capeandcowllogs | Where your eyes don't go a part of you is hovering

Where your eyes don't go a part of you is hovering

WHO: Everyone who's signed up for the Shadow Märchen plot and the people who get involved with them.
WHERE: All over the City.
WHEN: February 1st through February 9th. Specify the dates when you tag in.
WARNINGS: Probably a lot, since this is a festival of dark sides.
SUMMARY: The City plays host to a twisted theater of the mind as numerous imPorts become darkened, monstrous versions of themselves.
FORMAT: To be chosen by the thread-starters.

The start of a new month shouldn't mean anything special for the City--but this time, it does. Even if it's only because of an accident.

The pull of despair within each victim might come from nowhere, or it might seem like the most natural extension in the world of their current circumstances. However it manifests, the results come quickly: one living shadow all too eager to broadcast its nature far and wide, attached to a monstrous witch that warps the world around it in order to feel at home.

Where once there was an ordinary building, there now might lurk the entrance to a distorted dimension controlled by one of those witches. Where once there was a friend, there's probably now a monster. Can't find the friend that's become this monster? Don't worry too much about missing the chance--the familiars of their witch roam the streets looking for those who can be dragged into the labyrinth.

But take heart: what's within is still the same familiar person...in its own way.

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It happens without the witch even considering it. The birds and dogs retreat, though the occasional growl and screech accompanies them. She stares at Sanji for a few more moments. Her eyes remain blue for longer than before. Stop it. The witch doesn't know if it's a thought from the girl or not.

Sanji blinked. It was like in Venezuela, he was sure it was her. "You want me to stop? What...stop fighting?"

As long as there wasn't anything attacking him, it wasn't a difficult order to obey. He smiled gently. "You know I can't say no to you, Miss Nill. As long as you're safe..."

But she's not safe. None of this is okay. This is wrong. So what if she's had some trouble in her past? Everybody did. It was no reason for this sort of behavior. The eyes are stuck on blue no, and the talons loosen their grip on him. Sorry. Tears are welling up, but either Nill or the witch holds them back from falling.

Sanji's one true weakness, a lady's tears. He reached for her, ignoring the talons and pinions and brushing her cheek gently with his fingers. "Come now, it's all right. I'm not going anywhere. A gentleman forgives a lady, especially when she asks him to."

He glanced around, mostly just to be sure he wasn't going to be attacked from behind, and then breathed a sigh. "I don't know what any of this is, but it doesn't really matter. I don't care. So if it's important to you...well, you can tell me or not, either way. It won't change the fact that I'm your friend, Miss Nill. Promise. Pirate's promise."

As he speaks, her body slumps. The birds and dogs retreat, slowly, disappearing into the gloom of the makeshift city. Talons shrink back to hands, wings start to grow smaller with each passing breath until they're normal for her, white-feathered, tiny.

The city slowly shrinks as well, becoming the church once again. And she's just Nill, exhausted and uncertain, dazed.

For once, Sanji actually didn't even think of trying to cop a feel. He caught her as she drooped, hugging her very gently against his chest. Clearly, the evolution in their surroundings meant she had something to do with all of it, but it wasn't something to judge her over. And he truly did forgive the attacks. After all, Nill never showed this kind of power before. Something had to have been acting on her, something related to everyone else behaving oddly on the network.

Sanji held still, only glancing around to make sure no one else was intruding on the strange moment. "It's all right," he said soothingly. "I've got you, Miss Nill. You're all right."

She can't think, for a few moments. It's hard to think about what had just happened. She'd almost hurt Sanji, who had been nothing but kind to her since they'd first met. The thought of hurting him made her stomach twist now. She isn't sure what had just happened, but she knows she doesn't ever want it to happen again.

Sorry. The word is faint, but she manages to convey it anyway. She's never had to concentrate on her power so hard. Sorry.

"Shhh...it's okay." Sanji did his best to find a safe place to rest his hands while he hugged her to his chest, around the wings and nowhere that would get him slapped. At least this time he was certain he heard her inner voice, and it felt good. Like she trusted him enough to let him hear. "I only wanted to make sure you were all right. It's a good thing I looked in on you, hmmm?"

Poor Nill, always getting caught up in things beyond anyone's control. It was enough to make a gentleman angry at whoever's power caused it this time. It didn't look like anything Nill herself was capable of - warping space into a labyrinth, transforming into a half-monster? That was definitely new and different. At least it seemed to be over now.

She nods a bit, and tries to stand. Her legs are shaky, but she manages to stay upright on her own. She runs a hand through her hair, trying to smile at him. Nill knows she's lucky to have friends like him--friends who will risk their safety to make sure people are alright. She places her hand on his arm again, trying not to look as woozy as she feels. Thank you. I do not know what happened. I was fine one minute and the next...

"Hmm." Sanji frowned a bit, and offered her his arm to help keep her steady while he dug into his coat pocket for another cigarette. To chew on, if nothing else. "Well. Considering a lot of people have been acting strange lately, it can hardly be your fault."

He looked around for any traces of any dogs or birds that might have needed chasing off - or looking after. "Would you like me to escort you somewhere safe? Or maybe get you something to eat - I know a good meal always picks me up after a fight."

She wouldn't mind if he smoked--really, it might be comforting. Badou smoked, after all. It might be comforting. But really, anything that isn't related to the past few hours of her life would be comforting. The extra support is definitely appreciated, at least.

The blonde shakes her head, and takes a few deep breaths. I do not think I could eat anything. I think I... just want to lay down.

Sanji nodded slowly. "I can imagine. I can escort you somewhere safe and warm to do that, if you want." He brightened, then, with a small smirk. "I can fly, you know. I can whisk you away to someone's house or the MAC if you'd like."

Okay, so, calling his Sky Walk "flying" was more than a bit of a stretch, but it was almost faster than running on the ground sometimes. If he used it to get up to the top of the buildings, he could run across them much more quickly than the crowded city streets. He had only ever tried it carrying Callie, though, so there might still be some kinks to work out.

She... hadn't known he could fly, but suddenly that seems a better idea than walking. She isn't completely sure if it'll be safe, but there is the apartment she's been assigned at the MAC. Though she's only stayed there a few times, Nill keeps some spare clothes and food there. A small nod, more to herself than to him, is her answer.

I have an apartment. She didn't want to stay in the church right now, even if her possessions are there. She wants to get away from this place, even if it's only for a little while.

That was all he needed to hear. Sanji nodded and then scooped her up gently in his arms, in order to carry her to the door and have a look at his potential path. The straightest route to the MAC was definitely going to be over the rooftops. He gave Nill a bit of a grin. "All right, hold on tightly. I haven't done this with someone else very often, but I'll make sure nothing happens to you. Okay?"

He gathered himself and kicked off from the ground, using the technique he had taught himself in order to kick the air and appear to walk in the sky. A few short steps upward carried them to the nearest flat rooftop, and then Sanji took off running. Any time they reached a gap that was too large to jump, he kicked off again and cleared it with a few Sky Walk steps. In no time at all they had reached the roof of the MAC building, where it was safe to let her down. He had lived there long enough to know how easy it was to slip down into the building from there - the days when he used to sit up there to smoke and try to see the harbor from a distance were long gone, though.

She plants one hand firmly on his shoulder to help her keep her balance. A nod is all the answer she gives to his advice. She's flown before, with John, but something tells her that this is going to be entirely different.

At least she manages to keep her eyes open for the trip. He isn't going as fast as John, nor as fast as Davesprite when he--what was it? Flashstepped. It would have been pleasant, she thinks, if she hadn't felt so nauseous.

But the relatively short trip is managed without any mishaps, something for which she's entirely thankful. What a nice thanks it would have been to get sick or something on him. On the MAC's rooftop she feels better, and with a quiet use of her powers she tells him the number of her apartment.

Sanji kept one arm just barely around her as he escorted her down into the building and down a few floors to the apartment number Nill gave him. It didn't take a genius to figure out that his ability to hear her now had to do with her touching him, but he still didn't want to do anything too forward (lest Callie hear about it and rip his favorite parts off). Still, he felt a twinge of personal pride that he was allowed to be treated to Nill's inner voice, at last. "Here we are," he said as he delivered her to the door. "No further trouble, that's always good. Will you be all right, here, for a little while? At least, until whatever's causing this this time wears off or passes. I can come check on you later, too - after I make sure Callie is okay."

If Nill had known his feelings about "hearing" her, she might have done it much sooner. As things stand, she still prefers nonverbal communication, if she can help it. Some days her power is just too strange to use--and it isn't as if she employs it in her day-to-day activities. The woman who worked behind the counter at her favorite deli was nice and knew her, but she might not be so open to Nill's power as her friends were.

The blonde rubs at her temple for a moment, and then nods. She'll be alright, now that she has a place to lie down. A nap is in order, she thinks. Maybe something to eat later. Nill reaches out for his cheek, touching gently. Thank you. She tries to smile a little.

Even such a small gesture from such a cute girl was likely to make Sanji break out in wiggles and squee. He beamed widely and nearly melted at her touch. "No, no, don't worry about it. It's no problem at all," he assured, unable to stop grinning. "Anything for my dear damsel. I'll check in later. Take care, now, all right?"

He managed to regain his composure enough to straighten up and adjust his tie, and then reached to give her hair a little playful ruffle before turning to leave. Only then did he finally light the cigarette he had held between his teeth the whole way back, letting the smoke drift behind him as he indulged in the satisfaction of a job well done. Now, to his new apartment and his other favorite lady...

Sanji has always been strange like that, she thinks. But it's flattering, and not at all frightening like it might have been when she'd first arrived. The blonde nods, dropping her hand to grip at the elbow opposite. It's a nervous habit she's never managed to break, but she doesn't even notice that she's doing it now.

She watches him go for a few moments before going into the apartment. It's sparsely furnished, but there are plenty of blankets on the bed--all of which she heaps upon herself, not even bothering to put on pajamas. A good nap is all she needs. Then she can figure out what all this had been about.

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Where your eyes don't go a part of you is hovering

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