sunspotted | inbox | seasonsrpg

[Jean starts with preparing the needed tools and stations and making sure the fire keeps getting stronger and hotter. It needed to be at a very high temperature, after all. He had the necessary steel to make the sword, there, too, but before he starts doing anything with it, he comes over to see what Marco picked.]

That's probably the one I would have chosen, in the end. It gives you both more width and length for the sword, but remains similar to the one you've practiced with.

[He takes another sip of the iced tea before putting it on the table for later.]

The fire's ready soon, which means I can get started.

I never thought I'd be training with an actual, proper sword, you know.

[ Marco remarks on it cheerfully, turning to watch Jean as he heads towards the forge. ]

The blades on the ODM gear were hard enough to get used to when you're used to a rake and plow... Now itt feels almost like something out of a fantasy story.

[Jean nods at what Marco's saying.]

Yeah, it's a completely different feeling. Mikasa and I didn't have our gear on Avalon, so learning how to use a sword was important. Especially for me, since I didn't have an offensive kind of magic.

[Even if he did learn how to use animal magic offensively, in the long run. It sort of altered his fighting style. Made him a little more reckless.]

Oh... there's something called 'Trust' or 'Soul Weapons' that can be done in pairs. We can't choose who gets a weapon, but with luck, it might be you getting more options. Basically, one of us becomes a vessel for the other, who carries their weapon magically inside themselves. You just need to have absolute trust with your partner.

[Which shouldn't be a problem with them.]

Avalon... that's the world with the knights, right? So it really was like something out of a fantasy.

[ He smiles, proud at remembering the information, and when Jean mentions trust weapons he blinks and looks bashful. ]

Oh, wow. I know we trust each other that much, but it's still flattering to hear. It could open up options for either of us.

Yeah. The world was full of magic, fae and even royalty. It was really weird at first, to try and fit in.

[It was different from Empatheias, too. Yet they managed to fit in, and Jean even became a knight.

Jean grins at Marco.]

Then we should go to one of the guilds at some point. They have some of the swords in stone they use in their backyards.

Really? You, not fitting in with royalty?

[ It's said in a tone of good-natured teasing. Yeah, Jean had never been dedicated to the King like Marco's father had taught him, but he still would have bet on Jean being able to fool some nobles. ]

Hm... will any of them work? I know Sawyer is still missing, so I've been visiting the other Guilds instead...

Oh, shut it.

[Jean does laugh. It's rather ironic that he ended up serving the King in Avalon. Not what he ever expected to happen.

Marco would have made a good knight.]

Yeah, we could even go to a guild completely unrelated to either of us. [He frowns, then, thoughts going back to the Autumn guild situation.] What did you think about the video about Sawyer?

[ Marco would have made a great knight. ~~Alas the mun apped and dropped Noctis.~~

He nods when Jean confirms they can go to any guild. That's good, at least they don't have to stick to one or the other. Jean's question, though, has him frowning a little bit as well. ]

... I don't know what they found that would indicate Sawyer was behind the portals.

[ He speaks carefully, as if unsure he should disbelieve Nightwake's enforcers, but also because he hasn't seen anything to indicate Sawyer despite being new, and now he knows better than to trust someone at their word. ]

But I also think if he was behind them, he would have had no problem hurting someone to get away. Nobody got seriously hurt that I saw, it was all bruises. No worse than training would be.

[~~Noctic went fishing and was never seen again.~~

Jean focuses a little on getting the sword started as he thinks for a moment. Then he nods.]

His actions definitely didn't look like someone's who's guilty. From what I know, he's always been a little reluctant to do anything the other guild leaders do, but he doesn't seem evil. More like a brat, if anything.

[This is all based on what he's heard about him from various sources. He hadn't really met Sawyer, personally.]

Lazy, not malicious, like what people at the guild say.

[ And that's honestly the people who probably see him the most, outside of people like Olwen, he assumes. ]

Obviously I want to trust that the police aren't wrong either, but...

[ He shrugs. He's heard a lot about the Military Police back home that make him naturally dubious of the ones here now. ]

It's hard to make a call either way.

[Haha, yeah, trusting the police straight away is kind of hard to do after everything the MP did back home. Though...]

I should probably talk to Hijikata or Dojima and see what they think. They're both part of the law enforcement.

[He probably hadn't mentioned Dojima a lot, maybe in passing. A tired, rough around the edges policeman who he's been occasionally interacting with.]

You've not mentioned Dojima that much... he's a police officer here like Hijikata, then?

[ Guess who's immediately curious now that Jean has associated it with something stronger than people he's talked to! He watches as Jean works the metal while he waits for a response. ]

[Clink Clink.]

Yeah, he's Hijikata's partner at work. Though we met through different circumstances.

[Clink.]

He might start fretting over you, too, since. Ah... There was this quest where you saw people who you've lost. And he was with me when I saw you.

Oh?

[ Then Jean explains and ah, yes, there's that odd feeling when he thinks of the fact that he's died and left his friends alone to mourn him. It's not his fault, but he always feels for them. ]

So if he acts like he's seeing a ghost, I shouldn't go boo at him.

[ His tone is light, but he dares to reach out and squeeze Jean's shoulder in comfort. ]

[Jean smiles at him for the shoulder squeeze. It was all better now, that Marco was here.]

I think you should always avoid doing that.

[He looks uncomfortable, a little.]

... did I mention Reiner, Eren, Armin and I went to a fucking haunted hallway? I was almost kidnapped by a ghost possessing a crane hook.

Why do you keep having these strange encounters with ghosts?

[ Marco gives Jean a look. ]

Was this a haunted hallway in the house you burned down, or different?

That's what I want to know.

[He groans. Twice a test of courage, then the possession artifact...]

Different. There was a "test of courage" in Sunwaning. Reiner thought it would be a fun bonding experience...

What Reiner thinks is fun and what you think are fun are very different, I'm starting to believe.

[ It didn't sound like Reiner intended it to go that way, to be fair! But Marco has to tease Jean all the same. He takes a noisy sip of his drink. ]

Maybe you've got ghost appeal.

Uh huh.

[More clinking and turning the steel around.]

Don't even joke about that. I don't want to deal with any more ghosts.

[ Aww, he had a whole bunch of magic touch jokes lined up!

But, he can see this does bother Jean a little, so he lets it go for now. ]

Did you pass? The test of courage, I mean.

Barely. I don't think anyone was pleased about anything that happened there.

[Though Jean was practically the only one who shrieked over regular ghosts.

They continue talking about random, mundane things, luckily getting away from the ghost subject, as Jean continues to work on the sword, occasionally taking a break to chat and drink the frog egg tea.

The shape is starting to be more clear, but it's already been a while and the next part would need a little assistance, so he starts wrapping up. At least he can make the fire go out faster, so it doesn't take ages.]

Alright... I think I'm done for today. I'll ask Reiner to come and help me with some of the phases, since I need his help with a few other things anyway.

[And Reiner was happy to help.]

Careful, once you unlock metal manipulation, I'll make you work, too.

You say that like I'm upset to be put to work!

[ Truly, Marco has been doing odd jobs here and there, but he's not sure where to apply himself. Jean has so many skills that are practical and he can sell weaponry. Marco could be a guard, but he's not very intimidating and he doesn't like to fight humans. He supposes he could get a regular job at a diner, but that seems so... pedestrian after everything he's been through.

Pedestrian is good, but he wants something a little more interesting. ]

Anyway, I think I have a while before I learn anything like that. I can give you some crystals if you want, though.

[Jean had experience on both kinds of jobs, even if being a stable boy was pretty close to what they did in military. But running an agility park for pets was completely unrelated, at least!]

I could probably use them for handle decorations and such. I'm always looking for new things to add to those.

[He gestures at a handle he has been slowly working on. It has a dragon etched to it. Still in the works, but you could see clearly what it was becoming.]

It's kind of like I'm combining my art hobby with forging.

It is, and both are coming out really good. Do you still do hand drawings?

[ Marco remembers being very impressed with them. He's impressed with the dragon etching, too, and examines it before he leans back. After a moment, he lifts his hands and holds them together, closing his eyes for a moment.

When he pulls his hands apart, he's created small chunk of red jasper stone that he puts on the table. ]

For your dragon's eyes!

Yeah. I actually started doing them again recently. It's nice. I can show you some of the drawings at some point - a lot of them are things I remember from Avalon and Empatheias.

[As one may guess, one sketchbook is full of Mikasa- But he has also focused on memories from the two other worlds. Especially Empatheias, that didn't have sort of phone cameras.]

Thanks. They'll definitely look nice on it.

[He finishes up putting the forge things away, making sure the fire is out and not in danger of lighting itself up again when he's not here. Then he even finishes the iced tea, that had some left.]

Did you want to do something else? I'm closing shop for the day.

inbox | seasonsrpg

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

casually sets up arena manager

foreshadowing oo

no subject

no subject