kiiblade

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Training. The very idea made Ghent ache all over.
After a morning filled with running and chaos, Ghent wasn't up for combat. Not then, and perhaps not for a few days afterward. Due to getting little to no sleep, he hadn't any energy to spare, and he suspected a training session with the knight was no walk in the park.
Although fatigued, Ghent didn’t dare shoot down the idea. Tensions were at a continual high. The smallest complaint could trigger Drust into lashing out at him or Elayra.
From where Ghent so silently stood, he couldn’t help but stare at the black webbed markings around Drust’s eyes. The pulsing, coupled with the twitching in his neck, sent up red flags. Ghent was sure he wasn't envisioning it, Drust looked worse than before.
Elayra’s unspoken warning reminded Ghent of his staring. As casually as he could, which ended up not looking casual at all, he took a big step back.
"I doubt my opinion matters, but I'm all for winging it." By agreeing with Drust, Ghent hoped to smooth things over enough so the knight wouldn’t snap. "Or...making do, as you put it."
Elayra wasn’t through commenting. After she'd retrieved her sword, she continued to push for an answer to find out what their new plan was. Ghent inwardly groaned and ran a hand over his face, wondering if perhaps it would have been better if she hadn't made it through the portal. At the last remark, his eyes snapped open.
"Train him up?" Ghent quoted the girl underneath his breath, folding his across his chest to show his displeasure with her saying so. The continuous mention of his needing to train bothered him. He knew that his skills left something to be desired, but did Elayra feel the need to point it out every few minutes?
When Drust said no, Ghent nearly flashed a triumphant smirk towards Elayra. Unfortunately, the knight thought better of his answer and changed it, which lead Ghent to wonder if he really did have to train that day.
Switching his pack to his arm to give his back a break, Ghent refrained from asking for clarification and followed Drust. During their walk, he observed their surroundings, taking in the sight of the greenery and hills. Aside from the park, the city didn't have much of anything green. If not for being warned about the dangers of Wonderland, Ghent would have thought this a charming place.
"Since we're on the topic of you-know-who…" Ghent hung a few steps behind them, reluctant to mention what he'd heard. Their opinion of him was low enough without him making himself sound delusional.
"I think I heard her in the portal…well, I heard a few people – but I think she was one of them.” Ghent watched them uneasily, unsure if this was information better kept to himself.
"…You heard them too, right?"

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Sounds good! It'll be nice to write them down and help me remember the things I need to, especially when they're brought back into the story or mentioned by Ghent. I've said it before, but my memory is awful. If I don't keep record of them, I'm guaranteed to contradict myself later on. xD

Oh, yeah! I draw them a lot. Just haven't finished anything worth sharing. Heh.
I've been struggling with my art style for the past...two years...? And I've only recently freed myself from the rut I was in. Art's on the way!

Phew! Good. I wanted to make sure, because I know feeling pressured has the tendency to take the fun out of something. Aw, thank you! I'm so glad I can contribute! I can't recall having ever had this much fun role playing, or chatting in ooc chat. I feel so thankful to have found you here. ^^ Is it weird I feel like I've known you for so much longer than it's been? xD

Doing it that way worked splendidly! I like that you left it as sort of a surprise, because I wasn't expecting it, and neither was Ghent. *laughs* Also, I'm so curious about the voice that may have been familiar to him. Eep.

Oh my gosh. The kitten! I forgot I left that there!
My sister asked about that (I've had her look the board over about three times), and my only defense for it being there? William. Even though I imagine adult William resembles something a lot more like this. *snorts*
Makes me so happy that you like it/them! Excited to see which ones you decide to use! I'll be adding more as I find more. And...followed you back! Yay for Pinterest buddies.

*pokes your signature* I take it someone's excited for Halloween? ;)

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Ghent felt very similar to a dog that misjudged its length of leash. Choking out a yell of sorts, he staggered backwards from the force of the pull, sputtering the beginnings of protest.
"But...but we'll be stuck here!" Ghent looked over Drust's arm helplessly, his hope of returning home fading faster than the portal's magic. "Drust!"
The knight's stare of impending doom reminded Ghent of his place. Swallowing hard, he dropped his head and backed off.
Great. Ghent's thoughts were similar to Drust's, just more scattered and self centered. What if the portal closed for good? How would he survive? Drust was one twitch away from succumbing to the curse, if he hadn't already. The more time Ghent had to think, the less he liked his current predicament. The more he paced, the more he wanted to say something. It took all the restraint he had not to voice an opinion. The wait was torture.
Occasionally, Ghent would stop pacing long enough to watch the portal, but this did nothing but add to his anxiety. The portal was dying, and Ghent was convinced he would die next. Drust would see to that.
Contrary to his fears, the portal didn't die. Not before giving off a telltale spark. Ghent started to pass Drust to get a better look, coming to an abrupt stop as the man barked the order to stay. Once more, Ghent felt similar to a dog.
Who was to come through? Judging by the sight of the portal, only one would make it to Wonderland. Ghent decided that he would prefer Elayra, or no one at all. Being trapped with Drust and Miles was a recipe for disaster.
Please be Elayra. Please be Elayra. Ghent stayed behind Drust, his posture tense. It was easier to tell himself that he’d come solely for her sake.
For the first time that day, they got a break. Elayra exited the portal without a second to spare.
"Elayra!" Overcome with relief, Ghent blurted her name out loud without thinking. Embarrassed, he cleared his throat and jabbed a thumb towards Drust. "Glad you made it. Drust was worried."
After Elayra regained her footing, Ghent caught her questioning look. Nothing was said, but he knew what the look implied. 'I didn't do anything!' Ghent mouthed the words so the knight wouldn't hear. Drust was agitated well before his arrival; Ghent didn't want to be held accountable for the man's current state of mind.
Thankfully, Elayra's return to Wonderland seemed to calm Drust somewhat. As Elayra addressed what went on with the shadowmire, Ghent's eyebrows rose. The drunkard had more guts than he gave him credit for. “Hope a bullet was enough. . .” If the shadowmire survived, chances were Miles did not.
While the two conversed, Ghent moved to stand across from them. The duo was now a trio, and he felt like a third wheel. An out of place, confused, still terribly overwhelmed third wheel.
"Well, that's just great." It sounded as if Ghent was responding to the news about the Red Queen, but instead he sniffed at his sleeve and wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I smell like cigarettes."
Despite what he'd been told about the Queen's evil, Ghent appeared foolishly unfazed by the mention of her being aware of their arrival. She would have found out eventually, wouldn’t she? That was his logic.
"So, what's the plan?" Using two fingers, Ghent flicked away a leaf that clung to his damp hoodie. "Grab a few disguises? Lay low? Run for it?" He looked between the two, taken aback by their expressions. "What?"

Sarah, Prompto and the Chocobos |EasilyAmused & Polarize|

Come to think of it, Noct seems a little awkward and shy himself, depending on the situation. In the Assassin's Festival, (have you gotten a chance to play that, yet?) neither he or Prompto had the guts to ask Cindy to take a picture with them. x'D

Also, I really like how you write for Sarah! She's so sweet.

Ditto! Guess I never mentioned my limits. For violence and whatnot, I'm not overly sensitive. For romance, I'm not comfortable with anything beyond kissing, should it even come to that.

Sarah, Prompto and the Chocobos |EasilyAmused & Polarize|

The tables had turned. This time, Sarah was the one unable to find the right words.
"It's nothing." Prompto attempted to play it off as if going after a murderous monster wasn't a big deal. The words left his mouth without him realizing it. It wasn't that he had an ego -- it was just the opposite. His offer didn't come from vanity, he wanted to help, and hoped to impress her in the process.

She didn't seem convinced. With a nervous laugh, Prompto gave her a thumbs up. "No, really! We do stuff like this all the time!" Well, this was partially true. Up until now, they'd taken on smaller foes. Judging by his name alone, Deadeye was a force to be reckoned with.

Upon seeing the two, Noctis stepped away from the chocobo he'd been petting. Ignis pocketed his notebook, nodding in acknowledgement. "All set?"

Gladiolus observed them, his burly arms folded across his chest. "There you two are. Thought you'd gotten lost," he joked, then raised an eyebrow as Sarah expressed her concerns towards the youngest member of their group.

"Y-yeah! I'll be careful!" Prompto could hardly believe it. Was she actually concerned about him? The realization left him in a daze. He wasn't worthy! He held his camera a little closer to his heart, unable to take his eyes away from the building she'd vanished to.

"What was that all about?" Noctis had an inkling he knew, but he wanted Prompto to explain. Ignis adjusted his glasses, equally as suspicious. "Prompto?"

Uh oh. Explanation time.
Slowly, Prompto turned to face his friends. "Um...well, I kinda offered to help," he rubbed the back of his head with a nervous chuckle, hopeful that they would be on board. "Y'know, with the Deadeye problem."

Gladiolus leaned against one of the fence posts. "And by 'I', you mean we," he corrected, arms still folded.

"Well...yeah." Prompto remained hopeful. "But it's for a good cause! Think of the chocobos!"

Noctis smirked. Deadeye would prove an interesting challenge, plus they'd be able to help the ranch and everyone on it. "Well, I'm game."

Ignis was a little more levelheaded. "We don't even know where this...thing is," he reminded the group as the door opened. All four looked towards Sarah, sharing a look of surprise when she offered to take them there in person.

"You're certain about this? It could -- and will undoubtedly be -- dangerous." Ignis looked to the others for their input. If they agreed to go, so would he, but he didn't want Sarah to agree without reminding her of the dangers involved.

Prompto didn't know how to feel. On one hand, he would get to be with Sarah a little while longer before they departed. On the other, he didn't want to put her at risk. Sure, they worked marvelously as a team, but traveling to Deadeye's location sounded daunting. Enemies lurked around every corner.
"Sarah, are you sure? Ignis is right...it'll be dangerous." Ironically enough, now Prompto was the one expressing his concern for her.

Gladiolus shrugged with one shoulder. "We'll keep her safe," he was less concerned with the idea and more laid back than the others were. It wasn't as if they'd bring her anywhere near Deadeye, and the chances of finding the monster's location before nightfall were slim if they didn't have a guide.

"Just in case, though...it'd probably be best if you had a weapon." Noctis told the girl, half-wondering if she would have access to one. "Er...you do have one, right?"

Sarah, Prompto and the Chocobos |EasilyAmused & Polarize|

Me too! I'm pleased that you like it, it's a lot of fun so far. :D Heh, Prompto's awkwardness is so amusing. He really wanted to ask, he's just too shy. xD
Just got home, so I'm working on a reply.

Sarah, Prompto and the Chocobos |EasilyAmused & Polarize|

"Whoa, hey! Eat the feed, not us." Prompto laughed good naturedly and rose, smiling down to the group of squabbling chocobos. "See you guys later! No more fighting, okay?" After he managed to escape the pen without a chocobo chick jailbreak, he walked alongside of Sarah.
While they walked, Prompto looked to his camera. He'd gotten plenty of good photos, all except for one. He wished that he could take a photo with Sarah. For memories sake. Photographs were important to him -- this was a day he wished to remember, and Sarah was someone he didn't want to forget.

I could ask... Prompto bit his bottom lip, shaking his head as if to rid himself of the thought. No! That'd be weird. We just met! While he inwardly argued with himself, he glanced up, surprised by the question.
"Oh -- right! About that..." Prompto slowed to allow them some time to speak before they regrouped with the others. "I'd like to...I mean, we...I didn't exactly ask yet," he stammered out the beginnings of his proposal to hunt the creature down, only he wasn't sure if his friends would be on board with the idea. They hadn't enough information on the beast.

Still. He wanted to help, and he wanted to impress her, if at all possible. Even though Prompto knew he should have asked the others, the words left his mouth before he could think to stop himself: "We're going to take down Deadeye for you."

Sarah, Prompto and the Chocobos |EasilyAmused & Polarize|

Thanks! Sorry again for the wait. Planned to post way sooner, but the trip was...something else. Heh. Glad to be home, and I'm playing some XV right now for inspiration. Kinda want to drop by the ranch and try my hand at photographing a few chocobo chicks while I'm at it.

Sarah, Prompto and the Chocobos |EasilyAmused & Polarize|

Prompto expected the others to accompany them, or at least he believed Noctis would. Shockingly, his friends turned down the invite. That left only him, and Sarah. The girl was sweet and friendly, but that was the problem. What if he said something stupid?
Prompto glanced to her and managed a tense smile in return for her charming one. "Oh...yeah! Looks like it," he laughed nervously, gripping his camera a little tighter as they made their way towards the back. When the others were around, he felt a little less self-conscious.

The further they walked, the more Prompto calmed down. The ranch was the perfect distraction. For anyone even remotely fond of chocobos, this was heaven.
"This is great!" Prompto looked on in awe, admiring everything the ranch had to offer. The chocobos couldn't have asked for a nicer place to live. Here, they could he happy, content, safe...
Not quite. Prompto lowered his camera, remembering what was said about the monster called Deadeye. As long as that beast lived, lives were at risk.

When they reached the pen, Prompto melted at the sight. There were baby chocobos everywhere he looked, each one as adorable as the next. He laughed as one of the small creatures slid down the slide, flapping its little golden wings. "They're so cute!" He couldn't help but gush over them and snap a few shots while Sarah left to retrieve the feed.

"Heh, no problem. I'll take the risk." Being new to chocobo chicks, Prompto didn't think they could do much damage. How could they? Their little beaks were so tiny! A peck or two couldn't hurt...could it? Even if it did, it was worth the pain. Prompto followed Sarah inside, taking care not to let any of them escape. The chocobo chicks were happy and excitable, which only made them even more adorable.

Prompto snapped a few photos. Most of his pictures were angled from above since he didn't want to scare the creatures by being level with them. The chocobos weren't used to him, plus his camera may have frightened them.
"Wow, thanks! A-are you sure?" He looked to Sarah's hand, gratefully accepting the feed.

"Yeah..." When Deadeye was mentioned, Prompto fell solemn. He knelt down beside her, keeping his camera balanced on one knee. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that..." he stopped mid-sentence. One of the fluffiest, roundest little chocobo chicks started to move forward. The chick ventured toward them tentatively, eyeing the newcomer curiously.

Prompto barely breathed, he didn't dare scare the chick. Just a little closer...
Tempted by the sight of food, the chick continued toward them. Prompto snapped a picture, confident that it was his best photo of the day. To his delight, the baby chocobo got over its fear and started to eat.

A group of chicks watched a few paces behind. Once they saw that their friend was getting his fill of feed, they became braver and surrounded both Sarah and Prompto to get their share.
All was right in the world, until two of them started to fight over who got more.
"Whoa, wait! There's enough for both of you," Prompto tilted his hand to show them. The baby chocobos stared at his hand, then to each other. After a brief pause, they continued with their argument.
While that went on, a chocobo pecked at a button on Prompto's vest. One of the largest chicks attempted to block the others from getting the feed in Sarah's hand, and the ones not hungry started to peck at both Prompto and Sarah's arms.
Most of the time, chocobos were wonderful creatures, but they weren't immune to being troublemakers.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

I'll put it on my to do list! xD Do we get a secret handshake too?

Ah, thank you kindly! I've been adding things here and there over the past few months. He's taken me a lot longer than I expected to figure out, but the more I write for him, the easier it is to fill in his profile. I'll be working on his history and add some brief info on my side characters as well. When I add the side characters, should I put those in a separate post?

Good question! When it comes to remaining in Wonderland, I think that Ghent's still really torn because it's so early on. His loyalties are split, he's afraid, and doesn't really know what to think about his new comrades quite yet. xD But I think the more he learns and sees in Wonderland, and after spending more time with Elayra and Drust, he'll truly want to stay and help them. Not because he has to, but because he wants to. Plus, he's always wanted to find out the truth behind his birth parents, and being there is the only way he'll ever know about his past.

perfect gifs!

Oh gosh. I won't even go into the details of the trip, I'll just say that it was an experience, and I may never leave my room again.
I never got the chance to sleep (I'm not even over exaggerating when I say my grandma talked the entire time...did I mention Mrs. Saxon is partially inspired by her?) but I did write two replies and drew a picture of Ghent I'm actually satisfied with. After I finish drawing Elayra, I'll post the finished piece here. I know I've been promising some fan art for months now, and I have been working on some...but I wasn't happy with any of them. Behind every drawing I complete, there's at least 10 failures before it.

Hoping my excitement about this isn't putting any pressure on you, especially since you're the brains behind all of this! I promise, even if we didn't have this wonderful plot to work with, just interacting with and reading about your characters is a thrill for me. They're so well written and believable, I can't help but obsess.

Getting carried away is a good thing, because Drust's POV was brilliant! I cannot get over the perfection of that post...I had a little fangirl attack while reading it. Ever since its been mentioned, I'd been wondering what the portal would be like. It was awesome! The voices were a nice touch too...and the queen. *shivers* Plus, all of this on a brand new page? Doesn't get better than that. :D

For the first time in a long time, I remembered something without needing a reminder! *pats self on back*
Here's the Pinterest board. Not all of these may necessarily work, I just pinned what I thought could work, or at least offer some visual inspiration. At the very least, I think they're pleasing to look at.

aesthetics

Elayra

Ghent

Both

(Also, your avatar is awesome. I know what I'm watching tonight).