jigokulogs | [SEMI-CLOSED] wretched and wild, all glory and trash.

Um... Excuse me...

( It's with great nervousness that Shealtiel approaches Andy. She seems busy, though he can't quite see what she's busy with currently, and he's wanting to make a good impression! This is someone in his faction, someone he's been told has a title, and so that must have some significance, right? Besides that, any time he's tried to ask for assignments or things to do (overly eagerly, in fact), he's been sent on pointless missions, given menial tasks doing basic labor in law enforcement, so on and so forth.

He's used to being an awkward, unwanted presence with no real place in a group, though! He's totally used to this.

Clutching a journal to his chest, he leans to try and see Andy and what she's up to. )

Miss... inspector... ma'am? ( Such formality. )

My name is Shealtiel. I'm a new member of the faction, and I was wondering if you might have anything I could help you with.

[ To be fair, at least a little nervousness is probably warranted where Andy is concerned. And her strong resting bitch face certainly serves as a deterrent for most. It's hard to tell if her expression just looks like that by default or if she's truly annoyed with whatever work she's doing. Probably a bit of both. And to Shealtiel's credit, it takes some measure of balls to approach her either way.

She glances up when he addresses her, one eyebrow arching like she's skeptical that anyone could possibly be referring to her that way. Miss Inspector? It's a shame the manners are mostly wasted on her, but maybe it earns a bit more of her patience than she might offer otherwise, if only because it's obvious this brand new officer has no idea what he's getting into with her. ]

Shitty time to get stuck with the Department. We're not exactly popular around here right now.

[ Judging by the dryness of her tone, this is not a woman that cares much for her faction. Despite the inspector's badge and Department insignia that she wears, Andy has her own motives, and loyalty towards the Enma isn't one of them. ]

You don't have to call me "Inspector." Andy's fine. [ She eyes him up and down blatantly, her attention heavy as she scrutinizes him. ] So. What are you good for?

( He hears that she says he doesn't have to call her that, but there's no way he can call her anything more familiar. For now, he's busy freezing at the next question. What is he good for?

Nothing, right? He's almost never given missions, and when he has been given them, he fails. Now, he's not even sure if he can return to Paradiso, he hasn't killed a single demon, and...

He's got to focus on the now. She's waiting! So he stands a little straighter. )

I can fight. As an angel, I'm sent out to kill demons. Um, and also getting the other angels coffee, or organizing books on the shelves, or labeling the profiles by alphabet, or replacing dead flowers with fresh ones... You know, things like that.

( He smiles a little nervously. Is he a great recruit??? Yeah?? Please he'll do anything, he can be a secretary. )

[ That earns a wry little look. An angel in hell, huh? There's some kind of irony there, even if it is a bit blatant. An angel who apparently serves as a go-fer to the others of his kind. She idly wonders what she says about heaven's hierarchy, but then again, that probably doesn't matter much down here.

She turns her attention more fully towards this recruit, one hand falling to her hip as she asks rather bluntly: ]

Have you ever actually killed a demon?

..........

( Apparently, she has hit a sore point. He looks avoidant and while he's a little less nervous, it's only covered up by shame. )

Not yet. I'm in the middle of it. Or, I was... kind of. It's complicated.

( His angelic weapon wouldn't scratch him because he has an angelic weapon, and also he's kind of hot and now they hold hands??? He's still not quite sure what happened. This is fresh.

All the other times? He just threw up on them from trauma instead. So, it's a struggle, yes... )

But I can do it! It's not a lack of strength, I swear!

[ She waits with a vaguely expectant look on her face, that one hand at her hip and her eyebrows just slightly raised at his explanation. Maybe it doesn't matter all that much — there weren't any demons where she came from, but she hasn't found fighting them to be all that much different from fighting humans. Nothing you can't kill with a sharp object and enough determination.

The throwing up probably wouldn't be all that helpful, but hey, nobody's perfect. ]

Alright. We'll see. [ A noncommittal answer, on her part. But it's not outright disagreement. It's not rejection. The next bit though, that's definitely her making a bit of fun: ] Maybe stick to the coffee runs for now. Organize a couple shelves for the Enma, if you're feeling ambitious. Enjoy that shit while you can.

( The way Shealtiel's face falls slightly is a clear sign of his disappointment. Frustration at himself mixed with a sort of sorrow that's hard to pinpoint. He wrestles with it for a silent moment before gesturing vaguely with a hand. )

I'm tired of not being worth anything. I want to do something that matters, not be given a bunch of tasks to keep me busy and out of the way.

( It's kind of like he's pouting, but in a more serious way. It's always what he deals with!! And so more eagerly, and more desperately, he continues, placing his hand over his chest. )

Please, Miss Inspector Ma'am, if you can just take me on one mission as a test run... Or maybe we could do some training together! I can definitely prove myself!

( A pause. )

Or... are you saying you want a coffee now...?

( Was that teasing or was he supposed to take a hint........ You never know. )

[ She can see his disappointment - his face is entirely too honest for his own good - but it’s a little bit of a surprise when that moment of struggle passes and he speaks again. Maybe she wasn’t expecting him to push back at all. Maybe she didn’t think he’d be brave enough. But there’s something compelling in how earnest he is. Something that makes her reconsider, even if she thinks it might be against her better sense.

Her face remains unreadable. And she isn’t in any hurry to reply, letting his plea hang in the air between them untouched for several long beats before she finally shrugs. ]

Fine. We’ll train. And I’ll see for myself if you’re good for anything besides coffee.

[ He can have a chance, if he wants it that badly. Skill is one thing, but drive is another. She’s curious enough to find out how much he’s got of each. ]

But I won’t go easy on you just because you’re all cute and new. [ Wryly: ] I never go easy.

( C-cute??

But he doesn't even have time to get flustered over that, because his face and his whole demeanor brightens noticeably at the chance. The fact that she says she won't go easy on him is even better— he's never gotten to go all out to show himself quite like this before. )

Great! I won't disappoint you! You can just name the time and the place, and I'll show up. I appreciate it, Miss Inspector Ma'am!

( He really is so overly eager, isn't he. Absolutely no one else has seen this side of him yet. )

[ Who knows if "cute" is a good or a bad thing when it comes to this woman — she looks like the type that eats cute for breakfast. When she smiles, it isn't exactly friendly. There's something sharp about it. Something a little mean. ]

Sure. Tomorrow morning then. [ Her hand rests lightly on her hip as she eyes him, amused with that eagerness. "Miss Inspector Ma'am" — that shit is going to stick, isn't it? ] I know some guys over at the Shuten Arena. They'll let us in before the place opens. We can have the place to ourselves for a little while.

[ There it is again, that mean smile. ]

I hope you're as ballsy tomorrow as you sound right now.

I'll let you decide that for yourself, haha...

( He's definitely nervous, but he's just as excited. A chance to prove himself? He has to be able to do it! So, tomorrow morning is the plan, and if she has nothing more to add currently, he sees no problem with leaving her be for now and showing up tomorrow morning as planned.

So, with a little bow of his head in appreciation, he turns to head out for now. Gotta... secure a spear somewhere... )

[ It's probably strange for an Enma officer of Andy's rank to be able to move around Shuten territory with as much ease as she does — but for some reason, the oni that run the Arena seem well enough acquainted with her, and nobody bats an eyelash when she shows up in the off hours. Instructions are left for Shealtiel to be allowed inside — he has a distinct enough demeanor, they'll recognize him — and in the meantime, Andy heads to the ring.

The Enma armory has a few standard issue weapons available to its officers, and she's made it her habit to borrow from amongst the mediocre but reliable katanas. That's the weapon she wields now. Not, in fact, her weapon of choice — but that's for when she's serious. When she wants to kill. This is just for fun. A simple sword will do.

Her warm-up apparently consists of smoking a cigarette while her blade leans up against the ropes in its sheath. When Shealtiel arrives, she'll be standing there, her hair in a long braid down her back, smoke curling lazily from her mouth. ]

( When Shealtiel arrives, he's holding a spear that Barton had helped him to rent out, and he's wearing a shirt with shorter sleeves than his usual. It means that the scars along his left hand and all the way up his arm are far more visible, but he doesn't seem too bothered by that. He's more focused on brightly looking over to Andy and standing tall and eager. )

G-good afternoon, Miss Inspector Ma'am!

( He's nervous, but it's more because he wants to make a good impression than anything else. He's well trained, he can fight, and though angels don't usually spar, he's been trained by one of the best.

But is that good enough here, where his body has been slightly weakened? He's more durable than a human, but that sword he sees sheathed against her hip is one that could leave scars like any number of the ones along his arm. It doesn't require demonic or angelic energy like it did before. So he has to be careful, right?

He stands the spear against the ground, bowing his head a little in respect. )

I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. Are there any rules?

[ She watches him as he approaches her, letting her eyes trail along the length of that spear with some mild interest. Not a bad choice of weapon — he'll definitely have the advantage of reach. She'll have to be mindful of that, more so now that she would have needed to if she still had her powers. But all this time down in hell, and she hasn't asked the Enma to give her anything back just yet. Makes her as good as mortal. Just a human woman, and little more than that.

Still, there's something about the way she carries herself. Something calm and steady. When she reaches to draw her sword, her grip is comfortable, the motion effortless in the way that comes from experience. ]

We should probably stop short of killing each other. [ Dryly, as she drops her dwindling cigarette to the ground and snuffs it out under her boot: ] Let's go until someone draws first blood. That way, Captain Shiki won't give me shit for getting someone maimed.

[ She settles into a loose ready stance. ]

Ready to show me what you've got?

I'd appreciate that.

( The way she talks about it is a little terrifying, but it's not so surprising coming from a human. He tries to push those thoughts down, to focus on what's in front of him. Not just "some human" like it used to be. A teammate here. Someone he has to be able to rely on. Who he hopes can rely on him.

With that mental pep talk, he shifts his stance and his eyes look much more serious now. )

I'm ready.

( As soon as he's given the okay, he races to come at her with his all. He's not going to stand back and be defensive. Instead, it's slashes, stabs, jumps, winding his body and taking any stumbles in stride. He's not used to sparring, exactly, but he has certainly trained. And there's something he has to prove here, so determination is high. )

[ Humans are a reckless lot, and Andy more than most. Hard to say if that's purely because of the curse or something more innate than that — though maybe the technicalities don't matter much, in the moment. With her immortality taken from her, she's left with the bad habits of the last several thousand years and only her sheer balls to back it all up. She should probably care more about risking life and limb, but it's hard when you've spent centuries growing numb to grievous injury. She can't regenerate anymore — but she's still Andromache of Scythia. Still battle-hungry. Still stupid. Still good enough with a blade to get away with that.

Besides, this is her idea of fun.

Hers is an aggression that builds. Her motions seem almost automatic at first, thoughtless and habitual — muscle memory, mostly — but he's keeping up, pushing her even, and it's almost tangible, the moment she starts pushing back. It's work, compensating for the difference in reach between his weapon and hers, but she's more than willing to earn it. The arena fills with the sound of clashing metal. ]

Come on. [ She taunts, something like amusement gleaming in her eye. ] We'll be here all fucking day at this rate.

[SEMI-CLOSED] wretched and wild, all glory and trash.

wildcard!!

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