You’ve handled everything else I’ve thrown at you well so far.
[She takes her hands back, sitting back in the seat and watching him with her arms folded against her ribs, amused.]
I was a farmer before I was a teacher, so I learned how to handle a scythe young. [The polearm she’d brought with her into the fog had been lighter than usual, with less reach, but it was what she’d had, so she’d made do.] Your wings were very impressive.
[ He enjoys that bit of warmth left on his wrist until it fades. ]
Ah, that makes sense.
[ it’s why she's so good with a polearm. But a farmer? He would not have guessed that. Not that he could tell what her old life was like before she had to leave for her adventure. Those are just professions that would not have come to mind.
When she brings up the feathers, Vax tilts his head with a smirk. ]
Just the wings, huh?
[ He's joking. People do seem to like the wings. Not that they're common back home, either. Not unless one is a celestial, and they don't make regular appearances. Although Vax technically counts as one of them now, too. ]
[Sciel loves seeing people’s reactions to her jobs; somehow it always seems to be a little surprising. She just chuckles, moving right along.]
Oh, do you want me to say nice things about the rest of you, too? [See, she can tease without a scrap of armour in view. She leans her folded arms against the edge of the table, smirking.] You were an excellent distraction. I thought about your strong arms when you lifted that thing’s skull.
Well, I’m sure your Strong friend has very nice arms too, but I’m biased towards yours.
[As for the fight:]
I’m glad, too. Though I must admit, it was probably the most enjoyable part of the whole thing. It’s been too many months since I got to stretch my legs properly.
[She can't imagine it. Not that Lumière doesn't occasionally produce some strapping young man with a predisposure towards heavy lifting, but Vax is taller and fitter than the majority of them. Anyway!]
Thank you. I really hope we get more opportunities to fight because that is what I'm best at, when it comes to missions.
[ This world must be a buffet of eye candy for tall, strong men, then. There are plenty who are bigger than Vax here, too, but her compliment does make him smile. ]
I met your friend Lune, by the way. Ran into her in the fog. Did she make it out alright, too?
She was. Just a bit lost. I tried to help her get back to the apartments.
[ It was difficult wandering around the fog, but Vax is glad to hear she made out as well as the rest of their group.
When the bot returns, it's with two plates of the lunch special of the day. Half a turkey melt and a cup of tomato soup, along with a side of chips. Water is poured unless they want something else. ]
She didn't trust me at first, but I figured out who she was based on your description. Once I mentioned you, she brightened right up.
[Sciel can only guess at what some of this is, but it smells good, anyway.]
She’s a very suspicious person sometimes, but it keeps us safe.
[Lune has her head on her shoulders, and a good, critical eye, where Sciel is too trusting, too likely to wind herself into a potentially vulnerable spot. Sciel adds, fondly:]
She and I have only started getting close, but I really think the world of her. It’s really incredible how resilient she is. She kept wanting to go back out in the fog, even when it felt so… hopeless.
[ Vax smiles a little as Sciel compliments her friend. It's nice that she has people here she feels close to and can rely upon.
Picking up his spoon, Vax tastes the soup, which gets a small nod of approval. They have similar foods back home, so he's not bothered by the results. ]
Without the aid of magic, many were at a disadvantage.
[ Not Sciel, clearly, given her skill with a scythe. ]
But it didn't seem to affect objects imbued with power, just magic that comes from people. I got lucky this time. Well, in that regard.
Mmm. Everyone on my team is capable, but a scythe or a sword can only get anyone so far. That beast probably would have tired me out long before I could get the right hit in, so I’m lucky you came along.
[The whole thing could have gone sour, a cherry on the miserable cake that those two weeks had been. She’s glad to start putting it behind her, and she plucks up some humour:]
[ Vax likes to think Sciel could have handled the creature on her own because he doesn't want to think about what might have happened if he hadn't arrived when he did. She would have thought of something, right? Either way, it worked out. ]
Next time, I expect you to return the favor.
[ He jokes, which is followed by a laugh and a blush. ]
Honestly, I use it mostly as a distraction technique. Never used it in bed, until...
I didn’t do all this training just to sit on my laurels.
[She loves a good fight; get into just the right rhythm and the highs get so high it’s impossible to feel fear. And now, with her chroma flowing again, and more of her gear back, she’s itching for an opportunity to put on a full show. All in time, though.
She leans her hand on her palm, grinning.]
Really? Don’t say that, you’ll just egg me on to push you harder again.
Sort of incidental, then? Whenever a fight comes along.
[Far more leisurely than crossing a Continent with seemingly infinite Nevrons to cut down. She's glad for him. Much as she loves a good fight, the constant violence of it is bitter.
She much prefers flirting with him.]
I think it's so cute that you question that, like I wouldn't jump you right here.
[It'd be interesting, she thinks, to see Vax in the same room as his sister; her experience with Vex has been unusual, slivers of a person and her relationship to her brother. But right here, in the moment, she is certain Vex does not want to know what Sciel is thinking about her brother.
She runs her ankle along his calf, playfully.]
Oh? Would you mind them watching if they did deserve it?
[ Vex has never been easy to get to know, but she's improved since Percival wormed his way into her heart. The twins may look alike, but they differ in some ways.
And Vex would probably want to know what Sciel is thinking as much as Vax wants to know what Vex and Percival get up to when they're alone. Which is not at all.
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Getting teased by a beautiful woman, I can handle.
[ He would not tolerate it from Percival. ]
Maybe it is. You said you were a teacher before your expedition, though. After seeing you fight, I would not have guessed it.
[ When a bot comes over to take their order, Vax just asks for two of the lunch special. Whatever that is. ]
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[She takes her hands back, sitting back in the seat and watching him with her arms folded against her ribs, amused.]
I was a farmer before I was a teacher, so I learned how to handle a scythe young. [The polearm she’d brought with her into the fog had been lighter than usual, with less reach, but it was what she’d had, so she’d made do.] Your wings were very impressive.
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Ah, that makes sense.
[ it’s why she's so good with a polearm. But a farmer? He would not have guessed that. Not that he could tell what her old life was like before she had to leave for her adventure. Those are just professions that would not have come to mind.
When she brings up the feathers, Vax tilts his head with a smirk. ]
Just the wings, huh?
[ He's joking. People do seem to like the wings. Not that they're common back home, either. Not unless one is a celestial, and they don't make regular appearances. Although Vax technically counts as one of them now, too. ]
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Oh, do you want me to say nice things about the rest of you, too? [See, she can tease without a scrap of armour in view. She leans her folded arms against the edge of the table, smirking.] You were an excellent distraction. I thought about your strong arms when you lifted that thing’s skull.
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Strong arms? I like that. Back home, I've got a much bigger friend. He's the one who usually gets the title of Strong.
[ Quite literally, since the word is also in Grog's name. ]
But I'm glad I happened along to help you. Wings and all.
[ He recalls her keeping a souvenir, too. ]
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[As for the fight:]
I’m glad, too. Though I must admit, it was probably the most enjoyable part of the whole thing. It’s been too many months since I got to stretch my legs properly.
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[ But he's glad Sciel enjoys his arms, anyway. ]
It was some nice exercise. Especially since we got to walk away from it. Your technique is incredible.
[ In action, she's really something to see. ]
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[She can't imagine it. Not that Lumière doesn't occasionally produce some strapping young man with a predisposure towards heavy lifting, but Vax is taller and fitter than the majority of them. Anyway!]
Thank you. I really hope we get more opportunities to fight because that is what I'm best at, when it comes to missions.
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I met your friend Lune, by the way. Ran into her in the fog. Did she make it out alright, too?
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As well as anyone has, yes. I’m sorry you both had to meet under such unhappy circumstances, though! Was she okay when you saw her?
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[ It was difficult wandering around the fog, but Vax is glad to hear she made out as well as the rest of their group.
When the bot returns, it's with two plates of the lunch special of the day. Half a turkey melt and a cup of tomato soup, along with a side of chips. Water is poured unless they want something else. ]
She didn't trust me at first, but I figured out who she was based on your description. Once I mentioned you, she brightened right up.
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She’s a very suspicious person sometimes, but it keeps us safe.
[Lune has her head on her shoulders, and a good, critical eye, where Sciel is too trusting, too likely to wind herself into a potentially vulnerable spot. Sciel adds, fondly:]
She and I have only started getting close, but I really think the world of her. It’s really incredible how resilient she is. She kept wanting to go back out in the fog, even when it felt so… hopeless.
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Picking up his spoon, Vax tastes the soup, which gets a small nod of approval. They have similar foods back home, so he's not bothered by the results. ]
Without the aid of magic, many were at a disadvantage.
[ Not Sciel, clearly, given her skill with a scythe. ]
But it didn't seem to affect objects imbued with power, just magic that comes from people. I got lucky this time. Well, in that regard.
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Mmm. Everyone on my team is capable, but a scythe or a sword can only get anyone so far. That beast probably would have tired me out long before I could get the right hit in, so I’m lucky you came along.
[The whole thing could have gone sour, a cherry on the miserable cake that those two weeks had been. She’s glad to start putting it behind her, and she plucks up some humour:]
So is that belt more useful in battle, or in bed?
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Next time, I expect you to return the favor.
[ He jokes, which is followed by a laugh and a blush. ]
Honestly, I use it mostly as a distraction technique. Never used it in bed, until...
[ Ahem. Guess she inspired him. ]
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[And then there’s that blush again, and it immediately lifts her spirits a little more.]
Inventing new tricks, just to amuse me? I’m flattered.
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[ She reminds him of a few of his friends back home. And some of the ones he has here, too. Her last remark gets an amused laugh. ]
Well, you've forced me to up my game.
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[She loves a good fight; get into just the right rhythm and the highs get so high it’s impossible to feel fear. And now, with her chroma flowing again, and more of her gear back, she’s itching for an opportunity to put on a full show. All in time, though.
She leans her hand on her palm, grinning.]
Really? Don’t say that, you’ll just egg me on to push you harder again.
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[ Vax fights often, or he did at home, but he didn't put lots of time into training, necessarily. Nor formally.
Her grin has him leaning forward a bit to meet her gaze. ]
I'd like to think I'm up for the challenge.
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[That comes with its own perks, though; more time to develop adjacent skills, more time to get to know one's body, how it moves.]
Are you? What do you think you'll try next?
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[ He's sure there are some incredible fighters in this world. He already counts Sciel as one of them.
As for what he'll try next, Vax smiles. ]
Does this mean there's going to be a next?
[ He would not presume, but he would hope so. ]
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[Far more leisurely than crossing a Continent with seemingly infinite Nevrons to cut down. She's glad for him. Much as she loves a good fight, the constant violence of it is bitter.
She much prefers flirting with him.]
I think it's so cute that you question that, like I wouldn't jump you right here.
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[ Fighting was a part of life and put coin in their pockets.
Vax then laughs softly at the teasing. ]
Nobody but us and a couple of bots around.
[ He's teasing, of course. ]
I'm not sure Echo and Aurora deserve the show, though.
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She runs her ankle along his calf, playfully.]
Oh? Would you mind them watching if they did deserve it?
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And Vex would probably want to know what Sciel is thinking as much as Vax wants to know what Vex and Percival get up to when they're alone. Which is not at all.
She's got him turning a bit red again. ]
They'd have to go pretty far to deserve that.
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