thenearshore | [Closed] You can't raise hell with a saint

[Ugh. He's going to have to deal with a lot here. These two aren't a great match, he can tell already. It seems like Jennifer is something of a doormat, afraid to speak up for herself and nervous, and Schuldig has all the wrong thoughts about the relationship between shinki and god. Great.]

Don't harass her, Loki. One of the keys in something like this working well is a deep, understanding bond between the both of you. I'll see you there.

[So, he can head off now and wait at the same spot where there were the fires.]

[Schuldig sees Jae-Ha arrive and takes a few low jumps to get over to him. The thigh-high leather boots are a pretty good give-away of his new shinki's form even if he hadn't told Jae-Ha, especially since he can only wear them over top of his slacks.]

'If I was really going to harass her, I wouldn't have even asked, you know.'

[Even he has limits. Mainly because it wouldn't actually achieve any of his goals.]

'The point is, Jennifer, if you can trust me for one thing it's that I'm only here to train with you.'

[He taps the heel of his right boot against the ground.]

'Got it?'

'I understand.'

[And she does, their teasing and jokes aside. Everything is strictly professional (for a given value of 'professional,' she supposes) between them. God and shinki, boss and employee. Something like that.

When Jae-ha does arrive, Jennifer examines him, quiet and curious. He seems like a nice enough guy, which just leads her to wondering why he's associating with Schuldig. Maybe they're actually really good friends?? Look, she doesn't know.]

[Jae-Ha's eyes go immediately to the boots, one of his hands resting on his hips as Schuldig arrives. He can't really say anything when he was literally a green, high-heeled boot at one point, so he keeps his mouth shut in regards to that.

But as for why they know each other... Jennifer is certain to find out through their interactions, if he doesn't outright explain it at some point. For now, he raises two fingers with his free hand.]

Before we leave, two things. First, I'd like to meet Jennifer dear in person. Second, what is this prayer? My own god won't appreciate if I'm off doing anything too dangerous without letting him know.

Sure, why not.

[He doesn't have a deadline.]

Revert, Jennifer.

[He's barefoot and he sinks an inch in height as Jennifer appears, but no matter.]

It's just to take care of an ayakashi. How dangerous is that for you?

[Jennifer looks a little apprehensive when she reverts back to human form, hands clasped tightly at her throat. Jae-ha seems nice enough at least, so she dips into a curtsy to be polite]

Pleased to meet you, Mr. Jae-ha. I'm-- I'm Jennifer. [Which he knew already, of course, but it felt polite to do an actual introduction herself. Schuldig's admission they're going after an ayakashi startles her a little and she frowns at him, but-- Well. It's not really her place to say what prayers they do or don't go on, and she's fairly confident in her and Schuldig's abilities. And with Jae-ha's supervision and help, surely it'll go alright?

It's more just disapproval that this is being sprung on her so suddenly.]

[Before he answers Schuldig, he turns to face Jennifer. Offering one of his hands, he'll take her hand like a lady's if she lets him! In a gentlemanly way, without any weird kisses or anything. If she doesn't, that's fine too, he'll move on like usual.]

The pleasure is mine, Jennifer. [He can pick up on a lot already. Her body language shows even more anxiety than her words do, and he's wondering just how much Schuldig has filled her in on at all. He'll certainly be looking out for her during this...

But he's not going to full on scold Schuldig, either, when he can do the strange things he can with minds. So, he stands up straight again, drops his hands and looks to him.]

That depends on the ayakashi, I suppose. I'll be relying entirely on the ability of you two to finish it off, since I can only help weaken it... [So, it's kind of dangerous in that regard, but.] But I'm a capable fighter. I'm covered enough that blight isn't an immediate issue.

[So, he'll just pull out his phone to let him know exactly what they're doing. It's a quick message.]

Edited 2016-11-27 03:19 (UTC)

[This is the part he doesn't care about, but he's willing to let Jae-Ha be the Good Guy reassuring Jennifer. After all, there's no chance of Schuldig being this pleasant to Jennifer, but he does want Jennifer to be a better shinki for his own benefit. If indulging the two of them a bit longer gets him to that point, he doesn't mind. He completely ignores their conversation until Jae-Ha addresses them.]

Oh I don't plan on letting it go once we have it in our sights, you can trust me on that.

[He can get immensely focused on his prey.]

I didn't expect you to be fighting it at all, honestly. Jennifer needs the practice. Her previous God didn't take her out much.

[See, isn't he a nice guy, Jae-Ha?]

Oh... [She allows Jae-ha to take her hand, staring at him wide-eyed-- alright, a bit starry-eyed. Wow!! She does another curtsy, not sure what else to do in her awe and looks between the two.

She doesn't want to completely seem out of the loop, but she's scrambling to keep up with the conversation. It's all about being quiet and listening, gaining the knowledge she needs to not seem completely stupid.]

I, uh... Yes. My other god... Before Loki, I mean. We didn't go on a prayer before. [She sifts uncomfortably, looking a little ashamed about it.] So, I'll work hard here. Please don't worry about that.

Training is just fine, but I'm not the sort of man who can stand and watch by as someone is hurt. I'll jump in and provide tips at the same time. Don't worry.

[It will work in both of their favor, he's sure... But alright, with one more glance and smile at Jennifer, he nods.] Alright. We can leave when you're both ready.

Good to hear.

[Schuldig's about to teleport them all down there - to the Near Shore to take care of the ayakashi - when he realizes he should tell the two one other thing or he'll never hear the end of it.]

Ah, I just check where we're going down there. Since neither of you have been to Amsterdam before, you should be ready to shrug off the cold that's there. You don't actually need a jacket or anything more than you've got. You'll just think it's cold. If I have to encourage your bodies to shrug it off, I can.

[But if that's not an option, he supposes he'll have to just wait a bit longer. He looks to both of them before he's actually going to teleport them.]

[Jennifer blinks and looks to him in surprise.] We're going to Amsterdam? [She looks a little...excited? Actually? She knows they're there on business and all, but it's exciting to be going somewhere new for a change, somewhere that isn't just Japan.]

I... Suppose I don't mind the cold. I'll be alright. [She'll probably mostly be in her shinki form anyhow, so it'll hardly get to her, she assumes. She's more worried about Jae-ha, honestly, and looks to the man in question.] Will you be alright though?

...I can always find a scarf or something along the streets there if I need it, right? [How cold is cold? He's usually dressed covered up completely, so he's used to being warm, but... He doesn't want to catch a cold again.]

Let's not delay it any longer. I'll be fine. Shall we, Loki?

Fine by me.

[With that, he teleports them to one of the many bridges overlooking the canals of Amsterdam. It's a beautiful sight, but one familiar enough to Schuldig that he doesn't let them scan the area long. Around the other side of the block from where they're standing, the ayakashi in question is gliding along the top of the water. Looking not unlike a brain with a beak attached to it, its long tendrils are seeking spirits to consume.]

Convenient - if we do nothing, it's going to smell us first. There aren't any wandering spirits in the area.

[The kinds able to become shinki, that is.]

Oh, my... [Jennifer breathes out in awe, looking around. She's never seen anything like it before-- at least, she's fairly sure she hasn't. Maybe? Being a shinki sucks.

But the ayakashi is definitely cause for concern and she tenses up with a frown.] We'll... have to attack that? [Right. Of course they will. She takes a deep breath and gathers her courage, nodding to herself in a determined manner.] Alright. Where do we begin?

Get ready, first of all.

[As in, shinki form, probably. This is a very beautiful scene that he'd be admiring if it weren't for the big monster he's focused on. He brings a hand to his chin as he thinks.] What ability do you have, Jennifer dear? Be sure to use it to your advantage. And the finishing blow will likely be done with a kick, with you in a form like that.

Come, Kekki.

[Schuldig actually says it a lot less intensely than Jennifer's ever heard it. He's just that confident they can take it out.]

Power's extra jumping and fast moving.

[He lifts his knee a bit and then sets it back down on the heel, twisting it back and forth a bit eagerly.]

That's one of the reasons I picked you to train her, Jae-Ha. But he is right, we're going to be getting a lot closer than I ever prefer to get to the ayakashi.

[Since Schuldig answers before she can, Jennifer just gives a hum of acknowledgement. It's not how she'd describe it, but it gets the gist across.]

'So long as it's me hitting it, you don't have to worry.' [just don't, you know, get closer with the entire upper half of his body. There's a huge disadvantage to being a clothing item like this. If only she'd bee some kind of long-range weapon...

But now's not the time to be feeling sad about what she can't change.] 'But please be careful...'

[So, similar to his own natural abilities? That's odd... He feels a little uncomfortable with it, but it's not Jennifer's fault at all. It's mainly that Schuldig has this now. Still, he pushes that aside and blinks down at the boots, thinking.]

You'll be relying on Loki's actions, as inanimate as you are, which means you should focus on your own feelings. Find out what optimizes the power. Experiment like that, and react to what he says.

[He looks to Schuldig.] Are you not used to fighting up close? Perhaps I could show you a thing or two, as well.

I said prefer to get, but even then it's been more punching.

[Which is at least an honest answer out of a usually dishonest man, but these two are some of the VERY few he doesn't have a problem slipping details like that.

Still, he lifts his leg and kicks it out to one side, away from Jae-Ha, clearly just a practice for Jennifer's sake.]

Go ahead if you can handle it. After you make your move, I'll start with a simple teleport above it and drop down onto it for one Rend. It may take two, but that'll be fine.

[He's confident he can teleport out of the way after the first attack.]

Second Rend I can try whatever you want to show me.

[It's really weird to be aware that she's both here and able to look around, while also an inanimate object. Being a shinki was weird, 0/10 would not recommend.

Schuldig's words are a little curious, and again she realizes she knows very little about the person who's supposed to be her partner. Owner?? Whatever. Most shinki seemed to be close friends with their gods, but she can't really imagine getting into that sort of relationship with him.

Surely they could still make it work like this, right?

She says nothing for now, concentrating more on what's to come.]

Make sure that whatever you're meaning to try, you tell Jennifer dear, as well. She's not like an actual item, so telling her what's to come is important in creating the best show of teamwork.

[Just leaving that little tidbit... He gives one more glance at the boots and Loki's kick before he takes a couple of steps away.]

Here I go, then. [And he jumps, soaring well over the distance to start with a kick to the creature from behind. He's powerful enough with that leg of his to make a creature like that stumble even from a kick, so they can enjoy watching him flip around and work with what surfaces he can to attack.]

[He was... pretty sure he just said exactly what he was planning but alright. While Jae-Ha's running off, Schuldig talks to Jennifer.]

'Rend is a spell I have to cast, but it gets channeled through you - the shinki. That's why I have to kick it. I'm going to teleport above it so that you have some time to focus the Rend attack on the ayakashi, make it more powerful a spell, that sort of thing.'

[But he will whistle at Jae-Ha's moves. He remembers being on the other end of a less powerful version of that kick.]

'Let's go.'

[He teleports above the ayakashi and raises both arms, extending one of his legs with Jennifer's boot aimed right at the ayakashi's head... at least before it's stumbling around. Jennifer might be able to make that target connect better.]

You who desecrate this Land of the Rising Sun!
With my advent, I, Loki, lay waste with the Kekki
and expel thy vast defilement!

[He starts plummeting closer to the ayaskhi and tries to connect, but in the end it's up to Jennifer how powerful the attack ends up being.]

REND!

[She feels a jolt of anxiety, clutches her hands tightly to her chest. Okay, okay, she had to prove herself here. Her connection to Schuldig might not be the best, but her desire to be useful might be enough to produce something.

She squeezes her eyes shut and concentrates. The Rend might not be very powerful, but there's potential behind it. Still, she does her best with what she can, having no real idea of what she's doing or how. It feels almost more like an instinct--the Rend happens regardless, and she just does her best to pour power behind it.

After a moment she peeks on eye open. The Rend wouldn't be enough to take it out in just one strike, but it's definitely knocked the ayakashi down]

'Was that... good?'

Nice one!

[Jae-Ha is the first to answer, whether or not Schuldig has it so he can hear Jennifer right now. He lands temporarily on the ayakashi so he can jump back up before it crashes and splashes around in the water. It's trying to get at them both, so he has to be careful, but he does come in for another kick.]

[Closed] You can't raise hell with a saint

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SORRY FOR THE SLOW my dumb head was killing me forever

It's okay <333

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