Private Dunnstads Seaside Stroll

[Harukami]

"Wow, the sea!" Harukami cheered, standing on the coast near a smaller town in Dunnstads. "I don't remember where I was going, but I'm glad I came here first. The water is so beautiful!"

Harukami stood as close to the water as she could- well, without actually stepping into it. She crouched down, using her staff to draw in the sand the kanji for happiness. "This is bliss," She told herself, smiling softly. "I wish 'Tsuko were here at times like this. She'd surely have a lot of fun..."

No. No, it was good Etsuko wasn't there. This game was dangerous, and the last thing Haruka wanted was her sister getting hurt or killed. Sighing, she stood back up and threw a rock to skip it on the water. "At times like this, I should be happier, but... Life without her is really lonely..."

Suddenly, Harukami's social anxiety sent a chill up her spine. She was certain she'd heard footsteps in the sand. "I-Is someone there?" She asked, turning around.

@Morpheus

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

Morpheus was honestly not sure what was going on anymore. he had been in the game for more then sixteen hours and ever since the moment he appeared elsewhere nothing odd or death related seemed to happen but he would be damned to back down from his choice to stay until he bit the bullet. That said he simply chose to walk, looking for another good spot to enjoy the final moments whenever they did come. That was how his barefoot crunched into sand and his wooden cane tapped along with them as he was spoken to.

"Just a aged soul looking for a final resting place. Pay me little mind youngster..."

Spoken in a hushed tone as he moved to avoid the writing on the sand and admired the coastal view some. His mind drifting back to the days he could go to beaches when his wife was still around and it did not hurt him to visit them. His mind playing tricks as shadow versions of himself and his beloved Harp danced across the sand with their kids. Even if she was in pain from all her issues she would smile for the kids, push herself to do as they liked. It pained Morpheus some knowing the truth much later.

"My beloved Harp, why did you endure such pain alone? Was I not your partner in sickness in health? Maybe I would have helped, prevented some of the damage if I had known what it cost you to dance like so with us..."

His senile rambling as he traced some of his old footwork, what most kids now would call a waltz but to him was all he really knew. His eyes watered as he could only walk down memory lane in these places so close to his home it seemed. His gaze looking out to see the same rock he used to drive the boat to and make jokes about being a male siren. The countless times he fallen off into the water with the camera ruining it. A massive library of memories, now simply playing in slow motion as he sat down on the sand just outside the waves.

Rolls

No action taken

@Harukami

 

[Harukami]

Haruka frowned a little when the older man spoke his response. Looking for a final resting place? She'd never met her grandparents, so the thought of an old man looking to die was far from pleasant. "E-Excuse me!" She sputtered, turning to bow in his general direction as deeply as she could. "A-Am I in your way, sir?"

Harukami may not have known what it was like to be a senior citizen, but she understood mental distress and problems better than most. She was, after all, an ex-amnesia patient with PTSD and other varying degrees of issues. However, she failed to 'pay him little mind' even after he told her to do so and seemed lost in his own little world. She heard him mention dancing, and a name of some sort as well. She caught on quickly, he was remembering someone important he'd lost.

Walking to sit next to him, she gave a gentle smile as she looked in his direction. "S-Sir o-older gentleman, you were a dancer?" She glanced out towards the water, pulling her knees to her chest. "That sounds... Nice. I-I've always been weak and clumsy. My sister... She tried to teach me once, you know. To waltz. I-I just kept stepping on her feet." She laughed nervously.

"I doubt... I doubt Harp minded what it was c-costing her. I-I don't know her, o-obviously, but... I'd like to think she danced because it was fun. Etsuko always dances with me even if I'm n-no good. S-She says it's fun. So..."

She scrambled to her feet to bow to him again. "I-I'm sorry for not minding my own business!" She felt her face grow red with anxiety forcing her blood to circulate rather rapidly. "I just... W-When I die, I want the people I love to be smiling, so... I t-thought maybe Harp would feel that way too. I'm not saying it'd be easy! B-But..."

An idea sparkled in her mind suddenly, and she held her hand out to him.

"P-Please teach me to dance! Like Harp!"

@Morpheus

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

"Oh heavens no, I was two left feet at best in my youth and two hands in my later years ha-ha... But my Harp enjoyed it when I tried to dance alongside her and the kids."

Morpheus would give a faint smile before waving for all the formality to stop, he was long past the point of needed or wanting people to do such things. His cane drawing out his wife's name for the first time in years, not just her nickname. 'Elizabeth Martian Rodgers' the name only there for a moment before the waves would claim it and leave only 'Ebe Mian ger' before the next wave would claim it all. Like time her name would fade no doubt once Morpheus was no longer able to recall it.

"I wished for such a thing also child, but my children stopped caring when my will was given, my grand kids claim they had things going on... And thier kids barely knew or did not know me. This old soul has nobody left to see smile when he parts from this world... only the welcoming smile of his muse and reason he fought so hard for so long..."

Morpheus kept looking out to the sea as he spoke, watching as shadows from his curse trait and death within the game before it went down caused him to see the reaper far out approaching. He could not entirely judge how long it would be before they caught him, so he would simply stand up while slamming his cane into the sand so it would stay upright. The girl wanted lessons and while he himself was no dancer he did know a few things he might be able to convey.

"Firstly I'm not old gentlemen... My name is... Erm I guess in game Morpheus... But Alexander Rodgers in real life, not like it matters much as I'm due for death's dance any hour now and just staying on barrowed time. Firstly the key to any dance is the music and the feeling you have in here."

He would take a moment to point at both his chest and head, symbolling his heart and mind before speaking more.

"Trying to waltz to heavy metal is asking for mistakes in most cases. In the case we have here... Nature's melody..."

He would go silent, listening to the subtleness of the air around them, trying to find the best choice to fit the lesson. If the girl spoke during this time he would wave to his ears hinting to listen not so much speak.

Rolls

No action taken

@Harukami

 

[Harukami]

When the older man waved off her formalities, she laughed nervously before reading what he wrote in the sand. Haruka was lucky to be able to read it- her English wasn't half bad, but she still tended to add vowels where they didn't belong. With her finger, she started to draw the name in Japanese of her own 'special person', her sister. It disappeared just as quickly, however.

His words gave her a sad smile. He was so lonely!

"I-I never met my grandparents," she told him heartily. "I'm... J-Jealous of yours, for having the chance." She stared out into the water, her indigo hair floating gently on the breeze. "M-My family is just my sister, mother and me. It has been as l-long as I can r-remember." Okay, so that was a partial lie. She had nightmares about her father's beatings sometimes- but this old man didn't need to know that. Heck, Haruka hadn't known for a long time either that they were real events.

When the man told her his real name, Haruka chuckled a bit. "I-It's nice to meet you, Mister Rodgers," she told him, glad she didn't stutter his name. Instead of thinking about internet safety, she all but forgot they were in a game for the moment and mimicked him for a minute. "My name... is Akimiya Haruka." Suddenly remembering as he noted his name 'didn't matter', she squeaked, "I-I mean Harukami!"

She followed his finger as he pointed to his chest and head. When he then signaled for her to silence herself, she nodded to him. She tried to listen to the melody of nature, but when she lifted a foot to try to twirl to the melody, she dug her toe into the sand and fell. Another nervous laugh escaped her, as she remained silent, trying to hear the melody a bit better, laying in the sand without moving.

@Morpheus

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

Sadly Morpheus could only sigh with the information the girl had given him. To think parents and their own would repeat the mistakes of their elders and either avoid or neglect the generations after by choice or whatever reason. Even when he was fighting for his life he made every attempt to reach out to family members far down the tree until it was clear they wanted nothing from him but money and gifts. Returning his focus to the song of nature though.

"With how nature chose to compose this moment, a waltz or slow dance would work. If you would be so kind as to accept this old kindle's invitation to dance."

A slow gesture of his hand out to Harukami as he watched her attempt a twirl and fall. he did not laugh or feel it right to do, this was a dance lesson not a roast and he likely would fall far more then the youth if he was dancing on whim not just teaching and trying to support the kid in their effort to learn. Slowly he would stagger to the left away from the waves, feet catching over one another as he too would fall over but get back up not long after.

"It seems even these old bones obtained my two left feet dance masterfulness ha-ha."

Her had not even managed a dance step without failing, but he was not bothered by failure as it was only a step closer to victory if you could get back up and he very well could in this case. Waving his hands to where the sand was more compact as golden shoe prints roughly their size showed up with the use of his divine magic. How it happen the old man had no clue but he would roll with it like many other things that happened around him considering it the work of his beloved Harp helping from outside his sight.

"Each dancer is different, that is what makes it a true form of artist expression Little kami. Don't try to follow my words exactly or it will look no different then you dancing with strings above you. Let the sounds and your emotions guide your steps. Enjoy the moments you succeed, and recount the failures to move ahead and not make them again."

Rolls

Inspire
2d6 (5 + 2) = 7
+7 to 3 targets' checks (Self, Harukami, The ghost)
---
Reflex Save
1d100 (16) + 7 = 24 (Failed DC75 -due to old and bad dancer-)

@Harukami
Player Sheet Link

 

[Harukami]

When he held his hand out to her, she smiled brightly. Was this what it was like to have a grandfather? It was a soothing feeling, spending time with this old man. He was so calm and strong hearted! Getting onto her feet again, she dusted the sand off her skirt and took his hand. "It would be my honor."

It was the first time in a long time she hadn't stuttered at all.

She was going to offer to help him up, but he was already standing by the time she had a chance. A soft giggle left her when he mentioned his two left feet. "What's more important... is um..." She pointed at her heart and head. "Right? I think that's what you said." She knew her memory could be a little awkward, but that was what happened sometimes with brain damage. She could only hope she got the answer properly.

The girl was soon confused as footprints showed in the sand where they were not yet moving. She saw a spectral figure, but it was hazy at best. Was it someone trying to help them bond? Either way, she whispered a thank you to them, and tried to follow the footsteps with care.

She did trip once or twice, but her failures weren't too bad considering how much she stumbled normally. When he told her to let the sounds and emotions guide her, she took a deep breath, trying the dance again from the beginning. "The sounds and my emotions..." It went a little better this time.

"I-I'm doing it!" She chirped, stunned. "Ojii-san is a great teacher!" Hearing her own words, she flushed crimson. She'd called him 'grandfather' in her native tongue. She'd said it politely, mind you- but it still felt unfair. "I-I'm so sorry! I-I know you're not my grandfather! I-I guess I let the f-fun get ahead of me!" Her stutter returned with abundance as she felt ashamed for it. "I-I just thought, 'so this is what it's like to have a jii-san'. Mine died before I was born, so I just..."

Rolls

Save
1d100 (38) + 20 + 7 = 65
Reflex | Harukami | 788

@Morpheus
Player Sheet Link

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

"I think I'm old enough to be your great grandfather little Haru. But I don't mind people calling me that even strangers. 'It's a badge of honor, for someone to consider you family even if it also jabs at your age.' Is what my Harp would always say."

Morpheus had made the mistake of trying to speak and dance at the same time, ultimately causing him to miss step and fall once more catching his own knee to his rips and forcing a small coughing fit from him as he tried to get the air back into his lungs and stop the pain. Getting old sucked sometimes, but it was part of life and sure he could have made his character younger like some no doubt had but he was a stubborn old bat. Either way once he regain his focus he would stand back up.

"I am sorry to hear you never got the chance to meet your grandparents, but sometimes it is for the better... I know I'd take having never met mine... But that is prehistoric history by now ha-ha."

Cracking a small joke at his own age as he slowly resumed dancing, his eyes playing tricks on him again as he saw his Harp sitting nearby humming the same tune as the coastal breeze. His own lips also began to hum the same melody. While he may have had two left feet, a bad back, and aged beyond his prime he was still able to hum and it soon turned into a whistle. He was his harp's vocal or 'songbird' as she called him, never one to admit he liked the nickname or say it anymore as it carried far to much weight on his heart.

"Just keep letting the melody decide the flow of the dance. Allow yourself to enjoy the moment or the feeling of nature not technology. The moment is all that matters, live it and you can find a smile even in the darkest moments... Sorry I'm rambling again aren't I?"

Rolls

Inspire
2d6 (1 + 5) = 6
+6 to 3 targets' checks
---
Reflex Save
1d100 (67) + 6 = 73 (Fail DC75)

@Harukami
Player Sheet Link

 

[Harukami]

The girl's face flushed. He didn't mind her calling them that? It was a heartwarming realization, though a sad one all the same. To think she'd find a person she could call her jii-san, even spiritually, in this dangerous world. Then again, was the real world any less dangerous? To Haruka, whom had trauma up the kazoo, it certainly was not.

"T-Then... M-May I think of you as my ojii-san?" She asked cautiously, biting her tongue at the end of her question due to anxiety. "Obaa-san... I would have l-liked to meet her..."

When he hummed, she tried to hum along. She danced surprisingly well this time, staying close to the old man to help catch him if he fell. She did trip once or twice, but managed to catch herself, gracefully brushing it off with a smile. "Ojii-san is very smart," she said with a big grin. "I like it when you talk to me. It's not scary. It's warm."

Her stutter was slowly fading away. She'd already called him her grandfather in her head- now she was treating him like family, melting away the anxiety in her heart. Sure, not all family was 'safe', but this man was a gentle soul in her mind. She was thankful to have met him. "M-May I add you as a friend...? I want to see you again. And dance again. And ask more about ojii-san and obaa-san. N-Not that I'm going anywhere right now, but... Just in general..."

Rolls

Reflex Save
1d100 (85) + 20 + 6 = 111
Reflex | Harukami | 788

Player Sheet
@Morpheus

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

Morpheus had slightly misheard Harukami, thinking the girl was asking to meet him in real life sent him into a small spiral as he stopped dancing. Was this person one of the doctors trying to get him out of the game to take his meds? They forced him to take them before so why now. He had paid for the next few months of staying at the hospital and it had not been that long since he was in the game that followed real time had it? Either way the fact loomed and the idea she was trying to get him to log out did not sit well with him.

"Now listen here! I said was not logging off this game until I was dead and that ain't gonna change. I'm sick trying to endure all that pain when nobody around makes it feel worth the effort. So don't go trying to change my mind you lying doctor... Getting me to trust you then try tricking me to log out. I should have known something was up when you did not fall from dancing after you said you had been clumsy!"

His tone a low growl as he marched back to his cane and sat down in the sand almost like a child having a tantrum would. He did not want to get violent, last time he had his body felt like it would break down and he ended up in some random ass spot he had no memory of walking to not long before finding the beach. The shadow form of his wife no longer around as the reaper off in the distance was closer now making him grumble aloud.

"Damn reaper taking your sweet ass time when I'm ready to go now. Everyone here in this damn world anymore just wants to use me or lie to me. Most from my generation are gone and clearly did not teach their kids to be better then them, or the kids ignored those lessons like mine had!"

More grumbling protest as he kept smacking his cane into the sand to vent his anger. He did not know if he would get a second life alongside his harp, but if they did he surely hoped they would do better and not worse. Hell he would be fine not getting a second attempt as he failed five kids already, there was not hope after failing three times in his mind as he grumbled and mostly ignored the 'doctor' near him.

Rolls

Will Save (DC 50)
1d100 (36) + 5 = 41 -FAIL-

@Harukami
Player Sheet Link

 

[Harukami]

Haruka paled hysterically when the old man started getting aggravated. Wait, he thought she wanted to meet offline? "S-Sir please! I'm from Japan! I can't meet you anyway probably!" She shouted at the top of her lungs- but her voice wouldn't come out. Tears were running down her cheeks. How had this gone so wrong?

She fell to her knees. How had she just ruined this? The man mistook her innocent affection as a ploy to trick him into something. She really just wanted to become friends with him- and maybe, just maybe, learn what it was like to have more than her sister and mother in the world rooting for her.

She began to sob slightly, on all fours in the sand. "That wasn't... what I wanted at all... I just wanted... I just wanted a jii-san of my own... I wanted family... Because I... I can't let Etsuko come here... Or tell my mom... I can't... I can't let them find out... That I..."

Rolls

Expertise Check
1d100 (1) + 25 = 26 (Critical Failure!)
Presence | Harukami | 788

Player Sheet Link

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

Morpheus Heard the girl, and he was aware enough to know when people had been honest as he grumbled a bit to himself for his ears going rogue during a mission such as this while scratching the back of his head. He was not good at helping people who had issues as he always powered into his and walked out the other side stronger and more resilient to issues So he simply got up and reached a hand to the girl.

"Blame this old soul's bad hearing. I don't have much time left in this world so the least I can do is try to be your... Jii-san? I never recall all the different Japanese language as I was only deployed there for a year or two and was stuck in the base the whole time because I had shrapnel in my back."

Morpheus recalled that fragment of his life, He could still cringe recalling his afro days had been not long after since the last tour he did before is discharge was that event that ruined his back and the rest of his life since not all of it could get pulled free. Part of him wished his Harp had told him to lose the afro or his kids had because looking back made him notice why they always laughed because he started going bald so it was more like a hair-cano as they called it.

Moving back to the solid sand as he would cough before trying to recall his old melody he would whistle at times when things did not seem good. Sadly his brain failed him this time and rather then whistle something cheerful he started to whistle a very eerie tone he used to put one of his grandkids to sleep since they always seemed to like darker things. The tone only made the peaceful beach all the more unsettling as he kept going unaware of the matter just yet.

Rolls

Will Save (DC 50)
1d100 (29) + 5 = 34 -FAIL-
---
Knowledge Expertise Check (DC 25)
1d100 (18) + 0 = 18 -FAIL-

@Harukami
Player Sheet Link

 

[Harukami]

When she sensed a hand stretched out to her, her crying began to cease. "N-No, I'm sorry... I-I break down too easily..." Harukami knew her faults were vast- and her anxiety was certainly one of them. She feared causing trouble, she feared others hating her. She had good reasons for these fears, of course, but her history wasn't something to tell people, at least not in her mind. Telling people she was the victim of domestic abuse as a child would just make them awkward around her more than her anxiety could cause.

"Ojii-san is how we refer to grandfathers," She began to explain. "I-It can mean an elder in general, though. I-I know you said I'm too young, but..." To Harukami, the man was still familial in her head- and she hadn't actually any great grandparents, so she didn't remember how to say it. "I-I'm sorry I keep s-slipping into native tongue with that." She almost apologized in Japanese, but instead showed curiosity when he spoke of being deployed in Japan at one point.

"S-Shrap...nel?" She had to fight to remember what the word meant. "T-That sounds dangerous... Does it still hurt?"

@Morpheus

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

"Not a day went by it did not hurt, things like that never fade with them... Be it physical or the phantom pain, or the mental strain of the memory of how it happen... Pain is both the hardest obstacle and greatest proof of living. Though I do have to say, don't feel in in my back or spine since that tripping moment of showing up elsewhere when I was getting away from some annoying kids making bets on how long till I croaked or rolled into the grave..."

Morpheus would stroke his beard thinking about it, most of his old pains from his real life had vanished around the same time. His vision was not fading, his back and bones hurt less, and his old heavy injuries did not have as much hold over him. Shrugging it off as simply spending more time in the game then a few minutes let him only worry about the elder pains of his choice avatar. Somewhat recalling people asking why he picked an old man, when to him he was still rather youthful and not foreign in his body.

"Anyways would you like to resume the dance practice or prefer to talk over some issues... I might not be good at helping with them but I do have one piece of elderly advice from my experience with issues... A strong heart, soul, and mind can overcome almost any issues aside from age ha-ha."

Morpheus slammed a fist to his chest as he spoke the last bit, that was how he dealt with everything in his life so far. Boot camp, never give up. Trying to win his Harp's heart, never give up. Getting kids of his own, never give up. Losing his Harp, never forget the good times. Injuries from age, fight and push back. His whole life he never stopped getting right back up and proving others wrong. He was told he would die countless times over the years yet here he was still standing albeit NOW he was ready and death was not it seemed.

Rolls

No actions taken

@Harukami
Player Sheet Link

 

[Harukami]

"P-People place bets on such dark thoughts!?" Harukami chirped in surprise. People were sickening sometimes. Didn't people know to respect their elders? And that death wasn't just a game? Just the thought that people did that to this kind man was appalling!

She listened carefully to his advice. "A strong heart, soul, and mind, huh..." Her heart and mind were weak as a piece of paper, in her thoughts. "Ojii-san," she began, already used to calling him such. "H-How do you strengthen them? M-My sister likes to tease that I'm made of sand..."

And, if she had to be honest, she agreed. He'd already seen her heart shatter from something so simple. Her mind wasn't as sharp as most- her memory was about the size of a goldfish, as the saying went. The only thing she had any confidence in was her skills at cooking and crafting!

"I... Have brain damage," she finally admitted. It was the first time she'd told anyone about it in a long while. "L-Long story short, my um... m-memory isn't very good. It takes me, um, a lot longer than most people... to do certain things, like study... Can ojii-san teach me to strengthen it? A-And my heart, too..."

@Morpheus

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

Morpheus would look puzzled, how exactly did you explain strengthen such when it was more a metaphor for not giving up? So he could only stroke his beard a few times before thinking the simplest way was best, just talk and maybe the point gets across and if not then just say they to young to understand the words of the wise man of the mountain tops. Enough thought was placed, it was time for the elderly rant.

"To strengthen one's heart you must strength your mind you must first strengthen your soul before it. To become a fortress one must endure and get up after each issue they face. If you get told you cant, you say 'watch me' if you fall you get back up, If you feel like hope is lost find it. That is how you strengthen your soul, and as you do such the others will follow in kind. The mind is more then just memory and the ability to learn, it is how we decide what is right for us, and to strength the heart is the courage to face even the hardest challenge you face."

Morpheus was in full ranting mood as he only stopped to catch his breath, his cane tapping the sand as she drew out the three words 'soul, mind, heart' and kept tapping near the one he was speaking of and drawing a circle around them.

"For me the hardest fight I endure is life without my Harp, but she wished me to live my life to the very end for both our sake so even if I wished to stay beside her I stand here ready to duel the reaper for just those few extra seconds. My mind, clouded by darkness of my past failures or short comings only make me ready to prevent more from building up. My heart a fortress with an open gate to those who need care and compassion and refuge from their darkness. It all comes back to the soul, can you face the weight and stand back up like atlas, or will you let it crush you?"

Rolls

Knowledge Expertise Check (DC-70)
1d100 (77) + 0 = 77 -SUCCSESS-

@Harukami
Player Sheet Link

 

[Harukami]

Haruka listened to the ramblings of the old man carefully. Some of the information went straight through one ear and out the other, but most of it was retained in a confused manner. For a few moments, Haruka simply stared at Morpheus, wondering how her grandfather could be so wise, yet so confusing. The strength to not give up? Haruka wasn't sure how to get that.

"I think I get it, but it sounds very... um... hard? H-How does one learn to never give up?"

In reality, Haruka didn't give up easily on most things. She was a neuroscience major with a faulty brain, for crying out loud! But even if she didn't give up easily- proven by the fact she was still playing this game knowing about the three death rule- she was still very weak. "Jii-san, I... I-I don't want to give up... B-But the world, it's still so scary... H-How do you face it so calmly?"

@Morpheus

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

"You don't learn it, you live it. You have to just tell yourself to keep getting back up and not let words or actions of others slow you down. I also want to say if you think I handle it calmly is a generous statement. I just keep the panic inside or vent when I'm alone ha-ha."

Morpheus would smile as he admitted one of his many faults. He had to think of some of the others mostly choosing to forget them until they came up as to avoid the worry they caused him. Adjusting his posture with the ease of back pain for the moment as he would resume speaking to Haruka.

"Even if the world is scary every cloud has a silver lining. You will always find someone willing to share the weight if you look for them, but resign to handle it alone it will crush you. I recall when I first met my Harp and she tried to get me to talk about my issues all the time and I just pushed them aside to ask about her day. You will find the people that can support you so long as you push forward. You will find the solution if you don't let each mistake slow you down, You will find a way to smile at the scary things if you just recall every storm will pass."

Morpheus would look to the skies as he spoke, he felt bad repeating his Harp's words to others without giving her the credit but also knew she hated the attention. Reaching one hand from his cane skyward before clenching his fist and moving it back to his cane as he would tap it and summon the divine light in the sand again, this time in the symbol of a circle encasing a heart, and within it a brain. Soul, Heart, Mind. Moving to stand within and reach a hand out for Harukami to step over the first layer as if accepting the notion to take the first step herself.

Rolls

Nothing

@Harukami
Player Sheet Link

 

[Harukami]

Harukami was a bit jealous of Morpheus. He was older and wiser, and even knew how to hide his panic well! For Haruka, her panic always showed in her voice and actions. There was also the matter her anxiety was almost always turned on- this man seemed to have it all together to Haruka, even if he made it clear to her he didn't. But then, she remembered something- something her mother had been telling her since her coma many years ago.

"I almost lost you because you hid your pain. You have to tell people when you're hurting- it's not safe to do otherwise."

"O-Ojii-san, um..." She was nervous about the danger he might face if he kept his panic inside like he did so far. He was alive still, and he was strong, but... "I-If it's alright with you... Next time you need to vent, you can come to me. I-If you want to, I mean. Mom always said it's b-bad to l-lock things inside, so..."

Of course, Haruka's mother said that because Haruka almost died hiding she was being abused- but Haruka still didn't quite catch on that that was the cause of her mother's worry and words, even half her life later.

"I-I want to be one of the people that gives ojii-san strength," she said, as she stared at the light on the ground. Taking the first step, she spun in the sand- only to fall down and have to get back up again. "I-I'll do my best to become stronger, so... Let's give each other our all! W-Would that be alright?"

@Morpheus

 

[Morpheus]

Somewhere in Dunnstads

"I don't lock it all in, I just shout it atop mountains or when I know I'm alone. Course with my age I also stopped caring as much and lash out if someone makes me mad ha-ha."

Morpheus would adjust his posture to ease his back while looking back out at see no longer able ot see the reaper in the distance. Sighing as it seemed he would be around a bit longer before he would meet his Harp her returned his focus to the youngling with a confused look. Did she really want to spar with him? Raising an eyebrow as he reached to clean out his ears and tip his head cupping one ear as if he did not hear her properly the first time while he spoke.

"Give each other our all, I don't think you would want to spar but that is one way to get stronger as long as you don't mind this old rusty joints a moment to warm up..."

Speaking as he would begin rolling his shoulders and stretching as Divine magic crackled around him. Moving to slam his cane into the ground and drape his white kimono over it before he took up a pose from a timeless anime. Legs parted, center mass low, and arms tucked at sides as the divine magic began to swirl around him. Then came the funny moment of him shouting aloud while his beard flew into his face while Divine magic surged upwards around him while he turned back to the youngling ready to go.

"Ok, I'm ready to go least a round or two, Don't worry to much about me, I'm built to endure and dish out a few hits all the same. But for the sake of this come at me with all you got little duckling, Class is in session!"

Rolls

Mastery Check
1d100 (96) + 5 = 101
Divine Magic | Morpheus

@Harukami
Player Sheet Link