( open )

[accoutered]

Who: bishamonten and anyone who may also be training or would like to watch a former goddess Struggle
When: 06/11
Where: hall of glory courtyard
What: bishamon is trying to learn how to fight again in her new, fragile human body... and figure out wth is up with her weapon in the process. #thestruggleisreal #whatismana #dontskiplegday
Rating: potential for some violence, but otherwise should be alright!

(1) THE BORING KIND OF CARDIO »

[ anyone around the courtyard on this early morning may find themselves having to share the space with an overzealous hero in training... or someone with some serious anger management problems. (or both.)

situated to one side of the courtyard, on lush green grass and right beneath the shade of a large tree is bishamon, currently making full use of the wooden training dummy the keepers of the hall of glory had been kind enough to supply her. from the amount of sweat she's managed to work up (not to mention a good number of bruises already beginning to form along her hands, arms, and legs, and the blood caking along her knuckles) it's clear she's been at this for quite a while... and rather vigorously, too.

the style itself is not easily identifiable, less technique and more raw energy and skill. she strikes fast and hard and with no fear, as if completely unaware of her own limits (or, perhaps, unused to having them), but every now and then she will land a blow that has her flinching back in shock and pain. every time it happens she grits her teeth and seems to make a mental note, before striking the exact same spot with the exact same blow, again and again and again, until finally she does not flinch back in pain anymore.

it's a shame about that uniform, really. she had originally found the skirt impractical, but found it useful now in granting her more movement in the legs. the top, sadly, she had to be more creative with — needing the freedom of her arms, but not wanting to appear too indecent (some people come out there to eat, after all) she had to contend with simply unbutton the first couple of buttons and tying the sleeves around her chest like a wrap. unfortunately, not even these measures could withstand the brunt of all of her movements. of course, by the time she realizes the strain she's putting on the clothing, it's a little too late...

which is why, if you hadn't already approached her before this, she will stop you as you pass by, getting your attention with the wave of one (somewhat bloody) hand. ]

Excuse me — would you happen to know if there's a tailor around here?

(2) BANG BANG ALL OVER YOU »

[ is it just bishamon, or do those stuffed bears do unnervingly smug?

it's gotta be the eyebrows, or maybe it's the stitching along the muzzle. whatever the reason, bishamon decides she doesn't like them, and so doesn't feel even the slightest bit of guilt when she raises her weapon in the air, takes aim, and pulls—

and pulls.

and pulls and pulls and pulls and pulls and pullsandpullsandpULLSand ]

This is stupid!

[ WHY WOULD ANYONE ARM SOMEONE WITH A GUN THAT HAS NO BULLETS???

with a frustrated growl, bishamon chucks the offending weapon towards the bear to the farthest right, its blade embedding right in between its beady little eyes. ]

(3) HAKUNA MANA-TA »

[ or maybe you'll find her sitting by the canal that runs through the center of the courtyard, perched precariously close to the edge along one of the stone ledges that line it. she seems to be two seconds away from falling into the canal herself, what with how much she is leaning over it, but her full attention is drawn to the water itself, rather than her proximity to it.

anyone looking over will notice how intensely she is staring at the water's surface, her brows drawn together and lips pursed in an expression of utmost concentration. slowly, she raises a hand and after a moment of steeling herself, she gives her index finger a quick flick.

there is some slight lag time, but before long, even just the casual observer will notice a large droplet of water pop itself out from the water's surface and crash right into — well. probably your cheek. bishamon sits up suddenly, eyes wide with a look of utter shock and pride. sorry, innocent bystander, she'll feel bad about that in two seconds, just let her finish her mental victory dance.

SHE DID IT, SHE MAGICKED. ]

Comments

[fuhrinkaed]

Of course! It wouldn't be much of a promise to help with anything if I turned you down now, would it? [He takes the weapon, studying it from all angles as he mutters--as he's prone to do, of course.]

A sword... With a gun on it? Oh, this is one of those gunblades... I've seen them before! Heh, Sis's sort of weapons even show up here, huh? But where does the mana go..? Maybe if I--

[He tries pushing just a little of his meager remaining energy supplies into the gunblade, and it reacts poorly. With a mana-shock he jerks back and the blade goes spinning to the ground, impaled right next to his foot.]

W-Weeh..!

[accoutered]

[ she was quick to react, but not as quick as she would have liked. after a sharp yelp of his name, she had reaches out, slapping an open hand over his chest to push him back a few inches. the gun-blade lands on the ground with a sharp thump!, its handle sticking straight out while its blade remains buried two, three inches into the ground.

she eyes the weapon warily, slowly stepping around to place herself between it and ed. it's never done that with her before, and she's been fiddling with it for hours now. ]

What happened...?

[fuhrinkaed]

I... Tried using the ability by putting mana into it... [He takes a deep breath, half to steady his nerves and half because it had been mana and he was for the moment woefully short on it.]

It... It seems like it didn't like that very much--that wasn't a good reaction. Maybe it's like it better if you tried using your mana..? [He stands up from where he's fallen to the ground from the shove, dusting himself off. The danger's passed, he's fine, time to get back to the magic part of things.] if you can channel yours into it, that would mean it just didn't like mine.

[accoutered]

Channel my own mana...?

[ sure, bishamon had read the texts. sure, they had even discussed it a fair few times while they'd buried their noses in the books that day. but it had all just been theoretical. words on paper that provided the vaguest image of what it was really like. after all, what do the people of blanc know about mana, when they have been denied it all this time?

slowly she reaches for the weapon again, making sure her grip is tight before tugging it out of the ground. she holds it up, away from ed, aimed towards one of those bears again. ]

But how?

[fuhrinkaed]

How? [He actually has to think about it. 'Focus on where you want it' is advice he can listen to, but he's used to having mana. How do you explain it to someone who isn't used to it..?]

mmm... So, think of your mana as an extension of your will. Shut your eyes, and become aware of all of yourself. All of that put together is your mana pool--and you can focus it by focusing that awareness on certain parts. Take your will, and focus it down your arm, through it, and into your hand. [As he says it, Ed lifts his arm up and makes a gun with his fingers.] From there, think of the gun as an extension of you. A part of your body. Exert your will on it, and will it to work. It should respond to that feeling. At its most basic, that's how you do it. [And he jerks his elbow up, like he's firing the gun.]

T-though I don't know what it'll do yet, of course.

[accoutered]

An extension of my will...?

[ she had never really thought of it that way. will, and will power, she certainly had in abundance. the sheer number of her shinki is a testament to that, as gods in general tend to limit themselves to only a handful, if at all. each new shinki is a new contract, a new bond formed between souls that tether them together. each bond represents both a god and shinki's strength and weakness... the ability to work together, to fight. but also the prospect of more vulnerabilities. with each shinki, a god opens herself up to the possibility of destruction, from the inside out.

for some time, bishamon had shinki in the hundreds. ]

Exert my will onto it...

[ she slows her breathing, and closes her eyes. gun still aimed, she takes in all that she can sense. the slight wind against her cheek, the weight of the weapon in her hand. the faint prickling of... something... deep in her gut. something cool, like running water...

her eyes snap open suddenly, and with a breath she pulls on the trigger.

instantly her hand jerks back from the kickback, as a bullet pierces through the air, embedding itself right between the stuffed bear's beady black eyes. ]

[fuhrinkaed]

Woah.



That was awesome. [He's not sure what else to say. She did it so naturally with only the sort of explanation he could give--and a teacher he isn't.]

How--how'd it feel? No shock, no nothing--right?

[accoutered]

[ slowly, bishamon drew her arm back, just so she can look the weapon over and slowly turn it over in her hand. ]

..No. Nothing, [ she admits. it felt — well. it felt almost natural. a strange sort of natural, sure, but in the sense that, if she were to do it a few more times, she feels it might almost be second-nature by then.

maybe. ]

Hm.

[fuhrinkaed]

It doesn't look like it tired you out like my drill does, either...

[He thinks for a moment, before nodding.]

You should find out how many shots you have before you get tired. It'd help you learn how fast it can fire, and get you used to using it too. And I'm right here to help you back up like you were for me!

[accoutered]

[ the smile she gives him is kind. ]

Thank you.. but that won't be necessary.

[ it's one thing to offer that sort of help to another. but to take it on for herself...? just the thought of it ruffles her feathers in ways she cannot fully express yet. ]

I will take your advice to heart, though. It's very sound.

[fuhrinkaed]

Well... I just happen to have experience at testing various sorts of magic spells for combat capabilities, so... [There he goes again, trailing off again while downplaying his own skills. You could make a drinking game based on it.]

Anyways, if you ever do need or want a hand, then you've got mine. We're all not nearly as powerful as we used to be here, so it's important that we stick together. That's what I think, anyways.

[accoutered]

It's a lovely thought.

[ yes yes that's all good and well but it's different, see, she was literally born to protect you fragile humans... hush, child, adults are talking.

by which i mean she had raised her gun again, and begins firing off one shot after the other, not even blinking once. ]

[fuhrinkaed]

[If he noticed, he'd be a little upset. But he doesn't notice for obvious reasons, of because he's easy to handle.]

I'm glad you agree. It's a promise, then.

[accoutered]

[ NICE TRY, ED............ ]

I promise to protect you as much as you protect me.

[ and possibly even more so.

she gets to about ten bullets before she starts to feel the strain on her body. it starts with a shortness of breath and a slight sweat along her brow. she gets about three more shots in before her vision swims, and she has to reach out to steady herself on a chair.

her teeth grit. ]

Thirteen, then.

[ it's not terrible... but it's not great, either. ]

[fuhrinkaed]

Then I'll promise the same. [Everyone deserves protection!!]

Thirteen. That's a pretty good number of shots for a weapon like that--especially since you can still use it as a sword afterwards. [He offers her his hand, confident enough that she's fine to not worry about her beyond simply offering to help her with her mana.]

[accoutered]

[ she gives the proffered hand a quiet look of consideration... before she smiles and waves it aside. ]

It is but a slight strain, [ she assures him. ] I can always sleep it off. Or eat breakfast.

[ bisha, it's the afternoon..................... ]

[fuhrinkaed]

Er... [Does be correct her? No, that'd be rude. He puts his hand back to his cheek, scratching it with a smile.]

Yeah, I guess so. Did you not eat this morning, then? [He supposes that's the best way to make sure she knows what time it is, and if she's missing meals that's it's own problem.]

[accoutered]

[ her brows lift suddenly, and it's likely in that instant that he would realize... yes, she actually did forget the time. ]

Has it passed noon already?

[fuhrinkaed]

[Ah--yes, he sees it. No big deal, lord knows he's forgotten to sleep before often enough to avoid blaming anyone.]

Yeah, it has. You must've been training a while, then. How about a break for food?