steady as she goes [o]

[Inessa]

and here comes the 'i have no idea how to play this character' adjustment period

Inessa left the castle a week prior with little warning, and little in the way of excuses. Maeve was busy, and so was Beatrice - and she was certain that neither would miss her. They had princess - and queen - related business to attend to, after all, and the guards were used to her coming and going as she pleased. She just figured, a quick visit to Altea - why not? This was the heart of Grimleal territory. If anyone actually recognized her as the princess, she could probably just... make some vague excuse about getting terribly lost on her way back to Gra or however. Maybe if she needed to, she could act scared - but she hoped that she didn't have to.

The Grimleal didn't need a worse name than they already had.

The trip over had been an uneventful one, and without any reason to bother the head honchos of the Grimleal, Inessa busied herself with wandering the cities, smiling occasionally at those that passed her and mulling over what her excuse would be, should her absence actually be noticed. She doubted it, but all the same...

Inessa stopped by a stall, looking over the wares - beautiful, expensive looking capes with Grima's eyes pain stakingly sewn into the back... ah, Inessa had such a weakness for things like that, but she hardly thought her sister would approve if she came home with a cape bearing the symbol of her enemy. Inessa lingered, mournfully running a gloved hand over the fabric - she wasn't quite bold enough to take off her gloves and touch it, at least not while she couldn't even buy it.

It was strange, how she could have all of this money and power at her disposal, and still feel so limited.

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IT'S BEEN THIRTEEN SECONDS SINCE YOU ALL LAST SAID,
i've become the apparition you've predicted for my death

[ibarra]

Ibarra had been in the island for an hour, stocking his inventory while he waited on a blacksmith for his new sword. The new buzz in the wind must have been fresh then; they say a royal princess had appeared in the city.

Who would pretend to be a princess, he wondered. Though he had not been seeking it, the answer came to his view as he turned to a corner. He stopped and stared at the young girl gazing sadly on a displayed cape. He lingered shamelessly, his striking red-haired presence drawing the attention of passersby and enlarging the size of their eyes. "Ibarra the Heartless," the hushed voices gasped. Ibarra made a step forward, sending a wave that caused the spectators to disperse and hide from another street. Ibarra wondered if this princess-pretender had done something to spook everyone.

"She does look like the queen." Ibarra never saw the two other princesses. Even the elite guards of the palace did not have the pleasure of laying their eyes on the imperial family. Only few knew what they looked outside the canvas paintings that hung the walls. Ibarra approached the girl in his permanent solemn stare.

"Oh, merchandise," Ibarra noted upon seeing the cape's design. As he thought of the possibility of finding a replica of King Marth's tiara to try them on, behind him, a background of distant onlookers anxiously watched on as if blood were about to be spilled any second now.

Inessa

[Inessa]

To her credit, Inessa actually heard the whispers and nervousness of the surrounding people, though she wasn't close enough to hear the exact words why. She glanced up at the storeowner, but, when she found nothing telling in his turned back, she simply looked back down upon the cape she wanted so badly.

Approaching footsteps once again tore her from her idle wishing, and Inessa turned, a tad bit reluctantly, her brow furrowed - to see a face that she recognized. Though it was up in the air whether this man recognized her, she definitely recognized the faces of the comers-and-goers of the palace, having mostly watched from the shadows. But what was his name...? I... Icarus?

No, it was Ibarras, right? Maybe just Ibarra. The strangest thing was that - while Inessa didn't quite miss the man, she did remember a strange lack of bright, red hair patrolling the Plegian Castle, shortly after her brother's banishment. At the time, it was little more than information, but now it opened up plenty of different questions. Did he leave willingly? Did he just wander off? Was he recently found, or was this him still dodging those who would miss him? And...

What was he doing here?

...Hello. She decided to say, just a tad bit guardedly. Have we met? - a simple question, at least. Not revealing too much, but also not hamstringing herself, should his next words be 'Hello, Princess, I'm taking you back to the castle now'.

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IT'S BEEN THIRTEEN SECONDS SINCE YOU ALL LAST SAID,
i've become the apparition you've predicted for my death

[ibarra]

Ibarra closed into her bubble of space until their feet were directly in front of each other. He looked down at her from his height, his face revealing all emotions that lacked. "We have now... Perhaps we should have met earlier. Are you aware how different things could have been?" He was loud like a man making a declaration. Ibarra did not speak often but when he did, it was for all to hear - unintentionally, for truth be told he was quite deaf to his own voice. When he sensed another wave of fear, Ibarra looked past his shoulder and saw the people on the street across suddenly turning around with a start. So many eavesdroppers wow.

He turned to look at the young girl again, wordlessly assessing her with cold, distant eyes. Why were they all so curious about her? Their curiosity made him curious and the faintest familiarity he could feel made him probe into his memories. It didn't really matter, he supposed. 

Ibarra lifted his hand and reached toward the girl as if to grab her. Those pigtails looked pretty heavy.

Inessa

[Inessa]

He stepped closer, and then closer - Inessa instinctively leaned a bit away from the man, worry growing in the pit of her stomach. Just what did he want? Did he know anything about personal space? And most importantly... how much did he know? How much did he realize?

Not much, apparently. We have now... He began. Perhaps we should have met earlier. Are you aware how different things could have been?

In all honesty, Inessa was simply confused - painfully aware of all that she had to lose, she was extremely nervous - both at his proximity and the way he said nothing while still giving her the feeling that he knew something. Inessa found herself wishing she could back up further, but the man had cornered her with her back to the stall, intentionally or not. It wasn't until Icarus(?) raised his hand and reached it towards her that she shifted, standing taller, puffing herself up, and tried to look as authoritative as possible. Don't touch me, she said, stiffly - and then continued. I'm afraid I don't know 'how different things could have been', sir, In no part due to the fact that they didn't happen. But, if you insist on standing so close to me... read: get away from me you're wigging me out. Might I at least have your name?

At least that would either confirm or deny her suspicions on the matter - that was, if he didn't give her a non-answer.

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IT'S BEEN THIRTEEN SECONDS SINCE YOU ALL LAST SAID,
i've become the apparition you've predicted for my death

ibarra

[ibarra]

Ibarra did not listen. He scooped her bundle of hair into his hand and fondled with it. Or at least that was what it appeared to be. He was merely playing with it like a child that found a shiny object he'd never seen before. But as a grown man imposing on a young lady, what the people saw was as exactly as it was.

"Very different," he said absently, nodding once to assent to his own statement. If they'd met earlier, maybe they could have looked at capes together. He didn't really find them interesting but he wouldn't have minded listening to why she did. She had a forlorn look on her face though now she was very edgy about something. Ibarra unclenched his hand and let the strands of hair fall through his fingers.

"Don't look so scary. It won't make you as beautiful." His eyes flickered back at her from the pigtail. "Have you not heard of me?"

It was an innocent question because a part of him still thought they knew each other so he wanted to confirm one last time. But true to Ibarra's life story, his intention was lost in translation by the same cold and empty look he was giving.

Inessa (Writing Ibarra creeps me out...but I suppose that means I'm doing it right.)

[Inessa]

The clear warning of a harsh don't touch me went fully ignored by the man, and he simply grabbed at a pigtail of hers, playing with it. Shame was what rose within her, her expression uncomfortable and angry, though she couldn't stop an ashamed blush from coloring her cheeks. What did this man want? She wanted to slap him - in fact, she raised a hand to, but then faltered. After all, if she hit him, what was stopping him from hitting her back? Instead, she leaned away again, her expression clearly upset, and gritted her teeth.

It was... just... so disgraceful! Shameful! She couldn't believe that someone had the gall to just go grab at a princess's hair - but then again, did she really look like a princess? It must be because she was nothing, had nothing, that they thought they could step all over her like this. And you know what? This man wouldn't be wrong about that. Inessa closed her eyes, trembling, trying not to cry, when the man spoke up. "Don't look so scary. It won't make you as beautiful." ...What? Didn't he get the memo?! Inessa already wasn't beautiful! If he wanted beautiful, he could look to her two older sisters with their light, gorgeous hair. But instead, he was fondling her pigtail like... like some sort of... pig!

"Have you not heard of me?" She sniffed, frowned, and then hazarded a guess, her tone and stance a lot more intimidated, this time - ...Weren't you around the castle? In Gra. Why are you here? and then, she sighed, looking down and away from the man. She really, really didn't like him fondling her hair, and since intimidation wasn't working, she next tried asking nicely. Please let go of my hair... I am not some... pet. Inessa reached behind her surreptitiously, aiming to get her hand around one of her arrows - if even then the man ignored her, she'd at least have something to startle him with.

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IT'S BEEN THIRTEEN SECONDS SINCE YOU ALL LAST SAID,
i've become the apparition you've predicted for my death

ibarra

[ibarra]

The castle in Gra... There was only one castle in Gra that Ibarra had been in and it was a time several months ago when he was part of the Plegian Guard. Did she come from the capital? A noble? A maid? A very inexperienced assassin sent by the Ylissean nobility who found true love with her intended target and changed her ways?

"So you lied," he stated simply. "That's a dangerous game you're playing." What was it they said about lying? It was digging deeper into your own grave. She should be careful. Having never lied his entire life, Ibarra wouldn't be speaking from experience but he knew the world was filled with silver-tongued men and woman capable of intricate wordplay. Those who threaded in-between risked stepping onto their own traps.

Ibarra did as he was asked though he'd yet to move to allow her to reclaim her space. He was oblivious to her discomfort and only caught on to one thing she said. Of course she wasn't some pet. Where did she get that idea?

"Silly girl. My horse receives no different treatment."

Inessa

[Inessa]

So you lied, He stated with finality, absolute simplicity, and Inessa jumped, recoiled - no! She hadn't meant to blow her cover just by asking who the fuck he was - she meant to learn who he was. I haven't lied, She hissed - too quickly and too defensively to be passed off as the truth. At least he let go of her hair, but that was little comfort on top of his suddenly seeing right through her. Inessa got a hold of one of her arrows, keeping that arm behind her, frowning angrily at this man - and finally deciding to sullenly respond, I am not a horse. Whether he treated his goddamn pony the same was irrelevant! She might be a complete failure of a princess, and a complete failure of a person, but you still didn't walk up and fondle people's hair!

In truth, Inessa just wished she could be respected a little more.

You didn't answer my question, who are you? She repeated, and then edged to the side a bit, keeping that hand on an arrow. At best, he wouldn't notice her attempts to stop being pinned down by him, at worst she could quickly stab him (or try) and bolt. Why are you here? If you were near the castle... Then, A. he was Icarus or Ibarras or whichever it was. And then B. they had an issue, and the issue was, 'what did he want?'

Somehow, Inessa doubted he was here to drag her back - it seemed he knew too little for that. Someone seeking her out likely would have noticed her hair and eyes already, and directly asked her who she was, right? Even if they've never seen her face before, they likely had descriptions to go off of. This man... didn't seem to, fascination with her hair aside. In fact, thinking about it, he seemed just a tad oblivious - or maybe like he didn't care enough about what she said to respond to more than one thing at a time. Maybe her next tactic would be 'say everything very, very slowly, like she's talking to a goddamn child'.

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IT'S BEEN THIRTEEN SECONDS SINCE YOU ALL LAST SAID,
i've become the apparition you've predicted for my death

ibarra

[ibarra]

Neither was she a horse, Ibarra thought, once more slightly bemused where she was getting these ideas from. He remained ignorant of her enragement but had somehow taken notice of the less conspicuous action taking place on her back instead. Was she trying to get her arrow? Maybe Ibarra should help her out. She'd been doing it for a while now.

"No, I had not," he replied levelly, growing annoyed by the nonstop questions. Which did she want him to answer first? "You sound so concerned. A liar has a lot of things to hide. If you're not lying, then perhaps you can answer me when I throw your questions back at you. Who you are, why you are here..." He stepped forward to close the distance she had attempted to retake, looming over her that his shadow covered her. Then, he noticed another shadow, one that unnaturally poked out of the shadow of a house on the right. Ibarra failed to see what was right before him but he would recognize instantly the nuances in his environment.

That was a sniper aiming from the roof.

"Young lady," Ibarra began, "You wouldn't want to die, correct?"

Inessa

[Inessa]

Just who did this smug motherfucker think he was? He couldn't just! Brush aside all of her questions like she didn't matter. Okay, yes, he could, and yes, she didn't matter as much as she should, as a princess, and yes, she was a failure on all respects, but - ...Inessa sighed heavily, settling down into a hopeless, powerless glare, her hand still on her arrows but not yet moving. You sound so concerned. A liar has a lot of things to hide. If you're not lying, then perhaps you can answer me when I throw your questions back at you. Who you are, why you are here... She hated this. Honestly, Inessa hated this. She wanted nothing more than to grab her arrow and stab him and then run away - she had no idea why he happened to be so... so close to the truth! It made Inessa uncomfortable. In fact, it made her nervous. Beyond nervousness, it made her panicky. Willing to resort to violence.

But violence was a last resort, in this situation. If there was a way she could get out of this, convince him that she wasn't what he pinned her as, perhaps she could answer her own questions, as well - and she assuredly had many. I'm here because I... wanted to shop. The lie came with a bit more hesitation, and she glanced behind her, at the capes. Innocent enough, right? Only a partial lie. I like it here. Is that so wrong?

The man's sudden question on death, though... Inessa visibly reeled, and then spluttered out a wholly ungraceful - No! Of course not! Of course not! What was the meaning of a question like that...? Are you... threatening me? Inessa tried to drop her tone into something 'dangerous', and not so much 'scared for her life', but it only arguably worked, considering she began trying to edge away from him again. Completely ignorant to the sniper behind her, and not willing to turn around to see whatever Ibarra glanced at, (if it was anything of importance) she was very certain this was some sort of threat, and she would have to fight him soon. Or, optimally, she'd run away.


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IT'S BEEN THIRTEEN SECONDS SINCE YOU ALL LAST SAID,
i've become the apparition you've predicted for my death

ibarra

[ibarra]

“Wrong?” His single visible eye leered harshly upon her. “No... There's nothing wrong at all. Being in places where you like. Doing what you like.”

But there were malicious people in Altea who strongly disagreed. Their objective was a mystery but their identity... It was what made Ibarra reel with doubt. Something was amiss. What were they doing here...?

“Then...” Ibarra reached for his back and slow drew a gold tome emblazoned with lightning. He would get his answer eventually. For now, he was going to deal with this girl. “I suggest you start running.”

Ibarra lunged forward and vanished. Through the young lady's side he went, sweeping past her like the wind and already, he was three feet away, makng his way to the house. The sniper had lost his element of surprise but the turn of events made him chuckle. To have someone charging on him from a superior position was suicidal.

The sniper released a sharp, straight arrow at Ibarra from the roof. Ibarra met his approaching death with the same unmoved eyes. Using the weight on his right foot, he bounced backward to the side, throwing an arm out to keep his balance. The arrow struck the ground beside Ibarra. By its trajectory, it would have pierced him in the middle of his skull but Ibarra moved to a spot away from the arrow's reach, almost like it was no coincidence...

Ibarra stayed put. The streets have been cleared and put into an unnatural silence. The sides that hid from his sight at both ends of the street must be filled with several soldiers. He hadn't heard the beating of wyverns but distance was an advantage they covered with speed and surprise. How many soldiers was he supposed to expect here? Ibarra looked absently at the sky.

It seems like they're surrounded.

Inessa

[Inessa]

The man left her with an ominous, short sentence, and quickly pulled out a tome - Inessa pulled out an arrow, but it was too late, he was already...

moving... past her...?

Her confusion mounted, and she turned to look at where the red-haired man went - all too late understanding that he hadn't been threatening her - he had been warning her of the sniper that stood on the roof behind her - one that even loosed an arrow at him. She backed up a few steps. What should she do? Should she try to help the strange, intimidating man? Why were there people trying to kill him - or were they there for her? Who was that sniper??

She turned to run - after all, he did advise her to run - when suddenly every alarm bell went off in her mind. The streets, previously filled with people, were mostly empty, cleared. Perhaps it had been that man's intimidating aura, or perhaps... it was a trap of a sort. Inessa had been trained a bit in how to avoid getting killed, but nothing in military tactics - the only thing she could do was recognize that there was something really, very wrong here. Alright, then... what to do? First of all, there was that man - the mage of some sort. Inessa took out her bow, and then loosed an arrow at the sniper - though Inessa carried a long-range bow with her, and she was a rather good shot, she did little to aim it. It'd probably go too wide to do more than distract the sniper - but then again, that was exactly what Inessa wanted, enough of a distraction to allow her to run to the strange, red-haired man.

She rushed over, and grabbed his sleeve, saying, That sniper has higher ground. We should go, now... Wait... why was she bothering to try to save this guy? Really, why was the princess bothering with that? Up until this point, he had been doing nothing but getting under her skin.

Maybe it was because there was a chance he was actually an ally. And maybe because, for all that she had been frustrated earlier, she didn't actually seriously wish harm upon him. Also, perhaps because she needed all of the allies she could get. Inessa wasn't interested in throwing her life away - at least, not today. C'mon, she continued, almost a plea, and then attempted to lead (or drag) the other away from a senseless battle with a sniper on higher ground, aiming to escape through a seemingly abandoned alley. The longer they lingered, the more time they had to become pincushions, after all.

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IT'S BEEN THIRTEEN SECONDS SINCE YOU ALL LAST SAID,
i've become the apparition you've predicted for my death

ibarra

[ibarra]

Ibarra appeared completely captivated by the sky when he was pulled away. He didn't resist, allowing himself to be taken to an alley right about a corner where they were faced with a curving path descending to a staircase at the end. There, Ibarra recognized the innocent flowerpot by a second floor window. He reached for the young woman's wrist and took his turn to drag her down the alley, its width forcing them to run in a line. Their footsteps softly pounded on the cobblestone, which were like shattering glasses in the dead silence. Ibarra wasn't saying anything, though he seemed to know where he was taking them both.

As they made it down the stairs, the alley stretched on to an exit in another street. Suddenly, Ibarra tugged on his companion and bolted through. He ran as if they were being chased, but not a single stray cat stalked behnd them. Again without explanations, he staggered to a stop under an overpass and skidded to the wall, using his hand to cushion him from his momentum as he slammed against it. Ibarra flipped himself and pushed his back to wall, pulling the young woman toward his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist and his knees pulled them down to the ground.

It would take a moment when the first sounds not made by them reached their ears. It began like an echo from afar when they appeared seconds later as shadows marching on the cobblestone beside them, with lances pointed upward like raised pitchforks. Soldiers were passing right above them. Ibarra took note of their numbers. They really were deploying the army. Now that he had ascertain they were in a hopeless situation, the only question remaining was 'why'? Ibarra fondled one of the young woman's pigtails, thinking deeply.

Inessa

[Inessa]

The man was surprisingly cooperative - allowing Inessa to lead him about with little in the way of protests. Or, well, at least until he seemed to recognize their surroundings, and suddenly took the lead - Inessa almost tripped at the pace that they were at. He ran like they were being chased, even though Inessa had been certain that they managed to get out of ... whatever situation they had been in beforehand. It was strange, but the princess wasn't about to complain just yet. They had been running for some time before the man - okay, was he Icarus or Ibarra? - stopped under an overpass, then wrapped his arms around Inessa's waist (!!!!) pulling them both to the ground. E-excuse me, she began, trying to worm her way out of his grasp, but then she heard it - the sounds of approaching footsteps.

She fell silent as - oh, it had to be 20, at least - soldiers passed overhead. Who were they, really? The Royal's armies? The Grimleal's armies? Someone else's? And... why were they being deployed now? The man moved a hand to take one of Inessa's ponytails again, playing with it, and it actually took the girl a moment before she realized, making a bit of a face. She attempted to extricate herself from the unwanted embrace - god, it was weird being hugged by some random twenty year old dude - and, more importantly, to get her hair out of range of his greedy little paws.

...You still haven't explained anything, she finally said, with a frown. Was she ever going to get an answer out of him? Maybe she should try honesty first. ...I'm Inessa. The third princess of the Royal family. And I was shopping. She said it lowly, sullenly - and then looked back to Ibarra. Are you going to tell me who you are? A pointed, easy question - this one, she was sure to say clearly. She had no idea why he was always so lacking in explaining himself, but if anyone needed to explain themselves, it was definitely him.

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IT'S BEEN THIRTEEN SECONDS SINCE YOU ALL LAST SAID,
i've become the apparition you've predicted for my death

ibarra