middaeg | I'm Sailing Away

Entry tags:

I'm Sailing Away

Who: Tataru Taru & YOU
When: Backdated to Litha and present. Sort of a catch-all for July.
Where: Various locations.
What: Litha shenanigans and also future prompts to be added.
Warnings: To be updated.

BACKDATED LITHA PROMPTS

Well, Well, Well...

_{[If she's being honest with herself it was a stupid thing to do. Going to peer into a well at night to see if the rumours were true of there being some sort of mystical, magical reflection had been an error on her part. Does Tataru know who pushed her in the well? No, she hasn't a clue. Does that matter at all? Not really. What matters is the reality of the situation, that she's stuck grasping at the rope that connects to the pail that's sunk to the bottom. Can she swim? Sure, thankfully she won't drown...but that doesn't make anything less frustrating or upsetting. She's soaking and frazzled and, well...needs help out of the well!]}

H-Hullo?! Oh Twelve, please help?!

Dancing Queen

_{[With the brothels opening up their dance floors to other performers, Tataru's eager to take to the stage and show off what she's got. Dressed in an outfit she'd debuted back at The Forgotten Knight, she's covered in soft fabric and jingly ornaments. Whether you catch her performing on stage or after she's finished her set, she's happy for the compliments and claps she receives. It might be jarring at first, to see someone so petite in such a place but it's clear Tataru's presence dominates whatever room she's in and she isn't without fans.

Whether you catch her after she's finished dancing or in the middle of the street hurrying her way to another brothel to perform, she's easier to hear than spot, what with the way she jingles as she moves. If she spots you as a familiar face she'll give you a wave with a smile. Otherwise, she might just accidentally bump into the back of your legs with all the commotion from the crowd, quick to stutter off an apology.]}

Flower Power

_{[Unsurprising to no one, Tataru's more than handy with her deft little fingers. The amount of flower crowns she's managed to weave together is impressive - so much so she's created a stack on a table beside her as she hums to herself. If she spots you she's eager to wave you down, coaxing her company closer.]}

Here, here! Come here! I know what you need.

_{[Is she going to put a crown on your head? You bet.]}

Love Boat [Closed to Henry]

_{[It seemed like a fun attraction to participate in. What wasn't there to like? Tataru's quite fond of water, especially to be out on it, and while the so called 'love boat' wasn't anything too impressive, it still was cozy enough she's willing to shill out a few cunes for the experience. Still dressed in her dancer outfit from earlier she easily jingles as she hops aboard, getting comfortable behind the sheer curtains. It reminds her a bit of some of the brothels in Ul'dah with their lush cushions and silk draperies but that's not what's happening here. Henry and her are simply taking a ride down the river, flower crowns adorning one another's heads that had been woven together prior.

Eagerly she waves him on, giggling when he finally settles down beside her and the boat sets sail. It's the first time she's gone on such a ride before and so she's eager for the novelty of it, grinning at him as she fluffs one of the cushions beside her.]}

This is nice, isn't it?

OTHER

_{((Other starters to be added below in the comments.))}

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[ Perhaps it was the griffin sitting on the edge of the well who pushed her? Who's now watching, eyes seeming to gleam a little.

It was meant to be playful. But she sits there, motionless, looking a little amused. ]

_{[Regardless of how it was meant to be, the reality is that Tataru is not only soggy but she's stuck in a well, clinging to the bucket rope as if her life depended on it. (Which it does, to a degree in all honesty...) The sight of the griffin has her wriggling and splashing about even harder.]}

F-Fordola? _{[Yeah, she remembers.]} Help me!

[ Good, she remembers. Fordola rolls her eyes, and dives down swiftly. She flies like a natural griffin, picking up Tataru in her talons, placing her on dry ground. ]

...better?

_{[Is it better? Well...it definitely beats being trapped in a well, even if she's dripping. Reaching up she grabs her hat off her head, wringing it out between her hands. Ugh.]}

Y-Yes...

[ She began to groom herself, biting at one of her arms as she sat like a cat. ]

You gotta be more careful. There won't always be somebody big t'help ya out.

_{[Okay...you do you, Fordola. Also please, she's still not sure if you knocked her in in the first place!]}

I was being careful! Someone or something knocked me in.

[Mira had thought she wouldn't get caught or called over due to at this point, she's running away from the festivities. Why? That's what happens when people are trying to force down love on her and it isn't welcome. Even if she is dressed up but not for the reasons Tataru may think.

But as she hears that voice, Mira turns around and quickly shakes her head.]

I...I am quite alright, thanks. Just trying to find the best way out of here, that's all.

The best way out of here? Whatever do you mean?

_{[Mira might not be here to party but Tataru sure is. Which really, shouldn't come as any surprise. The outfit Mira seems to be wearing is quite fashionable, now that Tataru's had a moment to give her a second look over.]}

But there are flowers here that'd go so well with your outfit!

Despite appearances, I was not brought here of my own volition. I was fine staying and working away from the celebrations I knew I would not enjoy.

[She's gotten more quiet as she folds her arms, looking away.]

Well that's a bit sour, isn't it?

_{[Tataru can get being overwhelmed but what wasn't there to enjoy about this celebration? There was something for everyone as far as Tataru could tell.]}

Don't tell me you don't enjoy flowers, Mira!

[Shall she list the ways? The fact that this is a love and sex festival and she had her heart ripped out a couple moons ago? Or the little fact of trying to love herself and is taking small steps to accomplish it? The fact that people have been shoving the damn emotion into her face and saying she needs to find love?

That's not love but manipulation. Maybe it's her bit as a dark knight but that isn't how love works. You can't force it in but it has to be accepted freely. This was not.

Obviously this was not the best answer the lalafell could give her because she goes quiet, stepping away.]

So am I simply to put on a smile and pretend to be content as others try to force something onto me? That my feelings in this case do not matter?

_{[That just gets a raised brow out of the Lalafell as she stares, a bit surprised at Mira's reaction. That was unexpected. Not only that, but it doesn't really make much sense either. Tataru is lacking context, after all.]}

I haven't a clue what you're speaking of. Not once did I imply your feelings have no merit.

That's how it feels.

[Of course she lacks context. No one seems to say a word, including herself.]

I've told him that I did not wish to come weeks ago; said that it wouldn't do me any good nor did I wish to ruin anyone's fun because of it. But apparently despite others speaking on choices and how I have them, no one seems to listen when I do make them.

[Just by how she holds herself, how tense her body gets, not making eye contact, how visibly upset she is by all of it, this is no temper tantrum but actual concern and being upset. Being at this celebration makes Mira feel uncomfortable and she's trying to not let it slip through to Irhya and Vanitas, especially the second since he and Sora are going on a date here.

To put it bluntly: Mira is Not Okay.]

I'm bothering you, I'm sorry. Mayhap I should let you be.

How it feels and what the truth of the matter is are completely separate.

_{[Yeah, Tataru's got the memo that something isn't right with the other woman. That doesn't mean she wants her to run off though. Setting the flowers she'd been fiddling aside she moves toward the Dark Knight, concerned.]}

You're never a bother to me, Mira. _{[She means that.]} Do you need somewhere quiet to be?

Edited 2020-08-11 23:36 (UTC)

[Something is very not right with the other woman, she would be correct. Her head is down and she grips her hands tightly just to show off how Not Okay she is.]

Anywhere but here. Please...

_{[Tataru doesn't have to be told twice. Nodding she motions for Mira to follow her past the stalls of flowers and a few handsy couples. Into an alleyway they go, the path between buildings narrow. After a few more twists and turns the Lalafell has led them away to a small clearing with a few benches set up. It's away from the festivities, on the fringes rather. So far none of the benches are occupied. There's room to breathe and things are relatively quiet.]}

Sit, please.

[She can breathe easier once they get further away from the festival. The fact that it is mostly just them two around does help Mira as she keeps her head down and and sits on the bench Tataru gestures.]

Thank you. I'm sorry again.

It's quite all right, Mira.

_{[Or well...she wasn't all right, but maybe she could be eventually. At least Tataru will do her best to alleviate her stress.]}

Please take a moment to breathe. I'm not sure what I can do for you but...if there's something I can do...?

I'm not sure what you can.

[She still won't look up at her and yet there the concern remains: even if she did say anything, would she be heard?]

Just want to get away, that's all. There's nothing for me here so why should I stay?

_{[Well considering how large Tataru's ears are, she's guaranteed to be heard.]}

Is there a reason why you feel that way? Did something happen?

_{[So far things had gone swimmingly between the newly-bonded pair. While not as wordy as her Bonding Ceremony with Henry had been when it came to the exchanging of vows, Tataru was still eager to hold Sephiroth's much larger hands in her own as she agreed to bind herself to him. With a few words exchanged between them, Tataru swearing to do what she could to do right by the harpy, the whole ordeal was over, much to Sephiroth's apparent relief.

That relief would be short-lived however, as Tataru hadn't dressed the two of them up to simply hold hands, say a few words, and then be on their merry way. Oh no. She has plans. After ceremony plans, so to speak. Holding the skirt of her dress up with one hand, the other's fingers firmly curled around Sephiroth's hand, she's eagerly tugging him out of the cathedral-esque building of the Coven. What destination does she have in mind? Well, that becomes apparent soon enough.]}

There, that wasn't so painful, was it?

_{[It could've been a lot worse, all things considered.]}

I figured we could get something tasty to eat and drink to celebrate, what do you think?

_{[She's expecting agreement. Anything less is unacceptable.]}

[He has simply resigned himself to his fate, a quality that Sephiroth is not normally given to, but one that Tataru manages to pull from him all the same.

The ceremony itself possessed the threat of too much pomp and circumstance, that much was true — however, at least his newly Bonded seemed to understand Sephiroth’s desire to keep it punctual, concise as possible, and to the point. To view it as a contract was not too far off the mark, and registering it in such clinical terms was necessary in order for him to parse exactly what he was signing up for.

It was all necessary, of course. He needed a Witch as a Bond, for threat of going feral when the moons were too swollen above. But while Tataru was nice enough to concede the ceremony being kept simple enough, he knew there was no escaping her celebratory drive afterwards.

Pulled by the hand, he has to try not to stoop as they leave the Coven, for all their height difference.]

So are you going to tell me what you had in mind?

_{[If there's one thing Sephrioth has probably learned simply from spending enough time with Tataru is that she makes it impossibly hard to say no to. Whether it's the big doe eyes, her roundabout way of getting what she wants or just her natural Charm™ who's to say? The end result is the same.

So far Tataru's kept to her word - neither of them are overly dressed (but they're quite stylish) and the ceremony itself was quite simple, all things considered. That left the celebration afterwards open for her to arrange. The possibilities? Endless. Or, well, somewhat endless. (She does have a budget to adhere to, after all.)]}

What I have in mind is dinner! For the two of us.

_{[Yes. A dinner date. She relinquishes his hand, so he can straighten himself once they're a little ways from the Coven.]}

Not at a tavern or some place chaotic either. Someplace refined.

Edited 2020-08-14 23:18 (UTC)

[That much is for certain. Tataru is in possession of a sort of energy that Sephiroth lacks, but in not so many doses that he can turn away from it. He cannot say that he has any grounds to hold her at an arms length this evening, anyhow; not when she has done him the service of a Bond, to keep himself more lucid on days when the moons are swollen in the sky, or when his need for magic supersedes that of a Bond with a fellow monster.

Sephiroth, who is usually not very malleable at all, decides to bend a little for her sake. But she's probably used to that from more than just him.]

Refined. [He echoes, and he's fine with that if they must. He isn't much a rough-and-tumble tavern sort of man himself.] Is this a dinner date in disguise, Tataru?

_{[It may be a service, a mutual boon for the two of them, but Tataru is genuinely fond of the wallflower soldier. He's taught her quite a bit now on how to defend herself and makes time for her when she requests it. Eventually, she knows, she'll twist his arm for other things. For now though she's focused on the present.

His question gets her laughing as she grins up at him, a hand raising up to cover her mouth with fake modesty.]}

Oh...I've been caught, haven't I? I suppose I must confess it to be so!

_{[A wink follows, playfully.]}

It'll be tasty, I promise.

[His own lips quirk into something that might resemble amusement, should one squint and seek it out purposefully.]

Very well.

[With a touch of seriousness, in which it is difficult to tell whether or not Sephiroth is lobbing back the quip.]

I'm going to expect nothing short of perfection.

_{[The one thing about being freshly bonded is that the connection between their souls is like a little window she can peer through. Even if she weren't able to pick up on the slight upward tug of his lips, she'd be reassured by what she feels.]}

But of course. Do you think I would settle for anything less myself?

_{[Not likely. As easy going as Tataru was she did have high standards.]}

No. Certainly not.

[If he must be resigned to this fate, at least the company is someone he can stand. Such is the nature of a Bondmate, one supposes.]

Even so... try not to go too overboard tonight. I don't want to have to suffer for your own lack of control.

_{[That gets a laugh out of the Lalafell as she turns her head to cast her gaze upward toward her new Bondmate. As much as she wants to say he's wrong...it'd be a lie to say she doesn't enjoy a good party now and then. Tataru Taru can hold her liquor rather well...until she doesn't.]}

I'll be a respectable date for the evening, I promise.

_{[She says as much but there's still a devious glint to her eyes all the same. Eventually she leads Sephiroth toward a quaint restaurant, where the waiter eagerly sits them down at their intimate table. The place is busy enough but has a calmness about it to be appreciated. On the menu laid out before the two of them seems to be various dishes of the meat variety, but the special seems to be noodles. Tataru herself seems to have been eyeing a spaghetti dish on the way in.

Noticing her short stature the waiter quickly brings a more appropriate chair for her to sit on, one for fae, exchanging it for the more human-sized one that had been set out initially.]}

Ah...everything smells so good!

[Unlike Tataru, dressed for her earlier gig and thus quite festive in her own unique right (she draws eyes! Henry noticed), Henry's wearing his regular mage garb. In that right, he, too, stands out. ...As being one of the Mirrorbound.

The dark mage's step isn't hesitant at all as he hops in with just enough force to rock the boat, and he giggles right back. They really do seem like a couple, like this.

And with it being Litha... Henry doesn't think about it too hard. If he did, he might blush.]

Yep. [It's a simple answer for a simple time.] I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. Probably something without curtains and cushions.

[An uncomfortable wooden boat. This is constructed with far more intent. ...If he thinks about that one too hard, he still might flush about it. Whew.]

You know... Back home, where I'm from, sometimes armies recruited dancers. [A thought spurred by her attire.] The Ylissean army sure had one, and she was really good at what she did. Almost as good as she is at screaming in embarrassment, nya ha! Did you have dancers who were also talented with a blade, where you're from?

Me too.

_{[At least with regards to the curtains and cushions. Even so, Tataru's not one to turn down a little decadence here and now, especially if it's included in the price.

The question about dancers has her eyes widening, listening as he speaks of armies recruiting dancers. It's not exactly unheard of in Eorzea either, at least when it came to a certain dance troupe.]}

Oh yes, we do. I've never seen any of them fight but I've seen performances. The way they wield chakram and cast magic is beyond impressive. I'd never be able to do what they can do.

_{[She doesn't have the legs for it, as far as she's concerned.]}

Magical dancers? I wonder if I could be a dancer? [That's a thought that has Henry bursting out into a giggle fit.] Oh, heck no! I have two left feet, and one of 'em would be broken in five minutes flat!

[But that's him, and that's just because he's natively a magic user. Tataru, however, gets a second regard.]

But hey, why don't you think you can do what they do? You can do magic now, so surely you can dance AND toss spells at your enemies. Right?

_{[He says he couldn't be a dancer but as soon as he puts the idea in her head she's picturing it, or at least imagining him in various get-ups.]}

Well...I suppose it could be a possibility. I wanted to be a Summoner though. Then I wouldn't have to deal with any weapons at all.

_{[Dancers did have chakram, at least some of them.]}

[And Henry imagines those kinds of dancer rings he sees carried by Olivia. Even mages, where he's from, require a weapon of some kind... Tataru wants to be unburdened. Aefenglom's got her covered, in that regard.

Henry raises a finger.]

Well, hey, you can be a hands-free magic user here, whether you're dancing or keeping your distance. Oh! Didja know that enchantment's a popular discipline for dance? And it's super useful. [The sorcerer nods.] You could charm your dances, enchant your fabrics, magick your jewelry...

[Now they're just talking magic shop. Henry does enjoy magic.]

It's basically a curse, where I'm from. But curse is a loaded term. Psshhh.

Wait...enchanting stuff is considered cursing it where you're from?

_{[That gets a dramatic head tilt out of Tataru as she looks at her boat buddy, little hands smoothing out the fabric of her skirt.]}

That's common in Eorzea though, to enchant fabrics, jewelry and other things.

[Henry's a bit of a restless sort, so he sort of slides off of the seat of the boat to sit on its floor. He crosses his legs crisscross and nods, bouncy in his overall presence.]

Uh-huh. Enchantment, illusion, divination, and most abjuration... All of that stuff was usually considered sorcery, and achievable only by the talents of one of us shady practitioners of the dark arts. All of the other mages and sages who stuck to wind, fire, thunder, and somesuch would be more like... scholars of universal and healing spells. We sorcerers did all the nitty gritty stuff, like hexing our foes with death curses. But a dark mage like me, caught healing? Heck no.

[But back to enchantments.]

It took a bit of convincing to get my less dark-inclined comrades to see the merit in a curse, but it's basically an enchantment. Glad to hear it was just a regular thing where you're from!

I see.

_{[It's an interesting distinction to make, none the less. Raw, elemental and destructive power was attributed to Black Mages back in Eorzea, but sorcery overall was far more defined. Needless to say, enchantments weren't just something shady wizards did.]}

It was quite regular. You should talk to Urianger if you're ever interested in learning about magic where I'm from. Not that it'd do you any practical good but...

_{[More and more she can't help but think he'd fit right in if he were to live in Ul'dah. He'd certainly be eyed by the Black Mage brothers at any rate.]}

Well, I'm happy you decided to dabble in a bit of white magic here, Henry.

_{[She'd have lost her arm if he hadn't healed it, after all.]}

[Thinking about her arm, just as she is, Henry nods in agreement. He can't help but agree: it was... a strange blessing, to be seen as a healer here. (A healer in multiple ways, if he's being honest. He thinks he could just change the perspective of the Coven if he could just show them Necromancy in the eyes of a good-meaning Mirrorbound...!)]

Yeah... It's a different beast, but I still get to think about blood and viscera while I do magic. So I think it's a good fit for me, all things considered. I just have to think about putting it all back together again, rather than tearing a body to pieces!

[With that, he gives a hearty laugh while he touches Tataru's arm — almost as though inspecting it for any sort of residual scarring from times since passed.]

_{[She can't help but let her gaze fall to his fingertips as he presses them against her arm, remembering the damage that had been done by Tendou's jaws. It's an interesting way of approaching healing, that's for sure, but it makes sense ultimately.]}

It is a good fit for you, I agree.

_{[He'd done wondrous work, after all.]}

Aw, shucks. You're gonna make me blush, and I need that blood for other things, like living.

[A blush isn't going to kill you, Henry... He laughs anyway.]

But enough about me and my new healing hobby. It's a little too sunny for me to focus on too hard. [He makes a sort of "pshh" noise. A dark mage, healing out of the goodness of his heart?! What was the world coming to...] Did you wanna learn Enchantment, Tataru? I could make that dream into reality, if you wanted.

[He'd admit: Enchantment isn't his strongest suit here in Talam, nor is it his weakest. (He would have to say that Conjuration and Illusion are his weakest, if he had to rank them.) Even though Enchantment was the closest thing to hexes from home, well... Here, they just weren't dark and risky enough. Only Necromancy really filled that niche, however, and otherwise Abjuration and Evocation were his calling for reasons that involved protecting and obliterating.

Curses were a special perk to dark magic. To have them be so separated was strange, but it made him break down what about sorcery was the draw.]

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I'm Sailing Away

Well, Well, Well...

rude fordola...rude!!!

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Flower Power

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BONDING TIME BACKDATED LIKE CRAZY...

you're fine bc i'm heckin late

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tfw dreamwidth eats your notifs...reeeee

PFFT DON'T WORRY IT HARDLY MATTERS BC I'M A SLUG

GRIPS

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henry time

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