[Open] April Comes She Will (April Catch-All!)

[ninjainviolet]

Characters: Sheena Fujibayashi and YOU! No, really! You, and you, and you, and YOU!
Date: Second week of April on. (She may be visiting a certain red-head during the first week while he's "sick".)
Location: Errywhere
Situation: Oh Sheena doing Sheena things, training, summoning, working, wandering the turtle. (Plus a serious nightmare moment or two)
Warnings/Rating: PG in case Sheena starts cursing. :) Nightmare scenarios won't have much detail, but they will involve mentions of death. That will be labeled.


A - Jasmine Dragon Tea House - Open

Yes, the recent announcement is true. Sheena now owns the Tea House. And is actually pretty comfortable doing it--except where paperwork is concerned. That has been, and always will be, her greatest foe. Next to holes, of course.

None of that shows, however, as she bustles through the place, stopping to chat with staff and customers alike until she can find a moment's peace and enjoy a pot of tea herself at one of the tables. Still, there's no sense of her wanting to be left alone, so whether someone is looking for a job, or is merely stopping by to see her, or even a stranger with a question, feel free to join her.

She'll even offer you a cup of tea and something to eat.

B - Nightmare Aftermath (CW: Possible mentions/descriptions of death) - Open

Before the sun rising is a strange time for people to be up and about, but there are those who are. Perhaps they're going to work, or they're just morning people. In Sheena's case, however, she had just had a nightmare, and is out and about to "deal" with it--dressed in clothing that matches her attire from home. (A clear sign to those who know her that something's up.)

Even if Raine may have managed to stop her and talk to her about it.

And different nightmares have different reactions, so some days you may find her:

1) With a very placid, almost lifeless, expression standing still in an open part of the city. On a bridge or on a roof or even in a public square, with her face upturned, letting either the rain or sunshine wash over her. Or, with that same expression, standing quietly by, listening to the Kedan children play with Corrine's twin, Tomoya. Sheena? Quiet? Standing still? Placid and lifeless? Yeah, there's definitely something up here.

2) Or, perhaps you're sensitive to shifts in mana, or can detect when a Summon is called. Or perhaps it's the sound of lightning striking that catches your attention. Or maybe it's the sight of a huge ball of lightning with eyes that makes you head out to where Sheena is fighting against the Spirit itself.

"Volt!" she cries, launching herself at the Spirit.

Is she in trouble? Does she need help? Or is this some kind of therapy for her? Do you rush to her aid? Or do you hang back and watch, waiting?

[ ooc note: Sheena had three main nightmares. One is canon and comes from the game. The other two are based on incidents that happened during her time in AmatOmnes. While I try not to be too graphic with the descriptions, if you don't want the details, please let me know. ]

C - Healer's Guild - Open

Whoops. Seems Sheena had a little bit of an accident while fighting that big ol' ball of Lightning, and is now sporting a few burns along her legs and arms. Nothing major, but without gels or healing abilities of her own, she has no way of taking care of them. Besides, if she had been brought here by someone else, she really hadn't been in a position to say "no".

She is, however, in a position to make one request.

"Do me a favor," she says to anyone and everyone, "don't tell Raine I'm here? Please?" Surely a sensible request, right? Like the head of the Guild wouldn't find out anyway.

D - Greenhouses

When she's not working or dealing with her nightmares, Sheena can be found where the new greenhouses are, lending a hand. Sometimes alone, sometimes with Gnome. Hey, if you've got an Earth Spirit you can ask to help with the land, why not? Except this particular Spirit has Sheena sighing and rolling her eyes.

"At least there aren't any Gnomelettes."

Curious? She'll be more than happy to tell you all about those little guys.

E - Wildcard!

Got an idea that's not up there? Except for the first week, Sheena's going to be out and about the rest of the month.

Comments

[ninjainviolet]

[ Normally, Sheena joining Kratos on the rooftops would be brief, since she prefers to run along them, hopping from one to the other, her smile wide and expression eager as she enjoys the feel of the wind against her face and the sheer ability to be able to do it.

Tonight, however, there is no running, and no apparent enjoyment to be seen in either her expression or her stance. There may be, however, a slight twitch of her eyebrows as the chill washes over her, causing her to focus on it.

Then within a matter of seconds, there's a footfall, her guard going up, a cloak being dropped and her guard going back down as she turns and sees Kratos. Her physical reaction is easy to see; but where's the surprise? The shock? The emotion? ]

Kratos... Thank you. You didn't have to do that.

[ At least she's still polite? ]

[simulsimul]

[It's such a lessening in reactions that Kratos's brow knits together, and his first thought is that someone's stolen her key-crest. Then she answers, which is at least a relief on that front -- if only her tone weren't so empty.]

I wanted to.

[A bland response, because he's studying Sheena's face, wondering what, precisely, is the cause of this. He hadn't intended to ask -- he hadn't been sure asking would yield results -- but under the circumstances, he's not sure he can't. His next words are gentler than his usual neutral tones.]

What's wrong?

[ninjainviolet]

[ Nope. Key-crest is totally in place. Hidden somewhere on her body because you know, ninja.

She's still focused on him, her expression calm as he answers. ]

Ah. Well, thank you again. But won't you be needing it?

[ Still polite, but perhaps it's his question that causes another twitch of her eyebrow before she looks away before answering. When she does, there's even less emotion in her voice--her tone sounding...dead. ]

I had a nightmare.

[simulsimul]

No.

[He hasn't really turned on his temperature sense since he's arrived. Loaning the cloak out at times like this has been a better use for it.]

I see.

[This is soft. He doesn't sleep enough to have nightmares regularly, but he does remember how it feels to wake up from them. And then he hesitates, because comfort isn't a thing he's done regularly of late; and never with Sheena. Even still, his tone is gently neutral when he asks:]

Would you care to talk about it?

[ninjainviolet]

I see.

[ No feigned jealousy or friendly banter. Just acceptance.

Yet, his question does get a reaction: her brows knit together slightly and she unconsciously pulls the cloak tighter about her before looking up at him. ]

Kratos, how old do you think I am?

[ ooc: She's currently 24. ]

[simulsimul]

[Kratos tips his head, regarding her in thought. She'd been older than Lloyd, he'd judged, but not so old as Zelos. Yet her features do seem subtly different now, compared to then -- not much different, but ... older.]

Early twenties is the most accurate guess I can make. I'd hazard it's been a few more years with you than I know.

[Even though he doesn't know the content of those years.]

[ninjainviolet]

[ Her hair is also much longer, but that may be hard to discern with the cloak about her shoulders at the moment.

Her expression doesn't change, but she nods. ]

Pretty close. I'm actually older than Zelos now. I'm twenty-four. [ So, almost mid-20s. ]

I've been away from home for five years, but I've only spent the last one year. The first four I spent in a place called "Atia"--ruled by a "goddess" of the same name.

[ Oh...there might be a little anger creeping in there--purely out of reflex. ]

[simulsimul]

... Not a goddess worthy of worship, I take it?

[Far be it for Kratos to draw comparisons between Atia and Martel. Martel had never been a self-chosen goddess; it had been the pedestal on which she was placed. Kratos has no intention of drawing a parallel between her being victimised by her own brother and a being who took more than her due.

[But he can't deny the anger and the audible quote marks around that word, either.]

Decided to change it a little.

[ninjainviolet]

Not the way she demanded it--though the natives had no problems with it. [ She reaches up towards her neck. ] Though, they weren't punished the way non-natives were if they didn't worship.

[ Nope. No comparison to Martel. Atia did the victimizing there. ]

Though, she was very protective of everyone on her island when they were threatened by members of her family.

[simulsimul]

Protective.

[Kratos echoes the word, his brow knitting as he looks across the city instead of her face.]

Or possessive?

[There's a difference between genuine care and a simple lack of desire to lend out toys. That, Kratos is more familiar with.]

Don't know if you want to continue this...

[ninjainviolet]

[ Sheena tilts her head slightly in thought before nodding. ]

A little of both, I'd say.

[ She narrows her eyes. ]

Though, considering the way one member of her family acted, definitely protective.

[ She's getting close to revealing something here. DUN DUN DUN. ]

;)

[simulsimul]

[He remains as gently prodding as he can be.]

The possessive can be protective. It doesn't make them altruistic.

[He's ... familiar with the feeling, though it took him far too long to realise that was what it was. Mithos had, after all, seen him in the end as a weapon.]

[ninjainviolet]

[ Prod away. You know she'll say something eventually. ]

That's true. [ Brief topic change as she regards him quietly. ]

Kratos, what would you say if I told you I died three times?

[ Again, no emotion, but boy is that a HUGE hint. ]

[simulsimul]

[Envy is not an emotion to which Kratos is accustomed, but for an instant it's cutting. Then it's gone. Dying three times is twice too many; once should be enough for anybody, even someone like him. It means nothing, when one comes back from it to have to live again.

Is that why you aren't sleeping?

[Evenly, and without any judgement on his face as he looks back.]

CW: Mentions of dying/death

[ninjainviolet]

Sort of.

[ She looks away for a moment before turning back, her brows knitting. She's a tad unsure how to proceed--since Lloyd's "you can die anytime" had taken on a whole new meaning during those four years of captivity. ]

Two of the times had been during battle. [ She doesn't elaborate, having fought alongside the man. ] I was able to see my opponent.

The third time--I couldn't. I could feel him, but I couldn't see him. And he literally stole my heart. [ Yes, she does mean literally. And that she had been aware when he started. ]

That's not something that's easy to process upon returning.

[ Hence the lack of emotions. Otherwise, she would have gone insane. ]

[simulsimul]

... No. I imagine it isn't.

[Having the heart torn out of him -- that's something Kratos can say has never happened, however long he'd lived. But as he watches Sheena now, and the blankness on her face ... well. He knows that. He knows the sensation of shutting down very well.

[Still gentle:]

You still haven't.

[It's not precisely a question.]

[ninjainviolet]

[ And she hopes you'll never have to deal with it, Kratos. It's actually something she'd never wish upon even her worse enemy.

Dying blindly, without seeing your attacker, comes in second behind choking as a stupid way to die.

His comment elicits a quick shake of her head. ]

No. I haven't. And I probably won't for as long as I remember it and keep dreaming about it. [ Her brows knit slightly. ]

Although, being away from that place, the dreams are less frequent.

[ But the memory remains. ]

[simulsimul]

[Yes. Yes, that sounds awfully familiar. Kratos looks away, following the line of her gaze, though there's nothing really to see. Even still his voice is soft.]

Don't let that go on for too long. If you put off processing ... the walls get thicker. Bad things become more powerful for being contained, until the only way to keep them contained is to not feel at all.

[A sidelong glance.]

I've -- heard -- that it's possible to process the truly horrific things, and come out the other end. But I'm the wrong person to talk about how that process might work.

[He just knows the alternative is equally awful. All he can do is recommend not to maintain that state.]

[ninjainviolet]

[ Perhaps if this one hadn't been so different from the other ones, she'd be able to "feel" his reactions to her words, the softness of his voice--instead of just merely replying to what was said.

Shaking her head slightly, she turns back to him. ]

What would you say if I told you there have been many times I wish I couldn't feel? Not just pain, but anything--any emotion?

[ Now, that's a scary thought. ]

I don't think this falls into what someone could call a normal situation, Kratos. [ Is there a hint of humor there? Possibly. ] So, I don't know if if it can be processed.

[ Actually, he's probably the right person to help her. He knows how she is, how she operates. What anger or surprise or frustration can make her do. She just needs that push in the right direction.

Maybe ask her for details she really can't--or won't--provide?

[simulsimul]

I'd tell you I understand.

[Quietly, and still watching her, and though his face is customarily impassive there is something in his eyes, caught between gentle understanding and raw comprehension.]

But that it's not much of an alternative. If you want an example of what happens, Sheena, look at me. The fifteen years between Anna's death and my discovering Lloyd was alive is exactly what you describe. I was as lifeless as the other angels. Just ... for different reasons.

[... It's been a long time since he's known how to offer proper comfort. But this seems like one of those times when reaching out can only help. So he does, ginger and gentle, and making sure she can see it; and his hand comes to rest on her head.]

I'm ... familiar with abnormal situations. Perhaps it will help to tell me.