#shiroikumo

[theyoungprinceling]

The excitement Makenshi had about flying might've been contagious had Ling's mind not been all over the place. And then there are a bunch of instructions he has to follow, which makes sense all things considered, because Makenshi is right. Humans don't belong in the sky.

He knew he was going to be picked up but he didn't expect it to be in a way like this. He expected- hoped, rather- it'd be in a less...familiar way. Although, he supposes this position makes most sense.

It's just odd to be carried like this by a stranger. If Makenshi was someone Ling actually knew, he'd have no issues. He does love to be held, but this just feels different. He has to adjust himself in Makenshi's grip to at least try to get comfortable.

"I understand," Ling says in response to to all the instructions and explanations. "Just...tell me when we get there."

And the moment they're off the ground, Ling's grip tightens on his companion, nails practically digging into him. His heartbeat gets faster and he goes completely rigid. He doesn't know if he's suddenly got a fear of heights or if it's something else entirely.

The biggest problem is he can't do any of the exercises his doctor taught him to help in moments like this. He can't do the 333 because he needs to look around. He's not allowed to open his eyes. He probably can't do any of his breathing techniques because he isn't even allowed to speak.

All he can do is hang on and hope this hour goes by as quickly as possible.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ The Misterican finds himself floating a full circle around his companion on instinct as his lets his hands clap together two times as a quick show of happiness. Excellent because anything is better than walking. It's such a waste of time and he doesn't know how the Soil Souls do quite frankly.

"Alright, are you sure? I need you to keep your eyes closed while we're in the sky because human eyes are not meant to be up there and I would hate to have anything get in them and cause undue injury. You can turn your face into me, I don't mind."

He's letting his feet rest on the ground once more as he stands next to this human who is taller than him but what he can only assume is younger than him.

"I'm going to pick you up now. Please hold onto me tightly. Do not worry about the weight. I have carried others much heavier than you."

And the swordsman is bending down at the knees for a moment to lift the human up into his arms so the boy is pulled close to his chest.

"I'll go slower for you, so we'll be in the air for maybe an hour or so. I need to ask you not to speak while we're moving. There are small particles of dust and dirt and other things that exist in the air. Breathing it in doesn't feel pleasant even more so to those not built for the sky."

His mask is flooding forward again as if from thin air to cover the lower half of his face as it had just moments ago.

"I've carried a few of the Amestrians this way, and I promise I won't go faster than a human can handle. If you want me to slow down, feel free to just tug at my sleeve a few times."

And soon they're rising from the ground straight into the sky. It seems the swordsman really is carrying him with ease.

[hyruleanlegends]

@shiroi---kumo asked: ❛ are you always this straightforward with strangers ? ❜ | FIRST MEETING STARTERS | Accepting

The words had Groose pausing for a moment, feeling a little taken aback at being spoken to in such a manner. All he had commented on was that the stranger's hair was an unusual color - the shade of white was something he had only ever seen before on Impa (and he didn't like to think too much about Impa; there was an ache that was left behind when he remembered Granny's passing).

His clothing was a little odd too. Oh - and the fact that he was on the surface.

Surface dwellers were becoming more and more common of late. A large portion of the citizens of Skyloft had 'taken the plunge', so to speak, choosing to relocate on the ground in the homestead that Link and Zelda had started together. Groose himself planned to make the surface his permanent home soon too, and the only thing holding him back was worry over how those who wanted to stay above the clouds would fair. They had survived for countless years, but was it really a place meant for them to live indefinitely?

"I was just asking a question." A pause. A frown. "Where'd you come from, anyways?"

[fairlybeloved]

@shiroi---kumo

"Everything hurts."

That was what he wanted to say, spectacularly failing to achieve the ends. He was seeing stars, twinkling little lights exploding in his vision in a way that couldn't be disrupted with a rapid blinking of the eyes. Very much like it was when the gaze flitted across the open sky, straying over the blinding light of the sun. It hurt and was memorizing, all at once!

He could hear a voice speaking from some distant plain, a series of echoing sounds of various tones mingled together, it was impossible to discern one from the other enough to piece together the signature markings of a real conversation [or maybe just the sounds of the real world filtering through?].

“Uuughgg.” Came the only response he could muster, which could roughly be translated to 'uuuugggffhhhhhrrrr' ancient speak for 'paaaiiiin.' It was something between a moan and a cry, body swelling with renewed life, a hand daring to break free of its spot curled at his side to massage his aching temples.

Focus was fleeting, but it shifted to regard the only figure he could discern through the haze.

Chapped lips parted, and he chewed on his words silently for a moment, or perhaps it just took that long to get started. "You---" He couldn't really hear anything substantial outside the ringing of his ears. He didn't even know if he was speaking plainly enough to be understood, however disjointed those words were.

"I know you---" Not really. They'd met. Briefly. Very briefly. Hm. He didn't even remember how it ended, or if it ended. That was an entire lifetime ago. "... I was hunting you." How ironic. His name had been---

Something weird. Something he couldn't pronounce.

[fiiirsthero]

@shiroi---kumo liked for a starter

For someone who had lived as long as he had, it was hard to see anything that could come as a surprise. Most people were not happy to be told that there was very rarely ever anything new or original, a concept that applied to people just as much as it applied to creative endeavors. Things always happened in a cycle. Nothing was new.

So to see someone floating down from the sky didn't perturb him in the way it might have bothered another who was unfamiliar with the fact that people used to live above the clouds. It did confuse him, if only because Link had been certain all people of Skyloft had long-since left the floating cities - but what he felt was more concern and worry for them.

He didn't seem to be flying with the use of a loftwing, though. That... was unusual.

"Oi." He let his hand rest against the hilt of his sword as Link tilted his head up. "You lost or somethin'?"

[theyoungprinceling]

✏ for Kumo! || @shiroi---kumo

[Here is your puff ball. He was a stubborn one for a little while there lol. I hope I got his sword right. The reference I used for it was being held the opposite way, so I might've messed up somewhere. I also went back and forth on whether I wanted to add his mask or not but decided not to. It looks better this way. Anyway, I hope you like it!

@muses-of-kira / @shiroi---kumo

Send ✏ and I will draw your muse |Accepting|]

[flameleadsarc]

@shiroi---kumo + @forgotten-teammates

In the kitchen, packing the meals he prepared for himself in his bag, no one saw the Colonel’s hands shake. 

Kain’s worsened injury was the last straw. He didn’t wander far from the Comodeen, and yet—and yet—if White Cloud hadn’t found him in time… Roy wanted to just be thankful. He was thankful he could still look into his friend’s eyes every day. But, that emotion brought friends he didn’t care for, and they overstayed their welcome. Guilt flooded his veins whenever he looked at Kain, and he couldn’t stop himself from wondering if he helped cause the man to flee their safe haven in the first place. Anger followed shortly thereafter, lighting his blood on fire, as he dared to answer in the affirmative. 

Fear, though, was the most unwelcome. Heavier than the albatross, it sat on his chest and made it nearly impossible for him to breathe. Something attacked Kain and nearly killed him—he nearly died. What else existed in Wonderland? What other beasts roamed the lands for easy prey like those already injured like Edward? It hadn’t been that long since their excursion in the south. Neither of them fully recovered since then, and Edward couldn’t breathe like he used to. He couldn’t fight like he used to, and that was detrimental.  

Never mind Gaudium. And White Cloud couldn’t be everywhere at once to save the day. That was far too much to ask from one being, never mind one a dying one. 

He couldn’t keep asking White Cloud to search for his boys like this when he had much more pressing concerns to deal with. He couldn’t do that to his friend. Not only that, but he couldn’t… he couldn’t keep staying safe within the walls of the Comodeen doing what felt like nothing. Cleaning probably helped, and he taught himself Wonderlandian, but it wasn’t enough. Edward and Alphonse weren’t in his arms. For all he knew, they could be fending off beasts like what Kain dealt with or worse, or… or…

His breath hitched as he stopped packing for a few seconds. No, no no no no. He needed to push the memory down. He couldn’t let it resurface. All he needed to do was finish packing and—

“Colonel?”

Goddammit, she found him before he finished. 

Quiet as always, the Lieutenant appeared at his side without saying much, the question in her eyes as she met his gaze. Her stance said a lot for someone to someone who knew her: feet apart, as if ready to go at a second’s notice, but shoulders squared toward him to give him her undivided attention. Her eyes traveled to his bag and back to his eyes in milliseconds, a hint of concern present along with her business as usual. She wouldn’t say a word until he replied to her, and she wouldn’t leave his side until she got her answer. He knew that. With a heavy sigh, he stopped packing, and he turned toward her. 

“I only packed enough for me.” No, that was the wrong thing to say. She gave him a blank stare before she replied.

“I’ll be fine. When are we leaving?”

“… Ten minutes.” He raised an eyebrow. “You’re not trying to stop me, Lieutenant?”

“Trying to stop you will only end up with you being reckless without me. At least I can keep an eye on you this way.”

“As long as you’re sure.” His hands returned to packing the rest of his meals. Thankfully, he was almost done when the Lieutenant arrived. 

“My duty to you doesn’t waver, Sir. I will see you in ten minutes.” With a formal salute, the Lieutenant turned on her heel and walked back to her room. She had her weapons to prepare along with Hayate. While she did just get him back, a trip out into Wonderland wasn’t the wisest idea for him. There was no telling what they’d find out in the wild, and they didn’t know how long they would be gone. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be more than a few days, and the Comodeen wouldn’t miss them that much. They did just get most of the team back together. That, and leaving without saying goodbye… 

She was not in charge of this pseudo-mission, though. The Colonel was, and he did not deem it important to tell anyone else that he was leaving. He had one thought on his mind and nothing else: his boys. After seeing the two of them return to Central… she wished she could blame him.

[galeleads]

(@shiroi---kumo) has entered.

It took a while for the two of them to make their way back to the Comodeen after found her but he can say that he is happy they picked up a few supplies in their travels because now they had a few things to bring back with them once they got there.

Miss Aurora was safe. Finally he could say that for sure.

He's taken it upon himself to show her around the area and where everything in the compound was. He's taken it upon himself to share a drink with her now that he's managed to help her find her own accommodations to settle in and that conversation seemed to drag on as it usually did.

One drink became two and he couldn't say he disliked the warm sensation building in his cheeks. A hiccup escapes him as he looks to her, watching the woman sway in her seat or was that him? There were two of her for a moment and then back to woman and it's in this moment that prince can only find it in himself to grin.

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh." He slurs as he holds a finger over his mouth clumsily and a cloud of white escapes through hissing lips. "It'll be okay Miss 'rora." And there is a hard drawl to his voice was never present before. "It be okay. I stay withchu. Don't cry. Don't cry."

Was she crying or was he? His cheeks feel awfully wet. He doesn't remember splashing water on his face though?

"Ev'rythin' gunna be okay Miss 'rora. I pomise. I do m'best n' I git you all back home. You be back in yer 'mestris 'fore ya know it. Kay?"

Their travels had not been easy, to say the least. Poor White Cloud had been the victim of a verbal lashing from time to time from a very volatile Aurora. It wasn’t his fault, and she did her best to control her paper-thin composure, but she was terrified. Waking up in such a strange place, and the last thing she remembered was her sister, it convinced her that Mar HAD to be in danger, or worse, dead.

She couldn’t put her life in a stranger’s hands, but Aurora did try. He could name her sister and others that were already at the location. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for her to follow him back. White Cloud kept his word to get her where she needed to go, and there weren’t any strings attached. That trust didn’t stop the tension Aurora felt radiating through her from growing. So when they finally reached Comodeen, she could finally relax. (And cried horribly while squeezing Mar so tight, she pleaded with Aurora to stop holding on so much.)

Now, after all was said and done, Aurora took a seat and poured herself a cup of some of the spirits they picked up on the way. When White Cloud also took a glass, she thought nothing of it. They continued their conversations from their journey, albeit with not so much formality or discretion. Every few minutes or so, Aurora would peer over at Mar, who was talking with a group at another table. (Best to keep tabs on her from now on.)

This…  Misterican spirit had such a smooth taste, it was no wonder the other drank it without so much as a scrunched face. It did more than just calm the nerves, and the Major could find herself feeling lightheaded as the night drew on (Though not so far gone as the prince, it seemed.)

She stopped mid-sentence as he shushed her. A laugh escaped her lips as he continued to bid her not to cry, “I’m not the one cryin’... anymore, c’m’here yer highness,” She pulled a handkerchief out of her pants pocket, awkwardly reaching over the table and wiping the tears from his cheeks, “Y’ got me back to my sister, it’s all I can ask for.”

“I hope we can get back soon,” She leans back into her seat, “These people are wonderful- but between you and me…” Her voice drops to a whisper, “I miss the city.” 

Now it’s her own turn to press a finger to her lips with a smile, “Don’t tell anyone though; they’ll tell me I’m turning into a city-slicker.”

[mikomischief]

@shiroi---kumo liked for a starter!

It seemed her duties at the Grand Narukami Shrine would have to wait. This wasn't Inazuma, nor could she say it was even Teyvat. Though, trees that looked like mushrooms could be mistaken as part of Sumeru's ecosystem at one point or another. When would they be able to travel freely again and visit other countries? For one thing, they needed to establish relationships with other countries---diplomacy, she told Ei. Inazuma was too closed off from the rest of the world. Neither here nor there, she supposed, when she couldn't pinpoint where she was.

"Is everyone all right?" While she couldn't pinpoint her location, she did remember traveling with others on her way back to the shrine. They were in a boat, were they not? Yes, from Watatsumi Island---someone needed to check in on activities there. She was going over the newest revisions from her protege's novel when she heard the captain utter something about a pillar. Naturally, humans were so curious, and she couldn't blame them. A pillar appearing out of nowhere? Large, dark, and foreboding? It wasn't Ei's work, for sure. So, they wandered straight towards it.

Alas, she didn't hear a reply from any of the crew, nor did she see a boat. Her feet walked on dry land without another soul around. What happened after they got too close to something they shouldn't have? Falling? That sounded right. Why was no one else with her then? Surely they should have fallen with her... unless something else was at work.

"Oh dear. Looks like I'm a bit lost," she mused to herself, shrugging her shoulders. "I suppose I'll have to explore and find out where I am. Ei is going to be upset if I dilly-dally too long."

[proserphinas]

@shiroi---kumo keeps trying to warn.❛ Better get out while you can. ❜

She's using her leg as a brace, but even with every force of concentration, the automail's gears can't force the monster off of her. She can feel its hot breath on her face as it continues to snap its jaws. Weren't the hours spent training with Riza meant to help her in one of these moments? But the rat... if it even could be considered such a thing, was overpowering in every sense of the word. Even her knife is out of reach-

She just needs an opening, a chance to run back to the Comodeen. But this thing is unrelenting, and a part of her knows she won't make it back in one piece, if at all.

That is until she sees him-

"Isoveli!"

White Cloud's attack sends the rodent-like monster scrambling and right back into the underground burrow it emerged from. All Mar can do is watch as she tries to collect her breath. What was with his perfect timing in her life? She should be grateful, but it's all still a bit too much to comprehend.

A hand is offered out to her, and she takes it without hesitation. She rises from the ground, dusting herself off from the caked-on mud and dirt. There's that inevitable questioning as to why she was even out here in the first place. The girl huffs, bending over to grab her knife, "I got tired of sittin' around. I can only explain so many times to Cid how automail works for his research; better off gettin' Ed to make'm the new specimen."

A heavily shaded lie to hide her true intentions, more so, the undercurrents of turmoil laid dormant in her heart. Frustration from the adults' lack of action, fear for the worst to have befallen, and her own heart broken from the idea that two people in her twisted-up family may never come back to them.

She slides the blade back into the holster on her belt. "I'm not goin' back to the Comodeen until at least I can give them all more than 'we don't know, but we can hope.' Hope alone... it's stupid."

If he wanted to accompany her, he was more than welcome, but Mar folded her arms in defiance as if to say, 'You can try to take me back, but I'll kick and scream the entire time.' && more surprisingly, he didn't immediately try to force her into returning to the Comodeen.

Instead, a compromise is made. They will go back by the end of the day, especially since Mar didn't bring enough provisions for two to last more than a day or two. For now, he'll humor her and let her peer under every hidden spot in this forest for the boys.

As they walk along, any attempts of conversation have been pretty surface-level. Questions about this place, and were there any other villages around here...She wants to trust White Cloud with those thoughts from before. And he has been more than willing to listen to her before. So, is it not safe to do so now?

After a brief moment of silence, she begins, "You've always been honest with me, Isoveli." This forest, it was far enough away from the Comodeen. They wouldn't have to worry about peering eyes and ears listening into their words, "Aurora, she's a sugar coater. She lies through her teeth so I don't worry about anything.... and I think she's doing the 'they're okay because they have to be' thing to placate Roy's nerves too."

She swallows, her throat holding a significant amount of tension when she asks, "Do you think Edward 'n Alphonse are... dead?" Even she can feel the weight of that sentence hit her stomach like a stone.

Or is it the ground shaking?

It seems this grim question is left in the air because they're not alone anymore. The ground itself shatters into chunks as they're sent sky-high. The thunder of a few trees slamming against one another. Mar's fall is broken by a few tree limbs, and the eventual final drop to the uneven ground. She risks mechanical failure by allowing her automail to take the full brunt of the drop unless she'd rather have a broken leg on the other side of her body. And so, she chooses the automail.

She's on the ground, groaning from the pain. Fuck, that hurt. She heard a wire snap too. Dammit... Cid is going to have to help her investigate that. Can her toes move? Yes, her knee? Barely but it's there.

Then comes the scent of blood, but it's not too much. A tiny stream of blood is pouring from her nose, and her arm has a small slash in it. Nothing she couldn't handle.

"Isoveli, are you okay?" She asks hoarsely, turning over her body to face where she last saw the Misterican. Instead, she spots what looks like a standoff between Kumo and what seems to be the mother of the rat monster.

He's suggesting that she make a run for it.

Or is it a soft order?

"I can't... Kumo- I can't leave you; I don't know where to go."

Should she mention that her leg really doesn't seem to be fairing? Possibly, but she almost forgets that note. (Given that he's about to be eaten by a huge Rat!) "Stun it, and we can run!"

[deathleadsarc]

@shiroi---kumo | cont.

―    🜛    ―    rather  than  deadlifting  him,  she  took  a  note  of  his  body's  response  to  her  touch  and  chose  to  simply  allow  him  to  use  her  as  a  sort  of  crutch  until  they  reached  the  rooms  again.  It  was  not  as  if  she  desired  such  close  contact  with  strangers,  even  if  it  was  a  part  of  her  career,  so  his  discomfort  was  just  as  strong  as  her  own.  Truly,  if  ever  there  was  a  way  to  level  with  this  Alchemist,  it  was  in  this  manner.  Regardless  of  discomfort,  she  could  as  well  concur  that  no  matter  what,  the  both  of  them  were  overdue  for  compensation  for  the  inconvenience.  She  ought  to  be  home,  getting  together  her  texts  and  notes  and  all,  caring  for  Basker  and  preparing  to  leave  Amestris  with  Atlas!

And  this  one,  White  Cloud,  ought  to  be  off  doing  whatever  it  was  he'd  been  doing  since  before  her  arrival  there.  To  her  knowledge,  and  according  to  Roy,  it  was  a  matter  of  not  only  discovering  how  they'd  gotten  here  and  how  to  get  back,  but  his  objective  seemed  to  go  far  beyond  her  pay-grade  of  problem-solving.  To  the  left,  and  straight  back  down  the  hall  at  a  steady  pace.  The  thought  occurred  to  her  that  she  hadn't  a  clue  who  the  true  enemy  in  their  midst  was.  Highly  untrusting  as  she  was,  if  aiding  this  lot  in  their  quest  to  kill  someone    ―    well,  that  was  something  the  Belladonna  was  well  versed  in.  

Perhaps  Roy  would  remark  that  the  situation  did  not  require  such  drastic  measures.  .  .  she  couldn't  be  sure.  But  as  she  came  to  the  threshold  of  his  room,  she  knew  of  one  thing  that  at  least  made  itself  bare  to  her  thoughts  ―  as  always,  if  she  needed  to  kill  to  return  home,  she  would  indeed  do  so.  Willingly.  With  naught  care  toward  any  who  may  oppose  her.  It  was  the  only  thing  that  she  could  find  comfort  in,  and  the  only  thing  that  could  for  certain  return  her  to  Atlas.  

in  tentative  steps  do  they  return  to  the  room  as  he'd  guided  her,  heading  straight  for  his  bed  so  that  he  may  have  a  lie  down.  Even  such  a  short  excursion  had  managed  to  leave  her  completely  winded,  so  she  could  not  tell  if  he  needed  further  assistance  before  her  body  retired  to  the  nearby  chair.  Heavily  breathing  and  groaning  in  pain.

          "  As  you  can  hear,  I  did  not  get  any  farther  than  you.  It  is  not  within  my  character  to  ignore  my  medications  but  alas!  Well.  You  were  there,  and  all.  "        relaxing  in  the  chair,  she  could  feel  her  bun  loosening  but  made  no  move  to  return  it  to  perfection.  Rather,  she  turned  her  head  toward  him  and  chose  her  next  words  carefully.        "  Roy  is  far  more  understanding  and  open  to  the  world  than  I,  but  even  for  him  I  can  tell  he  holds  his  disbelief at  the  tip  of  his  tongue.  I  have  already  told  him  that  I  will  do  what  I  must  to  return  to  my  home.  Our  home.  "

a  sigh,  turning  her  head  toward  the  ceiling  with  eyes  closed.        "  Quite  honestly,  I  consider  that  man  to  be  a  bit  too  soft  to  hold  the  position  he  is  in.  He  is  too  kind  and  utterly  foolish  to  be  pursuing  the  title  he  wishes  to  have.  Even  still,  there  is  a  fair  amount  of  trust  between  the  two  of  us  as  not  only  Alchemists,  but  as  Amestrians.  What  I'm  trying  to  articulate  is  that  I  believe  what  Roy  has  told  me  thus  far.  What  I  need  now  is  to  hear  it  all  from  you.  "

        "  And  so,  my  first  query.  What  is  it  we  are  up  against,  and  how  can  it  be  killed?  "

[hawksightsarc]

@shiroi---kumo gave Riza an offer:

He's poking his head in to the room hoping he would find her and after popping into many of them throughout the space of the Comodeen, finally does the white prince find the Amestrian in question.

"Miss Riza." His voice calls out to her with in soft tone, hoping he wouldn't spook her by showing up so suddenly.

"I heard a rumor that you were wanting to learn how to dance and while it is not human dances, I have extensive knowledge of my people's dances. I can show you a few of them if you'd like."

Being trapped indoors did little to improve her mood. Birds were not meant to be trapped like this, she believed. One of the benefits of being the Colonel's bodyguard was his preference for field work, which meant less time spent at desks shuffling papers. Here, though, he needed to stay put in the safety of the Comodeen, and that meant she could not stray far. She took her job seriously. Not only that, but someone needed to make sure he actually stayed put.

But, that didn't mean she had to stay in her room, nor did she have to wear her full uniform at all times. The jacket stayed behind---it was stifling most days, especially here where it wasn't really needed. It made her stick out like a sore thumb while she did simple things like have a cup of tea or practice on the shooting range. There had to be something else for her to do. Books to read, maybe? She couldn't read Wonderland's language, though...

Or, other hobbies. She could sew like the Colonel did. Cook for the Comodeen. Listen to music. Did they have music here? Was it anything like the swing she heard on the radio from time to time? Father didn't have a radio at the estate, so having a radio of her own at home... that was a welcome change. Just another perk of freedom.

It felt silly, but she wished she could dance to it like the Colonel and his sisters.

White Cloud had a quieter approach than most. Still, Riza's ears perked up when she heard him, and her eyes found him instantly when he spoke. He had a soft voice, unobtrusive and gentle like a breeze on a summer afternoon. Maybe they could have some tea together again and chat. Or, she could show him the blanket Fuery made for her.

Would asking him to take her out of this place for just a little while be too much to ask? Probably.

His statement turned her cheeks pink. Had she spoken too loudly to the Colonel the other day about that? It was just a musing of hers, something she hadn't thought anyone would care about. The Colonel couldn't teach her---not when they had images to upkeep---and they were far from any dance schools in Amestris. Well, White Cloud did have excellent hearing. He was being so kind in offering while she stood in front of him blushing.

"Umm." For goodness' sake, she forgot herself. She cleared her throat to try and regain some composure. "I didn't know you heard that. But... if you really wouldn't mind... I would really like that. Me not being able to fly wouldn't be too much of a hindrance, would it?"

[cryptidsncurios]

@shiroi---kumo continued from [ X ]

Well that certainly made this whole ordeal a lot simpler.

Though Xigbar had seen plenty of crazy sights in his time, he must admit, this one certainly had to top a good majority of all the others. Well, maybe not an anthropomorphic mouse king swinging around a giant key, but nonetheless, it had been an impressive scene to behold.

Thus, with that nuisance efficiently obliterated, Xigbar shifts his companion once more in his arms and picks back up the pace---but it isn’t too far along that his sharp ear yet again captures that telltale hiss and skitter of otherworldly critters, unfazed by the destruction of one of their brethren, and intent on closing the distance---

Light.

At last, with one final push, Xigbar breaches that doorway between the endlessness of the Void, and the sweet taste of fresh air---and abruptly, the threatening noises that had been swirling behind him closed off, in exchange for the silent breeze flittering through one of Radiant Garden’s many flower patches. The pastel hues and floral fragrance serve as a brief assault upon Xigbar’s senses after being so cooped up in the pitch, soundless Darkness, but after a few moments of adjusting, he allows relief to settle in.

Yet he knows that he can’t fully relax yet---he still has a delicate package in the crook of his arms, in need of delivery to… somewhere. His first instinct is some sort of medical facility, as Radiant Garden is top of the line when it comes to its curative equipment---but he’s quick to douse that thought. No doubt, from all of the unique attributes the kid had that Xigbar himself had observed, the poor thing would likely be poked and prodded to no end, all in the name of “science” or whatever. And there is definitely no way he’d let Even get his hands on him.

No, for now, glancing up to the right---up towards the brilliant yet imposing spires of the Radiant Garden Palace---Xigbar would have the little fella bunk with him. At least until he comes around to give him some information on who---maybe even what---he is exactly.

And he knows just the route to take to circumvent prying eyes---years of living here, both in the dreadful slums and amongst the posh upper echelons, had taught him all of the ins and outs of the land’s many secret tunnels and waterways---and soon enough, despite some extra effort given his extra baggage, he has successfully resurfaced within the very Palace’s walls. His private quarters aren’t too far from here, and orienting himself---

“What are you doing here, Braig? And who is that?”

Oh great. Just the guy he had been looking to avoid.

“Look, Frosty, I ain’t exactly in the mood t’deal with ya right now, ‘kay?” Xigbar turns on his heel and addresses Even with his typical nonchalant drawl. “And like, don’tcha remember I have a room here now? Can I not take my passed-out buddies there to help ‘em recuperate?”

Despite his explanation, Even still regards Xigbar with that icy stare of his. Certainly Xigbar had proven that he is at least somewhat trustworthy enough to allow within the confines of Radiant Garden---but an inkling of suspicion still plagues the scientist. Braig---Xigbar, by extension, or whatever he wishes to currently identify as these days---had always been a sneaky snake and a slippery fish, and simply because he had aided in the dismantling of the True Organization, it did not mean he was to be fully trusted.

The upward tilt of his chin indicated this lack of trust, Xigbar could easily read, and his response is cold, “See to it that you behave whilst within these walls, Braig. I would not wish to---”

“Yeah yeah, blah blah blah,” and, unwilling to stand around any longer, Xigbar brushes past---causing Even to stumble aside, “look, I can be a good lil boy, just you watch.”

He doesn’t bother offering a single further retort---merely strolls down the remainder of the corridor, accesses his chamber, and, after gently depositing his newest guest on his bed, locks the door behind him. Then, hands on his hips, an exhale through his nose---

“I’m just too damn nice for my own good.”

[zoragrace]

@shiroi---kumo has entered. ღ – A hug in greeting

"Ah, White Cloud," A small curtsey for formality, followed by a warm hug to add a personal touch. Her visit was unplanned, but it was made better by reuniting with a most esteemed guest of Hyrule. (One she personally delivered to the Princess.) "I am most pleased you are enjoying yourself in our realms. Tell me, has our Princess been a kind, gracious host?" Though she takes a moment to gaze at Zelda, who now possesses her own smirk upon her lips, Mipha ends her quip with a laugh, "Oh, I jest! You could not find a better one."

[loyaltyforged]

( @shiroi---kumo ) "getting there is one thing, it's getting back that's the problem."

@shiroi---kumo

Waking up in a strange place without the barest hint of familiar terrain had not been even remotely part of the plan for the day. One minute she had been traveling with the young prince, taking care of affairs back home after the Promised Day, and the next she felt herself being drawn in by a mysterious force, a pull she could not resist.

The bodyguard was observant, fast enough in her reflexes and sharp enough in her senses that she caught just a glimpse of it — a massive pillar descending from somewhere far beyond their atmosphere and into the Earth below, an eerie aura surrounding it. It was from beyond the mortal world, that much she deduced, particularly after finding herself hurtling through the air when she had once been firmly on the ground. A forest is what she fell into, catching branches in the canopy on her way down, slowing her descent a fraction, but not enough. Lan Fan had hit the ground hard, the grass and other foliage not providing enough cushion, and she had fallen unconscious.

Without an indication of time, she wasn't sure how long she had been out when she did finally wake up, her body aching and her automail arm damaged, but not beyond repair. How panicked she had been when the throbbing in her head subsided enough for her to realize that Ling was not with her. She was supposed to protect him and, as it stands, his whereabouts are unknown to her. Without the Dragon's Pulse to aid her, there wasn't much Lan Fan could tell about this place, what kind of people resided here or... even where she was. The most she could do is start off in a direction, eyes and ears peeled, searching for any semblance of a sign that the prince had come with her.

It was then that she ran into this person, stark white in appearance, a contrast to the dark colors of her guard uniform, someone who seemed more familiar with this world than her. Obviously, the first inquiry she had was about just where she is, what she's doing here, and how she can get back... but their answer was less than comforting.

"What... do you mean to say? That I'm stuck here?" She swallows hard, her voice beginning to rise in octave as panic truly sets in. "What about the prince?! It's my duty to protect him, I made a vow — I can't stay! Please... tell me that I can return to my country...!"

[firsthcmunculus]

@shiroi---kumo || from Here

"i am so very sorry. it was an accident."

Whatever was thrown hit Selim right on the head. It stirred up his will to kill so much, it took him a second to regain his control. He turned around and smiled.

"No worries! It was an accident."

[theyoungprinceling]

( @shiroi---kumo ) "would you look at me for a moment?"

Ling's original plan had been to travel outside Xing to visit Amestris but that went south quick, almost quite literally. The prince didn't even have time to process the large pillar-like thing he saw. One second he was on his feet, the next second he was being pulled forward into the pillar by some invisible force.

He couldn't tell how long or far he fell. What he knew was that when he landed, he was completely winded from falling on his back. It was a miracle he managed to stay conscious considering how hard the impact felt. Maybe it was just him.

It took Ling a couple minutes to pull himself together. He didn't recognize his surroundings- no surprise there- and he startled when he was spoken to suddenly. He hadn't even noticed someone come near him. Not good, considering he was in an unknown place.

Just because they didn't attack yet didn't mean that they wouldn't, so Ling kept a safe distance.

He stared at the stranger suspiciously and asked, "...Who are you? Where am I?"

@shiroi---kumo [Would You...Prompts]