acephala

[acephala]

Top 20 female characters as voted by my followers:

      ↳ #20: Celty Sturluson

[acephala]

       It was easy to forget when one didn’t frequent those sectors as often. For Celty Sturluson, those beasts, creatures, or whatever they seemed to be were enough for her to step away as much as she could. Of course, due to her job, sometimes it would be impossible. Fighting them wasn’t something she did, more like... prevent them from attacking. While they weren’t rational ( she had assumed as such ), they were still living beings & the fairy was still someone who didn’t like violence, who didn’t like fighting.

       Yet she had always to keep her guard up whenever they would be around, as unfortunate as it was.

       While her job was a rather simple one ( it required retrieving a package and assure its protection, which she could easily do ), but the beasts started being the last of her problems. They were easy to avoid, her shadows could easily stop them and there was Shooter, who was much quicker on his feet than the creatures, yet the problem that arose was another one.

       A sword, too quick for her reflexes, and a noise; something hitting her helmet, and the sound of something hitting the floor. It had been too quick for Celty to do anything, and she isn’t sure what happened but her helmet had been knocked off and there was a man ( in pain, covered in bruises, wounds and blood ), who she assumed was the one who attacked her, but he was... confused.

       That was understandable.

       It really has been some time since someone knocked her helmet off like that... I brought back memories ( not the most pleasant ones ), but Celty did not move. The man was confused, and she was worried, admittedly, despite having attacked her. The Dullahan judged it self defense; had those creatures attacked him? It was a possibility, though she couldn’t be certain. Her shadows quickly retrieved the helmet that flew away, bringing it back to her hands, and back to her “head”.

       Movements are slow and careful as well; I am no enemy, she tries to tell the other with how she moved and how her hands worked. Though most weren’t as capable of reading body movements as some of her friends were, there was still an attempt as the fairy pulled out her PDA.

I’m not here to hurt you. I didn’t expect to find someone here, but you’re bleeding a lot. Let me help you.

@acephala

⊰☠⊱ — Covered in wounds, blood seeped through his clothes, Nicolas managed to get to somewhere more isolated– somewhere safe for the time being. Coming across creatures he hadn’t exactly encountered before, they definitely gave him a warm welcome to remember. Sometimes he’d forget that it wasn’t only Normals and superhumans inhabiting the Hive. Today, he was reminded of that, just a few minutes ago. 

A displeased grunt parted thinned lips as shoulders would lax, patting down on wound of the wounds as he took a look at his palm– least he wasn’t bleeding badly. He managed to get away with minor injuries. As he was about to situate himself under a tree and take a quick nap, to restore some of the energy he wasted getting away from being tailed, someone came up from behind. How hadn’t he noticed? He wasn’t too far gone but rather distracted. 

Fuck. 

Without wasting another second, he swung his katana, which was still unsheathed, behind him– in an attempt to strike them. It came in contact with something hard, causing the deaf Tagged to raise a brow as he looked back. Almost as if he was watching in slow motion, the helmet came off the person’s head– or rather lack of, leaving him frozen on the spot as he stared at the headless body standing upright. It was a woman– from what he could tell from the skin-tight black outfit. It seemed women had a thing for attire like that. He wondered if it’s because it was easier to move in.. 

As soon as those thoughts surfaced, he easily brushed them off.. Trying to grasp what had happened, no longer paying attention to the helmet that rolled onto the floor a few feet away from them, he canted his head, scratching the back of his neck, not uttering a single word until he remembered. Remembering the trouble he got himself into, he composed himself, now with his guard up. Was she one of those creatures he encountered– in disguise of a Normal?

[acephala]

       She takes no time as soon as the boy begins walking. She is quick on her feet, perhaps because the fairy is simply too excited, too happy about how lucky she was. This kid, too, she should thank him somehow... Only words wouldn’t be nearly enough to demonstrate how happy she would be if they did find the packag-- No! No no no no no, Celty Sturluson couldn’t have pessimist thoughts at a moment like this! They would find it ( the boy has seen it, with his very two [ one? ] eyes ), and it would be the right one.

       She can only hope, and follow him.

     Assuming upon her gesture before viewing the text that the woman happened to be excited about the possibility, the halfbreed halted for several moments. Hand under chin, attempting to recollect the exact location of the package. After all, it would be silly to run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off, no true location to go. Feet begin to walk towards his suspected hunch, soon signaling for the helmeted woman to follow suit.

     ❛ Come, this way!! ❜

[acephala]

       Someone that is born with special powers. It didn’t apply to herself ( or did it? ), and her first thought was a few people she knew; Hijiribe Ruri, for example. Anri stopped being an example, for she was never born with the ability to control Saika. Ruri, however; while Celty doesn’t know details, it’s clear to her that the idol wasn’t entirely human. As for herself... Did it apply to non-humans?

       While the fairy had been lost in thoughts, the sound of the young girl’s voice resonates once again & it catches the woman off guard. Anri. Somehow, that girl had read her thoughts and, while it hadn’t been all of them, it was-- -- -- impressive.

       Her helmet nods three times, excitedly as she was, before typing in a new message.

That’s right!! You can read people’s minds?

   It took standing on the tips of her toes to read the second message, but Anna followed up by seeming thoughtful for a moment. If she’d never heard of a Strain before, it was likely that she wasn’t one. Perhaps it was rude to assume people were Strains based on irregularities? 

“A Strain is someone that is born with special powers. Usually, they’re observed and dealt with in different ways depending on the risk they carry…” Explaining it, a subtle feeling of nausea overtook Anna as she considered her own past as a Strain. It hadn’t been pretty. She left out the explanation regarding Kings for now, afraid it might just make things more confusing.

“Anri…” The child spoke a name unfamiliar to her after closing her eyes. It was a demonstration of her abilities, though the city had made them less than effective. “You just thought about someone named ‘Anri’, didn’t you?”

[acephala]

       The sarcasm isn’t appreciated, and she lets it slide.

       No answer came from the Dullahan, if only an air of I don’t appreciate your humor, much less your presence, so watch your words coming from her. She knows Izaya can read her, she knows he can read her well and while some times that becomes a bit of a bother ( he doesn’t use that ability of his for good, but if only to poke at people’s deepest wounds ), there are times Celty Sturluson can use it for her advantage; few times, but they’re better than nothing.

       She wouldn’t waste a few seconds of her time typing in a message that she knew Izaya wouldn’t absorb.

       When they step inside one of the casinos, the scenario is surreal. It’s loud and colorful and sparkly and too much for the fairy. It’s a place she has never been, a place she doesn’t want to be and a place, she knew, Shinra would never want her to be. She knew about the people in that place, and she knew gambling was entirely illegal. If her stomach was a working one, surely the woman would be feeling sick of it at this point; there were many things going through her mind, what Izaya’s plans could be and how she definitely shouldn’t have accepted that job.

       She didn’t need to eat, she didn’t need to buy clothes, she didn’t pay rent, what did she need money for?

       Old habits die hard, I suppose...

       When a voice ( his ) resonates again, it starts getting confusing & too hard to believe. We are early, he says, and she already knows things wouldn’t get better from there; why don’t you play a game?, he suggests.

       It’s at times like these Celty asks herself over & over just why, why does she keep accepting his jobs... The woman’s first instinct is to look back at Izaya, to ask him ( with all the body movement she would muster, he could read her, she knew ), just what the hell was he thinking?! Yet she is forced to sit down, awkward as she was, when the dealer starts playing with his cards.

       Celty Sturluson has never played a game of cards before, not that kind of game, but perhaps she could buy the time Izaya needed for whatever he had planned. It wasn’t a serious game, right?

頭脳明晰

Oh – there it is!

Izaya leans forward dramatically to catch them: the first words Celty’s said to him all day. The message is depressingly short, with none of the usual suspicion or frustrated jeers she likes to give – but he grins, and he might as well be seconds away from celebrating. Good thing they’re at a joint like this, right? There’s always a party going on inside.

‘A delivery?’ he asks innocently, but it’s less innocent and more whatever could you mean? Listen closely, and you can almost hear the you’re so silly thrown in for flavour. ‘I didn’t leave you totally in the dark – come on. What else would I need you for?’ He turns away towards the bright doors, and says above the din – 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　‘Don’t answer that.’

Not that she would ever know anyway.

The inside of the casino is as garish as the outside. Stepping in is like stepping in a hurricane: the carpets are intricately patterned, the ceilings dizzingly high – and though the slots are a hundred steps away, they ring out loudly in a chaotic mess. It’s sickening, if you wait too long and don’t keep moving.

‘Over here,’ Izaya indicates, pointing the courier over to the tables. There are poker and blackjack games crowded by breathless spectators, but he doesn’t stop until he finds a table that’s empty – and it sticks out like a sore thumb, just like the two of them. The dealer nods as they approach…

And Izaya, of all things, decides to hang back.

‘Looks like we’re a little early.’ His tone is unreadable, but the curl to his mouth is – ‘Say. Why don’t you play a game while wait?’ He shoos her towards the dealer, pulling his phone out and crooking it between cheek and shoulder.

‘I bet you’ve got a great poker face.’

[acephala]

I’ve felt a bit guilty lately, but I just want to say that I’m not the kind of person to ask someone to write me a starter and never reply. Sometimes it might take me more than a week ( worse cases two ) to reply, but I always reply a starter. I feel like saying that because it has happened with me several times ( i swear it’s not a vague about anyone omg ) and I know how upsetting it can be, and truthfully I owe a few starters here ( and in my other muses ), but I promise I’ll try to reply as soon as I can. Most times I even reply starter first because they’re always my top priority. I just wanted to let you guys know if I owe your starter a reply!!

[acephala]

Where’s the can’t-eat-pocky friendly days.

[acephala]

       Truth be told, she didn’t know what to expect. Maybe one of her friends, maybe Shinra, maybe... Maybe some hope? It was hard to understand these feelings inside her, and she was sure she never would: while it would be nice to have them back, to be around the friends & lover who accepted her despite all of her freakish characteristics, she didn’t want them to be in that city. It was nice, most of the time, but it was also dangerous, and Celty Sturluson has seen it, witnessed it. Would she be able to protect them if anything were to happen? Would they be able to protect themselves? Although many have been there for a while, they all went back -- to Ikebukuro, to their home, to a safer place.

       But she stayed, and waited, waited, waited...

       And in the end, they came back, with or without their memories of the city. Coming from Shizuo, it was a weird question to ask. Perhaps he had noticed the Dullahan’s absence in Ikebukuro?

Three or four months. It’s not my first time here, though... I think it has been eight months already, in total.

       Definitely much longer than she would like.

Do you remember anything about this place, Shizuo?

@acephala

      IT didn’t exactly surprise Shizuo that he’d seen that familiar helmet in the crowd that dispersed as the last of the new arrivals - a group which he was included in - exited the apparent holding area to be released into the city. That helmet couldn’t belong to anyone else, and he was able to pick it out of such a large crowd by experience alone - maybe she was waiting for Shinra to arrive, should he not have been here already. Or maybe curiosity had struck the the dullahan, and the sight of a familiar face - his familiar face - led her to stick around until the end. A cigarette now firmly entrenched between his lips, Shizuo strode forth towards his friend - already a fairly good start to his tenure here. 

“ SO, how long have you been here exactly, Celty? ”

[acephala]

       The Dullahan’s first instinct was to hold her PDA close to her chest. It absolutely should not, in any shape of form, break like that!! She would make sure to make a safe cocoon for it with her shadows before they dove head into the city underwater. It would be hard for the fairy to communicate with her teammates without a device, but it didn’t worry her that much -- after all, she could still listen to them regardless, and if anything were to happen, she would be quick to protect them. They were not friends, it was the first time the four of them talked like that, but Celty Sturluson was a good person; they were teammates, they were together in this expedition and, admittedly, they all seemed like good people.

       It was a good team, the one she ended up with.

       They were somewhat reckless, too ( other than Jin Kisaragi, who seemed like quite the responsible, leader-like man ), but that recklessness brought only good things for them: information. It was possible for them -- the other three in her team -- to breath underwater. It made matters much easier for their team. Now they just needed to swim... and all of them knew how to, hopefully.

       ( though, quite honestly, she wasn’t sure if swimming with a biker suit would be a good idea. it was quick, almost god-like speed, but all of the shadows surrounding the dullahan’s body, the ones that took form of her suit, quickly changed into a pitch-black swim suit  that would definitely help her body better once they started their business. )

Kisaragi-san. 

       She started typing after a quick observation she made. Although the PDA was turned mostly to the one she spoke with, the other two could easily read her messages as well.

I just noticed it, but how will we receive messages from the other groups if our phones don’t work underwater? There will be no way for us to communicate with them were anything to happen, and they communicate with us as well. Were you told something about this?

       Unless those phones were water-proof, of course. Perhaps she could use hers to talk with her teammates, even though it was hardly as useful as her PDA.

steponmebrother > acephala > @heavenlyglutton· > mediumofthestars

operation; regia

[acephala]

       Water isn’t exactly the most constant factor in the Dullahan’s life. Surely it is part of, but only when she showers; otherwise, it’s easily discarded. Unlike humans, hydrating herself isn’t something necessary -- and she doesn’t have a mouth for such. Large bodies of water aren’t something she has seen often either; unless it’s in a TV show or a videogame, Celty Sturluson has barely seen those. Of course, Shinra had taken her to the beach once, or twice, but those were different cases.

       One thing was going to the beach, the other thing was being completely surrounded by nothing but water. It gives the fairy a slightly uncomfortable feeling, but it’s something she can quickly ignore. 

       At the very last, her powers work there, one way or another. The other humans in her team seemed to be able to breath as well, so there wasn’t much she had to worry about.

       ( she could only hope her PDA wouldn’t come in contact with the water, though. )

I’ve heard the inhabitants of this district are mermaids. This is the first time I’ve met them.

       The contact with another fairy would do her good. Although Shinra ( and Celty ) desperately tried to find one the times they had gone to the beach, they were all for naught. Maybe she can take a few pictures to show Shinra...

If anything happens, I will try to protect all of you with the best of my ability. Let’s only hope this will be a safe trip.

steponmebrother > acephala > @heavenlyglutton > mediumofthestars

operation; regia

     (X) posting order: @steponmebrother > @acephala > @heavenlyglutton > @mediumofthestars 

    There’s something oddly fitting for a master of ice to lead an expedition in a zone primarily submerged in water. The reason for his  appointment as squad leader is unknown, yet not at all unfamiliar to him. He was once a military man– among the youngest to command his own squad within the Praetorian guard. That choice was most certainly not erroneous in that regard.

    ‘District Theta’ was what this zone was officially referred to, dubbed “Regia” by some force or another long before Jin’s time (before anyone’s, really). This was the district his group was assigned to explore. What purpose did this expedition serve– well, he is uncertain as of yet. What was certain however was that a trip like this will certainly open new questions and answers up for him. Questions of which, pitifully so, he had been slacking off at uncovering.

    He had bills to pay, after all.

    Being so close to the waters provided the area with a distinct chill. He’s very much used to the cold. Prefers it, actually. His choice of attire provided a combination of maneuverable and warm, minimizing layers, moderating temperature management. He took a fondness over this coat, too.

    All that was left was to await further instruction. Fortunately, the company of his squad mates was available.

    “So this is ‘Regia’…” He spoke aloud. “I hope you’re all both physically and mentally prepared for what’ll happen next.”

[acephala]

      TO: Jin Kisaragi, Maya Fey, Yuri Lowell, Toriko

      FROM: Celty Sturluson

TXT: It’s nice to meet all of you. I’m Celty Sturluson.

TXT: I hope we all get along and have fun!

@mediumofthestars @ushirometasa @acephala @heavenlyglutton

TO: Maya Fey, Yuri Lowell, Celty Sturluson, Toriko FROM: Jin Kisaragi

MESSAGE: [1/?] Well, it’s time to get to know each other first and foremost. [2/2] This is Jin Kisaragi. Introduce yourselves and get that our of your system.

[acephala]

     Truthfully, with Shooter now around, taking the train is unnecessary. But there are times, she supposed, he wouldn’t be necessary. Sometimes he needed to rest too--!! Although disguised as a motorbike, Shooter was her horse, her dearest pet & companion, and this city was big, likely bigger than Ikebukuro. Besides, she didn’t even do deliveries everyday -- he definitely deserved a break!

     So there she is, waiting for the next train. It’s a weird sight, truly. A woman wearing a pitch-black motorbike suit, waiting for the train. People would have expected her to be with a bike ( like she often is ), or at least dressed differently. Although she could, well-- She was just too used to that outfit!

     It was good to know that her sense of style didn’t stop people from talking to her, though. It was a small boy ( a high school boy, most likely, around Mikado’s age? ), and he seemed pretty... excited to be there. It was cute, truthfully, but she didn’t let it show. Had he never taken a train before?

    The Dullahan takes her PDA out and types out her answer after a few seconds wondering how to answer him.

Well, that does happen at some hours, when everyone is going to work or coming back home. That doesn’t happen very often here, though, since many have bicycles and cars. But you can fit a lot of people inside a train!

@acephala

          ❝There was no need in the past to take a train, places he needed to go easy enough to get to by carriage. Rarely did he go farther than a few cities over, either for his safety or Pandora’s convenience of having him in one place. He didn’t resent it, it was just one of those things that made up his life and thus something he didn’t think too much about. 

Now, standing on the platform, waiting for the train to arrive, the blond cannot help but feel excited. He bounces on his heels lightly, watches people enter the station. There are lots of people and wonders how they’ll all fit. He supposed trains had to be quite large to accommodate this any people, lest they be terribly cramped. 

He turns towards an individual next to him, marveling at their way of dress but knows it would be wrong to judge. He speaks up, one of the many question that fill his mind coming forth. “Does the train always fit this many people? Does it ever get so cramped other people can’t get on?”

[acephala]

     Strain? The question caught the fairy off guard. She did not know of those -- likely something to do with this girl’s world --, and she wondered why had she asked such thing. Maybe because of her helmet -- the one thing the girl initially payed attention to? Or was it her PDA, the fact this woman before her did not speak, but wrote in a phone what she would like to say. It’s impossible to find out, and the Dullahan can’t tell herself if this girl is entirely human. She is, like Anri, but she is also something more -- like Anri.

     She looks human, she feels human, but it’s weird. It’s hard to make up what exactly is going on with this small girl before Celty, but there were high chances she was special.

I’m... not sure if I know what a Strain is. Could you explain it to me?

     “…I do.” Anna had a fondness for animals, since she had difficulty befriending animals. As an Empath, she had an idea of what they were thinking somewhat. Though, Mikoto had never let her keep one at Bar HOMRA. She understood it was because they couldn’t have a cat or dog running around where food was served, but… Maybe now that she was the King, she could figure something out eventually.

What the Strain found unusual, however, was that the woman was communicating via her phone. Did this mean she could not speak? Were her abilities not nerfed, she would have been able to understand what she was feeling even without words, but alas. Still, something rung strange with Anna’s heart in regards to this stranger. “…Are you a Strain?” It wasn’t unusual for someone with powers in her world to not have a voice. Anna herself couldn’t see properly, after all.

[acephala]

     That had been quite a weird way to word that. Not like food? Well, she wouldn’t expect to smell like food -- considering eating was out of question --, but... Well, who knows? The Dullahan wouldn’t pry of it -- it wasn’t about him now, and maybe it would be awkward to change the conversation’s topic all of a sudden; he already thought he was being rude ( which he wasn’t ), so maybe if she did that--

     Better to simply answer his questions for now. She wouldn’t want to make this any more awkward for such a polite man!

This is actually how we look like. We resemble humans on the outside, but we are hardly similar.

     Abilities, mortality, aging... Truly, she could be mistaken for a human easily, but there was one crucial point that didn’t make her pass off as human. It will be fine, she reassured herself, he isn’t human either. Besides, hadn’t Celty told herself her friends accepted herself like that, that she accepted herself like that? There was nothing to fear.

     For a hesitating moment, a hand was brought to the vision of her cat-like helmet. For another moment, hardly as hesitating as before, she lifted it up -- presenting to the man before her... Nothingness. 

     Not a pair of eyes, not skin, not hair, not a skull. Nothing, if a black shadow.

     A minute later, she closed it again. Dullahans resembled humans if only they hid their head, and the space where their head should be. It was only then they could disguise themselves among humankind.

          Well, it seemed that simply asking politely had gotten him the answers he           sought, however, of course, he didn’t really understand the answer before           him. He could tell from her scent that she wasn’t human but he’d never even           heard of fairies outside old western books or the occasional TV show.

“I’m afraid I have not heard of them before. I’ve heard of fairies as a general concept but I had no idea there were different kinds. Is this…” he paused, gesturing vaguely at her with one hand, “your actual form or are you simply taking on a human-like appearance?”

          He seemed uncertain about how to ask such things, a sheepish grin settling           on his face as he let out a hesitant little laugh.

“Sorry, sorry, I hope I’m not coming across as rude. You simply smell… not bad, but not like food?”

[acephala]

pearlfectionate replied to i’m so so sorry for everyone i’m threading with!!!...

[ ey yo i still want to continue our thread on sakuya, i’ve just been likewise busy with class stuff ! ]

PLS TAKE UR TIME i’m always here, always ready to thread with sakuya, idc how long it has been i’m HERE

[acephala]

       Her shoulders go up in one go, hands clapped together and she might have stood on tip toes for a moment, out of excitement and relief. What was the probability?! Luck has never been something constant in the fairy’s life, a day or other being full of either good luck or bad luck, but overall it wasn’t something so... present, active. But now----!! Ahhh, how good it was! To think someone had actually saw it, and they actually didn’t touch it or take it anywhere else! Such good luck, such good luck--!!

       ( she only hopes it’s the same package, but it might be, it has to be--!!!! )

     Those fingers of her are quick, almost god-like typing a new message on her PDA.

Please, show me where you found it!!

   Brow furrowed ever so slightly at the woman’s gesture, taking a look at the text placed before his very eye(s). The stoic, silent type, perhaps… though as he peered into her tinted helmet for a few moments, he could surmise that something was amiss. Whatever the case, it wasn’t his business, and in no way did his curiosity usurp the lady’s issue. Remaining silent for a few moments as he pondered whether or not he’d come across something fitting the description, the halfbreed snaps his fingers.

     ❛ Aha! ❜, he proclaims aloud, pointing his body towards the south. On his way towards the nearest cafe, he’d come across a suspicious looking box left upon the ground. What were the chances of it still being in the same spot?

     ❛ I saw a small box not too far away from here, but I didn’t bother with it.        I can guide you there… if you’d like, that is. ❜

[acephala]