[OPEN + closed/semi-closed] a nightingale in a golden cage

[revolutionfalcon]

Who: A + B: Shun and you! C: Shun and existing CR, D: Shun and Ren
When: A: July 20th, B: July 21st, Morning, C: July 20th-22nd, late evening to ungodly hours of the morning, D: July 22nd, late evening
Where: A + B: Around the Far Shore, C: Temples of just about anyone Shun knows decently, D: Inanna's Temple
What: Shun having sleep issues and trying to be productive about them by lurking suspiciously around the temples of people he knows at why this in the night/morning, testing the surveillance bird Ankh left him, and toting a vulture around with him as one does.
Warnings: Possible minor mentions of murderplot things, prompts C + D will be dealing with PTSD-related traumatic nightmares.

Prompts A-C [2 Open + 1 Semi-Open]

[A: July 20th, Open]

[It's been quite a while since Ankh's disappearance - almost a month and a half by now, and Shun's spent that time on and off messing around with the can bird robot the god had left him. He'd managed to work the thing's transmission method out enough to view the last video left on it by the old owner, but actually making it work to transmit images to the device he has best suited to that sort of thing, namely his duel disk, has taken much more working out. Even so, he still doesn't have a good idea of the distance the thing can transmit from or how well it can actually be remote controlled, so it's time for a little field testing.

As such, people around the Far Shore may encounter a very small, red and silver bird robot attempting to get up in various business, poking around temple gardens and maybe bumping into some heads at its worst. Not too far away in any of these cases is Shun, who might appear to be wearing some kind of oddly designed wrist computer to anyone unfamiliar with the technology. Not helping is the fact that he's returned his cards to their deckbox for the moment, since there are a quite a few people here now that he'd rather not catch wind of him having them at all, and one of them lives with him.

As always, Shun is the epitome of polite company (except not at all), and if the bird happens to be inquiring around anyone in particular, he'll call out to them across the distance with a short nod to the bird.]

Say something to it. [He mostly just wants to know how well it takes audio...]

--

[B: July 21st, Morning, Open]

[As he'd said he would a few days ago to Izuku and Lavi during their late-night discussion, Shun's accentuated his morning patrol with a friend. Specifically, an almost-metre-long, fluffy-headed, brown and white and feathery friend who is presently riding on one of his shoulders. Apparently his coat is thick enough to shield from the claws involved, and having a not-insignificant weight on his shoulder doesn't seem to be bothering him any aside from the times the vulture leans too far into his peripheral vision and he has to look around her to actually be able to see anything.

Having a hand-raised vulture is presenting one or two unforeseen problems, though, the main one being that she's prone to jumping off Shun's shoulder at the sight of other people and hopping over in apparent birdly curiosity. Her size might make even that offputting to some people, though, so it's probably lucky Shun's around to distract her if she decides to inspect anyone too closely.]

Don't bother with her, she just wants food. [Excuse him while he takes a cleanly-wrapped ball of raw meat out of his pocket and holds it out to lure her back in his direction.]

--

[C: July 20th-21st, Late Evening/ungodly hours of the morning OR July 22nd, Evening, Open to existing CR]

[Unfortunately, Shun's particular surge of productivity, even for him, has been born of something else. Namely the fact that his nightmares are coming back in force for the first time since May, and it's getting to the stage where even trying to sleep is a laughable idea, when it feels like so much as shutting his eyes is all the cue his mind needs to pull sounds and images of burning and screaming, combat and destruction out of everywhere from its surface to its deepest recesses. So obviously, the solution here is to spend that additional time on something else useful.

As such, anyone Shun knows and might be inclined to keep an eye on may end up with him lurking in and around temple grounds at what ranges from reasonable but still late in the evening to hours of the morning that should only be known to night shift workers. On one hand, at least he's quiet, so he shouldn't be waking anyone up. On the other...maybe hope your windows aren't available to be stared through, or that you don't run into him by chance. His eyes are a little sharper than they should be in the darkness, owing to the silver bracelet he's wearing with the kind of thick body and intricate lines one might expect to see more on a ring, and his focus turns just as quickly as usual to anyone he notices through it...though perhaps not quite as well as the days wear on, and anyone catching him on the 21st or 22nd stands a good chance of noticing the more pronounced shadows and lines beneath his eyes, those of sleep deprivation rather than his usual faintly worn countenance.

Anyone who catches him outside from inside is likely to just get stared at until such a time as they might choose to come out. If they're already outside, they'll get a slight nod from Shun as if this is an entirely normal thing to be doing at entirely normal hours.]

You're out late. [Implying he isn't.]

[D: July 22nd, Late Evening, Closed]

[Even with what he knows will be willing help available, it takes Shun a while to swallow his pride enough to take it. But by late on Friday, he can feel his alertness and habitual reactions slipping away like they had done the last time he went without sleep for longer than this, and with things as they are right now, he doesn't want to risk that. He isn't sure not being alone will help, but nothing else seems to anyway, and all that's going to happen if he doesn't admit it now is getting found out tomorrow.

It still takes him longer than it should to actually send the text asking for that help, that isn't even directly doing so. Old habits die hard.]

If you're not asleep, I'll be at your temple in a minute.

[He doesn't really think this is worth dragging Ren out of his temple or even out of bed for, but the text is more a warning for something he was already on his way to doing. It is really only about a minute before he shows up, leaping up to alight on whichever balcony happens to be closest to Ren's bedroom, and then having to lean back against the barrier and press a hand against his face as even that simple motion makes his head swim. He'd been driving himself much less the last time he went this long or longer without sleep, and the additional exertion apparently hasn't been doing him any favours.]

Comments

A

[priforprince]

[ Hello, small red and silver bird robot. Here is a small, stuffed purple goat robot. It's rolling along the ground, hooves attached to a remote-controlled platform, and the camera in its eye is rolling up to focus in on you now.

Don't mind it, please. It's just toodling on through, as its owner fiddles with how far she can get the remote control signal to broadcast.

Except - what is that up there? ]

[revolutionfalcon]

[...That's kind of an obvious robot, and Shun raises an eyebrow slightly and steps around it, making sure to avoid the focus of the camera since he can see through the bird's own that it's scrolling up to look at that instead.

Unfortunately for Hibiki, Shun's next response to the purple goat-bot is to pick it up from the back, inspecting the wheeled base rather critically. It looks more like some kind of toy than anything, but if its limitations are anything like his own surveillance bot, the owner might be nearby, and Shun turns his head to scan over the vicinity for any signs of another person lurking around.]

[priforprince]

[ The goat continues to focus on the flying robot. It also remains visible, as there's no point in shielding it now that it's already been picked up.

There is a rustling in the nearby flowers. And something silver poking up from among the blossoms. ]

[revolutionfalcon]

[The movement is picked up on by Shun quite easily, as well as the sliver of silver. Eyes narrowing, and without putting down the robot, he starts heading over to the source of the noise, bearing looking like he's fully ready to toss the robot aside and answer with an attack if this is some kind of ambush.]

Come out of there before I make you. [It's as much a threat as it is a simple and blunt statement of fact.]

C

[fullcowl]

[Izuku is usually an early bird who sleeps very early. But with everything that's been going on, he hasn't been sleeping nearly as well as he'd like. So he is outside of his temple, standing on the bridge. Just because he can't sleep doesn't mean that his partner needs to suffer sleeplessness with him.]

Couldn't sleep. What about you?

[revolutionfalcon]

[It's definitely not a surprise that Izuku is having trouble sleeping as well - he might've been trying to handle what they all saw the other day, but it had been clear enough to Shun he'd had trouble with it.
After a moment of apparent consideration, Shun comes up to join him on the bridge as well.]

Same. It happens for a few days every once in a while. [Shun's tone is very much one of familiarity, and some resignation. It's not a product of the recent events, or at least not entirely, it's just something he's used to and isn't particularly fond of.]

[fullcowl]

[Izuku's gotten used to plenty of things. Mostly crushing his bones, realizing that people can have truly awful parents, kids being targets. All things that could be fixed eventually, improvements could be made. But a dead body- a dead beheaded body is a new and uncomfortable thing that can't be fixed.

Every once in a while? Then it probably isn't just the body that's weighing on Shun's mind with the way he sounds. Izuku's quiet for a moment or two as he considers. Sorry won't change a thing. It is what it is.]

Do you want to talk about it?

C

[mostsuitable]

[Reisi appears to be outside jotting things down in a notebook when he glances up to see Kurosaki give him a slight nod. He nods in return before the young god speaks.]

As are you, Kurosaki-san.

[He tucks his pen between the pages before shutting the book.]

Seems that you've been coming out more frequently. [And he looks more and more tired each night he comes out.] Having trouble sleeping?

[revolutionfalcon]

[By the time Reisi even gets to shutting his book, Shun's already asking himself how he keeps ending up with shinki observant in this specific thing. Reisi just seems observant in general, admittedly, but Fubuki tends to be oblivious to just about anything that isn't very pointedly Shun doing something that maybe isn't that great for his health.

With a frustrated, somewhat resigned sigh, Shun crosses his arms, fingers of one hand playing a restless beat along his upper arm.]

Nightmares. It happens every few months. It's nothing worth concerning yourself with. [While defensive isn't quite the right word for his tone, it certainly gives the impression of someone trying to put up a wall between other people and his problems.]

[mostsuitable]

[Strangely, Reisi feels as though he could relate... But he doesn't really understand how and why, except that it might be related to his past, in which case, he's better off not thinking about it.

That said, he's always been a sort of preachy type in general.]

I disagree. That which affects a god's well-being may also affect the shinki. Even if shinki don't 'feel' their god's negativity directly—

[Here, Reisi's going by information mentioned in the pamphlet.]

—the effects can manifest different ways. Increased irritability, recklessness, irrationality, distraction, and impairment of judgment, to name a few.

C

[redstray]

[ Eric woke up, not because of someone outside their temple, but from a small whimper from a puppy who still was being housebroken.

Quickly and quietly to not wake up the others inside, Eric scoops up the pup and brings him outside to do his business.

Eric was tired, and at least the dog was a good excuse to be up at this time. He always felt uncomfortable now, weird. Ever since that stupid day where he was a kid...

He jumps a bit when he hears those words and spins around, almost ready to attack. It takes a moment for him to calm down, seeing Shun at the age he usually is at least.

Relaxing, he scoffs lightly, turning back to look at the puppy who was still sniffing the ground. ]

And you're not?

[revolutionfalcon]

[There's a variety of reasons Ren's temple has been good for lurking around during Shun's sleepless hours. Keeping an eye on things is one, but the fact that he can pretty much certainly trust Ren to be asleep by this kind of hour and likely unable to be roused by anything short of multiple explosions to catch him here and ask him why he is gives him another good reason.

Seeing Eric up at this hour was admittedly somewhat unexpected, but he nods almost imperceptibly in approval at Eric's rapid reaction. It's good to know that Ren has shinki capable of keeping his back while Shun isn't around.]

I have reasons to be. That aren't getting pulled outside by a puppy. [At least, that's what he's figuring happened given the presence of the little dog.]

[redstray]

[ He tilts his head at that. Normally people who were up at this time of night, especially wanderers, weren't having the best time falling asleep. At least, that's what Eric felt. ]

Trouble sleeping, nightmares...noisy roommates. Anything's possible this late.

[ He shrugs, rubbing one of his eyes. Why Shun was up this late was a bit concerning, but Eric wouldn't push it.

Although he deflates a bit, staring at him a bit more seriously. ]

Unless you're another 'bodyguard'.

D!

[shadowrevenger]

[Ren is, unfortunately, not actually in the room to greet him. Instead, he's about halfway down the stairs outside his room, on his way to try to go greet Shun at the door and not keep him waiting too long. Having a minute's notice was really not a lot of time, especially when he hadn't checked it immediately, and of course that's where Shun's going to be waiting for him...

So Shun is instead greeted by two very noisy kittens, who start meowing and pawing at the balcony door as soon as they gotten over being startled by his sudden appearance.

Ren pauses as soon as he hears the ruckus, and after a moment, he decides to head back and find out what they're getting so excited about. He starts scouting out the situation as soon as he pokes his head into his room and definitely looks a bit surprised to see that Shun decided to come knocking at this door instead. And then concerned as he notices the way Shun is standing.

Ren quickly crosses the room to slide open the door and let him in. Which also happens to let the kittens out, and they race over to Shun to rub against his legs.]

Shun, are you okay? I could have let you in downstairs too, you know.

[revolutionfalcon]

[At the very least, Shun's hand shifts a little when the door slides open, enough to see a dull eye, but not enough for the rest of his face yet. The kittens circling around his legs make him shift his position a bit, as if he'd like to discourage them but doesn't really have the heart to.

When Ren asks that question, Shun's fingers clench momentarily and he turns his head to one side, like he wants to keep his face hidden still. It still doesn't feel like enough to make trouble about, especially not when he knows Ren has plenty on his mind already, but Eric had been right in saying Ren would worry, and while both options are uncomfortable to someone like Shun, telling Ren instead of having him find out circumstantially feels like the better one.

So he lets out a soft sigh, turns his head back, and lets his hand drop. Even in secondhand light, it likely won't be hard to see what the problem is, the shadows under his eyes so deep they look drawn there and sharp lines etched at the inside corners.]

It's happening again. The nightmares. [He looks away again, but rather than trying to hide this time, it almost seems like an admonishment of himself for needing to take the help.] I didn't think it was worth bringing up.

[There's an unsaid "but" there. There has to be, otherwise he wouldn't be here at all. And for all he might be telling himself he only told Ren for the sake of being decent, some shred of optimism he has left in him wants to hope this might somehow put him at ease, that having some kind of solid presence with him might curb nightmares where no form remains long without disappearing, dying like so many others.

The hand that had been on his face comes to tighten on his arm, only the barest hint of a tremor from the lack of sleep - or maybe from the memories - visible. There's a dull sheen to his skin that speaks of the hours upon hours of walking he's been doing before finally deciding to come here.]

[shadowrevenger]

[He's doubtful whether he'll get a straight answer--or a truthful one--that easily, but the way Shun is acting is answer enough as far as he's concerned. Shun wouldn't be trying to avoid answering or looking at him properly if there wasn't something wrong. They're a lot alike that way, as it turns out.

Sure enough, when Shun does finally look at h im properly, he looks exhausted. It doesn't seem to be quite as bad as last time, but it's still obviously been a few days. At least Shun came to him instead of trying to stick it out on his own this time, and he folded sooner than the last time he had trouble sleeping. That's definitely progress.]

I'm glad you brought it up. Even if there isn't anything I can do, I want to know about things like that.

[Ren slips out onto the balcony, careful not to step on either of the kittens, and reaches out to grasp Shun's elbow, both as a show of moral support and just in case he's feeling shaky on his feet from the lack of sleep. After a moment of hesitation, he also reaches up to brush Shun's hair away of his face.]

Is there anything I can do? You didn't seem to think there was last time...

B

[redmare]

[Chinatsu found that she rather liked jogging during the morning. It wasn't so much that it was fun for her, but it helped blownoff some steam. After everything that's happened, she's felt restless, both mentally and physically. It's like her body needed to move, and other than sparring this was the only other thing she could think of at the moment. Jogging also helped clear her mind. It was peaceful and quiet outside--at least, until she suddenly heard what sounded like flapping behind her.

Turning her head, she screamed at the sight of the predatory bird behind her.]

AAAAH! GET AWAY! SHOO!

[She lifted her arms defensively, swinging the other in an attempt to fend it off.

Suddenly, she heard a voice, and the bird pulled away. Chinatsu peeked from behind her arm, seeing it fly towards a guy that was pulling something out of his pocket--OH GROSS Was that raw meat?! In his clothes?!]

Do I look like I have food?!

[Getting a better look at the animal now, Chinatsu could see it was a vulture. And actual, fucking vulture.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[At least it was wrapped, but...yeah, he was definitely carrying raw meat in his clothes. Chinatsu's screaming and exaggerated reaction gets little but a faintly derisive look out of Shun, and he crouches down to let the vulture peck at the meat properly to make sure it stays over here.]

Maybe not, but swing your arms around like you were doing before and you might lose some fingers. I've seen people uncomfortable with vultures before, but losing it that ridiculously is new.

[So there's definitely not an apology forthcoming for toting a vulture around with him, though apologies aren't forthcoming from Shun for just about anything. Once the vulture's gotten some of the meat out of the package, Shun wraps it up again, sticks it back in his pocket, and whistles sharply. The vulture hops back up on his shoulder as if on cue, and Shun gives Chinatsu a calculating, sharp look up and down.]

Someone in your kind of shape shouldn't have anything to worry about from a vulture anyway. [Other than the point of probably not having much difficulty defending herself if she had more sense about it, there isn't exactly much meat on her.]

[redmare]

[R-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s?]

Oh, I'm sorry, and how exactly was I supposed to react when a giant bird with sharp talons suddenly appears behind me?

[You know what? Chinatsu didn't even blame the bird anymore. Minus the attitude, she would actually be pretty impressed with the fact that he'd trained a vulture. She's too ticked off now to do so though. Feeling the sharp gaze, Chinatsu instinctively tensed up for a second, but only a second before she straightened her posture, resting a hand on her hip in a defiant stance.]

Doesn't matter what shape I'm in, no one should have to "worry" about a vulture coming at them like that. It could even get hurt if it approached the wrong person. And rather than critiques, shouldn't it be an apology coming out of your mouth?

C

[lostinshadows]

[For a night owl like Lavi, it's not entirely surprising to see him up so late.

Not that Shun knows that, anyway.

He steps outside, casting the god a curious look, unsure of how he's managed to find Hel's temple in the first place, though he chooses not to question it. He's not sure if he wants to know.]

So are you. What brings you here?

[revolutionfalcon]

[If it exists on the Far Shore, chances are Shun's run across it at least once, intentionally or not. It's hard to tell which of those options this case is, and Shun certainly isn't forthcoming with it.

Lavi's question at least means he can step around the actual problem for the moment, and Shun shrugs slightly.]

Keeping an eye on people I know. I don't have anything else to be doing right now. [Like sleeping, because that's clearly optional.]

[lostinshadows]

[As long as he doesn't run into any potential wolves in the area. Their howling likes to come at random.

He raises an eyebrow.]

There's always the option of sleeping. [Since Shun definitely seems as if he really needs some right now.]

A

[noli_oblivisci]

[Psyche, herself, has not been doing well that month. Consciously, rationally, she'd adapted to the memory she'd received enough she wasn't thinking about it all the time. Unconsciously, irrationally, the memory tugged out certain instincts from her unconsciousness and put her on edge more than she was before.

[As such, while out some ways from the security of Forrest's temple, when she felt somethingbump into her head she yelped-

[And then instinctively, without looking or pausing, fired a shockwave in its direction.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Luckily, Shun's both quick on the draw and aware of the fact that there are people who aren't going to take having a robot run into their head any kind of well, so he traces a sharp upward line on the screen of his duel disk that directs the robot above the shockwave's area of effect.

The nature of the reaction reminds him a little too much of a state he's seen Psyche in once before, though, so as soon as the robot is safe for the moment, he heads over to greet her with a brief incline of the head.]

Good reaction time, but I don't think I've seen you not look before you fire before.

[noli_oblivisci]

[It took slightly less time for Psyche to register what she'd done than to register the lack of impact against her shockwave. She turned, catching sight of the bird, and then a certain teen.]

Oh-um, yeah....I usually don't.

[At least, unconsciously, not since becoming a shinki. Apologetic]

Sorry, is this yours? It just startled me.