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

[Roleplay Skittle]

James' affection was probably the only thing that could calm her right at that moment because otherwise she was a in a torrent of rage induced labor towards carefully and efficiently piecing together multiple sets of runes that would work towards what she needed them to do. Only when she was in James' arms did her brow smooth and a smile cross her features before she went back to being serious-work-mode-Lydia.

"...no James, but thank you," she said somewhat distractedly, if he had brought her a drink she likely would have forgotten about it, as was her habit when she was working. Of course she'd likely forget to eat as well because that was also a habit. As she went through the tomes each time she needed a new one, she would carefully draw one out at a time and look through, she only took one at a time and would put it back just where she found it. She knew how she hated it when people entered the library at her home and so when she was in another's library, she was always courteous and taking one set of writings at a time made it much easier to remember where it was supposed to go. Plus Historia had plenty of writing supplies to work with so anything she thought she might need, she'd write down and where she found it so she could come back to it if necessary.

Sometimes when James would present his work to her, she would gently correct any error and if there was no error, she would just nuzzle him and tell him it was perfect like him. In any case, she was pleased that he came to her with questions and found it funny how even though it wasn't that long ago, it seemed like ages ago when she was constantly seeking his approval on any spellwork she had been doing such as the first spell circle they worked together.

When James asked her about what got her to trust her instincts when it came to spell weaving she paused a moment in thought, blinking several times as her lips pursed slightly and she glanced upwards over her spectacles, "e-erm... well... I suppose so?" a faintly embarrassed smile crossed her features, "I started with tutors... but.. w-well... since I was... um.. alone all the time... I moved through the lessons too quickly and eventually my mother decided it was probably better for me to just do it all on my own," her stomach rumbled then and she laughed slightly placing her hand against it, "d-do you think Historia has anything for sandwiches?"

Lydia hadn't thought to bring a meal with them when they left for her home. She had only collected her hammer and armor since her notes had been taken. Once they had sandwiches, Lydia told James about how it had been nice to have the tutors there when she had questions about things, but without them it only meant she would have to find the answers herself and that was likely part of why she took to the spell weaving so easily was because in a way she was still just researching and finding answers, but she affectionately bumped him with her shoulder and leaned her head against him, mentioning how at least she wasn't doing it alone this time.

When they found the stone tablet that contained the information they had been after, it was hard for Lydia to contain her enthusiasm. It was such a monumental discovery amidst the treasure trove of knowledge that they currently sat in. She felt like it would be incredibly hard to leave when they finally had to. Though after they found it, she took to her work with renewed vigor because now it was the fun part, working that symbol in with the rest of the runes and assuring that they all retained their potency. Sealing Valdanr away might make it already for Seifer to use magic without much worry, but she thought it best not to risk it. They would leave no cracks.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Zer0]

- Historia's House -
" Bird Statues "​

"I'll go check." said James when Lydia mentioned sandwiches. Turned out there wasn't any bread, but there were these big mushrooms and he held them up for Lydia, shrugging if she wanted mushroom as replacement for bread.

Outside, Sasha began to hoot warningly. Through the stone window, they could see the dragon looking up into the sky then it roared a warning at whoever was coming. The familiar roar of Johnny' fluffy dragon form roared back. Thinking that it may be something important that cannot wait, James jumped down the stairs to see his friends.

"James, Lydia, Renee and Chenglei are in the barrens where the black dragons live." rumbled Johnny. "Valdanr took over Seifer last night and had imprisoned them there while he and Kenren came here. Seifer says they're in danger, we need to rescue them immediately."

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle
OOC | Characters | Moments in Time
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[Katsuya]

Serena peeked down from Johnny's dragon-y head to see James and Lydia with a worried look. "Um...Seifer also mentioned that he can sense where Renee is...So I think we need him to lead the way there." Then she added. "Maybe we should ask for help from Bahamut since he knows the area better than any of us here."

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

At the sight of the mushrooms, Lydia could only take on a somewhat stunned look and shake her head awkwardly. She wondered how Historia survived if she only ate mushrooms and drank tea, but she didn't have time to ponder on it too long as Sasha could be heard from outside followed by the sound of the dragon roaring. Lydia followed suit and hopped outside after James once they had been able to tell that it was Johnny and their friends.

Her brow furrowed as she listened to their reason for coming and she nodded her head, looking to Serena, "I think you're right... we also might have a better chance of getting around unnoticed if we ask for his help," she did want to finish the sealing cuffs, but getting Renee and Chenglei back as well as Historia and Kenren if they could, was much more important.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Zer0]

- Historia's House -
" Bird Statues "​

"Is Bahamut really on our side, though?" said James. "This sounds like a trap. Valdanr isn't just someone who charges with the intent to murder us, he's sneaky. Kenren didn't attack us, so what if Bahamut is just playing along just like he was? I mean, he's the leader of the black dragons, how could he not know Valdanr came back and locked up Renee and Chenglei? How did Seifer get here anyway, except maybe through flying? Bahamut could have been the one who brought him here."

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Katsuya]

Echo shook her head while Serena puffed up her cheeks before she retorted back. "Renee, Chenglei, and Seifer fought Valdanr off in his soul and did you forget about your sister's ability to change and fly?"

"Besides I really doubt Bahamut would be so confused as to why Mizutsume attacking him if he knew anything about Valdanr's plans. He would have sneaked off with Kenren instead of taking our suspicions up front, don't you think?"

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia's gaze turned to James as he questioned the decision of asking Bahamut for help and she bit her lower lip gently as her brow furrowed and she considered what he was saying, her gaze drifting to the ground, "are you thinking that maybe it's... a plan B? He feigned ignorance when the other dragon's attacked this morning just in case they failed so that he could try again later?"

Her gaze drifted to the others questioningly, "he does have a point... but... Kenren and Chenglei? How did they even encounter Seifer and Renee last night? Unless they somehow made it onto palace grounds and took Kenren and Chenglei from there before going to the barrens... well Kenren and Chenglei were probably flying too."

She looked to Serena and shook her head, "if Renee had changed to fly them in, with everyone on the lookout... well I think someone would have seen an owl-gryphon flying in carrying someone... I also think that... it couldn't have been Bahamut because that wouldn't explain how Kenren escaped so quickly with Historia while Bahamut was incapacitated," her gaze shifted back to James, "but that doesn't mean that Bahamut isn't a double agent."

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Zer0]

- Historia's House -
" Bird Statues "​

"If I wanted to snuff someone out, I'd arrange a back up plan. He could be acting for all we know, Serena." said James. And when Lydia spoke, he nodded, "Exactly."

This was a conundrum, ask for help from a great big dragon who, if he wasn't being truthful, can command the black dragons to burn them, or the deathknight who can bring them all to submission by just a word. He tapped his foot, thinking.

"How about this, we bring Seifer. He's the one we can easily control, more than Bahamut. Johnny can turn Seifer into a sheep, Echo's vines can hold and gag him, while Seifer-sheep just points the direction with his hooves?"

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Katsuya]

Serena just pictured the whole thing and snorted, holding back her cackle. "I'm sure he's not going to be happy about it, but since he does want to save Renee and Chenglei, he'll go with it...I think."

"So...should we get going then? We should be careful since we're going to new lands that we know nothing about..." Echo mentioned gently.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia smiled slightly despite the fact that no matter what they chose it would be dangerous, but at least he was right about it being safer to bring Seifer since he could be turned into a sheep and wouldn't be able to command them. The thought made her smile grow brighter and she cover her nose and mouth as a soft snort escaped her when Serena also snorted at the thought of Seifer being turned into a sheep. Of course he wouldn't like it, but that didn't mean the rest of them wouldn't enjoy it.

When Echo asked if they should get going, Lydia nodded, looking at Johnny questioningly. She felt awkward just climbing aboard, "erm... Johnny? May I?" she gestured and once granted permission, she'd climb aboard, though definitely not gracefully so.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Zer0]

- The Barrens -
" Next Morning "​

"Why yes, you may, Lydia." rumbled Johnny, chuckling, which sounded like rocks coughing.

"Hold on." said James, hopping off as though he remembered something. "Let's bring our research, Lydia, we don't know how long saving them is going to take and the sooner we have those cuffs the better."

Six hours later, at three in the morning, the group beheld the barren lands where towering pillars of red crystal, similar in hue to the philosopher's stone, stood under the moonlight. There were many little green fires, and by the look of the great black dragons patrolling the night skies, it seemed the territory was on the alert.

It was impossible for Johnny to cross the borders without being spotted and starting a fight, so he had to land behind a mountain and gradually the group began the six hour hike that would get them to the barren lands.

The flight from Awashima to here was long, and it had been delayed for a few hours earlier because apart from making preparations, Izanagi, Isanami, Mizutsune, and the guardians had decided that the piece of Valdanr in Seifer's soul had to be exorcised immediately even if that meant the archer's demise. But with a few hours of persuading them that the lives of two of the prophesied guardians were at stake, and demonstrating the effectiveness of their precautions against Seifer's power, they agreed, but on the condition that as soon as they return, the soul of Valdanr inside him must be destroyed. They then gave them provisions and better equipment, including hastily made camouflaged clothes that could hide them in the Barrens terrain.

Without Kenren and Chenglei, the oriental soldiers were distraught. They remembered Seifer talking to each of them last night conditioning them to obey his signals and felt guilty about attacking the kids. They weren't sure if they were going to be of any help to the group against dragons and instead said that they will look for the lost prince and Historia.

Now it was nine in the morning, and they had managed to sneak into the barrens. But it was so bleak and desolate, there weren't many places to hide or hike undercover without being spotted. They had to keep to the sparse thorny under bush, crawling on their belly, dragging sheep Seifer with them who was disguised as a rock.

Seifer had agreed. More like he didn't want to waste time. He was a fluffy sheep with wool dyed black and grey, wrapped in Echo's vines. A bit haughty looking, but kind of cute. One hoof was free from the vines and he used it to point the way and communicate to them by pointing on a scroll that had the alphabet and a few basic words such as 'thirsty', 'need to pee', and 'please scratch my . . .'

They were taking a break, under a clump of thorns. It was prickly and there wasn't a lot of space, but it was safe.

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

It was easy to agree with James concerning the research. It was very possible that Kenren might bring Historia hear after learning that she had materials that could help with the exorcism and if they left everything, they would have to start all over... again. She gave James a nod when he gave his reasoning and smiled pleasantly to him.

Lydia had little patience for any confrontations on the part of their hosts and the guardians and it was all she could do to remain civil. For the most part she only held her tongue and let the others do the arguing because the only arguing she could typically do was some dramatic display of prowess rather than anything through spoken word. She thought that it was ridiculous that they suggest the exorcism despite the fact that it would likely kill Seifer without a vessel to contain him once his soul was released and his body would likely be forfeit, they may as well just execute him because that would be the equivalent and that would erase any work they had accomplished thus for just to save him. That was why Lydia was so angry. With a clenched jaw and her eyes to the floor, she kept her fists tightly balled at her sides.

Before Seifer was a sheep, Lydia clocked him one and yelled at him for he and Renee leaving, informing him how at the Sea King's shrine, she had been cleansed. Her annoyance with the couple's disappearance obviously was because she was worried and because she was upset at how worried they made everyone. She held up her fist again, emphasizing one of her knuckles at him and declared that once they rescued Renee, the two better not run off again, at least not until this whole mess with Valdanr and saving the world was handled and they were all home safely, and yes, she actually did say it just like that.

Once they were in the barrens and taking a rest while hidden beneath the brush, Lydia finally had a moment to snicker about Seifer's newfound sheephood, teasing him happily about how she wished he could see his hair now. It was only momentarily however as she had soon began working on the cuffs once more, and as soon as they had reached the barrens after their hike, she had summoned Sasha again to help keep a lookout.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Oh yea, it was as funny as Serena thought it would be when they changed Seifer into a sheep and tying him with Echo's vines. Earlier when they had to talk with their hosts and guardians, they were lucky to somehow convince them on letting Seifer come with, especially since they showed how they were going to do it. Of course the blonde had to hold back about how much of a hypocrite Mizutsume was being, condemning one person who's in a similar boat as Hisaya even when he unconsciously attacked her too.

Serena will say it when it was time for the meeting about Seifer's fate. She's pretty sure that Renee would go against the decision until they found a solution to exorcising him without losing his body or soul. Considering that their souls are connected and all...

Echo sighed quietly as she sat next to a sheep Seifer while they rested under the prickly bush, making sure the vines don't loosen up while dragging his wool-y behind around. It's rather strange that Seifer is willing to dye his hair just for this mission and it reminded her of his choice to go find the Scrying mirror long time ago. She didn't say anything to him, not scolding him either as Lydia already did that before hand and her scolding him too will not make a difference. As long he doesn't try to leave without them, then it's fine. She is helping him though whenever he needed someone to scratch his nose, she did it gently.

Then her green orbs looked over at the research Lydia's working on, curious about that weird symbol but didn't say a word. She didn't want to chance someone hearing them at all. Serena looked like a junkie who's been denied of their drugs; only replace drug with her violin. Her fingers are twitching and twiddling around, even breaking off a piece of the prickly bush to entertain her hands as so she wouldn't reveal where they are hiding at the moment.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- The Barrens -
" Next Morning "​

James rubbed Lydia's back again after the talk with the royals. When she clonked Seifer on the head he chuckled because he was so much taller than her. For once he had the grace to look ashamed of himself and hung his head. Getting ready for the rescue of Renee and Chenglei had made James forget about them leaving without telling anyone and making them worry for the past two weeks, but Lydia's knock on the head and scolding was good enough to have him save his scolding for his sister.

Now under the bush, James noticed Serena's twitching and crawled beside her holding out a roll of parchment, and a very ancient looking scroll, a quill and an inkwell. "Want something to do?" he whispered

Meanwhile, Johnny, curious too about what Lydia was doing, asked quietly if he could help her with something.

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Katsuya]

Serena looked at James for a moment before looking down at the scroll and gave a sharp nod, her twitchy fingers taking the scroll and quill after putting the inkwell down. Then she started to make music notes, with lines across the scroll as the notes themselves bounced around for a while, looking very scratchy. The music notes started to calm down as she concentrated on what her violin would sound like before looking at James.

Then blonde moved closer to James and tapped the scroll for a second before writing her music notes again, teaching him how to write them. She wrote that he could use it as a code that only musicians would understand if he liked or just know the notes themselves so he can guess what she's playing next time.

'Thank you, James' she wrote on the ancient looking parchment, grinning at him.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

When James rubbed Lydia's back she smiled at him, an expression on her face that seemed to declare that she had a revelation, but she didn't say anything about it, just hugged him gratefully. Seifer's humility at her scolding made Lydia's heart soften just a tad concerning the antics of his and Renee. It was really strange how cold he had been previously and it took being turned into a Deathknight to cause him to act more decent.

Lydia's fingers were carefully rotating the parchment she was working on. She still had her old Sealing cuffs and had sketched them out on a separate sheet of paper. Angling runes could warp their effect and positioning them wrong could also change how they worked so there was more to it than just etching markings onto them. Lydia had worked out the dimensions and there were multiple mathematical equations on the page as well. The runework was done in such a way, that if one didn't know exactly what the work was meant for, they probably wouldn't understand and it would just look like abstract drawings. She took a look at Johnny and smiled slightly before looking back to the spell on the page, well pages since there were more than one, "well... these cuffs..." she said softly, holding up one of her old cuffs, "don't work for stopping our magic when we wear them," she explained that she thought through Valdanr's power, their abilities somehow evolved and told Johnny how she had discovered that she could use magic even with the cuffs on when she accidentally summoned Sasha at the Sea King's shrine.

"We have to make that part of the runework more potent so that it can better block the manna flow, but we also have to add this in," she showed Johnny the rune for sealing Valdanr's power, "this should seal Valdanr so he can't control Seifer... then it won't be as necessary to exorcise him immediately..." she smiled faintly, it would be nice to be sure that Seifer could be trusted because Valdanr lost the ability to control him, it would make it easier to focus on sealing Valdanr away permanently, though Lydia wondered why he had never been destroyed in the first place and she sort of seemed to zone out as she thought about it, why seal him at all? They were basically giving Seifer a death sentence but their ancestors had decided to keep Valdanr around in the first place rather than just destroy him.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Zer0]

- The Barrens -
" Next Morning "​

'U r wlecm.' wrote James in the new code. "This is interesting, Serena, using musical notes as a secret code. We can pass notes and people won't be that suspicious." he whispered. "So, this one is do, re, mi?"

Beside them, Seifer's free hoof kept swatting Johnny's hand away because he kept squishing his wool absentmindedly as he listened to Lydia. " That was a really good idea going to Historia's place." he said quietly. "As much as I'm mad at you, because you put Renee in danger," he looked at Seifer, "I don't want you to be executed."

Sheep-Seifer momentarily stopped his swatting to blink at Johnny. "Bhmm." he bleated in a muffled tone

"Did you know you just said, 'Red', in sheep speak?" chuckled Johnny, but he got the drift. "We'll get Renee, don't worry."

After their rest, they continued on their stealthy hike, crawling most of the time. It was very, very slow work. Seifer didn't know exactly how far Renee was, only that she was located north. This journey will probably take days and James was starting to wonder if they should capture one of the wicked looking things roaming about and interrogate them, or at least sneak into an outpost and try to look for some written orders or something.

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

She looked back to Johnny as he spoke, shrugging her shoulders slightly, "with all of our research gone... there wasn't really anything else we could do," thinking about it made her angry all over again, but watching Seifer bat away Johnny's hand as he kept trying to rub his fluff made her have to cover her mouth and nose to keep from laughing, her eyes growing teary, though she calmed a bit as Johnny spoke to the sheep and giving Sheep-Seifer a glance that said the same thing as Johnny's words but without actually using words before she added, "it wasn't all his fault... Renee has Valdanr in her too and even without, you know how stubborn she is, if she didn't want to go, she wouldn't have."

She giggled softly into the palm of her hand as Johnny said what Seifer had said in sheep speak before she went back to work for the remainder of their break. As they made their tediously long trek, she wondered if Seifer could retreat into his soul room to contact Renee since they were connected, maybe they could ask her if there was any way she and Chenglei could start heading towards them or if it was too dangerous for them to even move. She hadn't thought to interrogate anything, but she also didn't know what good that would do because they would likely just point them in the same direction they were already headed. If there were any more humanoid looking creatures, maybe they could steal some disguises and she wondered if they were organized enough to actually have something like written orders.

"Do you think I should send Sasha scouting ahead to see if maybe she can find Chenglei and Renee so we know exactly where they are?" she asked no one in particular, though her gaze eventually rested on James. She didn't want to put the little owl in danger even though she knew that if she could succeed, it would be helpful. Maybe James bees would be better though since they were smaller so she also asked if he'd rather send them.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Serena grinned again and nodded. "Yep and if you like, we can practice for your hearing too. So I would just play a sentence on my violin and you'll understand it even when you're not nearby...and yes, that's 'Do Re Mi'."

Echo, who was sitting next to Johnny and Seifer, giggled quietly when the sheep kept swatting her boyfriend's hand away from touching his wool. As they mention Renee's situation, the fawn sighed and patted Seifer's head like she was comforting and agreeing with what Johnny said. She's okay with just staring as her ears stayed perked up and moving around whenever there was a sound coming by.

By the time they all realized that Seifer doesn't know how far Renee is, the fawn just groaned and let her head fall on the dry and sick dirt; not caring about it being on her forehead at the moment. It's going to take a long time at this rate which means Renee and Chenglei will be in danger for that long, worse if they haven't eaten or is tortured or is rotting in a corner of a cell. So that's not a good thing.

"But how would you know if they are there if they're in a cell? or hidden somewhere?" Echo asked.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- The Barrens -
" Next Morning "​

"That'd be useful," whispered James, " then we can communicate even though we're gagged just by humming. This is ingenious, Serena, we weren't taught this during our training."

When they got moving again he nodded his head at Lydia. "Sasha would be best, my bees are more useful spread out around us as we travel." They were like his alarm, through them he was able to tell the group to duck or hide before a patrolling dragon or wicked creatures riding bats passed them.

Sasha wouldn't return until early next morning. She had flown past the magical range that linked her and Lydia together in order to search longer. She had spotted four locations from the sky: an outpost, an underground gate, a large ravine that seemed to be a huge dragon den that had a large crude settlement mining that red crystal ragnite, and another settlement mining ragnite near a foggy place where some sort of mist was steaming out from vents underground for as far as the eye can see.

When night came and James and Johnny were finally looking forward to some sleep as they had gone without it since last night, Sheep-Seifer pointed out to Echo that he can meet Renee in his dreams. Their souls were linked after --- he glanced surreptitiously at James who was putting his sleeping bag next to Lydia's and seeing if they could fit in their hiding place --- they --- Seifer's hoof fidgeted for a moment --- slept together, 'Don't tell James or Lydia!', he poked the alphabet scroll rapidly. He had been trying to look inside his soul or go to sleep to talk to Renee again, but the sweltering heat of this wasteland, the dust, the uncomfortable binds, his hot wool, and being dragged around, plus the fear of getting caught by enemies has made it hard for him to concentrate. He was hoping to get some sleep too, after eating. 'By the way, how am I to eat?'

Because they couldn't risk a fire, they were having cold or dry grub tonight, and probably for the rest of their nights here. The temperature had dropped to freezing, and Johnny snuggled close to Echo for warmth, rubbing that spot on her forehead smudged with dirt to clean it. They were under another thorny bush again, while James dug underneath a rock formation to sleep in a hole since the bush couldn't hide them all. It was really different, travelling in a wasteland.

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Katsuya]

"Of course not. Not everyone can remember music notes that quickly like you and me." Serena grinned at James, looking a bit smug as she has thought of something that not even Kenren planned of. It's not like she has anything against him, of course; she's just really happy that she can be as clever as Seth.

When night came, Echo made a hole under the shrub so the cold winds don't hit them as hard and still hidden from view. As Seifer explained on how he got that connection, the fawn's jaw dropped before sighing and nodded, still in disbelief. "So...you have that link because of...that?" It's a weird thought that's for sure. Echo does remember hearing from the Sea King that there are creatures who can find their soul partner even if it's on the ends of the realm; so to know that her best friend and Seifer has this special connection by...by that is something she didn't think would happen.

"Hmm...I won't. No worries." It's not like she's a gossip like Serena who would flat out say it.

"I'm hand feeding it to you since we can't really free you. Sorry Seifer." Echo really did look like she was sorry as she feed the sheep with the dry and cold grub. Once she was done and he wasn't as hungry, she put Seifer in a comfortable position so he can try to sleep and dream. She also made sure he was warm enough for the cold night before lying down herself.

Echo's ears perked up when Johnny snuggled close to her and rubbing the smudge on her forehead; she smiled at him before giving him a kiss. "Thank you, love." Her green eyes looked over to where Serena was and had to hold back her laughter since the blonde violinist is using Seifer as a pillow. She fell asleep right after getting comfortable and it was quick too, oddly enough. Serena must have been tired today.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia had nodded and sent Sasha out to scout ahead for them, she worried for her but also knew that she had been in dangerous situations like this before and had been fine, like when she surveyed the battle field at Holt so long ago. Of course despite her faith, she was still very glad to see the little owl safe the next day. She relayed to the others what she had learned from Sasha so that they could decide together where would be the best and most likely place they could search for Renee and Chenglei.

Lydia smiled slightly as she watched James try to fit their sleeping bags in the same hiding spot. It wasn't as though the bags would lay flat once they were in them, and they could always over lap them or unzip them both and lay on one while snuggling under the other. That idea sounded the best to her and she quietly asked James if she could try something, if he let her, she made an extra large sleeping bag by unzipping both bags and zipping them to each other and just as softly declaring that now they both could fit. She smiled slightly and decided to mention courting practices from bygone times, this particular instance made her think of bundling and she kept her voice low as she went on to describe to him exactly what bundling was.

If asked about how she knew something like that, she'd simply state that she had read every book in the library in her home before she started collecting her own books.

It seemed best to have finger foods for their meals so they wouldn't have to worry about utensils or excessive use of water since they didn't know when they would be able to replenish what they had. It was also convenient when it came to not having a fire. Lydia munched on onigiri which she wasn't so sure about because of the salty filling, but it was filling enough and she also decided to try some seaweed crackers and of course jerky was always a staple when traveling and not having the ability to cook. She had been hungry when they had left but had brought a separate set of rations to eat along the way so she wasn't overly ravenous and filled up pretty easily, comfy, full, and all around content for the moment despite the situation they were in and regardless of their sleeping arrangements considering the terrain.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Zer0]

- The Barrens -
" Next Morning "​

"Bhmm!" bleated Seifer-sheep in an indignant tone and tried to roll away from Serena, but it was no use. He sighed and just lay there all fluffy and let her use him as a pillow; Johnny peeked over Echo's shoulder and followed her gaze when he noticed her holding back her laughter, and chuckled into her back.

"Night, Echo." he murmured, making himself comfortable too, and pushed up some of the thorns with his foot so that he could hug her without prickling himself.

James left his little hidey hole, happy that he and Lydia could sleep next to each other. "What is bundling?" he whispered to Lydia after he had re-packed the rest of his rations and arranged his things around the sleeping bag, using his backpack like a pillow.

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

- Seifer's Soul -​

As sleep crept up on him, Sheep-Seifer's eyelids began to grow heavy. He had been surprised at how trusting Serena was, and how Echo cared that he would be comfortable enough to sleep. To be honest, the past two weeks, he had kind of missed them.

Serena playing her music every time they were stressed, Chenglei practicing the sword with him, Echo punching a boulder, Johnny playing with his giant dog, Butters grazing meditatively somewhere with Frey, Lydia and James reading somewhere together, Kenren busily going around always working, and the soldiers doing their own thing. He missed that, and he was glad Valdanr had failed to hurt them once more.

He found himself in the mansion again. On his bed in his bedroom, Renee in front of him.

"Renee, they're alright!" he said immediately. "Valdanr failed to hurt them, but Kenren and the Aged Author are missing." he told her what happened that day. He had no memory of what had happened, but Serena was able to fill in those missing gaps.

"We're in the barrens. That's where you are. Sasha is looking is for you. I'm with them too as a sheep. It's Echo, Johnny, Serena, Lydia, and James with me. You got to somehow get Sasha's attention secretly, like maybe mark something that she'd spot easily. We're still sleeping, and journey is very slow because of all the hiding and waiting we have to do. It may take us days to reach you. You and Chenglei have food and water, right?

Katsuya

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

In a soft voice Lydia responded to James question about bundling by describing that it was the practice used by families for their children during courtship in eras since past. The boy in the courtship would stay the night at the girl's house and they would be allowed to sleep in the same bed, but there were precautions taken, to assure that they could talk and maybe kiss while they slept next to each other but nothing more. The precautions varied from the couple being put in their own separate bags that were sewn closed to a board being placed between their bodies. Families liked for their children to get to know each other better before marriage, but they didn't want them to -- at that point Lydia trailed off from her description of bundling, her cheeks turning red and she declined to say anything further on the subject in that particular respect but she did mention how while they don't use bundling anymore, her family had let Frederick stay the night at his wife's family's house many times before they were married.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- The Barrens -
" Next Morning "​

"Didn't want them to get too comfy?" whispered James, smiling, as he nudged Lydia's shoulder playfully. " What do we use for a board?" he added looking around. There were the thorns, but too prickly. Backpack, too bulky. "Ah, want to use Sparks as a board? He's been better behaved since Renee trained with me."

Roleplay Skittle