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[superioritis]

#B31200 | Ruga

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action. quest 45.

[shizun]

[ Despite a lot of things, Shen Qingqiu is very appreciative of the prince. He has not forgotten the escort mission and he does not feel like he's fully repaid what he owes.

That said!! He made chocolates as the quest ordered -- and had to fight for the last ingredient, but let's not get into that because he will just get mad that the creation mission became a fetch quest!

So, he arrives once more at Berkut's door. But this is a much better reason to be here, right? He still wonders if anyone's taught him how to use the laptop and wonders if he should show him that, but he ignores that for the door opening. ]

I have chocolate for you. [ He holds it out. If I don't give this right away!! I'm thinking you'll actually slam the door in my face!!? ]

[superioritis]

[ Outside by the house, Buceph snorts.

Inside, Berkut's impassive gaze flickers from Shen Qingqiu to the chocolate, then back to Shen Qingqiu. Caught on his downtime, he's in his usual attire without the armor. ]

This is a part of that quest, is it not?

[1/3]

[shizun]

[ I suppose that answers that! Berkut!! You learned to use the laptop!

He feels such a great sense of pride in this accomplishment! It must have been difficult but he's really happy that Berkut has figured it out! That means that he could get along with others and -- ]

[shizun]

[ Oh fuck! He's learned how to use the laptop!

Shen Qingqiu suddenly worries that the prince saw how much he ran around to save his bacon from all those death flags!!

But ... maybe ... maybe not. ]

[shizun]

[ But not in armor! Does that mean you've picked up some hobbies, maybe?

He pauses to look to Buceph. You helping?

And back to Berkut with a smile, to hide his panic about possibly being found out. ]

Yes, this is part of the quest. It is meant to be given to those that we appreciate, and I do greatly appreciate knowing you, prince.

[superioritis]

I am aware.

[ To which part? Shen Qingqiu can figure that out on his own. Berkut doesn't accept the chocolate just yet; instead, he folds his arms. ]

For someone who claims this, you certainly have a taste for meddling.

[superioritis]

[As soon as the door shuts behind Shen Qingqiu, Berkut turns to Renne.]

What are you playing at?

[rasure]

[Her lips curve, and the smile is significantly less sweet and kind than the smiling face that she showed Shen Qingqiu.]

Oh, that? Just a little playing around. You are such a rude man, you know that?

[superioritis]

[Ah, there it is. If only she were this transparent with everyone else.]

I don't need to hear that from you.

action;

[rasure]

[Today, Berkut, you're going to come home to a pile of sparkly scales.

How did they get there? We just don't know.

But they are soooo in the way.]

[superioritis]

[After all the drama he's seen unfold—courtesy of the thorns surrounding the town—Berkut has no faith in anything that doesn't belong to him. He eyes the scales with distaste. It doesn't escape his notice that they seem to be piled in such a way that it would be difficult for him to get past.

How troublesome.

Since there's little he can do about the pile, he takes to glowering at it while he considers a means of disposing them indirectly.]

[rasure]

[They're definitely as difficultly and inconveniently placed as possible. There also seems to be an overwhelming amount of purple scales, though there are a few of every color scattered around the house and in his way.

Whenever possible.

Good luck Berkut.

The culprit, of course, is sitting casually at the kitchen table, kicking her legs casually.]

[shizun]

[ Knock, knock!

Guess who has come to check up on him!! ]

[superioritis]

[ Is it Pyra? She needs to stop coming by so often.

As it turns out, the visitor is Shen Qingqiu. Remembering their last encounter, Berkut nearly makes a sour face as he stands in the doorway. ]

Is there a reason for this visit, Shen Qingqiu?

1/2

[shizun]

[ Please don't make that face upon seeing me. ]

[shizun]

I will be honest and say that there is no real reason for my visit.

[ But! But! But!! ]

I happened to be walking by and decided to offer a greeting to you.

backdated to the 6th

[pyrafect]

Lord Berkut, may I trouble you for some advice? It's in regards to the town's safety.

[ SHE'S GONNA ASK FOR PERMISSION TO ASK FIRST. Just in case. But as brusque as he is, he does make clear decisions. ]

[superioritis]

[ Pyra, eh? ]

What of it?

[pyrafect]

I’m not sure if you saw one of my latest posts, but in one of them I mentioned having made a flower crown that makes the wearer able to instantly grow vegetation of any sort, provided you have a seed. The flower crown has limited power that cannot he replenished.

In your opinion, would you use the crown to restore the gardens of Flavo and crops for a food supply for everyone? Or construct a wall of healthy trees around the town to greatly impede the cursed-trees’ movements? If you’re wondering, we discovered that the cursed trees completely ignore these normal trees, and it takes time for them to maneuver about them.

[ A ruler should give ruling-class opinion!

Granted she could have asked this same question to many royals here. But she also wants him to feel like he’s included. That’s important! ]

action | after the treenappings...

[artorian]

[ In Chroma, there is a horse.

It is a handsome and healthy black horse often parked in front of a particular house. Whenever Saber happens to go that way, she makes a point of visiting this horse for no particular reason other than appreciation and conversation.

Yes, conversation. She's always been good at understanding horses, somehow able to glean meaning from their simple snorts and whickers. The burden of dialogue is always (obviously) on her side, but she finds no embarrassment in talking to animals, or holding extended exchanges with them if they're of an expressive nature.

Dressed modestly today, Saber slows to a halt by the handsome black horse. Her normally impassive expression eases into a smile as she looks up at him. ]

Good morning, sir. You look as lusty as ever. I suppose the dryads did not bother you... No, I cannot imagine they would have been brave enough for it.

[ It doesn't matter so much if the handsome black horse responds to her or not. She simply thinks he might enjoy a spot of company after standing around alone for so long. ]

[superioritis]

[ Berkut is, of course, oblivious to these conversations. He doesn't often stay in his assigned residence, not when he can be out and about. Unfortunately, the outside world is now such that he can ill afford to bring Buceph along as often as he used to.

Today is one of those days. But what strikes him as most unusual is a familiar woman (she was a part of the expedition, wasn't she?), chattering away at his horse.

Arching an eyebrow, he approaches. ]

You there. What are you doing?

[artorian]

[ Saber turns calmly to face him, unbothered at being caught. A trace of the smile she had for the horse lingers, settling into a polite, barely-there smile of greeting. She recognizes him, of course, from the forest expedition. She takes notice of all who associate with her knights, and Berkut's dour aura is nostalgic enough to stamp itself on her memory. ]

Pardon me, Prince Berkut. I was simply admiring your steed.

[ And for other people she might sketch a knightly bow, but as a king addressing a prince, she keeps her back straight and her gaze clear and direct. Though her expression remains polite, her eyes are appraising, taking stock of this prince who always looks as though the world is an obstacle to be conquered or brushed aside. ]

I do not believe we have been formally introduced. You may refer to me as Saber, though I am also called Blue Saber for clarity.

some time around the event?? or after?? who knows, we'll see

[pyrafect]

....There.
 
[ Standing in his living room, he secures the final clasp upon his newly repaired armor. While the metal of the dragonsteel does not match the obsidian black of his set, staining an almost mirror-white like a scar betraying a old wound, he'll find that it's is fully movable and functional. 

Pyra's hand lingers upon the clasp of the shoulder attachment; how the man ever donned it in the town or woods without an attendant or page is a mystery to her. ] How does it feel? Too loose? Too tight? 

[superioritis]

[ Finally, he can breathe.

Though never to the point of debilitating, the dent in the body had been discomforting at times. Testing his movement, Berkut flexes his arms and walks in a small crescent. He notes no discomfort in either shoulder, real or imagined. His head lowers in both approval and thought.

The mismatched appearance doesn't bother him. No one in Chroma will care enough to comment on it. On the other hand, Pyra really didn't have to bother, either. ]

You actually went and did it.

[pyrafect]

[ Pneuma would have made him a new full set with a wave of her hand. AND HE WOULD MATCH.

...His words almost sound like-- it can't be praise, but it likens to something of approval, and that's more than enough for Pyra. A bit of warmth returns to her eyes. Any crumb of recognition, any words that are not spoken with disdain for her... she's grateful for them.

She clasps her hands in front of her. ] I-is it so... surprising? [ Did he doubt she would? ]