worthallthis | IC Inbox: In the Night

[ It's a gamble, it's possible Riku has the wrong place, or got a little turned around in the dark, or Soldat might not even be home, but there's a knock on the door. ]

[The Soldier is not, in fact, in the house. Mostly they're only in the house when making a meal for the day for Crowley and Aziraphale (and themselves), when they're sleeping, and when it's time for a bath. But they are home: out behind the house, throwing knives at a tree for target practice. Riku can hear the thok of each one even from the cabin's front door. Come investigate, Riku, maybe you'll find what you're looking for.

Or else Crowley or Aziraphale can be inside, and point Riku in the right direction. Take your pick.

Either way, when moving around the house, the Soldier pauses, knife in hand and ready to throw, then drops their hand.]

Yes? Do you need something.

[ Riku's been a lot of things. Precocious enough to be called an old soul at five years old. Curious enough to satisfy a scientist a few times his senior. Shrewd enough to survive until self sacrifice was the one thing to do him in.

He seeks out the source of the sound, and finds who he's looking for. ]

Yeah.

[ He leans against the wall, folding his arms. ]

It can wait until you're done.

[They look from Riku, to the knife in their hand, and back. Riku wants them for something?

Huh.

They turn and hurl the blade at the tree they'd been using. It thunks right in next to the last four, completing a star pattern, then they pad over to pull the blades out of the bark. Only one of them goes back into a sheath on their person. The rest get put in sheaths to put away inside. As they put them away, they ask,]

What is it you need?

[ Riku stares at the star-like shape glinting in the dark like it means something, then cuts his gaze away. ]

... Your advice. You've been doing a lot with the spirits.

[ True to form, Riku cuts to the chase. ]

You've noticed there's a cultural difference between some of the spirits. Right?

Sure. There are locals, that are about our size. And forest ones that are smaller. And the green-eyes.

[Those aren't the cultural differences, just how the Soldier names the groups. They roll the four sheather knives into a piece of felt for safekeeping, then move back over to where Riku waits.]

Edited 2020-01-07 18:16 (UTC)

[ He's seen Soldier around, they've on an exploration together, when they found the Armoury. Even if Riku is used to these displays of effortless reliability, that doesn't make him any less appreciative. He nods. ]

Yeah. The ones who are more keen to fight us, I was thinking about how we might connect with them the way we've connected with the more peaceful spirits around town.

[ He came to this possibility quite quickly, but between everything else happening and... some of his own messes to clean up, Riku has only recently had time to try pursuing it. Continuing, Riku says: ]

What about fighting with them? Not to kill each other, but to understand each other better. To recognize each other's strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses.

You get it too, right? [ He cuts his eyes away, looking a little embarrassed. ] That bond between... warriors.

[The what now. The Soldier looks subtly and politely lost. If this were any other warrior, it might be immediately obvious... but the Winter Soldier was a ghost, it worked either alone or with specified backup with which it was not allowed to form any kind of relationship, and no memories. They have never heard of this bond of which he speaks.

They might recognize it of it were described more thoroughly, because they have experienced fighting alongside people here, but the phrase in particular is alien.

Assuming this is a thing that the Soldier is just unfamiliar with, they accept the premise after a moment and attempt to parse the particulars.]

We would need a common goal to fight beside them, and rules they would be willing to follow if we fought against them I'm a controlled manner. And the means to communicate either one.

[ Riku's a quick study, he's sharp. He can tell he missed the mark with Soldier.

It doesn't discourage him. On the contrary, moments like these demonstrate just how easy, how simple the challenge is - even being understood as one person to another can be a day to day hurdle. How much more when it's another sentient being like the spirits? ]

Or something more approachable. Like training. Or... friendly competition.

[The Soldier considers this a moment. It's a thought, they suppose. Attempting to work together would be the best possible outcome, and practice in doing so would make life so much easier if it ever actually came to pass.

They're just not sure they trust the green-eyes to come when called, obey the rules, and stick to the plan. (Not sure, shit. Very sure they won't do any of those things.) The Soldier decides,]

The problem is still of communication. We attempted Morse Code, whatever Daylight's verbal language is, and spirit language. They didn't seem to understand us properly. Maybe if we found a messenger to explain.

[They add, after a pause,]

Maybe try with the more amenable spirits first to see if it helps and they can understand what we want. A test-run.

[ Pursing his lips thoughtfully, the silver-haired man nods. Riku is coming into this idea expecting complications. He's banking on a hitch. It's when things go too smoothly that he misses a learning opportunity. Soldat is right to assume the green-eyed spirits won't play ball, that's highly likely. ]

Sounds good.

[ Nothing about the communication angle is new and that's good, that speaks as much to how good Day and Soldat have been about sharing their discoveries as it does about how well Beacon residents like Riku are paying attention. ]

During your communications with the spirits, any potential leads come to mind?

I really only have the one friend. I don't think they would be interested in fighting games, though. I can ask.

[Owl Friend seems particularly nonviolent, to their mind, but then, it's not ever really come up except in Owl Friend's avoidance of the "job" of attacking the Beacon residents.]

Maybe you should ask Daylight. He has more contacts, I think, who might be more curious. The spirit who keeps trying to take my stuff might have fun.

[The last comes with a more dry tone. They've caught the same little porcupine-like spirit in their things and generally making trouble in their space many a time, now.]

[ Daylight was next on the list of those Riku would ask about this, but Soldat made sense, given the nature of his inquiry and the experience he assumes the soldier has. He again nods. ]

A spirit who keeps taking your stuff, huh.

[ Thinking this might be referencing the spirits who snatched a number of people's personal effects, he doesn't pursue it further. ]

Thanks for your help.

[That's the first time they met that particular spirit. They took one of the Soldier's grenades during the thieving event, and ran off with it. Since then, that particular spirit has taken it upon themselves to harass the Soldier on a regular basis. It might well be some weird kind of affection, but it's still annoying.]

Trying to take it. Only managed once. During the stealing thing. Just shows up a lot to try, since then.

[They shake their head. Back on target.]

It's a good idea. Just details to organize it. Never would've thought of it, myself.

[ Perhaps it's Soldier's story. Perhaps it's what he says at the end of it, something changes Riku's expression in a subtle way, softens it. Riku blinks as he feels the corners of his mouth pull into a small smile, his eyes cut away like that fact embarrasses him. ]

High praise.

[ Coming from a rare source. That makes it more special. He lifts his eyes and his right hand, showing his gloved palm in a gesture of farewell, one that doesn't waste a lot of movement on frantic waving, just a lift, a pause, and a drop. ]

See you around.

[That's a surprising sentiment. High praise? Huh. The Soldier tilts their head thoughtfully, gaze in the middle distance while they process, but focus back on Riku's face, at least, at the wave, and even smile some.]

Yes. Take care, Riku. Let me know if you decide to do the thing. I'll help however I can.

IC Inbox: In the Night

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