Get down with the sickness [open]

[showsnopiety]

Who: Caren and you!
When: After Intro and beyond!
Where: Caissa, Capablanca
What: Catch all with Caren, including More clue #4!
Rating: None until things happen



A: Independent Action

[For those who were interested in tea or various supplies, this was the place to go to! Caren has been doing brisk business, and has been hiring the local help, as well as some of the local heroes. There is one thing that might be remarkable, other then the fact that it's clean and quiet: the small sign saying that there is currently no infamous algae in stock.

If asked, Caren will shake her head, if not her employees:]

It's too likely to give an allergic reaction. I can't sell something that'd give someone an adverse reaction. Same with anything grown in Petrosian.

[Otherwise, she might be willing to recommend tea to drink in the store, supplies that can be used for alchemy, tea to be taken away, and suggestions for future products. Or she might be cleaning or something.

Who knows? Anything could happen in Independent Action.]

B: Rook Problems

[She's had some problems with her Sound powers before as a Rook before but...usually it's inflicted on everyone else but her. Loud noises, things turning silent.

Instead, Caren finds herself silenced by her own power. She tries to speak. Tries to even scream at one point, and all that comes out is the tiniest of sounds. Like a kitten squeaking.

It's good to know that her mana is working, but this is frustrating. And likely a way for some people to get revenge. For all that she works, and can be found in various places...she's herself.

Just silent.

Which drives her nuts, even as she works, and in the halls of glory, she can be found abusing the practice dummies. She has to exhaust herself somehow.

Because This Is Rude.]

C: Clue Four

[This could be just after she's left the manor, or later on. If still in Capablanca, she's likely to be found outside at a table at a cafe or a restaurant, with a thoughtful expression on her face.

But seeing a hero or someone else approach, her arms lean against the papers, obscuring what's written.]

Did you want to join me?

[Her eyes sweep over the hero, her gaze distant. Distracted. Her mind is half elsewhere.]

I'm willing to pay for a drink or a meal, if you have information to share.

[And only if they have information on the investigation. Well...unless you charm her.]

D: Wild card!
Job stuff, catching up with Caren, learning at Pigeon's Blood or training, it all goes under this label here! If you have ideas, go ahead and pm me or ping me on plurk!

Comments

[showsnopiety]

[Oh good, she's doing it right then. It did feel better.

Though he's going to need a look over his forearms once she's done. She knows she could do some damage to the meat of his arms at least, even if she isn't a Knight.

She'll bring his attention to that later. Okay, she's going to give it a shot.

She takes in a deep (silent) breath, and with the exhale, snaps her leg up to give him a hard kick. She feels balanced, centred, and certain this would do the trick.]

[twosidedsword]

[That's going to leave one hell of a bruise but he doesn't even flinch. Instead, he just gives a nod before pointing to her other leg. She should try kicking with that one too. Because far better that she's able to fight with both, right?

At least it should help her since she's small. That's what he's thinking.]

[showsnopiety]

[She'll try to fix it but she kind of needs her voice back first. But...yeah, he's right, she needs to do it on both sides.

She shifts her weight, and makes a test kick, not aiming for him, but in front of him, and then...a kick.

It might not be as strong as the one on her dominant leg? Maybe. But it could be her trying to get the feel of it, maybe.]

[twosidedsword]

[He nods for her to try again, not wanting to correct her just yet. Even though he can already see that her balance is off. That will take practice honestly, time getting a feel for something her body isn't used to.

Still, he can at least make sure she is comfortable enough. It'll be a start.]

[showsnopiety]

[She can feel it's off. If she tries for a more powerful kick, she'll hurt herself or fall over.

A silent sigh, and she takes a moment to try and get her balance again, before she kicks again. She needs to get used to the sensation, make her hits stronger.

She glances up to his face. How was that?]

[twosidedsword]

[He considers a moment before going to her hips again. After adjusting her stance a bit, he goes back to give her that nod again.

Okay he's ready. That new posture should help her.]

[showsnopiety]

[Ah, that's better. He always knows how to correct her balance just so. She nods back, and gives the promised kick.

That felt a lot better. You're a good sparring partner Shin-Ah.]

[twosidedsword]

[He gives a nod of approval. That's going to leave a nice bruise on him which tells him that she's doing it correctly. Which is a good thing!

So he shifts again to let her go for another kick, already thinking of having them move into maybe having him be a moving target. It'll be a good way to teach her body to go into the right position each time, he thinks.]

[showsnopiety]

[Yup! It's what they're going for!

Oh, he's changing position. Makes sense; she can't just kick trees or non moving objects, she reasons. She tracks the motion with her eyes, and offers a kick. Still feels good, but never know!

It might not have the same impact, after she had shifted position to match.]

[twosidedsword]

[It's not as strong but at least he's sure it will throw most weaker enemies off. Still, he makes it clear that he's reaching for her leg now, trying to force her to back up and readjust or use her other leg. Just like what will happen in a real battle situation.

It'll help in the long run.]

[showsnopiety]

[What is he...oh. He was kicking things up a notch, so to speak. She hopped back, and tried to make a snap kick. It will help in the long run, truly, and she needs to figure out how to keep her balance during the heat of battle.

She raises her eyebrows. Good?]

[twosidedsword]

[Her balance is a little off. He tilts his head a bit then goes to position her again before going back to his place so that way he can repeat the action. Let her get a feel for how this is when in motion and forced to move back. It's harder but more realistic to a battle situation.]

[showsnopiety]

[It's off again. She waits for him to adjust her hips (it's funny how casual they were about this) and for him to get back into place. It makes her wonder a little about how much fighting Shin-Ah has done in the past.

She'll have to ask later. For now though, she'll wait for him to get back into place. And once he goes to grab again, she'll try to slide her back foot backwards, centre herself again, and kick again. Maybe better, maybe worse.]

[twosidedsword]

[He nods his approval. It's true he isn't moving that fast right now but it's okay. This is just a practice until she can get the feel for this. The real speed can come later, that's what he's decided for the time being.

So he pushes again to force her to keep defending herself.]

[showsnopiety]

[That is very okay. That means that she can have time to get a feel and eventually get to the level of expertise that she could dodge and balance herself via reflex.

So again, she slides back, and lashes out with a kick, exhaling silently as she does so.

Kicks are getting better. Voice, still gone. Well. There's the fuel for her fire.]

[twosidedsword]

[These kicks may be weaker because she has to keep moving but the repetition is still going to leave his arms in a lovely bruised state. He doesn't show signs of caring though as he keeps pushing her. Well right up until he's sure that she should really have a break to rest her legs.

So he holds up a hand to tell her they're stopping then trots off. When he comes back it's with water for her.]

[showsnopiety]

[They might grow stronger in time, her kicks. That, and she's still a Rook; she might still hit too hard when she doesn't mean to.

Still, she seems puzzled when he gestures for her to stop. Sure, she's a bit sweaty, but she can keep going!

Oh. She blinks, her eyes widening in surprise at the simple gesture. He brought her water. Not...many people would do that. But after a few moments, she shakes her head, and brings up her arm, pointing at him, then tapping her forearm. She wants that taken care of first.]

[twosidedsword]

[...He's not sure what she means at first, ever the one to take care of the world before he remembers to take care of himself. When it does down him though, he at least doesn't fight it and rolls up his sleeves to reveal nicely dark bruises on both of his forearms. Really they must be hurting a lot but he's not complaining at all.]

[showsnopiety]

[Oh, she's been kicking hard for those bruises to get that far. She knows if she had bruises like those, she'd feel stiff. Does she have ice? No, because it would have melted by now.

So she opens her mouth, and tries to give him a little relief with a spell. Her lips even move, she had the mana flow and...nope. Nothing.

Caren gestures to him again. He could heal himself, she was certain.]

[twosidedsword]

[He...has no idea what she means. So when she gestures to him he actually offers her the water again.

Um. Water?]

[showsnopiety]

[She shakes her head, and points to his forearm. Water later, healing now.

Please.]

[twosidedsword]

[He...is so confused. Because water won't make the bruises go away. She knows that right? That water doesn't do that?

Suddenly the lack of words is not helping anymore.]

[showsnopiety]

[Nope, it is not helping one bit. She has to think for a moment and...ah. Idea. She motions for him to give him her hand. If she can't say it, she'll write it.

...by writing the word with her finger onto his hand. This may not go well.]

[twosidedsword]

[That moment when you try to spell something on the hand of someone still learning to read.

Please don't mind the hesitation. He's trying hard. He really is.

He...isn't sure what is going on here.

So he offers the water again? Default mode: When he doesn't understand...take care of the other person first.]

[showsnopiety]

[They're both trying. They really are! She's not sure what's going on here.

She takes in a deep breath, and she tries to speak. And...oh! A noise comes out. A very small noise. It must be wearing off!

...but it sounds like a kitten's squeak.]