#[support: yunaka]

[doyouevenliftbrooo]

new beginnings

continued from here

With a tilt of her head, Etie's gaze sweeps across Yunaka's form from head to toe-- yep, there's not much that's changed in the time they've spent apart, but... That's only on the outside. Considering how much of a disaster everything she's come across has been, she can only wonder what transpired to cause so much loss. No one seemed to be too willing to divulge many details on the matter, and she certainly wasn't going to pry; not when this was, by all rights, a warzone. She's seen what these things do to people. For a split second, her smile falters, and she sincerely hopes this isn't what Yunaka is living through currently. They've already been through their fair share of battles, and though war is an inevitability... it's not so wrong to wish for peace, is it? "Only yesterday, actually," The archer chirps in her usual jovial tone, her smile immediately returning to what it was before. "You guys threw a party without me? Maybe I should've come sooner." Maybe I should've been there to help. She's okay... right? "Feel like goin' for a walk?" Fresh air always helps her clear her head after a stressful day, and though she knows that everyone doesn't feel the same way... it's all she can think to offer in this moment. "I'm... really glad you're here. I missed everyone, and considering what this place looks like--" Etie's words come screeching to a halt before she shakes her head, almost as if she doesn't want that thought to finish. "Nevermind. Come on!"

@dcggersedge

[laslow]

🍪

"Lazzy!" Smile back in place like it always should be, Yunaka gives him a sing-songy greeting as she skips over to him. The gauntlet is already thrown before she says anything else, pocky held carefully between her teeth as she grins at him. No further words are needed; she offers him the other end of the cookie and waits to see if he rises to the challenge.

Ah, so they're to play again, is that it?

Laslow's grin is nothing short of delighted. They really need to discuss....whatever this is, but that can wait. Far more important things are afoot! "Truly, a pleasure to see you again, my darling!"

He doesn't accept the offered cookie right away. Instead, he takes one of her hands in his, idly running a thumb along her knuckles. "You know," and now he leans in closer, nibbling a small bite of the cookie, "you don't need cookies as an excuse for more kisses."

Another bite. Another. All the while, he keeps a loose hold of her hand, daring to place his other one lightly atop her hip the closer they inch towards another.

There's only one bite left. He pauses for just a heartbeat, looking up at her through his lashes. This isn't about winning or losing the game any longer; they've danced around each other enough that everything is starting to feel a touch serious.

Unless she's viewing it still as some frivolous little distraction, one that can only exist within the rules of this challenge. Laslow steals the last of the cookie with a triumphant sweep of his lips, smiling against her own as he swallows the treat down.

"Yunaka, would you like to go on a date with me?"

[fellsparks]

[ PHOTO-ARTIFEX ]

"Miss Nel, have you seen this?" It's Yunaka's first time seeing it as well, but she's got a good idea of what to expect. A student had explained to her what people were gathering with props and costumes for, and from what she'd understood of the explanation, it wasn't that different from those images Alear had filled that notebook of his with a long time ago.

She thought it was a cute idea! Nel and the others were going to outlive all of the rest by a longshot, so they'd probably be super thankful for stuff like this when that time comes. Better to plant that seed of idea now then when it was too late.

Yunaka grins, gesturing around them at all the things to pick from. "We can even put on some silly costumes, or grab a prop or something, whatever you want for it! Doesn't that sound fun?"

It takes a few moments of inspection for Nel to be able to wager a guess as to what the unfamiliar creation was-- but judging by the way the others around them had responded, eager to create goofy situations to be preserved for eternity... she couldn't help but to allow a deep chuckle to escape as ruby eyes glanced over a few groups that had begun their descent into madness to prepare for their "photos". Over a thousand years, there's not many things that will stay cemented in her memory. Just like with humans, not every defining moment of her life will be able to be remembered with clarity-- for centuries, she'll remember the names of her companions and their faces. 500 years later, maybe the names have faded; 800, their faces become blurry. 1500 years, and she only can recall that she had people that she loved so dearly... with select traits and select moments still carried on in her heart. Yunaka's offering is sweet, and Nel already knows her answer far before she even begins to speak it. "I would love to. However..." She pauses for a moment, hand at her chin as her gaze settles on Yunaka's face. "... I do not believe that costumes are necessary. For there is nothing you can wear that would be preferable to preserving over that which I see before me now. For you to be yourself and nothing more-- I am satisfied with that." It's said so matter-of-factly that it almost sounds dismissive, yet the words spoken could never be truly meant in such a flippant manner. "I would not want to cover the very image that I wish to remember. If you would like me to... wear something, I suppose I cannot decline." Just this once. Just this once, she'll allow the other to put her into whatever ridiculous ensemble that she'd like.

[laslow]

He shrugs, as if to say it's hard speaking around such a fragile little treat! Really, he doesn't want to put his foot in his mouth around her again.

Her laugh is a good sign, at least, and he forces himself to look at the bridge of her nose instead of directly into her star-bright eyes. She's good at this--the cookie dwindles inch by inch, bits of sweet chocolate interspersed with the equally sweet biscuit.

Oh. Laslow didn't think he'd get this far. His cheeks heat, and as much as he'd love a kiss from such a lovely lady, he'd rather not push his luck--

It happens too quickly for him to process. Suddenly, there's a hand on his neck, lips on his, chocolate replaced with Yunaka. Dazed, Laslow watches her pull away. Instinct makes him lean forward by a hair, mouth quirking into a lopsided grin. (He's still not meeting her gaze.)

"Heh, in this, I am more than happy to concede victory."

Her fingers climb a bit higher, now tangling into the short hairs at the nape of his neck. His eyelids droop. One arm curls around her waist, while his free hand moves to cup her cheek. His thumb strokes her star shaped mole. "A shame," he whispers back, though there's nothing contrite about his tone, "I'm all out of treats."

Laslow closes the distance between them, kissing her tenderly.

🍪

pocky day | accepting

The cookie in his mouth is the first thing she notices. The dots take a second to connect in her brain. Laughing, she places down the book she was holding and turns to him. "Not even one of your cute hello's? Just right to business?"

Not that she's actually mad about it, but she can't just let the chance to tease walk by. She hums thoughtfully to herself as she approaches him, considering how best to rise to the challenge. She wants to win, of course, but...

Giggling to herself, Yunaka takes her place and bites down on the offered end. This part's easy. She bides her time, chewing away slowly until there's only a bit of cookie left. Then, she stops and waits. She watches Laslow with a grin, waiting as he gets closer and closer and-

When there's only a single bite left, she strikes. Her hand comes up to the back of his neck and pulls him into a kiss. For a brief second, the winner is unclear, until her tongue grazes his to swipe the last piece of cookie away. She's smiling again when she pulls away, and her cheeks are only a little red. "I win!" She sings.

Though who could really be sure. There was only one way to confirm it. She threads her fingers through his hair as she moves closer again, until her lips graze his when she speaks. "Wanna play again?"

[gravitonbeamemitter]

kagetsu and zelkov are so funny to me bc between the two of them kagetsu is very open and friendly and zelkov well. to borrow a phrase. "oozes killer instinct from his pores like slime." but in truth he just wants to hang out and do his hobbies. kagetsu is the one who craves violence

[turboghast]

What did she mean by this chat?

[laslow]

The crowd of people was fine, at first. But after the ship ride, milling about waiting for instructions, and then being let lose on this island, the nerves were starting to get to her. Maybe that was why this whole place was setting her on edge so much? Who knows.

What she does know is that wandering off on her own on an unknown island run by a bunch of weirdos is the last thing that she should be doing right now. That's how people got murdered.

"Hiya!" She smiles as bright as she can and gives him a little wave. "You busy? I was hoping to go on a walk to explore the place, and some company might be nice." And if she did stumble on something weird, at least there were better odds of one of them making it back.

The initial buzz of excitement has faded, leaving a sudden exhaustion in its wake. Traveling always takes a toll. Laslow hides a yawn behind one hand as he slips through the crowd, eager to be away from all the crush and noise of so many people.

He's escaped to the fringes when a familiar voice catches his attention. "Well, hel-lo there, Yunaka!" Laslow grins in return, also offering an answering wave. "I'm never too busy for you. A walk in your company sounds utterly delightful."

Arm extends just enough that she could take it, should she so wish. "Anything in particular you wish to explore? I must say, traveling to a tropical island is a nice change of pace."

In the distance, something splashes in the water. A whale, perhaps, or a seagull diving for a meal. The palm fronds continue their song overhead. "...Though one can never be too careful, eh?"

[princeofopenness]

@luminousrider @nabataprophet @loyaldeserter @katabatiic @dcggersedge

There were six of them, including Alfonse himself, that made the trek up to the first of the two marked locations. None of the others were people he had spoken to prior, though each of them were familiar to him. They all had counterparts in Askr he had met. This was good, a nice bit of familiarity, nothing too unpredictable. He knew of their various skillsets, who he likely ought to rely on for what. He much preferred that to having someone unknown to him in the group.

Finding but one ruin among many would have been a far more difficult ordeal without the note's guidance. Following the guidance of someone they did not know and entering a specific room in a fortress, crumbling though it may be, was outwardly a rather foolish task, Alfonse could admit that much. Still, it was one of their only leads; if this indeed had been set up by their adversaries, then perhaps they would have unwittingly left behind some morsel of information for the group to seize upon. Alfonse was more than used to enduring such ordeals from his past foes, after all.

With heavy, stone doors shut fast behind them and a voice taunting them from the shadows, Alfonse saw little reason to even try turning back the way they had come. He knew what result that would produce. It was wasted effort, and they would need every scrap of energy they had in the days to come. At the very least, the way the voice beckoned them eased some of Alfonse's worry. This wasn't a trap, oh no, this was a test. That meant there was a way forward being deliberately provided to them.

...Had this individual perhaps also been responsible for the traveling attraction he and Leif had participated in back at the monastery?

"Alright," Alfonse spoke confidently, raising his head and meeting the gaze of each of his companions in turn. "They wish to test us, then. This room can't be quite as empty as it looks. We ought to spread out, investigate as much as we can before us. Legault, Yunaka, would you check the walls for anything?"

The two knives in the darkness seemed the best bet for searching out hidden clues like that. Attentiveness to their surroundings was a key component of the work they performed, was it not? Besides, if anyone was prepared to unravel the work of a sneak, it was a fellow sneak. They might know better what to search for than someone like Alfonse.

"One of you take each side-- and bring someone else with you." He added. "Splitting up into pairs would likely be the most effective... and the safest. Whoever wishes to remain here with me, we'll check this table. It's likely that there's some kind of information hidden here, and whatever any one of us finds will likely play into what the others do. Call it a hunch."

It was so easy to fall back into his role as Prince of Askr and as a leader of the Order of Heroes. These people were all familiar to him; it was easy to pretend things were exactly the same as they had been back at home. He even forgot they may not all be willing to so easily take the orders of some blueblood they scarcely knew. These people weren't bound by contracts, after all. They were just scared and confused and seeking to end the strife that had found its way to their shared home.

Me When A Mysterious Feminine Voice Tells Me To Do Something

[machiot]

[ ROW BOAT ]

Did you know that oars could sink? Yunaka hadn't. Not until misfortune had turned its eyes on them, and the two oars that had pushed them out here had been knocked out of place to slowly sink to the miserable bottom of the sea.

So, they were stuck out here. In a boat. In the ocean. While they could hear everyone else partying out in the distance. It was kind of funny, if you thought about it.

Yunaka's legs dangled over the edge of the boat as she stared up at the stars. At least it was pretty. At least the weather was nice. At least she was pretty dang sure Marni wasn't going to be the hound to try and kill her.

"...so. You come here often?"

Those Elusian warships really had been nice. The Elusian warships didn't need oars. The Elusian warships didn't get stuck in the middle of the ocean, so far away from the shore that you have to really squint to make out the shapes of people. The Elusian warships also had Mauvier on them, for all she begrudged his company, who could warp her right over to the shore if she pestered him enough about it.

This is not an Elusian warship, though. This is not Mauvier and his Warp staff, but Yunaka. And those were the oars slipping into the water before either of them could grab the handles.

Yep. Just the two of them. Out on the open sea. No oars. A history of violence between them.

If two people throttle each other in open water, does the sound of them falling in the water after their lost oars make a sound?

"Oh, no, I haven't been sent on a mission to Adrestia in a few months," Marni winds up to kick the side of the row boat, seems to think better of it, and leaves her foot hovering by the side of the boat. She does not particularly desire to be stranded and also sopping wet two years in a row. "No, you moron, of course I don't come here often! What are we gonna do? We're stuck!"

[nabataprophet]

She almost misses sight of her, quiet as every other time Yunaka has seen her. It's only out of the corner that she catches sight of a familiar purple that she remembers carefully running her fingers through a few moons earlier. Yunaka pauses on her path to where she's meant to be and turns, sharply, to go over to her instead.

"Not hurt too badly, are ya?" She's got half a mind to tease her about keeping her hair off the ground during battles, but she decides against it. She's not sure how much the wins and losses matter to Sophia, and she doesn't want to accidentally press down on a sore spot.

One of her many (stolen) juice boxes is pulled out from a pocket and held out to her, along with a smile. "Sorry, I don't have any better consolation prize to offer right now. I didn't need an exam like this to tell how amazing you are anyway."

...alright, no, she can't resist. Yunaka nods at Sophia's hair. "You want help with that again? Fighting's over, but we still gotta march back after they finish up, and it would suck if someone accidentally stepped on it or something."

This really must be Sophia's lucky day, because she gets not just one, but two (2) juice boxes just for participating. The first comes from the person she would expect, but the second comes from a different, but still familiar face.

Sophia shakes her head lightly. All of the remaining smouldering embers have been extinguished by this point and her body would heal the bruises on its own even if the volunteers at the medical tent hadn't swarmed her with healing staves at the ready. She would be sore for some time for sure, but that is only a sign that her body is mending itself.

Pain truly is relative, if she thinks about it. Compared to great mechanical beasts trying to crush her with rocks and their own bodies, taking the blunt end of a lance from a human man really isn't that bad after she's had a few minutes to sit and catch her breath.

"...Amazing...? ...Me...? No, um, it probably... wasn't as impressive... as you're imagining."

It had been a tome she'd been unfamiliar with, one that lacked the devastating raw power she'd come to expect from dark magic. It was a spell well-suited to a friendly battle, even if the aftereffects had been stronger than she'd expected.

Something to investigate more on her own time, then.

The topic of her hair comes up once more, leading Sophia to tilt her head. She'd never particularly minded the length of her hair, but it seems like recently people had become concerned with it. Or at least concerned enough to bring it up to her directly instead of just thinking it to themselves.

"The ribbon..." Sophia says softly, turning her back to give Yunaka better access to the waterfall of hair behind her. "I didn't... want it to get dirty."

Considering where it had come from, that might be a lost cause, but wouldn't it be nice to make it last as long as possible?

[cielenruine]

"Looks like I picked a bad time to hop outta the Lions." She tries her best to keep things light, because that's what they need right now. There's no time to focus on injuries and failures, as much as the sinking in her stomach wants to drag her down. They need to keep rolling. She needs to be okay.

It's hard though.

"Eagles got swarmed on their way back in." She reports, frown on her face. "Like someone either knew were coming back, or wanted to stop you all from getting out..."

She knows what she knows about Edelgard, and there's still a seething rage in her bones, but...she fixes her eyes on Matthias.

"So. What's going on in Fodlan that someone would attack the church like that? And why was it kept so hush hush from us exchange members until now?"

"I suppose that arrow in the shoulder at the opera was preparation." He offers a gentle chuckle. "But it was for the best..." "I thought that might have been the case, it would've been better had you retreated even if that was what the enemy wanted. The Empire certainly would've had the means to employ reinforcements for us." At least one split party and yet...he understood their haste to make it back to the academy. He knows he would have done the same. And then his heart stops for but a moment and confusion washes across his face. "...nothing that I'm aware of?" There was no harm in telling her the circumstances. She knew not of Fodlan, not of Faerghus...but to say that someone might want to attack the church? "In Faerghus we've certainly had our fair share of occurrences, thats to say nothing of Leicester and Adrestia...but nothing that the Central Church has had anything to do with." A hand raised to his chin and with a tense sigh he looked at her. "You've reason to believe that someone has been planning this?" It certainly wasn't an attack born of haste. They had been fully surrounded, cut off and struck by weaponry that seemed impossible to imagine. "...I can speak for no one but myself and the Faerghans I know, but we're just as out of the loop as those from elsewhere." His stance changed and his arms fell to his side, eyes searching hers. "But you know things I don't and I know things you don't. I'd like to know who it was that's desecrated the peace we've so thinly maintained." He couldn't force her to tell him, nor would he press her to. No...this was already enough to have him question what exactly it was he did know.

[aliberation]

While it would've been easy to fall into the role of 'helpless noble' with how Vander and the twins hovered around her during her stay on the Somniel, Alear has always made it a point to take care of her own things to the best of her ability. It turns out that a thousand year slumber has ways of turning your day-to-day skills into rusty shambles, and it's been a long journey relearning how to do some chores here and there-- for the most part, though, it's been a seamless transition. However... never once did she think she'd find herself working as an actual maid. There's nothing wrong with it, of course! But as a bucket of cleaning supplies is shoved into one of her hands and a uniform in the other, Alear blinks up at the supervisor who only returned her confusion with a scowl. "Well, girl? Get changed. Do you think you can serve the Viscount with rags like that on? If you're not going to be terribly useful, the least you can do is look pretty." She... really doesn't know how to respond to that, other than with a grimace. Part of her wants to look indignant, and to express disapproval over such behavior, but.... she has a feeling those words would fall on deaf ears, and the woman is leaving already regardless. Surely this isn't normal treatment for these workers, is it? Surely it's only because she's new, right? Either way, the Divine Dragon heaves a sigh and scurries off to a bathroom to change into this ridiculous outfit, not even bothering to look at herself in the mirror. Alear already knows it'll bring her nothing but shame, and what she can't see won't hurt her... right? Stepping out of the restroom with her normal attire tucked under her arm, she's ushered to an empty bedroom that seems to be mostly put together... with the exception of unkempt sheets and dusty surfaces. Thankfully, though, she's not alone-- and of everyone she could think to accompany her, she thanks her lucky stars that it's Yunaka. "Oh! They gave you this.... this outfit too, huh?" Alear laughs nervously, finger scratching at her cheek in a sheepish gesture. "It's certainly not my style. But you look cute, at least!" Somehow, she doesn't think that makes the situation more bearable for either of them at all. "Cleaning is easy enough, but... information gathering?" She muses as she steps to a desk on the edge of the room, fingers running over the dusty surface. "It's not like we can just ask. I can play it cool, though, trust me!" (The accuracy of that statement has yet to be tested.) @dcggersedge

you mean i have to do this for 40 hours a week? forever?

Any Skill +1 w/ @dcggersedge

[hermidetta]

She's not quite sure if she's on the list, but she figures it's worth a shot. Carefully covering up the basket so that nobody walking past can see what's inside, she stops outside Bernie's door. Show time.

Sighing dramatically (and loudly) Yunaka starts talking to herself. "Aw dang! I sure didn't mean to pick up these extra gifts when I went out to the market, but looks like I accidentally did." She definitely got these just for Bernie specifically.

"If only I knew a certain birthday girl to give these to...Guess I'll leave them here outside of this random student's door to see if they want them!"

The basket is placed as close to Bernie's door as possible, so that she doesn't have to go far to get it. She's sure to "accidentally" knock against the door as she does so. "All done! I'll go now, so I don't bother anybody."

And she does just that, giving Bernie the space to claim the basket (or ignore it if she wants to) without anyone watching. She hopes she takes it. The cupcakes will only last so long, and she's kind of worried that the star stickers might fall off the quills of the stuffed, purple hedgehog toy before she sees them.

⠀ ⚘ birthdaydetta 2k24 ♡ ⠀

they ought to drill peepholes into these doors. bernadetta dog-ears the idea to carve one out herself while yunaka is speaking from the great outdoors, because maybe bernadetta is curious about the hypothetical birthday girl in question and how special this birthday girl must be to get gifts from professor yunaka. because, glancing down, bernadetta must admit to herself as nicked fingers fidget below her chin: it would be nice to be thought of by professor yunaka. she doesn't make it a habit to eavesdrop, honest, but before she knows it she's sandwiching her ear against the door to listen. which random student would have her favor?

bernadetta likes professor yunaka. she's pretty, and nice, and strong but also soft. the hands she could use to draw a bow or snap someone's spine are always so gentle with bernadetta, no matter how many times bernadetta fails or embarrasses herself in front of the other woman. it's teachers like her who make bernadetta want and wish to be a good student, people like her who make bernadetta want and wish to be a good person. she isn't. she is a disappointment, she knows. but maybe someday—

the knock startles her a foot in the air. bernadetta waits in petrification for one, two seconds before finally cracking open the door. she sees the basket, the cupcakes and hedgehog after poking cautiously at its cover—and she is so silly, she realizes. it all falls into place, and bernadetta, she has been so silly. yunaka's back and unmistakable red hair are shrinking some ways ahead, though they are still visible, and...

clackclackclackclackclackclack—

yunaka may or may not have heard it, but whether she turns around or not to question the rapid crescendo of pitter-patters against stone, it is in the next instant that something fluffy and purple bounces against her and clings with the almighty force of an armored bear stuffy. a plush, tiny but sweet, just like that starry hedgehog. the way it latches only lasts a moment.

red in the cheeks, bernadetta lifts her face from yunaka's shirt. she drops her arms, spins around and bolts back into her room just as feverishly as she had burst right out of it.

[represaille]

@dcggersedge sent:

"Nel!" There she was. Even if Nel and her were little more than acquaintances, even if the relief was in no way hers to feel, it still rolls through Yunaka all the same when she finally spots the missing dragon.

(She promised Rafal she'd find her. The twins have probably reunited by now, but she still wants to feel like she managed at least one thing right this month.)

"Hey, glad to see you again." She tries her best to be bright and zappy as she smiles at her - wait they've only ever spoken like once before. Is it weird? It's probably weird. It's too late to back out now from being weird, and, well, it's not like she's lying or hurting anybody by saying it either. "Your brother was worried sick about you."

There's...there's no great moment to be had between them. Yunaka probably doesn't matter to Nel, and Yunaka only really knows Nel as sister and important to her friends, but...She hovers awkwardly a moment, trying to think of something more to say.

"Well! I shouldn't keep you. You've probably got important things to do. But, um." She gestures absently with her hands. "If there's anything I can do, let me know? Yeah?"

When Nel had dragged herself back to the ruins of the monastery, it's not hard to let her mind wander back to thoughts of another world in ruin. This time, however, her other half had not been at her side when she woke up. The gap is shorter this time; a month rather than a thousand years, a mere instant to her, but a torturous wait to those who had remained awake and cognizant.

It is no small wonder why her expression is so frightening when she had once again failed to protect anything precious to her.

One of the Divine Dragon's allies approaches her, cutting through all of the people consciously keeping their difference. A flighty sort of little one, always flitting this way and that. A real 'pep in her step' as Solm's princess would say. They have no real particularly close relationship, but their time as former allies is at least enough to greet one another.

"Yunaka. I am pleased to see you," she says, brisk tone at odds with what would otherwise be a warm greeting.

But the stormy expression on Nel's face melts into something softer at the news Yunaka brings with her.

"He is safe, then. Hm, I will not ask if he is uninjured. He has a habit of stubborn recklessness in battle." Says the pot about the kettle. "I am satisfied knowing he is at least well enough to be fretting."

Her—their dragonstone had not shattered. That alone should have been enough to provide peace of mind, but to hear directly from the mouth of another that he is safe is no small relief. As much as it pains her to admit, she cannot always be at his side to shield him from all harm. In her absence, the reassurances of others will have to do.

"I apologize you had to come out of your way to find me when I am not busy." The veritable mountains of rubble strewn about the grounds she should be taking care of clearly say otherwise. "You do not need to force yourself to speak to me if you find my presence uncomfortable."

[contempenitent]

♡

(It was enightening, switching to the Divine One's side and being able to hear the Emblems speak for the first time. I had enlisted the aid of Emblem Micaiah, but was never able to hear her voice. Yet she speaks to you like an old friend.

I wonder, if she could have spoken to me, what she would've said. If she would've convinced me to turn tail sooner. I can't help but wonder if she has convinced you to follow your own ambitions, too.)

| ATTRACTION ●○○○○ | AFFECTION ●●●○○ | INTEREST ●●●●○ | LOYALTY ●●●●○ | TRUST ●●●○○

[justicespeared]

♡ from mitama!

Send ♡ to see what my muse thinks of yours

●○○○○ | ATTRACTION ●●●○○ | AFFECTION ●●●○○ | INTEREST ●●○○○ | LOYALTY ●●○○○ | TRUST

"Oh, I like Mitama! I don't really know her that well, but I'd like to. She was really nice when I hung out with her. Maybe I should ask her to hang out again. D'you think she likes tea? Do I like tea? Only one way to find out."