florina (fe7) unaffiliated staff employed by the officer's academy i can smile because we're together
i can cry because it's you
so what can't i do? whenever, wherever
i'll be the spring to your smile
She is Post-FE7 events and follows her solo ending.
In TOA she is employed as an unaffiliated Flying Instructor Assistant, looking to grow herself and maybe make a few friends and come out of her shell.
Regarding other FE7 characters that she shares supports with: I will generally assume they've reached A support unless otherwise told.
She is quite shy and has a tendency to flee (takes the flight option in fight or flight), but for RP purposes, most of the time she will not run away and may not be the most talkative, but I will find a way to put her in Situations.
Links:
[ Bio | Stats | Meta | HCs ]
Mun disclosures below the cut:
Tagging: I don't have anything that needs to be tagged, but please let me know if you do or if something needs to be adjusted.
Post formatting: I primarily use small text, however, if this bothers you, please let me know. Apologies in advance if I do need a nudge to correct it. I may try to adjust to what my partner uses.
Shipping preferences/limitations: I don't have any shipping preferences nor limitations but would like to be let known if you want to ship because otherwise, I probably will not know.
Asks and ask memes: I accept any asks, prompted or unprompted. As far as ask memes go, I try my best to answer all, but sometimes can get stuck or fall behind. I treat most asks as canon, but I will tag noncanon as AU.
DMs are always open whether on tumblr or discord, feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns or just to say hi!
THEY'RE LUCKY HE'D CAUGHT IT before it started. the incoming squall had built gradually enough to take them by surprise if he hadn't been paying attention: the slowly thickening snowfall ; the whistling of wind growing between crevices of rock. but the moment he knew it wasn't worth trying to keep going was when he realized he'd lost sight of their landmark——the landmark he'd been able to see just fine not an hour ago.
but a slow-advancing storm presented advantages as well——above all: time. he'd start on the snow shelter ; she needed to gather as much firewood as possible without straying too far she'd get lost. with visibility dropping by the minute, one misstep could mean either of them plummeting to their deaths. they'd be better off trying to weather it out here.
with any luck, a freak summer blizzard wouldn't be as deadly, nor last as long, as one in the depths of winter.
at least they weren't caught off guard.
. . . this is the thought running through his mind as he feeds another stick, carefully rationed to last the night if needed, to the nursing fire. the shelter is sturdy, but the snow this time of year is fluffier and light, so he doesn't want to risk melting too much of it with a bigger flame——any water and condensation that got into their clothes and froze against their skin would kill them faster than the storm itself.
inside the small bunker, it's quiet. comparatively, at least, with the thick, blue-white walls muffling the howl beyond them. their situation is precarious, but for now, at least, they should survive. at any rate, sitting huddled and nervous in silence wouldn't do anything to either slow or expedite whatever would come. amber periphery shifts to the girl who's hardly said a word this whole time.
finally, he speaks up with a sigh, reaching for the woolen coverlet rolled up to the side. "i'll mind the fire. you get some rest. there's no point in all this if you just worry yourself to death." at least, that's what she looked like, timid, almost rabbit-like over there. he throws the blanket to her, ignoring the cold that bites like wire.
at the least, he wouldn't mind the silence so much if her being awake didn't make it so uncomfortable. / @lilailes
It is a miracle to have snow during this time of year and it is their saving grace to have found shelter from it.
Truth be told, when the first snowflake fell, then the next, Florina had stood in it, staring in awe up at the sky. She had not been in Fódlan long, but she only missed the frozen flurries when she was miles away from it. Though, it may be a better nostalgia trip if she had been dressed more appropriately and if this did not delay their trip.
For now, reality hits her in the form of harsh winds whipping across her cheeks. And it is no help when her partner is colder than ice. Or maybe just not talkative. Up until now, she was convinced she would not have to converse with him, but it seems there is another, harsher truth she must acknowledge other than the pending frigid storm.
She catches the blanket, with some surprise, and for a moment stares at it in her hands. It is not a bad plan, sleep off any discomfort and lessen the conversation ( or lack thereof ) to be had. As easy as it would be to go along and nod off, she must stand her ground and be the better person. If she recalls, he is a student and is already more capable than she could have asked for, spotting the shelter first and leading them to it.
“N-No…” she stammers at last, but not from the cold. She may come to regret her decision later, but for now, she has already spoken and there is no turning back now. She must stand her ground. “Y-You should take it…”
Florina begins to unfold the blanket, but her eyes drift up to him. To throw or give it back in a way he cannot refuse, she does not know which is the lesser evil. She folds it right back up and plops it in his lap, keeping her two step minimum distance.
“We… we can sleep in shifts… i-if you’d like,” she offers to try to reason with him, and furthermore, “...I’m from Ilia, a place of ice and snow, so… I’ll be fine. B-Besides… it’s only fair.”
Sara is no prophet nor does she have any wish to be. Though her extraordinary ability to read others may surpass understanding, she would miss life's expected joys if she could see far into the future. Fate is a powerful force in Jugdral, but it hardly determines everything.
Florina shrinks without wavering, a defiant violet with the desire to bloom. Sara can respect that. Some refuse to confront their own shortcomings because facing them requires a unique kind of strength. Florina's is a quiet resolve yet she sees it all the same. The girl looks inward where Sara herself cannot for fear of darkness lurking there. They really are different.
"Not a student... then perhaps a knight..." she contemplates aloud, turning over this new piece of information. Given her demeanor, a teaching position in which she would be expected to stand before a classroom seemed unlikely.
"Sure, that's fine by me. I will greet you if I happen to notice you nearby and you should do the same. Try stammering a little less next time too. You have a lovely voice when you use it."
“I-I do? Oh…” She touches her vocal box with the tips of her fingers, savoring the unexpected compliment and advice. Perhaps if they are to truly become friends, she could let herself be free as she is in front of her sisters. The cadence and confidence Sara seems to speak with so easily is both what Florina lacks and admires. It is an effect of her growing up in someone else's shadow. Florina wonders briefly how and who she had grown up with. Maybe it was an environment where she could have said whatever was on her mind. Her open honesty gives that impression.
Now to apply her advice, and maybe with enough practice, she could learn to step out of the shadows like Sara. Florina takes a deep breath, pausing to think of what she wishes to say with little breaks between. Sometimes, she can feel overwhelmed meeting others and feels like she flails worse than a pegasus foal with newly sprouted wings.
“I am a pegasus knight back home, but,” she begins slowly. A beat and humiliation creases her brows together. “Here I am just a… teaching assistant.”
She seems to be a student if she asked about classes. “What classes are you taking? Maybe… Maybe we’ll see each other, i-if you’ve ever flown or well, if you want to.”
As easily spooked as she is, Florina should not be venturing out past daylight hours, especially somewhere she has yet to become familiar with. Or perhaps that is why she is out late. In truth, sleep is hard to come to her in a bed she does not know. When she was younger and couldn’t sleep, she would bother one or both of her sisters by way of crying or poking one awake until she felt reassured enough to fall back asleep.
Tonight, she couldn’t go to Farina’s, she is not the same person all those years ago. She must handle it herself, so she goes for a walk, some fresh air, maybe she ought to visit Huey.
On her way there, a soft voice approaches her. She knows rules are different here and that even if she is not a student, she should still try to abide by them to set an example. Florina turns, ready to apologize if she is in the way or worse breaking any rule about being out past curfew, but recognition clouds her instinct and before she can form her own response, she is enveloped in a tight embrace. Her arms squeeze back as if she might slip from her.
“Fiora? You’re here too?” she says, voice muffled by turquoise locks. Rhetorical it may be, she couldn’t believe it, but if Farina is here, why not?
When she is released, she gets a good look at her. Fiora is strong, always has been, but the glassy eyes don’t escape her notice. Florina feels her expression mirror her sister’s as sentimental as she is, she wills herself silently to not burst into tears.
“Um right, okay. Nothing happened, or um, I-I’m all right, really!” The harder she suppresses her emotions, she blurrier her vision becomes. One hand still clutches onto Fiora’s, she squeezes her palm hard enough to feel their pulses taking turns to call after the other. The other hand she uses to wipe her eyes. “Sorry, it’s just that Farina’s here too, and it feels like… like old times, you know?”
Nothing happened! Thank everything just, nothing happened. Fiora could collapse to the ground in relief. (Not that, goodness, she ever would.) Neither of her sisters deserve the disgrace that follows her, the curse, the mark.
(If only the knowledge that Florina was safe would calm that damnable fear in Fiora.)
Florina, of course, tears up, and smiling, Fiora’s hand finds a spot in her hair, gently petting her, as she might have done when Florina was young. As much as Florina has grown, Fiora can still see the child she raised, the sweet-hearted, tentative girl who made her way, brave and shaking, in an ever-tumultuous world.
“It—” Ah. Too much emotion clouds her voice, for a moment — she swallows, forces the stinging feelings in her chest and eyes down. She has to remain collected... Always, but especially now, especially for Florina. “It does...”
How was it, that the three of them ended up here, together? Was Farina to thank? Did Fiora and Florina both just gravitate towards the middle sister?
“Florina, how is it that you’ve come to be here? Last I heard, you were in Ilia, in your own squadron, weren’t you?”
Florina stared up at her sister, her smile was soft and eyes were bright with wonder and awe just as she had been when she was younger. She had raised the two girls and herself with so little and in her eyes, there was no action that could have made her love her sister less.
“I… I was but…” Her eyes are drawn to the floor, the gesture she often did as if shame or embarrassment itself weighed her down. Some old habits from childhood never change.
Though it shouldn’t be a taboo topic of taboo, she cannot help but want to draw away from the real reason for running from home. To grow her ownself sure, follow a new path, fly in new winds, all those reasons were true. However, there was another reason that picked at her and no matter how hard she tried, she would never be able to lie to any of her sisters.
Florina released a heavy sigh and drew her arms close to her. “...The truth is, well… I love Ilia and being a pegasus knight, I really do!! But… Oh, Saints, this is going to sound so… silly.
“I suppose that during the war, even though I would never wish that upon us again! We… we all just felt… so much closer. I mean, that was the first time in a really long time we all three… reunited. A-And I made friends there. But now that we’ve all returned to our normal lives, and we don’t see each other as much I just felt…lonely.”
And now reuniting with her sisters and seeing so many from Elibe here it almost felt ordained by Saint Elimine herself, so how could she have made a mistake? But why did it feel wrong at the same time?
It wasn’t unusual for professors or staff to participate in the activities their students did. It boasted a great opportunity for both parties to gain experience and guidance. Florina was a bit unsure of this particular task. Fighting in a war was one thing, but saddling up for parenthood was a completely different flight.
In truth, she was a bit nervous. She was the youngest of her sisters and had always been looked after, whether by her sisters or friends. If she needed help, who would she turn to? Was this how Fiora felt all those years?
These thoughts were broken momentarily ( or perhaps cemented ) as she was handed her new child, a realistic looking doll with tiny red curls. It was just a doll, not an alive thing she had to look after. And besides, it was kind of… cute?
She bounced the doll in her arms, noting the realistic heft of it. Maybe this wouldn’t be too bad! If Fiora could basically do it for her and her sister growing up then maybe those genes were passed down. Now, she just had to wait for her partner to appear and…
Thunk!
It slipped from her arms as they fell limp and the doll to the floor. An ear-piercing wail erupted from the doll, but Florina was too focused on the boy she locked eyes with. This had to be a joke, right?
Florina shakes her head and attempts to reassure Dimitri. “Sometimes it’s… necessary to defend ourselves and not end up like…” A weary glance toward the bones, “that.”
The team presses on, and in hopes of finding branches or something to be used as firewood like their intent, they stumble upon something else.
No… Another one? Florina grips her lance. The beast is only temporarily dissuaded by Mark’s clapping before it resumes its terror. It bares its teeth and raises its claws, ready to strike either one or both of her teammates. She pushes her hesitation down and rushes forward to sling her lance into the beast enough to harm it like the last.
Roll: 6, hit! -1 to monster, -1 to Florina; Florina 11/12HP
Unlike the last beast, as she makes the effort to dislodge her weapon, it takes a jab at her, scratching her arm back, before it slinks off into the night. The sting, though not deep, is fresh and up until now has not occurred on this strange island.
Roll: 2! Sturdy bones found!
In its absence, she finds more bone to be collected, reluctantly. Florina shudders, but keeps her back toward the other two to hide the pure terror on her face as she collects the remains. It’s a natural part of life, she knows, yet collecting it like this feels wrong in several different ways. Turning toward the others, her eyes locked to the ground, she speaks quietly, “U-Um… Is everyone all right? We… should be more careful, in case there are… other creatures to be wary of.” She gestures to the bones tucked in her arms. It is only a matter of time before whatever’s leaving these remains comes after them next.
"Indeed, it seems as though this island was not attended to in our clean up efforts over the last month."
It was so bizarre, he thought, that there could still be so many creatures about - but then, of course, there was no telling how many islands truly lay in this archipelago, and it seemed as though prior to their host's entrance and the church's assistance, these islands had been both uninhabited and uninhabitable.
He was beginning to believe that perhaps this was for the best, frowning as he once more strapped a thrumming Areadbhar to his back, ignoring the chill that crawled down the bare skin of his back as he pressed on.
"Come, we cannot let this deter us - the sun is going down, and we must build a fire. If not for warmth, then at least to deter the wild creatures that lurk in the jungle."
What do you think chat, does he do it this time?
Roll: 4! Nothing found
Blast! He really was no good at this, was he? It seemed that no matter where his eyes turned, he could find no dry wood to be used, feeling only the return of other eyes on him as they inched forward into the wilds.
Dimitri sighed. "Are either of you finding anything?"
Is she finding anything? No, not really, only more eyes in the darkness. A glance back at her companions reveals they’re much in the same boat.
“There are... others of us, searching... yes?” Mark glances back over her shoulder. “I... fear we won’t... um, find anything here.” She feels the eyes on her, knows they hunger for her, and she finds herself shrinking back slightly.
“Um, I think... we should go back.” Her hands sign the words as she speaks them, slowly, softly. “I... don’t think there is... wood, um, for us to find.” She steps back again, closer to the group. “Better, um, that, than us getting... hurt.”
It’s not the easiest decision of her tactics career, that’s for sure, but Mark knows they’ve made the right call - and besides, a group would be able to do much better than a single person alone.
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.
Name: Mirae
Pronouns: She/Her but generally don't really care
Birthday (no year): October 11th
Where are you from? What is your time zone? US/EST
How long is your roleplay experience? I've been here since 14? So 10 years LOL
How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? (in job app vc: friend referred) A friend introduced me to Tumblr and RP!
How were you introduced to TOA? Well, it all started when I saw Nat's [REDACTED]-
Do you have any pets? Three dogs! (Australian Shepherd, French Bulldog aka Tater, hall of fame, and cat)
What is your favorite time of year and why? (Season, holiday, general period) Fall/Autumn! It's so much cooler, or at least for that one month here, but spring is okay too for the fashion and colors even if allergies are hellish
What is your IRL occupation? Every time I tell someone what it is I do, they don't know what it is, so for the sake of the internet, I am a corporate girlie/contractor
Some interests and things you like/enjoy? Sewing/fashion, reading, hanging with friends and family
What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? Ace Attorney/visual novels, RPGs like Persona/SMT, Final Fantasy though it's more like watching these days
Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: I've always been Water type biased, but I really enjoy Electric and Ghost as of recently. To that point, Raikou LOL but Flareon is my favorite eeveelution for the 2000s forums. They got that dog in 'em
Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! (Optional bonus challenge: if you filled this out last year, try not to repeat what you said back then!) I don't think I answered this one last year but ? I was not born in the US despite living here for p much my entire life.
How did you get into Fire Emblem? TOA was pretty much how I got into it LOL
What Fire Emblem games have you played? SOV, 3H, Engage, and Heroes if that counts
First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: First: SOV and Favorite: FE6, though SOV is a close second
List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! Berkut, Petra, Raven.... Hm... Lilina and Griss
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! This explains it all.
Any Fire Emblem crushes? 😳 Griss and Raven
If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays?
- Awakening: Not really familiar with the cast
- Fates: Not really familiar with the cast
- Three Houses: Theoretically, Claude I think
- Engage: Theoretically,
Favorite Fire Emblem class? Archers and mages
If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? I would like to be an archer, but I don't think I'm athletic enough, maybe a mage. Though, I do greatly enjoy martial master and wolf knight so maybe one of those?
You would put a little guy like me through war? I would be playable, but as an optional recruit
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) Black Eagles!
If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? Boons: gauntlets Budding talent: riding and bow Banes: axe, heavy armor
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) Elusia has my whole heart so there
How do you pronounce TOA? 🤔(separate letters, to-ah, other?) T-O-A
Current TOA muses: Florina and Panette
Past TOA muses? Too many to list off, but the most memorable ones are: Petra, Lilina, Rinea, my Magvel stint, and maybe Elincia
Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? Gray, and no lol.
Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? (If you filled this out last year, has this changed in any way?) Brand: soft/sad girls, glass half full girls, and blondes (former)
Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? Antagonists and lackadaisical/carefree characters
What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? (If you filled this out last year, has this changed in any way?) There's not a particular type of scene/situation I enjoy the most, I like a nice and healthy balance! Whatever strikes my mood at the right time.
Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”? I did for some past muses, but I think now I'm just kind of seeing where things take me/
Favorite TOA-related memories? Any point when I wrote Lilina, I think she had the most event participation and I just have a lot of memories and connections I enjoyed with her
Present or past tense? I generally go for present these days, but I try to vary the tense depending on the situation.
Normal size text, small text, no preference? I usually use small text, but I don't have a preference and will adjust based on writing partner
Got any potential muse delusions to share? 😉I've given Framme and Eir a thought or maybe a rerun from my past
It's always sunny in Happyland - Complete [Word Count: TBA]
How am I supposed to tame this without a pokéball - Complete [Word Count: TBA]
oh, hey beastie—i mean bestie - Dropped [No word count applicable]
Lovely day, sure hope there aren't any getters about -Complete [Word Count TBA]
@lilailes sent: A few days ago, the foghorn rang to signal newcomers. It seemed like the ferry drops a boatload off every week or so. She wasn’t even sure of the day count on this deserted island.
Curious, Florina had peeked her head from some bushes to see who arrived and had spotted a familiar face. Days later and she finally approached.
“Um… Hello… Lapis, right?” She had met this girl a handful of weeks ago and several others on her team who were now here with her.
Part of her is at least relieved to see familiar faces, though she hasn’t known them for long, but another part worries for the state of the snake team. Brows furrow and she wrings her hands. “H-How are the others? Um, the last time you saw them I-I mean…” ( sadland — week four )
“ Oh! And you're Florina, yeah? ” Lapis's eyes shine in recognition. It was easy to remember one of the only other girls on their team for the novelty, but even beyond that, the Ilian had a meeker disposition that was noticeable compared to all the gruffer and louder personalities that comprised the Snakes. “ Wow, it's been ages. But yeah, that's me— good ol' Lapis. ”
A cursory glance over the pegasus knight's form is done, checking for any immediate and obvious signs of anything that's off, as she answers the other woman's question.
“ Hmm... Can't say there's a lot of us left. But Ewan seemed to be in better spirits and Marni was even a little bit caring— even for her. I didn't get to check on the other three before they took me out, but as long as Lyon has someone backing him up, he should be fine, and Prince Alfred usually tries to keep optimistic and look after others. I dunno Duessel well, but he seemed sturdy enough every time the Snakes met up. I think they're in a better state than others might guess. I believe in them. ”
She has little idea of any potential conflicts or what tasks laid ahead of them after she had left however. What she said was truly all on faith.
“ What about you? I know two of my roommates were injured when they got here. I didn't get hurt on my way back, but did you have a rough time of it? I've got some stuff in my bag if y'need, so don't be a stranger. ”
Florina nods in response. Though she is equally joyful to not have to re-introduce herself, it is hard to forget someone as kind and down-to-earth as Lapis. These traits show through as she describes the state of the rest of the team ( or what’s left seeing as many are now here ). There are few members but strong determination and dedication that is comforting to see.
And every question in conversation usually demands response.
“O-Oh…!” She, of course, knows she would have been asked some sort of variant of this question, but the more Lapis goes on the more anxious she begins to feel. Hurt and being roughed up, even needing aid, it is just too much!
“I… I…” She goes on to try to explain while fidgeting about with her fingers until she resolves to sink into herself and drawing herself as close as possible. “T-That’s very kind of you but… No… I… I’ve been here since the first week.
“My only task was to find creatures on some island and… I… I couldn’t even do that! So… I’m sorry… Sorry that I couldn’t have done better.” Her eyes begin to grow glassy, and she pulls the red bandana off, ashamed to pass off as one of the team members.
"Oh, I agree," Sara breezes through the conversation. "I can see you are a gentle soul. And because of that nature the people around you may have treated you delicately and felt compelled to shield you growing up which had the unintended effect of undermining your confidence. I could be wrong though."
She knew her judgment wasn't unerring. There might be another explanation beyond her that she'd yet to consider, another background the behavior could be attributed to. Even she couldn't always account for every possibility out there, but she continued to listen for new perspectives.
Sara turns a smile on Florina in hopes of putting her more at ease, showing rare but true interest. Meeting someone nearly identical in appearance wasn't an everyday occurence. Aside from the apparent differences in their demeanors, they might be mistaken for the other by an inattentive eye. Her own eyes narrow approvingly, wickledly. Certainly having a double must come with some advantages...
"Either way, my name is Sara. It is nice to meet you. Maybe we can be friends in the future. What classes are you taking?"
“W-Wow… um are you some kind of… prophet?” Her mirror opposite reads her like the tome by her side. Consciously and out of habit by this point, Florina draws arms closer as if she could curl into a ball and perhaps sink underground. “Mm, n-never mind. Maybe that was presumptuous of me. But you’re right… Um, not to say I don’t appreciate others looking out for me but…I suppose I’ve always relied on them.”
Lyn, Fiora, Farina, they had such a strong influence and presence in her life. She’s glad to have been able to rely on them for so long, especially her elder sisters, but that is part of why she joined the Lyndis Legion, even why she has joined here, to gain a sense of individuality and independence. She knows she cannot rely on them forever, so she must spread her own wings.
Speaking of sisters, this girl, Sara, seems more like her sister than her actual kin do. In appearance alone that is. She mentions becoming friends to which Florina’s own eyes brighten momentarily.
Wait, classes?
“O-Oh, I um… I’m actually not a… student. W-We can still be friends though, right? Maybe I’ll see you around more…! If you aren’t opposed.”
She didn't want to admit she was late in signing up. That was just a little too embarrassing to put to words so she may as well give herself another excuse instead. "Oh, there you are, Flo! Been looking all over for ya.", Farina exclaimed, wrapping an arm around her little sister. "Where are we, anyway? Looks dreary. Knew that whole game show cover was too fake for words."
"Ah, Farina! I'm glad to see you- ah! I mean I'm sorry that means you've lost because I was rooting for you even if we're on different team... um..." Florina shifts her expression, gaze dragging downward.
Saints, there you go carrying on...
"Well anyway I'm glad to see you!" She declares finally with a nod and affections hug around the torso.
Though she at least knows a handful of people here whether that be from team introductions or seeing them around, she's relieved to have someone she can chat with in a more comfortable and easy-going manner. But if Farina just arrived here, then... others have suffered the same fate as she, failing and being carted away to no man's land. The place is about as desolate as Ilia in her harshest winters, only hot instead.
"We're on some land where all the eliminated are so to pass the time we've been collecting firewood and foraging from day to day. Maybe you could join us, the more hands and eyes the better!"
Well, that was embarrassing. It wasn't as though he had wanted to harm the beast, he had no grudge to bear against them, but it stung for these two mousy girls to jump ahead of him merely because the beast didn't designate him as enough of a threat to heed.
Dimitri shook his head. "I apologize, I...I hadn't wanted to harm it, but I suppose that put the two of you at risk, didn't it?" A soft sigh through his nose, part frustration, part dismissal - better to move forward than to dwell. "The two of you did well. I suppose we should take those bones with us, in case they prove useful. We cannot know how long we will be here."
The night grew darker with every step they took along the beach, and gentle sweeps of Areadbhar's haft along the underbrush of the emerging jungle proved fruitless in the search for dry, usable kindling.
Can you guess what he's about to find? Roll: 6
That's right, it's another monster.
The rustle of branches caught his periphery, and he spun - was it the same beast? Or had it sought out reinforcements...?
This time, he drew Areadbhar fully, felt it tremor in his grip, the curling whispers singing in his blood at the prospect of blood - but he kept his stance firm, pitched his voice once more.
"Begone! We've no quarrel with you!" It was a more reasonable request than he expected the monsters were used to, and it occurred to him, briefly, that he might have better luck if he stopped treating them as men.
Can you guess whether he scares it off? Roll: 2
Of course he doesn't lmao
The beast huffed what sounded, once more, suspiciously like a chuckle, and Dimitri grunted.
“Um, I think, we should take, um, the bones...” Mark echoed, her voice still quivering from before’s nerves. “Maybe, um, we can make them into, something.”
How long would they be out here, anyway? Mark’s mind suddenly flickered with the thought that perhaps they would be out here forever. She would need to prepare for that, but it wasn’t like she’d never lived outside before.
As long as someone is there to help protect us...
But she didn’t particularly enjoy the thought of it, either. She’d just gotten settled back at the academy, back into the swing of her schedule of classes and shifts in the library. Not to mention the friends and allies she’d left behind, not just at the academy but in Elibe...
“I, um, I wonder if they’ll ever, um, come to get us out of here,” she mused, mostly to herself. “Surely they wouldn’t, leave us out here...?”
Before a response could be heard, the man leading them turned, drawing his spear, and another beast stalked from the brush. She wondered if something about the man leading them was attracting them for a moment. But there isn’t much time for her to think - dependable Florina had already scared away the first one, and it had seemed startled by her clapping, so...
Roll: 8, hit!
“Go away!” A practiced phrase, loud enough to be heard over the beast’s growling. Another clap, another stomp, as she took the edges of her cloak and pulled them up to make herself bigger.
Florina shakes her head and attempts to reassure Dimitri. “Sometimes it’s… necessary to defend ourselves and not end up like…” A weary glance toward the bones, “that.”
The team presses on, and in hopes of finding branches or something to be used as firewood like their intent, they stumble upon something else.
No… Another one? Florina grips her lance. The beast is only temporarily dissuaded by Mark’s clapping before it resumes its terror. It bares its teeth and raises its claws, ready to strike either one or both of her teammates. She pushes her hesitation down and rushes forward to sling her lance into the beast enough to harm it like the last.
Roll: 6, hit! -1 to monster, -1 to Florina; Florina 11/12HP
Unlike the last beast, as she makes the effort to dislodge her weapon, it takes a jab at her, scratching her arm back, before it slinks off into the night. The sting, though not deep, is fresh and up until now has not occurred on this strange island.
Roll: 2! Sturdy bones found!
In its absence, she finds more bone to be collected, reluctantly. Florina shudders, but keeps her back toward the other two to hide the pure terror on her face as she collects the remains. It’s a natural part of life, she knows, yet collecting it like this feels wrong in several different ways. Turning toward the others, her eyes locked to the ground, she speaks quietly, “U-Um… Is everyone all right? We… should be more careful, in case there are… other creatures to be wary of.” She gestures to the bones tucked in her arms. It is only a matter of time before whatever’s leaving these remains comes after them next.
An embarassment, and a poor reflection on the Happyland setup.
Mark did not like to make excuses, but her lack of a translator surely didn’t help her case in a game about earning trust.
Regardless of why, now she stood in the dark, her cloak returned to her shoulders, and a man in front of her with a spear and something of a plan to build a fire. She would not allow other failures for her newfound companions, regardless of the teams they had initially been assigned to, so she had quietly followed along after him.
And then he stopped, and drew his spear, and extended a hand to keep her behind him.
Part of her wondered if he had seen her lack of weapons and determined she needed protecting. The other side of her stepped closer to him, grateful for the shield he was proving to be, as the monster stepped out of the brush to snarl at them.
He tried to shout at the beast, but it only stalked closer. Something in her mind screamed that she knew what to do with beasts, especially without weapons...
Roll: 10, hit!
...and clapped her hands, as loudly as she could. She stomped her feet, too, for good measure, and saw the creature flinch back.
“Um, I think... you can be louder, um than me!” She stammered out, not bothering with signing in the dim light.
Shortly after that spontaneous interview, she had been cast away to some isolated island, away from her newly made friends. She had done her bouts of crying so nothing to be done about it now. Try as she might, sleep evades her.
Surrounded by a few others at least makes her feel less alone. It is at a kind, but intimidating voice, that she stirs from the ball she’s tucked herself into. Right, well it is the least she could do to contribute and possibly make amends after her cowardly flee from him earlier last week.
Florina follows the group, trailing a few steps behind the two, thankful that it is at least people she knows. The trio does not venture far before they run into trouble. And she has a feeling this beast is not as friendly as the ones she found on the other island. Her companions fearlessly defend and stand their ground before her, spurring her to also take action.
“S-Stay away from my friends!”
Roll: 16, hit!
Florina charges at the beast with her lance gripped in both hands and waves it ( the sharp end for good measure ) making an effort to at least get a couple hits in.
It hisses, but does not retaliate, for now. Its glowing eyes vanish and blend into the night. Florina stands her ground, still and trying not to tremble.
Roll: 2! Sturdy bones found!
In its place are some sticks of some sort. She crouches down to get a closer look, reaching her fingers out to investigate further. They come into contact with something hard, not splintery or textured like twigs or sticks. She picks it up to examine further, only for the moonlight to reveal ivory white marrow.
“Eek!” She shrieks and the bone slips from her hands and back to the pile with a hollow clatter. She turns back to the group, pointing out the pile she’s discovered. “U-Um… There’s a… a pile of… b-bones.”
"A moment of your time!" Emcee catches up to you before you can disperse to your room or rejoin with your teammates, or wherever else it is you're heading off to.
"This way, this way." The strange host ushers you into a small shack, curtained off from the outside. They offer you a chair and a bright lamp hangs overhead.
"Now then," they start, positioning themselves across from you. "You've just been eliminated from the show. What message would you like to pass along to your teammates fighting for victory?"
In their hand is a voice-amplifying stick, which they hold out to you now.
So she had lost, the creature, the game, her spot in these odd games. It was a bittersweet feeling. No need to stress over what they’d make her do, though the creature finding was fun. She had wiped her tears a bit after Ephraim was kind enough to console her, but there is nothing to be done now. The losing participants were to grab any belongings and be escorted off to a different island immediately.
Or soon, as she is caught by some person pale as pegasus feathers, but lively and animated. She had no choice but to follow after them and sat in the assigned chair, feeling uneasy by the environment. She had no equipment on her person in case something dire were to happen, but her worries did not come to fruition.
“O-Oh…” She blinked, a bit startled from the echo off the stick. “Um… To Marni and Lapis, I wish them good luck.” The limited girls on her, now former, team were really nice and helped her feel at ease while her sisters had been split up. “Oh… and the rest of team Snakes, I wish them good luck too. S…Sorry for not doing well enough… I hope my loss didn’t set the team back too far…”
He has to think quickly—efficiently enough to satisfy everyone with the least amount of consequence. Quan certainly didn't want blood on their hands, and while disciplining others came easily to him, running his mouth in a room full of strangers would ruin overall morale. So he immediately filed through various memories, shuffling the most harmless ideas to the forefront. No, no, that one required that the others to leave the room first. No. That would require them leaving their shoes outside. No. They couldn't involve steeds too early on, lest he be revoked of his instructor's license. Hmmm. What would Ethlyn suggest?
Flicking his gaze between his three companions, he plopped a fist into his open palm like a mallet. "That's it, Florina! Something close to that would do."
"I suggest that three of us lift the lightest on a blanket. A makeshift gurney so to speak. We knock in a blitz of anxiety, asking for help."
He traced a line in the air, indicating them vacating their room to the room adjacent. "The actress on the gurney fakes a faint, and..." He snaps, rolling his wrist. "They leap up, arms flailing, with a frightening wail."
He gave pause for a moment, before clearing his throat. "Well. It could be an actor as well, but I certainly envisioned a certain someone having her fun."
Dusting off his hands, he lifted a palm upwards. "Well? Does that not sound harmless? I am confident it'd give them a good shake."
A screamer, huh? Less violent than murder, but twice as annoying. It's pretty much the perfect payback for their noisy neighbors. If they got woken up by screaming, it's only fair to do the same to them.
"Ohhhh, I see haha! Gotcha! Pinky and Rosado probably wouldn't care if it was me who was fake injured, but if it were Florina..."
The poor girl is volunteered against her will regardless of her actual willingness to be tossed about like a sack of grain.
Marni claps Florina on the shoulder, "I'm really strong, so even if you freak out and thrash around, I won't drop you! 'Sides, your bones look like they'd shatter if I did drop you, so you already look the part."
Unbeknownst to them, the door to the room adjacent to them had already open and closed in the middle of their planning, taking the nuisance in question away from the room. They were not to know this, however, until after actually getting over there. The two grumpy young men left behind in the room were nothing more than bystanders and yet they were left behind to deal with the consequences.
...Actually, only one of them had actually been a bystander and the other had been the cause of Rosado's screams in the first place. This, too, would be something they wouldn't find out.
Well, it's fine sometimes just to have fun in the moment.
