Bartimaeus

Kōkyo | Anime Survival Horror RP [Interest Check]

I only have one rp commitment atm, so I could perhaps join you for this Kuro <3

Pokémon: Feudal Legends

Location: Saffron Village
Mentions: N/A

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The steady, monotonous sound of a Tauros' hooves clopping against the dirt path beneath them would soon come to an end. Kurayami Kondō could, for the moment at least, find some measure of relief in that. The Village of Saffron was in eyeshot now, and he allowed his shoulders to relax, if only a bit, as he spared a glance a few feet up to his left at the cart driver which he was charged to protect. The merchant was a bit older, and carried luxury textiles and other pricey baubles as wares, which would warrant such an escort, even as small as it was.

Kurayami lowered his gaze to look underneath the driver's box at the man who tromped along the side of the coach opposite him. He looked.. a bit grotty, to put it nicely. He wasn't well kempt and he wore little in terms of self-protection. The only thing that would make one think of him as some form of security was the shoddy-looking Katana he wore. Kurayami wondered to himself for a moment if this was really his true station now - amongst those would could hardly finance even a modest lifestyle. He shook the thought from his head. The down-trodden man was only here because he allowed it. In truth, the Ronin had persuaded the merchant to accept just him as his escort, after a time of convincing. But the other man had practically begged the merchant to let him in on the job - unannounced, even. Kurayami was against it, and tried to sway the older gentleman otherwise, but it seemed he was not quite as scrupulous as his newfound sword-for-hire.

In the end though, it mattered little. They were rather fortunate in that their journey went uninterrupted - though not without a few corrections from Kurayami as to which routes they should travel. Now they had arrived at their destination, and two of the three of them let out sighs of relief as they drew near.

The guards of the eastern-most entrance signaled for the carriage to yield to a halt as they circled it, gauging the intent of its passage. There was a small conversation between one of them and the driver, before they re-converged ahead of them once more and gave the go-ahead to the older man, seemingly content with the search. The Tauros snorted and began to clop on once again, soon passing through the large gates which were now open to them.

It was just as Kurayami had remembered it to always be. Expansive. Busy. Loud.
People walking, running, trotting about their own businesses - people both old and new to the town enjoying the protection the city's walls offered them. Life in Saffron was easy, for most. The former samurai was broken from his musings as the carriage had come to a halt near a small clear area.
"Kondō-san."

Kurayami raised his gaze to the older gentleman stepping down from his carriage, and offered an arm for support. The man accepted it and came down to stand with him, beginning to shuffle through his kimono until he found what he was looking for. He produced a small pouch, placing it in the Ronin's hand with a smile. "Arigato gozaimashita."

Kurayami returned a small nod. "Arigato gozaimasu."

He offered a slight, forced smile before he turned away from the man, leaving him to his business.

"I need a drink.." He said to himself, finally beginning to feel the fatigue in even his good leg.

He tucked the pouch in one of the more close-to-skin pockets within his Kamishimo, and let his eyes scan for an inn or bar. He spotted a Ryokan, and wasted no time beginning a reasonably paced walk towards it. The light feeling of a familiar beak against his arm, and the large eyes that looked up at him from the corner of his vision reminded him that Hisa was in equal need of refreshment, though assuredly she was much less tired than him. She was basically designed for travel.

They found themselves entering the inn and were greeted kindly by a few faces. Kurayami was happy to find a lack of prepared uwabaki in the establishment - he had never been fond of removing his shoes - but really it made sense, considering the growing popularity of Pokémon companions made traditional genkans.. mostly futile. The Ronin and his partner entered the common area, and the man made his way to the last empty table of the lot, Hisa following behind. He finally sat, releasing a subdued groan of relief as his legs finally rested. His eyes rose to search the room for a server, and he made a gesture with his hand to let them know he was there when they were ready for him.

It wasn't long before he was served - a healthy serving of rice, a bit of meat, a half cup of alcohol, and some fish for Hisa. He thanked the server and her Furret with a nod, before the two began to chow down.

Pokémon: Feudal Legends

Kurayami Kondō

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Basic Details ► AGE 29 ► HEIGHT 6'02" / 189cm ► WEIGHT 190lbs~ / 86kg~ ► HAIR Black ► EYES Yellow-Gold ► CLASS Ronin

APPEARANCE Kurayami is, seemingly, a rather unassuming man. He is tall, though not remarkably so, but does admittedly possess a physique usually reserved for those who tend to the fields of battle or agriculture. He would have a somewhat forgettable face, if not for the couple of scars that mar its left side - though luckily for him, they seem to have healed well and are for the most-part faded. His regular, black hair highlights the aspen-gold tone of his eyes, which are usually rather watchful upon an otherwise neutral face. Kurayami, though he does seem to try and hold himself with some measure of respect, has a rather mellow stature to him - and the most observant individuals might notice a weight to his shoulders that is seemingly ever-present. When it comes to his wardrobe, Kurayami much values function over form. Luckily for him, his paler skin and the unique tone of his eyes make fashion a breeze with darker clothing - not that he would ever admit caring. He usually wears a sort of tame, armor-like Kamishimo, as well as a few scattered pieces of other armor. He's reluctant to travel, or go anywhere really, without wearing some form of protection, clothing or otherwise. Wherever one sees Kurayami, they see the personal weapons he carries on him. Alongside the Wakizashi he wears on his left hip, the young man also carries a Tinbe and an old, odd-looking sword with a hook. The final facet that may distinguish Kurayami from a crowd is his occasional limp.

---

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_PERSONALITY

Most who've met Kurayami would probably call his personality somewhat subdued. He's not outgoing, but doesn't seem timid either, or particularly prickly. He makes a quiet point of keeping those around him at arm's length - literally and otherwise.
It has, understandably, been the mistake of a few to think that such an understated air meant the man would be pliant to their wishes - but Kurayami is far from pliable. When need be, he can be quite a forceful individual. He can show great sternness when needed, and when brought to action seems more competent than his muted bearing lets on.

In truth, Kurayami is himself an adventurous, fun-loving, sometimes even jovial, individual - but it has been some time since he has truly embraced how he used to be. Hints of such personal verities are hard to draw out of him, and have been forsaken from his personality for a time now.

---

---

_BIOGRAPHY

Bio

Growing up was a lot different than what Kurayami's life is now.

He was born the son of a respected Samurai of Shogun Fuji's court known by the name of Junichirō Kondō. Being born to such status is something many would kill for - and much to the joy of the Kondō family, it seemed their blood was strong within little Kurayami. From a very young age he showed promise and a strong disposition towards the way of their occupational familial ties. It was quickly that the young boy grasped the lessons taught to him by his father and the many tutors afforded them by their station.

The boy grew fast. There were some bumps along the way, but the Kondō family couldn't be more happy with the overall progress their son had come to achieve. It wasn't until Kurayami's mid-teen years that they hit their first real roadblock. The young boy collapsed in pain during training, prompting his father to stoop to his aid quickly. Young Kurayami was just that - young - but the secret he had been hiding for weeks was something even he knew he wouldn't be able to keep to himself forever, even though he knew that such a thing would strip him of any hope of becoming a Samurai in the Shogun's court. He reluctantly told his father. For weeks he had been hiding severe shooting pains in the muscles of his left leg - but there was no explanation he could find for it.

After a few agonizingly long days waiting for one of Junichirō's trusted physicians to analyze the problem, it was ultimately decided that the issue was genetic, and there was no way to cure it. Junichirō himself was devastated, but Kurayami pleaded with him hour after hour to let him become a samurai anyways. He would persevere - he could ignore it. Eventually Junichirō allowed it, although skeptical as he was. They would keep it secret.

From then on, more of young Kurayami's lessons were in private - but he didn't let his condition deter him. He had never wanted anything more - every fiber of his being was determined to become a samurai.

As his adolescent training began to come to an end, Junichirō started to insert his son into even more traditional ceremonies - one of the more important ones being Miai. Young Kurayami was only moderately interested in this specific process, but wasn't a heartbreaker - he would entertain the idea but never coldly turn anyone down. The process was going a bit too slowly for Junichirō's tastes - but that worry was soon halted when one woman he introduced, Sakura Yamazaki, stole Kurayami's attention entirely. She was a stubborn woman, seeming less interested in the process than even him, but something about her just pulled him in.

It took weeks for Kurayami to pry past the edged exterior the woman made him face, but eventually he did - and their love soared - much to Junichirō's happiness. The lovebirds grew to be the closest you'd ever seen, and their relationship and love came to be revered and used as an example amongst the court.

However, there was still more responsibilities for the now-young-man Kurayami. It was difficult for his father to pry him away from his love to continue his training and duties. The young man even managed to sometimes sneak out of his training to accompany Sakura in her own duties, which she would abandon for him in turn. Their commitment to each other seemed to overshadow everything around them - they were in their own little bubble.

With Sakura by his side, time went by quickly for Kurayami - it wasn't much longer before the fact he had finally become a samurai was sprung upon him seemingly out of nowhere. He was pulled away from his love and was finally thrust into his true duty - serving as an active samurai under Shogun Fuji.

And serve he did. For over a year Kurayami served under the Shogun - and quite a samurai he was. Despite the longing he felt for his bride, he somehow managed to use it as a fuel to power past the disruptiveness of the condition that he still hid to this day. Despite having a few self-imposed rough patches in his training, his blood was a brew for battle, and he made his family proud. Kurayami, however, found himself no longer caring about that. His duty made him miserable if it kept him away from what he truly wanted - and eventually he decided to act on it.

He deserted. After just over a dozen-and-a-half months of serving as a samurai, Kurayami deserted his post.
He returned to Sakura and they stole each other away. They fled south of Saffron Village, where they had grown up, and made a small, secluded home for themselves with what wealth they had stolen away. The home they'd made for themselves was quaint - unlike what they were used to - but even if it had been a hovel they wouldn't have cared. They were there for each other.

And there they stayed for years. Kurayami, although it was a learning process, eventually managed to set up a bit of a homestead and worked the land modestly, raising a few livestock Pokémon to supply for them and their soon-to-be-born child.

It was peaceful.

At some point along the way, the former samurai caught word of one of the many bouts of infighting amongst the clans that resulted in the death of his father. It.. was a hard blow. Part of him broke down when he heard it. His father had been so kind to him. Part of him wondered if.. if he had been there..
He slapped himself out of the thought.

He returned home after hearing the news and told his wife of his plan to visit the funeral in secret. Fortunately the whole plan worked out smoothly. There was a small hiccup when Kurayami tried stealing his father's wakizashi, but in the end it worked out, and he got to keep a solidified memory of his dad. That night he had a mourning drink - or a few - in the closest bar he could find, and afterwards made the oh-so-safe trek back to their homestead. He didn't make it even a couple steps past the front door before he passed out.

He woke only an hour or so later, it seemed, to the sound of a blood-curdling scream. He was sobered immediately. He stood wobblily, the buzz distracting from the pain in his leg as he drew his father's wakizashi with more fluidity than one would expect from a drunk man. He shouted for his wife, stumbling through the home to their bedroom, where he smashed through the door unceremoniously. The sight before him made the blood in his veins turn to ice. A dark figure dropped out of the window just as he entered, and another figure laid completely still on the floor at the foot of their bed.

Kurayami dropped the sword and fell to his knees, his hands shaking as he grabbed the still shape of Sakura. He pled with himself to somehow fix her, his pleading leading into hysterics as he just stared at his dead wife, repeatedly checking her bloodflow and breathing despite it obviously being too late. His eyes burned as his tears fell onto what was once such a bright light in his life. His frantic eyes twitched up from her and to a shape that caught his eye nearby against the corner. His trembling hands left the still-warm skin of his beloved. He hurriedly stumbled, tripping over his own feet to reach the other shape. Another shadow peeled away from the corner nearby and lunged at him in defense of the smaller one before it suddenly stopped itself -- Hisa, the Doduo with which he served the Shogunate alongside, covered in blood from a gash across its chest.

Kurayami ignored it and crawl in desperation towards the shape swathed in small, thin blankets. He couldn't hold back the flow of tears as he realized his child was not screaming.

He collapsed, letting the overwhelming sorrow overtake him. Hisa tried to nudge him with her beaks, despite her own wounds, but he reached up and shoved her away, throwing himself up, ignoring the pain in his leg as he stomped over to the window. He screamed into the darkness in complete unbridled rage, throwing every obscenity that he knew as the tears streamed down his face. He smashed his fist into the wall at each word, bloodying it. Eventually, he ran out of words, and he let himself fall to the floor.

Why.. who.. would do this..? Was I followed home? Was it a rival clan? Did the Shogunate find me?

He had so many unanswered questions tearing through his brain - all plastered onto the pale afterimage of his wife's blood-spattered face. He didn't know whether to let the sorrow take him or the rage. All he could do was weep. Hisa tried to comfort him once again, scooching over and lowering her beaks. She recoiled when he raised a trembling hand, but allowed him to take her into a weak hug.

I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry..

It was there that he wept until he passed out.

- - -

It's now been almost a year since then. His life has changed...immeasurably. He found nowhere to turn after the death of his wife and child, and ended up wandering back towards Saffron Village after all the years away. He makes his dues through various tasks and quests usually well under his true station - but work isn't too scarce for a skilled Ronin. He doesn't truly know what he's doing, but feels.. some form of obligation to both his late father and late wife to do better than.. whatever it was he was doing when they were still around. The underlying guilt drawn from the death of his father pushes him to hold interest in the welfare of the clans and the Shogunate, and the knowledge that his wife was always proud of his prowess as a respected samurai leads him to want to act on it - in spite of how hard that would currently be.

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PARTNER POKEMON

Doduo

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KNOWN MOVES ► MOVE 1 Drill Peck ► MOVE 2 Aerial Ace ► MOVE 3 Steel Wing ► MOVE 4 Mimic	BASIC DETAILS ► HEIGHT 4'06" / 140cm ► WEIGHT 86lbs / 39kg ► MET AT Saffron Village ► NATURE Adamant ► FAVORITE FOOD Curry / Seafood

Pokémon: Feudal Legends

Kurayami Kondō

---

Basic Details ► AGE 29 ► HEIGHT 6'02" / 189cm ► WEIGHT 190lbs~ / 86kg~ ► HAIR Black ► EYES Yellow-Gold ► CLASS Ronin

APPEARANCE Kurayami is, seemingly, a rather unassuming man. He is tall, though not remarkably so, but does admittedly possess a physique usually reserved for those who tend to the fields of battle or agriculture. He would have a somewhat forgettable face, if not for the couple of scars that mar its left side - though luckily for him, they seem to have healed well and are for the most-part faded. His regular, black hair highlights the aspen-gold tone of his eyes, which are usually rather watchful upon an otherwise neutral face. Kurayami, though he does seem to try and hold himself with some measure of respect, has a rather mellow stature to him - and the most observant individuals might notice a weight to his shoulders that is seemingly ever-present. When it comes to his wardrobe, Kurayami much values function over form. Luckily for him, his paler skin and the unique tone of his eyes make fashion a breeze with darker clothing - not that he would ever admit caring. He usually wears a sort of tame, armor-like Kamishimo, as well as a few scattered pieces of other armor. He's reluctant to travel, or go anywhere really, without wearing some form of protection, clothing or otherwise. Wherever one sees Kurayami, they see the personal weapons he carries on him. Alongside the Wakizashi he wears on his left hip, the young man also carries a Tinbe and an old, odd-looking sword with a hook. The final facet that may distinguish Kurayami from a crowd is his occasional limp.

---

---

_PERSONALITY

Most who've met Kurayami would probably call his personality somewhat subdued. He's not outgoing, but doesn't seem timid either, or particularly prickly. He makes a quiet point of keeping those around him at arm's length - literally and otherwise.
It has, understandably, been the mistake of a few to think that such an understated air meant the man would be pliant to their wishes - but Kurayami is far from pliable. When need be, he can be quite a forceful individual. He can show great sternness when needed, and when brought to action seems more competent than his muted bearing lets on.

In truth, Kurayami is himself an adventurous, fun-loving, sometimes even jovial, individual - but it has been some time since he has truly embraced how he used to be. Hints of such personal verities are hard to draw out of him, and have been forsaken from his personality for a time now.

---

---

_BIOGRAPHY

Bio

Growing up was a lot different than what Kurayami's life is now.

He was born the son of a respected Samurai of Shogun Fuji's court known by the name of Junichirō Kondō. Being born to such status is something many would kill for - and much to the joy of the Kondō family, it seemed their blood was strong within little Kurayami. From a very young age he showed promise and a strong disposition towards the way of their occupational familial ties. It was quickly that the young boy grasped the lessons taught to him by his father and the many tutors afforded them by their station.

The boy grew fast. There were some bumps along the way, but the Kondō family couldn't be more happy with the overall progress their son had come to achieve. It wasn't until Kurayami's mid-teen years that they hit their first real roadblock. The young boy collapsed in pain during training, prompting his father to stoop to his aid quickly. Young Kurayami was just that - young - but the secret he had been hiding for weeks was something even he knew he wouldn't be able to keep to himself forever, even though he knew that such a thing would strip him of any hope of becoming a Samurai in the Shogun's court. He reluctantly told his father. For weeks he had been hiding severe shooting pains in the muscles of his left leg - but there was no explanation he could find for it.

After a few agonizingly long days waiting for one of Junichirō's trusted physicians to analyze the problem, it was ultimately decided that the issue was genetic, and there was no way to cure it. Junichirō himself was devastated, but Kurayami pleaded with him hour after hour to let him become a samurai anyways. He would persevere - he could ignore it. Eventually Junichirō allowed it, although skeptical as he was. They would keep it secret.

From then on, more of young Kurayami's lessons were in private - but he didn't let his condition deter him. He had never wanted anything more - every fiber of his being was determined to become a samurai.

As his adolescent training began to come to an end, Junichirō started to insert his son into even more traditional ceremonies - one of the more important ones being Miai. Young Kurayami was only moderately interested in this specific process, but wasn't a heartbreaker - he would entertain the idea but never coldly turn anyone down. The process was going a bit too slowly for Junichirō's tastes - but that worry was soon halted when one woman he introduced, Sakura Yamazaki, stole Kurayami's attention entirely. She was a stubborn woman, seeming less interested in the process than even him, but something about her just pulled him in.

It took weeks for Kurayami to pry past the edged exterior the woman made him face, but eventually he did - and their love soared - much to Junichirō's happiness. The lovebirds grew to be the closest you'd ever seen, and their relationship and love came to be revered and used as an example amongst the court.

However, there was still more responsibilities for the now-young-man Kurayami. It was difficult for his father to pry him away from his love to continue his training and duties. The young man even managed to sometimes sneak out of his training to accompany Sakura in her own duties, which she would abandon for him in turn. Their commitment to each other seemed to overshadow everything around them - they were in their own little bubble.

With Sakura by his side, time went by quickly for Kurayami - it wasn't much longer before the fact he had finally become a samurai was sprung upon him seemingly out of nowhere. He was pulled away from his love and was finally thrust into his true duty - serving as an active samurai under Shogun Fuji.

And serve he did. For over a year Kurayami served under the Shogun - and quite a samurai he was. Despite the longing he felt for his bride, he somehow managed to use it as a fuel to power past the disruptiveness of the condition that he still hid to this day. Despite having a few self-imposed rough patches in his training, his blood was a brew for battle, and he made his family proud. Kurayami, however, found himself no longer caring about that. His duty made him miserable if it kept him away from what he truly wanted - and eventually he decided to act on it.

He deserted. After just over a dozen-and-a-half months of serving as a samurai, Kurayami deserted his post.
He returned to Sakura and they stole each other away. They fled south of Saffron Village, where they had grown up, and made a small, secluded home for themselves with what wealth they had stolen away. The home they'd made for themselves was quaint - unlike what they were used to - but even if it had been a hovel they wouldn't have cared. They were there for each other.

And there they stayed for years. Kurayami, although it was a learning process, eventually managed to set up a bit of a homestead and worked the land modestly, raising a few livestock Pokémon to supply for them and their soon-to-be-born child.

It was peaceful.

At some point along the way, the former samurai caught word of one of the many bouts of infighting amongst the clans that resulted in the death of his father. It.. was a hard blow. Part of him broke down when he heard it. His father had been so kind to him. Part of him wondered if.. if he had been there..
He slapped himself out of the thought.

He returned home after hearing the news and told his wife of his plan to visit the funeral in secret. Fortunately the whole plan worked out smoothly. There was a small hiccup when Kurayami tried stealing his father's wakizashi, but in the end it worked out, and he got to keep a solidified memory of his dad. That night he had a mourning drink - or a few - in the closest bar he could find, and afterwards made the oh-so-safe trek back to their homestead. He didn't make it even a couple steps past the front door before he passed out.

He woke only an hour or so later, it seemed, to the sound of a blood-curdling scream. He was sobered immediately. He stood wobblily, the buzz distracting from the pain in his leg as he drew his father's wakizashi with more fluidity than one would expect from a drunk man. He shouted for his wife, stumbling through the home to their bedroom, where he smashed through the door unceremoniously. The sight before him made the blood in his veins turn to ice. A dark figure dropped out of the window just as he entered, and another figure laid completely still on the floor at the foot of their bed.

Kurayami dropped the sword and fell to his knees, his hands shaking as he grabbed the still shape of Sakura. He pled with himself to somehow fix her, his pleading leading into hysterics as he just stared at his dead wife, repeatedly checking her bloodflow and breathing despite it obviously being too late. His eyes burned as his tears fell onto what was once such a bright light in his life. His frantic eyes twitched up from her and to a shape that caught his eye nearby against the corner. His trembling hands left the still-warm skin of his beloved. He hurriedly stumbled, tripping over his own feet to reach the other shape. Another shadow peeled away from the corner nearby and lunged at him in defense of the smaller one before it suddenly stopped itself -- Hisa, the Doduo with which he served the Shogunate alongside, covered in blood from a gash across its chest.

Kurayami ignored it and crawl in desperation towards the shape swathed in small, thin blankets. He couldn't hold back the flow of tears as he realized his child was not screaming.

He collapsed, letting the overwhelming sorrow overtake him. Hisa tried to nudge him with her beaks, despite her own wounds, but he reached up and shoved her away, throwing himself up, ignoring the pain in his leg as he stomped over to the window. He screamed into the darkness in complete unbridled rage, throwing every obscenity that he knew as the tears streamed down his face. He smashed his fist into the wall at each word, bloodying it. Eventually, he ran out of words, and he let himself fall to the floor.

Why.. who.. would do this..? Was I followed home? Was it a rival clan? Did the Shogunate find me?

He had so many unanswered questions tearing through his brain - all plastered onto the pale afterimage of his wife's blood-spattered face. He didn't know whether to let the sorrow take him or the rage. All he could do was weep. Hisa tried to comfort him once again, scooching over and lowering her beaks. She recoiled when he raised a trembling hand, but allowed him to take her into a weak hug.

I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry..

It was there that he wept until he passed out.

- - -

It's now been almost a year since then. His life has changed...immeasurably. He found nowhere to turn after the death of his wife and child, and ended up wandering back towards Saffron Village after all the years away. He makes his dues through various tasks and quests usually well under his true station - but work isn't too scarce for a skilled Ronin. He doesn't truly know what he's doing, but feels.. some form of obligation to both his late father and late wife to do better than.. whatever it was he was doing when they were still around. The underlying guilt drawn from the death of his father pushes him to hold interest in the welfare of the clans and the Shogunate, and the knowledge that his wife was always proud of his prowess as a respected samurai leads him to want to act on it - in spite of how hard that would currently be.

---

---

PARTNER POKEMON

Doduo

---

KNOWN MOVES ► MOVE 1 Drill Peck ► MOVE 2 Aerial Ace ► MOVE 3 Steel Wing ► MOVE 4 Mimic	BASIC DETAILS ► HEIGHT 4'06" / 140cm ► WEIGHT 86lbs / 39kg ► MET AT Saffron Village ► NATURE Adamant ► FAVORITE FOOD Curry / Seafood

Pokémon: New Horizons

Hey guys, so this has been inactive for a while and honestly I feel a bit bad about not having addressed it sooner, but I fell into quite a bit of a rut a few months ago and just never really left it. I'm very sorry that this didn't take off as well as I wanted, just had another of my.. issues I guess lol. Not really sure I'm fit for GMing something any time soon.

I'd like to thank all of you for trying this with me, and my apologies again v_v

Grimm Noir [Rebooting~]

Dune

Mentions: - - - -
Location: Haven Academy

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It was right on schedule that the masses of would-be Huntsmen began to be ushered into the lofty interior of the Great Hall of Haven Academy. It was finally time.

Dune could feel the excitement welling up further within her, but she made a point of forcing herself to keep calm, trying not to focus too intensely on the path to come and instead keeping her attention open to her surroundings. She could see the excitement in the eyes of many around her reflecting what she suppressed within herself - while in others she could see clear anxiety. While she was hardly one to talk about expressing emotions, it was difficult not to wonder how one could wish to undertake such a path and not show confidence in their own abilities. One could only imagine the heroes monikered "Huntsmen" would be the most confident of individuals -- for how could thousands of people rely on you to protect them if you weren't?

Though to be fair, not all wore their emotions on their sleeve. One fine example stood before all of them in the form of the Headmaster of Haven Academy - Goldi Lockhart. Dune watched the woman even as she scanned the lot of them herself. There were lots of rumors about the Headmaster of the academy, but that was to be expected of anyone of renown, really. Regardless, the Faunus' attention was glued to the woman as she spoke. The speech wasn't exactly.. what she expected, but truthfully a grand pep-talk wasn't too realistic for this line of work, now was it? What may have been disparaging sentiments to some only rolled off Dune's skin. She had long-since decided to devote what life she had to becoming a Huntress, and she had long-since started ignoring those who told her she couldn't or shouldn't do it. By now it was second nature to tune out all doubt.

The golden-eyed girl patted her pocket, feeling the shape of the pamphlet through the fabric as it was mentioned by the Headmaster. The process behind the initiation was a bit weird, but she could only assume this was how it was always done - and she wasn't one to argue with results.

Before she could even finish her thoughts the room fell silent -- the speech had finished as abruptly as it had started. And it was at that very moment that the first step of their first trial began. Dune had no intention of dawdling about - almost as soon as the headmaster shooed the would-be Huntsmen away with her order, the gray-haired Faunus was turning away and drawing the pamphlet from her pocket, her eyes scanning it as she began walking.

The Celestial Swan. First trial. Patience.

Grimm Noir [Rebooting~]

Dune

Mentions: Heather (@Cello)
Location: Haven Academy

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---

Dune found her thoughts wandering once again. It was easy for thoughts to wander when all you had to keep you company was your own thoughts. It perhaps sounded weird, sure, but despite the crowds around her, Dune felt even now that she was alone. Not that that was a bad thing - she may have preferred it that way, even if it hadn't been the only thing she had known in a long, long time. Her idle gaze followed the slowly, gently twirling shape of an irregularly deep orange leaf falling gently from a high perch. The leaves didn't seem to mind being alone, they were beautiful nonetheless - perhaps moreso for it.

But that's not what Dune's wandering mind was leashed to, no, she had long grown accustomed to keeping to herself. Instead, she thought more about what was lying ahead for her, rather than what or who was currently beside her. If an entire village shoulder-to-shoulder couldn't save her parents, what could she expect to gain from a simple singular acquaintance? No, this was a journey she planned to take on her own. Of course she knew from here-say that the academy put prospective huntsmen and huntresses into teams - but it was a temporary arrangement. After graduation, a huntress could carry on by their lonesome, if they so wished. Admittedly, when Dune had tried to think that far ahead before, it seemed like a distant dream - but today...it was different. Reaching the point where she could finally take a true step towards becoming a huntress was so much more real now.

She was so distracted by the roaming of her thoughts that she didn't even notice another girl tramping over to the very tree she was posted up against herself. It was the exasperated sigh that snapped the Faunus from her absence of mind. Dune turned her head to look sideways at the auburn-haired girl, her arms crossing across her chest as she caught just the last half of whatever it was she was saying to herself. She raised a brow at the measurably shorter girl's...mature-sounding curses, reckoning that someone had gotten the better of her for her to get so worked up.

Dune watched her expression as the other girl turned and seemed startled by her presence, the red-head's face flushing in surprise as she shot to her feet. The girl was quick to try and change the subject as the Faunus just watched her coolly. Dune turned her gaze away and looked around them, the soft breeze and equally as soft sun smiling back at the attention.

"It is, isn't it?"

Her eyes unfocused for a moment. Those were the first words she'd said to someone her age in.. a while. Usually she just ignored anyone who tried making small talk with her - not out of rudeness, moreso out of tunnel vision to whatever she was actually doing at the time - which if it wasn't training, it was reading in most cases. Why now did she opt to engage with a complete stranger? Well, if she were ever to do it, at the academy would probably be a better place than nowhere. After all, this girl might be a future "teammate" of hers, even if unlikely.

Her gaze turned back to the flustered girl. She studied her for a brief moment, the cogs within her head turning stoically as she looked her up and down shortly. Her lips parted slightly, as if to begin speaking, but after a slight pause, she silenced herself again, turning her golden eyes back to watch the crowds once again. She considered offering advice to the girl regarding whatever it was that ailed her, but decided against it - she had never been good at giving advice, usually just regurgitating things that her grandparents or tutors told her - plus, she had no idea what the girl's problem was. It was simpler to just let it figure itself out.

Grimm Noir [Rebooting~]

Dune

Mentions: None
Location: Haven Academy

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Today was finally the day.

The journey to becoming a huntress was, in truth, long underway for Dune - but today was the day it finally felt like the ship would leave the port. With every step she ascended she felt the excitement building up within her - but she knew she had to stem the flow of emotions within her that would surely be felt by everyone else as well. Even though the events that brought her here had been unfavorable, to say the least, she couldn't help but admit to herself that the aspects of becoming a huntress found a place in her heart that stirred more than the desire for vengeance. The training so far, although basic, just made her feel stronger. The weapons fed her curiosity. The trek to her true goal had only just begun, but it had already helped to make her feel something. But she knew it would only be temporary until she did finally achieve what she started this journey to achieve.

But for now, as she ascended towards the assembly area of Mistral up the seemingly endless stairs, that goal was a far ways away.

Dune shook away her thoughts and spared a few glances to the people around her. She wondered how many of these prospective students would really make it as huntsmen and huntresses. It was hard to judge just off of idle demeanor, but there were a few who seemed pretty composed. Others.. not so much. She wasn't concerned about her own success - success was the only choice for her. She simply had no other options.

Eventually she reached the peak of the stairs, which opened into a wide, populated plateau upon which rested the renowned Haven Academy. It was the visage of this academy in the distance that had helped spur her to train harder and harder each day as this moment came closer and closer. While she wasn't entirely fond of crowds, hopefully she could manage to limit the number of people surrounding her - but even if she couldn't, that wouldn't dissuade her from taking in this momentous occasion. She let an idle hand move to feel the leathery case that was clasped to the back of her waist. Of course it would still be there, but just feeling that her weapon was nearby comforted her.

Dune closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she stood at the top of the steps, the soft breeze brushing her tail as she took in the mountainous air as if for the first time, despite having lived there for years. Her eyes opened again and scanned the area for somewhere for her to await the assembly's commencement soon. She wandered around for a short time before finding a tree to post up against, leaning to it and letting her eyes wander from underneath the coverage of her sleek black bolero hat.

Extracriminal

The shadowed figure nodded slightly to himself, as if the responses offered were as he predicted. He waited to go on until Tick returned, the only one seeming content to refresh themselves at the moment. "As charming as the whole damsel-in-distress act might be, that's not quite what I had in mind." He began, seeming slightly amused by the prospect nonetheless. He shifted forward in his seat slightly, leaning in, though still remaining shrouded in darkness. "Let me make it very clear that I chose you all because of how efficient you can be, given the right objectives. 'Girl power' is all fine and dandy, but the mind is unaffected by the body - and your minds very much overcome anything muscle could produce. You can be sure that each of the ladies next to you is very capable in some regard. But enough of the flattery. Where you fit those capabilities into your work ethic isn't up to me. But I can help you find that out while we undergo our mission."

As he began to speak his next few sentences, the Senior seemed to become enthralled by his own thoughts before they even came out of his mouth. "Any blind person can see that every community - every monopoly - every government - every-fucking-everything is run by greedy sons of bitches who have no regard for anyone under them." He went on, one of his gloved hands slowly constricting into a clenched fist as he spoke, his tone even becoming a little stressed. "They horde wealth and only spare enough to keep those underneath them in line. Maybe you don't feel trampled on - not everyone does - but trust me when I tell you you are." There was a short pause as Senior's gaze shifted downwards, and he visibly relaxed himself, unclenching his fist. "..but in this narrative we're going to remedy that. We're bad people, but we can do good things through that. Of course, we can line our pockets as well - as a commission fee, you could say."

He shifted his gaze to the side once again as his hands tapped at the keyboard in front of him. There was a short moment of silence before he turned his attention back.

"But I'm sure some of you don't care very much about the why. The how and the when are more concerning details for most in our line of work. Which is why I've planned something of a test-run for our group here. Something simple, to see how well you ladies can work together."
One of the slightly larger screens next to the Senior's began to flicker to life.

All the while Sable listened intently, subconsciously taking note of their new boss' behaviors. She wasn't sure if he really considered himself their boss - the way he spoke made it sound as if he would be working alongside them, but she very much doubted he would be putting himself next to them in the flesh - or he probably would have already done so. Regardless of how interested she was in what he had to say, she couldn't help but spare a inconspicuous glance at the other women in the room every once in a while. It was just a hard habit to break.

But when the screen flickered on and displayed the blueprints of some sort of compound, she really focused in on it. The image was...complicated, to say the least. There were so many numerics and angle notes, layers of architectural details and even more that Sable had no hope of deciphering.
"This," The Senior began, gesturing to his side towards the monitor. "is an unnamed scientific facility located in Massachusetts. I have a client who is very interested in extracting certain files from this facility - for reasons unknown to me, not that it matters much. Coincidentally, I wouldn't mind acquiring a select few materials from such a facility myself. There is, however, a slight catch. Not only does the facility have its own security team, because of course it does, it also seems to have a couple military personnel wandering the premises. Ironically, this enhanced detail of guards led to my interest in the facility's contents. What you should be interested in though is my client's target files - as he will be paying quite a sum for their retrieval - which is where you ladies come in." The Senior finished, coming to a halt as his eyes scanned the faces of each of them. "So.. any questions?"

Sable's own eyes still attempted to study the blueprints of the compound, not really being able to figure out how to read most of the details. She wasn't exactly an architect. "Simple, he says.."

Pokémon: New Horizons

Ayana & Arlo

Mentions: Yes.
Location: Panmia Island - Base Camp

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Arlo clutched the Pokedex to his chest as the others talked amongst themselves. He found himself just daydreaming about all that was ahead, the comments of his group members weaving even more possibilities into his reverie subconsciously. He held back a wide smile at the thought of catching his first Pokemon. He'd never even tried before, being that his current Pokemon was a gift from his parents and was a perfect companion for him. But having more friends could never hurt!

Arlo was broken out of his trance by the others talking about how to go about starting their trek. He looked down at his Pokedex. The map showed a fine outline of Panmia island and the other, larger islands of the region, but aside from that the detail was limited. It did provide elevation analytics for most of the region though, it seemed, so finding elevated landmarks would be easier, were there any. Honestly to him it didn't matter much whether they had a plan or not.

It seemed on the other hand Ayana wasn't entirely looking to provide her own input either. She listened to the group discussing amongst themselves as her eyes finally left her brother and explored their surroundings as she stood with her arms across her chest. Her Rockruff wandered around nearby, sniffing the shoes of their new travel partners.

Arlo turned his glance back to the Pokedex wondering how exactly they were going to get across the bay of sorts to get to what looked like the mainland island north of Panmia Island. But soon his thoughts were interrupted.

A lanky, middle-aged man pulling along a large cart filled with cases, boxes, tarps, and all manner of things approached the group, adjusting his glasses as he looked over its members. "Hello there young people! I don't believe I've visited your group yet." He said, interrupting the conversation and setting the wagon still as he shifted his heavy, overflowing backpack. He did a short spin and stepped around the side of his wagon before he began digging through the contents intently. "Don't mind me I'm just here to provide you a few travel gifts, curtesy of the Exploratory Office!" There was a short silence from him apart from his rummaging as he struggled to gather the gear he was trying to find. "Ah, here we are." He said, fishing out a few last items and tucking them into a travel bag. He thrusted the package forward to the person he was closest to, that happening to be Ayana, before returning to his wagon and reaching into a box for two specific items held in each hand. He approached again and handed an item each to two others, those being Isla and Felix.

He smiled to himself, seeming content with the gifts before he began speaking. "These two here are very special items." He went, tapping the black top-hinging box that Isla held, and tweaking a small antenna on the radio-esque device he'd given to Felix. "This here is a revival-synthesizer-" He continued, tapping the black box intently. "-useful for generating a few revives per few days, in case your Pokemon become quite injured and you find yourself stuck without being able to heal them to consciousness! Take care of it- it's expensive and you won't get another." He said, the last bit developing a serious tone. But the excited quality of his voice quickly returned. "And this here is a universal tracker/inventory request device. You can use this to request a small supply drop of a couple items from most surface-level areas in the region. The supplies can take quite a few days to arrive and not every request is guaranteed though, so don't rely on it all the time, alright?" He finished looking at their faces to make sure they understood what he was saying. Seeming content, he returned to his wagon and hoisted its pulley over his shoulder. "Welp, it seems like you younguns are all ready to explore this new world-" He said happily. "-I wish you the best of luck!" He finished, and began rolling his wagon away just as he had before, his eyes scanning for other groups.

Ayana seemed a bit surprised with the briefness of the gift-giving, but looked down at the bag thrust into her hands anyways. It seemed a bit full and peeking inside she saw an assortment of Pokéballs and other basic gear.

Arlo chimed in happily as the man left. "Well then! It looks like we're all ready to go, huh? I reckon it doesn't matter too much where we start off, the other islands are so huge there's no way we end up running into another group too often, right? Might as well just head straight onward! Maybe to the Northern Coast?" He asked excitedly, looking at each of the other group members.