action | open to Kojuro, Sasuke, Zero and other spectators (if any)

[nopast]

[ It’s nearing sundown. Ceci is standing in front of her farmhouse, her hair even redder under the light of the late afternoon sun. Her battle outfit of choice is a sports bra and a pair of stretchy yoga pants — because why not? She needs to be able to move freely and quickly, given that she’s not the strongest of fighters.

More interesting, though, is the patchwork of tattoos on her back, which run from one shoulder blade to another. They’re healing and protection runes, and they allow her to cast a variety of defensive spells, although she has no intention of using them in the upcoming sparring match.

She’s done absolutely no work on her farm since her arrival (other than to celebrate her acquisition of it through a night of drinking) so it’s all weeds and overgrown vines and rocks, except for a small clearing by the front of the farmhouse. But, eh, she’s warned her new samurai friend, so he shouldn’t be too surprised. Even with the monsters that come out at night around these parts. ]

Comments

[lycannerd]

[Ryder feels a little annoyed at the ninja's remark. Sure, she may look shy, but he feels her more than a shrinking violet.]

So don't worry about it. For now, we should watch them spar. Besides, we might learn something from it.

[innoxious]

[ Oh, right! She hasn’t told anyone else yet. She looks up at the ninja. ] I was, Mr. Sasuke. But I made a friend — his name is Silas — and he was kind enough to heal me. I’m surprised that he did, since we’d only just met then.

I still forget sometimes, though. [ She giggles, thinking of the times she automatically signed instead of just saying something. ] It’s been years since I could talk. Around five now, I think.

[ She turns back to Ryder when he speaks, smiling warmly at him. She appreciates his assurance not to worry. ] You’re right. There’s always something to learn from these things. I used to watch my friends spar all the time...

[ Oops, she’s unintentionally opened a can of worms. Her friends... okay, she’s not going to think about them. So she diverts her attention back to the sparring match — and notices something for the first time. That one of the warriors was a woman with red hair who looked awfully familiar. She blinks. ]

[lycannerd]

[Ryder smiled in return. At least she understands about spars. However, he notices that she averts her eyes as soon she said something about her friends. Not only that, he also notices that she is blinking when she watches the match.

He would have tried to ask her about it. That is until he heard a man's shout, which is enough for his ears to transform into wolf ears as he gasps in shock.]

[gatescostmoney]

[ So her muteness was due to some kind of injury rather than something she was born with. Sasuke tucks away the name Silas. ]

Well, good for you. You'll find a lot of people are willing to do things like that here when nothing's at stake.

[ Listen to him. He sounded more like Kojuro there, and Sasuke isn't sure if he likes that or not. They're on the opposite sides of a war. He can't let himself get too comfortable. And there's one easy way to make him not think about back home. ]

Hey, Master Katakura! Knock it off with the headbutts already! Why do you always do that?

[ And the yelling is causing Ryder to grow ears. That's unusual. Speaking of unusual, Sasuke looks between Fia and Ceci. ]

... You're just full of surprises, aren't you?

[lycannerd]

[He would have obliviously ignored what happened. However, the strange twitching above his head made him realized what happened and covered his now wolf ears as he blushes.]

I... I can explain...

[At least his hair didn't turn into silver this time.]

[innoxious]

[ More of a magical plague, which is something that'll be easier for Fia to explain now that she's able to talk again. She gives Sasuke's words some thought, though. People are more willing to help when nothing's at stake... guess that’s why they’re having trouble with their war effort, because everything was at stake.

But the trio gets sidetracked by the yelling — it's loud. And it's loud enough to cause Ryder to grow wolf’s ears. Fia’s eyes widen slightly in surprise, but it’s not an alarmed or appalled look. ]

Hey, it’s okay. [ She smiles reassuringly, reaching out to gently touch Ryder’s arm. ] Um, sorry, I almost forgot. I’m Fia, by the way. Mr. Sasuke and I were acquainted previously, during the festival.

[ She glances back up at Sasuke, in time to catch him look from her to Ceci, and to hear his comment about surprises. She blinks, and it takes a moment for her to realize that he’s talking to her. ] Surprises? What do you mean, Mr. Sasuke?

[lycannerd]

[Ryder sighs in relief as he puts down his arms and let his ears turned back to normal.]

I'm Ryder Clayton. I'm a werewolf Spirit from Anima. Although, I was once a human living in Solum.

[gatescostmoney]

[ A werewolf spirit? He can believe it. It's less strange than what he's heard at home, and honestly, it'll probably give him a headache if he tries to think too hard about it. He's already been sent to the future. What's one more new thing?

He should probably give Ryder his name a little more formally too. ]

As you already heard, I'm Sasuke Sarutobi from the forces of the Takeda.

And what I meant about surprises is that.

[ He points to Ceci. ]

Looks like you have a sister or the universe is playing one hell of a joke on you.

[lycannerd]

[Confused at what he means, he looks to where Sasuke is pointing until he notices what he meant.]

Oh, I see what you mean. You look like that woman in the spar right now.

sooo do you guys wanna fight some monsters >:3

[innoxious]

[ Fia frowns a little at Ryder’s introduction, not quite following. Humanoids are plentiful in her world. But a human turned into a spirit? She’s never heard anything like that before.

Then Sasuke introduces himself formally, too, and she realizes that she hasn’t. ] Oh! My bad, I should’ve been more precise with my introduction. Fiammetta Nox, from the Kingdom of Airyglyph. I’m with the reconnaisance division of the Storm Brigade.

[ Also technically a princess, being the queen’s sister and all. And the General’s daughter. And a member of the rebels’ elite force. But she doesn’t say any of that. Mostly because she doesn’t want to, but also because her attention’s drawn to the sparring figures when both Sasuke and Ryder point out her resemblance to one of them.

She frowns again, deeper this time. She hadn’t really noticed earlier, because the pair had been moving rather fast, trading blows. But now that they’re grappling, she’s able to see the woman’s face more clearly.

She blinks. ] Apris— [ She actually stands and moves forward to take a closer look; then her expression shifts from one of recognition to plain confusion. ] No, not my sister. She... she looks like my mother.

Did any of you catch her name?

Does Sasuke want a raise? (The answer is yes)

[gatescostmoney]

[ And technically Sasuke is not just a ninja but the leader of the Sanada Ten Brave and second in command of the entire Takeda Army. But, who needs all those titles right now? ]

I caught her say Cecilia Fermina, Duchess of Airyglyph.

[ Airyglyph, well, that's confirming that they're probably from the same place at least. ]

they will be out in a moment, fia just needs to WTF over her mom lol

[innoxious]

[ Well. There’s no doubt about it now. Fia sits back down on the rock beside Ryder, momentarily dumbfolded. She’s known she and Nero would be traveling back in time, sort of. But not this far. Introducing herself as Fermina means Ceci still hasn’t married, but claiming to be a duchess? She’s got to be betrothed to Duke Nox, at the very least.

She lets out a breath, then chuckles with a small shake of her head. ] Yeah, that’s her name. Before she married my father. But they’re probably engaged by now.

... This is so weird.

Ryder says yes!

[lycannerd]

[Well, he's not really a spirit per say. But considering that he has magical abilities than any usual werewolves, he may take her word about his strange bloodline.]

Weird how?

Woo! Fight times for the spectator crowd

[gatescostmoney]

So... that's a younger version of your mom there.

[ He looks at the two of them again and gives a sigh. What else is there really to say about how strange the whole situation is for Fia? Sasuke's just glad he doesn't have to deal with anything like that. Yet? ]

I stand by what I said. The universe is playing one hell of a joke on you.

[lycannerd]

Oh, I see...

[He was calm about it at first. That is until he realizes what Sasuke meant as his eyes widen in shock, causing his wolf ears to pop out once more.]

Wait a minute?! So that young woman is your Fia's mom?!

SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HER SON FROM THE FUTURE IS HERE AND IS BEING MOTHERED BY KOJURO

[innoxious]

[ Fia laughs, a little louder now. She's still weirded out, but at least she's starting to accept it. Hard not to when it's staring at you right in the face, eh? ] Yes. That woman in the spar right there, young as she might be, is my mother. [ Apris, it still sounds so ridiculous, saying it out loud. ] Or will be my mother. Unless this world derails the flow of things and there'll be a timeline in which Cecilia Fermina does not end up with Albel Nox.

[ That statement actually makes her pause. Should she even let her mother know she's in the valley, too? What's that going to change? Will that endanger her existence? Gods, Ceci's always had a thing for strong men, too. What if she falls for one of the warriors here?

Fortunately — or not so fortunately? — Fia's prevented from hurting herself with a headache by a rustling noise from somewhere behind them. She's on her feet in no time, out of reflex more than anything, spinning to face whatever's come to join them. ]

Looks like we have company.

[lycannerd]

[Well, this is going to be confusing. Sure, he is aware of the time travel concept, but just seeing her mother when she was young can be a headache for the poor young boy.

Thankfully, that subject is quickly skipped when Fia mentions someone is coming. Fearing someone will attack them, he slowly let his fingernails turn into black claws as he assumes his defensive position.]

[gatescostmoney]

[ All joking and teasing manner disappears when Sasuke senses someone or something unexpected approach. His fuuma shuriken appear in his hands with a flick of his wrists, summoned from who knows where. A large crow swoops down from on high and perches himself in a tree. His red eyes look in the same direction as Sasuke. ]

We know you're there, so why don't we skip the suspense and move onto you showing yourself already?

[ That's the only warning the intruder will get if they don't announce themselves. ]

[righteyed]

[SWEAR TO GOD HE'LL COME OVER THERE IF HE HAS TO HE'S TRYING TO FIGHT HERE]

[gatescostmoney]

[ BRING IT HE'S NOT AFRAID OF HARASSING HIM ]

[righteyed]

[JUST

POINTS TO HIS EYES THEN AT SASUKE

HE WILL DEAL WITH YOU LATER SARUTOBI]

[gatescostmoney]

[ BRAWL AT THE MOM FARM

TENKO KAMEN IS THE TOTALLY UNBIASED REF ]

[righteyed]

[NO! NO TENKO KAMEN AND TENGU KAMEN ARE NOT COMING HERE DON'T MAKE HIM FIGHT THEM TOO HE'S TOO OLD FOR THIS SHIT

WINNER IS LAST MAN STANDING WHO NEEDS A REF COWARD]

[gatescostmoney]

[ HE HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF NUMBERS HE'S GOING TO USE THEM SO GET USED TO IT OLD MAN

NINJA TRIBE! ]

[righteyed]

[HE HAS FOUR LIMBS AND ONE HEAD AND ALL ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS, TRY HIM YOU CLOWN]