middaeg | [Open] Catch All for January (Some closed prompts)

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[Open] Catch All for January (Some closed prompts)

Who: Edelgard von Hresvelg and You!
When: Pre-Snatched Plot, some Post potentially
Where: Dorchacht and Aefenglom
What: A Catchall
Warnings: Possibly discussions of torture, war, and 3 Houses Spoiler Warnings.

Tarnished Reality

[Unsure of what to expect when she stepped through the teleporter, Edelgard had gone fully prepared for the worst, insisting on wearing her scarlet battle armor, with her axe strapped in a leather thong across her back. When she found the city nothing like what she had been told, she'd initially been puzzled, but as it became more apparent that she was not going to be troubled she found herself relaxing fractionally.

Her changes were making it more difficult to function during the day, so she'd come at dusk, well rested and ready to explore the city. Moving among the people, her outlander dress marking her as a Mirrorbound as surely as the unusual battleaxe she carried, the Emperor was quiet through most of her wanderings. The sounds of a scuffle up ahead of her current path drew her up short, though and she stopped and looked around a corner.]

It seems all is not well. [Mumbled, but audible enough for any nearby to hear.] Do you think we should aid the guard?

Bond Lessons

[It's strange seeing other Mirrorbound being pulled up onto the stage, but so far she has avoided being ensnared herself. Watching the goings on is interesting enough, though, but she's still a little uncomfortable with it. So, she slides through the fringes of the crowd towards another unmolested Mirrorbound.]

Eager, are they not?

Home

[Edelgard has made it a point to attempt to win over support from the aristocracy early on, including personally investigating the Mist that had settled in there. The few supporters she'd managed to charm haven't quite turned on her, but when she makes her way out of the district she can feel something building. Tensions are rising, a thing she is extremely familiar with, and that's going to potentially be a problem.

It's not until she leaves the district and makes her way towards the Haven, the cool and crisp night air making her more alert than she might otherwise be, that she senses something amiss.

Eyes narrowed, she pokes her head around the mouth of an alley to see two graffiti artists hard at work. With an exasparated sigh she turns to wave a passing Mirrorbound over.]

Look at this nonsense...

Wildcard

[If you want to plot something out, in Dorch, out of it, a quest, anything else? HMU at

intercession and let's figure it out!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Azura listens silently, as she does. As Edelgard goes on, her expression slowly loosens and loosens, until Azura just looks mostly tired. But she smiles faintly. ]

All of that is easier said than done, is it not? But...in time. Whether tomorrow, or next year.

I took Corrin's hand the moment she offered it to me. I can assure you of that. [ a pause ] I don't believe you've told me who this "Hubert" is, but if your strength is tied to his as mine is to hers, I can understand what you mean.

[ Tempering...tempering.

Maybe she was using the wrong metaphor again. She'd said "sown into" but Edelgard had called it "tempered." But neither of those were the case for herself, were they? ]

Forgive me for being overly poetic, but...there is a lacquering technique used in my country of residence used to repair broken pottery. When bowls and plates and vases become cracked, or pieces break off, gold resin is used to fill in the gaps and cracks, in place of using unsightly methods like staples. It became rather popular for the aesthetic look of the gold cracks, even in otherwise-colored pottery.

[ It...was kind of corny, she realizes that, but rather than saying sown or tempered, it felt more accurate to say the cracks in her were still being lacquered closed. ]

That sounds like a lovely form of art. And I would hardly be one to judge you for poetry. I know that I can sometimes seem...dramatic.

[Understatement there. But, she has another thought.]

Have I not spoken of Hubert?

[Edelgard smiles wistfully, looking off in a random direction, her bond tugging at her as she thinks of the Vestra Marquis. He's in his lab, of course, pleased at something, she can tell. Probably some new potion or other...]

Hubert is the Marquis of House Vestra, my closest adviser, my oldest friend, and the person I trust most in all the world. He has helped me out of many, many dark places. He is also my first Bonded, and an accomplished sorcerer and spy.

I've been told it's a fault of mine, though I can blame it on being raised as a performer.

[ does el do theater or is she just extra

Anyway, she's glad for the change in topic. A...sorcerer and a spy, huh. ]

No, I do think I would remember a unique description like that. He sounds like an interesting fellow.

[ and also this reminds her of multi-bonding. She'd completely forgotten about that. And now kind of feels bad. ]

He's certainly interesting.

[Edelgard can't help herself from laughing. Just a bit.]

I think the device can show a picture, if you'd like. He's very tall.

[And very extra.]

If you wouldn't mind.

[ peering over. now she's really curious. who are you, tall dark and mysterious ]

[He is...tall, dark, and mysterious. The image she brings up is fairly flattering, all things considered. Hubert is a handsome man, overall.]

[ ....she's not breaking face in front of Edelgard twice in one day. No. Absolutely not. She will perish on the spot if she does.

So Azura keeps her thoughts to herself, thoughts that include "that is a very handsome man, look at those cheekbones." Her expression says none of that and she just nods. ]

...tall indeed. I suddenly feel quite short.

[ she's, what, two inches taller than el? ]

[Something like that. Edelgard is quite short.]

He positively towers over most. He's...a touch dramatic, but truly one of the most trustworthy people you could ever ask to have at your back.

He's been with me, my retainer, since I was very young.

Dramatic, hmm? I do hope you'll introduce me, one day.

[ she's wondering in what context

...they've been standing outside for a while now, and it's cold. Azura looks in the direction of her apartment and shuffles her feet. Hm. ]

...we're, ah, fairly close to my apartment. Would you like to continue talking inside? I can put on a pot of tea, if you'd like.

[ There's...a decent-ish chance Edelgard has seen the inside of their apartment before given that Corrin also lives there, but the act of inviting her there or if she hasn't, that Azura is praying she didn't just say something really awkward. Please let them be at a friendship level for this. Please gods. ]

Certainly.

[That's her answer. She has no problems with this. They are at least at a C support, and that's good enough to share tea. It's not like she's inviting Edelgard into her bedroom or anything. That's a B+ rank at least.]

Please, lead the way.

[ Azura has no access to the support menu nor the intricacies of + rankings. She's also just a little bit nervous she might have weirded out El too much today, hence the apprehension.

But it's for naught, and Azura's posture relaxes. ]

Right, then. We're around the corner and up on the second floor, here, the three of us.

[ It's an apartment made for two people presently squeezing in three, but Azura likes to keep things neat, so it's mercifully pretty clean. Just very lived-in. She'll gesture to the table near the kitchen and go rummaging around in the cabinets for the kettle. ]

[Edelgard follows her on her way in, quietly taking in all of the surroundings. It does look very homey. A far cry from the large house that she's sharing with Hubert, certainly.]

You, Corrin, and whom else?

[Who else indeed? Niles was in Azura's bed, defiantly reading one of his simplest story books. Linden thought he was an uneducated simpleton, well guess what, he is! An uneducated simpleton that had just managed to be morally superior and incredibly cruel and petty at the same time. For all his convoluted intellectual bullshit he'd just been outmaneuvered by a man who was only recently literate. So while his ear swivels over at the sound of the opening door, at first he ignores the distraction focusing on his thrilling narrative. When he hears two sets of footprints moving about the common spaces however he sits up and goes to investigate.

He'd expected to maybe eavesdrop on a conversation between Azura and Corrin, but when he realizes that's not the case he stops bothering to sneak about. He strolls into the kitchen with no further skulking, blatantly running his eyes up and down Edelgard's form curiously. Fine clothes, intense eyes, immaculate posture. The nature of this place was such that she might not actually be nobility, but whatever position she held in her world, it was one with means and status.]

I must compliment your taste Azura, but between Corrin, myself, and this mystery beauty I think you've found yourself a type. [He flips his head of snow white hair, clearing his good eye of any hanging strands, his tail making a matching flicking motion. The book is still in his hand and held lightly at his side, one finger keeping his place just a few pages from the dramatic conclusion of the hero's journey.] And who might you be?

[ Well, if that didn't weird her out to uncomfortableness, this very well just might. And here she was, about to talk about you in such a nice way when you weren't here, Niles. Then you had to go and be here and eyeball her friend.

Azura finds the kettle and sets it down, but before she does anything with it, she moves to put herself in between Niles and Edelgard, staring him down harshly. ]

...Niles. He's mine. [ said with the tone of "yeah this is the scruffy cat I adopted, he's a handful" ] Er, my bonded. He's one of my step-brother's retainers, from home. I'm normally quite fond of him, but one of his pastimes happens to be making people wildly uncomfortable, so he won't be joining us, will he?

[ Niles, babe, she loves you very much, but she's drawing a line in the sand right out of the gate. Do not embarrass her in front of Edelgard. ]

Edited 2020-01-30 08:56 (UTC)

[Edelgard is not normally someone that is easily put off, but when she's sized up by the stranger, that sets her teeth on edge. Crossing her arms, she regards the newcomer with a cool, if not outright hostile expression. She is as stern as a stone can be, taking a cue from Azura that this man...while tied to her friend...is likely someone that would test her patience.

She was out of her element enough, socializing with Azura, so adding another who had a penchant for mischief or inappropriate questions seemed like something she would rather avoid. Yet she couldn't ignore a direct question. So...]

I am Edelgard von Hresvelg. Bonded to Corrin. I hope my presence is not an interruption.

[And she'll leave it at that, given Azura's line in the sand. She's not wanting to get pulled into or worsen any conflict or tension, but she also doesn't like the look Niles has given her. Or his words.]

[Niles starts to adopt a mock hurt expression, which snaps to a 'mild regrets' frown in an instant when Edelgard explains who she is. Nope if his nonsense was gonna get back to the person he had to live with peaceably for Azura's sake then Edelgard was suddenly off limits.

A huge shame because that ramrod stiff spine and icy glare are positively challenging. But well, his dance card for rivalries is full at the moment. He gets up with a disappointed huff, crossing his arms as he walks past Azura to the window.]

Alright, I get it. [He leans in to make a more private comment only for her ears.] Apologies. Have fun. [He turns to give Edelgard at least a departing nod, then climbs out the window, neglecting to shut it behind him.]

[ Okay, she didn't expect him to leave that easily, and it shows on her face. He hops out before she can heckle him properly and she swiftly goes into her bedroom and comes out with a jacket, tosses it out the window after him, and then leans out to yell at him a little like a nagging wife. ]

I know you're a snow cat now, but put on a jacket for me! Don't come home with snow in your fur just because you want to make a hasty exit!

Edited 2020-01-30 23:22 (UTC)

[ And then she ducks back inside, shuts the window, smooths her hair out, and turns around to look at Edelgard again, face back to stony unreadability like she hadn't just had a complete sitcom moment there. ]

...I wasn't aware Niles was home. My apologies.

[Excuse Edelgard while she watches this exchange.

And excuse her again when she has to...pick her fucking jaw up off the floor because that was ridiculous even by her standards. And people around the monastery could be awfully dramatic.]

...It's quite alright.

I take it he is something of a rapscallion?

That's putting it very graciously. If he didn't know to shut his mouth at the right times, he'd be dead from wagging his roguish tongue at every lord, lady, and bandit in either kingdom.

[ a sigh, and she walks back to the kitchen area, busying herself with finding what tea they have and turning on the stove ]

I don't know what made him run off like that. It usually takes a lot more to make him stop once he's found something to start bothering someone about.

Well hopefully it wasn't because of something I did. I do not want to cause strife for you, or Corrin.

[Not in the slightest!

She is just somewhat bewildered still, because that was a very...odd...interaction.]

Please, don't worry about it. I'll talk with him later. Despite his nature, he's rather intuitive...he may have decided he didn't want to rile you up after all, for some reason.

[ Despite how she just roasted him 15 seconds ago, Azura sounds more pensive now. Deriding him for his awful qualities and praising him for his good qualities in one breath is the Niles positive CR experience. ]

Anyhow. Seeing as you've just met someone else from my and Corrin's home, I suppose now would be a more fitting time to tell you about our strangely shared history.

[ She pulls a few boxes of tea out of a cabinet and sets them to the side--Earl Grey and Sencha, a weird combo but fitting for this household. Which one does El want? ]

...unless Niles and his disappearing act has unnerved you and you'd rather not discuss our oddities, which, frankly, I understand.

I would appreciate that. Please, do go on.

[She taps the Earl Grey and then plucks out one little satchet. She's content to steep her own tea, once Azura has the water ready, and she's learned that Earl Grey is this world's equivalent of Bergamot. She and Captain Picard would share similar tastes in some things...which is the only way the mun remembers it.]

He hasn't unnerved me, not in the slightest.

[ Azura nods and grabs one for herself, going about the process of setting things up and getting out cups while she talks. ]

Very well. Ah, this is a long story...

Valla is the country of my birth, but I've spent precious little time there. When I was a young child, a... [ she frowns, wondering how to summarize the incident succinctly ] ...coup of sorts forced my mother and I to flee. We ended up in a country nearby called Nohr, and eventually, she married the king. I have two step-brothers and two step-sisters from this marriage of my mother's. When I was slightly older, I was taken as a political hostage by a neighboring country, Hoshido, after Nohr had kidnapped a Hoshidan princess.

Hoshido never got back their princess, though, and by that time, my mother had died, so Nohr never bothered to take me back, and I ended up living there. The royal family had nothing to do with my kidnapping, so they were all very kind to me and tended to fill in as my family members. [ a pause, and there's a fond look on Azura's face, despite all the grim things she just said ] The queen and the youngest princess especially. If you were to ask, I suppose you could say they are my adoptive family, of a sort.

[ She'll just let that sink in before she mentions Corrin's role. Why is Fire Emblem like this. ]

[Edelgard quietly takes in all of this information. It's complex, but not overly so. There's plenty of twists to it, but at the same time it's hardly too difficult to follow.]

This...adoptive family is the same as Corrin's, then?

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