Nakahama

The weather had certainly made the beach emptier than it normally would be at this time of day. Which wasn't saying much, given the local's opinion of the beach. Still, the soft squish of sand underneath foot was a pleasing sensation....as long as you didn't look down at the color.

It was hard to say if there would be any around to witness this duel, but Taraka stuck a sign for Flying Battle Carps in the ground, and went through the drone's pre-flight checklist.

"Under the hot sun!" A booming voice is heard.

"Upon the burning sand!" A woman dressed in Scorpion colors makes her appearance.

"On this foreign land!" The voice is hers.

"I challenge the!" She exclaims theatrically and offers a graceful bow.

"I'm a bit too much sometimes." She admits in her normal tone. "I aimed for comedy. Hopefully I didn't miss entirely. Bayushi Senshuken. I believe we have a drone duel scheduled?"

Taraka bowed at the Scorpion's approached.

"Yasuki Taraka, we do indeed. And honestly, Bayushi-san, you've got a flair for it. I can totally picture you on the informator in a Silver Fin Production" she offered, entertained.

She pondered a moment.

"The Villain approaches upon the black sands, seeking to steal away a fair princess of these lands. But my yojimbo's blade shall strike thee true, now have at you!" she improvs.

The challenge made, Taraka sends up her drone, banner of the Flying Battle Carps on full display.

(Should be 37, forgot to add the +2 for a legend class in the roll

"Wait! I'm the villain? Cliche, I will need to talk with the producer later, but till then."

The drone takes off.

"Alas the kidnapper is agile, witty and devastatingly dashing! A wink of hers distracts the yojimbo before her venomous sting strikes true!"

D1, 1st round drone duel against Takara | 5k4 ⇒ 48

(Taraka 0, Senshuken 1, first to 3 wins)

Taraka had actually been pretty confident in her launch, but the Scorpion was no slouch it would seem. She had to fly much more defensively if she was going to keep her banner.

"Thou art a villain born, your morals foresworn, you seek to conquer all with your speed, but to call upon my skills as a pilot I do need." she said. It was cheesy, sure, but it wasn't like there was anyone watching.

She was still pretty happy with her piloting, but there was a growing concern that the Scorpion's speed was going to be too much for her.

Second Pass, 31

Such a nice experience so far! A machine operated and moving through her hands and a witty opponent!

She chuckles. "I call upon the, fair princess! Do I get an unforgettable kiss once I bring the yojimbo to her knees? I call upon the, do you need proof of me?"

"For the plushies!" She makes her attack!

D1, 2nd round drone duel vs Takara | 5k4 ⇒ 38

(Taraka 0, Senshuken 2, first to 3 wins)

Taraka was in a bad spot. Well her drone was at any rate. The Scorpion what hot on her heels, and despite how she zigged and zagged, that rotor was getting closer and closer to taking her banner.

Still, what sort of story would it be if she rationally calculated the odds and conceeded?

"While things may certainly may look dark, you may take this as no lark. Strike my yojimbo's banner true, and I shall bestow a kiss upon you." she pledged.

Taraka's piloting had been consistent, certainly, but if the Bayushi was just as consistent, this fight was about to be over:

Third Pass: 37

This line makes Senshu chuckle and miss her chance. She still holds an advantage but not as stellar as a few moments ago.

"Distracting promise, unforgiving premise. The villain lost her footing along with her chance at looting!"

D1, 3rd round drone duel vs Takara | 5k4 ⇒ 28

(Taraka 1, Senshuken 2, first to 3 wins)

That pitch and roll maneuver had risky, but Taraka had managed to barely dodge the Bayushi's rotor. What she needed now was to put some distance between the two. But the wind shifted, and she found herself putting more effort into not losing her only banner suddenly.

She worked the controls, but it wasn't looking good.

"No, hero you mustn't falter, you must ride the wind if you are to halt her." she still managed to quip.

21, well getting 30+ for 3 rolls in a run was fun, but it had to end somewhere.

Wind! Wind! Wind! With one swift attack the enemy banner falls to the ground.

"Villlains win and heroes fall. Who will be who when the historians call?" With that she bows. "This has been quite the match, Yasuki san. Truly an enjoyful time!"

D1, 4th round drone duel vs Takara | 5k4 ⇒ 34

Taraka bowed.

"Oh, most definitely, Bayushi-san. While defeat does sting a bit, I'm honestly glad you won. Gives people something to shoot for on the leaderboards than accusing me of rigged the games to my own benefit." she admitted.

She pulled out a top of the line lightweight portable computer.

"I'll update the rankings now. I can't wait to see how high you climb on the board, Bayushi-san."

"I am mostly a land driver and only a novice in the aerial version. Ahhh," she sighs. "Piloting. Is it something you are practicing for a long time now?"

Taraka shakjes her head.

"As part of my mandatory military service, I served in the supply corps. Part of that was just administrative work, but part of it was flying transports. Sorry if that's a disappointment, Bayushi-san. I'm not actually a legendary fighter pilot for you to take down." she admitted.

She landed her drone, powered it off, and retrieved her fallen banner.

"But I put up the best fight I could, and it was fun."

"Oh no. I didn't mean it like that. It was just an attempt at light conversation." She brings her drone down and starts gathering her stuff. "Quite a failure for a courtier. This mix up. Perhaps I should shut up despite my inner thoughts urging me to try again."

What was it with these Scorpion? First Gloomy Scorpion, now Self-Doubt Scorpion.

Taraka shook her head.

"They're going to take away your Villain card if you keep talking like that, Bayushi-san. Or are you working the sympathetic, nuanced Villain angle?" she teased.

She walked over to the Scorpion.

"Personally, I like my Villains a little more old school. You know, the supremely confident ones who, no matter the setback, are always back next time."

She leaned closer to the Scorpion.

"You do wanna have a next time, don't you, Bayushi-san?"

Senshu chuckles and acts as if folding a non existent cape around her body.

"I shall return even stronger!" She announces in a triumphant tone.

"Pretend that there was smoke and I was nowhere to be found right after. I live to offer the crowds exactly what they want." She almost whispers this time and winks playfully.

Bayushi Senshuken wrote: Fri Nov 07, 2025 4:29 am Senshu chuckles and acts as if folding a non existent cape around her body.

"I shall return even stronger!" She announces in a triumphant tone.

"Pretend that there was smoke and I was nowhere to be found right after. I live to offer the crowds exactly what they want." She almost whispers this time and winks playfully.

Dutifully Taraka turned away, and scanned the ocean as if bewildered.

"Gone! Vanished without a trace! I hear the thunder of her bike receding into the distance at an incredible speed. But I feel certain this is not the last we shall see of this daredevil of road and air. Who knows where she will strike next?" she asked the waves.

"Muhahaha!" With that Senshuken bows playfully.

Once she rises, her eyes make it evident that she is smiling broadly. "I'm already imagining our acceptance speeches for all the incoming awards if we keep this up, Yasuki san. Let's pinky swear to meet again for the second chapter."

Taraka smiles.

"Of course, Bayushi-san. You're a lot of fun to spend time with. We'll have to do this again somewhere else. Have to keep things fresh after all." she agreed.

"I had fun, too! You are fun, too!"

She offers a normal bow this time. "Till next time, Yasuki san. Till next time!"