Many residents of Kumoito call home to this expansive section of the city.
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2021 10:19 am
R I K I M A R U The 'Big' Boss
"HEY! You thief, get back here!" The man's shouting was drowned out by Rikimaru's muffled chuckling as he quickly turned into the nearest alleyway her could find. There was no way the shopkeeper would be able to keep up with him, running on all fours; he'd have to give up the chase soon. In his mouth, was the largest piece of salmon he could carry, snatched fresh off of the grill when the man was dealing with a customer. Now hiding behind a trashcan, his ears twitched, body frozen in place, as he waited for the commotion to die down. Once the area felt safe enough to dive in, that's exactly what he did. Rikimaru began ravenously chowing down on the cook piece of fish without any regrets. He hadn't eaten since his escape, and his rumbling tummy may have only amplified his otherwise chaotic personality to the point of acting out the way he did back at the academy. "Bah! That place was stupid anyways..." He'd grumble between bites, enjoying the rich, oily taste of the salmon he was ravaging. Tears started to fall from his eyes as he continued eating, for it was simply the best tasting piece of fish he had had in a very long time. I could totally make something better than this... but it is SO GOOD! Soft sounds of delight emitted from the panda's mouth amidst his meal, unaware of how far these noises might carry in an otherwise empty alleyway.
◆║ CHAKRAx 100/ 100x◆║ STAMINAx 100/ 100x◆║ Academy Studentx◆║ Kumoito
☠ Nami ☠ ❝ The wave does not need to die to become water. For she is already water. ❞
Kumoito l Sannin l Genjutsu l Bloodline l Shōton ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
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Ever since she had arrived home, Nami was pacing. Her book rested on the couch, untouched by her which was unusual. The candle light flickers in the room. Back and forth. Back and forth. A black cat was perched on the arm of the couch, its narrow pupils tracking the pale female's foot of back and forth. Back and forth. Nami had never felt this. She didn't know what it was. All she knew that it felt as if something had went into her stomach and punch a hole. Or maybe started to gnaw? There was a bitter acidicity at the back of her throat. With a sudden stop, she hunched over, her arms around her stomach while she gasped, unable to breathe normally. 'Isobu, please help me, what's going on?' She begged to her friend. This emotion, it was all so new to her.
Fear.
Shivered and high strung, she continued to pace, her arms still around her stomach. Back and forth. Nami wanted to kick something. Scream. Cry. Run. Run to where? She had no one or anything to run to. Her family wasn't hers. They were just there. Back and forth.
'Please Isobu, make it go away. I don't like it.'
Like the tick-tock of a grandfather clock. Stopped in her footsteps, let out another sickened gasp as her hands ran through her blue hair. Something. Something had to help this. What can she do to relieve it? A bath. Yes. A bath with milk should help. After she made her decision, she picked up the candle and placed it on the sink in the bathroom. Some darkness would do her some good. Shrugged off the clothes, they slipped onto the floor as she started to run the water and added milk to it. It wasn't just milk she had decided to add but few drops of lavender. She always likes the smell and from where she bought it, they said there were health benefits. Last but not least, she added some salts. Born by the ocean, she always loved the smell and the feel of the saltwater against her skin. Once it was full, she left the door slightly open because last time, she closed it fully, Mewmew attacked her door.
Her leg sank in as she let out a breath of relief. Maybe this would work. Slowly, she lowered her body into a blissful soothing bath as she let out another moan of relaxation. Her head tilted back and she closed her eyelids. The bathroom door slowly creaked open. Nami, assuming it was Mewmew, ignored it. That was until there was a soft movement in the water. Her eyelids opened and she saw her new friend, which was a snake. She never knew snakes could swim. Maybe it was the heat of the water that lulled it here? Her hands reached out as she gently handled the snake and placed it back on the floor where the towel was.
Despite the soothing bath with lavender, she was still tense and it felt like doom was coming. No. This emotion had to go away. Just had to. Nami was gasping and trying to catch her breath. Why was it so hard to breathe? Why does everything felt so tight? It was as if her crystal armor gone wrong and started to suffocate her.
Isobu desperately wanted to help his kind and confused host but this was something that Nami would have to learn to handle on her own so he remains hidden in his shell while hers was breaking into pieces. 'I"m sorry, my friend.'
PassiveEffects: • • Crystallization | All Shoton techniques have the innate ability to crystallize chakra upon collision. Techniques that are not a rank higher nor overwhelm the Shoton technique will be instantly crystallized through. For example, a B-Rank Shoton technique colliding with a B-Rank fireball will result in the Shoton technique being destroyed and the fireball being rendered a useless clump of crystal. Once techniques are crystallized they are rendered useless to the caster. Additionally, the Shoton user can shatter a crystalized technique or object at will with no chakra or combat action cost. Finally, if the cost is paid twice for a Shoton technique then it will be able to crystallize overwhelming techniques and techniques up to one rank higher. This does not consume a combat action and can only be performed once per post. • Born Enchanter | All Shoton users of the genjutsu class automatically obtain the enchanter/enchantress path of a genjutsu class specialist (see genjutsu/genjutsu cross class). If the Shoton user is a genjutsu specialist already then they may be an enchanter/enchantress as well as a second path (illusionist, trickster, and conjurer). Ergo, if you are single genjutsu class then you get the enchanter path from genjutsu specialist and if you are a genjutsu specialist then you get the enchanter path as well as a second path of your choosing. _✧Those who are a specialist can choose one category of genjutsu to follow as a path. You can follow the path of the illusionist (illusory focus), enchanter/enchantress (enchantment focus), trickster (instance focus), or conjurer (chain focus). Selecting a Path grants [3] additional custom slots and [1] keystone for techniques of that category. Genjutsu that are cast by those of this specialization are more efficient as according to the user's body rank, all Genjutsu are [10] Chakra cheaper to perform with the user's specialized Focus are further reduced by another [5] Chakra per body rank. No cost can be lower than a minimum of [5] Chakra. Once every other post all three of the genjutsu specialist's actions in a post can be used for genjutsu.
Genjutsu Path: Enchantress • Crystal Ball | The Shoton user's crystals can act as a crystal ball and produce divination visions by applying an E-Rank amount of chakra for no action cost. This allows viewing the crystals to be used as a sight trigger for genjutsu. Genjutsu triggered with this method cost one rank higher to kai but require one tier lower to release through pain at a maximum of S+ chakra and a minimum of tier one pain. In addition, as a clairvoyant, all genjutsu with sight as the primary sense can last for an additional [2] posts with no upkeep cost. • Crystalline Rampart | Defensive crystal techniques are one rank stronger against spiritual techniques in collisions. Crystal techniques also lose their weakness to sound techniques. Finally, all doton techniques can be classified as shoton techniques for no resource or action cost but only originally crystal defenses gain the one rank increase.
• _✧
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2021 10:25 pm
Ooc: Rikimaru
Zak the Panduh
Rikimaru sure was noisy! The panda’s delight caught the attention of a young man who was just now walking backward into the alleyway. Looking unsure of what he was hearing. He was cleaning the lense of a camera with a small cloth. The camera? A large black, silvery block with little buttons, switches, and a massive strap kept the device close on the man’s neck.
The photographer may have been a kindred spirt to the young panda: as both were boasting a plain, dichromatic color palette of black and white. CLICK! The photographer now eyeing Rikimaru was clearly appalled. There was a wide-eyed look on his face he couldn’t shake from over the back of his camera. He gasps, "so ******** cute,". The photographer was banking on his youthful look and longevity for the trustworthy "cute boy" appearance. Dark hair, a round pale face, and a black and white ensemble made up of a hoodie, black pants, and shoes.
Ooc: Nami
Jenni Deer
There were circumstances that swayed a knocking at the front door of Nami’s apartment. It had been some time since the wellbeing of one Nami had been taken into account. Honestly, the delay from her employer was unusual. But a young lady with her hair short, neat, and dressed in fine white and plum colored skirt. She had arrived at the front door of the Jinchuriki’s apartment. She knocks loudly and firmly on the door with her attention straying from the door just long enough to sneer at someone in the distance. Someone who was filing off into an alleyway for whatever reason. She had a verbal message to deliver.
☠ Nami ☠ ❝ The wave does not need to die to become water. For she is already water. ❞
Kumoito l Sannin l Genjutsu l Bloodline l Shōton ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
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An audible gasp escaped from her lips as a loud knock echoed into the empty apartment. Her heart was racing as her hands grasped at the side of the tub. "A-Ah, coming!" She called out to let the knocker know that she was on the way. Pushed herself up, she was trembling as a frown crept on her lips. Was she really that jumpy? Did Isobu and the turtle words got to her so much? Her hands reached to the towel as she quickly got most of the water out as much as possible before wrapping the body towel around her body. Cautiously, she approached the door and was ready to cover her body in her crystal armor if she had to, she peeked through the peephole and let out a sigh of relief from the breath she didn't know she was holding. That uniform... it was familiar. A messenger if she remembered right. For a moment, her forehead rested on the door gently and silently as she was breathing slowly to gather her pieces together. With her hand rested on the doorknob, she opened the door, her body positioned between the door and the doorway, as she waited for her delivery.
PassiveEffects: • • Crystallization | All Shoton techniques have the innate ability to crystallize chakra upon collision. Techniques that are not a rank higher nor overwhelm the Shoton technique will be instantly crystallized through. For example, a B-Rank Shoton technique colliding with a B-Rank fireball will result in the Shoton technique being destroyed and the fireball being rendered a useless clump of crystal. Once techniques are crystallized they are rendered useless to the caster. Additionally, the Shoton user can shatter a crystalized technique or object at will with no chakra or combat action cost. Finally, if the cost is paid twice for a Shoton technique then it will be able to crystallize overwhelming techniques and techniques up to one rank higher. This does not consume a combat action and can only be performed once per post. • Born Enchanter | All Shoton users of the genjutsu class automatically obtain the enchanter/enchantress path of a genjutsu class specialist (see genjutsu/genjutsu cross class). If the Shoton user is a genjutsu specialist already then they may be an enchanter/enchantress as well as a second path (illusionist, trickster, and conjurer). Ergo, if you are single genjutsu class then you get the enchanter path from genjutsu specialist and if you are a genjutsu specialist then you get the enchanter path as well as a second path of your choosing. _✧Those who are a specialist can choose one category of genjutsu to follow as a path. You can follow the path of the illusionist (illusory focus), enchanter/enchantress (enchantment focus), trickster (instance focus), or conjurer (chain focus). Selecting a Path grants [3] additional custom slots and [1] keystone for techniques of that category. Genjutsu that are cast by those of this specialization are more efficient as according to the user's body rank, all Genjutsu are [10] Chakra cheaper to perform with the user's specialized Focus are further reduced by another [5] Chakra per body rank. No cost can be lower than a minimum of [5] Chakra. Once every other post all three of the genjutsu specialist's actions in a post can be used for genjutsu.
Genjutsu Path: Enchantress • Crystal Ball | The Shoton user's crystals can act as a crystal ball and produce divination visions by applying an E-Rank amount of chakra for no action cost. This allows viewing the crystals to be used as a sight trigger for genjutsu. Genjutsu triggered with this method cost one rank higher to kai but require one tier lower to release through pain at a maximum of S+ chakra and a minimum of tier one pain. In addition, as a clairvoyant, all genjutsu with sight as the primary sense can last for an additional [2] posts with no upkeep cost. • Crystalline Rampart | Defensive crystal techniques are one rank stronger against spiritual techniques in collisions. Crystal techniques also lose their weakness to sound techniques. Finally, all doton techniques can be classified as shoton techniques for no resource or action cost but only originally crystal defenses gain the one rank increase.
• _✧
Hurrak
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 3:00 pm
R I K I M A R U The 'Big' Boss
The panda relished in the remains of his spoils, licking his paws with satisfaction of the meal that now filled his belly. He hadn't eaten anything noteworthy in a long time, and while he was impressed with how the salmon was cooked, he could tell from taste alone that they had miles to go before being considered a master chef in Rikimaru's opinion.
CLICK!
"Hm?" Sounding more like a confused, animalistic grunt than anything remotely comprehensible, Rikimaru quickly turned to the source of the noise, ears alert and eyes wide. A stare was leveled on the boy holding the camera at the other end of the alleyway; Rikimaru's big round eyes likely compelling the young photographer to snap another photo. A head tilt, and a twitch of the right ear would be the only response the unsuspecting boy might see from the panda, in reaction to being called cute. Back on all fours, Rikimaru waddled his way towards the boy, making gentle squeaking sounds that only added to the furry bundle of cuteness. If the act was effective, this cute and cuddly persona would flip like a switch the moment came within paw's reach of the boy.
The menacing frown wouldn't be the first thing he noticed, but the surprising amount of strength such a small animal was capable of producing with a single arm. The boy would feel a sudden and mighty tug by his shirt, pulling him deeper into the alleyway, and face to face with panda as he was brought down to his level - about four feet in height. "Aye. What. The. ********. Are. Ya. Doin'?" That cute panda the boy thought he saw was no more, and he was now in the presence of The Big Boss, Rikimaru. "Do I look like a model to you? Whatcha goin' around taking pictures of people eatin' for? Calling me cute!?" Towards the end of his interrogation, a low growl was mixed in with his otherwise thuggish tone. "Why, I oughta..." His other paw visibly clenched into a fist right before the boy's very eyes, the menacing intent he was giving off was already spelling doom for the young photographer.
But he didn't do it. A sharp flick to the nose would replace the brutal pummeling the boy would have gotten under any other circumstance. Not that he would have felt guilty for beating up on some punk kid, but he didn't know that the panda was on the run. The boy seemed harmless anyhow, and Rikimaru was certain they might've pissed themselves by now, if anything else. "Man, you've gotta be careful with those photos. If they get around to some bad people, I could be in big trouble. Deep doo-doo." Rikikmaru sighed, moving his head so the two were touching, nose to nose, his grip tightening on the boy's shirt. "Do ya get me?"
◆║ CHAKRAx 100/ 100x◆║ STAMINAx 100/ 100x◆║ Academy Studentx◆║ Kumoito
"Yeah man. I get it. I get you."The photographer winced and reeled his camera away. He forced himself to grin. He was shaken but opting to hide it the best as someone could with a peeved panda's paw was clutching his hoodie. "Sorry. Look. Inspiration strikes and a-a shutterbug can't help it sometimes. You're face won't hit the papers or public eye. I swear on my life! N-nothing! Not on m-my watch. " The photographer was rightfully on edge at this point. The putrid odor of salmon on the bear's breath opted the photographer to hold his breath. The image caught on his camera offered the photographer a moments' glimpse into the world of a panda. A blurry glimpse, probably, of a bipedal bear who was once indugling himself in a savory slab of fish. A moment into one's attempt to proabbly satisfy hunger pangs. The photographer could think of one outlet: "You- uh-how about I buy you a bite to eat and call a truce? Name it! I'll buy it!"
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:38 pm
R I K I M A R U The 'Big' Boss
The boy appeared to have gotten the message loud and clear. "Good." Rikimaru exhaled sharply through his nose, releasing the grasp he had on the hoodie. Halfway expecting him to turn and flee immediately, the panda was quite surprised when he didn't, even going as far as to offer him food. Large, round eyes narrowed briefly, as if trying to detect some sort of hidden motive behind the boy's harmless face and tempting invitation. Though he could find nothing over the dialogue in his head, shouting for more food! The salmon, while exceptionally tasty, was nowhere near enough to fill Rikimaru's belly. It would easily take ten - no, thirty salmon of that size to leave him satisfied. Or at the very least, consider a nap.
"A bite to eat, huh?" The panda inquired curiously, his intimidating posture softening to that of the once cute animal which got the shutterbug caught up in this situation to begin with. He pawed at the camera around the boy's neck in deliberation, "Well, I am pretty hungry... You don't seem like a bad guy... and you're buyin'. So! A truce it is." Rikimaru gave the photographer a picture perfect, toothy smile upon determining his decision. "Surprise me, my man. Where's the best place to go around here? Finest chefs in town, yea? I could eat everything." One could only hope that his wallet was prepared for the black hole that was Rikimaru's stomach. Or, that he was just joking.
◆║ CHAKRAx 100/ 100x◆║ STAMINAx 100/ 100x◆║ Academy Studentx◆║ Kumoito
"Oh!" The messenger gasps as her attention return fully to Nami's doorway. Prior to being side-tracked, she didn't prep herself fully for any surprises. "I'm sorry, Nami. I hate to interrupt..." She pauses. Her sights fall on the towel for one second too long to soak in the image that was... well, Nami! "your bath." The young lady bowed her head to avert her stare. "Empress Unki has requested your presence at your earliest convenience. She also expresses her regret of not being able to make the trip here herself. Likewise, she felt it was inappropriate to impose an astral projection on your living space." The messenger rose from her bow. Now careful to keep her eyes square on Nami's head.
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2021 2:39 pm
☠ Nami ☠ ❝ The wave does not need to die to become water. For she is already water. ❞
Kumoito l Sannin l Genjutsu l Bloodline l Shōton ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
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Nami shook her head softly when the messenger apologized for interrupting her bath, "No need. You are just doing your job." If there was one thing Nami understand that sometimes things just happen when you are doing your job. For example, she was soaking in the hot springs before she was called into war with the samurai. The sudden flashbacks and images went through her mind as she grasped the doorway for a moment as she struggled to listen to what the messenger was saying. Unki wanted to see her? Nami sighed softly as she needed to go get dress. After few lectures from different people, it finally got through Nami's thick skull that not everyone was okay with exposure. "Thank you. I'll shall be along soon." If there was nothing else, Nami would remove herself from the as she closed the door if there was nothing else. Released the towel, she started to fully dry her body as she made her way over to her bedroom. She heard a loud meow, Nami's eyes went towards the sound and she saw Mewmew had been out hunting and got a mouse. She watched Mewmew drop the barely alive mouse in front of the snake as the snake unhinged its jaws and swallowed it whole while Mewmew was licking it's paws.
Indifferent, she grabbed her dress from the closet and slipped it on. Freed her blue hue hair from the confinement of her clothing, she sat on the edge of the bed as she slipped on some thigh-high boots. Sat up and while walking towards her dresser drawer, she tied the red lace on her corset part of the dress a bit tighter and making it snugger. Her black nails were on point today after having painted them last night. Lipstick and make-up done, she closed the window to keep the snake safe. Besides with both fed, she's not worried about them for a while. Grabbed her umbrella, she opened the door, if the messenger was still there,"Let's go." Nami locked the door behind her as they both started to head towards Unki's home.
If not there, Nami simply locked the door behind her and headed towards Unki's home.
PassiveEffects: • • Crystallization | All Shoton techniques have the innate ability to crystallize chakra upon collision. Techniques that are not a rank higher nor overwhelm the Shoton technique will be instantly crystallized through. For example, a B-Rank Shoton technique colliding with a B-Rank fireball will result in the Shoton technique being destroyed and the fireball being rendered a useless clump of crystal. Once techniques are crystallized they are rendered useless to the caster. Additionally, the Shoton user can shatter a crystalized technique or object at will with no chakra or combat action cost. Finally, if the cost is paid twice for a Shoton technique then it will be able to crystallize overwhelming techniques and techniques up to one rank higher. This does not consume a combat action and can only be performed once per post. • Born Enchanter | All Shoton users of the genjutsu class automatically obtain the enchanter/enchantress path of a genjutsu class specialist (see genjutsu/genjutsu cross class). If the Shoton user is a genjutsu specialist already then they may be an enchanter/enchantress as well as a second path (illusionist, trickster, and conjurer). Ergo, if you are single genjutsu class then you get the enchanter path from genjutsu specialist and if you are a genjutsu specialist then you get the enchanter path as well as a second path of your choosing. _✧Those who are a specialist can choose one category of genjutsu to follow as a path. You can follow the path of the illusionist (illusory focus), enchanter/enchantress (enchantment focus), trickster (instance focus), or conjurer (chain focus). Selecting a Path grants [3] additional custom slots and [1] keystone for techniques of that category. Genjutsu that are cast by those of this specialization are more efficient as according to the user's body rank, all Genjutsu are [10] Chakra cheaper to perform with the user's specialized Focus are further reduced by another [5] Chakra per body rank. No cost can be lower than a minimum of [5] Chakra. Once every other post all three of the genjutsu specialist's actions in a post can be used for genjutsu.
Genjutsu Path: Enchantress • Crystal Ball | The Shoton user's crystals can act as a crystal ball and produce divination visions by applying an E-Rank amount of chakra for no action cost. This allows viewing the crystals to be used as a sight trigger for genjutsu. Genjutsu triggered with this method cost one rank higher to kai but require one tier lower to release through pain at a maximum of S+ chakra and a minimum of tier one pain. In addition, as a clairvoyant, all genjutsu with sight as the primary sense can last for an additional [2] posts with no upkeep cost. • Crystalline Rampart | Defensive crystal techniques are one rank stronger against spiritual techniques in collisions. Crystal techniques also lose their weakness to sound techniques. Finally, all doton techniques can be classified as shoton techniques for no resource or action cost but only originally crystal defenses gain the one rank increase.
“I can get you something good without heading to some stuck-up joint. What I-I’m thinking of is this thing.” Vague with his immediate description but the hype the young photographer was cranking up must have been something. “Y-you got a bunch of shrimp then some noodles go on the shrimp with snow peas and toasted pineapple and some weird pepper things.” It wasn’t much of a thing but something slightly more tangible. For a culinary fan panda, the combination might have been one fairly feasible concept to imagine. The photographer motioned for the little bear to follow him out of the alley. Good timing too. Four-legged feline prowlers were watching from behind tidy arrangements of recyclables and now sneaking out of the shadows from the lingering scent of salmon.
In time, the photographer took the lead to a permanent, street-side setup where the crowds were just to blend the pair right in. The youth shortly brought the bear a cardboard dish of steamy noodles glistening with oil. “Here!” . He says and flashes a grin. Withdrawing some reusable utensils from some pocket on his person.
” To the finer things of society,” he says in reverence to a chuck of seasoned shrimp he was plucking in the grip of a pair of chopsticks. A remark spoke all to just savor the sight of scorch marks over the little crustacean's succulent flesh. “When I finish school I will afford you, finally. In the meantime, it’s hot noodles and shrimp, bay-bee!” But he didn’t eat. The photographer propped the food on his lap and fished out his camera again to take a snapshot of his meal.
“Eh. I don’t think the lighting will look good on this one. Later.” He replaced the camera back into a bag at his side. The young photographer took just a bite before he seem to have something else on his mind. “You think they eat shrimp and noodles like this in that big fancy palace? I mean, I gotta ask someone else because my friends just laugh at me.” The youth pauses for a bite. A mouthful of noodles. ”I mean. I’d like- to see and find out-but! Haah! I can’t! Gate guards know my face and they won’t let me in anymore without a good reason. A snapshot of whatever gets whipped up for breakfast in there would actually fetch a price for a foodie journalist.” He paused to munch on more shrimp chunks and peppers. ”It’s like… they tabloids pay for juicy junk you can get a photo of in there. Just- nobody does it- for whatever reason. Man! I love this. How’s yours?” The photographer was proving himself to be quite the chatterbox.
As a hobbyist photographer, the young man gave an inkling to the world buzzing about for a snoopy journalist. Between bites and managing to not talk with his mouth full to the bear, he described how some of the entertainment magazines have been itching for a glimpse of the aftermath outside of the hotsprings. A popular hot springs resort was wrapping up an on-going repair and purification of the springs after a fight a month ago. It made headlines in the newspapers since a couple civilians died and the hubbub roped in the Empress. The papers reported bruises, scratches, and an off-set jaw for a member of the Empress's personal guard but it ended disastrously for the Empress herself. Reporters can't get past the outer ring of public spokespersons. "One of my bosses jokes about sending his little niece to give the Empress flowers if it'll get him a real update on her injuries. I think they think it's funny to keep hanging the bonus over my head, thinking I'm gonna' get em' something good. But I'd need like somebody on the inside and not on the outside." The photographer shoved another bite of noodles. The forced pause about him as he was munching away on his meal only had him dreading the panda would laugh at his longing like some of his friends. "YEAH. I'm talking too much. I just talk for conversations' sake. You know?"
Zak the Panduh
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 2:42 pm
R I K I M A R U The 'Big' Boss
As vague as the description was, initially, the young photographer had Rikimaru's full attention. Food, whether it came from 'some stuck-up joint' or a trashcan, was still food. Edible (to a degree, in some cases), and with some creativity, could be spiced up to be a pleasing dish for any belly - especially one as indiscriminate as the panda's. "Oh?" Ears twitched with interest, the combination of foods the boy described sounded delightful. Whatever the 'weird pepper things' were, Rikimaru only hoped that they would be spicy to balance the sweetness of the snow peas and toasted pineapples.
Moments later, the meal that was described to the bear was brought forth, presented in a cardboard container. The steam flowing from it immediately filling his sensitive nostrils, causing his stomach to growl loudly in response. Rikimaru glanced at the chopsticks the boy was using, extending his nails in a similar fashion, poking at a piece of pineapple, pepper, and shrimp to taste all at once. The combination of flavors elicited a primal squeak of delight, before his left paw began assisting him in the rapid slurping of noodles into his mouth. He stopped momentarily when that damned camera lens popped into view, confused as to why he might want to take pictures of his food, instead of enjoying it. "Uh, I dunno. I ain't never been around fancy folks much to find out, but I do know they like to get really professional-like. Y'know: fancy plates, rare ingredients - they even decorate the meals... with more food!" He'd respond after gulping down the remaining noodles in his cheeks, poking a shrimp with the tip of his nail and tossing it into his mouth. Most of what he's seen has been on 'vision boxes' (TVs) and through the windows of various restaurants, when he and his brother would go scouting for grub.
Apparently there was a fancy palace here that the photographer wanted to get into. Rikimaru himself was curious as to what types of dishes royal individuals were into. Not only that, but there was a pretty hefty price for photos of said food. Now, what reason could a panda possibly have for acquiring cash? "This is amazing. Y'know, you really surprised me, man. Part of me thought you'd play me for a fool and leave me hanging." Rikimaru chuckled, eating more of the noodles and peppers. Had the boy tried it, the panda would have a new camera - made out of the kid's head. Though, they seemed surprisingly trustworthy, given how they went on about his desire to get into the palace... to an animal. A claw tapped along the cardboard dish in deep thought and deliberation, "Don't ladies like that kind of stuff? Flowers and little kids? It could work..." He found himself entertaining the idea as he began thoughtfully chewing on a mouthful of noodles. "If I could find one of them fancy dishes in there... I could replicate it, and we could see how good their food really is." His inner monologue came out in a mumble amidst his chewing, "Yea. Seafood has to be pretty popular around these parts..."
"So, how much are we talkin'? For the fancy food photos?" He leaned closer to the boy, his big, panda eyes gazing into him with intense curiosity.
◆║ CHAKRAx 100/ 100x◆║ STAMINAx 100/ 100x◆║ Academy Studentx◆║ Kumoito
☠ Nami ☠ ❝ The wave does not need to die to become water. For she is already water. ❞
Kumoito l Sannin l Genjutsu l Bloodline l Shōton ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
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Nami walked alone down the lively streets of Kumoito. Her skin was white as a ghost while having some perspiration on top. She was nervous and scared. A loud clang was hard caused Nami to gasp and jump, but when she looked towards the source of the sound, it was just a punch of kids playing and one of the toys made a loud noise. 'This is ridcioulous. I can't be that scared. I know how to fight.' The small mental talk she told herself did not help aid her at all. Yes, she had been trained how to fight but she was not confident in her abilities. Her arm went around her torso as her stomach was still writhing in pain, killed off any needs or wants of food. She was going to be okay. She had Isobu. And..... She had Unki. She hated feeling like this. This was not normal and she wanted to go hide.
Hide.
Just like how she hid away from her birth mother while she screamed for her nameless child at the top of her lungs, banging and slamming noises as the woman frantically looked for Nami, begged that the demons stayed away, and begged for her child to come out of hiding and help chase the demons away. But Nami did not. Instead, the nameless child at the time hid and she stayed hidden. She was tired of her mother ranting and raving about things that were not there. Did not exist. Morning arrived and her mother was dead. They still had no idea of the cause of death. They didn't even know that the woman had birthed a child and never gave her a name. When asked when she was young, she would inform them that to her mother, having a name means a demon can steal it from you. She doesn't even know what her birthday was and still doesn't. Nami brought back herself from the flashback and found herself looking at the ground below, her back slightly arched as her hand rested on a wall of a building and the other was holding her umbrella still. Her chest and stomach were rapidly moving to keep up with the quicken and short breathing that Nami was doing. She felt like she couldn't breathe.
'Isobu... Make it go away...' begged Nami. She wanted to hide away from this world. Just have it be Isobu and her. No more emotions. No more feelings. Nothing. Not even this... fear and anxiety. Her chest tightened as it felt like she couldn't breathe, her hands reached up as she slightly clawed at her neck as if it would help her get some oxygen she desperately needed. The family who took her in wanted her to develop, learn, and express feelings. Was this what they wanted? Her feeling terrified and alone in this world? Stood up a bit straighter, she looks ahead and can see the Kumomine keep. Instead, she turned down the opposite way, objects in her path blurred in her vision. She can fight. She had fought and she did well.
Or so she assumed. Voices reached to her ears but she couldn't hear them well or properly. 'Wait.' Nami snapped out of it as she heard the familiar voice. A breath and sigh of relief escaped from her pale lips. It seemed that hearing his voice had helped her remember that she's not alone. She had Isobu. Nami rubbed her eyes few times to be able to see clearly and there was a group of people talking. Something they had said that got Isobu's attention. "Did ya heard?" One of them spoke and went on explaining how there was this cult going around, attacking villages and seeking out specific hosts that held demons inside.
"Oh we don't need to worry, Kumoito doesn't have anyone like that!" One of them declared proudly.
Her having the demon was not yet that well known. Her eyes widen as her heart violently pounded against her ribcage, shaking the very bones in her body. She needed to get out. No one should get hurt. Where should she go? Where can she go?
'Swimming.' Both Isobu and Nami said in unison. With that, she turned away from the people and made her way to find a massive body of water far away from any civilization.
PassiveEffects: • • Crystallization | All Shoton techniques have the innate ability to crystallize chakra upon collision. Techniques that are not a rank higher nor overwhelm the Shoton technique will be instantly crystallized through. For example, a B-Rank Shoton technique colliding with a B-Rank fireball will result in the Shoton technique being destroyed and the fireball being rendered a useless clump of crystal. Once techniques are crystallized they are rendered useless to the caster. Additionally, the Shoton user can shatter a crystalized technique or object at will with no chakra or combat action cost. Finally, if the cost is paid twice for a Shoton technique then it will be able to crystallize overwhelming techniques and techniques up to one rank higher. This does not consume a combat action and can only be performed once per post. • Born Enchanter | All Shoton users of the genjutsu class automatically obtain the enchanter/enchantress path of a genjutsu class specialist (see genjutsu/genjutsu cross class). If the Shoton user is a genjutsu specialist already then they may be an enchanter/enchantress as well as a second path (illusionist, trickster, and conjurer). Ergo, if you are single genjutsu class then you get the enchanter path from genjutsu specialist and if you are a genjutsu specialist then you get the enchanter path as well as a second path of your choosing. _✧Those who are a specialist can choose one category of genjutsu to follow as a path. You can follow the path of the illusionist (illusory focus), enchanter/enchantress (enchantment focus), trickster (instance focus), or conjurer (chain focus). Selecting a Path grants [3] additional custom slots and [1] keystone for techniques of that category. Genjutsu that are cast by those of this specialization are more efficient as according to the user's body rank, all Genjutsu are [10] Chakra cheaper to perform with the user's specialized Focus are further reduced by another [5] Chakra per body rank. No cost can be lower than a minimum of [5] Chakra. Once every other post all three of the genjutsu specialist's actions in a post can be used for genjutsu.
Genjutsu Path: Enchantress • Crystal Ball | The Shoton user's crystals can act as a crystal ball and produce divination visions by applying an E-Rank amount of chakra for no action cost. This allows viewing the crystals to be used as a sight trigger for genjutsu. Genjutsu triggered with this method cost one rank higher to kai but require one tier lower to release through pain at a maximum of S+ chakra and a minimum of tier one pain. In addition, as a clairvoyant, all genjutsu with sight as the primary sense can last for an additional [2] posts with no upkeep cost. • Crystalline Rampart | Defensive crystal techniques are one rank stronger against spiritual techniques in collisions. Crystal techniques also lose their weakness to sound techniques. Finally, all doton techniques can be classified as shoton techniques for no resource or action cost but only originally crystal defenses gain the one rank increase.
• _✧
Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 11:23 pm
“You’d totally think ladies like that kinda’ stuff. I mean,” the young man paused as a stale, uncertain look came to his face. He was really beginning to realize how much he’d phased out about the two, standout inhabitants of Kumoimine Keep. “I don’t really have a big doubt. I don’t think she hates flowers and kids. Huh. I guess I shoulda’ read the newspaper more…” The photographer was rolling up his now empty plate of food. He began to idly fold and fold the paper container into some sort of compact shape as he continued. “But the pay, man. Ehm. Say the photo’s got good lightning and it generally accomplishes the job. Details of the dish aren’t that super-duper precise but you don’t have to crop out anything. 5,000. Modest. But if you get prime choice results with good exposure, pristine set-up, plating presentation with the touch of a trained chef….” Among the many gestures he was pairing up with his explanation, the photographer makes a showy gesture and kisses his finger-tips with an expression suggesting the description of a fine presentation was a recipe for bliss. He carried on as per usual, it seems. His eyes were appearing to sparkle as the numbers got higher. “If money is the game then big time publishers will dish out 10 or even 20-thousand ryo. But higher end deals crop from if you can prove it came from the kitchen in the Imperial living quarters!” There was enlivened hunger for the prize snapshot in his tone of voice. The photographer could hear himself too and his tone suddenly dialed down with less fevor. “Probably another kitchen, honestly, but I don’t think they’d like give tours anywhere anybody could sprinkle poison and junk around.”
“But I know the guy who landed the last successful payout. It was- heck- before the Emperor packed up and left for Storm, actually. The guy snapped a shot of a tricked-out ice cream sundae at a private wedding anniversary dinner. The cherry on top was a special, silk monogrammed napkin.” The photographer sighs longingly, dreamily, with a wistful smile tugging his mouth.
“Oh!” His smile fell for a smirk. Honestly, he was embarrassed after all that prattling on.“Uh, anyway b-bea-er- uhm. Man. I’m Joji.” He discarded his compact dish and fished in his pockets for a square foil he tore for something fit to clean his hands. He extended a second napkin toward Rikkimaru. ”Here man, you can get any grease off your, uhm, claws? Paws? How do those things work? ” His question was being paried off his a nervous laugh. “Dumb question. Yeah. Just don’t talk to a lot ‘a human-language savy animals. You can totally press little buttons, ye-yeah?”
Joji, the part-time student photographer who dressed himself in black and white might sound off an occasional stutter but when he was talking coin and photography the words just seem to flow better.. He loves cheap street noodles and had a passion for the contents of clunky, leather bag he had slung over his shoulder: his cameras.
The panda's eyes reflected that of the young photographer's, as he estimated payments compared to the quality of the pictures taken. Rikimaru wasn't even sure what five thousand ryo looked like, let alone twenty thousand, but it sure sounded like a lot of money. Apparently they were good for acquiring stuff, like food, among other things. His instincts told him he needed to hoard the shiny pieces of gold - and tons of it.
Joji proved to be quite a chatterbox, and much to the panda's surprise, he liked that about the kid. "Ah. Mhm... Sounds like something I can manage, yo. No prob." He muttered, licking at his paws ravenously as he took his time digesting all of which the photographer explained, as well as the food in his belly. "Hah?" He paused mid lick, looking at the napkin Joji extended in his direction, in order to clean his paws. "Er... Rikimaru. Big Boss. For short." The panda triumphantly exhaled from his nose, taking the napkin and mimicking the act of cleaning one's hands "the human way" as best as he could. He didn't fully understand how this... thing... could clean his paws better than the way he was used to doing it.
"Buttons? Sure!" His eyes lit up, tossing the napkin aside nonchalantly, clasping his hands together in anticipation. "I press people's buttons all the time. And I saw how you used that vision box too! Ya press that bad boy and it makes a clickety-click, ye?" His body bounced with excitement, the panda motioning forward and pawing at the photographer's prized bag and shoulder, "Well? Are ya gonna let me see or naw? Lemme take a looksie at the thing, ye? Ye?"
◆║ CHAKRAx 100/ 100x◆║ STAMINAx 100/ 100x◆║ Academy Studentx◆║ Kumoito
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