exsiliumlogs | (no subject) (part 2)

There wasn't anything that she could do about the rain, for she didn't have anything like the powerful Sun Rune to remove that element. Not that she would given the stories of destruction connected to the powerful Queendom rune. They would adapt and continue on with their work regardless, even if they had to adjust how they dealt with things. Feeling her lips quirk, she huffed in light amusement against his ear. "Not the worst we've dealt with either."

Elza remained where she was as he pulled his face away to peer down at her. While there was a smile on her face, as there always was, there was no smugness within it as she remained strong and kept her gaze fixated on his. "I like my privacy," she murmured. While that was part of it, it wasn't the entire reason either. She had lived too long on the run to grow used to sharing the room with others, and being in an area with so many people left her on edge as she attempted not to flee to more isolated areas.

That's a shame. THere's nothing like a nice open air onsen. What's your world - Japan, I mean - what is it like?

[ A pause at his point, but relieved that he didn't seem offended or upset that she mentioned having her friends here - when he might not. Or maybe he did! She smiles absently. ]

Not every familiar face, no. [ There were a lot of people she would rather not see around here - especially if they came from the Grand Magic games. Watching him step around to investigate the trinkets though, she grins. ]

Do you see anything interesting? [ As for herself, she pokes at a tiny wooden horse, thoroughly amused. It's TINY and CUTE. ]

[He doesn't know if to start aiming at her again or not.]

Who are you, really? There is no Star City, there is no Superman.

[Besides, that's kind of a lame name.]

That was not him. [For the first time her voice is something other than gentle, an edge of unhappiness and anger creeping in, her hands making fists in the material of her tunic.] I don't know you well enough to know what could help, so all I could do was try and think of what he would used to enjoy. It wasn't meant as a compliment or anything like that. He could be the b-biggest pain in the nook imaginable and that's hardly a compliment to anyone, but he was still a friend, still had a mind of his own.

[Her head is bent, hair obscuring her eyes or he'd see the green gathering at the corners.] They took him away, took him out of himself, he doesn't even know me any more, he'd made me promise to cull him before that happened and I don't know why I didn't, if I couldn't, and he can't remember to tell me. ...I'm sorry. This was a mistake. I should go.

Clive didn't mind the rain, but he knew that it would get old without the sun some of the time. He hadn't been in this world enough to do more than accept that it had happened. Even this whole 'wild west' aspect didn't seem more than someone pulling his leg to annoy him, but he swallowed his irritation down enough to accept that he had to deal with it. No one else was going to make the situation better for him save himself.

"No, I've been in far worse weather," he replied, aware that some of their training required being cold a lot of the time. He raised an eyebrow at her reply before he looked towards the fire that crackled merrily next to where they lay. She clearly didn't stay in that room because she didn't like being around other people, most likely because of how long and far she had had to run. "Somewhere abandoned is fine as long as we can get a fire going," was all he said in reply.

Not particularly, no.

[He doesn't seem to really be lying, either. Maybe he's sweating lightly but otherwise looks pretty comfortable.]

They both have been in difficult situations and weather, but it had only made them stronger, and more strength meant that she could go on just that little bit longer. He wasn't looking at her anymore, but at the fire even as she continued to keep her gaze on him. She never turned her attention away, would never, even if things between them would take take to heal.

She didn't say anything further just yet, and pulled one arm from around his broad back. Bringing it around, her fingers touched against his cheek before forcing his face to come back to look at her. "Then we'll go somewhere abandoned," she quietly said in reply. Elza didn't miss the fact that he had picked somewhere other than her personal space hidden out within the ruined city, and it was with that thought in mind that she finallyy pulled her hand back and allowed for him to leave if he wished for his distance.

Even as he looked at the fire, he still was aware of her gaze being on him, watching him. His gaze unfocused as he thought of their situation and what he was going to do when they returned to that raining city. What was it that he could do but fight? Who or what were they fighting and would things continue to get better for them as it seemed to be here?

He didn't stiffen when her hand brushed against his cheek and then found himself looking at her again. "Yes, that's agreeable," he said softly and when she released him, he didn't move. He instead shifted down her body a little, drawing his arms back in to settle next to their sides as he lay his head against her shoulder and closed his eyes again. "Until then... there's still this place to enjoy."

It's hardly a bother.

As mentioned before, confidence and stubbornness are key to any persuasive goal. You must hold your head high, present your topic eloquently and possess knowledge to back up your point. Remember to keep an even temper. No matter what the other person may say, retain an aura of indifference around yourself while continuing to persuade them.

[A pause.]

However, you may have another hindrance to deal with, namely your appearance. Most tend to unfortunately ignore the words of children, though this can be overcome, as well.

[An eyebrow gets raised at the reply.]

You came in here for the food?

[Much as he wants to be surprised by this, he's really not. Coming into a bar for the food seems like something Lloyd would do.]

She had wanted him to look at him with eyes not filled with the bitterness and resentment that he'd once looked at her with. He would agree to her suggestion, as it was the safest route for him. It was something that she could understand, and unlike the past, she didn't want to force his hand with anything. This time she wanted it to be his choice, and his choice alone... even if she had moments of weakness.

Resting her head against the dirt, she closed her eyes again when he shifted down. The weight of his head against her shoulder brought comfort to her, and despite wanting to give him time, Elza reached up to cradle the back of his head with one hand. She held him with a tenderness that was rarely shown, and with a smile curving on her scarred face, her pale gaze stared up at the sky above them.

"Even if you have ale on your breath," she quietly teased in response.

He didn't think that he was giving up too much by settling against her like this, and in some ways, he needed it as much as she did. Their moments had always been hard to come by, and then non-existent after Kelley's death. For once, he could just settle into the comfort that had long since gone from his life, relish the tenderness of her touch, the kind she showed only to him now.

He grunted at her teasing, turning his face so it was buried in her shoulder instead. "You bought it for me, so it's your fault," he replied, muffled into her cloak. He didn't even bother to open his eyes to regard her for that teasing. "You taste like ale anyway. It might be your breath you smell."

You are so queer.

The grunt drew more of an amused smile out of her, and as he turned to bury his face more against her shoulder instead. His answer had her chuckling lightly, the gesture causing her chest to rise with the small sound before she tightened her fingers around his hood and pulled it down from his head.

Returning her hand to delve into the depths of his blonde hair, her fingers touched against his scalp as she began lightly caressing it. "Mmm there might be a need to test that theory," she quietly teased as she tucked her face up against the side of his so that he could feel the amused curve of her lips.

[Kratos stares right back at the cat as it watches him. Did it perhaps realize it has an observer? Is there really something about this cat? Is this all just the heat frying his brain and causing temporary insanity? Before the chance to ponder this can happen, the cat begins to walk off.

Hmm should he follow? A good number of people had already been persuaded by him and there isn't much else to do but... following a cat. To say it sounds foolish is putting it kindly. Then again, if it turns out to be nothing more than a cat then no one will ever have to know about it; if it turns out to be an abnormal cat then following it will have served a purpose.

Mind made up, Kratos starts trailing this orange feline at a distance. It's not at an overly quick pace since that might startle the animal, but just enough to no lose sight of it too easily. A few moments after entering the alleyway, he notices the cat glance over at him. Is it... checking to see if he followed?]

Okay, well...

( pushing herself onto her feet, Madoka holds her hand up in front of her- and one flash of pink later she is left dressed in her elaborate costume. hair and eyes now their natural colors, she holds what seems to be a staff in her hands with a rose atop of it that has not yet blossomed. )

I'm a magical girl, you see.

Edited 2013-01-20 21:50 (UTC)

She always managed to make her enjoyment plain, and it somehow seemed to come at his own expense lately. That meant that she was feeling comfortable around him, but he knew it also meant that she was testing the waters. How far could she push him? How far would he let her get away with it?

He blinked when his hood was pulled back, but he sighed when her fingers delved into his hair, an act not done to him in years. He tipped his head a little towards her touch, savouring the contact, and he growled at her suggestion. "If we both drank ale, then we'd both taste like ale and smell like ale. If you want a kiss, woman, say so."

Don't worry though. If anyone can get it started, you can.

( she sits back, knees draw up to her chest as she watches quietly. until a spark catches the tender, creating a small flicker of fire within the bundle. )

Oh! Amazing, Sayaka-chan! ( Madoka pls... )

[THAT'S really impressive at first.

And then when the light fades away and Madoka is left standing there, Lilith smiles really wide.

And then puts a hand to her mouth to keep herself from laughing.]

What... what did you just do?

[It's probably pretty obvious she's trying not to laugh. Also tiny bits of laughs are escaping her anyway.]

Clive had always enjoyed the soft touches to his scalp, but that was understandable with all things given. They were assassins, and allowing such close contact was forbidden in their line of work. Yet despite the harsh training and the amount of death throughout their lives, they had still found each other.

"Well I wouldn't want to put you out," Elza said in return. Scratching her nails against his scalp, the gunner shook her head lightly. Some things would never change. "Besides, where's the fun in simply asking?" He always had a way with words, and Clive was showing that much to her again right at the moment.

( （；へ；） )

Hmm? I transformed, it sort of... comes with being a magical girl.

But why do you... [CRACKINGUP] look like that?

Tenderness wasn't in his life much, and he only found it with Kelley and Elza in his youth. They had been his family, his expectations of what a family would be like. He had taken the time after Elza's death to lurk in villages and watch families, and he had been confused by what he had seen. It was nothing like how he had been raised. Whole families would sleep together, wake at the same time and work all day then come home to tell stories and lavish attentions on each other. It wasn't... what he knew, yet it's simplicity was different and alluring. That had been a family. Her touch reminded him of the little things that he had come to rely on, the things he missed with her and Kelley gone.

"You always have fun twisting your words," he remarked. He was too simple for those details, though he had been around Elza enough to read her well enough. There were times she still baffled him. Slowly, he lifted his head from her shoulder to peer down into her scarred face, and he lifted a hand to gently move a strand of hair to her temple. "Do you think... Kelley might come here too?"

( despite the laughter, she smiles fondly. ) Everyone gets something different when they become a magical girl, this is what I decided on.

[Soft hum.] No, I guess not. A grocery store is like an indoor market. Solar power comes from the sun. We hardness the energy in it to use for devices we have that run electricity.

Do you have electricity at home? [He's thinking no, but better to ask. Besides, she's been in Exsilium.] It's at least in the Hold, so it won't be that foreign.