help me, darling. help me, please.

[rosestolilies]

[ So much to think about, and the clouds are no escape for your fine Queen today.

"Their own love in their rightful Queen can be strengthened. Compassion will show you both the way, I am certain. Some girls just want to ride the wind wear ever it takes them, and live life to the fullest."

Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Such a mess, it's all become such a mess! ]

- ♡ -
[ The mirror is recording as the Queen stands at the shoreline, the long stretch of the dunes at her back, the sheer plane of water before her. And overhead the clouds are still flashing with lightning, even as the serpent's bones rain down and warriors close in upon the ship. The storms are banished first, brushed aside with nothing more than an impatient motion. The ship will have to come down next, and she reaches upwards, pausing for only a moment when the High Priestess appears, her feet wet when the tide rolls in, and her head shaded beneath a paper parasol. She says something that can't be heard and the Queen nods distractedly, beginning then to reel down the Labrys as if she has caught it round with a lasso. The Pirate Queen appears at the rails, looking startled and irritated, calling out gruffly,]

Ready to open your mouth, woman?

[ Her majesty sighs, stating very deliberately, ] We do need to talk, yes.

[ The ship hits the ground with a spray of sand and sea, but the gangplank is lowered, and the Queen steps onto the ship, leaving the High Priestess standing at the edge of the tide. A squadron of large brown bears take up positions around the site. The Warrior Princess does not take long in joining them, her face cut and streaked with ash and blood. She does not take her eyes off of the ship, not even for a moment.

When the Queen reappears to see her there, she smiles bashfully. ]

High Priestess, you still have those bottled little folk, don't you, my dear?

[ Whatever the expression on the High Priestess' face, it is not pleasure, but she inclines her head obediently. Soon enough, a cat can be seen walking slowly down the beach, a rope in its mouth that is tied to a floating crate. The faeries inside rattle in their bottles, lights flashing within.

The Pirate Queen crows something rude and self-aggrandizing from the rails, grinning, and the damsels are led up from below deck by an honor guard of battered skeletons. The Queen opens her arms to them. ]

Darlings! I'm so glad to see you safe!

[ The Damsel goes to her, if no one else, and even she has soon moved on, hurrying across the sands to greet the Warrior Princess with a hug that is not returned.

The gangplank of the Labrys recedes when the crate is safely onboard, and though the ship does not seem to be moving, some of the skeletons wave cheerfully from the decks, giggling in that eerie way of theirs. ]


[[ooc; We will leave the comments open for all of you, but there will not be any NPC interaction on this post.]]

Comments

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ Silently, she places a hand on Katina's shoulder. Few people will probably be quite as grateful that she stays out of harm's way most of the time. It was actually somewhat frightening to be up there in the sky, with her, and know that one wrong move could have been disastrous. It nearly was for Subaru, after all, though she was lucky enough to be caught before she could find out if she could survive a fall of that height unaided. (Odds were low. She's not human, but she's not invincible.) ]

[grandtheftmecha]

[ She turns, placing a hand over Subaru's, smiling warmly at her. That look is enough to know that she was worried, probably more worried in general than Katina was. Then again, a lot of people probably were, if only because of her reckless approach once a fight's actually started - especially when Subaru and Akiha, in particular, are so strong.

...it'd be a lie that she wasn't worried about the two of them and herself when she had time to think, though. ]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ What can she say? Being worried for the sake of everyone was part of her Deal. At least it was less of an obstacle in combat, because there was too much going on to ever think she'd be able to watch after everyone.

But now that things were slowed down, and people were dispersing, the combat high faded, all of that worry comes bubbling to the surface. Even the tough Special Rescue Sergeant, Forward, combat cyborg can only carry so much of a weight for so long.

She smiles a little easier now, despite being tired. ] You're okay though, right?

[grandtheftmecha]

Who, me?

[ Katina raises her other arm to clap it down on Subaru's shoulder. She's the last person she wants Subaru worrying about right now, when she's feeling mostly fine and dandy. ]

I feel great for having just fought a battle against pirate skeletons.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ The clap surprises her at first, but the comment just causes Subaru's stunned expression to twist into a grin, and then, she laughs. For a good long minute. ] I guess that... really did just happen, didn't it? I'm going to have so many stories to tell if anyone from home arrives here, haha...

[grandtheftmecha]

[ See, it's totally ridiculous. Hopefully that diffused some of the tension and worry Subaru was feeling, too, as she drags Katina along with her laughing fit. ]

Seriously! My friends'd think I was drunk or something.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ She wipes at the corner of her eye. ] You're probably right. Or that this was all some kind of crazy story from a book.

[grandtheftmecha]

...again, I'd probably be drunk if I was talking about that like I was in it.

[ Or possibly on something else, not that she's messed with other substances much. ]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ Subaru shakes her head. Then she cannot stop herself any longer. Hopefully Katina's torso is relatively okay, because Subaru is slipping in for a hug. ] They'd just have to believe you.

[grandtheftmecha]

[ She winces a little at a tender bruise getting squished, but doesn't even make a sound, and wraps her arms back around Subaru. ]

I'd just keep telling it until they believe me.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ At least it isn't a crushing hug. She's a little too tired for that. ] Or they drag you away in a padded van? Mmm, I don't think I like that outcome.

[grandtheftmecha]

[ Neither of them have much energy to really squeeze each other that hard. ]

Pfft, they'd all be too scared to even make the call.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ At least joking around doesn't take too much effort.

Walking home, though... ] I know I could use some transportation like that right about now. Eheh.

[grandtheftmecha]

We could just lay down here and, uh... camp out.

[ It wouldn't really qualify as camping so much as passing out in the middle of nowhere. ]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Eheh, I'm all for a night under the stars, but don't you at least want to clean up a bit? [ And don't say "there's water right there" because a saltwater bath does not count! ]

[grandtheftmecha]

What, you never went a week without bathing while you were training?

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Aheheh, not really? Spelunking is one thing, but I generally don't start the trip cut up.

[grandtheftmecha]

Aha, I know you could handle the kind of training a soldier like me has gone through, but it'd be pretty different from what you're used to.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

I'm not going to say we were spoiled at the Ground Forces Academy, but I guess we're not quite on the level of what soldiers would get, training-wise. It wasn't like boot camps I've heard about! [ US Marina cadences aside... ]

[grandtheftmecha]

You aren't a soldier the same way I am, so there's not the same kind of focus on survival and being able to fight in shitty conditions.

[ Or killing. Not so much of that. ]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Mmm, maybe not, but those are still important skills. I can still do well in the wild, which comes in less handy here since we still have so many things left for us. Like hot showers! And microwaves. [ Pulling away a bit. ] Both of which I think I could make good use of right about now, eheh... so tired, though...

[grandtheftmecha]

Yeah, I can imagine you cooking with stuff you found out in a forest. I'd rather work with what we've got here though...

[ She stretches, stepping away as well. ]

Might just... fall asleep before I clean up anyways.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ She always makes "too much", even while out on her own. ]

If you want to rest, we should at least find some shade. [ Subaru waits for her to finish stretching before reaching out for a hand. ] C'mon! I'm sure I'll be re-energized after a quick nap. Then we can go back to the inn and take care of the rest. [ Not even asking if Katina wants to, first... ]

[grandtheftmecha]

[ Katina doesn't mind being dragged along like this, taking Subaru's hand. ]

Yeah, yeah, that sounds like a pretty good idea, just hope no one bugs us.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ With a little seriousness. ] I'll keep Mach Caliber on high alert! She'll watch out for us, like before. [ ...before? ]

«There is no need for worry.»