#toconquerfate

This wasn't the war he'd expected. That creature blocking out the skies reminded him vaguely of two things: the dragons that had prowled through the Gate back on Valor Isle... and, in more recent memory, the ugly mug of that Maurice fellow they'd inadvertently harassed not long ago. Poor sod, rolling that lot in life... No time to reminisce, though (and besides, the pity he felt was dampened significantly by the number of blows the damned monster...? ...guy? had landed on him). 

It still wasn't his fight, if you asked him, but that didn't matter. It seemed clear now: whatever this mysterious voice speaking to them of Harmony had meant before it faded away, this was to be a test. So, he'd make it his fight.

Grinning wickedly, he weighed the comfortable heft of Wolf Beil in his hand, and opposite that, the weight of his hexlock shield... Compared to this monster in the skies, Maurice would but make for warm up.

Before they could dance with the Husk, though... The Elites stood tall. An obstacle.

The others had squared off with their two, which left Riegan, and... Gautier. Hector's grin widened just a fraction. The man had been angry that night, and perhaps justifiably so... But he'd not been completely in the right, either.

Without preamble, Ostia's marquess raised his axe and charged. So be it.

Hector dealt 8 damage! (Gautier's HP: 12/20)

He traded a blow of his axe with a swipe of Gautier's lance, hit for hit, before readying himself anew.

Gautier dealt 4 damage! (Hector's HP: 11/15)

He raised his arm skyward as Gautier swung about on his horse.

"To arms...! To arms! Let's get us home!"

Rally Luck used on Merric: +1AC!

@toconquerfate

Right when he thought their situation could not get any crazier, he is proven wrong the very next day. Honestly, he needs to stop having those kinds of thoughts, he just ends up jinxing it.

Their group holds a meeting to try and decide what to do, during which emotions run high, particularly between Takumi and Xander. Leonardo spends that whole time sitting beside Merric in silence, trying to focus on the conversation, but also lost in thoughts of his own.

So long story short - the history the Academy teaches is falsified, the Elites were never the allies of Seiros, the “King of Liberation” may have never been anything more than a bandit, and now they are supposed to pick a side to support in this whole chaos. Did he get that right?

Something else bothers him, however, as he walks through the Imperial Army’s camp together with the Nohrian Paladin, hoping to get some answers that he believes he may need.

Zanado. The sins of Zanado. What happened with Zanado? Who or what caused Seiros such grief and burning, uncontrolled fury?

Leonardo does not dare approach her, but... perhaps the man who stopped her from slaughtering Lamine on the spot would be willing to share something.

Charlotte was actually rather relieved to be fighting someone she knew.  Someone who really did know that she was a force to be reckoned with.  At least she didn’t have to worry that Xander would start blabbing that she’s not the dainty, ladylike person she tries so hard to claim to be. 

[Defend roll: 3, 2/3 HP]

Xander’s blade hit and Charlotte looked up at him with a pout as she whined, “Oww!  That hurt!  I’m a delicate flower, after all!”

She rolled her head from side to side, cracking her neck before she charged at him with an uppercut from her gauntlet and a giggle on her lips.

The dining hall slowly begins to empty as the night wears on. Couples leaving to the Goddess Tower or elsewhere, others plopping drunkenly into nearby chairs, while the reminder either sit and catch their breath or go back to their rooms.

Inigo himself finally left the dance floor in search of water and a free seat. Socializing really did take a lot of out someone. How did these nobles do it all the time? He shook his head, grabbing a crystalline water glass from the refreshment table. Inigo took a long drink, not caring that some water spilled onto his vest. Eh, the sign of a good time. At least a girl hadn’t thrown it on him.

He replaced the nearly empty glass, leaning against the table, eyes closed to the candlelight.

A deep voice startled Inigo out of his break. He set the glasses trembling as he jolted upright.

Ethereal Ball Ask Memes! || send 💃to ask my muse for a dance

The dance had Kana more excited than he had been in his entire time spent at the monastery. Not even the Midsommar Festival had him so giddy, with his homemade dragon costume and all the sweets. No, the chance to get to dress up and show his true colors, princely attire and all, and dance with his friends and family is much more fun. 

“Lord Uncle!” Somehow, Kana knew his Lord Uncle Xander would be the first to ask for a dance. Kana always, always loved dancing with him; Xander was never afraid to lift Kana up into the air, practically throwing him to make him screech with joy, much to the chagrin of Kana’s mother. 

“I— I wanna do the fancy court dances. I’m almost thirteen! I gotta dance like all the adults… oh, oh, but first, you have to sign this thingy and stamp it!” The little paper is thrust towards Xander, currently empty. “They said I get a prize if I interact with enough people. I like prizes, Lord Uncle. Do this, and then we can dance!”

@toconquerfate

Seeing her biggest brother smiling down at her, hand extended is enough to turn her frown back into a smile. She lets him help her to her feet with a giggle. There are lots of happy memories of dancing on his feet as a little girl. She knows she's super lucky to have a brother like Xander who's there for her no matter what.

Elise is sitting alone at a table, pout on her lips and arms folded across her chest when Xander finds her. Hubert's rejection is still fresh in her mind. They're in the same house. They're supposed to be friends and friends aren't rude to each other!

"Oo yay! You know I could never turn down the chance to dance on your toes! Come on!"

Danger Lurking Around Every Turn (Team Gricenchos Ask Meme) || ⚔️ Sparring [1 crit required]

It seems some things never change. Though his interactions with Xander before joining the war effort were sparse, Kana recalls fondly the times Xander would ask to spar with him (much to his parents’ chagrin, young as Kana was yet still holding a yearn to fight). The sight of the king taking a battle stance was all too familiar and set off a spark inside his chest—he’s more than ready to fight.

“You’ll never know how much I appreciate this kind of thing, Lord Uncle,” he admits, rolling back his shoulders and cracking his neck before finally unsheathing his own blade. “Oftentimes, people refuse to spar with me since they’re scared they’ll hurt me. You never looked down on me like they do.” 

A slow exhale. Fingers tighten around the hilt of his sword. Gaze is turned upwards toward the king and he lunges forward.

[ Kana rolls: 5. Miss! ] 

As was to be expected. Xander dodges neatly out of the way of his quick downward swipe. He knows already that they’re playing under the same rules that had been ingrained in his mind from the very first match they ever performed: first to land a devastating blow wins. Though it’s looking to be a slow start, Kana is not deterred.