TIMELINE 2/FREE ENCOUNTER: WEEKEND AT THE MALL

Story:  Every weekend, Maria goes to the mall to blow off steam or just to stroll around, it is also a good hunting ground for potential "useful" male subjects.

Cast: Maria Kannazuki, Akari Mizuki, (anyone)

Condition/s for Completion:  Maria must be able to see what the other characters are off campus and vice versa.

Turn Order:

Maria
Akari
Hoodlum

"Ah! A much deserved rest after dealing with boys and some troublesome female ones!" Maria remarked as she walked into the mall.

"Maybe I should find a "bank" or something, money is kind of tight these days." Maria said as she has a grim look on her face when she looked at her wallet.

Her hunt for a "bank" begins.

"I immediately regret this decision."

Akari remarked to herself as she stands in front of a vending machine, panting and catching her breath while choosing which drink she should have. It was hot that day so she took extra precautions like wearing her favorite white dress, shades and a hat. She also brought an umbrella. All these things did help her cool down but it's just that her stamina is too weak to handle walking even when inside the mall already.

I can't go on anymore.

She thought as she sat down in a bench, already pale and really, she just looks like she's going to collapse and die any moment. attracting the attention of some male shoppers. She's an easy prey after all.

[Not Akari]

"Hey. Wanna have fun with me? I'm currently alone."

A man, somewhere in his late 20s or early 30s approached her as she was recovering.


[Akari]

"Oh? How about a no?"

She replied, not really giving a damn whether the guy was older.

"Oh I have a better idea! See that window over there? If you jump out of it, I'll go out with you!"

She added, sarcastically.

[Not Akari]

"Hey what's your problem bitch?!"

The guy added as he raised his hands to slap her.

This is bad for Akari of course, but what else can she do? If only there was someone who could stop this man as the other onlookers just went on and ignored the scene outright and went on.

"Argh!! Why are there no rich people here? So far the only ones that have hit on me are useless bums!" Maria exclaimed in frustration.

Maria went on to continue her search for a "bank", realizing this might not be a mall frequented by potential targets.

"All I see are college idiots and female students, *sigh*" Maria said then a particular incident caught her eye.

It seems that there is a girl that is being harassed by an older man.

"What is with men and younger women?" Maria said as she went on to offer assistance to the young lady.

"Hey vermin." Maria said as she tapped the shoulder of the harasser.

The man turned around and seeming more agitated.

"You bitch, what the fuck do you want?" The man said to Maria.

"You vermin, harassing a young girl and using foul language, do you have a death wish?" Maria said as she had a maddened look at her eyes and gesturing of pulling something out of her purse.

"Eeeek- a devil woman!" The man said while running cowering in fear.

""sigh" Men, threaten them a little and the run away. Are you alright?" Maria said to the young lady.

Sweet, hooray I'm saved.

"What a fucking asshole."

She said as she drank.

"Yeah I'm fine. Thanks, although I was about to make him fall off anyway. I'd say he was lucky. Oh well."

She continued, not knowing that she was talking to a teacher from her school.

It was about that time when a group of conspicuous men in black suits swarmed across the area. They seem to be part of a unit, all of them wore shades (inside a mall) and had these earpieces they constantly touch before speaking.

"Roger that, no signs of unwanted activity."

One of them spoke, though it was barely audible from the distance they were keeping from people.

However, it was during then that one of them stood close by to where the two women were discussing.

'Hey, you watch your mouth, you shouldn't be so vulgar." Maria said as if she was reprimanding the girl.

Noticing there were quite a few men in their vicinity dressed oddly nonetheless Maria told the girl to go far as these men look trouble.

"Now, now, what do we have here?" Maria asked out of curiosity as she tried to take a peek of what is happening.

"Tch, whatever. Not like I care anyway. Have fun, old lady."

She snapped back. Leaving the woman behind.

"HQ, nothing to report whatsoever."

The man in black was about to leave when he touched the earpiece again, "What was that? What do I see?"

Looking around, he felt nothing to note except that woman who recently just parted ways with a high schooler.

"Just an old woman and a foul mouthed high school girl."

"O-O-OLD LADY?!" Maria exclaimed as she frantically tries to find the young girl, as if she wants to punish her or something.

"Lucky girl, disappearing and seems like I have a possible prospect here." Maria said as she sizes up the men in the suit.

"Point five in my waist, shank in my sock, you either get cut, get stuffed or get shot."

The operative said this without even glancing at the one sizing him up. In his line of work, it was common knowledge to dispose of those who get a little bit too nosy.

"Ara, why are you so tensioned? C'mon, tell me what's going on here? Is the prime minister here? A president of multinational company?" Maria said while winking and projecting her chest to make them seem bigger, as if she was appealing to the male instinct of the man in black.

"Watch it woman, cause I ain't your 'Mr. Nice Guy'. More like the 'Meet ya, Take you somewhere and Shoot you twice guy'."

He says, completely un-captivated by the old lady flaunting her chests at him. Those guesses were pretty much far fetched except perhaps for that C.E.O. of a multinational company thing.

"Boo-hoo, you're no fun.  Fine, its obvious that someone important is there anyway"  Maria replied as she strut along failing to gain knowledge of who the important person is.

At the backstage of a certain pub in the mall out of the way of all the chaos, was Livia, putting on her makeup and costume that had became her signature look on stage. This invitation had been quite last minute, but it appeared that a group of college students were throwing a surprise party for a friend, and had chipped in to request a performance from her.

She was not due on stage for an hour or so yet, so she took the liberty of wandering around backstage, tuning her guitar, and even visiting the bar and chatting with the bartender. Technically, she was not allowed in here, but with her features smothered in dark and striking shadows and clad in clothes not befitting a minor, she blended in perfectly with the club-going crowd.

"Oh hey Smith, highly appreciate those words you relayed to me."

Once more, the agent touches the earpiece before speaking. It would seem someone was on the other line.

"Yeah, of course. Haha, cows these days. They try so hard to impress. Well, anyway over and out HQ... We've spotted changes."

Words spoken and done, the unit seems to have finally gotten a lead and mobilized.

"Now where do I go next?" Maria asked herself and then she saw a certain pub.

"Fine, I'll just go drinking, maybe I'll find someone here" Maria remarked as she entered the pub.

It would seem that there are people celebrating some sort of an event, a birthday? an engagement? none of it mattered since it doesn't concern her, although she saw a somewhat familiar face going backstage.

"Don't I know her from somewhere?" Maria asked herself as she sips a glass of beer.

Malls, perfect for funtime for girls, of course.

What's yet to come is this ponytailed silver hair lady who bounces her way to the mall as if she's as excited like a child. Together with another lady who wears a genuine maid uniform.

"A great way to indulge myself."

They get to see every dress sections that they might find and picked a lot of clothing, from gowns to sports wear, from night dresses to accessories. It is indeed that she didn't pick normal clothing but she did check on them with a deep stare.

And then she sees the teacher that was with her the other day. Ms. Kannazuki.

"What a pleasant day to see you, Miss Kannazuki."

She greets the teacher with the usual face she's showing, a not-so-smiling kind of face. But she didn't expect that the place is a Pub. Her maid is trying to pull her out of the scene but it seems that Patricia's not noticing her.

It was nearing performance time, and with jitters have started coming. Livia ordered a shot to combat the stage fright and downed it in a gulp. She will be feeling the effects tomorrow. With that, she slipped off the bar stool and headed backstage, not at all aware that someone she knew was in the pub with her.

Two minutes later, the DJ announced her arrival

"And now, for the star if the night, please welcome LIVIA KNOXX!!!"

And she burst out into the stage with an electric guitar slung on her back. Grabbing her mic, she screamed:

"ARE YOU READY PEOPLE??"

The audience replied with a roar. Livia grinned her signature grin, swung the guitar to the front and roared back:

"LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTEEEEEDDDD!!!"

Then the lights flashed, and the music began.

"Affirmative, we've caught sight of the person."

One by one, the unit poured into the pub and pushed off those standing in the way. They were of course, civil enough to not halt a performance in mid-air and just stood there in front.

"Roger, we would escort the target outside the pub soon after the performace."

It might've been uncalled for but it was readily apparent that they were armed to the teeth.

The stage was what she lived for, and Livia was only truly alive when she was performing. Belting out fierce notes and shredding mind-bending riffs on her electric guitar. She brought the twirled and swung and teased the audience without missing a beat, even dropping her guitar and stepping off the stage to croon one of her more sultry songs at the birthday boy. But for the last number, gave them a ballad she wrote herself, bringing the atmosphere back down to manageable levels before finally singing the last, strained, terrible yet glorious note.

Finally, she bowed to a furiously clapping audience and went off stage amidst screams for encore. Exhausted and delirious, she collapsed on a beanbag and sprawled out panting and smiling.

Mobilizing like the professionals they were, they immediately gained access to the back parts of the pub. The owner of which was at the mercy of them when they had shown his face to meet the ever loving bejeezus out of their gun's hilt.

"Livia Knoxx, you are cordially invited to a place in which you may or may not return alive depending on your course of action."

They didn't seem to be calling to her by force. In fact, it was strangely polite in a sense.

"Ara? Aren't you Patricia Meadowheart? Aren't you a bit young to be in a place like this? Maria said to Patricia obviously a little bit drunk.

"Come here and have a drink with me!" Maria shouted as the background music was drowning her voice as she grabbed Patricia and forced her to seat besides her.

"Isn't that Livia Knoxx? My, my, you young students are quite naughty." Maria remarked while winking and handing Patricia a glass of beer and drinking another glass on her own.

Livia tilted her head to face the men in black around her. Despite being grossly outnumbered, she still maintained a calm demeanour. Moving slowly from exhaustion, she stood from where she was lying from the beanbag and snapped her shoes back into its wheeled frame.

"Well, if you put it so politely, how can I say no? Lead the way, gentlemen."

"Target has been secured. HQ, where should we escort her?"

What would seem to be the leader of the unit communicated with the person from HQ. A few moments later, a shocked expression can be seen from an otherwise emotionless facade.

"Hotel La Valierre? The one just above the mall area?"

It was a surprise, to learn that the one behind this has been waiting at the vicinity for quite some time now. Facing the very cooperative Knoxx, he mentions the procedure to be done.

"We are to transport you secretly to the Hotel on the upper parts of the mall. Your full cooperation would ensure you would get to live through this ordeal. Let us go."