[closed]

[p66]

CHARACTERS: Reika Kagura and Haise Sasaki
DATE: Backdated to 2/20
WARNINGS: Nah
SUMMARY: [dramatic jojo music] ITS AWAKENING TIME

[ By now, much of Woodhurst has become a ghost town. Reika is out alone, but it's not that far a walk to Haise's safe house and she has her bat with her. If something happens, she'll be able to defend herself without killing other people. The most important part.

Coming to Haise's place is partially to help him, and partially to check on the people around the area. She's not too educated, thus barring her from the science side of things; so she only has physical work to devote herself to. Soon enough she arrives without being ambushed and rings the doorbell. ]

Comments

glorious amirite

[ex_adept136]

Yes, it's easiest to blend in that way. When I work with the police, I have to use a firearm.

[Have to, because it's just not natural for him]

They've been going as well as might be expected, considering the circumstances.

[When they reach the garage he nudges the door open and flicks the light on before stepping into the room, glancing around to assess what might serve as a decent practice weapon for their purposes]

IT IS

[p66]

[ Reika herself is familiar with guns, but not in the handheld types - assault guns, blast guns, monsters that take two hands to wield. ]

We'll pull through.

[ It's all she offers before she turns her attention to looking around. There's a shovel near the back wall, but it seems unwieldy. ]

[ex_adept136]

I'm sure you're right.

[Haise scans the tools arrayed along one wall until he spots a hoe. It's about as long as the weapon he's accustomed to, without the less manageable ends that a rake or a shovel might offer.

And even then, when he tugs it down from the wall, he's twisting the end piece off so he's just left with the long handle]

This should do.

[He'll even wield it like a two-handed sword]

[p66]

These two should match up with sturdiness, too.

[ She hefts her own bat. It's a bit worn now due to having been used against some of the infected, but it's sturdy. ]

We'll be set.

[ It's more of a reassurance than anything else, said for both Haise and herself. ]

[ex_adept136]

Shall we get started then?

[He assumes a ready stance, only to pause.

Perhaps he ought to...]

I'm not sure if I've said this previously, but you don't need to hold back on my account. My body recovers quickly, and just gets stronger if I get hurt, besides.

[And he'd much rather she get the full benefit of practice than restrain herself for his sake]

[p66]

Then we're the same. Thanks, Haise.

[ He probably already knows this; she doesn't keep her modified nature under wraps to those whom it might concern. ]

Let's do our best, then?

[ With that she squares her stance and a violet aura shimmers around the baseball bat in her hands. Yet she doesn't move first, waiting to see what he would respond with. ]

[ex_adept136]

Of course.

[Well, that's certainly an impressive ability. Haise doesn't know what it does, of course, but he's willing to bet it's more than just for show.

Since he doesn't possess any abilities quite so flashy, he supposes he'll find out how Reika's power works when he closes distance and takes a swing with his makeshift weapon]

[p66]

[ It's one of her Blood Arts, the most versatile one - she'll tire herself out using it, but this is only for practice, so it should be fine.

She catches Haise's strike on the side of her bat - the wood hums as if alive, resonating with the aura around it. Its purpose is to strengthen the item so it wouldn't break as well.

Will he push? ]

[ex_adept136]

[Rather than throwing his weight behind his strike, Haise treats it as a feint. As soon as their wooden weapons impact, he pivots and attacks from the other side, his pretend sword cutting through the air with unnatural speed.

He's not a regular human, and since Reika isn't either, he ought to ensure she gets an actual challenge if he can]

[p66]

[ Reika is a balanced fighter above all, but her speed definitely isn't up to his. She lets his strike reach her, a blink being the only reaction she allows to the pain - instead, she twists her weapon away to feint at him instead.

He's fast so maybe she'd have to play defensive this time, but it's worth a try. ]

[ex_adept136]

[Haise shifts his grip from one end of the pole to the other to guard against her strike, once more too swift for a normal human. It concerns him that she simply absorbed that first blow, but since her reaction was minimal, he hopes that means he didn't actually hurt her.

Later he can always use a healing spell if he needs to]

[p66]

[ She's a lot stronger than she looks, but that doesn't make her fast enough - so it's the defensive this time, jerking the bat down to force Haise's pole away from herself.

Fighting a human is very different from fighting an Aragami, and it's something she's sorely lacking experience in. It probably shows. ]

[ex_adept136]

[Haise does notice the stiffness about the way she parries, and it's enough to make him inquire-]

What sorts of enemies do you usually fight?

[He takes a half-step back to let her recover, weapon flicking back into a ready stance along with his posture]

[p66]

[ At least Aragami give graces of being large. Small and fast is.... ]

Ah, large beasts... [ It's probably showing, so she looks apologetic. ] I'm not used to fighting people.

[ex_adept136]

[Small and fast is Haise Sasaki.

Especially when some of their teammates are practically trees]

Ah, it must be strange then... But my experience with ALASTAIR has mostly been with opponents about our own size, so it's good to get accustomed.

[p66]

Yeah. It requires different strategies... but I'm strong, so I can learn.

[ It's never pleasant fighting other people instead of senseless monsters, but. ]

I really appreciate you helping me.

[ex_adept136]

I benefit from it too. I mean...with regular humans I have to hold back a bit.

[A bit may be something of an understatement here, but Haise always appreciates having people closer to his degree of brute strength, or at least bearing abilities that help them keep up]

If you don't mind my asking, what's that light?

[He gestures at her improvised weapon]

[p66]

[ With great strength... comes great responsibility. ]

Likewise. I've only trained with Julius so far, since he's at my level.

[ But about that... the light's faded once they stopped engaging, but. ]

Ah, it's from my Blood Art. They're like special techniques that some people from my world use. They help make our weapons stronger.

[ex_adept136]

Blood Art... [It sounds ominous] That doesn't harm you, does it?

[Look, he's a team mom too, he's just got to ask]

[p66]

No, not really. I get tired sometimes, but that's all.

[ Perfectly safe. 'Safe' ]

I didn't name it, someone else did, and the name sort of stuck. I know it sounds a little weird.

[ex_adept136]

I have to admit, it leaves one wondering why...

[But maybe someone thought it sounded cool?]

Either way, so long as it doesn't hurt you.

[p66]

[ Their unit is called the Blood unit, so probably yes. ]

It doesn't. Don't worry about me.

[ One of the few things in her world that doesn't come with a often-lethal catch. ]

[ex_adept136]

Alright. Shall we continue then?

[He's asked enough prying questions, and he thinks Reika reasoned enough to let others know if her power presented any risks.

No need to waste her time when they're here to work]

[p66]

Yeah! Let me know if there's anything you think I can improve on.

[ She steps back to give him some space, waiting for his signal. ]

[ex_adept136]

Will do. Instruction was among my responsibilities, back home.

[And he's...actually a bit of a tough critic there, but compared with his own mentor that's not saying a whole lot.

He shifts his weight, angling his wooden weapon between them]

Try and break my guard, if you'd be so kind.

[...Such manners]