Day 314 / 315 ★ 003 ★ [Open]

[darkshooter]

Who: Black★Rock Shooter and whoever wants to encounter her in Scenarios [A] and [B1]. [B2] will likely be closed to Ibuki and Ippo to preserve timeline.
Open: See above. [Y] for A and B1; [N] for B2.
When: Day 314 - Night [A] or Deep Night [B1]; Day 315 - Predawn [B1] or Dawn [B2].
Where: Anywhere in the Bastion for Route [A] (though she will not go indoors). Near Ibuki's house for [B] Routes.
What: Night is not a good time for sleeping. Let's find something else to occupy ourselves.
Format: Action brackets, though I can try my hand at another type if you'd like.
Warnings: None as such, though Ikuri might be even jumpier than usual. She's kind of nervous at night. Also, originally hammered this out in a hurry before work; still kinda reviewing it at the time of this edit.





* * *
(( Scenario [A] - Night ))

(( BGM: The Bastion - Restlessness [Baldur's Gate: Night on the Plains] ))

[Ikuri did not enjoy the night.]

[As much as possible, she'd tried to avoid sleeping during this time, only bedding down once she determined that dawnlight was not far away (although on particularly bad nights, she couldn't rest even then). Going out to hunt shards wasn't particularly enjoyable during these hours, either, but on occasion she would manage to steel herself...]

[Tonight wasn't a night for such. She'd already completed her expedition for today, and was appropriately winded; however, her nerves were working on her and she wasn't exactly in the mood to sleep. What she did instead was wander about and observe, perchance to wonder and daydream. Anything that distracted her from her fears was welcome indeed.]

[Many retired to their shelters at night. She'd found no obvious reason for this, and had come to conclude that it was merely habit. The advantage was that she'd be left alone, as much as that was an advantage; the drawback was that there was less to observe, less likelihood of being interacted with. As much as she was still basically leery of the people here - certain people especially - she had in fact become rather desperately lonely over the course of her isolation. No interaction was necessary...simply watching them was often enough.]


[It is completely possible to find her anywhere in the outer areas of the Bastion; she will not venture indoors, though she will wander close to buildings and perhaps even look through any windows etc. if there's enough light to see what's going on - and perhaps even if there isn't. Curiosity, y'know.]

[And yet, perhaps by some unconscious drive, she will try to appear inconspicuous while she does this - pretending to merely idle about with no real interest in what's near her, for example, and then pseudo-discreetly slide towards it. This, even if nobody appears to be watching - and if someone is noticed, most especially if they also appear to have noticed her, she will try to appear something resembling casual (for her), usually offering an acknowledge-nod, and then wander off somewhere else. Hooray for not acting suspicious?]

[Perhaps most entertainingly, if you're sharp enough (and of course, depending on the individual), catching might well inspire more embarrassment than anxiety, although there'll always be the latter. In particular, if you're somebody she knows and has some degree of positive feeling for and you try to engage her, she won't always run away. Keywords being 'won't always' - sometimes, even then, she'll be a hurry to slip off, perhaps offering a word or two of small talk if that's what it takes to dismiss you. Again, as much as she can manage such a thing.]

[And her wanderings tend to take her back toward a certain house near her own, where she might linger...]


* * *
(( Scenario [B1] - Home? ))

(( BGM: same track ))

[At various intervals during her nightly 'walk', Ikuri would return to this house more often than her own abode mere paces away. She understood why, though she wasn't willing to admit it to herself. The nearest thing she knew to a friend lived here.]

[Discreetly, she'd tried to linger near the place when activity was still going on, watching as much of Ibuki as she could (though she didn't know the other person with her). Her hackles were raised at first, but she soon grasped that he was someone of particular importance to her, and so she let it be. But even after they'd retired for the night, Ikuri still came by to watch the house, maybe peek in a window (from a distance) to see if anything else was happening.]

[She found herself saddened when it became clear that Ibuki was no longer awake and there would be nothing more from within the house. If said Ibuki had spotted her or come close to doing so, DUCKING THE LIVING HECK OUT OF SIGHT would've been an immediate thing. Ikuri's not exactly camouflaged.]


[Now, perhaps more anxiously than ever, she hovered near the small house. On impulse, she meandered up to the front door several times (after making sure nobody was watching), and...each time, moved back away from it. Finally she gets it in her to turn the handle.]

[...it opens.]



[and with inaudible alarm, she shuts it right again. Quickly, she stares about the outside gloom to see if anyone witnessed her. She would've ensured no bystanders were nearby before attempting this in the first place, really.]

[Opening it again, she narrows her eyes and peers into the dark. Details, yes...inspiring curiosity, but she's also intensely aware of the danger. Once more, she closes it.]

[What distresses her most isn't the idea that she might've been seen - although that does play a role in her anxieties - but rather the notion that Ibuki's small shelter is unfortified. She'd unconsciously assumed that some form of defense was in place, though she'd had no pressing urge to test it. If one could gain entrance so easily...]

[No, this - we must not have this. Someone could harm Ibuki. Vigilance must be held.]

[Yes, there's every chance the Bastion's anti-violence properties were explained to her by now, but Shooter would rather rely on herself and her own instincts than trust something else to take care of things.]

[Immediately after...she takes up a sort of tight, closed patrol route around the house, watching it - and the vicinity - relentlessly from all angles. We can't say tirelessly, though, for the shard-gathering of that day still wore on her...and the hours were passing towards dawn.]



* * *
(( Scenario [B2] - Rest ))

[Time passed. Soon, the sun's glow was softly touching the land, Shooter found herself deeply weary. There was no sign of any hostile presence. Finally, she moved up to the front door once again - or rather, right next to it...]

[...and sat down, bracing her back against the wall.]



[Not long after, she falls asleep.]


[Throughout her rest, she shifts positions, eventually taking to laying right in front of the door itself.]

[One hopes that whoever opens the door will look before running out.]

Comments

[windgod]

Y-you don't say?

[Oh boy, she's getting closer...]

Yes...I'm Ippo. It's nice to meet you Ikuri.

[darkshooter]

[... ...scrutinizing.]

[...]


[and then]

[reaching forward, to feel your shoulder. the base of the neck...and then she's stepping closer still, to lift up Ippo's arm-]

[fingers pushing down and applying pressure, traveling down the length and feeling the firmness of his muscles. this look on her face, too - apparently she considers this a very serious process.]

[Hello personal space, hope you don't mind me being here. We're on business.]

[scary_music]

...

Ikuri-chan, you should say hi to Ippo-chan proper-like!

Unless molesting Ibuki's fiance is your way of saying hi...???

[...]

[windgod]

[His confusion is the most absolute it's been since he got here...and he's seen Paarthunax. He just kind of...froze in place and started staring at Ibuki looking for help.]

Ibuki...what's going on...? Is...is this normal? Should I be worried?

DESPITE ICON, still just srs; not actually annoyed

[darkshooter]

[SO HOW ABOUT YOUR CALVES. YOU DON'T MIND, RIGHT.]

[except she's not asking and there's no apparent intention to do so, this is important.]


[...hmm...]

[scary_music]

Ibuki has no idea what Ikuri-chan is doing...?!?!

Ikuri-chan?????? Ikuri-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan????

[windgod]

[Oh boy...oh boy this is all sorts of umcomfortable, but she doesn't seem to be doing anything horridly inappropriate asides from being really close...so...?]

I...is she just checking my muscles?

[For what Ikuri would be feeling? Pretty much just warm marble with only minimal give, enough that you could tell they were muscles and not solid stone...only just barely though.]

[/2]

[darkshooter]

[...]

[abdomen and torso are next. those regions are apparently of particular intersest, given that her tactile examination takes extra points in slow and careful. Good timing, perhaps - this might well lend extra weight to Ippo's speculation.]

[Uncommon. Different from the others...very different from Ibuki.]


[...]

[pectorals...back to the neck...]

(also thanks for the details, mate. :3)

[darkshooter]

[and finally - your face. This one is thorough: cheekbones, jawline, even the forehead; fingers pressed against your skull, more strength than usual, as though - as before - feeling for firmness, for solidarity.]

[You feel strong. She feels strength from you, even without touch. But...]

[scary_music]

...

Okay, it's Ibuki's turn!

[And... she starts doing the same thing to Ippo that Ikuri did to him?? Though she had no idea what Ikuri was actually testing for so it's more like she's just randomly poking and prodding the boxer]

[windgod]

H-hey, Ibuki! T-that tickles!!

[Ibuki was much less careful with her poking and prodding, so it was only natural she'd hit ticklish spots. Have fun with him squirming around while trying to stand still.]

[/2]

[darkshooter]

[she almost scolds them. almost. and by that I mean she pulls back abruptly, visibly annoyed this time, and just manages to bite back a reprimand.]

[that bad dream didn't do her patience any favors, you know.]


[...pragmatism is what saves the day here. it is not necessary, she realizes - she has, perhaps, learned as much as she could from an examination like that. perhaps.]

[darkshooter]

You.

[Very definitely requesting your attention there, Ippo.]

[windgod]

[The giggling stops and suddenly he looks very concerned again. That was a very commanding "You" he just got there.]

Uh...y-yes?

[scary_music]

...

...

[Ibuki turns to Ikuri and then...]

[... starts poking her, too]

Whoops, sorry guys - notif screw on my end. [/2]

[darkshooter]

[...looking him up and down, as if to confirm something.]

Fighter?

[darkshooter]

[...ibuki what are you doing.]

[is this the time.]

[windgod]

...Yes? I mean...I'm a boxer.

[That was a fighter, right?]

[scary_music]

[just what is this the time for??]

[Ibuki's still poking and prodding Ikuri though]

[darkshooter]

[it's the time for adults to discuss adult matters, kindly stop.]

[Her hand quickly and easily reaches out to grab one of Ibuki's, though she does it without even looking her way; that gaze of hers seems trained an Ippo. (She...isn't totally familiar with that term, 'boxer,' but he said yes - that's good enough.)]


Test.

[That's right. She's dead serious.]

[windgod]

Test?

[He seems confused, but there's a growing tension in his gut as he locked eyes with Ikuri. This was the same feeling he got before the starting bell went off; she had that look in her eye, the eyes of a fighter with her spirit on full display. That alone was enough for him to get the idea.]

I mean...a friendly spar couldn't hurt but, we should probably go to the gym?

[You know...so they didn't wreck up the house.]

[scary_music]

...

...

O-ooohhh...

The atmosphere of when two fight hungry people meet... Ibuki's out of her element here!

[/2] see that ippo tag suddenly made me think 'eye of the tiger'

[darkshooter]

...No.

[The need was deeper than simple sport. And yet...simply arriving at that thought made her realize:]

[She was not at all ready to communicate that need right now.]


[Ikuri released her friend's hand, more gently and easily than when she'd taken hold - and though that had not been particularly rough...she still turns to look at Ibuki, her face communicating an apology without words...]

[and there is pain to be found there, too.]

[darkshooter]

Later.

...Please.

[windgod]

...Right, later.

[He could still feel that tension in the air, it was something fighters like them understood; a feeling of both mutual respect and animosity without any of the hatred. He knew they were going to fight sometime soon, it was the same way he'd felt when he met Sendo-san...and he felt just wound up about it as he did when he'd gotten his title.

This...Ikuri, she was strong and if she wanted a fight...well, he couldn't in good conscience turn her down. To a warrior, that would just be plain old disrespect.

Right now though, was not fighting time. It was being a good host time.]

How about...breakfast? I was going to make some eggs if you're hungry?