isleofavalon | [September Catch-All]

[Izō, perhaps, didn't know what he was getting into when he agreed to accompany Jane on one of her research excursions. She had met up with him looking more than ready with a bright glint in her eyes and a rucksack full of relevant supplies. Having learned her lesson before with regards to stinging nettles and the like, she's wearing long trousers and high boots, in a sharp step sideways from her usual preferences in clothing.

And she talks. Izō needn't be concerned about any silences, if he had been concerned about such things. Her enthusiasm for the work she's about to embark on shines through clearly as she chatters cheerfully about what they might find while they make their way out to the Brocéliande.

As they reach the edge of the trees she slows down, looking up at them. She sighs happily and looks up at her companion, seeming more amused than anything else by his overall demeanour.]

You might see some little paper slips tied to the trees. Don't move them, whatever you do. Don't even touch them. [And with that warning delivered...] Are you ready to go in? If you get hungry or thirsty, just tell me, all right?

[She has plenty of supplies in her bag.]

Edited 2021-09-12 15:13 (UTC)

[ compared to how izō was at the tournament, his usual look is much less striking. which is fine — it's not like he's going for the fear factor here or anything.

he's content to let jane do the talking even if he has no idea what she's talking about most of the time. it's not hard to listen to someone who sounds that excited about what they're doing, especially since he's the sort to be drawn in by that sort of thing. despite any deliberate attempts to look aloof and disinterested, he's a little curious although not enough to ever ask a question. his reminder to himself that someone like him doesn't need to worry about things like that is something that goes through his mind often, after all.

when they arrive and she gives him that look he tugs at his scarf a bit and frowns. what the hell is so funny? but izō's also treating this as a job and he's nothing if not good at his work. he also assumes the warning is... a warning. as in, something dangerous. ]

Why? They do somethin'? If there's danger ya oughta tell me so—.. hm.. [ it just occurred to him what he's saying. ] I'm just sayin' if the trees do some weird shit I don't wanna find out the hard way...

[He doesn't like being laughed at, she knows this, but she can't help but find his insistence on looking so stern and aloof to be funny in no small way.

Her warning is definitely because the paper strips are dangerous, as she was warned about the first time she came into these woods and found herself curious about them. She'd done a little bit of research into them since, and hadn't even come close to trying to touch them again.

But since Izō asks, she looks around quickly and then grabs hold of his sleeve without thinking twice, tugging him along to a tree not far inside the small forest where a few pieces of paper are tied between two trees. She crouches down to look at it more closely.]

They're guidemarkers for will o' wisps. Fairy spirits. If you break one, a spirit might get lost and follow you home. They're not very happy when that happens.

Oi, oi!

[ he obviously doesn't expect to get dragged along after her, but here they are. is this what's in store for him in the near future? izō sighs quietly and listens to her explanation since of course, he'd asked in the first place. unexpectedly, he realises will o' wisp is something that sounds familiar, although he's heard it by a different name. something from a story he'd heard once? that would've been in a simpler time when wondering how true the scary stories kids tell each other might be. only by now, he knows that plenty of things are really real in this world, so there's not much wondering to do.

so, taking a step back here isn't a cowardly move at all. that's just smart. ]

I'm not fuckin' with those. Like my soul right where it is, actually.

[Jane straightens up and hums, tapping her lower lip with one fingertip.]

Hmm. Then maybe will o' wisps aren't the thing to study today. I wouldn't want you getting spooked.

[Will o' wisps weren't the thing she intended to study today, but she can't resist taking the opportunity to gently needle at him. Izō is far too easy to rile up and is amusing to watch when he's flustered.

She shrugs, a kind of 'ah, well' movement with lifted hands, and then drops her arms to her sides.]

That's all right. We can find something else.

Edited 2021-09-13 12:55 (UTC)

Spooked?

[ his eye might have visibly twitched there. his reputation is already suffering here. he can't let this stand. ]

I'm Manslayer Izō! [ you may have heard of him. ] I don't get spooked!

[... Hah.

Jane clasps her hands together at her chest and beams up at him, bouncing a little on her heels.]

Oh, wonderful! Then you won't mind if we go looking for the wisps after all.

[Change of plans? Change of plans. Wisps sound a lot more fun to look for than birds.] Come on, Izō! There's a lot to do.

[ ~~congratulations, you played yourself~~ ]

...

[ what is that expression? that's not the face people are supposed to make when he gets fired up about something. ]

Nah. 'Course not.

[ just had to ask about the papers, didn't he? ]

Oh, don't look so serious.

[Jane has, unfortunately for him, long moved past being worried by him getting fired up in that way. As long as he isn't actively threatening her, he's... just going to have to put up with her not being afraid of him.

She pats his arm.]

Don't worry, I'll watch out for you. [Make sure he goes home with his soul in the same place he came out with it, and all. She adjusts the weight of her pack and smiles again.]

Let's go, we'll start off going this way. Following the paper trail seems like the thing to do.

Watch out for me?

[ she didn't want him to be too serious? well, he can't help but laugh at that. ]

That's my job! Ya oughta be glad I take it seriously...

[ sure, there's been nothing dangerous so far, but he's paying attention. ]

Anyway, if I don't touch the papers then I got nothin' to worry about, right?

[When he laughs, Jane grins broadly and clasps her hands together.]

Izō! You can smile! [And she sounds absolutely delighted by this, laughing cheerfully. For all his gruff manner and trying to look big and scary, he's really just a regular person after all.]

You should do it more! It looks very handsome on you.

Huh? I do! If I gotta reason...

[ he's not used to receiving compliments. it's fair to say the first thing people notice about him tends not to be his appearance, at least as a positive. he starts fidgeting with his scarf, as he's prone to do when he's feeling shy. ]

Last time I wasn't exactly in the mood. You wouldn't be smilin' then either.

[ he adds this a bit more firmly, because he feels like he has to compensate for the slip. ~~it's the tsun.~~ ]

Hmm, yes, I remember. Your injured pride.

[She's smiling, but not with any kind of mockery. Jane gives his sleeve a gentle little tug then and tilts her head for him to follow her.]

And you're quite right, just don't touch the papers. [Adjusting the straps on her shoulders again, she exhales a breath sharply.] All right! Wisps are supposed to be friendly, so I don't think we have too much to worry about.

[And she starts walking, following the signs of them and their paper guidemarks.]

If you see anything you're curious about, though, you can ask me! If I know anything I'll tell you.

[ izō just makes a face at her comment again and follows along wordlessly. it's confusing to him how she does that seemingly on purpose. he would think it would be smarter not to risk trying to tease him, even in a playful way. was she really that trusting? really, it's more that he expects not to be taken at his word either, which naturally would mean that jane should have cause to be suspicious if she didn't expect him to keep it...

he sighs a little; the business of navigating interpersonal relationships is somehow more tiring than anything else. sure, he's capable of being nice but tries to strike a balance. can't go thinking he's too nice.

and funny he should even have that thought since almost immediately after he also can't help but notice her adjust the pack again. ]

What's in that thing anyway?

[ izō nods toward the pack in case his interest is unclear. so much for not asking any more questions. ]

If it gets heavy, you can ask. [ for help, he means. ] But I ain't assumin' or nothin'. I know some girls don't like it when ya assume...

[ his knowledge of what girls like is sure to be inaccurate and limited given his experience, but there is an entire word in his dialect to describe the sort of strong, stubborn woman that would sooner try to fight him for offering than let him carry their bag. he's fairly certain jane wouldn't try to fight him, but she could always find another way to give him a hard time instead. ]

[Simply put, she's teasing him because his reactions are funny and she doesn't think he's going to try to harm her. The most he'd done even without knowing her at all was make vague threats, and though she had been intimidated at the time she was beginning to see through that gruff front he puts up.

The fact she can continually fluster him without repercussion is only spurring her on.

She's quite happily walking along when he asks that question, and she tips her head back slightly as she peers around at him.] Ah?

[Jane turns fully then, walking backwards as she replies.] Oh, not too much. A few observational tools, some water, and some snacks for later. [And it's kind of heavy, but she thinks that's mostly the water.]

I realised as I was leaving that I wasn't sure what you'd like to eat, so there's a few different things.

[ he raises a brow when she turns around and starts walking backwards. somehow it seems like a bad idea to do out here where the terrain isn't perfectly even, but she seems to know what she's doing at least for the moment. ]

Eh? Like what? Ain't gonna complain over most things, probably. Only things I know I don't like don't make real good choices for somethin' like this anyway.

[ it's actually far more likely that she's brought something he's never eaten before than something he dislikes. ]

[It's probably asking for trouble, walking backwards like that. The back of her heel hits a root and she stumbles, letting out a muted little yelp and spinning around to face forwards again.]

Whoops.

[Ehem. That was not embarrassing at all.]

W-.. well. I have some fruit and sandwiches, and a bit of cake that my housemate made. How does that sound?

[ as usual he's capable of dishing out things he can't handle himself, meaning he's not at all above snickering quietly to himself at her stumble. she recovered just fine anyway, so no harm done. as for the food... ]

Dunno. I guess? Never really had a sandwich. Or cake. I had chocolate once though if that counts?

[ the chocolate at the time wasn't his idea either, it had been given to him. but he'd been willing to try it and found he didn't mind it, so that's good, right? ]

[She does roll her eyes a little when she hears his humour at her misstep, but there's no personal insult taken. Only a mental note to be sure to needle at him if the same thing happens to him. Carefully, of course... He does have that temper.]

I suppose it counts a little. Do you like sweet things?

[If he likes chocolate he might like cake, if he has a sweet tooth.]

Wasn't bad at all. I remember it went real well with sake hehe.

[ that had been his idea. ]

Master said it was traditional to eat chocolate on that day 'cause of the Valentine's festival. Knew that was my birthday too, actually, I was real surprised...

[ jane is not the only person who has made more effort than he'd expected and he didn't understand it any more at the time than he does now. ]

Anyway, we celebrated an' had drinks together. Or... I s'pose I had drinks, and Master had juice, but it's more fun havin' company no matter what.

Oh, your birthday is February fourteenth?

[Sharp as a pin, this one. She shoots a smile Izō's way - yes, she's going to remember that. But then she nods along, because regardless of whether or not one is drinking, she thinks that having company always makes things more fun.]

I'm glad you came along today, you know. I wasn't sure you really wanted to. [Jane hums, looking up at the trees as they walk along. Every now and then she checks for the paper guidemarks and slightly adjusts her path.

A distant, rapid drumming sound catches her attention and she stops, looking around.]

Wait, do you hear that? Sounds like a woodpecker.

Yeah? I know that's s'posed to mean somethin' to Westerners, but I don't really get it.

[ everyone gets older every year no matter what... so what's the big deal? ]

Eh? Why's that matter? I've done plenty of jobs before, even if I didn't want to...

[ which is an understatement with how he's put it. and so far, he doesn't mind this. there's a lot of worse things he could be doing with his time. he's more confused than anything. ]

I just dunno why you'd wanna have somebody like me around when ya probably got better options.

[ when she stops, he's wary for a moment, doing a quick scan himself before he realises what had alerted jane hadn't been something dangerous. well then. he pays more attention to the sound of the woodpecker. ]

Huh. Used t'hear that kinda sound all the time.

[She smiles as she tilts her head towards the sound and listens. It weaves through the trees in a way that makes it difficult to pinpoint, so she doesn't think to go hunting for it.]

Somebody like you?

[Jane says this curiously, slanting her gaze back up at him as she starts to walk again. She hangs back deliberately, making sure that she's walking next to Izō rather than letting him lag behind.]

Just what kind of a person do you believe I think you are?

[ he starts fidgeting with his scarf again, considering her question for a moment or two before he shrugs. ]

I dunno how ya think. I just know me. I ain't that smart, and I only ever been good at one thing, so why's that interestin' to ya at all?

[ a pause. ]

...An' I know I ain't real fun t'be around.

[ that is a choice, to a point. the rest is where izō just isn't good with people and doesn't know any way else. ]

[She lets out a short sigh as she stops walking, and then turns around.]

Now, you listen here, mister.

[Jane steps in front of him and places one hand on each of his arms, half way up between his shoulders and elbows.]

I don't need you to be entertaining for me, you know? I like being around you. [The smile she shoots up at him as she lightly smooths his sleeves, pats his arm and then drops her hands is earnest and genuine.]

You don't need to be anything other than just who you are. I happen to think you're very interesting.

Edited 2021-09-24 13:01 (UTC)

[ he doesn't mind the stopping because they're going at her pace anyway so it's not as if he's in a rush. the gentle reprimand might've even been amusing, but he's far more distracted by the fact that she's touching him. why?? she can probably feel his arms tense, but he's otherwise still. well. mostly. he also seems to visibly fluff up more than usual, which is partly true and partly because there's a pair of ears there where they hadn't been before. it's fine. ]

... Y'know that's weird, right?

[ he folds his arms and makes an effort to look less flustered. ]

Nobody else ever thought so. At least, not for nothin' that wasn't what I can do with a sword...

[ this isn't entirely true, but in his mind it might as well be. ]

[Oh, he has... animal ears? That's... cute.

But Jane does her very best not to draw attention to them besides a quick glance up when she notices. Izō is, she has noticed, incredibly sensitive.]

No one ever has? [She asks him wryly instead, shooting a smile up at him.] Or you've never wanted to hear it?

[Jane shakes her head and gives one of his arms another pat, then turns away with a small tilt of her head for him to follow her again.]

I'm sure I'm not the first person to find you interesting just for being yourself.

Edited 2021-09-27 20:56 (UTC)

[ those ears have the unintended effect of displaying more expression than izō might like, especially when it's so easy to hide his face. they flatten and pin back, and if he's aware of it happening, he doesn't react. there's only so many directions he can be pulled in emotionally at one time. ]

So what if I don't wanna hear it? Maybe I don't wanna bother listenin' to shit that ain't gonna matter.

[ because everyone leaves sooner or later. to him, it's inevitable — not an if, but a when. why does everyone give him a hard time about being smart about this? it's not all in his head! he starts following after her again because standing in one spot getting left behind isn't doing either of them any good. ]

Some people are probably s'posed t'be alone. Ever think of that? Busybodies always tryna fix shit that don't need t'be fixed...

[ he's mostly grumbling now. ~~if he can't be angry, then at least he's going to bitch.~~ it's also not the first time he's reached for that particular word choice for someone, finding it applies well enough to jane too to put her in the busybody category. ]

All right, all right...

[Jane chuckles, smiles kindly, and raises up her hands in surrender.] This is making you uncomfortable. I'll stop.

[For now, anyway. It looks like she's going to keep that as a promise as, even though she clearly doesn't agree with what he said and what he thinks about himself, she retreats from the topic and turns her mind to something else.

Namely, following the paper guides strung between the trees.]

... Those ears are cute on you.

[Out of the frying pan and into the fire, hey, manslayer?]

I ain't uncomfortable!

[ because yelling about it really makes that sound believable. ]

It's just irritatin'...

[ he knows the things he's been through. since he's not sharing, shouldn't that mean he knows best about what's best for him? the worst part is that he doesn't think she's been convinced to drop it permanently.

but at the mention of the ears, he growls a little (he's not helping his own case here) and covers them with his hands. ]

I can't help it! [ he can, but that would require effort. ] It just happens sometimes! I think my familiar likes t'fuck with me for a joke 'cause it knows it pisses me off!

[ the last of his words seem intended not for jane but his familiar. literally no one in this situation will just let him live. ]

[It's perhaps quite telling that she doesn't flinch when he raises his voice. She looks faintly surprised, for a moment, but that fades quickly and she folds her arms loosely while his attention goes to his ears and his ire is diverted to the apparent antics of his familiar.]

Hmm...

[She reaches up to touch his wrist, to see if he'll let her lift up one of his hands.] I don't know if familiars can actually do that, you know... What kind of magic do you have?

[Despite asking, she has a feeling that she knows the answer already.]

Why not? Ain't they the reason it's like this in the first place?

[ standing there with his hands on his head would be kind of pointless and silly, so after the few moments it takes him to realise this, he lowers them. and of course, the ears pop right back up again. ]

I only know I got animal magic.

I don't think so... only if you bought that potion from the traders.

[Had he? Izō doesn't necessarily seem the type but then again, people have surprised her before. She draws the inside of her lower lip in between her teeth to hold back a smile as the ears jump back up again.]

But part of animal magic is transformation, isn't it? Have you been practicing?

I dunno nothin' 'bout magic. That's Caster shit! So… I wouldn’t know about practicin' it neither.

[ he mostly thinks he wouldn’t be very good at it because he assumes he's going to do poorly at things that don’t involve swords. it was different when he was still a servant because he was made of magic. now? it's harder to know what’s what. ]

Wait. Ya sayin' I'm doin' this to myself?!

Mmph. Don't talk to me about Caster.

[That comes out without thought, and she shakes her head quickly to get rid of the brief flash of irritation.

She's still looking at the ears, though with more of an expression of someone trying to observe them from a scientific perspective than of simply... staring because he has dog ears. He's not tall enough for them to be out of her line of sight.]

And... yes. I believe you are. Is there a pattern to when it happens?

Oho?

[ what's this? now he's really interested. congratulations, jane, on getting his full attention and not in a bad way. as an unconscious side effect of this, his dog ears perk up, and if it were more visible, the tail he has would also be wagging. ]

Hehe, see, I meant all of 'em, 'cause Caster is jus' a class. But there's only the one here, right? So, there's somebody y'actually don't like, huh?

[ in exchange for this bit of interesting information, he decides to answer her question with a little less fuss than usual. ]

An' yeah... it happens when it's real fuckin' inconvenient like when somethin' pisses me off. Or somethin' is.. y'know... excitin' or whatever.

[ a shrug. it's still embarrassing! and embarrassment is one of those instances where it happens (and often), but izō chooses to omit it because it's extra embarrassing. but that's one jane can probably guess at given.. how he is. ]

So it's prompted by emotional stress.

[That... makes sense. Jane finds it harder to make her own magic work when she's under stress, so it only stands to reason that he would have the same kind of problem. It's just... unfortunate - if also adorable - that it happens like this.]

And as it happens, there is more than one person I don't like! I'm not some pushover, you know.

[Imagine if she liked everyone. How boring that would be!]

Tch... it ain't like that. [ see: yes it is. ] Dunno who ya think yer talkin' to but I ain't weak!

[ him? manslayer izō? have emotional stress? haha! time for more deflection... ]

Didn't say ya were a pushover either. Only meant 'cause y'say ya like bein' around somebody like me, I jus' assumed ya probably like everybody. I dunno that Caster all that well but there's some things we sorta agree on?

[ they've both been betrayed in the past and they're both still bitter as hell about it now. izō is way less paranoid although that's not saying much at all. so, if anything, they're somewhat alike... ]

This is some kinda woman thing, isn't it?

[ surely this won't get him in any trouble at all. ]

It is not some kinda woman thing.

[In her quick irritation at his assumption she does a passable impersonation of his accent, then slaps one hand over her mouth and turns away from him with her face burning.]

I am so sorry.

[Well. That's one way to make it clear she's annoyed. She clears her throat but keeps her back to him, still blushing furiously.]

If you must know, she threatened to curse me when I declined to discuss with her the details of my relationship with her cousin. Which! I might add! [And she raises a hand here with one finger pointed.]

Was not even a relationship at the time!

[Jane hadn't gone to Lestari when it had first opened to them, but now that things seem a bit safer (and she's always here for 'safer') she decides on visiting as soon as she can and goes along with the next caravan that heads that way. And given that there's payment involved she doesn't turn away the opportunity to visit this 'bubble bar', since its name sounds so interesting and... well, harmless.

She sits down without a drink at first, musing over what to have, and leans slightly to speak to someone sitting nearby--]

Which one should I try first?

[Later on, once she's picked a flavour to try and got the hang of breathing it in, she's sitting down and periodically hiccuping bubbles. She is also... floating, a couple of inches off her seat, only held in check by her thighs being tucked under the table.

The hiccups are... embarrassing, actually. Jane drops her head down and buries one hand in her hair as it happens again.]

Goodness-- [hic] maybe I can get someone to [hic] startle me.

[Homura had been there for quite some time, testing the effects of the drink and just how long one could stay airborne. Seemed like quite a while, leaving her to mostly floating above the bar, near the cieling, all as she reclined back, as if laying on a couch. At Jade's words, she pointed down.]

Maybe my familiar can help with that?

[At the pointing, the fairly large rat snake suddenly poked its head above the bar, staring at the other woman. Some patrons did jump at the sight, backing away as the creature appeared. Homura just sighed.]

Grow up, we live in a world with giant bats and minotaurs. You guys have seen weirder.

[Jane jumps twice.

First at the casual voice somewhere above her, and second at the creature that pops its head up above the bar. She stares at the rat snake for a moment, then blinks...

And hiccups.]

Drat. [She mutters, shaking her head.] I really did think that [hic] worked for a moment.

[On the outskirts of Celliwig at the impassable water beneath the broken Pure of Heart bridge, Jane sticks her thumb out in front of her and closes one eye, poking her tongue out in concentration. In front of her is a large easel with a canvas set on it, and a folding stool next to the one she's sitting on serves as a small table for a set of chalks that she is currently using to draw the scene in front of her.

The lighting on the completed portion of her work makes it clear that she started it some time ago, as the sun has already moved enough to alter the positions of the shadows. This doesn't seem to be bothering her, though, and anyone getting close enough would be able to see the faint sketch lines on the canvas that she's using as a guide.

She hums to herself sometimes, but isn't entirely unaware of what's going on around her. When she hears someone approaching, she looks over her shoulder and gives a bright, sunny smile regardless of who it might be.]

Hello! Oh, you can't get over the bridge. It's broken.

[September Catch-All]

Closed to Izō (@hitokiri)

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[OTA] Fizzy Lifting Bar

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[OTA] Drawing