Romani Montclaire - Heroic BSOD (4/20-21)

[22:04] Failure.

Failure.

Failure.

It hurt more then any wound could. He wanted to fight. He wanted to save lives. But his body was never fast enough. He could try to carry himself forwards as much as he possibly could, but each and every time it felt like it gave out on him.

Until it did.

He could not fight to save another. He could not even fight well enough to get the chance to. Tattered, burnt, everything. Frustration. Never anger, only pain.

Until he is far from there. It takes him a while to notice that Reese had even followed after him. He was just out of it. Collapsing.

His body hit the ground.

"No."

The single word for her question, sun and moon eyes ever staring towards the ground.

"I am not alright."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:09] He wasn't running towards the city.

It was a thought that blared throughout her mind like an alarm. Where was he going? The wilderness wasn't a safe place to be-- especially so far from home.

But she didn't relent. He was faster than her and always many steps ahead, but she stuck to his trail like a tiger on the hunt until he'd finally come to a stop. Reese breathed heavily, hunched over, and pressed her hands to her knees. She was out of breath.

"I-... I can see that," she grimaced, moving to drop to a knee beside him. "Romani, I know how y'feel. What it's like t' lose. It's hard." Her own memories burn from the torment she went through months ago. The burning occult that gripped her soul practically lingered even still, searing her from the inside out only when the thought crossed her mind.

And it often did.

"Y'need t' have y'wounds looked at, Ro'. Fine time for that lesson, don't y'think? Let me help you. Please."
(Reese)
[22:13] 'It's hard'

"Noblesse Obliege." The word was spoken into the dirt, as the blue eye looked upwards from the ground, up towards Reese as she dropped to next to him.

"A Noble is supposed to protect others. A noble is raised, given tools, and given education so that they might provide for others. A noble lives to serve their duty and do the right thing."

"If I am not capable of doing the right thing, of doing my duty, why should I even be alive?" With that, he fell silent, just resting in the dirt. The word ever repeated in the back of his head. Eyes closed as he breathed into the dirt, laying in the tatters that covered him.

"Maybe my father was right. I am just a failure." He whispered, before nodding.

"Burns. They are covering me. If you want to do your lesson, the medical kit is in my pack. Nothing too serious. You may wish to use lax essence to rub into the wounds."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:19] Upon hearing his words, a quiet sigh left the young Felinae. "Ro'..." She muttered softly, clearly sympathetic for the man. "Regardless of what happened, y'did do the right thing. Win or lose, that didn't change. What y'tried t' do won't change-- and y'know what?" Reese pauses, moving to fish for the aforementioned medical kit in his pack.

"That girl's gonna remember it. It's gonna stick with her that, at the very least, you had her back. That impression ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon, Ro." With a click, the medical kit was popped open and the things inside were sorted through. Ointments, gauze... None of which was really needed.

She found the lax essence, and with a twist of the cap, moved to inspect his wounds.

"And no, y'father wasn't right. I've known you a short while, but not once have I ever thought that-- and I'm certain neither have any of our friends." She starts with what skin's visible, and with a bit swiped onto one of her fingers, she began to gentle rub it into the light burns upon his neck and face-- should there be any.

"Even lastin' impressions make a mark, Ro'."
(Reese)
[22:25] "I tried. But I failed. And in the end, what comes of it? I was not able to fight off Nox, so I was unable to help that girl. She might get hurt. She might be robbed. And I could do nothing about it."

The pack set lightly upon his back, a brown burlap thing. Within it was a plethora of books relating to English and Math, and religion. And intermixed with these books would be the medical supplies that he had mentioned, just sitting there.

"We can say that girl is going to remember it, but she might not. They might not remember it at all, only the pain of being hurt and robbed. That might be the memory that lasts from that."

"A memory that the bridge is not safe. A memory that the mountain is not safe." He swallowed, then closed his eyes, laying there as he felt the liquid be rubbed into his skin. A small nod.

"There should be a brush in that kit. You can use it to smear the essence on and further work it into the skin." He explained as he felt it on his neck.

"I am not sure. I do not know if I can leave a mark if I keep failing like this."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:31] "I can't say for sure what will happen t' the girl, but I don't think there's any intent t' hurt her beyond a mere robbing." Which, of course, still wasn't a good thing! But it was better than losing a limb or even her life.

To hear his following words, however, caused her brows to furrow. "... People don't forget things like that," Reese murmured, moving to instead reach into the pack again. Once she finds the brush, she uses it instead of her own hands. It was easier that way-- cleaner, too.

"When all seems bad in the world, the good that people do is the loudest sound you'll ever hear. If-... that makes sense." Moving on from his neck and face, she switched to his hands-- even going as far as to roll up his sleeve to get whatever burns rested there.

"I speak from experience, Ro'. Trust me." She switches to the other arm. "And you're a medic as well, aren't you? Y'can't say y'haven't ever left a mark when you're out here helpin' keep people together. That's somethin' many can say they do, y'know?"
(Reese)
[22:37] "We do not know for sure. That is the biggest worry. The fact that we can think that it is just to rob her, but maybe they do worse. Maybe they decide that because she fights back, she needs to lose a wing."

It felt like his soul was burning in pain from all of this, eyes squeezing shut and trying to ignore it. A small sigh finally leaves him.

"We can hope that people do not forget. But unless I can see something to it's conclusion, I can not be sure. In the end, I might have no impact at all."

The brush moved along his neck and face, the rolling up of his sleeves to get those burns as well as he just stayed face down in the dirt. He lifted his forehead up once, then lightly let it drop to press into the soil again.

"That means that the good people have to be loud enough to be heard in the first place." He said, as he felt the ointment be rubbed into his other arm, a small sound as the pain was lightly allivated.

"I can help people using my medical prowess, sure. But at the same time, I have the power to fight. I feel like I should be doing more."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:42] "Nox-... I don't think she'd let that man tear her limb from limb. Or-... tear anythin' off of her, really." Reese tries to reassure him, but her lack of eloquence likely didn't help matters too much.

"I'd wager she'll be in the same boat as you. Burnt a little, but otherwise? Fine." Leaning back, Reese's gaze washed over Romani. Whatever burns were left, she couldn't quite get to just yet.

"Your voice is plenty loud, Ro'. Y'just have t' believe it is. That's the only way it's ever gonna be heard." She pauses, considering something for a moment.

"... If y'want me t' get the rest, you'd need t' remove the jacket. I'd suggest instead of doin' that in the middle of the woods and makin' any travelers get the wrong impression, we move back t' the city. It's not exactly the safest out here, yeah?" The cap to the lax essence is swiftly screwed back on.

"And besides. I made it a point all the way back there that I'd make sure y'got back t' the city safe, sound, and in one piece. Y'got a love of y'own and they'd be worried sick if y'suddenly upped and vanished."
(Reese)
[22:48] "I would like to believe that." And yet, there is doubt in his voice. Doubt over it all.

"I am not sure. I heard of that guy before. I heard that he maimed someone. No, I saw it with my own eyes. I had to remove the blood sucking flowers from her arms." Romani shook his head, another small dejected sigh leaving him. Eyes closed.

Failure.

"It is not loud enough. Not yet." The sound of the cap being screwed back onto the lax essence filled the air as he sighed. Holy magic slowly filled the air, trying to dull the pain as he struggled, trying to lift himself from the ground upon which he lay.

"Let us return then. Go back to the city if out here is not safe out here. And you are right."

"I bet Ophe would be angry if I vanished. And I made a promise. There is still something I have to do." He nodded, not yet clarifying what it was.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:53] "I didn't like the way any of them carried themselves. Those two that looks at me-- they didn't have good intentions being there. They were there t' pilfer and rob." But should she have felt sorry for the people of Theria? Someone from their very kingdom had nearly torn her own soul from her body. They condoned that, didn't they? The lands were lawless. They didn't care.

Reese shook her head, doing well to brush the thoughts aside. Now wasn't the time to think about morality.

"Easy does it, pal." She kneels, offering a hand to him. Small as she was, she was still an unarmed fighter capable of carrying her own weight. She had some oomph in those brittle bones of hers.

"I just don't want t' be caught by anyone up t' know good. Like I said, Ro'-- I ain't a fighter, and if somethin' happened t' you? I wouldn't forgive myself for it." Funny, as normally it was other people protecting her.

"Keep an arm on my shoulder if y'need to. It won't keep me down."
(Reese)
[22:57] Covered in burns, and tattered clothes, Romani had accepted the hand, arm around Reese's shoulder as he slumped, following after he back inside of the safety of Orsona. Sun and moon eyes trail downwards, ever frowning but saying nothing.

On the bright side, lax essence had been rubbed into many of those burns and it already looked as if they would heal soon enough, but balled fists remained, ever angry and letting out a sigh.

"I will get to the split ends as soon as I can, Finley."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:57] Kabal lux Ambrose says, "We don't promote liars."
[22:58] Finley blinked, realizing whatever this 'split-end' was paled in comparison to whatever was going on with Romani at the moment. The Teraphim stared and then asked the ever obvious question, "What happened?"
(Finley)
[22:59] What- though they were having a pity party for Siegfried, it seemed that maybe another set needed it more. The arrival of Romani caught her attention, as she turned away from the pseudo-knighting of Siegfried, to stare as her eyes went wide. It was rare to see the churchly man with his clothing ruined, but even more to see him angry.

Quickly jogging over, she joined the side of the pair to look over Romani, making sure he wasn't going to fall in a coma like the other just nights before. "What happened, Reese? Romani? Is everything okay?"

"Who did this?"
(Marie ras Petrakis)
[23:01] Romani cos Montclaire whispers to Reese: Thank you for dragging me in front of everyone instead of to a hospital, Reese. I do enjoy being shamed in front of my friends.
[23:01] Romani cos Montclaire whispers to Reese: This is sarcasm.
[23:01] "The Bridge happened. Am I correct?"

Ilsa's face mirrors concern, but her approach is admittedly a bit slower than Marie's. Mostly due to the Radiant digging in her bag for a certain potion.

"This should be able to help with the treatment a lot, Marie. But he probably still needs medical attention! And new clothing."

Handing it over to the Petrakis, Ilsa gives a partial frown to both the nobleman and Reese.

"Now probably isn't a good time to tell you that the King wants an outpost set up at the bridge, is it?"
(Ilsa lux Ambrose)
[23:02] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: --
[23:02] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: ... I'm sorry...
[23:03] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: Y'wanna-... retract what y'said earlier? About me hangin' around more?
[23:03] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: I-... I ain't gonna be offended.
[23:04] His eyes snapped over to Romani and Reese, the tragic talk he just had along with his knighting 'ceremony' was just cut short by the injuries Reese had.

Quickly he jogged over, Holy Magic emanating from the newly appointed knight. "What happened?" He'd state, although everyone asked that, his hands went to Reese's shoulder as he began to cast 'mend'. "I can use my Holy Magic for the minor scraps, you guys focus on the major things."
(Siegfried lei Lohengramm)
[23:06] Exhausted, Reese was happy to have finally came to a stop amongst the rest of the Order with the limping Romani in tow. As far as her own injuries went? There didn't seem to be a single burn, scratch, or bruise on her person. She was just out of breath and clearly haggard from whatever journey back the two of them had to make.

"Bit of a-... bit of a story, but Ro' wanted t' check out the place I was attacked some months ago." She started, but Ro's sudden whisper caused her to turn her head. Whatever it was? It made her look disheartened.

The ears atop her head flattened slightly, and with a downcast gaze, the Felinae continued with a voice much softer than before. "We-... saw trouble on the ridge." But she didn't continue from there.

Romani could finish the tale himself.
(Reese)
[23:07] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: I-... I didn't know where the hospital was. I thought-... it was on the way here.
[23:09] Romani cos Montclaire whispers to Reese: Reese, if your tail big enough for me to hide in, then curl up and die in?
[23:09] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: A-are... you requestin' I curl up and die, or are you askin' if y'can curl up and die under my tail?
[23:09] Romani cos Montclaire whispers to Reese: If I can curl up and die under your tail.
[23:10] Reese whispers: I. I suppose y'can, but I don't think it'll hide y'very well.
[23:11] Romani cos Montclaire whispers to Reese: I can attempt.
[23:12] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: But please, I promise no one's gonna think lowly of you. They're your friends. -We're- all your friends, Ro'. They care for you above all else.
[23:12] Attention was turned to the both of them who were now approaching, his delicate companion and a bruised Romani who looked much worse for wear. A small frown left creased lips as he encroached upon their positions. He wanted to help the both of them, mostly to lift off of the weight that he was providing to Reese.

A much larger and prominent Rhoynur moved to shift weight and carry Romani's weight instead of her. Blood slowly seeped off and out of his pores and onto the Noble, there was slow soothing, but it did exist.

Of course he didn't want to say anything, he always hated when he missed events such as this.
(Kabal lux Ambrose)
[23:13] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: If thinkin' lowly was in their blood, the lot of you would've never let in a dirty slum cat like myself.
[23:14] Romani takes one moment to reach over to Reese's hat and use it to cover his face, and once more casting his gaze downwards.

"Muggings at the bridge. I tried to stop it. I was not strong enough." The Bishop said quickly, not getting into it too much. A small nod towards Ilsa.

The wounds themselves, now treated, looked superficial, more like they would heal themselves over time. It was more the shame and the feeling of futility that numbed him, that dug their claws into him and hurt.

"I do not want to talk about it. But I know. I was the one who pitched the idea to him." Romani nodded to Ilsa.

The holy magic does dull some of the soreness, but it can not dull the wanting to die planted deep within his soul. His eyes just look away, saying not much. He quietly begins to curl up on Reese's back, up until Kabal lifts him up and is carried on their back. The Noble then proceeds to do the same, curling up onto Kabal's back and hiding himself in shame.

The desire to die is quite palpable in the air.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[23:14] Hat Jacking
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[23:15] Romani cos Montclaire whispers to Reese: Reese, can you dig my cemetery lot for me?
[23:16] {ITEM} Traded item with Reese: Rucksack
[23:16] Reese escapes the temporary loss of her hat. There is no stopping this.
(Reese)
[23:18] Bumi whispers: [ shadow ]
[23:18] Bumi whispers: [ make like 250 magically fall out of ur pockets for me ]
[23:18] Bumi whispers: [ i need to make an outfit... ]
[23:19] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: Oh, come on, Ro'.
[23:19] Romani cos Montclaire whispers: (I have no coins.
[23:19] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: There ain't gonna be any gravediggin'.
[23:20] Romani cos Montclaire whispers to Reese: I want one. 'Here lies Romani Cos Montclaire. Died at seventeen. Cause of death; Shame.'
[23:20] "Hm." The Teraphim frowned, looking more concerned than usual given Romani's tale lacked several details, on top of the fact that the Bishop had apparently been beaten into a point of deep shame and embarrassment.

"The Therians then. Most likely." he said, crossing his arms. "Was there a name you caught?" he asked, despite Romani clearly not really wanting to talk about it.

He was ready to follow wherever this group was meant to move given the middle of the road wasn't the greatest place to handle it.
(Finley)
[23:20] Romani cos Montclaire whispers to Reese: Publically shamed after being unable to stop someone from being mugged.
[23:21] The potion was handed off to Marie, yet she paused as she held it - looking at the bottle before shaking her head. The wounds didn't seem /that/ serious, and if anything? They seemed more on the emotional scale, judging by the downcast gaze of Romani and the strange way he was acting. The curling up on the backs of his carriers, the fact that he wouldn't look at anyone - they were all indicators that something had gone down.

Something more than a mugging? Or was the failure to protect enough to put Romani in this situation? Walking around to where Kabal held the man on his back, Marie would reach a hand up to squeeze the shoulder of Romani.

Delicately leaving her hand there as she smiled, saddened at the state he was in. "I-.. Romani, don't feel too terribly bad yes?.. Sometimes we just lose battles, it happens." It may not mean much, coming from the person on the biggest loss streak here.

"We should take him into the church to rest, yes? We can ask him questions there... Not in the middle of the street."
(Marie ras Petrakis)
[23:21] Reese could feel the weight of Romani growing heavier and heavier. Were her legs giving out? Or was he starting to slump? She didn't know, but panic was quick to set in until Kabal moved to whisk the much taller man off her back.

Hat stolen or not, the Felinae couldn't help but to breathe a sigh of relief.

With what he was dealing with, she'd let him keep the hat until it all blew over.
(Reese)
[23:22] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: Oi, come on. No one's shamin' you. Everyone's just concerned!
[23:22] Romani cos Montclaire whispers to Reese: Suffacated to death on a pillow works just fine as well.
[23:22] "I should have known you were the one."

A snap of her fingers as she steps forward to smooth out Reese's hair post-hat jacking. Romani's dread gives her sudden insight to the reality behind a certain bottle of pillow-wine, and she starts to pace around the area slowly while those who were qualified take a better look at Romani.

"Okay. Please let Pericles and the other members of the Church know that we're going to be increasing presence in patrols on that bridge. But at the same time, we have an obligation to man and protect Starfall." So much to do. So many things to organize.

"Right, right. The Church."

She glances back to Lloyd and Andrew to give a wave, then continues her pacing - this time in the direction of the church.

"Even with Illburg banditry quelled, Theria fills the void they left. No wonder Serea wants to poke the dragon."
(Ilsa lux Ambrose)
[23:23] Holy Magic would surround Reese as Siegfried closed his eyes. The pain they felt would probably numb as their cuts and bruises faded, but anything more serious with that would take more time.

Quickly he looked around, the middle of the street wasn't somewhere they should be, his gaze shifted over towards the church.

"I agree, let's move them to the church."
(Siegfried lei Lohengramm)
[23:23] Reese whispers to Romani cos Montclaire: --please don't suffocate y'self with a pillow, Ro'.
[23:26] Romani does not speak in response to Finley. Instead, they just shook their head. No names. No allegiances. Nothing. Only the endless shame that he felt in that moment, swallowing and closing his eyes. The hand of Marie on his shoulder caused him to shutter a little bit, but remained otherwise still, just shaking his head.

"Right." He agreed, the single word to Marie as he continued to pull the hat more and more to cover his face.

He nodded towards Ilsa while just slumping more into Kabal. He breathed in.

"I need a pillow. Many pillows. Many heavy pillows." He does not clarify.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[23:33] Eyes glanced to Reese, he hadn't really seen or interacted with her for the greater part of the day, to see them both come back to the town weary and injured. Romani rotated to his back instead of Reese's shoulder, he nodded to her, maybe she'd follow, maybe she wouldn't. Kabal wasn't a medic, but he was at least fine enough to transfer Romani to a hospital.

"We'll...--" Kabal shuddered, he felt breath on his neck that wasn't Reese's own for once, it sent chills down his spine. The bad kind.

"We'll get Romani to the church, surround him in cushions and the such. We'll find a medic as well. I can't really do extensive medical work, but I'm sure someone in Osrona will be willing to."

Smiling to the Felinae, he nodded to everyone else and began a slow trudge towards the church, holy-man on back.
(Kabal lux Ambrose)
[23:33] Reese says, "He was lettin' me practice treatin' burns on him, but-..."
[23:34] Reese says, "We were in the middle of the woods and I suggest going home before -we- were the robbed ones."
[23:36] Romani ,right away, looks like he is either trying to curl up and die under the pillow, or suffocate himself with it. One of the two.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[23:36] Reese says, "--"
[23:36] Finley says, "..."
[23:36] Reese says, "Maybe we shouldn't give 'em the pillows."
[23:37] Marie ras Petrakis says, "-- I hear weighted blankets help uhm.. with certain emotional instabilities."
[23:37] Marie ras Petrakis says, "So they might help him here."
[23:38] Ilsa lux Ambrose asks, "Do you?"
[23:38] Ilsa lux Ambrose asks, ".... Have one?"
[23:38] Ilsa lux Ambrose says, "I might need it."
[23:38] Marie ras Petrakis says, "-- No."
[23:38] Marie ras Petrakis says, "What about me seems emotionally instable."
[23:38] Ilsa lux Ambrose asks, "But if you did, you would let me wear it, right?"
[23:39] Marie ras Petrakis says, "Absolutely."
[23:39] Ilsa lux Ambrose says, "Okay."
[23:41] Finley walked over to Romani's side and held his hand out, hovering over the Bishop's back. In a strange show of care, he brought it down and gave Romani a few comforting pats, or at least an attempt at them. After half a dozen of them, he retracted his hand and stared down at his friend in that emotionless way the Teraphim had come to be known for.

"If you are embarrassed because you've ended up this way Romani, you shouldn't be." he stated, a simple notion rather than something so easily felt. "We've all felt the sting of defeat. If it wasn't for you carrying me around on the battlefield, I would have succumbed to the star burns Duana left on me." he went on, though his injuries during the battle were anything but lethal. They would have ended up an inconvenience and some scarring at best.

Finley walked over to one of the other beds, and then a second.

And then a third and fourth.

And another now, until he was carrying five pillows that he soon brought over to Romani and dropped atop his body, only to help arrange them so they wouldn't fall off.

"We are all thankful for what you've done in the past. No one will judge you for what you're feeling now."
(Finley)
[23:43] Reese scoots to the right, moving to stand at Kabal's side now that Romani was, hopefully, no longer suffocating on any pillows.
(Reese)

[23:49] The few comforting pats do make him stop fidgeting as he laid on the bed. Unless that was the amount of air he had finally leaving his body and his bodily functions ceasing as a resu-

No, no he was alive. Lightly, the pillowing covering his mouth would be lifted up.

"You are right." He half mumbles.

"And no. It was not a Therian Mugger. Or maybe it was. Reese and I went to see if we could locate the person who attacked her. When we got there, we found a person who stabbed another person. I was going to apprehend her, but a person went in to attack and rob her first. I was going to prevent the robbing but I was stopped."

"Noblesse Oblige. A Noble is supposed to be able to protect others. It is our purpose. It is our duty. If we can not do that,"

"What is the reason we are alive?"

He just shook his head, covering his face more. "It does not matter if the person is Therian, or Illburgian, or anything else. I just want to help people in front of me. I want to prevent people from hurting or stealing from other people."

Failure.

With that, Romani goes back into the pillows. Sinking into them more, he seemed to appreciate the extra ones.

"I just want to help as much as I can. And I always end up getting beaten back."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[23:50] Ilsa lux Ambrose exclaims, "Hey!"
[23:51] He watched as Romani explained himself and Reese scooted closer to his side. An arm gently wrapped her hip, pulling the Felinae slightly more to his own body, whispering to her to speak out of others ears.
(Kabal lux Ambrose)
[23:53] Reese sighed, folding her arms. She'd heard the spiel already outside the woods, and try as she might to make him see otherwise, she had failed. He might've disliked her for dragging him in front of all his friends, but if there was anything he needed? It was to hear them all speak words of encouragement.

She meant what she said earlier.

Pulled close, Reese glanced up at Kabal to whisper in kind as the bountiful amount of pep talks were surely being given.
(Reese)
[23:53] Ilsa walks right up to Romani, lifts a pillow, and hits him with it.

Much harder than she probably should have.

"Isn't a part of that 'Noblesse' theory handling things with poise? About persisting, no matter what? People still need you, regardless of if you were not able to do more for that one person."

Thwap.

"'Mani, we save those we can, and keep fighting for those that we cannot. Lightbringer Mora told me that, and she was right."

Thwap. Bop.

"It's okay to mourn a loss. To feel bad about failing. But you can't let it break you. Not when so many people out there still need you. Still need us."

One final overhead power smash before she sets the pillow down and takes a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Next time you go to the bridge, I'll be there. And more people will be there with us after that. We're going to make that bridge the safest place in Osrona! Got that?"
(Ilsa lux Ambrose)
[23:55] "I-... At least know how you feel, Romani." Marie sighed, nothing made it better, but at least he could know he wasn't alone; her frown softly showing as her arms folded behind her back, hidden by their cloak as she dropped her head. "I've lost every actual fight I've been in, and even light sparring - I don't join the Order, or go on Patrols, because I know it'd end in a similar way; y'know?..."

"But-" Just as it got a little to depressing, she added in after a quick pause. "It was an honest attempt to help, Romani - just because you couldn't, doesn't mean it was wasted effort or that it's something to be ashamed of. You just have to try harder next time, y'know?"

"And we all know, all of us, that you will try harder when the opportunity comes again. Other people might drag us together, but you're our moral anchor; like the.. Cool dad, or uncle." Nodding, she'd give that bit as well - smiling ear to ear, though she knew it'd probably not be enough to swap him.

Then the man started being attacked by Ilsa, causing her to snicker and smile as she stopped talking; letting her take over in talking, while growing quiet.

After all they usually said the /same/ thing anyways, to the point of interrupting each other to do it.
(Marie ras Petrakis)
[23:56] Ilsa lux Ambrose exclaims, "Marie!"
[23:56] Marie ras Petrakis exclaims, "What?!"
[23:56] Ilsa lux Ambrose says, "Stop. Taking. My. Lines."
[23:56] Marie ras Petrakis exclaims, "-- I can't help it!"
[23:59] "Romani, stop being yourself up over losing." He'd state bluntly.

His scarred face judged him, not that he could see it though, Romani was fast first into all the pillows. Still, he hated the fact he was like this.

"The entirety of the left side of my face is scarred because I lost a fight, because I wasn't strong enough to beat someone."

"During the war - I battled someone and lost. I was knocked to the ground and I could've died right there and then, but I was spared and shown mercy because I was a kid."

"My chest is scarred with magma because I couldn't defeat an occultist, they ripped right into my ribcage and almost killed me, and yet I'm still alive -

And worst of all,

I couldn't defeat the damn wraith, and I almost got my friends killed, after they all fell I was the only one left, and I couldn't give it the finishing blow."

His voice was stern, judgmental, and he wasn't going to deal with Romani's attitude towards losing, not after Siegfried lost so much.

"Stand up and get stronger, you crying in the damn bed isn't getting you any stronger, it just makes you look pathetic, like you said your a noble, nobles are meant to be a pillar, and you can't be one if your crumbling."
(Siegfried lei Lohengramm)
[00:00] "We will always fail." Finley said, not sugarcoating anything. "I have failed at everything I've set my mind to thus far. In fact, I don't believe I have succeeded. At anything." The Teraphim watched as the others tried to give Romani their words of advice, and then Ilsa beat the Bishop with a pillow.

"But that is how we learn. You learned today that you have a limit, and you'll need to practice to go beyond it. Protecting others is a noble cause to choose, but you can't protect everyone."

"You won't win every fight or save every life. All you can do is take each loss and build upon it. Like a stepping stone until the day comes where you don't fall."

Everyone else told stories of their own failures, and Finley looked around the room listening to each of them until he turned back to Romani.

"See, Romani. We are all losers. You don't fail alone."
(Finley)
[00:10] Romani is beaten with a pillow by Ilsa. This is not the sweet release of death he craved!!!! This was pillow hell!!!

It does not instantly break him out of his funk. Usually friendly beat downs work when one has not already been priorly beaten down. As Ilsa thwaps and bops away at him, Romani's head bobs underneath the sway of the rapidly striking pillow, choking on feathers.

Outrageous.

The final overhead power smash finally connects, and he just lays there. He felt as if the beating had made him live an entire year of his life in just one moment.

The words of his friends surround him, and slowly the noble would raise a single finger into the air, as if to say he needed a moment to say something.

"OW."

Truly, eloquent.

"I am not a 'cool dad' and if any of you start calling me 'Daddy', I am running away as fast as I can."

"I am not crying. Or I was not, I think that pillow might have brought out a few tears."

"And failing does not make me feel better."

"How can a group of adults be so horrible at pep talks, the next generation is doomed." Romani grumbled, staying underneath the pillow for a few moments. Then a sigh let out.

"I was not strong enough to help someone that I wanted to save. But more then that, I just feel shame. If I lose, I want to wallow in it alone, not have it dragged to some forefront. That is how anchors keep grounded, you know?"

"And we will make that bridge safer. I want it to be a symbol. I want it to show that peace can be obtained. So I will get back up. Eventually. Do not worry about that, Siegfried and Ilsa. I am going to get stronger and save more lives Finley."

"But I want to just curl up and die from being seen in clothes that are ripped up. I am lucky my father is not here to mock me either. Or to hit me with the ruler."

Gently, a hand would reach inwards, towards the center of the room.

"Team."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[00:16] It was a terrible pep talk - grinning ear to ear she found it kind of a relief that they were all as terrible at the existence things as she was. The beating was rough, but at least it was with a pillow; and she'd roll her eyes. "We wouldn't call you that if you paid us, we'd probably call you... 'Pa."

"Papa Azreal."

She snickered and grinned - glancing over to Siegfried. /That/ was the time to use their overused joke, once in a blue moon on a rare occasion; but she'd walk forward to join everyone near the bed while her hands finally unfolded. That was the Romani she knew; one with plans, and the desire to fix things; not the moping sad version of himself that he just previously was.

"I don't know - the rugged look kind of suits you - like a man returning from war. I bet Ophelia would like it - after she was done freaking out over how you were injured." Another tiny tease his way, but she'd reach out and put her hand over his own in the center of the room. "Team."

Ready to throw her hand up, admittedly lamely, when everyone else joined them in their team cheer.

"We'll make sure that bridge is much, /much/ safer. No matter what, yeah? Let's get started immediately, so we won't have to worry about anyone else being mugged or hurt."
(Marie ras Petrakis)
[00:18] His arms crossed as he listened to Romani speak, a small smile formed on his face, still he felt a wave of emotions hitting him at the same time, he was trying at least. Today wasn't fun.

Ever so slowly he would walk to the center of the room to join Romani, it was what he needed, and what Siegfried needed to do, they both had to stick by their friends.

"Team." He would state, ready to respond to whatever else anyone had to say.
(Siegfried lei Lohengramm)
[00:18] Finley heard Romani's speech, listened intently even to discern what it was his friend was feeling. The Teraphim stared down, unwavering in his focus, his pale gaze relatively wide.

Romani's hand went up and he spoke 'Team', but all Finley had heard was the insistence of the Bishop saying, 'I want to just curl up and die.' and thus another pillow was swiped quickly from the pile and hit Romani in the face.

Finley blinked.

"Oh."

He realized that this was more a motivational moment instead of Romani's continued self pity.

Fin put his hand in quickly and said, "Team."
(Finley)
[00:18] "Fortunately, I don't think anyone's gonna call y'that!" Reese is quick to reassure the downtrodden man, but as soon as he goes right back to sulking, Reese lets out a heavy sigh.

"Are we horrible at pep talks, or are y'just horrible at being pepped up, eh?" Something for him to think about for a bit!

"That bridge will become as safe as y'want it to, alright? It'll take time and work, but-! We'll-... or, well... you guys will see it happen." She wasn't exactly involved when it came to the heavy-lifting, but she had their backs in spirit!

So when his hand lifts and he calls out for a hoorah, Reese moves to join her hand with everybody else's. "Team!"
(Reese)
[00:18] A small grumble from the Rhoynish. He wasn't good at talking, he was the one that needed to be talked to at times, therefore, his eloquence wasn't quite there. He spoke with actions and emotion, words and politics weren't his play, he was the meat of the political actions, the one who got them to go through and be put into physical motion.

That didn't mean he couldn't listen and care for the others in the room.

There were inside jokes that he missed at times and other feelings that weren't properly conveyed. He still felt for everyone in the room as an extension of his own family, even odd member in there that was literally his family.

"The bridge will stand and remain. I will find myself posted at it routinely to ensure its safety for Osronans and Osrona alike." A quick glance to Reese. "It will be a symbol of strength and the like that will let Theria know that the empire won't falter or concede in its actions."

"I didn't fight for a bridge just to watch it crumble a week later, anyways..."

A hand extended onto the pile, much larger than everyone else's. "Team."
(Kabal lux Ambrose)
[00:19] Ilsa picks a pillow up again and swings it at Romani, just for his immaculate taste in fashion.

"Fine. But as a side note..."

She puts one hand into the huddle, then points the other directly at Marie.

"That's a terrible reason to not be a knight. I won't accept it. Regardless of whether you have the strength and power to win every fight right now, you should still try." The hand extends out further to squeeze the noble's shoulder.

"If I can't drink from pillow wine and wither away, neither can you. From this day forth, you'll be a cadet of the First Light, under the newly reformed Adelphi Aegis squad. And if you have a problem with that, you can fight me over it." She was dead serious.

Glancing over her shoulder to Finley now, the same 'offer' is given. "Lady Asta's cloaks are to be treated as knights, right? Then welcome to my unit. Along with Kabal's we're going to fix that bridge, then Osrona. Then Esshar."

Her hand digs back into her pocket to fetch two badges, which she adds to the huddle for Finley and Marie to take, respectively.

"The Order exists to protect and defend those that cannot defend themselves. I cannot think of a better group of people to share this badge with."
(Ilsa lux Ambrose)
[00:26] Romani had started to put his hand in for the call of team, only to be called Papa Azrael by Marie, and almost hit by a pillow instantly by Finley and Ilsa. (Minor joke posted here, removed for the seriousness of the log).

Romani saw a bad timeline two seconds in the future, and imminently backed up, barely avoiding the blows of pillows that were coming towards him.

"I want to say, some of you guys are monsters." The noble sighed. "And at least Ophe does not have to see me like this after all, Marie. She is already saying I should consider washing out the hair dye."

A nod is made towards Reese. "But no, I am rather certain that it is just being bad at pep talks. Obviously all those here need to read and study books on making friends and influencing people." Hesighed.

"Except for Kabal. He is good at pep talks." He said, noticing his friend's silence through the majority of it all. "I want to see that bridge truly become a symbol. Strength, peace, all of that."

A nod is made, watching Ilsa pull out the badges and offer them to both Marie and Finley. "You should have named it bridge squad." He insisted, giving a small chuckle.

"Team bridge." He threw his hand in the air.
(Romani cos Montclaire)