DUNGEON ♛ HAVE A BALL (NOT LIKE THAT)

[boardmaster]

HAVE A BALL (NOT LIKE THAT)
17 FEBRUARY (VIOLA) 2016

To quell the rumors and (one-sided) bad blood between the Heroes and the regular army, the Prime Minister has decided to settle the matter once and for all with a snowball fight at the Colosseum. Located on top of a mountain at the edge of Caissa, winter seems to have transformed the Colosseum into a fortress of frost, complete with stairs of ice along the mountainside that lead up to the arena gates. It’s a full house—the seats are jam-packed with people from all over Blanc who’ve come to see our Heroes in action!

Once the Heroes step inside the arena proper, they’ll find that this fight isn’t just any children’s game. The arena has been converted into a huge mirror maze made of ice so polished, you can see yourself. Inside, the best of Blanc’s soldiers lie in wait. What gives? Maybe if you reach the center of the maze, you’ll find your answer…

But first, the rules!

1. Participants are divided into two teams: Heroes and the Blanc National Army. Only Heroes, Blanc soldiers, beasts and mechanical units in the arena are regarded as players. Just what else could be in here with you? Well...
   
   
2. Once a player gets hit by a snowball, they’re out! They will automatically be removed from the arena via trap door into the arena’s underground (please note that this will be a different level from the hypogeum in Option 2 and will lead directly to the outside). This rule does not apply to mechanical units.
   
   
3. Once a mechanical unit can no longer function, it’s out! It will NOT be removed from the arena until the game is over.
   
   
4. Hitting players with snowballs and disabling mechanical units are the only valid ways to earn points. Each player hit or disabled mechanical unit nets the attacking team one point.
   
   
5. Excessive destruction of Blanc property and intentional injury of other living players is not allowed. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification and automatically remove the player from the arena via trap door.
   
   
6. The use of non-magical weapons is not allowed. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification and automatically remove the player from the arena via trap door.
   
   
7. When the boss at the center of the maze can no longer function, the game will end.

Now get out there and have fun! Your reputation is on the line!

All OOC questions about the event may be directed to the thread below.

"Haha, wow, a full house! Our Heroes are quite lively today, aren't they? Hey, you! Gooood luuuuck!" "Don't waste your breath, Prime Minister. They'll need more than luck to best our own." “If anyone needs snowball making tips, I’ll be hereeee!” “Prime Minister…”

ONE ♙

Braving the ice mirror labyrinth is a test of both the body and the mind. The walls are 15 feet high and strangely impervious to fire magic. In fact, the entire maze is like a freezer, literally chilling everyone to the bone. If you ever get lost, we hope you brought something warm to keep you from freezing to the floor or the walls! It’s a very likely scenario, too; reflections in the ice do their best to both confuse your enemies and reveal their location. Unfortunately, the mirrors do their job so well, Heroes, soldiers, mechs and beasts alike are bumping into walls and walking (or sliding) in circles.

Yep, you read it: beasts. Scattered around the labyrinth are magical snow wolves, prowling around the labyrinth. They are most likely found in the outer rings, sniffing for our Heroes or chasing their own reflections. Don’t be fooled—taking them down is no walk in the park!

ENEMY ♟ Snow Wolf
Weak against Fire	Strong against Ice, Water	Immune to None
“Grrr…” These canine creatures are trained to chase off Heroes with their incredible SPEED. They are also capable of throwing SNOWBALLS with their tails and firing FREEZING ICE BLASTS from their mouths. One hit can turn anyone into a popsicle! In an attempt to one-up the yetis of Shatranj, Blanc has also trained these wolves to STAND ON THEIR HIND LEGS. Commander Lisbrand herself is said to have complained about the canine unit having too much time on their hands. Don’t fret! Although trained to attack, the wolves would never kill a Hero—especially if they bring RAW TREATS and BELLY RUBS!

TWO ♙

Everything is easy peasy, right? The good old dodge and throw that every child learns sooner or later. Except that whoever taught our Heroes didn’t include the possibility of enemies getting the jump on them. When Heroes least expect it, the trap doors bring reinforcements of soldiers and mechanical monsters into the fight from the underground. Better get ready to take them down!

Entering one of the trap doors—on purpose or accidentally—will lead to the hypogeum, another underground maze below the ice. Although made of stone, it’s filled with enough snow to supply both teams with ammo. Those who tried to memorize the labyrinth above in order to get around faster will have to redo their precious work: this maze’s layout is entirely different. If you thought Blanc’s budget wouldn’t allow for more ways to make you suffer, you’re wrong.

Traditionally used as the arena’s “backstage”, the hypogeum contains a huge network of tunnels and rooms used to hold both fighters and monsters. Wandering around the hypogeum will lead to the discovery of even more soldiers and mechanical monsters than in the ice maze above, so pay attention to who is coming up behind you and keep a steady supply of snowballs at hand.

ENEMY ♟ Blanc Soldier
Weak against None	Strong against None	Immune to None
“I thought what we had was special!” Fueled by envy, spite and suspicion, this soldier won’t go easy on you. Wearing LIGHT ARMOR to allow for FASTER MOVEMENT, this guy has absolute ZERO CHILL. He seems especially good at firing snowballs at A FAST RATE but his AIM seems to suffer every so often due to his GLASSES fogging up—a perfect opportunity to strike. Knocking off his glasses seems like a good strategy to win this, if you want to cheat a little. You might have to be careful, though. He is a trained soldier after all... If you manage to back him into a corner, you might just be at a range close enough for him to whip out his small but trusty SNOW BLASTER for a lucky shot. Even a guy with bad eyesight can get you from two feet away!

ENEMY ♟ Mechamon
Weak against Water	Strong against Lightning	Immune to Status Effects
“…vrrr…” Mechanical monsters proudly decorated with ‘MADE IN FISCHER’ logos. They come in a VARIETY OF SHAPES, from majestic bears to the exotic one-eyed ahriman. They move in a slightly CLUMSY manner and are prone to SLIPPING on the ice and snow. They shovel large amounts of snow into their oral cavities, which process them into (slightly lopsided and possibly with a dangerous spring sticking out) snowballs that reappear in their hands or mouths. Strike when they’re out of ammo! Be careful, since Mechamon limbs can still flail and leave bruises. They’re also fond of ATTACKING IN GROUPS, so Heroes might suddenly find themselves surrounded by packs, herds or flocks of these mechanical critters. Make sure to bring backup! If someone happens to get the bright idea to FRY the mech’s CIRCUITS, they’ll be bitterly disappointed. Rather than bringing the Mechamon to a halt, it will MOVE and ATTACK even FASTER than before. Hope you’re prepared for a barrage of snowballs!

THREE ♙

This is it. The final battle. Despite the utterly frosty weather, the very atmosphere seems to heat with anticipation. Muffled cheers from the crowd above are drifting down and the ground shakes as something begins to approach. This soldier must have had a Monday Mystery meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner to help them grow because no regular human could possibly be as tall or as heavy as whatever seems to be looming just around the corner. Cracks begin to appear on the ground and the sound of booming footsteps grows until…

An oversized robot shambles into the arena. Wait, what? Wasn’t this supposed to be between the Heroes and soldiers? There isn’t much time to fume and complain as the robot moves closer. Hoping it’s intelligent and can be reasoned with? Any attempt at talking to it will be met with loud, mechanical screeching and angry whirring noises. Diplomacy is out. Good thing the robot is very slow and won’t be able to cover a lot of distance very quickly—oh. Judging by the ridiculous leap our robot of the hour just made, distance could be a problem after all.

ENEMY ♟ CR-E MARK VII
Weak against Water	Strong against Lightning	Immune to Status Effects
“ENEMY DETECTED.” The CR-E MARK VII doesn’t waste time and springs right into action. Don’t let its entrance have fool you: this robot is FAST. Anyone hoping to get some distance from this thing will find themselves cursing the disadvantage of having shorter legs. Heavy, quick steps leave cracked and deep imprints in the ground and inattentive Heroes may trip and fall. Whoever is able to catch a glimpse of the robot’s palms will see the FLEUR DE LIS logo branded into them. “ANNIHILATION MODE.” Heroes who have come to a halt are being targeted, especially Pawns that are CASTING MAGIC. Those who know how to be bothersome pests should try and draw attention away from the casters unless they want to face a rampaging robot with fewer people to back them up. But watch out! Rather than bring snowballs to the fight like a good kid, this robot is here to prove its superiority to the human element; its long, spindly arms somehow manage to haul HEAPING HELPINGS OF SNOW, whirling the whole mess like a miniature, mobile avalanche to target Heroes! Occasionally, it JUMPS to create QUAKES and TREMORS, effectively causing Heroes to lose their balance, cancel their spells, or throw off their aim. The unlucky ones might even FALL INTO A TRAP DOOR jarred loose by all the commotion. “INITIATING BETA PROGRAM: EXECU-U-U-TI--vrrr.” The robot becomes HOT to the touch and those who specialize in hand to hand combat should take heed! Steam begins to rise from the hot metal, making the large ICE CRYSTALS on the ceiling slowly MELT and drip onto the participants below. Whenever a DROP hits the CR-E MARK VII, it will begin to thrash and its movements will become unsteady and rigid. The green lights in its face turn red, as loud and eerie mechanical whimpers fill the air. More observant Heroes may notice that the longer the battle goes on, the more HAPHAZARD and IRREGULAR its ATTACKS become. It will begin to flail more and act with much less coordination than before, partially due to the water but also because of circuits frying. “ERROR ERROR ERROR.” Once enough damage has been dealt, the robot goes into TOTAL SYSTEM OVERLOAD and starts indiscriminately hurling rocks, debris, ice, snow, and fellow mechanical creations in all directions without rest. Stay clear or end up with injuries Heroes never thought they’d get from a snowball match. Although it’s hard to dodge, the lack of openings makes it even harder to land a hit. Just when it seems as though all is lost (or about to be buried in a completely unprogrammed avalanche), COMMANDER LISBRAND suddenly jumps in out of nowhere, hurling the massive REMOTE CONTROL she’s been carrying towards the robot and then drawing her GUNS to fire upon CR-E MARK VII. “How many times have I told them I don’t need these buckets of junk to help me do my job?! How many times? You should all stop standing there catching flies and get moving! I want two on each flank right now! Did you hear me? I don’t want to see a hair in my line of fire!”

You thought one robot was bad enough? How about the fact that mechanical lackeys begin to show up halfway into the battle, throwing snowballs at everything and everyone?

ENEMY ♟ CR-E MARK VII-MINI
Weak against Water	Strong against Lightning	Immune to Status Effects
“Vrrr!” Meet the CR-E MARK VII-MINI units. You may think of them as CR-E MARK VII’s children. Actually, they’re support units originally intended to function as an auxiliary arsenal for CR-E MARK VII... But development was halted when the division ran out of funds. They’re now just a smaller-scaled version of their parent design--the result of desperate salvaging and a terrible naming sense. By itself, a single mini unit isn’t threatening. But when they get together, these little robots are a true menace, sneaking small rocks into their snowballs that can give unfortunate Heroes a brief STUN STATUS. Wow, did they all just multiply by two? Better shake off that dizziness before more of them hit you! What else do they do? Absolutely nothing! But don’t let your guard down; they’re smarter than they look! These mini units may often wait for an opportune moment to execute a COMBO with their parent unit. After all, defending the parent is the basis of their programming.

FOUR ♙

Despite having been in charge of the Heroes for less than a month, Lisbrand manages to seamlessly blend her attacks into their attempts to disable the CR-E MARK VII and its tiny lackeys. It’s almost as though she’s been watching you. She does seem to be at the Hall of Glory a lot, even if she hasn’t given a lot of orders so far…

Her attacks are measured and pinpoint-precise, crashing through the robot’s joints and hidden mechanisms with an efficiency almost as devastating as the force of the literal avalanches it was unleashing earlier. Finally, the MARK VII yawls backwards, arms pinwheeling comically, and one of its legs folds the wrong way… sending it to a crashing halt. The battle is done, the day is won!

“It’s a miracle this is only the MARK VII… But this is what you get for skimping on your tests.”

Blanc’s soldiers, despite knowing they’ve lost, immediately burst into a thunderous round of cheering. Some of them have even thrown their dignified guard hats into the air. Yells of, “Go Heroes!” and somewhat less appropriate hollers of, “I’m sorry, please marry me!” ring out from the crowd. The snowball match (if it could still be called one at all) is over and the bad blood is miraculously gone in a cloud of burnt circuitry and adoring gazes not quite directed towards our Heroes. It’s time to return home victoriously to Wednesday’s dinner of mutton stew and meat dumplings. Your loving floor nannies will approach shortly, carrying first aid and other necessities. Even they begin showering you with affection!

The Prime Minister appears to be ready to give the Heroes a congratulatory speech, but Lisbrand quickly interrupts to remind him about some business he needs to attend to. In the middle of speaking to the Prime Minister, she raises a hand to excuse herself, takes out her revolver and shoots at a screeching stray bat in one fluid motion. Although the bat falls, its body is nowhere to be found. What’s a bat doing in the arena, anyway?

After blowing the smoke from the barrel of her gun and returning it to its holster with a flourish that looks oddly deliberate considering her usual reserve, Lisbrand turns to the Heroes.

“I suppose some congratulations are in order. Nothing ever goes as planned on the battlefield—and that’s something you should be taking with you into the dungeons if you want to come out again. Prime Minister, if you would please, keep it short.”

“Congratulations! It was a victory hard fought and well won. I hope it was as fun for you as it was for the audience. Let’s do this again next year!”

Comments

[sunderings]

[ So no rescue is necessary, then: out of sheer stubbornness alone, Tieria walks on, designating a tree as home base. It's rather silly, in Sion's opinion, for the man to not only push himself, but the others as well, a little too much too soon after exiting the dungeon. Really, if they'd all held their hands in the circle for but a moment, they might have had energy enough to make it far beyond a frost-covered tree, and back to Hero Hall instead.

But alas...!

Sion neatly comes to a stop beside Lapis, and the way she clasps her hands together does not escape his eyes, no more than Marie's poor complexion had—true, everyone is strong in their own right, but by virtue of who he is, Sion cannot help but be concerned for them, the worry manifesting in an expression of the physical: a graceful extension of his arm to Marie (for the boost of mana exchange!), and a gentle hand resting atop Lapis' shoulder, steadying. ]

I'm glad we were able to make it here together.

[ Softly, he hums, seeming not to notice the way he's pointedly ignored by a certain someone. ]

Regene, is it? [ Golden eyes flicking to the sixth party of the group, Sion isn't at all hesitant to offer a warm smile. ] Forgive me, for making introductions only just now, but my name is Sion. Sion Astal, and this most humble King would like to thank you all for fighting beside him.

[ A glance, then, to Marie: ] And the Lady, for returning my sword to me.

[dualized]

[No, perhaps it wasn't the best in his state- although none of them were much better off. Still, she thought Sion said it best. She too was simply glad they were able to make it here together; gratefully accepting the arm held out to her. Although she'd had her concerns, they'd managed to work well as a team even if they didn't all know each other that well. That was something to be proud of in this situation. They had made it work and in the process she felt like she learned a little about the people she'd fought with. A little unconventional perhaps, but she'd readily call any of them 'friend' after the ordeal they went through together.]

Ah- yes. There wasn't much time earlier... my name is Marie Parfacy.

[It's funny, establishing camaraderie before they'd even exchanged names, but-- that's just how it happened, in a natural way. Even Regene had played an important part in winning the battle, and any unease she had about the Innovade was put to rest. At Sion's thanks, she blinked. She hadn't forgot returning Sion's sword either, although it wasn't something she thought much of.]

Oh no, I'm just glad you weren't hurt.

[remotecontrols]

[ Some appreciation is nice. Even if he wasn't up there wailing on the giant robot, he did his part. He's glad to have been able to provide support. Sion is acknowledged with a nod of his head. Tieria's behavior has him interested. Without the ability to read him as usual, he can't tell exactly what he's feeling. ]

Yes, Regene Regetta. And I must say that's an impressive sword you've got there.

[buildyourworld]

[ While everyone is getting acquainted, Tieria is quietly massaging his ankle upon taking Setsuna's offered hand. In fact, he's so quiet that by the time everyone settled close to the spot he had chosen, Tieria has passed out where he's seated.

Even if he said nothing of it, for Tieria who had to relied heavily on a pair of weapon that has no offensive ability on top of fending off enemies in the good old ways, he has long been more than exhausted. It's purely out of stubbornness than he hasn't fainted yet...

But now that everything has more or less been taken care of, the relieve he feels make it easy for him to slip into unconsciousness. ]

[quaria]

[ Tieria's silence is worrying... And Setsuna's worries are confirmed once the older Meister passes out in front of him. Tieria's weight falls onto him, which he doesn't mind but — his own mana is spent too, and he's rather tired himself after all.

When Setsuna could normally easily lift a person, his overall tire disallowed him from lifting Tieria by himself. He looks at the others in hopes that they'll arrive soon and assist. For now, he allows the older Meister to rest against him so their mana would continue to exchange. ]

[oneirism]

[The hand on her shoulder is a surprise, but that only shows with how she tenses for a brief moment, before relaxing again and giving Sion a brief smile in response. Peeking over at the others and listening to them introducing themselves - she's guessing they must've been too busy robot fighting to talk. So she turns her attention back to Setsuna and Tieria, only to tense again when she notices that Tieria has now passed out.]

- Tieria! [Any awkwardness is pushed aside as she quickly hurries over, forgetting about her own exhaustion as she crouches besides him and Setsuna, sighing quietly in relief when she realizes he's just passed out. Taking a moment to glance at Setsuna to see if he's alright, before placing a gentle hand on Tieria's shoulder to help with the mana exchange - gold eyes flicking back at the rest of the group.]

... I think we're gonna need to carry him back.

[sunderings]

Indeed.

[ When Tieria slumps, blanketing Setsuna's shoulder in his unconsciousness, Sion can hardly call himself surprised—it had only been a matter of time, after all, until one such member of their company popped the proverbial cherry (so to speak!), and claimed the title of first to pass out. But Tieria is in good hands, for Setsuna's shoulder is steady, and Lapis' touch is gentle, and there are others, still, who would tend to their fallen comrade as surely as...!

Sion chuckles, with a shake of his head, glancing toward the two beside him. ]

Lady Marie, Regene, it is an honor— [ Overly formal, the sentiment may be, but it rings all the more true for it. ] —and it would seem that we are to band together again in order to carry our fallen friend.

[ Amused, is he? Yes. For both Marie's benefit and his own, Sion keeps his arm linked with the Lady's own as he walks with a slow, measured step toward the three beneath the tree. ]

...does he often make a habit of this?

[quaria]

[ It's... really amazing. How Sion can remain so vibrant despite all the recklessness that he pulled off earlier. Setsuna recalls that Sion was the one who taught Tieria about the mana and magic of this world, so perhaps it's because of that advantage that he has a better idea of how to manage his condition. Meanwhile, the others like himself are all still figuring it out. It's a huge leap, to think about processes that never applied to them before.

When there's fantastical magic here, there's technological science back home. Setsuna only managed to get ideas about this place thanks to Gilgamesh's own teachings. He can conclude that Sion was the one who filled that in for Tieria's case. They both have a long way to go... He wonders how Marie is fairing though, as someone from their own world as well. She too would've struggled over the concept of this world which is quite the opposite of theirs. But they all adjust and learn fast, such is their way of life. It'll only be a matter of time.

As the others finally arrive, Setsuna quietly watches how Lapis fusses over them. He only gives her a calm blink. He may be extremely tired right now, but he's nowhere as bad as Tieria. He can still hold himself up, especially with their mana exchange all pouring into him now. And with Sion's question, Setsuna nods in continued calm... He'd explain, but the unconscious Meister might not like it.

But indeed, Tieria does this often back home too. Stubborn, pretends to be tough, and rather reckless himself even if he doesn't admit to it. Tieria's pride is also a factor among these things. ]

[dualized]

Yes, in some ways-- no in others. Still... I think this situation was a little beyond what most of us are used to.

[Yet she smiles warmly at the sight. Moments like this it's easy to feel truly grateful that everyone is safe. That they can smile and laugh together like this. These are the kinds of things she's thankful for every day that she hadn't always had in her life.]

Should we rest here a while? How is everyone holding up?

[Even now she's more concerned about the others. She considered herself to be one of the more fortunate of their group to come out of that fight with only a few dull aches and scrapes, although her mana was probably close to as low as theirs.]

[myfairlily]

[Here comes a new challenger--

No wait, it's just a dubiously fashionable latecomer: Bernard is trailing some ways behind most of the group, following more out of thoughtlessness than anything else; he'd gotten held up considerably in the afterparty. Apparently, for every suspicious look and snide remark he'd ever gotten about being a Hero (or possibly a werecreature, or even a monster from outside the city limits) in the time leading up to this ill-fated "snowball fight", he now has to collect the same proportion in almost-harmless curiosity and overenthusiastic attempts at sportsmanship.

There's a certain relief in all of the above, but also in finally disentangling himself from a fight (it no longer counts as a mock-fight, does it?) he still doesn't fully understand -- at least their Commander had spelled things out to some extent, or he would have ended things just as in the dark as he'd started them.

It's all a familiar feeling -- understanding too little, being told he needs to change for them -- even if it's not one he has the luxury of dwelling on. Just like no member of the Dog Tribe (but especially someone like him) has the luxury of showing weakness in such a public place, even if all they'd like to do is curl up right on the ground and sleep.

So instead, he's got his halberd out despite the strenuous exercise they've all just been through, seemingly testing the weight and heft and swing as he catches up with the rest. His movements are still surprisingly fluid, as though he hasn't just spent an untold amount of time knocking on and being knocked about by a giant robot; but there are tiny hints of exhaustion that peek through his composure for those who know him well, if they were here. A curled tail held slightly lower than usual, a few degrees of listing in his swings, the fact that he's so overly focused he nearly walks right past the group before he slows -- blinking at them for a moment before he moves to stand off to the side.

And of course, the fact that he's even surlier than usual. He doesn't say a word to the gathering when he arrives; simply sets down his weapon and starts absently rummaging in his pockets.

Eventually, he'll dig up some really rather crushed biscuits from god knows where -- there's also a little fruit from breakfast (someone's been sneaking food), which has been grinded into the bread so impressively it's practically flavored it. These, Bernard will start passing casually to the next person over, apropos of nothing. It's totally normal to pull random food out of your pockets after a mock-dungeon and then sneak-feed everyone, right? Right.]

[sunderings]

[ Marie is ...warm, not only in body (and truly, Sion is thankful for the close proximity, for he has long since been without a coat!) but in aura, the color and light of a new spring day somehow woven into her mana. He, too, is always grateful for the chance to laugh, to be carefree in the company of friends, and for a moment he finds himself wistful, thinking on an impossibly sleepy-headed man and a peerless beauty worlds away from here. ]

I am well, though it would do no one harm to tarry here for awhile longer. [ And let Tieria sleep soundly, his rest undisturbed by the jostle of being hoisted into the air. And where, at first, Sion might have been inclined to dismiss Setsuna's pervasive silence as a courtesy to his slumbering friend, Sion... sees that nod, however calm it is, and the meaning does not escape him.

Which is why, perhaps, he cannot resist leaning (though he is ever mindful of Marie, hopeful that she might see more of her mana restored with this additional link!) to comb his fingers once-over through the strands of Setsuna's hair, tousling them in a small gesture of thanks and familiarity. Though he hadn't spoken a word, it is as though Setsuna's imparted some great secret upon him, and...!

Fear not, it's (mostly) safe with the Hero King.

And then, then there are biscuits. No sooner than he's straightened himself, someone approaches, and it is (Bernard) a puppy. A puppy (Bernard) who is making a rather questionable offering of something he's dug from the very depths of his pockets, biscuits which seem as though they could very well disintegrate into sand if they were passed between hands.

So, instead of taking one of those, Sion takes (Bernard's) the puppy's arm instead, linking it with his own to form a connection of three again!

There, that's much better than eating, right??? ]

[remotecontrols]

[ One thing Regene is not used to feeling is hungry. If he tries to get by with what he is accustomed to with this new body and this amount of physical activity it's just not going to work. At this point he'll take anything. Even those crumbs look good to him and he accepts graciously. He doesn't envy Bernard to carry that weapon around. He would surely lack the strength to do it as tired as he is now.

He then moves to kneel at Tieria's side. If he knows Tieria, then he'll be alright. It feels good to finally be off his feet. ]

Tieria has the right idea. I could use a nap myself.

[quaria]

[ Ah... a head pat. Setsuna perks up at Sion for the friendly gesture, feeling the other male's familiar mana run through him a second time; it's been a while since the first. He's able to catch meaning himself, what Sion's smile means as it is direct to him.

It seems that the lovely male's willing to keep it a secret, which is good for Tieria's pride... Setsuna wouldn't have to worry about another punishment later. Tieria didn't need another reason to be more hostile at Sion, too.

Another nod follows as he stays still during the pat, letting him know the same gratitude. Afterwards, the youngest Meister's eyes trail to the scent of food. ... Crushed food, but nevertheless food. Having developed extreme survival instincts, he really isn't picky with what he eats. If it helps him through the day better, then it's acceptable.

Which is why Setsuna accepts the offer too, taking a couple of those crushed biscuits to shove into his mouth. They had a long day, and he's really hungry! ]

[oneirism]

[Resting does sound like a good plan, and she doubts Tieria will freeze while he's resting against Setsuna and now that Regene has crouched nearby too. Though the awkwardness from before lingers back in, glancing around the group, only casually noting the silent exchange between Setsuna and Sion, before soon shifting as if to stand. Her uncertainty about if it's okay for her to stay outweighing her desire to actually stay here and rest.

Though she soon stops when another person joins the group, blinking over at Bernard, her expression as impassive as usual despite the faint curiosity. And she blinks even more at the offer of (crushed) biscuits, which she takes with a soft 'thank you'. Quietly noting that Sion doesn't take any - which gets a silent side-eye, since she doesn't doubt that he's exhausted too, but he's spared from the mother-henning when Lapis notices how Setsuna just... inhales the biscuits.

Which is why she offers some of hers to him. Though since it's Lapis, her way of offering is more like insisting. She isn't as tired as the others, so they need it more than her, and anyone else who seems particularly hungry can expect to be offered Lapis' share too.]

[quaria]

[ Don't do that, Lapis... Handfeeding Setsuna is asking for trouble. By which, he visibly leans down without shame and eats the offered food right from her hand. He remains with the same flat expression as if it's nothing, chewing in continued silence as he eyes her.

If Lapis thought that was it, well.. It's not. Setsuna didn't call her out, but he noticed her own tired state. That's why he shifts closer, all while being careful of Tieria so the older Meister can still properly receive mana from him. It's then that he extends a hand to Lapis and pulls her closely in a gentle manner. It's just enough distance for her to receive mana from those around her, too.

He looks at the others afterwards, his silent gaze compelling them to join in and regain mana together. ]

[oneirism]

[There was a number of things Lapis was expecting to happen when she offered the food to him. One of them was that he would just take the food out of her hands, that's what most people would do!

But Setsuna isn't most people, so when he leans down and actually... eats from her hand, Lapis pretty much freezes. Her eyes becoming wide in response - only able to blink at him as he looks up at her, not even realizing that she's started to red. She can't help it, this has never happened before! And why does he have to look at her while he's doing it!!

At least her stunned state spares the others from getting mother henned at, and also makes it easy for Setsuna to pull her closer, her brain still trying to process what just happened. She only really snaps back to attention once she feels the transfer of mana, her hands quickly rubbing at her cheeks as if that'll get rid of the blush. But she stays put, glancing over at the others too to see if they'll join in. And quietly hoping they won't comment on what just happened.]