sunspotted | inbox | seasonsrpg

[ 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.

I'd love to see that - especially what you remember from other worlds.

[ He waits patiently, finishing his own drink. When Jean asks if he wants to do something else, he hums in consideration before he nods. ]

I'm intrigued by those Trust weapons you mentioned earlier. Do you think we have time to go check them out today?

[Jean makes a mental note to gather all the images he's drawn about the other worlds into the same place so he would easily show them off.

Jean smiles brightly at that.]

Yeah, I think so. We should do it. Both of our guilds are the closest... which one do you want to go to?

How about yours? Since your leader is still around, at least.

[ Marco would rather have someone show up if there's for some reason a problem. If Jean agrees, they can make the trip to that guild quite quickly. ]

Yeah, that works.

[Luckily, Jean's already dressed light enough to endure the Solarpeak heat. The guild itself isn't too different from the Autumn one, except with some interior decorations and choice materials for the building itself. They're not there for those, however, instead they make their way to the backyard training space.

There are three different 'swords in stone' placed.]

It doesn't really matter which one we choose, but why don't you pick one anyway?

[ The guild is very pretty, not that Marco spends very long inside. Just long enough for the person at the front to briefly explain how the trust bonds work, for Marco's benefit again, and then they're out to the backyard.

Despite Jean telling him it doesn't matter, Marco seems to consider the choice very deeply before he, predictably, picks the one in the middle. He approaches it, and after a moment is the first to reach out his hand and place it on the hilt of the sword. ]

Come on, you slowpoke.

[ Like Marco wasn't the hold up! ]

[Jean rolls his eyes at the slowpoke comment and joins Marco at the sword.]

Probably should have just walked to the middle one.

[Since he guessed Marco would just choose that one. But he grabs the handle as well, having done this quite a few times already.]

We need to pull it at the same time, so... on three?

Even if you're right, I still like choosing.

[ Marco says it teasingly as Jean places his hand on top of his, so they're both holding the hilt. Marco has the strange urge to tell Jean that he's it, like they're in a game of tag. He holds off, though. ]

Okay, on three. One, two ... three!

[ Marco pulls with all his might at the same time as Jean. For friends like these, they don't need a fancy statement or words of encouragement. Just like their friendship, the sword slides from the stone easily, becoming energy in their hands.

And yet, Marco is not surprised when the energy chooses to travel up his arm instead of Jean's, coalescing around him and making him glow brightly. He looks at Jean and tilts his head with a smile. ]

I guess I am the more protective type.

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casually sets up arena manager

foreshadowing oo

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