[Private Video - Open to Action]

[flamescout]

[Raye's partied out. That's more social activity than she's had since the Cherry Blossom festival she hosted, and even then, she hadn't really gone out of her way to talk to very many people. She leans on the railing of her apartment porch, gazing out at the city quietly. Tendrils of long black hair float in the hot summer gusts, brushing over her shoulders and the curve of her back. It's a long shot, she knows, but she's got to try. Maybe a call will be enough to shake away their encroaching apathy. Taking out her radio, she looks down at it before pressing a few buttons.]

Private Video to Jaune Arc and Harry Dresden

Haven't heard from either of you two in a while. Let me know if you're okay.

[She hesitates for a moment, wanting to say more. But she doesn't. Her gut tightens, and so does the line of her mouth.]

I guess that's all.

[The video ends as she shuts off the radio and slips it into the back pocket of her white jeans. Then, holding the railing, she leans back and takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. It's hot out, and she'd rather stay inside with the air conditioning, but right now a walk sounds pretty good.]

[Locking up her apartment, she heads downstairs with her purse slung over her shoulder and steps onto the streets. Where to go? It doesn't matter. Just somewhere. Her sneakers are laced up tight, and the forest green tank top lets her arms breathe better in the summer heat.]

[She hopes they're not gone, but...a little voice in her head tells her she knew they wouldn't stay. Men never do.]

Comments

[weavemyownfate]

[Running into Raye wasn't exactly on her list of 'things to do' today as she's been incredibly busy working on her own projects that need to get rolling soon. But with the opportunity soon to present itself, the Deputy Guardian will most certainly take it.

She just so happens to be in Genessia City again today. Actually she's been doing a lot of that lately, making at least two trips a day to The Bay and just so happens to be heading back North along 16th when she ends up in the miko's path..

Her expression is flat as usual, her steps purposeful, but eventually comes to a stop.]

Raye Hino. [She murmurs with a nod of further aknowledgement.] It has been some time.

[flamescout]

Oh. Hey, Satsuki.

[It HAS been a while, hasn't it? Raye's not sure what to think of her. On the one hand, their last meeting demonstrated that Satsuki was a respectable and dependable sort of person. She was aggressive in her search for answers, but not rude or childish about getting them. On the other hand, working with Wily? There was a lot Raye just wasn't sure about, but her temper hadn't been triggered into making any snap judgments or polarizing assumptions.]

How is the school going?

[weavemyownfate]

[Satsuki's well aware of the controversy surrounding her decision now, but also seems to have determined that it doesn't really matter in the long run. The bottom line is that they are compatible and he possesses the best resources for her needs. So when asked that question, she suspects she may know what's coming up next.

That said, she shakes her head.]

It is moving along. Not as smoothly as I had originally hoped, but I have since accepted I was far too optimistic with how my approach would work.

That said, with the delays it may be another month before things are complete. Hopefully sooner. Are you at all interested in attending?

[flamescout]

I'm not sure. Maybe.

[She wants to keep an eye on things in any case, more because Wily has something to do with it than Satsuki.]

It's going to be difficult convincing my friends to go. They're not exactly the scholarly types.

[Raye could probably goad Usagi into it by saying it's important for the Moon Princess to not be a total flunked out ditz. Minako, though...]

Does it have a decent sports program?

[weavemyownfate]

Fair enough.

[Satsuki has since stood down on the 'mandatory' attendence, which has forced her to try and figure out what would become an attractive incentive. And Raye ends up hitting that nail right on the head, even if it isn't clear she's speaking of Minako specificaly.]

Yes, I have noticed a couple of those that fit that description. But I am confident I can find some solution provided I gather enough information.

Sports programs and other clubs are a tricky subject at the moment. I will have means to support their training, but being able to form teams may prove more difficult as it is dependant on student interest.

[ Action ]

[celestial_wizard]

[ The heat wasn't bad. It reminded her of Natsu; though these days she found herself thinking about him more and more. Actually asking him on a date was a bold move for her - pity he didn't catch the meaning in it. But oh well, spending time with her best friend was always a plus. Taking a break from mission, she ventured out of Fayren, intent on visiting some of her friends in the other cities - and look at that, Raye was the first on her list. ]

Raye~! I was just on my way to your shrine!

[ Action ]

[flamescout]

[Raye drew up short, clearly surprised to be running into someone she knew.]

Lucy?

[Huh.]

It's still open if you want to go visit. I'm usually only there in the early mornings.

[Or when she was bored and had nothing better to do than relax in one of the few environments that made her feel comfortable.]

[ Action ]

[celestial_wizard]

Well I was going to visit to see you, really! How have you been doing? It's been a while.

[ Action ]

[flamescout]

I'm all right.

[Not like she's just going to spill her guts easily. Just sharing in someone else's company is good enough for her.]

What about you? Making much headway in what we talked about last time?

[Meaning, a certain oblivious moron with pink hair?]

( action )

[banishment]

[ zuko's had his fill of festivities for the evening, too. his curiosity's been sated and his stomach's full — and honestly, that's all he was expecting to get out of showing up to a party thrown by someone he'd just met for someone he didn't know at all. he was still a little flustered from that someone — usagi, was it? — assuming he was there because he was minako aino's boyfriend.

girls are crazy.

he's distracted by that though as he nearly collides with one, stumbling back and shooting a hand out to grab her wrist or arm in case she needs steadying, too. ]

Sorry, sorry, sorry!

( action )

[flamescout]

Hey, watch out!

[Too late. Raye stumbles back, though Zuko's quick reflexes ensure she doesn't wind up eating sidewalk. Wouldn't THAT make her bad mood even worse! She glowers at him reproachfully, but hesitates when she sees the scar. Oh right...he was at the party. She'd never met him before that, so she had to assume he knew Minako.]

[So she won't yell at him JUST yet, but she doesn't look happy either.]

What was THAT all about?

( action )

[banishment]

[ people always zero in on his scar. and why wouldn't they? his father marked him purposely in a way that he'd be unable to hide, so he'd have to live out the rest of his days wearing his shame on his face. except, zuko doesn't see it as shame anymore. it's a mark of pride and bravery. a story twisted around from that of a boy who was burned to a boy who had the courage to speak out against the wrongful actions of his nation.

it doesn't bother him that she looks. they always look. they'll continue to look. he's used to it. he got used it years ago. ]

Spaced out. Still working out the layout of this place. [ he scrubs at the back of his head awkwardly with one hand. he isn't a people person. he's not good at just... being a person, to be honest. ] Sorry.

( action )

[flamescout]

[Kind of hard not to look when it's smack dab on the half of his face. It's be weirder if she refused to look at all, in her opinion. But she doesn't flinch, nor does she stare. She's curious about how he got it, but that isn't the kind of conversation you have with someone who literally bumped into you on the street.]

[He's apologizing, at least, so despite her sour mood, she doesn't really have the heart to bite his head off right now.]

It takes a little while to get used to. Weren't you at Usagi's birthday party?

[She's pretty sure she saw him there.]

[action]

[anachronize]

[Merlin's efforts to learn the layout of the city have been mostly successful, though someone should really help the old guy to figure out where he's going. This is the current situation Raye might find him in, as he's sitting on a bench with pipe in hand, his hat off of his head and to the side. Between his legs is a large purple bag, still containing all of his things from home. In his hands is his lit pipe. While stopped for a smoke, he's idly flicking his wand in the air, changing the smoke into different shaped objects and animals.]

Goodness me, I've forgotten how large modern cities could be...

[Though he seems so lost in thought, he doesn't notice Raye.]

[action]

[flamescout]

[What in the WORLD...? Did they just put a wizard in the city? A WIZARD? Raye looks skyward and squints. She knows they're not exactly picky about who they put here, but...oh well. They've put in much worse than kindly-looking old magical men. If he were taller, she might even believe that he's Harry Dresden taken from the future. Either way, she's guessing he's new here.]

Good morning.

[She can be polite to her elders. ...Until they give her a reason not to.]

I'm guessing you just got here. Are you holding up okay?

[action]

[anachronize]

[Merlin is startled from his day dreaming, glancing over in her direction.]

O-Oh yes! quite alright my dear! Just finding myself on a wayward path.

[Just for a bit of showing off, he puffs out a series of smoke clouds he forms into spelling out his name.]

Merlin, m'lady. At your service!

[action]

[flamescout]

[Raye stares in shock. Maybe she's not as up to date on current trends as she should be, but history is one of her best subjects, as well as classic literature. She knows who Merlin is.]

THE Merlin?!

[Maybe it's just a common name for wizards...?]

[Action]

[dragonform]

[In Raye's travels, she may find Ryu looking particularly fascinated at various technologies that either don't exist in his world, or stuff that's archaic compared to his new findings. If his gawking wasn't enough, his state of dress certainly makes him stand out.]

[Action]

[flamescout]

[Raye pauses, one foot lifted in the air. Seeing the armor, her heart jumped into her throat because she thought for a moment that it was Jaune. But it's not. The hair is the wrong color, and he's not wearing his trademark jeans. It's just some other guy in armor. Is he ogling the vending machines...?]

You all right over there?

[Action]

[dragonform]

[He might be, don't judge. Ryu turns to see Raye, readjusting the sword hanging on his back to match his straightened posture.]

Of course! They just don't have stuff like this where I come from. Do you know what this machine is? I think I see food in it.

[Action]

[flamescout]

Yeah, it's a vending machine. Here...

[She moves forward, gently nudging him aside as she fishes into her pocket for a bill.]

You put money into the slot, like this. Then you look for the number of the item you want...A3 for the chocolate bar...

[Raye punches in the number.]

Then it spits out your change here, and the candy bar drops down here for you to pull it out.

[She stoops and reaches into the slot to withdraw the chocolate.]

It's pretty easy, you'll get the hang of it in no time. Want to give it a shot?

[Action]

[greeedofgreen]

[Someone is out right now getting up to some mischief. If Raye were to look down one of the alleys that she is passing, she'd see the sight of Uva putting a coin into some frightened person and spawning a creature wrapped in white bandages from them. He's not looking to fight at the moment, so any unwanted attention was just going to end with him fleeing.]

[Action]

[flamescout]

[WHAT?! She thought things like this were left behind in her version of Tokyo! She almost doesn't believe what she sees, but there's no mistaking bad vibes like those. Ducking out of sight, Raye withdraws her wand.]

MARS STAR POWER!

[One nifty stock footage transformation later, which in reality takes only a split second to occur, and there's a silhouette blocking the alleyway.]

Hold it right there!

[Action]

[greeedofgreen]

[And Uva thought he left behind meddling henshining people back in his own. He looks over his shoulder to her and the person he put the coin in runs off, but the creature that he brought from them is still there.

Uva turns to her, stroking his claw a little bit. What was this? Some nosy little high school kid?]

Get out of here. I'm busy.

[Action]

[flamescout]

Busy making monsters? You'd better have a good explanation for this. And I'm warning you...

[Sailor Mars shifts her stance, narrowing her eyes as she gestures.]

I'll know if you're lying!