[Open] Adjusting

[youngjustice]

Who: Ken & YOU
What: Vengeful child tries to adjust to school life.
Where: Around Campus
When: First week of March
Warnings: N/A



A. Moving In (Student Dorms)

Ken looks down at multiple papers, his gaze intense as if glaring a whole through it would give him the answers that he sought. He only recently arrived, his father's friend giving him a simple good luck and a hair ruffle which Ken quickly did his best to fix. Ken knows that he's only really here to hone his abilities but he's onto what the older man really wants him to do. But Ken won't allow himself to get distracted from his goals. He will become better and he will avenge his mother. What he's supposed to do after that? Well, that's only for him to know.

Ken is so deep in his thoughts that he isn't aware that he bumps into someone before it's too late. Ken is quick to get into a defensive fighting position before he relaxes when he realizes he isn't under attack. "Oh, I apologize." Ken says, his stance relaxing into something relaxed. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

B. Misunderstanding (The Quad - Courtyard)

Anyone who walks through the courtyard with a keen eye would see a young man mumbling something to himself. While that is not anything too unusual, the fact the kid is also holding a gun shaped objected aimed right to his chest might cause something that is a bit alarming.

Ken, meanwhile, is unconcerned with how the image may look to an outside party. He has just finished practicing with his spear so he needs to practice with Nemesis next. It's quite taxing keeping her summoned for too long but he's trying to train his body to do so. This will be the third time he's summoned her before he finally gives into exhaustion. Ken breathes heavily as he holds the summoning object to his chest. As long as he focuses, he should be able to do it this time. He's sure of it!

C. Written in the Pages? (Hall of Pythia)

Ken adjusts the pile of books that he has collected over the pass five minutes. They were mostly just titles that caught his eyes, every one thick and heavy. Books on vengeance, familiar magic and prophecies. And there may have been some comic books slipped in the large pile as well but Ken would be quick to admit that he would have no possible idea of how they got there. You know. Like a liar! Or, well, at least like a kid not wanting to admit that he reads such childish things...

Turns out the tactic of picking up random books and trying to carry them is a bad idea. Because it only takes Ken's shoe string to get caught underneath his other foot before him and his tower of books come crashing down. He groans, slowly observing the mess that he's made. Yeah, definitely a bad idea. Ken sucks in a breath before he begins picking them up, doing his best to push down the embarrassed pinkness in his cheeks.

D. Eating Time (The Great Hall)

This place is still new to Ken. Is it odd that, despite being among people who are like him, he still feels out of place? Maybe it is because he isn't experiencing the same thing that the others are going through. While everyone seems so outward and happy, he is the 11-year-old with his eyes set on vengeance and taking out the one who has wronged him the most. Or, maybe there is someone out there that he can relate to but he's took focused on becoming stronger to just notice? Ken take a deep breath, calming his nerves.

As long as he stays polite and kind, nothing could possibly go wrong. Right? Maybe. Ken approaches the first table he sees, a polite smile on his face that feels like it's forcibly plastered there more than anything. "Excuse me." He says. "I'm sorry to interrupt but do you mind if I sit here? My usual spot is taken." The first few days, his spot was a place that no other people seemed to flock to but life just can't catch him a break, can it?

Comments

[yokeye]

Nemesis and 'always smiling' doesn't seem to go together.

"I guess it's an ironic name~!"

He's not actually sure what irony is, but it's something like that maybe. Ken unfortunately wouldn't get an answer even if he did ask about his murderous future plans. Toki is not the Seer to ask for specific outcome predictions.

"Uhh... Well, I can't really see like any certain length of time into the future I don't think! I mean, maybe there's like a limit, but I don't know what it is~! I can't actually control it, like at all; it just happens! I don't even know if everything I see is from the future or not anyway! Most of the time it doesn't make much sense and it's all disjointed and weird and symbolic sometimes and whatever! I can't just like tell you your future or anything, but I think some of the other Seers can!"

As for Ken's second question.

"It does hurt, like kind of a migraine after, but I'm pretty much used to that and it doesn't bother me anymore! But I feel things that happen in the visions and that's worse because it's always different like burning alive or getting impaled or being crushed to death! It goes away after a few minutes, but it's like so intense when it's happening!"

In short, his powers suck. He suspects they're 'off' compared to some of the other Seers because they were given to him by a daemon. That was a bad decision.

[youngjustice]

Well, there goes that silly little idea.

Hearing Toki so casually talk about experiencing death over and over again is off putting. How can he stay so cheerful despite all of that? Ken looks down awkwardly. He's sorry he even asked. "I'm...sorry to hear that, Toki-san. I guess being a Seer isn't easy." There are times that Ken wishes that he could see his own future. What little of it there may be. But for the price of experiencing things that Toki does? He's find with going in blind. "I'm sorry they're causing you so much trouble."

Another question. Ken is silently hoping he isn't bothering the poor guy with them. "Do you wish you didn't have them? Your powers, I mean."

[yokeye]

Toki stays cheerful only because he's faking it constantly. He's apparently been a little too honest, judging by Ken's reaction.

"It's okay, really~!" He hates every minute of it. "I don't represent them all~! You should maybe talk to Maple. She's more traditional, with like actually seeing your future type of thing, I think!" He has some vague hope that his powers will develop more and he'll end up in the direction of intentionally scrying for clear future information.

Toki has to consider that last question. A month ago, he would have said 'yes' without hesitation. After a moment's deliberation, in the end, it's still 'yes'.

"I think that, even though a couple of times it's actually helped someone, or at least let me give them a warning, it's... It's not worth it! Not right now! It might be later! So how long have you had Nemesis!?"

He doesn't think Ken needs to keep discussing dismal things his first week here.

[youngjustice]

Maple. He'll have to remember that name. Perhaps he'll be able to get he answers he seeks after all. If he's lucky, anyways. Toki's answer is interesting and Ken takes mental note of that as well. Just what kind of person is Toki anyways? Maybe he'll find out.

Ah, it seems it's his turn to answer questions. "Nemesis and I? We've only been together for a year, really." Maybe a few extra months, as well? It's hard to place. "I don't use her often, though. She takes a lot out of me so I prefer using my spear instead."

[yokeye]

"A lot out of you? Does it like suck your energy to have a familiar?"

Toki's been roommates with a Tamer for two months, but he and Yuya have never really discussed how the familiar thing works beyond that he has some connection to the dragon and that he can talk to it. He should have realized all magic might have some drawbacks like that.

"Oh! Is it like a parasite relationship!? Because that's creepy!"

He's not letting Ken answer either of those questions, because he also has comments on the choice of weapon.

"A spear!? That's uh, unexpected~! I've never seen anyone fight with a spear before except in like movies~!"

[youngjustice]

Parasitic relationship, huh? Ken looks down, silently thinking that over. Maybe it is in a way. But he's getting what he wants in the end so Ken doesn't particularly care. He knows what's at risk and he knows that he wants to risk it.

Being asked about his spear, Ken perks up a bit with pride. He is very proud of his spear skills. "Well, it's not as easy as they make it out to be but in the movies but I make it work. I'm an expert, after all!"

[yokeye]

"An expert already!?"

Ken looks really young for the expert category, but Toki's learned a lot of the kids here had far more experience with weaponry and fighting, and the supernatural in general, than he had. Toki doesn't have any weapons skills at this point and he really needs to get on that.

"Have you been to the Mythril Cage yet? I think that's where a lot of the training happens~! There's a tournament at some point too; well, rumored to be a tournament!"

[youngjustice]

Ken does his best to keep his ego in check and not go on a half hour rant about how cool and mature spears were. He could honestly gush about it for hours on end.

At the mention of the Mythril Cage, Ken does his best to recall if he may have passed it or not. But when Toki mentions it's a place where people train, Ken decides to silently take note and try to locate it later. And a rumored tournament? Ken is certainly interested.

"I see. I have yet to actually go there but I may very well do so just to test my skills. And tournaments are an amazing chance to do so." And to prove himself to a large crowd of people.

"Oh, Toki-san, do you participate in other forms of combat too?"

[yokeye]

"Haha, I don't even do the Mythril Cage stuff. Well, I got detention there once, but I didn't show up! I've actually never been there~! I just hear things and I could be completely wrong about the tournaments too, who knows~!? I've only been here since January and I didn't know anything about the supernatural or magic before that, so I'm probably not the best source of information~! If you mean you in general, I guess the other forms of combat are missions! I've only been on one and there was no fighting! I'm on another mission next week, but still no fighting! Communications~!"

The only 'combat' Toki has been involved in is a fight with another student. He's never practiced with a weapon of any sort.

"So, a spear's a good weapon choice, you think!?"

[youngjustice]

Yet another interesting thing to hear. Ken himself has always been surrounded by things that could be considered supernatural so seeing someone who's all new to it is surprising. He wonders how Toki's experience was getting accustomed to things. It couldn't have been easy but he imagines he must have handled things with a smile. He's only known him for a little while but he just seems like the type. "I wish you luck on your mission. I'm sure things will go smoothly." Ken says with a smile.

The topic of spears comes back up and Ken is always ready to talk about it. "Oh yes, definitely! It's also a lot safer as it is more medium ranged combat than anything. Of course, It can be long ranged if I decide to throw it but that seems like something of a last resort more than anything." Another plus is that it helps him feel taller. But he wouldn't admit that out loud. "If you ever want to learn about spear based combat just for the sake of learning, you can always come to me!"

[yokeye]

"It will be a success~!" Toki keeps smiling, but he's terrified at the thought of being responsible for the movements of an entire group of people.

Ken seems pretty knowledgeable on the topic of combat and Toki might take him up on that offer. He hasn't decided on a weapon yet, but has ruled out projectiles on the grounds of potential accidental firing.

"I might do that! Can't really hurt yourself too much with a spear, right!?" It's mostly a stick, really.

[youngjustice]

"Not too much, as long as you make sure to hold it properly." Ken then cringes slightly at an old memory. His younger years trying to get good with a spear was certainly a time.

"And you don't try to twirl it around to try and pull off a cool trick. That's...a really bad idea."

[yokeye]

"It sounds reasonably safe then~! Maybe I should start with a spear!"

He did have pretty good aim with that broom, and it was basically the same, kind of.

"Oh! Or like those spears without the... spear part!"

He means a staff.

[youngjustice]

Without the spear part. Ken closes his eyes for a second, trying to understand what he meant by that, before he finally understands. "Oh! A staff?"

Ken has never used a staff before. Mostly because they didn't seem, well, deadly. But maybe that is the perfect sort of weapon for Toki. He seems way to, this is cliche but, "pure-of-heart" for a real weapon.

"I think a staff would suit you perfectly, Toki-san. And it is certainly a lot safer."

[yokeye]

"Yes~! That's what I meant!"

Toki's reasons for selecting a less-deadly weapon are more along the lines of considering himself too dangerous and inept to wield one, and less because he's morally opposed to fighting. Though, he has no drive for it besides wanting to be more useful or finding an outlet for negative feelings.

"You think so? A staff it is, then~!"

He'll take Ken's opinion in account, and at least he has somewhere to start now.

"Maybe you can show me a few things in the Mythril Cage~!" It still sounds ominous to him. "After finals though! I can only focus on so much at once~! Do you even have finals!?"

He never asked how old Ken was, and now he's wondering if he just suggested training with a nine year old. Oh, well.

[youngjustice]

Finals. Ah, those are a rough time, huh.

"Alright, will do. I wish you luck on your finals, Toki-san, though I don't exactly have them myself yet. But I don't doubt that I could handle them even if I'm still young."

Ken has full confidence in himself.

[yokeye]

He needs all the luck he can get.

"Thank you~!"

Toki realizes he's taken up a lot of time here, while Ken probably wanted to actually eat something. He stands up from the table and waves.

"Anyway, I should go! It was nice to meet you, Ken~!"

[youngjustice]

It seems he is leaving. Ken smiles and waves. He hopes that he'll run into him again sometime. He's quite nice!

"It was nice meeting you too, Toki-san. Stay safe!"