thefarshore | Heaven's BBS

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ω pippa cross | gemma doyle trilogy

Heaven's BBS | text

Posted: 16 Mar 2016 8:30
From: Pippa Cross
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As truly delightful as that little task was, must we often trouble ourselves with such trivial matters? It seems such a terrible waste to pass out chocolates to those who won't even remember who we are.

[ Yikes. Someone's a little sore about the whole situation. ]

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Yeah, I guess I'm just too hot for it to handle.

[He smirks, shrugging. It's uncomfortable, all right, enough that sleeping out here on an iron bench is a lot cozier, but he's not about to let that creepy feeling it gives him show again.]

I didn't say it smells now, but hey, it could always smell better, right? Try, I don't know, lavender or something. Pina colada.

[He dismisses the topic of air fresheners with an airy wave.]

So you said you're thinking about learning how to fight, huh? What kind of powers do you have, anyway? I didn't ask.

[ Oh god. From what she knows of him, that was absolutely the worst pun she's heard since coming here. Pippa gives him a deadpan look, one eyebrow raised.

... But what the heck is pina colada? ]

You suggested it! [ ... ] I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try a different scent.

[ Here, Pippa actually looks proud of yourself. There's precious little that Pippa actually really takes pride in, but-- ]

Illusion conjuration. [ --is definitely something she will flaunt. ]

[Axel whistles, impressed.]

See, now, that could really help us out in a fight. You've got all the classics -- look-behind-you stuff, nobody-here-but-us-paving-stones....

[Concealment, distraction, confusion. It's got plenty of applications outside of a fight as well, but Axel finds himself liking their chances a lot better.]

All you need now is to learn how to throw me.

[A dubious look flashes over his face. Now that's out in the air, it sounds a little weird.]

Oh, my illusions are far more sophisticated than that! [ she says, flipping her hair back a bit. ] Those things are mere child's play compared to what I'm capable of.

[ ... And here she looks a little. Unsure. ]

... When you put it that way, you make it sound so... uncouth.

Look, I don't make the rules! It could've sounded worse.

[He's glad for example that he didn't choose "use me." Ew.

Anyway.

He eyes her curiously. Illusions are a useful skill, for sure. Especially when you combine them with fire.]

So, what kind of stuff can you do?

But that hardly changes the fact that it sounded the way it did.

[ Right. Anyway. Pippa straightens and closes her eyes. Before them, a row of soldiers in full armor, swords and shields in hand, appears, looking as tangible as Pippa and Axel. ]

Well, it is not only these sorts of things I'm capable of, but I doubt anything else would be too impressive in a battle...

[Axel jumps, and then straightens up cautiously, approaching the soldiers with a hand out to test the nearest shield.

Are they tangible, too? How many senses does her illusion extend to?]

Nice! And that's a lot of them for one illusion, too.

How hard is it for you to keep this up? Could you keep it going for a while -- move them around, that kind of thing?

[ They are, actually! He can touch the shield, but the soldiers make no move to engage him. They stand silent and vigilant, but almost... blank.

It looks like it's a bit of a strain, though, judging from the very slight sheen of sweat on her forehead. Before long, Pippa exhales sharply, and the soldiers disappear. ]

I suppose I have quite a bit to work on, [ she says, between gasps. ] Does that answer your questions?

It sure does.

[Axel heads back to the park bench, and reaches out to clap Pippa encouragingly on the shoulder.]

You know what we need to make those illusions really work in a fight? Strategy.

And practice, sure, but you've got a lot going for you!

[ It's more than just the exhaustion that makes Pippa's knees buckle; she's not used to men touching her, unless they were betrothed. That's one of the things that's been drilled into her, after all: Do not touch a man, and do not allow a man to touch you unless you intend to marry him or are already married.

No wonder she looks so shocked, but at least the praise helps her to find her voice. ]

I would certainly hope so! I've not worked hard for nothing, after all.

[Axel pulls his hand back hastily at her look of shock, and returns a dubious one.]

You okay?

[... but hey, at least she seems to be getting over it, and he crosses his arms thoughtfully instead.]

So is this a power you had before you became a god? Or a new one?

[ Pippa puts a hand to her head, taking in a deep breath. ]

Yes, I'm just fine. [ She says it somewhat uncertainly, though, but she's not going to go into that. ]

I've had the ability to do this for quite some time!

[Even if she doesn't sound like she's sure she means it, she also doesn't look like she's about to collapse anymore, so Axel lets it go. If she keels over, he'll brave the temple long enough to go dump her on a couch or something, and otherwise he'll let her handle it.

It's no skin off his nose either way.]

So, I'm seeing why you didn't need to learn any fighting technique! With something like that on your side it's real easy to dodge.

[ Shinki of the year, this one. Pippa takes a deep breath, straightening and brushing a hand through her hair. Wouldn't want to mess that up. ]

I've also never had to deal with anything like these... ayakashi.

[ ... That's only half the truth, but he doesn't need to know that. Besides, she hadn't exactly fought those nasty little creatures on Spence's pillars... ]

Same. They're not that much like Heartless.

[There are some similarities, but ayakashi seem to be unique to this world. Axel shakes his head.]

We might want to make sure your illusions still work on them before we try using them in a fight. Who knows what kind of vision they have?

Heartless? How exactly can any sort of creature exist without a heart?

[ She's learning a lot about other worlds, but she's getting more confused with each day. What kind of world did Axel come from--? ]

Surely there must be a way to practice safely. ... Mustn't there?

You haven't heard of Heartless, huh? [Axel flips out a hand, shrugging.] It's not like they actually don't have hearts. They're made of hearts that people lose to darkness.

[It's one of those bits of information that comes to him sometimes, that he can't place: the meaning of a Heartless, and their counterpart, the Nobody....

Huh. Sure, they're not the kind of thing most people would have heard of, but he hasn't seen any Heartless in this world so far.]

We could find a little one somewhere on the Near Shore. I think I can handle giving it a hotfoot if it gets too close.

[ ... she's pretty sure she's missing a few things here. ]

They're-- made of hearts, but are called heartless.

[ She sounds just a touch incredulous here. ]

Quite true! I suppose the only thing to do is decide on a time to practice.

I didn't come up with the name.

[Axel shrugs. He figures it'd been somebody who thought they were being cool an ironic. That, or it was about what the creation of a Heartless did to their originator.]

My schedule's looking free from now until whenever, so pick your time, Pippa!

Well! If your schedule is so open, shall we meet tomorrow? I should like some time to prepare myself.

[ For what? We just don't know. ]

Now that sounds like a plan.

Then we shall see each other in the morning?

[Axel grins at her, two fingers waving in the direction of his temple in something vaguely like a salute.]

You know where to find me, Pippa.

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