Stairway To Heaven [Danica]

[Jess]

So, Are You Starting To See Me In a New Light~?

Clara Clemens

One down…! Smirking as she felt the fool fall to the wicked whipping hit from her weapon, Clara had little time to rest on her laurels or spin her baton around above her head in victory given how substantially she was still outnumbered, and as such was left to focus on the foes around her. Making her movements become an elegant dance because of that fact and the clumsy and mis-aimed strikes which were sent toward her, the fair fox flitted and jerked herself about while weaving her baton around to deflect hit, and soon found herself in a position to take advantage of such bungling to strike at a second soul.

And two…! Exploiting the confusion in part because of how conscious she was of the fact that she needed to thin the herd before she was overwhelmed by sheer number, the flaxen femme flicked her weapon low to trip another unfortunately who had thrown himself off kilter and send him toward the floor, and then spins it around as she prepared a finishing blow. Swinging her down like a sledgehammer to well and truly knock the wind from his sails by striking at her stomach, though Miss Clemens was certainly far for the sort who would relish the cries and groans she could conjure with her offensive she still felt a sense of relief as she watched him grunt and pant ineffectually, even if guiltily so.

"I think…
That's enough of that!"

Unfortunately seeming to find her efforts barred soon after as a stronger arm seemed to seize one end of her staff as she lines up her next target, the man that led the troupe seemed to step forward as he realized just how much his underlings were struggling against someone they had all vastly underestimated in the role of a 'little girl', and now seemed to seek to make amends of such misplaced assessment.

"You think us mountain men aren't used to the glare of the sun on our eyes?"

It seeming that they were not the only ones who were apparently misjudging their opposition however given how readily their chief had seemed to adapt to the ferocity of the flash as well, it was galling enough for the girl with the green gaze to realise how quickly and proudly he had overcome her little gambit, and that was without even noting how strong his grasp was as well, given their little tug of war that followed. Not that she wasn't without a trick or two left up her own sleeve, of course, when it came to confrontations like this one…

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Comfy Carmine

@tag

Post Summary

Felling her first foe and moving on, exploits their dazed vision to better flit and flick about the attacks of the group due to their struggle vision. Dodging until she can trip another foe, she slams her weapon into his abdomen to wind him, and take him out of the fight. Felipe made of sterner stuff however due to his long time of mountain living, he seems to intercept her soon after, and engages in a little 'tug of war' over her weapon as they vie for control.

[Vio]

^{Danica #16}

---

As men recuperated from the blinding flare, eyes adjusting, Felipe had certainly succeeded in putting a temporary halt to Clara’s impressive defensive as he clutched the rod with one strong hand and primed his sabre with the other. A single strike could have ended her life, though he seemed hesitant to want to deliver one. Bandits weren’t barbarians—murder wasn’t on his list of preferred methods. But hesitation was perhaps the key to error in the ordeal.

^{“Hey, what’s that sound…?”}

^{“It’s just the wind,” another scoffed:
“…Wait a sec, what’s that light…?”}

Skrip– Skrip– Skrip–! Rapid, quiet, distorted sounds akin to boots scraping against stone seemed to be emanating from somewhere around Mount Yeste. What was more, it seemed to be being drowned out by the strong and rising sound of cool wind buffeting exposed rock; a sound not uncommon at altitude, but odd in the fact that there were no actual strong winds blowing today. And then, the others started to notice it. A radiance of sorts that seemed to stain the air a slightly brighter shade than natural light, soon followed by something much more brilliant that came skidding down the mountain trail at a rate of knots.

^{“The hell…?!”}

Headed by a blaze of yellow, something otherworldly came barreling down the mountain, threatening to careen over the edge were it not for some semblance of control that it seemed to be capable of maintaining. A sparkling, luminescent streak of icy blue that seemed to leave a waning path of verglas in its wake, the most observant would quickly realise that the threat was very much focused in the form of a young woman whose features—slender build and snowy twin tails—seemed to blend with the blazing yellow and blue ball that surrounded her.

SPOILER: Click to show

{

^{Shield…!
“Scutum…!”}

}
_{Rushing forwards, Danica generates a condensed and luminous force field composed of icy gases and dust, using it to slam into opponents as well as to protect herself from incoming attacks. Most basic projectiles are pushed aside by the wall of force.}

^{“Wh–?!” “Look out!” “Aiii!”}

Whoosh…!! One after another, still-standing brigands found themselves taking the place of pins at a bowling alley, scattered like skittles in all directions as a frosty female form hit the brakes on her own high speed advance. Heels dug into the ground with a scraping sound almost as biting upon the ears as the cold was upon flesh, though many had already been tossed aside towards the cliff’s edge. Felipe, equally confused by what was happening, didn’t have much time to react either as the blazing ball dissipated and blew against him with the icy fury of a Viktasian winter storm. What followed immediately in its wake was a hand, delivered to his face by a girl whose body still seemed to be releasing plumes of diamond dust.

^Slap…!

^{“Don’t you hurt Clara,” Danica yelled:
“You hear me…?!”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
<sub>As Clara mounts a worthy defence, Danica returns to the scene as a blazing comet, scattering numerous bandits and delivering a simple slap to Felipe!

Notes:— Bandit Status:
• One is unconscious!
• Felipe remains okay.
• Franco and the others are blinded.</sub>

---

Halley Danica | #00cccc
Clara Clemens | #f5ee76
Felipe [NPC] | #da6437

[Jess]

So, Are You Starting To See Me In a New Light~?

Clara Clemens

"You mighta caught us by surprise that time, but we recover fast, and next time we'll know what to expect?"

The man in charge seeming to be grinning a bit now that he had her in his grasp, Clara could feel the both of them vying for control of the weapon, and as she spied him readying his blade with his free hand perhaps lamented the fact that both of her hands only seemed about as strong as one of his. However, that didn't mean she was done with her tricks just yet, and had a simple one she could use to her advantage here.

“You'll have to do better than that!” Conscious of the fact that she was in for a bad time if she simply struggled to overpower him and so simply clicking her tongue and twisting the other half to pull it away instead, as she did so the able bodied angel flicked her toe to clip his knee to catch him off balance in order secure her escape from that blade, and readied herself for what followed with even only half her weapon in her grasp. However, what followed was nothing she could have either predicted, nor even expected.

What in the world…? Left panting a little as the effects of the altitude seemed to mean her fair form was becoming fatigued far quicker than she could have ordinarily predicted, all the same she flicked herself over in a single-handed cartwheel and drew the lone baton that remained into both of her hands, but all too quickly seemed to find herself distracted by something that seemed to be hurtling toward all of them.
I've never heard of an avalanche like that…? Quickly assuming that this was some form of natural shift of the land even if nothing about it looked natural at all, all that the blonde could do was blink as she saw what looked like a shooting star rolling down the hill, and then react accordingly as it seemed to hurtle toward them like a large and heavy bowling ball with the lot of them like pins.

“Unffff!!!!” Neither particularly skilful nor all that graceful in what she did next but at least a little sensible, Miss Clemens threw herself into a roll in the hopes of clearing 'ground zero' of the impact, and came to a halt against the stump of a tree with the wind knocked out of her a little, but only fleeting disorientation.
Is that… Danica? That latter fact making it a little easier to discover what or in this case whom had come to even the odds between herself and he bandits she had been battling, for a second the fiesty fox found herself lost in a state of confusion, and then seemed to realize that she hadn’t been abandoned after all…

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Comfy Carmine

@tag

Post Summary

Vying for control of the weapon, Clara spies him readying his sword and separates her staff to cancel out the 'tug of war'. Sacrificing one of her batons as a result, she clips his knee and springs away, feeling the effects of the altitude a bit on her breathing. Spotting Danica coming, she throws herself out the way and rolls against a tree trunk, before regaining her senses and recognising who has come to her rescue…

[Vio]

^{Danica #17}

---

“I… Wh– The hell…?” Though she hadn’t collided with him, Felipe was stunned. The blonde’s tricks and skills were one thing, but what he had just witnessed? Not even the slap that Danica had delivered to his face seemed to properly shake him from his moment of stupor. Or, perhaps, it was merely the fact that the man had been partially coated with a layer of frosty dew from the Comet Woman’s proximity. Half shivering, half shocked, he slowly raised his own hand to the bright red handprint that occupied his face.

“You’d best apologise, capisci?!” As she stood there, comparatively tiny compared to the brigands’ leader, Miss Halley’s form seemed to burn with a ferocity that just hadn’t shown itself previously. Stern and fiery, it seemed all of the passion she had placed into her desires and friendliness prior had done a complete turnabout, blazing like a comet in the night sky. Icy wisps still trailed from her body as she stood there with a hand on her hip, the other extremity pointed in the face of the crook, and ignited the air with splendour and sparkle as the sun beat upon her.

Felipe didn’t respond.

Slap! Again, a frigid palm struck his fizzog with definitive force, leaving a second mark—on the opposing cheek—that seemed to knock him to his senses. For one, he actually seemed to cower in the Comet woman’s presence and put some distance between the two of them, only to stumble over his own feet and land on his rump unceremoniously.

^{“Alright,” he whimpered:
“Alright! I… We give! Uh–”}

^{“Help! Somebody…!”}

“Huh? Oh… My bad,” Danni exhaled with a puff of misty white as the last trails of blueish vapour ceased to pour from her body. This wouldn’t have been the first time she’d inadvertently placed people in more danger than intended, but at least this time it was relegated to people who probably deserved a scare. Around the ledge of the cliff were several pairs of hands—the grasping fingers of those who hadn’t been floored and had instead been blown aside. However, some resentment still lingered for the terrible troupe, and so she deferred to Clara.

^{“Ah! Gomen! I didn’t hit you, did I?” she asked:
“What do we do about these guys, eh…?”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
<sub>Giving Felipe a bit of an earful, Danica defers to Clara to decide what to do next.

Notes:— None</sub>

---

Halley Danica | #00cccc
Clara Clemens | #f5ee76
Felipe [NPC] | #da6437

[Jess]

So, Are You Starting To See Me In a New Light~?

Clara Clemens

“Hnnfff!” Pushing her feet back beneath her as her newly returned friend seemed to be giving the man in charge of these louts the proverbial 'business', though Miss Clemens was so overjoyed by the fact that her fellow femme hadn't abandoned her that she felt an urge to throw her arms around her even with their friendship in its infancy, on this occasion the combination of that frosty aura she possessed and the even fiercer attitude she showed seemed to stay her intent, at least for the time being.
“Remind me not to get on your bad side, Danica~?” Instead only shooting a smirk to the woman in the hopes of calming the temper she sensed as she rubbed the ribs she had knocked in her roll and then moving across to retrieve the portion of her weapon she had dropped, the fair femme was left nod at her cohort in climbing with a sincere sense of appreciation as she tried to collect her breath, but soon found her attention and feminine form moving when she heard someone crying out for help.

“Ferocious mountain men would probably leave people like this to their fate…” Marching over to the edge of the cliff from which the struggling stragglers seemed to cling and pausing for a second as she did so, though her heart was pounding and telling her to throw them a hand or the hilt of her weapon to help them climb up, after the little ordeal these figures had thrown upon the pair the princess couldn't help but point out the irony in the position she now found herself.
Do they really deserve our help after all that…? Narrowing that green gaze as well as she contemplated her next course of action and the ease with which she would be able to simply walk away, it was only too easy to remember how these fools had tried to trick them and then hurt them when that failed, and yet, as strange as it might have sounded suddenly her feet felt like they were made of lead, and her legs jelly with them.

“Luckily for you, I prefer to hold myself to a higher standard than that?” The ferocious fox unable to look at people in peril and not see just a glimmer of the young boy she once had sheltered and protected looking back at her, she let loose a breath before bowing in the middle and snapping her stave back into a single piece, and offering the item out like a rope to try and ease these bodies back to stable ground.
“Mind giving me a hand, Dani?” Kindness winning the day today and perhaps every day in her book as those emerald eyes looked toward her ally for assistance in her task, though it felt a little galling to aid people who only a minute or so ago had been trying to claim her life ultimately it seemed more harmful to the woman to ignore them, and instead she opted to place her faith in hope. Hope that a little compassion and decency might take these chaps a very long way indeed…

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Comfy Carmine

@tag

	Post Summary
	Returning to her feet, though tempted to hug Danica, she elects not to given both her mood and her 'mode'. Answering the call for help quickly, she can see the foolishness in lending aid to her former foes, and yet, can't resist it. Reforming her weapon in staff mode, dips down and offers it for those struggling to grasp, so that they might pull them back up regardless…

[Vio]

^{Danica #18}

---

Temper subsiding, Miss Halley seemed confident that the most her incandescent entry had done to her friend was given her a small knock, focus now drawn to men who clung for dear life to the cliff edges. It only took a few steps in their general direction to see exactly why they seemed so fearful, for the drop was a dizzying and doubtlessly deathly descent for the majority of mortal kin. Few could tumble down this side of the mountain and live to tell the tale—that much she was quick to surmise from the sheer verticality.

“Sure thing, Clara~!” Danni voiced, the last sparks of her anger choked out by an altogether more familiar and very different kind of liveliness and cheer. One would have been hard pressed to believe that just a moment before she had been giving them what for. And with that vanishing of her vexation, so too had the last clinging tethers of frore brume, though that held no bearing on just how boreal her touch was. A facet of her form soon thrown to the fore when she knelt down and grasped the forearm of one fallen fellow to whom a form of anchorage had been provided by Miss Clemens. The look on his face and the sharp intake of breath were noticeable, though contact was maintained for just a few seconds as she helped hoist him.

One after another, men teetering on the brink of a fateful fall were pulled to safety, most of them finding some sort of relief in the solid rock that they ended up laying upon. Others scrambled closer inward, systems shocked by the very real threat of gravity and perhaps overcompensating for that fact.

^{“Alright! Phew,” she called:
“Is everybody buena?”}

“…You speak weird, but, yeah,” Felipe vocalised, having recovered from his moment of stupor and now sitting rather dejectedly amongst his comrades as they collected themselves and reconsidered their options. “I’m sorry, I… Hm,” he grunted, seemingly lost for the right words to say at this given moment. Truly, there was little he could have said to secure his apology as something meaningful, though at the very least Danica—standing there with crossed arms and an at least mildly stern look on her face—wanted to hear it…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
<sub>After they help the bandits, Danica waits for Felipe to issue an apology.

Notes:— None</sub>

---

Halley Danica | #00cccc
Clara Clemens | #f5ee76
Felipe [NPC] | #da6437

[Jess]

So, Are You Starting To See Me In a New Light~?

Clara Clemens

“Just gottaaa…. Pullllllll!!!!” Perhaps left at the shallow end of the pool when it came to her endowment of brawn but not letting that stop her, while her assistance was probably only meagre Miss Clemens more than made up for it with sheer force of will and a groaning gurn, and as such put every ounce of what she had left into dragging the danglers back toward safe ground.
“Whew!” Left breathless to no small degree by the effort either and as such seen panting as the parties seemed to share hugs of relief and look toward each other sheepishly with how the situation had turned out, the blonde belle tucked the pieces of her weapon away and rested her palms upon her knees as she gave herself a moment to recover, but even then couldn't help but feel a fresh sense of vigour when she saw her friend and the chief of the group stumbling a little in their reconciliation.

“Well, we won't let you off so easily, you know! This definitely feels like a kind of situation where you guys are in dire need of a good lecture…” Pushing her fatigue aside for that reason and marching forward with a digit raised, for a second the tone of the teen seemed to leave all fearful that hostility was about to resume between them as she stomped forward and wagged her finger at the man in charge, but ultimately her attempt proved more amiable than aggressive.
“You don't seem a bad sort, after all, but you're really going to need to buck up your ideas if you think I'm going to forgive you?” Conceding that there was at least a note of mercy in how this brutes had opted to try to use herbs to pacify them rather than simple brute force and ignorance, and sensing that she would have been in a lot worse way if such a number had seriously intended to harm her when they had her so severely outnumbered, though Clara seemed to be chiding the group and the man at their head especially her intent was to be more constructive with her criticism and on the fly she could already see a situation in which all parties would walk away happier than when they started.

“I mean you know your way around the mountains, so wouldn't it be easier to make a living guiding and protecting people, rather than trying to rob them? I mean, how is that even working out for you? You guys look like you're half starving…” Hating to see talent wasted after all and perhaps demonstrating an element of naivete in how she hadn't quite given up on their humanity even after all the suspicion and fighting between them, the emerald eyed educator admonished both the effort of their robbery attempts and their effect as well on the men, and was eager to offer up an alternative way in which they could use their expertise and benefit the island as a whole as well.
“And besides, mountains are dangerous enough places without people attacking them? I'm sure everyone in the villages around would feel safe and secure knowing there's people looking after them, and would probably offer what they could to support such an endeavour? A rising tide helps all ships after all…” Recognising the fact that they were likely far better mountaineers than she could ever hope to be and guessing that they could be quite the asset with the right goal in mind, she saw no reason that past transgressions couldn't be forgiven for the sake of a brighter tomorrow, and was adamant in her belief in that. In fact, she might even not be taking a no for an answer in that regard as well…

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Comfy Carmine

@tag

Post Summary

Doing her darndest to help the strugglers back up, she is left kind of breathless, and takes a moment to catch it. Forced to intercede however when things turn awkward between Dani and Felipe, she steps in, intent on giving their attackers a lecture. Perhaps not as stern as one might expect given the situation however, instead she can't help but feel these men are wasted playing bandit, and both them and the island would benefit if they instead used their expertise to help rather than harm others?

[Vio]

^{Danica #19}

---

“Eh? It’s not that easy,” Felipe answered, curling up a little as he sat there in a moment of defeatism. Miss Halley could see Clara’s point. The threats of a rugged landscape could quickly claim the lives of the reckless and unsuspecting. Yeste may not have been the most extreme mount in the South Blue, but it was still a geological giant, only partially tamed by its denizens. “Most people don’t care to come up here,” he continued, “so from the middle of the mountain where those wealthy blacksmithing families set up their homes, practically nothing happens up here. Yeste’s profits are down there,” the rugged ruffian gestured with a pointing finger to the swathes of rocky browns and greys and lush greens that dominated the vaguely ovular shape of the country.

“Huh? You’re saying you’ve been settled here and just hoping somebody with something useful or valuable comes along?” Danica’s surprise was palpable, but it soon diminished into something a little more thoughtful as she scratched her head in confusion. “Ce n’est pas bon! You guys don’t exactly look like you’re wanting for food or anything, so that means there’s something worthwhile up here, ja? People like new things! If you’re found new ways to cook and stuff up here, maybe you could try selling it to the citizens?”

“We make do with what we can find,” another of them said as Felipe seemed to mull over the thought. “Most of the plants up here are poisonous, but if you boil ‘em, some of them make a good tea.” One by one, others were spurred to speak, elaborating on additional survival tips for the rugged peaks of Yeste. Between them—a likely uneducated group of men—they perhaps shared more knowledge on the world in which they lived than any regular denizen of Yeste, bringing to light natural medicinal uses and potential culinary benefits.

^{“Hrm… I guess it is possible,” Felipe conceded:
“But who in their right mind is going to trust us?”}

“Hmph! Think positively! Maybe if you do some charity work for the people, you can build something of a… how you say, rapport? Earn their trust and be honest,” Danni explained. A bit of honesty was always the best policy for those trying to change their lives—secrets kept were dangerous seeds of torment and mistrust that could soon bloom into something far more toxic than mere mountain plants if left to become ingrained in feelings of paranoia and anxiety.

^{“It might take a while, ano?” she added:
“But, it’ll be worthwhile, isn’t that right, Clara…?”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
<sub>As Clara makes her point, Danica supports her by pointing out their strengths, which in turn seems to have an impact!

Notes:— None</sub>

---

Halley Danica | #00cccc
Clara Clemens | #f5ee76
Felipe [NPC] | #da6437

[Jess]

So, Are You Starting To See Me In a New Light~?

Clara Clemens

“If you keep doing the same things over and over, things won't get better, right?” Nodding with approval as her climbing partner seemed to espouse the power held in positivity, while Clara could well understand why there would be bad blood between the brigands the local townsfolk she still couldn't help but feel the sense of loss in the conflict between them, and so narrowed that green gaze as she speculated on ways in which the gang might be able to put their expertise to use for everyone's benefit.
“I'm sure it's not just tea either. With the right preparation, a lot of inedible plants can be made into medicines and the like?” Able to note the fact that they seemed to have enough skill in foraging to have figured out which plants they could eat and which they could use to subdue their would-be prey, the note about tea seemed to get the girl thinking about the other bounties of botany that might be lurking in this hard wearing locale, and she immediately though of the benefit which could be offered to the clinic in town if they had greater access to supplies.

“I know the local doctor, and he's often struggling to keep up with what he needs to make remedies for people…” Guessing that the man who ran her would have quite a demand for plants that could be used for the purpose of treating injuries and illnesses, the chief wasn't wrong when he said that many outside the circle of smiths seemed to be struggling with the harsh reality of life, and as such it only made sense for to put the skills and abilities of people to better use.
“I can probably talk him into giving me a list of what he needs, and a book so I can teach you what to look out for?” It no surprise that a busy doctor would have little time to go foraging over the wild lands and many of the townsfolk would baulk at the prospect as well, people who were used to the tough terrain and high altitude would be a boon to them and more, and so it seemed easy for them to hit two birds with a single stone here. All it would take would be a little time, training and trust, and Miss Clemens was happy to act as the bridge to build that while she was here…

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Comfy Carmine

@tag

Post Summary

Agreeing with Danica's sentiment on optimism, her understanding and experience with greenery helps her to see that these people are no doubt armed better than most to help the struggling townsfolk with their needs for medicine. Suggesting she broker a deal with the local clinic, she is happy to take the time to teach these men what plants the doctor might find useful, which they can sell on as a more honest means of employment.

[Vio]

^{Danica #20}

---

“Y– You’d do that?” quizzed the crooks. “After all this?” A palpable sense of gratitude started to truly emanate from the defeated delinquents as realisation rooted itself within heart and soul. Tears formed in the corners of eyes and streamed down cheeks as beaten brothers in arms were shown the light. It often skipped the minds of the common people where the necessary ingredients for their medicines came from; even with pioneers in the field developing new treatments, it all stemmed back to nature.

^{“Ano!” Danni smiled:
“‘Course we would~!”}

“Say,” Felipe piped up, steering the conversation elsewhere for the time being as something crossed his mind. “You two were climbing the mountain to see the comet, right? I don’t know much about it, but,” he explained with some semblance of import, “if you want to see it you’ll need to get climbing.” A couple of Felipe’s troupe eyed him, blinking some tears from their eyes and wiping noses on their sleeves as they, too, recalled nature’s cycles when it came to such cosmic events.

^{“Uh! That’s right,” another added:
“It’ll show in a couple hours…”}

“I– If you go back down to see the Doc, you won’t make it back up in time,” a third revealed. These men of Yeste’s peaks were no doubt familiar with the time it took to ascend and descend the mountainous paths—even if they had the skills and the knowledge to make haste then it seemed they knew what they were talking about. Miss Halley’s expression was conflicted. On one hand, she felt a need to help. On the other, her main reason for coming—Clara’s too it seemed—was to witness the stellar traveller in all its luminous glory.

^{“Oh. Then–”}

“Don’t worry about us,” Felipe shrugged, gesturing to the path that followed the mountain’s edges—one which the iridescent-haired ice cube had technically already familiarised herself with. “We’ve waited this long. A few more hours isn’t going to hurt. If you follow that trail you’ll reach another overlook like this one, just watch your step, it starts to get uneven and it’s quite a drop.” He shifted his weight, gazing up at the sky. “After that, there’s no proper trail to the summit, but it’s relatively easy to climb—there’s a lot of handholds and ledges and there’s fewer sheer surfaces. Should take about an hour and a half…”

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
<sub>Both Clara and Danica seem to make an impact, but Felipe and his group tell them that time is running short!

Notes:— None</sub>

---

Halley Danica | #00cccc
Clara Clemens | #f5ee76
Felipe [NPC] | #da6437
Mountain Bandit #1 [NPC] | #198ce6
Mountain Bandit #2 [NPC] | #1bc228
Mountain Bandit #3 [NPC] | #801ddb

[Jess]

So, Are You Starting To See Me In a New Light~?

Clara Clemens

“Of course!” Happy to confirm that her offer of helping to mend the lives of these mountain folk was neither conditional or something she would merely say to appease them, Clara nodded as she replied with affirmation and enthusiasm, and proceeded to challenge why a person would feel inclined not to offer them such a basic act of decency.
“It's not your fault you got a bad hand, and everyone deserves a second chance?” Hoping that her support and encouragement would be just the sort of thing that they needed to turn their lives around, there was little doubt in her mind that the people before her could find a new side to their proverbial leaf if given the right opportunity and gave their all to it, and though it perhaps seemed a little naïve, she was thrilled to sponsor them in this matter.

“Hmmmmm… If you're sure?” The fair femme found frowning a little however when the topic of their celestial event was brought up, though it certainly made sense to keep going from where they were now that Miss Clemens had an idea she was remiss to abandon it so readily, and so she sought confirmation when it came to the assent they had offered.
“In fact, why don't you come with us?” All too quickly seeming to think that it would be a shame to see them parted now however, since the folk who lived up here knew the area so well it only made sense to invite them along on their little jaunt to the summit, and provided they agreed, would also mean they had less time to agonize and reconsider the approach which had been offered as well.

“They say it's going to be quite the spectacle~?” More than that the lass hoping that the sight of something wonderful might just present them with a firmer reason to reconsider the recklessness of their current lifestyle, she had heard stories of people seeming to be cured of deadly afflictions by a view which changed their whole world, so why not their hearts and minds as well?
“And these sorts of things are always much better with a few people, right~?” Also appreciating the idea of having a group of people up there, no doubt would their little party become everything in earnest with a few more individuals added, but she hoped as well it would be more fun for everyone involved. After all, joy shared was joy doubled, right~?

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Comfy Carmine

@tag

Post Summary

Confirming her agreement to the deal, Clara believes that a second chance is all these people need to turn their lives around. Reluctant to just walk away from them however, she suggests they head for the summit together. Hoping they might be inspired by the sight, she also guesses they will all have a better time if they're together, and leave folk less chance to change their mind on the new start.

[Vio]

^{Danica #21}

---

^{“In fact,” Clara suggested:
“Why don’t you come with us?”}

It was a worthwhile question to ask—one which hadn’t crossed the somewhat starstruck mind of Miss Halley and yet did not catch her unawares. If anything, it got her a little more fired up to bear witness. Much as she loved the independence and freedom of travelling alone, she was very much a people person; the presence of company vastly amplified the enjoyment of her favoured interests and pastimes.

“Ja! It’ll be excelente~!” Danni cheered, springing up with a fist to the air as if to rally the troupe behind Miss Clemens’ words. The actual impact of such an action was decidedly underwhelming, but that wasn’t to say the duo had failed to inspire. No. In fact, many of their roguish company murmured betwixt themselves, shrugging shoulders and giving awkward, yet calm smiles as they surrendered themselves to the whims of fate. After all, it was offering them a second chance.

“Alright, alright,” Felipe said, admitting ‘defeat’ for a second time that day as he pushed himself to his feet—the last to rise. “You two are tough,” he exhaled with all the energy of an aged man worn down by rambunctious children. “But, mountains are tougher, so let’s not waste too much time.” Seeming to walk with a bit of an uneven gait, Danica noticed, the bandit turned beneficiary of their kindness motioned for them to follow in his wake as he scooped up a satchel, shouldered it, and set off along the rugged road.

^{“Aye! Let’s go…!”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
<sub>Bested, Felipe begins to lead the rest up the mountain!

Notes:— None</sub>

---

Halley Danica | #00cccc
Clara Clemens | #f5ee76
Felipe [NPC] | #da6437
Mountain Bandit #1 [NPC] | #198ce6
Mountain Bandit #2 [NPC] | #1bc228
Mountain Bandit #3 [NPC] | #801ddb

[Jess]

So, Are You Starting To See Me In a New Light~?

Clara Clemens

“Won’t it~?” Nodding with rather a significant sense of emphasis as Danica chimed in with agreement about the suggestion she had made, the green gaze of the golden girl seemed to glisten at the prospect of enjoying this trip with a wider group, and she couldn’t help but thank her good fortune for the fact that she had come across them all. It felt a lot more fun than bundling herself up in a blanket and sharing the evening only with the sky, regardless of how exquisite it might be.

“Oh gosh, you’re right. It will only become all the more arduous once the sun starts to set…!” Nodding as the leader of their new friends seemed to call them all into action and haste, though Miss Clemens couldn’t help but wonder if she should do something or at least ask about his lopsided gait she agreed that time was of the essence, and hoped that if the walk got too hard him or any of his fellows would speak up. After all, she didn’t mind shouldering a bag or two to help them, did she?

---

“Hah… Hah… Hah… Whew!” Seeming to be left breathless either way when she finally conquered the summit of the mountain at last, the lungs of the lass seemed to heave for air as she dragged a pair of heels that felt heavier than ever upward and finally found the ground evening out well enough ahead of her, and was forced to let loose a breath of respite because of that.
They weren’t kidding about the climb, were they~? Those cheeks pink and her brow mopped with sweat as well as all too many parts of the princess seemed to feel like they had been set aflame by her journey, Clara couldn’t help but glance backward over her shoulder to the trail they had marched up and felt proud of herself for the effort she had been through, but all too quickly found she was distracted and perhaps energised by her surroundings as well.

“Goodness…!” Those emerald eyes seeming to grow wide as she took in the view of what looked to be the entirety of the island and some of the sea beyond them as well thanks to the prominence of the peak, even though her chest was still heaving and legs were still aching the view couldn’t help but inspire a little vigour from the vixen, and so she trotted forward to take it in better.
“Look at that sunset~?” Arriving right on cue as well as she had the treat of seeing the great amber ball from the sky seeming to dip into the ocean and decorate the skies in crimson colour, Miss Clemens couldn’t help but grin at what they had found simply by scaling the crest, and that was without mentioning the celestial event which would unfold in the next few hours. Surely it would be an evening worthy of remembrance, right~?

### words

Comfy Carmine

@tag

Post Summary

Enjoying the idea of flocking to the peak as a group, Clara heads off with the gang at Felipe’s suggestion, though finds some concern in the way his limp seems to imply ailment. Arriving at the summit some time after, Clara is thoroughly worn from the climb, but soon finds herself invigorated by the view. Skipping forward, she takes in the sights offered as the sun sets into the ocean, casting rest sky from it and a spectacular mix of light and shadow over both the sea and the island beneath them…

[Vio]

^{Danica #22}

---

“Woah~! It’s beautiful!” Apparently far less impacted by the thinning air and steep climb as Clara had been, perhaps in part due to her abundance of stamina, Halley Danica was still equally smitten by the sight to behold. Fiery crimson staining the heavens on one side as the sinking sun allowed a veil of deep twilight to overtake the other, the sunlit facade of Mount Yeste only seemed to burn with as much brilliance as the setting sun in kind while its shadow stretched infinitely over the lush greenery of the rest of the island. Stark and stunning contrasts of waning fire and waxing void, the slightest pinpricks of white started to breach the increasingly deepening and darkening blue firmament as day gave in to night.

“It’s about to get a lot colder, too,” warned one of Felipe’s crew as the men who had turned from foe to friend made sure as little skin as possible was directly exposed to the elements. Yeste’s climes were contrasting, from the warm winds touched by verdant breath to the chill breeze that rolled itself around the summit. Fortunately, the cold wasn’t something that seemed to faze the iridescent-haired adventurer, though the same might not have necessarily applied to their golden-locked guest.

“Hm? Oh, hey! Check it out~!” Something else had captured Miss Halley’s attention, her back to the setting sun as she looked down from the mountain’s peak into the lands below. For all this time her mind had seemed set on the sky, but now she was taking in another beautiful sight—one of mankind’s own creation. The ignition of homestead lights and street lamps as nocturnal pall consumed them gave rise to a steady dance that turned the darkening countryside into a constellation all its own, exposing a quaint network of civilisation…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synposis:—}
<sub>At the top of Mount Yeste, Danica and Clara enjoy both sunset and the beauty of civilisation!

Notes:— None</sub>

---

Halley Danica | #00cccc
Clara Clemens | #f5ee76
Felipe [NPC] | #da6437
Mountain Bandit #1 [NPC] | #198ce6
Mountain Bandit #2 [NPC] | #1bc228
Mountain Bandit #3 [NPC] | #801ddb

[Jess]

So, Are You Starting To See Me In a New Light~?

Clara Clemens

“Isn't it? I'm glad we made it in time for such a spectacle~?” Sucking on deep breaths as she let her body adjust to the thinness of the air of the summit and the sight of the sunset only serving to help her relax a bit in that regard, Miss Clemens was encouraged by the strong spirit shown by Danica as well as her inherent robustness which made it seem like she was taking this epic climb all in her stride, and as such the girl couldn't help but grin as she allowed her green gaze to take in the sight before her.
“Gosh that's true, how much does the temperature seem to drop up here at night? Hopefully we can get s fire going?” Looking over to the mountaineer with the warning with a mild sense of worry as she remembered how much the temperature was likely to drop with the sun disappearing, and though they seemed to be lucky in the fact that it wasn't raining or snowing she still seemed to wince slightly, and hope that she had dressed warmly enough to not be discomforted too much by the chill which would follow.

“What's that…? Ohhhhhh!” The dainty damsel distracted however when her new friend seemed to point out something deeper into the island, Clara turned herself about to look at what her climbing companion had seemed to be so astounded by, and all too soon seemed spy the sight of the town lighting up with lanterns all that way beyond them.
“Would you look at that? Like stars themselves…” The lights so small that those emerald eyed did not fail to notice the resemblance to the heavens and the stars which lurked within them, it was enough to make the flaxen femme smile and linger in admiration, envying the feeling of warmth that was given off by such cosiness even at this kind of range. No wonder the men of the mountain had seemed to feel hard done by, huh?

### words

Comfy Carmine

@tag

	Post Summary
	Enjoying the sight of the sunset, she feels a moment of worry about the falling temperature, and hopes that a decent fire and warm clothes will see them through well enough. Turning toward the town when Danica calls attention toward it, she too sees the star-like resemblance, and can't help but yearn for such a cosy image herself.