Make a star shine

[21:06] Kofe sat down with an incredible amount of expectations to come out of this meeting. Marie was probably the perfect candidate to be there, too. He hadn't even thought of her. Her bond with her star and her quality as a meddling princess was something he needed.

"Alright, alright. The question's simple:

How would someone go if they wanted to make all the eighteen stars of the constellation shine brighter in the sky?"

Insane. Overly poetic, too. And definitely for a precise reason. What could stars shinning bring him, after all?
(Kofe)
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[21:11] Del blinked as they arrived, sat down, heard this question. To make all of Leonaus shine brighter? They sat, lips parted a little and nearly dumbfounded by such a question. First someone claims that their Star is dying and now another wishes for all eighteen to somehow shine brighter.

The Bishop sat silently, thoughts stirring before they retrieved their journal and moved to a fresh page... They'd need it.

'To make -all- eighteen shine brighter? The Stars bestow power to those who are connected as I or likely any other member of the royal family but, the connection isn't as strong to make the entire Star simply shine brighter.'

Del explained in writing, moving now to write another paragraph of their thought process, taking all the years of being within the Church and learning the Codex.

'However, there are individuals who have bonded so heavily with a Star of each branch. Perhaps were there three gathered then... maybe?'

Their head tilts to the side as they attempt to unravel this puzzle. Though people tend to bond with a single Star, not the entire Branch. At least... that's their own take on it.

'Why do you wish for something like that? It does sound beautiful but, it isn't exactly a feat that can be pulled off with ease. It seems like it'd require highly skilled individuals.'

Unfortunately, their own starlight was a bright golden- Sometimes with flickers of red but it's rare and likely unnoticeable.
(Del mer Joyau)
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[21:17] A pause.

'How would someone go..' as a phrasing made her assume the worst, a glance the way of Kofe before looking away once more; maybe it was just an innocent question, that he actually wanted to make the sky brighter - but Marie didn't think so, the Princesses frown showing terribly clear across her usual bright and happy features. For once, she didn't seem amused, and didn't intend on being round about with her response - honesty was necessary, if what she understood the question was, and what she barely overheard between him and Alice the night prior, were true.

"You don't."

A short reply, bittersweet as she glanced the way of Kofe. "No star will shine brighter for just one man, for any of us here; should the stars ever shine, ever weep, for one mans passing - he would need to be a man above any other, one that the world would miss dearly. The stars will shine as much as they do."

"Nothing will ever change that."

Marie was honest - turning in her seat to face the opposite direction of the tow, to look towards the statue that sat place in the center of the room. "When my uncle died, the previous King, people mourned that day - they wept and cried, and we all gathered that night in my town to stare to the sky and send their prayers."

"And every one of them believed the stars looked just a little brighter that day. I did not - they looked the same as they did the night before, and the night after... So if the previous King couldn't make them glimmer, and glow - then you'd have to be better than even him to rouse a reaction." It was a harsh truth, but she made it very clear as to why she was saying so - deep blue eyes sharply turning to glare at Kofe.

A face full of a frown.

"No star will ever glow brighter for one who dies before he faces his true Fate, much less eighteen.. If you're planning suicide, or anything stupid, then do not - you will not be met with anything more than the suffering cries of your friends, like me. Got it?"
(Marie ras Petrakis)
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[21:24] Del's approach was one full of interest and thought. Perhaps one that made it sound possible for him to attain; needing the help of three people from three different branches. Yes, yes. That was do-able—

And Marie came in. Full-speed ahead, not a stop in sight. She came crashing in with what sounded like a scolding more than anything else. A frown worn by the woman was the kind that made him feel like he needed to have a word with her about something else, like things needed to be... cleared up.

Still, she told him not to go crazy and kill himself just to make the stars shine, too. She cared, perhaps she was scared for what he was about to do.

And so, Kofe flashed a smile towards Marie, before answering Del's question.

"I have to plan a proposal unlike any other. It's not for now, but... I felt like I needed to do something people never thought I could do. I don't think I can express it all in a few words, either. So I figured a big display of everything I was capable of? That's what I'd do."

His attention shifted to Marie, whom he knew probably overheard his talk with Alice previously. Why was he talking of a proposal now, then?

"I... get that it's something crazy. But it's worth a shot to me."
(Kofe)
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[21:30] There's two entirely different approaches to Kofe's question. The Bishop more hopeful while Marie's had hard truths, hard realities.

The Stars truly did not shine brighter for anyone. It's a fact- Or? Is it? Does man watch the sky at every hour, every moment to confirm whether or not it doesn't twinkle a little brighter? They don't.

'I agree with Marie.'

Del started, letting the statement linger on the page for a moment.

'Nothing can say for certain it's possibility. All eighteen...' Del pauses their writing for a moment. 'I don't think such is possible. But, a singular Star, and maybe even for a moment... Then maybe. I've never once seen or heard of such a thing so I cannot say outright whether it can or cannot happen. I can only give my opinion on the matter.'

'Maybe.'

Del looked between the two as the nature of such a question is revealed. Doing that for Alice?

'Is that what your love does? It makes you want the Stars to shine brighter for her?'

It's odd, like a poem they don't understand. A language even, that of love, romantic and poetic. How foreign but they can make out some of it.

'It is worth a shot.'

They smiled.

'You have my support.'
(Del mer Joyau)
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[21:38] "-- A proposal?"

The frown faltered, and she seemed abruptly relieved - head dipping down as she released the softest of sighs, weakly letting her head remain there as she took a long breath. "Asshole. You made it sound like suicide." Annoying, she huffed - feeling bad for being so harsh prior. It was truthful, but she put one leg over the other and crossed her arms now, trying to find a solution for his plight.

It was tough, it was hard, how did one do something so romantic? To make a proposal loving, and meaningful, to show what's in ones heart? It was the hardest thing in the world, and she didn't know herself how she'd propose if it came up.

Stars shining brighter, brighter....

A pause.

"A Chiron Shard." Marie glanced the way of him now, as she would raise her eyebrows. "They're said to be fragments of stars - right? You could use it, and work with the church, to maybedeepen our connection with the stars; then we can talk with them."

"Or put up a big barrier around the city, to protect it, and have it magnify the night star to make it seem closer."

"All just guesses, of course - that's the best I can think of."
(Marie ras Petrakis)
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[21:47] Del's written words made Kofe smile a bit, laugh even. They were always so quiet and innocent, yet, it felt like years gave the church-goer a whole new perspective on life. One that seemed to understand things... a bit better, even if not fully. Their support was definitely welcome.

Marie's insult made him lean back a bit to look at her from a better angle, yellow eyes staring hers down for a few seconds before he spoke up.

"I'd have to find one. There was that guy from Myllenoris that had one. Bartholomew. But I haven't seen him in a while..." He said out loud, thinking more and more. With a star fragment it was clear that this would all be possible.

But alone?

"... If I can't find any, then..."

A thought for a bit longer, nodding to himself. That seemed possible, right? It could be. Sure, stars rarely even shone for a single person, but they had.

And people thinking it was impossible was just the kind of motivation Kofe needed.

"I could always try and make the one I'm bound to shine. It's not eighteen, but if I do it by myself? It would impress her.

What do you think, Marie? You're the one in charge of romances and you've got a cosmic touch to you."
(Kofe)
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[21:53] A Chiron Shard would be perfect- Unfortunate no one knows where to get one and as Kofe said, the person who won it as a prize is likely not around that much. At least they haven't seen him.

Marie's suggestion made more sense. It was within the realm of possibilities. More so than Kofe himself trying to make his Star shine brighter. To which Del tried to restrain a chuckle. One, it'd hurt to, and it was funny... Kofe couldn't even draw energy from his Star, let alone make it shine brighter.

They returned to the journal, a new page.

'That's an excellent idea, Marie. But if you'd still want for some display to happen, Kofe, you could gather those who have attuned with their Star to a greater point than you have.'

It certainly would be a rather pleasing display to witness, especially during something romantic. But, for the romance aspect of it, Del remained quiet.
(Del mer Joyau)
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[22:02] "Probably dead."

Who wouldn't want a Chiron shard? Making someone disappear for something so valuable would be incredibly likely, at least to her, and she already had a vague lingering distrust of Myllenoris anyways; arms staying crossed at her chest, and eyes closing, as a long sigh release. "Finding one is in fact a difficult task-"

Then he'd put her in charge of romance. The princess squinted, wanting to say it was only that she choose the romances for her family, a self imposed role at that, but it didn't much matter. "Stars are masses of energy, y'know? Large. Powerful... One Star, if connected too properly, could power the entire world for /anything/ every citizen wanted. I don't believe that's an overstatement, either; I genuinely think stars are that powerful."

"To make one flare? Would take the equivalent of a Chiron Shard, or one of those things from across sea." She'd heard rumors of crystalized divine magic, but didn't know if it was true or not.

A soft sigh escaping her.

"I think any romance that requires a heavy sacrifice over trivial matters shouldn't be a romance pursued, regardless. If you love her, and she loves you, truly, then the proposal should be enough.. I can bring the moon to the one I loved, but I don't want it to crash ontop of us y'know? Instead I'd rather just say.

'I love you, and want to spend my life with you.. Regardless of the social dynamics of our two ethnicities, your royalty, intermingling among each other; I would take the arrows and pitchforks of an army to call you my wife. Please, marry me.'

And let that be it. If that's not enough, then it's not a balance of power; love has to meet in the middle, and going to the extreme while they sit complacent is certainly not the middle."
(Marie ras Petrakis)
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[22:16] The back and forth between the three of them had him thinking about the solutions ahead of him. He could probably get the people he knew had a connection to a star, gather them up, and have them try to shine their cosmic might all at once.

It wouldn't make the moment his, or hers, however, would it?

Still, he heard Marie out. The logistics that'd come from having to use an object so rare for a proposal felt romantic, sure, but... warranted? No. Not at all. It wasn't even as if he'd earned that kind of proposal, either.

Her view of romance and a proper few words to say was something he could appreciate, however. She at least knew how he felt. Mildly so. His lips tugged into a smile as he leaned further back, looking towards the ceiling, thinking.

"I don't know if I'll manage, but I think I know what I need to focus on, now..."

He gazed past the ceiling— up to the heavens where he couldn't see. As if his heart was a compass towards a certain star. He grinned, muttering to himself.

".. yeah you're about to get a show, you greedy bitch."

Oh. Wow. Language.
(Kofe)
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[22:22] Del sat quietly now. They didn't have much to offer at this point so, the journal laid on their lap, opened to the page they wrote on while their hands rested on top of it.

Using the Stars for romance... Then again, he could use his words. Words were easier to understand than gestures, or maybe not. It's not as though they know Alice or Kofe well enough to know what speaks to either of them more.

But, Marie's words are warm. Maybe just that is enough. Who knows. It's not like they know how to propose to another, or to even share their feelings that passionately.
(Del mer Joyau)
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[22:25] Rising, she'd bring her hand around and pat Del on the back; then rising, she stepped over, and put one hand on the shoulder of Kofe. Squeezing, tightly, she smiled - rolling her eyes at the 'greedy bitch' part. Oh, who ever could it be, she wondered - their mutual hate? That brought their bonds together? The certain evil harpy that would ruin both of their lives? For very similar reasons, at that.

.. Maybe it was Alice though, and things had developed that hard. "Good luck with that Kofe, if you need help? Let me know. I'll offer it where I can..." Then she'd stretch, and walk towards the door - looking to make her leave as she chuckled.

"I'm going to go see Ophelia and get some details on some things I need to know. If you two need me? You'll probably be able to find me."

That was said with the tiniest of nods, as she turned to walk backwards; waving to the two of them while smiling.
(Marie ras Petrakis)
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[22:28] Kofe looked back down from the ceiling when Marie offered him a squeeze. He nodded to her, and cast a smile soon after.

"Yeah. If I ever find you. You're elusive when you wanna be." He said. His gaze shifted back towards the ceiling a few moments after that, speaking to poor Del who'd offered their ear instead of leaving. Bad decision.

".. Y'know, Del... Not every star is the same."

Obviously.
(Kofe)
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[22:30] Del smiled at Marie as she pat them on the back, and waved as she stood and prepared to depart. She's very kind, it's unfortunate that they never got the chance to really speak to her.

Their attention then turned to Kofe, head tilting the side slightly at his statement, one very obvious.
(Del mer Joyau)
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[22:30] Marie ras Petrakis says, "You two don't do anything stupid."
[22:30] Marie ras Petrakis says, ".. If it's stupid dangerous? Don't do it without me, thanks."
[22:30] Kofe asks, "How could we?"
[22:30] Kofe says, "You're taking all the stupid away-"
[22:31] Del mer Joyau says, ". . ."
[22:31] Kofe says, ".. So."
[22:31] Kofe asks, "What's with the lack of words?"
[22:35] Del pointed to the bandages around their neck. But, it would require more words so, they started to write.

'While with others in pursue of occult that plagued a certain area thanks to a witch, I paid the price. She crushed something in my throat.'

'It's been treated but, talking hurts.'

Their handwriting is rather nice, pleasant to view. They shot a glance at the two who entered the room. A new Acolyte and young woman they didn't know.

Del isn't a hardened fighter. They can't take blows and act as nothing happened. Just to speak caused a bit of pain they would rather avoid.
(Del mer Joyau)
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[22:38] Kofe looked at the wounds at Del's neck. Ouch. That.. stung. Definitely. Still, after reading the words that explained it all the young man's right hand reached up, offering a light pat on their back. He was careful with poor Del— he grew to learn the line after years.

"Sucks. But yeah— some stars are a real... pain in the ass. Either that or that blue loser thinks its funny watching things.

It ain't wrong, but.. damn."

He rose up from his seat.

"I shouldn't keep you any longer. There's... a lot I gotta work on."
(Kofe)
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[22:41] Del blinked as they're pat on the back. His statement didn't really process or it just make much sense. Perhaps they don't understand. Unless the Stars aren't real stars and merely a metaphor.

They rose to their feet and nodded. It seems the new Acolyte is conducting a lesson of some sorts so, they wouldn't disturb further. A bow met the young Rhoynish man then the two who entered before they took their leave as well.
(Del mer Joyau)