other side of the universe (open)

[slaughterous]

WHO: Agent Maine & YOU
WHAT: tattoos, training, and polar bears, oh my!
WHEN: early June
WHERE: all over Nightwake
WARNINGS: n/a


Frostreign — Winter Guild

Maine hits up the Winter Guild right away. Seems like the most sensible thing to do. If he's gotta learn magic—or seasonal powers, or whatever—then going to the Guild is the obvious first step.

The place is surprisingly cozy. A little on the cold side, but so is outer space. There are warm blankets scattered around, and the interior of the stone building gives Maine the impression of some faraway castle. Not that he's ever been in a castle before, but if he had, he imagines it would be like this.

He does some research, then sets about training. He's easy to spot: seven feet tall and built like a barge, with a shaved head and a determined look on his face.

Find him on the second floor as he attempts to create steam … but what he's creating instead is a fine veil of mist that swirls around his feet.

Or spot him later, when he's holding an elemental ribbon weapon and looking at it with extreme doubt plastered on his face.

Amberfall — Tattoo Shop

Magical tattoos? Now, this Maine had got to see.

They give him the option of a permanent versus a temporary tattoo. His instinct is to scoff. He doesn't need some pasted-on crap that'll flake off soon. But they assure him the process is the same. So he decides on the magical effects he wants (Danger Sense and Minor Regeneration Powers). Then it's time to figure out the design.

Catch him standing there in a tank top, muscles on muscles, as he studies various designs on the wall. Looking over, he asks in a deep, gravely voice, "These things work?"

Sunwaning — Weapon Training HQ

Today, Maine is training with a combat knife.

He has some experience with the weapon. That much is obvious from the ease with which he holds it, respectful but unafraid of the blade. But it's also apparent that this isn't his weapon of choice.

After practicing forms for a while, he moves onto the knife throwing range. There, he takes up a blade, aims, and flings it down the range.

SHINK!

It sticks! … Handle-first.

Solarpeak — Giant Pool

There is a polar bear in the pool.

How did the polar bear get there? Who knows! No one saw it arrive. One minute, everything was fine. The next, there was a polar bear in the pool.

The polar bear seems pretty content in the water, but should it be there? Maybe it'd be better to try and convince it to leave…

Wildcard

( ooc: hmu by pm or @ bicepsbrigade for any wildcards! will match prose or brackets )

Comments

[mayoninofukucho]

[He smiles at that, visibly happy that he was able to give Maine a good time in this strange realm - or at least not too hard a time. With how honest his questmate has been with him throughout, he doesn't hold back either.]

It's easy to teach someone as fast on the uptake as you. Just so you know, I'll be hitting you for quests before you know it!

[Anything else would be a waste of strength and talent! Looking around to ensure that they haven't overlooked anything of importance, he settles down on the ground in the same cross-legged position he assumed when the ritual started and offers his hands to Maine once he joins him.]

Let's get back to the real world, shall we?

[slaughterous]

[ Maine looks pleased by that—both the praise and the idea of going on quests together. He'd like to go on quests with Hijikata, too! Maybe Carolina can come with them as well. Then Hijikata would understand why Maine loves her—because who wouldn't love Carolina?

(He thinks, definitely not biased in any way.)

He sets down the rifle, then sits down cross-legged with Hijikata. Joining hands, he shuts his eyes, waiting for the real world to pull them back. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

[He certainly won't say no to having two powerhouses with him, all the more if he'll get to see how they work together! While he currently doesn't know yet that Carolina is Maine's fellow soldier, finding out won't surprise him - it hindsight, it doesn't feel like the kind of war he's fighting in back home allows for much (if any) time off-duty to meet a girl and fall in love the conventional way.

As they both focus on the physical sensations of sitting on the ground and linking hands, he finds it hard to really notice the transition, but once he hears distant voices, he opens his eyes... and sure enough, they're back in the castle, "their" dragon resting near them and keeping an eye on them. Having them back safe and sound, it congratulates them on completing the ritual, and Hijikata cheerfully praises Maine.]

He went through it like a professional! You'd think he's a veteran like me.

[With their business completed, they need to look for their pokémon, which the dragon says went playing after they were sufficiently assured that their trainers would be OK... but it's not like they're in a rush, and there's so much to see here and to discuss about life in Ellipsa, magic, etc., they can stand to spend some more time! Hijikata brought provisions, too (and not even just mayonnaise).]

[shatteredprison]

Another quick dash on his air shoes, and he has the knife in hand. He holds it out.

"Try to throw it with a slight increase in torque. Work to get the blade to spin faster. It should land blade first if you can do that. If not, hold the blade from the opposite end. A different starting point can have the same effect."

[slaughterous]

[ Once they return to the real world, Maine stretches his arms, cracks his neck, and looks down at his hands. He doesn't feel much different, though there is a certain … something that seems to have changed.

He looks at Hijikata, who got that extra ball of playful energy. Smiles faintly at the praise, then asks, ]

Feel different?

[mayoninofukucho]

I do. It's hard to describe, isn't it? But I feel like I can kick ass in a whole new way now.

[He laughs.]

It'll require lots of practice, though! Which of these powers do you have your eyes on to start with?

[He's curious!]

[slaughterous]

[ Immediately: ]

Immune to freezing. Most useful. Versatile.

[ And something he thinks is extra necessary for a Winter like him. He doesn't want to freeze himself with his own magic one of these days! ]

[slaughterous]

Increased torque. Right. Maine nods, accepting the knife again. Then he takes aim, flicks his wrist as he throws, and…

SHINK!

It sticks! Blade-first!

[mayoninofukucho]

Starting with the defences... good thinking.

[He nods in approval.]

I want fire wings first of all. I can fly via bird transformation, but nothing beats being able to do it while still having my arms!

[It seems like they have their work cut out for them... many, many training hours lie ahead.]

Let's find the 'mons! I bet they've completely forgotten about us.

[Uncharitable, but probably true - time flies when you're playing in an exciting new location full of potential new friends!]