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.]

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[ The itinerary for the day is blessedly mundane, so Genji and his brother were on their way to do some shopping when they begin to pass by Eichi's spot near the river. As they get closer and the form of the person is clearer, Genji recognizes him. The boy with an illness from the festival? What is he doing out here, he wonders? He's about to call out when he sees him, in an obviously untrained form, fling a knife at the nearby tree. And miss entirely.

Now thankfully Genji is the resident speedy cyborg ninja, so he zooms to meet the blade and catches it easily between two fingers. He tilts his head a bit, putting his free hand on his hip. ] Eichi-kun?

[ It's not harsh or anything, a genuine question. ]

[ it's not all that new for Hanzo to see Genji suddenly dash forward, even if the speed with which he moves is more than it once was, so he doesn't startle over Genji snatching the knife out of the air. (a bit showy, he thinks, but that's Genji.) instead, he takes in the rest of the picture; the knives scattered around the tree, most of them clearly having gone in the right direction but not sticking.

Hanzo moves as if to pick one of them up, and then stops suddenly — realises that he can't. still can't bring himself to touch a blade. he turns to Eichi instead and folds his arms. ]

It is pointless to practise accuracy without the correct amount of force.

[ if kids are going to be out here throwing weapons around, they should at least be doing it properly. ]

Ah—

[But Genji catches that knife before he can even warn for it, and Eichi's hand drops almost defeated. He's so fast... Incredible. That questioning call of his name may not be scolding, but he still feels ashamed for his reasons for being here. That, and Hanzo's follow up words have him wanting to let his shoulders sink lower.

But that wouldn't be fitting for an Emperor, would it? He has to keep his chin up, his back straight, his shoulders back. So he does, even if his eyes look a little more hesitant.]

It's Genji-san and Hanzo-san. [Both at once, the full package...] Sorry. I hadn't meant to aim it anywhere near the two of you. I had no idea you were coming this way at all, so I suppose I was a little lost in thought...

[ It's the Super Shimada Brothers, here to do what They Must.

Genji gives his brother a little look before heading over to Eichi. He offers the blade back to him hilt first, shaking his head. ] No need to apologize, it was an accident. Have you been at this a while?

[ The scene certainly paints an interesting picture. A young man who for all intents and purposes seems to be a performer, trying to throw knives? Interesting, if a little concerning. ]

[ Genji is difficult to read now, without the visor removed, so Hanzo isn't entirely sure what the look he just got was supposed to be. he assumes it was some kind of disapproval for something. ]

It looks as though you have been putting in a great deal of practice. [ well, he'll follow Genji's lead in this conversation, even if it's more cautious than he would have been. ]

...It's a pathetic sight, so I don't mind if you tell me so.

[He starts with that, taking the blade back with a hard stare down at it.] I've been here for an hour, or perhaps a little longer... It's easy to lose track of time like this. For someone like me who can grow tired over even something as simple as walking, I wonder if I can really do anything about this, but I've been worried that because I'm merely a liability, people will refuse to take me anywhere.

Living stuck in my apartment and unable to see or participate in anything is just as bad as being confined to a hospital. [In his irritation at his own body, he throws the knife again, watching it thump uselessly against a lower part of the tree and missing the target.]

[ Ah. That is something Genji at least can understand, in a way. He's all too familiar with feeling frustrated with your body. ] I would never think of you as pathetic. It is always admirable to try.

[ Genji watches the knife plunk against the bark and fall to the grass. He wants to say you don't need to try to be a warrior to be helpful, but he knows that would just be frustrating to hear. He puts his hands on his hips. ] Would you like some tips? We have nowhere pressing to be, right brother?

[ Hanzo has a little familiarity with the aspect of physical limitations — when he had to learn to walk with prosthetic legs there had been no time pressure, no one to return to, and he had still been impatient with it all — but more than that, he knows the anxiety of being inadequate. and he knows that when he was younger, training like this was about the only thing he could do to quiet it. ]

Not at all. [ the response is a bit automatic; he thought he was getting used to hearing anija again, but it strikes him to have Genji use it so easily in front of someone else. he collects himself quickly: ] Though I am not the one experienced in throwing knives, little brother.

[ not anymore, at least. he doesn't have a problem with this turn of events, though; doesn't at all mind helping Eichi with this, and it doesn't even occur to him to be bothered by it. he looks from the knife Eichi just threw to Eichi himself, considering him. ]

If your problem is with the physical demand, then technique may help. But it could also be that you need a better option than knives.

[ he doesn't have his bow with him, but like. wink wink nudge nudge. ]

[With the two of them speaking to each other like this, it's a little like watching a stage play, or some sort of historical drama. Because of that, he can't help but relax a little. He doesn't know why, but it's lighter hearing this sort of talk. Maybe it's that he can tell that's what it is, and that it's so much closer to home than all of these other people from different planets. Or maybe it's just amusing.]

If you two don't mind, then I won't say no to some help. You see, at home, I was busy with school and my family business, and things like clubs and student council. On top of that, I was in the hospital quite frequently, so even at the thought of picking up a weapon just once, I would get scolded.

[He doesn't go into why he wanted to pick up a weapon at home, either.] Not only is my body weak, but I'm left-handed, so it could be some trouble teaching me anything. Ah, but did you have some suggestions? Daggers were suggested to me, but I don't believe Gladio-kun knew that I can't manage close combat when he suggested it.

[ The Shimadas were outliers in that picking up a weapon right after you learned to walk was the norm. There's a part of Genji that almost wants to protect Eichi from that kind of knowledge, but. Circumstances were hardly typical and who knows what this young man has even been through before they all arrived here.

Genji chuckles a little at his brother. ] I agree, there may be a better option for you to try. But let's see how it goes.

[ Yes, brother, feel free to talk about your bow and arrows. Genji leans down and picks up one of Eichi's knives and looks at it; it was getting a little dull from the repeated tree bark battering, but it was still decent enough for practice. ] And don't worry about being left handed. [ Genji holds the knife in said hand and looks at the tree. ] You want to have a good grip and good posture, those are the key elements.

[ as he said, this is really more Genji's area (since he's useless himself, since he can't make himself just pick up a fucking knife) so for the moment, Hanzo falls back, his tone conversational while Genji gives Eichi instruction. ]

The recommendation is not without my own bias, [ said with a pointed look in Genji's direction, shut up little brother ] but a bow may suit. I could look into having a brace developed so that drawing the string is less strain on you.

[ he's already using the company to make specialised arrows, he doesn't see why he can't use it for Eichi too. ]

The grip is what concerns me. I've thrown weapons for performances before, but there are some days where I cannot even lift utensils to feed myself.

[He glances down at the other remaining knives on the ground, then back to the one Genji is holding. And then Hanzo speaks again, and Eichi turns to glance curiously his way.]

Ah... archery, is it? That troublesome childhood friend of mine would never let me live it down. [Head of the archery club, always scolding Eichi for doing things that are too dangerous.] "You'll hurt yourself" or "You never had interest in this before, so why now?" I don't look forward to hearing anything like that, but the truth is that I'll probably never see him again.

[He glances back to the knives.] ...I wouldn't be against considering it, at this point, but seeing as there are only these weapons here now, should I try this first?

[ All this was doing was just making Genji's concerns a little more serious. Master would be much better at this, but he can't just let it sit.

He twirls the knife in his hand and looks back down at him. ] Eichi-kun, your value to others is not determined by your ability to fight. [ Genji looks back at the tree trunk. ] Strength is not measured by one's skill with a weapon, or physical ability.

[ when they were younger, that definitely isn't something Hanzo would have heard from Genji. he may not have measured all of his worth by his ability, but he was definitely proud of it, boastful; this is a completely different perspective.

Hanzo was going to say more to Eichi, but he goes silent at that, his brow furrowed. it's clear that Genji is the only one here who thinks that, and it's not something that Hanzo can understand. ]

I'm well aware that there can be strength in different areas, Genji-san, but my "strength" as an idol, or even as a leader, offers nothing outside of these walls. It's not that sort of "strength" that anyone looks for when they determine if I should be left behind to wait like a damsel.

[He's bothered!! And he looks back to Hanzo at this, like his silence must mean agreement.] It's not that I want to exist on the front lines, since I prefer to avoid violence, but I don't want to be seen as a liability who can do nothing for himself.

[ He notes his brother's silence but doesn't take his focus away from Eichi. ] I apologize, I did not mean to sound like I was trying to deter or talk down to you. Wanting to protect people, in any way, is always worthwhile.

[ Genji shakes his head and gives a static-y chuckle. ] But I offered to assist you, not lecture you. Why don't you show me how you've been throwing the knives? A different grip might give you better force when you throw.

[ Everyone has to find their own answers in their own time, after all. And he knows his own circumstances better than Genji does. ]

[ this conversation might as well be happening in a different language for all that Hanzo can relate to it. it's never been a desire to assist or protect others that motivated him, and he's never worried about being left behind; it was always pressure from outside that drove him.

he looks back and forth between Genji and Eichi with that same uncertain frown on his face. ]

If that is the case, [ he speaks slowly, as if hesitant to contribute here ] then it is all the more important that we find a weapon that best suits you. But for now — let Genji see what he can do for you.

If you insist. To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed to throw this in front of you two who must have such skill...

[But, he'll lift his knife and throw it at the tree just like he has before. It's sloppy from the grip to the throw, his fingers tremble a little because he can't keep his hand steady no matter what, and the force is lacking direction. So, it's horrible all around, and he knows it.]

I think this is what they call "starting from the bottom."

[ Genji shakes his head. ] Everyone starts somewhere, there's no need to be embarrassed.

[ He watches him throw it and, no, it isn't great but that's perfectly fine. It does seem he would benefit from a brace, but that's just something to file away for later. ] Why don't you try this kind of grip?

[ He holds the hilt of the knife like one would hold a hammer and shifts his stance so his left foot is forward. He throws it simply and the knife spins in the air and lands on the middle of the target with a satisfying thunk. ] It helps you not need as much force behind your throw.

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[ open (& some closed) ]

knife throwing with the weird uncles;

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