Don't Be Afraid To Be Who You Are - Auradon Side

[missrecalled_mods]

The Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down

Just over a week after the Isle visit people would find themselves drawn outside. The reason might vary, it was a lovely day and the air had the sweet scent of spring. It was the first truly warm day, and perhaps that was it. But for whatever reason everyone, or nearly everyone, found themselves outside and then drifted peacefully off to sleep.

As they slept a gentle rain came down upon them, soft enough to wake only those in a cursed sleep. The water not only broke dark spells and curses on the people the rain touched but for some people it brought a very different sort of transformation.

A number of the Missrecalled might find themselves awakening older than they had been when they fell asleep. Some of them might awaken with all their older self's memories, or maybe those would come with time, or maybe the memories would need more help to return. But when everyone awoke with a light dew on their faces and clothes, some people would be in for quite the surprise....

Gift In Time Gift In Time Nary A Reason Nary A Rhyme Gift In Time!

After the odd outdoor nap, many might wish to head into their rooms to get changed and freshen up. Or maybe they wouldn't go back to their room for a while, but when they did they would find a gift on their beds waiting for them....

Comments

[kaylinneya]

Her free hand clung to his clothes and while he was focused on knocking her off and grabbing her, she brought her left hand towards his neck. The hand still holding her dagger, aiming to set it against his neck to make him yield.

[3wingedangel]

This was where most people would indeed yield. But Sephiroth hadn't become the best in his world by being so easily defeated. Even though it seemed like he wasn't paying attention, he suddenly grabbed at her left wrist. If successful, he would hold the dagger away from him.

[kaylinneya]

Him grabbing her wrist gave her an anchor point that she didn't have to maintain. That meant she could free up her other hand. She drew another dagger swiftly, aiming the point for his back, between the wings.

[papillion_de_resistance]

He'd really only intended to take a little walk to stretch his legs, but a commotion had drawn his attention and he'd hurried around the corner to see what was going on. To his shock he found Sephiroth and- was that the young girl who'd literally grown up overnight? - engaged in what could only be described as a mid-air brawl. The young woman even had knives out and looked intent on using them. This was bad. He'd have no problem breaking up such a fight as Betterfly, but he wasn't ready to reveal him yet. He'd have to get creative. Or at least loud.

"What on Earth do you think you're doing?!", he shouted, running up to them. Not near enough that he'd likely get drawn into the fight, but near enough that any future conversation wouldn't need to be shouted.

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth looked down. He hadn't expected interruptions, or for said person interrupting to apparently think this was worse than it was.

"We're sparring," he said flatly.

[kaylinneya]

Kaylin blinked down at Gabriel, and after Sephiroth spoke, she added. "That's kind of obvious." To Sephiroth she added. "Isn't it obvious? Pretty sure that if we were trying to kill each other one of us would be dead by now. You're better than I expected. Let go so I can drop down?"

[papillion_de_resistance]

"You looked rather intent on killing each other from where I'm standing," Gabriel said, clearly not entirely convinced. Though the fact that they were both talking about it so calmly now definitely supported their claims. "So far as I'm aware, sparring tends to be a bit more... organized. This just resembles a midair brawl."

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth nodded. “Had I wanted to kill, this would have ended long ago.” And he nodded in acknowledgement. “You as well. I wasn’t expecting you would keep up so well.” He did let go, slowing the flapping as he did so.

Looking to Gabe, he said, “Yes, well, there were … extenuating circumstances.” Spoken while still flying back down to the floor.

[kaylinneya]

She dropped down before he could land, rolling to her feet neatly. "What is the point of sparring if you organized it? Real fights hardly follow a pattern of agreed attacks and defends. Training sure, but sparring is prep for actual combat. So the only real rules are things like no magic and making sure no one dies." She shrugged.

Hope got up slowly and stretched, circled Gabriel a few times before landing on her head. "Don't eat my hair stick," she scolded. And got hissed at.

[papillion_de_resistance]

Gabriel frowned. "The point is to prevent... misunderstandings like this one," he said with a sigh. "As I understand it, there are a number of people who are far more combat capable than I am around here and they might well have felt it quicker to try and break up an apparent fight by force than with words."

"If you intend to do this regularly, it would be a far better to have a designated area for it. Or at least to warn everyone before you begin, so no one misinterprets things."

[3wingedangel]

“This is a designated area for it,” Sephiroth replied. “I have been training and sparring here since my arrival. But your concern is appreciated.”

[kaylinneya]

"Look, I'm a Hawk back home. If I'm trying to beat the spit out of someone wither we're sparring or they're criminal I'm trying to arrest," she said, hands resting on her dagger pommels in her rest stance. "Besides, if someone joined in the fight, who the happiness would they even try to assist. Cause if it's him... that could have been fun..." She grinned a bit.

[papillion_de_resistance]

"Less trying to assist either party and more just trying to break up the 'fight' in general," he said. "Which, if they weren't aware it was merely a sparring match, could be dangerous for all involved."

"Though if you've been training here regularly..." He trailed off, frowning thoughtfully. "Perhaps I simply don't get out enough to have noticed. In any case, I apologize for interrupting."

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth smirked a bit in amusement at Kaylin’s last comment. She truly did enjoy sparring. And probably full-fledged fighting too.

He looked to Gabe and nodded. “Perhaps so. I don’t think people usually come this way unless they want to train or spar. Your apology is accepted. You are … Gabriel?” He had seen Gabe around, although they hadn’t talked at length.

[kaylinneya]

She wasn't going to say anything, but hope bit her ear. What followed sounded like swearing if you didn't understand Leontine, which was a growly not meant for human throats language. Sadly for her what she said accidentally translated to kitten litter shredded sofa. She tried to pull Hop off of her head. "Fine. Fine." She turned to face him. "Corporal Kaylin Neya, Imperial Hawks of Elantra." She sketched a rough bow. Give one thing to Diarmat, her bows were getting better.

[papillion_de_resistance]

He quirked an eyebrow at the... was that meant to be swearing? It was hard to tell sometimes here. Regardless, he nodded in confirmation of his identity. "Gabriel Agreste, yes," he said. "Head of the Agreste fashion brand and its associated companies. Not that that means a great deal outside of my own world, but if either of you need any specialized clothing made, please feel free to ask. In any case, it's good to properly meet you both."

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth somehow managed to keep a straight face at Kaylin's bizarre words to Hope.

"I am Sephiroth. I am pleased to meet you. And thank you for your offer. I may need to take you up on that, if you are able to make clothing accommodating wings."

[kaylinneya]

Kaylin's face was sadly expressive, and her thoughts on what people who had money to spend on specialized clothing could do with themselves was sadly not suited to share space with the people who had said money. At least he hadn't said he made magical clothing. But he might as well have said he made jewelry. What was the point? You couldn't eat the ocean walled stuff. At least clothing at its base was practical but who the happiness needed it to be fancy? Cheap worked just as well.

Out loud she said nothing, but her expression spoke volumes, and Hope's hissing laughter didn't help matters.

[papillion_de_resistance]

He was just about to reply to Sephiroth when he noticed the look on Kaylin's face. And was that little dragon-creature laughing? Regardless, his expression shifted to a wry smile. "Well now, that look certainly takes me back," he said dryly. And maybe just a bit bitterly. "I haven't seen a look that contemptuous since my father shredded my design notebooks right in front of me. The ones he could find, anyway."

"I understand that not everyone appreciates fashion as an art form. And while it's true that much of what I do from day to day back home puts aesthetics on the forefront in one way or another, that doesn't mean I'm all style and no substance. If all one cares about is looks, they might have a few successes, but they won't last very long in the fashion business. First and foremost, it's about producing a high-quality product that suits the needs and tastes of the person or people who'll be wearing it."

Turning his gaze to Sephiroth, his smile became a bit less wry. "If you'd be willing to come in for some measurements, I'll be glad to make you some things suited to your wings." The slight edge returned when he turned his gaze back to Kaylin, however. "And I'd be perfectly willing to make you something as well. Perhaps a tunic with padded shoulders to keep your little friend's claw's from digging into your skin? It can't be very comfortable. Or perhaps I could alter something you already have? You'd be astonished how much a well-tailored garment can improve your freedom of movement, after all."

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth looked amused to see Kaylin’s rudeness called out.

“Thank you,” he said with a nod. “I will definitely do that.”

He wondered if Kaylin would let go of pride enough to give it a try.

[kaylinneya]

It wasn't pride. It was disdain and stubbornness. "Art doesn't do an ocean walled thing about hunger. Or to keep someone safe. And my uniform gives me enough movement, I assure you. I don't have money to spend on fancy clothes an if I did... I'd spend it on food."

[papillion_de_resistance]

He gave Sephiroth a polite nod. "I'll get in touch later and we can make the arrangements then," he said.

Turning back to Kaylin, he added, "And it's interesting you should mention clothes keeping people safe. A little over a year before I arrived here, I had a special commission from the Paris police department. I wasn't privy to the details, but they needed three specially designed gowns for use in an undercover operation. The bodices were lined with Kevlar- a type of fabric that's resistant to bullets and projectiles- essentially making them into lightweight body armor. Most of the skirts could be detached if need be, each had a hidden pocket where evidence could be stored, the garters doubled a sheaths for small knives, and the matching accessories contained recording devices."

"As for cost being a factor, while that would certainly be the case back home, since I've been here, I haven't had any need to charge for my services. There's not enough people here at present to really create anything like an economy, and most of the materials and equipment I've been using have been things that were already on hand. It's actually been a pleasant break from dealing with the business side of things, in that aspect."

[3wingedangel]

"Thank you," Sephiroth said.

He nodded in agreement to the intriguing story. "Clothes can have many functions," he said. "That is impressive you designed those."

[kaylinneya]

"I don't know what the actual happinesses bullets are, but that's what armor was for. Besides the only actually practical dresses for fighting that I've ever seen were made by Barrani which means someone like me can't buy them and if I'm wearing one we're dealing with a borderline end of the line crisis. Clothing just has to be functional. Beautiful is a waste of money." Then muttered "and who wants the trouble that comes with beautiful anyway?"

Kaylin did have an appreciation of beauty, but it meant something to her so she kept it dear and hidden and protected. But even if she didn't... clothes weren't it.

Anyway, she had spent way too ocean walled long in a dress that was arguably the most magical and lovely dress anyone had ever seen and all it did was nearly get her killed many times over and made the already chilly Barrani hate her even more.

[papillion_de_resistance]

"They can indeed," Gabriel said. "And it was definitely a challenge, but one I'm glad to say I was equal to. Doubly so since it means they're more likely to come to me again if they need similar work done in the future."

As for Kaylin, he quirked an eyebrow at her statement about armor. How could a police officer- which was what it sounded like she was- not know what an undercover operation is? "Bullets are... well consider them to be like arrows or crossbow bolts," he said, "but both smaller and deadlier, as they're propelled with much greater force. And given what you said about armor, I'm guessing you don't know what 'undercover' means in this context either, am I correct?"