DEAR READER
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
trying on a metaphor
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
titsay
@theartofmadeline
No title available
Show & Tell
Three Goblin Art
JBB: An Artblog!
cherry valley forever
hello vonnie
Stranger Things
No title available
Cosimo Galluzzi
we're not kids anymore.
h
RMH
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
❣ Chile in a Photography ❣
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@hoopdaughter
heaven's inheritance ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
Genealogy of the Holy War second generation pegasus knight trainee. Daughter of Erinys and Lewyn (until otherwise decided), and thus princess of Silesse, and carrier of Minor Holy Blood.
Mobile links: 【dossier】 【stats】 【mun】
(graphic best viewed on white BG/theme!)
Just like shooting womp rats back home
Panette & Fee ➢
Fee’s questions are… quite rational, to be honest. Panette cannot help but give a slightly sheepish smile at the final question especially.
“Alas, not only is my experience in aerial combat nonexistent, but as much as I have a fondness for animals, that fondness is usually one-sided. I fear I would be more of a menace towards others and myself than to any sky beasts.” She lets out an awkward chuckle.
“No magic either, just quite the practiced throwing arm. And as for how high I can leap…” Panette smirks, before taking off in a sprint and leaping as high as she can; a quite impressive height, though certainly not enough to reach any really high flying monsters.
“Quite impressive, would you not say?” Her smirk proceeds to soften into a more reassuring smile; braggadocio, whilst fun, may also serve to dissuade Fee further.
“Besides, if we are both in the sky, we may struggle in cooperating whenever we need. But if one of us is on the ground and the other is in the sky, we may be able to assist each other quite well. You could wrangle one of the monsters in my direction, or I may serve as a distraction so you may strike the unsuspecting fool.” She slams her fist into her open palm with yet another smirk.
Despite the absurdity of her assertions, Panette clearly has put some thought into her plans. It's a little silly, sure; but Fee is only meeting her for the first time now, and is not planning on underestimating an ally for something so trivial as jump height. Internalizing the explanations, she only stares at the redhead, still chewing on her words.
As much as she'd like to believe in the talents of this hearty fighter, Panette isn't too reassuring. With a sigh, Fee clasps her hands together, knowing that this bad news is sure to come with some backlash.
"I really just... don't feel safe if you're just tossing things up there!" She stammers, frustrated. "I know you believe in yourself, but I'm scared! One wrong throw and one wrong turn and Annand is maimed for life! Besides, we can totally come up with something better."
She taps her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe, we can catapult you up there together? Or, or, or— I'll slow 'em down, and you spring up to finish them off?" she suggests delightfully, her uncertainty blooming into a smile. "That way there's no shot of you hitting me, if I'm out of the way!"
Is it a bird? Yes
Bow +1
In the second they pass by, Forde thrusts his spear into the bird’s side, feels a satisfying thunk, and promptly loses his grip upon realising the pegasus isn’t going to wait for him to retrieve his weapon.
Both hands cling to the mount now, as a piercing screech fills the air. He turns his head to report on the situation. “It’s chasing us!” To be expected, really. Forde’s not quite sure how fast a monster bird should be, but… “The left wing is uh, sagging a little? I must’ve got it good, it doesn’t seem to be gaining on us.”
“Oh and uh, it’s still got my spear.”
Forde pulls the bow off his back, hoping to develop a sudden talent for archery, but when he tries taking his hands away to draw the bow, a sudden wobble changes his mind, and in the scramble to regain his balance he accidentally elbows Fee. “Ah- sorry!”
Almost out of options now, Forde grabs one of the arrows. It’s something. “Ok, next time we pass it I can stab it again.” He takes a deep breath, and the fresh sky air fills his lungs. “Whenever you’re ready.”
"IT'S GOT YOUR WHAT?"
Fee's own had charged up a hearty fireballed and cauterized the wound made by her companion. Hearing now that the pair are now down a polearm is more than disheartening, though. The Silessian glances back to the blonde, eyes wide. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU????"
Nonetheless, she tugs at the reins to gather more speed. The chase now firmly on, she's more than happy to be challenged. Annand can more than handle a chud like this! Her mind is still lingering on their weapons predicament. Even with the wind whipping her face, and one hand steering her steed with intensity, she yells back at Forde. "Take my lance! It's better than those piddly arrows!"
The handoff itself would be another problem, especially with the monster creeping up on their tail. She holds it back towards where she hopes he can reach, while trying not to torch poor Annand's side.
But the rizz master would not answer; he just kept on rizzing
Lex & Fee ➢
Oh, shit, was it really that surprising? Fee's outburst made Lex immediately double-take, eyebrows raising up high onto that massive forehead of his. Fee was clearly an excitable kid, no doubt about that, but this seemed a bit more than just regular excitement. It was at least some kind of advanced excitement. Did she know Ayra personally? Probably not, based on what little Lex had gleaned so far from the state of the things that he couldn't recall. Maybe that was the exact reason for Fee's shock. Maybe her idea of Ayra was at odds with the reality of Ayra, that she had some mental image of a person with preferences the real Ayra did not have.
"Hey, don't sound so shocked by that!" Lex objected playfully, crossing his arms and huffing before letting out another, boisterous laugh. "Yeah, she's pretty cool, isn't she? I'd assumed that was why you'd sought me out. Like, if I could manage to get someone like her to be interested in me, I must know what I'm doing. Eh, guess it's my fault-- or, uh, the other me's fault. The future me? The me I forgot? Whatever you wanna call it, he-- I-- we-- whatever, didn't do a good enough job of showing how much Ayra means to me."
Another peal of laughter followed, though this one was tainted by a slight bitterness. Every time Lex had to reckon with the version of him that had lived those 20 years, Lex found himself disappointed by what he heard. It was sounding more and more like the guy hadn't even been around at all for it. What kind of deadbeat did he turn into? Lex wasn't sure he wanted the answer.
The name Fee offered didn't give him much of a clue as to what he would be working with, but "cool" at least hinted at some traits. There was a wide spectrum of cool, though! Lex thought Azelle was pretty cool, and Ayra was also pretty cool, and the two couldn't be further apart in terms of personality. Lex's advice would probably largely be the same either way, but he'd prefer to know something about the subject of Fee's affections. He'd never heard of this "Larcei" person before now. Was he supposed to know who that was?
"You gotta give me something more to work with than just a name, though," Lex insisted, trying to move on as quickly as possible from discussing his weird memory situation. "What's Larcei like? There's a hell of a lot of flavors of 'cool', y'know. What're we talking? The more stoic kind of cool, or like, agreeable and easy to be around sort of cool? Or maybe something in between?"
The "future me"...?
Now, Fee isn't one to even pretend to understand the inner machinations of adults, much less adult men (lest she forget the foolish decisionmaking of Father!); but the way that Lex seems so confused and irritated by this sort of puzzling jump in his memory starts to concern her as well. Is it some sort of product of his leaving Jugdral to come to Fodlan, somehow? Though, Fee herself didn't suffer any sort of drawbacks from what she can tell...
She casts Lex a confused look, raising an eyebrow at his response. What a curious way to respond! Maybe it's something about husbands, and the weird sort of quirks they pick up. Fee wouldn't know from Father. Anyway, moving back to talking about Larcei again, her blush returns.
What kind of a person is Larcei? It's hardly a complicated answer, Fee laughs to herself. She's loud and brash, and brutish and bunt: everything that Fee pretty much avoided back in Tófa, growing up. And nothing like Arthur, or Lene, or Seliph! They have the most noble spirits, more virtuous than Fee could imagine the Crusaders; compared to them, Larcei is...
"Well, she likes to fight. A lot. And she's kind of loud, like you. Respectfully!" she adds quickly. "But, sometimes she just makes me so... frustrated! How can I deal with that?"
What I need is a girl who can understand the binary language of moisture vaporators
Lene & Fee ➢ Axe+1
Lene noticed that.
But she didn't say anything- it was obvious that Fee didn't want to talk about it further. How she changed the subject, how she distracted herself with the work. Lene only nodded along to what she said, a smile on her face "There's nothing wrong with a little optimism in the world" That's what she will settle on.
She didn't notice Fee's watchful gaze- humming to herself before Fee's question made her cough, as if all air suddenly vanished. "Oh, Its going well! And- Its a little complicated..." Lene laughed slightly "He didn't have to stay in Augustria if he didn't want too- so technically at the moment... no." They spent time when they could, her new duties always have her so busy...!
...That second question is what really sucked the air out of her. An embarrassed 'ha' was all she let out for a while. "Me and Ares? Haha– really? I-Is it that obvious?" She couldn't tell if it was the sun making her feel this warm, but she tried to play it off as such. "Y.. Yeah! You know we are kinda close" that was an understatement "Its nothing crazy, he just needed some help! And who better to help him than me!"
When Lene smiles, she can't help but lose track of her thoughts for a bit. She's always radiant—probably comes with the territory of being a dancer, and all: always gorgeous, always shining, always pleasant—but she's also just so inspiring for it. It's more than a little optimism. Compared to Fee, Lene's a wellspring, never failing to produce a smile for her. At least, that's how Fee's always seen her, and that's how Fee sees her still.
Even flustered by the little tease about Ares, she hair gleams to a porcelain shine that Fee's own Silessian mop can only aspire to. Maybe it's her imagination. Maybe the sitting in a field in the sun is getting to her, too.
Fee's cheeks redden when she realizes she's been staring. Her hands immediately flail back to her task. "W-well, you're exactly who I'd want for help, too! Lucky him. Must be nice having a boyfriend, haha."
It's a frequent topic of rumination. But Fee would never admit that. She averts her eyes from her friend's.
Just like shooting womp rats back home
Panette & Fee ➢
Truth be told, Panette probably is a bit ill-suited towards this mission. Helping out seemed like the least she can do, but-
Truth be told, as much as she would love to soar on top of a pegasus, it would probably just make things worse if she tried to take to the skies on one. With no training, and with the way animals usually react to her, it would be a catastrophe in the making.
“It is quite a simple plan. I shall leap as high as I can to strike the beasts, and if I cannot reach them then, I shall throw whatever is at hand at them!” She smirks; quite a fun plan, if she does say so herself.
“That way, there really ought not to be much risk of me hitting you, not unless you fly right at where I am.” She shakes her head.
“I do quite understand your skepticism. But I am confident in my abilities. And if we make it a competition, see who can take down the most of these beasts using their method, I do think it shall prove quite a hearty motivator.” She lets her expression soften for a bit; again, confident as she is in her abilities, she does understand where Fee is coming from.
“Are you game?” She holds out her hand for a friendly, sporting handshake. She really hopes Fee’s down for this, because truth be told, she really wants an excuse to throw stuff at flying beasts.
"Wuh...you're gonna jump???" She can't help let the incredulity coat her words. On Annand, the ground is so, so very far away, and everyone on it little specks, ready to be knocked around at her leisure (should they be her opponents, that is!). What Panette is proposing doesn't just sounds insane, but impractical even compared to her own ideas. Air-to-air combat is not the best solution to a flying probably; in fact, ground forces are the go-to! But... throwing axes? Or rather, 'whatever is at hand'...?
Fee shakes her head, eyes wide and mouth still half agape in a confusion. "How high exactly can you jump? Are you gonna use magic?You really think you're gonna hit those things like that?" She raises her hand to indicate their relative height, at her forehead. "Screw the competition, there's no way you can make it that way!"
Her hands descend to rest on her hips as she continues to stare at the redhead. Honestly, she can't help but be a little impressed with the confidence with which Panette's suggested all this. Compared to her, Fee's flying strategy sounds, well, normal! Which means...
"OK, but... Instead of jumping, why not fly?"
๋࣭ ⭑ all my feathers will sing
Character limit: 2k !
The whirlwind abates, but a new storm brews within the Isaachian scion. She stops wrestling her newly-appointed mount to allow Fee onto it, but with the repose she is permitted, Larcei uses little of it to calm herself down. Arms cross over her chest in a display of rebellion, and her brow creases into a strong downward slope to show her dismay. She huffs, not at all unlike her mount, who gets a good look at her acting and copies her in a mockery. This makes the swordmaster visibly shake, and nearly boil over in her rage. Rather than reserving it for an animal, though, she takes it out on the unwilling Fee,
“Whaddya mean mean??” She doesn’t say it outright, but her sharp diction accuses Fee of being a liar. It sounds disgruntled but not overtly tired, implying that she could have kept going if the Silessian hadn’t stepped in, and, in a way confirming her claim. “I trusted her! How was I supposed to know that this thing wasn’t capable of doin’ the mission they gave it to me for??” Her glare, the nasty thing that it is, shifts from Fee to the pegasus — now accusing it of responsibility rather than accepting some of her own. It looks back to her uncomfortably, as if it knows that Larcei’s reckless riding was what gave it such a scare.
“All I’ve been trying to do is get her to calm down. She won’t as much as let me pet ‘er though, so how do you suppose I do that?” She hasn’t left her place on the floor yet, but as she deliberates the means of taming her mare, she strongly considers getting up. The debate reflects itself in every errant toss and turn of her body, hips rocking into a roll as the two sides of her mind clash. And after she squints, after her eyelids drill shut, she finally bursts. Larcei is awake and alert, ready to address her pegasus at eye-level, and stare at it with enough apprehension until it understands her.
“...no, seriously, how. Because I need to get this done.”
Despite her concern, Fee can't help but want to surrender a small laugh at the way the pegasus takes after its rider. The doubled huffs the pair make almost remind her of herself, an eternity ago now, making fun of her Cedsy. No wonder the horse is so anxious: Larcei isn't exactly putting any comforting energy out into the world! They're not empaths, but they can absolutely pick up on a rider's anxieties or uncertainties. Really, the best advice she can give Larcei, as she pets the irritable mount, is—
"...Take it easy on her, will ya?" Fee makes a point of looking down her nose at the Isaachian. "She's not just some mercenary for you to pal around with."
She turns back to the pegasus, unceasing in her brushing, but continues to direct her words to Larcei. Really, she's just mad on the pegasus's behalf; but if Larcei really wants to fix this, she's gonna have to step in as more than a field medic. Abruptly, she swivels on her heel, and grabs at Larcei's wrist. "C'mon, let me show you..."
Fee jerks her unceremoniously towards the unwilling partner, forcing the swordsman's calloused hand to the pegasus' coat. "Look into her eyes," she orders. If Larcei's eyesight wavers impatiently, Fee squeezes her wrist and repeats, "Look. Just do as I say right now! Keep the eye contact!"
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐶𝘩𝑒𝑐𝑘 - MAR 𝟸𝟶𝟸6
Flying D+ -> Flying C (2/2)
Skill points: 11 -> 13
[ TXT ] : fee!! we need to make plans!!
[ TXT ] : (it's not that urgent but i'm gonna pretend like it is okay?? hehe)
[ TXT ] : season 2 is coming out!! do you wanna watch together? if you come over, i'll order pizza!
[ TXT ] : way ahead of you, little dude
[ TXT ] : my roommate is gonna be out on the 24th, so we got the whoooole weekend to binge the new season 😎
[ TXT ] : want me to scoop you up after soccer practice? i'll be sure to tell your sister where you'll be, kay?
✱˚｡⋆ ↪ 𝐀 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝑻𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑷𝑯𝑶𝑵𝑬 . ( a collection of texting prompts. feel free to change phrasing. potentially mature content within. )
[ TXT ] : why are you still awake?
[ TXT ] : hey, where did you go?
[ TXT ] : it's getting bad again.
[ TXT ] : guess i'll just sit in bed. alone. by myself.
[ TXT ] : you can't ignore me forever.
[ TXT ] : i can't stop thinking about you.
[ TXT ] : just saw i called you last night. how'd that go?
[ TXT ] : i really need someone right now.
[ TXT ] : we need to make plans asap.
[ TXT ] : have you seen the news?
[ TXT ] : you were blackout drunk.
[ TXT ] : testing to see if you blocked my number...
[ TXT ] : do you know anything about doing stitches?
[ TXT ] : just please let me know you're okay.
[ TXT ] : did you forget we had plans?
[ TXT ] : i know you see my messages, your read receipts are on.
[ TXT ] : meet me at [ location ], it's important.
[ TXT ] : do you need comfort, to vent, or a solution?
[ TXT ] : is there anything i should bring?
[ TXT ] : call me. please, it's important.
[ TXT ] : i can't sleep.
[ TXT ] : have you eaten today?
[ TXT ] : you are always going to be my priority.
[ TXT ] : i haven't seen you around in awhile.
[ TXT ] : i had a dream about you last night.
[ TXT ] : the names are gonna get mean if you don't text me back.
[ TXT ] : at the risk of sounding cliche, what are you wearing?
[ TXT ] : just say the word and i'll drop everything.
[ TXT ] : do you seriously not remember?
[ TXT ] : come to the front door.
[ TXT ] : have you been drinking?
[ TXT ] : how do you feel after last night?
[ TXT ] : are you up? please be up.
[ TXT ] : you looked beautiful today.
[ TXT ] : i have so much to tell you.
[ TXT ] : no one's heard from you. are you okay?
[ TXT ] : who is this?
[ TXT ] : are you taking care of yourself?
[ TXT ] : thought i'd reach out and see how you're doing.
[ TXT ] : i miss the taste of your lips.
[ TXT ] : that kiss was really nice.
[ TXT ] : stop acting so high and mighty.
[ TXT ] : i left my [ item ] at your place.
[ TXT ] : are we still fighting?
[ TXT ] : i need help and i can't go to the hospital.
[ TXT ] : are you thinking about me too?
[ TXT ] : call me, i wanna hear your voice.
[ TXT ] : i don't want to talk to you.
[ TXT ] : what do you have to lose?
[ TXT ] : you don't have to ask, i'm already on my way.
[ TXT ] : i want to take a nap on you.
[ TXT ] : even if you called 6 months later at 3am, i'd answer.
[ TXT ] : what's my name in your phone?
[ TXT ] : how's trying to forget about me going?
[ TXT ] : i have nobody else to ask.
[ TXT ] : what do you mean you're at the hospital??
[ TXT ] : sorry, i think you have the wrong number.
[ TXT ] : good morning! you up yet?
[ TXT ] : do i sense sarcasm in your tone?
[ TXT ] : you start your day at 2pm?
[ TXT ] : you need MY help?
[ TXT ] : stop texting me.
[ TXT ] : i'll leave that up to your imagination.
[ TXT ] : are you asking me to sneak out?
[ TXT ] : when will i see you again?
[ TXT ] : if you come over, i'll order us a pizza.
[ TXT ] : are we ever going to talk about it?
[ TXT ] : can you come get me out of here?
[ TXT ] : you mean like ... a BODY - body?
[ TXT ] : it's just been one thing after another lately.
[ TXT ] : forgiving and forgetting is harder than it sounds.
[ TXT ] : i want your legs wrapped around my head.
[ TXT ] : call me when you wake up.
[ TXT ] : what are you doing that's more important than me?
[ TXT ] : i'm out of town right now.
girls night vs boys night
⤷ battle of the eagle and lion: round two ( battle 15 )
"—Lord Leif!"
There is something to be said of the uncanny resemblance the butler bears to an overprotective hen, scurrying forward to undo the damage done to his proxy chick. Between this heal, and that haste, and this heal again, not a second of rest waits for poor old Jakob, it seems. The battle appears intent on running him ragged as a mule! Nevertheless, his is worthy work - irreplaceable work. Who else will keep these reckless young fools standing on their feet? Their spirits high?
Most importantly, victory has crept well within reach.
It will not be much longer as Maria falls; as ever predicted in Jakob's eyes. He can muster no surprise when a young girl is forced to surrender in a battle of strength, yet he watches her regardless—just for a heartbeat—then turns his gaze away onto the single girl yet standing. Single or otherwise, there will be no mercy. Not that Jakob has ever had the intention of showing it.
Eager to stretch his limbs, to take his cut of the fight, the crisp cold of a blizzard gathers then shoots from his hands, aiming not for body but for feet. They strike there as if to shackle Fee like chains, hardening to wintry cuffs.
"And then there was one," butler and warden remarks. He pivots next on his heel, switching from harm to health as if across the flip of a coin - marking yet another talent of many. But, this is no time to revel in his hard-won ability. The next stroke of healing will be the final one, he decides, as he mends the flaxen-haired man that has proven himself a capable ally. Who he hopes will continue to show himself capable. "Now, then. If you would do the honors, sir Forde. . .
—let us be done with this battle!"
Be careful with that sword, huh? Must be Maria’s way of telling him to tone it down, this was only a mock battle after all. “I will, sorry.” But she was still well enough to spectate the rest of their hopefully short battle, that was a relief.
Their final opponent is quite literally frozen in place as he makes his approach. Bit of an anticlimactic end, he sighs, directing a weak swing at Fee’s shoulder. The sword bounces off of her with tremendous force, he loses control as it spins in his hand until it finds itself lodged in his own arm.
“Haha…” Forde can only laugh at the absurdity of it all. “Well that’s never happened before.” He pulls it out and makes another half-hearted strike at Fee. Well, the strike comes out stronger than he wanted, a three-quarter-hearted strike perhaps? Determined as she was, she couldn’t shake off that injury so easily.
It’d been a while since he had a sword in hand, it was a relief to see he still had some of his skills. But for now he sheaths his blade and goes to retrieve his axe. His self-inflicted wound stings as he picks it up, and he turns to Jakob.
“Say, could I trouble you for a bit more healing before we head off?”
In the end, there's no landing this pegasus. Frozen, she can only watch, helpless, as Maria is forcibly removed from the fight. Her weapons stick her palms, unrelinquishable, but she knows the end is at hand even without waving the white flag. Forde's half-hearted whacks are definitely gonna leave a bruise. And more cuts. Always more cuts.
The strikes do free her from the spell, at least, and she falls to her knees, finally. Sweat drips down her nose, unable to be quenched by her headband. All the energy leaves her limbs. One eye remains closed, wincing. Panting raggedly, she looks up at Forde as he walks back to his healer. The victors continue onwards, yes, but she's pretty spent anyway.
Wearily, she looks to Maria. And the other girl, who seems to still be breathing after their beating. As Fee's own body begins to fall to the side, unable to keep itself upright, her parched lips crack the beginnings of a smile. "Damn, you really got me, Leif..."
The muddied grass of the battlefield has never felt so soft.
Man, I'm so ready for the med tent...
-- /end/ -- -- -- -- --
girls night vs boys night
⤷ battle of the eagle and lion: round two ( battle 15 )
...Are... they all just running then? Intent on not letting the battle escape her (she does stifle a smile at that -- what an odd problem to have!), Maria sprints after the butler and Forde, who appear to be following after Leif, who is himself leading Fee on a chase further afield.
Humor churns into worry as the crimson speckling underfoot grows more readily apparent, overlooked at first in the pursuit until it could be no longer. Intuition tells her it's either Leif or Fee, locked in combat as they had been with each other, but it's as she ruminates that a glint of steel in the distance catches her attention. Alarmed, she ducks back behind the tree she'd just turned around, the thunk of an arrow congratulating her on her reflexes not seconds later.
And still, her thoughts return to her friends. Isn't that too much blood? Peeking out again, her eyes are naturally drawn to the unhappy vibrancy of Leif's tunic. Still far away but slowly drawing closer, she throws out an arm, this time guiding the cold wind of Tannenbit with intent. Roughly estimating where the worst of his wounds lays by the depth of color, Maria attempts to brace Leif with cold as she had done for her defeated ally. (Or perhaps with a bit more oomph? Not too much! Just enough for her friend-turned-foe; just until foe turns friend again.)
@hoopdaughter, @butlere
"A healer, a fighter, a gardener, a cook, a butler, and more—I am a man of many talents," Jakob replies with fulsome pride to Forde, owed to a small moment of reprieve where such banter might be allowed. The conversation extends as Leif joins them - to Jakob's quiet amusement.
Were he unemployed, were he any other man, perhaps he would take up the noble young scion on his offer; or at the very least, jest openly with him in turn. Jakob's talents are exactly myriad as claimed, suited to any household - but they are that way only because of whom he serves now, the vast history that has preceded this moment. The single woman who awaits his return. The butler smiles knowingly.
"I am afraid my present liege is the long-lived sort, so the opportunity for unemployment shall never come to pass. But, the thought is a happy one, Lord Leif. Hm-hm. . .perhaps in another life."
With that, the battle continues, seamless and flowing as a river with nary a stone to impede its way. Faithful Jakob does as ordered, wearing a costume of loyalty to a lord not his own as he brings up the rear of their party. His all-seeing eye shall miss nothing that seeks to ambush them. It brings him closer to Leif's injured form, alongside.
Once more he extends his friendly hand of healing, enfolding the other in his glow. This time it requires no announcement; it is naught but Jakob's rightful duty in this fight.
@hoopdaughter
"Aw, come on..."
With Forde's advance, she's finally forced to back up from her pursuit. She pulls away, and pulls Maria away with her; not physically, since Maria is a big girl and can take care of herself. Where she and her friend are nomads, surviving day to day, minute to minute, the Golden Deer are a well-oiled machine, a spinning winch that does not slow down with time. Healing light stains her eyes.
Suddenly, the odds are insurmountable. Their three foes seem to flank them in all directions, and the knight in her is just telling her brain to climb, climb! But with no mount underfoot, and no chance for escape, Fee just grits her teeth.
"Maria, they're not invincible," she tries, but the words aren't terribly convincing. She flashes her friend a smile. "One step at a time! One stab at a time..."
girls night vs boys night
⤷ battle of the eagle and lion: round two ( battle 15 )
"--!" Maria gasps, but she doesn't even have a name to call; she'd never gotten one, her whole body lurching on a wordless breath. She doesn't know as much about wings as perhaps she should, but she knows that those belonging to birds are light and far more brittle. That's not to mention the way the girl landed on her arm!
So perhaps she does take this chance to run along, but she runs not away from the field nor to seek the shelter of her sister's arms, but instead toward the girl who'd fought beside them and protected them for less than even a name.
"Here," the cleric breathes, leaning over her fallen teammate protectively. A gentle hand slips beneath her elbow, faith surreptitiously hidden in her touch. "My name's Maria, by the way." She smiles, her earlier worry smoothed into an easy calm; the magic is only enough to ease the pain, a warmth masked and swallowed by the subtle chill of Tannenbit. "That should help numb the pain until you get back to the medical tent. Can you make it?"
Rosy-hued eyes return to the battle, chasing after Fee. At least here, no one will pursue her. Throwing one last smile over her shoulder, Maria makes a promise: "If you can't, I'll help you soon, okay?"
Not that she has any intention of making it easy for them! Rising quickly to her feet, Maria throws out a silver wind. There's no room for her to slip in between Fee and Leif, but even if it's just a little bit at a time, she can try to clear the way for her.
"Fee!" Undimmed, Maria calls out to her, hoping to keep her spirits high. "You can do it! I'm right here behind you!"
@diadic
“I'm fine,” Leif answers Forde, rising up from how he'd been planted against the dirt. “You did most of the work there though. I'll try my best nonetheless!”
Celebrating their minor victory doesn't last long however. Whilst Maria seems to tend to the fallen winged woman just as Jakob engages her too, Fee darts in to take the place of her defeated ally. Leif tries to dodge out of the way of her spear, pivoting away from Forde, but Fee's ability to hunt him pushes through and her lance finds him all the same. Leif staggers back, hand pressed against his newfound wound as he coughs and braces against the pain concentrated in his abdomen. Fingers slick with blood struggle to reach for an arrow but decide against it. The distance is too short, and she's proven herself agile enough.
“Damn it...Your lance arm's as good as in the war, huh.” His hand clenches into a fist as he stares down Fee's weapon, sure she's just one moment away from leaping after him again.
But this too was a part of his utility in battles, wasn't it? Since his earliest days, he'd always been the one to draw eyes for better or for worse.
“If you want to catch me, you'll have to run for it, Princess Fee!!” he bellows out in challenge before he takes off, running through the trees and leaping over fallen branches and shrubs here and there, pushing himself past the winded way her lance makes him feel. Running isn't normally so difficult, and yet, the agony spiking from his midsection...!!
Did his wound from two moons maybe not heal as well as he had thought? And she'd struck him in just the worst place he could've taken it??
Despite this, he still presses onward even as he hisses through it all, leaving a trail of red droplets for foe and friend alike to track him down on the earthen floor.
NEXT: @hoopdaughter !!
She's been in this position before: lording over her enemy, lancehead pointed and blood flowing crimson. Leif, she knows, has faced adversity far greater than she (according to Karin, at least), and situations like these must have been aplenty. So really, is she surprised that Leif still does not give up?
As his footfalls retreat into the underbrush, she stands there still. Obviously, she should chase him, but well... hasn't she already removed him from the fight? She spins around while she thinks, looking to Maria's voice. To see a friend in approach and a foe on the run should only be good things, right?
"Don't worry, I'll make sure he's down!"
Unease hampers her judgement, but she tears after Leif anyway. His wounds leave an easy path, slashing the greenery with unnatural scarlet. She's sure that her last strike must've done some damage, so he can't run forever...
Past the tree cover, she finds him finally scrabbling towards the open plain. There's nowhere to run. "C'mon," she tries, leaning on her lance as she catches her breath. "Just tap out already!"
She doesn't actually think Leif would give himself up, whether in proper battle nor in practice. Halfheartedly, she stabs downwards towards him, grazing his leg as the point buries itself in the ground. She doesn't want to hurt him, that much is clear— but she still wants to win.
@renaisguy @butlere !
girls night vs boys night
⤷ battle of the eagle and lion: round two ( battle 15 )
The red knight swings his axe once more, and Erma retreats behind the trees. Not to hide, mind—never to hide. Maria and Fee fought valiantly, adding to the chaos and disruption of the battlefield. The Silver Wing would not abandon her sisters-in-arms, nor squander the opportunity they provided.
Prince Leif was clearly struggling to aim a shot, using his companion for much needed cover. Erma remains in her hiding spot, watching for the first sign of an opening... His focus breaks momentarily, as he moves himself behind his companion. It is then that she takes the moment to strike. Erma darts out from behind the trees, lance aimed to stab at the prince's side, only for—
"Ghk...!"
An axe to come barreling into her torso with tremendous force, her vision exploding in white spots and blurred scenes as everything twists, turns, spins—ending with her body slamming into a nearby tree, and then dropping onto the hard, cold ground.
She lands on an arm, and can hardly feel the other. Her lance discarded, somewhere nearby. The pain radiating through her body soon ebbs into numbness, and Erma can only surrender to the quiet of her own fading thoughts.
Seems it was the end of the road, then.
Erma has been defeated!
It is almost a shame that Jakob cannot stop and smell the flowers - pause to take in one expert display of teamwork at leisure. Leif and Forde are a pair to behold, and it is their efforts that bring low the winged girl. Their sight manages to stir even the frigid heart of a butler uncaring for victory or camaraderie. Even if just only for a moment.
In the present, his gaze returns to settle on this battle's youngest, much too kind for so savage a setting. Jakob does not believe this to be a good thing.
"Maria, was it?" Address Jakob and he shall address in turn. The frigid nip of Maria's magic is felt, shaken off with a brush of clawed hand as if it were little more than a mote of dust upon his lapel. "Are you certain you have found yourself in the right place? Surely, there are any number of better ones for you to occupy. There is a field not too far from here, you know, where you may pray and pick flowers and do whatever it is you young fillies are wont to do."
Jakob does not entirely mean this as an insult. Or, more specifically, it is only sixty-five percent an insult; the remaining thirty-five lends itself to his sincere judgment. The battlefield is no place for children. Even if it were, this bright-eyed, heart-fond Maria seems not the right kind. Out there, lawless and disparate from the restraining rules of the Battle of Eagle and Lion, she will find herself torn apart. Thrown to wolves.
Really, now, Jakob is doing her a favor.
"Take this chance to run along. Leave this battle to your elders, hm?" And off the butler walks, returning to formation amongst his allies.
@hoopdaughter
"Oh, sh- "
It's a blur, as their whole skirmish collapses at once onto the small patch of trees and underbrush. Her winged teammate is properly throunced, sent skidding across the ground. Owch. Fee can't help but wince a little at the way she's tossed aside of the battle. Her eyes dart automatically to Maria, making sure she isn't meeting the same fate. She's still on her feet, but suddenly being down a woman doesn't do much for their limited morale.
Coming back to wall off her little mage friend, her spear comes flying back to her hand. Uprooted as if by force of will only, in no time at all it's already aimed at the other team. This time, though, she's not making the mistake of underestimating Leif! She'll ignore the scary servant guy (and whatever he's saying to poor Maria), and not stay her footfalls until she's reached the archer. He's certainly the one who's responsible for their foes' infallible strategy.
"Fine!" she yells, gathering her adrenaline from her head to her shoulders. She comes up to his side, contending more with their yellow flags than their open faces, and plants a foot quickly to halt her forward momentum. Diverted to her spearhead, a surgical slash is aimed to his midsection with as much power as she can muster. There's gotta be some important muscle groups in the way of her pointy end! "You want my attention? You got it, buster!"
She bluffs confidence, but Fee worries for her friend. Maria is a little younger than her, right? It's time for Fee to be the big sister for once.
@princessmacedon @butlere @diadic @renaisguy !
girls night vs boys night
⤷ battle of the eagle and lion: round two ( battle 15 )
The loo! If it wasn't for the Jakob's blast of magic, cutting a fittingly cold and lethal figure, Leif might think the man the sort of humor to fit right alongside a drink and bard's song. Though worried about what might've gotten Finn, Leif trusts the man to handle himself even when apart, and there was more to contend with here and now.
“Nice to see you too, Forde. Gather yourself; I'll try to set things up for you next!” Leif greets the artist simply and efficiently, feeling no need to echo Jakob's promise to not look out for anyone else. If Forde saw the man, he might've already heard it, and if he didn't, not saying anything wouldn't harm. But Leif's own promises? Perhaps that might bolster all on its own. He only hopes.
Leif surveys the patches of ice in the forest that Jakob created, and it's by the shout of an unfamiliar voice that Leif spots what had been caught in his trap— a girl with wings...
Wings? In the Battle of Eagle and Lion when they'd all been told to be foot soldiers? Despite his surprise, Leif moves by instinct, taking the opportunity guided by a well-known lesson: arrows are a pegasus's worst enemy. He shoots the moment after he spots her, but after his arrow lands, he realizes...
“That's not a pegasus with her, is it...”
But speaking of pegasi, that sure is the voice of a pegasus knight elsewhere! To the sight of Fee barreling between the trees, Leif whips his head her direction, eyes looking below her as if in search of a pegasus there. But no, still no pegasus to be found.
NEXT: @argentiia, @hoopdaughter, @princessmacedon, or @butlere !!
Ah -- oops. If she's read the other girl's body language correctly, she thinks she might have just ruined a tactic. She had hoped to draw the girl's attention, knowing as she does that Leif alone is a strong opponent and seeing that he kept company besides... But if she had already seen them from the start? Well...
Between the strike of an axe that misses her and the arrow that doesn't, Maria barely has time to flash her an apologetic smile before gasping and ducking out of the way. The wound from the arrow stings, but with her palm loosely pressed to it, the frost of Tannenbit dims the pain enough that it won't prove a distraction.
"Sorry for ruining your surprise!" (Such pretty wings! Is she a manakete?) The little princess attempts to help steady her, though not being eager to give Leif any easier of a target, she retreats slightly, casting a friendly wave over her shoulder as she goes. Maybe not as fast as Fee -- she smiles again at that, at how bold and brave she's never ceased to be -- but plenty fast enough.
"I'm on my way, Fee!"
@hoopdaughter
It's a lot harder to regroup when she isn't on a pegasus. Harder still when her allies aren't, either. As she scrambles to get in any sort of proper defensive maneuver on just her two legs, she finally gets a good look at her foes...
...only to be surprised by a familiar face! Of course someone like him would be a worthy opponent. "Prince Leif! Funny seeing you around."
Clasing her spear with both hands, she bars his advance. If he wants to come for her teammates, he'll first have to go through her! She chances a glance back to the teammates in question. Maria seems fine enough, at least; but the other girl (sporting freaking WINGS by the way!) seems a lot more worse for wear. Either way, the matching arrows that stick from their bodies are not very reassuring.
She sticks her spear in the ground at her feet, marking her territory, then draws her sword. The range her lance grants her is nothing compared to Leif's bow, after all, and a more nimble weapon would be needed for an enemy of his resilience! The blade is barely past her scabbard before she's already making a dash to him, ready to prove her countermeasures! "Sorry, I just can't let you win this, though!"
Unfortunately, her stab is not destined to take him down a peg; instead, his ally gets the full brunt of Fee's riposte. Her damage done, she jumps back to where her spear in the mud marks her allies' spot.
"Er, I'm saving you for last. Count your blessings, Leif!"
@argentiia @butlere @renaisguy !
girls night vs boys night
⤷ battle of the eagle and lion: round two ( battle 15 )
Stay in the forest for cover, scout and regroup, that was the plan. A glowing purple sword left discarded on the ground suggests that others may have had the same idea, yelling from further in confirms it. Three lions, two deer, a few familiar faces. He glances back to see if he can call Lady Eirika over for support, but they’re too far separated now.
Deciding to keep the element of surprise, he doesn’t call for her. Instead he rushes towards Maria, axe swinging over his head, crashing down… onto the ground, after he trips over a tree’s root.
He pulls himself to his feet as quick as he can, and stumbles backwards to group with the other deer. “Nice to see you Lu- Leif.” He smiles. “Mind if I fight alongside you and your friend?”
@argentiia
After a while, Erma had found herself separated from the teal-haired man with the lance, but it was fine. He wouldn't be taken down so easily with that shield he grabbed as loot, and the element of surprise would be much easier to seize on her own.
In prowling through the forest, she comes upon the sight of two men in the distance, her eyes immediately locking onto the bow wielded by the chestnut-haired fellow.
This forest already made flight difficult, and perhaps that was a blessing; those arrows would be lethal for her wings.
Grip tightening on her lance, Erma plans her attack on the men, until—
"—maybe even two!"
It's only then that Erma sees that others have wandered into the area, two girls: one of them having taken notice of the birdwoman, alerting the men to her presence. As such, the silver-haired one turns, and with a frigid blast of air, the knight suddenly finds her feet seized by ice.
Grimacing, Erma aims the butt of her lance, prepared to pry herself out of her frozen shackles, only to stop at the shadow that flashes in her peripherals.
A third opponent?
"Watch out!" She calls to the red-haired girl, all pretense of stealth long discarded.
@hoopdaughter
The din of battle has overstayed its welcome, and Fee's looking around for her fellow Blue Lions. Yuzu and Lex have gone off gods-know-where, and she's alone again. That is, until Maria's red mop gives her something to latch onto visually.
"Oh! Maria!"
Clenching her lance with renewed vigor, she charges over to the girl. It's been some time since they'd met again since the illlusory arena, but she's never been more glad to see a familiar face. It's better, too, than thinking about all her friends who have probably been eliminated already. The moment she arrives though, it's not the reunion she'd prefer.
The sparse cover does them little good as she stands with Maria and another Lion, who already seems at the mercy of magic. Fee charges into the fray, trying to get between her housemates and their opponents! "Hyaaaaah!!"
Her lance-swing hits nothing, but that's fine, for now. With one sweep of her arm, she's already made some space back for her teammates to recuperate a little. She flashes them a grin through her exhaustion. "I got your back! Regroup, regroup!"
What I need is a girl who can understand the binary language of moisture vaporators
Lene & Fee ➢ Axe+1
Being in touch with nature like this is refreshing, there's no need to rush even if the situation here is dire. Rushing could lead to damaged plants- and that wouldn't be good for the people who need this food.
She smiles at Fee as she watched her for a moment, before turning to her own section of the field. The way the plant dances with the wind almost makes it seem like theyre drowning in a sea of gold.
She carefully harvests the right stems, gently placing them on the basket. At this rate things will go smoothly, and people will be better prepared.
"Hehe, Of course I don't mind!" Lene responded, making sure she finished cutting before giving Fee all her attention "I wanted too, what kind of person would I be if I just- Didn't come and help, y'know!"
Fee smiles with her. "I guess all of us girls who grew up during, well..." the child hunts. The empire? The darkest world? "...have gotta be optimistic. Caring, and stuff. I know Cedsy accuses me of this all the time."
She stops wrapping the crops for a second, saying his name. She hasn't really had the time to think about Ced much, or father, since leaving Silesse so soon; and anyway, he's probably up to his ears in politics, and whatever other duties that come with succession. The contemplation turns to curiosity, as she watches Lene.
"How are things back in Augustria? Is Coirpre there with you?" She pivots rather suddenly, but plays it off with her best smile. Her hands resume their busywork, too. "You and Ares sure had time to get close, eh?"
Her question comes out more as a tease, but really, Fee is jealous that Lene has grown so close to someone, anyone. Just like her family, her own best friend is a million miles away; and while she's still got friends here, it's not quite the same.
Anyway, at least she has Annand.
