She's As Cold As Ice....

[maidhem]

WHO: The plucky health nut Felicia and YOU!
WHERE: Throughout Recolle
WHEN: October
WHAT: Nightmares + October Catch-All
WARNINGS: Event shenanigans that include medieval war trauma, fire, and everything in between.

Nightmare - You Never Take Advice

[...Somehow, the dark, dungeon-like castle didn't seem so foreign. The walls made of cold stone and the torchlit halls were almost familiar to her-- as were the knives she held in her hands, the way her skirt felt weighted down with the presence of many, many more. Breathing heavily, Felicia looked up at the imposing man in a full suit of armor before her and couldn't help but once more be awed by his height, for she was dwarfed even in the stiletto heels that she wore for this session.

It was best to train in your everyday wear, she understood. That way you were never caught offguard.]

Can we... can we stop for now?

[She panted, recognizing this for what it was-- one of those weird flashes she had been getting during her own training. Something that was easy to write off as a daydream, until the knives got involved.

Little did she realize this was actually a dream.

"You're always so flighty, Felicia. But, times like this make me wonder..."

The old knight's voice was almost gentle as he put away the knives he had been teaching her with... and brought out the great axe he sometimes fought with on horseback.

"Accept my challenge. I won't take no for an answer."]

Wha-- whaaaaat?!

Nightmare - Willing to Sacrifice

[The cold of the mountains didn't bother her. The rocky passages up, through the forest and the ravines, hadn't bothered her in the slightest. It was as if this was her element, a part of her birthright that she couldn't extricate herself from no matter how much time had passed.

And she knew she needed to hurry. Amidst the blaze of an actual battle raging about her, she somehow knew exactly where she needed to go.]

Come on, [She said to whomever was with her-- it could be anyone.] We've gotta get to the other side of the village-- and we've gotta hurry!

[Don't mind the skirt. Don't mind the heels. Don't mind the frilly maid outfit. Felicia herself is obviously paying attention to other things right now.]

Daytime - Someday You'll Pay the Price

[Recolle, have a Felicia.

Have a Felicia shopping for knives

With the slew of dreams she had been having lately, she couldn't help but find her curiosity piqued enough to go into the local martial arts supply shop in search of a set of training knives for herself to start practicing with

She felt like she needed to try.]

Wildcard!

[Contact me at starkxravingxmad for plotting if you wish.]

Comments

Willing to Sacrifice

[brokenlight]

[The blaze of fire takes him by surprise but he sees Felicia, seeing her panicking, and it has him forced to pay attention.]

What's going on?!

[maidhem]

[Felicia wasn't even paying attention to Hikari-- her focus instead was on the blaze itself, on the figure who stood within it. 'I'm sorry' she had said-- but for what, Felicia didn't know.

She didn't understand, like a great many other things that day....

Like, why they had the same face.]

...We're too late.

[She said softly, in a voice that was heavy with tears over yet another thing she didn't understand.]

Why...?

[brokenlight]

[The figure almost has him jerking forward, to find some way to save her.

Only to stop when Felicia speaks up.

He frowns, looking over at her.]

Do you know who that is?

[maidhem]

I don't know.

[She said quietly, looking at the young man who was standing by with tearful eyes.]

I... I don't know! But I feel like I should.

[brokenlight]

Hey, it's okay.

[He gives her a comforting smile.]</small We can figure this out somehow.

willing to sacrifice

[insantafe]

Don't have to tell me twice!

[ Track training comes in handy at times like these, nightmare or no nightmare. Jack doesn't have a damn clue where they are, but he's not about to stick around with a war going on around him. Everything's in chaos, but this lady, whoever she is, seems to know exactly where she's going.

She could've maybe dressed better for the occasion, though? At least Jack's got pants and sneakers, for Pete's sake. ]

What's on the other side? You sure there won't be fighting over there, too?

[maidhem]

[Somehow, the frilly skirt that caught the wintry breeze over the battlefield was the least of Felicia's concerns that moment-- nor were the literal swords and spears people were using in their fight.]

I'm not sure-- but, I feel like it's important!

[And from nowhere discernable she pulled out a sharp, dagger-like blade and moved closer to his side, a look of concern in her eyes.]

Can you defend yourself? I can't do much, but I can at least keep you safe.

[insantafe]

You're not sure? [ he echoes shrilly. ] What if we get over there and there's something just waiting to kill us?!

[ The events of August and now October have left him a little on edge. Jack stares at her in disbelief for a moment, then looks away to take in their surroundings. ]

I... I've been learning to use a sword, but I can't do much else. If we can find one that ain't attached to someone trying to kills us, I can give it a shot. Though it'd be if we can avoid fighting altogether, probably.

[maidhem]

[Felicia visibly winced at the shrill mockery of her words, as if the voice uttering them were a sheet of ice fracturing upon a frozen lake.]

I-I'm just following my gut!

[She replied, her voice pitching defensively even as she weathered a wave of uncertainty at those words. How did she know what was over there, after all?]

If you're not certain about your skills, then just stay with me. I'll guide us through, okay?

[insantafe]

[ PUFFS OUT CHEEKS... This is why he'd been doing that fight club stuff, to learn how to fight back without getting himself killed. Jack's tired of feeling helpless and being defended.

But there's not a lot he can do if he's unarmed anyway, huh? No matter how good he gets or how much he learns, it's all worthless if he doesn't have the sword. ]

Alright, alright, whatever. [ Jack glances nervously at one particular fight that's slowly edging closer toward them. ] Don't have much choice, do we? We'd better get moving.

But if I see a free sword anywhere, I'm taking it!

Willing to Sacrifice

[smothershadow]

[Why did these dreams always happen when Amelia was wearing an impractically long dress? The older woman snapped to unrestful attention, glancing one way and the next at the unmistakable sounds of battle.

There was a younger, very insistent voice nearby. Amelia glanced at her sharply as her feet began to move, her eyes still narrowed.]

Where are you even going?

[maidhem]

[She was as slim as a sapling that had endured many a winter, for the deep frost that permeated the earth didn't bother her bones or make her lungs shudder like it would have another in her state of dress. Felicia looked up at the older woman earnestly, a dagger clenched tight in one hand as she held out the other in a silent offer to join her.]

The other side of the village. I don't know why, but I know I need to get there.

[smothershadow]

[The cold made Amelia grateful for her sleeves, if nothing else. This girl's attire left...some to be desired. And many more questions.

But she also had a knife, and also seemed to know where to go. Amelia didn't take her hand, but she did nod slightly.]

So be it.

[Lead the way, questionably anachronistic maid.]

[maidhem]

[At least they were both equally anachronistic in this strange medieval battlefield-- they didn't stand out, although Felicia did find herself worrying about the lady she had stumbled upon...]

I don't know what's over there, Ma'am. I.. can't promise it's safe.

[smothershadow]

Where we are right now is hardly safer.

[They might be uninterrupted for now, but things would likely not stay that way. Not in these chaotic surroundings. It was strange, violent, ever-changing...

...exciting.]

You Never Take Advice

[mincingminuet]

[Wandering the halls of some unfamiliar castle was beginning to become a little old hat for Penelope. She moved from torchlit shadow to shadow, the dreamscape shifting by, flickering and moving. It wasn't her dream, that was for sure, because she didn't recognize any place in it but she knew it for true.

The sounds of people moving ahead caught her ear, and she made in that direction, her clothing seeming to shift to something more fitting. Dark leathers, a sword strapped to her belt curving oddly. Not a scimitar or a cutlass, but some sort of oddly fluted blade.

When she caught up to the noise, she paused at the entrance to the training hall, long enough to catch sight of the man and...]

Felicia!

[Well, that invested her. Moving to stand beside the girl, she drew that blade, holding it unsteadily in both hands.]

Is this your old knight?

[maidhem]

Pen?!

[Without thinking, Felicia ignored the sword in her friend's hands as took Pen's arm and broke out into a run. The subtle clatter of metal on metal under her skirt was audible with every step she took -- but, in that moment, her only thought was to keep moving.]

Yes--! I don't know his name or why he's doing this, but yes, that's him!

...I think we're okay as long as we're on foot. His armor's heavy, but he's got a horse somewhere around here!

[mincingminuet]

[The clatter of metal was almost as dissonant with Felicia's appearance as the heels and skirt. She squawked and flailed awkwardly, the sword changing in her very hands into a long dagger. It was a dream, and if Felicia was going to be that way, then her subconscious would comply.]

H-Hey! If he just wants to train...Gods, he's not going to to get a horse out in training, is he?

[maidhem]

I don't think so-- but he never brought out that axe before, either!

[Felicia whined, and led Pen in through a tiny hidden door in the wall that had to be a servant's hidden passageway through the castle.]

Ooooh~! I didn't even now axes got that big!

[mincingminuet]

You didn't? That's a two handed war axe. It's...something that could take your head clean off.

[She skitters to a halt, digging in her heels a little.]

Felicia. Are you afraid of this guy?

Willing to Sacrifice

[imaginex]

Wait-- where?

[Sakura's voice is stiff in the cold, teeth giving a faint chatter as she stares incredulously to the sides. That's a good question to be asking and one that loops in her mind, heedless of the fact she could be asking anything else -- like how did she even arrive in this mess of battle, or who is this person she's following.

But Sakura follows; like it's natural to do so. Like those are the rules of where she's found herself. She follows the woman clad in frills, shoulders locked near her ears and she tries to rub warmth into her arms]

[maidhem]

The other side of the village,

[Felicia said as if it were the most obvious thing, before looking back at the girl with worry in her eyes.]

You've got to stay moving if you wanna stay warm. The cold's not bothering me, but other people are another story.

[imaginex]

[Sakura can see that; her own face is probably pinched with chill, cheeks redder in their attempt to keep the blood flowing where it's needed, but this woman seems unbothered by the weather]

O-okay. [Even still, Sakura obeys, follows, keeps as close to the other without impeding their progress.]

W-why aren't you affected, Miss?

[maidhem]

I...I don't know.

[It probably had something to do with the snowflakes that followed the arc of her blades whenever she brought them down on an opponent, but she didn't think too deeply into it-- there were other things to worry about.]

But that's not important-- what is, is keeping you warm. Let's get going.

[imaginex]

Mm.

[A hum of agreement, and Sakura continues to follow. The woman is right, after all; Sakura's blood feels sluggish in her veins already, as if trying to resist turning to ice. The moment she stops moving is the moment she's dead.]

W-will there be fighting on the other side of the village?