melodiesoflife

[Chrom isn't the most perceptive prince on the premise, but even he can see that this isn't a true endeavor to learn knitting. Either she's very bored, or very anxious. Chrom stops in front of her with a smile.]

What are you doing? Is it a hat?

[He has no idea.]

Come on. You're my partner, it's high time we began to learn how to fight together as a team.

[Oh, right, it was about that time. Putting aside her poor excuse for a mitten and standing up, Lailah greeted Chrom with a bow and smile.]

We may not be able to evoke the full power of the contract in time for the final battle, but any edge of strength we can muster is something we shouldn't take for granted.

[Lailah nods.]

Let us invoke the Armatus. Shepherd Chrom, please close your eyes and focus.

Now? Er...very well.

[He seems surprised, but not opposed to the request. As long as he doesn't wind up stuck in bed with a fever again.]

What should I focus on?

[Even so, he does close his eyes, his head tipped slightly forward as he tries to empty his head of any thoughts concerning the upcoming battles in their future, and poorly knitted winter garments.]

[With a responsive gust of energy, flames surrounded Chrom as it enveloped his being and voila, he is transformed with the power of the Armatus.]

[Lailah's nowhere to be seen, but Chrom would be able to hear her voice.]

So, what do you think?

[The sudden swell of warmth is unexpected. Instead of consuming him and blistering his flesh ~~LIKE IT USUALLY DOES~~, the fire is almost comforting. And natural. It's a part of him, as much his as the blood in his veins. His hair is pale in color, tied back into a thin ponytail that trails down the back of his tattered fiery cape.]

[And his entire right arm is just a huge sword.]

[Ordinarily he'd worry about whether or not this is temporary, but he doesn't feel any alarm right now. He and Lailah are close. They're partners. As long as they're together, it feels like he has nothing to fear.]

It's...incredible!

[He examines his left hand, admiring the strength and confidence that fills him.]

What about you? Are you all right?

Oh, concerned for me? Maybe you're... carrying a torch for me?

[... cricket.]

In any case.

I'm here, no worries. But this is the power of the armatus. Maybe it will be useful in the coming Calamity fight.

[To his credit, Chrom manages a strained pity-chuckle. He can hit things with swords, but jokes...especially puns...are not his forte. Speaking of monster bashing...]

Should we try it out? I'm certain we'll find plenty of enemies beyond the city walls.

[As long as Lailah is comfortable being fused with him, he'll relax. Never mind how everyone else is suddenly staring at the most magnificent lord ever.]

Yes, that seems wise.

[Lailah relaxed herself.]

Sir Chrom, relax your mind and we can undo the Armatus for now. We can resume once we're outside.

All right.

[He closes his eyes and exhales slowly. He's not sure what's involved in relaxation of the mind, except not to concentrate too heavily on any one thing, perhaps? Hopefully that's sufficient enough for her to emerge once more.]

This doesn't cause you any discomfort, does it?

[... and she's out, and Chrom is back to normal.]

Of course not! As a vessel, you are very pure, so there's very little risk in it for me.

If I had tried that with almost anyone else, surely I would have been transformed into a mindless dragon.

[Chrom chuckles a little, both relieved to see she's fine and flattered at her words. He's not so sure he's 'pure' so much as 'simple.' Blessed with two kind and wonderful sisters and good, honorable men and women that fight by his side, there's little else he could have wanted for in his life.]

I hope that's not true. It's difficult to picture someone like you turning vicious. You're a good, kind woman, Lailah. I'm honored to work with you.

[He smiles as they walk, his stride regal but relaxed.]

... it's the fate of any seraph who lives among humans to one day become subsumed with malevolence and become a dragon, much like any human who experienced intense emotions to possibly become a hellion. It's the world we live in. At times, it makes me think that perhaps coexistence or true peace may never be achieved between our two people.

But when I work with someone like you, I begin to think that it may be worth it. And I'll never again regret giving my heart and powers to humans who wish to create a world for everybody. So thank you, Sir Chrom, for making the Contract with me. I cannot express how grateful I am to have met you.

People are punished for having strong feelings?

[If that's the case, Chrom is certain he would have become a Hellion long ago. The fierce pride and love he holds for his people, his crushing despair after watching his sister throw herself to her death in one last desperate bid for peace, the anger and disgust at the deliberate provocation of Maribelle's kidnapping... No, that is no world for one like Chrom.]

That's not your fault, Lailah. The emotions of humans have always been volatile. Perhaps this is not so in your world, but it seems to be one of the few constants existing between other worlds with humans like myself.

[Oh, but she's got more to say. Chrom stops himself from speaking further, and as he listens, his expression softens. He smiles, putting a hand on his friend's slim shoulder.]

I'm grateful for you as well, Lailah. I would have been proud to fight beside you were you one of my Shepherds. I won't fail you, I promise.

It's a bit of a conundrum, isn't it?

[Lailah lowered her gaze.]

If a person experiences extreme jealousy or rage or sorrow, building it up instead of working through those feelings, the feelings will generate malevolence which will consume them and turn them into monsters.

In any case, you won't fail me. This world - and all other worlds - work under such different rules. It makes me believe that if I can ever return to mine...

Changes will have to be made.

Well if it isn't Lailah.

[ Yuri was obviously not going to let a conversation go since he hadn't spoken with the lady in while since he made his way around Aqures Ixen. With the end of the world at stake, it was hard for him to really concentrate on much other than trying to save the world obviously so he could save his. ]

What are you doing?

Failing at knitting, apparently.

[Lailah sighs.]

I guess I'm knot skilled...!

Knitting huh? I've never really tried my hand at that kind of crafting before.

[ Yuri stifled a laugh. ]

Jeez, if you keep making those horrible jokes, you're going to scare folks away. Here, let me see if I can give you a hand.

[Lailah held out her sorry excuse for a knitting project as well as her tools.]

You really are a jack of all trades, aren't you? I'm sure you could probably do better than I could at this particular project, however.

[ It wasn't as bad as she thought it'd be. Yuri inspects it for a moment before plopping down in the spot next to her. ]

Alright, let's get started-- huh?

[ He stopped giving her a look. ]

This isn't one of my skills to be honest, but I guess you can say I'm the Jack of all Trades. You just missed a stitch here and it's loose here. If you adjust it like this...

[ Please look at him while he shows you how to do this Lailah. ]

[Lailah applauds]

Wow, and you didn't even have to equip a Job to do that!

[she started laughing... and then...]

... ngh!

[Tears start dribbling down her face as she looks down to her fists.]

I... I'm sorry...!

[She hurriedly tries to dry the tears. She was a fire seraph! Tears weren't supposed to happen!]

I--well you don't really need an equipped job for this you know?

[ He stared at her a bit confused by her reaction. She started laughing so he was okay with it until she started crying. ]

--H-Hey Lailah!

[ Yuri almost dropped the item as he reached over to check on her. Why was she crying!? He didn't say anything mean to her though! ]

What happened, hey...!

[Wiping away her tears and taking deep breaths, Lailah tried to calm herself down. She was usually as tough as nails, but when things overflowed like this, it was like trying to use a piece of gum to plug a hole in a shattered dam.]

It's not your fault.

[Breathing in and out once again, she managed to be able to talk, though she still kept wiping away her tears with her sleeve.]

It's just... well, I don't think you want to be bothered listening to an old lady, do you?

[She tried laughing it off.]

It's not you. It's me.

[ It was really strange to see Lailah cry. That was for sure. For as long as he knew the young woman, she was always so headstrong and indifferent. When things didn't go her way or things she didn't want to talk about happened, she'd divert the topic. Right now, though. She was not. ]

You sure?

[ He offered her a tissue he kept on himself for other occasions. as she was wiping her eyes with her sleeve. ]

Old Lady? Well I wouldn't call you that and hey if you got something to say, I'd rather you say it. Keeping that stuff in isn't good for your heath.

[ He chuckled. ]

C'mon Lailah, tell me what's up?

I'm sorry.

[She's calmed down now.]

It's just...

Seeing you fix my mistakes so easily, it just made me think that even on things that seem so simple, I overthink things... or just can't do them right. If there had been another Lady of the Lake, would they have let such horrific things happen right before their very eyes? If another seraph came here to support my friends, would they be better off? If I had waited for Sorey to come instead of making the Shepherd's pact with Sir Chrom, would that have worked out better...?

I just don't know.

[She looks at the scrap of yarn in her hands.]

It's made to look so easy, yet... I can't even do something like this.

No you don't have to apologize.

[ He replied briefly, rubbing the back of his neck. People crying-- he never knew what to do with them at all. He felt pretty confused on the matter. ]

Wait-- hold on, back it up Lailah.

[ Yuri raised a hand when she started rambling on. ]

First off I'm not as good as you think I am. I've got plenty of skeletons in my closet. Who doesn't? I'm not really understanding this whole "Lady of the Lake," thing or the "Shepherd's Pact," or whatever, but I'm pretty sure your friends or allies will tell you that you are definitely overthinking this.

Whether you're human or not, you're allowed to make mistakes. No one's perfect and who doesn't mess up?

[ He shook his head a little. ]

I'm only good at this stuff because all I got is me-- growing up. Sure there were a few adults giving me a hand here and there but it was just me. It's kind of one of those situations where I had to know whether I wanted to or not.

[ Honestly, he didn't know why he was telling all of this to Lailah so casually. He hardly talked to his friends about this other than like Rukia or Flynn. ]

[4]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject