Entry DENIED (Fend)

    "Alright, alright you hunk of junk, I'm going, sheesh!" Fend growled back in response to the sound of the ever-increasing metallic rattling beside her waist. She was out training in the woods when Palibur suddenly started throwing a fit. It had been awhile since it got this cranky, glowing like a lightbulb and shaking in its sheath to the point of tugging Fend somewhat. The blade seemed to point on its own in Fend's grip, guiding her to whatever it wanted her to see.

    Palibur usually only got this worked up in response to real assholes. Like, Kowlin or Kamae-tier of bastard-ness. What was concerning, though, was that it seemed to lead her back to Korin Tower... And even as she scaled to its pinnacle, it still pointed up. Up, higher and higher, to the Timeless Lookout.

    "Oh. Oh no." Realization struck. If someone nasty was prowling around in the Lookout, she had to deal with them, fast, before they learned something they shouldn't know... What that might be, Fend had no idea, but even she was smart enough to know that the Lookout was likely hiding its secrets for a good reason.

    It didn't take long for Fend's senses to lock onto an energy signature prowling through the Lookout's halls. There was a familiar stench to it that made the masked Shinjin shudder. "...God fucking damn it, of course it's a Shinjin."

    Fend had mapped out much of the Lookout's 'shallow end' with Tysco in the past. It wasn't hard to navigate through the weaving hallways to the source of the ki she'd sensed. Just as Eikyo was finishing testing out another doorknob, the hum of light magic would resound from the hallway behind her.

    "Step no further, trespasser." Behind the Kai was Fend, masked up with her cloak waving in the slow winds that plagued the Lookout's halls. "I am a protector of this sacred place's remains." Fend snipped, explaining herself bluntly before the Shinjin had a chance to ask if Fend too was a 'trespasser.' Shad no idea if the Lookout was actually sacred, but that was the feeling she got from it. Normally she'd jump at the chance to tease and annoy a fellow Shinjin, but now was not the time to goof off.

    "Why are you here?" She narrowed her eyes, tightly gripping Palibur from where it rested in its sheath. Even when tucked away, an eerie glow shone from its hilt despite the fact that Fend wasn't inputting ki into it...

Ki Masquerade is used to prevent Fend's ki from feeling like a Shinjin's!

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Word Count: 395

    Fend couldn't suppress a snarl as Eikyo opened her mouth. Why did all other Shinjin have to always sound so detached? Fend's bitterness to her own kind prevented her from believing that the woman had benign intentions on its own, but the fact that Palibur too was glowing in warning was enough for Fend to be suspicious. "Forget favors- In exchange for an answer I won't punt 'ya off the fuckin' ledge of this place." She hissed, tightening her grip on Palibur. 

    "Have you ever considered that this place might just be hiding things for a reason? I'm not keen on letting its secrets fall into the wrong ears, ma'am." Even if Fend didn't fully understand the Lookout's said secrets or why it was hiding them herself, gut instinct had propelled her into the position of a self-proclaimed protector of the ruins' truths. "What specific information exactly are you hoping to find here, anyways?"

    Eikyo then commented on Fend's mask, causing the younger Shinjin to take a step back. It had been awhile since anyone had really commented on the catlike mask plastered to her face- somehow, most of those she met on Earth didn't comment on or mind it at all. "...'c-cuz it looks cool, shuddup." The flustered swordfighter glanced astray. "Besides, every self-respecting vigilante needs a disguise! Imagine if Souperman didn't have a disguise- the comic series would have been a lot shorter!" She huffed and folded her arms.

    "As for my pal here..." She twirled Palibur around in her hands. "...While I am still learnin' it's secrets, I know it can sense darkness in one's heart." Fend accused. Another dull pulse of light escaped from the sword's cracks. Pure light magic shone from within, dancing around the blade and flickering off of the walls beside Fend. "It has led me this far, and I trust its judgement. Explain yourself honestly this time."

Ki Masquerade is still in use.

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Word Count: 710 (+315)

    Fend was relieved to find that Ekiyo had relented about questioning her mask for now. She suppressed an amused laugh when the grumpy old Shinjin spat out the word "cool" like it was poison. Getting these sorts of reactions from her kind due to her shenanigans would never get old.

    At the revelation of Palibur's ability to detect the vilest kinds of corruption and evil, the other Shinjin grimaced, clearly upset that the blade had thrust a wrench in whatever her plans were. Her reaction was enough to confirm that Palibur's intuition was right- something was fucky up here.

    And so, Fend got a more honest explanation from Ekiyo. Apparently she was looking for some kind of poision hidden away on the highest part of the planet. "Y'know, call me crazy, but I feel like no one should have their hands on something as nasty-sounding as that. 'specially not a stinky Shinjin like you that Palibur detects some darkness juice inside." Fend hummed thoughtfully. She saw little reason to take this lady too seriously when she could just bonk her with Palibur if need be- she could afford to be a little goofy now. 

    "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..." Fend scratched her chin in exaggerated thought at Ekiyo's final question. There still was a bit more intel she wanted to try and wrestle out of her before giving her the boot. Plus, annoying other Shinjin was always fun. "If you me why you want some smelly poison water- honestly- I might consider carrying you out of here instead of yeeting you." She teased, taking another step forward. "Besides, if you want some real poison, you can always just get a can of Diet Hetap. Ick, that stuff's disgusting."

Ki Masquerade is still in use.

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Word Count: 994 (+284)