Well, at some point we decided pacifism meant grappling - apparently @PoptartProdigy said grappling wouldn't have a pacifism malus? In which case it's a fair argument. I'm not a fan of trying to create an infinite feedback loop (which to be honest, doesn't actually make any sense - the new energy has to come from somewhere) but I was excited to hear that we might still be heavily using our ki talents in this planned grappling build, since Kakara loves her ki so much. Also, ki manipulation in general is cooler than grappling, though that's not really an argument for it as much as a personal preference so it would get laughed down as a reason.
It's not theoretical, it's been a part of the show since the Tri Beam was introduced. They noted that it used life force and thus decreased a person's lifespan.
But if using lifeforce that way decreased a person's lifespan, it would indicate that the life force was very unlike ki in that it does not regenerate over time, has a finite amount that is set at birth, and cannot be replenished or increased by training.
Think about it: if using this stuff decreases your lifespan, it means that it doesn't refill, and you use some tiny bit each day to live. When it runs out, you die. This further indicates that there is no way to restore it, or people could just live forever (barring accidents) if they got it restored from time to time.
It's honestly much simpler (to me) to assume that life force is simply early installment weirdness (which DragonBall has in spades) and a different name for overcharging ki. Alternatively, it could be some form of ritualized sacraficial magic, possibly a very simple type that even otherwise non-mages can be taught to use. Enough of Tien's crap is strange enough that I'd buy it as ritualized magic.
Think about it: if using this stuff decreases your lifespan, it means that it doesn't refill, and you use some tiny bit each day to live. When it runs out, you die. This further indicates that there is no way to restore it, or people could just live forever (barring accidents) if they got it restored from time to time.
Well, you're technically wrong in your framing but yes it's hard to construct a concept that doesn't requires, essentially, that you always are in the hole compared to the previous day that doesn't allow immortality. (eg it could be 'gain 5', lose 10, a day', but that's essentially what you're saying on the practical level.)
Honestly, as stated otherwise simply donating ki is generally quite enough. Blood sacrifices...wouldn't really do anything beyond that and would prompt the above reaction from Kakara regardless.
You'd look like a participant in a ROTC showing up in combat armor. No! Better: You'd look like Prince William showing up to Sandhurst in a full costume of royal regalia befitting the crown prince that he pulled out of a museum.
In other words, you'd look ridiculous given how inappropriate the armor would be to the situation and the presumption of a higher station that you could or someday will claim but presently do not hold. It makes a political or military statement, and a damn weighty one. Showing up to training in it just makes you look insecure.
Well, at some point we decided pacifism meant grappling - apparently @PoptartProdigy said grappling wouldn't have a pacifism malus? In which case it's a fair argument. I'm not a fan of trying to create an infinite feedback loop (which to be honest, doesn't actually make any sense - the new energy has to come from somewhere) but I was excited to hear that we might still be heavily using our ki talents in this planned grappling build, since Kakara loves her ki so much. Also, ki manipulation in general is cooler than grappling, though that's not really an argument for it as much as a personal preference so it would get laughed down as a reason.
Does that mean if we shot laser beams at people with intent only to injure, we'd avoid the malus too? And if we're grappling a dude to hold them still to kill them (a la Raditz) do we still avoid the malus? Does it matter if we shoot the beam or someone else?
Finally, which is bigger: our pacifism malus or our ki bonus? I'd hate to focus on avoiding the malus too much, especially since there's every chance we'll eventually at least partially lose it through trait development.
Does that mean if we shot laser beams at people with intent only to injure, we'd avoid the malus too? And if we're grappling a dude to hold them still to kill them (a la Raditz) do we still avoid the malus? Does it matter if we shoot the beam or someone else?
Finally, which is bigger: our pacifism malus or our ki bonus? I'd hate to focus on avoiding the malus too much, especially since there's every chance we'll eventually at least partially lose it through trait development.
For the first paragraph: Lotta nope. For one thing, if you read the trait, Pacifism imposes a malus on training, not performance. Laser beams are a technique that the thread recognizes as lethal. Grappling is one that the thread -- and by extension Kakara -- thinks of as inherently non-lethal. Thus, it suffers no malus.
They are roughly equivalent with a slight edge to Pacifism.
For the first paragraph: Lotta nope. For one thing, if you read the trait, Pacifism imposes a malus on training, not performance. Laser beams are a technique that the thread recognizes as lethal. Grappling is one that the thread -- and by extension Kakara -- thinks of as inherently non-lethal. Thus, it suffers no malus.
They are roughly equivalent with a slight edge to Pacifism.
Ah, sorry, on my phone so couldn't check. Though ki prodigy vs pacifism being almost equal limits the importance of grappling to my mind - we could still go for a ki-manipulation based build, especially given the possibly-temporary nature of the malus.
[X] Plan Deathbybunnies
[X] Slack (1 action)
[X] Best Fit (1 action)
[X] The Nosy Girl (1 action)
[X] Train Ki Manipulation (2 actions)
[X] Command Training (1 action)
[X] Train Specific Skill (1 action, may be taken multiple times) Multiform (Still keeping it a secret)
[X] Beg Sensei To Teach You [Write-In Specific Technique] (1 action) Mind Projection
[X] Family First (1 action) Mato
[X] A Scion's Duties III (1 action)
[X] Get Organized (1 action)
[X] New Tricks (1 action) Telepathy
[X] The Examined Life (1 action) Driven
-[X] If we think it'll help, ask our family for their thoughts
In Which Things Are Off To a Surprisingly Easy Start
You sigh, flopping back in your chair and staring up into the sky. "Who cares, Gemma?"
"You're slacking again!"
You and your friend are at Sophie's eleventh birthday party. Sophie has a winter birthday, making her the oldest in the group and also meaning that it's one of the first things happening this year. You and all of the Misfits -- Jaron included -- are there, along with some of the other kids in your grade that Sophie knows. You're all at Sophie's house just having fun, and food is everywhere. Honestly, it's just like play dates usually are, but with more of everything. And, having cornered you away from the main bustle, Gemma is nagging you about your (to be honest) abysmal study habits.
"Still," you say, in the interest of accuracy. "I didn't really stop."
"That's worse!"
You groan.
"Isn't your mom a teacher?" asks the other blond, crossing her arms. "Why doesn't she make you do your homework?"
"Mom's rules are that you get the best grades you can," you say. "It's not like school's hard. Two plus two is four. Seventy-eight times forty-seven is three thousand, six hundred and sixty-six. The stuff they're teaching us is boring."
Gemma frowns, looking away. "I know you're good at math, Karen, you don't have to show off."
She looks a little bit hurt, actually. You sigh. She doesn't like being reminded of how far behind you she is on that subject, and that was kinda braggy. "I'm sorry," you say. "I'll stop."
"Thanks." Gemma fingers the book she brought with her and eventually thinks better of it. Instead she looks over at Jaron, who thus far has remained silent. "What do you think, Jaron?"
It's an obvious attempt to draw him in. He might as well not be there for as far as he's gotten into the conversation so far, and there's no smooth way to draw him in. But he sat by the two of you, so you have to do something to get him involved.
He shrugs, looking typically nervous at the prospect of having to speak to one of the girls who have dragged him into their orbit. "I mean...I don't really study either," he says, looking sheepish. "I get good enough grades without it, and Mom doesn't care too much. So...why bother?"
Gemma puffs herself up, looking indignant. "You could do better!" she says.
He just looks away, making a noncommittal noise.
"Well, I think he has a point," you say, trying to paper over the awkward moment.
It works, to a degree. Gemma swivels back towards you. "Of course you do!"
You grin back at her. "Relax, Gemma. Jaron and I are fine. Have you seen Maya?"
Subtle as a train crash, but the subject change works. Gemma shakes her head, distracted. "No, I think she went off somewhere with somebody else. Why?"
You shrug. "Wanted to ask her something. It's not too important, though."
That's a lie. Well, sort of. You've been meaning to talk to Maya about the weird looks she's been giving you -- and about why she stopped so suddenly. She's gotten a lot more comfortable around you, and you don't know why.
The timing makes you suspicious given the scouts' arrival soon, although you're trying to keep it under control. There are probably many perfectly innocent explanations. But you're still curious.
You feel Jaron's eyes on you and suppress a shiver as you meet his gaze. His eyes are piercing and cold as you lock gazes with him. Not old, just...really focused in a way that most kids your age never get. He does that a lot, sitting on the edge of conversations and staring at people. You still haven't ever seen him blink. It doesn't even look like he's interested in what's going on, most of the time. Just like he's trying to figure something out. It's creepy.
And, just like always, the moment you make eye contact that strange gleam vanishes and he looks away, suddenly unsure of himself. "She actually went off alone," he mutters. He points to the doors leading outside. "She told Sophie she just wanted to walk outside for a little while and then left. She just walked into the bushes at the edge of the yard." He becomes aware that the two of you are giving him very odd looks and shrinks in on himself. "What?"
"...were you eavesdropping on them?" asks Gemma, looking bewildered.
"No," he mumbles, looking down. "Sophie's loud. I just heard it. They're right over there."
You shake your head slowly. You didn't "just hear" it. When you focus, sure you can pick up what they're saying, but you're usually not focused that way. But...you get the feeling that he's being sincere.
He stands up abruptly. "I'm going to get a snack." He walks off, but stops before he can move more than two steps. "Excuse me," he blurts. He looks at the two of you as though searching for a reaction, and then blushes, hurrying off.
"...I don't really get him," says Gemma.
You watch a small flinch cross his shoulders as he reaches the snack table. "I think he heard you," you say. He flinches again, and your eyebrows go up. "I think he heard me."
Gemma winces. "Sorry, Jaron!"
He half-turns, face red, and gives her a tiny nod before going back to the food.
"He's got really good ears," you say, lowering your voice to a whisper.
"I know," she replies, following suit. "But wow, he's worse at this than we are."
You hum. "Sophie said that you went over to his house last week, right?"
She nods, brightening. "Yeah. His Mom was nice. She made pizza."
You conceal a grimace at the mention of Dandeer. "What about Jaron, though?"
"He got a little better," she says, chewing the inside of her cheek. "We watched some TV. He really started talking when I asked him what his favorite book series was." She smiles. "He picks good books. Other than that we played in his yard a bit. They have a big yard. He wasn't this bad."
"Maybe he doesn't like parties?" you say.
"I don't like parties, so I don't blame him," she says, lifting her nose into the air.
You look over him as he picks his way through the snack table. "I'm going to talk to him a little," you say, standing up.
"Again?" asks Gemma.
"He's our friend now, right?" you ask, dropping the whisper. You don't miss how Jaron tenses up and freezes all of a sudden. "We're supposed to help him out."
"Well, yeah," says Gemma, opening her book. "Duh." She looks down at the book as you walk off.
As you approach, Jaron becomes engrossed with something at the snack table. He slowly reaches out and picks a single chip out of a container. He eats it slowly and then turns away, a look of vague triumph on his face. Out of curiosity, you glance at the container. You can't pick out the brand, but there's a slogan that stands out: "Betcha can't eat just one!"
You give Jaron a look that says, Really?
He flushes, shrugging.
You decide to let it go. "Hi again."
"Hi." He eats a carrot, avoiding eye contact.
You sigh. Direct approach it is. "Wanna go outside?"
He blinks and actually looks at you for a moment before looking aside again. He glances around the crowded room, particularly at where Sophie is trying to keep Jenny from yelling at somebody. "...sure."
You smile, and the two of you step outside.
It's misty out today, in the light and happy way that happens when all the water near the ground is making a really fluffy cloud. Sunbeams poke through the mist here and there, and it doesn't restrict visibility too much. Jaron takes a deep breath the instant he's over the threshold and outside, a world of tension lifting off of his shoulders. A slight smile crosses his face. The moment stretches for a while as the two of you stroll out into the yard.
"So...you don't like parties?" you ask, breaking the silence.
He grimaces. "Too many people. I don't know what to do."
You shrug. "Talk to them?"
He gives you a disbelieving glance before looking away. He gazes off into the bushes at the edge of the yard. "...how?"
You frown at him. "Like I just did? You just say something. Ask something."
"I say the wrong thing."
"So just laugh about it and try again."
He shakes his head slowly. "No."
Yeah, he's not budging on that. You let the silence go for a minute. "You can always talk to one of us," you say.
He blinks. "'...us...?'"
You grin. "The Misfits! We're not going to laugh at you if you say something wrong." You giggle. "I bet Sophie wouldn't laugh at you."
He turns bright red. "Sophie's scary."
"Why? 'Cause she likes you?" You start laughing.
"Yes," he says, rubbing at the back of his head. "That's scary."
"She can't be worse than bullies," you say, cocking your head. "You fight them."
He frowns in honest confusion. "I can't fight Sophie, though."
It clicks. He just...doesn't get it. He's had so few friends that he just doesn't understand how socializing with people is supposed to work. He can fight a bully. He can read. He can get through school easily. He can't just talk to somebody, because that's not something he has the tools for. And when he tries, he winds up using tools from other things that don't work there. And he knows they don't, which is why he panics so easily. It's a lose-lose situation.
And yet his life is still better than Jaffur's was -- and is. You wince.
"Well, I hope you don't," you say. "But you can still talk to us. We'll listen, no matter what it is."
He looks at you, and then smiles slowly. "...thanks, Karen." Silence falls again. This time, it's comfortable.
Until...
"Hurk-"
You whirl at the choked sound coming from Jaron's mouth. He doubles over, eyes rolling back into their sockets. His power level -- a high-for-his-age three, normally -- spikes to seventeen. A breeze stirs the mist.
The faint, unsettling feeling of magic taints the air.
His hair lifts into spikes, the color flickering from blond to brown and nearly reaching black before oscillating back and forth. His eyes roll back down and he stares at you with a pair of hauntingly familiar black eyes.
"S...cion..." says Jaffur, his gaze drilling into your own.
Jaffur makes a Willpower check: [Well, duh...]
"Jaffur?" You say, breathless with shock at the sudden transition.
He grimaces with unbearable strain. "I...brother...don't..."
Your mind makes the connection. "I know, Jaffur! He's your brother, I know!"
The barest hint of a relieved smile flickers across his face and-
Jaron blinks, his hair falling back down into blond ringlets and his eyes fading to blue as his power level returns to normal and the stench of magic fades. "Ow. Ow. Headache..."
"...are you okay?" you ask, not sure if he knows what just happened.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just ow. What gave me a headache?"
"...don't know." You give him a cautious glance as he presses a hand to his head. "...do you ever think about dreams, Jaron?"
"Yeah, why?" he asks, his normal shyness buried under irritable snappishness from the pain.
"Ever wonder what would happen if people could share them?" you ask, trying to look straight through his eyes and hoping that Jaffur gets the message. "If somebody could step out of their own head and into somebody else's mind?"
You hope Jaffur gets the message that he should expect you. But Jaron just gives you a bewildered and irritated look. "...you're weird, Karen."
You laugh, playing it off. "Well, yeah! We all are. It's why we're the Misfits. Just like you."
He pauses for a moment and then turns away, still rubbing at his head.
He glances up and then back down. "Maya wants to talk to you."
You blink and look in the direction he glanced in. Sure enough, Maya's there. The little girl waves to you with a huge grin on her face from the bushes on the edge of the property, waving you over.
"I'm going to go inside," says Jaron, straightening. "I left my food in there."
[ ] Go to see Maya.
You were planning on talking with her anyway. Perfect opportunity, right? Jaron's probably had enough of being pushed for one day anyway, and given how untrained he is, Jaffur must be wiped after managing to push through the Seal, no matter how briefly. You don't want to think about how much power he had to throw into that. Better to give both of them a break, and go talk to your other friend.
[ ] Bring Jaron with.
You do need to talk to her, and Jaron is only going to grow and learn by pushing himself. Don't let him get away yet! Beyond that: okay, this is serious state secret time. Something is probably very seriously up with Maya, and your fellow Scion is watching, if at a distance. Jaffur should be on hand for this so he can learn whatever is up as well.
[ ] Everybody goes back inside.
You didn't want to have this talk today in particular anyway. You all can go back to the party and do whatever, you'll figure out what's up with Maya later. Plus, Jaron could probably use a couple of friends to hide behind in the party. Let's be honest, sending him in there alone is almost certainly expecting too much of him.
[ ] Ditch Maya.
...I admit, this is only here because it's the last remaining permutation of, "stay outside/go inside," and, "bring the person defaulting to inside or outside with/let them do their own thing." I can't actually think of any reason why you'd want to straight up ditch Maya as opposed to bringing her inside with you, as long as you're going anyway. But hey, I look forward to seeing if anybody votes for it.
[ ] Write-in
As per usual.
THIS VOTE IS NOW CLOSED.
Welcome back, folks! We start Year 3 out with a bunch of social! In this one, Kakara's human and saiyan lives finally begin the intersection that was promised from the moment Jaron became a factor and you all chose to involve yourselves with him.
And for Jaffur's first Willpower check since the Sealing, we have...a greater success. Of course. It's Jaffur, after all. It would seem that the bullshit remains strong with this one. This check allowed him to burn all available ki and magic for the privilege of making an untrained magic check against a Master Sorcerer's spell for three words of tortured communication, with the ki and magic to be consumed upon the conclusion of said magic check.
But he had Super Saiyan swag backing that check up, and thus passed it.
Ah, sorry, on my phone so couldn't check. Though ki prodigy vs pacifism being almost equal limits the importance of grappling to my mind - we could still go for a ki-manipulation based build, especially given the possibly-temporary nature of the malus.
Latest update: In which Jaffur continues to be a boss.
I'm thinking we talk to her on our own. Maya's being secretive (and it could be about Jaron anyway), so seeing what she talks about in private is probably best.
Edit: forgot the actual vote.
[X] Go to see Maya.
So really, we have 2 real choices: talk to Maya with J-Dawg and J-Bro, or alone. Is there anything Maya might say we would want Jaffur to know right now, instead of getting him alone later? I can't think of anything that would sufficiently offset letting Dandeer know about whatever it is.
You whirl at the choked sound coming from Jaron's mouth. He doubles over, eyes rolling back into their sockets. His power level -- a high-for-his-age three, normally -- spikes to seventeen. A breeze stirs the mist.
The faint, unsettling feeling of magic taints the air.
His hair lifts into spikes, the color flickering from blond to brown and nearly reaching black before oscillating back and forth. His eyes rolls back down and he stares at you with a pair of hauntingly familiar black eyes.
You blink and look in the direction he glanced in. Sure enough, Maya's there. The little girl waves to you with a huge grin on her face from the bushes on the edge of the property, waving you over.
Well this is a hard one. On one hand, Maya. On the other hand, Maya with inclusion of Jaffur/Jaron. I'd like to talk to her alone, yet at the same time it feels like Jaron is leaving out of the idea that he's a pest/nuisance/bother/third wheel, which is definitely a mindset we don't want to cultivate in him. But at the same time, forcing him to come with us if he's uncomfortable seems wrong as well. And then there's the whole Maya wanting to talk to us thing... would it be wrong to drag Jaron into it. Would it be bad not to? This is all sorts of confusing.
Ergo, I'm going to have to vote for:
[X] Go to see Maya.
- [X] Invite Jaron to come with you, but don't force him to and accept if he doesn't feel comfortable.
Well this is a hard one. On one hand, Maya. On the other hand, Maya with inclusion of Jaffur/Jaron. I'd like to talk to her alone, yet at the same time it feels like Jaron is leaving out of the idea that he's a pest/nuisance/bother/third wheel, which is definitely a mindset we don't want to cultivate in him. But at the same time, forcing him to come with us if he's uncomfortable seems wrong as well. And then there's the whole Maya wanting to talk to us thing... would it be wrong to drag Jaron into it. Would it be bad not to? This is all sorts of confusing.
Ergo, I'm going to have to vote for:
[X] Go to see Maya.
- [X] Invite Jaron to come with you, but don't force him to and accept if he doesn't feel comfortable.
Really? I got that he was feeling uncomfortable after extended interaction, not that he thought he was making us uncomfortable. And remember, Jaron is likely to tell Dandeer if he sees or hears anything weird or alarming - and I suspect this conversation is going to be very sensitive, given that she just saw Jaron freak out and turn black-haired.
Really? I got that he was feeling uncomfortable after extended interaction, not that he thought he was making us uncomfortable. And remember, Jaron is likely to tell Dandeer if he sees or hears anything weird or alarming - and I suspect this conversation is going to be very sensitive, given that she just saw Jaron freak out and turn black-haired.
Maybe I'm just projecting, since the way Jaron is written reminds me a bit of myself when I was a kid. I was severly shy and socially stunted when I was younger, so I guess I just naturally think the reasons other socially awkward kids do things would be similar to the reason I would have. And one of the main things I was uncomfortable about was that I was constantly "sure" that I was ruining other people's days with my lack of social skills. Ergo, when Jaron seems uncomfortable with social interactions, I guess I just naturally think it's because he's afraid he's ruining it for others, not that others are ruining it for him.
Maybe I'm just projecting, since the way Jaron is written reminds me a bit of myself when I was a kid. I was severly shy and socially stunted when I was younger, so I guess I just naturally think the reasons other socially awkward kids do things would be similar to the reason I would have. And one of the main things I was uncomfortable about was that I was constantly "sure" that I was ruining other people's days with my lack of social skills. Ergo, when Jaron seems uncomfortable with social interactions, I guess I just naturally think it's because he's afraid he's ruining it for others, not that others are ruining it for him.
Fair enough! You could be right, it's not like we can see inside his head yet. I still think this conversation will be too sensitive for his ears, but I concede the prior point.
Leave Jaron alone. He just got a social victory and talking to Maya about why she gave us weird looks witg him there would make them both uncomfortable. Plus, just like @Deathbybunnies I suspect she might have seen Jaron's episode. It is not very likely since she is not freaking outbut the possibility is there. We don't want to hint at the masquerade to Jaron yet either and anything Jaffur needs to knowwe can tell in dreams once we learn how.
More importantly, you never get between a boy and his food. Never.
