a soldier on my own

[uprisings]

Characters: The Summoner and YOU
Setting: AROUND. Specify the floor when you tag?
Format: I will follow
Summary: The Summoner is walking around. Creeping happens, or maybe it doesn't.
Warnings: Chocolate shenanigans! I’ll edit to warn for specific threads when I know. If you want to plan something and we haven’t, head on over here

[He does this once a day, you know? Twice if he’s particularly bored. Doing sweeps of an area has not been his job since he was a cadet, but he falls into it like an old habit, trailing through each floor, inspecting the rooms for changes, noting things like it might help him some day. The difference is, of course, in the tower there is very little urgency to it, no officer to report to at the end. Sometimes he imagines he does it just to keep from losing his mind, but that would be admitting the damned place is getting to him]

[Which it’s not, okay, just so we’re clear. No no, he’s fine. He does this because he wants to, because maybe, if he’s very very lucky, he’ll stumble across the way out]

[Spoilers: he has never been that lucky]

Comments

rubs hands together

[entropied]

[Or maybe he'll stumble upon a friend, who looks a little more obviously excited to see him than usual. She's a bit worse for wear--the Highblood left a few claw marks on her neck--but she doesn't seem phased by this at all.]

What are you doing?

gently... face in hands...

[uprisings]

I'm...

[...wow she seems excited. Well... excited for her anyway. Blinks... and then his eyes are on dem claw marks. Frowns!]

What happened?

:33

[entropied]

[She frowns back, following the line of his gaze and touching her neck absently.]

I'm fine.

[She steps forward, reaching for his hand. Her usual hesitation is there, but it seems off, staged somehow.]

sceeches softly

[uprisings]

[Oh........... well okay then. Takes... her hand...? Looking thoroughly confused. She's being so forward!!]

Are you sure?

loves on

[entropied]

[She tightens her grip, running the pad of her thumb over her knuckles. She finds herself oddly fascinated by the texture of the callouses on his hands, but when he speaks again, she seems to snap out of it.]

I don't know.

[Her voice is plaintive, almost desperate, but she is telling the truth, even if she's playing it up to manipulate him. She draws closer, biting her lip and averting her eyes.]

Will you stay with me for a little while?

flops around

[uprisings]

[hhhghghlkajsdkl rather acutely aware of her hand moving against his, and the way she draws even that little bit closer. And the note of desperation in her voice? So either something has gone really terribly wrong, or he's... missed a step somewhere in here]

Of course, uh... yes. Do you... [Hm. Squeezes her hand] Did something, happen...?

no stop

[entropied]

[She doesn't respond, just takes one last step forward and rests her forehead against his shoulder. He's warmer than the Highblood. It fits him, she thinks, and she likes it much better. Being this close to him makes her heart race in a way she's definitely not used to, and she pulls her hand away to wrap her arms around him.]

[cullionfish]

[Do you feel eyes on you, Summoner?

If not, perhaps your sixth sense could use some fine tuning, because your Empress has been staring at you from across the room for a while now. She was never one for sweets, but it seemed that no matter what she ate through the day, there was always a chocolate stuffed somewhere hidden.

The almonds tempered the horrible chocolate taste a bit, but since then she hasn't been able to focus on anything but the Summoner.

Tyrian eyes are almost perpetually unblinking. She doesn't even bother to let him know she's watching. Besides, he doesn't need to know.]

[uprisings]

[...YUP. Totally feeling those eyes, and they make his skin prickle long before he identifies where it's even coming from. Plucks sort of awkwardly at the chocolate in his hand. They're everywhere all of a sudden, and while they seem generally harmless, he hasn't actually gotten over his rather meager Good Sense enough to try it. Yet]

[He's working himself up to it though, as he slowly scans the room for what must be the third time by now. Searching for... whoever... is staring at him so intently wow wow wow. Before too long though, he picks himself up and heads for the door. Maybe it's just a side effect of this room? Who even knows in this place]

[cullionfish]

[And she watches, and she waits. When he gets too close to the door, she will stand and move to follow him, heels clicking against the floor. Even if he does discover her, she doesn't care.

After all, she's still rather transfixed by those dashing wings of his. She hadn't quite noticed them before, blinded by rage for what he had done to her beautiful empire.

They were nice to look at.]

[uprisings]

[He can only ignore the heel click for so long! But he's convinced himself it's a product of the room. And then that it's a product of the floor, so it won't go away until he's gone down a flight, and somewhere in there he pops the chocolate into his mouth for the sake of a distraction, and also because nervous eating is awesome?????]

[The taste registers as too sweet for a second, but he doesn't really mind. He'll pretty much eat anything so! And then he's on the landing for the next floor and still there is that incessant clicking, and so he turns and...]

[Sees the Condesce and...]

[Okay look, there are a number of feelings he has attached to this woman. Most of them are bitter, angry or murderous. Sometimes all at once, actually!! And while all of these feelings slam into him with about the same force they always have, they are absolutely smothered under a sudden, desperate adoration. A pity so sudden and deep, it makes his breath catch. He breathes her title like it's the last prayer he will ever get]

Empress.

SDKLHFJKHKLAD SEND HELP

[cullionfish]

[...oh. That wasn't something she was expecting. Despite her sudden fascination with staring at him, her feelings toward the Summoner haven't altered all that much.]

Indeed.

[Her eyelids lower slightly in thought. What could have sparked a reaction like that...and how could she invoke it again at her whim?]

I CAN'T LKSDJFLKJSDF FLOPS USELESSLY

[uprisings]

[Man, you don't even have to worry about the how, that shit doesn't even fade at all. If anything it gets worse, unbearable for the distance between them, and so he's... moving back up the stairs towards her. His voice is kind of... soft, and desperately earnest]

You're beautiful today. And every day. Have I, ever said? [Already knows the answer, but still!!! GOOD LORD, he does not even understand how he could've missed it. HONESTLY HE'S BEEN A FOOL, and then he's at the top of the stairs and he moves to take her hand, kiss her knuckles]

[shesapir8]

[Mindfang is... completely normal. Completely normal and relaxing in a room filled with couches, idly staring at a box of chocolates. Waiting.

Waiting for someone to come along so she can make them test the sweets first, and see what they really are. You don't get this far and to this age with blind trust after all.]

[uprisings]

[And here is just such a test subject!!! He is just dumb enough tbh, and he pauses when he spots her. He doesn't... really... want to sweep this room if she's in here, but... ah well. Gotta do what you gotta do]

[Wanders in, giving her a sort of curious glance, before going pacing a slow circle around the room. Maybe she won't acknowledge him........]

[shesapir8]

[Oh Summoner, if only you could be that lucky. That hair and those horns and those wings make you easily spotted, and instantly her attention snaps onto him, a small smirk forming. Oh ho ho...

Lazily she stretches, before rolling onto her stomach, her head propped up on her hands. Voice a purr she smiles flirtatiously, eyes on him] Hello Summoner... To what do I owe the pleasure?

[uprisings]

[I THINK THIS IS TAKING PLACE AFTER THE HANDMAID'S THREAD NOW??? In that case, his wings are looking rather on the ragged side and there's a bruise just starting to form at his temple. And he looks really tired... sigh. Glances at her for a moment, before returning to his circle]

Just... taking a look around, I guess.

[shesapir8]

[She does notice the damage, but chooses not to say or ask anything. Instead she shifts, sitting up on the lounge and clearing room to which she nods to, watching him carefully.]

Care to sit? The company might be nice...

[uprisings]

[.........surprises himself by going and sitting. Not... where she indicated, but in another couch across from her. He only did it because he's in emotional and physical turmoil right now okay!!!! Gives her a sort of long, blank look before settling back in the couch]

I hope you've been having, a better day then me...

Kitchen - ouo/

[champagnedelis]

[Francisca's left the box of chocolates she received on the kitchen counter, not sure what to think of them and not entirely convinced that they're safe.

Still, she figures she can maybe find something else to go with the chocolates - perhaps eating other things with them will negate whatever effects might occur?

So lo and behold Summoner - an unguarded box of deliciously sweet goodies, just about begging you to come and attack them while the owner is in the pantry and out of sight.

WHAT DO YOU DO?]

[uprisings]

[STARE UNCOMFORTABLY]

[See, he's tempted as hell to take one because he is... sort of always hungry. But at the same time, mysterious chocolates all laid out in the open like that? P suspicious in his opinion. Apparently he hasn't used up all his good sense yet for the day lasdlkfj]

[Still he.. approaches it slowly, leaning over to look... at them. Just look. TOTALLY HARMLESS RIGHT???]

[champagnedelis]

[Pretty suspicious indeed, but Francisca didn't think anyone would just eat them. I mean, it'd be pretty rude to just help yourself to a random box of chocolates left out in the open.

Right?

As is, she's found a jar of coffee powder and idly considering if she should make coffee to go with those chocolates.

This is srs bsns right here.]

[uprisings]

[Yeah definitely... super rude... Hey, he's a troll, he takes what he can get. So very very slowly, he reaches over and... plucks... one of the chocolates up. Still not putting it in his mouth, but definitely... investigating the possibility now, staring it down a little. Who just leaves chocolates out omfg]

[champagnedelis]

[The same woman who leaves her house door unlocked when she's in, sheesh. No, she doesn't get worried about potential break-ins.

As is, she emerges from the pantry while sniffing at the coffee, pondering if it'll taste good or not.]

[uprisings]

[...OH SHIT THERE'S SOMEONE HERE??? Almost tosses the chocolate back, but ends up... pocketing it instead lajsdklf which is definitely a good idea. Stepping away from the box and bringing his hands up]

Uhhh... [Yeah. He looks super not guilty at all right now......]