#ic; sera

[sakurarisen]

@strifebeholder from HERE <3

He was... Blunt, wasn't he? His tone wasn't harsh, but it was most certainly blunt, as if he were talking to a work colleague he'd just met a week prior and not seen since. As far as Sera was concerned, though, that was more than a fair reaction; in the jumbled mess of spotty memories, she could still see him as a young boy, eagerly wandering around after his parents whenever he visited her temple, yet no matter how much she tried, nothing came to mind for anything older than him at the age of maybe ten or so. Either those memories simply hadn't awoken, or...

Did she... Just not have any? Had something happened to put distance between them... Or was it just the fact so much time had passed? She wasn't completely clueless, that world had been so long ago and now here stood a very much grown up Mydei; had she just been gone so long, locked up within herself and distanced from her family, that it had put such a... A strain on the two of them?

The thoughts were sparking up a headache she couldn't shake off with a small, slight nod, smile faltering just for a 'blink and you'll miss it' second. She could discuss this all with Thoma and Zack later - For now, all she wanted was to reconnect with her nephew, offered hands falling back down to her sides. "The best I can be, same as you... But that makes me happy, Mydeimos. That you have people in your life like that... You deserve to be surrounded by people who love and support you."

You haven't been, though.

The guilt struck through her like a quick, sharp kick to the stomach, though to her credit, she'd not let it show, choosing instead to let out a light laugh. "Are you here for a visit, or do you live here now? If it's the later one, would you like to go out for lunch? You're so much taller now - I want to know everything about what you've been up to~!"

[sakurarisen]

@dawnbeholder from Here! <3

"Mm-mm." To his reminder she'd hum her... Was it refusal or denial? Both? Neither? Sera wasn't sure even she could tell right then, hand stilling against the taller's hair. While she could've asked him to lean over for a pat, that eliminated the surprise part of surprise headpats, and she couldn't have that! Not to mention asking such a thing was a bit too much when she simply only knew him as 'Mydei's husband', which meant a chair had worked out perfectly fine.

And with the extra height, she found herself just barely above eye level, curiosity shining in honey-colored eyes; had she... Had she really not introduced herself to him before? Was this really their first... Oh. Oh, she'd slipped up with that, cheeks flushing in mild embarrassment, barely hidden by her quick rush down off her 'perch'. "U-Uh-huh! I'm sorry, I forgot I hadn't..." Aaaaawkward.

Smoothing out an invisible wrinkle in her skirt, the smaller blonde turned a bright, sunny smile up to Phainon, ignoring the warmth still clinging to her cheeks. "'M sorry! I'm Sera, yes - Seraphina Fair. And you're Mydei's... Husband?" He was, she knew. That information had gotten to her through mutual companions and friends, but it still helped to be polite and leave it open for correction if need be! "I promise I don't pet everyone as a hello! But if you know Mymy, then you're good people."

That much was facts, though she'd still offer her hand, watching his expression for any signs of the 'pets' being unwanted. "Also, it's okay! The chair was close by, so I don't mind getting it instead! It's easier~!"

...Was it... Though...?

[sakurarisen]

@yoroiis from HERE!

Her hesitance to answer probably said it all. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she had been looking to hide - but in her own defense, she wasn't cut out to lead! Among their own kind, maybe, but something like the temple, where she had her familiars and humans alike looking for her to make all the decisions... It wasn't a role she could comfortably settle into, though she'd been trying her best to. And when paired with the pressure from the others...

"How come he can't do it?" Aria finally questioned, curling her arm around Aelius's in a quiet request of support from her twin. "The things he comes to me for... They should be able to answer a lot of them. I love to help them, but to lead like some of them want me to... Yanqing should be able to do that too, right? I know they're young but we..."

A soft sigh slipped past her lips. She hadn't come up there to complain, and she doubted he wanted to hear it any more than she wanted to do so - all the more reason to file it all away for later and give his arm a gentle squeeze. "Besides, everything's been peaceful. What's the worst that could happen? One of the kids even brought by snacks! I brought some to share, but I left 'em down inside. Didn't want to risk dropping them from this high up. It's a really cute set of jelly animals! They made little kitties out of them too!"

A small pause...

"...Also... Kaveh said the same thing when he said I couldn't hide there this morning."

[sakurarisen]

“ look at me. “

Send 'Look at me' to re-catch Sera's attention in tense moments!

The smell was unmistakable. The eerie quiet, the overbearing tension... The trip was supposed to be routine. Go out, look around the edge of the jungle, make sure things were quiet. Step out into the drier, desert-like terrain past its edge and make sure Shinra hadn't followed him - There was no risk to the village, nor to her family, nor to him. He could settle at the village's edge for as long as he needed and desired, and they'd have nothing to worry about past the villagers in Gongaga, and their reaction to the former SOLDIER living so close to them after the reactor's explosion.

It was supposed to be routine - Not stumble across a small, former battlefield at the jungle's edge. Not the bloodshed staining the grass and plant life, or the remains tucked away under oversized plants. Shinra, mercenaries, just a fight between rival factions from elsewhere in the world, Sera couldn't tell... And in that moment, she couldn't even have told her companion her own name if he'd asked. The sight was a horrifying one, prompting her to grab her bow and ready herself in case to cause of it all still lingered in the area. Gongaga needed protecting - Shayan needed protecting - and she was more than willing to fight for that safety... Just as much as her stomach was ready to empty itself at the sight, horror rushing through her and quickly squashing her ability to think.

The familiar sting of tears burned her eyes before her vision blurred, breathing slowly growing short, but heavier as air refused to find its way into her lungs. The smell was suffocating, the view terrifying, the air itself around the pair oppressive, honey colored eyes drifting from spot to spot, every logical, clear thought fleeing the blonde's head. She'd had no time to prepare and no reason to think such a thing could be in their path; it was a common thing in the world Shinra had been growing and trying to control for so many years, and yet it was still enough to put an absolute stop to Sera's everything and turn her stomach. No training could ready herself for the crimson stains marking the grass just feet from her boots-

"-era-"

She could feel her blood running cold, stomach sinking, then raising, threatening to-

"Look at me."

It wasn't the words to break through her muddled mental state, but the touch, fingers gripping her chin with a strong but surprisingly gentle grip and turning her head to the side, then up. A gasp left her lips only a second before her gaze landed on Sephiroth's face, the familiar handsome features clearly unbothered by the battlefield, but his eyes... There was concern in them, she realized, his expression almost... Soft, though she wasn't sure such a word could fit a soldier who had seen more than his fair share of fighting and bloodshed if she spoke it.

"Look. At. Me."

The repeated command was surprisingly soft, and a moment later, her bow slipped from her loosening grip, dropping to the ground by her feet. Forming, budding tears took his presence, comforting and familiar, as permission to break free and roll down her cheeks in a rush, and while embarrassment was quick to set in over her reaction, it was quickly pushed aside by the flood of thoughts and emotions finally broken free from the wall her anxiety and panic had pushed them behind.

He was a SOLDIER - Or had been, at least. This was a common sight for him, one she wasn't sure if it even bothered him anymore. He'd caused such scenes in the past, she was sure, and yet it was that same man she was staring at through a blurred gaze, lips parting to try and tell him she was okay, then pressing back together when nothing came out. All for the best, probably; she was far from 'okay', even marginally so, and if her stomach settled, that was the most she could ask for.

And in that moment, she couldn't find anything other than thankfulness among the panic and nausea for his touch. She'd later realize he'd used himself as a distraction, that he'd seen her breaking down before she'd even realized it, done what he could to snap her from her panic attack using the same tried and true method of touch to ground herself she often used on her own, and even wonder if he'd done it from seeing her do so so many times in the years they'd known each other. She'd later thank him and apologize, express how grateful she was he was there and how grounding he was just by being there-

But in that moment, she'd give his expression one final search before she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him and hiding her face against his chest to sob.

[sakurarisen]

@warofthebeasts​ continued from here Because I could <3

“See? I told you it was safe.”

Had she said that for Shayan’s benefit, or her own? She wasn’t sure, to be honest, honey colored eyes looking the former SOLDIER over from head to toe. He’d kept himself unarmed and even joked like she remembered; maybe reports had been wrong. Maybe he wasn’t a bad guy. Maybe it’d all been a dream and she’d never heard anything on it...

Maybe it was just wishful thinking, glancing to the crate in time to see Shayan’s hair shift. He was settling in like a stubborn chocobo, it seemed, and it was to that she’d shrug her shoulders; if she couldn’t get him to come out and say hello, they’d just have to wait until he did so of his own accord! “I suppose if there’s just some crates here, they won’t mind if we step to the side for a moment?”

“Not harmless! NOT!”

“You’re right. It’s a fearsome crate. My favorite guardian.” Her tone had softened some with the added note, hoping, if anything, to calm Shayan before he huffed any louder. They were on the edge of the village and she’d no doubt his raised voice with bring others out to see what was going on - The last thing she wanted with Sephiroth there. If anyone saw him, whether they knew of anything or not... Better to avoid that path entirely and take a step away from her hidden son, taking care to stay close by despite the small bit of distance put between them.

“I promise you, he’s his father,” Sera started once she was sure Shayan wouldn’t be able to make out her hushed voice, turning back to tall man she’d once called her friend. How was it he seemed no different than when they’d been in Midgar? It was like nothing about him had changed at all - Had he even aged? Maybe he was a little taller, but-! “When he went missing, after he left for Nibelheim, I was already... If you’re not here to cause trouble, then just give Shayan a few minutes. That crate’ll become a boy and he’ll come over to greet you.”

A pause.

“You’re... Not here to cause trouble, are you?”

[sakurarisen]

@yoroiis​ Because discord shenannigans continue <3

“You’re a hard man to track down,” Sera announced, slow steps bringing her up behind Heizou with as much noise as the leopard could manage to make. Heizou had a reputation; though he didn’t arrest anyone, he was still a fearsome, fierce fighter, and she’d seen firsthand the skills he had to back up those claims. Sure, he didn’t like using those skills, but he had them - And the last thing she wanted was to be thrown skyward though the doushin’s anemo-based abilities.

Even with those skills set aside, Heizou seemed to be happier just from how he held himself, a far cry from the man who had asked for her help a few months prior. His shoulders weren’t slouched anymore, his head was held high, posture had straightened... He’d managed to free himself of his burdens, hadn’t he? Unless he was just having a better day than when she’d last seen him, but that was a question for after she’d at least gotten a chance to say hello!

“The other doushin thought you were on Ritou. Is it always your goal to trick them and hide out out here?” Out by the edge of Amakane Island, that was, close enough to the city he should’ve been easy for them to find, yet looking far too comfortable and relaxed for someone supposedly still on the clock, her lips curling into a soft, amused smile. “I only found you because I took a detour, myself - It’s been a while... Heihei.”

[sakurarisen]

Zack had actually been proud of himself! He'd played the morning extremely nonchalant, letting Sera go about her day without so much as slipping a smile that'd give away his intentions. The worst thing he'd done was trail after her like a lost puppy waiting for a head pat -- but that much wasn't too unusual for him either.

It wouldn't be until they'd heard a knock at the door would Zack block her way past him, refusing to let her go. His move would be paired with a sweet grin before he'd duck down, grab Sera up by her waist with a laugh, and peck the warmest kiss he could muster right against lips all but ready to scream at him.

"C'mon, kitten! Don't think I forgot what day it was already! I know you don't like making a big deal outta your birthday, but you didn't even ask me if I had anything special planned!" Zack would feign a small pout at that. "You really don't think I'm still that hopeless, do you?"

Of course she didn't, but he had to make this fun! One more feather soft kiss and Zack would have Sera back on her feet in front of him; his hands playfully perched on his hips.

"Actually, don't answer that -- but just know I do have plenty of stuff planned for today though! Can't let the world's best girl go unnoticed on her birthday, right? So just trust me on this one~"

It's a Sera's birthday! (3/29)

In Zack's defense, Sera hadn't much minded - Her birthday was just another day as far as she was concerned, though she'd also be lying if she said it hadn't started to come with a little bit of excitement in recent years. Never knowing what her family and friends had planned, the chance to spend quiet, quality time with them, the broad, sweet smile it put on Zack's lips especially... Even so, she'd expected nothing for the day, taking her morning like she always did, complete with a few stops to giggle and give her puppy-like husband a pat on the head. Just another typical morning!

But... She'd also be lying if she said she wasn't, on some level, a little dissappointed, too. Most years, he'd woken her on her birthday with a kiss and a whisper in her ear of happy birthday - a quick jump to acknowledge the day before anyone else could get a chance to. A jump he hadn't done this year, nevermind at any point since... He hadn't forgotten. Zack would never forget, especially considering he never let her forget. This was a day always more important to him than her...

...Wasn't it?

By the time the knock on the door had rung out, Sera had gotten so lost in her own thoughts on the matter, she'd slipped into an 'automated' mindset, wandering around their home tending to whatever she could much like she often did when overwhelmed, just without the clear stress and stiff movements that oftentimes accompanied it. She could just ask Zack, sure, but that meant acknowledging that maybe, just maybe the day wasn't just 'another day', and was she ready for that, really-?

Deciding she wasn't, she'd tried to slip past her husband for the door, careful steps blocked each and every time without fail by his far larger frame. He was stubborn about this, Sera decided; what in the world could there be at the door he didn't want her to know about? Didn't he realize they had to answer the door? It could've been someone coming for their services, or a delivery, or even a friend! They had to answer, she needed to get by - Why wasn't he letting her by!?

Her answer came paired with a call of a 'delivery' from the door, quickly gone forgotten about in Zack's quick snatch of her right up off the floor for a kiss that near immediately calmed every frazled nerve in the blonde's body and replaced it with a familiar warmth, and if it hadn't, his smile most certainly would've! There wasn't much his enthusiasm couldn't melt away for her, though she still wasn't about to tell him just why she'd been lost in her thoughts, either!

"...You don't usually miss any chance to yell it from the mountaintops," she'd remind after a moment, leaning into his second kiss the best she could before he'd put her back down on her own two feet. Maybe he wouldn't mind if she asked for her gift to be more of those kisses...? Even parted as they were, her lips still tingled and warmth still coursed through her veins; did he have any idea yet just what his love did to and for her~? "So I wouldn't say you're hopeless, just... Really good at being sneaky."

Hopeless implied he'd forgotten. Hopeless implied he didn't care enough to remember. Hopeless implied a man who would have just shrugged and found her flowers to make up for it. Zack Fair was anything but hopeless, and Sera wouldn't waste any time in reminding him of that by laying her palms against his chest, rocking up onto her toes to press in a soft kiss of her own to his lips, tingles rushing throughout her form with the contact. He wasn't hopeless... He was sweet, her forehead coming down to lay against him once she'd lowered back down, eyes drifting closed.

Best Girl. Kitten. He was never shy with nicknames and titles, yet this time they'd quieted the birthday girl, relishing in his closeness. A day of plans and time with him... She couldn't think of a better gift than him, arms curling around him, lips curling into a soft, content smile.

"I trust you, Puppy... Always. I love you."

Thank you for making everything in this world brighter than any star or sun could ever hope to be.

[sakurarisen]

@yoroiis from HERE!

All too quick, Sera's head shook in reply. "I wasn't sure where to find one aside from here," the leopard admitted, but... Did that sound as silly as the thought it did? For all intents and purposes, she was a courier in that moment, herself, and her network of contacts was spread all across Teyvat; finding a courier like she'd been tasked to should've been easy, all things considered. Even so, she'd never before been to Natlan, and with direct orders to bring her 'cargo' right to the Scions for final delivery... It wasn't like she could've just passed it off at the nation's edge and left. She had a job to complete, and it was part of Fair Catch's motto to get the job done as requested whenever they could~!

"I was requested to drop it off here, too," she continued after a moment, lips curling into a soft, but bright, smile. "But Natlan is so big - and the view is so pretty, I guess I got a little distracted on the way... I'm not from here, so I've been taking in every sight I can, whenever I can." She'd hoped to see the stadium, too, but... That was a next time trip, she'd decided, shifting the package in her hands so she could pull the pair of letters tucked underneath out and set them against its side, held tightly in place. The last thing she needed was to lose any of them when she'd finally found someone who could help!

"This... Is the Scions of the Canopy, right? I did make it to the right place?"