[Open] Canon Update & Catch-all!

[bad_crowmance]

Who: Crow Armbrust and YOU!!
When: January 4th and thereafter
Where: Mirror House and around Aefenglom
What: Canon Update/Catchall
Warnings: Major spoilers from Trails of Cold Steel 3! Possible themes include death, betrayal, political unrest, mental manipulation, supernatural disasters... I'll update if needed!


I. Mirror House.

[ Crow did not, as a general rule, go to the Mirror House. That's not saying anything against it so much as he just preferred to look forward towards his life in Aefenglom with his friends rather than focusing too hard on a path with no future to it. Feelings get complicated and Crow is allergic to feelings, or at least he doesn't like having his on public display very often. But he'd gone to the mirror house today, almost as if he were compelled to. He didn't stop until he'd reached his own mirror, one that was familiar to him in more intimate ways than any other.

And then he touched it.

He wasn't aware a couple of his friends had been there-- or were perhaps with their own mirrors at this very moment. Either way, his experience was a little different than theirs. For one thing, they were catching up on a few short months-- Crow had nearly a year and a half all at once, flashing vividly behind his eyes in full detail. A life he hadn't expected to keep going, or rather-- to be brought back. Such as it is.

There are physical changes that come for him in a way that the others hadn't really gotten. A year and a half for Crow is enough to grow a little, to fill out just a bit more-- for his hair to grow in length, to become suddenly several shades paler. And at the end of it, Crow lets out a gasp as he finally--

He pulls his hand away from the mirror almost as if he'd been burned. But it only takes a moment of recovery before he's glancing around and then folding his hands behind his head. ]

Well, that's enough time reflecting on things. Heh...!

II. Aefenglom.

[ It's going to be pretty hard for Crow to hide that something's happened when you can take one look at him and tell just by the physical differences that something has. But this is Crow Armbrust and he's very willing to deflect as much as he has to. Of course, maybe you don't really know him-- maybe he doesn't have anything at all to explain. He's more than fine with that, he doesn't really want to talk about it anyway.

After his adventures in the mirror house, you might find Crow eating in a nice spot at a local café, a nice cup of hot chocolate in hand. Or you could find him by the docks, chatting with some of the workers there or else just looking out at the water for a brief moment before moving on. You might even find him wandering around the shopping district, looking for all the world like any other person out to buy whatever it is that's caught their interest. Either way, if you look like you want to talk to him, he'll lift his hand and grin. ]

Hey, what's up?

Comments

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow is employing a tactic known to some as "fake it until you make it." It's actually going reasonably well for him as he walks along with Elliot with a grin. ]

Guess that means nine-inch stilettos are out.

[ Does Elliot even know what that would entail? Who knows. ]

I promise I'll do my best to go easy on you.

[fiddlestick]

I-Isn't a stiletto a knife?!

[Look he hangs out with a lot of violent people, not a lot of fashionable people]

Thank you. I'd appreciate it.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow is only mildly surprised Elliot knew that in the first place. ]

That but also a particularly thin high heel on a shoe. Probably not a great start for a beginner, anyway.

[ He grins. ]

But they're lethal enough on someone's toes to deserve the name.

[fiddlestick]

H-Holy crap... Women's fashion is intense.

[The girls in his life are already pretty hardcore but jeez this took it to another level. Though he doesn't question why Crow knows all this, because of course he does. And sometimes it's better not to know how he learned it.

Lucky for them, the shoe store was pretty near. So it only takes a minute or two to reach it.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Because of course he does. Just don't ask if he knows how to walk in them himself.

He strolls casually into the shoe store and takes a moment to get his bearings before he starts to look for heels. ]

I'm guessing.... boots for you, probably? A boot with a heel would look nice, but there's always more of a slip-on shoe to make getting them on and off that much quicker.

[fiddlestick]

[I 100% believe that he does. It just feels right.

Elliot follows after. He's been in the store before to shop for shoes, but never in the area with heels so he's following after watching]

Well, I know I like wearing boots. [He's even wearing them now!] So maybe it'd be easier to adjust?

But...really, I'm supposed to be indulging you, so pick what you want.

[bad_crowmance]

Alright, let's see...

[ He pauses to look at one pair for what may be a worrying moment before he may hear Crow muttering something under his breath and then he turns to--- ]

Oh! There we are! Tah-dah!

[ He holds out a reasonable pair of heeled boots. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot can practically feel the start of cold sweat as Crow starts looking at those first boots. Those are definitely not his style and also-]

Uh, n-not sure my legs are long enough to fit into those-

[He makes a sigh of relief when Crow moves away and picks a more reasonable pair. Maybe he would've balked if they'd been shown first, but compared to the first ones]

-- Oh! Those don't look so bad.

[bad_crowmance]

The first ones are nice but these ones definitely scream "Elliot" a lot more.

[ He's aware! ]

[fiddlestick]

Y-Yeah, I'd agree. I don't think I'd pull off the bad girl look very well...

[He knows he's a soft boy. There's no denying it ever]

Hand them over and I'll try them on, okay?

[bad_crowmance]

It'd be hot, but it wouldn't be you.

[ He holds out the boots to Elliot. ]

Let's see how it looks.

[fiddlestick]

Ha...yeah, that sounds right.

[A couple weeks ago, Elliot probably would've taken that to imply he couldn't be hot, but well ... certain events during the swimsuit party killed those misconceptions from Crow alright.

So instead he takes the shoes, first glancing at the size]

Oh, pretty close! I just need one size smaller.

[Without any fanfare, he looks at the shelf Crow pulled the boots from and pulls out a pair that is the next size lower. Which, sure, begs the question how Elliot immediately knew his shoe size in women's sizes -- but he's not elaborating.

Instead, he sits down to pull off his own boots, and pulls the new boots on. The upside- they fit! And look cute! The downside ...his pant legs cover most of the boot's height. Pants: the true enemy.]

Can't see most of it...but I think it looks good otherwise!

[bad_crowmance]

[ At least Elliot knows better now! ....That being said, Crow is immediately very curious how Elliot knows his size in women's shoes but he won't ask. Yet. ]

We could solve that if you wore shorts with them-- or a skirt!

[fiddlestick]

[....Slowly turning his head to look up at him. He was too ready with that answer]

Wait, is that why you went with boots in the first place?

[bad_crowmance]

I'd considered the idea!

[ He continues to be completely shameless in his responses. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Sweet Aidios. He lets out a sigh and slumps his shoulders. Yep. We're down this rabbit hole. And since it's still easier doing this than going home....]

Sometimes you're really unbelievable...

...Fine. They sell some clothing in the back. [Cause rp logic don't question it] Go pick something out and meet me by the fitting rooms.

[Why not. If today's proven anything already, it's that adult life is already so goshdang weird.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow heads towards the back and picks out a mini skirt after some careful consideration. Once he's wandered over to the fitting rooms, he holds it out for Elliot. ]

There we go!

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot in the meantime pulls off the heeled boots and slips back into his own, so he doesn't murder himself trying to walk, and heads over to the fitting rooms.

When Crow meets him there...........yeah. He had no idea why he had any speck of hope that Crow would favor shorts. Because of course he wouldn't. He blushes as Crow holds it out]

...Oh boy.

[But, a deal's a deal. He reaches out and takes the mini skirt, before disappearing into the fitting room. Crow will be able to hear the sounds of Elliot undressing and redressing, along with the occasional anxious sound.

Eventually though, he pulls back the curtain of the dressing room. He stands, albeit woobly, in the high heels with the mini skirt. He's even taken off his vest, so his white shirt matches better with the skirt.]

H-How does it look?

[He red from blushing and stands like anyone whose never really wore high heels in his life, but besides that it's definitely not a bad look, especially with the exposed thigh thanks to the skirt]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow only barely restrains the urge to just immediately take a picture of Elliot, instead letting out a low wolf whistle. ]

You look good! You look really good.

[fiddlestick]

[Thanks Crow for showing SOME restraint, and the flattery. His cheeks heat up, not hating this entirely]

O-Oh...good! That's good.

[Now excuse him as he reaches out for Crow because Aidios he's about to fall over in these things. THIS IS NEW AND HE IS NOT NATURALLY GRACEFUL.]

N-Now how do you move in these things?

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow reaches out to grasp Elliot's upper arms, helping him steady himself. ]

It really is a good thing I didn't go for nine inch stilettos, huh?

[ He's teasing. He wouldn't have actually done that. ...Probably. ]

First of all, you're going to want to take smaller steps until you're used to it. Put your heel to the ground first, then roll smoothly forward onto your toes. Once your weight is on the balls of your feet, shift forward as if you were walking on your tip toes, and push forward for the next step. Keep your ab muscles engaged and push your shoulders back to keep your posture straight.

[fiddlestick]

[Whew! No falling on his face today!]

Y-Yeah, I'd say so! These are scary enough.

[Probably. He tries to take that in, but..]

T-That's so much to remember for walking. [He doesn't even remember the first time he learned to walk!!! He gulps] Just don't let go until I got it, okay?

[Because otherwise he will fall flat on his face. But very shakily, he will try to follow those instructions. Heel to the ground....roll, well, kinda smoothly forward, then...

Sure enough, Elliot is slowly moving forward. It's got the grace of a baby animal trying to figure out how walking works, but he's Doing His Best]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow is being a Good Bird for once in his life so he holds onto Elliot the entire time, his grip firm and steady as Elliot figures out the whole walking-in-heels thing. ]

There you go! It's just a matter of getting used to it.

[fiddlestick]

It's a lot to get used to.

[He complains, and yet he keeps at it, trying to learn how to walk. In a way, it's almost therapeutic to have something to focus on some intently. No time to think about the darker thoughts lingering in his mind, gotta stay focused on walking without falling. Maybe if he can learn something like this, everything's a little less pointless.

So, he keeps trying. There's plenty of slip ups, and Crow will probably have to catch him a few times. But he's got that focused look on his face that he does when he's working hard on a style of music he's learning. It's got his attention. And the more he does it, the easier walking becomes. He slips less, his steps come faster. Until...]

...O-Okay, let go.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow nods and lets go, moving to the side in the process. He'll keep an eye on Elliot so he can rush over to catch him if he falls, but otherwise he's going to let him walk on his own. ]

You've got this!