Bootlaces

Bootlaces
Date of Scene:	04 December 2012
Location:	Fluorgis
Synopsis:	After Shiki walks out of the meeting, Faruja follows her.
Cast of Characters:	Shiki Misaki, Faruja Senra

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Shiki Misaki has posed:
Well, that meeting didn't go well. At ALL.

Shiki has just marched out of the base following the... frankly disasterous meeting to drum Priel out of town, except it didn't happen, and now Priel is making herself comfortable in the girls' side and, Shiki assumes, planning out the best route to silently sneak out of her room, to the kitchen, preheat the oven, sneak into her room, then carry her out and shove her in there. She's doomed!

And that's why she's wandered out and sat near a fountain to sulk.

Faruja Senra has posed:
Sigh. When Faruja signed up for the whole 'Shard Seekers' thing, he never imagined he'd end up having to be some sort of relationship mender. He was a soldier, and a Knight, not a counselor. But Lord help him, he cares a little too much for the members of this group to let them be shattered by something such as this. Not that he really blames Shiki. He trusts Priel as far as he can throw Arista.

Luckily for Faruja, and perhaps unluckily for Shiki, getting away from a Dragoon is difficult. Stip stip. Claws on stone sound as the rat lands. Silently, he loooks at the sulking girl.

Stepping forward, he sits down beside her uninvited. Reaching into his robes, he pulls out a water bottle. "Drink."

A single eye turns to her, and an ear tilts meaningfully. There's no advice, no words, just an open offer; be it yelling, accusations, or otherwise.

Shiki Misaki has posed:
When we signed up for the whole shard seekers thing, we were probably under the impression there'd be a lot more seeking out shards. And a lot less TEEN DRAMA.

But I suppose that's what happens when you get this many under-twenties in a party with no adult coordination or supervision. The emotional maturation happens between occasional periods of petulant, angry squabbling.

She wasn't exactly trying to hide; in fact, she probably wanted SOMEONE to follow her, in the same way any emotional teenager craves attention when they do something like that. She's just glad it's him.

Her blue face would probably look kind of comical if it was anyone else, as she looks up at Faruja, then takes the water. She could use it: her throat's pretty tight right now from that outburst. She drinks a little.

"Ugh," Shiki Misaki says, looking into the bottle. "What're we gonna do?"

Faruja Senra has posed:
He's already breaking protocol. Faruja, usually so focused on manners, shatters them utterly as he reaches over to throw a friendly arm about her shoulder and pull her to his own robed shoulder. That tail of his reaches up, gently ruffling her hair like his own sister would always do whenever he was upset.

"'Tis not a matter of 'we', my friend. 'I' am going to keep an eye on that wench. All I have said of her still applies. I made an oath. Should she harm you, or anyone else, I shall deal with her. The pragmatic soldier in me recognizes her as having strength; her walk, the fact she survived the incident with Reize. Feelings aside, she may yet be an asset to our organization if she is properly controlled...though to say I have doubts on even that is an understatement."

He snorts, jaw setting a moment. "Ser Galvan, for all appearances, is not a fool. He sees something within her. What it is, I cannot imagine. Perhaps I am too blinded by her actions and attitude to see it. And I hate to be the one to point this out, but you shall find people such as her within any organization. I know several individuals within the Church whom are but a hair's breadth from being a danger to it. Yet, that same volatility is why they are useful. Should it come to a vote...I know not how I shall plead."

A fuzzy brow rises. "The better question is, what you shall do, my friend. About Priel, about the Shard Seekers, and about Reize. I can offer you advice, and my ears are ever open to you, but you must act with your own will, intellect, and heart. None can tell you the proper path in this aside from the good Lord, and /YOU/."

Shiki Misaki has posed:
But how can you resist?

Shiki mrrs and leans on Faruja, because he's a fuzzy and she needs someone to hug right now. She's never had a big brother, but she imagines this must be what it feels like. And if it doesn't, then it's at least someone she's on common ground with.

Shiki smiles when Faruja announces his intent. "You'll protect me?" she asks, because at the moment her selfish self feels as if nobody else cares about her wellbeing.

She sighs, breathing through her nose. "Yeah, I... I don't know what I was thinking? She probably could wipe the floor with me, but I just really wanna clean her clock!"

"I don't know what's up with Ivo. I mean, like, was he ignoring everything I said, or what?" she asks, turning to look at Faruja. "/He's/ never screwed us over or threatened any of us yet. So why does he insist on insisting he wants someone who has around? It's so selfish!"

As for that weighty question... "I don't know. I expected Reize to be on my side... I, I never want to see her again. I wasn't even kidding, I hate her. I'd be happy if someone tied a rocket to her tail and sent her over the horizon. Sure I'd never find out what happened to her again, but at least I'd never see her again either. But now she's gonna be... here. All the time, I guess. Making my life hell, every single day, or something."

She sounds glum. "Maybe I should go find Neku, or go back to WildKat for a... no..." she shakes her head repeatedly. "This place was just starting to feel like home. And it can't be if she's here."

Faruja Senra has posed:
Faruja relaxes, his own irritation bleeding out as the familiar feeling of what, to him, is a bond nearly familial is strengthened. Until now, he'd never quite realized how much he missed his sibling, or how the young girl had burrowed into his heart. Then again, she's far too much like a younger version of his lost sister.

He doesn't get to reflect too much, though. "Truly, need you ask? 'Tis my occupation. Of course I shall."

Faruja smiles, the Templar chuckling. "You beat me to the act! However, I do believe you underestimate yourself and overestimate her. Perhaps it is not likely...but you have certainly surprised me in the past. Could you not do the same to yourself?"

A shake of the head. "I cannot say why he insists upon it. Ask him. Perhaps he shall elaborate more clearly. However, I do not take him for a person to simply ignore you. He...I believe, he...not trust. But he has faith in her, for some inscrutable reason. A mystery, to be sure."

Sigh. The rat shakes his head. "Reize is young. And as you saw, prior to Ser Galvan's speaking, he was quite against it. Yet...mmm. That pendant...no, that is another matter entirely." He pauses. "The young man believes in Ivo. He trusts in the man. That, I think, is why he allowed it. Shiki...forgive him. If he truly thought Priel was going to be a threat to you, he would have never allowed it."

Faruja frowns briefly. "Do you truly believe that running from her shall solve anything? From this home you nearly have? Shiki Misaki, do not dissappoint me. You are no coward, 'mere' seamstress or not. Priel is unpleasant, and your hatred justified. However...this is but conjecture. If I were to guess, I would say that she has no intention whatsoever of killing you." A clawed hand reaches out, pointing to Shiki's blue nose.

"Mossfungus. Tasteless, ordorless, and when properly ground, colorless. It can be absorbed by the skin, and kills with symptoms similar to high fever or illness of the lungs in some varieties. Had she wished you dead, that is what she would have mixed your shampoo with. Not coloring agents. Nay. Shiki, I think she is baiting you. For your reactions. No doubt you are amusing to her, and she is cruel. I believe that is her intent. Besides that, greed. She is selfish and honorless."

His free hand waves vaguely. "...There is more to it. Were that everything, she would not have came. Ser Galvan is silver tongued, but Priel has a reason beyond amusement."

Shiki Misaki has posed:
"It's just that I'm scared of her, honestly, Faruja," Shiki says, continuing to take comfort in his presence for as long as she can. "It's not even the ordinary sort. She just always makes me feel like I'm so small and she's so unassailable."

"Just laughing and mocking everyone and putting--"

She balls her hands into fists. "Putting her hands all over Reize, and he didn't even brush her off! I even think he /liked/ it! More than anything else, that makes me maddest of all! At her /and/ at him! Even if-- he doesn't think she is, he..."

He didn't defend her. He didn't take her side. He didn't do what she wanted. Oh, yes, sometimes I'm a mean, selfish girl.

She can't speak, so she listens. She sighs.

"Heh... weren't you ever fifteen though, once, Faruja? I'm sorry, right now I just feel like I want to stomp my feet and make this fuss... I'm not really grown-up in the right ways yet."

But there is a lesson to be learned in all of this. Were she more mentally collected, Shiki would ponder why Faruja has something like that on hand, but she isn't, and it'll slip from her mind and she'll never think about it again.

"Then she's an even more horrible person again, if she'd chase me screaming bloody murder just to terrify me." And maybe I'm a stupid person for falling for it. Not weak; stupid.

Shiki sighs. "I like what I've got right now, Faruja. I've ... I've got a place to live, I've got a purpose to work towards, got a little job... I've got lots of friends, and I've got ..."

"And I've got Reize," she says, rather than qualify that particular part. "Heck, even though the Reapers are /out there/, they haven't really done a whole lot to me personally. I'm getting comfortable. I don't know if I'm ready to... I dunno, defend that? Give it up? Compromise it?"

Faruja Senra has posed:
Faruja listens, and finally nods. "As though you are an insignificant speck of dust against the pure power presented before you. Enough to make knees lose their strength. To balk, to wish to retreat. That haunts your dreams, waking and within the dead of night."

"There is a saying a very strong, very wise nezumi has popularized. Something of a home town hero. 'Let your fear drive you forward'. Make of it what you will."

Faruja smiles. "...I was. But, well, I joined the army early. I was forced to grow up fast. Forgive me, Shiki, if I seem harsh. And to be frank, I've half a mind to do the same."

Frown. "...Agreed on that point. Shiki, change is inevitable. You may fight it, or accept it. I am afraid you may have little choice in the matter. The decision shall have to be made, regardless of your readiness." He hates to be truthful right now, but that's the way it is.

A ruffle of her head. "Whatever you choose to do, I shall support you, Shiki. Do what is right for you. Take a few days. Calm down. Then make a decision. There is time enough for that."

Shiki Misaki has posed:
Let your fear drive you forward, huh.

"Huh," Shiki says, her expression looking as if she's chewing that phrase over. And what preceded it, as Faruja couldn't have described her situation more clearly when it comes to the dreams she's had about Priel. She looks away for a minute, her face now in profile, as she looks back over to the HQ. She fancies she can see Priel through one of the windows, but it's just a puppy.

"It's OK, Faruja, I kinda know what growing up fast feels like now, too..." "Maybe it's just all the parts haven't come together yet. I'm sure something'll happen to spark things off and then I'll be able to handle these things better. Maybe when we go start actually... seeking shards? I guess?"

"Or maybe something'll come along and take us all completely by surprise." FORESHADOWING. "If it does, I'd better not be all gloomy like this!"

She casts her head back, with ruffled hair, to look at the sky, and gets up. "I think, yeah. I'm gonna go and clear my head, take a walk around town by myself. I'll blow off some steam and head back later today, OK? I'll be fine after a little R-n-R."

She takes a step, looks back.

"Thanks."

And she saunters off, feeling a little better for the talk.

Later today, antlions will be fought, and the terrible destiny of Manhattan will begin to unfold. And Shiki will never be back in time, for the blood-red countdown will appear for the first time since Shibuya fell. This is the last time she'll feel cheerful for five days.