avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 7

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 7

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A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival

KERPLUNK, SPLASH!

Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. It's still chilly, but not enough that you can't manage on your own. The Lady of the Lake is swimming around under the water, helping to rescue any wayward travelers who look like they're struggling in the water. This month's helpers are giant pillow jellies, a species of jellyfish that is capable of ballooning itself at the surface to create bouncy pads for characters to hop across to the shore, should they choose or not be able to swim. They come in a variety of bioluminescent colors, but do not seem to be very talkative even to animal magic users. Those who try may find themselves being ignored, even if they hear the jellies talking amongst themselves about this and that.

If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly.

*Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players.

B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot

Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of special ear buds (the supplier was out of the regular ones) and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of the universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go.

These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service,

avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk.

C ⦿ The Red Spring

The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies.

If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out!

The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there.

After the new arrivals come in, they'll find that this month they came in on the middle of a rather tumultuous time... people are arguing and debating about a future decision to be made. King Arthur recently tried to negotiate with Celliwig's people to open the doors to Camelot, but they refused, and the people have been left with a decision: 1. attempt long-distance, slow wooing of Queen Elphame via the Elphame Traders of the next couple of months, 2. attempt to prove a balanced and deeper understanding of the need for both pure and impure hearts by suggesting an acceptance of trials from Celliwig, or 3. band together under Camelot's flag to invade Celliwig. Celliwig is a place of communication between Elphame and Camelot that bypasses the need for weeks of dangerous, often fatal travel, so the choice is very important in regards to how Camelot both presents itself to the fae people in the future. To that end, people with strong beliefs about particular choices have arranged gatherings to draw people in to hear their perspectives on what the choice should be.

A ⦿ Honey Over Vinegar

Tree-Picking Tournament

cookie orchard

B ⦿ A Balanced Approach

bug catching contest

C ⦿ A Show of Strength

The more war-hungry citizens of Camelot seek to go to war. This whole issue will be over if Celliwig itself isn't the one in charge of communication and it's just made directly between Elphame and Camelot, rather than having a mediator who refuses to mediate. They believe that a show of strength is the only way to solve this problem, and as such, they'll be demonstrating that the greatest rewards come from strength by organizing an expedition to a cave at the base of the Ash Mountains. Taking a path squarely between the Dusklight Woods and the edge of the Lands of Rot to the base of the Ash Mountains, this expedition will lead into a cave known as the Giant Cave. It's a pretty on-the-nose name, since it really is a big cave. One of the cool things about this cave is that it's filled with geodes. Those who have enough strength can use provided pickaxes and drills to dig up their own crystals and gold, both great for jewelry and enchanting. In particular, there is a large amount of:

It's not particularly a contest in this case-- you can keep and use what you want, and this show of strength has given you more power than ever, so why not consider the same concept for how to deal with our unneighborly neighbors in Celliwig? It may be sweaty business, but surely hitting some rocks will show you the value of strength!

With the surprisingly tame day in the Giant Cave, one would think that the Ash Mountains were something of a safe place. No one really bothered the travelers, but that's because no one had been home at the time. as it turns out, the Giant Cave is home to a giant... douchebag of a minotaur. Not a giant, despite the name. His name is Simon and he doesn't like to share, and now that a bunch of people have gone and taken his rocks (he didn't even know there were crystals inside, nor does he do anything with them). Now he has to take his revenge, regardless of not knowing who actually took the crystals that were never really his to begin with, they just happened to be in rocks near where he sleeps.

A ⦿ A Stone's Throw from Revenge

vaulting the rocks into Camelot's buildings

B ⦿ There's Safety in Numbers

(Recipe) Buddy System

C ⦿ Gross

Thankfully, the Buddy System wears off before the Minotaur is back for round two. When the Minotaur returns, the castle has since gathered forces to the edge of town to defend it from another attack. It's unclear where the Minotaur went to get healed, but whoever he went to apparently had some advice, however, and the instinctive minotaur gave into a different instinct for part two of his revenge. Rather than go right back to his pile of rocks, he instead travels the day to get to the southernmost part of Camelot and barrels into town unopposed, as most of the troupes are where they had thought he would come from again. After all, minotaurs are not known to be big thinkers. Instead of violently destroying this time, however, the minotaur instead heads straight to lowertown's well-- and takes a pee in it. It turns out, not only does he have a giant-- ahem, but he is a giant dick as well. Now the entire lowertown has to be evacuated due to contaminated water up to other areas of Camelot. Many people who live there are relocated to live in extra castle rooms. After all, Minotaur Urine is known to be incredibly potent and stinky.

Mages who are able to handle the smell are asked to come help perform a ritual of water purification for the lowertown's water system. This ritual involves multiple groups of people performing synchronic magic, a magic type that requires you to be in perfect sync with your partner. Draw a special ritual circle with four candles at equidistant points. Chant a spell in sync with your partner, and blow a special powder made of ground jasper, charcoal, and rosemary into the center of the circle. It will be drawn into the candles' flames and with enough people doing this, all impurities will be removed from the lowertown's water and dissipate into the atmosphere.

KEY POINTS

New arrivals drop into the lake and have to climb up a cliff to the Rent a Ride, where they are given their device and some headphones and can retrieve their personal materials. They travel to Camelot, which is a multiple day journey, so they stop at the Red Springs along the way and stay at an inn there.

There is a vote pending for Camelot and each side of the issue is trying to engage otherworlders to their side of the vote. The slow/steady approach is hosting a cookie harvesting tournament from a grove of cookie trees, the middleground group is hosting a bug-catching contest, and the group that wants war is hosting a mining expedition.

The mining expedition aggros an asshole of a minotaur, who throws rocks at Camelot. Driven away, the townspeople try to help by distributing a spell called "Buddy System" which binds two people together, not realizing it was intended for kindergarteners. (Oops.) The minotaur returns and pees in the lowertown's water, so a ritual of water purification must be performed because it's gross and stinky. The minotaur is still at large.

**** The above key points are a new feature we're going to start including on TDMs and Events. Since it's new, the format is still fluid, so please let us know if you have any feedback for this section here. It should just include brief summaries of each prompt to make parsing information easier and more accessible. The original prompts should still be read and referred to for complete information and details. ****

MOD NOTES:
• All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post.
• If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities.
• A poll will go up a little later this week regarding the mentioned voting, which should be answered ICly by each character you play. The poll will remain open through the 15th so that newly accepted characters may also vote if they choose to.
•If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt.
• The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly.
• Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[So far, everything in this new world has been an absolute delight. Much of it hearkens back to a time she remembers fondly, when miracles were commonplace and the future seemed endlessly bright. This tiny device that allows speaking with others at long distances is incredible! She has spent hours chatting with people she's never met and exploring everything this world has to offer.

So it doesn't take her long to spot the familiar name when it pops up on the network. At first, she's overjoyed!...until she reads the message. A knot of dread rises into her throat. But surely, there must be some reasonable explanation?]

Professor? Is it truly you? This is Flayn. I am so very happy to see that you are here, but how can it be that you are a part of the Empire? Please tell me you are merely joking. I was so looking forward to fishing with you as always.

[ she chews at her lip briefly, contemplating this. flayn wasn't someone she had expected to hear from again so soon, and certainly not like this. as much enduring hatred as she can't help but feel towards seiros (not rhea anymore, never rhea, even dead that beast doesn't get to hide behind that name, everything she built is crumbling to the ground and her lies will fall with it—) and as conflicted as she is about seteth... flayn is still flayn to her mind, even if that name began as a lie.

something flayn said gives her pause. she knows this is a place where worlds converge, but... ]

I see no reason we can't still fish together. And I'm glad to hear you're doing well, Flayn.

I think this conversation would be better face to face. Where are you?

[ if flayn is here... might their other relatives be? this girl is enough of a complication on her own, but—

no. one step at a time. ]

[That's...hm. It does not seem like Byleth was joking (and really, that was a silly hope to begin with, why would she joke about such a thing?), but this response does give Flayn some hope.]

I see. I am in agreement that we should speak in person. Not far from the inn, there is a little shop where one may purchase tea and other beverages, as well as snacks. If you would like to join me here, Professor, then perhaps we may converse over a cup of tea, as before.

[ flayn doesn't seem to remember things the same way. that much is very clear. ]

I would like that very much, Flayn. If you're free now, I can meet you there at once.

Then let us meet immediately. I shall wait here for your arrival, Professor.

[Flayn doesn't get nervous very often, but she's nervous enough now that after just one or two nibbles of her pastry, she has lost her appetite. What has happened to Byleth? Is it possible that she has come from some other version of Fodlan, where the Empire found her before Claude did? What a terrifying thought...

No, Flayn tells herself. Byleth is still the professor she knows, Imperial general or not. After all, she would not wish to go fishing together if that were not the case. Still, when the familiar figure walks into the shop, Flayn puts her teacup down and folds her hands in her lap to avoid the potential for them shaking too obviously.

Byleth looks much the same as she always did, if wearing...different colors. Flayn, however, looks a bit different - a little older, and she's swept her long hair back into a braid coiled on top of her head, revealing her pointed ears.

...no, there is one difference in the professor's appearance. Her hair...it's the wrong color. Hmm.]

Hello, Professor.

Edited 2021-05-02 02:41 (UTC)

[ as byleth gets closer, her hair and eyes become more clear to make out in the light—the same dark teal and blue as they'd been when she first arrived at the monastery not the pale green they had turned after that day in the sealed forest.

a gold pendant of a twin-headed eagle stands out around her neck, and a gold filigreed ring crowned with a ruby shines on her finger. most unusual is that the sword of seiros hangs from her belt, though she makes no move for it as she takes a seat. wearing a sword is just habit.

at this distance, it's clear her eyes are the same blue they were on the day she arrived at the monastery. ]

Flayn. [ byleth smiles at her, genuinely, as she briefly flags down a staff member to order. bergamot tea and a chocolate croissant. with a glance to the ears, ] You're living openly. I'm glad to see it.

[Flayn's eyes don't seem to know where to settle first. There is no question that this Byleth is not the same person as the one who took up the mantle of Archbishop at the end of the war. And yet, at the same time, she is.

But seeing all the Imperial regalia...and that sword, oh...she can't help but be a little afraid. So many wonderful people, friends, have fallen to soldiers in those same colors. And if she carries the Sword of Seiros, then...

Still, Byleth's smile prompts one from Flayn as well. Even now, after the professor has opened up so much since she first arrived at Garreg Mach, smiles like this are rare to see on her face. For her to do so readily and easily like this! Flayn's eyes shine with tentative hope.

And at those words, her chin lifts proudly.]

Yes, I am. Here, there is no reason to hide, and I am grateful for the chance to truly be myself for once. I love my father dearly, but at times he clings too hard to his fear.

And you, Professor...your hair, and your eyes. They are no longer like mine. What has happened?

Edited 2021-05-02 03:10 (UTC)

[ byleth's smile widens at first—and then falters at the mention of seteth. byleth hasn't forgotten the massacre at the rhodos coast and its entirely personal reasons, nor how he insisted upon the students' help in the matter.

he certainly did cling too hard to his fear. it's hard, at times, not to hate him for the extents it drove him to. ]

Mm. [ it's a noncommittal noise and a nod as flayn speaks, but she lets out a breath at that last question. ]

Seiros is dead. [ she says it... bluntly, but not unkindly, either. ] I'm not what she tried to make of me.

Edited 2021-05-02 03:27 (UTC)

[It doesn't surprise Flayn to hear this, not after what she's seen here, but it still hurts. Her eyes lower, an ancient sadness falling over her that makes her seem much older even than her new appearance might suggest.]

I expected that you might say such a thing. You carry her sword with you.

[But after a moment, she looks up again, brow furrowed in confusion.]

What she tried to make of you? I do not understand.

[ her breath catches. that confirms one thing, at least—

flayn didn't know.

she'd never really believed that flayn did, of course, but... she had never been sure. ]

It wasn't Sothis's will that I had her power. Seiros did something to me, after I was born. My father was scared of her, scared of her plans... the fire in 1159 was his doing. He used it to fake my death, and he ran. To protect me from her.

[ she knows enough, at least, to piece together and deduce most of the truth. byleth tries to keep her tone level. tries to let herself explain this without getting angry, because flayn doesn't deserve that. ]

I don't think that I was the first.

Edited 2021-05-02 03:41 (UTC)

[Flayn slowly brings her hand to her mouth as Byleth explains. A part of her wants to protest, to say that of course her aunt would never do such a thing - but deep down, she knows better. Have there not been so many times that she was certain she and Father were hiding things from her? And even times when it seemed that Father didn't even know what Rhea was doing. She's not so naive that she hasn't eavesdropped on a conversation or two, caught small slip-ups when they occurred. She knew something was wrong, but...

She stares at Byleth for a moment in horror.]

Professor...I am so sorry. Oh, but it explains much. And yet, not nearly enough!

[A certain sternness creeps into her face.]

It was not very long ago at all that I awoke from my long slumber. Everything was so very strange, but they refused to answer many of my questions. Aunt Seiros would vanish for hours, sometimes days, into the chamber beneath the monastery that contained those dangerous machines. Of course, my father forbade me from visiting her there, as he forbade me from so many things.

[Flayn shakes her head with a quiet sigh.]

But why did she do it? The revelation in the Holy Tomb...what was it that she wanted to happen there?

Edited 2021-05-02 03:59 (UTC)

[ why indeed? as much as she's thought on it... there can only be one answer. ]

After suppressing me for my entire life... she wanted all that I am to die. To hollow me out so that her mother would walk the world in my place. All of her praise, everything she said, her belief in my potential... [ byleth's hand on the table curls into a fist, while her left's fingers go to her pendant. ]

I was a breeding project to my grandmother. [ she's never called seiros that out loud, and it feels... odd, but she continues, ] A sacrifice.

Oh, Professor...

[It makes far, far too much sense once Byleth has said it out loud. Seiros never wanted anything more than she wanted her mother. Flayn and Seteth both have missed Sothis, too, but to use a child, a person in this way to try to reverse the past... Who, discovering such a thing about themselves, would stay?

But the thought is a reminder, and her heart plummets. Her voice is low and strained.]

...and my father? Did you...did you kill him, as well?

[ byleth shakes her head at that, quickly. she reaches for flayn's hand with her right, where the ring stands out. ]

No. You and Seteth did stay with the Church when I threw in with Edelgard, but... you were his priority. [ she's... going to move past the tangled feelings she has about seteth. her uncle, she realizes now, distantly. none of that is the point. ] I met you both in battle, and... by that point he was finally having doubts about Seiros. The two of you quit the field and left the Church and Fódlan behind.

[ aaaand her tea is here. nice. byleth spoons honey in, before taking a sip. ]

You remember things differently.

[Flayn breathes out a sigh, and when Byleth offers a hand, she takes it, clutching it tightly. She presses her other hand over her chest in a loose fist. Of course, there is the question of what the professor would have done had Seteth not given up on his sister, but Flayn does not want to think about that. It's irrelevant, because it didn't happen.]

I...I am so very relieved to hear that. I do not think my father knew what Seiros had done to you. Several times after you arrived at the monastery, I overheard them arguing over things she would not tell him. Please, Professor...do not judge him too harshly. He has only ever wanted to preserve what little family we have left, and I believe that he feared so much change happening all at once.

[She smiles slightly.]

And you are my cousin, are you not? I always felt that you and I were connected, somehow. I am so glad that I was not wrong.

[She gives Byleth's hand a light squeeze and lets go, taking a sip of her tea before she nods.]

Quite differently, yes. You stayed with us, and fought with us when Edelgard's forces attacked the monastery. When you returned to us after your slumber, Claude and his Golden Deer had reunited there, and we joined forces with the Alliance to fight back against the Empire's invasion.

[There is more, much more, but Flayn pauses there to give Byleth a chance to take it in. How did things turn out so...so upside down, in the Fodlan this Byleth seems to have come from?]

I have... long tried not to. [ she believes she understands seteth's reasons, even if she thinks they have long since stopped justifying anything. ] I may have my... difficulties, with this family. Our family. But they have never been with you.

[ even when flayn split from the black eagles to stay with the church... that was something she could understand. maybe if byleth had made more of an effort, she could have been swayed, maybe that could have gotten through to seteth sooner, maybe—

byleth takes a sip of her tea, trying to dismiss that thought. but she stares, as flayn begins to explain her own recollection. ]

... That... doesn't make sense. [ byleth says at last, clutching at the pendant and feeling her heart beat uncomfortably hard beneath it. ] I wouldn't have stayed with that monster. I wouldn't have abandoned El when she needed me most.

[ a slip of the tongue. ]

It warms my heart so to hear it. Perhaps...perhaps someday, the three of us may be able to dine together again, as we once did.

[Flayn's eyes widen to hear Byleth's response. She watches the way the professor's hand moves to her pendant; thinks about the ring sitting prominently on her finger. A conflict of emotions plays out on Flayn's face for a moment, resolving into dismay.]

Professor, is...is that how you truly think of Seiros? Certainly, what she has done to you is deplorable, and I disagree strongly with the path on which she has led Fodlan, but...

[But she is family, too. Flayn sighs. It's likely difficult for Byleth to understand just how horrifying the thought of losing even one more of their family is for her and for Seteth, without the experiences they have had.]

In any case, I am quite surprised to hear that you felt close to Edelgard even then. Our house spent little time with the Black Eagles, and I recall that your friendship with Claude was rather close, was it not?

[ ... what.

what?

her mind races, trying to think of what she might mean here. she'll... circle back to that thing about seiros, even if it sets her teeth on edge. ]

... I taught the Black Eagles. Edelgard is my dearest friend, [ technically true ] and... Claude and I were never close.

[ friends, maybe, by some way of looking at it. but not close. there's something colder in her eye as she goes on, back to the initial question. ]

Well. She demanded I murder Edelgard in the Holy Tomb, and when I refused, she said I was just another failure—that she would tear me open and take back my heart. She took her true form right there, and would have killed us all where we stood. She put me at the bottom of the Airmid during the battle for Garreg Mach. When we demanded Seiros's surrender on the final day of the war, she had her knights burn Fhirdiad.

[ byleth's eyes take a piercing, analytical cast. there's a clarity there, in a way that there rarely had been at the monastery. her voice... trembles, here and there, as she goes on, but she tries to maintain steel there. the archbishop is not a favored topic for her. ]

Seiros was a mad, ancient beast who would burn the world and rule the ashes if it meant she stayed in control. I have no kind words left for her.

[What? Flayn stares at Byleth at this description of her aunt, shock written plainly on her face. But first things first...]

No, that is... In the Fodlan I know, you chose to teach the Golden Deer, and thus that is the class I joined. Claude values your friendship quite highly. The two of you have led the Alliance and the Knights of Seiros together in the war against the Empire. Professor...it seems we have arrived from two different versions of our world. And I...

[She looks down, hands making fists in her lap, holding back tears.]

Burn Fhirdiad... It seems that the Seiros you knew lost herself completely to madness. In that case, I cannot blame you for leaving us and waging war against her, much as it hurts my heart to think of her that way.

[She shakes her head and looks up again.]

The Seiros I knew did not do those terrible things. I...suspect she viewed you as her last hope, and when you refused to harm your friend, she lost all reason. I know there is nothing that I could have done to stop her, but nonetheless...I wish to apologize on the behalf of the Flayn you knew. Had Father not insisted upon leaving Fodlan - or had she found the strength to defy him - and had she known of the Agarthans and all their horrors then, I truly believe that I would have fought by your side.

Edited 2021-05-03 04:13 (UTC)

[ the ice slowly leaves byleth's gaze as she sees the effect this is having on flayn. of course, this isn't easy for her cousin either, is it? silently, she curses her lack of delicacy, and not for the first time.

the description flayn gives of her memory stops her for a moment. the gears grind to a halt. she likes none of what she's hearing. so, obviously, she's just going to file that away for now and agonize over it later. ]

You have nothing to apologize for.

[ they have no responsibility for these other selves, just as they have no responsibility for their family's sins. and... agarthans. she's given pause at that term, it's not familiar, but... it isn't hard to guess who she means. ]

... If you mean those who slither in the dark, I wonder about that. [ this is something she had accepted as a necessary reality, even if she had hated it. but from the outside? how might it look? ]

Edelgard never called on them after the Holy Tomb... but we lacked the strength to deal with them. We both hated it, but they had us all at swordpoint. [ she gestures with one hand, taking a sip of her tea. ] We defied them too openly when we took Arianrhod, and they destroyed it along with the garrison we had left there. If you had joined us, I know we would have done all we could to protect you from them, but... there would be a target on your back. And from the outside, I doubt that their involvement looked good. [ even without demonic beasts or agarthan mages taking the field for the empire. even with them fighting for the kingdom as well. ]

It...did not. Particularly once we learned of the monstrous things they did in Hrym and Ordelia, in the Empire's name. I would give anything to somehow...go back there and save Lysithea and her family from their awful fates.

[Lysithea...it weighs heavily on Flayn's heart, knowing what she does about her friend's past and future. And it frustrates her desperately that even she, the saint who heals, can do nothing to help. She closes her eyes briefly to let the feeling pass.]

But we did learn of Edelgard's plight, beholden to the Agarthans' plans as she was. You are correct, they are the ones Hubert called those who slither in the dark. He left a letter for you and Claude, to be delivered if Enbarr fell, explaining the truth and pointing us to their lair. We, too, witnessed the terrible destruction of their javelins of light, but it was Fort Merceus they destroyed.

[ she doesn't care to think on the outcome flayn is describing. especially the parts that go unspoken. so again, a noncommittal sound of acknowledgement, before she circles back. her eyes briefly go down to the ring on her own finger, a grounding reminder. ]

... They were responsible for what befell the Hresvelg children, as well. [ byleth's voice comes very quietly. this isn't her story to tell. she won't tell details. ]

The method was different. The goal was different. But Edelgard and I... we were the same, Flayn. [ both carved open and given power by monsters trying to make human puppets. both using the crest of seiros as kindling for the crest of flames. one meant to be a goddess, the other meant to be her downfall. both the apparent culmination of a long line of attempts. ]

That's why we fought. No more children like us. [ obviously, there are a great many other phenomena of the church's society they wanted to topple. but none are so emblematic, to her mind. ]

The Hresvelg children...I recall that Edelgard was not originally the Imperial heir, but I did not know what had happened to her siblings. Ah, but her hair...

[The same white as Lysithea's, and her eyes a similar shade as well. It never occurred to Flayn to compare them before, but now that she has heard Lysithea's tale and now this, it seems quite obvious in retrospect.]

How many others did they torment so, that none of us ever learned about? Oh, Professor...how I wish we all could have joined together to defeat them.

[She opens her mouth to say more, but abruptly realizes that telling this Byleth where her counterpart ended up in their united Fodlan seems almost cruel. She snaps her mouth shut again and takes a bite of her pastry to distract from it.]

[ part of her is curious, and she almost asks—but byleth thinks better of it. flayn is far more guileless than her father and aunt ever were, so if she's holding something back, it's likely for her sake.

and byleth has never been one to pry, anyway, with people she likes. so she simply nods, taking a bite of her own pastry. ]

In a perfect world, perhaps. But we lived in the broken world our family made. There were no good options left to anyone. [ even so, she's never once regretted her choice. ] What do you mean to do, now that you're here?

Indeed, there were not.

[Flayn sighs, then puts on a smile. If one smiles, one will surely feel better.]

Yes, enough of this gloomy conversation. Let us speak of brighter things. We are here together, now, and that is most important.

[She takes a sip of her tea, thoughtful.]

I confess, I do not know! I am still learning about all the wondrous things here, and meeting so many interesting people. There are so many possibilities that I cannot even fathom them all.

[A twinkle makes its way into her eye, then.]

Though there is one thing I shall absolutely pursue, now that the world is my oyster. And that is a romance of my very own!

[She sighs, wistful.]

Do not think that I have failed to notice the ring you wear, Professor. If you have married, I simply must know!

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hegemonwings - 2021-05-04 00:19 (UTC) - Expand

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 7

Text | un: s.flayn [cw: FE3H spoilers]

un: b.eisner

un: s.flayn

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oh god how did i not take that first thing about the hair and eyes out oh well

lol whoops

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