Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM): In the Shadows of the City - Chapter 2 Session 3 Introductions

[Justin OOC]

The next two days went remarkably well for the various teams, with only minor injuries easily managed by Keiko and Jim's healing powers. One thing that was noticed is that there were increasingly fewer demons being encountered. It gave everyone some hope, perhaps they finally were doing some good, having dramatticaly reduced the number of demons in the area. School had of course continued, and each of the clubs and teachers were breathing slightly easier.

Because of this the school saw a slight increase in transfers, mostly fom wealthier families.

In Class 3-A Kaori and Kazuo were on hand to meet one new student. The Teacher scrawled the young man's name on the board. He smiled and wowed to everyone his nearly white blonde hair and peircing ice-blue eyes scanning the room. "I am Alexander Andriev Kalinin, It is a pleasure to meet you all." The teacher made a motion for him to take a seat next to Kaori and looked to Kazuo shook his head and then called on Kaori. "Kaori, please see to it that Alexander finds his way around today please."

He turns to Kaori and smiles. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

In Class 3-F, Jim and Skye and the rest of the class are introduced to Himeko Mayumi, Another new student. Himeko wore her long black hair free, falling down past her shoulders, and managed to make almost all the women in the class envious of her beauty, and All the men save Jim seemed to desire her. The Teacher nodded to Skye and then to Jim. "If the two of you would please show Himeko around today and make sure she gets to her classed I'be be appreciative."

Himeko smiled and bowed her head to Skye then to Jim. "It is nice to meet you both."

In Class 2-A, Ken, Kage and Shin got to meet Sayoko Inari, A Transfer student from Shinjuku. She was absolutely average and run of the mill, strangely so. Kenobi was asked to show her around, as the class Representative. Sayaoko nodded to Kenobi and sighed. "So begins another day in the life of students eh?"

In Class 2-E, Jo , Kenichi and Keiko met Damien Redburn, another American transfer student. For rather ovious reasons, Jo was asked to show him around, as he didn't seem to speak Japanese very well.

He sat next to her. "Is it always so damn boring at this school?"

(((Ok, those who got picked to be escorts, post your reactions and how you show the people around until lunch.

Everyone else, you get to describe what your day at school is like until lunch time. For the sake of my sanity, you will all go to lunch at the same time and will have decided to eat on the roof to plan out the night's sweep.))

[z-Skye]

Skye bowed back, smiling prettily at the girl. She was pretty and refined, and might make a good friend. Or at least, that's what Skye hoped. It'd be nice if there was another girl for Skye to interact with; one that was pretty, smart, not a hanger-on or a demon-hunter. "It's nice to meet you too, Himeko. May I see your schedule so that I can tell you where your classes are?"

[Josefina Reyes]

Jo grinned at the newcomer and shrugged blithely.

If you only knew, guy. If you only knew.

"It's definitely got its moments. Unnnnnfortunatelyyyyy... This isn't one of them," she drawled. A shake of her head rearranged tousled blonde hair into yet another disheveled configuration, and she thrust out her hand in greeting. "I'm Jo, by the way. Jo March. It's nice to meetcha. I guess I get to play tour guide today, huh?"

[Adrian Moss]

So begins another day in the life of students eh?"

"Oh, every day is an adventure here!" Ken said with obviously false excitement rictus grin. Giving her a more normal smile he adds,

"Really, it isn't so bad here. The teachers want you to succeed without having to yell at you. Public humiliation is left in the hands of the upper classmen, and every girl here is a gorgeous mystery."

He hopes she gets the compliment.

"Tell me about your old school and I'll tell you what is really different."

Beyond the roaming demons and the demon hunters who hide amongst the student body.

He didn't mind making Sayoko feel special. Everyone deserved a bit of kindness and friendship. Besides, she didn't LOOK crazy, right?

[ThatGuy]

Kage barely looked up from his doodling at Sayaoko's introduction. To all appearances, he was ignoring everything happening in the room- up until Ken's mention of what's different at the school got him to crack a small smile.

[Rorx]

Jim bows to the dark haired girl, "A pleasure to meet you, Himeko. Is there any clubs you would like to be introduced to in additon to your classes?"

[Kenichi]

Kenichi had not been the same since he had been almost shot in the face by Jo, since then he learned two things. The first one was to not surprise her too much, the second one was that she usually didn't pack at school so scaring her there is not that much of a bad idea.

Kenichi approached the tall american girl as she spoke with the newly transfered student, but stood bewildered by their conversation in english as his marks on the topic had never been the best, or existing at all. Trying to join the conversation to meet the new guy he offered an insightful "Jau...ale....yu?" his horrible english practice showing through on regular conversation beyond a single word.

[Justin OOC]

Himeko nodded as sky spoke. She produced her schedule, which was somewhat suprising in that it was identical to Skye's own class schedule. It seemed the teacher had a good reason to ask her after all. Himeko looks to Jim and smiles. "I heard this school hasan excellent theater club, as well as Kyudo. Tell the truth I've always enjoyed watching Kendo exhibitions as well."

Damien nodded in response to Jo. He shook the offered hand and Jofelt an uncontrollable darkness , and felt impressive heat in her hand, enough to make her blush. Damien withdrew his hand as if bitten by a snake. "That's never happened before." At that moment Kenichi Came up and Damien looked quizzically at Jo. "Friend of yours?"

Sayoko nods her silent thanks for the compliment. She sighs. "My old school was overrun last week. Until then things had been fairly normal, nothing too special. Other than it being a school known for it's Martial Arts Clubs."

She looks to him, her doe-brown eyes gving off a certain mysterious gleam. "What about this school, What makes it special?"

[Adrian Moss]

"Oh, neat. A martial arts club. We have quite a program here as well. Our kendo is top notch. One of the best is a tutor for me. She is very ferocious."

As an answer to her second question,

"Well," he puffs out his sixteen year old rather average chest, "it has me!"

"We also have a top flight soccer program, theater company, and Mathletes. We have one of the top rated schools for college admissions too."

"Let me see ... that's about it. For our extracurricular acivities, we have all kinds of hobbies and clubs. Pick one and we most likely have it. We also fight the supernatural in our spare time," he jokes.

"So, Sayoko," he lets honey drip off his words in the Kenobi kind of way, "what interests you?"

[Josefina Reyes]

Whoa.

Jo just blinked at the new kid for a moment, flexing her fingers until they stopped tingling. Like touching an electric fence. What was that all about?

"Um," she stalled, ignoring the lingering heat in her cheeks as Kenichi interjected. "Kind of. I mean, we've met. Y'know, seen each other around..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to figure out the best way to describe her acquaintance with the other student, despite the difficulty they had communicating. "Anyway! This is Ken-" Okay, how did the rest of it go? -isi? -adi? -shiro? No, no... Oh! Wait! "Kenobi," she finished with a triumphant grin. It was easy to remember if she just thought of him as the Jedi; she didn't know why she hadn't thought of it sooner!

"Obi-Wan, this is Damien."

She indicated the newcomer, stressing his name and hoping it would get across the language barrier.

[Kaori Aoyama]

"Of course." The raven-haired young woman replied to her teacher.

She scowled at the man who introduced himself. Kinobi received no quarter from her, nor would this 'Alexander'. However, he seemed polite enough, and wasn't a skirt peeping buffoon like that pervert Ani. She greeted him as he deserved to be greeted.

"It is nice to meet you as well." the young beauty spoke. She knew Kazuo was laughing inside. His reputation for being worthless always seemed to be good for getting him out of all the tasks responsible people always got stuck with... but didn't want.

[Justin OOC]

Alexander nodded. "I am sorry to inconvenience you like this. But of those who look responsible, I am glad you were chosen. It isn't often that I meet a young woman as strong as you seem to be." It was an odd thing to say, and could be taken many ways. The way he said it made it seem a compliment though.

He takes his seat quietly after that. "This seems like such a nice school."

[z-Skye]

Originally Posted By: Justin OOC

Himeko nodded as sky spoke. She produced her schedule, which was somewhat suprising in that it was identical to Skye's own class schedule. It seemed the teacher had a good reason to ask her after all. Himeko looks to Jim and smiles. "I heard this school has an excellent theater club, as well as Kyudo. Tell the truth I've always enjoyed watching Kendo exhibitions as well."

Skye smiled warmly at the girl, admiring her pretty hair. "Stick close to me," she offered. "I have the same schedule as you, so it'll be easy to show you around!"

After hearing the girl's clubs, she added, "I know some of the students in the theatre club. Would you like to be introduced?"

[Justin OOC]

Himeko nodded. "Yes that would be nice, thank you."

[Kaori Aoyama]

Originally Posted By: Justin OOC

Alexander nodded. "I am sorry to inconvenience you like this. But of those who look responsible, I am glad you were chosen. It isn't often that I meet a young woman as strong as you seem to be." It was an odd thing to say, and could be taken many ways. The way he said it made it seem a compliment though.

He takes his seat quietly after that. "This seems like such a nice school."

"You seemed to have already assumed much and I've spoken thus far only a greeting. Perhaps I should say less to prevent you from making any more assumptions than are necessary." Kaori spoke in tone that was stern yet angelic, every bit as pleasing to the ears as she was to the eyes.

"It is just a school Alexander." She added calmly. "It has its drama, its cliques, its bullies as well as its whores and burnouts. Plainly, it is just a school. You will like it, or you won't. Come, I'll direct you through the halls to assist you in finding your classes."

[Justin OOC]

Alexander nods. "Very well then."

The remainder of the morning passes easily as those charged with playing guide showed their charges around the school. At lunch time however, each of the transfer students simply seemed to disappear, they were there one minute and then gone then next.

The students all met on the roof where they had since being gathered, and ate as was normal.

(OOC The PC's are all on the roof, alone, with no NPC's there. All the transfer students have seemed to vanish. Feel free to interact with each other, and change up who goes with what team tonight. No one is going to hear beyond the PC's.)

[z-Skye]

Skye sat quietly on her bench and ate. She didn't offer input into the teams. It didn't really matter that much to her; it wasn't like she wanted to do this anyway. She just swallowed her bite of rice ball and asked, "Who is going with whom tonight?"

She wanted to get this done so that she could get back to Henry.

[Kenichi]

"I don't really care. But if it's gonna be like last time, I would appreciate somebody who can heal injuries, or at least burnt skin. But I'm bothered, assuming the three headed demons are the upgraded version of the one headed, do those get upgrades too?" Kenichi didn't eat with the others, he didn't eat anything as a matter of fact during the lunch having just gone to the roof for the so called meeting.

[Adrian Moss]

Meanwhile, Ken is showing down on his perfectly selected and stylishly prepared lunch. Between mouthfuls,

"I think we should try to pair up with a combination of healers, ranged combatants, and close quarter fighters. First off, who are our best close quarter fighters? Kaori, Kenichi, Shen, and Kazou? Anyone else?"

"For range, we have Skye, me ...well me through my friend, and Keiko. Who else?"

"James and Keiko are our healers, so I guess that means two teams for safety's sake. Do we appoint team leaders and chose sides?"

He was full of questions today.

[Rorx]

"Ken you forgot Jo for range as well", Jim looks around the small gathering. "I suppose you could make one group Keiko, Kaori, Skye, Jo, Kenichi and Kazou?"

Jim remembered the bad feeling that seemed to exist between himself, Archer and Kaori, and naturally wished to keep things like that to a minimum.

[Justin OOC]

(Slight ooc note there will be at least 3 teams as before)

(Edit: I would prefer 3 teams. if you the players wish for less then so be it.)

[Adrian Moss]

Ken sighs.

"Sorry for missing you Jo. I'm distracted - new student and all."

"Shouldn't we try for three teams, though? Sure, two is safer, but we'll cover less ground. One group would have to go without healing, so it should contain our toughest fighters. Who are they?"

Ken half expected a fight. Who was? Kaori certainly looked the toughtest, but he was biased. Kazou seemed unkillable. James, Kenichi, Shen ... who would settle for second best?

[Kenichi]

"Kazuo, Shin, Jo and I made a good team last time. We can trade you Shin for Keiko, girl seems to know what she is doing and lends another front liner to your teams." Kenichi really didn't seem to care too much about what he was saying or if he was hurting somebodies feeling. What he did knew is that Kazuo was going to object to not deciding by himself like every time anything about him is said and was looking forward to the confrontation.

[z-Skye]

Someone had to decide what they were doing, and Skye decided that if she didn't, then they were going to waste the entire lunch hour arguing.

"How about, Jim, Kage and myself, two close fighters and a ranged, with healing," she said softly, "then Kazuo, Jo, Kenichi and Keiko, a heavy-hitters team with a healer, and then Kaori, Ken and Shin, with Ken as the ranged and Kaori and Shin close up. Ken, would you translate to English, please?" Her blue eyes roved over the group. "I believe that resolves it nicely, and we can return to our normal schedules rather than sitting up here on the roof, eating."

Being seen with these people too much would impact her reputation - and besides, she wanted to get back to Henry.

[SalmonMax]

Keiko stirred from where she was sitting, listening passively. She really had no head at all for military things, tactics or strategy. She was trying her best to learn, but it was so hard sometimes to think in those terms.

"Do you really think three teams is best?" she offered. "The demons are numerous, and powerful. It won't do us any good to split three ways, if it makes us easier prey."

[z-Skye]

"Then in that case, Shin, Jim, Ken, Kage and myself on one team," Skye said evenly in Japanese, "and Kazuo, Jo, Kenichi, Kaori and Keiko on the other. Both teams have close combatants and ranged fighters, as well as a healer." She glanced at Ken to make sure he was translating for Jo. She needs to learn Japanese, and fast, she thought irritably. The language barrier is getting annoying.

[Kaori Aoyama]

"Whatever we decide let us decide quickly." Kaori said, her voice a shallow monotone underneath the shadows of coming nightfall. Until now she'd been nothing but silent, and given her outburst the other night (that nearly cost Ken his arm) she'd been relatively ignored. "I things to do this evening, and you're keeping me from them with this lack decisiveness."

She looked down to Onimaru and then to the horizon. I will find you Demon Lord. And I'll carve your black heart from your chest.

[Josefina Reyes]

Apparently unfazed by the irritation and negativity zinging about in every direction, Jo kicked her feet from the ledge she'd claimed, the schoolyard opening up behind and below her. She watched with interest as everyone spoke up, nodding when translations were provided.

She was too busy eating her second... or was it her third? lunch to add much to the conversation, but she did contribute emphatic "Mmhm!"s or "Hnn-nnn!"s here and there, as appropriate. This whole business of arguing over teams and tactics seemed like a waste of time, when everyone already knew what they were good at.

It seemed to be a favorite pastime of the group, though, so far be it from her to try to intervene.

[ThatGuy]

Kage simply nodded along with the discussion, listening as they seemed to near a decision. "If we were on the attack to some location in particular, I'd understand fewer groups, but isn't the point of patrolling to cover more ground? We're trying to hunt here. And I'm okay with not being healed until the end of the night, really."

He nudged Jo lightly and asked, "Hey, two teams? Three? For tonight."

[Kenichi]

"You know what? If you all are going to make such a big deal out of who makes it into what groups, and are so damn set on having three teams, lets make this easy. Draw Straws, 3 long straws for team captains and then we pick and choose whoever we want. Just get this over with and stop being haugthy bitches." Kenichi looked accusingly at both Skye and Kaori.

[z-Skye]

Skye's eyes jerked up to Kenichi and she stared at him for a moment. "Women who make decisions when others won't are not haughty bitches," she snapped. "Your way of deciding teams is as random as picking for volleyball. I want a bit more forethought into the people I'll be fighting next to this evening. Perhaps if you bothered to think, you would see the wisdom in planning."

She glanced at them. "We have a suggestion for the teams' compositions - all we need to decide is two or three teams?" She looked at them all. "This isn't hard to figure out, so let's hear what you want."

[Adrian Moss]

Ken moved in support of Skye, putting himself at her side.

"Insults get us nowhere," he said with quiet intensity. "Myself, Jo, and Skye are ranged fighters. James and Keiko are our healers. The fighters chose who which one of us three ranged fighters they want to partner with. The healers go with the smallest teams. How is that?"

[z-Skye]

Skye's lips pinched together. "If I get no say in whom I'm fighting with because I'm a ranged fighter, then what am I doing here? I'm going to go eat with my friends," she said, her voice tense. "Someone can come tell me whom I'm fighting with and where to meet them tonight." She stood up angrily and headed for the door.

[SalmonMax]

"Please don't fight," Keiko urges. "Not each other. Skye, wait! He didn't mean it that way! Come back!"

[Kenichi]

"Unlikely as it is, Ranged fighters still are people and may want to choose who they fight with. While spreading our resources is a good idea, making sure the teams have teamwork and as little friction as possible is important."

Kenichi got up from where he was seating on the floor and blocked the door from Skye. "We need the participation of everybody in this Skye, otherwise you might end in a team with Kazuo and me, what would the world think of the Ojousama* walking about with two thugs?"

"If it were up to me I still say we should at least make sure the roasters don't try to kill each other more than the hounds do, and even if the healers are important at their art, you have to remember they still have to pull their weight beyond that." Kenichi looked at Jo to see if she was getting the translation.

"As for two or three teams, three teams offer more ground, two teams offers better security and a bigger amount of fire power, three teams should be used only when we are within helping distance of each other, while two teams should be used otherwise in my opinion. Of course, half of you will just up and go ignore me."

"Now finally, if you REALLY want my opinion. Kazuo, Jo and Myself should be one team like last time. Kaori, Skye, Keiko and Kage should be a second team, and the last team should be Kenobi, Shin and James as the third team if you SO insist on having three teams, albeit I'm against it."

[Adrian Moss]

Ken nods.

"I'm fine with that. At least we have a plan. Who else is in with Kenichi's plan?"

Ken was all about team building and unified action ... just like a good little Japanese citizen should be.

[Kazuo]

Kazuo had been pacing moodily along the edge of the rooftop throughout the entire argument up to this point, smoking (as always) a cigarette. Having remained largely oblivious to all of the "inter-team" drama that'd been going on, he'd found the whole debate about who should be on whose team amusing. What was wrong with the teams they'd been using up till now?

Especially since everyone kept trying to break it down by "healers", "ranged fighters", and so on. Hadn't they noticed that more than half of the kids in this mixed up lot seemed capable of throwing around "ranged attacks"? Shit, as far as he could tell, him an' that Shin kid were the only two who couldn't. Even Kenichi could toss fuckin' cars around when the mood struck him.

As for having a "healer" on his team, he couldn't care less, but then he didn't really have to worry about those sorts of things, did he?

He'd been about to say something volatile and insulting - most likely at Skye's expense, but that was by no means guaranteed (Kazuo liked to think of himself as an equal-oportunity-insulter) - but then Kenichi had jumped up and spit out his latest suggestion like a challenge to fight. Ok, then.

Kazuo hopped off the edge of the roof and put out his cigarette, and said mildly enough, "Ok. Sounds good to me."

Actually, it sounded kind of arbitrary, but so had almost everything else about this crazy adventure.

[Kaori Aoyama]

"Very well." Kaori said walking towards the exit. "Skye, Kieko, Kage, let us be on our way then."

[Kenichi]

"If that has been decided and nobody wants to speak up, sounds great." Kenichi unblocks the way to the door to let the ladies out and follows through shortly.

[Kaori Aoyama]

((Kaori has left the rooftop. If the members of her team haven't posted something by tomorrow, she's leaving them behind.))