Jackie only had to think on it a second before sighing and rolling her eyes. Of course, the joke doesn't land with her current predicament, but she was still going to give Cel shit for it. An elbow goes low to jab him playfully in the lower pectoral while she laughs a little through the nose.
"Alright, smart guy, I think you know what I meant! I hope. Sheesh, not even my thoughts are safe from bad retorts." She did really want to thank him for just listening though, even if for a moment. The short bit of reprieve away from having to think about every little thing she was doing to prepare... To help. She had to carry on regardless, but this at least showed she could step back a moment and just relax with someone. Far too long ago those cautious words of her last master were ignored out of necessity... But she wouldn't be at full strength in such mopey conditions.
So let's just live.
"Perfect! Then I know just the place in East City. Used to go when I was doing temp work for some engineering firms. They've got the best curry this side the galaxy, I tell ya." Pause, before she moved... She looked at herself and then at Cel.
"Whenever you're good to go, that is. Can you fly there or do ya need me to carry you?" Funny question but she actually didn't know.
Celerous laughed as he suffered another jab of Jackie's elbow. He'd almost forgotten how nice it was to just stop and chat with someone. Lately, every conversation he'd had was serious. Either about East City, or Fukushu, or how the PCRT was gonna scrounge up supplies and so on. Communication had become a tedious task... but not now. In this moment, for a little while longer, he didn't have to worry about being the Chairman of the PCRT or the Commander of Task Force Shield.
Right now, in this moment, he was just a farmer again. Like before he'd left the farm all those months ago.
"Right behind you," and then Celerous added, "yes, I can fly."
Celerous took the the skies easily, as if he were born to soar them. He found it humorous, that Jackie would assume he couldn't fly. Someone of his strength, incapable of such a thing... but then again, he'd seem some pretty strange things in a very short amount of time. The idea of someone powerful not being capable of flight, well, it didn't seem so wild compared to things like bubblegum monsters and meeting actual God.
The young farmer followed the Guardian for a good while in silence. Mostly, he occupied himself by thinking about the week's upcoming work. He had to start reaching out to other benefactors for his non-profit, and somehow produce a supply chain for grain out of thin air. But then his thoughts drifted, whimsically, and a sudden question bubbled to the forefront of his mind.
"So... you're Kami. How exactly does that work?"
Someone had to make her God, right? People didn't just go around claiming that title for themselves... or, well, some did, but Jackie really didn't strike him as delusional. It wasn't like she just declared herself a deity?
WC: 303 TWC: 3782
"Somebody has to start. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right. If nobody starts, then nobody can follow."
Never hurt to know. She knew a few strong peers that had to Hulk bound their way around the place to get anywhere at any good pace. Bundling further into this loaned jacket, she flared her warm orange aura around her as she took off. Something hot enough to even keep the nipping cold off Cel, should he travel anywhere near or at the tail.
"Come on then, short trip!" Telepathy was actually easier than shouting over a flight, so she could very well keep him conversational if he wanted. Which, he did eventually pipe up. Wasn't like they went at lightspeed or anything, so the two probably got bored quickly with just the mundane flight. She lets her arms free from her side and shrugs while maintaining speed out ahead of him.
"That whole part is convoluted... I've almost always called myself a guardian of Earth since I've trained for it. But this place I used to frequent, the Lookout... It had an expansive old Library. And some manuals left behind by a past kami. It detailed a lot of things, like what it meant to be a guardian of earth, to train other warriors of earth. Most of it lined up with what I did." So much so that her then a friend was sicced on her by the ring.
"It was succinct enough for an ancient demon to leap out and attack me from my friend's body. They could 'sense' that holy energy in my soul or some nonsense. I'd get a lot of people hurt that day, myself included. Then destroyed the lookout. It was around the time the moon also got a chunk blown out of it." it was about as good a summary as any. She didn't sound all too happy repeating it, but she didn't hesitate in the details. There was a good dozen seconds of silence before she got into his head again. She'd skimp over her own wounds from that event for now unless pressed.
"I have a pretty middling track record right now. It doesn't help that apparently Kami's suppose to have several helpers, and... Well, I never saw my friends as simple guides like that. None of us were really experienced enough to handle what we went through. Still ain't to be quite honest. We can barely handle strong stragglers, let alone if some force wanted to invade proper."
Celerous had understood that whatever this "Kami" position was, it meant being in charge of the defense of Earth. All they had talked about just a short few minutes ago, well, it was self-explanatory. What he didn't get was all this business about being "holy." A demon attacking her made sense to him. He'd dealt with a few demons of his own: namely Kamae and Chervii. One was an omnicidal maniac with a superiority complex and a life-sucking tree, and the other... well, they were a little odd.
Either way, he wasn't surprised by the idea of a demon being responsible for what happened to the Lookout.
"That sounds like a hell of a bad day," Celerous tried to commiserate, "I'm sorry. But for what it's worth... the Earth still stands, Jack. I'd say you're doing just fine."
As much as he wanted to focus on what happened to Jackie, he couldn't. She mentioned how she felt they weren't equipped to deal with the kind of people who threatened the Earth, and Celerous agreed wholeheartedly. It was the reason he'd established Task Force Shield in the first place. When Fukushu had decided to nuke a city, it had taken a whole group's combined effort to convince him that the Earth wasn't worth the trouble. President Ottick had laid the hurt on the Heran, but Celerous wasn't sure that even someone as strong as him would have been enough on their own.
There needed to be more of them. They had to be unified.
"For what it's worth, I agree. You, Derry, and I might be the strongest people on Earth, and still we aren't enough. That's why I founded Task Force Shield. I think that's why Derry offered me government grants... though that was probably partially motivated by a need for good press. Either way, his motivations don't matter to me, so long as I'm in a position to protect the Earth. And if Kami is supposed to have help... then let me be that help. My team is small, and we've only got two crises under our belts, but we're at your disposal."
Celerous didn't exactly like the idea of renting out Task Force Shield to another. Not even the President himself. But if couldn't trust Jackie not to take advantage of his offer, then he couldn't trust anyone. And Celerous refused to live in a world where he couldn't trust.
Mmm, the calamity brought on by people like Fukushu was why she and others like her had always gathered. It made just about as much sense as anything, really. Disorganized as it was, she held them in high esteem and gave them all she could. And sure, they'd have their own victories. She doubts Russ would be anywhere close has he not found the tower gang, for example. And Cel was right. As middling as she thinks of herself in the moment Earth did in fact remain. A bit in disarray, but remained all the same.
"Yeah... You're right. Earth Remains. At least they didn't try a city that day. Thanks." Getting over herself was part of the hurdle, admitting you couldn't do everyone. Especially alone. She had long since gotten over this latter half of the equation. Cel seemed to reason that if she required help then she could use his newly formed organization as one. For a moment she'd just let the whipping winds fill in a moment of silence as she thought. Her eyes closed as she hummed to herself.
"I'm not some Captain or anything, Cel. I appreciate the sentiment, but people shouldn't be bound to my word and direction if it doesn't follow their hearts. That'd include anyone in that group. I would never turn down chances to meet and train them, to teach them if need be. And if they so choose to follow me outside of that, then all is fair. But as a master to point people at problems? I am not. I know you and anyone who cherishes their home will be there regardless of my direction. We're fairly simple folk like that." Their pace would make streamline jets blush, and it wouldn't be long before East City was upon the pair. Cresting just over the horizon.
"So, maybe to answer you properly, I can meet with them all. Whenever is fine by me, I preoccupy myself with training and scouting around to help those in need. I gave you my Number. We can connect when the others are free." And while the city started opening below them, Jackie took a moment to lower her presence back to that of an average human. Her orange aura disappears as she descends and shows him the Solar Scoville alien spot she had her eyes on for a while. Waving at other guests walking along before leading the pair in to get seats and a nice meal.
Apr 6, 2024 1:21:15 GMT -5
Lottus: Friendly reminder for new folks to check the rules regarding art claims - AI Art is not accepted on Sparking for character sheets.
Apr 17, 2024 14:43:28 GMT -5
Lottus: Hey folks, got a new phone, but verification is preventing me from downloading Discord for now
Apr 17, 2024 14:43:57 GMT -5
Lottus: I won't be available until I get home from work!
Apr 17, 2024 14:44:58 GMT -5
Lottus: Feel free to dm me if needed!
Apr 17, 2024 21:13:47 GMT -5
Dingo: I'll post what you've said here up in the discord so it doesn't get missed!
Apr 18, 2024 19:19:20 GMT -5
Yakito: I am the #1 Tenrec hater (Striker will be struck)