melodiesoflife | Cleaning Up the Town

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Cleaning Up the Town

WHO: Rukia Kuchiki, OPEN
WHAT: Rukia returns from Esdham, dons her Ghostbuster job, and starts pursuing ALL OF THE GHOSTS.
WHEN: October 11th - 30th (not the 15th, 19th, or the 27th, since those are event days)
WHERE: Aqures Ixen and the neighboring areas
NOTES: Rukia will be on the move nearly non-stop. The later you encounter her, the more tired she'll be. That said, you don't HAVE to tag in to fight a ghost; grabbing generic CR with her somewhere along the way is also perfectly acceptable.

Scenario A: Return From Esdham

The airship's propellers had scarcely begun to slow when Rukia, clinging anxiously to the ship's railing, spotted Chappopo making a beeline straight toward her. She'd received word that a new job had been shifted into their crystals that would actually allow them to fight ghosts, and the news had been electrifying. It had been called a 'Ghostbuster' job. The title may have been different, but Rukia was convinced that this would be the job that perfectly mirrored her shinigami abilities. It would be wonderful to have her spiritual senses restored. Perhaps she'd regain her flash step as well!

"Chappopo!" she shouted, taking the crystal out of her robe.

"Rukia!"

Not wasting any time, Rukia threw the crystal to her partner. While she'd very much wanted to keep pursuing the Ninja job a bit longer, she had a feeling Red Mage would give her more versatility just in case she ran into anything that wasn't ghost related. She'd promised to investigate those sewers, after all. Besides, if she turned back into a shinigami, that would be close enough to being a ninja. "Switch out the Ninja job! Now!"

"Got it!" Chappopo saluted, and concentrated her willpower on adjusting the jobs that Rukia had equipped. The shinigami didn't wait for the gangplank to be lowered. Planting her hand on the railing, Rukia vaulted over the edge. A soft glow of light enveloped her as the job switch took effect, illuminating her clothes into a shroud of pure white. She would land elegantly, she knew, holding Sode no Shirayuki in her grasp once more. Landing nimbly, the glow turned into a sharp burst of light...

...And she was in a baggy navy blue jumpsuit with red trim, wearing thick rubber boots, holding a particle beam thrower in her hands.

"...This isn't what I had in mind," she grumbled flatly.

"Me either," Chappopo confessed. As small as Rukia was, she looked like she was practically drowning in that jumpsuit.

She blew out a sigh. "No matter." It may not have been the most fashionable job, but it would allow her to do her work, and that was what was important. After taking a few moments to examine her equipment, the PKE meter she held in her hands suddenly lit up, displaying a small dot on the screen.

Smiling triumphantly, Rukia lifted her head. "Yosh... There's one nearby. Let's get it!" The meter wasn't all that dissimilar to the equipment she'd used to track Hollows when stuck in a gigai. Adapting to this job would surely take no time at all.

Scenario B: Early Ghost Hunting Days (First Week)

[In the hours and days that follow the job switch from Ninja to Ghostbuster, it's incredibly likely that anyone could find Rukia darting through the streets, following a flashing PKE meter, or catch sight of bright bursts of light through the windows of half-ruined buildings where she's tracked down a spook and gone for the capture.]

[Those who know her will see that she's actually...really happy. Determined, yes. Focused, very much so. But the look of pure, undisguised delight on her face can't be missed when she holds up another smoking ghost trap. It doesn't matter if she's smeared with slime or covered in dust. She's doing what she once did (mostly), and it makes her feel whole again.]

[Or, perhaps, you run into the ghost before you run into Rukia. Whether you were looking for it, or it came looking for you, she will find you to lend a hand in driving off any vengeful spirits threatening the peace.]

Scenario C: Later Ghost Hunting Days (Second and Third Weeks)

Rukia's dark eyes studied the PKE meter, and she frowned. There was definitely a spirit somewhere around here, but it was choosing to hide itself. She couldn't get a lock on it. The carpenter assigned to work on restoring the houses destroyed by the Imperial attack had nearly lost his life, assaulted by his own tools just because he'd been hoping to get a little overtime.

If she had to guess by the behavior of the spirit, it was likely to be a Hue. Someone who had died in the attack? Possibly.

With a quiet sound of frustration, she put the meter away and raised her dark light, slowly sweeping it through the gutted home. The halo of pale purple light trembled as it swept slowly over singed curtains and rubble-dusted furniture. Odd... Rukia's gaze shifted momentarily to her hand and realized it was shaking.

Maybe she was more tired than she realized. It had been at least 24 hours since she last rested, and that was only a brief nap she'd stolen during the short trip from Aqures Ixen to Balicea. She couldn't remember the last time she'd stopped to eat anything.

It was impossible to consider her physical needs now, though. She had a job to do. Once it was finished, she'd go pick up something from a restaurant and rest for a few hours...just like she'd said she would do with all of the previous jobs, just before another specter popped up on her PKE meter. There was always one more ghost.

A broken chair hurtled toward Rukia's head. Her breath caught in her throat as she ducked and rolled to the side, dropping the light in favor of her particle thrower. She blasted the chair as it clattered to the floor, but whatever had possessed it had retreated once more, patiently waiting.

"Tch..." Rukia grit her teeth. That had almost got her. She would have to be more vigilant.

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[All right, another spirit contained! The equipment took some getting used to, but she's starting to feel confident. Eventually she'll need to find out how to transfer these captured spirits to the afterlife, but for now, she'll settle simply for keeping them away from the living.]

[And yet, even after the ghost is put away, she still has a feeling like she's being watched... She spins around to face Sephiroth, particle thrower pointed right at him. Once she sees who he is, she relaxes, surprised. What's he doing here?]

...I know you.

[She'd seen him at the auction. Initially he aroused her suspicions, but given how he'd been ready to take off his shirt just because someone in the crowd offered to bid more, she's since revised her opinion. For now, she's fairly neutral, and has to rely on the opinion of her friend.]

You are Angeal's friend, are you not? Sephiroth.

[For a split second, as it's pointed at him, Sephiroth wonders what a particle thrower might actually do to a living person. Strong enough to knock someone out? Or might it only make you feel fuzzy for a while? He's glad that Rukia quickly lowers it upon recognizing him.

Strange, as he doesn't think he's ever met her. Both hands that had come up into a gesture of surrender slowly lower as she makes that statement. Confused for a moment, but then not so much as she mentions Angeal. Green eyes narrow away, almost completely hidden by thick black eyelashes and he tilts his head slightly to one side.

Angeal had...referred to him as a friend?]

It's a little more complicated than that. [Well practiced he makes his expression relax a little and pulls himself back up straight.]

Might I ask who you are? Since you already know my name?

I see. I won't pry, then.

[She holsters the weapon. Like him, she's not sure what effect it would have on the living, but given that she saw a vase explode when she hit it, she's not eager to find out.]

Rukia Kuchiki. Well met.

[Taking in the sight of what he's wearing, and the similar equipment slung onto his broad back, it's clear that he undertook the ghostbusting job as well. Good.]

I see you're hunting spirits as well. How are you finding the work?

[It's an old habit for sure, but involuntarily Sephiroth's left hand had tensed up during that moment of maybe-confrontation and he only notices such when it relaxes as Rukia holsters what could only be described as the gun-part to her photon pack. Too many years of drawing a sword in a flash; of which he's without right now.]

Rukia. I'll do my best to remember.

[He's not the most adept at remembering names, especially since it's seldom that he goes about keeping in touch with most people. It doesn't feel as foreign now, but to begin with during his time in Crystallis he found it odd how he'd have to even introduce himself. Angeal, it seems, has saved him the trouble with this particular girl.

Sephiroth wears his signature leather trench-coat but with two notable adjustments; he wears a dark grey turtleneck top underneath -though still tight enough to show the fruits of his continued exercise regime in the shape of pectorals- and it's without the gleaming shoulder armor he wore at the date auction. For a fact they might have gotten in the way of the photon pack; practical at least. Much in the same way that his hair is tied up as high as it will go in a rather chunky, folded-over ponytail.]

As well as can be expected from going in blind, I think...

[In other words, it's going terribly but it seems despite his introverted reservations recently, he's still not letting go of his pride enough to admit that he's lost with it.]

[A wise decision, with his hair. Rukia's taken to clipping hers up as well, a few spiky raven strands sticking out over the top. After that first encounter with a spirit that ran right through her, leaving her coated in ectoplasm, keeping her hair up seems...necessary.]

[It seems like he might be having some trouble, then. Was that why he was watching her?]

Do you know the basics?

[If not, she doesn't mind running him through a tutorial. Mentoring others is kind of her thing.]

[It simply doesn't fall in the same way that it did back home for him. Never in the way no matter how many times, or how quickly he maneuvered between one strike to the next; like liquid almost it never seemed to get caught or cut hardly at all. Such isn't the case in Crystallis and Sephiroth had -despite how he'd prefer- taken to tying it up whenever he were doing such work that it might prove a problem. Be that his fitness regime, his time in uniform, or more recently the time he spent helping to reconstruct parts of the City.

And now, ghosthunting.]

Well- [Since she did ask.

He un-holsters his shooter and turns it over in his palm, keeping his finger well away from the obvious trigger as a safety measure. But makes the motion with his forefinger to demonstrate to Rukia anyway]

I'm assuming it's a point and shoot, but it's hardly a conventional firearm so-

[Sephiroth shakes his head and then shrugs, clearly uncomfortable with the equipment as a whole. A heavy shrug, made heavier by the photon pack, follows as he puts the gun part back on his belt and un-attaches the containment unit from the bottom part of his pack - pulling it firmly so that the wire slips loose but he's really no clue how he's going to get it back on once he's done. He nods towards Rukia's containment unit which smolders still nearby.]

I presume this somehow catches them. Since it wouldn't make a lot of sense to kill that which is already dead. I guess.

That is correct. Allow me to show you, then.

[This is a role she can slip into naturally. In a sense, it's like instructing Ichigo to be a shinigami. Would that she had her notebook with her to demonstrate with full color illustrations, but alas. ~~Sephiroth is better off without it.~~ She unshoulders her proton pack, turning it around so she can point out the various parts.]

The first step is to turn on the pack itself. Flip this switch here.

[She'll wait for him to do this on his own pack.]

Once that's done, you can utilize the particle thrower and the containment unit. You'll need to flip a second switch to power up the thrower itself. And the trigger is here when you have a target in sight.

[Rukia demonstrates that too, but doesn't push the trigger. The beams are fairly destructive if they're not hitting ghosts.]

You'll need to keep the beam trained on the ghost long enough to weaken it. Too soon, and it will evade you. When you think you have it fully restrained, kick out the trap and stomp on the pedal. The trap will open, suck in the spirit, and close. A simple process.

[Now that that's done, she pulls her pack back onto her slim shoulders and hoists it firmly into place.]

You will also have access to this dark light, which will allow you to see that which is hidden from sight. And to detect the location and strength of nearby spirits, use the PKE meter.

[Unhooking the device from her belt, Rukia holds it up and turns it on.]

If the rods lift and light up, then--oh?

[It's definitely lighting up with a large blot on the screen. Tensing, Rukia whirls around, narrowing her eyes.]

There's one nearby. It's strong.

[It's been a great long while since Sephiroth has even had any need to take instruction from anyone so it's probably a good idea Rukia doesn't have color illustrations to go with it else he'd probably end up feeling even more patronized than he does already. A strong ego like his doesn't sit well with the fact that he didn't figure out something -ultimately quite easy- to operate on his own.

Never mind that said ego has taken more than a fair share of battering recently.

Still, he follows Rukia's guidance to a 'T' and immediately catches on with regard to the power-switch for the photon pack. The gentle humming of the pack against his back an odd sensation, but not terribly aggravating really; at least he knows that it's working. With the pack activated, all of the other things Rukia mentions seem to slip into place like so much common sense.]

Got it.

[He hooks the containment unit back in it's place with a little persuasion while Rukia gets herself set back up with her own pack. Shifting his around a little on his back in the meantime as if trying to find the most comfortable place for it to rest; it's not so heavy for him, just a little awkward.

He's no idea how he's going to remember to utilize his Scholar skills with so much going on with this Job but -like everything- it has to be in the practice.]

Look at that for timing.

[He can't help but to smirk at the fact that the PKE meter lights up so eagerly at the first chance Rukia has got to demonstrate how it works. It's little surprise really to him, considering the rumor that a lot of the spirits plaguing Aqures might well be drawn to him as the commanding officer in the Battle in which some of them died. Til now, he's been dismissing that idea as absurd; considering how he wasn't used to the idea of spirits lingering after death.

Sephiroth steps closer and glances at Rukia's PKE meter, then over in the direction that is indicated. A little awkwardly unhooking the particle thrower from his belt and tentatively inspecting the scenery in that direction. Grip tenses around the handle of the thrower as he wonders which type of ghost -apparently there were several different types- it might be.]

Best way to learn, no? In at the deep end.

[Rukia regards Sephiroth with a tilted head. Then she smiles. That's a good attitude to have, and she approves of his courage and willingness to fight. She nods.]

I've heard some say as much, yes. Let's go.

[Cradling the particle thrower in her elbow, she holds the PKE meter out to lead the way. It's several blocks ahead, so she runs, knowing fully well that with legs as long as his, he can easily keep up with her.]

[Once they draw close enough that the blot on the screen starts to shift positions, Rukia slows, lifting her head to look around for visible signs and cues as to where the ghost might be. As she exhales, her breath turns into curls of white mist, and there's a drop in temperature. Frowning, she glances at Sephiroth to see what his take on it might be. Perhaps she should have asked what his backup job is, just in case.]

Keep sharp. It likely knows we're here.

[Good attitude. More like the only attitude he's ever had. Sephiroth has never been scared of a challenge, especially now that Rukia has shown him how to use the tools of the trade, or at least had a brief run-through.

He makes sure that his own gun is holstered firmly in its place at his belt as Rukia runs off ahead. Indeed, a short burst of a sprint back onto the street and then on her tail makes short work of the distance; longer legs and a physique he still keeps in good trim as a matter of pride. Perhaps not as strong given his lack of a 'real' combat Job currently but certainly he has the fitness thing well in hand so as not to be breathing too heavily by the time he's caught up.

One thing is for sure, even if the PKE meter wasn't indication enough, the chill in the air rushes quickly up the back of his neck -being the only really exposed area- and Sephiroth turns around for a few times; sharp eyes trying to pick out any-]

Wait- [A dim blue glow, out of the corner of Sephiroth's eye has him half-twisting back the way that he just looked. A breath of silence fills the air-]

Move!

[A flare of blue lights up from the lantern of a Poe as it casts it's magic; an ice-spell that a second later explodes out in a spiky star shape from where a moment ago the two of them were congregated. Sephiroth keeps low as he dives out of the way, the unfamiliar weight on his back almost pulling his balance too far-]

Did you see it? [He calls out to Rukia as the ice shatters away into nothing; the Poe has moved from the position it was in, no trace of the lantern again as it passes back into being invisible.]

Briefly.

[Rukia was able to dodge the opposite way, thanks to Sephiroth's warning. Her boots scuff up a little travel dust as she slides to a stop, tightly gripping her particle thrower. But there's no visible target, so she doesn't shoot just yet. This thing is fast, and more intelligent than she was expecting.]

[She straightens out of her defensive crouch, eyes sweeping the area, but it isn't manifesting itself just yet. She looks at Sephiroth and tightens her jaw with a firm nod, then reaches for her Dark Light.]

I'll see if I can spot where it's hiding. Be prepared to blast it.

[It's best to stay apart, she figures. If they're close together, it'll try to attack the both of them at once again. She takes a step back until she feels the unyielding brick wall of a building behind her, then sweeps the circle of ultraviolet light slowly across the street. Wretched spirit...where are you hiding?]

[On a gut impulse, she turns the light toward Sephiroth, and above, to make sure it isn't lurking above him preparing a second attack.]

I saw blue-

[Crazy as it sounds that's what he'd seen, if just the slightest impression of the same in the corner of his eye before he'd spun back around. As both of them gather themselves into being back upright, then Rukia reaches for her Dark Light, scanning around their immediate vicinity he's got his particle thrower instantly in his hand before she's even indicated what the plan should be.

Initiative has always been his strong point.]

Got it- [Sephiroth half-follows the Dark Light but keeps half an eye open for the rest of his surroundings, quietly muttering an Enlightenment to double both of their attack power so that they're both ready as soon as the Poe might show itself again.

It doesn't take long, and being slower than a Wraith the Poe can't keep out of the Dark Light for long when it's spread over such a large area. With a stirring of cold in the air once more, it's lantern starts to glow blue again...however this time, a determined stream of energy from Sephiroth's photon gun not only interrupts the cast -most likely due to the increased attack power- but for a good few seconds manages to wrap around the ghost; holding it in place.

He wonders, fleetingly, if there might be any other Scholar skills which might be useful here.]

[Good reflexes! She flashes him a quick smile as she drops the dark light onto the ground in favor of aiming her particle thrower. The recoil rocks her arms slightly as she roots herself and adds her own energy to the attack. With Sephiroth's added power, there may as well be four of them anchoring it in place. That is one unhappy Poe, shrieking in rage and rattling its lantern.]

Would you care to do the honors?

[It's his very first catch, after all, and with Rukia there to supervise, it's unlikely he can screw it up.]

The trap is on the underside of the proton pack. Throw it out, or drop and kick it so that it's directly under the spirit, then stomp on the pedal. The trap will do the rest!

[The chilling shriek of the Poe runs a jolt of unease right from the back of Sephiroth's shoulders, both forwards around him and up into the back of his neck but the well-weathered SOLDIER knows well how to put such reactions firmly to the back of his mind. He tightens his grip around the handle of his particle thrower and dares to cast only a momentary glance towards Rukia as she offers him the chance to trap this one. His first ghost; it's natural to feel just a little uneasy.

What if he misses the right place on the floor beneath the thing; it is struggling against the combined wrapping of both of their streams quite rabidly...can they afford the momentary distraction? The last thing he'd want is for it to go severely pear-shaped...knowing his luck-

Nevertheless Sephiroth feels around with one hand for the release of the trap he'd need. Given as he's unfamiliar with the location of the same it takes a few more seconds before the same is freed from his photon pack, the lead dropping obediently in response.

Turning his attention back to the Poe, expecting some further resistance in response to his temporary distraction and continues to hold his stream for a little longer before opting to drop the trap and aim to kick to scoot it along the cobblestones. A willful tap from the outside edge of his boot.

It's not perfect in it's position so Sephiroth first attempts to nudge the Poe's placement by moving his particle thrower; hoping that Rukia will get the hint.]

[She doesn't even need the hint. The placement of the trap doesn't need to be square center, she's kicked plenty of them out there to know this firsthand. The ghosts can be moved, and she's glad Sephiroth seems to realize this. Her steps criss-cross as she moves, angling the particle thrower to maneuver the poe into the right position.]

[Once it's over the trap, she brings the point of the particle thrower downward, lowering the spirit until it enters the blazing light of the trap. The poe shrieks in angry dismay, clutching and clawing at the air as it's sucked down and into the unit. The little striped doors close with a sharp hiss as it rattles, then stills, a small light blinking to indicate the spirit's presence.]

[Rukia makes a fist, smiling widely.]

It is done! You performed well.

[Resting the particle thrower on her shoulder, she steps forward to retrieve the trap and hold it out to Sephiroth.]

What do you think? Not too difficult, is it? Especially with a partner on hand.

[Rukia is supremely confident in her ghostbusting and that confidence in turn means that Sephiroth hasn't got to even glance once in her direction to somehow -know- how she's moving, and in turn be not-so concerned about it. It's a happy relief, if a little of a change in position on his part given as he's always been one of the more veteran-Heroes.

As the poe is dragged into the trap, there is a split-second before the doors close where Sephiroth half-expects something to go wrong. For the energy to somehow lose some of it's intensity, for his buff to fall off...something. Forever preparing for the worst-case.

He releases that breath he'd been holding as the little light blinks on and the cold snap around their immediate vicinity noticeably breaks as if it were made of fragile glass.]

Hm.

[Sephiroth doesn't say anything more, even as Rukia hands him the trap and he looks over it. Again half-expecting it to rattle, or at the very least for it to have more of a weight to it than it does. He doesn't seem too keen to try and attach it back to the underside of his pack just yet, anyway.]

It's simple enough. [He agrees, no matter how uneasy it feels now holding the trap-]

I do wonder what other Jobs might complement this one better, though.

It's difficult to say. I chose to keep Red Mage due to its versatility, as I wasn't sure how this job would allow me to deal with more common threats.

[As everything seems geared specifically toward the defeat of spirits, she assumes that it won't have much effect on any living monsters.]

What other job did you elect to keep? Have you encountered any difficulties thus far?

[With that in mind, Scholar did prove useful. Enlightenment had doubled their attack power and significantly shortened the length of time they spent capturing that poe. Especially since he has that Job maxed. Outside of buffs though, it's otherwise limited and weak against almost everything.]

I've Scholar on at the moment. That spell I cast over us was useful, yet I'm not convinced it's worth such a sacrifice.

[Clearly, it would need to be thought over.]

Sacrifice? I...suppose that would depend on which job you chose to switch out.

[It also depends on how advanced his Scholar job is, since she knows it's capable of some offensive abilities later down the line.]

Nonetheless, with that kind of ability, it's almost as useful as having a partner to work beside you. I don't think you will be at any particular disadvantage for the time being.

[She reassures him with a smile, folding her arms.]

Any other questions?

I mean, compared to other combat-associated jobs, Scholar comes with the least in the way of defensive attributes.

[In short, scholars are squishy as shit. He doesn't want to really think about how well he might not have taken that ice-spell if he hadn't noticed soon enough to have dodged. Everything just...hurt more without the resistances that some of his other jobs might grant.]

Perhaps you're right though. We'll have to see.

[He nods to Rukia as she smiles, but doesn't really quite know how to react to the folded arms or her further question. She slips so effortlessly back into teacher-mode.]

No I- I think I'm good for now.

[Unless there is anything else to be said Sephiroth nods once more in departure and turns away from her, heading off back towards his end of the residential district without uttering so much as a single other word.]

[That she does. She's accustomed to being older ~~than dirt~~ everyone else and training younger warriors is something she believes she does well. At his response, she nods, glad to see he's got the hang of it.]

Very well. Best of luck to you, then.

[She's still feeling plenty energized, so as he turns away, Rukia takes out her PKE meter. There's no shortage of ghosts to find around here!]

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Cleaning Up the Town

Sounds great!

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[feel free to pick a ghost and we'll co-NPC it?]

I'd love that! How about a Poe?

Sounds good to me! 1 x Ice-Poe it is

SHIT! I never got a notification for this! I'm so sorry!

It's OK! No harm done!

Aw, thank you, much appreciated!

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[-and we have a wrap!]

Hooray!