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Post by Wakana Waka on Oct 19, 2020 21:26:18 GMT -8
”I’ve done some scummy stuff for a paych'ck, but this is seriously push'ng it. That Abbatantuono really has me around one fing'r… what'ver. Guess things really don’t get easi'r when you’re a home own'r…”
And so on, and so forth – she never considered herself someone who had much dignity, but right now Wakana was having to spend a lot of time convincing herself this was a good way to spend her time. Of course, when it came down to it, she wasn’t wrong; the Abbatantuono family really did have her on a tight leash. There was good money in playing chummy with anyone with old money, not to mention old money that’d probably needed to be laundered, but it had its drawbacks. They might say it was a ‘favour’, but there was no talking your way out of it.
Sitting glumly in the kitsch hair parlour, the huge fox made for a comical sight (more so than usual), as she barely fit in the already oversized leather chair. The place was only a small one, but they’d gone all-in on their Western Lands theme – or at least as much as they could at their pay grade. Bonsai, wall scrolls, complimentary green tea, happi coats for the staff… even Waka didn’t have the heart to tell the owner to their face, but it was less Western Lands themed and more Western Lands’ gift shop themed. N-Not that she’d really been to the West, but… y’know! She’d seen enough movies!
Unfortunately, she wasn’t here just to get her hair cut. That was still part of the deal, but instead it was going to be some show for a TV and print advert – to show that they offered hair cuts, with the flavour of the Western Lands! And that meant using a sword, apparently. She didn’t like to say it, but Waka got the feeling she’d been picked for the role of client because she’d be hard to miss… or, maybe they were hoping her ridiculous height was befitting of the Central Lands clientele. Ech… either way, she was less than thrilled to be their guinea pig.
Under better circumstances, she’d have been quite pleased – she had always fancied herself as someone fashionable! But right now, she felt more like she was being prepared for a dog show. Her usual messy bob cut had grown out to her shoulders, though, and was beginning to be a bother, so she had to a cut. And hey, they’d said it’d be by a real professional with a blade, so there was nothing to worry about, right? Aside from the legal waivers and the insistence from the Abbatantuono that her fighting experience would come in handy… oh well. At least she wouldn’t become viral from something this ridiculous, right?
While the one-man camera crew got set up, and the exuberant owner got out of the way, Waka was left to amuse herself in the salon’s mirror until her co-star arrived and everything was ready to roll. The fox’s contract in size with the chair wasn’t helped by the tiny cup noodle she was currently gnawing on (see, she’d even tried to be on-brand with her lunch!), which seemed almost like a thimble in her hands. ”Maybe I should ask for a fanci'r style this time, if they’re goin' to have a professi'nal and all… feels kinda ungratef'l not to at least try. Hrm, maybe an A-Line? Are they still in fashi'n? A Pixie might be good for the photos, but I dunno if I can pull it off…”
Turning her head and hair in the mirror, Waka quickly got lost in her sense of vanity… had she been paying more attention, maybe she would’ve raised an eyebrow when they brought out a third step-ladder.
[630/630/2000] Starting PL: 13,017
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Post by Gris on Oct 20, 2020 4:30:02 GMT -8
"You did what!?!?" The demon sword's deep, booming voice shook the table it was leaned upon. Startling the young girl and her incoming hairdresser and make-up artist. Just midway into explaining why he was being taken to a fancy salon and was being prepped up like she was going to appear on the front cover of a magazine. Rest assured, the great demon Usumidori did not appreciate being left out on details. Especially when it ate up time. The time they could be spending digging trails up in the large city.
"What the world... Did that sword just-" Gris nervously grabbed at the thing and just smiled, nodding at her. With no real defense... And honestly, with the climate of demons and such being frequent...
"Talk? Yes, you're speaking to a greater power, mortal. Now hurry up and explain to me why we're here!" And he was doing so well just staying quiet. Letting Griselda carry him and play it off as showing him a secret. But, instead of those two answering, Griss just piped back up and held the world firm between both hands.
"A-actually, sir, I... I thought maybe getting our names out there would help you. M-maybe one of the swords will come to you? I dunno, don't hurt me!" The sword, in its scabbard and all, came up to a levitate around the girl and actually did just slap the girl's wrist with its lower tip, frightening the two others among them. Griselda cried out a little but kept he calm. It didn't hurt all that bad. Was mostly just a warning for the demon sword knew it could do far worse.
"Inform me of such things, child. I do not wish to be toyed with like a plaything. I will not stoop to such lows even for notoriety." Stubborn as always. However, it wasn't the demon sword who was approached for this. Gris rubbed at her smacked wrist and giggled under her breath.
"Actually, heheh, I wanted to do this because I thought it'd be good money too. The pretty lady who offered was very kind, saw us fighting some lesser demons... Come on Usumi, sir, it's just for a few minutes after I get styled... We also get to meet a star! Says they have a really big personality!"
When they had said the model for the shoot would be larger than life... Well, Gris wasn't expecting what she saw. Upon being shuffled into the saloon proper after being put through some makeup and finer wardrobe care the smaller girl would see before her someone who could probably fit ten Gris's inside her from sheer bulk alone. Stepladders and stuff already set up... The director was expecting the girl to cut with, what, the demon blade? On this lady? What does a large lady even want for a cut, or why would Gris know how to cut it? With a sword? Too late to start asking too many questions.
"Hello. Suppose you're the other half of this. It's... nice to meet you ma'am! I'm Griselda!" A curtsy bow after a polite little greeting. She didn't look like a professional, per say, more so dressed according to Western sensibilities. What's more intriguing was that ebony scabbard at her side. A katana far more imposing than the girl wielding it. So much so that its presence seemed to overshadow the girl's own. And it was still sheathed!
Gris is a wee bab and only feels like she's 3 PL until stated otherwise! (Suppressed) Thread PL: 975 WC: 595 Mission WC: 1225
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Post by Wakana Waka on Oct 20, 2020 8:32:23 GMT -8
Idly putting down her lunch and carefully flicking it away; hopefully out of shot, Waka went back to fussing over her looks… it’d take her until Gris actually introduced herself before the fox actually noticed the new entrance. She just assumed it was more equipment being shuffled in. Her sense for ki wasn’t too good in the first place, and add to that the fact that the girl in question was practically as short as one of those camera tripods; and who could blame her? O-Okay, most people, given she had her face buried in her own reflection, but –
”Eh…? Seriously?”
Not the best reception. Waka had her usual blank expression on, which probably didn’t help – it made her look kinda disappointed or nonplussed, rather than too receptive. But, to her credit, the Beastman tried to shake off her grumpiness and play nice after catching herself. No point making this worse than it already was, and you know what those Duchie demons were like… they could look like anything! She probably was some swordmaster or something for all Waka knew. See, she had the fancy sword and everything! Actually, it was pretty hard to ignore, even compared to the tiny girl herself. Seriously, that samurai sword was giving her the creeps… and, making her a tiny bit hungry.
Peering down, Waka tried to offer a handshake – only for a very unpleasant groan from her chair to make her change her mind in a hurry. Probably best to keep still until the media was handled… j-just in case. ”Ah… sorry, kid. Uh, I should say, sorry… err, sir. Miss.” she said awkwardly, stumbling over her words as she tried to remember some hint of Western Lands’ manners – something something bow? Not that she really could in a seat… she’d have to settle for a particularly respectful nod. ”Yeah, I’m your – canvas, right? Not that you should get too worried 'bout putt'ng a show on or anyth'ng, but… y’know, that’s what those artsy types say, don’t they?”
Pausing briefly as she tried to regain her composure, Waka finally remembered her manners – hey, better a minute late than an hour! ”Oh… it’s Wakana Waka, if it matters. You’re the pro here. I’m just some punk with hair that’s too long… and who’s an easy target, eh?” Giving an easygoing shrug, the fox found her pride again at last, settling into a more laidback tone. Probably the best course of action. ”I’m not picky about the look, so you just focus on gettin' a good shot of your swing for the cam'ras. I’m sure they can use ext'nsions if you flub it the first or third time, anyway, so don’t worry about a thing. And, I’m a big girl, so… even if you miss – hmhm, well, worry more about bendin' your blade than me.”
In spite of everything, Waka just couldn’t find it in herself to be too mean to the tiny girl, even trying to offer a smile – it was a big effort, but her face creased just a bit! More telling were her ears, which drooped a little more; and her tail that gave a more idle wave than before.
But, with that, the stage was set – the awkward store owner and makeshift director soon got the pair attention, albeit kneeling down so he could mostly address their resident swordsman. ”Alright, cameras are ready. We’ll fill in the rest of the script for the TV spot, so we just need a great shot of that blade in motion. E-Err, we only have these slow-motion cameras for a few hours, though, so… not too many attempts, please! Then, a nice flourish to finish up. So, Wakana stays still and looks – like she generally does, while Griselda and… hrm, looks like Usumidori didn’t make it, so we’ll be relying on you, Griselda!” Hopefully the sword could live without having his name in lights, just this once…
[656/1855/2000]
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Post by Gris on Oct 20, 2020 15:46:10 GMT -8
The large Waka seemed much more easy-going if equal parts as awkward as Griselda herself! Feeling a sense of sudden camaraderie with the large woman, the girl in green regained her posture and nodded towards her with an added smile. 'Miss'... She liked the sound of that. Now the biggest hurdle was actually doing this shot. The lady was really content with the small girl going at her hair like this? Bizarre... And also, she has never heard of the lady before. She was told it was someone popular in the seat here. "The 'pro'... right! Uhh... Well, when I get ready for this you definitely wanna hold still, as you said! -"The director cut the girl's tirade short and the girl focused on that, very attentive to the words. She got that from Usumidori, who was also listening and pretty miffed the moment his name was called on like he wasn't there! These idiots need a history lesson, so the sword in its scabbard kinda shook and spoke in this deep, booming voice out of agitation. "Excuse me!? Fool, I am right here! Can you not tell by my imposing design!? My dark exterior!? Your modern ways have left you lost if you could not so much as recognize me, mortal!"Griselda did her best. Nervously smiling and tugging at the sword to stay put with some little grunts of effort. Yup, that was him alright. and it did... make at least the store owner nervous. Breaking out in a sweat, like he was about to get a lawsuit against him for something so dangerous. But the director knew exactly what he was doing... "S-sir, please! Let me just do this cut, get the money and face out there, and we can be on our way! P-please, stop yelling at people!"Fools. All fools! But the sword did eventually relent and return back to its solemn silence. Enough so that the girl was able to pull the ebony black blade from its scabbard now. Engraved in gold with the same name as the demon who spoke prior. Sure... She got to this point, but what now? Step up on the ladder situated behind Waka... And then chop? A swing later, and the girl would find herself falling back on her butt after swinging real wide above the late woman's head. Director of course calls for a cut and reroll. The second time the girl slipped and accidentally knocked a part of the saloon table clean off. To the further distress of the saloon owner. Rest assured, the director offered free compensation and another reroll. But this time, Griselda couldn't even bring herself to raise the blade. It was here that Usumidori grew tired of this. "You try my patience, girl, hurry up!"Grissy shivers a little and looks away from the blade. Sniffling at the blade's condemnation. "S-sorry! What if I hurt her, or can never do it right! W-what if I ruin her hair, or something else disastrous! I don't know how to deal with that!"Sometimes, if you want a job done quick... You had to do it yourself. After another groan from the demon sword, Griselda stiffened and let out a small cry before her pupils dilated. And for an instance, the camera would catch the small girl's features turn cold, dark. Angry, at this point. And a good bit red that had since replaced the pretty dull green of the girl's originals. There was not a single sound from the girl, just a grin. The sword would be sheathed just to have Griselda go into a much more professional drawing stance akin to samurai. "AHHHHHHHH-"The cameraman and saloon owner were terrified, but the director called for a roll of the camera. And behind all that screaming was a very quick, deliberate cut. Blinding in its spread and incomprehensible in its finesse. The cut not only targeted at cutting the woman's hair, but gave clean cuts to things right behind that. Slicing a mirror in two, but not before showing Waka the most atomically-precise bob cut she'd ever receive. 完璧切る THE PERFECT CUT "End scene, End scene! Cut!" WC: 670 Total WC: 1265 Mission WC: 2552/2000
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