middaeg | [Open] August Catch-All

Entry tags:

[Open] August Catch-All

Who: Kaede, others, you!
When: August in general
Where: Within the city, Smugha Cave, others to be added
What: Thread holder for the month. Feel free to hit up my plotting post here or my plurk at

blueraven if you'd like to hash something out!
Warnings: Potential violence, others to be added as needed

I. Any District

[When Kaede crossed the city, it was usually in direct ways—or more aimless meanderings. But the city was busy and crowded and there was only so much the promise of free clothing could do to smooth over the prospect of dealing with that many people for so long. So, the former it was.

This also meant casually trespassing in people's yards. Empty yards—or at least ones that seemed empty on first glance, she wasn't stupid. Where possible, the Chimera walked along courtyard walls instead of actually straying in them, but sometimes that wasn't exactly feasible. She didn't take anything while she was pacing with purpose between rows of flowers, a garden, or otherwise—but the antlered Chimera was highly visible, her hair dark pink and her arms covered in bright scarlet feathers.

...well, okay. She did linger sometimes. Those flowers were pretty.

Or perhaps she's hovering near a patch of trailing honeysuckle, or perched conspicuously atop a wall with her head tilted—did she hear a dog barking?]

II. Caught in the rain

[Of course it'd be raining on the day Kaede had to return these books. Of course it'd do so while she was mid-transit. And of course she'd find that this newly purchased cloak leaked.

The worst of it seemed to be on her head, where the hood had been rather hastily modified to fit around her antlers. It looked nice in the store, and in cooler (not rainy) weather. But it let water in through those gaps, and the left shoulder seam had started to leak, too.

So Kaede slouched, under an awning outside a shop, a home, anywhere with a roof, the books tucked into the one dry spot still under the cloak.

Let this storm pass soon. Let this storm pass soon...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You look like you could use a rescue.

[ Kaede's anxieties rang out like a siren for Ursula, pulling her away from whatever else she'd been doing to come find the poor girl. She slipped into the empty chair beside her bonded, reaching to gently take her hand in her own, giving it a small squeeze. ]

It's okay. I'm here. [ She spoke softly, just barely above a whisper so Kaede could hear it over the revelry. She hadn't realized, of course, by taking Kaede's hand... they were now expected to dance. ]

[Kaede felt the Witch's presence before she touched her hand, but the contact still made the Chimera start a little, back stiffening up. Her gaze sharpened to alertness, and just as quickly settled back again.]

Wh—oh.

[Soothing calm flowed through the touch like cool water, gently nudging the stressed thoughts of hers back like a gardener pruning a tangle of vines before they grew into gnarled coils. She'd felt both surrounded and isolated here, but with a familiar face nearby none of that mattered so much.

Feathers smoothing back to her head, Kaede sighed quietly in relief, hand closing carefully around Ursula's much softer one.]

...I don't know how to dance, though.

[The crowd in front of them had thinned enough that hiding was now difficult. Some of the guests had even started moving the chairs aside to make more room for dancing.]

[ So that was it, huh? Well... she supposed she could handle that. But maybe not quite so center stage. She looked about for a less crowded space, somewhere just off from the main revelry, with a few others who seemed to not be much for big groups. She gave Kaede's hand a squeeze, as well, tugging it as she stood back up. ]

Well... I do. It's been awhile, though, so be patient with me, okay?

[Kaede mumbled an affirmative, feathers still pinned back and sulky as her thoughts. She reluctantly stood, the energy transferred from the Witch's touch doing a little to encourage a sullen animal out of its cage, but not much.]

Better than I can do.

[She was still speculatively wondering if she could make it over the wall. That was an option, this was an outdoor wedding. But that would mean leaving Ursula behind, unless the Witch could scale sheer fifteen foot walls with no handgrips.]

It's not a competition. [ Ursula hummed, pulling Kaede along gently until they were at that mostly secluded spot she'd scoped out, settling in front of her. ]

Now... Place your other hand on my shoulder, okay? I'm going to put my other arm around your waist.

[The Chimera's thoughts were still on the sullen and anxious side, but she didn't need any dragging. Ursula seemed to have a plan, and that was good enough for Kaede. They were going where the crowd wasn't--mostly. There were still witnesses around and Kaede didn't like that part, from how her tail kept lashing. Just...just focus on Ursula. The Chimera dragged in a steadying breath, turning her back to the other dancers.

The forewarning that further touch was coming was appreciated, and this time Kaede didn't start or twitch. She curled her free hand on the other woman's shoulder, the soft fabric catching on her callused palm.]

Like this?

[ Ursula let her settle it there for a moment before she gingerly wrapped her arm about Kaede's waist, pulling her in just a bit closer, but not so close she'd have trouble moving her feet. Once more, she let her pause there a moment, to get used to the position. ]

In dancing like this, the person in my position usually leads. So I'll be stepping first, and you just keep your feet with me, okay?

[Kaede's feathers prickled a little when Ursula drew them closer together, instinctively wanting to pull back and put more space between them again. The feeling passed, but they were close enough that the Witch could hear the little 'er' noise she made. Her tail had finished growing (...she thought) but that spot on her back Ursula's arm was curled around was still sensitive. It felt oddly ticklish, and comforting, and weird and that surely spilled over the Bond too.

The Chimera sighed through her nose before taking another breath. The dance instructions were simple and she'd already almost forgotten them.]

Okay.

[Just...one step at a time. Climbing over the wall could come later.]

[ The bond made this easier by bounds. She didn't need Kaede to struggle with the words to convey her feelings in that moment, didn't need to force her to conceptualize what was happening to her. All Ursula needed to do was feel it, and respond in kind, sending her own optimism and confidence through, an unspoken promise to take care of Kaede, to treat her fragility with the utmost delicate hand and treasure any little bit of comfort they found.

She had told her she would. Swore it in a vow. And even something as simple as a dance to others was a meaningful step for them. They found the rhythm of the music, and Ursula began to move, guiding Kaede with her, with the same care her own mother had taken in teaching her. ]

[It helped, a little. Kaede had stumbled over her own vows a few times, and the feeling of something that wasn't her in her head was still jarring.

But it wasn't the Voice. It offered comfort, but didn't have suggestions and insistences and expectations bundled with that comfort. It offered encouragement, but it didn't speak. Ursula didn't need to.

Some of Kaede's trepidation and a bit of fretting nervousness still wavered through the Bond as she took another step, focusing in on the Witch's movements and where her own body was in space. Whatever else was going on in this secluded dancing spot blurred into unimportance. Was that step right? It seemed to be right. And that one?]

[ Ursula was never not fascinated by how much the bond could leave unspoken between those tied to it. She could feel Kaede's questioning and uncertainty without her having to say a single word, and in turn offered her guidance and assurance without a peep from her own lips. Kaede was doing fine, if a little stiff. She knew she'd get to the point where she wouldn't need to think about it nearly as much. ]

[So far, so good. Kaede expected some kind of chiding, but that was nowhere to be heard or felt. Not after that step either. Maybe she was doing this right after all.

It happened eventually, though--the shorter girl stepped a hair too quickly, and trod on Ursula's foot instead of the ground. Kaede was wearing light sandals, but she was still mortified and stiffened up like she was about to freeze and apologize on the spot.]

Shh, shh... it's okay. Just keep going. [ Kaede wasn't exactly a heavy girl, even with her monstrous nature, and Ursula's boots were fairly sturdy. She could handle a pinched toe or two. The last thing she wanted was for Kaede to get hung up on guilt or shame in her mistakes. ]

[Ha. Ha. About that guilt problem.]

[The Chimera mumbled, a not-entirely-human but identifiably fussy sound. Her tailtip curled and flicked out of time with their steps--and they did keep going, no pauses. The Bond held only patience and reassurance.]

Are you sure?

[Kaede's voice was a hoarse whisper, and she had to lean in to be heard under the music. She didn't want anyone else to hear.]

[ Ursula nodded, smiling brightly. ]

I promise. [ And it really was fine. She projected that confidence as much as she could over the bond, let it settle over Kaede like a warm blanket, keeping her safe and cozy, and free from any judgement. ]

[Oh. That was a nice feeling. And an...odd feeling. Kaede was just dancing, poorly she thought. She hadn't (really) hurt anyone, lashed out at anyone, escaped from anywhere--what did she do to deserve it? To earn that reassurance?

...but. She missed it, desperately, and clawed after the suggestion of comfort like a drowning person for air. It was selfish of her.

Maybe she should be selfish more often.

Some of Kaede's feathers even lifted up in response to the warmth that wasn't physically there, like a bird on a cold day.]

[ Ursula was learning to be a little more selfish herself. She had Ozymandius to thank for those little lessons, those little moments that allowed her own radiance to 'shine' for others. With Kaede as her bonded, it was important she have a steady anchor to cling to in her moments of insecurity, that Ursula be a star to guide her.

How fitting of her name. ]

After this, how about we take a break away from the crowds, hm? Just you and me.

[Kaede couldn't help but perk up a little at the suggestion; she'd lost track of the people around them or if anyone was looking at her, but they hadn't gone from her mind. This was still a stranger's wedding with strange people and Kaede intently disliked the people part of that equation.]

Please. [Another whisper, still hoarse.]

[ Ursula gave a silent nod in response, holding Kaede close to her as they finished up the song. The rhythm was almost dreamlike in its steadiness, and she couldn't help but notice its similarity to a certain song from her world. It helped know just what sort of mood to keep in her motions, and how tender her approach to Kaede needed to be.

When it was said and done, she simply let Kaede stay there in her arms for a bit, gently breathing and stroking her hair. ]

[The feathers in Kaede's hair were cashmere-soft despite how bristly they looked, and were still fluffed out a bit from before. The contact wasn't too close to her horns, either, so beyond an initial shiver she didn't recoil. She should be wary and suspicious of Ursula's intentions, letting the Witch that close.

But Kaede didn't need to be, and that...confused her, too. There weren't any deceptions or tricks or...anything that made it through the Bond. A note of surprise flickered past the confusion (and contentment) through the Bond's thread--she hadn't needed to worry the entire time they'd been dancing.

She could hear Ursula's pulse and feel her breath brushing past a long ear, steady and calm like the emotions the Witch had been broadcasting. And hear the--

--wait. The music had stopped. Kaede stirred from the haze she'd been in, the world coming back into focus instead of blurred, unimportant things surrounding Ursula.]

--we were going somewhere.

I was going to suggest my apartment, but we can go anywhere you like.

[ She hadn't missed the trance Kaede had found herself in a moment ago. It may have been only temporary, but Ursula found herself glad she was able to provide that for the chimera, at least for a moment, where her heart could be still and she could feel truly at peace. ]

[Now that she was alert again, Kaede's head turned this way and that to assess her surroundings properly. The dancing had stopped, with the pairs mostly disengaging to drift back to the main gathering. Some were staying to talk, and someone was surely going to make eye contact with her soon enough.]

Just--away.

[The Chimera let go of Ursula too, but grabbed onto the Witch's wrist instead and tugged her insistently the opposite direction everyone else was going, to a dead end part of the walled garden. She kept looking back over her shoulder every few steps, like a fussy cat making sure its human was following it.]

Can you climb?

[ Between the question and the wall, Ursula didn't need much more to figure out where Kaede was going with her inquiry, simply giving her a nod in response. Normally she'd try to think of less unorthodox ways to ghost a party, but well... it could be a nice moment of bonding with Kaede if Ursula showed her just how athletic she actually was. ]

[That was much simpler than Kaede thought it would be. She'd expected to do more convincing, in Kaede's...usual means of being convincing. But she didn't.

With that nod, the Chimera turned towards the wall, picked a spot near some trailing vines--and after a few tail swishes, sprang upwards to give herself a head start in climbing. Her claws rasped against the brick, but she didn't hear any louder sounds or any startled exclamations behind her.]

[ Ursula carefully followed behind. She may not have had Kaede's creature advantages, but she had experience and more strength than her usual presentation gave the impression of. For her approach, she used the surprisingly secure guides for the flowers to keep herself steady as she went up, hold by hold, behind Kaede. ]

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