#ljosalir

@thyrosus @ulirblood @sheerempathy

Titania, in all honesty, gets it. One of Lord Acheron’s men was not just killed, but in quite the brutal way, too. The knight had only a single glimpse in passing at the corpse, but that was enough for her imagination to fill in the literal gaps in the man’s body, and while the sight was nothing unusual for her, it was still far from what one would call pleasant.

So she gets it. The guy is probably... emotional, for lack of a better word, and he has the right to be.

Still... one of the students accompanying them on their visit to the man was a nobleman native to the Alliance, and his face expression told the rather perceptive Titania quite a lot in terms of what they could potentially expect.

And the frown did not paint a flattering image, to put it mildly.

Once they arrive at the residence, Titania takes a seat next to the others. Though the monastery had filled her in on what little they could, she is till a fairly fresh newcomer to Fodlan; and so, she resolves to - at least for now - allow them to do the talking and watch over the situation should anything get out of control.

The tea tasted bitter on her tongue. She would say it needed more sugar but she was sure she added enough. Eyes glance at the girl in the seat in front of her. Blond hair yet her eyes were a fern green and not the grayish blue she thought she was seeing.

( that would be expected because she wasn’t her. she wasn’t the girl that shouted about fate and destiny to the gods above. )

The desire for tea was no longer there— for the third time that evening. It was beginning to piss her off, unable to control the shake to her hands or the twitch of her left eye. Since when did she give a damn about who she had tea with.

( since when did she want there to be only one person she would ever have tea with. )

Her tea cup hits the table with a loud thud as she lets out a frustrated sigh. Count to from one to ten and then ten to one. Calm your nerves. Keep a smile on your face— though there was no smile on her face that shined brightly like the sun she was named after.

She was frowning, fingers massaging her temples. This wasn’t going to work. She could keep that damn mage out of her mind. “I’m sorry Sharena, but i can’t continue this date right now. Maybe another time butter- sorry i mean pretty.”

She doesn’t make an attempt to move from where she’s sitting, choosing to lay her warm head on the cold surface of the table. She needed a drink. Something that wasn’t water or tea.

The rain came down so suddenly that none of you manage to get your umbrellas open in time… But since your gear is drenched and your clothing unsalvageable, you decide to have a little ‘sparring’ in the rain. You smack the other umbrella with yours and grin. En garde! [Grants Sword +1]

          It rains, it pours, and the change in weather comes so unexpectedly that Alfonse soon finds himself running for cover alongside Sharena, their trip to the marketplace forgotten in favor of fleeing the storm. A few near-slips occur in their haste, the streets now hazardously slick with water; it soaks into their hair and clothes and plasters them to clammy skin, and puddles are already forming at their feet by the time they finally pass through the monastery’s entrance and into the shelter of the hall within. His chest heaving with exertion and breath leaving him in heavy gasps, the prince wipes at the rivulets of rainwater running down his face with a hand before sighing miserably at the scene outside.

          “I didn’t think it would rain so suddenly,” Alfonse eventually mutters, starting to squeeze the excess dampness from his sleeves. “Perhaps we should save shopping for a different day, when the weather isn’t as bad.” Azure gaze drifts to the bin of umbrellas resting nearby, free for anyone to use—pointless to them now when they’re already drenched. Still, he approaches it, boots squelching against the tile as he does; a gloved hand closes around the handle of one and lifts it for inspection.

It's not as though he's vain, but... well, Hector's got nice muscles, and he knows it. At the least, he's pretty sure he does. He trains hard, puts in the hours, not for a 'sick bod' (he's pretty sure he's heard someone here phrase it like that) but for fighting prowess and pure strength above all...

but if it shows, then, well, he won't be the one to complain.

And if it's immortalized in a picture, well, that's fine too. He's not alone posing for the foe-toe thing, a fellow Blue Lion smiling and flexing beside him. Sha... something. Sharena, he's pretty sure. A lancer of some skill, no slouch on the training field and, if he remembers right, friends with... lots of people.

So he's kind of a little surprised she's approached him here and now, given his less than stellar social skills, but... he'll take it.

The artifex contraption is taking for bloody ever to snap its shot feels like, and so Hector turns to look at Sharena while it works out whatever the issue is. More particularly, he looks at her arm beside his.

Askran princess first gives him a one-armed hug, keeping the other behind her back— remembrance to the fact that she had brought him a gift. “Do you have any plans for today? If not, then I’ll be picking you up from your last class beeeecause there’s gonna be a party!!”

It had been Ophelia’s idea, after all. The heroine had rushed into Sharena’s room a few days prior to Kana’s birthday, dragging along a surprisingly upbeat Rhajat in their company. Sharena had only planned for a gift and tea time, but in Ophelia’s words, it wasn’t as “lively” as Kana deserved. And thus, the party had been scheduled and prepared the night before.

“Until then though, I wanted to give you the first and smallest gift from me. Ophelia said I should wait but it’d be cute if you wore it to the party beforehand.” As she speaks, Sharena uncovers her hidden hand from behind her back and holds out the crown. Whether its gold be true or not, the beauty of it all radiates with each and every flower pinned alongside the gems. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like an actual flower crown but I give those out often and… well, you deserve something cooler! So, here—” A small step forward and Sharena places the crown on Kana’s head. “—and ta-da! Is it heavy? Too light?”

“SHARENA!” 

Close or not, they were friends. Kana looked at Sharena and saw someone he wanted to be—happy and full of life and joy and love for all, regardless of history. Her smile is sunshine and he is the ocean warmed by her grin. 

Face buries against her side, gloved hand resting on her hip in as tight a hug as he can manage. “Thank you, ‘Rena! I don’t have any specific plans but—! Whaaaat?! A party?!”

It wasn’t like it was totally unexpected, but to hear about it from Sharena instead of Ophelia or mama or papa was a surprise! Little dragon barely has a few moments to wave his arms at his sides in excitement before his attention is directed to a the gift presented to him. 

A soft gasp escapes him. Eyes go wide with wonder as he gazes at the crown in hand—and almost immediately, Kana bows his head to accept it. It fits perfectly on his head, a wreath of gold and gems and rainbow of color against pale blonde hair.

" hey maria! can we take a picture, real quick? and by the way, you look so pretty tonight!! "

"Hee hee, of course we can!" The truth is she's already trotting closer before the other even finishes, hands clasped behind her back as she tilts all the way to one side (the side closer to Sharena, of course). They've talked little more than in passing, but something about her is just so... just so! Like a sprig of flowers in a dense and verdant forest, or the glow of a firefly against the sunrise, she is wondrous in her light; they hardly need to be best friends for Maria to see it, and to admire her.

(Though that is not to say she does not wish to be friends; rather, it sounds very lovely indeed)

The compliment draws her hand up to her mouth, her smile cut into slivers behind the shield of her fingertips and appreciation writ not in words, but in crinkled eyes. "You look..." Pretty is not the word of the hour, though Sharena is always pretty. Instead... "Dashing!" She settles on instead, and the photo-artifex seems to laugh with her, shuttering that very moment and capturing forever her gleeful laugh and bunny-eared head.

Elincia takes a pair of novelty glasses from Sharena, sticking her tongue out playfully as she tries them on. She’s sure she looks utterly absurd but it’s all in the spirit of fun, is it not? Where was the fun in staying stony faced and dull all evening? Grinning, she’s ready to take their photos when she looks back over at Sharena.

In an instant, Elincia is clutching her side. Chortling as much as if Sharena had reached out her hands to tickle her just beneath the ribs. Oh, if Elincia looked goofy her dear friend was on another level. There’s a strength and beauty, she thinks quietly, in the way Sharena is so loudly and unapologetically herself no matter the occasion. It doesn’t matter if she looks bizarre or says something silly; Sharena’s smile outshines the sun and it’s brightest when she’s like this - playful and unguarded.

“Okay, okay, let me try!” Elincia grins, planting her feet wide apart and sticking her arms out infront of her, palms crossed. Her chin juts forward and upwards as she pouts her lips. “I’m so sexy, mwah. They love me!”

The machine clicks. She prepares for another pose, squatting down and holding her hands and arms up to a point, like a roof above her head. This time she adds a seductive lip bite, just to top off how utterly ludicrous she looks. The photo is taken and there’s time for one more.