driftfleet_ooc | SUMMER TEST DRIVE

Hmph.

[Well, she's not shrieking at him and trying to hit him. So far so good.]

Usually you don't need help. [Or ask for it. He's a little concerned, though he tries not to let it slip into his tone.] ... You weren't afraid, were you?

[Yeah, that's definitely Dezel. All the way down to the unintelligible grunts to the EXTREME TSUNDERE, even. She's a little stunned to see him, considering he...should not be here in any shape or form, but Edna's wise enough to not start a fiasco over details like that - especially when she isn't even sure any of this is even real life.

Why would she be dreaming of Dezel though? Gross.]

Terrified. I nearly cried. Now, lend me your shoulder so I can blow my nose.

[She hops down, opening her umbrella up halfway to cushion the fall a little bit. But the second Edna hits the ground, she actually gasps and thrusts he umbrella outward right at her friend--!

Only, instead of striking him right between the eyes, the point of her umbrella collides with the eye of yet another raptor. How the--when did it sneak up on them?! The creature rears back with an anguished noise, thrashing its head wildly and pawing at its eye where it was hit before it throws up its head and begins making some guttural vocal noises from deep in its throat.]

What's...it doing? [Edna already knows, and begins taking a few steps backward.]

Nah. [Yep, it's like nothing's changed. There is that undertone of awkwardness that's always present with Dezel, and having to face someone he liked after dying tends to exacerbate that fact, but--

-- damn, when did that raptor sneak up on them? Normally his wind-reading keeps monsters from getting the jump, but he was definitely distracted. He realizes after a moment that it's because he leans on malevolence, too, and these beasts have none.]

Damn! He's calling his friends. [The wind tells him enough. They're about to be surrounded, and no amount of pendulum-swinging can change the fortune laid out for them. They might be able to take it, but they'd be better if they found Sorey.

He considers his options, then lunges toward Edna.]

-- Don't hit me.

[And he picks her up! Edna is a delicate little lady, but he still scoops her up in one arm like she's a toddler. At least she can see over his shoulder? He continues running, and a raptor pops out and ROARS just a few yards before them, but he doesn't stop. Instead he shoots out one of his pendulums to hit a tree branch, tugs, and uses it to propel them upward.

In the next moment they're in the wide, beautiful canopy of this world. The thick branches are enough to stand on, so it's no wonder the main town is built in bigger versions of these. Dezel windsteps from tree to tree until the raptors stop following.

When they're safe, and surreptitiously closer to civilization, he takes Edna back to the grass below.]

[Of course he's calling his friends. That's just typical, isn't it? Edna opens her mouth to retort, but the words are ripped right from her throat the moment she's picked up, arms reflexively wrapping themselves around Dezel's shoulders. She's surprised for all of a half second before his sentence registers and--

...Can you kill a dead man? Either way, Edna's filing that question for later to experiment, and shoots Dezel an extremely sour expression as she hisses softly at him--]

No pardon, I'm gonna kick your a--aah!

[CAN WE PLEASE NOT WITH THE JUMPSCARES?! Those are cheap as heck and extremely rude! Edna gips her friend tighter, turning her face into his shoulder. Spill that and you really are double-dead, windy man. But, again, Edna has no time to react before she's jerked and jostled up. Way, way up. The world rushes past like a blue of green and brown, and she begins to feel extremely sick, shutting her eyes and just holding on until the proverbial ride is over. Earth is weak to wind, and the sound rushing through her ears is borderline deafening.

Solid, stable ground is wonderful, and when they finally slow, Edna has to cover her eyes to stop the world from continuing its carousel ride. Christ, that was horrible. 0/10, do not recommend. Her hair is a hot mess, and if the raptors were scary as, they have nothing to the look Edna is giving Dezel right now.]

Put me down.

[That is some serious murderface going on. Dezel resists the urge to drop her like a rock, because he's sure he will catch some hell for it (and also she doesn't deserve it). Instead he sets her down as if handling something precious. It's a far cry from the first time they fought together, that's for sure.

But he's not the same person he was then, either.

He adjusts his hat and doesn't look quite at her.]

We had to make them lose our scent. ... Are you hurt?

Edited (tsun tsun DERE DERE) 2016-06-26 22:35 (UTC)

[Wise man, Dezel, because you surely would have gotten a pointed jab in the back with the point of Edna's umbrella, or a very unpleasant kick somewhere you'd really dislike. The gentleness is so odd for someone like Dezel, but it's nonetheless appreciated, even by the stone heart herself.

She dusts herself off, straightening her hair and her headband before smoothing out her dress.]

I was about to lose my lunch. [There's a pause, and Edna regards Dezel quietly, then sighs softly. He's being nice - which is way more than she'd ever expect from him - she can offer up the same courtesy.] Other than sick and dizzy, no. ...You came at just the right time.

['Thanks' goes unsaid, but it hangs at the end of her sentence anyway, hopefully he appreciate the unspoken words, because getting a verbalized thank you from Edna is like pulling teeth from the raptors they just left in their dust.]

[He doesn't want to make her say thanks. It would be awkward for both of them. He's happy with hearing that she's fine, and so he nods.

Of course, without the raptors trying to munch on them, they have to actually converse. Or something. And that is not his strong point whatsoever. There are a lot of awkward unsaid things between them-- far more than he'd expect-- but he did have Rose take a message back, so maybe it's... fine?]

When did you get here?

[Oh, Edna can talk when she really wants to, that's not the issue here, it's that her 'partner' here is...well, it's Dezel. Now, she has no bad blood with the wind seraph, but considering their situation - past and present - there certainly are a few things neither one are ready to be open about. Let's start small.]

Not too long before you whisked me into your manly arms, like the delicate and beautiful forest bloom that I am. ...Maybe a few hours. [And, in the same breath--] Can you tell me where this even is? Hate to say it, but this place is way too healthy to be anything from home.

[Edna's half tempted to just find a bench and take off her boots, feel the grass and moss under her feet, against her skin. Because right now? The earth almost feels like it's singing.]

[... Manly arms. Honestly, even if she's being sarcastic, he's still a little weirded out that someone is implying he's attractive in some way.]

It's another universe. Sometimes people have malevolence, but it doesn't seem to be as much of a problem.

[Another universe? Okay, while that is...plausible, and makes the most sense considering Dezel is here and, ahem, alive...it's still weird as, and Edna's brows furrow together as she tries to digest all that. Another universe that can really dictate how life and death don't matter? That can actively pull people and and fro from theirs? That's just...that sounds like a fairy tale.]

I noticed that much - the lack of malevolence - it's a little weird, not having to strain to breath. I'm not opposed to it, but it's pretty bizarre. ...Who else got sucked up and spit out here? [There's a brief pause, as Edna spins the handle of her umbrella. Should she go right for the question now? What's the last thing you remember? Nah, she wants to know more before she has to ask the hard questions.]

[It's a lot to absorb, but he's also been here for about four months. He knows what's up.]

Just wait until you're stuck in a small space with the crew. You'll be wishing you could leave. [Nothing is worse than the malevolence on the ships and being unable to escape it.]

Sorey and Mikleo are here. Haven't seen anyone else.

[Edna almost makes a remark - how is that any different from their ragtag group of wayward explorers - but refrains at the last minute. Somehow she can guess that being cramped in a space with people is a lot worse than just sharing literal headspace with other people. Those people Edna at least likes, trusts, and can rely on. She spins her parasol, humming thoughtfully. The implication of his words means he's experienced it... And for what sounds like a long time, too.]

Great. That sounds great... I'm going to wager a guess that poofing back into Sorey's head isn't as easy here as it is back home either? [That'd just be too easy. Edna sighs, and breathes in the air again, like she'll be hauled off at any minute - best get her fill.] ...Just you all? No one else showed up after I did?

[No Lailah? No Zaveid (probably a small blessing)? Edna looks down at her feet as she walks, not really aiming to go anywhere but forward. If Rose isn't here, regardless of if he's aware of his fate or not, it must be difficult for Dezel.]

You can if you're near him. But if you're on a different ship, you're on your own.

[Dezel's done all right, even with the malevolence on his own ship. Though he had to move recently because a goddamn demon popped up and he didn't want to deal with it.]

If there's someone else here, I haven't found them yet.

[He walks beside her, though not too close. Though his posture suggests he's relaxed, he is very much alert. The wind through the trees demonstrates that much.]

[That makes sense, of course, but Edna's still a little frustrated. She's not the sociable type, even among her closest friends. Friends she trusts and actually cares about. Shoving her into a little iron bucket with a whole new load of dumdums will be awful. Especially when all she'd like to do is remain close to those few that she can be open up to. Heaven knows she needs the companionship, even if she'd never admit it.]

How long've you been stuck here?

[The unasked question, or perhaps the implication behind the asked andquestion is nearly tangible - how long has he been with Rose? Edna knows Dezel. Not intimately, but enough so that she's well aware that being away from his charge must be--...]

Hey, Dezel?

Four months. [That's how much time he's borrowed. He wonders when it'll end but tries not to dwell on it all the time. Just like, 99 percent of the time.

Edna is acting a little off, but then again, she has every reason to. He's come back to life, after all. The invisible man is now a ghost.

He thinks he knows what's coming. He reaches up and adjusts the brim of his hat.]

What?

[Four months - not a lot of time for a seraph, for whom time is such a relative thing, but but then again...four months without he's so close to, it must have grated at Dezel every second of every day. Sometimes living past the years of humans can be as much a curse as it can be a blessing. She makes a thoughtful noise, but nothing more, instead keeping an eye both on Dezel and on their surroundings as well (no need to run into anything else in the forest, thanks).

It's the shift in her posture that lays it all bare - he knows - and that gives her pause to reorganize her words a little bit. Now, Edna never disliked Dezel. She was mostly indifferent to the wind seraph, treating him like any of the others. She'd tease and taunt in the usual way she did, even sometimes joke or make him the butt of the more humorous conversations. Friends? Not...exactly, but certainly not simple acquaintances, either. They were comrades who watched each other's backs for a lengthy period of time. So, while she may not be as overjoyed to see him as others (Sorey comes to mind first, alongside his Squire), she's not disappointed. And so--]

It's good to see you again. [Savor this moment of kindness and actual sincerity, bro, because it is a rare and shimmering unicorn.]

[He isn't completely helpless without Rose. She's constantly in his mind, in his worries. He misses her like he misses a part of himself. It doesn't get easier, but he has learned to function without her despite knowing Rose for half of his life. She's strong and perfectly able to take care of herself, and she's probably happier without him around, but...

It hurts, sometimes. He goes on. He follows the wind like the rest of them, and he does all right.

He's surprised to hear such honest words from Edna. Usually they'd be followed up with some teasing line, or something on the edge of mean, and he'd be okay with that. She's still one of Sorey's seraphim. She's still kind of a friend.]

... Now that's something I never thought I'd hear.

[He glances over at her, and while his eyes are mostly hidden, he's grinning.]

It's good to see you, too.

Who else is going to carry all the new supplies I'll need now?

[You were saying about ending off on a teasing, borderline mean comment? But even so, Edna's tone is light and friendly, and a very small smile pulls up at the corners of her lips. She was being honest before - he was missed, and even her stony heart ached a little bit when he had to leave them. As weird as it is to have him here, it's a welcome thing. Dezel always was the quiet, grumbly, but honest one of their motley crew. If anything, he brought about a sense of calm (s-sometimes) to the group.]

How long do we stay here before we go back into those flying buckets? [Because she is not looking forward to that.]

Oh, great. Demoted to packmule duty. What a great welcoming gift.

[There's something good-natured about his grumbling, even so. He likes Edna.]

Probably a month. We've still got a while.

[There's a smirk playing on Edna's face for a few seconds - the punchline is she's only half joking about what she said earlier - before she moves into the tail end of the conversation. More important than their banter, unfortunately. If she's going to be stuck here, she may as well be prepared and know how to handle it.

A month. A month here on this planet doesn't sound bad at all, even if - to her - that seems a little brief.]

And the time between landing? I'm guessing it varies, right?

[Edna is a delicate, frail little lady. But he won't ever say that. He knows better.]

Yeah. Sometimes it's a couple weeks, sometimes longer. Most of the time there are waystations, but they're not much better than the ships... Fake trees, fake air, broken machines.

[Dezel can probably feel the wrinkle of Edna's nose, and the scowl that plasters itself right on her face. Honestly, she'd prefer just being put in a big, metal bubble than in some gross imitation of what should be. It sounds absolutely debilitating, especially for their kind.]

Is that even really safe for us? [Because damn if she's not concerned somewhat. She doesn't need any more people she knows becoming dragons, alright?]

[He sure does. Even if her tone didn't give it away, he's sure of it now.]

We have Sorey's domain-- but if he leaves, we're screwed.

[No point mincing words.]

[Edna's breath hitches. That's a fun little thought, thanks. Though, she should be grateful for Dezel's honesty - and she does appreciate it, but it's very sobering how at the mercy of the world they all are, without Sorey to support them. And vice versa, of course.]

It can happen at any time, right? Like how I appeared. [Edna can see a town beginning to form in the distance. Man, she didn't realize how much they've been walking.] ...Have you all thought about what to do if the worst happens?

[This time, she actually looks Dezel in the face, and though she wears the same stoic face as she always does, the hands holding her umbrella's handle are tense and shaky. She doesn't want to fight any more dragons.]

SUMMER TEST DRIVE

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)