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Entry tags:

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Who: Assassin and OPEN
What: Fun with portals
Where: Lochwell, and then anywhere
When: Over the course of the event
Warnings: Will update as needed

[I. Lochwell]
Having been suddenly gift with the ability to make portals is odd, but Assassin is adaptable by nature. It only makes sense that she would set to work perfecting the ability without needing to be prompted. It's draining at first, but she works diligently, initially practicing inside Lochwell where it's easiest. Currently, she's going over the basics and focusing on perfecting her placement.

The good news: She does indeed manage to open an entry portal where she intended to on the ground, its exit hanging several feet above in the air.

The bad news: She also managed to open said entry portal directly in the path of a passerby, who may suddenly find themselves with one leg knee-deep in a hole that shouldn't be there. The fact that said leg is now hanging from another hole in the air just makes the situation more surreal.

On the bright side, at least she manages not to reflexively close the portal and saw anyone's feet off in the process. "Um, sorry...!"

[II. Lochwell]
After that mishap, she decides to experiment with some more practical uses of her newfound ability. Or, well— Practical for someone in her profession, at least. It's simple to saw things in half by closing a portal when they're only halfway through, so she has started up a nice collection of neatly bisected planks of wood.

[III. Anywhere]
Something else Assassin has been working toward: Creating a comprehensive mental map of every district. Since it seems like a good way to accomplish two things at once, this means she has decided to go practicing her portaling in other districts as well.

Unfortunately, as used to working in Lochwell as she is, she keeps overestimating how far she can travel and dumping herself in places she didn't mean to. Sometimes, she winds up on an abandoned park bench. And sometimes, she winds up on a strangers lap inside their home, or directly on top of their food in a restaurant, or any other number of inopportune places. Her luck isn't always the greatest.

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Yoite is watching her nearby. He has lodged himself into a small alleyway - mainly because he dislikes being around other people. But her powers intrigue him. Slowly, he peeks out from his hiding place and counts the planks of wood.

"How many are you going to cut?"

Yoite's voice is unfamiliar, so she glances up to study him before replying. She doesn't seem bothered by the interruption, though, and she replies simply, "I don't know. I'm just practicing, so as many as I need to." The presently-bisected plank in her hands is tossed back onto the pile with a clatter before she asks, "Were you hiding?"

[Kirei has been given the same power as Assassin, but he isn't using it now, instead quite contentedly watching her split pieces of wood in two, smiling to himself.]

Do you think there's anything else you might cut in half?

Yes. [She tells him so matter-of-factly, not pausing to look at him as she speaks. The same piece of wood is halved a second time.] If you want me to.

[She suspects he will.]

I might. There are things that are far more interesting to cut than wood.

[Idly, he opens a portal of his own, though not for any real reason, except perhaps an illustration, and he idly closes it again, almost as soon as it's open.]

I know. [She does pause in her work and look toward him this time. It's in the same tone that she tells him,] I wouldn't be practicing if there weren't.

[If she's a child, she's a practically-minded one. She wouldn't waste her energy on something useless.]

Very good. [He appreciates her practicality.]

We'll have to find something more interesting, then.

What do you think? [He doesn't need to ask her what she thinks, but he does anyway. It amuses him.]

Okay. [She says it in the same tone with which a child might answer their parent when asked if they'd like to help with grocery shopping, as if the task is totally mundane but not disagreeable.] When?

[The poor girl behind the counter obviously had no idea what to make of the chainmail-wearing ninja that marched into her shop and bought several yards of wrestling ring rope that day.

Admittedly, it might be pedantic to be investigating the wrestling rings in Orlea down to the very rope they use but The Ninja's never really done anything by halves. Besides, how much stretch he can get out of a rope is vital to his fighting style. A more legitimate thing to question is why he then felt the need to test the aforementioned ropes on his apartment. As a result of his experimentation, his kitchen looks like it's been taken over by an intricate spider web, with ropes stretched over and laced through every possible surface and hooked neatly around the lights and units.

He’s still reflecting on what he's learnt over lunch when Assassin makes an appearance- directly over his carefully constructed ring-rope web. She's managed to gather enough momentum falling from the portal that the ropes do their job altogether too well and nearly bounce her straight back up into it. Fortunately- or maybe unfortunately- she tumbles into the rice-cooker in an impressive shower of cold rice instead.

The Ninja gawps at her, chopsticks frozen in front of his open mouth. He doesn’t even seem to notice that the food between them has dropped right back into his bowl.]

[Oops.]

[Perhaps unsurprisingly, she manages to avoid hurting herself with the landing. After all, with what she is, she has to be agile and deft. However, that doesn't mean she doesn't make a mess, rice sticking to her as she scrambles into an upright position. Out of reflex, she prepares to defend herself as her head snaps this way and that, Assassin taking in her surroundings, and then—]

...Oh, um...

[She stills when she sees who she has stumbled in on, stance slackening and her expression going blank.]

...Hello.

[Of all the strange things The Ninja's seen in his life, a girl falling out of his ceiling through a portal and into his beloved rice-cooker almost certainly breaches the top five- and that says a lot given where he comes from. So, you'll have to forgive him if he seems at a loss as to how to react.

He goes on staring at her, only starting out of his bewilderment when she talks.]

... hello. You just missed lunch. [And, because he can't think of anything better to do at that moment, he reaches out and picks a clump of rice from her hair with his chopsticks.]

Oh. What did you have? Just rice?

[She seems to be recovering nicely, at least. So much so that she doesn't really explain what happened or how she got there. Having rice picked from her hair so doesn't bother her, and as such it goes uncommented on.]

[The same can't be said for The Ninja; he still seems somewhat thrown, brow knitting together in confusion at how little she seems to be bothered by any of it. Then again, should he really be surprised? Kid's got a poker-face that would put Ashuraman's masks to shame.]

... no, I made... [He glances over at the cooking pot on the stove, words petering out as if he can't quite remember what it was he was just eating.

... wait, no, priorities. He turns back to her, slotting back into his senses at last.] Rasha, how did you get in my house?

Edited 2013-04-17 18:03 (UTC)

It was an accident. [Which doesn't exactly answer his question, but she informs him of this very seriously nonetheless.] Sorry. I didn't mean to land in your rice.

[It really is impossible to be mad at her. The Ninja shakes his head wonderingly and, having recovered somewhat, gets to his feet.] You really need to stop doing this to me, kid, you'll give me a heart attack. [He picks his way through the rope web and snatches up a tea towel to hold out to her.]

Here. Now can you explain how you did that?

I wasn't trying to... [Even less so than the first time she startled him. She watches him work his way through the rope, taking the towel when offered and matter-of-factly beginning to clean herself up.]

Um... I was practicing something new I learned how to do, but I don't think I went as far as I meant to, so I wound up here instead.

[It's only then that he starts to connect the dots; whilst it would be easy enough to assume that it's something she's just picked up recently, he has to wonder if this isn't to do with the plague of superpowers that everyone seems to be afflicted with right now.

Regardless, he finds himself strangely scolding as paternal, overly concerned heckles rise.]

You could have ended up anywhere, Rasha- what if you'd reappeared miles above the city? Or somewhere dangerous? You might have been seriously hurt. [... damn it, he's lecturing, isn't he? He sighs shortly, folding his arms.] Where were you coming from anyway?

If I don't practice, I won't get better. [Apparently, she's unfazed by his scolding. She deflects it in her usual matter-of-fact way.] I won't get hurt.

[She does, however, frown as something else occurs to her, the expression frustrated.] I can't go as far here, though...

You can't say that for certain, though, can you? [Why does he get the feeling that no amount of chastising is going to make her change her mind...? The Ninja gives another sigh, this one more resigned.]

... you're impossible, you know that? [He gives her a weak smile.] Which means you'd make a good ninja if you ever felt like a career in that area.

... "can't go as far here"? What do you mean?

I can't say that for sure even if I don't practice. [Seems like it. She doesn't see it as significantly more risky than simply going about her business as usual, at any rate. When he says she would make a good ninja, though, she brightens.]

Really? You think so?

[...Of course, being an aspect of Hassan-i Sabbah, she already knows where her skills lie, but that doesn't make her any less happy to hear the Ninja say so.]

Um... In Lochwell, if I use a portal, I can go farther than I can here. I was practicing there before, so I'm not used to it...

[At least he seems willing to drop the discussion there. The Ninja laughs warmly, his own mood lightening as hers does- she's such a serious girl most of the time that seeing her happy about something makes for a nice change.]

Definitely. [... ah. That would make sense. After all, how many people did he spot taking a casual flight on the way to the hardware store...?] Although you might have to get a better hold on those portals before I can declare you ready for duty. Does Father Kotomine know you've been practicing?

[Ah, the mysterious Father. Truthfully, in between the vague reminders of Soldier in priests' robes, he's a little interested in what kind of man her guardian is.]

Yes! [Both her small hands clench into fists, and she nods very seriously. It's her usual unsmiling-but-genuine enthusiasm.] They could be useful, so I want to get good at using them.

Uh-huh. He, um, thinks it's good to master our God-given abilities!

[And would also like her to use her newfound power to cut people in half, but she doesn't say that.]

[That's just the kind of thing a man of God would say, isn't it? He's a little less willing to subscribe to the idea that his own talents come from a higher being, particularly given his experience with gods in the past, but it's something of an uncomfortable topic to linger on. After all, there was a time when he was in the service of the devil himself.

... it's definitely time to move on from that train of thought.] Even when "God-given abilities" make you fall into random strangers' lunches?

He trusts me, because I'm responsible.

[And she's back to sweeping aside his concerns with her usual matter-of-fact tone.]

I don't doubt that you're responsible, Rasha, it's everyone else that I'm worried about. [He rubs the back of his neck as if the conversation has put a particularly sore crick in it.] Indulge my paranoia for a moment- I don't like the idea of anything happening to you.

Okay. [She accepts both his request and his reasoning easily enough.] What do you want me to say to make you feel better?

[Because she certainly isn't going to change her behavior.]

How about... "I promise I won't jump head first into potential deathtraps anymore, Mr. Ninja"? [A beat.] ... I know you'll do it anyway but just say it to make me feel better, okay?

[She tilts her head slightly.]

I wasn't trying to do that, though... If it was something that might be dangerous, of course I'd be more careful.

[She isn't really worried about the other people here, apparently.]

[... what is he going to do with you, junior?]

Please, just humour me and say it.

[Well, if he's going to insist...]

I promise I won't jump into potential deathtraps again, Mr. Ninja.

[She recites the words dutifully.]

There's a good girl. [His smile's back again, this time a little less weary than before and, as he pushes himself back off of the counter and picks his way through the web in the kitchen, he glances back again.] Are you hungry? It must have taken quite a lot of energy to get here from Lochwell and there's plenty of food left.

[The offer of food gets her to perk up. She does enjoy eating.]

Oh! Yeah! [She hops down from her perch and begins to follow him through the web of rope. It's a little strange, and she doesn't quite understand what it's doing in his kitchen. Maybe she should ask him about that, now that the attention is off her abrupt appearance.]

[But, she has a more important question to ask first.]

I want to eat something. What did you make? [He didn't answer the first time she asked, after all.]

[Carefully, he takes a tea towel and uses it to lift the still-hot lid of the saucepan and check the contents- definitely more than enough there for a healthy portion. He glances down at her, still smiling.]

Tanindon- it's basically a beef-bowl with an omelette on top. It's a little on the simple side but I hope it's to your taste. [Which he has every confidence that it will be- there's nothing wrong with a little pride, is there...? Well, admittedly, pride is a quality that he has a surplus of but he's more than secure in the knowledge that his cooking is worthy of boasting.

The Ninja takes bowl from the side and fills it with what's left of what was in the rice cooker. On top of that, he adds a good amount of beef and broth before finally setting it on the counter for her.] Here. Take that to the table and I'll finish clearing up. Careful, it's hot.

I haven't had that before. I want to try it!

[She declares this with confidence. She enjoys trying new things, after all. As he prepares her a bowl, she leans up on her toes to watch, and when he sets it on the counter for her, she's quick to take it and do as he says. She seats herself at the table, her legs swinging where they dangle off the chair.]

...Um, but I have another question...! [She informs him of this in between puffing on her meal in an attempt to cool it.]

Pharos managed to get his hands on a CD player and some CDs (admittedly, he was only happy with the headphones he got because they looked familiar), and was spending some time trying to find out more about music. He figures he should also try to learn more about something else, but... he didn't know what yet.

He's sitting quietly on the floor with the CD player in his hands as he listens, glancing up as he sees a portal appear. Huh.

Completely unphased, Pharos just smiles as Rasha drops in. "Hello."

This isn't where she had wanted to wind up, either. That she can't utilize the portals with the same degree of proficiency she has in Lochwell outside of it is beginning to frustrate her. She lands neatly on her feet as she drops down to the floor, her expression faintly disgruntled.

However, all her concerns disappear the moment she realizes who she has dropped in on.

"Oh! Hello. What are you doing?"

"Listening to music." He holds up the current CD he was listening on- it's very different from what they'd been listening to in the bookstore. "What are you doing?"

"What kind of music is it?" She comes closer, moving to sit beside him. She doesn't pay heed to any concept of personal space, of course, leaning in to study the CD more closely. "Oh, um... I was just practicing, but I can't go as far here as I can in Lochwell for some reason, so I guess I wound up here by mistake."

"The woman at the store called it 'pop'." Whatever that means. Pharos offers her the headphones if she wants to listen. "What were you practicing?"

"'Pop'? Why's it called that?" She tilts her head. When the headphones are offered, she takes them, simply pressing them up to her ears. "U~m, I was practicing making portals."

"I asked, and she said it was because it was popular." Which seemed like a good reason to try it out, in his mind. "Is that what happened for you?" He hadn't really need a need to play with the 'powers' he'd received.

"Oh. I guess that makes sense." With the question of etymology cleared up, she nods. "Uh-huh. I thought it could be useful, so I wanted to get better at it."

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II. Lochwell

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III. Orlea

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III. Astralfield

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