2026-06-13: Vibe Check
- Log: Vibe Check
- Cast: Leon Saito, Niko Kirisaki
- Where: Aoba Park
- OOC Date: June 13, 2026
- IC Date: November 24, 2012
- Summary: Searching Aoba Park for his 'patron', Leon instead runs into a member of Takaya's entourage, Niko. Wondering what Takaya's interest in this Generic Dude could be, Niko decides to employ her usual level of subtlety in trying to figure out what makes Leon tick.
(|=============================== Aoba - Main ================================|)
-=================================================== Sumaru City/Aoba Ward ====-
To Sumaru's east is Aoba Ward, where fashion and commerce abound. The city's
fire department headquarters is based here too. Ample shopping can be found at
the stores that dot Aoba Way. Past it, Aoba Park is a popular place to walk
around and relax, especially since there's an outdoor concert hall located
deeper within where one might catch a live concert.
Various programs are filmed at Sumaru TV, where famous stars like veteran
actress Junko Kurosu, talk show host Hidehiko "Brown" Uesugi, and popular model
Eriko "Elly" Kirishima might be spotted. Along the way, one will pass Kismet
Publishing, where popular publications like hot teen magazine Coolest are made.
<Pose Tracker> Leon Saito has posed.
Saturday afternoon and once again a young pale man had skipped school to make his way from the port to Aoba Park. Leon stands in the sun trying to take in some of the warmth it provides while looking under literally every tree for a shirtless man who is reading a book.
A buzz is heard and Leon pulls his phone out to check the message and sighs, his mother reminding him of the american dinner that was a family tradition would be ready in a few hours. It would unfortunately be cutting his search short.
Suddenly he stands up straight as if someone ran a cold finger down his spine and drops his phone, looking around every which way before shaking his head and muttering to himself, "It's just a trial, just a trial, just a trial." Picking up his phone Leon tilts his head at the message again before putting it in his pocket. If he could just find Mr. Takaya, at least he would have something to be thankful for.
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Seeing who in her age range is out and about during school hours is something that Niko considers a good measuring tool for singling out Rebels. As much as she enjoys just randomly striking up conversations with total strangers, normal people are boring. There has to be something that stands out to make it worth the effort.
While she is 'on the prowl' today just for that sort of reason, she's also been hanging around the park occasionally to see if the situation has changed any, since the dispersal of the zombie crowd that used to be gathered there. While she's disappointed in that regard, she does spot someone who seems as if he doesn't quite fit the mold. Her interest is increased further when his features seem to match a profile that was added into Strega's system of contacts. Well well. This may be worth looking into.
Though she stands out like a sore thumb, Niko can be stealthy when she wants to be. Just a simple matter of sneaking up behind someone, that's easy, especially when they seem distracted to begin with. She doesn't know what trial he's muttering about, but if he wants one of those, she can give him one.
And so, out of nowhere, rather than a cold finger, an entire hand lands on Leon's shoulder. "Looking for something?"
Upon turning around, Niko will be standing there, giving a cheerful wave. She isn't quite as tall as Leon is, though there may still be a sense of intimidation involved on the matter of build. This girl has muscles for days, which is all the more obvious now that she's wearing her more common outfit, compared to when Leon would have seen her around here last. No pink skeleton dress this time, but denim shorts and a sleeveless mini-jacket that leaves the midriff exposed, strengthening the punk vibes of her general look.
And yet, with a completely casual bearing and tone, as if speaking to a friend. "Could help look, if you tell me what is is. Unless... this wouldn't happen to be a case of returning to the scene of the crime, would it?"
Whatever that's supposed to mean. Doesn't looks like she's planning on adding additional context, leaving it to Leon to figure it out.
<Pose Tracker> Leon Saito has posed.
The skittish teenager jumps once again at the hand and then the voice and turns and...actually seems to relax when he sees Niko. "You...You scared me." Leon steps back as he looks at Niko and isn't sure immediately about her.
Thoughts race through his head, as his heart rate quickens and he gets the flight instinct that humans have about to kick in. It only doubles down when the question about the scene of the crime comes up and Leon's head is swiveling as he tries to figure out where to run.
Finally he finds his voice again as he recognizes the girl, she was with Takaya that one time. "Um... I'm looking for..." He mumbles for a moment before taking a deep breath. "I am looking for Mister Takaya, I thought he may be here." Leon looks at the ground feeling awkward now as if that was a stupid idea once said outloud.
The poor mouse of a boy stands there as if waiting for something, as he does one might feel the air around him growing colder.
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko's reaction to having scared Leon is as cheerful as it is unrepentant. "I could tell!" She wouldn't keep doing that if people's reactions weren't always so funny.
Her gaze turns more curious as she observes the obvious tells of someone nervous in her presence. She is quick to grin again though. "What's wrong? Bad conscience? Worried I might bite? Don't worry, I won't tell on you, and I only bite if people ask nicely." She winks.
Despite the 'reassurance', not running was definitely the right call. She is absolutely the sort of person who would give chase, and is likely to win the stamina contest between them.
It takes a moment, but finally then, Leon admits to what it is he's looking for. Or who, as the case may be. Niko's eyes briefly widen. And then she starts to laugh, boisterously. For a solid ten seconds straight before recovering, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Haaa... you're serious, aren't you? You think Takaya-sama's gonna be out on a sunny day like this? Gotta be a real special reason for him to do that. Try again at night." Not leaving room for even a short pause, she immediately moves on to introducing herself. "Niko Kirisaki. Call me Niko-chan! Everybody does!" she tells the usual lie.
<Pose Tracker> Leon Saito has posed.
Leon watches the newcomer and then tries to make himself even smaller as he pulls his arm into his body while she laughs at him. Leon can't look up any more, and if there was any question on the nature of Leon at the moment it is showing heavily now. This Takaya seeker is prey.
The laughter goes on and Leon tries to interupt and speak up but can't look up while he does, "But, he was here. I found him...when it was later in the day." Leon feels even more stupid as he talks and answers Niko." He looks about dejected, a whole day wasted, a risk of getting in trouble and most of his lunch money of the week spent on a ferry ticket.
Still Leon knows better then to not be polite, "Um I am Leon Saito, it is a pleasure to meet you Niko-chan." Leon stands up straight and gives a bow still never being able to meet Niko's eyes.
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
In complete contrast to Leon, Niko is entirely laid-back and unconcerned, hands on the back of her head as she answers his weak protest. "Welp, must've been a special reason then, huh? If I had to guess, same reason I keep checking this place for any changes. Looks like the show's really over though, isn't it? Oh well, oh well."
At least it doesn't seem as if Leon is going to be in any major trouble, in so far as being around Niko isn't trouble by definition. Going along with her preferred mode of address certainly does wonders to keep her spirits high. "I know!" is her cheerful reply, meaning both his name and that it's a pleasure to meet her. "Nice to meetcha too, Leon-chan!" And obviously she's going to use that address in return.
Not meeting her eyes only gives her reason to duck her head low, actively seeking Leon's eyes out. "So, now that we're friends, why dontcha tell me what you need Takaya-sama for? I can pass along a message if you want. Or maybe I can help instead? C'mon, lay it on me."
<Pose Tracker> Leon Saito has posed.
Leon doesn't fight the eye contact, if it is what Niko wants then Leon will acquiese. Leon raises his head to help Niko meet his eyes and look at her but doesn't really speak.
That's not to say that he doesn't try, Leon opens his mouth and nothing comes out as his mind goes blank. Taking a moment Leon does try to remember why he was here when a rock hits him in the back of the head. Where did it come from is hard to say, maybe a bird dropped it but Leon looks much paler as he looks behind him and then back to Niko. For a moment the immediate area resonates with the supernatural before fading just as quickly.
"Um, my trial. The trial Takaya put me on. It's um, harder then I thought. I need his help...to um make it through to the other end." Leon says as he looks over his shoulder a few more times as if expecting more rocks.
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
So much trouble with answering a simple question. Gotta be more to that than simple shyness or intimidation, Niko suspects. That's the sort of thing that holds her interest, something 'off' about a person that she can try to puzzle out.
And that interest grows considerably by a sudden rock out of nowhere. Nobody threw that from behind him, she could clearly see that much. She doesn't even consider the notion of a bird, especially after that brief moment of goosebumps. What must have drawn Takaya's interest instantly clicks for her. An unusual sensation like that...
She snaps out of her thoughts when Leon finally speaks. "A trial from Takaya-sama? I can only imagine what that might be. Dunno if it'd be good idea to ask for his help though, finding your own way through is kinda the point of a trial." She places a hand on her hip, raising her other arm in a half-shrug. "Buuut, asking me for help would show some creative initiative, wouldn't it? Or you could just not let him know I helped, won't say a word about it if you won't." She doesn't know what she's volunteering for, but it's not like it matters. She's up for anything interesting.
That said however, she's not one to just pretend nothing weird happened when it clearly did. Especially when it looks like Leon himself suspects the weirdness isn't over yet.
"Expecting to be hit again?" she just asks straight out, before leaning forward a little, far more curious than concerned. "You wouldn't happen to be cursed, would you, Leon-chan? You gotta tell me if you're cursed. Don't worry, I don't judge. We're all cursed in a way, just some a little more directly than others, y'know? It's fine. But you do gotta tell me." The way she talks, it's like she thinks this is the most normal thing in the world.
<Pose Tracker> Leon Saito has posed.
"Cursed?!" Leon squeaks out as he replies to the question and looks about as if speaking about it may make it worse. Leon's voice dies down to almost a whisper, "Um, yeah. Something like that." Leon's eyes flicker to something behind Niko, something that isn't there.
"Takaya said it was all a trial. That it was the start of my growth and if I get through it everything would be better. The curse would be over..." Leon trails off as he considers it. "I came here originally to be cleansed of my karma to free me from the curse." Leon remembers the day as he thinks about it again.
"Do you know any tricks for controlling curses Niko...chan?" Leon asks as he remembers to add the honorific as he wonders if this girl could really help him be free of the curse. If he could just get it back to where it was a few months ago, he could deal with it even.
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Ah-hah... looks like her guess was right on the money. Though Niko is far from an expert on these things, she can do math well enough to put two and two together. Leon's behavior combined with that feeling and Takaya's interest in it, it had to be something along these lines. She nods sagely, like everything makes sense now.
"I see now, you might call that sort of thing a trial. Nobody asks or wants for these things to happen, but they do, and now you gotta deal with it, somehow. Karma, though..." She giggles, and shakes her head. "That's got nothing to do with it. Bad things happen to good people too, Leon-chan."
On the matter of tricks, she rubs her chin in thought. "Well first of all, when it's this sort of curse, forget about all the religious stuff. Bet you everything there's nothing going on that can be cleansed by any Shinto rituals. What you gotta do first is learn what it really is. Things are only scary as long as they're unknown. Once you know exactly what it is you're dealing with, it's already lost a lot of its power over you."
She blinks, and looks a little sheepish as her grin returns. "Well, that's how it was for me, anyway."
<Pose Tracker> Leon Saito has posed.
"Bad things happen to bad people too, Niko-chan." Leon says as he looks at the ground, it's not an accusation, it's as if it's just a statement of fact. Still it's not like Leon tuned out his new spiritual advisor, it probably helps that Niko was associated with Takaya, that alone seems to give her more credibility then maybe she even knows.
So the teen stands there contemplating Niko's words for a long moment before stating, "I know who...what, what it is. I've known for a long time." Looking at Niko for a moment he seems about to say more before he adds, "Um, so, um...what needs to be done if I already know what it is? "
Whatever IT is seems to take note of just how close Niko and Leon are getting and a malice seems to surround Leon. The type that would make people naturally want to take a step back and maybe just avoid the kid.
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko just shrugs at Leon's assertion. "Point is, it's equally unfair either way. Maybe you deserved it, maybe you didn't. Doesn't matter to me, shouldn't matter to you." She could go on at length about what she believes the root cause is, but... one thing at a time. If Leon does overcome this trial, he'll probably be more receptive to seeing the truth, the way she sees it.
"...Do you now?" The pleasant tone in Niko's voice belies her skepticism, but it still shows plenty in her following words. "If you're so sure you've already completed the first step, why do you need me to tell you what to do next? Maybe you misunderstood - don't confuse 'knowing' for 'understanding'. Understanding its full, true nature is what'll allow you to find a way to fight back against it."
Niko isn't about to pretend she's understood what it is herself. What she can tell is when there's something pushing back against her. Doing that only ever provokes her to do the same. "...You know something interesting, though? Supernatural things attract other supernatural things. So I bet that whatever this thing is, all it can really do to you is just be kind of annoying. Anything bigger than that, and it may make itself more vulnerable than it would like."
<Pose Tracker> Leon Saito has posed.
Leon looks at Niko as she points out he knows nothing and, explains even more. It's all true and Leon knows it, he has no idea what it is, he has no idea why it is here, only guesses and assumptions. Leon doesn't really even understand the thing about the supernatural bit.
That doesn't mean Leon isn't jumping to conclusions with the last bit. "They attract more of each other? Am I going to get more curses?" Leon's pale skin grows paler, if that is even possible. The kid's breathing increases and it is a sign he is panicking regarding the situation. He can already only deal with one. Leon takes a step back and falls onto the grass with a thud as he sits there.
Leon rocks a little on the grass as he tries to process the idea of more then one curse. "I need to stop more from coming."
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko can't help but laugh, seeing a reaction like that. She wasn't even trying to troll him, this guy's trolling himself with the way he thinks. Isn't that hilarious? She thinks it's pretty hilarious.
"You reeeeeally don't get this stuff," she states the obvious, before leaning over him to state what is less obvious, and not entirely based on knowing all this stuff for a fact. "Who's ever heard about curses teaming up and forming a happy family together? Maybe the best way to get rid of a curse would actually be with another curse, you don't know. That's the sorta thing you gotta find out. Unless you like being scared all the time."
She backs away afterwards, not actually offering him a hand up. That's what she's been saying - Leon has to learn to help himself. She'll offer suggestions, but even if she knew how, she's not going to solve the problem for him. It's doing him a favor, really. If he can't overcome this much, this world's gonna eat him alive one way or another.
"Can you meet Takaya-sama's expectations, I wonder...?" So saying, she makes a fingergun gesture in Leon's direction. "Good luck, Leon-chan. I'm rooting for you~" And, unless stopped, makes to wander off, humming a happy tune to herself.