tvk | Hesitation Gains You Nothing

[Yes, there was the Dark Hour. Yes, they were all supposed to go out wandering in it to find reasons for having been brought here. But Zeal wished to be ready, to be utterly and completely prepared, to have prepared the perfect plan of attack upon this place, before she would set foot out there...

No, no she wasn't scared. That's preposterous. That's foolish. Why are you even thinking such a thing? NOT SCARED. Really. Not in the least. Not even a bit.

But she was out late this evening, and distracted by messages on her little communication tool, and interesting things in shop windows... and so, midnight had suddenly crept up on her. Coffins everywhere, such silence... and there she was, far too many blocks away from the hotel for her liking.]

...Well. Well then.

[No, that wasn't said nervously. Not at all. Well, maybe a little bit...

You're likely to find Zeal somewhere along that route home, swinging a heavy bag full of library books as a makeshift weapon against wandering shadows. Use her Persona? What? She hasn't figured that out, just yet... She's enormously ferocious, but plainly not suited to such physical exertion. One is smashed into nothingness, but another rounds in on her, taking advantage of her relative exhaustion. Bam, it strikes, and off her feet she tumbles.]

Curse you...!

[A wide but weak swing of the bag is given as she stumbles back to her feet, keeping at least a small bit of distance between her and the creature. This isn't how it should be, she should be crushing this thing easily, surely there's something within her, still... Her left hand rises, fingers pointing purposefully, and then she shouts the first thing to come to her:]

PERSONA!!!

[And it works. A snake-woman hybrid creature materializes, rears back, and bashes the approaching shadow, crushing and dissipating it. Then it returns to Zeal, swirling about her in a loop before standing over her, protectively.

Oh. Oh, so that's how it was done. Had anyone seen that? Was anyone around? She steadied herself, looked about, and prepared to continue her journey back to safety.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Points for the bag.

[Considering that Eater's obvious weapon of choice is a harp, and he doesn't seem to have anything else as he approaches, this isn't too surprising.]

Need company?

...what?

[She turns and finds Eater there, and looks startled. That shock lasts for just a moment, then her face is all calm and composure. She even tosses her head to better settle her hair away from her face.]

Ah. Eater. I'm simply making the most of an unfortunate situation.

...yes. I do think I would like some company on the way back to the hotel. If that's where you're going.

Yeah, I'm headed there too. Safety in numbers, so I wouldn't mind going with you.

[Shrug.]

Let us go, then!

[She looks to the woman-snake next to her, curious as to what it would do... and it fades away. Although she somehow feels that she can call on it later...]

How... strange. And yet... not. It felt quite natural.

You're lucky. Mine hasn't shown up yet.

It hasn't? [She frowns.] I wish I could offer some perspective on the matter... but this is the first time that mine has 'shown up'.

It's either nearly dying or some soul-searching, and I was never very good at the second one. [He shrugs, shifting the weight of his harp.] Not looking forward to doing the first one on purpose.

I'd hesitate to say that I accomplished either of those. I was mostly... indignant.

[The hour isn't getting any less dark, however. Zeal starts to walk hotel-wards.]

I wouldn't recommend that you try achieving the first. Although I have to ask, why are you out at such a foolish time?

What else is there to do but beat the hell out of some Shadows?

[Eater follows.]

...I could think of quite a few things to do that don't involve antagonizing these things.

[She hefts her bag of books a little higher, to demonstrate. There's also a little lift of her eyebrow, to help punctuate the silent statement.]

I don't read much.

...a pity. It's always important to keep oneself educated.

[Hmmph, well, more books for her.]

If I ever need anything I can ask the girl in my head.

...so she's a reader, is she?

[Eater. Such a strange... well, not individual, there was obviously two of them...]

She's pretty big on the whole knowledge and learning thing.

[too bad, someone totally did. wow, this chick kayneth has never met before sure is impressive!]

Well done. I was concerned that I'd have to step in, but, obviously, that isn't an issue.

[Drat it. Someone had seen her knocked rear over teakettle. ...but he had also seen her being quite impressive. She could recover.]

The matter was under control. And who are you to presume that it wasn't?

I had no intention of being presumptuous-it's merely that the tide of battle can change at any moment. What if things hadn't gone in your favor?

[oh yeah. he is the smoothest.]

Things did go in my favor.

[Her eyes narrow, and they remain quite firmly fixed upon the man as she picks up her books and straightens fully.]

Should I be touched that you're so concerned about me?

You can never be too sure when dealing with theoretical situations, can you?

[and... yeah, why did he feel all compelled like that

it's clearly not feelins]

Well, it was the gentlemanly thing to do, after all.

Hesitation Gains You Nothing - [Action]

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