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]

...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?

[scary_music]

[Ibuki let out a faint sigh of relief. She really didn't understand this whole "i r warrior and we must have honorable combat" thing... and was glad it wasn't going to happen. For now??]

Ah, that's right, we haven't had breakfast yet!!

Eat breakfast with us, Ikuri-chan!

[/2]

[darkshooter]

[You are more than most humans she's seen, Ippo. That much is understood. Certainly more worthy of respect than the trickster, though she was reasonably sure she bore that one no ill. If Ibuki chose you as her guardian...if her voice called out to you when danger threatened - it was easy to rationalize it. You seemed capable.]

[But just how capable are you?]

[...that awful vision. it could have been a warning.]

[darkshooter]

[-!]

[what]

[...an invitation?]


["Ambient feeder, perhaps."]

[...that's right. She still doesn't even know if she can eat like you do.]

[windgod]

Alright then, you two...wait here, and I'll go get things whipped up.

[And with a smile and a polite bow to his guest, he made his way to the kitchen. He had eggs to make and feelings/adrenaline to work through.]

[scary_music]

Come on, Ikuri-chan, take a seat!! He'll be done in no time, Ikuri-chan!

[With that she's gonna grab for Ikuri's arm to drag her to the table]

and now we get to see awkwardfais

[darkshooter]

[h-hey now]

[not...fighting it, though, just sorta letting the drag happen.]


[feelings/adrenaline? you and me both, sir.]

[windgod]

[It took the better part of 10 minutes, but eventually Ippo was coming back out into the kitchen area with three big plates of eggs, toast, and bacon. He felt sufficiently calmed down now, calm enough to at least not feel his stomach tied in a knot and he smiled pleasantly as he sat down.]

Alright everyone, dig in!

[scary_music]

Itadakimasu!!!

[And with that, Ibuki started eating]

[darkshooter]

[well, that makes one of us, sir. but at least the return to something resembling normality is doing her nerves service, too.]

[...]

[for her part, Ikuri just...sat there. watched the other two dig in, but was very hesitant to touch her own food. her eyes would go to them, of course, and then to the plate in front of her...]

[she understood the display, of course; understood that she was meant to do so as well.]

[But she still...wasn't...particularly easy about actually trying it. No telling what the consequences would be, after all; it was a risk she hadn't taken yet.]

[windgod]

[Ippo ate at his usual pace, his plate being bigger as he had more calories to burn during his exercises, but every so often he would glance at Ikuri to see if she was enjoying her food. Which she didn't seem to be.]

Are...you not hungry Ikuri? I could put that away for later if you'd like?

[scary_music]

Orrrrrr...

Has Ikuri-chan never eaten before? Are you a magic no eating food person, Ikuri-chan???

Or are you allergic to eggs??? Is that it???

[darkshooter]

[Ibuki's first guess was the correct one, but somehow this Shooter couldn't quite bring herself to say so.]

[She looks between her two hosts, visibly nervous and at something of a loss.]

[windgod]

Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, it's no problem at all, really!

[He hadn't wanted to make his new guest upset, it just...wasn't every day he met someone who didn't need to eat.]

[scary_music]

You should give it a try, Ikuri-chan!! You might like it!!

[/2]

[darkshooter]

[but... but...]

[don't know this.]


[and it's the specific kind of unknown that's bothering her, really. This is putting something into her body; if it goes wrong, how fix? How would it even respond?]

[darkshooter]

[...p-picking up a utensil (probably the wrong one), and...slowly...inching it towards the food on her plate. Seriously, tho, Ikuri, you're looking like those eggs are going to attack you or something.]

[and then she looks to Ippo.]

[It's not going to hurt me, right? ...You're sure? This is new and strange to me and I'm scared.]

[windgod]

[He could tell that look...he'd worn that same face for a long time, before he'd met Takamura and had his life changed. She was taking a first step into something unknown and that, even to hardened warriors, was scary. The best he could do was give her a confident gaze to focus on, a nod and a smile that said she'd be okay as a 100% guarantee.

He didn't need words for this, it was something unspoken between them and there was no hint of doubts in his actions. At worst...she wouldn't like it and spit it out, there was no way it could hurt or kill her though.]

[scary_music]

You can do it, Ikuri-chan! Ibuki believes in you!!

[This was a little dramatic for a simple breakfast...]

[/2]

[darkshooter]

[Simple for you guys, maybe, but Ippo up there's got the right of it. And that reassuring gaze of his? Absolutely the right move. In fact if this were an adventure game you'd probably hear an eponymous telltale melody that very clearly implies you did something correctly.]

[She may not know Ippo intimately in the sense of having actually fought with him because that totally counts as intimate for her okay, but she knows he's a fighter - even if not exactly the same breed as she - and, well, it's like the guy was saying up there. Two Of A Kind, you sorta get a sense for each other based just on that. A mutual respect is already in place.]

[And thanks to him, thanks to that respect, she feels courage returning - not only for this, but perhaps... perhaps this is what finally washes away the awful start to this day.]

[darkshooter]

[No need to steel herself - just jump right in. Before her nerves can fail her, she goes for scooping up part of the egg...with her butterknife. Which causes to slip and plop back on the plate. Determined, she instead cuts off part of the more solid white, lifts it up to her mouth - even bending her neck down to get it there, her chin almost touching the plate...]

[She slips it in.]


[It feels warm. Strange. Not unpleasant, but...warm, yes, that stands out the most. Warm.]


[She swallows.]

[...and waits. Sits there in silence, again looking between her hosts - as if expecting something somewhere to change at any moment.]


[Nothing happens. Not internally, not externally. And while Ikuri was nervous before, now she's simply puzzled.]

[windgod]

[Well...it was a start! She didn't seem to be getting anything from it if the look of confusion on her face was any indication, but hey! She took a bite!]

How...did it taste?

[Could she taste? If she didn't need to eat, what need would she have to taste at all...the real questions folks.]

[scary_music]

It was delicious, right, Ikuri-chan?!

[darkshooter]

...

It's warm.


[BECAUSE THAT STOOD OUT THE MOST. ...in fact she still feels it. she's supposed to, right? yes, it's called aftertaste.]

[Maybe it did taste like something to her and her lack of experience means she can't quite articulate it. Doesn't seem to be a bad reaction, though.]

[windgod]

T-that's good! Eggs are usually best when they're warm.

[That was a positive reaction, right? Warm usually meant good things.]

Feel free to have more if you want, there's more there.