therewerefifty | [Action all over]

[It's not so much that Makie has a clean bill of health-- she needs to keep taking this medication for another four months or so, by the clinic's reports. But she hasn't had a coughing fit in weeks and feels pretty healthy, all things considered-- just a little drained, that's all. And now, she's passed the bar of her illness. She's no longer contagious.

Which means she can stop holing herself up in her room and start going forward with plans to actually, you know...

...live a little.

What a concept.

She still doesn't go out until the afternoon though, tracking down Saori (and other house members if they're around) to inform them of a decision she's made during her convalescence. And then likely packing what very few things she has, and putting haru-no-okina through some well-needed maintenance out on the sunny rooftop. But in the afternoon she goes to several places, shamisen in hand:

Seventh Heaven, to ask after her old job;

The tea house, because it's been a while;

The forge, to request a weapon;

The Welcome Centre, to find out what apartments are still free;

And finally, back to the battledome to investigate it more thoroughly. (She keeps an eye out for Konan on her travels, mindful of an offer made a long while ago. Just in case.) Once she knows sufficiently enough (or someone programs it for her), she steps into one of its rooms for the first time, shamisen neatly tucked to the side out of harm's way, and experiences it for herself. (The program name of the day: Shift Hunters. How fitting, that they're like giant wild dogs.)

...probably stays in there a little too long, though, since her stamina is kind of shredded right now.

Catch her at any of these places or anywhere in between.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Something that perhaps benefits both of us. Where do your talents lie, Colonel Curtiss?

Does it matter? I'm adaptable. I can fare well enough in any scenario that you would operate in. [And no need to outline his strengths and weaknesses when he doesn't need to.]

Very well.

[In that case, if he's that confident.] I'd like to try my hand at Shift Hunters.

[He gives an amused whistle.]

My, someone's feeling ambitious today. Very well - I believe that I recall a program which involves those enemies.

[Jade himself has never faced Shift Hunters on the field, but he has by now practiced against all Cultist enemies who are capable of being simulated. So he does some more adjustments, and the sim is set up.]

[Ambitious. She has doubts all of a sudden - she hasn't tried this before. Just a basic program, helped by Steve earlier. But that had been...

...lacking challenge.

One doesn't enter into a battle knowing how it's going to end.]

Perhaps we will die swiftly. [Said so serenely it would be fair to suspect her of trolling. Inasmuch as 18th century disowned samurai troll.]

[He gives a soft laugh as he struts towards the door to the simulation, keeping his back to her. He waves a hand at the air as he speaks.]

My, my. Let's not get too optimistic, now.

[And he is entering the room. The environment? A desert.]

[Makie follows on behind, pausing only long enough to unclip the top casing of her shamisen and remove the weapon. The shamisen itself, she thinks, can stay out here where it's safe.

So when she enters, it's with weapon in hand, and an apprehensive look that turns to astonishment when she walks in. Guess who's never seen a desert before?]

It's so... dry.

[He smirks as he reaches to his own arm, and with a brief glowing effect, he seems to pull his spear out from it.]

You haven't been taking advantage of the Battle Dome's ability to simulate unfamiliar landscapes.

[It's easy enough to guess. The simulation is already starting - the Shift Hunters are still off in the distance, however.]

I would have to be familiar with the Battle Dome to understand such an ability existed, Colonel Curtiss.

[Her tone is distant, eyes flicking between that spear-- what a convenient trick-- to the Shift Hunters, gauging how large they really are. It's hard to really see from a picture.] Nor have I fought these before.

That doesn't make it any less fortunate. Regardless... There is no better time to start than the present.

You'll notice that they haven't advanced yet. That's because they tend to seek solitary targets. Therefore, they are less likely to attack until we've put some space between ourselves. As I've heard, only physical strikes to the head will truly do the job.

Solitary targets? I see.

[Then if this is to be her target of choice...] It seems we both have weapons of range. I'll see you in a few moments.

[Going left.]

Very well then. Please have a pleasant death. [He smirks and adjusts his glasses before going right. The Shift Hunter seems to be taking notice of him - he keeps his spear at the ready.]

[No response to that. Makie continues to tread left, almost sauntering, eyes on the approaching Shift Hunters. She makes no move to attack, more content to study the size and gait of the strange creatures, her gaze flicking briefly back to the one that's advancing on Jade.

Pretty sure if the man can summon a spear out of his hand, he'll be fine. Herself, unless this thing breathes fire or something...

Aim for the head, is it?

Then another breaks from the pack and starts trotting in her direction, and she lifts the pike. It's big.

Oh, well. Why wait. Abruptly, she changes direction, sprinting to meet it halfway, the length of her pike whipping out behind her.]

[Jade is able to divide his attention as the shift hunter advances - between the shift hunter and keeping an eye on Makie to observe her skills. It helps that this isn't his first time practicing this particular simulation. And he's used to fighting in the desert.

It's an abrupt attack she performs indeed. Jade simply waits patiently until the shift hunter feels confident enough to charge at him. It lunges at him with a biting motion, but Jade is able to hold out the pole end of the spear to block the attack and push it back, while preparing his own attack.]

[It's abrupt because she needs the momentum. She wasn't expecting these dogs to be quite so big, but that isn't anything she can't deal with.

As she closes to attack, she forgets about Jade being here. The pike whips forth, hooked edge burying itself in the shoulder of the shift hunter, and she vaults, twisting away from its head as it lunges to snap at her. The teeth snap shut half an inch from her waist as she sails past, flipping past the bulk of its body with the use of the pike's foothold, as it were.

She lands lightly on its back, yanking the hook free. The wound itself is shallow, and nothing compared to what happens when she continues the swingthrough, windmilling the two blades of her pike behind her to take its head off.]

You're a feisty one.

[He remarks towards his own Hunter before glancing towards Makie. He does movements to fend the Hunter off carefully while he watches her do her thing. And it is impressive, as well as brutal. He takes a moment to call out to her.]

My, my! Let's not get ahead of ourselves so quickly.

[This time when the Hunter lunges forward, Jade manages to make a quick dodge to the side - and he stabs his spear into the head as it passes him.]

[Getting ahead of herself is the best way to put it. When she drops from its back she stumbles a little, frowning at the hollow feeling to her limbs. Months of bed rest can really strip a person's energy levels away, who knew?

So when she hears Jade call out, she thoroughly takes him at his word, because sarcasm pshaw. :|]

Y-yes. [So magical spears that appear out of nowhere are just as solid as the real thing, she sees. Good to know. She glances around for other opponents.]