Mar 16 21:28:34 106 PA

From Chronicles

The current game time is: Wed Mar 16 21:28:34 106 PA.

Yet again the setting sun finds Leonard in what has become his second home. A small collecting of books and digital plaques sit before him upon a table, attention drifting between one and the next. One hand tends to turning or advancing pages while the other rubs at his temple. A small mic is clipped to his collar, allowing him to quietly dictate observations, hypotheses or make quiet verbal reminders of the next source to view.

"Thought I might find you here." Vixen's words when she drapes her arms over his shoulders, head cocked to the side a bit to look alongside his own. "Hard at work. Got anything yet for all that?" She turns from looking alongside his head to gazing down at the books. "If not, maybe you've been here too long. I know when I read too much, it all starts to look the same to me."

"If you're attempting to distract me," Leonard's head lifts and swivels to offer her a smile, "you're doing a very wonderful job." At least it causes him to straighten from his completely unposturiffic slouching to lean back towards her before he sighs. "Anything, yes. Something constructive... not exactly. I'm beginning to wish it did look all the same. Then maybe I'd be able to see it."

Vixen smirks faintly as she notes, "I could distract you at any time, no problem." she states without a doubt. She turns her head again to look at him. "I think you need a break." She leans forward just a little to lean against the back of his head lightly, arms curling a bit closer. "As much as I'd like to know more about the shit that's going on, all work sucks." The saying cut down and butchered nicely.

Leonard chuckles and reaches out to flip covers closed and shut down devices. His hands then lift to rest on her curling arms. "I can't argue with your wisdom, there. The whole mess has me perplexed and..." The words trail off as he belatedly catches himself from delving right back in. "Work sucks. Play is better. You are best."

Vixen snorts faintly at that last. "And what, man? Might as well get that off your mind. Then maybe you've got an idea on what we could go do. Plenty out there.. and I think you did pretty good with that first date. And got just rewards." She smirks faintly, glancing at the books again, idly, though more just musing them obliquely than with any real interest in the contents.

"I've had an excellent teacher." Leonard points out with a smirk. A sigh follows with a brief, absent hand wave towards the clutter on the table. "This, I should know... and I don't. It is rather frustrating, and my gooey arm-wrestling the other day has only made it more obvious. For all the years I spent in study, I seem to be rather less than useful."

Vixen shrugs her shoulders and states, "Can't know it all." She straightens, bracing briefly against his shoulders, a passing ruffle of his hair given before she moves up next to the table. "Lets just clear all this stuff out and then we can get outta here." Said as starts to pile the books up haphazardly. "I hope you know where they go, otherwise this could take some time."

Leonard lets out a short laugh. "As often as I've retrieved them, I think I could put them away blindfolded." He stands, wincing slightly as his legs remember how they work, and takes the small stack. "It won't take but a moment. More than enough time for you to come up with some totally unexpected idea to utterly wow me yet again." The last few words are given over his shoulder as he quickly begins to replace the items.

Vixen will casually follow along when he goes to put them away, not really paying much attention to that aspect of things. "Hey, I said you were suppose to do the idea making.. but I think I could think of something new.. you ever been to Moneky Business?" Casually asked as they go through the place. "If not, then that's where we'll go. Cause its a good place to get out some frustration and relax."

"Are there bananas involved?" True to his word, it doesn't take long, and asks this as the last font of unintelligible knowledge is tucked away. Leonard chuckles. "I guess we're going, then."

"Bananas?" Vixen eyes him from behind at that. "None. It's all about games. Probably he best arcade in the city. I don't go there too often, but when I do, I always hit the fighting games. No easier way to get out some frustration than mashing some buttons." When he's done, she grins lightly and says, "They've got soft drinks, but nothing hard. Though maybe I'll invite you in for cocktails after, if you're a good boy." She offers him her arm.

Leonard hooks the offered arm with his own, and without study or hesitation. Perhaps he's done homework on that, too. "Soft is fine. I am not the think you drunkard I am." Not that he hasn't spent a great deal of time in clubs and bars, of course. "If good means I need to let you win, I don't think I'll even have to try to behave."

Vixen smirks at the jest, then snorts faintly. "You let me win and I'll kick your ass," she promises as they head towards the front of the library. "Maybe you aren't much of a came player but if you play against me, you'd better give it your best anyway. But there are plenty of single play games too.. heck, you might find out you're really not that bad. Some people are naturals. Me, I had to work at it."

"Yes, dear." Either Vixen has emboldened Leonard's spirits, or his excessive study has slagged his brain. The retort is nearly deadpan, with just a hint of reluctant yielding as he dutifully escorts her out. "We'll just have to see. Are there any card games?..."

Vixen jabs firmly at Leo's shoulder at the first bit before asking, "Card games? Seriously?" She shakes her head. "You're going to play Ultima Fighter 5 first off. That'll set you straight." And they go out, heading eastward to reach the place. It's a bit loud and flashy, with a load of machines to consider amongst the mix. "We gotta get some tokens. A dozen should do for a good bit of play, don't you think? Not too much, not too little." She angling them towards the counter where credits can be exchanged for tokens.

Leonard winces at the jab, some of it for effect. "Ultima Fighter it is, then. We can get as many tokens as you like..." The noise and flashing lights draw his attention as they head for the counter. "I'll probably be the one to need them, though. The last time I mashed buttons, I think I was...twelve?"

Vixen smirks faintly at that as she releases his arm to pull out some of her money. "Then you've been too long out of practice, man. Think these are just kids games?" She puts down some for twelve tokens and scoops them up when they're handed over by the attendant. "Cause it don't matter how old you are, fun is fun."

Leonard takes the liberty of purchasing another dozen of his own, just in case. A more pleasant than wry smile is offered. "I am beginning to relearn that. Lead on, mistress of monkeyness. Which way to getting my ass kicked?" For all his fondness of verbal propreity, he's slipped more to the vernacular easily enough.

Vixen smirks faintly and beckons before she moves deeper into the den of noise. She seems to know the place well enough and in a few moments, they're standing near to a large, two control set game, though it's occupied. On the screen, the two youths playing are rapidly waggling the sticks and hammering the six bottons near to the control sticks whilst two avatars on the screen hammer at each other with a bloody brutality that's enhanced by the realistic graphics. One playing what looks like a Grackletooth while the other is some large, musclebound replica of a dog boy.

There are no objections from Leonard at the forced wait. First of all, he has time to watch the action and possibly decipher a superb strategy. Someting along the lines of 'now I know what that button does.' More importantly, he is also able to casually curl an arm around Vixen's hip as he concocts this strategy.

The methodology of the game is hard to follow just watching them play. The movements so frenetic that it can be hard to follow fingers and screen at the same time. But the buttons are marked and there are even some of the basic moves noted on the top panel of the game. "Feeling the heat already?" Casually asked as Vixen glances at Leo, letting herself lean into him when the hand lands. "You might have a chance with this one, since I play version seven more, which isn't quite the same as this one. So I might be a little rusty with the old moves."

"Yes, I am." There is a slight squeeze of his hip-y hand, although whether Leonard is merely being affectionate or attempting a salacious pun is up for grabs. "I think that I vaguely remember version...three? Maybe." He then winces at a graphically brutal virtual combination. "That looked painful. Remind me not to let a... whatever that is supposed to be do that to me."

Vixen shrugs when he muses what the thing might be, "That's why I like it. Violence without the consequences." She smirks faintly as she points out, "Almost done.." Indeed, one is starting to win considerably, though the opponet doesn't give up until the end, making it a close finish, with a rather gruesome end as the dog boy rips into the other character, scattering his limbs across the screen in a mad berserker rage. Cheers and laments follow, which Vixen watches with a quiet amusement.

Leonard nods, wincing again at the limbing-losing finish. "It looks quite done, now..." While awaiting the conclusion of celebration and condolences, he glances to his company and soon-to-be murderess. "Should I even try to ask for tender mercy?"

"All is fair in Ultima Fighter, Leo. You should know that," Vixen replies, slanting him a sly look. Soon the two youths wander off and Vixen steps up to the machine, taking the right side. "You just pick whoever you want and we'll see what happens." She slips a token in and when the select screen comes up, she navigates towards a slender slip of a robed and armored mage. Line walker, perhaps, but wreathed in blue-white energy. Obviously the game takes liberties with the true nature of what they represent in it.

Leonard hrms as he takes the remaining spot and looks over his options. His first is already taken by his opponent, and while color schemes allow identical face-offs, he doesn't need any more risk of confusion than is already allowed. Instead, a cybernetic female is selected. Judging by the icon alone, her improvements include a gravity-defying physique, immunity to cold, and a modesty inhibitor. Liberties, indeed.

Vixen smirks faintly at the choice. "Got your priorities straight, I see," she murmurs, slanting him a narrowed glance. With just a touch of danger. With both avatars selected, the game randomizes a location. Which ends up to be a war torn battlefield, the background and foreground littered with bits of broken war machines and even the odd broken body. No holds barred with this series, though the graphics are far more advanced than three. '3.. 2.. 1.. FIGHT!' goes the rumbling voice of the announcer and the battle is on! Vixen's energy mage glides forward quickly, a flurry of power enhanced jabs flung. Testing him initially.

Leonard's initial tactic is a blend of backpedal and buttons. A few heavy kicks are only an hour or two premature in timing, but he does manage to block the testing jabs. Well, one of them. "Well, you did take the good one..." His words are a little indistinct as his tongue pushes to the inside of his cheek in concentration.

"So you picked Miss Tits?" Vixen asks idly. The energy mage leaping back after the testing assault, flipping gracefully before a quick swivel of the stick and a button tap fires off smooth flying energy blast. She scooting forward slightly before unleashing another. A true attack? Or just playing. She keeps her eyes fixed, working the controls smoothly. Rusty?

"Those are just concealed railguns, right?" If they are, Leonard hasn't figured out that move yet, unfortunately. The bust in question moves as an attempt is made to jump over the blast, then moves again as said blast is landed upon by mistake. All of the woman is conveniently juggled into the followup shot. "I could watch you the whole match, but I'd probably... well, maybe I would be beaten less badly. It can't get much worse." As his avatar rights herself, some avid stick clacking and button mashing are rewarded with some sort of projectile counterattack. If only he knew how he did that.

Oh yes, as Vixen is quick to try and take advantage of the juggle, a low sweep to close the distance, just managing to block the projectile. The energy mage leaps up and back, but rather than land, she flares with power for a moment before flinging down a shaft of magical power at the opponent, hovering briefly amid that attack. "Less talk, more fighting," she replies, grinning lightly.

Leonard's tongue returns to cheek as he attempts to do just that. Thanks to wishful thinking and a muttered "C'mon," the cyborg recovers in time to block the aerial assault. She then runs in close while the mage momentarily hangs. A flurry of jabs commences with a Leo urgently pounding on the button. When it doubt, try and hit alot.

The energy mage crosses her arms to weather the storm, energy surging before her to absorb some of the damage. The tip of Vixens' tongue pokes from between her lips, eyes narrowed. She pulls a sudden flourish of the controls, sneaking into the messy flurry of button mashing, a quick upward strike that pops Leo's char up. she's quick to go for the juggle, a series of rapid fire, energy enhanced punches and kicks, ended with her high pitched shout as she bursts in a flare of blue/white. A lot of hits, but with her lighter power not taking the massive chunk out that the heavier hitters do. Vixen grins broadly as her character fades back a step, then leaps back, giving some distance.

They still add up, of course, and Leonard's less than ultimate fighter lands with a greatly exagerrated THUD. Once more, the cyborgette get up and charges for the mage. If he's going to lose (and judging by the one-sided nature of health remaining, he will), Leo will do so with tenacity. Nothing he's done so far could be considered style, so it is an acceptable second. Just before closing to poking jab range, a long, leggy sweep is thrown.

"That's it.." Murmured by Vixen as Leo gamely goes on the offensive. She does a duck block, absorbing some of the hit, her avatar returning a brief few hits before she snaps a high jump to flip to the other side, the mage sliding to the side in mid air with a boost move before coming down with a pair of projectiles, flung high, then low. Moving in a little a few moments behind them.

Leonard has little choice but to be hit, and eats the lower shot with a minimizing block. He moves to close the distance again, this time leaping at Vixen's avatar and tossing out his own airborne assault. The is more flailing of limbs, smacking of buttons and tongue distorted cheeks.

He gets a few hits in there this time, though Vixen has enough life to sacrifice some to wear Leo's down a bit more. Planning ahead, her lips curled into a sly little grin before she attacks once more. Perhaps lulling him into a false sense of security as Leo will get less than he gives over that period. But then Vixen ncharges in with the energy mage, breaking into another stunning combination. With Leo's life low enough that towards the end the stamina bar runs empty. The attack blends into the finisher, the energy made becoming a whirling dervish of flaring blue energy, raging madly at the top heavy cyborg before throwing her head and arms back in a high pitched shout that causes a massive burst of energy to fill the screen. With just stray ashes remaining in the aftermath of that magical fury. 'Mystica wins! Ultima Finish!'. Vixen lets the smug settle in a bit, though she glances towards him and reaches out to lightly brush his arm. "Don't feel bad, I've been playing this series off and on since I was younger."

"Ouch..." Maybe he can lose with style, afterall, as Leonard is spectacularly and messily annihilated. Now he can freely look to her and he takes the opportunity to do so. If he feels bad, his smile is a perfect ruse. "Why should I feel bad? That was exciting, and I don't have to suffer any bruises from that beating. I just hope you don't expect me to do that explosive ...whatever just happened."

"Ultima combo," Vixen says. "Each character has their own. I only remember the sequence for a half dozen of them myself." With nearly two dozen characters to choose from. "Well, if you want I can try teaching you some things. Though you only get good from practicing. I suppose first you need to decide which one is your favorite.. so why don't we mess around with them for a while? Pick some different ones, and screw around, so you can see them in action."

Leonard nods. "We do have plenty of tokens. Maybe I can wear you down, and then fight you to a draw after you fall asleep." Now he is suddenly optimistic. "Which is your favorite?" As he listens, his eyes lower to the controls and the directions/maneuvers explanations printed above them.

"I don't mind Mystica," Vixen says as the select screen comes up for the next round. "But I kinda like Ranna." She flips the

marker over to a taller, more built female fighter with a slightly feral lean. "Supposed to be some kind of were hybrid thing.. or something. Torn is good as well." This one being a lanky punkish guy with a high mohawk and a sparking club

of some manner. Perhaps a souped up neural mace? "Most of the others aren't my style.. too heavy or too complex. These are pretty good."

"In that case," Leonard hmms, "I think you should fight with one of the complex, heavy fighters. I think I'll try this one. Much more my tastes." He claims the slender Mystica this time.

Vixen grins idly, picking one of said fighters, this one a tall, powerfully built Juicer with forearm claws. "Alright, Blender it is," she replies with a casual grin. And so the training begins. She's still not too bad with Blender, but as the time goes and the tokens go into the machine, she'll switch between many characters, some she hasn't actually had much practice with. Which produce far more balanced fights as the majority of the characters get showcased before the tokens run out. And in the end, Leo will win some, she being mostly kind in victory, though one particularly close fight will prompt a barked "Shit!" outta her. But when the last bout ends, she'll be grinning. "So what do you think?" Asked as she turns, leaning her back against the machine as she looks at him.

Leonard continues to prove a reasonably adept and attentive learner, even if the game is not quite as entertaining as other past instruction. In the end, he's still left with a sweaty brow and a dent in his cheek. "Hmm... I think I might be filling my pockets with tokens from time to time. That was quite fun." The smile he gives her curls wryly. "Not every night I can say I fought you, much less won."

Vixen chuckles lowly and straightens, turning to move into him casually, arms lifting to circle about his neck loosely. "But you know you get to win tonight," she murmurs slyly. Of course, its all a matter of perception there. "A lot of other games, but we don't want to spend all our time here, do we? How about those cocktails? Nothing fancy, but then there's always the Nightingale if you're wanting something showy. Otherwise.." Her brows lift slightly.

The encircle of arms is returned, with Leonard's at her waist. If anyone else might be waiting for the machine, he is blissfully unaware. His smile is neither sly nor wry, and the flicker in his eyes is suggestive of the sorts of things she formerly discouraged with so much effort. "I'm already a winner as far as I'm concerned. 'Otherwise' sounds the best to me. Music, drinks and fancy are all well and good, but there's no need to go out. A nice quiet evening would be wonderfully welcome." His embrace tightens momentarily with affection. "Besides, you have the music and drinks at your apartment if we want all that."

Vixen grins lightly, obviously not surprised by the answer. "C'mon then.. I'll make sure you're fresh and ready to hit those books again, come sun up." She eases back, though not without a sway of her hips between his hands, her arms leaving him, though a hand reaches out to lightly snag at his. "And make sure you actually get moving to do it. No sleeping in tomorrow for you, buster." Softly amused, her expression, as she'll start to move backwards, leading him towards the front of the place.

Leonard laughs as he catches her hand and keeps it as he follows her reverse walking. "When I complain about waking and getting up, just remember that it is entirely your fault... but I will try to do as I'm told."