Training count my breaths
Ronin Taliesin
the Supernova


Age: 34 | Height: 5'10 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Torchline
Level: 14 - Strg: 58 - Dext: 70 - Endr: 58 - Luck: 79 - Int: 3
SUGAR - Mythical - Dragon (Ice Breath)
Played by: Honey Offline
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Posts: 6,100 | Total: 16,318
MP: 3061
#1
RONIN
the darkstar
Regular military training, whilst not exactly a difficult thing for Ronin given his fitness levels these days, is most certainly a change in routine. And when the regular shit doesn't cut it, he has to find some way to exhaust himself, and so under the advice of one of the more seasoned dragoons, he's running laps of the training grounds. Or rather, he's running laps, but in hard mode.

The vest he's wearing is weighted, and beneath it he's already sweating, blue eyes sharp as he climbs up and over one of the obstacles in the grounds. At intervals, he lets out a sharp whistle - and when he does, a streak of white comes swooping down from overhead, blasting ice at a target a short distance away. Working in tandem with Sugar like this has never been quite so organised, but both Star and dragon seem to react well to this kind of environment.

It's to the surprise of no one, really.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Amalia Chandrakant
the Archangel
Baker

Age: 29 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 5 - Strg: 49 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 52 - Luck: 49 - Int:
JYOTI - Mythical - Starwhale (Humpback)
Played by: shark Offline
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Posts: 3,098 | Total: 4,577
MP: 2580
#2


AMALiA
It's been a strange couple days indeed, and Amalia has found herself caught up in the array of changes that have overtaken her life. Between the mesmerizing architecture and the towering spires, the faces and information and names and roles, the Shield has been somewhat overwhelmed.

Well, that and the last time she saw the Star it had not gone particularly well.

But all that aside, it isn't long before she's seeking out her friend. For all that she is going through she knows that he must have it worse, stripped away from Mateo and Remi as the Star has been. And so Amalia slips away on her second day, hoping to find him before he's captured by the training of the day.

She's too late, of course - the city is massive, and Amalia takes more than one wrong turn. By the time she reaches the training grounds the dragoons tell her he is on the field and has been for some time; they speak of it with an awed and bemused reverence that leaves no doubts that it is absolutely the same Star, despite the place.

Fortunately Amalia has dressed for training. In leggings and a backless shirt the Shield takes to the course, flying over to land in proximity to the Star. With only a wordless greeting given, the girl falls into stride with her friend - less disciplined and more gangly in her movements, but keeping pace as best she can, her breathing steady and deep.

the darkest nights produce the brightest stars
Ronin Taliesin
the Supernova


Age: 34 | Height: 5'10 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Torchline
Level: 14 - Strg: 58 - Dext: 70 - Endr: 58 - Luck: 79 - Int: 3
SUGAR - Mythical - Dragon (Ice Breath)
Played by: Honey Offline
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Posts: 6,100 | Total: 16,318
MP: 3061
#3
RONIN
the darkstar
Sugar calls a greeting in place of Ronin, since the Star is focused on breathing, on climbing, vaulting, on the blood pumping through his veins. But that's acknowledgement that Amalia is there, at least, and he does give her a brief nod as she falls into step beside him. The training grounds aren't large, but they're certainly enough, and whilst Ronin doesn't stop his training to chat with the Shield, once he's finished the next obstacle, he does lead them into one of the inner tracks which is just for laps.

I thought you would have your hands full at the Tower, he says through the Attuned bond, allowing him to save his breath for the training. Sugar pinwheels overhead, released from her own tasks so that Ronin can pay attention to Amalia. The place is big enough, after all.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Amalia Chandrakant
the Archangel
Baker

Age: 29 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 5 - Strg: 49 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 52 - Luck: 49 - Int:
JYOTI - Mythical - Starwhale (Humpback)
Played by: shark Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,098 | Total: 4,577
MP: 2580
#4


AMALiA
She raises an eyebrow at the transition from obstacle course to basic runaround, keeping pace as he leaves the more difficult track behind. Don't go easy on my account, the girl teases silently, her bare feet striking on the well-worn ground in time with the Star's. It feels good to be moving like this, taking in the crisp Leafchange air and focusing only on moving forward at a swift and steady speed.

I told them I needed exercise. Amalia would shrug except that her arms are pumping at her sides, her shoulders already bobbing in a one-two rhythm. Or I would have. If anybody asked. By and large the Shield has been left to her own devices, a handful of meetings the day before notwithstanding.

She wonders if he's still angry with her- and then, remarkably, lets it go. If he is he has the right, but it will do neither of them good for her to dwell on it, and Amalia thinks too much. She's here to try and stop thinking, to let her body lead her and serve him as a friend. A glance is thrown to the Dark Star, an eyebrow raised in challenge before the mental call. Race you a lap- and before he has a chance to respond a single wing presses out, trying to shove him aside (or at least cause him to stumble) so the Shield can get a much-needed head start.

the darkest nights produce the brightest stars
Ronin Taliesin
the Supernova


Age: 34 | Height: 5'10 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Torchline
Level: 14 - Strg: 58 - Dext: 70 - Endr: 58 - Luck: 79 - Int: 3
SUGAR - Mythical - Dragon (Ice Breath)
Played by: Honey Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,100 | Total: 16,318
MP: 3061
#5
RONIN
the darkstar
Sugar could use the break, Ronin supplies as an excuse to move onto the more straightforward track, though he doesn't slow down at all, trusting Amalia when she says he doesn't need to take it easy. Sweat beads on his forehead and rolls down the back of his neck, but the weight of the vest he wears doesn't stop him. If anything, it's as though Ronin is trying to make himself exhausted.

Glancing fleetingly at her as they round a bend, a smirk slants across the Star's face. I thought you'd have been busying youself with the Order and the temple, he says, picking up speed once they're on a straight part of the track again. Race m-- oi! Evidently he doesn't expect the wing to knock him off balance, Ronin swearing under his breath and quickly righting himself, taking off after Amalia.

I've been out here for an hour already - this is hardly fair! he calls after her.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Amalia Chandrakant
the Archangel
Baker

Age: 29 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 5 - Strg: 49 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 52 - Luck: 49 - Int:
JYOTI - Mythical - Starwhale (Humpback)
Played by: shark Offline
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Posts: 3,098 | Total: 4,577
MP: 2580
#6


AMALiA
Again she mentally shrugs in response. There's time for that, Amalia replies, picking up the pace in time with the Dark Star. I wanted... we're in this together. I wanted to check in. It doesn't encompass everything she feels, but the empathy and affection will reach him through the Attuned bond, and for the rest... well.

A cackle leaves her lips as she knocks the man off-course, quickly accelerating in an attempt to maintain her lead. I thought you were supposed to be some sort of super-soldier! the Shield retorts, looking back over her shoulder with laughter glittering in her eyes. The straight-away is disappearing into their first bend, Amalia on the outside of the curving track. Don't tell me you're giving up over a little tap!

the darkest nights produce the brightest stars
Ronin Taliesin
the Supernova


Age: 34 | Height: 5'10 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Torchline
Level: 14 - Strg: 58 - Dext: 70 - Endr: 58 - Luck: 79 - Int: 3
SUGAR - Mythical - Dragon (Ice Breath)
Played by: Honey Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,100 | Total: 16,318
MP: 3061
#7
RONIN
the darkstar
Ronin feels the empathy and the affection, but his own feelings are carefully guarded in return. It isn't necessarily about Amalia - the Star is guarded to everyone right now, because it's safer that way. He's still getting to grips with Stormbreak and deciding how he feels about the whole place and his part in it. Mainly, each day revolves around tiring himself out enough that sleep comes straight away - and the Shield is doing a great job at that right now.

I didn't say anything about giving up, he informs her, easy challenge in his tone. And as Amalia rounds the bend she'll see Ronin quite suddenly in front of her - he's getting the hang of the whole bait and switch with his projection, and there's a rough laugh bubbling up in his chest as he pumps his legs to move faster still, tearing down the straight lap of the grounds.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Amalia Chandrakant
the Archangel
Baker

Age: 29 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 5 - Strg: 49 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 52 - Luck: 49 - Int:
JYOTI - Mythical - Starwhale (Humpback)
Played by: shark Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,098 | Total: 4,577
MP: 2580
#8
AmaLiA
Safrin's shield
There may not be much answer through the Attuned bond, but Amalia wouldn't notice regardless, her attention focused on maintaining her slim (and brief) lead. For a moment it seems she may be in the clear - and then Ronin appears in front of her, having seemingly teleported from his position behind her onto the track ahead.

Wha-? Amalia barks out silently, her dark eyes growing wide in alarm before narrowing in amusement. Cheater, she grumbles, her long legs working hard to pick up the pace. Fine, if he wants to play that way, she can respond in kind.

And then she's shifting, changing, human legs giving way to deer-like limbs, the qilin surging ahead on the straight-away, swiftly gaining on the Dark Star. On your left! she calls out brightly, her long tail a streamer above the ground as she meets Ronin right when the track begins to curve.
& once again I shall kiss the sky
Ronin Taliesin
the Supernova


Age: 34 | Height: 5'10 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Torchline
Level: 14 - Strg: 58 - Dext: 70 - Endr: 58 - Luck: 79 - Int: 3
SUGAR - Mythical - Dragon (Ice Breath)
Played by: Honey Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,100 | Total: 16,318
MP: 3061
#9
RONIN
I'm only as much of a cheater as you are! Ronin informs Amalia through the Attuned bond, though his focus is now on maintaining his lead in front of the Shield. He almost senses the change in her, not because the qilin form is any different to any other parts of her, but because of the mischief that suddenly laces through the air. She warns him about his left side and Ronin is already grinning - already changing.

Ronin's limbs are more than deer-like, and he tosses a head crowned with glowing antlers as his hooves hit the track, and he's already powering ahead as much as possible. More than that, he's barrelling to his left, trying to nudge Amalia off the track. What can he say? It's Leafchange, and the stag has a lot of pent up frustration to work out.
Amalia Chandrakant
the Archangel
Baker

Age: 29 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 5 - Strg: 49 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 52 - Luck: 49 - Int:
JYOTI - Mythical - Starwhale (Humpback)
Played by: shark Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,098 | Total: 4,577
MP: 2580
#10
Amalia
I'm not cheating, I'm compensating, the Shield protests, amusement and mischief sanding the edges off of any actual aggravation. But then he's shifting on her right, following her (narrow) lead once again.

The transformation is hardly unexpected, though it has been some time since Amalia saw Ronin in all his Luxere glory. She may be larger and gowned in scales, but her horns are nothing compared to the antlers on her friend, as majestic a rack as she's ever seen. Eyes widen perceptibly in appreciation followed by realization that he's heading right for her side, and in a flash of instinct and indignation Amalia reacts.

The qilin leaps but it's the leopard who lands - or tries to, anyway - on the great stag's shoulders, a gentle "wuph" leaving her lungs as she makes contact with antlers and/or muscle. Predatory instincts that are rarely indulged rear their head beneath her usually placid exterior; suddenly she wants very much to win, to assert dominance over the great beast of prey.

To prove that she deserves to be here just as much as the Star.

She doesn't notice the gathering crowd that's watching from the stands.
Ronin Taliesin
the Supernova


Age: 34 | Height: 5'10 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Torchline
Level: 14 - Strg: 58 - Dext: 70 - Endr: 58 - Luck: 79 - Int: 3
SUGAR - Mythical - Dragon (Ice Breath)
Played by: Honey Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,100 | Total: 16,318
MP: 3061
#11
RONIN

Ronin doesn't notice the gathering crowd either; instincts sing and nerves tingle as he engages with the luxere that dwells within him. The great stag huffs a breath of frustration as he moves to bowl over the qilin, only for her to leap, to shift, to become a big cat. Ronin has had enough of big cats (and truth be told, it just reminds him of Remi and how much he's missing him), and his hooves skid on the dirt as he fights to slow his momentum, only to try and buck her off his back.

Whether or not he's successful, the Star shifts into the landing until it's Ronin crouched in the earth, glowing antlers still crowning his head. There's something flat and angry in his eyes that has nothing to do with his friend and everything to do with the situation - Amalia is merely on the unfortunate receiving end. It doesn't matter whether she's still on his back or in front of him now - he'll try to grab and slam her to the ground either way.
soft spoken with a broken jaw
we step outside, but not to brawl
Amalia Chandrakant
the Archangel
Baker

Age: 29 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 5 - Strg: 49 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 52 - Luck: 49 - Int:
JYOTI - Mythical - Starwhale (Humpback)
Played by: shark Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,098 | Total: 4,577
MP: 2580
#12
Amalia
She's flying through the air like an enormous squirrel, and damn, it feels kind of powerful. She lands a bit more forward than she expects, her claws clutching onto neck rather than shoulders, large antlers pressing to her chest - and then he's bucking, and her unsteady balances causes her to fall, tumbling over Ronin's huge rack to land upon the ground.

On her feet, of course. She's still a cat.

There's a feral grin which quickly fades as the Shield looks back at Ronin, catching his unbridled anger, the way his usually warm blue eyes have flattened to a glare. Alarm and confusion flicker through her own felid face, and then a frown, and before she can say anything he's lunging forward, half man and half stag and all raw, animalistic strength.

Amalia reacts on instinct, leaping towards his approaching form, her forelegs outstretched, claws carefully sheathed. They meet in a demented sort of hug, the leopard's forelegs trying to wrap around his waist or shoulders, her fur an easy thing for Ronin to grab. And even though she's still uncertain, something in it feels right. She clings to him as he throws her back down, determined to take him with her, to roll and pin him beneath a broad paw and dare him to fight his way out of her grasp.
Ronin Taliesin
the Supernova


Age: 34 | Height: 5'10 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Torchline
Level: 14 - Strg: 58 - Dext: 70 - Endr: 58 - Luck: 79 - Int: 3
SUGAR - Mythical - Dragon (Ice Breath)
Played by: Honey Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,100 | Total: 16,318
MP: 3061
#13
RONIN

Something flashes across Ronin's face as Amalia springs to meet him rather than turning away, rather than bowing down. It's a cousin of enjoyment, but a darker sort of thing, a thirstier kind of emotion. And so they meet, with the Dragoons looking on and with the Star's mind absolutely not on playing fair or doing anything of the sort, and his hands find the thick ruff of her fur with ease.

And so they go down, the two of them; Ronin isn't quite as used to the lithe unpredictability of a leopard, and so Amalia will be successful in her endeavour to get one over on him (literally). But even with a broad paw on his chest, the Star isn't in any sort of position to know if he should back down right now. And his head is still crowned with that huge rack, and he uses it to his advantage.

Sleek fur dances along the back of his neck and beneath his collar, the partial shift lending him extra strength for him to lurch forward, trying to clash against the leopard with his antlers.
soft spoken with a broken jaw
we step outside, but not to brawl
Amalia Chandrakant
the Archangel
Baker

Age: 29 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 5 - Strg: 49 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 52 - Luck: 49 - Int:
JYOTI - Mythical - Starwhale (Humpback)
Played by: shark Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,098 | Total: 4,577
MP: 2580
#14
Amalia
She pins him down for a glorious moment, predatory glee coursing through her as she snarls merrily into his face. The Dragoons, the Order, the lot of it fades away: it's only them, the fierce primal needs and the absolute trust that captures Amalia now, snapping colorfully in her thoughts and rushing heavy through her blood.

It is to be a short-lived high. She might have him pinned, but he has size and experience on his side, as well as that huge rack. It catches her just below her chin, another tine hitting her sternum; a yowl of pain and surprise leaves the leopardess as the blow hits hard enough to bruise. Half-jumping half-thrown, she leaves his chest and hits the ground, her paws wide and her tail held to keep her balanced as she skids on the race track.

She doesn't back down, nor does she strike immediately. Instead Amalia settles into a low and growling circle, moving slowly, her body tense and poised to spring should opportunity arise. She needs to get behind those antlers, to once again launch onto his back and feel the scruff of his neck between her teeth. If he tries to run, she'll strike again; if not she'll wait for an opening, and attempt to dodge whatever it is he throws her way next.


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