▰▰▰ |SHINOBI • INFO| ▰▰▰ • Eirene Adzumi | B | Arashigakure | Genin | Bloodline | Performer | Hoshigaki It was mid afternoon, around patient lunch hours at the hospital based on its daily schedule. Hospital normally aren’t exactly happy places but after the terror assault on the village by the Jashinist an air of depression or loss hung over the village, the hospital in particular as the initial one and so many staff and patients had been killed in the jashinists grand reveal of their presence. This lull of loss and depression or stagnancy was to much for one little shark, who had meticulously planned a strategy to try and heal even a little of the wounds on people’s hearts that this tragedy had brought. The nurse at the front counter of the main, non emergency entrance was busy going about her day, sipping on her coffee and eating food as the employee meant to switch with her so she could have lunch, was of coarse late from their own break to a small coffee shop nearby. So when the front doors opened at such a slow time she looked up expecting that person, opening her mouth to chide them for their tardiness and freezing up with the first word hanging on her lips, mouth opened in confusion.
It was a school of short girls dressed up in shark attire, all beaming and brimming with positive energy, many waving at the woman as the lead marched to the desk and said in a chipper voice that oozed a personable nature “Heyyyy, I hope you are having a good day!!!! Visitors are able to see patients at this time, yes?” She slapped her hands on the counter and bobbed on her heels as the swarm of her waited a few feet back from the leads position. The woman at the counter blinked and nodded her head, asking who she might be visiting and proceeding to point out that she couldn’t go visit someone with all of those clones. Well was she unprepared for this little girl to girl a sweet and also strange answer, which was “We aren’t here for anyone specific!! We came here to visit everyone we can! We wanna bring smiles and show them that not everything is bad!!! So could you put me down as visiting everyone that’s allowed visitors pleasee!” And with the incredible sincerity and bubbly energy as her main weapon in this scenario the employee couldn’t find it easy to refuse her outright, the woman sighing and beginning to attempt to explain that things didn’t work that way only to be met with the wide eyed stare of hope, expectation and belief!
The little girl honestly didn’t seem to perceive the fact that it couldn’t work this way, offering a ”huhhh? But why, I don’t get it, we are here to make their day better, why would that not be allowed? S..Silly, that’s silly, we won’t cause any trouble so please!!!” The first and then others began to question the woman who couldn’t help but gush at the confused and genuine panic over the idea they couldn’t come in would cause. In the end the woman decided that it wasn’t uncommon for the occasional entertainer to come by and do rounds at some of the wards, usually the kids or more long term patients appreciated this sort of thing most and there was no harm if these little girls didn’t cause trouble and added a little to people day. lord knows some of these people could need it, even she could do with some cheering up after such awful events, the woman not even comfortable about considering herself lucky to have been off on the day of the attack. A harmonized chorus of ”Thank yous!!” Would sound out from the thirty or forty girls whom all gathered round the leader who brandish the provided map and started to organize and send the clones off, finally left with just herself and one other clone.
The leader of the group would turn to leave down a corridor, waving at the woman again who was almost disappointed that she wouldn’t have the company of such a lovely seeming girl, only to be pleasant surprised by the remaining clone walking up to her and asking if she could help or do anything to make the day a little better. The woman would have no idea that this girl could make the most unlikely of things accessible, even if only for a short time….. the young girl introduced herself at this point as Eirene The main body did exactly what every other clone was doing, finding a ward or a staff member who didn’t appear extremely busy, thanking the staff for their hard work and offering to help with menial and simple/runner tasks in needing of doings, while the ones entering ward did so to uplift the patients. Eirene spotted the ward she was meant to be going to, immediately aware that she had an audience in waiting as a small figure was peaking out across the hall at the opposite room which had a lovey voice and energized sounds coming from within, the child trying to steal a glance at what was going on.
A brilliant idea would be surprising this one, the small girl silently siding up to the door, covering her mouth to stifle a snicker as she silently counted to three, her brow furrowed with her a mischievous smug of a face. The young patient she glimpsed was a young red haired girl with a blue haired boy hiding behind her, both focused on the door across at the other room in an attempt to get a good look at the loud blue girl who walked in, the young boy having sworn that she was a walking shark as he had glimpse her clothes and got a good view of the clones tail for a couple of seconds and was a little nervous about letting the girl check it out. Both would be suddenly surprise as against their expectations, from almost right beside them did a the loud noise begin as another blue clad girl jumped out in front of them with hands raised and fingers pointed as if grabbing toward them ”GAWRRRR!!!” The suddenly appearing girl was dressed like a shark and had shark teeth like one to boot, her tail a whole different auditioned as both kids reacted in loud surprise, a few others still in their room also startled by this as a couple ducked under their blankets. The boy made a b-line to his bed as the girl stumbled backwards, a cast on her leg and fact she stepped away from the doorway, only to find herself stopped close to the ground by the shark girl grabbing one of her her wrist gently but firmly and pulling her up with swift care and declared victoriously with a toothy grin ”Hehe, looks I caught youuuu!”
After making sure the girl was as stable and balanced as she could be, not entirely wanting the look of shock to stick on the younger girls face and so initiated communication ”Hihiiiii!!!! My name is Eirene, I’m here to play with you all, we can do stuff that you guys find fun! So maybe now I’ve ummm shared my name…. maybe you could give me yours?!” She gently squished the girls nose a little with the tip of a finger at the end of the sentence to be silly, pulling the arm be eye she spied a crutch the girl should be use, shuffling over and collecting it while keeping her friendly eyes on the redhead with meaningful pressure. Despite her initial shock the young girl her was much braver than the boy who went running and so quickly recovered and used her slightly older and more rationale mind to deduce that despite the shark girl being odd and taking them by surprise, she didn’t actually seem very threatening. “I..i’m Mona, you shouldn’t scare people like that!” The expressions came to Mona instantly as she regained her composure and tried to lodge a complaint, looking a bit huffy and embarrassed about the encounter, snatching the offered crutch from Chompers extending hand that held it.
”Is ok! You didn’t get hurt so you’re fiiiiiine!” Eirene declare as she gave the girl a pat, before turning suddenly toward the others in the room with her malted up energy level, scooting over to the closest one after making it look like she couldn’t decide which she wanted to set her sights on pointing either of her index fingers at the lad playfully. ”And now you introduce yourself!…. Comeeeee on, hurry, hurry, now, tell me or I won’t stop!!” She peppered him with insistence after a pause mid sentence that she was responded to with silence, before she started poking at his side gently which quickly evolved into a light and playful tickle that god the kid twitching and laughing, not taking long to crack under the rifle torture, his name was Ron. ”Gooooood to meet you Ron! Now whoooos gonna introduce themselves next, or am I gonna have to tickle it out of each of you, bwahahaha Gawwrrr!” She was exuberant and again rounded on the others, both hands raised with wiggling fingers threatened tickles and a gleeful “I’ll do it” expression plastered across her face as she hopped across two of the beds in a single leap and turned around to yet make her roar noise at the body who ran away to his bed, before assailing him with the same treatment as the prior, swiftly turning his concern into comfort.
And like this did each child, boy or girl after a little effort of her part, open up to her presence, a few members of staff beginning to observe from doorways to make sure she wasn’t stressing the patients. The one at the real Eirene doorway was an older doctor who held her clipboard under her arm, leading a nurse with the children’s lunches, the woman clearing her throat to get everyone’s attention and expressing that the kids could have fun AFTER they ate, especially as a couple needed to take medication. Despite being tactfully asked to not get on the way, Eirene instead tried to take charge, sending the kids to their respective bed and demonstrating she’d already appealed quite well to the little ones, the doctor would quickly realize that most to everyone being exposed to Eirene at the moment had also taken a shine to her, those she hadn’t were being slowly persuaded with cycling tactics to appeal directly to said people. Eirene didn’t care if the kids did or did not like what they were being fee, she expected them to eat all of it and would make sure of it. ”Hey, each of you tell me what you’d like to eat, you favvvvvourite foods, yeah? Come on! each of you tell me!” She dug insistently and hurriedly at the children, spinning her hands until the first one spoke, which she pointed at dramatically, turning to do the same as eat kid spoke, repeating what they said what they wanted.
After taking in the information the little shark skipped to the middle of the room and cleared her throat, doing some feigned voice exercises before finally getting into her plan. She would hold one hand it in air as a fist, then using fingers to mark the number, counted up and began speaking in a rhythmic form “one, two, three…. Now today weee eat, not that yucky hospital feast, but instead, we turn that bread to cake and other foods of all our DDDDreaaaaammmmmms, *inhale* Now let’s all eat the feast whilst flying on an ever, ever stretching raiiiinnnbowwww!!!” As her voice rang sweetly, the room vibrated for a split instant and the walls melted away as each child found their beds sliding along a rainbow that stretched on like a rollercoaster. The plates of food would transmogrify, mimicking the taste and appearance of each kids preferred foods as the glided along at a non-intensive pace, the little shark smart enough to read the supplied charts and understand enough to not cause to much excitement. The doctor smiled as the visuals of stretching colours and rolling ocean, plus an apparent change in foods texture and taste which was just a product of the girls technique and changed nothing nutritionally, in actuality they were eating what was originally there.
After their meal the children’s journey would take over around the outside of the village, this single room turned into an expansive 3D paradise following along the path of an impossible rainbow, the affects of her technique easily leaving the children awestruck and giddy, a couple leaning over the side of their bed and trying to reach the rainbow with their hands. Of coarse things lived up in the second act now the children weren’t eating, the speed of the experience intensifying and brining the children down near the ocean, bird of different colours and species flanking and flying around them. Water skimmed from the back of the beds which now surfed the surface of the water, a school of less cool than sharks but probably more kid appropriate bottle nose dolphins, squeaking greetings at the completely engrossed children. Eirene would appear to be skating backwards on the water infront of the children, cheerily continuing there journey, under the sea ”Now as we reach the water, feel no fear, just like me you all can beeee, under the Seaaaaaa, down down into sparkling waters, look at those reefs they are like underwater flowers! Listen to the music of the current of the water, listen to the song of your underwater FAMILYYYYY, you’re one of us nowwwww!” The words echoed almost ethereal when she submerged, the children brought with them, beds dissolving as they found themselves floating in water that was light as almost as easy to move through as air, the children would quickly find that there was no problem breathing and despite the fact that they were surrounded by sea life, they could all understand the chorusing greeting of all the marine life gathered around them.
It would be no surprise that the first person to walk past a room that appeared the be a solid wall of water in the doorway, it didn’t even spill out and was hence, very weird. Secondly after looking inside properly, the witness another bewildering scene, the room was now the bottom of the sea and the patients were swimming around without a care in the world, playing with one another and the local sea life. After half a minute this person would realize they had got engrossed in this and decided to find out what was going on, being as their shift had just started, soon to discover it was like this in most of the wards, though some a lot less extreme than the first room. Back in the room most the kids would be playing tag with several dolphins that were going easy on them, the youngest two who weren’t up to this were patting at the sand bottom while trying to discover the location several hurried Rays that called to them with playful taunts, occasionally being found and revealing themselves spectacularly and praising the children or the like, honestly the rays personalities were basically on the level of pantomime villains, the unhidden ones trying to steer the kids the away from their hidden friends with intentional tells or occasional slips to not make it unfair. In the middle a hard working and beginning to get tired shark girl was continuing to narrate things, using her abilities to verbally narrate the going’s ons in more of a commentary at this point, using this method to maintain the same concept of the produced worldscape, a notable amount of pep in her movements having decreased and shark maw hat removed to stay cool, at least she only needed to float in the pseudo-water.
Fortunately for her the children were beginning to run out of steam as well, even if the false water provided little resistance the children were still moving around a good deal and tiring themselves out. Swimming over to the group playing target Eirene cupped her small hands around her mouth and made an announcement while swishing her tail to turn her body toward the tag children and dolphins ”Badun dadunda dunnnnn! A new player has joined the game and she is it!!!, you all can run but it’s time to catch all you lil fishies and being you home… or maybe I’ll eat you when I catch you, we’ll will have to see!!! Gawrrrr!!!” The noise at the end signalled her advance as the kind dolphins would be the first ones she went after, to give the kids some time to enjoy it before getting glomped gently by a hamming it up Eirene. Of coarse her defeat of the children was systematic and without difficulty, though she didn’t swim very fast and played it up a little to make it more enjoyable, the jaws theme was rather prevalent during these few minutes.
She as she was returning the dreamscape to the hospitals form again, really feeling the fatigue as her clones had start also reaching the end of their time with their groups and were dispersing. The flood of information which included many peoples days being made better, lots of smiles and lots of “thank you’s” was both fatiguing and invigorating as she could help wait her sides of her cheeks stretching into a big grin that she couldn’t have gotten rid of if she wanted to. Children on their beds again they would “fly back into the hospital” in tow of Eirene, hand raised toward either side of the room and slowly lowered as the bed fit back in place nicely and her Jutsu ended. ”Bwaaaahhhhh…. Welcome back kids, did we all have fun today!” it was impossibly for her to help the initial sigh caused by the relief of releasing the jutsu, honestly she had never used it this many times at once and not often for any real length of time when using it in multiple locations, now her mind went “buzz buzz” and head ached a little. Still she didn’t let that stop her loudly and excitedly wishing each of the kids goodbye personally and without rushing before finally taking her leave. Waving at them as she reversed out the door the little shark bid them a final ”Bye-Bye!!! Be good to the doctors or a shark might come getcha! Gawr!!!” Before finally skipping down the hallway back the way she’d come in only to trip half way and have to recollect herself after skidding across the hospital floor face first.
”Owieeee!!! Why’d that have to happened, no fun, ngggghhh” She grumbled with a scrunched up face, rubbing it gently with the palm of her hands to soothe the sting, pulling herself up and to her feet and shaking her head and arms as if limbering up. ”It ok!!! You jus’ haven’t gotten used to feelin so heavyyyy, maybe walking might be better dum-dum….” She told herself, grumbling the last part as she plodded purposefully and with care to the front, bidding the receptionist a good day, receiving a warm smile and response from the person who let her in. With legs that seemed to move quicker toward the ground, feeling dragged down the little shark really wasn’t feeling as spunky as she could have. A distinct squeal came from the depths of her blue sweaters stomach region, quickly followed by a grumble of urgency, the pangs of hunger making themselves known suddenly and with almost painful insistence. Little shark gave a rare frown for all of a moment as she quickly considered what the closest place to get some grub might be and zooming off with arms stretched out like a kid not with a proper ninja run as she did.
[exit to marketplace]
(Ooc: Carewr Mission:Hospital fun time! Rank: C Details: The village has suffered greatly and the wounds have lower the spirit of those who call it home. One little shark has decided that all of this low energy is unacceptable and that people need to experience of feel some joy, therefore has intended to invade the hospital with 35 shadow clones and brighten an hour or so of everyone’s afternoons by using her performing abilities to let them experience things normally impossible…. And in some cases just talking to or being there for those less inclined or unable to handle to much excitement. This is a self assigned volunteer job and offers no cash return. )
Chakra 165/1095 | Stamina 125/860 |
• Strength 3 • Speed 3 • Agility 3• Endurance 4
Actions(including discounts or modifiers)
Active Techs n timers Act 1:The Stage is set D-rank Act 2: Act 3: 35 clones each with 15 chakra/stamina
Modifiers
Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 10:43 pm
SHIONxxxxxMORI Shion silently pocketed the folded not, mulling over Kagerou's words. The green-haired woman had nailed every projection about Shion's condition, and it drove her wild. The hand not fondling the folded note clenched into a fist, casting her knuckles with ivory peaks. She jammed it into her coat pocket, hoping she was fast enough to evade Kagerou's eyes. She wouldn't be.
He had his chance to come in peacefully, to work with us to ease the transition of power. Instead, he decided to hurt... people," Shion would declare, quickly catching herself before anything less than official could slip past her lips. "In doing so, he has branded himself a rogue Shinobi of Arashi. As director of CORE, it is my job to see to it that he is -- dealt with, and, given his strength, that task falls on me." Shion moved to match her gaze with Kagerou's. As Shion's mismatched blue and yellows met Kagerou's reds, the doctor would be met with a battle, hard fought, to keep any ounce of emotion from flooding to the surface. The red-headed girl's eyes had misted over, red began to flush her cheeks, and her face contorted in odd ways to display some sense of a normal composure. "I have to kill Tosokurui Hojo."
Like instinct, the urge to protect and console the woman before her, who struggled with such strength to show her determination, welled within Kagerou. It was not that she doubted that determination, but that she worried that what the jinchuuriki hid beneath would suffocate, die off in the name of becoming stronger, better. To stop that, help her find a better way, was what Kagerou wanted because kindness did not need to die for resolve.
However, since the start of the meeting, this had never been about what Kagerou wanted. It had never even been what was good for Shion. This had been about honesty, open and clear. No spinning words that Shion might benefit to hear. No mincing truths to create a safe space.
Therefore, "As director of Core, that is indeed the correct choice, but Toso is a difficult target. You will have to strike cautiously, yet quickly, and even then, he will likely survive the first blow. What happens after that will no doubt be a fight, one within which you cannot risk a moment's inattention. Can you do that, Shion? How many blows do you think you can exchange before the thought happens upon you that he was once your friend and you trip because of it?".
Ever smiling, ever calm, yet there existed an apparent stiffness in that ever so appealing smile, a rigidity in that pleasant voice as Kagerou spoke so peacefully on the matter of killing a friend with such cool methodology. Crimson eyes wavered with every syllable, wanting to move away. They couldn't maintain that honest gaze, but they nonetheless did because of the turmoil in Shion's face. In respect and concern, Kagerou would bear witness to the development unfolding before her. Did she want to reach out and gently hug Shion? Comfort her? Of course, but just how much would such comfort mean coming from someone who stood at odds with her choice?
"Haaaah."
A sigh, escaped, and with it, did the green-haired Uchiha's feelings.
"I do no doubt the director of CORE's, the Arashikage's strongest hidden weapon's, ability to successfully take down a high priority target of ex-kage Tosokurui's caliber. However, Shion, are you certain you are capable of killing not Tosokurui Hojo, deadly threat to Arashigakure, but Tosokurui Hojo, the friend who you still cannot abandon? You could die, you know?"
More words waited from the tip of Kagerou's tongue all the way down to her gut, but the mere mention of Shion's death stopped her monologue-to-be in its tracks. All was silenced in the face of that possibility.
"... You could die..."
What kind of sick, twisted plot was this? A friend, forced to kill another friend, and Kagerou, privy to it from both ends. Possibly even the cause behind this whole fiasco. She couldn't bear to keep her eyes on Shion anymore. Gently, red irises disappeared beneath pale eyelids. A hand rubbed the smooth temples.
When the eyes reopened, Kagerou, with a straight face, made a rather nonsensical offer considering her place in all of this, "Shion, would you like help?".
[38 sentences]
Chakra: 5000/5000 Stamina: 3175/3175
NecroPlant
Cute Things In Jars
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2021 11:36 pm
K I M U R A ◈ S A K I ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Arashigakure | Student
After the physical and emotional turmoil the poor child had gone through Saki thought she was finally getting control of her emotions again. Oh, how wrong she was. Obei delivered a surprise finishing blow. The gentle giant called the girls family. It was a thought that stopped Saki dead in her tracks and then threw her through the emotional rolleroaster all over again. Family was a concept she had never really been familiar with. Sure, she had her uncle but he was distant, especially since she decided to join the academy. He was more a sensei than family in her eyes. The lonely child had assumed that was just what family was but these new feelings she had been experiencing in the short time she had known Obei and Amaya… Was that what it was meant to feel like having family? Was this what it would be like if her parents were still alive? The tears came again and she tried to fight them off in a futile effort. With all that emotion taking over again she did the only thing she could and buried her face into Obei's side to try and choke out the sobbing while the Oni held both of the girls.
When she had finally cried her way through the mess of emotions the attack had left her with, she pulled away from the pair. Wiping her face clean on her long Flowing sleeve Saki looked utterly embarrassed. ” I’m sorry I have no right to act this way… Amaya-chan you’re the one that…” She paused mid-sentence; pale blue eyes fixed on her friend. She realized perhaps Amaya didn’t want to dwell on the loss of her parents. ”Nevermind.” She muttered as she looked to the ground, figuring it was best to shut her mouth before putting her foot in it.
No longer stuck in her own thoughts Saki Noticed Amaya looking as if she had misplaced something. She was about to ask what was wrong when her own loss suddenly began to dawn on her. A small hand moved down to grasp at something by her hip and was met with only empty air. Her parent’s Katana were gone. She was so used to their weight she barely felt their presence anymore but they still acted as a comfort when she needed it. Now that she was aware of their absence it felt as if a part of her was missing. Her own reaction was not nearly as calm as Amaya’s. The girl sprang up suddenly and began to search the room in a panic. It didn’t take her long to come to the conclusion they weren’t here which meant she must have lost them back at the academy.
”My Katana! I think I lost them when the roof collapsed! I have to find them!” She frantically blurted out her explanation as she already began to make her way to the door. Her precious heirlooms were all she could think about. Saki was practically out the door before she came to her senses, she almost ran out the door leaving her very recently orphaned friend in the dust. ”Ahh! I’m sorry! I mean uh… We can go look if you’re okay to Amaya-chan? Maybe we’ll find whatever you lost too?
Rieyar sat on a bench outside the hospital, reading through a set of their unique cards. Not an official member of the village, and lacking anything resembling an emergency at the moment, they had found their desire to help somewhat frustrated by red tape. They had hoped that there was something less menial their attention could be turned towards - as though they were fond of Kumoito, it was not the type of place where they could make the most difference. They were, as usual, stuck between two different worlds, though this was a far more annoying conundrum. For now the distraction of study was a suitable salve.
◁ Non-Activation Techs Used ▷ ıllıllı None ıllıllı
◁ Active Modifiers ▷
◁ Passive Modifiers ▷
◁ Combat Inventory ▷
ghostfinch
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2021 11:02 pm
The sun set red through the windows of the hospital. In one hand, Kagerou held budgets and various administrative paperwork. In the other, he held a warm cup of tea. The conversation with Shion and Kameyo had been days ago. Certainly, the plans of those who intended to deal with the Jashinists had progressed forwards quite a bit. Kagerou had no real way of knowing, but considering those who were on the case... It had to be something like that? He only hoped that they were alright if combat was to be inevitable.
Signing off on the last document after verifying its contents, the green haired medic looked out the window. If he had to be honest, of course he wanted to know. The events that moved and shook the world. The stories that unfolded during such quakes. Kagerou had always held a keen interest in observing them. However, there was a time and place when it came to official matters, and he had been given the order to remain at the hospital to tend to matters here at the village.
"Aaaaaaagh!" the green haired medic, usually so proper, let loose in the privacy of his office, "But there's really nothing to do?" Arms stretched high above his head, he looked up to the ceiling of his office. As if maybe, somewhere in the small details of this ceiling, he could find the answers to his woes.
The answer, in fact, turned out to not be on the ceiling, but right outside the window. Tilting his head to look outside, he saw a white haired figure sit on a bench outside the hospital. Eyes locked on immediately, interest sparking at the possibility that it could be Severin. Unfortunately, the differences were obvious. Slighter build, different hair, pointy ears, and a wholly different style of dress. He only saw the back of the head but he knew this wasn't Severin.
Nonetheless, this stranger did have that special spark to him. Interest still perked, if not to as great an extent as prior, Kagerou stood up from his seat and made his way out, then down, and then outside the hospital until he was within comfortable conversation range of the other. "You are a new face here," he asked as he approached, "May I take a seat next to you?".
Reverse summoning was always a hassle, but Plory had too great a purpose to be bogged down by the details. Their red and gold form appeared before Rieyar, oozing on the bench beside him. "Rieyar-ar." The slug spoke slowly, the only sign the hyper-active and high-pitched slug gave that they were mourning. "The contract holder is deceased." They let the comment hang in the air for just a moment. "Katsuyu-yu says it's important that Rieyar know this. Rieyar could come to Shikkotsu-su if Rieyar wants to talk to Katsuyu-yu."
Rocket Punches
Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 6:12 pm
Rieyar’s head tilted towards Kagerou with a curious expression, slightly delayed by the obvious need to pull themselves away from their reading. “Ah, yes, I suppose new still roughly fits. And of course, you’re more than welcome to join me.” There was a natural energy to Rieyar’s voice, one that didn’t come across as excessive but still conveyed a hint of enthusiasm. They recalled encountering Kagerou once before, although it would seem the drama of the situation rendered them a blank spot in his mind.
The lanky child’s subtle composure was thoroughly and rapidly dissipated by the poofing of one of the Shikkotsu Slugs into being on the bench. “Ah!” The startled cry was quickly stifled as Rieyar realized what was going on. “Oh, hello little slug! You startled me. And I had just offered that seat to this nice man.” Any initial levity at the prospect of one of the slugs appearing of its own accord was quickly dashed, however, as Plory conveyed the grim news. Perhaps it was something about the slug’s manner of speaking, but it took a moment for the young medic’s brain to connect the sounds and their meanings.
The resulting experience was quite an unpleasant one. Like a hand of ice slipping into Rieyar’s chest and squeezing their very soul. They suddenly felt quite a bit like their body was too big for their recoiling consciousness, like their flesh and bone was simply an object they existed in. It was not an unfamiliar experience, the dissociation, but it had been quite a while and the tools once used to combat it had atrophied just enough to elude the grasp of the child's flailing mind.
Plory’s remaining words bounced and reverberated through Rieyar’s head, as if overheard while eavesdropping from beyond a closed door. The two weren’t close, Rieyar had really only shared a few words with Kameyo and listened intently to the praises of the slugs they had met. And yet, tears still welled in their eyes, as if they’d lost a close friend - delicate features contorting into a forlorn mask.
Partly because Rieyar simply did not handle these sorts of things well when they carried even a little bit of personal connection. Their travels since leaving Kumoito had been… trying, to say the least, but this was quite a different experience than being trapped between a rock and a hard place. Another part of them felt an instant pang of regret. They had considered making the journey to the Pale Citadel, for a couple different reasons. Uncertain of whether or not staying here in Arashigakure was a good idea, Rieyar had pondered a trip to Tanigakure to see if their healing seals might be of interest there. They had also considered attempting to meet up with Lady Unki, concerned about the injuries the Empress obviously carried when last they met.
Ultimately, they had decided to stay, to allow things to settle slightly before moving on. And now, once again, their emotions wielded the desire to avoid conflict with the precision of a rapier - skewering their conviction effortlessly. The child was far from a skilled fighter, but they had managed in a pinch - albeit at great cost to their own well-being and against their own desire. An event that would continue dancing on the insides of their eyelids for many more nights than it already had. Would that have been worth it, though? Another bad dream in exchange for even a chance at stopping something horrible like this? At the moment Rieyar would have gladly traded their own ideological conviction and a modicum of restful nights for Kameyo's life. Hell, they'd have gladly traded their own being for it as well.
Their breaths quickened as slender hands tried and failed to banish the tears, instead removing whatever invisible force had prevented them from streaming down their cheeks; Rieyar's tolerance for the tumult of the last few weeks not done any favors by the pulling of a new rug from beneath their feet.
Embarrassingly, Rieyar's assumption had been correct. The chaos and seemingly never ending stream of faces, both the blurred masses and those outstanding individuals that stood out alike, had unfortunately caused many of the new faces Kagerou saw that day slip from his mind. Of course, the mental strain of the reason she had appeared on that day at all and the consequences of what she had done in that regard had played no small part in her lack of effort in collecting data.
Nonetheless, Kagerou was interested in making the acquaintance of this new individual here and now. Perhaps a fresh face was exactly what she needed. that was what the psychiatric training in her was saying, while she tried not to think too hard on how many times how flawed her knowledge on psychiatry had proven itself to be time and time again. Before he had time to take the seat offered, however, a summon appeared, and Kagerou's intuition told him to wait until it spoke. Besides, it had taken his seat on the bench. Rieyar, besides her, sounded shocked then pleasantly surprised, but though Kagerou couldn't really tell what kind of expression this near amorphous creature was making, she felt that it would not have arrived just simply on a pleasant whim.
The news that followed proved his suspicions correct. That seemingly unending smile twitched as eyes blinked. It took her a few seconds to realize she had stopped breathing. The dull roar of shock and grief that crashed through his mind deafened him to the outside world in those precious few seconds he took to compose himself while also confirming that he knew of only one slug contract holder.
In the end, it was instead the sounds of wet tears breaking upon the wooden bench that called Kagerou to action instead of thought. Never, not even for an instant, did Kagerou believe her grief to be very large at all, nor her outrage to be of any tantamount importance. There were others, many more others, who deserved the spotlight of such emotions more than her. However, the crying Rieyar helped in reminding her to quell these emotions and approach the solution with a clear goal in mind, and of course, as this was Kagerou, there was only one goal she would accept.
It was improper to interrupt a discussion between summoner and summon, especially when matters were of such importance as the topic at hand. However, for that same importance, Kagerou couldn't hold still. The male doctor quietly raised a hand to give silent notice that he would speak. Rieyar, crying and heaving sobs, was in no condition to reply, so Kagerou addressed the slug before him. "Respected messenger," he greeted with a bow once given it seemed he had the slug's attention, "I am known as Kagerou and practice medicine in Arashigakure. With your permission, may I ask some questions?". Unsure of the customs and preferences of this branch of summons, he opted for the most polite, even if it meant patiently waiting and taking conversation one step at a time rather than the urgency with which he would rather move with.
Only after receiving some sort of acknowledgment to continue from Plory (if he received any at all, that is) did Kagerou continue, apologizing even as he started, "I apologize if my questions appear inane and hope you understand that I am merely attempting to account for every possibility." It wasn't that he didn't trust the judgment of the slugs. They were known as the most medically proficient of the summons, and held esoteric knowledge of iryojutsu that remained yet outside the grasp of shinobi knowledge. Kagerou was merely determined to not let even a single chance for recovery to pass him, yet he also knew that should his assumptions on the location of Kameyo's body be correct, then he would do more harm than good to enter recklessly. "First, when you say contract holder, do you perchance mean a woman by the name of Kameyo? A Jiongu with brown hair and stitches across her mouth? Second, could you kindly clarify what methods were used to confirm her passing?".
Rocket Punches
ghostfinch
[33 sentences]
Chakra: 5000/5000 Stamina: 3175/3175
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2021 6:58 pm
Plory felt a pang of hurt at Rieyar's reaction. Humans were alive for such small amounts of time that loss hurt them far more than it typically effected creatures of Shikkotsu Forest, even though they were the most compassionate of the summons. Indeed, Plory seemed to wait patiently as the medic wiped their face of tears. Then, the slug turned to the green-haired doctor.
"Questions?" Plory echoed. They had no reason to distrust the doctor, especially as they were all in a place of healing and, in Plory's long experience, that was always a good sign. They waited for the questions, surprised that the doctor was taking such an interest to the topic. "Kameyo-yo, yes, Kameyo-yo gave me rotten vegetables. Very kind," they mused. "Why, Slugs sought to reverse summon Kameyo-yo and found that Slugs had no connection to Kameyo-yo. The signature signed in blood had stained to an unusual color. Slugs knew, then, that this was not jamming. Indeed, Slugs suspect that all of the hearts of Kameyo-yo have stopped. Though, Slugs last checked in with Kameyo-yo just yesterday, when Kameyo-yo talked about heading to the Citadel for one of Rieyar-ar and Kameyo-yo type shinobi leader parties."
Plory paused again, thoughtful. They grew in size as they thought, accidentally activating their ability as their mind considered everything. "Plory supposes that Kameyo-yo could still be alive without hearts for small period of time, but the seal should not have reacted so adversely to Slugs attempt to reverse summon." Then, Plory turned back to the summoner. "Katsuyu-yu says sorry."
“It’s not the slugs’ fault, little friend.” Rieyar said as they managed to regain a bit of composure. The sadness was more a result of shock than anything, although the medic was still quite obviously working through a variety of different emotions. Their resolve continued to be tested at an astounding clip, and no doubt this would require more time and space for them to properly process.
Rieyar had listened intently to Plory’s response, although the specifics of Jiongu were foreign to them beyond the basic concept. The child drew a deep breath, closing their eyes before making a gesture in front of them that seemed to produce a pair of cards as if by sleight of hand. They exhaled slowly, calmly opening their eyes and beginning to read the content on them.
“I do not have a wealth of information on Lady Kameyo’s bloodline abilities, or at least Kumoito did not the last time I updated my cards.” They said, swapping the bottom of the two cards to the top to examine it instead. “We both could probably save her, but… we’d probably have to be wherever she is and not sitting cluelessly on a bench, wouldn’t we?” It was clear that the medic’s previous reservations about having chosen to stay had quickly morphed into frustration as they posed their question to Kagerou with an uncharacteristically furrowed brow and an obvious bit of self-deprication; though it seemed to catch them off guard a moment later, and they noticeably softened their expression and averted their gaze.
[ Sorry this took longer than normal. I haven’t been feeling great lately. ]
◁ Non-Activation Techs Used ▷ ıllıllı None ıllıllı
◁ Active Modifiers ▷
◁ Passive Modifiers ▷
◁ Combat Inventory ▷
ghostfinch
HeadlessKoko
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:49 pm
It had been some time, yet Ada gladly wore her APD uniform with pride. Her lieutenant badge rested over her right breast and name plate on the left. 'A refreshing change of pace, but I feel for these victims. To think such atrocities were happening to so many...' Ada was glad that she was called on to help with such a case. She'd use all of her experience and resources to put an end to this threat to the empire's citizens. X followed a couple paces behind Ada as she made her way toward a priority witness' room on the third floor. He was taking scans of every person that crossed his path, testing his updated X-Vision hardware for a task Ada had asked of him. Ada came to stand outside of room three-hundred and two and turned to the blue-armored android. "Please greet Seiichi Seiryu and Setsuka Katakiri when they arrive and direct them into the room. I'll head in first." She was uninformed of any others on the task force for this particular investigation, but Ada trusted X to amicably handle that bridge if it needed crossed. X nodded affirmatively, "Understood Miss Ada." He then stood to the side of the door, making sure not to block the room number, and initiated his sentry mode with her orders in process. Ada opened the door, just in time for a nurse to have finished with a checkup and being on his way out the door. "I beg your pardon." She stepped aside for the man to be on his way then entered the room afterward. Ada came to stand at a space in the room where it would be easy to communicate with the witness and offered a humble greeting if they appeared approachable, "Hello, I am officer Ada Hyuga. Could we talk for a while?" She smiled kindly, expressing genuine concern for the victim. If denied, she would respectfully step outside the room and wait for the others to arrive.
(OOC: Just wrapping up some things prior to the time skip.)
Biting the knuckle of his ring finger, Kagerou gazed unseeingly at the ground in front of his feet with half-closed eyes. With just the little slug's tidbit of information, the prospect of a miraculous revival of Kameyo already seemed direly unlikely. Summoning contracts relied directly on the chakra of the contractors to determine if they were dead or alive, and as far as Kagerou knew, even a Jiongu would be dead if they had no chakra. Foot tapped in beat to his thoughts. However, he didn't want to give up. Kagerou didn't want to see another life lost. There was always that small chance, that border between life and death where even a summoning contract could be fooled.
For this to come so quickly on the heels of Toso's own nihilistic fall... made Kagerou all the more unwilling to forfeit no matter how unlikely Kameyo's chances.
Reality was as reality is, however. Smiling bitterly, eyes refocusing onto the ground before him and mouth leaving hand alone upon hearing Rieyar addressing him, Kagerou spoke bluntly, "In truth, there is likely no way of saving her." It was not a statement made lightly. Those seconds spent in his head were not spent with frantic abandon, but organized efficiency as Kagerou explored his options and the varying odds. Unerringly, behind each approach, there loomed two thing. The news Plory had delivered: Kameyo's chakra could no longer be detected by the summoning contract. And of course, the position that shackled him to Arashigakure. He didn't much care to leave it and be dismissed, but if all he cared about was himself and his convenience, then he would have long left the position of surgeon general empty. However, seeing as he somehow still held this position, that clearly wasn't the case...
His eyes glanced up. Seeing first, the set of information cards. Kagerou agreed to this younger medic's tastes. Then, and more importantly, to the eyes, just in time to see those frustrated golden pools and furrowed brows timidly melted in embarrassment. Likewise, Kagerou's bitter smile softened in understanding. Though his emotions did not reflect Rieyar's, it seems the two shared their determination in believing in Kameyo until the end.
"In the hopes of a miracle, it will be irresponsible of me to abandon my post," Kagerou explained, both voice and smile gentler this time, "And you may be free to move as you will through the lands, but it does not sound as if you would be able to help the Lady Kameyo even if you were to arrive, at least no more than the medics already dispatched to the Citadel." As a matter of fact, Kagerou only even entertained his chances of being able to do more than the medics already present because he had focused so many of his younger years on studying Jiongu biology. He didn't much feel neither smile nor voice, but in truth, most days as of late, he continued to smile regardless of how he felt, and none were any the wiser of his act. Even now, at best, Rieyar would only feel the smile strange because of the surrounding circumstances.
If only because he remembered the appearance he had to uphold, Kagerou kept on smiling. "However, I like your spirit, and there's little point in life if we were to encourage forfeit without attempt. I will be making my own arrangements to see to Kameyo. If you are still interested in working with me despite what I said earlier, you are welcome to visit the surgeon general's office in ten minutes." How to put it? She wanted to comfort Rieyar, but she couldn't. Ten minutes was at once too luxurious and yet too short a time. With his terms set down, Kagerou turned and strode with long steps down the path, but she stopped and turned after a few steps. Looking back at Rieyar, he added, scarlet eyes piercing straight into gold pools, "Just remember. None of this is your fault. Whether you stayed or went, there is no way one person can be in all places to protect and prevent harm to their loved ones, and the same could be said right now. Who knows, you could choose to leave only for a sudden emergency to arise in Arashigakure. No one on this world could possibly know with certainty what will happen. What matters is what we do with the outcomes presented to us." Gentle smile unchanging, smoke bombs dropped from the pockets Kageoru had his stuffed into, and once the bloom of smoke cleared, Arashigakure's surgeon general was nowhere to be seen.
Regardless of whether his smile just then was fake or real, Kagerou had truly meant the comfort he had tried to give Rieyar. Looking down upon the white haired child from his office window, the same place he had first spotted Rieyar from, he just hoped that what little he could provide right now had been enough.
Rocket Punches
(OOC: I'm also sorry this took so long. I'm hoping I can be more consistent, at least for long enough to get this off the floor and jam Rieyar and Takeda into the Citadel. I'll move this over to an MIT with my next post, but I need to take some talk-do with the Takeda to set the arrangements in place first.)
ghostfinch
[45 sentences]
Chakra: 5000/5000 Stamina: 3175/3175
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:12 pm
🗲I'M A HIGH OCTANE HURRICANE !LET'S GET IT ON //////////////// //////////////// //////////////// MOOD WORRIED COMPANY NONE
All the drama surrounding the APD and their corruption coming to light was disappointing, yet unsurprising. Though identifying and purging those who sullied its name, it was a long time coming, at least to Kohaku. He grew up no stranger to their corruption; armed with an earned distrust of them, he never knew what some people saw in them. The idea of being a hero of the people was a fantasy many people had and he supposed some saw that as their way to become one, but in his experience, that was not always so.
As he had gotten older, Kohaku tried to let go of the bitterness; he knew by experience that there were officers that meant well and would do their job the best they could with the people in mind, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to negate the bad apples mixed in with them. It was a line of work that couldn’t afford such people in their ranks. As a member of the ANBU, his own line of work ran close with the APD and now more than ever, he needed to bite his tongue and set aside his disdain for them. What mattered most was the people, which despite it all, was the APD’s purpose to protect as well. Kohaku shared that with them.
In between important ninja-related business, Kohaku spent some of his down time helping at his mother’s bakery. Now as an ANBU, it was part of the job to keep one’s eyes and ears open to civilians, and what better place than a small, hole-in-the-wall bakery to mingle amongst the people? Kohaku never saw himself becoming a workaholic; he was honestly surprised by how well he took to the weight of responsibility beating down upon him. Though, it could have just been good old hypervigilance kicking into overdrive.
Speaking of which, he couldn’t help but notice a particularly shaken individual come stumbling in.
“Welcome, how may I, uh… hey, you alright?” Kohaku began, his customer service voice dropping to genuine concern.
The man gave a wry, nervous laugh. “Yeah? I mean, I’m alive and in one piece,” he began, “but I don’t know if I could say the same for everyone else.”
Kohaku’s eyebrows raised. “Excuse me?”
Upon the rush of uncomfortable silence, Kohaku’s mother Kimi poked her head out from the kitchen. “Is everything alright?”
“There was an attack a few couple minutes from here. These thugs or something—I don’t know—just swarmed the place, and people started retaliating.”
Kimi walked out into the front room, setting aside a fresh tray of sweetbread. “Has anyone come to help them?” she asked, “the APD? Anyone?”
The man scoffed. “Pff. Of course not. Last I saw, they were all beaten up pretty bad—those who stuck around to fight, that was. Everyone else ran off. Didn’t look like anyone else was interested in helping out.”
“Hm,” Kohaku pondered, looking out the window and onto the streets, eyes narrowed, “I’ll be right back,” he said before taking off through the door.
//
What he found was about what had been described to him. Civilians laid about in varying stages of injury; blood dotted the pavement around them and signs of property damage lined their surroundings. It looked like whoever had done this didn’t stick around after some civilians put up a fight. Even then, Kohaku had little time to waste—these people needed help and he wasn’t certain if the gang would return to finish the job or not. If it came to it, he would aid them in a fight should the thugs show themselves again, but he was near useless when it came to giving them the medical attention they desperately needed.
//
And so, Kohaku headed off in search of just that—or for anyone that was just willing to help. He bursted through the hospital doors with a little more force and urgency than he intended—it was a hospital after all and the rowdiness of his entry probably wasn’t appreciated. Nonetheless, it was bound to draw attention.
“Some people in the White Flash District have been attacked—they need medical attention, now!” he said aloud with about as much subtly as his entrance.
That too was bound to draw attention. He was quite good at that.
PASSIVE EFFECTS ■ Passive Electrolocation ■ Electrical Resistance Training
MISSION INFO ■
MOVES LEARNED ■
Skawly
Monster
Offline
ghostfinch
Seeker
Offline
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:25 pm
Plory was quiet as the two medics worked things out between themselves. This wasn't something they were well-equipped to deal with, so they dispersed silently. They had delivered the important message and now it was up to these medics to do whatever it was humans liked to do for their newly deceased.
