AH. now there you mistake me.

who knows what effect that might have? and right now, he's been very pleased with what he has elicited. jakob is so deliciously predictable, the way he flusters and flounders. niles is surprised at how easy it is, but not displeased. his eye flicks toward jakob's throat, noting the way his breathing catches.

he suspected that jakob was precisely as starved for touch as he'd looked.

( there is no banquet too abundant for a man who has been denied, is there? )

he doesn't draw attention to that either, though.

he doesn't want to chase him off, by knowing too much, seeing too much.

"and if i told you i haven't tried this on anyone else? at least not today. what would you think then?" he asks, sliding obediently off jakob's desk and taking care not to tear any papers on his way. "is that really what you think of me? the kind of man to just try and cast a wide enough net as to catch something?"

he's amused, not insulted, but he pretends for a moment that he's very insulted indeed.

he ignores jakob's instruction to leave, at least for now. he'll hold onto that card, play it only when it's less convenient for the other man.

"maybe i really just wanted to get my teeth into you today."

finally kissing the person you’ve been pining for .

a kiss shared during a game  ( truth or dare ,  spin the bottle ,  etc ) .

kissing your lover to show you forgive them .

neck kisses that turn into love bites .

wiping away your lover’s tears as you kiss them .

a kiss to prove you don’t have feelings for them .

a last kiss before one goes away .

biting your lover’s lip amidst a kiss .

an emotional kiss bringing one party to tears .

a kiss while being reunited after a long time .

kissing your lover in a moment of sheer joy .

a kiss while slow dancing .

sharing a spontaneous kiss with a stranger .

an abrupt ,  heated kiss during the middle of a fight .

kissing them to shut them up .

a kiss to wake your lover up in the morning .

sharing a kiss in a heavy downpour of rain .

kissing your partner to seal a marriage .

a possessive kiss that is meant to stake a claim .

a kiss to resolve suppressed romantic/sexual tension .

a kiss attempting to convince the other party to stay .

kissing the top of their head as you hold them .

a risky kiss between forbidden lovers .

stolen kisses while hiding away from a crowd .

a kiss that leaves lipstick stains .

a kiss shared on a rooftop while the sun sets .

a flirtatious kiss on the back of the hand .

sneaking off to a public bathroom to make out .

a kiss on the forehead as the other sleeps .

an  ( accidental / mutually )  drunken kiss .

caging your lover against a wall with your arms to kiss them .

a kiss after joining your lover in the shower .

a kiss after receiving good news .

a tentative ,  exploratory kiss between friends .

a kiss shared between enemies during combat .

kissing your lover after believing you’d lost them .

a kiss after a devastating event ,  meant to comfort .

a possessive kiss in front of a jealous third party .

kissing your lover under the night sky while stargazing .

a kiss between two people in a fake relationship .

a kiss that seals a promise .

kissing your lover lazily first thing in the morning .

holding your lover by the jaw to kiss them .

kissing the tears from their cheeks .

a kiss to your lover’s stomach as you travel down their body .

an abrupt kiss that you melt into after a moment of hesitation .

sleepy ,  domestic morning kisses in the kitchen while making breakfast .

a rushed kiss before one party leaves for work .

But still, having eyes on him always made him feel a little weird. In Fodlan, of course though, it should have been expected. He was a foreigner and a knight who didn't look like much of a knight at all. He didn't like the feeling of all that armor though, made it hard to move quickly. And if he couldn't move quickly, then his sword strikes would be less effective. Simple leather and light shoulder guards suited to wrapping gently around his body were more of his style.

Zihark glances ahead into the cave, usually straight and loose hair tied up with a simple ribbon, unsure of what they would end up finding in there.

The idea of the tide coming in and stranding them in the cave is worrying too. Very well then, they'll just have to get what they want to done before that happens.

"zihark. a pleasure to meet you. you can call me niles."

no more than he would with anyone. but they are to be working together, and so there's a measure of… well, not respect. but he's holding back, okay? he's trying to be nice and personable and friendly.

he is not about to be the first one into the cave, though. he's not feeling that friendly.

niles watches as zihark obediently takes a few steps into the cave. he's right behind him, of course, but he's always reluctant to take the first steps and risk danger, at least with anyone other than lord leo. anyone else? well, it's better to be careful.

he eyes the tide and shrugs.

"dinner, hm? now you're just trying to get something out of me, aren't you?"

the knight he's helping out is not what he typically sees from the profession. this one is more like a mercenary, in demeanor and in the way he's dressed. none of the polished helms he typically associates with the church.

it marks the man as interesting, an anomaly, and most certainly a foreigner. niles wonders, not for the first time, what draws foreigners to this land into positions of knighthood with the church, as so few seem to share religious ties. is it a moral thing? a chivalric code? more and more curious.

questions he'll attempt to ask with effort. but for now... the cave is just ahead. it promises to be both pretty and profitable. too good to be true, if you ask him.

"after you," he says, giving the other man a grand sweeping bow, as if to suggest he go first. "let's see if this place is all it's promised to be."

" my father is a teacher here, isn't he ? i couldn't find him when i first arrived, " shigure allows his arms rest a moment, lowering them with a small stretch of the shoulder. " i had spent so long trying to at least get used to a yumi in hoshido to impress him. but . . . aah, it's a little tough, isn't it ? "

such was an understatement. nina was a skilled shooter, as was niles. he hadn't seen his mother do as much before, but he had no doubt she was the type to take to things quickly. slowly, he pulls the arrow from the ground, poking it into the target as if to visualise how he should aim.

until, he catches sight of him - the man of the hour ! the person he's just looking for.

but he is neat. he is diligent. shigure ensures he hangs his bow up first ( albeit, hurried ), pushing gloved hands down the bowstring to rid it of any marks. then, he inspects the arrowhead for damages, before slipping it into the ' used ' box ( pointed edge down ! ). finally, he dusts his uniform off quickly. black and gold were not really his colors, but . . .

" ah ! father, you've caught me," and so the surprise was over. as he speaks, he moves quickly towards him, sheepish look in hand. " i wanted to surprise you. really, i had worked hard to try and become decent in my aim. but . . . "

oh, what does it matter ? shigure opens his arms, and moves to hug him. "as you can see," he laughs, light and airy. "i'm not there yet."

if it were anyone else, he'd probably laugh.

instead, he just watches, inspecting his form and trying to think in advance of ways he could help him improve. so much of it is muscle memory, things learned through form correction and extensive practice rather than described outright. still, he's seen more hopeless cases here, been the poor sod assigned to helping even them.

as shigure finally notices him, niles can't help but smile.

( something about this boy, bringing out a soft side in him he usually keeps better-hidden )

he immediately moves to hug shigure—tightly as he can. he wonders distantly, and not for the first time, if shigure inherited his sicknesses, his wrongness. if he did, he shows no signs of it. every time he thinks of this, he feels relief. like he is not inherently contaminated, beyond repair. that something good can come from him.

She aches, still, for the promise of a return to something. For the surety she needs, and for a hand to hold onto.

Her name is a lifeline, and it is Niles' voice that tugs her back towards safety. She turns her head and looks at him, disoriented and still confused, her expression lost. Looking at him is like looking at a figure deep below the water, its muddled features hazy and wavering.

Azura tenses her shoulders, draws them in and shrinks on herself. She's always longed for a boat in the middle of the ocean, but she doesn't think she can accept this life raft. Not until she steadies herself.

oh, never mind it.

she looks lost, and he hates that. he doesn't want to look away, though. to see her again... it's all he can do not to pull her into his arms, and damn the consequences, and the thorns.

instead, he unfastens his cloak and drops it onto her shoulders.

"don't you dare tell me to go. not now."

The clanging of steel and frenzied squawking were a sure sign something was happening out there, but in the thick of this smoke he had to simply hope what he was picturing was correct.

He, meanwhile, had found himself dragged into a small comedy skit.

Selkiesheen does not activate! [Roll: 2]

Harken 10/10HP hits Ares 10/10HP with Hrungnir [Roll: 4 + 8 (+4dex/-4avo) = 12, -1.5HP + 4.5def = -0HP]

Sesshoseki activates! -2HP to Harken 10/10HP, Harken 8/10HP.

Harken 8/10HP hits Ares 10/10HP with Hrungnir [Roll: 1 + 8 (+4dex/-4avo) = 9, -1.5HP + 4.5def = -0HP]

Sesshoseki activates! -2HP to Harken 8/10HP, Harken 6/10HP.

"What the--?" The strikes barely registered as a feeling through such thick metal plating. It was much easier to hear their meek claws plinking off his backside instead.

Ares 10/10HP is unable to counterattack!

Turning so sharply in this armor was its own whole trial within this trial though, and so the barrage kept going while he fought just to hobble a single leg.

Harken 6/10HP hits Ares 10/10HP with Hrungnir [Roll: 3 + 8 (+4dex/-4avo) = 11, -1.5HP + 4.5def = -0HP] Sesshoseki activates! -2HP to Harken 6/10HP, Harken 4/10HP Harken 4/10HP crits Ares 10/10HP with Hrungnir [Roll: 17 + 8 (+4dex/-4avo) = 25, -3HP + 4.5def = -0HP] Sesshoseki activates! -2HP to Harken 4/10HP, Harken 2/10HP

By the time he finally finished his trek behind him, the knight was doubled over, fists bashed down into mangled knots, but that wasn't had Ares' eyes widening.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Whatever Harken was saying, Ares shouted right over it. He didn't have the time for niceties or patient elaborations. Already he could feel the ground quaking again from those thunderous hooves, and Ares was breaking his neck trying to arc his head every direction in order to decide which was safest to chase Harken off to.

It shouldn't have even been this hard to shoo an experienced soldier away like this, yet here he was, waving his massive shield like a broom at him, while all this fool responded with was a healing spell.

"Fall back!" Ares didn't know what other language would make it any clearer, so he tried volume. "Leave, before they--!!"

By the light of Harken's staff, a huge silhouette was cut out from the smoke, cutting Ares' bark off with a small gasp.

He was out of time.

The muzzle of the horse was already starting to peek through the last of the smoke when Ares decided to toss Harken aside. A full body check with his inhuman strength was sure to send anyone well on their way, armor or not, and it could not have been a moment later.

Taunt compels The Future to attack Ares! The Future crits Ares with Silence [Roll: 16 + 8 = 24] but Hoplon Guard and Immune Status activate to nullify the crit and status!  The effects of Taunt have worn off! Bond activates! Calm Philosopher 8/10HP recovers +1HP, Calm Philosopher 9/10HP  Calm Philosopher 9/10HP hits Ares 10/10HP with Injector [Roll: 5 + 4 = 9; -1.5 + 4.5 = -0HP, Ares 10/10HP] Ares is unable to counterattack! Sesshoseki activates! -2HP, Calm Philosopher 7/10HP Trample activates! -2HP, Ares 8/10HP The effects of Taunt have worn off!

Both remaining enemies descended on him in an instant, tearing at his armor with everything they had once again before the spell began to wane.

Enough smoke had cleared by now that he could see where they were going, as well as where Harken had ended up. Beaten for sure, but still standing.

Diffuse Heal activates: Ares 8.5/10 HP recovers +0.5HP, Ares 9/10HP Ares 9/10 HP recovers +2HP, Ares 10/10HP

And still able to hand out those heals, most importantly.

"Unless you want to swallow a set of hooves-"

Ares shot Harken a side-eye as he leveled his cannon at the feminine-looking shade, cylinder whirring as it loaded up a fresh set of ammunition.

"--keep your distance."

Selkiesheen does not activate! [Roll: 2] Ares 10/10HP hits 2 enemies with Let Fly [Roll: 14] Target: The Future [-2.5, The Future 4.5/10HP] Target: Calm Philosopher [-2.5 + 4, Calm Philosopher 6/10HP] Seal Movement activates! The Future and Calm Philosopher have been afflicted with Taunt! All Wyrm Blast cannonballs expended!

Part of that was probably partly drowned out by the fresh round of shelling he just pumped out, but he couldn't waste the first good shot he had this whole fight.

That direct set of hits was the last thing he got to see before the veil of smoke went up again --

Taunt compels The Future to attack Ares! The Future hits Ares with Silence [Roll: 13 + 8 = 21] but Immune Status activates to nullify the status!  The effects of Taunt and Bind have worn off! Bond activates! Calm Philosopher 6/10HP recovers +1HP, Calm Philosopher 7/10HP  Calm Philosopher 7/10HP hits Ares 10/10HP with Injector [Roll: 2 + 4 = 6; -1.5 + 4.5 = -0HP, Ares 10/10HP] Ares is unable to counterattack! Sesshoseki activates! -2HP, Calm Philosopher 5/10HP Trample activates! -2HP, Ares 8/10HP The effects of Taunt and Bind have worn off!

-- but when the shades inevitably came for him again, he was very satisfied to see a fair few new gashes disturbing the stability of its form.

their battle is going well enough that he's feeling cocky. more than that, he's feeling mirthful.

( maybe if they finish quickly, he can turn his weapons toward his comrades as well. all in the name of good fun, of course. )

but for now, there is still a little resistance left on the field.

he finally turns his attention to the one in armor, catching him in his sights.

Niles declares Calm Philosopher 5/10HP his target for Valentian Bowmanship. Sue’s Backup activates! -1HP, Calm Philosopher 4/10HPCalm Philosopher’s Defiant Defense activates. Calm Philosopher’s DEF is now +6.

sue's arrow hits a gap in the armor, and something about that strike seems to awaken something in the shadowy figure. agitation, maybe? he can't get a read, likely because this is not a real person.

obfuscated as the figure is, though, niles detects something and grins. he can weaken the man, no problem, all he has to do is strike true.

Niles 10/10HP critically hits Calm Philosopher 4/10HP with Stunner [Roll: 15 - 4 = 11, -2HP, Calm Philosopher 2/10HP]. Niles 10/10HP misses Calm Philosopher 2/10HP with Stunner [Roll: 3 - 4 = -1, -0HP, Calm Philosopher 2/10HP].

one shot lands, the other bounces harmlessly off the armor. it matters little, he can see that the imposing force is no longer so imposing.

The regret does not linger for long, she held little desire for attacking them anyhow. Her eyes land on a different target instead. 

With the precision of a hunter, her eyes lock onto her target and she commands her large flying bird to move with her as she readys her bow. 

“There,” she murmurs before releasing her arrow then another while she has the chance. 

Selkiesheen does not activate! [Roll: 2] Darting Blow activates! Sue 10/10HP hits Fitness Fighter 10/10 with Brave Bow [Roll: 4 + 2 = 6; -2.5HP, Fitness Fighter 7.5/10] Sue 10/10HP hits Fitness Fighter 7.5/10 with Brave Bow [Roll: 15 + 2 = 17; -2.5HP, Fitness Fighter 5/10] Fitness Fighter is unable to counterattack!

The enemy looks for the hit or a way to defend perhaps, but there is no chance of being hit so high up and without a weapon to touch where Father Sky’s hands linger. Sue takes advantage of this and lets loose another couple of arrows until the enemy falls. 

Follow up attack! Sue 10/10HP hits Fitness Fighter 5/10 with Brave Bow [Roll: 13 + 2 = 15; -2.5HP, Fitness Fighter 2.5/10] Sue 10/10HP hits Fitness Fighter 2.5/10 with Brave Bow [Roll: 18 + 2 = 20; -2.5HP, Fitness Fighter 0/10] Fitness Fighter has been defeated! The Future is no longer protected by Chain Guard!

“She’s down!” Sue calls out to the others and draws her bird closer, but as she does the shadowy figure comes into clearer view. That girl from the ball? With the toned back muscles? It’s not real, she reassures herself, and all it is is training. Besides, they still had two more enemies to fell so she couldn’t lose focus now. 

“That’s one less enemy we have to worry about, but we should still take caution of the other taller one…” He’s been absorbing most of their hits with so much as a chink in the armor or… shadow. 

Her professor steps in with his sights set on one of the remaining targets who is now open without the muscle girl swooping in. Sue nods and waits for his cue before she releases her arrow to pierce their shared target for a minor, but solid hit. 

Sue’s Backup activates! -1HP The Future 9/10HP

Next to her, she hears punches and huffs, the sound of fists clashing with metal or some hard surface as joints and bones crunch. When the dust clears, the truth of what is going on is evident as one of her teammates sustains an injury, yet their enemies are still untouched. 

“...” She is speechless as she looks on at the injury he, one of the academy knights she thinks, has caused to himself. That is… one way to build up endurance and durability, she supposes. 

again, their enemies target the armored student. again, this is a futule act.

the confusion seems to have even one of their allies attacking him, though, and his eyebrows raise as the knight makes similarly futile attacks, harming himself in the process.

a smile pulls at his lips. more and more entertaining...

but he must focus.

Selkiesheen does not activate! [Roll: 2]

he considers his bow, but again takes aim with the spell. he enjoys the way it gets that shadow all tangled up, helpless and pathetic, stops it from hitting back.

Niles 10/10HP hits The Future 8.5/10HP with Candlelight at range [Roll: 14, -1.5HP, The Future 7/10HP]The Future 7/10HP and Calm Philosopher 8/10HP are afflicted with Bind and cannot make ranged attacks.

his spell goes on to strike true, just as before, hitting and entangling the figure.

Selkiesheen activates! [Roll: 1] Shez’s attack is redirected from Fitness Fighter 10/10 to Calm Philosopher 8/10.

-and it finds the wrong target.

Shez 10/10HP hits Calm Philosopher 8/10 with Hagakure Blade [Roll: 10 - 4 = 6; -1.5 + 4 = -0HP, Calm Philosopher 8/10] Shez 10/10HP barely hits Calm Philosopher 8/10 with Hagakure Blade [Roll: 7 - 4 = 3; -0.5 + 4 = -0HP, Calm Philosopher 8/10] Counterattack! Calm Philosopher 8/10 misses Shez 10/10HP with Injector [Roll: 6 - 4 = 2, -0HP, Shez 10/10HP] Follow up attack! Shez 10/10HP hits Calm Philosopher 8/10 with Hagakure Blade [Roll: 10 - 4 = 6; -1.5 + 4 = -0HP, Calm Philosopher 8/10] Shez 10/10HP hits Calm Philosopher 8/10 with Hagakure Blade [Roll: 11 - 4 = 7; -1.5 + 4 = -0HP, Calm Philosopher 8/10]

They trade blows. Their sword glances off the shade, an impenetrable fortress, but its movement in turn is far too slow for them to be hit. It is an unfortunate dance at best, and an unproductive one at worst.

Annoying, they might call it.

"I can't get through this guy," they grumble, taking a hop-step backwards, casting their gaze over their allies. "Guess this sword isn't special enough."

even as he watches his ally try and fail to hit the cavalryman, he's confident in the team's success.

it will only be a matter of time. he looks to the purple-haired student as if with new awareness of their capabilities. the sword did little against the armor, but their technique is good.

"hah. don't worry, you'll do better against a different target, i'm sure!"

he looks over their opponents again. where at first he had assumed none were familiar, the one on horseback finally catches his eye.

no one he knows well, but he bears a resemblance to one of hoshido's royal retainers. he's looked into his nation's enemy, of course, to better serve lord leo.

a frown, but he dismisses it, for the moment, as a coincidence.

instead, he looks around at what remains on the field.

"this one, perhaps! let me soften her up for you..."

Selkiesheen does not activate! [Roll: 2] Sue’s Backup activates! -1HP The Future 9/10HP

sue's arrow strikes true. he smiles again, cold and mean, as he momentarily foregoes that nice bow for the tome he carries, taking aim at the woman in the bridal gown.

Niles 10/10HP hits The Future 9/10HP at range with Candlelight [Roll: 7, -1.5HP, The Future 7.5/10HP]The Future 7.5/10HP and Calm Philosopher 8/10HP are afflicted with Bind and cannot make ranged attacks.

his spell connects, knocking her somewhat off-balance and ensnaring her such that she'll find it difficult to hit back.

How did she get here? Moments ago she was floating, a desperate shape aching for rebirth; now she sits in a foreign land with a chill bone-deep. She's disorientated, hardly remembers who she is, but she hears the sounds of life behind her. The smell of food wafts down towards the pond and Azura finds she has no appetite.

She closes her eyes. She pulls her hair over her shoulder and bares her back, the fabric of her dress sticking to itself and to her skin. She rings out her hair and slowly begins to sing.

 ♫ "My heart is gone beyond my grasp / though I search for him / he might just be / just out of reach..." ♫

There is a warmth that flows over her, calm and powerful despite her missing pendant. But there is a softness in her song, and Azura instead steadies her breathing and attempts to find her way to shore.

well, not home, strictly speaking.

( what would be their home? his is nohr, at least generally. more specifically it is at lord leo's side, of course, niles cannot forego his duty to his savior, nor would he try. so his home is less a place than a duty.

and hers is—he does not know. has he ever known? add this to the list of things he regrets never having asked, but she has always seemed apart from nohr and hoshido both, in a way he could not fully grasp. )

still, this is not something he'd dared expect and yet... he would know her anywhere. even a cruel man such as he has weaknesses, has someone would break himself across the fields and stone of the world to find, had he thought it would be possible. across miles and centuries. he is glad she came back to him instead.

Sue had prepared herself for as the light escaped from her the last battle to face enemies tougher than the last, however, no warning would be adequate for what or who she sees next. 

The shadowy figures emerge and a horse, not her own, but from a Sacaen tribe is the first to catch her attention. “Chad?” she murmurs, able to discern the silhouette. Apart from them, the other two remind her of people she’s met before as well, perhaps at the ball. She had met several people there though so it is difficult to tell right away. 

A large boom adjacent to her shakes her from her guessing game as one of her allies lets loose a few canonballs. She opens her mouth, ready to advise him not to waste all his materials and to aim with his heart and spirit, but decides against it. She imagines its bulky weight does not handle quite the same as a bow. She should focus on her own target anyhow.

Combat Art: Waning Shot is used. Sue targets Atoning Strategist 10/10. [Roll: 1-8 = -7] Selkiesheen Roll: 1, Sue’s attack is redirected to Calm Philosopher 10/10. Sue 10/10HP misses, -0HP

And it is for the best that she did not say anything as the arrow not only flies past her intended target, but the other figure that seems to absorb their hits is missed by a long shot as well. 

A disappointment to be sure, but it is still early, redemption is still in sight. She aims her bow again for her original target hoping to at the very least scrape the edge of darkness.

“Allow me to help, Professor.” 

Sue’s Backup activates! -1HP Atoning Strategist 9/10HP

is that an oversimplification? perhaps. niles is not an optimistic person by nature, but he is a terribly stubborn one. as they step into the arena once again, they are face to face with surprisingly normal-looking figures.

despite intimidating weapons and armor, they do not appear overly dangerous. certainly not like the monstrous things they'd fought before. niles is not about to get cocky ( yet ) and surveys them closely. as his allies' shots go wide, he prepares for this to be—difficult. these things are agile, evasive.

there's danger in that.

Niles declares Atoning Strategist 10/10HP his target for Valentian Bowmanship. Selkiesheen does not activate [Roll: 2]

he scans the field, looking for the best target. he settles on the archer, picking out her bow as a potential danger.

as he takes aim, his new favorite student aims a shot at the target she'd missed earlier, hitting this time. he grins.

"nice one! maybe there's hope for us all yet!"

it definitely weakened their enemy.

Niles 10/10HP critically hits Atoning Strategist 9/10HP with Stunner [Roll: 19 - 8 = 11, -10HP Atoning Strategist 0/10HP]. Atoning Strategist has been defeated!

with his target in his sight, he shoots, a smile on his face as his arrow seems to rip through her. the magic of it, combined with his impeccable aim...

he's always been a bit of a crackshot.

"take that! now, let's keep this up!"

He seems very reasonable and responsible, after all. Even if he won't give a name.

"Torture, yes," he says. He debates speaking on his father, and all that he had suffered at the hand of Lord Nergal. He doesn't though. It's part of his story but it's also something that belongs to his father -- and there are some things that he's not willing to share.

A look crosses his face. A cross between sadness, despair, and regret. He lets it go.

besides, he's already heard plenty.

he can help with this; of course he's only agreeing to satisfy his own wants, but he does genuinely think he can help.