nysalogs | ( semi-open ) they can take my breath

Entry tags:

( semi-open ) they can take my breath

Who: Leanne (

regives) & various
What: Your girl's a fugitive on the run.
When: The first of October and the days following!
Where: All around Olympia.
Warning(s): None... for now.

a.)

[ A situation going from bad to worse should be relatively familiar to Leanne, but that doesn't save her from the overwhelming amount of surprise that hits her when news of the explosion finally surfaces. She of course experiences concern for who may be close to the blast, and then is immediately taken aback when the announcement that included her name also rings through.

Undoubtedly there's an explanation that needs to be made. But given her wavering trust there's no way for her to turn herself in, especially when she's being accused for a crime she didn't commit.

Though her luck continues to be a distant thing as the podcast is made when she's trying to make herself back to her apartment. Taking the back streets in hopes of avoiding those who are fully prepared to round up those accused without hesitation, she knows a little silver is enough to motivate anybody. So when she's peering around the next corner and makes blatant eye contact with another person she immediately shrinks back. Way to go, girl, hopefully they didn't notice? But if they did... maybe if she acts normal then they could go on their way without there being an unnecessary bump in the road.

Or not. She's a little glad she left the house with better shoes to run in today. ]

b.)

[ So are you trying to help her get from point A to point B without getting noticed? Great, you're a pal, and Leanne's got the greatest idea known to man: by acting like your terribly non-suspicious girlfriend! With an oversize jacket on her shoulders with the hood pulled up on top of her head she's pretty much the definition of ominous. And while she wouldn't say that she is some sort of award winning actress she does at least try to make the plan of her pretending to be your sick significant other work somehow.

Leanne keeps a hand firmly around the other person's arm. Holding onto them tightly as a heavy weight of anxiety rests on her shoulders. ]

I'm kinda surprised that this is working. [ Oh! Someone's looking, she pretends to cough. ] But I'm glad... sorry for dragging you into this.

( closed starters will be in the comment section below! her plotting comment is here but feel free to pm or pp me through

vongaribaldi. )

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A nice change, huh. Sounds like you're keeping your chin up.

[ He doesn't think things are so easy. How could they be? She's had to endure what they all have, losing their homes and friends, and now she's a fugitive, on the run. Deprived of what life she'd been making for herself on this new world all over again. Still, she's strong, isn't she? Even if she's cried, broken down on someone, even if she's having a hard time, she hasn't let that stop her. She's still human, but there's a core of steel to her. She's not giving up. Cain admires that.

He holds onto the flask for a moment too long, a pause in the conversation, their fingers brushing together. ]

You're not the kind of person who'd do all the things they said you did. [ Cain's certain of that. It's possible he misjudged her, but he's a pretty good judge of character. He's learned to trust his own intuition, and his gut says that the woman he met on the beach is the real Leanne. That she wouldn't have tried to hurt and betray everyone, not without a very good reason.

He lets go of the flask and gives her a level stare, not judging, but steady, willing to listen. Everyone deserves a chance to tell their side of things, right? ] What really happened?

[ Of course she sees that coming, and Leanne glances with a small tilt of her head when the tone of his voice reaches her ears with such certainty and confidence that it nearly surprises her. Even if she knows of what crimes she did and didn't commit, still painted in the wrong light, and that there's still a number of people in need of an explanation, it still causes her to pause. ]

... [ She sighs, though it's certainly not one out of some negative emotion. ] Where to start? Well, I took a job from a shady looking guy that was hanging around in Shades Darker. [ Don't ask... why she was there... ] Truth be told I'm used to mercenary jobs like that, but what he told me versus what happened are on completely different ends. He said that what was coming in were weapons from Wyver that were essentially here to be used to hurt the people Olympia and my friend and I took the job thinking that we'd be getting those weapons out.

Turns out he had other motives and the true criminals were just using us to shove the blame on.

[ Cain is curious about why she was in Shades Darker in the first place, but luckily for Leanne, he does decide it's not the best time to ask. There's more than enough else to unpack without that particular bit of info.

He nods, not surprised to learn that she and the others were tricked. Still concerned, though. Didn't the leaders of Olympia are to know how their enemies were operating? The public apologies hadn't really sounded like it, which just means it's still going to be easy for others to be taken advantage of the way Leanne was. ]

And then you were used as scapegoats. [ His voice is harsh for a moment, betraying how badly the idea sits with him. ] He... who told you that, exactly? The "Shady Man" that we were all looking for?

I never got a name out of him, unfortunately. [ There's plenty of things she should have at least considered before taking on the job, but familiarity kept her from doing something that's honestly just common sense. RIP. ]

But I guess it doesn't really matter now—

[ But before she can say anything else, the flask to her lips, she stops when finally noticing that something was... off. The air felt a little heavier, and it takes her a second to finally realize that the jungle had become incredibly quiet. Eerily so. But there was a subtle sound that stuck out in contrast to the heavy silence. ]

Do you hear that?

[ Cain's noticed the odd silence too, and silently, he rises to his feet, hand falling to the hilt of his sheathed sword. ]

Yes. [ He keeps his tone light and conversational, adds, without any change in inflection from a moment ago: ] So you were a mercenary, before? I wouldn't have guessed, but that's probably to your benefit, right?

[ As he speaks, he cocks his head, slowly scanning the underbrush around them. Whatever's caused the silence hasn't struck yet. It's waiting, choosing its moment. He'd rather not clue it in that they're prepared for its attack until they've found the thing and can ready for its ambush. ]

[ Leanne is returning the flask to the small bag from earlier, movements careful as she knows that where her hands are were definitely the deciding factor on whether or not she can reach her gun in time for a surprise attack. But she's at least glad to know she's not the only one hearing thing, a solid confirmation that it's not one of those spiders hiding about, but that left the question of exactly what was near.

She stands, straightening her shoulders as the low adrenaline rush begins to course through her veins. It's odd though, from this position it sounds like the slow, even breaths are all around them.

Sorry, Cain, she'll humor you later. ]

This doesn't sound... human. Keep your guard up.

[ And just as she takes a few cautious steps, hand tucked to her side and slowly pulling her gun from its holster, a thick, hot line of saliva drips onto her shoulder. ] Ew! [ It's probably bad for her to panic but honestly? What the fuck?? The stench is also unbearable and she can feel the bile in the back of her throat bubble with disgust. Focusing her attention on that instead of the dragon slowly lowering from the protection of the tree, exposing its snout from the branches with a mouth steadily widening itself. ]

[ Ah, well, question and answer time is over. He's got plenty to mull over, several revelations to consider. But despite his curiosity, he can understand caution. Especially when something slimy drips onto her. Ew indeed. ]

That's... definitely not human. [ Cain wastes no time in drawing his sword and taking a few quick steps to stand at Leanne's side. The dragon is huge, but at least they're facing it together?

Though that's not so reassuring when the thing's sharp teeth look perfect for ripping and tearing, and when its eyeing them like they're lunch . ] It looks hungry.

[ There's definitely nothing reassuring about any of this. Sure, she's faced a giant snake, but never a dragon. And when Leanne realizes what's before them, the stench of whatever this creature had been eating reeking off of it's breath, there's a fight or flight motion that courses through her veins.

It's without question that she goes with flight. ]

Hungry and huge! We—

[ And it snaps forward, closing its jaw within their proximity. But just as quickly as it was to taunt them with a strike is Leanne unhesitating with grabbing Cain by the wrist and tugging him back along with her. ]

Run!

[ They crash into each other a little, Cain having lunged for Leanne as the dragon went for her, instinct propelling him to move. That just means he grabs her back, way on board with the plan of running for the hills. ]

Running! Run faster!

[ He barely needs to be tugged along, pelting after Leanne at a flat-out sprint. Still, he can feel the dragon's hot breath hitting his back. Surely its teeth are only a second away from chomping down on their heads... He pours on more speed and, as the dragon's shadow looms over them, leaps, pulling Leanne down beneath a massive, fallen tree trunk.

The dragon goes soaring over their heads with a screech of anger at its prey being denied.

Cain, trapped beneath Leanne under the trunk, gives it a wave. ]

I am! [ Running faster, that is, she's basically going at top speed before Cain's pulling her underneath the trunk. Perhaps if her mind wasn't focused on survival then she'd actually pay a little more attention and react to their position, but for the time being she's not even going to question it.

Instead it's the wave that she reacts to promptly, snatching his hand back. ]

Don't wave! You'll just tempt it to come back.

I think it'll come back whether I'm waving or not...

[ But he does let her keep his hand trapped for the moment. He can't exactly sit up to look for the dragon, but he cranes his neck, trying for a glimpse of it through the trees. He should at least be able to see the tree tops moving if it makes another pass, right?

A second later, the loud screech of some animal, terrified and horrible, and abruptly cutting off, makes it very apparent where the dragon's gone. ]

Ah. [ Well. That crunching sound is probably bone, isn't it...? ] Seems like it found easier prey.

[ Of course seconds after she advised him not to do one thing is she doing something like... ten times more wild. Pulling herself a little higher up to at least catch a glimpse at whatever the dragon may be next. From what she can see past the thick number of trees was that it was far enough that they could escape without worry.

She then glances down, hands on either side of his head. ]

So that means it's distracted and we should move. [ And get out of this scandalous position... why did you pull me into this ya know I'm nasty. But Leanne is leaving the safety of the log and offering him her hand. ]

[ Use a trope at every opportunity, that's my motto! But also Cain is truly the damsel in distress as he should be, and only rises to his feet once Leanne's pulled him up.

He spends a moment brushing dirt and leaves off his clothing as he scans the skies, but it does seem like it's occupied for the moment. And, hopefully, doesn't have any friends. ]

Running [ because that's what it is ] sounds like a great plan. After you!

[ The Shining Knight Leanne will undoubtedly protect her Princess Cain. ]

After you. [ It's the last attempt at a joke before she's grabbing for his hand again and taking off, this time intent on getting away. ] Quick question [ huff ] but how much do you weigh?

[ Why are you asking me for stats that aren't out yet!! ]

Er. Not that much? [ This is definitely Cain trailing after Leanne because he's being pulled along, but he keeps pace with cheerful determination, letting her keep his hand clasped as he ducks branches and tries not to trip over any roots. ] Why?

[ You gotta take risks!!

Honestly speaking, Leanne almost can't tell if the words that come out of her mouth are genuine or another sly joke, but considering what she's done already in spurts of determination just about anything can happen; perhaps that's why it's accompanied by such a wide smile. ] In case I need to carry you.

[ Literally. ]

...I'll try not to let it come to that.

[ They're fleeing fast enough, aren't they? No need for Leanne to sweep him off his feet — or drag him along like a sack of potatoes, as seems more likely with their relative heights and weights.

Just to be sure, Cain quickens his pace a little. No need to be carried here! ]

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( semi-open ) they can take my breath

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