SEPTEMBER TDM + SETTING UPDATES

[beleos]

BEARING FRUIT (NEW CHARACTERS ONLY)

It starts out as a pleasant dream. You’re in your favorite place, with your favorite people. It’s a moment of idyllic comfort.

And then, it goes wrong.

The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.

So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—

You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.

I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.

You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.

The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.

From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.

And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.

TWO CITIES, ALIKE IN DIGNITY

With the new Shard-Bearers present or en route, it is Kathova and Cetina that approach the established ones, requesting that they form mentorships with the new souls to assist them with the integration process. To this end, they have both provided a centralized zone in both Highstorm and Springstar for a small, casual meet-and-greet to be held before the new Shard-Bearers are unleashed upon Kenos as a whole.

Additionally, as Springstar and Highstorm are holding their events on different days, it is possible for the knowledge-hungry to participate in both informational sessions -- the tones and opinions held by both cities are doubtless to differ, and some Shard-Bearers who have chosen to harmonize with either faction may even find their way to the opposing faction's session as well.

However, for those who have attended such events in the past, they'll note a marked difference—Only newly arrived Shard-Bearers and members of the faction are welcome. If you're a member of the opposite faction, you'll be questioned and ultimately turned away. If you want to join the party, you'll have to be a little sneakier, it seems.

SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος

In Springstar, the seat of the Tribune becomes available for such a forum. While a section of the building itself has been reserved for the meeting between fresh faces and experienced Shard-Bearers alike, the hustle and bustle of Heliopolis continues around them -- acolytes still gather their robes and tomes, hurrying from their quarters to lessons. A score of young militants march in step across the yard to the training grounds.

The welcoming party is in the Seat of the Tribune, with tables draped in white-and-gold-trimmed fabrics fare filled with fare typical to Springstar's slowly fading winter -- fruits and wines, savory smoked meats and roasted vegetables, and large bowls of soups like youvarlakia and fasoalda have been lain out to encourage forum participants to snack as they speak. There are plenty of grains and other dishes that elude to an abundant harvest from Alenroux. The atmosphere is ambient with informality and friendliness, though topics will inevitably stray towards philosophic or political, Springstar's meeting grounds are decorated with handsome chaise lounges and slouching klismos chairs in small, intimate groupings. This is a forum in the classical sense, where people are encouraged to speak freely, no matter the topic. Though excitement charges the air, the gathering at the Seat is much more muted than what transpires outside the center of the city.

The mood in Springstar as a whole is jubilant, with not just a party at the seat of the tribune, but elsewhere, including the Psychagogía district. Parties line the streets, establishments that overflow with bodies, drink, and libations of all sorts. There is a sense of excitement in capturing the latest oracle, and the people seem to treat the shard-bearers of Meridian somewhat reverently, and new ones, they will pull aside and explain with excitement about how the Shard-Bearers captured the oracle (with varying degrees of accuracy) and how it is because of them that they will be seen to victory. Cyrus’s name, however, still comes with notes of disdain. It’s clear that the Tribune has not bought much good favor by their victory, and instead, if any ask, or follow the threads, they will hear the names Desmond Ó Ruadháin and Agapitos Voreen as likely successors to the Tribune. However if one asks how that happens… details become a bit more muddy. Apparently, the role of the Tribune is for life. And apparently, the denizens of Springstar trust the Shard-Bearers to see the oracles through, and still see Cyrus as a weak link in their chain.

HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы

Eternally in opposition, Highstorm provides the Manor's courtyard as the setting for their informational meeting. Formality is of utmost importance here, with attending Zenith loyalists and residents dressed in beautiful, albeit austere attire -- they are, after all, standing before Lady Yima's home. A buffet-style luncheon is spread alongside one of the largest reflecting pools, wherein you may gaze and find your memories revealed in retrospect upon the water's surface. Soft tunes filter over the courtyard, and if the sounds of them sound familiar – perhaps remind one of home? That’s because they are! Yima’s musicians seem to be able to pilfer strings and strands of music, and weave it all together expertly, to give both new arrivals and old friends reminders of their home.

There are few places to be seated in the Manor's courtyard, resulting in a milling of bodies as they flow and ebb between smaller gatherings, clustering in small-to-large groups with small platters and shimmering flutes of drink held in their hands. Yet, as you look, you’ll see that the selection is also quite interesting. The foods and drinks on offer are from a multitude of worlds, and so you may find a new favorite! Or something not suited to your palate at all. It’s at least a chance to be adventurous. If you try something and don’t like it, might not want to say that out loud, lest you insult someone who’s from that world.

The city itself is more muted than usual. The last dregs of Highstorm’s chill summer are coming to an end, and the cold is an opportunity for Highstorm’s denizens to batter in more frequently, and the chill may have something to do with the lost oracle. Though, if asked, they’ll say nothing of the sort, of course! In opposition to Springstar’s mixed jubilation and doubt, Highstorm’s denizens seem determined that lady Yima will see them through, and that one loss is no reason to fall into despair. Though they are still disappointed, and will say so. Though blame does not seem to have a target, mere disappointment filters through the city, as they start preparing for winter. The prices seem higher, whether one is looking for potions, supplies, or even small trinkets from the The Antiques & Baubles Market. Things seem… leaner in a sense. There’s nobody starving on the streets in Highstorm, but the control of Alenroux continues to lead to tense relations, even though a compromise seems to have been recently reached between the two factions.

SETTING UPDATES

In both locations, information passes between all in a forum, spread and disseminated among the masses - it's a good opportunity for city residents, faction loyalists and interested new parties to share and share alike. Once the meet-and-greet has concluded, twin missives from both faction leads are read out -- invitations for all present to explore the cities to their heart's content, and warnings about stumbling ill-prepared ( or at all ) into the Below, or worse yet, the Beyond. As Shard-Bearers new and old take in their cities, they'll all see it change throughout the month...

OOC, these are all updates to the setting at large that players both new and old are free to interact with as little or as much as they wish! Feel free to use them as prompts on this post, in your characters on-going lives and arcs, or just let them go "that's none of my business" and ignore it. The world of Kenos is shaped by our playerbase, and these are some of the wider reaching effects of various player plots and actions.

THE BLIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Since the Blight’s conclusion, both cities have undergone a fair bit of effort to reconstruct the districts and buildings that were destroyed in the Blight, though Springstar seems a touch further along than Highstorm, due to Shard-bearer efforts. The unusual weather pockets present previously have very nearly all disappeared, though there are some patches still present, lingering in the areas still somewhat ravaged by the Blight. The pockets seem to be losing their effects now, and if one finds themself within, will experience a mild slowing down or speeding up of time. Visions still appear within the small bubbles, reflections of dear ones or important events, though they seem to be only memory, though anyone within the bubble can bear witness.

FURTHER DETAILS

OOCly, characters can still stumble into small bubbles of time, though they are fewer and far between than they were 3 months ago! These time bubbles still have some time-warping energy, and will continue to allow characters to either speed up or slow down, depending on player preference! In addition, the time bubbles are no longer bringing back remnants of Kenosians past, but there is still the chance of some memory reflections to briefly manifest in the bubble. They will come from player characters as a whole, and are purely up to whatever is fun for you! Think of it as brief flickers of memory sharing, they can be as brief or as distorted as you like! Think of this as the last gasp of the Blight, as it withers away thanks to the concentrated efforts of all shard bearers!

CHECKS AND BALANCES

Alenroux continues to improve, and with the new balance between both Springstar and Highstorm, the separate island is safer than ever! The tensions between both factions seem to have reduced over the island, thanks to the efforts of several shard bearers, and the populace seems to be warming to both factions once again.

FURTHER DETAILS

After the resolution of the first Kenos Ambassador agreement, the balance of power in Alenroux is already starting to shift. The island already has a much more evenly-matched number of military forces from both Springstar and Highstorm, the number of troops in the area has reduced significantly. The number of monsters does not seem to have increased at this time, which bodes well for the area. The uptick of Highstorm locals has certainly led to more food flowing into Highstorm than had before, and the people seem pleased with the arrangement – for the moment! The small murmurs of discontent and unrest seem to have alleviated at this time. Though some still seem uncomfortable with the amount of troops, they seem less willing to say that out loud. Though nights in Alenroux will possibly never be wholly safe, the threats seem more manageable, though nobody will ever turn down Shard-Bearer assistance in a pinch!

TO INFINITY – AND BEYOND

Rumbling about temples being erected in the Beyond, which lies outside of Highstorm’s city limits, close to another that had been erected previously. Not one shrine out there, but two it seems. It shines like the sun when the moonlight catches it just right, and it’s visible over the line of trees that marks the edge of the Beyond. The more brave and curious of Highstorm’s denizens have started making more treks into the Beyond for both shrines, and the fact that most come back unharmed seems to encourage others to follow. And for those that may not be able to make the trek safely, there's an opportunity to make a bit of money by leading the way to the shrines and offering the curious pilgrims protection from the Beyond's dangers. There’s rumbling amongst them – Quetzalcoatl – Set – the names of gods of worlds long past, and though there are not many that will stray from Highstorm’s resident deified figure – Lady Yima – there are enough that it’s easy to catch pilgrimages out to the temple, and to visit them yourselves, as well!

FURTHER DETAILS

Quetzalcoatl erected a bright and gigantic temple right next to Set's in the Beyond! Right next to Highstorm! I'm sure that's fine and will not have any diplomatic consequences in the future! Both gods have been drawing in new curious individuals – some who may be worshippers with time – and it's drawn the curiosity of many.

SMALLER CHANGES

GRAND LARCENY

An uptick in crime between both Springstar and Highstorm has both the Legion and Yima’s own private guard scrambling as they struggle to find rhyme or reason behind the latest crime spree taken up in both cities. Though there doesn’t seem to be a specific source, local chatter suggests that it might be coming from a mysterious underground, though most can’t say where... there’s vague gestures, and remarks about Below, without any concrete details. Those who are familiar with – or find out about – Kowloon, may find plenty of stolen items within Kowloon’s markets, though if asked, the keeper will simply shrug and say they retrieved it from a reputable source. Who? Well, they don’t know, they don’t remember their face. I’m sure this is fine and won’t lead to trouble later down the line!

Completely unrelated, those who are known to be or obviously affiliated with Springstar continue to encounter difficulty in Kowloon. It’s become a touch more brazen – more pickpocketing, even higher prices, or even some outright derisiveness from some businesses, although they seem to be centered more around Draumahol, and the further one gets from the business in the underground city (or as far as one can get) the more willing businesses seem to engage with those from Springstar, and the more… apologetic they are about higher prices, though they do still seem to be across the board.

FAE MISCHEIF

It’s not just the underground that seems to be reeling from a spike of theft, though this one seems more obvious – and innocuous! Faeries from the Greenwood Yard seem to still be reeling from recent Shard-Bearer intrusions, so bearers new and old may find small items of varying importance are missing. They’ll generally come with a calling card; a small note that is part threat and part invitation for a game, to come find them within the Greenwood Yards. After hearing about the issue, a certain potion shop owner sets up a small stall by the yards, and will offer to help the shard bearer with their predicament – for a price, of course! Better have a few gold coins on you!

The owner will offer bearers a round-trip to tiny town yet again, to retrieve whatever was stolen, though this time it comes with no visions, and generally the fairies will consider things to be even, if bearers come to retrieve it with politeness and a request for it to be returned. If a bearer threatens them… well. Let’s hope you brought a friend along to help with this fae threat, then!

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all new players need an invite to apply to the game, which are now open.

This log is Game Canon. Any characters who are not apped to the game will disappear. If Cyrus or Yima are asked, they’ll explain that this sometimes happens since not every soul has a strong tether to Kenos and sometimes return to the Timestream. They may return to Kenos one day, but for now, weren’t able to make the full journey.

As a note primarily for current players, closed toplevels/prompts are not allowed in this log. If you would like to interact with the setting changes in a way that isn't open to all characters (new and old), we ask that you instead make a log in kenoslogs.

FOR NEW PLAYERS:

When characters emerge from their cocoon/the ground, they may be wearing their normal clothes or nude. Up to you!

At some point in the days after leaving the Tree of Life, new Shard-Bearers will have a dream, even if they're usually not capable of sleeping. All new players should read this post since this details how they'll learn about both factions and their goals and should help them make a decision about which Faction they'd be drawn to.

As a reminder, your character has a Shard somewhere on their body that encompasses their soul, so keep note of where you're sticking it on their person for reference! Additionally, they have a tattoo of their Aspect somewhere on their body. Please be mindful this Aspect will be assigned to you upon approval and whatever you choose for the TDM may be temporary (for new characters)!

For the Highstorm and Springstar prompts, both cities will be fully open and accessible to all characters once they are freed from their rather harrowing ordeal at the Tree of Life. For prompt ideas and any general information about the cities and what you can find there, please see the Navigation page and check out the locations!

New characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM until they Harmonize, AKA make a choice of which faction they choose to support. For some characters, this may be an easy decision, but it make take others time. We just ask you keep this in mind!

CODING

Comments

[fishfearme]

[Fortunately, they were not sworn enemies due to opposing sides (and a one-sided curb stomp battle) this time round! No, Byleth was a Meridian, and upon sighting him the two grabby Meridians attempting to abscond with Shez lit up with recognition. It was only recently that Byleth had helped destroy the portals that allowed dangerous monsters to roam free over the island of Alenroux, so he, along with others of that expedition team, were something like celebrities amongst the Meridians. They were the talk of the town!

Byleth, of course, found such open display of admiration distinctly uncomfortable, so quickly taking stock of the situation and how it was going to develop into potentially the both of them trapped by overeager fans, wisely used the power of time manipulation to get out of this awkward social situation - as Sothis had clearly intended when gifting him this power.

First, though...]

Ah, yes, I need to discuss something with my friend here. Excuse me-

[Cue Byleth boldly reaching over to scruff Shez like he was a cat before the world went... weird. It seemed to shudder to a slow, grinding halt, bleeding of all colour and infused with a creeping chill that wasn't enough to make one shudder, but one keenly aware of it all the same. Byleth, used to the disquieting effect of frozen (heh) time, just yanked Shez free from the now still Meridians and began hustling him.]

Quickly now, I can't hold this for longer than twenty seconds at most...

[He was already beginning to feel the strain!]

[sheezit]

[ Byleth can you be NORMAL for one! single! minute!!

The world goes stationary, devoid of color and warmth, and for a second Shez wonders if this is another forced dreamscape situation like he's experienced earlier, though Byleth's solid grip on his collar both nearly cuts off his air and works as a reminder that this is (a bit painfully) real.

Still, Shez is quick to act at the warning, and he puts distance between himself and the overly eager Meridians as Byleth works his... whatever this is! Once they're safely out of reach and as soon as what passes as normality resumes, though, he brings a palm to the side of his head, rubbing away the lingering aftereffects of frozen time. Seriously, why does he keep getting dragged into otherworldly dimensions without so much as a warning...!! ]

Was that really necessary? We could've just excused ourselves and left, you know!

[ Thirty whole seconds, is apparently how long Shez will go without being submitted to Byleth's special brand of weird. Must be a new track record. ]

[fishfearme]

[Byleth never thought he'd feel so happy to hear the dulcet tones of Shez scolding him again. He couldn't help but smile.]

Yes, but that would've been awkward, so I decided to avoid it.

[He finished his reasoning with a slight nod, as if that was a perfectly reasonable excuse (it was (for introverts (and socially awkward people))). He felt a little drained from that bit of time manipulation though, so opened his satchel of pilfered food and took out a lemon and poppyseed muffin. Mmmmm, his needed glucose hit...]

In any case... [CHOMP! Excuse him as he just snarfs his muffin down in practically three bites.] Mngh, mmf. How much do you know about your current circumstances?

[sheezit]

[ In that case, better hope he's happy to hear Shez's Long Suffering Sigh-- you know, the kind he reserves especially for such cases of on-brand weirdness, fond and exasperated in equal measure. Sometimes one must pick his battles. ]

I know enough, I guess. [ And in the spirit of battle-picking, he tugs at the end of his cape and brushes some muffin crumbs off Byleth's face with it. Maybe his trip to Highstorm (and some ugly looks he got there) had made more of an impression on his notion of manners than he figured... ] Our world and everyone we know allegedly is gone, but we're somehow saved and supposed to choose between these two factions at war. That Cyrus guy has promised to restore it, whereas Yima has offered to rebuild it anew.

[ That seems to be the gist of it, and if he sounds painfully pragmatic about it, it's because processing all of this -- without Arval's help, no less -- has been draining, and taken a toll on his emotions. He'll bounce back, eventually, but for now he just needs to be anywhere but in his feelings.

(At least fussing over Byleth gives him something else to focus on.) ]

I met Yuri soon after I got here, and he told me you both have been here for months. Can't really say I've wrapped my head around any of that just yet, but that about covers it, huh?

[fishfearme]

...yes, it does.

[Byleth was visibly surprised for a handful of seconds before his expression schooled back into its usual blank mask - albeit with a few crumbs around his mouth. He brushed his hands clean of any lingering poppy seed and powdered sugar, and delved his hand back into his satchel. Another muffin...]

Well, that saves me a long-winded explanation. Yes, if you believe the factions at face value, ours worlds are gone and consigned to oblivion, yet only through the power of the Oracles may we revive our worlds, or create new ones. Those are the only options open to us, and that is why a side must be picked, one way or another.

Or rather, those are the only options if you believe their claims. [He took a far more restrained bite of his second muffin, chewing slowly before saying:] Which I don't. Not fully, anyway.

[sheezit]

[ In response to that look of surprise, Byleth gets a hooked eyebrow from Shez. What? It may not be his strongest suit, but he's not entirely incapable of logical thinking when his survival is at stake! ]

Yeah, there's a lot about this whole deal that doesn't sit right with me, either... But, full trust or not, you've obviously made your choice, right?

[ Y'know, because of that display of special powers from moments ago, like a Completely Normal Person? (What was that, anyway? Questions for a later time!) Whatever that was, the point remains that Byleth wouldn't have been able to pull it off if he hadn't ~harmonized with a faction's energies~ or whatever mystical bullcrap excuse for BLACKMAIL they were subjected to. ]

For the record, I'm not judging. [ Except for Byleth's manners, maybe, but the familiarity of it is a comfort. ] I've practically just got here, but it's starting to sound like there's really no other option than to play by their rules for now. I just... want to give it a bit more thought, while I can afford it.

[ Literally afford it. Temporary housing and stipend will only last him so long. ]

[fishfearme]

[At this, Byleth nodded.]

Yes, it's best that you think your options through while resisting the pressure the two sides place upon you. You're right, though, that so far there's been no option but to play by their rules. No one remains unharmonised for long...

[Because even if they stubbornly stuck to it, an Oracle may force it - as was the case two Oracles back, where those unharmonised were forced to choose between Meridian or Zenith, or likely endure a very unpleasant fate. A reversible one, as death was cheap here, but unpleasant all the same.]

...but, if you still feel undecided and the end of your grace period approaches, please don't feel like you have to choose to keep a roof over your head. I have a place of residence that I can house you in, if need be.

[Beat.]

Granted, it's quite small, and I'm already accommodating Yuri there, but there's still room for a third bedroll.

[sheezit]

Yeah, so I've heard. Kinda hoping it'll happen naturally, if it's true they can really pick up on how we feel...

[ He wouldn't appreciate being forced into it, but if that's what it comes down to, then his choice is essentially made. He may not trust Cyrus or Yima, but he does trust his friends, and he would definitely prefer to fight alongside them than against them.

(With Byleth especially, it's more than that. It's a promise they made.) ]

But, having a place to stay does take a load off my back, and if I'm gonna be in anyone's debt for housing, then I'd rather it be you than those guys. Easier to make good on my word to Jeralt, too, not that I thought I'd ever see the day I'd have to...

[ A belated afterthought: did Jeralt actually tell Byleth about it...? ]

[fishfearme]

Your word to Jeralt...?

[No, no he did not tell Byleth. The mention of Jeralt too threw Byleth slightly, his father never far from his mind (and entangled deeply with the emotion of homesickness), and feeling a curiously unpleasant feeling in response to it. Like the words had somehow punched him in the gut.]

What do you mean? What did he ask you to do?

[sheezit]

[ ... ah. So Jeralt didn't tell him.

But worse than that, the mention of his father at all seems to have made an impact on Byleth-- you know, insofar as Byleth ever reacts to anything, always in too subtle cues. Whether that was a good thing or not, Shez can't say for sure, but it warrants some extra tact in delivering his answer. ]

Uh, well, he was just worried about you having trouble making friends-- y'know, like dads do? And he made a point that tomorrow is never guaranteed when you're a merc, so he asked me to look after you in his absence.

[ Yeah! That's all it was, definitely not because Jeralt was particularly feeling like the Goddess would call him to her side soon!! ]

For the record, I don't think you need to be taken care of. [ Well. Maybe a little. (Is he not going to wipe those crumbs off his mouth?) ] But, I did give him my word, and I take my promises pretty seriously, so I intend to make good on that. You know, if you'll let me.

[fishfearme]

[Byleth actually sighed, in that sort of 'ugh, dad' kind of way that he had shown only once before in front of Shez (Leonie's paralogue, where Jeralt ditched them to go get drunk with the village chief, the rascal). He felt a mix of exasperation and something almost fond. His father was always looking out for him, and now he was trying to conscript others to look after him too! He wasn't a child anymore. He didn't need to be babysat or minded like he was still figuring out the pointy end of a sword. It's as if Jeralt still thinks of him as someone to shelter from the world...

...was he really surprised, though? No, not really.]

It's not as if I can stop you. [His tone is a little wry, but there's a slight, barely there smile on his face.] And, I'm not averse to having you watch my back. I'd appreciate it, in fact. The question is if you want to do it. You don't have to do what Jeralt tells you.

[sheezit]

[ Shez huffs out a breath of amusement at the Long Suffering Sigh, and all the more so when it actually shifts into a smile, small and subtle as all things Byleth tend to be-- off the battlefield, that is. He's such an imposing presence in combat, maybe this is just how he balances it out...

The weirdness is part of the package, too, but that implication will still earn him a nudge of Shez's boot! ]

Yeah, I know that. [ Silly! ] Wouldn't promise to do anything I didn't want to. Besides, isn't that what we already do? Have each other's back? So don't go thinking for a second that's about to change.

[ And to get his point further across, he'll raise his closed fist and just hold it up in offer. C'mon, go for the fistbump! ]

[fishfearme]

[There's a slight delay - it's been a few months for him! - but he visibly perked up when he finally recognised the gesture. The fist bump! His and Shez's special gesture that gave him the warm and fuzzies every time they performed it - an affirmation that Byleth had managed to make a friend through his own efforts, and one that accepted him for all his weirdness and strangeness.

...granted, after trying to kill each other for a while, but still.

So, he reached out, gently bumping his fist against Shez's, that small, barely there smile becoming that little bit wider.]

You're right. We promised to watch out for each other, to never fight again, didn't we?

[Ah, to the death, that is. Spars were still a very much enjoyed and vital part of their relationship!]

[sheezit]

[ Aha! There we go, a proper smile-- and he wasn't even angling for it! Must be his lucky day-- y'know, live burials and apocalyptic news aside! ]

Yeah, and don't you dare forget! [ And Shez's bump in response is a bit more energetic, as though putting added weight into their promise; a renewal, of sorts. ] Whatever comes our way, we face it together.

[ Which may as well be the only exception to their mercenary spirit-- sellswords don't usually have such a thing as "friends" or "enemies" on the battlefield, after all. But after all they've been through, it is well earned. ]

Of course, that doesn't apply to friendly matches, and I hear it's been some time for you. I think that could give me just the edge I need to finally score a win against you. What do you say?

[fishfearme]

[Those were the magic words. Byleth visibly perked up, his eyes bright and figurative tail beginning to wag at the thought of having his nearest and dearest sparring partner thrashing him around the ring again.

In truth, Byleth was rusty as hell, as the life-or-death situations that he pinballed between back in Fódlan were rather... sparse, here. With the monsters recently evicted in major numbers from Alenroux, and a lack of suitable sparring partners, Byleth's only been able to train on his own against imaginary foes. He had almost forgotten how it felt to be in a large, chaotic battlefield, fighting against numerous foes, or a skilled swordsman pressing the advantage. If Shez wanted to easy win, now was the time to get it while Byleth's blade was dull.]

Yes. Yes, we can spar whenever you wish - tonight, or tomorrow morning, in fact.

[sheezit]

[ Oh. Oh, the figurative tail wag... Not that it's entirely unexpected -- Byleth seems to enjoy their rivalry every bit as much as Shez does -- but it is perhaps more of a reaction than he had anticipated. Guess it truly must have been that long for him... ]

In that case, I'll do you one better. [ And he's going to unceremoniously take that half eaten muffin off Byleth's hand and scarf it down himself. It'll be worth it, wait for it: ] How about we go at it all night long-- or until one of us drops? Bet that'll sharpen you back up in no time!

[ Maybe this is a lot of big talk for someone who had to claw his way up from the dirt and digest a bunch of information and then wander around all day but-- oh wait, this food is actually pretty nice, isn't it? Okay, hang on, hang on, he can sweeten the deal some more-- ]

Actually, no-- first we stuff ourselves with more of this delicious free food, then we spar. If I'm gonna be wiping the floor with you, better make sure you at least have the energy to keep up!

[ Listen, is he guilty of getting the figurative tail wag, too? Maybe. C'mon, he's never been this close to finally Defeating The Ashen Demon!! ]

[fishfearme]

[Byleth's attention was briefly snagged by the muffin thievery happening right in front of him, his eyes widening as his expression all but screamed "you STEAL food from Byleth? Oh! Oh! Jail for rival for One Thousand Years!" before Shez thankfully redeemed himself with the promise for more food followed by a night of intense, sweat and vigorous sparring.]

I'll never say no to more food... especially as you now owe me half a muffin.

[Byleth pouted - briefly - at that, but it eased away quickly.]

Come. There's plenty of food to be had over here. If you have a container of some sort, you can even take some away with you, if you wish. No one will stop you.

[Not 'it's allowed!', just 'no one will stop you'. Sure, you may get some frowns or disapproving glances, but Byleth was Immune to such things. He will look a frowner in the eye as he tries to stuff a whole ass cake into his satchel, this man doesn't comprehend shame in this situation.]