kaisou | now I want to fly into your world ( closed )

[ Since arriving in this realm, there's been a strange... restlessness to Lapis. Like something isn't right, but she can't point out what it is. At least taking part of these games for the fae have been a good distraction, but it's still always there.

It's worse at night. At the very least, Jinwoo is here; being around him has helped her keep calm before, when she's agitated, and it's still the same even now. She had been talking about something as they walked outside the castle - the fae don't seem to care much what they do outside of training, so long as they're back for it - before she just stops. Brows furrowing, her gaze turning upwards - something about the sky above feels like it should be... Closer.

...

The change isn't anything big or grand. It's more of a... glitch in reality, almost. All it takes is for attention to divert, a lapse in focus, and she's changed. The night sky above now covers her entirely and ending in bird-like tails behind her, her body stronger yet fragile enough to break at the ends... And cost her her legs, apparently. Good thing she can just float around now.

It dawns on her, as she takes in these changes, that Jinwoo is still right there - though the only sound that escapes her is a panicked series of chirps and trills. Right she can't even speak properly like this!

Her hands, etched in glass cracks, slam over her mouth as the unfamiliar sensation of mortification and panic washes over her. He knows that she's not human, but there's a difference between hearing about it and actually seeing it - and she can't help but dread that he'll have a poor reaction. ]

[ The thing about having another form is that one rapidly realizes that she should really tell others about it, lest they get spooked once they see her. And it's better to let those she trusts know, so they can help her keep it a secret from a certain vile blonde witch.

So one late night, after the Fae have left them alone after harassing them about sports and training, Husk is going to get a totally normal and not at all worrying text from the daughter. ]

i need you to meet me outside the training grounds

but i need you to promise not to freak out

do you promise

[You know what is guaranteed to make a person freak out? Getting a totally normal text from your kid asking you not to freak out. What the FUCK happened? Is she hurt? Did one of the fae assholes do something to her? Did the Order finally make good on all their idle threats and do something to her? Did she get tied to this goddamn stupid Gate in some way? Did The Boy do something stupid? Sweet fucking Jesus, is she pregnant???!! Husk's already making his way to the training grounds.

He is definitely freaking out. ]

I'm not promising shit. What happened? You hurt?

[ Hmm she has a feeling her plan did not work. Surely these totally not vague and not at all ominous messages should be reassuring. ]

i'm not hurt

i mean

i guess this could count as an injury but it's also not???

i promise it's not whatever you're thinking [ SHE'S NOT PREGNANT DAD ] but i can't tell you over text

[They are the absolute opposite of reassuring. He is the opposite of reassured. ]

THAT AIN'T HELPING LAPIS!!!

[What the fuck do you mean it's an injury but also not??? What does that even mean???]

Okay. Okay, fucking fine. I'll be there soon. Just hold tight.

[He swears to fuck if anything has happened to her, someone is gonna straight-up die tonight. He's not playing any goddamn games. Anyway, it won't be too long before he's at the training grounds, ears pinned back, looking stressed as hell and wishing he'd brought a drink with him. ]

I'M SORRY!!!

[ Okay okay okay, it really is best to just show him right now.

... Even though Jinwoo wasn't repelled when he saw her like this, there's the fear of how Husk will react. Will he flinch away from her? Will he decide that maybe this is too much to deal with, after everything that's happened?

( Logically, she knows he's not like that. He never pulled away from her, he never gave up on her, even when he knew what her powers could entail.

But anxiety digs deep, clawing at every insecurity she has. Her hands tremble as she clings tight to her phone. )

Lapis sees him approach from where she's perched within one of the trees, and she slowly takes a deep breath to calm herself. Seeing him so stressed makes her wince - she really didn't help with those messages - but leaving him to wait would make it worse.

So with a mental count to three, she lets herself just float down from her perch. The stars now dancing across her skin provides a faint light, along with the glow of her eyes.

And even with all of that, there's no hiding the sheer terrified energy as she watches him, gauging his reaction. When she makes an attempt to speak, all that comes out is a shaky bird-like trill, before she remembers that right she can't fucking talk and she quickly taps at the phone in her hands.

A message is sent to Husk a second later. ]

i'm still me

i promise

[Husk really doesn't know what to expect. Any number of scenarios had raised and roiled in his skull as he was on his way to the training grounds. He's a hell of a gambler, but even he would not have bet he would see what had actually become of his daughter.

He would not have bet on this at any point.

Luckily for Lapis, Husk has plenty of memories of his past afterlife. All the strange forms Sinners have taken lurk in the back of his mind's eye. It takes a lot to rattle him- and this isn't even worth a shudder. Though it IS unexpected. He cants his head to one side, trying to... figure out just what the fuck happened.

New form or not, though, he can see she's freaking out. So, carefully, he raises his hands, palm down, before lowering them slowly in a careful calm down motion.]

Well. That's new.

[The bird noise is confusing, but at least she can still text. He sloooowly looks at his phone, then back at her. Right. That... clears that up then.]

...You okay?

[That's the most important thing, right now. Priorities. ]

Did the fuckin' fae do this to you? They do shit like that. Cursing people. Or is this just... y'know, real badly timed past life stuff?

[ training had been... well, as good as any sort of physical training could be. He was slow to learn--the movements came natural to him, using a knife was something his past self was extremely good at. But the problem was how slow he felt. 'Sung Jinwoo' could move so much faster than he could; and therefore all of those skills that he could use felt like he was moving in slow-motion.

Which caused issues with him missing his strikes or simply ending up with his knife stuck in a training dummy...

He was chatting with lapis about possibly choosing a different weapon--maybe his summons could be his weapons for now, but.

...He can't be sure what it is he's looking at, now.

He's used to the way the air glitched when one of his screens showed up out of nowhere. How it felt unreal, to see data shifting in a natural space. And part of him wonders, as Lapis' form flickers and changes, he wonders if it's another hallucination.

...But it isn't. She makes a sound, her mouth opening and crackling--chirping, out a sound that certainly isn't language. Her skin looked like it held the cosmos, her eyes glowing like far-off stars.

The word 'stardust' comes to mind as he finds himself just. Staring, in awed silence as she panics.

Maybe it's just that he doesn't have room for more than three thoughts in his head at once, that he doesn't realise she's upset for the first moment.
Because he's having three separate conversations already going on in his head.

1. Am I just seeing this, is this fae magic, was it the mushroom stew I ate
2. Where did her legs go, is she going to fall, I should try to catch her

and the third?

The third he'll say outloud, as he reaches up to try to touch her, to make sure what he's seeing is real: ]

... Beautiful. [ ah, wait, that thought is being interrupted with a sudden wave of embarrassment. oh. oh my god. ] Lapis. Lapis? That IS you, right? [ Focus, dummy. ]

[ There were a myriad of reactions Lapis was expecting; shock, fear, maybe revulsion or anything like that. All negative, as her self esteem and anxiety chokes at her, so that one word he says is enough to stun her completely.

"Beautiful", he calls her, as he reaches up to touch her. She doesn't move away, it doesn't even register to do just that - so when he touches her, he'll find she's running warmer than usual. Any touch where the stars flit across her skin are warmer still, but not uncomfortable.

This also means the way she blushes in this form is seen through the sudden lighting of stars streaming across her cheeks, as she blinks owlishly at him. He... meant that, and the panic starts to ease lightly; though there is still a faint tremble in her hands, as she lowers them. But right, he's... asking her something, and she's quick to nod in response.

And of course she tries to speak again, though once more all that leaves her is a bird-like trill. Even how she sighs to herself is more of a lilting sound than anything else, before she remembers something. With a hand in front of her, her phone simply... comes into existence.

After some quick typing, a text is sent his way. ]

yes its me

i promise

i can't speak normally like this but i can still text

[ The messages stop there, before - very hesitantly - another follows. ]

did you really mean that

[ Husk's calmness, and the gesture, helps her to slowly start to calm down. Part of her feels so silly for getting worked up like that, but for now she'll focus on him and what he's saying. That's helped before.

There's a nod, when he asks if she's okay - looming panic attack not withstanding - and her eyes flick down to her phone so she can text. There's a rumbled sound from her, like a bird's croon but not quite, which is her only real show of displeasure over having to talk like this. ]

past life stuff

i can still switch back to how i usually look, but its a bit harder to control. and i wanted to actually show you

you aren't

upset or anything?

[The text thing is... odd, but fine, whatever, he can roll with it. A glance to his phone, then back at Lapis. His nose crinkles a little, like he's just caught a whiff of a bad smell.]

Upset? The fuck would I be upset about? Ain't like you can control any of this shit. It just happens. I'd be a real hypocrite if I started being weird about people changing from past life shit.

[What with the whole cat-bird-demon thing going on and all. ]

Is that what you were freaking out about? That I'd be upset?

[ Sorry dad, it's text or trying to decipher her weird not-bird warbling.

There's a moment where she stiffens; the feathers of her new tail ruffing before she hunches her shoulders, glowing eyes glancing to the side. Which is probably more than enough of an answer. ]

yes

its just with everything else going on

[ This is the last thing any of them need to deal with.

But he's right. It's not like she could control this, that she wanted this to happen. Lapis lets out a sigh - and even that sounds strange, more of a lilting whistle than anything else - as her sheepishness grows. She really did panic over nothing, didn't she? ]

i saw myself and i just

panicked

[He watches her body language, brow furrowed because this is clearly, clearly bothering her. A lot. ]

I mean, yeah, it's pretty shitty timing, Kiddo. But again. not like you can control that. Way your messages about this shithole sounded, it always picks the worst time to kick-start something new, right?

[He looks her over again, titling his head this way and that as if he's weighing it up. ]

I mean, it's definitely fuckin' different. Fair enough to panic. But hey, least you can turn it off- so did your legs just... vanish or?

[He's HELPING. ]

[ At this point, Lapis has since learned that sending out messages that are left vague and questionable is a horrible idea and she should not do that.

So when she sends a message out to Ayato one late evening, it's at least concise and with no worrying/vague details; ]

are you free at the moment?

i need to talk to you in person about something. i promise it's nothing bad!!

[ She hopes. She's a little worried, but... surely this won't cause any concern. ]

[ he needs a moment. both to collect himself, and to take his phone out to read over the messages she's left for him. So she couldn't talk--that's fine, that's somewhat. Normal, maybe. He couldn't talk at first when he first turned into a crow, and had to learn later, so...

He's going to talk to her instead of text back. Lifting his head up to look at her again as he reads that last question.

The way the color of her face shifts and spirals with countless stars makes his eyes widen. He feels weird, wanting to ... touch her, but also not wanting to scare her any more than she might already feel. Is she like a ghost now? Would her skin be burning hot? Stinging cold? Space itself is like a cold, endless vacuum, so... ]

I meant it.

[ he's going to take very little time reaffirming himself. Nodding once--as stupid as it looks. ]

You... it's like looking into the galaxy, but watching it dance and move. There's something very beautiful about it.

...About you.

But. That's not important right now. [ is it ] What's important is--are you okay? Are you cold? Hurting?

Your--

Your legs are missing.

[ The more he talks, the more she starts to calm down - her panic-frazzled brain latching onto the calm and finally letting her relax. Lapis manages a nod in response, feeling her heart finally ease to something not 'almost bursting out of her chest' levels.

Then he mentions her legs, or lack of them, and she glances down. Floating up a little more and swinging what's... left of them in the air for a moment, the sound of glass clinking following the movement. Why are her legs turning into glass and look like they're breaking off? Who the hell knows. ]

i guess?? i can't

feel them

but it doesn't hurt or anything. but i can fly at least

[ ... Ah. Maybe asking him to say he meant it was a bad idea, the blush along her cheeks - the stars twinkling and streaking across the skin - brightens all the more. Considering her worries, being called beautiful like this is a little overwhelming... Especially combined with the panic attack that was looming its ugly head.

But she starts to calm down now, the tremble in her hands easing as she lets herself start to deflate. Then the questions start, and she reaches for her phone again; a soft, rumbling sound vibrating from her chest. Lapis wants to talk normally, but right now this is the best method. ]

im okay, beside panicking for a moment

nothing hurts or anything. i feel a little warmer than usual though

[ While space is cold she's, in essence, a condescended fraction of it. With all those stars and galaxies pressed together, she was more warm than anything else - but not painfully so.

The Jinwoo mentions her legs, and she glances down - moving her legs and seeing the... broken shards below her knee follow, clinking together like glass. The sound that escapes her now is clearly Unhappy, despite the strangeness of it. ]

my legs are gone but its

it doesn't hurt. it's hard to describe but it doesn't feel wrong

at least i can fly

[He tilts his head as she reveals her legs and that's...]

...Well, that's something else.

[He folds his arms, trying to exude an aura of calm- to keep her on this downward dip to normalcy again. Or... normal as she can be given the circumstances. She needed to know this was workable- that it wasn't the end of the world or something she couldn't deal with.]

There you go, you can fly. It's...fuckin' different, but we can figure this okay, alright? I've got plenty of experience in weird bullshit like this happening- and I ain't going anywhere. It'll be weird for a while, but that ain't shit you can't deal with and you know that.

[She's stronger than she gives herself credit for. ]

Edited 2024-03-12 02:13 (UTC)

[The good thing is that this sort of response is pretty much similar to how Ayato texts people himself, so there isn't too much worry on his end when he receives it.]

Of course. Is there any particular place you had in mind?

[Honestly, anything to take his mind off the past week or so helps him in more ways than one.]

[ That's something else, he says, and Lapis can't help but huff a little in response. But the calm is helping, and she lets the words wash over her as she nods. Keep taking deep breaths, don't stress out too much over this... The people important to her aren't. Freaked out or horrified about this, so there's nothing to worry about.

"I ain't going anywhere", he says, and the sheer relief that brings almost makes her tear up. But she takes a deep breath as she nods. ]

i know

it's just a bit of a shock, but i can adjust. maybe having this form could be useful

i'm more worried about teresa finding out

[ Okay this is good so far. This is fine. ]

can you meet me outside the training area?

[ Luckily once fae training hell is over with, that area tends to be pretty secluded. ]

Yeah, well. I know a thing or two about havin' to fuckin' adjust to weird shit.

[He gestures at his... whole-ass self. ]

You'll figure it out- and at least you can switch it off. That's somethin'.

[He grimaces at the mention of Teresa.]

...Yeah. Less she or the whole fuckin' Order know, the better. Doubt we can keep it from them forever, but... better play it close to your chest for now. 'Least while everything is fuckin' batshit with her around.

[He cants a head her way- he can see she's stressed about this.]

You good now?

Edited 2024-03-17 22:06 (UTC)

It's okay--it's okay. I'd be panicking if I were you, too, right now.

But it's okay. So long as you're not in pain. [ he's not sure what to do with his hands, he wants to hold her, but he also doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, to crowd her.

He nods his head as she admits she's not in pain, and she feels okay. ]

That was my next question. Can you--move? Walk?

I remember the first time I turned into a crow--I couldn't change back for hours.

But I did change back. Which means we might. Just have to wait this out a little.

[ ...being positive? ]

We can continue our walk. See if you can get used to it...?

[ His gesture gets a rumbling trill in agreement - at least some sounds are easy to decipher. Of all people who knows about adjusting to weird shit, Husk would know most about it. And if he believes in her, she can trust that.

Though the thought of the higher ups in the Order finding out about this... Best not to think about how that might go, actually. So long as they can keep this a secret for as long as possible, it should be okay. She hopes. ]

at least she isn't here, so i don't have to worry about her seeing me while i can't control it

but i'll make sure not to change forms in front of her or anyone else that gets assigned here

yes

i'm sorry for panicking like that

now I want to fly into your world ( closed )

closed | sung jinwoo (lowestclass)

closed | husk (wiseoldbartender)

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closed | ayato (kanka)

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