In The Times Of Fairy Tails

"Depends on what you want." She was still staring at him intently. "My pistol isn't loaded, remember?" She started to laugh. "And if anything, that should be my excuse. You are a Wizard after all, it's dangerous for a Ordinara like me to be around Wizards, but I decided I'll take my chances." She gave him wink. "Won't you?"

 

"Look... I'll be up front with you for a moment." Vance breathed in a deep breath and exhaled before speaking. "I have no idea what I am doing. This entire conversation has just been, one new thing after another. I have certainly enjoyed your company Miss Shani but more than this I fear I cannot do. The bottom line is, I am entirely unsure of everything right now. You know as well as I do what my male instincts are telling me... I simply do not know if I can follow them." This is strange. I am lowering myself like this before this person. Same equivalent status but in the real world, she is still beneath me by far. How can this be happening? What am I doing? Why am I doing it? Why am I acting as if all of this is acceptable when it goes against everything I have been taught my whole life? I was never prepared for this. Who are these people? What have I missed my entire life? There is a whole world of people out here and... It's just too much. I can't handle this! And... I can't handle her. I can't stop this. Perhaps... Perhaps I should just let instinct guide me for once. Perhaps that will serve me better here. So be it. Let us see what fate has in store. Vance looked up at her.
"You are most persistent, I admit. Normally, I would not but... If for whatever reason you still insist on this then very well. I shall allow you victory this time. You have convinced me." Vance surrendered. I go wherever fate dictates now. What is happening to me?

 

"You're easily flustered." She snorted, taking another sip of her drink. "I still insist, maybe not for the reasons you might think, but I do." She took his hand in her own, and led him up the stairs. There were many other rooms, but most doors were shut. She lead him to a room at the end of the hallway, and opened it. It wasn't ratty, but it also wasn't spectacular. There was one mat on the floor, and one bed. There was also a fire place, and a small table. There was also a closet for there things. It was shoddy, but it was probably the best they had. "The others who work in the brothel have rooms more grand, but this is ours." She explained to him, lighting a candle to light up the dim room. She locked the door. "It's quieter in here, like I said." She looked out the window, which was right up against her bed. She knelt on her bed to look from it, and from here she could see the Guild Hall in the distance. "What's it like, being in a guild?" She asked him, curiously, and somberly. The way she was sitting highlighted her figure. As she spoke to him, she undid her hair from the bun it was in at the top, so it all fell across her shoulders and down her back. "I imagine in the Guild, you stay somewhere more spectacular then this."

 

Skadi, too, had caught onto the voice. She recognized it as Damian's voice, but he didn't sound like he was talking to himself. She was about to go over and say hi; after all, the new person could be looking for anyone. Damian wasn't a dragonslayer as far as she could tell, but maybe he knew someone that was. She was going to, and then Thea told her the news she'd been holding in. Immediately Skadi's eyes opened wide in shock.

"Holy crap Thea! Really?! That's so great! I am so happy for you, you must be ecstatic!" she said, doing her best to share her friends joy. She wasn't quite sure how it could happen or why it had happened, but she knew how much Thea's family meant to her, so for news like that to come around she could only imagine how happy her friend was. "I do wonder how he did it though" she admitted. Deciding to take note of Tessa's gaze, she gestured towards the tree that Damian was standing at, next to another girl...who was that girl? That was the one that had been talking to Thomas. "Do you want to go say hi to them? Maybe it'll help" she suggested.​

 

Tessa jumped, slightly started by the exclamation from Skadi. Apparently there was good news. Tessa smoothed her shirt nervously and offered a timid smile in the girls' direction.

"Congratulations." She offered Thea. While unsure of the occasion, it would be impolite to not recognize the joy it had caused the two females.

"It just sounds like he's drunk. Do you think he's bothering her?" She asked, pointing a finger in the direction of the voice. Skadi didn't seem alarmed, and perhaps that was enough reason not to be, but Tessa didn't know Skadi very well either. Perhaps the other girl would leave someone in trouble. Or perhaps she just wouldn't care.

While that didn't fit the image Tessa had of Skadi, she had to remind herself that she needed to be less trusting. It would only get her into trouble, and she had already let these two lead her around. Just as she was about to square her shoulders and march on, a tiny voice in her mind reminded her that if she was being bothered, she would want help.

With another sigh, Tessa shuffled her feet. "I guess we should go make sure everything is okay." She mumbled.

 

Conrad Heinrich Adelbrecht Carsten von Eisenstein II

He nodded in agreement with Florica regarding the inns and shops in country side villages "It is alright, none offense taken, I can see why you'd think me just an ordinary citizen and I like it that way." He immediatly said as Florica apologised. He listened to Vance speculate and trying to figure out who these people even were. Conrad had figured it out rather quickly, simply because he had read about the Roma people, sure his knowledge was rusty, but it was more than enough to help him figure out, it wasn't like these people were actually trying to conceal their identity. He still listened attentively to take note of the things he couldn't figure out so easily. Like the King of Beggars and the social hierarchy within this group. He had heard about the King of Beggars but thought it was just a myth, turned out he was proven wrong. So Florica was a Seer, interesting. He hadn't seen many of those around, she took note of Florica looking slightly embarresed and what ensued next was very odd, Florica asked him to join her o get another drink. He considered it, could he leave Vance alone? The man could take care of himself, he stood up and followed Florica. Something caught the corner of his eyes, it was Edric. The man grabbed about three drinks and franticly guzzled them down something was clearly wrong, he took note of it and would ask the man later about it, if he wanted to talk about it. He figured Florica wanted to give Shani and Vance some privacy, but he felt there was more to it than that and spoke up: "So I'd say you took me along to give Shani and Vance some alone time, but somehow I feel there's more to it than that, so why did you have me tag along?"

 

​

"That's so sad" Damian looked at the young girl sadly "I know how it feels to be bullied an ridiculed for something you can't help, and I know how it feels to be unable to express oneself, well I suppose my obstacle was more anxiety and oppression than an actual physical thing stopping me talking" he read the paper that said it was a diary, he supposed that when one couldn't speak their only form of expression was on paper "I used to keep a diary, then I threw it away because I thought there was nothing worth writing in it" Damian shuffled a little closer "Don't worry, you're not alone in this world, there are plenty in the guild who've had to deal with tragedy, and we will help you" he hoped he was being comforting, there was always the chance he was just being awkward and drunk and she'd think he was creepy.

 

His words were those she didn't see coming. Damian's expression and thoughts towards the matter surprised her. Was he really drunk at this particular moment in time? Perhaps he wouldn't answer like this if he were sober. To be fair, Dawn had only met the drunken Damian, not the one who was truly him, the one with a filter blocking some of the aspects that were keeping things locked away.

Dawn gave a light nod to listening to his speech. He was right. Guilds were like a family, there to help one another when times were rough, trying to solve each other's problems even if they weren't their own. It was love that guided a guild and kept it strong, together as one. He had suffered too. Although the reasons were different, they could understand one another through each other's pain. Empathy was a loud way to understand one another, even if it wasn't the most peaceful.

His words for a diary rang through her mind. Perhaps he was right to throw it away, but at the same time, he could very well be wrong. Dawn kept it because it was the only thing she could use to express her inner self, the part of her that she wanted to keep hidden, the misery within. Being different because of a handicap usually caused one to suffer. Unless they could bare the same trait, they possibly empathize completely.

<<Maybe you should try again with the diary. It might help your anxiety. Sometimes, its best just to talk to yourself and read into your past.>>

The sheet of paper was handed over to him. This sheet however had a few water stains wetting the paper. There were some tears falling from Dawn's face, however they were with a smile. She was so happy to find a guild like this. Those entries from her past were starting to be rewritten in her mind. Instead of loneliness and fear, she could feel emotions of togetherness and love. Those were emotions that she had believed to be unobtainable.

 

Ra used Aerora

 

Gaius used Blitz. Jumping 1 time he inflicted 4 points of damage, but with strength and weapon it did 34 damage!
Ra used Aerora. The mighty gust of wind inflicted 4 points of damage, but with magic and weapon he did 25 damage! RNG has betrayed us!
Veilen used Bullshi- I mean Binding Strike. It did 15 damage, but with magic, strength, speed and weapon it did 53 damage!
Thomas used Fire. The spark of doom did **** all damage, and by that I mean 3, but with magic and weapon it did 24 damage!
Rennette used Barrier Surge. It did 15 damage, but with defence taken into consideration it did 24 damage! Rennette is invincible for this round, and I suppose so is Gaius because she blocked for him!
Charlotte had a dream. A dream that one day Fiore would rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." A dream that one day on the red hills of Magnolia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners would be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. Yeah, she's still sleeping until she's either hit or it just wears off, or hey Esuna's a thing too.

All together, the party hit for 160 damage, with Sheeptard's defence protecting him from 9 of it! Sheeptard took 151 damage!

His Wooliness' turn

Sheeptard has a serious addiction to his Baaaaaad laser. He used it on Ra. It did 0 damage, but with scaling did...oh my god, 0 damage. Shock! Horror!

Sheeptard used.....you're kidding me. He used his godamn laser again. Well, GG guys. He fired it at Veilen, and did nothing. Literally nothing.

Sheeptard's a moron, so the party took 0 damage and funnily enough, 0 damage was negated due to defence.

Sheeptard then took 14 damage from his burning, before the flames died out.

Sheeptard the Sheep King. Praise be unto him!


HP: 386
Weapon: Horns (2X 5-10 damage)
Strength: 18
Speed: 8
Defence: 15
Magic: 5

"Screw ewe" attack: Sheeptard hurls an innocent, adorable lamb at his opponents, dealing aoe damage and halving their speed for two turns as they stop to gaze at its adorableness.
1-10 damage to one target, half to everyone else

Baaaaaaaaad laser: Shoots a laser at his opponents that does 0 damage and does not scale, but looks ****ing awesome.
0-0 damage
"Ram"page: Sheeptard charges his opponent down, dealing a solid amount of damage and stunning them for one turn. Due to knockups being a non-cleansable form of CC, Esuna does not affect it.
5-8 damage to a single target

Assault and Baahttery: The Sheep King plucks a lamb from the earth itself and slams it into his chest with supreme, manly gusto, causing the lamb to stick to his woolly awesomeness and provide a temporary meatshield, and nobody can ever take that away from it.
50 damage shield for 1 turn

Unstoppable Fleece: Despite his manly ego, Sheeptard is a little....sheepish, and is quite easily startled. Each attack landed on him has a 5% chance to engulf the attacker in the fluffiest wool imaginable, reducing the damage on their next attack by 50%.

Lambassador: While Sheeptard mourns the loss of his woolen brethren, he also respects the laws of the land and the means for survival, and so he consumes his fallen lamb friends, gaining 50 hp back whenever one of his meatshields are destroyed, as well as +5 damage on his next attack.

Counting Sheep: Sheeptard casts his magic on an enemy, causing them to feel drowsy as illusions of small sheep began running by them and leaping over fences. After three turns, the victim falls into a deep slumber. Lasts 3 turns.
​

Rennette
HP: 60 (+18)
MP: 100 (+55)
AS:
Cure: Recover a small amount of HP. (8MP, 5HP Healed+Magic Stat)
Aero: Call on the wind to lift enemies into the air and then send them flying. Stuns some foes. (5MP, 8 damage on impact+Stun)
Stop: Manipulate time to bring surrounding enemies' movement to a complete halt for 1 round of combat. (15MP)
Esuna: Recover from all negative status effects. (10MP)
Barrier Surge: Cloak yourself in a barrier and rush the enemy. (15 damage + 1 Round invulnerability)
Strength: 9
Speed: 4
Defence: 5 (+6)
Magic: 14 (+10)
Weapon: Mage’s Staff (5-13) +0 SPD
Items:
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Gaia Bangle: Significantly raises max HP and Defense (+9, +3)
Gaia Bangle: Significantly raises max HP and Defense (+9, +3)


Gaius (Turn 2 for Counting Sheep)
HP: 60 (+3)
MP: 65
AS:
Quick Blitz: Perform a jumping attack. (5 Damage)
Blitz: Perform a series of jumping attacks. (1-5 attacks, 5 Damage)
Sliding Dash: Punish faraway enemies with a charging attack. (18 Damage)
Binding Strike: Perform a spinning attack that binds some foes. (20 damage + chance to stop enemies attacking for a turn)
Fire: Launch a ball of fire toward enemies. (3MP. Deals 5 Damage)
Cure: Recover a small amount of HP. (8MP, 5HP Healed+Magic Stat)
Strength: 19 (+12)
Speed: 10 (+14)
Defence: 1 (+4)
Magic: 5
Weapon: Weapon: Fists (4-8 damage) + 5 speed
Items:
Titan Chain: Significantly raises Strength and Speed (+4, +3)
Titan Chain: Significantly raises Strength and Speed (+4, +3)
Titan Chain: Significantly raises Strength and Speed (+4, +3)
Heartguard: Raises max HP and Defense. Equip more to boost effect. (+3, +4)


Veilen (Turn 2 for Counting Sheep)
HP: 53 (+10)
MP: 88.5 (+50)
AS:
Aerora: Call on the wind to lift enemies into the air and send them flying for more damage. Stuns many foes.(10MP, 16 damage on impact+Stun)
Cure: Recover a small amount of HP. (8MP, 5HP Healed+Magic Stat)
Binding Strike: Perform a spinning attack that binds some foes. (20 damage + chance to stop enemies attacking for a turn)
Fire Dash: Cloak yourself in fire, then punish faraway enemies with a charging attack. (25 damage + 5 fire damage continuous for 2 turns)
Thundara: Strike surrounding enemies from above with stronger lightning that shocks other nearby foes if it connects.(6MP, 12 damage, deals half to other targets)
Fira: Launch a stronger ball of fire toward enemies. (6MP. Deals 10 Damage)
Magnet: Use magnetic force to pull enemies in and deal continual damage.(6MP, 12 damage over 2 turns)
Esuna: Recover from all negative status effects. (10MP)
Stop: Manipulate time to bring surrounding enemies' movement to a complete halt for 1 round of combat. (15MP)
Strength: 11.5
Speed: 2
Defence: 3 (+3)
Magic: 8.5 (+10)
Weapon: Decaforce Sword: 6-12 damage (placeholder stats since the actual ones don't exist yet)
Items:
Energy Bangle: Slightly raises max HP and Defense (+3, +1)
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Angel Bangle: Raises max HP and Defense. (+6, +2)
Mage’s Earrings: Highly increases maximum AS and magic (+2, +4)
Mage’s Earrings: Highly increases maximum AS and magic (+2, +4)

Ra
HP: 60
MP: 100 (+73)
AS:
Fire Dash: Cloak yourself in fire, then punish faraway enemies with a charging attack. (25 damage + 5 fire damage continuous for 2 turns)
Binding Strike: Perform a spinning attack that binds some foes. (20 damage + chance to stop enemies attacking for a turn)
Stop: Manipulate time to bring surrounding enemies' movement to a complete halt for 1 round of combat. (15MP)
Magnet: Use magnetic force to pull enemies in and deal continual damage.(6MP, 12 damage over 2 turns)
Blitz: Perform a series of jumping attacks. (1-5 attacks, 5 Damage)
Sliding Dash: Punish faraway enemies with a charging attack. (18 Damage)
Fira: Launch a stronger ball of fire toward enemies. (6MP. Deals 10 Damage)
Aerora: Call on the wind to lift enemies into the air and send them flying for more damage. Stuns many foes.(10MP, 16 damage on impact+Stun)
Cure: Recover a small amount of HP. (8MP, 5HP Healed+Magic Stat)[/B]
Strength: 11
Speed: 4
Defence: -1
Magic: 20 (+14)
Weapon: Mage’s Staff (5-13) +0 SPD
Items:
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Mage Earring: Highly increases maximum AS and magic (+2, +4)
Mage Earring: Highly increases maximum AS and magic (+2, +4)


Thomas
HP: 36 (+6)
MP: 79.5 (+47)
AS:
Thunder: Strike surrounding enemies from above with lightning that shocks other nearby foes if it connects (3MP, 6 damage, deals half to other targets)
Cure: Recover a small amount of HP. (8MP, 5HP Healed+Magic Stat)
Fire: Launch a ball of fire toward enemies. (3MP. Deals 5 Damage)
Quick Blitz: Perform a jumping attack. (5 Damage)
Blitz: Perform a series of jumping attacks. (1-5 attacks, 5 Damage)
Sliding Dash: Punish faraway enemies with a charging attack. (18 Damage)
Strength: 11.5 (+3)
Speed: 2 (+4)
Defence: 3 (+2)
Magic: 12.5 (+8)
Weapon: Magic Sniper Rifle: (6-12) +2SPD
Items:
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Magic Armlet: Slightly raises max MP and Magic. (+1, +2)
Crystal Crown: Raises max HP, max MP, max AS, Strength, Speed, and Defense. Also enhances Magic. (+6, +4, +1, +3, +2, +2, +2)

Charlotte (turn 1 of sleep, once this counter reaches turn 3 she will awaken)
HP: 90 (+24)
MP: 65 (+14)
AS:
Fire Surge: Rush the enemy while a ring of fire revolves around you, hitting targets multiple times. (30 damage + 4 continuous fire damage)
Stop: Manipulate time to bring surrounding enemies' movement to a complete halt for 1 round of combat. (15MP)
Sliding Dash: Punish faraway enemies with a charging attack. (18 Damage)
Esuna: Recover from all negative status effects. (10MP)
Barrier Surge: Cloak yourself in a barrier and rush the enemy. (15 damage + 1 Round invulnerability)[/B]
Strength: 15 (+3)
Speed: 1 (+1)
Defence: 5 (+8)
Magic: 5
Weapon: Hand and a Half Sword (5-14) -1 SPD
Items:
Gaia Bangle (x2): Significantly raises max HP and Defense (+9, +3)
Crystal Crown: Raises max HP, max MP, max AS, Strength, Speed, and Defense. Also enhances Magic. (+6, +4, +1, +3, +2, +2, +2)

Gaius used Quick Blitz!




Skadi was a little confused, but she did her best not to show it. She wasn't quite sure how Vance had just become Thea's father, in fact she was pretty sure that wasn't how it worked. Pulled out of her confusion by Tessa's words, she shrugged her shoulders. "Damian seems alright from what I can tell, but sure, we'll go check it out" the ice mage said as she walked over towards Dawn and Damian. As she did, she asked Thea "So, is your name going to change at all?"

When she had neared Damian and Dawn, she greeted them with a friendly wave, before gasping at the sight of Dawn. She hadn't seen the girl for a while, but rumours had been going around that Dawn hadn't returned from the last mission she had been seen on. Rumours that were apparently wrong.​

 

It wasn't very long since Dawn had passed that note to Damian. However, before he could even respond, Dawn caught the sound of a familiar voice. It sounded like Skadi really. This was the same girl that got mad at Dawn for talking to Thomas, calling him a player. Dawn didn't doubt this sudden outburst from her since it seemed it was more like Skadi was trying to protect the girl. However, Dawn still attempted to become friends with Thomas even if he was a giant flirt.

This wasn't the only person with Skadi however. There were more and all of them seemed to be folks she hadn't met, similar to Damian. Were they all new guild members as well? Perhaps they were old and hadn't returned from their own quest while Dawn was there. It was all just a mystery that was sure to be solved soon. It was just nice to see more people. This meant potential for more friendships to blossom. All these blossoms under one tree. It was as if this Oak had slowly transformed into a Cherry Blossom tree.

As Skadi came into view, Dawn silently stood and smiled, her teeth in full grin. The pinkette leaped with her arms and placed them around Skadi, giving her a hug for reuniting together with an old acquaintance. She didn't need to write a note to explain what she was doing. After the short embrace, the mute waved over to the others that were new to her eyes.

 

Tessa watched what must have been a long awaited reunion between Skadi and the unknown girl. It made her feel a little better, to see that Skadi was so well beloved. Unless the two girls were also insane psychopaths and they all just got along really well. Food for thought, anyway. She glanced over to the male who had been accompanying the girl, the odor of alcohol wafting from his body. He was clearly still in the throes of the drink, with no close end in sight.

He was the one she was concerned about. It had been her previous experience that men, when drunk, had the tendency to become angry and violent. Or other worse things. Tessa's mother had always said never to judge a book by its cover, but that saying hadn't gotten her mother anywhere good, had it? And besides, it was always better to be safe then sorry in Tessa's mind. She crossed her arms over her chest protectively, waiting to see what else this little reunion would bring.

 

​

Hikari told him he should try again with the diary, perhaps he could. before he could reply three women approached, through blurry vision he recognised Thea and Skadi, but the other he did not know. Slowly and clumsily he stood up and staggered slightly. He then bowed and lost his balance slightly but managed to not fall over "Heeeey gals, nice to see you all" he smiled widely "Thea, nice to see you conscious at last, Skadi, great mission we were on right? Wrong, it was pretty terrible" he stood there for a moment more staring at nothing before a thought struck him "Oh yeah, say hello to Hikari, I found her under a tree. Hikari say hello to these guys, oh, right sorry" He winced as he realised how insensitive that statement was. "And I'm Damian, so the only person whose name we don't know here, is you" He pointed at the unfamiliar woman "Who are you and why are you spinning around... no wait that's just the alcohol"

 

Tessa couldn't help but giggle, hiding her smile behind her fingers. It was clear this man didn't mean any harm; he was simply drunk. She might have enjoyed a good time too, if her parents hadn't been so strict.

"Tessa." She twiddled her fingers at him in a friendly wave, all too aware that with the state he was in, he might not remember come the next morning.

Damian. The name suited him, somehow. She turned to get Thea's reaction, only to realize the girl was gone. Funny, she hadn't even said anything. Where was she?

 

Rho sat silent and expressionless in the bar beside Aias. This place unsettled him. I felt wrong. Not as though it were dangerous, but more as though it were dirty. He could feel sin. None of the others seemed to notice this, or if they did, they didn't care. He wasn't even sure what it was. Just an odd feeling. It wasn't unlike what had happened when the spirits had been summoned at Nessa's palace, though that had been more extreme. Just a feeling that was not his own, telling him something. This place didn't seem dangerous, but it seemed unclean. He was brought from his thoughts by two blonde women bringing Rho and himself drinks. The accents both of them had were thick, but not to the point where they couldn't be understood.

It would be rude to refuse the drinks, especially when they were invited here and given them for free. Picking up one of the mugs, Rho pressed it to his lips. "We've never been to this Tavern before. This would be the first time." He said without making eye contact.

 

Peter suddenly remembered that Rennette had Esuna equipped. Whoops!

Rennette used Esuna on Charlotte.

 

Skadi was shocked as Dawn embraced her in a hug and was nearly knocked off of her feet. She was frozen in shock, you could say, and yes I went there. However, she quickly overcame it and returned the hug. While she didn't know Dawn particularly well, she was glad to see that the girl was alright. Thea wandered off and Skadi made a mental note to go after her later; there could be all kinds of problems if she got upset again. "It was pretty bad, Damian, but I got to practice my ice magic by freezing that guard, so it wasn't all bad" she explained with a smile. "So, what happened to you, Dawn? I never saw you come back from your last mission, we were all really worried" Skadi said.​

 

Vance followed the woman to her room, his heart pounding in his ears and a sense of trepidation in his chest. He truly had no idea what he was supposed to do now. He didn't know anything really. As he walked through the halls, he noticed rooms through open doors here and there. It was nothing like anything he had ever seen in his life. It was all too... Low class. It was exactly what he had expected, but he had never heard of such things outside of what he had been told. It was one thing to hear it, another to see it with your own eyes. As he walked through, he almost felt bad for these people, but he remembered that really, they had the power to change their situation with enough hard work and that they were working. One day they could, eventually, have more than this. But until this day they would have to stay in these conditions. Eventually, they reached Shani's room. He took a couple of deep breaths before stepping beyond the threshold into the room. It was sparse, but it was better than many of the rooms that they had walked past. She sat on the end of the bed and let her hair down. His breath caught in his throat for a moment as the black locks tumbled down her back and shoulders. He gritted his teeth underneath a closed mouth to try and resist anything that his mind threw at him. Framed by the moonlight and a dim candle casting a flickering shadow, she made quite the spectacular figure. Fortunately, she had other things in mind.
"Yes, I would say that the guild is grander than this place overall, however even that is nothing to where I lived. At the Guild, they live in separate dormitories and rooms, however at my home, I had a large room all to myself. Several times larger than this, grander furniture, a more comfortable bed. Everything someone could conceivably want, I had. If I didn't have it, I could get it just as easily." He answered frankly, his arms folded. He leaned against the wall, turning his head to his left to look at her. He frowned and thought about being in the Guild. What was it like? "I suppose... Being in a Guild is something different. Special. Our Guild, Sapphire Eclipse is strange. I've never seen a more odd mix. People no more wealthy than you and your people to people like me, all arrayed as one, side by side in adventure. There's disagreements and fights. Some things are downright chaotic and I can't help but feel that there's yet more drama and other things that I don't know about. But despite the chaotic nature of things, I suppose there's an odd camaraderie to the place. It has to work somehow." He looked down at the floor, thinking about things.

"And I suppose, in many ways it is probably quite a wonderful place, though plagued with misfortune. The Guild was attacked apparently which caused some damage, yet they fought it off. And then on another mission, the girl who became my adopted daughter set fire to a lot of things, incinerating a large number of fairies by accident. She didn't mean to do so. Her magic is tied to her emotions and, well... She cannot control it well when upset. It is a good thing this coat of mine is fire resistant otherwise I fear that I would have been incinerated, having been right next to her. But it's strange, somehow that worked out. And to think, that entire adoption process happened as a result of being around her on a mission that could have set me up with a wife. I was nearly a married man you know. That would have made this situation far more awkward, would it not? In any case, it is a moot point. The competition was cursed by some green witch that claimed a relation to the lady in question and we all lost, unleashing spirits upon us. That is where I acquired this coat as it happens. Not only did we fail, but due to the rules I am now banned from marrying. Perhaps that was not the wisest thing I have done in my life... But no matter. I suppose that it was inevitable. I did try and subvert the rules by attempting to charm the lady to the point where she would give up, choose me anyway and that would be that. However, it seems that she abided by her dead father's will and now... Now I don't actually know what happened. Perhaps she will be happily married, perhaps she will be miserable, or perhaps that green witch's curse will prevent her from being married at all." His mind cast back to the crippled woman. I wonder how you fare, Lady Nessa Rose Thropp. He glanced upwards, expecting to see the sky, but only a wooden ceiling. In his talking, he had all but forgotten where he was. Vance shook his head to retrieve himself from the reverie. "Of course, there's more to things than that. The first adventure I had with the the guild was recovering some boy's father's last book that had been kept away from him by a certain Lord Everlue. The man was a madman and had the most terrible taste. Can you believe that his idea of beauty was immensely overweight and downright ugly people? His menagerie included horse faced, pig faced and all sorts of people. Of course it turned out that it was a lie. He simply pretended and abused their trust to avoid paying them. I simply lost my temper at that. I am not a sympathetic man really, I am not one to understand and be like people unlike me at all, but even I can see that it was wrong. How is anybody supposed to have a chance in the world if people are abusing trust like that? Where is the sense of honesty in it?" Vance stopped his rant for a moment, only realising then that he had to take a breath. He also noticed that his fist was held in front of him, clenched to the point where his nails had dug into his hand. He smiled and looked back at the woman.
"Apologies Miss Shani, I doubt you expected a rant. It seems my train of thought got the better of me there." He said lightly, standing up properly once again.