MCSKSG seventeen

[theguindo]

I wrote almost all of this while I was on a train home from Las Vegas.

Here, have one of things I've been waiting the whole story to throw at you! 4,237 words.



Lydia handed me her keys. "Here, hold these."

I took them, staring blankly at her. We were standing in the middle of her room (no scary roommate to be found), both in our Seductionist gear, and I could not fathom any reason why she was giving me her keys when I was supposed to be learning to resist Seduction.

Then she held her hand out and said, "Hand me my keys."

I handed them over without a thought.

She didn't take them. Instead, she set her hands on her hips and sighed at me.

"What?" I demanded.

"Maybe we need Mitsuo."

"For wh--...oh." That was why she'd handed me the keys and then asked for them immediately.

It would be a lot easier to tell when Mitsuo was doing it, since it was the only time he didn't stutter, but I didn't feel at all comfortable with the idea of letting him train me. I didn't trust him the way I trusted Lydia.

Thankfully, it seemed like she was just musing. "Let's try again. You need to learn to recognize how it feels, first."

I frowned, lowering the keys back to my side. "It doesn't feel like anything." If it did, I would have known back then.

"It does. You just can't tell." She tapped her finger against her lips, thinking for a moment. "You know how you feel your magic?"

I nodded. The strings, when I was the Cowboy. And now, as the Knight, there weren't strings but there was a sort of fog that felt the same way, stronger around certain things and weaker around others.

"Listen the same way you feel. You'll hear the Seduction the same way you feel your magic."

I had no idea how to do that.

She must have seen it on my face because she continued, "Close your eyes and reach out for your magic - don't touch it, just find it."

I did. Closed my eyes and found the fog surrounding the Knight. I still didn't know what element I had access to, but this wasn't the time to find out.

"Now, do the same thing with your hearing."

My eyebrows furrowed, because I was still confused as to how exactly to accomplish that. All I could figure was it meant listening really hard.

"Hand me my keys," she said again.

It didn't sound any different, still just a simple request that I didn't think twice about. I held the keys out to her again.

And then I stopped short, opening my eyes. She was right. I could feel something in there. When I stopped and concentrated on what she was saying, I realized there had been a faint buzz to her words.

"Did you feel it?" she asked.

"I think so."

She threw her hands up. "Progress!"

I jumped, staring at her.

"Okay, I'm going to do a longer one, this time. Don't do anything I tell you to do, just listen."

I nodded and closed my eyes again to listen.

She started talking, starting with a request for me to go outside and check the roof for dinosaurs which managed to seem like a reasonable request until I picked up on the buzz and realized it was just the Seduction making it seem that way. Once I heard that, I latched onto it and followed it through her words. I don't even remember what she was saying. I remember thinking I needed to do a few really ridiculous things, but I ignored them all because I was just concentrating on that buzz behind it all.

I only noticed that she'd stopped talking because I couldn't feel it anymore.

"You feel it there?" she asked.

"Yeah." I opened my eyes, looking up at her. (I still kind of wanted to go check the roof for dinosaurs, but knowing where the urge came from, I could isolate and ignore it.) "Definitely."

"Awesome! Okay, this time I'm going to try to make you do stuff, and if it's Seduction, don't do it, and if it isn't, do it. This is really hard, but it's great practice."

I gave her a wary look. "Stuff like what?"

"Like Simon says type stuff, don't worry. You ready?"

I wasn't, really, but I nodded anyway because I was about as ready as I would ever be to get voluntarily ordered around by Lydia.

She nodded back and then took a deep breath and said, "Give me back my keys."

There was no buzz to it, this time. I held them out to her.

She took them and dropped them into her pocket. "Stand on one foot."

No. There was the buzz there. I barely heard it in time because I hadn't been listening for it, but I still heard it soon enough to stop myself. I set the feeling aside, walled it off, isolated it.

"Touch your nose."

That, too. I forced my hands to stay at my sides.

She went through several more orders like that. No buzz, do it. Buzz, force myself to stop. It sounds easy, but it got really confusing when the commands started coming faster. I had to hear the buzz sooner, make the conscious decision in time before the next command came. Eventually I did something only to realize after the fact that there'd been a buzz to it that I hadn't heard in time because the order was so fast and short.

"Damn," I muttered.

She sighed. But then she smiled and said, "You did good, Kitten." She stepped forward to set a hand on my shoulder armour. "You picked up on it pretty fast. Good progress."

"Thanks," I responded absently. I was starting to feel a buzz myself, right behind my eyes.

She stepped back, regarding me for a moment. "You're done, huh?"

I guess it must've been all over my face. I nodded.

"That's a good place to stop, anyway. Now it'll be easier for you to resist on the outside." She changed out of her Minstrel clothes and, smiling, pulled her keys out of her pocket to jingle them. "How's lunch sound?"

As a reward, I'd really rather just go home and curl up in bed until the headache died down, but I was hungry. So, despite the steadily growing knife digging around at my temples, I agreed to lunch.

* * *

I started walking home with Lacy after school pretty much every day. Even though it was in the opposite direction of my own way home, I didn't really mind. Lacy was good company.

On Wednesday, Chris came up in conversation, since he was pretty much the reason we'd started walking together in the first place and all. We started talking about his play. Valkyrie of the Schwarzwald is this musical about a fallen Valkyrie of Odin who arrives in Juno in the midst of a civil war, and goes on to unite the city and see it lifted into the sky. It's a big classic, really popular. Chris, in a shocking reversal of typecasting, was playing Wolfgang - the lead man who falls in love with Ragnhild, the Valkyrie.

"Is it his first time with a lead role?" Lacy asked.

"Yeah," I said. "Usually he's the comic relief character, you know?"

"You mentioned that before, I think. Wolfgang's a pretty funny lead, though, isn't he?"

I shrugged. "I guess."

"Sort of a dry humour, though, huh?"

"Have you seen it before?"

"Oh." She shifted, slipping her thumbs beneath her backpack straps and glancing away. "I saw the movie. You know, with Gareth Marstead?"

"Ah." I had no idea which version she meant. I hadn't seen any of the film adaptations.

"It's pretty good," she said lamely.

She sounded kind of awkward about it and I didn't know why. I adjusted my backpack straps, also feeling kind of awkward as I waited for her to say something else.

Eventually she let out a rushed, "Um, so, do you already have plans to go see it?"

"No," I answered. "I go see all of Chris's plays, though. I just haven't decided which showing to go to." All the school productions ran for three days, over a full weekend. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

"Oh, that's good. Moral support. I bet he really needs that if it's his first time in a serious role." She bit her lip, fidgeting with her fingers and glancing away.

I swallowed down a sudden tension and glanced away myself. She was waiting for something. I just didn't know what. I fished blindly. "Do, uh. Do you have plans to go see it?"

"Nnnnope," she said, slow and drawn out and anticipating.

Okay. So I was getting warmer, probably. "Would...you...like to go see it with me?" I asked, not looking at her.

"Sure!" she blurted out, and then more calm and slow: "Sure, I'd...like that."

That was it. That was what she was waiting for.

We hit the door to her apartments then, and instead of holding it open to walk her inside, I stopped beside it. "Um. I'll try to get tickets for Saturday, then. If that's alright."

She smiled, her eyes down. I couldn't make eye contact, either, and focused instead on the choker at her throat. "That's fine," she said. "Saturday is good."

"Okay." I cleared my throat, which suddenly felt really dry. "I'll, um, let you know, then."

She nodded, mumbled a quiet, "See you tomorrow," and disappeared inside.

I let out a long, slow breath and stayed standing there for about forever afterward, wondering if that had really just happened.

* * *

The rest of the week sort of floated by in a haze. Mom made me drive a few more times, I had another headache-inducing training session with Lydia, and I got two tickets for our school's Saturday performance of Valkyrie of the Schwarzwald. It wasn't until Saturday night rolled around that I suddenly realized why the rest of the week had floated by in a haze.

"Mom!" I slammed open her door, trying desperately not to panic.

She looked up from the pile of laundry on her bed and smiled at me. "Well don't you look handsome!"

"Mom I don't know how to tie a tie," I breathed all in one panicked rush, practically one syllable.

She walked over and took hold of the ends of my tie, casually adjusting it. "Stand up straight." I did. "What's the occasion?"

"I have a date."

Just saying it made another wave of panic wash over me. I'd been ignoring what it was all week, but it hit me full force once I'd started getting ready. This was a date. I was going on my first date.

"Oooh." Her eyes twinkled as she grinned at me, her fingers expertly pulling the red tie into a perfect knot. "Who's the lucky girl? Or boy?"

I didn't like the sly way she said that last bit. "Mom." I don't think I managed to sound very reprimanding, though. "It's Lacy."

"The girl you saved? Good choice."

Saved? Maybe. I'd never really thought of it that way. We'd sort of saved each other. But I forced out a hard sigh and said, "Mom, I don't even know what to do."

She finished with the tie and straightened it out, and then straightened out my collar, my sleeves, my hair--

I batted her hands away and ran my fingers through my hair myself. It was fine, right? I'd tied it back, because Para said I looked dashing that way. Was that okay? Maybe I should do something else with it...

"Just be yourself, honey," she said, folding her hands in front of her with a warm smile. "Pay for everything, be a gentleman, and don't expect her to put out - she doesn't owe you anything."

"Mom!" My face was totally red, I knew it. Why's she have to say stuff like that? I dashed out of her room because seriously, Mom, and went to make sure I had everything.

Wallet, keys, tickets... I double-checked myself in the mirror, too. I hadn't been sure exactly how formal to go, so I was wearing a really nice pair of dark jeans with a button-up collared shirt, black with white pinstripes, and the red tie with that. My hair looked fine, yeah. And the Knight's belt fit the rest of it pretty well, but I wasn't entirely sure I should wear it. I was kind of running late, though, so I was going to need to take the roofs. I untucked my shirt so the belt wouldn't be visible - yeah, that looked better with the jeans, more casual but still "nice" - and did one more check before running down the stairs and out the door.

"Bye, honey!" Mom called after me. "Have fun! Bring her home if it comes to that!"

"Mom!" I think I was three blocks away by the time that embarrassment finally faded.

One thing I noticed about the Knight outfit on my way over to Westfall - with my hair tied back, the usual bells were replaced with a single ribbon, tied in a bow, like the original Knight's hair had been. I wasn't sure if that was better or worse. Either way, it didn't matter once I got within a block of Westfall Apartments. I switched back and walked the rest of the way.

Lacy was waiting for me in the lobby. I almost didn't recognize her because she'd straightened out the flip at the bottom of her hair and it just became the beginning of a natural wave.

I let out a quiet breath, pausing in the doorway.

Lacy had put on a high-necked, form-fitting baby blue sweater, and a wide white skirt that reached below her knees, with a pair of dark tights and red mary janes.

I admit I'd been kind of nervous that Lacy didn't think this was a date and I'd come to pick her up only to find that I was way overdressed, but seeing her just as dressed up as I was came as a huge relief.

But then it wasn't, because that meant it really was a date. Oh my god. Wasn't my first date supposed to be with Esperanza? How had this even happened? When had Lacy and I become close enough that arranging a date was a logical outcome?

She saw me and stood up, smoothing out her skirt. "Hey," she said, looking and sounding about as nervous as I felt.

"Hey," I breathed in response.

She adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder - whoa, since when did Lacy have a purse? - and smiled at me.

"Um." I cleared my throat, gaze downcast as I moved away from the door. "You look...really nice," I said.

"Thanks," she mumbled. "You too."

"Thanks." I nervously adjusted my tie. "My mom had to help - with the tie, I mean, I didn't - um."

She giggled, but that faded quickly. "My mom doesn't know. We should leave before she realizes I'm not going out with Esper."

Esperanza. My face fell. Was I settling for second best, here? Settling for Lacy because I knew Esperanza wouldn't look at me twice?

Lacy hurried past me into the darkening day outside, and I slipped out the door after her.

Then I realized the first half of what she'd said. "...What would your mom do if she found out?"

She bit her lip, rubbing at her upper arm. "She wouldn't...be very happy. Let's leave it at that, okay?"

As much as I wanted to know if I was signing my death warrant here, I was perfectly happy to drop the subject.

The walk to school seemed to take forever, but that was probably because we didn't talk. We were both way too nervous.

The play itself was really good. Chris did a surprisingly passable job not only of playing Wolfgang, but singing the parts, too. I admit I was pretty surprised.

It was the scene where Wolfgang beseeches Ragnhild not to run off into battle where Lacy leaned in close and whispered, "He's a lot better than I expected."

"I know," I replied, sounding equally stunned.

It hardly even looked like Chris. With his red hair not spiked, down and swept over his brow, and with the old-fashioned waistcoat and cravat and the sword at his side, he looked like the perfect picture of Wolfgang, not my best friend in high school.

Lacy's hand snaked over and I didn't realize it until her fingers had slipped into mine.

I turned about as red as Chris's hair, I think, but tightened my fingers around hers and we stayed like that for the rest of the show. It was... It wasn't Esperanza, but it was nice, and I didn't want to lose the warmth of her hand in mine.

After the show, we decided to wait for Chris to come out from backstage. Hopefully I hadn't picked the same night as the rest of the McBride clan and we'd actually have a chance to talk to him without his family crowding us out.

We were in luck. No McBrides, and Chris came running down to meet us. "You guys came!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up with a huge grin on his face. "Oh man, did you see Beth almost trip over her dress in the second scene? That was hilarious."

"Beth?" Lacy asked.

"She was - you know what, never mind. That was a great show. I'm glad you guys--" He cut himself off suddenly, squinting down at our still clasped hands.

We quickly separated then, me shoving my hands in my pockets and Lacy hiding hers behind her back.

"Are you guys on a date?" he accused.

"No," I said, as Lacy sheepishly responded, "Yes." We exchanged a glance and then reversed our answers, mine sheepish now and hers bitter.

Chris raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," I said, very firmly, even though I could feel the colour rise to my cheeks as I admitted it. "We are here on a date."

Lacy nodded, also very firmly, and I knew I'd just done the right thing.

"Oh, man!" In a completely unexpected move, Chris stepped forward and threw his arms around both of us. "I was wondering how long it'd take you guys to hook up!"

"Um," I replied.

Lacy looked just as confused.

He released us and stepped back. "Don't let me interrupt. I gotta help clean up and change outta the costume, anyway. You guys go have fun."

Dammit, I was blushing again. Why were dates so embarrassing?

"Chris," Lacy said - she wasn't blushing. "You were really good. I'm glad we came to the show."

He smiled his big goofy Chris grin. "Aw, thanks." He held out a fist and she rapped her knuckles against it, smiling in a way that told me she didn't get offered that gesture very often, but liked it.

"Yeah," I agreed. "I thought you were going to suck as Wolfgang, but you were shockingly okay."

Instead of the fist-bump, I got a headlock and a noogie. Jerk.

I slipped away from him and tried to straighten out my hair. Lacy giggled and I shot her a look.

Someone called Chris's name from backstage. He glanced over his shoulder. "Looks like I gotta go. See you guys. And take good care o' that guy, Lace. G's my bro."

I stopped in the middle of re-tying my ponytail to frown at him.

"We're not together, it's just a..." But he was already gone. "...Date." She turned to me.

I shrugged. "That guy." That was about all I could say.

She shrugged, too.

We didn't say anything until I had my hair back in order, at which point I glanced at my watch and said, "It's kind of late, huh?"

She wrapped her arms around herself and nodded. "I should probably go home."

"Right." For the best, really. The longer this went on, the more likely I was to just completely embarrass myself.

I held one hand out, low, near my hip, not really expecting anything and kind of wondering why I'd even bothered.

But hers gravitated into mine and my breath caught in my throat.

She sidled up next to me. "Let's go."

I wasn't going to argue with that.

We spent the walk home talking about the play and how Chris was a jerk, and thoroughly ignoring the fact that our hands had not parted since the theatre back at school.

I had never considered Lacy before, and now I realized that she was very cute. Not a bombshell like Esperanza, but very down-to-earth pretty. And she was nice, and...and she obviously liked me, or we wouldn't be doing this.

Maybe I should consider Lacy. It wasn't like Esperanza was going to have a sudden turnaround and start liking me out of the blue. Ouch, though, what a painful realization. I still liked Esperanza. I wasn't quite ready to give up on her. But I had to pick, didn't I? If I didn't, I was just leading Lacy on, and I couldn't do that to her.

We were at the door to Westfall Apartments before I knew it. We stopped out there and turned to each other.

"I...had fun tonight," Lacy said, her eyes focused somewhere around the area of my tie.

That was okay, because I was staring at her collar, myself. "Yeah. Me too."

"We should...do it again, sometime."

"We should," I agreed, which came out a little breathlessly.

She bit her lip and leaned in closer to me. I knew what she was going for. At once I wanted to both yank her close and kiss her, but also shove her away and run off without having to make that decision.

In the end, all I did was lean in a little closer, too.

But it never happened. Her eyes went wide, her hand slipped away from mine, and she was torn away by a winged Kafra's talons, her scream accompanied by a triumphant screech as the monster carried her away from me.

This was about the worst ending to a date ever. For a second I just stared, because I couldn't believe this was happening, but then the reality of it kicked in and I got mad.

Who did this Kafra think she was, hauling off my date like that? By then, the bird-fra had vanished with Lacy over the roof of a nearby building. Unacceptable. I shouted, "Magical Seductionist Power, Transform!" and the instant I felt my weapon at my side, I went running after them.

The building and all the ones around it were too high to jump, so I scaled it, and yeah maybe being a Rose made that easier, but I don't care. If my racial abilities were what made a rescue possible, then so be it. I climbed onto the roof and cast around frantically for the Kafra.

"She'll be fine."

That fucking voice. I whipped the Knight's sword out of its scabbard and spun on my rival, dressed in my stolen frills, my stolen boots.

She leapt out of the sword's arc, looking for one brief instant genuinely afraid.

She held up her hands. "I'm not going to hurt her--"

"I don't care!" I still hadn't tested the Knight's power, but I raked my hand through the air, cutting lines in that ambient fog.

Fire flared to life, an intense burst of flame cutting a huge swath in front of me along the path of my arm, forcing the former Knight to throw herself out of the way.

Fire. Good substitute for the rock powers, I guess. I realized something, then, and smiled at her, though really it was more like baring my teeth.

The Cowboy's rock powers wouldn't work up here.

"You should really just give up right now," I said, throwing the power of Seduction behind my voice. Using against her what she'd used against me. "You've never been on this side of the blade before, have you?"

I threw another gash of flame at her, forcing her back again as I advanced. "Stop it!" she pleaded.

"You've always been the one with the upper hand." I slashed at her with the sword; she ducked away. "How does it feel, being on the receiving end? Being the hopeless one?" Another slash, this time leaving a trail of flame behind it. She stumbled, fell. "If you give her back, I'll let you go, and we can pretend this never--"

"Guido! Stop!"

I did. I froze, stopped dead, and stared at her, eyes wide behind my mask.

She straightened, facing me. "Why do you care so much about Lacy, anyway?"

My eyes narrowed. "How do you know my name?"

"I know a lot of things, Guido. I know--"

"How do you know my fucking name?!" I lunged, pinning her to the side of the ceiling access stairwell with the sword across her throat.

She looked, for a second, terrified, and if I wasn't so frightened and angry myself, I would've taken a grim satisfaction in that.

But her expression smoothed out and she said something I never imagined I would ever hear her say: "Magical Seductionist Power, Transform."

I nearly dropped the sword. The girl - the pink-haired Elyar standing there in my stolen boots -

Was Esperanza.