A/N: First and foremost, this chapter is getting split up into two… why? Well, both of them are happening at night, but the second chapter… isn't going to be in Mira's PoV. I'm actually going to start touching up on the Awakening Trio/Morgan's side of things… and the new reveals. I realize that the amount of plot threads in here will be too much for just Mira. So, yeah...
Dancers: Liavio: The instructor and lead dancer… is basically Olivia from Awakening, just without the shyness. Mirande (Corrin): Aside from her canon personality, there is a darker undertone to her behavior when she's alone… she's heavily concerned about her appearance, she's also slightly taller than the rest. Yserna: The second best dancer, next to Echo, who first found out about Mirande in the streets of Crynkesia… she hails from Izumo. Atsuna: The newest dancer, she's still adjusting to the stress of being on the elite team and can be shy. Echo: The best of the elite group, she's darker skinned, and the only real problem she has is her high metabolism, which keeps her just a bit too skinny.
Consort: Heh, glad Soleil has made such an impact, because whew… well, she's also got a thing or two up her sleeves when it comes to well-hidden secrets. Though… Soleil chatting it up with Benny? A spar? Hrm… but, yes! The incredible photographic memory! It seems Soleil here is very talented, though I wouldn't place her skill into something like forging a signature so quickly…
I totally agree in that regard. Are the owners snobbish? Absolutely, but they are, quite literally, making a decision that could be the difference of Crynkensia getting an economic boost… or collapse. I can only imagine how much stress that might put on a person.
Mira groggily rubs her eyes as she walks out of her room in her standard sleeping gown, then proceeds to go to last night's leftovers… or are they tonight's leftovers? "Be…" She starts, but then stops, oh right… "Charlotte?" She calls out instead. Nothing. Ah, she must be outside right now, patrolling. Mira reaches into the counter and grabs the bowl of luke-warm noodles, which she takes to the dining table and… right, a fork might help. She sighs, gets out of the chair, then goes over to the drawer to grab a fork, there. She rubs her temples, then moves a hand to use the fork, getting a fork-full of noodles… and takes a very ungraceful mouthful. Whew, it's good that none of the other dancers are here to see that particular display. She then adds to this by scratching her head and accidentally unlodging her hair band, causing her hair to cascade over her, blocking her vision and some unlucky strands falling straight into her bowl of noodles. A second sigh.
Well, even the best can have their off days.
She takes a moment to pull back her hair, then reaches into her pocket and grabs a spare hairband, she proceeds to make a quick and messy ponytail, complete with a number of strands refusing to bundle up with the rest, but… she's too tired to care right now. And hungry. She's sleepy and hungry.
Sleengry, if you will.
With her hair mostly out of the way, she then picks out those unruly three strands or so of hair attempting to act as noodles, and tosses them onto the floor… alongside one poor noodle who got mixed in by mistake. Ugh. Mira narrows her eyes at the bowl, and finally resumes eating. The rest of the meal is finished off quite well, though by the time she gets over to the sink and plops the bowl and fork in, well…
The fork has scratch marks on it.
Mira blinks her eyes, looks at it closer, then carefully prods one of her… great. Just great! "Why?!" She speaks her first word since waking up. "Why?! I don't want these!" She leans over the sink, dropping the fork with a loud clang, and just… starts crying, right there. It hasn't even been a month! "Stupid sharp teeth, stupid pointed ears and red eyes, just… why?!" She jams her knee into the counter door hard enough to echo out a distinct snap and a bit of a tear. Her dress rips around the knee, her knee itself is fine, though there's now a small hole in that door.
It takes her several minutes, but she does eventually manage to dry up the tears, step away from the counter, and walk back to her bed, avoiding the temptation of just getting something else to eat. Or at least, she would've just went straight back to bed, had her front door not open. A small smile graces Mira's face as she sees Charlotte step in.
That smile morphs into a frown when she sees how serious Charlotte looks. "We need to leave."
"W-what?" Of course she heard her, but…
"Guard count is dropping, people are getting picked off. We need to move, Mira." The information sent chills throughout Mira.
"Oh, but… where?" Regardless, Mira rushes over to Charlotte.
"We're going to hole up at the theater." She whispers in return. "There's a few fortified positions we can take advantage of." Mira simply nods. She trusts Charlotte. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe, Mira." A pause, "Alright, you ready?"
Mira gulps, then nods, "On you."
Charlotte deftly opens the door, and proceeds to walk out, with Mira up next to her. Both of the women's footsteps are near silent. They know this city through and through… every alleyway, every building… and Charlotte is aware of every sniping point, which is a lot, mind you, since most of them involve looking up. Mira's breath is quick and almost frantic, her heart is beating a speed that easily surpasses any other moment in her life, even the thought of Lord Leo's touch. Her eyes are quickly scanning every spot she can think of, despite Charlotte probably already having looked over every area twice as much. She reaches out and touches Charlotte's hand, just for some reassurance. A strong squeeze is offered, Mira's heart settles a bit.
It wasn't until nearly several minutes in until Mira realizes just how quiet it really is. The only sound of footsteps are from her and Charlotte, she can't see anyone else, no lights, just… buildings and silence. "Mira…" Charlotte warns, and no less than a second later, she shoves Mira to the side, and ducks.
Swish! An arrow blazes right past the spot where their heads just were. "Ngh!" Thud, someone gurgles as the sound of metal hits cobblestone. Charlotte rounds in the direction of the arrow the next second, and another is fired… past her? Another thud. Mira blinks her eyes as she looks in the direction of the thuds… they don't have guard armor.
"Returns aren't accepted." Wait, Mira recognizes that voice. "No payment plans, either." Step step, "Mira, uh… Charlotte?" Morgan asks.
"You almost shot us!" Mira's bodyguard snarls, not that Mira could blame her.
"Actually, if neither of you moved, I would've clipped off about one and a half inches of hair, the arrowhead was aligned vertically, perpendicular to the ground." Huh? "Sorry we had to meet again like this, but… you two are gonna have to keep moving." He looks his bow over. "Don't go to the theater, that's where the heaviest concentration of Hans' forces are."
"Hold on." Charlotte hisses. "We…"
"Knowing people is vital to being a Tactician. Just… trust me." Morgan waves her off.
"Alright, then tell us where to go."
"Back home." He plainly tells them. "Hans is looking to scare people into the place that is the most easily secured."
"My house is… safer?" Mira asks.
"No, no way! I don't believe that." Charlotte speaks, sounding more angered.
Morgan sighs, "I'm not going to argue the point. You aren't in an army that I'm commanding. You do as I suggest, or you don't." He begins moving in the direction that Mira and Charlotte were heading. "Stay safe, you two."
"As he goes off in that direction…"
"I have a plan, and Hans will be captured tonight." He waves.
"...Charlotte?" Mira slowly asks. "Morgan sounds really confident."
"But… how is your house…" She grunts, before adjusting her posture. "Wherever you wish for us to go, milady." Her tone softens, and she turns into the Charlotte that most people know her as.
Mira looks towards the direction of the theater, "Morgan's really smart, and… I want to give him help, but I'm not good at fighting, and I don't want you to go without me, and..." She bites her lip.
Shing! Mira squeaks and reflexively ducks. Charlotte hisses and whatever was about to hit Mira, instead hits Charlotte's axe. "..."
"You little…" Charlotte huffs, pulls back, then strikes. A gasp follows, and Mira can hear some liquid splattering on the ground near her. "Not so tough now, huh?!" A follow-up strike, and the third thud of the night. "Hey, Mira…"
"I wanna go home!" She whimpers. "Charlotte, this is scary!" She rises and throws herself around her bodyguard.
"Hey, sh… we'll do that, but I'm going to need you to stay quiet, alright?" She returns the hug and pats her head. Mira slowly nods, tears running down, heart beating so fast… fear. The two break, and Charlotte takes the lead. There is the occasional sniff and whimper from Mira, but other than that… going back home was relatively calm. It seemed Morgan was correct, that Hans was just using fear to get everyone to go to the theater to get… Mira gulps and shakes her head, no! Don't think about that!
She and Charlotte enter her home. Clatter. Mira's blood runs frigid… someone else is in her home. Charlotte moves forward slowly. Step, step. Mira backs up to the wall, breathing erratically. "Cha…!" She automatically squeals out as she feels someone wrap a hand around her front, pinning her arms to her side with incredible strength… considering how small the arms are, and something cold and metallic is near her neck.
"Let her go!" Charlotte demands.
"One step, she's dead." The response is cold and detached… like the gauntlets she's wearing. "Move, out." Mira stares ahead at Charlotte as she and this abductor, assassin person guides her out. Creak, the door opens, the person steps out with Mira in tow, and…
"Let. Her. Go." The abductor halts.
"The perimeter was secured and…" Mira can hear her mutter.
"Not gonna say it again. Put the dagger down, let her go." Hold on, Mira also recognizes this voice, too…
"I…" The assassin starts, but is cut off with a yelp of her own, a gruesome crack, and being slammed onto the floor. Mira immediately dashes back into her house and turns around to see…
"Soleil?!" The pink-hair dancer is manhandling some light-blue hair tiny woman, though the woman's right arm is twisted in an unnatural position. There is a clear difference in raw strength, too, as Soleil only has a single knee and one arm on her, but is able to hold her down without any issue.
"Hee hee…" Soleil giggles, "Don't worry, cutie, I got your back." She winks at Mira, then scowls at the woman. "Not so skilled now, huh? You even try to run, and I'll break your other arm, too!"
"..."
"Yeah yeah, I know. You don't talk much." With a grunt that sounds masculine, Soleil hefts the other woman up and pulls out some… handcuffs? Within a matter of seconds, both of her arms are behind her back, despite one of them being twisted in a weird way, and cuffed together at the wrists. "Greatest Assassin, Bearer of the Most Completed Contracts, uh… what else?" She huffs, "Having the most noble blood on your hands. I swear, if His Highness dropped fair trials for all, then you would've been dead already."
"..."
"Uh-huh." She continues, "Hey, Mira! I'll catch you later, alright?" She offers a beautiful smile… as if she doesn't have a cold-blooded killer within arm's reach. "C'mon, let's go, Beruka."
Mira turns around and looks at Charlotte, her own eyes are wide, "Gods, I…" She was almost… almost what? Killed? Abducted?!
"You're safe, and I'll… do better." Charlotte, for a moment, seems down.
"She was in my house!" Mira exclaims. "How? I… I don't feel safe." Panic settles in, "Charlotte… I don't know what to do."
Charlotte holds her tight, "I'll keep you safe, Mira. No matter what." She whispers. "So, let's settle down some, and stick together, alright?"
"I'll… try, Charlotte." Mira whimpers. "I'll try." Time to get through the rest of the night without completely breaking down, then.
A/N: What's this? Some sort of tactic-based plan with Hans? And what was Beruka doing out there, did… did she get some sort of contract?