four ✕ voice/action
How quiet it's suddenly become.
This village really is the same as it's always been. [ The light crunch crunch crunch of new snow accompanies his voice, as does the occasional snap of a brittle twig underfoot. ] I'm not particularly surprised.
To alter little, to go nowhere, it's particularly--[ But he stops there, as if that line of thought was ( Read more... )
This village really is the same as it's always been. [ The light crunch crunch crunch of new snow accompanies his voice, as does the occasional snap of a brittle twig underfoot. ] I'm not particularly surprised.
To alter little, to go nowhere, it's particularly--[ But he stops there, as if that line of thought was ( Read more... )
It's all that's keeping her warm; that anger. It lets her ignore that she can barely feel her feet and she has no clue where her journal is, let alone which part of the forest the Malnosso dropped her in. And everything spins with each slow, hushed breath she takes.
Just one step in front of the other, girl. Don't stop moving. Don't think if it hinders your progress. Keep going, even if it's slow. Never mind walking in a straight line is difficult enough, when she's shivering and can barely see, swaying slightly like she might topple over. Can't stop.
She almost doesn't hear Saix call her name. And she certainly doesn't halt her progress, even as she lifts her gaze off the snow white floor to look him in the eye.] ( ... )
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We are still fifteen minutes from the village itself.
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Shithead... better hurry up. [She'll last as long as she's gotta... just, she could use ... maybe....
Her sway gets a little bit more pronounced with each step she takes]
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... [ This isn't to his taste. That much is plain in the stiffness in his expression and the trace of a frown that tugs on his lips. This isn't charity by any stretch of the imagination; he is not a charitable man.
But he takes her arm anyway, speaking in measured tones. ] If you fall, I'm going to carry you.
I would prefer that there be no objections to this.
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Let. Go.
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[ His voice is flat, cold, and utterly, tonelessly honest. ] That you choose of your own will to let me help you and thus preserve your dignity, or that I lift you from the dirt after you fall?
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Yet she doesn't move. The seconds tick off, announcing the stand-off that's already been decided. She can't work around the truth of his words]
... Until we reach the village.
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Then he pulls her closer, placing her arm around his shoulders and wrapping his own around her waist. He supports most of her weight when they begin to walk once more, letting her use her own feet to keep her balance. ]
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... She's so tired. With her head strangely full of air, it's like she might float away if not for Saix weighting her down. But until she sees Usopp, she won't stop for anything.]
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...she can't hold the borrowing against him, right?
He lifts up a hand to wave once he spots them and picks up the pace a bit. Must remember not to stare, yes. After all, he was turned into a girl once, too. ]
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But there is little in this village that is not strange. ...a case in point being the man waving at them, further up the path. Saix glances down at Sanji. ]
Your friend, correct?
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She thinks she makes out a form there. A quiet murmur escapes, a hopeful question]
... Usopp?
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[ And to Saix: ] Thanks for helping out.
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[ In a tone that sounds - a bit - like an order and completely dry besides: ] She won't be able to do it on her own.
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O-oi, I'm fine, you two!
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Sure you are. [ Usopp is not afraid to shoe it up. Course not. Don't mind him making the attempt. ] No kicking.
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