Pinky Swear I (5/24)

[15:49] "You, too, take upon yourself a burden."

There was much to say, but something keeps the Teraphim's tongue within his mouth, failing to utter words he may wish. Humbled, perhaps, was he? Fearful of Agate's role?

What should be something exciting now falls to faint worry.

Eyes dim once more as he wrests the words from his throat.

"Easier then mine in many ways, but far worse in others. You have not yet grasped the magic, and I only ask that you dwell deeply on if you are right to bear the burden.

It may take you places you do not expect."

Exorcism was not to be the wicked ride that Occultism was, but no less was it a magic that warps the mind. The darkness points the mind towards wickedness, but unchecked righteousness can carve paths just as meandering.

Tieru's head shifts, peering over towards the resident exorcist who seems now marked for death by much of his kin. "...You wish to work alongside me?" Queries the Teraphim to Agate.

"Then, if you wish to counterbalance me, I ask you a question.

This land has a problem with greedy merchants. One in particular takes the crop of the land and offers it back upon the starving people of Osrona at outrageous prices.

While his people starve, he seeks to profit.

I say he should die."

Tieru's gaze flickers back to Agate.

"What say you?"

(Tieru Avlee)
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[15:49] Leni lingers and stares from a distance. Once again. She's silent.
(Leni)
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[15:58] Even if she wished to impose the Teraphim's will upon humanity, she would never advocate for the needless loss of life. Where atonement was possible, it was something they would most definitely need to consider.

Especially now when many Osronans viewed their kind as rabid monsters. Agate took it upon herself to swerve this mindset, this opinion, to show that they were merciful overseers rather than beings to be feared.

A balance in that regard as well, perhaps.

"I believe myself right to bear this burden, yes. I'd rather it be me than anyone else, as the path of light and dark is not an easy one to tread."

She would take up the mantle of holiness, or attempt to anyways. Being young, her mind wasn't entirely set upon one thing or the other, but she knew the general direction in which she wished to take her life.

Tieru's question, however, brings her pause. Pondering the question over several times, attempting to sympathize and put herself in both the position of the merchant, as well as those to who he essentially robbed for his own gang.

"I think death is far too easy a punishment, Tieru. I believe that his assets should be repurposed and redirected towards the reconstruction of Osrona, his food distributed equally and for free among those who would otherwise starve."

"He should be forced into hard labor, be it either in the reconstruction process or working the own crops he attempted to profit from."

Death was immediate... this would be far longer a punishment. And perhaps he would learn, with enough time, realize the err in his ways and repent.
(Agate)
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[16:02] Tieru nods in response to her answer, falling silent.

It was rare that he truly listened to the opinions of anyone who didn't explicitly rank higher then him or, ultimately, were not the Will of Aschea.

But if Agate so wished to be a counterbalance, their words would be just as valid as his own in the coming days. Thus, he dwells.

Upon her answer, upon the man. Upon the greed, and upon the punishment.

A hum escapes his lips...

"I see." Concedes the Teraphim, breaking the thoughts he had within him. "I will consider your words for the future. I cannot promise what will or will not be done, but I will weigh your thoughts heavily."

As if it were a part of his own mind too.

In truth, there was no technical authority for him to dole anything out, but Osrona was still very much a lawless land by far and large. Until order were restored in fully, who knows what can be gotten away with?

He seems to make to continue, but his gaze catches something in the distance, green as the grass itself.

"Another question, then." His gaze never leaves Leni. "...Were we wrong to do what was done to Osrona?"
(Tieru Avlee)
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[16:03] Leni says, "..."
[16:03] The nature magi's face, already haggard and drawn, becomes more so. Still. She says nothing.
(Leni)
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[16:04] Elred Yindove asks, "Hmm?"
[16:11] There was no telling what Agate had done had she been here... She had only heard talk of it through the others back home in Myllenoris, and even she had knew something was wrong, so far away.

Was it wrong of her to disagree, given that she wasn't here at the time? Regardless-

"I believe that aggression should have only been directed upon those who were fighting us. Not all of the humans, but the ones who were fighting us and posed threats."

While Agate wasn't sure if Tieru had hurt innocents himself.. she knew quite well that bystanders had been harmed in the chaos. The rubble and ruin served a grim reminder of what transpired that day in Osrona.

A day which would never be forgotten, at least in the minds of the refugees of Osrona.

"I fully support the war against Osrona, however, just disagree with how things might have unfolded towards the end. They will never see us in a positive light if we give them reason to believe we are monsters... demons."

"But it can be remedied, it can be fixed, now that High Lord Finley has taken control of the Kingdom of Myllenoris."

His other words are taken as well, contemplating. She had always thought of it as her balancing him out, and never the other way around.
(Agate)
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[16:14] Again, Tieru falls silent.

A similar respect to the thought is given as he glances away, taking her words in, and mulling upon them with grand weight.

Though he responds quicker this time, as if a resolution was swifter.

"I see," Begins the Teraphim again as his focus finds itself back upon Agate. "This is considered, but I offer you this warning:

Do be careful with your care of the innocent. While it is well and good, know that you partially tread upon the direct command of our High Lord, Finley.

As he now commands the Will of Aschea, he is unerring and all-knowing."

The implicit answer being 'if he commanded it, it was right'.

Even if the 'catch' of the situation was that he was not yet High Lord.

"You've given me much to dwell on." Once somber expressions shift to a slight smile. "Do well in your learning, and see me again once you are complete.

I wish to see the magic wielded by our exalted hands."
(Tieru Avlee)
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[16:18] Leni visibly is wounded. Not by the answer Agate gives. No, she's starting to cotton on a little better to these social things.

He'd looked right at her. He'd wanted a justification. An attack without lifting a hand. Her eyes water all over again. She doesn't even look mad about this possible slight.

Instead she looks tired. Tired and hurt. She is unequal in the eyes of someone she'd considered a friend. Perhaps it might've served her well to realized that sooner.

She approaches, shaking. The magi reaches into her pockets...for a knife. To those that don't know, it looks very well like she might be willing to do something with it.

But Tieru would probably recognize the work of his own carving on the butter knife. Leni holds it out to him. Still stubbornly not speaking.


(Leni)
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[16:18] Osiris looks at Romani with despair in his gaze.
(Osiris Queen)
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[16:19] A blink crosses Romani's eyes, turning and looking towards Osiris. A frown crosses his lips at the look of despair is noted upon their visage.

"Osiris? Are you okay?"
(Romani cos Montclaire)
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[16:20] 'Unerring and all-knowing.' Could it be true? Agate knew that the crown of Aschea carried a piece of their mother within, but did that make the bearer infallible and omniscient?

Just a couple years ago Finley and Asta had fought, though it was to be expected when one balanced the other out. Agate could only wonder if she would be required to take up arms against Tieru in similar fashion.

A thought which was quickly dismissed, not wanting to think of divisiveness of any sort when what they required now more than anything was unity and strength. A path paved forward together, Teraphim guiding humankind, as well as all of the other races and people.

"I will always consider the words of High Lord Finley to be absolute."

That didn't mean she'd be against giving her opinion, however, just that she'd be loyal until the end. Difference of opinion led to greater decision making, or so she liked to believe.

Seeing the entrance of Leni, Agate offered a slight bow of her head to Tieru. Stowing away her hand fan, before making her way over to the bench.

"Thank you for speaking, Tieru. I'll approach you once I have fully embraced the magic, yes."
(Agate)
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[16:21] Osiris slowly shook his head, as though he were on the verge of a mental breakdown.

"N-no... The worst thing has happened... I've-- I've lost the most important thing to me..." A hand clutched into a fist against his chest.
(Osiris Queen)
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[16:23] The shake of Osiris' head makes Romani frown. For a moment, the Stellus does not speak. A hand simply reaches out, settling upon Osiris' shoulder and giving it a squeeze in hopes of calming them.

"What did you lose? I know that much of Osrona is destroyed, but I may be able to find it amid the wreckage."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
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[16:24] "Good."

With her departure comes a nod of acknowledgement, bidding the woman off. It was still a bit of a shock that exorcism may manifest within a Teraphim, for it meant that their conquest of Osrona had been so clean that occultism now had the upper hand within the world.

That he, now, may be upsetting the balance.

Such thoughts are cast aside as Leni approaches, the steel knife proffered to him.

Downcast eyes fall upon the 'weapon', failing to meet her gaze. "I do not accept regifting," Speaks Tieru with an excessively weak smile. "If you are so determined to be rid of what I've given you, toss it upon a lake."

A beat passes.

"Or drive it deep within me."
(Tieru Avlee)
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[16:25] Osiris points to the west...

"My stall-- Pericles' stall... It's no more..." He looks away, closing his eyes even. He could hardly bear admitting that fact alone.

It's like a part of his soul was lost forever.

"Why couldn't it have been Raisa's stall, and not mine?"

Oh, the irony.
(Osiris Queen)
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[16:28] That was.. Not something as easily fixed.

Glancing to the west, towards the wreckage of the stalls. And in a way, Romani understood as he looked upon the splitting wood. A small frown begins to cross his face towards the stall that had belonged to Pericles.

It was impossible to rebuild something if the maker was..

"The world is cruel. It is painful. All the same, we can live it in, and attempt to make the best of it." Another small squeeze of Osiris' shoulder.

"If I find anything that belonged to Pericles? I will give it to you." The least that he could do.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
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[16:30] Leni can't remember a time when her thoughts turned earnestly towards violence- except in defense, of course. She looks uncomfortable as he suggests it, even if he's joking, and shakes her head.

"...Gifts are for friends," she finally says, breaking her self imposed silence. She takes the knife back and cradles it in her cupped hands.

"If you're my friend. You're not a good one."
(Leni)
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[16:32] Osiris let out a drawn-out sigh as Romani spoke and tried to comfort him all the same.

"Well, if my house isn't standing, someone's going to have issues with me..." He'd squint to the far east.

"I'm going to do some gardening if it's still standing, do you want to come along - or are you busy here?"
(Osiris Queen)
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[16:34] "...You knew I were a Teraphim." Tieru's voice softly flows. "You knew I fought for Myllanoris in ther service of the High Lady. You knew I would do anything for them, and you took it upon yourself to smooth the rough hewn edges from me."

Forward he leans, to try and ease any difference in height between them no matter how feeble it might seem.

"You didn't need to come here, to see what you very much didn't want to see. There's nothing here for you but desolation and decay.

This is war. This is the cause of Myllanoris.

You knew this. You just don't like that you need to see it."

It's not the same, though, as Tieru speaks. It still rings as if he were to talk down upon her, but his gaze glitters with what seems to almost be sadness.

"You shouldn't seek out what makes you unhappy."
(Tieru Avlee)
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[16:35] Romani sweats.

There were a few houses that had been knocked down. In fact, the Stellus nearly had a flashback to seeing his own home;

More specifically the crator standing 5 feet east of where he had lived, destroying the other house nearby.

"I hope that the house is still standing." He would say with a nod. "And will you be staying in Osrona then? You are welcome here, Osiris. And I think I will linger here. Just a bit longer to see people when they come by."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
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[16:37] Osiris cants his head to the side a little bit, looking around the place. There really was more widespread destruction than he'd initially taken notice of. Perhaps it's his stall inflicting some degree of tunnel vision.

"Alright, well... I'll be back then."

As for his last question?

"Yes, I'll be staying- only if my house is there. I need the soil to supply my stores--… store, I mean." Too soon.
(Osiris Queen)
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[16:39] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I would be happy to have you among us. And.. I am sorry."
[16:39] Leni stares at Tieru, still cupping the knife. She stands there, quiet. A little too quiet. When he's done, she pipes up. He hadn't answered an implied question.

It's an interesting reversal. Normally she's the one saying so much.

"You aren't my friend. Are you?"
(Leni)
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[16:41] "I would be happy to have you among us."

Romani would give a small nod towards Osiris, his hand falling away from the Feliane's shoulder as they turned away. A small frown does cross his lips however at the word.

At the mention of the stores.

"I am sorry." For the loss. But.. still maybe there would be things he could do? Rebuilding from that same wood?

Thoughts begin to cross Romani's mind.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
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[16:42] Upon the carved hilt of the butter knife he gazes.

"I'm no less your friend now then I was then. That isn't what this is about, though."

Yggdrasil in all it's glory, carved meticulously into the hilt of the steel knife. The tree of life, roots thick within the world.

"It's about whether or not you want a friend like me, knowing what you know of what I do.

You're not going to get an easy answer to that question from me."
(Tieru Avlee)
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[16:42] Osiris cants his head to the side a bit.

It seems Romani brought a thought to mind, a conflicting one that he would not get into.

"I mean, I'm not a part Osrona, I dislike the King- which you know, but, then again, where is he? What's happened due to this war?"
(Osiris Queen)
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[16:43] Bran sits on the bench hands on both of his knees he drums his fingers against them. Glancing at everything around him, He is amazed at how big this city is while taking note of craters and other signs of damage
(Bran Marrok)
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[16:44] Leni curls her fingers around the knife and tucks it back away. She doesn't seem to have any designs to put it in his heart.

"...Friends are honest. So...I'm going to tell you you're being dumb. And you can be better."

Did he have the power to squash her if he wanted? Absolutely. Does she seem to care? Not even in the slightest.
(Leni)
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[16:46] A small pause.

"You are unaware?" Romani asked, blinking a couple of times. "Alexander's Regime was defeated and overthrown. He did battle against Asta, and did.. manage to defeat her after she was wounded from battling others. In doing so, I am heard he attempted to become a god slayer, and also slay Aschea."

"This was reacted to poorly." He does not go into detail.

"Alexander was forced from this city, as well as all that followed him. What remains is an Osrona free from Petrakis influence. An Osrona that will be for the people, instead of for the King."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
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[16:47] Dumb...

All around them was the desolation of Osrona evident, even if by now he were numb to such things. It was a thrill of a moment as house and wall came crashing down at unhinged and unchecked power, but that was many moons ago.

"...I promise this, Leni." Eyes trail along the wreckage as he speaks. "I do not believe there will be another night like that anytime soon.

It was a very specific set of circumstances that lead Alexander to do what he did.

That lead to the reaction that did.

It won't be repeated."
(Tieru Avlee)
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[16:49] There seemed to be the slightest of grins which curls across his lips at the mention of the King being forced from Osrona. Well, by that logic... It'd mean Sparrow wouldn't necessarily have to do what he was doing right now.

And, obviously, he probably knew that and began changes already.

"Oho..."

"Well, I hope the city is rebuilt in a manner that's actually decent - unlike how it was before."

He'd truly set off on his way now.

"I'm glad you're okay as well." The Felinae calls out as he departs.
(Osiris Queen)
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[16:50] Ophelia cos Montclaire says, "Ah...."
[16:51] The nature magic clearly has not been well in the wake of all this. After that glimpse she's shaken, even still. She's seen the consequences of the ugly side of humanity- Teraphim included. But there's a little flicker of some hope back in her.

"You still don't think you were wrong?"

Deep down Leni knows it's probably a stupid question. The proud Teraphim talks in circles, and not in the fun way.

"You promise? This won't happen again?"

Leni holds up a pink, a childish remainder of her still. And she waits.

"You're going to be better?"
(Leni)
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[16:53] Romani would give a nod.

"My hope is to have the city run by a triumvirate but instead of a King, an elected. Someone who people select because they trust them." He said with a simple nod.

"I also hope the city is built in a manner that is decent. And I am glad to see you again. May your path be bright."

With that, Romani watched Osiris depart and turned to glance towards Ophelia with a smile.

"Greetings."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
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[16:53] She'd watch the Felinae depart in silence before she turned to her husband. Eyes glanced at the destruction, a silent judgement scanning it all before she nodded.

"Hello! Do you mind coming with me somewhere, Romani? It'll be quick I promise."
(Ophelia cos Montclaire)
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[16:54] "This won't happen again."

Never would Tieru admit that he were wrong; Teraphim supremecy can be abated, rough-hewn edges can be smoothed. Foul moods can be reversed.

To have a man so proud admit that he were wrong, though...

Would be like moving heaven and earth.

Tieru's eyes close as he allows a somber sigh to escape his lips. "Teraphim will be the better people. All that is lost will be regained. What once stood so proudly will stand again.

That always was, and will be still, the plan."

So says the better half of the Teraphim, but even he knew that such humility seems to rarely bring itself into being. It seems Leni had a unique art of humbling him and giving some level of decency.

Even if it fades as she departs.
(Tieru Avlee)
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[16:55] Romani would pause.

"I was going to sit here and see if more people would arrive. However, I did promise you that if you need to go somewhere, I will accompany you."

"As long as it is quick." The Stellus nodded.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
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[16:55] Ophelia cos Montclaire exclaims, "Yes!"
[16:57] Leni shakes her head stubbornly.

"I'm not talking about Teraphim. I'm talking about you. Gimme your pinky."

The nature magi has never given a hoot about politics, races, allegiances. Even more so now, she just doesn't care for them now. She makes it clear, in no uncertain terms, that she means him. As an individual.

The pinky waits. Though perhaps he has never been introduce to the sacred pinky swear contract.
(Leni)
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[16:59] A pause follows, his ashen eyelids opening lightly to gaze upon the pinky.

For such a large issue, Leni sure did seem to fall to childhood trappings to secure her answer.

Moments pass and it seems as if he were to refuse, to allow the woman's hope to break.

"I'll be better."

From his hand extends the smallest digit, clinging with her own.
(Tieru Avlee)
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[16:59] Banri Chuuni says, "Nice feet."
[17:02] It's been a rough time. Things aren't immediately going to get better because of a pinky swear.

It does visibly help regardless. A little pep returns to her. Only a bit. She locks pinkies with them and bounces it once. The oath, albeit childish, is complete. There's a certain significance in the loft Teraphim indulging her such a thing.

"...Thanks, Roo."
(Leni)
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[17:05] For a scant moment, Tieru almost wants to imply the name evoked the wickedness in him.

As poor taste of a joke it was, it was simply not the time. Maybe saved for years later when wounds have faded, if they still spoke.

"Yeah.

I still stand on what I said. This--" His hand gestures outwards to the wreckage. "--all of this, it isn't good for you. You'll find little but sadness and decay.

I'm won't tell you how to live, but it will not help your mood one bit to linger in these broken walls."
(Tieru Avlee)
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