[training mingle] Let's get down the business!

[traumaticus]

Who: Everyone out there!
Where: Outskirts of the Aldrip - Training Grounds
What: It's time for the Boot(y) Camp! The Chosen of Aldrip have all been invited to train, learn and spar!
Warnings: Other than the general violence? TBA..!



It is early morning on the 9th of September. The sun is shining, the air is fresh and nicely brisk, which means that it is just perfect time for Aldrip's first ever group training! How did you find your way there? Who knows! Maybe you were one of the people who saw the original announcement on the network, or noticed posters about it around Adlrip. Or maybe you were brought here by friendly white boar. Well, whatever the reason is what matters is that you are here. Welcome.

The empty field near the outskirts of the City has been transformed into a makeshift training camp. There are couple of tents set up around the camp. Some of them work as rather simplified armories containing pretty limited amount of blades, axes, armors, firearms, bows and arrows and what have you. Feel free to pick your poison, so to speak, but be sure to return what you borrow. Richard is keeping an eye on the weapons and will notice if something goes missing. Of course, characters are more than welcomed to use their own weapons and armors etc. Other tents are for resting, ER practice and dining. The lunch is sponsored by the Sandwich Hut.

The official training areas and their respective teachers/staff are the following:

Spiritual training/magic: Kurama, Douman, Kakashi
First-aid: Ethlyn, Morph, Bones
Rescue training: Morph, Bones
Hand-to-hand combat: Jirk Jim & Spock, Kakashi
Tech support: Jirk Jim & Spock
Fire arms: Caitlyn, Levi
Swords & Melee: Richard, Hiei
Archery: Richard
Survival skills: Richard, Kurama
Military training: Jim & Spock, Miller, Richard
Endurance training: Bones
Lunch: Junpei (and Whitey the Albino Boar)

If there is an activity a character would like to do that isn't included in the list that's no problem. Feel free to create your own top-level with said activity or you know! Just the usual stuff that varies from silly hang-out to whatever your heart desires.

Also for references sake: here is the OG ooc info post about regarding the mingle

Comments

[endcaller]

[Fandaniel's lips curl back as Douman's touch feathers the side of his neck. The expression is cruel, mocking.]

Then you would have the privilege of lying and gaining insights about yours truly at no risk to yourself.

Alas, we are at an impasse.

[He pokes Douman's chest with a curled knuckle.]

Or would be, had I aught to hide.

My answer is the truth. We are called many things, dependent on whom you ask.

[nuraridouman]

[Maybe they are. But even Fandaniel's actions and denials still tell a story of their own. Just as Douman's must be, he figures.]

Mmmh, same here. And yet, I'm a nurarihyon.

[moving on]

What would you call yourself?

[endcaller]

"Fandaniel", of course!

[He places a hand to his heart and looks into the mask hovering above him with an expression of false sincerity. That is not what he's being asked and he knows it.]

Is this your second question or another attempt at your first?

[nuraridouman]

Second. It's your turn for your second now, since you used the first to ask for clarifications.

[There was a slight twitch at the obvious game Fandaniel's played, but Douman has learned how to be patient. You can't catch a mouse by patting at the first show of a whisker, after all.]

[endcaller]

[His lips twitch into a smirk, then he reaches up and lays a finger against the mask's nose.]

Your escape tricks are quite impressive! How does one capture a nurarihyon?

...Do forgive me for jumping straight to a more complicated question but having wasted a question for the sake of clarity I must make use of what I have left. You understand.

[nuraridouman]

[The eyes behind the mask slowly blink once.]

That's simple. You don't.

[He could go on and share that there are ways to land a hit on him, but Fandaniel only asked about capturing. Nobody has managed to successfully permanently hold him against his will ever since he became a youkai yet. 'The Nurarihyon is a youkai who enters your home and drinks your tea.' It's such a silly description that the humans came up with for him. As if there's no terror to somebody having the power to just enter your sanctuary and make it theirs whenever they please.]

Should I be concerned that you want to know such a thing?

[endcaller]

No, of course not.

[He waves a dismissive hand.]

I ask as a man of science! Facing an entity I cannot hit is not an experience I'll soon forget.

[nuraridouman]

Of course.

[His smile behind the mask's open mouth is as dismissive as Fandaniel's handwave.]

Youkai come in many forms and shapes. I'd actually consider myself and my powers as rather boring by comparison. Besides, your own defense was nothing to scoff at either.

[endcaller]

Ha. I simply have a few tricks up these wide sleeves of mine, that is all.

[He hooks a finger toward Douman.]

Your turn now, I believe.

[nuraridouman]

If you wish. [He inclines his head, as if he needs to think about his next question for a moment.]

Why do you not want to tell me what you are? It's just a species' name, as far as I'm concerned.

[endcaller]

Aw, my evasiveness is vexing you, I see.

[A breathy giggle.]

As I said, we do not have but one name. If you must know one of our more popular appellations it's "Ascian".

[At this, he raises a hand upward again.]

The term was not created for us, of course. It means "without shadow". As you can see, my clothing casts shadows upon my face and yet, my body...

[He gestures downward, indicating the ground beside them where Douman's shadow appears to be sitting with legs outstretched, speaking to nothing.]

[nuraridouman]

Which is exactly what you want, isn't it? [He'd add a not so nice nickname to that question if they weren't still doing their elusive word battle.]

An Ascian. I see.

[Douman makes a surprised noise as he follows Fandaniel's gesture and finally notices the missing shadow. How could he not have noticed that before? Because shadows are just such a normal and ordinary thing, probably. How irritating, falling for a trick that's so similar to his own youkai powers. Hmmm, but isn't that also normal, to overlook what should be all too obvious and right in front of your face? That thought mollifies his ego a little bit. Just enough to not let him get competitive over it.

At least he now knows what his next questions will be.]

Goodness. Hm, it's your turn now, isn't it?

[endcaller]

Mm...I suppose it is.

[Fandaniel sits up and, if Douman doesn't phase out, slings an arm around the other man's shoulders. A finger of his free hand prods Douman's chest.]

I am most fascinated by this mask of yours. Tell me the reason you wear it.

[He ducks forward to press his forehead against the elderly mask and stares into its eyes. The whole display seems flirtatious but like most things the Ascian does, it's a diversion. He's hoping it's irritating enough to distract Douman from noticing that he hadn't phrased anything in the form of an actual question.]

[nuraridouman]

[He'll find himself touching a surprisingly thin body beneath all those voluminous layers of clothes while Douman sputters in indignant surprise. Douman's shoulders are wide enough, but he's almost too lean thanks to his diet consisting mostly of whatever cigarettes and alcohol he can sneak in between his work. There is a wiry strength to him, but it's clear that he's not going to win his fights by brutal force alone.]

My mask -?

[A hand quickly reaches up and secures the wooden object in place, just in case the Ascian gets any funny ideas with it.]

Because not wearing it would be even more of a hassle, why else? Don't you know that it's impolite to ask a youkai about their circumstances?

[He's wildly on the defensive now, but his face is just a sensitive topic.]

[endcaller]

[Fandaniel's eyes sparkle.

What a fun reaction!]

I don't!

As I've said, I am a man of science and as such am relentlessly curious. You must forgive me for wondering about someone who chooses to wear a mask all day!

[His grin widens and he chuckles at his own joke.

Ascians wear masks. Fandaniel has worn one for the better part of the last five millennia. The masks are significant, marking one's station while covering the face and hiding what makes each individual unique. Now that the Unsundered have fallen, he chooses not to wear his anymore.]

[nuraridouman]

[Douman somehow manages to give him the best impression of an upset frown despite the mask.]

That counts as a question, just so you know.

[He sighs as he shakes his head. He should be used to questions about his mask. Covering your face is not too unusual among youkai, considering that some can curse or otherwise influence those around them just by meeting their eyes as a passive trait, but picking a Noh mask for that purpose is still outstanding. Especially since the Okina is the most 'sacred' among its kind, since it's often used to depict a high-ranking god.

But the truth is that Douman had simply grabbed one at a whim because he had needed to cover his face at first, and had later liked how its other meanings matched so well with his own goals. It had been the kind of inside-joke that fit a youkai.

He gives Fandaniel another look as he mulls over his turn.]

Do all bodies that you take over lose their shadows?

[endcaller]

Aw, but I did not phrase it as a question!

[He gasps and lifts a hand to his mouth as if scandalized by this situation. Then, when Douman asks his next question, he drops his hand away again.]

Yes.

[No elaboration.

Every body he possesses loses its shadow the moment he takes over.]

In what way is it "more of a hassle" to not wear a mask?

[nuraridouman]

No arguing semantics. We're not playing "my one free wish is to get unlimited more free wishes" here.

[Which is still very nicely phrased.]

Hmmm. I see. So it's your 'tell'.

[Though one Douman won't rely on, with how freely that particular information was given.]

Because of how people react when they see my true face. It's always the same.

[endcaller]

I see...

[He reaches up and boops the mask's nose.]

I shall have to inquire further about that but first, 'tis your turn, I believe.

[nuraridouman]

[The nose is booped! It pushes the wood against Douman's real nose, but that's all the effect of it.]


I see. Why do you smile?

[It's just a random observation, wondered out loud as he lets his fingertips glide over the back of Fandaniel's spine and shoulders.]

[endcaller]

[Fandaniel tenses slightly beneath the caress but doesn't flinch away. There is a battle of wills at play here beneath their little question game, and he refuses to lose.]

Because it amuses me to watch my fellow Chosen scurry about their meaningless lives. You --we-- are a very funny group, you must agree.

[The smile in question never falters as he lays fingertips against the mask, almost as if he intends to peel the wood back from the face beneath it.]

Do the people who see your face react in fear or revulsion?

[nuraridouman]

Not really. I wouldn't mind leaving all of this - people included - behind me today rather than tomorrow. You lot make for a poor vacation entertainment and the location isn't at all what I booked, either.

[He shakes his head, pretending to tsk-tsk sadly under his breath. The fingers on Fandaniel's back dig in their nails for a moment, just to see how the other will react.

(Hopefully the ascian is planning on removing the layer of gold paint on the mask first, or peeling it will leave them both covered in a terrible amount of wood shavings and glitter.)]

Both. It's usually followed up with a "what happened to your--"

[endcaller]

And that will likely be my next question so do brace yourself for that.

[The sharpness of the nails against his back is dulled by the layers of fabric and leather, but he recognizes the movement when he feels it; the curling of fingers. His own fingers dance along the cheeks of the mask and come to rest by the ears, gently touching the string holding it in place.]

Ah, but where are my manners, 'tis your turn again, is it not?

[nuraridouman]

[He will find that the strings holding the mask in place are surprisingly sturdy before Douman pulls his head away. The nurarihyon is willing to tolerate much, but this is apparently far enough for Fandaniel's touchy-feely fingers. But at least his fingers stop digging as well.]

It is. Although I'm starting to run out of questions to ask you. ....... How many bodies have you used up to date?

sorry I died

[endcaller]

One more each, then.

[He leans back on his hands, shifting his weight in Douman's lap.]

Many. I've used up a great many. Oh, but you know it is with flesh. It dies. Or outlives its usefulness. One or the other.