sngstres

[sngstres]

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ && pinned!

Azura of Fates fame has arrived (written by Regina). Important things to note:

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Azura was pulled from after the Conquest route of FE: Fates so any events of that may be freely referenced with her.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ She will be taking up the position of Assistant Choir Director at Garreg Mach! Please be kind to her.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ She can be a prickly/shy individual but once she warms up to her friends, she is incredibly kind and giving.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Her husband is also here, watch out.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Somewhat enigmatic and peculiar, Azura can be difficult to approach but I will have her make the effort so we can all write together!

[sngstres]

She shakes her head at his question. Her status as a princess is on a technicality only. A title she has a claim to only if something especially tragic befalls the nation of Nohr, as someone not born within its borders. A child of the late King Garon by marriage alone and holding an official title despite that only due to the affection he had once held for her mother.

"There is no need. 'Lady Azura' is fine." She would rather it that way. If she could be just 'Azura' that would be better still but there is a need for propriety in places such as this and with foreign nobility besides.

She does not protest when given the jacket. It would be easy to do so but she is shivering a little and if she protested it would look like pride. The cold gets into her skin and makes her shake like a leaf. The jacket helps. She pulls it around herself and sighs.

"Of course. I would prefer not to grow ill and leave my students with no one to teach them. The voice is a delicate instrument."

She pauses. "What subject do you teach?"

cold nights

[sngstres]

"Lady Azura." Leo inclines his head in greeting. "You look well. How was your journey here?"

He's truly pleased to see her; all their differences aside, she has proven a loyal ally. And she makes Niles happy--despite what most may think, his retainer's well being matters to him.

"I'm sure Niles has already given you a tour of the grounds. Please let me know if I can help with anything."

She smiles fondly at Lord Leo. Though still facing some insecurity about her position within Nohr and with those there, but Leo has always been kind to her.

She is happy to see him as well. It has been some time since she has, and though she likes to pretend she doesn't need anyone, she has grown fond of those she fought beside over the war even as she holds them at a slight distance.

"He has, but I will. Thank you. And please let me know if you need anything from me at all."

[sngstres]

Been away...? Well that was a shame. Whatever he meant by that it sounded complicated but she did not wish to pry and instead merely nodded. She could parse that at a later time. She was just glad to see a familiar face in an unfamiliar place. A small smile grew upon her lips and she inclined her head toward her cousin.

"I'm very curious about these little guys. The tragedy of so many having been lost to the harsh winter has made everyone determined to help them. I can't help but be swept up in that desire as well." It was easy to fall into it and she found it to be a noble cause. To aid them would make her feel better. It was the right thing to do. It was as simple as that.

"I've not cared for a wyvern before but I have some experience with Hoshidan pegasi..." Different animals. "And my children of course." Not really animals. Niles would likely rebuke her for conflating the two, but in her defense Corrin had compared his own daughter to the little creatures first.

"I'm glad that you're able to see more of the world now. How are you liking it? This is farther from home than you have ever been, is it not?"

Baby Wyvern Bananza (Feat Azura)

[sngstres]

Azura too was struck with the need to help the kids. She could never bear to sit idly by and allow children to be harmed, or indeed anyone else if she could help it.

But especially the students...She would not be able to live with herself if she had prioritized her own safety over that of one of them and they had ended up hurt. Even if she failed she needed to try at least for herself.

Azura follows close behind as they approach the classroom once again. Still so blindingly hot. She closes her eyes to shield them against the blaze before charging in, only hoping that the other woman was still with her. She could not help but imagine her own children caught in this horrible blaze. These are not hers, her kids are fine elsewhere but...

"Come on, help me get through these tipped desks." She kicks out at one of them, pushing it aside. She does not know if they were upended in the chaos or from whatever spell set this place alight. It matters little.

If nothing else she is grateful that she is not alone in this task. The other woman's determination makes her feel stronger.

from the fire

[sngstres]

"They're letting students observe the care and raising of these baby wyverns," she says with a soft smile as she looks over at the demonstration a stablehand was giving. She watches Corrin pick up one of the little ones in his arms and thinks longingly of times gone by.

"I know neither of us are students but I'm sure they won't mind if we sit in and learn as well," she adds, pressing a finger to her lips in a playful gesture. It is easier to be relaxed around Corrin than almost anyone else. Comfortable. She can be more herself.

They'd had it so hard, these wyverns. To see them full of life and energy is something of a huge relief to her. Animals are sometimes easier to be around than people. They are not as harsh. They act on their instincts rather than prejudices. She picks one up as well.

"I got here only a few weeks ago. I hadn't realized you were here either at first or I'd have come to see you. Forgive me."

Baby Wyvern Bananza (Feat Azura)

[sngstres]

The opportunity to get some fresh air was nice. Azura was no stranger to performing for others though typically she was not entering competitions of might. This was a refreshing change of pace and allowed her to show off the fact that she did actually have a modicum of skill with the lance. No professional but certainly not one to embarrass herself.

She did not seek to catch the eye of any nobility, her own status was higher than many of those watching, tenuous though it may be. Though her position depended on the goodwill of her eldest stepbrother she was hardly seeking anything else.

So this was just for fun. Fun was often something Azura overlooked with regard to herself. She was focused solely on her own target which is why her eyes widened as someone else's weapon clattered to the ground near to it. She was startled but unbothered, and took in an appraisal of the man. He had the look of a working man about him, possibly a mercenary.

Her lips curled upward in the slightest, most minute show of amusement. It was a small thing and barely a smile but this guy was...funny.

"You aren't in the way," she said, shaking her head slightly. "But...that was almost an impressive throw. I would like to see you make it. You should try again."

Hold My Beer

[sngstres]

He scrubs at his eyes, blinking away the afterimages. "Do my eyes deceive me? Why, Lady Azura! What a lovely surprise!" Laslow grins, a hand coming to rest on his hip.

"Don't tell me you've come to spy on my dancing again," comes the gentle tease. "I took your words to heart, you know. No more holding back! Seriously, though, how are you?"

She lights up despite herself, the subtle change in her expression showing a range of emotions. Joy at the sight of him but then exasperation. "I was not spying," she says, because she wasn't. Just appreciating an art form for what it is.

"Your dancing was always a sight to behold. If you've been taking my words to heart, I would love to see you perform again."

[sngstres]

It is always a struggle not to pull away from physical touch but she knows her husband needs it. Try as he might to deny that he needs anything at all there is still the constant, pathetic neediness within him. It is not that she minds touch, only that it is something she never truly got enough of as a child and therefore doesn't know how to get used to. Lonely girls make for poor lovers, she tries again and again to remind him and yet he remains where he is.

At the kiss she blushes which she knows is just what he wanted. At times she feels like waves or a pool of still water but with Niles she is a block of ice that he has taken their time together to slowly chip away at. And she melts bit by bit.

That is not what they are in the greenhouse for though, she reminds herself this as much as she will likely need to remind him if he gets too distracting.

She takes his hand in hers and threads their fingers together as she guides him toward the back where the flower sits wilting. "Here it is. I've been reading about its care. It seems to be in the correct potting soil and if the schedule posted is being followed it's being watered correctly...."

There is more to plant care than that though. She is not a bad gardener, has learned some lessons, but she is no greenthumbed expert either.

       thus, with a kiss,

[sngstres]

Azura often found it difficult to express herself. But the sight of the newborn wyverns was too adorable to be anything but a source of joy. The cold of winter was easing, and Azura had found herself finally able to dress in lighter materials once again. No longer weighed down by heavy hats and coats she made her way to the stables to check up on the little ones.

She was not the most adept at caring for baby wyverns, more familiar with the pegasi of Hoshido than more Nohrian mounts and besides...the wyverns of Fódlan were likely not just like those of Nohr. But still there is much to learn and these creatures needed every chance to survive, especially considering that though the weather has warmed there is a ways to go yet until summer comes.

She stands at the doorway for perhaps too long, anxiously fiddling with the light sweater the weather still dictated she wear and watches the caretakers and students alike bustle around.

Her expression lights up somewhat at the sight of Corrin though. A familiar face among all these strangers. That is helpful. She can do this. Though the look on her face barely changes there is a softening of her eyes for Corrin.

"Corrin! Goodness, it's lovely to see you! Are you here to help out as well?"

Baby Wyvern Bananza (Feat Azura)

[sngstres]

The air was biting and the walls of the stables were thin enough that bitter air seeped through the cracks between beams of wood. She shivered a little bit even in her thick clothing but quickly clamped down on it so as not to appear to show weakness. She sat quickly and offered him a polite smile.

Azura's smiles are tight, anxious things. She rarely looks like she meant them but this was due to her own insecurities rather than any sort of genuine apathy. She was trying as of late to meet more people.

"A pleasure to meet you, my lord. I am Azura, Princess of..." Hoshido and Nohr. Hoshido and Nohr. No, an action had been taken. One cannot walk back a path. "Of Nohr. I teach choir here."

She tilts her head to the side and looks him over. He seems very regal. He did not give his title and she does not ask for it. It is irrelevant here anyway. Fódlan is far from her own home. Perhaps he is not from here either.

cold nights

[sngstres]

Oddly, the mages notice that Reason magic has been on the fritz lately. Even the most experienced sages find it difficult to control their magic, never mind the practicing novices that keep burning themselves and injuring others. A late-night attempt to study for a Reason exam quickly gets out of hand and sends a classroom up in flames. The Knights of Seiros and other members of the monastery’s facilities must rush in quickly in order to contain the fire and save lives. [Grants Reason +1] // with @agaudialis

--

An entire classroom up in flames is alarming to say the least. Azura had not herself been involved with either the studying or any sort of supervision, as merely a passing witness to the accident. She could not help but rush in though. Her eyes widened at the sight of the flames, their intensity. It was natural to help, though.

She pushed through the door and shielded her face from the flames. It was more severe than she thought it would be and she quickly noticed that much of the damage was being done to books and papers, that the students trapped within did not yet seem severely harmed. If she could keep it that way that would be best.

She did not know if she could do it on her own though. She retreated momentarily from the classroom before calling out, noticing a passing stranger. A woman, maybe a teacher, not someone she knew. Still she could likely help. One of them could douse the flames, the other could pull the students out.

"You there!" she called out to the silver-haired stranger. "Please, can you help me! There are students in here!"

from the fire

[sngstres]

An overnight outage to the stables’ heating system results in the deaths of several wyverns, personal mounts and beloved lesson drakes alike. In their grief, passionate students vowed to sleep overnight in the wyvern stables to help them keep warm through the night. [Grants Flying +1] // with @valflaame

--

The cold was not something Azura was particular with. Growing up in temperate Hoshido meant she was more accustomed to long sunny days and comfortable temperatures but she could put up with the cold when need be. Though she disliked to do so, she covered herself in warm layers and fur boots to stave off the cold. Earmuffs adorned her head. In all she looked cozy from an outside perspective but hated the restriction of movement.

Coming out in the cold served a purpose though. Rather than sitting warm within the walls of the monastery many of the students had gone to care for the wyverns that were freezing within the stables. That some had died already did not bode well. Many students were resolute in their desire to not let that happen to any more before the heating could be fixed. Azura was moved by their determination.

She was not the only employee so moved. As she came into the stables, she saw groups of students huddling in the cold and passed them by, not wishing to intrude, and instead approached someone who resembled a member of faculty. She did not know what he taught but she had seen a number of teachers around before on her tour of the monastery, including this one.

She approached, bowing her head politely. Her desire not to intrude on her students had her instead approaching a stranger. Lesser of two anxieties. "Pardon me. May I sit here?"

cold nights

[sngstres]

Niles' hands immediately grip Azura's waist as he moves up behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder as he presses a kiss to her cheek. "It's about time you finally showed up... I've been feeling restless in your absence, you know."

A jest, or mostly one, anyway. "Really, though, I'm happy to see you. It was hard to be apart."

She startles a little at how quiet his footsteps always are but turns to press a kiss to his lips in greeting. "I couldn't stay away for long. You know this. But please, you should not be so affectionate with me in public, Niles." Not that he had ever been one for propriety.