2233/Time Loops: Ryoko

Time Loops: Ryoko
Date of Scene:	14 January 2025
Location:	Sports Pavilion
Synopsis:	During the loops, Hinoiri met with Ryoko for (almost) daily fencing training! It paid off... but may cause some trouble to brew.
Cast of Characters:	Hinoiri Kirara, Ryoko Gushiken
Tinyplot:	Hinoiri's Endless Loop

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Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
First day:

While there had been a lot of things that she had done often, a lot of Hinoiri's encounters didn't happen on the first day.

Her instructions with Ryoko, however, did.

She was early, as she so often was, already in training garments with five minutes to spare and practicing the motions that Ryoko had taught her. Step step thrust, parry, riposte. She still had a long way to go until she was anywhere approaching Ryoko's level... but she was, at the very minimum, a good student. Even if she got hurt, or driven too hard, she almost never complained and always put everything she had into her efforts.

Ryoko Gushiken has posed:
Early to the lesson meant early in the morning. The only time Ryoko could fit a regular practice session into her busy schedule--outside of the clubs she already went to--was before classes in the morning. She didn't like getting up early, but she liked Hinoiri, and even if it was just to impress a boy, she seemed genuinely interested in learning to fence well. But the early morning time did mean Ryoko was usually a bit grumpier than her usual.

In fact, Ryoko arrived just a few minutes late. Her big fencing bag was slung over her shoulder and she had a little carrier with two travel cups in it. "I got us coffee so I don't murder you," she said rather gruffly as she set everything down and extended one of the drinks to Hinoiri.

She still had to get changed, so she went about doing that. But as she did she repeated the complaint she said every time. "Ugh, why can't you just join the club?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small grin when Ryoko brought her drinks. She took one of them and kept it to herself that Ryoko must liiiiiike her. Because Ryoko made TWO coffee. Not one, but two. So, obviously, Ryoko must have a soft spot for her or she'd just make one.

Then again, considering the number of bruises and sore muscles she often had after these sessions, perhaps a little less 'liking' would save her. But she'd never ask for someone to go easy on her.

"Awww, but then I'd miss these morning training sessions and not be able to see your beautiful glower first thing in the morning," Hinoiri said with a playful wink. "Best way to wake up. Besides, I've still got a long way to go before I don't make an utter flank of myself."

Ryoko Gushiken has posed:
Ryoko pulled on her her black fencing uniform quickly, the thick fabric almost snapping as she pulled with all her anger. It was almost cute how she rage-dressed. But then she was ready, her coffee cup in her hand and her mask in the other.

She takes a long sip of her coffee and then sets it down, well away from where they'll be fencing. Rolling open her bag she pulls out her foil--they're still working on foil, after all--and then turns to walk over to the piste, lifting her mask up to settle it over her face. No words, just getting into position. She needs the coffee to settle in before she gets chatty.

After they're in position and they make their salutes, she says, "Have you considered that he might feel hurt you didn't ask him to teach you? En garde!" She doesn't even give Hinoiri time to process all the words before she's thrusting with an attack at her shoulder.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was, alas, a morning person. It made her a monster. Though... Ryoko managed to get through her guard, while Hinoiri tried to defend. A flimsy defense, but she was, at least, getting better. Still had a lot of work to do. She had the salute and such down first.

"Honestly? He's been really hard to get a hold of as it was and he has a lot going on between school, his modeling, and his girlfriend. Besides, it's fun to do this with you. Like bonding exercises and I've just never reallybeen one for trust falls."

She tried herself, going for a stab on the abdoment, right kidney.

"Speaking of, how have you and your girlfriend been doing?"

Ryoko Gushiken has posed:
Ryoko Gushiken couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips as the truth really sunk in. They were here because Hinoiri liked spending time with her. It was a good thing she was wearing her fencing mask. The low thrust was an easy attack to parry, her foil coming down to sweep the incoming thrust to the side. She leapt back, then, leaving Hinoiri a moment to return to her spot on the piste for another pass.

"Oh, Sarah and I are doing great," she said, and it wasn't even an exaggeration. Especially considering they worked for opposing factions in their magical jobs. This time she couldn't even hide the smile behind her mask. It was audible. "How could we be anything else? Can someone be too good?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara couldn't help it, she had a soft spot for her friends. Having never grown up with one, it was hard to really give up time to hang out with one. And this practice was perfect. As her shot wa parried, she stepped back, resetting... Then lunging, going for the shoulder!

"Oh, I exist, so probably. Unless you mean too much of a goodie good? Probably. A lot of these sparkles do have it in them. Then again, they saved my life so I shouldn't give them too much grief over it. Good to know you two are doing good, though. Any new projects you're hoping will get some notice?"

Ryoko Gushiken has posed:
Hinoiri was still pretty new to all this, and she still telegraphed her moves. It was easy for Ryoko to dodge, the tip of the foil extending right past her shoulder without touching at all. Meanwhile the tip of her own foil, stuck right into Hinoiri's chest. The blade itself bending. That's a point. "Oh, you will all notice when I start a new project, I promise," she says, sounding ominous in a way Hinoiri would surely recognize. It's posturing because she's got nothing.

"Right now, though? You're my project," she says. Then she raises up her hand to indicate they should take a break. She needs more coffee, after all of that. She hadn't even had half of hers yet. Lifting her mask up off, she puts it under her arm and walks over to where she'd set her coffee out of the way. "I'll make a fencer out of you yet." So she can come to the club.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara would have laughed at that, even enjoyed it. Oh, she knew that voice well. The ominousness. The flair. She liked that about Ryoko. And it was kind of nice that she didn't actually have anything for the moment. "Oh, I'm a project, huh? Well, I do hope you don't expect it to be an easy one." She'd take a drink as well...

Granted, the next day? It was the first sign that something was off... Especially since she wasn't supposed to have training with Ryoko, so she'd entirely skipped.

Subsequent loops, though, it was usually the first thing she did every day. She didn't really start to get good...

Until she started taking it incredibly seriously. Throwing her all into it. Everything she had, everything she was. Strike, parry, go go go. She didn't hesitate, didn't hold back. She threw her entire body and mind into it and, bit by bit, she was getting better. Searching for blood, in a way.

But for Ryoko? It'd just be the one day. Every day, Hinoiri would come, some days she was faster, more agile, more... experienced. Even if he body didn't know the movements, SHE did. And it... was... likely a bit strange. Well. The days she showed up, at least.

Ryoko Gushiken has posed:
The thing about time loops is that most people don't know they're in one. Every time the day repeated, all Ryoko knew was that they'd had a few lessons prior, and she brought coffee so she didn't murder Hinoiri. And some days she needed both coffees, especially when the fire-haired girl didn't show up. She was on an grumpy, emotional roller-coaster, and she didn't even know it.

But the worst part was, over time it seemed more and more like Hinoiri had lied to her. The first time through the day, Hinoiri's skills were the same as the last time they'd fought. But when Hinoiri got serious, when she started getting good, well that widened the gap from the previous lesson more and more.

Ryoko couldn't notice the pattern, because it was just one day for her. There was no pattern. But she didn't like feeling manipulated, and every time through the loop it felt more and more like that because the whole premise for their meeting felt more and more false.

What projects was she working on? Was this just an elaborate scheme to pump her for information? Hinoiri used to work for Obsidian, she probably still had backstabbing down to a science.

The worst part was that Ryoko liked her. She even got her coffee.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Final loop:

It was on the last day that, when Ryoko arrived Hinoiri was there, stretching out. She looked like she was in particularly good energy this morning and... "So, I wasn't sure what to get, but I thought I'd get you something as a thank you gift this morning. I know its been a bit of a grind and all, helping me with this, so it's just my way of saying thanks. I really feel after all your lessons I'm ready to join the club."

... It had been like... what... three lessons?

The gift in question was a... durable thermos. With a little flame symbol on it.

... The most impressive thing about it? Was that she'd managed to get it THIS MORNING. THIS EARLY! Yes, it had taken a bit of magic to pull off... but she was nothing if not devoted.

But what would likely surprise Ryoko the most... was how much her form had improved. Worse, how much better she was...

... Like, incredibly better.

An actual challenge. Sure, not quite as good, but still... not one Ryoko could really hold back against anymore. You'd think she'd been fencing for years, or gone through, say... hundreds of personal lessons with her. Or something. Weird.

Ryoko Gushiken has posed:
It was a good thing Ryoko only had those few minutes to form an opinion. She didn't have time to stew. She didn't have time to form a narrative. Not yet. This could have been so much worse.

She accepted the thermos with a smile, and a quiet thank you. Then she set it aside. The words that Hinoiri said settled into her mind and echoed while they practiced. While she actually had to make an effort to ensure she won against her pupil, rather than easily dodging and scoring.

She was honestly an entirely different fighter than the last two times, and Ryoko was just getting more and more mad about it. By the time they were done with the lesson she was clearly fuming with rage. The steam was practically rising from her ears as she packed up her things. But she didn't say anything. She just smiled and nodded. "What a relief. It'll be so nice not to have to get up quite so early."

She'd actually liked it, but now? Well now, she wasn't sure what that girl was playing at, but she didn't like being played for a fool, and she definitely felt like it after that session. "And now that you've freshened up with me," she said as she slung her bag up over her shoulder, her anger and hurt not particularly well hidden in her tone, "maybe your friend will notice you again. Good luck with that." Then she turned on her heel and left, not waiting for a response.

She brought coffee so she wouldn't do a murder.