[Monday, October 13th. 10 PM] [It's Central Park! Christian's stalking Mizuki. Well, maybe not stalking. But tracking her down with the power of his mighty eyes. Without her knowing about it.] [Right now, she's flying above the park, as usual. Christian's somewhere else! Minimal setup complete! Mini start!] * Mizuki is flying! She isn't even hurt at all, thanks to the magic of holography. Her outfit flutters slightly, as she patrols from a couple stories up. * Christian is taking a casual stroll through Central Park. He's not wearing his cover at this time and is in a bit more of "normal" clothes, though he's still got a spiked bracelet on. He seems to be scanning the skies as he wanders through the park. He probably spots her first, since she's all glowy, and he's all ordinary looking. * Mizuki , possibly for some other reason, swoops Christian's direction, but doesn't seem to have noticed him! * Christian glances up Mizuki-ward and cups his hands, calling out. "Yo! Priestess!" * Mizuki blinks as she looks down towards Christian, hovering lower and squinting. It takes her a few moments before she just starts to drop straight down. It takes her a couple seconds before she floats to a stop in front of Christian. A slight smile comes to her lips. "Off duty?" * Christian lets out a breath, flicking a piece of lint off his jacket. "Quiet up in the Bronx tonight. So I figured it'd be a good chance to check down here." He looks up at her now. "How's the huntin' goin'?" * Mizuki shakes her head, then replies quietly, "The wonders of a regular patrol of sorts is it can keep people away on its own... especially now that we have reputations." * Christian shakes his head. "Not necessarily so great. Just means some of the main threats go underground..." He shoves his hands in his pockets and breathes. "Least in my case." He looks at her again. "Listen. You got a bit?" * Mizuki nods slightly and actually holds her staff under her, a-la riding a broom sidesaddle. "Yes... something on your mind?" Little bit. 'sbout Horus... * Christian looks for a bench to sit on or something nearby. Once he finds one off the major paths, he heads that way to sit down. * Mizuki replies, "Yes?" as she floats along the path slightly with him, then just floats in front of him to talk. I dunno...might be a bit different with you. Can you ever turn off the glowy stuff? Or is that just a part of you? * Mizuki replies, after a moment, "It's a part of this form." She licks her lips. "You... did not see anything odd in the lab yesterday, with me, did you?" What? In the lab itself or actually in the game? * Mizuki replies, "The game." Hard to remember. Mostly because I was busy trying not to bite my own face off and wondering why my skin had turned fuckin' green. There was a lot of weird bullshit in there anyhow too, so who's gonna remember all of it? * Mizuki smiles a bit, then is silent a moment before she says, "Do you need to stay incognito at the moment?" * Christian eyes Mizuki carefully. "Incog-whato?" * Mizuki shakes her head. "Not being recognized." Oh. * Christian shakes his head vaguely. "Sorry, I'm a dumbass. But nah, not really. I just didn't wanna go through all the pain." * Mizuki nods slightly, then hovers so as to sit next to him. "Understandable." A moment, then, "So what is truly on your mind?" * Christian looks off to the side. "Well...I don't exactly know. Horus called me up the other day, wanting to hang out. Alright, fine. That's cool. I'm a people person, y'know. But...it was weird. Almost like...she couldn't talk about who she is behind the mask..." He sighs. "Now I know you're gonna say I'm stupid and that that's the whole point, but it wasn't the whole secret identity thing. It's like...she didn't even know herself, kinda, y'know?" * Mizuki is silent a moment, then, "Horus... has a history, yes? Having to stand up in the shadow of history... it can weigh on you. There's stories time and again in history of the weight of the sword." * Mizuki gestures off into the air, voice getting more casual. "People who do that sometimes end up being the sword. And not being the person." * Christian sighs and leans back. "Yeah...someone else said about the same thing to me. But man, it's gotta suck. Even if you chose it and all..." * Mizuki replies, "You're tellin' me." Guess I'm kinda the opposite. So much the person I sometimes forget I'm the sword too. * Mizuki glances over at him, then replies, "No mask, no name but your own?" * Christian frowns slightly. "Didn't at first. Wouldn't have if the paper's hadn't started bein' curious. Most of the people I was takin' out wouldna messed with me if they had seen my face and I usually tore through them so fast they didn't know what hit 'em." Never gave a name to the people I was takin' out though. What do punks like them deserve a name for? * Mizuki mms faintly, then says, "I will tell you, Christian... she will need to find that balance. But this is not a time that heroes get to rest." * Mizuki then adds, "Yeah, not everyone gets to cheat." * Christian inhales deeply, then starts to say something longer, but thinks better of it. "I know." * Christian then looks at her oddly. "Cheat?" * Mizuki looks over at him a moment, then replies, "I have had certain... advantages taking up the staff in this life." Horus... she will have to find another way. * Christian keeps looking at her strangely, a wave of confusion passing over his face. * Mizuki looks at his confusion, sighs, then shifts gears after a moment, "I'm not so sure I'm worried about her. Horus the woman... I can hear her voice, clear as day. She wears Horus the mask like it were her skin." Yeah, but what do you do when there's no bad guys to pulverize, y'know? I'm kinda worried 'bout that. * Mizuki is silent a moment, then, "With the gravity of the threat, I am not sure she will have time to worry about it. But this is New York. There's nothing like a show." Probably not... * Mizuki reaches over and puts her hand to his shoulder. "I did not quite mean that to seem so depressing." * Christian chuckles slightly. "Nah, it's okay. Situation's fucked up. There's no bullshitting about that." * Christian gives Mizuki a bit of a half-smirk, half-smile. "Thanks for takin' the time to talk 'bout it though. I don't usually let this stuff bother me. Never worked in a team before. Though I think almost none of us has." * Mizuki half-smiles. "It's no trouble. I have worked in a team before... for some reason, I seem quite approachable." She half-smiles. "I cannot imagine why." * Christian deadpans. "Because you're not fuckin' insane like Jackie, fuckin' standoffish like Redcoat, and not the person that I'm talkin' about?" * Mizuki chuckles. "Ah, clearly you don't know me well enough." * Christian snickers. "But nah. I've liked ya ever since ya tried to pop AD a new a-hole." * Mizuki is silent a moment, then, "Fucking attitude like that... he ruins the concept, the name. Offends me on every damn level." * Christian blinks and stares at Mizuki. "Okay, that's just goddamned creepy comin' out of your mouth." * Ardweden is now known as NinjArd * Mizuki looks over at him, then smiles as she swirls to floating in front of him. "As I said, clearly you don't know me well enough." But when you're right, you're right. I wanted to punch him in the face so goddamned hard, but I know it wouldn't do any fuckin' good. * Mizuki replies. "It is not about whether good will be done." It is about doing good. * Christian chuckles. "You're approachable enough for me to get to know at least. Though I'll be hell if I'll ever understand you. But hell, at least you seem human. Of sorts. And not off on your own personal ego cloud like Jackie." * Mizuki mms, then replies, "You're a sweet kid, if rough. You should turn that towards Horus. She deserves it." * Christian grins. "Just friends for now. Sorry to disappoint." He shakes his head. "Though if she can't break down that wall, it's gonna be hard, I'm tellin' ya." * Mizuki half-smiles. "Do you need a priestess's aid?" * Christian stares at Mizuki. "A what no--" Realization dawns on him before he finishes the question and he stands up quickly, waving his hands. "Woah woah woah. Since when do you think *I* need your help settin' me up with anybody?" * Mizuki laughs lightly and replies, "Meant with breaking down the wall, although if you were having trouble..." * Christian puts his hands in his pockets and shrugs. "It's up to her, not me, not you. If she don't wanna do it, no amount of what we do is gonna convince her. No skin off my back." But yeah...thanks... * Mizuki frowns slightly. "Uncertainty fits you poorly, Christian." Look. I ain't gonna give up. But I'm not gonna put a lot of effort into a lost cause. I'm worried, sure, because I think it sucks. But if that's just her, then who the hell am I to try and force her different. S'what I'm sayin'. * Christian smiles at Mizuki slightly. "Still don't mean I can't be a friend when I can be, right?" * Mizuki nods slightly. "There is truth in that, yes. Just don't be so afraid of pressing her that your hands are in your pockets." * Christian snerks. "Since when did you know me to be afraid of anything?" He takes his hand out to give Mizuki a good shake, smiling to her. "I knew I was right about you. You're a good one to talk to." * Mizuki extends her right hand and shakes, a bit awkwardly, given it's her off hand, but you get used to it. "Do not be a stranger, yes?" * Christian grins slightly. "You'll always be stranger than I am. Hands down." But yeah. I'll look ya up if you're not busy. You do the same, yeah? * Mizuki nods slightly. "Of course. I will see you tomorrow." For "training" right? * Christian has big air quotes on that one. * Mizuki half-smiles. "Ah, perhaps, but such nights are often busy." Yeah. I ain't holdin' my breath. * Christian puts his hands back in his pockets. "See ya, Priestess. Good huntin'." * Christian heads off and outta the park! * Mizuki watches him walk a moment, then murmurs, "Yes, but he is the least perceptive of them. You are not likely to be that lucky." [And so the two heroes went their separate ways.] [Mini End]