Let's try that again...
Oct. 12th, 2009 03:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Now that he's growing accustomed to having her as a true agent again, Myra's recovery in her own world puts The Shadow slightly short-handed. He finds his own wheezing a severe liability whenever stealth is needed, forcing him to rely on other agents for quiet investigations. The alternate solution, and one he struggles to uphold, is to be supremely diligent in taking care of himself except when he truly needs to take to the streets firsthand. The restriction grates on his nerves, and coordinating agents to do some of the footwork takes up more time.
He is careful, following the unexpected incident in ancient Japan, and he is also busy. The drug market has gone fairly quiet, but there is a definite gradual increase in violent crime. Arresting the individuals involved seems to have no impact on this slow crescendo. The network is spread wide and thin, scratching the ground for clues. After a matter of days, The Shadow has done all he can do about the matter. Once again he must wait, sift the city through his agents, and hope some vital puzzle piece comes to light. On this break from work he recalls a social obligation. A morning outing has him arriving at the Rettigue apartment with sake and scotch. The place has been abandoned the past few days, but that means there's no paperwork to tidy. The grand spaces and spartan furnishings should make it a comfortable place for a blind man to visit.
When the sake is warm and the cups set out, he sends off an invitation, and then laughs quietly at his own unfamiliar attempt at hospitality.
He is careful, following the unexpected incident in ancient Japan, and he is also busy. The drug market has gone fairly quiet, but there is a definite gradual increase in violent crime. Arresting the individuals involved seems to have no impact on this slow crescendo. The network is spread wide and thin, scratching the ground for clues. After a matter of days, The Shadow has done all he can do about the matter. Once again he must wait, sift the city through his agents, and hope some vital puzzle piece comes to light. On this break from work he recalls a social obligation. A morning outing has him arriving at the Rettigue apartment with sake and scotch. The place has been abandoned the past few days, but that means there's no paperwork to tidy. The grand spaces and spartan furnishings should make it a comfortable place for a blind man to visit.
When the sake is warm and the cups set out, he sends off an invitation, and then laughs quietly at his own unfamiliar attempt at hospitality.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 12:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 12:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 12:10 am (UTC)"Even." He repeats the motion, noting that this roll is even again. He's not just taking notes during this either, he's genuinely enjoying the game. One of his many vices, and he finds an extra enjoyment from it when he's had a few drinks especially.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 12:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 12:43 am (UTC)"Game!" He repeats the command, his voice is quieter, but still as demanding as any proud dealer.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 12:49 am (UTC)"Is... it odd?" Even as the last word is spoken, his PINpoint beeps softly with a message. So intense is his concentration on the dice, he jumps slightly and bangs his knee into the low table, making the glasses and bottles clink dangerously.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 01:00 am (UTC)"You alright?"
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 01:17 am (UTC)Nothing seems to have quite fallen, and the only item to take any damage is his knee. "Sorry for the interruption..."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 01:29 am (UTC)"It was odd." He offers the bottle to The Shadow. "And don't worry about it. As far as interruptions go, it could have been worse." He sips at his sake with a grin.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 01:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 01:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 02:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 02:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 02:34 am (UTC)((OMG, seriously? Buzzed Ichi and Buzzed Shadow waving canes at each other in the Rettigue apartment? The idea has me hysterical!))
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 02:44 am (UTC)The Shadow stands, very slightly stiff at the knee, and goes to fetch the cane from the stand at the door. He returns with it and nudges it gently at Ichi's hand. "It's not a sword-cane, but see if that's acceptable. I promise not to hit you with the head of it." He seems amused over the idea of a slightly drunken friendly match.
The cane is sleek and cool, but it is varnished wood rather than metal. The head of it is a silver eagle's head, however, not much smaller than Ichi's fist. It could certainly serve as a brutal weapon in the right hands.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 02:58 am (UTC)Ichi inspects the length and then lets his fingers dance over the ornate handle and smiles.
"You are a man of fine tastes." He laughs and hands the cane back to The Shadow, using his own to help him to his feet. He stands with his feet wide in his usual, bow-legged stance. "The cane will be fine, if a bit oddly weighted." He holds his cane at his hip as he lowers into a slight squat. "One of the most important things, in the draw, is not to forget about the hand holding onto the sheath. You have to draw with both hands, really." He reaches over to draw, and brings the entire cane out, sliding it through his hand in a slowed demonstration of the proper technique. He ends with the sword held almost parallel in front of him.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 03:09 am (UTC)The Shadow moves to stand beside him, facing the same direction and leaving space enough that they're not likely to hit each other by accident. He takes a wide stance as well, but does not quite mimic the bow-legged aspect of it. That might be a bit much on his knee at the moment. "It's mostly for show. Sometimes it's convenient to play the part of a feeble old man."
Watching closely, he tries to copy the motions, pulling the whole of the cane from his side as if it were a blade.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 03:25 am (UTC)"A lot of this can be done almost the same way if you're holding the blade the other way, instead of in reverse. For me, rotating the wrist makes it a faster motion." He 'sheaths' the cane and reaches out for The Shadow, setting a hand on his shoulder to locate him. He lifts his hand as he moves in front of The Shadow, standing still, with his ear towards him. Carefully, he reaches out with his cane and taps The Shadow's foot, and then adopts a more traditional stance, returning the cane to his side. "I'm not going to cut, but I'll draw. I want you to draw the way I showed you, using a forward motion of your body, instead of cutting, like a normal attack. Aim here." He motions to his gut.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 03:40 am (UTC)The shoulder he finds is bony and quite high, but The Shadow stands patiently still while he reorients himself. He mirrors the pose and holds the cane at his side, attempting to mimic Ichi's moves. He's not moving particularly fast, focused on mastering accuracy first. The cane itself makes a harmless but sure slice for the blind man. The grip feels terribly backward, since he's not used to it yet.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 03:56 am (UTC)Ichi draws, and The Shadow will note, that the draw/cut comes in quite neatly beneath Ichi's traditional guard. Reaching out, Ichi checks the position of The Shadow's cane.
"See?" He backs off a step and repeats the reverse draw at the same speed as before, with a forward motion that almost looks like he's trying to ram his shoulder into his opponent. "It's a whole-body cut. If you have enough momentum, you can shove them away so that they won't fall on top of you as you move on to the next target. Iai, is about efficiency. The fastest way to defeat an enemy with the fewest movements."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 04:13 am (UTC)"Hm. Height may be a disadvantage, again." The Shadow shifts his stance, crouching lower, and makes another attempt. He is rail-thin, but wiry, and his moves have force to them. The second attempt is no quicker, but more fluid and delivered from a better angle. "I've had that problem a few times..." There were guns involved, but having a pile of bodies block one's moves is never a good thing.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 01:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: