real magic involves making things explode in bright pink light.
That probably won't help right now.
<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
Chitose is still seeing to herself, attempting to get somewhat more presentable when the call comes in, the flights will be delayed. She doesn't quite notice for a few moments, so engaged in cleaning up she is. It is only when children start to pipe up about boredom and the things that they want that she looks back up . And at this point, Chitose sees the group of children in her mind, and they are all waving. Not the waving one does with their hands, no. It's the sort of wave where the children move around like a wave on the beach. It's quite fanciful, really, with children crashing against the walls of the terminal like the very sea. Of course, while the entire image is kind of funny, it turns into a slight bit of horror, because while her thoughts are physically impossible, they'll probably be pretty close to this if things don't improve soon.
Meanwhile, some other kids start to take charge and begin to assemble the mass of kids. Neat, hopefully this means that she can just relax with a good book--
And then the teachers leave! Chitose sighs, even though the teachers probably had the right idea. Did they really need all the teachers to get that stuff done?
Oh, well. At least everyone is rising to the challenge and either distracting the students or otherwise attempting to herd the others. So what does that leave her?
She looks up behind her, the best way for her to 'look' at her Device without bringing it in front of her. "Any ideas?" She mutters to herself, and her Device.
<Analyzing findings...>
"Analyzing what findings? There's nothing here."
<Processing will take three hours. Stand by.>
Chitose sighs. Then she stalks off after the kids who wandered off away from the arcade and the other destinations, in case some of them decided to play hide and seek.
<Pose Tracker> Honoka Yukishiro [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Lera's fast action (and longer legs) get her in front of Mina's group quickly, and Hikaru and Fuu together can pen them in from behind. "W-what?" chokes the ringleader with embarrassment, turning a mottled red. She looks like she's about to cry, and the kids with her shift awkwardly... except for the three who simply turn around and try to head back the other direction, as instructed, for the arcade. They are met by Nanoha's promises of magic tricks. "Rehhh?" one says incredulously. "What can you do thass' as cool as Street Fighter Alpha Zeta?"
Chitose has pursued the group gangling along in the other direction. They're at the edge of the food court, now, and about to plunge into the stacks of tables and chairs along one wall, which are, indeed, perfect for something like hide and seek. There are only moments to spare before they start their game. They haven't noticed her yet, though, so at least she has the advantage of surprise.
Kuniko engages Kenjiro, meanwhile, and he rocks back on his heels, reluctantly releasing the candy. Her lecture has hit home -- its brevity may have helped. "Yeah, okay, what?"
His eyes widen at what comes next.
"OI, EVERYONE, ONEE-SAMA IS GONNA BUY US ALL CANDY!"
"YAAAAAAAY!"
Unless Kuniko is quite wealthy she may be in trouble, because a small army of tots are now crowding around her, eager to be led to the souvenir shop and bought goodies.
Hibiki and Kanade's joint efforts, however, are succeeding at wrangling the largest group. "I-I'm not scared, o/BAA/-san," the little punk counters, first folding his arms across his chest and then, when sufficiently egged on, untangling them and starting to match the beat instead. "OOH! OOH! AHH! OOH! OOH! AHH!"
Soon several dozen kids have joined him, while others are competing as wolves. "AROOOOOOOOOOO!!"
It's effective, yes, but now some of the adults in the airport who aren't part of the school trip are starting to cast troubled frowns at all the ruckus...
<Pose Tracker> Nagihiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (6)] has posed.
"Thank you!" Nagi says. DEPUTIZED. OK, now what, he's got ohhhh gooood they're heading the wroooong waaaaaaaaay!!
And some other stuff is happening, too. He manages to catch sight of the would-be burglars, but also sees they're being managed; so instead, Nagi tears off after the Airport Explorers (Nanoha and Lera seem to have the arcadegoers well in hand); with impish disregard for propriety, he finds an empty seat and vaults over it, leaving a "Excuse me!" wafting in the air behind him as he hits the ground on the other side and spins on his heels, putting him neatly in front of the exploration team with a big grin and a thumbs up cocked at himself. "Hey, there!" he says, brightly. "You all wanna go somewhere cool? Stick with me! I've got something special lined up!"
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Fuu smiles at the remaining children for the arcade group. "It's all right, but we need everyone to stick together. You wouldn't want to miss the flight to Okinawa because you got distracted and lost track of the time in the arcade or something, would you? We wouldn't be able to fly back to pick you up, after all ..."
Still being friendly, cheerful, and reassuring to the best of her ability, Fuu starts leading the group back towards the arcade, making a list of the children's names on her smartphone and texting it to Lera and Hikaru. Kuniko seems to have been sidetracked; Nanoha looks like she's gotten the attention of a couple of the runaway would-be gamers, and Fuu nods thankfully to her younger friend.
Maybe now the arcade trip can be safely managed ... but she sends a text to Nanoha as well:
> Can you please let me know if any of those three decide to head to the arcade?
Hopefully nothing else will go catastrophically wrong.
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
"It's okay!" Lera says to Mina, a little too loudly. She puts a hand on her shoulder, then she looks at Nanoha. She grins. "Nanoha! Let's play Street Fighter whatever they called it! We can show them a really good match!"
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Kuniko sees a sudden vision in her mind.
There is a stack of 10,000 yen notes in bricks, like you sometimes see in banks or (with American currency) in films. A prominent sign on them says "SUMMER CART PROCEEDS". It is being crawled over by small children who are pouring out bottles of mirin all over it.
Kenjiro, wearing a clown nose and a purple three-piece suit, touches it with a sparkler. With a cool blue flame, all of the money catches fire. The sign changes to read "DONKEY" before it too catches fire.
When the vision ends she is already passing behind Mana in the sea of children. "One piece each! Just one each!" That should at least control the burn rate. Right?
(Probably not.)
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [None] has posed.
"Oooh, look at this thing! It is a little birdie that bobs up and down for water! For like, ever! He even has a top hat and bow tie..."
Steven Universe is in fact, present! Though for the past little while has been utterly enamored with the small trinkets and toys a gift shop offers in the airport thoroughfare. He can't help it! Just look at that little weasel thing attached to a battery pwoered rolling ball that is rolling all over the shop! MADNESS!
While not necessarily allocated to a school yet, Steven, being in the midst of a decision, was permitted special permission to attend such a field trip, to see if school life and the perks involved are actually up his alley. The boy accepted, so not only is this a first for him, but a major decision to make in disquise!
Steven walks outside the shop with an ice cream sandwich in his hand, though seems rather disappointed in it for some reason as he eats it. "Okay! That mission is done, now--" He looks around and seems worried. "Where'd all the other kids go? I thought the flight was delayed..." Scampering back over to his hamburger pack near Garnet with the treat in his mouth, he slides it on hastefully. "I should go look for other kids that go to the school by the temple! I'll be back," he lets hsi caretaker know.
"If I were a kid my age that wasn't me, where would I go?" Naturally, the first thing to catch his attention is the Arcade. "Of course!"
<Pose Tracker> Garnet [None] has posed.
Garnet nods at Steven's departure. "Good luck Steven, the arcade is packed full of children. Show no mercy." She winks and waves him off. She's confident he'll return in time for the flight, but keeps a third eye on him just in case.
<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.
"Well, that's a relief," Hikaru says to Fuu, before looking at the children. "I know you all want to have some fun, but we have to stick together. We can't be running around like this! It's a huge place and who knows what might happen if you get lost!" Another sweatdrop briefly forms, before Hikaru wipes her forehead and then looks to Fuu. "So, that's taken care of, now what?"
<Pose Tracker> Nanoha Takamachi [Infinity Institute (4)] has posed.
That is a good question. The honest answer is 'a hell of a lot, you little brat', but Nanoha isn't going to brag that her down-right+fierce special is better than Reeoo's. BUT once she seems to have their attention... Nanoha holds up one finger. "Give me just oooone second, I need a helpful volunteer!"
Said volunteet takes the form of a fuzzy pink elephant from the nearest gift shop, after explaining her reasoning to the clerks there- though she will pay for it if she has to, whipping out her phone and flinging a quick text back to Fuu.
>>Don't worry! Lera-san and I have this!
>><Insert clipart image of chibi Nanoha holding up the peace sign.>
Now comes the task of holding the children's attention, she whispers down to the gem on her necklace, "Aheh heh... Raising heart, do you mind?"
<SIGH. I HOPE YOU HAVE PRACTICED MY MASTER. ALRIGHT.>
"Ahem..."
Nanoha proceeds to hold up the stuffed animal and begins to ventriloquize like a pro.
"So... Strange as it may seem, Heartful Elephant, they give ball players nowadays very peculiar names."
<FUNNY NAMES?>
A drity, cheating, Device equipped pro.
"Mhm! Nicknames! on the Midori-ya team we have Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third--."
<TELL ME THE NAMES OF THE MIDORI-YA TEAM.>
"I'm telling you. Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third--"
<YOU KNOW THEIR NAMES?>
"Yes."
<WHO IS PLAYING FIRST?>
"Yes."
<WHAT IS THEIR NAME?>
"Who."
<THE ONE ON FIRST.>
"Who!"
<ON FIRST BASE!?>
"Who is on first!"
Throughout this little spectacle, hoping to all heaven it holds the kids attention, Nanoha meets Lera's eye, when her friend challenges her to Street fighter in front of the children.
<PREPARE TO BE OWNED.>
<Pose Tracker> Hibiki Houjou [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
There is a ruckus. This is liable to continue for the foreseeable future - if the teachers aren't able to make arrangements, Hibiki and Kanade will have to entertain these kids for hours. And while it won't be the Animal Concert the whole time, 'quiet' isn't exactly on Hibiki's skill list.
The most concern she has for the uninvolved at the airport is to try - emphasis on try - to move the concert to the far side of the gate or seating area. Keep the kids together, and out of the way, and making an absolutely ridiculous racket...
...Pray that the crisis is resolved before Hibiki breaks out the soccer ball.
(Meanwhile, in Hibiki's duffel, a cat snoozes happily - and the hour for the Fari-Team to step in does not arrive.)
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
Lera stares at Heartful Elephant for a moment. She gawks -- then she glances down at her pocket. A quick glower for Soaring Sky, who has sold her out. And Broken Ground told her to put him inside the suitcase, because he didn't want to see children! She sighs, once. Then she claps her hands together and nods.
"ALL RIGHT, KIDS!" Lera yells. She has her 'tall, scary foreigner' act down pat. "Let's see some fighting! Get ready for a show! Here..."
She deposits the coins.
"....we..."
She selects her character, while she lets Nanoha do the same. She goes for a red-haired girl wearing a school uniform, hopping up and down, waving boxing glove-clad fists at nothing in particular. "...go!" she yells, before she adds: "LET'S GET READY TO RRRRRRRRRRUMBLE!"
Then the match starts.
Lera sends her character running straight for Nanoha's. Her finger slams repeatedly into the punch button; there is no effort for strategy or success here.
<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
Chitose catches up with the hiding children, and when she spots the children setting up to hide, she considers the best way to proceed.
1) She glares at them until they agree to go back (aka the Sei Itazura option) 2) Run up behind them and yell "Boo!" (the option her mother would go with) 3) Tell them they will be in big trouble if they don't shape up.
Chitose decides all of these ideas are wanting, so she goes for a more subtle option. "Children! There are presents waiting for good little boys and girls on the..." Chitose tries to figure out someplace in Okinawa that they're going to... and fails. "plane! Yes. But only if you return to the gate with your things."
Chitose tells the dirtiest of lies.
<Pose Tracker> Honoka Yukishiro [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Steven winds up actually being the first kid to make it to the arcade, loud and dark and thrilling. The others are en route but being held hostage to Hikaru's lecture, Fuu's leadership, and...
...Nanoha and Raising Heart's comedy routine.
The kids don't get it, not really. This is punny stuff, and they haven't quite graduated to that level yet. They kind of shift and titter nervously. The brightest of the bunch finally giggles, but...
Well, there's no critic like a six-year-old.
"SWEEET!!! FIHTAAAAAAA!!!"
And they're off, fleeing Fuu and Hikaru to buzz straight past Steven into the depths of the arcade. The only one who stays nearby is Mina. She looks up at Lera's comforting words. "Th-thanks," she sniffs. "I just... I wanted to play the c-crane game. I always lose, but... this time I thought maybe I could... win a souvenir for my first time to the airport..."
Lera's already arcading it up. Fair enough, the needs of the many are more important; the little girl squares her shoulders and marches towards the crane, electric guitar battle music resounding in her ears. This time... this time.
Kuniko declares a one-piece limit, and is virtually crowd-surfing the hordes of kids eagerly pushing her towards the souvenir shop. The orders she receives are mostly reasonable, but there are dozens of requests all at once from all directions. Truly this is a true test of Service...!
Nagi winds up approaching the would-be hide and seekers at the edge of the food court from the opposite direction as Chitose. One squeaks and burrows further into the seats, but the others are transfixed. "Somewhere supa dupa cool?" they inquire hopefully.
"...presents...?" they add, as Chitose comes at them from the other side, nearest the sneaker -- but all of them hear it. "YAAAAAY!!"
They scamper back towards the gate...
<Pose Tracker> Mana Aida [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
"Excuse me!"
The polite interjection comes as Mana Aida suddenly emerges from the crowd and slides neatly into place to Kuniko's left. She's holding a clipboard. It's the clipboard she was writing down ticketing information on, but now she's got a blank paper front and centre on it.
With a cheery smile, she clicks her heels together and delivers a bright and shining smile upon the crowd of squirts before her. "I know everyone wants to get some candy," she says with a brisk nod. "But if we all give our orders one at a time, we'll all get it faster, okay?! Now!"
She leans forward with a smile for the nearest kid. "Hi! I'm Mana! What's your name and what kind of candy would you like?"
She proceeds to repeat this from kid to kid. It will not save Kuniko any money. But it might help organize her personal hell.
<Pose Tracker> Garnet [None] has posed.
"I can't stand it. It's just too much." Garnet gets up and walks decisively towards the arcade. While she is tempted by the machines in general, particularly the rhythm games, she stops in front of the crane machine and Mina. "I can win you a souvenir if you'd like." Garnet says, "Just pick whichever one you like best.""
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [None] has posed.
All the flashing lights, electronic screens and box systems act as some sort of bug zapper, but for children, and zapping wallets empty. But the stimulation is helpful as a distraction when planes are heavily delayed. Steven reaches a fist into his pocket, and pulls out a handful of various coins, sifting through them and plucking out four, placing the rest back in his pocket. "I don't know any of these games. They don't look like the oens on my GameCube..." he says to himself.
And then, suddenly, a stampede of children of all ages blast past him, causing him to spin, topple, and drop his coins! "Oh no!" He quickly scrambles to pick them up, and heads inside the arcade's darkness.
The different games jsut seem to dazzle Steven to no end, making the decision all the more diffiult. He holds his backpack close as the boy closes in on Lera, observing her fight with all her might. Steven can only watch all starry-eyed as it all goes down.
He appears as though he wants to yell and shake his handful of coins excitedly, but barely seems to manage the panache to not be an utter distraction.
Yet.
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Admittedly, it's a series of puns that come fast and thick, so Fuu can understand why the younger children don't follow it enough to really care. Fortunately, Fuu got the names from Nanoha's abortive audience as well, and adds them to her list just as they go racing past.
And as much as Fuu would like to indulge in gaming for her own pleasure, she's conscientious enough about her responsibilities to keep tabs on the children. She's doing her best to keep track of where all of them are; thankfully it's just a one-floor arcade, not like the multi-story game centers of Akihabara (or Shinjuku or wherever else).
Parking herself at one of the crane games seems like a good way to stand watch for a bit; she busies herself trying to collect a Ho-oh plushie from a Pokemon-focused UFO Catcher game. (Managing to win it would not, however, make her Fuu Ho-Oh-ji ...)
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Kuniko manages to elbow her way to the front of the counter, where the candy itself mostly is. When people call out names, she points a little towards them, even saying the name if they are someone she recognizes or someone who she sees a name-tag on - and putting that piece up on the counter! Orderly distribution!
She sees Mana. Her eyes widen and she mouths 'THANK YOU' with a deep bow, or at least a suggestion of one. Such relief. Perhaps she will not disappoint them after all.
She stacks up more. Gum. Candy. Chocolate bar. Pocky. When she is given a vague statement ("Chocolate!") she picks something a little nicer than the child might be used to. She can't help it; even if it means Kuniko will be poor as a mouse there, she can't let a child's palate be completely ruled by mass produced glop!
Unless that's what the child specifically asks for, of course.
When Mana comes by she asks her, parenthetically, "What'd you get, anything? I guess I can hit him up after -" Kuniko trails off, perhaps because she knows... she's not going to be getting a very high grade accessory after this.
<Pose Tracker> Nanoha Takamachi [Infinity Institute (4)] has posed.
Nanoha's brow twitches.
She had practiced that for -weeks-.
<WHAT A TOUGH AUDIENCE.>
The plan to give the kids a show in Street Fighter seems to bomb though.
However Mina is spared her plight by Garnet's stoic amd TOWERING HEROISM.
What a relief. Well, Heartful Elephant gets stuffed away, much to Raising Heart's chagrin.
<BUT WE DID NOT GET TO THE BEST PART.>
Alas, Lera is forced to contend alone, as Nanoha is KIDNAPPED.
"GIVE ME YOUR MONEY."
"Wh-"
"I AM THE BLACK SAMURAI."
Cue chiptune rock and roll theme.
There's antics involved here. Antics that probably involve a lost child somewhere along the way, and a 1980's pinball machine.
<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
Chitose watches the hiding kids flee back to the gate. She cups her hand around her mouth for a moment as she ponders what just happened. "I did not expect that to work." She looks back at Nagi and shrugs helplessly. "I... actually was expecting them to think I was lying." There always was one kid that could see through the lies of adults, but somehow she got the group that didn't have one. "Now what to do when they get on the plane..."
She walks off after them, plotting what to do next.
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
15 Seconds Into Lera's Street Fighter Battle Against a 6 Year-Old:
"FLAWLESS VICTORY!" the computerized announcer yells.
Lera watches her emptied life bar with wide eyes, her lip trembling. Did... did she really just get schooled by a kindergartener?
<Pose Tracker> Honoka Yukishiro [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
The joint task force of Mana and Kuniko succeed at distributing Candy To The Masses, who cease their howling, enthusiastic or otherwise, to chomp and slurp and generally nom on their ill-gotten gains. It doesn't take much encouragement to get them to trickle back towards the gate along with Chitose and her group.
The gate is /loud/, though, with lots of merry screaming and chanting and animal imitation. Some of the less-humorous adults in the area are starting to get very steamed indeed -- something will need to be done pretty quickly, or else... well, it's hard to say or else what. Maybe the adults will just suffer in silence.
The arcade is also loud, though differently. Fuu manages to quickly and easily secure herself a prize, while Nanoha and Lera pursue their victories and Steven spectates. Dozens of other children are starting to get into the games, too, not without the occasional minor fight over turn order, but nothing too serious.
And Mina loses the crane game three times before Garnet shows up. And up, and up... she towers over the little girl, who blinks back more nascent tears of frustration to nibble her lip at the offer.
"Ummm..."
Once again her shoulders are firmly squared.
"Th-thank you, ma'am, but if I don't win it myself... it wouldn't have any, any... it wouldn't be the same. Do you maybe have any advice, are you good at crane games?"
<Pose Tracker> Mana Aida [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Mana does not even think about bailing Kuniko out financially because if it were her, she'd probably spend a pile of money on these kids too. To her Kuniko's just doing a good deed!
"Mm!" she says with a smile and a nod for the older girl, during a brief respite from taking orders. She gestures to the bow at her collar; the little gold bead has been clasped perfectly there. "It's just like the one Makopi dropped at the concert. I can't believe that souvenir merchant had one just like it! It's such a coincidence!"
She hands the clipboard to Kuniko, then, her smile wide and bright. "That's all their orders! It's so nice of you to help out like this, Kuniko-san!"
For the children, then, it's another big smile as she claps her hands together. "Don't eat too much before you get on the plane, okay? If you do, you'll have to go potty, and I heard it's hard on an airplane! Plus if you save room, you'll get to have some sata andagi when we arrive, and it's really good!"
<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Shidou [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.
Hikaru also goes to the arcade with Fuu-chan. She's mostly playing classic retro games, like Galaga, Pole Position, and Dig-Dug for the time being. Apparently she's in a nostalgic mood right now. She has some good skills too, although Fuu-chan would probably best her any day.
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
With a Ho-oh plushie tucked under her arm, Fuu continues making the rounds of the arcade, keeping track of where everybody is to the best of her ability. She has to manage a couple of other minor crises, but eventually manages to corral a few of her charges into a cooperative game of X-Men, a few others - probably older grade-schoolers - into a similar game of D&D: Tower of Doom. There's even an old Nintendo PlayChoice machine where she discovers a young one learning the antique glory that is the original old-school Super Mario Bros.
As she predicted, the children do start running out of money fairly quickly; Street Fighter is hardly Fuu's thing (although she does have a minor penchant for Aquapazza, or Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax).
There's one fighting game which Fuu finds herself staring at for a few moments in between herding elementary-schoolers: namely, a game by Arc System Works where the characters are all embodiments of different fantasy RPG archetypes, from the child hero to the princess to - surprisingly - the evil overlord.
She resists the urge to feed the machine a 100-yen coin, and goes back to making sure her charges are all where she knows them, and keeps an ear alert for further announcements about Flight 2184, as well as minding her pocket for buzzes from her phone.
<Pose Tracker> Garnet [None] has posed.
"It's complicated. It helps if you just close your eyes, and visualize how you're going to approach it." Garnet touches Mina on the shoulder briefly, imperceptibly, and transfers an incredibly localized Future Vision of her next crane attempt, showing her the path to victory. "But it's up to you to make it real." Garnet smiles softly at the girl, and wishes her luck.
Since she's in the arcade, Garnet spends the next hour learning to play various games, but more importantly, learning to QUIT PLAYING various games. She was more than a little embarrassed at her Meat Beat Mania obsession, and views the ability to play games in moderation as shoring up a weakness, an important step in her self-development!
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [None] has posed.
Well, uh. That ended poorly. The person fighting Lera, a kid beating her soundly, and even getting a special announcement i nthe game for doing so happens. "Oh, I am nto very good at those games either. Don't feel bad," Steven says, attempting to console the stranger. I hear there are whole tournaments dedicated to this game. Those guys must be crazy good." A little off topic, but hopefuly noteworthy regardless.
"Better luck next time!" he says to Lera as he scampers off, money in tow. A particular game has caught his eye! A racing game!
Steven quickly plops down into the driver's seat, and gets adjusted to reach the pedals. The game has a remarkable numbr of vehicles to choose from, some of which make no sense for a race game! After going through the massive automobile list, he seems to settle on a... van? A very colorful van. Despite the ferrari being right beside the choice with much better stats, a van is indeed chosen, and Steven starts the race! "Vroom! Look out! I have to get the my worldwide concert! I can't disappoint the fans!" He can be heard talking to himself about various reasons he has to win the race, mostly having to do with some kind of music career, a Ukelele, and a Lion.
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Kuniko leans in for a moment to look at it. "Ohhh, that's great, it really sets off your eyes," she tells Mana, before she's given a clipboard!
OF DOOM.
The doom is her own, as it turns out. Most of Kuniko's souvenier money is thrown down. She may have to quietly let Chef pick up the check if he goes anywhere fancy and gourmet with them, though Kuniko is at least in a good position to economize on personal meals. What with everything.
But even so, here, now, handing out candy to children - it's hard for her to get that upset. She may mope on the plane. Right now? Kuniko feels alright.
"Hey, take your time and taste this," she says, pretty often, when she's made a slightly fancier substitution. More often, she says, "Stay around the gate, OK? You don't want to get left if the plane gets here early. Just stick with everyone and -" That's about as far as the conversation really manages to get.
Still, it's an attempt!
While drifting back towards the gate herself, Kuniko says to Mana, "I didn't even notice Makopi dropping something. Still, lucky, huh?" She also backs up the statement with, "Sata andagi is /amazing/. Take it from me!" Even if she hasn't actually had it 'for real' yet.
<Pose Tracker> Honoka Yukishiro [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER...
"Flight 2184 is now boarding. I repeat, Flight 2194 is now boarding. Please proceed to Gate 51A immediately."
Time flies when you're having fun!
The teachers returned with trays of snacks, and also directions for the older kids -- those who aren't chaperones -- to wait in a nearby, but distinctly separate, lounge. Many of the youngsters, worn out by their entertaining afternoon, wind up taking naps at the gate, anyway.
But they're roused by their friends and form a neat and biddable line. Each has their backpack, after a bit of last minute name-tag checking, and not a single student is lost.
One at a time, they disappear onto the plane. Many of them turn over their shoulder to thank an onee-chan for candy (Kenjiro, mastermind of that heist, salutes Kuniko and Mana) or a good round of video game battle (Fuu, Hikaru, Nanoha and Lera, and their new friend Steven). Mina, joyfully clutching her plush shiba inu, a facsimile of the Tokyo-legendary Hachi, waves frantically at Garnet before disappearing inside.
A few minutes later, the plane leaps into the sky with a joyous roar, towards Okinawa.
Soon another will take its place, to collect the next batch of kids -- but the sharp-eyed notice a shadow against the sun, plummeting towards the elementary schoolers' airplane. Those who didn't watch through the windows might be warned instead by their tiny fairy companions, their Devices, or simply a glimpse of the future.
There's danger up there, threatening the tiniest of tykes.
Boarding the next plane is going to have to wait.
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW...!
