what a princess can do [OPEN]

[fauxmarth]

WHO: Lucina, so many
WHERE: Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Januarrr
WHAT: adventures in a world where giant dragons aren't trying to delete you
WARNINGS: ? will tag as needed


o1. outside a pastry shop

This world is full of wonders, big and small. It's very easy to get overwhelmed, but there's no threat of destruction riding on her shoulders, pressuring her to learn or die. A leisurely pace is...a rare, new thing for her. And strange.

On this gray, chilly January day, Lucina walks the streets of Maurtia Falls with her eyes always wandering up and around. The buildings are so interesting and lovely and ugly...some all at once! And the whole look and feel of this city is unlike anything she's felt. So many people...all walking freely, going about their days. What sort of things did they do?

It's so easy to get lost in all of this, even with the clock tower always in the skyline. Pushed along with the flow of foot traffic, Lucina finds herself on a shopping street, lined with jewelers and electronics dealers...and something that smells just heavenly.

And just as she's on her way to investigate it...the sky opens up with a nasty drizzle, forcing her to flee under the shop's awning. At least here she can see what's inside and stay dry...alongside whoever else sweeps in to take shelter.



o2. a pedestrian bridge over the freeway

Lucina hugs her arms to herself, dressed back in her homeworld blues for their warmth. The lights are so beautiful at night -- painting eerie reflections on glass towers as late night traffic mulls along the freeway. It's so surreal to watch, and Lucina is mesmerized.

Were her other friends around to ask, how can she describe this? Like hundreds of mages' lanterns, enchanting steel to ferry people where they wish...thousands of looking glasses erected in blocky towers. No horses, no wyverns...strange, but beautiful in a way. And definitely not home. That's...a good and bad thing, she supposes.

She lets out a sigh, her breath trailing off in a warm stream.


o3. one of the city parks

The wide eyes and awe-filled whoas from the kids who swarmed her have definitely charmed her right away. It came as an uncomfortable surprise as she was simply passing through, but once one child hopped off the monkey bars and raced over, others followed fast on their heels.

It's the sword -- Falchion, her birthright -- that caught their attention. And truly, it is a beautiful blade, easy to spot while carried at her hip. But a dangerous weapon all the same: more than a handful of parents watching from the benches look over and start to worry, calling kids by names to come back.

"Ah...I'm sorry. I'm afraid this blade must stay sheathed." She smiles weakly and receives a chorus of disappointed awws. "It's for the best! It means there's no danger for you here...please, go play freely!"

She's...she's trying her best! But her best doesn't seem to be enough to disengage excitable kids...or ease some concerned parents closing in.

"Oh...ah..."



o4. anywhere
[MAKE ME A PROMPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Comments

JAIME:

[fauxmarth]

[so the "new powers" thing is true. which means...

she can fly? truly? it still seems so...impossible. but that's what the papers she was given say she can do!


she took to this with a great amount of care: no trust falls off of skyscrapers or bridges for this princess. she's not that reckless! instead, she started small with leaps and hops, willing a hover until a hover was finally willed. the smaller the steps, the easier to control.

until small steps just don't cut it. and at this point, flying too high up brings her face to face with new problems of control. one crosswind too blustery from the city sends her going up too high, and then higher still, and soon she's struggling to stay upright or even pick a direction to go. she's like a very large, very terrified dandelion seed.]

[khajidont]

[ Lucina, it must be said, looks pretty funny. Jaime would take a moment to stop and laugh at the sight if he wasn't keenly aware of the danger that comes with losing control while flying; it's been a long time since Jaime's been new to flying, but he remembers those first clumsy weeks far, far too well, and how stupid he probably looked.

He still looks fairly stupid sometimes, Jaime privately admits to himself, but at least that has nothing to do with his flying ability. That's just a Jaime Reyes Original.

Instead of just watching and laughing like a jerk, Jaime flies towards her and scoops her up in a princess carry, which he hopes she'll take for what it is: the easiest way of carrying someone while mid-air. ] Hang on, I gotcha!

[ He grins down at her, a little sheepish. ] Sorry if you didn't want to be caught, but I figured it was better to be safe than sorry when we're this high up.

[fauxmarth]

Aa-oh! Huh-?! [her terrified tumbling is suddenly interrupted by a whole lot of blue and black. she has to recover from a whole lot of dizziness to realize she's actually upright and now safely held aloft by one of the strangest talking faces she's ever seen (seriously Jaime, your face is weird).

but she can roll with this! because she's not rolling anymore! she puts her hands on her face to try and stop everything from still spinning.]

Gods! I, thank you, I...oh, goodness. I thought I was going to be spinning forever!

HIEI:

[fauxmarth]

[it's probably bad form to keep a demon waiting, Lucina figures. never mind Hiei's grumpy demeanor -- that's not unfamiliar territory. but all the rest? well... that does spur her to hasten to contact him again and insist that yes, she's ready to test her blade.

and she is. all of this strange, new world hullabaloo is interesting and kind of fun, certainly! but Lucina's practically been raised to carry a sword...sparring is fun, feels good, feels right. she craves the challenge and hopes for something new.

she doesn't wait long for a response, receiving the direction to the place Hiei knows of safe enough to cut loose. and, luckily, she's gotten better at this flying thing, so getting there will be swift...]

[blacktemper]

[although he holds no lofty expectations for this match, Hiei isn't quite as disinterested in his 'pity' spar as he's professed. the blade had carried him through times where his own body failed, ensuring his survival long enough to climb to the point he'd reached; being unable to draw blood with it as frequently as he had in his own world had left him antsy and eager.

Maurtia Falls is the closest to the dingy underworld that had sprung up in the human plane of his proper reality, and so he knows the outskirts of it as well as the hideous streets by now. directing Lucina to a proper wooded area far from any prying eyes was easy enough, as was arriving there himself. he can feel her approaching long before she lands, thanks to the jagan, and slips casually out of the tree he'd been perched in to await her arrival.

whatever diminutive size his future practice partner had envisioned from his voice is likely to be off the mark - Hiei doesn't even scrape five feet, all the more jolting for the prideful way he spoke. if it weren't for the disturbing way his eyes caught the light one might even describe his features and innocent and childlike.

that illusion is swiftly shattered when he opens his mouth.]

Finally.

[fauxmarth]

[well, so much for horns and wings and cloven hooves...Lucina can scratch that storybook image out of mind. she's about to question this (perhaps she's found the wrong person standing idly in a dingy wood?), but Hiei's voice confirms it.

she's only just landing tip-toe when she replies, winded and still apple-cheeked from the cold wind:] You have my apologies for the wait, Hiei, but I'll spare my excuses. [she smiles a bit once she's settled. but that's as far as proper greetings as she gives: she's already ascertained him definitely not the sort for it, and therefore she decides to cut to the chase.

without any further ado, she draws Falchion, whose edge seems to catch and keep some of the light poking through naked trees on it. it's a divine blade, and seems to already keenly know that the opponent Lucina's to be facing is no ordinary man. it's a revelation that she acknowledges with a fleeting glance and a little chill up her neck.

she nods.]

Let's not waste time further, then.

THOR:

[fauxmarth]

Are you sure you want to forego a proper sword?

[it hardly seems fair. sure, Thor is much taller and noticeably sturdier than she, but Falchion gives her an edge in more ways than one.

not that they can really tear up here in this enclosed space, but. still. handicaps aren't fun!

"this enclosed space" being a gym -- part of the gym where the floor is matted and no heavy equipment is in the way. a part of the gym where there's no actual signage that says NO WEAPONS ALLOWED, so.]

[godnotlord]

[Thor's barely been here but in that time he's come to find he has other universe family and some quickly made friends, one of which he came out to meet today in a Midgard gym for some friendly sparring. He arrives in casual clothes, or at least in the appearance of them until a crackling wave of light releases a cloaking magic to show his armor. It's not the finest it could be, but it's what he has for the time being. The red paint runes have faded away, there are a couple more holes than there were before (thanks Hela,) but it's manageable.

But he, like she points out, doesn't have a proper sword. He has a dagger and not much else. He holds it in his dominant hand idly, giving her a smile and a shake of his head. He's underestimating her even though he's trying to be open minded, thinking that this shouldn't be too exerting.] This should be fine, I can always tap out.

[He laughs because that's a joke, not a - serious... thing.] Ready?

[fauxmarth]

[she holds her sword out before her in a respectful salute, staring back at her reflection for a beat while she takes a breath to calm her excited nerves.]

Yes. Ready.

[she shifts, spacing her feet out into a balanced stance, watching for signs of his preparedness. but rather than ask, the moment she sees his posture change, she lunges, a little extra spring to her step thanks to the floor mat.]

HYAA-! [Falchion is sent ahead of her in a piercing thrust, targeting the shoulder opposite his dagger-hand.]

IRIS:

[fauxmarth]

This...looks like the right place...

[Lucina tilts her head up at the multi-story department store before her, pondering on it for a moment more before checking her communicator. Iris gave her the address and cross streets...she swivels her head to look about for signs.

this...this is the right store. yes. has to be. her shoulders lift and fall with a steadying breath, and she begins to set about looking for sign of the woman named Iris.]

Perhaps I am simply too early...

[eloquentness]

Lucina! Wait!!

[ Cue Iris rushing - even in high heels! - and stopping just before Lucina, holding up two fingers so she can catch her breath. Turns out, running in these things wasn't the smartest idea she's had all day. ]

Sorry, I should've called - [ she's used to her friends being later, ] Work got crazy-busy, and I just got finished with everything.

1

[plasticbow]

[Hearth is used to wandering - more than used to wandering. Not that he doesn't appreciate having somewhere to sleep and all that, but after years of bouncing around the Nine Worlds (and, more particularly, the streets of Boston), the elf tends to get a bit restless if he stays in one place for too long. Besides, he'd only just arrived in this world a couple of days ago. It's worth exploring, he thinks, if he's stuck here either way.

[The rain, though - not a huge fan of that. Elves are creatures of sunlight, after all, so when the sky begins to darken, Hearth ducks under the nearest awning himself, already beginning to feel a bit run-down from the sudden change in the sky.

[As he rushes out from the street and toward the more brightly-lit pastry shop, Hearth feels himself knock into someone - Lucina, as it would just so happen to be. He takes a step back, holding both of his hands up in a weak apology - most people don't understand it when he actually says sorry--

[Though, there is that new power of his. He keeps forgetting about that. So, he balls up his fist and rubs it in a circle over his heart a few times, transmitting the translation as he does so:]

Sorry.

yessss

[fauxmarth]

Oh-!

[Lucina completely missed his approach, her eyes more focused on the cupcakes in the window than the elf's reflection drawing near. she startles, moving a step away, and brings her hands up in anticipation to catching any weight coming her way. it turns out to be an accidental pantomime of Hearth's own gesture.

she speaks the same time his own voice comes to mind:] Forgive me, I-- Eh-?! [she blinks, surprised and confused, her hands drawing back to herself.]

How...how did-? Did you just speak aloud, or was I imagining things?

wildcard library thing

[d33tached]

[D33 tends to frequent Maurtia Falls himself, though he can typically only be found at the library, the teleporter, or somewhere on the path in between the two.
Within the library though, one might find him just about anywhere - carrying a pile of books around that's half as tall as he is, standing on one of the ladders to skim through some of the higher-up selections, or, currently, delivering a sharp kick to the vending machine in an attempt to free a stuck Twinkie as he mutters under his breath:]

Ridiculous.

[fauxmarth]

Ah, pardon me...

[Lucina is behind him a few steps away, having followed the loud banging and incoherent grumblings over here. she's aware she's really straddling the line between busybody and good Samaritan, but she's more compelled to help than save face.]

May I be of assistance? You've been struggling for some time... [and others are just as aware...but not confident enough to approach, it seems.]

DUO:

[fauxmarth]

[flying is getting easier the more she tries, but landing? landing still...leaves much to be desired. really, one would think it's just a matter of wanting to land to be properly righted and done with it, but it's really not.

but she's got it this time. surely. she's able to get her feet under her, her body angled so the wind won't blow her out of line (again), and down she goes, her eyes wincing against the wind as she makes a descent toward a safe and empty street.

almost...there...]

steals ur bike

[hellrisen02]

Woah--!

[Here Duo was, just minding his own business on a nice ride after services, when there's suddenly an incoming missile divebombing him off the road. It's a good thing he's used to swerving for incoming missiles (literally, anyway), but she still brushes by him, pushing him screeching towards the side of the road. The smell of burning rubber fills the air as he comes to a halting stop just beside a guardrail with a quiet thump.]

[Aw man, the kid was gonna kill him if his hubcaps just got banged up... His head jerks up again as that thought passes, dismounting his bike and now focusing his concerns on whatever unlucky imPort (and oh, he knew already it was an imPort) had just crashed into him. He runs over towards Lucina, who he figured would be worse for wear with a landing like that.] --Hey, sweetheart, you okay!?

SOLDIER: 76:

[fauxmarth]

[now that work is done, Lucina's on her way home for the evening. she's getting the hang of this flying thing, but Lucina's not too keen on sailing too far from a safe landing. this means that she avoids some of the shady alleyways where trouble lingers for any young woman, whether they carry a sword or not.

it also means, however, that at this vantage, she can hear the pop-popopop-pop of gunfire -- a sound she's all too unfamiliar with -- and the crashing of glass.

she's slowly flying over a district of warehouses, and there's some activity of the unsavory sort afoot...]

[notayoungman]

[ It wasn't often the soldier got in over his head. There were few situations he couldn't handle on his own, and fewer still he couldn't extract himself from with ease. However, this one was getting close. The warehouse was supposed to be empty. The gang using it was supposed to be out, with just two thugs left guarding the place. He'd knocked both of them out and slipped inside. To find over a dozen well armed men waiting for him.

A trap.

But that didn't stop the soldier. He'd knocked three of them out before they even opened fire. Two more down before they got organized. He could have handled them all, if the only door leading out of the second floor room hadn't opened to admit even more thugs. That's when the soldier took the only other exit. He dove through the brittle glass of the windows, followed by a volley of gunfire.

He'd misjudged the size of the alley, hitting the building opposite and slumping dazed to the ground below. He wasn't knocked out, but before he could get to his feet, the thugs would make it out of the warehouse. ]

LEO:

[fauxmarth]

[consulting Iris a bit more about the ins and outs of the communicator has borne some new fruit: seated in the living room at the base of the tower, Lucina's carefully scrolling through the various titles of stations available on the radio. music is definitely one of the most fascinating new facets of life here...there's just so much. and so much of it...is terrible! but even the terrible stuff is exciting to hear, if only for its newness.

the room is flooded with the staggered sounds of the various songs she picks through until it finally stops its confusing, broken stagger to something more pleasing and familiar to her ears. chamber music -- strings, clarinets, and very humble brass weaving a light, but not simple melody that sings of nostalgia, of court concerts in happier days.

this is the one she decides to raise the volume on to its highest while she gets up, searching for the box in the room that actually is a radio.]

live ur dreams

[liontomyself]

[Leo hasn't really gotten into the social aspects of this world just yet, but it didn't mean he wasn't indulging in some learning and experimenting. It just so happened that he had been stuck in a book or two, reading up on the sciences and history.

When hearing the music, he actually decided to come down to check it out, curious.

He notices that it's Lucina playing the music. It was music much closer to what he was used to, and while it was loud it felt much less intrusive than what Odin had brought to the party. Slowly, he comes into the living room to look around, as if expecting there to be some kind of band here playing it, though that was silly.]

Ah, Lucina....

You seem to be getting the hang of this. 'Technology'.

SABRIEL:

[fauxmarth]

...Oh...

[Lucina's eyes wince with each wobble and eventual thud of the chunk of training dummy left in her backswing's wake. it's a consequence of training with a timeless, holy blade...and also being Lucina, who is so apt for overdoing it on inanimate enemies.

all well and fine when it's on her dime, but she's now worried she's becoming a bit of a hazard to this place. still...surely it's seen worse powers than a simple sword, right?

she consoles herself with that thought as she sheathes Falchion and picks up the mangled dummy, moving it over to rest with its other fallen brethren in the corner.]

I'm so sorry for the delay

[bindsthedead]

[Sabriel also arrives with a sword- and raises an eyebrow when she sees the mangled dummies.

Still, if they're already wrecked, she won't get in trouble for breaking them further.

So she grabs one dummy and props it up against the wall, backing up a considerable distance before raising one hand and reaching into the Charter for three familiar marks.]

Anet! Calew! Ferhan! [Silver blades launch from her fingertips- and put fist-sized holes through the dummy's head and chest before vanishing.]

CLARKE:

[fauxmarth]

Excuse me, hello...?

[Lucina pushes the door to the clinic partway, just enough to poke her head in and call out. never mind the "out to lunch" sign plainly pasted on the door.]

Iris?

[romancekiller]

[clarke was still fairly new to volunteering at the clinic but since getting the job from iris recently, she was trying to get better acquainted with how things work around here and more importantly how she can put her medical skills to use. she actually browsing through a few medical books when she hears someone come in] Oh— hey.

Sorry, I think Iris just stepped out for lunch. Did you need something? I can see if I can help if that's the case.