Dance of the Fairies [ OPEN ]

[classifidol]

Who: Takane Shijou and YOU
What: The Silver Princess takes on the fairies in a battle most Disney princesses could only dream of. Music and mayhem abound.
When: Day 39
Where: The streets of New York the Freyr District
Rating: PG-13 for now



Takane rarely disrupted others when it came to walks, and to say she expected the same courtesy wasn't unreasonable. Therefore, when her usual wandering was rudely interrupted, it also wasn't unthinkable to ensure that those responsible took full responsibility for it.

... Luckily for most people, those who tended to bother her usually didn't receive a pipe to the head for their insolence.

It was a learning experience, really. The first whimsical being that attacked her had torn right through her skirt and left a nasty swipe on her leg that was still bleeding sluggishly. She'd found the pipe on the second one and, resigning herself to the fact that running was not an option - not for pride (mostly), but because she had to favor her leg - the idol had made do with improvising.

Which was precisely why she was singing, pouring as much anger and frustration as melancholy into it as she could, so that the emotions escaped with the puffs of vapor from her breath and struck out at the fairies for her. At times, the air itself even shimmered, darkening around the idol and making the creatures draw back uneasily. Those who could shake the unnerving thrall of her music moved to attack, but it was generally only one at a time, and Takane proved surprisingly adept with swinging a pipe. Those lessons with Masamune, perhaps. The song continued.

All the same, singing in such freezing air wasn't good for her lungs, and she'd been at this for awhile. She'd taken to tucking her chin into her scarf for a quick breath of warmer air when drawing breath normally started to hurt. If her leg didn't give out first, her voice might, and then this would become much more than an aggravation.

So much for a peaceful stroll.



[ OOC: Prose is really just to establish the situation, so action is totally okay! I'll match you. ]

Comments

[corvis]

He shook his head at her words, but had nothing to say along with it. He wasn't kind. And focusing on himself too much was what got him into this mess in the first place—he'd lost Oz and Alice in the process. For her saving him, it was merely a partial repayment for her efforts. The least he could do when he could really do nothing at all.

Gilbert reached for her hand when it was offered with his uninjured arm, slowly working to get to his feet. He used his other hand to press fingers against the wall for the support to do so without putting all his weight upon her. Of course she was welcome to accompany him, but his expression faltered, looking painfully guilty at the thought of being treated for his wounds. Maybe suffering with them was punishment for failing to stick with the other two.

"Oz and Alice are still out there..." and it was a torn tone that his words floated in, understanding he should get medical attention as any injury to him made him less useful and yet knowing full well he couldn't bring himself to leave the other two alone to fend for themselves in this place any longer than absolutely necessary.

[classifidol]

It might have been easier if she had been Haruka, who would have used kinder words with an encouraging and concerned smile, or if she'd possessed Azusa's gentle charisma that drew in everyone around her. But Takane's strength didn't lie within cheery optimism or loving intentions. All of the idols had their own methods of encouragement, herself included, and if it wasn't encouragement so much as it was a lecture, well.

She stood straight and tall (despite him still possessing a good five or so inches on her), and maybe it wasn't the most dignified of sights with wind-tousled hair and nearly bare legs and scratched-up arms, but it wouldn't have been Takane if she hadn't acted the same as if she'd been calmly sitting and sipping tea and looking perfectly pristine. The only indication that she was more than a little annoyed with her present company was the narrowing of her eyes.

"Gilbert Nightray."

... And that.

"While I understand your predicament..." And she did, all too well. This wasn't like the dragon. These things were attacking people, which meant that any one of her friends could be in danger right now. And to someone who had once led a pretty solitary existence, she didn't take her relationships lightly. "Your shoulders do not require an additional burden. Do you not possess other methods of communication than haphazardly scrambling about? Are there not other charitable souls who would not lend their aid should they see your companions in dire straits? If you must be so insistent on persevering with such a wound, then I will respond in kind and be as insistent that you treat your arm first. If need be, I will initiate contact myself. As you are now, you will only invoke distress in those who would desire to see you well."

Oz included, she didn't add. He could probably figure that much out on his own. She took a breath, well aware that she herself was already rather troubled. This wasn't the most ideal of situations, and she refused to dwell on what-ifs, but his own situation could have very well been fatal.

"There are times when an obstacle cannot be surpassed alone. I have come to learn such a thing, but I would rather you not suffer needlessly before you do the same."

Trusting people wasn't easy; she knew that. But they were in a predicament where they had to stop trying to face things on their own, noble intentioned or not. And she couldn't accept an emotion like guilt manifesting at the very thought of getting injuries taken care of. If he couldn't value himself more than that, then she would step up to the challenge.

[corvis]

She was painfully right.

And he stared at her, stunned, both from the stinging truth that came from her lips and the aura about her that accompanied it. Obviously, Gilbert had not intended to evoke such a reaction from Takane, but now that he did he could only let her words replay over and over in his mind.

There had been a few who had helped him search for Oz, Takane included, back when the dragon had attacked and he'd been surprised then. He supposed that if someone else were to help, he'd be surprised now. But, the fact remained that as much as Gilbert focused on the problems in Asgard (the place, the predicaments, the wrong people), there were good people here. He knew that, so why was it so hard to trust that they'd help a boy like Oz?

No, it wasn't that he didn't trust others to offer help. He didn't trust Oz to accept it.

And wasn't it funny? With being so wrapped up in Oz's shortcomings on taking care of himself Gilbert had failed to see his own, attempting to do the same as his master. After all those years of trying to get through to him as a child and then finally getting somewhere only just recently back home, one would think Gilbert would be more self-aware. Oz had promised he'd fight for himself. Oz had said... Gilbert's lips formed a thin line in his his thoughts, a small inhale through his nose before he shuddered in the release, both from the cold and the pain.

Oz had said he was happy to finally fight beside Gilbert.

The least Gilbert could do was make sure he was there to fight beside.

Because he knew better than anyone what it was like to lose your most precious person. (Even if he wasn't Oz's, they were still best friends, and he'd never deny that Oz cared for him ever since the first day they had met. It didn't matter if the feelings were different.)

He blinked, his thoughts coming to focus back on Takane and for the first time he noticed not only had the other given him a lecture, but her eyes depicted an annoyance that made him see, of course, she understood. She had friends here she was separated from, too. And perhaps, he could be so bold as to say she didn't want to see him hurt any more than he wanted to see her.

"Sorry," he laughed softly, not in amusement but in defeat. She was right. He wouldn't tell her such, but she didn't need to be told she was right, either.

She was right and he was thankful for it. Thankful for her, too.

"Lead the way."

[classifidol]

Takane waited patiently, not at all fazed by the fact that she'd seemingly stunned him into silence. This wouldn't have been the first time that she'd had a shocked audience due to something she'd said or the way she acted. The butler had ensured that, as the sole daughter of the Shijou family, she would at least maintain the proper poise, no matter what words fell from her lips. It didn't mean that she didn't experience anger or grief or was, in truth, as alien as the rumors and speculations believed her to be. She simply subdued them around others, just as she held her current irritation in reserve now, trusting that Gilbert, at least, had enough common sense to take in her words.

The apology told her as much and her annoyance lessened considerably. The concern would fade once he'd been treated - and again, she held much of that back - leaving only a tired sense of relief floating somewhere in her chest, cushioning the faint ache that came about from too many deliberately deep breaths in freezing wind.

She smiled regardless, the expression warmer than her usual faint ones. A ginger step backwards had the one leg trembling, but still able to support her weight. She would just have to ensure that it held her upright until she'd gotten them both to Sigyn and its healers, even if she had to limp a little.

"Then, if you would please follow me."

And Takane set off, as unerringly as one could manage under the circumstances. At the very least, this was another important friend who would be in good hands very soon. It was a weight off her shoulders.

[corvis]

He followed her, quietly wishing as he watched her limp that he could have done more for her such as actually heal the wound. Wouldn't that have been something?

As they walked, silence mostly fell upon Gilbert giving him the ability to focus a little more on his pain (at least, the focus that wasn't worrying about Oz). It was sharp and crisp, a burning sting that didn't waver and he grimaced as the pain started to number into something dull and unpleasant. There was going to be a lot of dead tissue, he realized. Much longer and he might have had to suffer the loss of the arm. But, there was little reason to dwell on what didn't occur—he could still feel and move his arm despite everything.

"I can't believe this is happening," he muttered quietly, referring to the events occurring. First a dragon, now this? What next? What had they gotten forced into? The description the gods had given really didn't seem to hold the gravity that the reality did. "...Have you made contact with any of your friends, Takane?"

[classifidol]

She had no response to that-- because what would have sufficed? Had she agreed with him, it wouldn't have altered the situation to their favor. Had she disagreed-- well, Takane could readily believe this was happening, not being the type to doubt any possibilities (no matter how wildly fanciful). But the question slowed her steps.

"I have ascertained the safety of two." But that wasn't enough. Her frustration didn't color her tone, but her eyes were dark. "I possess no uncertainties as to their resilience, but I would prefer to verify their well-being myself."