carpe diem! @zweiflugelig - Tumblr Blog

do you take face card?

sword +1

Not trying, Shez says. If only it were that easy...

"With my beauty, it is quite effortless—but work does go into this, you know. The perfect hairstyle, just the right makeup, a cute outfit to highlight your best charm points...." She hums, "It was something of an arena of its own, back in Elusia. Beauty and acclaim often went hand in hand."

Goldmary stops a moment, leaning close to the mercenary to get a better look at her face. "You could absolutely manage it, Shez. You've got a natural, untapped beauty to you. Stunning without even trying..."

She reaches out, lightly threading her fingers through purple locks. "Imagine what we could do with a nice dress or suit, some makeup, a little fluffing of the hair..." Humming to herself, Goldmary pulls back. "But that won't be needed. With my flawless instruction, we'll have you charming these merchants by the end of the day."

"I don't take you for the biggest flirt... but you're spunky, and cute, and fun. Try to strike up conversation with one of the shopkeepers. Smile, look like you're interested, compliment the merchandise... both on the shelves and off... then see how they melt."

zweiflugelig

"Hehe... C-C'mon, Goldmary, you don't gotta flatter me." Shez's laugh is a little high, suddenly nervous and flustered. Damn it. She eyes Goldmary's hand in her hair and, for the first time in her life, hopes her hair's soft and shiny enough to pass inspection. Shez cares about looking clean and presentable. Anything beyond that has always been something beyond her means and more work than she cares to do. That's what makes Goldmary so impressive; it can't be easy maintaining her looks or wrapping men around her fingers, but she's makes it seem effortless. In Shez's eyes, it's a mark of a true master.

"What, like now?" Shez asks incredulously. "I mean, I could try but I'm not that good at flirting. I'm not good with words like that." Sometimes she has to borrow lines from books just to get her point across, for gods' sake! A one liner now and then is fine, but not a whole... flirty conversation!

"Plus... I dunno, what if he flirts back? What do I even say—'Sorry, not actually interested'?" Shez grimaces at such a scummy idea. "I'd feel awful."

#t. do you take face card?#goldmaries

ulircursed

paint me a future in pastel hues

⤷ mission board: anniversary 2024 — any skill +1

ulircursed

Andrei’s shoulders draw up, face heating as the lady almost laughs at him — he can tell! Still, he tries his best not to pout. It’s not polite, his etiquette tutor said, especially in front of company. That means all other people, but especially in front of strangers. So he tries to stand up straight and look polite.

“My name is Andrei, of House Yngvi,” he says automatically, mind still turning over what she had said previously. Officers Academy... He'd never heard of it called that, but...

“Do you mean Belhalla Academy?” Father had talked about it before. He said it’s a school, like tutors but not at home, and that people go there to learn to fight well. It's also rather far away from home, but another idea occupies Andrei's thoughts at the moment.

It’s probably not polite, but this might be the only chance he ever gets in a long, long time.

“That means you're good at fighting, right? Will you teach me how? Please?” Andrei looks up at Shez, eyes wide and shining with sudden determination, “I’m not old enough to go to the Academy, but I need to learn how to be stronger to save my Lady Sister!”

zweiflugelig

Shez nods slowly, as if Andrei's introduction totally didn't confuse her. House Yngvi doesn't found familiar. And Belhalla Academy? That's, uh... new. "No, it's the Officers Academy. At Garreg Mach Monastery?" Gods she hopes that rings some bells for the little guy. You'd have to live under a rock to not know about Garreg Mach Monastery.

That, or not be from Fódlan entirely. It's looking more and more likely. Though that doesn't explain Andrei's worrying about pirates thousands of miles from the shore...

“What’s this about your sister? She needs to be saved?” Shez doesn’t want to doubt the little guy, especially with how agitated he seems about wanting to fight and protect her, but he did think she was a pirate, so… “Let's go to Garreg Mach first. The people there are pretty nice, they'll be happy to help you find your sister and the rest of your family."

Shez doesn't know much about Andrei, but there's a stubbornness to him that worries her. "I'll teach you some of the basics on fighting once we get there, I promise. Merc's honor!"

#t. paint me a future in pastel hues #ulircursed

zweiflugelig

Shez can't help but chuckle a little as he steps up to other Shez.

"I'm kinda glad I went with this...but it might've been fun to watch people get confused all night." The academy's evening wear had been tempting, way too much so but...he wanted to do something just a little more special...a little more him.

He takes a step back and does a small spin, letting the sleeves flow and show off bare arm.

"It was so much work to get my hair to stay right too! Ugh...I kinda get why some clients take forever when they're getting escorted...but did I...do good?"

He had already had enough confirmation in the confines of his head but...it was a normal feeling to want to hear it from someone he cared about, right?

"It's nice that I don't have to wash this tomorrow," Shez admits with a laugh. Sure, it would've been cool to wear a dress totally unique to her... but the rental is more practical, right? Cheaper than a new dress, and it's out of her hands by tomorrow morning. Where else is a mercenary like her going to wear a fancy dress?

Still, Shez oohs and ahhs at her brother's outfit. Her eyes light up at the sight of glittering tinsel in his purple hair. It's not the stiff suit-and-tie that she sees other students where, but something breezy and free. Actually, it kinda reminds her of Arval. Shez wonders if her brother knows about them... no, probably not.

"Yeah, hair's such a pain," Shez agrees. If she doesn't keep up with it, it turns into a thick, knotted rat's nest. "But seriously, you look great! It really came together in the end."

(Her eyes land on her choker around his neck. Yeah... she'll have to write that one off as a loss.)

"Did you make it yourself?" She asks curiously. "What gave you the idea?"

bladeunbound

"...as long as I don't spill anything on it, it's fine...right?" He hadn't had clothing like this before and he was already pretty conscious of the fact that the ends of the sleeves were getting kinda sandy colored, but that just added character to it! "Thanks...It seemed like a lost opportunity if I didn't." A hand rubs behind his neck and fingers run over the back of choker that holds on for dear life.

The idea...if they were well, whatever they were in reality...she probably knew about Arval too, right? He could probably be a little sneaky about probing... "A friend of mine dresses kinda similarly so I wanted to match with em. It was good luck it all ended up working out."

"Anyways, I don't think I could've if I tried. I kinda...just worked under one of the tailors in town, like pretty much an errand boy and when they got some stuff they said they couldn't use I asked em to keep it for me! Most of this is fabric some noble didn't like the feel of and well, you already know how they are. Hard to find use for smaller bundled I guess." Still, he smiles. "They did teach me how to make the holes in my stuff look way neater so if you ever get a rip or something I can help you out now!" And smile grows sheepish when he realizes...he got so caught up in himself he really didn't say much. "You look really pretty- if someone tries to bother you send me at em, no hesitation, ok?" He knew she could handle herself, probably better than he could but...it was the sentiment that counted sometimes.

zweiflugelig

Shez pauses. She’s never seen her brother so… like this. Seeking her approval as if he needs it.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” Her voice softens, one hand patting his shoulder reassuringly. Then, jokingly in hopes of bringing a smile to his face, “Just don’t go drinking too much, yeah? One stumble and you won’t be matching with your friend anymore.”

His clothes remind her of Arval. Shez isn’t sure what to do with that thought. And of course Arval is no help on the matter. “Ooh, scrap fabric? Nice! Yeah, it’s hard to figure out what to do with the smaller bits. I’m not too crafty, so all I can manage are patches for my clothes. But making actual clothes out of scraps? That’s talent.” While Shez already knows some sewing basics, she’s interested to see what her brother’s learned from this master tailor. “Yeah, show me what he taught you next time!”

Then, Shez giggles. Her brother wants to protect her? “D’aww, you’re sweet.” She pinches his cheek with a playful grin. “I’m a big girl, I can handle myself. But I’ll keep you in mind in case I come across an asshole that can’t take a hint.” A wink. "A few good punches, how's that sound?"

#toaball2025 #bladeunbound #LATE BUT THEY....#regret not participating in the ball more between both muses but im glad the shezzes had this :pleading:

zweiflugelig

shez makes a bedframe out of galvanized square steel

+1 heavy armor

bladeunbound

"Can't we just give or take a few years-" Jokingly he whined out as he settled for hefting up a box of...screws? Nails? Whatever it was it rattled despite the weight. There were sure to la- "Ten thousand? Somehow I believe it. I mean the monastery itself is probably that old too right?" Shez hummed. "I mean as long as it works I guess? Nobles have some pretty weird tastes maybe its the 'fashionable' new trend." There was something about this all that he couldn't help but enjoy. Sure they were doing their work but it really didn't feel all to much like it. He walks past to put three small beams under each arm and a curious glance is thrown to her. "I thought they were like...overexaggerating it you know. Shouldn't way more people be dead?" Maybe he just didn't think Sylvain was telling it all, he didn't, no noble ever really showed their full hand but guess that wasn't the case. "Leicester had it...real bad. Flying it solo because every company I contracted with got wiped out was...pretty terrifying. That was all over?" Man if he wasn't grateful to Arval before...he definitely had to be now. "I can't even imagine it- you have your sword on you though, right?"

zweiflugelig

“Nope,” Shez corrects, “the monastery is only a thousand years old.” She may not be a follower of Seiros, but that particular bit of trivia is hard to avoid here. “Close to it, at least. There’s supposed to be a festival celebrating it’s thousandth anniversary or something like that in a few years.” Only a thousand years, as if that’s not an absurd amount of time on its own. Shez can’t imagine anything that’s ten times as old as the monastery. The ocean? The moon? Is it possible for any person to make that sort of impact on the world, one that can be felt ten thousand years into the future?

While Arval salivates at these kinds of questions, it’s too philosophical for Shez to wrap her head around, so she leaves it at that while she looks for some rope.

“Hey, that’s a good thing, isn’t it? Not as many people dying in the siege. I’m pretty happy that I survived at least.” Shez begins tying some of the smaller pipes into a bundle, something easier to carry. “And… it was nice not having to fend for myself. Don’t get me wrong, it was rough living, but what merc isn’t used to that? Just that… I’ve been flying solo for a couple months myself, before the Officers Academy that is. I forgot how nice it is to have people by your side during a rough patch.”

She gives the other Shez a sympathetic glance. Losing Berling’s Mercenaries to the Ashen Demons had been a devastating blow on its own. Everything blowing up in Fódlan would’ve made it ten times worse. Thankfully her brother seemed to make it out alright, especially considering he’s also a student here.

Shez makes a surprised noise at her brother’s question. “Uh, right now?” Usually she carries her iron sword in a sheath tied to her belt, but this time she went without it. There is that special sword, but she wanted to lay low about that. “What, you wanna spar?”

#t. shez makes a bed frame out of galvanized square steel #bladeunbound #shez thinking about arval in the back of her head but also being like “and now how am i supposed to tell him i have a voice in my head”#she doesn't know chat

Shez can't help but chuckle a little as he steps up to other Shez.

He takes a step back and does a small spin, letting the sleeves flow and show off bare arm.

"It was so much work to get my hair to stay right too! Ugh...I kinda get why some clients take forever when they're getting escorted...but did I...do good?"

He had already had enough confirmation in the confines of his head but...it was a normal feeling to want to hear it from someone he cared about, right?

"Yeah, hair's such a pain," Shez agrees. If she doesn't keep up with it, it turns into a thick, knotted rat's nest. "But seriously, you look great! It really came together in the end."

(Her eyes land on her choker around his neck. Yeah... she'll have to write that one off as a loss.)

"Did you make it yourself?" She asks curiously. "What gave you the idea?"

#toaball2025 #bladeunbound #it's not too late to switch outfits bro #except maybe not bc i dont think shez would get her deposit back :crylaugh:

"Big si- Ah- Shez!" Sure he was always gonna call her that in his head but it still felt kind of funny calling out to her like that. Was probably way more apt considering what he was about to ask for. "You know they changed the whole ball venue right? 'Course it had to be the year we were here but...never been to a beach party so it's probably way more my style anyways." Standing in her doorway, arms full of a bundle of clothes he smiled. "Speakin of style...I was wondering, you got any spare chokers? I was about to get a good deal on an outfit but...I dunno it feels like it's missing something like that. I can do your chores one day to pay you back for it!"

"Shez!" Shez isn't sure if she'll ever get used to calling someone else by her own name, but she's gotta admit that it brings a smile to her face. As it turns out, it's pretty fun having a little brother! "Yeah, isn't it cool? All the balls I've been to have been stuffy and boring, so I'm excited for this one!"

Shez peeks down at the bundle of white fabric in her brother's arms. Clothes? Hopefully not for her. She already put the deposit down on her outfit and it's nonrefundable. "Oh, a choker? I think I have an extra one running around somewhere, though... 'cuse me!" She puts one hand on her brother's neck, gently wrapping her fingers around it and gauging its size. "...You know it'll be a little small on you, right? If you stretch my choker into a garter, you'll be doing chores for a week," Shez teases with a light, playful squeeze of his neck before releasing him. "And show me what you're wearing! Gotta make sure it's up to my standards."

#answered #bladeunbound #thank you! the sibs...

zweiflugelig

something in the water

One of the biggest differences between the surface and this tucked-away-village? No magic allowed. It poisons the well - literally. No one knows why, but all spells down here take on the aspect of dark magic, and the earth is quick to claim it. [...] Reason +1

zweiflugelig

The best way to make a good impression on someone is to do something useful for them. Here, Shez thought that would look like making one of her famous throw-it-all-together-and-make-it-taste-good stews to warm the villagers’ bellies. Nope! They want their murder basement cleaned out.

…Ah, maybe that’s too harsh. It’s supposed to be nothing more than an underground bunker to stockpile food for the winter. Still, Shez doesn’t have a good feeling about this place. As she goes down the stairs, every step seems to wobble beneath her feet, creaking as though it might break under her weight at any moment. The further down they go, the darker it gets, the more cramped their surroundings, and the pit in Shez’s stomach grows deeper. By the time they finally find the wooden door to the cellar, she debates turning around and going back up. Unlikely, given her giant dark friend shuffling behind her like a fat rat in a pipe.

At least it’ll be quick. Shez pushes open the door to a musty room filled with sacks of grain and rusted tools. Between the acrid stench of ammonia and the dark pellets scattered on the floor, it’s clear that the village has a rat problem. Shez tries not to breathe in too much. “Watch your head”, she warns Griss. “It’s still cramped here. Nearly ate a spider coming in.”

@twistedisciple

#t. something in the water #twistedisciple #here you go!#if i had a nickel for every time ree was involved in magic going weird and scary in leicester. i'd have two nickels. which isnt a lot b

zweiflugelig

do you take face card?

sword +1

ulirblessed

With a lowered price and bonus Fire tome, Shez returns with her spoils, and Goldmary can only hum at the prideful display. "Well, that was certainly impressive. But the instruction isn't necessary—I can net a discount just fine."

Golden hues scan the marketplace, landing on another sword vendor. Just from a glance, the weapons looked to be in decent shape, though there wasn't much business. An ideal setup...

"Watch." She trills, raising her voice slightly as she approaches the stall, "Why hello, sir... I couldn't help but notice the weapons at your stall, and how impressive they look..." She smiles, her voice sweet. "The swords, in particular?"

"E-Eh?" He turns with surprise, as if he hadn't been expecting a customer at all. "Well then, what's a sweet lass like you know about weapons?"

She giggles, "Enough to get me by. The world is much more dangerous these days. I was hoping to buy one of my own... practice, and whatnot. I'm sure an expert like you would have an idea of what fits me best..."

He gives her a once over, and she can almost see the scoff in his eyes. "You sure about that? These are pretty high-quality weapons, and my lowest runs for about 1500G. Maybe something more novice would be to your liking."

1500G? Goldmary tries not to scoff herself. Who did this man think he was? Think SHE was?

"Mm, really? That is a bit steep..." She leans forward, gingerly reaching for a slim sword on display. Certainly not expensive enough to run for 1500G. Her lips pucker just so, for a perfectly telegraphed pout. "It's just. I haven't been able to find any other shop that will sell with my budget. Times are... hard. And I don't have much money, but..."

Eyelashes flutter as she glances over at him, a finger twirling the end of the braid rested on her shoulder. It draws his eyes downward, his gaze lingering on the obvious spot, and he coughs.

"We can sort out a deal, can't we?" She coos, "Who knows, you may even get a new regular out of it."

"Well, that—that is one of my cheaper ones. Guess I could knock 700G off, if you really need it... wouldn't want a lass like you getting hurt out there. Lots of shady types lurking on the roads."

Goldmary frowns, "...That's 800G..." She folds her arms underneath her chest, hand stroking her cheek thoughtfully. "Could we make it 600, maybe? I'm so sorry, if I had more money, I could..."

"...Sure, lass. Just this once. Just to help ya get by." He pauses a moment, and then, "And if you need any help with yer sword practice, I'm a pretty decent hand, myself..."

She smiles, "Thank you, but you've shown me enough kindness. I'll manage. And if I ever stop by this town again, I'll be sure to pay you a visit." Handing over the money, Goldmary retrieves a new slim sword, returning to Shez with a flip of the hair.

"See? Simple."

zweiflugelig

“Yeah, yeah,” Shez dismisses Goldmary playfully, still riding high on her success. “Get a better discount than me and then we can talk.” Not that it’s likely. 700G for an iron sword and a Fire tome? It’s the best deal she’s pulled off in months! No way Goldmary can beat that.

And yet, somehow, she does. 100G less out of her pocket for a more specialized sword that should’ve been more expensive than the standard iron. Not only that, Goldmary didn’t even break a sweat. Shez barters by cornering and wearing down her opponent, as spirited and assertive as she is in battle. Goldmary didn’t have to do any of that work. Honestly as far as Shez saw, she just played with her hair, sounded all sweet, and suddenly the shopkeep seemed ready to give her half the shop if she asked for it. Damn, she’s good!

Shez whistles once Goldmary returns. “Woo! Alright, I know when I’ve been beat. You’re good! From where I was standing it looked like you weren’t trying at all. Hehe, meanwhile if I batted my eyes and tried to sweet-talk my way into a discount, I’d get laughed right out the door. You make it look so easy!”

#t. do you take face card?#goldmaries

♡

"To be honest, I'm still put off by how Professor Yunaka went after me in the Battle of the Eagle and Lion. I wanted to tell her that making a big fuss about her secret kiss is just going to spread the news and make more people curious—I think it's called the von Streisand Effect?—but I figured she'd just get more pissed.

"That said, she got me a birthday present! Not that it makes everything better, but at least she's not a total bitch. Do you think she'd let me give her a present too? Or would she just get mad for no reason again..."

#answered #dcggersedge #shez thinks that they COULD get along (because she tends to get along with people) but is still a little wary #the birthday present was a major thumbsup move from yunaka tho #thank you!

lyricsxmusings

Send ♡ to see what my muse thinks of yours

LOW | ●●●●● | HIGH

#ask meme #lets try it!#you can also send hearts to alcryst

"happy birthday, Shez!"

his words came brightly—more like a proclamation than a passing greeting. it was unmistakably Ferdinand, voice carrying with the kind of genuine joy that turned heads, even when he wasn't trying to. in his hands, wrapped neatly in plum-colored paper and tied with a violet ribbon, was a small gift box.

"i had these commissioned some weeks ago," he explained, placing it carefully in her hands. "since Aegir, I have been meaning to thank you." sheepishly, he scratched the back of his head. "i thought it would be most undeserving for you to head into battle with frayed seams on your gloves, so I made you a new set just in case."

inside: a pair of fingerless gloves, dark leather with an easy fit, the knuckles reinforced and the stitching strong. but the detail—the care—was in the embroidery. small, deliberate violets, stitched in muted purples along the sides and cuffs. understated, but unmistakable.

"violets," he said, clearing his throat. "they symbolize loyalty and courage… and i could think of no better emblem to gift someone like you."

he straightened then, a flicker of warmth in his smile. "may they serve you well, wherever you go. do not deny yourself your own brand of peace."

he hesitated, before adding a bit more quietly, "you deserve it. truly."

Ferdinand's being a little quiet. Shez would like nothing more than to pump some life back into the conversation—this isn't a day for introspection, it's a day to eat the biggest hunk of meat you can get and scour for cakes from bakeries closing for the day.

It's honestly the nicest thing someone's ever gotten her, perhaps the nicest thing she owns. The quality is exactly what you'd expect from the prime minister's son. The violets are such a cute touch that it seems wasted on gloves like these, who will never be this clean again. Funny, because loyalty and mercenaries are usually completely opposite. Stunned that he had been thinking of her since then.

"Thanks Ferdinand." Mercenaries and loyalty don't always go together. But they can for a friend. You sure about the gloves? They really are nice. But they're meant to be used. The flowers might not be the same. Ferdinand placed a lot of importance in things like symbolism.

It's not everyday that one of the most prominent names in Fódlan wishes you a happy birthday. "Hehe, thanks! I never imagined that a bigshot noble like you would want to celebrate my birthday." Birthdays come and pass on the job all the time—the nobles they work for never make note of it, not that Shez thought they needed to. Just acknowledging the day would have been more than enough for her.

So Shez is dumbfounded when Ferdinand goes on about commissioning something, how he's had this on his mind for weeks now. The box he gives her is made of a fine paper, far more pleasant to the touch than the parchment she's used to writing on. Rich purple hues like these are hard to come by in Shez's world. Shez is uncharacteristically careful as she unwraps the gift, trying her best not to tear up what seems to be incredibly expensive paper.

"Gloves?" Shez grins giddily. A pair of fingerless gloves finer than all the clothes on her back. The quality in the stitching and materials is fitting a prime minister's son. They'll last a long time, exactly what she wants. Shez finally catches the embroidered violets by the glove's cuffs, adding a sort of sophisticated pizzazz to the whole thing. "Thanks, Ferdinand! This is the nicest thing anyone's ever gotten me. I mean, you didn't have to do it... but I'm glad you did. I appreciate it, seriously."

Loyalty, huh... it's an odd choice of flower for a mercenary. "Hey. If you ever need anything, just holler for me, alright?" There's an introspective mood in the air that Shez clears right away with a solid clap on Ferdie's back. "I bet Aegir's a great place to be when it's not drowning in weird doom energy."

#answered #nobilisseoblige #ferdie!! thank you!!#take a good look at those gloves now bc they will never be that clean again

“Well can definitely rule out us being twins!”

He had hoped to meet her on the mock battlefield but in hindsight, he wasn't sure that would've worked out in his favor.

“I don't think I’d misremember my birthday.”

But he had asked around about hers which had been a deluge of people questioning if he had. Definitely would have to apologize for that later but for now, from behind his back he held out a sword.

“The edge is pretty easy to keep maintained even with the lowest quality whetstones around so it'll never go dull on you. I don't have the slightest idea how that works but I made sure to test it so I know it works well.”

It still felt a little weird. It had always just been mom. That there was someone else out there he could consider family…the words felt a little funny coming out as he gave her the best smile he could.

“Happy birthday, big sis!”

"Hey, if you actually know when you were born, you're already better off than me!" The first day of the Great Tree Moon is a day that Shez chose for herself when she was a little girl. To this day she doesn't know when she was born, only that she loved the new year celebrations that came with today and wanted her birthday to be a part of it. The presents, in comparison, are a little less important. Just a little.

Shez gladly takes the sword in her own hands, testing its weight and sharpness. "Good pick!" She praises, smiling. "Easy to maintain, you love to hear it. I'll bring this with me next time I have a job." Shez may have her strange sword that she can summon at will, but she still likes having a normal one to keep at her hip. "Thank you!"

Big sis. Shez pauses. Honestly, she's still getting used to the idea of having a brother, twin or not. But hearing those words out of Male-Shez's mouth... it warms her heart, inspiring a matching smile. "Aww, Shez...!

"C'mere!" Sword tossed aside, Shez throws an arm over her little brother's shoulders and brings him down. She rubs his head vigorously, mussing up his hair. She's seen other mercs in the past do this with their own siblings... it's awesome getting to do this herself. "You gotta tell me your birthday so that I can get you something too!"

#answered #bladeunbound #THANK YOU BABY BRO... :oldplead:#your honor: them!!!

Annoyances aside, she can't let a birthday go past unacknowledged. The idea of someone being ignored doesn't sit right with her, and she's the last person who's going to be responsible for something like that happening.

So, it's not much, but once she hunts the student down she presents her with a neatly wrapped bundle. "You were a merc, right?" Yunaka had sort of been one, at one point, for a very short time. Still, she feels like she has a good idea of what it's like. "Here, figured a break on spending coin on upkeep wouldn't be an unwelcomed gift."

It's just some simple supplies; whetstone, a new cloth, the basics. Still, constantly needing that stuff can get pricey, and coin wasn't always the easiest to come by. Satisfied with the delivery, Yunaka nods and gives Shez the slightest of smiles. "Happy birthday. Try to stay outta trouble, yeah?"

To be honest, Shez has her guard up when she sees the professor approach her again. Their last conversation didn't end well to say the least...

So she's surprised to see Yunaka give her a gift, one that's thoughtfully prepared too. "Oh! Definitely welcome." Shez opens the bundle immediately and takes stock of what's inside. There's nothing out-of-this-world extraordinary about these travel essentials, but they're all things Shez uses and buys fairly regularly. "Heh, it's like you read my mind! It's hard picking up jobs while balancing all these classes and schoolwork, so it's nice to give my wallet a break."

(For now. After some quick mental math Shez realizes that she'll have just enough to treat herself to that nicer bar of soap she's been eyeing. Fancy lavender soap, here she comes!)

"Right! It's my birthday!" Shez's eyes light up, grinning giddily. She doesn't care if it's stupid or childish—even now she loves celebrating her birthday. Hearing those well wishes makes her feel like a kid again, and her heart swells with happiness. "Thanks, professor! Seriously, I appreciate it. As for staying out of trouble..." Shez giggles, shaking her head. "No promises! Trouble's where the jobs are!"

#answered #dcggersedge #THANK YOU PROFESSOR MAYBE YOU AREN'T SO SCARY AFTER ALL

zweiflugelig

Well, now that she's in the med tent, she can at least finish up the business that had started on the battlefield.

"Sheeeez!" Yunaka drawls out the name, all nice and sing-song to contrast how firmly she throws an arm around the other woman's neck. Threatening? Why would it be threatening? All smiles here, that's all. All very sharp, very pointed smiles.

"Let's go have a quick chat, shall we?" She's not giving her an option. She puts all her weight onto Shez with her arm, steering her back towards the opening of the tent in the hopes of getting her out where people are less likely to overhear. "Just a quick one about respect, and boundaries, and keeping out of your professors' personal business."

She might not have been allowed to use them, but she's got plenty of knives on her to help make that point extra sharp, if necessary.

"Uh huh... And it's nothing we can talk about here?"

Shez is still navigating the social norms of being a student among professors. So she tries to remain diplomatic as she digs her heels into the ground, unwilling to get pushed around so easily. Maybe Yunaka is used to throwing her weight around with the students, but Shez is older than a handful of these kids and dealt with this sort of thing before.

So she turns to face Yunaka, meeting her eyes in slight challenge. Shez doesn't want to start a fight, but like hell she'll roll over either. "Look, if it's about what I said during the battle, I didn't mean anything by it. Just some friendly trash talk, you know?" Or maybe she doesn't, Shez needs to keep that in mind too. "I just said something random and it happened to stick. Honest. I'm really not that interested in what you do in your personal life, Professor. Who you kiss or don't kiss isn't my business. I'm pretty sure we can agree on that."

dcggersedge

Shez digs her heels in, and it's only out of respect for how good of a fight it had been in the end that she lets her slide out of Yunaka's grip without too much of a fuss. She's not happy, obviously, but a quick glance around and hoping really hard that everyone is too busy with their own drama to listen is really the best she can do right now.

She doesn't drop the smile just yet, but it does get thin as she presses her lips together. She curls her hands into fists and rests them on her hips. The nails digging into her palms makes a good distraction to keep her from glaring the student down. "Uh huh? So you just happened to land on that subject randomly, that's it?" What part of that had been friendly?

She doesn't like people knowing her business, and Alear doesn't need rumors about him floating around. Not to mention the other very real threat of what happened with that other person she kissed, and how horribly bad and dangerous for Yunaka that had been if people knew about what Shamir had said.

She watches Shez silently for a moment before, abruptly, brightening back into a more cheerful smile. "Right! Totally not your business. So not your business that you can forget about it completely and never ever mention it to anyone else, right?"

zweiflugelig

What’s a school appropriate way of saying don’t get your panties in a twist? “That’s it. It’s really not that deep.”

(Though now Shez is curious. Who gives a shit if you kiss someone? Unless that someone was scandalously important! Why else would Yunaka lose her mind over something so stupid?)

It’s all smiles with Yunaka now, but Shez isn’t convinced they’re real anymore. “Uh, right. Nothing to mention. Can I go now?”

#dcggersedge #toaboel2025 #did you kiss the Archbishop professor???

Well, now that she's in the med tent, she can at least finish up the business that had started on the battlefield.

She might not have been allowed to use them, but she's got plenty of knives on her to help make that point extra sharp, if necessary.

"Uh huh... And it's nothing we can talk about here?"

#answered #toaboel2025 #dcggersedge #hello yunaka :)#alcryst is not worriedly chewing on his fingernails in my mind palace at all

heavy-draw

Sure, Shez may have lost her fight, but to think that she’d be removed from the battle entirely… ugh, this blows. She’s been more beat up than this before and fought just fine! She’ll die of boredom if she doesn’t do something.

“Hey, uh… Professor?” Shez doesn’t know this woman yet, only that she fought with the Black Eagles. Professor seems like a safe option. “Got anything I can do around here? I can’t stand sitting around…”

Shamir is, unfortunately, confined to the medical tent for the foreseeable future, awaiting care that she really didn't need. Not like it matters, as she's already been disqualified from the tournament thanks to the actions of another boy... who looks a bit like this girl. She doesn't recognize the face or the voice, yet considering the way Shamir is being addressed, it's a safe assumption to make that she's a student. "I wish I could tell you that I did," The archer grumbles, fiddling with the bandage wrapped around her wrist. "I don't care much for it either. I'm sure we could figure something out, though." There's been plenty of people shuffling in and out of the tent, though most aren't as beat up as she would've expected. "There's a makeshift shooting range on the outskirts of the field that was constructed to give people a chance to warm up. We could make a trip there, if the thought suits your tastes."

Is she going to get lectured by the next healer that realizes she snuck out? Yes. Does she care? No.

zweiflugelig

Shez would have preferred something that involved beating things up more directly than what bows and arrows are capable of. That said...

"I do have an archery practical the day after we get back to the monastery." Shez makes a face. She's already dreading going back to Garreg Mach and all the schoolwork that comes with it. "Practicing would probably be a good idea. You're an archer, right? If you could watch and give me some tips, I'd really appreciate it."

#heavy draw #toaboel2025 #realized too late that professor python would NOT be about this so pretend it's some npc we can make fun of

🧃"Good job out there darling! You fought well, Edelgard is a tough opponent."

"Huh? Oh, thanks!" This professor makes an impression on Shez immediately. She's stunning—drop dead gorgeous. Is she a professor? No, Shez would have seen her around, and a lady like this is hard to miss.

"Ah, nice hair! You wear that style better than I do." Purple hair, bangs covering one eye... not the right one like she and Shez has, but the similarity is striking...

(Shez struggles with the juice box. She's never had one before, so it takes her a minute to pierce through the paper with her fingernails. She doesn't notice the straw until it's too late).

"I don't think I know your name yet. The name's Shez. How about you?" PLEASE don't be another Shez PLEASE don't be another Shez PLEASE—

#answered #maligknightsthorns #thank you!

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