Lightning Strikes Twice (Private)

[Mal]

"Why aren't you healed?" Mal and his brother, Hyo, were both doing a healing excercise on an injured shinobi. The chakra was taking quite a toll on Mal, but his brother seemed fine. "You're not trying enough, Hyo. You're not even slightly tired."

"Mal, shut it. We both know what I'm capable of. I don't want to heal, so I won't heal at my full capacity." Hyo gave a smirk. The person they were healing had a kunai recently removed, and Mal's job was to perform mystic palm on the wound, while his brother did the same. He was spent, though, and his brother drifted back into Mal. "Hyo, you're...so..." Mal smiled and fell backwords, onto the chains hidden under his shirt. It'd leave a bruise, but Mal didn't care. His job was done.

Before his eyes drifted shut he muttered the word, "lazy". The sunshine hit his pale face and his mouth lay slightly open as his body recovered chakra at the slow pace it normally would. The ninja struggled up, feeling slightly better, and limped towards his house with the satisfaction of the fact that he wouldn't die.

[Fuck Yeah!]

Is lifes worth simply living?

Third Perspective

Grass folding beneath his metal clad feet, each step got him more and more accustomed to his new form. It was only a month ago that the crafting savant took the ultimate jump. Just several weeks ago that he took his creations to the next level. Plate by plate and joint by joint, becoming one with the ironwork around him. Now outside of his work shop for the first time since the surgery, the questionably human shinobi is ready to get back to work.

First Perspective

Green, blue, wood, earth, people, children, I took it all in like never before. I can not begin to accurately explain what it's like to go from a typical humanoid vision style to that of a cyclopian but it, most certainly, was not a negative. More focused, more clear, it felt much easier to process and extrapolate the actions and descriptors of everything around me. An unexpected treat to say the least.

I felt as though the surgery was of the utmost success, though the loss of bodily functions and most feeling took some getting used to. It is beyond words to grip a doorknob and know you are gripping the door knob but have no feeling beyond the pressure you exert. The oddest feeling of all though was no longer needing to take in air. Once one spends their life unconsciously preforming an action, they do not simply cease preforming it, necessary or otherwise.

It would take a conscious effort to become acclimated to such a change in life. I, however, looked forward to all of the innovations this leap into the future would bring.

Second Person -From the mind of a small child in the park-

You're like Captain Courage mister, you're just like him. The blue and silver metal armor, the glowing red eye in the middle of the silver mast, even the super awesome sword. How did you become a super hero mister? I've never actually seen a super hero before. They say in school that all of us are heroes deep down, even the milk man but I think that's stupid. The milk man couldn't save someone from a fire, he couldn't stop a run away train or defeat the Mad Doctor Raski. I bet you could though....

Someday Mister, I'm gonna be just like you....

[Mal]

Second person - From the mind of the healed ninja

Thank you for healing me. You're quite the talented ninja, for a genin, albeit you don't quite have the mindset. Take a good rest, kid, you've earned it. I think I might have earned one too! Hah, I'm kidding. I don't think I'll have much of an ability to rest for quite a while. Still, my blessing and my family's blessing goes to you. Before medics, ninja were killed by the handful. Now we have a chance at life, even after a hard ninja. I still think you might be to nice for a ninja though. Are you sure this was your calling?

First Person

I never thought relaxing could feel so good. The light breeze on my face, the ground cushoning my back, my brother finally silent. He must be asleep, finally I can have my peace. And yet, as I lay here, my eyes closed, something still troubles my mind. I move my hand across the dirt and dry grass on the ground, my face now in its direction, as if trying to grasp what it was I was looking for. Slowly and lightly, my eyelids open. They don't open wide, though. My chakra is slowly coming back to my body.

I notice my shadow on the ground, holding onto my hand. I grasp the shadow, of course, I don't feel like I'm holding anything. I had saved a man's life today, and the sensation I felt from that was far greater than taking one. My hand's completely closed now, holding to that dear, sweet nothing.

Third Person

Mal's eyes drifted towards the sky. He looked at the very thing the village was named for, clouds. As he glanced about the area, he noticed that some children were running around. It made him happy, though he was in a bit of a state of shock after what he had just done. He moved his upper body up, looking towards the happy kids. "I wish I could be like that again." He rose to his feet and pat his knees.

That's when he saw what seemed to be a metallic being. His eyes widened, and his breath fell short. "What kind of ninja is that?" Mal mumbled to himself under his breath.

[Fuck Yeah!]

Third Perspective

Children running all around him, some looking on from afar but every so often a bold one would approach. This was just such an instance.Like a released bull, the young girl would charge at the robotic shinobi with all the zeal of a cheetah, apt to pounce on it's pray. If he hadn't been looking directly forward at the speedily moving gal, she could have knocked him clean off his feet. Lucky for him, he was.

Quickly stepping to the side, the girls attempt to leap onto his body would instead send her tumbling down the small grassy hill. Immediately she would begin to wail, tears streaming down her face as though she was just stoned by a mob. Partially due to the physical trauma of the mild scrape she received but more of it had to do with the abrupt denial of her affection by the action figure man.

For others her attempt to excitedly embrace in a hug would be seen as a good thing, something to be cherished. For him, however, it was no different than someone poised to strike. Just another being moving towards you much faster than they should. Hugging her would bring him nothing, it was inefficient.

First Perspective

I never quite understood the connotation of children, the way society viewed them, treated them. They were organisms just like any other human, living, breathing, interacting with the world that surrounds all of us, yet they are coddled as though what they do does not matter. On one hand it makes a bit of logical sense, because they do not fully understand, yet wouldn't the most appropriate action be then to toughen them to the harshness of the world.

Like this girl whom lay crying in front of me. Society says I should hold her, return her gift of affection or at the very least attempt in some way to aid in her recovery. I, however, choose not to. If she was a woman of much more experienced years she would be treated with the same disregard that I show her now. By showing her the appropriate response, the next time this occurs she will expect it. By ignoring her, I am helping her grow. Why can not the world think this realize this.

Second Person -From the mind of the small crying girl-

Why are you mean man. I just want hug you and feel your armor. I scrape my knee now and just want to cry. Why would you not want hug little five year old me. I hate you now armor man. I play with my wiggly toes instead or that butterfly. What a pretty butterfly that is with it's flappy wings and little butterfly head. Hey butterfly come back here. I'm gonna hold you little butterfly. I just want to play with you butterfly.

Comeback little butterfly....

[Mal]

First Person (not going to do second)

While resting my eyes slowly drifted towards what looked like a man of metal. A slight sigh escaped from me. Slowly I walked towards the man, but not at much of a hasty pace. I examined the body. It seemed metallic. I looked past him and, to my surprise, found a small crying girl. I walked past him and towards the girl, not giving him a second glance. "I'm sorry," I said, "did the mean man hurt you?" She nodded. I formed a few handsigns and my hands glew green. I placed my hand on her scraped knee and the wound faded away.

I kissed my pointer and index finger and put them on her knee. "All better?" I said with a polite smile. She nodded and ran off to play with her friends. I then turned my head towards the man of metal, the wind going against me. My eyes were struggling to stay open with the coming breeze, but I felt the intensity my eyes gave, as if I was glaring at myself. I started with a step, but the adrenaline rushed through my veins and took over my actions. Before I knew it I was only a few inches away from him.

Third Person

"Where do you get off," Mal muttered under his breath, "making small children cry?" Mal stared where the girl was, but then something strange happened. He let out a laugh. "I'm kidding, I'm sure it was just an accident. Ninja from everywhere are a bit jumpy after a mission." Mal looked towards the group of kids she was playing with. She pointed at the metal man and glared. It looked like she was yelling, but her voice didn't carry.

"My name is Mal. Would you mind if I asked for yours?" Mal looked happily at the stranger in front of him. It was quite odd to see anyone like it, which would explain the children's curiosity. Still, Mal was quite intrigued.

[Fuck Yeah!]

Third Perspective

Like clockwork just as the girl fell, someone would have to jump in to their rescue. Didn't people understand that the cyborg was no fool, that their was a method to his madness. It seemed unlikely as the young man would run to her aid. Healing her up with a technique of some sorts before approaching the iron clad warrior. A look of subdued rage on his face, boiling ever so much. Like a pot of heating water, inches away from the rim and then....Calm.

First Perspective

If there was one thing I did not enjoy it was those that acted inefficiently. People wondered why I chose to isolate myself from others of my kind, this was the exact reason. Their emotions always seemed to be what controlled them. Not logic, not thinking, not rational thought that would point, direct or otherwise lead to an optimal result. It was none of these things. It was obvious to tell from the visible rage of this man, that he was doing just as I expected.

Then like any other person would he subdued his anger and spoke to me. If only he had used his mind in the first place rather than his heart, he would have been at this place from the very beginning. It was of little relevance to myself, however, so I did not care. As I did not care about the little girl nor the man standing in front of me.

Second Person -From the mind of the parent of the crying girl

What a jerk, my little girl just wants to give you a hug and you cast her aside like a piece of trash. You have no idea how lucky you are my husband is dead or he'd teach you a lesson, asshole. Standing there so stoic, hands at your side, hiding behind that little mask of yours.

My name is Ladon Jurmangandr

I'd hear you say, so emotionless, so cold. Not another word would leave your icy husk. Pure effeciancy, that's all you are isn't it?

Have you know heart....

[Mal]

Third Person

"What's the matter, can't you speak?" Mal gave a soft smile to the man infront of him. "Oh, I think I get it." He gave a moment to take the situation in. "You're studying me, aren't you? It's ok, I observed you as well. From what I gathered, well, it doesn't really matter I guess." Mal rubbed the back of his head, keeping his smile.

You're an idiot, Hyo's voice beemed in Mal's head. Mal gave a slight flinch at it, his eyes going to the ground, please, think about this brother. He's not just analyzing you, he's calculating his chances of beating you. He wants you dead. Mal's eyes shifted back towards the man in front of him.

First Person

I didn't know whether or not my brother spoke the truth, but I didn't question it. The breeze was gone, leaving a humidity in the air that started making me sweat under my clothes. Thankfully, a breeze came back. The person before me didn't know it, or at least I hope he didn't, but I assumed that my brother spoke the truth. I thought of this factor since the beginning. With a soft sigh, I went over everything that he knew of the person before him.

The person was calculating, taking into account everything in it's surroundings. However, while studying, it seems to not be paying much attention to the rest of its surroundings. I know what kind of a person this guy is. He's an analyst, pure and simple. He's not going to hurt me, not yet anyways. He still needs to know more about me. If I drop small hints about who I am and what I do, without actually giving him direct answers, we should be fine. My eyes went back to the ground, waiting for an answer. My brother just gave a small chuckle. I hated this. He was a reader, my mind the book and my world the author. I was nothing more than a child, wanting to read the book without a penny to my name.

[Fuck Yeah!]

Third Perspective

By this point there was a fairly large amount of people oggling the iron shinobi. Apparently they just had never seen a man made of steel before. Quite odd when one considers the many many crazy things that lurk around every corner but what someone hasn't seen is new to them. From the looks of it, boys, girls, young and old, Ladon was new to alot of people.

First Perspective

I was a bit confused by the mans response. He asked for my name and that's what he received. My intent is not to analyze a random person, for that would be an inefficient waste of energy and time. Rather I was posed a request and gave the most logical answer. This particular man must have been suffering from some form of illness, more likely than not a paranoia of sorts from his reply.

I do not seek to analyze you, I simply wish to walk around the park. To expend energy evaluating you would be illogical and highly inefficient. I would suggest you seek medical aid in determining why suspicion was your first response. I cannot honestly say it was a pleasure to meet you, however, I will say hello and goodbye.

I wished to spend no more time talking to this shinobi and would instead turn away from him and begin to walk towards a nearby tree. It was of a much higher priority to continue acclimating to my new body. If I wished to do that, I would need to focus on the task at hand and continue to run through my usual activities. Things such as walking, running, climbing, jumping and other such acrobatic endeavors. The more frequently I utilized such tactics, the more my body would become used to them.

Second Person -From the mind of a twenty year old chuunin walking by-

Was this person neurotic? Did he have some kind of mental disorder or compulsion he couldn't manage? He asked you for your name and that's what he got, no more no less. Really odd to react in such an extravagant manner when no more information is given than requested. I mean you look like a pretty cool dude anyways. Like why would someone hassle a freakin robot man? I can dig it bro keep bein chill.

Keep bein chill...

[Mal]

Third perspective -

"Alright, I guess, see you later." Mal must have missed the man's response while talking to his brother. He formed a few handsigns as he walked towards the hospital. "Well brother, looks like we have clean up duty." He looked towards the air as nother figure appeared behind him, going outward from his body.

"Gyah," the brother responded, "I hate healing, you know that." The brother followed Mal, hoping to get it over with as soon as possible.

First Person-

My attempts to be nice to the metal man combined with my attempts to not yell at my brother mid-conversation conflicted a bit more than I had hoped. As I walked towards the hospital I began seeing my brother in a new light. He wasn't so much a brother as he was a burden. We were the same age, yet he acted in such an immature way that sometimes his comments were beneath me to answer. I suppose my reactions fueled the fire, but still...

As the two of us walked towards the hospital we noticed that most of the men had been healed and were just resting. That's why we had clean up duty. After some healing, bloody sheets need to be washed and bloody floors need to be wiped. It was genin work, and it was unpaid work. Still, I had the opportunity to learn things I never would have learned elsewhere. I looked towards my brother. Somehow I felt he was responsible for what I was doing now. "Hyo," I said, looking towards my brother. He replied with a grunt as he dipped his mop in water.

"Thanks."

[DAVID BOWE]

+40 -- Goro
+41 -- Mal