crowspace | For coldestsmile.

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For coldestsmile.

Koriko had, in truth, not been that bad.

Waking up from Koriko to find herself back in Mogeko Castle, that had been bad. Having to fight her way through Mogeko Castle a, what, third time? That had been aggravating. And throwing herself through the portal on the top floor, to find herself in a world of constant war between angels and demons-

Well, at least she already knew somebody there. Sherbet recognized her, and that meant she was sticking close to him for as long as he didn't get sick of her. So far he hadn't dumped her out in the cold (heh).

It's not that she couldn't defend herself... it's just that she wasn't going to be going up against a demon and winning anytime soon, as much as she trained. At least she wasn't sitting around doing nothing.

As harsh of a world as this was, it wasn't the castle, and that counted for something.

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"I can walk, you don't have to go through the effort. I must be heav... uh... I don't want to trouble you."

No girl wants to call themselves heavy even in this context.

He shrugs! He doesn't think she's particularly heavy, but he did get his wings a liiiittle singed back there...

"All right, then. Here's what we're going to do: run until we find somewhere safe to stop, and then you're going to rest."

Simple enough. He trusts she can do that much. He really hopes she wore reasonable shoes.

She definitely wore reasonable shoes, or she'd probably be dead already.

Yonaka nods. Running is something she's good at. On your mark, get set...

And she's off like the hounds of hell are behind her, which, to be fair, they probably are.

... Finally, some kind of point they can stop at. It's an awful lot of running, and ducking around things, and him subverting attention, but they're getting close!! Definitely. A very small forest--the first sign of something the fighting hasn't completely obliterated, yet. Most of it's heavily scorched, though. What was once probably beautiful now fairly maimed, but easy enough to get some cover in, to make it harder to be snuck up on.

... When he's sure they can stop for a breather, he'll. Conjure her a cup of ice and melt some water in it for her. This is a little tiring to him, but it must be exhausting for a human...

"... These woods... used to be... filled with apples."

Obviously, they're not anymore. Most of the greenery is dead.

She takes several sips of water before she's able to answer. That was a long run even for her...

"How long has the fighting been going on?"

... He doesn't expect her to answer instantly, anyway. At least they can rest here. He has to think about her question to him, in turn. He's not even really sure.

"... Maybe... before I was even created? I... don't... really know. How long. I remember some of what it used to look like--I remember... when I was created, pretty clearly. And I remember... these woods, before it escalated, but..."

It's probably the most personal thing he's ever said--because he really, honestly has to think about it. Does he ever remember a world of peace...? ... No. He... doesn't... so he doesn't know. How long.

"A hundred years, maybe? ... No, it seems both longer and shorter than that..." Annnnd he's lost in thought, trying to figure out an exact. No matter how much he calculates, the only person he thinks who knows that answer...

"... The head angel would know. Maybe My Lord." He finally admits. He has... no clue.

She nods. It must be hard, not even knowing what a peaceful world was like. She doesn't pity him, he'd hate that, but she empathizes.

She reaches out with the hand not holding her cup to take his hand, lightly, not for any reason but to show her sympathy.

He waves his free hand flippantly, but doesn't remove hers or anything.

"Well, I wouldn't have a purpose if there wasn't still fighting, so my being around would be kind of pointless. Can't have someone heal people if they're not injured."

Or something like that.

"I am sorry, though. For what it's worth. You weren't supposed to get hurt, period."

He kinda failed his job. Guess that's why he's not a leader, just kind of does his own thing.

"That's okay," she answers gently. "It's a war zone. People get hurt, it happens."

She's alive, he's alive, that's the important thing.

... She's a tough one, this human. He kind of admires it.

"Right, well. Let me know when you want to go, all right? We shouldn't... have too much longer to go." In about fifteen good minutes of walking, he suspects, the castle should be looming in the distance.

It's... big. A big landmark.

Yonaka'd appreciate the compliment.

She takes another minute or so to catch her breath and finish her cup of water before letting go of him. "Let's get going."

Comments are reserved for when they are both safe, unfortunately. Then lots of those.

He'll stand, brushing off his coat. He'll melt the cup, perhaps as penance to these poor trees, and then weave his way back out of the outcropping of forest with her. It's a real shame. He remembers Ciel used to like picking apples here, at one point. They did they together on a few occasions. A shame that had to stop. He can't help glancing back at it, but otherwise continues on his way afterwards.

... He hadn't stopped to think about it for some time. Maybe they really were screwing things up, but this was their job, so what could he do about it?

Once they're over a nearby hill, the castle's impressive, towering silhouette can be seen. It's beginning to get dark, but it's all white and grey and diamonds. It's quite a sight, even from a distance.

"Home sweet home, or however that phrase goes."

"It's pretty."

As castles go, it's a lot better than Mogeko Castle's ugly dome.

"Do I get souvenirs from here?"

He considers it a moment. Souvenirs... sure, why not.

"Sure, I can probably filch a diamond or something," he says, half serious, but also half joking. "The trek in shouldn't be as bad."

... He hopes. Gate security tended to be pretty rough, but once they see it's him they'll probably let him through. He'll just beat the shit out of anyone that bothers Yonaka. Easy! It is, admittedly, nice to be back on somewhat properly-laid stone pathways and the like. He missed that.

"Well I hope not, it's your home after all."

Who would beat up people on their own side?

...Actually don't answer that question. Yonaka decides not to worry about it and keeps on walking.

Well, HE wouldn't get carted off to interrogation rooms. Yonaka might. She lacks wings, is entirely foreign, and at present smells a lot like demon blood. Which is why, a little before the gigantic, several set of gates going in, he looks at her, and sighs.

"... You're going to have to get soaked." Teehee. He needs to get her wet to clean off all that blood--OKAY STOP BEING AMUSED BY YOUR OWN JOKE, Sherbet.

"I'll, uh, get you some fresh clothes or something later."

At least he's warning her?

...Well, she does still have a bunch of blood on her. She can understand why she might need to clean up. And look semi-presentable.

Doesn't mean this will be fun though.

"Yeah, okay. You'd better."

He is sorry about the cold water. But it might be kind of nice after all the heat, at least? Gotta try and make you presentable, at least a little. He doesn't have many powers beyond that, unfortunately, so all he can really do is offer her that poor scarf of his again (RIP snowflake), for a cloth. At least he's smart enough not to soak her shoes or anything.

Squishy shoes are literally the worst. .... He can't help chuckling, though. Maybe one of the girls might have clothes in her size. Ciel, maybe, might be willing to land a hand; she was always one of the kindest.

"... You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd almost think you looked the opposite of threatening now."

This is his backwards way of paying you a compliment.

"I don't think I looked threatening to you even before I looked like a drowned rat."

She takes his scarf and wipes her face and hair off first before trying to dry herself off as best she can, with only partial success.

... His smile might be slightly more sinister.

"The smartest person knows better than to judge based on looks alone."

But he'll drop it at that and saunter onwards once he's sure she can deal with it. They're... met by a lot of gates and angels guarding said gates. They do stop them briefly, but Sherbet smiles and waves it off before he can be questioned too much and tugs Yonaka inside, DARING them to do anything to him. Smartly enough, they decide they like living.

The inside of the castle is INCREDIBLY white. With a lot of greys. And a lot of diamonds. Angels running about this way and that, whole wings dedicated to the tending of injuries on some of the ones slower to heal, and a room with just some Mogekos in it hawking supplies. Next to it, an actual proper supply room...

There is a gigantic room with two double doors that are presently closed, one black, one grey; from the sounds of it, though, someone is in some kind of meeting with some others, probably a strategy one. Eventually he'll guide her off to the side to a room filled with something akin to lockers with various clothing and names on them. There's also boxes of clothing on the floor; mostly uniform pieces, from the looks of it.

"Let me see... what do we have in here? ... Oh! Yeah, Shorty might have something more your speed." And then he's digging through a box labeled "Alela Grora", like the unrespecting jerk he is. Hey, she's not using it! And if Grora's stuff didn't fit, Ciel's probably would, he thinks...

Wow, this place gives 'monochrome' a whole new meaning. Yonaka keeps quiet, trying not to attract too much attention when she's inside.

Alela Grora's clothes are a pretty good fit - they're both relatively flat in the chest, which Yonaka definitely doesn't comment on. A lot more greys than she normally wears, but beggars can't be choosers.

"These look like they'll fit." Yonaka picks out a complete uniform, and then looks at him. "Uh..."

'Please don't make me change in front of you, Sherbet, or I'll find it really hard not to punch you in the nose.'

He gets it, he gets it. He doesn't fancy being stabbed in the gut, even if he can heal it. He IS kind of amused, though, the idea of Grora's clothes actually fitting someone else...

"There's a free room nearby to change in, if you need it."

Most of the angels didn't care, so they tended to change in here, but... well, you know how it is.

"To the left," he adds, before glancing outside. "I need to go talk to some people."

She can change in peace, he has to go report what happened. Like, all of it.

That's more like it. "Thank you."

And she's off to go change in peace and privacy, without being peeked on. He can report to his superiors without having her around to make things more difficult.

Report is a little closer to 'getting lambasted by the head angel for randomly picking up people unrelated to their problems', but whatever, he can deal with it. It's not like Wodahs is gonna ground him or some shit. He doesn't do that. Because he's their best healer. The minor attacks that he caused have made them need to refigure some plans, but for the most part, it's at least provided an opportunity of some kind to lure the enemy away, expecting another assault.

He isn't sure how long he's in there getting lectured and then discussing strategies, but by the time he's out, he's almost certain Yonaka has been long-changed, unless she had issues with a zipper for half an hour or something.

"... Uh, hey."

How does he say that he's not exactly sure the best way to get her home, mostly because they're focused more on fighting and trying to hop worlds is a huge resource and time hog...? Easy: he doesn't, unless she asks.

Yonaka's definitely changed, and appreciating dry, clean clothes more than she has in living memory. She's leaning against a wall, just resting, when he comes back.

"Hi." A pause. "How'd it go?"

For coldestsmile.

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