catch-all for march!

[pyrafect]

WHO: Pyra and various
WHERE: around crhoma
WHEN: throughout march
WHAT: A catch-all log for Pyra & Friends!
WARNINGS: nothing for now!

[ This is a catch-all log for threads with Pyra! If you would like a thread/quest (when they go up) or whatever with her, you can wildcard-sceanrio here, PM, or drinksteapots for plotting! ]

Comments

For Xie Lian

[pyrafect]

This way....

[ She begins to lead him by the hand through one of the main streets leading out of the town, and he'll soon be able to tell that she's beginning to lead him out towards the forest. But just before they enter the woods, there is a small, outdoor shrine along the side of the more well-traveled paths. It's nothing elaborate: a few pillars have been carved from some material she's managed to carefully scavenge and bring back from the castle. But it's enough to form a humble stable-like feature held up with decorated, re-purposed columns, a still, quiet reflective pool along the side of its path leading up to it, and stone steps ascending to the single room of worship.

When working on its design, she had wanted it to be reflective of the architecture of what she had seen within his heart, with a roof made of tiles that sweep up at the corners, a stone to light incense upon, and a place to sit and pray to the spirit housed within. But she didn't wish it to remind him exactly of his home, and so she's taken a few artistic liberties, if perhaps leaning a little too much upon the minimalist and natural side. She's arranged vines to weave down the pillars and has brought the colorless, dried flowers of the castle to arrange into wreathes to decorate the back walls and hang down from the ceiling.

The most impressive part of the shrine is undoubtedly the statue of him that she's commissioned from Saber. The statue itself bears... a likeness to him, courtesy of Saber's imperial privilege, but not quite that he would be recognizable. Yet, the symbolism is there with a sword in his right hand and flowers in his left.

Pyra releases his hand to stand next to the statue, placing a hand upon its forearm as she looks to Xie Lian. She looks upon his eagerly, watching him for his expression and to see what he thinks of it all. ]

...Well, what do you think?

[holycurse]

[Xie Lian follows along happily enough, up until they reach the shrine. He slows down when he catches sight of it, eyes widening, only continuing to move because Pyra is pulling him along...did she really make this? Is it really for him? It couldn't be, could it?

But he takes in every detail of the building - the familiar sloping roof, the sincere attempt at something like the temple in his memory, the the flowers and vines - and that statue.

He doesn't say anything for a long, long moment, just staring up at that statue. It's been so long since any statues were erected for him...so long since the last shrine was burned to the ground. It's hard to properly describe the feelings that well up inside him as he stands there frozen by the entrance, a hand resting gently against the pillar by his side.]

It's......

[He has to pause, swallow the lump that's suddenly formed in his throat, try again:]

......Thank you. Truly.

[pyrafect]

[ This is exactly the reaction she hoped he would have, even if the shrine isn't anything magnificent like an actual temple or palace that he might have had centuries ago. But she sees the gratefulness in his eyes. ]

....Here. [ She'll take some incense from the selection they had both found within the castle and hand it to him. ] For you.

[ So that he might light it! He should be the first one to do so. Gently, she encourages: ] Go on.

[holycurse]

[He accepts the incense without really thinking about it, staring silently down at the sticks in his hands for a moment before he realizes what he's doing.

There's a quiet laugh and a smile, as he hands it back to her.]

I'd rather you did the honors. It would be rather strange for a god to worship himself.

[The smile on his face is genuine, if somewhat embarrassed.]

Besides, I...I'd be very happy, if you were to do it. [He's already happy beyond belief right now, to be honest.]

For Shen Qingqiu

[pyrafect]

[ Centuries ago there had been countless nights where she had spent walking, fighting, or simply lying beneath the wash of stars above, lying and gazing up at them without the luxury to truly ever be in awe or wonder about them. For back then, she had been her other self, she had been Mythra; and Mythra had neither the time nor patience to appreciate their array across the sky for a number of reasons. The stars symbolized the intangible, the undying, the forgotten and the simultaneously remembered, their tessellations in the sky a tribute to the universe as it once had been billions of years ago, before it was...

Back then, her focus was only upon the earth, still. her direction was upon the war.

That's not the case in Chroma, however. Here, she has time, here she has peace, here she has the privilege to look upon those stars... and watch them with someone who might just as easily enjoy stargazing as well. It also helps that she's obtained a book about the various constellations of this world-- at least, constellations that the people of that thorn-castle might have devised in their time.

This is her first time actually stargazing with anyone for the sole purpose of looking to the stars! Which means she's come prepared with everything needed for it. Like snacks! And drinks! Like a picnic! And even if it might be a cool early spring night to spend outside anywhere else, she's brought blankets! If that's not enough, Pyra herself radiates heat, and so long as he doesn't stray too far away he'll feel that warmth as well. ]

Alright.... [ She draws a quiet breath, excited as she looks at him. ] Are you ready?

[ They've looked over some of the chapters of the constellations, already having determined just which ones might reign in the sky this night. Now all that's left to do is extinguish the fire she's made for them and let those stars actually shine for what they are. ]

[shizun]

[ Ah, how fun.

Excitement buzzes through him about being able to look at the stars. It wasn't something that he had really thought as something to do; his eyes usually set to the troubles going on around him to really remember to look up. A good lesson now that I think about it. It was good that he was even given the chance to remember to look up at all.

Shen Qingqiu has put in a pin in the whole issue of him liking himself. He is aware it is a problem, but decides that he's going to back-burner it for the moment. It's hard to worry about like or dislike of oneself when able to enjoy a nice evening activity with a good friend. ]

I am. [ He holds his hand out towards the flame before turning his wrist over and closing his hand into a fist -- the gesture itself looks like he is attempting to grab mime grabbing the fire. But what he does is snuff the flame out. Cultivation really is the tool's tool for everything!

But sitting in the dark awaiting for his eyes to adjust to the night, feeling warm next to Pyra and realizing it is because of the heat she gives out, it makes him feel like a proper old man enjoying proper old man hobbies. He smiles fondly at nothing, and wonders if he ever took the time to look at the stars in the world he came from, but he supposes not. He has been far too busy with many, many things. Isn't that always the way? ]

You really don't realize how dark it gets until you're really out in it, huh? [ Though, he supposes that he usually surrounds himself in flames to light his way. So he has an excuse? Maybe? ] ... it really is peaceful here.

[pyrafect]

[ Pyra, for her part to extinguish lights, has draped a scarf over her so that it obscures the glow of the crystal upon her chest.

She looks upwards at last, and as her eyes begin to adjust to the darkness and the stars begin emerging in the sky, her lips part as a breathless sigh escapes her. ]

.....Look at them. [ Forget even bothering to find constellations for the moment. Forget trying to name any of the stars and seeing which patterns dominate the sky. Forget any of that-- she's marveling at the myriad of them within the sky. ]

There's probably... only thousands of them, that we can see.

...And even more that we can't. [ Beyond the naked eye. But he might not know that, if he comes from some ~ancient~ times. ]

for wei wuxian

[pyrafect]

[ Quest 48

....Well. Of all the people to appear at her doorstep, she really couldn't be happier. ] Wei Ying?

[ She smiles at him, opening the door for him. She doesn't know if he's just dropping by for a quick chat, or if he actually needs something from her. Either way, she's happy to see him. ] How can I help you?

[ With anything, she wants to add. She wants to help him with anything at all, with everything. But it's best to ask if he needs anything first. ]

[espritdecorpse]

[ When she opens the door she'll see him standing very straight, his face arranged into a warm smile and his eyes bright. He had been standing outside her door for five minutes before actually summoning up the courage to knock. In the meantime, he'd checked his posture, his expression, rehearsed what to say... ]

Ah...

[ But as soon as he sees her radiant face, his mind goes blank and his mouth works without saying anything for a moment, before he finally manages to stammer: ]

I... I was just passing by and I remembered that you said... that I'd asked you and you said... that time that you wouldn't mind if I...

[ His mouth is dry. He feels like an idiot. What a reputation he'd had, back then, for being a ladies' man. What would anyone think, who saw him now. He swallows hard and clutches the scrolls he's brought with him. ]

...if I were to draw you. And... and then I saw that quest about "new experiences," and so I wondered if anyone had drawn you before? So—have you? Or, I mean, has someone? Drawn you, I mean? Or painted you? Something like that.

[pyrafect]

[ If he hasn't noticed by now, Architect help him.

That you wound't mind if I... if I were to draw you...

He's right, he did mention that once. And she did wish he would draw her.... and that isn't a wish she would deny right now, because it was a want made in desperation to regain his color-- or, no, not in desperation, but just in general, because she wishes he would. She wishes he would draw her and be considered to be worthy of being drawn by him.

Can she wish for that? Can she want that? To be immortalized upon paper and have his hand paint her visage upon a canvas that will decorate his walls, that he will remember her by? Even as his is married to someone else, though? No, no, no-- ]

What...? Oh-- oh, no. No, never, ah... [ She stammers at the edge off her doorway before she realizes she hasn't eve invited him in. So with a pause she beckons him forward: come, come, with a wave of her hand; here, she'll make tea in the meantime, the pot is already boiling pine leaves and cinnamon-- strong, aromatic-- as if it had been anticipating him in the first place. ] ....It will be my first time being drawn by another...


By you.

[ She feels flattered, and yet.... shy, somehow. But she wants to be drawn by him. ]

For Akira

[pyrafect]

[ Quest 50. ]

----Okay, I'm ready. [ What is she ready for?

He's holding her. He's holding her in his arms.

And he's going to be tossing her into the lake. That's what she's ready for. ]

[lacrimose]

[If this was anyone but Pyra, he'd say it's a bad idea. It's still winter, the water's cold, and tossing someone into the lake is just mean.

... But this is Pyra, and he's seen her dive into a frozen lake before. She's tougher than most. So as soon as she says she's ready:]

--Okay, enjoy the swim!

[He does a running start and hurls her into the lake, as far as he can manage. YEET.]

[pyrafect]

[ LOOK AT HER GO!!!

This is also a chance to show off a little bit of her acrobatics as well, as she's quite nimble even while flying through the air. She flips, she spins, and then at last she ends in a cannonball into the lake, creating a great big splash.

Since the lake is not completely frozen over, it's actually a lot more refreshing and comfortable.

A moment later she pops back up off of the water, throwing her head back to let a trail of water whip off the ends of her red hair. ] A-ha! [ She cheers, unable to hold back her laugh. ] How was that?!

[ Oh. Oh, he's quite far away from her. Damn, he's got a throwing arm on him! She'll begin swimming back. ]

For Kaoru

[pyrafect]

[ Quest 50. ]

Hm... the quest never specified how many times one should be thrown in for it to count.... But I have no reason to doubt that Mr. F would, um, request a quest and not be honest about it? Still, better safe than sorry.

[ She shifts her weight from one leg to the other. ] I don't mind being tossed in a couple times, if necessary.

[queenofminiskirts]

...let's just make it one time.

If it doesn't work then we blame it on Mr. F.

[That's the plan anyway!]

[pyrafect]

Mm, alright!

[ A nod, and then she turns to look back at the water. The temperature itself won’t bother her but... ]

You don’t know if there are any, ah, fiends in this lake, do you? [ Pyra is certain that she might be able to handle herself but she’s just asking just in case! ]

For Nero and Tristan

[pyrafect]

[ Quest 48.

[ Nero's place, late evening: it's time for a lesson in high art.... involving both wine and certain special guest acting as a model for them. Not knowing how much Nero might have in her personal stores, Pyra herself has brought some saké from her ramen shop, and is currently pouring some for the both of them as well as their model.

That model is none other than Tristan, who the both of them somehow managed to convince to pose for their exercise in art. But as to how he should pose for them... that's an entirely difficult question. ]

Maybe... with one arm up? [ Pyra suggests, offering one cup to Nero and the other to Tristan, trying to be helpful. ] Or-- with his sword? Or maybe.... something more traditional? [ Hm.

Her gazes travels beyond the both of them to the various portraits upon the walls. Judging from how Nero is depicted within them (which she assumes is part of her tradition)...

Or nude, she almost suggests, but thankfully she stops herself there. She's not going to be the one to suggest it! She just can't! So she'll end her sentence trailing-off with a sip of her wine. ]

[neronian]

[ If Pyra's not going to suggest it, Nero will. What does everyone have against the classics?! The naked human form is nothing to be ashamed of!! Why, she lets everyone see her own beautiful form via the see-through portion of her skirt!

Nero takes the cup of sake and sips, thankfully not downing it all in one go. Alcohol like this is scarce here, so even she with all her hedonistic tendencies will have to go easy on it. A bit. ]

There is nothing wrong with the classics! Yes, when you suffer from an art block, there is no shame in going back to the basics. What say you to baring your body?

[ Addressing Tristan with absolutely zero shame or embarrassment. ]

[noholdsbard]

[ Alcohol at Nero’s home is ever a terrifying prospect, but Tristan’s committed now. You’d think he’d learn after making a fool of himself here the last time, but well…with the way Pyra’s been offering the drinks so sweetly…

He’d been downing the contents of his own cup as the girls talk among themselves—at least up until Nero’s suggestion finally registers, whereupon Tristan quickly splutters. ]

My…body? [ His face is flushed—and not entirely because of the alcohol, nor even because of all the artwork still lying about the house. What’s worse, he’s still under all that armor, which must surely be quite difficult to draw in and of itself. ]

I… [ Vainly trying to cling to sobriety—but it’s too late. His tolerance for this stuff is terrible, more so given his vulnerability to poison. A pleasant buzz warms his thoughts as he casts his glance from one girl to the other—both women he loves so very dearly and would hate to disappoint—and he considers… ]

How much of my armor must be stripped away?

for Ryo

[pyrafect]

[ Quest 48.]

[ She recognizes it as a gun, all right, but it's different from the ones she's seen soldiers use in her world. ]

You.... want me to shoot something with it?

[ She's glad she's able to spend more time with Ryo, but this is---! Actually...

She's actually really touched that he would be teaching her something like this! As well as letting her use a weapon of his own! ] ...It's really sweet of you to offer this lesson, Ryo. Thank you.

[apocalypticist]

[ Of course he wants you to shoot something with it, Pyra. He's even prepared for it by setting up some wooden targets for her to aim at; they're crudely made, but they'll get the job done. Here's hoping she can hit them. ]

Don't mention it. [ He says, leading the way to the spot where the targets are. He doesn't offer the weapon right away once they get there, instead moving a hand to indicate where the safety switch is. ]

This is the safety catch; it's a mechanism that helps prevent accidental discharges. Flick it off when you're ready to fire and don't forget to flick it back on when your shots are expended.

[ Gun safety is important, okay. ]

Always keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to shoot.

[pyrafect]

[ A safety switch, got it.

And then when they at last reach the area where he set up the wooden targets, she looks towards them. ] Alright, I think I got it...

[ There's some part of her buried within her memories that already knows how to do this-- to take aim, to fire-- but to Pyra this is completely new. She lifts weapon up, pointing its aim at the target and steadying her hold. She flips the safety, and then--

Bam.

The shot echoes in the relative stillness of Chroma, and a flock of birds fly out from their perches nearby. As for the target... she struck it, but just barely by chipping a piece of the wood off of its side. ] Ah--....

Well, that's not too bad for a first try, is it?

for choubee

[pyrafect]

[ Quest 49. ]

[ Suddenly she's taller. Suddenly she feels--- feels like.... feels like she's lost half of her vision. And suddenly, she's a man. ] Wh-- ah!

[ Her hand immediately travels to her chest, looking down only to find that there is no crystal there set upon it, either. Not good, she thinks to herself, and what's worse is that she cannot feel her there. Mythra. Rushing over to a puddle of water she catches her reflection within it, and a gasp immediately escapes her. ] Ch--choubee? [ Her hands travel up her own-- his?-- face feeling the jawline and cheekbones and the slight, rougher patches of scar tissue.

She has so many questions... but honestly? After being an inanimate crystal for so many eons, it's nice to have any body at all. She could have appeared male when she first awakes as far as she knows, so suddenly becoming a man doesn't make her as awkward as it might normally be for anyone else. Uncomfortable, yes, to the effect that she would much prefer her own normal body, but she's not exactly flailing. First thing is first, however. She needs to find.... herself? Choubee-as-herself? Yeah, gonna go do that now. This is probably the result of that body swapping quest, and who knows, maybe it was some subconscious thought on her part to try fulfilling it with someone and then he came to mind; whatever, details.

Good thing he's just around the corner. ] ....Hey, wait! Over here-- [ She's running towards him, but... oops no depth perception. She's going to be tripping over herself. ]

[flinty]

[ It's brief contact, almost hardly anything he registers at all, and perhaps it's because he's busy thinking of other arrangements that he doesn't realize that there's an obvious change. Not just in the step he takes, but the weight of his body, the sudden warmth that spreads through every nerve, and the fact that he blinks and manages to see the whole world, not just half of it.

He looks at his hands; slender fingers without a single hint of calluses, almost as if they were never forced to work a day in his life.

He's flabbergasted, mouth feeling dry as he examines the rest of what he can see of this body and quickly understands who is the proper owner of it -- but that doesn't stop the initial shock, leading to him touching his legs, the dip between his hip and waist, and then finally his... her(?) chest.

Yeah his hands are just kinda sitting there when he turns to face her. ]

Py -- ... ? [ And that's not his voice. ] Oh shit, [ He drops both hands, reaching out for her. ] hey, you okay?

[ sorry for already cussing in your body queen ]

Already roughin' my body up some? We're not even ten seconds into this.

[pyrafect]

[ ....He's probably just amazed at how his own body switched into hers, that's why he's feeling her (himself??) up

She catches his hand before she can actually fall, whipping up her head and blinking twice at him in both surprise and relief. She's found him-- that's... that's probably step one to reversing this enchantment. (Or, as she's beginning to suspect, it might just be a matter of time that they switch back. ]

Oh-- sorry, sorry. I'm sorry. [ She repeats again, sighing as she straightens out. ] It's just

[ Mythra must still be with him.





It feels so strange not to be connected to her or that crystal.....



Yep, as she peers at the crystal it's going to seem as if Pyra pointedly looking at Choubee's chest.... before her eye snap back up to his face.

The first thing she says to him is this: ] Are you... okay?