236/Nurses play games

Nurses play games
Date of Scene:	14 August 2023
Location:	Game Crown Arcade
Synopsis:	To the shock of students, apparently Nurse Meiou not only can exist outside of school, but apparently she can DANCE, too!
Cast of Characters:	Setsuna Meiou, Ikiko Hisakata, Adrien Agreste

---

Setsuna Meiou has posed:
It's a lazy late afternoon/early evening at the Game Crown Arcade. Crowds are fairly light during this bit between the early afternoon and evening times when things are generally a bit more packed. There are a few people playing games here and there, but nothing major seems to be going on.

Which is why the earcatch of someone activating the DDR machine and starting to scroll through the menus might attract a bit of a glance.

Of course, a moment's glance might turn into a much longer one, as it will reveal what to the adolescent eye is one of the most rare things imaginable...a member of school staff existing somewhere OUTSIDE of school!

It's like they're actual PEOPLE!

INSANITY!!!

In this case, it's the extremely recognizable figure of Nurse Meiou, still wearing her signature labcoat that conceals all but a tiny bit of her knee-length black skirt and white blouse.

A sharper eye will catch that, despite the fact that she's climbed up onto the DDR platform with obvious intent to play a round or two, she's still wearing the three inch heels she wears at school.

She absently taps her way through the menus, looking over the playlists with her hands in her labcoat's front pockets.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
This afternoon had been a relatively lazy one for Ikiko; the morning had featured a visit to one of the groups of stray dogs around Tokyo, but after a late lunch she had found herself with not much to do, and ample time to do it in.

After a couple of hours idly meandering through Juuban Ward, the young girl found herself at the arcade. With plenty of time to spend before she'd need dinner, Ikiko decided to check out to see what new games might have been added in since her last visit, and see if there's any familiar faces to chat with.

She just wasn't expecting the familiar face to be faculty.

"Hi, Meiou-sensei!" Ikiko speaks up as she approaches the off-duty school nurse. With the song still in the process of being selected, there's no particular worry of posing an unfortunate distraction. "Didn't know you're a dancer!"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Japan. This was new territory for Adrien entirely. Not just in this particular city, but this country. There were always going to be some places that carried over no matter the country though, and arcades were definitely among them. While out exploring he'd found this particular arcade which held that pleasant familiarity that he was lacking in so many other places he'd discovered so far.

Plus, with everyones' attention on the games, it was likely that even with a foreigner like him walking through he'd probably be stared at a bit less. Even if he was used to stares from his fame in France as a model for his father's company that didn't mean he wanted all the attention.

The blonde boy makes his way through the arcade ears perked for familiar sounds. Like that shooter game over there, or the pinball machine (he had one like that in his room back home), and finally...

"Ah! DDR!"

Not JUST DDR, but an original Japanese version. That was novel enough in it's own way. The older woman on it is regarded as he steps closer to peek at what she was choosing-- Just as Ikiko steps in to speak to the woman who was apparently a teacher of some sort. He would have guessed doctor with that outfit.

Adrien pauses near the pair uncertainly with a certain nervousness to him. Rubbing at his neck he hazards, "Would you mind if I watched you play? I've never gotten to see an original arcade cabinet for this before."

Surprisngly his Japanese is good. Perhaps more surprisingly? It was very. Very. Formal. Not just 'formally taught in school' but formal as if he was speaking as if addressing the CEO or a foreign dignitary level. For all that said he's actually *good* at speaking it. Just. It didn't fit someone of his age.

Setsuna Meiou has posed:
Nurse Meiou pauses momentarily as the two students walk up to the machine's back safety rail, and she gives the two a smile, "Ah, Miss Hisakata, Mister Agreste. A pleasure to meet you this afternoon."

As she speaks, she keeps absently tapping through the menus despite not looking at them. Apparently she's either memorized things or she's just kind of trying to select something at random.

A good eye will catch that this DDR machine apparently has a much more vast library than is the norm...as many of the names for songs shown are in English.

Not entirely surprising, perhaps. English *IS* a required course in the school...and as has been noted before, America very nearly is the planet's cultural hegemon by this point.

As she settles on a song, she comments to Ikiko, "Sadly, I never got a lot of chance to dance when I was younger, but I do occasionally enjoy this particular take on it." Then a nod is given to Adrien, "And feel free to, Mister Agreste. A game like this is meant to be watched almost as much as it's meant to be played."

And the opening strains of the song begins, it IMMEDIATELY kicks off at high speed, with rapid playing of several instruments...but the most prominent of which is one that might sound a little strange to someone who's never been to America...a banjo.

And interestingly, despite seeming utterly at her ease (her hands are still in her coat pockets) as well as wearing shoes UTTERLY impractical for this kind of thing, Nurse Meiou begins immediately dominating the game.

Every hit is a perfect. EVERY ONE.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko nods a hello to the formal-speaking newcomer, with a brief, slight eyebrow-raise of 'huh, just learned something' when Setsuna addresses the newcomer -- Agreste-san is probably a recently-arrived new student at RHA.

The eyebrows go up further and for longer when Nurse Meiou demonstrates impeccable timing and such stability of footing that would make mountain goats look like a klutz on a banana peel on a waxed floor in comparison.

Normally, Ikiko would make her introductions to the newcomer, but this display of rhythm and footwork is utterly captivating -- both for its flawless mastery, and for who was doing it.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste drops his hand down to the collar of his shirt to adjust it a bit awkwardly when Setsuna greets him by name making it clear that this was likely to be one of *his* teachers, or at least a teacher at the school he was going to be attending. That, or perhaps a nurse? Japan likely had school nurses just as most did, right? He makes a mental note to check on that so he doesn't accidentally put his foot in his mouth later over it.

"A pleasure to meet you, Sensei," he offers with a very polite half-bow before catching himself. This was not a match he was about to participtae in. Still, the gesture of politeness is there, and he does mean it. Even after he rises from it his eyes flit over toward Ikiko to offer her a smile in turn.

The music starts though so he clasps his hands behind his back in a way that was way too rigidly like his father. It was one of the few things he had picked up, that 'ready and waiting' posture while watching others do what it was they were doing. The fact that she was absolutely *nailing* it earns a broader grin while he watches, foot tapping along to the song he'd heard a time or two before. Just not on this particular game.

"She's very impressive, isn't she?" He asides to Ikiko quietly as one student to another.

Except for his ... formality. Someone was going to have to get him out of that habit.

Setsuna Meiou has posed:
As Nurse Meiou demolishes 'I Will Wait' by Mumford and Sons, she smiles a little internal smile. She needed this...just simple motion to match to a simple task. For a few moments she can set aside thoughts of companions returned, Destiny screwing with her, and the lonliness of seeing one she knows so well not know her the same way in return yet. No, this was a time to lose herself a little in the music and show this little machine who it's boss is.

As she goes on, her smile becomes an open one as she realizes the rumor mill will likely have ahold of this little event before too much longer.

Adrien and Ikiko aren't the only ones who have noted what's going on, after all...they're just the ones brave enough to actually personally interact.

As the first song comes to a close and she taps through to the second, she looks over at the two students once more, "So, how is school treating you, Miss Hisakata? I'm glad I haven't had to see you in an official capacity yet."

The young man may perhaps find that a bit of an odd thing to say...except then she looks over at Adrien and provides a bit of exposition, "And I'm the Nurse at your school, Mister Agreste...so I'd prefer to NOT have to see you in an official capacity if at all possible as well."

Just as the next song starts, she adds, "And I do thank you for the compliment, Mister Agreste."

The next song is at least in Japanese as a bonus for those not good with English...but it's apparent that Nurse Meiou isn't slacking off her pace with this song either as it's a rather uptempo one as well.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
There's a bit of blinking (and a rather stunned aside-nod to Adrien) on Ikiko's part when the first song ends, but the question dispells the slight daze. "So far so good, Meiou-sensei," she replies, no longer worried quite so much about distracting the dancing nurse. "I'm doing okay in my classes, and I've met some rather... interesting animals in Animal Care club." Some of them in the club, and some while running tasks for the club, but that's a minor detail -- and the nature of some of them is not a topic for the moment, especially with other people around.

Pulling her focus away from the amazing DDR skills, Ikiko gives the other observer a grin. "Hi! I'm Ikiko Hisakata, grade 5 at Radiant Heart; nice to meet you!" she beams to Adrien.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste lifts his hands up to gently clap once the song was done. That was okay right? It was certainly impressive enough to warrant it, in his mind. The explaination of who Setsuna was is readily accepted with another nod toward her. "I hope I don't trouble you then, Meiou-sensei. Though I am fairly active in sports. I'll endeavor to be as safe as possible."

Ikiko's greeting garners his attention again to give the younger girl a smile. "It's my honor to meet you." Again, a bit TOO formal. "I'm Adrien Agreste. I'll be attending as Grade 9. You say there's an Animal Care Club? That sounds interesting. I'm rather fond of cats."

Setsuna Meiou has posed:
And just like that, 'Sweet Magic' by the Vocaloid Kagamane Rin plays, and Nurse Meiou becomes slightly more animated as the song goes on, eventually even taking her hands out of her pockets as she does. She's happy and in the zone right now. Worries are for another time, another place.

As the song winds to an end, Nurse Meiou absently ponders which song to end her set on...and then she smiles quite broadly. There's a small crowd watching by now. A song comes to mind that will not only let her treat herself...but it will let her put on a show.

Thus, she starts tapping through the menus again as she glances over at Adrien, "Ah, well...then I suppose I'll almost certainly see you professionally sooner or later, then. If not you then someone else on your team." She shrugs, "Some roughing up is sadly inevitable in sports."

Finally, the last song starts...and this one's got a much slower beginning, it seems. The beat, if it's there, is quiet enough that it's not really audible at first. However, just as the speakers begin to play the sound of an audience clapping rythmically, Nurse Meiou raises her hands over her head and starts clapping in time as well...kind of as a signal to observers around. A few of them catch on and start clapping along. This goes on for a few moments, then the singing begins almost acapella at first, "o/~ You spin me inside outside / and then you hold me so tight / we'll dance and party all night / Mambo, mamboleo o/~ " As the singing begins, the game kicks in, slowly at first. Nurse Meiou raises one arm with a finger extended and makes the 'wind up' gesture to urge onlookers to continue as the second verse begins, "o/~ So kiss me in the moonlight / You know it always feels right / We'll dance and party all night / Mambo, Mamboleo o/~"

And then the horn section kicks into high gear and Nurse Meiou shows that not only can she keep up...but that when nobody was looking she kicked the mode over to 'Freestyle', as she's dancing all over both pads but still hitting all the marks.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"I'm more of a dog person myself, but cats do have an interesting variety of personalities," Ikiko remarks with a tiny enigmatic smile. "I will warn you that Steiner-senpai, the club president, can be a bit... intense at times, but she's very welcoming to animals and those who care for them." And Lyra is better experienced than explained, especially for a would-be club member.

The audience participation part of Nurse Meiou's last song is noted, and Ikiko starts clapping along, continuing along when noted... and then starting to cheer (while still maintaining the clapping beat) as the dancing nurse proceeds to put on a clinic on impressive dancing!

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"Oh, I am most definitely a cat person." Adrien seems very sure of that one way or another though it may just be his phrasing again in how certain he is of it. That or he really just does like cats. "I will try to stop by some time," he assures Ikiko before his attention is pulled away once again by the dancing nurse.

When she starts to clap overhead he does the same lifting his hands to clap along obediently. Though he does laugh a moment at mention of sports and roughing people up. "That all depends on the club I suppose. I've yet to see what ones may be available. I'm hoping at least a fencing club so I can keep in practice. Though I also practice Kung Fu and enjoy basketball."

To Ikiko he explains, "My father prefers I keep active. I think animal care club sounds fun, though."

Setsuna Meiou has posed:
'Mamboleo' by Elissa is very much a 'dance' song, in fitting with the theme...and Nurse Meiou seems to relish the challenge, even closing her eyes a few times during the performance as she goes...

And still never missing a beat.

As the song finally winds down, the nurse gives a little bow, then turns back to the machine and taps 'Meiou' into the name field for the high score.

As she steps down to let the next customer have a go, she absently comments, "Miss Ikiko, calling Miss Steiner 'intense' is somewhat like saying the World Cup is 'a popular sporting event'. While technically an accurate statement, it rather fails to convey the true nature of the answer."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"True, true," Ikiko sheepishly giggles. "But trying to describe Steiner-senpai's intensity accurately would just sound like rumor-mongering intended to scare new students, or some type of urban legend!"

There's a thoughtful pause. "That, and I think I'm somewhat used to it by now," she adds after a moment.

She nods at Adrien's comment about sports and activity. "I haven't looked into the combat-based clubs, but I do know several people in various sports clubs; I'm sure you'll find one that you like."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste seems as if he's about to say more after mulling over the Steiner situation that both have remarked on. Strong-personalitied individual, Germanic name. It's committed to memory for later. Just as he might speak up further on the topic his phone rings causing his face to blanche with a pained expression.

"I'm so sorry, that's likely my father checking on where I am." Or his bodyguard more likely. Either way it meant his freedom to explore was going to be cut abruptly short. "It was a pleasure meeting you both. I hope we meet again under pleasant circumstances." With that he turns to head out eyeing his phone in hand as he does.

Setsuna Meiou has posed:
Nurse Meiou waves to the departing Adrien, "A good evening to you, Mister Adreste."

She then turns and nods to Ikiko, "And a good evening to you as well, Miss Hisakata."

With that, the Nurse idly tucks her hands back into her pockets and walks off, absently humming 'I Will Wait' as she goes.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"Take care, you two!" Ikiko smiles and waves to the departing two, then goes back to moseying through the arcade. Not quite time to head out to get dinner, given the lateness of when she had lunch... but probably soon.