#flowerofgoneril

Elincia had been unable to come with her to the fitting today so Micaiah stands, brows wrinkled, as she goes over one of the pamphlets the boutique had given her having arrived (not so) fashionably early.

She sighs, putting the parchment back in her pocket and managing to at least not glance into the boutique’s window. She supposes most queens had other people - actually knowledgeable in the art - to do this for them, and from what she remembered of the ceremony back in Daein the palace at least had exactly that, but she had come to Garreg Mach to learn all the could with her own faculties.

She just had not expected to feel so out of her depth.

A nobleman in front of her practically dives through the door the moment the bell on it jingles signaling its opening. Micaiah has little time to wonder at that, however, as the woman walking out is one she recognizes and she thinks finally something pleasant.

Maybe if she brings the most ridiculous weaponry this year, Hilda will be able to get out in the first round. Is it so much to ask to simply relax in the infirmary tent? Clad in a festive little Santa dress, she approaches Tana with a sack of gift boxes over her shoulder. At least she looks cute! Hilda takes the sack and gives it a very pathetic swing sort of in her opponent's direction. It's enough to maybe make it look like she might have tried. "Hehe oops! I missed!" Gift sack: 4 miss 0 dmg

“𝓞𝓱! Hello!” Tana greets with a short bow. “You must be my opponent! Let’s have a good m—!” 

          The sack Hilda holds doesn’t even touch her, it barely comes within her range of motion. She stares at the sack, swinging in the air now pathetically hanging from Hilda’s hands. She didn’t have a problem with the unorthodox weapon of choice, but it was hard not to think she was being mocked. It was only now that she notices the costume as well. A clown would have been more fitting for this poor circus act.

          Tana may have been a new student, but that didn’t mean she lacked any combat knowledge! And this girl... 

          Her fingers grip the lance and anger floods through her as she swings it towards Hilda.  “I do not appreciate being taken for a fool,” she huffs.

[ Roll d20+4: 19 / Dmg -2 ] [ Tana HP after counter: 6/6 ]

          There was some word for the feeling she has. Satisfaction perhaps, but it was not good enough, not for her. ‘I missed~!’ Hilda’s words echo and she feels the anger building in her again. Tana swings her lance again, teeth gritted.

[ Roll d20+2: 15 / Dmg 0 ]

Of course it's Alfonse who finds her next. The year may be repeating or whatever but this is maybe a little too similar to the last time they all fought like this. She supposes they'll have to wait and see if it truly does end up the same.

"Aw, but I look so cute, don't you think? I'm Hilda the Winter Fairy!" Hilda wiggles her hips and the bells attached to her armor (?) costume (?) give a festive little jingle. "Don't expect too much of me though. This is the first time I've ever held a lance!"

The magic from the Askran's sword does nothing to her through her holly jolly armor. Really, she's felt worse from simple static electricity. Hilda shrugs and brandishes her killer lance. She should probably be able to figure it out. Just use the pointy part to poke, right?

Hilda jabs the lance forward and it does make contact with her opponent. She repeats the motion but that time it misses and not purposely.

Counter: 8, barely hit, -1 hp

Attack: 2, miss

Alfonse hp: 4/5

Hilda hp: 5/5

          “I suppose it does suit you, if nothing else.” There is little else to say that wouldn’t merely be a repeat of the last time they had fought, Alfonse knows, and soon there’s the point of her lance cutting a shallow gash into his side. As if she were taking the fight more seriously this time, though that is merely how it appears to him. A half-step to the right, and he lunges at Hilda, thunder roaring to life at his command; a surge powerful enough to even overcome the protection afforded by her armor(?) when it comes crashing down. 

[ COUNTERATTACK — LEVIN SWORD: 1D20+4 = 23 (19+4)! 1 damage dealt; Hilda - 4/5 HP. ] [ ATTACK — LEVIN SWORD: 1D20+4 = 23 (19+4)! 1 damage dealt; Hilda - 3/5 HP. ]

          An encore quickly follows suit, no weaker in strength than the first and charging the air further with residual static. Silly as it certainly looks, the costume is deceptively durable — if attacking with nothing less than full strength is the only way to pierce through, he is in for a long uphill battle.

H.E.A.R.T. starter for @flowerofgoneril

Elincia hovers at the edge of the lake, tentatively checking the integrity of the little wooden boat she’d been provided with. Sitting in it, she breathes a sigh of relief, realising she was dry and she wasn’t aboard a sinking ship. Hopefully it would be sturdy enough for two.

Her head rises as she hears footsteps and she stumbles awkwardly out of the boat. Laughing at her carelessness, she straightens her posture and waves over to Hilda. A little too excited - this  was just such a cute way to break the ice, Elincia rushes forwards before bowing and offering Hilda her hand.

“Lady Hilda, what a pleasure!” She smiles broadly - she has had little opportunity to talk to Hilda before but had always admired the young woman’s beauty and charm from afar. Taking Hilda’s soft and perfectly manicured hand in her own, she made a mental note to ask what creams she uses as she guided them towards the boat. “Please, make yourself comfortable and leave this to me.”

It wasn’t that she doubted Hilda’s strength - Elincia herself was also petite and stronger than often given credit for. This was her date to host though, it would be downright rude and inconsiderate to ask her companion to break a sweat. Elincia slipped into the seat across from Hilda and took the oar in her hand and started to paddle. It... was not going to plan at all. With no rhythm, Elincia found herself simply splashing water around behind herself. A sheepish smile and rosy blush find their way to her face.

"How's the most handsome man in all of Fódlan today?" she teases with a wink. "Do you remember when you made me promise to be more outright when I ask you for favors? It just so happens that I have a really big one that only you can help me with. The ball is coming up and, well, I'm really hoping you might sweep me off my feet."

A man like him should have no trouble at all finding a date. Obviously

He should have girls begging him to accompany them–throwing themselves at his feet for even a chance to be seen on his arm–and yet for some strange reason he doesn’t. Except he doesn’t. A stupid fact, really. What has he ever done to make women wish to avoid him?

Truthfully? He’s glad for it. So long as he manages to continue this streak of rejections, he’s clear to enjoy the finest aspect of the whole ordeal. Whisking away some sweet-faced little thing after her own date had stood her up? How much more gentlemanly can a guy get? Hilda’s voice pulls him from that train of thought. Easily, he pivots on his foot to face her, greeting her with that signature smile of his. He likes her, thinks they’re far more similar to one another than she will ever admit.

It helps that she’s cute, too.

“And if it isn’t my favorite girl! What’s up? You know I’m happy to h-” 

Had he heard that right? If his disbelief shows in his expression, he’s quick to cover it. Clearly she's desperate if she’s coming to him, of all people, with this. Ah, well, as if he could ever turn down such an offer--no matter how unexpected. He can swoop in to save some random damsel from her tears another night, anyway.

Event starter for @flowerofgoneril @constanzea @windsheedme

The investigation for Agarthans didn’t begin once they set foot across the thresholds of the towers of the Fhirdiad School of Sorcery. It had begun long ago after their first encounter, and while it was only now picking back up with incidents and people vanishing, to pretend any of their own was immune to such happenings was folly.

They’d been sent far and wide to investigate. Soren would do ust tha, withone eye still on Garreg Mach. What protection did they really have, or what faith in each other could possibly circumvent a continental enemy the archbishop let brew right under her nose?

Secrets were lying in wait for them not only in Fhirdiad, but back at the monastery, this Soren knew.

And so, their dear Professor Aveline was not exempt from his prying behind people’s backs.

The entourage of other students with him was a surprise. Soren looked behind him at Merric, Constance, and of all people Hilda. They were in the library, which were these normal circumstances, Soren would gladly engross himself in the tomes surrounding him for the duration of their stay, but as they were not in normal circumstances-

He approached the librarian, keeping his voice slightly down for the respect of the library. The room was so large he was slightly worried about an echo, despite the shelves upon shelves of books to mute sound. “Excuse me.”

The librarian looked up. He was an older gent, the lines in his face mark him as stern but kind. “I’m Vern. Just Vern. Can I help you?”

Soren hugged a few books to his chest, as was the default for him at just about any time. “Hello. I’d like some assistance, but not necessarily about books. Did you ever have our Professor Aveline, Hannabelle Aveline to you I guess, as a student? I’m curious about what she was like when she was our age.” He managed to say our age with a straight face, and hoped he came off as being innocently curious about his professor.

He crinkles his nose a moment in thought, the half of his face just peeking over a pile of books of his own. "Little Aveline, yes, yes... She was always something of a boisterous thing, that one. Not so much wild as... zealous. Enthusiastic. Why?" 

That checked out, as best as Soren could tell. Perhaps tis was sincerely a waste of time, chasing after a non lead, but while they were there, might as well gather what information they could. “I see, she’s much the same, though she tries to be a professional about it.” Soren didn’t intend it to be rude, realizing after he said it he might’ve come across that way. “She was excited to bring us here, and upon arrival I can see why. I suppose, with this being such a marvel of an institution to learn magic at, I wonder why she didn’t stay to teach?”

"Well," he strokes his faint, grizzled gray beard. "It is an institution for the elite... Faculty included... Though that isn't to say her career at Garreg Mach is any lesser, I'm sure." He smiles slightly, placing a few books back where they belong as he speaks. "That and..." He pauses. Looks to Constance and then back to sorting his books. "... Well, it's not really my place to say." 

Dorothea very much awaited the Ethereal Ball- Between all the dancing and extravagance, she knew it was a moment she couldn’t waste. She already planned what she was going to say and how she were to dance. She was a decent dancer, given her experience in performances. If all went well, her dreams and future might even be secured. For the Dorothea in the present moment, that held significant value.

She’s heard rumors sporadically about how the Goddess Tower was supposedly haunted by some spooky ghost. No gossip slid past the songstress’s attentive listening, but that was neither here or now.

The brunette’s curiosity caught the better of her- After all, she couldn’t just let this slip past without giving it a look for herself. She’s not too keen on believing in ghosts, but the students that have told her otherwise seem to suggest its existence. Well, then.. If they won’t check it out and allow the ball to be ruined, that would just be a tragedy. Given the security around the Goddess Tower, she couldn’t do it alone.

When Hilda came to mind, she knew exactly what to do. Once Dorothea found her at the end of the day, she greeted her with a soft smile and wave: “Oh, Hilda! Hello. I hope you don’t mind my asking and all, but.. Well, I thought I’d give it a shot. Have you heard the rumors about the Goddess Tower? A classmate of mine said it’s haunted.” She paused, leaning closer to Hilda as she whispered, “I can’t say if any of that is true, but I wanted to see it for myself. It won’t be easy getting inside, either.. Would you care to help me out?”

H.E.A.R.T. starter for @flowerofgoneril

Priam finally found her outside of the monastery, out on one of the trails that ran alongside the main river. He jogged to her, already brimming with excitement for his task.

Dancing.

He loved it. The wilder the better. If not parkour... he’d figure out a way to make it exciting.