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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.

[It's not the first time it happens, but it always catches him off guard somehow. It's the blacksmith mentality taking a hold, to be honest. He's started to get used to making weapons for others, so he always assumes he would be the vessel.

But once the initial shock is out of the way, he smiles.]

Yeah, I guess it makes sense that it would be you out of the two of us.

[Marco was more likely to play defense than he was.]

Should I try pulling the weapon out? It won't hurt you at all, but you may feel a bit dazed when it happens.

[Please be something he actually knows how to use...]

Maybe we can do it twice.

[ Probably not, but it is the exact kind of silly scenario Marco would suggest, just to try it once.

When Jean asks, he waves a hand to himself. ]

Go ahead. I haven't been having my lightheaded spells at all.

We can't. People have asked and tried.

[It's a mystery if he has tried that himself. Place your bets now.

Jean nods, reaching out a hand to Marco's chest. It starts glowing and he reaches inside. It doesn't take long and he pulls out the weapon he gets-

It's longer than he expects it to be, but eventually the whole weapon gets out (with orange tones).]

...

[It's not a weapon he's used before.]

Huh, I haven't seen a weapon like this before. Or at least, not so that I know much about it.

[ Jean wasn't kidding - he does feel dazed. It's a bit like when you stand up too fast from sitting, but it passes shortly, and he looks over the weapon. ]

It's... a spear? Mm, the head is a little different so not quite that. I didn't expect you to pull something metal out!

[ Then again, Marco is an Autumn, and metal manipulation is a part of his season. ]

Guessing that means some new training for you.

I'll figure out what it is and how you use it.

[Though it's similar to the Naginata he gets from Ayato, so he tests if he can follow the poses.]

Mmh. Doesn't feel quite right... figures, since it's definitely not the same as a polearm.

[ Their saviour comes in the form of another member of the guild passing through. She tells them the particular style of weapon is a 'lance', though this one is built for thrashing and slashing rather than driving through. She says it's a weapon used by knights in a lot of old stories, to show how their hearts and weapons were pure and driven. It's not a throwing weapon or as light as the naginata.

Marco thanks her for the explanation, and his eyes sparkle when he turns back to Jean. ]

A knights weapon, Jean!

Edited 2024-01-15 08:51 (UTC)

[Jean also thanks the very helpful native, looking at Marco beaming and smiling himself. Marco's excitement about it is very contagious.]

I heard, you dork. Definitely a weapon that should be provided by you.

[Never mind the fact Jean was actually a knight in Avalon. As he's thought before, Marco would have fit the role a lot better. Hence, the lance was fitting.]

Though, does that make me your knight, since you bestowed it on me?

[He's teasing, a little.]

Nah. I don't need protecting.

[ Marco shakes his head a little, a mirthful expression on his face. ]

Using it to protect other people, though - that sounds like something we could do.

[ That had been - well, Marco's dream, for the Military Police. Before he learned what they were like. ]

I was joking.

[Mostly. He does want to protect Marco, but he doesn't want to make it obvious like he was. At the same time, he knows Marco's skillful enough to fend for himself.

Cheerfully, he explains.]

Though, being someone's knight isn't always about protecting them specifically. It's also about protecting their people. My lord back in Avalon certainly didn't need a bodyguard, so my main duties were to protect his lands.

And do some very annoying quests for the king, I guess. Technically, I had two bosses.

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casually sets up arena manager

foreshadowing oo

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