thenearshore | July Training

Alas, Chikusa doesn't quite stick the landing. His shoulder slams against the borderline Ginia has pulled up, and it's only his lack of feeling any pain that has him recover so quickly. It's not the best position....

But that means, with the knowledge he has of his earlier attack, he knows he can break through it, so Chikusa doesn't hesitate in slamming a line through it to shatter the barrier. It means falling, yes, but Chikusa has experience with rolling through on that kind of thing... and enough of his mind on the battle to send more attacks over her way, to hopefully distract her and keep her occupied. No reason to let her have an easy time taking advantage of him while he's getting his feet back under him.

It would have been better to drop her own borderline than let him shatter it; having an attack broken like that feels too sharp, too draining. Ginia notes that as she blocks against his attacks, pushed back on the defensive as their fight ebbs and flows.

He's strong. They continue to move around the space, an endless rotation of shimmering walls and flashing lines etching around them. It's difficult pinpointing exactly what the strength is; it's not only the force behind his attacks and the durability of his walls. It's not the appearance of effortless confidence either, though Chikusa has that too. What changed over the last few months? Or was he always drastically holding back on their first meeting?

It's hard for Chikusa to say one way or the other as well, at least for now. There aren't many people he's practiced borderlines against like this, if he's honest. Not in such an aggressive way, partially because not everyone gets into it, and partially because he's often more likely to practice his lines on his own. Perhaps Davesprite would know, out of anyone.

But Davesprite is the furthest person from his mind right now, not with how he and Ginia keep trading blows and barriers like this. Which of them could win is a question that's definitely up in the air... and it's going to stay there because, after a while, Chikusa finally says something. "Enough, probably."

It's missing half the words to make it a full sentence, but he trusts Ginia to understand. Instead, he reaches back to slide his hand against his neck, and makes a slight face- just the faintest curl of his lips. "...Getting sweaty is the worst.."

Ginia is stubborn enough to not want to back down first, but thankful enough when Chikusa stops the spar. She huffs at his comment - no argument there - and carefully sheds her jacket. Her left shoulder is still bound in a brace, though this one is more a shell over the shoulder with strapping around her bicep. It's better than it was thanks to everyone with healing magic eager to help, but there's still a ways to go.

She catches her breath, wipes her hands off on her pants before taking out her phone, closing the distance once her message is typed up.

"Damn, you're strong. Good spar, you probably would have won if we kept going." Her arm hangs by her side as her phone talks for her, an accepting smile. Most others would rankle her pride. With Chikusa, she can accept it. A good fight is a good fight. Hopefully they never end up on opposite sides.

With Ginia having agreed to calling off the session for now, Chikusa wastes no time in just sinking straight to the ground with his head flopped back and his long limbs sprawled out. It's very nearly boneless, with the only thing apparently giving him any kind of structure being the fact that his arms are holding him up so that he's technically sitting. It's debatable how long that will last, frankly.

For all that he loathes excess activity and all the disgusting sensations that come along with it, Chikusa has to admit that this felt sort of good. At least, it had felt solid, in the moment, if that would make any sense to someone beside him. For a long while after the failed ablution, his mind didn't seem connected to his body. It's a normal occurrence, although usually not so severe. Yet however normal it is for him after so long, that doesn't mean he has to like it. Yet after the visit to the hot springs, save for one unfortunate event that still leaves him discontent, he's felt a little better... And forcing his body into motion has helped solidify it.

Even if he feels utterly disgusting right now. No wonder Ken pants instead with his tongue lolling out.

His attention drifts back to Ginia as she approaches, taking in the message her phone delivers robotically. It's something of a compliment, he supposes, but all he can think of is how he wasn't fast enough with his line to keep that heartbreak from Ken... or Hakkai, maybe, although it's a lot harder to tell with him. "Just... with borderlines." It's something he views as an open secret, so Chikusa doesn't really hesitate in giving this bit of information away. "In actual fights that aren't magic... Ken is better than I am. It's just with shinki magic... I've had practice. Since it's the only tool I'll always have on me anyway..."

And the only thing that will work on just about anything, even if that thing is an undead horde.

Ginia sits next to him, legs splayed in front, jacket crumpling in a pile at her side. When she's back at the temple, the first order of business is a long shower followed by a soak in the hot springs. The cold air on her skin feels nice though. She pulls her t-shirt away from her damp skin and flaps it a bit. Physical exertion is a daily part of her routine and though sweating in jeans is less comfortable than in lightweight exercise pants, a battle could happen at any moment in any condition. A bit of discomfort is better than serious injury or death.

She nod at Chikusa's response, eyes falling on her hands. Aside from the one time in the forest (and she fared far better than most), borderlines have always been dependable. No, there was another time her borderline failed her, almost two weeks ago now. (How differently would it have gone if Ayumu had turned within the first hour instead of after the countless hours it dragged into? Better, what if she hadn't turned at all?)

"I guess it's the same with me. I'm a good shot and decent with a knife or machete, but everyone in my temple is better than me physically or magically." The realization is a bruise, slowly healing but still sore to the touch and easily aggravated. "But I'm good with borderlines and no one else in my temple is learning shinki spells."

Funny how the one person from a non-magical world and a heavily technological background is becoming the primary shinki spellcaster.

"I think I found a song spell from the library. Mind looking at it for me?"

The same... His attention drifts, a little more focused now, towards her face even as he listens to the automated message of the phone. The words seem familiar- drawn out from old thoughts buried and then excavated from his past. Ken had always been the muscle, the fighter, the one with a Channel for just about any situation that could be thought of. Cheetah for speed, kong for brute force, wolf to bite through actual steel... Yet he knows if it had been only that, Chikusa would have been more reassured, in some ways, with his intelligence to balance things out.

There was someone else he compared himself to. They exist, he knows they do, haunting the edges of so many of the memories he shares with Ken, the only memories of his past life. Yet if he thinks too deeply, wonders what it is he compared himself to....

She might not have gone out the same way, but Ayumu is a prime example of the result that comes from a shinki failing to watch themself.

Best to concentrate on the rest of the conversation. "I don't think too many in our group do..." That is to say, the new shinki instead of the more established ones. "And even in the group of those, knowledge... is pretty scattered. Even with me." It's why he badgers Sabimei so much, even though the older shinki has been pretty hard to work with. It's one of his only leads into other spells that he hasn't found in the library, and may possibly not be able to.

"Anyway... I'll take a look." He can at least check if he recognizes and, if he doesn't, then it's more knowledge for him anyway.

The sudden addition of a firing range with perfect soundproofing to Caster's temple has alleviated some of Ginia's doubts by giving her a safe place to practice, but it still isn't a perfect system. The temple only provides a limited stock, there's no buying ammo in Japan or the kind she needs in Ireland, and even if gods and shinki are generally overlooked, firing off a shot or carrying around a gun runs too many risks and draws too much attention. She understands why people don't favor firearms as much, especially when knives are so readily available, bows and arrows a common sight in some areas. It's one reason she's picked up archery as a skill, dutifully honing herself on the temple's archery range.

But she will never be as good as Archer. He's faster, more accurate, can summon weapons as he needs them, she can't compare to that. If her best skill is rendered useless by circumstance or otherwise redundant by her exemplar, then isn't covering new ground the best way to serve her temple? It's something she's excelling at and Ginia is proud but it doesn't come without her own bitterness.

Without her spells and borderlines, what is she to her temple?

There are none other she truly admires, cares for, loves and wishes to protect as much as Caster, Archer, and Lancer, and nothing she fears more than getting lost in their shadow and falling behind. It's a shame she hasn't realized with the nanotechnology bonded to her body, her skills are far beyond a normal human's. She's a peak athlete, the fine edge of soldier and supersoldier, but all that is lost against the truly extraordinary beings of her temple.

Become stronger and better or die from bitterness and resentment. Sometimes it's sad being a shinki.

"Would be better to put a concentrated effort on training people on advanced spells, or safer for the few of us that know spells?" It's a selfish thought, but when they could feasibly turn against each other at any moment, a valid concern. It's also dangerous having so few around who know shinki spells when the shinki of the old gods potentially know more.

Ginia pulls a folded piece of paper out of her jacket and hands it over. It's a photocopy of a single page from the library; music notation at the top, the text for song of fire fighting written below it. Sparse, but functional.

Edited 2018-08-12 19:31 (UTC)

If there's any one thing Chikusa can be thankful for, it's that he was the first of Axel's shinki, and alone for some time before Ken arrived. There was never anyone else to compare himself to, at least not so immediately in his proximity. It was his own insecurities that drove him so hard in the absence of anyone else... for better or worse.

Still, it's a shared kind of experience, a feeling that has him looking at her with a different eye. They may not share the same temple, but they share the same goals, at least, and Ginia has shown herself to be useful besides. Not to mention it's clear she's someone like Hakkai: someone who shares his train of thought, and who he doesn't have to worry about shocking too badly. So there's a clear consideration to his gaze when he accepts the paper from her- or at least as clear as anything is with Chikusa. He unfolds the paper carefully, taking the time to inspect what he's been given even as he organizes his thoughts for a proper answer.

"I... tend to lean towards fewer," he says eventually. "Even if most spells, besides song ones, require a name to cast... I don't want to give anyone the power to harm my god, or myself." Or his boyfriend, but Chikusa doesn't say that. "If I'm going to teach someone... then I either want something in exchange for the effort, or.... I want to know that they won't be someone stupid or rash." A pause as he meets her gaze pointedly. "Like Gojyo," he says simply, in a callback to the meeting which occurred only the other day.

Still, this is a good time to fold the paper back and hand it to her again. "And that's... a song to fight fires."

There's always someone to protect. For Ginia, her temple comes first, herself second. She's been a bit looser in keeping her name to herself in the exchange of teaching others in the interest of fostering alliances. She's confident enough to know if anyone turned her name against her with any ill-intent, if she doesn't take them down, her temple will.

Ah, Gojyo. Ginia scoffs lightly. As far as first impressions go, it was probably poor on all sides. He was trying to protect Votelli, that much Ginia acknowledges. Which one of them ending up doing more harm in the end remains to be seen. She takes the piece of paper back and nods at him, appreciating the information. Fighting fires, that's a thing she can focus on.

"Thanks." Her fingers tap against the edge of her phone, lips tight as she mulls on something. She types again, a few quick taps, and turns her phone to show him a single word.

Shuuki

Ginia is pragmatic, Ginia will defend her temple at all costs, but allies are important too. She has his names, it's fairer this way he has hers.

And maybe, maybe, if one day someone needs to stop her for any reasons, might as well be someone who won't hesitate.

Ah. The reveal of her name has Chikusa pause, eyes focused on the word with silent intent. It's not something he would have ever expected from her, not when they seem to be cut of the same cloth: cautious and ever ready for conflict. To give away a weakness like this, especially when their fight was so close....

"Why?" he asks simply. It's not like he showed her his names of his own free will, after all.

With the need for secrecy over, Ginia turns back to text-to-speech. Her shoulders rise and fall, a sense of carelessness masking the seriousness of giving up her name.

"You might need it one day." For better or worse. It's a strange level of trust, giving someone the tools they need for your own destruction. But everything in service of her god. There, that's a good reason too. Far easier than admitting maybe, just maybe, Ginia is far more lawful and fair than she or anyone else realizes.

"Consider it a trade. My name in exchange for teaching me Umbra."

Edited 2018-08-23 23:06 (UTC)

He might need it one day, huh...? That's not something a possible betrayer says to the person they plan to betray. At least, in most cases it's not, as far as he knows. Maybe it's just a trick, and she has a second name that she doesn't plan on telling him... Chikusa wishes he didn't have to think about such possibilities, but, still. Ayumu has reminded him of how carefully he has to.

...Well. He supposes there's one other reason someone could tell another their vessel name. But Chikusa won't ask about that.

Instead, he blinks at her for a moment before lazily pointing just one figure and deadpanning, "Shuuki, Silence."

He's not actually trying to cast; there's no will behind it.

A weapon is still a weapon when sheathed. For as content as Ginia is in her station, the fact it all could all end in an instant always lies under the surface. The next time it might not be soulless shinki impeding their way, but fellow gods and shinki. But her name could change by that day. So could Chikusa's.

She raises a brow as Chikusa "casts" Silence on her. There's a second or two before she slowly mouths, "Oh no. I can't talk."

Just a little bit, his shoulders twitch. "Horrible, right." Well, as long as they're both aware of the 'joke'.... He pushes himself up onto his feet. "Anyway, how long are you staying around here...?"

As it stands, Silence still has an effect on her, namely one that affects her ability to whistle. It won't stop all her other spells, but if she ever figures out that damn song spell, that would be a counter. Good thing she knows now than in a fight thought, even if it comes at the cost of someone else knowing her name.

Ginia gives one last long stretch before getting up as well, dusting her pants off.

"Didn't have much planned. I was going to see if there was anyone interesting around and what the food was."

"It's free food." Obviously. So that means- "It's food worth eating in that case..." As a child who'd had to scrounge for whatever food he could, Chikusa is confident in this statement. Heaven hasn't poisoned them yet, after all.

With that said... "So if you're going to food, I'll probably head there too..."

With a good portion of her life on a heavily restricted meal plan and surviving on handouts, Ginia is opportunist when it comes to free things while always looking for the catch. If there is a catch, it's probably their service to the Heavens. Get strong, break free, it's how it goes.

Ginia nods and heads toward where all the food is set up, watching her step as she types.

"Learning new spells. Song spells aside, the format is the same right? Spell, shinki name. If someone understands the outcome, what's stopping someone from trying to learn on their own?"

In contrast, Chikusa has a feeling that all the food has something to do with Japanese customs, so he doesn't feel nearly as paranoid... which means he's still a little bit paranoid, but not as much as he might otherwise be. After all, when he'd been told to thank Kazuma and Bishamon for just the idea of learning spells, it had been with the advice of offering a melon as well.

In other new, what is with fruit in Japan. He'd really like to know.

That's a question for another time, considering he's being asked a more relevant one right now. Eyeing the food set up, Chikusa makes a soft noise of affirmation under his breath. "Yeah, that I've found so far... And I haven't had a chance to ask Sabimei yet." You know, that pain in the ass he's learning from. "But I think... there's something more complicated to it that I just haven't learned yet. Or else people would be shameless with creating new spells, or variations of a spell, and you'd only need to learn the basic format... right?"

Hey, there's a good spread of food today. Grilled meat and vegetables is the best kind of food and as long as the trays keep coming around, there's no problem. Ginia eyes an open table toward the back and tilts her head toward it.

"I asked Caster how his spells work. Anything is theoretically possible with rune magic, but requires an understanding of how everything works in order to alter it." She smiles at his own ridiculous suggestion of making clouds rain apple cider. Ridiculous, but not out of the realm of possibility with understanding. "Maybe shinki spells are similar."

The spells had to begin somewhere, right? Of the ones she heard of, there's a logic too. Bind freezes a person in place. Silence stops someone from casting a spell. If Umbra turns someone invisible, is there a counter to reveal the hidden?

Certainly it's a lot better than the "protein filled" snacks that one of Amaterasu's shinki tried to shove on all of them that one point... Although Chikusa had still eaten them in the end anyway. Again, free food is never food to waste... Taking his own pile of meat and vegetables onto a plate, he listens quietly to the explanation that filters out from her phone.

"I think they have to be. I actually want to speak to Sabimei about song spells more... If I can use them in another language besides Japanese. If there's a specific kind of format they have to stick to, that might explain things as well... And understanding song spells can lead to understanding other ones."

Ginia's plate is loaded high and she begins to transfer the metal to the grill, the sizzle and smell of grilling meat making the pit of hunger that always exists growl. It's nice never feeling full, but it's also an annoyance when it gnaws on her at night. She listens to Chikusa, attention turning to the glowing pieces of charcoal under the grill.

Her lips purse together as she whistles a tune Chikusa is familiar with, notes rising and falling as she signs with the song. She focuses on the charcoal, willing them to cool down, the heat fading away under a layer of frost.

There's no discernible difference. Oh well. It was worth a shot.

Definitely familiar, and definitely interesting. Chikusa watches almost as intently as Ginia does, pale eyes focused hard on the coals, but his attention eases up after a few moments.

"...Any luck with it so far?"

Ginia shakes her head and glowers at the burning coals. Is she singing the spell wrong? Signing it wrong? Is the problem her? It'd be nice to have some direction to work with.

"What about you? Want to give it a shot?"

Immediately, Chikusa shifts back and his lips twitch down a little. "No." Simple and clean, all he feels he needs to say. At least, that's all he'd bother to say to anyone else, but he glances at Ginia for a moment before offering something else.

"...Singing in Japanese... is really weird. I don't care for it..."

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