» two.

[excelsiors]

( » voice )

_{( sulu's voice sounds a little belabored, like he's been exercising. his words are curt and to the point. )}

Apparently going for the head isn't going to cut it. In case you were wondering.

_{( there's a sound of something slicing, the ring of metal, and then the feed cuts out. )}

( » action )

_{( most people would run away from the creepy skeleton creatures, but sulu is determined to find a way through them. he can be found in various city locals, taking them on with a super cool^TM sword. you should come say hi. or help. or get into a damsel-y scenario. whatever works, really. )}

Comments

video;

[excelsiors]

Sure. Give me fifteen.

video;

[hexuality]

Done.

[And she switches off the feed and goes to clear a path with her wand.]

action?

[excelsiors]

_{( sulu shows up 'round back exactly fourteen and a half minutes later. he's covered in grim and his hair is sticking up at odd angles, sword still clenched in one hand. nevertheless, he's relatively unscathed as he bangs twice on the door in quick succession. )}

you know it bb

[hexuality]

[And she hauls it open immediately, ushering him in before something hears them. Ginny shuts the door, wand in hand to lock it and make sure it stays locked, and only then does she lean against it to catch her breath. Because she's only just gotten in herself, broom on the floor and clothes a little mangled (impressive scratches dragged down her neck and collarbone from where they pulled her off her broom not ten minutes ago). But she hasn't been bitten, she hasn't been killed.

And she's still grinning.]

Hi. [Leaning up, swiping a ruined sleeve across her forehead and inclining her head over.] Office upstairs, let's go. Entire place was warded by my brothers and I just added on to them, they can't get in unless we invite them through the front door.

[excelsiors]

Hey. _{( he flashes her a quick smile, gives his katana a second to collapse back in on itself before tucking it into his boot once he's inside. he's a bit of a mess, and it's only after he's inside a safe place that he realizes the deep ache that's set in over his entire body. having your limbs grabbed and twisted periodically will do that to a person. )} Thank you, Weasley brothers.

[hexuality]

[She knows that feel, only because it happened so recently. At least she got her broom inside with her, no damn way she was letting them tear that to shreds too. Of course, she doesn't think of that at the moment because she's impressed and intrigued by his sword, questions at the tip of her tongue and the way she parts her lips to ask them. But she thinks better of it when something throws itself against the windows and Ginny scowls, wand up and snapping out and the Boneys clawing at the shop get thrown back.]

Persistent, all of them. Bloody hell. [And up they go, Ginny's wand still out as she Summons glasses, fills them with water, douses half of it over her own head as she holds out one for him.] It's like the sheep all over again. City got invaded by them a few years ago, rabid sheep, filthy... Just once, I'd like to get through a year where we aren't invaded by anything.

[excelsiors]

_{( he takes the water gratefully, downs all of it in one prolonged gulp. he's thoughtful, at her words, leaning back against the wall and letting his legs bend at the knee. )}

Invasions are the worst, I think. Different from battles or wars... _{( his voice trails off, like he isn't quite sure of what he was going to say. )}

Something about defending the place you live, I guess.

[hexuality]

[She crosses to the window of the office, twirling her wand at her side out of habit, watching the chaos below and stomach turning. Defending the place you live. Always seems like she's fighting for the City and the people living in it because it has become her home, there's no other way around it. It shouldn't be home, but here she is.]

I guess. But invasions and battles, they all feel the same. If you've been through enough, it all sort of... blends. You fall back into habits.

[She glances over her shoulder at him, brows knit.]

You know what I'm talking about. You move with that thing like you've had it your whole life. [Then - ] Here, sit down. You're not hurt, are you?

[excelsiors]

<sub>( his brow furrows a bit, as she speaks. she usually seems more carefree than not, and it's hard to rectify that impression of her with a life filled with battle. he's never considered himself a soldier, either; his battles are few and far between, even if he's prepared for more. he shrugs, which pulls on his tight shoulder, and he winces before taking a seat.

there's a long moments pause as he rolls out his shoulders, stretching out his back and assessing. )</sub>

Actually, it's pretty new. Kirk got it for me, before we left on our first official mission.

_{( which was just over a year ago, but it seems like much longer. )}

I've spent more time training for battle than being in it, I guess.

[hexuality]

[That's something she does regret. She's liked being known as simply Ginny Weasley, nothing like the war attached to her name or her history. The City has given her that, the closest thing to a normal life she's ever had, curses aside. So if she knew, she'd be glad to miss the look on his face because that's just another impression shattered—she isn't ashamed of who she is, what's happened in her world, why she fought for it all, but to be more than just an English witch is a bit of a loss, in its own way.

Ginny smiles briefly, crosses the room to him and sits next to him on the small sofa, reaching out with her free hand to feel over his shoulder with the familiarity of someone who's had the same sort of problem.]

I never trained, I was just thrown into it. I suppose between the two of us is the way it should be—though I don't think there ever should be a should when it comes to fighting. [Causes are all very well and good but peacetime is what they all want, isn't it?] If you aren't careful, you're going to pull this. [Speaking now about his shoulder, kneading her fingertips into the tight muscle there.] And it won't matter how fancy you can get with your sword.

[excelsiors]

I don't know if there's a should, but you can definitely rise to the occasion. <sub>( or not, he thinks. for the most part, he's confident in himself and what he can do. but he's also acutely aware of his failings, times he hasn't been able to protect people. it seems so much easier in stories, when the knights take on one opponent at a time. his life has gotten exceedingly more complicated, lately.

still, he manages to mock-wince when ginny touches his shoulder, pulls away and stretches his arm over his head as though to prove a point. the point being ridiculously stupid male ego. )</sub> It's fine.

[hexuality]

I've done that loads of times. Haven't you?

[It's always easier in stories, even in a world where magic exists. Ginny Weasley is a girl who grew up on the story of the Potter family, how love can win no matter what, how family will always be there for family in life and death. Wishes can come true. The magic brings it all together. But magic is hard, it can tear lives apart, it can justify war. They are all, perhaps, too young for all that they've done, but they're still here and still going on.

She makes an impatient, irritated sound when he pulls away and swats at his arm.]

Sulu, you arse, you've nothing to prove. If I don't yell at you about this, you know bloody well Dr McCoy will.

[excelsiors]

<sub>( he shrugs--which pulls at his shoulder and is a decidedly bad idea. it's a noncommittal gesture, not quite self-deprecating. at some other point he might be confident about his exploits, but at the moment he feels like he relies a lot--maybe too much--on the people around him. he doesn't feel like he's ever stood his own ground.

then he pouts like a four-year-old and ducks away from her hand. )</sub>

The doc's got enough to worry about. I'll take an ice bath when this is all over and be good as new.

[hexuality]

Doesn't always have to be a fight like today.

[Rising to the occasion are the battles, but then there are the smaller instances. Bullies and the like. Ginny huffs out a breath when he leans away from her, settles for swatting the back of his head. But it's light and she smirks a bit at him.]

I reserve the right to say I'd told you so. [Then - ] Do ice baths work?

[Look. She's a witch.]

[excelsiors]

Fine, I'll grant you that.

_{( another shrug. he really needs to stop, with those. )}

Do they make muscles heal faster? Probably not. But they numb you for awhile so you don't really feel it.

[hexuality]

[She agrees because she puts her hand back on his shoulder with a pointed look.]

I could do that for you. Just for a few hours, but it'd be enough to get you through the City. [She raises an eyebrow at him.] I doubt you've got any plans to stay here with me. And if you did, I'd leave to run off out there, anyway.