Catarina (catdevigri) wrote in no_true_pair, @ 2011-04-14 13:48:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! 2011 eight characters challenge, artist: catdevigri, author: catdevigri, crossover: suikoden iii/tol, pairing: sasarai/shirley |
Rain (Under Cover of Darkness) (Tales of Legendia/Suikoden III, Sasarai & Shirley)
Title: Rain (Under Cover of Darkness)
Author/Artist: catdevigri
Fandom: crossover: Tales of Legendia x Suikoden III
Pairing/characters: Sasarai, Shirley, Fenimore, Nika (an assistant to Sasarai)
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Word count: 1,263
Author's comment: In this crossover, the Ferines are an ethnic minority with their own religion living in Harmonia.
Prompt/challenge you're answering: Sasarai and Shirley, with the title "Rain"
Under cover of rain and cold and night, the inquisitors lost track of their prey.
"Come on, Shirley," Fenimore urged somewhat harshly, "You can't slow down now!"
If the road had been better paved it might have been slick, but as the way was only intermittently smoothed with stones, the thick, churned mud provided traction enough for Shirley to keep her footing. Both girls' clothes were completely soaked through, puffy sleeves plastered to their skin, blond tresses stuck to their cheeks, heavy with the weight of added water.
"How much further, Fenimore? It feels like we've gone a long ways already..." She didn't want to admit to being tired just yet, but she wasn't exactly cut out for this kind of exercise. These were difficult conditions for running. Fears for the ones she had left behind in the village also tugged at her mind. It was Senel's remaining to hold off the inquisitors that bothered her the most. She believed in Senel, but she had grown up on tales of the inquisitors' torturous methods. He might not be a real member of their minority group by blood and she didn't think he was fully involved in their religion, but what were the odds that the inquisitors would make any distinction? Anyone who stood up to them was a potential target.
"I...I don't know," Fenimore admitted awkwardly, "It...it just doesn't feel like we've gone far enough yet."
Shirley slowed gradually to a halt, leaning over with her hands on her knees. "It's...it's completely useless then, isn't it? I don't know where we should go, you don't know where we should go- there's nowhere safe for us! The best we can hope for is to find some shelter in a cave or a copse where we'll just end up hiding out until someone finds us. ...It's hopeless!"
Fenimore retraced the steps back to her friend's side. "Shirley. You-" she summoned up every ounce of authority and annoyance in her to try and spur her friend on despite her flagging confidence, "You can't give up here! What would Senel say? What would Maurits say? All of our people are counting on you! If you just stop now and let yourself be captured, what happens to all the people who are looking to you as the Merines for spiritual guidance? It would be like Chief Priest Hikusaak throwing himself to his enemies! There's no way a girl like you can't manage to be at least as strong as that, is there?!"
It was a jarring speech, but actually, Shirley did find it inspiring. "Fenimore," she started to respond, "I-"
"Hello out there?" called a youthful male voice. The two girls froze, holding their breath. Perhaps whoever had nearly stumbled across them would take the silence to mean he was mistaken and there was no one there.
"Someone? Anyone?" he called again. The yellow light of a lantern flickered onto them, distorted by the rain and the shapes of trees and branches.
"Ah!" The searcher emerged. He looked as young as he had sounded. "What are you girls during out here getting drenched?" he asked, voice more curious than concerned, "Are you in need of any assistance?"
Shirley, more open to interacting with those who hailed from outside their insular community, spoke up before Fenimore had a chance to turn the youth down or warn him away. "We-we're not from the area and I'm afraid we've gotten a bit lost. Is there any chance that we could maybe go back with you to wherever you're staying for the night, or at least to wait out the rain?"
"Why, yes- I'd be glad to shelter you. You can get dried up and warmed up there...I can probably find you a change of clothes too." He set down the lantern and pulled off his nondescript brown cloak, stepping up to wrap it around Shirley. Underneath it he wore the elaborate blue and white robes of a bishop.
Shirley and Fenimore fought not to exchange more than a brief glance of discomfort. "Y-you're a bishop?" Shirley asked, although she doubted there could be any other reason for his attire.
"That's right. I'm Sasarai of Crystal Valley."
The situation had not improved any. What were the odds that their would-be rescuer would, innocently or not, lead them right back to their would-be captors?
"Oh, Sasarai, you got all wet!" exclaimed the young woman waiting for him at the cozy-looking house where he led the pair of refugees.
"See?" he answered in turn, "There was someone out in the brush! It wasn't just animals."
Fenimore and Shirley, tense with the knowledge of Sasarai's rank (he might rate himself as a mere bishop, but his name told another story, marking him as the second most powerful cleric in the country), worried that they might have to bolt back into the night at any moment, were relieved to see that the bishop's blond aide seemed to be the only other person staying with him in the wooden house on the outskirts of the town. Considering his stature, Sasarai had to have other accessories- such as guards- around him somewhere, but in such a quiet part of the country and under such travel-deterring rainfall, perhaps they considered it safe enough to allow him some privacy.
"It's not really a great time to be out," the bishop's assistant remarked. She took a casual approach with Sasarai, tossing a towel onto his dripping hair before moving to take a kettle off the fire and pour them all some tea.
"We were lost," Shirley repeated. At least it was true.
"There are groves and marshes and fields, sure," Nika commented, "But in the dark, where there aren't many buildings or people, I can't find my way either. All of the northeast looks the same to me."
"I can navigate a bit with the stars, just like my brother taught me, but when I can't see the sky, that's meaningless," Shirley sighed, pulling off her boots. At least her socks had managed to stay dry. Fenimore's were as waterlogged as a used mop. She pulled them off by the toe, stretching each one out to dry on the floor facing the fire.
"Nika, you don't think you could loan these girls some of your spare clothes, do you?"
"I guess that'd be okay. ...But you'd better go and change too. I won't stand for you thoughtlessly sitting around in your wet robes and catching cold!" Nika insisted.
"Ah, listen to this," Sasarai adjourned to an adjoining room, hands tossed helplessly into the air, "I am the boss, but you would think she is my mother!"
Nika rolled her eyes good-naturedly once the door was closed behind him. "Really, it's all talk. He falls apart if there's no one around to look after him. Hmm," she held up one of her tunics, comparing it with Shirley's dainty frame, "How about you try this?"
Her clothing was a bit droopy on Shirley, but a decent fit for Fenimore. The kindness of both Sasarai and Nika, as well as the mundane nature of their welcome served to take the edge off even Fenimore's taut nerves. "The bishop is...a very nice and friendly person, isn't he?" Shirley said.
"I like to think I am," Sasarai answered, reentering the room in fresh clothes.
"Sasarai!" Nika scolded him, "You should've knocked- you're lucky everyone was decent! ...And a bit more modesty wouldn't hurt either."
"I don't mind," Shirley admitted, smiling. "You're funnier than I expected a bishop to be."
"Always happy to amuse," he beamed back.