caughtinanetwork | 30 ★ v o i c e;

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30 ★ v o i c e;

[ You can hear the sound of her whimpers quite clearly. Gracia is clutching the SFC quite close. In the background, the loud barks of Futon is heard. The dog is directing its growls towards something. Or maybe someone. ]

This is a curse, right? I-I don't like it...It isn't like one of those party curses Vatheon used to have during this time of year, no not at all! What about all the lovely costumes, and the dancing, and the fireworks?

[ Her breath hitches in her throat. Futon's barking becomes louder. ]

No, stay back! Hiyaa!

[ Gracia's steps over Futon's tail by accident, causing the dog to yelp in surprise. Some static passes over the feed. Gracia frowns. ]

You're not real, and you'll go away if I ignore you! Mm, I-I won't talk to you! No, I won't! So leave right now! You're not even --

[ She pauses. Whoever it is, it's speaking to Gracia, yet she absolutely panics at the sound of its voice. Futon barks even louder, and Gracia abandons talking to the SFC. She stuffs the communicator inside her pocket and begins to run away, somewhere, anywhere....

...Away from Him. Futon's barking chases after the recording, until Gracia frantically switches it off. ]

(OOC: Replies will be ICly delayed. The shape of her living nightmare? An Akechi Mitsuhide (

wavesoakedlegs) who does not know who Gracia is. MWAHAHAHAHA. But you won't know that until she spills, or you catch her running all over town xD So feel free to reply in ACTION, if you're up for it!)

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[ She huffs, slowing down her pace. ]

Muu, passing out sounds like a good option right now...

[ Gracia shakes her head and her pet dog's barking increases in volume once again. She was getting rather desperate - it didn't seem like she could outrun it at all. Shirley was definitely on to something, albeit indirectly...Maybe if Gracia could hang around friends for a bit? Maybe it'll go away...? ]

Shirley...Ooh, I'd hate to trouble you, but I'd want nothing more than to see a friendly face right about now! Where are you?

[Shirley can't hear the barking but she can tell that something is off.]

Gracia...I don't think that would be a good idea...

[However, when she heard that she wanted to meet up with her, Shirley smiled a bit. She would be able to keep a good eye on her friend hat way]

I'm in my apartment right now but where are you? I'll go to where you are?

[ She stops to catch her breath, looking behind her from time to time. It was still there, still following her, and Gracia could not help but sound desperate when she replies next. ]

Near the forest quadrant! I just passed the market place! Ah - !

[ The nightmare begins to catch up to her, so Gracia runs, Futon trailing by her heels. If Shirley does follow Gracia, she might require further instruction as soon as she gets to the midpoint of the market and the forest. Gracia refuses to stop running. ]

[With Gracia's reply, Shirley quickly turned off the SFC and rushed straight to the forest. Whatever that was after her friend, it was enough to make her panic. Trying to run as fast she could, she was at the entrance of the forest. She was looking around for a familiar person until she turned on the SFC]

Gracia, where are you? I'm at the entrance of the forest but...I don't see you anywhere!

[Don't panic Shirley, that's the last thing you can do right now]

[ She gasps for breath behind a tree, determined to lose the nightmare, even for just a bit. When the SFC whirs back to life, Shirley's voice ringing loud and clear, Gracia pauses for a second before she answers with a cautious tone. ]

Ooh, I'm sorry, Shirley! I ended up farther away from you. [ Bushes rustle; Gracia yelps and hurriedly finishes her response. ] Stay right there, please! I-I'll come back!

[ And with that, Gracia bolts to the opposite direction, Futon tailing her as fast as he can. She ends up getting lost here and there, if only to remove the trail from her pesky shadow. Ten minutes later, Gracia emerges from the thick onset of trees and foliage, taking a few shaky steps towards Shirley before falling on her knees in fatigue. ]

No, tell me where you are and I'll-

[Her transmission was cut off as soon as Gracia went in another direction. Whatever that was chasing after her, she hoped that she would be okay. Still, she waited for her friend to show up on her.

After a couple of minutes, Shirley could have shown she heard some barking in the distance. Was that what was chasing after Gracia? A dog? It had to be a really big one if she was running away from it...

Either way, the moment she saw Gracia, she immediately ran after her to make sure that the rest of her body doesn't fall.]

Are you okay...?

[Dumb question but was she going to be okay?]

[ The barking turns into growling as Futon circles Gracia protectively, facing the shadowy oppressor. Gracia is still out of breath when Shirley approaches her. ]

Shirley...

[ At this point, all she wants is to seclude herself somewhere - anywhere - to escape it. She sounds desperate as Gracia forcibly hauls herself up to her feet again, walking out of the forest bubble. She gestures for Shirely to come with her, and pauses momentarily, and without looking back.

The shadow was already there, largely ignoring Futon's dangerous howls, and tilting his head towards Gracia's general direction. Shirley may be able to see him now - a handsome man, clean cut with long silky tresses in a pony tail...smiling eerily at them...yet with kindness. ]

Let's get away. Please.

[As Shirley looked around, she could feel herself getting nervous. For a moment, Shirley could feel herself shaking but once she heard Gracia's voice, she snapped back into reality]

Gracia...[She mumbled before realizing who she was running away from. It was....a man. Shirley raised an eyebrow before looking back at her friend. She was going to ask her who he was but...]

All right, let's go to the Plaza or somewhere nearby. [She wasn't going to take to her about it if she didn't want to]

[ Gracia nods and attempts to take another glance at the nightmare, but as the curse would have it, the fake Mitsuhide Akechi was still there, still lingering behind them. She whimpers and crosses her arms protectively. ]

Let's go, Shirley.

[ Gracia walks swiftly, as if she hasn't figured out that she can't outrun her nightmare. In more ways than one. ]

[Shirley wasn't sure why Gracia was afraid of him but she wasn't going to ask. Besides, the image of Stella and Fenimore haunts her at times. This is probably no different.]

All right...

[With that, Shirley walked along with her but she does look back at the mysterious figure in the background. ...Was it following them?]

[ The shadow of Mitsuhide was indeed following their every move, or rather, it followed Gracia relentlessly. It would attempt to speak to her, even when there is some distance between them. To this, Gracia only walks faster, eventually grabbing Shirley's hand as she pulls her to the plaza where more people walked about.

Maybe then it would cease to bother her.

And she could talk about her fears, but to admit she was afraid kept her wondering if the shadow was indeed, true in saying the things he said... ]

[ Gracia stops for a moment to catch her breath again. She hasn't let go of Shirley's hand. ]

I...I...

[ She's not quite sure what to say. ]

[Whenever the shadow spoke up, she wasn't sure should she respond back. She wanted him to leave Gracia alone but there was no way that would happen. Instead, she would occasionally look at her and then back to the shadow. It felt like she was being caught in some fight that she wanted to settle.

However, once she noticed that she was walking faster, Shirley tried her best to catch up with her. She wasn't as fast as her but she did try.]

...What is it, Gracia? [She mumbled to her.]

Edited 2012-12-03 22:21 (UTC)

[ Gracia glances slightly towards Shirley's direction, deliberately ignoring the shadow appearing by her peripheral vision. Her voice is just as soft as Shirley's whisper, yet it held some gravity to it. ]

...I'm scared.

[ She hadn't even admitted this to herself since the curse began. It feels good to say it out loud, but it wasn't enough. She grips Shirley's hand a little firmer. ]

But I don't want to be. What do I do?

[Shirley knows that feeling well. That was one of the many things she learned as the Merines and especially when she was confronting shadowy self. She took a firm grip on Gracia's hand in return. She looked back at the shadow before returning to Gracia.]

I don't know what happened but...I think the best way would be to confront them...otherwise, you'll keep on running away and...you'll never get over it.

[ It's difficult to hear answers that Gracia didn't want to listen to, but she knew deep deep down that this is the truth. If she were to get rid of that monster following them - unassuming as it is - Gracia must face her fears.

And yet, she finds that whenever she musters up some courage to fight it, she cannot.

She starts walking again, still ignoring the shadow of her Father who has resumed its one-sided conversation with Gracia, as if nothing was wrong. Gracia ignores her goosebumps. ]

Is there no other way? I don't want it to think I believe the words he's saying! I...I don't believe him at all!

It's difficult to hear them...and sometimes the things they say can be true but at the same time, the things they say can be wrong. It just depends on how they'll affect you.

[She was looking back at the shadowy figure. She has no idea what happened between her and this man but the least she could do was to help her out.

Don't be like her, Gracia, don't run away and almost ended the world right then and there]

How...How do you know when it's true or not? The things they say, I must know!

[ She can't stand it - the way the shadow mimics her Father, the way he speaks, the things coming out of his lips. It makes her sick to even imagine a world where she is no longer in it, and she is left perpetually alone. Without him and his love. ]

That's the difficult part...but the difference is learning from it and standing up for yourself.

[With that, Shirley decides to give out a hug for Gracia.]

I don't know what is going between you and the person there but...if anything does happen, I'll be here okay? If you need someone to talk to, I'll be here to listen and help you.

[ Gracia welcomes the warmth of the embrace with open arms - pun intended. She holds on tight, and buries her face against Shirley's shoulder, trying desperately to forget the shadow following them incessantly. ]

Shirley is a wonderful friend.

[ She pauses, and then pulls back. Gracia gingerly rubs her arm. ]

[ What was it she was so frightened of? ]

I...I don't know what to say. Where to begin. I...

[It was a little weird to have Gracia hug her like this. It reminds her of the time when she use to cry to her older sister and hope that everything bad in their life would go away. With a sad smile on her face, it seems like she's the older sister now.

She gently rubs her back in hopes that it would calm her down some.]

It's okay, take your time to find the words. This...this is something that might never go away, it might even haunt you forever but...it is something that takes time.

But I'll still be here...when you are ready to confront him.

[ The physical affirmation that Gracia is, indeed, not alone, does help incredibly, but something snaps when Gracia hears her last words.

She abruptly pushes herself away from her embrace and looks at Shirley with wide eyes, like a deer caught in headlights. ]

Ready to confront...confront who? [ It seems like a silly question, considering what she's been trying to avoid all day, but her subconscious was acting out on her.

Gracia meant, who was she supposed to confront?

Her Father? Or herself? ]

[Oh man, she's going to hate Shirley for this isn't she? At first, the girl didn't want to look at Gracia straight in the eyes but she knows she has to. There was a small mumble before she continued]

...That person and...yourself. I think, that's the only way you'll be able to move forward. I-If you don't then...I don't think you move on from your fears and frustrations...

[Please don't hate her]

[ No, never. Never hate. Gracia can't hate anyone, even when she tried to. She looks at Shirley with nervousness, her gaze shifting constantly from left to right, unaware that the shadow grew stronger as her fears increased.

She lets go slightly and takes two steps back, slowly. Gracia breaks eye contact and frowns at the ground. ]

How...? How do I do that? I...I can't - I'm...

[ Did it mean having to let go of her fear, or having to let go of where it was coming from?

Or did it require both? ]

[There was a slight pause before Shirley finally dishes it all out]

Believe me, Gracia, I had to learn a lot about myself before I finally overcame my own fears. It's not easy to know that you were born just to kill so many people...and all the suffering that happened because you were born...

...That is why I want you to learn about your fears. If...if that happens, you will know yourself more and...avoid many problems in the future.

[ She stops her mental wanderings and looks pointedly at Shirley, momentarily forgetting that she was running away from the shadow. The shadow too, seems to sense this suspension of fear. Gracia looks incredibly concerned. ]

What? Shirley was born to...

[ Gracia pauses, a firm frown on her lips. ]

Why would...you say that? That can't be true.

[Action] HELL YEAH ~~~~~~/o/

shirleyhopeful - 2013-01-23 22:51 (UTC) - Expand

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30 ★ v o i c e;

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[Voice] sorry 'bout the delay!

[Voice] It's okay!

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[Action] oops, forgot to change this XD sorry!

[Action] It's okay!

[Action] <3

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[Action] I'm super sorry for the lateness! The internet was being wonky on me ;;

[Action] It's okay, really!

[Action] <3 so very kind, thank you!

[Action] I live off of back tags anyway so...\o

[Action] Same here ahahahaha

[Action] Viva la backtags!

[Action] Backtag revolucion!

[Action] HELL YEAH ~~~~~~/o/