✨ you only get one chance...

[liltuna]

THE FIRST IMPRESSION MEME   You only get once chance to put your best foot forward. Screw that up, and you'll be forever seared in someone's mind as the person who had spinach in their teeth, or worse! ✨HOW TO PLAY 1. Drop a top-level! 2. If you have previous CR with someone, you'll have to let them know what your first-impression of them was. If this is your first time meeting, you'll be compelled to share what kind of vibe they give off. It's okay to be honest! Are they gross? Do they seem approachable? Do you find them incredibly hot?  3. Find out if your first impression was correct! Maybe that strange loner actually has a heart of gold? You'll never know unless you talk to them!

Comments

[punnyshment]

[ Another answer he didn't expect. ]

Why is that? If you don't mind telling me. I won't ask again if it's a sensitive subject.

[ He knows better than to pry, at least. Even if he completely missed how Kiana tries to change the subject. ]

It's just what I decided to wear as General Mahamatra. It felt fitting for someone like me who pursues scholars that ignore the laws and go against nature.

[flamescion]

Oh, man! So you just wear it because you think it'll scare people into behaving? I gotta admit, that's pretty cool.

[Her excitement is clear, though it seems she won't be answering his question. 50/50 on whether she doesn't actually mind him bringing up the subject or if she'd rather not say why.]

[punnyshment]

Scare people into behaving?

[ Cyno has never realized that this might be the side effect of wearing a helmet like this. ]

Do you think that's what makes people feel scared around me?

[ Actually, there's a way to confirm this theory... ]

Would you like to wear it for a while?

[flamescion]

Wh— for real? You're serious? Sure! I'll do it! I'll wear it!

[It's not that she wants to be scary. Those who know what she did fear her plenty, and it hurts. But that helmet is so cool that she will not pass this opportunity up.]

[punnyshment]

[ The next moment, Cyno's removing it and hands it down to Kiana with a tiny smile. That theory doesn't seem believable, but he wants to see it for himself nonetheless. ]

I don't think anyone will be scared of you just because you're wearing it. And now I'm curious if it'll suit you.

[flamescion]

[Oh, well. If that's all. Kiana accepts the headpiece from Cyno and removes her hair accessory. She'll then take care placing the helmet upon her crown. At least one of her eyes matches with the golden adornments.]

I don't know... is purple my color?

[punnyshment]

It looks... different on you. [ What a shocking revelation, thanks Cyno!! ] And you don't look terrifying at all. Maybe it's because it's a bit too big and covers too much of your face...?

[ It's weird seeing someone else wear it for some reason. It really makes him wonder if scholars would start running if they saw Kiana now. ]

It's not a problem unless you're interested in pursuing scholars that don't follow the law.

[flamescion]

[A bit big?? Kiana makes a face before trying to adjust the helmet.]

If it's just a bunch of nerds I could probably wipe the floor with them even without the hat. I like the ears, though.

[Though it makes her wonder if she could take Cyno in a fight. They're roughly the same age, she thinks? He may be a few years older. And as far as stature goes? He doesn't tower over her or anything. It would come down to skill and ability, probably.]

I bet you're good enough at your job that you don't need help.

[punnyshment]

If you wear the hat, you get an advantage in battle as they become paralyzed on the spot.

[ It's half-joke, half-fact. Scholars really do fear seeing him, not to mention having a conflict or engaging into a fight. ]

I don't usually. But... sometimes it's more efficient to work as a team.

[ Which makes him wonder what kind of a team Kiana and him would make. ]

We can spar sometime.

[flamescion]

Really?

[She seems to truly light up at that. Though Kiana does reach to take the helmet off and return it to him.]

When would be good for you?

[punnyshment]

Now? Especially now that I have my helmet back.

[ +10 defense get! ]

I was thinking that I'd like to see you in action.

[flamescion]

Now? All right. But you got a reputation, don't you? I won't go easy on you to spare that, you know!

[Kiana is curious to see what could make a bunch of smarties run for the hills. Or maybe the scholars of Akademiya are just noncombatants compounded with cowardice.]

[punnyshment]

It's adorable that you think that you have to go easy on me. I hope it's not because of my height.

[ His polearm weapon materializes in his hands, even though he's not planning to charge just yet. ]

[flamescion]

Why would I need to pick on your height when your waist is what's actually small?

[Hey, he opened himself up to that one.

Normally Kiana would use her gun kata, but with an opponent using a polearm, she'll utilize her subspace lance and flechette set instead. She takes her stance, but doesn't make a move on him just yet.]

[punnyshment]

[ Emotional damage taken. But yes, he deserved that one. ]

Are we going to fight with words or with our weapons? Show me what you've got.

[flamescion]

What, you can't multitask?

[But he's given his taunt, so she wont leave it without an answer. Kiana summons her Void Flechette. Darts the size of his arm materialize in the fashion of lances. They hover behind her, and with the flick of a wrist one shoots at him like a bullet.]

[punnyshment]

Do you want to see for yourself?

[ Talking during a spar is counterproductive in his eyes, but it's not like he cannot maintain a conversation while at it. One of the darts is coming his way at an alarmingly fast speed which prompts him to swiftly dodge—without knowing her strength, parrying it would have been foolish. ]

Not letting me anywhere close near you with that weapon, huh?

[flamescion]

As someone who's also short I know what we need to make up for in a fight.

[One part the natural strength that comes with being bigger, and one part the range that taller people have. A smaller person must push harder for strength, and the need to eliminate the advantage of range.

Which is why Kiana creates range here. He'll have to get through her flechettes if he wants to use the spear on her directly, and if he wishes to throw it? He'll have to bargain with the risk of losing it to her.]

[punnyshment]

Then you should be aware that being short also has its advantages.

[ It's going to take a while to close the distance between them, but Cyno can be patient. He charges forward, avoiding the projectiles which has one major downside—it slows him down greatly and gives Kiana more than enough time to move back. ]

It looks like I've been mistaken again. I thought it was going to be melee combat.

[flamescion]

[Kiana still holds her regular lance. She doesn't expect the subspace darts to hold him off forever. The young woman may not a bright test taker, but she isn't stupid either. He'll break through that first line, she's sure of it. And when he does she'll have to face him directly.

For now she'll watch him closely. See how he handles himself and what his footwork is like. If he should get too close too quick she'll always have her Void Space.]

I think we both know you're too strong to take head on at first.

[He might overwhelm her with something clever, or an unexpected skill.

As he charges forward she circles him like a shark. Creating obstacles for him as she tries to work out the best way to meet him in the middle — and possibly give him a fight worthwhile.]

[punnyshment]

Now I'm strong? I thought that I'm short with a small waist.

[ He might be saying that, but he really struggles with forcing Kiana to turn the fight into a close combat one. By the time he closes the gap between her and himself, Cyno's used up quite a lot of his stamina. When he's finally close enough to reach Kiana with his polearm, Cyno swings it above her head, forcing her to dodge or block. If her strategy is the former rather than the latter, he's going to chase her, piercing the air with the sharp tip of his weapon. ]

[flamescion]

You are! But you know what they say about small packages, don't you?

[She dodges the first, but has to block the second. Unable to counter in this position, Kiana puts in enough force into her lance to shake off the spear. Up close he'll probably realize that her melee combat relies mostly on her inherent strength rather than any well-thought strategy. After all, she was built — no, she was specifically engineered to be strong. As if Kiana herself is a weapon.

Because that was, in the end, Otto's intent in making her. Crafting her in a test tube like one would do so for a blade in a forge.

Cyno is bright; or at least more so than Kiana since he is a member of the akademiya. After a few rounds back and forth he may even be able to predict her move-set. But she's holding back. Truly it would ruin the spirit if she were to start using Void Space to teleport either of them wherever she pleased.]