[closed] The log of beautiful hair that has nothing at all to do with anything

[flaredo]

Who: Yang Xiao Long (flaredo) & Abe no Sousei (deontology)
When: IC 11/25
Where: Out and about
What: An unanticipated aura lesson
Rating/Warning: Shouldn't be any!

---

[ It's not actually rare for Yang to be thoughtful. It is, however, rare of her to show it, and so she doesn't. While she's making the usual rounds (listening for info, keeping an eye out for anything odd, catching up with the more familiar faces), she's also considering something.

She hadn't known whether aura would work for people outside of her world (even Yata's was something a little different), until she'd attempted it with Hinata. Which had made her think... she could do it for other people too, couldn't she? She should at least bring it up to Komaeda, since Hinata was his boyfriend; he could probably use a little more of a defensive edge. But training it here... it only seemed to show faster results in ViViD.

Maybe if--

And it's then that she spots the waving ponytail of someone jogging up ahead.

It takes a few seconds of squinting to verify the owner of that ponytail, and then she perks up and brings her palms to cup around her mouth. ]

Souseiiiii! Back it up a second!

Comments

[deontology]

I see.

[That's...curious, but it fits what he's heard. In other words--]

Abilities are simpler to use in ViViD, and more difficult outside of the game. [but still...it's a weird thought. How do they manage that, exactly?]

[flaredo]

Exactly! I'm fine with it out here, but Hinata trained faster in ViViD. So whenever you're up for a trip!

[deontology]

Fine. If now is an option, then I would prefer that.

[After all...]

It would be more worthwhile for me to already have the knowledge needed to practice.

[He's just too diligent to accept anything else. He'll probably just work it into his daily routine.]

[flaredo]

As serious as ever... okay, then, jogging detour!

[ She'll even lead the way. ]

[deontology]

[And he will follow... because he's curious, admittedly.

And of course he's as serious as ever, why was that even a consideration!!

Sheesh.]

[flaredo]

[ A girl can hope!!

But no, she'll lead the way, get them both logged into ViViD, and once she's decided on a good spot... ]

Okay. You don't get a weapon for this part.

[deontology]

[Why...... why not....

He glances down at the sword at his side, but...she's the teacher here, and he has to respect her methods.]

Would you like me to remove it?

[flaredo]

No, it's fine. [ flapping a hand. ]

Just don't pull it out or anything! You're shielding with just your soul today.

[deontology]

Understood.

[with just your soul...that sounds so painful and dangerous, Yang???

nonetheless, he'll patiently wait for instruction.]

[flaredo]

Okay, so earlier, you probably realized you were glowing.

[ Hopefully. ] That's your aura. Once you get better control of it, it'll act like a shield to protect you from major harm. But for now, you've got to learn how to manifest it.

So first off, close your eyes and think about when I unlocked it. Did you feel any different?

[deontology]

[He closes his eyes simply at that, but he's at least in tune enough with himself and his body to not struggle to answer that question. It's different from tapping in to that latent onmyouji power, but...

Nonetheless.]

Yes. [do you want him to describe it??? or is just knowing enough.

He's not a very chatty student, is he...]

[flaredo]

[ Describing it would have been helpful, but Yang already knew he'd be stupidly succinct. If he knows the feeling, that's good enough. ]

Then focus on that feeling and try making it stronger.

[deontology]

[That much, he can do. So he'll try to remember that odd feeling, and focus on strengthening it. Despite everything (such as his mystic background), this is still rather new to him, but that just makes him all the more determined to be successful at it.

Though he's also aware it's going to take quite a bit of practice.

Good. It'll give him something worthwhile to focus on.

But for now, he's just going to focus on giving this his all.]

[flaredo]

[ Yang's watching him, scrutinizing his concentration. Okay... this is improvement. ]

Let me know when you think it's steady.

[deontology]

[He takes a moment longer, to both consider and be certain of it, before he finally nods. He'll never be one who rushes into something, after all, especially when it's something brand new.

Steady, though.

He can do steady.]

Yes. I am ready.

[flaredo]

[ She is not going to make a comment about how that's the most he's said, she is not, she is mature-- ]

It's a good thing I'm not training you on being a chatterbox.

[ MOSTLY mature. ]

[deontology]

[VERY FUNNY]

I'm not interested in receiving lessons on that from you.

[SHEESH.]

Why would I want to be a chatterbox?

[flaredo]

... Forget it, you're hopeless in that area. So for now, I'm just going to attack you a little. Your job is to block me without actually using anything but your aura.

[deontology]

[Excuse you!!

... but you know what, he's making the executive decision to focus on this task instead.]

Understood. In that case, I am ready.

[pr...obably!! Well, he'll do his best either way.]

[flaredo]

I'll warn you where I'm aiming. You just try to visualize blocking me.

[ It won't be that easy, not when he's just starting out, but he'll have to get the feeling down first, and so she points to a shoulder before she slowly swings a fist at it. She's not aiming for power, at least. ]

[deontology]

[He has seen what those fists can do, okay, he can appreciate that she's not going full throttle. But even so, even knowing where she's aiming and with her going rather slowly, it's a struggle.

His expression grows a little flatter (he'd be gritting his teeth, except he knows it's better to be as calm as possible) as he tries to focus on this properly.

You'd think focusing was something he could do well, but even so... he manifests something, but it's really not enough to keep her from striking him nonetheless.

God damn.]

...Alright. [Okay... sort of, but not quite.] Again.

[flaredo]

Don't actually push yourself too hard, okay? Damage to your soul isn't exactly healthy.

[ Or she'd train him into the ground. ]

[deontology]

I will be fine.

[Sure, Sousei, sure.

Nonetheless, he acknowledges her advice with a nod. He won't...stay at it for too long (and then he'll go train more on his own), but he does want to keep going at least a little.]

I would like to try again.

[flaredo]

All right, all right... then here we go. Let's try your chest.

[ NICE AND SLOW. ]

[deontology]

[Nice and slow and he focuses as hard as he can and he does--better.

There's definitely some form of a blocking force there, but it's also something that flickers out after a moment, and thus doesn't really have any real capacity to block Yang.

Still, he's a little more satisfied with that. He'll have to keep trying, but at least now he knows what it's supposed to feel like.

So he looks thoughtful, completely unbothered by Yang's cautious punch connecting with his chest after the fact. This...is useful, it definitely is.]