#violentiaed

Scouts returning from afield have been returning with reports equally conflicting and strange: some say there’s a beast of a man running about with an axe for an arm, and that he is seen only by day, and only from a distance, as though he knows to evade pursuers. Others say that no, the large bipedal beast appears only at night and wields a stick, alongside all manner of crude tools that seem to suggest the intelligence to set small traps. In the name of research, authorities want the beast captured, preferably alive, but if it starts to become a nuisance… [ Grants Lance +1 ]

Ares prepares to leave camp, amidst wild rumours of strange beasts stalking the forest. Hunting upon human flesh. There were reports the creature, or creatures, possessing almost human intelligence. He’s not sure he believes them.

Monsters are so rarely cryptid’s and beasts. They’re people in all their twisted glory.

Fundamentally though, it’s irrelevant. Whilst he’s no longer a mercenary by trade, over a decade on the battlefield have taught him never to flinch at any foe. Ares supposes if they can bring back something interesting for studies, the researchers will be pleased. The threat posed to nearby villagers however, is a more pressing concern. The lance in his hand is weighted, a comfort that grounds him. Mystletainn hangs upon his hip and a bow and quiver are slung across his shoulder. It never hurt to prepare thoroughly, especially against threats unknown.

A familiar shock of navy blue enters his vision. His posture relaxes somewhat, Felix was one of his few classmates who didn’t force him to engage in mindless conversation. Something he was a little embarrassed to be so relieved about but he had been trained to wield Mystletainn with impunity, not make sycophantic small talk with noblemen.

“Are you ready to go?” Ares asks, already making his way to the path extending from the camps clearning. He looks back, making sure Felix is at least following. The younger swordsman’s prowess left no need for concern, unlike some of their greener classmates. There was however, only one map between them.

closed starter for @violentiaed !

Sylvain isn’t a fan of the training grounds.

He doesn’t like the grit that coats the tile, doesn’t care for the sound of metal clanging against metal, and, most importantly, doesn’t like training.

Which makes calling Felix his friend a real pain in the ass sometimes.

He’s lousy with a sword, fumbling to block swing after swing from his opponent with hardly enough time between blows. His brow is slicked with sweat, the only real indicator that he may actually be putting forth effort.

Felix lunges left. Sylvain grimaces.

“You win,” his uniform jacket has been long discarded, so he’s left to wipe at his forehead with the sleeve of his undershirt. “Again.”

It takes a moment before he can pull himself to his feet, and he coughs to cover a groan. There are definitely bruises on his tailbone to remember the occasion by. Sylvain sighs.

meeting prompts!

The crowd bustling around the fishing pond was hardly a sight so easily missed- Cheers, applause.. The occasional surprised expression all the while infiltrating itself amidst the phenomenon. From what she could discern, there seemed to be some sort of fishing tournament going on. Participant or not, she saw no harm in peering closer towards the water to observe.

Fish swam happily in the cool and steady waves, scattering themselves throughout the pond. Fish of every size and color moving peacefully- That sight alone made the journey worthwhile. She stood at the pier, leaning forward to get a better view. Elice found it shameful she did not have anything to offer them, for their eyes looked at her in expectance and readiness. Even if not reciprocated or fully understood, her smile was all she could provide.

The further she looked, the closer she inched towards the water. Only then, with background noise behind her and crystal blue in front, did she find herself leaning much more forward than she had anticipated. An attempt to crouch moved into a metaphorical push. Nearly fumbling into the water, she felt the force of another keep her upright.

~~One~~

Constance had been doing homework in a friend’s room all night, both of them doing a sort of private study hall so they would have the assignment completely correct the next day. However, when the morning came, Constance realized that she had accidentally left said assignment in her friend’s room. That is how Felix found her desperately trying to pick the lock of her friend’s room. She had tried to come up with a lie, but the way Felix was just staring at her doubtfully, without saying a word, made her so uncomfortable for reasons she could not understand that it caused her to admit the embarrassing truth. “FINE. I HAVE FORGOTTEN MY ASSIGNMENT IN THIS ROOM, AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER WAY OF ENTRY!”

Felix ended up helping her break the door down.

~~Two~~

Coming up with new spells was nothing new for Constance von Nuvelle, but that did not make the brainstorming process any easier. Occasionally, she asks people for inspiration (indirectly, of course). Her process for picking people to pester was by complete chance. First person to show up once she decides inspiration is needed gets interrogated. Unfortunately for Felix, he was the first person to show up. Obviously, Constance started asking him the usual questions. Felix was too tired to deal with her nonsense, so he continued about his day normally. Constance was not accustomed to being ignored, so in her annoyance and desperation to restore house Nuvelle, she ended up blurting out very loudly, in a very populated setting, “JUST TELL ME WHAT WOULD IMPRESS YOU!”

Constance spent the rest of the day trying to backtrack, to the annoyance of everyone.

~~Three~~

Constance had been taking a test in class, and was one of the last ones to finish. She hadn’t had any time to study the night before, but fortunately the test was multiple choice. Almost everyone else had already left the room, including the teacher, but that was mostly because the test was only ten questions. As she stood up to place her test on the teachers desk before she left, she glanced over to the side and noticed that Felix was also still testing. Half zoned out, she entertained herself by thinking back to what the teachers always called out during tests when passing by like this. Things like “Make sure to read the questions carefully!” That memory was met with a quiet laugh from behind her. Wait, behind her? Hold on did she just say that out loud- Constance looked over her shoulder, and to her horror, Felix was staring right back. Yep. She totally did.

Constance ran out of the room in embarrassment.

~~Four~~

Although Constance is a fairly smart person, she’s not exactly ‘street smart’. She also fails to register things that don’t immediately make sense to her for a little while, the meaning certain words only finding meaning hours later some times. This particular day, Constance was put on both cooking and dishwashing duty for the days dinner. Her cooking partner had told her to get some vegetables, one of the ones she picked up among them being a tomato. When she handed her over, her partner made a joking comment about how they had overheard some people theorizing that tomatoes ‘weren’t real vegetables’ or something. Later, when washing dishes partnered with Felix, the statement she had laughed off finally hit her. “WAIT, TOMATOES ARE NOT REAL???” Felix was reasonably startled by her sudden outburst and dropped a plate.

Constance spent the rest of the time cleaning up the shards of plate.

~~Five~~

Constance von Nuvelle is no stranger to crime. She lives in Abyss! Crime happens all the time! It’s not that big a deal! Food crime, however? That is different. She had to go so long with limited food before the academy, and Abyss still has so little to offer it’s non-student residents that can’t access the dining hall. Food is sacred. You do not mess with the food. So when Constance took the last breadstick without noticing, she was unaffected. Until she heard someone complain about it. It was a joking kind of ‘aw man the bread is gone :(’ complaint, but Constance felt so guilty. She could not confess though! She must take this secret to her grave. Not long after the realization, before she could calm down, she was so distracted she bumped into Felix. The abruptness of the moment caused her to expose herself in the hallway. “IT WAS ME. I AM THE BREADSTICK CRIMINAL.”

Another Kiss || a kiss on the forehead of one who is starting to fall asleep

Nights were long, but days were longer. The busier he got, the harder it was to find proper rest. Kana was a good student, always getting his work done and putting his heart into all that he did, but he wasn’t exemplary by any means. When time called for it, the little dragon didn’t hesitate to lay his head down on his desk for a little snooze. He was so young, anyways, that their professor really minded; who could fault a child in need of a nap? 

In the midst of his snooze, Kana was vaguely aware of his surroundings. Dimitri sat somewhere behind him, chattering away; Sylvain had left the class earlier, and just barely could Kana pick out his voice all the way in the Golden Deer classroom—no doubt messing with Morgan again. Felix sat beside him, working quietly on their assignment, while their professor meandered from table to table to offer help to anyone in need. 

There’s a soft shuffling. Their professor speaks, “Mister Lúngwòhng—” but is quickly cut off by a quiet but firm voice. 

“Can’t you see he’s trying to sleep?” 

“Well, yes, but—”

“But nothing. Leave him alone.”

A soft hrm, and then receding footsteps. Felix shifts and something warm drapes over the sleeping dragon’s shoulders—a jacket, perhaps. Quickly and quietly, the gentlest touch of the elder lion’s lips to the little one’s forehead follows. 

I really like leaning into the whole fairytale/Disney princess aesthetic with Deirdre but I think it totally makes sense that she would have a fondness for little forest creatures! Growing up in the Spirit Forest, she really didn't have any friends. At least not anyone remotely near her age. The other women were all old ladies and had been secluded away from the world for so long that I imagine they just wouldn't really get what it was like for her growing up. So Deirdre turned to little animal friends for companionship.

She's a very loving and friendly soul and the creatures of the forest could sense that. Idk maybe something something Naga blood or whatever. Or maybe she just like fed them and earned their trust. I don't think she can actually like talk to animals or anything that they can understand but she was so lonely as a child that she has picked up the habit of talking at animals as though they can understand what she's saying. She's very gentle and soft and approachable that even after she leaves the Spirit Forest, little birds or squirrels or whatever will get curious and approach her. She just has a way with them.