August Catch-All: Sheena's Back! (Closed and Open)

[ninjainviolet]

Characters: Sheena and YOU! (Raine, Zelos, and Kratos specifically for Prompt One)
Date: 8/8
Location: Errywhere!
Situation: She's baaaack! And going all over the place this month.
Warnings/Rating: None so far.


Reappearance: Closed (Aug 7/8)

As a ninja, Sheena's been known to disappear and reappear suddenly, but that's usually accompanied with a puff of smoke and under her control.

Nothing like her reappearance today in Raine's kitchen. Totally asleep, Sheena is totally unaware that she's no longer in her bed, but is now on Raine's kitchen floor, curling reflexively against the sudden chill hitting her body. Given time, that temperature change would normally be enough to awaken the ninja, but Sheena's life isn't exactly normal.

Especially since whatever force had decided to return her to this place and time did it just as a certain Chosen was entering the kitchen, putting her right in his next step's path.

Around Keeliai: OTA (Aug 9th on--except the 21st)

Of course, Sheena's not going to let a little thing like being asleep/gone for a month keep her from getting back into the swing of things. Well, one month and a day. After all, she does need to readjust--again--to things. First and foremost--training. She has to get back into that schedule, so every morning she can be found running through the Earth Sector or in the fields outside of the city doing routine exercises or practicing with a makeshift dummy. Or even sparring with one of her Spirits. Or even someone who offered to spar with her one day.

Later, she can be found all over the city. After dropping Tomoya off to play with the Kedan children, her next stop is the Market and shops. There is a small matter of a Ball happening, so she's doing a little window shopping for a few days before entering one of the clothing shops. And who knows? She just may be able to convince Raine to go to the dance and will be dragging her along as well. When she's not there, Sheena can be found at her usual haunts in the Market, haggling with the stall owners over the prices of their wares. And if anyone comes close enough, they'll notice that the ninja is enjoying herself immensely-even if she doesn't always come out on top.

Most of the time, though, she can be found at the Jasmine Dragon. She may have been gone for a month, but thanks to instructions she had left "just in case" that happened, the Tea House is--and has been--functioning as if she had been there the entire time. Still, that doesn't mean there hadn't been--and aren't--things that need taken care of. So, Sheena can be found in her office, mumbling about the Kedan confidence that she'd return as she goes over back paperwork, Or, just to take a break, she'll either be working a few tables, or behind the counter, or in the kitchen cooking. Or, if someone is lucky, actually catch her sitting down taking a real break. But they have to be quick--that's a rare occasion with Sheena.

Although, because of the nature of her disappearance, she's going to be doing a little research on it. She's got a few questions and theories about it, so she'll be found at the Healer's Guild in her spare time, asking those questions--and probably driving Raine crazy at the same time. She won't be there every day, but she will be there as often as she can be during the rest of the month.

For most people, the day ends when night falls, but not for Sheena. Nope. She'll be out and about on the rooftops, running and jumping from one to the other. Partly for exercise, partly as part of her research, but mostly because she wants to talk to someone. A talk she had planned to have before she disappeared. That doesn't mean she'll turn away any other rooftop dweller. Not at all. Conversations and races from others are very welcome!

[ ooc: That's a lot of places to find Sheena! Still, if there's one you'd like to find her and it's not listed, just put it in the subject of your tag! ]

Comments

Rooftops!

[purrns]

If you're looking to talk to Chat Noir, the rooftops are always the best place to head for. It's where he's most at home, above it all, watching the people mill around the city and keeping an eagle out of for trouble.

Or in this case, people he thought had left.

He lands silently behind her (though he knows chances are she saw him long before he saw her) grinning widely. He's missed her.

"Well, well, well. Look at what the cat dragged in."

She's getting pulled into a hug. If she likes it or not, she's getting it.

They should put up a shelter...

[ninjainviolet]

Chat is most definitely the person she's been wanting to talk to, and given how many times they've run into each other on the roofs...

She had known it was a good place to start.

She had barely landed on her new perch when she spotted him, and knowing he'd eventually see her, remained silent and waited. Sure enough, his movements begin coming her way, and she smiles at the sight. It had been a while since she had had a race...maybe after their talk.

Knowing where his last jump will take him, she's turning just as he lands, her smile widening before she chuckles.

"More like the Idiot tripped over," she says, "but I like your idea better."

If being "dragged in" meant getting a hug. If not, she's not going to argue, but instead happily return the embrace.

they really should

[purrns]

He can absolutely live with being dragged into a hug. He's missed her, such a hug. Gosh.

"That too," he gives her another squeeze- he's not getting emotional, you're getting emotional. "Where were you? Did you go home? I was looking all over for you."

Party shelter from the rain

[ninjainviolet]

Good. Because she's just going to hug him tighter. They're both getting emotional, face it.

Blushing, she pulls back from the hug slightly. "I'm sorry I put you through that, Chat. I really am. But I didn't go home." She pauses. "According to Raine, I was in the Dreaming--not just in a coma like last time."

So, yeah... She had been dreaming for a month, and when she had assimilated all the info, she started to miss her friends. (Strange, but true.)

Yeeep

[purrns]

Chat takes a moment to consider that.

"...Well, that's just plain rude," he smiles, looking her over. "And you didn't even get a 'I got sucked into the Dreaming and all I got was this lousy T-Shirt" T-Shirt. That's just poor manners on the Dreaming's part."

a campfire stove, some food and drinks, they'd be all right

[ninjainviolet]

For a moment, Sheena's confused, but then realization hits and she can't help but laugh. "I know. How inconsiderate. You'd think the second time, it would give me something as a souvenir." Her laughter fades, but her smile remains.

"And speaking of poor manners... I hope you don't think I'm being rude, but I've been wanting to talk to you about something for a while."

Oh no. Serious time? Maybe.

[purrns]

"You'd think so. I mean, it's just common courtesy."

Uh Oh. Serious time. He's not a fan of serious time. Nothing ever good comes from serious time.

"...Should I be sitting down for this or?"

[ninjainviolet]

Sheena, still smiling, nods in agreement.

Her expression barely changes as she thinks over his question before nodding again. It's serious, but not dangerously so in her opinion.

"Yes, I think you should. But, please not on the ledge, okay?" Don't want him falling from shock when she tells him what she has to.

Still, better to not take chances.

[purrns]

"Is it that bad?"

Oh yes, he's worried now. He moves to sit a little further back on the roof, tail curling around his feet.

"Well. Now I'm officially worried."

Reappearance! (You're not getting your gels back.)

[choiced]

The Chosen in question is hoping for some breakfast before Raine gets anywhere near it. He doesn't quite stumble into the kitchen -- fighters have more grace than that, and even if they didn't, his crystal compensates -- but it's pretty obvious from his bleary shuffle that Zelos has only just woken up. He's not paying attention to where he's going.

His foot lands on something soft and squishy instead of cold and hard. With a terrified yelp and an abrupt balance change mid-step, Zelos pitches forward and lands hard on his hands. "Argh! Aw, come on! What the hell -- ?"

It's Sheena. Sheena is the soft, squishy thing Zelos stepped on.

He stares at her, eyes wide, completely forgetting to be upset. Then he shifts, crawls forward, and pokes her in the shoulder. "Sheena?" Poke. "Are you real?"

(He may need them when this is over.)

[ninjainviolet]

Looks like breakfast is going to have to wait just a little longer, Zelos, for the moment he steps on her, Sheena's fist is flying even before she's fully awake and aware.

"Huh? 'Come on' what? Is something wrong?" she mutters groggily as she starts to rub the sleep from her eyes. "Hey!" That poke in her shoulder speeds things up and her eyes pop open, revealing Zelos. "What kind of question is that? Of course I'm real!" And she pokes him back a couple of times to prove it.

Until a belated sense of Deja Vu kicks in, and she slows and finally stops, her finger resting on his shoulder. Something's different from the last time this had happened...

Three, two, one...

"What the hell am I doing in the kitchen?!"

[choiced]

She feels real. And she sounds real. But she was sleeping on Raine's kitchen floor, and yesterday she wasn't anywhere in Keeliai. Zelos doesn't answer at first, just sitting and staring at her in bewilderment, barely twitching when she pokes him back.

"Well," he says, figuring he might as well start somewhere, "you were sleeping."

[ninjainviolet]

Oh, she is real, and growing slightly more irritated the longer he sits there without answering. Finally, she gives him a pointed look that says, "Well?", her other hand gesturing in an invite to say something.

When he does, her expression changes slightly, her eyes narrowing. "I know I was sleeping! I mean, why am I doing that here, and not in my bed?" A pause as a look of dread crosses her face. "Don't tell me I ate someone's cooking last night..."

And countdown to another realization.

"Wait a second. What are you doing here this early?" And using her as a stepping stone?

[choiced]

"Me?" Zelos looks like he's making plans to get to his feet, but this gets interrupted by Sheena's question. "I'm trying to stop Raine from turning into a dragon. Which is your fault, by the way. You vanished, and she went berserk. Not very considerate of you, if you ask me."

Which Sheena hasn't, because all of this will be brand new to her, but still. Zelos kind of wants to be angry at something for pulling this.

[ninjainviolet]

Almost immediately, his angry tone sets her teeth on edge, but any retort she can come up with is instantly cut short by his actually answer. She had vanished? And Raine had gone crazy? Dragon-level crazy?

Forget why she's in the kitchen (which is suddenly clear), she's got more important things to worry about.

Hands that had remained still suddenly spring to life, gripping his shoulders tightly. her eyes blazing with an unexplained fear and a different kind of anger, the ninja demands, "Where is she? Where's Raine? Is she all right?"

And if he doesn't tell her, she's just going to get up and search for her herself.

[choiced]

"Whoa!" Sheena went from zero to physical in about a second flat, and Zelos wasn't prepared. Everything inside him feels jangled. "She's fine! She's fine, I swear! She's probably still sleeping!" He wriggles his way out of Sheena's grip. "She was a dragon because of a necklace thing. We got it off -- she's fine."

It honestly doesn't occur to him that Raine turning into a dragon might be the most important emotional thing to process here. Sheena vanished. As far as any of them knew, she wasn't coming back. Zelos is still looking at her like if he glances away for even a second, she'll disappear again. Why's she so focused on Raine?

[ninjainviolet]

Her eyes on him, and her ears tuned to what he has to say, Sheena's not actually aware of just how hard she's gripping him. The second he reassures her about Raine, however, everything eases, one hand dropping into her lap while she rubs her eyes with the other one.

"Good," she mumbles with a sigh of relief. "At least this Raine's okay." Emphasis on "this". And blurted out without her thinking about it.

Looking up from her hand, her gaze is now steady, with more than a hint of determination. "You said it was because of a necklace? Was it cursed? And is it still around?"

Because she's going to destroy it when she gets the chance.

Fields outside the city

[no_light]

Kylo was dressed in his usual black robes as he left the buildings and streets of the town behind for the fields beyond. Yet while his mood was mostly dark these days, there was no scowl to be found on his face today.

Training always helped his mood, teaching the Force, sharing his knowledge, feeling his own connection to the Dark Side validated. It helped give him a sense of peace he rarely knew nowadays.

By the time he made it to Sheena's training spot with the dummies, he actually looked very close to cheerful.

"You're hard at work already," he noted, his voice a little wry, "that's good."

:D

[ninjainviolet]

Sheena's dressed her usual purple and pink outfit, the ends of her obi trailing behind her with every move she makes. A combination of her grandfather's style and Kylo's teachings, her motions are the same, yet different, as she concentrates on trying to remember what she had been taught here.

Hearing him approach, she turns and smiles.

"It's actually a habit from home," she admits. That training schedule and rhythm had been easy to fall back into. "Besides, I need to get back where I was before I disappeared. We hadn't gotten too far, and I already feel like I'm rusty."

[no_light]

He gives her a small smile in return, something not many get these days.

"That's a good thing in my book. The Force will never be mastered by those who are complacent and easily satisfied." Not something he worries about with her, or any of his students, really. They may be no Knights of Ren, and not as devoted to the Dark Side of the Force, but they're eager to learn.

"Have you been practicing focusing on your anger and using it to make the Force more accessible?"

[ninjainviolet]

She shakes her head.

"My Grandpa always believed it was better to work hard for something. It gave you a sense of accomplishment." She chuckles. "Not to mention the urge to strive to do better."

As for the eagerness to learn? Well, Sheena hadn't always been too keen on her own abilities, but once she had accepted those, anything else she could do she was very willing to explore.

Her smile fades slightly and she rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. "Yeah. I've been having a little trouble with that. I mean, I've channeled my anger for physical attacks, but I'm not sure how to do it the way you suggested."

She had meditated, hoping that would help, and it did--but she didn't have the results she felt he expected.

[no_light]

Kylo nods as he listens to her explanation, circling around her even though she wasn't someone who would be intimidated by such childish tricks. It was mere habit to cling to a certain appearance even in a place where it was nothing but smoke and mirrors.

"And you're striving to do better, that is good. You have ambition. The Dark Side will bring that out further, if you permit it. You will hunger for more power." Whether this hunger would be satisfied is another question, he himself still feels so far away from the mastery he yearns for.

He stiled finally in front of her and lit his lightsaber, though he kept it pointed downward, just bathed in the flickers of red light. "I... that is the part that always came easy to me, the anger. Maybe it's because soldiers learn not to let their emotions rule them. The Dark Side will whisper to you, you have to listen. It's there, and you... Grasp it. Let it happen and submerge yourself in it." He scowls, grinding his heel into the ground. Not his strongest skill either. "For most people falling is the easy part."

[ninjainviolet]

Nope. She's not intimidated at all by his circling. In fact, she keeps an eye on him more out of habit and training than wariness.

She tilts her head slightly as she takes in his words. More power? Is that what she really wants? She's not sure, and it shows in the way her brows knit together. "I don't mind working towards a goal, but isn't there a limit to the power a person can have? I mean, yeah, I use my anger to help fuel my fights at times, but even that and my mana eventually runs out."

She eyes the lit saber, once more marveling at how much it resembles a katana--a weapon she's very familiar with. For a moment, a memory sends a wistful pang through her, but she pushes it away to focus on what he's saying. And give an understanding chuckle. Once again, she rubs the back of her neck. "I sometimes have the same problem," she admits. "Anger is easier for me than some of the other emotions. It's something I've done since I was a kid to help survive."

Her mirth disappears and concern fills her eyes. "What do you mean by 'falling'? Like physically, in battle?"

[no_light]

"No. No, a different kind of falling."

He raises his left hand and looks down at it, the lit lightsaber he holds in his right almost forgotten if it weren't for the crimson light it bathes him in. You can't see the Dark Side, of course, but the things he knows he can do with a wave of his hand...

"The Jedi call it falling because it's supposed to be so easy," he says, "and because it's seen as the ultimate failure. Falling to the Dark Side. When you turn your back on the Light Side and embrace the Dark Side completely, giving up all your other ties so only power and greatness matters anymore. It is always tempting a Force user, but Light Side users resist the temptation." He gives a bitter snort. "Everybody's going to tell you that falling is the easy part. But that's a lie."

[ninjainviolet]

She watches him as he gives his answer, her lips making a silent "Oh" as he speaks. Brows knitting, she gives him a solemn look tinged with concern.

Not pity, concern.

"Kylo, you never mentioned this about the Dark Side before. That it's considered a failure. I thought it was like my world, where the Dark Element is just that: an element used to help the entire world--not just the person using it." She's truly concerned by what he's telling her--not judging or berating, and the fact that she's still there should be proof of that. The bitterness catches her attention, and her expression changes slightly.

"What is the easy part, Kylo?"