Mage Knight

RP account for Olwen of Thracia 776 affiliated with TOA

[direthunder]

It is a sweet game, Deirdre thinks. Well, at least the kissing part is. She is unsure if she is brave enough to participate in any of the challenges though, surely, they are also a way for everyone to get to know each other. She does hope to come out of this game with stronger bonds to everyone in this little group.

They sit in a circle and there is a moment of awkwardness where no one reaches for the bottle. "Well! I guess it shall be me then!" She takes the initiative and spins it, waiting anxiously until it lands on the woman from Friege she met earlier.

"Lady Olwen," Deirdre greets her as she takes a seat next to her. The kiss is soft and gentle on her cheek just next to her mouth. She does not want to start the game off too strong. "It is good to have the chance to see you again!"

Cupido Bash || Spinning_Fish.gif

The further she got into this event, the more Olwen questioned herself. It was completely irrational for her to participate to begin with. This wasn't a scenario she would ever have imagined herself being in, and playing childish games at an event like this one made it all the more preposterous. Maybe it was time she exited with what remained of her dignity intact. She probably wouldn't live it down either way, but whether humiliating herself further or quitting as a coward were worse outcomes, Olwen couldn't quite say.

Most of the faces gathered around her for this little... thing were unfamiliar to her. Soren she had met once, unfortunately for the both of them, and Deirdre she had just met at the beginning of this affair. The rest, though, were entirely foreign to her. How was she exactly going to endure doing things like this with people she barely knew or didn't know at all? This was going to be the death of her, wasn't it? She was either going to die of embarrassment or lose her temper at someone and be kicked out, she knew it.

Deirdre's voice snapped Olwen out of her thoughts, head whipping around to meet the woman's gaze. She was about to inquire what it was that the woman wanted, but she wasn't given the chance. Before she even opened her mouth, Deirdre's lips were upon her. They just barely missed Olwen's own lips-- whether that was intentional or because Olwen's head had just turned, she wasn't quite sure. It didn't really matter either way, because the result was the same: a bright red, confused, flustered mage knight staring, mouth agape, at Deirdre. She hadn't expected this accursed bottle to land on her quite so quickly, but perhaps it was fortunate that Deirdre was the one who had been inflicted on her. She was equal parts kind and beautiful, after all, so it could have been much worse.

Wait, what was she thinking?!

"I-I--" Olwen stammered, trying to salvage whatever composure she could. She could feel the eyes of all of the others boring into her, judging her for her reaction. Olwen swallowed hard, gaze focused down at the ground in between herself and Deirdre, unable to meet anyone else's eyes. This was humiliating. Why couldn't she muster any sort of response?

"...Y-yes. You t-too."

Pathetic. Truly pathetic.

[direthunder]

Milf Hunted

@nagaficat (continued from here!)

[direthunder]

Wait, she was from Grannvale as well? Olwen's eyebrows raised, disappearing beneath her bangs. She didn't recognize the other woman. She was certainly striking, so surely Olwen would remember if she'd met Deirdre before, right? Then again, she did look familiar in a way Olwen couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Oh, I suppose I can," Olwen decided to indulge her. "No harm in chatting a bit, right?"

She politely seated herself beside Deirdre, carefully measuring the other woman. For just a moment, her elbows rested atop the table, though Olwen quickly pulled them away. Once she remembered proper knightly etiquette, she instead folded her hands gingerly on her lap, sitting as tall and as straight as she could manage.

"Was there anything in particular you wished to know?"

[direthunder]

[ FLOWERS ] It isn’t easy to find roses during times of strife—which makes the bouquets on the table all the more special to give!

"I think it is quite impressive how many flowers they were able to find for this event." Deirdre smiles at the woman next to her as she admits the variety of bouquets decorating the tables. "It brings hope, something we all could use more of. Especially right now."

She reaches for one of the flowers, a periwinkle, and tucks it behind Olwen's ear. "I am Deirdre. A professor for the Black Eagles house."

Cupido Bash Icebreakers || Accepting!

This woman had some of the kindest eyes Olwen has ever seen. Something about her put the mage knight at ease. The way she carried herself and the way she spoke were both so serene that it was infectious. Despite herself, Olwen couldn't help but smile. Her hand raised to brush against the flower, tucking her hair behind it as she did. Hopefully it matched her attire or her eyes or... something. She would feel a little silly if it clashed, but she wasn't going to remove it either. It felt rude to even consider that.

"They must have been planning it quite some time in advance," Olwen mused, managing to tear her eyes away from holding Deirdre's gaze and look, just briefly, at the flowers before them. "Or they just have access to a reliable supplier. Hard to say without knowing all too much about the people who organized it, really. I'm not too familiar with most anyone here yet."

She sighed softly, crossing her arms. It was a pair of students who had organized the whole thing, right? Was it wrong for her to participate? Or-- no, no, she was just humoring them. She was encouraging her students' endeavors. That was... good right? That was what professors were supposed to do. Olwen was fairly certain it was, at least.

"Olwen," she added, realizing a moment too late that she had forgotten to introduce herself in turn. "Mage knight of Friege-- or, well, of the Church of Seiros, at the moment. And a professor as well, though my duties as a knight come first. I just teach during the times I'm not needed as a knight."

[direthunder]

[ FLIRT ]

The event was filled with people he had never seen before- case in point, the girl just before his eyes. Sylvain didn’t even know her name, just that she was with the Knights of Seiros and must be quite new- and that, of course, she was a beauty with dark hair framing her delicate features and eyes a lilac-blueish color one could easily get lost into.

“You’re a thunder mage, aren’t you? Easy to tell with the static that just struck my heart!” A quick and easy pickup line that would be sure to reach its target, complete as Sylvain readied himself to brace for any possible incoming Thorons. "Pray tell, what's your name? Mine is Sylvain, nice to meet you!"

Cupido Bash Icebreakers || Accepting!

Olwen, for the life of her, could not quite comprehend what had compelled her to sign up for this wretched event. She wasn't looking for love-- she didn't think she was, at least. All this did was open her up to harassment from people she didn't particularly want to talk to. What was the optimal outcome here, anyway? Being uncomfortably paired up to someone she didn't know? That sounded like nothing but an awful time. Why had she hoped for anything more than that to begin with?

This situation was a perfect example of the exact situation she'd been hoping to avoid. A boy at least half a decade too young to be talking to her in such a manner had decided this was the time to shoot his shot. A valiant attempt perhaps, but it was one that would earn him nothing but Olwen's ire.

"Yes, pray indeed," Olwen huffed, those eyes that Sylvain had gotten lost in suddenly flashing with anger. "I'd be careful with platitudes like that unless you want to experience magic like mine firsthand. Sylvain, was it? I think I remember seeing something about you before-- that you don't tend to perform well in classes like mine. I would hope you'd be more focused on your studies than on staring at your professor."

Well, she was pushing it a little bit. All she knew was that the name "Sylvain" had been on her class register. She hadn't actually taught a class that he'd attended just yet, at least not as far as she was aware. If she had, then she'd gone the entire lecture without noticing his presence.

[cupidobash]

CUPIDO BASH ICEBREAKERS!

reblog to let others know you're accepting!

[ DANCE ] It's time to get groovin'! How about you invite a lovely stranger to hit the floor with you? 

[ ROMANTIC STROLL ] Get ‘em, tiger!  Use this opportunity to walk around these beautifully-decorated grounds with the person who’s captured your heart. 

[ CHOCOLATE ] A delicious luxury and a classic gift. Choose from white, milk, or dark, all heart-shaped and ready for your enjoyment.

[ FLIRT ] There’s an art to it! Whether you prefer to be bold or coy, our hosts will remind you that confidence is key. Give it a go?

[ FLOWERS ] It isn’t easy to find roses during times of strife—which makes the bouquets on the table all the more special to give!

[ EMBRACE ] A hug? A kiss? A super-secret handshake? Show someone how happy you are to see them and make their heart soar!

[ TEDDY BEAR ] Forge-A-Bear was kind enough to donate a platoon of button-eyed teddies to adopt and love. Are you and your partner ready for that kind of commitment?

[ TRUST FALL ] They say a relationship is built on trust. What better way to test that than with a fall in front of your classmates and coworkers? They're totally not judging.

[ POETRY ] Think you have the chops to woo someone with a lyrical tug at the heartstrings?

[ COMPLIMENT ] Tell someone they look beautiful, or that you've always admired their strength! Whatever it is you say, make sure it comes from the heart (or at the very least, sounds sincere).

[ 21 QUESTIONS ] The effort to learn about others goes a long way! Just don’t overdo it.  

[ DRINKS ] Beverages both alcoholic and non-alcoholic are offered in assorted glassware. Have a sip!

[ TOUCH UP ] Why not help another with last-minute makeup or outfit touches? Who knows? You just might be able to spark something! 

[ HEARTFELT CARD ] A small table hosts a myriad of card supplies, including paper, markers, and glue. Put your crafting skills to the test and make something truly one-of-a-kind.

[ TASTE TEST ] From chocolate-dipped fruit skewers to little squares of cheese, there are plenty of finger foods to titillate the taste buds. Grab something for yourself… or use one of the handy toothpicks to feed your partner.

[ FORTUNE COOKIE ] Heart-shaped cookies sit on a neat little tray. Inside lies paper fortunes ranging from beautiful skies ahead to… er, well, at least the cookies taste good!

[ CARRIAGE RIDE ] A horse pulls a small carriage that fits two. The entire ensemble is decked out in pink-and-red hearts. Do YOU want to hitch a ride in the Love Cart?

[ KARAOKE ]  Nothing makes people feel as good as when they belt out the lyrics to their favorite tunes! A small band has been hired to perform all of Fodlan’s latest hits—will you cheer on your friends, or will you be the star of the show?

[ PORTRAIT ] Perhaps you'd like to invite someone over to have your portraits painted together? It could make for a stunning keepsake! Or maybe you'd like to try your hand at it yourself?

[ GOSSIP ] With all these people milling around, there’s plenty of room for discussion… like who would make the most adorable couple? Or, even juicier, who has invisible strings tying them together? Do tell!

[ HEART-SHAPED BALLOONS ] Gift one to the apple of your eye, or pop a balloon to reveal the mysterious note hidden inside. Use it to your advantage to spark a conversation!

[jasperblion]

you are BANNED from the horse council.

mission task: distress (riding +1)

[jasperblion]

Jasper eyes follow the lady with brief speech, primarily focusing on the hand that deters away from him in favor of nearing the rowdy ride. Alm doesn’t really mind, a couple more seconds for his muscles to soften is strangely welcome. Unfortunately, said hand does nothing but startle the horse further, making it decide to gain more advantageous ground.

“Than- ugh,” Alm reaches for her hand and helps himself up, but gets cut off by some further things. “Just a sec-ond,” he holds a finger from his right hand out as he brings his left hand back and softly punches his waist back into place. A rather loud grunt aside, the man is back in top form.

“Phew. As I was saying, thanks. For the help and the knowledge check. I’m more used to working along with horse-riders, not being the horse-rider itself,” he sounds low in tone, but is genuinely taking in her feedback.

Alm turns to the horse that remains in a deadlock stare at their duo. It isn’t really that far, but if he didn’t know any better from the past few minutes, he’d say the horse looks kinda calm. In a tense sense.

And he really gets that riding every horse back is nothing more than a pipe dream. But the imagery of a whole small army of cavaliers…and removing their riders… Okay, the vision has to be a little funny, right?

“Would a crowd of other horses really calm them down?” Alm escapes his dystopian fantasy in order to contribute to the task at hand. “The most I’ve ever done before is herding sheep. Not really that many at a time, usually. But…I guess the execution would be the same? Just less fluff, obviously.”

[direthunder]

"They're herd animals," Olwen stated simply. "Like sheep, yes. Though I daresay horses are a bit higher-strung, but we bred that into them. It's in their nature to run, so anything that might be a threat awakens their instinct to flee. We have to do everything we can to keep them from doing that if we're to be successful. That said, I can't expect this one to just fall in line because I have another horse with me. It's not a horse he knows or anything."

She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at the horse in question. It certainly seemed an ornery thing, she could say that much. The look in its eyes-- that wasn't the look of an animal ready to trust her. They'd need something to sweeten the deal for it, some reason for it to want to trust them. She'd come prepared for this exact circumstance, thankfully. A quick rummage through one of the saddlebags on her own steed preceded her producing a small berry that she tossed in the horse's direction before she turned her gaze back to Alm.

"Don't stare at it," Olwen advised, "that'll only make it more nervous. I wouldn't normally feed my own horse a bunch of sweet fruits on a regular basis, but one or two as a treat won't hurt. More importantly, it's a tasty little treat for a horse. Showing them that we've got a supply of these on hand should hopefully make them eager to follow us in order to get more."

Not that she could say anything with absolute certainty. She didn't know this horse's personality, after all. From what she'd seen, the beast didn't seem particularly bold. It wouldn't trust too easily. She wouldn't be all too surprised if it turned its nose up at anything she had to offer. Still, Olwen figured that it would be better to try and use this as a teachable moment. She pulled a few more berries from the saddlebag, placing them into the boy's hand.

"Here, once he's had that first berry, offer him one of these," Olwen suggested. "No sudden movements, don't look him in the eye, don't reach towards him. Offer it on an outstretched hand, and let him come to you. If it's his decision, he'll be more agreeable about it."

[jasperblion]

you are BANNED from the horse council.

mission task: distress (riding +1)

[jasperblion]

Okay Alm, you’ve got this. You’ve seen more horses than you’ve seen sheep fur. How bad could this one bi-

A whinny releases from his temporary mount, and it certainly doesn’t sound like a content one.

“Ohh, cr-”

Thankfully before his crass mouth could elaborate further, Alm makes clean contact with the ground below, his, as it turned out, very temporary mount making its way to the sunset. Well, that’s another failed taming. Good thing the man is getting used to landing on his backside, or it’d be broken and sore by now. Okay, it is still a bit of the latter.

Was attempting a rounding of horses by a guy who doesn’t even mount on one often a terrible idea? It…was, yeah. But Alm at least expected some past experience alongside cavalry, or at least other animals, would prove enough to assist one or two loose steeds. At this rate, the only thing he would be helping is the local healing clergy bill.

Alm tries to spring back onto his legs, yet it appears that several flingings off horseback are finally having an effect on his endurance. He lays there on the dirt and grass (Honestly? Not the worst feeling.) for a fair while, not expecting any real company.

So when company does arrive within his daze, he doesn’t have exactly the best introduction for them.

“...Horses. You’re here…for horses?” Alm effectively mutters, at a barely audible volume.

@direthunder

[direthunder]

Perhaps Olwen ought to pretend she hadn't witnessed that entire scene. Better that way, given that she hadn't intervened. She could have. She should have. But she hadn't. It was a failure on her part to have not stepped in sooner and at least tried to prevent this boy from being thrown to the ground. If nothing else, it would be far easier to round up the horses when both of them were still able-bodied. If the boy were to be injured by a fall like that, it would only add to the work Olwen needed to do.

"Yes, I am," Olwen stated simply, eyes darting between the horse and the boy on the ground before her. Should she offer him a hand to help him up, or try to calm the horse first? Olwen only debated it a moment before stepping towards the animal, reaching a hand out towards the panicked creature. The boy wasn't going anywhere, but she couldn't say the same of the horse. Deal with it first, make sure it was calm and unlikely to try and bolt, then help her compatriot. The first step was always to make sure the animal didn't perceive her as a threat, so she needed to present herself for it to investigate before trying to get closer.

...Well, apparently that first step was one she shouldn't have taken, because the horse didn't seem to care for her attempt to calm it. After a snort and a whinny, it turned around and trotted a few paces away. With some distance in between them, the horse turned and stared them down, awaiting their next move. A small sigh left the knight as she let her hand drop to her side before extending it towards the boy on the ground.

"You know, trying to ride the horses back into camp is only going to make things take longer," Olwen informed him, not considering for a moment that she ought not to add literal insult to injury here. "Unless, of course, you intend to ride every horse at the same time. It would be much faster to lead them back in a group. Besides, they'll be more comfortable in a group. The presence of other calm animals will help keep them from panicking."

At least she had her own horse to try and serve that purpose. Old and stubborn though he might be, the beast was more likely to try and bite anyone who got close to it than run from them. Its presence would serve them well in keeping the other horses calm.

[direthunder]

Mrs. Electric, Send Him To The Principal's Office!

[diadic]

      Though there have been at times familiar faces to be found in Fódlan, the number of people actually from within his own inner circle were scarce. They have been for some time, the consequence of his pursuit of the world and the knowledge it carried. For each time he followed his ambition, it inevitably meant his path would split from others. First, it was those from Fiana and beyond who had chosen not to follow him into Lord Seliph's Liberation Army. Next, it was those who did not follow him out from Belhalla and to the many corners of Jugdral. And last, it was all those who did not leave their shores to follow him to this prestigious academy.

The numbers dwindle, already starting small when he had fought alongside them. Parting is necessary and a normal part of life, so Leif tells himself in some pursuit of maturity too, but dulling himself to such acts does not prepare him for the surprise that comes when a person returns.

(How ironic to think so when so many in his army had left and returned due to circumstances too, but yet still he reacts like it's the first time despite knowing— almost as if forgetting.)

He keeps a straight face throughout Olwen's lecture, just as much as she herself had decided to recover her grace and decorum too upon recognizing him in return, taking her reaction as proof that he ought to keep such thoughts to himself.

So consider him surprised when her arm keeps him locked in the classroom.

“ Raise your head, Olwen, ”  Leif invites her to do so, falling back into role of previous commander upon seeing her lower herself so.  “ I'm just as surprised to see you! It's been some time... ”

Questions of what the state of House Friege must be like float around in his mind, alongside feeling as if he ought to let her know of one other thing in relation to that house and its territories... But before that, he should address the current perceived issue on her end.

“ If knights can't teach lords, then I'll hardly learn anything at all anywhere, ”  Leif counters.  “ You and the other knights train to fight. For thunder magic, I can hardly think of better people to study from than you. Just like how I only know how to wield my bow because of Selfina... Am I to be deprived of that too? ”

[direthunder]

Olwen was being foolish-- that was the underlying message here, or so she felt. Her behavior was ridiculous, but she could scarcely think of anything else to say. How was one supposed to greet the leader they had previously fought for after so long apart? Especially given that she had departed Leif's service to return to Friege's, it was difficult to fathom what the proper decorum for such a situation even would be. Was she not a traitor on multiple accounts now?

"Be that as it may," Olwen answered, eyes raising to meet Leif's even as she remained kneeling before him, "had you not known Lady Selfina far longer than you knew me? I can only assume that to be a relationship beyond comparison to ours."

Not that she really knew the details beyond the fact that Selfina and Leif had known each other prior. How long it had been since their previous meetings, Olwen couldn't say. She hadn't exactly bothered to ask, especially given that Selfina had joined Leif's army before Olwen had encountered it to begin with.

"Besides, knights usually teach their lieges in settings more akin to private tutelage, do they not?" Olwen added. "This is hardly the same. A faculty position puts me in a position of power over my students in a way a tutor would not have. It's-- it's still strange to consider, however you may justify it."

[direthunder]

Activity Check (January) Passed!

Classes Accessed:

Commoner

Monk

Recruit

Classes Mastered:

N/A

Stats:

Total Points: 4 -> 5 (+1)

Reason: D -> D+ (+1) from Activity Check

New Weapons:

Thunder (Reason D)

New Skills:

Dexterity+ (Riding D)

Threads:

Thread Tracker

Completed Threads:

N/A

[direthunder]

You're So Cool Sorry About The Depression

[direthunder]

@livingrief

Though Olwen knew that some of her peers and allies from Leif's army had made their way to Fódlan, each one she encountered still managed to be a surprise. They were the reason she had come-- word of the land likely would not have reached Olwen at all if others had not arrived before her. Even still, the land was vast, and its troubles spread across its entirety. She had assumed the chances of encountering people she knew was slim.

Olwen had, of course, been wrong. It seemed everyone who had made their way to Fódlan had all gravitated towards Garreg Mach monastery for one reason or another. To be fair, this seemed to be a trend among Fódlan's populace as well, not just the foreigners who came to visit. These meetings were far less likely than Olwen had anticipated.

The fact that some of them were now serving as coworkers still came as a surprise, but it was certainly a pleasant one. Finn, certainly, was a person Olwen was more than happy to see. He had been such a loyal knight to Lord Leif, serving his family tirelessly with every ounce of his strength. She'd heard the tale of how he had fled the castle with Leif in his arms, raising the boy much as a father would. Where Reinhardt had failed in his knightly virtue, Finn succeeded in every way. Perhaps it was he Olwen ought to look up to.

"Oh, Sir Finn!" Olwen greeted him, hastening her pace over in his direction as soon as she spotted him walking the monastery grounds. "There you are! I had heard from one of the other knights that you were here working at the academy. It's fortunate I managed to find you. How have you held up?"

[direthunder]

No, Stamina Drinks Aren't A Replacement For Sleep

[direthunder]

@thunderbanned

While she knew that taking on teaching atop knightly duties would leave her with less time to herself, Olwen hadn't quite anticipated just how much it would wear her down. Training, serving, and then molding young minds each took so much effort individually. Doing all three was a nightmarish routine.

Olwen had been through war, she was used to the exhaustion of campaigning, but at the very least, that had enemies to blame it on. There were plenty of nights where they'd had enough time to themselves for proper sleep during the liberation war, just as there were extended stretches without. This was less extreme by comparison, but if left unchecked, it would burn her out unavoidably.

Perhaps it was her fault for the amount of effort she was putting in. If she merely skated by in each field, it would be far less taxing. No, she couldn't do that. Anything less than her best was an insult to the people around her, the people who relied on her. She had to keep going, she had to give it her all. If that deprived her a bit of sleep, then so be it. She would just keep going until she dropped.

...Unfortunately, it seemed that would be quite a bit sooner than she expected-- and more literal, too. A stray floor tile jutting out higher than its peers caught the toe of her boot as her feet dragged across the ground. In an instant, Olwen's balance, already shaky from lack of sleep, was completely disrupted. Carrying a stack of books in her hands, there was no way for her to catch herself. It was just a one-way trip to the ground tonight.

[direthunder]

Ring: the Legend of the Nibelungen (1998) Published by Cryo Entertainment

[senerist]

soren isn't even sure how he ended up here. Never in his life has he had a problem with saying 'no', and he's certain he said it at least twenty-three times, and yet here he stands under a burning spotlight about five paces away from what might be the worst actress in history. Despite his lack of experience on an actual stage, he knows from his experience lying that he's much better than his co-star, and yet here they stand... together.

The costume he's been shoved into is ridiculous and uncomfortable. The helmet is made of some material that flops if soren so much as walks too quickly, and he feels as though it'll rip wide open if he had to run for any reason.

soren could go on with his complaints, but the major one comes up the moment his costar finishes her lines.

She has lines. soren has suggestions.

The management of this production consists of nothing but egoistic philistines, forcing unsuspecting innocents into a whirlwind of a performance schedule with the shoddiest costumes and the bare minimum of what can pass for a 'script'. It's so abysmal that soren is actually offended - so used to being in control of situations and orchestrations that such a poorly managed product is an affront to his very nature, even if he hasn't actually flexed his tactical acumen in decades.

Still. They promised him a paycheck. It's a strong enough motivator, for now. Or it was before his costar stumbles over her words, flinching as though implying the sexual nature of a water nymph she's meant to be portraying has any reflection on her actual being.

Amateur. No, amateur implies a level of passion she utterly lacks.

Fortunately for the imbeciles putting on this farcical production, soren suits the role of a sneering, irreverent deuteragonist just fine. All the insults he's been requested to ad lib come easily to his lips.

"Had I the taste for oblivion, I'm sure a construct as vapid and empty as yourself would be an auspicious source," he begins, taking a step forward, as was instructed. "Though sooner would I drown myself than spend more time in your unsatisfying presence."

he crosses the stage.... slowly. Not only does the costume limit his movement, but it's meant to give her the chance to reposition herself. For some blasted reason, this woman has the unenviable position of portraying every woman in the play, and she's meant to don her second character... now.

[direthunder]

The longer she was left on stage with Soren, the more certain she became that he was even unhappier about the arrangement than she herself was. She had heard how Soren had been lured in-- as opposed to Olwen's knightly duties shackling her to assist the opera due to the Church offering support, Soren was merely here to collect a paycheck. In fact, most everyone involved likely knew that much. It wasn't like Soren was exactly shy about admitting it.

His devotion to gold would almost be admirable if it weren't so pitiable. He didn't quite seem greedy per se-- not that Olwen had been granted particular insight into the man's mind. It didn't seem like he was pursuing gold for the power it represented or simply a desire for wealth like the character he had been cast as. Perhaps it was some kind of morality that bound him, that work was deserving of compensation. If that were the case, then there was no doubt he was looking down on her for doing all of this for free.

That thought was a dangerous one. With the concept of condescension in Olwen's mind, it was a little too easy to read into Soren's acting. His sneering demeanor, while accurate enough to the way the script seemed to want Alberich to behave, was quite effective at being irksome. Standing across from him and hearing him speak to her made her skin crawl in a way only one other person had managed. Maybe they ought to have put Kempf in this role instead. He wouldn't even have to act, after all. Soren, though, was just playing a part. There was no actual malice behind it, even if Olwen had to actively remind herself of that.

The lights dimmed, allowing Olwen to scuttle across the stage and take up residence atop another piece of scenery. For as garish as their costumes were, the set designers had done an excellent job. Beautifully painted plywood created excellent illusions of depth... even if Olwen's presence atop it skewed that illusion by virtue of the fact that she was, in fact, the size of a normal person, destroying the forced perspective the artists had worked so hard to achieve. A second outfit was hidden behind the plywood prop, one Olwen could quickly slip on over her existing outfit, though the rhinestones covering her costume made the second look strangely lumpy in places.

As the lights returned, Olwen was... most of the way into pulling her costume on. It had gotten stuck on her other outfit, unfortunately. No time to fix it. Just keep going, pretend it was intentional. She couldn't hide the grimace it brought to her face, but the only one who would have an unobstructed view of that would be Soren, especially with the way the light reflecting off of her overly-ornamental attire would dazzle any observers.

"You seem so intent on reaching the gold, but what meaning could it have to you?" Olwen called down. For a moment, it seemed like she was speaking to Soren himself, not to the character of Alberich; the fact that she had mistakenly positioned herself facing directly to Soren instead of the three-quarters blocking she had been instructed to take likely had a hand in that perception. "Would you not be sated more with the happiness and affection of another's embrace? Why pursue that which will give you nothing in return?"

[direthunder]

Mrs. Electric, Send Him To The Principal's Office!

[direthunder]

@diadic

Olwen had been following in Leif's footsteps when she initially came to Fódlan. It wasn't coincidental; the fact that Leif had already gone before her was a significant part of why she found herself there. It was through comrades like Leif visiting the land that she heard tell of the plight of the people who lived there, of the Church of Seiros, and of Garreg Mach monastery. If nobody she knew had gone to Fódlan ahead of her, it was unlikely that Olwen ever would have traveled there herself.

That being said, she had not anticipated circumstances winding up quite the way they did. She had naturally assumed Leif would take up a similar leadership position to the one he had back in Thracia. The fact that he was just a boy had often slipped her mind; even with all of the younger members of the Thracian Liberation Army, Leif rarely struck Olwen as similar to them. From the moment she had met him (well, okay, maybe not the exact moment, he had said some rather immature things following their first meeting), he had seemed head and shoulders above the others of his age in terms of maturity. Such was unfortunately part of the tragedy of war. It forced people to grow up far faster than they should ever have to, robbing children of their childhoods with the same ease it robbed them of family and homeland.

It was, in part, Olwen's own fault for not reading the student register a bit more closely. Even a cursory glance would have revealed to her exactly what Leif was doing at Garreg Mach academy and saved her a bit of surprise and embarrassment. Unfortunately, she had not paid particularly close attention to it, too busy formulating a plan for what she ought to teach and how best to teach it to actually pay close attention to the students she was going to be teaching. Certainly a misstep on her part; catering instruction to her students would be more effective than any general lesson.

While seeing Leif attend the class she was teaching had briefly left Olwen slack-jawed in surprise, she had recovered with as much grace as she could manage. She had done her best to simply not look at him until the lesson was over simply so that she would not be distracted wondering what he was doing there. Certainly Olwen couldn't have anything of value to teach the person whose lead she had been following, right?

Regardless, they had catching up to do. As class was dismissed, Olwen made her way to the opposite side of the room to open the doors for the students herself. She offered a courteous half-smile to each one, wishing them well on their way out, at least until Leif reached her. He, unlike the others, was held back, an outstretched arm barring his progress until the rest of the students had made their way out the door. Once the two were alone, Olwen shut the doors once again, finally turning her attention to the Leonster Prince.

"Forgive me not saying anything sooner," Olwen began, taking a step back from Leif before genuflecting before him. "I had not expected to see you here-- nor for you to be among my students. Forgive me. It is not the place of a knight to give instruction to a lord as I did today."

...Well, nobility actually made up a very significant portion of the student body. It was really just Leif, specifically, who she felt weird about being in a position of power over.

[direthunder]

Winners Don't Use Exam Answer Keys

[direthunder]

Lance +1 || @heliacalrisings

Whoever that shady figure in the alley that approached her might have been, he clearly wasn't very smart. If he had somehow mistaken a professor for a student, then he was a fool; if he had realized Olwen clearly was not a student and had approached her anyway on the matter, then he was truly beyond help. Regardless, that was a matter Olwen would see the resolution to later. He was already being questioned by one of her coworkers. She, on the other hand, had a lead to follow up on.

Ephraim.

It was not a name that Olwen had any familiarity with, but it was the one that the cheater had given them. Either he had willingly provided his answers to this little cheating ring, or his test had been stolen and used for ill. Olwen intended to get to the bottom of the matter as quickly as possible. At least she didn't need to track him down. She could simply have the message delivered to the boy that they needed to speak. So she sat in an empty classroom, watching the door intently as she awaited Ephraim's arrival. When he did arrive, it would be to a withering glare.

"Do you know why I've called you here?" Olwen began before the boy had a chance to open his mouth at all. As she delivered the question, she made a sweeping gesture with one arm, brushing her cape aside to reveal what lay on her desk: a graded exam, one with Ephraim's name at the top. He had received high marks, at the very least, but perhaps that was precisely the issue.

[direthunder]

Ring: the Legend of the Nibelungen (1998) Published by Cryo Entertainment

[direthunder]

Mittelfrank Opera (Authority +1) || @senerist

This was humiliating. Having to participate in an opera was already far, far beyond anything Olwen had any remote desire to do. She was no actress, nor had she any desire to be. This was a waste of time. She should be out helping people, not stuck inside a stuffy old theater performing for people. The notion that nobles shelled out such massive sums of money to attend days-long proceedings of these silly little stories was already absurd on its face. The fact that she had been assigned by the Church of Seiros to assist the opera was an additional level of absurdity, but one that she could somewhat understand.

Fine, they needed the support of the wealthy to keep the Knights well-equipped. She would assume an opera company that was allegedly quite renowned would be able to drum up support without begging for the church's help, but apparently she was wrong. For them to be so woefully devoid of actors that they would force her into a role, though? She was not ready to accept that, not even remotely. Unfortunately for her, though, the fact that she had been cast against her will was not the worst part of the ordeal.

No, the worst part was that she had been cast in nearly every single female role.

She hated this silly little outfit with its countless rhinestones. Even she was being nearly blinded by the way the stage lights reflected off of the damned thing. She could only imagine how Soren, her poor costar, was managing to even look in her direction. Maybe it was the stupid puppets she had to carry with her that made him unable to look away. After all, Olwen was currently playing three separate characters at once.

For a moment, silence fell as she glared down at her costar. A king of dwarves he certainly was. Had they only cast him in the role because of his stature? It would have been a laughable notion if Olwen wasn't unable to dismiss the possibility entirely. At least he seemed equally unhappy about being forced to partake in the silly little play. They would both be delivering their lines through gritted teeth today.

"Come, my sisters," Olwen muttered, unwilling to project her voice the way the director had constantly urged her to, "let us sing an ode to the Rhine, and an ode to our father, Wotan, for having entrusted us with such a delightful mission! To be able to frolic in the waters all day while we guard his sacred treasure is true bliss! It is joy far exceeding anything his brilliant, spectacular gold, that which could be forged into a ring with the power to rule the world, could ever grant to someone!"

This dialogue was so lamentably terrible as well. It lacked all subtlety and nuance. How could any noble pay to see something as droll as this? Her eyes silently pled with Soren to stop this charade, to just throw off his costume and be done with it so she would have an excuse to leave. She could not bring herself to quit on her own, no matter how badly she wanted to. Dereliction of duty was unforgivable of a knight.

"Come, King Alberich, bathe in the waters with us," she cooed, somehow managing more confidence with each passing word... well, at least until she reached the lines she found the most degrading. "Come and d-drink... drink oblivion from our b-breasts and forget this quest of yours for foolish treasures like Wotan's gold."

[direthunder]

if two guys were on the moon and one killed the other with a rock would that be fucked up or what

I'll not dignify the spawn of Loptous by answering a question as inane as that.