[ Routine prompts him awake before dawn, but it's the clattering of thoughts in his head that lead Josh down, dressed in the jeans he'd fallen asleep in. The house is quiet, but his footfalls sound foreign, and the shadows in this new place make it an odd exercise in tiptoeing out the door, sneakers hooked on one hand's fingers before he settles down on the porch to slip them onto his cold feet.
The last forty-eight hours have been a whirlwind of things -- his initiation as a Netsach hunter and the subsequent promotion to Seventh Circle ( learning all about Solomon Burke as part of his initiation and lighting a candle at the Memorial had meant more than he thought it would, especially after his conversation with Brig about how the original founders of Taskforce Valkyrie had been like family ) followed soonafter with Hikaru giving him the death mask of the geist that had once belonged to a man that had meant something to the Blade King; and he wasn't even going to go into Gabriel Marlowe's suggestion of not just looking to join up with the Order of the Grateful Dead, but to consider the Rhiannon Group as a choice that would not just offer him a place as a Sin-Eater among the network of Sin-Eaters and Cards, but as an option for more.
He jogs then, down the street leading out of the residential district and up the path that leads him to Falner and then Balamb. ]
The last forty-eight hours have been a whirlwind of things -- his initiation as a Netsach hunter and the subsequent promotion to Seventh Circle ( learning all about Solomon Burke as part of his initiation and lighting a candle at the Memorial had meant more than he thought it would, especially after his conversation with Brig about how the original founders of Taskforce Valkyrie had been like family ) followed soonafter with Hikaru giving him the death mask of the geist that had once belonged to a man that had meant something to the Blade King; and he wasn't even going to go into Gabriel Marlowe's suggestion of not just looking to join up with the Order of the Grateful Dead, but to consider the Rhiannon Group as a choice that would not just offer him a place as a Sin-Eater among the network of Sin-Eaters and Cards, but as an option for more.
He jogs then, down the street leading out of the residential district and up the path that leads him to Falner and then Balamb. ]
Edited 2014-02-05 05:31 (UTC)
[He hugs her good night and watches as she enters her room to sleep. She'd stayed up to congratulate him and to tell him she was now an initiate of the Arcanum.
She was walking further into his world.
It seemed as if it were just yesterday that she was running around like Kathleen; Monet reprimanding her firmly whenever it looked like she was going to do something silly and dangerous as children do. Then she was in college, her mother telling him that she'd begun to help her out in what had become her trade as his intelligence person. Then M was in bed and Jess had completely taken over her role. Then M was gone and only J was there.
It was just as hard on her as it was on her mother. Maybe even more so. But she did it just like her mother did. Maybe even better.
Now she was walking further into his life. She and K were actually in his life now. He wasn't sure how to feel about that anymore.
His life was dangerous and he'd been fine with them helping him since they were faraway from the action, troubled only by domestic problems (which he himself wanted to deal with. Getting slapped for it in the process). But now they were here, with him, in the middle of mages, faeries and city-wide evil spirits.
How was he going to protect them? Would J be given armor and a sidearm? Would K choose to become a Hunter? If something happened to them while he was in the field, would he make it back in time to save them?
The events of the past 48 hours were enough to mentally exhaust even him. So as J's door closed, he made his way to Kitty's room to see if she was all right. She was asleep, covered in her sheets, the AC on to keep her cool (a luxury he believed they didn't have every night back in the US). He fixed the crumples in her sheets and kissed her on the cheek. Little Kathleen moved ever so slightly, a small smile curling itself on her face.
"Pandorans", they'd said. "She's an alchemist", they'd said. She was his goddaughter was all he could think. She was his ward. He'd never let anything bad happen to her.
And here he was now, with a dark-colored shield resting on J's dining table, the spirit of a dead friend of Hikaru's and Sensei An'yu's deep inside it. "A powerful Pandoran" the file had said. A good friend and a mentor. Someone Sensei An'yu was looking for ways to bring back.
Things were much simpler when he just saw them as those black, shadowy things that wanted to chomp on his skin. When he just hit and shot them before they took a swipe at him. But if this Pandoran could choose to be good, then there really was hope in the world, and his belief that what you were did not define who you are would only be proven further.
He'd been learning a whole lot recently. The world, which he'd traveled more than once over, was much larger than even he had known. It was a bit much to take in. But he'd seen a lot of strange things in his life. They were just finally starting to make sense.
He closed the door to K's room and made his way to the couch downstairs. Sleeping in a bed was still a foreign sensation to him. Sometimes he'd sleep on the floor, the hardness of it making him comfortable as dirt and earth and rocks and sand had been his bed most his life. Some random rock his pillow. He'd been getting used to couches though. It was a start.
He closed his eyes and went to sleep. As soon as he closed them, he felt them open again, his body waking him up automatically because of his training. One hour had passed. He was feeling better. But he never really felt rested.
Everyday was a battle. His life, a war. Maybe being with an actual family would teach him otherwise. Having a team made him comfortable again really. He was starting to feel safer, although having new comrades-in-arms brought with it its own problems. He felt the need to watch over them too.
Too much thinking. Maybe some time training would clear his head, like it was oft to do.
He picked up his Eisenstein's Shield and the Dark Shield of Gintoki, resting the latter on his back where the prior used to rest.
He made his way to the Shatterdome. Passed the hours working on his shield, incorporating what he'd learned from Kaz's grandmother, and from his training in the basics of Lightning song with Wiseman Tagabigay. His shield work wasn't enough. Not nearly. He'd have to improve it. And he had a long way to go.
He switched to his new shield, to learn the weight and balance of it. Then he wielded both.
When he was done, he found his feet taking him toward the Falner Estate, where Inquisitor Orin stayed. It was a cold and lonely morning and he was ever so restless.]
Edited 2014-02-05 09:49 (UTC)
[He received the call as he was making his way back to the base: Tenoroshi, his youngest, talking animatedly of the man in his office. The man An'yu himself had mentioned more than a few times to his family over dinner.
Brigade was at the office of the Order of the Golden Dawn. Tenoroshi had been in, and had talked a little with Brigade and his 'family' (that woman, and her young Alchemist daughter) before calling his father. Apparently, Brigade wanted to see him.
As things were at the moment, An'yu was already stepping out of his car and walking towards the office. He waved off the greetings he received the moment he entered the building, and went straight to his son's office. He smiles, of course, the moment he spots his son, and smiles again once his gaze meets Brigade's.]
Good morning. I hope I did not make you wait for too long.
Brigade was at the office of the Order of the Golden Dawn. Tenoroshi had been in, and had talked a little with Brigade and his 'family' (that woman, and her young Alchemist daughter) before calling his father. Apparently, Brigade wanted to see him.
As things were at the moment, An'yu was already stepping out of his car and walking towards the office. He waved off the greetings he received the moment he entered the building, and went straight to his son's office. He smiles, of course, the moment he spots his son, and smiles again once his gaze meets Brigade's.]
Good morning. I hope I did not make you wait for too long.
[ He's about done with his fifth circuit when he slows down close to Orin, heart thudding in his chest from the exercise, breath short but mind clear and alert from the runner's high. When he settles down in front of the golem, he rubs his hands over his face and finds himself staring down at his palms and the lines there, criss-crossing like a map.
( I asked the Dovetailor for help.
Oh? With?
Yeah... I... I checked Facebook. The boys kept in touch with you. I'm... I'm glad they did. )
It's not that he never thought of home while he was in Vancouver, but it'd been a life he'd had to bury to keep sane. Awakening as a Sin-Eater in the dead of night with Jonathan Davis standing at the foot of his bed when the man had been dead for over a decade had been a reality he'd had to take in stride, to deal with and accept.
When his geist had told him that they'd needed to go, hesitation had been shelved to keep fear and confusion at bay -- and he'd run. He'd run as fast as he could, kept to the shadows and as out of sight as he could get, offering only his first name and little else because he hadn't wanted people to come looking.
Josh looks up then, turns his attention to Coach -- quiet, as always, and standing off to one side. His geist is never too far away, but he's quiet in a way that Jack Marlowe was not, and sometimes Josh wonders if his former mentor does it deliberately -- keeping quiet and opting to stay as unobtrusive as possible in an effort ( unconscious or otherwise ) to make him feel like he's still that same kid that he was at twenty-one: determined enough not to show how scared he was at what he'd become, at the uncertainty of it all as they made their way towards Yggdrasil's Roots up at the Canadian border.
One of these days, he figures, he's going to have to ask the old man about that, but... not today.
Today, he's alright with sharing the silence, Falner still mostly asleep, give or take the occasional hunter wandering the grounds. ]
( I asked the Dovetailor for help.
Oh? With?
Yeah... I... I checked Facebook. The boys kept in touch with you. I'm... I'm glad they did. )
It's not that he never thought of home while he was in Vancouver, but it'd been a life he'd had to bury to keep sane. Awakening as a Sin-Eater in the dead of night with Jonathan Davis standing at the foot of his bed when the man had been dead for over a decade had been a reality he'd had to take in stride, to deal with and accept.
When his geist had told him that they'd needed to go, hesitation had been shelved to keep fear and confusion at bay -- and he'd run. He'd run as fast as he could, kept to the shadows and as out of sight as he could get, offering only his first name and little else because he hadn't wanted people to come looking.
Josh looks up then, turns his attention to Coach -- quiet, as always, and standing off to one side. His geist is never too far away, but he's quiet in a way that Jack Marlowe was not, and sometimes Josh wonders if his former mentor does it deliberately -- keeping quiet and opting to stay as unobtrusive as possible in an effort ( unconscious or otherwise ) to make him feel like he's still that same kid that he was at twenty-one: determined enough not to show how scared he was at what he'd become, at the uncertainty of it all as they made their way towards Yggdrasil's Roots up at the Canadian border.
One of these days, he figures, he's going to have to ask the old man about that, but... not today.
Today, he's alright with sharing the silence, Falner still mostly asleep, give or take the occasional hunter wandering the grounds. ]
Are J and K in the office as well? 0-0 And is Tenoroshi an alchemist as well?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
atlas_shrugged
2014-02-07 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
He watches as Master An'yu -- Sensei An'yu -- walks in through the door and greets him. A strong stride and good posture that belied his real age.
Good morning, Sensei. Brigade takes a shot bow Not at all, your son and I were just talking, and he was telling me many things about the Golden Dawn. Makes me wish there were more times in a day where I could just sit around and talk. Sadly, it isn't in my nature.
Yeah, J & K still are! And yep, Tenoroshi's an Alchemist.
ferricwill
2014-02-07 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
Perhaps you might want to consider making more time, then?
[Saying this amusedly as he takes the seat across of Brig. He glances towards Tenoroshi (who immediately bows and quietly prepares to excuse himself), and then meets J's gaze (who sizes him up; it's been a while) and looks at Kitty (who is now hiding behind Brig).
His exchange with them is quiet, warm, and courteous: proper introductions, arrangements regarding Kitty and the Golden Dawn, invitations to future meals at houses, possible outings. This is the family of his student, and the man whom his grandfather had met many years ago. It was only right.
After the talk dies down a little between them, An'yu turns from J and K and smiles at Brig.]
You have a lovely family.
[Saying this amusedly as he takes the seat across of Brig. He glances towards Tenoroshi (who immediately bows and quietly prepares to excuse himself), and then meets J's gaze (who sizes him up; it's been a while) and looks at Kitty (who is now hiding behind Brig).
His exchange with them is quiet, warm, and courteous: proper introductions, arrangements regarding Kitty and the Golden Dawn, invitations to future meals at houses, possible outings. This is the family of his student, and the man whom his grandfather had met many years ago. It was only right.
After the talk dies down a little between them, An'yu turns from J and K and smiles at Brig.]
You have a lovely family.
if there had been CR with Orin already, I was going to throw-out a voice from above, Brig on Orin.
atlas_shrugged
2014-02-07 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ He knows why his feet take him to Orin. He'd read his file.
Assessment --
"Magitech Golem". It is difficult to tell if Orin experiences the loneliness of being one of the few Magitech golems in existence, given how he associates himself with human beings as though he was one himself.
Perhaps he does not see the need for differentiating himself, given the positive reinforcement he has had since the start of his existence.
--Brigade felt he could relate in a way.
He'd read in the Arcanum that most Prometheans had the driving urge to become human. Brigade himself, had never felt that need, having come to life and having been brought up in a unique situation -- his had Disquiet never affected the HECATON, the troops that had given their blood and dogtags in his creation. His Wasteland had never taken effect at the base where Dr. Eisenstein (then already a senile Redeemed) stayed, kept there by his friends out of love and loyalty for him. For all intents and purposes, he'd lived a good part of his early life as a human and thus never felt that same desperation the other of his kind seemed to feel.
It was perplexing. Brigade, in the 122 years of his life, had never come to terms with who or what he was. He simply lived with his condition and dealt with it in ways he felt were efficient.
As he approaches from the distance and sees the gigantic form of Orin come into view, something else catch his eye -- Josh?
He's sweaty and a bit flushed. He'd been jogging. He's out-of-breath. He's out of shape for a former Star Quarterback. All Brigade knows are the little bits and pieces he put together from speaking with Josh -- Josh stopped running, and spent his time in a back kitchen of a restaurant. Josh stopped running cause he died and was only now coming to terms with it. ]
Fancy seeing you here. Here I thought we'd do this after our first jog.
Edited 2014-02-07 18:16 (UTC)
Re: Yeah, J & K still are! And yep, Tenoroshi's an Alchemist.
atlas_shrugged
2014-02-07 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Perhaps you might want to consider making more time, then?" The question still echoes even though the conversation had veered onto other matters. He could, couldn't he? Cut out a bit of training time, cut out a bit of research time, cut out a bit of mission time, and use it to stay with a family.
But he couldn't. Training, research, fighting, the mission - these were the things he'd lived with all his life. It was his life.
But now he had a chance to be with the family he'd been supporting all these years. And he had no idea what to do with it.
"You have a lovely family"
It's Jessica's family, An'yu-Sama. Did he say it right? That's how you addressed your Sensei in japanese, right? He's going to need some help with this new language thing, Brig thinks to himself. She's just been so kind as to keep me a part of it.
[And at that point, J gives Brig a Look.
"It's our family."
And with that statement, she's standing up and taking Kitty by the hand.
"We're going to take Tenoroshi up on his offer and look around."
Besides. You and An'yu need to talk.
Then, with a nod to An'yu, the woman followed Tenoroshi out of the room. Kitty turns around once, though, just to wave at Brig and smile shyly at An'yu before the door clicked shut.
An'yu turns, then, to face Brig.]
Well, now that we are alone... you wanted to speak to me?
[Admittedly, he is curious. This does not look like it's about their regular training sessions, nor about Brig's interest in joining the Golden Dawn together with Kitty.]
"It's our family."
And with that statement, she's standing up and taking Kitty by the hand.
"We're going to take Tenoroshi up on his offer and look around."
Besides. You and An'yu need to talk.
Then, with a nod to An'yu, the woman followed Tenoroshi out of the room. Kitty turns around once, though, just to wave at Brig and smile shyly at An'yu before the door clicked shut.
An'yu turns, then, to face Brig.]
Well, now that we are alone... you wanted to speak to me?
[Admittedly, he is curious. This does not look like it's about their regular training sessions, nor about Brig's interest in joining the Golden Dawn together with Kitty.]
[ A man after his own heart. Direct to the point. It made things easier for Brig as well.
Brigade proceeds to take off the shield strapped to his back, wrapped in dark blue cloth. ]
Sir, this isn't my shield. It was a shield given to me by Hikaru two nights ago. He'd told me we should talk about it. Even if he hadn't, I would have done so immediately the moment I found out about its history.
[ He also pulls out a small box and places it on top of the shield and holds it out for An'yu to take.
He'd let An'yu see it first and be the first to speak. He would not preempt anything of this gravity. ]
Edited 2014-02-07 07:52 (UTC)
[And he knows, even before Brig has to say anything, what that shield is. He recognizes the energy that it contains.
His hand moves towards his pocket before he could stop it. He still remembers the day he had to give the stone to Henry for safekeeping.
Now he's moving, and taking the box. He's almost painfully careful with the way he opens it, and stares down at what it contains.]
Gintoki.
[His voice is quiet, too quiet, and full of only too many unspoken things.]
His hand moves towards his pocket before he could stop it. He still remembers the day he had to give the stone to Henry for safekeeping.
Now he's moving, and taking the box. He's almost painfully careful with the way he opens it, and stares down at what it contains.]
Gintoki.
[His voice is quiet, too quiet, and full of only too many unspoken things.]
[ Like seeing a ghost. Probably how he looked when he saw Hawke in the Vice Enterprises Stasis Box that night in Palawan when everything changed. He doesn't know if he should ask anything. He doesn't know if he should even speak. So he pulls out a pack of cigarettes and offers one to An'yu ]
An'yu-sama [ So need to get used to that ], the file only had so little on Gintoki. But it did mention that you're trying to bring him back... Sir, I will help any way I can.
An'yu-sama [ So need to get used to that ], the file only had so little on Gintoki. But it did mention that you're trying to bring him back... Sir, I will help any way I can.
Edited 2014-02-07 13:11 (UTC)
[ He spots Brig as the Promethean comes over and lifts a hand by way of greeting. ]
Hey, man. Good morning. [ He tilts his head to one side in response to the statement, a questioning look sent the older man's way as he turns those words over in his head. ] What do you mean?
[ He really doesn't know. ]
Hey, man. Good morning. [ He tilts his head to one side in response to the statement, a questioning look sent the older man's way as he turns those words over in his head. ] What do you mean?
[ He really doesn't know. ]
[He takes the cigarette without comment, and takes his time lighting up and going for that first drag.
He's sitting back by the end of it. Careful, considering. Trying not to be too emotional.]
The Blade King gave this to you. [A beat.] Did he say anything?
He's sitting back by the end of it. Careful, considering. Trying not to be too emotional.]
The Blade King gave this to you. [A beat.] Did he say anything?
[ Brigade lights up his own cigarette and takes a long puff ]
He said I should speak to you about it and told me that a friend's inside. [ He gestures to the shield. Then to the pipe. ] He also told me that the broken pipe was from another friend as well.
I read up on them, sir, Gintoki and Kaien. The file was short and limited but it was enough for me to know that these, and the people who they were or belonged to, are very important to you.
He said I should speak to you about it and told me that a friend's inside. [ He gestures to the shield. Then to the pipe. ] He also told me that the broken pipe was from another friend as well.
I read up on them, sir, Gintoki and Kaien. The file was short and limited but it was enough for me to know that these, and the people who they were or belonged to, are very important to you.
[ Brigade sits down on the ground with him and lights up. He offers Josh a cigarette. ]
I mean, I thought we'd end up sitting here by Inquisitor Orin after that morning jog we've been scheduling for so long.
[ He chuckles but notes the thoughtful look on Josh's face. ]
Something on your mind? You look troubled.
I mean, I thought we'd end up sitting here by Inquisitor Orin after that morning jog we've been scheduling for so long.
[ He chuckles but notes the thoughtful look on Josh's face. ]
Something on your mind? You look troubled.
[He's quiet too, because he needs more nicotine.
There is not enough nicotine in the Fifth World for a moment like this.]
They are.
[Because the dead never really leave, or so he likes to tell himself.]
Who would you like to start with?
There is not enough nicotine in the Fifth World for a moment like this.]
They are.
[Because the dead never really leave, or so he likes to tell himself.]
Who would you like to start with?
[ Brig can sense the wish for more nicotine. Pulls out another pack and just lays it on the table. ]
Wherever it's easier for, An'yu-sama. Although it is no way easy, I know. [ Brigade just watches An'yu's face. He can relate. The deaths of so many VALKYRIE brothers start flashing through his mind. These are the worst times; when he can't control the onrush of memory and information. An'yu's pain is immeasurable. Nothing in the world can balm the loss of brothers that close. ]
Wherever it's easier for, An'yu-sama. Although it is no way easy, I know. [ Brigade just watches An'yu's face. He can relate. The deaths of so many VALKYRIE brothers start flashing through his mind. These are the worst times; when he can't control the onrush of memory and information. An'yu's pain is immeasurable. Nothing in the world can balm the loss of brothers that close. ]
Let's do this in order, then. I'll start with Kaien.
[Saying that with a tiny smile.]
If there is one thing that you have to know Kaien and I, it is that I fucked up in the worst possible way with him, and he took me in anyway.
[Saying that with a tiny smile.]
If there is one thing that you have to know Kaien and I, it is that I fucked up in the worst possible way with him, and he took me in anyway.
[ He remembers the file but a first hand account would fill in the little details a dossier don't mention ]
Was this the matter of the Promethean Lily, sir?
Was this the matter of the Promethean Lily, sir?
Yes. Lily was his mentor. My arrogance made her disappear from his life.
[She is still his biggest regret. It's all over his face: the shame, the guilt, the sadness.]
Still, he took me in. He agreed to teach me. He watched over me, treated me like a brother... we only grew closer after I pursued my license with Zangyaku.
[She is still his biggest regret. It's all over his face: the shame, the guilt, the sadness.]
Still, he took me in. He agreed to teach me. He watched over me, treated me like a brother... we only grew closer after I pursued my license with Zangyaku.
[ Brigade can only feel sad for the pain on An'yu's face. He remembers his own greatest failure against the Nazi Riskbreaker. ]
Is she still alive, sir? Did you ever find her?
And I'm glad Hikaru took me into Zangyaku when he did. I didn't plan to so early but it's made it easier corresponding with you and Zangyaku.
Is she still alive, sir? Did you ever find her?
And I'm glad Hikaru took me into Zangyaku when he did. I didn't plan to so early but it's made it easier corresponding with you and Zangyaku.
The Blade King works in mysterious ways.
[At least he is smiling now. Just a little.]
And no, he never managed to find her. I looked as well.
[And staring down at his hands now, just so, before bringing the cigarette back up to his lips.]
[At least he is smiling now. Just a little.]
And no, he never managed to find her. I looked as well.
[And staring down at his hands now, just so, before bringing the cigarette back up to his lips.]
Have you asked Hikaru if she's... died? Or reached her New Dawn?
[ Brigade takes a long puff. ] If she's alive, sir, I'd gladly help look.
How did Kaien die, sir?
[ Brigade takes a long puff. ] If she's alive, sir, I'd gladly help look.
How did Kaien die, sir?
She is not dead. She has removed her connections to the Fifth World through her contracts with the True Fae. It is... complicated.
[As for that last one...]
Kaien was killed in 2047, during the Darkest Vigil. He and Makoto Kuzunoha, two members of the Searing Wind, stayed behind during an onslaught along the Russian border, giving their brothers and sisters time to retreat.
[As for that last one...]
Kaien was killed in 2047, during the Darkest Vigil. He and Makoto Kuzunoha, two members of the Searing Wind, stayed behind during an onslaught along the Russian border, giving their brothers and sisters time to retreat.
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