Akane Kurashiki [June] (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sesenta) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
melodiesoflife2016-10-17 12:45 pm
sesenta) wrote in melodiesoflife2016-10-17 12:45 pm
Entry tags:
Prelude to Terrible Things
WHO: Akane Kurashiki, OPEN
WHAT: Akane is not having much luck mastering her Magitek Knight and Engineering jobs. All she wanted was to drive around in a giant robot! And why can't she master a simple dish of spaghetti and meatballs?!
WHEN: October 17th
WHERE: Calm Plains / House B-08
Calm Plains
Having just begun learning Magitek Knight, and with Squall no longer present to teach her, Akane was basically on her own to figure out the complexities of this unique job. The armor itself, at least, was very cute, and it did a decent job keeping her off the ground and away from most medium and small monsters as she tried to figure out how to pilot the thing. That was the easy part, at least. Rather than whirring around with the mechanical 'KA-CHUNK KA-CHUNK' of regular Magitek Armor, it sounded as if the Armor were wearing squeaky slippers. Cute! And a little more stealthy, as squeaks were quieter than 'KA-CHUNKS.'
Once she felt comfortable enough moving in the armor, she decided to try combat. Not against real monsters, of course, that was much too dangerous to attempt all on her own. But she could line up rocks, putting a big painted 'X' on the enemy rocks, and a happy face on the two ally rocks. After all, combat wasn't just about beating up the monster, it was supporting and defending your teammates too. The last thing she wanted to do was squish an unsuspecting Hero of Light who got too close to Akane when she wasn't paying proper attention.
"Okay..." Pulling the goggles from her neck and settling them over her eyes, she let her fingers glide over the control panel. "Targeting Enemy #2 first, let's try..." The Machine Gun? Why not. Clutching the steering column firmly, she flicked a switch with her pinky finger.
A hailstorm of magical bullets ripped into the grass as the cockpit swung wildly around in circles. "WHOA WHOA WHOA!!!" The sheer force of the spinning slammed Akane back in her seat, and her legs stuck straight out to slam on a brake pedal that was never there. Frantically she swiped at the switch, glancing up just in time to see a happy looking rock go gliding past her line of vision. It was missing a painted eye.
The switch clicked, and the machine quieted with a happy hum. Akane's hands were shaking. "I...I definitely need to practice..." she whispered to herself. Her poor rock allies.
* * * * *
House B-08
After the disastrous training exercise on the Plains, Akane thought she might work on her other equipped job instead: Engineer. If she was using her Kupoppet in a non-battle situation, doing meticulous things, then acting in combat would, theoretically, be much less difficult.
...Theoretically.
There were splatters of mashed toamtoes dripping down the walls, and a thick burning stink hanging in the air that came from the quietly burbling pot of meat sludge on the stove. She would have to start over, she knew, but at least the pasta was turning out okay. Pasta was difficult to mess up as long as you didn't cook it too long or too little. With the colander sitting in the sink, Akane hovered close by her Moogle-like puppet, which was carefully, carefully, tipping the saucepan of hot water and boiled noodles toward the colander.
"Okay...pour very slowly and very carefully..." she instructed as a doting mother would guide her child.
The puppet's arms twitched violently, upending the entire pot at once. A mass of hot, wet spaghetti noodles sailed through the air, flopping and flailing toward the living room. Now would be a very bad time for a housemate to emerge.
WHAT: Akane is not having much luck mastering her Magitek Knight and Engineering jobs. All she wanted was to drive around in a giant robot! And why can't she master a simple dish of spaghetti and meatballs?!
WHEN: October 17th
WHERE: Calm Plains / House B-08
Calm Plains
Having just begun learning Magitek Knight, and with Squall no longer present to teach her, Akane was basically on her own to figure out the complexities of this unique job. The armor itself, at least, was very cute, and it did a decent job keeping her off the ground and away from most medium and small monsters as she tried to figure out how to pilot the thing. That was the easy part, at least. Rather than whirring around with the mechanical 'KA-CHUNK KA-CHUNK' of regular Magitek Armor, it sounded as if the Armor were wearing squeaky slippers. Cute! And a little more stealthy, as squeaks were quieter than 'KA-CHUNKS.'
Once she felt comfortable enough moving in the armor, she decided to try combat. Not against real monsters, of course, that was much too dangerous to attempt all on her own. But she could line up rocks, putting a big painted 'X' on the enemy rocks, and a happy face on the two ally rocks. After all, combat wasn't just about beating up the monster, it was supporting and defending your teammates too. The last thing she wanted to do was squish an unsuspecting Hero of Light who got too close to Akane when she wasn't paying proper attention.
"Okay..." Pulling the goggles from her neck and settling them over her eyes, she let her fingers glide over the control panel. "Targeting Enemy #2 first, let's try..." The Machine Gun? Why not. Clutching the steering column firmly, she flicked a switch with her pinky finger.
A hailstorm of magical bullets ripped into the grass as the cockpit swung wildly around in circles. "WHOA WHOA WHOA!!!" The sheer force of the spinning slammed Akane back in her seat, and her legs stuck straight out to slam on a brake pedal that was never there. Frantically she swiped at the switch, glancing up just in time to see a happy looking rock go gliding past her line of vision. It was missing a painted eye.
The switch clicked, and the machine quieted with a happy hum. Akane's hands were shaking. "I...I definitely need to practice..." she whispered to herself. Her poor rock allies.
* * * * *
House B-08
After the disastrous training exercise on the Plains, Akane thought she might work on her other equipped job instead: Engineer. If she was using her Kupoppet in a non-battle situation, doing meticulous things, then acting in combat would, theoretically, be much less difficult.
...Theoretically.
There were splatters of mashed toamtoes dripping down the walls, and a thick burning stink hanging in the air that came from the quietly burbling pot of meat sludge on the stove. She would have to start over, she knew, but at least the pasta was turning out okay. Pasta was difficult to mess up as long as you didn't cook it too long or too little. With the colander sitting in the sink, Akane hovered close by her Moogle-like puppet, which was carefully, carefully, tipping the saucepan of hot water and boiled noodles toward the colander.
"Okay...pour very slowly and very carefully..." she instructed as a doting mother would guide her child.
The puppet's arms twitched violently, upending the entire pot at once. A mass of hot, wet spaghetti noodles sailed through the air, flopping and flailing toward the living room. Now would be a very bad time for a housemate to emerge.
Calm Plains
... Is that fun?
[blinkblink]
no subject
[Akane was slumped pitifully over the controls of the powered down machine, a ruin of rocks and grass all around her.]
It's very, very frustrating.
[Why did her teacher have to fall into crystal stasis? What is she supposed to do now?]
no subject
[Lailah busts out her Blacksmith and Programmer job knowledge and takes a look.]
The wiring is slightly wrong here. See this blue wire? It's plugged into where the red wire should be. And the red wire is plugged into where the green wire currently is. You know what, let me have a moment with this.
[click click click]
Here, now try it!
no subject
[She's pretty good with machines herself, but this technology is definitely new to her. Was that really all it was, a simple case of poor wiring?]
Please stand back. This machine can be very dangerous. ...Especially to ally rocks.
no subject
[Lailah places her hand on Akane's shoulder.]
I know it may be frustrating. There are times when you may wish to give up, because it seems hopeless. But every single time something you do doesn't work, you've gained knowledge. Perhaps you'll gain insight from knowing what won't work, or maybe this function will have a particular use in the future.
Would you rather have the malfunction now, or in the middle of a battle when it might be most imperative for it to work?
no subject
[Akane's smile is weak. It's so nice of Lailah to worry about her like this. She's not just discouraged, she's tired. It doesn't help that her sleep has been fitful ever since Downapolis, and she's been spacing out a lot more than she usually does. Did that place really affect her so badly? But she'd experienced so much worse...]
[She scrubs her hands over her face.]
I'm sorry. I haven't been getting a lot of sleep. Maybe I just lack focus.
[Akane sighs.]
I have to be cautious, now more than ever. If we die in this world, it's permanent. No more second chances. I don't have Life magic, or phoenix downs, so if I shot you... You understand, right? I can't have your blood on my hands and expect to live it down.
no subject
[Lailah sits down next to Akane.]
There is nothing wrong wanting the best for everyone involved, but not taking care of yourself won't make anybody happy, either. It's because life is fleeting that it's precious, and realizing that is a good thing, in my opinion. But being paralyzed by it... I wouldn't consider that living, would you?
no subject
[She carefully climbs down out of the armor, since Lailah's determined to stay with her, and settles down to sit on the charred grass as well.]
I guess I'm just tired of hurting people.
[Akane sighs heavily, folding her arms around her knees. Even her poor roommate can't seem to catch a break around her.]
If I'm going to protect people, I have to practice, and get a lot stronger. And it's not easy overcoming the fear of being gutted on the spot by a rampaging monster either! But...I can't really afford to let myself be coddled.
no subject
Look, I know I may be overstepping my bounds, but...
If you ever need someone to talk with, please keep me in mind.
[Lailah stands up and gives a bow.]
You should get some rest.
no subject
[She smiles down at her knees, feeling oddly warm and happy. There's just something very maternal about Lailah, and it inspires a mild hint of nostalgia. Akane has no memory of her parents, but in her subconscious, that feeling was still there.]
Maybe I should. I got so worked up, I don't think I'll be able to make much progress today.
[Standing to her feet, she brushes the grass off of the back of her purple sweater dress.]
I'm Akane, by the way. It was nice to meet you.
no subject
[Lailah politely bows once again]
I won't pretend to know your circumstances or where you come from, but I'm always available to listen.
I believe that someone with so much kindness within them as you... it would be a terrible thing to go to waste.
no subject
Thanks. Maybe I'll take you up on that someday.
[She turns around and stands on her toes, reaching into the cockpit of her Moogletek Armor to disable the weapons and set it to follow her home.]