soul_logs | Intro Log!

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Intro Log!

Characters: OPEN to new arrivals and NPCS.
Where: En route to Casualty Communal
Rating: Gen
Time: February 11 onwards
Description: Welcome to Death City!

The city was in good shape today, despite the recent attack to it and the unfortunate earthquake a month back. The damages to the city had been repaired best as they could, and everything else was covered in a healthy heap of decor for the upcoming Valentine’s Day.

Things were a bit somber, as was expected after so many of the residents lost their loved ones. Fortunately, if there was something Death City was good at, it was getting back on its feet after a fall.

[ooc: Player characters will also be joining the log. Everything after the sub thread Soul Perception is open to all characters.]

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Lee filed in with all the other strangers, still slightly damp from rainwater but filled to the brim with enthusiasm. Gai-sensei was here, and nothing more could make him happier. Or so Lee believed up until about two seconds ago.

The handsome young man who talked perhaps just as politely as Lee himself had just finished his speech about soul perception and was allowing them to choose a preferred method. Lee's hand shot up almost as soon as he was given instruction, waving it furiously while staring quite openly at his Rival's blank face.

"Neji! Neji! Over here!" Lee called out to his friend, just in case his friend hadn't quite seen him yet.

It was really hard to miss that bowlcut, or those spandex on any given day but he'd been occupied with another guest until Lee's voice gave him reason to turn.

White eyes picked out the source in an instant and Neji froze before relief flooded through his system, easing the tension built up over the past week upon sighting his best friend in the crowd. Standing there energetic and straightforward, he felt better than he had in awhile. Unlike his hyperactive teammate however, not much of it showed through.

"Lee," he called, straightening and gestured for him to come up to the machines. "I don't have Soul Perception, so you'll need to come up here."

Grinning like a fool, Lee made a beeline towards the machine Neji indicated. But, before he made any move to attempt stepping up into the machine, Lee hopped over to his best friend and threw his arms around him, giving him a friendly squeeze.

"It is good to see you, my friend!" Lee chuckled, not letting up even though he knew his damp clothes were probably causing Neji a little discomfort. "I was surprised to see Gai-sensei, but I am glad you are here as well!"

He'd be lying if he said that he hadn't been half-expecting it. Gai and Lee were terrible at containing themselves, particularly when overjoyed about something. Neji let Lee cling to him for a moment in silent concession before he pried him loose.

A single eyebrow questioned the wet state of the other shinobi's clothing, but he looked over the rest of Lee for injuries and tried to gauge exactly how much Lee remembered- if anything. But if he was surprised to see Gai or himself, then it was likely the latter.

Neji smoothed his hands over himself, grimacing at the bits of water that had transferred over. Despite it all however, he can't keep the warmth from his voice.

"Tenten is here as well, along with a few others from Konoha." he said, head tilting. "I'm sure she'll be just as happy to see you."

Lee was thankful for the time Neji allowed the embrace to linger, and for that Lee also acquiesced to Neji's wishes when he pulled away. Lee could always use longer hugs, but his battle fatigue was starting to catch up to him so having room to breathe was actually a better idea right now.

Despite his teammate's cool reactions, his voice definitely held more of a smile than it normally would. Lee hoped he had something to do with Neji's buoyant mood. It wasn't often that he could put his rival in such a state.

Lee's smile, if it was even possible, brightened more at Neji's words. "Then our whole team is here! Wonderful!" He stopped a moment, taking a breath to steady himself, then attempted to keep his smile up even as a wave of tiredness began to weigh him down. "I cannot wait to see her as well."

"But first," Lee turned to the machine, thoughtful, "I suppose I should find out more about my role here."

"Yes, I am curious.." Neji muttered, turning toward it as well. He glanced back at Lee, wondering. His teammate had been a Weapon before, is it possible that changed? And if he was a Weapon, then perhaps..

"Tenten and I are both Meisters, and Gai-sensei is a Weapon, for reference. When you're ready, step behind here and we'll see which you are."

"Then no matter what I am, I will be able to partner with at least one of you three!" That possibility struck Lee as very endearing. He adored his team, and getting to work with them closely in the future was going to be glorious!

Lee stepped in the indicated area and waited a full second before his head whipped back towards Neji. "Wait! Neji! I did not ask before!

"Since we do not have our chakra here, then is it true that you no longer have the use of Byakugan?" Lee eyed Neji intently. Neji's doujutsu was a big part of his strength, though definitely not all of it. It made him wonder if Neji had become somewhat vulnerable here, and that was a little worrying.

The only problem was, they all had partners already. He almost said something, but decided against it. It was possible.

Neji blinked at the question however, frowning as he studied Lee's anxious face. "It's true we don't have our natural capabilities here. However, Meisters are generally gifted with an ability similar to a skill or affinity they had in their home world. While I've lost the Byakugan in it's truest form, Clairvoyance has given me similar vision."

Closing his eyes, he drew up energy from his wavelength, felt the veins running parallel to his eyes expand, and opened them. To all effects, it looked like the Byakugan.

"I can sense souls, although I do not possess the insight of those gifted with Soul Perception."

He held the ability a moment and let it fade. "Hanabi-san has been given an ability with extreme similarities to Jyuuken, and Tenten the ability to transform weapons."

Lee listened intently as his friend explained his situation. With every second that passed, the tension eased more and more from his body. As long as Neji could work with his power and it was familiar, then it was likely he still was quite capable despite having lost all his chakra and the Byakugan.

What Lee didn't expect was a demonstration. His eyebrows raised at a sudden chill that ran down his spine. Something was different. It looked like Byakugan but it wasn't what he saw that had him tingling. There was just... a change. Like an air current suddenly warming around him, though they were definitely indoors and no windows were opened. It was somewhat similar to chakra in that it was some power he could sense, but it was unique as well. Lee couldn't put his finger on just why, though.

"Sense souls. But you cannot see them directly? That must be a interesting." Lee couldn't imagine being able to see a "soul" though he expected sensing one may have been similar to sensing chakra. He was no expert, though.

When the ability faded so did the feel of buzzing in the air. He had felt comfortable while experiencing that field of power, but it had been strange. Would resonance be something similar, then?

"I did not realize Hanabi-san was here. Both hers and Tenten's abilities sound quite suited to them." Lee smiled softly, gentler than his normal grin. "I hope you have not lost too much concentration, worrying about your little cousin." That was one thing he could almost guarantee had been going one while Hanabi was here. Neji liked to hide it, but he definitely had a soft-spot for the female heirs to the Hyuuga family.

"I can to an extent, but visualize them best with a Weapon in hand," he answered, the rest far too complicated and intricate to try explaining thoroughly.

But Neji shifted, vaguely discomforted by the mention of Hanabi despite having mentioned her himself, and nodded. "She lives with myself and Lain." Skipping over the potential drama there, Neji turned his attention back to the machine.

"Now let's get a read on your soul, then we can continue discussion while I assist others with theirs if you'd like."

"So Weapons and Meisters really must use resonance to get to the best of their abilities." Lee considered writing it down, but getting out a pen and paper would have to wait for later.

The shift in Neji's mood was easy for Lee to spot. He knew his friend almost better than he knew the patterns of scars on his right arm. Smiling brightly, Lee decided now as not the time for this conversation while strangers surrounded them. His voice lowered just the tiniest bit in volume. "That is good."

Lee, ready to learn more about this new power he was guaranteed to have, quieted and stood very still to allow Neji to use the device without interruption. Lee wasn't sure if he wanted to be a Weapon or a Meister at this point, but either way, as long as he was useful, he would be thankful. A tiny fear picked at the corner of his mind, a worry that he might be neither and, like back home, be thought of as useless to the cause due to his lack of ability. Lee pushed those insecurities aside and set his jaw. Whether that was true or not mattered very little. He was going to be tested and he was going to fight in this war, as a Weapon, a Meister, or Neither, if it was so designed.

Neji nodded, looking up to see the soul displayed on screen. Normally, the image may have been cause for some exasperation, but now after a week of compounded stress, the familiar vibrant green almost made him give way to a smile. He contained it to a faint quirk of his lips and turned his attention to other details.

But it faded entirely as a strange mix of elation and resignation tackled zeal before it could be voiced, and left him sounding vaguely puzzled.

"It looks as though your soul hasn't changed.. You're a Weapon, Lee."

Lee felt a moment of great relief when he heard the verdict from Neji's mouth. So he was a weapon after all. He would not be limited like he had been back home. Lee exhaled heavily then busted out another big smile. "That is great news, then!"

"... Isn't it?" There was something odd about the way Neji had spoken, now that Lee mused on it. Puzzled, Lee stepped away from the machine. "If I am a Weapon, then I can help both yourself and Tenten become stronger, right?"

"Yes, it's good news." But whether or not Lee could help in the way he'd like to was another matter entirely. "However, Tenten and I have been here for awhile, and each have a Weapon of our own."

It was possible though, since Lain knew Lee, that she might agree. It was an opportunity he wanted to take, because there was absolutely no doubt in his mind that they could resonate, and well.

"I'll wield you," he said, reaching a decision. "At least until you find a Meister of your own. It'll grant you valuable experience and balance where Lain and I falter. Although you don't recall her, she's very fond of you."

"Oh." Suddenly it made sense. Feeling a little let down, Lee frowned, his thick eyebrows drawing in a bit. It was impossible for Lee to ever completely hide his disappointment.

Neji's offer brightened him immediately, though, and he was smiling again as if nothing had bothered him at all. Wielding was such an odd term to use in reference to another person, but if Lee was literally a weapon, then he supposed it was accurate. "Splendid! I look forward to training with you, then!"

At the mention of Lain, Lee's eyebrows rose slightly but his smile never left. "I would like to meet with her. If we were friendly before, then who is to say it will not be the same?"

Gai-sensei seemed concerned about her, but Lee would meet her himself before making any judgments.

If he were honest, Neji found himself a little disappointed as well- that he couldn't offer a more permanent arrangement despite their familiarity with one another. But it wouldn't be at all fair to Lain, and offering this before even consulting her was already stepping a little over that line. It was the most he could do, for now.

"I'm sure you will be. I'll warn you now she has two different personalities. You shouldn't have much difficulty telling them apart. Lain is shy and kind in a similar way to Hinata-sama, and her other personality calls herself 'Bold'. She's the type that delights in teasing and pulling various pranks, though she often means well."

"Oh." Two personalities. Perhaps that was the cause of his sensei's hesitation. But forewarned was forearmed; Lee was certain he could handle anything that Neji dealt with on a daily basis. Lee smiled easily, hoping his honest feelings would get across.

"Then there should be nothing to worry about! If Lain-san is like Hinata-chan and Bold-san is like..." Lee paused, tilting his head to one side. "... If she is the type to tease and prank, then that is no problem. Surely she is not as bad as Naruto-kun!"

Or else, Lee hoped she wouldn't be quite as bad. But even if she was, then it would be nothing he couldn't handle.

Heartened by Lee's seeming confidence and generally good-natured humor, Neji was relatively certain the two would be able to get along easily again so long as jealousy didn't enter into the equation.

"Not usually. She can be a bit more temperamental, however. I've had to replace dishes and furniture each time someone close to her disappears. With any fortune, that won't happen again for some time."

The possibility of jealousy never even crossed Lee's mind. He had never minded sharing Neji with Tenten in Team duties or sparring. Surely this couldn't be all that different.

That was a bit of an extreme reaction. Lee's eyes rounded in surprise. "If you do not mind me asking, how old is Lain-san, then?" That seemed like a fairly childish reaction.

"Fourteen, though she tends to act much younger." By shinobi standards, the girl was quite young. "Don't worry, she's mostly harmless- although you may want to watch for pastry projectiles occasionally."

"Oh, well then," Lee waved a hand, smiling a indulgently. "She is still young! And I have the reflexes of a viper! You need not fear!"

But then Lee's face turned serious. "However, if she is wasting food, I may have to reprimand her." Obviously that was the biggest crime Lee could see in this scenario.

Neji huffed an amused note and shook his head. "You'd be able to catch them if you tried, though I'm sure she'd only find it encouraging. She calls it 'training'."

And he glances at Lee with a knowing look, because it was almost as ridiculous as the exercises Lee put himself through.

"Training! That may be a good way to look at it!" Suddenly Lee felt like he could really get on board with this idea. It definitely could help with hand-eye coordination, not to mention speed.

Feeling a little more confident about meeting Neji's partner, Lee smiles and gives Neji a friendly squeeze on the shoulder. "I will let you get back to your work! But thank you for helping me today, Neji. Keep up the good work!"

Maybe it was a mistake, telling him that. Neji suppressed a sigh and shook his head. He'd just have to tell them to try 'training' with something less likely to make a mess if it came to that.

But he nodded, gesturing for the next person in line to step up for an examination. "I'll meet up with you later."

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Intro Log!

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