prionsis

[prionsis]

While his composure and general demeanor stayed the same, the change in his eyes towards Azelle’s exchange with the villager was clear as day. Dull cobalts were framed with a frown trapped between disdain and irritation, the corner of his lip twitching as it fought against his very muscles to not further accentuate his disapproval- it stayed that way for the duration for the miserable interaction, only changing when the peasant hurried off with gold in his hands and swift on his feet. 

Rufus closed his eyes, drawing in a sigh- he knew better than to ask the Goddess for patience, that woman seemed to only know to laze around in the skies and watch them scatter around as part of her amusement, but he hoped for a minimum of peace of mind. Just a little bit.

“Shoving a cork into a boat’s punctured hull only hides the problem, it does not fix it. Coddle and bribe the people all you want, in the end you are enabling bad habits and avoiding tackling the root of the problem.” The comment was dry, not quite filled with anger- there wasn’t a sharp edge to be found. Instead, the raspy surface of a rock. “Young nobles like you are too busy thinking charity is the answer to all to actually think about what you are doing, and the true effects your actions have and mean.”

“I do not know where you are from, but you are short-sighted and your logic is painfully shallow. That is fact.” A soft scoff. “But of course, you will deny and claim I am being unreasonable. Spare me your outrage, I have no need of it.”  Under another sigh, the regent’s attention returned to the question at hand- the map and the beasts. Much to his surprise…and displeasure, the young mage’s answer was not one he had been looking for. Rufus truly didn’t expect Azelle to meet him halfway on his own logic, but that was a bit too far off.

Goddess, you truly are one crafty deity. Always dragging me into the most grating of situations.

Enjoy your show, wench.

“Just trust their word? My, become king already. Who would have thought, solving these issues is so easy.” Mocking in a dismissive tone, Rufus tried to remind himself to not give this kid the satisfaction of witnessing his frustration as he nearly stared a hole into the map, raising a single hand to push blond locks away from his face. “Extermination is not the answer, but allowing them to continue roaming free is to doom this village’s future into possibly falling to predation.”

He finally locked eyes with Azelle. “The average individual is naive, they see beasts and think them the same as a domesticated dog or cat, as if they were stupid animals who settle with convenience and do not strive for more if given large enough crumbs.” A click of the tongue. “To a hungry beast, there is not much difference between a pile of leftovers, and a child. Both are easy enough to drag into the woods and feast upon, and I guarantee you the latter is more nutritious than what is left of a peasant’s dinner.”

For a split second, his gaze changed- a flash of something behind his eyes as his mind wandered into a distant memory. It was gone as soon as it began.

“I know that from experience." A quick pause. "Do not believe a villager’s words so blindly lest you unknowingly lead them to their demise.”

@azelfire

"it's eating leftovers" this is a tiger do you hear yourself

closed starter for @azelfire | riding +1

[prionsis]

Even though Rufus always thought his true place in the world was on the throne of Faerghus, although forced, he had already become used to the environment and intricacies of the piece of land he was given the day the title of Grand Duke was bestowed on him. Filled with beasts and one of the Kingdom’s most famed grounds for hunters and mercenaries, the plains of Itha were his unwilling but accepted home, once perceived as a bother- an insult to the man he was meant to be but couldn’t because of the lack of a crest, but now seen with slightly more neutrality. Perhaps, on a good day, even pleasure.

That was why beasts didn’t phase the regent, they never did. To reside and rule over Itha meant being in frequent contact with all sorts of creatures, some exclusive to those plains, most extremely dangerous and fierce. Rufus himself was no hunter, but as the lord he naturally had to get his hands dirty every now and then when necessary- and so he had fought more beasts that he bothered to count.

“Killing them is largely unnecessary, unless they are going out of their way to hunt humans for food.” This scenario was nothing new to him. At most he could say that the inhabitants of Itha were more tolerant of its fauna, as one had to be truly aware of the place they were about to move to when picking the northern plains as their home, but this debate was one he has had to handle many times before. “But leaving them be is equally ridiculous. They are declared invasive for a reason and cannot reside here.”

“But they’re doing nothin' too bad! I’d say they’re just as dangerous as your good ol’ bear or wolf, if we leave them alone we can figure out how to live with them sir!”

A frown was quick to pinch at his features. “The wolves and bears you speak of are native to this area, these beasts are not. If you find yourself fine with these creatures roaming your area then you are surely content with the idea of one of them invading your home and potentially attacking your child, no?”

The villager grew quiet, though still unwilling to give in. “...we just gotta keep them from gettin’ in-”

“Right, build steel doors then. With what money, peasant?”

His words cut through the conversation fast, deciding it was no longer worth his time. “These people think every animal is a potential pet, like a domesticated dog. Ridiculous.” Within a few steps he reached the young mage he had been set to accompany- a boy from the Black Eagles, not from Fódlan. Rufus handed the student a paper with a drawn map of the area, specific spots parked with ‘x’ as possible nests or packs where the beasts reside. “This map was given to me by some of the people on the other side of this circus. It has at the very least marked spots where the beasts seem to be inhabiting.”

“Tell me, Azelle.” Rufus looked around for a moment, before his gaze found the student once more. Arguing with kids was usually fruitless, far too quick to become emotional and believe in the simplest decisions possible, but testing wouldn’t hurt.

“What side do you believe has the best argument in this debacle?” 

"it's eating leftovers" this is a tiger do you hear yourself

closed starter for @azelfire | riding +1

[prionsis]

Even as the monastery halted its activities for reconstruction and Fódlan has just begun the process to bring itself back to its feet, it seemed that not even the footprints of war stopped pilgrims and travelers from coming.

And students, somehow.

That just couldn’t be possible- was Rufus really the only person with a functioning brain in this place able to think it would be best for Garreg Mach to stop accepting students when it was barely able to handle itself at the moment? How come there were people still insisting on coming here after seeing the state the monastery is in? A world of fools, it had to be. 

Rufus however didn’t have the drive to complain about this stupidity to the archbishop. The place was hers, if she decided it was okay then the repercussions are entirely on her account and he had no intention to interfere lest problems come to his lap, and so he took the given task with grace (read: took the paper and just went to work): housing was becoming a big issue in the monastery, and it was up to him to ensure all Blue Lions had appropriate rooms. Even the new ones.

Case in point, the girl standing before him. A young lass not from Fódlan, staff described her as a princess from a far away kingdom. “Sharena, right.” Cold cobalts spared her a short glance before returning to the paper in his hands- a diagram of housing floors with notes on each student’s chambers. The problem however was that it was still not up to date as renovations had been made but many of the new rooms had not been marked as occupied or not.

Rufus sighed, clicking his tongue. “They cannot even give me updated papers, no wonder the place was ambushed…” The regent mumbled to himself before finally giving Sharena a proper look.

“Not every room has been marked as occupied in this sheet, so we will have to go through one of the new wings one by one to find you a suitable stay. Let us not waste time, come.” A pause. “My name is Rufus, king regent of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. Though that matters little in this mountain.” He began walking, back turned to the girl- expecting her to follow without question.

born to rule forced to help this kid find her airbnb

closed started for @pillarofopenness

[prionsis]

When the monastery fell and Rufus was quickly ushered back to Fhirdiad, once more he found himself in a dilemma. War and disorder were quick to spread across the continent, shaking all three nations as villages fell to pillaging and monster attacks and smaller lords struggled to keep their territories stable. The tower of paperwork on his study grew by the hour as reports and letters from all over the kingdom asking for help and reinforcements arrived in bulk to the point Rufus thought Faerghus must have been suffering some direct attack rather than just collateral from Garreg Mach’s collapse. Every day felt like an endless stream of stress, complaints, people asking him things he couldn’t provide or didn’t yet know- including the ridiculous idea of him marching into the frontlines. Nonsense.

But there was a single saving grace, the fact that Dimitri went missing in the attack. It wasn’t worthy of his relief yet, as a disappearance meant nothing without a corpse, but it was something. A promise that maybe, just maybe, the beast had been slain and was now completely out of his way. No more of that creature prowling in his vicinity, foaming at the mouth at the idea of revenge and tearing his throat apart with its jaws and claws. Amidst the chaos, Rufus felt like he had at least something to find relief in. Even if it didn’t come with the comfort he thought he’d experience. Even if it felt just as empty as the day he was made king regent.

Through Cornelia’s odd pleasure, Rufus felt just as he had always been. Perhaps life truly had lost all its spark, leaving even victories hollow and meaningless.

One day however, notice that the monastery had been reclaimed reached Fhirdiad and with it a request from the Central Church for Faerghus’ help in its reconstruction. It caught the regent slightly off guard, but in the end he couldn’t quite say he was surprised by the letter- of course the Church would beg the Kingdom to help clean up its own messes.

Of course he had to be the one to go back to that forsaken mountain and install himself at the monastery again, even though the chance of a new attack was very much real and no one seemed to care about it. It couldn’t be a trap, could it? Some sort of sick retaliation for the tragedy where they wish for him to stay trapped in Garreg Mach so it may become his tomb? As ridiculous as it seemed, Rufus did have perfectly reasonable claims to make. None of them mattered because in the end there he was, back in Garreg Mach to symbolize Faerghus’ support for the Church and efforts in bringing the monastery back to its feet. 

The clergy received him with relieved gratitude that Rufus could only react in cordial neutrality, reassuring them that yes, the Kingdom would do everything it could and more for the sake of their centuries-long alliance. It was then that instead of being given paperwork, Rufus was taken to a…shop? A plushie workshop.

Build the thing for charity- well, for the Church. The bears could be kept or donated to children, while the money went directly to the monastery’s restoration. It would also look great for the Kingdom’s image in the eyes of believers, and so Rufus agreed to partake in the activity. Between building some plushies and being made to do heavy lifting? Plushies. He’d make 50 of them if it meant not participating in reconstruction.

“Oh, Your Royal Highness! We bear great news as well. His Highness Prince Dimitri will be joining you in the activity. Blessed be the Goddess for ensuring his safe return to us.”

This day was absolutely going to shit so fast.

And that was how Rufus found himself standing right there with the thing- that he thought was finally killed, having to make bear plushies in a place he was pretty damn sure could have him killed in an instant. This had to be a crooked assassination plan to ensure his torment to the very end.

The regent sighed, closing his eyes for a moment when he saw Dimitri. He took a deep breath, lips shifting into a line.

“Good to know you have made it back safely, Dimitri.” Was said through slightly gritted teeth, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention from the monks. They were really not giving him the option to bail.

“...I suppose I have no option but to do this. Come, let us not waste any more time.”

Again, he wondered if maybe that insane paperwork in Fhirdiad was better.

sweet family bonding totally not awkward or tense

closed starter for @blaiddllodi | forge-a-bear

[prionsis]

POST-LORE EPILOGUE

After the attack on Garreg Mach, Rufus returned to Fhirdiad and stayed in the capital for the duration of the moon. The surprise nature of the attack shook him, quickly wondering if it had anything to do with the tragedy- as some sort of divine retribution. Cornelia laughed him off. He found her 'good humor' odd, but just holed himself in his study.

As part of the Blue Lions, Rufus has now returned to the Academy to assist in reconstruction, though he avoids heavy lifting and is instead tasked with logistics and paperwork around the monastery grounds. He's still uncomfortable being there, thinking it's not entirely safe, but at the same time is essentially running on "it is what it is".

[prionsis]

“There you go again, coddling him when it is most convenient. One moment and he is a strong, wise and capable young man ready to be king- but soon after he is just but a boy in desperate need of guidance, just a child. I have never volunteered to care for Lambert’s spawn, hire him a nanny if you must.” It wasn’t his son, therefore not his responsibility. Why even help when the beast would never be able to truly process any feeling of gratitude towards him? Why risk himself even further, with his neck not only within Dimitri’s range, but also within reach of those four lackeys he surrounds himself with?

Gautier, Fraldarius, Galatea and that stray. One worse than the other, but under Dimitri’s command- all dogs ready to kill whatever crosses their path. Rufus knew better than to potentially involve himself with creatures unable to think for themselves.

But Matthias truly was a wicked man, his words sending ice through his veins as the regent found himself a deer frozen before a wolf’s hungry glare. None of them knew, he was sure of that- the margrave was simply saying this for the sake of bothering him, but there was this tiny part of his mind that wondered if they had figured it out after all, and were simply taking it nice and slow.

"You-” With cobalts framed by irritation, Rufus shot Matthias a glare. “You are playing with fire through those words, margrave. Baseless accusations such as these could land you a hefty punishment, I am sure you are aware of that. Were I a more impatient man, you would not have gotten away with this.” Because in the end it was just a matter of time, as the regent managed whatever he could to ensure his own safety in a world where all desired his head hanging from the gates of Fhirdiad.

Even with Cornelia by his side, he was still surrounded. The palace was not and has never truly been his turf, as he was quite sure not even his bribes would be able to keep the already delicate peace stable for much longer. His only means to prevail were long gone now, as the prince proved to be far too cunning to kill, and sooner or later the boy’s influence would continue to grow and grow, Rufus ultimately finding himself trapped in a lion’s den with no way out.

A fate that a small, insignificant yet very much present part of him, was disturbingly okay with.

“Bah, spare me from your harping regarding your land’s misery and low reputation. You forget that the territory is in your hands, and it is up to you to give it the change it needs- but this conversation has only shown me that Lambert has ruled this country like a teacher handles a kindergarten. Spoiling lords by doing their jobs for them, leaving them entirely helpless as soon as he is out of the picture. Masterfully manipulative, painfully pathetic.” Finding himself tired of this useless banter, Rufus turned away from the Margrave- but not completely, he wasn’t stupid enough to not keep a glance on Matthias.

“This discussion bores me so, and I am far too busy to spare you any more of my time. You speak much of what is best for Faerghus, but the ideas you continue to nurture in regards to my person are nothing but poison for the country you claim to love. If you wish to go down the path of ruin, go on. But keep me out of your filthy games.”

With that, Rufus finally left- his steps at a quicker pace as he went straight for his quarters. That was enough being outside for the day.

-end.

old men bickering

continued from here | @cielenruine

[prionsis]

“Even if I wished, there was no way I could have ever undone what Lambert had tainted and raised the boy with- I personally do not even think that was ever an option to begin with. A lion’s cub is still a lion, I cannot change what he was born as.” It would be a waste of time on all fronts, and besides what guarantee was there that the boy would ever listen to his word?

When those eyes stare him down with animalistic hunger and the promise of revenge, was it even an option to bother training the creature into a proper ruler- a proper human being? No. 

Dimitri would never listen to him, and if he did it would be for the sake of an easy bait, to lure him in for the kill. Dimitri had no good reason to listen to him, and never will. Reconciliation was but a joke.

A scoff. “Accusations of mutiny do not come without a reason. If Gautier’s reputation is stained by those rumors, then it would do you well to reflect on your own decisions and figure what action was taken to be worthy of such reaction. Do not attempt to paint yourself a saint being dogged down by unfounded rumors born out of thin air, all happens with good reason. You know that as well as I do, Margrave.”

Indeed, all happens with good reason. Including- no, particularly rumors. A topic that left a sour, nauseating taste in his mouth.

He often wondered if the lords of Northern Faerghus were secretly part, or perhaps even the very source, of the barrage of bad sayings that slowly corroded his image- all connecting him to the Tragedy in hopes of finding a viable culprit to punish, always thirsty for more blood as if the lives of the couple thousands in Duscur wasn’t enough to sate their wild lust for revenge. 

Rufus always walked far too close to danger, closer than he thought was necessary, but it wasn’t like he really had any say in the matter.

@cielenruine

old men bickering

continued from here | @cielenruine

[prionsis]

GAME DOC

It wasn’t his fucking fault that the vent wasn’t fixed in time.

They were the only ones in any actual shape to do anything in this doomed ship, because the nurse was an incompetent wreck and the engineer, despite being a wall of a man, had been doing nothing but guzzling the cargo they were supposed to be delivering like it was cheap beer, spreading this nauseating sweet smell throughout the entire lobby. All was as well as it could be until sparks started flying, literally, from the vent still in repairs going from the med room all the way to the utility room- and as the spot was surrounded by curtains, it was a fire waiting to happen.

With the nurse being useless and the single engineer of the ship too inebriated to do anything, it was up to him and that stupid kid to check out the vent before it set the ship alight with them all inside. It was only natural then that the scrawny guy would be the one to enter the vent- he was Morion’s intern, wasn’t he? Rufus was no engineer and he wasn’t interested in going beyond what he was meant to do. Even more when it came to having to squeeze himself through a sparking vent like that.

Screams, blood, panic.

It wasn’t his fault that they didn’t fix the thing. That Morion was busier drinking his ass off instead of working. It felt that Rufus was the only one with a working brain left in the Tulpar at this point.

“Unhand me-! Only now you wish to fix the problems you have caused, I see? After it is far too late? Unbelievable.” Rufus went along because he simply had no other option. Morion was twice his size and completely out of his mind, and he’d rather not be forcefully jammed into the ship’s insulation foam because of that man’s current state. It always went back to him having to clean up after others’ nonsense, trapped in a world where no one seemed capable of doing anything right.

In the end, both stood before the cargo’s heavy doors as they opened up, leading into darkness that mirrored that of space itself. The place was once filled with boxes all the way to the ceiling, but now was much emptier as the crew began using the product out of pure desperation and foolishness. Rufus let out an exhilarated sigh, frowning. “At this point I am doubtful there even is a bottle left for us to use, but very well. Let us search.”

AP roll: 2 Rufus spends 1 AP to Search. Perception Roll 1D30= 8, nothing. Rufus spends 1 AP to Move. 1 up, end in I8. Noise Roll 1D10= 7

Going down the metallic ladder and into the darkness, Rufus felt a chill down his spine- as if something, or someone, was watching them from afar. The Tulpar didn’t have any security cameras, too cheap for that, and the rest of the crew was away, so…

…yeah, it was that stupid drunk wall of a man. “Quit staring at me and get moving, you drunk fool.” Rufus barked, for whatever reason feeling almost instant regret as he swore he could hear movement somewhere deep into the cargo hold.

It was only his imagination. This is just a big old basement full of mouthwash of all things. Taking in a deep breath, he continued to walk.

Blind Beast has been alerted!

@quartzhearted

rufus? the horse is here.

AU - MOUTHWASHING

[prionsis]

COMBAT DOC

Rufus had seen that glint shining in the man’s eyes before- it filled him with disgust.

That look mirroring a hungry beast, holding back the uncontrollable urge to maim and kill for the mere sport of it. He thought that saintless trait was only present in the blood of his family, tainted by the star like a vapid ghost possessing its host and turning them into animals- first his brother, then his nephew. But no, apparently that horrid behavior was more common than he thought. Case in point, his current opponent: more beast than man, with not even the grace to accept a handshake and instead immediately going for the weapon like a hungry dog goes for the bone.

Rufus could only exhale at the display, whether out of pity or irritation it was unknown even to him. “Do not destroy it. I trust you are able to do at least that.” He could always get a new tome of course, but let this be a test for the creature. At the very least however, his opponent did give him a name- Karel. Let us see if it is worth remembering, the regent thought to himself. “Rufus.” There was no need to hand over his full name, at least not yet. He’d rather wait and see if this Karel even had the capability to mouth his name without staining it with the thirst for blood.

This is a joke.

Ancestral blade this, you can’t use it or you die that, with every moment he wondered if it was some extremely elaborate joke to mock his own life. “I frankly do not care about the sword.” He put it bluntly, tone disinterested with a slight tinge of irritation as he took the offered iron blade. “I already must deal with the ridiculous rules surrounding the Heroes' Relics, your blade is not special in this land.” As they shared glances, Rufus took a short time to at least become used to the sword’s weight in his hand. It wasn’t exactly the weapon he liked the most, preferring battle at long range, but this was nothing he hadn’t handled before.

His only novelty was that man- but he too seemed on track to offer nothing new to his plate. Worse, even-

This is just a weaker Lambert minus that beastly, toothy smile, and somehow that irked him even more.

“Let us see if there truly sits a man behind your skin.”

Rufus 12/12HP hits Karel 12/12HP with Iron Sword at melee range [ Roll: 12, -1HP. Karel 11/12HP ]

With proper weight applied to the blade, Rufus made a quick and steady advance- the cut clean, solid, as he tested the waters between him and this man. He was aware of Blizzard's capability to freeze him in place, and so the battle had to be quick.

Rufus wasn't interested in losing to an animal.

@otgolokh

does your weapon come with a user manual? | rufus & karel

closed starter for @otgolokh

[prionsis]

“He is a soldier, is he not? If he did not wish to fight for the sake of others, he would have chosen a different path for himself. If he does not want to fight for a lord then his parents are quite literally wasting their money in keeping that boy here.” Rufus gave Matthias a stink eye framed by exhaustion- it always revolved around this same nonsense. He has to fight this and that, he has to be the one to step out there and slit throats and mince frontlines, he has to be the one to do it all. “My brother’s nonsense has rotted your brain, Matthias. My battles are won through word and letter, the spill of blood is a last resort.”

“You are all far too comfortable with death and violence being the answer to all problems. So much so that suddenly it is a sin for one to not wish to partake in it.” The reply pushed through gritted teeth, both out of irritation and a bitter acknowledgement of his own hypocrisy. Violence and killing are a barbarian’s way of governing, diplomacy should be exercised more often in the Kingdom.

A right he never extended to Lambert or Dimitri, and most likely never will. Defining them as exceptions to his belief was, after all, easier than bowing his head and letting go of the last threads of pride he had. It was too late for all of this anyway, it wouldn’t make a difference. It would just make him more miserable.

Why bother?

Rufus fully turned to face away from Matthias, refusing to look him in the eye. “Are you now done with your incessant yapping? You have no moral ground to stand on, margrave. I could not care less if you think me lacking in expertise when it comes to combat, I am confident enough that my skills are sufficient and that is all I need. I do not pride myself in being a creature perfected for war, unlike you all.”

And the poke of that weapon again- a gesture so small yet so quick to annoy Rufus just enough to make him turn around and face Matthias a second time. “Ha, an offer for an outing? I did not expect you to be so civil after your display just now.” Tavern food was…not great, but at this point Rufus would take it. Having others in your debt was, after all, a pleasant exercise of power. He’d happily have it, scoffind with a small smile.

“Very well, lead the way. Though I hardly think said food and ale will impact my mood positively.”

That night Rufus did return to his chambers slightly plastered, but at least he wouldn’t remember it.

-end

you're cheating? pathetic | rufus & matthias

closed starter for @cielenruine | lance +1

[prionsis]

“They are being trained for it all the same, this boy will still serve a lord in his future. If he is lucky to come across one willing to overlook his faults, that is.” Rufus clicked his tongue, watching as Matthias lectured the shaken student as he tried to get back on his feet after his defeat. The situation was ultimately meaningless for the regent, being completely detached from any and whatever matters related to the academy’s workings- but since he had been forced to participate in this…might as well take whatever crumbs of satisfaction he could get from watching that spoiled brat getting scolded.

After it was done and over with, Rufus looked away in disinterest. “Must I repeat myself each time? I do not owe you nor that boy any performance, I am no instructor and was part of this mess simply because you forced me into it. If anything you should be thankful I was willing to lend you a hand, considering how before I stepped in to freeze that boy still he seemed to be getting the upper hand over you, margrave.”

At the end of it all, he had just begun to get sick of it. He just wanted it to end and for that stupid kid to leave. 

“Our situations differ, Matthias. Unlike you or my foolish brother, I do not fancy myself a warrior as I have full comprehension that my talent lies in matters external to the battlefield. My combat knowledge is sufficient because I am perfectly capable of making up for what I lack with other skills rather than condemning myself to being a war dog.” Rufus spent years honing his skills for combat indeed, but it was never his sole focus.

After all, he never wanted to prove that he was stronger than Lambert- an endeavor frankly impossible, but rather he’d prove he was a better, more complete ruler. 

He succeeded, didn’t he? In the end, his array of general skills was much wider than that of his brother. It was just that these idiots were far too blind to acknowledge it.

Uncrossing his arms, Rufus took a step forward- sparing Matthias a glance over the shoulder. “If you are done with your attempts at saving face through your infuriating snark, I shall take my leave.”

@cielenruine

you're cheating? pathetic | rufus & matthias

closed starter for @cielenruine | lance +1

[prionsis]

“They made the choice to send their spawn to a military academy, of all things. It is expected for him to suffer injuries in the process, it does not take a war veteran to become aware that there is no such thing as a soldier that has never known pain. Your insistence in coddling these youngsters is honestly ridiculous.” Rufus may not be the grandest warrior to grace the battlefield- preferring to completely avoid it if possible, but he knew the life of a soldier or knight was not for those unwilling to get hurt. 

“If this boy is too frail to endure a proper battle, he is better fit as a shopkee- agh!”

Student [0.5/12 HP] hits Rufus [12/12 HP] with Javelin at melee range!  Roll: 10, -1.5HP Rufus [10.5/12 HP] Rufus [10.5/12 HP] misses Student [0.5/12 HP] with Blizzard [ Roll: 3, -0HP ]

“Dishonored whelp! I am not the one you should be targeting!” The absolute nerve of this kid! Just as Rufus had begun to bask in the idea of being completely unnoticed during combat, the student seemed to suddenly become fully aware of his presence and advanced against him with javelin in hand. While the damage he suffered was minimal, it was still beyond annoying. 

Rufus [10.5/12 HP] barely hits Student [0.5/12 HP] with Blizzard! Roll: 7, -0HP Student [0.5/12 HP]  Student [0.5/12 HP] counters with Javelin at melee range! Roll: 9, -1.5HP Rufus [9/12 HP]

The regent even considered firing a surge of ice back in retaliation, but all that came from his attempt was a mildly chilly breeze and a handful of stray snowflakes- harmless. In the end Rufus stepped back, a hand holding his sore side that had been struck by that damned kid, teeth gritted in anger. “Matthias, do something about this bastard! This student is your responsibility!”

@cielenruine

you're cheating? pathetic | rufus & matthias

closed starter for @cielenruine | lance +1

[prionsis]

Rufus rolled his eyes, arms crossed before his chest as the flow of energy to his hands was halted for the time being. “This is an exam, is it not? If this boy is meant to serve a lord in the future and do battle, then it is up to him to prepare himself accordingly. The enemy he will face will not show a sliver of mercy and will jump at any and whatever opportunity to halt his advances, I am merely simulating such situation.” He looked away, the movement causing his hair to gently sway.

“If his reaction is so sluggish that he failed to avoid being attacked by the same technique twice in a row, then ultimately it is his burden to bear, not mine.”

His frown only deepened at the sound of the ice being broken, this time thanks to Matthias’ interference, releasing the now slightly dazed student. “You comment on this youth’s condition as a spoiled brat, but in the end contribute to it by trying to go easy on him. Absurd.”

Rufus [12/12 HP] misses Student [2/12 HP] with Blizzard! [ Roll: 1, -0HP ]

Once the student seemed to finally perk up again, his sights were almost completely on Matthias- as if Rufus didn’t even exist in the field as an opponent. It was partly a saving grace, as it meant less trouble for him to deal with. Rufus wasn’t exactly in the mood to participate in battle, much less one this wonky, so being ultimately spared from the activity and doing the bare minimum felt good enough.

On the other hand…there was this tiny, tiny part of him that grit his teeth in irritation at being disregarded with such ease. Rufus did nurse a level of pride, after all.

"I told you before, I have no interest to be an active participant in this nonsense. You are the instructor in this exam, not me." Ugh…he wanted to go to his quarters already and stop entertaining this foolish situation.

you're cheating? pathetic | rufus & matthias

closed starter for @cielenruine | lance +1

[prionsis]

It was terribly annoying, but there was one saving grace to this situation- Matthias could run his mouth all he wanted, because in the end he was still giving a less than optimal performance against a kid who frankly deserved to score a nice and bold zero for wanting to cheat in the exam in the first place. Rufus was there just because he happened to be around and Matthias is a sadist, that’s all. He was doing perfectly fine and proving his worth all while the margrave humiliated himself.

What came out of him could be almost called a scoff at the sight of the margrave’s lance barely scraping the ice encasing the student. And once it thawed, the boy just stumbled back and let the javelin clatter to the ground for a moment before scrambling to grab it again- at that point, Rufus facepalmed.

“This is honestly painful to watch. Had this been taking place in Faerghus I am almost convinced it would have been more than enough to drag my foolish brother back to life through nothing more, nothing less than raw and unfiltered outrage because of how damning this fight is.” Exam this exam that- only more reason why they should be putting in more effort. "Stop holding back, this is no newborn babe."

Still, the ominous thought of his brother showing up again as some vengeful spirit was enough to kickstart Rufus into acting, perhaps with more fervor than before.

Rufus [12/12 HP] hits Student [7/12 HP] with Blizzard! [ Roll: 15, -1HP ; Student [6/12 HP] ] Student is inflicted with Freeze! again

Once more, the sigil of ice glowed before his hand and released another surge of blizzard in the student’s direction, and just like moments ago the boy was back to being trapped in an icy formation. Cruel? Maybe. Deserved? Most definitely. Rufus didn’t think much of it, instead looking at Matthias with a frown.

“This is an immobile target, you better be able to strike him lest you humiliate yourself before the srengi in the near future.” He said with a sneer.

@cielenruine

you're cheating? pathetic | rufus & matthias

closed starter for @cielenruine | lance +1

[prionsis]

"And this is supposedly Fódlan's elite military academy..." A wince. Yikes.

Rufus watched the skirmish from a safe distance, his expression unshaken save for the occasional frown or the thinning of lips at the performance on display. He was no military or battle specialist, but that didn’t mean Rufus was entirely ignorant when it came to the art of war and he was perfectly capable of judging on whether someone’s skills were sharp or not. He just didn’t feel like taking on the role of educating this random youth because frankly, it wasn’t his business and he wasn’t interested.

But for a man who kept calling him dull, Matthias sure seemed to be rusty. “You sure run your mouth for a man putting on such a lackluster performance, Matthias. This may be a mock battle in which you must not kill the boy, but by the Goddess- your movements rival a snail’s. This is ghastly.” Was the role of a teacher that injurious to a soldier’s skills? Seemed like it.

Deciding that he was sick of this miserable display, Rufus took a step forward and raised his hand. Ice once more manifested on his fingertips, this time snowflakes giving way to a sigil ring of anima. Biting through the thick material of his glove, Rufus could feel the buildup of energy before his hand- there was no need for him to carry a tome. Not when the incantation was but engraved in his mind.

Rufus [12/12 HP] hits Student [9/12 HP] with Blizzard!  Roll: 12, -1HP ; Student [8/12 HP]  Student is inflicted with Freeze!

A silver flash gave way to a storm, encasing the student in an icy formation before Matthias. “Perhaps now you should be able to deliver a strike most satisfying? Tch.” Eyes full of disdain, enhanced by a spark of smugness far too clear in the pulled up corner of his lip. “I am not here to facilitate this battle for you. Be as snarky as you wish, but at least deliver a performance worthy of such remarks. Otherwise you seem like a maiden's toy poodle who is all bark but no bite.”

@cielenruine

you're cheating? pathetic | rufus & matthias

closed starter for @cielenruine | lance +1

[prionsis]

Disdain quickly shifted into a less than pleasant look of irritation and pure disgust. Past friends they may have been, and Matthias may have sadly changed for the worse thanks to Lambert’s influence, but this was something that somehow stayed intact- Matthias was an infuriating man. Somehow worse than his late little brother sometimes, because while Lambert simply happened to run on the same software as a coked up bear, the margrave was simply a master at annoying anything and anyone and remaining entirely unbothered as he did.

It was absolutely out of this world in the worst way possible. “Watch that insolent mouth of yours before I turn you into the newest entry for Gautier’s ice statue competition, margrave.” Venom was spilled through gritted teeth, though in true Rufus fashion its intensity was muddied by lack of drive. The regent’s wrath wasn’t nearly enough to make his threats a reality.

All he did in the end was just go along or escape if he had the chance. The world was exhausting to deal with, but even more exhausting to go against.

“I suppose I have no option but to carry on with this nonsense.” With another drawn out sigh and a pinch on the bridge of his nose, Rufus stood next to the margrave- facing their newest opponent. “Make this worth my time, cretin.” Free insult cast at the student aside, the regent made sure to get even more distance from Matthias- a couple more steps to the left, and perfect.

A slow blink. It wasn’t difficult to pinpoint how interested Rufus was in the mock battle ahead as shards of ice flickered around his fingertips.

Rufus [12/12 HP] misses Student [12/12 HP] with Blizzard!  Roll: 5, -0HP 

“If being called dull means I am less of a stubborn musclehead who thinks battle is the only way to reach conclusions, then by all means indeed, I am dull.” Aloof and monotone, Rufus quite literally flicked a single snowflake at the student. Of course, the effect was none.

@cielenruine

you're cheating? pathetic | rufus & matthias

closed starter for @cielenruine | lance +1

[prionsis]

Rufus had prepared himself to leave- before Matthias unceremoniously poked him with his lance and made the most grim request. Outrage was quick to invade his features as the regent voiced his displeasure. “You do not mean to include me in your troubles, do you? If this is a student of yours, then it is your burden to bear. I do not wish to be part of it.” And yet…his defiance held a tinge of defeat. Rufus was sure enough that Matthias wouldn’t let him go so easily, if his own past experiences with the margrave were to remain true.

He wasn’t part of this Academy’s inner workings, he wasn’t even faculty- he tried to remind himself over and over, but no comfort was to be found. “Utterly ridiculous.” He muttered to himself. And so much like so many things in his life, Rufus’ only option was to allow discontent to wash over his face like a veil, accompanied by a rather long and dragged sigh as cobalt blue irises rolled slightly.

The regent watched as the unsettled student hesitantly walked out of the shadows, lance in hand, positioning himself before Matthias so as to prepare himself for the upcoming test. Eyes flickered between the two figures, before resting on the margrave once more. “And what would you even have me do here? I do not possess any weapon on my person, much less am I keen on serving as a judge for this mock battle.” What, did the margrave want someone to offer rallies? Like he’s some sort of cheerleader? No way.

All Rufus had in hand was…well, his magic. “It would do you good to remember this is a lance exam, not a mixed combat activity. I am not going to just sit here and offer you company as you discipline your excuse of a student.”

@cielenruine

you're cheating? pathetic | rufus & matthias

closed starter for @cielenruine | lance +1