pawnstorm | [open] born to raise hell, born to raise hell

Entry tags:

[open] born to raise hell, born to raise hell

Who: A considerably smaller Nobunaga and You!
When: 11/21-11/27; I'll be using this as a catchall for the whole week.
Where: Prompts for now are @Caissa.
What: An angry ten year old with a gun she barely knows how to use decides to Make It On Her Own on the mean streets of Caissa.
Rating: None for now. Will mark threads appropriately in the subject header though, just in case anything comes up.

[1] 11/21; dusk

[As much as she wants to get right into the crux of the matter, lash out and demand to know what's going on and where she is...she can't right now. She refuses to seek help in a plain and straightforward manner, entirely mistrustful of the people around here simply by nature. For now, she needs to get her priorities in order; she's already covered herself up, but in lieu of actual clothing, she's merely wrapped up in some thin fabric she's carefully wrapped around her body into a makeshift, sleeveless top that goes down as far as her knees, a separate piece of fabric tied around her waist to hold it in place. They're...likely stolen, honestly.

And to avoid drawing attention, she's stashed her weapons elsewhere for now. She just wants something to eat, for the moment...so.

a) Congrats! You've just witnessed a theft which, were it not for you, passing bystander, would have been executed without a hitch. Nobunaga makes off with some fruit from an outdoor stall, hurrying off to enjoy her spoils. Maybe stop her if your morals are more on the scrupulous side.

b) Unfortunately, she's been caught in the act, but not actually caught. The stall owner yells for someone to intercept her escape, but Nobunaga darts and weaves in between the crowd around her with surprising athleticism. If you've decided to give chase, she tries to shake you off by ducking off into an alley ahead...

c) Or maybe you're just passing by a ten year old in a poor excuse for clothing, sat on the edge of the street and eating some fruit. The skins of what she's already eaten are to her left, while the remaining fruit she's yet to eat sits on the ground to her right. Linger too long and she might shoot you a glare, but that's about it. She won't say anything if you don't.]

[2] 11/21; night

[Well, when you're suddenly in an entirely different world in a manner not unlike some bizarre fairytale, your best bet at survival is to know what kind of place you've been brought to. Even she knew that. The only issue is that she's from a fairly tumultuous era in a wartorn land, on top of her own ornery and admittedly paranoid nature. She can't bring herself to just approach someone and ask for help, like some frightened, lost child...it may be an issue of pride too, on top of everything else.

So she waits. She waits until someone's by their lonesome in an empty street, using the cover of night to make her move as quietly as she can, and if all goes well it won't be until there's the sound of a click of a gun that the other person notices something's amiss.]

Turn around...slowly.

[The barefoot girl behind you isn't striking that much of an intimidating figure, sans the rifle in her hand which she is, unfortunately, holding up with one hand courtesy only of her strength granted via the class system. If she fires it like this the recoil would likely knock it right out of her hand; she hasn't had much time to figure it out...

But she somehow lacks the eyes of a child. Plain and simple brown eyes, but with the experience of three years warfare behind her. The eyes of someone who's taken more than her fair share of lives already.]

You're going to answer some questions for me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Gilgamesh laughs, a haughty if honest sound, and rubs a hand over her head with a clear edge of fondness. Attempt successful, apparently.]

A question for a question, little one. Are you the great warlord known as "Nobunaga"?

[She sinks her head back in an attempt to duck out of his hand, clearly ready to keep up the defiant attitude with maybe a little more anger than before, but it leaves the moment she hears her name.

But what really catches her off guard is the mention of being a warlord. She isn't...?]

I'm no warlord. [A beat.] You're thinking of my father, Nobuhide.

Ah. So it is no Nobunaga that stands before me, but instead, a Nobu-chan.

[And with swift reflexes, Gilgamesh bends to scoop the child into his arms. It does not appear to be a threatening gesture; that air of malevolence hovering about him moments ago has all but evaporated. However, he has not forgotten she did fire despite his expectations. Best to keep an eye on her. Or two.]

You are in the world of Enprise, Nobu, and this is the city of Caissa. A city that seems to have robbed you of memory.

...!!

[THE MOST ABSOLUTELY AFFRONTED GASP.

And then the barrage of tiny fists against whatever part of him is closest begins.]

U-unhand me!! Just who do you think you are...?! I won't be manhandled by some gaudy looking foreigner, like a helpless child or something...!!

And just what's that casual demeanour all about?! If you know my name then use it properly!!

[In fluid Japanese:]

Watch your mouth. This one speaks your tongue rather well.

[And now they're off, to... somewhere. Regardless, Gilgamesh sets a brisk pace and seems to have a destination in mind, letting Nobu pummel and pound at him without regard. Even if familiar features didn't give her away, the surly attitude of an eternal brat would have.]

Have you eaten? Wandering around as you are, you're no better than a common mongrel. We'll have to clean you up properly.

[She's caught off guard yet again. This man really is full of surprises, apparently...

But without anything on hand to use as a weapon (effectively, at least, considering the rifle's a little too unwieldy as a makeshift bludgeon) she ends up stopping...eventually.

Whether or not she's eaten does get her to speak up though, simply because she takes it personally. As she is she takes everything personally, really. Right now she thinks the insinuation is she can't take care of herself, so she's visibly mad at him yet again.]

Of course I've eaten. I know how to provide for myself.

[Just not, y'know.

Legally.]

...what did you mean by my memory?

So you say.

[But she really did look like a street wretch, accosting him, barefoot and armed only with a measly rifle. Still, he won't press the issue. He knows pride when he sees it and she's practically bursting at the seams, just as she was as an adult. ...is. Was implies permanence to the situation, which he refuses to accept.

It would deprive him of a very worthy bedfellow, and he's greedy enough to want that above everything else.]

You are not ordinarily so young. Magic has cursed you to become a child once again; and someday, when you are not, you inherit your father's title.

[Well, that's hardly surprising. She's more familiar with her father's tactics than she is the man himself, and she's always thought his strategic ability was far too inadequate. She doesn't know when he's going to finally die, but she figures he isn't long for the world at the rate he's going, and none of her siblings were in any position to take over. They were either too stupid or too soft.

What does catch her interest is his referring to her as a great warlord...and whether or not he was simply trying to appeal to her ego, or she goes on to do something noteworthy...and it's hard to imagine what that might be. Her future self's ego has always been based on her accomplishments. Even to those who tell her she didn't succeed, she's quick to remind them noone else got as far as she did, nor could Hideyoshi or Ieyasu have gotten that far without riding her coattails. It's set in stone much like her own history, hence the fact nothing ever seems to shake her.

Now, though...all she's done is fight in a few battles. She's no better than the average child sent into war, with a few kills behind her but nothing to set her apart from everyone else. Proud she may be, but it doesn't go hand in hand with self-confidence.]

...and where are we going?

[She decides to keep it to herself, along with not pressing the topic further. Who's to say this man is reliable anyway.]

To my home.

[Plainly:]

You are mine now.

[Just this look.

No fear or concern, just a very simple look.

"Bitch are you for real"]

[Bitch, I am totally for real.]

What? Are you raising issue over a soft bed, a comfortable fire, and warm clothes to wear until this curse subsides?

[It's as if he said the exact thing she didn't want to hear; expression immediately turning sour, cheeks puffed up in childish indignation and shooting a fairly harsh glare at him...]

[But she can't think of a response she wants. She can't deny him, or make mention of some alternative means to wandering the streets with a gun as she was. To put it simply, she feels like she's been beaten again, and the realization drains all of the fight out of her. It's as if the last three years she spent trying to remove herself from depending on her family are gone in an instant and she's back to square one.

So...Nobunaga doesn't fight him on it. But she doesn't agree to it, either. She pouts, turns away slowly and just refuses to acknowledge him...that is, unless he tries to keep talking, but otherwise she likely won't say anything until they get "home" and remain in her little strop.]

[They make it part of the way, at least, until Gilgamesh stops and looks around for something. He whistles, low and loud, and the heavy sound of footsteps follows; it becomes clear within a few moments they are not human, and after a few more the muscular body of a griffon appears. Despite its size, however, it greets Gilgamesh with friendliness, which earns soft words of praise from him. The animal poses no threat, and nudges with curiosity at Nobu, chirping.

Gilgamesh glances down at the irritated bundle in his arms and smirks.]

Would you still insist on pouting?

[Come on. Every little warlord worth their salt want to ride a big bird. It's just so cool.]

[...alright, that's kinda rad.

You might expect someone from perfectly mundane sengoku era Japan to freak out at the sight of what is, effectively, a monster, but Nobunaga looks as curiously enamoured as he likely expected her to be. She's seen...parts of this beast before, separate as their own animal, making the sight of a griffon all the stranger to her. Only in response due to its own nudging at her, she reaches out a hand to try and touch it in return, and if it's receptive it's getting pets.]

...incredible...I've never seen anything like it before.

It is a griffon, a beast of fantasy. Part lion, part eagle, all nobility.

[Gilgamesh sets Nobu down upon its back, a weight the animal endures easily. As if a proud parent, it begins marching about with its little rider, beak tipped high and wings shifting to accommodate. If she looks close, she will notice they are slightly bent and broken—this griffon was injured, but you wouldn't know it from its happy demeanor.]

His name is Dinoriel. If you treat him well, he will be good to you in return.

[Is Gilgamesh undertaking the taunting task of trying to teach Nobu manners? It would seem so.]

[Whether or not manners to animals is a transferable skill she can aim towards humans remains to be seen.

The surprise of being put down onto the Griffon's back lasts only briefly, and she's far more content to sit atop it rather than be carried around by Gilgamesh, from the look of things.]

A griffon...I've read about them. [As she goes on, she seems to be inspecting its wings for the aforementioned injuries. Beneath the makeshift outfit she's wearing her own body is much the same, riddled with scars that tell of the experience she's already had in warfare. It makes her expression almost a little sympathetic as she watches them, unconsciously.] They're considered protectors. They ward off evil, even actively fighting against it...

[Whatever she's read is likely more influenced by the asian interpretations, but it isn't that different from the rest anyhow.]

But to think such a beast truly existed...I always thought they were mere fables.

[She turns back towards its head and lays a hand on its neck, gently rubbing her fingers through its feathers.

Admittedly, it's because it's really, really soft. But she isn't going to say it.]

This world is rife with things once thought to be myth. Look around you and open your eyes; you shall soon see.

[Gilgamesh runs a soothing hand over Dinoriel's back. Ultimately, it would seem Nobunaga had started off as any other young girl had. Though certainly feisty enough to fire a gun, he does not detect any undue amounts of violence within her. It would be a stretch to call her kind, but for now she is exactly as she appears: just a child, not yet sharpened into the fierce adult she would soon become.

Gilgamesh leans forward suddenly, as if to impart a secret.]

If you tell Dinoriel to go home, I hear he will go very, very fast for you.

[She loves Dinoriel the most in this world already.

But...she still gives Gilgamesh a slightly wary look.]

How fast? ...should I hold onto something?

DINORIELGOHOME—

[SWAT!

And off he goes! Hopefully you were, in fact, holding onto something, Nobu, as Gilgamesh wasn't kidding about very, very fast.]

[GILGAMESH YOU FUCKER AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

For a moment there's a very real chance of her falling off, but she throws herself forward and holds onto Dinoriel for deal life the whole way there.]

D-Dinoriel...!! Don't hold it against me when I choke the life out of your stupid, stupid master...!!

[Gilgamesh lets off a bellowing WAHAHAHAHA as Dinoriel hightails it home. Somehow, he manages to catch up and mount Dinoriel in a powerful leap, settling himself behind Nobu and grasping his reins firm. He looks rather gallant, if he does say so himself.]

Hyah! Now, this is how a true warlord rides!

[...well, it is pretty fun, now that the initial scare's worn off. He's definitely still a jackass, though.]

[She'd love to lie, really. She'd love to tell him this is stupid and he's stupid and she absolutely isn't enjoying the rush of soaring along on the back of this magical creature, but...

It is fun. She can't lie. She can't lie because she looks delighted and with Gilgamesh at her back, even (eventually) lets go of their trusty mount to spread her arms out either side. She even laughs!]

Wonderful...! It's nothing like a horse at all!

Certainly not! My Dinoriel far outperforms any mere horse; he is nearly a match for the wind itself!

[Which may have been a slight exaggeration, but it's hard to tell the difference moving at this speed. Like this, it takes no time at all to reach their destination: a cozy cottage, so warm and inviting one can almost feel it from a distance. It seems Nobu won't have to worry about where to sleep tonight.

Gilgamesh pulls Dinoriel up by the entrance and slips off. Figuring Nobu a proud sort, he'll let her dismount on her own; Dinoriel will help if she needs it.]

Welcome to the palace of a King! ...well, that's what I'd like to say, but it's not quite to my tastes.

[Needs more gold.]

Let's hurry on inside. The winds are picking up.

[Fortunately, she's already go some horse riding experience under her belt, so even if dinoriel isn't a horse, the knowledge extends to him too. She dismounts without a problem.

But speaking of problems, well, even if he admitted himself it isn't a palace...]

...I thought it was a little small for a palace. It's just someone's house.

[Still, she'll follow him inside.]

Do you live alone?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject