[OPEN]

[harassing]

Who: Anyone, everyone, whoever feels like putting open or closed stuff in here tbh, no need to ask permission.
When: Feb 7-Feb 10, during the First Bloom Festival
Where: Various
What: A group catch-all log for lazy people
Rating: Individual threads will be labeled with warnings as needed, for now, PG


[ do yo thang ]

Comments

[verging]

Did you seriously give it a name?! [ 'business card'? it doesn't even belong to shinya and he gave it a name? of course, Guren asks this while glaring at the carrier, which is, somehow, managing to look very stupid and innocent of whatever wrongdoing that has its master discontent.

However, when Shinya approaches them both and reaches to offer A hand to Guren, the mechanical ant looks to the stranger curiously, its antennae moving about. Maybe it recognizes him, to an extent, as one of the people Guren tried to get it to seek out here. Or maybe it just can tell Shinya has only good intent towards its master. Regardless, when he offers his hand out to his friend, the mechanical ant will slowly back off to let them have their moment. (So long as no one is climbing on the other it can deal!!)

As for Guren, it's truly hard right now to stay aggravated when he finally sees the other and is offered a hand. Despite everything, he had come to the conclusion that the chances of finding anyone here he knew to be slim. That had been... fine, he told himself. It was just as well, considering he didn't even know where 'here' was. Seeing Shinya now, though, tells him just how not fine it had been— or, at least, in comparison to this. If he's going to be stuck in some strange new place, who could he want more than his friend there alongside? Sighing in exasperation, Guren reaches out for the other's hand to take it, noticing the carrier backing off now, too. (Strange? He doesn't know.)

Once on his feet, he holds onto the other's hand just a second or two longer, to verify he's really real and not simply the result of a concussion that he has yet to realize he received getting toppled just moments ago... before letting go. Okay, he's sure Shinya's real, no more need to be touchy feely unnecessarily. (But, despite that stunt just now, he can't help but offer the smallest bit of a smile, anyway.) ]

...Hey. So you ended up here, too, after all.

[harassing]

I didn't give him a name. That's just his name. He told me, before accepting my bribe to sneak up on you. You're really getting rusty, you know. [ This is all said completely seriously-- as seriously as Shinya can muster, at least, which means that smile of his lingers even as he casually assesses Guren for any damage. He also waits patiently for the ant to determine whether or not it'll let him approach any further and offer assistance.

His carrier is the first of its kind that he's scene, and given how devoted it seems to be to Guren already, Shinya feels he ended up pretty lucky!

His smile widens, less teasing and more genuinely happy. Even if there wasn't much to be rationally happy about (they were both stuck here, forced to do a job that wasn't anywhere near their goals), the experience would be more tolerable with his grumpy-faced comrade around. Shinya shrugs, as if the fact that they're both here is just some happy coincidence. Little does he know that it very much is... ]

I'm not sure if being here beats getting captured and tortured by vampires, but at least they didn't leave us completely powerless.

[ He pats the butt of his rifle. As he's speaking, Byakko has stepped forward, idly sniffing both of the newcomers. ]

[verging]

[ For the moment, Guren is surprisingly tolerant of that response concerning the name and you have Alice to thank for such, Shinya, because she was very serious and logical about the animals understanding and otherwise communicating. What lucky timing...

He didn't pick the ant-dog-thing carrier and although he'll never admit it, its stupid quirks are growing on him a little already. ...Only just a little, though. ]

And I was so looking forward to that experience, too. [ —so much, in fact, he actually means so looking forward to, as in, not at all.

A curt nod is given at Shinya's reference to the weapon, a small sigh. ] Yeah, I guess it could be worse. I never did get a straight answer how they broke our links with our demon weapons, though. [ did they just get left behind? Or did they take them? Both are equally troublesome to really consider so he tries not to think about anything related to their world.

...Nevertheless, it's inevitable that his focus falls to the concern of the ones left behind. ]

...Don't suppose you've stumbled upon anyone else? [ the idea of leaving them there, no matter how screwed he and Shinya had been in terms of being any further help... the idea doesn't sit well with him.

That meant trusting their fates to Kureto, which he had already basically resigned to, except thinking back in hindsight makes every possible uncertainty rear its head with vigor. This wasn't the middle of a life or death situation where he could be complacent by simply ignoring all the reasons to be otherwise.

While Guren idly glances at Shinya's tiger, he makes no move to touch it (although while it's sniffing he will subtly offer his hand open-palm up from its place at his side in a friendly offer for its curiosity. basically, he's acknowledging it and being open to it without making any direct focus on the carrier.

Meanwhile, the mechanical ant just shakes incessantly at being sniffed, apparently terrified. Or excited. who the hell knows. Seems as if it could be a H-HELLO... or something like that, it's a good thing it cant pee itself. ]

sorry this is so late..

[harassing]

[ Shinya tilts his head curiously, more interested in Guren's agreement than in why he doesn't find the concept of understanding animals totally ludicrous. Because it is, by the way. But there are more important things to consider right now, like what sort of knowledge Guren had that he might not, or what Guren's last memories consisted of.

Perhaps it was possible that they were drawn from the same exact point, which would be interesting in itself. ]

Is that what your first thought was, then? Waking up in that strange room with no sign of your weapon... I thought for sure those vampire nobles had done us in for good.

[ But speaking of their weapons, Guren's concern is something that's been bothering him quite a bit. The rifle, while laughably appropriate for his use, pales in comparison to Byakkomaru. ]

It's scary, isn't it? If they have enough power to sever our demon contracts, what else are they capable of? Yet, they claim to not have any power or knowledge of how to send us back. It's fishy, to say the least.

[ Shinya watches as Guren extends his hand to the tiger, which also seems to sense that this is someone worthy of actually acknowledging. And Guren approaches him the correct way, so Byakko steps forward and lightly bumps his head against the other's palm.

He then nudges the ant-dog with his nose before turning his attention back to Guren. Shinya can't help but think that it's pretty tragic that of all people, Byakko has seemed to show the most interest in befriending Guren.

Figures.

Shinya looks back up at Guren. ]

Ah, about that. I ran into Yoichi-kun in the cafeteria a few days ago.

sorry i don't believe you..

[verging]

No, my first thought was 'where the hell did my wall-buffer go?' [ thx again for that save and taking one for their team, btw. ] Didn't I tell you it was all going to plan?

[ well ok they both knew that was a lie the first time but if he says it enough maybe they can believe it while here.

nah. But hey. ]

While the argument 'getting in is easier than getting out' could apply here for them, you're right. That kind of power is... I don't know, even Angels aren't known to be able to do anything like this.

[ He may have a squishy spot for animals like kids but animals don't need fronts because they don't ruin anyone's reputation. Which is probably why the tiger gets a couple of ear-scratches when it turns its attention back on him. Even if Guren isn't directly acknowledging it during the conversation, it should be friendly enough. ]

...Besides, if they want assistance, why would you strip said help of their power and give them weaker weapons to fight with? [ not a very convincing intelligent war strategy.

Guren's expression lightens for a second or two at the mention of Yoichi, but dims back when no further names are brought forth. Still, even just knowing one of them is okay (even if they can't be sure just how 'okay' here is) is enough to make him feel a little more content. ]

He's alone, then? Did he say anything about the others?

[harassing]

Ahh, so you missed me, then? I feel so touched. I was practically crying myself to sleep every night, too. [ Comes the warm reply, not at all skipping a beat, completely unperturbed by the idea of being called Guren's wall-buffer. His smile withers into something a bit more serious as Guren continues, including the "all according to plan" bit.

He considers Guren's musing, but like him, doesn't find much rationale in their way of thinking. Who is "they", anyway? The Prime Minister? The commander? ]

There is also the possibility that they only have the power to bring us here in our most basic form, rather than approaching it as "they're so powerful they can strip away our abilities". [ He guides them a little out of the way of the street, so they can talk with a bit more ease and privacy. ]

I've done a little bit of reading in the library, by the way. There's books about magic, and how to train yourself to be better that casting certain spells. I'm sure you know all about this "mana" business too. We may be weaker, but I think we might have a certain... untapped potential, now.

[ He shakes his head. ]

I didn't ask. We were both still a little shook up from being here, just trying to make sense of everything.