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Entry tags:
- !event,
- #dionys,
- #innocence,
- #xishen,
- abel nightroad: martyr,
- amos burton: lover,
- anduin wrynn: sovereign,
- barnaby brooks jr: lover,
- bruno madrigal: martyr,
- ciel: martyr,
- claude von riegan: seeker,
- dorothea arnault: celebrant,
- emet-selch: champion,
- estinien wyrmblood: firebrand,
- eustace: firebrand,
- father paul hill: martyr,
- han sooyoung: artisan,
- himeka sui: wanderer,
- howl: celebrant,
- jayce talis: visionary,
- jonathan crane: sovereign,
- kaeya alberich: lover,
- kim dokja: martyr,
- koriel xii (dextera): lover,
- kotetsu t. kaburagi: champion,
- liem talbott: champion,
- majorita: firebrand,
- makoto ("m"): firebrand,
- meteion: innocent,
- rand al'thor: martyr,
- ryunosuke naruhodo: champion,
- sebastian michaelis: celebrant,
- tartaglia (childe): firebrand,
- wrathion: seeker
EVENT #6: BY HEAVEN OR HELL
By Heaven or Hell
THE BURNING
Achamoth, as it turns out, is no stranger to public killings... the burning of two Pleroma, however? That's special. Abel and Himeka's upcoming execution date seems to be regarded by the city's populace as something akin to a holiday, with the upper crust of the social stratum fighting for positions of prominence in the festivities, including the best possible seats. It's been decades since any Pleroma have been brought to heel in Achamoth, and it would only be prudent to place yourself at the forefront of this exciting new trend. There's a sense of pageantry to it: ritualized ceremonies, public sermons, and strange religious 'décor' are all part of the process.The city is in the throes of these preparations when the two Pleroma captives are finally brought to a central square not far from the Citadel's front gates. Two burning pyres have been set up for them, about ten feet apart. While Abel and Himeka's bodies are chained to their stakes, their shards will be handed off to Silco, Ciel, and Makoto to be brought along separately. The set up of the execution is thus: while their bodies are ravaged by flames, their shards will be bound to an altar in advance of the pyre. Via a kind of alchemical 'fuse', the pyre being lit will trigger a reaction that will gradually result in a explosion on the altar just large enough to destroy the shard in turn. The shards will be bound in position with a series of jewelry-like metal prongs that could be pried away, but would take some time to do carefully.
As the Pleroma make it to the city, the sun will be setting on the 17th of Firaseri, with the execution about to be underway. The pyres will not yet have been lit, but are fully prepared. All Kenoma will be called upon to guard the city, with the warning that the Pleroma are mounting a raid to rescue their imprisoned comrades. For Kenoma both new and old, it's a time to test your mettle. Those that defend Achamoth valiantly can expect to be rewarded.
INNOCENCE ON FIRE
The city of Achamoth looms ahead, a seat of power in Horos in every fashion. It sprawls outwards, claiming the lands around it in a lazy confidence. The spires of the city grow up and up like a mountain, dragging the eye towards the Citadel. The walls that surround it are modest in height as if offering a challenge to any foolish enough to attempt to climb them. Who would? The Regent's eye is ever-present and the guard towers that line it like beaded pearls on a string are reminders that nothing goes in or out of the city without notice. Openings in the towers and the walls threaten the use of projectiles while dark, shimmering crystals float above with the quiet hum of protective magics. Only a fool would breach these borders.Initially, getting into the city unmolested will be a considerable struggle for the Pleroma. It's military is robust, its fortifications solid, and even without the Kenoma's added resistance, the sheer numbers could be considered insurmountable. Stealth could get them some of the way, but its sentries are watchful, and immigration is strictly controlled. With faith alone driving the Pleroma towards their goal it's fortunate, then, that something is there to answer their call.
Estinien will feel the presence of the Innocence Entity rise up in him again, and this time it is offering him a choice. He may utilize its power to save the ones he loves, while risking both the brutality of the Regent's defenses and the threat to his own soul by channeling such power. It will stand with him against the darkness, it says, if it is truly his will. Emboldened by the power of the Firebrand and his love for his comrades, it is no surprise that he accepts.
Light will flood the sky above Achamoth, an ethereal aura combatting the encroach of the night. From a great miasma of wings and flame, a colossal dragon emerges, coiling above the city skyline. Its luminescence rains down upon the city, and all Achamites exposed to it will be enchanted into finding the idea of committing acts of violence unthinkable, at least so long as no violence is brought against them in turn. With much of Achamoth's defenses having lost the will to fight, only the Kenoma will stand in the Pleroma's way as they penetrate the city, making their way to Abel and Himeka's pyres.
As the Pleroma forge ahead, this draconic being that was once Estinien Wyrmblood will guard from the skies, drawing the attention of the Kenoma towards it and it threatens to bear its might against the Citadel itself. Fortunately for the Kenoma guarding the city, they will know that the Regent has a plan. All they must do is hold off the beast long enough for the Regent to wield their own strength in turn. The battle against this creature will take place here, with combat rules being explain in this OOC post.
As the power of the Innocent washes over Achamoth, those of its Legacy, or those marked by its Promise or Touch, will hear it speak on the winds in a chorus of voices:
Aions of this new dawn... I have honored your choice... fight... if you will... and I will follow...
FIREBRAND RISING
Beneath the moon of Firaseri, however, the Innocent isn't the only force at play. Firebrands of both sects will find themselves spurred on by a rush of Legacy-based power, as if inspired by the tumultuous environment of an anti-authoritarian raid. How precisely this manifests will depend on which side they are fighting for.❖ PLEROMA
The Firebrands among the Pleroma raiders will feel a sense of vindication and rightness come over them, set as they are to challenge the Regent's rule. Their powers will be amplified during the battle, and those that witness them and are inspired may find their performance boosted. The nature of these enhancements is fairly flexible. For the Firebrands, the use of their regular skills and abilities may be amplified beyond normal boundaries, whereas those following in their wake may find themselves with usual endurance that allows them to push their their usual limits.
❖ KENOMA
The Firebrands of the Kenoma's inspiration is more complicated in nature, given their roll in defending Achamoth's status quo. However, they will find themselves bolstered while facing the pacifying might of the Innocence Entity. Firebrands will experience a natural resistance against any Innocence based attacks that would stop them from fighting, and will be able to use this blessing to rally NPCs that would otherwise be rendered useless to their cause, in defiance of the entity's command for peace. In general, they will see a boost in strength while fighting the raid boss in particular, unable to be deterred from their goals.
In general, all Firebrands will feel untethered by their regular inhibitions, fighting for their desires at all costs. Abilities intended to bind them or control their will, will be largely ineffective, and they will find shields both physical and magical particularly easy to break through.
QUESTIONS
Q: What is the best way for Pleroma to travel to Achamoth?
A: Akua and Estinien are both setting up portals from Godsblood to the outskirts of Achamoth from which to begin mounting the assault. Caitlyn will be providing a back-up in the case either of those portals go down.
Q: Can my character make use of the chaos and try to raid the Citadel?
A: They can try but there will be mod rolls involved for any attempts. NPCs inside the Citadel will not be affected the same way the NPCs outside in main area will be. We do not want it to seem like the Citadel is defenseless otherwise.
Q: If Kenoma cause damage to the city during the raid, how will the Regent feel? Will there be consequences?
A: It should try to be avoided, but the Regent will understand if there is collateral damage in battle as long as they aren't being careless about it.
Q: Is the "no-combat aura" completely incapacitating NPCs?
A: No, it is only stopping them from aggressing the Pleroma. If they or their property are attacked they will defend themselves, and are otherwise operating with a normal level of cognizance. Kenoma Aions can order them out of the area to avoid being hurt if necessary.
BOSS BATTLE:
Q: I would like my character to take part in the battle but want to limit the outcomes in a way that isn't too devastating. Is that possible?
A: We think in that case we would basically only be acknowledging the possibilities between the "The attack either misses, is ineffective, or it triggers a counter attack from the boss." and "The attack hits with moderate effectiveness, as determined by the nature of their action." range. So, you can't get taken out, but you also can only deal moderate hits at best. You could still trigger a counter attack from the boss, but the damage taken from that is more flexible and free form than the 1-5% zone. If you make an attack with this restriction just add a little OOC note to your initial attack tag.
Q: How can a support character engage in the combat?
A: If your character is providing support, you may team up with an attacker to submit a "group attack". This means that your character is putting their effort towards supporting that attacker character that round, and will not be able to submit their own separate action. In exchange, that attack will receive two mod rolls instead of one, and the attack itself will be based on the more favorable of the two rolls. (Sort of like rolling with an advantage in modern D&D.) We will make as many rolls as there there are character combining their effort and select the best of them.
If any character rolls in the 1-5% zone they will still be taken out, however. Click the link above for more information.
Q: Can my character take a hit for another character after a mod roll?
A: We would be willing to accept this in the case of the defender taking the hit for the attacker, which would mean that if it's a 1-5%, they would be taken out in the attacker's stead.
A: Akua and Estinien are both setting up portals from Godsblood to the outskirts of Achamoth from which to begin mounting the assault. Caitlyn will be providing a back-up in the case either of those portals go down.
Q: Can my character make use of the chaos and try to raid the Citadel?
A: They can try but there will be mod rolls involved for any attempts. NPCs inside the Citadel will not be affected the same way the NPCs outside in main area will be. We do not want it to seem like the Citadel is defenseless otherwise.
Q: If Kenoma cause damage to the city during the raid, how will the Regent feel? Will there be consequences?
A: It should try to be avoided, but the Regent will understand if there is collateral damage in battle as long as they aren't being careless about it.
Q: Is the "no-combat aura" completely incapacitating NPCs?
A: No, it is only stopping them from aggressing the Pleroma. If they or their property are attacked they will defend themselves, and are otherwise operating with a normal level of cognizance. Kenoma Aions can order them out of the area to avoid being hurt if necessary.
BOSS BATTLE:
Q: I would like my character to take part in the battle but want to limit the outcomes in a way that isn't too devastating. Is that possible?
A: We think in that case we would basically only be acknowledging the possibilities between the "The attack either misses, is ineffective, or it triggers a counter attack from the boss." and "The attack hits with moderate effectiveness, as determined by the nature of their action." range. So, you can't get taken out, but you also can only deal moderate hits at best. You could still trigger a counter attack from the boss, but the damage taken from that is more flexible and free form than the 1-5% zone. If you make an attack with this restriction just add a little OOC note to your initial attack tag.
Q: How can a support character engage in the combat?
A: If your character is providing support, you may team up with an attacker to submit a "group attack". This means that your character is putting their effort towards supporting that attacker character that round, and will not be able to submit their own separate action. In exchange, that attack will receive two mod rolls instead of one, and the attack itself will be based on the more favorable of the two rolls. (Sort of like rolling with an advantage in modern D&D.) We will make as many rolls as there there are character combining their effort and select the best of them.
If any character rolls in the 1-5% zone they will still be taken out, however. Click the link above for more information.
Q: Can my character take a hit for another character after a mod roll?
A: We would be willing to accept this in the case of the defender taking the hit for the attacker, which would mean that if it's a 1-5%, they would be taken out in the attacker's stead.
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mordred
But she can't just lie around like this forever. She drags herself out onto the street and then unsteadily onto her feet, fighting the pain that screams and ripples across her body. When the heavy haze in one of her eyes won't go away, she touches that side of her face and her hand comes away sticky with blood.
She recalls that Liem installed supplies throughout the city, and she limps to the nearest stash she can remember so that she can quickly patch herself up. It takes her more time than she'd like to find it, and when she does, she finds her hands shaky so that she has difficulty fumbling with the supplies. In the meantime, she can hear and see the dragon losing the advantage. All the better; she spends some extra time trying to clean up her face, wondering how she must look yet making no effort to find a mirror.
She awkwardly wraps her head in bandages, and with the extent of her injuries they end up over half her face. It's a haphazard job, but when she puts her hood up she figures it covers most of the mess. There's no time to fuss about it. She rises painfully to her feet to see how the city is faring. ]
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Mordred knows that she can't fight like this; unable to even manifest her armour, dragging her sword behind her like a bloody afterthought, but she refuses to retreat. She wanders the streets, a wounded apparition in search of prey, or death, whichever she finds first. For a moment, all Mordred can see is his emotionless face beneath Gray's dark hood, and a cold panic grips her heart, squeezes it. Here he is, her father, come again to watch the light fade from her eyes and her guts paint the tip of his spear—
—then she sees the bandages, and it's enough to (temporarily) exorcise King Arthur's ghost from her mind. She approaches the other girl with an unreadable expression; her hair bloodied and matted against her head, clothes stained to a similar extent
but not torn, because there's hardly anything to tear. ]That bastard, making a mess of my father's face... [ At least she's not blaming Gray for it. She clicks her tongue, lifting her head upwards, where the creature that was Estinien no longer blots out the sky. ] The dragon... no, that thing is dead, but our enemies remain. You need to find a healer, mouse.
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She looks away quickly, tugging her hood as low as it will go over her head. She keeps her gaze low as Mordred comes to a stop in front of her. ]
... I will.
[ If she finds one, when it's convenient. She's in no rush to fight the Pleroma when they might be Abel and Himeka's saviors. As things are, her reserves of od are near to bottomed out, so she wouldn't be much of a help even if she were healed up. ]
Was that your Noble Phantasm?
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Yeah. [ She grins a vicious grin at the memory of the Sanctifier's neck ripping open, even if it cost her dearly in more ways than one. ] I wasn't planning on using it, but you could say that circumstances changed. In any case, I struck the definitive blow against the beast, so it was worth the price.
[ Of course it wasn't actually her Noble Phantasm that brought down the Sanctifer, but she'll gladly claim more credit than she's due. With a sigh, she walks closer, pulling Gray's hood down — despite it already being low — and then ruffling the top of her head gently... which, of course, only serves to dislodge her hood all over again. ]
It'll be troublesome if you collapse here. Lean on me, and I'll bring you somewhere less exposed.
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She twitches a little with surprise when Mordred's hand lands on her head; she should be used to this sort of thing by now, but the headpats usually come from people tall enough that their hands can easily reach her head. She peeks up at Mordred curiously from the top corner of her hood as she again tugs it back into place. She realizes that for some reason, Mordred is being nice to her. ]
... Alright.
[ She doesn't feel that it's strictly necessary, but if Mordred is making the effort, then it wouldn't do for Gray to reject her generosity. She isn't sure how best she should lean on Mordred, so she waits to see what Mordred will offer. She also at this time fully notices Mordred's....... undergarments? It's bizarre to see a reflection of her own body to match her face, though there's something about Mordred's bearing that puts a break in the connection. ]
Um. Your clothing...
[ Where did it go... ]
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Oh, this? My armour's super heavy, so I ditched it for a while. No big deal.
[ Because that's obviously what Gray is talking about, and not the bit where she's half naked. (She's also severely downplaying her own injured status, but it's fine. She's fine.) ]
Here, put your arm over my shoulders. [ She has to hunch a bit, given their identical heights, but she'll make it work. ] I can't get you all the way to the Citadel, [ the can't being the first real sign of a problem ] but any shelter is better than none. How well can you see right now? Do you need me to fix your bandages?
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Either way she does as she's told and carefully puts her arm around Mordred's shoulders, and it strikes her that there really aren't any other Aions (that she knows of) the same size as her. Maybe for that reason, leaning on Mordred somehow manages to feel both foreign and comfortable. ]
I can still see from one of my eyes.
[ So how good does that make her vision? It's better than total blindness, at least. ]
Fixing my bandages... won't that make you uncomfortable?
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[ Thanks for the anatomy lesson, Mordred. She tenses a little at Gray's query — which is probably an answer in and of itself — but tries to shrug it off as they walk. ]
... It's nothing I haven't seen before. [ Except for the injury. She'd inflicted a far more grievous one on her father at the end, but she was busy dying to properly appraise her handiwork. ] Besides, I can't stand looking at the shoddy job you did. That's gonna bother me way more than your face, so just shut up and let me help.
[ Help. It's a word that tastes foreign on her tongue (for good reason, given she literally can't remember the last time she offered it to anyone), and she flushes; making sure she's looking anywhere except at Gray. ]
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That said, far be it from Gray to push away Mordred's generosity when she's so adamantly insisting on it. Gray's own uneasiness at exposing her face and having someone else fiddle with it remains, but it isn't nearly so pronounced if she knows it will be Mordred. It's contradictory, but Mordred's discomfort brings her comfort. There's a long pause as she toys with the idea, lives in it a little, the irregular combination of their footsteps pacing out the silence. ]
Okay. If it's not too much trouble.
[ It's a good idea to neaten up her bandages either way. If her own bandaging job is as shoddy as Mordred makes it sound, that's just unacceptable. With that she places herself in Mordred's care, continuing to go along with wherever the knight steers her. ]
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[ As if she hasn't basically forced Gray into accepting her help from the start. After a few minutes of walking, they finally come across a building that seems acceptable to Mordred as a temporary shelter (a restaurant of some sort, by the look of it), and she hauls Gray inside with her; resting Clarent against the nearest wall, then gesturing to a chair. ]
Sit. [ Again, she gives the other girl little choice, putting both hands on her shoulders and basically guiding her down. After a moment of hesitation, she crosses her arms and glances away, giving Gray a chance to remove the bandages herself rather than have Mordred do it; as if to preserve what little agency she still has. ]
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But Gray doesn't protest out loud, and sits when commanded (and forced) to sit. It's an odd and unexpected courtesy when Mordred looks away, to the point where it takes Gray a moment to realize what the other girl is waiting for, but once she gets the picture she slowly settles her hands on the edges of her hood.
Removing it in the company of other people is taboo. No one imposed this rule on her (until she met her mentor); it's a wall constructed from her own mind, thin cloth made concrete to protect her from the stares of others. Even though she inevitably has to lower it at least once a day, the act of doing so now feels completely alien. But it helps that Mordred is looking away, and it's easier than expected for her to tug the fabric back, air immediately assaulting her exposed skin.
It doesn't take much effort to loosen her bandages from here, though she frowns gingerly as she unsticks the last of it. Her wound is one giant gash that stretches over the bridge of her nose from cheek to brow, though the chaos of discoloration and ruptured, bloodied skin defies easy delineation. It encroaches on one of her eyes, which she tactfully keeps closed even if Mordred would say she's seen worse. She takes a breath, fidgets a little, before finally speaking up, her gaze lowered. ]
W-Whenever you're ready.
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She hates it.
(She envies it.)
She wants to destroy it.
(She wanted to ensure nothing else got to destroy it first.) ]
... Damn, you really got fucked up. [ Gray's efforts to clean her face weren't without merit, though Mordred's objective, third party eye can see what she missed, and what the bandages have served to spread. With a tsk, she looks over her shoulder. ] Wait here a sec. I'll see what I can st... borrow.
[ Gray's left to her own devices as Mordred rummages around, returning a minute later with a sandwich in one hand and several napkins in the other. The latter she uses to dab at Gray's face, not bothering to state the obvious fact of this is going to hurt, though she does hold them up first to telegraph her intentions. (If she focuses on the bloody and bruised skin, it's easier to avoid seeing the King Arthur shaped whole, and her eyes narrow in concentration and nothing else as she works.) ]
That's as good as it's gonna get. [ She announces after a minute of cleaning, tossing the bloodied napkins aside. It's the first time in her life she's ever done this for someone, and she has no idea if there's anything else she's meant to do before reapplying the bandages... or if there's anything she can do, in these circumstances.
After a prolonged, thoughtful pause, she holds out the sandwich. ] Hungry? It's some kinda meat, by the look of it.
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But this kind of treatment feels unexpectedly nice. King Arthur's visage was so sacred in her village that most wouldn't have dreamed of touching it, let alone being this callous toward it. Though she remembers that before her face changed, when she was just an ordinary child, her parents weren't nearly so precious about it, and they didn't think twice about cleaning her face with warm playful pats and chiding swipes. But afterward...
When Mordred is satisfied, Gray wrinkles her nose (ow) to chase away the stinging. And then she watches a bit fretfully as Mordred tosses the blooded napkins aside all willy-nilly. Who's going to clean that...?
And now there's a sandwich being thrust at her. She isn't actually very hungry, but she carefully takes the sandwich anyway, careful not to touch too much of it with her hands all dirty. ]
Oh... Thank you.
[ Mordred's comment on meat is a little strange. Gray examines the sandwich for further strangeness, maybe some kind of mystery meat, but it looks all normal in the end. Why is Mordred even randomly grabbing sandwiches in the middle of first aid... ]
Do you like sandwiches?
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... You know, coming here is the first time I've been able to eat with other people. It's kind of... [ Nice. Normal. Not completely and utterly isolating, both physically and emotionally, but she doesn't know how to express that in a way that isn't hideously embarrassing, so she trails off awkwardly. After a pause: ]
Hey, mouse. Go ahead and eat. I'm just gonna talk out loud, so don't worry about responding. [ Maybe it's a weird thing to offer, but she feels like she should take the burden off of Gray having to react to what she's about to say. She's been waiting for the right time, but she's starting to doubt that even exists. Either (or both) of them could have died today, and despite the nihilism inherent in the Kenoma's vision, there are some things Gray deserves to hear from her before then. ]
I'm not gonna say I understand the shit you've been through. Mages are scummy, so if they were using you as part of some weird ritual, they were probably total freaks about it. Whether they cursed you or revered you, it doesn't matter, 'cause what they really wanted was my old man. Buncha idiots, all of 'em.
[ She grits her teeth, annoyed at the thought — but for once, she doesn't let her rage consume her. One more deep breath, and she continues. ]
... When I was first sent to Camelot, my mother knew her plans would come to naught if anyone saw my face — she was right, of course, even if I had my own goals by then. There wasn't any way to hide it with a spell, so I was forced to keep my helmet on. I couldn't eat with the other knights, or drink with them. Hell, I could barely speak with them.
[ Mordred the Silent. It might sound like a bad joke to anyone who's met her since, but that was the image she'd cultivated for herself, willingly and unwillingly. Who would want to talk to a wall of steel with a bad attitude? How could she ever reach out to anyone, even at the beginning, when she so desperately wanted to?
(And then, the one person she had—) ]
To the very end, none of them ever knew the truth. The only ones that found out were my father, and his harlot of a wife. I did everything alone... all because of this. [ She reaches up to touch her own face with one finger, then points at Gray's. ] So yeah, your face pisses me off. It pisses me off more than I know how to say. But it pisses me off for you, too, even if we aren't the same. I guess I just... wanted you to know that.
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It's surprising, though it shouldn't be, to learn that Mrodred lived in much the same way that Gray had been living her own life. This face of theirs was the focal point of their lives whether they wanted it or not, dictating their destinies with far more power than their individual wills could accommodate for. No — it had to have been much more difficult for Mordred, who often saw King Arthur himself and knew many people familiar with the King's face.
Gray's life was carefree by comparison, free to show her face (if she wanted to) and live in anonymity in London. And yet she's still the closest to understanding Mordred's loneliness in truth and essence, beyond the description Mordred is able to verbalize. If Gray felt desperately lonely among the uncaring field of headstones in Blackmore Cemetery, she can only attempt to know the loneliness Mordred felt while within arm's reach of her fellow knights but unable to reach out.
It's embarrassing, and maybe she has no right to do so, but Gray feels a stinging in her eye before a tear breaks free from it, running pink as it runs down her bloodied cheek. She isn't sure how to reply to all of that, but Mordred gave her permission to stay silent, so in the end she sniffs and tears her sandwich in half so that she can offer the non-bitten side to Mordred. ]
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Crap, I didn't hurt you before, did I? I should've paid more attention to... huh? [ When the sandwich enters her field of view, she blinks. ] Are you... trying to make me feel better?
[ Suddenly, she starts laughing. It's not a mean laugh, but it's uproarious; forcing her to step back so she can bend over and brace herself against her thighs. ]
Hahahaha! You're a goddamn idiot, you know that? But so am I, if you think I need it! All that stuff happened over a thousand years ago, mouse. It's not just old news — it's freakin' ancient. [ ... Depending on your perspective. With a grin, she finally reaches out to accept Gray's offering. ] Ah, whatever. Thanks. And... if there's any shit you ever wanna talk about, I'll at least listen. Can't promise more than that, though.
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Mordred's raucous laughter combined with the name-calling reminds her of Add, and in turn Sir Kay. Maybe everyone in the Round Table was a little rough like this. She slowly lowers her hand so that it can join the other in cradling her half of sandwich. ]
... Thank you. It was hard to discuss this kind of thing before... because the people of my village would never have understood. And to everyone else, this is just "my" face.
[ It shouldn't be a big deal. Objectively this is a pleasant face; some might even be jealous enough to trade places with her. Only her mentor and Mordred have understood its horror at a glance, and it's difficult for Gray to convey the importance of that to her. ]
I'm still not sure why this happened to me. I can't imagine I'm anything like King Arthur.
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[ After she swallows, she pats Gray on the shoulder, not the head — a gesture of equals, rather than anything condescending. ]
Listen, mouse. One day, I'm going to surpass King Arthur. I'll become stronger than he was, wiser than he was, and greater than he was. But that's something I chose for myself. My mother's intentions, the reasons behind my birth... those are all utterly irrelevant to me, just like they should be to you.
You're not Arthur Pendragon — you're Gray. It's not your fault the fools in your village didn't realize that.
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Gray nibbles a little more on her sandwich, an outlet for her buzzing feelings. After another moment, she just says what's on her mind. ]
You can be pretty nice...
[ It's weird........ ]
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[ Good thing she already swallowed, because it means the choking sound that leaves her throat is purely one of embarrassment, not danger. Her face turns just as red as Gray's did a moment ago, and she doesn't have a big ol' wound to blame for it. ]
... You must be joking. I've been called a lot of things in my time, [ "in my time" shut the fuck up you're seven ] but nice isn't one of them. [ Quietly, to herself: ] I suppose it's not the worst feeling... wait, what the hell am I saying? I ain't nice! Stupid mouse!
[ She turns away, putting both hands behind her head in a gesture of forced casualness, and pretends to stretch a bit; desperately willing her face to go back to normal. ]
Anyway, hurry up. We don't have all damn day, and I still gotta put your bandages back on.
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Anyway, Mordred has a point that they don't have all day (there is kind of an invasion still going on) so Gray forces herself to chow down on her sandwich half. It isn't anywhere near Mordred's pace, but for her it's still triple time. Once she's done she obediently looks to Mordred, waiting for her impending mummification. ]
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Picking up the bandages, she lifts them towards Gray's face; hesitating as she tries to work out how best to apply them. Much like the wound cleaning, this isn't something she's done before, or been on the receiving end of. Nobody was getting bandaged by her gauntlet-clad hands, or tying them around her helmet. Her armour protected her from ever getting too mangled, but injures were things she fought through, letting the pain fuel her until they healed — a punishment for her failure. ]
I'll start here, and then go around... that's not too tight, is it? [ Without waiting for an answer: ] Once more — no twice? — then tie it off at the back, like... this. Okay, I'm done.
[ ... After a pause, she leans in and tugs a part down, so the bandages aren't literally covering both of Gray's eyes. Nailed it. ]
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Once the deed is done (and Mordred makes her final adjustment), Gray opens her eyes to look at Mordred again. Lacking a mirror, she can only use a hand to feel curiously at the bandaging job. ]
Thank you.
[ Even if it may or may not be a botch job, Mordred tried... Gray gives her a small smile in gratitude before standing and raising her hood into place. ]
I think I'm well enough to be out again.
[ It's been a short break, but it was a good one. ]
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[ Keep telling yourself that, Mordred, because nobody else ever will. Once Gray stands up, Mordred pats her on the back, and half pushes her out the door. She wants the other girl out of sight before her own exhaustion catches up with her again. ]
I'll catch up later, so get going. And stay outta trouble.
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