Lonewolf685

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

---

The majority of the club now surrounded Hizuki, and Roche counted her blessings that they all displayed more curiosity then open hostility. Kiyo's efforts to warn some of the club had borne fruit, as Earthshaker could well imagine she'd have responded rather assertively without them given Rei's ultimatum hanging over her neck.

The Rulekeeper's gaze slid along to the Demon of Hibusa herself, though Hizuki's reaction seemed to suggest that she wasn't certain Rei was the real deal herself.

"To answer your question, Hizuki; We aren't friendly with Light Girls, but aren't the aggressors either. If you want to save some random people on the street, be our guest, but the moment you decide to attack us we won't be sharing any further words." With Rei's eyes upon her it was easy to remain a firm, unyielding presence, her face carved from granite and cast in the shadows of her hood.

Though with the illumination of her tribal markings, she'd never be able to completely cast in darkness.

"We're currently being attacked by a group from the City of Light, and they've made it clear they want a war. You, however, made it clear you're not with them and that you have....desires that align with us." Earthshaker gestured with a sweep of her cloak to Rei and Willow, the bard's taudry singing for once more a boon then an annoyance as it disarmed any tension to the moment.

"So until I see a hostile Light Girl, I'll remain on alert. Keep the peace and we won't have you carted in an ambulance to the City of Light alongside those other brats. If you're going to make quashing Miseria this easy, I wouldn't begrudge your company, but the final say is with the boss lady here."

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

---

"I said I'm here to keep the peace. You act reasonable, and that included you as well." Just because Roche wasn't trying to attack Hizuki didn't mean she wouldn't try to establish herself as the cool, collected rock of the Detention Club. Especially after Suki had ruined her attempt to do so with Nyxia...

Though given how it all worked out in the end, maybe she should let Suki off the hook for that one?

A Nyxia that had been terrorized into compliance by Roche wouldn't have jumped down and joined them so easily, finding something to appreciate in Hizuki's own magical prowess instead of venomously hissing in defense of her Baby. She was proving downright friendly.

Okay, If I ever corner her, I'll apologize. The Rule Keeper decided, content that she could delay that till the end of days, as Suki was quite happy to continue evading her till the end of days. Or till Ashbringer came to collect. Or Rei had a bad day and choked a bitch. Or a Giga Miseria kills them on the hunt.

There were a lot alternatives to confronting Suki, and only half were worse then just conversing with her.

"I'm Earthshaker. Nyxia here is my partner." She returned to the present parties, gesturing towards the laser fetishist who was all but salivating at the prospect of reaping a harvest of Miseria. "Evil Eye says your decent people, so we're giving you a chance in spite of some hostile Light Girls moving in on our city recently."

"Don't prove her wrong."

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

---

Roche’s efforts to cure her loneliness and galvanize the team were, miraculously, making some progress. True, it was a process akin to pulling teeth while someone else was pulling her toenails at the same time, but the mental anguish and emotional discomfort was worth it.

She really, really hoped it was. Putting herself out there was making headway in connecting to her fellow club members, but there were times she found herself wishing she could slip behind the cold veneer of a rancid bitch and not need to wear her heart on her sleeve. Brief as they were, it was easier to shrug off the feelings then it was to deny the impulse to slide back upon her recent advances.

Though since when did Roche abandon the path just because it was difficult?

Such were the musings of the Rule Keeper as the nightly feast began, her mind astir not be general angst, but the presence of Rei perched upon a lamppost like some anachronistic gargoyle. Bereft of the comfort she once found so easily in the authority figure’s presence, she chafed like a dog whose collar had been replaced with a choke chain.

She didn’t partake in the feast herself. It was slim pickings, and she knew Nyxia would revel enough for the both of them, leaving Roche to keep a watchful eye upon the city itself. Waiting for a sign that was only infinitesimally less loathed then the burning visage of Ashbringer screaming across the night sky.

Earthshaker’s vigil came to a close when the sky was sundered, night burning before the radiance of day for an instant of awesome power put on flagrant display. After the city had shaken under its first tremor in years, it was a relief to see her paranoia rewarded with the appearance of a Light Girl. She’d expected those marauders from the City of Light to show up, and her feet shattered the pavement as she bounded to intercept the light show even after it evaporated against the chill night.

Flight by the strength of her leaps alone, white tattoos of stored power blazing with the sleight excretion of stored energy, left Roche ecstatic under normal circumstances. Traversal was freedom in its simplest, basest form, yet when done in pursuit of a goal that wonderment was turned into a narrow minded drive. The focus of a predator closing in by intuition and the feel of dispersed magic.

It helped that she wasn’t the first to arrive, and neither were even attempting to be subtle.

”Don’t mind me.” Earthshaker’s tone was all business, coming down in a crouch before straightening up behind Kiyo and on her left. Her arms soon crossed, the evening breeze setting her cloak billowing before settling around in a shroud. Taking in Kiyo’s posture at a glance, she reasoned this wasn’t those City of Light girls like Margonite and her ilk. More likely it was the stray cat she’d spotted, and as Roche had promised, she’d lend her silent support.

”I’m just here to keep everything civil.”

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

---

Another day, another lunch break. Given the Detention Club really only congealed together after school hours, Roche didn't typically have expectations of a group get together.

But as bonds formed, she could at least hope to catch one or two people.

Coming to the cafeteria with a convenience store bagged meal in hand, Roche's eyes scanned the press of people. She'd been late in her arrival and it reflected in the throng arrayed before her, a steady clamor of conversations all colliding in garish dissonance as each pocket of congregating teens tried to be heard over those surrounding them.

Normally, she'd turn right around and eat her meal on the track field or a classroom if it wasn't too hectic, but she was making an effort to be more available for the Club. If she'd caught sight of Kiyo it would have been a perfect time to coordinate how to best organize the Club's hunts and make good on her promise to lean on Evil Eye more.

But Roche's eyes landed not on Kiyo, and though they were present, she didn't see Evil Eye and Tsubomi first either.

Shuuko proved easier to spot, especially when beside another friend of Roche's.

"Hey there!" Roche called, hand raised as she approached Misoka and Shuuko. Her expression brightened, a sympathetic crinkling of the eye as she saw Misoka was having a hard time projecting the air of a perfect honor's student when she was also serving as unpaid labor in a manually demanding reconstruction effort.

"You two know each other? You really are popular, Misoka. Though I see the shop isn't giving you much rest." Being well aware of just why Misoka was so ragged left Roche largely unconcerned as she fully grasped just what was driving her. "If you got a minute stop by the track field. I can show you some stretches for before and after your work so you can relieve some of that muscle ache."

"You wanna come too, Shuuko? I know you're already super flexible but a warm up never hurts....well, as long as you do it right."

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

---

If there was a lesson Roche should have taken from the beach trip sooner, it was that when she let her guard down, the club wasn't going to do her in like the Ides of March.

At least not now. Before the vacation, it was anyone's guess.

Nyxia's rancor was clearly for Roche's benefit and the Rule Keeper smiled softly, discerning it was a wrath born of compassion that moved Nyxia in her rant. It was touching display and her lips warbled with a giggle she didn't want to voice.

Kiyo's acerbic sarcasm was like a hand upon her shoulder, a familiar presence there when she needed it. Evil Eye was never one for grand gestures, but she was still a steady foundation to the club.

About the only thing she couldn't quite capture in its entirety was Shuuko's reaction; Mostly because Roche was too busy blushing from ear to ear as she was suddenly embraced. It had the feeling of a reversal on their last hug, even if Roche was the one who'd just been spiraling in on herself yet again. With how tightly Shuuko was clinging to her she couldn't help but feel the trembling like a frost bitten leaf that wracked the poor girl.

"O-Okay, thanks for that everyone. I think we can leave Rei be for now and just get ready for our next hunt. And, umm, let's try and stay in pairs at least. Light Girls are getting real brazen...." Roche said that, though her words were petering out as Suki seemed to react poorly to the outpouring of support and stormed out in a huff, a puff of cigarette smoke coming through the door as Suki stormed away.

She might have chased after her, but there was already one girl clinging to her like a limpet. Her arms worked to wrap around Shuuko, scooting the chairs closer before running a palm along the girl's hair. "It's okay. It's going to be okay. We're all in this together, and no Light or Dark Girls are going to change that."

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

---

Roche carried a lot on her shoulders, and just like any middle manager, that weight had only increased after conversing with Rei.

Conversing was a stretch, in truth. That required an exchange of views and opinions. What Roche's mouth had earned her was a dictation of facts according to Rei, and she was loath to correct the woman whose touch promised death to Miseria and Magical Girl alike. Being told that everything falling apart was her fault and her fault alone didn't sit well with her, struggling to grasp just where it all went wrong and how she'd have had any hope of fixing it.

Don't go to the flower shop and encounter Ashbringer? Highly unlikely she wouldn't have just crashed down on any other building and goaded them into a fight.

Don't go to the beach? They'd have splintered apart over the summer and not even bothered coming to school. Suki would have been buried under frogs, Nyxia would have rebelled from the lack of progress, and Shuuko and Kiyo would have returned to find a club in flames.

As Sylvia had once seen, her mind spiraled inwards, drawn by the pressure of Rei's condemnation, till it wasn't.

The metaphorical foot came off the gas pedal, and her eyes blinked as she felt her emotions dim. It was a funny feeling, and familiar as well. Her gaze drifted to Tsubomi, feeling her magic at work without her having asked for it. Was this compassion on her part?

Slowly her lips quirked upwards, as in the absence of dread there was only a faint relief to be felt, and she knew it was a brief reprieve she'd be better served savoring.

"Nyxia. Acid Drop. Thank you both." The Track Captain inhaled grandly and exhaled gustily, letting the motion bring her head and shoulders up as she settled with ephemeral composure in her seat.

"Rei will be joining us on out next outing. She's....unhappy with my leadership in her absence, and made it known her faith was misplaced. I'm just a bit rattled, is all, but I appreciate your concerns. For all that we got by on dumb luck and stubborn grit, I'm proud to be in a club with you all. Even Suki."

The heartfelt words were capped with a playful barb thrown Suki's way, as the Rule Keeper was also lacking in her concern for the prickly blood fiend courtesy of Tsubomi's appetite.

"I know I'm not perfect, or even all that good at leading you all, so thanks for putting up with me, and if there's anything I can do better, let me know."

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

I did Harpy / Tri Brigade back when Wind Barrier Statue was allowed. So my stuns were brutal and my board could be started with 1 card from either archetype. It was good times.

Salamangreat was probably my only fair deck, even with Promethean Princess, but the opponent at least had a chance.

So I know my Karma has me do for cosmic punishment. Still, keep that widow anchor off Roche and her gal pals!

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

Granted I was the evil monster who played a Laby deck Before AND after they added Big Welcome and it's boss monster to Master Duel. So I've already earned my place in hell.

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

The real question is whether we'll end up with more Nikke or Azur Lane face claims.

Kurai Majokko: Tsundere Gekido

Considering Roche's Magical Girl form is a ship girl already, I think it's fair game :3

Though if you start throwing Widow Anchors around and snatching up Magical Girls, there's gonna be some fighting words thrown about!