#idealflames

Yawning, Threo buries her axe in the trunk of a tree before clambering up to its branches. Her tummy is full and there’s not a single concern in her head, so this looks like an excellent time for a nice nap. After she wakes up, she can eat more food and do it all again.

This island isn’t so bad, she thinks as she nestles herself in the crook of a branch. Sure, she’s not as strong, but there’s lots of yummy food and nice people here, and if there’s some people who aren’t nice she can just destroy them. As a gentle breeze caresses Threo’s face, she thinks that maybe this island will be alright for a little bit, and slips into sleep.

Two minutes later, the branch snaps, sending the girl plummeting back down to the ground. Groaning, she pulls twigs and leaves her her hair before turning her ire on the tree. “Hey! C’mon, why’d you do something like that? I wasn’t hurting you, was I? I’ll just find somewhere else to go...”

Threo retrieves her axe from the tree with a huff, but as soon as she pulls the weapon free, a cracking sound can be heard as the tree topples over. Threo stands there, wide-eyed, tool in hand, before laughing. “Oops! Guess it was a really weak tree after all! My bad!”

          taking a breath, she does her best to relax even the slightest, tugging him along to a small blanket she had prepared beforehand for the two. ❝ Over here, Percival. I even asked for some special desserts, ❞ she speaks, noting the various french pastries sprawled out, maybe more in the hopes it might help ease her racing heart. letting go of his hand, she plops herself down well enough, glancing up at some of the comets passing through. just like you rehearsed at home, jeanne, she thinks momentarily before finally speaking.

          ❝ ... it’s beautiful, isn’t it? Even back home in Paris, things like this weren’t a common sight... ❞ she recalls, trying to remember if there was anything similar to such a thing. ❝ Percival, what do you think about us---? ❞ a pause, realizing the fumble of words, far beyond what she had meant to say.  ❝ !!?! Wait! I-I meant this! This!! Yes, that is exactly what I was trying to say. What I mean to say is what do you think about this!? ❞ great, so much for all that practice.

the snow was deeper than anticipated. 

what she had previously believed to be a rather generous, but more importantly still a navigatable layer of snow, had quickly shown its true colors and proven itself to be a formidable foe. when she had deigned it right to dive right in to the snow to begin having some fun, she had been surprised to find that it reached her waist, effectively trapping her entire lower body within. a mistake, but not something she could take back. thankfully, a familiar face showing up at the opportune moment brought with it the budding hope of freedom. 

‘ percival, hello! nice weather, huh? ’ 

Dude, Goku isn’t even that strong.

Shirou spotted another head of red hair. Besides their similiar coloring, they looked like they had almost nothing in common. That man was standing tall, with his shoulders held high. He had a regal bearing, and he immediately stood out as a lone wolf among the crowd. 

Shirou had no pride to speak of at all. He was dressed in his sweats and he had a tendency to look down at his feet. He did not even consider himself a member of the crowd, in Shirou’s mind he was much lower than them. However at the moment, he looked up with starry eyes. 

“You really look strong.” Shirou was a fan of heroes. Sometimes that made him a fanboy. As a part of his training he had started to study legends of heroes. This man looked like he walked right out of one, it was just something about the way he carried himself. But... despite that familiar feeling, Shirou was certain he was not any servant that he had seen from his world. It was probably rude not to introduce himself. It was even ruder to blurt out what he was thinking, the moment he was thinking it. Shirou usually went for that option though. 

To put it into simple words, he was rather handsome. The pause is noticeable and her tone comes out much shakier this time. "D...Didn't you hear me!? Get off of the flowers, you insufferable man!"

viewing the world from behind the eyes of another is not a wholly unfamiliar experience for vira, of course; skydwellers and primal beasts were never meant to bond, let alone become one. luminiera’s thoughts seep through the cracks sometimes, when she becomes unfocused, and vira gets to see the world as her companion does; in sharp focus, with eyes meant for battle and battle alone, quickly identifying (and wrestling with an urge to dispose of) threats.

she was built a weapon, and though she has outgrown her purpose -- the marks of the astrals remain on her, as they always will. now that vira is also her -- or rather, her host -- they are her scars, too; burdens from before she was born are hers to bear.

( but she was born nobility, so she supposes this was always the case. )

but there is an unfamiliar factor in it all; rather than be memories of someone else, they are of herself, but different. different in the sense that she can feel that unbridled viciousness and pragmatism that characterized her days as lord; it is like looking into a dark mirror of her current self, without luminiera’s calming influence and allies at her back. there is who she would be if she had stayed cut off from the world; cold, distant, and deluding herself into thinking she was content with it.

living a ghost of a life.

but even she deserves saving. if not for the moral duty of a knight that vira bears, then purely for her own safety; for luminiera’s safety, too, as she is reminded of the primal beast curled around her shoulders. she has another to say goodbye to as well, though her thoughts are now closed off to vira; she chooses to remain within herself, withdrawing to spare her partner the weight of another’s anxieties.

both of them, led on by the application in vira’s hands, are drawn to the city of yesteryear. hopefully there, in its ruins, they can give their mirror-images another chance, and spare themselves from an unfortunate fate.

the city is frantic, but they arrive outside the limits of spirale without incident. there are others here, most likely saddled with the same task; some travel in groups, taking refuge in companionship even as the dark cloud of their limited time hangs over their heads. despite luminiera’s warmth, vira finds herself feeling distinctly alone; vulnerable for it, as well, even though lyst sin is a comforting presence at her hip, as always, with a grip made for her hands and her hands alone.

-- but maybe, there’s someone she can find, too. scanning the scattered residents figuring out their own directions, she spots him; garbed in gallant red, looking decidedly ridiculous holding a smartphone, but familiar.

...even if he’s an absolute pain of a man, most of the time.

“ lord of flames, ” she calls, and her voice carries clearly, as it always does. 

“ do you, too, seek your doppelganger? would you be bothered if i were to accompany you? we seem to be heading in the same direction, after all, and i must confess that i would like the company of an... ally. ”

                                                 this was not her parents, rather...

                    it would be a shame, finding out. after all                     your hard work? but if you tell me that                     name of yours, i can grant your wish...

          frozen, the voice of a lord mimicked so well, which freezes her blood so deeply none would think her to be the renown hellfire witch. fingers clasp around her gauntlet, keeping herself standing as she listens to the temptation. no, even now she’s far too aware of what this is---a threat, veiled subtly under the sweet seduction of a wish to make it not happen. how much of her life has been dictated by such things? coerced into a role that receives relentless hatred for sins she has never committed, cornering her every which way she turns.

          ❝ ? Don’t... do that. ❞ there is no elaboration of if she means outing her secret or using his voice like that. ❝ I--- ❞