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

[Katsuya]

Echo looked at James with very acidic green eyes that are shadowed over by her vibrant red hair before she smiled at him. It gave Renee, who saw the smile, the chills running down her spine. That's...that's not a friendly smile-! It's not! It really alarmed the Pendragon sister and hoped that nothing would trigger her friend's wrath.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately since the fawn might need a stress reliever, thought Renee), the girls listened to Lydia and-

"Eep! Echo!" Renee yelped as the angered fawn stood straight up and stomped on the ground, making it shake around them from how hard she's stomping. Thick vines and roots sprouted out from the side of the watch tower where the snipers were, bursting the dry earth's dirt everywhere and tightly wrapped themselves around the snipers. They wriggled and writhed as they squeezed the stupid guards who dare trick them.

Echo glared with a small frown, her ears folded back as she snorted, sounding very much like her animal half. Then she looked over at the mounted guards, snarling with her nose scrunched up.

Renee changed into her griffin form and flew up, then she took a breathe. Only to gather light in her beak, a ball formed and with a pulse of surprising amount of power, she unleashed it at the unfinished defenses; shooting straight through them with a powerful force. She chirped before changing back and landing smoothly on her feet, aiming with her light arrows at the same enemy.

However she didn't see the snipers shooting at her wings before Echo hit them and was knocked out by the throbbing pain she's feeling from the bullet wounds.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- Lysander Fortress -​

"Ursa Choutte Venire." cast James, the runic tattoos on his hands glowed a fire-fly blue.

Poof, out stepped Pond just as the goblin mages summoned dark shadow spirits with snapping jaws and venomous purple breath. The owl bear swayed, waving her giant feathery arms, then with an upward swing, sent a powerful gust that melded with Renee's beam of light and shattered most of the enemy's earthen defenses, their arcane shields stuttering and breaking until only one was left and the goblin mages hastily set to casting their shields again.

"Renee!" cried James, catching her at the same time the shinobi did.

"Go, fight, I will take care of her!" he said. James set to casting around them his arcane shields, just as the fortress rose up a battle cry and a flare signal of bright fireworks. They were manning the heavy artillery, and more riflemen ran up the walls. They were going to join the fighting soon. Companies started to march out of the gates, while the patrolling aerial soldiers were starting to converge on them.

It was like they roused an ant hill, with all the enemies converging on them. Fireworks signals rose up from distant enemy camps, they seem to be carrying the signal to the direction of Paroosia. Where Valdanr was last rumored to be. Dragon flight was swift, if he decided to come, there was no way they could outrun him on foot.

The mounted trolls, soldiers and goblins charged out from their crumbling defenses, emboldened by Lady Storm Cleaver's fall. The wicked goblins cast in unison, ominous purple energy emanating from their hands. They started to draw a summoning circle.

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle
OOC | Characters | Moments in Time
​

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

It was a good thing that the others were having better luck than her, she felt like such a goof not being able to throw her hammer and wondered why she had even tried. She hadn't realized how angry Echo was until she saw her in action and oddly enough it made her smile. She wasn't glad that Echo was upset, she was just glad that Echo was able to use it in such a way, that was Hammer Mama alright. Echo's strength under the current circumstances made Lydia regain a little of her confidence as well, and it was a good thing to considering the fact that as Echo was attacking the snipers they had shot Renee and knocked her out. Now it was Lydia's turn to get angry.

Everything was awful and it only seemed it was getting worse as reinforcements began surrounding them and fireworks went off in the distance, "we've got to get to the mines! If Valdanr really is in Paroosia they are calling him! He won't be able to fit in the mines!" Stupid fat dragon is too fat. Lydia didn't think that though because she was too busy trying to focus her mind as she was already getting up on her feet to start running towards the mines where the mounted soldiers had made their false camp. Maybe their group could try and steal some rations while they ran by?

In the mean time, Lydia was staring heatedly at the enemies blocking their way to the mines, casting her spell and whether or not it succeeded, she tried to grab some of their provisions to take into the mine.

Zer0 Katsuya

Spoiler: Lydia's Stats

Hp 3/3 (1-9 Conjuration) ---> Mounted Soldiers
Phys.Def. 6 || Mag.Def. 9
*x1 re-roll one-handed

 

[Katsuya]

They might feel encouraged with Renee's defeat, however they have forgotten about someone else: A very angry Lady Doom Hammer. She normally don't use her destruction spells on her enemies unless they were huge and even then, she'd rather punch them but today...

Oh, today was not the day that they get to feel safe, not when she's angry and willing to crush all of them into a pile of goo and bone. The red headed fawn looked over at the screaming goblins who are coming at their way, hearing an alarm as her narrowed acidic eyes darkened over.

Not feeling merciful, she silently made motions that would remind everyone of her martial arts and then...the ground started to move. A huge avalanche of dirt and soot swallowed up the unfinished defenses, her enemies now trapped and buried alive and crushed under the weight of heavy dirt...never to be seen again.

Echo ran behind Lydia to the mines, using her earth spell again to have the group safe from the mounted soldiers who are chasing after them. The vines and roots from before rose up again, whipping and thwacking and crushing the mounted soldiers and anyone who's coming their way.

On her way, she tried grabbing something to help out, only to miss the food and she continued to run.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- Lysander Mines -
​

"You can do it, Lydia, send them scattering!" cheered James spiritedly, raising a fist into the air.

He followed them last, letting the shinobi carrying his sister on his back run before him as they made for the mines; Pond stayed behind, holding off the artillery of the fort that had begun firing. The tiny soldiers all scrambled into his sister's pack, which he carried. It was then that the wicked goblins finished their spell circle and out stepped a heavy skeleton golem.

It lumbered after them, drawing from its back an axe of bone. It sent dust kicking into the air as it charged through Echo's earth walls, hacking through her vines, then threw the axe at James. Pond tried to catch it, but she missed; James skidded to a halt, "Protego!" he cried, but the axe shattered through his shielding charm and bonked him in the head. He fell on the ground, dazed, bleeding on his forehead, but still alive.

The owl bear propelled herself forward and tackled the skeleton, but it tossed her over and continued his charge, stretching out a skeletal hand to snatch James.

Meanwhile, those who ran ahead made it to the mines, only to see that the goblins had been waiting for them behind fortified defenses and shot a volley of shots from their boomsticks.

"Nyaha! Nyahahahahaha!" They cried maniacally as three goblins strapped with lit dynamite charged for the group.

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Katsuya]

Echo looked back as she heard something clacking through her walls and hacking through her vines. Then she uttered a curse when she spotted a dazed and bleeding James. The fawn urged the shinobi to continue running with Renee and Lydia as she ran back to the battle field. Her dread of losing another person fueled her surging anger, not realizing that her manna is pumping through her veins more so then normal. White manna static appeared on her fists for a second before disappearing.

Faster and faster she ran, jumping over any of the debris from her destructive attacks before and she finally reached James. Not stopping her flow, Echo sweep one hoof as she picked up James and tossing him over her shoulder; securing his legs with one hand while on her other shoulder is the bag with the shrunken soldiers and shinobi.

Then she stomped on the ground, sweeping one hoof, and-

BOOM!

Chunks of dirt and rocks bursts up, creating a wave that she's surfing on with a rock that was underneath her, outrunning the huge skeleton and the mounted soldiers who are stupid enough to follow only to be swallowed up. Once they were inside the mines, Echo jumped off the stone and sealed the opening with tougher materials (was that blue stones in there?), hardening the dirt.

Then she glared with acidic green eyes at the running goblins with explosives, her ears folding back as she snorted angrily. When James wasn't dazed, Echo put him down and patted away the dirt from his battle robes; passing the bag to the shinobi who has Renee before calmly walked over to where Lydia is.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia's forward momentum in the direction of the mines halted momentarily as she saw Echo's attack drop the mounted guards and watched them get blown away by Pond's magic. She looked back at the giant guardian with a grin, a surprised look falling over her features as she turned her gaze to James to offer a sweet smile when she saw Echo grab him and toss him over her shoulder, all she could do was shake her head before running into the mines, looking to Echo once again to make sure they were on the same wave-length.

Which it appeared that they were because Echo shortly sealed up the entrance, it closed an immediate exit for them, but it also protected their rear as they had to face off against the incoming goblins that were headed their way. She didn't have a chance to check and make sure that everyone was okay because as soon as they were through the entrance, even before Echo had closed the way out, they were being fired upon by a group of raucous enemies. There was no doubt in her mind that if even in the mines they were prepared, Serena and the twins must have gotten caught, but she hardly had time to worry about that as she channeled her will into the runes on her arms, summoning shields of light to protect everyone, the bullets from the goblins' boomsticks bouncing off the magic domes with metallic twangs.

That wasn't the end of their problems as the goblins strapped with dynamite and yelling their annoying battle cries came charging towards the group, "Echo!!!" Lydia cried in panic as she held up the shields to protect them from the barrage of ranged attacks, though they would do little good versus explosives that made it past them.

Zer0 Katsuya

Spoiler: Lydia's Stats

Hp 3/3 (1-9 Conjuration) ---> Goblin Horde?
Phys.Def. 6 || Mag.Def. 9
*x1 re-roll one-handed

 

[Katsuya]

Hearing Lydia's urgent yell and with a hard stomp with her hooves, the red headed fawn's stance was a horse stance and with fists, she pushed forwards. The ground in front of them moved, creating a brown dirt wave that pushed the bombers back to the hoard. She heard explosions from the other side of her earth wall.

Suddenly a rain of blue arrows came down on the bombers, causing on them to explode as well. Echo turned around to see Renee standing near the shinobi. Her wings are bandaged and folded on top of her blood-tinted hair. She knocked more arrows to shoot again as she walked a bit closer and away from the nice shinobi who wrapped her wings.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- Lysander Mines -​

Echo and Lydia's attack mowed down the goblins and they successfully broke inside the mine's defenses. It was chaos, the explosions were causing cave-ins as they pushed through. James had come to and thanked Echo before he summoned Frey and mounted him.

The white stag now wore armor and his horns tossed away mages that were battling Echo's earth spells.

As the group separated to search for their friends, Lydia and Renee stumbled upon a fortified hallway in the lowest floor that held a vaulted door. It seemed to be locked, both with arcane seals and a strong mechanism even Echo couldn't open. It seemed to be a type of room made to hold someone strong and can do magic.

Meanwhile, James and Echo found the prisoners, they were all in cages strapped with explosives. Goblins grinned at her. "Surrender, or they all go bye-bye!"

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Katsuya]

"Watch out!" Renee yelled as the explosives caused the caves to collapse. She ran behind James and Echo, who were blocking the other goblins and mages, whenever one or two gets too close she'd blow them away and into Fray's attack. The fawn nodded back at James as she pulled up another wall.

When the group separated with James' bees hidden on their person, Renee went with Lydia, looking around and making sure they searched in each tunnel until they stumbled upon a locked vault. Thanks to James' training, the Pendragon sister can tell that this vault has strong arcane seals; same with her reading on mechanisms, this one is tough enough to withstand Echo's strength.

Though something about this vault bugged her; there was a tugging. Renee lightly touched the vault's door and suddenly red flags with warning bells appeared in her head. She leaned away from the vault with a small scowl. Her bandaged wings puffed up in alarm. "Lydia...something's not right with this thing...I don't like it..."

Meanwhile Echo listened in on the soft mutterings of people, following where it leads her and leading James with hand motions on where to go. The mines is dark but with Fray's soft glow, Echo can see what's in front and back of her. Once the pair reached to the prisoners, the fawn stared at the explosives that are tied to the cages. Then she looked over at the grinning goblins who hold the detonator.

"...Do you know that Valdanr wants everything on this realm to go 'Bye-bye'?" Echo started calmly, finally talking after the battles. "He doesn't care of who lives or who dies. Right now, he finds all of you useful because of your mining and earth magic, but once he's done, do you believe he will keep you safe? Do you honestly believe that he will not hurt you after he's done with you? After he has his goal?"

Her ears wilted as deep green eyes gazed sadly at them. "I have a friend back in Scree; he's a goblin, and he used to be in a bad situation too. He's in a better business arrangement with the people who enslaved him. Now he works with them and selling items from the world to the north. I can give you guys a good word with him after this whole war is done. No one will try to harm you or imprison you, I swear they won't..."

"So will you join us as an ally? We won't ask you to fight if you don't want to or make yourselves explode. We can keep you guys safe if you like. We do need a lot of help though. Maybe you can teach the soldiers back at our fort on how to make stuff or how to use earth magic? I'll tell the leader of our group of what I offered as long as you can help us stop Valdanr. He won't harm you either..."

Echo lend her hand out, showing that she trusts them with a warm smile.


Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia had wanted to check on James after she had seen Echo carrying him, but there was just no chance as quickly as they fled one fight just to end up in another and now even with their success at facing down against the goblins of the mines, there still wasn't time and all she could do was watch James ride off on Frey as the guardian summon tossed aside any goblins that remained after the combined attacks of the ladies decimated the rest. She only smiled slightly, at least he was alright.

After the defeat of those blocking their path, she gave a nod to Renee and ran down one of the halls with her. She had drawn out her hammer for any surprise attacks and was keeping a way eye to their rear, both of them didn't need to be looking ahead after all and more enemies coming to ambush them wouldn't be a good thing. She found the fortified hallway unnerving and took a careful look around, eyeing the vault with a somber expression, dread filling her as she watched Renee for a moment when she started checking the vault before she turned her gaze away again and shook her head slightly, "is... there anyone... anything in there?"

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Renee shrugged her shoulders, still glaring at the vault warily. "I don't know...I mean, it's enchanted and this mechanism is really something...I don't think Echo can break it too." She looked back at Lydia, walking back to where she is.

"All I know is that I don't trust this thing...at all and you know me Lydia: I follow my gut." She whispered.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia nodded her head slightly, a deep frown set on her pretty features, her brow furrowing as she nodded a little more enthusiastically and stepped nearer to the vault, closing her eyes as she spoke the words for the spell and holding her hand up towards the vault, but not touching it. She stood sideways to the vault and listened carefully for any signs of life echoing from inside.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Zer0]

- Lysander Mines -
" Prisoner's Area "​

Echo's words at first seemed to have no effect, but as she continued to reason with them, they slowly started to doubt. James was already thinking of multicasting his spells, imagining the motion in his mind that could save most of the prisoners, but it seemed it wasn't necessary.

The goblins started to mutter to themselves about how they were usually threatened around, made to camp with orcs, though they were promised land by Valdanr after the war. They looked at Echo as though weighing the risk. They did have the dragon army that could keep them safe from Valdanr.

"We want land and goblin country. No sharing with gnomes, dwarfs, orcs, or trolls. And Goblin Chief sit with country leaders!"

Katsuya

- Lysander Mines -
" Mysterious Vault "​

Through the mysterious vault there was the tense shuffling of about twenty feet, muttering of gobblegook, the creak of bows, and the rubbing of metal armor against cloth. There was an ambush waiting inside, deeper into the room and down below it. The fortified hallway they were in prevented anyone from going through the walls. There was just this door here, and no way to get in except through there.

There were no sounds of hooves, the twins, or Serena, but down, down below, there seemed to be the rattling of rails.

Roleplay Skittle Katsuya

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia's expression was grave as she turned to Renee and relayed what she could hear inside the vault. All of it. Her brow furrowing. Even if they did manage to get the vault open... Lydia shook her head, she didn't know why she was thinking so darkly, "if there are rails down there and they captured the twins and Serena... they may have wanted to take them somewhere else," she bit her lower lip gently and looked back to the vault.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo blinked, her ears perked up in surprise. "Wait! You guys don't have a country of your own? I thought you did..." She said, frowning a bit. Their offer reminded the fawn of her mother's work when she wanted to stand up for other beings to be accepted in Kingsbury. If her mother was here, she would stand up for the goblins too...

"If Goblin Chief and you guys come with me to talk with Prince Kenren about the terms, I'll do my best to convince him on agreeing. It's not that I don't want to, but I don't have that power to promise that. However I promise to have a talk with the leaders on arranging land for the goblin race and have Goblin Chief sit with country leaders too." Echo will have a lot to write back to Johnny. Hopefully they can talk through a Scrying mirror.

Meanwhile Renee's frown grew as her puffy wings fluttered in agitation, making her wince. "Okay, we're gonna have to call James." So she careful picked up the fuzzy bee that's hiding in her hair to talk, not wanting to get stung by it. "James? We found an enchanted vault. Can you come and take a look at it?"

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- Lysander Mines -
" Mysterious Vault "​

"Lykon's not there!" said James' voice. He sounded like he was running. "The prisoners are alright, Echo talked to the goblins and they let them go." he sounded amazed, but immediately told his sister and Lydia the situation as they made their way down to them.

"This was a set-up. It was all a trap to lure us here where the Storm Wall Army can't help us. Echo's father and everyone are in Paroosia, and that's where --- where Sen, Seth, and Serena were taken two hours ago. There's an underground railway system. They're too far away for radio or my bees. They're --- they're gone. But we'll get them back, Renee, we'll get them back."

The two made it down there. They cannot stay here anymore. It wasn't just goblins here, but there are orcs, men, trolls, and shades up in the fort. They were still loyal to Valdanr, so either the group retreats now, or they follow the railway track to Paroosia.

The goblins would not follow them of course. That's where the boss they just betrayed is at, and they want Echo to take them to the allies' safe side over at Bourgeous before the others up top got wind of their betrayal.

Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia turned her gaze to Renee as they heard James' voice. She was glad that they were able to free the prisoners but she was so angry at herself for not just siding with Kenren. She had also thought it would be a trap and now Sen, Seth, and Serena were gone. Her brow furrowed in anger. Why had they let them go into the mine alone? They should have retreated the moment they realized that the shinobi had been caught.

She turned away and put her hand on her face, clenching her teeth together and when the other two got down there she shook her head, "leave the vault..." she spoke softly as though she were trying not to burst, "we just lost one of the virtues... we shouldn't run on ahead, especially since it has been so long since they were taken," in other words, they needed to just retreat.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Renee felt her heart drop into her stomach as she listened to James, knowing that Lydia heard too. Then she bit her bottom lip as one of her hands curled up into a fist.

"...W-we'll get them back." She repeated back quietly, grief is apparent on her face as she nodded at Lydia's order to retreat. Once James and Echo found them with the prisoners and goblins, Renee asked if there's a way to leave the mines without getting caught by the monsters at the top.

Apparently there was and it was how the enemies' invade the allies' fort to steal their items.

After the goblins sealed their way of escape and Echo used her earth spell to the rest of their way to Kenren's fort while closing the tunnel behind her, the fawn asked for Kenren to talk along with the leaders, Johnny, and the goblin chief about the goblins' terms. She made her points to the prince on how the goblins can help them with the war and what they wanted in return.

While Renee got the prisoners to shower as she cooks something warm for them to eat. Though she was surprised to find Serena's music teacher, Polorius, in the crowd, thinking he was safe before. He thanked her and he thanked the others as well for letting them out of the cells and asked where Serena was. Renee was the one who told him the truth and he asked if there was a way for him to help somehow. He's not much of a fighter, but he does want to help with the work load here if he can since he knows Serena would want him to help them.

Once she made sure everyone is covered with warm blankets and is full with warm food and have bathed, Renee hugged James tightly. "We'll get them back." Then she walked to her room and curled up in Seifer's arms for comfort, wings wilted and limp as she just sighs and struggles with her grief.

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- Mill Fort -
" Bourgeaus "​

James had his warm fill of Renee's scrumptious cooking. Goodness knows he needed it, and the cozy blanket helped too after a soothing bath. His brothers and good friend had been taken, so after hugging Renee for a long time, he made a beeline for Lydia's tent and asked if he could rest in her arms again.

"I'm going to join the frontline troops at the outposts tomorrow." he told her steadily. "Help them push to Paroosia before the portal opens any wider." he sighed, snuggling into Lydia's shoulder. Then in a voice quite unlike the first, whispered: "I feel so scared for Sen, Seth, and Serena, and so . . . desperate." James decided to break down now, let all his emotions come out as he babbled on Lydia's shoulder. He didn't think he could stay calm later if he bottled it up inside, and he knew he needed to be since hysteria and theatrics don't help, it'll just make Valdanr use his desperation to make ridiculous demands.

Kenren had heard the story and accepted the goblin alliance. He told Renee and James not to do anything rash while they sorted this out. There was going to be a ransom to pay, the prince was sure, in exchange for the twins and Serena, and told them to leave negotiations to him. This had helped calm James as he ate the warm dinner Renee had made.

Meanwhile Seifer consoled Renee as well as he could, hugging her, and saying how next time, he was going to come too.

A letter had also been sent to call in Minnie and Johnny to the front lines.


Katsuya Roleplay Skittle

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Lydia was so irritable that she couldn't sit still once they got back. She stuffed some food between two pieces of bread and walked around the fort swinging her hammer around. When she was done eating and had walked around a bit, more she asked one of the soldiers if they would spar with her. When she finally felt like she could stand anymore, she retreated to her tent and when James came to join her, she showered kisses all over his face before she granted him permission to stay with her.

She felt horrible that she hadn't checked on him immediately after his injury, like she had failed him personally and amidst her stuttering and apologies and teary eyes she tried to explain how she hadn't had the chance because of how the fights had progressed but that she was glad he was okay and kissed him all over his face again. She nodded her head as he spoke of his plans and closed her eyes as she held him, "maybe... we can convince more of them to join us... I know there is no hope for the ones that have been brought back, but the ones that are still living... we need to make them see that we are on the same side and there can be peace if they join us," if they could they would be making their army bigger by making Valdanr's smaller and there would be less death.

Squeezing him tightly as he whispered his fears to her she gently caressed his hair, combing her fingers through it and listening intently to him before she pulled away slightly and held his face in her hands, stroking his cheeks gently with her thumbs and pressing her forehead against his, "I know... me too... and I am so mad at myself for not pushing Kenren's side... I felt like it was a trap but... I wanted to make sure," she groaned slightly and wrapped her arms back around him, resting her head on his shoulder and hugging him tightly, "we'll get them back... just like we have before," after that she just stayed quiet and held him and let him get his emotions out because she knew as well as he did that panicking at the wrong moment could be disastrous, it's why she hadn't stopped to check on him instead of facing off against the hordes in the mines after they had made it inside.

When James was done getting all of his emotions out, once again Lydia showered him with soft kisses and told him how she would of course be going with him to the frontlines.

Zer0 Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Renee sobbed quietly as she cuddles with Seifer. Fat warm tears streaked down her pale-ish purple cheeks as she hid her grief and terrified filled dull eyes into his chest. She needed to be weak right now, away from everyone's prying eyes as her usual stubborn determination is close to breaking from the news of her little brothers and her friend. Thin freckled shoulders trembled, hitching whenever she hiccuped or sniffled, practically clinging onto Seifer as they lied in their tent.

The only reasons why she wasn't having a full blown panic attack is because James is here with her and Kenren is dealing with negotiations.

Thoughts ran in her head and she talked quietly to Seifer, not expecting him to answer back or even have an opinion. It's like watching a train going on full speed and not stopping anytime soon with the way Renee kept mumbling about why Valdanr would even start a ransom with them. He already has most of her family in his grasp; that doesn't change anything, however she didn't want to believe he would kill them or do worse then death to them.

Yet there's this...little voice in her head, saying over and over again that she'll lose everyone by the time this war ends.

"Seifer? Kiss me?" Renee pleaded, lost and scared. When he did, she whimpered and squeezed him like a child who's afraid of the monster under her bed and is squeezing a teddy bear. He can feel it in his soul that she's utterly tired from this whole war, tired of being determined, and needing to cry her heart out. She broke the kiss and nodded when Seifer mentioned about coming with her next time. "I have to go to the outposts and stop the towers on making the portals..."

She felt a bit better from Seifer's comforting touches and words, limp bandaged wings finally fluttering lightly. Smiling gratefully at her boyfriend, Renee cupped his cheek and rubbed with her thumb. "Seifer?...Thank you for being here with me...and keeping me sane."She said before giving him an Eskimo kiss..

Zer0 Roleplay Skittle

 

[Zer0]

- James Pendragon -
" Mill Fort, Bourgeaus "​

James had noticed how grumpy Lydia was, and shared his blanket with her, cocooning her again as his fingers caressed her hair. It made him happy, or it strengthened him to see her angry. It was the kind of spirit that got things done and he needed to absorb some of that right now, as he closed his eyes and let her kisses soothe him. His shoulders loosened up as he hummed and snuggled into her plump cheek.

"It's alright, Lydia, I'm not mad at all." he said immediately, surprised when she apologized. He chuckled as he wiped her tears and kissed her nose, touched that she cared about things like that during a battle run for their lives. "You did the right thing, defending Echo." he kissed her nose fondly again. "You're very caring." he smiled, puckering his lips as she kissed his face all over again. "Makes me want to get injured in battle --- I'm joking!" he added hastily, grinning.

See, it was little things like this --- stuttering and being teary for not checking up on him. So endearing --- she doesn't even try and already he forgets his stress.

"I think I know how to start with that," he said when she talked about getting other soldiers to their side, "when we fight them again, we can give them the option of surrendering, and then Echo or you can convince them. Probably the orcs." he thought, as he felt more peaceful just being held by her. He put her hand on his cheek.

When she groaned about how she thought it was a trap, James nodded against her forehead as he sank his face into her warm hands, feeling dismal about it too. He had nothing to say and just hugged her back tightly as she reassured him that they will get them back, and that she will be joining him to the front lines. He smiled, feeling better.

Lydia was not like any girl. If it was someone else, James wouldn't let them come to a dangerous place, but he wanted Lydia to be there and had been secretly hoping she'd want to come even though he couldn't find the courage to ask her to come. Or rather, he wanted to be the brave one and set out alone, because it was more impressive, but really, her coming is so much better than being there without her.

James asked her how she was feeling too, as he rubbed her back, and what she wanted to do tonight.


Roleplay Skittle

- Seifer Rathmore -
" Mill Fort, Bourgeaus "​

Seifer did listen, and he kissed Renee deeply, pouring in his care and anxiety to make her feel better. The nice thing about having a strong girlfriend was that there was not much for him to do, which meant an easy life for him, but he wants to do something for her.

And so he was glad for an opportunity to. He hugged Renee tight and just let her cry and talk. "There, there, Renee." he whispered, caressing her hair and wings, careful not to touch her injuries.

He had felt mad when he learned they had shot them. That was the most sensitive part of Renee's body, just yanking it hurts her, so the pain must have been so bad when they were shot.

"You're welcome. Thank you too for doing the same to me." said Seifer, rubbing her nose too. " Come here." He was still worried about her and wrapped her in a blanket. "I'll take care of you tonight, you just rest." He held her warmly and kissed her forehead. He gently kissed all her wounds and made sure she was comfortable as they rested. He didn't stop caressing her and whispering encouraging things about her brothers and Serena, until she fell asleep.

Katsuya

 

[Roleplay Skittle]

Sharing a blanket with James was second only to sharing a blanket with James while snuggling next to a warm fire with good books and warm drinks. Of course those kind of luxuries weren't exactly easy to come by at the moment, so she was content with what she had, "good... I'm glad," was her response as he said he wasn't mad and nuzzled his hands as they wiped her tears, "I wanted you all to be safe," of course she cared about things like that. These were the few people in the world that meant a lot to her. James could have seen that just by looking at the shelves in her soul room. There were very few statues of anyone, only people that had really impacted her personally so anyone he had seen were people he already knew or her family.

Lydia just shook her head, "I just do... what feels right," she went with her gut instinct in most situations, whatever she reflexively felt the need to do. When James puckered his lips she giggled and nuzzled him before smooching him, his silliness was always endearing and just reminded her of how comfortable he was with her. Of course she froze up, looking at him wide eyed when he made his declaration, her shocked expression softening into a smile as she bonked his head with hers, "don't say things like that!" And she gave him another smooch.

"Stay with me so I can watch out for you and not have to worry, okay?" She felt like if he had been beside her, he wouldn't have gotten hurt, or if he had she would have been able to help him better. She made a mental note to thank Echo later for helping him, even if it wasn't the most gallant treatment for her James. She nodded as James talked and smiled slightly, "well I can make them stop and listen... I can tell them I am 'Small but Mighty,' as dubbed by Ruk, son of Bror of the Stonemaul clan... maybe that will help influence them to our side?" She leaned her check into his hand and closed her eyes, releasing a pleased little sing-songy sigh.

James probably knew Lydia better than anyone else at this point, so maybe part of him had known he wouldn't need to ask her to go with him because he would know that if he was going to face down the darkness, she was going to be there at his side. She didn't need to think about it, she wanted to be there to watch out for him. She trusted him to take care of himself, but she felt better knowing that if he needed her, she was there.

She smiled to him and shrugged her shoulders when he asked how she was, nuzzling her face against his neck, "I'm angry... I want to face Valdanr already and make things right..." she sighed slightly, "I know things can't go back to the way they were... he has caused so much damage and displaced so many and rebuilding will take time... there is going to be a lot of recovery," she laughed sadly and twirled her fingers around the collar of his clothing as was customary for her, "it's funny... but sad... you are here in my hometown... and it's nothing like I would have liked it to be when you got to visit... and I don't know if it ever will be. Maybe only in memory?"

She looked up at him as he asked what she wanted to do and smiled warmly, "this," and she snuggled up against him again so that it seemed like she couldn't get any closer to him, "and... what will we do... ? After?" Even after they defeated Valdanr, it wasn't like any of them could go back to their old lives. She knew her place was now with James regardless of whether or not they found Master Howl, but what about her own family as well? Everything was still so uncertain but even then, she wanted to know what the immediate future would hold for them.

Zer0

 

[Katsuya]

Her wet teary eyes twinkled when he held her and kissed on her forehead and injuries, ever so gently on her wings. She sighed as she snuggled into Seifer's warmth, covering him up with the blanket too.

Renee isn't used to letting others take care of her. Normally she's the one who takes care of others, making sure they were okay and comforted even when she was injured or hurt. So to ask and receive that care back...is really hard to accept and yet she yearns for it. Maybe she's too headstrong or perhaps she was used to having to ignore her own needs to concentrate on others that she haven't noticed it until now; her yearn for someone to look after her without making her feel like it's a bad thing to ask or want.

It's strange, she always felt like it was okay to help others get their feet on the ground but whenever she felt off; she hides or gets away from others until she felt better or can handle on her discomfort. The extreme example was the night she changed into a griffin for the first time. So why is it that she's okay with asking for Seifer to care for her?

Perhaps it's because he asked. Seifer is prideful, he doesn't want others to see him as weak or stupid or a coward (even though he is and that's okay. Who wouldn't be afraid of something dangerous, right?), and is competitive when it comes to archery and possibly more; but he asks her for help. He shows her his softer sides, even when he was scared before; when they had to steal the Scrying mirror. Though, granted, he's afraid of heights and needed to grab something to squeeze, but after he woke up after seven days of 'sleep' from Wrath's experiments, he asked her to stay with him instead of just asking his mother. Somehow he finds her to be strong and feels safe to show his softer sides...and that's why...that's why she feels like she can ask him to care for her without feeling weak too...

Or well...more like she can be weak in front of him and he won't look at her differently.

Renee flushed red, listening to his encouragements, nodding slowly as her eyes blinked blearily. Her smile from before softened up as she gazed into Seifer's storm grey eyes. He can practically see a light bulb lighting up in her head.

"Seifer, you make me feel like I can lean on you..." Renee muttered, nuzzling onto his chest. Her bandaged wings fluttering. "Like I can be scared and you wouldn't judge me for that..." She sighed again, mumbling in a vulnerable tone. "Can...can I be weak in front of you too? Is it okay to ask for your care?"

She wanted to be sure that it's really okay to be this...defenseless sometimes...

Zer0