erudorago

[erudorago]

daitoku‌|

The Rider’s hand on her shoulder did much to assuage her doubts and embarrassment. But it was where Drake chose to take the conversation from there, that truly helped to rebuild her confidence.

“Lunch, you say?” Raikou repeated.

Fine food and the preparation thereof… Two topics, the likes of which she could become unabashedly animated over. Which either or being a fine way to break the tension that had built up in  her heart. 

“As far as establishments in the neighborhood go, I am admittedly not the sort to dine out all that often. So unfortunately, I would be hard pressed to make any confident recommendations there. However, with that said — I would not mind if we stopped by my apartment. Nor could I imagine that my roommates would take offense at a visitor’s presence.”

“There’d be no need to trouble yourself with catering to my plans, or what you might think my specialties would be. As while of course, I’m best at preparing meals from my homeland, I’ve also gotten quite good at preparing meals more suited to a European palate.”

It was a development in her culinary repertoire that was courtesy of working with the other members of the “Chaldea Kitchen Crew”. And further improved by some endeavors of her own, the likes of which she had experimented with since her arrival upon the isle of Spirale.

“If there’s something in particular that you crave, I’ll do my best to oblige. Though depending on what it is that you have in mind, we may need to stop by the store in order to pick up the necessary ingredients. I trust that you would not mind?”

“Hahaha! Not at all!”  The merry sound of the captain laughing erased any suspicions she was upset or had been at all. She recovered quick and was often the first to laugh . No need to be down for too long when the world was far worse!   That, or she never allowed herself to sink to those waters.  Drake  waved her hand up. She gestured with a thumb to herself. ”Did you forget!” She proclaimed, rather proudly,” I’m a worldly woman! I’ve been which way and all over. No food  is outside my palate and no pirate would be foolish to turn down a meal by one of the best! What a luxury! ” 

 Her wrist rotated. That thumb now wiggled and pointed down the street. “  If you’re going to make Japanese cuisine, we should probably stop by the store anyway and grab some nice sake, eh?” Never change, Drake.   “And maybe some stuff for pizza just in case things go belly up! Let’s go, Raikou.” 

-------

Drake was the first to step through the door with their spoils. Two bags of ingredients and bottles of sake . She strode to the kitchen with little hesitation. Clearly, she had been in this type of residency before. Their layouts were patterned easily enough to make a mental map of. “Whew, walking with those definitely worked up an appetite, I’d say. ” Luckily for her, not one of Raikou’s roommates were in the kitchen. Drake splayed everything out on the table and double checked they got everything.  

[erudorago]

casterextra‌|

▊狐 “Er…” It was hard to comprehend just what exactly she was looking at. This was Francis Drake, yes? The Rider Servant she’d clashed with during the Moon Cell? She’d spoken with her Spirale as well, but this setting, this atmosphere…

It really wasn’t what Tamamo expected of a pirate. It was too lavishing, too high quality of a setting to belong to a meager pirate. To begin with… that dress…

“Hmm… Hmhmhm…! What an interesting situation I’ve been spirited away to! I recall falling asleep but to think we were all being tossed into one another’s dreams.” From her experiences in both H*ve City and Spirale, it wasn’t difficult to accept this assumption as reality. “So is this a memory, Rider, or are your still a noblewoman in pirate cosplay?”

“P-pirate cosplay?!” The woman barked, her voice rose in pitch and cracked, but her alarm was drowned in frustrated whispers.  Anything too loud would disturb the moment she cherished.  “The nerve of you, fox! You’re asking to be gutted with talk like that. It is a memory, and if it doesn’t fail me, there’s guards outside too. They wont hesitate to grab you by that pretty tail of yours and kick you out. ” Drake leaned close.

“ So be good, eh?.. and pass me my jacket.”  The royally dressed woman waved  to the chair behind her before turning back to the mirror. She put the hat back on and tipped it to and fro for the perfect angle. “ I’m not even supposed to have these. Ruin the moment and I’ll kick you out the window instead.”

[erudorago]

cybvele‌:

“I would have to agree, word of mouth tends to distort stories and their content eventually fades with time. Books however, can last forever if cared for properly.” Medusa looked on with bewilderment as carefree woman seemed to enjoy herself from mere conversation. “Yes, I’ve learned so much since I got here, to be honest….I would enjoy to have someone who shares my passion for books. If you desire it I could lend you some books back at my apartment.” 

@erudorago​

 “I’d love to stop by, of course. We could go there now if you had the time.” The pirate chimed.  Compared to other servants, Drake came off strongly in the company of others. Be it natural charisma or just a love of people, time with them was an adventure, even just down the road. She crossed her arms on the branch and swung her  dangling legs. “ I wonder if you have any rare books. Had a friend interested in them. They must have good stories, right? We can get some iced coffee on the way. That’s what they do now, ya? Coffee and books..”.

[erudorago]

credensjcstitiam‌|

❝Y-You really think so…? Thank you!❞  The blonde chirps in reply, feeling quite content with herself. She had actually managed to go out shopping with someone, and the clothes they were trying on were simply the cutest. Not only that, she was getting compliments! The pink-haired woman was right, the ruffles simply fit her. And when she thought this couldn’t get any better…?

 ❝Ooooh!~ Please let me see that!❞ Excited eyes gazed upon the gold scarf. The colors of the dress and scarf seemed to go quite well together, just by giving the accessory a quick glance over - but only Drake would be the judge of that. Eagerly accepting the scarf form the other, she wraps it around her neck and lets it drape elegantly.  ❝What do you think? Don’t I look lovely?❞

“ Yes, Mami! Beautiful!” Drake proclaimed  with a clap of her hands together. She held them up to her brimming smile. The gold color was deep and under the light had a perfect sheen. It did not wash out the girl’s natural color either. If anything  made her hair more vibrant.  “With the right breeze, you’ll look perfect for photos. Ah, with these phones, we should give that a try after we’re done! The quality is very good on them! “ Giving a 450 year old pirate the means to track and look back at adventures was simply the best! 

“ I haven’t even tried on my clothes yet and look at you with so many outfits already, hahaha. Change out of that, lass, then it’s my turn.”

[erudorago]

tzarov‌|

WAS SHE TRYING TO OUTDO HIM IN HOW FAR HE strayed from common sense as existence? Now surrounded by two wild Drakes that didn’t make sense, he had to be the bigger man… even when the insult stung. Her father was a man without dignity, the worst kind of tyrant.* 

“NEITHER DID I. IT WAS A COINCIDENCE. ANYWAYS, ELIZABETH. HERE IS YOUR NEW NANNY.” He played along, solely to pass on the responsibility and dump Drake lily on the older one. “HER NAME IS DRAKE.” Then the sovereign turned his head towards her… but an empty void couldn’t convey a ‘can i leave now’ expression. 

*read: murdered his own wives, that’s where he draws the line

“ Nice to meet you, Lady Drake,” replied the princess automatically. “ I don’t need anything now but I’ll be sure to call if I do!”  Drake watched the princess’s face falter slightly when Ivan shifted.  What a strange little mirror. For dismissing the girl so easily, the tzar played the role of this king perfectly. It was nothing new to the princess, but to experience it again, even for a moment, resonated like the ringing of a glass.  Maybe she was reliving it after all. A smile returned to the girl’s face. That’s right. This was a happy dream. The libertine started to remember. “--I have very importance business to attend to!”  

“I heard you had a story or song prepared for the prince. Since ,your father is here, you can also show him... ”  Elizabeth appeared surprised, but took up the challenge in a typical fashion-- putting on a facade. “ O-okay!”  With the princess leading the way past him, Drake threw a glance back at the icy tyrant. She didn’t need an expression of his to return with one of  ‘ please, just a little longer’. 

[erudorago]

tzarov‌|

“SO YOU WERE BORN A HOG IN A DRESS?“ With the little care for instructions or authority, what else could he call her? Drake fundamentally didn’t obey logic! Just like 30-40 wild hogs. “HM.” He cleared his throat from the amusement, or tried. In a way he was glad to see the smaller her. Mostly because he preferred her childhood being exposed over his own. It would be a sorry, pathetic thing to share.

This on the other hand, was as light as the little princess on her feet while running down the corridor towards them. “… CAN SHE SEE US?“ Wait.

“Quiet,” Drake retorted.  At least hogs were smart!   She wondered the same thing. Their tour had been, so far, met with little resistance.  No one had run crying or raised alarm at the sight of the tzar, nor questioned a pirate in a royal home, of which the former was more telling.  She straightened herself as the princess approached. What kind of moment would this be? Would her younger self be impressed with her now?  As the princess neared,  she slowed. Her expression was clearly confused, seeing the two there.  Eyes of youth peered up to the Thunder Emperor, then the pirate. The struggle for recognition was there, but then her attention went back to the yaga king.  “ I didn’t know you were coming today, dad.” Suddenly, she remembered her manners and gave a small curtsy. Drake stiffened up. She was completely ignored here.

“A-aah....”  No one bothered them because people thought  the monster here was her father??   Worse. That questioning glance  from Elizabeth was the same she gave any new step-mother.  “Who’s this?”

[erudorago]

cybvele‌|

Reading was part of her life, hence finding new places to enjoy her hobby was not uncommon for the rider. Although preferring solitude, visitor was not one she dislike despite loudness. “Good afternoon….is that so? I dint have you figured for a fellow reader, guess I should finish it quickly then.”

@erudorago

Drake lifted a finger and spun it in a tight circle. Most of her crew didn’t know that about her either. They never asked and she never shared. The boys would only make fun of her tastes.  ” You’d be surprised!   I mostly prefer stories by word of mouth but finding a good book is in itself a good treasure!”   With a hop, the libertine grabbed the branch above and then swung herself up. She hung from her belly and dangled her feet. “ This place has a lot of them from different worlds, too. Is that what you’ve been doing all this time?”

[erudorago]

@casterextra

Alone, tucked away in private quarters, the Queen sat at her vanity, delighted with the contrasting appearance of herself in the mirror. The fresh scar did not diminish her smile or hums of laughter. For the dream’s time, she could relive this silly moment that meant so much. The pirate hat went perfectly with the over the top embroidered and puffy dress she was wearing!

She rose from her seat.  Time to pull the look all together.  The red coat was on one of the other chairs. She’d be a pirate! Turning around,  another woman stood at the corner next to the coat.. Recognition was vague but enough through the veil of a dream to feel embarrassed over angry. Instantly, her face turned redder than her hair.  “W-what are you doing here! Get out or---!!”   The queen pat herself down. She didn’t have any pistols here!  “--else?” She waved her hat instead. Very threatening.  Pap. slap.

[erudorago]

tzarov‌|

THE AIR TASTED DIFFERENT HERE, but he had no doubt anymore this was the world of dreams with her here. Only here something this impossible could be made to experience. He’d already forgotten who these names belonged to, merely recalling having them dictated to a writer for letters long ago. Compared to her, he was quiet- even if his footsteps were anything but.

“OF COURSE IT IS… NOTHING LIKE THE BITE OF WINTER IS GNAWING AT THE EDGES OF YOUR DREAMS. I SUPPOSE I CAN ADMIT TO ENVYING YOU FOR THAT. “ His gaze seemed to hand on the portraits they passed. “I CAN ALSO ADMIT THAT I THOUGHT YOU WANTED AWAY FROM HERE.“—and the gazes of her ancestors.

“I thought I did, too.”  The pirate replied, voice strange with a wonder.  She could place happy periods of her youth as points on a map, but lacked them all here. The palace never showed its age, however,so trying to figure out what point this was felt more foreign than her companion’s frosty dreams. “...?”

 Her answer would appear at the end of the hall. Drake slowed to a stop as another voice made it to them. ”Where’s Edward?” A girl asked one of the maidens that met her, not even ten years old. Her pink hair was a tangled mess of accessories, and she wore a dress with puffy sleeves, her favorite. “ He’s on the far end now, Princess Elizabeth but your brother needs his rest so you--”  “-- Okay, thank you!”  Elizabeth!   The maiden chided the princess about her haste and appearance, keeping her there to fix her hair.  Drake placed a hand on her cheek, sighing.  The princess had no hope for escape. “So starts the want for freedom...”

[erudorago]

@chaosmagecraft

Where’s Boss? Anyone seen the captain?  Was’t she out on deck?  This this weather? You sure she didn’t just fall off with the wind!   Not the boss!   Bet she’s hooking the last of the winds! Crazy!   Is she ok?   Crew members worried among themselves, sheltered from the pounding rains outside.  Another storm. This lasted for hours. They didn’t even noticed a blonde, ill dressed boy  in their ranks. Was this a good dream?

The door  burst open and there was the captain, thoroughly soaked. Rain continued outside, bu not as bad as it was before.

“ What are you guys doing down here! The storm’s a-clearing. You can see land! We made it!  Quick, you dogs.”  The first person she grabbed? The poor blond boy, right by his shirt, and dragged him outside.

[erudorago]

@tzarov

“ Down that way was Mary’s room,” Drake pointed gingerly to and fro, recalling memories as if she inspected every coin with a doubt.  “ And that way, I don’t think I ever really ventured to go. Sometimes Herny’s wife stayed there... “ Step-mother, but she ignored the word. 

The dream was quiet save for the two of them. The Royal Palace of Hatfield was where Drake, no, Elizabeth had spent her childhood. A rare opportunity to give Ivan a tour. The ceilings even were accommodating to his size here. Intensive english woodwork lined the walls over painted walls. Some portraits hung of family members and past kings. Definitely overcompensating for a place to dump children. Drake chuckled as her heels echoed. ” This is much different than the dream we met in.”

[erudorago]

  Here is my starter call for the Dreamscape event!  I’ll be doing 3-4 this time around!

 What to expect:  memories of her time as a pirate or in her youth. I want to lean on these being more 3rd person for  reflective purposes and I should mention that my Drake here uses the hint that Drake and Queen Elizabeth I traded places before she set sail around the world! So, stuff about her youth/ pre-pirate days will refer to such and be headcanon based. If you’re interested in one particular, let me know!

[erudorago]

tzarov‌|

“…TERRIBLE? HAHA.“ He cupped the won chips towards his side of the table. Despite awkwardly kneeling and having only half the experience of a pirate in matters of gambling, it seemed luck favored him. 

“WHAT IS IT? LOSING TO ME IS STILL AN HONOR TO RELISH IN…SO, HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU OWE ME NOW?“

“Almost 3000 dust,” returned a defeated groan, by both the pun and her purse. That wasn’t the problem. She did not mind to lose, provided there was any return.  Drake lifted herself up, only to slouch as she grabbed her drink..

 The next round of betting started but when it got to her turn, she could only wave her hand to pass her.” No,no. I’m sitting this one out...” Drake rubbed her eye. A sniffle. Something was very wrong.   

[erudorago]

  Here is my starter call for the Dreamscape event!  I’ll be doing 3-4 this time around!

 What to expect:  memories of her time as a pirate or in her youth. I want to lean on these being more 3rd person for  reflective purposes and I should mention that my Drake here uses the hint that Drake and Queen Elizabeth I traded places before she set sail around the world! So, stuff about her youth/ pre-pirate days will refer to such and be headcanon based. If you’re interested in one particular, let me know!

[erudorago]

@stallionsoul

“Ah, hey! You! You there!”  The pirate stuck out her arm to get the girl’s attention. She stood behind a small booth full of various trinkets, but in her hand was a sketchbook! “You looking for this?  You left it here yesterday when you ran after the bus! I knew you’d come back for it eventually. Only this time, you should buy something to keep it in! How about one of my bags here? There’s plenty book sized ones.” 

[erudorago]

@tzarov

“W-what! No way! That’s--!”   This was the fifth time she lost tonight!  In a row!   And frankly the last straw in a terrible string of bad luck.

 “ ...... “ Hands slapped on the table, her outburst earned her stares from others seated.  She slowly sat back down and watched the last of her chips, her money ,slide to Ivan’s pile. Drake put her head down.

[erudorago]

@cybvele

“ I almost didn’t see you up there,” comes a voice from below. “Long time no see!”  Cherry blossoms flutter with the breeze. This part of Cotes is peaceful, perfect for reading, and quiet, until a certain pirate appears.  Drake motions to the book in the other Rider’s hands.  “ I think you’ll like the end of that one. The end left me in shivers!”