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[flaredo]

"Heeey, you've reached Yang! Well, actually, you didn't reach far enough, 'cause I'm not here right now! But don't yang up! Just leave a message on this baby, and I'll get back to you soon enough, okay?"

[ Please specify VOICEMAIL, TEXT or CALL. ]

Comments

[flaredo]

[ It's not the sudden pillar of INFERNO that surprises her-- but the sudden pressure that nearly makes her aura flare to life. It's a suffocating feeling, something that makes the hair on the back of her neck stand up... but when she realizes what it means, who this might be, Yang scrambles out of the store (window), landing with a small thump. She's not bleeding, but she's a wee bit disheveled. ]

Naoki!

[masakados]

[Naoki's hand drops, smoke trailing from his fingers, and he turns quickly toward her at the sound of his name.] Yang-- [The sense of pressure dies down almost at once, as if shrinking back into him. Like he was suddenly snapped from that instinctive need to threaten anything that might come after them.

He hurries to her, almost skidding to a stop just in front of her, looking her over.]

You all right?

[flaredo]

Yeah, I'll just feel it in the morning. [ She manages a smile for him, though, also giving him a sweeping glance. ] You're okay?

[ So what if she got knocked through a window, she's had worse! ]

[masakados]

[Naoki reaches out to run his hand the length of her arm, not hesitating to cast a little healing just in case. That was glass she went through, okay???] I'm okay.

[There's something about him that seems more muted than usual, but...]

That was the first thing I've seen in here so far. [He gestures with his other hand back to where the reindeer was.]

[flaredo]

And you got a doozy for your first time. [ He does seem... oddly subdued, and she studies his face, inquisitive, even as she keeps speaking. She'll thump him on the shoulder for the healing later. ]

But there are some weird guys with sharp teeth around, too.

[masakados]

[Naoki... notices how she's studying his face, and a tiny grimace tugs its way over his lips. His fingers flex at her arm, squeezing slightly as though he needs the contact-- and there're the giveaways that not everything's okay with him right now.]

If it's me and you, we should be able to take a couple of weird guys with sharp teeth, huh?

[flaredo]

[ Yang nods (well, of course)-- and this is probably not the time, she's going right ahead and leaning in to leave a kiss against his cheek. ]

We'll crush 'em.

[masakados]

[Whether it is the time, Naoki appreciates her closeness when something in him needs it a lot right now. He turns his face slightly, his nose brushing against her cheek, followed by his lips.]

Sounds like it's teamwork time.

[flaredo]

Ready to roll, demon lord?

[ And okay, one very quick meeting of mouths-- ]

[masakados]

[Naoki kisses her a little longer than quick, like he's trying to drink in her warmth and her presence in that moment of contact-- and then he steps back, offering his hand to her.]

Ready when you are, charisma queen.

[flaredo]

[ It's okay, Naoki, she isn't going to stray from his side. But she takes his hand, squeezing reassuringly. ]

... We're gonna have a talk after this.

[masakados]

[Naoki squeezes back at her hand, his fingers sliding through hers and his eyes shut for a moment. It's funny. He remembers the days he'd dreaded speaking about things.]

...Yeah. Please. [And he starts to walk.] We'll just take care of all of this, first.

[flaredo]

Whatever all this is... seriously, what gives? [ WHAT IS ALL THIS SHIT. ]

[masakados]

CERES strikes again. [Naoki supplies dryly as he steps forward, pulling her by the hand. His other one lifts and fire catches once more to send a light before them.]

This is the most twisted I've seen of any Christmas things.

[Murderous Santas and sleighs and reindeer...]

[flaredo]

... Christmas stuff still? I was wondering about that thing outside.

[ Thank god she'd had a nice, sweet one with Naoki, but she's keeping one gauntlet close to her side. Anything jumps them, she'll be ready. ]

[masakados]

Yeah. [Naoki sighs.] I'd like to just... pass on their ideas.

[That's for damn sure. He'll take the one he had with Yang any day. His gaze is fixed ahead of them, though, head cocked as he listens closely.]

Did you run into anyone else yet, Yang? [And her team? He frowns.]

[flaredo]

I was with my team-- we got separated, though. But...

[ ... No. She believes in them. She'll lift her chin, resolutely. ]

They're fine. I'll meet up with them.

[masakados]

[Naoki nods his head too, and a more determined light comes into his eyes.]

You will. I'll help you, too.

...I know there're other people around, I can feel them, but... [And then there comes a skittering sound. And a clattering one from overhead, where the roof gapes open, letting in snowfall.]

[flaredo]

... Let's deal with our company first, and then we can focus on finding everyone else. I'm sure we're not the only ones fighting.

[ So, glancing up-- ]

Wanna give me a boost?

[masakados]

[Naoki's looking up as well, eyes sharp, before back to her as he nods firmly.]

Yeah, no problem.

[He's got you, Yang.]

[flaredo]

I'll be bringing a new friend back with me, so be sure to say hello.

[ And she's letting go of his hand, nodding to him.

... She'll be back. ]

[masakados]

I'll have my most energetic hello waiting.

[And he's shifting to cup his hands together, waiting for her to plant her foot there.

He knows she will-- he trusts her.]

[flaredo]

[ There goes her foot, and she places a hand on his shoulder, just for temporary balance.

BON VOYAGE. ]

[masakados]

[BON VOYAGE INDEED.

Because he's giving her that boost as good as if she weighed nothing at all, tossing her straight up with ease. GO BRING THAT NEW FRIEND BACK.]

[flaredo]

[ Off she sails, straight and true--

And then there's the sound of a gunshot, a bellow of enraged pain as she comes plummeting back down, dragging a screeching reindeer thing with her. To its credit, it's still trying to valiantly impale her. ]