(no subject)

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Characters: Shelke, Open to anyone in Garden
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Shelke has been at Garden for a bit now, waiting to take the SeeD exam and taking classes, and she's currently just wandering around the building.
Location: Galbadia Garden
Date: July 3rd
Warnings: None for now

One of the first things Shelke had done after the lifestream had cured her of her mako addiction and prevented her from ever wearing her Deepground uniform again had been to pull her weapon holster out of the fabric and modify it so she could wear it like a belt. Since she'd arrived at Garden she'd taken to wearing it, and the weight was rather...comforting, in a sense. Something familiar while she was away from most of her friends and all of her 'family.'

Well, that and there was always a reassuring sensation to being armed.

Much as everywhere else, she didn't really feel like she fit in here...it probably didn't help that most of the other students assumed she was younger than them when she really wasn't. But pointing out constantly 'I'm actually nineteen' didn't really feel like it would accomplish much so she just left it alone and stuck to herself. At least she was used to this, most of her time in Deepground had been similar. Keep to herself, do what she needed to do, and don't get in the way of anyone she couldn't beat.

At the moment though she was taking a walk. She'd memorized the layout of the building but that didn't mean she had been everywhere yet, and seeing all the little pieces together was interesting. She intended to go down into the bowls of the garden at some point and see how it all ran. And maybe see if she could figure out how to get the computer systems working.

There had to be something they could use as an energy source here. 

She came to a stop just outside the training center, listening to the distant sounds of animals and monsters within, trying to decide if she wanted to do a bit of exercise...

Comments

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa was passing by on her way outside, Angelo at her heels, when she saw Shelke standing in the corridor looking lost. She waved.

"Hi. You okay?"

Sorry this took so long!

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke glanced up at Rinoa when the other approached and nodded her head at the question.

"I am fine. I was considering going in to fight something." She turned her attention to Angelo, and after a few moments held out her hand for the dog to sniff.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Angelo went one better and licked the girl's hand, tail wagging happily. She seemed to like Shelke.

Rinoa smiled at the gesture. Anyone who liked dogs was a good person in her book. "So why aren't you going in? Nervous?"

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke gently scratched Angelo behind the ears after the link, then turned her attention back to Rinoa. "No, I just am not certain I want to."

Perhaps some small part of her was nervous, but in her defense, the last fight she'd been involved in had been against a white dragon, and resulted in her arm being in a sling for several weeks.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa shrugged. "Then don't! Go do something fun instead."

This all seemed very obvious to her, but perhaps she'd grown too used to doing as she pleased.

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke shifted back, drawing her hand away from Angelo. "I have no trained in several weeks, and the last time I was in real combat I was not...as good as I should have been." Her mouth faded into a line for a moment.

"I should at least find out what I am still capable of."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa nodded. "Then be careful. The monsters in there aren't that tough, but you don't wanna get into trouble on your own."

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke turned to look into the training area again, then back at the woman.

"I do not think I would have anything to worry about, but you may come along if you are concerned."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa hadn't come this way to go into the training centre. She wanted to walk her dog. But now she had voiced her concern, and despite Shelke's apparent confidence, Rinoa didn't think she could walk away from a little girl going off to fight monsters.

She sighed. "Okay. But only for a few minutes. Come on, Angelo. Walkies!"

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

"You do not have to. I have already been trained to fight." Shelke could sense that Rinoa didn't particularly want to, but she wouldn't have minded either, really.

So she started into the training center, reaching out to scratch Angelo behind the ears again before she tugged out her weapons, considering the area carefully.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"I can't just leave you now I know you're going in there," Rinoa protested. "I'm coming with you."

She followed Shelke, Angelo trotting after her. As soon as she entered the training centre, Rinoa drew her blaster edge and scanned the area, wary of danger.

"You can really fight?" she asked. "I mean, no offence... But you're kinda small."

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke actually sighed at that, glad her eyes were turned away. She was used to being thought of as a child, but she still didn't like it. Although it was useful from time to time, this was not one of them.

After a moment, she pressed down on her weapons and the twin laser blades sprung to life. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself." She stated, crouching down as she heard something moving through the nearby bushes.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Okay... Laser blades. Wow. Rinoa blinked at those. Maybe Shelke really did mean business.

"...You have laser swords. Where did you get laser swords?"

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

"They were designed for me in Deepground." She explained, holding them up slightly so the other could see them.

Her eyes remained on the bushes, listening to the sounds behind them, trying to decide how far away whatever creature was she was hearing. "They needed to be small so that I can conceal them when I am infiltrating somewhere, so the laser blades seemed appropriate."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"Oh," said Rinoa, not really knowing how else to respond. The swords did look pretty cool anyway, but she couldn't shake the thought of them being a child's toy, especially with Shelke holding them.

Shelke's skill was about to be tested, however, as the thing moving in the undergrowth emerged with a roar to attack them - a Death Claw, and a particularly large one at that.

Startled, Rinoa immediately focused on this new threat, readying herself to cast a spell. "Shelke!" she cried. "Watch out!"

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke spun about as the beast charged at them, bracing herself and then lunging out of the way when it got close enough to swing one of its clawed arms at her. As she hit the ground and curled into a roll, she flicked her swords off, coming up...and disappearing.

A couple seconds later she reappeared, slashing at the creature from behind, her blade flicking to life just long enough to damage before she vanished again.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa let out a shocked cry the first time Shelke disappeared. She looked around wildly, frozen, until the girl reappeared again. The relief she felt was palpable. In this state, she would have been a sitting target for the Death Claw were it not also confused by Shelke's ability. Still, she had only seconds before the creature gave up on trying to find Shelke and concentrated on an easier target.

She cast Blizzaga and backed away, Angelo at her heels.

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke disappeared and reappeared several times while Rinoa was casting her spell, and then she reappeared for good as it was cast, darting away from the creature as it was encased in ice, and sliding to a stop as it collapsed.

"You are a black mage?" She asked once her breathing had settled, watching the other woman.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa nodded. "Yeah." She brushed some imaginary dust from her arm, then leaned down to pat Angelo for being a good girl. "It looks like you were right though," she said, smiling. "That disappearing trick is kinda handy - you probably didn't need me at all."

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke shook her head. "You were helpful." That was probably a compliment coming from the Tsviet. "And occasionally people or creatures can see through it, it is difficult to tell at first."

Still, she seemed a bit happy about the compliment. As happy as Shelke ever looked, really.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome," Rinoa replied. "So do you think you can carry on by yourself? I wouldn't wanna get in the way of an up and coming SeeD, after all."

She winked at that, not being entirely serious. Seeing Shelke actually in battle had reassured Rinoa a lot that the girl would be fine.

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke nodded her head. "I will be fine." She agreed, considering the training area before she half-turned to nod her head at Rinoa...and reach out to scratch Angelo on the head again.

"Thank you."

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

At it turned out, Mjrn had been trying to decide the same thing. A recent arrival to the Garden, though no stranger to it, Mjrn had decided to wander and become reacquainted the structure again. Thoughts of the impending exam soon turned to thoughts of training--no matter how often she visited the training center, it didn't feel like enough.

Therefore, with spear in tow and a determined expression on her face, the young Viera strode toward the training center entrance. She spotted the young girl ahead, vaguely familiar--another recruit? Upon reaching the doors, Mjrn nodded. "Hello. You wish to train as well?"

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke looked up (and up) at the other SeeD candidate when she stopped nearby, and then nodded her head. "Yes. I was considering it." She had seen Mjrn about thought she had not spoken with the girl.

"Have you been in there before? Do you know what sort of creatures it holds?" Trust Shelke to want as much information as she could get.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Mjrn nodded. "There are plantlike creatures known as grats. They are hostile, but not an overwhelming challenge. And...there is a large reptilian beast, known as a T-Rexaur. The creature is quite formidable; not often have I tested my luck against it."

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke listened to her and nodded her head, considering. A large reptile could be a challenge, yes...although perhaps more challenge then she was prepared for yet.

"Alright. I'm going to go inside then. Perhaps the two of us can challenge this...t-rexaur." She started into the training area, tugging her weapons out of their holster, the wire linking them hanging behind her.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

There's the inevitable considering look, given Shelke's size, but Mjrn doesn't automatically discourage her. Viera were taught weapons-training from a young age, after all. She followed into the training area, taking care to remain alert to the noises around her. Her senses were still muted to hume-level, all the more reason to be wary of an ambush. She readied her spear for the fight sign of trouble.

As they walked, Mjrn peered around but directed her comment to the girl in an undertone. "It often lingers to the far left." She was not worried about finding it; they would hear the creature well before it came into view.

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke held her weapons loosely at her sides as she moved along with Mjrn, having to take two steps for everyone of the bunny girls, though she kept up well enough. When the other indicated the direction the largest of the beasts in here tended to be in, she considered it for a long few moments then nodded her head.

"Alright." If they couldn't best a beast in the training center, what chance did they have on an actual exam, after all? She turned to move in that direction.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Mjrn, of the same mindset, listened for the heavy footfalls of the beast while trying to mask the sound of her own footsteps. Though the creature was indeed a challenge, she felt more hopeful this time. She had been training hard ever since that last encounter and having someone else there might make all the difference.

At length, the Viera perked up and paused. There was a sidelong glance to the other girl upon hearing a deep-throated growl and the plotting of massive feet up ahead. Hanging back for a moment, she cast Haste and Protect on them, then moved forward.

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke shivered when she felt the spells being cast on her, feeling her blood pumping faster as the haste spell took over. She moved more into the underbrush then, watching the next clearing as the massive lizard stomped into view, it's bulbous head held high, nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air.

"I am going to go around behind it," she whispered to Mjrn, and then vanished...literally and figuratively...into the underbrush.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Mjrn was about to question this idea, but Shelke had slipped away before that could happen. For a moment, she thought about going after her, but...maybe it was a plan that would work. If they attacked it from both ends, then the beast would have no reprieve.

Determined to do her part, the Viera crept closer, heading around to approach it from the front. She paused just before she could be seen, watching the T-Rexaur roam and giving Shelke another couple of moments to get in position. Then, ready as she would ever be and wanting to act before her spells faded, Mjrn directed a Blizzard at the enormous creature. The resulting roar was worth it,and she backed away just enough to lead it on before jumping high.

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke made her way silently through the underbrush as Mjrn cast her spell at the creature, her eyes narrowed as she watched the fight. When Mjrn jumped, Shelke stepped out, invisible, and faded into view long enough to slash through the creatures right leg, hobbling it so that it wouldn't move before Mjrn attacked.

And then she faded away again.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Descending, Mjrn saw Shelke slip out of her stealth mode just long enough to strike. The T-Rexaur definitely hated that; the enraged roar made her sensitive ears ache. Still, it was worth it for the beast to be hindered as she dove in for her own attack.

As soon as she was within range, Mjrn's spear tore along its side. The gash wasn't a mortal one, but it was nonetheless deep and ragged, blood spilling onto the ground below. The Viera didn't land on said ground but on the beast itself, doing her best to keep her footing as it thrashed and tried to turn even with its injured leg, eager to tail slap or bite those who had dared attack it.

Sorry! This somehow got off my tag list. *fixes*

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

That tail swing nearly hit Shelke, despite her being invisible, and she dove to the ground and rolled away from the beast, coming up visible again a good ten feet away. Her eyes were slightly wide, watching the bunny-girl standing on top of the beast...that was rather impressive.

Using its momentary distraction she lunged forward, swinging both her swords in a downward arc intent on chopping off a dinosaur foot. Ah, the perils of being tiny.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

The ensuring screech nearly deafened Mjrn, who nearly lost her balance atop the great best. She had enough presence of mind to take advantage of her position, though, stabbing downward with her spear not long after Shelke's blow.

The spear plunged deep into the T-Rexaur's back, and she could feel the beast twitch and shudder beneath her. That was a worse wound than her previous attempt, having struck a vital area. She could only hope its end would be soon.

But the beast wasn't done yet. It thrashed, trying to shake her off as well as the spear. Mjrn tried to tug it free and just barely succeeded, but lost her balance in the process. She stumbled to the ground, landing hard.