[Sandbox] Hammer Academy - Courtyard of Champions

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: November 29th |  Evening (~7:30pm)
Location: Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: suit
Tagging | Mentioning: Marlowe
Orym’s death. Meena leaving. Mila’s death. Estelle awakening. A new partner. A lot had happened in a short amount of time and it was crushing Thessa. Not tonight, though. Tonight, was a chance to forget it all and dote on Marlowe - the woman who had become Thessa’s constant. Their friendship had weathered the thick and thin of moments of Hammer Academy and they had come out stronger for it. Winning the photography competition she had entered on a whim had been a pleasant feeling, but the celebration wasn’t about the photo. To Thessa, this was a moment to celebrate Marlowe and the friendship she cherished. She knew how much Lolo would adore the spotlight, so she dialed it up to the extreme to make it a night to remember, but of course Lolo immediately one-upped it.

She thought she had known what was coming. Physical affection was part of the package with Marlowe and Thessa had never denied her, but she had also never played into it. It was important to Marlowe and it made it important to Thessa. It was also quite pleasant to reciprocate! But this kiss? Thessa had allowed herself to be pulled down - who could deny the energy of their moment swirling loudly around campus!? - and met Marlowe’s lips, but the intensity of the moment stunned her and then it consumed her.

She had experienced passion before, but she had never experienced this. Marlowe knew what she was doing and the expert attention was like none she had ever experienced before. Her fingers splayed in the air in shock as the brawler worked her sensual magic before sense finally kicked in. The crystals decorating Lolo’s dress dug into Thessa’s fingers as she firmly grabbed her companion by the waist and pulled, refusing space between their bodies, but also to stop that maddening gyrating. There was a fluttering in Thessa’s stomach that she hadn’t felt for months; an awakening of desire that dulled everything except the need to explore that touch. Suddenly, her suit was stifling and the heat suffocating. Or was that Marlowe taking all the breathe from her body as she expertly showed her appreciation for the occassion?

No, this wasn’t because of their event.

Marlowe was focused on her and the intensity made Thessa’s knees wobble. Instead of pulling away, Thessa leaned into the kiss with hooded eyes, watching Marlowe. This was what she had been pushing away? What foolishness! It was the groan that made Thessa shudder and she closed her eyes as she pressed into Lolo’s lips. The corner of her mouth. A nip. A lick. She wanted to succumb right then and there and let that kiss lead to a much sweeter reward. For the first time, she considered it. It had been a very long time since Thessa had wanted a sexual encounter, but she found herself craving one now. If this was what Marlowe did with a kiss, what else could she do? A warm curiosity filled the elf and her stomach fluttered in anticipation…

But there was a party to get to!

Thessa gasped for air and with a smile, lifted Marlowe up into the air effortlessly, spinning her around two times with laughter before setting her down. She felt uncharacteristically dizzy as she grabbed Marlowe’s hand and anchored the woman to her side. The effects of such a passionate embrace were difficult to hide. Golden eyes were glazed and cheeks flushed with excitement. The outline of her hardened nipples pressed against the fabric of her shirt. There was a growing dampness in her panties. ”Brothers above, Marlowe,” she praised with a hoarse voice. She cleared her throat and laughed again, moving her hand from Marlowe’s to wrap around her shoulders. Thessa leaned in to kiss the mass of curls unprompted and hug the woman close as she forced them to walk forward lest they remain there. Thessa might have been okay with public displays of affection, but good Gods! The intimacy of that moment may as well have been full-on sex! Her heart thumped wildly in her chest as she swept her eyes across the yard to see who had witnessed such a treat, but Thessa gave the audience no attention. Her head was full of Marlowe and this new burning desire.

”C’mon now, Beauty! Before I is made a complete mess, woman! Do have a party ta get to ‘n it ain’t gunna start without the star there. Cannot disappoint yer adorin’ fans,” she said with a smile in an attempt to focus Marlowe on moving to the shuttle instead of climbing atop Thessa.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: December 23rd |  Early Evening
Location: Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: Pinstripe suit with cinched vest, and skirt
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Hulta may as well have been speaking in elven for all that her words made sense to Lolo - because she had tried, over and over again. Hulta rebuffed her at every opportunity. Lolo hadn’t just been interested in giving those things to her, she had been eager to the point of nearly desperate. How many times in the last few weeks alone had they been together and Marlowe had wanted to give her everything? And everytime Hulta had stopped her, much to Lolo’s great annoyance. She didn’t want it - she didn’t want her. It had not only confounded her, but it had upset her. And now here she was trying to pin that on her? As if Hulta couldn’t have had everything she was wanting, if she had just allowed it to happen. And really, what did Lyra have to do with anything? They were independent. Want for one did not speak to want for the other.

But by then it was a jumble. On her clearest, most focused, least bumbling days, Lolo wasn’t good at processing this much this quickly - and this was far from one of those days. The furthest, in fact, she had ever been. She seethed. That inner flame burned hotter. That voice echoed in the back of her head. Lolo’s whole face twitched with anger - with fury. “I tried! I TRIED!” Lolo shouted so loudly that it was a miracle the whole academy didn’t hear her. There was a swell of energy in her, a crack in the glass that held all of that pent up kinetic energy. She took a step, but it was more like twenty. In a whirl of energy, Lolo bolted ahead of Hulta, her body crackling with the unleashed energy - her hair started to flow on its own, and the color of her eyes glowed bright. “You never wanted me!” She barked. Her hands danced anxiously at her sides, her fingers opening and closing in unaligned motions like spiders crawling. “All you ever did was push me away!”

The power faded. She hadn’t even really meant to unleash it. Her hair settled, carried only by the gentle breeze that swirled around the courtyard. Her eyes returned to their normal state, save the glossy glimmer of rage induced tears that wanted to spill over. “You never… You never even tried. I would have! I wanted to!” Could she not see how much it had hurt her, everytime she rejected her? How low and small it had made her feel? But Lolo had persevered, because Hulta was worth it. “I thought you were special.” Her jaw quivered. The tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, “But you… You just kept me out. I wanted to give it to you. I DID! I TRIED!” Lolo threw her hands up and grabbed her head. She staggered back, pulling her gaze toward the sky as the tears fell. “But you didn’t…”

A cold silence followed. Lolo held the position for a moment. The hot fire turned cold. Her arms fell to her sides with loud thumps against her thighs. The tension in her shoulders dropped. “I hate this place.” She repeated for the second time today. Honestly she wasn’t even sure if she meant it or not, but it sure did feel accurate. “I wanted you to like me… But you never did.” It was starting to settle in. Lolo bent back slightly, to look at Hammer upside down. How long before Lyra went too? Could she trust Thessa’s words? “I won’t distract you anymore.” She murmured, leaning up straight and starting to move - but not toward Hammer, toward the landing. Past Hulta. “I sick of trying to be good enough for you.”

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: December 23rd |  Early Evening
Location:Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: Combat gear of predominately dark green and brown. Left arm in sling
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo  | Lyra (m)
A horrifying mixture of sadness and rage married within her chest and clawed up her throat. She wanted to go back to her dorm but knew better than that. She knew better than to go anywhere that would prompt questions. The more lies that she got herself tangled in, the harder it would be to keep track of them. Hulta wiped furiously at her tears as she stomped away from Marlowe. Distance would help. Distance would help quell the need to jab her finger in Lolo’s chest and say that this had all been a mistake. Everything. From her catching feelings so quickly to letting Marlowe in.

Words crackled through the silence and then Marlowe was before her. Hulta stumbled and stopped as the woman buzzed with energy. She had seen Marlowe use her shimmer before. But not like this. Not when she was the only target around. Not when the anger was directed at her. How much hatred flowed through the woman to warrant this reaction? That choking sensation continued to corrode through her throat as it tasted like bile on her tongue. ‘You never wanted me’ “That is a LIE.” Hulta snapped back and tears continued to burn down her cheeks.

Hulta felt her jaw tense to the point where she thought it might snap from the pressure. “Not like you did with her…Not like you did with them.” Hulta spit her words at Lolo. Even though they had worked through it all, it was everything that she could see. The kiss that Thessa got. The one that Hulta had felt broken witnessing. She had asked for space, for time, to prepare. She didn’t know what to expect. Her body screamed out for Lolo every time the woman touched her, but she was scared. And now…..Now Marlowe was throwing it back a her. “I asked for time Marlowe and you went off to other people….I NEEDED TIME.”

There was a desperation in her voice, a need to be at least vaguely understood. Hulta curled her hands again and felt another screech of pain streak through her. It was nothing compared to the shattering in her chest. Everything was crashing down around her. It was what her parents wanted. It was what they had essentially ordered her to do. But why did it hurt so badly? Marlowe tilted her head back up to the sky and she could almost see the steam leave her ears. The rage slowly dwindling to emptiness within the woman before her. ‘I wanted you to like me… But you never did’ Hulta harshly wiped tears away, “You are wrong Lolo…It’s not my fault I will never be enough.” Her words shook with the wobbling of her lips. Hulta waited for her to turn and head towards the academy. Probably away to find solace with Lyra.

But she walked past Hulta. Back into the darkness. Hulta felt that last tie holding her together snap with those parting words and finally let out a soft sob. Her feet picked up and she walked….no ran back to the academy. Not to her room. Not to where Dari would ask questions. Not to where someone could potentially come to see her after hearing she was injured. No. She wanted to be alone. No. Not alone. Scrambling up the stone steps, she found her in a shadowed corner and flumped herself down onto the cold wooden floor. Her free hand rested up on the ledge as Smidge happily slunk under her touch.

Her best friend was a bird after all.

End Scene

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 29th |  Evening (~7:30pm)
Location: Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: So much leg, Hair
Tagging | Mentioning: Thessa |
People often misunderstood Lolo. Now to the credit of people that wasn’t entirely their fault. She rarely made the distinctions of her actions clear, and a lot of her behaviors and their rationale in her head went against what others might consider traditional norms. This kiss, for instance, might have made people think there were feelings involved. Surely this was not the sort of kiss shared between platonic lovers, friends, or anything else short of romantic partners. Except, it was exactly that for Marlowe. It wasn’t like there was a void of feelings there. Marlowe had lots of feelings for Thessa. Their friendship was prized, she cherished it greatly. It meant something quite dear to her - and the fact that Thessa had reaffirmed it after the turbulence had made it stronger in the end. She’d never dream of denying any of that. And of course there was attraction, that was undeniable. Lolo thought Thessa incredibly attractive, and anyone who said otherwise was liable to meet the wrong side of one of her fists.

But that’s exactly what the kiss was. It was physical attraction, it was appreciation for their friendship, and, of course, it had roots in gratitude for the evening. Despite the look of it, the intensity of it, for Marlowe it wasn’t a proclamation of feelings - at least, not the kind that people would assume it was. It was the best - perhaps the only, if she were being honest with herself - thing that she had to offer for all the myriad of things that Thessa gave her. It wasn’t love or romantic inclination, it was sexual desire and a deep understanding that her value came from her physical offerings.

If it weren’t for Thessa’s determination, Marlowe wouldn’t have stopped - party and present audience be damned. The party was great, and she held no doubts that she was going to enjoy herself immensely. But that was then and elsewhere, and Thessa was now and right here. And Marlowe was far too grounded in any given moment to care about what could be, when she had something entirely enticing right in front of her. And since she’d already felt Thessa move from confusion, to acceptance, and ultimately enjoyment, she was loath to let it go. Marlowe reached for the tall woman’s shoulders and braced herself as she was twirled. A laugh that was crystal clear like a bell rang out through the courtyard - pure joy, the kind that Marlowe seldom felt since coming to Hammer. As she was set, Lolo bit her lip and looked at Thessa with deep, half lidded, ‘fuck me’ eyes. The effect she’d had on Thessa was obvious, and it only enticed her to want more - to show her more. And before the night was done, she planned to! “But what if I want to make you messy…” she murmured as she was all but drug off to attend their party…

Continued at…

[Aethyrium]

[Dove]

Stats

Strength: 3
Stamina: 5
Speed: 4
Shimmer: 0
Soul: 3
Brawl: 2
Melee: 2
Ranged: 2
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: None
Element Affinity: Lightning, Fire
Element Weakness: Earth, Water

Weapon Bonus:12+5

Character Name: Estelle Dawn
Date | Time: 01.04.1323 | Night (~9:00pm)
Location: Hammer Academy | Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: Brown loungewear set, slip-on shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Dariaq
Notes:
Sleeping now would be near impossible, that much she knew. So instead of traipsing back to the Savaged dorm, she found herself in the courtyard with crickets chirping. It was another clear, chilly night, but she didn’t seem to mind as her head tilted back so she could look up at the stars, the moon. The night sky seemed to remind her of her mother more by the day. It had been over a month now since she last spoke to her, and she couldn’t help but feel a little worried and off that she hadn’t even seen a letter.

Ultimately she had to believe that it was not because anything was wrong, but instead that it had all the more to do with how remote that expedition was. But in the back of her mind, she bristled at the thought of the Hollow encroaching on the project. Her mother was not the type that could handle such an onslaught. She was a creative, an artist, a free spirit. There was no way that the expedition went without protection, though. It was too foolish in a dangerous time to go beyond the walls without it.

Heaving a sigh, she let herself lower to the ground. She was exhausted. It had been a long week and she had been relentlessly trying to recreate what she’d experienced on the mission. It had to be her Shimmer, and that was beyond exciting. Watching people like Thessa and Koko utilize their Shimmer was so fascinating to her. The variety of skills that appeared in that format was mind boggling. She wasn’t even sure what all of her teammates were capable of.

She lifted her hands up in front of her face, looking at her fingers with another sigh. All she could really make out about her Shimmer is that she was somehow capable of seeing things that happened in the past. But just walking into a room and trying really hard wasn’t cutting it. Hands dropped to her face and she rubbed at her eyes with a little groan that grew in her throat.

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name:Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 04.01.1323 | Late evening
Location: Courtyard of Champions, Hammer Island
Wearing: Hammer tracksuit
Tagging | Mentioning: Estelle Dawn
Notes: Distraction
Dari jammed the caster end of his glaive into the grass and leaned on it, breathing hard, ignoring the cacophony of aches and pains from his torn muscles. With an effort, he raised his head towards the great tree that centred the courtyard. The tree reminded him of the garden outside his old apartment, where he had trained for the chance to enter Hammer. It was also where Hulta had taken him on his first day, when it sank in that he was here, and that he belonged. But memory was not why he was training here. The night was chill, and the air thin enough to make muscles burn within a few minutes at any kind of exertion, but the challenge of the elements was not why he was training now.

Pinewood had happened, and nothing could change that. But he could still show his squad-mates through action that he was no weak link. And if he trained hard enough, he might not be caught off guard again. He leaned hard on his mother’s glaive, and fought to catch his breath. Half-healed injuries vexed him like daggers pricking at his back, but at least they drowned out his thoughts, which were paper-cut sharp tonight. He looked up towards the stars, but those that weren’t obliterated by the city’s light pollution were hidden by bands of grey - not enough cloud cover to give any warmth to the night, only enough to make it dark.

He turned back towards the academy complex. It was late, and another early start beckoned in the morning. You will do this, Dari. You can and you must. The movement of another late-roaming squire caught his eye. Petite, swathed in a brown flannel onesie, blue highlights in her hair shining under the courtyard’s arcanite post-lights. He raised an arm.

“Estelle! Ça va?” He made himself jog over, as if he hadn’t just worked himself into the ground, and raised a smile. “Not sleepwalking again, I hope?”

Estelle rubbed her eyes and groaned, looking troubled by something more than simple fatigue. Dari cocked his head.

“Everything okay?”

[Dove]

Stats

Strength: 3
Stamina: 5
Speed: 4
Shimmer: 0
Soul: 3
Brawl: 2
Melee: 2
Ranged: 2
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: None
Element Affinity: Lightning, Fire
Element Weakness: Earth, Water

Weapon Bonus:12+5

Character Name: Estelle Dawn
Date | Time: 01.04.1323 | Night (~9:00pm)
Location: Hammer Academy | Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: Brown loungewear set, slip-on shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Dariaq
Notes:
Dari’s voice pinged through the quiet of the courtyard and she nearly jumped - well, maybe she did jump just a little bit. She had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she hadn’t even paid any mind to who else might be sharing the Courtyard this evening. But as she sat up, eyes a bit wide, there he was. While there was a smile on his face, she was surprised that he seemed to have been training. The glaive was the easiest indication, but so was the sheen of sweat that had his darker skin glowing even in the dark of night.

She laughed a bit at her own expense when he quipped about her sleepwalking. “Dari, hey. No - not this time,” she said, her smile not quite meeting her eyes as there was too much worry in them. Was everything okay? She paused for a moment, tilting her head left and right as if she were contemplating how much she really wanted to share here. Now that they’d gone through a bit more as an official team, she figured it was probably smart to be honest in that best foot forward mentality. So clearing her throat, she pulled her legs towards her to sit cross legged in the grass, looking up at him.

“Well, I don’t know if word got around or not, but the way our half of the team was able to find you guys when we got split? I mean, I’m sure we could have tracked you eventually, but… something happened to me. And I’m pretty sure it was my Shimmer,” she explained, her hands moving before her to gesticulate what she was trying to explain. Gaze bounced from the courtyard around them then back to Dari. “It was like I could see what happened in an area in the past. I got these crazy flashes of Thessa, but also you. And Hulta. It was super vague and honestly kind of… weird. Like the colors and focus of it all made it feel like some bizarre hallucination. And if it weren’t for this sinking gut feeling, I think I would have believed it to be exactly that. Except it did lead us to you guys.”

She looked down at her hands then brought them up to rub at her eyes and drag down her face. “I’ve been trying to recreate it so I can feel it all again and maybe try to understand it, but… nothing’s working." Her hands fell back into her lap, her spine curving to curl over herself with a glum expression on her face.

But then she seemed to refocus on him. "Are you okay?"

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name:Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 04.01.1323 | Late evening
Location: Courtyard of Champions, Hammer Island
Wearing: Hammer tracksuit
Tagging | Mentioning: Estelle Dawn
Notes: Distraction
“Well, I don’t know if word got around or not, but the way our half of the team was able to find you guys when we got split?”

Dari nodded, remembering well. They had been on the back foot - not down but definitely in trouble as they reeled against the earthquake Marlowe had summoned in an attempt to keep the hispo at bay, and watching a legion of red eyes close in from all sides. He remembered himself and Hulta dragging themselves out of the chasm, and the surge of hope he’d felt when the first thing he saw was Estelle and the others charging towards the fray.

“That was good timing.” he acknowledged.

“I mean, I’m sure we could have tracked you eventually, but… something happened to me. And I’m pretty sure it was my Shimmer,”

…

She looked down at her hands then brought them up to rub at her eyes and drag down her face. “I’ve been trying to recreate it so I can feel it all again and maybe try to understand it, but… nothing’s working." Her hands fell back into her lap, her spine curving to curl over herself with a glum expression on her face. But then she seemed to refocus on him. "Are you okay?"

Dari rocked back just slightly at the armour-piercing question. “Eh, you know me,” he deflected. “I’m always okay. I’m just trying to tire myself out before bed, that’s all.”

He dropped down on his haunches to bring himself to Estelle’s eye level.

“Finding out your Shimmer is pretty awesome though, right?” he added, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere. He was reminded that while most elves discovered their magic early and could start developing it with the help of master arcanists, humans sometimes discovered their Shimmer later, or not at all. “Anything I can do to help?”

[Dove]

Stats

Strength: 3
Stamina: 5
Speed: 4
Shimmer: 0
Soul: 3
Brawl: 2
Melee: 2
Ranged: 2
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: None
Element Affinity: Lightning, Fire
Element Weakness: Earth, Water

Weapon Bonus:12+5

Character Name: Estelle Dawn
Date | Time: 01.04.1323 | Night (~9:00pm)
Location: Hammer Academy | Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: Brown loungewear set, slip-on shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Dariaq
Notes:
Even though Dari was deflecting in his answer, Estelle could see just a tiny glimmer of doubt in his demeanor. That simple rock back on his heels revealed that the past events may have had a more lasting effect than he let on. But she also knew that trying to pry would never be the answer. Maybe he wasn’t ready to talk about it. Maybe he was holding on to his pride. Whatever the case, she gave a solemn nod before he crouched down before her. And things shifted to her Shimmer.

A small tilt of her lips turned her expression to a smile. “It is awesome, yeah. The potential of it feels… meaningful. But I just can’t help but think that if I can’t find a way to control it or better understand it then it will be for nothing. What good is power if you don’t know how to wield it?” she sighed, fingers finding her knees and rubbing at them. She was enticed by his offer to help, but she wasn’t sure what to ask of him. She wasn’t even sure what step she should take first.

Lips twisted left and right, the apples of her cheeks rising again as she let out a breathy laugh. “I wish you could. I mean, maybe you can?” Brows rose over her eyes, sitting up a bit more straight as she considered. Then she looked towards him, eyes fixed on his face and searching them as she worked through it aloud. “The way I see it, it’s been hard to test myself because ultimately the Shimmer seems to be visions of events that came before. But they’re events that happened to other people. And I only have that one instance so far to go off of. But even then, the vision wasn’t… extremely clear. Thessa was actually the clearest. But I also saw you. And Hulta.”

She squinted, fingers of one hand rising to rub across her face, brushing some of the fatigue from her eyes. “Maybe you can help me test it? Give me something to… find? To… see? Do you know what I mean?” she asked, a glimmer of hope behind blue hues when she looked to him next in the quiet of the courtyard.

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name:Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 04.01.1323 | Late evening
Location: Courtyard of Champions, Hammer Island
Wearing: Hammer tracksuit
Tagging | Mentioning: Estelle Dawn
Notes: New heights of competitiveness
“Thessa was actually the clearest. But I also saw you. And Hulta.”

Why was he not surprised that Thessa had been the clearest? He would have to get even with his best enemy for that. Dari rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he considered Estelle’s problem.

“Are you sure that’s what it’s actually doing?” he suggested. Shimmer could, after all, manifest as almost anything - anything the Brothers could dream of, as some storytellers liked to put it - and this one seemed more abstract than most. Perhaps it was failing because she was trying to will it to do something it wasn’t meant for?

“One way to find out, I suppose.” he added, springing to his feet and offering Estelle a hand up.

She squinted, fingers of one hand rising to rub across her face, brushing some of the fatigue from her eyes. “Maybe you can help me test it? Give me something to… find? To… see? Do you know what I mean?”

“Alright.” Dari affirmed, rolling his shoulders to loosen the ache of fatigue. The immediate opportunity to displace Thessa as the clearest vision in Estelle’s fledgeling Shimmer was doing wonders for his mood. “Let’s do it.”

He bounced on his toes and unlimbered Spitting Cobra, cutting a figure-eight with the glaive. “Go stand inside for a minute, and when I come and get you, we’ll see if you can read what I was doing!”

He chivvied Estelle back through the main doors of the academy complex, and once he was sure she wasn’t peeking through any of the ballistic glass windows, he went back to the big tree and centred himself. What would be suitably memorable? He thought of one of his and Hulta’s signature moves, and grinned.

Summoning the remainder of his strength, he exhaled and spun his glaive through the arcs of a defensive hemisphere, before leaping from one foot to the other in a spinning, slashing counter. Dami mas ar-ca-ni-ta! Hulta was not here to execute her Daddy Kantos move, so he willed his echo into being and tossed its ghost-glaive towards himself, bringing its counterpart scything round to strike the flying weapon and send it whirling off towards an imaginary enemy. The glaive winked out of existence before it could strike the courtyard’s curtain wall, and the echo followed suit to leave Dari alone.

“Nice.” he complimented himself, grinning through the pain in his back and legs. If Estelle truly could see echoes of the past, it would hardly do for her to see him wincing in discomfort. He lowered his glaive and made himself jog back towards the academy doors, while sweat steamed from his skin into the frigid air. “Okay Estelle, give it a shot!”

[Dove]

Stats

Strength: 3
Stamina: 5
Speed: 4
Shimmer: 0
Soul: 3
Brawl: 2
Melee: 2
Ranged: 2
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: None
Element Affinity: Lightning, Fire
Element Weakness: Earth, Water

Weapon Bonus:12+5

Character Name: Estelle Dawn
Date | Time: 01.04.1323 | Night (~9:00pm)
Location: Hammer Academy | Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: Brown loungewear set, slip-on shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Dariaq
Notes:
Estelle did her best to match Dariaq’s energy, hand finding his and not afraid to give him some of her weight when she pushed up to her full height. Hands brushed some stray dirt from her palms along her sides. She looked down and around at herself. It was pretty late to be getting into this, but she was beyond game and it seemed he was also quite willing. She couldn’t really speak to the reasoning or the motivation. But she wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth either and so she smiled and gave him a nod.

“OK, yeah, yes,” she said excitedly, her head continuing to nod in a rhythmic bob as she was automatically back pedaling. A laugh even bubbled past her lips as he was guiding her towards the doors of the academy. “Thank you, I’m going. I’m going!” The smile grew before she disappeared behind the doors.

Fingers immediately found themselves curled between each other, tugging and pushing here and there as she began pacing. She walked a circle around herself, considering what he might even think to do to test this theory. He couldn’t leave any obvious trace behind, could he? If he left something for her to see, she might be able to guess and that would just be cheating, wouldn’t it? But then, would she really let herself cheat? No. She wouldn’t. That would defeat this rare bit of help that she wasn’t sure she’d have the guts to ask for. She knew Thessa would help her, but Thessa had so much going on lately she just didn’t know how to go about it. And besides, they had so much to talk about.

Dari was back again in an instant, the doors opening and giving her a bit of a start. Her eyes caught the sweat, but she tried not to think much of it. Dimples appeared on her cheeks as she stepped out next to him. “OK, here goes,” she said nervously.

One step at a time, she moved out towards the center of the courtyard. At first there was nothing. Slow steps and crickets and quiet. Swallowing hard, she was ever aware of him behind her. And the effort he was putting in couldn’t be ignored. Somehow she felt an incredible pressure to be able to make her Shimmer… sparkle! But nothing was happening.

Not until she crossed over one random brush through the dirt, a line that must have been created by him. And she felt something, saw a quick something, a flash before her eyes. But it was unclear and just barely there to begin with. Turning to look at him, she had a sheepish look on her face as her hand rose to rub at the back of her neck. “Barely a thing. I got a flicker of feeling somewhere, but…” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. Hands moved to her hips and it was almost blatant how the gears were turning in her head. “What did you do? Maybe try something with… a story. Like… like… I don’t know. Like something meaningful?” Face scrunched, knowing that was super vague. But she couldn’t tell him outright what to do or that would, again, defeat the purpose of this whole exercise from the start.

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name:Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 04.01.1323 | Late evening
Location: Courtyard of Champions, Hammer Island
Wearing: Hammer tracksuit
Tagging | Mentioning: Estelle Dawn
Notes: “Meaningful”
Estelle shuffled back out into the courtyard, looking rather like a little bear cub in her brown flannel jumpsuit. Dari hovered expectantly nearby, rubbing his hands together as he bounced on his toes.

“Alright jolie,” he hyped her up, “Do your thing!”

Estelle scrunched her face as she picked her way slowly around the tree, then halted and rubbed the back of her neck. “Barely a thing. I got a flicker of feeling somewhere, but…” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head.

“That’s a start.” Dari encouraged, “What did it tell you?” He could see it now - his and Hulta’s masterstroke move laid out like an imprint in the air, just waiting for his squadmate’s Shimmer-sense to pick it up.

Estelle’s hands moved to her hips and it was almost blatant how the gears were turning in her head. “What did you do? Maybe try something with… a story. Like… like… I don’t know. Like something meaningful?”

Dari’s ears dipped. “Mam-zel!” he proclaimed sternly, and brandished a finger in the air. “Everything I do is meaningful! Go back inside, let’s try something else.”

The attempt to draw out his friend’s Shimmer was quickly metastasising into a challenge of his own performance as he paced back and forth in front of the big tree. Perhaps he should re-enact his triumphant march into Hammer to come face to face with the so-called professor Farrah. Or the little victory twirl after outlasting his rival at the mammoth rodeo. His forehead creased as he realised that both events revolved around Thessa. He supposed it was simply logical, if it was her he was planning to upstage in Estelle’s Shimmer-sense. A thought came to him, and he grinned to himself.

Red Squirrel.

Another one of his and Hulta’s signature moves, which they had flawlessly executed in their doubles duel against Thessa and Marlowe. Sure, their opponents had ultimately won that bout, but the move had been the immediate precursor to him knocking his best enemy down on her backside.

Dari stretched out his sore, cramping muscles and reset his guard stance, before summoning his will once again. His Soul sparked green with the effort as he lunged into an attack drill, the blue echo leaping and coiling around him as it pushed off his shoulder and launched into a downward strike, scattering frizzons of azure lightning across the grass. He tried to summon up the moment in his mind, to embody it once more as his echo blinked away.

Close enough, mamzel Thessa? Knee on her back, glaive stopping just short, intimate as a lover’s whisper.

“Dariaq Syvanios is the best.” he panted quietly into the empty night, wearily raising his glaive overhead in both hands. “Thessa Almentis can’t possibly compete.”

He let his arms fall, and turned back towards the academy doors to fetch Estelle for her second try.

[Dove]

Stats

Strength: 3
Stamina: 5
Speed: 4
Shimmer: 0
Soul: 3
Brawl: 2
Melee: 2
Ranged: 2
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: None
Element Affinity: Lightning, Fire
Element Weakness: Earth, Water

Weapon Bonus:12+5

Character Name: Estelle Dawn
Date | Time: 01.04.1323 | Night (~9:00pm)
Location: Hammer Academy | Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: Brown loungewear set, slip-on shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Dariaq
Notes:
The apples of her cheeks rose as his finger shot up, his voice firm but she couldn’t quite take it seriously. The grin grew on her features, and she knew that he couldn’t be entirely serious. But then again, she definitely figured that he meant what he said. He certainly believed everything he did was meaningful. Still, she chortled and nodded. “Right, yes, of course.” Dimples still sat on her cheeks, and soon she was ushered back inside. She moved with a pep in her step, practically darting across the courtyard to disappear behind the doors again.

This time, she was even more nervous. What if this didn’t work at all? What if her Shimmer could never be mastered and it would just live as some passive thing that reared its head when it wanted but not when she needed. That scared her, especially considering the Shimmers of those around her. Some were so powerful and could really make such a difference in a fight. Even what she knew of her Shimmer, it seemed like more of a supportive thing than anything. She tried to push away the thought that it might just not be as powerful as Thessa’s or Koko’s… But then she was reminded of Ares’, and that was really something. Combat wasn’t everything and power could exist in different forms.

There was Dari again. She nearly jumped as the doors opened, eyes wide. But she was ready. “OK, let’s see,” she whispered to herself, but he’d be able to hear as she passed him to move towards the center of the courtyard. There was an immediate flash of blue across her mind’s eye. A gasp escaped her and hands rose to her head, eyes fluttering closed. “Whoa,” she huffed, eyes opening again as the flashes of blue became more specific. But she couldn’t see just where they’d come from. She took a few large steps in one direction, whirling around. Her eyes that had previously been blue had shifted to a more icy color, almost white, as she saw more details of what had happened just moments before.

“There you are!” she shouted in excitement, laughing, not thinking about her volume at this time of night. She wasn’t typically such a loud person, but she could see him. She saw him with his glaive, saw the downward strike that caused the ripple effect of blue sparks. In a way, it was beautiful. But the memory was silent. She could not hear a thing.

Blinking the vision from her eyes, she rushed to him now in real time, hands grabbing at either of his arms with a bright smile on her face. “It’s working, it’s working! But I couldn’t… I can’t hear anything. What if the visions are more than that? What if… I can smell or hear or taste? I don’t know! I…” Her voice trailed off and she squeezed at his arms, shaking her head. Then she pleaded, “One more? Just one more, and try to say something. Or… or… I don’t know.” There was another flash of blue across her eyes and she squinted, grunting as her hand left one of his arms to rub at her eyes.

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name:Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 04.01.1323 | Late evening
Location: Courtyard of Champions, Hammer Island
Wearing: Hammer tracksuit
Tagging | Mentioning: Estelle Dawn
Notes: Lyrics credit - Rohff, Qui est l'example?
Dari laughed as she latched onto him, his body still half-braced from the exertion, but even so her energy caught him off-guard. He beamed along with her. Estelle was finally seeing it - finally beginning to grasp the elusive light that lay dormant within every sapient. He remembered his own laugh, the pride that had filled his own chest when his own Shimmer echo finally took form under the arcanist’s instruction.

“One more? Just one more, and try to say something. Or… or… I don’t know.”

Dari kept smiling, but in the space behind his eyes, he could feel a dull, throbbing pressure. His back ached fiercely, and the sweat cooling on his skin was quickly giving way to a chill that would soon sink in deep. He could force it - Light Brother knew that Dariaq Syvanios could always force it - but he would suffer for it tomorrow. And as he had learned, Hammer Academy was a marathon, not a sprint. He exhaled slowly.

“One more, huh?” he echoed. “I’d like to. I really would.” He paused, not quite ready to admit the whole truth. “But those were my best drills already, and I won’t give you a half-effort when you’re giving me everything.” He mirrored her arm clasp, giving her shoulders a reassuring squeeze. “But I do know something else that might work. It’s not a move or a battle trick, but it means something to me.”

He glanced over his shoulder toward the massive courtyard tree, its roots half-buried in stone, its bark etched by a hundred years of Hammer squires.

“Go back inside, and give me five minutes.” He flicked his eyebrows and grinned. “No peeking and no listening!”

Once she nodded and turned away, Dari turned back toward the tree. He approached it slowly, one hand trailing up until it met the rough, cold bark. He splayed his fingers against it, anchoring himself, while his breath traced white puffs in the air. He bowed his head and let the silence of the night wash over him.

“Bienvenue, nuit; adieu au jour;
 Lune brisee, danse sur les murs.
 Souviens-toi des voix anciennes
 Nos cœurs brillent dans l’ombre pure…”

His voice was a low murmur, the song a weaving of old notes carried between generations of elves who had made their way across the sea from the smoking ruins of Kalanos, and down the western coast of Johtan. His mum, Jenevelle the history keeper, had used to sing him to sleep with it, in the gloaming after Mother had worked him into the ground. It was a story of memory, but also a command, a responsibility. He remembered Mother listening quietly, one hand on the duvet, her eyes dark in the firelight of their small home, as the song shifted from a melody to a low chant.

“Mais, qui est l'exemple?
À tous les grands frères, toutes les grandes sœurs
Servons de modèle à nos petits frères à nos petites sœurs
J'ai fait des conneries de grandes envergures
Mais faut bien qu'on change un jour même si c'est hyper dur

Dis-mois, qui est l'exemple?
File dans le droit chemin, trace ta route, ne te retourne pas
Chacun sa chance, pour certains la roue ne tourne pas
Y'a pas d'destin en commun, fille ou garçon
Nous sommes les parents de demain - Lumiere, attention!

Bienvenue, nuit; adieu au jour;
Lune brisee, danse sur les murs.
Souviens-toi des voix anciennes
Nos cœurs brillent dans l’ombre pure.”

When the song faded, he stayed a while longer, head bowed. Then, without another word, he stepped back and let the renewed quiet speak for itself.

He made his way toward the academy doors, and waited for Estelle to come find him again.

[Dove]

Stats

Strength: 3
Stamina: 5
Speed: 4
Shimmer: 0
Soul: 3
Brawl: 2
Melee: 2
Ranged: 2
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: None
Element Affinity: Lightning, Fire
Element Weakness: Earth, Water

Weapon Bonus:12+5

Character Name: Estelle Dawn
Date | Time: 01.04.1323 | Night (~9:00pm)
Location: Hammer Academy | Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: Brown loungewear set, slip-on shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Dariaq
Notes:
Eyes narrowed subtly as he mirrored her own touch, his raising to her shoulders. Part of her did feel guilty that she kept asking again and again. He was clearly at least a little worn out and running those physical drills was likely not helping at all. But her excitement was carrying her forward, tugging her along without pushing her logic to the forefront. If she were more centered she would probably have told him not to worry and talked herself right out of asking him for help again and again. But look what they’ve already been able to do!

There was also the question of what else he had in mind. She didn’t know the elf too well, only really just started getting to know him now that they were on the same team and working more closely. To learn something important to him would be… special. And so the corners of her lips turned up slightly and she nodded once more when he was ready for her to go away. She offered one more squeeze of an arm in a silent thank you, her energy bright and giddy as she darted across the courtyard to disappear behind the doors in an instant.

This one took longer, and her curiosity burned to know what he was doing. But she could hear nothing and would certainly not cheat herself out of this last test of her Shimmer. Pacing right behind the door, she jumped when he came back to her. And there was that smile again as she stepped back into the courtyard. This time, she didn’t say anything at first. No excited commentary or hopeful wishes that this would work. She took slow but steady steps around the courtyard, moving towards the center. And then she saw him, but him from moments before.

Approaching the sight of him, she could make out some mumblings but it was muffled at first. Eyes caught his hand resting on the tree and she looked up at it as she moved closer until she was just a foot or two from his ‘ghost’ of sorts. Leaning against the tree, she closed her eyes. The visual was not what was important here after all. The side of her head against the bark, his words finally became crisp and intelligible. She could not understand them, but that was because they must have been in his people’s language. Elvish. But even without understanding the words, there was a power to them somehow. A meaning that was a mystery to her, but like he had said… It was meaningful to him.

When it was over, the song or poem or however he might encapsulate the piece, her eyes cracked open and she turned her back to the tree, arms winding around herself. A smile on her face softened and she gave him a nod. “When I closed my eyes, I could hear the whole thing. Maybe eventually I’ll be able to get it all without being overstimulated.” She took the biggest breath, letting her shoulders rise and then fall as at least some of the tension from the day left her. “What was that anyway?” she asked, tilting her head towards the door that would carry them back to the Savaged dorm in an invitation.

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name:Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 04.01.1323 | Late evening
Location: Courtyard of Champions, Hammer Island
Wearing: Hammer tracksuit
Tagging | Mentioning: Estelle Dawn
Notes: Survivors
Dari followed her gaze toward the dorms, then glanced back at the tree before falling into step beside her. He could feel his eyes growing heavy. He would sleep well tonight - and possibly wake up extremely sore tomorrow. Just another challenge that thought it could beat Dari Syvanios.

“That,” he said softly in answer to her question, “Was the Song of the Survivors. Or one version of it, at least.”

He kept his eyes ahead, watching the dark path wind across the courtyard towards the academy buildings. The arcanite lamps cast faint halos of light, keeping the cold, blustery night at bay.

“It’s one of the oldest songs we have. We took it with us all the way across Johtan, after Kalanos fell to the Hollow. My mum used to sing it when I was a kid.” He paused for a moment. “That’s…like one of the traditions of the History Keepers. Almost every enclave has someone who carries the memories forward. Not just the facts of what happened. The feeling of it.”

He shook his head, eyes glancing towards Estelle.

“Some people say we’re fading away. And I suppose it’s difficult to argue we’re not, after everything that’s happened. But it’s not something I want to accept. That song? It’s saying We were there. We’re STILL here. And we still have work to do.”

He took a breath, and rubbed his shoulder.

“I want to be someone that the next generation looks at and says, that’s what it means to be elven. Because I didn’t give up, and I built something. A…record, a legacy…something that shows we didn’t just disappear.”

Dari tugged his bound dreadlocks over one shoulder. The moment felt heavy; he attempted to turn it lighter with a sly grin.

“Also, I really don’t want Thessa to be the only one with a cool story in your visions.”

He halted as they reached the steps to the dorms, standing in the brighter light that shone out from the building.

“Anyway, your Shimmer? I think you’ve got something very powerful in your hands now. Seeing the truth of things? That can change everything.” He held the door open with a slight bow of the head. “After you, mamzel.”

[TheFluffyOne]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 2
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 5
Soul: 2
Brawl: 0
Melee: 3
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 2

Terrain Affinity: Forest
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic
Element Affinity: Air
Element Weakness: Water

Weapon Bonus: 12+2

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: 01.16.1323| Early evening (5pm)
Location: Courtyard - Up the big oak tree.
Wearing: Basic Uniform. No shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Marlowe Ashe
Content: Coming clean
“Come meet me at our tree in the courtyard. H.”

The letter had been slipped under the door to Lyra and Lolo’s room. Lyra would surely know that it wasn’t for her. Hulta and her did not have a tree but Marlowe and her did. The one that Marlowe had followed her up that night when Hulta agreed to a date. The tree that Hulta hung from as she had tried to pretend that she wasn’t watching Marlowe when they were in their ‘fight’ moment. The tree had seen their beginning, the flirting, the pain and now who knows what it would see.

Hulta was up about half way, her legs wrapped around the tree branch. Her head hanging down towards the ground as she willed all the blood to rush to her head. Maybe then it would force ‘better’ words to spawn. Every time that she had thought how to word it, it came out wrong. Too blunt. Too casual. Too childish. It was wrong in every way, and she needed to fix it. Her eyes were shut as she let the gentle breeze pick up her hair and sway it back and forth. This had to be right. Not perfect. This conversation couldn’t be perfect, but it had to be right, or it could ruin everything. She couldn’t ruin everything again.

The elf was certain that Marlowe already knew something was up. She hadn’t reacted the way that she should have that day with those men. She had been a little more forceful in her need for Lolo. She wasn’t the shy elf that had blushed deeply when Marlowe traced her fingertips against her knee. No, this elf brazenly allowed a man to yank her shirt down and even wriggled against him. Almost needy. Almost strangely familiar with that sensation. No true shame. Even if she was keeping with the confidence of being able to hold her cool…she didn’t react to it after they left. She didn’t grow flustered afterwards or chastise Marlowe’s choice of thin strapped dress.

Swaying herself back and forth, Hulta let out another deep breath. Feeling it rattle free from her nostrils. She fought the need to just flee. Just leave. Pretend that everything was alright. Ignore what had happened when they weren’t together. But. She promised that she wouldn’t lie to Marlowe anymore. This was a lie. This was a big lie. She needed to come clean.

[Dove]

Stats

Strength: 3
Stamina: 5
Speed: 4
Shimmer: 0
Soul: 3
Brawl: 2
Melee: 2
Ranged: 2
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: None
Element Affinity: Lightning, Fire
Element Weakness: Earth, Water

Weapon Bonus:12+5

Character Name: Estelle Dawn
Date | Time: 01.04.1323 | Night (~9:00pm)
Location: Hammer Academy | Courtyard of Champions
Wearing: Brown loungewear set, slip-on shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Dariaq
Notes:
The excitement of figuring this out with Dariaq was enough to keep her quite awake as they fell into step together. Despite his exuberance to make an impact, she could tell he was tired. Could feel the energy drop if but a fraction as they moved inside and continued. Her arms wound around herself as she listened about the song, about what it meant to him and his people. Estelle was not shying away from the heaviness of the conversation. Instead, she cast a look over towards him with empathy shining in her eyes even as he tried to smile and turn things to a lighter vibe.

She couldn’t help but chortle at his comment on Thessa, dimples appearing on her cheeks as she looked down to her feet and back up again. “The two of you are really quite something. But don’t you worry, Dari. There’s plenty of room in my ‘third eye’ for both of you.” Laughter escaped her, shaking her head as she knew it was true. What she didn’t say was the other piece of it, that Thessa would always have a special and simply different standing in her heart. She had yet to really understand it, but Soul was a funny thing that way. There was so much more to explore in terms of how the two were connected. And as much as she would care for her team and make them an important part of her life, Thessa would always be a step above. Wouldn’t she?

A hand moved to the elf’s shoulder as they stood outside the dorm now. “And you’ll continue to build it. I have no doubt you make your people - your family - very proud.” Eyes peeked between his and she gave one more firm nod before letting her fingers slip back and away from him. “I’ll always remember that song. Maybe not the words but… the feeling of it.” It was an echo of his explanation, and she cracked one more smile before giving an awkward little bow to him as he opened the door to the dorm.

Stepping inside, she turned to look at him, pressing against the wall of the entryway to give him room to join her. “Thanks again for your help. Sleep well,” she murmured quietly, not wanting to wake anyone that might be sleeping inside. And then she’d move to her room with Thessa, slipping inside to get ready for bed. Feeling much lighter, much more ready to discover more and more about this Shimmer they’d uncovered.

-- End Scene --

[Aethyrium]

Stats

Strength: 5
Stamina: 3
Speed: 2
Shimmer: 3
Soul: 1
Brawl: 5
Melee: 0
Ranged: 0
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Forest, Mountain
Terrain Weakness: Desert, Aquatic
Element Affinity: Earth
Element Weakness: Water

Weapon Bonus: 12+2

Character Name: Marlowe Ashe
Date | Time: 1.16.1323 | Early Evening (~5pm)
Location: Big Oak Tree
Wearing: Dark vested suit with flared pants and bright undershirt
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Notes:
Lolo had been there when the letter arrived. She’d thrown the door open to find Hulta, but the elf was already gone. Somehow that was what made everything feel not right. Not that Marlowe was opposed to meeting Hulta at the - their - tree, but they basically lived together now! Why had this been needed, couldn’t they talk in the common space? It didn’t overly bother her though, anywhere with Hulta was good - it was just… Strange. Like Hulta had been for a while now. Weeks. Marlowe tried to place it specifically, but it was really after the Pinewatch mission. Maybe something had happened prior to that, while they were fighting, that she didn’t know about?

Exiting Hammer, Marlowe bounded right across the courtyard. She barely noticed the Artemis units guarding the military command center - their ever present force was tuned out a long time ago. Her feet hit the grass and she pushed forward until she came to the trunk of the tree, hands catching her against it. Lolo peered up into the canopy, able to pick out Hulta’s out of place red locks to note her position. They really should climb more, she thought.

With a little jump, Lolo grabbed the lowest branch and hoisted herself up onto it. She scanned for another footfall, which was easily found - almost instinctually. How much time had they spent up here by now? “You know,” Lolo said, as she hooked around another branch and pushed off another to launch herself up and grab a thick one below Hulta, “You could have just come to bed with me,” Lolo pressed her foot to the trunk, walked until she was parallel with the ground, and then swung herself over the branch so she was laying on it. A quick sit and twist, and she was face to face with Hulta’s upside down self, grinning, “Hi,” she whispered softly, leaning in and brushing her lips across Hulta’s.

[TheFluffyOne]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 2
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 5
Soul: 2
Brawl: 0
Melee: 3
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 2

Terrain Affinity: Forest
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic
Element Affinity: Air
Element Weakness: Water

Weapon Bonus: 12+2

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: 01.16.1323| Early evening (5pm)
Location: Courtyard - Up the big oak tree.
Wearing: Basic Uniform. No shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Marlowe Ashe
Content: Coming clean
The breeze continued to push her gently back and forth. Hulta let each breathe rattle from her nose before she dragged in another past gently parted lips. Slow. Calm. Her eyes were shut but she could almost see the leaves through her eyelids. The shadows dancing with the slowly fading light around them. With her eyes shut, she could pick up on the smallest movements of the tree. So, when hands gripped a bottom branch, Hulta knew that Marlowe had arrived. Hauling herself easily up to the branch beside Hulta. Words drifted through the pink fog that was all she could see. “And given Lyra the fright of her life…I think not.”

Hulta smirked and didn’t open her eyes, letting the gentle wind thread through her hair. Lips brushed against hers and she leaned in, kissing her sweetly as a hello. Then a small pause before she pressed another. “Hi.” She could feel Marlowe’s grin in how her lips were twisted up. She could feel the happiness drifting from Marlowe and she could feel that pit in her stomach steadily dribble to her chest. Amber eyes opened and filled swiftly with an almost startling level of adoration.

“Hi.”

She repeated as she leaned into boop her nose against Marlowes. “We…We need to talk.” Using her core strength, Hulta pulled herself back up so that she could sit cross legged on the branch beside Marlowe. She couldn’t even say that it was nothing bad. Because it was. “I am sure…you’ve noticed that I’m…like different.” Hulta kept her eyes on her hands as she seemed to follow over the lines in her palm with her fingertips. “Before we had that fight…I was nervous and didn’t like to be touched…like that. Like you wanted to.” She dug her fingernail in to trace over the lines now, that small flicker of pain helping to keep her mind settled.

“But now. I’m not like that. Especially yesterday with the stuff..yknow…with those men.” Hulta pressed in her thumb nail in until the skin underneath started to blossom a pale pink. “I.” She shook her head gently. Rip off. Say it. Get it out there. Don’t pussyfoot around it, as someone more blunt may say. “When we weren’t together, I was with someone else."

[Aethyrium]

Stats

Strength: 5
Stamina: 3
Speed: 2
Shimmer: 3
Soul: 1
Brawl: 5
Melee: 0
Ranged: 0
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Forest, Mountain
Terrain Weakness: Desert, Aquatic
Element Affinity: Earth
Element Weakness: Water

Weapon Bonus: 12+2

Character Name: Marlowe Ashe
Date | Time: 1.16.1323 | Early Evening (~5pm)
Location: Big Oak Tree
Wearing: Dark vested suit with flared pants and bright undershirt
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Notes:
Was that the reason Hulta refused, Lyra? Lolo didn’t like that answer. Lyra was an adult, she’d survive. She spent time with Azir, it wasn’t fair that Lolo should be denied because of her. A small huff followed, but she didn’t linger on it - that was a fight for another day. Hulta opening her eyes made Lolo light up. She lifted her hands and cupped those soft elven cheeks upside down and leaned in to kiss her once more before she could reply again - and when she did, she offered her own second, “Hi.”

Lolo didn’t like the way that needing to talk sounded. She tightened her brow and watched as Hulta got onto the branch, lowering herself so she was straddling the wood and giving Hulta her attention. “I still think we could have done that in my bed. Or yours.” She said with a smile, trying to diffuse whatever this strange air that was now surrounding Hulta was. Her eyes followed the anxious palm pressing. Now that Hulta was mentioning it, Lolo had noticed that. It hadn’t just been with the men either, but with how she had been acting toward her. She nodded, “You did seem more comfortable than I imagined,” but that had all been written off toward just completing the mission. “But that was good!” If Hulta felt like that was bad, she didn’t want her too. The mission had been important.


The revelation was not something she could have imagined. But maybe more than that, Lolo was confused why Hulta was making a big deal out of it. She blinked in confusion, but not because it was a problem, because it was so unexpected. Getting near Hulta had taken time for her, and she had let someone else in so easily? Marlowe grimaced, “Oh.” She said plainly. The feelings there were complicated, and muddy. She didn’t know what they were, exactly, and certainly not what to do with them. What did it say about how Hulta really fell about her, if it had been so difficult for them, but easy for her and another? She looked down at the bangle on her wrist, hands gripping the branch and leaning into it. In the end, did it matter?

Then she shrugged. “Okay,” she looked up and smiled at Hulta as if it was nothing - to her, it was. “Why not me?” That was her concern. “I don’t… Did I do something wrong, before?”

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name: Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 12.01.1323 | Afternoon
Location: Courtyard of Champions, Hammer Island
Wearing: Hammer uniform
Tagging | Mentioning: Koko Gero
Notes: After Blood and Water
The ruby turned slowly, glinting occasionally where a facet caught the light. It was the size of Dari's pinky nail, set into a silver disc, and strung on a chain that was too short for a necklace, but long enough to rest on someone's head, as it had done on Yunla's. Dari scrutinised the gemstone. It was expensive, no doubt. But what else did it represent?

A promise - from an uncertain ally, hailing from a far-off city. Her solemn words as she handed the jewel to him had rung true. But would it be enough to shield them, if another of the Seven came looking for Chee and Darklash? Dari held the ruby up to the afternoon light again, letting the chain dangle from his fingers. She didn't do this for Chee, or even for me. She did it for Dad.

He searched inside himself, digging once again for what he should be feeling when he thought of his father, and of the grave-tree he now rested under. Who was he planted beside? What kind of tree had they chosen? Birch for hope, pine for endurance, cedar for strength of spirit...how was he supposed to know if his father had embodied any of those things?

I know he saved Yunla's life. He should feel proud of that, at least. But what else? Dari exhaled, letting his hand and the ruby fall into his lap as he leaned his head back against the sentinel tree.

“What am I supposed to tell Mother and Mum?” he asked the silent branches.

[TheFluffyOne]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 2
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 5
Soul: 2
Brawl: 0
Melee: 3
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 2

Terrain Affinity: Forest
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic
Element Affinity: Air
Element Weakness: Water

Weapon Bonus: 12+2

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: 01.16.1323| Early evening (5pm)
Location: Courtyard - Up the big oak tree.
Wearing: Basic Uniform. No shoes.
Tagging | Mentioning: Marlowe Ashe
Content: Coming clean
The ghost of Lolo’s fingers lingered on her cheeks and she felt a ripple of panic sink through her, what if that was the last time that Marlowe touched her that way?! Hulta couldn’t even bring herself to smile sweetly at the teasing ways of Marlowe as she suggested doing such a talk in bed. No. It had to be here. Equal standing. Away from the others. She didn’t want them to know. “Y.Yeah. It was good.” She matched Marlowe, even if she felt like it good for all the wrong reasons.

“Oh”

The noise and grimace shattered through her. She waited for her to jump off the tree. Call her another name and leave. There would be little way to tie her back to Hulta then. How could she prove to Marlowe that she cared about her more than anything else? Her bottom lip wobbled and Hulta managed to stop it, only a fraction too late. Her gaze dropped to her hands and Hulta started to count in her head. It was only a matter of time. It was only a matter of time. She tried to breathe but each breath in only added to the tension in her chest.

“Okay” What? No. That wasn’t an okay type response. Hulta leaned in and placed a hand against Marlowe’s cheek. “You did nothing wrong.” She couldn’t smile, her pupils filled with concern. “I..I just had…” She hadn’t thought this far ahead. She hadn’t thought of exactly how to word this next bit. She had just expected Lolo to leave. “There were other parts in play. I didn’t and do not feel that way about him as I do about you.” Hulta leaned in closer and searching Marlowe’s eyes for the truth that could be pinging there.

“I wanted to. I wanted to so badly with you. But I was worried. I wanted it to be special.” She told Marlowe, the words now tasting like ash on her tongue. “But…I didn’t do everything. I wanted you to have that special moment with me. W…Will you do that with me?” She skirted around saying it outloud. The branch here was not the right place to have Lolo lunge at her. They would tumble down and end up making a scene. “Please”

[Aethyrium]

Stats

Strength: 5
Stamina: 3
Speed: 2
Shimmer: 3
Soul: 1
Brawl: 5
Melee: 0
Ranged: 0
Preparation: 0

Terrain Affinity: Forest, Mountain
Terrain Weakness: Desert, Aquatic
Element Affinity: Earth
Element Weakness: Water

Weapon Bonus: 12+2

Character Name: Marlowe Ashe
Date | Time: 1.16.1323 | Early Evening (~5pm)
Location: Big Oak Tree
Wearing: Dark vested suit with flared pants and bright undershirt
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Notes:
Someone else probably would have jumped away. Lashed out. Been angry. But not Marlowe. Because what Hulta was describing was something she knew intimately well. Hulta was describing every situation that had upset her, in reverse. The kiss she’d given Thessa? Yes. It meant something. It was unique and special and wonderful. But it didn’t diminish what she felt about Hulta. It didn’t even impact it. They weren’t the same, and one had nothing to do with the other. And that was before the simple, practical reality that they hadn’t been together. What Hulta did with her life then was rather firmly, Hulta’s business.

If there was anyone who could understand the ease of being with someone because it didn’t mean anything, it was Marlowe. Whatever she did with anyone else, it just wasn’t what it was with Hulta.

This talk had familiar sounds to it. This is what they had agreed on the day Hulta had given her the bangle, wasn’t it? “I said we’d make it special,” Lolo reminded her. What did she mean, they hadn’t done everything? If they hadn’t done anything, what was Hulta even really worried about here? Lolo furrowed her brow and looked down at the branch between them. “I’ll find the right moment, I promise.”

It turned over in her head again and again. She found it hard to believe that Hulta had done something so… Brazenly. Was it to spite her? Had she hoped this moment would hurt? It didn’t sound like it. “What… Other parts?” She looked up and tilted her head, “Who?”