[ Well. There is that, by Whisperer Standards, at least. ]
I dunno, [ have a light shrug ] maybe you're just looking for your rhythm.
[ She's still a dancer at heart, after all, it was Kasumi Aoi's request to have her teach the batch of Whisperers who she'd gotten know back in 2012 that had paved the way for her to choose this particular Division.
[ Ah. So this was a self-assessment. She finishes her cigarette, throws it away properly before answering. ]
Alright, I suppose, all things considered. I am not used to these things, and... I like that challenge. I like to learn.
[ Of course, most of her thought processes on these lessons were "Now, how do I use this new skill to my advantage and hurt/maim/kill someone better?" No one has to know about that, really. ]
[ There's a twitch of the brow when she notes the perfect arc that the cigarette makes when the Bladian tosses it. ]
You've got good aim. [ There's a smile playing on her lips. She's heard the stories ( and seen it personally ) about how Kalika is when it comes to "idiots who don't know the meaning of throw it away properly."
But that's all she's going to say on the matter. For now. ]
It's good that you think that way, then. [ She straightens, hands stretching above her head a little, the gesture reminiscent of her other self, the fox. ] Most people don't like new things and prefer to stay within their comfort zone. [ Settling back down now, and looking over a smile in her eyes. ]
[ She shrugs at Cisco's comment on her aim. ] Practice. [ And she's had years of it. You Changing Breed are all the same.
She leans back on her hands, looks at Cisco. ]
I was like that before. Afraid to try something new. But I had to learn to survive on my own. [ A Grendal-controlled Russia isn't good for 11 year old girls. ]
[ And she's looking right back, features neutral, but pleasant. ]
Then I think you'll do just fine. [ A small smile now. ] Zangyaku is all about effort, and the drive behind meeting whatever challenges you face and showing those challenges that you can take them.
[ A pause, at that. ] So. I have a proposal for you.
[ A small, somber smile plays on her lips. She's been wondering about her own personal investment in the War Hounds ever since she and Cen flew back from Tokyo.
Kaz is easy: he reminds her so much of herself that it's second-nature to reach out to the boy. It helps, she supposes, that Neeka's grandson has since sought her out and opened up to her about things that run parallel to her own personal experiences.
With Yulia, it's a little bit more indulgent. ]
Remember when we first spoke?
I was on the lawn with Aidan before Rethe came along and I walked over to join you.
[ That's a good look on you, Bostova. You should smile more.
She kills her cigarette on her tin; lights a fresh one up. ]
No, I didn't. [ She's filing that away as well, calibrating how to go about your training. Anyway-- ]
Remember how I said that one of my best friends was a Bladian? [ Her talk with Deirdra had given her things to think about -- things she hadn't had time to think through while occupied during the latter part of the Darkest Vigil; things she'd shelved once they'd hit the Armistice at Blaece and she, Cen, her kids and everyone else could finally take time to breathe. ]
I was talking about Lars Hartzler.
[ There was Hikaru, too. But... she can get to tha at another time. ]
He was the other Bladian in the Rockin' Rollas. And my second really good friend from that blade.
She's watching the embers on the edge of her cigarette now, and when she speaks again, it's soft and sad: ] Yeah. He did.
[ She takes a puff; gently exhales the smoke and watches it dissipate into the air. ]
I never got to help him, though. Or to say goodbye.
[ She'd learned about Lars' passing two weeks after coming home and finally after settling in as best as she could. She'd gone around, had mustered the courage to seek out Henry only to learn that Lars had passed away, and all the events that had led up to that passing.
Funny how she'd always thought that they would have a longer run. He'd been the one to tell her after all, that once they won the fight with Nyx ( not 'if', but 'when', his exact word choice at the time ) they would all live long and happy lives.
She lifts a hand then, fingers curled, to her lips.
Deirdra was right. She still carried the guilt of it. Sure, she'd made her peace, and she also ensured that part of her hunter's earnings went to funding the hospital down in the Visayas -- Lars' dream, given the kind of doctor that he had been. ]
[ She pauses to look at that hand on her shoulder, and then smiles when you give her words back to her. ]
It's a hard thing to do, though. Isn't it?
[ Lifting her cigarette now to her lips, the faintest tremor in her fingers before she takes a steadying puff. ]
They hit his dream. Grendel, I mean.
At the end of Nyx, he told us about the hospital he wanted to set up, one that wouldn't care what conspiracy or compact you were from. [ Her voice goes soft. ] If you needed help and they could give it, their doors were always open.
You'd think we would be safe. That this country wouldn't feel it as much. But they hit the hospital, and... he would have gone into Rapture for that if it weren't for Hikaru's interference.
[ Falling quiet now, looking back down at that cigarette. ] I'm just glad that Miriam and the kids turned out okay after that. But I still miss that idiot.
[ Her shoulders shake a little, but she takes one very deep breath and gets herself back together. ]
I think, [ She starts, leaning back on her hands on the steps. She looks at Cisco, head tilted just slightly to block the bright sunlight. ] it is only natural for you to feel that way because you cared a lot for him. For them.
And besides. [ If the blue of her eyes were cold before, it's even colder now. ] Grendal doesn't discriminate. They destroy anything, everything they get their hands on. [ Of course she knows; she's seen it happen so many times. ]
[ The ice in her gaze melts into a mix of fear, sadness. She looks away, releasing a breath that makes her shoulders shake. ]
It wasn't easy, you know? The first few years after Zangyaku, after the Blade King drove Grendal away from my town. Sometimes I would still wake up, thinking that it would be the day they take me away.
Someone taught me how to chase them away. [ She smiles, fond yet sad. It makes her light up again; Cisco would notice it, has seen it before, the way she's so careful with that Zippo of hers. ]
[ She's noting the lighter, the stylized 'M' engraved into the metal, the way Yulia carries it around with such care. But stories as heavy as that are often personal, and while Cisco is an optimist who is rather big on talking, there are things that she understands, that take time. ]
That's good to hear.
[ She'll shift gears for now, give the girl an out. Rising, she stretches, and then looks over to the Russian. ]
[ Her eyebrows meet and make a confused, curious line. As far as she knew, The Fort was a place of clubs and bars. Surely they wouldn't be open at a time like this...? ]
[ Have a smile, Bostova. One that puts to mind a mischievous fox, even if this one hasn't changed in the least. ]
You'll see.
[ Cisco's leading you to her car ( it's my husband's, borrowed it for the day because I like how smoothly it moves on the road ) which she uses to zip you both down to The Fort for what appears to be less of training and more of a girl's day out.
You'll note that she looks like a regular at the establishments she takes you to -- people greet her warmly, seem to anticipate her needs, making things go smooth. You're also making stops to the strip of bars in one area, at which people greet her like an old friend, and to whom she readily introduces you as her little sister.
You're kicking back at a coffeeshop along a place she refers to as "High Street" some two, three hours later, and you'll hear her speak right into your mind as soon as she catches you eye when you settle down at one of the tables outside with a few shopping bags -- yours, hers.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ Smiling kindly. Noting the choice of distance and chuckling softly. ]
Yulia, I don't bite. [ And okay, ] You're not in trouble.
You did a lot better than I did back when I first started.
[ Lighting up a fresh cigarette now: inhale, exhale. ]
no subject
[ She's quiet again, just smoking her cigarette and listening to Cisco go on. And then... she looks at her curiously. ]
I have my doubts about that. Everyone says I am too... [ vague wave of the hand ] rough around edges.
no subject
I dunno, [ have a light shrug ] maybe you're just looking for your rhythm.
[ She's still a dancer at heart, after all, it was Kasumi Aoi's request to have her teach the batch of Whisperers who she'd gotten know back in 2012 that had paved the way for her to choose this particular Division.
Back to Yulia now. ]
How's your first week going so far?
no subject
Alright, I suppose, all things considered. I am not used to these things, and... I like that challenge. I like to learn.
[ Of course, most of her thought processes on these lessons were "Now, how do I use this new skill to my advantage and hurt/maim/kill someone better?" No one has to know about that, really. ]
no subject
You've got good aim. [ There's a smile playing on her lips. She's heard the stories ( and seen it personally ) about how Kalika is when it comes to "idiots who don't know the meaning of throw it away properly."
But that's all she's going to say on the matter. For now. ]
It's good that you think that way, then. [ She straightens, hands stretching above her head a little, the gesture reminiscent of her other self, the fox. ] Most people don't like new things and prefer to stay within their comfort zone. [ Settling back down now, and looking over a smile in her eyes. ]
no subject
She leans back on her hands, looks at Cisco. ]
I was like that before. Afraid to try something new. But I had to learn to survive on my own. [ A Grendal-controlled Russia isn't good for 11 year old girls. ]
no subject
Then I think you'll do just fine. [ A small smile now. ] Zangyaku is all about effort, and the drive behind meeting whatever challenges you face and showing those challenges that you can take them.
[ A pause, at that. ] So. I have a proposal for you.
no subject
At the mention of the proposal, she tilts her head. ]
What is it?
no subject
[ The faintest dip of the head. ] I hope this is fine by you.
no subject
[ It's not that she isn't fine with this, but she's curious. Cisco doesn't have to go out of her way to do this, but she is. ]
no subject
Kaz is easy: he reminds her so much of herself that it's second-nature to reach out to the boy. It helps, she supposes, that Neeka's grandson has since sought her out and opened up to her about things that run parallel to her own personal experiences.
With Yulia, it's a little bit more indulgent. ]
Remember when we first spoke?
I was on the lawn with Aidan before Rethe came along and I walked over to join you.
no subject
You came up to me asking for a light. [ A tilt of her head, and gives Cisco a smile. ]
Pretty sure you didn't need it, but you asked anyway.
no subject
She kills her cigarette on her tin; lights a fresh one up. ]
No, I didn't. [ She's filing that away as well, calibrating how to go about your training. Anyway-- ]
Remember how I said that one of my best friends was a Bladian? [ Her talk with Deirdra had given her things to think about -- things she hadn't had time to think through while occupied during the latter part of the Darkest Vigil; things she'd shelved once they'd hit the Armistice at Blaece and she, Cen, her kids and everyone else could finally take time to breathe. ]
I was talking about Lars Hartzler.
[ There was Hikaru, too. But... she can get to tha at another time. ]
He was the other Bladian in the Rockin' Rollas. And my second really good friend from that blade.
no subject
Mm... You told me he felt guilty. About not being able to... help you.
[ She remembers that from their conversation a few months ago. ]
no subject
She's watching the embers on the edge of her cigarette now, and when she speaks again, it's soft and sad: ] Yeah. He did.
[ She takes a puff; gently exhales the smoke and watches it dissipate into the air. ]
I never got to help him, though. Or to say goodbye.
[ She'd learned about Lars' passing two weeks after coming home and finally after settling in as best as she could. She'd gone around, had mustered the courage to seek out Henry only to learn that Lars had passed away, and all the events that had led up to that passing.
Funny how she'd always thought that they would have a longer run. He'd been the one to tell her after all, that once they won the fight with Nyx ( not 'if', but 'when', his exact word choice at the time ) they would all live long and happy lives.
She lifts a hand then, fingers curled, to her lips.
Deirdra was right. She still carried the guilt of it. Sure, she'd made her peace, and she also ensured that part of her hunter's earnings went to funding the hospital down in the Visayas -- Lars' dream, given the kind of doctor that he had been. ]
no subject
Comfort isn't her strong suit, but... ]
Maybe you should follow your own advice.
"Don't let your guilt eat you."
no subject
It's a hard thing to do, though. Isn't it?
[ Lifting her cigarette now to her lips, the faintest tremor in her fingers before she takes a steadying puff. ]
They hit his dream. Grendel, I mean.
At the end of Nyx, he told us about the hospital he wanted to set up, one that wouldn't care what conspiracy or compact you were from. [ Her voice goes soft. ] If you needed help and they could give it, their doors were always open.
You'd think we would be safe. That this country wouldn't feel it as much. But they hit the hospital, and... he would have gone into Rapture for that if it weren't for Hikaru's interference.
[ Falling quiet now, looking back down at that cigarette. ] I'm just glad that Miriam and the kids turned out okay after that. But I still miss that idiot.
[ Her shoulders shake a little, but she takes one very deep breath and gets herself back together. ]
no subject
And besides. [ If the blue of her eyes were cold before, it's even colder now. ] Grendal doesn't discriminate. They destroy anything, everything they get their hands on. [ Of course she knows; she's seen it happen so many times. ]
no subject
When she speaks again, she's looking down at the cracks on the ground. ]
Who did they take?
no subject
[ The ice in her gaze melts into a mix of fear, sadness. She looks away, releasing a breath that makes her shoulders shake. ]
It wasn't easy, you know? The first few years after Zangyaku, after the Blade King drove Grendal away from my town. Sometimes I would still wake up, thinking that it would be the day they take me away.
I still had nightmares, even at Jotunheim.
no subject
And now?
no subject
Someone taught me how to chase them away. [ She smiles, fond yet sad. It makes her light up again; Cisco would notice it, has seen it before, the way she's so careful with that Zippo of hers. ]
no subject
That's good to hear.
[ She'll shift gears for now, give the girl an out. Rising, she stretches, and then looks over to the Russian. ]
First order of training. Let's go to the Fort.
no subject
Why there?
no subject
You'll see.
[ Cisco's leading you to her car ( it's my husband's, borrowed it for the day because I like how smoothly it moves on the road ) which she uses to zip you both down to The Fort for what appears to be less of training and more of a girl's day out.
You'll note that she looks like a regular at the establishments she takes you to -- people greet her warmly, seem to anticipate her needs, making things go smooth. You're also making stops to the strip of bars in one area, at which people greet her like an old friend, and to whom she readily introduces you as her little sister.
You're kicking back at a coffeeshop along a place she refers to as "High Street" some two, three hours later, and you'll hear her speak right into your mind as soon as she catches you eye when you settle down at one of the tables outside with a few shopping bags -- yours, hers.
( Coffee or tea, sweetheart? My treat. ) ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)