middaeg | Intro Overflow: May

[from here]

[Some of the purpose she had carried herself with has evaporated as she makes her way back to Archer after making her jump. It seems like that odd impulsive feeling has abated a little, which is a relief. She got a neat bracelet out of the deal too, so that's cool.

His praise when she returns to him gets a small smile, though it's a little bashful around the edges, and she brushes it off as she holds out her arms to receive her regalia.]

Well, it is good to confirm we still possess whatever physical abilities we might have had before, even if our unique magics have been lost to us. [Help, how does she take compliments--] Please, forgive me for being an imposition so unexpectedly.

[It's true that Nessie and Mhairi seemed genuine. Seraphim can't necessarily tell when people are lying, but Mikleo's a long time skeptic too, and he didn't pick up any liar vibes. That means the true cause is still unknown.

His lips press into a thin line.]

I think there's more to it. Of course some people will find any excuse to discriminate against each other, but not everyone is like that. Why not separate us newcomers from the residents, in that case?

I don't like what they're doing. [A pause, and he adds:] Not all seraphim look like humans. This whole thing rubs me the wrong way.

Oh — [francel laughs modestly, shakes his head.]

No, perish the thought! I wish I had the power necessary to slay a dragon. No, I am neither prince nor dragon-slayer, though we had such a figure thousands of years ago. His name was Prince Haldrath, and we offer unto him our prayers to this day.

[nodding, francel continues, since ryoji certainly sounds interested.]

The Dravanian Horde has terrorized our people since the founding of Ishgard. The dragons attack our settlements, raze our villages. I am no prince, but I am the son of a most noble family, and thus I hold command over Skyfire Locks, which is a... well, it was built as a military encampment, of sorts.

[it's actually much less impressive than that, though, and he looks a bit sheepish.]

Nowadays, however — before I was taken here, I mean — Skyfire Locks is used as a sort of shelter for the commonfolk. Thus... although I would like to join my men in the hunting of dragons, I am... more like the leader of a village than the commanding officer of an army.

[His smile dropping off his face is something she notes as she takes back her things, and she feels she understands why it happens, even if the details elude her. She sympathizes, of course - the loss of the Triforce weighs heavily on her mind when it's not preoccupied with impulsive desires - but she hardly knows how to ease her own frustration with their situation, much less offer comfort to another going through the same.

Instead, she focuses on the worry that he actually voices, needless as it might have been. A warmer smile tugs at her lips when he admits it.]

You are kinder than my mentor likely would have been had I failed to make it across. I do not want to imagine how stern she would have been with me if she thought I had allowed her training to fall by the wayside so quickly. [A tilt of her head to the side.] I am sorry for worrying you, regardless. If there is something I may do to make up for it, please do not hesitate to ask.

[This boy doesn't seem like he'd try to take advantage of such an offer, so--]

Pierce neatly folds up his coat and leaves that on top of the nightstand, removing the strap from his shotgun and leaving that leaning up against the wall, right next to the bed and in easy reach.

"They must grow 'em really big in China," Pierce comments as he sits on the edge of the bed to unlace his shoes... and that was all he was planning on taking off, really. He wasn't keen on stripping down to his underclothes for his first night after being whisked away to some strange magical place, whether he was sharing a room or not.

"With you sayin' you've been out in the field - are you some kinda scientist?" That just wasn't lingo you heard often, and Pierce was well-read enough to take a stab at a guess. "Though maybe I shouldn't be askin' questions before I remember my manners. I'm Pearson Langford, but most call me Pierce. I research an' look into paranormal occurrences... though this whole place is still the strangest thing I've ever seen," he adds with a mutter, giving the zouwu another sidelong glance.

F-Forgive me, truly, it's just — I'm not sure — what I mean is you're very distinguished, you look responsible —

[you can't apologize for this, francel, you're literally just making it worse. after a moment of floundering, the young lord shuts his mouth and accepts the ice cream being offered to him, murmuring soft words of thanks as he immediately laps up a bit of melting cream that's threatening to tip over the edge of the cone. no takebacks now, but maybe salieri can get another one before the night's over.]

...A-Ahem. At any rate, pray forgive me. And I thank you, truly, for your concern. I, er, apologize for being a fool.

That in itself is a most noble sentiment.

[rare is the person who does not expect payment for their services, after all, even in ishgard, between ishgardians. ironically, despite newt's rather awkward response, francel only continues treating the man as though he is some hero.]

I am gladdened to make your acquaintance, Newt. Do let me know if there is any way in which I might assist you. A man of House Haillenarte must ever be mindful of his debts.

[ They can start a collection, that's fine. All made on stupid exchanged because no one knows when to quit. Accurate.

Lancer correctly identifying his current... profession just earns one more point of "familiarity" - they might come from the same lands even if different times. Then he drops his name, or rather class and everything just makes sense. You don't get to meet a Heroic Spirit from homeland often - what an honor! That could be a reason for the familiarity, perhaps they ran into each other in some Grail War and impression was simply left behind? He had to be in a different class (obv, he wouldn't be a Caster, he had to be Lancer, who else...). Too bad the accompanying impression of blackened forest doesn't make much sense. ]

That's the role I'm supposed to fill, yes. Don't get your hopes up, the etchings are similar but they are not the same to the ones I know.

[ Druid... a fake, temporary one, that's what he is. Maybe there is somewhere a story where Cú Chulainn didn't die young, following his grandfather footsteps instead. Settling after a life of adventures to share the stories and wisdom (ha!) as a druid. A possibility, one that didn't happen, but still- he just knows spells and some ancient runes only because of his stubborn mentor. The robes are just a dressing given by the Grail to fit into the concept of "Caster" ]

I go by Caster- [ Surprise! ] And me getting creative is you getting a nickname you probably wouldn't like.

[ He wraps the trinket around his wrist as if a bracelet. ]

What are waiting for? Let's get that beer.

[When the stall owner notices them he immediately approaches. Seeing that pancake rolls caught Archer's attention he starts advertising his goods.]

I have savory ones too, with vegetables and with meat, both spicy and mild flavors! The sweet rolls even have orapples' filling!

[Looks like the fruits are different here. Archer glances at the woman next to him.]

I'm partial to meat, but why not have some variety. What would you like?

[Getting into breeding chocobo was just... something that fell into Cloud's lap. He just went with it, and doesn't regret it. He loves all of his giant birds, and feels some comfort having one here.]

It took a lot of work. You can meet her after this.

[It is in that moment that Zelda realized she fucked up.

Okay, not really, but the icy chill of panic settles in her veins for a fleeting moment as Francel reveals his title, and she thanks all the spirits and gods that might be watching that he likely won't see the color fade from her face while he's in the middle of his bow. But he hasn't called her bluff yet; he's still treating her like the princess she is, even if it's a princess she doesn't necessarily know how to be, and so there's nothing else she can do but try to keep up the act, is there.]

It is. [She confirms, a polite, if somewhat wan smile gracing her features.] One that I wish to return to dearly, but if this displacement has given me the opportunity to meet with the kind Lord Francel, then I cannot say it is entirely unfortunate.

[Everyone likes a bunch of pretty words strung together, right? Right??]

This is a rabbit hole Steven will never climb his way out of. Vikings have none of this. Vikings don't even really have indoor plumbing. Hiccup is visibly trying to put away his ten million questions, nodding at the final explanation of 'a complicated machine that does things for you'. That, at least, he understands as an inventor. "That's pretty incredible, it's so small... Is it anything like the watches the witches gave us? I've been trying to figure out how those work-"

Then he takes a picture of them, and Hiccup leans in to look at it. "Wow! It looks so realistic. That's- Sorry, off topic, I've just never seen anything like that."

Ssssort of. [He amends, frowning, hand going to the hilt of Infero at his belt. It's retracted, small, easy to wrap his fingers around even though he has no intention of drawing it.] I tried it once. I got a flame? Not where I wanted it, though. It's hard, it's like reaching for something I can't quite grasp at yet, but something in me knows it's possible.

Mmmm, pretty much... There are a few different mining groups and they make most of the decisions about, uh, government and everything.

[ Entrapta fiddles with the loose lock of hair at the side of her face. ]

But, well, they didn't take anything, I'm just... not great at that stuff! [ She pauses, considering. Then, curious: ] What system of government would you advocate?

. . . And you still saw a mirror?

[ he doesn’t get it, either. ]

[death mechanics how do they work]

No. Something bright, but it didn't have a shape.

[Her eyes should have failed at that point. Was it a dying mind's denial, some last burst of brain activity before the end?]

Don't worry about it. [ Really, it is but a scratch. But the earlier statement returns to him. And he realizes- not that he knows her, but that there is this eerie feel of familiarity. (Maybe that's what made it so easy to worry about her well-being?) ]

Say- have we met?

[ Rohan's arms cross, his head tilted upwards to better look down at Giorno as he speaks. There's a lot of factors that go into why the hell he's out here, among all these people getting on his nerves and forcing him to interact with strangers, essentially people he could care less about.

And even though it'd be simple to just open his mouth and genuinely answer this stranger's question, Rohan doesn't. At least, not yet. ]

Why, you ask? [ A scoff. ] I could ask the same of you. I don't think I've seen you do anything that resembles participation in the slightest since coming here.

[ That last part's a bit of a stretch, all considering he's only had passing glances of Giorno. BUT STILL... He's speaking with a haughty air someone who just got kidnapped probably shouldn't have. ]

[ The possibility of a reward was never really a consideration for Akira, so it would have been easy enough to make off with the cat and collect the full amount—but Izuku seems to be a much better person that. Akira smiles. ]

I don't mind.

[ So it's best that they set off now, before Mrs. Mittens can concoct a way to slip from Izuku's arms. Akira isn't totally sure where they're heading, but they can at least start by backtracking down the hill and away from the harbor.

The brief description of his world is interesting, to say the least. Coming from a world where their powers were something unheard of, the concept of it being so commonplace is difficult to imagine. ] What was your power?

[ Stop with the Hawkeye B+. Archers and their perceptiveness, ugh. ]

I'm starting to feel you're asking questions you know the answer to. [ He huffs. A little. He should be the one being irritating, his spot is taking- granted, he's much more chilled out as Caster, but he still can be a pest. ]

They look as if they got the same origin as Ogham runes. [ Or you know that they are the next step, many hundreds of years later. Surprise Archer, you get an actual answer instead of him being a smartass ] Parts are readable, but I don't guarantee accuracy in what I can read.

[ Aymeric is both reasonable and educated, and he never doubted Haurchefant's report. At the time he dismissed the rumors as salacious folly, the gossip-starved highborn will to hear that a man as pious and kind and blameless, as innocent as Lord Francel, had done something forbidden, to tear him down, see him thrown into a confessional where he'd scream his throat raw until the inquisitors allowed him to starve.

They were only rumors. But he remembers the dream: Francel's clawed fingers peeling the skin from his neck, the hard scales under it.

It makes no difference, Aymeric decides firmly, shifting his arm to fold around Francel's middle. Whatever Francel did, or did not do, the war is over, and if Francel is a heretic, he is at least in sympathetic company.

He closes his eyes, breath stirring Francel's hair, and tries to sleep. ]

Forced break still counts as a break. At least they let you out to see the city. The healers I knew would sooner strangle you than let you leave the house.

[ Radiation. Water-purifier. Yeah, some of the words he knows the meaning, but it's clear as a day they could be as well two books on far away shelves. What he gets from it is- survived mortal danger trying to do something important. Then gotten dragged here. Fun. ]

How nice of them to take care of the injured. [ And... it's not said with sarcasm. ] They adhere to the law of hospitality, but what's next?

[ Scented baths with flowers are not the best place to let existential dread to sink in, quick time to commune with the dog brethren ]

[Holy shit it is like his animes. He won't say that part. But he definitely just thought that Keith is like a power ranger and this is the best thing to happen to him all day. Admittedly, a very low bar, but still.]

You know, that sounds kind of cool. [In a nerdy way but Akechi likes ray guns and lightsabers so you know what.] I would have bought capsule toys of the lions, I'm sure. [Specifically of whoever is red.] Well, fighting aliens is more serious than that, of course.

[ Even coming from different worlds those mirrors could tell a lot about who they ported. Probably a mercy these details are hidden behind the magic. Or maybe the details are what is magical here?

He returns a chuckle hearing the jab, and takes off his hood ]

Almost there- not every day I get to take advantage of looking all mysterious. [ And dusty, but that is also part of the "mysterious" vibe, isn't it? Talk some more and he is going to cough- ] Time to seek that "elsewhere".

[ He finally moves away from the mirror and even attempts to dust off his robe. Don't kneel on a floor that had not seen a broom in months. The mass of people is moving towards exit as well, following the boy most likely. But there is a pull - of magical origin possibly? - that draws Caster on the outside as well. ]

Unfortunately, when you land in a world far away, answers are rarely prepared to you.

[ Speaking from experience- Though there were situations when yes, they were. But then his Master does have a tendency to walk in and announce they are from years this and this without any attempt at secrecy... ]

Sounds great.

[He can tell how much Cloud has changed. He's different than what Zack remembers. Getting to know all these little things again is going to be a wild ride. But he's okay with that. As long as Cloud is healthy and alive... Everything seems to be less heavy inside Zack's chest.]

Feels like we've got a lot of catching up to do.

Intro Overflow: May

@boneofsword

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@darkbreak

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sumanai for being so damn slow

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