voice + action + bonus mingle

[anappleaday]

voice:

[ today's message starts with the sound of someone nervously clearing their throat. ]

Ah— good afternoon. I've noticed a not insignificant number of those of us who are newcomers happen to be warriors, or are at least used to places where fighting is far more common than it is here. While I'm sure some of us are more than happy to be somewhere quieter, that doesn't necessarily make it an easy adjustment— and for the rest... well. Nobody wants to get rusty or bored, but depending on strength or fighting style it can be difficult not to accidentally involve people who would really prefer not to get involved. Or to not cause property damage, for that matter.

So... For those reasons, I've asked for and received an extra plot of land to turn into a training ground and sparring arena. Currently, it's still undeveloped— which I'm sure some of us are fine with, but for the sake of those looking for more open areas and even ground I'd like to ask for volunteers to help both with clearing at least a portion of it out as well as setting up things like obstacle courses and training dummies.

There will be no pay for this—it's strictly volunteer work—but it's a good opportunity to meet potential sparring or adventuring partners, and to make sure the space is customized to your own preferences. I'll also be bringing food and drink.

I've attached a map to the training ground's location to this message for anyone interested in joining me. If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this messageor to talk with me there; I'm the tall woman with blue hair wearing a snake-skull mask. Thank you for your time.

action:

[ anyone who follows the map to its destination (or just gets lucky while exploring) will find themselves at a wild-looking farm already showing some signs of being cleaned up in the form of piles of gathered up sticks and wood. a few folding tables have been set up near the pond and covered in sandwiches and various cut fruit and berries. a small sign perched on the table and labeled "DRINKS" in all capital letters has an arrow pointing toward the water, where a plastic box full of assorted bottled drinks has been partly submerged to keep the contents cool. the usual toolchest that every farm seems to have has been dragged over there as well— it's got several extra sets of tools in it for anyone needing to borrow an axe or a shovel.

want to coordinate with any other volunteers? just dive right in? or— well, it would be kind of rude, but there is a bunch of free food right there with no one watching it, just waiting to be eaten... ]

Comments

[gatescostmoney]

[ Those logs look far too big for a woman to be carrying alone. Sasuke likes the idea of having a place to fight, and his own plot of land is much like this place. Completely untouched. He better help out a little. He doesn't have anything better to do anyways. ]

All right, boys! Let's give the lady some extra sets of hands.

[ As he says that, two duplicates of himself arise from his own shadow. They give jests like "I was enjoying my nap" or "I was getting bored doing nothing." They can each speak individually, but for fun, all three ask together, ]

So, where do you want us to begin?

[anappleaday]

[ "lady," huh. she huffs in amusement at that, only to still and cock her head to eye him through the eyesockets of the skull mask as his duplicates straighten up. it's not something she's seen firsthand—she'd never quite felt comfortable with the idea of making bunshin, herself—but she knows the technique, and can feel the way Samael's attention sharpens with excited recognition. ]

Shadow clones are perhaps overkill, but if you insist... For the moment, I'm just looking to clear out the north end— once the rocks and logs are gone we can start taking down trees. I'd like to leave the south alone for practicing on natural terrain unless we turn out to really need the extra room.

[gatescostmoney]

[ Sasuke is mildly impressed. Not many would think about keeping an untouched area to provide another practicing terrain. (Though, the lack of such an area wouldn't be a problem for him. Again, his plot remains a mess.) ]

This is nothing. I could make more clones, but that would be overkill.

[ Just one of Sasuke, the original, speaks this time. The other two dash off in a blur to start whatever task. ]

Who'd you even talk to to get this place? That mayor guy?

[ Mayor Lewis hasn't really impressed Sasuke, but at the same time, he doesn't have to interact with him much. ]

[anappleaday]

[ they've lived in a forest for a year and a lifetime, respectively; the idea of training somewhere that wouldn't let them hop into the trees just seems to be missing a good chunk of the point. ]

Hardly; he's only responsible for Pelican Town, after all. The local gods are the ones who have been making sure we all have our own land, so I went to them.

[gatescostmoney]

I guess I was giving him too much credit if he's just responsible for that small area. My mistake.

[ Sasuke's from a war-torn medieval Japan. He's still adjusting to the different time and culture and will need to work on his information gathering. Gods make more sense if a mayor does not have a high enough standing to hand out land to people. ]

It's nice of them to do so considering we're all stuck here.

[anappleaday]

I think it's more that there just wouldn't be enough land to give without divine intervention. I've seen some of the local maps; the forest is big, but not that big.

[ that's the obvious solution, anyway. she makes a thoughtful noise under her breath as she goes to dump her current burden, still not showing any effort. ]

Either kind, or perhaps just pragmatic. We'd completely overrun the town if we didn't have elsewhere to go.

[gatescostmoney]

[ That... makes more sense to him than it probably should. Damn it! There's so much he still has to figure out and learn about this time and place. It's kinda infuriating for a ninja to not be in the know, you know? And that's without all the supernatural events going around.

Sasuke gives another wooden log a toss into the pile. Then he fishes out the jPad from some unseen pocket of his. ]

Are those maps something we can find on this funny mirror? I got that we can talk on it, but I have a feeling it can do much more.

[ On the screen shows some of his past conversations, and his account shows his name, "Sasuke Sarutobi." ]