Mistress Dizzy

Poem of the Bladed Nightingale [Skull & Mistress Dizzy]

Jin's heart was still pounding. Was it just remnants of fear, or something else entirely? She pushed the notion away. It was just a moment, nothing more. There was no time for flustered feelings - especially since Ishawari could never see her in that way. Even if he could, it wasn't the right time.

It would never be the right time.

Jin sighed aloud, also looking toward the sleeping prince. "It's going to be difficult for him either way. I know he'll understand, but it will still hurt him." She wished that wasn't the case, but there was nothing to be done about it. "I'm going to miss it too, for all that's worth. But I think we should start packing tomorrow. Best to get through it. We don't know what the road there will hold, nor the city. Besides increased guards." She frowned and pushed a hand through her curls.

"It shouldn't take us long to pack up. We don't have much. I say we leave the day after tomorrow, if not even sooner. The earlier we leave, the easier it will be to make a clean break." Even if she didn't want a clean break at all, even if the connections she made here were precious to her, the mission came before all else.

"I think I'll get as many supplies from Kana as I can. It will come in handy for the road ahead." Besides the usual healing tinctures and tonics, Kana sold cloth bandages and other healing supplies, even things for women's issues. They would need as much help as possible.

Scrubbing a hand across her face, Jin looked out at the darkened, stormy sky. "I will say, I'm looking forward to understanding the next stanza of this mysterious poem."

Hopefully Sanctuary

Devika went back up the ladder with the wire, her ears open to the conversation as she did. Roxy was so kind - she figured that no one else would help this sweet old couple for free. After locating the correct tote and putting the wire away, she carefully climbed down with enough time to hear the rest of the conversation.

"Now, pie is something I can't make. I would love to have a fresh pie - everything I've had for the past few years has been boxed and frozen." Roxy was certainly correct; real food she didn't have to make herself was always welcome.

"I'm glad to hear everything is working with the chair." Funny enough, she didn't want the old couple to leave. Partially because it would leave the door open for more people, and who knows how she'd react to them.

Star Wars: A Legend Reborn (Nobodyman123 and Mistress Dizzy)

Kijani nodded a bit, seeing the wisdom in that. Anything to keep from thinking, or losing herself to the fear creeping in her belly. "Obi-wan really didn't say anything one way or another, to be honest. I guess he's got his hands full with you." A tiny, teasing grin graced her lips.

Her mood sobered quickly, though. She had the most horrible feeling, that everything was going to go terribly wrong, and quickly at that. And it would be her fault, like always. She inhaled slowly, trying to calm herself down and focus on the matter at hand. Stay as quiet as possible, wait for the others to come back. Try not to get caught, again. Try not to put her new companions in danger,again. Easier said than done.

Kijani abruptly stared Adam in the eyes. "Just in case I never get the chance, I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me, Adam. You've left behind your home and friends to help a stranger, and all you've been rewarded with so far is more trouble." She leaned forward and hugged him tight. Her heart fluttered slightly; he was solid and muscled, and very warm. She found herself suddenly embarrassed. Better not think about that now, there was no time for it.

"T-that's all I wanted to say." She looked away, clearly flustered. "Um... so what's the first step to being a Jedi?"

London By Lamplight: A Victorian Magical Girl's Story !

@LuckyBlackCat

Amarantha was used to this area. She couldn't even smell the fumes anymore. Like the rest, she was transformed and sweeping the area for Hydes. "Yes, it can." She concentrated, then murmured the words. "Hyde Hunter Strand!" The sound of unraveling came from behind her, as several threads shot out in multiple directions. Some were so thin that they could barely be seen, but a few were nice and thick.

"The thick ones are closest. Shall we hunt?"

Poem of the Bladed Nightingale [Skull & Mistress Dizzy]

Jin cried against Ishawari's warm, solid self, his words just as soothing as his shoulder. As he pulled back, she tried desperately to wipe her face and compose herself. It wasn't working well. “Thank you.” She managed to croak out after a few seconds.

“I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, because it’s too true. I could not be doing this without you.” She wiped at her face again and attempted a smile. “If you ever need my shoulder, it is here. No questions asked.”

“Thank you for… listening. And letting me completely embarrass myself.” Despite her speeches to Hotaru, she was uncomfortable with her own tears and anguish. Her heart was pounding, with a mixture of fear and stress and something else she couldn’t quite quantify.

“You’re always so...” She waved her hand in the air, searching for the words. “So eloquent at times like this. Some days I would rather just cuss at myself and call it a day.” A brief chuckle escaped her. “Thank you for being kind to me when I wouldn’t be to myself.”

Finally she leaned away, somewhat red-faced in the dark. “I suppose if we’re both awake, we should be plotting our next steps.”

Star Wars: A Legend Reborn (Nobodyman123 and Mistress Dizzy)

"That sounds like a good plan." Kijani murmured, eyes still puffy from crying. She had the oddest feeling, a strange twist in her gut, that things was about to get much, much worse. Her voice was a dull whisper.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Adam." She said, gracelessly plopping herself down on the floor and hugging her knees. "I would rather be out there, facing the danger. But I suppose your Master is wise and knows what he's doing." She lapsed into silence, staring at her shoes in an empty way. She understood the need for silence, but could only manage a few moments before the thoughts of her dead planet came flooding back. Tears started to prick at her eyes, and she knew she had to do something to distract herself. Kijani was not a quiet crier.

"What was it like, growing up with him?"

Mistress Dizzy's lame thread (1 x 1)

Uno mas

Poem of the Bladed Nightingale [Skull & Mistress Dizzy]

Jin was surprised to find Ishawari still awake. She thought with the day he’d had, he would have slept immediately. But she was grateful to see him, surely. Anything to distract from the storm.

“Tea sounds good.” She rose in silence, and followed him to the dinner table. Settling down in the chair, she stared at the teapot sleepily for a few moments, before pouring cups for the both of them. Thunder pealed, and lightning split the night sky, causing her to spill a bit.

“Dammit all.” She swore low under her breath, snatching up a cloth to wipe it up. Once the tea was poured, she looked at the steam rising from the cup as if it could take her problems away. For a while, she simply sipped and flinched every so often. Once her cup was empty, she spoke without preamble.

“My father was killed on a night like this.”

She shut her eyes, letting the memories come forth. Maybe the only way out of this was through it.

“He was my hero, my father. Strong, and brave, and good. Everything a father should be, I think. I told you he was part of the town militia. What I didn’t tell you is what he had to go through to get on it. A lot of people still don’t trust foreigners, even in a port city like Susuka. Even though my father could have picked any other job, he wanted to protect people, even if they weren’t his own. The militia went to a vote to allow him. It took a week for them to decide, and even then I think there was trouble about it.” She sighed, circling the rim of her cup with a fingertip.

“He was good with a sword. Nothing so grand as your people, I’m sure, but he was enough for the city. He took to the katana so easily, everyone was certain he’d used a sword before. He never opened up about that part of his life. I always wondered why, but I guess I’ll never know.”

She stared off into the distance. “It was a truly horrible storm. Some said a small hurricane. I’ll never forget the way my mother begged him not to go, when the fires started. I did too. Clinging to his leg, even, crying like the little girl I was. I’ll never forget what he said:

‘When people are in need, you don’t look away.’

Those were the last words I heard from him.”

She was surprised to find herself slowly crying. Tears were slipping down her face and puddling beneath her chin.

“They said the fires and subsequent destruction killed 13 people, my father among them. It took months for the village to recover, but my mother never really did. She took ill, I think from grief, and she died within the year.” She hiccuped suddenly, covering her mouth to contain a sob.

“There was so much I never got to ask them, Ishawari! So much time we never had, so many things I did wrong or said wrong that I can never take back! I-” She was crying in full now, arms wrapped around herself. “Sometimes I hate them both for leaving me behind. They should have been here, and they’re not, and I hate myself for daring to think that way. On nights like these, they’re all I can think about, and I wonder how many storms have taken people’s whole lives away.”

That was apparently the end of the story, or all that Jin could muster. She couldn’t hold back a wave of fresh tears.

Star Wars: A Legend Reborn (Nobodyman123 and Mistress Dizzy)

Kijani wailed into Adam's chest, trying to control the noise of pure anguish pouring from her throat. Her family, her friends, her home, it was all just snuffed out in an instant. She felt weak, so weak and cold inside, as if a part of her had been torn out with the death of Alderaan.

"Okay?" She couldn't look at Adam. "How could it possibly be okay? It's... it's gone, it's all gone -" She hiccuped, trying to control the tears. "Everything I know and love. I didn't even get to say goodbye, I didn't-" This started a fresh wave of tears. It took her several minutes to calm down enough to pull away from Adam, and even then she looked very shaky.

"This is my fault. I know it is. The Empire is trying to break me." She paused, staring at her shaking hands. "...they might have."

Then she too, heard Han from the cockpit. "Alderaan only has 1 moon, but it shouldn't quite be visible from where the ship is. What's going on?"

Hopefully Sanctuary

"is that so?" Devika looked over at Roxy, very curious. She'd suspected as much, but it was nice to know there was a good heart underneath all of the lone wolf gruffness that Roxy put out. It still amazed her that Roxy had her own business at 16. But some people were just meant to be stronger than others.

"Well, that's definitely good to hear. Roxy is a great person, and I'm sure she'll figure out what is going on with the chair." She smiled warmly and tried to exude a sense of calm. This was a good starting point for her, and she wondered in the back of her mind if Roxy had sort of screened this gentle-hearted couple for her first outing among regular people.