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

[Roleplay Skittle]

The young witch was grateful for the pressure James' hand was giving hers, like she could feel that he did care about her, even if he still loved someone else. When she finished and he let go of her hand, so quickly -- so easily -- she felt a knot form in her chest and her gaze focused on the complicated expression that marred James' handsome face, her brow furrowing with worry.

A dry click echoed from her slender throat at his words and her gaze drifted to the ground as her hand that had been so recently held by his moved to rest over her heart. A soft, sorrowful huff escaped her nose and a forced smile began tugging at the corner of her mouth. She couldn't offer him a response, her shoulders gently trembled and all that went through her head at that moment were the words the dragon had spoken to her before. Maybe he was right. Maybe she should have just done what she was going to do in the first place. Maybe it didn't matter anymore.

She felt like she was going to crumble to dust right then, her hands moving to hug her arms tightly, her head lowering until her chin was almost touching her chest. She didn't move a muscle outside of faintly nodding her head, her eyes squeezing shut and her tears falling silently to the grass at her feet.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- James Pendragon -
" Night time, Sea King's Shrine "​

James heart went out to Lydia, but he clenched his hands to stop them from hugging her.

He stood there shifting restlessly for a long time. "Thank you for talking with me, Lydia."

Roleplay Skittle

- Seifer Rathmore -
" Somewhere "​

"I'm scared, though not as much as I usually would be." said Seifer. " 'Cause I got you, baby!" he winked, giving Renee the gun fingers. "I do wish I brought shampoo or hair cream --- sigh --- but I didn't think we'd get lost, so . . . By any chance you brought hair cream, Renee?"

He finished the spear and laid it aside.

Katsuya

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Still not saying anything, Lydia briskly shook her head before quickly turning away from James and fleeing. She ran past the Sea King and Johnny, away from the direction of the camp and to the other side of the platform the shrine was on.

When she got to the other side, she did what was customary for her in times of distress, crouching down and bringing her knees to her chest as she curled into a ball. She buried her face against her arms where they lay over her knees and sobbed loudly as though crying would relieve the pain she was feeling.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo decided to stay close to Johnny and camp in the Shrine, rumaging inside her bags that were mixed in together with Renee's. The girls were planning to seperate their stuff together since Echo recovered and Renee could back in her tent but...well...

She got lost in a forest...with Seifer.

The fawn sighed then her ears perked up. "Uh-huh! I found it." In her hand is a small vial with an orange liquid inside. "For a boost of energy, huh...."

She pondered for a while, staring at the liquid before sighing and coming out of her tent only to yelp in surprise when Lydai ran past her-!

Echo looked where she came from first before jogging after her. "Lydia-! Wait!"

The fawn ran until she saw the tiny witch curl up on the ground and she sighed quietly walking closer to her. "Lydia? Sweetpea? I have you-..."

That's when she heard it: Lydia's sobbing.

Echo sat next to her and patted her back lightly. "What is the matter, pumpkin pie? Is it the dragon? " Her concern ringed in her voice.

Roleplay Skittle

Zer0

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

With her face still buried against her arms, Lydia shook her head, hugging her legs more tightly, but then she thought that maybe it was the dragon. It hurt her to think that the dragon might know James better than she did. She shrugged her shoulders and between sobs she gasped, "I-I-I..."

Her crying continued for some time, eventually dying down to the point that she was no longer loudly sobbing, though the tears hadn't stopped their seemingly endless stream. Her face was turned to the side and she stared out at nothing in particular. Her shoulders trembled every now and then as she drew in deep shuddering breaths. Her throat hurt and her mouth was dry and eventually she just lay down on the grass, "h-h-he..." she spoke in a raspy whisper, her eyes squinting shut as she grimaced.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"He?"

Echo watched Lydia just lay down on the grass in concern, eyebrows furrowed in an arch and a small frown on her round face. She didn't understand which 'he' it is: the dragon or ....someone else. She wants to say someone else but it's too soon to say anything really.

As she shuffled closer to her friend's head, Echo tucked the longer hair fringes behind her ear and rubbed comfortingly on her arm and shoulder with a patient hand, waiting for Lydia to explain.

"He...what, Lydia?" The fawn whispered back, her ears folded back awkwardly as she placed the energy booster vial on the ground for now. Until she feels better or at least calm enough to not stutter anymore, Echo will not leave.

Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

It was some time before Lydia would speak again, though she did noticeably calm down to Echo's touch. Even though tears continued to flow from her eyes, the flow had decreased and her breathing seemed to steady. After a while she laughed somewhat bitterly and shook her head, "I'm just... stupid," it was easy to tell that the laughter was at herself and she placed her hands on the ground, pushing herself up to a sitting position with her legs curled to the side as she stared at the ground, "I'm tired."

That same laugh escaped her and one of her hands rose to her face, wiping the tears from her cheeks in one brisk motion before she pushed her way to her feet, "I'm sorry Echo... I don't need the potion anymore..."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

She doesn't need the potion anymore?

"Hold on, Pumpkin." Echo placed a hand on her knee, using her strength to not let Lydia stand. "Why don't you need the potion anymore? I thought you wanted energy to fight back..." That's when something clicked in her brain. "...You don't want to fight back anymore?"

She is confused. Echo knew that Lydia wouldn't give up that easily even when she's down on the dumps. So to know that her friend is like this, well...she can't really leave her alone, now can she?

"Please. Explain or at least tell me what's going on in that head of yours?"

Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

She paused and looked to Echo a little surprised, her eyes puffy and swollen. She glanced away again, a weak smile appearing on her features, "I-I'm just tired... I just want to sleep."

She shook her head slightly, "I just want to sleep," it wouldn't make her feel better, but at least if she could fall asleep she would at least temporarily forget about everything. Forget about James. Thinking that physically pained her hand grasped the fabric over her chest as she strained to stop herself from crying all over again, "I'm just a silly little girl, Echo... I just let.. no... nevermind."

Lydia sighed and shook her head before looking again at the ground.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo continued to stare at Lydia, not saying anything for a while.

"...Lydia, you're not a silly little girl-or well...you are little in height and you are a girl, but that's not the point here." The fawn started. "You are a witch in training who so far survived this whole chaotic mess of a war. That's pretty strong, sure you want to be alone right now-" Her hand squeezed lightly.

"But you're not alone. I can't leave you alone... Now Lydia, tell me. The whole thing." Echo is all ears and she would not interrupt her until she said her peace.

Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia's gaze drifted up towards Echo and she couldn't help but let out a small little amused chuckle at how literally the fawn was looking at what she just said. Her expression quickly sobered and her gaze returned to the ground before she situated herself on the ground again and sighed deeply, "I... I don't know if I want to talk about it..."

She shook her head slightly and closed her eyes, one of her hands balling into a small fist and rubbing at one of her eyes as she thought, her lips pressing in to form a line before she sighed softly, "I... seeing you and Johnny... I thought it'd be nice to have something like that... but I didn't think it would happen..." she bit her lips closed a moment and shook her head again, "it probably won't... and the dragon knows it."

She pulled her legs against her, wrapping her arms around them as she slowly turned her gaze on Echo, "when... when Greed was attacking... the dragon was making me want to do things... and when the Sea King was grasping at him... trying to loosen his grip... he was telling me things..." she sniffled softly and pressed her cheek against her knees as her voice broke, "I... I didn't believe they were true... I didn't want to... but... they were.... some of them... I don't know... "

Lydia shook her head and buried her face in her arms again as she felt her eyes start to burn.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

As soon Lydia sat back down, Echo let's go of her knee, plopping it down to her lap as she listens to her distraught friend. Her and Johnny? Lydia wants something similar to her and Johnny...Dragon telling her things...Her not wanting to believe any of them...

So it does involve James somehow...and she's sad because the dragon somehow knew that James was...whatever it is that James is? Hm...What was the Sea King talking about? Needing help like that...

Releasing a quiet sigh, Echo wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in a bit, nuzzling in comfort. "I see...So some of what the dragon said was true...but there's always a reason behind those actions, whatever they are."

"And knowing who I think it is, behind those reasons is another reason. Maybe one we cannot see at the moment. Maybe one we cannot say but I do know one thing." She squeezed her arm lightly.

"James is someone who cares too much and will do the hardest decision to make things right, even if it hurts him too. I've seen him do that to his sister, though his method back then was flawed; it was super flawed. Like I still want to kick him in the face flawed, but he cares." Echo mentioned. James is lucky that Johnny scolded him back in Kingsbury instead of her because ouch-! No one wants to have a hoof in their face.

"I'm sure whatever it is that he is doing or did to you, he's doing it because he knows it's the right thing to do for you. Sure, you might not see it now but later on, with time, you'll see why he did it..."

Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- James Pendragon -
" Outskirts of Camp, Bowl Rock "​

There was no way to sugar-coat how James felt. The tears gushed out as he stood rigidly rooted on the spot, hands clenched, jaw clenched, as the possibility of Lydia not coming back to him became very real. He threw his head back, vision of the starry sky obscured as he rubbed his face. He slumped mechanically on the ground as if someone clobbered him on the head and just stared at the sky not really seeing it, dazed and anguished.

He hurt her. He hurt her.

Standing up abruptly, James walked to the edge, roped down the shrine and vented out his rage on those dark spirits in the forest. He should have burned them all down. If they hadn't attacked, he and Lydia wouldn't be this way . . .

But if he was to be honest with himself, it was his choice. From thinking about going with Hailey when he thought he was back in Dalaran and she crossed the Shoflo ocean on a dingy just to see him and get back together, to now. He thought he was over her, buried their break-up and his longings deep, deep down where he thought he'd forget. Apparently he didn't, and yesterday he just realized he's been unconsciously clinging to a false hope she'd come back to him and things would somehow sort themselves out.

---- Two Years Ago ----​

To James' left and to his right, a bunch of guys from class were tormenting the girls sleeping here on the third floor of the Rest House they were staying in. The sixth years were on a field trip in the water city of Rauros, and right now the teachers were out having dinner, leaving poor old Clifford, one of the sixth years, who was currently locked inside a broom cupboard in charge.

The guys were spraying shaving cream on the doors, wiping cooking oil on the toilet seats, dumping garbage cans of water on the floor and other nonsense. It was just a harmless joke, but this sort of thing must be scary for girls because none of them were coming out of their rooms. James was sitting on the floor across the door of one that hadn't been touched.

The doorknob turned slowly, then four faces peered out from the gap in the door. The girls inside immediately got angry the moment they saw him. "Of all the people --- you're part of this?!" said a brunette indignantly. "James, you, you ---"

"I'm protecting your door, Terri." he chuckled, looking at her as though surprised she'd think him culpable of that.

Terri looked at her door and out in the hall where this part of third floor was as clean as it was before dinner. "Why?"

"What do you mean why? We're friends."

"Oh . . . Thanks?"

"You're welcome?" he repeated in the same tone as hers. "Better get back in, they're bringing in fizzing whizbangers and dung bombs."

"Urgh." The door closed. Then it opened again, and one of Teri's friends, a tall cheerful girl with chinky eyes, and short wavy brown hair dyed pink pomelo at the top came out with a shirt in hand.

"Use this James, for the smell." she said, offering it to him quickly while looking left and right at the hallways.

"This is your shirt, Hailey, you sure?"

"Sure. I've got more, just give it back to me when you're done."

"Thanks. But, give it back smelling like dung? I can take this to the laundry tomorrow and give it back to you at night."

"I can't let you pay for that."

"Hailey, it's just six gold." he chuckled. "Ah, they're coming."

"Okay! We go to the laundry shop tomorrow so that I will pay, okay?!" she shut the door, and James wasn't even able to answer before muffled bursts of brown gas erupted in the hallway and the stench of dung permeated the air.

He covered his mouth and nose immediately with the shirt and was surprised that after all these six years of knowing each other, he didn't know Hailey smelled really good.

---- End of Flashback ----

OOC || Characters || Moments in Time
​

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia sniffled and wiped her eyes again as Echo pulled her closer, listening silently to everything the fawn was saying. She shook her head, she knew that James would make the hard decisions. She just hadn't wanted to think that there was someone else in his heart. She told James she wasn't naive enough to think that there hadn't been girls before her, but she was evidently naive enough to think that he hadn't loved any of those other girls, of course, when she thought about it like that she realized she had fooled herself into thinking that he loved her at all.

A bitter laugh escaped her, her hands grabbing either of her arms and squeezing them as she sat there with her eyes closed. James had said that he wanted to sort out his feelings. He said he didn't want her to wait around for him. Her heart ached just thinking about that, he might never get over his feelings for Hailey. She might return to Frankia and take the harp lessons. Attend the parties. Talk about politics and the manufacturing business. Meet a young man that was the heir to another company and start a courtship with him because he didn't care about her peculiarities as long as she would be a good mother and a good wife.

Lydia shuddered at the thought and her hands squeezed her arms tighter, painfully so. Then she knew. She knew if she didn't get the dragon out now, he'd use the feelings she was harboring against her. He'd likely make her hurt James and take the key to her cuffs, "E-Echo... g-give me... the potion..."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo felt like she wasn't very good at comforting others but at least she has Lydia wanting to fight back again.

"Alright..." She passed her the glass vial to the small witch, the orange liquid inside sloshing around.

"It'll taste like orange or citrus...Supposedly. Ren and another soldier were the only ones who tasted it and said it works as a boost of sorts." The Pendragon sister was shaking a lot that day, grinning like a loon and she wouldn't shut up either. She was tasting and re-measuring the ingredients until she got the right amount and tested it on the soldiers who each one had a different reaction: One was shaking and jumping around while another was rolling on the ground non stop with Meatballs. Until the last and nervous soldier tasted it and said that he felt like he drank orange juice. He stayed up all night until he crashed the next night.

It was a sight to see. That's for sure. Echo had to bite her lip to not laugh. Serena...well Serena was cackling like a manic.

Roleplay Skittle

********************************

Serena was tweaking her violin strings, preparing a song to play in her head for the Sea King tomorrow when she heard hard footsteps crunching the grass. So she looked up and flinched a bit at James' face as he passed her by.

'That's not good...' Worried that he might do something stupid, she stood up to follow him but then she flinched again when a heavy hand clasped on her thin shoulder. The blonde violinist looked behind her to see a stony faced Chenglei who's not even looking at her; He's looking at where James went to.

"I'll look after him. You stay here." Without hearing her response, the Oriental soldier followed James in secret and silent. When the older Pendragon was dropping the rope down, Chenglei made his appearance known.

"James Pendragon, where are you going?" He asked calmly as he came out of the prickly bushes, ash purple eyes looking sharp and gleaming under the moon's light. A hand laid on top of his sheathed sword. On his hair is a few twigs and leaves from hiding low on the ground.


********************************

Renee smiled warmly as she blushed, gently cupping his face to give him a bunch of pecks on his cheek and temple. "Hmm. I'm glad that you're here with me too. Keeps me calm."

As she listened to Seifer's woes for some sort of hair product, she pondered for a bit, pausing on braiding his hair.

Then she took out the small coin purse from her pocket, opening it with a click. Somehow a mysterious jar was taken out of the coin purse and she passed it towards Seifer. Her light blush turned a darker red hue, highlighting the purple bird skin under and around her eyes. Her smile changed into a shy one.

"Here you go..." It's the homemade hair cream she made. After testing on James, she made some adjustments and got it right this time. It smelled really earthy too, like rain in a forest.

Zer0

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia looked to the vial and carefully took it, her hand coiling back against her as her eyes looked to Echo, "th-thanks... Echo... for being here," she mustered a somewhat halfhearted smile and looked back to the ground, laughing wryly, "I... I guess I shouldn't be like this... I had planned to break up with him... because of the dragon... and I thought that him being in love with someone else... would make that easier."

Her hand moved out from her again, fingers unwrapping from around the vial as she stared down at it, "I thought that... if I could get the dragon out... it'd be okay... maybe... maybe I'd..." she shook her head before heaving a deep sigh and pushing herself to stand once again. She had to convince herself that it wasn't the end of the world. She was still hurting and any thought of the future in any respect made her want to start crying so all she could do to keep calm and composed was think about the present.

With tensed limbs, swollen eyes, and an aching heart, Lydia wrapped her fingers around the vial once again, "so... should... I drink all of it to stay awake or just a little....?" in all her time staying up late, she had never used any type of aid, just pure will. She felt so distraught now on top of everything, she didn't think that will alone could cut it. Her mind began drifting back towards what had just happened, her breath shakily drawn in before she shook her head briskly and placed a hand to her face, gently clearing her throat.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo pursed her lips as she listened. She knew that she can't really say anything to help comfort her friend. It wasn't an experience she went through before and she's still new to the whole dating thing too. Her ears folded back as she stayed where she sat.

"You should drink that after the dragon left you...So you wouldn't be as exhausted..." Echo suggested.

Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

She looked a bit downhearted as Echo suggested she wait until after the dragon was gone, her brow furrowing slightly, "but... then I should sleep first? I... I don't think..." she sighed deeply and her shoulders slumped, "I don't think... I can help get him out right now... I feel too weak... too tired..." there was another thing she was feeling, but she didn't want to add it to the statement and so she just stared at the vial in her hand, holding her lower lip between her teeth, "I don't know... if I'll be able to resist his suggestions... especially after..."

She glanced back the way she had come from, there was no sign of James in the vicinity and she was grateful for that. She didn't think she could see him then, she didn't know when she would be able to face him again and began wondering if she should just stay with the Sea King the whole twenty-eight moons he had thought would be necessary.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo thought of a solution to Lydia's concern.

"Alright then I'll stay with you." She said simply, quirking a corner of her lips. "You can go to sleep and I'll stay awake to make sure nothing happens-. No, I made up my mind. I'm staying with you." Echo stood up and offered an arm for Lydia to grab like at the dinner party at Dalaran.

"Come on, I'll grab my PJs and you can sleep."

Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Her gaze turned back to Echo and she smiled, her lips parting, though she only managed to get out a stutter and not anything coherent as Echo insisted on their course of action. She timidly nodded and took Echo's arm when it was offered, "thanks, Hammer Mama."

She felt a little better already, Echo might not think it, but she really did help, Lydia's just not used to sharing feelings, especially not about this kind of thing.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Her ears perked up as her smile grew, blushing red as her fluffy tail wiggled a bit. She really wanted to squeal in joy when Lydia called her 'Hammer mama' but settled with nuzzling the top of the tiny girl's head. It's easier for her since she's the tallest of the girls really and Lydia's smallest with Renee being second after.

"No problem, Sugar Plum! Now come on, let's get ready to sleep...Hmm...maybe Serena would like to come with too?" She looked at the tiny witch. Echo placed an arm on Lydia's arm and patted it lightly and comfortingly. "Want to invite her too?" She asked as they walked slowly so Lydia has time to recollect herself.

Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

A small smile crossed Lydia's lips as Echo nuzzled the top of her head. This smile wasn't so distraught as the smiles she had been ushering forth previously. This was a genuine, happy smile, even if it was tiny and brief. She was glad to have Echo there, she had a calming presence and made Lydia feel more at peace than she did before. She nodded sightly and followed Echo back to the tent near the Sea King so Echo could get her pajamas.

"I think I'd like it if she did... I'd like to hear her play..." she snorted softly, "as long as it's something happy,"

After Echo got her jammies, Lydia informed the Sea King she would be back in the morning because she needed to rest. She was sure he would understand why, after all, everything she had just gone through she would probably need to confront with the dragon since that villainous reptile would probably bring it up as a means of making her lash out in order to keep him strong -- she needed her wits about her in order to battle him efficiently because she didn't want to be a burden on the Sea King by not doing her part.

When they asked Serena to join them in the tent, Lydia asked her sincerely, telling her that she could use the sound of her violin but that she didn't really want to talk about what had happened because she wanted to just rest so she would be strong for the following day.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo was gladd that they went to grab her Pajamas first and kissing Johnny 'Good night' before telling him that she will be with Lydia for tonight. Then she whispered that she'll sing to him tomorrow night as she has been doing for him lately.

After that, she left with Lydia and found Serena looking over the cliffs with a worried expression and turned around when the pair asked her to stay over in Lydia's tent. Which she agreed to.

The blonde could tell that Lydia needed a pick-me-up and after warning Hisaya that she's going to play a cheerful song, she played her violin. Echo, of course, tried her best at telling jokes only to fail and Serena cackling at how bad they are.

"They sound like dad jokes, Echo. Please stop." Serena said with a wide grin, snorting and giggling as the fawn blushed red again.

"Well I'm sorry that I'm not good at telling jokes-"

"It's not bad; It's just really corny. Heheh!"

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia averted her gaze from Echo and Johnny, trying to think of something else rather than feel jealous and was eager to get back to her tent and just sleep everything off. When they found Serena and she saw the expression on her face, Lydia's own expression became worried and she asked the violinist what was wrong, certainly biting her lower lip and shaking her head upon hearing the answer. She didn't want to think about that.

Seeing as how they had the chance, Lydia decided to ask Serena about her relationship with Hisaya. She had thought it was odd in the beginning but just never made the choice to ask, and she also asked Hisaya directly how the two - which she had never thought would become friends - did.

The whole purpose of a joke was to make people laugh... so even if Echo had meant to make them laugh one way, she succeeded in making them laugh in another. Lydia actually really appreciated Echo's terrible jokes, mainly because while she could prank, she wasn't good at joke telling either so she could relate. It was nice to just forget and laugh with her friends and she was snorting and giggling right along with Serena, "your jokes are awfully wonderful, Echo."

Katsuya Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Floating Islands -​

James jerked his head sharply at Chenglei's direction. Steely eyes tear-streaked and scowling, he seemed affronted at the challenge in the older man's voice and looked like a wrong word or touch was going to make him explode.

"Clear off." he growled warningly. Ignoring whatever the swordsman was going to say, James roped down and was off into the woods. He didn't return to the Bowl Rock camp that night.Hisaya told Serena

Meanwhile up at the shrine, Hisaya was telling Serena that he did not remember anything more. He was quite surprised to know of a long dragon here and that he had been here before. It just infuriated him that he did not remember.

Outside, the Sea King had simply acknowledged Lydia's decision then returned to speaking with Johnny about this land, what it's called, the dragons, the other creatures living here, and about the spirit of Valdanr living in his friend and apparently two others who are lost in the woods. He had wanted to tell Echo immediately all that he had learned late that evening, but as something seems to have happened to Lydia, went down to report to Kenren instead.

James returned to the Bowl Rock camp early in the morning eyes all baggy and puffy eyed, and slumped into his tent and promptly fell asleep.

- Seifer Rathmore -
" Somewhere, Camp "​

"Thanks, Renee." said Seifer, receiving the hair cream gratefully. He remembered when she was still working on this back at Bafffin. He had forgotten all about it until now. Seifer happily hugged and kissed her passionately, then cast, Fasalin Omor to turn it into a keychain.

That night, he gave her a massage from her feet to her head, eager to do something for her too.

Katsuya