maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

A visitor! L'Arachel was growing very fond of the sound of the doorbell; it meant she got to entertain some company, which was always exciting. And it was that much more so when she wasn't quite sure who she'd find on the other side of the door.

So she hurried to answer it, casting her book aside without even thinking to bother with a bookmark. When the door swung open she was not disappointed in the least, breaking into a bright smile at the sight of Fuu on her front step.

"Fuu! Hello! How delightful to see you! Do come in--goodness, did you bring snacks?"

~~Knowing L'Arachel it probably lands on the page she was on anyway~~

Fuu bowed, smiling herself at L'Arachel's typical enthusiastic greeting. She really did like how vibrant the woman was. "Yes, it's a type of cookie called pan dulce--Mr. Jaime introduced me to them." When he wasn't around, she felt free to use the English form. (Though she knew by now it wasn't an exact translation, the knowledge that it would nettle him was enough for her to say it anyway.)

"I hope you like them. I thought it would be nice to have something to eat while we discuss sartorial matters."

"Jaime? I met someone by that name," L'Arachel commented, and the way her nose scrunched up probably demonstrated the distaste she felt just thinking about it. "Is it a common one?"

Maybe it was a different Jaime. Yes, it had to be. She couldn't imagine Fuu being a close acquaintance of that miscreant who manhandled her back at the seminar. She ushered her friend inside, her smile quick to return.

"--Oh, but I'm quite certain I'll like them! Cookies are generally sweet, are they not?" It was very hard to go wrong with sweets. "Come, set them on the table and I'll get some tea started. We shall have a proper little party--a costume party!"

She clapped her hands together in delight as she flitted towards the kitchen. "That is why you've come, isn't it? To show me your hero costume?"

"I've only met the one so far--Jaime Reyes?" Fuu hoped it wasn't the same one, judging by the look on L'Arachel's face. She wasn't sure how anyone could come away with a bad opinion of him. Granted, she wasn't sure how far most people were willing to go in humoring L'Arachel, but he was still too good-natured to picture giving offense.

Fuu put the cookies down on the indicated table. "It's actually Spanish for 'sweet bread.'" She giggled at the idea of a costume party. "And yes--you seemed so interested before, I thought it would only be right to show you."

L'Arachel eagerly fetched the kettle and filled it with water. Making tea was the one kitchen-related task she had made a point of learning how to do, and she was quite proud of herself for mastering it.

"He only introduced himself as Jaime. About this tall..." she indicated his approximate height with her hand, "...floppy dark hair, sparse stubble, no notion of how to properly speak to a lady?"

She plugged the kettle in, and joined Fuu at the table. "But of course I'm interested! You are going to be a genuine hero, fighting for justice and light! What's not to be excited about? And naturally, I shall be more than happy to give you whatever advice you may require!"

She paused then, furrowing her brows as something suddenly occurred to her. "--Oh, but where is your costume? I only saw you bring in the snacks... goodness, you didn't forget it, did you?"

Yes... yesss... Fuu pressed her fingers to her lips, because that sounded exactly like the Jaime she knew. Aside from the last part, but she could easily picture a casual American teenager offering grave offense to someone as--as insistent a lady as L'Arachel. "Ah... two out of three, yes. I found him to be rather amiable, myself."

That would be something to ask Jaime about the next time she saw him, certainly. She had a feeling it would be well worth hearing about from both sides.

Fuu smiled when L'Arachel asked about the costume--she was fairly sure that this trick would be suitably impressive. "And don't worry, my costume is right here with me." She rubbed her thumb along the jewel on her breastplate. "Is there anything here that would be easily knocked over by wind?"

"Amiable? No, he was not that, not in the least." L'Arachel frowned. Were they talking about the same person? If everything else matched up... well, she didn't know what the odds were of there being two Jaimes who looked the same, but they were probably rather slim.

"--Oh, but first things first!" She gave a dismissive wave of her hand, smiling once again. "I shall tell you all about that bit of unpleasantness afterwards, if you like, but your costume takes precedence!" And the mystery surrounding it only made L'Arachel that much more excited to see it--excited enough to postpone her rant about the nerve of a certain young man. This costume had been here all along, Fuu said, when there was no sign of it? And wind? This was surely building up to something spectacular!

L'Arachel glanced around for anything that might be endangered by gusts, and set a mug on top of some papers on the table to hold them down. "Nothing that can't be replaced, I'm sure," she answered. "But come now, you must show me!"

All right... well, this certainly was a story Fuu would have to extract, because now she was more curious than ever. But L'Arachel was right; they hadn't come here to gossip about who might and might not be amiable and have improper notions on how to address ladies.

She smiled as L'Arachel checked to make sure nothing was out of place. Fuu had to admit to being pleased to have so successfully raised L'Arachel's curiosity. Truthfully she didn't think it would do any real damage, but it was as well to be careful.

"Very well--here it is." She shut her eyes and concentrated. The jewel on the front of her breastplate glowed bright, surrounding her with luminous green breezes and ethereal feathers... when the show of magical effects dissipated, she was left in the elegant dress of a Magic Knight.

"What do you think?"

Edited 2016-05-14 19:12 (UTC)

"Oh!" L'Arachel's eyes grew wide with amazement as wind and feathers suddenly enveloped Fuu, and clasped her hands to her chest in surprise and absolute delight when they subsided and the end result was revealed. Had she been a woman of less refinement, she might have squealed; instead, she gasped.

"It's a magical costume! You didn't tell me that! Goodness, you didn't tell me it would be so lovely, either!" She hurried to Fuu's side, reaching out to feel the fabric for herself.

"Were I not above such things, I would be exceedingly jealous right now!" In other words, she was only mildly jealous. It would be a lie to say that she had never daydreamed about donning beautiful costumes to fight evil, and she would have done so if only she'd had an easy way to carry them around and change into them. "Is this a power you acquired here, or have you always had it?"

Fuu couldn't help beaming at L'Arachel's reaction. She wasn't a naturally boastful person. "I'm glad that you're too virtuous to feel that," she said, holding up the cape a little so that her friend could get a better look at it.

"It's a garment that I had in Cephiro, but I didn't change into it quite like this..." How to explain about the Mashin? Fuu didn't want to sound too much of a show-off. The Mashin were something like gods, after all. "When we would fight our battles to defend the land, our armor would change into this. But it seems that Miss Porter granted me the ability to switch in and out of it at will."

"Magical transforming armour! Oh, how marvelous!" L'Arachel felt the cape gently, beaming all the while. It was very nice fabric. "I shall have to discuss this with our best sages when I return home. They must surely be able to come up with something similar! I can't believe I didn't think of it much sooner!"

And, of course, she would gladly volunteer to test it in actual battle.

She let go of the cape and stepped back a short distance, taking in the overall look, then clapped her hands happily. "My, and it's the perfect colour! It matches your eyes! It's very important that a hero look put together, you know. And I have always been partial to green--oh!"

The kettle had begun to whistle, and L'Arachel spun around, mildly startled. "Heavens, I forgot all about the tea! Do sit down, Fuu, and I'll get it ready for us!"

Fuu giggled. She wondered if Clef would ever divulge his armor-creating spell to L'Arachel's underlings, if it was even possible to use outside of a land governed by wishes and willpower, and had a feeling that 'probably not' answered both questions.

"I think you would look very nice in it as well, Miss L'Arachel--your hair would match it even more." As L'Arachel turned towards the teapot, Fuu shut her eyes and changed back into her ordinary clothing to sit down. Managing the cape was a little much when trying to sit down or walk around a house. "But the clothing you have from your homeland is quite lovely, too. It does remind me a little of the things I've seen people wear in Cephiro."

"It would look splendid on me, wouldn't it?" L'Arachel agreed as she poured the hot water into a teapot. "Oh, but you're quite right, I already have a very nice battle outfit of my own. It's a dreadful shame I couldn't have brought more of my wardrobe here with me, though! I have some gowns back home that I just know would look lovely on you!"

And it was proving terribly difficult to find good evil-purging-princess ensembles in this realm's clothing shops.

She brought the tea over to the table, along with two cups, and looked somewhat disappointed upon noticing that Fuu was back in her normal clothes. "...Oh, you changed back already?" She didn't dwell on it though, sitting down and helping herself to one of the pan dulce.

"Cephiro is the name of your world, then, is it? It sounds as though I would like it there very much!"

"That is a pity. I can only imagine how lovely you would look--not that you don't already, of course, but it would be nice to see the clothing of your homeworld." She looked down at her own, restored Earth garb. "I didn't want the cape to catch on anything, you see."

She picked up one of the pan dulce herself and smiled. It was always interesting when she had to explain the Cephiro situation. She had it down now to a neat little abridged version that would sound plausible enough but avoided the more painful events she had experienced, or carried out. "Actually, I'm from Earth originally--I was called to Cephiro in a somewhat similar fashion to the way we were brought here," she said. "Although it was only three of us and not hundreds like Miss Porter seems intent on doing. But I think you would like it quite a lot!" If Umi had made things difficult for Clef.... "It's a beautiful land full of magic, and you would get on splendidly with the people there."

"Oh, it sounds delightful! A beautiful land full of magic... why, it sounds almost as nice as Rausten!" And what more could one want in a land, really? "If only the Porter were more cooperative, and we could travel at will between all of our realms! I should dearly like to see several of those I've heard about... oh, and how wonderful it would be to share the splendour of my own homeland with all of my friends!"

L'Arachel sighed wistfully. It may only be a daydream, but it was a very nice daydream.

"And it must have been such an honour, to be one of only three chosen champions summoned to that realm! That's very impressive! Not that I'm surprised, of course. I knew you had the makings of a great heroine from the moment I first saw you. It takes one to know one, as the common folk say!"

She laughed lightly, and took a small bite of her pan dulce. Her eyes widened.

"--Oh! This is very good!" she declared--once she had finished chewing and swallowing, of course, because a lady does not speak with her mouth full.

Fuu sighed. "It is a pity. I would very much like to visit your homeland, Lady L'Arachel, if you are an example of its light and beauty. And at home, my friends and I can travel to and from Cephiro at will--I do miss being able to do that."

She smiled at being called a chosen champion, hiding the discomfiture that inevitably arose. Fuu was the one who had chosen to talk about it (it seemed more of a bother to lie completely given her skillset) and she had accepted the momentary twinge as the price. "It was an unforgettable experience. And I made two lifelong friends out of it, too."

The smile became a more genuine one at L'Arachel's reaction to the pan dulce, and Fuu took one herself. "I'm glad you like them! Although, if you don't mind me bringing it up again--the Mr. Jaime you met, what offense did he commit?"

Now this was precisely why Fuu was such good company. They agreed on so much! L'Arachel didn't need to give lengthy explanations as to why her ideas were good and her opinions were correct. Fuu understood. She was clearly a very bright young woman with an equally bright future.

Which was why L'Arachel had a difficult time believing that they could be talking about the same Jaime. Someone as smart as Fuu should know better than to associate with such a scoundrel.

"Of course I don't mind!" She did rather enjoy a good rant once in a while, especially when she had a sympathetic ear to listen to it. "I did promise to tell you all about it, after all. Listen to this."

She poured them both some tea as she spoke. "It was during that silly seminar the Soviets put on. You remember, we practiced archery together. Anyway, I had the terrible misfortune of being forced into a lesson on seduction, of all things... and the even worse misfortune of encountering him there! Do you know, the very first thing he said in my presence was that we should all remove our shirts?! And then, instead of apologizing, he had the nerve to insist it was a joke!"

She shook her head, and sipped her tea. "There was absolutely nothing funny about it! And that's not all--oh, dear, but I forgot the sugar. Do you take sugar in your tea, Fuu?"

Fuu nodded when L'Arachel mentioned them practicing archery together. Then she covered her mouth with one hand when the woman described her scandalizing, outrageous encounter with Jaime Reyes.

She hoped L'Arachel would take it for sympathetic shock at the outrage Jaime had perpetrated. In reality, Fuu could easily believe that Jaime had only intended the remark as a joke and had probably meant only himself; he never came across as a pervert. She could also believe that L'Arachel would be really, truly scandalized by such words.

"Oh dear, that sounds quite shocking--and I do take sugar, yes." She cupped her cheek in one hand, wondering how to defend Jaime without incurring L'Arachel's wrath herself. "That seminar was very hard on all of us. It could certainly lead one to speak inconsiderately without meaning to."

L'Arachel did indeed take Fuu's reaction as sympathetic shock, because what else would it be? That was obviously the most appropriate reaction. She rose to fetch the sugar, continuing the conversation as she did so.

"Yes, yes, it could have put just about anyone in a foul mood," she conceded. "But that does not excuse his failure to apologize after the fact. You know, in all the time we spent in each other's company, I don't believe he even realized he should apologize! And when I brought it to his attention, he accused me of being rude! Me! Can you believe it?"

She returned to the table with the sugar bowl and seated herself once again, stirring some sugar into her tea. As outrageous as she clearly believed Jaime's behavior to have been, she appeared perfectly content to recount the story; in fact, she was rather enjoying it.

"Oh, but that's not even the worst of it!" She sipped her tea, and gave a satisfied nod. "Mmm. Much better. But no, that scoundrel even had the audacity to manhandle me!"

Oh, thank goodness. With L'Arachel turned away to fetch the sugar, Fuu could finally release some of the restraints--not to laughing out loud, but she could cover her mouth and let her shoulders shake with suppressed laughter.

By the time L'Arachel was walking back, Fuu had managed to get enough of it out that she could just keep her hands pressed over her mouth, again in the facsimile of someone shocked, truly shocked at such ungentlemanly behavior.

"My goodness! What astonishing behavior--did he give any reason for doing such a thing?" Fuu, remembering how L'Arachel had tried to march up to the President and give her a piece of her mind on national television, had a feeling there would be a well-founded cause, but she doubted L'Arachel would see it that way.

How wonderful it was to air grievances to someone who sympathized! If only everyone could be as good a listener as Fuu. L'Arachel would have been perfectly happy to carry on like this all day over tea and sweets.

~~And who are we kidding, she might.~~

"He said he was trying to help me! Have you ever heard a more ridiculous claim? The idea that I would have needed his help is preposterous enough, but to try to use it as an excuse for grabbing me?" L'Arachel shook her head at the sheer absurdity of it all. "If he'd truly wished to help, he could have come with me to speak to the instructor about the inappropriateness of the lesson. I don't see how stopping me from doing so helped anything!"

She paused to sip her tea. "And it doesn't end there. The more time I spent with him, the more baffling his behavior became! He bought me a bottle of juice as a peace offering, and I thought he might be coming to his senses, but then he tried to lecture me on manners! While still refusing to apologize!"

Another confounded shake of her head, and a dramatic sigh. "Do tell me the Jaime you know is not so infuriatingly difficult!"

Ah, now things became clear. Fuu had no doubt that the scene had been similar to the one she had witnessed on television: L'Arachel marching up to the President and being firmly escorted away by the men who talk into their wrists.

"Ah... I think perhaps Jaime-san was trying to keep from getting the attention of the Russian soldiers," Fuu said. "To be sure, grabbing a person is not very polite, but I think they would have been even more so... they would not simply have lead you away, I think, but taken more forceful measures."

"Nonsense." L'Arachel gave a flippant wave of her hand. "Even without my magic, I'd have been more than a match for a few soldiers, if it came to it. Not that it would have. I had everything under control, and he had no cause whatsoever to doubt my capabilities."

Of course he should have been able to tell that she knew exactly what she was doing, even if it was their very first meeting. When had she ever given the impression otherwise?

"And I'd happily have forgiven him at any point, if he had only apologized. There's no excuse for his failure to do so. Why, I daresay I've not met a more stubborn man in all my time in this realm! And you say he is a friend of yours?"

She took another bite of her pan dulce. "...I will concede that he has very good taste in snacks. But I just don't know what else you've seen in him."

Fuu covered her lips with her fingers. She knew that L'Arachel believed that completely, and was sure that if their powers had indeed been unrestricted, that L'Arachel could present a serious inconvenience to the soldiers.

It would be an interesting challenge to try and work L'Arachel around to see that Jaime'd had a point, and honestly one Fuu wasn't sure she could achieve. But, nothing worth doing is easy!

"He met me when I first arrived, and he was very considerate. I think he takes a special level of concern for people who are encountering Earth's idiosyncrasies for the first time." She smiled as L'Arachel acceded to compliment his culinary tastes. "But he probably doesn't have as much experience with princesses. America doesn't have a tradition of royalty."

L'Arachel sipped her tea as she considered Fuu's words. She had a hard time thinking of Jaime and considerate in the same sentence... but it was also difficult to believe that Fuu could be trying to deceive her. She seemed too well-mannered a young lady for that.

"...I imagine it must be very embarrassing to meet a princess and have no idea how to behave around her," she mused. "You don't suppose he just had a bad case of nerves, do you? --Oh, and perhaps that's why he didn't apologize! He was simply ashamed of his inexperience and intimidated by my splendour! Yes, I should have seen it sooner!"

She beamed in delight at having no doubt solved the puzzle of Jaime's behavior. "You're very clever, Fuu! Do you think I should offer to instruct him in the proper etiquette, or would that only cause him more shame?"

Fuu sipped her own tea to get a few seconds so she could think of how to reply. It really was fascinating to watch how L'Arachel's mind worked. There just seemed to be no room for the concept that she would ever make an error. And yet, she seemed to have a sincerely generous spirit. It was a combination Fuu suspected to be unique.

"Many people from contemporary Earth don't know about royal etiquette," she agreed. "Very few countries are lead by kings and queens anymore, and with such large populations you could fairly expect never to meet a princess anyway." She avoided saying that most extant monarchs were also figureheads--that would go down, as the Americans said, like a lead balloon.

...As would L'Arachel trying to teach Jaime proper manners, Fuu suspected. As hilarious as that would be, she knew that would lead to a worse disaster than Russia's declaration of war. "I think that would be fairly embarrassing, yes," she agreed, with perfect truth. "I think it would be best not to concern yourself with it overmuch, Lady L'Arachel--whatever he may lack in formal courtesies, he has a well-intentioned heart."

"Yes, that's true, there are an inordinate number of democracies in this world," L'Arachel conceded. "I can see how knowledge of courtly etiquette could fall by the wayside." She sighed, and shook her head slowly. "A dreadful shame... but very well, I suppose it would be rude to draw further attention to his ignorance."

Of course, the amount of attention she'd already drawn to it had been completely called for and not the slightest bit rude. She'd done Jaime a favour by pointing out his missteps, regardless of their cause, and it wasn't her fault that he hadn't appreciated the help.

"I can see this is an instance in which I shall have to lead by example," she continued with resolve and a steadily growing grin. "Yes, I've decided. Should we meet again, I shall show him the meaning of manners! Why, I shall drown him in courtesy the likes of which he's never seen, and he may learn it from me while still retaining whatever dignity he holds to! Oh, sometimes I'm so brilliant I even amaze myself!"

Inordinate. Oh goodness, yes. Fuu wondered if this was what would happen if she met some figure out of history, like Hideyoshi. Probably they would be totally appalled at the regular picking and choosing of leaders, and how outspoken people could be with their opinions of them.

Her grin increased in accordance with L'Arachel's. She could only imagine Jaime's reaction to being drowned in courtesy. "I'm sure Jaime-san will be absolutely astonished," she said, with complete and utter honesty. She was sure he had been astonished by her behavior the first time, though he might not use that actual word. Any encounter with Lady L'Arachel could not fail to provoke the emotion. "I do hope that he is able to hold onto some dignity... he may be quite overwhelmed by such a display."