riverviewlogs | [ open (& some closed) ]

Entry tags:

[ open (& some closed) ]

who: Eichi & OPEN, Eichi & Líadan (closed), Eichi & Gladiolus (closed)
what: Open log prompt, and then some closed threads for catch-all purposes!
when: Early May (any date)
where: Various
warnings: None

(OPEN) Throwing Knives

[For as much as Eichi wanted to continue his life like normal, singing and performing and growing just like that, he knew that things would never be the same here as they were back home. There was too much that was different here, and rather than sit in his apartment and let everyone else do everything, he wanted to be able to go out and see things for himself. He wanted to know what was going on.

That's why he'd agreed to training in the first place, and that had only led to embarrassment and hospitalization. His body wasn't made for this. So how was he supposed to do anything? That shame led him to the river now, to a quiet spot where he thinks no one would bother coming. Swiping at air only makes him tired, and so he's carved out a little target in a tree and is taking his time throwing his daggers at it.

Surprisingly, a fair amount of them do hit their mark, but they slide uselessly against the tree rather than sticking in like he was hoping. He's so lost in this, and he's not made for fighting at all, so if anyone comes to close, they might find a dagger flying past them and towards his marked tree before he calls out in surprised worry. Either that, or he's busy picking up the few of them from the tree and footsteps make him fumble and knick his own finger.]

(OPEN) General

[Eichi is a performer at 4 different night clubs, and also frequently tries to get out and do anything he can, so he can be found just about anywhere! Feel free to make up any scenario with running into him at his work or on the street, or message me at

nipponpon or zlos#3826 on discord to plot something! I can always make us a personalized starter, too. c:]

Closed to Líadan

[Finally, they were able to get out and do something. There had been the show the night before, and Eichi was certainly excited to see his friend there and supporting him, but this was entirely different. He could relax and do something he wasn't used to himself. This was the sort of fun he enjoyed, casually looking through shops and recommending things for each other, and experiencing this sort of "normal" life.

It's why he's so pleased when he pushes a whole formed outfit at Líadan, gesturing towards the dressing rooms with his free hand.]

Closed to Gladiolus

[That festival was still going on. Eichi had gone to it already, seen all there was to see, and now he didn't even want to go out for very long, worried that the lanterns would remind him of how separated he was from everyone else. Things were entirely different, and as casual as he wanted to be about death, he was still worried about his own.

These thoughts have him pacing his room a couple of times before he settles to lean against the wall shared with Gladio, considering for a moment. His neighbor was home enough during this hour, for one reason or another. Eichi wasn't actually sure— had he gone to that festival at all? Maybe he shouldn't bother him. Maybe he should stay on his own and find something to do...

But he really can't stand that thought, right now, so instead, he knocks a few times against the wall his back is leaning against, waiting for a reply.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Of course. Of course, the one moment he's trying to be alone and let no one see this, someone has to show up. Not just someone, but Sasuke?? Hadn't he seen enough of his struggles? Eichi looks undeniably startled, his hands hovering in the air until Sasuke has caught the weapon without injury. Then, both hands lower, and he has to consciously think about how to speak without embarrassing himself further. Ugh, he feels like he's back in his second year of high school.]

Uchiha-kun. [Fancy meeting you here...] Appearing from the shadows like that, you really are a ninja, aren't you? My hand slipped, you see, and I had no idea you would be there...

[His hand didn't slip he's just growing worse and worse at throwing these things. It's not a performance now, but a desperate attempt to be less useless, and it's not working at all.]

[ His first instinct is to question why he would even bother to lie about being a ninja in the first place. That reflex is quelled, however, as he instead turns his head to view the abused target and then to set his gaze on Eichi himself. These long pauses are even more stressful than his words, honestly. ]

... it's more than a hand slip. I wouldn't worry about that.

You're just pretty terrible at this.

[He's so frustrated and unused to handling this. He doesn't have his status to back him up or anything else, so what is he supposed to do? Walk over to Sasuke in an attempt to grab that knife back, it seems.]

Hearing you say that so matter-of-factly somehow irritates me a little. There's a reason I'm so far from everyone else, you know. [Trying to say "you're pissing me off" politely...]

[ Sasuke watches him approach before now choosing to examine the knife, taking his sweet time with it. ]

This is poorly weighted. That won't do you any favors. [ Don't wait for an apology; it is clear one isn't coming. ]

[Reaching him finally, he moves to try and grab the thing back with his left hand, irritation clear on his face even if his words try to seem more in control.]

Did you need something from me, Uchiha-kun? Or is it that you simply like to share your commentary on weapons?

[ He allows him to take it back even if his eyes remain on it a moment longer, internally debating. ]

If it's either of those, it's the latter. I came here for unrelated reasons. [ A pause. ] You're in a bad mood.

I'm not.

[He is, and it's clear in everything. His grip on the dagger isn't strong, his fingers tremble a little, and he's glaring down at it like that will solve anything.]

But someone who's been talented and fit since birth likely won't understand what I'm doing here. I'd prefer if you didn't stare.

[ Well, that's revealing. Sasuke takes a moment to realize what exactly he's stepped into, here, weight shifting from one leg to another. ]

... [ He reaches behind himself then, wordlessly withdrawing a kunai from one of many places on his person he keeps them hidden, extending it to him. ]

[That silent offering is enough to get Eichi to relax a fraction, at least, staring down at the kunai before he reaches to accept it.]

A kunai? [He knows what it is, but he's questioning why Sasuke is giving it to him. Is this an act of kindness...]

I told you. The weight of your other knife is not suited for throwing.

This one is far better for it.

...Then like... this?

[With his left hand, he tests a throw at the tree with the kunai instead. He's got no knowledge of how to hold it properly, but his throw is probably stronger than it looks like it should be. He's always been rougher than he seems in appearance. That seems to make it go straight enough to actually stick in to the tree, even if he's not close to the target, and Eichi blinks in quiet surprise.]

[ Sasuke watches the... totally inadequate -- by his standards -- throw and luckily doesn't comment negatively on it, instead moving closer to that tree himself in order to carefully wedge it free of bark. ]

Better. [ He returns to the idol's side, then, again holding the kunai back out for him with a moment of eye contact. ]

No one's born with "enough" talent. [ A simple correction for his earlier statement, an "I suffered through training for this too". ]

[Mm, he can't deny that. Everyone should grow, or they'd become nothing over time. But Sasuke, even with the setback of having one arm, is a beautiful and naturally talented person, isn't he? Whatever challenges he might have faced, even if he had one arm from birth, might be twice as much as anyone else, but Eichi's own are still three times as much as that. And there are people who have it worse than him, he knows...

The point is, no one's starting point is the same, so to think that everyone can get to the same point would be foolish. He accepts that kunai back with a frown.

Sasuke is being nice, he thinks, and he's not sure why. It can't be pity, can it? He hopes not. That's the last thing he wants.]

No one is born knowing the day they will die, either, but it still makes it difficult to be born and told you shouldn't be alive. "A few more months, at best." That's what I hear at nearly every check up, no matter how my health has changed.

[He throws the kunai again, and even if his throw is just as poor, it at least gets into the furthest part of the target.]

The fact that I'm trying this at all is pointless [Since he's a coward who can't face anything, he thinks], but for some reason I'm still standing here.

[ The throw no longer receives his attention; Eichi's words are what have stolen that. They're honest, first and foremost, and that's what he himself always champions. It doesn't make him feel uncomfortable to hear the realities of this boy's current condition either, though a part of him wonders what's spurred this on. Just his frustration?

Words that he finds far more self-pitying follow and answer that for him. ]

... because if you weren't standing here it wouldn't be "a few more months". You'd already be dead and just waiting for your body to give out as well. Isn't that how it is?

That's...

[He's staring at the kunai he just threw, but Sasuke's words are still registering. Somehow, it's harder to look at him when he's being honest like this. All of it feels like some sort of a temper tantrum, and that's not fitting for an Emperor at all.

But he hasn't made the impression of any sort of "Emperor" or even "idol" in front of Sasuke, has he? There's not much point in trying to keep up what's not there. That title is a false one, anyway.]

That's probably right. But it's still the desperate crawl of a wounded animal trying to extend its life, in denial of the bloodied tracks it's leaving behind.

[ Rather than viewing Eichi's hesitation as a sign of weakness, he focuses on how he still pushes through it in order to give voice to what's on his mind. Isn't this the courage that he had asked him for earlier? It doesn't matter how macabre the topic itself is, it's the fact that he's saying it at all. ]

Tomorrow's an uncertainty for every person. You can make your preparations and try to make your peace as well, but you're not done yet. You could outlive me.

So continue to crawl, continue to ignore your own tracks, and face forward. [ He nods to the tree now. ] Bring the kunai back and I'll show you how to throw it properly.

[It wouldn't be right to outlive someone like Sasuke. He doesn't want to see any of his friends pass before he does, even if he doesn't want to die just yet, either. But he's being offered this here, and he can't keep thinking about that. Moving to the tree, he pulls the kunai from the wood and brings it back.]

...Is this another favor I'll owe you? [He says it more with amusement than anything else, even if there's some sort of worry underlying there. He's not actually worried about owing him a favor. Just that that's all this is.]

[ Sasuke's grown weary of outliving those close to him as well, so if he knew Eichi's thoughts he might challenge him. Luckily, they aren't forced to go down that road. ]

If you're keeping track. [ He pauses after reaching out to take the kunai, however. ] ... consider it already repaid. You made me remember something important.

...Did I?

[He can't imagine how or when, let alone what that something important might be. But he passes the kunai over, watching Sasuke's expression with clear curiosity.] What was that?

That whether it's a short life or a long life, the suffering in it is temporary and what remains after is your real mark on the world. In the end... it's what you do, not how much time you're given, that matters.

[Oh. That's so genuinely surprising to hear from Sasuke of all people, somehow, that Eichi is caught off guard. His cheeks color slightly, and he tries to hide it with a humble glance down and a short laugh. That's what he tries each day of his life to live by, so to hear that he reminded someone of something like that is a big compliment.

If he were less genuinely embarrassed, he'd be able to joke this off and tell Sasuke he was going to blush. But since he already is, he's going to brush it off.]

I don't really know how you were able to gather something like that from our moments together, but I appreciate it all the same. [All he did was faceplant uselessly and drunkenly harass his friend because he was upset he wasn't remembered... But anyway. He clears his throat.]

If you could show me how to throw it properly, I'd appreciate it.

[ It's impossible for eyes as sharp as his to miss flushed cheeks but he actively avoids trying to diagnose the cause. It's just better that way for him. Historically. ]

I feel like that's already obvious. [ And yet he's not elaborating, instead taking that kunai from Eichi and purposefully demonstrating his grip. ] You'll want to position your fingers like this. Make sure your wrist doesn't remain rigid.

Do you need it shown to you left-handed? That's how you were throwing.

[Yeah, just don't ask, it's better that way. And it fades quickly. Now, Eichi is busy trying to hold up his right hand to match the hold in mid air, but his fingers clearly have trouble working individually and together in certain instances. At the question, Eichi raises his own left hand, as well, trying to mirror the grip and having a fair amount of trouble as well.]

If you don't mind. I'm left-handed, so it can be a little difficult to match with things like this. [Learning to write sure was a bitch. He just signs his name in English and it works with the style he goes for anyway.]

[ He nods without complaint about the inconvenience; he's the one that offered, after all. His first order of business is to pass over the kunai in his hand, freeing it up for a flash of hand seals that are almost too quick to be seen. A tendril of smoke curls around the left side of his body, then, dissipating in the air only to reveal what appears to be a fully functional arm where one hadn't existed before.

It even moves on its own, freeing up another kunai with a more overt showing of the proper, now left-handed hold he has on it. ] Mimic it.

You can even do something like that...?

[Eichi can't even hide his amazement at that. He was thinking that Sasuke would just show him how to hold it, but this is way too impressive. It actually makes him feel a little silly— why is he bothering with showing someone like him this simple thing?

But he can't act like that when it's being shown to him like this. He just focuses, blinking down at his own hand and shifting to mimic the hold. He's actually used to watching videos on repeat for hundreds of times and then performing perfectly without ever practicing once himself, so something like mimicking he can do great.]

Like this?

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