Fantasy Howl's Flying Castle (Finished! ---Whoo! (*＾▽＾)／)

[Katsuya]

Echo watched him go, wondering what he meant by that before covering her redden cheeks, mumbling and sometimes laughing like a silly person. Then she struggled on dressing up and did her usual business. Once she's out, clean and feeling a lot better even with some achy bones thanks to Renee's special blend of that horrid bone recovery juice, she managed to grab two plates of breakfast...Just in case...

Then Johnny came by, wet and hungry.

So she passed him a bowl full of food; she already finished her food and kept the other bowl warm. "Here Love." As he ate, Echo agreed. "Yes, we need to talk. Though I think there could be a better solution then a pillow." She's really amused at the idea and giggled.


***

Renee loved waking up now. She didn't care if it's early in the morning either because it's just as fulfilling as sleeping and waking up in the afternoons; No, she really loves waking up to feel warm and secure every morning thanks to Seifer's arms around her. One way or another, he would wrap his arms and legs around her like she was his teddy bear and squeezes her into his chest; Which she loves oh so much.

Her head is lying on top of his shoulder, his arm served as her pillow as his arm and hand is around her shoulder, legs intertwining as she's pressed against his side. Her body shivered delightfully from his calm and deep breathes blowing gently on her folded wings and she would sigh happily from just the simple gestures in his sleep. Then she would adjust herself to have her arms free and tuck his hair over his ear while she waited for him to wake up too; having fun braiding and un-braiding his hair while he slept.

When he wakes up and they get dressed to just take a bath, sometimes she'd tease him with her wings by lightly caressing his naked sides and then runs off before he could catch her while she laughs gleefully. Sometimes he would catch her and they tumble around before she escapes after leaving some kisses on his face as she knows he enjoys her small and random kisses. Taking a bath is a quick thing as the lake is very cold; She just jumps in without stopping and quickly washes herself with the other women soldiers. Serena would be there muttering to Hisaya who's still around her neck and not caring if he's peeping...which Renee doubted since he loves his wife and child.

After the cold bath and dressing herself in the usual oriental archer's outfit: a purple and white oriental woman's tunic that reached down to her mid thighs with a small jacket that reaches down to her chest and upper back and tied with a red and thick string that's very decorative. Renee swears that this tunic is just showing off her hips more like she wasn't already 'hippy' as it is; It's why she likes to hide that fact. Metal armor shoulder and leather arm guards help and is not as heavy as she first wore them anymore. Black thick leggings covered her legs with brown boots that reached up to her knees and has a bit of a heel. Her Skarn necklace proudly hanged as usual.

Then she would wear her green coat and beige cloak over that with her small satchel to collect herbs again and experiment on them to create more potions with different effects. After that, she goes to where the other women soldiers and healers are when they want to relax.

It seems there's this thing that if any of them knew something from their culture, they can show it off here and teach it to others; Like the nice Jaharian soldier that knew how to dance a certain way. Right now she's teaching it and Renee always asked her questions on how to move a certain way before copying her smooth movements. Of course she didn't tell anyone about her now growing interest in dancing. They didn't need to know per say...

But it's nice to surprise them should it ever occur again to dance in front of others...Maybe she can surprise Seifer with it too. Renee blushed in the middle of training from that thought.

How interesting that a very whimsical girl from before who used to stomp around and not care about what others felt like is now a hardened mediwitch that's graceful with each step she takes, with her head held up high but not looking down on others; She'll always offer a hand if anyone needed her help and not think much of it. War really does change people...

Renee decided to continue practicing on her own, movements foreign to some but sensual and recognizable if they have heard about it: Her hips moved side to side fluidly like a snake as she slowly spun around, her eyes closed as she tries to think of a beat that's appropriate. Then she froze when she opened her eyes and saw James...

"Hi James...What's up?" Renee greeted with a wave and relaxed her stance, acting like she didn't belly-dance.


Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Floating Islands -
" One Day "​

"Getting a haircut." grunted James, keeping still as the dagger-hair-cutter sliced off one last strand as a finishing touch.

"Done." said the soldier, patting his shoulder. James said his thanks as the soldier left, then checked himself out in a hand mirror. In all honesty, he looked horrible, like a bowl haircut gone wrong.

"Renee. Help." said James.

But at that moment it was already time to go. Kenren was calling everyone to assemble and begin heading out.

* * * *
​

The journey to the floating islands took them two weeks, and it was full of adventures on its own. They passed through snowy glacial plains where giant ancient carvings stood, up and down hills under the canopies of red trees where they passed more giant remains, through steamy fog where lava flowed with the ice, and discovered more strange funny plants and dangerous creatures.

Their first sighting of a real dragon came a week before. A green one, with two heads, one breathing gas and another clicking sparks passed overhead after a flock of birds. They had hidden under the trees when the scouts saw it, and they witnessed it spark a billow of flames in the sky, disorienting its prey with the flash of light, before gobbling them up.

Not a hair nor hide had been seen of Bertrand, the black dragon that chased after him, nor of any other survivors. They never left any traces of their camp whenever they packed up, so everyone in their small group of twenty-two was all they had, and they became very close comrades, protecting and taking care of each other.

Roleplay Skittle

* * * *​

One day, when they found a moment to be alone together, Johnny asked Echo if they could talk about 'putting a pillow between them' before they slept together again. He didn't know what she was talking about when she said, " . . . there could be a better solution than a pillow." then giggled.

"A log?" Johnny suggested, sitting cross-legged on the leafy ground.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Renee bit her lip when she saw her brother's finished haircut, her shoulders shaking from each silent laugh she let out. As James looked in the mirror and asked for help, Ken-chan called everyone to get ready to leave and Renee let out her laughter. Her brother has horrible luck! He does!

"O-Oh Merlin-! Hahah!! -clears throat- Sure, James. When we make camp again, I'll fix your hair." He's going to need it! James really does need it!

'Maybe I should take a look at Seifer's hairstyle book for some...inspiration...and salvation...' Renee thought as she looked at his hair for a moment and shook her head, letting out a muffled laugh sometimes. This morning is the best morning ever.

***
Traveling these lands is an experience the girls and Chenglei never thought they would have.

Renee would sketch the new lands, plants, and animals with information written down from anybody who would tell her anything new. She cooks with the other soldiers, teaching Lydia how as well, and makes sure to have enough healing potions and paste if anybody wanted to use them.

Serena would ask Hisaya of what he thinks the giant carvings meant, taking guesses based on what they see. Same with the habitats of the creatures. Then she'd play violin when everyone wanted to relax during camp after she finished scouting.

Echo would help Renee look for more strange plants and try them out, sometimes she would walk around and kept her ears and eyes open in case she meets another smart tree that can talk or any creature that can talk.

Chenglei always checked on everyone, keeping tabs on their health and stays nearby Prince Kenren while doing other hidden jobs that the Prince assigns him to. When he wasn't busy, he would practice his sword and asks Seifer if he would like to practice with him. It's fine if he didn't but Chenglei would come with Renee and Seifer whenever they hunted food; He helped carry some.

It's almost natural to feel this knit-tight close with everyone else; twenty-two in total.

***

Echo giggled again when Johnny suggested a log to put in between them, sitting on the leafy ground with her legs stretched out.

"No, silly marshmallow. I mean we should learn each others' hot spots." Echo asked Renee what to do when they had time to chat and the Pendragon sister suggested to learn each others bodies more. Not necessarily touching each other, but inform each other where. Of course the fawn wondered why Renee wasn't blushing as much when she said that so nonchalantly and her response was: "Artist. I draw naked people and I don't want to press the wrong hot spot either." and left it at that.

Echo...does not believe it's that though...not when Renee looked away as she explained.

"So we know where to avoid when we do go to sleep and not avoid it when we...you know, do the Woo-hoo..." The fawn muttered at the end, her ears folded back shyly as her face turned pink and smiled at Johnny. "What do you think? Good idea or not?"

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- Johnny Caprice -
" One Day "​

"Uh." Johnny gulped. He was red as a tomato again and it was very obvious that he never had this conversation before as he looked nervous. "What's a hot spot? Because my hot spot isn't on me, I get turned on when you're very close to me or when you bleat in that nice way, or when you look at me lovingly."

He felt a little silly being this inexperienced, but was determined to learn. After all, the man should take the lead, no?

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo blinked before giggling, still pink in the face, and shuffling closer to him to grab his hands tenderly. "It's okay, Johnny; I had to ask Renee to explain it to me since I didn't know about this either." She said, hoping it would comfort Johnny's nerves. Maybe him knowing that she had to ask her best friend would help. Maybe.

"A hot spot is the physical turn on, Johnny. Like when I touch your ears," Echo let's go one hand to cup her hand near his sheep ear, he could feel the heat coming from her palm being so close but not touching. Then she pulled away quickly.

"You feel good when I touch your ears, right? That's a hot spot. A hot spot for me is my ears a-and my tail." She grinned warmly.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Johnny Caprice -
" One Day "​

"Right, okay." said Johnny, understandingly. He still looked nervous from their closeness. He was so easily enamored just by Echo putting her hand close to his ear. He was so tightly wound up, as if he was always anticipating they would woo hoo every time they got together and the mood was like this.

"Then, my other hotspots would be my, well, my . . . " he looked down, " um, stick," he chuckled sheepishly, " and . . . that's all, I think?" he said, still in deep thought. "Echo, I was thinking, when you're better and you don't need me to stay in your tent to look after you, let's sleep in our own tents so that . . . I don't go crazy. I think it's impossible for me to control myself if we sleep on the same bed together."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Noticing Johnny's reaction with her being near, Echo's ears folded, and shuffled back a bit to give him space. Somehow she imagined Johnny becoming a wolf, like a real wolf, and not able to handle his primal urges well. Looking at her with the intent of savoring her flesh as he eats her...Oh boy...

"I heard there were more than just your stick, Love." She said, her smile turned amused. "Like neck, back, legs, chest. Anywhere really...Ren told me that guys really like it when girls scratch them for some odd reason." She had this look of disbelief when she said that like she didn't believe it but eh. Renee had more experience on this then her...which is weird now that she thought about it...How does Renee know that? Like really?

"If you like, Love, we can sleep in different tents now and I can ask Renee to take care of me instead? I don't want to put you through any sort of discomfort...." Echo suggested, frowning in concern as she let's go of his other hand.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Johnny Caprice -
" One Day "​

Johnny placed a hand over his forehead. "I think that'd be best. I don't want to hurt you." he picked up a leaf and stared at it, frowning. "Sometimes I wish I wasn't like this, then I could be with you normally. I mean, I want to sleep together, but I end up longing for you and it messes things up . . ."

He sighed. "How do you control yourself when you're with me?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo shook her head, her ears flattened. Once again she wondered if that's why his family wants him to marry her quickly; not because it's tradition but because Johnny might get crazy or something. Why or how, she doesn't know. It's just a thought.

"Okay, I'll ask Renee to help me then." Echo confirmed, closing her eyes so he doesn't see that she's sad about the decision, but it's for the best when she needs to heal. She's almost done healing anyways! It'll be fine afterwards as long there isn't another enemy to fight or another deathknight (she swore if Seifer turned, she's slapping him silly for his timing).

"...I don't." Echo admitted, now her eyes gazing at him with yearning but she closed them again. Her ears stayed flat against her head. "I can't. To me, you're irresistible and I want to touch you. I want to shower you with every fiber of my love for you and I want to please you so badly...It hurts not to..." Then she took a deep breathe before exhaling.

"But...I try to remember. I want to respect your boundaries. I don't want to hurt you nor do I ever want to be the cause of your pain. So I'm dealing my urges by remembering that and stay calm. Sometimes I just exercise so I can get my energy to run out." Echo mentioned. "Why not find some way to get rid of that energy? Like walking or running? Swimming too if there's a lake or a river?"

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Johnny Caprice -
" One Day "​

"I have a way." said Johnny going red again. If he kept this up he's going to be tomato-face forever. It was here he explained to Echo that he gets himself off when he 'takes a walk' or 'goes for a swim' by himself. "I've been doing that since you showed me your thigh in the warship training grounds after you thought I was an enemy." he chuckled at the memory.

"Echo, I don't have boundaries, so . . . " he slid closer to her and held her hands warmly. " Let's plan our first time together?" he smiled hopefully.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo looked ashamed when he brought that memory up and looked away, nodding a bit. "That's a good idea. You had boundaries before, Love." When he said that they should wait for four years, she wanted to respect that. Same with wearing not so revealing clothes though that wasn't her fault most of the time.

Echo's ears flew up when he held her hands and she looked at him, feeling that small frown change into a warm smile. "Of course. So how do we know that it's perfect for our first time?" She asked timidly, squeezing his hands tenderly.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Johnny Caprice -
" One Day "​

"I have no idea." said Johnny honestly, very happy too. He suddenly hugged her tight, then released her, beaming. " So! Echo! Erm, how do you want your first time to be?" he sat there very eager and listening, still holding her hand.

He looked like a man on a mission.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo blushed red from the sudden hug, not expecting it but she giggled at the end, her ears perked up. "Hm. Good question..." The fawn pondered for a bit. "...I guess something romantic. Somewhere private too so we can make all the noi-."

She had to stop herself there as her blush got darker and coughed in her fist. "Right, how do you want our first time to be like, love?" Echo asked, smiling wide.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Johnny Caprice -
" One Day "​

" --- make all the noise we want?" said Johnny, nudging Echo's shoulder playfully. "At least out of earshot of the camp then. Hmmm, our first time . . . I'd want it to feel good and for us to be happy." he looked at their surroundings. "I don't want to do it outdoors. Hmmm . . . I'd want to do it when we're not travelling so that we have an entire week to take our time enjoying each other."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Her ears folded in her embarrassment, her smile looking silly and goofy as she timidly nodded at Johnny's guess. Oh how she practically hummed at Johnny's idea of having a week to themselves, pleased as punch while biting her bottom lip as she had to swallow that one teasing line. If she said that, it would drive Johnny mad and he just calmed down somewhat.

So she held it back.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Love. Hm. Maybe when we get back to the other side then since we know for sure there's buildings and we can get away from everyone that entire week." Echo suggested, her ears perked up as she intertwined their fingers together.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Johnny Caprice -
" One Day "​

"No, not that long, Echo." said Johnny immediately. "We may not come back after a few months. Somehow, if we get to have a week where we're not travelling or busy, or maybe at least four days, would you like to, erm, whoo hoo then?" he asked, smiling, squeezing her hand back.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Oh thank goodness they get Woo Hoo much sooner then she thought.

"Of course I'm okay with that." Echo responded gleefully. "I would love to Woo Hoo by then." Time to get Renee find some sort of fruit and maybe ask her for that chocolate she's hiding...somewhere.

Zer0

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

When Chenglei told her that he was still going to call her 'Ly,' she quirked a smile but didn't say anything. She didn't really get the nickname thing, it seemed that everyone had them for everyone else but she really only called everyone by their full names. She mostly just kept to herself a while after that. She tried to eat when it was time to but she mostly just wanted to think. She worried about the feelings that Greed's presence had made her feel and wondered if she would be able to control them next time. She supposed that Greed had been at a disadvantage when it had first showed up since it had been in the middle of combat and she wondered if the dragon or another Deathknight showed up, and if they were sneaky about it, if they would be able to control herself, Renee, and Seifer. The idea made her shudder and she tried not to think about it, but it sometimes still came up regardless.

She hadn't sought out James to seek comfort from him or advice and had mostly just stayed in her tent, so when they were all out hiking and she spotted his new haircut she was filled with a mixture of emotion and when she approached him, it showed on her face. She wasn't sure if she should ask what happened to his hair or if he would rather not talk about it, either way, it looked like Seth and Sen had been around and had pranked him while he slept and between looking like she was choking on something or trying to simultaneously breathe in and out at the same time, it was hard to tell what exactly she was thinking as her eyes darted nervously from his hair to his face, "erm.... that.. um... huh...."

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- James Pendragon -
" One Day "​

"Don't look at me!" said James hunching into his arms that immediately covered his head --- but it didn't work, the bowl-ness of his haircut was ever obvious. And so was his embarrassment that Lydia saw him this way. He sighed and let out a relenting laugh, it was no use. He opened his arms to show her the bowl-ness of his bowly haircut, and smiled hopefully.

Roleplay Skittle​

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia took James' reaction as meaning that he was aware of the state of his hair and he wasn't pleased with it. His laugh made her relax some about bringing up the subject and his smile made her melt. She wondered if he thought that she would say something mean about the cut and that was why he didn't want her to see it. Or maybe he wasn't just embarrassed because it was not a good cut... at all.

One of Lydia's cheeks plumped slightly in a piteous smile, "maybe you could ask Johnny for a hat?"

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- James Pendragon -
" One Day "​

"I did, but he took one look at me, stifled a laugh, then said no." chuckled James, shaking his head. He ruffled his hair irresolutely as Seifer, who did not make eye contact and stared determinedly ahead with the corners of his mouth twitching, hiked pass them quickly.

"You think I should ask Seifer for a haircut?"

Roleplay Skittle
OOC || Characters || Moments in Time
​

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia's smile broadened slightly, was that what friends were for? Laughing at your misfortune and forcing you to suffer through it? She supposed things were different with guys and she knew that Johnny wouldn't do it with a mean spirit, only if just to tease him. Though that made her laugh slightly, did he forget that James girlfriend likes playing pranks? Her green eyes gleamed slightly as she considered the possibilities.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Seifer passed them and her eyes narrowed on him as she caught his expression. She wondered which was worse, mean spirited Seifer or the Seifer who fought against the very fiber of his being in order to be nice. She shook her head and huffed slightly before she turned her gaze back on James, "can Seifer cut hair?"

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- James Pendragon -
" One Day "​

"Yes, I've seen him pamper himself, and noticed Renee's new hairstyle? He did that too. Yet, I have this inkling he's just going to make fun of me." said James.

He hiked beside Lydia as the company started moving north, Butters and Meatballs behind them loaded with smoked meat and the sacks of edible plants Echo, Renee, Johnny, and Seifer collected with the other soldiers.

"Do you know how to cut hair?"

Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

A soft snort escaped her slender nose. She was pretty sure everyone had seen Seifer pamper himself in one way or another, she had the first hand experience of pampering him... which was awkward as it was. She shook her head to dismiss the thought, "no... I hadn't really noticed," in all honesty she had spent a lot of the time with them trying to avoid them. If they weren't making her uncomfortable with their touchy feely activities, they were just making her feel awkward by trying to make her feel like she wasn't alone even though she knew they'd probably rather be, "you did just see him now, right?" she laughed and smiled, the first time she had done so in such a cheery manner in since the fight with the Deathknight, "he just tried really hard not to look at you and laugh."

She drew her handkerchief from beneath the jacket of her mage armor, and sneezed into it, the smile on her lips fading as the chuckle died down when he asked if she could cut hair, "I'm going to say... probably not," she laughed and bumped her shoulder against his gently before she curled her arm around his, "do you really dislike your hair?"

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- James Pendragon -
" One Day "​

"Yeah, I just said: 'Shorter than shoulder length', and now look at it, though I've got to say, for a guy just using a dagger, he was pretty good." James held her hand as they continued hiking. "Seifer's probably trying to get on my good side for my sister --- oh, Lydia! I made a bet with Renee. I told her, if ever Seifer becomes my brother-in-law, I'm going to wear a dress and dance the Suavamante with Chenglei."

Roleplay Skittle