cast in this unlikely role, ill-equipped to act, with insufficient tact

[railgunning]

[It's the awfully fresh air that causes her to wake up, head bobbing forward, blinking blearily. The air of Academy City isn't this easy to breathe, and this air lacks the undercurrent of smog and who-knows-what-else due to the rampant urbanization of the modern age. Grunting woozily, Mikoto rubs at her eyes.

And stares once her vision clears. Her ears perk up at the sound of horses' hooves clopping against the cobblestones, replacing the rumbling of engines and beeping of horns so familiar to her. Her eyes widen at the sight of castles and wooden houses and wow is she seriously on a friggin' horse-drawn cart?

Mikoto swallows.

Well, she's definitely not in her proverbial Kansas anymore. All she's lacking is a small black Scottish Terrier and ridiculous bedazzled red shoes. Actually---when the hell did she change clothes? This humble dress wasn't her Tokiwadai uniform.

She frantically starts to look around in a futile effort to try and piece things together. Yet, absolutely nothing was striking her as familiar or jogging her memory as to how in the name of arse she could've possibly arrived here to begin with.

The carriage slows upon reaching a rather imposing-looking fortress. Men---armed men, with rather archaic weaponry---are starting to file out of it, surrounding the cart.

The women, elderly, and children around her are murmuring and shifting in what seems to be excitement, but Mikoto's body tenses.

She slowly rises, electricity briefly sparking by her head.

Holy shit if she's being taken prisoner, they've got another thing coming.

Actually, no, someone should just subdue her before a massacre takes place.]

Comments

[broroona]

Only because she doesn't you.

[Clara begins to protest and he ruffles her hair to stop it, muttering something to her and nudging her off. A quick "go find Helena, we need to talk alone for a bit". Begrudgingly, Clara obeys waving enthusiastically to Mikoto as she scurries off.

Baroona smiles faintly as she leaves, staying on one knee.]

You never asked.

[To answer that earlier pointed statement. He stands up, knocking another cigarette from his carton because I can't remember if he had one again.] She's not my kid, anyway. I saved her.

[railgunning]

Hey, she'll love me. [Said jokingly and with a slight smirk, if just to poke fun at Baroona.]

[Mikoto waves back, smiling as Clara leaves---she seemed like a fun kid, even if that comment about making her 'look pretty' still baffled her. Once the latter is out of eyeshot, Mikoto blinks down at Baroona. She's seen him smile before, but this particular one is...weird. It's affectionate in a way she hasn't seen before (and if she has, she definitely never picked up on it.); he really does look like a father who loves his daughter.

It's...kind of nice, actually. Even if she didn't know why she thought it was nice, and if she wasn't sure how to feel about thinking it was nice.

She breathes in a bit, scratching the back of her head and trying to look nonchalant.

.......What is wrong with her? She never used to...] Baroona, I'd think asking something like that would be...I dunno...too personal? [Plus, the thought just never occurred to her. She's never thought that far ahead in regards to her own life.] I mean---it's not a bad thing! I just wasn't expecting it, okay?!

[Have fun making sense out of that flustered drivel. But she sharply looks up at his next statement.

...Oh. Mikoto's gaze lowers once more. Yeah.

War was common here, wasn't it? It was how Baroona lost his own family. Became a slave. A gladiator.

War kept him alive, and yet, it would end him one day, too. Her shoulders slump slightly.]

So, in a way...you really are her father. [Mikoto forces a wan smile. What'll happen to her if you die? Her laugh is equally weak.] Wow, Baroona.

[A beat, and she looks off to the side again.] That's...really nice of you.

[Really lame way of putting it, but it's sincere.]

[broroona]

You'd have done the same.

[He speaks without doubt, rising from the ground. With brief annoyance, he fidgets with his cape, wrestling with it until it decides to right itself and flop back over his shoulder. Stupid, stupid piece of clothing. He contemplates cutting it off before looking back to Mikoto, expression neutral, except that invisible smirk.]

Fainted, huh?

[Lighting up the cigarette and waving the match, he doesn't wait for a response. Clara tells the truth, no matter what. It was against her morals not to.] We should get you checked out then we can get you some new clothes.

[He presses a hand against her back to guide her back towards the buildings, glancing down at the dress again. It was definitely one of Ariadne's–a delicate white sundress, slightly dirtied from the cart. Probably. He frowns at it.] That looks weird on you.

[Too... cute, maybe? His statement earlier had been joking but still held true. She did actually look like a woman. One of noble birth, at that. She'd fit right in standing next to Ariadne at some high-society ball. The thought perturbs him for reasons he can't place. He looks away.]

[railgunning]

W-well, I... [Mikoto splutters somewhat at his matter-of-fact tone. Not...that she wouldn't extend a similar gesture if she came across a kid with circumstances similar to Clara's---Academy City wasn't as kind to children as people would have you believe---but...why point that out, though? Was it a good thing, in his eyes? He always did tell her she was too nice.

She huffs softly. She needed to stop...noticing things about him. That was his thing, for some odd reason. He knew her too well.

Which made her wonder---did he really not mind all of her faults? What's kept you alongside me for so long, you dummy?

Mikoto closes her eyes as unabashedly as she can muster, and shrugs.] ...I'd try my best, at any rate. And---

[Yeah, about the cape issues...Mikoto goes and straightens said accessory; well, with how it's hitched up in some places around his shoulders, it's of no wonder it's not cooperating with him. She tuts.] -----You know, if I look weird, at least I'm not having difficulties. It's just a dress; this is bound to get caught on something in a fight. Who's idea was this, anyway?

[Although, she has to admit, it sort of...makes him look dignified. Almost...heroic.

Huh.

Heroes.

Funny, because she never really could get behind those types, always needlessly sticking their noses into other people's business, always so willing to throw themselves on the line for the sake of others.

But Baroona...oh, he's suddenly looking away. Mikoto frowns at him, but ultimately exhales a bit.

He still had a habit of clamming up abruptly. She runs a hand through her hair, rolling her eyes at the idea of a checkup. Uh, after what just took place...?]

I feel fine, though. But do you seriously think anyone's gonna want to so much as stand next to me after what just went down?

[She fidgets in her dress. Looks down at it herself, recalling his earlier frowning.

It's...pretty, but it feels rather flimsy. It makes her feel self-conscious, all of a sudden. On second thought...maybe it wasn't just a dress, after all.

Mikoto sighs. Something with pants would be nice, really.]

[broroona]

They will if I order them too.

[Having lived most of his life under authority, there was something exhilarating about the ability to lead. To give orders he had always been forced to follow. Though rarely abused, it was somewhat satisfactory when he could use his position for his own gain. So long as it was small.

He stumbles over his cape again on the way into the building, growling silently at it as he catches himself.]

Ares requires it. [Wrestling with it again, setting it back into place while his teeth gnash over his cigarette.] Said they looked cool.

[Gods, why won't it move back into place.] I'm thinking about cutting it off.

[railgunning]

Uh-huh. [Mikoto snorts, giving him a teasing look. Well, he's stern, mature, and level-headed enough. He seemed to be in his element, and she was glad for it. He deserved it, really, after all he'd been through. It perhaps, in a way, made all his hardships worth it. A light at the end of the tunnel.

She understood, now, why he'd told her he had no regrets about all that had befallen him. Because, in the end, even though life had been hard on him, things looked up in the end, though things were still rough. She punches his arm playfully.] So, you gonna order me around, too? Sub-Commander Dad, sir!

[Mikoto gives him a jaunty salute, and ends up nearly bursting into laughter the moment he stumbles.] That so? And you're tall as it is, too. Here, dummy.

[Mikoto motions for him to be still, goes, and sweeps the cape off to his one shoulder. She giggles.]

There. Try wearing it like---

[Suddenly, there's a yell of, "Baroona!" followed by the thudding of rushed footfalls from up the hall. It's none other than Douglas, who quickly screeches to a halt and stares, mouth agape as he looks wildly from Baroona to Mikoto.

His shoulders slump, and he throws his hands up.

"Seriously?!"

Mikoto raises an eyebrow.]

...Hi?

[broroona]

[Baroona squirms as she fixes his cape, frowning as stares down at its new configuration. Lifts a hand up–the cape moves with it. Plainly, he looks to her.]

How am I supposed to fight with this? Or eat?

[He frowns, but doesn't fix it, too busy ignoring Douglas' opening question. Sensing this, Douglas lightly shoves his shoulder.

"What happened to not knowing any girls, huh?!" Baroona passes him a slightly bewildered look.] That was years ago.

["Yeah! So? You still promised me you'd introduce me to them!"] I never promised tha–

["And yet here you are!" Douglas waves his arms around, glare-pouting at Baroona before going back to normal and offering Mikoto a smile and a hand. "Hey there." Seductive raising of eyebrows, check. "Sub-Commander Douglas, at your service."

Baroona sighs.] You're embarrassing yourself.

[railgunning]

Uh, I'm sure you can detach it somehow without cutting it off.

[Mikoto tosses him an exasperated look before focusing on Douglas, looking absolutely befuddled in the face of his, er, charms. Or attempt at being charming and suave. She's not sure which. Either way, they're both doing it wrong, because instead of swooning or batting her eyelashes at him, she goes and...

...Shakes his hand, blinking.]

It's Mikoto. Nice to meet you.

[She briefly squints at Baroona in a silent question of, WTF??? as Douglas laughs and outright takes her hand, smiling suavely as he chuckles, "hey, no need to be so formal. I'm not a stiff, unlike some people I know."

With that, he shoots a smirk Baroona's way; Mikoto, meanwhile, is subtly trying to back away. Douglas laughs again, looking from the duo with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"So. I guess this means you're both going to that gathering King Icarus is holding, huh? Man, I can only imagine what you look like all dressed up, Miss Mikoto."

He winks. Mikoto smiles crookedly.

FINISH HIM.]

i'm sorry this tag sucks cries

[broroona]

[Baroona shoves his head lightly at that–much to douglas' protest.]

I'm going as Icarus' guard. We can't bring dates.

["What a shame. Guess some other lucky guy will have to take her." That earns another push. douglas laughs, batting Baroona's hand away. Baroona himself is feigning annoyance, but the end of his lips are curling upwards. douglas sees right through it, smiling and returning one of his shoves, making him stumble slightly into Mikoto.

"I'm just giving you fair warning, is all." Baroona frowns, attempting to steady himself and tripping over the cape once again. He grabs Mikoto's arm to keep himself from falling, glaring at douglas.] Yeah, thanks.

[Righting himself again and looking properly rustled this time. douglas titters to himself.] We're just friends.

["Right, sure. Might want to practice that lie some more before you try convincing the troops. They've already started a rumor about how you know a goddess." His voice becomes more serious as he explains the situation. The real reason he came here. As a reminder that Baroona still needed to clear that mess up.]

pats don't worry this one is even lamer

[railgunning]

Yeah, and even if I do go, I'm not dancing, thanks. No need to make myself look like even more of an idiot in front of a king, thank you very much.

[Mikoto rolls her eyes as Baroona grabs her arm; without even really thinking, she puts her free arm around him to keep him from outright bowling her over, and also to fix his cape once again, re-sweeping it to over his shoulder. Douglas smirks as Mikoto---absentmindedly---fixes Baroona's helmet, which has gone crooked.

So he prods some more. Stirs the beast. "Aw, come on, it'll be fun! You'll get to look pretty and make all the guys fall all over you! I know I would...say, maybe I'll share a dance with you, huh? When I get some free time."

With that, he tosses the both of them a rather mischievous look. Mikoto grunts while pulling away from Baroona once he rights himself.] I'll pass. And it really isn't like that. On both counts. I'm not his girlfriend and I'm definitely not a goddess.

["You sure about that? Either way, you'll still have to get Ares' blessing, you know. He's not too happy right now, either." Douglas, while still chortling, gives Baroona a meaningful look. More damage control to keep in mind.

Speaking of which, though...

"Miss Mikoto! Miss Mikoto!" Clara comes scurrying in, beaming. "Wanna pick out dresses for the king's gathering?"

Douglas puts on the most shit-eatingest grin as he continues looking Baroona's way. Mikoto initially blinks, then smiles crookedly.

Uh.

That wasn't a joke? Ah, but she's Baroona's surrogate daughter and she's real cute and even Mikoto can't harshly turn away a child...] Um...sure?