soniaroadsqueen | Tokyo, Japan, Monday

Portalocity was weird. Ringo hadn't really traveled with them much, so this was something of a revelation for her. Somehow booking a reasonable late-morning departure from Fandom resulted in a just-after-dawn arrival in a small park a couple of miles from the apartment she shared with her sisters. Of course, despite that, all three of them were waiting.

Rika, with her knowing, motherly smile, managing to look like a carefully-styled model even this early. Mikan, tomboyish hair cropped short and sticking out every which way, smirking mischievously and tapping her foot with nervous energy. Ume, seated on a bench playing with her dolls, but glancing up and meeting Ringo's eyes when she arrived.

With a grin, Ringo dropped her bags and rushed forward into a big group hug, melting into the group for a moment. All worry and stress disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"Now then," Rika said as they eventually disentangled themselves, "why don't you introduce everyone, and then we can go get some breakfast?"

[ooc: For those along for the ride. NFB for distance.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

rebelseekspizza

Hey, Ringo had a hot sister. Cool.

So of course Dante smirked at her for, like, a second. "Hey," he said. "Thanks for having us, or whatever."

From:

otherroadriders

An inch or so taller than Kathy, but with Ringo's curvy build, yeah, Ringo had a pretty hot sister.

Who eyed him in for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Dante, right?"

Ringo rolled her eyes from behind him, which had Rika cracking a little grin.

From:

rebelseekspizza

"That's me," he agreed. "Don't believe anything Ringo told you."

Because it'd probably not be flattering.

From:

otherroadriders

"Are you suggesting my little sister might lie to me?" Rika asked, quirking an eyebrow.

She stood there, one hand on her hip, clearly amused by the prospect of making him answer a question like that.

From:

rebelseekspizza

"Nah," Dante said, shooting Ringo an idle glance. "She just has trouble admitting when she's beat."

From:

otherroadriders

She laughed. "So you have met her, hmm? And you think you've got her beat?"

Rika grinned, then shifted her weight slightly and extended one hand. "Glad you could make it, Dante."

From:

rebelseekspizza

"Raced her and won," Dante said, crossing his arms and lifting his chin. "And no problem. Wanted to find out if Ringo was born wearing inline skates or not."

From:

otherroadriders

"You beat Ringo in an AT race?" Rika looked impressed as she glanced over at her sister. "She never mentioned that."

"As for being born with them..." She looked thoughtful, then turned back to Dante. "She hasn't told you about growing up in the Tower?"

From:

rebelseekspizza

Dante blinked.

"What tower?" he asked.

From:

otherroadriders

"The Trophaeum Tower?" Rika looked distant for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, if she hasn't mentioned it, I'm not going to talk too much. But if you're actually curious, ask her about it sometime."

From:

rebelseekspizza

"I might," Dante said. That moment of visible thoughtful, he swallowed back quickly, in lieu of, "And I'll ask her why she didn't tell me she had a hot sister."

Sigh, Dante.

From:

otherroadriders

Rika smirked. "Wouldn't have figured you for being into tomboys," she said, nodding over at Mikan.

From:

rebelseekspizza

Dante glanced idly over his shoulder at Mikan. "Eh, she's cute too," he said.

From:

otherroadriders

"Uh huh." She looked Dante up and down, seemingly amused. "You think you can keep up with me?"

From:

rebelseekspizza

"Only one way to find out, right?"

If Dante was bothered - he probably wasn't - it sure as hell wasn't showing.

From:

otherroadriders

Rika laughed, shaking her head. "Well, you probably couldn't be worse than my last boyfriend, but," she arched an eyebrow, "you're a bit young, don't you think?"

From:

rebelseekspizza

"One, I'm seventeen," Dante said, shrugging. "Two, who said anything about boyfriends?"

Hey, he wasn't heavily invested in this, but he was going to give it a shot.

From:

otherroadriders

Another bout of laughter. "Seventeen? So more than a bit young, huh?"

From:

rebelseekspizza

Dante shrugged. "You're what, twenty?" he said.

From:

otherroadriders

"Flatterer," Rika accused. "Try twenty-four." So, you know, practically ancient.

She grinned at him. "You hit on everyone you run into?"

From:

rebelseekspizza

"Just the hot ones," Dante said, "The ones that don't make me want to punch 'em."

From:

otherroadriders

"So does Ringo make you want to punch her?" Rika chuckled.

"What was that?" Ringo asked, looking over at where Rika and Dante were talking.

"Never mind, Ringo," Rika said, shaking her head.

From:

rebelseekspizza

Dante let out a soft snort. "I don't think Ringo really cares about much more than racing those AirTrek," he said.

From:

otherroadriders

"She might surprise you." Rika paused, looking thoughtful, then grinned suddenly. "Then again, maybe not. She's always been pretty dedicated, you know?"