#timebattle

[failnaughtt]

"Weeell, it must suck having to stay at the top of the class all the time, huh, and as if that's not enough, you've gotta make sure the other Black Eagles don't fall behind either." If you're wondering whether he meant it, maybe. He certainly wishes that she'd cut herself some slack sometimes. "Why don't you try being a Golden Deer for once, Edelgard? Just lie back and relax. Grade are just grades - they won't feed anybody." ... @timebattle

[strikesthrice]

@timebattle liked for a starter (for Fang)

Pulse was hell, that was what they had always been told growing up in Cocoon. It was a lawless place and the inhabinates thereof were little more then demons. Since meeting Fang and Vanille though, Lightning had come to realize that much of what they had been taught was false. Even if there were differences in some of the experiences they'd lived through, overall they weren't that different then those in Cocoon.

Though if there was one thing said about Gran Pulse on Cocoon that was at least paritally true, it was that the place was dangerous. The monsters there were far stronger then on Coccon, and it wasn't the easiest to find a safe spot to rest for a bit. For all that Lightning was confident in her strength, she wasn't sure how well they would have done if they weren't l'Cie.

❝I'll be happy if I never have too see another Behemoth in my life.❞ Lightning grumbled, making her way towards the campfire that had already been set up. She was exhausted.

Not everyone seemed as tired though, the ever energetic Snow had dragged off Hope and Vanille to hunt for some dinner, with Sazh following to keep an eye on the 'kids'. That left just her and Fang with nothing to do and Lightning had never been good at doing nothing.

Drawing her gunblade out from its sheath, she rested it on her lap as she took as seat, before pulling out a clothe to polish it with. The last thing she needed was blood or some other fluid from monsters rusting it because she neglected to properly care for it.

Glancing across the fire at Fang, Lightning let out a sigh. Although she had grown fond of this group that chance had brought together, she still wasn't very good at small talk. She didn't particularly feel like just sitting in silence though, though she needed to come up with something.

❝Any idea what kind of monsters we might run into as we get closer to Oerba?❞ She asked finally, unable to find any better topic.

[nobleburn]

@timebattle

Once the echo of the cathedral bell had reached the dormitories, Nikolette knew she had only a few minutes to just so happen upon her particular target. Edelgard seemed a diligent and thoughtful student, so it was difficult to imagine her bolting from the classroom at the first available moment, but neither did she give off the air of someone who would unnecessarily waste her professor's time, and linger beyond what was reasonable. Thus, to catch her, Nikolette would have to be quite precise. Well, hardly any challenge for someone like herself.

"Edelgard! Oh, just the girl I was looking for!" Excellent - she'd seen Edelgard exiting the Black Eagles' classroom right as Nikolette herself was rounding the corner from the dormitories, as though heading towards the cathedral, or perhaps the training grounds. Entirely the sort of thing that could have happened by chance, without any prior planning.

But, of course, there was planning - a great deal of it. Dealing with other nobles could be a double-edged sword, so it was important to handle things with care. If some commoner displeased her, it would always be trivial for Nikolette to place her boot upon their forehead and kick them away. With nobles, however, there was always a delicate dance of position. When it came to Edelgard in specific, Nikolette preferred to imagine her as no great threat - she had her own country to run, and thus it was greatly unlikely that she'd hold any affections for Prince Dimitri. Still, it could hardly hurt to be sure.

With one gloved hand at her chest and the other gently extended towards Edelgard in friendly gesture, Nikolette smiled. "If you have the time, would you like to have tea with me? Or, perhaps a meal? I hear the dining hall has sauteed pheasant today." Among the more popular dishes, in her estimation, and one that wouldn't last for long, thus requiring a quick decision should one wish to partake. She and Edelgard weren't exactly close, being in different classes, and having only had a few brief interactions at the academy so far, but surely it would be difficult to turn down such a 'sincere' invitation from a fellow noble. "I'd like to get to know you better, noblewoman to noblewoman."

[lumined]

❝ ever so stubborn, aren’t you? ❞

a quiet sigh falls from squall's lips at the sound of @timebattle's voice, rinoa's voice recognizable even with his eyes closed. he stills as she walks closer, hoping that she takes his silence as a sign he doesn't want to talk. when that results in her tease, icy hues finally open to give her a withering stare that would send anyone backing away. it doesn't have this effect on the girl though, and another sigh falls from his lips, more audible than the last. it still confused him why selphie and the others were so insistent on holding the garden festival, and why he had to be involved. why his opinion even mattered when all he tried to do was keep his distance. he removes his hands from his pockets in favor of crossing them over his chest, though squall isn't outright dismissing rinoa either. in fact, he takes him only but a moment longer to reply, his eyes falling to the paper in her hands.

❝ i could say the same to you, you know. i don't even know what instruments would sound good together, i thought i made that obvious. ❞

blood and darkness ━ accepting

[nobleburn]

@timebattle

It was to the benefit of Nikolette von Brandt's romantic ambitions to keep an eye upon her fellow students. For one year, at a particularly mercurial time, all the noble scions in Fódlan (and, whichever unimportant rustics had managed to claw their way in) would be gathered together in one location. Naturally, when it came to such attractive, well-to-do people, of marriageable age, anyone with proper foresight would be thinking of their future. It stood to reason, then, that Nikolette would have to guard carefully her own prospects.

In her own House, there was little to be concerned about. Neither Annette nor Mercedes were any great threat to her, and Ingrid... well, Nikolette had loved dearly her cousin from the moment she had met her, but anyone with eyes could see she lacked for certain feminine charms. Then, what competition could she have for Prince Dimitri's hand? The Goneril girl from the Golden Deer, perhaps, though Nikolette suspected her too gaudy and shameless for Prince Dimitri's tastes. That left, likely, only Edelgard.

Of course, Edelgard von Hresvelg had her own country to run, and surely her own ambitions. Even in their brief interactions, Nikolette couldn't see her abdicating her throne in Enbarr for one aside the King of Faerghus. Yet, one could never be too careful. She was, after all, an extremely impressive woman. Nikolette could never have forgiven herself if she was outmaneuvered on the battlefield of love by anyone, even Edelgard.

It followed, then, that she'd need to keep an eye on her, to ensure she wasn't getting too intimate with Faerghus' future king. "Edelgard! There you are - I was just looking for you!" Wrapping her arm around the shorter girl's shoulder as soon as she'd reached her, Nikolette beamed. "Are you busy? Ah, what a preposterous question. Surely, you're always rather busy, aren't you? But you simply must make time for leisure!" Surely her tall and menacing shadow must have been lurking somewhere nearby, though he'd done well in keeping out of her sight. Don't worry, Hubert, Nikolette thought to herself, I'm not doing anything untoward.

In fact, although her primarily goal in cozying up to Edelgard's side was guaranteeing that the Imperial Princess wouldn't have her head turned by a particularly handsome blond prince, Nikolette would be lying to say that was her only intention. Truthfully, she enjoyed Edelgard's company. Her family's unique position being what it was, Nikolette had few friends as a child - even Ingrid had been kept away from her. Besides foreign tutors and her family's servants, the days of her youth had been so sparsely populated. When it came to those around her own age, and fitting her social class? There had been nearly none at all.

Edelgard, though, was someone entirely on her level, such that there was no trouble interacting with her. Better yet, her own classmates seemed to give her a wide berth at times. Were they so easily cowed by Edelgard's title? How piteous, though Nikolette would not fall into a similar trap. After all, she was peerless herself in all matters! "I've heard tell that inclement weather forced some merchants specializing in sumptuous goods to seek shelter at the monastery rather than continue through the mountains, though they intend to leave upon the morrow." Indeed, shopping! A perfectly pleasant activity to engage in alone, or with another. "I must insist that you clear your schedule and accompany me for the afternoon. It'll be delightful!"

[fcntasyadvcnturc]

timebattle cont from here

aerith looks at zack with a QUIET amusement. she hadn't expected, when she'd died, to be reunited with zack, her SOLDIER boy. seeing him again had somehow made all of this WORTH it. watching the way he crossed his arms, rubbed his nose and grinned at her. it was like coming HOME.

and THEN he grew serious, showing how much he'd grown up. he was no longer the boy she'd first met in the church. he'd experienced so much, just like SHE had. they were both different and perhaps he was right. perhaps she HAD changed the most. for the BETTER, she hoped.

her heart SHATTERED a little at his words. she still wanted to be the girl he'd met and to think he couldn't see that anymore, it was enough to let a few TEARS roll down her cheeks. ❛❛ i'm still that girl you met. i've just ... changed. ❜❜

she laughed, though the laughter came out SHAKY, and nodded. aerith could definitely kick ASS these days. well, not so much now. ❛❛ yes, i can! ❜❜ she pointed at him and winked. ❛❛ so you'd best be on your BEST behaviour, kay? ❜❜

[fcntasyadvcnturc]

@timebattle asked: I think about you more than I should. More than is probably healthy. - from Dorian, to Sorscha.

sorscha hides a smile, her cheeks dusted with a pink glow. “is that so, your highness?” finally turning to look him square in the face, radiant smile on show, sorscha takes a step forward. “perhaps i should make a tonic for you, hm? to take those thoughts away. unless, of course, you wish to continue thinking of me?” she holds her breath, then, anticipation squirrelling in her gut, nestling with the butterflies fluttering in her stomach to the point it aches. it always aches when he’s near.