☆` tonight the fireflies dance.

[kagayakashi]

Characters: Gracia and vatheon wandering about the city!
Location: Edge of the forest, then plaza.
Time: Late afternoon, nearing nightfall at the start of the curse for the week.
Style: Third, though I'll roll with anything :)
Status: OPEN LIKE CANNED BREAD.

Comments

[ninjaservant]

Obi had also been wandering around, though more out of curiosity and to investigate the changes. He, too, had found himself changed, but he seemed more comfortable in it than Gracia did. Probably due to the fact he had been wearing the exact same attire not too long before arriving into Vatheon.

He had spotted that familiar red hair and was about to greet her when he noticed her reaction to the skeleton. In all honesty, he had a rather similar reaction since he had yet to see the locals himself, either. The initial shock paved way to one of defense, and he was ready to help fend off the skeleton should it prove hostile. He was, after all, at a slight advantage since he had yet to be seen and throwing a kunai dagger from this distance wouldn't take too much of an effort.

However, seeing the skeleton just wave and walk off, Obi could only blink and stare after it for a moment before slowly approaching the still stunned young woman.

"...Miss Gracia? Are you all right?"

[kagayakashi]

Her breathing returned to her at the sight of a familiar face. Gracia quickly came to his side and looked at Obi with some dread. She pointed at the general direction of the skeleton.

"Did you see that? What's going on, Obi? Why are the people just bones? Is this part of the curse?" She noticed his attire as well. So the city made them wear formal clothing...but for what reasons could they possibly have to make everyone else walking skeletons?

[ninjaservant]

Obi was still trying to make sense of what he just witnessed himself, but he keeps up a reassuring front despite his own confusion.

"I'm not quite sure myself...it certainly is quite the mystery. First our change in attire, the city, and now walking skeletons." He paused then and gave her a smile. "You look good in that dress, by the way," he added.

Well it was only polite to compliment a lady in a dress, right? Plus, it might help calm her nerves a bit, or at least provide a bit of a distraction. She still look rather shaken up, after all.

[kagayakashi]

"I'm sure if we ask the locals, they won't tell us what's going on either. I can't believe they didn't even notice that they were just bones! That can't be part of the curse too, could it?" She grasped at her wrists and looked around. The skeletons were just walking about like normal, despite the situation being anything but

[ninjaservant]

"Probably," Obi sighed in agreement. Ah well, it only made things more interesting for him to try and find out, even if it may be impossible to find. "Though I haven't been here long, I can already tell it's probably part of it. It could be worse, you know." He gave her a cheeky grin here. "We could be the ones walking around as skeletons."

At her response, he just smiled in his usual easygoing, cheerful manner. "It's only the truth," he said easily. But then it was apparently his turn, though the process in getting there had made him feel slightly uneasy. Perhaps it was due to the fact that someone was observing him with such strange intensity.

He was about to speak when Gracia finally complimented him, and to that he could only stare for a moment at that dreamy expression before laughing. "Haha, thank you, Miss Gracia," he said, his previous unease vanishing as he relaxed once more. "I do work at a castle, so I suppose it just comes naturally."

[kagayakashi]

She shuddered at the thought of being the ones walking around like that. "I think I'd prefer these clothes to being skeletons! And hey, they're all dressed up formally like us! Did you see?" She tugged on his sleeve slightly and motioned to the crowd of skeletons walking and laughing, passing them by. True enough, they were all dressed in a similar fashion. What a strange curse, indeed. But like Obi said; it could be worse.

A castle? She blinked. Were castles in his world different from the ones she knew of? They were fortifications built for defense and as a base for strategy and attack, but then again, that only applied during times of war. Usually, high-class samurai and daimyo lived in castles. She turned to him again, this time with a rather excited yet ever-curious expression.

"You work in a castle? As a ninja retainer to your master? Wow! Are you a general?"

[ninjaservant]

"I have to agree," he chuckled before he felt the tug and leaned in a bit to look in the direction she was motioning. "...Huh, you're right. This truly is a strange curse..." Something he would definitely have to try and look into.

He was about to ask her if they should try talking to them anyway when he glanced at her and saw that rather peculiar expression on her face and heard her questions. A bit bewildered, he couldn't help but laugh again as he straightened, a hand resting on his hip as he waved a hand. "Haha, no no, definitely not a general. I'm more like a messenger. But I do have a few other roles, being my master's retainer as one of them."

[kagayakashi]

Gracia enjoyed finding out these things about other people's homes and worlds, so naturally she was drawn to the stories she hears from Obi. She found an empty bench that was lighted by those jellyfish bats that suddenly appeared, and walked slowly towards it without keeping her gaze off of his.

"Your master sounds very prestigious." She found the bench and carefully sat on it, attention still on Obi. "What else do you do for him?"

...I like how I have Obi bashing on Zen in one thread and probably do more damage here xD

[ninjaservant]

He followed her, staying close since he wasn't sure what else this world could have brought with the curse. He had heard of the zombie mermaids, and while those bats and the skeleton seemed peaceful enough, who knew what other surprises could be lurking ready to pop out. Especially with this ominous air. So while Gracia sat, he just stood near her instead.

"Sounds is the right word," he grinned. "He acts more like an everyday commoner when he's not busy with his own official duties."

"What else? Ah, other than the odd jobs here and there, I've been currently sent to be a bodyguard for his young mistress." Slight exaggeration on the part of calling Shirayuki as Zen's "mistress" but they were close enough by now. "He's rather fond of her, and it seems he trusts me enough for it."

Lmfao, the damage will be tripled when they actually meet XD "WRY U ABUSE MY PAL OBI SO MUCH? D:<"

[kagayakashi]

She was thankful beyond words for his company. She wasn't sure if she enjoyed traveling out at night alone, during a cursed week. The atmosphere was just too scary, and she wished she knew why. Was it just her? Or did everybody else feel the chill too?

Gracia nods. "I understand now. Your master is the prince you spoke of." Why else would it be so shocking for him to act like a commoner? She hoped she was piecing things together right.

She bites her lip and the frown returns to her face. When she looks back at Obi again, her gaze is rather hardened.

"If you're protecting his mistress, then maybe he shouldn't be so hard on you. I don't understand why he'd do all those horrible things to you when you're loyal to him!" She recalled all those things he told her about Zen. For a prince, he seemed slightly...disrespectful to his trusty servant. And said trusty servant was her pal too. That didn't click very well with Gracia. Not at all.

SORRY ZEN, OBI WAS JUST THAT BORED. HE REALLY LOVES YOU.

[ninjaservant]

Inside, Obi was feeling some guilt. Some. But it wasn't for Zen. It was for Gracia once she figures out he had been lying to her this whole time. Not that he originally intended to do so, he just never imagined she would have taken him so seriously from before. So he contemplates for a few moments on whether or not to somehow rectify the situation before it became worse.

"Hm, you may right, Miss Gracia," he said, "but it hasn't been all too bad. He does have his few redeeming points." A small, sly smile slowly formed on his lips, though he was careful to let the shadows hide it. "I'd hate to ask this of you, especially since we've only recently met, but perhaps you could talk to him for me? I think you may be far more persuasive than I could ever be."

Or he could potentially make it worse. That works, too.

SOME WAY TO SHOW LOVE, AMIRITE?

[kagayakashi]

She smooths out the creases in her gown and looks up at the lights that shine above them. "It's still not right that he doesn't treat you the way a pal should be treated. Prince or not, friends should care for one another." She crosses her arms and, well. Doesn't really find that much in his expression to tell her that he was only kidding. The sly smile went over her head too.

Her creased brow softens considerably and she stares at him, not long before the determination in her eyes becomes evident.

"No, of course not! It's alright with me. I'll do it. Somebody needs to stand up for you!"

Gracia makes a fist and pointedly raises it as if to make a point. The moment she met this Zen, she'd make sure to have a few words for him on how to treat his servants better. No, scratch that; how to treat his friends better.

SRSLY.

[ninjaservant]

For a moment, Obi wondered if perhaps he pushed this prank a little too far.

But it was only for a moment.

Part of it was because he was both amused and a bit confused as to why this girl would go that far for someone she barely knew. Perhaps she would do the same to any stranger, but it was still peculiar. Once again he was reminded of yet another redhead, and had to wonder if this was just a common trait of all girls who had that color hair.

So he gently placed his hand over her fist, lowering it as he gave a small laugh. "Thanks, Miss Gracia, though you don't have to go that far, especially for someone like me" he said. As fun as this was, he didn't want to have his master injured because of this little prank.

ZEN, MAKE OBI DO MORE MISSIONS SO HE'LL STOP BEING BORED

[kagayakashi]

This was natural to her, believe it or not. Magoichi taught her that putting her life on the line for people she considered friends was the very foundation of said relationship, so small things like a favor was nothing. Perhaps she was rash when it came to, but Gracia remains to be a person anyone could befriend with ease. Ease. Obi, of course, is not exempt. Already, she's considered him a friend. There was no reason not to, after all.

She looked at her fist and laughed. "Oh, I won't hurt him!" Her expression changed abruptly. "...Unless you wanted me to?"

Needless to say, Gracia had a semi-difficult time decoding Obi.

WHAT NO I DON'T WANT MORE WORK D8

[ninjaservant]

Obi just laughed. "You truly a strange young woman, Miss Grace," he said, though his voice was not unkind.

But at that moment he felt a brisk wind, and had noticed that the late evening was turning darker, making the bat winged jellyfish seem to glow every brighter. If it weren't for the unusual circumstances, one could say it provided a nice, calming atmosphere. Though he did not mind her company, it was better to be cautious.

So not wanting to risk any further danger from the curse, he turned back to Gracia and said, "It's getting late. I can escort you home."

Well it was the only natural thing to do. He would rather be sure she arrived home safely, especially after witnessing her reaction to the skeletons from before.

BUT IT'S GOOD EXERCISE 8Dd

[kagayakashi]

"I am? Um, thank you?" She laughed with him. Maybe she took it all too literally?

The change in wind and the overcast darkness (darker than usual, she mused) did not go unnoticed. While it was somewhat proven that the skeletons didn't mean any malice towards them, seeing them out in such an eerie night would be enough to frighten her out of her shoes. She nodded and stood, walking by his side.

"Thank you. I'm sorry. If I was a lot braver, I'd be able to go home on my own." Gracia subtly rubs the back of her neck in quiet embarrassment.