1272/A Break For Reptiles

A Break For Reptiles
Date of Scene:	13 March 2024
Location:	Penguin Park - Animal Kingdom
Synopsis:	In their guise as Shiori, Double Trouble drags Hinoiri off on a date to the zoo to get her away from her obsessive studying. There's daydreaming about the future, daydreaming about each other, and daydreaming about chameleons. And then they go looking for bugs.
Cast of Characters:	Double Trouble, Hinoiri Kirara

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Double Trouble has posed:
Ever since Hinoiri got it in her stubborn, unicorn head that she had to compete with Ami Mizuno, she had been studying way too much. At least, that was Double Trouble's opinion. As always they were primarily upset because that studying was happening instead of her paying attention to them as they needed and deserved. Even for magical beings such as them, there were only twenty-four hours in the day (most of the time at least).

Well, they are not the kind of person to let their love go and be boring and focus only on studies and overwork herself. So, in an attempt to stave off the burnout, they put on Shiori's face and convinced her to come out on a date to the zoo.

"Stop fucking studying, we're going on a date," she said, and then did not take no for an answer. A silver tongued temptress if ever there was one.

That date? To the zoo. The one inside Penguin Park. As they cross the threshold from the larger park, Shiori looks around and grins at Hinoiri. "What do you want to see first? My vote is the reptile house."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara had given Double Trouble like... 2-3 days! But then Ami CHALLENGED them! They'd come home that day FURIOUS! 'That little blue haired heifer thought she was BETTER than her! Told her that she'd NEVER be able to beat her. That Hinoiri wasn't SMART ENOUGH! Oh, she'd show her. SHE'D CRUSH HER!

And ever since then? Her grades had been improving.

... Everything else had been suffering. Sure, she'd rolled out the Eclipse Zones... but that had been... mostly done by then. And she barely paid attention to them. And then she'd gotten kidnapped. And then...

But here she was again. Studying. All. The time. And it was definitely another sign of just... who she was.

Of course.... Shiori could be quite persuasive.

Which was why Hinoiri was being dragged into the zoo, glaring at her. "I still can't believe you took my study guide. You know, that girl isn't someone I can just casually crush like everyone else. She requires effort... but yes. Reptile house sounds fine," she said, huffily.

Please. Beating Mizuno was quickly seeming to be an impossibility.... even if Hinoiri got 100... Ami did too. And unlike Hinoiri? She was FROM this world. And was NOT letting up in the slightest. Fortunately, swiping her book was still effective. "I like the chameleons. For SOME reason..." she said in an annoyed tone.

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii held on to Hinoiri's hand and lead her down the path toward the reptile house. "I am never going to understand why you think that's so important," she said, lying. She understood exactly why she thought it was so important, but she also knew Hinoiri couldn't have an honest discussion about it. "But I won't let you destroy yourself over it either. If you don't take breaks, eventually your body will take them for you. So I'm here to make sure you take breaks, with me."

She's always her own number one priority.

Looking over her shoulder she offers Hinoiri a smile and then pats the black leather messenger bag slung over her shoulder. "You can have your workbook back at the end of our date, Hinoiri-chan," she says. And then turns her head to watch where she's going as she puts her hand forward to pull open the door to the reptile house.

Time for a family reunion!

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a soft sigh and rolled her eyes. "It's just important is all. I can't just let her *think* that she's better than me when she's certainly not. She's not even in my league. I was fine *letting* her be top dog for a while, but oh, ohhhhh, then the little himbo had to try and rub my face in it, like she thought she was smarter than me. ME! If I hadn't had a handicap this whole time I would have ground her FACE into the dirt WEEKS ago!" Hinoiri snapped.

"I'd like to see her solve the third metric of subdimensional teleportation with just a pen and a napkin. Could she? NO! But ohhhh, she thinks she can tell ME I'm not good enough?! UGH! I will *destroy her!*"

Nope, not letting it go.

"But fine, fine, we can go see the cute animals and then I can get back to studying."

"Besides, I don't need a break, I'm not even that tired." ... When was the last time she'd taken a break? Two months ago?

Her eyes did glance to the messanger bag... but then she sighed and shook her head, instead walking into the reptile house. Sneaking it... likely wouldn't end well.

"Did you know that most reptiles are cold blooded and almost all lizards are cold blooded, with the only warm blooded one being the Tegu which was learned about a few years ago?"

... NERRRRRRD.

Double Trouble has posed:
"The fact that she thinks she's better just goes to show she's not right about everything," Shiori says with a shrug and a glance over her shoulder toward Hinoiri. She considers saying more. Pushing Hinoiri's buttons. But she's having fun and really wants more date.

Then Hinoiri drops some reptile facts, and that's the perfect segue to not talking about that anymore. Besides, reptiles are one of Shiori's interests. "Yes, I know! I want a pet python some day," she says. "Did you know reticulated pythons can grow to over 30 feet in length and can eat prey as large as deer or crocodiles? They taste scents and some have special tasters to sense warm-blooded prey."

Off she's going toward the wall of snakes. There's a couple of pythons, though they're much smaller than 30 feet. Also a wide variety of smaller snakes. Shiori looks like she's in heaven.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara fortunately, she was distracted by that. Whew. "Ohhhh, that's pretty cool. We had a few snake charmers back home, but the python's there are a little more tame.... and intelligent," she mumbled softly. "Don't know if they ate live prey, though. I never fed one before. Probably. There were a few things that did it. A snake like that would be cool, but I.... really think I'd feel too sheepish trying to feed them. Tossing something to be fed to something else like that just feels too... I don't know... Evil overlord-ish?" Pause. "Which, admittedly, is probably a bit silly coming from me."

Slowly, her hand reached out to snag Shiori's and she gave her a small smile... before... "Ohhhhh... that's absolutely adorable," she said when they went past an albino rattlesnake. "You know, I always found their rattlers to be the cutest thing. It's like they come with baby equipment." Pause. "Though, I guess it's less baby equipment and more 'I can actually murder you' warning signs. But still. Cute. If you got one, I do hope you wouldn't want a full 30 foot one. Trying to get a proper cage for it would be horrible. It'd likely need to be as large as most rooms."

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii reflexively took hold of Hinoir's hand, the slightest smile turning up the corners of her mouth. Then she laughed ever so quietly at Hinoiri's description of the snakes' rattles, her hand coming up to cover her mouth for just a moment until her expression calmed back down.

Can't be emoting in public now.

"I don't know, I kind of like the idea of walking around with a 250 pound serpent slithering behind me," she says, sounding amused. "I feel like I'd demand the kind of respect I deserve." She says it so matter-of-factly. No theatrics to it at all. Just raw confidence.

"But I've got Sunny already anyway, I don't need a reticulated python. Sunny's better," she says with a laugh. Sunny, her dusk zone familiar that takes the form of a shadowy, inky-black snake. Then she hmms. "I should really figure out how to wear that gem with this outfit."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a light snort and then gave her the softest little affectionate hit bump. "I don't know. I feel you *already* know how to demand the respect you deserve," she said in a teasing tone. "It would be a cool pet, though. I never really felt the same joy from... fuzzy pets, as it were," Hinoiri admitted. "All of the fur gets everywhere, you know? And with my ma-- hair, that's already an issue as it is."

She then gave a light hmmmm. "And better than a fish. Can still pet it." When she said that... she let Shiori's hand go, after giving it a small squeeze.

So she could pet it down Shiori's spine before taking it again.

"Maybe a necklace? Or glove, like Riventon has. You could backhand someone with it." she then paused. "I never did find out where mine ran off to... Meh. Probably got purified by somebody."

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii shivered when Hinoiri touched her spine and her shoulders reflexively rolled in a little circle as her head wriggled just a little. She certainly felt that. She bit her lip and looked over at Hinoiri for a long moment before nodding. "A necklace. I guess it's not too big to be a pendant," she said and then looked down at her chest. She already had several necklaces on, and one of them was even magical. Her de-henshin device.

Then she paused to think, holding up her hand that wasn't holding Hinoiri's. "Black leather fingerless gloves. Maybe with spikes on the knuckles? Could have a decoy gem in one of them, so it looks symmetric and fashionable." Her eyes go a little glassy as she starts to wander off into her thoughts thinking about it.

Until a small child squeals at one of the frogs over near all the amphibian enclosures, and it pulls her out of her reverie. Her nose wrinkles and she sneers as she shoots a glare toward the small, shrill being. But then she turns her attention back to Hinoiri and smiles.

"I don't know, I can think of a few furred animals I wouldn't mind keeping as pets," she says playfully as she tugs on Hinoiri's hand, off toward the chameleons and lizards. "I always wanted a unicorn when I was little."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara couldn't help but smile when Shiori admired all the other necklaces. "Admittedly, I figured it might get lost in the noise, as it were. Buuuut... a necklace is a standard for a reason. Although, a belt might work too. I knew a minotaur with an enchanted belt once." Pause. "It summoned a stepstool for him to step on and... I don't get the rest of it, he wouldn't shut up so I left."

"Spiked gloves are cool, though. We'd have to be careful holding each other's hands, but I'm sure it'd be worth it to look as awesome as you are," she said, rubbing her nose against the other girls.

Her cheeks went quite red at the 'wanting a unicorn' bit. "Well... I guess I can make your dream a reality then, huh?" she whispered, only to pause a bit. "Did... they have unicorns in your world? I mean, were they like... I know about Swiftwind, but he's magic. Did that have... other unicorns? Was that a thing?"

She did glance at the child.... but didn't seem to mind it. Apparently tuning it out. Then again, she had spent most of her childhood around foals. If isolated from them. She likely was used to ignoring them.

Double Trouble has posed:
Double Trouble wears the gem on a belt when they're in their natural form. Shiori wanted something different, but a belt would certainly work. "A belt might work," she admits, though she's not wearing one. She could.

As they walk to the lizard enclosures, she says, "I don't know what you mean Hinoiri-chan. I'm from right here in Tokyo," she says. And turns toward Hinoiri with a smirk. "No, not actually. You're my first," she says, and then she pulls Hinoiri a little closer and leans in to steal a kiss on her cheek.

Then she points to the chameleon right in front of them. "Did you know that some chameleons can be as small as a thumbnail and others can get as big as housecats?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small snicker when she was kissed. It was... different, admittedly. This relationship. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt about it. It was a bit exciting. Being the only one who knew the true Double Trouble beneath the mask.

And seeing her partner perform. Perhaps that was why she'd gravitated towards them in the end. She had to be the best in everything, so why not have the best possible boy/girl friend at any point?

"That's a shame. If I'm the only one you have to compare it to, then you'll just be disappointed when you meet more," she said in a playful tone.

She glanced towards the chameleons and shook her head. "No, actually I didn't. I figured they could get bigger, interesting... did you know they don't actually change their color to blend in, but instead more for social cues? Like.... attracting a mate and the like?" Ohhhh, there was HEAVY teasing in that line.

Double Trouble has posed:
"Yes. They also change colors to control their temperatures," Shiori adds, as if there were no innuendo there at all. "Darker colors absorb more heat, which can be crucial for cold-blooded animals."

Shiori sure seems to like darker colors.

She just stares at the chameleon in front of them in silence, her hand holding onto Hinoiri's, fingers laced together and her thumb running along Hinoiri's ever so gently.

Then finally she turns to look at the flame-haired girl and just smiles. "Why would I even care about other unicorns?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara leaned in, just a little, resting her head on Shiori's shoulder while they watched the chameleon's together. Silent. Together. Happy...

"Just because you've had the grandest of parfaits doesn't mean you won't have some interest in the cheap 4 for 500 yen packs they have at the corner store," Hinoiri said with a small grin. "I'd hope you wouldn't have the same interest in them that you do me, though," she said with... just a tiny hint of smugness. "But you'll be my consort, nothing you desire will be beyond your reach. You'll finally be given everything you deserve. In that world and... possibly from this one."

"... You... wouldn't betray me in the end, right? Even... for drama?" There was, fore once.... just that small, tiny hint of need in her voice. That... uncertainty.

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii just stood there after Hinoiri asked her question, staring at the chameleon. It was almost like a distant cousin; a very distant cousin. She looked at it just sitting there on it's stick, barely moving, looking like a little pride lizard. She loved it.

She also loved Hinoiri, for better or worse. Probably worse. She didn't care. "Of course I will betray you," she said, finally turning toward the flame haired girl. She reached out to grab Hinoiri's other hand, and pulled their hands up in between them as she steps close. It was a bit squished in there.

"I'll betray all your expectations for betrayal."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave the hand a little squeeze then. While Shiori had been watching the lizard...

She'd been watching her.

She looked unsure. And, admittedly... Project Eclipse had been making her... question some things. But there was something... she wanted to share with her. "I... was betrayed once," she finally said softly. "Only... once. I only.... trusted once. It was a dragon. Sora... wanted me to learn about loyalty." She turned back towards the chameleon.

"... He was smart, I thought. He knew I was brilliant, who didn't? But... he used me. I thought loyalty was about... sticking by people's sides. But apparently I got the lesson wrong."

"He betrayed me. Used me to get into some of the forbidden sections of the castle. Sora was furious, she couldn't look at me for days. Wouldn't even listen as I explained myself..." Her hand tightened, just a little more. "Please... don't... make me relive that," Hinoiri said gently, with just a hint of pleading in her voice. "Don't... don't prove my trust wrong."

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii gave Hinoiri's hand a squeeze, and then let go. She shuffled a half step closer and slipped her arm around Hinoiri's waist. She leaned in and rested her head against the other girl's.

"I won't ever betray you like that, Hinoiri-chan," she said quiet and firm. "I'm a thespian, and I've played so many roles. I know feelings and I've never felt love like this before." Then she looked aside and smiled. "Besides, experience has shown me that the best path toward the most drama is whichever one you're headed down. Why would I want to ruin the best thing that's ever happened to me?"

She turned to steal another kiss on Hinoiri's cheek. "Now let's go look at something else. Do you think they keep the spiders in the Insect House? They're not actually insects, but where else would they put them?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara actually chortled when she was told she was the path towards drama. "You know. One day I'll ascend and then things will be so much easier. What are you going to do then? I won't be nearly as dramatic." Pause. "Though, I guess you'll find ways to create drama then. Alas, our poor castle staff. The stars cast no magic like that of a bored consort."

She gave a shrug, letting the other girl guide her. "I'm... admittedly not sure. The spiders they have here are so... weird. I mean, we have some like. This size? Tiny. But we also have much larger ones. They tend to hang out in caves and created a kind of dark web of sorts. Extorting ponies for bits and the like. Sora had deal with an incident a few years back when they created a whole mafia family and actually abducted a pony. Nopony was hurt, but oh that unicorn wouldn't go near caves ever again."

... Worst part? She was entirely serious.

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii lead Hinoiri toward the exit of the Reptile and Amphibian House, her arm around her girlfriend's waist and a smug little smile on her face. Yeah, that hottie was hers, it said.

"Oh that sounds like an interesting bunch," she said as Hinoiri described the arachnids of her world. And that was before you got to whatever it was Double Trouble had turned into when they went over there. Some sort of shapeshifting insect. Kirakirafantastica sounded like a world that was just all drama all the time.

"I'm sure there'll always be enough drama," she said as they walked down the path toward the Insect House. For one, it didn't seem like Hinoiri would ever heal her trauma, so it didn't seem likely that the drama would ever end. But it's not like she can say that.

"After all, once you replace Sora, who's going to replace you?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara didn't mind being hers. It was kind of nice. But Double Trouble did bring up an interesting point. Who would replace her? Could someone?

"I'm not sure. I suppose I'll need to be careful of that. Perhaps setup a new system for ascension once I have the power. There's one other alicorn back home, though I was never able to discover details of her ascension. Perhaps I'll setup others... perhaps there will be an 'ascension' of sorts for whatever... you... turned into," Hinoiri mumbled, looking thoughtful.

"Alicorns are immortal, technically. Well. To age. They don't really age. So.... with a few good rulers, I could stop my rulership one day and have someone else take over. But that'd be long, long in the future. Only once I was certain things were better."

"... And who knows? Perhaps by then Sora will see the error of her ways and be worthy of.... a lesser rulership. One not quite so... all-reaching."

"I'll also need to establish trade routes with this world. There are... people... here... I like..." She then smiled to Double Trouble. "And I'll need to make sure that, when the time comes... well... I have you close at hoof. Obsidian is *not* going to be happy to see their greatest asset leave. Especially not when I take your conniving flank with me~"

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii listened as they walked. It wasn't very far, the Insect House was actually just the next building over. It makes it easier for the folks who like creepy crawly things. Folks like Shiori.

"Hinoiri-chan, you know magic, but you don't know people very well," she said. "So, it's good thing you have me. Trust me that you're going to have drama all the time even as an immortal, all-powerful alicorn."

She didn't point out that Hinoiri didn't really understand the question. She didn't mean who is going to be her student. She didn't mean who would ascend after her. She meant who was going to single-mindedly want to bring her down to remake Kirakirafantastica to their liking? But Hinoiri wasn't ready to think about that. So she didn't say it.

Pulling the door to the Insect House open, she looked to Hinoiri and said, "What are they going to do about it once we're gone? Send a youma through the portal?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod. "Probably. There will always be those... unsatisfied with my ascension. Ponies who want to use me, ponies who want to use the turmoil. But... I'll have a consort who is experienced in such things to help me along, I'm not worried."

She flashed another smile when she was guided inside. "Oh, they won't be dumb enough to do that. But wellllll... I think I've made my position of using Obsidian quite clear. And while I'm more than happy to give them... some... of the benefits of my work, wellll..."

She glanced around, taking her hand again and whispered to her. "Project Eclipse isn't quite giving them as much as they hope. And once I ascend, I'll have no need to even give them the runoff anymore," she whispered. "But it'll take time for the portal to open so I won't be able to make the two overlap. But so long as you're near me at the time I ascend, they'll be helpless to do anything about it."