#swiftlance

Nephenee can't say she's friends with her companion for today's patrol. She's seen the other girl at various faculty and staff events, even had the luck to catch the tail end of a sparrin' session. That knife work is nothin' to laugh at!

'Nd that's why Nephenee likes patrols--she gets the chance to meet all kinds of people. Chat with them a bit, learn a thing or two about the big wide world.

This time, though, she's eager to share her own piece of news. "Hey," the knight says, glancin' ahead to ensure their path is clear before turnin' to Yunaka. "Didja hear 'bout that D'Silva director? One of the knights in my squad, he's tryna land a part. 'Pparently, though, the whole thing's a mess. Props keep fallin', scripts are disappearin', and three'a the lead stars feel ill."

Normally, she wouldn't spread such things. But if'n this play starts affectin' monastery staff, it's likely the Knights will be called in to clear up an misunderstandin'.

hey hey | accepting!

Though Yunaka's seen the other around the grounds in the past, she's never had the chance to catch her and place a name to th eface. Knights, unlike the professors, don't exactly have offices or classrooms that you can sneak into to catch a quick peek at a nameplate or something, and they're already so far into the patrol that she feels kinda awkward asking for the name now.

It's nice though. The other girl is quiet, but not in the way where you can tell they're trying to figure out how to comment on something about you, more in the way that she's just...quiet. Yunaka falls into a comfortable pace beside her, keeping eyes on their surroundings as they go.

"Hmm? Wait, that's the show that everyone was making a big hubbub about this month, yeah?" She'd taken a quick glance over herself and there'd been this whole thing with Dorothea making people sing and...

"Aw man, that's a bummer to hear! I mean, not surprising though. It was a toooootal mess when I swung by at one point, and it seemed like everyone was just throwing spaghetti at the wall, but they still haven't gotten it together?"

"Thanks again fer doin' my braid," she tells Sylvain, eyes on the floor. All her dancin' experience comes from the line dancin' native ta Ohma. Simple, fun, 'n usually interrupted by over-eager yung'uns who don't quite know the steps.

Sylvain's a good leader; she expects as much from a noble, anyhow. "Ya look very handsome tonight, Sylvain." Elegant, but understated.

"Thanks, Neph-- uh, knee?" Maybe they're not quite close enough for nicknames just yet. He'll wait for her to take the lead on that. The blush rising to his cheeks and ear though? Sylvain isn't sure how to hide that. Can't be quite sure he wants to, either. It's been a long time since he last had a friend like Nephenee. Someone he doesn't have to perform for. Of course, he has friends. Close friends too, but they've known him since before he could walk. "Thank you. Let's swap our little doo-dahs after this."

His voice is hushed, reverently sincere. Has anyone seen him as a grown man, as he is, and not pulled away in revulsion? Or wormed their way in with an ulterior motive? It feels pleasant, like a freshly run bath or fruit sliced lovingly by his mother on a hot afternoon.

Sylvain stumbles slightly over the next step. Laughs it off, devoting his attention entirely upon Nephenee instead. Oh, he's still looking everywhere and anywhere for love; perhaps it need not be in a lover's caress though, but a friend's warm, honest smile.

Of everyone to find standin' near this cursed plant...

There's a split second where she considers turnin' tail. Actin' like she's forgotten some important meetin' or other, instead of facin' her fears head on.

Nephenee steels herself. She'll get over this, eventually. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine anythin' would come of it anyhow. Still, her cheeks glow pink as she waves at Geoffrey.

"Enjoyin' a nice walk 'round the grounds?" The more she tells herself not to focus on the little green plant attached to the stone, the more she feels herself drawn to it, until she glances at it a second too long. "Pa would start considerin' this thing invasive if'n he were here."

"I guess I am, yes. That and people watching, I must confess, the end of the year's festivities are always an interesting time..." He wondered if it was something Nephenee enjoyed too, he wasn't big of being the center of attention, or in the middle of so many people, but the gentle atmosphere surrounding the place was actually nice and soothing, the time seemed to have stopped somehow, allowing Geoffrey a brief respite for once.

He was going to ask about her but he noticed her staring and when he curiously looked up, he chuckled at her words. One could consider that plant invasive at this time of the year, indeed.

It was everywhere (so much so he didn't even notice there was some right where he was stading).

"Would he actually take care of it or play along with the tradition?" He asked, his tone teasing as he looked back at her, an amused smile playing on his lips. Nephenee looked so... interested in the mistletoe though, Geoffrey knew she'd choose the second option herself, wouldn't she?

Slowly, he toswiok one of her hand in his, gauging her reaction as he lifted it up, judging it was safe to assume she didn't mind the gesture. And, still slowly but gently, he lightly brushed his lips over the back of said hand.

"I believe it is a tradition, even in Fódlan, isn't it?" He carefully let go of her hand then, accompanying the movement as far as possible before letting go that is, and smiled at her.

She don't need no fancy blacksmith to repair her weapons. They cost more'n a pretty penny, and while she's almost sure the Academy'll pay for it, seein' as her lance is part of her equipment as a Knight, it makes more sense ta her to repair it herself.

If'n she 'n Pa can reshape a bent hay shovel, she can adjust the bent metal tip of the lance.

Nephenee frowns down at the weapon layin' across the table. She'd pilfered a spare hammer from the stables, which now causes quite the ruckus as she gently taps it against the lance blade. Nothin' changes; maybe she should hit it a little harder?

Movement gives her pause. She glances up, a smile stealin' cross her face afore she can stop it. "Oh, hello, Rafal. Havin' a nice day so far?"

Patience unlike time was in no eternal supply for this son of dragons. Determine the offender to be anyone else and there would be none of it to speak of. Whatever that woman Nephenee was bent on doing, ten minutes of his tolerance alone was a miracle in disguise. Eleven? The upper limit.

From neighboring perch, Rafal gazed up at last with a withering stare at the source of noise. No sense of common courtesy in a place meant for people. He really ought to have shut himself in his room, but no use in lamenting the past, there was at least one straightforward way to right the future. A great harrumph of a sigh and he clapped shut his book; the portent of a terrifying approach and its ominously dark shadow. Closer and closer he came until on the brink of pouncing. Seemingly.

"You." Greetings foregone, glower traveled in silent and exhaustive succession, pointed first at woman, then at misshapen lance, and finally at hammer. Each piece of the three-part story gauged equally as no sector of his severe expression budged.

The only movement an extension of his hand.

". . .Give that here." Patience in no eternal supply but a Fell Dragon's strength limitless, hammer head struck lance tip with precision - what might consume hours of work condensed in a single smiting blow. He returned the hammer as quickly as seized. "Next time, consider carrying out your business in a place devoid of others. Or better yet, seek for someone who may solve those matters with expediency."

Nephenee didn't mean ta stay up half the night.

A new batch of letters from home had arrived while she was on patrol, 'n by the time her shift ended, she had ta shower 'n eat dinner 'fore she could concentrate on anythin' else. Her brothers especially had a lot ta say this go around. They sound more grown up with every piece of parchment they send her.

Knowin' she had a full day ahead, she opted to write out her replies that night, though by the time she'd finished respondin' 'n fillin' everyone in on her own adventures, her candle guttered in its little brass holder.

A handful of hours' sleep and a quick stop by the messenger service later, she made it some safety seminar with a few minutes ta spare. The faculty and all off duty knights were required to attend--somethin' bout an incident where a pair of reckless, newly minted knights nearly caused grave damage to one another by messin' around the armory.

The old knight leadin' this thing drones on 'n on, like the bees buzzin' in summertime. Nephenee hides her yawn behind a hand. Her eyelids begin ta droop. Since when did her head feel so heavy?

Another breath, then her head drops onta her neighbor's shoulder.

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 — accepting

Simply unbelievable. Why ought Rafal waste away his patience for the sole sake of children frolicking where they shouldn't? Time was a resource the dragonkin possessed in plenitude, but still must there be proper use of it. Were it up to him, there would be no safety seminar; merely news of a fearsome dragon spooking present offenders and dissuading repeat. Dissuading all future offenses at that.

Arms crossed, glower heavy and immovable as stone, such was the silent reception of this dragon toward a pointless hour endured. On his left, a chair fearfully left unoccupied for that very fact. On his right, a brave individual encountered only sparsely. His eyes slid to the one called Nephenee with barest acknowledgement and remained forward for the entirety of the meeting - the near entirety, more rather.

Stern gaze alone no longer emulated the unyielding surface of rock. Body followed as the slumbering woman slumped against his shoulder, head to toe charged with tension equivalent to fight or flight. How to fight, how to flee, these questions however were transformed to difficult challenges from the perspective of one who could not do either without causing a scene.

"You, there. Ahem. Nephenee, was it?" He cleared his throat quietly. No response. Louder, still no response. A finger raised to rap on Nephenee's shoulder and it were surrounding interests that roused instead, curious gazes eager to divert from the blabbering knight on a development far more interesting.

At last, Rafal simply let be. Returned to crossed arms and deathly glower with the difference of more pinkish cheeks. Smooth his return to relative normalcy, if only because such a humiliating arrangement was at the very least—

Seein' him standin' there in the Knights Hall, happy as a lark, Nephenee first thinks she hit her head too hard while trainin' earlier. And then she realizes she's starin' like she ain't never seen an old before.

Helmet tucked under one arm, Nephenee curls a stray lock of hair behind her ear with her free hand n' edges further into the room. "Geoffrey? Been awhile, huh? Nice ta see ya again!"

"Nephenee! It has been a while, indeed." Geoffrey greeted the other... Knight? He heard about her joining the same faction he did when he first arrived but didn't get to meet with her yet, how lucky they were to finally cross paths on such a peaceful day.

They'd have enough time to catch up now.

Anyway, he greeted her with a smile and small bow, a hand near her heart, genuinely happy to see her again outside of Crimea and battles. They hardly had time to just... talk and enjoy the company before.

"It's nice to see you again, too. How has life been treating you at the Academy? Do I dare to think it has been going well enough for you? I only heard praise for you since I arrived, which made me weirdly proud, knowing you were once following my orders."

Very briefly and under particular circonstances though, he was aware it wasn't really the same as it was with Kieran or Marcia, for example, but he still kept good memories working with her despite everything else.

A visit can't hurt, 'specially after the whole lipstick debacle. Maybe they'll have a special kind that waterproof.

Horsefeathers, she wishes Callil were here. It's like a whole 'nother world in this parlor! She don't know what half these things are for, let alone such feats of beauty were possible. Huh, no wonder all them city folk always look like stepped out of'a paintin.'

She spots a somewhat familiar face in all the kerfuffle. "'Scuse me, Dorothea. D'ya mind helpin' me out? I reckon I'm in over my head just lookin' for a mirror."

who is she to turn down a beautiful knight in need?

"nephenee! why, i'd be delighted." and that she is — made evident enough by the beam dorothea wears. she flutters over, placing her hands on the other girl's shoulders to gently steer her toward a chair. "you know, neph, it's not like you'll need much help in the first place. when it comes to makeup, you never want to overdo it. we aim only to accentuate our natural beauty, and goodness knows you've got an ample amount of it." a wink.

The candy clacks 'gainst her teeth, coatin' her mouth in a storm of mint. It's not unpleasant, just new. A mite overwhelmin', but so's everything in this place.

She grabs a couple more from the bowl, slippin' 'em into the pouch hangin' from her wrist. A rustle of fabric catches her attention. Nephenee looks up, a smile lightinin' up her features. Her friend looks nothin' short of royalty, the riot of flowers remindin' her of a garden in full bloom.

"Evening, Lady Elinicia!" Nephenee dips her head, crunchin' on the last of her mint. "You city folk sure know how to throw a party."

"Nephenee! You look positively radiant, a true joy to look upon," Elincia gushes, every word drenched in sincerity. For what could bring one more delight than a friendly face, other than a friend alight with happiness? "I take it you're enjoying the festivities? We should dance together, once we've had our fill of the sweets on offer, of course!"

She laughs lightly, picking up her skirts in one hand and taking Nephenee's in the other. The buffet table is in her sights.