—mobile nav: thread tracker; biography; stats; mun
—notes
Content warnings for: suicidal ideation, depression, death, apocalyptic settings. I always strive to handle the sensitive subjects with care.
General RP etiquette applies. Minor godmodding, in the form of moving characters along if they've agreed to do somewhere, is fine. If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me!
I'm happy to assume A Rank was reached with all supports, but I am open to discussion.
Gerome is in a planned ship with Cynthia.
Gerome is also a very taciturn and frigid individual until you get to know him. If you or your muse do not want to deal with that, that's fine, but be warned it might make threads tense.
I really prefer no batman jokes about him please and thank you
Seliph's mind is screaming out for it to stop, even as his body refuses to obey. He feels sluggish despite the tail that has already trashed many a market stall and left dents in the walls. Or can it be called his body any longer?
He should have realized something was deeply off when blue scales peeked out from behind his collar, spreading until they covered his arms and legs. His fingernails sharpened, growing and hardening into claws that could tear through flesh with ease.
Little by little, his own humanity began to slip away until people were screaming about a monster set loose in the town.
Thank Naga that he mustered enough control over his limbs to flee from the scene, and that no one has gotten hurt because of him. Seliph would never forgive himself for it.
Get away, he tries to warn the lone wyvern rider now. All that comes out of his throat is an inhumane noise—not a bloodthirsty screech but more like a mournful wail.
Seliph claws at his face, but it is of no use. He is still unable to remove the start of this unfortunate incident: that accursed mask.
"Alright, alright," he yells to Minerva, the winds threatening to carry his voice away. In one fluid motion he sheathes his axe at his side. No weapons. Minerva has pinpointed something wrong here and he will get to the bottom of it. Perhaps the beast is simply sick? Or it can be led away in some manner?
Minerva holds them aloft in the skies as Gerome turns his attention back to the blue-scaled dragon. A piercing screech strikes through the sky and there is something almost mournful about it.
For a moment, Gerome is struck at the sound and can only stare helplessly at the beast. He's heard a similar cry once, long ago, when he was a mere child. When Minerva returned without his mother and she dropped at his feet a lone piece of jewelry. Her ring. The only thing that remained of his mother. And then she sat back and screeched to the skies a mournful howl of pain and loss. It was the first time he had truly understood her.
His hand tightens on his wyvern's reigns. No wonder Minerva had stopped him.
Looking now, he can see the beast is clawing at its face. Maybe something has been done to it.
"Let's get a closer look, Minerva!" This time she obeys and draws them closer. The frenzied dragon could lash out at any moment, he is risking his life by drawing this close, but Gerome trusts Minerva with his life. From closer, he can see that the dragon appears to be clawing at something on its face. He'll have to get it to remove its claws before he can get a better look.
Gerome slips out a throwing spear from his bag. Minerva screeches at him again, but Gerome quickly pulls on the reigns. "Steady, Minerva! I need to gets its hands away from its face before we can do anything to help." If they can do anything to help.
Minerva seems to understand him, though, as much as she can, or perhaps she feels the force at which he pulls on her reigns. Either way, her circular path remains steady. With careful aim, Gerome rears back his arm and then lets the spear fly through the air. It strikes uselessly at its scales but he hopes it's enough to at least draw its attention for a moment.
Niles holds up his bow for emphasis. He didn't know shit about magic. Not how to cast it, or any of the technicalities that came with it. Did they use spell books in Fodlan? He recognized Nohrian and Hoshidan magic but that was about it.
"Awww aspiring knight. That's cute~." It came out more condescending than anything. Niles starts walking towards the center of the room not bothering to look behind him for a reaction.
"If I knew i'd fill you in." Two heads were better than one. Usually that was the case with these sorts of things. "There's a chest over there. I haven't opened it. You appeared from the other portal before I could start investigating. There's a door too. Haven't tried opening that either." He points to the large door on the opposite end of the room, and then starts approaching the chest. "What do you think is in there?"
Gerome's attention snaps toward the man at his condescending comment. "Perhaps someone more useful than you." It's not just the seemingly snide comment about his aspiration to knighthood, but the way he seems to consistently provide unhelpful answers in a manner that makes it seem as if Gerome should have been able to read his mind.
"I'll try the door." It's his only answer as he sweeps past him to try the large door. Unfortunately, it does not budge at his insistent pulls and pushes. He releases it.
"Then the only thing left is the chest." He gestures to it. "If this is a trap, we shall at least be ready for it."
"Minervykins~" Gerome caresses the wyvern's scaled fringe and smiles as she leans into his touch.
Smiles come easier to him lately. When he sees his friends, when he spends time with Minerva, when they take to the skies, and when he spends his nights next to Cynthia. Yet as far as he's flown since arriving here, he knows his darkness waits but a hair's breath behind him. He need only look and he will find it.
These days, he has little time for looking. The past months alongside the knights have filled him with new purpose. It is a familiar role he wears now. No longer a student, at least not in the strictest sense, and instead once more a blade to bear down upon his foes. The life of a tool has always suited him better.
But this time, his efforts are not futile. The monastery does not live in a doomed future where endless waves of risen devastate the populace and taint the earth. Theirs is a future yet unwritten and undecided. However undeserving he may be, these opportunities are now his as well.
"Let's go out on patrol. It's our turn and I know you're restless."
Minerva exhales through her nose and then nudges his hand. If you know, then let's get going.
It doesn't take long to get her out of the stables, saddled, and into the skies. He's had many months to get back into practice. It was never a skill he truly forgot, not since Cynthia taught him all those years ago, but it is one he needed reminding of.
When he arrived at the monastery, he could barely bring himself to ride Minerva. It had taken months to go flying for more than just making sure she got her exercise. He could not explain it, not even now, but it was as if the darkness had gripped his very soul. Flying atop her now, he feels stronger than he has in years. Since even before they abandoned their future and came to this world.
Far below him, the monastery gives way to the academy grounds and then the town before sprawling hills, trees, and mountains stretch below him. In the distance, the sea, sparkling blue into the horizon. Riding up here gives him a different perspective.
The monastery is only one small part of Fódlan. Its people stretch far and wide across the different kingdoms that make up this continent. All converge at the monastery. The world is so much bigger than the few places he's visited. The Ylisse of this world is not his home and he does not think he'll ever return, but the world is so much bigger than he ever imagined it.
In his world, in the future now wiped from existence, he never had the opportunity to learn more. To know that so many people and so many cultures could fit in one place. In one world. It's almost dizzying when he thinks about the breadth of life here.
Even if he doesn't remain here at the monastery, he knows Minerva's wings to carry him. He knows Cynthia will always fly at his side. And together, they will carve their own future.
Cynthia is never rendered speechless. She's always chatty - too chatty, some would argue. Her fingers are used to pop open the box, and she knows this ring. She had pointed it out and talked about it too long while they were shopping. She didn't know if Gerome was listening, and she wouldn't have minded if he didn't; Cynthia knows she talks and talks.
Here it is in her hands. It's just as pretty as she remembers - prettier, even. She doesn't need something flashy and expensive, and she never did. He could have proposed with a ribbon and she'd say yes.
A year and a half ago, she couldn't have imagined this. She couldn't even imagine that he liked her. Now he's whispering the words she's heard in her dreams since she was just a little girl.
She's staring at the ring, and it shimmers in the early morning light. When Cynthia blinks, her vision sharpens, and she notices how heavy her breaths are. "I-" Her voice is thick and croaky.
"I wanna marry you. Of course I wanna marry you, silly." Ever since she was little, when Gerome called her cool and strong and beautiful, she loved him, even if she hadn't known then what love was. She hasn't stopped feeling it since then.
She sniffles. "I wanna turn around, but-" She laughs, the sound wonky through her tears. "But I can't. I'm so gross." She tries to wipe her tears, but fresh ones replace them.
"I wanna marry you," she says, as if he hadn't heard her the first time. "I'm sticking with you forever. No matter how bad things get, I want to be here."
Gerome's fingers shake as he pulls out the ring and slips it on her finger. His arms wrap around her from behind, holding her tight as he relishes this moment. Etches it into his memories so that he may call upon it in his darker hours.
Without saying anything, he turns Cynthia around so that they face each other. It doesn't matter to him that she's crying. Snot or not, he's kissing her. His fiance. He grasps the hand that now wears her ring, his thumb pressing against the band, and leans in to kiss her.
"Forever," he affirms. "Whatever the future holds." And he pulls her to his chest.
Sometimes he thinks he's forgotten how to cry. These emotions come so easily to Cynthia, but he feels as if his are still locked in that dark room she pulled him from. He bends his head to press against the crook of her neck.
He may not be crying, but his chest is tight and his head is dizzy. He wants to hold onto these feelings.
Lucina waits as Gerome fishes in his pocket for a moment, wondering what he's searching for. Anything to get the subject off of the dream journal. She said it was garbage, yet here she is, still writing her dreams down in it as if there's any modicum of, well, anything to be gleaned from someone like that fortune teller.
Her thoughts stall as Gerome pulls out a small box and opens it to reveal - a ring. An absolutely stunning ring. A flush rises in her cheeks and her lips fall open in surprise, shock, a wonderment that makes her feel extremely conflicted. She thinks of Cynthia first, and then Ephraim, and she finds herself faltering. For a moment, she thinks of him saying he'll always be by her side, and she thinks, No, surely not, he can't mean-
And he doesn't. Of course he doesn't. How utterly stupid of her to think anything of the sort. He has always told her that he would be her knight, he would protect her, keep her safe. It's for the future of Ylisse, of course. Gods, how completely foolish she is, for her mind to go to such a place. Shouldn't she be beyond this by now? Isn't she? Well, obviously not if tears springing to her eyes is any indication.
She wants to fall into a hole and be swallowed up by the ground. It is what she deserves. But she cannot show such emotions to Gerome. She has been a leader to him for so many years, and that is what she must be. So she grins broadly and looks again at the ring. "It's beautiful," she says truthfully. "Cynthia is going to be so excited. I'm happy for you both."
If Lucina approved then he felt better about it. Cynthia had picked it out so he hadn't necessarily been worried but having a close friend's approval did a lot to ease his nerves regardless.
"I told her I would propose months ago. I don't know why I've held off so long."
Gerome sighs and closes the box. He pulls it back into his lap. "Well, if I'm honest, she deserves better than me."
If he said something like that to Cynthia, he knows what her response would be. It's not that he doesn't believe her, that he doesn't want to try, but thinking better of himself is an uphill battle.
"She wants to walk forward into the future, and I want that as well, but most days I still feel stuck in the past."
Wyvern and pegasus mail services have dominated as of late, but what of the humble messenger pigeon? Quick, direct, discreet, personal--there are many reasons why someone would use them, but their numbers are still in decline. The monastery has interest in keeping messenger pigeons around, so you've been assigned to raise chicks and train squeakers at one of few remaining local hatcheries.
"Lucina, you're assisting as well?" A small, rare smile turns the corners of his mouth. The two have not had time together for awhile and their last meeting had been short. He's glad to have the time with her.
They both stand outside the hatchery and Gerome casts the door a wary glance. "Do you think my mask will frighten them?" That is partly the intended affect when wearing it, at least when he takes to the battlefield, but it is harder to justify the reason when he's within the monastery's walls. Though few ever ask him for a reason.
He would not mind removing it in Lucina's presence. The horrors they survived have forged between them a strong bond, and he has always admired her.
Gerome casts his gaze downward, an action obscured by his mask. Despite these feelings, he wishes for others to see him as stalwart and dependable. Not the weak and insecure boy he feels he is. The mask at least creates the illusion.
Everyone remembers playing with that awesome stick they found as a kid, pretending to be a knight or a hero and swinging it around with the best of them. What if you could relive that now, with higher stakes? Participants in this oh-so-serious competition are released into the wild to seek and obtain the Perfect Stick, and to wield it to victory in mock battle! Winner gets…to keep their stick! Isn't it grand?
This brings him back. In their youth, they'd formed the Justice Cabal alongside their friends, and they had slain a great number of beasts and saved just as many helpless innocents. The heroes of their own tales, children striving to live up to the greatness of their parents in a world that teemed with fear.
Gerome lifts up a long stick and breaks off the few twigs that cling to it. Then he brandishes it as one might a sword, 'sheathes' it at his side, and kneels before Cynthia with his head lowered.
"She said yes." Gerome doesn't elaborate any more than that. Hand trembling, he removes his mask, and stares at Inigo with amber eyes teeming with excitement. "She said yes!" As if he thought there was a chance Cynthia could have answered any other way.
Safely ensconced in the privacy of his office, Laslow waits for whatever news burns underneath Gerome's skin.
An enthusiastic hello has barely left his lips before the wyvern rider speaks. Laslow blinks, the words slow to sink in, eyes widening both at the realization and the sudden sight of Gerome's maskless face.
Enthusiasm radiates from him--it's infectious. A grin spreads across Laslow's face; between one breath and the next he engulfs Gerome in a bear hug.
"Congratulations, my friend! Of course she said yes!" He squeezes Gerome once for good measure before releasing him. "Tell me everything! When did you ask? Did she like the ring?"
Laslow will be sure to give Cyn a big ol' bouquet of flowers next time he sees her. "I couldn't be happier for you two."
Gerome holds tight to his mask as he returns Inigo's embrace. He'd wanted to deliver the news as himself, not with any part of him hidden, the same way he was when he asked Cynthia. There are few people he's comfortable removing the mask for but Inigo is one of them.
Yet Inigo's questions cause him to flush. "It was the other day, while we were, ah...it was in the morning." They'd been in bed but he's not saying that.
He nods. "She likes the ring, but I think she was more excited about the pegasi plush I tied it to. It was made to resemble hers. I procured it from that Forge-A-Bear shop." It was likely not a very creative plan but Cynthia was happy and that's all that mattered to him.
"I've...heard that in some of these ceremonies people ask those close to them to stand by their side." His flush grows deeper. "Would you...that is...when the time comes..." Naga, he hadn't stumbled this much asking Cynthia. "...would you stand with me? I believe the term is a best man." Gerome has never seen a wedding in their world, nor attended any in this one, but he's not entirely bereft of knowledge.
There's a strange new shop in town, run by an even stranger man who's always smiling. He deals in only one thing, masks, and his stock seems endless -- with very affordable prices! But he always warns every potential buyer that he's not responsible for what happens afterwards, and you soon see what he meant for yourself -- each of these masks has a strange power unique to them! Some augment your physical prowess, others change your very form, and some of them…you can't find a way to take off! Whatever mask you got, its consequences are now yours to deal with, because the merchant is suddenly gone.
A monster has breached the monastery. Or it has but it fled, the reports are mixed, but Gerome is the first to hear about it and the first to act. He directs someone to let the other knights know and then takes Minerva to the skies.
It doesn't take long to find the beast. Its left a trail of destruction, starting from the market and leading away. From high above, he can see the destroyed market stalls and buildings, but no sign of anyone hurt. And at the end of the trail is a blue-scaled dragon with fangs bared and a tail that thrashes at anything within range.
Gerome unsheathes his axe and brings Minerva in closer, but as he does she reel backs and screeches.
Minerva veers away, placing the beast out of range of his axe, and Gerome steadies himself on her back. "Minerva! What are you doing!?" She screeches again and he turns to study the dragon. Something is off.
Marble, stone, and decorative hedges. When you make a habit of working in the desert or even in climates that don't support this type of lifestyle, you can find yourself skimming the walls or layout with confusion more than recognition. While his current line of work has him in a rather opulent and spacious set of buildings in the academy, he's never without pause when something is grander than life yet pampered and/or tempered far more than he's used to. Buildings of importance—and creatures, he somberly reminds himself, how the Fell Dragon towered over all—are no stranger to him, and yet he still finds himself rather under-prepared for taking on this more sensitive mission.
While taking in the target in its grandeur, the manor of an affluent family in Pearl Shoals. If you could call it a family, that is. As far as the intel goes, the only proprietor is one Madame Adelia Duval and not a soul more. The lady of the house was given quite a bit of hush-hush from the majority of neighbors out of not only respect but a respectable pennie as well. Infamous for her rigorous and dubiously ethical dog breeding, Lon'qu does not have it in standing that these dogs are without the monstrous traits of creatures best left untouched or slain. While he cannot pity their highly recorded aggression from the brokers account, he can mourn an existence to fight and kill for the pleasure of others.
A fate he knows well, and yet...
Never mind that. He's busy debriefing the Knight who had arrived not shortly ago, a cool and straightforward sort he can remember well enough from when Grimleal were his, as well as rivaling factions like the Plegians and their King. The gentleman was a Knight of Seiros now from what he remembers, and takes that into account along with the position they're in. Outside a hedge maze, just barely peaking inside to keep onlookers from simply peeking out their floor-length windows and spotting the duo, and with a mission to find many secrets at their target's disposal, it was appreciated. These hedges were at least good for one thing: he kept the personal comment to himself.
With that intel of a person on top of the vague map of the area outside this place, getting in was far easier than what came next. While Lon’qu has braved many climates, he will always prefer the cold and damp to what this beach town would provide in warmer seasons, so while he stands before the other in company, he holds himself without complaints or discomfort.
So far they're both rather matter-of-fact, and that can be appreciated in a time like this. He debriefs further, “Madame Adelia Duval is our suspect for today, a known dog breeder with a dubious history of ethics. With that alone, it's highly suspected to be filled with them. More likely: expect them, and probably at a high volume. I can't tell you anymore what creatures she's dealing with.”
While he's not exactly keeping it the briefest, it's all pertinent in his eyes, as he continues. “Taking on this mission to search her property, we will be breaking and entering to search for this artifact first and foremost. Anything else we find will be secondary, dealt with accordingly. Anything to share, before?”
Straightforward and simple. Gerome likes these types of missions, where he can raise his axe and bring it down without remorse. Where he doesn't have to think about being anything more than being a tool. Being a knight is easier in that way.
He does not remember much of Lon'qu from their time in the Shepherds, but he remembers enough to know that he is similarly straightforward and simple. He does not remember knowing him in his timeline, but there are few he could count among that number.
Likewise, the task they've been assigned, though not one that sits well with him, is also straightforward and simple. Nobility that's gone too far in deciding to play as a god and harming those around her in an unforgivable manner, if the rumors are to be believed.
The only thing not straightforward and simple is this damn maze.
Gerome had seen it from atop Minerva before he swooped in low and dismounted several paces from the maze. It wouldn't do any good to bring Minerva into such tight quarters and risk her getting hurt where she can't easily fight back. Better to go on foot, especially as this mission requires a measure of stealth. He releases her to fly, knowing she'll come when he calls and stay out of sight otherwise.
Across the field and he finally meets up with Lon'qu. He's been made aware of the details before but he appreciates the refresher all the same. They both need to keep their goal in mind.
"There's a chance the artifact may not be here, though the church has requested we sweep the premises for it and any clues leading to it. Given Duval's inclinations, she may put us on the artifact's trail, if she's not directly involved with it herself." He refuses to give the woman any honorifics when addressing her.
That's all that he has to share. Gerome presses his hand against the tall hedges that line the maze and bar their entry. "Is this where we're entering? I can make quick work of these." It would be reckless to enter from the front, they need to take a side passage. He pulls out his axe and manages to clear them a tight path through the hedge that will grant them access.
Behind his mask, Gerome meets Lon'qu's gaze. "Are you ready?"
A new Hoshidan sweet called mochi has taken the dining hall by storm! Made from pounded rice, this sweet treat has quickly become immensely popular among students and faculty alike. However, the kitchen staff cannot keep up with the demand, and have called for able hands to help. Pair up and take turns, choosing to either swing the heavy wooden mallet or risk your fingers turning the mochi. Don't hit your partner's hands!
There were was one thing Gerome knew about mochi: it was delicious. Or so the rumors went. Students around the monastery were raving about it, and the popularity had reached such heights that the dining staff were now calling for volunteers.
He saw as much when he went by in hopes of finding some for Cynthia, but instead found them sold out. Well, he wasn't opposed to a little work if it meant getting some himself.
The staff were happy to have more on hand and directed him toward someone that still needed a partner. A tall man with blue hair. Gerome doesn't think he's seen him around here before but he nods in greeting, expression unreadable behind his mask.
"I'm Gerome, one of the knights here." He greets him with a nod. "Looks like we'll be partners for this. Have you made mochi before?" If not, perhaps one of the staff will come by soon and tell them how to do this.
The great thing about having the same anniversary as Gerome's birthday is that Cynthia only has to remember one day.
The problem is that she's not sure how to make it big.
Gerome doesn't like that much of a fuss, but Cynthia wants to make a fuss. It's their anniversary, they're engaged, and he's made it another year - really, not making a fuss is insulting.
There are plenty of times when one of them has to leave without the other: different missions call for different skills. Gerome left early today, and has therefore left Cynthia unsupervised, with brilliant ideas left to fester.
That’s why, when Gerome gets home, he’s greeted by an explosion of petals. A pretty literal explosion, because Cynthia’s magic ability is slim to none, so of course the magic she uses backfires, with a loud “WOAH!” as petals fly all over their room, coating Gerome’s hair in a flurry of dark petals.
“Okay, that totally wasn’t supposed to happen, er…” Cynthia laughs awkwardly. “I thought I had it just right but, eh, this is what happens when you don’t do practice runs.” She throws herself into his arms. “Happy birthday! Ooh, and anniversary. Birthaversary!” She kisses his cheek. “I got you some new saddle soap, and a whetstone, and- oh, wait, I should have let you unwrap your stuff, not just tell you. Sorry!”
It was no coincidence that Cynthia was left 'unsupervised'. He knew what today was by virtue of it being their anniversary. Even if he had trouble remembering his birthday, or even caring about it, he would never forget a date that mattered to them both. At the time, he hadn't even been thinking of his birthday, only of getting back to Cynthia and telling her the feelings he long held close to his heart. It was through her and his friends that he had even found a reason to acknowledge this day for any other reason.
And he also knows how Cynthia is. She would have found a way to do something for him. Better to give her the space and act as if he knows nothing, even if she catches on.
He doesn't know what to expect when he opens the door but a shower of petals was in his top 3 guesses. He doesn't flinch, not even at the sound backfired explosion. Gerome only has time to remove his mask before Cynthia throws herself at him and he wraps his arms around her.
Her 'sorry!' isn't met with anything other than a kiss pressed to her lips.
He's smiling when he pulls back, no mask to hide the way the expression travels to his eyes. "Thank you." What matters most to him is that she's here.
"I thought you might plan something," he continues, and as he does he pulls out a bottle of wine. "I bought us this to celebrate with. And ah..." a scarlet flush rises on his face, "I was thinking we could take a flight on Minerva later."
Gerome accepts the newly-named Soup back, trading Salad in the process. What a pair. Soup wriggles in his grip and clamps down on his hand, but it doesn't phrase Gerome. Soup's bite is nothing compared to what he's received from Minerva.
He follows after Forde and falls into step beside him with the wriggling Soup.
"It's almost hard to believe they'll grow up to be predators and be used in battle." They looked so innocent, so cute. He remembers feeling that way himself once. Soup releases the hold on his hand and looks up at him, tongue flopping as he pants.
But that will be their fate. Wolves of war to fight alongside knights. Just as he and Minerva did.
It doesn't take long for the monastery's stables to rise in front of them once more, the group of caretakers visible as they run about feeding and training the wolf puppies.
“They’d grow up to be predators either way.” Forde muses, smiling down at Salad, who lets out the tiniest yawn he’s ever seen. “But at the monastery they won’t have to worry about where their next meal comes from. I can’t say for sure, but I think they’ll be happy.”
Salad’s fallen asleep now, and Forde gently places him in a pile of hay. “Get a solid night’s sleep, you. If you start napping all over the place, it’ll wreck your sleep schedule.” Not that he’d know.
He waves goodbye to Gerome as he leaves the stables. “See you around, and you too Soup.”
He should volunteer with the wolf pups more often.
Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.
Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!
Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.
template credit; thank you neffi!
Name: Lailah
How was your internet nickname created? I really love Lailah from Tales of Zestiria haha that's it
Pronouns: she/her, they/them
Birthday (no year): 9/12
Where are you from? What is your time zone? Technically I'm from Texas, but my current timezone is PST and I live in the Seattle area.
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How long is your roleplay experience? About 20 years or so
How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? My first RP experience was a kid in high school, we had a giant binder that we passed around in the hallway between classes lol I didn't know it'd turn into a lifelong hobby.
How were you introduced to TOA? just did a search on tumblr for FE RP cause I'd been missing it
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What languages do you speak, learn, and/or want to learn? I speak English, I had been learning Japanese and really enjoy it so I'd like to pick that up again but...spoons
Do you have any pets? My black kitty, my baby boy who drools and meows loudly and wakes me up at 5AM every day without fail. His name is Binx
Favorite animal? mmmmm it's hard to pick! I love foxes, owls, and turtles a lot
Favorite mythical creature? unicorns!
What is your favorite time of year and why? (Season, holiday, general period) autumn!
What is your IRL occupation? still a QA tester for a video game company
Who did you think you were going to be when you were little? like career-wise? I had dreams of a being a baseball ballerina. Do not ask, I don't have answers.
Some interests and things you like/enjoy? Besides writing, playing games, reading, occasionally drawing, music, comics, collecting figures and such
What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? Tales of, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, Zelda, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Persona, Harvest Moon, farm sims in general, Metal Gear Solid, the list honestly just goes on and on and on
Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: I don't really play pokemon actually, but I do have plushes of Eevee, Vulpix, and Sylveon so...that probably says something
Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! (Optional bonus challenge: if you filled this out previously, try not to repeat what you said!) (1) I collect Guardians of the Galaxy + Adam Warlock figures and comics. My collection is growing nicely, I just picked up the first appearance comic of Adam (Fantastic Four 1967 #67) (2) I have a collection of Yoshi plushies. I almost have the full set but I'm just missing the white Yoshi. (3) I have a plushie of Claude
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How did you get into Fire Emblem? In high school, my friend was really into PoR when it came out. However, I didn't get into the series myself until Awakening
What Fire Emblem games have you played? (Note: I have not beaten all of these) Genealogy, Sacred Stones, Awakening, Fates, Three Houses, Engage, TMS, Heroes
First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: Awakening & Sacred Stones
List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! Ephraim, Eirika, Frederick, Gerome, Seteth
Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason! Frederick lol I'm such a Frederick simp. I love how caring and protective he is, that he knits, isn't afraid of showing affection, just generally wholesome imo
Do you have a character you used to dislike or get annoyed by, whom you like better nowadays or have grown to appreciate? I feel like there's definitely someone but I can't think of who tbh
Do you have a character you’ve grown to like thanks to TOA specifically? There's are characters I already liked but grew to like them more in TOA: Ike, Lyon, Lapis, Ares, Yuzu, Innes
Any Fire Emblem crushes? 😳Frederick
If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays? If you haven’t played, who do you think you would S support based on knowledge and vibes?
- Awakening: Frederick always
- Fates: Yukimura but I'd probably go for Shura if I played again
- Three Houses: Hanneman lol I'd go for Dimitri if I played again but Hanneman is just My Favorite and that hasnt changed
- Engage: Mauvier and also still him, but I adore Kagetsu's as well
Favorite Fire Emblem class? rogues!
If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? Probably some kind of archer
Which Tellius Laguz do you think fits you best? (Cat, Tiger, Lion, Wolf, Hawk, Raven, Heron, Red/White/Black Dragon) heron
If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? (Black Eagles, Blue Lions, Golden Deer, Church of Seiros, Those Who Slither in the Dark, unaffiliated civilian, other - for example Almyran) golden deer!!
If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent?
If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? (Firene, the Kingdom of Abundance; Brodia, the Kingdom of Might; Elusia, the Kingdom of Knowledge; Solm, the Queendom of Freedom; Lythos, the holy land of the Divine Dragon; Gradlon, the desolate land of the Fell Dragon) Firene probably
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How do you pronounce TOA? 🤔(separate letters, to-ah, other?) Toe-ah
Current TOA muses: Gerome, Ephraim, and Rhys!
Past TOA muses? Mikoto :softsmile:
Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? If you still have them, could you see yourself ever dropping them? Gerome! tbh I don't know urghhh I love him so much. He makes me so happy. There's always a possibility I suppose but...not any time soon.
Do you have or have you had a muse you once thought you would never write, and yet you do/did? Ephraim lol
Do you think you have a favorite TOA muse you’ve ever written? Again, Ephraim lol I just love everything about him, how he masks, the secret part of his personality not everyone knows about, his relationships, his thought processes, just everything, I go feral
Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? (If you’ve filled this out before, has this changed in any way?) Still tsundere types, but I have a lot of Types tbh. I think a big trend is characters that struggle with their emotions.
Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing for whatever reason, but wish you could? tbh my indie has a wide range of character types and I try to not write characters that are too similar. However, I guess I tend to not write types that are Too extroverted
Do you have a character you’ve been thinking about musing for a long time, but just never got to applying them for whatever reason? Ahahahah yeah, TOA 4th muse slots when
What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? (If you’ve filled this out before, has this changed in any way?) I enjoy all types but I suppose very emotional scenes are fun for me, whether it's angst or positive emotions. This has never really changed for me
Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write/explore this one day”? Anything with Ephraim and Eirika lol please
Favorite TOA-related memories? Honestly, Ephraim and Innes fight. Amazing, I loved writing that whole thing, from pre-boel and throughout it. Just....I loved it. I hope one day they can actually be friends but we still need to work toward it. There's so much cyan and I have discussed about them that we haven't gotten to the dash yet to explore
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Present or past tense? Do you switch or have you switched between them? I've been focusing more on present tense for awhile now
Normal size text, small text, no preference? I default to small text but I'll match my writing partner, partly in case it's a readability issue for them
Favored formatting that you use? small text and bolded dialogue
Character icons? nooooo lol I've served my time in indie, I don't wanna use them again
Blog aesthetics? I try to make something that I feel matches the muse, though I like to have access to a lot of links and using a theme that's easy for me to edit
Got any potential muse delusions to share? 😉 haha well I have no plans to drop anyone any time soon but if we ever get 4th slot......olivia or mozu or peony maybe..... my roster is lacking girls and it makes me sad
In the months she's spent with Gerome (heh, it's been almost a year since they got together!), he probably knows this about her. She drools. She snores. She talks in her sleep. She takes up the whole bed, and he doesn't complain! Boy, he must really love her.
She really loves him, too. She'd wait and wait forever for him, even longer if she has to. It's why Cynthia's been patient. Six months and no ring? Well, she's not worried, she doesn't need it. She's happy. She's giving him hints about what rings she likes, but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. No biggie.
She slowly wakes up for the day, in their room. Their room - she'll never get used to that. It's too early, too cold, too everything. If there's one thing that makes mornings easier, it's waking up in Gerome's arms. Half asleep, she snuggles into him.
She's also snuggling something else. It's soft to the touch, and also squishy. It can't be the blanket. She blinks awake, to find something white in her arms. "Is this-?! It is!" It's a plush pegasus from that store.
As she thought, it's much less freaky when it's puffed full of fluff. "Aww, thank you, Gerome! She looks just like my girl!" Cynthia squeezes her, and something sharp jabs into her chest. She pulls it away from her body, just to find a box tied to her new friend. "Oh hey, what's this?"
It has been several months of them living together and sleeping together. Cynthia may drool and talk in her sleep and snore and take up the bed, but Gerome has always stayed awake until the early hours of the morning, taunted by his demons. At least with Cynthia, he can focus on her and not let his thoughts consume him entirely.
Gerome presses closer to Cynthia's back and lets his hands close around hers, preventing her, for the moment, from opening the box. It's partly to steady his nerves even though he knows her answer. He's known for a long time now.
"It's for you." His voice breathes against her ear. "Neither of us knows the future, but if there is anything I am certain of, it is us."
Over a year ago and he wouldn't have been able to say that. He loves her, he's always loved her. It comes as easy as flying. Yet like this feeling that's bloomed within his chest, it has not always come easy to him. It is the woman in his arms who taught him both.
There's no saying he won't be hurt still. That something won't happen to Cynthia. Death will always have its due.
But he won't hide in the shadows anymore.
"And whatever comes, I will face it at your side. Be it our past or my demons or any challenge that awaits us."
Carefully, he moves her fingers so that they open the box together. It pops open before their eyes to reveal a gold ring inlaid with simple gems. One of the rings she had pointed out on their numerous shopping trips.
