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[kj1225]

Dani and Joan, Spray'

Dani may have just given the man time until he actually saw him back up what he'd said if he'd been polite about it. But being dismissed out of hand was not high on Dani's list of what pleased him. Which is likely why he gave the man an overly pleasant smile as he shoved Joan's barrel into the door frame (well above either of their heads) and clicked his tongue. "Now Max, I know we're both new but you clearly aren't thinking this through. And you're only going to piss people off if you treat them like this, ya get me? You're traveling with multiple gods, and I'm sure you've seen you're far from home so why don't you just be straight with me and tell me what you don't believe rather than just dismissing me?" Dani's tone is rather annoyed, but open to cooling off if Maxwell decides to cooperate.

[AzyWng]

Dani and Joan, Spray

Maxwell froze when Dani stuck the shotgun through the door, only relaxing when it became clear Dani wasn’t about to fire it. “I don’t believe you came here and alluded to things you know I won’t know about for any other reason than to harass me when I’m trying to get some rest. Now that you’ve accomplished your goal, you and ‘Joan’ can stop bothering me.” Not that Maxwell was likely to get to sleeping any time soon, when he was constantly replaying the events of the last mission in his head. But this guy - another god or whatever - didn’t need to know that.

[kj1225]

Dani and Joan, Spray

Dani sighed and slowly tilted Joan back, letting go of her as she began to tilt back. The gun slowed in the air as it transformed back into her human form, her skirt coming up as she dropped onto her feet, frowning at Maxwell. "You weren't trying to sleep before I got here and you aren't going to after I leave either. You've been upset about something and I can tell you aren't just going to drop it yourself. Like, look, I know this is the first time we've met but do you really want to leave it pissed with each other?"

[AzyWng]

Dani and Joan, Spray

Maxwell didn't react much to Joan's transformation beyond a raised eyebrow, instead sighing. "Yeah, I guess you've got a point. Suffice it to say I haven't been getting along much better with the others... That, and I'm not really used to fighting the kinds of folks I fought last mission..." Spray deflates a little after saying this, not sure if either of the two people in front of him would even want to hear of his troubles.

[Chevaleresse]

Mitsurugi, Lyra

The goddess let a small breath out that might have been a sigh. "It is possible, yes. It is not intended to be a one-time ceremony, but something to be performed at major festivals so that I may ward them from calamities of both the natural and human sort. I do not, however, wish you to exhaust yourself on my mistake." Lyra didn't seem to be sure of her own devotion, yet she was throwing herself at this in her entirety. Do not destroy yourself to serve me. It would be the same as if I had done it with my own hands. She sipped her tea. "To answer your earlier question: yes, I heard your prayer."

[kj1225]

Dani and Joan, Spray

Dani nods, seeing he was finally getting somewhere with this. "Do you want to go inside and we can talk about it? I may not look it but I've fought a lot of things, and talked to a lot of people so maybe I could give you some advice." Dani leans against the wall next to the door frame as he waits for Max to decide.

[AzyWng]

Mitsurugi, Lyra

Lyra stood up, returning to the center of the room where the ritual first began, stretching a little to make sure she was ready. "Mitsurugi-sama... You seem to be underestimating me." The contractor flashed a confident, almost cocky grin. "I really wish you wouldn't. Come on."

Dani and Joan, Spray

The specifics, huh? Well, if Dani was going to try to surprise Maxwell, then turnabout was fair play. "Well, a goddess tried to smite me after I shouted at her for not taking breaks. Oh, and before that, a lady tried to slice us up with a pair of fans. Granted, that second thing's probably not as big an issue for you, but..." Spray shrugged. "Never fought a youkai - or any kind of spirit creature - in my life. Not exactly another day at the office."

[kj1225]

Dani and Joan, Spray

Dani scratches his chin as he considers these "problems" before shrugging. "Well, you have me stumpted on the first one, I can't lie there. More of a character flaw on the part of the god than yourself and, well, I've never been smote. Maybe we can see about working her down to something non-lethal, a good chop to the head for example.... Or calmly talk to them and explain your intention, hope they see reason, that sort of thing."

Joan picks at a crack in the wall as Dani thinks about advice for the next set of problems, before finally offering up some words of her own. "Step into the swings, not away. Bladed fans tend to be bladed on the tips only and stepping into her swing makes it more likely for the dull parts to hit you when closed or for her arms to get in the way when open."

Dani nods before speaking himself. "That's probably a bit obvious though. If you want to stack up against youkai I'd start reading into their legends my man. It sucks but information gathering is more important than the actual combat at times." There's a pointedness to the comment that's confirmed by Joan rolling her eyes, but the pair doesn't get into the disagreement. "Anyway, that's kind what us Meisters are good at besides killing monsters. Soul Perception makes it easy to identify targets and all."

[AzyWng]

Dani and Joan, Spray

Spray smirked at the suggestion of a chop to the head. "Well, maybe that could work out. Though, after she'd calmed down, she seemed sadder than ever... Oh, right. You wouldn't happen to have seen a library around here, would you?" Spray perked up at that. Maybe he'd get a better handle on the situation after gathering that kind of info. Something occurred to him, then, as he turned to the guy. "By the way, I never did get your name..."

[Chevaleresse]

Mitsurugi, Lyra

"If that is your desire, then so be it." She gestured to the same spot on the floor as the previous attempt. "I hope you have been reflecting on the purpose of this ritual while we speak. It may assist you with its performance." She took another sip of her tea before carefully setting the cup down and standing, waiting for Lyra to take up her position before she moved further.

[AzyWng]

Mitsurugi, Lyra

She'd been pondering on that in the back of her mind, even as they'd been speaking. Though she didn't exactly feel much closer to an answer than before she started, Lyra could at least guess. It was more to it than just footwork - another major element was calm. The contractor had failed last time because the downpour of attacks had caused her composure to break - and that, like the earlier near-miss swings, was a matter of trust.

It was more than just learning to weather a storm through endurance or reflex. It was about mastering one's emotions and holding on to faith even when that storm grew to its peak.

It was this that Lyra kept in mind as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she focused on Mitsurugi once more.

"I'm ready."

[kj1225]

Dani and Joan, Spray

Dani thinks for a moment before shrugging. "Nah, though you might want to check the area, probably has one somewhere you can look at. And my name's Dani. Other one is Joan, but I'm pretty sure you heard that already." Dani looks around before shrugging. "Hm, I think that's about all I have to bother you about. Probably should shove off at this point unless there's anything else you want to know..."

[Chevaleresse]

Mitsurugi, Lyra

The goddess stared at her would-be priest with an unblinking gaze as she stepped up to her place, gave her a slight nod, and began the ritual. Her golden stare remained as she made each of the eight slashes, each one feeling like it should have broken skin. Her motions were slow, solemn, and yet still graceful, the mark of her ages of experience.

After the final slash, she paused in front of Lyra once more. Her expression changed, asking a silent question: was she truly prepared?

[AzyWng]

Mitsurugi, Lyra

Gold was met by brown and stayed there, even as Mitsurugi made slashes Lyra knew would yet would not hit.

As the goddess finished, and prepared to begin the true test, Lyra only tilted her head in response.

Yes.

[Chevaleresse]

Mitsurugi, Lyra

A slight shift in Mitsurugi's posture served as Lyra's warning. As before, the goddess started slowly; skilled blows that nonetheless looked more like practice forms than true attacks, as if she were a student warming up before a true lesson. They did not stay at this leisurely pace, however; the pace grew faster, and the blows less regulated. They became the flowing strikes of a master swordsman, and then continued, beginning to flow into one another with supernatural speed and a wildness that one would think incompatible with the precise nature of her blade.