Look around, look around

[toremainbehind]

Who: Izumo and Open
When: Early August
Where: Far Shore, possibly Near Shore.
What: Post-Ablution stuff. Coping with missing friends and returned memories. Izumo doesn't appreciate haunting season.
Warning: N/A


A. Cnoc Áine - After Shizuo’s Ablution

[After performing the ablution on Shizuo with Chikusa and Goten, Izumo has decided to stick around Yona’s temple to keep an eye on the two. Normally he wouldn’t be around the temple so much, only ever coming and go briefly to visit Shizuo or Yona. He usually sticks to the room that ended up being his, but he’s actually out and about in the temple now.

If he looks a little tired, just pretend that he isn’t instead.

However, anyone around the temple might spot him in the halls or somewhere outside. Come and talk to him? Drink with him?]

B. Double Cross Bar - Memories On A Wall

[The moment he’s learned that Sora and Roxas are gone, Izumo felt a bit—not sad, per se, but something close to it. While he wouldn’t exactly call himself sentimental, he’s decided that putting up a photo wall can be at least one way of keeping memories alive.

So, after a day or two, he puts up a post on the BBS:]

If anyone has any photos of Sora and Roxas, mind if I have a copy? I’m working on a project right now, so I thought it’d be good to start with those two first.

[Anyone who does come to the bar will find Izumo leaning against the counter, focused on a blank wall to the side. He seems thoughtful, though he does glance over at anyone who comes in.]

C. When Will Dreams End? [Closed to Totsuka]

[He sent a text to Totsuka earlier that morning upon awakening. It’s not like how he reacted when he first remembered Anna, but now some things the man has said the few times they’ve met makes sense.

Choosing his bar instead of Mikoto’s temple or Totsuka’s temple was a good place to talk. With it still closed, it gives them the proper privacy they need.

Really, Izumo didn’t enjoy waking up suddenly remembering people from his past life, but it’s even worse now because this time, he’s aware of one fact about the god: he’s dead.

By the time Totsuka comes to the bar, Izumo already has a drink in front of him.]

D. Fade to Black

[It’s August.

It’s summer and it’s haunting season.

So, it’s not surprising that Izumo is being haunted by some ghosts that decides to play with him. Which is why he’s looking fairly unimpressed at a floating lighter, the sounds of childish giggles heard around him.]

E. WildCard

[Feel free to make up your own prompt if nothing here interests you!]

Comments

[bartenderizing]

[ He catches it just as easily, pocketing the phone without even checking to see if Izumo did something mischievous. Mostly because there was no reason for him to. ]

... What do you mean by 'those types'?

[ His tone suggests that he knows, and that he too is a part of that group. ]

[toremainbehind]

[He's not that type of person.]

You know exactly what I'm talking about.

[bartenderizing]

It better not be what I'm thinking, and having you lump me in the same group as all of them.

[ Shizuo, this is exactly why you belong 'lumped in' with them. ]

[toremainbehind]

But you fit in that group.

[Izumo doesn't look at all apologetic about admitting it either.]

Especially since it all boils down to one basic thing: protecting Yona.

[bartenderizing]

[ There's a moment where it was clear he didn't have anything to say against that. Mostly because he didn't want to get into an argument of his intentions versus the actions that came out of it. So instead he goes into the back room to collect some of those materials to bring upstairs.

Pushing the door open with his foot, he does have something to add. Despite all those heavy materials in his arms. ]

For a while, don't count me as part of that group. I've got a lot of work to do before I can even pretend to be a part of it. Also, if you lump me in with them again, I'm gonna kick your ass.

Ah, and lemme know if you need me to take over down here. I'll be down later either way.

[ Okay, now he's gonna go upstairs. He'll really be back down later, and this shouldn't be the loudest of things. Not compared to the actual construction, at least. ]

[toremainbehind]

[He doesn't say anything to break the silence, more than content to let Shizuo do his own thing. When Shizuo pauses to speak, he can only smile.]

Duly noted.

[As if he ever comments on that sort of thing twice.

But he gives him a wave as he goes upstairs. It's definitely not the worst commotion he's heard, so it doesn't really bug him much as he goes to do his own work.]

[bartenderizing]

[ 'More than content' because he 'won' in a way, huh? Well, Shizuo will show him. By... Doing an excellent job upstairs. At this point, it shouldn't be a surprise that there's a bunch of noise, anyway. People had to get used to it for about a month, after all.

Of course, it's not like there's anything to worry about. If the bar is anything to go by, Shizuo can at least be trusted with these sorts of things. Plus, even if he misses the head of a nail, he won't feel the hammer. Or the blade from a saw. It's handy. Of course there's a point when, no matter how much or little you do, you can't do more until things set and dry.

Which is when he finally comes back down- half of a total mess. He couldn't change or anything, but he's washed his hands, arms, face and neck at least. The clothes are full of something. Leftovers from sanding or something, probably.

He was about to sit on a stool before stopping himself. If he did that, there'd be stuff all over it. ]

... Next time remind me to bring a change of clothes before I go to work on upstairs.

[toremainbehind]

[Do tell how doing an excellent job upstairs will show him. With all the renovation being done in the bar, it's amazing how it's simply become background noise at this point. Always something to listen to, but never too far to not be heard.

Whether Shizuo realizes it or not, Izumo will.

He peers up when Shizuo comes down, sliding a smoothie he made over to him, and he chuckles a bit.]

Will do. You might want to leave some pairs of clothes here, too, while you're at it in case of emergencies.

[bartenderizing]

[ It doesn't really show anything, save for Shizuo focusing his feelings and energy into something productive. And it's fine. He cleaned the blood up when he accidentally sawed his wrist a little. That was just a nick.

He considers for a moment, but if the smoothie was being slid over, then that meant it'd be okay. Especially if Shizuo cleaned up the mess he makes from sitting on the nice stool with his dirty/dusty clothes. If he hadn't worked hard and done a good job, the blond would've faffed about with the smoothie, but right now he could use it. Just to regain a bit of hydration and energy. ]

Ah... You're probably right. I'll have to get some extra stuff, so I don't start running low at the temple. Speaking of- we should probably get Goten new clothes too.

[ Look, whether or not they get cleaned and mended, the boy's training clothes are a mess. How haven't they fallen apart yet? ]

[toremainbehind]

[As long as no one destroys his bar any further, he has no complaints about Shizuo actually channeling what he's feeling into something that's less likely to destroy whatever's going on around. Especially with how things have been lately. Shizuo, there isn't dried blood, is there?

Besides, Izumo knows that with the renovation still being done, he's not going to complain too much about how dirty everything is until the bar is back and running again 100%.

He gives a nod.]

We can do a shopping run once we get readjusted to the flow of things again. I'm still surprised Goten hasn't even gotten any new clothes with how long it's been.

[And it's been a while.]

[bartenderizing]

[ It's always better that the guy helps make something instead of destroying out of his emotions. Especially when he's trying his damnedest to manage his temper into something productive and controllable. ]

Yeah. Just in the time I've been here, it's like those clothes have gone through hell. How the hell did he get away with keeping them so long?

[ Because he has no idea how long Goten's been around, but if what he's seen is anything to go off of, then geeze. ]

[toremainbehind]

Who knows. Either way, going out to buy some clothes for him would be good.

[Especially with how frequent their sparring sessions could be.]

[bartenderizing]

[ Yeah, speaking of which- ]

Maybe get some stuff to make clothes more fire retardant or something.

[ ... Shizuo, you wouldn't need it if you avoided the attacks instead of tanking them. Especially when it's been proven that he can dodge that stuff. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo laughs.]

I'm not sure if that would work too well, but we can try.

[Because yes, you can dodge. So why don't you dodge.]

[bartenderizing]

I guess your attacks are forceful enough where that doesn't matter... Still, it's not like I was planning to make a pile of clothes for just training.

[ Because clearly the clothes that have taken this beating will only be suitable for more of a beating again.

Or he could dodge more. Shizuo, you can dodge out of the way of an automatic in the time someone goes to pull the trigger. You can jump from street to the top of a building and run fast enough to catch up to a truck. Dodge. ]

[toremainbehind]

...There's always the option of dodging instead of running straight into the fire.

[That's an option, you know.]

[bartenderizing]

...

[ Yet when he thinks back to the training sessions, it seemed that Izumo and Goten always dealt with attacks by countering them. Not having ki or fire to counter theirs, tanking the hits seemed like the best method. ]

Yeah. I guess I never really thought about doing that. It's not like I run straight in, either.

[ No. There probably was a single time where Shizuo literally ran through Izumo's fire to get a hit in at the guy. ]

[toremainbehind]

You did. Once.

[Why is it that the one time that Shizuo did run straight through an attack is to aim at him?

Then again, he can also see why Shizuo would choose to charge through instead of dodging.]

[bartenderizing]

[ Because it's easier to go straight through fire than it is ki. ]

One time doesn't really make it a habit, now does it? I knew it'd be just as easy to go around, but figured you'd be expecting that and had something ready for it.

[ Because it's true and probably did catch Izumo off-guard. Except he's also quick to adapt. So that mostly worked for a surprise. ]

[toremainbehind]

Do it again and it might just grow int one.

[Point: your clothes.

He chuckles softly.]

You may be right about that, but you running straight in makes me expect that, too.

[bartenderizing]

Don't put me in a situation where I think I should. For now, that's just a one time thing that I ended up doing.

[ His habit of tanking and letting hits happen is something else entirely. ]

But hey, if you wanna start expecting that stuff, go ahead. You're gonna stretch yourself thin if you keep trying to account for everything that could happen.

[toremainbehind]

I'm good. Shinki or not, I'll get gray hairs because of you guys. I'm more of an adaptive fighter, anyway.

[He shrugs.]

[bartenderizing]

You know, you say that, but I'm pretty sure you anticipate as much as you adapt. I'm saying that as the person that just reacts to everything, too.

[ The only thing he seems to keep an eye out for is an opening to try out some wrestling move that comes to mind. One day he'll get to suplex someone. How many times has Shizuo proven just how oddly flexible he can be from trying this shit? ]

[toremainbehind]

Anticipation, adaptation - as long as it works for me, I've no complaints.

[As long as you don't suplex him, have at it.]

[bartenderizing]

And when it doesn't work?

[ Shizuo's convinced that he'll get his brother one day. How many times has he already tried to suplex Izumo? Is there a mental tally for every time they spar?

It probably always goes up when Shizuo sees a professional fighting tournament kind of thing. He doesn't watch much tv, but he'll watch that. ]