#15shadesofgray

[coeurenais]

diplomacy 101: how to not get your head chopped off

@15shadesofgray

Eirika rifled through the papers she’d prepared for her seminar. She sat at the wooden desk, a quill in one hand and a cup of tea next to her. She’d brought a pot to warm over the small fireplace in the room and a handful of blends from the market, alongside a selection of various confectioneries. After all, rule number on of diplomacy was to be a generous host and provide for guests.

Tact and diplomacy had always been her strong suit - something she could own for herself. She’d had to learn to fight whilst running behind her brother and friends. This was her’s though and whilst she was sure most of Garreg Mach’s residents were well versed in etiquette, history and negotiation, she hoped she could impart a little knowledge to someone or at least boost their confidence.

The door opened and Eirika rose to her feet, a smile poised upon her lips. She stood at full height and straightened her skirt

“Good afternoon, are you here for the seminar?” Eirika asked. “If so, please make yourself comfortable. Would you like a cup of tea?” She walked over to the fireplace, “I have a range of blends, which do you prefer? Feel free to help yourself to some sweets too.”

“This is the first lesson I have for you,” Eirika said with a wink, “hospitality is key to fostering good relations.”

[felemfidelem]

fight club ⚜ w/ gray

@15shadesofgray

The Ethereal ball had indeed done well to break social boundaries. Eldigan never thought he would be such quick friends with Gray, or perhaps rather, that Gray would bother with him.

But the two found they had a taste for each other's company, as well as the nightlife of the castle town. Winter nights came quickly, and the sun had already set by the time they left the local tavern.

Mildly intoxicated. Chummily bumping into one another. A pleasant warmth washed over Eldigan despite the cold air as they walked back up the hill towards Garreg Mach.

[albaccelerando]

A Lapse in Judgement

starter for @15shadesofgray (bow prompt)

Reyson was awoken not by the screaming, like everyone else, but by the sharp, stabbing panic in his chest. He jolted awake and before he could take a conscious breath he snapped his wings down, propelling him into the air. By the time his companions had stood, he'd already seen the threat - a demonic beast, roaring and screaming. Even looking at it from this distance made Reyson lightheaded. He bit back curses, instead calling to his companions below "beast! big one!!"

That was an understatement. The creature was tortured, wailing but full of rage. Reyson could feel its suffering in his throat. He swallowed again. This creature was erratic, it'd be hard to kill.

He darted back to the ground, standing next to Gray. He was the closest thing to a commander here, after all, and Reyson was only a supporter... "What are we doing?"

[lalumierel]

( Spaghetti and meatball ) - As much as Gray loves sweets, a man has to have some meat. He waits patiently behind a crowd of people by the table, eyes set on the tomato pasta dish. It already smelled great from where he was standing, and those giant portions of balled up meat? He'd down one in a single bite if there wasn't anyone around.

The world chose not to reward the patient this time around, however. Despite the limit of a single alcoholic beverage, some oaf falls and stumbles towards the line, sending a good handful crashing towards the food. It instantly looked like a bloody mess, curses thrown around, tomato sauce all over fine cloths, meatballs rolling all over the floor.

Gray was perfectly safe, but through the chaos he heard his stomach grumble. He stares at the lady who was given the most recent serving of spaghetti and meatballs, eyes trailing down to the plate she's holding, especially on the gigantic piece of meat at the very center, brown hues fixated on them, too full of longing...

The excitement of the ball had kept her away from the tables serving refreshments for long enough. Dancing worked up quite the appetite and the food had been began to smell irresistibly delicious. Her stomach growls, attesting to this.

L'Arachel had arrived just in time to receive a serving of the spaghetti and meatball dish when a inebriated student crashed into the remainder of the refreshment table. The princess sidesteps the splatter, narrowly avoiding a saucy mess. If the carelessness of that student had sent her to the restroom, they would have more to worry about than the scolding from the faculty. She would pray for the poor student who faces her wrath one day.

Glancing at the student on the floor being scolded by said faculty now, she scoffs and shakes her head. This was why alcohol was a dangerous game and frankly should not have been allowed at the event in the first place. Her attention was diverted by the feeling of eyes on her. Or rather her plate.

She turns her head to the stranger and raises a brow. "Sir, is there something I can help you with? It is rather rude to stare."

[ashenprofessor]

Soaring, Flying . . . ?

Starter for @15shadesofgray

Flight wasn’t a thing Byleth had much experience with. So far in their life they had managed to keep both feet on firm terra. It wasn’t for a lack of trying on their part, having made many attempts over the years to soar in the skies. They still remembered the look of shock on Jeralt’s face when he’d caught them stalking those wyverns, determined to jump on its back and ride it.

Hearing about the arrival of an inventor at the monastery claiming to be able to grant people the power of flight naturally had them intrigued. Fortunately it being a free day and the staff being away on a mission, it gave Byleth plenty of time to track down this individual intent on enquiring further about this new contraption.

A small crowd was gathered in the corner of the west courtyard by the main church tower. Byleth headed over assuming this was likely the location of the inventor. Hanging on the outskirts of the crowd, they listened to the man’s spiel.

“Soar through the skies like the Immaculate One, radiant and majestic. This simple looking contraption is our answer to pegasi, falcons and even dragons. No longer will we need to rely on them to get us airborne.”

The man gave his sales pitch with an unrivalled enthusiasm. He appeared to seriously believe the words spouting from his mouth. Byleth was slightly skeptical but it couldn’t hurt to stick around and listen further.

“All I ask is for some willing volunteers to aid in this test phase. You will of course be rewarded handsomely for your effort. Please come forward.”

Glancing round the crowd to see if anyone was interested in the man’s offer, Byleth spotted one of the newer students, Gray, looking like they wanted to volunteer. They wove their way through the crowd to reach him, waving to grab their attention.

“Hello Gray. Are you interested in helping him test this contraption? If you are, I am curious of what it involves and potentially helping out too. We could do it together.”

[serenegaldr]

starter for @15shadesofgray

"A... parry, is us-ed... used...? to pre... vent... an op... op..." Leanne's fingers traced along the page, quietly sounding out the words with an inexpert tongue. While her struggles in speech had easily been noted by both professors and her fellow students as soon as she arrived, it had taken almost a week before another problem was discovered - namely, that her difficulties with Modern Tongue included, and to a far greater extent at that, the written word. As a result, one particularly helpful professor had recommended some 'beginner' reading material to help her along... but, as she was currently discovering, even this was hardly without struggle.

Perhaps she could manage it with some assistance. Leanne gathered up her things, holding the book in her arms as she started down the hall. Initially headed towards her brother's quarters, it didn't take her long to remember that he had told her this morning that he would be out all day. Hmm, what to do... Gazing around at the other faces around her, the Heron soon picked out an unfamiliar one, a tall man with an easy smile that bode no ill intentions. Though his focus was elsewhere at the moment, he didn't look too busy, so maybe if it was just some help with a few words... Leanne flitted forward with light steps until she was close enough to speak without disturbing the other students around.

"Ex... excuse me!" she said, wings fluffing out behind her as she tried to catch the attention of the taller man, holding out the book, A Squire's Guide to Weapons Training proudly emblazoned on its front, "Would you... hmm, help me, please?"

[atypicalsenerio]

It’ll Be a Breeze [Gray & Soren]

Starter for @15shadesofgray​

In Soren’s eyes, the audacity to ask students to give seminars for free to make up for poor planning on the church’s part regarding how thinly spread their own faculty and knights suddenly were was appalling. However, it was an oversight he could live with. Tutoring other students was easy when you were qualified, and if you weren’t... at least teaching someone else was also a method of learning, he supposed. Circumstances couldn’t be helped, and he felt he could easy fill in the role of instructor without much trouble.

He stood in front of the chalkboard in a room with a sparse number of students in front of him. The lack of a crowd didn’t bother him— if anything, he could give anyone who wished for extra assistance his full attention. He briskly brushed off the chalk power from his fingertips as he spoke, standing off to the side of his diagram.

“Tome magic is similar to that utilized in Fódlan. Rather than simply a verbal incantation or drawing upon your own lifeforce, magic itself is conjured with a formula made up of sigils. Of course, using a tome catalyst or conjuring your own sigil as they do here will be some level of draining akin swinging a weapon around, mentally and physically, so it still cannot be taken lightly. Like with all combat skills, you must monitor your own exertion, and train to build your stamina.”

Soren nodded to paper and ink sitting on his fellow students’ desks. “The reason you don’t need to say an incantation aloud for every spell is because it’s cast by your personal understanding of how to channel energy, like the inner workings of a mathematical equation. Reading along while casting is sometimes helpful for more complex formulas. Today, I’ll break down a standard Wind spell, and lend assistance to whoever may need it.” He paused.

“Do any of you have questions so far?”

[aurheatum]

( 💃👯 ) - Gray had his middle name changed from Careful to Bold. It suits him better, he thinks. Not that it would still earn a chuckle if he proclaims it-- some just can't appreciate good humor -- but no one can deny the truth behind his proclamations now as he swaggers towards not just any woman, but THE Archbishop herself.

Naturally, she was overseeing the event and had her fair share of formalities to commit to. Gray was patient, however, and waited for the perfect time to swoop in and have his turn to converse with the Archbishop. Over and over again he adjusts the cravat he was wearing while waiting, nervous but determined.

"Lady Rhea," Once his opportunity arrives, he simply repeats what he heard others use to address her so many times, a short bow given along with a signature small smile, "I wanted to thank you personally for the chance to be here. The leaders of our land have benefitted from their time here, but to extend it all the way to a mere knight is an honor I can't thank you enough for. It's been barely a week but the experience is already more than I expected. The One Kingdom's Brotherhood of Knights has plenty to learn from the Knights of Seiros."

Again, he bows, but this time he extends a hand towards her, a sheepish grin forming as he looks up, "If you would allow me... may I extend my thanks with a dance? I've no doubt of your knowledge of the foreign lands you take in but I'd be more than happy to showcase a dance from Valentia. A short minute to dance is all I ask." He's always been the type to go above and beyond, regardless if its out of his league. And to dance with the Archbishop? Definitely counts. However, legends never falter, and what a tale it would be if he speaks of a feat like this.

There had been a surprising amount of people asking for her company on the dance floor tonight, and seeming to mean it. She was novelty at the Ethereal Ball, she supposed, but then again so were many of the newer transfer students so she hardly thought of herself as special. If she were taken to flights of fancy she would presume it had something to do with a holy woman engaging in such a worldly act but Rhea had never really bought into Faerghan sensibilities and the few books Seteth had banished to the shadow library containing such imaginings often bored her.

In any case, she had accepted some offers but more often refused; however, as the night wore on she really began to think the idea not so bad as standing in one place was beginning to tire even her. After checking up on another of the faculty she was just about to reassess the situation when another called out to her and Rhea respondedin kind before she even took them in.

A Valentian student, she recalled, as he bowed and began in on his well wishes. She grasped for the name for a moment: ah, Gray - one of the United Kingdom’s knights and a personal friend of the king if she recalled correctly. Despite doubtless accusations of favoritism h must face in his line of work he carried himself with pride and a bit of ah, what would Flayn call it – boyish swagger.

She smiled.

“Of course, Sir Gray. One of the Officer’s Academy’s main tenants was to provide a place for political players from all walks of life to serve and learn together. I am sure your King and Queen feel much more comfortable with you here beside them. Additionally, if you would like to train with the Knights of Seiros you are certainly welcome.”

The invitation fell from his lips a moment later and Rhea tilted her head, studying him. Well, boyish or not she should think he would have the sense to be a gentleman in such a situation and so she decided to take him at his word. She nodded her acceptance.

However –

Taking his hand she gripped it with a strength she did not usually utilize and drew him in for a moment, whispering, “I thank you. But Sir Gray, do note, if any word spreads of this kind gesture – particularly if it is embellished at all, I will know.”

Smiling an entirely different type of smile she stepped back, still holding his hand. Her face once more became a placid mirror as she stood next to him and indicated the dance floor with her other hand, “well, lead the way.”