Catch-All for Later-December/Early November [Semi-Open]

[light_of_willpower]

Who: Trunks Brief (light_of_willpower) and others
What: 1 semi-open prompt (Sword in the roof), 1 closed (dino hunting), and 1 fully open prompt (Training and planning games).
Where: The Far Shore--Caireen's temple and Grounds, or the Near Shore by the Natural History Museum
Warnings? ...grumpiness due to Piccolo's presence?



Dinosaur Hunting
Late October, Late Afternoon, Natural History Museum on the Near Shore, Closed to Piccolo, Trunks, Mai.

It was a surprise to no one who knew her, that as soon as Mai got wind about Children's fears attracting Dinosaur ayakashi--she was ready to handle it. Children being involved just made her extra serious. But...they were still hunting a Dinosaur-ayakashi, and Trunks in his vessel form would only be able to do so much for Mai.

That, and the shinki figured his fellow shinki might also enjoy the challenge--so with Mai's agreement, Trunks invited Piccolo.

Which is how the trio found themselves unobserved and hanging around the museum. Trying to ignore the crowds, and occasionally breaking off to check since they didn't know for sure where the dino-ayakashi would be. The Traveling exhibit (complete with a few sculpted replicas along with some bones on display) was their base--and any time children were around, they were extra alert.

It wasn't until it started to get closer to dusk and closing time, when they got their first hint of excitement. The replicas could be scary, even though it was known they were fake; they were real enough to some of the younger children. It was also the season of monsters and spooks, which helped play to their fears even more.

So when one of the bipedal-dino-statues started faintly glowing, with children starting to whine softly from fatigue and fear, it all happened quickly. The glow overtaking the replica, growing in size, and forming the ayakashi over top before coming down off the exhibit and starting to stalk towards the last tour group of parents and children...




Let he who-so-ever pull this sword from this...roof? [Somewhat open]
Morning of November 3rd--Caireen's Temple and grounds

Despite some late nights star-gazing and keeping Mai company, Trunks was by habit an early riser. Usually outside and starting training, even if he was doing so alone. The morning of November 3rd though, there was a new and unusual feature--sticking out at just enough of an angle that its shadow made him go investigate.

There was a sword. Stuck in the domed roof.

How did that get there? WHEN did that get there?

Of course Trunks will be floating up for a better look, but first--he's getting Mai. Maybe she'll know why and what happened.

[OOC: If you have a decent excuse to be around Caireen's temple grounds on the morning of Nov 3rd? Feel free to stop in. The short version is, Trunks has gained a regain--he just has to pull it out now...]




General Training and plans for the future.[Open]
Early November, Caireen's Temple and grounds, Weekly gatherings

For anything involving the gathering when newbies arrive on November 6th, please go here for Trunks' top level.

Otherwise, Trunks is usually found on Caireen's grounds--and while he's always up and open for people to train and work with, sometimes he'll also be found drawing. They're not very artistic, and honestly it looks more like he's trying to sketch out plans and notes for various obstacles and courses or games. Feel free to bother him.

Comments

Dino hunting, aw yeah!

[shutupnail]

Piccolo came to two conclusions by the end of the day; the first was that if the museum were a private affair he could almost see himself enjoying it. As it was there were too many people and the noise and distractions quickly became annoying over the course of the day. However, his eye did keep wondering to the exhibits and once or twice he caught himself reading an informative plaque instead of watching the crowds dutifully for any signs of distress. Perhaps if he were to travel to such a place during the nighttime when it was closed and took a private tour... that almost sounded appealing. It's not like anyone was noticing him now considering his status as a spirit, it certainly wouldn't be noticeable if he took a private tour when there was only a handful of security guards around.

The second conclusion he made from the day's happenings was something he already knew but had a new experience to add to the decision: dinosaurs were a pain in the neck no matter where they came from. As the day wound down and the shinki thought perhaps they'd made a mistake coming here today that's when it finally started to liven up for the spirits. He shouldn't have been surprised the unusual ayakashi showed up at twilight. That was the perfect time for them according to every text and teacher on the Far Shore.

His eyes caught sight of the glow first, interrupting his reading of a rather short but interesting article on fossils, and he glanced over to see what it was. As the dinosaur began to stalk after the last group of children and their chaperones Piccolo signaled to his associates to make certain they also were seeing what he was. He didn't want it to get too close to the humans leaving though and before he thought about it he called out.

"Hey! Leave them alone."

He started making his way towards the dinosaur, glancing at Trunks and Mai to see where they would take up position in this fight as well.

[waitingforhope]

Mai didn't say a word. Either because she knew she didn't have to, knew it would be useless...or else she was just too pissed to properly form the words.

Dinosaurs didn't scare her as much as they probably should have. Remnants of her past life, maybe, left her with the experiential memories necessary to handle their existence. Which wasn't to say it made her an expert in dealing with them...but then again, these dinosaurs also happened to be ayakashi, and she (along with Trunks) was growing rather proficient in knowing how to deal with them.

This also wasn't the first time an ayakashi had gone after children. Which was how she recognized the signs of her blood boiling at the mere thought. The attack on such innocence was inexcusable to her. Now moreso than ever.

"Trunks..." she murmured softly to him as the ayakashi paused long enough in its step to acknowledge Piccolo's call. Right before letting out something that might have passed for a snort before returning to stalking its prey.

One of the children seemed exceptionally nervous. Enough that he faltered in his step, very nearly tripping over his own untied shoelace as he walked along. The others continued onward, leaving him behind as he bent down to attempt to tie the offending stringers dangling from his sneakers.

Alone. Open.

[light_of_willpower]

"Got it." Trunks responded while nodding. He'd been planning to distract the dinosaur, start leading it outside--by force if he had to. The sting of blight wouldn't bother him so much he would be distracted.

That changed though, with the young boy stopping to tie his shoelace.

New plan, as Trunks sprinted, picking up his speed. "Piccolo! Blast it!" Hoping for some form of coordination, as he just picked up the younger boy and kept going. Moving to take him back to the group, before he'd be able to focus on the Dinosaur.

Didn't matter if he was spotted so much as it mattered the kids were safe.

[shutupnail]

The sudden motion seemed to make everything slow down and speed up all at once, and Piccolo left the thinking behind as he engaged in combat. Well, he would always have that tactical mind of his working in the background but fighting was instinctual at this point. He didn't need to overthink it if the opponent wasn't much of a threat.

Not to say that this one couldn't turn out to be one. But so far the dinosaur was just a steadfast predator and Trunks had the right idea anyway. Piccolo didn't even hesitate; he blasted the creature with a ki bolt almost immediately after the action began.

It hit the dinosaur squarely and it had to catch its footing in order to stay upright. At least that gave Trunks an additional second to get the kid out of the way. The rest of the battle would occur quickly now.

[waitingforhope]

It would have all gone relatively smoothly in the next few seconds...except the child that Trunks had picked up started screaming.

And struggling.

Driven by a mixture of fear and annoyance at being carried, he wriggled and shouted all sorts of barely coherent sentences about wanting to be let go and he was going to tell. Some of the others kids were similarly looking around, no longer certain of who they should be following or what was going on.

Mai pressed her lips together. This was not good; if the kids couldn't trust them, it would make getting them to safety that much more difficult.

"Give him to me," she told Trunks. "Go help Piccolo, and I'll try to calm him down."

[light_of_willpower]

Not good--but the kid's (and the group as a whole) safety was the greater priority in Trunks' mind right then. "Sorry!" Genuinely so, while also nodding to Mai in agreement. "I'll leave it to you."

Between Piccolo and himself, the dinosaur-ayakashi was slightly flanked, and Trunks wasted no time. Setting up a Borderline for safety between the group, Mai, and the ayakashi. Then moving in and letting his own chi-blast fly up at the target's head. If he could get it to focus on him, that would give Mai more time.

Nov 3, roof, you ASKED for it

[letteropener]

Somepony DID have a perfectly good reason to be on the temple grounds -- Celestia was bringing over a cake, for the sake of a shinki who had promised to be a taste-tester. But a curious sight spotted from overhead had her pause in mid-flight, before she dropped down to look at the wedged-in sword.

"Goodness, that's not safe."

[light_of_willpower]

"Celestia!" Called from down below, as Trunks and Mai were both outside and looking up. Especially since Trunks was waving to be sure the Pony saw him.

sword in the roof

[waitingforhope]

She wasn't mad. Maybe a little dazed at having been gotten up by the sounds of...something about a...sword on the roof?

Except Trunks was too calm for her to assume they were being attacked.

Which, really, only left confusion. A confusion that only grew when she made it outside, looked up, and saw that...yup, that was definitely a sword sticking out of the roof of her Temple. She even paused to rub at her eyes to be certain she wasn't sleep-hallucinating.

"...why?" was all she could think to ask.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks shrugged, as he had no clue either. A wave and call to Celestia though, as he noticed the Pony. Then turned to Mai and offered her a hand. "Closer look?" Because he was going to go investigate whether she joined him or not.

[Ooc: hoping to merge 2 threads. Celestia brought cake!]

[letteropener]

Celestia wandered in from a different thread

Celestia waved cheerfully to Mai from the roof. "Hello! Did you know you have a sword up here?"

[waitingforhope]

Only the surrealness of the moment kept Mai from returning the wave. Or smile right then, really, though she did spare a glance of acknowledgement Celestia's way before turning her eyes back up towards the roof.

And lightly tilting her head to one side.

"i see it." As she pondered over the countless possible explanation, though her peripheral vision, she noticed Trunks offering a hand. No doubt intending to bring her with him in his closer look. "Sure. It doesn't...seem like anyone else is around. And if it's some kind of trap, it would be a very stupid one to set."

Her only other fear was the weapon being some form of ayakashi in hiding.

(It wouldn't be the first time.)

[light_of_willpower]

Surreality was definitely an appropriate description, albeit Trunks usually woke up early. Which is probably why Celestia had felt it wasn't a bad time to visit. Normally she'd be absolutely correct--and this wasn't a bad time yet, hopefully.

"I think at this point, investigating it is the only way we're going to get answers." He would indeed bring Mai with him, for a closer look. "Leave it be until we get a good look at it, okay Celestia?" Maybe they could find more clues as to...whatever-it-was-that-was-going on.

[letteropener]

If it was an ayakashi, it was missing out on a truly fantastic opportunity to bite Celestia in the butt. "Well, knowing you didn't put it up here certainly puts a different spin on things. How interesting. Are you coming up, then?"

[light_of_willpower]

They were, once Mai was as settled as she could be since Trunks would have to carry her. At least the sword was jammed into the stone of the temple near an area with a good footing. Hopefully no one would be at risk of falling off.

It was also jammed in fairly straight. Western-style with the handle, and a scabbard laying nearby with a long strap attached. Just because it didn't seem like an ayakashi in hiding, Trunks was going to approach carefully anyways. "...any one have any ideas?"