#support: karel

[bladespromotedpawn]

Time passes, and Karel comes back... Looking worse than ever, frankly. He has more bloody gauze clinging to his skin, and his nose in particular looks as if it had been both broken in and manually readjusted to proper form. But he's back alive, which he supposes is all that matters now.

Mareeta is here also, and she looks more hale than she did when they last spoke: A brief respite of relief, if nothing else.

"Mareeta."

...He sounds absolutely wretched, certainly, but at least he can still speak to begin with. If not by much — Adrenaline is the only thing even keeping him upright, and it certainly shows on his face.

"...Oh, Godsdamnit."

Mareeta dashes over, quickly placing a hand on his arm - of all time for her to be weak. Of all times for her imperfection with fighting those monsters to keep her back... one of the people she cares about got hurt. Damnit.

"You look... awful. Not gonna mince words."

After a brief moment, eyes downcast, she pulls him into a hug, hands clawing at his back with how hard she grasps onto him.

"But you're here, and still kicking. Please stay that way. I've lost so many of my students in the monastery. I don't wanna lose my newest apprentice as well."

It was like one day, what happened here...

"I... know ya wanna make yourself useful to me, or to the group, but you're useful alive. And I'm not letting you see yourself as a blade and just throwing yourself away. A blade is to be cherished."

'So let me cherish you, damnit.'

"And if I can teach you anything, it's that a sword is as good as the condition it's in."

[pillarofopenness]

[ TEDDY BEAR ] Forge-A-Bear was kind enough to donate a platoon of button-eyed teddies to adopt and love. Are you and your partner ready for that kind of commitment?

For one reason or another, he's attracted quite a bit of attention at this damned festival. He's received some rather lovely gifts, ones he'll appreciate the thought of if naught else, but the gigantic stuffed bear on his back is one he'll remember for an entirely different reason.

One of the hosts, Dorothea or something to that accord, had given it to him as a... Gift. Of course, it's rude to deny a gift offered to oneself, so he received it with gratitude (or at least something that sounded like gratitude), but now Karel has to admit it: He has no idea what to do with this thing.

It probably won't fit into his tomb of an inn room, anyway. At worst, it might lead to some odd glances from his... Bunkmate? Maybe? He doesn't want to think about that whole mess too hard, actually.

So, anyway, that leads him to approaching the first person he can see with the bear held over his shoulder like a sack — If the hostess asks, he'll say he's passing it to a loving home.

"I do apologize for disturbing your time," He leads. "But I have no room in my own lodgings for... This, and I would like someone to take it in my stead."

Huh. Well that is not something she expected to see. Ever. For a multitude of reasons.

She’d never guess someone with a title like ‘the sword demon’ would be handing her a stuffed bear, for starters. Not that she’s complaining, no, she’s yoinking that thing up right away. That’s her son now and she will die for him.

Though… a small, mischievous, smirk forms on her lips as she settles the bear in her arms so that she’s looking at the swordsman from over its shoulder. She most definitely should not be ‘poking the sleeping (non-stuffed) bear’ here, so to speak, but… 

“Hm.. I’ll take him off your hands, sure! But on one condition.” The smirk grows wider as she adjusts her grip on the bear to lean him forward towards the swordsman. “You gotta name him.”

[in--nagas--name]

♡ lalala

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

LOW | ●●●●● | HIGH

Libra was intrigued by their first meeting and is always keeping half an eye out for Karel wherever he goes, hoping to make sure that the mysterious stranger is doing alright.

[fletching-scar]

♡ teehee

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

LOW | ●●●●● | HIGH

This is the stuff that beautiful homoerotic rivalries are made of. Shinon is entranced by Karel's total intolerance for his bullshit (and his strong right hook.)

[korshrimpski]

[tossup-tempest]

♡ HIIIIIIIII

(Each of us knows the other has secrets. Each of us is polite enough not to dig. Well...are we polite, or do we know how it feels to be scrutinized? Do you feel the same spark, when our blades cross? Do you feel the same rush, practicing with someone else?)

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

[heavy-draw]

"... Are you.... okay? You look like you're gonna pass out." Shamir's had her fair share of dragging grown men around, usually from drinking too much, but she didn't exactly expect this reaction from Karel. Then again, they're still new to each other... perhaps there's more strange traits about him that she'll end up discovering over the course of their not-date. "Come on, then. You need to sit down before you fall over and hurt yourself." To that end, she grabs his arm and slings it around her shoulders, giving him the support needed to move forward. It draws a couple of funny looks, but it's a good thing she's never been concerned with the opinions of others.

It's a short trip to a nearby bench, and she carefully deposits him before crouching in front of him to get a good look at his face. "You're not running a fever or something, are you?" @otgolokh

are you feeling it now mr. karel

TOACupidoBash2025 w/ @otgolokh

[bladespromotedpawn]

∗ 63﹕ sender is found by receiver sleeping in receiver’s bed . (🥹)

"Another day done perfectly."

Which ones weren't, though?

...A couple. But that was neither here nor now.

"..."

She hears the sound before she opens the door. Snoring.

At first, she supposes it's someone who doesn't deserve it. A crook, who got swaddled in her blankets.

But she recognizes that voice. Kinda.

"...Welp."

She should report it to someone higher up, she supposes, but as soon as she thinks it, the thought is driven from her mind?

He deserves some rest. Her bed's stupid good, anyhow.

"...Rest up, Karel."

She opens the door, and slips into her room quietly, grabbing her pen as she pulls her chair from her desk over to her bedside.

...

He looked peaceful as he rested. That was a new look on him.

She wished she could see it more often.

Still, Mareeta writes, practice notes, preparatory plans for her upcoming classes, anything, everything.

Having another person in her room, even asleep, helps boost her words, it feels.

"...I am gonna ask how he got in, though, when he wakes up."

She was, like, 95% sure she locked the door before she left.

[cloudbattrolls]

@ase-trollplays

Hazard, oblivious: I wonder if he’d like some of the local ginger marmalade I bought for Viltau or if he has different tastes

[adalrikr]

This Red Wolf Moon has welcomed the first real snowfall of the season, and alongside it, a surprise windfall: a flock of Gideon turkeese have landed and made themselves comfortable on the monastery outskirts. Given the oncoming winter and the ongoing recovery efforts, the cooks have decided the birds would make for perfect feast material… if only someone would go out and fetch the elusive things for them! Some say turkeese are real docile, while others claim they’ve a temper hot enough to turn their hunters into the hunted. Whether you’re hungry or after a new companion, might be you’ll find out which of the two it is. [Grants Bow +1]

Erk tightens the string of the bow in his hands once more, the need for it to be perfect winning over marching towards hunting down these strange birds at once. He had watched Lady Louise do it before, prepare her bow for battle, but he'd never thought abut how hard it would be to do it himself. And of course, because he was always so terribly stubborn, he refused the help of anyone who came near him offering it.

Sure, he hardly knew what he was doing... but that didn't mean he couldn't handle it himself!

So he grumbles his way through the task, breathing a small sigh of relief when the bow is finally to his satisfaction. (Mostly out of relief that he will not have to do this again in the near future. Having to do it if he ever chose to wield a bow properly was another problem for another day, not a problem for him now.)

Now... to find a hunting companion, because as proud as Erk had been stringing his bow, he was certainly not confident enough to hunt all on his lonesome. And who knew what was waiting out there besides these "turkeese"! He wouldn't want to get hurt without someone else nearby to help if he needed it.

Spotting someone who looks vaguely familiar, he wanders over, clearing his throat loudly in lieu of greeting, "Sir Karel," The young Mage General bristles slightly, awkward in the way of asking people nicely for things, "Would you... please... accompany me in hunting these birds? I fear it might be dangerous to go alone."

@otgolokh

Turkey + Geese = Turkeese?

Excavation | Bow +1

[misterradio]

you learn something new every day and today i have learned that there is a tea company named karel capek. yeah like the author

edit: okay well now im just looking at karel capek on ebay heres some fun things ::-)

these books are expensive as f--k

This book is dedicated to the cover design of Josef Capek and it looks so delightful <3

This cover of RUR looks really cool (just a fancy lion filligree thing. not related)

Nine Fairy Tales (And one more thrown in for good measure) by karel and illustrated by josef, i have really only seen snatches of josefs art from looking up karel's name but it's so fun.

and another by karel and illustrated by the both of them ::-) i love the brother duo going on yay. also i really forgot how many books karel has

[fletching-scar]

one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor

starter for @otgolokh

There he is again, that creep. Thinks just 'cause he's got extra blood under his fingernails, everyone should bow and scrape.

He does throw a pretty solid punch, though. Shinon's got a black eye that'll testify to that.

Shinon's got... pretty much nothing else, after that fucking party. Surely not his pride.

Ugh, he's aching for a drink. Not that that ever got him very far, but there's nothing he can do about it. The desire exists. It'll only get worse until Shinon caves.

And then Shinon's got an idea, and that's only gonna get worse, too.

"'Ey!" he barks, "tall, dark, and rabid! You love a challenge, right?"

It's a word he's heard this fuckface spit before. Like it means something to him.

Shinon won't wait for an answer. "'Course you do. I know your kind. Come down the Seiros Arms. I'll drink your skinny ass under the table."

[bladespromotedpawn]

"That's good to hear."

Mareeta shakes her head, sighing as she picks at the bandaging still wrapped taut around her chest. Even now, she wasn't sure how much she had in her, honestly - movement still somewhat hurt, and breathing was still a bit of a challenge...

"..."

...Hang on a moment.

"Hold that thought - you... gave me an idea. Once I get my class back into working state, since..."

She gestures around at the damage, the destruction surrounding her.

"It's in ruins at the current moment, I... may be in need of a hand. My body's been in a rocky state since that campfire ambush - I think that blade had a soporific factor in that poison, because my body has barely been able to function, even still. I still need to teach. I know you're probably gonna be busy with a ton of other shit, but..."

She reaches a hand out, wincing slightly as she does.

"Think you can lend a hand with some of my lessons? Doesn't need to be all of them, but your swordwork back then was inspiring, honestly. I know my students would love to have someone else to see some moves from, since I have a consistent style. I'll pay you well if you do."

She makes eye contact, an unstated desperateness seeping through. She's not in a state to teach. She needs to teach the students she let down. But she doesn't want to ask for help from someone she doesn't know.

"It's ok if not. I just... could use some aid, and wouldn't mind working with you again in the future."

Mareeta had... grossly underestimated her chest injury for a while. She had to stay low, trying to aid any of the others who were hurt. But, that came at a cost - cowardice, in her own eyes. She wasn't able to do anything when it all went to shit.

"..."

Mareeta stares over the wreckage of where her class was. Her class. And, picked clean by vultures were... that which she should've protected.

She can't help herself - she goes down onto her knees, just... taking it in. She failed them.

Shaking, she gets back up, only to end up face to face with the one person she felt she did perfectly by during the hell.

"...Sorry you had to see that. How're you holding up?"

Mareeta tries to keep positive, tries to keep her feel the same as it was before.

And praying her perfection can come back sooner than later.

" ...Hm. As well as I can, I suppose."

Karel at least has the foresight to avoid the obvious question of where the hell she was during the reconquest; she came back alive, and that's good enough for him.

Now that the specter of violent death no longer has its hold on him, Mareeta doesn't quite have the saint-like glow she had back then in that accursed fortress, where he had grown weak and, frankly, a bit hysteric. But he does still see a bit of Karla in those eyes, and he does like that about her; he can't resist the slight smile cracking onto his lips.

"Mareeta, do keep sharp. You and I both have much to do, even if we won't be working by each other's sides anymore."

[tossup-tempest]

🎲 hi. haha jk . Unless?

12. A kiss along the collar bone

cw: nonsexual but suggestive

He feels like a giddy teenager, pulling his companion just around the corner into an alleyway. He hasn't been able to keep his hands off of Karel for the past twenty minutes or so, even if only to keep one at the small of his back as they walked, and now, they've escaped prying eyes long enough for Joshua to be selfish.

He presses Karel gently gainst a nearby wall, grateful that from this angle, Karel can't see how he has to lift himself onto his toes to be level with Karel's eyes. "You," Joshua breathes, "have been nothing but a little tease all night, you know that?"

That giddiness is back; heavy breaths and quiet little chuckles. Joshua's lips brush Karel's cheek, one hand crading his jaw as Joshua moves down. He trails little kisses along Karel's jaw, across his throat, licking over his pulse point.

"I can't have you here," Joshua breathes, almost forlorn. "Not how I want to." He nudges the collar of Karel's jacket aside with his face, mouthing at Karel's pronounced collarbone. His lips pull into a smirk, feeling that erratic little heartbeat speed up for him.

"Oh," Joshua purrs, "you like that, huh?"

[bladespromotedpawn]

"...You were wounded. Grievously so, if I may add."

Karel is dull and terse as always, but the concern in his words is as genuinely as it can be. He had seen the gravity of her wounds while they were on watch, and...

Perhaps he got nervous. If not for her, then for what he'd be tempted to do to her if he looked too hard. The sight, the smell of blood always does that to him, makes him do things he doesn't want to...

But she can't know that. She can never know the depths of his madness, his depravity. Even now, he averts his eyes from her wounds.

"...Are you well? Are you sure you can still fight like this...?"

"I... probably shouldn't, to be honest. Was plannin' on staying back and helping the people who've been knocked out of commission fully."

Mareeta loved fighting - she knew she did, it was why she was even a teacher at this place.

But, as it so happened, she learned that had a caveat.

She liked fighting humans. People.

Not monstrosities, not shadowy... things.

"I know I said we'd stick together for the second one, but we got paired for the first. You don't need to stay back if you don't want - you're your own man, not some hound I'm keeping at my heels."

Mareeta sighs, looking down at the bloodsoaked bandages covering her chest - that sword had embedded itself deep, and she was lucky to even be alive, probably.

"If things do go bad - come back to me. If you feel yourself lose control, I'm here. Trust me - I ain't going anywhere for ya. I made a promise, I'm keepin' it."

She leans back, crossing her arms behind her head as she rests on the makeshift cot, the stone cool against her bare back (her outfit was wrecked, and she had enough bandages covering everything she didn't worry about indecency. Plus, she had seen Karel bare-chested last time, so this wasn't too much a shift.)

"You've got the Blade of Fiana on your side, Karel. Now and forever."

[fletching-scar]

🎄 After the... Annoying events a couple days ago, the bruise on his face has swelled rather badly. Obnoxious — And painful.

Which leads Karel to rifle through the building, looking for anything to stem it. He thinks he catches sight of someone though, someone—

...

...

...

Uh oh.

Ha! No shit. Shinon had been wondering what happened to that creep... but this does make sense. He was too self-important to be anything other than some fancy boy with a twisted mind.

Skinny, too. Like there's really nothing to him.

He shoves off from the wall he's been leaning against, strides across the room with a purpose that belies the three... four... four-ish glasses of wine he's been drinking. Bullies the spooky bastard into a convenient corner, and grins, all vulpine like a highwayman.

"Y'don't look too good in purple."

Shinon's eyes flick sharply upward--there's a bundle of that stupid fucking kiss-weed hanging down. He snorts with laughter.

"Want me to kiss it better?"