Marked Ones: Origins [IC | Urban Fantasy]

[Theyra]

"No, no, no, nothing like that. I was a more like an archaeologist, my clan is very much into preserving history and I have traveled around. Though I have met some mercs, on the opposite end of things as some of the magical artifacts my family was trying to find would fetch a good prize to shady individuals". The thoughts of the last two years made Ikram of dealing with mercs and trying in vain to find the ones would keep hiring them left him feeling bad. He spoke with discomfort, "I would rather not talk of that more since mercs have been more of a problem than normal for my family for some time. I had some close calls and..... I need to stop now. Just no more talk about this and let's talk about better things".

Jack, seeing he had hit a sensitive point, rushed to apologize.

"Oh jeez, I'm sorry man. Sounds rough. So... how did your family get into retrieving artifacts? Bit of an odd family business, if you don't mind me saying."

Jack internally cursed himself for avoiding most social contact in the past year. That was gonna come back to haunt him, he could already tell.

"It is fine, you did not know", Ikram spoke with less discomfort. "It was not rough all the time and my clan has been around for a long time. We have preserved and recorded history for a long time. Though some pieces were lost and the artifacts we are after the ones related to the knowledge we have lost. Besides following leads, digging in remote locations, it is nice to travel around the world and see new places. Though I have never been here to Nepal, so another new location I get to see. Even get to try new food..... though on that one trip to Scotland". Ikram felt sick just thinking of it. "I regret trying haggis and boy did that make an impression". Ikram shook again and collected himself from the dreaded thought of haggis".

"What about you? What did you do before coming here and getting that mark on your hand if I may ask?

[Lunas Legion]

Sahara Meads

Sahara shook her head. Pests? Really? Sometimes she forgot people actually lived without those around and stealing any food you left out in the open.

"I'll kill 'em as they show up." She shrugged, as if pests weren't a big deal to her, which really they weren't. "Little dirt never bothered me nor did a few spiders or whatever. Don't see why I shouldn't bother with them if unless they show up. More work and effort and wasted time which could be used doing... Literally anything else."

She paused, falling silent for a few seconds before she spoke again. "I'm Sahara. If you make desert puns I will punch you. I've heard enough for a lifetime." Her smirk as she spoke was somewhere between genuine and sarcastic, unreadable.

[Revlona]

Samuel Storm

“I get the puns thing, my last names Storm but I’m a fire mage so...yeah I get em too.” He said with a smile, showing off his teeth.

“Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking of course” he said, genuinely interested.

But before he could answer he stammered out a quick, “I’m from Georgia by the way...we the one in America that his” his cheeks going red as he realized he probably interrupted her

[Lunas Legion]

Sahara Meads

"England." It didn't really mean anything to her. It was a nation, but it wasn't one she had any particular attachment to, nor did she really have much attachment to the United Kingdom as a whole. What had it ever done for her? It was a name on some paper but that was it. "Nowhere in particular in England really, I moved around a lot. Never got attached." Such was life on the streets. Move frequently, normally by train or bus or, far more rarely, by hitchhiking. Stealing a car was a very bad idea.

She fell back into silence, leaning against the door. She wasn't a curious person, she didn't really do asking questions. She kept herself to herself most of the time, it was just easier that way whenever she had to move on, or whoever she'd made friends with moved or whatever.

[Revlona]

Samuel Storm

“Oh England...that’s cool” he said, doing his best to sound interested but not interested at the same time. For some odd reason he cared what Sahara thought of him, and was determined not to embarrass himself.

“Why did you have to move around a lot? Are you an orphan like me?” He asked, happy with himself for finding something to continue the discussion. He was really grasping at nothing to continue the conversation.

He wondered if her hair was naturally like that, but he was smart enough to not ask wether her hair was dyed.

[Lunas Legion]

Sahara Meads

"Dunno." Sahara shrugged, scratching the side of her leg. "Might be, might not be. I'm a foundling, which is... Similar, but not. Orphans have dead parents, foundlings don't know theirs at all, so for all I know I could be. Got dumped on a street, fostered at an orphanage, ran off since the streets were more of a parent to me than anyone at the orphanage was and I just kept running from there."

"Taught myself magic, so I can only do one thing, but I can do that one thing really, really, bloody well. Not like I had much to learn from, but I've never liked reading anyways." It bored her, to be honest. She made it up as she went along. Life was just... More fun. And it meant you didn't get pissed when everything didn't work out perfectly for you.

[Revlona]

Samuel Storm

“Huh interesting,” Sam said in response to Sahara. He wondered briefly about what life out on the streets was like, and if it would have been better than the orphanage for Sam. Deciding that his time there was far from terrible, he thought not.

“Well, if you need anything feel free to ask,” he said with a smile before stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him.

Walking back to his room, he thought back on the two girls he had taken the time to meet, and decided that this group might just make it, even with jerks like that glowing armor guy in it.

Closing his door behind him, picking a good book to read, and falling into bed. He waited tor some kind of summons to occur from the teachers.

[Lessoni]

"It is fine, you did not know", Ikram spoke with less discomfort. "It was not rough all the time and my clan has been around for a long time. We have preserved and recorded history for a long time. Though some pieces were lost and the artifacts we are after the ones related to the knowledge we have lost. Besides following leads, digging in remote locations, it is nice to travel around the world and see new places. Though I have never been here to Nepal, so another new location I get to see. Even get to try new food..... though on that one trip to Scotland". Ikram felt sick just thinking of it. "I regret trying haggis and boy did that make an impression". Ikram shook again and collected himself from the dreaded thought of haggis".

"What about you? What did you do before coming here and getting that mark on your hand if I may ask?

"That is an... interesting story. Buckle in. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. I know I was made in a lab. Still not sure whether I was made naturally, or in a test tube. Don't really care too much at this point, though. What I do know is that they did some crazy shit trying to make an "ideal mage". I was gen 7 of the experiment, if I remember correctly. They would take powerful mages, who may or may not have been volunteers, and use them to make magically powerful babies. Then, they'd take those babies, stick em a few hundred feet underground, and go wild. They were thrilled with my magic. They'd never seen it before, apparently."

Jack sighed. It always took him a lot of energy to bring up these memories. He was definitely gonna need a drink after this. Still, it was always good to talk about it. Always felt like a weight off his chest.

"They did any number of experiments on me. The one that sticks most is when they'd stick me up to a generator once a week and fill me full of volts. The worst part? It worked. Somehow, it worked. It was probably a placebo effect or something. Of course, they did the normal training and all that. But they never could get me where they wanted me. At least, until they realized my limiters were mental, not physical. They decided I was depressed or some shit. So they stuck me in some surrogate family. That worked too. I hit what might have been my maximum after they did. Then I fried them all because I couldn't keep my electricity under control. I was just taking a shower, and from the piping the shock led to the wiring and... I got some scars that night, for sure. After that, it's kind of blurry. I think I fried everyone in the lab. What's frustrating is I can't be sure. I think I got such an electrical field going that it fucked the pathways in my head. I don't remember leaving the lab at all. I do remember waking up half naked in a back alley though, dead of winter in Chicago. Then an old man found me. Kept me from dying, and as it turned out, he'd been a powerful mage in his day. He showed me how to control my magic. Then he got a brain tumor, and I was alone again. Then I got the mark, Ander's people came and got me, and poof. Here I am."

It didn't take long after that for Jack to realize that was sime heavy stuff for a conversation with a practical stranger. He blushed, embarrased.

"I'm sorry, that's a lot to drop so suddenly. Do you want me to go?"

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Kana "Gyges" Kaleikaumaka
Struggling with the Accent
Lynwood Academy

---

"And you lost me." Kana said with a chuckle, "Sorry, but can you perhaps speak a little slower, I'm struggling with that accent of yours. At least I think I am. I got that you won't be staying in your own room and your power involves linking two places. Then you lost me. But I could understand the offer clearly."

With that she paused, and thought about it. "Thank you for the offer. But... Sorry, I'd have to decline. I don't need more space than anyone else. Hell, most of my belongings are on my person, or in my wheelchair bag. So, taking up two rooms would just be a waste. Also, I never said I wanted your room. I just was asking if you were sure about me moving into the room beside yours. But seeing as you said you won't be using it..."

"Then I won't be able to wake you..." Kana whispered to herself and looked off to the side. It was then she sighed, and looked to Hlaing with a smile, "I think I'll move into the room next to yours."

[Theyra]

"That is an... interesting story. Buckle in. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. I know I was made in a lab. Still not sure whether I was made naturally, or in a test tube. Don't really care too much at this point, though. What I do know is that they did some crazy shit trying to make an "ideal mage". I was gen 7 of the experiment, if I remember correctly. They would take powerful mages, who may or may not have been volunteers, and use them to make magically powerful babies. Then, they'd take those babies, stick em a few hundred feet underground, and go wild. They were thrilled with my magic. They'd never seen it before, apparently."

Jack sighed. It always took him a lot of energy to bring up these memories. He was definitely gonna need a drink after this. Still, it was always good to talk about it. Always felt like a weight off his chest.

"They did any number of experiments on me. The one that sticks most is when they'd stick me up to a generator once a week and fill me full of volts. The worst part? It worked. Somehow, it worked. It was probably a placebo effect or something. Of course, they did the normal training and all that. But they never could get me where they wanted me. At least, until they realized my limiters were mental, not physical. They decided I was depressed or some shit. So they stuck me in some surrogate family. That worked too. I hit what might have been my maximum after they did. Then I fried them all because I couldn't keep my electricity under control. I was just taking a shower, and from the piping the shock led to the wiring and... I got some scars that night, for sure. After that, it's kind of blurry. I think I fried everyone in the lab. What's frustrating is I can't be sure. I think I got such an electrical field going that it fucked the pathways in my head. I don't remember leaving the lab at all. I do remember waking up half naked in a back alley though, dead of winter in Chicago. Then an old man found me. Kept me from dying, and as it turned out, he'd been a powerful mage in his day. He showed me how to control my magic. Then he got a brain tumor, and I was alone again. Then I got the mark, Ander's people came and got me, and poof. Here I am."

It didn't take long after that for Jack to realize that was sime heavy stuff for a conversation with a practical stranger. He blushed, embarrased.

"I'm sorry, that's a lot to drop so suddenly. Do you want me to go?"

"Uhhhh". Ikramclearly showed he was not prepared to hear all of Jack's past. "No it is fine and.... just I did could not have know that.... something that horrible can happen to someone that I now know". "You do not have any idea of whose those people were that..... I am sorry that you have to go through all of that". Ikram moved his hand forward but, retracted, unsure of what to do. "How...how about we talk of other things or maybe we go and meet another of the Masked? You are the only one I have met so far and it would be good to meet the others. What do you say, Jack or do you have other things you would rather want to do? "This poor soul", Ikram thought to himself.

[Lessoni]

"Uhhhh". Ikramclearly showed he was not prepared to hear all of Jack's past. "No it is fine and.... just I did could not have know that.... something that horrible can happen to someone that I now know". "You do not have any idea of whose those people were that..... I am sorry that you have to go through all of that". Ikram moved his hand forward but, retracted, unsure of what to do. "How...how about we talk of other things or maybe we go and meet another of the Masked? You are the only one I have met so far and it would be good to meet the others. What do you say, Jack or do you have other things you would rather want to do? "This poor soul", Ikram thought to himself.

Jack blanched. He had most definitely gone way too far. There's the year of isolation kicking in. But at least Ikram seemed sympathetic.

"Yeah, let's go meet some Marked. Actually, I was gonna go look for a guy who helped me out earlier when I nearly got my ass beat. Care to tag along?", Jack asked hopefully.

[Khasinkonia]

Hlaing Muireall Tamboli
Lynwood Academy

I nodded along as she spoke. She seemed like a reasonable person, although the fact she was so concerned about her sleeping bothering the neighbours indicated to me that she really had so proper troubles bubbling under the surface. At least I’d be relieving her, anyway. It then occurred to me that I ought to recommend she get the one of the apartments at either end of the hall, so she’d only have one neighbour—me.

“Richt, hou aboot ye take the room at the end of the hallway, since tha’ way ye winnae hae ony neighbours but an empty room,” I said, “Ach, A’m still talkin’ in me own half Scots half English leid. Achem...Whit A’m suggestin’ now, in me best imitation of the Queen’s English, is that, if ye take the room at the end of the hallway, A’ll be yer only neighbour, so ye will nae have to worry aboot neighbours. Do ye like tha’ idea?”

[The Knockout Gun Gals]

Natalie Paulson

It seems that Sun is more than willing to say the truth then turned around the lie. A good trait, perhaps. Honesty is a good trait, after all. But not for some. "I don't see me helping her as a heroic action. In fact, don't you think it will be good on me if that means she would owe me a favor? Or some favors."

Glancing at Aureo and Gabriella, "they could be from the...houses, right? Those aristocratic class of magicians. Those could be handy if you know one of them. And...well, as you can see, my magic lies around violence so there's no point for me to not instigating violence," she concurred, "I rest my case."

Sun Yi Jong

His statements.

Natalie Paulson

Well, there are clearly few, well, stuffs that can be worked out or ironed with him, this Asian Sun guy. But he indeed explaining some things she didn't quite aware of, especially the Houses and the Church of Light. Her father told her that the Houses are a bunch of aristocratic elites who care little for the non-aristocrats, while the Light is the absolute authority on everything that is supposedly good. It is not unusual to see some strange sights of bad people pretending to be good people. Or that her father was just one plain cynic man who despised the good guys. Niki and Candace are both the instructors. Well, they are strong.

Then he asked about her specialization and why she needed to instigate violence. "Mine is Pyrrhic. For the blood-specific magicians we have to spill the blood of our enemies to use our power properly. Long story short, you get the idea. Doesn't mean we can't use our own blood, but it's not quite beneficial in battle, unless you are cornered and have no choice," she explained the simple concept behind the Pyrrhic. Ironically, Pyra, the worshipped goddess of Pyrrhic, is the sister of the Light Goddess herself.

Yeah, Sun is not the nicest guy around. Clearly, this "pretty blonde ass of yours" statement marked it. But she had to keep this quiet. After all, it's not a good thing to start a fight. Especially after being reprimanded. "Alright, alright, get the idea. My name's Natalie, you can call me Nat, if you want to call me Nat. Otherwise...you get the idea." Clearly, he looked down on her on this...feng-shui? Okay, this one she has no idea with. Damn. "Well, let's just use your instinct to pick a room. Not a bad idea, right?"

[Forest State]

Reinhild

“It’s funny that you say that. You may or may not know that she’s a bit of a different person when she comes up to St. Petersburg, the kind of person that needs someone to heal them more than they end up healing others. I’m glad to hear that out in Canada, she’s using her healing skills on someone other than herself,” said Reinhild, still leaning on Aria before eventually unwrapping her arm from her shoulder and stepping away, observing Aria with unreadable red eyes before settling for leaning against the wall, her eyes traveling to the cat that was still in the room.

“She’s told me that you were there for her at her lowest. You’ve done more for her than the average friend, don’t feel the need to be humble about it,” she added. Her tone was… Almost motherly, even if she had never met Aria before. It was enough to know that she had helped out Niki, who spent enough time away that Reinhild herself couldn’t watch over her much of the time, even if she wanted to. And even if she did try, Niki wouldn’t let her. That was just her personality. “After all, I know that she can be… Hard to deal with, at times.”

Aureo Mercurius

Aureo returned with Gabriella’s things, not much longer after initially leaving. He set them down in the middle of the room, moving to look out the window that was overlooking the courtyard where the confrontation had almost taken place. There was… A certain disdain in his look.

“And here I was thinking that if these are heroes meant to save the world, they would be a bit more, I don’t know, competent? That they wouldn’t start fights over nothing or talk big when they’re just commoners?” he asked. “I feel like… I may go a bit crazy if I must continue to stay here.”

[Lunas Legion]

Gabriella Sara Bianchi-Costa de Inferenza

"I was chosen to save the world in place of either of my younger sisters. Or my cousins, not that I've seen them for years." Gabriella said in reply, moving over to her things and kneeling down in front of them, beginning to sort through her bags and unpack her things. "I don't exactly think the bar has been set... Particularly high for competence based solely on that." Her voice became glum as she continued. "They may be commoners, but most of them could probably defeat me if it came to a straight one versus one duel conducted in the proper manner. Maybe the crucible of war will temper them into something more useful." Her father had been quite fond of saying that, but whether it was true or not, she'd never actually seen.

"Besides-" She added, her voice brightening up slightly. "I don't think any of them really know what they're dealing with when it comes to you. They saw you acting... Rather forwards towards me and I'd most appreciate if you don't do that again and being commoners naturally assumed they could 'take you' as it were out of some idea that I can't handle myself. It took me a short while to figure you out, and you know how knowledgeable I am in lore. Just... Don't let them get to you? You're quite powerful, after all, and as those above the commoners we are obliged to demonstrate the proper ways to act."

[The Cross and Davids Star]

Escanor Elwyn Banaing and Ryder Elne Banaing
A Deadly Deck
Lynwood Academy

---

"Card manipulation and elemental summoning." Escanor spoke, "At least that's what it looks like to me. As for whacking someone with your cane. Have you ever looked into martial arts? There are multiple martial arts that teach you to fight effectively with a cane or stick-like instrament. Jogo do Pau, Juego del Palo, Canne de Combat, Palcaty, and Bartitsu just to name a few."

"Ah, Bartitsu." Ryder said with a chuckle, "A hybridized martial art made by our people, the British, because coming up with something unique is not are specialty. Oh, by the way, we've been trained in multiple martial arts since childhood. Hence why we know this."

Nev Hurn

“It’s manefestation, my good sir. Those cards are made purely out of my own magic, and I don’t really do elemental summoning, that was just raw magic.” Nev corrected. Then he heard Escanor mention a list of various martial arts, something that piqued his interest.

“I would greatly appreciate it if you could teach me such arts later on, but for now we have more pressing matters, such as finding a room.”

[Durmatagno]

Aria Liva

"Well, yeah......I helped her out with that whole mess, and been trying to help her avoid a repeat of it. Never seen the side of her she shows when she's with you though, this one that need healing more than she needs to heal. Broken bones, stabbings, burns, at least one animal bite, an acid burn, you name it, she's healed me of it. With everything she's done for me, I gotta help her back. I owe her that much, everything past that is just me being me, and me being the best.....friend can be."

Aria straightened, stretching from her spot on the ground. Turning back to Reinhild, she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, trying to figure out what Reinhild actually wanted from her. No one ever just wanted to talk to her, besides maybe Niki and Ander. She didn't need her weapons right now, if Reinhild wanted to hurt her, she would have done it by now. No, Reinhild was after something else, maybe word on Niki, maybe just figuring out who Aria was, Aria herself wasn't sure what her game was, but it gave her something else to wonder about until she returned back to working on the room.

[Theyra]

"Uhhhh". Ikramclearly showed he was not prepared to hear all of Jack's past. "No it is fine and.... just I did could not have know that.... something that horrible can happen to someone that I now know". "You do not have any idea of whose those people were that..... I am sorry that you have to go through all of that". Ikram moved his hand forward but, retracted, unsure of what to do. "How...how about we talk of other things or maybe we go and meet another of the Masked? You are the only one I have met so far and it would be good to meet the others. What do you say, Jack or do you have other things you would rather want to do? "This poor soul", Ikram thought to himself.

Jack blanched. He had most definitely gone way too far. There's the year of isolation kicking in. But at least Ikram seemed sympathetic.

"Yeah, let's go meet some Marked. Actually, I was gonna go look for a guy who helped me out earlier when I nearly got my ass beat. Care to tag along?", Jack asked hopefully.

"Sure, I can tag along", Ikram said friendly and followed Jack. "Oh, he turned pale...... I must have say something to cause him to....", Ikram thought to himself. "First person I meet and it turns....... a bit sour though his past....... I did not expect that much information and it sounds like he could some good things to happen in his life, or maybe find out who did this to him? But, that will have to wait since us Marked have a higher calling as my parents said to me.... It kinda sucks to have a higher calling while it means leaving your family when something bad is happening". Ikram stopped that train of thought before he started to feel..... wrong about coming here and focused on the task at hand.

[Lessoni]

"Sure, I can tag along", Ikram said friendly and followed Jack. "Oh, he turned pale...... I must have say something to cause him to....", Ikram thought to himself. "First person I meet and it turns....... a bit sour though his past....... I did not expect that much information and it sounds like he could some good things to happen in his life, or maybe find out who did this to him? But, that will have to wait since us Marked have a higher calling as my parents said to me.... It kinda sucks to have a higher calling while it means leaving your family when something bad is happening". Ikram stopped that train of thought before he started to feel..... wrong about coming here and focused on the task at hand.

Jack attempted to calm down, letting a smooth current flow through him to help the blood flow and get some color back in his cheeks.

"Cool. Let's go then. I think his name was Sun. He's asian, and he's pretty well built." Jack was about to get out of the door, when he turned around and looked at Ikram.

"By the way, I'm sorry if I made you... uncomfortable. I wasn't trying to score pity points or anything like that. I guess I just have a tendency to overshare at times. I'll try to be a little more appropriate from now on. Now, let's go. I really owe that guy a 'thank you'."

[Forest State]

Aureo Mercurius

“They might not know what they’re dealing with, but they should. They must be woefully unaware if they can’t tell something different, in the same way that I can tell that I’m in the midst of a quarter demon or that you can tell that I’m not the typical mage either. Such ignorance only makes them look worse, showing that they aren’t in tune with the environment around them. It’s something that can get them hurt later on when they need that skill,” said Aureo, before moving away from the window.

Aureo paused before speaking again. “And commoners may act like commoners, sure, but it’s harder to not let it get to you when these are the people that you are expected to train with and work with. I wouldn’t trust them if I had to go to battle with them, after all. If they can’t handle this, they can’t handle the task at hand, simple as that. I can only hope that they find some form of improvement quickly.”

Aureo turned his attention back to Gabriella and took a few steps towards her, placing his hands on her once again and allowing both of them to travel under her skirt once again. “Regardless, I’ll have a bed for us soon in this room. Also, I saw earlier that there was another light mage here, your friend Candace. Would she also be interested in staying here, away from the… Undesirable elements of this place?”

Reinhild

“You should take better care of yourself, Aria. You might be able to get away with being reckless out in the middle of nowhere, but when it comes to this place, you might find yourself involved of matters of life and death. Be careful of taking the same risks in this life,” Reinhild warned somewhat ominously, before taking a few steps towards Aria and putting a hand on her shoulder, leaning slightly towards her ear before speaking. “And if you need help with anything, feel free to come down to my office,” she added in a hard to read tone, before stepping away.

She went away, but she didn’t just step out of the room like a normal person, she seemed to become one with the shadows in the hallway and disappear entirely, in a way that was definitely out of the ordinary but would still leave someone wondering if they had seen things right or not. After all, it wasn’t every day that someone just stepped into the shadows and disappeared.

[Lunas Legion]

Gabriella Sara Bianchi-Costa de Inferenza

"Survival of the fittest. The survivors improve, the rest... Die." Gabriella said, her voice wavering slightly as she finished talking, realising what she was actually saying. It was difficult to carry herself like this, putting on the mask of the heiress, carrying the arrogance and entitlement that she presumed to fit that particular role and acting like she truly possessed them was rather taxing.

She looked up at Aureo as he wandered back over towards her as she stood back up, having gotten those of her things, mostly various pairs of shoes and a second coat, out of her bags and organised neatly in a line in front of her bags, giving him an irritated look as his hands went under her skirt again.

"I don't know." She admitted. "But I wouldn't say it isn't worth asking her regardless. If she accepts, she does, if she doesn't there's little loss to asking." Not to mention she'd appreciate the additional company. "And can you stop doing that?" She swatted lightly at his hands. "I know there's no commoners now to object, but I don't... Really like being demeaned like this. Please, Aureo?"

[Forest State]

Aureo Mercurius

“The weak dying off doesn’t leave the rest of us in much of a better spot, but we’ll see how it goes. If they die, those of us who are competent have a larger share of the task… Which is already a hard enough job already, at full strength,” said Aureo, before lifting Gabriella up so she was looking at him at his own level, not moving his hands and instead using them to life Gabriella up and against the wall. She was getting held more than a foot higher than she would usually be, but the position allowed Aureo to get a look at her purple eyes straight on.

“And I fail to see why you would see it as demeaning,” he continued. “You’re getting attention from someone that not many people, especially here, get attention from. When you think about it like that, you might find that you like it more than you thought.”

[Lunas Legion]

Gabriella Sara Bianchi-Costa de Inferenza

"It's more the nature of the action." Gabriella squirmed slightly, unused to being held up in such a manner, even if she could lean her back against the wall. It was a bit uncomfortable, to be honest, and she most certainly wasn't used to having to look anyone straight in the eyes given her height or the lack thereof even as she thought her words over carefully. She didn't really like offending people, and she always tried to be polite, even in situations like this. It would be unbecoming of her to get angry, after all. Even over this.

"I don't mind the attention, nor who its coming from, but I'm, um, not that fond of it being expressed like this. Nobility isn't supposed to be wantonly groped. Not, um, even by people of your stature." She paused before she spoke again. "And, um, could you put me down again? Please?"

[Forest State]

Aureo Mercurius

“Attention comes in different forms but is still attention nonetheless. I fail to see the problem. You complain if your sisters overshadow you and you complain if you overshadow them in something but don’t do it in exactly the way that you want,” said Aureo, still holding Gabriella up and looking her in the eye rather than putting her down. She’d get down when the point was made, it was much more effective to look her in the eye while speaking to get across something like this. And for that to work, she needed to be at the same eye level as him, which was… Considerably higher up than her natural height.

“So you have a choice to make,” he said. “Sure, you can give up the attention, but have fun having Raph and Michelle overshadow you in everything once again. Or you can say that you’re ahead of them in something and that they can’t take it away from you or overshadow you. But what I’m saying, Gabriella, is that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. So pick a path, and choose wisely.”

[Lunas Legion]

Gabriella Sara Bianchi-Costa de Inferenza

Gabriella was silent for a few seconds afterwards, deep in her own thoughts. It wasn't wrong to want to overshadow her sisters; she was the heir, she was supposed to be the best of them but she wasn't, not... Not where it actually mattered. Not where her family expected her to be the best, and then she was always just trying and failing to keep up with her sisters. Chelsea and Leo were often busy, but... She always knew they looked at her with a small amount of disappointment. Like Michelle or Raph should have been the eldest, not her.

She'd prefer to have attention of the right kind, but... Any attention was better than none, especially attention her sisters couldn't steal. Like they always did.

"Fine." She eventually said, her voice soft. "Just... Keep it in private? It would be unbecoming if the commoners saw, and you saw how they all reacted the first time."