[Thread;Open]

[epopt-trainee.livejournal.com]

Characters:  Leonora, Porom, Ursula, Palom, Ceodore, Dancing Girls, OPEN
Progress:  Incomplete.
Summary:  Preparations for trips to the shrines is underway. The girls are determined to get Leonora into something she can't trip over.
Location:  Troia
Date: May 24th.
Warnings: dancers, peeping, hormones... really nothing much to warn about
Other: Feel free to use the rest of the log for any open tagging, party-style fun you want while in Troia. There's a pretty big crowd in the area. Just make a note somewhere in the subject or tag whereabouts in town you are. :D

Returning from that meeting left Leonora feeling anything but revitalized. There was simply far too much at stake, too many risks, too many questions. Yet something had to be done or this world was just as doomed as their own. She felt more confused and lost than she had when she'd arrived and out of habit, she went to the one place she hoped she could depend upon to still her thoughts enough to see what she should do: the Earth Crystal's chamber.

The darkened room just was not the same. Without the light to illuminate it, it was gloomy and nearly impossible to see in. She stared glumly at the empty pedestal, knowing that the crystal she was supposed to protect was halfway around the world from here. Soon it would travel even further for a plan she wasn't sure she had faith in at all. It wasn't only the chamber that felt the absence of the resident crystal. Leonora could see the differences in Troia itself. Even displaced from home, there were things that had changed that should not have been. The waters were not as clear, the forests not as lush. Troia flourished under the blessing of the crystal and with it gone, much of that abundance was gone.

Leonora clasped her hands in prayer, reciting them all from memory, although her heart and mind was not in it. She knew such shallow devotion was wrong but she simply could not stop her thoughts from straying away from the task at hand. Could the crystal even hear her from such a great distance? Was it angry with her, for leaving Troia or for going to the moon or... seeking Palom's guidance just as much as she did from it. No! No thinking about her teacher. Not here. Only she couldn't seem to stop herself from wondering if he'd laugh at her for taking this so seriously. But it was serious, wasn't it?

Comments

[petalwhirlwind.livejournal.com]

[ooc: I figured Leonora and Porom could have their talk and then run into Ursula at some point?]

Ursula was feeling similarly to Leonora, especially when it came to being lost and confused. The decisive and determined front she projected during the meeting was just that; a front. Afterward, she felt at odds again. The impending mission wasn't approaching fast enough for her taste, as she desperately needed distraction from her own thoughts. Thinking about her parents and home and how she would never see any of that again was too painful. That her relationship with Ceodore was now a non-issue was the only silver lining in the entire mess, and she felt guilty for even thinking that much.

As such, Ursula was out training by the pool and had been for a good while now. Her muscles were becoming sore, but she almost didn't care. As long as her body was in motion, at least her mind wasn't dwelling on what caused her so much pain. After a while, Ursula had no choice but to stop. Flushed and aching, she scrunched up her dress and sat at the edge of the pool, lowering her feet into the cool water. That alone did much to ease them as she sighed in contentment. The thoughts held at bay while training would soon crowd in if she was idle for much longer, but for that moment, she had something almost resembling peace.

[epopt-trainee.livejournal.com]

Walking into town was always a distressing activity for Leonora. Even though she understood the need to return there to make preparations, the subtle changes in the landscape were painful to see. And yet, this was her responsibility until the others could be found or more trained. The prospect of training more when she herself was so new to the position was terrifying.

So when she spotted Ursula sitting by the water, she nodded to Porom and then hurried to the girl's side. At least insofar as her bulky robes would allow. Which truthfully was not so easy to move about in at all. It took a great deal of concentration to move around in them without stepping on them or tripping from within them, and haste was altogether out without physically grabbing them up and exposing legs.

"Princess! Are you enjoying the waters?"

[dualcast]

"Ursula." She said quietly, kneeling by the water at her friend's other side. "How are you feeling?"

[petalwhirlwind.livejournal.com]

The sudden company snapped her out of her haze, and she managed a small smile for them both. "I'm just taking a break from training. That helped somewhat."

She fell silent for a moment, still not very talkative compared to her usual self. Then, she looked Leonora over critically. "You still intend to go to the Earth Shrine, right?" There's a glance to Porom, as well. It's about time she brought something up to the epopt, and hopefully her friend will agree.

[epopt-trainee.livejournal.com]

For a moment, Leonora blinked at being the target of scrutiny. She was so accustomed to merely blending in to the background that she didn't know what to make of it. "Oh. Yes, yes I do. It's my duty to protect the Earth Crystal." She fidgeted a little and stared off at the sea to the east. It troubled her beyond words to have it so far away and in the care of someone who wasn't trained to serve the Crystal.

[dualcast]

"Are you going alone? Is anyone accompanying you?"

Porom was concerned for Leonora. She was a powerful mage, certainly, but more than a little-

-well. 'Confused' might be a charitable way to describe it.

[petalwhirlwind.livejournal.com]

Ursula was concerned, as well. "I would, but I have a duty to the Wind Crystal." At least in some way, she could still aid Fabul.

Another moment of thoughtful silence, then....

"Hm...whether you go alone or not, I think you need to wear something different. Those robes are lovely, but they're long. The last thing you want to worry about in battle is tripping." She glanced to Porom again. They needed to make her battle-ready, at least in terms of clothing.

[epopt-trainee.livejournal.com]

Leonora touched the fabric of the robes, lifting some of the heavy material, then looked from Porom to Ursula, uncertain who to answer first. "I... y-yes, the princess of Wutai is going with me." Not that she really had any inkling what the young lady was capable of, should they be forced into a fight. There had mention of guardians in the shrines, best she remembered.

The full measure of what Ursula was telling her began to sink in, however. "Wear something different? But I... all I have are formal robes." That covered up every inch of skin. Not that there was any denying that they weren't at all suited for combat, as she'd seen on the moon.

[dualcast]

"So we'll need to find something different for you. We're not going to force you to wear anything that makes you uncomfortable but- well-"

She motioned to the robes, sighing. "You might need to run. Or fight. And you'll need to do that while protecting the crystal from harm."

[petalwhirlwind.livejournal.com]

Ursula nodded, then moved to stand. "We can help make it easier on you, at least. Why don't we see what's available in the shops now?" She glanced to them both, ready if they were. This wasn't just out of a need for a distraction; she really did worry about Leonora succumbing to a monster thanks to tripping over robes that were too long. It was time to find something with more freedom of movement.

[epopt-trainee.livejournal.com]

For a long moment, all Leonora could do was look at her robes with a pensive expression. Then she lifted her head and nodded crisply. "I'll do what I need to for keeping the crystal safe." What difference did regalia make compared to fulfilling her duties, no matter how poorly she managed at it.

Chewing on her bottom lip, she looked from mage to monk and then asked quietly, "Will you help?" She hadn't the foggiest where to start, and after being under Palom's tutelage, she found herself bracing for a scathing remark of disapproval.