April Catchall 👹 OPEN

[sakaya]

Who: Shuten-Douji and Others!
When: Throughout April and April event most likely.
Where: Thorne
What: Animated conversations, a step into the Horizon, and possibly regains.
Warnings: Shuten's CWs | Will add as needed.



"Your life is but a single drop that causes a ripple."

Comments

open | horizon

[sakaya]

[Sometime after she is able to enter the Horizon, Shuten's imagination gets right to work.

Her long life has given her many experiences and landscapes she could have used to shape her domain, but her scenery is a mixture of old and new.

Anyone who wanders in whether it's the halls of the modern facility or the outside paths of what looks to be ancient Japan, it's hard to see where Shuten is at first. She's out and about exploring her Horizon and seeing where it's borders end and where others begin.

You may find her in the near impossibly tall tower drinking to her heart's content. Or she's simply napping under the cherry blossom trees (with sake next to her of course).

Either way Shuten is dressed (immodestly) in what she's most comfortable with though, her symbol appears etched in her head jewel.

So who will come to play, wonders the oni?]

for thancred 🌸 backdated

[sakaya]

[Shuten-Douji has been idling about in the castle. She's rarely found in the living quarters provided for the Summoned. Every now and then it's not uncommon to see her nibbling and drinking (a LOT) in the dining hall.

But that isn't enough. Talks of what sounds like most of the Summoned about the Horizon finally gets her off of her feet one day to see what she can do about it. As the oni strolls about pondering the matter, it leads her to the training grounds where there's a familiar face that catches her notice. She almost didn't focus on Thancred since the last time she saw him, well... They were in little clothing in the hot springs.

Moving past some guards and servants, she calls out to Thancred.]

Working up a sweat there Thancred?

[funbreaker]

[ While Thancred often prefers to practice his bladework with a sparring partner, that isn't always possible, and so the training dummies serve well enough. They have training swords here for their use, so it's one of those which he's swinging as he darts around the dummy, imagining that it is a living being that he needs to out-maneuver. He takes a few slashes at its front and then shifts around to its back with fast footwork, squeezing in another swing before he's interrupted by a voice.

A familiar voice, as it turns out.

Thancred straightens and his body language immediately melts into something more casual as he takes in Shuten. He lets his sword-arm fall to his side as he reaches up his free hand to wipe some sweat from his forehead. ]

I would hardly want to grow soft while I'm here. [ The castle is comfortable in many ways, for all that he still feels that he needs to be looking over his shoulder at all times. They're well-provided for, and he does not want to become too complacent. He's seen the monsters that dwell outside of the safety of the castle now. ]

It's been a while. [ The summit is a moon past now, and while Thancred has spotted Shuten in the dining hall, they haven't had much reason to speak. ] How have you been faring?

[sakaya]

I've had worse days!

[She plops herself down on a nearby bench and crosses her legs.]

Though admittedly, I've had some urges to stir the pot, but I'll be holding a certain someone to their offer of letting me come on to them.

[shuten that's not what Stephen said]

Mm. It's nice to see everyone working hard though. Whether I slack off or not, at my age, I probably won't have results.

[Servants are presumably at their peak upon being summoned; due to the unique circumstances of Chaldea, Shuten and the other Spirits have had enhancements to make them more effective in battle thanks to Ritsuka's efforts and that of the staff.]

Speaking of though, I probably should have done this earlier.

[Shuten leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees and her face in her palms.]

Have you entered the Horizon yet?

[funbreaker]

[ Shuten's as direct as always, and when she speaks of an offer from some unnamed personage, Thancred assumes that it is exactly what it sounds like. He raises an eyebrow, almost tempted to ask for more details, but it's clear that she's approached him for a reason. ]

That sounds a bit defeatist. Is it not that you would rather not bother to involve yourself?

[ He is calling her out, but she strikes him as the sort who won't be bothered by him being so straightforward. Even as he speaks, he puts the training sword away and reaches out to rotate the training dummy, resetting it to its starting position.

By that time Shuten has settled in, and Thancred turns to acknowledge her question, one hand placed on his hip. ]

I have, yes. One of our fellow Summoned here was kind enough to show me the way in. [ There's truly only one reason she'd be asking, and he tilts his head. ] Has the time come for me to pay that favor forward?

[ He already has, with Samus. It means he has some experience doing it now, and it's much simpler than he'd initially expected. ]

[sakaya]

[Shuten chuckles at Thancred's direct observation.]

Ooooh, you got me. It'd probably be a biiit different if I was under an actual contract, but seeing as how I'm my own entity... If the royals want to corral me in... Fufu. We'll see, we'll see.

[Troubling. But back to her actual goal at hand. At his confirmation, the oni claps her hands together.]

Ah, how delightful! Yes, you got it in one. I was afraid I would have to use up my favor with another party, but I'm gonna save that one up for now.

[Ronan Lynch's offer is gonna sit in the savings account for a while.]

So how 'bout it? How soon can you open up the door for me?

[funbreaker]

[ This is the first time Shuten has mentioned a contract, but she had referenced working for a human in their previous conversation. There does appear to be some transactional nature to her abilities as an oni, then.

Or maybe she's simply the sort who won't do anything unless she's being paid for it.

Would the royal family make some sort of contract with her, and what would that entail? For now, it seems she's been left to her own devices, as it is with most of the Summoned. Stephen captured the attention of Ambrose by being proactive, but Shuten seems content to coast along and do as she pleases.

At the mention of another owing a favor, Thancred tilts his head. ]

We could do it as soon as you like. [ He takes a look around. The training yard is empty save for the two of them at the moment, but that's likely to change. ] In a spot more private, that is.

[ He moves over to where she's seated and gestures that they should be moving on. ] Then, if I'm to help you, am I to assume you'll owe me something in return? [ He'll do it for free, but he is curious to see what her answer will be all the same. ]