019 || [Action]
[Heather isn't known for being one of the most stable people in the school. She stays up late, can be found wandering around campus long after the sun has disappeared, winds up in the infirmary much too often with a strange assortment of injuries...
But this is a bit different.
It's the evening, the sunlight dimmed, sky colored a light gray-- ( Read more... )
But this is a bit different.
It's the evening, the sunlight dimmed, sky colored a light gray-- ( Read more... )
But why bring it up? There's nothing anyone can do. It is the one thing that Fang accepts as inevitable, unchangeable. Nothing is impossible, except escaping her fate. She acknowledges this, but it would probably just upset people. They may hate her when she's gone for keeping it a secret, but they'll have to adapt and move on. ]
Fair warning: my guy'll probably eat all the bowling pins. He's a bit unruly. [ She smiles, continuing the joke, glad that Heather seems to be recovering and ignoring the huge understatement she just said.
It's hard not to notice the locket, and Fang nods to it. ] That's pretty. Don't think I've seen it before.
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... It's probably for the best that Heather doesn't know everything about this. She's had enough of her "anchors" leaving her. That, and she wouldn't believe it. She escaped her fate-- why can't everyone else? She doesn't believe in fate anymore.
We are a strange pair, aren't we, Fang? :|
Her smile gets a bit stronger.] I bet. He can go ahead-- I don't think mine would mind much. [Houston, we have a bad fanfiction idea.]
Uh. [She turns it about between her fingers. It's really the only consistent nervous habit she has-- fumbling with the sphere.] My... dad gave it to me. Birthday present. [A pause; she opens the sphere, which is empty inside.] ... What used to be in here saved my life once. [She closes it, and lets it fall from her fingers to rest against her chest again.]
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Indeed we are, Heather. Two people with similar backgrounds, only about a year apart in age, and yet in very different places. ] Heh. Won't be much of a game, then. At least not by normal rules. [ Oh? ]
I see why you keep it with you. Should I ask for the story behind it or would you rather I left well enough alone? [ She's genuinely interested, but since the point is to move Heather away from potential issues...
Fang moves over to to the nearby tiny kitchen area, easily putting water into a kettle and putting the kettle on the stove. ] 'M making hot chocolate. There'll be enough for two, in case you want some. [ Something warm would be nice, and it's too late for coffee. ]
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[She actually considers it; knowledge is power, after all, and it might be best to let certain things be known, for everyone's sake. She eventually shakes her head though.] Nah, it's... It'd give you an overload of crazy for the day. [Because, "Then I ate this pill from the locket and threw up God onto the church floor, then Claudia ate it so I killed it with a shotgun" is not the most sane or sensible of anecdotes. Another contemplative pause.] Long story short: I told you a while ago about... who I am and what I supposed to be. The vessel of a god. [She smiles slightly.] Well, God didn't make it, thanks to this. [... There we go. That sounds somewhat better.
She watches Fang silently, not moving from her spot on the carpet. She nods slowly, and her hand returns to fumble idly with the locket again.] Alright...
Thanks.[She falls silent briefly before adding:] For everything. Again. For, like... the hundredth time. [And there's that small, restrained laugh again.]
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[ She nods, though, easily accepting Heather's denial and shortened explanation. She does raise an eyebrow slightly, though. ] Pretty potent stuff. Never heard of something that could do that before.
And don't worry about me. I was already good at handling whatever came my way, but after Estrasia's tricks I think I've got it near-perfect.
[ And with that totally modest response, the kettle goes off and Fang makes two mugs with the ease of a routine. And then she, well... no getting around it, since what she picks up is most definitely salt and she most definitely pours some into one of the mugs. Thankfully the mug she offers Heather is the unsalted one. ]
You can have an actual seat, you know. And don't bother with thanking me. I'm your teach- well, it's more accurate to say I'm your friend, yeah? [ Heather is actually a bit more than that, but good luck getting Fang to say that out loud. People not from Oerba have different views of things - when they first arrived, Fang and Vanille had learned some very uncomfortable lessons about "personal space", which had been a new concept. Fang had had her clan, her blood family, of course, but to her family was based on looser but no less important ties. So far nobody's blinked at her calling Vanille "family", but it's different when it's your best friend who you grew up with versus a student you have (relatively speaking) recently met.
So for once Fang dances diplomatic and leaves it there. ] Ain't that what we're for? I'll help ya out anytime, thanks or no thanks.
((ooc: by the way, if you want entirely too much information on Fang's room, there's this. I dunno if you'd find that helpful.))
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And wat. That was-- Did she honestly just-- in hot chocolate...? She really can't help but stare blankly at Fang for a moment before mechanically taking the mug that is offered to her.] Uh. Thanks... [Okay. Fang likes salt then. A lot. She'll have to remember that.
She attempts a light-hearted smile, which naturally comes out looking not-so-light-hearted.] ... Yeah. [She's never really had friends before Estrasia, a result of bad character judgement and a dash of paranoia. She always likes hearing it said aloud-- she does have friends now, doesn't she? She takes it more to heart than most would.
She tries another half-joke:] ... Even if I beat you up with a pipe? [And it fails. Her smile instantly fades once she says it, and guilt creeps back into her expression. She stares at Fang quietly, clutching the mug in her hands. She remains where she stands, rigid.]
((OoC: Ah, duly noted! :D Might come in handy later, yes~))
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Welcome. [ She's blithely ignoring Heather's reaction to the hot chocolate. She gets that a lot. She likes salt, okay? And it cuts the sweetness of the drink.
As soon as Heather's face falls, Fang reacts, putting down her own mug and confiscating Heather's. Now that they're not in danger of spilling hot chocolate all over each other, she pulls Heather into another hug. A bit gingerly at first, courtesy of the growing bruises on her side and collarbone, but she realizes quickly that it's only going to make things worse if Heather realizes what the hold up is. So Fang hugs her, ignoring the slight pain. ]
Yes. Even if you beat me up with a pipe. Even if you shoot me with one of those guns I know you've got squirreled away. [ Her tone turns a bit teasing. ] Not that I'm encouraging that, mind you. Relax, Sunshine. A few bruises aren't worth losing you over.
[ Unbidden, a memory comes to mind: Vanille almost in tears, slumped on the ground in front of her, her hand around Vanille's arm - almost tight enough to bruise - being the only thing keeping the girl semi-upright. And looking down at that familiar bright hair, struggling with betrayal and the temptation to hurt Vanille as badly as Vanille had hurt her...
She'd come to her senses, thankfully enough. But maybe that's why Fang's voice is a bit softer as she continues. ] That's what friends do, you know. Forgive each other, no matter what. [ Her tone strengthens again. ] 'Sides, I already told you I wasn't gonna make you go it alone. I don't make promises I don't plan on keeping.
[ She lets go of Heather, ruffling her hair before propping a hand on her hip and grinning. ] So no looking so upset. It's against the rules.
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She leans into the embrace just slightly. And... flinches a bit at the mention of the guns. Fang, why do you know everything?
... You even know just what to say. Fang used PEP TALK! Hit 5 times! It's super effective! Heather sighs heavily. Eventually, she nods.]
... Right. I don't... wanna get a demerit or anything... [She averts her eyes, almost shyly. She doesn't know how to deal with this whole friendship thing, really. ;; She was a loner before showing up at Estrasia; even after three years, she's still learning that even she can have truly devoted and caring allies.
She looks up again, looking concerned. Just a moment; she's looking Fang over, trying to remember where she had been injured. Maybe she can get something else to help or something...] I... have to get rid of those guns. [What if she had picked those up instead of going with the improvisational pipe?]
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Fang's injuries are apparent enough, considering her clothes: most obvious is the largest one, located on her right side. There's also one on her left collarbone, and finally the smallest one on her left hip, which is mostly covered by the sari. Despite how they look it's a fairly light sentence - those blows easily would've done more damage if Fang didn't have her enhanced defense.
Fang has very mixed feeling on the "students having weapons" issue. For every problem that could arise, there's another moment when monsters show up again and the students have to defend themselves. ] You can give 'em to me, if you'd like. That way you can still get at 'em if need be. If you're worried that you'll go after them if this happens again, I'll just hide them someplace. I don't like leaving someone unarmed, and there are plenty of things out there that're safer to attack from a distance. [ Not that Fang ever does anything but close quarters combat, but hey, who's counting? ] There. Problem solved.
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She traces the visible injuries with her eyes, a small scowl on her face. She knows Fang can withstand much more than the average person; she muses briefly that those students she attacked might have ended up dead if they hadn't decided to run when they did. And Fang didn't run so she could bring Heather back from that hell. The guilt is still there, looming and heavy. She swallows dryly.
She considers the idea in silence, her fingers beginning to fidget with the hem of her shirt instead of the locket around her neck, scraping at a small spot of drying blood on the fabric with her nail. She did rely quite a bit on her firearms whenever the Otherworld managed to take over, but when it takes over like this, it would be best to have them in other hands, and Fang is one of the few people Heather trusts. She nods, but it's slightly uncertain. On the other hand, the Otherworld was set up differently than reality-- doors would be locked in one dimension and open in the other, stairs would be barricaded, iron mesh in place of hardwood floors. Her guns might not be accessible when she needed them for herself.
She suddenly decides to relinquish her chosen brooding spot, and instead goes to first gingerly reclaim the mug of hot chocolate. She glances at it, then back to Fang.] They'd... probably be a bit safer if you had 'em, but... [And she finally picks a spot at the kitchen table and sits down, placing the mug before her, settled between her fingers.] Not sure if I could... you know, get to them if I was... in that place.
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She understands Heather's hesitancy about relinquishing her weapons, however. Fang definitely would feel like she was missing something vital if she was ever forcibly separated from her lance. However, this leaves them with a problem: any gun Heather keeps to use in the Otherworld is a gun she could use on the other students. And while Fang could claim that a handgun would be less of a problem than a submachine gun or shotgun, getting shot by any of those would cause serious problems for a student.
Fang takes a sip from her own mug, leaning against the fridge so she can face Heather. Problem is, Heather, you've given something away with your phrasing: ] First off, how many guns are we talking about? Cause you're either gonna have access to them or you ain't - letting you keep one is pretty much the same as letting you keep all of them when it comes down to it. Since I'm assuming you only walk around with one gun at a time and not an arsenal. [ That last bit is said more lightly, but as Fang pauses to consider, her expression returns to a more serious countenance. ]
Moment of truth: do you trust yourself enough to keep one? You're the only one that knows that. Cause you could have one for emergencies, but you'd still have to figure out if the situation was real or not.
And here's another one: how important is a gun over there? You were using a pipe; if something like that's good enough, we could get you sword lessons or something. Hell, I'd teach you to use one of those. [ She nods over to the rack of lances. ] Not that basic staff stuff, mind you, but the real thing - and by the way, your form tonight was terrible. [ Never mind that Heather was using a pipe rather than a staff. Details! However it is also said with a slight smile, inviting Heather to take it as a joke. Which it is, but Fang's also completely serious about it.
She takes another drink from her mug. That was a lot to throw at Heather once, and Fang needs the information first if she wants to actually give Heather a decent answer. ]
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[Okay, serious question time. She falls silent, her index finger tapping a nervous rhythm on the side of the mug. Just answer one at a time.] Well... I have... that submachine gun, but no ammo for it. [Since she sort of emptied it on the Vanille Cie'th a few months ago.] A handgun... a shotgun. [Those, apparently, she has ammo for. She pauses to frown; explaining this makes her sound like she's some sort of... bounty hunter or serial killer or something.
She stops to contemplate again. Does she trust herself? Sure, she's usually confident and proud, but no, she doesn't trust herself. She's three people in one, and her power has extremely unpredictable ways of manifesting itself. She never really expected herself to hurt anyone directly because of it, which just points to how little control she has. She knows she'll have to give up all her guns instead of picking favorites, and it's tough, but...]
... Take 'em. [Her expression is dark again for that, but it lightens as she puts on her best confident grin.] You're right-- I'm a master of resourcefulness. I can fight my way out with a friggin' stick if it's sharp enough.
[She pauses, maintaining the grin, then letting it lessen.] I don't trust myself. I mean... That's the point. There's a whole slew of ways it shows itself... The only way I... was able to tell it was you at all was that I could understand you, after a while. Next time it takes over, I might not be able to hear you at all. [She sighs.] If I'm gonna go berserk on you guys again, I shouldn't have a gun. Keep my weapons downgraded so I won't actually... kill anyone.
[Other than her assortment of firearms, she has her katana, of course, and a stun gun. The katana, she assumed, was common in the school, and the stun gun was... honestly more of a sentimental thing-- given to her by her father when she was younger. That, and it was more creeper repellant-- not an effective monster-fighting weapon. But if she were to use it on a student, it wouldn't kill them. However, she still silently debates revealing the stun gun to Fang. She doesn't want it taken away.]
As for lessons... [She glances over at the lances as well.] I think I'd take you up on that anyway. [Because really, her skills of fighting with close combat weapons were... clunky at best.]
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Alright. I'll keep your guns here. [ Locked in a chest. She'll have to collect the three gems of dragon, horse, and behemoth and solve an obscure riddle to- wait a second... ] Once I figure out where, I'll let you know. And not to rain on the parade, but you can kill a person with just about anything. It's just that guns don't give people a sporting chance - it's awful hard to run from them. [ Fang also has a bias against guns, but the point still stands. Long range weapons in general are difficult to escape - that was the point of them, after all.
That's why Fang's suggesting that Heather hands the guns over, and not the pipe or katana. She's not trying to disarm Heather completely - simply make it so that if this happens again, the other student (or faculty member) has a good chance to run. ] Try to figure out if there's another way to get out of there, then. You said something about killing a monster to end it, right? If there's a phrase or smell or something that could bring you back, we could try that in a pinch. If not- [ she shrugs ] -worth a shot, at least.
[ Fang seems pleased by Heather's agreeing to lessons, though. ] I know it's not quite as adventurous as a stick, but you can think of it as a glorified one if it'd make you happy. Sure, I know you can use whatever you find, but it's good to have something to rely on.
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She nods silently. That makes enough sense. She knows she can kill someone with pretty much anything; her thoughts were that people would be able to get away with minor injuries. Then again, based on what happened here, she'd have to lose a few friends-- too many refused to run.] ... You didn't run from me though, Fang. What if... they don't run at all? [Seems that from every angle she looks at things, there's a possibility she'll kill people. This is... not very encouraging of a mindset.
She shrugs as well.] I... wish I could tell you something like that, but... I haven't found one. Just the-- [She makes vague air quotes with her fingers.] --"boss monster" thing. Which is really a lot easier to figure out than a phrase or smell... [Only other things she learned from the decades of living with the power were ways to trigger it, not bring her out-- reflective surfaces, extreme negative emotions, the like. Not exactly helpful.] Not... to be a defeatist or anything. [Of course not.
Her grin returns, if only briefly.] Heh, I can call it a smiting rod. I'm up for trying anything, really.
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[ As for the trigger, or maybe de-trigger, well, she knew it was a slim chance. Her nicknames for Heather, referencing her promise to her father - none of that had really gotten through. Or at least, not in a way that Heather had seemed to understand. ] Understood. Sometimes what you see is just what you get.
No joke: that other type of lance is called a "taming pole". [ Fang grins - she's never really gotten over that. ] "Smiting rod" ain't too out there after that. Alright. I'll take care of it. We can start after we've both had a chance to rest up, yeah?
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... Yeah. Alright. [If the real monsters do end up bringing friends, she can take 'em. Yeah.
She looks away at that, gingerly lifting the mug to her lips. She... really wishes she could find some sort of off switch. She and her dad spent years trying to figure one out. Who knows though? Estrasia was different; people knew more about powers here. Maybe she could find one. She takes a small sip of hot chocolate.]
... Oh yeah? Heh, seriously...? [That sounds... kinda silly. She manages another grin, and nods.] Sure, I'd... like that. [She glances over the lances, curiously.] Do I... get to try the taming pole? [Another slight grin. She wants her smiting rod. It's badass.]
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