(no subject)

[oneechan]

Who: Ran Mouri and...? (read: open to all!)
Where: Outskirts near the forest.
When: After "Shinichi's" arrival, early morning
Style: Anything~
Status: OPEN!

Ran's usual morning jog took a little detour today. Instead of a refreshed and uplifted expression on the Japanese girl's face, her features were sharpened with a subdued rage. She breathed steady, channeling the negative energy into her legs, pushing off each step as her sneakers hit the pavement.

Beads of sweat ran down her face as she veered off her usual path and towards the forest, she she continued forward until, without warning--

"HaaAAAAAAAAHHHH!" A fierce scream pierced the peaceful morning, followed by a deafening crack as her foot connected with a tree mid-trunk. Her leg still raised, fists tightly clenched, Ran panted heavily, her bangs matted against her dewy forehead. She drew back her leg slowly. "Stupid...SHINICHI!!!" She punctuated her cry with a punch, followed by a roundhouse kick.

Stepping back, she let out a sigh, leaving the poor tree still standing, but with a sizable crevice now indented into its surface. Pushing back her damp bangs with the back of her hand, she smiled. "Well! That felt better!"

Comments

[rainbowarch]

In Vatheon, there's little to no need to patrol the areas around the Embryon base, but not only was patrolling something Cielo was used to, it gave him an excuse to go outside and just explore.

The forest was one of his favorite places to go. He liked seeing all the plants and enjoying the quiet.

Except today, there was a piercing scream. Following the source of the noise, Cielo found the source of the noise and was just in time to see Ran unleash her fury onto that poor tree.

That is positively terrifying.

Sitting crosslegged on a nearby rock, he dared to ask, "...did that tree do something to you?"

[oneechan]

Ran lowered her arm from her forehead and turned her attention to the fellow that addressed her. Where had he suddenly come from..? Well, either way, hopefully practicing her karate on the trees here wasn't a violation of any sort of 'rule' around here, but--

"A-he-he-heh..." She nervously laughed and swung her arms behind her, resting them in the small of her back. "It resembled a stupid Japanese high school boy, I guess..."

[rainbowarch]

Cielo didn't understand what the word Japanese meant and he only had this vague understanding of what school was. Serph seemed to know more about it than him, so Cielo made a mental note to ask him about it later.

"You know a person who looks like a tree?"

He's asking in complete earnestness.

[oneechan]

"Hmph. He's as dense as one." Ran muttered under her breath, glaring angrily at the damage she'd inflicted on the innocent plant.

"But, well..." She nervously laughed. "No, not exactly, but...I had to kick something. Better that than him, I guess."

[rainbowarch]

Oh, so she was just venting some frustration. Like when Heat would punch walls. Hard enough to do similar damage.

This could easily backfire on him but...

"Ah well, next time...can you make it not a tree?"

[oneechan]

"Uh--" Ran blushed a bit. Was she causing a disturbance. "S-sorry..." She nervously laughed. "If there was a gym or something, that'd probably be better, wouldn't it?"

"Are you familiar with these parts? Any place you'd suggest?"

[rainbowarch]

He was familiar with the area, but there wasn't anything that would make a suitable target for releasing pent up anger. So he was forced to admit that no, he doesn't have any suggestions. (Just what was a gym anyway?)

"Not really. Just try not to hit a tree, okay? They can't move or smile or talk, but they're still alive, ja? ...maybe a dead one instead." But how many dead trees were there? Pondering this, Cielo comes up with a different idea and snaps his fingers. "Or you could hit me, I'm tougher than I look."

He's hit plenty of times! Even by things that could, yes, leave cracks in trees.

[oneechan]

Ran nervously smiles, and shrugs. "I'll...make sure not to hit the trees. I wouldn't want to be any trouble!"

Yeah, definitely find a gym. This guy was too nice! He didn't deserve to receive the grunt of her anger, especially when it was intended for someone much more deserving.

[rainbowarch]

"Well, I don't think there would be trouble, unless the tree falls on you, ja?" As far as he knew, there was no law saying you couldn't punch or kick trees. Cielo simply liked plants and wanted to avoid loss of life, creature or plant, if at all possible. Hopping off the rock, he took a closer look at the crack in the tree. Ah well, you can't change the past. "I'm Cielo, what's your name?"

[nouseincryin]

What the hell?

One minute he's there, minding his own boring business and the next there are human girls knocking holes in trees. Nack's first instinct was to get out, but on closer inspection the girl looked more frustrated than vindictive. So that was nice.

"You gotta tell me what that tree did to ya.'" The weasel said with a gesture and a smirk. This was easily the most interesting thing he had seen all that. That didn't speak much for this place, did it.

[oneechan]

Ran turned around to look to the source of the voice, but then found herself having to look down at the--what was it?

"Oh." Was all she could muster out at first. Then she said what was probably the most face-palm-inducing thing ever next. "I'm sorry." She smiles as politely as possible, however awkward this conversation was headed. "Was that your home?"

[nouseincryin]

Nack burst out laughing. Very boisterously and very unceremoniously. When he could contain himself he was still half doubled over and clutching his gut, and he looked up at the girl and said, "That's right. We just finished pruning and renovations. The treatment was still dryin' too, nice red glow. I had a wife and three kids you know, now what?"

[oneechan]

Ran bought it hook, line, and sinker. She gasps, a horrified look on her face. "Oh--oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" She ran to the tree, picking up some of the bark which crumbled on the ground, and tries to put it back up on the trunk.

"Here, let me--I can fix it--!"

[nouseincryin]

Under no circumstances would Nack have ever bet on the girl actually believing that story. He'd meant to patronize her a little, sure. But she seemed to be sincere with this and the weasel was eating it up.

"'fraid not. You can't just fix a tree, you know. The insides get all warped, it just doesn't fit together right. Ya gotta grow one from scratch."

[oneechan]

"Oh, no! What do I do?!" Ran started to look around for another tree. "Aren't there any other ones around here that could work?"

She ran over to another tree with considerably more girth. She placed a hand on its trunk. "What about this one?"

[nouseincryin]

No, seriously, where was a tape recorder when he needed it?

"I guessss.....That doesn't really solve the problem, though. You know how hard it is to dig out a tree?" Did he know how hard it was to dig out a tree? What did you even need, a big drill or something? "And that's just the basics, there. A lot of work went into that old place."

[oneechan]

"Drill out? You mean you move the trees?" Ran really didn't know how this forest-creature business worked! Maybe coming in here was a bad idea..!

[hecklinghare]

More noise?

Bugs rolled over in his bed, staring up at the ceiling and listening to yelling coming from a bit away. He put his hand to his forehead and cringed. Early morning...who could possibly have that much energy in the morning? He rolled over and pulled his pillow over his head. It muffled the small thunks but then...another yell.

"Dat's it. I'm complainin' to the land lord. This is gettin' ridiculous." He pushed himself out of bed and towards the edge of his rabbit hole.

A few minutes later, Ran would see a trail of upturning earth heading straight for her. It stops right at her feet and from the little pile of dirt, Bugs pops out.

Of course, he looks rather annoyed. His hair disheveled and his eyes rather sleepy looking. "Look, doll. I'm all for teachin' a tree where it's place is." His voice is a bit low and grumbly, not a happy bunny. "But could ya beat up da forest after breakfast?"

[oneechan]

Ran froze when she heard a heavily-accented voice from behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, her eyes lit up when she saw a rabbit.

"Waah~~!" It was a very pleasant reaction. Nevermind that the rabbit talked--it was a rabbit! She knelt to Bugs's eye-level and smiled.

"I'm sorry! Were you asleep?"

[hecklinghare]

"YOU BET I...er...was. Uh." Okay. He has just deflated, figuratively, at her reaction. The sleepy look is gone and he just blinks at her. This...this was not how people normally reacted to him showing up unannounced.

"Er, yeah. but you ain't the first kid to wake me up lately." Still reeling a little bit, "But I guess it weren't all yer fault." He shakes out of the stuppor and slips out of the hole. It ain't proper to make a lady kneel.

"Got a thing against trees, doll?"

[oneechan]

Ran giggles a bit and shrugs her shoulders. "No, I really don't. I was just releasing some pent up anger at someone...and jogging just wasn't doing the trick, you know?"

Why was she talking to a rabbit? Ah, but he seemed so peculiarly charming, and there was something about him that just wasn't as intimidating as another person.

[hecklinghare]

"Heh, interestin' plan. Though, I'd hate to be da poor slob that made you mad." Giggles are good and he just shakes his head, "But so early in da mornin', toots?"

How do you have energy, Ran?

[oneechan]

"I doubt I'd actually hurt him, but..." Yeah, that would defeat the entire purpose, wouldn't it?

"I gotta get my jog in before Conan-kun's up! Because then I have to make breakfast and make sure he's brushed his teeth and gotten dressed and everything before he goes outside."

[hecklinghare]

He glances at the tree, then back at Ran then once more to the tree. "Sure, doll, whatever ya say." That poor pine. We weep for that Willow...

"Conan?...Little guy about dis high?" He lowers his ears completely and holds his hand over his head.

[oneechan]

Ran giggles at Bugs's gesture when referring to Conan, and nods. "Yeah. And glasses." She circled her fingers and put them in front of her eyes. "A little bit too smart for his own good. Likes to meddle in things. You know him?"