Ｃａｒａｐａｃｅ

If I forgot who I am...would you please remind me? I am a mirror with no reflection, I am a razor without my blade. {Affiliated with AtD}

[coriacea]

✦ brick by boring brick { open }

[felineyed-blog-deactivated20251]

… ah. So she was that sort of person, was she? Communication was going to be difficult if they went about it this way. Nevertheless, he was willing to try, though he wasn’t above teasing her here and there. Kano pats her on the head, grinning now.

"Ah, I’m afraid I can’t really understand you! You’ll have to speak to the best of your ability, okay?" Knowing that wasn’t possible, however, he’ll try to make it easier for her. He points past her. "Are you trying to get somewhere?"

[coriacea]

His pat was more than welcomed, it didn't disturb her but his soft and calm voice finally attract her focus. Again, comprehending his words is impossible but she can grant bits of her attention and cause less trouble.

He points somewhere else and her eyes follow his arm length to meet with an end. Casca lets her grip lighten and observes, acting as if she was waiting for something to happen. Nothing amusing by the looks of it and in a disappointed tone, she transmits it through one of the various guttural noises she uses to express herself.

❝Unn?❞

[coriacea]

✦ brick by boring brick { open }

[bladeofriezemaxia-deactivated20]

This world was completely unlike that which the king had come to call his home. Not only his surroundings, but the people as well, were entirely foreign to him in more ways than one. Their clothing, their customs, their technology. If he had to put it in a certain way, he’d have to say that this place was both futuristic and antiquated at the same time. But Gaius did his best not to dwell too much on his surroundings, but rather, on the circumstances that brought him here.

Before he could return to his world, he had to lend a hand in saving this one. Saving it from a threat that he knew next to nothing about. It seemed unfair at first, but he had no real room to complain or oppose any of this. Unless this world was saved, he would never be able to return to his kingdom. He had no choice but to-

*tug*

”.. Do you require my assistance?”

The man’s fierce gaze fell upon the ebony woman who had approached her and taken it upon herself to tug at his royal robes. He had assumed that she needed something, but something seemed a bit off. Rather than needing assistance, the look in her eyes made it seem that she was transfixed by something.. His clothes?

[coriacea]

Meeting eye to eye with the man requires few seconds and what can she do other than blink confused?

 ❝Uh...❞ If he desired to listen an actual verbalized answer, frustration is more likely to be meet on his end and remorse is not possible to induce in a woman who can't understand far from basic interactions. Thus, she discards his face and voice to pay attention to something else. More entertaining, less stressing.

Casca switched rather quick her focus after his voice resounds, no answer provided from her side. Initially holding one of the pledges, fingers trace upwards and wander where his face is, palms reaching his cheeks now that he is facing her.

She was entranced in his appearance initially, garbs beneath one another that were considerably dazzling for an inexpert eye -- perhaps the colors? It is impossible to tell, maybe she ignored the reason herself. Providing a justification was unthinkable, it is too complicated for a shell to accomplish.

[coriacea]

Apologizes beforehand to whoever meets Casca.

[coriacea]

✦ brick by boring brick { open }

[felineyed-blog-deactivated20251]

The stranger she’s grabbed onto is a blonde teenager. If she pays close attention those eyes blinking at her might remind her of a cat’s. He doesn’t pull away, but he doesn’t relax, either. Despite the situation, he’s managed to remain remarkably calm on the outside. At this moment, he doubts that much anything can hurt him, least of all this woman.

"Eh? What’s the matter?" So saying, Kano looks around the area to see if there was anything that might’ve excited her. "Do you need something?"

[coriacea]

His voice is dim in her ears, what he has formulated does not compute in her mind and as thrown as irrelevant noise that resounds for some seconds in her head -- it can't pertain, the smaller degree of comprehension is an effort that her broken self can't have the pleasure to possess.

Fingers keep pulling his hoodie instead, curious as to see how it works and somewhat forget about the person who is wearing it, careless in her touch.

-- Want.

❝Auuu!❞ It's rather difficult to communicate when she has forgotten how to convey her thoughts and has been left of herself is but an empty carapace of a person.

[coriacea]

✦ brick by boring brick { open }

Well, you built up a world of magic Because your real life is tragic.

Her current predicament didn't award any particular expression, even the minor exposition to a vague explanation did not faze the branded woman. Not on purpose, despite her current mentality was a forced choice; she cannot differ what is spoken nor have the hopes to ever understand. Patience and time is necessary to drill the smallest command and all she can offer is a confused blink, head tilting to the side when she is left to her own luck.

None of it truly matters, though it is hard to believe she will pay complete attention to her surroundings until something truly catches her view.

--Pretty.

❝Ah!,❞ she exclaims in an excitable tone when it occurs and driven by a unknown fascination, her hands place themselves on the garments of a stranger, starting to pull them in a persistent fashion.

[weekendplaylist]

Visit Original Link

[branded-swordsman-deactivated20]

[coriacea]

ideaofstruggle started following you

"Ggghh..."

[faustuszero]

[coriacea]

[inversion-formula]

Perhaps one of N’s more human traits was his dependency on language and words. The subtleties of human behavior tended to be more difficult for him to read, so he was thankful for Casca’s exaggerated expressions, bizarre or not.

The clapping he could read as cheerful— she was glad that he had joined her in this simple game of hers. Even so, as soon as he had asked his question, that cheerfulness had faded, replaced by something negative… Annoyance? Frustration?

N shifted uncomfortably as he waited, thinking that maybe Casca’s silence was answer enough to his question. His eyes wandered instead to some of the leaves that had fallen near his feet. Just as he was debating picking them up, he glanced up to see Casca give him a smile and a nod. Then, she emitted a noise that was even more like the call of a Pokemon than her last one had been.

Surprised, he stared at her for a moment before returning her smile with an awkward one of his own. “So you can?”

After a short pause, he reached out and began to gather up the fallen leaves into his hands.

"I would think it strange for a person that can understand human speech not to reply accordingly," he said, his eyes on the leaves rather than on Casca. "Still… Pokemon— and some of the animals here— can understand human words too. But they don’t make use of our tongue. Not typically, anyway. Because they have their own language. Perhaps you’re like them, only… your voice isn’t as clear to me."

He was mostly talking to himself; after all, he wasn’t sure just how much of his words the woman could really understand. He looked at the small pile of leaves now in his hands, then back at her.

"Now, ah… What was it you were doing with these?"

[coriacea]

To keep a conversation was certainly pointless but not uncommon for the branded woman, the voice of another person was soothing, almost comforting in unexplainable ways that were difficult to grasp for her.

She barely paid attention to what others spoke but somehow their company was latent, close and reassuring. Anyone else could always fill silences she can't break, unless it was through guttural noises; or generate any coherent representation of her inner works.

❝Ahh!❞ A broken mind she might have but to be aware of the concept of 'yes' and 'no' was something any human has, another energetic nod answered his question and then returned back to her labour. Though not entirely entranced, there were hints she was listening attentively what he spoke, whether she could differ his words or not was another story --  few glances were directed to N, then back to her bunch of leaves.

He had patience and kindness in him, something not many could offer to a woman deemed 'mad' in the middle-aged times. Sadly, all she can be thankful for was the fact he acceded to become her playmate. No matter how brief, that alone calmed whatever concern intended to pull her away from this world of fantasy.

--Cold.

And the once-mercenary sneezed, her body shook as the cold winter breeze crawled under, covered only by a thin dress made of cheap cloth; but until now she dared to acknowledged its presence. Hugging her own frame as a reaction, hands rubbing against arms.

Her mouth opened widely and she exhaled, steam forming due the warmth her breathe generated. ❝Guu?❞ Black eyes wandered back to the green-haired male, a index finger pointed to her mouth and repeated the same action to show him, quite amused of this accomplished deed.

[nakajma]

[inversion-formula]

The woman’s silence was somewhat unnerving. Had she not heard his question? Or maybe she had and was just ignoring him. N considered taking his leave then, but stopped himself once he realized that she was turning to face him.

She held her handful of leaves out toward him, and he tilted his head questioningly. At last, she spoke something out loud, but it wasn’t something N could understand.

"Bugyuu…?" he attempted.

Another language, perhaps? he thought to himself. But it sounded more like the cry of some kind of animal than a word made to be spoken by a human.

Hesitantly, N eventually took a step forward and kneeled before Casca to put himself at her eye level. Now that he was closer, the leaves cupped in her hands, a collection of reds, burnt oranges, and browns, were easier to see.

"What beautiful colors…" He didn’t blame her for reveling in them, and he, the type to wander the woods and frolic about with whatever wild things he found there, was in no place to judge her for any kind of abnormal activity she might have been doing. It was more intriguing to him than anything.

The woman did appear to be offering the handful for him to take, but he was unsure of how to proceed. “Can you understand me?”

[coriacea]

He accepted those leaves without problem, which pleased the madwoman almost immediately and didn't avoid hidden her joy, expressed through a series of clumsy claps. Though they stopped when he asked an interesting question, initially not digested but obtaining once again all her attention.

--Can Casca understand?

Glancing down, a quite exaggerated grimace brightens facial features, pretending her focus placed on a sentence that she couldn't comprehend wholeheartedly. It didn't make sense, not to her. Or maybe it did, there is a slim possibility. There was no way to tell based solely on actions guided by a feeble string, those vague hints of possessing a rational mind could change in any instant.

--Noise? No. A voice. His voice.

--He wants to talk.

Groans were uttered subtly until her eyes closed, apparently an agreement was reached when she directed her vision to the green-haired male and a wide smile was shown followed by a pleased nod.

❝Uuuuu--!❞

Even if she could understand what he said she wouldn't be able to reply, not because she had no voice to speak nor she was never taught how to communicate. It was a decision she took by herself, by that woman that once stood proudly in combat  -- but she was not aware, the real Casca was lost, somewhere else beyond human reach...

[existentialismee]

A “bit chilly” was a slight understatement, at least to him- really, this night had felt far colder than any other since he’d first arrived in Benu. Of course, Watanuki was fairly used to harsh seasons; being from a place that experienced both extreme summers and winters gave him the knowledge of how to be prepared for both.. and luckily, even though he would have much rather been at home, he was able to find things not far from his home that would keep him warm.

" Well.. since I won’t be doing anything else tonight, I guess I can start on these once I get back. " His jacket had somehow found its way to his strange, new home- but he still needed gloves, and a scarf. The easiest way to obtain each would be to buy them, but he decided to buy yarn instead; adjusting the bags in his stiff fingers as he hurriedly made his way from the village. Again, Watanuki’s night was seemingly going to be as quiet as it usually was.. until, he stumbled upon something he couldn’t seem to ignore.

It was.. a young woman, playing in the leaves by herself.

" .. eh? ” what.. was she doing? Especially out in this weather- wasn’t she freezing? She.. seemed to be enjoying herself despite that, but for some reason, the boy didn’t feel like he could leave her alone. Even if he was speaking to her out of nowhere, and she thought he was strange.. 

" Ah.. excuse me—" he approached her after a moment of contemplating what to do, curiosity written in his gold and blue eyes. " It’s.. starting to get pretty dark out, aren’t you cold? "

[coriacea]

In her world it is more difficult to wander off, constant care and worry were placed on her from those who were her companions, she was merely but a child in their eyes -- though their presence was mostly to aid that big man, one whose name and face were painful to attempt remembering and thus discarded. However, the fact he was not here felt odd.

Not once she felt concerned regarding her location, she kept waiting for a blonde woman to come and grab her arm, guiding back Casca to their camping place at some point. It was deem to happen, at most she can recognize some pattern to follow but currently she can be happy that her playtime has yet to be interrupted.

Feeling a sense of lose and defeat may have suited her former self but now her focus was glued to wilting leaves and their strangely alluring crunching noises, nothing else mattered. Never it will.

At one point everything held a meaning to her, even this night could have been of some relevance but she cannot connect the missing dots, or else she would have been mad, a million of complains and questions falling from every direction.

Though now her wandering mind seemed to be pulled by something from this realm.

-- A voice. From where is it coming?

Blinking not twice but thrice at the sight presented is a first when her head turns, staying in all fours; she incorporates close to observe him better and at some point dares to sniff the male, as if it would aid the process of identification.

Much to her surprise, Casca sneezed soon afterwards on him and backed away. An uncomfortable sensation soon invaded her nose, ignorant to how or why a sneeze is produced, only managing to whine, ❝Nnnnhh...❞

[inversion-formula]

N’s sleeping patterns were erratic at best, and they had only gotten worse now that he was in Benu. Typically, the voices of the forest animals could calm him well enough, but the uneasiness was too great tonight. He had hoped that a walk would ease his restlessness, but he didn’t get far before happening upon Casca.

In the dark, she might have gone unnoticed if not for the leaves she was scattering about. The sudden movement had startled him at first, before he realized the figure was only a preoccupied person. He watched her for a few moments from a short distance away, trying to make sense of what she was doing. Initially, he feared that she might have been sick— or injured, maybe— but as he continued to observe, it looked like she was just… playing?

Curiosity got the best of him.

"What are you doing?"

[coriacea]

A voice intended to interrupt her activities, though she didn't pay attention at first. It's as if to her ears a faint nose tried to sneak in, grab her focus but failing in the process. Her body may be in this world but her mind remained absent, straying too far from reality, maybe guarded in a place where her former self could bask in denial and leave behind this empty shell that was now seen as Casca.

Black eyes wander up to meet the male's face after some seconds, stopping briefly her playtime despite keeping both arms up and a bunch of leaves gathered on cupped hands.

-- Green. Pretty. What is green?

 -- Trees. A forest. Grass.

She can identify that color and relate it to other objects, his expression and question are overlooked except that small detail that has gained her complete attention. Her position changes until she can face his direction, offering the leaves she kept.

-- Play?

The mechanisms of her thoughts are not qualified of having any logical process, if anything; it is better to not question the reason behind her deeds. ❝Bugyuuu...❞

[coriacea]

Her choices never made any sense, finding enjoyment on playing with some fallen leaves in the middle of the night was part of those odd impulses. The leaves had a pretty color and made funny noises that the kept the woman busy, it was a bit chilly around but she could care less.

[nightsveiled]

oo1 ♞ new town, same old problems

     There’s really no reason for Roberto to wear his armor here.

     He hasn’t seen a battle or even a single weapon since he arrived. Even his own Black Blades and Marks of the Stars have been taken away from him; he figures that the rest of this place’s inhabitants have been similarly stripped of their powers, and therefore the chances of him being attacked are very low.

     Still, though, he keeps his armor on. It’s a comforting weight on his back, clanking reassuringly with every step he takes. At least one thing is left to remind him of his home.

     He hears as he walks through the streets that this is another universe, built upon the ashes of other fallen universes. It’s probably some unexplored division of the Infinity, he guesses, like his own world: people from destroyed worlds coming together on one planet to start anew. 

     However, being transported to what he assumes is another part of the Infinity does not erase two facts: one, he is still human, and two, as a human, he still feels basic things like the need to eat. He hasn’t had a decent meal for ages, and although he doubts any star chefs like Wustum happen to be here, he’s so hungry he could probably eat even the terrible slop that Sieg cooks whenever everyone else is out on a mission.

     He slows to a halt, thinks for a moment, then approaches a person passing by on the street. Benu seems friendly enough so far; maybe this person will be able to direct him to a place where he can fill his growling stomach.

     ”Hey. You know where I can find a bakery?”

[coriacea]

Her thoughts were constantly away from reality, often hung to whatever perked her interest.

 -- Bird.

A small, fragile creature whose colorful feathers are part of its attractive seem to be her sole focus. Nothing else occupied her field of vision, she followed it aimlessly to wherever it attempted to escape. Her hands were extended upwards, attempting to reach out for it, purpose unknown even to the pursuer.

The scent of the sea was long gone for a while but slow as ever, she cannot process how far she strayed nor comprehend this is another realm.

 -- Where Casca is?

It's already a miracle by itself how she has survived thus far, supervision is a must but in this strange land it remains absent. No matter where she wandered, no one 'familiar' appeared but it is one of her last concerns, maybe it didn't form part of her thoughts at all. They were scrambled, never following a similar pattern and often dragged her into a variety of catastrophes where a rational explanation always lacked.

She tried to keep chasing the poor bird that constantly flew away from her grasp but always stayed still, as if it was attracting the former warrior to move into inhabited grounds. Sadly, a figure crossed in her path, stopping Casca from moving further and scaring her feathery friend.

Onyx irises peered up to meet with a masculine face, eyelashes batting as a sign of confusion. A tilt of head follows only for lips to purse together before uttering a quite puzzled, ❝Auuuuu?❞

-- Gone.

-- ¿¿¿???

Explaining herself through mere gestures and a different range of noises is the minimal she can amount, she has forgotten how to talk and has not made an effort to change that for a few years. However, she awaits to be understood, disappointed conformed by a long whimper.

❝Uuuu---!❞