Derpiness and slightly less derpiness

[defies_fates_hand]

[1]

[You're somewhere around one of the Unity Group bases when you hear several rapid footsteps of someone dashing around a corner and/or hiding behind something. You see Interitus looking around quizzically so one can assume that the person who made such a noise was probably Volya. Looking behind her partner's hiding place she's quickly pulling an arm into view.]



"Volya! Come on!"

'Teritus! No. I look ridiculous... how did I even let you talk me into this!

"Because we're partners and I saved your life a lot? Pleeeease. Show friend! They say you look good too!"

...Ugh... Fine!

[And out steps Volya in his school uniform. Nothing too unusual there. What was different though? Well Interitus in all her great...wisdom and the influence of the idea of Mizuki's Parents treating what would happen with their child to be much like something out of a TV show, the plant girl felt that Volya really did need to look the part of a mysterious transfer student. Thus...]



Be honest... I look ridiculous don't I?

[She managed to convince him to grow out his hair. In any case Volya looks seconds away from facepalming.]

[2]

[Meanwhile in one of the hangars there's the battered form of a Guiding Hand Defender being brought in. Interestingly its greatsword was replaced with an equally battered shield, though it lacked any sort of embellishment or hidden weapons.]



"Sir Nathaniel... I understand... you sent me this one out of all of them because you want me to build myself back up before I can do more... but..."

[David looks up at it, taking a deep breath and sighing as if tremendously disappointed somehow. Perhaps it was some complaint about how the machine was not powerful or unique...]

"You know I'm terrible at using shields right..?"

[But it was actually a slight on his own skills... or lack of thereof. He winces as his gaze trails to the shield covered in scratches and dents. He hangs his head with a tired sigh.]

"Back to practice then..."

Comments

1

[brought_it_back]

No, it looks good. Great even.

Though...it is slightly feminine.

[defies_fates_hand]

[Volya's going to take a deep breath and sigh here, giving Interitus who is now looking smugly at him a glance.]

If its just slightly then I can live with that.

[After all Ren didn't exactly have a gender and they got by fine looking tremendously androgynous.]

Its just a little bit right? Not actually a lot?

[brought_it_back]

Well...Perhaps a bit more than slightly...

[Crap crap crap, how to answer this...]

-If I did not know you, I would have thought you were a girl.

[defies_fates_hand]

...

[This face. Just this face. Interitus on the other hand sees nothing wrong with this at all and continues to look smug.]

Well that's just great.

[brought_it_back]

Um...it's not all that bad! You would be a very pretty girl!

1

[actuallyselfish]

Dido tilts her head sideways and stares at Volya for a long time.

"I'll say this, kid," she says at last. "You're gonna be popular with the girls...though not in the way you'd think."

[defies_fates_hand]

Do I even want to know what you mean by that?

"Ooh! Ooh! Dido mean that they adopt him like one of their own like Tarzan and Gorillas?"

...........Please dear god no.

1

[empress_without_a_throne]

... Volya?

[Mizuki wouldn't really say ridiculous but...]

... How did you even grow your hair out that fast?

[defies_fates_hand]

That's not even- I don't-

[Volya just groans and gives into the temptation to bury his face in his hands.]

I thought my life was weird enough already. There's no possible way this could get worse.

2

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Hey there David! Though as Mizuki's looking at the shield... she can't help but be curious.]

You're certainly letting your shield take plenty of hits. Isn't that how it's supposed to work?

[defies_fates_hand]

[Volya gives Interitus the most flattest look he can manage.]

I'm thinking my hair's too long and then she comes running over, telling me I need to look more mysterious and then the next thing I know she's ruffling my hair like crazy and then its like this!

"Uh-huh! Special trick, learn with some of animals after haircut! Learn how to help grow back fur, can work for hair! Now Mizuki little brother has a cool senpai to look up to!"

...This is so your parents fault...

[defies_fates_hand]

"Well yeah! That's what I thought but..."

David rubs at his arm as he recalled those practice sessions. Using motion capture mecha meant that physical practice in addition to training with the machines themselves was a thing.

"Sir Nathaniel always would keep telling me to drop my shield when I don't have to use it too... something about keeping it up tiring me out more and making me slower to react to things. He said something about only blocking when I can't deflect something or if I can't risk it going anywhere else."

1

[star_of_sad]

No, not at all!

So this is the look you're going for now?

[defies_fates_hand]

"Uhuh! Now Volya can be a real mysterious and cool transfer student!"

Honestly I'm just keeping it until the excitement she's having about Mizuki's little brother and thinking that stuff that happens on TV can be applied to life blows over...

[actuallyselfish]

"They'll want to brush your hair," Dido says, fingers twitching. "Your healthy long mystic white hair. They'll wanna work out the tangles with a brush, tie it into a ponytail, braid it, make pig-tails, ox-buns..."

Dido shakes her head and shrugs. "Although maybe that's not so bad...is that something you'd be into?"

[defies_fates_hand]

They're going to do what-?!!

[And there's a look of alarm on Volya's face. Okay that sounded way, way too much in his opinion. Interitus on the other hand suddenly has a starry eyed look on her face as she imagines the possibilities.]

[actuallyselfish]

Alas, poor Volya; pray for puberty. May your stubble and growth spurt rush in like the mighty Russian winter.

"You know," Dido muses suddenly, "If and when you do cut your hair, you could donate the locks to a medical charity; make some wigs for girls with congenital hair loss conditions."

She grins slightly. "That'd be worth a few months of annoying attention, wouldn't it?"

[empress_without_a_throne]

Sorry. They... learned a lot about parenting by watching shows and stuff like that.

... Don't suppose she'd just let you cut your hair again, would she?

[empress_without_a_throne]

Sounds like the exact opposite reason to give someone a shield then.

... But I think I can help with that. If you'd be up for it.

[defies_fates_hand]

[This earned a piteous whine from Interitus who is now hugging her partner, looking pleasingly at Mizuki and rapidly shaking her head.]

That would be a no.

[defies_fates_hand]

"Th- I am!"

David suddenly snaps to attention, his eyes bright and looking ready to learn. Admittedly his posture was a bit too painfully ramrod and he's looking like he's trying too hard.

"What do I have to do? Is it some kind of tough training course? I'll do what it takes!"

[defies_fates_hand]

[So much praying. So very much of it.=

It would I guess... but knowing Interitus she'd just make me grow it all back.

[Sage nodding from the plant girl here Dido.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

Let's start with the basics then. If you're having trouble keeping your shield up too much, then you're going to need to learn to keep it down and at the ready.

[A short time later and Mizuki's in the DuskBird, the machine's whip at the ready, and when David's at the ready...]

Now then. For the moment... just focus on defending what's about to come.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Not surprised.

For what it's worth though... it's not a bad look for you.

[defies_fates_hand]

[Given that it was a shield exercise, David left the sword in its sheath. Upon hearing Mizuki, the battered Defender's head raises to look at the Duskbird.]

"Okay... Okay! I'm ready!"

[And just as he said that he raised his shield... because when one hears the word defend, that would be the first thing to do.]