EXILED PRINCE

prince of a kingdom that no longer exists. Kurt, Golden Deer Student | Aff. TOA

[lobeiro]

closed kurt from fire emblem: shadows. golden deer student affiliated with the officer’s academy . written by limit (they/them)

notes:

plot spoilers will be tagged with #fes spoilers. kurt's canon point is currently post-book 1 (last updated: 11/5)

for the sake of those not familiar with shadows, kurt is a woman presenting as a man due to succession rules. only the people closest to him know about his gender. i don't foresee this being a problem, but i want to be firm upfront: i am not interested in any plots where your muse transvestigates kurt. do not ask me for this. thank you.

relatedly, i will solely be using he/him for kurt until canon indicates otherwise.

header, icon, and pinned graphic by lina

mobile links: dossier / stats / thread tracker

[lobeiro]

song without a name

mission board: infamous: wandering street performer

[lobeiro]

If you were to ask Kurt if he held any curiosity towards the concept of a performance that can commune with the dead, he would be hard-pressed to say he isn't. If the opportunity arose, there are so many questions he wishes he could ask his parents. Gotthold, too. He wishes he could ask the future people of Ast if he had become the prince they needed him to be.

The whole thing sounds like a miracle, though, and that's what makes him nervous.

"I'm sorry to ask you to come with me, Rose." Truthfully, he would have preferred to see her as far away from danger as possible. Knowing her, she would have come along regardless, so it's at least preferable to know she's at his side rather than diving headfirst into danger. "Your ability to fly really is invaluable. I don't think anyone will take aim at you if we stick to the town, at least."

According to the rumors, the street performer is a wanderer, so there's little to work with in terms of figuring out where exactly to start. It's not as though they can trounce around the continent chasing after a rumor, so they decided to start with the town of Garreg Mach, given that it is the closest option to check.

If nothing comes of it, then all they have wasted is their time. If they do find the person, then...

"It's still too early to jump to conclusions, but if the source of the music really is the result of a pact with the Demon Wolf Fenris..." Kurt shakes his head. "No, first is the matter of finding out if this person truly does exist."

@lovelyflight

[lovelyflight]

by your side, always

[lovelyflight]

There was a special kind of joy at being called on by him—her beloved. It had not been that long since they’d seen each other, since she had heard her name on his lips. And yet, it felt as if it were the first time. As if she hadn’t heard him for centuries yet. Gentle giggles spilled out of her as he put a rose in her hair. The most precious flower of all in her, that much she was sure of.

“Thank you, Prince Kurt! Here, for you.”

She tucked a tulip in his hair, matching the position his rose was in her hair. 

“I’m alright, don’t worry. How are you? I hope they have been treating you well here.”

Of course, there was little doubt in her mind that anyone would feel anything but admiration for her fiance. Still, worry festered as if it held hands with love itself. Flying down, her forehead touched his. Gentle and soft. 

“Would you have this dance with me?”

The words were soft, gentle as a whisper but she knew he heard her. He always did. 

[lobeiro]

For a moment, they are not far enough away from home to make the heart ache, but two children playing in the garden. They're picking the flowers that the gardener won't miss and putting them in each other's hair, running around the garden until their legs had gotten tired. Many years had passed since then and the two of them were no longer children, but in these little moments, it's so easy to return.

In truth, the garden back home might already be gone, razed to the ground by the empire. One day, after Kurt's kingdom is returned to him, he would like to see it rebuilt in a way that makes others feel the way he does on this night.

"I'm alright. I have learned a lot since coming here—the things I'm still lacking, the histories of other lands, the things that are important to other people. I think I will learn a lot here to help me achieve my dream."

He nuzzles his forehead against hers.

"If you would have me, I would love to dance."

[lobeiro]

@selkitsune sent:

[ LIGHT ] - A complex waltz uniquely performed blind, requiring both trust in one’s partner and in one’s self to successfully pull off. While it has only recently made its way from Ast to Fódlanese soil, it has quickly gained popularity in local dance classes as the ultimate test of faith in a pair.

The thing that's so interesting about dancing is that even if you know all of the steps, it will always be different no matter who your partner is. Every person's individual quirks reveal themselves through the slight differences in movements, how they approach different steps, how close they get when the dance calls for it, whether or not they allow their hands to touch yours. Alberta danced differently than Carina, who danced differently from Gotthold, who danced differently from Zasha, who in turn danced differently from Rose.

Even if this waltz is not as familiar to the people here, their own personal innovations to the dance are like signatures.

For example, his current dancing partner seems to be a free spirit. Even with his eyes closed, he knows it should be a half-step here, but his partner darts away with larger steps. It's not much of a waltz at all by the end and there are more than a few near crashes with other dancers, but above all else, it's fun.

When he opens his eyes at the end of the dance, he finds himself face to face with a similarly eared and tailed girl.

"Haha!" A laugh escapes Kurt's lips at the unexpected reveal. It certainly hadn't been what he expected, but wasn't that the whole point of this dance? "Please accept one of my roses as thanks for showing me such a fun dance."

[lobeiro]

don't worry guys i didn't forget

i now have a publicly viewable thread tracker, which will make its way onto marni and kurt's blogs at some point today. if we have a thread and you don't see it listed here, that means it probably got lost in one of my bad brain months and i find it easier to just drop it and start fresh and/or they are event threads/minis, which i do not track as a rule of thumb

marni and kurt's inboxes are now also officially closed while i focus on finishing up the ball interactions i have! thank you for a lovely ethereal ball!

[rigelprinceofdespair]

A Dance of Envy.

[rigelprinceofdespair]

Berkut stared out, waiting for the final scores to be calculated. Still it seemed obvious. Fists clenching, nails digging into his palms as his loss was announced. Has he accomplished anything of note in his time here? Failure after failure after failure.

What must he do to actually beat someone?

Still he forces himself to maintain some level of composure. At least as long as he is in the public eye. Especially without the protection of a more... secluded house, it would do well to at least try and keep up some appearances.

So as the two winners leave the stage to make way for the next performance, he makes sure to have a smirk on his face instead of a sneer. Giving them a slight nod of respect.

"I must congratulate you on the dance. It was quite the sight to behold." Trying as best he can to keep his own tone neutral, at the very least. "Kurt right? Good to see you once more. You are very lucky to have such a gifted partner by your side."

@lovelyflight @lobeiro

[lobeiro]

At the end of it all, two people move onward and one is left behind. It's unfair, one could say, that in order for someone to succeed, someone else has to fail. There wouldn't be much point in a competition if nothing was being judged, but it still fills him with a complicated feeling to watch groups of people disappear back into the crowds, away from the almost blinding spotlight.

What a bittersweet thing, victory.

"Thank you." Kindness should be repaid in turn, so Kurt bows back. "Although I am lacking in many ways, it's thanks to my fiancée's support that I've made it this far."

Not just here on the dance floor, but throughout his whole life. He doubts he would have even been able to make it to Fódlan without Holtz opening their doors to him. Berkut is entirely correct. Kurt is lucky to have Rose by his side.

"I hope you'll compete against us again next year with a partner by your side, Berkut. Although I do hope my own footwork will have improved by then or you may surely best us next time..."

[sacrificialspear]

the dance floor menagerie

White Heron Cup 2026 Match 11

[sacrificialspear]

Inexplicably, it is Finn who passes onto the next round of the contest, and not the pairing actually deserving of it. His only thought is that he is glad that this partner's experience was not brought down by his own, even as he feels a little lost following her to their next match.

At which point he realizes he seems to have missed a note about some sort of dress code. His eyes scan over the pair with their dog ears and wings before briefly returning to the ears sitting up on his own partner's head.

...and in the end, he says nothing.

He bows once more before taking the lead as the musicians begin the starting strings of their song. "Shall we see then if your faith is properly placed?"

The music begins proper, and he waits for no answer.

It is much the same again. Simple steps, a simple dance. Finn does not think himself one for grand displays and can only hope that his partner does not mind or disappoint at that.

(Estel had laughed during their last dance, and Finn's heart aches at the thought that this was an opportunity Nanna should have had sooner.)

"You follow quite well for someone so humble about your skill earlier." He keeps his voice quiet as they dance, not wanting to disturb her focus.

@estelular & @lobeiro & @lovelyflight

[estelular]

well, this feels a little more like home. dog ears, white wings... estel can’t help the small smile that ticks up the corner of her lip. they make a nice pair.

as for her own...

if anything, he only proves her more and more right. there’s nothing wrong with simplicity when it accompanies consistency. after all, estel is a hunter, not a dancer. when all that stood between their next meal and her arrow was her ability to land the same shot she had hundreds of times before, consistency is a thing she can appreciate.

she can’t quite say the same for herself, however. this time around, she’s so focused on trying to get all the steps right that everything else falls to the wayside. she nearly jumps out of her skin when he speaks, her ears twitching sharply to attention.

“huh?” she trips right into him on her next step and grimaces, only grateful that she hadn’t gone sprawling entirely. even as she straightens, estel already knows it’s thrown her off-kilter. the least she can do is try her best not to step on his toes.

“well, i don’t know about that,” she murmurs, a faint flush of embarrassment creeping up her neck. estel really isn’t so humble—she just knows what she’s good at and what she isn’t. she can pin a boar down with a few arrows without even blinking. on the other hand, dancing...requires a little more effort and thought than that.

TOTAL SCORE: 16.5 @lobeiro & @lovelyflight

[lobeiro]

They are matched against another pair this time, which feels apt than competing against a solo dancer. There's something both stressful and relieving to see a pair of rabbit ears sticking up from the other side. It is both a warm reminder of home, now further away than ever, and a grim reminder to be cautious of who knows his whereabouts.

(And the man she's been partnered with is a reminder to watch the expression on his face before it becomes too stern. That's part of the judging, too, isn't it?)

"She doesn't look like she's from the empire," Kurt whispers to Rose when he steps in close to begin their second dance.

But perhaps it was a mistake to let him lead, doubly so with this thought on his mind, because his very first step is a misstep that he corrects with a quick shuffling of his feet. It's messy, hardly the best start to the dance, but there is no undoing what has already been done.

One, two—he draws upon the choreography popular in Ast, hoping that his familiarity with the steps will hide how rusty he's become. A dance is only as good as the person leading it; any flaws here are his alone to bear.

He can't imagine they're scoring very well with him in the lead. His individual score from the judges can't be more than a few points higher than last time (a 14 or so, if he had to hazard a guess), but he lets out a clear, boyish laugh anyway.

"Haha, I really do need to practice more, don't I?"

@lovelyflight

[lobeiro]

@virtuoustyrfing sent:

[ SAMPLE ] - Anyone who has attended the ball in the past couple of years is familiar with the fake mint candies that seem to make their way around the facilities as a popular prank. Hope your senses are well-trained enough to tell them apart without your sight!

"Kurt? It's you!" Seliph's expression brightens once he comes across a familiar face from the past field trip. "You should watch out for fake mint candies. I mistakenly took one from a bowl over there..."

It's such a shame that such a large campus makes it so difficult to run into people with any real sort of frequency. Putting aside Kurt's sick spell after coming back from the expedition, the Golden Deer and Blue Lions often have classes running at similar times, so meeting up with other students can be a matter of gambling on seminars.

"Seliph!"

Regardless, he's happy to see Seliph well and no longer carrying the grime and fatigue of being on the road for a full month. His tail is mid wag when Seliph's warning leaves his lips.

"Fake... mints?" Fake as in they aren't actually mint flavored or fake as in they aren't even candies? A haunting question that Kurt isn't sure he wants to find out the answer to. "I was not aware such a thing even existed. When I heard Garreg Mach would be holding a ball, I expected a fairly formal affair, but it has turned out to be more lighthearted event than I thought."

Could it be the mingling of commoners and nobles alike allows for an atmosphere relaxed enough for little pranks to happen without the fear of poisoning. How nice it would be if that were true.

Kurt shakes his head, "You've saved me from an embarrassment in the making. The only thing I can offer as thanks is one of my roses, but I hope you will accept it."

[rigelprinceofdespair]

A Dance of Envy.

[rigelprinceofdespair]

Taking in a deep breath, Berkut stepped out for the competition. Surprisingly, the competitors were two people he was both familiar with. One from an assignment, and another he had danced with during this very ball. However, that was not important.

Eyes skipped over the more standout features. Wings, ears, none of that mattered. Instead it was the way the pair held each other. Standing so close, intertwined with one another. For a moment he heard a different kind of music. A voice calling out his name.

"Lord Berkut?"

Normally he would banish such thoughts. Instead, this time he let them inspire him. Gracefully, he began dancing. Arms were positioned as if he had a partner of his own. Moving carefully, the familiar steps of a dance he hadn't done since the days before everything went so wrong.

Yet still the memories lingered in his mind. Despite his training, they interfered with him. A small wailing through off his choreography, a smell of smoke causing his technique to falter. Yet the style, the pure expression of a lost love no longer in his arms was utterly flawless.

As he finished, he moved back. Knowing it wasn't perfect, even as the judges scored. 18 points, that was all his efforts had earned. Not even close to what would have been satisfactory, yet in that moment, lost in memory... he couldn't bring himself to care.

@lovelyflight @lobeiro

[lovelyflight]

The competition had been a bit of a last minute addition, considering she had only reunited with her fiance recently but! That would not deter her! After all, she knew him well enough to be in step even under such short notice. Now, all she had to do was recall her mandatory dance lessons. Their opponent was one she vaguely knew, the first to dance with her, if she recalled correctly. Ah, this would be formidable! 

Taking her beloved’s hand in her own, she began to guide him forward. There were many dances she could choose from, many she had learnt the steps of today alone. Still, having so many choices only led to indecision on Rose’s part. And that would not do tonight. Instead, she allowed her heart to take hold. Surely, her love would be enough.

The steps themselves were improvised so it was only natural things did not go as planned but here, in the present, Rose did not mind. With Prince Kurt, how could she find it in herself to care? Soft smiles so close to giving away to giggles blossomed upon her visage as she guided her love through the steps. No matter the misstep, she would look upon this memory fondly.

Were you to ask Rose herself, she would not quite know when the dance ended, too entranced by the moment itself. Even still, she recalled the necessity for a curtsy. Her dance instructor would be so proud! If not of that, then her near perfect score—29 points in total. Ah, what a relief. It seemed only her technique was found to be lacking. A victory in and of itself.

➻❥ @lobeiro

[lobeiro]

It is a competition, of course, as evidenced by their opponent and his lonely dance, but from the moment Rose takes hold of Kurt's hand, the world might as well be only the two of them. If their competitor dances a lonely dance, then the two of them dance as childhood friends turned lovers. Their hold on each other is easy, comfortable and their steps speak to a lifetime spent learning each other's pace.

A misstep here, a fumbled step there—if Gotthold were here, he would have had some words for Kurt about neglecting his training. His footwork is sloppy, unbefitting of a prince or a soldier. It is a sign that he needs to dedicate himself further to building up strength. His steps are still unsteady and unsure; his goal remains as far away as ever.

He's still not ready yet. Another misstep.

Were he not a prince on the run, this kind of thing would be drilled into his head. For Ast's only heir to be performing like this and letting his fiancée lead the dance... the complaints would be endless.

But in front of Rose's bright smile, those thoughts fade into background noise.

One could hardly call it a good showing, but as long as Rose is still smiling, he will continue to chase after her practiced steps. Even if the hair he had pinned back comes loose and gets in his eyes, he can trust that Rose will always be there ready to accept him, just as she has since they were children.

He may not be the perfect prince (his measly score of 11 to her 29 is testament enough to that), but with his hand in hers for the final bow, it is clear why her support had become so important to his heart.

"Rose," Kurt says sheepishly as he catches his breath. "It seems I am the one worrying you again..."

@rigelprinceofdespair

[lovelyflight]

by your side, always

[lovelyflight]

It was only a matter of time, really, Rose knew that. Even still, her gaze couldn’t help but scan the crowd for a familiar figure. A sign of her dear fiancé. It had been this very restlessness that led her to fly out of her home to meet him as early as she could. Just to meet him even some minutes sooner than otherwise.

It was not so invasive a recklessness as before—the knights here would surely keep him safe. Away from harm, enough to ensure he lived on. Still, it was hard not to miss someone so cherished, wasn’t it? Hard not to see Prince Kurt in the many moments of life until his absence felt like a sting in and of itself. It felt like… a…

Just seeing the familiar silhouette was enough for Rose to fly over before she’d even processed it. She’d call it magic to see him again like this—to see him in the lights with roses in his hands. 

“Prince Kurt! Oh, I’m so glad to see you again!”

By the time her beloved had turned around, she’d clasped his hands in hers. Just flying a bit off the ground, she couldn’t quite stop her excitement from taking hold. 

“I missed you.”

More than the words could quite convey.

➻❥ @lobeiro  

[lobeiro]

Kurt hears her far before his eyes manage to catch sight of her in the crowd. The soft fluttering of wings is a sound as familiar to him as the beating of his own heart; a sound that has been with by his side since the softest days of his childhood all the way up until the darkest days of his present. The sound of her wings is ever so slightly different from Zasha's, a slight difference in sound that lets him know that nothing bad has happened.

"Rose!"

He calls not the name of the flowers in his other hand, but her name.

"If I had known you were here, I would have... Oh! Here, for you."

He has to stand on tiptoe to tuck a rose in her hair, but he doesn't mind much.

"Are you alright? The trip wasn't difficult? Holtz-" He shakes his head. "No, if you're here, then I can trust things are still well in your kingdom. Alberta and Carina would have come with you if the situation had deteriorated."

He trusted his knights, of course, and he trusts Rose more than anything, but it is no small relief to see her in front of him now instead of across the sea. Just knowing that she's here means that the tension he carries in his shoulders can relax the smallest bit.

"I missed you, too."

And he truly means it.

[lobeiro]

@of-pherae sent:

[ FLOWER ARRANGEMENT ] - No matter how many flowers you gather, your bouquet won't look its best unless you have the skill to make it so. A couple of students have taken upon itself to imbue their peers with the knowledge of flower language and the art of flower arrangement, and as a result the garden has become something of a workshop.

The chilly winter air of outdoors is a welcome reprieve from how warm it becomes when so many people are packed together in one space. Stepping out to the garden for a quick moment is the perfect excuse for a breather before stepping back into the crowded hall. Just the walk between the greenhouse and the hall is enough to calm down cheeks that had grown flushed from dancing.

Besides, it's easy for the fragile bouquets to become crumpled with all of the moving around, so having a space dedicated to straightening them out is nice, too.

"It's harder than it looks to make a bouquet that looks balanced, isn't it? Roses are medium sized, so we would want to add some smaller flowers to fill in the gaps. But if there are too many smaller flowers, then it looks too crowded, but too few and it looks odd. You want variation, but not so much that it looks haphazard."

Kurt pulls a rose from his bouquet to make space for more flowers. His companion had also come in with roses, but perhaps having a different color to work with would inspire a new direction to take his bouquet.

"I fear I'm not explaining it very well. To tell the truth, my fiancée is much better at this kind of delicate work than I." Kurt confesses sheepishly. "I understand the theory, but when it comes to practice..."

[lobeiro]

@boundlesschaos sent:

[ CORN ] A new strain of corn has been bred in Bergliez with a curious trait—it pops when exposed to heat, becoming light and fluffy! Help yourself to a bag; it’s a little bland on its own, but you get the feeling you could find something to spice it up.

"The way the shape changes is so fascinating, no matter how many times I see it happen."

Kurt rolls an unpopped kernel around in the palm of his hand. The kernel is hard, round, and a light golden; a far cry from the fluffy and white final product. If he concentrates just the tiniest bit of fire magic to his fingers, then—

—POP!

The kernel pops up into the air and when it lands back in his palm, it has bloomed like a flower.

"I can't help but think they look like tiny flowers." Kurt pulls a white rose from his bouquet as a point of comparison. "It looks a bit like a tiny rose, don't you think? Haha, maybe a little misshapen, but it's that subtle variation I find so interesting."

Every one a slightly different shape; people are like that, too.

[lobeiro]

@encantresse sent:

[ NETWORK ] - One of your fellow ball-goers is being accosted, and getting into earshot, you realize it’s by someone who claims to be one of the scouts looking for talent. But they’re being a little pushy, aren’t they? And are you sure they’re really who they say they are?

There shouldn't be any bandits prowling around a monastery sanctioned event, but enough time spent on the road has made Kurt keenly attuned to the look in someone's eye that tips off when a person is looking for an easy target. That glint of the eye, a gaze fixated on one person that skirts away only when they can sense the gaze of another on them, the wolfish smile of someone watching a single person split away from the safety of the herd.

There is one such man in particular that Kurt has been watching all night and it is when that man starts making a beeline for his target that he cuts off his approach by extending a hand to the woman he'd been gunning for.

"Would you care for a dance?" Kurt offers with a princely smile. He shortens the distance between them with a step and lowers his voice. "Behind me and to the right. The man in the gold suit has been following you for a while now. Are you alright?"

He doesn't cut a very imposing figure when the girl has a solid five centimeters on him even without considering heels, but he has long since accepted that while he can (and must) act the part of the prince, he cannot will himself to be any taller. There are many things in his life he cannot give up on, but his height is not one of them. That ship has sailed.

He can feel the weight of the man's gaze on his back now, but he doesn't allow the pleasant smile to leave his face.

"My name is Kurt. I am the... prince of Ast." Again, his voice lowers. "I can speak to him if you wish to use the opportunity to create some distance from him."

[lobeiro]

@classybrawler sent:

[ SHAVED ICE ] - Served with a wide assortment of sweet, fruity syrups. Traditionally, it is served in bowls, but some are saying it makes for quite a refreshing sip when drank from a glass.

A woman in the loudest outfit Kurt has ever seen inserts herself in front of the refreshments table, cutting off someone else who'd been on her way over, before taking off like a colorful whirlwind with an equally colorful glass. Kurt meets eyes with the poor woman that had gotten cut off, bewilderment clear on his face as he watches the errant partygoer disappear back into the crowds.

...Although, now that he takes a good look at the woman who had gotten cut off, her outfit and makeup combination is only slightly less loud. Maybe that's the trend this year?

The style of dress popular in Ast is rather conservative compared to the outfits he has seen here tonight. It seems that a few months time is not enough to fully numb someone to culture shock. Perhaps one day this culture will spread across continents all the way across the sea to Ast. It's a little hard to imagine, but as prince, he believes in keeping an open mind about these shifts in culture.

"Well," Kurt says, trying to regain composure, "these must be quite delicious if they're that popular. If you tell me which flavor you'd like to try, I can grab you a bowl for your troubles."

Nor can he can't neglect the point of this party. He produces a flower from his bouquet as an offering.

"And a rose, as well. My name is Kurt. I am..." Midway through his sentence, he seems to think better of it and shakes his head. "No, tonight I am an attendee of this ball like anyone else."

[lobeiro]

@verseandrhyme sent:

[ CHOCOLATE ] - Stefanelli’s has partnered with the monastery to make the most of the supplies left in excess of their workshops earlier in the year by offering packages of sweet chocolates for attendees. The offerings appear generous… that is, until you open your box to find it only half full.

If he didn't know any better, seeing a flash of pink hair would be enough to make Kurt to a double take. The shade of her hair is too light and her languid movements couldn't possibly be those of the energetic Carina. There is the matter of the missing ears and horns, but most people seemed to lack those features here, so he can hardly call that strange.

What he can call strange is the half-empty box of chocolates. A... decorative choice, maybe? To provide ample space for each chocolate to be viewed independently? Sugar and chocolate are expensive imports, for sure, but he was not aware that things in Fódlan were in such dire straits that they would need to skimp on a yearly event.

A thought worth tucking in his back pocket to ask around about later.

"I will admit I am not all that fond of chocolate," he confesses to the non-Carina pink haired girl. "Would you be interested in taking my box off my hands? If you combine two boxes, it feels a little less sad to see how empty it looks. Oh! You may have one of my roses, as well, but I presume that is a little less enticing than having a full box of chocolates."

[lobeiro]

@princessmacedon sent:

[ HOSHIDO ] "Hee hee... you have roses too, Kurt?" Maria holds one of her own out to him, wiggling her fingers in a little wave once it's left her. Her expression softens.

"Did you ever find your sea legs?" She teases gently, offering a hand to show she means no harm -- and, more importantly, extend an invitation. "We could practice together! What do you think?"

"Haha, we do appear to be matching, don't we?" One of Kurt's roses is offered in exchange for Maria's roses, although they're probably the only ones who would know they'd traded by sight alone. "If we trade them like this, it's feels like we're leaving a little part of ourselves with each other for the night."

In a bouquet comprised of only the same flower, isn't it moving to know that one had come from someone else? That simple, yet sentimental feeling must be the point of this whole experience. Swapping around flowers until a bouquet of only one flower had become a splendid variety of different colors and shapes; it's a visual indicator of your interactions with others.

After all, why had he come here if not to join hands with others?

"No, I fear the sea caught up with me in the end," Kurt shakes his head, but the laugh is clear in his voice, as is the slight wag of his tail. "I found the way back rougher than the way there, so it seems I have not conquered the waves. If you would have me, I would be grateful if you could help me practice."

[lobeiro]

@landsbluod sent:

[ CORN ] - A new strain of corn has been bred in Bergliez with a curious trait—it pops when exposed to heat, becoming light and fluffy! Help yourself to a bag; it's a little bland on its own, but you get the feeling you could find something to spice it up.

"The texture is rather curious, isn't it?" Kurt remarks on the strange little snack to someone else who had come by the refreshment table. "I have had a few dishes with corn it in since coming to this land, but the texture is completely different here. If I hadn't been told its name, I would have a hard time believing it's the same food based off texture and appearance alone."

Still, if there is one aspect alone that makes it hard to deny that this must be corn, it's that frustrating insistence on getting stuck in your teeth. This is a party filled with noble lords and ladies, so it's not like one can just stand in front of the refreshment table picking their teeth either. It's a clever little politeness trap that you must either bear with for the sake of socializing or use as an excuse to free yourself from awkward conversation.

In other words, the innovations of Bergliez might actually be quite impressive.

Either way, when Kurt stops to actually take a look at his conversation partner, he is startled to find a deceptively familiar face. Her hair is longer and there is slightly less of the roundness of youth to her face, so it is unlikely to be the same person unless somehow years passed in a matter of months and he hadn't been aware.

"Pardon me for asking, but do you happen to have a sister or a cousin here? I have a classmate that I met on the most recent expedition that looks strikingly similar to you." Once again, his words had come out stranger than he intended, so he rushes to explain further. "The hair accessory she wears reminded me on my fiancée, so her appearance stood out in my memory."