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[ Tomorrow will be filled with the clang of swords and the sound of men falling; tomorrow will decide if they live or die. Though he hates unnecessary bloodshed, Ephraim can feel the battle lust in his blood singing to him.

Tonight is the calm before the storm. The morning is so close that all of his nerves are on fire. Waiting has always been the hardest part.

He approaches you and, depending on how close he is to you, either places a hand on your shoulder or stands a few feet away from you. ]

You should rest. You'll need all your energy for tomorrow.

2

[ Ephraim has never enjoyed social functions, but he makes an appearance at this one for duty's sake. After fifteen minutes, he's bored out of his mind, and, well, his time would be much better spent in the training yard. He takes a cursory glance at the room to see that no one is actively trying to speak to him (though he doesn't look very hard), then strolls to the back door.

When he reaches the exit, he sees that you're also slipping out and flashes you a bright smile. ]

Making your escape too?

3 modern au

[ Ephraim is engaged in a game of pickup soccer and accidentally kicks the ball at you / he is slightly intoxicated at a bar, overheard something you said and likes it, and proceeds to clap you soundly on the back / exams are next week, but Ephraim is skipping lecture and doing his best to convince you to do the same ]

~~totally didn't reuse a prompt from four years ago~~

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[there are bad social functions, and then there's social functions where you're making chatty conversation with a fellow partygoer and then a javelin sprouts from their chest

wyvern wings blot out the sun above Ephraim, and the sound of wicked cackling fills the air. Valter calls down to the prince below:]

Where was my invitation to the party, Ephraim!?

[ All of his senses are on alert, and there's a buzzing underneath his skin that wasn't there a moment ago. He feels sharp now, like the edge of a finely honed blade.

Nobles and servants alike are panicking. In the chaos, he grabs a ceremonial lance from a nearby suit of armor and runs towards Valter. Someone else will rally the partygoers to safety – he has a fight to win. ]

One defeat wasn't good enough for you, Valter? This time, I'll end you once and for all.

[ Though he recognizes the tactical disadvantage he has in fighting a flying enemy, he doesn't have the time or inclination for caution. He scrambles on top of a table and throws the javelin toward the sky, aiming for the underbelly of the wyvern. ]

Edited 2017-06-27 11:11 (UTC)

[Valter isn't a demon of the sort Riev likes to raise, but he fights like one- both rider and wyvern lunge left with speed that isn't quite inhuman, but something close to it. the prince's javelin sails past harmlessly.

the bloodlust is risen in Valter's eyes, his teeth spread in a feral, crocodile grin. around him, wyvern riders descend like raindrops, attacking partygoers and defending soldiers alike- but valter only has eyes for his prey. the other riders give him a wide berth- they know better than to interrupt Valter's hunt.]

That's the way, little prince. Show me your courage. Let me bleed every drop of it from you!

[and he's swooping down, lance sweeping in a wide arc, its point seeking Ephraim's lightly-armored heart.]

[ While Ephraim is aware that somewhere around him, his soldiers and enemy wyvern riders both are fighting and falling, he remains single-mindedly focused on Valter. As Valter's lance rushes towards his unprotected chest – curse these formal clothes and their lack of protection! – he jumps off the table and rolls under another one to avoid it. As he gets up, he grabs another lance off a fallen soldier, an enemy soldier.

His movements feel right in a way that fighting always does. The determination that courses through his veins is backed up by a sense of justness.

He turns to face Valter square on. ]

Courage is something you cannot hope to know, you vile wretch!

[ Even in his brashness, Ephraim can manage strategy. Every move he makes takes him closer to the castle gates, away from where the civilians are trying to retreat into the castle walls. ]

[it won't be hard for Ephraim to make this ploy work- Valter is equally focused on him, caring nothing for the screaming civilians and faceless guardsmen around them. where Ephraim goes, Valter follows, like a shark following a trail of blood.]

Don't you dare die too quickly, Ephraim. I have waited too long for this! You must provide me with some entertainment!

[the problem with baiting Valter into a duel, of course, is that Valter is at a severe advantage- unlike the ambushed prince, Valter's had time to prepare for this engagement. he's fully armored, and the spear in his hands is far from ceremonial.

his wyvern alights on the ground, advancing slowly, cautiously- Valter is hungry, but not so hungry that he can't savor the fight. with a bat of one tremendous wing, the Moonstone's mount sends a party chair hurtling towards Ephraim's head. half a second later, rider and wyvern hurtle forward, Valter's spear intending to pierce Ephraim's body while he's distracted.]

[She calmly sips from her cup of tea, eyes closed. If there is any hint of nerves, it is that her hand shakes with just the slightest tremor when she sets her cup down. The liquid inside ripples gently.]

Milord, you are too kind.

But I couldn't sleep a wink tonight even if I wanted to. I should prefer to accept it -- better that than tossing and turning all night and waking with my nerves all on edge.

And... I daresay milord will not likely be sleeping peacefully, either, if I may be so bold.

It's different for me. But I suppose we are both preparing for this battle in the best way we know how.

[ He stays where he is, standing a couple of feet from Maribelle. A faraway look comes into his eyes. ]

We've come so far. Tomorrow, we end this fight for good.

Edited 2017-06-27 11:11 (UTC)

If we are both whiling away the time, perhaps you would care for some tea, milord? This brew is famed for its calming essences.

[Despite the fact that she was sitting alone, Maribelle somehow procures a second matching cup without getting up from her seat.]

...It will be dreadfully nice to be finished with all this fighting, I can say. One does find it tedious day in and day out -- not, of course, that I have any complaints about my role here.

[ A look of confusion momentarily passes over Ephraim's face as the second set of tea materializes. Where did that come – He takes the seat opposite Maribelle, accepting the proffered tea. ]

Thank you, Maribelle.

[ The stillness in the air is tense and heavy. On the eve of battle, all the plans have been made, and there is nothing to do but wait: the calm before the storm.

In truth, Ephraim hasn't thought much about life after the battle. He knows there will be much work in the restoration effort, rebuilding villages and the like. Things he never paid attention to when he was forced to read his lessons. Fighting has been his identity for so long that he can't imagine anything else. ]

Will you go home after the battle, or do you think you will stay with us? You'll always have a home in Renais.

[Silence as she carefully pours the tea in her precise manner.]

Oh, you needn't worry yourself about me, milord. I have much to care to when these affairs are finished as well. My poor father can barely dress himself in the morning, let alone manage our lands.

I am loathe to leave you, of course. ...Whatever will your dear sister do without my knowing guidance? I do worry for her.

[A sudden glare.]

I hope you know of what I mean.

[ nope no idea what you mean. he's not very good at subtlety. ]

Eirika? I worry about her too, but lately I've been discovering that she's stronger than I think.

[ there's a small smile on his face when he talks about eirika. he likes the fact that he can depend on her just as much as she depends on him. ]

[Maribelle huffs and takes another sip of tea.]

Must I attend to everything? Milord, I speak of her future prospects.

[...Maribelle pauses meaningfully.]

...Oh, never mind, there's no point being subtle with you. Her suitors! The wretched hounds -- some within this very army, I might add -- will be upon her the moment the war is finished. She'll be the most eligible maiden in all the land! I daresay this is of higher priority than tomorrow's battle.

[ The sight of a familiar face across the bar registers all too quickly as one he'd prefer to avoid, but it's too late; Ephraim has seen him. There's no way Innes's sense of pride will let him make an embarrassing attempt to duck out now, so he'll do rather the opposite, taking it upon himself to approach his classmate, frowning. ]

Why aren't you going to lecture?

[ Books have never been Ephraim's strong suit, but he doesn't really need them for the sports scholarship he's on. He's skipped class to do some extra training with the team. Not sitting inside a stuffy room has put him in a solidly good mood. All easy smiles, he cheerfully raises his glass to his fellow student. ]

Innes! Are you my father, here to scold me about not going to class?

[ Innes doesn't have a glass to raise in return — exams are approaching, after all — but he'll least acknowledges the gesture with a nod. ]

Hardly. Just wondering what possibly compels you to do so when your grades will almost certainly suffer as a result.

[ Not that he minds that outcome, of course, because let's be real, one of them is way more overly invested in this supposed "rivalry" and his name starts with "I" and ends with "s..." ]

[Eirika is lost in thought. She tends to be, when a battle looms. It never does her any favors; it's not as if she's going to have some brilliant diplomatic idea to end the war overnight. But nothing can take her mind off the dread, knowing she's going to have to kill in the morning.

She's distracted enough that Ephraim's hand on her shoulder gives her a start. When she looks back and registers who it is, she attempts a reassuring smile, but it's faint.]

Ah... but there's work to be done, is there not? We all rise at dawn, Brother. You needn't fret over me in particular.

[ He takes a seat next to his twin. Despite the threat of the looming battle, he is always relaxed around her. She's one of the few people he can speak freely to. ]

You're right; I don't need to worry about you anymore. You've proven yourself a fine leader, both on and off the battlefield. It's an old habit of mine I find hard to break.

Edited 2017-06-27 11:12 (UTC)

Indeed? [She releasesa breath somewhere between a sigh and a half-hearted chuckle, and lets her gaze return to the ground.]

At times, I'm not so sure I can do more than imitate you. I've given my all to minimize the fighting, and yet...

You say that, but... [ the tired laughter that comes out of his mouth mirrors hers from a moment ago ] You're my reason to keep going forward, dear sister. I want to see you light and carefree again, like we used to be.

[Still smiling softly, but with a little more sincerity, she allows herself to sink sideways, leaning against him where they sit. It's something she used to do, but decided it was childish a few years go. She is tired, though, and knows she can't hide it.]

Carefree... I don't know that I can promise that, Brother, but if that is truly where your drive comes from, I'll have to do my best. Renais needs you, after all...

[ with absolute certainty ] Renais needs you, too. We'll rebuild our country together.

[ he reflects on his earlier words, and a wistful note enters his voice. ] I suppose that carefree is too much to ask for, after all that we've been through. But... after the war, I hope one day to see you smile again like you used to.

[ it is an attempt at lightening the mood, but buried in the words is a level of need. As long as Eirika believes that there is still hope, he can, too. ]

Edited 2017-06-29 09:42 (UTC)

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KNOCK KNOCK OPEN UP THE DOOR IT'S REAL (prompt 2)

why u always crashing my parties

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turns out my reply got eaten when my computer decided to die

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