h
đȘŒ
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
d e v o n
KIROKAZE
The Stonewall Inn
if i look back, i am lost
Cosimo Galluzzi
đ©” avery cochrane đ©”
Game Changer & Make Some Noise
One Nice Bug Per Day
Product Placement
cherry valley forever
Keni
macklin celebrini has autism
tumblr dot com
noise dept.
shark vs the universe
Sweet Seals For You, Always
art blog(derogatory)
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@mmoneystones
Closed Citrinne from Fire Emblem Engage! Knight of Seiros affiliated with The Officers Academy. Penned by Neku!
Mobile Links: Profile / Stats / Interview / Supports / Mun / Taglist
Current Allowance: 86,300 gold!
Small Notes (More can be found via profile!):
âOh! I nearly forgot.â Alcryst rummages through his pockets before he pulls out a colorful flyer. âThereâs a special cake tasting event coming up at a fancy bakery. Um, would you like to go?â After all that they went through on the island, Alcryst thinks Citrinne could use a pick me up. âIâll pay, as my way of thanks. And, uh, condolences that you lostâŠâ
âOh?â Citrinne echoes back with a face of intrigue as Alcryst reveals the poster of discussion. Cake tasting? He certainly knows how to win her favorâŠbut this is family that sheâs talking about. Of course heâd know this would catch her attention.
âIt could be a nice break for a day after what was meant to feel like a nice break,â her eyebrows come down a small amount, followed by a comforting smile. âIâd love to go Alcryst, but you can leave-â
A pause. Citrinne plants a finger on the sample price of one of the featured cakes. A trife cost compared to some of the luxuries back in Brodia. However, she does a double take. The cost is not of importance hereâŠmade clear by her cousinâs reasoning for taking her out.
Her finger retracts from the paper. âThe loss is of no matter. It is enough for me that one of our three managed to come out on top in the end. Not to mention that one being you, Alcryst.â
Before giving him breath to defy her compliment, Citrinne releases a gasp. Perhaps somewhat exaggerated. âOh! Pay for our shareâŠbut if my eyes land on anything extra, Iâll pay out of my pocket. Please, do the same for yourself.â
ăi rev up my paint gun and create a huge cloud of smoke.
ăăăăăăăăă âȘăâ anniversary 2024ă/ăbow pointăâ â«
EVERY YEAR, IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE THIS. someone's idea of a fun game made a bunch of chaos and mess for everyone else. didn't anyone think of the classes it would disrupt? the noise right next to all the dorms? the collateral damage to innocent passerby?
if looks could kill, the blue-haired boy would be in better shape if he'd been trampled under bellerophon's hooves. "seriously? please look where you're aiming!"
at least she hadn't been carrying any books, but, ugh, now her outfit was ruined, and her hair had paint in it, and yellow was definitely not her color, especially not this shade. she catches sight of a bow and arrow dipped in the rich black eagles' red abandoned off to the sideââleft behind by someone who'd lost interest, probablyââand before she can think about it more, she's striding over to pluck it up, testing the string once before grabbing the paint can and staking her claim on this side of the color-peppered lawn. she'd prefer the types of bows she's used to, but it's not like she couldn't adapt.
caeldori moves one space right. caeldori paints her current space red.
"they think it's okay to be so careless, they should get a taste of their own medicine," she mutters to herself, sweeping a lock of vermilion back behind her shoulder and taking aim.ă/ă@championsblade @mmoneystones
She really should have taken that young knightâs snide grin as warning enough. But no, somehow trailing behind his collection of a bucket and paint-tipped arrows turns into a volley of colorful chaos. And even worse, his lack of aim has gotten an innocent student caught up in this mess.
Citrinne wants to apologize to the red lady for her fr- comradeâs carelessness, but she looks rather lethal with her own set of painting tools. The Brodian will have to think quickly if she doesnât want to end up painted red from head to toe.
So naturally, she joins the fray with the nearby blue paint can. A warrior that defends her honor to no end. WithâŠlightweight bows meant for making messes. Gods, she prays that none of her colleagues see thisâŠ
Citrinne moves one space right. Citrinne paints her current space blue.
The female knight takes a test aim at the ground surrounding her. The bowstring is looser than she expects, but does the job enough to unleash enough paint to spray the ground proper. While maintaining distance from the (rightfully) pissed-off girl, Citrinne turns to the mastermind behind this ruckus.
âLooking is a good start. It would also do good if he wouldnât aim at allâŠâ Citrinne softly glares toward the blue boy. If thatâs the case, shouldnât the Brodian stop aiming too? Well yeah, butâŠwarning shots, right?
@championsblade
đđđ đđ§đ§đąđŻđđ«đŹđđ«đČ Mđźđ§đđđČ!
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:Â Neku
Pronouns:Â he/they
Birthday (no year):Â Feb 24th
Where are you from? What is your time zone? North-Eastern NY with an EST time zone!
How long is your roleplay experience? About 2+ years now likely, with about half a year on indie and the rest from Discord RP (AKA just TOA)
How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? Okay this is always a really funny story because when I was around 15 or so I was really getting into Puyo Puyo, both because funny puzzle game but the characters were actually really cool! Then like one of my random friends from that community had the idea for RP/worldbuilding and the rest is history I guess?? I don't do Puyo RP anymore but it was a nice start. c:
Idle Hands
Happyland 2024 | Team Rat Room C
The endeavor of unpacking gets interrupted when Citrinne notices a tear in the mattress she is setting up on. She lets out a low groan, covering the imperfection with one of her final few bags. With a stronger impact than intended, the pack's seals undo themselves and her new swimsuit, along with a deflated ball, slide out.
The terror of a foul enemy's return is being covered by said enemy's insistence on continuing to be an annoyance. Citrinne nearly considers taking her beach gear and slipping out from where she entered. To just leave; have her own fun away from this unnecessary stress.
Though a second thought stops herself before acting on avid impulses. If she was to leave now, she'd be no better than Griss in refusing to help the mess he caused. Exiting the crisis now would also only make her look worse in her teammate's eyes.
With new resolve (partially from spite), the noble sets aside the rest of her luggage and finally turns back to the hazard zone meant to be their new room. Citrinne starts with the mattress that's placed off-frame. It proves to be fairly heavy, but after a few pushes the bed looks almost usable.
"We can only salvage what we have. If everyone, or rather," Citrinne sneaks a look back at Caspar, a small grin beginning to peek from her face, "everyone who cares about where they rest does their part, then the coming days' sleep may still be saved."
It's a cheap shot. But damn, does it feel good.
Citrinne lets her hands rest as she addresses the blue lady, the neutral party in the room. "The quicker we deal with this, the quicker we get to have fun. A fair deal?"
@making-dough @twistedisciple
â - Well, debate over possibly non-existent spy devices aside, they did really need to go sleep on the beach when there were perfectly usable beds available. Well, there were. The mercenary shot another glare at the tattooed furniture-wrecker and sighed. "Might as well. It's not like we could make any more wrecked." Actually, there were probably plenty of ways to make them more wrecked. She just didn't need to give Mr. Home-wrecker here even more ideas. Stopping for a moment at the mattress with the stuffing coming out of the middle, she paused to glare reproachfully at it for a moment and then opted to simply pick it up and flip it over.
Jumping onto the now mostly-appeared-fixed mattress, she bounced on it happily for a few moments and then grinned at her roommates. "Well, what kinda fun are we plannin', anyway?"
She's still got her suspicions on this place but why not take advantage of it while it's there?
@twistedisciple
a still working relationship
post-Happyland 2024
âTell me when something looks interesting, and then we can look further.â
She nearly sounds like a mother, blessing her child to go wild in a bottomless candy shop. But Citrinne knows that Lapis understands her intent. At most, the noble carries the same passion as the parent, while respecting Lapisâ level of maturity. She is the older of them, after all.
Happyland is over, and the need for beach garments alongside it. Citrinne is back to wearing traditional browns and reds. Although she misses the exotic wear and weather already, the warming climate of FĂłdlan almost counteracts her disappointment. Almost.
She strolls close alongside Lapis through the town. Citrinne turns to peek at her bright pink hair as they walk. Thereâs so much the blonde needs to ask of her, from topics they were unable to cover that night to whatever the hell happened to Lapis after that night.
But at the same time, something about this day tripâŠcalls out to Citrinne. Better to start light anyway.
A nostalgic smile grows on her face. âThis is no different from my first day here, is it not? Where you found me jaunting about in town.â
@lazulienne
August Activity Check
Level Up! (Passed)
Status:Â Cleared! Points Obtained:
+1 Any (Monthly Activity)
Total Points:Â 10 â> 11 Point Allocation:
Bow: D+ â> C
New Classes Accessed: Apothecary, Archer Classes Mastered: N/A Inventory Changes:Â
Encloser (Bow C) (tbc) Knowledge Gem (Event Participation) (tbc) Voice Box (Event Participation - Team Rat) (tbc) Elder Bael's Cocktail (Event Participation - Reason C) (tbc) Sabotage (Event Participation - Authority D) (tbc)
Livin' it Up on Top
Showcase
A silence overtakes their table as Citrinne eats her meal. A thought occurs to Mitama; might her confusion have been taken as offense at the idea? Or even worse, might her response have been what offended, and Citrinne's silence was a reprimand without words?
Possible. And while there is disappointment to be found in herself at once again speaking too freely and leaving knives and cuts where she had no wanted to...well, better with someone who may never speak to her again than someone who mattered.
Still, she eats rather than leave the table, and Mitama can only assume from that that no offense was taken at all. Mitama shrugs and continues to eat herself.
"You know, it is funny you mention it. Pearls are actually harvested in Hoshido as well." That had to be her least favorite assignment in Corrin's hidden castle realm. Who in their right mind thought it was suitable for the shrine maidens to oversee the gemstone collection? "Rather than jewelry, they are used mainly in the forging of weapons."
She will never understand how pearls make for stronger swords, but she will not argue with the so-called experts.
"I suppose you might use that to argue that Hoshido is hungry for combat, in its own way." They certainly raised fearsome warriors for it. Mitama shrugs, lowering her cutlery to rest it gently on the plate. "What a shame."
It is Mitama that breaks up their silence once again, with comments returning to the previous jeweled suggestion. Not that Citrinne entirely held distaste toward the momentary break of silenceâŠon the contrary, the dish of vegetables were actually starting to feel tasteful.
But thatâs probably enough to chew on for now. Too much of anything is never good for youâŠeven if she really didnât have that much at all.
âAre they?â Citrinne sets down her fork to rest a hand on her cheek. âThen my proposed gem must not have been that far off. Itâs good to know my gemmology applies beyond my own home. But anyway -â
âThat is somewhat surprisingâŠbut only somewhat. Many gemstones can be quite durable and strengthening for weapon forging. Although my land, and many others, stick to iron, steel, and silver metals for base improvements.â
Honestly, she does not know much beyond those basics. Her education was in front of the scholar, not the blacksmith. The noble lets hand separate from her face to collect a napkin, pressing it to her lips.
âNo matter the country, there will always be some hunger for combat,â Citrinne tucks her arms under the table, transferring her whole attention back to Mitama. âNot that you need to believe me, but I find it rather sad too. But the need of a military force, that protection of a nationâŠit will always loom in the background. We can always try to stall the need for war, but it is just like you say. Hoshido, ourselvesâŠwe can never truly not eventually get hungry, can we?â
Where Did They Get That Idea?
@mmoneystones
Every year itâs the same: there is a need for voluntoldsâ ahem, volunteersâ to clean up after the Ethereal Ball has rung its last, and this iteration is no exception. Between food fights and burn marks, there is much to tend to. Worried about being shorthanded, the Church has come up with a fun little game: the more you clean, the more points you rack up! At the end, those with the most points can supposedly look forward to a reward, although⊠No one really knows what the exact reward in question is supposed to beâŠ
Clean up after the Ethereal Ball begins as soon as the event starts winding down. The naughty children in the food fight are set to work first, itâs only right that they clean up their mess after all. The burn marks are being tended to in the same manner.
Camilla can only shake her head in dismay. If this kept up, it was likely that the ball wouldnât stick around.
âEvery year they get more rambunctious.â She sighs to Citrinne as they begin to tear down decorations hanging on the walls. Paper and cloth fall away to reveal the stone work underneath.
Thereâs a shout, something that sounds like âYouâre on!â and suddenly the ones cleaning up the food fight are cleaning much faster.
âHmm⊠Now what could possibly bring this about?â Camilla narrowed her eyes in suspicion as she dragged a trash bin closer to where she and Citrinne were cleaning.
It hasnât been that long since the ballâs end, yet not a day passes before student and faculty alike are called for clean-up duty. A shame that Citrinne is unable to bask in memories of the majestic night before finding herself within its halls again soon after for a less desirable job. However, there is a need to clean the space for future useâŠand she has responsibility over these walls, normal faculty or not.
It is fortunate then that her efforts would not need to be done alone. Lady Camilla, a very trustable and beautiful connection Citrinne had made recently in this new land, is around to provide an assisting hand. She seems to be quite passionate for the ball too, given her keen eye on the finer parts of the event that Citrinne seemed to miss out on.
âIâm sure they only meant it in good fun,â Citrinne reasons while tugging on a stray, worn out paper wrapping on the wall. Her defense sort of falls apart when realizing that galas sheâs attended never resorted to food brawls. Brawls in general, though? MaybeâŠ
Pondering on the past is cut short by a cheerful cry erupting from the studentsâ end of the hall. She starts to dispose of the paper in Camillaâs newfound receptacle while leaning in to see what the commotion is about.
âJudging by their quickened movements, theyâre looking to clear their task earlier than us.â Citrinne turns up toward the remaining wall decorations. Thereâs still plenty left, though if a bunch of rowdy kids can do a speedy clean, why canât they?
Without a second thought, Citrinne motions to her friend with one hand while tearing at more decoration with her other. Perhaps it wouldâve been better to securely pull with both, as only a fistful of paper is removed from her attempt.
âWe wonât allow a group of students to out-clean us, will we Lady Camilla?â
"As you wish." Ares nodded along as Citrinne laid out the boundaries and roles. When Citrinne reached for his other hand, he raised it to meet hers, bending his form in whatever way hers dictated it ought to be.
He was an easy body to pull around when he decided to be, and Citrinne would find the trip to the outer circles of the crowd very smooth as he did his best to link his pace with hers and blend into the dance. Luckily for the both of them, this song seemed to be an easy one, and more importantly to Ares, familiar.
His steps were still stiff, but they were at least on beat, confidence slowly building the longer the dance continued to match his memory. Then, when Citrinne spoke again, he risked pulling his focus away from the dance to return her gaze with a very puzzled one of his own.
"Me?" Ares blinked, unaware of the tempo beginning to suddenly swell. "Is that not the song's decision--?"
A soft and sudden gasp cut his question short as realization had dawned on him mid-speech. Just that brief break was enough to let the song get ahead of him. They were still going at a snail's pace, but nobody else was. A collision with another pair was so close by the time he caught them in his periphery that their clothes would begin to touch if he'd waited a second longer to act.
While he wasn't lead, he didn't know what else to do besides pull them away from the other couple. Just a small tug of the arm to coax them into a different direction than where the other pair was heading, and slowed to an awkward crawl until they were clear, but abrupt all the same.
The extra space that clinging to the fringes afforded them allowed the opportunity for Ares to stop holding his breath at least, though he refused to take his eyes off their surroundings now. Not even as he leaned in to whisper.
"Apologies..." He was all too aware of how many times he's already had to say that to his dance partners tonight. It was written all over his face as each replayed in the back of his head, before adding this one to the counter.
"Are you alright?"
Special care for how much force he exerted was always something at the top of his priorities, to the point it was near-unconscious, but so was his habit of checking.
To her slight surprise, Ares sounds almost dumbfounded at her request for speed. It leads to another pair creeping ever closer to them. While fear of bumping should cause Citrinne to steer them away and out of the line, she has faith in the man to successfully bring them to safety.
GrantedâŠdid his tug to pull them away from the others have to be that strong? With his power, they are soon out of the hustle and bustle of the other couples, with Citrinneâs own arm feeling a little weak. For someone so shy about ballroom dance, he surely has a firm grip for itâŠ
The way that he seems more concerned of their surroundings over enjoying the dance somewhat wounds Citrinne. Though to be fair, she would not want to disappoint or annoy anyone at her first party in the monastery.
âIâm just fine,â the Brodian responds, which is true aside from the ruffled arm. She can still dance, at least. Maybe just toâŠsomething that requires less effort.
âLetâs try again. How about this? Iâll lead and determine our speed. All you need to focus on is the steps and turns. We can avoid being near any of the other dancers until we feel comfortable.â
It feels weird to command Ares like a soldier, but this is her ground of expertise. She further asserts her command by already reaffirming her grip on her dance partner, and starting another step toward the center.
âOh, and Sir Ares? You can keep your eyes on me. I will see that we wonât be at risk of collision again.â
careful not to make a sound. *crack*
mission task: affluence (any skill+1)
So she hadn't seen it either then, seemed like they were both clueless on the matter then. "Happy to help a friend out! I'm sure we'll be done in no time together." An official acceptance to their cooperation set their path in a different road, with Citrinne at his side he could trust that everything would go smoothly.
Green eyes explored their surroundings, if the Brodian had come from this way and he had come from this other one and they had not spotted anything thenâ
Finger lifted towards a new direction. "Let's check around there, the creature could be around that area if we haven't seen anything yet." Odds could be against him on this idea but he chose to be confident on his gut! Happily he stepped forward, inviting the woman to follow along. "Let's go Citrinne!"
The path forward was as silent as it had been prior to finding each other, the occasional rustling of leaves, the ground beneath them protesting after each stepâbut no beasts in sight. Here only stood nature and two people who knew each other before making the monastery a new home.
But peace found its break as an unnatural sound of leaves was followed by a whimper. Alfred placed himself first, readying his weapon he stepped forward and was welcomed by a... huh?
"A little wyvern...?" He spoke softly but the little creature ran, not flew, clumsily before the prince could reach for it. Was that the creature they were supposed to get rid of?
Raised brow and mouth half open as he turned towards his companion.
"Did we find the wrong creature? This isn't a monster...it's just a little guy."
With Alfredâs determined declaration and even more effortful steps forward, Citrinne does not let more unnecessary seconds pass by wasted. Although the prince comfortably takes the lead, she keeps to a low amount of paces behind. A distance potentially too close that a wide attack would prove devastating, but close enough that magic support should be infallible.
However, Citrinne ponders if this militaristic train of thought is truly necessary. These woods are practically quiet beyond the sounds of existence. Itâs not a silence she dares break in the case that a beast is on the prowl that can overhear them. But then again, is there actually such a threat between these trees?
Alfred pauses upon an additional rustling noise, signaling Citrinne to maintain position. As his lance steadies in his hands, one of her hands squeezes at the corner of her tome. Providing backup is her usual role and yetâŠshe cannot help but feel a quickened heart rate, even while the enemy hasnât revealed itself. Why does she hesitateâŠ?
Unintentionally, her question is answered by the appearance of the âbeastâ in question: a miniature winged creature. A wyvern, Alfred calls it, which her years of secondhand study would agree with. But its sizeâŠeven with monster-like features, it doesnât look like it could hurt a fly, at least lethally.
âIâŠcannot say for sure,â Citrinne responds to his stunned silence, slowly closing the space between them now that the âtargetâ has been identified. My last mission was against a bunch of undead dragons, for one, she compares, but only to herself. No need to freak the Firenese prince out with actual formidable foes. âThey never specified what to hunt for beyondâŠunnatural animals.â
Gaze drops to her own weapon, the Thunder tome. âOne bolt would essentially swallow it wholeâŠâ The image doesnât sit right with her.
You Spent HOW Much on Clothes?
Showcase | Roommates
"Nah, it's fine. It would be rude of me to see you struggling and make the lady carry everything by herself; wouldn't it?" It wasn't really no trouble. What had he trained for so many years for if he couldn't even help a girl with some of her shopping bags? It was practically trivial. He could carry a few bags the short distance to his quarters, she needn't worry that he was incapable, "It's not a burden at all. Seemed like a lot for you to handle, so I might as well help. Don't worry, I'm plently strong. Could carry it all myself, if you really needed me to."
He doesn't dare to actually offer that, because that would surely be far overstepping the boundaries when they had just met. Ugh, what was he even trying to prove?
"Say uh... this stuff looks expensive? Are you sure you're comfortable just leaving it around in my uh... quarters...?" He hestitated to even call it his 'room', because didn't that consitute home in some way? His home wasn't here. Fodlan was just a temporary stop, ultimately. Even his own homeland of Daein always ended up being just a stop along his way, it always would be until enough had changed. The Daein of his childhood was already far from the one that he knew now, but there was still too much that had to happen before he could ever consider it a home again. The closest thing he had to a home now was Gallia, he supposed. Back with Lethe and Mordecai. Back where he felt that he and his beliefs had a proper place.
He takes the final few steps towards his quarters, gesturing for Citrinne to follow him as he darts inside. The mess was... honestly not quite as bad as he remembered it being. But it could certainly do with at least a little bit of cleaning up.
He quickly shoves the weapons and their maitenance supplies off of the bed, onto the mat where he usually slept, to make it look a little bit more like a proper work area. (Not that it did in the slightest; but maybe he would be able to fool a rich lady?)
"You can come in!" He calls out to her, cracking the door open wider so she could enter comfortably, "Again, it's not much, but it should do for uh... a temporary situation."
âCarrying them all yourself shouldnât be necessary. Still, I appreciate the proposal,â Citrinne states as she fully slips the bags to Zihark while making some mental notes. Strong and beneficent. Good qualities to have.
For his question regarding the itemsâ quality, she does pause with an attentive hum before answering. âI see no problem in leaving them here. If these knights are discourteous to endanger their forcesâ belongings, Iâd doubt my closest friends would stand to be with them for long. Let alone you,â Citrinne adds on. Perhaps the risk of stealing her valuables is not what he meant with his inquiry, but it felt like a fair way to lay down her trust. âIn the end, it will only be nonpermanent accommodation anyway.â
It doesnât take that much longer for them to reach the living quarters. Good too, as the noble was beginning to regret passing on that âcarry it allâ boast from earlier. Zihark zips inside once they are closer to the door to his room. Citrinne trails a small distance behind before entering, though from the corner of the room she could hearâŠscrapping metal?
Holding in her last of breath, Citrinne silently enters the widened door and unequips the bags a few steps away from the entrance. With some relieved sighs, she scans over her living space for the next month. A bit smallâŠbarren, too. But she is far from the royal halls of Brodia Castle, so she will just have to make do.
âIt will do nicely,â Citrinne declares as her eyes trail to an interesting pile of weapons and materials atop a mattress. The source of the earlier sound? âBut, hmm. Are we going to have to live off of only one bedding?â
what is this, a trial? yes.
                         Affluence | Faith + 1
"So the commoners who would've continued to be used and hurt while the court gathered evidence are an acceptable loss?" They still didn't have evidence of it, even though it was plain and obvious to anyone with a brain. But no, noble dealings are kept within noble circles, nevermind what the common folk might be able to share.
Exactly the same as when her father-
Yunaka shuts her eyes and lets out a slow sigh. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. She can't bring back the dead, even if Citrinne wanted her to. She can't deny she killed them either, even if Yunaka wanted to. All that was left was facing the truth and moving on, and hoping their stars made it back to the sky.
"I was given the job. I did it. I didn't ask questions like whether or not it was my place to do it." Her tone is returned to that forced neutral when she opens her eyes again, meeting Citrinne's dead on. "Sorry. I'll be sure to get permission first if it ever happens again."
Two files are left on the table, each of them as innocent looking as the other. Citrinne sits again, but Yunaka doesn't think for a second that this is in any way a show of them being equal. The table shakes a little under the force of her hand when she slaps it onto one of the files and slides it towards her. The Brodian crest greets her.
(She wished it wasn't as comforting to see as it was.)
The second report looks much like the first did. Knowing what to look for, it only takes her a moment to scan the document. "Oh, this one."
She'd only been a year or two older when this one happened. Still young enough that nobody really paid her mind in the crowded streets, so long as she stayed away from the stalls where merchants might accuse her of stealing. She doesn't remember the details of this man as much, but he should've known better than to be down in the dirt where he didn't belong.
"Another noble. Unimportant one. Got him in the town square in the back while he was strutting around. Took him a while to die, but he bled out before the guards could get him help. Had to leave the knife in him."
Yunaka drops the file back onto the table with a sigh. "My master picked that one too. Something about higher ambitions than he had strength for. Sorry, don't know much about who had it in for that guy."
She's quiet, for a minute. One fingernail taps against the table's surface. "He was loud. His voice carried. Guards heard him yell real quick."
The relentless bashing of Brodiaâs - and her own - political system forces Citrinne to flinch the faintest bit by slinking further into her chair. It is tempting to pause the prosecution, to stop this trial and explain her side of the equation. Yunaka is right, after all. Their noble court is a reactionary one, only stepping in after foul deeds have been done. The common people arenât put first in the system, just the opposite actually.
Citrinne wants to be the change that finally puts the commoner first. But does she have the right to say that, when her actions now are simply a contradiction of that?
Not yet. She cannot go easy on Yunaka just yet. There was still more that the thief had to answer to. More to press on before she can decide that the case is closed.
Citrinne locks her eyes back onto the redhead as she displays some bravery through reading the next case file. Curiously, despite combing through its entries several times over in the past, hearing Yunaka recount the details so transparently makes the noble uneasy. The words spoken are of a live retelling that will always be warmer than the cold, printed facts.
Theyâre also a tell, to Citrinne, that she still lives with the memories of her assassin life fully intact. Must be difficult to try and wash away, though.
In the minute of silence, Citrinne waits its full endurance before continuing with her remarks. The dismissal of executing a noble, along with his supposed âunimportance,â hurts the prosecutor, yet she decides to approach from another angle. Discussing the nobility will only result in them speaking in circles, after all.
âI was too young to witness the case myself. The records were never wiped away, even when no culprit was found. I found it odd that homicide could so easily occur on the streets that I loved. As a teenager, I took it upon myself often to solve it all, but a knife is a knife. For all we knew, it was thrown from a nearby balcony.â
A hand rises and lies down on the table, atop the file that Yunaka dismisses. âYour Master. Did he decide on every job that you underwent?â There is genuine curiosity behind Citrinneâs question, yet she only manages to ask it dryly. If she recalls, her âmasterâ...
"I don't believe I ever caught your name." He was apologetic in the slight bow he offered to her before coming to rest in the sand not far from where she was seated. "I must apologize if I came off as...cold in our game. In the end...it resulted in this. Though even now is an opportunity." A smile and a slight lift of the shaved ice. "Perhaps it's the 'Queen' or 'Ringmaster' telling us to use our time to know one another and correct our mistakes." Stilted always were these introductions. He'd done them a hundred times over yet he offered the best smile he could to her. "My name is Matthias, I'm a professor for the Blue Lions who's just made my way here. Though some may refer to me as Margrave is they hail from Faerghus as I hail over the northern region. It's good to meet you...even if the introductions are late."
Citrinne turns up to see the familiar face of the teammate that greatly contributed to their recent bout through Wonderland. After nodding at his bow, she scooched slightly away so that he could have some more space to lie in the sand.
âNor have I, on the name part, that is,â Citrinne returns his smile with a less wide one, but it holds warmth all the same. âI am Citrinne. A noble warrior of Brodia, my home from Elyos. You may remember it as one of those books that were burnt during our final stand.â
So this MatthiasâŠwas a noble of this very land? An interesting ally, especially when theyâve been allied for the previous month. The Brodian actually feels guilty for not getting acquainted during the rest of all of this Happyland chaos. âWould you answer better to Magrave Matthias, then? Itâs admittedly a bit of a mouthful - Citrinne is enough for me, by the way. I am merely a Knight of Seiros here.â
Now that introductions were out of the way, she leans a fair bit closer toward Matthias in case some of the others were sneaking earfuls. âMay I be honest? You never sounded that cold, at least to me. I more remember the times we agreed on some form of answer rather than debate, or more so less arguing after the first batch of questions.â
âIf it werenât for your authority, I doubt that we would have left that strange dungeon before the sun set,â Citrinne waves a hand toward the fading orange on the waves. âWhile I hold no interest in knowing that Queen, it is good to know she gave me the chance to meet a fair amount of allies.â
"I believe I'm met quite a few people from there now..." The name Brodia specifically seemed as if it were a place he'd heard before as well. A chuckle escaped him and he found it easier to slip into the smile now. "Goddess no, I've enough of that back home. Professor Gautier or Matthias works fine enough for me." He had suspected from the outset that she was capable but being a Knight of Seiros had greatly increased that assessment. He was surprised to hear that but he in turn spoke in a much softer voice. "Is that so? I felt as though I was having too little faith...in the students and other staff." And then he winced. "You flatter me, it was everyone's combined efforts that spared us from being stuck there after nightfall. Besides, I much prefer to set the stage for others more capable." At mention of the Queen he looked to the shaved ice. At least they had this as well. "Indeed, this island has been an opportunity I doubt any here will forget. Between the more tense moments, it has been enjoyable to see people relax, even if a little."
His chuckle is joined by Citrinneâs own low giggle. There is always a place for some lordly titles, though she can relate to wanting to be something simpler in the right company. âAlright then, Professor.â
While the island breeze made some light teasing appealing, Citrinne tones it back upon Matthiasâ wince. She retreats from her small lean and resetting to their default seated distance. A small spoonful of refreshingly cold and flavorful ice tempts her to continue on.
âThere is a difference in faith and realism, I would say. It would be in good faith to believe that students would believe in the most selfless or âgoodâ answers above all else, but it would be far from realistic. Even I myself folded to initially choose what I believed in at times. But overall, your approach to pick the most realistic options gave us a fair advantage, even if we failed to capitalize on it in the end.â
Citrinne pauses after her defense of his actions. This islandâŠhas it truly been enjoyable?
âNot to sound selfish,â Citrinne cannot resist but turn to the ocean in shame, âbut I believe this all would be more relaxing if more of my friends didnât have to get eliminated, especially in the prior week. Itâs reassuring to know they are alright, gods bless, yetâŠwell, I suppose I can share how much Iâve missed them once this is all over.â
A wave crashes by, almost reaching her leg. âBut yes. This has been at least a little enjoyable. Iâm happy to hear you say that, even if you prefer setting the stage over acting on it.â
"Ah but that is an issue as well. Times are always changing, as is the youth we watch over. What may seem realistic to us may be blind ideals to them. Eventually behaviors once touted as rebellious become tradition and in an effort, what in past was tradition is now used to rebel. I focused too much on myself and my own experiences at that age when, thank the goddess, things have seemed to change for the better. If we had taken more time perhaps the outcome could have changed." The ice truly was a nice treat even if it was just a consolation prize. "I choose to believe they're making their fun, meeting new people, just as we are. The difference is in their loss they gained a freedom to freely choose whilst we continued to go along with the Ringmaster's ride." He smiled. "I can imagine the academy will be abuzz, I truly look forward to it." He looked at her, spoon still in hand. "I managed to make a few interesting new acquaintances, there's no greater joy than more allies at ones side."
Her gaze returns to Matthias, holding her spoon close by alongside him. On second glanceâŠhe is quite some years her senior. By appearance alone, he must be the oldest of anyone else on her team. That must be where these words come from, as well as the hesitancy to remain in the limelight.
Citrinne wonders to herself; will things change for the better if she retains her mindset? Ignoring that todayâs choice led to only failure, is he trying to steer her toward attempting new approaches? To work alongside those acquaintances rather than remain distanced?
âRight, we will be heading back to the academy soon,â Citrinne soon responds. âMany of my close allies were at my side this month, but there are still many others I will have to relay the experience to. And some from here that Iâd like to speak to again, both old and newâŠâ
The sun takes a low descent, with some of its remaining glimmer hitting off Citrinneâs ruby eyes. âWell said. The more allies, the better.â
Her bowl of ice is almost finished, but she sets it aside rather than heading back for an immediate second. âI think Iâll sit by the water for a bit longer. Feel free to stare at the tropics alongside me. AndâŠthank you, Matthias.â
the end
"I don't believe I ever caught your name." He was apologetic in the slight bow he offered to her before coming to rest in the sand not far from where she was seated. "I must apologize if I came off as...cold in our game. In the end...it resulted in this. Though even now is an opportunity." A smile and a slight lift of the shaved ice. "Perhaps it's the 'Queen' or 'Ringmaster' telling us to use our time to know one another and correct our mistakes." Stilted always were these introductions. He'd done them a hundred times over yet he offered the best smile he could to her. "My name is Matthias, I'm a professor for the Blue Lions who's just made my way here. Though some may refer to me as Margrave is they hail from Faerghus as I hail over the northern region. It's good to meet you...even if the introductions are late."
Citrinne turns up to see the familiar face of the teammate that greatly contributed to their recent bout through Wonderland. After nodding at his bow, she scooched slightly away so that he could have some more space to lie in the sand.
âNor have I, on the name part, that is,â Citrinne returns his smile with a less wide one, but it holds warmth all the same. âI am Citrinne. A noble warrior of Brodia, my home from Elyos. You may remember it as one of those books that were burnt during our final stand.â
So this MatthiasâŠwas a noble of this very land? An interesting ally, especially when theyâve been allied for the previous month. The Brodian actually feels guilty for not getting acquainted during the rest of all of this Happyland chaos. âWould you answer better to Magrave Matthias, then? Itâs admittedly a bit of a mouthful - Citrinne is enough for me, by the way. I am merely a Knight of Seiros here.â
Now that introductions were out of the way, she leans a fair bit closer toward Matthias in case some of the others were sneaking earfuls. âMay I be honest? You never sounded that cold, at least to me. I more remember the times we agreed on some form of answer rather than debate, or more so less arguing after the first batch of questions.â
âIf it werenât for your authority, I doubt that we would have left that strange dungeon before the sun set,â Citrinne waves a hand toward the fading orange on the waves. âWhile I hold no interest in knowing that Queen, it is good to know she gave me the chance to meet a fair amount of allies.â
"I believe I'm met quite a few people from there now..." The name Brodia specifically seemed as if it were a place he'd heard before as well. A chuckle escaped him and he found it easier to slip into the smile now. "Goddess no, I've enough of that back home. Professor Gautier or Matthias works fine enough for me." He had suspected from the outset that she was capable but being a Knight of Seiros had greatly increased that assessment. He was surprised to hear that but he in turn spoke in a much softer voice. "Is that so? I felt as though I was having too little faith...in the students and other staff." And then he winced. "You flatter me, it was everyone's combined efforts that spared us from being stuck there after nightfall. Besides, I much prefer to set the stage for others more capable." At mention of the Queen he looked to the shaved ice. At least they had this as well. "Indeed, this island has been an opportunity I doubt any here will forget. Between the more tense moments, it has been enjoyable to see people relax, even if a little."
His chuckle is joined by Citrinneâs own low giggle. There is always a place for some lordly titles, though she can relate to wanting to be something simpler in the right company. âAlright then, Professor.â
While the island breeze made some light teasing appealing, Citrinne tones it back upon Matthiasâ wince. She retreats from her small lean and resetting to their default seated distance. A small spoonful of refreshingly cold and flavorful ice tempts her to continue on.
âThere is a difference in faith and realism, I would say. It would be in good faith to believe that students would believe in the most selfless or âgoodâ answers above all else, but it would be far from realistic. Even I myself folded to initially choose what I believed in at times. But overall, your approach to pick the most realistic options gave us a fair advantage, even if we failed to capitalize on it in the end.â
Citrinne pauses after her defense of his actions. This islandâŠhas it truly been enjoyable?
âNot to sound selfish,â Citrinne cannot resist but turn to the ocean in shame, âbut I believe this all would be more relaxing if more of my friends didnât have to get eliminated, especially in the prior week. Itâs reassuring to know they are alright, gods bless, yetâŠwell, I suppose I can share how much Iâve missed them once this is all over.â
A wave crashes by, almost reaching her leg. âBut yes. This has been at least a little enjoyable. Iâm happy to hear you say that, even if you prefer setting the stage over acting on it.â
"I don't believe I ever caught your name." He was apologetic in the slight bow he offered to her before coming to rest in the sand not far from where she was seated. "I must apologize if I came off as...cold in our game. In the end...it resulted in this. Though even now is an opportunity." A smile and a slight lift of the shaved ice. "Perhaps it's the 'Queen' or 'Ringmaster' telling us to use our time to know one another and correct our mistakes." Stilted always were these introductions. He'd done them a hundred times over yet he offered the best smile he could to her. "My name is Matthias, I'm a professor for the Blue Lions who's just made my way here. Though some may refer to me as Margrave is they hail from Faerghus as I hail over the northern region. It's good to meet you...even if the introductions are late."
Citrinne turns up to see the familiar face of the teammate that greatly contributed to their recent bout through Wonderland. After nodding at his bow, she scooched slightly away so that he could have some more space to lie in the sand.
âNor have I, on the name part, that is,â Citrinne returns his smile with a less wide one, but it holds warmth all the same. âI am Citrinne. A noble warrior of Brodia, my home from Elyos. You may remember it as one of those books that were burnt during our final stand.â
So this MatthiasâŠwas a noble of this very land? An interesting ally, especially when theyâve been allied for the previous month. The Brodian actually feels guilty for not getting acquainted during the rest of all of this Happyland chaos. âWould you answer better to Magrave Matthias, then? Itâs admittedly a bit of a mouthful - Citrinne is enough for me, by the way. I am merely a Knight of Seiros here.â
Now that introductions were out of the way, she leans a fair bit closer toward Matthias in case some of the others were sneaking earfuls. âMay I be honest? You never sounded that cold, at least to me. I more remember the times we agreed on some form of answer rather than debate, or more so less arguing after the first batch of questions.â
âIf it werenât for your authority, I doubt that we would have left that strange dungeon before the sun set,â Citrinne waves a hand toward the fading orange on the waves. âWhile I hold no interest in knowing that Queen, it is good to know she gave me the chance to meet a fair amount of allies.â
go for a STYLISH!
non-mission task: affluence (heavy armor+1)
The proctor gives the signal for the act to begin. With the primary actor in position, Citrinne exits the miniature curtain temporarily attached to the classroom to begin her guest star role.
It was the main star herself, Cynthia, that had requested for the knightâs assistance. Or, if Citrinne were to be honest, it was the knight interested in assisting the older student. All it took was a chance encounter with her - hearing how she needed a partner of strong morals for an assigned battle - and the Brodian was all in. Sure, she may not be a student herself, but this opportunity looked to be the most fitting to fit in oneâs shoes for at least a day.
Granted, Cynthia made it sound all exciting and heroic, but she only had words to back up her ideals. A day before the reenactment was due, no less. But Citrinne had put her trust in the eager student, expecting to at least have a fair idea of how the show would go before it was their turn.
Now Citrinne finds herself scrambling in front of a small class of students, with the mere skeleton of a script in her mind from a paper handed to her five minutes earlier. But thatâs alright. They would just have to improvise. Thatâs what they do in show business, is it not?
With that, her improvisation is already put to the test as her brain searches for the proper start of this pretend skirmish. A set of fingers drum across a borrowed thunder tome that Citrinne holds with one hand as she puts on her best puzzled expression.
âNoâŠw-weâre surrounded, arenât we?â she claims with an uncertain tome. âIs this the end for us, Cy- Lady Cynthia?â
Despite the faint memory of a script, Citrinne recalls the proper title for her fellow actor. It was scribbled rather boldly, after allâŠ
@justicespeared
