lovefell.

[amaiuta]

   " your costume’s the most authentic one I’ve seen so far - and there’s so many. honestly, I’d say tonight’s a Dragnor victory, ” a smile graces her lips as she raises a glass to the man, “ but tell me, sire, how did you come by young Lord Kipposhi’s cape? ” // @kozarukun

[magonumberfive]

@amaiuta

He knew that costume. 

Or, he knew what it touched upon. The buckles, the lining, the mask of a bird. There was no question that they were dressed in the likeness of Saika, whether she was aware of it or not. 

He made every excuse to cut through the ballroom, and even more excuse to cut into the dance as their new partner. Even if the outfit was more masculine, any man worth the title could pick out the curves under the coat. 

“You aren’t exactly Avian, are you?” He asked, bowing and offering his hand to pick up the next dance as the band transitioned. “Your costume almost seems…treasonous.”

[amaiuta]

    Ichi smiles very slowly at that, diplomatic. there had been no one else who had commented upon her outfit, pieced together from childhood readings and storybooks - a symbol of rebellion against Dragnor. upon the surface the guise of an Avian rifleman, indescript enough to be subtle. 

     it had been more tongue in cheek and a show of support for Hiro -     - back in the days of the Academy, they had donned these outfits to protest certain measures of the council and her sartorial choice tonight had was just that. yet this stranger regarded her with an intensity that spoke of a deeper understanding. 

   “ If I was, would I be wearing my own kingdom’s clothing? ” Ichi says before dipping low in a courtesy. “ Why do you ask, sire? Are you here bring down a kingdom? ” it had been a joke yet the way he had so brusquely cut into their dance was unnerving. 

[amaiuta]

ryuojun

“You did not have to.” Her presence is gift enough. A hug is given to greet her, though not as full a one as he would like. Some weeks more, the healers have told him, to be sure the swelling is gone and the sutures healed so infection will not set. A smile quirks the side of his mouth as a soft chuckle escapes. He drapes the scarf around his neck atop the one Masamune gifted him.

“What do you think?” He twirls for his sister. The Dratini is distracted by the movement, having risen after the hand that pet her in curiosity for why it stopped so soon.

     she tuts at him affectionately, pretending to size him up before wrapping the scarf in a second loop around his neck. she’s never realized just how cold Dragnor is until she’s lived in the south, it’s a wonder how people could wake up for their morning exercises much less wear those ridiculous shorts as her younger brother was apt to do. “ I wanted to, you know I’ll always bring you a souvenir - it looks good on you,” 

Ichi bends down and presses a soft kiss upon the dratini’s forehead. “ I’m going to show you something, ” she promises the baby dragon. 

     “ you should twirl for me again, here - ” she takes his arm before clasping palm to palm in the facsimile of one of Dragnor’s waltzes. “ now spin, you were always better than I, ” 

[amaiuta]

     “I come bearing gifts,” she sings with a twinkle in her eye and a rustle of bags, absentmindedly petting the pink dratini curled up by her brother’s desk. Huh - another gift from Ran? “ And to check up on you - did you know that the mainland sells hydreigon scarves? They were harder to find than say - dratini but ta-da! Look at how cute it is - now you look ten percent less threatening,” // @ryuojun

[ranseiuniter-archive]

    She keeps running her fingers over the stitched-up spot in her shoulder where the arrow hit her despite how sore it still is. This was a mistake. This was all such a huge mistake. She was never ready to lead, much less to enter the war–it had to be dumb luck that she’d made it thus far. And now? Yaksha had been a disaster. A good third of their men were wiped out before they made their retreat. And Takamoto’s death and the way Motonari had been acting–Arceus, who was she kidding? She was to blame, in some way. If she were a better leader–if she’d been able to keep her damn camp safe–

    “…I never should have left Aurora,” she mumbles to Ichi, pulling her knees up to her chest. “I can’t do this. I can’t–I can’t fix things, I don’t know why I ever thought I’d be able to. I want to just… run away.” | @amaiuta

[amaiuta]

     Ichi looks out to the sprawling lands outside their castle window, hands fidgeting with a roll of bandages, trembling, the cloth threatening to slip from her hands. Yaksha had been - awful. Ichi’s heard of all the kingdoms and their respective legends and she had never anticipated that Yaksha would - that it would have been that bad. Her gaze flitters towards Hiro, hesitant as a hand reaches forward tentatively to clasp it in her own. “ You ... ” a breath, perhaps it was too much and she didn’t want to see Hiro hurt like this, she didn’t like watching anyone hurt - not Hiro, not Motonari-san, not her brothers. “ You did your best, ” 

      Her hands are clasped tightly against Hiroko's, unwilling to let go as her heart arches and Ichi’s angry - angry at Arceus’ promises and of the burdens that he placed upon a young girl - to unify the kingdom? That’s - it wasn’t that she did not believe the other could accomplish it, rather such a burden should not be foisted onto Hiroko or even Motonari, who had just lost his son. 

     “ You are - you’re doing what you can. And the gods cannot ask any more of you. Do you ... really want to leave? ”

[amaiuta]

ranseiuniter

   …This is too much. Is this what Hiroshi feels like? This girl is talking at a thousand miles a second and as kind as she is, it’s overwhelming. She isn’t really sure what to say, what to respond to. Should she ask her to slow down? Just smile and nod along? In the end she just pulls Ryou in closer to her chest as if to hide behind him.

   “Um… Y-Yes… yes… no…”

       her face reddens as she hears the other stutter out her answers - she didn’t mean to bewilder the other, it was just nice meeting someone new. “ I’ll give you a few moments to catch your breath, “ she adds this time, a little bit softer. “ I’m sorry, ”

       “ I’ll try to be less scary, you do have a very cute Eevee - what’s his name? My igglybuff’s name is Dango - ” 

[sanadaas]

He’s still a pretty boy no matter how many people stop liking him.

Right?

[ranseiuniter-archive]

    waves a tiny yukimura flag!

[amaiuta]

same! 

[amaiuta]

ranseiuniter

These two are truly proper northern ladies and they’re scarcely older than she is–Hiroko fidgets in place, returning the bow but hesitating in her introduction. Her uncle wants her to feel at home here and yet she just feels more out of place. (It’s her own fault, though–everyone is very polite, but she simply doesn’t belong here.)

   “Ah–Azai Hiroko,” she stumbles through her introduction with another bow, idly running her hand through Ryou’s thick, silky-smooth fur in an attempt to calm herself.  

        she could sense that the other girl was quite uncomfortable - it wasn’t unexpected after all she was miles away from her home. “ It’s a pleasure to meet you Hiroko-chan, can I call you Hiroko-chan? You’re among friends here, Ran-chan was the same way when she came to us, ” Ichi gave the girl a winning smile before offering a small curtsey. “ You’ve a lovely little Eevee there, I’ve never seen one before! They’re native to Aurora right, oh that must be where you’re from! ”

      “ I do love your hair, did Lord Ieyasu help with it? He’s really good at mechanical stuff so maybe he invented a device for making braids. It’d make my retainer’s jobs a lot easier! ” 

[amaiuta]

            a visitor from the South was if anything, a cause for celebration. Lord Ieyasu had told her that this young girl would be staying with them for a little while out of safety. it was quite dangerous in the South according to Mama-dono, Ichi didn’t fully know the details yet it had to do with Lord Yoshinari stirring up enough trouble that her brother and an entire army of the finest Dragnorian soldiers had to stop it just last year. 

            well - it was up to Ichi to give a proper welcome at that; giving the young girl a little bow and gesturing for Ran to follow in her wake. Lord Ieyasu had told her and Ran that their guest was the daughter of a Southern warlord and his own niece at that. words come out a little bit proud, a little bit rushed. 

             “ I am Oichi, first daughter of the House of Oda and here is my younger sister, Ran - what is your name? ” / @ranseiuniter

[amaiuta]

ranseiuniter:

   “No. If it’s going to put you in any danger, I would rather stay behind. My powers would be of use to him, so I know at least my life is not on the line. So long as I play along I have nothing to fear in the short-term. The same cannot be said for you and your brother.”

    She is a holy emissary, Arceus’ blessed child–her safety in Illusio would be guaranteed, albeit not her happiness. The longer she stated, of course, the more difficult it would be for her to make her escape, but she’d rather the ones who’s lives were at stake make their escape first.

   (The rest of their party hadn’t been welcomed into the castle as she had; with the bounties they had over their heads, it seemed safer to stay out of sight, waiting on the outskirts of the so-called holy city.)

   “If we can all get away together, I will go with you, but if not–please, go. I don’t want to put you two in harm’s way. I can meet with the others and find Mitsunari myself if it comes to that. Would that not be fair?”

     the dark halls of dragnor are colder and darker but they are home; at least amidst the darkness there is light though here - it is all light and glass and crystal and something rotting and cold and calcified. she had been naive too at first when the lord Kenshin had extended them an invitation for the purposes of diplomacy. she had believed him then and this young woman, blessed by Arceus too will be fooled - 

   she cannot let that happen. she has already failed her brother, had already failed herself. 

     “he will use you!” her outburst was ragged, whispering anger and hatred towards the priest in her timbre. “he will use your magic and powers for his own ways until there is nothing left; even though you are useful to him you - especially will be in danger. he will not let you go, priestess especially when your powers eclipses his. your god is not his god. he worships only himself. ” 

      hands tugged at the silken fabric of her gown, a dragon kept as a trophy - powers locked under thrice and twenty locks. “in the short term and in the long term, you will be in danger - you are kind and good and if we have a good plan we will escape together,” a sigh, her heart thrums. “we will go together, the two of us if need be - I shall have my brother escape first if it’s easier, but you - I will stay with you,” and protect you in any way I can, though she does not know how to say it but this Ichi will promise. 

[ranseiuniter-archive]

    “Come on, let’s try to find your brother quickly…” Hiroko grabs the dragoness’ hand, sticking close to the wall as they scour the halls of Illusio’s castle. The great holy city–a place she’d thought, just a few weeks ago, might be her safe haven. Now, she wasn’t so sure; between Ichi’s stories and meeting the lord here herself, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy about it all. 

    “I don’t think I can keep channeling this ward for very long–” Meaning it’s only a matter of time until they’re discovered. “If it comes down to it, you and your brother should escape and I can meet up with you. I’ll be safe here for a while, at least.” | @amaiuta

[amaiuta]

       illusio - an illustrious palace and a glowing city however as befitting its name, it was all an illusion. an illusion of greatness and protectiveness, the golden hallowed halls a lie if nothing else, intentionally cruel to anyone who does not fit into its vision of godliness. she was a dragon, a creature of torrential storms and thunder, more god than human - a demon, the king of illusio claimed though she had done little but help! and they had stolen her younger brother. 

         and how foolish she had been at first! and how weak, her powers trapped and taken from her forced to rely upon the aid of a kindhearted human girl though it should be her who protects. a small smile and a persevering nod. “ I ... they do not consider us to be threats anymore, he should be in the lower levels with the other common prisoners, ” Ichi sighed, eyes roaming wearily as if at any moment the king himself would suddenly appear. 

    “ It was where I was kept and where I had escaped from, I understand that you believe that you are safe but that’s what I thought so too. At first - he treated us as though we were guests. I will look for him and we should escape...together,”  

[amaiuta]

              eyes brimming out of homesickness but ichi blinks them resolutely away. she’s a northern princess of dragnor, there’s no reason to feel homesick and even little reasons to cry. this is her home now, her choice and she’s made it          it’s not a foolish one, this she knows and believes absolutely and yet 

     ichi didn’t think herself to be selfish; mama tsuchida-sama and papa adair didn’t raise their children to be selfish yet sometimes she was still taken aback at how little the south had. her own retainers hadn’t been that helpful either, making faces at the multicolored grains; the colors blending into a heap which granted while aesthetically pleasing tasted odd. as if everything was too much and yet unflavorful enough - far different from the imports from greenleaf ( though granted greenleaf seemed like a different world altogether. )

           aurora was quaint, that’s what hatsu had described and her descriptions had been one of the kinder ones of ichi’s retainers. 

       that’s why she finds herself painstakingly sorting the grains into piles, a little group of pinkish-red and another of white and a third of blue, the color of cornflowers. she had arranged the lodgings in the tent with flowers, with her own kimono replacing the bright sashes of dragnorian halls. 

         “ hiroko, ” a small bow as she hears the other enters. “ I - I’d like to show you ... a taste of my home, ” // @ranseiuniter

[amaiuta]

✧ * .ﾟ。jirachi. 

“Oh, no, I’m not here with my mama or papa! I went to explore all on my own!”

Boy, everyone around here was so concerned about them! Didn’t they know a big kid when they saw one?

“It’s really fun to run around in this kingdom! There’s a lot more open space than at home.”

       ❝ oh, so you have! ❞ a smile offered at the child though ichi found it somewhat strange. it wasn’t too often that children were left unattended in dragnor, particularly in azuchi's main keep. though it’s home to ichi. she gave the blond a conspiratorial wink. ❝ this castle’s one of the best places for hide and seek, you know. ❞ 

    ❝ though does your mama or your papa know you’re here? ❞ and quite informal titles - judging by the look of the boy’s mannerisms and dress, he seemed to be from valora. yet there hadn’t been any visitors save for uncle ieyasu.  

[ranseiuniter-archive]

🐤 ( for ichi. )

who gave ransei access to twitter anyway

[amaiuta]

hiroko. 

   “Mochi?” She bites her lip to hold back a giggle. What a cute name! “Hehe… it suits him. I’m Hiroko, and this is Ryou.”

   In turn, she points to the eevee following at her heels. As always, he’s wary of strangers, keeping his distance from the girl. He’s gotten far better about it, at least - enough that she can let him accompany her around school without having to worry about him misbehaving. “Be careful of him, though. He’s nice, but he’s a little protective; he doesn’t like strangers much.”

Ichi only nodded, charmed to have gotten a laugh out of the other girl. Igglybuff looked quite proud of itself, nuzzling against her hair and gave a little pleased noise. “ He’s called Mochi because he’s very pink and sweet, ”

She turned to gaze at the Eevee that was accompanying the other girl, she’s never seen anything so small and fuzzy. Ichi’s not sure if they exist in the North though this one appeared quite distant. No matter, there were Pokemon who were shy just as there were people who were shy         " Just like my little sister, ” Ichi added with a laugh. “ Though your Ryou is adorable. Ah, what classes do you have? I’ve got Music and afterwards History, ”

[amaiuta]

reshiram. 

 ran has been nothing but kind to me in all my time here, so any friend of his is also a friend of mine. it often takes a moment for reshiram to realise who people are talking about when it comes to ran. and the guilt that comes with it, the memory of the hurt it has done to him. tea and cookies would be so good. i’m hungry! and the mighty dragon happily trots towards the young girl. what’s your name?

“ I’m Ichi! “ a soft exclamation as she pulls out the plate of snacks and a pot of tea. “ Ran tells me that you’re from Isshu, and that you enjoy sweet things. I’ve brought some milk and honey for you to flavor your tea, though I can also fetch some fruit juice if that would please you Reshiram-chan? ” and what a well-behaved dragon it was, how very polite. 

adorable. ah ... surely, the other would not mind if .... if she could pet its fur? it looked softer and silker than Chrysalia’s own silks. 

[amaiuta]

     “ so you’re my baby sister’s dragon, ” a bow to the fluffy creature, how soft they looked and bright too. like an altaria, though far more draconian. a big dragon too which resembled her brother’s own Zekrom. perhaps they were related? oh ... but look at how fluffy they were! she wanted to pet them. “ well any friend of Ran-chan’s a friend of mine! here, come sit. let’s have some tea and cookies, Reshiram-chan. ” // @ikisats