[ voice/action ] please not now

[blessingone]

[It takes Fenimore some time to reach for her journal after they find Shirley missing. But, eventually, she drags herself over and opens it. It's no small matter for Shirley to have made friends in Luceti -- the girl had spent her first fifteen years friendless. She can't just leave that alone. But, even once she opens it, there's silence for a full minute. When she sighs and begins speaking, her voice is calm, though this is by willpower alone.]

For anyone who cares -- [While it's intended as a general "to who it may concern," the slightly bitter edge that creeps in at the end sounds accusatory. She knows it isn't fair and regrets the unintentional addition, but she has belligerence against the world to spare today. When she continues, her tone is flat again.] ...Shirley has gone...home....

[She trails off. The voice doesn't sound like her own. In fact, the entire entry sounds -- and, by the camera, looks -- as though it were made by someone else. Except for the tone, it sounds as though.... She slowly reaches up to touch a braid hanging from the side of her head.

Shirley's voice continues, quiet and strained:] Oh, that isn't fair.... [Using Shirley's hands, she closes her journal and cuts off the feed.

She doesn't want to meet any of the others like this. Not now. Even though she knows that Stella is out of the house, chances of running into her accidentally seem small enough to risk it. In any case, getting away from the house seems pretty attractive right now. She doesn't have to change, thankfully -- they're close enough in size that her clothes just feel a little loose in places. Though of course, on her way out, she does have to stop to grab some things for the cold weather.

Her intent was to avoid people entirely, but she stops at the river next to house 34, by the bridge. That's where she had found Shirley after Senel had left. Shirley had acted strong, no matter how much it had bothered her. "Acting"...but, if she thought about it, being able to act that strong was strong in itself.

She can be found sitting with her arms around her knees on the bank, north from the bridge and away from the pathway -- this time, it's far too cold to even wade, whether or not ice impedes that. She hopes that she's out of sight, and it might have been hard to accidentally catch sight of her were she not wearing a hat that stood out against the snow.

It's still a stupid hat. It doesn't even keep her ears warm.]

[Backdated to during the day! Comments will be answered by blessingone. Journal comments will be answered with an in-Luceti-time delay and, if she doesn't have anything to say, might not be answered at all (apologies if you get hit with the last one). Action ones she doesn't really have a choice on -- she might be a little unfriendly, but she's not upset enough to cut someone off completely.]

Comments

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

Hey, who's the trained warrior here? It's me, right? I think I have a better idea of what you can and can't do when it comes to all things fighting, hunting, smithing, and meat preparation.

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

[She was about to protest, but she's momentarily sidetracked by:] Meat preparation?

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what about it?

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

That doesn't sound like it has much to do with -- [But, then again, smithing is probably only tangentially related, too. She shakes her head.]

I can't do it. I -- [When she thinks of learning to fight, she first thinks of large-scale battles rather than just plain self-defence. And what she's seen of battles scares her.] I just can't.

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

Really? I didn't know you were vegetarian.

[He's uh, kind of stuck on the meat thing for the momen.]

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

[EPIC FACEPALM. Even if that was kind of her own fault. On the bright side, this is certainly distracting her from feeling down about Shirley right now.]

I wasn't talking about -- I'm just fine with preparing meat!

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

[Sokka is just a pro at this.]

Oh... oh! You meant with- yeah. No no, you can totally do it. [Because clearly all Fenimore needs is CONFIDENCE.]

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

Do you really think it's that easy? I'm not like you, Sokka -- or Adell, or Suki -- any of you! [Seriously, dude, half of Luceti is, like, armed to the teeth.] If I went out on a battlefield...even if I tried to learn to fight, the only thing that would happen is I'd be killed.

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

[He should probably drop it. He always does in the end. But for the moment?]

It doesn't have to be a battlefield! Not everyone learns expecting to go to war. Maybe it's in case somebody tries to attack you in the dark, or you're protecting your home, or maybe you're in a bar and someone makes a comment about your sister - or you want to run off on your own because everyone else is using fancy teleporters.

[Is there more to say? Probably, but he shrugs a bit and casts his attention to the water.]

But hey, it's fine. It just means if someone says something about your sister, I'll have to beat them up for you.

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

[...Oh. That is also a possibility. She feels a bit embarrassed for having reacted like that. But maybe he won't notice that she's implied any sort of weakness is she acts naturally.]

Then why would I have to waste my time learning it if you'll do it for me?

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

[None was noticed, really. Just the usual reluctance. But he offers a teasing grin.]

Have you seen my schedule? Just because I'll do it, doesn't mean I'll be timely about it!

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

I'd make you find time. [Somehow. She's not smiling, but her expression is certainly lighter than it had been.]

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

Hate to break it to you, but you aren't Suki and you don't look like her. [He points to self] So you'll just have to wait like everyone else.

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

Those aren't the tactics I was going to use. [Though she's pretty sure he didn't mean it like that.]

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

Well you're out of luck, either way! So any timely beatdowns that you need? You'll have to do them on your own.

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

I seem to have done well enough to you. [Her expression is not nearly so bright as in the icon, but the trolling intent is there.]

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

If you're asking for a rematch... [He smirks and stretches his arms out and pops his fingers against each other.] Since we're both technically 'girls' here, I'm pretty sure I don't have to hold back.

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

...No, I'm good.

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

Okay, that's good. Because Suki? She can be pretty scary when she's fighting. [He stares at his Suki hands.] These are lethal weapons.

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

Honestly? She doesn't really look it. [But Fenimore is not exactly a good judge for these things.] ...But don't tell her I said that.

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

Your secret's safe with me. But never judge a fighter by their looks! Even someone who looks like Shirley could be secretly a master swordsman.

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

She's not, trust me. [Though it entirely escaped Fenimore's notice that Shirley had turned into some kind of super-mage.]

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

But boy can that girl swim... [Rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he thinks back.]

[blessingone.livejournal.com]

Y...yeah. Funny, that. You can't judge people by their looks, right? [She's still avoiding the topic of being Ferines.]

[swordsandfans.livejournal.com]

That was my general point there, yeah. [He knows, Fenimore. He knows. Kind of. It's assumption based off Shirley, mostly. It'll come up one day.]