Completed [Bronze Woods] Undead Company [Fubuki Kouri]

[Isolde Seibold]

{5th of Summer, 513 AV
13th bell}

If Isolde had been alive, she would have been covered in sweat. Her lungs would have been heaving, her heart beating crazily inside her chest, from heat and the exertion of walking out here, into the Woods. As she was, she felt a strange discomfort that she couldn't quite describe, but that was it. A Nuit's body was not prone to growing tired. Simply to shutting down altogether, piece by piece, when the time came, and fortunately that time was not today. No, not today, and thank the gods.

It was a glorious day. The Nuit was in particularly good spirits. It was Summer.

The heat was enough to put her in a good mood. It seeped into her pale skin, Syna's rays warming her heart, her mind, her very soul, along with her unliving body. The Nuit felt so good; she was basking in pleasant memories as much as in the ample light. The warmth always brought her best memories to surface. It was a nice break from the rest of them, which generally weren't all that nice.

There had been all those times with Vaughn, by the fire, snuggling close. His long-healed hands, so ugly and marred and perfect, enclosing hers, or cupping her cheek tenderly. His body so warm beside her, while Wynry slept soundly in the other room. There had been camping out in the tiny backyard, building up the fire as high as it would go, baking fire-fruit pies, teaching Wynry to hold the irons over the flame for the perfect amount of time, until the bread-crust was lightly browned and toasted and the filling was piping hot, berries heated to melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Or taking Wynry and Caity and Vaughn to go romping and running about --or in Caity's case, flying-- and having a lovely, quiet picnic in the woods, just the three of them, like a real family. Even that unexpected meeting with Kale in the fields, for the first time since they were children, that year when the drought had hit and turned everything to dust. But dust had not been enough to stop her from falling in love. The Nuit found herself smiling, leaning against a particularly tall, handsome tree. Such pleasant, heart-warming memories. She was almost happy. It was almost as if she was alive. The young-appearing woman looked up at the sky, the gorgeous blue and white expanse spreading out of reach of even this tree's tallest branches, the puffy clouds sailing along by the short breeze like lazy boats on a calm sea.

Another memory. Of she and the Burned Man practicing magic, out in the wilderness where they wouldn't be condemned for the practice. His familiar voice coaching her, rising in annoyance when she messed up, or rising in congratulations when she achieved her goals. Piper had stayed well away. Pycons and fire shouldn't mix, he'd said. Those were the days that he would go off with Eagle, soaring into the broad sky, scouting while the rest of the company molded magic, playing at wizards. That, of course, hadn't been in Syliras, but somewhere close and cozy. Up here in the woods, probably. Maybe right around here. Not smiling now, preparing herself, the Nuit straightened, the rough bark of the tree scratching hard against her back, even through all the layers of clothing.

That was why she had come. The Nuit wanted to start practicing Reimancy again. She just needed someplace out of the way to do it.

Well, first thing's first. The Nuit settled herself on the ground, closing her eyes, leaning back against the tree. The Burned Man had taught her that Reimancy was dangerous; personal magic. It was easy for someone unskilled --or unskilled and out of practice, in Isolde's case-- to overgive and find themselves with a major headache... or worse. Better play it safe. Settle her mind, ease away distractions. The process was almost like meditating. It was focused around breathing. It had been especially important for her, after they had figured out that she was a wind Reimancer, or the beginnings of one. So the Nuit filled her lungs --something she normally did only to talk, and had started practicing doing more often-- and let the breath go. The breaths weren't particularly deep, but they were what the Burned Man had called "belly breaths." They filled a different part of the lung, the lower part, and were better for oxygenation, or so he had claimed. He had been the expert, she wasn't going to question him; if he had told her that standing on her head would have taught her magic, she would have done it and who cared if she looked like an idiot. The thought made her mouth quirk up at the corners, and she shook her head. No. Stop with the memories, and go with the concentration. Breathe in. Out. Let the air flow normally; don't take deep breaths. Focus on the feeling of the air taken in and out through the nose. Think of nothing else. Clear your mind. A familiar feeling was spreading through her chest, a measure of peace and... what had he called it?

"Inner solitude," she breathed aloud, eyes still closed. Yes, that had been it.

OOCOkay, so just to be clear, the tree she's leaning against is none other than Kouri's Tree! And if you have any better suggestions for the title/description I'm all ears, because I'm terrible at making them! ^^'

[Fubuki Kouri]

The Bronze Woods. The vast forest just outside of the Fortress City, a huge stretch of unforgiving wilderness directly facing with a bastion of safety. The forest that had so much memories for a certain translucent little girl, the forest where she made her home, and the forest that she was floating through right now. "Hm hm hm~♪" Kouri happily floated pass the trees and vegetation as she headed to her favorite tree. She had left Rena, the little ghost whom she adopted as her little sister, inside their rented room at the Traveler's Row. Kouri needed to check on her tree and the belongings she stashed there. It was unlikely that a thief would venture this deep into the wilderness, but you can never be too careful. Hmmm... I wonder if Rena liked roses~ Kouri happily thought, she was deeply attached to her adoptive little sister. Rena looked up to her as a very dependable older figure after all and with nothing left to lose, Rena completely depended on Kouri for the moment. I need to teach her more about our powers... It was pretty much obvious that Rena's mastery over her ghostly powers were far below Kouri. Rena even struggled just to pick up a single tiny objec with her tendril, like a spoon where as Kouri could manipulate sixteen daggers at the same time with great finesse. One thing similar about their powers was possession, it seemed the ghost sisters' mastery at that particular skill was rather abysmal. Do I need to go 'inside' people more? But it's so tiring... It was very much true that possession was the most taxing power of a ghost. Kouri could only possess someone for a maximum of fifteen chimes before she became completely exhausted. Ehehe~ It doesn't matter~ I can just tran with Rena to possess people! Ahaha~! Just the thought of spending time with her little sister brought her so much enjoy. She floated even faster, to the point of flying. She was determined to get back to Rena as soon as possible. Rena's a good and obedient girl, she would not do mischievous things. Unlike me... Finally, she saw it. The clearing that was so familiar to her. The clearing where a tall, majestic, tree stood near it. The tree that she stashed her belongings, the tree that... had an intruder beside it?! "........" Kouri went silent as she saw an unforgettable face. It was the black-tongued-creepy-woman, Isolde. Kouri's eyes narrowed to reptilian slits. This abomination dared to desecrate her home! It was extreme sacrilege!! Kouri's hair ribbons disappeared and her hair spread out like a white cobra hood. She would drive this humanoid pest out of her home! One way or another. In truth, Kouri was terrified by the Nuit. Her gut feeling told her that Isolde was... something unnatural, something that shouldn't exist. Something... Kouri didn't know for sure, but ever since she met her at the Rearing Stallion a season ago. Her smudged face and black tongue image burned deep into her mind. Kouri moved silently upwards, even did some blinking burst to arrive at her tall tree branch where her treasure hole was located. She then extended her hands and four thick black tendrils jutted out from her back. The tendrils then quickly traveled into the hole on the trunk and when the came out... they each were holding four chakrams. Each chakrams were composed of four identical daggers, two chakrams were made of steel daggers and the other two were cold iron daggers. "Grrrrr! Ahahaha..." Kouri let out a low growl and a sinister laugh as she spun her quad chakrams. The spinning metal of death ready to serve their masters. Kouri then shot down to the ground, like an seagull diving to catch its prey. Then she quickly landed near the resting Nuit and her four chakrams followed suit, rapidly spinning on their own axis and took their position around Kouri. "You've got some nerve... invading someone else's home, black-tongue!!!" She basically screamed at the Nuit, her haunting voice echoed in the clearing. "Now! Since you've made yourself comfortable... shall I introduce you to my lovely pets?!" As Kouri spoke her ultimatum, her four spinning executioners slowly inched closer to the nuit. Creating loud sounds of spinning metal akin to a buzz-saw. OOCIsolde better think fast!

[Isolde Seibold]

OOC!No! You've ruined her good mood! She'll be depressed and frightened for months. If she lives that long. ^^'

The Nuit's eyes fluttered open, and she gave an eerie, almost trance-like look to the livid little girl flickering before her. Her thoughts were cloudy. Her emotions dulled. Her breathing remained shallow, steady. Somewhere far away, she was certain that she had been stupid, stupid, stupid, coming out here as she had, letting her mind wander away. The thought was next to meaningless to her. The feeling of tranquility wouldn't leave her chest. In fact, when she saw the little girl, the peacefulness seemed to tighten in on her, grabbing hold with long, strong fingers. The Nuit had the nagging suspicion that those fingers were denial. Here she was, facing a nightmare, and she couldn't even take the poor, dead girl seriously. Isolde felt an instant of deep regret. She should be afraid. She should be. She was just having a hard time comprehending the change. Things had been going so nicely for once. For just once. And then it had been torn away from her. Truly the gods did hate her. They had even let this little girl take the warmth from the air.

The Nuit flopped her head to the side, body relaxed, and slowly, slowly edged her way away from the spinning daggers. Their noise was bothering her, breaking through this strange, peaceful shell that had wrapped itself around her. It wouldn't be very long, no, not long at all, before the whole feeling shattered in and the Nuit was flung into a complete, wrenching panic. She could already feel the flutterings in her stomach. She clutched a hand there, the other going to her cheek. She found herself opening her mouth to mumble out some words. If only her head would clear, she could think what would be the best thing to say. But no, no wait. That wasn't right. That was wrong. Her head already was clear. She didn't want to go back to the pain and fear. In fact, she needed to stay far, far away from it.

"I'm sorry," she said, and sounded confused. That was alright for now, as long as the stutter stayed away. "I don't know what I did to offend you, but I'm sorry. Okay? I'm-- I'm--" It was getting hard to look at the child. Oh gods, gods, please, just not Wynry. The Nuit didn't want to look at the girl and see Wynry, not again. That was it. Isolde looked down, and was unable to bring her eyes back up, even though she was aware that her weakness was probably a fatal mistake. The fear was coming in fast. She clutched at the calm, panicking a bit, chest beginning to heave, wanting to hold onto the feeling and having it slip between her fingers. She was coming out of the trance. No, go back!

Her mouth, desperate, was moving again. "I'll leave, if you want me to. I'm so sorry. I'll leave. I didn't mean-- mean-- t-to invade your space-- I didn't s-see you-- I'm s-sorry. I-- I thought it would-- would be-- be s-safe here." And that was the really distressing thing, wasn't it? It had felt so petching safe. Out here, away from everyone, just Isolde and her memories and her meditation. She wiped a hand across her face, her eyes, not daring to risk a glance up at the girl. Her body had slowly slunk downwards; she was huddled in on herself, arms tucked in close, knees drawn up to her chest.

"I-I'm sorry." The horror was real now; she had stopped breathing; she was frozen; just another tick and those deadly, dreadful spinning blades would start slicing and slicing and cutting and chopping her alive. The thought was too terrible to bear. She let out a jagged cry, bringing her hands up, a pitiful defense. "Pl-Please," she gasped, "D-Don't hurt-- hurt this-- this body. Please. She-- she doesn't d-deserve to be a-a-all c-cut up like this. Please."

OOCHah, I have to be some sort of genius. You told me to think fast. So what do I do? I think slow. ^^' Truly, truly, a genius. I just hope not a dead one. Oh, and sorry if the post sucked.

[Fubuki Kouri]

OOC:(( I'm sorry! I hope Isolde could recover soon... "GRRRRRRRRR!!!" Kouri's mind was filled with fear which she offset with anger and rage. She wanted for this undead to leave her home alone! Kouri knew the woman did nothing wrong to her, but her very presence and unnatural aura greatly dreaded her. The timid act the Nuit showed just fueled Kouri's urge to kill her more. She didn't hear nor care about Isolde's plea due to the loud sounds of her spinning chakrams and her state of mind. The chakrams were now just inches apart from Isolde's neck, face, and eyes. A little push and two chakrams would ravage the Nuit's jugular while two chakrams would destroy all parts of her face. "You wlll die! DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DI-" "BIG SIS!!!" !!!!? The chakrams suddenly stopped moving and spinning as if suddenly frozen mid-air. Kouri's eyes shot open as she heard that voice. The high-pitched childlike voice of her little sister, Rena's voice... How could she be here?! Kouri told her to stay in their room at the Traveler's Row, didn't she? "......" With a shocked expression on her face, Kouri completely ignored the Nuit and turned around. Her eyes then spotted the very familiar black dress with white ribbons, the light blonde hair, and the... bewildered violet eyes of her little sister. W-what is Big Sis doing? Rena was completely shocked when she heard the maniacal laugh and screaming of what sounded to be Kouri. The little sister was curious on where her big sister was going to do in the Woods so she silently followed her, Rena completely didn't expect that her big sister was going away to murder someone. She put both of her hands to her mouth, completely terrified. A monster had replaced what should have been her older sister. Though they looked very much alike, this monster's crimson reptilian eyes were glowing and her hair lashed away at the air like living serpents; from her back emerged four ghastly black tendrils with each of them holding gruesome weapons. Still, Rena still believed that the monster in front of her... the monster that almost killed a seemingly innocent and terrified woman... was indeed Kouri, her adoptive older sister. "W-what are you do...doing, Big Sis?" She could only let out a broken sentence. Her mind in a wreck, trying to comprehend the situation. Was this her sister's true side? "Rena?!" Kouri's psychotic state dropped completely, her eyes returned to normal, and her Soulmist relaxed itself. She quickly dashed to her beloved little sister, knelt down to her level, and hugged her tight. All of her chakrams also followed suit, but they were no longer spinning and just looked like floating pretty dagger decorations. "Rena... Rena... i-it's okay... nothing's wrong... I-I'm sorry if I scared you..." Kouri rubbed Rena's back, comforting her. Her mind was wrecking for an explanation, she had just shown something to her little sister that she shouldn't know about. Her insane side. "B-big sis... w-what were you doing?" Rena slowly returned Kouri's hug, but it was clear that she was still terrified of her own sister. "W-why a-are you... a-acting like t-that? I-it w-was... s-scary..." "................" Kouri couldn't came up with a proper explanation. 'Oh! That woman had black tongue and looked unnatural so I wanted to kill her' sounded so wrong, Rena could think of herself as an insane sister. "I was... Rena... you see... this tree is my home... a-and that woman... that woman is a monster, Rena..." "E-eh? But she doesn't look like it..." Rena didn't completely buy Kouri's explanation. If this woman was a monster, why did she looked terrified? If one could be accused of acting like a monster, it was her own sister. "She... she have black tongue... y-you know... a-and... no body warmth..." Kouri tried to salvage her justification for her actions, but it was rather futile. Rena seemed to not understand that a walking corpse like Isolde was an abomination and Kouri didn't want her to taint the clearing where she made her home. "Just like us then? Only we don't have black tongue, right.. Big Sis? Y-you're not mad, right?" Rena tried to convince her own sister, Rena knew Kouri wasn't an evil person... or so she thought. ".........." Kouri closed her eyes and was silent for a good fifteen seconds. What should she do? She really wanted to kill that abomination, but it could possibly scar Rena's truly innocent mind. Very well, she would feint acceptance for now. Once Rena's out of sight, she would butcher this black-tongued undead without any mercy. Kouri slowly opened her eyes and beamed her sister a gentle smile. "You're right, Rena... I understand and I'm sorry... I will not do it anymore..." "Promise, Big Sis?" Rena asked, her tone truly innocent and pure. ".................................................................................." Kouri couldn't answer. How could she? Would she stoop so low as to lie to her own sister, just for killing a terrified Nuit? A Nuit who had done nothing wrong to her or offended her in any way? A Nuit who was just trying to find peace? A Nuit who plead for her life and showed no resistance at all? And A Nuit whom she hated just because of her... race...? Kouri felt extreme regret washed over her. She felt like a complete hypocrite. Humans scorned her just because she was a ghost and yet she also scorned the Nuits just because they were walking corpses... "B-big Sis? A-are you alright?" "I... I... I.... Yes... I promise, Rena" Kouri made up her mind. This promise was not a lie. She would not try to kill Isolde anymore, her little sister wished so and she would accept it. "C-can I talk to her, Big Sis?" Rena looked over Kouri's shoulder to see Isolde's sitting form. She really wanted to know about this 'monster' her older sister talked about, she also wanted to prove that this innocent-looking woman was just scared and not the terrible monster Kouri made her up to be. "Sure... but stay close..." Kouri stood up from her kneeling position and held Rena's right hand tight with her left hand. Then the ghostly sisters slowly approached the Nuit. Kouri's chakrams were floating behind her, ready to strike if the female Nuit made any sudden hostile moves. The sisters stopped a few feet from Isolde and Rena timidly spoke to her. "U-uhm... h-hello! I-I'm Rena... Big sis' little sister... w-what's your name, Madame? P-perhaps o-once you get to know each other better... b-big sis would not be mad at you anymore..." Her innocent mind tried to help both her sister and Isolde at the same time, bringing them close, and hopefully creating peace. Truly the mind of an idealistic child. OOCIt's a great reply nevertheless, Isolde. Your IC actions are your own choosing of course.

[Isolde Seibold]

The blades were moving in. The Nuit shut her eyes, huddled down, nearly lying at the base of the great tree. The strange blades' whirring filled her ears, her mind. They created a soft wind that beat against her face, and she knew that it would all be over in a tick. It would all be over. Terror seized her heart, locking her muscles into place. She felt like something was tearing inside of her, ripping the breath from her lungs, and it felt horrible.

And then the sound stopped, and she was certain she was dead.
Except for the voices.
Two small voices, innocent and girly, and she couldn't focus on their words. Until... until one of them seemed to address her.

"U-uhm... h-hello! I-I'm Rena... Big sis' little sister... w-what's your name, Madame? P-perhaps o-once you get to know each other better... b-big sis would not be mad at you anymore..."

To the girls, it must have looked like Isolde had already died, that she had been frightened to death. She did not move for a long time, curled almost into a ball, and she did not breathe. Her hands clutched at her head, her face. She could feel the coolness of the ghosts' presence in the air, lingering around her senses, chilling her. Her body gave one great shudder, which racked through her frail, gaunt frame. Finally, finally she opened her eyes.

Two little girls stood hand in hand in front of her. The enraged one, and-- and another ghost. Isolde couldn't look at them, it was so hard. But she couldn't not look, either. Because if she didn't look and they became offended, they would kill her. She would be torn to pieces. She forced her eyes over to their faces. There was the ripping feeling again, reverberating through her chest, and she realized that it was a sob. A terrified sob, to draw in air. So that she could attempt to speak. Because if she didn't speak, then they could get angry. And if they were angry, they would kill her. The daggers hung like shining ornaments in the air behind the girls' heads. A silent threat, still present. She was not saved.

"I-I-Isolde," she tried to say. The name was a croak. She remained where she was, not moving, eyes wide and gleaming, her expression twisted with fear. Everything felt like it was wavering, flickering. The world was spinning without her. Soon enough she would be dead. She was certain of that. The thought dragged out another sob. Strangely enough, there were no tears. Perhaps dead bodies could not cry.

The Nuit tried to speak again, thinking that she hadn't spoken well enough the first time. If she didn't please the smaller ghost, the larger one would spin those knives into her face, into her body until there was nothing left but pulped meat and ichor and chunks of dead bone. "I-Isolde. M-my name i-is-- is I-Isolde." Her body began to tremble. She thought she must look entirely pathetic, shivering at the feet of these children, and she didn't care in the least. The Nuit thought about offering to leave again, she needed to get out of here, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She was frozen, except for all the shaking. She didn't know if she could move. She didn't want to offer to leave and then find herself unable to. They would certainly kill her for lying to them.

OOCOh, the terror! And thank the gods for little sisters! ^^'

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri ".............." Kouri could only kept silent and looked at Isolde with fear, caution, and contempt all mixed together. Her top priority was taking watch over her little sister, if this undead dared to hurt even a single ethereal hair of Rena then she would feel the rage of sixteen blades shoved through her corpse body. Rena though, had a completely different attitude. She was truly concerned with the Nuit. In her mind, she very much understood the Nuit's terrified state. Heck, even she was terrified of her own sister's psychotic actions just moments ago. Rena looked behind her and found Kouri's metallic pets still floating in the air. "Big sis, big sis!" Rena whispered, rather commanding at her sister. "You're scaring her... put those down!" She felt bad of having to speak to her older sister like that, but if she was to resolve this tension; Rena would need to take lead of the situation and persuade her stubborn sister to be more... 'civilized'. "R-rena..." Kouri was rather taken aback by Rena's unusual spunk. Usually, the smaller girl wouldn't dare to even disobey Kouri's every suggestion and commands, but this time Rena even had the courage to command her. "Oh... fine..." Kouri heaved a heavy sigh and relented, she gently put all of her chakrams, they lay on the ground peacefully; now acting like true objects, not living weapons. Kouri then retracted all of her tendrils and her hair ribbons magically appeared. They neatly tied her spread out hair back. "Thank you, sis~" Rena beamed Kouri a gentle smile and slowly approached even closer to Isolde. "R-ren-" Kouri held her hand tight and stopped her. "It's okay, Sis... I can do this... you have to trust me... please?" The little sister let out her puppy-dog look with her violet eyes, she was innocent alright... but not completely clueless. "............" Kouri didn't answer and simply let go of Rena's hands slowly. Don't you dare do anything to her... She issued a threat in her mind to the Nuit. "U-uhm... Madame Isolde... Big Sis was just misunderstanding... she thought you were a monster... but I see you're not a monster. Monsters can't talk and they look large and scary, right? You don't look scary and big, Madame. Ehehe~ So uuh... Sis also promised me that she won't hurt you anymore so... you don't have to worry anymore" Rena tried to explain and convince Isolde with her innocent and rather naive childish knowledge, she then materialized herself and proceeded to slowly touch Isolde's quivering hand. "It's okay... now, Madame, perhaps if you tell big sis more about yourself... she will be friends with you~" "Rena..." Kouri was speechless. Her little sister's motivation seemed so pure and innocent, Kouri even felt like she was the villain in this story. Now with Rena's presence, it was clear that Kouri could not be called a 'little girl' anymore in a sense. She already killed animals and various humans, they were all pirates and criminals of course, but... she had killed. Little girls don't kill people, let alone relishing in their warm blood after tearing down their jugulars with her murderous pets. Rena though, was still very much a true little girl; both in body and mind.

[Isolde Seibold]

"U-uhm... Madame Isolde... Big Sis was just misunderstanding... she thought you were a monster... but I see you're not a monster. Monsters can't talk and they look large and scary, right? You don't look scary and big, Madame. Ehehe~ So uuh... Sis also promised me that she won't hurt you anymore so... you don't have to worry anymore. It's okay... now, Madame, perhaps if you tell big sis more about yourself... she will be friends with you~"

The little girl took Isolde's hand. The Nuit's reaction was instantaneous: her expression seemed to crumble in on itself at the cool, light touch. For a tick, the Nuit looked like she might cry, if only her eyes could manage it. They couldn't, and the cloudy, broken expression soon cleared. She wiped her free hand --which was still shaking, shaking-- at her face, as if to sweep away the unshed tears, and took a deep, shuddering breath. Control, control. This weakness, it was not helping her. She needed... needed to be strong. She was the one acting the child, in front of these girls, and her fear and pain could set off the older one easily, could put the ghost on edge. Slowly, cautiously, always glancing at the older girl, Isolde straightened up. She kept her knees tucked close to her chin; her clothes were somewhat dirty from her brief lie on the ground. Because she needed to do something, something that would help her steady herself, the Nuit began brushing off the bits of fallen leaves and dirt and pieces of greyish, dried grass.

She let the younger girl hold her hand, didn't try to snatch it back. Eventually Isolde looked over, doubtful, at the little girl --was her name Rena?-- though she couldn't bring herself to meet the girl's gentle, violet eyes. She focused on the tip of her nose instead, and that was close enough, right? For a long moment she just stared at the girl, occasionally quivering. And then, very lightly, she squeezed the girl's hand back, and turned her face to her ghostly sister, who was standing a few feet away and watching as if she thought Isolde could somehow hurt the girl.

The Nuit's voice was thick when she spoke, quavering a bit, though she seemed a little more composed than she had been before. She was able to string together more words, with her hand gripped around the tiny ghost girl's. "Wh-What do you-- you want to kn-know?" she asked. Her chin quivered. Her eyes were clear and bright, and wary, and frightened. She looked at her hand, and at the girl's hand enfolding it, and seemed to draw a measure of strength from the touch, though she studiously kept her thoughts away from Wynry. Suddenly this was all feeling very unreal. She figured that must be the shock settling in. Good, let it come. She could use it as a shield as she had before, if things went south again --despite Rena's reassurance-- and the older ghost attacked.

After a moment's hesitation, the Nuit went on. Her voice was barely more than a whisper, but at least it was coherent. "U-Uh. I-I live in... in Syliras. A-And i-it was such a beautiful d-day, so-- so I'd thought-- I'd thought I'd come o-out. Out here, where it was-- was safe. I-- I really didn't mean to-- to scare you. I promise you-- I won't hurt you. E-Either of you. I-- I wouldn't, even if I could. Th-Though I doubt I c-could, even if I tried. Y-You seem really--" "Terrifying", she wanted to say, but instead it came out, "--st-strong." The Nuit took a deep breath. With a bit less tremor and a little more volume, she said, looking down, "I-I'm sorry. A-About my tongue. I-- I try my best to seem... normal... but I-I'm not too good at it." She grimaced, resting her cheek on her knee. More faintly, and realizing that she was probably rambling but unable to help herself, the Nuit murmured, "O-On days like this I sometimes feel-- feel more... more normal. More-- in control. Like things-- could be h-happy. Like they used to be. Back when I was--" She had a hard time forcing the words out, but eventually they came. "--tr-truly alive. Probably i-it seems... stupid to you. I-I should be able to m-make my own happiness, like everyone else. Or perhaps... you think I don't d-deserve to be h-happy at all. I-- wouldn't blame you." She risked a glance up at the older ghost, whose name she hadn't yet heard. Rena only called her 'Big Sis'. Isolde wiped at her face again, suddenly exhausted. "B-But I have to take what I c-can get."

OOCWoo, pity party! Somebody call the Waaaambulance!

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri OOC : WEEEUUU WEEEUUU WEUUUU!!! "Hmph..." Kouri whispered a scoff, she didn't want to admit it but the Nuit's stuttered story seemed genuine. Her reason, her promise, and her praise. It all sounded real and not a fabrication of words. I'm strong? I have to be... for Rena A tiny smile graced her frowning face, it was good to know that Kouri had power to protect the people she loved now even it's coming from the person she was trying to kill earlier. Rena intently listened to Isolde's story, her violet eyes beaming with concern and curiosity. "Aww~ It's okay, Madame Isolde. I know you're not a bad person, right? Ehehe~ And of course you deserve to be happy! Everyone is, except bad people... Now, if everyone would just get along~ There would be no misunderstandings~" Rena shot a knowing look at her sister, who immediately avoided her eye contact. "It's okay, Madame~ Ehehe~ You know, my own mother killed me... I was sad... really sad... but I have Big Sis now! So, I'm happy!" It was rather amazing that Rena could talked of her awful history without even the slightest hesitation whereas Kouri would cower, cry, and quiver much like Isolde if she talked about her own past. "R-rena..." Kouri felt even more guilt at Rena's genuine cheerfulness. Perhaps her mind was indeed too young to have any lingering grief or anger. Kouri was prone to bouts of depression and rage at the slightest provocation about her parents. Rena seemed so fine talking about her own death, the death her mother gave her to avoid being captured by bandits. Rena's mother opted death for both her daughter and herself rather than being caught by the bandits and be sold as slaves. "Sis... you forgive Madame Isolde, right? Please~ I see she really didn't mean to offend you or anything. She was just resting here..." Rena let go of Isolde's hand and turned around to face her sister. She tilted her head upwards, eagerly waiting for Kouri's answer. "F...ine... fine..." Kouri didn't have much other choice. Rena's kindness and compassion was just too much for her, if it would make her happy; Kouri would throw away her prejudice and befriend the Nuit. "Ehehe~ I know you will!" Rena jumped up and down twice, she was really proud of her achievement. She prevented her sister from murdering someone and saved the life of a woman in the process. She turned around again to face Isolde and slightly leaned her body forward, a big happy grin on her face. "Sis forgives you, Madame! Now, you can be at ease now~" "........" Kouri heaved a heavy sigh, she couldn't believe it. Her little sister, who looked up so much to her, could heavily influence her decisions. If it was another person who came, a hunter, explorer, or even a squire; Kouri would still kill the Nuit and the intruding party should they intervene. In this woods, she could just leave their corpses to be eaten by wolves, crows, mountain lions, and other assortment of carnivorous animals. Almost nothing would be left of them.

[Isolde Seibold]

OOCHaha! That is amazing! I literally laughed out loud! Now my family probably thinks I'm weird! ^^

The Nuit was still struggling with the shakes and shudders, but she seemed to have calmed down a lot. Her eyes no longer looked wide and wild and terrified; the fear had dulled, blunted, as the ghosts absorbed her words and appeared to accept them. Perhaps she really would get out of this alive. The thought made her chest feel warm and airy, and a rush of something close to giddiness flew through her mind. Perhaps this was her bodies' slow response to danger, as usual, and this feeling of sudden euphoria and the sudden twitching and tightening of her muscles was the adrenaline finally kicking in.

"It's okay, Madame~ Ehehe~ You know, my own mother killed me... I was sad... really sad... but I have Big Sis now! So, I'm happy!"

The Nuit pressed her lips together, looking at Rena, somewhat shocked by this sudden reveal. Her big sister ghost seemed just about as surprised as Isolde. And the young-seeming woman could understand why. The little girl talked of her own demise very easily, with even a cheerful tone. The Nuit would struggle to tell anyone of the darkness of her own... death, or creation, or whatever had happened to her those many, many, years ago. It was a very painful topic. The Nuit had lost everything. Her entire family, and everything she had loved.

Though... she looked through her lashes at the older girl, contemplating, biting her lip. Rena was happy now. Because of... this other ghost. Someone she had adopted as her own family; an older sibling, even. She supposed, looking at it like that... well, of course the little girl could be happy. Isolde's closest, most dearest dream --despite its impossibility-- was to live again. Not because it was better to be alive --even though it was, certainly it was-- but because only when she was alive would she be able to have another family, to have children that were her own, that belonged to her, whom she could love. Really, she was no different than Rena, and probably even... even the older ghost, too. Death was lonely. People were afraid of what they considered to be unnatural. And fear often caused-- caused hatred, scorn, and fostered violence. Just like... like earlier. When the ghost girl had... attacked... her.

The Nuit looked down. Was this really all because the girl had... been afraid of Isolde? But how could she have scared a ghost? A moment passed, and then the words black tongue flickered through the Nuit's mind. Isolde put a hand to her mouth, gazing down at her knees, brow furrowed. The girl may be a ghost, but she was --to an extent-- like all other little girls. She could be... afraid of what was different. And a Nuit was certainly someone who was different. But would it be like this no matter where she went? It seemed, even out away from people in a place like this, the Nuit would never truly be safe. Isolde let out a sigh, crossing her arms as if cold. All this because of what she was. If she had been given the option, the Nuit would have rather been a ghost. But she had not been given any option at all. Just to choose who would live and who would die. She had offered herself so that her daughter might be unharmed. And could that even be considered an option? Anyone would have done what she had to protect her daughter. But it had ended up backwards, despite everything. Wynry was gone, and Isolde had gone on, not quite living and not quite dead. Stuck in the middle, and hated for it.

After a couple ticks, Isolde pulled herself from her thoughts, realizing that she had gone quiet, introspective. She took a deep breath, then looked at Rena --it was getting easier to look, but still she avoided the eyes-- and said, with hardly a stutter, "I'm sorry-- for your death. I know... th-that must've been hard. But it's good that... you found someone to take care of you now. Someone you can be h-happy with." The Nuit offered a tentative smile to the older ghost, hoping that she truly had been appeased. The daggers remained where they had been, lying shining in the grass behind the girls. The Nuit remembered their crazed whirring and buzzing as they spinned through the air, and gave a particularly nasty shudder.

"I-If it's not t-too much, I would like... to know your n-name--" Isolde tried, looking to the big sister. "I've g-gathered Rena's name, b-but I don't think-- think I've caught yours." Establishing the rest of introductions would be good, right? If she was to truly get out of this alive and safe, then it seemed Isolde would not have to only befriend Rena --who seemed perfectly innocent and willing enough to accept the Nuit's company-- but also the older girl. "I-Is there anything I can-- can do --within my power-- to... make you feel more-- more comfortable with... me? Or anything I can do to-- to-- make up for intruding on your home? I truly am sorry about that," the Nuit said earnestly, sitting up a bit straighter still. The shaking had just about gone all together; now she was just feeling very tired. Her body ached from the strain of sustaining such fright. "I-It is a lovely place, out here. I c-can see why you would... would want to protect it."

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Ehehe~" Rena giggled happily at the development. Seeing that her goal was achieved, she closed her eyes and unmaterialized herself. Rena's power was not as powerful as her older sister so she would tire much faster in using them. Rena then took her position beside Kouri, violet eyes brimming with hope. "My... name...?" Kouri raised an eyebrow at the question. Does giving her identity to the female Nuit was a good idea? If she let go the Nuit with the knowledge of her name, the Nuit could possibly took revenge in the future. Then again... she seemed so timid and submissive that it was almost impossible to imagine Isolde could bear grudge against her. Still... you can never be to careful... "Huh?" Kouri's attention diverted to the tiny girl beside her, Rena was tugging at her sleeves and giving a determined look as if telling Kouri to cooperate with her. That means, Kouri would have to give her name and continue this awkward socialization with Isolde. "*Sigh*..." Kouri sighed, she couldn't resist her little sister after all. In this particular case, she was the 'bad' person and Rena simply wanted for her to get along with the Nuit. At least, I already know her name... "Kouri..." She gave a short answer, but it should be clear and precise enough for Isolde. She didn't have to tell the Nuit her full name, just 'Kouri' should suffice. "Make me feel comfortable?" Kouri took a step, the conversation was now mainly between herself and Isolde. "Sadly, I don't think you can't... you see, I like warmth. And you can not provide it for me, can you?" Just to make sure, Kouri materialized herself. Her form appeared far more solid and substantial. If it was indoors or they were in a poor lightning condition, she couldn't be distinguished from a real person. But alas, Kouri's mastery was not high enough to look perfectly solid under the bright morning sun. She approached closer to Isolde and extended her right hand, then she caressed Isolde's right cheek. "See... you're cold. Just like me..." An odd tinge of concern could be heard from her voice. In the back of Kouri's mind, she felt that the Nuit and herself might not be so different after all. They were both 'dead' in a sense. Kouri crossed both of her arms and seemed to be thinking hard. "I know..." Kouri's lips curled into a grin. "You want me to be comfortable with you? I know just the thing... you let me go 'inside' you, Madame Isolde. That way... I can understand a lot more about your... body. Ehehehe~" She mischievously giggled. "Uhm... Big Sis? Did you said go 'inside' her?" Rena's eyes perked up in curiosity. Was this another ability of her sister? An ability Rena may possess as well? "Yes, Rena. I will show you the most unique thing I can do so far. I can possess people... you should be able to do that too." Kouri said, turning her head to temporarily divert her attention to Rena. "Un...." Rena could only nod, she truly was excited at the prospect but she was afraid that something bad might happened to both Kouri and Isolde. Going 'inside' people still sounded so strange and alien to the ghost little sister. Yes that's it, by possessing Isolde. Kouri could understand more about the Nuit's body and show off to her little sister at the same time. "So... what do you say?" Kouri leaned in closer, now their faces were just a few inches apart. Her crimson eyes waiting for Isolde's answer.