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[ for the meantime, cinder ignores further possible segues into flirtation. her little "kiss" and fragile maiden act has exhausted cinder's capacity to play the part further. as nonon has proven her worth as a fighter and a companion, she needs to integrate the idea that cinder is less girlfriend material and more... mistress material. and leave it at that.
cinder keeps her usual stride as if nonon isn't really there. and rather than talk to nonon, it seems like she's just voicing her complaints aloud. it's disappointing considering how intriguing the new replacements was making their regime sound. ]
Another thing to thank CERES for. For all their talk of management changes, it seems everything is still the same.
cinder keeps her usual stride as if nonon isn't really there. and rather than talk to nonon, it seems like she's just voicing her complaints aloud. it's disappointing considering how intriguing the new replacements was making their regime sound. ]
Another thing to thank CERES for. For all their talk of management changes, it seems everything is still the same.
[ as hawke picks up on cinder's metaphor, a slow smile spreads out across her face. she can't help but think if this woman wants to not appear threatening, she's doing a very poor job at it, really. so, she crosses her arms over her chest and gives a hum of thought, as if she's considering cinder's words. her eyes fall to the monster, fingers tapping against her bicep. ]
I do. Yet I haven't met a spider yet who I can't, [ she claps her hands together then, sudden and quick ] squish. Spiders are disgusting but in the end, between the two of us -- we both know who's the predator and who's the prey.
[ she shrugs and returns her hands across her chest, the message clear. if cinder wants to attack her, hawke won't hesitate. she's not ronan, no. she's not ruby either. she's older, and wiser, and far more dangerous for all her glibness. the easiest way to deal with hawke is to just let her do what she'd like, really. ]
I do. Yet I haven't met a spider yet who I can't, [ she claps her hands together then, sudden and quick ] squish. Spiders are disgusting but in the end, between the two of us -- we both know who's the predator and who's the prey.
[ she shrugs and returns her hands across her chest, the message clear. if cinder wants to attack her, hawke won't hesitate. she's not ronan, no. she's not ruby either. she's older, and wiser, and far more dangerous for all her glibness. the easiest way to deal with hawke is to just let her do what she'd like, really. ]
Ahaha~! Nobody in particular right now. I've been doing contract work for events, whenever people need their security beefed up or something more discrete than an entire line of men in black. It's good pay, especially for the time I need to put in, but mostly I just train in ViViD.
[ So you know, if somebody wants to hire her long term, the option is always open. Training, teaching, and fighting are the only things Nanoha's especially good at, so she'll always take the chance to use these skills both for the greater good and to fill her rice bowl, and when you're doing something you love, there's no reason to be anything but enthusiastic. ]
[ So you know, if somebody wants to hire her long term, the option is always open. Training, teaching, and fighting are the only things Nanoha's especially good at, so she'll always take the chance to use these skills both for the greater good and to fill her rice bowl, and when you're doing something you love, there's no reason to be anything but enthusiastic. ]
[ There is... something about Cinder that has Nonon's full attention. She doesn't look away at anyone else, she doesn't even think about anyone else really. It's actually more of a surprise to her that Cinder is done, than the change of music from acceptable to disgusting. ]
...Oh, of course. [ She smiles, trying not to look like she was spacing out for a moment, letting go of Cinder and taking a step back. ]
I should probably go find my...[ She really hates to call Ryuko a friend!! ...underclassman ] and make sure she's not destroying the party.
...Oh, of course. [ She smiles, trying not to look like she was spacing out for a moment, letting go of Cinder and taking a step back. ]
I should probably go find my...[ She really hates to call Ryuko a friend!! ...underclassman ] and make sure she's not destroying the party.
[ And here Nonon thinks Cinder actually likes her!! She should be used to this kind of manipulation, but then, the only reason she knew to distrust Ragyo and not... fall for her best friend's mother, was because Satsuki told her every terrible thing that the woman had done.
Still she has to try to walk a little faster to keep up with Cinder, not exactly realizing why she might be acting like that. ]
I guess cutting the head off the snake isn't good enough. We should take CERES out ourselves and put someone we can actually trust in charge.
Still she has to try to walk a little faster to keep up with Cinder, not exactly realizing why she might be acting like that. ]
I guess cutting the head off the snake isn't good enough. We should take CERES out ourselves and put someone we can actually trust in charge.
[ underclassman? well, cinder should do the same. she's seen mercury's name listed on her device. this dance has served as a rather amusing distraction so when nonon parts, she smiles rather plainly. ]
Same.
[ normally, one would wave, curtsy or perform some sort of physical gesture to establish their goodbyes but cinder does none of those things. her head remains tilted and it's a considerable effort on her part to... well, form the words. ]
It's been... a pleasure to meet you. I hope we meet under more lively circumstances.
[ by that she means, under a circumstance with more action and violence naturally. she doesn't wait for nonon to air mutual sentiments as cinder turns on her heels. walking away and blending into the crowd until she's gone. out of the ballroom and out of view. ]
Same.
[ normally, one would wave, curtsy or perform some sort of physical gesture to establish their goodbyes but cinder does none of those things. her head remains tilted and it's a considerable effort on her part to... well, form the words. ]
It's been... a pleasure to meet you. I hope we meet under more lively circumstances.
[ by that she means, under a circumstance with more action and violence naturally. she doesn't wait for nonon to air mutual sentiments as cinder turns on her heels. walking away and blending into the crowd until she's gone. out of the ballroom and out of view. ]
Really, now? I find that hard to believe. Maybe we should play sometime.
[ she's not sure now if he's just over-confident or being honest. do you really think you're lady gaga, phoenix... she almost wants to see it for herself. phoenix is an odd combination of earnest and pitiful and that's just from this conversation. ]
[ she's not sure now if he's just over-confident or being honest. do you really think you're lady gaga, phoenix... she almost wants to see it for herself. phoenix is an odd combination of earnest and pitiful and that's just from this conversation. ]
I'm sure we will.
[ Did she catch Cinder's attention or not? That's what Nonon is thinking as she watches the other girl leave. She isn't even sure why she cares what that other girl thinks, but Nonon has a strange feeling in her that she's not used to... ]
[ Did she catch Cinder's attention or not? That's what Nonon is thinking as she watches the other girl leave. She isn't even sure why she cares what that other girl thinks, but Nonon has a strange feeling in her that she's not used to... ]
[I guess a little confidence only goes so far...]
I would be glad to play with you and show you what I'm made of. Swing by the casino anytime...
I would be glad to play with you and show you what I'm made of. Swing by the casino anytime...
So you'll protect anyone who pays? ... Interesting.
[ even though it might not have been nanoha's intention she makes a considerably good sales pitch. whether she's aware of it or not. cinder could definitely use security (for what yet she doesn't know) and any time she can choose to be discreet is an option that's considerably advantageous. hmm... nanoha is strong but she'd like to see a little more. is this a job interview now? perhaps. ]
I might not be able to pay you right now but if we get out of here expect to be rewarded considerably.
[ because cinder hadn't really just been walking around. she'd been buying some time to respawn the familiar beast nanoha just shot down moments before. it appears in a clearing a little ahead of them and growls, aggressively, in their direction. ]
That isn't mine.
[ which is a blatant lie but given that it seems to come at them, does nanoha really have time to shoot her and be certain or shoot the monster that's charing towards them? cinder looks ready to jump out of the way with whichever action nanoha decides. ]
[ even though it might not have been nanoha's intention she makes a considerably good sales pitch. whether she's aware of it or not. cinder could definitely use security (for what yet she doesn't know) and any time she can choose to be discreet is an option that's considerably advantageous. hmm... nanoha is strong but she'd like to see a little more. is this a job interview now? perhaps. ]
I might not be able to pay you right now but if we get out of here expect to be rewarded considerably.
[ because cinder hadn't really just been walking around. she'd been buying some time to respawn the familiar beast nanoha just shot down moments before. it appears in a clearing a little ahead of them and growls, aggressively, in their direction. ]
That isn't mine.
[ which is a blatant lie but given that it seems to come at them, does nanoha really have time to shoot her and be certain or shoot the monster that's charing towards them? cinder looks ready to jump out of the way with whichever action nanoha decides. ]
[ appearing threatening may have been cinder's initial intention but as this... repartee wears on, cinder isn't necessarily bored nor hesitant to attack hawke at a moment's notice but is deliberating her options. the choice to continue talking only serves to do nothing but further cinder's internal irritation, attack and there's a high chance that cinder's reputation will precede her. not an intelligent play to make when there's a probability that hawke knows those pesky beacon students.
predator or prey. if the answer is obvious then cinder has done a very poor job of masking her overall objectives. she waves her own hand, dismissively. ]
Flattering. But I'm not really here to fight, honestly.
[ purposely echoing hawke's initial sentiments. still. it would be anti-climatic to end it here though so cinder shrugs. points her head to the direction of her beast at which it lunges at hawke. ]
He is, though.
[ and when and if hawke manages to defender herself and slice it half as it reaches her, cinder has already disappeared from her previous spot. hiding somewhere when she can witness the fight but not be detected herself have fun with squishing that, hawke. ]
predator or prey. if the answer is obvious then cinder has done a very poor job of masking her overall objectives. she waves her own hand, dismissively. ]
Flattering. But I'm not really here to fight, honestly.
[ purposely echoing hawke's initial sentiments. still. it would be anti-climatic to end it here though so cinder shrugs. points her head to the direction of her beast at which it lunges at hawke. ]
He is, though.
[ and when and if hawke manages to defender herself and slice it half as it reaches her, cinder has already disappeared from her previous spot. hiding somewhere when she can witness the fight but not be detected herself have fun with squishing that, hawke. ]
Well then, I'd better work twice as hard!
[ Nanoha doesn't really work for the money so much as she is just a born workaholic, but she's not nearly well-off enough to complain about getting a little extra. ]
So let's take care of whatever's in front of us, shall we?
[ She's the only one fighting here, so if anyone asks she's talking to her Device.
A monster she turned to dust with one shot the first time around probably wasn't going to be a big deal for them. At least, that's what Nanoha thought as she fired another beam at it. The Divine Buster worked last time, so why fix what's not broken, right? ]
[ Nanoha doesn't really work for the money so much as she is just a born workaholic, but she's not nearly well-off enough to complain about getting a little extra. ]
So let's take care of whatever's in front of us, shall we?
[ She's the only one fighting here, so if anyone asks she's talking to her Device.
A monster she turned to dust with one shot the first time around probably wasn't going to be a big deal for them. At least, that's what Nanoha thought as she fired another beam at it. The Divine Buster worked last time, so why fix what's not broken, right? ]
Gladly. I'll see you around then, Mr. Wright. Next time we meet hopefully there will still be a casino.
[ haha foreshadows to like... four months later or however long it's been. but with that, cinder is content to part ways with the promise of another meeting now left in the air. she doesn't really wait for him to say goodbye as she disperses into the crowd. ]
[ haha foreshadows to like... four months later or however long it's been. but with that, cinder is content to part ways with the promise of another meeting now left in the air. she doesn't really wait for him to say goodbye as she disperses into the crowd. ]
[ it more or less works the same way. the monster that had been roaring up a storm, mowing down trees; will easily be disintegrated in a one-shot kill. it's not that cinder respawned it with the hopes of injuring nanoha but instead to analyze this so called "divine buster" attack. the people here don't rely on dust, semblance and aura like those from the real so this is... a learning experience.
her hand raise to her hips as if preparing to witness a great show. and really, that's not untrue. before nanoha attacks though (because they can spare the time) she turns her head to her almost like she's about to give her a pep talk. except not really. ]
Before you do, you're going to have to tell me exactly why "buster" is so "divine" once you're done with it.
[ and don't think that nanonha's "device" doesn't pique cinder's curiosity either. ]
her hand raise to her hips as if preparing to witness a great show. and really, that's not untrue. before nanoha attacks though (because they can spare the time) she turns her head to her almost like she's about to give her a pep talk. except not really. ]
Before you do, you're going to have to tell me exactly why "buster" is so "divine" once you're done with it.
[ and don't think that nanonha's "device" doesn't pique cinder's curiosity either. ]
[ it does... very little.
cinder watches as rock lee is tossed backwards with the same amount of force he dove into it with. from her point of view, it seems to be... made of slime (ew) but with enough solidness to prevent rock lee from creating a hole in it. how he intends to fight it, she doesn't know. if he knew magic of some kind like she did, he might stand a chance but she needs to get out of the swamp first before offering any of her assistance. ]
Your life won't mean much if it ends before I manage to get out of here.
[ at least, distract it while she pulls herself out. the swamp seems infinitely more resistant than the previous time she was in here. ]
cinder watches as rock lee is tossed backwards with the same amount of force he dove into it with. from her point of view, it seems to be... made of slime (ew) but with enough solidness to prevent rock lee from creating a hole in it. how he intends to fight it, she doesn't know. if he knew magic of some kind like she did, he might stand a chance but she needs to get out of the swamp first before offering any of her assistance. ]
Your life won't mean much if it ends before I manage to get out of here.
[ at least, distract it while she pulls herself out. the swamp seems infinitely more resistant than the previous time she was in here. ]
[ my, nonon. what a wonderful idea. cinder stops in her tracks and allows nonon to catch up. there's some truth to her statement and cinder is... almost impressed by it. as much as she enjoys talking to ms. bellona, there is some merit from having someone they trusted to overthrow her. still, her initial ideas had always been to infiltrate. not overtake.
but as cinder's stay here extends, there's more merit to nonon's statement than she's realized. ] Like a revolt? [ cinder laughs if only to minimize the overall impact. she doesn't really want nonon to know how good of an idea she thinks that is. it might be unfeasible but with time... ]
Do you have any candidates?
[ nonon is a fountain of good suggestions, right now. so who exactly would you nominate for role of "the girl on fire"? ]
but as cinder's stay here extends, there's more merit to nonon's statement than she's realized. ] Like a revolt? [ cinder laughs if only to minimize the overall impact. she doesn't really want nonon to know how good of an idea she thinks that is. it might be unfeasible but with time... ]
Do you have any candidates?
[ nonon is a fountain of good suggestions, right now. so who exactly would you nominate for role of "the girl on fire"? ]
[Wow. That was some blow. Lee just barely avoids falling into the swamp and starts running along the surface again.]
Ah... That is a good point, Tink-san! I promise to do my best to stay alive until you are safe!!
[He then gets a different idea. He speeds up and starts running circles around the slime monster, to distract it and divide its attention.]
Ah... That is a good point, Tink-san! I promise to do my best to stay alive until you are safe!!
[He then gets a different idea. He speeds up and starts running circles around the slime monster, to distract it and divide its attention.]
[ Nonon perks up, seeing how Cinder finally stops, walking a few of the steps quickly to catch up, one arm crossed over her chest the other pulling a piece of her hair behind her ear. Seems like she got Cinder's attention and she can't help but feel accomplished. Time to put on the smug charm apparently. ]
It can't be any one of us, there's no way CERES trusts us that much, keeping us all locked down here. Maybe someone who already works in the ranks that we can either buy or intimidate.
[ ...She really is a villain, and she shows zero remorse in her style of plannings. ]
It can't be any one of us, there's no way CERES trusts us that much, keeping us all locked down here. Maybe someone who already works in the ranks that we can either buy or intimidate.
[ ...She really is a villain, and she shows zero remorse in her style of plannings. ]
[ The pink beam turns the monster into its constituent bytes, tearing through dirt and foliage as easily as it did its target, and Nanoha smiled at a job well done, turning back to Cinder to answer her question. ]
Divine Buster is just a name, it's a pure magic blast.
[ Thematically Nanoha's spells were mostly named for celestial bodies. The stars and heavens, as someone of the sky. There was nothing actually holy about them though. As far as Nanoha knew, gods and angels didn't exist. Besides, according to her opponents, she was more demon than god. ]
Raising Heart decided it sounded good.
Divine Buster is just a name, it's a pure magic blast.
[ Thematically Nanoha's spells were mostly named for celestial bodies. The stars and heavens, as someone of the sky. There was nothing actually holy about them though. As far as Nanoha knew, gods and angels didn't exist. Besides, according to her opponents, she was more demon than god. ]
Raising Heart decided it sounded good.
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