飛べFLY HIGH！！ (open)

[asas]

who: shōyō hinata & you! and closed prompts!
what: some snake’s den open prompts, and pre-event closed prompts! shōyō is a warmblood and a nightwalker; due to the nature of the event at snake’s den, i’m up for +18! if you have any questions or would like to plot something, you can pm me or contact liberos!
when: january!
where: the red, beach, the gate, and others!

content warnings: jumping really high, ig (there’s nothing right now, really— i’ll add for any as they come!)

ᴛᴀʟᴇɴᴛᴏ

[ shōyō wasn’t much of a stage seeker as bokuto (he remembers the time he was introduced to the black jackals and the big hoot was just scrabbling for the introductory crowd’s attention right behind the curtains (and then outside of it). but, talent shows? he sees no reason not to join in with his own act, especially when he’s been itching madly for some fun. playing volleyball was a hit and miss, not enough people yet, and he’d quell just a drop out of an entire mountain of thirst with a little bit of practice with those who had wanted to do something with him. what can shōyō do? when he’s next up and announced, all five feet and nine inches of him bounce to the center of the stage. my name’s shōyō hinata and i could fly! oh— and i need volunteers!

it may be you, or a friend, or a bundle of trenchies who’ve decided to answer the call as shōyō points out any takers to come up on stage. he fixes everyone into a mixed group, pulls back and does his quick second warm ups. anyone backstage probably saw him already getting his blood pumping, so all he needed now were some toe hops and stationary sprints.

once he’s ready, he runs, short stops right before the volunteers before saying, playfully: warm ups! what was it that bokuto would do to get the watchers excited? right— clapping! shōyō claps his hands above his head a few times to get a few others to do the same as their drum roll. once he’s ready, shōyō has his eyes high above the heads of his volunteers, really as if he’s seeing something. his highest peak of concentration comes in the form of rio vision; he pulls up into a long legged sprint that turns short, pulls his arms back into a full swing behind him (technique, but they look like wings), and once he’s pivoted his feet to kick the stage’s floor with a loud bam!, shōyō’s already soaring high above their heads. he jumps over all of them. again and again, before actually ending the performance. his highest jump reaches 3,5 meters— almost twelve feet off the ground. not the highest of vertical jumps, but for his height? it really does look like he’s soaring.

after all of that, he’s hardly panting, and off the stage shōyō looks so undeniably pumped!!!! that he comes jouncing down like ah . . . yes, they are the same. ]

It doesn’t even feel like I’m wearing formal clothes! I can go all, whoosh, boing! Without feeling all tied up! Ah— Do you want me to jump over you too?!

[ madam generosity has gifted him with a sporty formal look for starters— pale shorts and summer blazer with an orange little bow tie to compliment the white! due to his warmblood, sleepers will also find that it is much easier to set your goals straight or feel confident around shōyō. it doesn’t give you the same energy to keep up with him, though . . . so good luck?! ]

ᴅᴇᴘᴏɪs

[ shōyō didn’t need much of any relaxers to talk to people, neither encouragement. he was naturally social and flocked to those who were shy, alone or isolated, or hell! maybe you’re already having a good time and he stops by anyway. he’s simply like that! ]

Heya! So— wanna dance, or something?! You can pick the something if you don’t wanna dance!

[ if he hasn’t come to you, perhaps you come to shōyō, and he’s all out attacking the food bar. maybe he’s in your way or you just want to talk to him, for some reason, whether for his impressive calves or unbeatable energy that he’s managed to keep constant throughout the evening (even when the music and tone of the party has gone down several notches)! but once he looks around— ]



[ no words. only (rigorous chewing noises). ]

Comments

@ jason

[asas]

[ places to actually practice knife fighting was a little difficult to come by, and shōyō had become avoidant of using the gate. because . . . caged monsters? he’d have to fight a monster, that was caged up and— it just didn’t feel right. like trying to put down a trapped animal just because it was dangerous. he’d eventually encourage the beach, but with a floor so unsteady, it might not be the best of places to learn.

so, the gate it was. and, look at that! there was free training space, plenty of practice weapons and no use of monsters actually necessary.

(although he’s been hearing talk of a battle for entertainment in the main coliseum two hours after noon . . . ) ]

It’s huge . . . [ enough that his voice echoes, but sadly, when he sniffs the air— there is no whiff of icyhot spray. he missed it dearly. shōyō himself, to jason’s knowledge, was an obedient and dedicated student. he never complained and always kept trying until he got it right, he had energy to take him through an entire day’s worth of working out around the clock, and he had the athletic build to back that up. push ups? sit ups? squats and lunges, they were all no problems when part of his daily routine as is. he might’ve even asked for a few overtime classes— and he has the potential to catch on quick. ] —So, what’re we gonna do today?

[hearuthinking]

[Jason let out a low whistle of his own taking it all in. It sure did look like a coliseum to him. The space was plenty big enough for training, too, which suited their purposes. He turned to his new student and smiled a little at his enthusiasm]

All right. First thing: keep your head on straight. Pay attention to where you are and what's around you. You gotta learn not to panic when shit goes down. You ain't always gonna have time to think through your next move, so you gotta trust your instincts. Say a monster comes outta that gate. What do you do?

[asas]

[ if a monster came out, alright. that’s all he has to think about! it’s pretty easy for shōyō to answer. instinctual and direct, so he does so quickly, as if (and truly because) he didn’t really think about it: ]

Definitely run for the way out.

[ he still had zero skill to attend to a monster; it was the smartest thing to do! attacking it would probably just be instant death. ]

[hearuthinking]

Right, you haul your ass outta there. There ain't no shame in a retreat. But hypothetically, if you were gonna stand and fight, the eyes are usually a good weak spot to aim for. Make it harder for them to see you. If they got legs, try those too so they can't run you down.

With me so far?

[asas]

[ oh, god he got it right. and a few extra pointers just in case running isn’t an option! awesome, the eyes, ]

Like how they say you should punch a shark in the eyes! Uh-huh.

[ an affirmative nod; he’s on the right page. ]

@ paul

[asas]

[ when paul was told to come to the beach as the sun rose, it was no bluff— shōyō was there an hour before sunrise, meditating by the shore and emptying his thoughts into the icy sea’s breeze. he didn’t have an alarm like he did on his watch, or his phone. but, he’s soon to learn that his omni did, and his omen, a female common crow, begins to do just that: crow loudly to signal that exactly an hour has passed, and that it was time to come back to earth. well— this one, anyway. ]

Wow, already. [ yes, already! caw! goes the bird, snipping her beak at the rubber of shōyō’s discarded sneakers in the sand. it’s chilly, but— luckily, with warmblood, shōyō doesn’t feel it too much. ] I know! [ excitedly, though who knows what picanha was going on about; probably food. ] I brought breakfast, don’t worry. I’m right on time.

[ a little container boxed with breakfast, indeed! it’s a little different from home, but all the same, it works: dried fruit, boiled eggs and cooled porridge and a canteen of juice. he’s doing everything to maintain his schedule from home— in a place like this one, he was bound to sleep poorly, and if shōyō could at the very least avoid as much of that as possible, his mind and body appreciates it.

he eats with his mouth partially full, when talking to a materialized part of himself, and after giving thanks and digging in, he puts his thoughts out there: ]

Mm— [ he points, waits to chew off most of what he’s spooned himself, before swallowing and starts up. ] Think he likes dried tangerines? [ the crow groans, and barks up a click and croak. ] You’re only saying that because the plump ones are the best.

[ because they are! ]

[terriblepurpose]

[Paul is surprised to have been beaten to the beach, judging by the look on his face when he spots Shōyō. He's brought the weapons, as promised, two simple, workmanlike training spears with blunted tips held in a tied rope carrier he fasten to sling over his shoulder.

He did suppose that being able to jump that high (3.5 meters!) would required a high level of discipline, but he didn't expect that it would outstrip his own, or he would have been here before dawn too. Not out of competitiveness, of course. Simple preparation.]

Shōyō? [Paul calls out as he approaches, even though he's fairly certain (given the temperature) this shouldn't be anyone else.] It's me. Paul. You're already here.

[As if that's not readily apparent.]

What's a tangerine?

[asas]

[ aha, yes! shōyō can’t quite stick another verbal greeting in now that his mouth was full with someone nearby (it was rude; picanha was okay, but paul didn’t need to see a half munched egg shredding it up on someone else’s tongue. instead, bright and easily recognizing the other from his attempted selfie, shōyō hums out an approval that’s coupled with a wave. the crow too, hops in place, circles with another three or so hopes before finding the energy unbearable to keep still with. she’s taking off!

it gives shōyō at least a second to swallow what he has, pluck out the aforementioned (and sadly shriveled) tangerine slice, and hop (very much like the crow) to his knees and then bare feet. ]

A fruit! Here, sit down a bit— [ hand clap! he’s offering one to warm up the morning with these nippy winds, and guiding them down. hopefully, paul (dune paul, where there’s too much sand) is alright with sand. ] I was having breakfast and brought you some, if you want!

[ he sees the goods, but he seems to be refraining from saying anything right off the bat, or else poor paul won’t know what to respond to! for now.

(his eyes aren’t doing as much of a terrific job of refraining, for the record.) ]

[terriblepurpose]

[Paul is, in fact, all right with sand. He sits down next to Shōyō after unslinging the spears and thrusting their ends deep into the sand to keep them upright, accepting the slice of fruit with a slight, friendly smile. He smells it first, for the experience (and for poison, as a reflex) and then takes a small bite when it seems clean enough.

It's good, even if eating citrus next to the sea feels almost too familiar. He casts that thought from his mind and eats it as his eyes trace Shōyō's Omen in her energetic path. She suits him, like so many Omens do their Sleepers.]

Thank you. That was good. [Paul's breakfast was a cup of tea, as it is too often lately, so he's very sincere about that.] What do you think? Do they seem like your kind of weapon?

[He does notice the looking.]

depois (mid-late jan)

[queenofsarcasm]

[Stiles is now Stella. She has all of Stiles' same memories with only slight adjustments for the fact that she's female. She's read about The Shedding and knows it's happening now to a few people and that unsettles her. It calls into question her perception of reality when she thinks too hard on it, so she comes to the Red to wind down.

A couple of flutes of champagne later and a familiar looking guy is coming over and asking her to dance. She's not used to being asked that since she's not at all within the popular girl sphere at school. But she knows she's pretty and when she's dressed up like this, she gets attention in crowds who don't know her as more of a nerdy outcast. She looks the boy up and down.]

I- uh, sure. Yeah, of course. Why not? I mean, I can dance and you're… obviously asking to uh, dance. So we should… dance! [Can you tell she's not used to this kind of attention? She downs the rest of her champagne glass and places it on a passing tray.]

[asas]

[ was it the eyes he’s seen somewhere before—? shōyō had been looking directly into them for that precise reason, and realizing that his staring is absolutely intense for the circumstance, he ducks his head for but a moment to bounce back up from the flare of his own shyness, caused by, you know— his energy. too much of it! shōyō is far from any sign of aggression, which isn’t exactly of his nature to start. there’s no combativeness, or defensiveness, or some outside need to protect people less favored, like himself. shōyō is simply just being shōyō right now, and he’s glad to be giving stella a dorky little grin in realizing that he’s actually scored a dance with a (very, beautiful) young lady. ]

G—Great! Awesome! [ he’s. forgetting something, isn’t he? oh, yes, and that was offering his hand? his arm?? he offers both! ] I’ve actually never danced at a party like this, with someone, but— there’s no secret to it!

[ —now where has he seen her before? or someone that reminded him of her? staring, again, despite his best intentions. ]

[queenofsarcasm]

[She definitely noticed the staring and looks around a bit shifty, wondering if maybe she has something on her face or if she's about to be stabbed. Then he breaks the look and goes a bit bashful and awkward, which definitely helps her feel less awkward.

She takes his offered arm with a bit of caution, then raises an eyebrow.] No secret, huh. How d'you figure?

[asas]

You just gotta close your eyes and let your body take you!

[ in other words: just do you like no one’s watching, and it’ll probably, actually come out great. shōyō doesn’t have much shame to guard, there!

(someone is holding his arm!! he’s ecstatic!!) ]

Hey, ah . . . Do you have a sibling or family around here, or something? You look familiar—

talento

[hopticulture]

[It's a cute, incredibly normal-looking (albeit, short) girl that he approaches, the formal clothes she's been given complimenting her overall look. Haru kind of recognizes the guy, but doesn't expect him to recognize her.

After all, she's completely aware of how different she looks.

She stands a little under 3 inches shorter than him, but it's nice not having to crane her neck up to look at a guy. Clasping her hands behind her back, she leans forward, tilting her head in a rabbit-like gesture, her loose twintails falling forward over her shoulders as she does so.]

I don't think it'd look all that impressive if you jumped over me. Not after that stunt.

[Her voice is the same, at least.]

[asas]

[ cute……… very cute. look at her hair, her dress! and she’s shorter than him even, what a twist! the girl gets the blunt end of shōyō’s energy and, sadly (or not??) shōyō too has to suffer the consequences of being energetic. it was funny, he wasn’t entirely shy to the point of losing his voice, but he was beginning to get flustered. ]

O-oh— thank you! It could still be, if you think so! [ shōyō certainly doesn’t recognize her by sight, but he’s still a young man drawn to all his senses; he’s heard her, before. ] Say, ah— Have . . . You been on TV? Or the Omni network?

[hopticulture]

[Despite herself, Haru chuckles at Shōyō's flustering, posture straightening as she brings a hand up to stifle her amusement. It's a weird feeling, touching skin instead of fur, but oddly enough she's starting to feel less out of place in this human form at this moment.

Maybe it's because this guy is talking to her as he would any other human girl which feels nice and equal compared to how people usually speak to her (or it has something to do with his Bloodtype, but she doesn't know that).]

Not sure what I'd get out of it. Watching you jump over other people was entertaining enough.

[At his question...ah, here is where her ears would flap, but instead she scrunches her nose in thought. To tell or to not tell...]

TV? No. I do use the Omni to talk with people here and there but that probably isn't where you know me from.

[She looks at him expectantly.]

[asas]

No? Huh . . .

[ he’s not a heavy hitting thinker when there isn’t a ball in the air, but he really is trying. ah and hm, asking her to repeat a few phrases as he backtracked his entire stay in trench thus far.

all the way until he’s back on the floor and curving his legs into unholy yoga positions—

this one is a wide open guess, but shōyō’s eyes have grown with the prospect that maybe . . . ]

Black Jackals, suit . . . Rabbit—?

[ no fuckin way that’s haru ]

@ yuri

[asas]

[ what were the odds of being hunted on the beach? it was quite safe around the camps that took sleepers in, so shōyō had yet to take note of any danger. in fact, he stuck close while he went through his morning routine for that exact reason. meditation from five to six, breakfast from six to six-thirty, warm up exercises until seven-ish and then practice (if anyone came by to accompany him), coupled with more aggressive exercises to keep his form until ten-o-clock snack time. the empty blocks until lunch time were free spaces, perhaps for other practices. with jason, or yuri, for example! that was fine and still underway.

what wasn’t fine was that shōyō seems to be uncharacteristically late for today’s practice. he doesn’t answer his omni. retracing any steps can lead back to the beach. there is a massive serpent hidden away in the sand and successfully cornering shōyō by the gaping shards of rock on one of the cliff-like shorelines. the pocket is hot and the air fumes of heat and smoke. shōyō has his coldblood obsidian blade in hand and has ever since the first attack made on him while he jogged, truth be told, led astray by the lack of crystallized ice upon black sand. it was softer to walk on, and with snake trails being so revered in thought of madame generosity, he followed.

stupidly.

he wants to run, he wants to get out of there and once his surroundings have gone so deathly quiet, he tries— but the unsnakely unfurls from its hideaway beneath the rocks to strike with molten mineral pouring from its maw like venom. if it missed, it was only by a hair and copious amounts of luck. the ice on the curve of the blade erupts and immediately steams from the clash in temperatures, saving shōyō’s skin as he toppled to the ground and scrambled for footing.

even if he wanted to stab the thing, it was too hot, it burned to stay close, and it burned his lungs to breathe in. ]

Crapcrapcrapcrap—

[vibing]

[ Yuri isn't a morning person, as a rule, but when you live with a guy who wakes up at dawn every day, it's hard to stay in bed until noon. He's hanging out on the beach, throwing a ball for Repede, who isn't the biggest fan of the ice, but at least some of the sand isn't iced or snowed over. He barks loudly into the air when Yuri throws the ball again, as Yuri wonders vaguely at how late Shōyō is.

But then Repede, having snapped the ball up from the ground, stops in his pursuit of bringing it back to Yuri, his nose up, a growl escaping from around the ball.

Yuri frowns, but he isn't one to disbelieve Repede. The dog has a good nose on him, and a good common sense, too. He trots over to Repede, and the dog only waits for him to catch up before taking off, growling around the ball as he starts to run down the beach.

Yuri catches on after a minute. He can smell the smoke, smell burning, and by now, he knows what that means. He knows what that means, and he picks up his pace, pulling his sword out as he goes, flinging his sheath to the side. He catches sight of Shōyō, running toward him. He grabs the back of Shōyō's coat, hefting him to his feet as Yuri steps in front of him, raising his sword. He sure as hell wishes he still had his coldblood powers whenever he has to take this thing on, but he can't really think about the what-if right now. He doesn't have them anymore, and his new powers aren't quite as useful here, but Shōyō is new to the sword, and Yuri and Repede, at least, are not.

Repede has foregone his ball and pulled out the long knife from the sheath on his shoulder, and the two of them bear in on the Unsnake ]

Get your guard up!

[ Yuri shouts back to Shōyō, because he has a feeling that the guy isn't going to run away from this fight ]

[asas]

Yuri!

[ his voice comes out cracked and mildly panicked, having had about just another heart attack when grabbed, thinking that it was this thing’s massive tail. but god, he’s relieved. he’s been having classes but nothing actually prepares him for fighting this thing on his own. he’s only been hear a month and excited about all the weapons— but he was a goddamn volleyball player, not a warrior, and he hasn’t even been here long enough to steel himself to it the way yuri faces the curse.

he wants to run, but he won’t. not when he’s accompanied, when he has to learn, and when they still don’t have a safe escape passage. ]

What the hell do I do?! [ he has his knife up, his eyes dart at the coiling serpent, and his omen (a common, barking crow) rings an alarming call as she flew from overhead to above the spot shōyō stands upon. ] It’s too hot!

[vibing]

Don't let it hit you.

[ It's easier said than done. Yuri's eyes dart over the monster, and he's pretty sure they can't beat it. Even with Repede, it's them and Shōyō against the Unsnake. That's two, maybe two and a half if he's being generous, against a monster that's nearly impossible to kill. Running might be the best option, but not quite yet. Not quite yet.

He dodges the Unsnake, which burns against him, singeing his coat, and he slashes down at it. His sword is light, a quick blade, not really made for this kind of fight, against a monster made of fire and earth. Flynn's massive broadsword could do it, when they fought this, but his sword isn't good enough, unless...

He looks back at Shōyō, sizing him up. ]

Distract it! Distract it and we'll do the rest.

gently places this here! → beach volleyball training

[possessum]

( It's early. It's really fucking early. Peter wonders if maybe it'd be okay to give up on the idea of learning a sport, before he even started. Maybe that'd be fine.

—As a Depressed Stoner, giving up is what he'd usually do, but.... the thought of Corruption keeps poking and prodding, and even as he lies there in bed with his eyes pressed shut, deeply dreading the thought of getting up, his heart does an unpleasant flip-flop and he knows he has to do this.

(It's not supposed to be a punishment, Peter..... and you were the one who asked him to help you....)

The teen peels himself out of the warmth of his covers and.... apart from taking the time to brush his teeth, that's the extent of what he does to get ready. When he shows up to the beach at this Hellish hour, he's in his pyjama bottoms and a hoodie, hair a mess of wild curls poking out. His eyes are glassy and rimmed in dark circles, and he's yawning as he walks with lethargy.... truly, he's ready to get physical....

As instructed, he's looking for someone wearing a red jersey, halfway feeling like meeting someone so early in the morning is the most surreal experience he's ever had — when he does spot a flash of red and makes his way over. )

Hey, I— ( another wide-mouthed yawn; he looks ready to drop dead ) —hope I'm not too late.

( ....Which is a hilarious thought, really, but the guy said he started his regime earlier than this. )

[asas]

[ shōyō had finished meditation and a jog, his breakfast (he saved some, just in case) and was now working on his stretches in the sand. calves, ankles, arms, back, everything to flex and get ready to work. someone was coming this way as he curved up from a downwards dog and seal curve, throwing his arm up to wave around like a signal flare. he certainly looks that way, so early, ginger hair blowing in the cold winter breeze and, oh, he’s . . . yelling, so early in the morning? heyyyyy!!!!

shōyō bounces to the balls of his feet and nearly loses his balance— the sand gives way to his weight and to counterbalance, he throws his center back. he needs his arms behind him to steady him, and after a wide eyed “oops”, shōyō is back to offering a grin and his hand. immediately, he searches for peter’s, and shakes it himself: pure energy being waved through his noodle arm. ]

Hey, you made it! [ instead of patronizing him for being late, ] Good job getting up so early!

[ it’s good to know when to give constructive criticism, but it’s even better to know when to give encouragement. any type of despondency now when he’s trying could blow his entire lasting enthusiasm to try right out the window.

and shōyō wants to help. peter wants help. ]

[possessum]

( The position the other young man is in, is.... worrying; Peter walks up just in time to witness it for a mere flash before he's bouncing back up again. A little wobbly — and ironically, Peter's reminded of that waving noodle man thing whose likeness he claimed to in their text conversation.....

There's a startled blink, and then another; Peter looks a bit petrified for a moment (which to be fair, is his default most days), his hand weakly clasping the other's. )

Oh— I— Yeah, it's— oh.

( He says, painfully awkward (and perhaps still oddly unused to the concept of encouragement). Peter's immediately a bit Intimidated by this guy's Pure Energy, though it's definitely friendly, and so he manages a smile in return. Even if the gesture looks slightly nauseated and shaky around the edges.... it's there....!

He's just probably going to look like he's being held at gunpoint through this entire thing. )

That was some uh, pretty impressive stretching you were doing there...

[asas]

[ what trench sees vs what peter sees— ]

You know, that’s the first thing we’re getting to! [ ta-dah! stretches! shōyō rests his hands on his hips; the stretching was no big deal— only the result for doing it during years. ] Stretching is an important part of any good warm up. It’s gonna help your muscles stay healthy and prevent injuries!

[ but he won’t— bend peter into a pretzel. yet. ]

I’m gonna show you some easy ones. If you want to see a difference innnn . . . Four weeks time? You’ll have to do them at least five times a week.