night sky // new moon

That does not mean she must be emotionless as the battle concludes, however. As an aggravated glare fills her eyes, mouth is likewise curved down to express her determination despite any disadvantage.

Without her usual katana in hand, Yuzu attempts a different style of finisher. In a swift maneuver, Yuzu disengages from Joshua’s blade to get a clean aim at his non-sword arm first. The thin blade swirls around and, in lieu of the bloodless duel, ends up lightly tapping at his side…

Yuzu 2/12HP critically hits Joshua 3.5/12HP with Sywrd [Killing Edge]. [Roll: 15; -2HP; Joshua 1.5/12HP]

…then, in similar rapidness, Yuzu raises the sword in an arc and meets at his opposite side. She swings to the side with his other arm, and…

Yuzu 2/12HP critically hits Joshua 1.5/12HP with Sywrd [Killing Edge]. [Roll: 20; -2HP; Joshua 0/12HP]

…stops her hand right in front of the man. 

But she stops short. Unsteady on his feet, Joshua can't help but chuckle. He bends lightly to place his sword on the ground, holding up his hands. "You're exactly right," he rasps, "and I commend you. I don't often lose, but you're more than worthy of boasting as such."

Point made, Joshua sets his arms back to his sides. His clothes are going to need mending, and while he would normally sleep off cuts and bruises like these, it'd be wise to visit a cleric.

“Ha! Sounds good to me. See, You’re a fancy-looking type of guy, so I didn’t even think you’d wanna be seen with someone like me… But maybe I’ve got a sense for folks who are into this sorta thing?”

If he’s starting to stagger a bit, Samto doesn’t notice; propping the die against his taut thumb, he flashes a sharp grin right in his stranger’s face.

In any case, Joshua has always fit in better with what appears to be this guy's sort. The ill-put together, the thieves, the drunkards. They'll tend to be more honest with you than a king.

"There's nothing else you'd want from me?" Joshua asks - hopefully not suggestively. He's had enoug romantic mishaps tonight, thank you. "I just came up with the first stupid thing off the top of my head. It's not wise to let someone else name your bet."

Once his arms are around her, clasping her tightly, she looks back at him over her shoulder. "You can hold onto me as tightly as you need to." She smiles, leans back to press a kiss to his lips, then looks forward again. "I promise, Achaeus and I won't let you fall, but let's take a few test steps, alright?"

He does suppose he can feel how careful Achaeus is, underneath him. Joshua still isn't used to the way he moves, or to the way the ground already feels far away. He's still a bit uneasy, but Tana is steady in front of him. Grounding him in what is about to be mid-air.

Joshua measures his breaths as they stride. Slow inhales, mindful exhales. In for four, out for four. His stomach settles, at least a bit. Yeah, he's ready. Right? Definitely. Maybe.

He hooks his chin lightly over Tana's shoulder. Never a better time than now.

"After restoring Renais and Grado, I decided to correct the actions of my misspent youth. I arrived at Garreg Mach to study several months ago. I keep in contact with my advisors as needed." There are now other things that keep his attention here, but he doesn't speak of those.

That's not a dig, right? Ephraim isn't known for his jabs the way Innes is, but his hackles are starting to go up as if he's speaking to the Prince of Frelia.

He really wishes his old friends wouldn't question his judgment. So far, Tana might be the only one who hasn't.

But Ephraim is beginning to force his hand. He keeps himself calm. "As I have told Prince Innes, I wouldn't be here if my affairs in Jehanna were not handled. I'm in consistent communication with those who advise me, and they understand the choice I've made. I'll be back before anyone can even miss me."

Ugh, it hurts his throat to speak so stiffly. He'll probably have to get used to it sooner or later, but shake him down for wanting a little while longer to speak like a normal person.

Is she even doing much to pretend he's so close

He chose to be so close.

And he still wants to spend time with her and

and

and wants it to be a date!!!!

Breathe Tine breathe

Instead of breathing, she puts on a smile, at first so wide and earnest that even she can see it loops around to seem insincere.

Ah, yes, she's supposed to respond.

She clears her throat, theatrically more of a sign to her body to stop vibrating than a necessary gesture.

"If you are interested, then I have nothing against trying.

Although I have to say, this could be considered my first real date.

As such, I feel I need to ask you to be patient with me."

Having said the most important, she finally calms down a bit.

They're so close to each other, and Tine can hardly believe her luck, even if it turns out to not mean much of a mistake where she loses Joshua's friendship along the way, which seems unlikely.

She's got nothing to lose by simply enjoying this.

"You can pick the venue we dine at, as long as it is not an establishment that serves exclusively fish.

But there are two questions I want to pose :

First, may I heal you with a spell?

I know falling over rarely leads to severe injuries, but I refuse to let you be in pain if I can help it.

The second question we-ll if it would be alright by you, may we hold hands on our way?

Tine's offer to heal him is unexpectedly sweet. He's already forgotten about falling, and he's not in any pain, but he knows taking her up on it would probably be wise. "If it would ease your mind," he answers, "then please, I'd appreciate it. Sorry that I can't return the favor, but I could make sure you get to the infirmary when we get back? Just to make sure nothing's out of place."

As for her second question... "And, yeah, I don't see why not. Still chilly out here, innit?" He's playing it off, but he has so rarely held hands with anyone. Regardless of where things go, it's just nice to be close to someone.

Joshua reaches for Tine's hand. He thinks about leaning down to peck her on the cheek, but decides that he should move at her pace. So far she's been pretty good at asking for what she wants, with more confidence than he's previously seen from her. He'd love to see more.

It isn't a way to brag, but a simple fact: To stay on a horse takes skill and strength, but to stay on a Pegasus requires more of it, if only because she has to stay on while up in the sky, where the ground is much farther away.

Well, Joshua's terrified. But he trusts Tana - in her strength, her kindness, her judgment.

He's done way, way scarier things than this, and yet he fights a wave of trepidation as he hooks his first foot into the stirrup. He takes Tana's hand, and finds the strength to straddle Achaeus, nestled in behind Tana.

He breathes, freezes. Awaits Achaeus' reckoning. Nothing happens. He sighs in relief.

"I am having fun," she assures him, and she wants to kiss him, to pull him close and hold him, but she doesn't. With how he's feeling, she wants to go at his pace. "But I also want to help you, if there's anything I can do. I'm here for you, Joshua."

As he brings his hand to her shoulder and asks about her dress, she turns her back to him and pulls her hair over her shoulder, revealing the ties up the back. She'd had to have help getting it done up, and doing it alone would be absolutely annoying.

He goes slowly, maybe too slowly, lost in thought. He's not trying to tease her, but he doesn't want to rush, either. Tana is warm and solid underneath him - if a little chilled to the touch, from the rain.

"Before you, I'd never...stayed with someone, longer than a night," he admits. He's already told her he's never been with a woman, but he never really established that his own experiences add up to little more than single, harried nights. "Never had to tell someone where I was, who I was going with. It's...hard to get used to."

At last, he undoes the last tie at Tana's lower back, not letting his touch linger. He doesn't know if it's fair to spill all this on Tana, even if she insists it's okay. Doesn't know what's fair in love; it's far more complicated than war.

That was a slash of dominance, meant to end a fight right there.

Nevertheless, at this point in the duel, Yuzu can tell that she isn’t being toyed with. Even if the strike of advantage was held back from its full intent, it only speaks that Joshua means to finish the battle fair, with a proper knockdown over bloody gashes. Good, she would have it no other way.

Yuzu 4/12HP critically hits Joshua 7/12HP with Sywrd [Killing Edge]. [Roll: 19; -2HP; Joshua 5/12HP]

But ah, the samurai thinks of the battle as if it has already been lost. Foolish. With her own thrust centered right at the blade that previously slipped by, Yuzu makes her claim to continue fighting clear. Even if this sword she holds is a simple copy of what Joshua is used to wielding, all she must do is show him something he hasn’t experienced before.

Wrath Strike activates! Yuzu 4/12HP hits Joshua 5/12HP with Sywrd [Killing Edge]. [Roll: 10+2=12; -1.5HP; Joshua 3.5/12HP]

Such comes in the form of her own signature techniques, honed right from Hoshido. Admittedly, it starts out in a similar manner to the agile swordsman in front of her. An arc that appears to try to slip by a guard and go straight for the kill. However, rather than fully commit, Yuzu stops the arc early on from its top, transitioning to a clean crescent. This crescent slash reaches toward the hilt of her opponent, not meant to disarm but to at least rattle the wielder’s steady hold.

She deals two powerful strikes, and Joshua is starting to think he can only take one or two more of those before he can no longer stand. He grips his hilt tight, wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, lunging forward -

Counter: Joshua 3.5/12HP hits Yuzu 4/12HP with Killing Edge. [Roll: 1; Miss]

-and he fumbles, staggering at the contraction of a cut across his right leg. In a real battle, his opponent would have no mercy for such a stupid mistake.

He's no stranger to ignoring pain, and the mock-nature of this fight will not make him complacent. He breathes deep, casts off the needs of his flesh. Feels the sword at the end of his arm; it is not an extension of his body. His body is the arm that guides the blade.

Joshua 3.5/12HP hits Yuzu 4/12HP with Killing Edge. [Roll: 19; -2HP; Yuzu 2/12HP]

He loosens the control in his hand, just a touch. It's thrilling, testing the degrees to which he can let go.

Him must be whoever else Joshua is sleeping with, but it must be different than how it is with her, physiology aside. There's feelings there to some degree. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious, didn't want to know everything, but she isn't going to pry. She and Joshua are friends who happen to also be sleeping together - that doesn't give her permission or the right to know more than that.

Still, she can't help the way her heart tightens in her chest. She refuses to let that show, though, only offers him concern in her gaze as she looks up at him while gently pushing his coat off his shoulders.

"I knew what we were when I proposed the idea to you," she says gently. "You didn't need to tell me anything about if you were with someone else, or even who. So if you're asking if you've messed up with me, then no. But with him...you'll only know by talking to him." She raises one hand to gently stroke his cheek, trying to soothe his worries, though she knows there's only so much she can do.

The initial horror subsides from his gut, and he tips his face against Tana's hand. "I made the mess, so I should clean it up. It's just that simple. And maybe one day, I'll tell you more about him, but..." Joshua lifts his hand to Tana's outstretched arm. "I came here with you. I want you to have fun, not to fix my mistakes."

It occurs to him that they'll likely be sleeping in the same bed. Even if nothing else happens, he'll appreciate her company. Even as his stomach flutters, thinking of Karel. Of the way his face broke, at the mention of someone else Joshua fancied.

But Joshua has never been one to worry about things he can't change. At least not right now. Joshua's hand sweeps up to Tana's shoulder, along the fabric of her poor dress. Ah, hopefully it can be salvaged.

"Do you want some help with this?" he asks softly. "Looks like a pain to get off alone."

"I knew he would. You're far too kind for him not to." The next part would be getting Joshua into the saddle. It won't be difficult, it's not harder than getting into a regular saddle, but pegasi don't usually take to men, and she has to ensure that the flight will go well.

Leaning in, she rests her cheek against Achaeus's, smiling fondly. "We're going to the ocean for a few days. Will you take us there?" She pulls back to look into her steed's eyes, and, after a moment, he snorts and shakes his mane as if indifferent to the question. But she knows that it's a yes.

Joshua's hand reaches up between Achaeus' ears, fingers brushing through the top tufts of his mane. Perhaps the steed is soothed by Tana's posistive affirmation, but either way, he accepts the touch. Joshua gets a little braver; he pulls back, stroking Achaeus' neck, his flank. (Tana was right! Incredibly soft!)

Joshua glances up at the saddle, wondering how Tana gets in and out all the time. She seems pretty light, and they seem quite fond of each other; Joshua can only imagine how adding another person would complicate things.

Tana is finally mostly dry after getting in from the storm. She and Innes had some time to talk while drying off, but now her hair is down and the flowers and strings of gems she'd had in her hair are stuffed into her purse. She'll have to get the dress cleaned professionally when they get back to Garreg Mach, but this is fine for now.

She finds Joshua after a while of wandering and visiting. He looks far less jovial than he had when they'd first gotten here, so she takes his hand and guides him to one of the guest rooms. It's smaller than the others, but it isn't taken. With the door locked behind them, she faces him with concern writ across her features.

"Are you alright?" she asks as she begins to undo the buttons of his suit. She doesn't intend this to be anything but getting out of wet clothes and into a warm bed, so she doesn't let her touch linger, doesn't kiss his neck as she might have.

He's relieved that she leads him to a guest room, if only so they can just enjoy each other's company for a while. Not necessarily in a sexy way - especially not after the stunt he just pulled.

Well, he made a promise to Karel. Maybe he should be just as forthcoming with Tana.

Ugh, what a mess. And as always, Tana is plenty perceptive. He appreciates her closeness as she undoes the buttons of his rain-laden jacket.

He chuckles a bit bitterly. "You know how you said we're not...exclusive, right? I...took that to heart, and I think I hurt him. Really bad."

So when, one day, he comes across one of the mercenaries of the monastery- and he feels himself pause, finding familiarity in the other’s movements in a way that did not quite just match up with the background he saw him in.

He doesn’t say anything at first, simply calling to Aquamarine as he heads back inside- everyone had secrets they wished to hide, and he was not to reveal them for mere curiosity. But a second time, another coincidence, passing by him in a hall, gives Elffin another sense of pause, and then again- at the third sighting, he comes to the rather unsurprising conclusion that this man had origins within a palace.

Now, how to best go about this? There was nothing wrong with hiding his identity in such a way- at least so Elffin believed, knowing his bias would cloud any judgement on the matter. He decides on a rather simple and inelegant solution- simply speak to the man, gauge the situation somewhat, and back off should there be no concern.

“Excuse me, sir. Might I ask a favor?”

The main hall's mostly empty at this time of day - most students are in class, and the knights are doing drills. Still, Joshua doesn't want to give the appearance of being disheveled or injured - he stiffens his stance, holds his chin high.

Those lessons he was given as a child - about how to carry himself, how to walk in a way that was worthy of his status, whatever that meant - they still stick, after all this time. No matter how much he tries to rid himsel of them. At least they're useful sometimes.

He doesn't expect to be stopped by anybody, but of all people, a stranger begs his pardon. Joshua blinks twice; his long, fine hair reminds him of Natasha, but this isn't the time.

Honestly, he had expected this handsome stranger to tell him to piss right off, as a lot of people back in Archanea tended to — Maybe there's just sort of a vibe coming off of him, something that makes a particular kind of person want to avoid him whenever possible...

Well, their loss. This guy seems interested in what he's got, though the way he's eyeing the die in his hand makes him look a bit like a starved animal... Normally Samto thinks he's a little more discerning about his marks, but he does, even just instinctively, find himself interested in this guy.

"Anything ya' want, baby." He says with that same sickeningly sweet-sultry tone he always uses with clients, especially the ones pleasing to the eyes — Oh, yes, back into the groove already. "I'm just here to have a good time, y'know?"

(And the guy's not half-bad to look at, but Joshua's not enticed by being called baby right now. Instead of flipping some flirty switch, it only makes him...intrigued?)