[ This isn't a curse that's completely foreign to Gracia. In fact, she was affected by it a long time ago! So it's not that big of a surprise to wake up with a larger frame, longer hair, the shape of her face losing some of its youthful round curves. Say hello to a early-30's Gracia! Who looks more or less like this, except with green eyes and not-so-frowny facial expressions. I mean, c'mon. Been there done that, TIME TO ENJOY THIS MOMENT.

Also, it helps that she's retained her memories. So really, the change is only physical in nature. Still pretty immature, yeahup.

Gracia waves at the SFC as she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She laughs giddily, the barking of her dog Futon in the background. ]

Ooh, this curse! I remember it very well! [ She seems to be carrying something towards the park. The movement is shaky, as she's placed the recording device atop all the boxes she's carrying - of course it had to boxes - but it's definitely something to wonder about. What is she up to this time? ] I became older back then too. Oh, this time it's going to be a wonderful new experience altogether! I know what to do, and I know what to say, and it will be so fun to watch everyone as children!

[ She sets the boxes down, giving the network a worms-eye view of Gracia's face as she bends. ] I'll take good care of my friends, I promise! Even though they could be much younger now, I'll still look out for them! [ Y'know, they could also have aged up but...yeah okay whatever. ]

[ She sits down on the grass by the park and stars opening the boxes. Unaccustomed to long hair, Gracia twists it to the side and occupies herself with tearing the wrapping. It doesn't take a while to discover what the boxes are: a beginners firework making kit. About five of them.

What. ]

My only worry is that Father and Motochika don't remember me anymore...I hope this curse ends before the wedding next week! [ She pouts as she starts to remove all the delicate equipment from the box without much...care. Was that gray powder supposed to spill? ] I've planned so much for them, they must remember that they're madly in love and are going to...to, um...what was that saying in the book?

[ A pause. ]

Oh, yes! That they're going to "knot-tie!" Such funny metaphors for weddings! I'm glad I did my research!

[ And before the recording ends...Gracia's finger produces a flame that she uses to tentatively light up the end of a frazzled looking wick. ARE YOU SURE THAT IS A GOOD IDEA reactions are welcome. Please. ]

Let's see...I'm supposed to light this up so that this other piece of firework will explode...right?

[ The SFC ends when she accidentally allows an unfinished firework to spark up and hit the grass. Panic ensues. Very mature, yes. ]

[Private from wavesoakedlegs ; So extremely hackable why did you even bother to lock this anyway hackable.]

[ Looking much happier and much more well-rested than her previous posts, Gracia appears on the SFC and waves cheerfully at the network. She's sitting by the steps of the library, with a glimpse of two tall piles of books in varying sizes to her left and right. ]

Vatheon, I have wonderful news! My father, Akechi Mitsuhide, is going to get married next year! On the first month! Isn't it exciting? I can't believe I spent so long holding in my joy!

[ Cue some squealing and yeah she pretty much shouts to the rest of the city that AKECHI MITSUHIDE IS GETTING MARRIED, MY FATHER IS GETTING MARRIED, etc. etc. For about five minutes. Help yourself to a dizzying view of the cold cemented steps as well. Yeahup.

Anddd she's done. Gracia plops right back down and holds in her giggles for later. ]

I'm going to plan a surprise for his wedding, but I need help! Muu, the library has many books, but only a few on weddings from different worlds and places. And I must hurry, so I won't have too much time to read thick books like this one - [ She holds up a three-inch book entitled "All About Weddings: From Proposing to the Honeymoon Bonanza!" ]

So tell me, Vatheon! How do you celebrate weddings back in your home world? Do you dress up in white? Do you have matchmakers? Oh, one of these books said something about "blind dates!" Is that a special kind of union? Tell me everything!

[ Yeah, she's way too preppy about this one. Sorry guys, she held it in for a long time. xD Sort of exploding now. ]

[Private to Chosokabe Motochika ; Hackable]

Motochika! Please help me as well! You know Father the best! We'll surprise him together, okay? [ Can you say no to that sparkle in her eyes, the glow on her complexion...? ~ <3 ]

Tama.

[Mitsuhide sounds gentle, but firm. There is a conversation he and his daughter need to have, and he's finally realised how to best go about it.]

It's time we talked about your fears properly. Leaving it any longer will not do either of us any good, I think.

[ 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!)

[ Let's make this post short and sweet, Vatheonites. See this. Now imagine it coming from the sink/dishwasher, spreading all over a good majority of the apartment. Good thing the bedroom door was closed. Or was it?

Yeahup.

Gracia's face is immediately seen coming from underneath the sea of bubbles. Her hair is tied up in a ponytail, and from the neck down, no other part of her is seen. She's frowning at the SFC, but it's more out of worry than anything else. ]

Father, Motochika, please tell me you two just switched bodies with one another again? [ She starts sputtering out suds out of her mouth before continuing. ] You know, this happened before! I got turned into a ninja man! It was very strange. But I learned how to go to the bathroom without having to look down, so if you're a woman who got switched with the body of a man, I can help! [ That sounded way too enthusiastic. ]

[ And to end the post...have a cute dog paddle across the bubbles, from one side of the SFC's screen to the other. Gracia watches Futon wade, and then laughs, hugging him from behind. ]

We can finally bathe together without making a mess in the bathroom! [ SUCH LOGIC. ]

[ The SFC lies on the counter, and Gracia looks into the feed with a rather displeased frown, both hands on her hips. What is important to take note of, dearest Vatheonites, is the fact that the entire kitchen wall (as evidenced by the pots and pans hanging on a plastic rack) is splattered almost completely with chocolate. Dripping, hot, melted chocolate. The wall is almost like a blank canvas that's been painted on with splats of milky brown.

Also, Gracia herself is covered with chocolate. Her face and her hair seemed to have received similar treatment; chocolate splatters from her left cheek all the way up to her forehead, to her nose, and then down to the half of her chin. Red hair tied up in a ponytail only served to have the chocolate drip down to her shoulder, which one can only assume to mean that even her purple apron and the clothes underneath it, were somehow soiled too.

What in the world was she doing before she decided to switch on her SFC? ]

[ She leans forward and begins speaking, as if the kitchen of her new apartment wasn't a victim of a mini chocolate nuclear bomb going off.

Gracia sounds very ticked off when she speaks. ]

To the people who are angry at my Father, Akechi Mitsuhide, for kicking me out of our home, please stop feeling that way towards him! He did not kick me out! He only suggested that I leave, and after a while, I came to the conclusion all on my own, that I had to go. [ She points an accusatory finger at the SFC. ] So you must apologize to Father for this misunderstanding! I went to live on my own because I chose so, not because he forced me! To think that you would ever believe his gentle heart to be capable of such a thing...!

[ She starts swaying around, almost beginning another one of her Mitsuhide-is-amazing-and-is-the-best-man-in-the-whole-world speeches, but she only sighs this time around, and shakes her head. When her expression changes to disappointment, she makes no eye contact with whoever is watching the video feed. Instead, it seems this disappointment is aimed towards herself. Was she holding a wooden spoon...that had a burnt handle? ]

I must apologize as well. Maybe it was from my previous post that people assumed my Father forced me to leave...or it was something that I said, and I didn't realize that I said it. [ She rubs at the back of her neck (her arm is covered in chocolate. The chocolate is, in fact, beginning to dry now.) ] I'm very sorry. I shouldn't be mad at anyone but myself. I seem to be unable to control or remember what I say or do when I'm upset. I only realized this now! [ Gracia attempts to chuckle, but it only comes out halfheartedly. She takes a deep breath, and smiles now, wide and bright! ]

So that's all I wanted to tell you! If you thought Father made me leave, then let me tell you now that he would never do such a thing! He is far too kind and far too wonderful to force anyone to do anything they would not want to do. I chose to leave on my own!

[ She waves at the SFC, with the same hand that holds the burnt wooden spoon............. ] Now I have to go and finish what I'm making! I hope I didn't scare anyone with how I began this post -- !

[ CLANK. She takes a step back, as something fell from the ceiling. When Gracia disappears from the feed to pick up the mystery item, she reveals that it's no special mystery item at all. It's the lid of a metal pan. Gracia blinks and examines it silently, then looks up at the ceiling. ]

Oh, so that's where it went...

[ BASICALLY THE WHOLE SCENE LOOKS LIKE THIS. SO GRACIA. ROOMMATE. DOESN'T SOUND SO BAD NOW, DOES IT? ]

if anyone needs me, i'll be in Yutopil Apartments. i think the room number is 301? |



...i'll be living here from now on. so you don't have to go to i hope everyone is having fun with those games i keep hearing about! with the fishes!


|




[OOC: So long story short, Gracia and Mitsuhide finally had that long-time coming ~dreaded confrontation~ regarding Gracia's irresponsible and slightly immature behavior as of late. All about certain issues she needed to understand as an adult, which she handled as a child (and this was done as a fade-to-black, ahaha sorry 'bout that, no threads to show for this. Muns just agreed on it~). Ergo, Mitsuhide asked her to move out of their home, and she's now living in Yuptopil 301 with her dog Futon. Also, that wooden necklace she wears all the time? Mitsuhide took that too 8'D Time to grow up for real, now, ohsnap. Anyways, any interactions with Gracia will be responded with either text or voice, no video for now. That is all, continue on with life my friends ♥]

[ Gracia is sitting outside in the garden by their home, her legs crossed and her nose buried in a large book. It's exterior was elegant in its gold detail, spirals that branch out from line to line surrounding the front all the way up to the bind. However, it showed no signs of decay or age; Gracia received this particular gift fairly recently. In large, ornate lettering, the title of the book reads "World Mythology, Folklore, Culture, and Arts: Europe."

A large, fluffy dog comes into view and sits beside Gracia. Futon rests his head against her knee, and she subconsciously moves to pet his back. His tail wags. Gracia begins to recite the story she was so very engrossed with. She doesn't start at the beginning however, as she's already halfway through finishing. Still, she recites with certain senses of wonder and intrigue in her tone. ]

"Yes, father, right willingly, wait only until it is day. Then will I go forth and learn how to shudder, and then I shall, at any rate, understand one art which will support me." [ She turns the page. ]

"Learn what thou wilt," spake the father, "it is all the same to me. Here are fifty thalers for thee. Take these and go into the wide world, and tell no one from whence thou comest, and who is thy father, for I have reason to be ashamed of thee." [ She frowns slightly, then continues. ]

"Yes, father, it shall be as you will. If you desire nothing more than that, I can easily keep it in mind."

[ Gracia stops momentarily. Futon turns his head upwards to look at her, and then returns to rest his head back on her knee. She doesn't look too happy with the story; in fact, she looks rather peeved, if not wholly confused. ]

I don't understand the words too well, because I've never heard anyone in my world speak this way...but what I really don't understand is why the father in this story is acting so cruel to his son! He's not like his brother, who knows everything already. What's so wrong with wanting to know, to go out and learn?

[ She tilts her head to the side, pouts her lips slightly as she muses to herself, and then continues to read. She recites some of it; you may make out the words "when the day dawned," and "If I could but learn how to shudder!"... ]

[ Before she returns to her story with no turning back, Gracia looks up from her book, leans forward to the SFC, and smiles. ]

If anyone wants me to read another story, tell me okay? I have a lot to choose from, thanks to Gorthan! [ She gestures to the grand pile of the same kind of books all bundled together beside her, opposite Futon. It was a collection. She returns to her book quickly, silent for the rest of the feed. ]

(OOC: She's reading the folktale entitled, "The Story of the Youth who went Forth to Learn What Fear Was." from The Brothers Grimm compilation, written by Margaret Hunt. Oops, foreshadowing things to come, teehee.)

[It is a very groggy samurai that appears in the SFC feed. Over a week of sleeping has left Mitsuhide with many aches and a great hunger; he has not eaten yet, but has obviously washed himself. His hair, loose about his shoulders, has a sheen to it that suggests it is still a little damp. He runs a hand through it as he talks.]

This is perhaps the third time in two years that the cursed sleep has affected me. Odd, how Lord Motochika is often affected at the same time...

[A pause, and then Mitsuhide turns his head away from the feed to yawn quietly before getting to the main point of this post:]

Tama, I wish to talk to you as soon as you are free.

[ Gracia shows up on the feed with rather curious expression. She sits by one of the cafes in the plaza, the SFC atop the table. She takes a sip of a warm vanilla milk, and with a slender finger on her lower lip, she begins to speak. A small dog can be slightly glimpsed running around behind her. It barks twice before Gracia's able to get her question out in the open. ]

Tell me something, Vatheon! What does it mean to be an "adult?" [ She leans on her elbows, and pouts. ] Is it really all about how old you are? Or is it more about how you act? That's what Father said to me once...[ Once? More like every time xD ] If that's the case, then how should an adult act?

[ Gracia sighs. This looks like something she's been pondering over for a while now. But speaking as a child at heart herself—regardless of her twenty years of age—Gracia only confused herself trying to look for an answer on her own. ] It's confusing! No matter what I do, it seems that my actions aren't those of an adult! Are adults not allowed to protect their loved ones the way they see fit?

[ Her dog, Futon, barks again. Gracia smiles and reaches down to pet him under the chin. ]

I wonder if to be an adult, I really only need to smile to become part of his strength...? I wonder if that will be enough...?

[ Her last words are no longer aimed at Vatheon's general public; they were questions aimed at herself, concerning a particular person. Her Father was always right, even if tried his best to tell Gracia otherwise. She believes in him fully, and so she wants to protect him no matter what. That was her reason for fighting—to make his dream of peace a reality. But how will she protect him now, when he gave her explicit orders not to? And that, whenever she disobeys him out of love, she is childish? Selfish, even?

Gracia is desperate for answers! (The last thing the SFC shows before she switches it off is her gulping down the rest of her milk with a satisfied and giddy smile. She sighs contentedly.) ]