[Open] August Catch-All

[long_live_the_queen]

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...]

Comments

[long_live_the_queen]

[For a brief moment, she didn't hear Ursula there. Or not just Ursula. She heard a thin, frightened voice--a little girl, with the visit of her lost mother looming overhead but deeming herself unworthy of even trying to see her. "Would she even remember me?" Aiko had asked, teetering on a despairing edge.

Kaede hadn't let go then. She didn't let go now.

The Chimera grabbed Ursula's hand, callused fingers closing tight against a softer palm.]

Don't say that about yourself. You're more than that.

[The vehemence in Kaede's voice was as sudden as her misery, burning fiercely where her thoughts had been cold and somber before. She couldn't promise she wouldn't get hurt, not with any sort of honesty. Not when this human who'd rocketed up from near-stranger to important so quickly in Kaede's mind could be hurt instead.

Kaede...missed being attached. Missed knowing someone cared for her. She wouldn't give it up so easily again. Maybe that was why she'd latched onto Ursula so readily.]

[beariot]

[ If nothing else, the bond made it impossible to miss Kaede's meaning, or where she was approaching from with a plea like that. And she couldn't really argue with it, despite being worried by Kaede's recklessness. She couldn't just underestimate how important she was to the girl now, how much she meant to her. She let out a weak sigh, reaching to gently comb the fingers of her free hand through Kaede's hair, a gesture she hoped was comforting. ]

... Alright. But I do want you to be more careful. You're important to me, too, you know...

[long_live_the_queen]

[It wasn't fair.

It wasn't fair, dumping all of this on Ursula--all this baggage, all her desires and wishes for attention and affection she'd seen, but only experienced in fleeting glimpses. Just enough to know, acutely, what she was missing.

But Kaede couldn't bring herself to stop, to withdraw and fade away to the background again. She hated people. She missed people. And she didn't want to be alone again.

The Bond didn't lie. Ursula was just as worried as she said she was, and wasn't saying those things to lull Kaede into complacency. She wasn't going to hurt Kaede, even though Ursula's hand was so close to her horns. The Chimera didn't flinch this time, closing her eyes in a long blink before letting out a tense breath.]

I'll try to.

[beariot]

[ It didn't have to be fair. Ursula wasn't particularly interested in fair. She accepted Kaede's plea because her intuition told her everything she needed to know before they were even bonded. Kaede had reached out to her, and she would have never forgiven herself had she not been there to take her hand. It was just who she was, be it 'Ursula' or 'Chariot'...

She pulled Kaede in close, simply holding her there for a moment, letting affection and comfort pass along the bond, letting her soak up as much as she needed. ]

Let's head back to the apartment, when you're ready.

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede didn't try to wiggle away when Ursula pulled her close, stiffening only briefly when the Witch's arms first tugged at her. She'd frozen up when Aiko had embraced her, and lost that opportunity forever soon after.

Not again. Not this time. She settled her head against the other woman's shoulder, breathing out a quiet sigh, and letting warmer feelings into her mind. She knew they weren't hers, they didn't feel like anything her gloomy mind could conjure up, but Kaede didn't shy away from them this time. They were patient and kind, like Ursula herself.]

...okay.

[In a little bit, though. Kaede wanted to be selfish, wanted to bask in the feeling that she wasn't alone for a little longer.]