CLOSED. Watching from the edge of the circus

[gunah]

CHARACTERS: Shuyi and FRANDS
DATE: From Oct. 17 onwards
WARNINGS: None yet!
SUMMARY: A bunch of closed threads for Shuyi to do her show and tell, PM me if you'd like me to set something up for you! :>

Comments

LUCINA.

[gunah]

[ None would ever mistake Shuyi for a wallflower in her past life. She was always gravitating to the center of the room, basking in the attention and embarking on wild stunts just to win the spotlight. But after the months spent on her own out there in the wilderness, she prefers the stillness.

Solitude refuses to let her forget or drown away any of her thoughts. That's just what she deserves.

she is barefoot, crouching on the hot sand while balancing on the tips of her toes with a shrub in front of her. The plant seems dead and dried out by the sun, but she affords it such focus. Only when she hears footsteps approaching would she look up with a smile, gesturing silently for her company to come closer. ]

[tolight]

[ Lucina finds that she needs to shake off her nervousness, barely clinging at the edges despite her excitement, the curiosity. She pauses once, twice on her way towards the white building, a slow shake of her head that returns her to reality.

What a curious gift, she thinks, turning the corner to see a stranger ( the stranger, she presumes ) crouched over.

It seems ... wrong to speak, almost. She gives a small nod, lips curling up at the edges in an almost-smile, walking as quietly as she can until she's crouching beside Shuyi. She notes the shrub with a puzzled gaze, waiting for ... something. She's not sure what, but waiting seems like a good plan anyhow. ]

[gunah]

[ It's good that Lucina kept quiet without her needing to tell her to. She herself seems overly giddy about something, barely able to contain her excitement when she lowers her hand like s bridge to the dried out bramble. Then she waits, stock still and silent while biting back a grin, as a small iridescent bug tentatively steps onto her finger and flutters its multicolored wings. She raises her hand to show it to her company.

Shuyi makes a sound, a gasp, only when the insect sinks its teeth into her skin, but even then she tries her best to keep from flinching. She laughs when it flutters away. ]

You are, Lucina?

[tolight]

[ The excitement reminds her of Cynthia, or even Morgan after finding something particularly... exciting. It's infectious, allowing herself to relax slowly — she's still curious, of course, but the tension in her shoulders disappear, leaving only excitement in its wake.

Concern almost leaves her lips, but she's still not sure if she can speak — it's only when Shuyi laughs, addresses her, she finds her voice again to respond. ]

I am. It's a pleasure. [ Her eyebrows furrow again when her gaze falls to Shuyi's hand. ] ... Are you alright?

[gunah]

[ She waves her hand to dismiss her pain, making up for it by smiling even wider. ]

It was more afraid of me than I was of it.

[ Looking about, she finds an area shaded by a rock wall, starting to walk toward it while gesturing for Lucina to follow. ]

I hope it wasn't hard for you to reach here -- and if it was, I hope I make it worth the while. So, tell me what you hope to get from this meeting.

[tolight]

[ She stands, dusting off her clothes, before following Shuyi along. Some part of her is unsettled — she's not sure what to make of the girl yet, completely in her element and speaking in riddles — yet she's not mean-spirited ( that much is obvious ).

She shakes her head, letting those thoughts rest for now. ] Not at all. I hadn't been too far.

[ Ah. That's the question isn't it? The message was one of impulse, a sudden what if thought formed into a proper, magical set of words. ]

... There is a friend. [ She begins. It feel strange to call the individual a friend now, mostly because some part of Lucina isn't sure if she deserves it. ] An incredibly selfless individual, who believed in the bonds they have with ... us. [ It's hard to talk about it without the full context — but that'll come soon ( probably in the next tag ). ] They are not here. [ She should clarify that, a frown crossing her features. ] Nor are they with us back home.

Your words reminded me of them. [ She glances at Shuyi. ] I ... wished to see the bonds that they spoke of.

[gunah]

[ Riddles are her favorite hiding place.

She slows down as Lucina speaks, out of respect, coming to a stop just a hand's breadth away from the cliff reaching so high Into the sky that it almost seems to curve over their heads. There is still a smile on her face, smaller now and a little sad, apologetic. She bends down to pick up a random pebble, reddish brown with white veins threading across its surface, which she shows to the girl. ]

Those bonds are much stronger than the kind I can destroy. That is a good thing.

[ She is glad for the limits on her power. What greater destruction would she have wrought otherwise? With the rock held up between two fingers, she traces a line along the white vein with her index finger, causing it to break into two. ]

But people much wiser than I have said that we are more entangled than we seem. An inseparable whole. Do you know how mothers know the moment their sons die at war?

[tolight]

[ She lets the silence settle, a strange mix of reminiscence and a quiet hope that somewhere out there, Robin is alive. Her father seems to believe so — and really, this one time, she's more than happy to let her rational side go for this.

Her eyes wander from the cliff sides to the small pebble in Shuyi's hand, eyebrows raising when the stone snaps. A small tilt of her head, as her mind sets to work again, trying to understand what she just saw. Are these the bonds — ]

Hm. [ She lets out a small noise, eyes eventually flickering away. Shuyi's words sound like the ones her father believe in, always repeated, and ones that caused Robin to do what they needed to do. When she smiles, it's a sad one, eyes downcast. ] I didn't.

[ She wonders if this applies to children with parents fighting a war — but a brief moment later, she knows it's definitely a feeling that reaches both ways ( she's felt it, to some extent ). ] But I do not doubt that it is true.

[gunah]

[ Shuyi tweaks a smile, a sad one to match Lucina's, as she clasps the two stone pieces together to fit like puzzle pieces. Separate but whole. ]

We have elders we call the Garhla and they tell us that each person is made of dust from many, many stars we have never even glimpsed. But when one of those stars ignite and die, so do a little part of us, even if we do not know it. That is because these dust [ Because she knows nothing of atoms or quantum entanglement or spukhafte Fernwirkung ] are entangled.

[ She steps closer and reaches out an empty hand toward Lucina, as if setting it over her heart. Her smile is brighter this time. ]

Just like how we are now entangled. Because we have met, when I die a part of you will know.

[tolight]

Garhla... [ What a thought — inexplicably tied to one another other based on their origins, long before they were who they were. Lucina's eyes widen in an almost child-like wonder, marveling a little at the thought.

At most, stars have been a sign of hope for her. The idea that they could be more than that is ... frankly, rather exciting; and a great distraction from the current, more ... somber topic at hand. ]

A bond that inexplicably holds each of us to each other. [ Maybe she's starting to see it now. ] ... I'm not sure if this is the correct thing to ask, but — what are they like?

[gunah]

[ Shuyi is pleased to see the wonder in the girl's eyes, now that the conversation has taken a better turn. But her smile is tempered when Lucina asks the next question. ]

You are not wrong in asking. [ She pauses then, unsure how to continue. Who is she to talk of bonds between people when she has cut herself off from those dearest to her by her own mistake? ] But I would be the wrong person to ask, and perhaps you should be the one to answer your own question.

[ She thinks she has been cryptic enough so far however, though not at all intentionally, so she offers a reassuring smile in case it helps. ]

Is there someone you are entangled with, Lucina?

[tolight]

[ Briefly, she wonders if she said something wrong — was it taboo, perhaps? To acknowledge their existence but not be able to describe it. Her expression doesn't flicker to anything in particular, but it does... calm down, to a point of neutrality. All that's left is a light curiosity.

— At least, until, her face jumps right to confusion, eyebrows knitting together at cryptic answer, then at the question. While the former she can leave be, for now, the latter definitely requires a response. ]

Entangled with? Do you mean to say ... in love? [ In which case the answer comes easily enough: ] ... No, no one like that.

LANCE.

[gunah]

[ Shuyi was so excited to hear about a stable right in Perdition's Rest that she rushed straight to see for herself without even asking what the stable houses. What she saw disappointed her, at first, but the more she time she spent with the mechanical animals, the more she questioned whether living beings could only be made of flesh and blood. Perhaps metal could be just as alive.

She has taken a liking to one in particular, smaller than all the rest with white painted dots against its coppery body. The horse leans against her hand when she strokes its head, laughing. ]

I wish I can keep him.

[ The first thing she says to whoever walks into the stables. She doesn't even know what her challenger looks like. ]

drags body in here so late, please forgive...!

[competing]

[ to lance's credit, he hadn't intended for this all to end up into some big contest. he had been genuinely curious by the person's claim, despite his rather blatant doubt and dismissal of it. he never once thought he'd be offered a demonstration, especially right off the bat, and certainly not under the banner of a bet.

but lance is nothing if not an opportunist, and the way he saw it is he's got nothing to lose. the guy's either proven to be a fake, and he gets to laugh as someone tries to dance in front of other people, or the guy's the real deal, and he gets some questions answered. he doesn't have much shame to begin with — he doesn't think there's really anything this guy could do to make him regret any of this.




—except, of course, turn out to be a girl all along. ]

Oh quiznak—

[ lance swears under his breath a second after stepping towards the stables. luckily, he manages to veer his footing so that he pivots at the last second, pressing his back against the wall while his mind rushes to keep up. okay. okay so it was a girl all along. a really pretty girl.

shoot he wishes he'd asked for a date instead...! ]

Who, me?

[ nbd nbd he can roll with this. that's how lance announces his entrance, stepping back into the stables with a grin on his lips as if he had planned this all out himself, yep. he laughs a little, running a hand through his hair. ]

There's no need for wishes — I'm all yours.

you're all good!! i'm also really slow this week...

[gunah]

[ Shuyi likes taking chances. Throw her a bet, a challenge, and she would jump through hoops to give her best to win it even if she knows from the start how terrible she would be at it. This time, it's a sure win for her, so why not?

She gives the mechanical horse a last tickle under the chin, still laughing, when she steps closer to her new company with hands linked behind her back. She could correct him and say she meant she wanted to keep the horse, which would straighten any misunderstanding, but where would the fun be in that? ]

You? And why should I keep you?

grips your hand and weeps...

[competing]

[ oh, he'd known she'd been talking about the horse, but lance is definitely nothing if not an opportunist. and when the chance to lay out some smooth lines to a pretty girl come up? who is he to refuse.

though the true surprise here is that she's playing along. ]

I think the easier question to answer would be: why shouldn't you keep me? Because there's only one answer to that, and that answer is: nothing. There is no reason not to keep me. I'm a keeper, a real winner, you're not gonna find any better Lance in these parts, no sir!

[ ... ]

Ma'am.

this is beautiful . . .

[gunah]

[ Shuyi has had a lifetime's worth of experience flirting with all kinds of people. Isn't that what courtiers are for? The difference then was the mutual understanding that she was irrevocably off-limits, which meant the banter was done for its own sake. Wordplays without real intention. It's only too easy to slip back into those shoes.

She crosses her arms in front of her and leans back on her heels. ]

And what use would I have for a Lance, even if I were to have the best one in all the lands?

apologizes for him on loop 1/2

[competing]

I'm glad you asked.

[ no really, he truly is. how often does anyone actually ask him to talk about himself? ]

This Lance model happens to be top of the line, new and improved! With a never-ending supply of clever puns, suave mystique, and a boyish but roguish charm, you'll never find yourself with a dull moment. He even comes with his own laugh track, ha ha ha!

2/2

[competing]

[ ...and then he realizes the appliance analogy probably wasn't the best route to go, considering all things mechanical in this place. he deflates just a little bit. ]

I'm, uh. I'm actually a real person, by the way. That was just a joke, this is all totally flesh, I can even prove it to you I swear.

oh dear me

[gunah]

[ Look, his lines may be so utterly cheesy that he's better off opening a deli, but it still has her breathlessly laughing with her head thrown back. She remembers her manners only a moment later, covering her mouth with her hand while trying to stop her giggling fit. Should she keep him going?

She draws in a sharp breath to compose herself. ]

A real person is better than a model, as new and improved as it may be. How would you prove that to me?

[ Please don't, like, pull down your pants or anything. ]

1/2

[competing]

[ lance's mind, naturally, goes to about a dozen different places at once with that invitation, for it is as real an invitation as he had ever heard before. she can probably tell, too, where many of those thoughts have drifted when he suddenly grows so quiet, and his eyes widen, and the complexion of his skin shifts towards a dark, rosy red.

his mouth opens, and for a second he very nearly defaults to a suggestion that would have probably bumped up the rating of his canon kid's cartoon show to something way past pg-13— ]

2/2

[competing]

[ but no sound comes out of it, and instead his hand juts out, palm up and offered to her in silence. his lips quirk at the corner, the beginning of a sheepish, imploring smile. ]

[gunah]

[ And what could he possibly mean by that?

It occurs to her that they had met here under the guise of a challenge now summarily forgotten, but this is so much more fun than showing him what she already knows to be true. The unknown is that much more exciting. Nevermind that following her curiosity has gotten her into trouble many times before.

Shuyi makes a show of it too, standing up straight and granting him her hand with a flourish befitting a true princess. She can barely contain the grin that keeps threatening to break free. ]

[competing]

[ her laugh is a nice sound to his ears, and he feels bolstered by it. it's certainly a lot nicer when that laughter isn't directed at you, that's for sure.

with a wider grin, he takes her hand up and presses the palm of it against his chest, right over his heart that is perhaps beating a little too wildly to be anything less than incredibly embarrassing. ]

See? Flesh and blood and bone.

[gunah]

[ Shuyi can be many things, but she doesn't want to be cruel. It takes a lifetime to do just that, to put oneself in someone else's shoes and guard against words and deeds that shrivel the soul, and she hasn't always succeeded.

With another chuckle, she steps closer so she can bring her hand up, off his chest to trace his chin. Flesh and blood. And bone. ]

But a heart is made of much more than that.