Master of Schemes

Anime ya manga de onajimi no bīfu sutoroganofu

Anna had been tidying up her temporary business stall when the prospects of gold came calling her name. From a young man in attire adorned with gold accents ironically.

 “So the golden deer house leader comes by with the promise of a lifetime huh?” She answered playfully. “What’s the catch?”  The shop keep leaned upon her stall, an elbow upon it so she could prop her head upon her palm. The smile she had hadn’t left her features, but she was most assuredly in the game of being playful today.  “I don’t doubt your hard earned coin, I don’t think it’s dirty, but it’s you I’m dealing with and I’ve kept my nose to the ground. What’s the name of the game today?”

   Ah, he’s greeted with more playful mischievousness. Truly fate was aligning with him this day. The man doesn’t skip a beat, he casually seating himself upon an open spot on the stall, grin never leaving his features.

          “A little birdie told me that there MIGHT, just hear me, MIGHT be a new item or two that would aid in my poison making schemes. You know me, a connoisseur of all things in this field.”

   It wouldn’t be the first time nor the last time he sought out new herbs and the like for his concoctions of both boon and bane to mankind.

          “Well then. What have we here, so many goods and discounts and I -- “

   There’s a loud JINGLE of coins as he lifts a rather hefty coin purse, shaking it a bit.

          “ -- Am hard pressed to relieve myself of some of this weight. Whaddya say? Think we can strike a deal, madam?”

《Empress》

“I figured you wouldn’t have anything on hand, since this was a surprise after all.” Edelgard remarked on Claude’s comment. As he unwrapped the gift, it was a small box, within was paper wrapped gloves.. However, these gloves were not made of leather or any other durable material. At least, not common in glove making.

Claude now held a pair of scaled gloves. Wyvern scales to be accurate. “Those were specially commissioned by the best craftsman I could find. I provided the scales and they did an amazing job. Wyvern scales are still durable when they fall off, but they become malleable when shed. I figured your hands are vital to your.. strategies. Would be a waste if someone took you by surprise.”

The gloves were white and yellow. The yellow scales seemed dyed as they made an ornate pattern. Almost like a spiral around the gloves and fingers.There were 3 layers. The first layers were scales. The second was a chainmail, and the third was padding or leather. It would be hard to tell. But they were big enough that the three layers didn’t totally hold his hands hostage. Much like his current black leather ones.  “And they are also handy on fending off weak blows from daggers and swords. I do hope this is a sufficient gift for you, Claude.” 

The Emperor was pleased with how they turned out. It took a fair amount of time and scavaging around the stables of Claude’s personal white Wyvern. Hours upon hours looking for large enough scales to be consistent. It was only until the craftsman spoke that any size scale would work did she loosen on her hunt for specific size. She done this in secret of course. Especially when she tended to the stables.

“A dinner made by you? I can only hope it’s as good as other’s say… I’d enjoy that.”

   A whistle was let out as he beheld the gloves. Wyvern scales... Durable. Flexible. He pulled one of the gloves on, stretching and closing his hand a few times to test how they felt. Perfect... Almost like they were custom made to HIS hand size. 

          “These are perfect, Edelgard. Flexible enough to notch an arrow... Strong enough to block a blow. I will cherish them... Annnd whenever I let an arrow fly, you’ll be on my mind.”

   With that, a wink is given her way, before he carefully replaces them back in the box. These would need to be put with his battle uniform.

          “Well... I’m not trying to brag, but I DO know how to make a kitchen sing for me, so I trust the food will be a melody of taste for you. Come to the cafeteria after eight tonight... Talk to Hilda, she’ll lead you to where you need to go. Until then...”

@crescentarrows​

《Empress》

“You are quite the hard individual to find, despite your constant running about.” Edelgard quoted. Finally finding Claude alone. The Emperor wasn’t wearing her large red dress or armor. It was a holiday, so she dressed casually.. As casually a noble could.

“Now then. Now that I have you… Here.” She would hold out a rectangle wrapped present. “This is for you. I heard it was custom to exchange gifts with friends on this particular holiday.” 

   Now when Claude found himself approached by Edelgard, he was fully expecting to be chastised for... Well. SOMETHING. There always seemed to be ONE thing around that would cause the woman to huff or sigh... He KINDA looked forward to it in the day.

      Not that he’d ever fully admit that.

   However, when she says her piece and holds out a gift, the man finds himself... Well ASTONISHED actually. 

          “A gift for me? You really didn’t have to, I appreciate it though.”

   He thanked, as he began to unwrap the gift.