⛧ Aʟʟᴇɴ "ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴘʀɪᴇsᴛ" Wᴀʟᴋᴇʀ ★ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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pawnstorm2016-06-06 10:30 am
likethelight) wrote in pawnstorm2016-06-06 10:30 am
[Open] June jobs and catch-all
Who: Allen Walker and YOU! and you, and you, and, yes, you!
When: Throughout early/mid June
Where: Various!
What: Allen takes on jobs by going back to his circus heritage and overdoes it at training :x
Rating: PGish
1 A) Have a drink—or not (Caissa, Center Plaza)
[ What's this? This part of the plaza is oddly quiet for all the goings-on. No water battles in the street—just a modest gathering of citizens clustered together, children squirming forward to see what they're looking at. Ooh! Aah!
Oh, it's for a boy. One of the Heroes who's located a large performance ball and is balanced atop it—and merrily juggling a series of water balloons.
Ooh! He added in some knives. Won't they pop the balloons? some adults whisper. They don't, somehow. He's just rocking the ball back and forth now, standing on one foot and using his other boot to occasionally kick another prop up into the air. Faster and faster..
Ah! In a flourish he sends them all up into the air, catching the knives neatly and fanning them out in one hand as he takes a gentlemanly bow to the crowd. But what about the water balloons...? Ah, well. What comes up must come down.
Each and every one landing squarely upon the head of the first ring of children that had set down their water guns to watch him perform.
Ehehe... 'Washing away bad luck'... He lifts his head and flashes a cheery 'V' to them. ] ♥
[ But please excuse him for now, that's all for the moment. Now he has to run through the streets dodging children chasing him with water guns. It's no game if he just stands still right? Where's the fun in that? Excuse him please, pardon him (woops, quick cartwheel, that one was close), coming through—
He's leading them in circles through the plaza while their parents smile and shake their heads but they don't seem to have realized that yet. ]
1 B) Have a drink part two: merchant edition (Caissa, Kabe Market)
[ When he's not entertaining children with what water arts he can—Allen has no actual training in spells, after all, and hasn't really attempted it here—he can be found in the market area, sleeves rolled up and helping move shipments for various merchants and restocking their items. He's stronger than he looks, after all. (Though perhaps that isn't saying much.)
There's also the fact that here in Caissa... people don't give him so many weird looks when he rolls up his sleeves because of his rather inhuman red left arm, after all. It's a little easier to be himself and less self-conscious about keeping a low profile. Maybe because they're more used to seeing strange and somewhat fantastical things here than everyday people in his world...
There's also his golden companion that stays close just over his shoulder, a bright gold golem with wings. And in fact, if you should be near as they pass by, you might overhear him talking to the golem conversationally. (Ooh, and it clusters a little closer to him each time he does, like an eager puppy.) About what, you might say...?
... it sounds like a running commentary on each and every thing that's been on the menu in the cafeteria that morning. Yes, every thing. And lamenting a "Jerry" or somesuch. And then enthusiastically telling his golem about "Jerry" and something about twenty mitarashi dango. ]
2) Five mornings at Dunya's (Lasker)
[ Do you know who actually doesn't mind putting on unwieldy costumes and performing in them? Or at least has done it so many times it doesn't matter anymore?
The guy who actually grew up in the circus. Who's mostly unrecognizable now, given the large plush suit resembling a... dog? Werewolf? Canine??? that he's wearing now. It's also sporting a floofy clown collar.
But that means there is most certainly a large plush-suit dog entertaining a sizable ground of children over there, juggling a large series of very not safe looking articles in the air while balancing on the same ball he'd been using before in Caissa. Looks like he's trying to gather a set of props again...
But today in Lasker Allen's toiling away with a tireless sort of cheer, entertaining children and passerby. Even if it's really, really hot in this...
There may or may not be a tophat on the ground in front of him for tips as well. ]
3) Training (Hero Hall, Courtyard)
[ Most people probably train during the day, right? It would make sense. And it would be normal to see Allen there a lot when he isn't on a job. Hand-to-hand sparring, practicing with their weapons, notably not magic or spells... anything. Probably to the point of pushing himself too much.
Or like someone that knows he has a lot to make up for.
But at night is when he tries to be in the courtyard by himself. Or at least in a corner off to one side—the one with all the uniformed heavy straw and wood dummies lined up in rows. Sword in hand, nearly six feet of it vaguely luminescent white and broad as he is. Weaving in and out, practicing the feel of it in his hands and blocking imaginary strikes, the blade making the air hum with mana—very pure and condensed mana. It's either unnaturally lightweight or he's unnaturally strong and fast. And while it doesn't seem like physical strain—he is breathing rather hard.
Haah... he's running out of time already. Better see how far he can push it now—
Crouching and gripping the sword in one hand suddenly, bracing... he takes a second to breath before he launches himself towards the rows of dummies. Here goes, then.
Up, around, down, back, sidestep, across, through, down—it's light and almost like a dance for how acrobatic he is, rolling to the side and using one hand to catapult over the top of one dummy to land on the other side and cleave back through three at once. Until he reaches the other side, breathes at seeing the stone wall and no more dummies in front of him—and then promptly drops to one knee hard, sword tip sinking into the ground as he uses it to brace himself from falling completely. ] Haah...
[Just... air... yes, good... ahhhh that's exhausting. Too exhausting, even still, and the sword seems to... fluctuate for a moment. Shimmering in such a way it makes one squint. Did it waver and start to lose its shape?
Although after Allen catches his breath after a moment and looks behind him—he blinks a bit, blood suddenly going cold. It's just a wreckage of straw, wood, and tattered scraps of cloth. ]
O-oh... [ He sort of just... destroyed all of them. Well that's...
Expensive.
Crap. ]
4. Wildcard! Anything!
When: Throughout early/mid June
Where: Various!
What: Allen takes on jobs by going back to his circus heritage and overdoes it at training :x
Rating: PGish
1 A) Have a drink—or not (Caissa, Center Plaza)
[ What's this? This part of the plaza is oddly quiet for all the goings-on. No water battles in the street—just a modest gathering of citizens clustered together, children squirming forward to see what they're looking at. Ooh! Aah!
Oh, it's for a boy. One of the Heroes who's located a large performance ball and is balanced atop it—and merrily juggling a series of water balloons.
Ooh! He added in some knives. Won't they pop the balloons? some adults whisper. They don't, somehow. He's just rocking the ball back and forth now, standing on one foot and using his other boot to occasionally kick another prop up into the air. Faster and faster..
Ah! In a flourish he sends them all up into the air, catching the knives neatly and fanning them out in one hand as he takes a gentlemanly bow to the crowd. But what about the water balloons...? Ah, well. What comes up must come down.
Each and every one landing squarely upon the head of the first ring of children that had set down their water guns to watch him perform.
Ehehe... 'Washing away bad luck'... He lifts his head and flashes a cheery 'V' to them. ] ♥
[ But please excuse him for now, that's all for the moment. Now he has to run through the streets dodging children chasing him with water guns. It's no game if he just stands still right? Where's the fun in that? Excuse him please, pardon him (woops, quick cartwheel, that one was close), coming through—
He's leading them in circles through the plaza while their parents smile and shake their heads but they don't seem to have realized that yet. ]
1 B) Have a drink part two: merchant edition (Caissa, Kabe Market)
[ When he's not entertaining children with what water arts he can—Allen has no actual training in spells, after all, and hasn't really attempted it here—he can be found in the market area, sleeves rolled up and helping move shipments for various merchants and restocking their items. He's stronger than he looks, after all. (Though perhaps that isn't saying much.)
There's also the fact that here in Caissa... people don't give him so many weird looks when he rolls up his sleeves because of his rather inhuman red left arm, after all. It's a little easier to be himself and less self-conscious about keeping a low profile. Maybe because they're more used to seeing strange and somewhat fantastical things here than everyday people in his world...
There's also his golden companion that stays close just over his shoulder, a bright gold golem with wings. And in fact, if you should be near as they pass by, you might overhear him talking to the golem conversationally. (Ooh, and it clusters a little closer to him each time he does, like an eager puppy.) About what, you might say...?
... it sounds like a running commentary on each and every thing that's been on the menu in the cafeteria that morning. Yes, every thing. And lamenting a "Jerry" or somesuch. And then enthusiastically telling his golem about "Jerry" and something about twenty mitarashi dango. ]
2) Five mornings at Dunya's (Lasker)
[ Do you know who actually doesn't mind putting on unwieldy costumes and performing in them? Or at least has done it so many times it doesn't matter anymore?
The guy who actually grew up in the circus. Who's mostly unrecognizable now, given the large plush suit resembling a... dog? Werewolf? Canine??? that he's wearing now. It's also sporting a floofy clown collar.
But that means there is most certainly a large plush-suit dog entertaining a sizable ground of children over there, juggling a large series of very not safe looking articles in the air while balancing on the same ball he'd been using before in Caissa. Looks like he's trying to gather a set of props again...
But today in Lasker Allen's toiling away with a tireless sort of cheer, entertaining children and passerby. Even if it's really, really hot in this...
3) Training (Hero Hall, Courtyard)
[ Most people probably train during the day, right? It would make sense. And it would be normal to see Allen there a lot when he isn't on a job. Hand-to-hand sparring, practicing with their weapons, notably not magic or spells... anything. Probably to the point of pushing himself too much.
Or like someone that knows he has a lot to make up for.
But at night is when he tries to be in the courtyard by himself. Or at least in a corner off to one side—the one with all the uniformed heavy straw and wood dummies lined up in rows. Sword in hand, nearly six feet of it vaguely luminescent white and broad as he is. Weaving in and out, practicing the feel of it in his hands and blocking imaginary strikes, the blade making the air hum with mana—very pure and condensed mana. It's either unnaturally lightweight or he's unnaturally strong and fast. And while it doesn't seem like physical strain—he is breathing rather hard.
Haah... he's running out of time already. Better see how far he can push it now—
Crouching and gripping the sword in one hand suddenly, bracing... he takes a second to breath before he launches himself towards the rows of dummies. Here goes, then.
Up, around, down, back, sidestep, across, through, down—it's light and almost like a dance for how acrobatic he is, rolling to the side and using one hand to catapult over the top of one dummy to land on the other side and cleave back through three at once. Until he reaches the other side, breathes at seeing the stone wall and no more dummies in front of him—and then promptly drops to one knee hard, sword tip sinking into the ground as he uses it to brace himself from falling completely. ] Haah...
[Just... air... yes, good... ahhhh that's exhausting. Too exhausting, even still, and the sword seems to... fluctuate for a moment. Shimmering in such a way it makes one squint. Did it waver and start to lose its shape?
Although after Allen catches his breath after a moment and looks behind him—he blinks a bit, blood suddenly going cold. It's just a wreckage of straw, wood, and tattered scraps of cloth. ]
O-oh... [ He sort of just... destroyed all of them. Well that's...
Expensive.
Crap. ]
4. Wildcard! Anything!
1A.
Standing and applauding, the blond began to make her way toward the man, but was quickly cut off by a group of particularly rambunctious children. Laughing a bit, they seemed to be having enough fun, and the white-haired man was well-spirited enough about it, but there had to be a limit. He would have to get exhausted eventually, right? ]
This hardly seems fair!
[ Flicking a bit of blond hair over her shoulder, she points a bright blue water pistol toward Allen. ]
Let's get him!
[ Giving him a quick wink and a subtle gesture toward a clear exit route, she sprinted toward the group, joining the pint-sized ranks. Looks like your solo act just became a duet, Allen. Time to help our hero make a dashing exit, or liven up the show. ]
no subject
But he catches the wink a moment later and—oh... miss, you're quite devious, aren't you. It brings a brighter spark to his eyes and he smiles, catching her eye and giving a nod before darting that direction. Though oh no, it appears it's a dead end between two buildings. Old Victorian-esque architecture, a wrought iron railing for decoration.
One hand on the railing, he catapults himself up and turns to face the horde, seeming quite at-home and solid of foot on it despite being balanced upon it like it's a tightrope. ]
Ahhhh... [ Bringing both hands up as if in surrender (one normal looking, the left one red and plated like he's wearing a gauntlet), he waves them slightly, still smiling. Mercy, mercy... ] It looks like you got me...
[ Heh. Lux might catch the mischievous spark in his smile as the children shout in glee, readying their own water balloons now. ]
no subject
Quickly charging to the head of the pack, Lux did her best not to outpace her shorter comrades, and to give Allen enough space to plan his next action. Rounding the corner, they found him balanced there on the railing like a seasoned pro. Even she was a bit impressed. ]
We finally caught you! You won't escape this time!
[ Finally?
Also acting didn't seem to be her strong suit, but that was hardly a problem at this point. The children were ready to go, regardless of how forced she sounded. ]
All right, everyone! Ready, aim...
[ She flashed him a smirk, aiming herself. What would he do? ]
FIRE!
1/2
Playing for keeps a bit aren't you, miss. Eep.]2/2
Fire escape!
Which is... somewhat ironically appropriate at the moment, given his circumstance. And Allen catches hold of it above his head and uses it to hurl himself upwards without a moment to spare. Wahhh, that was close...
One flip, two—you know it's like he's used to getting up to and traveling via rooftop... because in a blink he's gone out of sight and there's a sudden outcry among the children. "Wah, no way!" "Where'd he go??" "Get him!!" And then—
"Balloon!!" Because here comes another one! Colored in bright stripes and coming straight down and dropped from above, although it altogether looks like it's not full of water but... something else?
Maybe you should hit it like a pinata, miss. But even if she doesn't, it's going to hit the ground...
...exploding harmlessly into wrapped hard candies the children launch into with whoops and cheers.
And if she looks closely along the rooftop in the direction he would have last been going, she'll catch Allen peering down to watch the reaction of the children with a smile—more subdued this time, but maybe a little more genuine for it. ]
no subject
Doing a quick sweep as her pint-sized army readied their weapons, she saw his escape route a split second before he pulled himself out of the way. Phew. Lux exhaled a sigh of relief; she would have felt terrible if he got a face full of water.
Tracking his movements to a point, she stopped when he suddenly disappeared, blinking in surprise. How— ]
Ha—?
[ Snapping her attention toward the falling object, she quickly scrambled, pulling her staff from behind and swinging full-force. It connected, and her eyes widened as the balloon exploded into color. Staring up in wonder as a shower of pure sugar rained down upon them, her smile practically glowed. She nearly missed Allen watching them from up above, but quickly giving him another wink, she brought her attention back to the children. ]
Now don't eat too much, all right? You wouldn't want to get sick!
[ Now to find a way to get to this mysterious stranger. If he would allow himself to be found, that is. ]
no subject
He has a feeling he might be sought after after that. Or that his fellow Hero might look for him; he is one for proper introductions, after all. He was just caught in the middle of his act for the children earlier for that to not be a thing, and she had played along so splendidly with that he is rather eager to meet the person who did that.
So if/when Lux comes up the fire escape as well or finds her own way up she'll find him sitting on the rooftop with his legs kicked over the edge, looking back to her somewhat expectantly with a bright sort of smile and his golden golem companion flying in soft loops above his head.
He decided to wait for her, after all. After all she did earlier it'd be far too rude to otherwise, after all. ]
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She was a mage first, and a foot soldier... well, never, if she could avoid it. ]
no subject
She'll also find a bright smile to greet her. ] Careful—
It doesn't seem quite so high up if you just look ahead.
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You're right, it doesn't. Thank you.
[ She takes a few seconds to compose herself. That was a bit of a climb up. ]
That was quite the show you put on. I think they liked it.
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He brightens quite visibly at that, standing a little straighter and cracking his knuckles. That was a lot of juggling when he's a little out of practice and then running around.
It's also something he finds more than a little meaning and pride in, too. Entertaining people. ]
You were quite the help, miss...? [ Names would help, right. His gold carrier which could be mistaken for a bird hovering nearby at first draws closer over his shoulder; bright gold and seeming to squint curiously at Lux despite not having eyes. A golem. ]
no subject
Lux. Lux Crownguard. And your name is?
[ ...Huh, what an interesting Carrier. Poro was far more content to stay in her pocket, the tiny rodent skittish much of the time, but the conversation had him curious. A tiny pink nose poked out from her breast pocket, sniffing at the air. ]
no subject
Still very straight of spine and with good posture—but relaxing like someone used to holding a lot of tension in his shoulders most of the time or having his guard hitched quite high. ]
You're a Hero as well then, miss Lux...?
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[ She nods simply, her head tilting slightly. ]
That's right. I only just arrived last month.
3
... far cry from the Hero he met in the spring not too long ago. ]
You worried about busting up some targets? Don't worry, they can always get new ones. You're not the first to blow a few up.
[ Wukong twirls a key around what looks like to be a tiny, foot-long baton in his fingers as he slowly makes his way into view. ]
Pretty amazing. You normally use a sword?
C:!
But Allen blinks at the voice—familiar, actually! Oh right, from the hot springs— ]
Oh... mm! [ It's still a little surprising seeing Wukong, but Allen isn't one to judge another for their appearance
given his own and the attention it would attract back home. Ever. ]Wukong—hello. [ He gets up to his feet a touch wobbly, but finally has to let the activation go before it exhausts him entirely. The blade is... basically himself, his own mana, channeled into a weapon. Twenty minutes is about as long as he can hold it right now it seems.
The sword shrinks and shimmers back into what appears to be its hilt that Allen holds into his hand—and when the illusion drops there's just what appears to be a playing card he's grasping. A joker.
He rubs at the back of his head for a moment, watching the other spin the key but not commenting on it yet. Sheepish at being seen maybe.
"Amazing"?] Ah, somewhat...A sword among other things.
[ The sword he wielded before was his left arm most of the time, does that count. ]
\o/
[ Wukong casually twirls in the staff in his hands--- wait, where did that come from? And where did the tiny key stick go? Truly a mystery! However, he is able to use it to lean against as he grins at Allen. ]
Hm! I'd love to see what else you can do. Did you burn through your mana that quickly, because if not, perhaps you could do me a favor?
[ Of course, if Allen is tired from expending his energies, Wukong is also more than happy to replenish his stock.
And yeah, his arm counts. A sword arm counts. So does a sword leg, sword tail, sword face, the list really goes on and on. ]
In order for me to become a better fighter, I gotta see what others can do. Experience is the best teacher, so maybe... you could... you know, introduce me to your weapon.
no subject
stubbornproud to admit he should rest and it'd be a bad idea invoke again with his energy already so low.But then, Allen also tends to perform his best when he's already exhausted himself to the breaking point but pushes past it, and Wukong's comment (and request) makes him crack a wry smile and a soft (tired) chuckle. ]
Your friend sounds like someone I'd like to meet... [ In fact, it's almost wry fondness, and Allen pulls his card out again; flicks it out between index and middle finger. ]
I suppose I can do my best to oblige. [ He grips it to form the hilt and here we go—
The hum of mana fills the air again as the blade takes form. Pure mana channeled as holy energy—pure white in this training session—that glows bright as a sun before the illusion shimmers in place over it, light being replaced by the image of a sword, leaving it a faintly glowing blade.
It wavers though. Like the form is unsteady or takes a lot of concentration to maintain, and Allen's expression is a little strained. It's throwing himself into blade form practically, after all. And he's still just a Pawn.
He's still smiling though. There isn't any better way to train himself to last longer, is there?
He's also never been one to pay any attention to ranks or what he is or isn't capable of. ]
I think it's called 'The Fool'.
no subject
[ The sound of mana taking shape is comforting, something that Wukong has grown to recognize as something familiar and friendly. There aren't many who utilize mana against him, those who have were enemies of Blanc and ones he had fought without fear. To see the holy energy form a sword in Allen's hands... though cliche, those who naturally draw upon that sort of element have always seemed resolute and firm, regardless of religion. Wukong can respect that! ]
'The Fool'? Ha, sounds like my kind of weapon.
[ And Wukong draws upon his own elements, on the ones that surrounded them both to an extent--- the darkness. It appears in the shape of a flag that appears in his other hand, hanging off of a long branch that seems to shimmer ethereally. The flag is a black color with an yellow emblem with the shape of a banana.
Clearly, this is Wukong's flag to bear.
And he slams it into the ground, into the dirt next to him, his smile bright and excited. ]
Come at me, Allen! Show me what you got.
3
*Lola watched from atop the stone wall. That was... wow. Lola had figured her roommate was good at this sorta thing, he had enough scars he had to be doing something worthy of a hero. But Lola never really pictured that. That was new. And scary. Really scary. That was a lot of broken dummies. Lola'd never even broken one. She managed to knock one over once, but she always attacked them with magic, not her boots.*
Hey.
*Lola spun her fingers in a circle, faster and faster as she let the magic turn into a small landing circle, a cushion of air on the ground right below her. Once the spell was stable she stepped off the ledge and let the air cushion disperse as she landed on it. She remembered to hold her skirt down with her hands as she touched ground this time.*
Can't sleep?
1/2
Lola— [ He jerks a bit in surprise, both at her appearance and that she's floating down. Magic of course, but.. ]
2/2
Scary. ]
Mm, I guess... [ Ah, she caught him... he'd hoped his absence wouldn't be noticeable.
He pulls the blade out of the ground, indicating at the spell at her feet with an outstretched palm and a light (strained; he is exhausted after all in a way only a mana drain can exhaust) but appreciative smile. The sword still glows faintly, illuminating the area. ]
You're pretty good at that.
no subject
There isn't any Facerange, hastygram, oomphchat, or anything from home for me to put my focus into. So I have been trying to get better at spellcasting.
*She was glad for the confirmation she was getting better.*
You're pretty good at that.
*Gestures to the swath of destruction he carved into the dummies. Trying not to let on that, yeah, suuuuper scary.*
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Although gosh Lola, he swears half the things that just came out of your mouth can't be English and he scratches at his cheek with a gloved (he finally bought a pair) finger, even if he thinks he does get the gist of what she means. Ehe...
"Put my focus into"—he does smile a little at that though and looks up to her, sobering. The compliment... ]
Because it's not like my sword back home and I have nothing else to strive forward with, I've been trying to get better at this. [ He means it a little as an apology or at least an explanation for sneaking out for late night training. Because this, this weapon...?
This is nothing compared to what he could do with Crown Clown without even breaking a sweat. So some might find it scary, impressive, or any number of things...
But Allen just finds it makes him feel weak.
Which is also why he lets the activation go, before the constant drain of the manablade makes him actually pass out. The blade shimmers—like an illusion—before fading back into what seems to be his hand, but in reality is actually a playing card (what looks like a gothic joker) he was gripping as the hilt; a conduit.
He holds up and regards it with a tired smile, eyes flicking first from it to Lola. ]
It still feels really strange, though.
no subject
You seem pretty good at that... is that the weapon they gave you, the glowy sword thing?
*Lola's boots were, well, not really a weapon. Not conventionally. She couldn't win any fight easily she kept having to move and run. It was a lot of work! Work she was both used to at home, and completely unprepared for. The only advantage is, once she got the basics, she found jumping was really fun.*
What was it like at home, if that isn't what you're used to?
no subject
It is. [ But how to explain Crown Clown...
He smiles a touch sheepishly, scratching at his cheek. ] My weapon back home though—
It, ah.. is my left arm. [ "Is" even if he can't use it because... well his arm is still attached and has the same inhuman appearance. ] Although it no longer works that way.
[ By means of explanation because he figures it sounds pretty weird: ] Exorcists are synchronized with our weapons; mine is a part of me because I'm a parasitic-type. Our bodies because anti-akuma weapons themselves then.
[ So what he's saying is his body is literally a weapon. ]
The activation process is similar, I think, but... [ His smile turns a little wry, looking down at his red left hand and flexing it, cracking his knuckles before looking back to Lola. ]
It feels a bit... strained. [ Which is him trying to say that it's an alien thing exhausting him a lot faster than he's used to. Though that too is because his sync rate was so high with Crown Clown when he left, it took a long time for him to master it enough to even manifest the sword form, and right now his mana reserves are... so small. ]
As a sword they're pretty much the same to wield though. But mine was an exorcism blade.
It wouldn't harm humans. [ "Only that which is evil." ]
no subject
*Lola was trying to wrap her head around 'weapons that didn't hurt humans' when... what else was there to hurt? And that was the bit of what he said she really understood.*
But your weapon hurts dummies the same way as your... arm, did?
Look all I know is that my options are learn magic or step on every bad monster I have to fight, and that gets a lot more complicated than it sounds.
no subject
Dummies aren't human, they're just objects, so yes.
Sorry. [ He smiles lightly, but a little more sadly and his eyes hood. Sympathetic, but like he's suddenly a little more distant as well. ] It probably seems really weird.
That's always what it comes down to, though. [ And he cocks his head to the side. Wry—but—warm, like he's prone to. ] Anywhere humans have to fight monsters. It seems simple and straightforward at first, because most people think they can just think "I'm good" and "they're bad" when they have to choose whether to fight something not like themselves.
[ His eyes flick down to his left arm, the red inhuman one, and he makes a fist lightly with it. ] But it's not so black and white. The beings you might be fighting rarely lack the same kind of humanity. They could be suffering more than anyone and lashing out because of it. It ends up being impossible to tell where "human" ends and "monster" begins.
"Monster" doesn't even exist then. [ Because humans themselves can be monsters. Or become them—are turned into them—in Allen's world. ]
So you have to know. Why you want to fight, even if it's something you're being forced into doing with little choice. Because fighting is ultimately about having something to protect. Whether it's people you care about—or your ideals.
[ Or the monsters themselves, but he won't complicate that anymore for her. He has a feeling she wouldn't understand his own feelings on that.
But he lets the fist he had been making go and looks up to her with a warmer sort of smile. ] If you don't have that, you can't fight in a war. Not from your heart. Even if it'll be painful for you to fight things you don't want to, because sometimes you'll have to. [ And if she wonders why he sometimes looks at her like he's sorry—it's because of that. Allen may not know Lola well, but he does know her well enough to know this sort of world is something she's been thrown into without being ready for it at all. And for that he's sorry she has to deal with it.
A world where this sort of thing isn't forced on people would be nice. ]
And then, only knowing why and what you fight for will let you know how.
You'll never get stronger unless you know that. [ But he doesn't say it unkindly. Like he's trying to be gentle, actually.
Miss Lola. ]
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*Lola your life choices are terrible. But as he talks more about monsters the more complicated this seems, and she's trying to parse through all of it with what she knows about what's going on.*
But, it doesn't matter if we're good or they're bad. We need to visit dungeons to get what Cassia needs to further their goals. That's why we're here, if we don't it can't be good for us. Monsters get in the way, or even try to hurt us. So they have to, um, get out of our way?
*Lola was trying to talk herself into seeing it as simply as possible, moreso than try to confirm it from Allen. But monsters and soldiers, if they were in her way... they had to be stopped. And she didn't want to kill them, but she didn't want to die. It was best not to think too much. Always ruined her day to think.*
What are you fighting to protect? Cause, all that?
*She gestures at the poor unfortunate dummies.*
You seemed to be trying really hard there.
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Simply: ] Both.
1A
[the performance ends with a loud splash, and Kaito watches the ensuing water chase unfold before him. for now, he keeps his distance as he twirls his own bright green water gun around one finger. but when his fellow hero and the kids hot on his heels run into hearing range, he calls out with laughter in his voice]
Smooth move, smart guy! But don't ya think several-on-one is a li'l unfair?
[a beat]
For them, I mean.
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I believe the odds have changed. [ wry
Although as the children begin to catch up he feigns dismay, fingers to lips. Oh no, where will he go now... ]
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S'that so? And to think, I was a li'l impressed for a while there
[he pauses for a moment to give the water fight a considering look, before he clutches his water gun tightly and pulls up a confident smile]
Then I guess you need my help, heh!
[and with that as his only warning, Kaito leaps into the fray and shoots some water at the nearest running child. the kid lets out a surprised yelp as he is drenched from head to toe, and he and a few of his friends whirl on Kaito with pouts and furrowed brows]
[. . . and now Kaito is being chased too, although a couple of the other kids continue to pursue Allen. two heroes versus a small mob of children, go! who will be victorious??]
2
Finally, she manages to come closer and watch him alongside the children, who are cheering on him quite loudly. Truth to be told...Luna eventually joins them, even though her voice isn't too powerful.
When the shows over, a child grabs Luna by her hand and tugs at it, looking up at her.]
Miss Moonmoon, could you please give him a coin? I've already spent all my pocket money on cards...
[There's no way Luna's going to refuse to such a polite child. Or any child, really. Besides, she enjoyed the performance a lot too, so there's no reason to reward him.]
Alright. But I need your help...put them in the hat for me, okay? I'm still getting used to— [The costume is what she'd like to say, she realizes that is the one thing she can't possibly say.] To the currency here! Is this enough?
[Thankfully, her costume has a secret pocket where she's keeping some coins; Luna pulls a handful of them out and asks the girl to throw them all into the tophat, which she does right away, grinning to herself as she throws the money into said tophat.]
1b.
Even though he's turned away from her, she recognizes Allen by his hair and his red left arm—it looks like he's helping out the merchants, judging by the boxes he's carrying. She doesn't want to interrupt him... but she can't just walk by without saying hello!
As she approaches him from behind, she can overhear him chatting away to his carrier (at least... she thinks he's talking to his carrier)—he's saying something about dango! Do they even have dango here...? Now she wants some... ]
U-Um... Allen...? [ Unfortunately, it's loud in the marketplace and Sakura herself is quiet... good luck trying to hear her over the noise. ]
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Allen blinks, slowing for a moment and looking around in the buzz of the crowd. His companion circles around for a moment too, hanging in the air curiously. Did he imagine that? Wait--
Pressing its face against the side of Allen's head, his carrier starts smooshing itself against him until his head turns towards Sakura. Oh that--oh. ] Ah!
Miss Sakura-- [ Brightening, he'd wave, but--his arms are somewhat full. He turns to face her though, smiling lightly, carrier in tow. ] Good afternoon.
[ His eyes flick down to the packages she's carrying, then back to her. ] Shopping?
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Hello. Um... [ She glances down at the packages in her hands, then very conspicuously lowers them. (She really isn't good at hiding anything at all...) Even though he can't see what's inside, she feels her face grow hotter with embarrassment. ] Y-yes.
[ Time to change the subject... she looks towards the boxes in his arms next. ]
Are you helping out the merchants? [ She saw that on the job board as well... ]
3
Head tilted slightly, he watches the boy with an arched eyebrow. ]
Does it do you good to strain yourself in such a fashion?
[ He does not comment on the destruction of the dummies, yet. ]
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Exhaling a little heavily as he regains composure over his breath, Allen blinks slightly at the other man's comment and rises to his feet. A slight waver, but he makes an effort to keep himself steady.
Though he does lean on his sword and cracks a weak (tired) kind of smile. Er, hello to you too, stranger... ]
If I want to get better then I have to, yes. [ He supposes. Isn't that how training is supposed to work. ]
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There are various ways to improve, I suppose. Although wrecking yourself might not be beneficial in the long run.