日向ネジ Hyūga Neji (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tuishou) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thenearshore2017-07-09 07:46 pm
tuishou) wrote in thenearshore2017-07-09 07:46 pm
( Open ) - exist in a suppressed or concealed state
Who: [Open] & Neji Hyuuga
When: First days of August
Where: The Near Shore, mostly
What: Lost spells, mild thieving, and an unforgettable ayakashi encounter to ring in this new life.
✖✖ Near Shore Stores, Afternoon, August 01
[His world and purpose had been torn from him but life went on. He kind of hated it. Hated feeling heavy and lost and angered and like he hadn't slept a wink last night. Hated having to wear Cho's shirt and too-long pants. But at least one of these problems had a remedy.
Hyuuga Neji doesn't need to be from the Far Shore to be good at stealing, he thinks with some brief flash of guilt. To make things easy on the living, the boy enters the clothing store while crowds abound. He takes a simple shirt or two-- some pants that will fit (and a belt) and
thinks no-one can be blamed for the missing inventory come closing, and his escapade won't be hurting any specific over-worked, overwhelmed first-summer-job kid. It's summer. It's a popular hour to go shopping. These things happen.]
✖✖ Far Shore Library, Mornings, August 02 - August 04
[With a despicable and heart-wrenching abundance of Nothing To Do, it's best to quit staying still and find something that needs to get done. In no mood to talk his troubles over, and no-- anything that seemed urgent or appealing enough to get involved in, the library seemed to Neji like one of the safest places to wander.
The first morning is very much just that-- wandering. There's no agenda on his mind and only a book or two that strike him as worth skimming. Mid-session he remembers one of the things he's lost, though.
Second morning onward, the boy shows up to the library with a self-inflicted mission and more direction. Someone might catch him sighing something about spells.]
✖✖ Near Shore Train Station, Afternoon, August 04
[It's not that he doesn't want to go back to the school, it's just that... he despises being stuck inside a school, no matter how generous it is for him to have been allowed to sleep there. He shouldn't, and the knowledge has made pinpricks of purple crawl out from under the collar of his shirt-- not enough to worry, the hypocrite thinks. He'll just be careful and stay mindful. And that means not engaging with the Centipede demon that's skittering through the station, quick and dark, darting over tracks and touching traveler's legs.
Disgusting, really.
There's been fights, sure. Skirmishes and more serious things that guards have had to break apart and which Neji had wondered if he should have intervened with but. No. As another voice among the chattering many starts rising again, Neji addresses the nearest other Far Shore resident.] I wouldn't do that. [Wouldn't march over there like there's something to be gained from it.] There's a large ayakashi waiting in the tunnel.
✖✖ Near Shore Gun Range, Oumagatoki, August 04
[It's that hour between sunset and dark when the shadows are long and dark and eerie, and when the shooting range is due to close. Neji's been here before, and though he doesn't get to slink in through still-opened doors this time, he made quick work of the building's front locks and codes. It didn't help him much.
It's one of those nights where, no matter how cautious one believes they've been, things go wrong. They get spotted. They get stalked. They wind up hunted. In Neji's case, he winds up with a spider-shaped ayakashi squeezing through the door a moment after he'd entered it, eyes scanning and mouth open and]
Ṡ̠͓̳͙̯̣̭̤͉͍͋́̄̀́̔͊͝͝m̡̞͓̳͉̝̙̝̩̃͛̎̑̽̅̎̚͜͝͝e͚͚̬̣̬̟͍̫̺̖̔̇̒̌̃̃̉̊̀͝ļ̨̧̜͇̜̻̝̺̱̈́́̓̂̋̎͆̔̓̈l̡͖͉̞̰͓̝̠͔̓́̏̄̾̓̓̅̕͜͠s̛̘̯͚̲̤̗̲͓̺̎̄̑̎̈́̒̐̄̅͜ ̢̨̛̞̯͙̰͔̮̤̭͌̿̿̓̃̅̚͝͝g̛͕̣̱̻̬͉̳͖̣̗͆̍͊͛͒̃̆́̚o̲͉͉̭̠̩̞̦̭̎̀͂̈́̂̃̋̂͌͠ͅo̡̞̩̠̰̣̣͖̠̝̍͆͋̓͛͑͑̾̃̌d̡̡̛̼̝͚̳͙̙̬̝̍̈́͛͛͗̆̓̄̓
[Fuck.
He can't touch it, he can't fight it, he can't touch it. The ayakashi locks all gross, yellow eyes on him and
fuck it's fast
it's all he can do to get out of the way. The front room is grotesquely tiny, the bays in the back offer no reliable exits and]
Ṡ̠͓̳͙̯̣̭̤͉͍͋́̄̀́̔͊͝͝m̡̞͓̳͉̝̙̝̩̃͛̎̑̽̅̎̚͜͝͝e͚͚̬̣̬̟͍̫̺̖̔̇̒̌̃̃̉̊̀͝ļ̨̧̜͇̜̻̝̺̱̈́́̓̂̋̎͆̔̓̈l̡͖͉̞̰͓̝̠͔̓́̏̄̾̓̓̅̕͜͠s̛̘̯͚̲̤̗̲͓̺̎̄̑̎̈́̒̐̄̅͜ ̢̨̛̞̯͙̰͔̮̤̭͌̿̿̓̃̅̚͝͝g̛͕̣̱̻̬͉̳͖̣̗͆̍͊͛͒̃̆́̚o̲͉͉̭̠̩̞̦̭̎̀͂̈́̂̃̋̂͌͠ͅo̡̞̩̠̰̣̣͖̠̝̍͆͋̓͛͑͑̾̃̌d̡̡̛̼̝͚̳͙̙̬̝̍̈́͛͛͗̆̓̄̓
[No, no, he is not losing to this thing but he also isn't-- there isn't much space to move, the thing's 8 legs are criss-crossed and scurrying every which way and
that sure is a wide-eyed, white-eyed kid bursting from the front door not a minute after he went in. You, the sucker he just fucking bodyslammed into] Move!
When: First days of August
Where: The Near Shore, mostly
What: Lost spells, mild thieving, and an unforgettable ayakashi encounter to ring in this new life.
✖✖ Near Shore Stores, Afternoon, August 01
[His world and purpose had been torn from him but life went on. He kind of hated it. Hated feeling heavy and lost and angered and like he hadn't slept a wink last night. Hated having to wear Cho's shirt and too-long pants. But at least one of these problems had a remedy.
Hyuuga Neji doesn't need to be from the Far Shore to be good at stealing, he thinks with some brief flash of guilt. To make things easy on the living, the boy enters the clothing store while crowds abound. He takes a simple shirt or two-- some pants that will fit (and a belt) and
thinks no-one can be blamed for the missing inventory come closing, and his escapade won't be hurting any specific over-worked, overwhelmed first-summer-job kid. It's summer. It's a popular hour to go shopping. These things happen.]
✖✖ Far Shore Library, Mornings, August 02 - August 04
[With a despicable and heart-wrenching abundance of Nothing To Do, it's best to quit staying still and find something that needs to get done. In no mood to talk his troubles over, and no-- anything that seemed urgent or appealing enough to get involved in, the library seemed to Neji like one of the safest places to wander.
The first morning is very much just that-- wandering. There's no agenda on his mind and only a book or two that strike him as worth skimming. Mid-session he remembers one of the things he's lost, though.
Second morning onward, the boy shows up to the library with a self-inflicted mission and more direction. Someone might catch him sighing something about spells.]
✖✖ Near Shore Train Station, Afternoon, August 04
[It's not that he doesn't want to go back to the school, it's just that... he despises being stuck inside a school, no matter how generous it is for him to have been allowed to sleep there. He shouldn't, and the knowledge has made pinpricks of purple crawl out from under the collar of his shirt-- not enough to worry, the hypocrite thinks. He'll just be careful and stay mindful. And that means not engaging with the Centipede demon that's skittering through the station, quick and dark, darting over tracks and touching traveler's legs.
Disgusting, really.
There's been fights, sure. Skirmishes and more serious things that guards have had to break apart and which Neji had wondered if he should have intervened with but. No. As another voice among the chattering many starts rising again, Neji addresses the nearest other Far Shore resident.] I wouldn't do that. [Wouldn't march over there like there's something to be gained from it.] There's a large ayakashi waiting in the tunnel.
✖✖ Near Shore Gun Range, Oumagatoki, August 04
[It's that hour between sunset and dark when the shadows are long and dark and eerie, and when the shooting range is due to close. Neji's been here before, and though he doesn't get to slink in through still-opened doors this time, he made quick work of the building's front locks and codes. It didn't help him much.
It's one of those nights where, no matter how cautious one believes they've been, things go wrong. They get spotted. They get stalked. They wind up hunted. In Neji's case, he winds up with a spider-shaped ayakashi squeezing through the door a moment after he'd entered it, eyes scanning and mouth open and]
Ṡ̠͓̳͙̯̣̭̤͉͍͋́̄̀́̔͊͝͝m̡̞͓̳͉̝̙̝̩̃͛̎̑̽̅̎̚͜͝͝e͚͚̬̣̬̟͍̫̺̖̔̇̒̌̃̃̉̊̀͝ļ̨̧̜͇̜̻̝̺̱̈́́̓̂̋̎͆̔̓̈l̡͖͉̞̰͓̝̠͔̓́̏̄̾̓̓̅̕͜͠s̛̘̯͚̲̤̗̲͓̺̎̄̑̎̈́̒̐̄̅͜ ̢̨̛̞̯͙̰͔̮̤̭͌̿̿̓̃̅̚͝͝g̛͕̣̱̻̬͉̳͖̣̗͆̍͊͛͒̃̆́̚o̲͉͉̭̠̩̞̦̭̎̀͂̈́̂̃̋̂͌͠ͅo̡̞̩̠̰̣̣͖̠̝̍͆͋̓͛͑͑̾̃̌d̡̡̛̼̝͚̳͙̙̬̝̍̈́͛͛͗̆̓̄̓
[Fuck.
He can't touch it, he can't fight it, he can't touch it. The ayakashi locks all gross, yellow eyes on him and
fuck it's fast
it's all he can do to get out of the way. The front room is grotesquely tiny, the bays in the back offer no reliable exits and]
Ṡ̠͓̳͙̯̣̭̤͉͍͋́̄̀́̔͊͝͝m̡̞͓̳͉̝̙̝̩̃͛̎̑̽̅̎̚͜͝͝e͚͚̬̣̬̟͍̫̺̖̔̇̒̌̃̃̉̊̀͝ļ̨̧̜͇̜̻̝̺̱̈́́̓̂̋̎͆̔̓̈l̡͖͉̞̰͓̝̠͔̓́̏̄̾̓̓̅̕͜͠s̛̘̯͚̲̤̗̲͓̺̎̄̑̎̈́̒̐̄̅͜ ̢̨̛̞̯͙̰͔̮̤̭͌̿̿̓̃̅̚͝͝g̛͕̣̱̻̬͉̳͖̣̗͆̍͊͛͒̃̆́̚o̲͉͉̭̠̩̞̦̭̎̀͂̈́̂̃̋̂͌͠ͅo̡̞̩̠̰̣̣͖̠̝̍͆͋̓͛͑͑̾̃̌d̡̡̛̼̝͚̳͙̙̬̝̍̈́͛͛͗̆̓̄̓
[No, no, he is not losing to this thing but he also isn't-- there isn't much space to move, the thing's 8 legs are criss-crossed and scurrying every which way and
that sure is a wide-eyed, white-eyed kid bursting from the front door not a minute after he went in. You, the sucker he just fucking bodyslammed into] Move!
Train Station
[His comment earns him a look, imperious and icy as is simply her nature.]
All the more reason to venture in. Such monstrosities cannot be tolerated.
no subject
Neji's not quite a fan of being on the receiving end of that look, but he'll keep his cool for now.]
The monstrosity isn't interested in the trains and from what I've seen the altercations between who it touches are brief. [If only because others step in. Lord, he's not defending the thing--
If she lures a bellicose ayakashi to a full attack...] It's too crowded to fight it here.
no subject
Nevertheless, it must be destroyed. Shall we lure it further into the tunnel? [Yes, he is implicitly involved in her plans. He wouldn't dream of shirking his duty to fight ayakashi, now would he?]
no subject
It earns a suspicious narrowing of his eyes, but no further protest on whether or not the demon should be destroyed. (Made weak, at least, until a true God-Shinki pair arrive to Rend the damned thing).]
Does that mean you know where the tunnels lead?
no subject
[Her soulless shinki rests in her hand in the form of a blade, so he need not fear on that part. The creature's destruction is at hand. One way or another.]
no subject
So he nods once, then returns his gaze to where the Centipede is peering out from the South-bound tunnel, like it's sizing up the crowd or just having its fun stealing what little coolness it can before a train passes by and
well, shit, that's right-- they just planned to dive head-first into a train's potential path. Neji clicks his tongue in... distaste, or something.]
I suppose it doesn't. Let's be quick. ["We" it is, then.]
no subject
What abilities do you possess that can be of aid? I can summon my Einherjar if they are needed, but the close quarters within there might make that a dangerous prospect.
no subject
he can conjure a borderline
but. No. He very much cannot. Not now. Can he? He.] I'm fast. Faster than that thing, probably. I can fight in close quarters.
[...] If need be, I can lure it to safer ground, if we find any, so you can summon what you need.
no subject
[It is perhaps not to the Valkyrie's credit that she does not consider her soulless shinki to be a third contributor to this battle.]
no subject
(or right)
who's he to change the course of the matter? He nods. And moves ahead towards the path the Valkyrie had previously been set on.
--act quick. The bug's caught whiff of them.]
no subject
That will only last a moment. Take a position and be ready! [She moves in right on his heel, taking the front as she motions her sword to the dark spirit's flank.]
Library, August 3rd
[He peers at Neji curiously, a book tucked under his arm.]
no subject
I've heard you can find spell books here. [Even with the... new order? the damn corridors and shelves are a headache.]
no subject
[He tilts his head.]
Are you just looking for any spell or one in particular?
no subject
I had notes on Silence and Bind. [But-] If I can find the books again, I can write them down again and keep them from- getting lost again. If I find other spells in the meanwhile, I won't turn them away.
[...] I know it isn't easy. I have time. [Patience is another matter.]
no subject
[Lavi studies Neji for a bit, eyebrow raise.]
We all have time here. The better question is whether or not you have the patience to deal with the time you have.
[He glances down at the aisle of books before looking back at him.]
Finding books on spells in here are still nearly impossible, so I wish you best of luck on that.
no subject
a small relief that his weren't as important as he'd have loved to think. He pointedly ignores the jab at patience. Whether he has it or not makes little difference--]
Nearly impossible, but isn't. [He'll parrot that right back with an even tone, following Lavi's gaze down the aisle and back because... stubbornness aside, the truth is obvious. It's his turn to gesture lightly at the book the other holds.
There's little real interest in it, but the curiosity is budding.] What are you hunting for?
no subject
[So not as much as a jab as a fact. Either way, at the question, he holds up the book and smiles.]
Not really hunting. Just working. Ever since the old library helpers died, some god and shinki became helpers here.
no subject
There's no way working in this library is that exciting, no matter what books might be laying around. Then again... some people are polite.
He tries again.] If you're working then I assume you're getting paid. [--okay.] Is it really enough to make wading through this place worthwhile?
no subject
Nonetheless, he smiles, seemingly amused by the question. Even the scoff doesn't seem to deter him as he studies Neji a bit.]
It is to me. [Especially because the books themselves hold information and there are perks in working in the Far Shore library.]
Ever heard of the saying, "one man's trash becomes another man's treasure"?
no subject
[-and tact, maybe. And that ever-elusive Patience. Neji's shoulders droop with the realization that he's just being rude (what?) and he directs a superficial look to the room around them both.] The library looks better than it has in the past, though. There was a time when the books found here were displaced all across the Far Shore... I think that was the last time I set foot in here.
no subject
[Who's rude? Neji? Perish the thought.
Lavi might not be faring better either, anyway.]
Ah, that was - what - a month or so if I can recall properly. One good thing you won't have to worry about are goblins sneaking into your room just to take the books back.
no subject
Yeah, it wasn't all that long ago.
[Which was crazy, and which made his voice go low.
Time was... busy, here. What with all the complaining he liked to do about it being too slow. But anyway. The. Helpers. Workers. Neji looks over Lavi, about as blatantly as the guy had just sized him up and.]
So what were the requirements you met to get to work here?
no subject
But he's being sized up and he can't help but smirk.]
A love for books and being able to understand how the library system works.
no subject
Beyond the obvious.
[And because that won't be enough:] There are spells, and histories, and even information on Amaterasu-sama's temple in here. Shouldn't it be a little better guarded?
no subject
Only as long as you can find it. If the Heavens wanted it to be better guarded, they shouldn't have put out requests for volunteers in the first place. As it is, finding anything about Amaterasu herself or her temple is secret information that might be tucked away into the deeper parts of the library.