Mizu tried not to watch the lieutenant after she dismissed him, but she paid close attention to her peripherals. She fully expected him to leave--there was no reason for him to stay--but that wasn't what she wanted.
When he sighed and turned around, Mizu pressed her back further toward the ground, bracing to be alone. It wasn't so bad out here. She might stay a while regardless.
She saw Holloway follow her gaze toward the stars and grew curious about what he was thinking about. All of it? Everything? How much of a mess she had gotten them all into?
But then she heard him start to take off his own sheathe, and her breath caught silently in her throat. She was not immediately pleased when he settled onto his elbows a few feet from her, but she settled in eventually, the tension easing by degrees in her body for every moment Holloway didn't say anything.
And then, when he did, he said, "Call me Lance, then."
She couldn't help it--she smiled. It was small and slight but noticeable if Lance turned to look. He understood. And he was choosing to be here even if all that meant was looking up at the stars in a meadow together.
A soft gratitude came over her chest. She couldn't have asked for this, not directly, but now that it was happening, elation bubbled up from her stomach, and she released a long, low measured sigh, uncrossing her ankles and relaxing into the ground. She could fall asleep here, she thought.
She mulled over their earlier conversation and the fact that, right this very moment, both Evan and Raccoon were cavorting with a goddess. How Lance would soon join them. How foreign that all felt to Mizu. It was absurd, truly, and not at all what Mizu anticipated would follow a civil war, but she genuinely was grateful a goddess--even a less revered one--was supporting their cause. For the first time, Mizu tentatively began to believe they actually might succeed.
"My first name is Oomizuao. Mizu," she said, remembering, too, her conversation with the old woman.
After another few moments of silence, Mizu said, "I want the volunteers to believe going to the goddess is an honor. But the truth is, I have no idea."
Mizu then rolled onto her side toward Lance and lifted her head so her arm and elbow could support it.
"How did you decide to go?" she asked with genuine curiosity.
Mizu/Lance
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Mizu/Lance
Lance was damned curious about the commander's reaction to him staying, but he didn't dare bring his gaze down from the stars to look at her. He heard a sigh soon enough, and that help his chest relax. It seemed like they were both letting something down, which felt good.
Silence still stood between them, though, and anxiety did continue to buzz in Lance's chest about it. Was it all right to just lay here staring at the stars wit her? Was that just 'killing time'? Once again, he found himself asking what he even wanted here, and he still didn't really know.
"My first name is Oomizuao. Mizu," Miyamoto finally offered, and that helped Lance relax some again. He'd gleaned her first name before, but it was going to be much more comfortable to use now that she'd given it to him directly. He considered replying with a playful, Nice to meet you, Mizu, but chickened out. Yes, there were ways they were meeting each other anew tonight, but, he couldn't pretend like there wasn't already a certain rapport, even if they were exploring outside of it somewhat. He had to admit, it was a little confusing, but it also felt a bit electrifying in that way.
"I want the volunteers to believe going to the goddess is an honor," Mizu continued after a few moments of silence, "But the truth is, I have no idea."
Lance tilted his head in contemplation, holding himself back from giving a knee-jerk quip of a response. He tried to dig for something of substance, but before he could get very far, Mizu surprised him by rolling onto her side to face him, finally pulling his gaze back to her with the gravity of her attention.
"How did you decide to go?"
Lance's skin felt ridiculously hot for how cool the grass was beneath him. Nervousness nearly vibrated in him, he almost worried that Mizu could somehow feel it reverberating in the ground. How did he decide to go? Was he crazy?
Lance heaved a sigh from deep within him, letting it trill his lips on its way out, and he flopped the rest of the way down onto his back, his arms collapsing into the grass above him.
"I can't pass up the opportunity," he said with a crooked sort of shrug, perhaps made a bit awkward by the ground against his back, but he didn't particularly care at the moment. He felt awkward, maybe it was right that he looked it. He didn't want to just leave his reply at that, though, so he went on.
"To meet a frickin goddess... see another world... I'd be lying if I said it wasn't all pretty terrifying, but I can't... I can't imagine how I'd feel if I didn't take the chance."
His tone was light enough, his body seemingly calm despite how he felt inside. Still, the fear that buzzed in his chest gnawed at his attention. 'Pretty terrifying' felt like it didn't even begin to cover it. Finally, it bubbled up into his throat, and words spilled from him in a suddenly very obviously anxious babble.
"I'm supposed to come up with an offering involving humility, somehow, apparently. According to the lady in the woods, I guess. I don't even know where to start."
His hands raised up from the grass to gesture in vague exasperation as he spoke, and plopped back down when he finished. He felt deflated, and rather intensely embarrassed to be seen so, but at least he could pretend he was sinking into the grass, disappearing into the ground under the vast open sky.
Silence still stood between them, though, and anxiety did continue to buzz in Lance's chest about it. Was it all right to just lay here staring at the stars wit her? Was that just 'killing time'? Once again, he found himself asking what he even wanted here, and he still didn't really know.
"My first name is Oomizuao. Mizu," Miyamoto finally offered, and that helped Lance relax some again. He'd gleaned her first name before, but it was going to be much more comfortable to use now that she'd given it to him directly. He considered replying with a playful, Nice to meet you, Mizu, but chickened out. Yes, there were ways they were meeting each other anew tonight, but, he couldn't pretend like there wasn't already a certain rapport, even if they were exploring outside of it somewhat. He had to admit, it was a little confusing, but it also felt a bit electrifying in that way.
"I want the volunteers to believe going to the goddess is an honor," Mizu continued after a few moments of silence, "But the truth is, I have no idea."
Lance tilted his head in contemplation, holding himself back from giving a knee-jerk quip of a response. He tried to dig for something of substance, but before he could get very far, Mizu surprised him by rolling onto her side to face him, finally pulling his gaze back to her with the gravity of her attention.
"How did you decide to go?"
Lance's skin felt ridiculously hot for how cool the grass was beneath him. Nervousness nearly vibrated in him, he almost worried that Mizu could somehow feel it reverberating in the ground. How did he decide to go? Was he crazy?
Lance heaved a sigh from deep within him, letting it trill his lips on its way out, and he flopped the rest of the way down onto his back, his arms collapsing into the grass above him.
"I can't pass up the opportunity," he said with a crooked sort of shrug, perhaps made a bit awkward by the ground against his back, but he didn't particularly care at the moment. He felt awkward, maybe it was right that he looked it. He didn't want to just leave his reply at that, though, so he went on.
"To meet a frickin goddess... see another world... I'd be lying if I said it wasn't all pretty terrifying, but I can't... I can't imagine how I'd feel if I didn't take the chance."
His tone was light enough, his body seemingly calm despite how he felt inside. Still, the fear that buzzed in his chest gnawed at his attention. 'Pretty terrifying' felt like it didn't even begin to cover it. Finally, it bubbled up into his throat, and words spilled from him in a suddenly very obviously anxious babble.
"I'm supposed to come up with an offering involving humility, somehow, apparently. According to the lady in the woods, I guess. I don't even know where to start."
His hands raised up from the grass to gesture in vague exasperation as he spoke, and plopped back down when he finished. He felt deflated, and rather intensely embarrassed to be seen so, but at least he could pretend he was sinking into the grass, disappearing into the ground under the vast open sky.
Re: Mizu/Lance
Mizu watched Lance carefully, a light and subtle amusement on her face. She liked how his hands were so expressive of his exasperation, and she was interested in what he was saying.
"Adventure, then," Mizu said, a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth.
She nodded to herself, looking down at the blades of grass and wondering about Lance's offering. She supposed it was meant to be difficult--that what gives it value--and if the old woman recommended that for Lance...
She fought a short laugh and managed to maintain her composure.
"I've spoken with the woman in the woods, " Mizu offered. "She was incredibly cryptic. But, I have the feeling she knows what she's talking about."
She wanted to offer some suggestions to Lance, but she wasn't sure what to say, and she was far too content here under the stars to worry herself over his dilemma.
Mizu laid back on the grass, smiling up at the stars. Goddesses, she thought and subtly shook her head.
"Adventure, then," Mizu said, a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth.
She nodded to herself, looking down at the blades of grass and wondering about Lance's offering. She supposed it was meant to be difficult--that what gives it value--and if the old woman recommended that for Lance...
She fought a short laugh and managed to maintain her composure.
"I've spoken with the woman in the woods, " Mizu offered. "She was incredibly cryptic. But, I have the feeling she knows what she's talking about."
She wanted to offer some suggestions to Lance, but she wasn't sure what to say, and she was far too content here under the stars to worry herself over his dilemma.
Mizu laid back on the grass, smiling up at the stars. Goddesses, she thought and subtly shook her head.
Re: Mizu/Lance
"Adventure, then," Mizu said, and Lance's cheeks burned. Was that a stupid reason to go? What if the goddess didn't want mere sightseers? Was that what he was? Evan and Novelty's mentions of worship echoed in Lance's mind, and he began to wonder whether Mizu was a religious person before all this. He started to tilt his head to glance towards her again, when she continued speaking.
"I've spoken with the woman in the woods," she offered. "She was incredibly cryptic. But, I have the feeling she knows what she's talking about."
Lance clicked his tongue softly as he returned his gaze to the stars above them. He tried to search for any way that Mizu's comment helped him, but it seemed a bit frustratingly unhelpful at the moment. Affirmation, he supposed, that he wasn't wracking his mind about nothing, at least, but that was about it. Finally, he drew in a sharp breath, gathering his courage to follow through on his previous curiosity.
"Do you... pray? Or, worship, or....?" Lance wiggled a little in the grass, like he was trying to find just a slightly more comfortable divot in the ground for his hips to settle into. He chewed a bit of a frown, wondering whether he should provide more context about why he was asking, or where he was coming from. Or, should he just let Mizu answer the questions as they stood, no leading or explanations to dig for anything in particular? He felt antsy, though, and finally, more context bubbled out of him whether he wanted it to or not.
"I never really have--not since I was a little kid, anyway."
"I've spoken with the woman in the woods," she offered. "She was incredibly cryptic. But, I have the feeling she knows what she's talking about."
Lance clicked his tongue softly as he returned his gaze to the stars above them. He tried to search for any way that Mizu's comment helped him, but it seemed a bit frustratingly unhelpful at the moment. Affirmation, he supposed, that he wasn't wracking his mind about nothing, at least, but that was about it. Finally, he drew in a sharp breath, gathering his courage to follow through on his previous curiosity.
"Do you... pray? Or, worship, or....?" Lance wiggled a little in the grass, like he was trying to find just a slightly more comfortable divot in the ground for his hips to settle into. He chewed a bit of a frown, wondering whether he should provide more context about why he was asking, or where he was coming from. Or, should he just let Mizu answer the questions as they stood, no leading or explanations to dig for anything in particular? He felt antsy, though, and finally, more context bubbled out of him whether he wanted it to or not.
"I never really have--not since I was a little kid, anyway."
Re: Mizu/Lance
"Do you... pray? Or, worship, or...?"
Mizu was somewhat caught off guard by the question, her eyes widening and her jaw setting itself lower. Lance appeared just as uncomfortable with the question, his hips moving back and forth against the ground in a motion that was decidedly less sexual than what they had done while he was standing. She laid back against the ground again herself--being wistful about this was easier while staring up at the stars.
"No. Honestly, until all this started happening with the goddess, I thought it was all superstition." She had the impulse to keep talking, and usually she would have quieted herself, but she was beginning to feel comfortable with Lance, and if not with Lance, then who? Even with Captain Fujiwara, Mizu needed to have her guard up to some degree.
"The way the people who raised me tell it, I was left at the border of Asphodel as a baby. I was raised by a rural village--they all took turns caring for me. I didn't ever really have a place of my own. The village I was in told stories about me--about why I had been left, about what it meant--and I suppose it was in my best interest to disbelieve them. They taught me that the gods were to be respected, that they were even more fickle than humans, that they demanded offerings, and I played along where it was required. But, at the first opportunity, I joined the army. It was the easiest path out. I worked my way up from there, and superstition did little for me.
"It was when the king announced his vendetta against Dehaljadrun that I started to doubt his ability to lead. There had certainly been concerns before that, but..." Mizu sighed quietly, wondering if she was boring Lance. She shook her head. "I still don't know what it means that he hates her so badly. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, I suppose."
Mizu tilted her head slightly in Lance's direction, trying to get a read on his expression. It was more than she had really shared with anyone before, and she had no sense of how it might have landed.
Mizu was somewhat caught off guard by the question, her eyes widening and her jaw setting itself lower. Lance appeared just as uncomfortable with the question, his hips moving back and forth against the ground in a motion that was decidedly less sexual than what they had done while he was standing. She laid back against the ground again herself--being wistful about this was easier while staring up at the stars.
"No. Honestly, until all this started happening with the goddess, I thought it was all superstition." She had the impulse to keep talking, and usually she would have quieted herself, but she was beginning to feel comfortable with Lance, and if not with Lance, then who? Even with Captain Fujiwara, Mizu needed to have her guard up to some degree.
"The way the people who raised me tell it, I was left at the border of Asphodel as a baby. I was raised by a rural village--they all took turns caring for me. I didn't ever really have a place of my own. The village I was in told stories about me--about why I had been left, about what it meant--and I suppose it was in my best interest to disbelieve them. They taught me that the gods were to be respected, that they were even more fickle than humans, that they demanded offerings, and I played along where it was required. But, at the first opportunity, I joined the army. It was the easiest path out. I worked my way up from there, and superstition did little for me.
"It was when the king announced his vendetta against Dehaljadrun that I started to doubt his ability to lead. There had certainly been concerns before that, but..." Mizu sighed quietly, wondering if she was boring Lance. She shook her head. "I still don't know what it means that he hates her so badly. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, I suppose."
Mizu tilted her head slightly in Lance's direction, trying to get a read on his expression. It was more than she had really shared with anyone before, and she had no sense of how it might have landed.
Re: Mizu/Lance
Lance kept his gaze on the stars as Mizu spoke. He listened to her quietly, trying to quell the squirming discomfort in his chest. He supposed it made sense that religion would bring up childhood--it clearly did for him--but somehow he hadn't expected to get such a peek into Mizu's history. It was a little overwhelming, if he was being honest--like, this big important fragile thing that he was terrified of dropping. And he had a long history of dropping fragile things.
It was tempting to prod Mizu about the particular stories her village told about her--why did they think she had been left?--but even to him, that registered as a bit rude. She talked around it on purpose, and Lance wasn't in the mood to push buttons. Maybe he was sorely aware that his own buttons might be getting a bit more accessible than he liked here soon. It was a bit terrifying, but he couldn't quite help pressing forward.
"My village was also pretty superstitious," he offered hesitantly, a little afraid that Mizu might balk at comparison--Lance certainly hadn't been abandoned to his as a baby. Quite the contrary... "My parents especially. I played along as a kid--I mean, I guess I bought into it, for a while. Soooo many rituals..." he raised one hand up towards the sky where he could see it, his wrist and fingers performing a well-practiced gesture a little like he was conducting music for a moment. He had mixed feelings about it coming so easily to him even after all these years.
"Especially around, like, purification, blessings... setting things up to be in a particular state..." he watched his hand make a couple more bitterly nostalgic gestures against the night sky as he spoke, then sighed and let it fall back into the grass. "It was like walking on eggshells sometimes. Finally I just started making peace with inevitably messing something up, and, y'know what, not much bad actually happened. I mean, people got upset, but the gods?" Lance clicked his tongue, and summoned a cocky grin back into his expression, though it lacked quite a lot of its usual luster. "I've been doing all right, y'know? Haven't been struck by lightning yet."
His smirk faded quickly, though, and another sigh heaved itself from his chest. He was tired. On one level, he'd had a big day of sparring and excitement; on another level, he felt exhausted bringing back up memories of all the little rules he used to follow. It had been so freeing to break them, to stop caring. And, surely it wasn't like the goddess of dreams and desire wanted Lance purified, right? So, probably, the answer didn't lie back in his childhood rituals anyway. Still, they felt heavy in his body now, a sort of inescapable dread weighing him down in the grass as Evan's warning about having a smart mouth echoed in his periphery.
((OOC: Also just to share some world-building thoughts, I found myself imagining that Lance might've come from a Veil-heavy culture. Like, I'm imagining in modern-day Lance's parents might've been the type to have a room with plastic-wrapped furniture that basically no one was ever allowed in--least of all himself, lest he break something. Which I think is a very Fallen-Veil-type thing lol. I've been getting curious about how this might contrast with Evan's upbringing. I think Evan was raised in the capitol or something like, so a more nobility in a big city type thing, and I find myself imagining that that was much more of the monotheist-y flavor of things. I also suspect that Evan's parents were a bit more performative/hypocritical about their spiritual practice, whereas I think Lance's were very earnest. I might also make like a meta post to kinda collect more thoughts like this together sometime.))
It was tempting to prod Mizu about the particular stories her village told about her--why did they think she had been left?--but even to him, that registered as a bit rude. She talked around it on purpose, and Lance wasn't in the mood to push buttons. Maybe he was sorely aware that his own buttons might be getting a bit more accessible than he liked here soon. It was a bit terrifying, but he couldn't quite help pressing forward.
"My village was also pretty superstitious," he offered hesitantly, a little afraid that Mizu might balk at comparison--Lance certainly hadn't been abandoned to his as a baby. Quite the contrary... "My parents especially. I played along as a kid--I mean, I guess I bought into it, for a while. Soooo many rituals..." he raised one hand up towards the sky where he could see it, his wrist and fingers performing a well-practiced gesture a little like he was conducting music for a moment. He had mixed feelings about it coming so easily to him even after all these years.
"Especially around, like, purification, blessings... setting things up to be in a particular state..." he watched his hand make a couple more bitterly nostalgic gestures against the night sky as he spoke, then sighed and let it fall back into the grass. "It was like walking on eggshells sometimes. Finally I just started making peace with inevitably messing something up, and, y'know what, not much bad actually happened. I mean, people got upset, but the gods?" Lance clicked his tongue, and summoned a cocky grin back into his expression, though it lacked quite a lot of its usual luster. "I've been doing all right, y'know? Haven't been struck by lightning yet."
His smirk faded quickly, though, and another sigh heaved itself from his chest. He was tired. On one level, he'd had a big day of sparring and excitement; on another level, he felt exhausted bringing back up memories of all the little rules he used to follow. It had been so freeing to break them, to stop caring. And, surely it wasn't like the goddess of dreams and desire wanted Lance purified, right? So, probably, the answer didn't lie back in his childhood rituals anyway. Still, they felt heavy in his body now, a sort of inescapable dread weighing him down in the grass as Evan's warning about having a smart mouth echoed in his periphery.
((OOC: Also just to share some world-building thoughts, I found myself imagining that Lance might've come from a Veil-heavy culture. Like, I'm imagining in modern-day Lance's parents might've been the type to have a room with plastic-wrapped furniture that basically no one was ever allowed in--least of all himself, lest he break something. Which I think is a very Fallen-Veil-type thing lol. I've been getting curious about how this might contrast with Evan's upbringing. I think Evan was raised in the capitol or something like, so a more nobility in a big city type thing, and I find myself imagining that that was much more of the monotheist-y flavor of things. I also suspect that Evan's parents were a bit more performative/hypocritical about their spiritual practice, whereas I think Lance's were very earnest. I might also make like a meta post to kinda collect more thoughts like this together sometime.))
Re: Mizu/Lance
Mizu turned her head to look at Lance as he started speaking, genuinely interested in what he had to say. She watched as he made some religious gestures she recognized and others she didn't, his hands catching the moonlight as they moved. It really was a beautiful evening, and she was happy not to be spending it alone.
"...haven't been struck by lightning yet," Lance said, speaking to the ways in which he abandoned his family's traditions. She smiled slightly, but then her mouth droopped in contemplation as the conversation brought to mind the shimmer the goddess had created--the shimmer Mizu had asked the goddess to create. Could the goddess strike someone down with lightning? And what would happen when the unbound her? Were all of the gods bound? Was there a good reason for that?
Her conversation with Captain Fujiwara came back to mind, and Mizu reassured herself that the most she could do was the best she could given the information she had.
"How did you feel this morning during the goddess' display?" Mizu asked, turned her head to look at Lance directly again.
"...haven't been struck by lightning yet," Lance said, speaking to the ways in which he abandoned his family's traditions. She smiled slightly, but then her mouth droopped in contemplation as the conversation brought to mind the shimmer the goddess had created--the shimmer Mizu had asked the goddess to create. Could the goddess strike someone down with lightning? And what would happen when the unbound her? Were all of the gods bound? Was there a good reason for that?
Her conversation with Captain Fujiwara came back to mind, and Mizu reassured herself that the most she could do was the best she could given the information she had.
"How did you feel this morning during the goddess' display?" Mizu asked, turned her head to look at Lance directly again.
Re: Mizu/Lance
"How did you feel this morning during the goddess' display?" Mizu asked, and Lance couldn't help breaking into a wide smile. It was good to be reminded of that feeling. He'd gotten so mired in discouragement and distraction since then, he'd forgotten that sensation, but it came rushing back to him quickly, helping to lighten his body as well as his spirits.
"Absolutely thrilled." He said with glee as he finally rolled his head to the side to try to find Mizu's eyes. Now that he had some of his genuine smile back on, he wanted her to see it. His eyes did start to drift back up to the stars as he continued to speak, though.
"I mean, for one, just the confirmation. Like, I certainly couldn't deny that was something from beyond this world, at the very least. And the sensation that whatever it was was on our side? I mean. Talk about encouraging."
Lance's smile kept up for a few moments after he drifted off there, but eventually started to fade, or at least soften, as he floundered on what he wanted to say next.
"Honestly, I was thrilled and excited all day, right up until--" Something caught in Lance's throat and he hesitated, though it took him a second to figure out why. It was stupid questions, like, should he say Evan or Rutliff? Normally, around, y'know, the commander, it would've been Rutliff, but he was around Mizu, now, so... Evan? But that wasn't all of it. Lance had never totally figured out whatever rapport Evan had with the commander--with Mizu. It seemed complicated, but definitely held gravity for Evan. Lance supposed he felt a little like he was butting in, but, well, Evan was already off dallying with a goddess, so, fuck it.
"I asked Evan a bit more about the goddess, seeing as I was planning to volunteer, and he started talking about worship. Never figured him for the religious type, but apparently he's turned over a new leaf with all this. I mean, I guess you'd have to." Lance swallowed, trying to quiet a buzzing fear that was picking up again in his chest. "I guess I'll have to. I just don't know what that looks like... Here's hoping I figure it out before tomorrow night, I guess." Lance gave another awkward shrug at that, turning a smile back up to try to be lighthearted about it. Surely he'd pull something out by the end--didn't he always?
"Absolutely thrilled." He said with glee as he finally rolled his head to the side to try to find Mizu's eyes. Now that he had some of his genuine smile back on, he wanted her to see it. His eyes did start to drift back up to the stars as he continued to speak, though.
"I mean, for one, just the confirmation. Like, I certainly couldn't deny that was something from beyond this world, at the very least. And the sensation that whatever it was was on our side? I mean. Talk about encouraging."
Lance's smile kept up for a few moments after he drifted off there, but eventually started to fade, or at least soften, as he floundered on what he wanted to say next.
"Honestly, I was thrilled and excited all day, right up until--" Something caught in Lance's throat and he hesitated, though it took him a second to figure out why. It was stupid questions, like, should he say Evan or Rutliff? Normally, around, y'know, the commander, it would've been Rutliff, but he was around Mizu, now, so... Evan? But that wasn't all of it. Lance had never totally figured out whatever rapport Evan had with the commander--with Mizu. It seemed complicated, but definitely held gravity for Evan. Lance supposed he felt a little like he was butting in, but, well, Evan was already off dallying with a goddess, so, fuck it.
"I asked Evan a bit more about the goddess, seeing as I was planning to volunteer, and he started talking about worship. Never figured him for the religious type, but apparently he's turned over a new leaf with all this. I mean, I guess you'd have to." Lance swallowed, trying to quiet a buzzing fear that was picking up again in his chest. "I guess I'll have to. I just don't know what that looks like... Here's hoping I figure it out before tomorrow night, I guess." Lance gave another awkward shrug at that, turning a smile back up to try to be lighthearted about it. Surely he'd pull something out by the end--didn't he always?
Re: Mizu/Lance
Mizu's eyes met Lance's as soon as the question was out of her mouth. He had connected his gaze to hers suddenly with a dramatic movement of his head. His face was lit up with everything he had felt during the shimmer, and for a moment she could have sworn she saw sparkles around his face. Or maybe that was just her own memory of the shimmer peeking through. She couldn't tell, and suddenly it was clear that it didn't matter. The commander was, for a moment, perfectly aware of exactly how many of her soldiers would likely pair off with each other this night. And, the idea of it all flipped a sudden switch inside her, and she laughed.
Giggled, even, her shoulders rocking forward slightly, as quiet sound fell from her lips.
Some display, indeed, the commander thought, although she wasn't sure whether to have expected less from the goddess of desire.
There was a moment of fear as Mizu wondered if they all were in actual danger--what if they were too unaware to stand guard or...?
But, Mizu softened around the fear, suddenly realizing that pairing off was not a compulsion; it was a suggestion. And, it was easy to pull out of it herself.
Or, what if she was reading too much into it, and she was just... happy? Delighted, even? How could she possibly tell the difference?
Finally, she settled her shoulders back down, and Lance continued, maybe laughing and a little proud of himself.
Everything he said about the shimmer--confirmation, encouragement, its supernatural nature--felt true, and Mizu nodded serenely along, but then Lance seemed to falter, his voice catching. She raised her head a little, suddenly concerned.
"I asked Evan a bit more about the goddess, seeing as I was planning to volunteer, and he started talking about worship." Lance went on to talk about the ceremony and, assumedly, the offering. Mizu listened carefully, setting her head back against the ground and softening the tension she had abruptly felt. Gods, she was so completely aware of every sensation in her body.
Did she know about worship?
She looked up at the stars as she thought about it. What had she done with Phantom? Hadn't that been... something? She remembered the sensation well--her body on top of his, sitting perfectly upright on his hips as she raised her hands to the heaven. He held her still above him, and an immense inward, upward movement burst into her chest, like a warm, white light.
The commander had had climaxes before, but she knew them differently with Phantom. They were deeply and undeniably satisfying.
But what about any of that could she tell Lance? She didn't intend to lead the two of them anywhere, at least not yet, and she didn't want him getting ahead of himself. Better not to give him any ideas.
Then... what?
"I worry that worship only feels like so completely foreign to me because I haven't truly done it enough. I imagine that, like with most activities, it requires practice at doing it wrong first. I haven't had the interest in worship enough to get it wrong often." Mizu turned her face slightly away, pretending to study the stars in that direction.
"But, maybe it isn't a skill," she said, shaking her head subtly, "Whatever it is, I didn't seem to come naturally to it."
((OOC: I'm enjoying playing with the fact that the shimmer might or might not be having an "actual" effect, but I think most people -would- probably wonder that themselves at some point tonight.
I hope I left enough space for Lance after Mizu's laugh. If you want to add that into your previous post, I would love to read it.
And, apparently she didn't even notice about "Evan" instead of "Rutliff." I think it's a moment when she notices that, at least mentally, she has more familiarity with him than she "should."
Also, so freaking amused that Mizu is trying to explain sex in the most chaste way possible. Lol.))
Giggled, even, her shoulders rocking forward slightly, as quiet sound fell from her lips.
Some display, indeed, the commander thought, although she wasn't sure whether to have expected less from the goddess of desire.
There was a moment of fear as Mizu wondered if they all were in actual danger--what if they were too unaware to stand guard or...?
But, Mizu softened around the fear, suddenly realizing that pairing off was not a compulsion; it was a suggestion. And, it was easy to pull out of it herself.
Or, what if she was reading too much into it, and she was just... happy? Delighted, even? How could she possibly tell the difference?
Finally, she settled her shoulders back down, and Lance continued, maybe laughing and a little proud of himself.
Everything he said about the shimmer--confirmation, encouragement, its supernatural nature--felt true, and Mizu nodded serenely along, but then Lance seemed to falter, his voice catching. She raised her head a little, suddenly concerned.
"I asked Evan a bit more about the goddess, seeing as I was planning to volunteer, and he started talking about worship." Lance went on to talk about the ceremony and, assumedly, the offering. Mizu listened carefully, setting her head back against the ground and softening the tension she had abruptly felt. Gods, she was so completely aware of every sensation in her body.
Did she know about worship?
She looked up at the stars as she thought about it. What had she done with Phantom? Hadn't that been... something? She remembered the sensation well--her body on top of his, sitting perfectly upright on his hips as she raised her hands to the heaven. He held her still above him, and an immense inward, upward movement burst into her chest, like a warm, white light.
The commander had had climaxes before, but she knew them differently with Phantom. They were deeply and undeniably satisfying.
But what about any of that could she tell Lance? She didn't intend to lead the two of them anywhere, at least not yet, and she didn't want him getting ahead of himself. Better not to give him any ideas.
Then... what?
"I worry that worship only feels like so completely foreign to me because I haven't truly done it enough. I imagine that, like with most activities, it requires practice at doing it wrong first. I haven't had the interest in worship enough to get it wrong often." Mizu turned her face slightly away, pretending to study the stars in that direction.
"But, maybe it isn't a skill," she said, shaking her head subtly, "Whatever it is, I didn't seem to come naturally to it."
((OOC: I'm enjoying playing with the fact that the shimmer might or might not be having an "actual" effect, but I think most people -would- probably wonder that themselves at some point tonight.
I hope I left enough space for Lance after Mizu's laugh. If you want to add that into your previous post, I would love to read it.
And, apparently she didn't even notice about "Evan" instead of "Rutliff." I think it's a moment when she notices that, at least mentally, she has more familiarity with him than she "should."
Also, so freaking amused that Mizu is trying to explain sex in the most chaste way possible. Lol.))
Re: Mizu/Lance
Lance had been pretty deeply pleased when Mizu laughed--nay, giggled. He hoped he hadn't ruined that mood by running his mouth too much.
It was a mixed bag when she started talking again. On the one hand, it was nice to know that Lance wasn't the only one who felt a little inept at worship. On the other, he really didn't like this theory she had that it might be something one has to do wrong to learn how to do it right. He didn't have much time for cramming in practice, and he had nearly a lifetime of not even thinking about worship to catch up on.
Still... maybe he should try? It sounded terrifying, and he had no idea what it would even look like, but... well, he had to try to make progress on this sometime. Swallowing down his trepidation, Lance made sure his grin was refreshed as he rolled up onto his elbow to face Mizu.
"D'you wanna practice, then?" he asked playfully. His expression was lit with the absurdity of the notion, but also softer than one might expect of him proposing a fully preposterous idea; he was, at least on some level, serious.
Though, after half a second, a realization hit him, and a rare flash of embarrassment faltered his expression.
"I mean--" he added hastily, "it doesn't have to be, like, for her, specifically. We could just..." his eyes wandered, shy to meet Mizu's for the moment, and he took in the vastness of the open field and the starry sky above them. He swallowed, some kind of nervousness rippling through his stomach as memories of home came rushing back. There were some rituals he'd enjoyed, though.
With an airy chuckle, Lance pushed himself to his feet and spread his arms to the sky, a surprising serenity settling into his expression.
"I suppose, I did used to like worshipping the sky. We'd dance and sing to give thanks for her company, her warmth and her rain. Our constant companion."
A flicker of sorrow flashed across his eyes, his grin widening awkwardly in a reflex to cover over the falter. He drew in a sharp breath, then, and turned to face Mizu, his eyebrows high in question.
"Do you think--" he hesitated, his whole body suddenly awkward now; his arms were completely unsure whether they wanted to remain spread for the sky or relax back down to his sides, and so they wavered in the air with a strangely-posed bend.
"I mean--" he looked back to the sky again, and gestured, as if Mizu might not have noticed it up above them before. "The sky's been here the whole time, whether I danced for her or not." Lance did shrug at that, rather exaggeratedly, and with a bit of indignance, though he managed to pull his expression back towards lighthearted. His heart started to thump loudly in his chest, though, as he realized what he was clumsily working his way towards, and he lingered in that pose, simultaneously shrugging and gesturing at the sky, his body tense and his eyes searching the stars like they might hold some fresh epiphany for him to grab onto.
((OOC: I don't think he'll be still/quiet all that long, but certainly long enough for Mizu to respond/react if she is so inclined.))
It was a mixed bag when she started talking again. On the one hand, it was nice to know that Lance wasn't the only one who felt a little inept at worship. On the other, he really didn't like this theory she had that it might be something one has to do wrong to learn how to do it right. He didn't have much time for cramming in practice, and he had nearly a lifetime of not even thinking about worship to catch up on.
Still... maybe he should try? It sounded terrifying, and he had no idea what it would even look like, but... well, he had to try to make progress on this sometime. Swallowing down his trepidation, Lance made sure his grin was refreshed as he rolled up onto his elbow to face Mizu.
"D'you wanna practice, then?" he asked playfully. His expression was lit with the absurdity of the notion, but also softer than one might expect of him proposing a fully preposterous idea; he was, at least on some level, serious.
Though, after half a second, a realization hit him, and a rare flash of embarrassment faltered his expression.
"I mean--" he added hastily, "it doesn't have to be, like, for her, specifically. We could just..." his eyes wandered, shy to meet Mizu's for the moment, and he took in the vastness of the open field and the starry sky above them. He swallowed, some kind of nervousness rippling through his stomach as memories of home came rushing back. There were some rituals he'd enjoyed, though.
With an airy chuckle, Lance pushed himself to his feet and spread his arms to the sky, a surprising serenity settling into his expression.
"I suppose, I did used to like worshipping the sky. We'd dance and sing to give thanks for her company, her warmth and her rain. Our constant companion."
A flicker of sorrow flashed across his eyes, his grin widening awkwardly in a reflex to cover over the falter. He drew in a sharp breath, then, and turned to face Mizu, his eyebrows high in question.
"Do you think--" he hesitated, his whole body suddenly awkward now; his arms were completely unsure whether they wanted to remain spread for the sky or relax back down to his sides, and so they wavered in the air with a strangely-posed bend.
"I mean--" he looked back to the sky again, and gestured, as if Mizu might not have noticed it up above them before. "The sky's been here the whole time, whether I danced for her or not." Lance did shrug at that, rather exaggeratedly, and with a bit of indignance, though he managed to pull his expression back towards lighthearted. His heart started to thump loudly in his chest, though, as he realized what he was clumsily working his way towards, and he lingered in that pose, simultaneously shrugging and gesturing at the sky, his body tense and his eyes searching the stars like they might hold some fresh epiphany for him to grab onto.
((OOC: I don't think he'll be still/quiet all that long, but certainly long enough for Mizu to respond/react if she is so inclined.))