darcangel | open post 🕊️ cmo

open post 🕊️ cmo

🕊️ jeanne d'options 🕊️
1. ama - ask jeannette questions; she will answer!
2. stuck together - can be direct (magic glue!) or situational (a stalled elevator!). it's you and jeannette. now what?
3. hurt/comfort - i promise she knows how to do more than just pray. probably.
4. reverse isekai - jeannette has been joanjarred into your world! what are you two up to?
5. alternate universe - jeannette was born in your world, so perhaps there is now less at....stake.
6. hundred years war - alternatively, welcome to fighting the English. no gambling, swearing, or fornicating in her army, please!
7. the fluffy lesbian date one - jeannette is so happy to make a new friend, one she hopes to grow close to, like her angel.
8. schooled - some people wish the "three r"s were rapture, reminiscence, and placing artillery. reading is hard. help.
9. came back wrong - jeanne is on a holy war to remove ~~anyone gilles de rais dislikes~~ all who are not righteous from the earth. gilles why
10. wildcard! drop me a top-level. f/f only for shipping, please.

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Hah!

[ ....Hm. This still doesn't feel quite right. Her hands are still shaking, and that will never do.

Jeannette - Jeanne d'Arc, here, making camp with her troops, living in her armor, preparing for war - has it on the very best authority that she has the ability to command and inspire an army. Because of this, she has set forth to do battle. She has even obtained a blade, a sacred one beloved of St. Michael, but even an athletic and solitary peasant girl has hands more accustomed to a spindle than a sword. Nor does she thirst for blood.

And yet, if that's what will protect her home....!

Besides, the men - her men - are counting on her. So she practices, alone, with her sword. And she gives vent to frustrations she normally would only show her angel, who sees and forgives all. ]

In God's name --! Why is this not going as I wish?!

[ maybe it's because your stance sucks, honey? as anyone who wandered by with half a brain for swordfighting could tell you ]

Edited 2023-02-08 13:46 (UTC)

[Gideon had really not been one for the nunnery where her mother had dropped her like a hot coal, and found her way out as soon as possible. Being a soldier had seemed far more her speed, so she'd cut her hair and bound her chest. Her broad shoulders did a lot of the heavy lifting to let her pass - both literally and figuratively - and though she'd trained and drilled with fervor and precision, this was the first time she had actually found herself on a front of any sort.

She was wandering around, trying to figure out what the hell she was supposed to do when there weren't any enemies to stick the pointy end of her sword in, when she saw the featherweight with the jitters waving a sword around like a complete toddler. wait, no. a toddler at least knew how to put an effort into the make-believe.]

I can think of enough things right off that I should ask if you want 'em in alphabetical order or degree of stupidity.

[she's smiling as she jogs over, though.]

I can give you some pointers, but ... maybe don't be at the front line when les goddams get here, yeah?

[ Oh no....one of the soldiers saw her. Her angel had told her she had the capacity to be a commander, and inspire troops in battle.....If she shows them an unseemly side of her, she might betray her angel's faith in her!

And the thought of falling back before the English has a fire flaring up within her breast. ]

But I must! I can hardly remain in safety while others risk their lives on my account.

[ That being what it may, and as this person has already seen her, only one option is practical, now. This soldier seems not unwilling to assist, and Jeannette can hardly deny they....look the part......

She's definitely taking a look at those biceps to compare them to her own, and note she has much work ahead of her. Yes. ]

Please, if teaching me does not bother you, show me what I must do!

On your--

[Gideon's jaw drops slowly, since the lights usually take a while to go on despite the golden tone of her eyes.]

You're --

[their leader. holy shit. Gideon's first thought was "how did someone this tiny end up leading an army?" and the second, so close behind that it was stepping on its heels, was "fucking hell if I let her die my ass is so much grass". she reached up to close her own jaw, then held out a hand, indicating that Jeanne should give her the sword]

Okay, first, you need to learn how to stand before you even pick that up. Gimme.

[ Her leading the army took a lot of interrogations, really. A lot of repeating herself. A lot of waiting. Jeanne had not known she was so terrible at waiting until she had the fate of France resting on her shoulders and the dauphin left her kicking her heels. Patience is a virtue and she sought dearly to cultivate it in those long weeks.

But now, at last, is the time for action! Now is the time - to figure out what, precisely, she is doing with this sword! (She has figured out the horse. And the lance. And the moving in the armor. The sword, though....well, she will remedy that. Especially now that she has such a kind teacher!) ]

Oh, thank you! Here.

[ She offers Gideon the sword, which was rumored to have once belonged to the archangel Michael. So no pressure while handling it, or anything. ]

[God, the weight of it is amazing. It's so perfectly balanced that to Gideon's trained and absolutely swole arms, it barely feels like it's even there. Her eyes may just actually sparkle for a moment as she hefts it in her grip, and she makes a silent promise to it that it will be wielded by someone who knows what the hell they're doing, eventually, no, really, it will. then she comes back to herself and remembers she needs to give instructions.]

You've got your feet too close together, for starters. Stand like this.

[she puts her own feet a bit more than shoulder width apart, so that her knees naturally bend a little]

Keeps your balance better, and doesn't lock your knees. You've got to be able to move.

[ Oh, oh. Jeanne sees. She mimics the stance, holding an imaginary sword in front of her. Like this...? ]

So you can respond to anything the enemy does, yes?

[ She tries pivoting and moving a little from her stance, adjusts it until she feels she has the most possible flexibility. This is helpful already. Do not think about holding the sword in and of itself, think about what you must be able to do while wielding it....and the stance follows. Very sensible! ]

Yeah, exactly. But, uh -

[she steps up behind Jeanne and reaches around to adjust the position of her arms. yes. yes, she is that blatantly brazen and gives absolutely zero fucks. (it's because of all the salacious literature she stows under her bedroll, which is the extent of her literacy, really. she's a walking scabbard stuffed with bad moves.)]

- even if it's just an invisible sword, you hold it like this. The way you had your arms out it's no wonder your hands were shaking. You were taking all the weight with your wrists. Needs to come from your biceps.

Ah.....

[ Th-this is quite the....pose.....

....but it's practical, is it not? To be shown what to do? And it is a great reassurance to know that she is having her position adjusted into the proper one, so that she may remember what to do with her body, and not merely her eyes. Yes.

Therefore, there is nothing untoward about her being handled in such a fashion, or in Jeannette's heart pattering a beat when it happens! That is gratitude! Oh, she is so grateful.

And focused, fortunately. ]

Then I will strengthen my arms. [ A little resolute nod. Now that she has decided that's what she'll do, that's what will happen. This is the way of Jeanne d'Arc.

....Who cannot help but notice those biceps more now that she has a front-row seat, and is thinking about sword arm muscles. ]

What do you suggest?

[that little 'ah' does Things to Gideon, and she gnaws at her lower lip, belatedly realizing that at this proximity, Jeanne might be able to tell that she's - well, she and there's a binding cloth under her tunic and mail. but maybe not. maybe not... and then the arm comment is made and she regains her chill. it's one thing for a girl to lead an army because she's gotten a Mandate From God, absolutely. it's another thing for a girl to sneak into an army because she didn't want to be a nun and likes swords and being sweaty and strong and looking at girls. you know. soldier things. guy things. sometimes Gideon thinks the nuns were right, that there's something very wrong with her, that Satan's got some kind of devilry working in her.

but right now she's teaching a stone cold hottie how to use a sword and having the time of her life, so whatever Satan may or may not be doing, he can go pound sand. she'll worry about it later.

right now she has to figure out how to teach. the tough, sinewy dude who'd taught her a few towns up the line had been ruthless, a brutal taskmaster who drove her through drills over and over again, hollered at her when her form was off, and didn't hand out compliments, just corrections. she couldn't talk like that to the leader of the whole damn army.]

Weeeeeell - uh - you've got to strengthen up what you've got first. Push ups. As many sets of ten as you can manage in the morning. That's what I do, anyway. A-and lift your sword in the four poses, too. Get used to the form. The weight. It's gotta be second nature. [she flashed a nervous smile] You don't want to be thinking about it when you're out in the middle of kicking ass, yeah?

I understand!

[ Jeanne is an attentive student! Enough that while she's vaguely aware something felt - unusual - when they press together, she hasn't the brainpower to devote to solving the puzzle. This moment is about SWORDS. ]

I shall carry my sword with me always. Sleeping or waking, it shall be a part of me!

[ She's already sleeping in her armor, so what's adding the sword? The smallest thing, and yet, if it can make a difference in battle..... ]

Perfect! Yeah, that's what I did with mine. Still do. Best way to get to know it.

[Gideon steps back and unsheathes her sword again: the two-hander is old, and has seen better days, but clearly when Gideon inherited it, she began to treat it with far more care than its predecessor: it's been polished and sharpened, the leather grip wrappings recently replaced]

D'you already know the four poses? Stance is a little different with a sword your size but I can still show you with mine.

[ Jeannette, taking up her own blade, prepares to mimic her teacher. Normally she isn't one who cares to repeat things - she does not see the point - but in this case, where she's seeking to acquire technique, it would be less sensible not to ensure a strong foundation...... ]

Show me, please, to confirm I have it right.

[There is a grumble and a groan from behind Jeanne as the both of them find themselves glued together by whatever monster of the week has gone out of control. This... Had not gone as Eas had planned at all. She tries to glance back at the other girl.]

You will not breathe a word about this to anyone.

I will do what is necessary. But first we must stop that beast!

[ Jeannette struggles against her bonds, and when that doesn't work - bends over. You know those Japanese gym class exercises where you link arms and balance each other on your backs?

Hope you weren't too attached to the ground, Eas! Jeannette is trying to wear you like a backpack! ]

[There is a moment where Eas isn't quite sure what is going on. And then her eyes widen as she feels herself being lifted up off the ground, still attached to Jeannette by the glue. She starts to thrash and kick her legs in disapproval.]

You are not taking me into battle like this.

[ just. watch. her. ]

If we don't hurry, it might hurt someone!

[ Running in such a position is....difficult, however....yet she mustn't falter! If she can't stop that monster, she knows she will regret it forever! ]

...That's the point.

[Sorry. Eas isn't exactly the good guy here. So she's just going to let her legs flop down and go as dead weight as she can here.

Why were the heroic types so exhausting?]

[ It's funniest if the deadweight makes Jeannette pratfall here, so

thud.

cloud of dust, even! the works!

Struggling to get up.... ]

Why would you wish harm upon others......?!

[Eas grunts as they fall, but thankfully she wasn't the one who took the brunt of it.

So she's just going to try and roll them over to that it's harder for Jeannette to get her feet back on the ground.]

It's my master's wish. I am simply carrying out his orders and gathering the misfortune of others.

Th-then your master......nnghh.....

[ KICKY FEETS! no wait that's not helping anything, think through this, jeannette - nay, jeanne d'arc! the Lord helps those who help themselves!

If she rocks forward with all her might, can she get her feet planted again? ]

- is WRONG!

[And there's a little gasp as Jeannette rolls them back over. But Eas feels a sting as the other girl says such heresy against her master.]

Lord Moebius' will is absolute!

[She is just going to try and hook a foot around Jeanne's ankle and trip her up if she tries to rise again.]

Not before the Lord our God - eeekmph!

[ Thud! Ohhhhh, what a wretched trial this is! What wicked intent! But Jeanne shall not give in! If Eas won't permit them to rise -

Then Jeanne shall crawl! ]

Once Moebius takes this world- None of that will matter!

[Bah. This girl didn't give up. It was harder for Eas to do anything in her current position. But she'll try and dig her heels into the ground to make it harder for Jeanne to make any progress.]

He.....will......NEVER!!

[ And Jeanne won't give up either! No matter the fight, no matter the resistance! She will army crawl her way to the battle if she has to! On her stomach, like the meanest creature! ]

The angels.....will stop you. And so shall I.....!!

[ ....this is really hard though. pant, pant, pant ]

For my beloved hometown - and my beloved France....!

[ O Lord, watch, keep, and strengthen Your people against the advent of the monster! She'll be there as soon as she can!

Please, let no one come to harm.....!! ]

And what can you do? trapped on the ground like that? Squirming like a worm?

[Eas. You're trapped too.

The only real reason she can gloat in this situation is that the more she holds Jeanne back the more she is technically winning in this situation. Might as well try to break her spirit here too.]

You've already lost. You just can't admit it.

I have done no - such - thing - !

[ A clumsy attempt is made to draw her sword. This girl is in the same predicament as she is - seems not so different from Jeanne, in that she is loyal to a cause. How awful, to swear yourself to injuring others, apparently for its own sake. How sad inside, that must feel.

And how impossible, for Jeanne to give up in the face of that cruelty. ]

Why?! Why would you wish to harm people?!

You’re only fooling yourself. I can see the truth here.

[Or at least that’s what she likes to tell herself. It’s easier to submit and follow orders. That’s what her entire life has been about.

Seeing this urge to fight on despite the odds. That confuses her more than anything.]

My master desires control and obedience.

We collect the energy produced by the misery we cause to further his reach.

Your very struggles here are furthering our ambition.

If you surrender willingly- perhaps I can put in a good word for you. My Lord Moebius could always use more faithful servants.

Never!

[ Heaaaaaaaave! Jeanne's sword scrapes as it begins to unsheathe. She's leaking tears now, tears and sweat, but won't give in! ]

This is not.....a struggle. I'm able to fight for the people and places I love.

[ BIG SNIFFLE

SHE'S GOT A FOOT UNDERNEATH HERSELF NOW! ]

How could such a blessing ever be a hardship?!

Aah---

[ Jeannette is having a day.

First, despite everyone having seemed so excited that the Feast of Saint Valentine approached, no new people attended early morning Mass (Jeannette attends daily, and is the youngest-looking person there by a good sixty years). Which had been puzzling. Then she'd gone to school, and.....

For a moment it felt like she was back in Orleans, that first baffling instance where throngs of people swarmed her, looking up at her in adoration. Then, they had brought crosses for her to bless (she had no such power!). Now -

Now, she is struggling to open her shoe locker while juggling a full armload's worth of chocolate and gift bags - and when she finally does - ]

Oh, goodness.......!

[ Jeannette stands here, confused as hell, in the aftermath of a chocolate and love letter avalanche. What. What?

What?????!???!?!?!??! ]

Uwah, you're as popular as ever, Jeannette-san!

[ Jeannette may be confused, but Hibiki... Hibiki isn't surprised in the slightest? It really does say something that even Hibiki had been able to notice just how popular Jeannette has become here at Lydian. It wasn't quite on the same level as Tsubasa—not that it's very easy to compete with someone who everybody knows is a world-famous idol—had been, but still... the sudden appearance of a beautiful "foreign exchange student" meant that Jeannette's name had spread like wildfire.

Enough that really, all of Hibiki's surprise simply goes into the fact that Jeannette can manage to carry all of that chocolate at once... rather than the fact that she has so much in the first place.

Speaking of... ]

Oh, right! Here!

[ Hibiki quickly trots over, pulling out... another set of chocolate? And reaching up to place that chocolate at the top of the mountain of chocolate in Jeannette's arms?? ]

Happy Valentine's Day, Jeannette-san!

[ Of course, it's just giri-chocolate. Miku is going to be receiving something a tad more special later, but still, will Hibiki be giving some chocolate to everyone she knows? Of course she is. ]

[ EVEN SAINT HIBIKI-SAMA?!

Jeannette can't deny that being given a gift from her saint makes a flicker of pleasure stir within her, but surely, anyone would feel the same upon being bestowed such an honor. Still, her dominant emotion is perplexity. ]

But I am not Saint Valentine.....It is not my feast day, and I would not deserve gifts even if it were, so why am I being given so much chocolate?

[ She does have a feast day. She's still trying to wrap her head around that. She has a feast day and it's the day she died, May 30. The Church celebrates her life and extols her as a martyr. It's extremely humbling and embarrassing and really she has no idea how she ended up a saint, she was just trying to help the people she loved. ]

Eh? You don't know? Did they not have Valentine's Day where—er, when you're from?

[ Hibiki. Hibiki. Of course they didn't— ]

Then I'll tell you all about it! Basically, it's a day where you get to convey your feelings to the people you care about with chocolate!

[ Jeannette blinks. Yes, she is a little over how This Keeps Happening to her re: throngs of the masses treating her like a bigger deal than she is ("bless this cross, Maid of Orleans", goodness her, she has no such power!)....but. She just received chocolate from her saint, as well! So...?! ]

Does that mean you care about me, Saint Hibiki-sama?

Of course I do! Why wouldn't I? You're my friend!

[ That's obvious after all, isn't it? ]

I mean, I guess Valentine's Day is a little romantic, but I think that all of the other good feelings deserve to be conveyed too! So I've got chocolate for everyone I care about!

I had no idea....

[ About Valentine's Day, though it's also gratifying to hear confirmation Saint Hibiki-sama views her as something intimate as a "friend". And while being treated as a saint can be partially laughed off as embarrassing ridiculousness, being offered tokens of friendship and affection is another matter altogether. ]

I must repay everyone for their kind regards! And appreciate their gifts!

[ She opens Saint Hibiki-sama's box of chocolate and shoves a piece into her mouth with a crusader's fervor. In the past, she hadn't been able to repay her angel's kindness....but now.....! ]

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open post 🕊️ cmo

6. for le_neuvieme

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do I need to CW for stuff in a PSL? uhh. religious indoctrination and dysmorphia ahoy

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historically joan of arc also cried at the drop of a hat

this is sort of 7? for determinationtofist

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