Day 288

[polariity]

Who: The Helmsman and you
Open: Open
When: Day 288
Where: By the entrance to the Skyway
What: The Helmsman ventures out and comes back with some shinies he's heard so much about.
Format: Any
Warnings: The usual difficulties that come with chatting it up with him

Regardless of the tension that's flared up because of recent discussions, it seems as though the Helmsman's schedule hasn't changed particularly greatly. Today, just like every other day, he ventures outwards from the Tower. Unlike every other day, however, he doesn't venture off onto Dragonfield or wander about the Bastion or lay face down on the grass. Instead, when he shows up again, it's from the direction of the Skyway and a bruise blossoming on one side of his face.

And then he lays down on the grass where anyone could step on him.

At least it's not just laying, this time. Sparks of red and blue lift up tiny little shards for him to inspect curiously. For anyone in the area, he's not hard to miss.

Comments

[bakegarasu]

He's quiet for a bit. It's clear this guy is thinking hard about something, so he doesn't really want to interrupt. Instead he shifts a bit and stretches out, just letting himself feel the sunshine. The grass kind of tickles, but it's a nice sensation.

... Maybe he should do this more often. He's not exactly a nature person, but he could get used to this.

[polariity]

Eventually, he lets up, if only because now he's tired of holding this towel to his face. It gets laid onto Otoha's chest, and the Helmsman tilts his head as he stares at him.

So what now? Is that it?

[bakegarasu]

... Okay.

"It should help reduce the swelling now that you've taken care of it." He picks the towel up and sets it aside.

"Were you planning on doing something else today?" Because he's bored, honestly.

[polariity]

Anything else? The Helmsman considers it before just glancing down to the shards. Beyond getting those...

His answer comes in the shake of his head. No, not really.

[bakegarasu]

"I don't really have anything else to do either."

Maybe he'll just sit and bug Helmsman more.

[polariity]

There's no real good way to mime out 'so what's your usual schedule', so the Helmsman just makes another question mark.

[bakegarasu]

"... Usually I just head out to the Skyway to get shards, come back and eat, and train. ... I don't do a whole lot."

It's not like he can read any of the books here other than the one that he bought.

[polariity]

Well, it's good to hear that he's not the only loser that doesn't do anything of particular interest while around. Even if he's pretty sure he's still the more boring between them, considering his national pasttime of "watching shit happen from a window".

He holds up three fingers, hoping that Otoha gets the idea that he's asking about that 'training' bit.

[bakegarasu]

"... I fight with a sword. I have since I was young. I'm not afraid of the monsters out there, but letting myself get sloppy is a recipe for disaster."

Not that he cares much if he lives or dies, but he can't defend anyone if he's dead.

[polariity]

Some more stick figures now, both with crudely 'drawn' swords in their hands. Only two, however. Psii gestures to one and points to Otoha, but then there's a point to the second one. A question mark appears over its head.

[bakegarasu]

"Mostly training dummies. If someone else comes in to practice I'll spar with them, but it's mostly angles of attack I'm worried about. I know I'm fast."

Fast enough to get out of most trouble, anyway. Most of the monsters out there are just things that are... odd-shaped compared to the people he's used to fighting.

[polariity]

Angles of attack... The Helmsman's brow furrows more. The stick figure he makes is one legged and with its arms straight to the side- a practice dummy best he can differentiate one from his usual. Idly, he pokes the figure with his finger and then glances at Otoha disbelievingly.

No offense, bro... But those things seem pretty useless when it comes to "angles of attack".

[bakegarasu]

"... It's not the best, but when I'm not on the Skyway it's not like there's living targets I can practice on."

Most people get really huffy when you try to stab them, oddly enough.

[polariity]

But aren't there, the.... Whats its... Psii makes a rough sketch of a Gasfella.

[bakegarasu]

"Yeah. But for some reason being out there is... really tiring."

He can't stay out too long and not start to get worried about not being alert enough to watch his own back.

[polariity]

Huh. That's new. The Helmsman shifts onto his stomach, stretching his harms out to curl his fingers curiously. He hadn't noticed any exhaustion... But he doesn't notice his own body's issues to begin with.

[bakegarasu]

"If I die out there, I can't protect anyone."

Obviously. He's not going to just go die for no reason. Not yet.

[polariity]

A tiny stickfigure with his sword at the ready... and behind him, a question mark. Who is there to protect?

[bakegarasu]

"... People here. My city's... gone. I was its guardian. I'm supposed to protect 'my' people and fight whatever I'm thrown at. The only people left to protect are... here."

[polariity]

'His' people, huh? Doesn't he know how it feels to fuck that up... The Helmsman gives a morose nod, pointing to himself and making a thumbs down.

[bakegarasu]

"... You know the feeling, huh?"

... It's kind of nice to know that someone else knows what that's like. Not that it's a good feeling, but it feels a little less lonely.

[polariity]

It's not exactly a happy expression that crosses his face, and the Helmsman curls up a bit as he nods. If only he could blame the end of the world on how he fucked up everything.

[bakegarasu]

"... There's good people here. Whatever happened in the past, they don't seem to mind. So... there's that, at least."

And the Helmsman counts in that.

[polariity]

No one here seems to care... That's right. That reminds him that this can't be anything but a product of his pan. All he can do is shake his head, gesturing to it. A shame it doesn't get the point across.

[bakegarasu]

Yeah he... doesn't get that one. He just stares for a moment.

"Something about your head?"

Gestures can only do so much.