Heaven's BBS | Text

[latentforlife]

Posted: May 21st
From: Shuusei Kagari
Location: Temple of Surtr


Is it weird that parts of this feel normal and parts of this feel like a simulation? It's strange and I get uncomfortable thinking about why some things seem really off without me being able to pin point why they are off. Also, realizing I died in what are probably my early 20's sucks.

So on to a more important question! What do shinki do for fun around here? I know there's cooking, cute goddesses and wine but I'm feeling a little boxed in by the weirdness of it all and could use a few more distractions.

Comments

[reformedsinner]

Yes. Have you learned how to cast a borderline? That's the first technique.

[latentforlife]

Borderline?

[reformedsinner]

It's a shinki power that allows you to defend yourself! For instance, it will hold off ayakashi, at least temporarily, if you're caught on the Near Shore without your god.

I'm afraid I can't teach it through text very well, but I'd be happy to show you the technique at some point.

[latentforlife]

That'd be cool!

[reformedsinner]

Please feel free to message me when you're available!

[latentforlife]

I'm free now, and if you haven't caught on I'm extremely bored. Where do you want to meet?

[reformedsinner]

Ha ha, well, in that case. How about the park? I can be there in ten or fifteen minutes.

It shouldn't take too long, although you're likely to have to practice for a while before you can cast it.

Text -> Action

[latentforlife]

Sure. It'll be something to get started on at least. Also magic!

I can be there in a bit, might take me more time to find it. See you there.

[So have an eager and curious shinki making his way into the park looking for... someone. He should have asked for a picture. Shuusei just waves at anyone he sees and passes by those who look at him confused.]

Action!

[reformedsinner]

[Really, Hakkai should have asked for a picture, too. He arrives in the park a little early, and strolls slowly along the path fronting it, looking for anyone who seems to be looking for someone.

Even among the denizens of the Heavens, he stands out, with long and delicately pointed ears, claws (blunted with a nail file for convenience) and dark vine-patterned markings across all visible skin.

Unfortunately, that and his curious air don't add up to anything personally identifying, at least not until an orange-haired young man waves enthusiastically at him. Hakkai clears his throat, and essays:]

Shuusei?

[latentforlife]

Yup! Am I missing some sort of festival?

[Shuusei's not sure how this all works out and Cho is strange even considering their situation. All those features are hard to miss.

Some things are annoying familiar to Shuusei, but other things are so alien he doesn't quite get it.]

[reformedsinner]

Not at all! Or, if you are, I'm afraid I'm missing it too. Cho Hakkai.

[He inclines his head politely.] It's a pleasure to meet you in person. You were hoping to learn how to cast a borderline, I believe?

[He glances around at the crowd and frowns.]

We should find a less busy place for it. I'm afraid we might hit someone trying it here.

[latentforlife]

[Shuusei doesn't see this guy explaining his look, so he lets it slide for the moment.

Looking around at the crowd he shrugs, having nothing to compare these "borderlines" to.]

I'm still new to the area so if you know a good place to teach this I'm game. If it ends up being a dark alley though I might start questioning you.

[His tone is joking though. For meeting a stranger and talking about magic, Shuusei seems pretty laid back about it.]

[reformedsinner]

Ha ha, don't worry, I promise to send you home in one piece!

[He affects a thoughtful expression, tapping one clawed finger against his chin.] Unless you make a mistake with your line and catch a toe in it, of course.

How about over there?

[He points to a grassy area at the edge of the park that's currently empty of strollers and picnickers, and suits his action to his words, heading for it at a brisk walk.]

[latentforlife]

What happens if I catch a toe in it?

[Okay, that's ominous from the monster-like teacher. Still, Shuusei follows along because he's curious. He wants to know how this works.]

[reformedsinner]

You'll go home in more than one piece!

[Judiciously, he frowns, and adds:] Most likely.

[He hasn't actually used a borderline against another shinki, and besides, he doesn't want to scare Shuusei too much. The young man doesn't seem to have been scared off, though, so Hakkai pauses in the center of the empty area of grass, holds up one hand to stop Shuusei, and after a few seconds slashes the hand down with his first two fingers outstretched.]

Line!

[A barrier flashes up from the line on the ground his fingers describe, sizzling in the air like a living thing. Hakkai holds it in place and offers a polite nod to Shuusei.]

If you'd like to look at it...?

[latentforlife]

[Oh yeah, Shuusei's definitely feeling so much better about this. At least he's alert enough to stop when instructed.

Then the waving of fingers happens and a barrier appears in front of him. Hesitantly, because of all the talk of losing limbs and unknown possibilities, Shuusei reaches out and touches the barrier to see if it'll hurt. He marvels at it though because this is some weird stuff right here.]

Magic..?

[reformedsinner]

Shinki magic. You'll be able to do it yourself.

[The barrier sizzles against Shuusei's fingertips; it resists his pressure, but it's painless to touch.]

[latentforlife]

[He gives it a few good pushes just to be sure. He even leans against it a moment before giving up.

Magic.]

Does that only stop dead people? What happens if a car hits it?

[reformedsinner]

Ha ha, I wouldn't trust it to stop a car! Just step out of the way.

[Magic! He's never tried to use it to stop a living person, even. Its duration is short enough that it tends not to intercept any passersby accidentally.

He lets the borderline fade into nothingness, and crosses his arms, considering the prospect.]

It does cut ayakashi. If you're attacked by one on your own, it can be your defense and your attack.

[latentforlife]

How do you cut something with that?

[Now he's interested. Not just blocking but actually fighting. So far he's got his fists and possibly a hand gun, though he doesn't know how that works on them.]

[reformedsinner]

Cast it through your target.

[Gory? Brutal? Absolutely. It's also highly effective. Hakkai frowns with sudden mild warning.]

-- But don't expect it to kill an ayakashi. They regenerate quickly from anything except attacks from a god wielding a shinki, but it can slow them down.

[latentforlife]

So we can cut them but can't kill them. That's the gods. At least we can give them something to think about.

[Probably better than fighting monsters with his fists.]

Should I give it a try? Does it just happen or is this one of those "feel the force" kind of things?

[reformedsinner]

Gods and shinki, together. They're as helpless without us as we are without them, in fact.

[Hakkai laughs cheerfully, and adds:]

It helps if you focus on your feelings of wanting to separate something from yourself, to keep it away. It may take you a while to master, though! It's not rare for shinki to need some work before they can cast it successfully.

[latentforlife]

You know, I wouldn't call my god helpless. At least not to her face.

[Though he gets it, they can't kill ayakashi without shinki, right? She might be able to fight and defend herself but in the end those things are unique.]

Okay, lets see if I'm a magic wiz or something.

[Who knows! Maybe he was amazing at magic. Though he poses like Hakkai and tries to do things the same way, when his finger moves to draw the line nothing happens. He holds the pose, draws the line again. Nothing happens.]

[reformedsinner]

Only as helpless as we are without them.

[Which doesn't have to mean anything about their independent fighting skill... but it does mean that when it comes to ayakashi, there's no way around the need to work together!

Hakkai watches Shuuhei's first few tries: he clearly has the physical technique down (it's not hard) but the mental trick is a bit more challenging to teach. He considers, and holds one finger up, dropping his voice to a creepier register.]

Imagine the most disgusting, repellent thing you can. It's coming towards you. Your borderline has to keep it away.