WEEK 2

[akudamods]

Saturday passes uneventfully save a little rain. It's on Sunday that you get a little notification of probation for new areas: Neo-Nipponbashi and Chuo. It'd be possible to investigate, to check out some anime, or to worship the defunct Shinkansen. But maybe it's hard to get excited about any of that when Friday’s events suggest that you have simply been provided some additional photogenic places to commit murder. Are you going to bother either overseer after their participation in some mockery of justice? Troll the internet? Get a bat out of Hyper Zone and just take out your frustration on everything?

Those of you who entered the pods will experience fewer “painful bursts of color” as your body is unaffected below the knees, though the same amount of “slight teleportation” glitches. Those of you who abstained from the pods will continue to experience all of the above as well as electric shock sensations occasionally when touching metal objects.

INTERNET | SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

((Internet investigations of any kind go here, and for all IRL areas, please use "investigate" in the subject line of your top-level comment, or link the thread to a moderator!))

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INVESTIGATION

[hunterandhunted]

[Ignoring the painful bursts that have continued to plague him (or rather, learning to enjoy them), Zenos decides that now is as good a time as any to enjoy some time out and about. After all, remaining cooped up in a hospital room is the last thing he enjoys.

With new areas to explore, he can be found rather easily given his huge size and unique appearance.]

MUSEUM (Investigation)

[What Zenos is most interested to learn is the history of this place. In particular, is there any specific mentions of the Kansai Restoration that stand out? Is there any mention of the Executioners or Akudama?

With the HQ being in ruins, this might be his next best option for learning more about them in a formal sense.]

HYPER ZONE

[After poking his nose into the history of Kansai, Zenos' attention is grabbed by colorful lighting and (what sounds like) screams of glee. Curiosity takes him, before he can reason not to.

There, you will find him at the batting cage, hitting baseballs so hard that the sensors can hardly register an accurate score to them.

Regardless, he's having a bit of fun before returning.]

HOSPITAL — Room #3

[In the evening, Zenos can be found in his room if anyone needs him. He will answer his door, if you knock on it.]

[akudamods]

[Bingo! It turns out there's a room here specifically for the restoration!

Does he want to make a beeline for it, or take a walk through the history section?]

[hunterandhunted]

[Not quite a beeline, he's letting his gaze wander in hopes of finding any telling information. If there isn't any in the history section, however, he will make his way to the restoration section!]

[akudamods]

[To clarify, the restoration room is part of the historical section! There are just several rooms within that section.

So, since he's starting from the beginning, Zenos will find himself in Historical Room 1. This room features all sorts of stuff that seems like it plausibly came from pre-Tokugawa Japan, like pottery. According to the sign on the wall, this exhibit is... The forgotten era of princes and princesses. The legendary ninjas and shinobi. And more.

This is definitely far enough in the past that it may not have much relevance to their current situation, but hey... Zenos is from Garlemald, so it will at least add some context to his new life in Japan.]

[hunterandhunted]

[Oh wonderful. Well then, Zenos will most likely take a look at the individual rooms of the historical section before the restoration room.

In reference to room 1, he's curious about whatever the "and more" means. Though he is from Garlemald, FFXIV actually has Basically Tokugawa Japan in the form of the Doman empire!]

[akudamods]

[The "and more" refers to more common things from this era, like cultivation tools or lacquers, or maybe the aforementioned pottery!

Ready to move on to Historical Room 2?]

hyper zone;

[inspiritus]

[ ...This is certainly quite a sight.

But here he is, watching the man playing at baseball like it's nobody's business. ]

Someone seems to be enjoying himself.

[hunterandhunted]

[So preoccupied in his fun, Zenos hadn't realized he was being watched until that familiar voice catches in his ear. He turns, flourishing his bat at his side as if it were a sword.]

Is that not what life should be about, dear Sephiroth? An enjoyable time, is time well spent after all!

[inspiritus]

[ He'll chuckle, a little bit amused. ]

Yes, I do agree.

Though, I do wonder...what is an enjoyable time without some challenges?

[ Perhaps he means he is interesting in a little baseball swinging competition? ]

[hunterandhunted]

[Zenos is picking up what Sephiroth is putting down.

And he points the end of his bat right at the fellow swordsman.]

Ah, a duel, you say? [His grin splits ever wider,] finally! Something interesting in this forsaken realm.

Now... what of the stakes?

[inspiritus]

[ ...Are these two, rather talented swordsman about to enter into a batting contest against each other when they perform far serious feats of power and such?

...

...

Yes, it appears that they are. ]

The stakes? Hm...perhaps for this duel we can start simple.

How about the loser owes the other a favor? Unless, you've another idea?

Hyper Zone

[depleting]

[




Satsuki claps, a polite little pat of her hands in the background as Zenos sends another ball flying. ]

Wow! You're amazing, Galvus-san!

[hunterandhunted]

[At the sound of clapping, Zenos pivots with a grace that seems so very unusual for his size, and points his bat directly at her.]

Why thank you, dear Satsuki! One should never allow his arm to become useless, and I have no intention to giving into our captor's pathetic demands.

[The bat spins with an idle flick of his wrist, before offering it towards her.]

Would you like to give it a try for yourself?

[depleting]

Who, me? [ She smiles, her face the simple picture of an innocent girl. ] I guess I could try. Is there some reason you want to see me do it?

[ But, despite her question, she does reach forward to receive the bat. ]

You know, I hadn't thought about it, but it's been a while since I've swung a bat... I don't think I've done this since gym class!

[hunterandhunted]

How else would one test the mettle of a Vampire? [Zenos huffs in his amusement, as if the thought behind it were only natural. After all, in Final Fantasy, vampires do not exist!

Once Satsuki takes the bat though, he strides past her to give her the floor, and then his hands come to settle upon his hips idly.]

A... gym class? Is that what they call combat training in your world?

[depleting]

[ ...She tries, but she can't help herself. She giggles. ]

Is that what you think this is for, Galvus-san? Combat training?

[ She holds the bat lightly in her hands, not yet raising it as she steps forward to trade their places. ]

hyper zone!

[intimations]

[Have a whistle from the background as Zenos (figuratively) knocks those baseballs out of the park. Or just breaks the sensors, but who's paying attention to that.]

Looks like you're having a fun time with all these balls... mind if I have a go?

[There are clearly several other empty cages adjacent to the one Zenos is in, so this is absolutely not necessary to ask but apparently this isn't stopping him from doing so anyway. Sharing is caring, or something!!]

[hunterandhunted]

[Zenos certainly isn't paying attention, at least, not when Belial suddenly makes himself known. Instead, he whirls around with exceptional speed and surprising grace, his feral grin going indolent as he meets that friendly request.]

Why, of course not, dear Servant! [He twirls the bat in his hand as he proffers it up, so that the handle is pointing at Belial for him to take.]

Let us test your mettle, hm?

[intimations]

Thanks. Hope I don't disappoint, then.

[And he'll take the bat in his right hand, testing the weight and the balance of it all before giving it a couple of experimental one-handed swings just to see how it feels before he steps over to where the plate is.

Baseball is super not a thing in GBF world unless there was a random baseball-related event i missed so his batting stance is extremely off considering he still just has his left hand set at his hip, but... well, never let it be said that his reflexes aren't good. He doesn't miss a beat with any of the baseballs coming his way, and even if the power of his swings doesn't compare with Zenos', it's still enough that his score still ends up being pretty good, all things considered.]

Hmmm...? Looks like I'll need some more practice before I can keep up with you.

[hunterandhunted]

[Zenos watches, quiet and with his arms crossed over his chest, as Belial one-handedly smacks all those baseballs out of his way. It's impressive, given that neither of them have adopted a proper batting stance, and earns a pleased little hum from Zenos by the end of it.]

Well, I would be most pleased to duel with you any time. Finding kin in this realm has been difficult, but from the very first time we met, I could tell there was something special about you.

[A breath—]

We are two beasts cut from the same cloth. Surely there is not that much distance between us.

[intimations]

[There's a moment where he simply watches over his shoulder after Zenos finishes with that at the end, before he finally lets the bat tumble from his fingers as he turns to face the taller man.]

Oh? Well, I wouldn't be opposed to getting a lot closer--[Belial takes a few languid strides over until he's directly in front of Zenos and craning his neck, just so he can stare up at his face.]

--but every dance needs a proper stage, right? Wouldn't do to have our first real bout be anything less than perfect.

hyper fastball zone

[osssuary]

[Normally, places like the Hyper Zone really aren't much of a draw for Kimimaro, but everything about this city is bizarre -- including, apparently, its ridiculously extra zones for children; though just now there are likely rather fewer children here, in the slowly expanding criminal zone from hell.

So the quiet helps!! The other part being that the batting cages are outside, and also, that his fellow Akudama seem to be drawn here like moths to a flame. So here he is perched on... the fence of the batting cage, because who uses the door like a normal person.

He hasn't really made any noise, so the first you're noticing of him might just be him dodging any stray baseballs that might come his way -- whether from Zenos or anyone else using the other cages. Though even then, all he does is twitch out of the way. Why did he become batting practice instead of a spectator......]

... You play sports such as this?

[Honestly Zenos vs. baseball bat probably looks like a dude wailing on baseballs with a toothpick but y'know. It's fine. He's seemingly more confounded by the entire concept.]

[hunterandhunted]

[Just as easily as Kimimaro dodges any of the stray balls that might fly towards him, Zenos easily smacks them with enough force to have set dents in the metal of his bat.]

Surely a man should not allow his skills to weaken, and I will not play into our captor's hands by unleashing my sword on my fellow Akudama!

[Which may be surprising given he's one of the few that seem pretty ok with just killing whenever!]

[osssuary]

I see. To you... this is a type of kenjutsu. Perhaps.

[He does not see. His tone says that he does not see. He is mostly repeating whatever the hell Zenos just talked about, turning it over like a particularly bizarre leaf or scroll. Even a ninja such as himself has to be familiar with with the various types of leisure sports.

This is not a type of kenjutsu where he comes from.

Then again, they also did not have people who were like eight feet tall and wildly wielding gun-katanas. Thusly: he is forced to consider. There's a moment more of thought; the meanings behind the meanings.]

... Anyone who would take our captors' so-called offer is not worth even the flat of a blade. Not even the merest child from our villages would be deceived by such a poor attempt at temptation.

[He almost spits that. Really, it's only one of the things that he finds truly insulting about their situation. Perhaps it is, in a way, a testament to his opinion of present company: Zenos may be loud and he may be ridiculous, but he's at least cannier and more useful a fighter than many.]

[hunterandhunted]

[Just as Kimimaro is unused to leisure sports, the word kenjutsu simply passes through one ear and out the other. The name itself sounds Hingan (but to be fair, so does all Japanese, so!), so he merely brushes it off as one of the constant inconsistencies between their fractured realities.

Instead, he tosses the dented bat aside—for it clatter among the several other dented bats he's ruined—and devotes all of his attention to the young boy before him.]

So then tell me, Kimimaro... what is it you fight for?