9628/Japan Field Trip

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Japan Field Trip
Date of Scene: 14 January 2022
Location: On a private plane to Japan
Synopsis: Elektra and June's trip to Japan begins to some precious advice and teachings. The air pods don't make it.
Cast of Characters: Elektra Natchios, June Connor




Elektra Natchios has posed:
The crisis happening in Manhattan meant most had been asked to evacuate. And with Elektra being politically adjacent to the Greek embassy it meant she had quite the privileged evacuation. Almost like a chief of state. Personalized security detachment, multiple staff, everything paid. It's as if they were off to some kind of vacation somewhere.

Or at least that's what came out to the general public.

The truth? Once they left the house under all that scrutiny the van in which they were going changed paths, diverging from the main convoy. It came to a stop near a private airstrip and Elektra finally spoke.

"I took the liberty of preparing the things for our trip to Japan." a beat, "They are already inside the plane." so efficient. Elektra steps out of the SUV still in that resplendent red dress she was wearing, scarf around her neck and a stylish hat on her head, high heels as she makes her way across the strip to a waiting plane.

June Connor has posed:
    June was visibly chastened by the meteor threat. It was scary, and she hadn't shown any hesitation of expressing it. Is it going to wipe out the planet? Is it going to be like the dinosaurs? I thought we had Superman to stop this shit, can't he just punch it away or something? Things like that were common questions that came from her. A reminder that for all of her badass attitude, she's still a 19 year old girl with little education.

    Needless to say, while she had been apprehensive about the Japan trip for ritual...whatever it was, now she was a lot more eager to get as far from Manhattan as she could. The white air pods could be heard blaring music in them as she sat with the new 'kung fu sneakers', as she called them, tapping rhythmically against the van wall closest to her. A gift from another rich date. It wasn't a diamond necklace, but very useful. Her denim jacket rested open, and underneath was a black t-shirt with Insane Clown Posse's disturbing logo on it She pulls the air pod out of one side when she saw Elektra's lips moving. "Hmm? What'ss inside the plane?" she asks.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Oh no, you didn't. Elektra stops, turning to look at June in that kind of look that is telling. Someone just messed up. She extends one hand wordlessly towards air pods, asking for them. The eyebrow arches in that manner that she expects no resistance, because she will tolerate none. Those air pods will be fetched and then summarily executed under the heel of her shoe.

"Not your air pods." Is the answer she gives to June about what's inside the plane.

What a great way to start this trip! Elektra turns and resumes her walk back inside. It's a luxurious plane and by the looks of it they will be the only passengers. Besides the crew. "Come, and sit. There is much we have to talk about before we arrive. How much do you know about the Hand traditions? The real ones."

June Connor has posed:
    June rolls her eyes and hands over the air pods, having no idea what is about to happen to them. "What the fuck!?" She exclaims as they are smashed on the ground. She looks at them, and then Elektra. "I like, actually even paid for those," she declares with annoyance. "You can be such an asshole." She doesn't bother to pick up the remains, what would be the point. Instead, she gains an extra level of stink face as she goes to the plane. Clearly the plane makes her a little nervous. She looks around it as if evaluating whether it will fall to pieces around her, despite it's clearly fine design.

    With remarkably poor posture she makes her way through the plane to the seat, and sits down as if she might break it if she's too rough. She's never been on a plane before. Her body looks more tense than usual.

    "Traditions?" she asks. "Um, don't talk about Fight Club," she offers, an analogy to the secrecy they impress upon their members. "And some people get super creepy shit and...sacrifice themselves? Or...I dunno, creeped me the fuck out, but nobody told me before I joined up, so I just kinda kept my head down and pretended to go along with it."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The tantrum about the smashed air pods is fully ignored. Elektra just keeps on going with that elegant posture of hers. And once they are fully seated on the plane and June has joined with her the engines are felt coming to life. There's a faint, calming music in the cabin they are at now. It's an expansive thing too. And very empty of people besides the duo. A tall woman comes walking by, two flutes of champagne on a tray which she silently offers towards Elektra. The assassin picks up both, setting one in front of June and taking a sip of her own flute.

"As I expected. You were not initiated." She lets out a faint sigh, looking at the bubbly liquid in her glass. "No matter, but there are certain things you need to understand. They will help you survive, and make no mistake your survival will be at stake during this trip. All you do, all you say, all the expressions you convey will be measured and monitored while there. The Hand are a people of traditions. Traditions that have been going for hundreds of years. Worst of all, we are gaijin. Foreigners." a pause, "Which means we will be expected to fail." a smirk, "But we won't fail, will we?"

Dark gaze focuses on the young woman, watching her expression and reactions.

June Connor has posed:
    June's response is surprisingly neutral, as if she's hearing about the plot of a TV show. Perhaps not digesting, or perhaps not really knowing what to think of it. She frowns, "They all like, never told me shit, so that kinda fits. Like I wasn't good enough to know what was going on. Which, I mean, fuck them anyway because I didn't wanna know," she says with a slightly flippant attitude. She glances out the window at the tarmac, and then back at the champagne. She picks it up and sniffs it, a good force of habit for a ninja.

    "Wait wait," June suddenly says, raising a hand. "Fail at what exactly?" Yeah, it just clicked.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"The challenge, of course. Or do you believe we will just be going there, talk like old friends, handshake and let bygones be bygones." Elektra shakes her head slowly. "This isn't a vacation. And Madame Gao will be trying her best that we never *get* to the challenge part." she takes another sip from her flute. "There are various parts to this. The arrival, the welcoming, the offering of challenge and at last the challenge itself. All have various rules to follow. We will go through them."

The assassin sets the flute aside even as the plane starts speeding through the tarmac and soon enough they are airborne. Minimum shake inside the cabin too! Got to love technology.

She smiles faintly at last, "Good instinct about sniffing the champagne..." that tone is telling that there is a 'But' coming. "But ..., can you tell me why that would be a bad move to do while being under their hospitality?"

June Connor has posed:
    "I really haven't a clue what we're doing, honestly Elektra?" June says with a hopeless shrug. "I mean, all this ritual shit, so you can have some sort of duel to the death for honor or freedom? I hope freedom, because honor won't keep you alive." She takes a big swig of the champagne, wincing from the carbonated alcohol, and pulls it back from her lips. "It'd probably be a bad idea because it'd insult them, but honestly, I'd rather be rude than poisoned."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"Honor has nothing to do with it." Elektra tells the other with a shake of her head, "In fact, expect treachery. And you are right, it would insult the host, who in turn would then have all the right of having you killed in a justifiable manner. As I told you, it's all about appearances." she gestures towards the flute.

"Show me how you could had accomplished the same without letting me know you were actively sniffing it for poison." is it a test? Yes, it is.

June Connor has posed:
    June smirks. She actually has the answer to this one, and the smug grin says it loud and clear. Then she feels the landing gear raise, and she grabs the arm of the chair. "Is that normal?" she asks. Once convinced, she actually answers, though she does take the time to look out of the window like a little kid while she speaks.

    "When you're testing for poison, There are several elements. First is smell. Though most don't have a smell. Second is touch. Fake drinking it, allow eight seconds to feel for any burning or tingling, or whatever. Third is taste. Second time you let it touch your tongue, and do the same thing. Then you sip a few drops and wait at least three minutes to find out if it makes you feel anything different, and then you drink it." She looks back from the window, and sits back in the seat, confident in her answer. Apparently she actually paid attention in that class.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
As June goes about displaying her skills in poison craft there's a faint, approving nod from Elektra. "That is the practical manner, yes." she agrees, "It requires great skill to make sure you do not imbibe too much. Many poisons can be deadly with just the faintest sips." she tells the girl. "I will expect you to have mastered that by now though. But do not become overconfident."

"There are other ways though.." Elektra then exemplifying, "You can take a whiff as if you were attempting to identify the cast of the wine, or the tea or whatever else you are drinking..." she tells her, running her glass under her nose. "Then ask your host something about the wine. It will both engage you in conversation, reveal more about your host and you won't have to actually taste it."

"Still, your method is a good one. Just open your mind that there are many ways of doing the same, and in our line of work it's always good to have more than one plan ready." she then gestures to call the attention of the stewardess.

"Now, I trust you have never been to a tea ceremony, have you?"

June Connor has posed:
    "Uh, I saw a few of them have one a few times," June offers. "They like swirl it around in front of them a lot," she crudely mimics the formal tea ceremony gestures. "I didn't really get it, though. Like, something about order and respect." She shrugs. "Honestly, kinda boring as shit from what I could tell. I was told to just stand there and not talk. Easy enough."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"That won't fly. Only having seen it a few times." Elektra nods in some kind of non-verbal communication with the stewardess. "Time for you to learn how to perform one." oh boy.

The stewardess arrives with two cups and a tea mug. All very traditional looking.

Seems like it will be a loooong trip for June!