[Open Log] to become stronger

[rustyhonesty]

WHO: Jean Kirstein & Closed + Open Prompts
WHAT: Training Arc begins and other ideas
WHEN: Mid-June onwards
WHERE: Nightwake City
WARNINGS: will add when needed.

EXTRA: Quick OTA prompts are under the cut. Other prompts will be in comments. Feel free to send me a PM to plot or poke me at plurk sasageyo o/


General Training
(Dayrise Colosseum)

[Occasionally during June, Jean can be found from the Dayrise colosseum. Mostly he's training general hand to hand combat skills (including testing a few different martial arts he's read on) or his fire magic. Unlike his previous anger filled training, he's rather calm this time and taking his time to take breaks in between training.

He also has his sword with him to practice swings with that whenever he hits a figurative wall in his normal training.]


Staring at horizons

[Jean is definitely not going to go the Segments on his own, but he does occasionally wander to the beginning of the Sunwaning bridge to look at the Segments from there. The Autumn and Summer Segments are both beautiful and it feels peaceful to just watch them from afar.

It's also a good place for him to just be on his own and think about things by himself. About death and about what he needs to do now. But he makes no move towards the Segments the whole time he's there and instead turning to go back to the city.]

Comments

general training

[hometown]

[ Mastering his newfound set of "magical powers" is one of Reiner's top priorities in Nightwake. Although, truthfully, he should probably stop labeling any priority as near the top. He has too many things to learn, too many things to do, too many people he has to watch out for. It would be easier if Reiner weren't the only Warrior here; if his comrades were with him, they could split the burden and utilize each other's strengths. But there's no point in wishing for what hasn't happened yet; all he can do is wait for them to join him.

(They will join him. He's sure of that.)

At any rate, Reiner still has to master his new powers, and he also needs to familiarize himself with Nightwake's nooks and crannies. Which is how he ends up at the Dayrise Colosseum, kneeling beside a raised bed of earth that blocks his view of other people practicing, trying to make the soil do … something.

It feels stupid, staring at dirt and willing it to move. It feels like he's lost his damn mind. But Reiner recalls how silly he felt while working to master the Armored's abilities. Back then, he sometimes manifested only a torso, or an arm, or—in one very embarrassing instance—a foot. The taste of failure is nothing new. He just needs to push through it.

Ten minutes later, something finally happens—but it's not what Reiner expects. Instead of moving earth, he adjusts his position, his fingertips pressing against the ground. And he feels it. He feels the vibrations of those around him, senses their footsteps, knows where they are. It's more instinctive than a bird's eye view, more like brushing his fingertips against that familiar, crackling lightning—

He jerks his hands up, sucking in a breath. Looks down at himself to ensure his body isn't sparking with his Titan's power. (It isn't.) Then he exhales slowly and rises to his feet, stretching his back and rolling his shoulders. He should probably take a break.

But as he starts circling around the raised soil bed, he glances over at a tall man practicing hand-to-hand skills. And for just a second, their gazes lock.

It's Jean.

… Shit. The last thing Reiner wants is a repeat of their previous meeting. Not because he particularly minded Jean punching him in the face, but because he'd been wildly unstable, the broken pieces of his personality a jumbled mess. He doesn't want Jean to see that again. He doesn't want anyone to see that again.

Which is why he falls back on old habits, calling out: ]

You're dropping your left shoulder.

[ Nothing like some helpful advice to smooth things over, right? ]

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean picked the most terrible timing to look around him. Of course he happens to accidentally run into Reiner. This city wasn't big enough for them to not meet, apparently. Though maybe he should have thought of where to train and gone to the backyard of the Summer Guild instead of the one place that wasn't guild-bound.

It's been a while since their meeting. Not long enough, if you asked Jean, but enough time for his feelings to be more on a stable ground. He well enough to train now, too. Though it's half a way to get his mind from spiraling back to the events of That Night. Therapy, who's that? He's going to train until he can't think as a form of therapy.

Reiner's comment about his form is definitely nostalgic. He recalls several times of Reiner instructing others (even Jean) on how to hold a proper form. Back when they were just trainees and life was a lot more simple. Back when he could call Reiner a friend. Well, as much a friend he could call anyone other than Marco. He wasn't very good at making friends back then. That's on him. He made it difficult on purpose. He was there to beat everyone else in the rankings and make it to safety. Still, to someone like that, Reiner offered advice even back then.

Ugh, he didn't ask for a nostalgia trip down to memory lane. But Reiner acting so familiarly just made it happen. It would be so much easier for Jean to hate Reiner if he just kept on being cold and cruel. No, it's not that he doesn't hate Reiner, it's just hard to sometimes forget the times he didn't. When they were both soldiers.

He adjusts the position, this time keeping his left shoulder up. It works better.]

Huh. A useful advice.

[That's a way to say thanks without saying thanks and trying to sound like Reiner could have easily give him a bad advice, but opted not to so he's surprised (he isn't surprised. Reiner is just weird like this. Contradicting.)

Jean looks at the raised soil bed and then back to Reiner.]

Earth... so you're Autumn, then. Here I was worried you'd be another Summer.

[hometown]

[ Of course it's useful, a part of Reiner wants to say. Do you think I'd teach you bad habits? But he bites back that impulse before the words leave his lips. Bites his tongue, too, just for good measure. He and Jean aren't friends, not anymore. Even though they were once. Even though Reiner genuinely cares about Jean, Connie, and the others. Even though he lived side-by-side with them for years, training with them, looking after them, playing the part of a "big brother" figure to perfection. It was all just pretend, wasn't it?

No, it wasn't. And that's the whole problem.

So Reiner bites his tongue until the impulse passes, determined not to let himself start slipping again.

Jean doesn't tell him to fuck off, though. (Much as Reiner deserved it last time. Much as he deserves it this time, too.) Instead, Jean says something perfectly civil. So Reiner lingers, a hand resting on his hip, casting the bed of soil a quick glance. ]

Yeah, Autumn is right. [ Then he cocks his head slightly, curious. ] "Another" Summer? How many are there?

[rustyhonesty]

[It's better he doesn't. It would just lead to another argument that would only be two stubborn ass goats banging heads against each other until one or both of them decided it was whatever. Jean wished they could just skip to whatever sometimes.

He could ask, or tell, Reiner to leave or leave himself. Instead Jean decides this is as good time as any to assess what Reiner's goals and mental state is without hopefully accidentally triggering some weird reaction again. To see where they stand and how things would go from now on.

They'd end up running into each other like this without a doubt. It's better to get things out of the way.]

Before you arrived, over half of the people from "home" were Summers. Myself included.

[He demonstrates by make a flame appear on top of his hand. Even if it's very close to his hand, floating in air, Jean doesn't seem like it bothers him.

Also he's not saying any names, Reiner would need to figure out who is what himself. Besides he's not even sure what Season Gabi falls into, which is why he's just saying over half.]

3DMG training | for Levi and Mikasa

[rustyhonesty]

[After Jean gets his gear fixed (it wasn't in as bad shape as he feared, nothing crucial had been broken), it's time to train him to become (even) better at using it. So he and his mentors have chosen the Dayrise Colosseum, since it provides with surfaces that can be used to train.

What Jean didn't expect was to get both Levi and Mikasa to train him at the same time. He knew both of them would, but he always assumed they'd be separate lessons.

What was he getting into?]

I'll be in your care.

[Is he definitely going to become better at using his gear? Hell yeah!

Is he also going to be exhausted by the end of even the first training session? You know it.]

[callyourname]

[Even Mikasa didn't expect that she and Levi would both be here, not before they both just so happened to arrive into this location hours ago for the same reason and decided to team up against Jean.

She's already wearing her gear, her long as hell hair is out of the way on two braids and she looks ready to go anytime.]

I really wouldn't call it that, but call it whatever you want.

[ Care? It's going to be HELL for him! Yes, she knows he didn't mean it that way but that's what he gets for saying that to Mikasa. Damn, that whole thing happening to Jean must have REALLY messed up something in her head, when she's joining forces with Levi of all people. No, but seriously, why not when he's around and even she can't say that this is a bad idea? It's not like Mikasa agreeing to working as a team with him is a totally new thing, it's just been--- years for her since the last time when that even happened.

And speaking of the midget, she'll leave explanations to him. ]

1/2

[wingbound]

[ It seems that nobody expected this, and yet here they were. Apparently both Levi and Mikasa decided to get up at the asscrack of dawn to prepare some hellish obstacle course for Jean -- it can probably be seen behind them right now, multiple dummies and 2d walls made out of boards raised way too close to each other -- and exchanged just the minimum amount of words necessary to establish an alliance. ]

[ They both want the best for him, after all, and they also don't believe in babying him now that he'd gone and fucked up. ]

[ The midget Levi greets Jean with a stare, arms folded. He too is fully geared with the 3DMG, although the straps on his left leg are secured on top of the brace he's been wearing for the last few weeks. ]

I know you excelled at traditional training, but clearly that's not enough here. I've found my own adjustments quite effective, so that's what I'll be teaching you, but remember, there's no one answer and no one right way to use the gear. If it gets you thinking and using it the way that fits you best, we'll have done something.

[ He proceeds to explain his style -- Mikasa had been starting to pick up on it by herself, last he remembers. While he words it more crudely, it's apparently mostly centered about being constantly in motion and launching cables, using mostly kinetic forces to propel oneself while limiting gas use. In turn, that means most of the time only one hook is anchored, as the other will need be used to change direction or continue the motion further, which always leaves you with two failsafes: the other hook, and a gas burst. He proceeds to again point out there are always exceptions, and both cables may be needed for an extremely rapid change of direction, but it should be exception and not a rule, and having saved gas can be the difference between life and death in an unfavorable fight. ]

[ Then he talks some more about the process, the awareness, the risks and weaknesses, probably mentions how to transition into spinning attacks, and in the end just stands there in silence for a bit as he regards Jean, and then glances over to Mikasa. ]

2/2

[wingbound]

...anyway, this part is easier to show than to explain. Mikasa, take the right side.

[ And just like that, he's turning to latch onto the left side of the sort-of tunnel they're using in the training area, and zipping off, fully expecting her to fall in step with him perfectly, because he knows she's capable of it and more. ]

[ Hm. Perhaps he should consider helping her reach her full potential once they've decreased Jean's chances of dying to a blunder again. If she even needs it, but he does think some of Kenny's (ugh) advice might still be useful to her, too. ]

[ She, is, after all, like them. She's an Ackerman. ]

Weapon Shopping | for Mukuro

[rustyhonesty]

[After some time had passed and they've both had calmed down enough, Jean invites Mukuro out to shop for weapons. Namely for guns, but if there were other interesting things available, who knows what they might pick.

Jean has been thinking about getting a proper gun for a while now, since he would like to have more range for his attacks. Having Mukuro with him provided with good opinions on the various models the stores had to offer... and they could get out and hang out.]

I heard there are weapon shops in the "shadier" parts of the center district, but maybe we should try one of the ones that don't seem shady first? Even if the others might have a larger variety...

[corpsewarblade]

We can at least see what they are offering. They probably won’t be carrying anything too high calibre, but it’s somewhere to start.

[Mukuro hadn’t fully recovered from what happened- the Despair still bubbled away far too close to the surface- but she was largely functional again, now.

Getting her to indulge in her Battle Nerd nature- in a way she could actually help- did a lot to get her out of her shell.]

…Were you thinking of using it for sniping, or a wider utility?

[He’d said he’d had experience with shotguns and with sniping before, hadn’t he…?]

[rustyhonesty]

[That's why he asked Mukuro to come with him. To give her some pleasant things to do and think about. Maybe after a weapon purchase they could even find a shooting range to test the gun out, for extra things.]

Actually, I was thinking about getting a handgun. Something easy to carry with me, but that can still be modified with magical bullets. Though who knows, maybe I will end up with a few different firearms.

staring at horizons.... bc i changed my mind

[acquirement]

{ he isn't ready to venture out of the city yet either, but at least the views from the bridges are good enough to draw or paint, that he finds himself stepping out anyway. he has a watercolour paper pad hooked under one arm, along with a small case of paints and other art supplies in a bag in the other. seeing jean hovering near the edge though, he'll step on over quietly. }

It seems rather serene while it's like this, does it not?

this good bonding too

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean is pretty lost in thoughts, so he kind of jumps a little at hearing someone talk to him. Ayato was so quiet he didn't notice him walking there. He calms down quickly though, smiling a little at his friend.]

Yeah. It's actually really beautiful. All the colors and the scenery.

[Shame it's also cursed.]

sad bonding probably-

[acquirement]

{ ayato can't say anything about it, honestly, there have been many times he's found himself staring at nothing while his mind slips without his permission. there are countless occasions he'd been in the middle of something, and his memories won't let him rest. }

Apologies if I startled you. It wasn't intentional.

{ he shifts then until he can sit down on the floor, he didn't bring a chair with him so it isn't like there's anything else for him to use. }

I thought I may come to paint it, I'm running out of materials to do from my own home, after all.

General Training

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata and Jean often train and spar together, but today they want to try something new (at least for Jean): Telekinesis. Hijikata has already gotten quite good at it thanks to his diligent practice with Sun, so he's happy to pass on his knowledge. He arrives with a bunch of cheap plastic balls of varying sizes in a net (Jean may or may not recognise them as a toy set sold at Solarpeak's beach shops), and his tepig in tow.]

Are you ready? You're going to love this! It has saved my ass so many times already!

[Jean may raise an eyebrow at that, but there have been surprisingly many situations where neither fire nor steel were of help!]

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean also has his Pokémon with him; a Totodile. He's very excitable and runs over to greet Tepig. Maybe they could play together? Hello friend.

He really does raise an eyebrow at that.]

What kind of situations have you gotten into that needs telekinesis to rescue you from?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata's tepig has a friendly disposition and is about equally excited as Jean's totodile, happily oinking and running around it in circles. It looks like they can leave these two little ones to their own devices for a while!]

Plenty. I killed a bone sucker with it before.

[Well, kind of. (Also that's probably not what they're actually called...)]

I also fought off whole bunches of monsters by pushing them back with it while I had worse enemies to focus on! And I stopped stampeding statues by lifting them into the air!

[Never mind that both those things ate up a shitload of his mana.]

General Training

[itsmypower]

[So Jean's here too...? Narrowing eyes observe the other first, and Shoto waits a bit, watches, recalls his saying how they really should train together—but their meeting's just plain coincidence now. He's far more used to doing things alone. Though, likely luck does have some hand in things, and just as good he's brought his sword along; curious, hovering in his distance, appearing only to stare him down before he's quietly approached him too.

How do people get close to people?

He thinks this too, without asking.]

How are you with fire now?

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean's happy to meet Shoto on a coincidence. Considering how well they've recently worked together, training should prove to be useful, too.]

I'm pretty confident with it. I've mastered all the basic skills. I haven't managed to unlock an advanced skill yet, though.

[He's tried, but his skill points were used first skill was already accidentally unlocked.]

[itsmypower]

Glad to hear it.

[To think he couldn't form a fire once... He wants to urge him even further now.]

What would you say to sparring with me for a bit?

[As if it's "play"; as if he's ever gone light on anyone.]

July Full Moons (July 2nd - 4th) | Open to CR

[rustyhonesty]

[Thanks to House Expansions, the house Jean, Mikasa and Mukuro own now has a cellar. There was enough time to set it up so that Jean had a space where he was isolated, yet there was enough room for anyone of his friends in the know to come and visit and keep him company.

The small space was safe enough to contain him but open enough to have conversations through it if he could. It would otherwise be a rather lonely 12 hours if he had to be there on his own, after all.

With luck nothing at all would happen.

But something did end up happening right as the moon appeared on the sky. Jean could feel it. Something in him changing. He closed his eyes and was preparing for the worst-


Only to open his eyes a few minutes later, after realizing nothing major had happened. Instead he was now sporting very, very fluffy pair of wolf ears and a fluffy tail. And fangs.]

Uh... ?

[And the same repeated for all three night of the full moon.

Of course once it's very clear he's not a danger at all, he will also get out of the basement, but remain in the house - just in case - where there's familiarity.]


[ooc: Jean is just in his underwear at the beginning of the night to avoid clothes from ripping apart (just in case), showing his scars (One on his right leg, one on his right side/rib, four scars on his chest made by some sort of a claw; the scars start from the right shoulder and continue all the way down to his left side). Afterwards he will at least have a blanket around him or actual clothes, but the opportunity to see various scars is there.]

Night of July 2nd

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata arrived in the early evening already, bringing a whole picnic basket full of food (well, meat, really - anything from chicken legs over sausages to meatballs) and a few things to pass the time with (cards and a couple of tabletop strategy games he grabbed from the library). It's unusually much "labour of love" for him, who usually leaves such tasks to others, and arguably shows how responsible he feels for what happened to Jean.

When Jean and he both undergo their transformation as the moon rises, he's relieved to see that Jean's is equally minor as his own (albeit decidedly more wolfish compared to his own sleek black dog ears and -tail). So much for this! He was trying to brace himself for seeing him turn into a huge werewolf like the native ones... this is much preferable!]

Welcome to the were side. Having four ears is pretty crazy, huh?

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean is still very much unimpressed at all this. He's very glad he didn't turn into anything like the werewolves in the mountains, but did he have to get some sort of a wish.com cheap version of the curse? He could have avoided everythin. He sighs, his fangs showing visibly as he does.]

I've had four ears before while partially transforming, so it's not that new anymore. But the fangs are... weird.

[That's something he usually didn't get.]

Night of July 3rd

[corpsewarblade]

[Well, if Hijikata was taking the July 2nd shift, she'd take the one on July 3rd. It sounded like yesterday's full moon had been less eventful than they were expecting, but this was the full moon itself. So tonight the effects would be at their strongest.

She'd been anxiously pacing until it was time to get downstairs to the basement. Patrolling the area with a restlessness of being in an active war zone.

She wouldn't let anything happen to her brother. She couldn't. Not again.

Mukuro had set up camp with her supplies, all ready to step in if need be. Of course, if she hadn't already seen Jean's scars by now, she saw them tonight... looks like she wasn't the only one sporting death scars. She wasn't sure how to feel about that point of resemblance she shared with her brother, now.

...

As their transformations took hold, Mukuro turned quickly with a howl- and had to fight for a moment to bring her her senses back and turn her focus to Jean. Who, much like Hijikata, now sported a lot of fluff. But thankfully, nothing to the extent the once they fought did!]

...Jean? Hey.

[Just checking he could still rationally talk to her, first off.]

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean was expecting the same thing as last time, but also worried it would be worse. Luckily it wasn't and Jean once again pokes his very fluffy ears.]

Yeah, I'm still very much me. Just like last night. I guess this is the worst that'll happen.

[He would still stay in the basement for the next evening, too, just in case. But next month he might try just staying indoors.]