(OPEN) Sword Shenanigans Part I

[heiwana]

Who: Kousetsu ( heiwana ) and EVERYONE! With guest star appearances by Souza (prehensible) & Tsurumaru (crayne)
When: IC: 12/16-12/18
Where: Gardens, Food stop, Game center, Marketplace and Shopping district
What: Dumb swords doing things and going places.
Rating/Warning: PG

---

Gardens:

[ Kousetsu is probably one of the few people who takes his job here seriously so you know. If you happen to be perusing the gardens on this fine day you will see a tall man with a cascade of blue hair tending to the more exotic and interesting flowers. His sword isn’t readily at his side for the time being, but it’s on the ground near his workplace. He’ll be planting and carting flowers around all day and maybe even give people some who ask him nicely for them.

Or, you know, if he happens to have extra and no more space left he might just walk up to you, serious face and all, and hold out some flowers for you to take. Kousetsu, no, that is giving the totally wrong impression. ] ...would you like some? They need a...good home to go to.

Shopping District

[ Kousetsu is…kinda lost and mildly fascinated with everything. Mainly he’s focusing on staring into the windows of clothing stores today. Every day it’s a new venture for him. He’s not too sure about the clothing in these places though. It was far out of his league and way too different from his own garb. But he does look curiously into each new store wondering exactly if he should just go and try things on… ]

Game Center

[ After his work is done for the day and he’s heading back home he will…probably get lost at some point. Listen he’s not used to all these fancy lights and stuff, okay? He’s a bit mesmerized by them actually. He’ll wind up at the game center at some point. He kinda looks like a character out of a game, what with his bright pale blue hair, priest robes, and sword at his side. He’ll look around before going inside and just…wow, what is all of this. He’s heard the Saniwa talk about these things before but he’s never seen any of it in real life. Is this what entertainment consists of in modern times? He might…go up to a machine and just touch it to get a feel for it. If you’re nearby he will turn to you with his normal expression of seriousness. ]

How does one…go about using this? [ Yes, good job Kousetsu, you sure are making progress with your choice of questions. ]

Food Stop (with Souza!)

[ They both stand out super easily because it’s like walking pair of cartoon characters. With hair the color of cotton candy the two Samonji brothers are coming back from a mission today. After having done some shopping they’ll be perusing the stalls and stands for some tasty food to bring back to the apartment. Souza might be further on ahead than Kousetsu but the older brother will hurry along to catch up with the other. Safe to say if you want to bug them and get them to try weird foods, now is your chance. ]

Marketplace (with Souza and Tsurumaru!)

[ They look like a walking boy band but do not be deceived. They are anything like what their looks suggest. A white, pink and blue haired man walk into a bar…

No but really what exactly is Tsurumaru up to?! Nothing, yet, but Souza and Kousetsu are his chaperones guides today as they all take a walk through the marketplace to look at the trinkets and things held within it. You might even get lucky and have the crap scared out of you by Tsurumaru, WHO KNOWS. ]

Comments

[heiwana]

[ What does he like? Well he looks surprised for a second at that question. He's never been asked what he liked before this place. It's still surprising to him when the question is asked. But his eyes drift to the loud and flashing games around them. It was almost dizzying to be surrounded by all this, but he was doing his best to focus and not get too overwhelmed. ]

...I do not know. I have not played any sort of games before coming here. The Saniwa had a few...board games, but I never tried them. [ He usually let the younger swords play with them instead. ]

[masakados]

Saniwa?

[Naoki looks puzzled, though interested, as he leads the way around some of the bigger clusters of machines. Any quieter games are probably back here; ah, yes, there's mahjong and your typical puzzles.]

[heiwana]

[ He nods. ]

...yes. Our master prior to coming here. They were also the one to give us a body outside of our current form.

[ He'll place a hand lightly on the sword sheathed at his side. His expression mellow and almost sad even as he looks from his sword back to the space around them. ]

[masakados]

[Naoki mouths 'master', turning to look at Kousetsu.

And then down to the sword. Ah...] So that's why, [he murmurs, mostly to himself. That's why he doesn't know much about games? That might be the assumption, but Naoki's mostly talking about the feeling of him.]

That's some amazing power that they have.

[heiwana]

Yes. Our master was...amazing. [ And that just reminds him that their world has been destroyed, or supposedly destroyed, and he's never going to see the Saniwa or the others again. He might look...incredibly sad for a brief moment or two. ]

I...do not know if they will ever arrive here. I will pray for them and everyone else who has...suffered on Earth until they do arrive.

[ It's the least he can do...now that nothing remains. He'll close his eyes and clutch at the prayer beads wrapped around the length of his lower arm. ]

[masakados]

[Naoki frowns a little, looking away. A different Earth from his own, but the thought of that story CERES has given them... hmmm. He can't believe it still. He won't believe it. Not like this.

...But, those thoughts aside, he himself isn't as important right now.] You'll see them again, one way or another, [is what he says, a touch of determination in it.]

And then, when you do, you'll have lotsa new things to tell them about. [To lighten the conversation, perhaps he says this.]

[heiwana]

[ The determination he speaks with is heartfelt, Kousetsu can hear that much in his voice. He might not believe it right now, but he's willing to give the idea and wish a chance. Who knows if the three of them were brought here...perhaps the others will follow. ]

...yes you are right. This place...has the capacity to bring us here. So I am sure that the others might follow...someday. [ But that means he has to learn all these new things quickly so he can teach everyone how it works when they arrive. ]

I am certain a few of the others would be interested in these...games here.

[masakados]

[Naoki nods his head once, firmly.

That's a better outlook to have. It's a little less disheartening than thoughts that you'll never see someone again. He turns smartly on a heel toward one of the machines, lightly rapping the metal with an index finger.]

Then let's give this one a try [the mahjong game!], and later you can play it with one of them.

[heiwana]

[ He wonders faintly if Tenka, Sousei, or Souza would want to play this with him. He'll have to keep it in mind when he gets back to the apartment, yes. Kousetu nods in agreement as he moves to take a closer look at the machine.

His eyes will widen slightly as he gets a better look at the logos and images painted on the machines surface. Mahjong he knows, another familiarity here. This place was surprising in the most interesting of ways. ]

Mahjong. I have played it many times. I am...surprised that they have it here. [ Albeit it's inside a giant box and not exactly what he's used to. But he can definitely try to work around it. ]

Are...all the games here inside these metal boxes?

[masakados]

It's a pretty classic game where I'm from, though it's not super popular in arcades anymore.

[But it's a relaxing game and fighting-free, and Naoki smiles over at him at his familiarity. Oh good. So he won't have to give a crash course, though he wouldn't mind doing that anyway.]

But yeah, they all are. Here, this is how you play it on the machine... [He reaches out, to show him how before they play proper, how to move the cursor about...]

[heiwana]

It is one of the more popular games in the citadel. [ So he's glad Naoki seems to know it, also he might be a bit surprised that he does.

Still Kousetsu will move a bit towards the machine as he watches in mild fascination and intrigue. This is definitely a new take on how to play it. It's less...physical and more based on sight in someways. ]

This is...very interesting. [ He might lean a bit closer as the screen starts up. A curious 'hm' passing his lips as he watches intently. ]

[masakados]

[He spent a lot of time in arcades as a middle school student, he picked up a few things-- mahjong included. He didn't learn it your classic way, but this is almost as good, and it's coming in handy now!

Naoki grins sidelong at him as he leans in, taking a few more minutes to show him... before he steps to the side.]

Here. You can give it a try, ... [A pause, for lack of a name. Right.] I'm Naoki. By the way.

[heiwana]

[ He looks between Naoki and the machine for a brief moment before nodding his head and taking a tentative step towards the machine. His movements are awkward on the unfamiliar device but he's watching the screen with rapt attention, like a child who just received a new toy.

The swords in someways were like that. Despite the hardships and troubles they've faced there is still some shred of innocence to them. Once he's not so focused he will finally reply to Naoki. ]

I am Kousetsu. It is...a pleasure to meet you.

[masakados]

[It's endearing, in a way-- It's watching someone experience something they never have, and it's kind of a treat. Naoki's smiling a little as he watches, patient, arms crossed loosely over his chest.]

It's good to meet you too, Kousetsu.

[heiwana]

[ Kousetsu will remain focused for the remainder of the game, which admittedly, doesn't last too long. He might be unskilled with using the machine but he knows his mahjong. And he'll win the first round easily, though he doesn't show his approval or any sort of excitement on his face at the fact. ]

...this is a very entertaining way to play. Thank you for...showing me. [ He gives Naoki a bow of courtesy. ] I never would have considered these...machines to be able to reproduce something that is mainly physical in nature. [ It's strange not actually having the tiles in hand. Kousetsu liked using them, feeling them, for a sword touch and tactile things were still a bit usual and interesting. But this was fine too. ]

...do you know if they have other games like this? Hanafuda, Shogi or Go?

[ He likes all three equally, but the wider a selection the better. ]

[masakados]

[He's not an expressive person, huh... For a moment, Raidou crosses his mind, before Naoki shakes his head at himself minutely to rid himself of the thought. Raidou had a different air about him, different from Kousetsu's.

The thanks gets a small bow of his own (he's the younger one here, it's only polite) and a "not at all", before he smiles at the question.]

They did at the arcades that were back home, I'm pretty sure. So I'd bet they'd have them here. Let's see... [Naoki wanders a little ways away after a "wait here" gesture, slipping in-between machines, wandering into the back section, the less used games, unlike the popular virtual and super-advanced games they keep up front.] Over here, Kousetsu.

[He calls, one arm popping over the tops of a cluster of arcade games, beckoning in a lazy wave.]

[heiwana]

[ He most certainly is not. But still when Naoki goes off to find said games Kousetsu will bid his time with playing another round of mahjong, a faint smile touching his lips as he wins yet another round. His attention turns to the other games which he doesn't play but will fiddle with some of the controls on the base of the machine itself.

It's only when he's finally called out to that he turns and gets up from his position at one of the many rest areas in the same vicinity that they were in. He'll be there in a few short moments, walking through the arcade with his arms folded neatly into the sleeves of his robes. ]

You are...very knowledgeable of this place. [ he'd never be able to find this stuff at all. ] Thank you for taking the time out to find all this.

[masakados]

I spend too much time here, [Naoki admits.] I get most of my credits through ViViD, and I come here to play it, so...

[He's become rather adept at the game center, wanders about it when he's bored of quests in ViViD and needs to take a little break. Get back to his 8bit routes. So on and so forth.]

I'm glad it's come in handy today, though.

[heiwana]

If it is something you enjoy then...there is no harm in using it to make a decent living . [ At least that's how he feels about non-violent types of work.

Kousetsu nods. ] ...yes. If you had not been here...I do not think I would have made much progress. This...technology is very confusing. [ Especially for a sword spirit that's never interacted with such things before! ]

[masakados]

Yeah. [He does enjoy the game-- but, well, it's not only that sometimes. He's aware of the oddness of his appearance, how others might see him, and doing normal work feels too strange after his time in the Vortex World.]

I grew up with technology like this... so I never thought of how other people would have to deal with it, not until I came here.

It can be really complicated, but you got a good start. [His voice is encouraging. YOU'LL BE A TECH MASTER SWORD YET, KOUSETSU.]

[heiwana]

[ Kousetsu had found his appearance odd but then again he has no right to really call someone that, does he? I mean just look at all the people who were put off by his own nature and current physical appearance. ]

...I see. You...are from the future then? [ If all this stuff is around then he has to be. ] I will...try to come here everyday to get more familiar with it.

[ He could use a tutorial for his Cerevice too, but he doesn't make mention of the thing. ] It is...not as bad as I first thought it would be.

[masakados]

[Kousetsu looks so dignified, though-- like a fancy monk or a priest or something of the kind. Naoki's seen worse, from skeletons on motorbikes to skeletons riding giant multiple-headed beasts... lots of skeletons.]

Yeah, for you, it'd be the future.

[But, hmm.] How have things gone with the stuff in the apartments? [Did he have someone to show him?]