In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
Post by Joseph Ravencrest✾ on Oct 24, 2022 1:38:37 GMT -5
It was easier to see how Yugo ended up as naive as they used to be, the person in the bar that stood out like a sore thumb and didn't seem to know the most basic of a common persons social skills. It wasn't that long ago that the other was too weak to communicate with anyone outside of servants and family. It was a type of sheltered living that Joseph hadn't been able to live, but the other had no choice but to survive it. They had both been born weak, but one of them was protected and the other wasn't. One was strong and healthy by the time puberty struck, the other was still frail and weak. Most of the memories the man had of any of the years in a weakened state were gone, even if they were slowly coming back. Even so, it meant he was less able to understand the struggle of being stuck in such a state for so long. The gloves hands were still as careful as ever with each page. There wasn't exactly a rush to zoom through the book. He didn't know why some photos looked so damaged, but it wasn't their business to pry and poke at. Peachy pale pink eyes looked from the book, their hands paused once Yugo started speaking again.
It was strange to hear about how nice Yugos mother was. The words made it sound natural for her to have worked as a magic knight, not the exception. The yearning and need to help as much as possibly. The father also lived by an interesting code. Joseph hadn't reached the end of the photo book yet, but still slowly and carefully started to close it. “As someone from a family of musicians, I've heard a lot of nobles talk before like we didn't exist as anything besides part of the scenery. This is the first time I've heard of a noble family with a code like that, its honestly a bit surprising.” Since becoming a magic knight he had met a lot of nice nobles, but it didn't change his experiences from before being a magic knight. “You have quite a lofty goal, unrealistic... but very nice. I want to see that world in your heart.” He wasn't going to pretend it was realistic, to want to make everything better for everyone. Some nobles wouldn't be satisfied until they see their servants in fear and some commoners were bitterly resentful, to the point that they would attack people who had nothing to do with how their life turned out simply for being part of a certain class.
There was something nice about that light and hope, that belief. Their gloved hands held on to the precious picture as their eyes darted around a bit. He couldn't just put it on the floor, but where would it go? “I want to see a better tomorrow, but I think that can only be made by a lot of tiny actions, understanding each other and not backing down from especially dangerous situations that come. I... wasn't raised as a noble, but I've always believed there is always something someone can do, you just need to find the right angle. That was how my adoptive father looked at the world so often, like every issue could be solved with the right thinking and sometimes with the right people to help. He's only a composer though, even as hes lost his mind. Each piece written is a masterpiece. Some end up on his floor, some sold. Even with his mind gone, last i heard he still creates work that is still sold. Others play it and take credit, making his work very hard to trace. An invisible master of his craft.” Why was he thinking about that person now? Maybe it was envy. Yugo and Yugos family all seemed to have defined goals for reasons connecting to something emotional.
Josephs reason for wanting to be a magic knight? He had a few reasons, but it wasn't honorable, kind, or hopeful. He just wanted to help other people. At first he thought it was to help other people, but now he wasn't so sure anymore. The more he remembered, the more doubts sprung up. Even before his father had gone mad he had wanted to be a magic knight, the man was sure of it. Wanting to help others so they wouldn't end up suffering as much as him had been something added later.
Words: 752 Total: 6,832 The symbol ~ will be used in the post to reference when sign language is being used.
[attr="class","polarPOSTIT"] The young Magic Knight watched as his dearest new friend looked through the pictures and listened to him talk. But it was obvious the man had thoughts spinning through his head. When he finally responded as he slowly closed the book Yugo turned and looked at the man as he began to speak. He noticed he didn’t sign, it was a good sign it meant that he was getting a bit more confident in his voice. That was what Yugo had wanted. But as he spoke of nobles wanting little to do with helping the common people, let alone give reason to them showing those commoners even an ounce of respect. He wasn’t wrong. The nobility had often given them such a low standing that eventually a forsaken land was designated for those deemed unworthy of the light of nobility or even commoner status. He hoped to one day change that. [break][break] As he spoke of his father beliefs the young man couldn’t help but realize that Josephs father and His own held very similar ideas. Small changes, small kindnesses were all it took to start a chain reaction of good energy. It was one of the things his mother and father agreed on. While his mother was busy working as a Magic Knight and helping any she could, his father was busy putting funding into public works and using the families fortune to pay for food, housing, and even to make new jobs in various areas of industries. If it was not for his steathy magic, he might have also been a good Magic Knight, but he was far more comfortable in the business world. Blending between meetings, using his skills at stealth work work for him in a way many would not think to. [break][break] Hee listened deeply and focused on the things joseph spoke about. About his desires and his wishes on how the world should be. He couldn’t help but think back to an event with his father, one of the few times he had been well enough to leave the house in his youth. ”If it might ease your mind, Let me tell you a story.” He began to recount the memory and doing his best to not cry or let his voice faulter as he spoke. It was still painful in places to speak of his family. [break][break] Many years ago, following Yugos 8th year of life, he was sat outside in a soft padded chair, once that kept his weakened body safe from sudden impacts or movements. He suffered from a desieses that caused him to have brittle bones, a direct consequence of the Poisoning his mother was assaulted with. He watched as the servents his father employeed worked on the garden and used soft and gentle magic to make it grow. His father only pulled those from common households as his servents. Not that he didn’t enjoy the richer more classically trained servents. Yugo couldn’t help but smile. The book in his lap was a history of the Clover Kingdom. He was taking a break from his studies to enjoy the rare strength he felt. [break][break] His mother was farther into the garden, working on a glass sculture. Despite being a Magic Knight, after Yugo had been born she effectively retired beyond desk work. Yugo couldn’t help but be curious what she was making. All of her artwork was of masterpiece quality and he wondered if one day hed be able to make art like that.his father stood with a group of men, a business meeting to discuss his fathers new trading venture. They new ship once fully designed would be sailing toward new lands to quire fresh items for the markets. He could hear his fathers partners speaking, how they might need to cut certain things out to allow the ship to be properly stocked. [break][break] His father, despite his young age had a cane that held his personal weapon, he tapped it against the floor and tisked. ”We must not choose between safety for our men and full bellies for them. We shall find another solution… or we must scuttle the entire venture.” they murmured at his words and as they turned to speak, the young main Alicia made her way toward them, thankfully her distraction caused Yugos father to turn and see he was there. He smiled at his only child and with a knowingness of the strength and uniqueness of a educated childs mind he asked that he join them. ”I want you to speak with us, if your to take over the Business one day then you must know how it goes.” [break][break] Yugo was shocked. He had always wanted to help his father in his meetings, but it was nearly impossible. He had been very lucky to have enough strength for outside activities. As his father and the other men spoke once again to give him a full understanding of the question they were quibbling over. After a moment Yugo finally spoke up. ”If food is the issue regarding space, perhaps we use the natural elements of the boat to provide for them.” the gathered men looked around and and his father urged him to continue. He felt their eyes on him and knew if his idea wasn’t good enough, it might cause his father and family embarrassment. Despite his age, he understood the importants of noble houses to appear well learned and able to perform. ”um…Well…L..like I was saying, if the boat is made of wood, then we can use varioud different woods from trees that bare fruit of the Citrus family and other such important foods for sailor health and simply hire a Plant Wizard to maintain them and help them grow quickly and abundantly. It would be far more space effective and cost effective compared to the traditional storage techniques of sailors. “ [break][break] ”See gentleman? Even an 8 year old can find a solution to a problem that makes the most good for the most people.”Yugo couldnt help but smile as he was complimented by his fathers words. As he finished telling the story he couldn’t help but feel the tears coming down his cheeks. [break][break] ”After that I spent every day learning and studying with the intent to become my fathers student in business, following… gollowing their deaths, and the unlocking of my magic I decided to train my body and become someone both my parents could be proud of, all because he taught me that unless someone makes the choises that benefit everyone, no one should benefit while others suffer for lack of needs.”
words[break]1111 [break] total[break]5571 [break] SP Earned[break]0000 [break] Stat Earned[break]0000 [break]
Post by Joseph Ravencrest✾ on Jan 22, 2023 3:31:07 GMT -5
The red head hadn't realized Yugo took their words negatively. Living in a world where some see you as a fixture instead of a person isn't so bad so long as those nobles aren't bad. The young man still listened to the story that the other spoke. The story was a nice one, it certainly seemed like something Yugo held dearly. Still, he didn't want the other to see Joseph as having had a sad life, not when he didn't see it that way. “As a musician becoming a like a fixture is a good lesson in focus and listening. These are very important skills when gathering information. Learning how to blend in, focus, and listen to others are very important skills for me, no matter what happens to my status in the future. It was nice and comforting, I just couldn't live my life that way.” He didn't pick being a magic knight for it to be nice and comforting, nor easy. It was the harder and less comfortable route that involved a multitude of things that had been outside their zone of comfort. It wasn't the easier route, but it was what he wanted. There had also been a pressure from family to take a job relating to music, pushing him towards being in a similar position his mother had been in. This was one of the things he wanted the least in this world. they didn't want to be anything close to being an operatic singer, it was something their entire being had always rejected.
I save other people, to help them, and to serve the kingdom had been some of the earliest desires the peachy pink eyed person could recall feeling. “Unlike your parents, my mother picked a route of selfishness to live her life. All she had to do to live a long life and to be a mother was to stop using her voice. She married my father for his talents, not love. The proof was in her actions.” She didn't care about anyone so deeply that it could be seen as love, besides maybe herself. Her life had literally been within the palms of her own hands. That woman had chosen her preferred end of life above marriage, above seeing him grow up, because she wanted to be someone who burned in the spotlight until nothing was left. Many of her fans were still obsessed or being made, even after years of being dead. Most people face from memory after death, but she was apparently one of those rare muses, an inescapable presence and reminder that he could never admit to resenting, nor confront. One cannot speak against the dead that wronged them. Her ever present hold was one of the reasons why he was in Yugos attic. It as wrong to suggest that person did any wrong, especially when her music had helped Yugo in dark times. “Sorry for speaking of her in such a way.” Had that conversation with sol a long bit back have a negative effect on him?
Maybe it had convinced Joseph a bit that it was okay to not like her, or to help Cobborn realize that the young man hadn't liked her in a long time. A hard lesson that they didn't want to learn nor look at. This made it easier to go back on to the topic of what Yugo had said. It would be rude to ignore it. It was a situation where it sounded like a lot of adult discussion was had around a child. ~I didn't think adults would speak of adult matters around a child.~ That was spoken with the hands before it could be taken back, not that he would. It wasn't something that should be spoken out loud, but it wasn't a lie either. “I sounds like your father had a lot of faith in your mental abilities and maturity.” Then again, maybe that was in part because Yugo could only develop the mind for so long? “Do you use the information from what he taught you while you work as a magic knight?”
Words: 686 Total: 7,518 The symbol ~ will be used in the post to reference when sign language is being used.
[attr="class","polarPOSTIT"] He gently wiped the tears from his eyes as Joseph began to speak about using it to not stick out. And he couldn’t help but smile. His father acted that way too. He was not the kind of man to like the spotlight. He chuckled as he finished speaking about how he couldn’t live that nice and easy life. He understood that feeling well. It was why he couldn’t stay idly in the life of a crippled genius. He hated that word. Genius. It wasn’t a truthful word to describe himself and yet his servents had often applauded him and called him as such. He hated how it made it seem so effortless…. like he was born with the intelligence he had. But that wasn’t the truth. What else was one suppost to do but expand their mind when they cant use their body? What else was he suppost to do but read? It was the only escape the crippled child he had been had. [break][break] Yugo let joseph speak, and he was right about his father. He trusted him to be a good strong man, just like his mother had. Even if he never got use of his body he had always planned to help by being a magic knight in what ever way he could, just like his father. But no matter what, he knew he would have eventually ended up beyond bed bound dying under the weight of his own skina nd bones from the fraility of his body. Yet… he had not. He had lived and grown and thrived. But when joseph spoke of how selfish his own mother had been, and how it seemed that yugos parents werent he would disagree. “You are wrong there….” he would stand and pick up the small box he had found in the chest. It was a jewely box. He would sigh softly and open the box, revealing the neckless of silver and platinum. He would lift the neckless from it. “they spent nearly as much money and time keeping a weak and useless child like myself alive…when they could have been improving the world. Yes…yes I love them and they loved me. Yet ….I cannot help but think of what they could have done if I had not forced them into a half life of being unable to leave me alone for long.” he would look at the neckless and sigh. “This was my mothers and fathers...” he would gently separate the neckless parts. “It was meant to show how connected they would be… but once I was born they never wore it again like that… they hung it over my crib, and used it to bless my room with protection. It was a gift from Zaven on their wedding day.” one side was silver, one side was platinum, to fit the magics of his parents, or…so he had always thought. He would be about to speak when his mind reminded him of the soup. [break][break] “By the spirits! The soup!” he would hand him the neckless and rush down unaware that his proper magic element of darkness, though unawakened had been drawn into the platinum end. The silver would begin to do the same on contact with josephs body, so miniscule neither would ever notice. He wushed down stairs to find the pot over boiling, he knew the soup should have take n more time to get cooked, he noticed the flame was a high as it could have been and he cursed as he turned the flame low and took it off he set the pot holders down and sighed looking at the mess. The soup wasn’t even close to being done, yet it looked like it had been left unattended by a fool. If joseph followed down they would see this poor young man knew nothing about cooking. He cursed to himself. “What a waste, those wonderful herbs he gave me have….” he sighed softly and leaned over the counter.
words[break]0665 [break] total[break]6286 [break] SP Earned[break]0006 [break] Stat Earned[break]0006 [break]
Post by Joseph Ravencrest✾ on Mar 22, 2023 14:32:49 GMT -5
One moment it seemed Yugo was speaking badly of their own parents, the next they were dashing off. Cobborn didn't even have time to respond before the pale boy had fled. It wasn't right to let them think anything like that was selfish, not about the love of a parent. Their slender fingers held onto the necklace briefly as he gently put the item down, along with everything else. Even feeling a need to rush would be no excuse to handle anything in here with any less than the upmost care. Nothing in this room was likely replaceable in any way. It wasn't quick, but everything was put away by him with gloved hands and the gentleness of a moths wing flutter. The young adult didn't hesitate to flee from the room as soon as everything was where it should be. Joseph didn't know his way around the building, he hadn't exactly been shown everywhere. The man had been shown how to get to the attic however, meaning the way back had also been revealed. This was the route taken to return to the kitchen with haste. He wasn't the fastest person, but they were still a person of precision and good balance. Thankfully the path was also straight forward, even if it involved going downwards. Upon arrival back to the kitchen it seemed that Yugo had gone into despair near the soup. Was it ruined like they were uttering?
The red would have to find out himself. Calm steps moved over fluidly. It was only natural to see what was causing the upset, then see if it could be fixed. They wanted to reach for Yugo, but went to the put instead. The water was low, but nothing was burned or ruined. ~Everything is fine, but I should fix this before explaining that.~ As always, there was at least a little talking to himself with hands. Moving to the sink, the peach pink eyed person grabbed a container, pouring water in it. The random container in question was a bowl, which was fine. Going back to the pot, he grabbed a wooden spoon with the hand not holding the bowl. Now he slowly poured water in with one hand using the bowl, stirring the soup with the other using the wooden spoon. The soup reacted a bit strongly towards the sudden cool liquid, but that was countered by how little was being poured as well as the stirring. “Did you know bouillon used to craft broths is created by cooking down soup? You have not lost flavor and nothing is burned, it just needs more time and water. The liquid is quite hot, so add any new water in very slowly in order to avoid getting burned. Everything is okay.” Eventually the bowl ran out of water, so he left the soup briefly unattended to get more. Walking back over, he continued with what was done before. This time he added the water quicker, as by then the water in the pot had cooled down.
He had never used such a fancy cooking appliance before, but trying to adjust the heat was easy enough. The flame changed its intensity with each slight turn of the knob, so he just fiddled with it until it was just right. Joseph knew what temperature it should be cooked at, even if he didn't have experience with the high class sort of things in life. When it was just right he took the wooden spoon out of the pot before putting a lid on top of the pot. “...A child takes immeasurable things while growing up in order to keep it alive. The greatest treasure to most parents, something many would be willing to give their body or mind over to protect the life of is their child... So please don't insult your parents or yourself. The money they used on you and your health was well spent. Do you understand? They picked the wisest path.” He wasn't sure why he was so positive of this. Cobborn used to think his mother had given her health to selflessly have a child to care for, but regained memories dashed that theory. It was those memories however that had shown his father hadn't always been a muttering violent mess. It was becoming clear that something happened that took his mind and for some reason his mothers death no longer perfectly lined up as being the cause. If that was true, it meant it was likely linked to himself somehow.
The kind, intelligent, and gentle person his father was before that mental break in those memories scattered across the mind definitely said that at one point he was possibly the kindest of the Cobborns. But he didn't want to assume the muttering meant something, because it would mean his mother might have done something that his father deemed utterly unforgivable, a line that should never be crossed but was crushed. What was remembered of her hadn't been good, but it wasn't that bad. “...Would you like me to show you how to cook? I can't typically taste anything, but I know quite a few recipes. Tomorrow we could go to s market in one of the towns, get some ingredients, then we can cook all your meals of the day in one go when we're back. My cooking will be a bit medically inclined, so if you want to do anything deep fried you will have to do that outside cooking lessons with me... That is, if you are up to getting lessons from me.”
Words: 929 Total: 8,447 The symbol ~ will be used in the post to reference when sign language is being used.
[attr="class","polarPOSTIT"] He had tried so hard to get the soup to be right. But he had no hand for cooking. Hed never been allowed to except in very rare cases before his mother and father died. Even when the servents offered to stay, he had sent them away. Thinking it unfair that they should serve a man who could not properly pay them as his parents once had. Though he had seen them placed in Noble houses and places of good work for their service to his family. He felt a deep shame in not having this basic skill. The peasents he saw every day who struggled could cook, even some of the small children he had seen doing it were able to cook better then he himself felt. He did not even hear Joseph approching from behind, and he didn’t know he had cleaned up. In doing so, the neckless had been left behind, yet it was still connected to them and with a small vibration it began to charge properly. [break][break] He reassured him that everything would be fine and that not all was lost. More so, he also explained that he was making it almost like a brother, and that adding water would help fix the mistake easily. He let out a sigh of belief. He had never made soup before, as he never stayed in the house long enough to want to make a pot. He couldn’t help but look at him with a softness in his heart. It was like when ever he saw that stroke of oddly colored hair, that pale and soft skin, his eyes that had a color hed never seen on anyone else. He sat up as Joseph began to fix the soup, watching as he very slowly poured in the water. He watched as he quickly learned how to use the noble level appliance. The stone knobs were imbued with the control spell for the fire it produced, it was relatively new magic device thanks to arderes money and connections. [break][break] But as he spoke of what it took to raise a child he blushed a bit. He felt a bit like a child being talked to by someone who was more expeirenced. He wasn’t sure he agreed. They had the ability to help others, yet… after he was born they focused solely on him. wasn’t that selfish? If they had simply let him live as a cripple would have, instead of trying to find ways to heal him, they would have still been alive. He felt a pain in his heart. A small droplet of bitterness bubbled up inside him. Yet… he did not know if it was from being given too or because he was bitter about being born different. Yugo did not yet know how he felt about even being alive, it was like he existed in some strange between, grateful yet resentful. Why should he exist alone? Hadnt he suffered enough? Born unable to exist as others should had he not lost out on enough? Yet the world saw fit to take his parents too, all because they searched for a way to fix him. [break][break] He felt the bitterness growing and qickly turned his thoughts back to joseph. This beacon of a man, someone who was so soft and yet so strong. He stood tall even with all that happened to him, though Yugo did not know the full extent just yet, no doubt he had seen as much hardship as himself. He would perk up as the man asked if he wanted to learn how to cook from him. He warned that he was mor herbal and medicinally inclined but Yugo did not mind. He….would do anything to spend more time with this person who had come into his life. He would wait till he was done speaking before he would smile and nod. “Id love nothing more then to learn from you. Sorry you had to come help with the soup. Not a very good host am I?” he smiled and chuckled at his own issue and he smiled.
words[break]0685 [break] total[break]6971 [break] SP Earned[break]0006 [break] Stat Earned[break]0006 [break]
Post by Joseph Ravencrest✾ on Jun 12, 2023 1:51:29 GMT -5
Nobody was able to stop Joseph from learning basic skills in the long term when he was small. This was something he didn't remember or know yet, only that it was a skill gained at some point they could not recall. It was only worked on as a means of remaining healthy. There's no reason to care about flavor when its something you can't experience the majority of the time. It was worked on when he needed to eat, no more nor less. Other skills likely helped it, but it didn't change how little focus put on it in any direct way. The combination made him reliable in finding and making food edible in any number of given situations, so of course they knew how to cook and fix simple things indoors. This was like cooking on easy mode for him. There was no foraging, only making sure everything was done properly. “Shredding bread into crumbs is a good way to thicken broth, as well as make minced meat more tender. This is why I put the bread into the soup.” Joseph didn't know what the other was thinking, there was no way to know that. This is why he would address the things that brought the red head concern. The first worry in their mind, was making sure Yugo didn't panic anymore. From how it looked, the pale person had completely calmed down. This was a good sign.
“You need to buy more ingredients to cook with, or I will buy them for you. Starting tomorrow you need to eat multiple meals a day. Nobody can get anything done when lacking both nutrition and rest. Your body will fall apart if you don't rest or sleep enough. Everyone's body is this way.” It was weird putting firm rules down in someone elses house, but the large building screamed of someone not taking care of themselves. This was the next thing that needed to be addressed. Sleep was needed, as was food. This was barely enough food for one meal, that was including the ingredients Joseph had brought. This was not an excusable way for anyone to live. There was another thing health related that had to be addressed that wasn't connected to sleep or rest. Their pale peachy pink eyes looked over towards Yugo. The soup was fine, so it could be ignored for now. “You either need to clean your home, or hire people to clean your home. I don't really use my magic knight paychecks. If need be, I can pay for you to have one servant to clean your house, or as much as one person can. It may feel easier to just travel a lot and ignore the filthy state it has become, but it can cause you illness if its not addressed. Do you want to end up bed bound or dead because you didn't think cleaning up mattered because you're barely around?
Even the poorest of families try to keep their homes clean because that is one of the best ways to keep disease and sickness out of the home. If you don't want a stranger in your home than I can help you clean up, but it needs to be clean.” Keeping things clean was important, very important. He wasn't sure what their relationship was now, but that day was the first time someone made him feel like he was important. Joseph wasn't used to people looking out for his well being, nor having them make him see something he tolerated hadn't been okay. It was weird for him to be firm on something, especially in someone elses house. The more the man spent in the house though, the clearer it was that there were real issues that needed to be worked on. But it was Yugos comment of not being a good host that snapped him out of the pushing forward concern that had Cobborn briefly forget the situation he was in, as a guest. “I'm Sorry for being so pushy. You are a wonderful host, I am still in a very emotionally terrible place. You did your best and it wasn't ruined. You did amazingly, considering your lack of experience.” There it was, the realization that he once again had let their emotions get the best of him. Yugo hadn't even needed to take him to their house after finishing the report, but they had been kind enough to do so.
Their eyes looked towards the lidded soup, some guilt forming in his belly. “In my first mission I got to run into the rose base after the first explosion and managed to save four people before the building collapsed. I didn't keep going in because me being dead wouldn't have saved more people, but rather put those I had aided in danger. Most of the city of Raque was under water at the time, nobody else had enough time to help them escape fast enough to not be killed by the deamons aura. If my father hasn't cared enough to take care of me, then eventually my aunt and uncle care enough during the years in my early life that I was sickly and lacked all stamina than nobody would have been there to save those people. The best parents are willing to sacrifice a lot for their own children, because no amount of fortune can replace nor create a child.” Yule can't make kids start to exist. Gold and gems are not why Joseph was living and breathing. The money and time used to help him become healthy probably could have been used on others, but then nobody would have been there to save and help the people he had. In life there are times when you are the only person who can help, but if you never made it that far than those people who need the adult you wouldn't get any help. A persons death leaves a visible hole, or mends a gaping wound. The latter wasn't something he was going to mention here.
Words: 1,009 Total: 9,456 The symbol ~ will be used in the post to reference when sign language is being used.
[attr="class","polarPOSTIT"] It was like… his mother and father were home. For a brief moment as Joseph spoke it wasn’t that he felt being talked down to. But that some one cared truly and genuinly for his well being. It…it was like some semblence of home had returned to this place for just a second. He would let the man speak and for a moment all worry in the world that he had regarding his purpose and his choices melted away into nothing. It was like a small level of comfort was now back in this cold empty home. Tears began to form in his eyes as he finished speaking and Yugo began to laugh while crying soft gentle tears. It was clear it wasn’t that joseph had done something wrong but that Yugo was feeling something that he had not realized he despretely needed to feel. He couldn’t stop the tears or the laughter for a moment and when he finally got done he had to collect himself, but there was abright and happy smile on his face. [break][break] “it has been so long since I have felt this way. This place… stopped being a home when my parents died. But even before that it had always felt like a prison in a way.Stuck in my bed, or in the wheelchair my father designed for me with his business helpers only let me do so much. I…. felt this place become cold and empty as I grew up after their death. When I was well enough tot ake care of myself I sent away the servents t proper noble houses, as they deserved better then what a crippled lord could have given them.” it was clear Yugo was not making excuses but explaining himself. “I…. hated this place. And yet I always came back, if only long enough to rest my head without the Ghosts of the Past being able to spend to long in side my mind. The nights though…. how do you stand in the empty shell of what used to be a home and sleep soundly” he smiled weakly, and then looked up at Josepha nd met his eyes. “This place…has so many good memories corroded by the failings of my own body. I didn’t even walk till I got my grimoir Joseph…. im lucky I was even able to get out of bed before then some days.” [break][break] “I will hire some servents, I might even see if my father and mothers old favored servents would like to return.” he said to joseph as he gently stood up a bit taller. “Ill make sure its cleaned up tommorow as best I can without their help however. Your right, I havnt been taking care of myself so that I can thrive, merely I have just been surviving.” he would get closer to josepha nd gently take his hand “You didn’t just save those people Joseph. You saved their Hope of a future that couldn’t be. No doubt they thought theyw ere going to die there, trapped in rubble and ruin. But you gave them hope and that… that is also what you’ve given me.” he had a blush to his face. “I…I have never felt thisw ay about someone before. You gave me that same hope, that hope that one day I might just be able to Build a Home of my own, one filled with happy memories and the sound of joy and laughter instead of the emptyness of silence. For that I am eternally grateful.”
words[break]0589 [break] total[break]7560 [break] SP Earned[break]0000 [break] Stat Earned[break]0000 [break]
Post by Joseph Ravencrest✾ on Jul 8, 2023 23:20:35 GMT -5
Laughing and crying? It was certainly a way to surprise him. A type of joy that likely can't be described well in text books nor by teachers. Some things can only be taught by experiencing or seeing it yourself. Joseph hadn't realized just how important or nice it can feel to get scolded when done right. Care for someone can take many forms, that was one of them. It was a concern for ones well being, or the belief that person can do better than they are now. It's not the sort of care everyone knows how to share, but rather the sort of touch one might only see in either a parent, caretaker, or doctor. The red head wasn't a father a caretaker to anyone, but they were certainly medically trained. His peachy pink eyes stared at the sight. He felt a bit lost and confused at the sight, muscles and body loosening in how it was held. The man was always one who was typically the type to show their emotions physically. The words that followed the others sounds of laughter and the visible tears are what helped Joseph start to understand. There was a strong difference between how the two were treated growing up, despite both of them starting out with frail bodies. Wheelchairs were an item for the wealthy when they got hurt. The common and poor either carried those kids with them, or hid them away if either the family suspected they wouldn't live long, or they didn't have the time to give the child as much care as they needed.
He wasn't sure which of the two he had while living with his father, but it probably involved carrying. His fathers family of musicians had all been very active in movements and never seemed to leave one of their own behind in lessons. Music was expected to become your livelihood and those who work in such an industry had to move around quite a bit. Yugo had been spoiled, but that was also very isolating. Isolation made someone safer short term, but it could be dangerous for someones mental and emotional well being in the long term. He almost started talking again, until realizing something. Yugo wasn't sharing to say it still felt that way, but it had been feeling that way. The ex azure deers presence and concern had helped strip away the feeling of depression that the other wanted to run from. The ghosts of the past are the hardest things to tolerate at times, hands reaching out that you may or may not remember. At the least, Yugo remembered exactly what haunted him. ~I'm happy this feels more like home to you again Yugo, but I want to say something just in case you start feeling lost again in here. Even at your worst, you always had a mind. You were always able to do something. Think about what you did do, not about what you couldn't do. Everyone can do something, even your past self that was stuck in bed.~
Joseph didn't think of being weakened physically to mean someone was helpless or trapped, even if it could feel that way. Physical constraints could feel so maddening when you wanted to be able to do more, but even the most able bodied people had limits that couldn't be pushed. “There were many times my father worried about me in his paranoia over my safety, like he thought people were hunting for me at every corner. I could never do anything physically to alleviate his fears, trying to make any sounds scared him out of worry that I might have had what my mother did. Still, I was able to find words with my hands when I had energy and wasn't feeling impatient for answers to try soothing his mind. I like to think on what I was able to do, rather than haunt myself with what I wasn't able to do. I struggle with that too, but it gets easier over time as long as you keep reminding yourself that you did what you could, which was still something.” If you could think, then you could plan, learn, and eventually speak. He didn't believe in a hundred present helplessness being something that most people suffered from. It was typically a brief thing to experience, which was made it horrible. The inability to think, hear, move, speak all together would be the only way one wouldn't be able to do anything.
Yugos continuation was what made Josephs eyes finally widen. Everything the pale person was saying made sense to him now, their gaze no longer having a lost expression on it. It was different than just making someone see the importance of caring for yourself or the home, or even just getting them to stop thinking about ghosts of the past. Now his face was flushed and it wasn't just over their hand getting taken by the other man. “I... didn't know my words had that much power.” It was easier to accept others being mighty above himself. Despite having confidence in their own intelligence and experience, it didn't mean he always thought such a thing could make any deep ripples in a short period of time. This was their second time meeting, though each one had been intense. “The confidence in my own words took a bit of a hit after Lydia ran to my group during the second try to free Kikka from the deamons. All she could hear was her own ego. She almost got my entire group killed because she was stupid enough to think an evil creature can't be honest about anything. The craftiest of evils knows truth can be a perfect tool to twist... I didn't think someone would tell me I restored their feelings of hope.” That wasn't a tiny thing, because hope gave someone the will to get up in the morning. “Sorry for not immediately understanding what you were trying to say.”
Words: 1,000 Total: Total: 10,456 The symbol ~ will be used in the post to reference when sign language is being used.
[attr="class","polarPOSTIT"] Think about what you could do, not what you couldn’t do. Those words echoed in his mind like the words of his mother once did. They shared a mind it seemed, as he often heard his mother speak words close enough to those that joseph spoke that it struck a cord with him. He didn’t realize it, but his mother and father had been trying to teach him that message as best they could. But it was hard as a young boy to see the world only through a window or garden gate. He may have had a wheel chair, but the world was not made for them. His parents spent every ounce of money and time they could to make their home a place where he could exist. Even if most of the time he was bed bound and sickly. Yet he had done his best to do what he could. He read as if the words on the paper were food and water and his stomuch had never known the pleasure of eating and drinking. [break][break] he had devoured every bit of stimuli he could as a child and listened to the music recording his mother bought him till they broke and needed to be replaced. The small glimpes of the outside world through his bedroom window were like a jeweled timetable …each season and bird song herlding a change that wouldn’t be felt otherwise. He treasured those moments when he felt the warm breeze of spring or aslight chill of winter…small tokens of personhood in a lifetime of feeling like a glass token rather then human. Despite all his parents did he was a child who could nto be a child. Yet here he was holding the hand of a man he met while out in the world, exploring discovering and helping those around him. He would lsiten to his friend as he spoke, the mans words and voice were like warmed hot honey to his ears, and like a gentle sweet breeze to his mind. He felt… calm, and safe even as they spoke of his fathers paranoia and attempts to keep him safe. [break][break] He was right. So long as he kept in mind that he had done what he could and needed to remind himself that it was what he had done that mattered. He gently held his friends hnd and felt the skin against his own. It was soft, but not so soft that it was as if he had never worked hard. Meanwhile his own hand was soft as a newborns skin. He had never truly worked hard in his life. Yet he kept trying to do his best and he knew it meant more then just being a hard worker. He was the son of a Nobleman and should pursue the proper path that a man of his status was obligated to do. He would do his best to continue his late father and mothers work. “Your words gave me more then just hope Joseph. They helped me to see that I am not alone anymore. That I can do more and be more. You have given me a true second chance at life and for that I cannot thank you enough. If its safe too, we can go back upstairs and look for that music device. Im sorry for taking so long on it.” he then blinked. “Wait you were in Kikka? I…” he was quiet for a second. “You are truly a brave and kind soul to have risked your mortal life against the daemons. I…I was not strong enough to partake. I was too busy dealign with my own issues and by the time I found out it was too late to help.”
words[break]0625 [break] total[break]8185 [break] SP Earned[break]0008 [break] Stat Earned[break]0008 [break]
Post by Joseph Ravencrest✾ on Jul 26, 2023 2:58:55 GMT -5
Joseph was unlikely to have ever met Yugos mother. Their early life was set mostly around Hapshass, a life of books, musicians in their family, doctors, and merchants. Even if they had never focused too much on merchants, it was just something you needed to learn how to deal with at some point while living there. The ocean was part of every day life there, to the point where he had no extra fear of it after Raque. At the same time? It had cemented a respect the man hadn't had of it before due to not being all that interested in the ocean growing up. It had been simply something quickly not thought of after moving and becoming part of the azure deers. There was an irony to his very first mission being connected to a deamon with ocean like qualities to them. Maybe that was just a trait of the deep blue, being something that refused to be forgotten. It was carved into every transport spell being some variant of a music related boat. How does something become so deeply etched in despite it having not been important before an event? Sometimes it just takes one thing to change your world. Hangmans Hill would be burned in their mind, a memory they would never run from. “When the three cities were attacked, I was sent to Raque so I wasn't involved in the first round of knights trying to protect it.
This is why I like going to the flower Blossom Fete, otherwise I might see the island of corpses that Hangman's Hill had become a bit stronger in my head again. The scariest part of it is thinking how that was my first magic knight mission and the deamon behind the attack on that city was with us. The corpses became a trap to try to lure us over and play with our lives. If the vice captain of the golden dawn at the time had believed Hinota and I about the woman at the time, if he hadn't taken her to the blue rose headquarters, I think our entire small group would have been slaughtered by her as soon as she stopped deciding to have fun.” It was strange to explain that the area being littered with corpses wasn't the worst part. It was knowing you were a curious toy to a much stronger being and hadn't died only because they were having fun and wanted to get to somewhere. Did they even consider any of the humans killed to be people? Maybe that's what deamons found such enjoyment from. What's more fun to torture or kill if you're evil? Humans coming out to save other people, ones you know that are more likely to be more courageous than the average human. But of course that's not the only way evil expresses itself in actions and personality.
“I was involved in taking back Kikka, yes. The twin deamons were trying to rebel against their abusive father, so if Lydia had left our group alone we would not have been much of any risk while preforming our mission. The big deamon that was the father was fighting Ardere and Zaven. It's not bad that you missed any part of Kikka. It was still very dangerous and no mission like that is good to go on until you're ready. When you are ready, I'm sure you'll do amazing against the deamon.” Josephs face was flushed and red. He gave Yugo more than hope? “You were the first person in years I was able to fully sit down with, calm down enough to taste the food, and have a deep conversation. The closest to that was the care Zaven gave me after I left the azure deer.” It was probably better is the other didn't know that Cobborn had been contemplating suicide at the time. The leader of the golden dawn had really helped the red head feel better and regain his stance in life when it felt like there was nothing to stand on. It was a rare nice thing when it felt like someone cared for his well being, though he was pretty sure some people just had confidence in him. It was nice to have people believe in you, but it was also nice to feel emotionally supported.
“When I found out you had been worried about me, it was kind of nice. Defending me verbally against my cousin, bringing me here out of concern to your home, even letting me touch precious things.. You've made me feel a bit important and wanted. I haven't felt very wanted ever since leaving home to become a magic knight. You've made me feel less emotionally exhausted. I didn't know I felt that way before, but maybe I wasn't trying to look at it.” It was probably one of those things he would need to learn how to face eventually. It would be a lot easier to deal with if he was around the other more often. His peachy pink eyes looked down a bit, though he wanted to look at the other in the face. Shouldn't he get the courage to look at them in the face though? So the young man looked up and over to the others eyes. Looking at someone shouldn't be too hard, but he had found out today that kissing someone can change a few things. There had been multiple times they had felt swept away by the other. “It takes strength and courage to deal with your own issues when they're really bad and continue growing despite that. You had to deal with a lot for a long time and you became amazing from that.”
Words: 955 Total: Total: 11,411 The symbol ~ will be used in the post to reference when sign language is being used.
[attr="class","polarPOSTIT"] Yugo listened, holding josephs hands as he did so. He would not turn away for even a single moment. He wanted joseph to know he truly cared about what he was talking about. Yugo couldn’t imagine being in a fight with daemons. Hed never even really been in a fight before besides the one that he and ardere fought against those strange men. To think that Joseph had seen such horrors, Yugo felt…weak in a way. Somehow like he wasn’t enough. Yet at the same time he had the words of joseph still in his mind. How could he judge himself as not enough when he had not been given the chance to learn or experience anything? Joseph seemed to always be right and for that yugo was thankful. It made it easier for him to just… be. He didn’t need to second guess every little thought and motion in his mind. Speakign to Joseph made things so clear that it was like looking through purified water. He gently held his hand and listened as he spoke about his experiences both on and off the battle field. [break][break] When he spoke of his father he paused for a second, breaking eye contact only for a moment but it was clear Zaven was a subject he felt…sore about. Not that he didn’t love his father, just that he…wasn’t sure still how to process the information that he was the bastard child of the Blakes. Yet… even with the knowledge what did it change? Did it stop the fact that the man and woman who raised him called him son? No, but it did change his understanding of them. Why had they not gone to Zaven for help? They had been team mates in their youth, so it made no sense to do their searching alone like they had. He wondered many things as he slept, yet now wasn’t the time for his thoughts. He pulled himself back to the conversation and smiled. [break][break] “I am glad and Honored to be someone you feel safe enough with. That means the world to me.” he said softly to him. The voice and tone he used was happy, but soft and gentle at the same time. There was this feeling swelling in him. What was it? It was like a bubbling happiness that wanted to reach out and… he blushed deeply hearing the praise given to him by Joseph and his mind went blank. On isntinct he pulled him close and kissed him softly, but that kiss only lasted a half second yet to Yugo it was like and eternity. When he broke it he blushed so bright red it looked like he was sick. He backed away nearly rippig over the chain in the kitchen with them. “I..I am so sorry! Forgive me I--” he covered his mouth, blushing brighter still as he turned around to hide his face. “I wasn’t thinking and… and my mind went blank I…” he had just assaulted the man, what was wrong with him? His body felt on fire and his mind wiggled in a pleasure he had never known before. Was this love? No, but he barely knew this man. He stammered trying to explain himself but his words turned into nonsense as he finally turned around. It was clear he hadnt been thinking when he did what he did. There was shame written all over his face. “I..I know we have kissed before but… but I wasn’t even expecting myself to do that. It was like my mind went blank as you praised me and all I could think about was kissing your lips.”
words[break]0609 [break] total[break]8794 [break] SP Earned[break]0000 [break] Stat Earned[break]0000 [break]
Post by Joseph Ravencrest✾ on Sept 11, 2023 5:42:45 GMT -5
Joseph couldn't understand Yugo to some extent. The two were very different people, it had been clear since they first met. Yugo had seemed naive and stupid at first, which hadn't been fair to judge them as such. The other had merely been naive and inexperienced, but they were also growing rapidly considering how little experience the other had outside of trying to get better. The red head had issues, but most of those were all mental. Even their own memory was an issue of their own brain purposely blocking out undesired data. The more painful something was, the more erratic his heart became alongside everything being increasingly harder to notice or see outside of their own intense feelings. This was a form of panic attack, but the peachy orange haired person didn't like to think of it that way. “I can tell the difference between pretending to care and actual concern. We were already friends before you confronted my cousin.” Joseph knew they shouldn't get upset again for doing something so dangerous, but it had been earlier in this very day. It wasn't a different day they did that, but this day. “You did a stupid thing before he was retrieved, but how you stood up for me before still showed me that I could trust you. There would be no sense in not trusting you at this point. It only makes sense that this much trust would lead to feeling safe around you.”
The ex azure deer wasn't good at whispering sweet nothings to anyone, nor at speaking in every sort of social situation. His experience concerning this had been tossed right out of the window as soon as they had slapped and kissed Yugo. When the young man was feeling out of depths, using logic tended to help them calm down. Thinking things through with their hands helped the most, but using their vocal cords was an okay second best. It wasn't as effective, but it was better than nothing. This meant the non romantic reasoning helped himself understand better, putting the rules of logic and reason back into sight. The trust only lined up with Yugos actions so far through their relationship, a lack of it would make less sense. The kiss was something he would need to think about later, but likely connected to a number of things tat would be better analyzed when his emotions weren't really a mess. After a good nights sleep, or two, or however long it takes for everything to seep in. “There's no reason to feel honored in me trusting you. I may be a magic knight, but I'm also a commoner. Those like me typically grow up to do the same line of work as their parents, or find a teacher to learn under and work under them. I was fully trained as a musician, but selfishly left it for my strong desire to help others as a magic knight.”
Cobborn didn't see the concept of becoming a magic knight as selfless, but rather following his own selfish desires above all else. He wanted to protect others, to try to prevent others from suffering in the same way that he did. Maybe it would have been better to tell the coral peacocks that something was wrong while he was still young, but it was far too late for regret now. Even the mistakes of the past made him who he was, including the large ones. The pull from Yugo and soft kiss had knocked the peachy orange haired persons mind through a bit of a loop. He could have by all means resisted, but why would he at this point? However the albinos response to it reminded him that Yugo had even less experience at things like this than he did. ~You gently and briefly kissed someone who had kissed you far more aggressively hours ago. It's safe to assume I'm fine with basic kissing, though not the deeper sorts. What are you thinking about to react so intensely?~ It almost felt like they thought they had kicked Joseph, or something along those lines. His hands had moved evenly in speed and with smooth motions, as if to try to get a calm tone through the sign language. When Yugo explained himself, which he didn't need to? It was hard, no, it couldn't be held back.
The golden dawn member burst into laughter. “Emotions wont act the way you expect them to until you master them. Even then, emotions are well known to be unpredictable. Kissing between us is fine, just not other people. If we are going to explore this, let it just be between the two of us. My mother married one man while having a child with a different one. I wasn't exactly born out of wedlock, but let's just say the amount of nobles she enjoyed during parties is not something I like to imagine. Even if its just kissing, holding hands, or other non overly physical activities, I want it to be just us doing those things with each other.” Was this the start of a romantic relationship? He didn't know, but whatever it was had to be exclusive. He didn't want to see Yugo kissing someone else romantically, if they were going to try to figure this out between them. He wasn't going to pretend to have any experience in dating, “You are my first kiss, so it is a bit nice that you're possibly as confused or more confused than me.” He knew that it was likely the others as well, but the man wasn't planning to apologize for taking that for one second. Yugo had earned that slap for all that stupid and the kiss that happened hours ago had come right after. Yugo kissing him back just made it feel like he was less alone in feeling these strange confusing things, even if he wasn't the one acting adorable about it.
“I find your personality attractive.” That was probably the first time saying anything like that out loud to anyone else, but here they were. He also still thought Yugo was far too naive, but that was something that he was pretty sure would fade with time. They had already grown since they first met.
WC: 1,047 Total: 12,458 The symbol ~ will be used in the post to reference when sign language is being used.
[attr="class","polarPOSTIT"] Far outside the house the two boys were in a figure stood in the shadows on a tree just far outside of their detection, but well within their own. The figure stood with a strangeness, too stiff. Too…deliberate like it was rehearsed. The small hat he wore on his head was rather shiny, as if freshly oiledand made. The cane he carried hung with its hook on his forearm as he stood there. Its body was made of stone and was smooth like marble that moved and shifted. It was a golem, made by currently unknown person being controlled by range to spy on the young man named Yugo Beau. It watched silently until a metal bird gently rested upon its cane. It would look down as the metal bird tweeted out information and the golem responded in coded sounds that only the bird could translate. They simply watched taking note of the new person. For months now, the house had been empty exceot for Yugo and as such, this was a unexpected addition to the task of the golems owner. They communicated for a few moments before the bird flew away and the golem melted into the ground and dissapeared into nothingness. [break][break] Yugo listened and paid his full attention to the man speaking before him. The words he spoke about emotions were like a healing salve that made Yugos heart settle and calmness to return. He blushed at the idea of kissing someone else. “To kiss another? Never. I would rather die then let another kiss my lips. To be unfaithful, or to act without your partners approval In such manners is barbaric and unclean.” he would let go of him but smile as he stood tall with a air of pride in his chest. “To cheat on someone who has given you their heart in any regard is to be less then an animal, as even beasts can partner for life. To me, Loyalty extends into all things, to the places you live, to the kingdom you serve, and to the justice of this world. If I would be so weak as to break a promise to a single person I love dearly how could I ever be a hero to the nation I love?” he would smile and show his true nature just a bit. He was a kind and loving, loyal person who would most likely stop at nothing to make sure those he loved and cherished were safe and happy. [break][break] He was like a child in some aspects, but it was clear that if fostered toward the right path and kept with the right people Yugo would become a Magic Knight like none other. His body was already showing signs of his growth. His muscles were a bit thickerand he was taller. His changes hadnt fully manifested yet, however it was clear that since their first meeting in that tavern months ago, he had gone through some kind of change. He smile at joseph and would chuckle once more.
words[break]0506 [break] total[break]9300 [break] SP Earned[break]0000 [break] Stat Earned[break]0000 [break]
Post by Joseph Ravencrest✾ on Nov 17, 2023 21:03:26 GMT -5
It was nice to hear that the other didn't plan on kissing other people anytime soon, though it was almost like they didn't think a beloved person couldn't do that. “My mother was loved by many people, including by you and your mother. She was unclean enough of a woman that I was lucky to have been born in wedlock. Everyone loved her and she was so smart and charming with her words, so it wasn't hard for her to get cream from the top.” There was no nice way to say that, but hopefully that wasn't too blunt for the other? Even before remembering anything about her, he knew this. Josephs didn't ever look like his adoptive father, nor that persons family. Whoever the father was, their features had imprinted as distinctly on him as their mothers had. Nobody considered her evil for not being loyal to her husband. Than again, how many actually knew she was married? It was very likely a small few number of people that had this information. Books didn't mention husband nor child, though she had been legally married. It was under records, just not under her stage name. The existence of Yalin Shengxaio was public, but if there were any painting of her than it wasn't in any areas that let common people speak of it. Bringing her up probably seemed off topic, but wasn't her voice one of the reasons he came? To hear her voice.
“Sometimes people break promises, but they are still worthy to be a magic knight. The world has grey and harsh undertone, colored in different hues that makes it harder to distinguish the true and proper answer in life. This is why I prefer data over emotions sometimes. Data is very greyscale, making it easier to sift through and figure out. I could be considered tarnished by some I'm sure if one were naive enough to think I should have kept going into the collapsing building full of citizens to save them. That would have killed me and not saved any extra people. Sometimes you have to be selfish in order to continue saving people. The dead can't save anyone.” Their peachy pink eyes looked towards the pot of soup that was cooking. It wasn't quite finished. “That being said, that woman gave me a few bits of trauma. I don't remember her really, not even how her voice sounds, but what I have regained hasn't exactly convinced me that she was as kind as the world believed. I purposely kept myself from dating and flirting until now, and even if we may date and flirt in the future together, physical intimacy will have to move very slow.” What happened that day likely wouldn't have if he hadn't been so pent up of so many times, but nobody ever said that he was a perfect person.
“If I watch the soup, can you look for her music? I... know that is selfish, but I want to know how she sounds.”
Words: 505 Total: 12,963 The symbol ~ will be used in the post to reference when sign language is being used.