11th Inversion [Vine/Action]

[ritsu_kouyou]

[It's a bright, beautiful day in the Gardens. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, yet the Vine shows one very soaked Akiha Tohno. In fact, it seems to be raining on Akiha, plastering her white blouse to her torso (sadly she's flat as a board so it's not like it shows anything other than the lines of her camisole) and water drips off her hair. She's also, surprise, glaring at the mirror.]

If anyone needs me, I'll be out about the Gardens today and not at the mansion.


[For anyone looking for Akiha or just crossing paths with her, she's fairy easy to spot with the little black raincloud hanging over her everywhere she goes, constantly showering her with rain.]

Comments

[grandtheftmecha]

[ It tickles very slightly, but she's not laughing, even if her muscles twitch a bit. ]

Oh? It's hard to imagine you as anything but Akiha.

[ritsu_kouyou]

I agree. I just wonder a lot from time to time what my mother would've done or how things would've been different.

[...]

And then I remember it probably wouldn't have mattered and think about more constructive things. Turn around.

[grandtheftmecha]

The past is the past. Sometimes you wonder, but you can't change it.

[ Katina turns around as asked. Time for back washing. ]

There are things I'd like to go differently too.

[ritsu_kouyou]

[Akiha likes this part. She's going to take her time and enjoy the muscle without having to worry about being watched...]

Like what?

[grandtheftmecha]

[ While she can't watch, it's still very apparent that Akiha's enjoying this. ]

Eh, nothing too major except for, well... some people we lost who I wish we could've saved.

[ritsu_kouyou]

[Very much so. Her soapy palms slide over Katina's back.]

Ah, your war. How did it start?

[grandtheftmecha]

Aliens.

[ Said flatly, as she shifts a little beneath Akiha's touch. ]

Aliens eyeing up Earth, and a mad scientist who figured if he started a war, the winners would be battle-hardened enough to fight 'em off.

[ritsu_kouyou]

[Her hands still for a moment before sliding to the lower back.]

So, let me see if I understand this. Because there are aliens around, someone started a war amongst the humans?

[grandtheftmecha]

Yeah, that's about it. Trying to make us strong or something, after years of peace, despite all the new weapons in development.

[ Katina sighs, hands hanging at her sides. ]

Hell of a reason for us to kill each other.

[ritsu_kouyou]

...my other side agrees with the theory.

[She said that quietly as her hands still again and she leans forward to rest her forehead against the Katina's beck.]

Are the aliens even a threat?

[grandtheftmecha]

Oh, they sure are, but it doesn't seem like entire civilizations lined up against us - some kind of remote, AI controlled factory, and then some kind of extremists.

[ As confident as she is, if those 'Inspectors' were just a fringe movement, the thought of being invaded by their people in full is terrifying. ]

[ritsu_kouyou]

...it's easier to defeat someone when they're distracted. It sounds to me like the war was instigated to make it easier for the aliens, not harder. But I know nothing of your reality, Katina.

Just a lot about controlling and manipulating things from the shadows.

[grandtheftmecha]

That'd make sense, but then we know that an ally of his killed off some politicians who were trying to sell us out in exchange for the human race just being enslaved or something instead of wiped out.

[ritsu_kouyou]

An obstacle to the grand plan, nothing more. Don't take anything regarding that scientist at face value.

[Akiha's arms slip around Katina to rest on her stomach. Yeah...naked embrace.]

[grandtheftmecha]

He's already long gone, and the two alien forces beaten down. Now that there is apparently a giant, intergalactic community that knows about us, though...

[ It's a lot to worry about at a time like this, and leaning back against Akiha is doubly relaxing - naked or not, though feeling skin on skin is nice. ]

[ritsu_kouyou]

Well, I know of one lieutenant that will give them hell if needed.

[grandtheftmecha]

Yeah, well, I'll hold 'em off until they build the next super weapon, but do you think they'd even consider giving it to me? Not a chance.

[ At least Akiha can't see Katina pouting. ]

[ritsu_kouyou]

Perhaps if you reigned in all that anger and recklessness.

[Akiha lets go and back away so the water can fully spray on Katina.]

[grandtheftmecha]

[ Katina huffs as Akiha rinses her off. ]

My teammates have got my back.

[ritsu_kouyou]

And who has their back?

[grandtheftmecha]

Each... each other...

Listen.

[ Katina turns, hands on her hips. ]

I've learned my lesson about going too far and putting them in danger.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Good.

[Akiha takes a half-step forward and rises up on her toes to gain the whole two inches it gives her and fixes her eyes on Katina's/]

As you have a promise to keep.

[grandtheftmecha]

Well I remember promising not to die, and I'm doing a pretty good job of that.

[ritsu_kouyou]

So far.

[She lowered back down to her normal height and started lathering up her hands to start on her own body.]

[grandtheftmecha]

Hey, I'd had fewer close calls back home since my little reality check. I'll fine.

[ Katina puts her hands on Akiha's shoulders, rubbing softly. ]

I've got a lot to live for.