OPEN

[good_ideas]

WHO: Shiho and you!
WHERE: Forest and town-ish
WHEN: the month of June!
WHAT: Shiho comes back in a new black uniform and quests because making more than one log is too much work.
WARNINGS: Warning for her trying not to be sad about Minato


A. things are serious business now
[Even with psychometry, there's only so much one can do when walking through a twiggy, pebbly, leafy forest. Especially when you didn't have any shoes. What she does have though is an entirely different uniform as she finally makes her way out of the trees, wincing when she toes another twig out of the way.

Are you just watching? Maybe you just walked by? Either way, she's looking up the moment you're within hearing distance as if she just noticed you there. Furrowing her brow, she brushes her hair back and puts one hand on her hip.]

....Well? You're not going to leave a super cute girl to limp home on her own, are you? Help me.

B. the sad sitting-on-a-bridge option
[Shiho has already changed at this point, putting on something that's not exactly more protective than her uniform but definitely makes her feel better, quieter, more resolute. It's a beautifully hand sewn outfit and she's wearing shoes again this time, her feet dangling over the side of the harbour as she looks out across the water.]

C. Obligatory Quest Post: fire is always the answer
[That could be a pile of sticks. Except there is clearly a person carrying them and then... shoving them straight into your arms.]

Let's go set a fire.

[She says with a big, bright smile like she doesn't see anything wrong with any of this, and turns to start heading for the forest.]

Comments

A

[superioritis]

[There's a clip-clop, clip-clop as Berkut slows his horse to a stop. For better or worse, the usage of cute is what grabbed his attention. He glances down at Shiho's bare feet, but the look he shoots her upon lifting his head is one of indifference.]

If you've the energy to grumble, you can surely walk yourself.

C

[noholdsbard]

[ Well, she didn’t exactly say that she wanted to burn down the forest, but knowing her… ]

Shiho…what are you planning?

[ To his credit, he at least doesn’t drop his burden—and he’s definitely following along to make sure she’ll be all right. ]

B

[troubadamsel]

[Maribelle approaches, pauses, then approaches again.]

Good day to you, Shiho.

[good_ideas]

[Getting to have a horse should be against the rules, she thinks. Which is why she immediately decides to give him a hard time.]

It's not about having the energy. It's about stepping on stuff I don't want to step on. [And so she's leaning against a tree, trying to take some weight off her feet.]

Besides aren't you supposed to be royalty or something? Show some compassion.

[good_ideas]

I'm planning to use a safe and extremely effective way to get rid of goblins, of course?

[Safe for whom though........



Well, he didn't ask for specifics so she leaves it at that with a bright smile as she leads the way, knowing thanks to psychometry just what direction they should go.]

Why? What do you think I'm planning?

[good_ideas]

[Maribelle is always a welcome sight, and Shiho manages a little bit of a smile in her direction.]

Hey. Good day to you, too. [But her heart isn't quite in it, and she reaches out to scoop up a pebble and toss it into the harbour.]

[superioritis]

[Such irreverence . . .

Berkut's brow pinches in distaste before he dismounts his horse with practiced grace. Clad in armor as dark as his coat, the steed resembles his rider in coloring.]

Compassion has nothing to do with it.

[As if to reinforce this point, Berkut's tone is devoid of warmth as he approaches Shiho.]

Where is this home of yours?

[good_ideas]

Not too far. [But he does seem to be getting off the horse so she'll just watch for now... and also wonder if he's like Magi and has 14 of the exact same coat in his closet.]

So if compassion has nothing to do with it, are you getting off the horse so you can... what? Laugh at me from a different height?

[superioritis]

[Probably.]

Don't be ridiculous. As a noble, I have my duty to consider.

[Seeing the state of her feet from afar was more than enough. He offers his arm, only to pause and lower it back down.]

No. I will carry you to my horse. Do you have any objections?

[good_ideas]

[....Kaoru did tell her he was tsundere but she clearly underestimate just how tsundere he is???? Caught off guard, Shiho stops for a moment to furrow her brow at him before she crosses her arms and tries her best not to look embarrassed.]

I... guess not. But if you try to sling me over your shoulder like sack of potatoes, I'm running off with your horse.

[superioritis]

[To that, he snorts.]

I'd like to see you try.

[But he is no brute. He would never handle a woman so callously. No, his plan is to step around Shiho and pick her up like a bride. It would be much easier for her to walk and mount his horse by herself, but that would defeat the purpose of this venture.]

[noholdsbard]

[ It’s hard not to let the doubts keep piling up, especially when she’s smiling like that. That smile practically screams I’m going to cause trouble no matter what and telling her no might only make things worse.

He inwardly sighs, before asking her question: ]

I was hoping for a picnic, perhaps, by a small campfire…

[ But clearly she has to dash his hopes and dreams like this. ]

B

[passio]

…that’s a nice outfit.

[ dextera’s soft voice pipes up behind her. he recognizes that fluffy mane of hair, and it makes him realize that he hasn’t spoken to shiho in a while, really. many things have changed. ]

[troubadamsel]

... Is it a good day?

[She comes over to Shiho's side, silently inspecting her.]

[good_ideas]

[Shiho isn't particularly tall or heavy to begin with so she's not sure what the purpose of this venture is. To show off?? But she knows better than to struggle, especially because it might mean getting dropped.

Instead she'll raise an eyebrow at him, content at least that she doesn't have to walk. What she will do, however, is keep her hands carefully to herself.]

I guess this is slightly better.

[good_ideas]

Without any food? [But her smile is still cheerful at the thought of causing trouble...]

Besides, a picnic closer to town would be better, wouldn't it? And with Maya-san, Kaoru-chan and everyone else.

[good_ideas]

[Dex always puts her at ease, and she gives him a small smile when she sees him. Not as bright or as happy as she could manage with someone she doesn't know. But she's trying.]

Minato made it for me. [And she's so glad as she reaches out to touch the fabric of one sleeve with her hand that it's still here.]

[good_ideas]

I'm back here, lost the shoes that went with my new uniform and there's still no electricity or running water. [And Minato's gone.]

It's great. [But her expression says it's anything but, and she relents a little.] ..........Just kidding.

[superioritis]

[Cheeky as ever. Berkut ignores her in favor of making long strides to his horse from the left, whereupon he grips the reins and jerks his head toward the horse's back.]

Get on.

[It's a most unconventional method, he knows, but it'll spare her from having to apply pressure on her feet. At this height, she'll just have to hoist herself on over however she can. Or maybe she'll surprise him. He really doesn't care so long as she mounts their ride.]

[good_ideas]

[There's nothing very surprising from her (this time). She is, after all, only a psychometer and much as there's lots she could do, she does have some limitations. Namely being that she doesn't have the muscles necessary to do acrobatics and secondly because she wants to keep any and all touching at a strict minimum. One hand goes to his shoulder, enabling her to read him and where his centre of balance is, as well as taking knowledge of how to even get on horses directly from him as well.

With a shift that people would probably recognize if they'd ever seen Berkut mount a horse from a bridal carry, she hoists herself onto the horse with ease as if this is all perfectly normal and she's been on horses a million times. (It's once. And this is it.)]

You could have at least helped me with that too.

[superioritis]

I did.

[By making his presence known and hanging onto the reins, he provided all the stability she could want from a horse who doesn't know her. Why should he explain this? If the ease with which she mounted the horse surprises him, he doesn't show it as he follows suit behind her.

He has also never climbed onto a horse's back from a bridal carry. He'll not have any of that, thank you.

Under them, Buceph snorts at the additional weight. It isn't much, but it's enough for any animal to notice. Berkut reaches around Shiho to take up the reins.]

To which district do you belong?

wildcard for goblin hunting...!!

[unghost]

[ They get that Shiho is a capable young human; sensible enough to not get harmed in danger, intelligent enough to be mindful around areas and beings of danger. But they can't say they've actually ever witnessed her in combat, aside from the (alleged) tranquilizer she'd shot into the dragon. So, when they're actually making their way into the forest, they finally let some of their suspicion out. ]

Why are you even interested in this quest? [ They shoot her a glance from the corner of their eye, walking with confidence as they go along. ] You don't seem like the type.

[noholdsbard]

[ Yep, he’s definitely treading dangerous ground here. But he’s already gotten this far… ]

Indeed. Would that not be a lovely idea? I am certain that they will be happy to hold a picnic on short notice.

[ He has to try distracting her somehow!! ]

[troubadamsel]

... I see.

[She debates mentally, then comes over and, gently, puts an arm around Shiho's shoulders.]

[good_ideas]

Unless Caramia and Kyrie have moved, I'm still in the red one. [Though the thought that they may be gone does cross her mind, and just thinking about it has her reaching out to set a hand carefully on the back of the horse's neck. Reading animals has always been easier than reading people because they never seem to have secret pasts or things they want to keep hidden from everyone else.

That also means she sees that he'd helped provide stability for her. Not that she'll thank him for it because that's not what she does without psyching herself up some first.]