Judith (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
moonstriking) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crescentview2023-02-18 04:23 pm
moonstriking) wrote in crescentview2023-02-18 04:23 pm
FEBRUARY CATCH ALL
Who: Judith and everyone and anyone?
When: All throughout February
What: February catch all - starters and all
Warnings: Potentially some NSFW stuff eventually?
i. a young space whale the size of a cow appears
[Along the beach, you may hear a loud cry and a dark shape flying in an odd pattern in the sky. It descends rapidly, with a smaller figure leaping off it, followed by a loud cloud of sand flying in the air in the far distance, clouding everything up. If you manage to catch up, you may find Judith petting a large whale-like dragon creature, who is half buried in a mountain of sand. Oddly enough for Judith, she looks a bit concerned for once, and her worry visibly shows on her face]
It doesn't seem like you're big enough to navigate those kinds of winds anymore, Ba'ul.
[Ba'ul gives a sad wine.
Approach with kindness? Or approach with fighting intent, and Judith WILL fight you]
ii. You cyant do that. nyan you can.
[ When Judith wakes up being unable to stop talking without a 'nyan' attached to everything she says, she decides to take it to its logical conclusion. She cheerfully puts on a very suitable outfit, but this time accessorised with cat ears and a tail that match her hair. She's out for trouble, and she's offering chocolates that make people want to hold hands]
Would you like one, nyaa~?
iii. Justice of Brave Vesperia
[It is perhaps fortunate Judith's farm hasn't quite come along as far as others yet. It's mostly overlooked high in the mountains, until one day, pirates descend upon it. That wont do, that wont do at all. It's her home and she has every intent on protecting it or any other farmstead that requires help. She'll be helping with clean up as well, ferrying supplies around with Ba'ul to make things go faster.
Judith will be darting around with her spear, fighting off the more belligerent ones quite viciously with her spear. You may come to her aid, or you may decide you need her help instead.]
iv. Pumpkin carving
[Never let it be said that Judith has no imagination. She'll happily park herself at a table in the middle of town as she uses a very sharp knife to carve up an unusual looking pumpkin. If anyone approaches, she'll look up and smile]
Would you like to join me?
v. WILD CARD
[pm me if you'd like any other starters]
When: All throughout February
What: February catch all - starters and all
Warnings: Potentially some NSFW stuff eventually?
i. a young space whale the size of a cow appears
[Along the beach, you may hear a loud cry and a dark shape flying in an odd pattern in the sky. It descends rapidly, with a smaller figure leaping off it, followed by a loud cloud of sand flying in the air in the far distance, clouding everything up. If you manage to catch up, you may find Judith petting a large whale-like dragon creature, who is half buried in a mountain of sand. Oddly enough for Judith, she looks a bit concerned for once, and her worry visibly shows on her face]
It doesn't seem like you're big enough to navigate those kinds of winds anymore, Ba'ul.
[Ba'ul gives a sad wine.
Approach with kindness? Or approach with fighting intent, and Judith WILL fight you]
ii. You cyant do that. nyan you can.
[ When Judith wakes up being unable to stop talking without a 'nyan' attached to everything she says, she decides to take it to its logical conclusion. She cheerfully puts on a very suitable outfit, but this time accessorised with cat ears and a tail that match her hair. She's out for trouble, and she's offering chocolates that make people want to hold hands]
Would you like one, nyaa~?
iii. Justice of Brave Vesperia
[It is perhaps fortunate Judith's farm hasn't quite come along as far as others yet. It's mostly overlooked high in the mountains, until one day, pirates descend upon it. That wont do, that wont do at all. It's her home and she has every intent on protecting it or any other farmstead that requires help. She'll be helping with clean up as well, ferrying supplies around with Ba'ul to make things go faster.
Judith will be darting around with her spear, fighting off the more belligerent ones quite viciously with her spear. You may come to her aid, or you may decide you need her help instead.]
iv. Pumpkin carving
[Never let it be said that Judith has no imagination. She'll happily park herself at a table in the middle of town as she uses a very sharp knife to carve up an unusual looking pumpkin. If anyone approaches, she'll look up and smile]
Would you like to join me?
v. WILD CARD
[pm me if you'd like any other starters]
no subject
There is joy, love, running through as she runs down the paved roads of Temza, bursting through the doors to find her dad standing there.
"Dad, you're back from Aspio!"
She calls out in delight as Hermes turns to smile at her.
"Judy-"
"I'll make dinner, so you stay put."
Warmth tinges these memories bright and glowing with life. Judith's spirit.
There's the child's sadness of not fitting in, not being a perfect Krityan. But more importantly, there's her father and that's all she really needs.
Then Ba'ul comes along and her spirit burns even brighter. ]
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Even after the transformation of this place, it's strange to see Ba'ul so small as well, matched to the Judith of these memories. A connection not so different from family at all. ]
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This peace, this joy--all of it had been fragile, easily disturbed. Judith had taken it for granted, the times they flew together with Ba'ul, far away from Temza where Ba'ul had been a 'monster'. Judith with joy. Hermes...with significantly less composure, though he had been glad to spend that time with Judith regardless.
Those were the best of times. But it wasn't meant to last.
Looking back, it started the day she had joined the Great Circle. Hermes had warned her, gently encouraged her to hold back, to think better. She hadn't understood it then, taking in his remarks with childish surliness that couldn't understand why Hermes didn't want her to join, even though she was the youngest to do so. Wasn't that amazing? Wasn't her abilities as a Krityan incredible?
Ba'ul had been a child himself, too young to understand either. Her memory of the moment is clear and sharp, a circle of adults welcoming her in and suddenly she was connected. Every feeling, every warmth, every calm.
It was hers now too. She was no longer an outsider looking in.
But that meant she was no longer the 'Judy' Hermes loved.
And when she had seen that in his heart, she couldn't stop screaming.
And then, and then...
Ba'ul had been her refuge, her safety. The Great Circle pressed around her, trying to keep her calm. But she couldn't. It hurt. It hurt so much she wanted to--
Then, all she had was her own pain, echoing loudly in a silence she didn't understand as the walls closed back in on her. But Ba'ul was there, anchoring her as she tried to find herself again.
In her sleep, Judith shifts. This part hurt the most. Judith reaches out to try to cut off the next memory. But it was too late, because then--]
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But there's no way out of it by drawing back. He would tell her to go through, if he could, but the memory is already moving. In response to his own will, or Judith's, or just the nature of the flow of these kinds of thoughts? Flynn doesn't know. But he reaches out for it as best he can, as if reaching for Judith. ]
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It happened within a day. An earthquake she now knew was an explosion, the empty silence. A war that descended upon Mt Temza, without a single citizen being aware.
And then screaming that wasn't her own.
She could never forget this day.
She remembers the smell of the blood all too well, sharp and acrid in her throat. The weapons shack was littered with bodies, Krityan upon Krityan, desperately clinging to the one thing that could possibly save them, except so torn apart by fear and anguish they couldn't even try.
She remembers of the squelch of blood beneath her feet, the dark shadows slithering across the night. She had grasped a spear in her hand - surprisingly light and easy for a child to hold - and shaken in fear.
But Judith had always been an unusual one.
When the first wave of monsters descended she had drawn on the powers inscribed in the spear and moved.
Monster blood spilled across the floor, dying it a deeper red, its scent overwhelming. But even at nine, she was relentless, moving until she couldn't anymore.
And the cause of that--
A larger gray monster emerges from the crowd, an assortment of items clinging to its body.
A doll, dripping with blood.
Nelni.
Judith gasps, writhing in agony in her sleep. But in this liminal space, they can escape. So she shoves them both away, as the claws descended upon her nine year old helpless body.
nononoNO.
Run, run, move--a flash of blue, a dragon's roar, searing flames and it's all over.
And they're both falling, far far away from that day where everyone had gone and left her behind]
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No one their age had been untouched by the war. But from Zaphias it had been more of a distant concept, knowing that soldiers trickled away and didn't return. Not this visceral memory of loss, blood and desperation and disorienting fear. He draws in a steadying breath and reaches out to run his hand carefully up Judith's back. She isn't still dreaming, is she...? ]
Judith?
no subject
...ah.
[She blinks. She hadn't cried back then. She hadn't cried in years. So why now?]
...so you saw all of that.
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...Do you dream of that often?
[ Perhaps it's something about this place, or the sharing. But it seems like something that's difficult to forget. Carefully, like he half-expects her to startle away, he tugs her closer against him in a gentle hug. ]
no subject
[She blinks, and eases into Flynn's hug, resting her hand against his chest. His heartbeat was steady, comforting. She closes her eyes again. In another time, another place, she would have bolted without a second thought. But Flynn had a way of getting under her defenses these days. And his warmth doesn't feel oppressive]
I stopped dreaming completely after the Adephagos was defeated. That's when I knew for sure...
no subject
...That something like that would never happen again?
no subject
[Judith nods, leaning into Flynn to rest her head against his chest. Flynn was so warm. It somehow doesn't eat away at her pride to be seen like this by Flynn. Maybe it's because she knew he understood. Lightly]
I didn't think those were the memories this place would choose. I do have happier ones.
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[ Which just makes it ache a little more to think how long Judith has been alone. She still has Ba'ul, of course. But he can't imagine having just one person from the lower quarter to lean on.
Flynn threads his fingers through her hair as he strokes it soothingly, melting a little as she relaxes again. ]
...I'm still grateful to have seen them. There's so much we don't know about each other.
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No. But we can try to learn.
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[ Possibly a foolish thing to say when they're already getting married. But as far as Flynn is concerned, that's a starting point rather than an ending one. His smile softens as he tugs her closer. ]
I can try to dream something pleasant for you, if this place will let me.
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[Judith's expression softens further in the dark and she finds herself reaching up to touch his cheek lightly. She understands her own feelings better now too]
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Maybe... maybe something you can tease Yuri about.
[ Those are good memories, and safe ones. He turns his head to brush a light kiss to her palm. ]
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Mmhm. If that's what you would like...
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[ He likes watching the two of them. But saying that might invite teasing that would wake him up more, so he just smiles and runs his fingers through her hair, closing his eyes.
He can't compel a dream, of course. But he can try to steer his thoughts in that direction. Remembering the warmth of their childhood, mock-duels with sticks, splitting whatever precious treats they happened to get their hands on. Warm, comfortable thoughts that make his breathing slow and even as they drift back asleep. ]
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"Yuri, everyone's going to spoil their appetites if they eat these now..." ]
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There's something delightful seeing Flynn and Yuri so young - a shame she couldn't capture those appearances to preserve them. She'll just have to enjoy what Flynn shares instead]
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It's so warm here. Like happiness and comfort distilled. The edges of the dream blur, one memory into another, the sound of laughter fading out and then back in on an image of the two of them much smaller. Flynn is pelting down the streets of the lower quarter, barely looking where he's going as he casts a glance over his shoulder. "C'mon, Yuri! Keep up!"
Then older again, Yuri rolling his eyes as Flynn tries valiantly — and futilely — to smooth out Yuri's very unflattering knight uniform on him. "You're going to be reprimanded if you turn up like this..."
The deck of a ship, and the captain's uniform on Flynn that Judith has come to know by now. He rests his arms on the railing and stares out at the dark water, although surely he can't make out anything in this lighting. This time, no one is around to hear his quiet murmur. "Yuri..." ]
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She understands what Flynn must have felt then. She had felt it too, but perhaps not to the same extent. She wants to reach out and hold Flynn in turn. It had hurt. It had been painful.]