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 Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:36 pm
Shopping had gone great, they had gotten themselves a tree, and some lights and decorations, and now they were out on a nice walk, powered up to make things seem like they were doing good, and enjoying some of the city lights.
It really had been a lovely day. Dylan, for all he was…robust, for all that he…overwhelmed her, he was wonderful. Kind and very fun to be around. She enjoyed the time she had, and now as they walked the streets as Jishui and Haik, she kept glancing sideways at him.
“Thank you for humoring me and going for a walk. I was feeling very stuffy after all the food we ate, and I had hoped that some exercise would make it easier for us to start all of the decorating that we’re planning.”
They had bought a lot…she had gotten overly excited but…that was fine! They were fine! And now they were having a nice walk and would deal with the chaos of their home….later.
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:37 pm
The shopping day had been quite an experience for him, and a successful one at that! They managed to pick out and buy what they needed to join in on the local festivities, and not just that but…well. Any length of time spent with Monika was enough to keep a smile steady on Dylan's face, and given they spent the whole day together it was a small miracle that his face wasn’t sore.
Even as they took to the streets as their normal, powered selves, to kill two birds with one stone–walk off dinner and do some patrolling–the Senshi was smiling as he glanced around, appreciating the festive lights in the distance.
“Of course,” he said, glancing back toward her when she spoke. There was a joy in his eyes, evidence of a luster that had long since gone slowly returning, as he caught her gaze. “We can do our due diligence while walking off a meal. I think it’s a great idea, and once we get back home we can start getting into the decorations.”
He inadvertently stepped a bit closer to her, his body sort of just following his eyes, excitement clear in his voice. “Any idea where you’d like to set up the tree? I can move furniture if we have to, but if not…”
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:39 pm
Jishui was glad that Haik was looking better. She hadn’t missed the lost look in his eyes when she had mentioned their homeworlds, but she hadn’t know what to do…she was so happy that it had passed, at least on the surface. “I think just in the living room? Maybe in the space where the small table is, next to the television?”
It would be big enough, and that table could easily be moved next to the chair, or even by the door! It wasn’t going to be anything heavy for them to have to rearrange.
“I’m so glad we found everything we were looking for, and then some…we might have gone a little overboard but…”
Breaking off, the Senshi frowned, her head snapping to the left where a bush was giving a very…unfriendly rustle, and the feeling of Chaos permeated. It was different…different than the wrong Senshi she had met.
“...Do you feel that?”
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:39 pm
Haik had been about to comment when his attention snapped to the same bush, and he gave a quiet “mhmm” in response to her question. He bristled at the sensation of Chaos in the periphery of his senses; it felt somehow different from the kind back home, but it still gave him that sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. His thoughts often flashed back to the distant past, vague memories of watching an entire civilization fall to the darkness…
His people, one by one, until there was just him.
The bush rustled again, and the Senshi bristled at the sound before nodding and taking a step toward it. He’d taken all of two steps before a nightmare of a creature stepped out–some amalgamation of insect and sludge. It had too many legs and even more eyes, a pair of pincers, a pair of scorpion like tails, and carried with it the acrid smell of burning sulfur.
He took a step back and wrinkled his nose. “That’s…disturbing,” he said, taking another step back as the youma seemed to take measured steps toward them. It made a muted clicking sound as it approached, its many eyes all blinking but completely out of sync.
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:40 pm
“Disturbing…Haik…that’s…that’s an understatement, my friend…”
Jishui followed with a step back of her own and hesitated. “...I think…this is another one of those…iterations of Chaos that plague this planet…how are they surviving?”
The people, not the Chaos. Chaos thrived no matter where it was. That was what made it so dangerous but.
“...My magic is not anything offensive…do…you think we can destroy it with physical violence? Do you have magic that would help with this, Haik?”
Her hand twitched and the back of it brushed against his. “If your magic is effective, I can restore it.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:42 pm
“Gross understatement,” he said through a flicker of a smile. Somehow, pointing it out was amusing to him, though as the youma continued to click and scuttle toward them the amusement plummeted. “That’s a good question. Maybe something to ask Jules for next time…”
Haik glanced toward her when she asked about his magic, and he hesitated. “It’s…sort of? But it’s been unreliable since my arrival. Worth a shot, though…”
Taking her hand in his, he took a step forward this time, putting himself between her and the youma to make sure she didn’t get caught in his magic. Just in case it decided to do its own thing again. That was probably also something he should ask both Jishui and Julienne about once this was over.
He raised his free hand, palm down, and pulled his focus, trying to figure out the best direction to throw the thing in. Given the open space, the idea of smash the thing into a tree a few times came to mind… The youma scuttled in place, its clicks gradually getting louder until it finally lunged toward them, revealing the disgusting open orifice underneath its body–perhaps a mouth of some sort, given the rows of teeth within.
Haik flicked his hand left as he called out his attack, and before the youma could reach them it flew toward their left, bowling into a random tree and eventually landing on its back. It clicked furiously, legs flailing helplessly in the air.
Basic — Current of Will! Haik speaks the name of his attack and makes a sharp gesture with his hand, mimicking the direction of the current he wants his attack to follow (toward/away from him or to the left/right of him). Those standing within 15 feet directly ahead of him will feel themselves being suddenly pulled in the direction his hand mimicked for 15 seconds. It will feel as though they’ve been taken up into a strong current, and they will feel the sensation of being cold and having some difficulty in breathing for the duration of the attack. They are free to move and attack from within the current, though it might be difficult. It’s possible to be lifted out of the current, and one could actually move out of it if they happen to be near the edge. He can use this 3 times per battle.
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:43 pm
“Oh.” It was the only reply that Jishui could utter after seeing just how powerful Haik’s magic was…it must be nice. Being able to be offensive at times like this. For her…she…
Clearing her throat, she reached her hand towards Haik. “Withstand.” It was the first time in a thousand years that she had uttered her magic, and there was a tingle of excitement with the thought of using it again…but.
Nothing happened.
For a moment, she couldn’t quite comprehend, and then she swallowed and forced a smile before crossing the distance between herself and the clicking, flailing creature and jumped on it, putting her whole weight into it…even though it wasn’t much.
Her magic had failed…and that…
That was disturbing. The creature was disturbing. This…walk…was turning from something delightful to something…not so.
Her feet sank into the sludge and she shuddered. “I hate this.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:44 pm
He followed after her, curious about her magic but seeing that he hadn’t felt anything when she cast it, maybe it wasn’t just him? Haik was about to say something when she suddenly jumped…into…the youma.
Eyes going wide, he quickly slipped both arms around her waist and lifted her up and out of the sludge, narrowly dodging the youma’s pincers while he was at it. He hoisted Jishui onto his shoulder and took a few steps back, his whole face scrunched up as the sludge now stuck to their clothing followed him back.
“I hate it, too,” he said, again lifting his hand and flicking it to the left, causing the youma to crash for a second time into the tree now just beside it. The clicking slowed, as did the flailing. “I don’t think you should be wading in it, though.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:45 pm
“I wasn’t tying to wade, I was trying to stomp it to death and…it just. Engulfed me.”
Jishui’s face was hot, shame and bitterness written across it. Though she was now on Haik’s shoulders and he couldn’t see.
Thankfully he couldn't see. “I was trying to help. My magic isn’t offensive as I said and…it just refused to work for me…and I wasn’t sure what else to do…”
The bitterness was clear in her voice at least as she held onto the other Senshi’s head as best she could, trying to balance on his shoulders. “Can we kill it?”
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:45 pm
“I saw,” came his reply, “and we can try.”
Lifting his hand again, he flicked the youma into the tree for the third time, which seemed to do the trick. It stopped clicking and moving altogether, and soon fell away into a smelly pile of dust. Haik sighed and turned his head so he was looking slightly up at her.
“Mine’s refused to work before, too,” he said, having noted the bitterness in her voice and wondering if he could help ease it just a bit. He was going to mention it at some point, anyway. “And other times it came out way too strong and sapped so much of my energy from me that I could barely walk after. That was what I meant about my magic being unreliable…thankfully it seemed to be okay tonight.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:47 pm
Jishui sighed and nodded, reaching down towards Haik once again, though, with the angle she was at all she really did was cup his cheek. “Withstand.” The word was said more firmly, and was relieved to see the glowing orb pass into her friend and roommate.
“Ah. Maybe it’s just rusty. As I am. As.” She chuckled, feeling so much better than she had a few moments ago. “...Good job with killing it. I’m proud of you. We. Make a good team…if a team consists of you rescuing me at every turn.”
There was still a small bite of frustration, but a feeling of fondness too. She wasn’t angry, she simply wished that she could do better.its_ p a o Sailor Scout Attack: Withstand Jishui says the name of her attack and reaches for an ally. A small glowing orb appears and a soft glow envelops them as a wave of resilience washes over them. For thirty seconds the person affected feels a rush of strength, issues seem further away, and some power will return. For a Squire or Knight, they get a restored 10 seconds of their magic, and a Senshi will have one use of a basic attack restored. The one the magic is used on must be within five feet of Jishui, and the attack can be used three times per battle.
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:47 pm
The chuckle lit up his face, relieved to hear her frustration ebb away. At her touch, and no doubt the magic she just cast, he felt a portion of his strength come back to him sooner than it normally would have, and with a grin he wrapped his arms around her legs.
“We do make a good team,” he chimed in agreement, again glancing up so he could see her face from the corner of his eyes. “I’m sure as we get used to using our powers again they’ll stabilize. I’d prefer not to use my powers at all, but if it’s against this Chaos…”
He started walking toward home with his friend and roommate still on his shoulders. “New powers come as we get stronger, too, so you might have something more offensive in the future. And even if you don’t, you’ll still have me.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:48 pm
Jishui chuckled again, leaning forward and folding her arms on his head. If he was going to insist this be the way they walked…she wouldn't argue. She could see a lot from up here, after all. “Perhaps. It was never offensive before. I was stronger. I was at my full strength before everything happened…still. This is a new place…and who’s to say that new things can’t happen…”
She had Haik, after all. Someone who was trustworthy and clearly going to stick around. It was a good feeling.
“...Shall we go home?”
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