[OPEN] In Which a Hairy Old Man Wanders Around Aimlessly (I am the best at post titles)

[sugegasa]

Who: Shunsui Kyouraku and you! And anyone! And everyone!
When: early to mid June-ish
Where: Caissa, Lasker...and anywhere else. Shun likes wandering.
What: Very recently promoted to his Knight rank, Shunsui is by no means familiar with his new weapon (a large silver scythe) or its effects! That'll cause some issues. He also signed on for the Have a Drink job, so obligatory waterfight! And some combat training, if anyone wants to!
Rating: I can't imagine this going past PG-13, but if by some miracle it does, I'll update! (He's keeping his shirt on in the waterfight to protect the childrens' innocence, even).

[This is prose because I have terrible eyes and I'm lazy/it's the easiest way for me to write things with my screenreader, but I'm happy to match whatever you're most comfortable with!]

A. Have a Drink, on me!

Shunsui was absolutely soaked.

Not that he minded! Far from, in fact. Seeing the children so happy made him feel a lot lighter than he had in recent memory, and it was a feeling he'd very much missed. That didn't mean he wouldn't appreciate a little assistance, though!

"I'm sorry to bother, but would you mind possibly handing me a towel?"

Or grabbing a bucket of water and helping him, either way!

B. Mopey Knight is Mopey

He'd only scanned the letter announcing his new rank. More because Pretty, his beautiful pink and black butterfly, kept landing on his nose and then fluttering to the door and then back to his nose about once every five seconds. He'd managed to scan the information, and knew what his new weapon looked like (a scythe? The gods here were certainly jokesters!) but not what it could do. Still, Pretty seemed very eager to leave, and who was he to deny her?

Upon retrieving his new weapon, he'd emerged from the armory with it in his left hand, hefting the new weight. It could proooobably fit into his belt, but with that blade, he'd feel better carrying it on his back.

After fashioning a makeshift sling for it from two of the attached ribbons, he swung it in a small arc to get it where it needed to be. Of course, this was the action needed to activate its power: a widening arc of despair for the enemies surrounding him - of which, thankfully, there were none, the armory and its grounds were quite deserted this morning! - and a severe dip in mood for himself.

Pretty's presence on his shoulders, moving her wings to brush the tears from his cheeks, did little to comfort him as he walked, each step feeling heavier than the last. All he wanted was to find some ice cream and to go home to bed for a year or two, really.

...Won't you help him? He's far from his usual fairly jovial self.

C. Training time!

He'd taken to going to the training grounds when he had free time, more because he missed the old pastime of teaching his subordinates than anything else. Oh, he could still sleep for days on end and prowl the streets looking for the best sake and rooftops on which to enjoy it, but something in him called to the idea of training!

And what better way than to take his katana and offer himself up to any students that wanted a lesson?

While his mana resources weren't great (and that was still something he was adjusting to!) he was more than capable of both weapons training and hand to hand sparring. The latter, in fact, was one of his specialties, although he hadn't used it much back home in recent centuries.

If anyone would like a lesson, feel free to approach! He's the tall, burly guy with the long ponytail who's usually leaning against some wall or other.

D. Wildcard!

None of these interest you? I'm not the most creative but I'm open to playing anything out, so feel free to come at me with any ideas you have!

Comments

a

[twosidedsword]

Shin-Ah couldn't say why he'd taken on this job but here he was soaking wet. Currently he only had a pair of pants on so he could wring out the shirt he'd been wearing when he heard that he was being spoken to. Seeing the burly man, he reached for one of the few dry pieces of cloth around and held it out to him before it could get as soaked as everything else.

Nearby a soaked ball of blue fur was bouncing about and purring. Ao seemed to be enjoying this water war and had contributed to it in her own way. Shin-Ah let her do as she pleased though, looking up at the man he was interacting with.

He had the body of a warrior, lean muscle now revealed. But it was clear he also didn't expose his body to the sun very often and likely hadn't for most of his life given how extremely pale he was.

"...mm."

!! Too cute for me /nopes out into the night

[sugegasa]

"Ah, thank you! Just needed something to wipe my eyes with, having all this hair makes it difficult to keep the water out of them in situations like this!"

He said it with a big grin, noticing the paleness.

"There's some sun protectorant over in the marketplace; you should go get some! Trust me, burning is no fun."

Because he'd woken up on enough rooftops with his shirt off to know that.

He'd noticed Ao hopping merrily about, and had to laugh when he saw Pretty fluttering very nearby the little blue fuzzball, looking extremely happy.

"I think our carriers might have made friends!"

NOPE NO ESCAPING THIS

[twosidedsword]

Burn? He looked at himself and saw how pale he was but wasn't sure what he meant by sun protector. Wouldn't that just be shade or clothes? He already had clothes...

Then he looked over at the two carriers. "Mm."

He nodded his agreement before looking back at the other man then turned back to wringing his clothes out, water splattering on the ground as he did. See? Really didn't understand by what meant by sun protector. So he figured he should get his clothes back on quick!

Shin-Ah just...forgot to communicate this.

b

[accoutered]

She happened upon him on her walk back to King's Hall. There were generally plenty of Heroes about, and so she normally would have just walked on by without a second glance... but the unmistakable sound of sniffling reached her ears and, despite herself, she could not resist that habit of hers to help.

By the time she spotted him, he had already wandered down the hall a good few steps, his feet dragging as if he had lost the will to even move. Bishamon felt a pang in her chest, one of empathy; after all, it hadn't been that long ago since she'd felt such despair and aimlessness as well... (Some days, she would still give into it.)

"Excuse me—"

And so she approached him, a white winged ermine curled and snoozing around her shoulders. She had a hand held up, and a notebook clutched to her chest, but despite her approach she seemed rather tentative on how to proceed.

"Are you alright...?"

[sugegasa]

He stopped immediately, having been unaware, in his sadness, that anyone was near. Still, when saw her, he did his very best to smile.

"Oh, don't worry about me! I'll be fine. Must be something in the air, I have no idea why I'm so sad. But please, don't concern yourself, although I do thank you for your concern!"

He dropped into a bow, trying to wipe his eyes as discreetly as possible.

"Shunsui Kyouraku, at your service!"

[accoutered]

Despite the jovial nature of his words, she was struggling to find them all that genuine. Call it intuition, call it a propensity to see through the kind of fake smiles she would often resort to herself... whatever it is, she had a feeling he was putting on airs for her sake here.

"Please — that isn't necessary," she was quick to insist, that hand she had held out towards him now lifting in a dismissive, but gentle wave. Concern like that was only normal, after all.

She didn't quite know how to deal with sudden and unexplainable sadness, though. If it had been over their situation, she could have at least commiserated, but.. ah...

"W-Would you like to accompany me for a walk, Kyouraku?"

Quiet walks sometimes helped soothe a troubled mind, she found. If it were not inappropriate, she would have recommended her favorite go-to for a sudden drop in mood... but suggestion a hot bath to someone you'd just met was definitely not a good idea.

C

[fuhrinkaed]

This kid here has been a regular in the training room for the past week or so, coming in stupidly early, training with both staff swings and magic alike until he collapsed (generally after using his staff's special attack--a mana drill that emits from the point of it), napping for a few minutes, and then standing up to go out. He comes back later on after lunch, repeating the process, and having another nap. Again, after dinner. He's fiesty and dedicated, but he doesn't seem to be making a great deal of progress on his own outside of experimenting with various low-tier elemental magics.

Every time he waves, both coming in and going, but it takes a few days for him to actually say anything directly. When he finally does, it's a question.

"Um... Hi. I'm Ed! It's nice to meet you--ah. I-I noticed that you hang out here leaning and stuff a lot... Er--d-do you work here?"

[sugegasa]

Shunsui just grinned at him, finding the greeting immensely charming.

"Ahhhh, unfortunately I don't! I just like to spend time here, reminds me a bit of home. I've noticed you working hard in here, though. Do you ever take some time to enjoy yourself?"

He kept the smile on his face, trying to convey that he meant no offense.

"That staff looks pretty imposing! Would you like to possibly try it out against my sword? I can also spar with you hand to hand, if you like. And maybe after that you'd be willing to get some dinner with me?"

It's not a date, he just wants to make sure you don't pass out in the middle of the grounds.

[fuhrinkaed]

"O-oh, enjoying myself? Of course! It's just that practice is also fun--and useful!" Ed nods excitedly, not taking any offense anyways. "There's reading, and talking with people, and reading, and practicing magic... and reading. There's plenty to do for fun."

At the offer to spar, he looks to the side and scratches his cheek.

"Er--yeah. I don't mind trying it out. It's always good to get practice in with someone else instead of a dummy. And dinner would be great!" He quietly resolves to not use the drill, since putting an end to the fighting prematurely would be incredibly rude.

C

[powerdriven]

[ Most saw their fair share of the training grounds, if they knew what was good for them. Then again, there were others still who preferred to make their learning process a more private affair, and given prior unwanted interruptions, Levi couldn't really say he didn't relate. But it remained the most convenient place to lug his weaponry to, so the visits continued, if less frequently than before.

Today, he's been here going on hours. Accordingly, one less familiar with him might justifiably have to ask themselves whether this was because he was a very hard worker or because he had nothing else to do. Though to be fair, one could say the same of the diligent guy he's been seeing sparring every now and then since not long after he arrived. He's felt his mana. None too dissimilarly, of course, he tends to put on more of a show than is intended when he plays a bit of "fetch" with some paper targets.

In other words, he's been dashing through the air above the courtyard. When he eventually chooses to take a break from that, he wanders over Shunsui's way. At least, he's finally thought to say something to regard him. ]

You've sure been hanging around here awhile. Aren't you getting tired?

[sugegasa]

I could ask the same of you, good sir. Beautiful work out there, by the way! You're quite impressive.

[He really wasn't even a bit tired. This was nothing compared to his Captain's duties, a feeling which, unbeknownst to him, Levi probably well understood.

And he'd felt his mana, too. Made it a point to do so with everyone he encountered, in fact. Still not the same as reading reiatsu, but close enough to count. This man was incredibly strong, although he hadn't needed more than word of mouth to know that.]

Would you like to spar, sometime? Perhaps after we've both taken a break to get a bite to eat?

[No sense trying to do anything when they were both worn out, after all. This wasn't a battlefield, there was no reason to go until they stood a real chance of injuring one another.]

[powerdriven]

[ Yeah, actually, he can understand that plenty well. It's become easier to revert to old behaviors the more that he learns to manage his mana... and in the case of basic training, getting really exhausted would take a feat. But perhaps that's why he's a little surprised to see someone unrecognizable holding up so easy.

Unfortunately, curiosity alone doesn't sway him in some respects. He turns. ]

Don't get so friendly.

[ Offering a chat over lunch and challenging him to a fight nearly in the same breath... hah. Hey, just because he'd been observing the guy practicing, that doesn't mean he wants to get to fraternizing so quick. It's the less personal half of that he'd had his eye on, just for a decent bit of practice with a real, moving, thinking target—which is why he sheathes his blades and pushes his sleeves up to the elbows to offer his fists. ]

This is what you really want, isn't it? If you wanna spar, let's spar.

[ Or maybe it's just what Levi wants, but he had been awfully quick to cut to the chase. ]

a

[sealeted]

"Oh, sure thing."

Hakuno, having had her fun for the day, had pretty much switched over to fetching towels and promoting booths while she dried off in the sun. It was a stark contrast to the Moon Cell, being able to gradually dry out like this, and she savors every weird, damp moment. Still, she was quick on her feet since she knew other people might not be so inclined, and was back in less than a minute with a suitably fluffy towel.

She handed it over with a small, courteous nod. "Thanks for all your hard work today."

[sugegasa]

"Thank you so much!"

He used the fluffy towel only to wipe his eyes, since his mass of hair tended to make it difficult to see in water fights!

"Ahh, don't mention it! Feels like no work at all, I love to play!"

He shot a grin at the children getting ready to attack him again with their guns. He was already wounded! But no harm in letting them have their fun, and hearing their laughter took away a little of the pain and exhaustion the war had left in his demeanor.

"Forgive me, my name is Shunsui Kyouraku, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

[sealeted]

"No problem." Hakuno brushed her bangs out of her eyes, smiling faintly at the impending onslaught behind him. It was still a little jarring, seeing so many kids in one place, even if she logically knew that they weren't combatants.

"I'm Hakuno Kishinami, a new arrival. Nice to meet you too." She was getting used to this new world, and honestly speaking if most of the non-fighting jobs were like this, she thought she might only like it more and more from here on out.

c (b/c? I'll let you decide.), lemme know if you want an edit

[ordealer]

Kain had taken to keeping to himself when he had free time...or at least that's what he had intended. He had meant to. His intended plans for the future involved a great deal of pensive brooding as well as fighting for lost causes. (Not that he'd admit - to himself or anyone else - that his to-do list involved pensive brooding and fighting for worthy lost causes, but that's basically what it was at the moment.) There were a number of reasons why his intentions were different from reality, the foremost of which was that there was a limit to how much fighting he could do when all he was armed with was a pair of damned shutter shades.

They were shoved into his pocket and Kain was pretending like they didn't exist.

Oh, he was going to fix the weapons issue. One of the first things he did once he got his bearings was to try to get a spear, but due to an accident he wouldn't have one made until next Thursday. He could have settled for a sword, but given how his physical abilities had been dramatically diminished he just...it didn't feel right. He wanted to go with what he was best at. Even if he'd have to wait until next Thursday. So. Having nothing better to do he was in the training grounds leaning against a wall while feeling all sorts of disgruntled, itching to join in but only having a pair of glasses to offer. This was the second time that week. And even feeling all sorts of disgruntled but trying to hide it beneath a neutral, deadpan expression (the sort where the perceptive could probably tell but the casual folk wouldn't notice) he did notice a few things.

Such as that man, over there. Who Kain's going to approach (because there was a limit to how much leaning whilst pensively brooding a man could do) with a casually said, "You're here often."

Said as a statement, but there was a question beneath it. Actually, likely multiple questions.

no edits necessary, i love it! you mind if we combine B and C a little?

[sugegasa]

"I am indeed. It's nice to watch people train, I'm learning a lot."

It was all he said, at first. He was still coming off that bout of sadness his new weapon had given him, and while he wasn't as peppy as he normally was at first meeting someone, he was trying his best to shape up and at least not start sobbing at the poor guy.

"New?"

It stood to reason, with the other new arrivals. He thought he surely would have remembered a man like this. Even without contact, his mana signature was strong and Shunsui had no doubts about his ability.

"I'm always open to sparring, if you'd be at all interested. My new Hero rank of Knight gives me a lot of power with physical attacks, if hand to hand is an interest of yours."

Of course not.

[ordealer]

“Do I look-” -like a monk of Fabul?

It had been honestly meant; while Kain knew enough to throw a punch in a brawl, being mistaken for someone who was skilled with his fists (skilled enough to warrant sparring, at least) was something he hadn’t expected. He was startled enough to ask, or at least begin to.

But then, as quickly as the question started to slip out, he remembered…ah. Right. There’s no Fabul here, and he was far away from home, and he had no reason to believe that anyone else had come from the same land as he. And they wouldn’t know what monks were. (And he thought of Yang. He didn’t know the man well, but he knew him well enough, and he liked him. He hoped Yang was well.) And so the question was abruptly cut off halfway through with a lingering pause, one shaped like the rest of the question he decided to not ask.

Hm. He made a noise, before adding. “My apologies. I was surprised you asked. I’m poor with my fists.” And he couldn’t do half of what he used to, which still bothered him, but it would take a full brigade of Noir soldiers unexpectedly pouring in and trying to kill the both of them before he’d admit it. “I’d be poor sport if you’ve any skill.” Though, if not, trying to punch something did sound tempting.

Really tempting.

b

[whipoflust]

To be honest, Chloe could not care less for strangers and their well being, but he has decided to play nice and he is determined to do so. Thus, he cannot simply ignore such a gloomy attitude, or he will fail his act after only a month of playing the part here. (It was so much easier in the Tower back in Tudor, where only the other Wing Knights was around.)

He approaches with a look of concern, his bird carrier flying around him, uncaring of the situation as she was.

"Are you quite alright, sir?"

[sugegasa]

"Oh, yes, I'm quite sorry if I worried you! I think it might have something to do with this new weapon, I was in fairly high spirits on the way to the armoury. Please don't pay any mind to me!"

And he meant it. While it was fairly easy to see that this young man was simply choosing to do this, and didn't feel any real compulsion to do so, Shunsui hated to present such a sorrowful demeanor to the world at large. He wanted to make people feel good, when he could, not bring them down!

And he really did appreciate the gesture, whether it was done out of empathy or not.

"Thank you for checking, but I'll really be just fine."

[whipoflust]

"Oh, how so?"

He might not be genuinely interested in why the gentleman might be upset but he does recognize the reason that he gives. Chloe had been given a dagger that looked an awful lot like the only weapon that could actually kill an immortal like him. So at the very least, he could empathize with being unsettled by what weapon had been assigned them.

"But I don't believe that you need to apologize for worrying someone if you are feeling down." Though perhaps he might only think that because he doesn't know what he is supposed to say in such situations.

C.

[suzinkazan]

The young woman wasn't exactly the physically robust sort. She wasn't in.. TERRIBLE shape, but she was far more used to simply chucking magical energy at anything in her way and letting that be the end of it. And even though she lacked that option since arriving here with the latest batch of new Heroes, she normally still wouldn't have given the idea of martial training any real considering.

Except then on her first day she found herself hypnotized and...well. Another Hero snapped her out of it, but left her with a few welts she was currently nursing on her head. So obviously her first thought was to.. well. Get into a bit better shape. Well, mostly. She's taking plenty of breaks from the drudgery of physical training to try and work out how her weapon, a flask that produces.. questionable fluid, works.

As she just learned; you sling it at things. Which is probably why there was a small splash of sticky fluid which is very obviously immensely unpleasant, even as it hits the floor. Luckily she didn't hit him, but.. it came close.

"Ah, sorry!" she calls. "I uh... am still learning how that works...although I still don't know what it actually does... it can't be nice, right? It must be bad. Just look at it..." she trails off as she clears her throat. "Ah, anyway, sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry."

[sugegasa]

Shunsui did startle a little, but more at the...well, the appearance of that liquid than anything else. And then he laughed. It started small, but soon he was laughing so hard he was almost crying, and had to put a hand up to ask the poor girl to give him a minute until he could calm down enough to speak.

"Some of the weapons in this place, eh? That's not even close to the strangest I've seen, so please, no apologies! And even if you'd hit me, I do have a spare uniform and enough colle to buy another if I needed to. You're fine!"

He offered his hand and a smile.

"Really, don't spend even a second worrying about it! My sword gives the illusion of ladies taking off their clothes, of all things. I'm guessing you're one of the new arrivals? My name is Shunsui Kyouraku, and it's a pleasure to meet you!"

B

[ceded]

It couldn't hurt to try, right? The armory seemed to specialize in these legendary weapons only, but... maybe if she asked, they could at least provide her with a basic sword. They seemed pretty accommodating of Heroes' requests, and ever since she'd arrived, Xion had felt deeply uncomfortable with the prospect of fighting with nothing but her bangles and her magic. The magic was at least something to work with, but her own special weapon...

Things would just be easier for her if she had something else.

She's picked today to try her luck going back to the armory, and it's today she happens across...

... this man. He's ... crying.

Xion actually stops walking, blinking at him with one hand curled loosely over her chest. She's never seen another person cry before.

(There was maybe... once--)

"Um..." Careful and a little uncertain, though obviously concerned, Xion steps into his path, peering up into his face. (And it's really up. He's over a foot taller than her, though she's actually pretty used to that kind of height disparity.) "Hey, are you okay...? Can I help?"

The tiny elephant that's been following at her heels pauses, peeking out from behind her. It lifts one of its two trunks, as if to wave.

[sugegasa]

"I...yes, I think I'll be all right momentarily. I appreciate the concern, though!"

He paused to turn a bit toward the wall, wiping his eyes as best he could.

"I apologize for worrying you. Shunsui Kyouraku, is my name. I'm honestly not sure why my mood dipped so suddenly, but I'm sure it will straighten out soon."

Or. He hoped it would, at least. And there was no sense worrying the poor passersby!

"Forgive me, but are you one of the new arrivals? I don't recall having seen you before."