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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Gai beamed. "My training was very similar! It was not my grandfather, but as soon as I was able to hold a weapon my sister and father were teaching me. I have steadily learned since then! And put a lot of my own training in!" It was about time another self-starter showed up, really.

The clumsiness, though. "I do not know if many are clumsy." At all. "But perhaps we can train that! And you can become less clumsy!"

"He had his vice-chief help with my training," Sheena said matter-of-factly and without a trace of arrogance. Tiga was more like an uncle to her, anyway. My whole "family" is not related by blood, she thought wryly. "I've also come up with my own training....which I'm going to have to find a substitute for. It involved my Fire Cards, which are gone."

She shook her head. "When I'm fighting, I'm not usually that clumsy. It's outside of battle that the klutz in me comes out." She looked at him. "On average, how many large holes does a person fall into in their life?"

"What training was that?" He'd come up with a few routines, for himself and his students both, and he was always looking for new techniques to master or adapt.

He blinked at the question, though. "Ah." His hand went to the back of his neck as he tried to figure out the answer. "...Average? ...None? I have never, and most people I know have never. There is only one who did to my knowledge and he is not getting out."

"Oh, endurance training. I use the heat from my Fire Cards to keep me up as I stand on my hands. It doesn't burn me if I fall, but it's still a good incentive to keep away from it."

She shook her head. "Well, you know one now. I've fallen in two in the past several months, and I have the feeling the last one wasn't the last one." She avoided mentioning the obvious point that she made it out and laughed instead. "I'm not sure why it happens...I might be just too focused on something at the time, that I don't see it." In other words--she's stubborn.

"Oh! But then you can still work on your endurance in the same way without the threat! Just say that if you do not stand up on your hands long enough that you will have to do fifty push-ups! And then you will be more fit in other ways too!" That was Gai's approach, and he was rather proud of it.

Gai considered. "Have you tried perhaps not focusing so much on one thing? That is easier said than done, but if you keep falling into holes you will get hurt!"

Sheena wasn't sure if that method would work for her, but she promised she would at least try it. "Other than Morning Training, is there a dojo or something where I can practice, too?" She didn't want her skills with other weapons to become rusty, just in case she needed to fight, and hand-to-hand wasn't an option.

She nodded. "I try, and sometimes it works, but... Well, it's a long story, but I always felt the need to accomplish my goal no matter what." She laughed. "I know. I've been lucky that so far; I've only gotten dirty. I guess it pays to know how to land and fall."

Edited 2012-05-06 20:55 (UTC)

Gai shook his head. "You can go to the training ground, but there aren't many weapons. Only those on the Watch are allowed to carry them, and there are those that are used for training itself, which means that there is no place to train with weapons."

He smiled widely. "I know what it is to focus and wish to accomplish goals! Perhaps you can avoid falling into holes while here! That would be good!"

Sheena stood in thought about that. "So, it would be against a law or something if I carried a weapon on me?" She used to have daggers in her boots that she missed carrying, but if there was a rule against it, then she'd have to get over it. And start relying on using everyday objects as weapons.

"Actually, Gai. Not falling into holes would be wonderful," she laughed.

"That is part of it. It would be frowned on by Shibusen. But the other part is scarcity. I have yet to find a set of shuriken that is well-made and well-balanced, and they need to have the same weight and balance to them all in order to be effective. ...And there are not even many unmatched sets." He shrugged. "If you join the Watch, which is a very useful thing... Or... most of the time it is, then you can get a weapon or few that you are used to."

She nodded as he spoke about weapons. "I know what you mean, but if they're so scarce, where does the Watch get them? And are they even any good?" She'd hate to have a weapon that wasn't crafted well if she joined the group.

"From what I understand, it is that the good ones go directly to the Watch. And they are good." He pulls out his nunchuks to show her, holding them out in case she wished to take them for a moment. The balance was perfect, the wood was well-chosen and tended to with clear care, and they were sturdy. Gai was rather happy with them.

She nodded to him before taking the weapon and weighing them slightly. They weren't heavy, but they were solid and well-balanced. She could tell he took very good care of them with one glance. Returning them to him, she said, "You know, when I was a child, I hated taking care of my weapons. Cleaning and sharpening, looking for nicks... As I grew older, I appreciated the effort I put into that work, since it meant that those weapons were truly mine and a part of me, and taking care of them was like taking care of myself."

Gai beamed. "That is the way of maturity! At first we do not understand what the work is worth, and then we clue in to the benefits! Anything worth having is worth work, and weapons are worth our attention and work." He tucked them back into his belt. "But that is the way of life. There are many things that are worth it, and if we truly believe this then we shall work!"

"Too bad there are those who are supposed to be mature who don't see it that same way, Gai," she murmured, thinking of the nobles she had had the misfortune of meeting. "Some just don't get the fact that there's more of a feeling of accomplishment when you actually do the work yourself than having someone else do it. Doesn't stop them from taking the credit though." She paused.

"I wonder what some of them would do if they suddenly had to do the job themselves?"

He nodded, the beaming smile fading. "There are always some like those, and it is disappointing. But then there are ones like us, and that is how the world changes and becomes a better place. It would be interesting if some of them were forced into helping, though! I would like them to learn and to work! Though it is not likely that even if they were brought here they would try. They are that type." He shrugged. "So we will work and strive, and we will feel accomplishment, not them."

Despite his serious expression, Sheena couldn't help laughing at the image of the nobles she knew actually doing any type of work--strenuous or otherwise. Finally composing herself, she told him what she had found humorous, adding, "Oh no. If they were brought here, they would definitely work. They'd find the easiest things they could possibly do, but they'd work. Since I have the feeling no one here would wait on them hand and foot."

Gai smiles back, amused as well. "Some still feel that they do not have to do anything, and that people should give them more than they can get for free. It is... not admirable. I do not understand it and am fairly sure that I will not. Things that are simply given do not have as much meaning as things that are earned, except when it is a special gift, like for a birthday."

"No, it's not admirable. There are very few nobles on my world that I actually like. And that's because they do something besides sit around and wait for the world to come to them." She looked around the room a moment. "I think I know someone who might agree with you about that, Gai. He gets gifts all the time because of what he is, not who he is, and despite his gracious attitude, I have the feeling he's tired of it." Although, to be honest, she doubted he'd know what to do with any gift addressed to him without his title being on it.

"We have some that do not act in a way that I like either. It is disappointing that they lead. One should lead by example, not simply because they have connections and appointment. But I will not stoop to their level just because they are disappointing." He raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is his name? Perhaps he has been here, or will come in the future. We can hope!"

She felt the same way he did, and sometimes had to wonder why most of the people of her village didn't seem to have her Grandfather's sense of humor. Or his ability to look past a person's origins and accept them. So far, she knew of only two people other than her who shared the second quality, but both Orochi and Tiga were still a bit stiff.

"His name? It's Zelos Wilder. He comes off as being pretty arrogant, but once you get to know him, you start to see the real him."

"Zelos." He frowned. "It sounds familiar! I believe he has been here, or at least was! You should look out for him! And I will as well!"

Now smiling again, Gai looked around. "Is there anything else that I can help you with? There is still time if you have further questions."

She stares at him, shocked. She hadn't really expected Gai to have heard of Zelos, and the likelihood of two people having the same, unusual name? Very slim. Without thinking, she grabbed Gai's arm excitedly. "Zelos? Is here? Are you sure about that? Where would I find him?"

Anything else could wait until later. Someone she knew from home was there; she just wanted to see him. (Yeah, that was it).

Gai laughed at her reaction, not at her, but glad to see her enthusiasm. "I am nearly certain! I saw him at a party, I believe. Red hair? Bright red?" He considered the question and then held up his mirror.

"These are the residences." Gai typed, showing her the location of each. "You can ask at the desk in the front lobby after someone specific and they can say if they live there! And as long as you do not look angry or dangerous they may also tell you which room is his!"

She's happy that someone she knows is here, but learning it's Zelos leaves her with mixed emotions. She can't help but wonder if her being here was his fault in some way--despite everything she had learned about BREW. Well, there was only one way to find out, and she watched carefully as Gai showed her the map of residences.

...Wow...if he was here, she really wouldn't know where to look, and she definitely didn't want to learn the layout of the city searching for him. Maybe she should just use the communicator then go from there in finding him. Although the "looking angry" with Zelos part might be hard, since she always looked angry with him...

"Thanks, Gai," she said. "You've been a big help," she told him sincerely. "Just one more thing... Which way do I go now?"

Gai bowed his head, happy. "You are very welcome! And what do you mean? If you are leaving the tour and looking for him, which I would not recommend because the tour is very important and helpful, then you leave through those doors." He pointed off to the side. "Otherwise, you go through the doors over there," he pointed again, "where everyone is gathering to head through. If you stay with the tour you will find out more about the city, how it works, and if you are a Weapon or Meister, and those are all important things! Do not miss out on an opportunity that could be important because you were excited over seeing someone again! Chances are high that he will still be here after the tour if he was when you began it."

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ninjainviolet - 2012-06-01 16:29 (UTC) - Expand

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