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epelsapples · 2 years

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I head-canon that there is probably an all-girls school in Twisted Wonderland, just like Night Raven College and Royal Swords Academy. However, the characters are based on the ‘prince’s/Heroes. For example; Prince Eric, Aladdin, Prince Phillip.

The name could be something along the lines of ‘Princess Charm Institute.(Yes I somewhat stole the name from Barbie Princess Charm School).

The school is the top school for aspiring female magicians, there are seven dormitories. (Not all of the dorms are based on the Prince’s/Heroes).

I am far too lazy to come up with names so I’ll just state what the dorms are based off of and what the character within them are like.

The Headmage would be Flora (The red fairy from Sleeping Beauty), and the co-headmages would be Fauna and Merryweather (However they would be twisted from them rather than actually being them)

Dorm 1. Based on Prince Ferdinand from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The students in that dormitory are probably the best at everything, especially magic. They ace all of their subjects with ease, charming and heroic when the time calls for it. Everybody swoons when they walk by. Especially when their Housewarden and Vice-Housewarden walk by. The top of the ‘big three’

Dorm 2. Based on Prince Charming from Cinderella. They are quite naïve and hopeless (because they spend so many hours looking for a girl because of their shoe). Probably near the bottom for their IQ, however they are still part of the ‘big three’ because of their fairytale. (Most likely going to get replaced sooner or later)

Dorm 3. Based on Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty. The students have some sort of ‘pizzazz’ to them. Also part of the ‘big three’. The students are second to the dorm based on Prince Ferdinand and the two are worthy competitors. Unlike the dorm based on Prince Ferdinand, they actually have some humour, since the other dorm is just oriented around studying and perfecting their classes and sword fighting abilities.

Dorm 4. Based on Li Shang from Mulan. Students are rather shy when it comes to romance however they are brilliant fighting heroes. 3rd overall across the school?

Dorm 5. Based on Prince Naveen from The Princess and The Frog. Comical but stern and very attractive. The Housewarden does not know how to cook nor fend for themselves because of their upbringing so the vice Housewarden would probably be some sort of knight. Tying with the dorm based on Li Shang.

Dorm 6. Based on Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid. The dorm leader probably has some historic connection to pirates. They are around 5th or 4th place for everything but 1st when it comes to school games. (Most likely replacing the dorm based on Prince Charming and becoming one of the big three).

Dorm 7. Based on Aladdin from Aladdin. Last in their overall school achievements? This is because practically all of the dorms are based on Prince’s or ‘heroes’ however Aladdin is not the typical hero so the dorm members have to get used to sword fighting, fencing and saving boys in distress. So yeah the bottom in terms of academics.

Teachers:

Twisted from The beast from Beauty and the Beast (History teacher)

Twisted from Eugene from Tangled (

Twisted from Hercules from Hercules (PE teacher)

Twisted from Fauna from Sleeping Beauty (Ballet teacher)

Twisted from Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty (Fencing teacher)

Twisted from The Genie from Aladdin (Ancient Magic teacher)

Overall score in terms of saving damsels in distress:

Dorm 1. 11/10 (You cannot beat the original)

Dorm 2. 5/10 (Eh.. some merits for being the second Prince in a Disney movie)

Dorm 3. 12/10 (They are cunningly intelligent)

Dorm 4. 8.5/10 (Quite awkward and stiff but they mean well)

Dorm 5. 8/10 (Funny but could be improved since joking around about somebody’s near death experience two seconds after it happened isn’t the best I suppose..)

Dorm 6. 4.5/10 (Fish jokes…cheesy pickup lines.. very much “are you from Tennessee because you’re the only ten I see”)

Dorm 7. 2/10 at best (Would probably drop them because they got distracted by something more fascinating)

#dorm leaders #leona x reader #riddle x reader #malleus draconia #disney twst #twisted wonderland #azul ashengrotto #night raven college #royal sword academy #leona kingscholar #vil schoenheit #idia shroud #jamil viper #kalim al asim #riddle rosehearts

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diamondcrownacademy · 6 months

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DCA Info Part 5: Subjects and Clubs

The following subjects are thought at Diamond Crown Academy

Basic Classes

Magic History - The study of the historical figures of the academy and the histories throughout the years.

Incantations - Verbal spells that require learning a specific language while waving the magic pen in a certain pattern.

Basic Etiquette - The study of proper manners, posture and communication.

Ancient Rune Reading - The study of ancient writing and spells that are cast through magic rune stones.

Animal Linguistics - The study of animal language, and conversing with animals.

Music - Theater and musical performances.

Alchemy - Minerals, plants and many other ingredients are fused to create something entirely new.

General Magic - Magical spells for offense and defense as well as spell breakers and minor hexes.

Study of Magical Relics - The study of old relics and the identification of their history and uses.

PE Subjects

Fencing/Sword Fighting - There is various swords used as well as various sword-handling.

Obstacle Run - The tracks are set with magic traps and obstacles that students need to overcome.

Derby Racing - Horseback racing.

Magical Shift/Maglift - Using magic to throw discs towards a goal.

Griffin Disc - Riding griffins while having to chase a gold disc and place it on the team's catching net.

Martial Arts - Taekwondo, Judo and many other physical combat activities.

Marathon Run - Running a set amount of kilometers.

Side Note: If a student does feel anxious then they're allowed to be excused, Actius dislikes forcing students to do physical activities if they feel uncomfortable. But since he is allowed to run the class however he wishes, he'll just have them write some papers regarding physical education as a substitute or maybe have them do light jogging instead.

Extra-Curricular Classes

Animal Care - Basic study of caring for animals and identifying what they require.

Magical Beast Study - Study of magical beasts as well as taming them for the purpose of gathering information before they are released.

Party Hosting - Learning how to host an event.

Needlework and Jewelry - Sewing clothes and making accessories. The finished products are worn by the students.

Cultural Dance - Dance to different cultures.

Art - Study of art and any form be it, sculpture, painting, metalwork and many more.

Ballroom Dance - Learning the steps of the waltz and many other dances performed by nobles.

Clubs

Theater Club - Stage plays performed by students, the club expects a lot from their members to deliver their roles to utmost perfection. Allison and Evonie are members of this club.

Horse Grooming Club - The horses are used for the derby but also performance. So this club focuses on taking care of the horses as well as training them to do tricks. Ella is a member of this club.

Gardening Research Club - Planting rare species or mixing seeds to see what plant will grow. Vidya is a member of this club.

Volleyball Club - It's volleyball. You smack a ball, also you get hand strength to slap the soul out of someone.

Chess Club - Students play a battle of wits and strategy.

Book Writers Club - Students write novels or short stories and present them during club meetings.

Comic Otaku Club - Fangirling over 2D boys or girls and having the waifu and husbando wars.

Fairy Keeping Club - A club for making sure that the fairies on campus are given proper treatment, such as treating broken wings, keeping their homes clean as well as learning about the body language of fairies.

Magical Artworks Club - Students paint with enchanted brushes to create moving portaits. Rozeline is a member of this club.

Roleplay Game Club - The students play, Dragons and Maidens (Note: This is likely Twisted Wonderland's version of Dungeons and Dragons) and sometimes play the game while wearing a costume of their avatar. Perrine and Cerule are members of this club.

Aviary Club - Bird watching, as well as bird keeping are the clubs main activities. Jinlong is a member of this club.

Asher Vs. Florence Club - A secret club made by Faustus. Only those who know the password are allowed to join. The password asks if you prefer the color pink or blue.

Griffin Scout Club - The griffins are ridden to forests and the students do the scout activities such as recognizing carvings to mark directions. There's also scout cookie sales where they train griffins to deliver packages of cookies to customers. Elu and Briar are members of this club.

The Griffin Scouts was an idea of Actius. He manages the club activities and schedules, and he also manages the griffins used for the scouting team.

The griffins are not like horses, they have a more high standard when it comes to people riding them. Only senior members of the club who has earned a number of badges to receive their senior badge could only ride griffins. Elu and Briar are two of the few who have senior badges. No one owns the griffins, they are called in the summer and autumn for the scout club activities and when winter rolls in, Actius lets them go to migrate to a warmer climate.

Novice scouts are the ones who have to get community service badges, expert scouts have to survive in the wilderness and learn secret codes and symbols to get badges and become senior scouts when they have a certain number of badges and have completed the griffin test. It's when the scout stands a meter away from a griffin flock and have a griffin approach them and offer them a feather as a sign of mutual respect and that they are a worthy rider.

Actius is still stern but a bit more hands on with his teaching, he will show the students how to properly tie a certain rope knot or how to pitch a tent. Even the griffin scout cookie sale was also being taught by him, his cookie recipe is to die for.

#DCA info #general information #diamond crown academy

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notwiselybuttoowell · 9 months

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…protections for horses are enshrined in federal law. The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act mandated that the animals “are to be considered … as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands,” and as such, they “shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death.”

Under Trump in 2018, the Department of the Interior adopted a bold new program for the management of horses that exploited loopholes in the 1971 law. The program, Path Forward, was the brainchild of Republican Rep. Chris Stewart of Utah, a longtime friend of public land livestock grazers who consider horses to be their cows’ competitors on western rangelands.

Path Forward was a wholesale gift to the livestock industry. It directed the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, to expand roundups on federal herd management areas where the animals were alleged to have overpopulated. The benefit to livestock interests was obvious: Cows also use these same management areas, and the fewer horses in them, the better for stock-growers dependent on public forage to fatten their herds.

With Path Forward, the BLM began holding horses in “off-range” facilities in larger numbers than ever before, exposing the animals to rampant disease and extremes of cold and heat. It offered $1,000 a horse to would-be adopters, a much-ballyhooed “adoption incentive.” The agency promised that once the number of horses on the open range had been sufficiently reduced, it would begin widespread fertility control through darting of mares with contraceptives.

By 2020, Congress had fully funded Path Forward, and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, whom Joe Biden celebrated as the first Native American to hold the post, did not hesitate to implement it. Haaland’s BLM has overseen the largest increase in roundups of wild horses on record. It should be remarked as one of the minor ironies of history that a woman whose appointment was supposed to represent a break from the past has ended up perpetuating a violent and cruel status quo.

Occasional horse roundups, conducted humanely, are not out of keeping with the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The legislation stated that when the animals exceed the carrying capacity of management areas, the federal government should step in to regulate their numbers.

The problem is that the BLM has no scientific understanding of the carrying capacity of western rangelands where horses and burros roam free. This was the conclusion of a National Academy of Sciences report in 2013. The NAS investigators found that the BLM had failed to use “scientifically rigorous methods to estimate the population sizes of horses and burros,” failed “to model the effects of management actions on the animals,” and, pivotally, failed “to assess the … use of forage on rangelands.”

When I reported on wild horse controversies for my book on the fate of federal public lands under capitalism, I found that carrying capacity for these persecuted animals was mostly determined by the needs of cattle corporations. In every herd management area, there are cows, and they outnumber horses by orders of magnitude. Allotted the majority of the forage, the cattle do well, and the horses are left to survive on what pittance remains.

From the moment the 1971 legislation to protect horses and burros passed, the number of herd management areas, along with the total acreage included in them, has been continually declining. Horses today don’t enjoy full access to the meager acreage federal regulators designate for their survival. Livestock operators dominate even those parcels, while fences bar the horses from moving freely across the landscape. Maltreatment of horses is only one facet of a long historical process in which the BLM has treated wildlife with barely disguised contempt.

None of this appeared to be a consideration when, in 2022, the BLM decided to capture and place in holding facilities some 21,000 horses and burros, nearly twice the number of the last highest capture year, 2012. More horses and burros were rounded up and sent to holding between 2018 and 2022 — a total of 55,000 — than in any four-year period since passage of the 1971 act.

#american west #wild horses #agriculture #bureau of land management

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trashcankitty12 · 3 months

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Aria Sexton

Youngest Child of Riven and Musa Sexton

Wild But Wise

-Aria is the youngest child of Musa and Riven, being about 11 when we first meet her.

-Her birthday is November 15, making her a Scorpio by Earth Standards and a Salamander by the Magical Dimensions.

-Out of the younger Winx kids, she’s the smallest (and fastest), something she takes great pride in.

-Aria’s hair is naturally dark like her mom’s and she has her father’s eyes. That said, she’s prone to putting dyed streaks into her hair, when she can get around it with her school obligations.

-(Because of course her school would be the one to have rules regarding those in certain sports or activities. Something about uniformity with their group or whatever.)

-(For those wondering, she goes to a performing arts school on Melody. Though when she comes of age, she is thinking of going to Alfea like her older sister and her mother. But she’s also sort of on the fence about going into the sister school for Red Fountain, the Lilac Foundation.)

-Aria has definitely earned her wings already, having gotten them by not only standing up to a bully at her school, but also opening up to her family about some feelings she was having.

-Mainly about preferring warrior-esque studies to magic/music based ones.

-The girl loves being in motion and she genuinely enjoys the feeling of control she gets when she’s going through her fencing motions and martial arts programs. It’s… Fun. And freeing.

-Not to say she doesn’t love her wings or her musical abilities, she just… Doesn’t click as easily with it.

-(Riven definitely understands her in this and does his best to enroll her in all the sports she feels interested in and thinks she can handle. So far, she’s an incredible athlete.)

-(Musa’s super proud of her daughter for being able to speak her mind about this, and is so thankful that she became the kind of parent she wanted to be when she started having kids, the one her kids wouldn’t worry about disappointing because they know she loves them no matter what.)

-Aria now claims to be the “favorite grandchild” of their Gonpa since her older siblings are studying in Magix and she’s still on Melody with him.

-(It’s all in good fun. And her siblings also claim to be favorites of their grandpas in Magix.)

-She’s close friends with Winnie and the two often get into trouble when left to their own devices. Thankfully she’s gotten better at controlling her magic. And received her own phone to get her siblings’ attention.

-Her siblings because she refuses to contact her parents when she’s in trouble. Why? Because of their lectures (about her safety and about what the better course of action would have been because her parents have apparently been through everything.)

-Aria is admittedly a daddy’s girl; she spends so much time with him training or working on his levibike or even playing music.

-(The music thing is a full family affair though, everyone has their preferred instruments and they make quite the band! Aria’s a keyboardist and has a thing for alt-rock and alt-punk sounds.)

-Fencing and sword fighting are some of her favorite sports, the others being magi-ball and skateboarding.

-In fact, she enjoys skateboarding with her older brother, even if he’s a bit of an idiot when it comes to ‘impressing’ people.

-(Boys. So exhausting.)

-(Actually, everyone is sort of exhausting. She hopes and prays she never ‘falls in love’. Too much work and too many problems.)

-Aria’s currently enrolled at the Academy of Muses Middle School and she’s one of the better students.

-She’s always taken her schooling seriously, it’s just her focus sometimes is… Elsewhere. Especially if something more major is going on in her life or her families’ lives.

-Her favorite subjects are Historical Literature, Debate Tactics, and Mathematics.

-Least favorites? Anything to do with chemicals or potions. No thank you.

-She’s in her city’s Junior Sword Fighting League. Riven’s super proud that she’s got a high ranking. (He personally trained her of course.)

-Despite not being much for traditional music, Aria loves listening to her mom and her Gonpa sing traditional Melodian songs. It makes her feel like she knows her Gonma, even if they’ve never met.

-Because her dad’s side of the family is so large, it’s hard to keep up with everyone. She does have a few cousins she enjoys having adventures with (even if they can’t ever tell their parents about their adventures, not without getting lectured to hell and back).

-Yes, okay… Aria is a bit like her dad and her mom when it comes to finding trouble or getting into trouble. But it’s not her fault. It’s not!

-Her parents taught her to always stand up for herself and be willing to stand her ground, not her fault some people like to try and push her.

-She’s not sure what her goals are for the future, as she’s still trying to figure some things out, but she does know she wants to make her family proud. (Hopefully she does just that.)

#winx club #winx club oc #winx club next gen oc #winx club next gen #winx next gen #winx club riven and musa child #winx club musa and riven child oc #wise but wild #winx club oc aria sexton #winx club aria sexton #winx club younger kids

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historicalfightingguide · 10 months

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youtube

"James and Jess spend an hour talking about drills, what we think they are, how useful they are, and relating drilling in martial arts to learning to field a ground ball, to playing music, and to learning vocabulary."

A very interesting episode going over training methodology, especially when it comes to the concept of drilling - what it is, what are the various approaches you can use, how do people define it, how best to approach it for meaningful and joyfull development of fencers.

In many regards what the authors of the video talk about is an approach very similar, but not necessarily the same as constraints lead approaches to learning and the ecological model.

”

—-

A desire line is formed from many people over time choosing not to walk the paved paths, but instead go the way that seems most expedient to them. they are typically formed when planners don’t account for real human behavior.

——

About us! James is the founder and principal instructor of the Goliath Historical Fencing Academy. He began fencing in 2009, after being inspired by the film Reclaiming The Blade. At Goliath, he instructs several weapons systems including longsword, rapier, dagger, unarmed combat, quarterstaff and halberd. He has taught at private seminars at major fencing events in Europe and Canada as well as across the US.

—-

Jess Finley has had a sword in her hand for the past twenty years. Her initial interest was in stage combat, but not too long after beginning that pursuit began to ask “… but how did they really fight?” From that question, she branched out to German Medieval Martial Arts after being accepted as a student by Christian Tobler, who remains her mentor to this day.

She is the head instructor at Ritterkunst Turnhalle in Lawrence, Kansas. She has taught and competed internationally as well as private intensives at her home.

She also has a background studying Judo under the tutelage of Arden Cowherd of Topeka Judo Club.She is a published author, having written a book entitled “Medieval Wrestling” on the fifteenth century Master Ott’s wrestling treatise of German wrestling techniques.

She also researches medieval clothing construction and fabric armor, and has presented her findings at the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo and published an article in Medieval Clothing and Textiles (Boydell and Brewer) on her study of a 15th century quilted armor.

Jess’s Patreon is http://www.patreon.com/jessfinley“

For more posts from desire line, and for more CLA oriented posts, check out the relevant tags linked here.

For anyone who hasn’t yet seen the following links:

Some advice on how to start studying the sources generally can be found in these older posts

Remember to check out A Guide to Starting a Liberation Martial Arts Gym as it may help with your own club/gym/dojo/school culture and approach.Check out their curriculum too.

Fear is the Mind Killer: How to Build a Training Culture that Fosters Strength and Resilience by Kajetan Sadowski may be relevant as well.

“How We Learn to Move: A Revolution in the Way We Coach & Practice Sports Skills” by Rob Gray as well as this post that goes over the basics of his constraints lead, ecological approach.

Another useful book to check out is The Theory and Practice of Historical European Martial Arts (while about HEMA, a lot of it is applicable to other historical martial arts clubs dealing with research and recreation of old fighting systems).

Trauma informed coaching and why it matters

Look at the previous posts in relation to running and cardio to learn how that relates to historical fencing.

Why having a systematic approach to training can be beneficial

Why we may not want one attack 10 000 times, nor 10 000 attacks done once, but a third option.

How consent and opting in function and why it matters.

More on tactics in fencing

Open vs closed skills

The three primary factors to safety within historical fencing

Worth checking out are this blogs tags on pedagogy and teaching for other related useful posts.

And if you train any weapon based form of historical fencing check out the ‘HEMA game archive’ where you can find a plethora of different drills, focused sparring and game options to use for effective, useful and fun training.

Check out the cool hemabookshelf facsimile project.

For more on how to use youtube content for learning historical fencing I suggest checking out these older posts on the concept of video study of sparring and tournament footage.

Consider getting some patches of this sort or these cool rashguards to show support for good causes or a t-shirt like to send a good message while at training.

#desire line #fencing #historical fencing #swordfighting #cla #constraints lead approaches #Youtube

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we-are-knight · 2 years

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Took part in training with the Academy of Historical Fencing during an Open Sparring day yesterday.

Unfortunately, I was having an off day, and had motion sickness for much of the first half didn't help. I got a terrific workout however, and met with some guys from Academy of Steel, who taught me better use of shield work.

As I am the only member of my fencing group with a shield (and a kite shield at that), I've not used it as more than something to press (or bash) and defend with. They utilise round shields, much lighter than mine with a central boss and grip, and use them to hook, pull, and drag other shields aside while striking, things I had not experimented with previously.

So much more to learn in this knightly art of sword and shield! ⚔️🛡️⚜️

#personal stuff #HEMA #fencing #sparring #longsword #arming sword #shield #spear #fighting #fighters #knightly combat

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nationsandcannons · 11 months

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The shift towards fencing as a sport rather than as military training happened from the mid-18th century, and was led by Domenico Angelo, who established a fencing academy, Angelo's School of Arms, in Carlisle House, Soho, London in 1763. There, he taught the aristocracy the fashionable art of swordsmanship. His school was run by three generations of his family and dominated the art of European fencing for almost a century.

He established the essential rules of posture and footwork that still govern modern sport fencing, although his attacking and parrying methods were still much different from current practice. Although he intended to prepare his students for real combat, he was the first fencing master to emphasize the health and sporting benefits of fencing more than its use as a killing art, particularly in his influential book L'École des armes (The School of Fencing), published in 1763.

Source: Wikipedia

A twist on the standard Monk subclass, Way of the Fencing Master combines swordfighting techniques with the noble demeanor of a historical grandmaster, often found in the courts of kings and emperors in the 17th and 18th centuries. A Fencing Master would be a paragon of refinement and athleticism, often opening schools that taught dance, chess, courtly languages, and even the classics. All of the effects and ability names here were designed working with a fencing instructor.

As a Monk subclass, Fencing Master replaces the ki resource with élan, which represents vitality, panache, and honorable determination. I'm encouraged to see WotC signal that Monk in the OneD&D playtest will move away from an orientalist aesthetic and toward historical martial arts styles, and I think they may take a similar approach in the next playtesting packet.

GMBinder Link: Way of the Fencing Master

Nations & Cannons is a D&D campaign setting for 18th (and 19th) Century adventures! Straight from the pages of history, our ruleset offers new backgrounds, feats, and character options for living and fighting in the Age of Revolutions. This project will always be accessible for educators, so our quickstart rules are free to download.

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mizukagami-takamagahara · 9 months

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Today I'll be bringing Trinity into my Pokemon AU! Trinity attends the Naranja Academy in Paldea, where she's skillfully raised her partner Pokemon, Cambric, into an Alcremie! Ability: Aroma Veil Moves: - Aromatic Mist - Decorate - Dazzling Gleam - Recover

This is one of the pairs that came to mind pretty quickly. I think Alcremie's design and silhouette match Trinity's very well. She's soft, sweet, a lot more dangerous than she seems, and she's strongly associated with both Alchemy and sweets.

In BBDW, Trinity was a Healer, and all of her attack names made reference to tea. I chose a Matcha Cream Alcremie as a nod to green teas- I couldn't really see the other, uh, flavors, as suitable for tea.

I was torn between the Ribbon Sweet to represent Trinity's own hairstyle, or the Flower Sweet to continue with the floral vibes of her attack theming. As you can see, I ultimately decided on the Flower Sweet, but I'm still kind of on the fence about it...

The Alcremie's name, Cambric, was a type of 'tea' usually made of milk and warm water. Historically, it was a treat for children, or a soothing drink for the sick (similar to how many in the US use chicken noodle soup) or the elderly. I thought it would fit Alcremie's treat theme and supportive role. Cambric was also the name of one of Trinity's BBDW passives, which boosted her healing tools.

Aroma Veil is a rare Ability that can protect one's whole team, by preventing opponents from using attacks that would limit their move options. Trinity prefers to support her friends rather than fight independently, and she's pretty good at magic dedicating to defense, healing, and anything that can help her allies on the field.

Aromatic Mist can raise the Special Defense of an ally, protecting them against magic-esque attacks. Decorate is also designed to buff a friend, this time boosting all of their attacking stats.

But behind her kindness, Trinity is an incredibly skilled mage. Cambric's only attacking move is Dazzling Gleam, a powerful blast of magic, an AOE attack to target all enemies on the field. Trinity's Distortion Drive and Astral Heat were AOE in BBDW!

Cambric's final move is Recover. This can heal up to half the health of the user. Trinity may prefer to help others before herself, but she can't help anyone if she can't stay on the field.

#trinity glassfille #alcremie #bb crossover #pokemon #blazblue phase shift #bb original #ao no imakagami #six heroes #my edits

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varanusniloticus · 1 year

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Thank you for a great experience, Douglas Bostic and Tucson Historical Fencing Academy!!

#HEMA #THFA #Longsword #Lichtenauer #KDF

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paracosmic-murdock · 10 months

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Tell me what are my words worth ; Benedict Bridgerton x Reader

Chapter 1: "La détermination qui coule dans mes veines"

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x fem!reader

Summary: While the other ladies have grown with the mindset of marrying and having children, you, as the daughter of a man who wanted a son, grew up being both. You learnt how to embroider, play the pianoforte, fence and manage the estate. However, there were some things that not even the Duke of Burgundy could do, so after he passed and you thought there was nothing left for you, you decided to move to London for a while and go to the Royal Academy of Art.

Nothing was going to keep you from what you wanted, and you would do whatever it takes: you would lie to everyone, you would live to death, you would pretend to be a man. You had a plan and it would be a piece of cake for you. But again, when has something that she wants and should not do easy for a woman? Especially when a man like Benedict Bridgerton gets in the way in more ways than one.

Warnings/tags: idiots in love, eventual smut, love triangles (but not really), lgbtq+ themes, bisexual benedict bridgerton, feminist themes, historical inaccuracy (for the sake of the plot), inspired by mulan (1998), song: the lakes (taylor swift), other tags to be added

Chapter summary: Going to London was an easy decision though a difficult change, but nothing was going to stop you from getting what you wanted, and what you wanted was to go to Art School. For now, you only had to arrive and attend whatever event your godmother told you to. The only good thing that came from all of it, was that you reunited with a dear old friend of the family.

Word count: 2.9K

❁ Series masterlist

❁ mila's paracosm (main masterlist)

You knew you would leave for London for a while. You had made the decision, you had sent the letter, you had packed the suitcases, but you were yet to announce your departure.

The possibility of being stopped by your cousin was higher than the mountains, and in order to avoid it, you would only let him know about your trip to London the day before you left. However, his plans did not leave you the chance to.

Running away was not easy because everything you have keeps you attached to that piece of land that belongs to you, that is your father's legacy and your responsibility to keep alive.

Not a change was easy for any human, and you wouldn't be the exception.

So you looked at yourself in the mirror, hesitation long gone after minutes of silence.

You didn't know how to do it, you just hoped for the best of fates as the scissors cut short your dampened hair. No hairdresser would give you the cut you wished for, the one you needed, so you had to do it yourself.

After a quick glance at the packed suitcases and the room that will remain vacant for a pair of months at least, you put on the black cloak and ran away.

The determination ran through your veins just like you were running through the hallways of the Château de Germolles, it has been doing so since the moment your father passed because there was nothing left for you at home if you did not have a man by your side saying the opposite. Certainly, your cousin replaced your father as the lord of the house, but he has never given you any sort of security in your own home. Two years have passed, and you would wait no more.

"Lady Y/N," le Seigneur Cartier, your father's right hand, interrupted your path. "Are you entirely sure about this?"

"Lord Carrington is expecting me, Seigneur Cartier," you answered. "And I have never been more sure about anything in my life."

He nodded, helping you get inside the carriage. "I will send you letters weekly."

"I will be expecting them," He closed the carriage door, and you peeked through its window. "I trust you to honor my father's wishes while I am gone."

Cartier nodded and made a gesture for the carriage to start, and you looked at the Château for the last time in God knows how long.

"One day until we arrive in Calais, one hour to Dover and seven hours to London," Antoinette, your maid, commented with a tired sigh. "Lady Y/N, are you sure about this journey?"

"I am sure, and I would appreciate it very much if all of you just stopped asking me that," you stated, annoyance slipping through your voice. "I am to be received by Lord Carrington, my godfather, and I will live in London for however long it takes."

"They are not in the Social Season, or so I have heard." You pursed your lips.

"I am not looking to marry as of now, my wish is to fall in love, Antoinette, because whoever is to be my husband must love me dearly before I display my everything to him. There shall be love, trust… He must be a man capable of ruling, not some mere lord. I will not hurry, and a specific time of the year will not stop me from finding a reliable husband. And I am not here to find a husband either way."

"I apologize, Lady Y/N."

The following hours were ruled by silence, there was little to no sentence said even during the hours of rest before continuing the lengthened voyage. No thing other than instructions were told during the two days and a half that it took to arrive in Lord Carrington's mansion.

It was bigger than you remembered, but again, the last time you were there was about ten years ago.

You were welcomed inside, not without looking around and admiring the art your godfather was a fanatic of.

"Oh, Lady Y/N! You have grown so much! You are a ravishing young lady, dear," Lady Carrington exclaimed, taking your hands in hers with a smile. Her loud nature was always remarkable, annoying to most but adored to you. "Hugh, darling! Lady Y/N just arrived!"

Lord Carrington appeared in the room with a smile that matched his wife's, an exuberant chuckle as he saw you. "Dear Heavens, you look just like your Mama!"

You laughed tiredly. "I am grateful to you, Lord and Lady Carrington, for welcoming me into your home. I had been setting my heart on spending some time here in London."

"So were we," he noted with a nod.

"Hmm, you must be dead tired, my dear. Let me show you your room for your stay." Lady Carrington motioned you to follow her.

"I am indeed, thank you," You smiled, to then announce your departure. " Excusez-moi."

You followed her through the infinite hallways and endless words, hearing her talk about the ball they were invited to just last week and the one they will host in five days.

"Did you bring ball gowns with you, my dear?" she asked you. "You must attend the ball as our guest of honor."

"I could not fit much in these suitcases, Lady Carrington," you replied. "However, I figured you could take me to the modiste soon. I will pay whatever the price is for some Paris here in London."

She smiled. "The modiste, Madame Delacroix, is French, my dear! I shall take you there tomorrow first thing in the morning."

"It is a plan, then, Lady Carrington."

"Perfect, dear," She nodded. "Rest, I will have someone wake you up for dinner. Tomorrow, in the afternoon, you will accompany me to Lady Danbury's for tea. She is a lovely woman, you will get along pretty well, I am certain!"

"I'd be honored."

"There is a lot of catching up to do, my Lady," she commented. "I had not seen you in a year."

"Not many remarkable events in my life, but I sure will have thought of one by the time we speak," you complied. "Uh, I was wondering when, and if, I could join Lord Carrington to the Royal Academy of Art."

"Well, that you must converse with him." She smiled and left your room.

You quickly changed your clothes to your nightgown, and fell asleep in less than a minute.

"Bonjour !"

You smiled politely at the woman who greeted you and Lady Carrington. " Bonjour, ça va ?"

"Very well, merci." she replied. "I am afraid we have not been introduced yet. Madame Delacroix, enchantée."

"Lady Y/N Voclain," you nodded slightly. "Êtes-vous française ? Lady Carrington m'a dit."

"Oh, speak in English, dear," Lady Carrington commanded. "Some of us don't speak French."

"Of course, I apologize," you chuckled slightly. "Lady Y/N Voclain, enchanted as well… Lady Carrington told me you were French, Madame, that is what I was asking."

Madame Delacroix just smiled. "Oui, indeed. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"My dearest Lady Y/N of Burgundy, always so modest… She is the daughter of the late Duke of Burgundy," Lady Carrington informed, and you nodded uncomfortably. You did not want people to know about your title during your stay in London, but perhaps it was inevitable. "Her dresses must reflect her greatness."

You approached the table where many colorful fabrics were displayed. "I will have one red that matches the rubies my Grandfather sent from their mines in the Americas, as well as some in different shades of green for the emeralds. Oh, for the ball I will have a white one with gold here and there… I would adore embroidered flowers but not too many, crystals, sequins, your finest silks," you explained everything you wanted in your dresses. "I trust you entirely, Madame. I want them unique, no one else will have the same dress, not even a similar one. I am willing to pay the price. Eight dresses for now, and the urgency is the dress for the ball. Do not disappoint me."

"Bien sûr," she replied with a nod. You raised your eyebrow at the odd pronunciation, but ignored her. "The length of your hair will be a challenge, Lady Y/N."

"Yes. Why did you cut it, dear?"

"Uh… I-" The bell saved you as its sound announced the arrival of a woman and her three daughters, calling for Madame Delacroix.

"I will be right back." she promised, and left you and Lady Carrington alone.

"Lord Carrington agreed to take you to the Academy tomorrow."

You smiled widely, making her curve her lips. "Oh, that is wonderful news, Lady Carrington! I am beyond grateful!"

"He wants your portrait painted, Lady Y/N, so it seems that you will spend many hours there."

"I am eager to!" you exclaimed.

She gave you a look you couldn't quite decipher, but if there was something you recognized in it, it was a threat. "Careful with the artists, Lady Y/N… We would not want you involved with any of them."

"Oh," You frowned. "I- I will not-"

"I know, dear… A lady like you has nothing to do with men like them, you deserve a man of title, with a surname that speaks for himself."

"Can't there be both?" you wondered out loud and she chuckled dryly.

"Those men spend their nights in clubs and brothels, and will certainly not stop doing so after marrying. Poor Lady Goldwyn, married to an artist who had a bastard child before having hers… Never at home, I got lucky with Hugh, but God forbid you stumble upon a similar fate."

You gave her an amused glance. "I know I can make a suitable pick."

"He must be rich, dear, how else will you afford living the life you always have had?" she commented. "A true gentleman, one that respects you and loves you dearly. If he has brothers or sisters it will be ideal, that way you will know he is a man of his family… Oh, Her Majesty, the Queen has a nephew, a prince, she brought to London last season, maybe he is still an eligible bachelor."

"A prince?" you questioned, surprised.

"The Prince of Prussia, my dear. I suppose that is a man worthy of a duke's daughter."

A laugh left your lips. "Do you truly believe that he would be interested in courting me, Lady Carrington?"

"Oh, he most certainly would!"

"Seeing is believing, then." You chuckled.

While you and Lady Carrington were talking, Madame Delacroix's clients struck up a conversation.

"I have never seen that lady before, who is her?" Lady Featherington questioned, seconded by her two daughters.

"Lady Y/N of Burgundy, daughter of the Duke of Burgundy," she replied. "She is French, a relative of the Carringtons."

"Oh, you two should befriend her! The Carrington ball is next week and we have not received our invitation yet."

"You are right, Mama," Prudence agreed. "I will go now."

Both sisters approached you and Lady Carrington, gaining a look full of disdain from the latter.

They introduced themselves, and their mother soon joined.

"We would be delighted to have you this afternoon for tea, Lady Y/N."

"I am afraid there is no empty spot in my schedule for now, but I will make sure to let you know once I am available." you replied after noticing Lady Carrington's discomfort.

"Well then." Lady Featherington nodded, and so did you. Then, she looked at Lady Carrington with a slight smile and disappeared.

"That woman is insufferable!" your godmother yelled.

Then you couldn't contain your laughter.

"Lady Carrington!"

"Oh, Lady Danbury!"

You both stood up as she entered the room, and you greeted her with a smile.

"This is Lady Y/N of Burgundy, she is my guest and Lord Carrington's," Lady Carrington introduced you. "She will stay until she finds a husband!"

You widened your eyes at her explicit purpose. "I- I am not- well, I am, but-"

She laughed. "Oh, dear. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. This woman has not stopped talking about receiving you."

"Enchanted to meet you, Lady Danbury," you finally said, chuckling slightly.

While it is true that you must marry and that your requirements are vast, on this particular visit to London, you are not looking to find a husband. You, however, were planning on doing a thing you clearly should not. An alibi was needed, and that way you could kill two birds with one stone.

"Take a seat, let's wait for the other guests," she commanded and you and Lady Carrington complied. Not many seconds later, three women joined you. "Well, this is Lady Mary and her daughters, Miss Kate Sharma and Miss Edwina Sharma… These are Lady Carrington, as you know, and her guest Lady Y/N of Burgundy."

You smiled. "Enchanted to meet you all."

"Us as well." Miss Kate Sharma answered for her mother and sister.

They took a seat, and soon another woman arrived.

"Lady Bridgerton!" Lady Danbury welcomed her.

"Lady Bridgerton?" You stood up at her mention and excitement painted your features.

Lady Bridgerton raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Yes…?"

"Oh, my bad!" you excused yourself before a happy grin. "Of course you don't remember me, the last time you saw me I was nine years old! Y/N, daughter of the Duke Sébastien of Burgundy."

"Oh, Heavens, look at yourself!" she exclaimed when she realized. "Dear, you have become a wondrous young lady!"

"Do you know each other?" Lady Danbury asked.

"Her late father, the Duke, was great friends with my husband," she replied with a tender smile. "I met her when she was a baby and saw her last about eleven years ago."

You laughed. "Oh, it has been so long, Lady Bridgerton! How are your children?"

"They are all great, Daphne married the Duke of Hastings just last season."

"How thrilling! Congratulations, Lady Bridgerton."

"Thank you, my dear."

"So you know the Bridgertons?" Lady Carrington questioned.

"Only Lady Bridgerton," You smiled. "I have not met her children yet, will you be attending the Carrington Ball next week?"

"Of course we will, especially knowing you will be there."

"I cannot wait, Lady Bridgerton."

"You are always invited to our home, dear. That invitation is still current."

"Many years ago, Lord Bridgerton said to me that I was invited to their home whenever I pleased, but I have yet to make honor of the offering." you explained to the rest of the ladies.

Lady Carrington smiled before interrupting. "So, Lady Y/N traveled from France to be here."

"Was it a long way?" Edwina wondered.

You nodded, taking the cup of tea that was offered. "Yes, it took almost three days to arrive here in London."

"And why did you decide to come?" Lady Danbury asked.

"To find a husband, of course." Lady Carrington announced, and you accidentally spilled your tea all over your dress.

"Dear!"

"Mon Dieu !, I- my apologies, it's-"

Miss Sharma and Miss Edwina were trying hard not to burst out laughing, but it was almost impossible when they noticed Lady Carrington giving you a handful of napkins and scolding you for being so clumsy. Then, as the other women in the room chuckled, they did too and so did you.

When everything was in order, you looked at everyone. "I apologize."

"Do not," Lady Danbury stopped you. "Are you not looking for a husband, then?"

"Uh, yes," you lied, an embarrassed look in your eyes.

"Miss Edwina came from India to find a husband here, dear, do not be ashamed!" Lady Carrington noted. "I was telling her about the Queen's nephew that came the previous season."

"He was a charming young man." Lady Bridgerton mentioned.

"And there are still one or three Bridgertons available to wed." Lady Danbury added, making Lady Bridgerton laugh slightly and the three Sharmas look at each other uncomfortably.

"There is also the new Lord Featherington, he has mines in the Americas, just like your Mama's family."

You nodded. "I shall ask Grandfather about the Featherington mines in my next letter, then… You would not believe the amount of men in Europe swindling the rich, saying they have the most prosperous mines in the Americas while that is the furthest thing from the truth," you mentioned. "My cousin, Lord Voclain, almost made a tremendous investment until I took a look at the jewelry the man gifted him for me. Glass painted green, as if he could cheat my eye."

"And Lord Featherington is engaged to his cousin Prudence." Lady Bridgerton reminded.

Cousins?, dear God.

"Well, he was courting Miss Cowper when that happened, so forgive me for being skeptical."

"It is disgusting nevertheless." you said.

"It is."

"I will be ready to list the eligible bachelors in London at the upcoming ball just for you, Lady Y/N."

You chuckled. "I am not in a hurry to wed, Lady Danbury. I wish to fall in love instead of marrying as if it is my duty."

"Is it not your duty to marry?"

"Technically, it is, yes," you replied to Miss Edwina as her older sister gave her a look. "But my father raised me to know my worth and not marry a man I do not love… He married my mother against his family's wishes, all because they loved each other dearly. That is what he wanted for me."

"He was an amazing man." Lady Bridgerton smiled.

"He was indeed." you agreed, an afflicted grin replacing your smile.

#benedict bridgerton x reader #benedict bridgerton #bridgerton #bridgerton fanfiction

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otherworldseekers · 2 years

Text

Wondrous Tails prompts: “Make me” and Breathless

It’s the fencing and kissing one. I’m not really happy with this but I’m just going to put it out there cause today’s the last day. It’ll probably be heavily edited before it goes in the official fic when I eventually get there. Hopefully it’s not too disappointing after I’ve talked about it so much.

Also don’t @ me if you know about fencing. I did my best. And this isn’t historical fiction. I do however have a bunch of headcanons now for fencing traditions in Eorzea and beyond.

Anyway, takes place during Omega questline. Severia x Nero. About 2100 words.

Severia did not linger at the campsite that night. No sooner had they emerged from Omega’s portal than she walked swiftly to her tent and emerged with a plain looking rapier in her hand. Nero was lurking outside his own tent when she breezed by him without a glance. Apparently she was not done trying to avoid him that day. But he had no intention of allowing it to continue.

“You might be interested to know, Warrior of Light, that I was fencing champion at the Magitek Academy four years running,” Nero called out toward her diminishing back.

Severia paused and looked back over her shoulder at him. “Fencing at Magitek Academy?”

“Yes, you know, a sound mind in a sound body and all that,” said Nero by way of explanation.

“That must have been an awfully long time ago,” Severia said pointedly but the barb failed to land effectively.

“I admit it was a good twenty years ago, but it is not as if I am out of condition,” Nero said with a smug smile. “Why don’t you test me? See how much I’ve forgotten.” He swaggered toward her, stretching his arms above his head.

Severia narrowed her eyes and considered his challenge. “I don’t have any safe sparring blades. Don’t complain to me if you get stabbed.”

“Why, hero, to be stabbed by you would be a privilege,” Nero teased. “Let’s see if you can manage it.”

Severia nodded and led him out of camp to the flat area she had found near the Yawn’s rim for her training sessions. It had not been long since she had begun to study the art of the Red Mage and she had been surprised to find that the magic came easier than the sword skills. Perhaps it was simply that her muscles were so used to using a bow, she hadn’t developed the reflexes for the sword yet. That was why she had been making sure to dedicate at least a couple of hours every evening to training. Of course, out here in the wilderness she had not had anyone to spar with, or so she’d thought. It was somewhat boring only to practice the movements over and over so she had to admit the idea of sparring with someone competent was too tempting to pass up.

The blades Severia provided were simple and unornamented. Nero looked his over with a keen eye, testing its weight and performing a few basic moves. As far as she could tell, he certainly seemed like he knew what he was doing. Severia turned away from him so he could not distract her while she went through her normal routine of stretches. When she turned back to face him, he had taken off his Ironworks vest and wore only a tightly fitted black turtleneck shirt. Quite tightly fitted. She could see the contours of his muscles through the fabric.

“Problem, hero?” Nero asked with a smirk.

Severia realized that her mouth was hanging open. She snapped it shut and then opened it again to retort. “Isn’t it rather stupid to remove your protective layers?”

“Only if you are able to reach me. But I quite understand if you want to leave that heavy coat on.”

“Fine. I won’t have it said we didn’t spar on equal terms.” She slowly unbuttoned and shrugged out of her Red Mage jacket, leaving only a sleeveless undershirt. “Is there an issue, Scaeva?”

Now Nero was quite clearly staring. “Just admiring the view.”

“If you think you can win by embarrassing me, you underestimate me,” said Severia. She took her sword up. “En garde.”

Nero followed her example. “Prêtes?”

“Pardon?”

“You said ‘en garde’. I assumed you knew the formula.”

“What formula?”

“To commence the bout. Normally spoken by a judge, but since there are only to two of us here…”

“What was it you said?”

“Ready?”

“No, I’m not ready. What did that word mean?”

Nero sighed and lowered his rapier. “The word meant ‘are you ready’.”

Severia went red in embarrassment at her own ignorance. These were things X’rhun had never taught her. “Right. Ok. Then… what happens after that?”

“The protocols of competitive fencing are not important. We can forgo the formalities. I dare say it has nothing to do with your Red Mage training.”

“No, but… I like to learn.”

“Very well, I’ll teach you the Garlean version rather than the Ishgardian phrasing which, to be frank, I’m not sure how to conjugate.”

Severia nodded. “All right.”

“So, one begins ‘in guardia’.”

Severia repeated the words.

“Then, well if you are saying it to me it’s ‘pronto?’ And if I say it to you it’s ‘pronta?’ Meaning, are you ready?” He waited for her to try it out. “Good, and then the closing phrase is ‘a voi!’”

“A voi,” Severia repeated. “What does that mean?”

“Literally, ‘to you’.”

“I see.”

“Would you like to try it out?”

“Ok.”

“You may begin.”

Severia raised her sword in salute and said, “In guardia.”

“Pronta?” Nero answered and took up his initial stance.

Severia did likewise and finished, “A voi!”

And lightning fast she thrust her sword past her opponent’s blade and would have struck the first blow… if only Nero were not so tall. As it was he managed to dodge the attack, but the slight lift of the corners of her mouth told him that she had merely been testing him, gauging distances.

It quickly became clear that Severia did not fight as they had been taught at the Academy. To her it wasn’t a sport played for points and prestige. She was a swordswoman and every efficient movement she made spoke of skills honed for life and death struggles. Nero focused on defense and watched her carefully, memorizing the way she held her body before every move, more impressed than he cared to admit. To be able to alternate between maining bow to sword (and magic, had she been employing her full skillset) with this much finesse was a true accomplishment.

The two circled each other, gauging the other’s intent, but Severia did not spend more than a few moments between attacks. Over and over she thrust toward him, each time learning something, adjusting and coming closer to his flesh. Each time it required more strength, more speed to parry her sword. He could not even manage to get a riposte past her. And from the look on her face, he suspected that she was out for his blood.

This may have been a mistake, he thought with a grin. Perhaps it is time to show her what I can do.

He waited for the moment after her next thrust and with surprising speed made a feint toward her outside line while she was still recovering. Severia shifted her body to parry while Nero performed a tight cavazione and thrust toward her center. The look of surprise on her face was more than a little satisfying. As he had guessed, she had not been taught to detect a feint. On the other hand, this edge was rendered moot by her incredible dexterity. Almost more quickly than he could see, she cut back toward his sword, and the tip of her blade scratched his bicep as she just barely managed to parry.

A red line spread across Nero’s exposed skin. “Well, well. First blood. Congratulations, hero. Would you like to call the bout with that, or shall we continue?”

“I’m not even winded yet,” Severia replied. “If that’s all you have to offer…”

Nero raised his blade. “Not at all. In guardia.”

This time they did not repeat the whole exchange. It was time to use his long arms to his advantage.

Nero changed his strategy and went directly on the offensive, forcing Severia into a defensive stance. He pressed forward, forcing her to retreat step by step and while he struggled to penetrate her defense, neither could she gain his sword. He had almost pushed her up against the surrounding cliff face yet she did not look concerned and he wondered what she might still have up her sleeve. Perhaps he had better end this while he could.

“Care to surrender, hero?” he asked.

Severia’s eyes flashed. “Make me.”

She executed an unexpected transverse step, moving herself out of the line of his blade and swinging her sword faster than sound toward his neck. Nero swore under his breath and abandoned all thought of attack in a desperate scramble to protect his precious skin.

And that was when he realized that she had not yet shown him her true swordsmanship. She began to hold her sword differently, to move differently, in a style that took full advantage of her wicked speed. But it was no style he had ever seen before. It occurred to him that she had merely been imitating him before, spontaneously and yet perfectly. This was the way she really fought with the rapier.

He forfeited ground quickly after that and knew that he had lost. By the look on her face, she knew it too, but her attacks lost none of their terrible force and precision.

Seven hells, is she trying to kill me? His eyes widened as she beat his weakened sword away and struck once again toward his neck. There was nothing he could do to stop it. He made to retreat once more but in his panic his foot slid on loose gravel, bringing him down on one knee. Nero closed his eyes and waited for her to decide his fate.

When he opened them again Severia’s blade was a scant inch from his skin. He looked from the sword to her where she stood outlined by stars, her lips parted and her chest rising and falling gently.

Well, if I could choose a way to go, this would certainly be near the top of the list, he thought as he dropped his sword to earth.

Severia withdrew her rapier and stabbed it into the ground next to him. He didn’t know what that portended, but what happened was the last thing he expected. Covering the ground between them in two steps, Severia grabbed his face in both her hands and crushed her lips against his with bruising force. On his knees, Nero was slightly shorter than her and she took full advantage. Twisting one of her hands into the hair at the back of his head, she jerked his head back and dominated his mouth with her own.

Fuck. It was the first time they had kissed since that night, years ago now, at the Gold Saucer and he felt every point of contact like an electric current.

His hands went to her waist and the tantalizing expanse of her bare midriff. Smooth skin over taut muscles, the unique texture of her scales. Nero pulled her body into his as he ran his tongue over her lower lip, reveling in the gasp this elicited from her. Her mouth opened to him and he accepted the invitation, coaxing forth her hesitant tongue. Their kisses tasted of sweat and yearning.

Pressing herself against him, Severia wrapped a leg around Nero’s waist. He shifted his arms to support her, letting one hand move up her back to explore the territory under her top. Severia’s fingers answered his advance, plucking and clawing at his shirt as she she would tear it off of him. Nero would have obliged her, but he was afraid to let her go. Afraid she would come to her senses any moment.

Breathless, she broke off their kiss. Her hands were back in his hair as she gazed down at him, her face flushed, and whispered his name. “Nero…”

“Severia,” he responded as he took the opportunity to plant kisses along the scales of her neck. “Severia…” His mouth proceeded down to the V shape of scales that covered her chest and he reached to pull the shoulder of her shirt down so as to continue uninterrupted. But he had gone too far for her that night.

She pulled away, covering her chest with her hands. “I… I…” She didn’t know what to say, was not sure exactly what she was feeling. Part of her wanted him to never stop, but the greater part was frightened by what she had already done, by the way her body reacted to him. It felt out of her control. It felt good. “I don’t... know what I’m doing.” Panicking, she rushed past Nero back toward the campsite, seeking the comforting solitude of her tent.

Nero, still on his knees, let out a great sigh and sat down in the dust, hand running through his hair, but a smile crept back onto his face. “I think this can still be counted as progress.”

#Wondrous Tails #wondroustailsofffxiv #wondroustailsofffxivwriting #Severia x Nero #Severia Zetsuen #Nero tol Scaeva #fencing #kissing

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