genessia | (no subject)

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WHO: OPEN to anyone!

WHAT: Bridget finally notices the growth in her abilities.
WHERE: Dracula's Castle
WHEN: 2/19
WARNINGS: Explosions, nudity, language, tbd

[Action]

It might have been the day, it might have been the hour, it might have been the place... No, actually, it was all of the above. Bridget had simply wanted to enjoy the rather large and luxurious bathing chamber she'd found during her explorations of Dracula's ever-shifting castle. She'd thought her wards against entry on every inch of the room she'd been crashing in had been enough of a deterrent for the other 'residents' to get the idea she didn't want to socialize.

She'd been so very wrong... A trio of rather adventurous succubi had found her just about to discard her robe at the edge of one steaming bath. One had run her fingers down Bridget's spine, one had made a grab for her chest, and the third had poked a few times at the odd thing left on top of Bridget's towel. You know, just in case it was a toy.

The explosion took all four by surprise and a small section of the floating castle suddenly burst outwards in a rain of fire, rocks, and dead minions. At least most of the debris would fall on the empty castle ruins under the floating portion but the explosion was certainly loud enough to be heard through most of Everglade. Bridget didn't fall of course, she simply floated in the middle of a gaping hole that slowly started to rebuild itself. One of the random items she'd 'caught' happened to be her comm and it was still recording... Should anyone from the castle or perhaps a person from the little city with extremely good eyes happen to look hard, Bridget was floating in the middle of the newly empty space in just a thin robe and a very blank expression.

[Video]

[The shot opened with a rather lovely woman with pale hair, skimpy clothing, and black wings looking into the camera with the sort of expression only the curious-bored could manage. Behind her is a lot of steam and several moving shapes obscured by the steam. That only lasts a moment before the view is suddenly engulfed by an explosion of red, white, and black. The picture spins and tumbles through the first few seconds before stabilizing into the wait while the dust and smoke clears a bit more.

At last the comm is starting to show a view of the darkening sky and what looks like an aerial view of Everglade. It is obviously floating in a void though considering the lack of anything now surrounding it.

After a long silence, there's a rather weighted sigh.]

I wonder if this is how he felt... I must be more careful from now on. I hope nobody was trying to explore those stupid ruins.

...........................I wonder if my room was damaged...

[It seems that she regained possession of the comm since it suddenly turned up to the stars and transmissions cut off.]

[Audio, very private to Dracula. She'll sound very depressed.]

I do apologize, Vlad. I meant to push them away and put a bit of a fire wall around me but... I ended up destroying everything within fifty yards. It seems I need to start exploring the boundaries of my abilities once more. There were no survivors within the area I effected.

[Audio, general]

Was anyone harmed by the explosion? I didn't feel any minds close by but it doesn't harm any to make sure.

[A very long pause.]

Does anyone have a spare set of shirt and skirt in medium or less? I'll give an unpolished gemstone for a skirt or tunic, and a free polish and cut if that bit of clothing is black. Or I do blacksmith work for potential trades.

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[That was a rather alarming video, and her mention of an explosion didn't precisely help either.] Bridget!! Are y-you all right?!

[But then, she seems to be, by her casual request for clothing. Which by itself seems unusual, but it does seem to calm him a little. As long as she's calling for clothing and not medical attention...]

Umm... I c-could buy something in town and b-bring it to you, if you w-want...?

[The feed comes on again and the dust is settled a bit more. The wind is going to mess of her hair but that's fine, she's actually watching the wall ever so slowly reconstructing itself. And aren't you lucky? She's going to share!]

I'm fine, Armin... It would only take me a day to regenerate over half my body even if I was injured. But it looks like I took out a large chunk of the room I was crashing in recently. Including my dresser, which leaves me with just a bathrobe. I have other outfits stashed around but getting to them is tricky.

O-oh. [Armin seems to take this in stride, calmer now, more thoughtful than anything.] ...that's useful. So... you caused the explosion? [That would seem to be the implication, anyway.]

[The background begins shifting as Armin moves around a small apartment. After a moment, it's clear he's putting on his coat.] I'll g-get something for you to wear, then. [He's familiar with how frustrating and potentially embarrassing being caught without your clothes can be. And now he's gotten a job, money's not really an issue, with so many of them under one roof.] Where are you now? [The castle wall is not somewhere he recognizes.]

[After a long and regretful pause.]

Yes, it was me. I let my guard down and others paid for my mistake. [A very awkward pause.] Well, I was propositioned in the bath, actually.

[Yay for changing the subject!] I'm in Everglade at the moment... Oh. But it's after sunset... [A thoughtful pause.] It would probably be better if I met you by the gate since it climbing a floating castle is a bit much to ask.

P-propositioned in th-the - ! [Well. That's interesting.

Before Armin can blush too much, however, his attention is effectively diverted.] ...A floating castle?

[He pauses, halfway out the door. If it's not too bad, he could just use his three dimensional maneuver gear.] How high up is it?

Ah... Well, part of it is. The lower portion is on a cliff by a lake and the only way to get to the upper portion is climbing the gears of a clocktower and going through a portal. Unless you can fly, at least...

[And that probably seems rather like the creator isn't fond of uninvited guests, which is fairly true.]

I'll... just come meet you. Spirit might decide to come as well. You'll probably notice him right away since his hair isn't exactly ordinary.

I can't fly, but climbing isn't h-hard in my three-dimensional maneuvering gear. I could p-probably make it up there with no problem.

[He just doesn't want her to have to go out in just her bath robe...]

Are you s-sure you'd rather come meet me?

Above the clouds?

[Why yes, Bridget is now very curious about this gear. It didn't sound like it was some sort of glider or plane. Had humans managed some form of compact flight gear?]

I don't mind if you really want to come, but I will toss a bit of protection on you if you'll let me know when you come through the gate. Just for my own mental comfort rather than your safety. [Maybe. Humor an old woman? After a glance downwards.] Actually, probably half the idiots down there ready to pick a fight wouldn't be able to get on a roof without a ladder, and only a fraction of those can move over twenty, fly, or both. You'll probably be fine as long as I put my stamp on you... But better safe than sorry for now.

[[ooc: Was waiting for Spirit-mun just in case, sorry! But this is disjointed enough that various parties don't exactly need to cross paths. Also, NEW COMPUTER FTW!!!]]

As long as there's nowhere I actually need to fly, I should be fine, no matter how high up it is. [That's not quite true - but until he runs out of gas, anyway.] Is it really above the clouds?

[He turns back into the house and begins strapping on Mikasa's maneuvering gear, texting her that he's borrowing it and going out for a bit. He's going out the door again when something makes him pause. He looks at the camera, his eyes suddenly wary and almost... frightened?] ...Your stamp?

[She said it was a protection - but he knows well that something like that could mean more than one thing. And it sounds too much like what the Trumps were doing, claiming the Travelers one by one, for comfort. He may like Bridget, but he doesn't really know her yet - and he certainly doesn't trust her.]

Hmmm... I'm not really sure, I've always just flown. But it you get stuck I can come to you. I call it a stamp but it isn't exactly like that. [She's going to take her time to consider how to describe it.] Most animals have some sort of way to mark their territory to warn off casual interlopers, and even in groups there is an individual scent for each member which can indicate their rank within the pack or herd. It may be completely undetectable to animals outside that species, but it is there. There seems to be something similar within what I call the 'spirited' community. Mages, non-humans, the supernaturally sensitive... They each have their own unique aura that others can recognize to some degree. I was thinking of writing the equivalent of 'friend of Bridget' over your head until you arrived. If anything chose to mess with you, it would be a direct challenge in power to me.

[There's a slight pause with a hint of fang showing in her smile. And it certainly isn't warm.]

I'm not a lap cat.

...Only until I arrived? And that's all it would do?

[Forgive him for sounding wary. He starts moving again, though.]

[That wary tone... there's a lot more to this but she'll be polite and not interrogate him. For now.]

Yes, I'll be with you then so I won't be as worried about youngsters picking fights before I get some clothes on. [A small pause.] I suppose I'm being too much of a fussy old hen...

[He still sounds uncertain, but...]

If that's all it does, and it'll be taken off when I arrive... I guess I'm all right with it, then.

...Is Everglade really that dangerous?

[A shrug.]

Would it help if I swore on my honor as a military officer? Everglade isn't bad if one is properly aware and prepared and keep out of the nasty parts of town. But where I'm at is pretty infested with the nightmares of men.

You don't need to swear. [If she's trustworthy, she'll respect his wishes, now he's made them clear. If she's not, then it doesn't matter what she says.]

All right. I'll be careful. [Not that he thinks Everglade is home to any of the things that ever feature in his nightmares.]

[A very hesitant smile and then a nod.]

Armin... Thank you. For saving my dignity.

[Armin smiles hesitantly in return, a little uncertain if she's talking about him getting her something to wear or him not making her swear when she talks about her dignity - but it amounts to the same thing, in the end.]

I'll be over as soon as I can.

[The feed cuts off, and Armin engages his maneuvering gear - 'as fast as he can' is a lot more than just walking speed'.]

*****

[It takes him a little longer than he'd hoped, but Armin's climbing his way up the tower just a little over half an hour later - two complete sets of black clothes in tow. Buying several of the items had been fairly awkward, getting him looks from both the clerk and from other customers, but that was easily outweighed by Bridget's need.

It takes a whiles, and a good two thirds of his air canisters, but Armin finally makes it through to the castle. He looks around, a little uncertain, but fascinated by the castle. He calls out softly.]

Bridget?

[It was easy to keep track of Armin during his climb up the tower just by his body heat, a fact that Bridget was having a bit of fun coming to terms with. Though at the same time, she was careful to keep herself at a mental distance. It would be too easy to simply levitate Armin when he probably wished to make the trip with his own effort.

Was this what a normal parent or older sibling went through? Well, a normal human parent. Humans were so fragile it was amazing sometimes they had managed to survive much less thrive. Like rabbits... Bridget would have to ponder that later. For now... she made very sure that her bare feet made at least a little bit of noise as she padded down the stone hallway. Her thin silk robe was a bit of a change from the usual unbroken black at least, mainly fawn-brown with a black fish-bone pattern. The real problem was that it only fell a few inches below completely indecent.

She did create a ball of light over her head as an afterthought at least as she came closer. In all her glorious not-quite-five-foot glory. And quite obviously not insulting him by using illusion to cover her dignity.]

I didn't really expect you to arrive so soon. I must admit I'm only resisting the urge to steal and disassemble your gear out of respect and manners.

For starters, are you okay?

[Priorities.

He and Bridget haven't spoken in quite a long time. In the interim, his daughter has been killed--revived, yes, but killed just the same by Kefka and his minions--and it shows. Spirit has kept primarily to himself outside of work and anxiously checking on his daughter's well being.

Even still, he felt he owed Bridget the contact.]

Once that's established...it's not that hard to get clothes here. You can go into a shop and get whatever you want. I could, if it's that big of a deal.

[The feed resumes and look! There's a bit of broken wall slowly rebuilding itself! How cool is that??]

Physically, excellent condition. Otherwise? My dignity is very ruffled and I apparently took out my dresser so now I'm stuck with just a bathrobe. I have other outfits stashed elsewhere but getting to them is quite tricky without a lot of effort and explaining. I could use mental suggestion to avoid questions but the nightlife in Everglade isn't easy to manipulate for long.

Yeesh.

If it's that big of a deal, I owe you a favor--I'll happily bring you something.

I can't promise my taste in clothing well match yours, though. I'll pick something basic.

[You miiight want to give him some specific instruction.]

It's fine, Armin is going to bring me something unless you want to race or join him. [A slight pause for thought.] Actually, it might be better if you joined him. Everglade isn't exactly pleasantville after dark. He's smart and brave, and probably knows which end of a weapon to grab, but he's also human and arrived injured.

[After another slight pause as if she might add something more but the feed cuts suddenly.]

[Izanami had been resting in her own room of the castle when she felt the ground shake as the explosion ripped through the building. Her room, thankfully, was unharmed, but the sound alone was enough to rattle the Goddess' nerve. Cautiously, she pulled the white burial shroud a little closer around her as she slipped out to investigate the cause. If the castle was under attack, she was confident she could drive the attacker away.

Instead, however, she came to a rather large chunk missing from the castle, and someone who she assumed was another of the residents floating above it.]

... Are you alright?

Edited 2015-02-22 13:56 (UTC)

[Bridget was aware there were other 'displaced' within Everglade as well as sharing Dracula's gate, but she hadn't gone out of her way to meet any of them. Once bitten, twice shy and all that when it came to anything other that the Bloodline and even if it was a completely different world she found that old habits died hard.

So even if she was aware of any movement near her recent area of 'renovations', it was polite to ignore the looks of curiosity until directly addressed. At the first sound though, Bridget turned her head towards the other female and drifted herself into a more natural speaking distance considering the current open air. It was hardly awkward or unnatural to occupy open air two or three feet away. A hand at the hem of her bathrobe, which barely covers what it should, does show a potential level of modesty though.}

I'm unharmed, but it seems those in the immediate area were not so lucky. I do apologize for disturbing you...

[Whilst the Goddess was fairly sociable around Genessia, she usually kept to herself within Dracula's castle. Perhaps it simply boiled down to the fact that she had grown so used to isolation that spending too much time around people again was a little overwhelming for her. Hence - aside from Dracula himself and the maid who greeted her when she arrived - she had not taken much initiative to introduce herself, either.

She shook her head a little at the apology.]

I was not doing anything important. We should step out of the cold, at least.

[Not that she felt it, much, but she was more concerned for Bridget's sake at this point.]

[Cold? Oh yeah, they were above the clouds with open winds and it probably was chilly and damp after sunset. Bridget hadn't created a windbreak around the new hole due to the possibility of creating another accident, but... Well, at least even the worst gawkers were moving on. A second of thought and the wind was cut off just a few arm-lengths beyond where the castle wall used to be. And there was no longer any need to hold her robe in place.]

I probably would have but I've never seen a building repair itself like a living organism before. Does the chill bother you? Bridget, by the way. I've been rather reluctant to introduce myself without caution so far. I considered that such might be true for others taking Dracula's invitation as well.

[Ah, that felt a little better. It meant that her burial shroud didn't blow around quite so much as well. She, too, was glad that most of the passers-by were leaving. They were getting on her nerves.]

It is a strange sight, for certain. And no, it doesn't.

I have been keeping to myself for the most part in this castle, as well... I am Izanami-no-Mikoto, or Izanami-no-Okami, the Goddess of Death and Creation in Japan. A pleasure to meet you at last, Bridget.

[Bridget smiled just a little but it was more hesitantly warm than cold and distant. At the name and culture, Bridget bowed in the appropriate, if somewhat modern, way of bowing to a sensei. She wasn't a deity, but this wasn't one she worshiped so it was easier to treat the other woman as an elder in power and age.]

I have heard of your legend in my world though there haven't been any conclusive evidence you actually existed. [After straightening again, her wry smile grew a little bit more.] I'm not surprised I wasn't the only one to take up Dracula's offer in the end.

[Well, the respect was appreciated, especially as Bridget was not one of her people. She lowered her head very slightly - acknowledging Bridget's bow, perhaps.]

I see...so you've heard of me. Where do you hail from then, if I may ask?

[Izanami gave her a little smile of her own.]

I wasn't sure how many would accept the offer. Whilst I don't dislike humans, I wanted to stay somewhere where I could show myself without being feared. Most of them get a little nervous at the idea a Goddess of Death is watching them, after all.

I've done a lot of research over the centuries on various folklore and legends. I've found that many humans prefer to put some sort of face or name to what they can't understand or control. Death does seem to be one of the popular deities around the world.

[She shook her head with a sigh.]

Where I came from... There are two answers, really. I was born near the Carpathian mountains but we were forced to evacuate a thousand years ago. The Bloodline didn't adopt human deities and preferred to make our references to the moon. It is perhaps a little ironic that when I was drawn here, we were in the process of building a colony on the moon. [And at that, Bridget will smile a bit sadly.] Payment from the world governments for 'services rendered'.

Yes, I am hardly the only one to bare that title. The room I am currently using apparently belonged to one such being of Death within Europe, a close ally of our host. I believe that is why he agreed to offer me shelter so quickly.

The moon? Those in my world have barely traveled that far, let alone sought to build colonies there. Of course, aside from humanity, there are relatively few peoples populating the place. Unfortunately, I cannot say I know what you mean by 'the bloodline'.

Edited 2015-05-07 15:57 (UTC)

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Re: [Action] Poor goddess!

[Action] It could've been worse, at least her room's in tact!

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