eswareinmal | (no subject)

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Characters: ~~Batman~~ Ginia Solana and YOU. And you. And yes, you too.
Open? Yes!
Where: All around Schwanheim.
When: Evening of RD 13
What: Ginia is doing her part to keep the streets of Schwanheim safe. And testing out her new teleporting abilities.
Warnings: Maybe violence if someone wants to fight with her, otherwise, probably G/PG.

Compared to Davenport, the crime levels of Schwanheim is practically laughable. Your typical trouble-causing thugs, a few thieves making easy coin off the dull-minded villagers, and maybe a corrupt or at least loudly annoying nobleman or lady. When it came to patrolling the night for trouble, there was honestly little to be found.

It still doesn't stop Ginia from taking to the rooftops at night. It was relaxing being able to run about without the annoying hoards of gossip-seekers chasing her down (though apparently there were still enough gossipers active at night and tying up the thieves hadn't exactly been a subtle move) and there were plenty of shadows for her to test out her new ability on. Finding out she could teleport had been more of an accident, the sort of accident that involved falling through a wall and coming out a few feet away. After that, it was careful refinement, practice, and falling onto unsuspecting people at least once or twice. Having something akin to nightvision was also an added bonus.

Ginia perches on top of a tall building, a dark silhouette in the night with her armor on and mask up. She watches the street and the few people going to and fro. Similar to her first training exercise, she picks a person to follow and sneaks along on rooftop, moving as quietly as possible and leaping ahead through shadows. If they look toward her direction, she stealths, and if she runs out easy paths to follow or they enter a building, she gives up. and while it hasn't happened yet, if someone tries to give chase? Well, that would be a fun change for the night.

If she spots any bit of wrongdoing, she steps in, striking fast, knocking them out, and leaving them for the city authorities to find. That bit reminds her a little of home, a feeling that leaves her feeling nostalgic, sad, and sick.

When she's had enough fun for one night, she heads back to her new home, forsaking the front door in favor of shadow-stepping into the bedroom.

((ooc; TL;DR, feel free to catch Ginia at any point in the night. Be someone she stalks! Catch her as she takes down a criminal! Join her on the rooftop for a merry chase! As a warning, since she's trying to be secretive about things, Ginia won't be saying much at all. However, for anyone who has seen her in her armor, feel free to call her out on it.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I-I'm not sure either. You can never be too safe or prepared though..." Luceti and life experiences in general have taught him that much at least. And at Ginia's question he looks a bit...apologetic. He shrugs as he pushes away some over hanging branches and allows her to pass through.

"I-I just...didn't want to bother you two is all." You know how he gets Ginia. Interrupting your time together so you could go picking mushrooms and herbs with him. "I-I've been making progress with it. Usually going out every other n-night. I-I mean it's, um, not all too dangerous. Only when you get a bit deeper." He hopes tonight is the same. The forest was highly unpredictable at times though.

"You and Giles d-don't have to worry about me. I-I'm perfectly fine going out a-alone." He is, really! He hasn't gotten any terrible injuries yet.

Edited 2012-08-07 01:15 (UTC)

Goodness, Helios. Yes, Ginia does know how he can get. She laughs softly, the light huffs of air filling the quiet night.

/Goodness, Helios, you are not a bother at all. I think I would have enjoyed some trips out into the forest, learn a little more about the land around us, inspect some of the flora and fauna about. I'm sure Giles would feel the same./ Giles would also have a fit if he knew Helios was going out by himself, and going out by himself because he didn't want the bother the two of them. Yes, there had been a time or two when Helios accidentally interrupted an intimate or would-be intimate moment, but they never really minded in the long-run.

/You should also know it's in my nature to worry. I know you can take care of yourself, I know you can take care of yourself far better than I can take care of myself, but I still worry. What if something happened and you couldn't reach us?/

"I-I don't know. I-I just...want you two to-to have your t-time and space together. B-Besides I don't think after the-the Chimera we ran into Giles would w-want to really come out and see the local fauna." It's mumbled and partially indiscernible but after the talk he had with Giles those weeks ago...he's kept his distance.

It might not bother the two of them, no, but it does bother Helios. But maybe it's because of his past with Elise and how everything turned out so terribly wrong. Interrupting intimate moments that you may never get the chance to have again was something he berated himself terribly for. Even if he hadn't known, even if he hadn't meant it. He kept his distance now when they were together because they both needed it. They certainly needed each other now more than ever.

He hunches his shoulders a little at the signed question. He really never thought that far when he went out in search of whatever he needed. Truthfully he never really thought about what would happen. Self deprecating personality never really helped much either. "I-I don't know." A shrug.

"I-I would have th-thought of something. But. But nothing did happen s-so there's no need to worry, hm?"

Chimera? She vaguely remembers Giles mentioning something about that and gives Helios a small side-glance. He's exactly the kind of person that wouldn't keep his distance even after almost being eaten by a Chimera. In fact, he'd probably try to search it out to learn more about it.

/No, I suppose not, but it doesn't make the idea any less worrying./ She sighs and shakes her head, willing to let the topic drop. In the bushes, something rattles slightly. Ginia stops and reaches for her knife as a sizable snake slithers out and crosses their path.

"I-I know. I apologize for-for not mentioning this to you or Giles. I-I should really know better. I-I know you two worry-" Helios' words fall on his lips at the rattling of bushes. It's not before long that he sees that snake and his entire body language changes. Fear, mostly, is the main present factor in his stature and his eyes widen slightly behind his glasses too. Good lord that was not what he was expecting. For a man who could deal with Chimeras, vampires, werewolves, and dragons you'd never think that a snake would do much in terms of fear.

His breath will just hitch in his throat and Ginia might find that he's actually moved as far away from the snake and almost behind her. Nope. He cannot do snakes. He cannot stand or be near them much at all. And in the dark only made it worse. He'll basically move behind Ginia then when it hisses and moves towards him as if sensing his fear but only wanting to continue on its path. His breathing is still a bit deep as he tries to control himself in front of her. Because, gods, this is the most embarrassing thing to have a panic attack over isn't it?

Edited (because I clearly cannot spell) 2012-08-07 23:50 (UTC)

Hello there, snakey. Ginia watches the snake with interest as it goes in its merry slithering path without any ill-intent toward either of them. Her attention quickly goes toward Helios as he moves to hide behind her, his fear almost tangible. She turns to face him, giving him space between them. The snake is long gone, having already slithered off into the underbrush.

/It's okay, Helios, it's gone. Just breath deeply, you're fine./ That he's afraid of snakes and so deeply so is a little surprising, but she doesn't judge. What's most important now is making sure he's calmed down and okay. /I'm here, don't worry./

He'll watch it the entire time with fear, revulsion and mild panic until it's completely gone out of sit. He'll turn to Ginia then his breath catching in his throat a little at her words. Gods he was being silly, wasn't he? Just a snake, nothing strange about it either. A normal snake without any magic or powers behind it. Mostly now he just looks ever so embarrassed and feels entirely foolish for letting a mere snake, in a forest with creature ten times its size and ferocity beyond even the most wild of animals, get the better of him. But the fear runs deep and it runs jagged throughout him. He swallows thickly regaining his composure as he tries to still his breathing to something normal and not so deep or rooted in fear.

"S-Sorry. I-I'm sorry I just..." he looks terribly ashamed as he moves away a little into the shadows of a nearby tree.

"I-I don't, ah, I don't like them v-very much. I-I just had a very bad experience with one." And here he'll cringe looking away momentarily. Very bad is quite a big understatement.

There may be bigger and scarier things in the forest, but that doesn't matter. If he's afraid of snakes, he's afraid of snakes, and she doesn't judge him for it. She lets him move away, looking over in the shadows for anything that might be there. Nothing. Good.

/That's okay. I think everyone has a fear of some sort. I'm still afraid of fire. Being afraid doesn't make you any less a person. Do you want to stop and take a small break before we go on?/

"I-I know. I just...I feel so s-silly to be afraid of something like that. I-I just can't help it. The p-panic that sets in..." his voice is subdued and ashamed. He feels so pathetic and weak to have a fear like that. But even thinking about the cause makes him shudder and bite his lip gently.

"No. I-I'm fine Ginia. We can c-continue. It's probably better if-if we get out as s-soon as possible." Because there are things that lurk in these woods that will not just cross their paths and leave them be.

Ginia steps in and gives him a very light hug of support. Her opinion of him is no less at all, though it hurts seeing him so upset at himself. It was fear, an understandable act.

She pulls away and nods, looking around to make sure there aren't any other snakes hiding about. He's right; they should be moving on and getting out as soon as possible. /Lead the way./

Deeper in the forest, something stirs.

The hug was unexpected but Helios only tenses a little under it. He doesn't know why he can't break his fear but he knows she thinks no less of him. He just...hates having it because of what happened in the past. Just another scar wrought onto him for his own foolish mistakes. "Th-thank you Ginia..."

Helios gives a grateful smile and moves back in front of Ginia continuing on the designated path. He'll stop for a moment at the rustling of trees and cracking of branches. The silhouette of his body goes tense then and he looks back over at Ginia.

"Did you hear something?"

The sound is hard to miss. Ginia stops as well and looks toward the direction of the sound, trying to make out whatever it is might be coming toward them. It's large and moving at a fast pace, and by the time Ginia can even see what it is, it's already upon them.

It's a monstrous beast the size of a grizzly bear with giant black claws, but with the fierce feathered head of an owl. It screeches as it charges them, cranky at having being woken up and smelling intruders in its domain. The smell was strange, but food was food.

In the seconds it closes in on them, Ginia takes action; she forcibly shoves Helios aside then quickly shadow jumps away, disappearing and reappearing behind the creature. Her knives are pulled out, the weapons so pitifully small against such a large creature, and holds her ground, readying for an attack.

Everything happens almost too fast for Helios to even retaliate quick enough. It's only when Ginia shoves him out of the way, just moments before a claw swoops down through the air to slice the place where Helios was standing to ribbons, that he realizes they were in some trouble. He almost double takes as Ginia shadow jumps away but his awe is broken by the loud vicious snarl of the creature before them.

He's seen many things in his lifetime but a bear's body with an owl's head was never one of them. It's weaknesses and habitat and even personality all unknown to him. Such a creature was a deadly opponent when you were in the dark and in a less than maneuverable space. Helios' eyes dart around for something to use. The vines! His eyes glow as he dodges another angry swipe to his person. He'll back up against a nearby tree to catch his breath and then mutter a small word. In and instant the roots, branches, and vines hanging around the beast come to life as the trees try to ensnare the predator. It's only a little too late as the large creature reaches around back with it's claw meaning to take Ginia off its back.

"Ginia!"

With Helios the easier target, the creature lunges after the wizard with another mighty swipe of its paw. In what is largely a crazy and perhaps even suicidal move, Ginia lunges at the bear, flinging herself at its back and driving her knives in. The creature's dense fur and even feathers remove some of the blow as she stabs furiously, feeling like she's hitting the creature with toothpicks. But after a few slashes, she manages to get its attention as Helios works his magic.

The monster roars in pain and anger and reaches back, the tips of its claws singing into Ginia's soft leather armor. Before she can scurry it away, it swings its mighty paw around, flinging Ginia directly into a tree. She smashes directly into the solid trunk, leather armor doing little to absorb any impact. Ribs crack under the impact and she falls to the ground, heavily winded and stunned.

"Ginia! Damn!" Helios isn't one to curse very often, only certain situations put him on enough edge to do so and this? This was one of them. Ginia was stunned, dazed, and they had an angry owlbear ready to tear through the both of them if he didn't do something. Helios will use the darkness as cover as the bear slashes and tears at the vines, it's a good distraction as he makes his over to Ginia. But the vines and trees can only hold it for so long, they had to leave and now.

"Ginia!" He'll shake her shoulder trying to look and assess the damage done. He can't tell if anything is broken or cracked only that that force had to have done some damage. He didn't even have Nala's magic anymore to help heal her wounds. "C-Come I-I'll help you up."

And it's at that point that the vines and roots and branches give way and the bear angrily turns on them with a hungry growl. It's teeth are bared as it lunges for Helios and Ginia then claws extended. It's with one swipe that Helios sees stars and his vision goes completely blank. The next thing he sees is the black starry sky above him and his left arm is shooting excruciating pain throughout his body. He'll let out a choked back cry of pain as he hurriedly sits up. The bear turned towards the more injured of prey, him. One look of his arm and he knows its broken, face blanching as he sees specks of blood forming on his sleeve. He doesn't even want to know what it looks like beneath the cloth. He'll back up continuously using his legs and his good arm to propel him as far away as possible. His breath is shallow and his glasses are askew on his face, magically reinforced to not crack which is a good thing. His back finally comes up against the rough skin of tree's bark and he gasps in pain.

Every breath is greeted with pain and discomfort. It's one she's grown accustomed to over the many years, but it's still no less rattling fracturing a rib. She can feel Helios shaking her and hear the furious cries of the bear tries to free itself. She even feels the heavy steps as the bear-monster rushes at them. One moment Helios is there, the next moment he goes flying away at a might swipe.

No. No, this isn't how it ends, this can't happen. With a rattling breath, Ginia forces herself up to her knees and up to her feet. Her entire torso aches with pain and she wants to lay down and rest because it would feel so good. But resting is not an option, not when Helios is laying bleeding on the ground and the bear is stalking toward him. Her fighting knives were scattered when she was thrown away, but she draws a throwing knife from a hidden pocket on her arm and shadow jumps to a tree branch above the owlbear. She drops down on it and drives the knife into one large yellow eye, shadow jumping away and landing in an untidy pile several feet away.

The owlbear howls as fluid drips from its eyes. It claws at its face, raking its face further as it tries to remove the offending knife.

Helios is shaking still from his own injuries and attack He'll close his eyes slightly waiting for the end. All he can think about is how sorry he is for Giles and Ginia and everyone else. He was so stupid to come out here tonight and now Ginia and him...

The furious cries of the owlbear make him snap his green eyes open. He'll watch in fascination as Ginia drives that knife through one of the bear's eyes. He winces in pain alongside the creatures furious roars of agony. And then it'll click. Metal. It's a lightning rod. And he'll slowly gather enough energy to cast his one final spell. His green eyes glow a brilliant hue as a bolt of thunder strikes the knife from the heavens. It'll sear into the creature's brain and effectively stun or possibly kill it. He's not sure at the moment and he's too rattled to really even notice or care. Perhaps when his wits are about him more he'll feel bad for what he's done but Ginia was in danger and he had sworn to keep her safe. He'll use his good arm to help himself up off the floor. His legs wobble and his arm shakes with a frightening ferocity.

"G-Ginia...?" he doesn't bother to ask if she's alright because he knows the answer. He'll swallow thickly as he limps and makes his way around the fallen beast's form. Helios never keeps his eyes off of it as he does so and a spasm of it's muscles makes him inhale sharply, but no other movement comes of it.

Despite the apparent ease of the attack, Ginia hates taking a life. Human, creature, it doesn't matter. Taking a life is a sad thing, especially when the owlbear was only trying to defend its territory and get himself food. However, their need to survive was just as important too. Ginia lays on the ground, truly exhausted after her last leap through the shadows, each breath as painful as the last. There's a blinding flash, a thundering boom, and a final scream from the owlbear as Helios' spell strikes true.

She hears him call for her. As much as she wants to continue laying, she forces herself back up, gloved hands scrabbling against vines and rough bark in order to haul herself up. The smell of charred flesh, and burnt feathers and fur fills the air and she gags slightly.

/I'm fine, don't worry,/ she sighs sloppily, slipping slightly and falling back against a tree. She tries her best to smile. /That was exciting. Let's not tell Giles./

It's a terrible smell and his own wooziness is really not helping. But he fights back down the bile and urge to vomit because, no, he has to be strong. It's broken arm hangs limply against his side and it hurts so very much to even stand there and move. Every action causing pain to shoot through his synapses. Giles. God, he bites his lip.

"I-I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have let you c-come." He would have been the only one injured tonight if he hadn't. Giles was going to be furious if he knew about this though. The other man didn't need anymore stress than he already had as is. Helios winces in pain shaking his head.

"You-you want to lie to him?" He doesn't know how well you can lie about a broken arm but then again Ginia can probably come up with something. Helios for the most part was about to pass out.

"W-We sh-should tell him though. I-It's only right..." he sounds extremely tired in that moment and completely out of sorts. Lying...so easy to do but it was always hard when it came to the other man.

Ginia shakes her head and glares slightly. Goodness, she can't imagine what might have happened if he came out by himself, though now was not the time to speculate on alternate scenarios. She works her way closer to him, pausing to unbuckle her armor and release herself from the constricting armor. There were slashes across the leather surface, not all the way through, amazingly, but certainly noticeable. Hopefully someone could fix it or get her a new set of armor.

Able to breath a little easier, though still no less painfully, Ginia eases up to Helios' side and loops an arm around him to help support him.

/We'll figure it out when the time comes. Let's get back home first./ Home. Certainly a long way away, but they could make it a step at a time.

The action of Ginia helping him to his feet gets a very noticeable wince and hiss of pain from Helios. He'll bite his lip and move in unison with her as they walk out of forest. Each crack and snap of a twig making his eyes dart to the source. His arm was throbbing painfully and he was trying not show it. But the look and paleness of his face gave him away quite readily and he knew that it needed to be tended to as soon as possible. They should have made a makeshift sling...

"I-I'm sorry about, about your a-armor..." that would cost more money to fix not to mention their own injuries. He wonders vaguely if there's even anyone in the town who can set bones.

Ginia shrugs lightly, trying not to jostle Helios too much. She liked the armor given to her, but maybe someone could repair it or maybe she could find another set to work with. Something resistant to owlbear claws would be nice.

They make it a few more steps behind hindsight kicks in. Right. Even in a dangerous forest full of animals waiting to eat them, injuries should be tended to first. Carefully tugging her cape off, she gnaws on the edge until she's cut through enough to tear a strip out of it. With a bit more searching, she finds a stick good enough to support his arm with.

/Sorry, I should have done this earlier. I'm not sure what I was thinking./

"N-No Ginia y-you don't have to..." do that. He sounds sincere as he watches her ruin her cape now too.

"It-it's fine. W-We we both s-still quite a bit out of it. I-I could have waited until we got back." He sounds so dour and apologetic. Though the setting of his arm is painful and it hurts when she does it. He fights back tears and a whimper as Ginia fits the sling around his broken arm and shoulder. But his breath does hitch audibly and he does wince. The steady sharp biting pain turning into a dull throb. He'll bite his lip and look at her with a grateful tiny smile.

"Thank you."

Edited 2012-08-10 23:33 (UTC)

It was a silly cape anyway. Sure, it looked pretty dramatic and added all sorts of flair when running about, but Edna Mode had the right idea; no capes. It serves as a much better bandage anyway.

Even working as carefully as she can to set his arm, pain was inevitable as she moved the arm into place and put the sling around it. She winces and looks apologetically at him, breathing a small sigh of relief when it was set.

/You're welcome. Do you have any other injuries? Are you bleeding?/

There is splotching of blood on the arm that's been broken. He's probably got some cuts and bruises from that hard swipe. It was meant to be a killing blow but he had raised his arm and turned just at the right moment so that he didn't have claw marks going through his chest. But he'll still shake his head. He doesn't want to have her look at his arm, especially not with the scars. Even if Alice has seen them Ginia never has and that always puts him on edge, even just a little.

"No I-I'll be fine. I-I can clean them. It's p-probably just some, some scrapes and minor cuts..." or not, who knows. He'll look at them later when he doesn't have to bother either her or Giles about them. And then he looks to her with a worried look.

"What about you. Y-You should probably b-bind your, your ribs."

Edited 2012-08-11 01:32 (UTC)