[Takame was on the lesser brooding side than Thancred to be sure, though he was downright mute compared to Urianger. What odd people the sleeping Scions turned out to be, though not in a bad way.
With night returned to the region, it made visibility a struggle. If between a Keeper of the Moon and his keen aetherial sight they couldn't find a proper way back, something must have been wrong.
Really he'd just been following Rose, some things never change. Of course seeing the old decrepit place in the bloody forest and hearing her comment, all he could think is "too convenient."
Still, he'll defer to her judgment. She was the expert here.]
[“Too convenient,” is right, and it sends a chill down Rose’s spine. Still, this didn’t seem to be a trap set by Eulmore, and it’s not as if there could be anything more dangerous within than outside.]
[Plus, sleeping in a bed sounds much more appealing than sleeping on the ground.]
It certainly seems safer than doing so out here.
[Rose steps inside, without hesitation. The inside is about what she expected; there’s a thin layer of dust that’s settled over every surface in the room, and the furniture certainly has seen better days.]
[What’s most surprising, though, is that they aren’t alone. There’s a friendly, old, hyur behind the front desk, greeting them with a smile, and asking if they’d like to stay the night.]
[A bed or the ground mattered little to Takame considering he volunteered for watch duty anyway. The way the dust inside settled in the air did his lungs no favors, though he just made the mental note to mind his breathing rate or step out if need be.
Maybe it was due to his tendency towards the cautious but someone besides the Hume man before them felt like they were boring their eyes into himself and Rose. His soldier's mindset, perhaps, and yet it made his brow furrow and his tail thump against his leg in agitation.
Still, he bowed to the man. A more standard bow of the west rather than his habitual eastern greeting. His time in the First broke that habit. He looked to Rose for approval before speaking to the man.]
Ah, yes... Might you have rooms available for my friend and I?
[The man nods in approval before looking back at Takame and Rose. Rose feels a shiver down her spine, as she makes eye contact with the innkeeper. There’s a red tinge to his eyes that feels...unnatural.]
Yes. One room or two?
[The innkeeper looks at Takame with a smile that doesn’t quite stretch to his eyes, and Rose crosses her arms in agitation. Something about the air here feels off, but she can’t put her finger on what it is.]
[Courtesy would dictate that she give Takame time to think it over and offer his input, but she’s tired. Tired and on edge. Without missing a beat, she responds.]
[Nothing about this man could be trusted in Takame's eyes. Not that he voiced that nor did he have issue with Rose speaking over him, if anything it was his preference.
Regardless, if she was fine with one room, he would not object. It did make it easier to watch over her.
Should they be led to said room, he looked over to Rose once more. She always seemed put off by something, but this time her apprehension felt... different. Was it not just him, then?]
[Rose makes her way to the room, making note of every detail that she can. True, she didn’t trust the innkeeper as far as she could throw him, but this went beyond that.]
[If her usual expression is one of general annoyance, this is closer to a silent alarm. She can feel the hairs on the back of her arm sticking up.]
Yes, but can you feel it? Something is wrong here. The aether feels—
[Before Rose can finish, there’s a shrill scream from the room next door.]
Hm?! [The sudden screech caused Takame to draw his weapons, gaze focused sharply on the door to their room. Habit, really. They may have been in the other room but that didn't dismiss the likelihood of a threat towards himself and Rose.
He didn't even have the chance to make his own comment towards how very off the aether felt. A byproduct of the light? No... but he was no expert on aether despite his sight.
Rather than charge forwards, he looked to Rose yet again.] Should we see what happened?
I don’t see that we have a choice. If there’s something dangerous here, it could very well attack us next.
[There was no mistaking the sheer terror in that scream. As much as Rose pretends not to notice, even she can’t turn away from this. It looks like her hunch is proving right after all.]
[She heads out of the room, into the next room over. Surprisingly, the door is unlocked. And on the inside—]
What in the hells!?
[Blood. Blood everywhere. Large patches of blood coat the walls, floor, and ceiling. What was once a bed has since been clawed to pieces, and the rest of the furniture isn’t in much better shape. What seems missing, though, is a body. Rose and Takame are alone in the room.]
[The sight of it all even gave Takame pause, the way red stained nearly every ilm of the room and the familiar metallic scent assaulting his sense of smell once they opened the door.]
Wicked white... [For all Takame has seen and caused in his life, even he had a limit. Pushing the admittedly gruesome sight aside for now, Takame moved forward into the room in front of Rose, weapons fully drawn and ready to throw or if need be directly strike.
Mostly though, he wanted to see if they truly were alone here. He would act as bait and search for a body and see close up just how fresh the blood was. There must be something left behind, unless the carnage was so great that whatever was left was deemed unrecognizable. His voice was even as he addressed Rose again.]
[Excuse Rose as she goes to almost vomit in the corner of the room. No matter how many battlefields she’d been dispatched to, she still never got used to the smell. She takes a moment to calm herself, before turning to Takame.]
I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s likely still in here.
[And just as she says that, the door to the room slams shut. Rose immediately rushes over, trying to open it again, to no avail. It’s locked tight, and no matter how much she twists on the knob, it won’t budge.]
[Happens just as she calls the bloody thing out for still lurking in the shadows nearby, he should have expected nothing less. Immediately he ran to Rose's side, not just to keep her safe but also to help her in trying to get the door open, trying to twist the knob himself but to no avail.
Even slamming his heavy shoulders into it seemed to do nothing. Seemed like nothing else would work but to default to his natural ways, so he pulled his weapons out, eyes darting around the room waiting for the threat to emerge.]
[Rose starts to say something, but before she can, she’s on the ground in pain. It’s dark, too dark for Norvandt. Is it the Echo? The Echo never felt like this, it’s like she’s drowning and she can’t...]
[...stay...]
[...awake.]
[As Takame searches the room for threats, he might notice a presence behind him. It’s Rose, holding a knife. Her eyes are an unnatural dark purple, and there’s a sickeningly sweet smile on her face.]
... !! [Sensing an imminent threat behind him, Takame acted on reflex and instinct. He turned around, using one of his rings to swat the weapon from the attacker hands and grabbed them by the wrist, giving an aggressive twist with full intent to break the bone.
When the brief rush cleared and he saw who this aggressor was, though...]
Rose?! [He loosened his grip immediately. The more the knee-jerk reaction settled the more things off he noticed about her. Her eyes for example.] What in the hells...?
[There’s a loud ‘snap,’ and Rose’s wrist breaks. Oddly enough, she doesn’t look to be in pain. She’s laughing. It’s an eerie laugh, very unlike any expression she usually wears. It’s playful, but at the same time, malicious.]
Nope, sorry! You’re friend is already gone. This body is all mine, now.
[Horror flashed in Takame's eyes when he heard the bone crack and saw who it belonged to. He'd hurt her, kami forgive him, he'd hurt her...
And yet behind that laugh was something decidedly not Rose despite wearing her face and body. An ugly combination of emotions accompanied his steps backwards, anger, fear, anxiety, worry, all fueling his urge to keep a tight grip on his weapons.
[The voice is eerily remiscent of the fairies in Il Mheg, only much more hollow. It might be a demon, it might be a ghost, it might be something else entirely. Whatever it is, it’s clear that it meant harm.]
And I told you! She’s gone. This body is mine now. Let’s play.
[‘Rose’ smiles, showing her teeth, and lunges forward. Her knife is in her hands, broken though one may be, and she makes a quick pass at Takame’s throat.]
Ghk... [A blow to his stomach, those words were, taking any other words he had to share and only forcing a strained gasp out.
It was all he knew to do. He held back, he held back, he did not even have his blade equipped and yet still... He thought himself better at holding back, what a fool he was to ever think that.
Frustration always manifested the same with him.]
... Do not mock me. [It wasn't hard to move out of the way of the attempted strike. A sideways step and jump backwards, not unlike a Samurai's technique, was all he needed. His self preservation instinct screamed to fight but he couldn't even draw his weapons.] What do you mean she's "gone"?
[‘Rose’ sees the expression on Takame’s face and smirks. What’s her endgame? Why is she doing this?]
[...Where is she?]
I mean she’s gone! Her soul went ‘poof.’ It was really easy, too. All I had to do was say a few things about how she’d hurt her friends when she transformed into a Lightwarden, and she gave up!
[The ghost turns around, and makes another lunge at Takame, this time aiming for his stomach.]
She’s really weak! Not only did she let me take her over, she’s also really out of shape.
[The movements of an erratic Miqo'te woman would be easy to notice, easy to dodge especially with the injury he caused. Ever was he wary of his midsection especially since left with his conspicuous burn scar.
The more she spoke, though, the more it fueled his temper. His anxiety.
Her soul, gone...? She was turning into a Lightwarden? Is that why her aether went from its normal radiant light to gradually brighter, nearly blinding? Did he really not notice? Had she been in pain the entire time and he didn't notice?
She couldn't have been gone, Hells take this... whatever it is... lies, all of it. And yet the concern in his heart made him hesitate, allowing 'Rose' to slice a large hole clean through his tunic.]
Spare me your lies and slander, demon. Release her from your control. Now.
Release? Are you sure? Aren’t you afraid that she’s gonna be mad at you? I mean, she might think you’re a monster and never talk to you again!
[The stranger is wearing a smile, pleased with herself. She can see that Takame physically outclasses Rose, so the fact that she’s able to land a blow means that she’s getting to him.]
[But why would she hurt her friend? Takame had done a lot for her, why would she attack...]
[...Hnnrgh.]
Just kidding! She’s not gonna her angry at anyone ever again. If I leave now, all you’re gonna be left with is her corpse.
[Takame flinched soon after falling silent the only noise coming from him was a low, threatening growl while his fist clenched so tight at his side that his nails could have pierced skin had his hands not been gloved.
Of course he was scared. He was disgusted that he was scared, that he had anything to feel or fear at all. Rose is a good person, one Takame felt honored to know and speak to. And consider a friend.
But if she thought him a monster... he would not blame her. But even the thought of her running from him in fear for her life made bile rise in his throat and his eyes start to sting.
This demon was antagonizing him on purpose, he knew. And it was working.
Working enough that he only saw a threat before him rather than a cherished friend for long enough that he armed himself again.]
Stop talking. ["Or I will make you." That was what he meant to imply. Whether or not he could go through with it was another story. Never had he wished the Mothercrystal blessed another sense than his sight so much. His sight was what was stifling him. His sight and his heart he wished he never heeded.]
Ohh, I’m so scared. The big, mean dragon is gonna come at me with his sword! Who else have you killed with that, huh?
[She cowers, stepping back. It’s clearly fake, but the thought counts here. Whatever is possessing Rose now knows enough about Takame to make targeted attacks, and is using her body to do so. If she could see this, she would be furious.]
[She is furious.]
I bet you’re thinking about it right now. You must not care about your friend much if this is all it takes to get you to attack her.
[At times Takame's temper would manifest in an explosive fury, not unlike the one he displayed when he rescued Rose from Castrum Abania. More often, and more dangerously, it would be silent where he would not speak, where he would feel nothing else but that fury enough that it dulled every other sense.
Even this moment being an example of the latter, he could not bring himself to bear steel against Rose. It was a feint, him arming himself again. For himself, really, a feint as if he really would attack her with them.
Looking down at the weapons in his hands, his eyes were barely visible save for a faint, eerie blue glow. He knew what he was, what he did. And he knew he cared too deeply for Rose for someone who was to be a blade for the Empire.]
... The Kami will judge me for what I've done. [He dropped his weapons.
Only for him to charge at her in the time it took her to blink, tackling her to the ground, keeping her there under his weight and keeping her unbroken hand bound by holding his hand over her arm.]
[The ghost is ready to strike when Takame draws his blade, but his charge catches her off guard. Not that it would matter much anyway, there’s little she can do in such a feeble body against an able opponent.]
Aww, that’s cute. You really think that’ll be enough to...
[The ghost stops abruptly. For all the taunting they made earlier, it’s clear Rose is still in there, and she’s fighting back. Like hell she’s going to let some ghost or demonic presence take over her body, with everything she’s been through. Just a little more and...]
[She blinks, and her eyes revert back to their normal shade. There are two things that are immediately clear to her: 1) Takame is pinning her down, and 2) she is in a lot of pain.]
[The first thing Rose might see in front of her is Takame with a deadly look in his eyes, though gone fast enough that one could mistake it for a trick of the light.
Intent to harm disappeared like someone flipping a switch when he saw Rose's eyes return to normal, heard the tone of her voice with her normal, characteristic bite rather than the playfully hostile condescension of whatever was possessing her just a moment ago.
But he still didn't let his guard down. He didn't get up, let go of her arm, or cease preparation for an assault. He choked down the sense of relief seeing her return to normal, he couldn't afford to feel that. And he didn't deserve to either.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
LA HEE
With night returned to the region, it made visibility a struggle. If between a Keeper of the Moon and his keen aetherial sight they couldn't find a proper way back, something must have been wrong.
Really he'd just been following Rose, some things never change. Of course seeing the old decrepit place in the bloody forest and hearing her comment, all he could think is "too convenient."
Still, he'll defer to her judgment. She was the expert here.]
... Shall we set up camp there for now?
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[Plus, sleeping in a bed sounds much more appealing than sleeping on the ground.]
It certainly seems safer than doing so out here.
[Rose steps inside, without hesitation. The inside is about what she expected; there’s a thin layer of dust that’s settled over every surface in the room, and the furniture certainly has seen better days.]
[What’s most surprising, though, is that they aren’t alone. There’s a friendly, old, hyur behind the front desk, greeting them with a smile, and asking if they’d like to stay the night.]
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Maybe it was due to his tendency towards the cautious but someone besides the Hume man before them felt like they were boring their eyes into himself and Rose. His soldier's mindset, perhaps, and yet it made his brow furrow and his tail thump against his leg in agitation.
Still, he bowed to the man. A more standard bow of the west rather than his habitual eastern greeting. His time in the First broke that habit. He looked to Rose for approval before speaking to the man.]
Ah, yes... Might you have rooms available for my friend and I?
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Yes. One room or two?
[The innkeeper looks at Takame with a smile that doesn’t quite stretch to his eyes, and Rose crosses her arms in agitation. Something about the air here feels off, but she can’t put her finger on what it is.]
[Courtesy would dictate that she give Takame time to think it over and offer his input, but she’s tired. Tired and on edge. Without missing a beat, she responds.]
One room should be fine.
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Regardless, if she was fine with one room, he would not object. It did make it easier to watch over her.
Should they be led to said room, he looked over to Rose once more. She always seemed put off by something, but this time her apprehension felt... different. Was it not just him, then?]
Are you alright, Rose?
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[If her usual expression is one of general annoyance, this is closer to a silent alarm. She can feel the hairs on the back of her arm sticking up.]
Yes, but can you feel it? Something is wrong here. The aether feels—
[Before Rose can finish, there’s a shrill scream from the room next door.]
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He didn't even have the chance to make his own comment towards how very off the aether felt. A byproduct of the light? No... but he was no expert on aether despite his sight.
Rather than charge forwards, he looked to Rose yet again.] Should we see what happened?
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[There was no mistaking the sheer terror in that scream. As much as Rose pretends not to notice, even she can’t turn away from this. It looks like her hunch is proving right after all.]
[She heads out of the room, into the next room over. Surprisingly, the door is unlocked. And on the inside—]
What in the hells!?
[Blood. Blood everywhere. Large patches of blood coat the walls, floor, and ceiling. What was once a bed has since been clawed to pieces, and the rest of the furniture isn’t in much better shape. What seems missing, though, is a body. Rose and Takame are alone in the room.]
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Wicked white... [For all Takame has seen and caused in his life, even he had a limit. Pushing the admittedly gruesome sight aside for now, Takame moved forward into the room in front of Rose, weapons fully drawn and ready to throw or if need be directly strike.
Mostly though, he wanted to see if they truly were alone here. He would act as bait and search for a body and see close up just how fresh the blood was. There must be something left behind, unless the carnage was so great that whatever was left was deemed unrecognizable. His voice was even as he addressed Rose again.]
What could have done this?
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I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s likely still in here.
[And just as she says that, the door to the room slams shut. Rose immediately rushes over, trying to open it again, to no avail. It’s locked tight, and no matter how much she twists on the knob, it won’t budge.]
And we’re trapped.
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[Happens just as she calls the bloody thing out for still lurking in the shadows nearby, he should have expected nothing less. Immediately he ran to Rose's side, not just to keep her safe but also to help her in trying to get the door open, trying to twist the knob himself but to no avail.
Even slamming his heavy shoulders into it seemed to do nothing. Seemed like nothing else would work but to default to his natural ways, so he pulled his weapons out, eyes darting around the room waiting for the threat to emerge.]
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[...stay...]
[...awake.]
[As Takame searches the room for threats, he might notice a presence behind him. It’s Rose, holding a knife. Her eyes are an unnatural dark purple, and there’s a sickeningly sweet smile on her face.]
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When the brief rush cleared and he saw who this aggressor was, though...]
Rose?! [He loosened his grip immediately. The more the knee-jerk reaction settled the more things off he noticed about her. Her eyes for example.] What in the hells...?
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Nope, sorry! You’re friend is already gone. This body is all mine, now.
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And yet behind that laugh was something decidedly not Rose despite wearing her face and body. An ugly combination of emotions accompanied his steps backwards, anger, fear, anxiety, worry, all fueling his urge to keep a tight grip on his weapons.
What if you hurt her again?
It's not her. It's not... but then where?]
What have you done with her?!
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[The voice is eerily remiscent of the fairies in Il Mheg, only much more hollow. It might be a demon, it might be a ghost, it might be something else entirely. Whatever it is, it’s clear that it meant harm.]
And I told you! She’s gone. This body is mine now. Let’s play.
[‘Rose’ smiles, showing her teeth, and lunges forward. Her knife is in her hands, broken though one may be, and she makes a quick pass at Takame’s throat.]
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It was all he knew to do. He held back, he held back, he did not even have his blade equipped and yet still... He thought himself better at holding back, what a fool he was to ever think that.
Frustration always manifested the same with him.]
... Do not mock me. [It wasn't hard to move out of the way of the attempted strike. A sideways step and jump backwards, not unlike a Samurai's technique, was all he needed. His self preservation instinct screamed to fight but he couldn't even draw his weapons.] What do you mean she's "gone"?
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[...Where is she?]
I mean she’s gone! Her soul went ‘poof.’ It was really easy, too. All I had to do was say a few things about how she’d hurt her friends when she transformed into a Lightwarden, and she gave up!
[The ghost turns around, and makes another lunge at Takame, this time aiming for his stomach.]
She’s really weak! Not only did she let me take her over, she’s also really out of shape.
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The more she spoke, though, the more it fueled his temper. His anxiety.
Her soul, gone...? She was turning into a Lightwarden? Is that why her aether went from its normal radiant light to gradually brighter, nearly blinding? Did he really not notice? Had she been in pain the entire time and he didn't notice?
She couldn't have been gone, Hells take this... whatever it is... lies, all of it. And yet the concern in his heart made him hesitate, allowing 'Rose' to slice a large hole clean through his tunic.]
Spare me your lies and slander, demon. Release her from your control. Now.
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[The stranger is wearing a smile, pleased with herself. She can see that Takame physically outclasses Rose, so the fact that she’s able to land a blow means that she’s getting to him.]
[But why would she hurt her friend? Takame had done a lot for her, why would she attack...]
[...Hnnrgh.]
Just kidding! She’s not gonna her angry at anyone ever again. If I leave now, all you’re gonna be left with is her corpse.
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Of course he was scared. He was disgusted that he was scared, that he had anything to feel or fear at all. Rose is a good person, one Takame felt honored to know and speak to. And consider a friend.
But if she thought him a monster... he would not blame her. But even the thought of her running from him in fear for her life made bile rise in his throat and his eyes start to sting.
This demon was antagonizing him on purpose, he knew. And it was working.
Working enough that he only saw a threat before him rather than a cherished friend for long enough that he armed himself again.]
Stop talking. ["Or I will make you." That was what he meant to imply. Whether or not he could go through with it was another story. Never had he wished the Mothercrystal blessed another sense than his sight so much. His sight was what was stifling him. His sight and his heart he wished he never heeded.]
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[She cowers, stepping back. It’s clearly fake, but the thought counts here. Whatever is possessing Rose now knows enough about Takame to make targeted attacks, and is using her body to do so. If she could see this, she would be furious.]
[She is furious.]
I bet you’re thinking about it right now. You must not care about your friend much if this is all it takes to get you to attack her.
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Even this moment being an example of the latter, he could not bring himself to bear steel against Rose. It was a feint, him arming himself again. For himself, really, a feint as if he really would attack her with them.
Looking down at the weapons in his hands, his eyes were barely visible save for a faint, eerie blue glow. He knew what he was, what he did. And he knew he cared too deeply for Rose for someone who was to be a blade for the Empire.]
... The Kami will judge me for what I've done. [He dropped his weapons.
Only for him to charge at her in the time it took her to blink, tackling her to the ground, keeping her there under his weight and keeping her unbroken hand bound by holding his hand over her arm.]
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Aww, that’s cute. You really think that’ll be enough to...
[The ghost stops abruptly. For all the taunting they made earlier, it’s clear Rose is still in there, and she’s fighting back. Like hell she’s going to let some ghost or demonic presence take over her body, with everything she’s been through. Just a little more and...]
[She blinks, and her eyes revert back to their normal shade. There are two things that are immediately clear to her: 1) Takame is pinning her down, and 2) she is in a lot of pain.]
Seven hells!
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Intent to harm disappeared like someone flipping a switch when he saw Rose's eyes return to normal, heard the tone of her voice with her normal, characteristic bite rather than the playfully hostile condescension of whatever was possessing her just a moment ago.
But he still didn't let his guard down. He didn't get up, let go of her arm, or cease preparation for an assault. He choked down the sense of relief seeing her return to normal, he couldn't afford to feel that. And he didn't deserve to either.
If it was her, though...]
Rose? Is that you?
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/slams back into this
yeyeyeyeye
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