SAVAGE WOLF

❀ a knightly parade | Jonathan

luxurorsamurai

"I understand that well enough," Jonathan answered. He knew what his suggestion entailed, as well as how silly it might seem later, but he supposed it was all the same, save the placement of hands as well as who led the steps. "Seeing how it’s done so far makes no difference to me. Besides with you leading there might be less chance of you tripping over yourself by accident."

Maybe Jonathan was doing a little teasing. Lightly, at least, since anything more he’d feel bad about seeing as Yuri was indeed injured. “Did you need me to get you anything else? Perhaps a pillow or something to drink?” Until he was able enough to move to somewhere better to sit, Jonathan might as well make his friend more comfortable for the sake of keeping off his ankle until it was better.

#luxurorsamurai #a knightly parade: jonathan

"Ohoho! The mouse has teeth!" Yuri snarked, a wide grin emerging through his otherwise pained expression. It hurt less the more he smiled. Good on Jonathan for that one. "I'll take your advice to heart, good sir."

"I'll have one of your finest cakes," he joked. His sweet tooth wasn't craving anything, but he certainly would not have turned down free cake. Of course, Jonathan didn't have to take him seriously.

Lost and Found [ Ukyo & Yuri ]

Ukyo chuckled quietly. This wasn’t the first time his name had seemed strange to some—yet most gave him simply an odd look and continued on. “It seems that way—though Yuri is quite the equally interesting name.” A fact he stated true—not once had he heard the name in his life. It was intriguing One could learn a lot from someone’s name. But even then, he was a living example of never truly knowing anyone until you get to do so, personally.

The green-haired male took Yuri’s hand and shook it briefly with a content smile. “Ahah, I’m glad there is someone who knows this place a little better than I. I still manage to get lost at every turn—I have a habit of wandering off too much!” he walked alongside the other, who would probably have been at an identical height to him, had it not been for the slightly heeled boots he wore.

“Spicy food, huh?” he brought a hand to his chin and canted his head either side a few times. “Well, I can’t say I have it often, but I definitely don’t dislike it.” he admitted. He’d rarely had such foods—generally being rather… undisiplined and helping himself to the the sweeter pleasures in life. Though, as much as parfaits were enjoyable, he did often have some of the more sensible, and subtle, meals to counter his sweet tooth at least once in a while.

But either way, he was quite content with having spicy food; in fact he would probably even submit himself to something he hated if it were what Yuri fancied—simply because Ukyo felt he owed him that much for returning something so precious and dear to him.

#twistedjoker #lost and foud: ukyo

"Hey, it's hardly your fault," he began, clapping his new friend on the back with a hearty smack. "These streets aren't exactly easy to navigate. I think some of them even move when you're not looking." If there were demons and demi-gods and all sorts of folks roaming around, the city itself might as well have been alive. Yuri didn't think too hard on that, though.

He let out a chuckle and gestured down the road, making a turn around the corner. "Honestly, I'm more of a sweets guy, but... what can I say? I get a little sentimental here and there. I knew a guy who hated desserts and always ordered the hottest thing he could stomach. I guess I'm just paying homage and feeling kinda homesick."

❀ dance like the damned | Gajeel

iironclad-archived

Where there was a rumble, there was Gajeel. This was his cardinal rule, a perpetual habit that kept him in constant motion, rebounding from the cages of Cania, to the walls of bounty notices, to the mean streets of Sector 3; where a shiv in hand was a license to kill, and bloody brawl was always a stone’s throw away. And where, today, its jaws had closed around the most unlikely target: The Lower Quarter. A soup kitchen.

Gajeel had never been the king of table-manners.

Cooking pots clattered, an arsenal of blunt objects at Gajeel’s ready fingers. Tumbling through the tight knot of reeling bodies, he spun like a top, his grin as solid as an iron mouthguard. A flattened frying pan slammed down like a hammer on an anvil, square center of one man’s forehead, ringing out a discordant note. Gajeel ducked a blow and skirted closer to the splashes of purple hair, visible now and again, bobbing and streaking through the masses like a smear of paint.

It was the bright flash of energy, palpable in the air, which had attracted Gajeel to the fight. And though he had identified the purple-haired person as its source, he saw now that they struggled. Vaguely, he recognized them as the owner. And though he had never been a model guest, the assault of a social-worker seemed uncalled for. He grabbed a cooking pot, slick with gravy, and stuffed it over the head of one assailant, a firm fist denting it. From inside, a sharp cry reverberated against the hollow metal, and the body keeled heavily over, falling like a log.

Gajeel grabbed the owner by the back of the shirt, jerking them sharply out of the way of the incoming fist. One leg raised, it seemed to transform, from the knee down, into an enormous iron club, which struck the aggressor squarely in the chest.

Still holding onto the purple-haired owner, Gajeel jerked them forward again, holding them out to the downed man. "APOLOGIZE TO THE NICE LADY," he barked. "You’re wreckin’ her place!"

#iironclad #dance like the damned: gajeel

The entire kitchen's menu careened through the air even though only one or two dishes called for sauté. Colorful sauces splattered the floors and the walls like an impromptu Picasso if his brushstrokes had been goopy. Pots and pans, now improvised weaponry, littered the café turned mess hall (a literal mess at that).

Before this chaos, Yuri had only one concern on his mind: "Uh. You mind telling me what lady you're talking about?" He raised a hand, primed for a good smack across the jaw, and merely dusted himself off. Amusement gleamed in his dark and curious eyes. You could tell from the way he carried himself that he was a forgiving man who found humor in slights against his person.

Now that the odds rose from one to two against however many thugs they numbered, the ne'er-do-wells reassessed their situation, decided that the risk was no longer worth it, and vacated the premises with empty threats echoing behind them.

Yuri rolled his eyes.

"Hey, thanks for helping out. I lowered my guard for one second and some guy came up from behind-- I think he must've been part bear with the way he was holding on. That guy's strength wasn't human!" Yet Yuri's savior had dealt with them all the same. "Meaning you're...?"

The Struggle [open]

Gaius may be of royalty but the king never forgot his roots. He is a proud man, but he was also raised by a humble clan before he started his world-changing revolution that united the clans and usurped the then-tyrannical king of Auj Oule. Gaius appreciated humility wherever he went, and that also meant that he applied it to himself.

Despite how he carried himself with his authoritative atmosphere, this city humbled hims somewhat. He was captive here, and while he was defiant to the scientists and their goal, the fact is that he hardly knew anything about modern society and technology. That was enough to humble anyone, even battle-hardened kings.

As such, though with some difficulty, he shows this humility to the stranger that so graciously decided to show him around the restaurant.

"No," he answered the vigilante. "I have been brought here against my will by a band of scientists." His answer was brief and to the point though his focus lay elsewhere. His majesty’s ruby hues stared at this menu, and found them quite similar to Kanbalar’s own inn menus. The familiarity was a welcome sight but the food themselves seemed a little out there. Regardless, the king flashed a smirk. "That is fine. When his stomach calls for it, a man should learn how to not be picky with the food in front of him."

The king crossed his arms and looked over the menu, when a certain word caught his eye. It seemed to repeat itself along the menu as well. Perhaps it was this restaurant’s specialty? Curiously, he turned to the man beside him and asked, "What is a burger?"

#outwayking #the struggle: gaius

"It's more or less a slab of meat between two slices of bread. Of course, there are some veggies and condiments sandwiched in between, too." Again, he gestured towards the menu and grinned. "You can get it with cheese, too, if that's your thing." The only major setback about fast food in Yuri's opinion was its sheer unhealthiness. There was little to complain about the taste; the body had a natural craving for oils and fat and all that bad stuff that went straight to your waist.

As the line shifted, so did Yuri. "Better think fast. It's practically our turn to order, your majesty." The quip had been in jest, of course. The longer Yuri spoke to this man, the better he came to understand his new acquaintance. Maybe he was one of those guys who rose to fame as opposed to being born with a silver spoon. He could get behind that.

Lost and Found [ Ukyo & Yuri ]

Ukyo smiled and nodded. “Indeed, quite the ‘click-y’ noise.” he chuckled, looking down at the camera and the picture he had just taken of Yuri, before looking back at him and noticing the slightly embarrassed look on his face. He canted his head a moment, before messing with the camera again and deleting the image. He’d taken it without permission after all, so it was only right to remove it.

He nodded. “Yeah…” at the deletion of the other photo, it automatically flicked back to an older one. She was stood beside him in the picture and he stared at it fondly for a minute before shutting it off. “Thank you for returning it.” he said again, since he truly was grateful. Whilst he may not have ended up… ‘pissed’ to have lost it forever, he certainly would have been upset beyond redemption.

He slipped the camera back into one of the inside pockets of his long coat and returned his focus to the other. “What’s your name, by the way?” he asked. “I’m Ukyo.” he added. “If it’s not any trouble, I’d like to thank you properly. Though, I’m not all that familiar with the area—do you know of somewhere that we could eat, it’ll be my treat.” he smiled.

#twistedjoker #lost and found: ukyo

"Ukyo, that's an interesting name," he said with a grin. Between princesses and the gruff guild types, Yuri had come across quite the smorgasbord of unique names. It was kinda hard to beat 'Estellise' in terms of prim and properness, that was for sure. "Folks call me Yuri."

He offered his hand for it was one of the few good habits he retained from his childhood. After all, knowing the etiquette didn't mean you had to practice it.

"Wow, a free meal? Count me in." His grin doubled in size and became ever so cheeky. Dining in a restaurant sure beat prison food any day. Ah, but Ukyo didn't need to know about his less-than-stellar track record. Of course, if you ever asked Yuri, he'd tell you that he was in the right and that the law shouldn't stop a rightful citizen from acting in everyone's best interests.

He began down the road at a leisurely pace and tossed a glance over his shoulder. "I know just the place. How are you on spicy food?"

The Struggle [open]

He was eye-catching, to say the least of the people that had walked past him. Most gave him confused looks before shaking their heads while others simply walked past him without a moment’s pause. The king himself was not at all bothered by the citizens and their lack of respect for him and instead, focused on the establishment before him.

Back in his palace, Gaius had his own personal chef that would cook for him and many more to cook for members of his royal circle. While he was not completely clueless when it came to cooking his own meals, members of the palace insisted that they hire a chef for him. Gaius had none of that here. For a minute, the king had briefly entertained the idea of hunting for his meal, but he doubted that game animals would exist within this city.

A voice pulled him out of his thoughts however, and Gaius looked to its source. This man had so casually addressed him that if they had been back in Kanbalar, the guards would have likely arrested him on the spot. But Gaius knew that this man’s tone was not out of place. He was a king in a place he did not rule, after all.

"So that line is for people awaiting their food? I see," Gaius brought his fingers to his chin. The man beside him seemed knowledgeable about this sort of thing. Surely it couldn’t hurt his pride to ask for help? "You intend to eat here as well, I assume. If so then I will have to ask that you… " Gaius consciously averted his gaze, his eyes darting back and fourth from this man to the pavement beneath them. Finally, he sucked in enough pride and let his last few words go.

"…that you show me how."

A pause.

"Please."

#outwayking #the struggle: gaius #can i just take a moment to say #that i really adore your gaius #like really really #wow dang what a cute

It didn't take a genius to realize that this man was in some form of regalia. Although he was surrounded by a lot of flashy folks, Yuri could tell when someone was of high social standing. It was the way they carried themselves, as if nobility was not a concept, but an intangible force flowing through their blood. And he hated how some noblemen lorded themselves about with egos and entitlement.

But this guy seemed all right. He did say 'please'.

"You're not from around here, huh?" With a simple nod - no mockery nor malice - he ushered Gaius into the fast food restaurant and gave the king the right of way. Yuri lifted his arm and pointed out the menu overhead, backlit by retina-searing lights. "Most people give a number instead of the product name. It's just faster that way. Though, uh, have you eaten this stuff before? It's pretty... low class fare, I guess you'd call it." He had meant to avoid putting Gaius in an awkward position, but he believed that saving face was less important than choosing something that agreed with your stomach.

vorfreuden-deactivated20140327

❀ the sniffles | Leia

Leia nodded to Yuri, agreeing that maybe it is a good idea for her to stop for the day. It was more important that she were to regain her strength and maintain her health, “Yeah, you’re right." she sighed, “And sorry about this." she was so used to pushing herself in order to not have others worry about her, however it seems impossible to do such a thing now.

“I live in sector 5, the shopping district." she informed him as she placed her hand in his. With a smile, Leia began walking towards her sector at a steady pace beside Yuri. She felt secure with the other around, knowing that she’ll be safe in his hands on the way home.

#vorfreuden #the sniffles: leia #don't sweat it!

Yuri shook his head and answered her with a soft chuckle. "You've nothing to be sorry for," he insisted, his tone surprisingly gentle. He was the kind of guy who tried to avoid making scenes, but there was no denying that every little thing Yuri Lowell did was bold in some way. Sometimes he was outright defiant. Other times, he radiated with confidence. He was loud and vibrant which was why people viewed him as a leader (no matter how much he tried to ease into the role of follower). So when he spoke quietly - to be understood more so than heard - it gave others a glimpse into his heart.

He felt very much like a big brother leading his kid sister along. And while that gave him much more room to poke fun at her, it also meant that Leia was officially his responsibility. He didn't doubt that she could look after herself when she was healthy, but for now her burden was his to bear. "Shopping district, huh? That must be a fun place to explore. Do they have cute dresses and shoes? You seem pretty fashionable." He reached over and gave her headdress a teasing tug.

The Struggle [open]

"…"

A most intense ruby glare emanated from his highness, staring down an adversary that had proved itself worthy of his undivided attention. His lips settled on a stern, thin line as the king observed this worthy foe, observing its movements carefully and cautiously.

The king had been on a quest to discover more of this metropolitan-sized laboratory, when a recent predicament struck him in the middle of his noble exploration. A human ailment, one that could no longer be ignored ever since the king arrived in the Hive.

Hunger.

Plagued with this problem, the king then actively sought out for ways of nourishment, only to realize that despite his royal status, he was essentially reduced to a peasant in this foreign land. So now stands a still proud king before an establishment known as a fast food restaurant, looking completely out of place and clueless as to how he should acquire food.

#outwayking #the struggle: gaius #oh my god gaius

Yuri Lowell, vigilant extraordinaire, was completely prepared to waltz right past the fellow blocking the entrance to the fine dining establishment. But something about the man's indignant stance caught his eye. If he had to wager a guess, this man would sooner choose his pride and starve over entering a place deemed beneath him.

He paused beside the stranger and peered up at him, hiding his amusement behind a thin veneer of impatience. "Hey, uh, I'm gonna go ahead of you if you're gonna admire the doors. You sure you don't want to get in line before me?" Because as quick as these kinds of places spat out food, the queues could get ridiculous. And Yuri, being the kindhearted soul that he was, didn't want to shaft this guy's place in line.

vorfreuden-deactivated20140327

❀ the sniffles | Leia

“Yeah! Then it’s settled!" she smiled back at Yuri, “I’ll try and swing by after work or even on my day offs to help out as much as I can until closing time!”

“But for now, we should focus on trying to survive this epidemic until things die down." not literally though, she hopes! However, as she continues to spend her time with Yuri, she began to feel the small effects of giving away some of her vitality. Stumbling a bit, she found herself close to collapsing. Thankfully, she caught herself and stood in place for a bit before speaking.

“Woah, that was close," she laughed nervously; rubbing the back of her head as a light tint of red surfaced on her cheeks.

#vorfreuden #the sniffles: leia

Yuri paused mid-stride, noticing that Leia was beginning to have some difficulty keeping up with him. By the looks of it, she seemed exhausted. No doubt she had pushed herself to her limit.

"Hey, it's okay to take a break, you know. In fact, I think it's about time you called it a day and gave it a rest." He walked up to her and offered a hand, just in case she needed someone to lean on. "You won't be able to help anyone else if you're down for the count. Let's get you back home."

❀ a knightly parade | Jonathan

luxurorsamurai

Jonathan did rather enjoy himself. Though, perhaps without this moment it would have been better. The samurai could not help but wonder if the injury was due to a mis-step in his own shaky lead in the dance. “I did,” he answered, still pondering the subject, “Though perhaps next time you should lead,” A soft laugh following, as if attempting to lighten the mood.

"Perhaps we may even have better luck if there is a next time." They would be cautious not to repeat this event, Jonathan hoped. The last thing he wanted was for someone to get hurt doing something that was supposed to be enjoyable.

#luxurorsamurai #a knightly parade: jonathan

The pain had yet to subside, but Yuri had grown accustomed to the throbbing sensation. He shifted his leg over and lifted the ice, eyeing the injury site. Something was bound to happen sooner or later. He clamped the ice back over the swelling joint and let out a breathy chuckle.

"If I lead, you'll be doing the lady's routine. Just so you know." Mischief sparkled in his eyes. Unless Jonathan happened to express some form of exasperation or blatant discomfort, the jabs would never cease.

❀ a knightly parade | Jonathan

luxurorsamurai

Luckily for the both of them, working in this place gave Jonathan the knowledge of where things were. He was quick to retrieve ice, wrapping it in a cloth to keep the cold from causing any damage and keep it as it would need to be to sooth and reduce swelling.

"Here," he offered, kneeling beside Yuri once more when he’d returned. Gentle as can be, he placed the makeshift ice pack over the other swordsman’s ankle. "If only I had my gauntlet…" he sighed, "I could have healed it in moments using one of the demons…" Not that it sounded any better, but at least they had such magic arts that would have cured such a predicament. Though with his own restrictions it was doubtful that even if he had his gauntlet he’d be able to summon any demons in the first place to aid them. "How does it feel? It looks like it’s swelling pretty badly."

#luxurorsamurai #a knightly parade: jonathan

Yuri didn't like the sound of using demons within any context whatsoever. But he kept his trap shut and tried not to be an ungrateful jerk. The pain was bad enough that he had to focus on keeping his voice down. "It's... manageable. I'll live. Don't worry." He held the ice in place and let out a shaky sigh. "Did you have fun?"

wisteriadove-deactivated2013090

❀ a bird in hand | Paloma

“Oh, you,” she started. “You’ll really help me?” She blushed faintly. “You’ve done so much already and you’ll still offer to help me… I must admit, it’s relieving to hear you make that offer.” She looked down at her feet as she walked. “I shouldn’t…trouble you further, but…” She thought in silence for a moment before smiling at Yuri. “Thank you. I hope that I find a way to repay your kindness someday.”

She looked at the wooden weapons in her hands. The first step would likely be learning to wield them properly, so she could at least defend herself when she needed to.

#wisteriadove #a bird in hand: paloma #pushes thread along #my reply makes yours look fantastic shhhhh

"Oh, stop it. You don't have to think of it as me earning any favors from you. It's not that big of a deal." She was such a silly girl, thinking that he was acting for any reason other than out of the goodness of his heart.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to guess what she was thinking. Yuri eyed the weapons as well and clapped Paloma upon the shoulder. "Do you want me to help you out with those? I can at least help out with the basics."

❀ il corvo e il lupo | Raven

shadyoldman

"Yeah, yeah. Don’t remind me. I can tell there’s a storm brewin’."

He leaned back in his chair, his grin matching Yuri’s own. It was just like old times. He laughed a little and set down his fork, his appetite sated enough for the moment. With a sigh, he gazed out the window.

"I got the feelin’ we’re gonna be here a while, Yuri. But if ya ever need me, holler. All right?"

#shadyoldman #il corvo e il lupo: raven #complete~~

Yuri scooped up the remnants of his plate into one corner. His off hand swept it off the table and brought it against his mouth. Without a lick of manners, he swallowed the mound of rice and curry and let out a burp.

"Huh? Oh, right. Gotcha. It's good to know I can get a few favors out of you," he answered with a cheeky grin. Just like old times.

❀ il corvo e il lupo | Raven

shadyoldman

Raven feigned a wound to the chest, throwing his hand over his heart. Manly pout in full effect, he threw in puppy dog eyes for good measure. He put it all on the table: the full melodramatic monty.

"Hey, that hurts. I thought we were havin’ a moment, here. I was ready t’cry with happiness an’ everything! C’mon, Yuri, be a pal. Help poor Ol’ Raven out. Fer old times’ sake."