#unborderedreflection

@unborderedreflection || Birthday Wishes For Nii-san

It feels as if it's been forever since Julius sat at this old apartment's kitchen table, waiting for his little brother (and his new date) to present him with his birthday desserts. Often times while he still worked at Spirius, he'd come home late to a cake and pasta margherita on the table to greet him. A birthday where he just sat down, no worries looming over his head... if one existed, he can't remember it.

For all that they lost on that pier, he's gained something he'd never replace. Julius Will Kresnik will live and die a rather selfish man.

When he hears footsteps coming closer, Julius sheds off all his unnecessary thoughts to focus on the delicious meals about to come his way. His first server is Ms. Maxwell (although one day she'll be Mrs. Kresnik) with her latest creation: a perfect chocolate recreation of Rollo standing proud. But the real fun is waiting inside-- Milla loaded his treat with tomatoes so there's incentive to not just admire the piece until it melts.

And he wouldn't be Julius if he let any tomato go bad in his presence.

"You certainly know how to exploit my weaknesses. Ludger's been giving you private lessons, hasn't he?" Julius teases with a slight knowing smirk. "At least let me take a photo before I devour this work of art. Then I'll verify personally if those tomatoes were worth the destruction."

They would be--tomatoes are always worth it--but a big brother must always play coy. Though he does actually reach into his coat pocket for his GHS to take the chocolate Rollo's picture.

Perhaps this picture'll be the first thing Julius ever hangs up in his near barren bedroom. A reminder that his birthdays are not the clock's hands ticking closer to his time of death anymore. He can enjoy them as celebrations for the life Ludger fought to keep with everything he had.

"Thank you for the birthday present, Milla. And also for making my little brother very happy."

She wasn't his Milla, but... she was still a Milla. No matter how odd it was to be around her, he had seen Jude spending time with her. Surely Ivar could do the same. It helped that she seemed to be on her own that day, as was he. With Spirius having no orders for him and no reason to go anywhere else, Ivar had chosen to linger around Marksburg for a time. Doing so seemed to have benefited him, as she was there too. Doing what? Well, Ivar didn't know. Maybe Marksburg being something of a middle ground between Rieze Maxia and Elympios made it appealing somehow?

Cautious, careful steps were taken closer to join the 'fractured' Milla. He didn't like thinking of her that way, he decided. Would she even want him around, though? Surely she had had her own Ivar back in her world before...

Don't think about it, he decided. When he got close enough to her, to see what she was doing, Ivar prepared himself. All he had to do was give her a chance.

@unborderedreflection​

Once in a blue moon, a strange phenomena would occur within this star that some have come to call by it’s original name, Etheirys. Strange visitors from another realm, far preceding one’s knowledge. At least, that’s what the Dragoon had spectated thus far. The only thing was, it would start as a simple observation request, and span forth into something greater.

Her last visitor from another Mother Crystal had departed safely with his astounding vehicle after they had successfully fell the Primal which once resided in his realm that greatly resembled their own, though less aggro-y. And much like this quest, it had started out the same as before.

A strange anomaly in the Black Shrouds, stirring up the Elementals and causing a commotion amongst themselves. The adventurer took the task upon herself that she were to travel to Central Shroud and check to see what set the spirits off. Nothing seemed to have been out of place, however, and her last stop was at the Everschade where The Guardian Tree stood tall.

Upon arrival, did the brunette spot a hyur beneath it’s canopy. Although her attire was different from the civilians and various other adventurers she’s seen along her journey, her hair was strikingly similar to a certain Maxwell, though ears not present. Leia treads through the shallow waters and approaches the other, “Excuse me, are you alright?”

Hearing the gratuity from the blonde brought a smile to Leia’s face. It was nice being appreciated, but it was just...good that Milla had accepted her help. She had turned away her assistance earlier, but the reporter supposes that now was better than later, especially with an injury this bad.

“Brace yourself for how much it’ll hurt...” she warns the older female and with her handkerchief, doused in rubbing alcohol, Leia began to gently pat against the blood soaked area and slowly clear away the mess.

“I’m not a doctor like Jude, just an ex-nurse trainee, but I think even if you’ve taken worse injuries than this, I don’t think anyone can tough it out.”

“Lady Milla!” he called to her from across the long hallway, dashing forward to greet her. It was probably foolish of him to get so excited considering he wasn’t her handmaid anymore... but he hadn’t gotten the opportunity to see her ever since arriving in this strange land. Ivar didn’t even pay mind to how ridiculous he looked in the reindeer costume-- that’s how happy he was! But he came to an abrupt stop just a few feet away from her, looking like a (rein)deer in headlights as he did so.

 Milla's eyeing him warily...

Maxwell. 

The manner in which she spoke the name implied it carried some manner of significance, though that meaning was lost upon Richard. Whatever it might be did not mitigate the state she appeared in, edging close to limits while the threat of the monsters far from over. 

Perhaps Richard was a hypocrite, telling her she oughtn’t face such a trial alone, being out here by himself as well. But he knew well what the beasts that roamed these parts were capable of, knew that a contingent of knights were beginning a sweep from the north. This woman had seemingly already faced her share of the dangers he had come to clear these roads of. 

“It’s a pleasure, Miss Maxwell. I’m Richard.” He offered a hand. “Would that we meet under better circumstances.” 

Richard glanced about. The leaves rustled in the wind that never fully left these lands, the forest seemed to hold its breath. Much too quiet.