thenearshore | [closed]

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Who: The commander and the sword
What: Figuring out this prayer thing
When: February 17, Midday
Where: A university somewhere in Tohoku
Warnings: Nada mucho

Above the tree line, without anything to withstand the assault, the wind whipped around the clock tower and buffeted a cloud of flurries around the pair standing there. Shepard stood with one foot poised on the shallow ledge, hair churning like a beacon of fire in a winter storm as she peered down at the crowd flooding the university campus below. One period or another had just let out and she was hoping to spot their poor victim in the lunch rush. Frowning down at the wooden plaque in hand, it seemed she was no more pleased with their objective than when it first had arrived this morning.

As if that weren't bad enough, snow played like pins and needles across a face that was already flush against the frigid air. She thought of space and she shivered. "Turians don't like cold, Shepard." A voice came to her across time and an immeasurable distance, a juxtaposition of droll and musical and every bit as biting. Didn't I ever tell you, she thought to no one that could hear her, I don't much care for it either.

Turning to her partner, she wondered briefly how he was faring. The folds of his clothes were thin but voluminous layers and she likely would have believed anything from unbearable to mildly unpleasant. It had to be better than Cerberus fatigues at the very least. She really needed to do something about those. Once they were finished here.

"You have any idea what we're supposed to be looking for yet?" New as she was to this, Shepard didn't really know what to expect. A light bulb? A sign? Tingling deity senses? At this point, she was prepared for anything.

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So she misses the courtyard and drops them right in the midst of a rush of students on their way out the door. Fortunately their landing is on solid ground. Less fortunate is the guy that runs right into them and goes down with a thud, a panoply of accounting books and business texts sprawling in a particular radius around him.

"What the hell was that?" He rubs at his head as he scrambles to recover his things. In addition to the books there's a few folders and papers and scattered notes and, curiously enough, they are covered in the same name and hand that pairs perfectly with the prayer on her plaque. A harried search for his assailant ensues in which he seems to be looking everywhere but right at them.

It's a rather surreal reaction and she gives Yamato the look. The one that wonders what's going on. Maybe he'll pick up on it; maybe he won't. Either way, she shrugs.

Of course. Of course she did. (Commander-kun why...)

But hey, at least this is way more convenient! It would have been, anyway, if their quarry didn't seem to be putting on an impromptu theatrical performance. What is he doing? From the look on Shepard's face, it doesn't seem she knows either.

"Maybe he's blind," Yamato comments, without lowering his voice because what is tact, can you eat it?

But this is his first chance to prove himself as a good shinki, and he's eager to help. So he does the logical thing, and moves to stand uncomfortably close to the student.

"Excuse me, are you the angry young man?"

Hey. There's a reason she's the commander and not the pilot.

As for their young patron, there's no way he can ignore such an invasion of his personal space and he gives a start, dropping his books all over again. This time, he makes no move to retrieve them, with his attention shifting only between the pair. "Who are you!? What... what are you talking about?"

"Definitely not blind," she determines before moving into his space as well. She gets right down to his level and holds up the ema so it spins languidly with every gust of wind. His cold words flash back and forth before his eyes. "I woke up to a rather interesting message this morning. Thought I'd give you a chance to explain yourself."

Oh, she's doing it too, that must mean he did something right. Right? But now isn't the time to dwell on it. They have a job to do.

"It was very rude," he comments, stepping back. Shepard is the star of this show, after all. And while he's not intimidated by her, it's not because she isn't more than capable of being scary. And while she's menacing their friend, he can start looking for a suitable weapon. A broom, a branch... anything good for hitting.

"Do you think you could wish for something nicer?"

There's a moment where the young man looks at them, baffled. There's a moment where his confusion solidifies into a determination that these two were crazy. And then there's the moment where he catches sight of the words, really sees them and makes sense of them and his eyes go wide.

"What the fuck kind of stalkers are you? That's none of your business!" He's casting about aimlessly until he grabs hold of the nearest thing he can find, his own bag. He uses it to take a swing at Shepard who breezily rocks back on her heels. The bag meets only air and pockets of snow which she blows out of her face. With her focus now reserved for him and his next move, it's safe to say she's far less aware of her shinki's intentions.

"Bad move kid." Her voice has dropped a few degrees past the freezing point. "I assumed the name Mórrígan meant something to you." And by that she means he should have known what he was getting himself into.

Edited 2016-03-01 00:20 (UTC)

Crack.

(Don't mind him. Carry on.)

"Commander-kun?"

Tactfully, Yamato waits until the kid has gone green with panic before he steps back up to Shepard's side. In his hand is a long, thick branch, clearly snapped from the tree a little ways behind them. It's just a little too big for a human his size to have acquired so easily, but he holds it up for her inspection as though there's nothing strange about this.

"Does this look alright?"

"Hm...?" Without quite looking away from their patron, Shepard side eyes Yamato but it's a look that quickly turns to one of shock when she registers what he's holding, leaving the young man momentarily forgotten. "Why do you...?"

The distraction lasts for but a few seconds but it's precious time enough for him to guess exactly why the Shinki has that and still determine to make a break for it. He scrambles to his knees and takes off like a sprinter, shoving through the dwindling crowd without so much as an apology. It's not difficult for someone to disappear among the mass of trees and brickstone buildings just ahead.

"Oh damnit! Follow him." Back on the job, Shepard stands swiftly and in another blink she's gone, intending to flank him up ahead.

To Yamato's credit, he wouldn't have actually attacked unless Shepard told him to. He may be an overly eager guard dog, but he's a loyal one--for something like this, he can reign himself in and follow her orders.

...Unfortunately for their victim, she basically just set a beagle on the trail of a rabbit.

"Yes!"

As soon as the words leave her mouth, he's off, tearing after the boy with a happy laugh. He doesn't shove anyone out of the way, but he doesn't need to. A young man in old-fashioned clothes, yelling "Ora ora ora~!" and swinging a large stick? Who wouldn't get the hell out of the way?

The kid has a head start, but Yamato is plenty fast--faster than a normal human would be, though he has no way of knowing that. Maybe someday, he'll find out, and he'll care. But for now, he's just enjoying the feeling of being useful.

By now, the kid has gone way past green and turned a faint white. The fear injected an initial shot of adrenaline but it's slowly coursing deeper through his veins. His limbs begin to seize and he stumbles to turn another corner.

"You're fucking crazy man! Help!!" But his pleas fall on, if not deaf ears, then confused ones at the very least. Because the surrounding students look around but all they register is one guy making a scene, disturbing the peace. Probably just another kid that cracked under exam pressure.

With no help forthcoming he manages one, two more sharp turns before...

BAM!

His collision with Shepard lands him sprawling on his back and reeling from the way his head knocks against the ground.

Is he crazy? Sure, maybe. It's not something Yamato's bothered to think about, since he can't say it matters to him. If Shepard hasn't said anything, then why should he waste time worrying about it?

Besides, this is clearly working. Surely he'll change his mind and make a better prayer now! And look, here's the perfect god to pray to. What good timing.

"You should be more polite!" And up goes the branch, ready to come down on the poor kid, unless Shepard stops him.

The change in Yamato was a sight to behold, something she never would have believed the polite, obedient Shinki capable of. It's like the flurries have given way to a full blown storm and though she's only a single stride away, for once, instinct fails to move her.

The branch comes crashing down and all the kid can manage is a strangled cry. He throws his arms over his head for protection but that still leaves the rest of him open and vulnerable to the attack.

"Yasusada..." She tries for words but shock covers her authority.

It's only as the cries turn to sobs that she snaps back to attention. This time, when the branch falls, she's there to meet it with both hands. And the second shock of her day comes from learning just how much strength hides beneath his billowing robes.

"That's enough!" she commands through the strain.

It isn't that he ignores her--no, he would never do that. But the sound of his name is lost beneath the rush of blood in his ears, the pounding of his heart.

Is this wrong? Is it right? Those thoughts don't occur to him now, with adrenaline fueling the strength in his arms. Wrong or right--this is all he knows. All he has left are instincts, natural inclinations that he doesn't need memories for. And if this is all he can do, then he'll do it with everything he's got.

So it comes as a shock when she steps between him and his target, the wild light fading from his eyes in a snap. Instantly, the tension drains out of him, leaving his arms loose and weak against hers. He takes a half-step back, just to find his balance, and blinks at her in confusion, like someone waking from a dream.

"Commander-kun? Did it work?"

Such a question? That look on his face? He was still thinking of the prayer and the realization gives her stomach cause to drop. She should have expected as much. They had been here what? Less than a week. There was still so much she didn't know -- she should have know better, prepared more -- it only makes sense. Did he not even realize that something was wrong?

But that doesn't make it okay. Even now, it's like someone flipped a switch and all that remains is his earnest obedience. That much is plain in his expression; the way the tension releases from his limbs.

But what would it take to switch it back on?

"Nothing would have worked if you killed him! Fuck, what were you thinking?"

She sounds harried, breathless and it's not entirely clear who she has the most concern for. Not enough for their client though or perhaps she would have noticed the way his cries muffled and died with something smudgy and sinister like wrath itself forming to take its place.

"Eh? I wasn't going to kill him."

The very idea seems to shock Yamato in turn--there's a crease between his brows, as if he can't understand why she would even think that had been his intention. Kill him? Of course not. He'd simply been doing what they'd discussed, trying to get the kid to change his mind. It had seemed like the most logical solution, but apparently, it wasn't what Shepard had in mind. Even though...

"You said you wanted to hit him, so I did it for you..."

He did something wrong. He did badly, and he doesn't know why, but now she's upset and he doesn't know what to do to fix it. Is this it? Is she going to throw him away? Is she going to walk away and leave him here, deciding she doesn't want him for a shinki after all? She's given him no reason to think she would do something like that, but the idea has his blood running cold all the same.

"I'm sorry, I wanted to help, I--"

Okay, maybe she was speaking in hyperbole and maybe the stress of this world is getting to her in more ways she's willing to admit and but she's still allowed the shock of such a sudden change of face, isn't she? And then his words hit her like a second wind, the sort that precedes a furious storm. She had said that. It had been a joke, of course, but not one she could take back it seems. And for a second she's paralyzed by the implications of what she did, curses herself for her haste, for her momentary lapse of reason. Only a second, however, and then the blood comes rushing back and she looks at all the pieces of the puzzle she's left to deal with.

She breathes, in once and out, to push back the storm. Then she can see. A panorama sweeps before her and all the little details start to come into view. As quick as lightning, she's shifting them about and compartmentalizing them into portions that can be solved. Just like any other mission. Another day in the life of Shepard.

First, there's her shinki who looks every bit as distraught as she was appalled. This time, however, she taps down on that useless well called guilt and reaches out to him, to take the weapon from him, to take his hands in hers, whatever he'll allow. For as long they're here, she still needs him.

"I get it. I'm sorry." Not for the last time, does she wonder about his origins. "I should have been more clear."

Edited 2016-03-09 06:23 (UTC)

Yamato is pliant, letting her take the stick without a hint of resistance. He's too focused on her face, anxiously searching for forgiveness, for some indication of what he can do to fix this. Even as she apologizes in turn, it only eases a little of the tension in his shoulders, and he bites his lip, expression unchanging.

"I wasn't going to kill him," he says again. He needs her to know that. He needs her to know that if he'd really been bent on murder, she would've seen something quite different. "I just thought we could make him change his prayer this way. I'm sorry, I thought it was what you wanted."

It hurts, the way he looks at her, and she hates it immediately. It's no the look of a comrade who made a mistake, a solider being reprimanded. What she sees in his face is a child, one that has experienced things beyond their years and it's a look she's far too familiar with for comfort. It looks like loss.

"I know. I believe you okay." She hopes it's reassuring. This kind of thing is so far outside her element but that doesn't mean she can't try. And he was right about one thing. Even if it wasn't her preferred method it was one that might have gotten results.

"Come on." Her grip tightens in his. "Lets see how you did. I bet he won't put up much of an argu-"

Slowly, she turns. Tending to their patron was the second thing. But what she finds in his place steals her words and every last trace of her thoughts.

How would she describe it? Like a bird. Or a bat. But in lieu of feathers or fur there is only a foggy black and the feeling of cold, empty, alone. They regard each other for a moment suspended in a timeless void. Then, its face -- if it could be called that with it's bulbous shape and single unblinking eye -- it splits clean in half in horrible mockery of a grin.

"Get down!" she commands, though she doesn't give him much of a chance to refuse. With one arm wrapping around his shoulders she drops on one knee and drags them both to the ground just as the creature launches itself with a great shriek.

It isn't so much that he doesn't believe her. It's that from the moment he saw that expression on her face, he'd convinced himself he would have to make up for this, to earn her forgiveness and trust back. He wants to believe her, and maybe in the future, he'll be able to take her at her word. But for now--

--For now they have more immediate concerns.

He hits the ground along with her, though he twists to stare up at the monster with wide eyes. This... this is an ayakashi, isn't it? Could it possibly be anything else? Does it even matter?

"We have to take it down!"

The problem with Shepard's perspective is that it's not a matter of forgiveness. You make mistakes and then you correct them and that meant more than any words. And here was their chance. With only one minor problem.

The rush of the ayakashi whips the air around them and powders them in fresh fallen snow. Even as it passes it's already wheeling around, preparing for another charge but she's back on her feet even faster.

"With what!?" Shepard doesn't need to take stock to know they're woefully unprepared for this; neither does like the odds of relying on just her fists. They were supposed to work together, weren't they? Maybe if the resident gods had spent less time wining and dining and more time actually preparing them for any of this that would make a lot more sense.

Instead, she'll take his hand if he needs it, pull him up as fast as she brought them down if she has to but one way or another they are getting out of the path of destruction.

"I'm your Shinki! Didn't they tell you how to use me?!"

What exactly were the gods doing in their meeting?? He's ready to do whatever she needs him to, but he can't exactly help if he doesn't know what that is.

He jumps to his feet, scrambling back and pulling her out of harm's way too. Snow flurries around them, obstructing his vision, and even if he'd still had his stick, he doubts it would be much use right now. He is, essentially, helpless.

"We can't just leave it!"

"I don't plan on it!!" Unfortunately, that was the entire extent of her plan at the moment. Without, much of anything to fight back with, their options were limited to running and more running. The campus building maze that appealed to their patron is starting to look pretty attractive to her too. So that's it. That's the plan.

As Yamato wheels her out of the way -- the Ayakashi tears past and into a tree which it fells in one swipe -- she takes off, surefooted even with snow and ice crunching underfoot. Running is easy, mindless, giving her a chance to think back on what she was told. Admittedly, she'd pretty much disregarded most of it on arrival.

"Your name. They said I need to use your name. Yasusada? Yamato no Kami Yasusada!?" But of course, the only thing that follows is the way her breath quickens around the words and a terrible shriek as the beast takes to the sky above.

Edited 2016-03-16 14:44 (UTC)

The name she's looking for, of course, isn't that one--it's the one etched onto the base of his neck, partially hidden by his fluffy ponytail. But he has no way of knowing that, and as much as he hates running away, there's little else he can do besides follow her. It wouldn't do them much good to charge in and get killed, either, so he fights against his natural instincts and runs alongside her instead.

"It must be something else!"

'You think?' is what she almost says but she bites her tongue. Her fuse may be running short, but that's hardly his fault. Better to focus on their escape. She just has to think. What other name could she use? As a god, she still carried her own name in addition to her reincarnation. Did Shinki have something that compared to that?

Even as she's searching her memories of their arrival, her eyes are scanning the sky, certain that the bird creature will pin them from above. So she's caught completely off guard when she rounds another corner and comes face to face with their new friend. It still grins with it's terrible toothy maw, probably pleased with itself as it gathers some kind of energy to attack.

"Oh come on!"

It's fast. Too fast. There's no time to avoid a direct hit, so she throws all her chips in the pot and just hopes she can withstand it.

Edited 2016-03-18 06:26 (UTC)

"Master!"

It leaves his mouth on pure instinct. It's such a natural thing to say that he doesn't even stop to think about it. Not that there's any time to stop and think about anything right now.

He may not have a weapon, but that doesn't mean he's going to stand by and let Shepard get hurt. He throws himself in front of her without a moment's hesitation, bracing for impact, for pain, for--whatever happens when an ayakashi lands a hit.

What he doesn't expect is for the blast of energy to hit, not his body, but a sudden protrusion of bones from within. With his arms thrown up and the sleeves of his haori fallen away, the attack collides directly with the bones piercing through his skin, in a mimicry of some kind of grotesque armor. The wind from the blast blows his hair and clothes back, making him stumble, but he's too stunned by this sudden occurrence to gather his wits for an offensive attack.

Why didn't anyone tell him about this? What does this mean?

No.

That's the only thing that comes to mind as he appears in front of her, the only thing she has time to think. One word. Two letters. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She was the god. Weren't gods supposed to be immortal? She could have taken the hit. She's survived worse odds. But what happens to a shinki? Can they die again? What happens then?

There's only one moment. One word and then the blow connects.

"Yasusada!" His name is ripped from her throat. It carries far more emotion that she would have thought possible after such a short time together but she doesn't question it now. The aftershock throws her back.

When she looks up again, she's not sure what to expect. But whatever it was, it's not the sight that greets her. He seems... fine, and that's a relief but it's quickly replace by confusion. It's only at the last second that she catches sight of it just moments before his hair falls to cover it again.

"Your neck." She sounds every bit as dumbfounded as her expression betrays. There's something there at the base of it, like a tattoo or a brand. Unfortunately, there's also an ayakashi, gearing up for a second attack.

There's no time. There's no time to stand around gaping like a fish, but that's exactly what he's doing as he stares at his arms. The bones recede as quickly as they'd appeared, leaving no trace on his skin.

Is this... good? Bad?

But then Shepard is speaking, and that catches his attention more than the angry ayakashi.

"Eh? My neck?" Turning to face her, he lifts a hand, feeling along it. More bones, maybe?

Shit.

She shouldn't have said anything. Now it's a distraction stealing the precious few seconds that they can barely afford. The only respite comes from the time it takes the ayakashi to recharge. Time Shepard uses to find her feet and spit out a reply she hopes will provide some explanation. "There's something written there."

Then she runs, right at it, shoving Yamato to the side even as she raises a fist. It's a pathetic gesture. What can she even hope to do against something of this size? But her aim is right on the mark and her fist connects with what passes for a face. It's not sufficient to unsteady the whole creature but just it's head is enough. It whips to the side and its blast is let loose on the old building that forms the narrow alley they're caught in. That should buy them a few more seconds.

Then the cracks begin to form and the outer wall is crumbling, raining its debris down around all of them.

"Something?"

That's not specific enough, Shepard!! But Yamato's instincts didn't die with him, so he's quick to dart after her, shielding her from falling debris as best he can. His strange new ability isn't perfect, and he has to punch and kick some of the larger chunks of concrete out of the way, but it's the best he can offer without a real weapon.

"What does it say?"

Shit!!!

Shepard has seen her fair share of missions go pear shaped but this just might take the cake. Were they liable for the damages? Because that's the real concern of the moment isn't it.

The only relief comes from the fact that most of the debris drops right around the ayakashi itself, burying it. But the mound shudders as it struggles to free itself and it won't be down and out for long. Taking the opportunity, Shepard ducks behind Yamato, grabbing him -- it's hardly a gentle gesture but she figures he'll understand just as soon as they make it out of this alive -- and exposes his neck. And she blanches. Along with her arsenal and her omnitool, they just had to take her translator too. Because of course they did.

"I can't read it."

A few feet away, the pile of rubble is shaking and the larger bits of concrete are rolling to the ground. Get it together, Shepard!

"Here!" She stares at the mark, burns it into her mind and then she drops down to scrawl her best impression of it into the dirt at their feet. Next time, she's bringing a pen.

It isn't the rough yank that Yamato minds. It isn't the fact that they're causing enormous amounts of damage and chaos right now. It isn't even the fact that the person who started all of this is long gone by now.

"You can't read?!"

WHAT IS THAT SHEPARD. WHAT IS THAT SCRIBBLE. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL HIM BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THIS WHY YOU CAN'T DRIVE

"Hey, I can read! ABC to XYZ! Not this pictionary crap!"

And hey you leave her driving alone! She's doing a great job at that right now, shifting right into plan B and grabbing Yamato by the arm to steer him inside the building. You know. The one that's currently collapsing. But it's only a wall and she figures the destruction will make them harder to follow whenever the ayakashi manages to unearth itself. Which seems pretty imminent. What they need right now is a way to figure out this mystery and put this prayer behind them.

Or they could just give up. But that's never an option with her.

"I don't know what that means!"

Normally, he'd be bombarding her with questions, but he isn't dense. He does his best to shield her from debris, scooping his ponytail up and off his neck.

"Try again! Quickly, I can't hold anything off without a weapon--!"

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