Holy Templar Sanctum (Aincrad)

[Bloodedge]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52633070203_11fa303499_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oc1f4D)

Aincrad is the mobile fortress containing the Order of Holy Templars. Since his disappearance, it has been the base of operations belonging to Anu and the Holy Knights that remained loyal to "the Holy Father" as they know him. It is surrounded by sixteen obelisks which amplify the magical barrier around the Sanctum, which doubles as a perception filter to all who seek it without bearing the Templar Seal. Those who possess a seal are linked to one of the obelisks, each of the sixteen belonging to a subdivision of the Holy Templars.

Aincrad is an iron-and-stone made floating castle that has about ten kilometers floor base diameter and consists of a hundred floors stacking straight upwards, meaning that each floor's diameter is a bit smaller than the previous one. On each floor, there are a couple of large cities along with countless small scale towns and villages, forests, plains, and even lakes. Only one stairway links each floor to another, and the stairways exist beyond the boss room of each Labyrinth. The Teleport Gates of every unlocked cities are connected to one another.

Luviagelita's Floor (Floor 99)
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12 Peers Floor (Floor 98) *Formerly the Headquarters of Jeanne d'Arc*
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52635138284_aa3057beff_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ocbQQd)

[Bloodedge]

For quite some time, the Holy Templar Sanctum had been without its most renowned warrior, Jeanne d'Arc. Years had passed since the alleged heresy of that pious woman, and in those years, the one regarded as the Templars' Holy Father had been uplifting a new beacon among the warriors of light. For a few days, the elder male had been missing in action. He'd returned to his throne in Aincrad's highest floor as if nothing were amiss. Tall, slick blonde hair, a perfectly-shaped goatee, he was a symbol of regality as he sat upon the throne.

The Ruby Palace was the location of his throne, nestled in the hundredth floor in a spiral tower of actual enchanted ruby. Once the man sat, the throne and tower themselves seemed to radiate divine power through the whole of Aincrad. All who inhabited the floating fortress would know of his presence. Alas, there was but one individual he sought, and it was none of the fully-armored Holy Knights lining up around the throne carpet. "Archbishop Turpin," he called out, grabbing the attention of a younger male with long, blue hair kept in a ponytail. "Yes, Father?" the apparent archbishop responded after stepping out to the front of the throne, lowering himself to a single knee. "I have returned, and I am ready to progress our plan to bring God's grace to this entire world. Bring Luviagelita to me."

The Holy Father's command had been given, and the one called Turpin nodded. "She should be home. I'll locate her immediately," he replied, taking his immediate leave of the Ruby Palace. He'd walk a path toward the central teleporter, headed one floor lower to... a very different sort of palace.

[Apollymi]

One of the highest floors ninety-eight was empty, unoccupied. But the floor above that was occupied by a single individual. A young woman with blonde hair that spiraled into large blue curls lived on a singular floor. She was a person of highest dignity, but she was prone to small fits of temper in the right situations. Of course, she was dressed in a sapphire blue dress with large blue and white flowers. Of course, she was in one of her favorite places a tower with one of her thrones in it. Her castle was immaculate with small changes being made to it over time to make it more stunning against the mountain backgrounds. Balloons could be seen floating by with large gliders and the like. But what was she doing at a time like this.

Sitting in her throne, listening carefully... She could hear the sounds of some gentle whispers. She'd been quietly concentrating trying to hear them further but she seemed to need to be in a state of meditation and as such was trying to reach it. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was rather quiet. She had her head propped up on her left hand and her entire body was leaning in that direction. This place was peaceful and quiet enough... but perhaps it would be better under a bit of starlight?

[Bloodedge]

The starlight would not come. What did come, was that very same man, Archbishop Turpin. He descended to floor 99 of Aincrad, appearing via teleportation to the start of a long bridge leading to an immaculate palace. He walked that bridge in long, purposeful strides. A long, white cloak billowed with every step he took toward a structure that was... frankly far more appealing than anything on the hundredth floor. It took quite some time for him to reach said palace. When he crossed the bridge though, he was met by one whose name he didn't know. They knew him, of course, and therefore knew exactly why he'd come. There was only one reason this particular man would appear on floor 99. Naturally, he was directed to a tall tower at the palace's rear.

... One issue presented itself. The tower he reached had no proper entrance, or at least not one that led all the way to the top. Turpin had no way of accessing the woman he sought from within, so his only option was... to reach her from outside. From the tower's base, Turpin materialized a golden crosier and tapped the ground with its base. A holy aura overtook the entire 99th floor, granting a heavenly glow to every surface. The woman in that tower sought starlight, but what she'd get instead was a calling card in the form of stars that rose from below.

[Apollymi]

What this young woman wanted was starlight, and what she got was a holy light calling card interrupting what should have been her meditation. Her eyes remained closed for quite a few seconds but still she felt the growing holy light. 'Ugh... what does he want?' she thought as golden eyes finally opened. She saw the spread of light more officially and her unoccupied right hand rose. She snapped her fingers making a prismatic diamond appear between her fingers. What an annoyance this was... she knew that she was being called upon, and she knew only a trusted few would be sent to her floor at all. But the question remaining in the air would be, what did the man in the less amazing looking palace want from her?

Whatever it was, she was sure it would be annoying, and what terrible timing this man had, to stumble upon her just before she would have reached the quiet necessary to hear the voice calling to her. "You can ascend," she claimed as she snapped that jewel. A road made of rainbow would spin around the whole of this particular tower, creating a solid bridge which could be ascended by this man. Her eyes had closed once more as she gathered herself. There was no reason to be rude to this man... he was only a messenger after all.

[Bloodedge]

Mere moments passed before the archbishop received some sort of response to his call. Luviagelita was one many would not wish to be sent for, but also one very few could be sent for. Turpin took no particular issue with her temperament, shortness and all. He was given permission to ascend the tower after feeling the activation of Luviagelita's magic. In the very next moment, Turpin witnessed the materialization of a rainbow path leading up the tower from outside.

There was no need to hesitate. Turpin stepped onto that magical bridge. He walked and walked all the way up, taking a few minutes to reach the exterior entrance to a throne room with purpose he couldn't imagine. Ah, but it wasn't his place to question the choices of what one would call the Holy Princess. Upon reaching the room, he disregarded all questions in his mind, and bowed. "I'm sure you know why I've come here. The Father has returned after a few days' absence. His first order was to send me to find you."

[Apollymi]

Within a few moments, the young man in his robes had ascended. He was a reasonable looking man, and one considered to be most noble. She'd observed him a bit when he was sent on these sort of errands, and she had nothing negative to say about him. He was a man of ambition but not the disgusting sort, and she never questioned his motivations. He was duitful but also personable and that was an interestingly hard combination to make possible. As such, she tried her best not to be a bad host to the man who upon reaching the top bowed his head an made the proclamation she knew was coming. A gentle huff left her at his words. "You don't have to stay like that you know... it's hard to converse if you spend your time with your head bowed. It's not like a get many visitors," she said kindly. She always treated this group as kindly as her station allowed. It was easy for those like Archbishop Turpin who didn't throw themselves at her or anything like that. She'd also been quite fond of a few of the others. "Of course, my father has been gone for days, and instead of just stopping by before going back to his floor he sent someone to come get me..." she said her voice starting steadily but showing an obvious amount of annoyance at the antics of the Holy Father.

She went on, her face gaining additional pallor as she riled herself up with her own assertions about this 'summons'. "And let me guess, he didn't actually give you any sort of message. He's decided that I need to move, even though he was the who was gone to see what he wants?" she posed it as a question but they both knew it was rhetorical. "Ugh, and that place of his is hideous, but I have to go there and speak to him directly because it would be too much to ask for him not to send someone to talk to me to make me come talk to him..." she scoffed. There wasn't outrage in her person, just annoyance. "My apologies, it isn't your fault of course, I wouldn't put you in a bad position by making you go back empty handed but I still find it..." there was a word to use her for propriety's sake. "Unreasonable." she finished. "His timing his horrid," she said aloud. 'But I can assume that since he's calling me to see him, it definitely isn't his voice that is reaching out to me...' she mused. Her arms crossed over her chest and she huffed one more time before she let her face settle into a less abrasive look.

[Bloodedge]

Turpin remained bowed for the duration of his own speech, and while awaiting Luviagelita's answer. The first words passing her lips were about that bowed state, or more specifically, an indirect suggestion that he put an end to it. With a nod, he acquiesced right away. He may not have been here to make idle chitchat, but he was always willing to entertain such a simple request. "As you like," he said while rising. Luviagelita went on to gripe about the fact that the Holy Father didn't just stop by her floor on his way in. Of course, there was much sense made in that little complaint.

Luviagelita continued speaking on the matter, and her annoyance almost seemed to be growing by the word. Nothing she said was wrong. As for how much he could agree, well... it was impossible to disagree. The effort of at least two people could have been saved this day. Moreover, as father figures went, it would have been ideal to seek out one's own daughter in Turpin's opinion. Sadly, that was not to be the case today. Unreasonable, she called the Holy Father, though only after strangely apologizing to Turpin for her ramblings. "You have nothing to apologize for. I understand your frustration. Venting is sometimes the best tool we have for overcoming tribulations, so feel free to unload if you are still upset. And yes, you're right; he gave me no specific message, and wishes to speak with you directly though he just returned minutes ago. The strong will always determine who moves, when, and why. I'm sorry you have to exert yourself, but I thank you for agreeing on my behalf. If it makes things less strenuous for you, may I offer a sedia for the trip?"

[Apollymi]

The 'Holy Princess' as she was being colloquially referred to had many problems with upper leadership and their drab sense of design. Even so, it seemed she was not truly alone in her distaste. Her venting with Archbishop Turpin netted her the understanding that he could at least follow what she thought of as problematic about the Holy Father. He claimed in the moments they were talking, after his posture returned to normal, that she had nothing to apologize for. His words held a certain conceptualization of the issues at hand. While going about it he confirmed that there was no specific message for the girl, and that instead he could offer easier transport for the inconvenience of having to go so far to meet with her father. "Still, I can thank you for hearing me out. Venting is one thing, but you didn't have to hear me out..." she mused. She did like Turpin. A man who understood most things and was easy to talk to was particularly hard to come by, as for his offer of a sedia, she had to give it consideration.

"I wouldn't want to make it inconvenient for you. Though, I am considering it. Maybe if Father sees me being carried in he will understand how very inconvenient it is for everyone else when he does this sort of thing," she said seeming to like the idea more and more by the second. "I mean he's probably not going to get it, but taking a minor moral victory where it presents itself isn't a real negative," she said while nodding. "So then, I'll take you up on that offer, as a method of silent protest against being summoned in such a way!" she said having finally lifted her head she punched her right fist into the open palm of her left hand. Though regal in demeanor this lass in particular preferred more hands on methods of handling her problems. Sticking it to her father in minor protest for his inability to understand how to interact with her, seemed to be right up her alley. Besides, that she wouldn't want to be terribly insufferable to Turpin or anyone else sent directly to her for any reason. "Oh but where are my manners. I haven't seen you in quite a while Archbishop Turpin, are you well?"

[Bloodedge]

"Please, it's nothing. I'm honored to be of help to you, even if only by listening." Turpin spoke those words and meant them wholeheartedly. The woman standing before him was a princess by all rights, and for all intents and purposes was to be viewed as something beyond a Holy Maiden. To be in her presence alone was something perpetuated as a great honor, even a privilege allowed to very few.

Turpin offered a sedia gestatoria, a throne of sorts that would allow Luviagelita to make the trip upstairs without having to walk herself. This situation was nothing but an inconvenience to the likes of her, as Turpin saw it. Would she take his offer though? Some consideration ensued while Luviagelita addressed the 'positives' of saying yes. Her reasons were a bit... bratty at best. Regardless, Turpin also doubted the Holy Father would think twice about his daughter being carried into his throne room; he'd probably think of it as the way things should be. Turpin's offer wasn't for him, though. Luviagelita needn't be inconvenienced any more than necessary. "Your reasons are your own. I would just hate to inconvenience you when you are already going out of your way for a reason you weren't even given. I won't speak against our Father, but..." Turpin paused there, hazarding a light chuckle at his own train of thought. "It always goes south at the 'but', doesn't it? Anyway, there's no reason to make you exert yourself on someone else's behalf. My Lady is no servant," he concluded.

Luviagelita accepted his offer in the end, yet there was more. She inquired as to the archbishop's wellbeing. There was a kindness in the 'princess' that would never be found in her father, and it could only be appreciated as Turpin held out his crosier to conjure a glowing throne atop a floating platform. "You needn't concern yourself with my state of being, though I'm honored. Frankly, I've been very well, if a little bored. I was assigned to the hundredth floor a few days ago while Father An went out for business. It was only meant to be a short while, but I was left at the post until... well, until I'm released. What of you? It seems you've been very busy with the décor of your palace."

[Apollymi]

Luviagelita was quite used to be people fawning all over her. It was pretty much standard for her lifestyle, even so... there was something remarkably honest about the way that Archbishop Turpin spoke. It led her to believe that he was being rather sincere in his understanding of life. "You are truly kind, Archbishop..." she said a small smile forming on her face. She truly hadn't had a conversation with someone not a servant in quite a long time.

What was more, as Turpin created that magical little throne for her, he had more to say. He wouldn't speak ill of the Holy Father. That wasn't truly surprising there were very few people who would even begin to question him, much less actually speak against him. Even so, and after a brief chuckle as he came around to the idea of saying a but being the downfall of such sentences. He claimed that she was no servant and thus moving about as such truly was a inconvenience to her and he would spare her. "You know, I figured people were a bit too uptight about this sort of thing but, you're alright Archbishop Turpin~" she said seeming to find something about his sincerity quite refreshing.

Of course, she went on to ask him about himself, she wasn't a completely selfish sort of person. But to Turpin's credit he claimed she didn't need to worry about him, how outrageous. According to him, while Anu was gone on business, he'd been in charge of Anu's floor. He even claimed that he'd been just a bit bored and inquired about her doings. "Don't be silly, it'd be a bit weird not to wonder what everyone gets up to when they are not around. And it's always good to hear you're doing well..." she said with a smile spreading across her face. Sure they didn't have many things to converse about, but that didn't mean she wasn't the sort of person who'd hear him out. "You noticed?!" she seemed a bit excited only to calm down a bit soon afterwards. "Ahem, I finished my observatory recently. I haven't gotten to use it properly yet which is why I said Father had horrible timing. Oh and I made some changes to the gardens as well. It took a while but I am finally feeling like this place is like me~" she said happily, as she boarded her mode of transportation for their coming journey.

[Bloodedge]

Luviagelita thought many would be 'uptight' about matters such as their current discussion, as the woman herself put it. In Turpin's opinion, she couldn't be farther from the truth. "The Party I joined could be an exception to the norm, I suppose. If we aren't, perhaps you just haven't heard enough people's opinions. You should ask our leader what he thinks if you get the chance," he suggested with a nod offered.

Apparently, the woman thought it strange to be anything but curious about his wellbeing. How strange. He was standing here before her, so he was physically well by all accounts. That was normally all one needed to make their requests and move on. "I only need to be well enough to perform. That is all that is expected of a Templar," he said flatly, his expression implying an additional opinion buried just beneath the surface. Whatever the case, he wouldn't keep Luviagelita nor Father An waiting. As the woman took her mobile seat, he turned on his heel and stepped out of her personal throne room. The sedia would move ahead until Luviagelita herself was a mere two paces before Turpin, all while the latter walked toward the floor teleporter. En route, he took note of her sudden excitement. "I take it you're quite proud of this. You should be; it is very different to what I once saw here. What I see certainly shares your charm."

[Apollymi]

It seemed that Luviagelita's ideas were off of the norm. According to Archbishop Turpin the group he'd joined could easily share more open opinions about what was going on. If she recalled properly this man was in the group with a few of the other people who managed to visit her from time to time. "You're in the same group as Bradamante and her brother right? The one being run by Charlemange?" she asked mostly for clarification. "Charlemange is one of my few visitors, I'd probably do well to ask his opinion, though he's always quite busy," she mused. If that was the case, she was sure she could get a more straightforward answer to her type of inquiries out of a group like that. Even its more intimidating members seemed to be rather honest people.

His next sentiment was one she heard and could tell there was more to. Perhaps he didn't feel it right to share such an opinion but Luviagelita wasn't the sort who wanted to be lumped in with those who didn't truly understand the human condition. "Blah, all that is expected of a Templar, but you're still a person. Everyone who is a part of the Order is still a person. And there is way more to the well-being of a sentient living being than just their physical needs... you don't have to be the one to say it though. I have no issue saying so~" she mused seeming to understand the kind of position the Templar often found themselves in. It wasn't simply a matter of their jobs or physical well-being. In order to maintain justice and goodness their emotional and mental states should also be strong and without wear. This was only common sense to her, no one performed well at anything if they were unhappy. Speaking of unhappiness and rather her lack of it.

She was quite excited about her works. "I am rather proud. I am glad you can appreciate my vision. I am not quite done yet... there are a few little things I want to do, but I think it suits me better than this place did when I arrived," she said, appreciating his sense of her own style and glad that someone else could appreciate the goodness of her works. The only other person she thought might have been excited about it, was long gone from this place.

[Bloodedge]

"That's the one. Bradamante, Renaud whom I believe you are at least mildly familiar with... Roland." Turpin paused on the third name given, knowing there was quite a history between Roland and the woman to whom he spoke. Clearing his throat, he continued walking and continued talking. "Olivier de Vienne, etcetera etcetera. Charlemagne is our leader, whether he accepts it or not. We would be more of a real Party if he wasn't so busy, but perhaps he shouldn't have cleared the Labyrinth if he didn't want to be made busy."

Very few had ever reached the end of Aincrad's Labyrinth. The first to do so had been the now-infamous Jeanne d'Arc, and the second was Charlemagne a long time after. That man had done what many believed they would never see again in their lives; it was only natural that the prestige carry him from one task to another. Moving on, Luviagelita's assertion regarding Templar expectancies was rather close to something he previously heard from Charlemagne himself. "That's almost a perfect recreation of something he said to me before. You really should get his opinion on the matter," Turpin stated.

Soon enough, they were approaching the teleporter for floor 99. Floor 100's teleporter was not as far away as the one found in Luviagelita's domain, but it would be a bit further still... once they teleported, of course. First, the woman continued sharing her satisfaction over the remodel of floor 99. "It certainly does. The Sapphire Palace may have been suited to you on an ideological level, but I'm afraid there's only so much of a single color the eyes can tolerate without aching. I believe this one better captures the vibrancy of the floor, and lets the holy radiance of our Lady stand out as she is meant to," he stated, taking an additional glance at floor 99 before initiating teleportation. With that, they would appear just before the less-vibrant Ruby Palace of Father An. . .

[Apollymi]

"We don't talk about Roland..." she said that rather quickly. Roland was a strange case, she'd turned down his affections when they'd met, and he'd gone a bit crazy. She wasn't sure why this was the case, but she'd been very careful since to make sure she didn't give off the wrong sort of vibes when meeting with people. Moving on from him, apparently the Grand Inquisitor, Olivier was also among the group led by Charlemange. How interesting, his group seemed to be full of rather colorful characters compared to others. "Olivier is a bit intense..." she said of the woman she'd seen around once or twice. Her fingers were quite wide when she said a 'bit' but it was quite accurate, though she had no problems with that woman either. At the end of that sentence though, there was the acknowledgement that Charlemange had brought his busy-ness upon himself by completing the labyrinth. "Ah well, he brought a great deal of hope to the people. Though you sound like you'd rather be out on adventures~" she said seeming to take note of a bit of underlying discontent.

The prestige and adventures of Charlemange aside there were quite a few things that apparently he and Luviagelita had in common. This included their thoughts on the well-being of people being rather important. "I'll be sure to ask the next time we chat. Unlike my father, he usually stops by when he has time..." she said, those words were a pointed bit of a jab, but she'd found herself to be quite the lonely individual since the departure of Jeanne d'Arc. Ah but they were moving on, and discussing fun things like the changes to the Sapphire Palace and its surrounding floor space.

"Right? It's basic design principle. And it's not like I can change the color of my hair or anything!" she said finally getting out the main part of her frustration. Even so, this man had nothing but compliments to offer her change in decor. She felt rather proud to have had her work noticed and was happy to accept the compliments given by Archbishop Turpin. "You know Archbishop Turpin you are quite good at this. And I am glad you like what I've done with the place... I don't get the opportunity to do such things as much as I would like."

[Bloodedge]

Right then, Roland was off the list of discussion topics. He knew the woman to be a sore topic for Roland, but in this moment, he received confirmation that it worked both ways. "My apologies," he said right away. For just a moment prior to their teleportation, Turpin bowed remorsefully. He was never one to broach sore topics intentionally, after all. Ah, it seemed Luviagelita had opinions about quite a few members belonging to Charlemagne's Party. She knew Olivier, or at least knew of her. Extreme was one way to describe that woman's demeanor, but she deserved a great deal of appreciation nonetheless. "She is, though she is among the best. Even I question her approach, but never her results and intentions," he clarified.

One more thing to clarify was the desires of Turpin himself. Would he rather be out adventuring? Well, things weren't so specific for him. When he responded, he did so with a leading sigh. "I joined the Templar Order to help the people. Belief in our God heals the soul as we've seen through Father An, and the Templars themselves provide physical assistance to those in need. Being archbishop allows me to help by offering guidance to the bishops and all, but it is far too managerial for me to feel I'm making any real difference. Every time I assist the church, there's someone out there in need of help, and I'm here doing nothing about it."

It seemed the lack of visits to floor 99 was nothing new for Father An. It was, however, something Charlemagne did. That came as no surprise; Charlemagne was the type who'd visit every floor of Aincrad to check in on anyone. Since the first day he reached floor 100, he could be expected to be anywhere between there and floor 1. Why would 99 be an exception? "I'm not surprised at all. He's quite the busybody even when he's not under orders to be. I believe he could benefit from slowing down here and there, but... I suppose in his mind, that's what his trips through Aincrad are," the archbishop surmised. Onward to the Ruby Palace they went, while Luviagelita spoke of having few opportunities to be so artistic. That particular note was somewhat strange, earning a quirked brow from Turpin. "Why don't you? Sorry if I'm prying, but you do have all of the 99th floor to do with as you please. What you've done already seems like something that would take ages. . ."

Meanwhile, the Holy Father was awaiting Turpin's return with the princess in tow. He'd done nothing but sit atop his throne all this time, and he didn't appear to be having the most pleasant experience at all. Something was going through the elder's mind─ something torturous. It almost looked as if he were in physical pain, upset, angry even as he tried to shut out whatever thoughts plagued him. What was he seeing? None would be allowed to know.

[Apollymi]

Turpin apologized for bringing up Roland and he was so genuinely remorseful that Luviagelita was taken aback. "Oh, don't be like that. It's not your fault or anything..." she said seeming to only extend kindness to this man. Though she knew her own behavior towards her father to be a bit bratty, this man had done nothing but keep her company. Given this she had nothing negative to say about the man, even if he'd inadvertently brought up a subject she didn't like. And just like that they moved on. Their chatter was mostly meaningless but it was still more interesting to have a conversation in such a way. Truly she hadn't really chatted with anyone since Bradamante a while back. According to this man, Olivier's intentions and results weren't to be questioned just her methods. "Well, the world is a big place, I am sure she has her reasons. I find her a bit intimidating, but advice from an old friend says that girls should just bond over drinks and girl talk," she said with a small smile. Perhaps she'd do the good thing and invite Olivier up some time. If Turpin vouched for her, and Charlemange trusted her there was obviously more to her than her reputation.

Moving on, there was Turpin's discontent with his current station. It wasn't that he sought adventure, but instead sought the ability to actually help people instead of just being in what he called a 'managerial' station. That was rather earnest, and truly sincere. She hadn't seen such sincerity in character from many until Charlemange, and that was after Jeanne d'Arc paved the way for such righteous natures to exist. "That is surprisingly sincere. I can't find a single flaw in wanting to actually help people. I hope you find yourself in a situation more to your own liking soon," she said earnestly. If a man truly wanted to help, then he should be allowed to help in the way he thought was best. She did in general disagree with the sort of beaurecratic red tape this sort of place saw in general.

Ah, but there was more to question than just that. The Archbishop Turpin became a bit curious as to why her creativity was limited in any way. She could explain this rather easily and had no problem doing so in the most simplistic terms she could. "You aren't prying it is a valid question. Creating in the way I like takes a great deal of energy and I am not simply receiving it. I have to save up a great deal to make major changes, which is why I made my observatory... I can absorb the power of the stars to help out. But the progress is still rather slow going and I am not necessarily a very patient person," she explained of her own situation. Of course, there were methods to get energy and all of them she understood. That being said, as the 'Holy Princess' most of those options were closed off to her, by decree of her father.

Upon reaching Father An's throne room, Luviagelita looked upon the man. He seemed rather troubled sitting there like that... perhaps it'd simply been a matter of him having a bad dream. Though she found his antics rather annoying she was still caring enough as his daughter to want him to be well. "Father are you sure you should be seeing anyone right now, you look unwell?" she asked earnestly, he seemed quite tired if she was being honest. And she was soon removing herself from the moving throne, giving a little curtsy to Turpin in thanks for his help.

[Bloodedge]

Drinks and girl talk? He hadn't a clue where she got that notion from, but it seemed like a good idea for any sort of bonding. Turpin himself wasn't a drinker by any means, however. "I assume that would be a surefire way to solidify any bond. I've seen many warriors drink away their troubles, talk, and be merry. Strong friendships have come of it, though I do advise moderation with alcohol." Strangely enough, Turpin had been against the idea of drinking himself since his previous life. Being a member of the Templar Order was not a prerequisite for his urge to help others. In fact, as a normal teen in another world, Turpin had always gone out of his way to do what he believed was right.

Maybe he'd get his chance again one day. He wouldn't turn down his position as archbishop if the Holy Father believed he was best suited to it. Even so, he may have wished another would supplant him and let him return to the open world outside. Turpin was sure his companions were out there making a massive difference every day, each in their own ways. He could contribute to that if he only had the chance. "I hope the same. Don't get me wrong though, I do enjoy what I do now. Some of the bishops are young and inexperienced. I have no problem setting them on the right path for the betterment of themselves and others."

Luviagelita's method of creation was beyond Turpin's understanding, apparently. He was often confused for a Caster while being a magical Archer instead. Territory Creation was no Skill of his, so the nuances of such things were beyond him. "I didn't realize it was so taxing for you. In that case, allow me to commend you for what you've managed so far. I'm sure it would take the rest of us centuries to accomplish half as much," he proclaimed as they traversed the throne carpet of Father An. Upon reaching the throne, Turpin took knee, and Luviagelita rose. The woman addressed her father with concern, prompting the immediate rise of Turpin. If something was wrong with the Father, he had to be of assistance right away!

"I am not unwell. I had a tumble; all is fine. Turpin, leave us. I have business to discuss with Luviagelita." An's response was direct, but he was sweating a bit much for someone who'd fallen. Perhaps he was becoming feeble in his advancing age, and the ascent to the throne tired him? Regardless, there was nothing to be done if he would refuse, so Turpin did as he was told. "Of course, Father. I will be catching up with the bishops if either of you has need of me. My Lady Edelfelt, it was a pleasure escorting you today. Farewell." With that said, and with a bow, Archbishop Turpin took his leave of the Ruby Palace. His parting moments were what An awaited before addressing the blonde woman directly. "Luviagelita, the word of God will soon spread across this entire world. As my daughter and only heir in this world, the Templar Order looks to you as a beacon of God's grace. You've been a princess for too long. The Holy Empire will rise and spread light to all the world's darkest corners. As its queen-to-be, you must take a man's hand in marriage. I will not choose for you. You have the freedom of choice, but keep in mind that your husband will also be my chosen emperor. There are some excellent candidates in the top ten floors, and I recommend that you select from among them. When shall I expect an answer of you?"

[Apollymi]

Apparently, the advice once given to her by a very specific individual was sound enough in the mind of Archbishop Turpin. Though he advised moderation in drinking he did speak of the positive qualities such things had in building lasting friendships. "Always in moderation, I thank you for thinking of my well-being," she said happily. Admittedly, nights she'd previously spent drinking with a certain companion of hers were far from simple affairs, she'd at the very least learned her own tolerance levels in the meantime.

Beyond that point, Turpin expressed liking his job even if it wasn't primarily what he wanted to do. He did enjoy helping the younger bishops find their way, he simply thought he could be doing more. "That is also a good natured way to think about it. Regardless I respect your decision to want to do your best," she said in confirmation of his goals. As their conversation progressed it seemed that Turpin wasn't quite as magically inclined as she was herself. He didn't apparently know about the great strain caused by extra creation from essentially nothing. "Aww, I am sure there are many who are better at it than me. But thank you!~" she said earnestly. His appreciation of her work really was a highlight of her day so far, it was quite interesting that he managed to pick up her mood so much.

Still the young woman's mood fluctuated as she entered her father's throne room. The man looked unwell. He claimed to have taken a minor tumble but he was dripping with sweat like it'd taken a great amount of work for him to recover at all. That wasn't good, but beyond her concern for his well-being was the use of her given name which she did not like. "You should be much more careful and also Angelica," she said correcting the use of her name to the one she preferred hearing. Father An, gave an order for Turpin to leave and Turpin did so after claiming he'd had a good time talking with Angelica as was her apparent preference. "Have a good time, and I enjoyed our chat as well..." she said in honesty.

After he left there was an announcement by her father. Apparently as his only heir she should choose herself a husband. She'd been unmarried for too long but she should be careful of her choice. Choosing from the ten floors up top to find a candidate from among the many. But what would she say to all of this, "Angelica," she corrected the use of her name again in a bratty sort of fashion. "It is a strange thing to ask someone to do so quickly. It isn't as if I know many people and it isn't like I've given much thought to marrying or ruling in your stead," she explained of herself. "Even so, I am pretty sure I already know the answer to your question. Given my own desire to avoid a marriage to someone who'd just run off on orders and get himself killed. I also have a desire to avoid dishonest and unjust people..." she said carefully. "There aren't too many people like that I know, and though I am fond of a few people... I am certain the only person I could see taking over in your stead at this point is Charlemange."Angelica was strangely decisive. If only these men and women were hers to choose between, it would only be natural to choose the kind of person who came and checked on her without prompting and who collected for himself a loyal and just following. Besides that, even if he wasn't currently as high level as some others, he'd completed the Labyrinth by himself and such was a feat only previously accomplished by Jeanne d'Arc and that had to count for a great deal. Still this was definitely the sort of thing he could have asked her before making her come all this way. He could have made this intention of his obvious years ago.

[Bloodedge]

Angelica, the woman insisted. Something was very wrong. What was with all those children insisting upon answering to names other than what he'd given them? Surely they were all too foolish to understand how much their names could mean if used properly. The worship that came their way could be so much more when the mortals used their proper identities! Twice she insisted upon another name, which he supposed he could accept by virtue of it being part of her overall name anyway. "Luviagelita is a fine name! But... very well. If you are going to keep being so defiant about it... Angelica," he said.

An was rubbing the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes tightly, as if to banish some form of vision while his daughter spoke. She hadn't given proper consideration to rule or marriage. That seemed to be a human trait. Even without proper consideration though, Angelica was quick to reach a conclusion. She expressed previously that she had no interest in foot-soldiers and the like, given their propensity for running headlong into deadly situations. She sought an honest and just man, of which there were many in the top ten floors of Aincrad. From a list that wasn't very short at all, she chose one named Charlemagne. An knew that name well. It was the name of one who cleared his Labyrinth alone, just as the Holy Maiden herself had once done. Others had accomplished as much in groups, but indeed, Angelica's choice was a powerful one. "Charlemagne, that boy? Be certain, Lu─... Angelica. If he is the one you are to marry, he and any existing followers he has will be placed on the 98th floor. Upon becoming Emperor of the Holy Empire, your home will become his until the next phase of ascension that will result in taking the Ruby Palace in my absence. I will give you some time to be certain. Until then... you may go."

[Apollymi]

According to her father, her given name was a good name. Only a scoff would escape the young woman as he seemed to catch on to the fact that she had no desire to answer to such a ridiculously antiquated and unwieldy name. His closing of his eyes as he banished his thoughts, and his decision to refer to her the way she wished, was something taken as a victory in the mind of the blondish blue haired young woman. "Hmph, if you really think it is so great you use it yourself. It isn't defiance, I have something I wish to be called, I am not asking much. I prefer to be called Angelica and not sound like I was dropped out of some weird century. Perhaps naming isn't truly your strong suit," she said crossing her arms over her chest and holding her head up haughtily.

Just the same, she managed to give a pretty succinct idea about who she wished to marry if the decision of such a thing was being placed into her lap. And it seemed that Father An was familiar enough with her choice. Though he almost slipped up and called her the wrong name, he managed to recover so only received an initial scoff. "He is young but he has done much. It is my opinion that he has a great propensity to promote improvements in attitudes and people. I am familiar with several of his group, and I would not mind them living close to me," she explained of herself. "I would prefer not to inherit this particular palace to be honest... it'd take a lot of energy to make this place livable," she explained of herself and her own desires in this case. She was willing to ignore the fact that her father had truly called her to talk over this information. Still he looked a bit troubling. "I'll take the time, but it's a bit strange to ask me just that..." she said with a shrug. "You look like you should get some sleep though. Next time you could just stop by the Sapphire Palace instead of setting yourself up for a tumble," she explained as she turned to walk away. She'd been dismissed but she was actually more than a little annoyed that she'd actually been called to have such a short conversation. It didn't even come with tea or any regular amount of greeting, her father was such an odd man.

[Bloodedge]

Much to his chagrin, the girl rambled on about her name-based decisions as if she hadn't already received her response. An grunted throughout her musings, slamming a fist onto the arm of his throne the moment she fell silent and crossed her arms. "Do you not listen, child?! I've already addressed you as you wish, and I will not be lectured by the likes of you without just reason!" he yelled. With that, An sank into his throne and sighed deeply. "Says it is not defiance while throwing a tantrum over getting her own way. Children..." he mumbled. Millennia of dealing with children and their varied attitudes had finally encroached upon a boiling point with this one. As things stood presently, the one insisting upon the name Angelica was one of his last tickets. He couldn't have her going the way of some others. . .

Luckily, this one had some sense about her without possessing some of the more troublesome traits of his other children. Her reason for choosing that Charlemagne lad was sound, though she expressed only disinterest in eventually inheriting the Ruby Palace. "Hrmgh. Move the 99th floor to this plane then; I do not care what you do with it. The top floor of Aincrad is a point of power. Regardless of how, it is imperative that its ruler take place on floor 100."

Angelica advised that he sleep. How absolutely hilarious. He'd attempted sleep just once or twice in the past few days, and found it to be the exact opposite of a solution. "It is not sleep I need. I will be fine," he groaned. The next words from Angelica's mouth involved him visiting the 99th floor. What an interesting thing to suggest. Perhaps he'd actually do something like that for the child who showed concern for her sire. "I'll keep it in mind. If I am not otherwise indisposed, I will come to you myself for your final answer. Farewell."

[Apollymi]

The haughty antics of someone like Angelica were coming to light. Now that she'd had a normal conversation of Turpin she'd easily find herself expressing her issues with her father in a rather straight forward way. "I was just explaining why I dislike it, I wouldn't want it to slip your mind again," she said scoffing. "And I wasn't lecturing. If I was choosing a topic like that it would be something far more important than what you call me!" her nose was turned up in the air. In truth, if she was going to lecutre her father, she'd start with how to have conversations with people and move on to his obvious lack of style and decor. She might have argued about being childish, but even she realized her actions were thus, she felt no need to deny being a child.

Speaking of his lack of style, Father An claimed that if she wanted she could move the Sapphire Palace up to the 100th floor if she wished, but that it was the seat of power for the ruler of Aincrad. She seemed satisfied by such a statement. "Good, I've been working on it and I like it way better than this place!" she said. All was well knowing officially that she wouldn't have to live in such a weird place. It was quite a relief, though even in her childish outburst she took note of her father's less than stellar state. He claimed he didn't need sleep but claimed he would visit her for her final answer to his arrangement of her marriage. Good. There seemed to be a genuine bit of excitement in Angelica. Firstly because she wouldn't be called upon at random again, and secondly because she'd get to show him the work she'd been doing. "Hmph! If you won't get any sleep then I hope you will at least rest and take care of yourself. Be careful of the steps. I look forward to seeing you later... Farewell Father," she mentioned as she took her leave, more pleased than she had been to arrive. Yes, she'd been annoyed to appear before this man for such an annoying reason, even so she didn't mind him really. Besides that he was her father so it was only natural for her to feel something for him.

[Bloodedge]

"Hmph." By his own count, An had dealt with this exact sort of petulance with nearly every child he had. Nanshe, Ae, Irkalla, and now even Luviagelita had all pushed their original names aside. The only child originally sired by the man himself to retain their name was Ishtar, and that girl hardly had the capacity to do something like that anyway. What was wrong with the lot of them? Those names were all powerful, and all of them were tossed aside for something whimsical. Oh well; he'd be fine granting this one a bit more acceptance than the others.

Oh, and there was something of interest to be noted as well. According to Angelica, she'd been modifying her floor of Aincrad, making it something she liked better than the Ruby Palace. She'd been... creating? The Father felt a spark of pride, the likes of which he hadn't known in over 2,000 years. One might have even seen something resembling a smile on that old man's face when he thought this development was something he had to see. Later, he'd be sure to do exactly that. First though, he'd await the return of Charlemagne from his current adventure. If the boy was his daughter's suitor of choice, he had to be notified of his new status and... properly prepared. . .

Of course, it would be a few days yet before Charlemagne and a few of his comrades returned from a weeks-long journey. It would be at that point that Charlemagne and the others requested entry to floor 100 for an audience with the Holy Father, completely unawares as to his absence in previous days.

[Apollymi]

A kind of brash voice would be heard a few days later, as a blonde haired blue eyed young woman with a large spear in a white outfit that looked like a modified version of a general's uniform walked along. She had her hair up in pigtails and scoffed as she approached seeming to find the whole thing to be crazy. "You're lucky, I came along at all. I'd only just gotten back myself! The first person I should be greeting upon returning is my future husband...." she scoffed her nose turned up in the air.

A girl with a hood and large antlers walked along with a small smile on her face. It'd been quite a while since she'd heard this one speak so openly. "We're all happy you found him. I'm sure if you explain the situation he will respect the minor inconvenience of being the second outside of the group to see you~" she mused lightly. Hm, that recent upgrade of hers, had made her quite the smooth talker, though she was not much of one to start with. From a personal standpoint she didn't mind their mission so much but also couldn't wait to get back, there were a few places she needed to stop by, and admittedly going to greet Father An would indeed make her trip significantly longer. Ah, it was fine though... it'd been quite a while since a group like this had gathered, and their camraiderie was all she cared about.

[Bloodedge]

"Blah blah blah!" sang the voice of an androgynous pink-haired individual who walked amongst the group. With hair in a long, braided ponytail, and with a slender form sporting a skirt belonging to a maid, this one's gender may have been presumed female... but alas, it was a young man. He skipped alongside the others, moving out ahead of the blonde woman before turning to face her. "Ya' know it's good you found each other again, but isn't it about time you talked about something else? I just got back too! And I was tortured!" Despite the things he had to say, the young man seemed to be in very high spirits. Of course, that was always the case with the one called Astolfo. . .

Another male walked amongst these three. He had short hair that was part black, part white. He wore a black and white tunic with blue accents, black pants, armored boots up to his thighs, and a short white cape with a black edge. Deep blue eyes were set upon the Ruby Palace as they approached, though they cut away to look toward the pink-haired male. "Leave Bradie alone, Astolfo. We all know she never talked about anything else anyway!" he joked before his attention fell upon the hooded woman. "Ana, you've been really involved this trip! Did you also find a boyfriend while I was gone before? Or did you have one all along, and I'm the only one who didn't know about it? You have to tell me if I've been missing something for years!" he exclaimed while pointing a preemptive, accusatory finger at the lass.

[Apollymi]

A vein thumped in the forehead of the lass with the hair in pigtails. She'd been quite fond of the lad called Astolfo all of the members of their group enjoyed his company. Even so, she was prone to a bit of distemper when it came to the love of her life, and Astolfo liked to push buttons. "Obviously you weren't tortured enough, Crossdresser!" she snapped immediately. The hooded young woman seemed to chuckle at the good natured jabs flying back and forth among friends. It was admittedly quite normal for the group for all of them to interact in such a way, even so, a bit of calm between everyone given their approach tot he Ruby Palace would be worthwhile.

Ah, but that is what their leader was for, Charlemagne stepped in, telling Astolfo off for teasing the nicknamed 'Bradie' and she in her infinite maturity stood behind him sticking her tongue out at Astolfo to further drive the point home. Only to realize after the fact that she was still being teased. "Hey!" she exclaimed to their leader and she'd go on to pout just a tad. Now, Charlemagne was talking to the one called Ana bringing that calm young woman's attention to him instead. "Thank you for noticing. That being said, I did not find a boyfriend... I haven't had one this whole time. If I am being honest, I am not even sure if I like guys, so no worries. You aren't missing out on anything," she said giving a casual shrug. She was rather happy in the moment that her pale skin was hidden under the shadow of her hood and thus her blushing face was to be avoided. She really wasn't sure about her own sexuality at this point, when she'd lived before, she'd had a crush on a girl but no girl had turned her attention so far either. Still she looked at the building they were encroaching upon and sighed, it was functional, massive maybe even some would call it impressive, but in her own opinion it left a lot to be desired in its image.

[Bloodedge]

Crossdresser, Astolfo was called by the pigtailed lass. With that being combined with the chiding of Charlemagne, he shrugged and laughed. "Crossdresser today, savior tomorrow when Roland is on another rampage. You'll say 'Thank you, oh cute and wonderful Astolfo!' And when you do, I'll ignore you!" he said to the girl. As for Charlemagne's reprimanding, he had nothing to say. After all, he knew the other male would soon add a bit of his own teasing... and he was not left disappointed. "Wahaha!"

A pouty Bradamante was a precious sight for many members of this large Party, so how was Charlemagne to resist teasing her as well? He wouldn't be taking things too far, though. Besides, it was interesting to notice Anais and her newfound social confidence. She wasn't hiding any new boyfriend, and with that information offered, she admitted to her own questionable sexuality. "Huh? Really? Well, good luck with whatever you end up looking for. I'm rooting for you!" he said with a thumb pointed to the sky. Speaking of things rising, Astolfo wore a devious expression upon hearing the hooded girl. Still walking backwards ahead of the others, he hunched over just a bit to pinch the bottom of his skirt with both hands. The slightest lift occurred while he stared Anais down. "Hmmm~?" Astolfo muttered. Just at the lift of his skirt, there seemed to be... a glow? Indeed, there was an almost magical glow between his thighs, seeming to come from about halfway up.

[Apollymi]

"Hmph, that's what you think. I am content to let Ivy whip him again!" Proclaimed Bradamante. Her cousin's antics not withstanding, she knew that Astolfo wouldn't actually go without acknowledging praise aimed his way. In fact, he was even laughing soon after his proclamation at her own pouting and Charlemagne's teasing of her. She was considered the little sister to the group so obviously pouting was her way of being technically, even so... he didn't have to rub it in. That was immature! She'd continue on her line of thought, as Anais had a light conversation with Charlemagne about her new openness.

This of course, led to a strange reaction. First, Charlemagne himself encouraged her as blindly as he always did such things. "Yes, really. Before I really admired a girl but nothing much ever came of it. But I don't know much about romance, and I am in no great rush... still, I will take this encouragement with me wherever I find use of it~" she said seeming to find that answer to be about perfect. Of course, Astolfo would always be the sort of scamp he was. And soon he was offering his own services in the most obvious way possible. That gentle lift of his skirt had a gentle glowing light appearing from near his mid-thigh. "No thank you, keep your pants... I mean skirt down!" she said seeming to have become more obviously flustered than before. "Besides, I don't think you would actually help me answer my question," she said her eyes closing her own face almost disappearing into the shadow of her hood. And of course she would do exactly this, why wouldn't she? Astolfo defied normal logic and seemed to attract both men and women... she could hardly be certain it wasn't simply some magical effect.

[Bloodedge]

The rising of Astolfo's skirt was never a thing to take lightly. Ever since he started wearing them, he had some sort of effect on... well, most everyone. It was Charlemagne who darted forward to grab the small male by an arm, halting the lift before anything too devious happened. "You can't do that here! We're almost inside!" he chided. Poor Anais was all but sealed away under her hood upon rejecting the pink-haired male, and the action itself had to be some sort of sin. "What? I wasn't going to lift it all the way!" Astolfo insisted.

Whatever the case, there was no surety in Anais' gender preferences. That was fine. Whatever she sought and whenever she sought it, Charlemagne wished her the best. If all of his comrades could know the happiness Bradamante exemplified, he'd have nothing but pride in each of them. One particular member of the Party could perhaps even become less troublesome to himself and others if he found someone to settle down with. . .

"Anyway, sure it would help you answer the question! Astolfosexuality is a totally valid thing, Anais~" he feminine lad claimed. He wouldn't say more on the matter, as they were soon traversing the throne carpet of Father An. The Holy Father looked upon this group, caring nothing for whatever news they had of the journey. At this point, their victory was assured any time the full departing group returned... and their spirits all seemed high enough. "You seem to have succeeded. Good. Charlemagne, your exploits have reached ears most important. You do the work of God and have many accomplishments. No other since the heretic has completed the Labyrinth alone, and you have gone on to become a leader most renowned, with the largest Party to date. You few now in his company... do any of you protest to your leader being named first in line for the title of Holy Emperor?"

[Apollymi]

"Charlemagne to the rescue, our savior!~" these were the joking words of Bradamante in a moment like this and poor Anais let go of a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding when the young man's arm was kept from lifting all the way. Yes, they shouldn't be this lively every time they approached the Ruby Palace and yes they had work to do, but that really didn't matter much. Astolfo went on to claim that sexuality surround him was completely legitimate. "It really wouldn't though... how would I like girls or boys if I just happen to like you who fits half of both criteria," she murmured. Her more open voice having sunken into some simple utterances from beneath her hood. Ah, embarrassment made her more like her old self than normal, but surely she would recover.

Technically speaking they had no choice but to recover as they made their way before Father An. The words of that man seemed to offer a great deal of praise to Charlemagne even bringing up the 'heretic'. At the word both Bradamante winced and a quiet whimper escaped Anais. Something about that word referring to that person still seemed very wrong to both of them, and neither of them had been present when that entire situation played out. Ah... well, it seemed that what was happening was Charlemagne being told he was next in line to be the Holy Emperor. That was good at least, when asked their opinion, Bradamante would easily speak. "Of course there isn't any reason he shouldn't. He's the best!" she proclaimed honestly. Anais nodded her head in agreement. "I would follow him anywhere..." she added and this was the absolute truth. In their humble opinion, there weren't any others better suited to the task of leading the Templars than Charlemagne the man who was more caring and useful than anyone else.

[Bloodedge]

"Then maybe you like both," was a simple answer given by Astolfo just before their entry. The term Astolfosexual was going to catch on somewhere at some time. It seemed Anais wouldn't be the one to perpetuate it, nor would Bradamante play any part if only to spite him. One day. Not today, but... one day.

Soon after they entered the Ruby Palace, something very wrong was happening. Charlemagne was receiving praises before even detailing his exploits, which wasn't at all strange. What he did consider strange, or at least problematic was... the address of Charlemagne's companions questioning his eligibility to be an emperor. No, that wasn't the issue. The issue was the positive response given by two of the three. "Why even say first in line? There's no competition!" Three. Three of the three gave positive response, much to Charlemagne's dismay. "Woah woah woah! I didn't even plan on leading a Party; I couldn't be someone's emperor!" he insisted. Apparently, Father An was having none of that talk. He beckoned for Charlemagne to ascend the stairs, at which point there was a reassuring hand upon the lad's shoulder. "You'll do fine, boy. Don't go losing your mind yet. You are the number one candidate, but nothing is assured. Save the worries for later, but for now take your members and ascend them all to the 98th floor. You'll not be moved out unless you are supplanted."

[Apollymi]

"Maybe," that was all the response Anais had to give. Of course, it truly didn't matter if she figured out now or a hundred years from now what kind of person she was into. She could stumble upon love or anything between friendship and love without her predisposed tastes getting between her and her end objective. Bradamante would have more words for her later, but here and now they were discussing a matter of great importance, the future of their leader Charlemagne.

Charlemagne for his part in this, didn't appear to like being chosen in such a way. He made the claim that he didn't even want to lead his group, much less did he want to do anything crazy like ending up a "Holy Emperor". Bradamante had only one thing to say to that kind of talk, "Not your decision to make, neither was being our leader, you're best suited!" she claimed. Apparently even Father An thought the lad was a bit too much in his own head, he went on to explain the nature of this apparent shift which would include a relocation for the group at large. This was an exciting prospect. Everyone present wished to move on to somewhere else without any doubt and floor 98 was an honor all it's own, even with it being the floor which formerly belonged to the heretic. "Oh, we're about to be all together again? Sounds like fun~" these were the words of Anais about the move, she was honestly though, Charlemagne was the type of leader she would follow anywhere. If he claimed he wanted nothing to do with any of this and left the Holy Order of the Templar she would follow without hesitation.

[Bloodedge]

This wasn't working out any better with people like Bradamante nearby. Charlemagne knew from the moment he spoke that she would throw him right into the fray of leadership. If he remembered correctly, hers was among the louder voices relegating him to the position of Party Leader. Well, maybe that wasn't fair. She was pretty loud in general, now that he thought about it. "I... but... they... we..." There were 1,001 excuses for Charlemagne to get out of this situation. Sadly, none were making their way to his mouth. The Father's hand upon his shoulder felt strange, almost relaxing. Was this some effect of his holy influence?

"Be at ease, my son. You will perform magnificently, as you always have," Father An assured. Charlemagne sighed. Why was it always like this? "Fine, fine! I'll take the time trying to find a reason I shouldn't be picked, and in the meantime I'll hope someone else jumps out ahead of me." Charlemagne made clear his plan while stepping away from the Father. Once more, he sighed. "I saw Turpin up here when we were on the way. Do you guys mind rounding up the others while I try ripping him away from the bishops?"

Charlemagne made one request, and Astolfo jumped at the opportunity. He hadn't seen many of their comrades in quite some time, so a bit of giddiness was only natural for the lad. "Going to floor 90, k' bye~!" he exclaimed before skipping off right away. Astolfo had no desire to hang around the Holy Father for very long anyway; he wasn't here for religious purposes.

[Apollymi]

Apparently Charlemagne didn't think he was worthy of such. Or in Bradamante's eyes at least, he was now trying to weasel his way out of his responsibility. She scoffed at his words, but knew in her heart that there was no better leader for all of them and all of the Templars than Charlemagne. She couldn't even offer him comfort because she knew her words wouldn't mean such. "That's right. Get ready, it'll be your biggest job yet!" she claimed seeming to find it funny. Of course, Bradamante was no more fond of Father An than Astolfo was so after hearing his plans she also jumped at the opportunity to go do something else. "Yeah, I'll go grab Renaud and I guess Roland," she claimed seeming to find it a bit of a hassle. "I might take the long way 'round though... I wanna see Ruggie!~" she said heading off. With Astolfo headed to the 90th Floor and Bradamante headed off somewhere in the 80s. A sigh escaped Anais who gave a small bow and began walking off as well. "I'll head to the Archives, at least I always know where to find Ivy. Maybe I'll run into one of the others along the way~" she mused.

And that was that. Whenever he reached floor 90, Astolfo could make his way to a very specific torture chamber. Within the woman known as the Grand Inquisitor would be found. A blue haired sharp eyed young woman, her curvy figure was covered by a white general's outfit. Her thigh high boots seemed to end at exactly the right place to show the gentle curve of her thighs. She rested on her backside atop a cushion of shorts the skin of her rear barely visible from where she sat. Her back was to the door, but she had nothing to fear. Here and now she was holding in one hand a chain. This particular chain extended to a collar and it was around the neck of a formerly annoying creature. That creature was a man who was now, supporting her body weight, topless while she sat atop him. To keep him from talking, there was a gag in his mouth. And her other hand contained a glass of juice, as she was currently working. "Did you know the Executioner is always shorter than you expect? Big men like you always think some other big man is going to kill you. But most of you will die to small women long before you lose your lives... its that funny?" she laughed while the man beneath her only truly paid attention to the gentle feeling of her rounded rear pressed against his skin.

[Bloodedge]

"I'm sure it will be. And the rest of you will just eat it all up, won't you? You especially!" he exclaimed toward Bradamante, pointing the same accusatory finger at her that was previously meant for Anais. Whatever the case, Astolfo was quick to run away from the Ruby Palace, and it seemed Bradamante would be quick to depart as well. Charlemagne couldn't really blame either of them. Though he had no issues with the Holy Father, he understood it at least being a bit awkward to stand around in his presence. Either way one wanted to view the current situation, this meeting was quickly approaching its end. Bradamante was to find Renaud and Roland, though she'd take the time to meet with the man she'd been constantly talking about first. "You should! Take your time and we'll all meet up at the new house!" he said to the fleeing lass.

Astolfo and Bradamante were gone, and Anais wouldn't be staying for very long either. The hooded girl decided to seek one called Ivy. It was easily assumable that she'd encounter some of the others along the way, as Anais herself claimed. "Good luck! I'll see you on 98!" said Charlemagne. With that, the apparent emperor candidate was on his way to find a certain archbishop. . .

While three other journeys were taking place, Astolfo teleported directly to the 90th floor. He knew where one particular woman could normally be found. He made a beeline for the torture chamber she seemed so very fond of, finding the blue-haired woman facing away from the entrance, boasting a great deal of confidence as she sat on the back of a bound, gagged, shirtless male. In the midst of her goading, Astolfo's deviousness reared its head in a catlike grin and a crouching sneak toward her location. 'Wahahaha!' he laughed in his own mind. Such a plump bottom this woman had. It was so very... pinchable, Astolfo thought. Naturally, his greeting was to be reaching out and taking a small chunk of her backside between his thumb and forefinger, with even a little twist added for general purposes.

[Apollymi]

"You'd finally be living up to your full potential!" these were the parting words of Bradamante. She'd take his accusatory finger as a point of pride. But by her own understanding he was definitely the best suited to lead them all to a new life, even if he didn't feel that way about himself. Moving on, Anais gave a gentle wave as she headed for the lower 60s to the archives.

Moving on, there was the matter of the young woman sitting on top of a man's back, choking him with a chain and speaking in strange metaphors and then rather suddenly she found her bottom being accosted. That is to say, it was assaulted by a twisting pinch which brought something of a girlish squeal from this obviously powerful woman. She squirmed atop the man as that sound left her mouth. "Eeep! What the hel-?!" she started to question only to turn slightly and find Astolfo behind her. She'd reach for him with the hand holding the chain, causing her chair to wiggle only to immediately stop. At the same time she tried to grab at Astolfo pulling him into the crook of her arm and right into the side of her bosom so she could accost the top of his head with her knuckles while expertly not spilling her drink. "-lo Astolfo. I didn't know you were back, but why are you always so bad at greetings?!" she asked while she rubbed her knuckles against his scalp with a medium amount of pressure. Not enough to make him hurt, just enough to make him uncomfortable. Just the same, she was rather happy, one of the livelier members of their party had returned. Just a few cells down, a man was being crucified, and blood was dripping from his impaled hand straight into a glass. The silver haired young woman was busy torturously bleeding this guy ounce by ounce. He was almost dead, and definitely a criminal, his blood was such hearty tasting thing, only... the taste of it was being drowned out... something rather sweet was hitting her palate and she had to get some of that. "You're hardly a meal compared to whatever that is... offer your prayers, it seems your death will be swifter than I intended," she claimed only to click her fingers together. When she did, all the blood left in this man's body poured from his wounds. Most of it, pouring down a drain. She didn't even want it anymore. She wanted something better!

[Bloodedge]

Few things could be considered more satisfying than making the Grand Inquisitor of Aincrad produce sounds so very girly. The moment he heard it, Astolfo developed a wide grin. Ah, how he missed this sort of greeting! One might have also said Astolfo missed the sort of reactions this woman had to such things. By the time he had a decent grasp of that fleshy posterior, Astolfo felt her arm wrap around his neck. He was swiftly pulled in, yet he didn't resist one bit... even as knuckles were ground into his scalp.

Why did the pink-haired male make no moves against this? Simply put, there was no point in doing so. In being clutched the way he was, Astolfo was basically face-first in the side of a soft and sizeable breast. Regardless of what he was going through at the time, it was a pleasant turn of events. "Heh heh!" he giggled. It didn't seem he was very uncomfortable at all. Once upon a time, maybe the lad would have been... but he'd gone through quite a bit since the old days. "Boiiing!" was the first thing he said, as if to allude to something very specific occurring at the time. "You don't really think it's a bad greeting, right? Isn't it cute and irresistible? I might become sad if the beautiful Olivier says she's put off by my antics. Is that what you want?! Sad Astolfo!"

[Apollymi]

Astolfo was pulled into a headlock, his head being rubbed a bit aggressively, but still he didn't seem to mind. Actually, she was also still sitting on a man and yanking at the chain around his neck while rubbing this other lad's head and it didn't seem to be bothered very much either aside from a couple of strange choking noises when she pulled a bit too tightly. "Boing?! Oh you wanted to be here, huh?" she questioned turning herself to smother the lad more directly into her bosom, but that maneuver would be long enough to allow him the honor of finishing his sentence. She didn't dislike his entrance and she wouldn't want him to be sad. "You know what? It isn't a bad greeting, not for me anyway... and you have yet to put me off~" she said while snuggling his head more directly between her bosom. This was likely considered some kind of treat. She didn't usually give men this sort of access to her body, but Astolfo had always been a bit of a special case. "No, I don't want a sad Astolfo," she added at the end seeming to find it funny.

A few seconds later while Astolfo was presumably buried face first in her chest, a silver haired woman walked through the door. Her skirt was short, over her chest a large cross facing the right way, her nose in the air and her eyes closed as she'd followed her nose here. "Oi oi, Livie, do you have some sort of snack in here? You mind sharing since you just...." a pause happened as her eyes opened and she saw it. Pink hair, braid, short skirt. A squeal ensued. "Squee~ Ally!~ When did you get back!" There was extreme excitement as she pounced. Leaving her in close proximity to Olivier as well. Her face was soon buried in Astolfo's neck as she rather gently found herself gazing skin with little fanged teeth. "Oops, I got ahead of myself, but you smell positively delicious after being away so long!~" she mused. "Oh? And what am I, chopped liver?" asked Olivier seeming to be playfully terse as she technically released Astolfo from squeezing him between her bosom.

[Bloodedge]

What a silly question. Did Astolfo want to be pressed against Olivier's bosom? Well if he didn't want that, he wouldn't have bothered with anything but a verbal greeting. The fate of Olivier's living chair aside, he fully intended to be dragged into something by the woman. Luckily for him, his antics led to something even better! Astolfo couldn't speak another word before he was pulled between Olivier's breasts where his face gloriously squished directly into exposed cleavage. Ah, this was the life! There would be no sad Astolfo today! "Mrmph mrr mrr~♥" he mumbled in the most satisfied manner, fidgeting, or even... swooning?

That poor, poor human chair. Given the position of this trio, Astolfo being pulled closer to Olivier, and Astolfo's current movements, he'd be the first to directly learn why the pink-haired male said 'boing' initially. He'd learn... probably with his face as that skirt barely did its normal job of concealing something likely inhuman. Ah, and speaking of inhuman, a familiar voice joined the fray. Janessa de Boudoir, Astolfo knew well. If he didn't manage to barely make out her voice past the flesh bags clogging his ears, he definitely knew who it was by the time she was nestled into his neck with a protruding fang brushing against skin. "mMm phrm mph!" he murmured. Finally released at least somewhat from Olivier's grasp, though he didn't move away very much at all, Astolfo regained his ability to speak properly. First though, his laughter spread throughout the torture chamber. "Ahahaha! Hiya Ness!♥ I got back uh... I dunno. A few days ago? Weeks? No idea! I went right back out on a mission, and I don't remember how long that was either!"

[Apollymi]

While Astolfo was having his head crammed between the large breasts of Olivier, the man she was currently using as a chair was given a fate beyond what was supposed to be the level of his punishment if only by happenstance. He would soon know the truth of the rather effeminate man who was obviously very close to the woman who he would accept as his mistress and dominator. Perhaps she had a fondness for men who were more like girls, but if that was the case, why was this man's erection now rubbing against his face. Sure the boy was small, but wasn't his head still a bit too far down for this to be taking place? A simple gaze upwards caused a gasp, a yelp and tears to stream down that mans face as he tried, even to the point of choking himself to hang his head in shame. In a moment like this and once she let go of Astolfo, Olivier took notice and sighed. "Woopsie, forgot he was down there... probably just ruined his whole life, that wasn't really my intention though..." she mused as she released the man's chain so he could hang his head more easily. Poor man, finding out something as cute as Astolfo was packing some gargantuan meat between his legs was probably more demoralizing than anything else Olivier would have done to him today.

Still the sound of happy laughter from Astolfo warmed the hearts of his female companions, while only further demoralizing the man on the ground. Not only did he get to experience the happiness of being squeezed between Olivier's bosom, now the fanged Executioner was paying him attention too?! What kind of being was the man called Astolfo? And what did he have to do to find himself in these women's good graces? Too bad for this man on the ground, he'd never truly learn the truth. Astolfo was a bit of an enigma. The sort who could bond easily with all sorts of people not just women... it just so happened that only women were present in the current moments. "That's ages! You were gone so long and immediately went back out on another mission, you didn't even stop by to visit!" was the pouty words of Janessa. But to Olivier she had something different so say. "And no Livie, you aren't chopped liver, more like a nice cold mixed drink~" she said with chipper happiness. Ah, but that wasn't really the case, there were a lot of things to potentially discuss. "So, you finally stopped by for a visit then?" she asked seeming to want to know how long she could expect to keep Astolfo occupied on their floor.

[Bloodedge]

Astolfo could feel himself rubbing against that man's face. Of course, he had already disregarded the other male's existence as nothing more than a walking corpse. If Olivier had her hands on him now, he was most likely a few confessions away from Janessa's clutches. Luckily for the breathing corpse, he was allowed some reprieve by the inquisitor. Sadly for Astolfo, he had also been given a bit of leeway... though he would be making his way back eventually. "You sure? Or are you just not admitting that you're willing to use poor, innocent Astolfo as a torture tool? I thought I'd get the torture at this point. Actually, that wouldn't be so bad anymore─" he mused almost mindlessly.

Apparently, the questionable amount of time he'd been gone was enough to be considered 'ages' regardless. To Astolfo, the passage of time was of little consequence. He'd seen some things, he'd done some stuff... he'd been flogged, drawn, molested and so-on. Basically, he'd just lived the longest Tuesday of his life! There was no visiting upon his initial return, however, and that was probably his fault. "Ah! Right... Well, I forgot to check in with everyone! It's hard keeping track of things, and I was excited to be moving around again! So, I followed my king right out the front door, wahaha!" Ever so casually did Astolfo admit to his own negligence. He laughed as if it were a matter of triumph, and maybe it was such a thing in his head somewhere. Janessa went on to ask if he was here to visit. Was he? "Of course I'm here to visit! Wait... no. That's not why I'm here. Oh! I came to tell both of you to pack your stuff and get off this floor!" he mentioned finally. Perhaps there was a better way to put that, but one shouldn't have left such things to Astolfo if they wanted them done properly.

[Apollymi]

There were some strange things afoot in this particular torture chamber. Any random passerby might not actually think any real torture was taking place, that being said the poor chair that Olivier found herself sitting upon would beg to differ. Between finding out that the most feminine looking man he'd ever seen had more meat than him, he was also being forced to listen to a happy reunion between friends. He didn't have that any more. Yes, he'd betrayed his comrades, and sold them off to the enemy. So it was technically his own fault he had no friends to come home and chat with. But he'd thought that given her torture just maybe the Grand Inquisitor had taken a liking to him. But of course she never would. There was no point in struggling further. The Executioner really was all he could expect and even she, didn't really seem to care about what was going on with him either. She really was a kind of small lass though... huh. His head freed, hung in shame and he wept his tears falling to the floor. He needed to confess, he wanted to confess.

Whatever the case, Olivier found herself rebuking Astolfo's assumption and the rather careless way he mentioned not caring too much about being torture. "Hey, I'd never use a friend as a tool just to frighten someone. Have a little more faith in me than that!" she said with a scoff. "And you are way too calm about potentially having been tortured. You're probably one of the people least deserving of what it really is..." she said seeming to show a bit of concern if only for a moment or two. Whatever the case, she'd pulled him back into a hug, of a more normal nature, placing a comforting and empty hand on the back of his head. "We can plot your revenge if you like. Anyone who would torture you deserves the absolute worse treatment," she said this with a certain amount of assurance. Janessa seemed to be nodding along as well. Astolfo was a good individual and she knew this to be fact having partaken of his blood on more than a few occasions. Still after moving on to explain his absence he seemed to be a pretty good humor, only to reveal some strange things. They were to be packing up and moving? Janessa's brow rose, and Olivier found herself staring blankly for a second. "Like are we leaving Aincrad or just moving to a different floor?" asked Janessa, knowing there were only a few reasons for movement within the fortress.

[Bloodedge]

Olivier insisted that she wouldn't use a friend as a torture device. That may have been reassuring to most, but Astolfo almost seemed disappointed. Somewhere in that irrational little head of his, the idea of being used as a tool by his comrade was simply being relied upon for support. Alas, he wouldn't say a thing about that. "Hmm," was all he murmured. Soon after, the pink-haired male was being pulled toward Olivier once more. This time was no aggressive approach like the previous one, but instead a more normal embrace one would expect of companions. Of course, the result was still Astolfo burying himself in the woman's bosom─ he did truly plan to return there earlier.

Revenge. Astolfo had no need of such things. As easily as he escaped torture, he left it in the past where it belonged. "Meh. It's not that big a deal. Besides, Roland probably had the worst of it," he declared. As always, he was very quick to move from one matter to another. After squeezing his way into Olivier's chest one, two, even three times, he gave consideration to Janessa's question. Oh... right. He hadn't been very specific when telling them to pack up, had he? "We're going to Floor 98. Our king is going to be a real king... or... emperor. Yeah, that's it! Emperor of the Holy Empire! So we all get better living conditions!"

[Apollymi]

The lack of logic in Astolfo's brain wasn't something truly understood by anyone. Even so, they accepted the lad as he was. Truly Olivier wasn't pleased by the idea of using friends in a negative way. Though she understood the desire to be relied upon, which is why she offered to help the lad attain revenge. Of course, he would turn down such a thing, and make it seem like he truly didn't care. She noted his burying of his face in her bosom and she didn't seem to care about it at all. If it was possible that seat she had supporting her, sank a little bit, not physically, but emotionally. Whatever, she was content to hear he was mostly fine and he claimed that Roland had it worse. "Ah, well... Roland is always a bit complicated. As one of a handful of women who can talk to him without potentially stirring him to madness, maybe I'll give him headpats later," she said of her good friend.

Beyond this there was the matter of them actually moving and it seemed they were going to floor 98. That was a strange place, but it was empty. "Whoa, whoa, whoa... he's doing what? With who? Don't you think this requires more explanation?" exclaimed Janessa. Who seemed to have become worked up over the potential move and upward social mobility. "One has to wonder why he sent you... knowing you never give enough information for anything to make sense," she asked chuckling the entire time. Doing this sort of thing, made Janessa whine just a little. "We are missing so many details, I don't like change!" Janessa claimed. Of course, she couldn't know one particular truth, which was a certain individual she was always interested in would soon be sharing quarters with the rest of them. How interesting her personal life was becoming. Strangely, Astolfo also seemed pretty relaxed about things, perhaps he'd taken the news of the clearing out of floor 98 a bit better than anyone could have expected.

[Bloodedge]

"Headpats for Roland? Sounds like a surefire way to become just like all the others. Or, maybe not. I dunno how that thing of his works; I just know how to deal with it!" Astolfo rambled. He wasn't sure what the specifics were on his cousin's curse, but it didn't matter to him so long as it could be overcome when necessary. Naturally, Astolfo would always make an effort to bring the maddened Roland back to his senses... whenever he finished laughing at the other male.

His mention of their ascent to the 98th floor was met with questions. Mostly, Janessa thought more of an explanation was necessary. Why? Astolfo didn't think they needed to know anything more than that. Charlemagne was going to be an emperor, and the whole of his Party was to live on the 98th floor as a result. Details weren't that important, right? Astolfo seemed beyond confused at the idea of mentioning more─ especially since he could hardly remember what he told them in the first place. "What? Why? We're getting an upgrade! We're in the first Holy Emperor's Party! Go, go! Get all your stuff and go upstairs, it's going to be great!" he insisted. As for why he was so insistent upon the greatness of this situation, well... upgrades were always nice, right? "Don't make me use Astolfo Hypnotism to make you get a move on!"

[Apollymi]

According to Astolfo headpats for Roland would land Olivier in the same situation as other women. The thought of that made the blue eyed lass laugh, almost hysterically. "Hahaha~ I doubt it. We grew up together, and I have no problem chaining him up or making him furniture," said Olivier. She was all about keeping everyone under control, her best friend Roland included. She might have found it strange that his supposed curse never had him fawning all over her, but she figured she wasn't really his type, not that he actually appeared to have much of a type to start with...

Astolfo seemed not to understand the reservations in the minds of these two young women. A quick shifting of eyes occurred between the pair of them as they came to a certain conclusion. Strangely, given the situation, neither wanted to be the one to bring up the particulars here and now. "Upgrades are good yes, it just seems a bit out of nowhere, ya' know?" asked Janessa. Even so, she would prepare, because like the others she'd follow Charlemagne wherever he wished to go, apparently it was currently floor 98. Olivier could only laugh at the potential threat of the use of Astolfo hypnotism. "Well that is all fine and dandy but obviously I am still working right now," she said with a gentle gesture towards her sunken chair. She hadn't heard nor assessed his confession yet, so she couldn't up and leave either. Janessa for her part in this seemed to follow along enough to not think about it too much. "The only thing Astolfo Hypnotism will get you is bitten~" she claimed with her nose turned up in the air. She wasn't a blood lust filled vampire or anything. She had decency and restraint, so long as there were no outside influences. Astolfo was definitely an outside influence. "So give us a few minutes to work and then we'll pack up and go up with you, how about it?" asked Olivier who was reaching over to remove the gag from the mouth of her victim. Surely he had something to say by now. "I did it. I sold my party in to slavery while we were out and returned with a made up story. I didn't think anyone would find out... " that confession was rather quick and Olivier looked down at the man who had spilled his guts so easily. Maybe Astolfo could actually be used as part of torture. "Just kill me. I know you don't want me. I know what I did was wrong. I confess to everything!" the man was so exasperated but he was being truthful, this was a matter of certainty for Olivier. "That wasn't so hard now was it?" she asked him as she finally stood up seeming to have given up her chair for a reason. She gave a gentle nod to Janessa. "Hm, with Astolfo here, I am not actually inclined to drink such a downgrade... do you mind if I do it the quick way?" she asked. "Executioner's choice." Ah what a strange scene this was morphing into... All the while that poor man basically flatted himself into the floor. Even the vampire didn't think him worth a drink. Obviously he was scum.

[Bloodedge]

When Olivier spoke of chaining Roland and using him as furniture, Astolfo's head tilted. She so easily admitted to something that would make many grown men run if they knew her capacity... though many more grown men would throw themselves into the opportunity. "Hmm yeah, not helping! He'd love it eventually, even if he isn't throwing himself at you from the start. And why does Astolfo not get chained and objectified?! Hmm?! All I got was a headlock and a noogie! You hate me, don't you?!" The lad seemed outraged─ at least, his tone did. Visually, he hadn't changed a bit. Such was always Astolfo, sauntering about with no concerns and... maybe half a brain on a good day. Today was a good day.

The women's reactions to their apparent relocation were strange. Astolfo couldn't fathom why they weren't both over the moon about the upgrade. Maybe they were both mentally tapped for the day or something. Either way, he was not beyond using whatever 'Astolfo Hypnotism' was to get them moving. Olivier's work didn't have to take very long at all, and Janessa... "And? Isn't that what happens anyway?" the lad questioned.

Lo and behold, the "few minutes" they needed to get ready wasn't even a single minute, at least not of Olivier's torture. Once she removed the gag from her victim, he nearly told his life story. "That didn't even take a few minutes! He just spilled every bean in France; kill him and let's go!" he exclaimed.

[Apollymi]

Astolfo's lack of logic was showing in a moment like this. He claimed that Roland would eventually come to like the kind of treatment that Olivier typically gave criminals and those who misbehaved. And he seemed to be upset that in his own words he wasn't being 'chained' and 'objectified'. A look of surprise crossed the face of the blue eyed woman as she scoffed at his accusation. "Firstly, you don't need discipline nor are you in need of being humbled, so obviously I wouldn't. Such kind behavior from me is a sign that you are good not that I don't like you," she said with her nose turned up in the air. The nerve of him to want the kind of punishment she typically dished out to the masses. He should appreciate that she spoiled him the way she did, perhaps he'd end up punished for being an ingrate? Ah whatever it didn't really matter.

She'd abandoned her chair and it seemed that Janessa was content enough to kill the man quickly. A magical cross appeared before him and planted itself in the ground and he was lifted, via blood magic onto it. Multple small incisions nailed him with blood to the object while little whimpers and screams escaped him and then Janessa's hands began tracing up his ribs. This was not remotely sexual she was counting. "Make your peace," she said in this moment. The man took a deep breath and before he could even speak her narrow little hand slid between his fourth and fifth ribs, the six inches of her palm traveled straight to his heart and shredded it. His death was mostly painless and instanteous which is more than could be said for the victims he sold into slavery. He bleed out into a drain and then just as quickly as everything else had happened the cross disappeared and his body was left arms crossed over his chest on the floor with a sheet being placed over him. "Alright. Alright... All done. Let's pack it up," mentioned Janessa.

Olivier also began walking towards the door. "Alright alright to the 98th floor," she said seeming a bit less enthusiastic than one might be. She was still sharing those casual glances with Janessa, wondering what all Astolfo hadn't been told. If Olivier remembered correctly, she'd last seen him when Jeanne d'Arc went off in search of the missing Albion. That meant that it'd likely been more than a thousand years, he couldn't know of the changes which happened shortly after that. Whatever the case, they'd begin packing but what else was going on with the Peers of Charlemagne?

[Bloodedge]

Astolfo didn't need discipline or humbling. He wasn't a villain, he wasn't a criminal, and he wasn't a sinner. None of that made a single difference. "Blah! Well you're not doing me any favors by leaving me out of the loop! How do you know I don't need to be tortured, huh? I haven't been made to confess for all my wrongdoing!" Astolfo was very insistent upon there being some sort of reason for his punishment. Obviously, it was in Olivier's best interest to acquiesce at some point, for whatever reason she had in the end.

That poor, broken man in the middle of an execution at least knew some pleasantries before his final moments. Maybe that did include having Astolfo's monstrous crotch rubbed against his face to ruin the whole experience, but he was a criminal! Clearly a non-criminal like Astolfo himself was entitled to the same treatment without the random cock to the face... and perhaps without the crucifixion and immediate heart-destruction from Janessa. In seeing that, Astolfo probably should have been concerned... but was he? No. "Yay! He's dead, now let's go already!" the male shouted while skipping his way toward the exit. A great deal of things were ahead of the group. For Astolfo alone, perhaps that list included being Olivier's practice dummy and... Janessa's dinner? Yeah, that sounded about right.

What else was going on with the group of peers? On the 75th floor, aptly named "Collinia", there were at least four members of the Party. One was a tall, red-haired male in ornate armor. He wielded a massive, burning flamberge against a man of more average height. The second male was platinum blonde, fully clad in more normal armor, and wielded a sword that somehow held off the massive blade of his opponent. Meanwhile, one man taller than the others by more than a full head observed their struggle from the edge of a colosseum they all inhabited. The third male was an elf with armor that exposed his shoulders. His hair was sleek, silver with natural purple highlights. "They don't seem to be making much progress at all. How many days have they been at it now?" he asked another comrade. The elf had only recently returned to the colosseum. As long as these two had been fighting, he wasn't going to sit around and watch for eternity.

[Apollymi]

How did Olivier know that someone like Astolfo didn't need to be tortured? Well, the basics of it was that he didn't trigger any of her natural instincts. That was a rather rare quality that many children didn't possess, given this she was sure he didn't require torture. So, what would she do... "Torture is different for everyone, maybe niceness is yours? Or maybe the right tactics don't exist yet~" she mused. Surely so as not to leave a friend out she'd eventually figure out a way to make him feel included without compromising her own ideals. Of course, Janessa had similar problems and a few more. Here and now, it probably would have been more concerning that she killed a man with no remorse and no one in this room with her cared that she had. She used to feel very bad about being the Executioner and now she'd become quite desensitized to it. "Yeah yeah, let's get out of here," said Janessa as she tried not to think too much about the creepy aspects of moving into the 98th Floor.

In the meantime, Bradamante was making her way to floor 75. She wasn't quite to the colosseum yet, but she would be shortly. And while the tall lad stood off to the side, a young blonde woman with her hair up in a ponytail also watching the on going sparring match between Roland and Renaud. The tall young man wondered how many days these two had been at it, and there would only be a small voice to tell him the number. "Four. Give or take. Apparently, the more evenly matched individuals could go for a week or so before a winner would be determined, or so the old tales say," she said. She'd once heard that a war between two kings had taken eight days and nights before a singular victor was determined. But that kind of endurance seemed inhuman at best. Her skepticism said it was more more likely just assigned a number for the sake of asserting virility or some such thing. Whatever the case, Bradamante entered the colosseum to the sound of clashing swords. "Wooah! They look really into it. Oh? And you guys are here too! That saves so much trouble! Hey! Rey, Lando? Take a breather would ya' I have news!" she claimed.

[Bloodedge]

In the colosseum, the tall male heard a few choice words from his female companion. The greatest warriors could allegedly battle for a week when evenly-matched? He heard something of the sort in recent weeks, and he couldn't really call himself surprised after his own final battle before joining this group. "That's not too astounding. My fight with Olivier took a couple of days at least, so I could see the more monstrous warriors fighting for longer. Some people have no sense of stamina limitations," he commented.

In the midst of their observation, another of their comrades arrived. Bradamante, one of the more generally appreciated of the peers, appeared to comment on the ongoing battle. Regrettably, she called out to the combatants who were far too busy being at each other's throats to register her words. Swords clashed, sparks flew, and no amount of acknowledgment came Bradamante's way. Well... some did, but it was from the elf instead. "Give it a rest. They've been at it for days; they won't hear your voice. What's the news?" he wondered while watching tongues of flame dance around the fighters. Perhaps the battle would reach a natural end soon, or perhaps things were just ramping up... again.

[Apollymi]

"That says a lot about both of your strengths," said the blonde knight whose eyes only shifted at the approach of Bradamante. Well, the two men fighting were her brother and cousin, her appearance here wasn't truly strange. Even so, her desire to stop them before they reached their natural lull was a bit strange. It would be the tall man who was first to mention how long the fight had been going on and who tried to quiet the words of the spear wielding blonde lass, but it wouldn't work. This particular woman already knew that. The girl had come with purpose, given that she even bothered trying to get everyone's attention, there would be no peace until she delivered whatever message she'd come here for, "Bradamante, you know they require a more direct approach," she said to the girl.

A scoff escaped the pigtailed lass. "Ugh, I hate getting between them, it always feels like life or death. It's hot and unnecessary," she claimed only to sigh. "But the message is for everyone here and we have to get going so I'd rather not waste unnecessary time on it either," she said seeming to think about it. Only a few seconds later the girl was bouncing on her toes and slapping her facial cheeks as if hyping herself up to do something outlandish. A pair of little angelic wings sprouted from her back and she was concentrating on the battle, looking for the proper opening to interrupt the fight between her older brother and her cousin. "Eh, one of you wanna help out? I'm not in much danger but it'd be in a pain if I caught a hit I didn't see coming," she asked for a favor. Breaking the pair up was imperative.

[Bloodedge]

"If you say so. I think it says just as much about my weakness. By the end of it all, I couldn't bear another few minutes. I have reason to believe Olivier could have continued for a few days longer," he proclaimed. That battle he alluded to had come to an end after a couple of days, but it had done so because he lost. That loss had resulted in his joining of the Templar Order in a roundabout way, but it remained a symbol of the difference between himself and that sadistic woman. "Being useful requires being powerful. I still have a lot of work to do. Maybe I'll take next," he said about the ongoing battle.

Moving on, Bradamante had news that she apparently wouldn't share with less than the full group. To make that desire a reality, she thought to interject in the literally heated battle taking place. The tall male sighed. It would be irresponsible to let her jump in alone, and lo, Bradamante asked if one of the observers wished to help her. "I don't necessarily agree with this, but I'd be lying if I said there were another way. I'll take care of the heat before it becomes too much."

After taking a deep breath, the elf materialized a large lance with a tip that glowed with holy wind. A shroud of mana that was almost tangible stemmed from said lance as he leapt forward, pointing his weapon toward the sky above both fighters. While the red-haired male named Renaud was charging with his massive, flaming blade, a mighty spiral of wind was made overhead to suck in all the flames. By this intervention, the one called Roland was able to more easily parry that giant weapon. It was then that Roland was intending to spin on one foot, using the other to kick out at Renaud's face. If uninterrupted, Renaud would be left with a jaw that... wasn't quite properly aligned anymore. . .

[Apollymi]

This normally quiet woman gave a bit of consideration to his statement. What she knew of Olivier was that her endurance was on par with someone like Renaud. Given that, a couple of days probably wasn't enough to completely wear her down at all. Even so, the fact that he hadn't simply been captured said quite a bit about his strength and character. No matter his reasons, he'd joined this group and he had a decent amount of power to show for his work. Continued effort would only help and never hurt. "If you take next, Renaud is most likely to give you the sort of challenge you received from Olivier," she suggested. That wasn't a thing to be negatively said about Roland, it was simply how she measured the pair of men.

Too bad that eventuality wasn't coming to fruition at this point in time. No. Because Bradamante needed all of their attention for some large scale announcement. It seemed that the newest addition to their group was willing to help out and a gentle nod would escape their silent friend. "I'll leave it to you two," she said. Watching as a very interesting maneuver was performed by the elf. Beyond that... Bradamante shot herself forward during the commotion, taking up her spear against Roland. In doing so a rather abrupt strike was aimed about the center of his chest. If uninterrupted he would find himself likely on his butt without much of an explanation how he got there. "Hello, earth to meatheads. I have news about our leader and we need to get moving. Jeez, do you go deaf when you fight?!" she questioned in a most exasperated way. Of course, she didn't blame them for enjoying their battles, but they could be at least a bit more conscious of their surroundings. What was more, the tall man had indeed kept his word, not even a hair on her head was a little bit burned by the fires coming off her brother's weapon.

[Bloodedge]

Roland had a few expectancies for his ongoing assault. Of the things he thought could happen, suddenly being launched away by something he hadn't previously seen was not among them. Bradamante's lance collided with his torso. Through the air he went, until he was sliding along dirt in a seated position. Roland didn't seem to be very inconvenienced by this, though his face bore an expression of shock as the girl called his, and Renaud's attention. "Woah! Sorry, but you should know there was no room for distractions. I'd have lost my head without paying full attention to the fight," Roland said.

At the same time, Renaud's charge had come to an end shortly after realizing his flames were being absorbed. It was a bit easier for him to find a break in combat and have an open ear for Bradamante. Of course, he was also the most used to her presence. Renaud was not caught unawares by her arrival at all, as a matter of fact. Part of him had been hoping she'd enter the fight fully when pulling that little stunt. "Don't be stupid. You'd have lost your head in a few seconds while paying attention," the red-haired male said with a confident grin on his face. Casually lifting that sword onto his shoulder as if the gargantuan thing weighed nothing, he stepped forward and looked toward Bradamante. "What news about our leader? Is he dead? Dibs on whoever killed him, if so~"

[Apollymi]

Roland the man who was her cousin apologized. He always did, claiming he needed to absolutely concentrate to keep from losing his head. Of course, Renaud also had commentary which claimed that the other man would have lost his head regardless. In a moment like this Bradamante stood with her hands on her hips seemingly annoyed by the entire situation. "Ugh, pay attention to both your surroundings and your opponent, Lando," she said while preparing to give her spiel. Only she heard the rest of what her brother had to say and simply scoffed. "Of course he's not dead. We, that being me, Astolfo, Anais and Charlemagne just got back from our mission," she started explaining leaving out lesser details because she knew how her brother was. "And the Holy Father has taken an interest in him. Apparently, Charlemagne is first in line to be Holy Emperor," she said. "And that little upgrade comes with us, as in all members of his party, moving to Floor 98," she explained.

Of course, there was a lot of superstition around floor 98. Though Bradamante and Roland weren't old enough to have known the Holy Maiden turned heretic. They'd still been around long enough to hear whispers about her now and again. It seemed in bad taste to Bradamante herself to move into that one's old floor but she couldn't deny the goodness of Charlemagne. "So, basically pack up. We're moving!" she said knowing that the group should be gathering to go to their next place. The blonde haired young woman who'd been observing before had moved close enough to hear the announcement and she was a bit stunned. That seemed to be quite an interesting turn of events, but she supposed she had no problem with moving, nor did she find their leader to be unworthy of praise. It was just a bit odd that someone was about to occupy a floor which hadn't seen real occupation in a millennia at best. "Are we sure that place isn't in ruins?" she asked in an off-handed manner.

[Bloodedge]

Obviously, Bradamante hadn't spent a great deal of time fighting her own brother. "Utterly impossible in some cases, I'm afraid," was all Roland said. Naturally, Renaud could only agree. If he was given even an inch of leeway, someone's head or limb would go flying in a heartbeat. Roland's head would have been gone within moments of that kick, even at the sacrifice of Renaud's jaw. Maybe he should have done it anyway; that would have made up for the disappointment he was soon to know.

Bradamante brought information about Charlemagne, yet it didn't involve his death. What a shame. "No new big boss then, huh? Then this wasn't worth interrupting practice," said Renaud. Ah, but there was something interesting to take note of. Charlemagne was receiving some type of acknowledgment from the Holy Father. Such acknowledgment involved the young man's Party being housed on Floor 98. That was just below the Holy Princess' place of residence, as he recalled. Such prestige was sure to bring challengers into their midst. "Sounds fine I guess. There's nothing left down here anyway," the redhead declared. The blonde observer took issue with the potentials of this move, however. One could say the same about the other onlooker, but he had a different reason. "Even if it isn't in ruins, is it even alright for someone to live there? I'm hoping the grounds were consecrated after that heretic was taken out."

[Apollymi]

Bradamante didn't fight her brother a lot, but she knew enough about combat to know that if someone as overwhelming as Renaud was also less upstanding than a knight, then one could easily find themselves at a serious disadvantage. Yes, that was the truth of the matter, life was a complicated thing and she knew that some had to have better instincts than others. "Excuses." Bradamante was quick to snap just a bit.

The whole conversation with Renaud went about the way Bradamante expected. At least she'd gotten the whole of the bit out before anything bad happened. Her brother sh eknew would enjoy the idea of potentially having some new people to face, and beyond that challengers would make their way up. The question of one onlooker concerned the state of the place, the other the potential consecration of the land. Both were interesting points but one of them was a bit insensitive to the situation. "I don't know the state of it, I came straight here after a minor detour. As for the consecration I doubt the Holy Father would allow unconsecrated lands in his space. So, don't mention it," she said. Her words were the truth as she understood it, but that last bit was a warning she wasn't sure any would actually understand. She looked to the tall man and wondered if she should warn him against mention of the heretic unless he truly wanted to have to explain it to someone like Astolfo. If that one didn't know she was sure it was going to go badly, her cousin was many things, but all she ever heard from her extended family was the greatness of the Maid of Orleans and how she looked after a younger Astolfo. "Anyway, we're meeting up there so let's go~" she stated willing to walk off.

At the same time in the Archives, a certain young woman dressed in dark armor sat at a table surrounded by books. She'd been casually reading for ages, with the lass with the Antlers stumbled upon her. She sat across from her at the table. They had a hushed conversation for several moments and then both stood and headed out together. It seemed whatever was said between them, they were both willing to head out to where they were going without any more fuss or wait. Such was the nature of these sorts of people.

[Bloodedge]

Excuses, the young woman said. What a shame. Roland wasn't the sort to make excuses, and he certainly wasn't making one now. Even in practice, he could accidentally find his life in danger against Renaud due to the redhead's barely-hidden bloodlust. "That was no excuse! I'll strip and you'll see how tough it is!" he shouted. Ah, there was an issue Roland suffered. He'd just threatened his own cousin with stripping, which often resulted in him being labeled a pervert. Alas, there was realization. "Wait, why would I strip..." he looped back, shaking his head. With that, he lifted himself from the ground with the help of Renaud's offered hand. Those two were ready to get moving. However...

The elf was not so sure about taking the floor that last belonged to a heretic, mostly because most of their lifetimes didn't even begin until long after that alleged event. He was still relatively new to this religion compared to many of the others. Apparently, he was not to mention the state of Floor 98, as the Holy Father would surely have left it in a blessed state after that age-old debacle. "If you say so. Either way, I suppose I should expect more of Charles. I'll at least go if he's willing to have us all live there," the tall male said. With that, it seemed all three males in the vicinity were ready to depart with some things picked up along the way.

Archbishop Turpin had taken no effort at all to convince. Frankly, he'd been expecting something along these lines, just not so soon. Charlemagne had taken only a few sentences to convince, or even excite him. Turpin then had the joy of moving between one floor and another to locate a few remaining members of their peerage. Meanwhile, Charlemagne himself was rendered without a task and with all the time it would take his comrades to assemble. He didn't want to wait around on the 98th floor for the 1-3 hours he assumed it would take everyone to be found, informed, pack up and all that. That would have been weird. So then, Charlemagne did something he hadn't done in far too long. He visited the 99th floor for the first time in a few decades. He didn't normally go so long without visiting, not by a long shot, but he had a bit of time to stop by now.

[Apollymi]

The words of Roland hit the ears of Bradamante, but before she could even comment on it, he took it back seeming to realize how very outlandish he was in saying such a things. "This is why people think you're a pervert, Lando." she commented. "And if you take off your clothes, I'm going to trip you again." she said. Moving on, the tall man who was a recent convert seemed to not think about it too much and claimed that Charles, as he called him was worth believing in at least. "Exactly, our leader is worth believing in, if nothing else," there was a gentle nod from the blonde woman with the ponytail and then they were going to gather their things and all of that.

In the meantime, on the 99th Floor there was a woman with blonde and blue hair who was once again, sitting on the top floor of one her towers. It'd been a few days, and she'd managed to use her observatory to collect some mana. As such, she was once again trying to hear the voice she felt reaching out to her. It was a lot more complicated than she needed it to be. She could hear it this time, in the back of her mind, almost like a whisper. Or like the feeling that makes the hairs on the back of one's neck stand up. Her eyes were closed and she was trying to open her senses enough to hear it clearly but... It wasn't to be, again. Instead she felt the arrival of a presence she hadn't felt in decades. Her eyes opened immediately and she was both uniquely excited and a tiny bit upset. So then what was she to do? Sit and think, now she was tapping her foot and waiting he was bound to make it to her in a relatively short amount of time.

[Bloodedge]

Upon his arrival to the 99th floor of Aincrad, Charlemagne was... confused. He looked ahead to see what looked nothing like the Sapphire Palace. He thought maybe teleportation had taken him to the wrong floor, but he was standing at the same gate plaza he remembered. There were golden statues and ornamentations to accentuate a quartz castle. Was it really a few decades that he'd been gone? This all looked like a lifetime of work, or even more.

Either way, Charlemagne moved forward and crossed the long bridge. He took a casual stroll that allowed him to really take in how the sunlight bounced off the current castle. This was a massive upgrade to that unsightly blue thing, which itself would have been alright if not for how... very blue and sparkly it was. That thing looked like it was made of actual gemstones. At least the Ruby Palace was a bit dull. Obviously, the Holy Father thought to go a bit overboard with the palace meant for his daughter. Even so, it didn't compare to what Charlemagne saw before him now.

Where was the lady of the floor though? Charlemagne wasn't at all sure where to go in this new building. With that in mind, he stood in front of the main structure for several seconds before slightly cupping a hand at either side of his lips. A deep, deep breath ensued, and then... "ANGIE!"

[Apollymi]

While she initially thought the lad would make it to her in a timely manner. It hadn't truly escaped Luviagelita how long it had been since she had him as a visitor. He might not know where she could be found, but that part would become obvious in a moment. A call of Angie rang out in this place, causing a big grin to spread across the face of the young woman who sat in her throne. Only Charlemagne called her Angie, though the first to call her Angelica was long gone. At least he came to visit, though she didn't blame her other friend for their extended absence either. Ah, but what was she to do? Charlemagne had called for her and now she was snapping her fingers together a large diamond being created within her hands. Why?

Because just like Turpin a few days prior, she'd give the lad a rainbow bridge to climb up her tower and come to her. Of course she would, she still had to give him a piece of her mind after all. "I'm up here, come on up!" she exclaimed as that magical bridge would extend the gap between the two of them, she'd found herself accidently rising from her seat, beginning to pace. How would they greet? Why was she so very excited? Well, if she was being honest, Charlemagne was one of about two people who journeyed to her floor of their own accord just to hang out with her. They were a limited number of people she considered to be her friend.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne called out, and the princess of this particular castle answered with action. Before he heard a single word, there was a path of rainbow-colored solidified mana forming between himself and one of the castle's towers. As it manifested, Charlemagne heard the one he sought. What an interesting little way to do things. Well, if he had a very clear way of reaching the goal, he wasn't going to sit around waiting. She said to come up, so up he went.

The rainbow path was arguably longer than the bridge he'd crossed, but Charlemagne wasn't taking time for sights at this leg of the journey. He took off in full stride to run his way up. Closer and closer he drew to the tower. Unlike Turpin's earlier ascension of this very same path, Charlemagne cleared the trip in a matter of seconds. There he saw the girl called Angelica, near a throne but... pacing? Strange. Whatever reason she had to be moving around that way, it could be addressed after Charlemagne cleared the clutter of his mind gained since reaching this floor. "You redecorated! This place is the best-looking thing in Aincrad; great job!" he said before any manner of proper greeting passed his lips.

[Apollymi]

There was no slow walk upwards. Charlemagne made his way up only in a matter of seconds. Angelica had been about to explode upon sight but he had something that fell from his mouth long before she could have opened her own to deliver the verbal tongue lashing she wished. Her pacing came to a stop and she looked, genuinely surprised and abashed. "Really?! I'm glad you like it... it took a few decades to get everything worked out but...." a pause. Right. She was mad about how long it'd been since he last visited. They were supposed to be going somewhere together before now and he'd disappeared for a really long time.

"But what kind of time do you call this?! I've been waiting 30 YEARS, CHUCK! THIRTY YEARS!!!" she exclaimed. Ah, full circle it came and now her pacing made sense. She'd been waiting to jump down this lad's throat, but had been taken aback by his compliment and was thus disarmed for a few seconds longer than she intended. "You were supposed to take me to floor 70. We were supposed to go to the festival, but you didn't come back!" Yes that was firm. There was the softer unspoken bit. The part where she figured he'd forgotten about her or didn't want to see her or something of the sort. It wasn't like she had many visitors or anything, she couldn't really afford to go around making enemies of her friends.

[Bloodedge]

Angelica's modification to the 99th floor were appreciated by Charlemagne, and she seemed to take that very well. Doing something like this in a few decades was nothing to shake a stick at. She'd done a lot with a little. She deserved a great deal of praise for both effort and results, and it seemed she would take said praise... until she paused. Charlemagne didn't even have the time to inhale and brace himself. He knew an outburst was coming; he tried and failed to mentally prepare for it.

Thirty years. For some humans remaining on this planet, and even for some other species, that was an entire lifetime or more. Angelica had every right to be upset over missing the trip he'd been promising for ages, though the extent of her outburst was a bit much... as usual. "Eheheh. . ." he laughed somewhat nervously. It seemed Charles, the man whose very name evolved to Charlemagne the day he cleared the Labyrinth alone, was even shrinking into himself and taking a tentative step back. What was he to do about this ball of rage standing in front of him? "Well... I didn't forget. I'll still take you to Floor 70! Father has been keeping me on my toes for ages now, so I haven't even had a chance to visit. Why do you think I kept pushing it off before? I didn't have enough free time during my visits then, and I didn't want to show you the floor for just a little while─"

[Apollymi]

That little bit of rage bubbled over immediately. So quickly in fact, even Angelica hadn't really figured out what she was going to say until it fell out of her face. Of course it seemed like a bit much but there were a lot of emotional factors at play. Her reaction couldn't really be helped initially. Ah, but it seemed she'd frightened the lad she'd called 'Chuck' just a bit. He was backing away tentatively, seeming to shrink just a tad as well. Upon hearing what he had to say, she sighed just a bit. At least he hadn't forgotten about her, that was good. And it was just like her father to send promising people out all the time so she couldn't really blame him for being busy. She might have been a bit excessively haughty in the moment. She rubbed her hand over her face and took another calming breath.

"I know, I know... that does sound like something Father would do. And I am glad you were considerate enough to not just want our next excursion to be a rush..." she said calmly. "I might have overreacted a bit there, but the only person from outside I've seen since you were last here was Archbishop Turpin and that was just a few days ago because Father wanted me summoned. No one really comes here to visit anymore," she mentioned sadly. Ah, that was about right. She couldn't freely travel alone between the floors, and thus she was depending on the kindness of others to move about, only no one really came her way very much at all. Her existence had been rather full for a short time and then rather lonely again. She began to look forward to her trips with Charles, and found herself rather disappointed when he didn't show for such a long time. "Anyway, I don't want to be rude or anything like that. Do you want to have tea in the gardens? We can catch up... I'm sure you have a lot of adventures, you've been on, and I want to hear all about them!" she said seeming to recover rather easily.

[Bloodedge]

Moments after her outburst, Angelica was rubbing her face and exhaling. Charlemagne hadn't seen this sort of thing in quite some time. A moment of elation, a moment of fury, and then... calmness? Such was a dynamic seen playing out on that face many times now. "Eheh. There's the forehead vein. Haven't seen that one in a while; hello!" he said as if speaking to the vein itself. Angelica seemed to be reaching a rational state of being. Good. They couldn't well make use of the time they had if she didn't. "I think most people who have the ability to get here are probably a little scared. Don't worry about it too much; I'm here now. I've got more stuff to do soon, but it's not a quest this time."

Tea in a garden was something Charlemagne never heard offered by this woman before. Actually, there wasn't a garden on this floor the last time he'd been here. "You've got a garden too? I didn't see that part," the male said. With tensions mostly gone, he sighed contentedly. A warm smile and a wink crossed the face of Charlemagne in place of that earlier worry, and his right hand extended. "Did you think I'd ever say no? I was thinking of going to the Hill of Memories on Floor 47, but I'm not so sure that place even compares to what you've made out of this floor."

[Apollymi]

A giggle. That is what came from Charles pointing out the vein in her forehead as if it was greeting an old friend. "Yeah, well I am sure it tries not to appear too often," she said about that tension vein that seemed to only appear on her face when she was absolutely infuriated. Of course, having calmed down now, it was more than obvious that she was willing to spend some time with the man who'd conquered the Labyrinth. He even had a bit of insight to share on why her visitors were so few and far between. According to him, people might be a little scared to venture up to her. A scoff escaped her in a moment like this, "I'm not scary. Am I?" she asked. There was always the possibility of people being afraid of her father, but she didn't see herself as particularly unapproachable.

Whatever the case, the invitation to visit her gardens was accepted though Charles admitted he'd have something to do pretty soon, even though it wasn't a quest. "Okay, that's fine... it's just tea. No big deal, and yes, I have gardens now... I started thinking after visiting the others floors, that I might have a better time being stuck here all the time if it was more to my taste. I added in the gardens after seeing some of the stuff on the lower floors," she said, after taking the lad's extended hand. Soon she was leading the lad along a different rainbow type bridge. From this side of the tower, they'd head straight down into an open air garden. In the middle was a large stone fountain with water in it. There was also a stone table with a gazebo and a view of multiple different sorts of flowers and plants. It smelled particularly sweet. The paving stones were the same sort of quartz as her castle and all the colors of the rainbow were present. On top of that stone table, was a tea pot of a sapphire color, much less outrageous than the previous castle and matching china for them to drink out of. The tea itself was rather mild by flavor with a hint of fruitiness. "Welcome to my gardens!~" she chimed seemingly very happy. Much like all of her ilk, she did actually enjoy people seeing and appreciating the things she made.

[Bloodedge]

Was Angelica scary? Most residents of Aincrad would more than likely say she was, whatever each person's reason for doing so happened to be. "Of course you are! Not to me, but there are a lot of reasons people probably have for being afraid of you. If they barely know you, they might be scared off because you can be a little abrasive at times. I don't think a lot of people suffer from that. What most probably get, is the fear of your position. You're the Holy Father's daughter, which most people here view as the light of God and a perfect being! Who'd think they have a right to speak with someone like that?" he mused.

Angelica gave her reason for the gardens while taking his hand. In the next few moments, she was leading the way toward said gardens, following the rainbow bridge all the way to a stone table set in the garden's center. Charlemagne's pace was not as slow as he would have preferred, given Angelica's lead, but he had ample time to appreciate the surroundings nonetheless. There was a certain vibrancy to this place, and the almost heavenly light that graced Floor 99 bathed every bush and flower perfectly. There was even a gleam from that sapphire tea set, which smelled of something sweeter than he was used to. "This is an awesome place! I'm not lying at all when I say I would live in a place like this forever. Actually, I'm already jealous, and I just got moved up to a new house!"

[Apollymi]

According to Charles, Angelica was scary in two possible ways. The first being her rather abrasive attitude, but she was willing to accept that because she wasn't like that all the time. Everyone had bad days and moments, and she was entitled to hers. The secondary reason though was one she'd not considered. She'd given a bit of thought to the idea that Father An was a large existing presence which turned people away from her, but she'd not considered her own station and existence being the reason for such things. "Oh? That's really strange. No one is perfect, and I am scared of anyone who claims to be," she said seeming to give it some true consideration. "Still, it isn't like I can move around on my own, I haven't had time to meet anyone new lately," she said wondering if it would be possible to fix her potential image issue by interacting more. Perhaps she should demand access to other floors from her father as a method of quelling her constant boredom. Though he'd likely want her escorted at all times, that would be a pretty easy way to guarantee Charles or one of his members ended up accompanying her places. It could be an even better adventure if she went to a bunch of different kinds of places.

As she gave that more thought and after speaking her peace about her gardens, they walked around and towards the table. It seemed that Charles was trying to take it all in, but Angelica was sure he'd have plenty of time to see it all eventually. Besides, she wasn't sure if she was going to leave it all the same anyways. She'd let him take the slow path when she was sure it was the sort of perfect she could be proud of. Still, she felt pretty proud in a moment like this regardless, as Charles went on to compliment the place, claiming jealousy even though he'd recently gotten moved up himself. "Really?! I'm glad you like it. It's been one of my smaller pet projects for the last year or so~" she said positively beaming. As for his new accomodations she was already aware. She motioned for them to have a seats on the cushioned stone stools so they could talk and have tea. "I know you and your peers are moving up to the floor beneath me. I'm really excited because more people will be close by. And your group includes girls, I haven't had any girls to talk in ages!~" she squealed seemingly really excited about the prospects of his move.

[Bloodedge]

True enough, no one was perfect. On the other hand, perhaps imperfections were more human features that didn't apply as much to those of divine or holy origin. None should claim perfection, Charlemagne agreed, but what of being deemed perfect by others? "I think a lot of people would hear that sentence, and call you more perfect. I'm curious now though; what do you think your imperfections are?" he wondered earnestly. Charlemagne may have been among those who considered Angelica to be... at least something resembling perfect by normal standards.

Moving on from how Angelica was perceived by the masses of Aincrad, they would soon be seated for tea. Angelica motioned for Charlemagne to sit, but he still had hold of her other hand for a reason. His free hand took on a sweeping motion over one seat, which he intended to guide Angelica down into. He'd seat himself after her, but in the meantime, it became clear that Angelica knew of his upcoming relocation. Charlemagne seemed momentarily surprised, then just slightly disappointed. "Really? Well, there's my big news of the day gone. Bummer. I get thrown into a job I don't want and I'm not even the first to hear about the new house. Who did you hear from? Turpin? If so, he didn't tell me a thing about knowing!"

[Apollymi]

According to Charles, there was some kind of consensus that acknowledging imperfection made people more perfect. She could only agree with that, some very humble people were among the best she'd ever encountered in her life, which was both long and short depending on how one wanted to look at it. Whatever the case, Charles seemed a bit curious about how she viewed her own imperfections. "Well, I am prone to fits of rage and a bit brash. I am known to have rather hard opinions and I am socially inept enough to express them aloud. I don't get out much and I don't have a lot of knowledge about common things... all of which are relative negatives for someone in my position. And I realize them and I only put in a minute effort to fix them," she said naming her own flaws as she saw them. Yes she understood that several of these were connected to her lack of socializing, but she'd also never truly thought to force the issue at all.

Moving on from that, it was apparently most of Charles big news that he was moving up closer to her. He took a sweeping motion over her seat and she went to take it, only to have him seem a bit disappointed. Of course, she would explain why she knew that information but it could come over time. She'd take her seat at his leisure while explaining then go on to pour them both cups of tea. "I heard it from Father. Asking me about it was the reason he had Turpin summon me. And the sent Turpin out before he discussed it with me, so he didn't know until you did," she said in a matter of fact way. "I assume Turpin took the news well, we have a brief conversation before I met with my father and he seemed like he wanted to do a bit more than just mentoring young bishops all the time," she said with a smile. She was happy their group would get to spend more time together. Several members of Charles' Peers were big members within the Templars so they didn't often get to just see each other. It'd be good for their camaraderie. She was also happy to have a trust worthy group in close quarters, so she could potentially have more visitors. If she was in her seat properly she'd pour two cups of tea, passing one and keeping one for herself. On the table was honey, sugar and milk. Most of which was created right on her floor and personally nurtured by her to the effect of being higher quality than most things that could just be found. Even the leaves for the tea were something of her own creation so it likely had a different taste from the common fare.

[Bloodedge]

Without fail, Angelica listed all the faults she thought herself to have. Charlemagne kept an open ear for every word she offered, though listening didn't mean he'd agree. It was surprising that she spoke so accurately... for some flaws, at least. The rest, Charlemagne would shake his head to. "Angry, brash, yes. Those are endearing traits if you ask me, but I can agree that they're kinda flaws. Not getting out much isn't really a flaw, it's... just sort of sad. Not knowing things is a matter of circumstance, right? Sounds like you're not doing much to discourage everyone from saying things. Besides, most of the people who consider you perfect have never even seen your face," he declared. Perfection was a matter of subjectivity, but the masses seemed to agree without much context. Blind faith could be fatal in many cases, but... Charlemagne didn't think they were too wrong for this choice.

Angelica took her seat, and Charlemagne seated himself just after. Once on the opposite end of the table, he received a freshly-poured cup of tea along with an explanation. Turpin truly didn't know about the relocation; it was something Angelica heard from her father. Once more, Charlemagne seemed a bit lost. Why did the Father find it imperative to inform her of that? He especially couldn't fathom why that was his primary purpose in calling upon her. "Huh. That's weird," he said. Of course, Charlemagne had no idea about their technical engagement by Angelica's machinations. Maybe Angelica was told just so she knew there would soon be a Holy Emperor? Yes, that sounded reasonable. "Anyway, Turpin was pretty excited. He's been Archbishop for a while now, and he wants to go out and do stuff more than... almost anyone. If I actually end up getting that Holy Emperor spot, making sure he gets some action might be one of the first things I do," he rambled, taking his cup and adding a few splashes of milk. Just as he finished pouring, Charlemagne came to another realization. There was a bit more news to share... though if Angelica knew about Charlemagne's occupation of the 98th floor, she probably knew that as well. "Let me guess. You already knew about the emperor thing too, didn't you?"

[Apollymi]

Charles apparently agreed with at least some of Angelica's understood character flaws, though even his analysis of that came with the compliment of her behavior being endearing. The others he claimed were sad or matters of circumstance. In moments like this, she knew she'd chosen correctly. If she had to marry someone, marrying Charles was definitely the right choice. She felt comforted by his reassurances and a small smile crossed her lips along with a gentle blush. "You're choosing to see a lot of good in me," she said softly. "A friend once told me, faith without work is dead. That logic makes more sense to me so... I do not understand blind faith in someone like myself who is unproven..." she said making her stance on the whole thing known.

Ah, but now that the tea was being poured, Charles claimed it was weird that her father called her just to tell her about her new neighbors. "It is only weird because he'd only just gotten back. He could have stopped by... he hasn't seen the changes to this place yet. I was furious that he'd been gone for days, only to come back and have me escorted to him. But... I've calmed down since then," she said explaining the interaction with her father in the simplest terms possible. As the conversation progressed, she came to have a fuller understanding of Archbishop Turpin. Apparently, if Charles became the Holy Emperor he planned to make sure his comrade got to experience both aspects of his job. "I am glad. He seemed like he was really motivated and caring. It would be a shame to keep someone like that locked up in a..." she paused. "How did he put it, managerial position all the time," she said chuckling. Turpin had been surprisingly relaxed in her presence. Perhaps the rest of the people Charles knew would be equally as good. As for the information that Charles wanted she gave a wary smile before turning her head. "Well, that was the main thing shared. A Holy Emperor was being chosen and I needed to know about it," she said with a curt nod.

[Bloodedge]

"I didn't choose to do anything," said Charlemagne, who spoke only of what he saw. He wasn't the blind faith type himself. He chose to follow Father An because he'd seen the capabilities of holiness in this world compared to what priests and the like claimed in a reality with no magic to speak of. Divine power was something real, something he saw and something he could utilize. Just the same, divine intervention was something he'd seen in action numerous times since the day he encountered a certain woman over a thousand years ago. As for the others, whatever they believed may have been a bit blind... but what they said aloud wasn't really wrong. "I agree. There's no stopping the people, though. You get treated like a benevolent goddess, I end up being voted into leadership─ arguing with them only seems to make it worse in the end."

Oh? Charlemagne didn't know the Father had been missing for days. It made sense that the man would wish to see his own daughter after returning from any sort of trip, yet the conversation between them was oddly businesslike for a reunion. For a Holy Father, he wasn't sounding very... well, fatherly. Alas, there was every chance he was buried under a pile of his own business. Those things tended to make one forget what was important in life, sadly enough. "I can't blame you for being upset about that. Do you two really talk?" he wondered. As for Turpin's future, Charlemagne would do his best to ensure it was satisfactory. He'd certainly do the same for any of his comrades, should he be capable. "It would be a shame. If I could, I'd even take the job for him."

The smile that came to Angelica's face was strange. It seemed just slightly misplaced in the moment, but Charlemagne said nothing aloud about it. Instead, he took his first sip of tea with milk. What an interesting flavor that was, nothing like any other drink he'd tasted. "That's different. I like it," he commented before addressing her statement. "I guess it's not so weird if he thought you should know that. I'm pretty excited to live on the floor right under you. I wouldn't get too attached, though. I figure common sense should kick in at some point, and someone else will be appointed. No way am I actually going to end up emperor," he said prior to an additional sip of tea.

[Apollymi]

According to Charles he wasn't choosing to do any one thing or another. He would think like that, but it was very much a choice. As far as Angelica considered herself, she was mostly a neutral entity, she didn't do anything bad, but she'd also never done something so good as to gain worship. Still, Charles claimed that they couldn't really control the people, he'd be voted into leadership and she was to play benevolent goddess. "I'd likely accept something like that if I'd actually done anything worthy to be seen as benevolent. At least you are actually a reasonable and tested leader, it isn't really the same," she expressed of herself.

A few moments thereafter, they were still chatting and their talk shifted to Father An. According to Charles, Angelica couldn't be blamed for being upset about her father's antics, and he asked in the moment if they really talked. Angelica sighed. She could count the number of times she'd spoken directly to her father by memory and that seemed to be a bit telling at least based on what she understood of normal human interactions. "Father is a bit old fashioned? Yeah, that is probably the right word. We don't really talk. He sends for me to alert me of things but he doesn't interact with me very often. We don't really have much to talk about," she said knowing that was likely a bit sad. It probably had a lot to do with her underlying anger issues as well, but she figured so long as her anger made it to the person she was upset with, and didn't bubble over too much, she was managing it fine. Whatever the case, it seemed that Charles would even take Turpin's job unto himself to help the man, "I don't think you have to go so far. When I asked him about it, he said he liked advising, just that it wasn't simply all he wished to do. If I am being honest, I respect his earnestness." she said of Turpin.

Moving on, Charles claimed to like the tea, which he took with milk. She smiled at the news seeming to be quite pleased with herself. "I have been growing those leaves for a while now, I am glad you can appreciate them. Actually everything that has been grown here lately was directly overseen by me. I've been wondering if it would improve a bit," she said seeming to take pride in it being something pleasing. Whatever the case with the tea, apparently Charles thought he would get away with someone else being appointed at some point in time. A scoff left the mouth of Angelica in a moment like this. "I'm already attached, I would have thrown an entire fit if father told me he was choosing someone else and trying to marry me to them. It'd be ridiculous!" she claimed. Oops, she'd sort of let it slip about their engagement. Maybe he wouldn't notice just yet. Yeah, she could hope as she sipped her tea and also enjoyed it.

[Bloodedge]

One could say Angelica did nothing to earn the title of benevolent goddess. If one said something along those lines, they'd be right. Angelica, however, was very wrong about a certain thing. She claimed there was a difference between what happened to her, and what happened to him. Nonsense. "It's exactly the same! I lead people about as well as you talk to people. Face it, we're two peas in a pod of ineptitude. Your thing is at least easier to learn," he insisted.

Charlemagne understood the notion of an old-fashion father. Lacking in communication seemed to be a way of being for those types, and relatability with younger individuals was almost impossible as a result. Some things just went hand-in-hand like that, he supposed. "That's sad. Do you hate it?" the male wondered. Charlemagne himself wouldn't have minded being in a situation like that, but he was curious about Angelica's personal experience. She didn't have anywhere else to go, nor other people to interact with on a regular basis. On the positive side though, Father An's inattentiveness made it much easier to sneak the young woman out onto other floors. Ah, but on the negative side of that same coin, he could have made it possible for her to travel of her own accord. Such a conundrum. . .

Ah! That wasn't a bad idea! If Charlemagne was made emperor, he could allow Angelica passage to all floors with an appropriate escort for the journey. Surely the Holy Father could take no issue with his daughter leaving Floor 99 if he was assured nothing would befall her, right? That made sense. He could help Turpin and Angelica, among many others! Of course, that would only happen if he actually became emperor, which he surely wouldn't. Sipping away, Charlemagne was given reason to believe his upcoming status as emperor was more certain than he initially thought. Angelica spoke of being attached, and that she would have reacted negatively to Father An choosing anyone else and marrying her off to them. Well, that was odd. What choice did she have in the matter anyway? "That's kind of a leap, isn't it? What does marriage have to do with anything?" he questioned between sips.

... Wait... what? No. No, surely his most recent thought was an irrational one. Surely Angelica had actually performed some mental gymnastics, and there was no legitimate connection between... the Holy Emperor... and the one regularly called the Holy Princess. Those titles couldn't actually be connected, right? Right?!

[Apollymi]

According to Charles, they were two peas in a pod of ineptitude, but his words didn't hit the ears of Angelica that way. In truth she saw him as trying to confirm to her that she had to be at least decently reasonable at talking to people because he was a tried and tested leader. "Well, from everything I've heard you're great at leading people. Even now you're trying to think of ways to make their lives better. As such I will take it to mean I am not as bad at talking to people as I think I am," she said. Some might find her logic flawed, but the truth of the matter was, she didn't find fault with Charles leadership or skills so she'd take his words as her mind moved them about.

Moving on from that there was the topic of Father An. Did she hate the way their relationship worked... sometimes was the right answer. "I don't think I hate it. I just wish it was a bit different. I think we see the world in very different ways, and as such we likely wouldn't have much if anything to talk about," she explained of her thoughts in general. "Even so, I think it would be less odd if he at least took a little interest in the things that interest me," she said seeming to understand it that way. "I know that probably sounds a bit childish, but I truly don't mind being left to my own devices, but as I don't get a lot of visitors or talk to a lot of people a little care would be appreciated," she finished up. She was mostly an adult. She didn't consider herself someone in need of a great deal of attention, she just wanted a little and some time to be proud of herself which she didn't think was too much to ask for.

Regardless, her little tongue slip seemed to make Charles' mind work a little bit. He claimed she'd been taking a few mental leaps, which implied that he hadn't caught up fully. She didn't know if she could fully salvage his ignorance in a moment like this, but perhaps it'd be worthwhile to see what he actually thought for herself. Her father did say he wouldn't make any announcements until she was sure, so this sort of discussion was probably for the best. "A leap? Only if the marriage of an Emperor to a Princess is something unusual," she said nonchalantly. To be honest, she figured her father was old fashioned enough to just arrange a marriage without asking her about anything. The fact that she'd chosen Charles for herself was something she didn't bother mentioning and likely wouldn't. Her Father hadn't even announced it yet. Even so, the coming reaction of Charles was something she had to know, so what would be said when the realization hit him?

[Bloodedge]

"Everything you've heard!" Charlemagne repeated. He wasn't sure what she heard about him exactly, but it had to be wrong. "You were lied to; simple as that!" he said, ignoring the truth that he was actually thinking of ways to improve others' lives. That didn't matter anyway, right? That was no sign of leadership; it was just a sign of good intentions. "You're not that bad at talking to people though, I promise. The way I see it, you've got about a 70/30 chance of blowing your own first impression, odds in your favor."

Angelica responded to his question in the most fair way he could imagine. Having different perspectives was the bane of bond-forging anywhere, and with even small efforts being foregone, there was no getting over that proverbial hill. Apparently, it wouldn't have been such a negative if Angelica had more people to interact with; that was understandable. Maybe the near future would fix part of her ongoing problem. "I could introduce you to all your new neighbors if you like. I'm sure they'd all be willing to visit. Some more than others, but..." He trailed off there. Among his comrades were the pair of Roland and Renaud, whom he'd seen this woman interact with before. He wasn't sure what Renaud's current perspective was, but maybe Roland would one day recover from that chance meeting. . .

And maybe Charlemagne would eventually recover from the train of thought he was forced to board over afternoon tea. No. No, he wouldn't. Angelica spoke words of confirmation that were perfectly inline with what Charlemagne had been thinking since that question. Marriage between an emperor and a princess was completely normal, even expected. Angelica herself was currently the political power of Aincrad, if one considered it as having some form of government. If there was to be an emperor, that couldn't be the case while supplanting the founder's daughter. In a matter of moments, he was pounding his chest with one fist to force down a gulp of tea during the shock of it all. This was completely unprecedented! "Whoawhoawhoa! That's even worse! I already wouldn't be a good emperor; I definitely can't marry a princess! Hey, now's the perfect time for that father-daughter chat, right? Talk some sense into your dad for me?" he pleaded, assuming this ordeal was entirely the Father's idea.

[Apollymi]

According to Charles, she'd been lied to about his leadership skills. "You're being modest. That is an amiable quality, but that doesn't change the facts of the situation..." she said, having one of those hard opinions of hers rear its head. Charles could claim all he wanted that he was bad at being a leader but the outcomes spoke for themselves. As for her own failure or winning at meeting new people she shrugged. "I suppose those odds aren't too bad. Even so I do try to make reasonable first impressions, while being as honest as I can," she said giving a little bit of a nod. Charles did a good job of comforting the lass with her awkwardness thus making him stand out more in her mind. In all actuality, it was dangerously close to her not actually losing her first friend, not that she could rightly explain that to someone like Charles.

Whatever the case, Charles offered to introduce the lass to her neighbors, about that she could only be excited. Regardless of the issues she maintained with her father, she'd actually very much enjoy meeting with some new people. Archbishop Turpin had given her a bit of information which made her think it might be possible for her to make a few more friends perhaps. "I'd like that... not Roland, but I feel like I could come to terms with everyone else. Especially the girls! I haven't seen another girl in ages! Well a new one, Bradamante stopped by a while ago~" she said her eyes were practically sparkling.

Oh? Charles had a response to the idea of marrying her and claimed that he couldn't marry a princess. He even claimed that she should talk her father out of such an arrangement, that only cemented him into the job more. Technically speaking Angelica didn't know much about the world, but her own understanding said arranged marriages typically weren't a good thing. Her earlier conversations with her only female friend had given her the idea that men who threw themselves at women of high status were out to get something and that letting parents arrange marriages would normally end up with someone like the parent in question ending up someone's partner. "I don't think talking 'sense' into him as you put it is in my best interest. As it stands, if I talked him out of you as a choice, I'd end up with someone I won't like who is more than likely more like him. That isn't exactly to my benefit besides," she said calmly sipping tea. "Have you ever stopped to think that the fact that your motivations aren't political or power driven is the exact reason you are worthy of such positions?" she questioned in a more direct manner. This lad might not understand all the nuances of this decision, but Angelica herself had chosen him and her choice was becoming more solidified by the moment. If he was worried about being a good emperor and worried about marrying then he'd likely put forth his best efforts if he got seated with either. The same was already true of his position as leader of a group. He had nothing to worry about, even if he didn't have the innate use of the confidence of his works to roll with. Actually, he really was reminding her more and more of a certain Saintly existence she'd once chatted with....

[Bloodedge]

He wasn't being modest. It was only the truth that Charlemagne saw no qualities of excellent leadership in himself, regardless of what his own companions had to say. The only thing he managed to lead anyone into, was turmoil. Surely he'd be assaulted by an angry mob if he were put in charge of an establishment the size of Aincrad. Even with that being the case, the young man would put his best foot forward. If this whole emperor thing came to pass, he'd be sure Angelica had a way out of Floor 99 and kept in contact with any friends she made, he'd make sure Turpin had access to the type of work he wanted, and he'd even see to it that Bradamante and Ruggiero could spend more time in each other's company. He could at least see to all of that and a few more things before he was thrown out.

Sadly, it didn't seem like he would be lucky enough to never get the position at all. Angelica claimed it was not in her best interest to talk her father out of this choice. Well, Charlemagne was here to tell her why she was wrong! "But but but!" he started. She said talking Father An out of the decision would result in him choosing someone more like himself. Ah, that was something he could work with! "That! Who's to say he didn't pick me because he knows I'll become like that one day! Thirty years?! That's not a good start for married couples!" Ah, genius! If arguing his lack of leadership wasn't working, he'd rely on the notion that he'd make a terrible king to Angelica's queen. "Just think about that. You don't like how little your dad pays attention to you, but I'm not really much better. I just happen to be the only one visiting very much. A husband, your king, should be someone who can see you every day! You shouldn't have to sit around wondering when he'll be back or when he'll stop by, because you should be right beside each other all the time!"

[Apollymi]

Charles needed a few more ounces of confidence in his own work. But much like he found Angelica's brashness and anger endearing, she found his modesty to be a rather affable quality. Sure he wasn't bragging about his exploits nor believing in his own goodness, but that still didn't stop him from trying, and the trying was the most important part.

Something he was trying though, was to talk Angelica into talking to Father An. He didn't seem to know that Angelica had made this choice herself, but she also wasn't about to tell him immediately. There were several reasons for this, but the first one in her mind was that Father An would likely play this whole thing off as an arragement of his choice to solidify the minds of the people. It would be negative to interrupt that, besides, Charlemagne could spend all the time he wanted making claims one way or another, not realizing he was simply digging himself in deeper by the moment. Every bit of naysaying he managed only seemed to encourage Angelica. The first point on his list was separation and that one was rather easily handled. "Well, Bradamante and Ruggiero were separated for a long time by circumstances and they don't seem to like each other any less," she said with a knowing smile. Counter point one taken care of. So what was his second, that he could be viewed much like Father An himself, not at all... "So you're saying you don't plan to leave me alone on a singular floor with nothing to do, even when you can't be beside me... but would also take me on adventures and the like? It seems like you're doing a very bad job of pulling me over to your side on this, Charlie~" she teased just a little, still sipping tea somewhat triumphantly now.

[Bloodedge]

Failure was nothing new to the one known as Charlemagne. Even so, this was looking like a crushing defeat in the making. Every time he said something to discredit himself, it only served the opposite purpose. That wouldn't stop him from trying. Bradamante and Ruggiero were obviously a special case, so his first point stood. "Those two don't count! They were into each other way before they got separated, so they had enough of a bond to stick through the absence! You were ready to take my head off after I'd been busy for thirty years!" he countered. Obviously that was reason enough for her to be skeptical of an engagement to him... right?

Wrong. That clearly wouldn't work, just as the matter of his absence wasn't working. Angelica took his words as reason to believe he'd leave her with comrades, and that he'd take her on adventures, etcetera. "What? Of course I would!" he exclaimed just before realizing what he'd admitted to. "Wait... I mean... no? That's not the point!" he looped back. Charlemagne decided to take a break, sip a bit more tea and collect his thoughts. This wasn't working out in his favor. Well, it was... but it wasn't. "Listen, you don't have to look at all the things you might believe are positive here. The bottom line is, marriage is a big deal, and you should give a lot of consideration to it. What about dating and stuff? You shouldn't marry someone for political reasons. Spouses are supposed to love each other, not be someone else's decision based on status!"

[Apollymi]

A comeback from Charles was in the making. How interesting. He claimed that the bond between Ruggiero and Bradamante was established a long time before their separation and also mentioned that she'd been about to bite his head off after he was gone for thirty years. Both of these things were true but it wasn't as if their friendship was anywhere near a short lived one. "We've been friends for ages, Charlie. And I already said I overreacted a bit. You said such qualities were endearing, you didn't change your mind about that did you?" she asked genuinely. They could talk in these circles all day, but the more Charlemagne tried to make himself out to be the bad candidate the more sure Angelica was that he was exactly the sort of man she'd like to be married to.

He even went on to confirm that he wouldn't have actually left Angelica out of any of his plans and would have made sure that she had companions. Of course, he immediately followed this up words of his own discouragement. He really didn't think he was good for this particular undertaking but Angelica found herself disagreeing more and more with each passing moment. Ah, he even went on to express that marriage should be important, not for political reasons but for spouses to love each other as well. "I do understand that people shouldn't just get married for political reasons. I am not completely obtuse," she said, finishing off her tea and sitting with her hands clasped in her lap. "As for dating that is sort of a new concept, I'd never even heard of it until Jeanne mentioned it to me ages ago, but by the logic she gave me, couldn't a lot of our outings up to this point be considered dates?" she asked. "I mean an arranged marriage isn't an ideal situation, but I like you... so I see no reason this couldn't grow into something. Unless you don't like me ..." she mused gently. She'd only help him get out of this particular situation if he truly didn't like her, his own ideas or if he had someone else he'd rather marry. That would sting a bit but she couldn't really hate him for that sort of thing.

[Bloodedge]

True, the pair of them had been friends for ages─ several hundred years by now. He frankly considered Angelica to be no less of a friend or comrade than any of his Party, but that didn't mean he thought himself suited to marrying her or anything. Naturally, he hadn't changed his mind about the woman's endearing qualities. An adventurer marrying a princess and becoming an emperor was outlandish enough, but she was a holy symbol and he would become one too? That was ridiculous! "No I didn't change my mind! Why do you think this is normal?" he inquired.

It seemed he'd fight to the bitter end, if only to find some modicum of reason. Angelica, on the other hand, believed their previous outings over the years could be viewed as dates. Charlemagne was dumbfounded. Well... she wasn't wrong, but wasn't there something to making it official beforehand? "Well I mean... they could be called dates depending on how you want to look at them. We're not dating though; I'm not your boyfriend or anything! That was just friends hanging out, not like... kissing and stuff," he said almost sheepishly. Everything going on here was ridiculous. Charlemagne hadn't even gotten over the emperor thing, and now he was expected to be onboard with being wed to the Holy Princess?! "No, it's not that I don't like you or anything! Do you really believe it's so weird that I think this is a lot? Because this is way more than I can handle!"

[Apollymi]

There was an interesting question on the table for Angelica to consider. Why did she think it was normal? "I have no reason to assume it isn't normal. And if you didn't change your mind about my qualities then it isn't much of a problem~" she mused once more. This lad was jumping through several hoops to try and talk himself out of this situation, but Angelica hadn't quite put her finger on what about the situation made him so uncomfortable.

Perhaps it was something in the human condition which made this something which needed to be stated before hand. She did remember having a conversation with Jeanne in which the young woman had expressed some nervousness about introducing her significant other to her elder sister. Something about making sure they got along being important. The words of Charlemagne implied that he was upset by the idea that their relationship hadn't been clarified as such before this point. He even went all sheepish when talking about kissing? The mana transfer of the mouth, was this something to be embarrassed about? "Well, we've never kissed before but would you like to?" she asked seeming to find that to be a relatively easy thing to grant the lad. Ah but there was more, "I think you should take a deep breath," she said. "If I am being honest, I don't really understand what counts as a lot. Father said I'd been unmarried too long and told me to choose someone to be my suitor with the idea that this person would be Holy Emperor," she explained the fullness of the situation. "He told me to be certain and after this conversation I am more certain than I was before..." she said thoughtfully. "Also I would count those other incidents as dates, lives are a bit long to get hung up on the semantics of language."

[Bloodedge]

"Well it's definitely not normal. People don't just jump into marriage like that! I mean... they do, when it's arranged. And this is arranged. But it's still not normal!" he insisted. Charlemagne didn't have much to go by, but he had to make every attempt he could. Maybe eventually, something would work. Maybe eventually, Angelica would realize this wasn't something she wanted, and she'd talk her father out of this nonsense.

Maybe... Charlemagne hadn't realized the most important fact about this situation. He would soon discover a truth that had been concealed since their discussion began. First though, he'd come to realize how available Angelica was willing to make herself, at least as he saw things. Would he like to kiss her? "Yes. I mean... wait, wait wait, what?!" Baffled was the young man at how quickly things evolved in this conversation. He couldn't take a deep breath; he couldn't even focus properly with all the hullabaloo. Ah, and things would be elevating even more. Angelica explained the whole of the situation, admitting that she'd been told to choose a husband that would then become the Holy Emperor. So... he'd been chosen as the number one candidate for emperor because he'd been chosen as Angelica's husband, not the other way around. Moreover, he'd been chosen as a suitor by the woman herself. She was certain when naming him, and even more certain after all of Charlemagne's naysaying. He couldn't win. Immediately, Charlemagne deflated over a now-empty teacup, his arguments all for naught. "What," he said. There was no upward inflection. It wasn't a question for Angelica, but a verbalization of his confusion. "Well that's just not fair. How can you even be certain? You don't know enough people yet; at least go out and meet some better candidates before you do something dumb like that."

[Apollymi]

According to Charles, all aspects of what was happening here were abnormal. She could take note of that for the future but it wasn't like that would change the conversation that was already happening. Whatever the case, he wouldn't succeed in shaking her faith in him. That being said he was saying some very contradictory things given the amount of naysaying he was delivering.

Whatever the case, when she offered him this kissing activity he claimed was a normal part of dating, he seemed agreeable and then confused. Angelica began to wonder if she as truly the abnormal one in this situation or not. "I asked if you wanted to kiss me and you said yes. I suppose that makes me feel a bit better, it'd be awkward if you weren't interested," she said seeming to understand the basics bit by bit as they conversed. Still, there were likely some complications, her father had explained Mana Transfer in its simplest terms, but given how skittish Charles was about even kissing she was beginning to wonder if there was a lot more to it than she had been told. Delving into that was going to be the use of the female friends, yes... girls a bit more worldly than herself could likely explain the nuances in a way a father wouldn't explain them to his daughter. Yes, that made sense.

Ah but now she watched him as he deflated over his teacup which was now empty. He claimed some level of unfairness and wondered how she was even sure. He went on to claim she should meet some better candidates before choosing him. "I don't know what about this isn't fair, but I know why I am certain," she said closing her eyes for a moment while she began to speak. Her body shifted and she was soon leaning her face into hands which were propped up on the table by her elbows. "You care, and not specifically about the church or the Templars but about the people and worry about the well-beings of others, including myself. You are interested in me, but not throwing yourself at me, which is a bonus, in my admittedly limited experience. You don't really want the job or title associated with this particular arrangement, so if you agreed to it, it'd be an earnest and honest endeavor. Besides all that, you just want to help people, and I think that is way more important for someone who is in charge of others than most other qualities. Because of that you won't simply throw your life away just because you're told to, which is also good for everyone including myself," she explained. As for the meeting of others she shrugged. "If you think it is a good idea for me to meet other people, I would agree to it. But anyone I spoke to, who had any idea what getting next could grant them would be untrustworthy... I told you before I am wary of people who think they are perfect," she said seeming to be firm her stance. Regardless, she'd do her best to comfort the lad across from her. "Don't look so sad, Charlie... it's not the sort of thing that will happen immediately. You've got plenty of time to let the idea grow on you. We can go on more official dates if you like and you can explain to me the significance of this 'boyfriend' title."

[Bloodedge]

He may have slipped up and admitted that he would kiss the lass, but that was neither here nor there. It wasn't that he had no interest, though he hadn't considered the pair of them being an item in... ever. That matter was simple, though. She was the Holy Princess, he was an adventurer with a few lucky achievements under his belt. The whole 'princess and the pauper' thing didn't really work, right? Or... maybe it did. He had been randomly transported to a magical world as his own character from a video game, after all. He'd have entertained the idea of being some story protagonist if not for the others he'd met here from his original world.

Wait... that all meant Angelica was interested in him, didn't it?!

Whatever the case, she started listing the reasons he was her chosen candidate. All the things Angelica said were true, whether Charlemagne wanted to admit it or not. Her list was long and thought-out. He couldn't really argue any of her points anymore, at least not while everything from her mouth was spoken so genuinely. "I uh..." What could he even say? He still thought she should put more thought into this decision and be absolutely certain, but she insisted that there was nothing to immediately happen anyway. Charlemagne supposed he applied a bit more urgency than necessary in his own mind. Just as there was time for Angelica and Father An to choose someone else, there was time for him to mull over the chance he'd become emperor... and apparently Angelica's husband, anyway. "Right. It's not like there's going to be a wedding tomorrow or anything. I'm getting caught up in my own head. So... dates. Wait, does this count as a date too?! I'm still in armor!"

[Apollymi]

Strangely, after she started speaking to Charles' positive qualities she heard no more arguments from him. It was likely difficult to deny the things she said, and with that information she was rather pleased. It seemed her extra comfort helped out quite a bit as well, as Charles seemed to relax quite a bit thereafter. There was no real rush, she didn't even know when her father would be calling her back to confirm her choice. He didn't think in normal human terms so such a thing could potentially take place years from now and it wouldn't be anything but a blink to him. She seemed rather pleased about this until Charles questioned if this particular meeting was a date and then complained about his armor?

"I assume this should be considered a date. Maybe even our first date since the declared intentions seem to have some great significance," she said only to ask a secondary question. "But I don't really understand, does the armor matter in this case?" she asked. To her, Charles looked as he always did, he kept three armored pieces on his person, both legs and one arm. She wondered if that was for fashion or not, but figured it was simply the way he wished to look.

[Bloodedge]

According to Angelica, this could be counted as their first date by virtue of intentions being made clear. That couldn't really stand in his current situation. No way would he be caught dead on a date whilst wearing armor. Angelica wondered if the armor mattered, and Charlemagne seemed shocked by the question. "Does the armor matter? Of course it matters! Look at me!" he exclaimed. In that very moment, Charlemagne leaned back to allow a better view of himself over the table. He even gestured over his own form with both hands, seeming almost disgusted by his current state.

"Do you see this?!" he asked further. The way he organized himself was very much on purpose, but it was not exactly for casual situations, much less something like a date. "This isn't nearly cool enough for a date! Armor's for fighting and adventuring and stuff. Dates are supposed to have like... romance and all that! Dates get clothes, action gets armor!" For once in this interaction, Charlemagne had a very firm belief to offer. If this was to be called a date, something had to change─ mostly him.

[Apollymi]

There was a demonstration coming. According to Charles, there was much wrong with his outfit. He seemed to be a bit outraged and at the same time, Angelica had a look at him and he looked about like he normally did. She found this look basically suited him. "I can see you. You look like you usually do..." she said confirming the look of armor and cape combination.

And then he explained. His look wasn't cool enough for a date. If she remembered, Jeanne said that word mean like impressive. Oh, so if he was on a date, he was trying to impress her with his looks. Clothing as ornamentation made sense, she went out of her way to dress as well as she thought she should. "I don't think it isn't cool. It has a certain asymmetry which is visually appealing," she said as if considering his clothing from a purely visual purpose. "But I think I understand what you mean... so would you like to get more comfortable or get out of your armor? That seems like the best possible progression here." she said. She was beginning to wonder now if she shouldn't be making modifications to her own wardrobe. He hadn't seen everything within it, but maybe she was supposed to be 'cool' as well. It was something to consider at least.

[Bloodedge]

Yes, Charlemagne looked just like he normally did, which was precisely why he was complaining. Anything one could call normal wasn't suited to a date─ especially not one with a princess! He should have been wearing something ridiculous and gaudy, or... something. Sadly, he didn't have a lot of options readily available. By his own memory, Charlemagne only had... a few articles with a very specific purpose, leftover from his previous quest.

What he wore was considered 'cool' by Angelica. He could only agree, thinking so himself when putting that getup together Alas, cool in general was not the same as cool for a date. "That's a different thing altogether. It could be cool, but that doesn't make it 'date cool' if that makes any sense," he declared. Angelica went on to ask if he wanted to 'get more comfortable' or 'get out of his armor' as she put it. Once more, he paused. That was... a very strange way to pose a question after everything they'd been talking about thus far. "Uh... I want to say yes, but I feel like I should ask what you mean specifically─" he said. Angelica claiming it was a matter of progression made things stranger than they had to be. Surely she wasn't jumping to that, right?

[Apollymi]

Charles was full of interesting information about the human condition. He claimed that any outfit that was considered 'cool' under normal circumstances wasn't considered cool for the date. He needed something more impressive apparently, and all Angelica could do was nod her current understanding. "So you think this isn't impressive enough," she said seeming to process that information well.

Ah, but then again there was a lot of interesting things going on here. Charles questioned what she meant by removing his armor and getting more comfortable. This sort of thing only made Angelica wonder if she'd said something humans considered strange. "Did I say something strange? I only meant to ask if you wished to remove your armor or change or whatever people do when they want to be cooler..." she said a gentle blush coming to her face. Apparently navigating human language was much harder than she'd originally been led to believe. She wanted to know what he thought she was asking, but also wasn't sure she was ready to hear it. There was a great amount of complication here that she didn't understand. She also didn't know if she was dressed enough for their current occasion. It seemed odd to let Charles alone be worried about how he was presenting himself, if she was also a part of these dates.

[Bloodedge]

Angelica's grasp on the concept of coolness was close enough to reality. She may not have been fully there, but she had the gist of it. "Yeah, basically. There's a finesse that can't be ignored in this kind of situation," Charlemagne said. As they conversed about things being what one called cool, he relaxed quite a bit more. It was always so easy for him to forget the less imperative things in moments like this─ moments of the two just hanging out and doing things of interest.

Of course, there was also always a strange moment that showed Angelica's lack of human interaction. Here and now, she didn't even know why her previous question was a strange one. She so innocently wondered if he wanted to wear something different, but the way it was presented initially... one didn't assume it really involved a proper outfit change. "You did, but it's not really your fault, obviously. The way you said that was a lot like one of the ways people proposition each other for... that other thing married people do. You know, that thing people are only supposed to do with someone else after they're married, with only the person they marry?" Charlemagne figured she could pick up the hint he was getting at. "But yeah, if it's a date you're talking about, I can't be having armor on. I don't have a change on me though, so... Floor 22? My old house is there, and I haven't been under Floor 50 in way too long!"

[Apollymi]

Charles became much more relaxed as they started to discuss coolness and an apparent amount of finesse that was required in this 'date' scenario. In truth, Angelica didn't truly understand, but if being 'cool' in such situations made him happy, then she'd do her best to appreciate his efforts. She was nodding her head internalizing, and by doing so wondering if her efforts should be raised to match his. It wouldn't be good for them to be unbalanced in how they approached this finesse as he called it.

As they moved on in conversation it seemed that Angelica had said something odd. This wasn't really an abnormal thing to happen while they were talking. He knew that she was brash and she knew that her logic wasn't exactly human enough to have the same kind of thoughts. Even so, she tried to respect the humanity of the world in general and learn how to interact with them in ways which was more acceptable. Ah, but she'd messed it up, apparently the way she'd phrased her previous question could have been taken as a proposition. "Really? I thought those words were pretty clear. I figured asking for a mana transfer would have been much more direct than that," she whispered seemingly confused. Humans were odd creatures, of this she was certain. But whatever the case he was willing to move past this, to their apparent date which he wanted to have in the one extra change of clothes he currently had. "I don't mind an adventure but how should I dress for it?" she wondered knowing that if she needed to choose an outfit it should be done rather quickly, lest she have to do something a bit extreme to make herself something new.

[Bloodedge]

Stranger and stranger still, Angelica proved herself to be. In picking up on his earlier words, she equated the act to a mana transfer. Well, she technically wasn't wrong, but why she addressed it in such a way was a mystery to Charlemagne. "Mana transfer? No, I meant... you know... the sex," he whispered while leaning over the table toward Angelica. "Not that you're wrong; I guess that's a mana transfer too. But it's a bit more meaningful than that. It's not like you're a Heroic Spirit or anything. . ."

Angelica's understanding of sexual relations and mana transfers aside, there was a question presented. Angelica had never been to the 22nd floor where Charlemagne once lived, so it was only natural that she wonder the weather conditions and how she should dress for the trip. After all, however Aincrad was constructed, there were a few different biomes from floor to floor. "Hmm. It's been a while, but Coral was always a mild place. It's rural, big grassy plains, mountains in the distance. I still have a decently-sized log cabin just outside the main village, right next to the lake. If you're interested in a swim, keep that in mind; the lake's perfect for swimming and fishing."

[Apollymi]

In a moment like this, Angelica gained a bit of extra clarity she'd not had before. According to Charlemagne, humans applied some kind of emotional meaning to the act of Mana Transfer. She'd been told nothing about anything like that. She supposed the act could be considered intimate as far as she understood it. It still seemed a bit strange, but perhaps there was some nuance to that difference that she didn't understand. The difference between 'Heroic Spirits' and other such beings wasn't nearly as stark as the humans made it out to be. They were still technically copies of their original selves. Perhaps they didn't understand that when making up the difference between them? It was truly a complex matter. 'Humans are so weird...' she thought to herself. But she had plenty of time to figure out this applied difference.

Moving on, there was the matter of the 22nd floor which according to Charles, had mild weather, gentle landscaping and apparently a lake and she should keep that in mind if she wished to swim. Ah yes, there were conventions about nudity that applied to places, coverage of some sort was necessary if one wanted to swim in places that others might be. Alright, that was information she could work with at least. "Okay, I can work with that... I just have to gather a few things," she said giving it some thought. She stood in the moment creating another small gem in her hand, and this one when cracked created a pathway up to a different tower. This one could be considered something of a closet where she would sort through for a few articles of clothing to fit this supposed place. A light dress, a bathing suit, a large hat to block the sun, and sand or water based shoes would do for such an outing. She packed them all within a small bag. The entire process would take approximately five minutes, even though she took some time to consider the 'coolness' of her ensemble.

[Bloodedge]

Angelica didn't seem to receive the Heroic Spirit comparison as expected. Whatever she was thinking, Charlemagne saw something resembling a lack of real understanding in her face. What had she been taught? Most residents of Aincrad would easily understand that a mana transfer of the lighter variety was easily performed to offer assistance, while any of the more powerful form, known normally as acts of sex, were to be performed between those who devoted their lives to one another. Heroic Spirits were an exception to these rules if one had any, given their unique existences and composition. Angelica really needed to get out more, he thought. . .

Whatever the case, it was nigh time for their exodus of the 99th floor. About five minutes would be taken after Angelica forged a path to a second tower, where she apparently kept her clothing. Charlemagne followed her upstairs, stopping just outside her alleged closet incase she was going to change right then and there. It seemed she didn't intend to change just yet; perhaps she thought to do so at his cabin after a proper plan was established. Whenever she was ready, he'd be right there waiting with an extended hand to escort the lady of this floor to the teleport plaza.

[Apollymi]

Their difference in education was one thing, but it was also a matter of logic. Angelica didn't have human logic, the idea that something as simple as a mana transfer offered to help would have any emotional complication was foreign to her nature. Sure, her father had taught her to be married before performing any transfers, but she'd assumed by nature of the teachings that this was a matter of making sure the right match was found first. Though that was strange to her as a divine existence as well, especially when she considered that she had a pretty reasonable mana sense and as such could at least guess at such combinations. But he was old fashioned and likely wished to have some say in the matter which is what she assumed. Regardless, the entire conversation was one she'd be left to mull over. Perhaps the human women would have something more legitimate to offer, Bradamante had a chosen partner she might be able to share the necessary information.

Moving on, she packed and exited her closet, choosing to forego changing clothes until she was certain it was a necessity. After all, if impressions were being considered she wouldn't want to make a startling one before someone like Charles even had the opportunity to make his better impression. Yes, that seemed right. Still, she took the lad's extended hand and began walking towards the palaza so they could descend to the 22nd floor. What would it look like? What kind of fun would they have? Whatever was coming she was looking forward to it. "Lead the way, Charlie!~" And just like that all the awkwardness fell away, yet another reason she enjoyed this lad's company.

[Bloodedge]

Very soon after they reached the tower, Angelica was emerging to take Charlemagne's hand. She was indeed dressed just as she had been previously, so it was rather pointless of him to wait outside after all. No matter. Any tension or awkwardness of their previous discussions were dust in the wind, and excitement for another outing after 30 years was all he could think about. Besides, it had been a few hundred years now since he last visited his first house in Aincrad.

Leading the way down the rainbow path, Charlemagne kept his eyes trained on the teleport plaza. They descended the path, crossed the bridge, and eventually stumbled upon that stone monument surrounded by four small obelisks. Several glowing runes of some strange origin emerged from the monument and surrounded the pair, and then... they were suddenly standing in front of a similar monolith set in a plain of grass. On the outer edge of this small plain were small log cabins belonging to a village of residents, and beyond that was thin foresting. This was certainly the place Charlemagne remembered from his younger days in Aincrad... though it felt a bit different. Maybe the memory wasn't matching his growth as a person. "Welcome to the settlement of Coral! I'd have brought you here ages ago, but it didn't really seem up to par. It's a modest little place. Good home, though."

[Apollymi]

Hand in hand, Angelica and Charles walked through her newly renovated floor only to reach the teleport Obelisks. They were a strange thing, but she'd recently begun wondering if she could modify them, or at the very least disguise them a bit better so they didn't ruin her décor. Whatever the case she was soon confronted by an interesting scene. A gathering of log cabins, small amounts of trees and wide expanses of space. "Ooh? I didn't know you could build with wood like that~" she mused seeming to find the cabins themselves rather interesting. Even so, Charles explained that he used to live on this floor and would have brought her here earlier except that it didn't seem up to par.

A casual shrug came from someone like Angelica in a moment like this. "Hm, I don't know about that... this place is a little lacking in mana density but it makes up for it by looking very different from other places," she said seeming to have taken a bit of a liking to this simple style of design which was obviously the fault of the humans who settled the space. "It seems like it would have been a pretty peaceful place to relax after an adventure," she said while having a look around. She didn't think her words would be taken badly by Charles, she'd realized a while ago that she could say things that sounded rude, but they were mostly just observations. In this case, she'd started saying the nicer things she thought along with the criticisms figuring it would take the edge of any potential bitterness. "So then, which one is yours, and did you build it yourself?" she wondered. She'd really gotten into building and making things and wondered if Charles had any aptitude for it or if this was the sort of place that had craftsmen, that would also be pretty interesting.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne couldn't tell what exactly was different about his old home. He was sure it was something, but... it didn't matter much, right? This was a new experience for Angelica, particularly when it came to the structure of buildings at this level. Nothing was made of wood upstairs; everything was some sort of mana-conductive material. The more normal humans at this level weren't experienced enough with mana manipulation, and thus resorted to more mundane structures. "Yeah you can! This kind of wood-building isn't the sort that takes magic or anything like that. This is all just good old-fashioned axe, a mill, and some hard labor!" he explained without much prompting. This was the height of humanity. In a magical world, the innovation to create without magic using the few things that couldn't be used via magical means was the ultimate form of development.

Alas, there was also something going in the other direction. This floor lacked mana density, according to Angelica. Was that it? Was that the strange feeling he had? Yes, it may have been. The people moving about on this floor were never powerful, but there was a certain additional weakness to them now. Maybe the generations had not been very kind. "Huh, weird. It used to be way more consistent with the floors above," he said absently. As for this floor being peaceful reprieve after adventures, Angelica was very correct. "It was. A nice fire going on cool nights, a cup of hot chocolate, a long bath, fishing right when the morning dew is perfect... there's almost nothing better. Tack on the extra relaxation of just getting back from tough adventures, and it can't be beat!" he rambled.

Now then, which building was his? It wouldn't be found so easily. When asked about it, Charlemagne began walking. A few waves were offered to pedestrians here and there, and soon, a long stone path would pave the way to a larger cabin just outside the village. "I wanted mine as close to the lake as possible, so I could have a spot for fishing and diving straight from my back porch. I'd like to say I built it, but... not completely. Most of it was me. For the windows, I got some help from the village, and... I found out I'm terrible at roofs, so some of the locals back then pitched in for that. Mostly, I guess I just slammed a bunch of cut logs together until it counted as walls. . ."

[Apollymi]

Information poured from Charlemagne. In the moments where he was speaking about the wood-working of mortals. Apparently this was something done with tools and non-magical things like that. Wood didn't conduct magical energy if it wasn't still connected to the earth, making it a non-viable material for builds of the sort that Angelica was used to. How interesting that humans managed to do something similar with just manual labor and skill. "Wow, that's so innovative," she chimed. If there was one bit of credit she was willing to give humans, despite their oddities surrounding Mana Transfers credit for being really creative.

Apparently, Charles hadn't been to this floor in a while. The lad spent their time walking and waving to random locals apparently only noticing the lack of mana density of the area after it was mentioned by Angelica. "Definitely feels a bit light, but my senses are a bit hyperactive to start with..." she mused. This was the truth as she understood it. Her type of existence and her living on the top floor meant she was always bathed in mana. She moved on just as easily though, relaxing a she walked with Charles, she found herself smiling at people as he spoke of relaxing after adventures in a strangely normal way. "That sounds like it was really fun and exciting for you. I'm a little jealous having so many relaxing activities line up~" she said in a manner most teasing. Still, given he was going out and doing things she couldn't blame him.

Ah, but there was still more. Apparently, Charles wasn't wholly responsible for all of the creation of his cabin. But it'd been a cooperative project in which he'd learned extra how to make things he didn't know how to create as well as getting extra help with the things he found himself incapable of doing. "So you learned new skills, and got help in areas you couldn't complete yourself? That's such a good way to handle it as a problem..." she said her excitement never wavering. Even if it wasn't a project he could complete alone, no one could speak ill of a properly undertaken multi-person project. "And you got a whole lake side retreat out of it!~" she seemed to be more excited by the moment. She truly didn't understand in moments like this, how he didn't understand how well suited he was to leadership positions. It was one thing to boss others around but it was entirely different to learn new processes and get involved in your projects at such a depth. It was always so satisfying to her to make a change even magically, she imagined having a hand in the building of your own place from the ground up was gratifying beyond reason.

[Bloodedge]

It came as no surprise that Angelica appreciated the creativity of wood buildings, having never seen them before this day. As long as he'd known her, she'd taken a special interest in crafts of varying sorts. Even if she wasn't always prattling on about creations or erecting full palaces, the light in her eye when doing or seeing such things was always very obvious. As they walked through the village, Charlemagne saw that light once again. "You're gonna love Floor 70!" was all he could say while watching her excitement.

The lower quality/quantity of mana on this floor was a little strange, but nothing too ridiculous in Charlemagne's mind. There were a great many potentials that could be factored into the situation. If no one was suffering though, he couldn't consider it an issue. Now was a time for additional relaxation the likes of which they spoke of along the way. The pair approached the log cabin belonging to Charlemagne, at which point he stopped to let the lass ascend the set of eight stairs leading up to the front porch. He'd naturally fall in place behind her, then step out ahead to open the door. "Yeah, it was pretty awesome, and so was the end-result! It's really satisfying being able to see something great and know you had a part in it. Nothing like a pet project!" he mused while opening the door., activating magical sconces which ignited their own flames in the presence of mana. Just inside was a sitting room with two beige couches, each in front of a tall window and separated by a square coffee table. Before that sight of the rear wall though, there was a stone fireplace to the right, viewable by another couch with two side tables on either end. Charlemagne's favorite part of that section may have been the rug made from the pelt of a golden, winged lion. It was only part of the pelt, the rest being offered to Father An, but it remained a rare point of pride for Charlemagne. "Uhh... I didn't think this through completely. I don't have anything to eat here after being gone for so long. I do have an idea though, if you're hungry and interested in seeing what adventurer life is like," he said while looking toward a group of long, wooden rods leaned against the rear wall.

[Apollymi]

"That's what you said last time!" she said being playfully terse. The last time they'd spoken, Charles had stated she'd love floor 70. And they'd been having a similar conversation then, so she assumed whatever the buildings were like there she'd never seen anything like them before. Forget the fact that she remembered such a random utterance, it was obviously in large part due to her limited contact with the outside world and there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

Regardless, as they approached Charles' cabin he came to a certain set of conclusions. The first of which was about the greatness of a pet project. And given that information he let her walk up the steps and into his cabin. Once inside, her eyes widened. It was a cozy place. Two magical lights sparked to life when they entered. There were two couches facing each other, perfect for conversation and a rug of high mana density which could have only been the winged gold lion that Charles had taken down a long time ago. "Woah! This place is really nice... it's so cozy!" she exclaimed. That was the right word. She wasn't speaking against this place in the slightest. She was used bare walls, high ceilings, and lofty open air atriums. There was a certain warmth in this closed in space, she could only attribute to humanity.

Whatever the case, beyond this, Charles mentioned not having any food. And claimed he had an idea if she was willing to see the life of an adventurer. "Well, I am willing to try most things... what did you have in mind?" she asked. Whether or not she was hungry at the moment wasn't the point. In a place with low mana density she'd end up hungry regardless, so she might as well have a bite to go along with this date idea that Charles was so keen on them experiencing.

[Bloodedge]

As they entered the cabin, Charlemagne continued moving forward. Attached to the sitting area to the left was the kitchen, but a small hallway behind that was where he would focus eventually. Angelica thought the cabin was cozy; she was right. "Isn't it? I like the gaudier stuff because it's so cool, but nothing says 'home' like a comfortable little spot with just the necessities!" he asserted. For a time, this very cabin was his favorite place to be. It didn't have that same energy nowadays, but he also had a long list of friends and comrades that made other places feel more like home than any building ever could.

As for Charlemagne's plan, he took a moment before entering the hall to look more directly at the rods across the room. "Fishing! We can go out back to the lake and live off the land just a bit. It's sort of a necessity when adventuring, but it can be really relaxing regardless. Besides, nobody goes to this end of the lake. The legendary fish still pop up at this end though~" he chimed. While speaking, Charlemagne worked off the singular gauntlet he wore. The armor had to go. If he recalled, there were a few articles of clothing remaining in this place─ at least ones fitting a random visit. He'd find out soon, but first he stripped himself of the gauntlet and began fiddling with his faulds. "Oh, and the swimming! That's still an option," he added, assuming Angelica was more prepared for that than fishing.

[Apollymi]

Charles claimed to like the more extravagant things he normally saw, but said that this sort of place said 'home' with its bare necessities. "I could see that. A place like this seems like it would be nice for getting away from everything," she mused. Moving on from that, Charles had started trying to get off his armor and speaking on his actual idea here. Fishing, apparently legendary fish still appeared at this end of the lake and no one else would come here so it was actually a pretty reasonable spot for a small vacation for the both of them.

"I've never been fishing but it sounds like fun. And I don't mind living off the land or anything. I have no idea how it would be relaxing but I'm sure it'll come to me..." she stated seeming to have a good idea of how this was going on. Since it was obvious that there was a change in wardrobe and the like about to happen, Angelica started about her own, starting to fiddle with her dress while throwing her hair over her shoulder so that she could reach the fasteners along her back. All the while seeing nothing wrong with the activity taking place. "Swimming also sounds pretty fun~" she said happily. Ah, all she had to do to make that happen was affix herself into this bathing suit and hat combo she'd brought and then they could go swimming.

[Bloodedge]

"It is. Every now and again, I think about coming here whenever I get time. I never get the time of course, but hey, I've got a bit now for that exact purpose!" said Charlemagne. This didn't technically count as getting away from everything, but he didn't need to escape everything. Besides, there was a relatively small amount of time for relaxation, though it was more than he'd known in many, many years. He'd make the most of it without a doubt. All would begin once he got rid of that armor and found something worth wearing.

Of course, Angelica had a change planned as well. She'd never been fishing, much to Charlemagne's expectations, so he thought to offer a bit of advice. "Then I suggest you go for whatever you planned to swim in. If there's anything else, just throw something light over it for the fishing... or skip that part entirely; it doesn't make much difference," he explained as faulds hit the floor. Charlemagne seemed to be piling his armor up against the rear wall, but... what was Angelica doing? By the time he looked, it seemed she was jumping the gun just a bit. Naturally, Charlemagne stopped messing with the buckle of his greave and stared, dumbfounded by the thought crossing his mind. "Uh... what are you doing?"

[Apollymi]

Charles apparently didn't have much time to even visit his own home. Angelica took that to mean her father must be keeping him rather busy with random tasks. That rug on his floor was a rather unique and rare material. If Charles was always out on missions to gather materials, worshippers or other such things, she could at least fully forigive him for not coming to visit her again sooner. After all, it wasn't his fault he had so many tasks to undertake. The least she could do is be understanding. "It's good to take time off to do something you enjoy. You shouldn't just ruin your work life balance," she said. Again, that was something she'd heard from someone else, but she felt it applied to Charles more than it did herself at this point in her life.

Moving on, Charles suggested she wear to fish, whatever she planned to swim in, plus or minus something light on top. She'd planned for that from her own perspective, and had a nice swimsuit and a small light dress to wear atop it if she felt like it. Along with it a large sun hat to protect her body, not that she assumed the sun here could cause her many problems. "Ohh, then I packed appropriately. Good good... I was a bit worried about that at first," she mused. Still, this didn't stop her actions. She had several of the clasps undone on her dress and it'd started to shift down her shoulders as she turned her body at the waist to undo more. Then, strangely she was asked what she was doing. Wasn't it obvious? "I am undoing my dress so I can change. That is the point, yes? We change out of these clothes and into the ones we are going to swim in?" she asked, though her mind began working, was this one of those strange human things she wasn't prepared for?

[Bloodedge]

Balance between work and life was a necessity to many. In Charlemagne's case, he didn't mind the work very much at all. The only thing he did mind, was that excessive amounts of it kept him from checking in on those he'd rather keep close, and even all the residents of Aincrad. He could do all of those things with only a day of time, yet there was never enough free time to do even one thing. "You're right, but there's not much I can do about it. Father An calls the shots, and I follow. That's the only way it's ever really worked," he asserted. Obviously, Charlemagne still wasn't entertaining the thought that he could become Holy Emperor.

What he was entertaining, was a train of thought he surely shouldn't have been having at all. Or... should he have? Angelica admitted that she was indeed disrobing right where she stood. She had even already bared her shoulders when stating the truth so brazenly. Was it something she started on purpose? Had she seen the removal of his armor and assumed he was the initiator? The truth was unclear, and Angelica's questions didn't help him along at all. "That's the point, yeah. Sorry, was I... am I supposed to see this? I mean, people normally change in bedrooms. Or... is this one of those times I just ruined a planned moment by saying something... again?"

[Apollymi]

Apparently, Charles was simply following orders by not keeping his work and life balanced. Father An ordered him to do things, and he went out and did them. That was a little ridiculous, even Angelica was a little aware that people can't literally work all the time. Perhaps an attitude like that is how her father ending up taking that tumble which left him so visibly shaken. It was something to remember for later, "You should probably keep that in mind for the potential future. I wouldn't want you missing out on activities you could enjoy just because you're working too much," she stated. Clearly there was a sincere amount of concern for his well-being and that wasn't something Angelica would have faked regardless.

What she would be doing, was continuing to undo her dress which was slipping down her shoulders and chest. Happenstance left her back exposed to the lad as she wiggled her way through the last fasteners of the dress so she could appropriately get out of it. Of course, Charles, began to question this moment. Wondering if he was meant to witness it, or if he'd just ruined some long term plan of hers. This wasn't a plan of hers, but why did people get dressed in bedrooms? Were humans ashamed of themselves? "So, instead of changing in a moment, everyone files off to private rooms just to switch clothing?" she asked as if this was the most foreign concept she'd ever heard. She was a Celestial and as a being her body was considered perfect, she had no shame at all about anyone witnessing her with or without clothes, it made her no difference. "Is this one of those hu.... I mean... socially... no wait. Social norms? Yes, is this one of those strange social norms I don't have?" she asked knowing that being shameless was likely the issue she had here. "I mean it wasn't planned so you didn't ruin anything. I just find all these rules for interacting to be strange... it seems so unnatural to cut off a conversation just to change clothes, there also isn't any shame in being naked... but there is the weird hang up about mana transfers as well so maybe it goes along with that?" she seemed to be in a serious moment of contemplation, even turning around with the top of her dress falling over her cleavage to expose even the space between her breasts.

[Bloodedge]

Ah yes, he had to be reminded of the potential future. In some wild possibility, he and Angelica were married, and the rules he followed, the quests he undertook, would be his own decisions. That would be a pretty good life, he thought... apart from the fact that he still wasn't fit to rule anyone. Either way, maybe the actual Holy Emperor would send him out less than Father An currently did. Maybe someone else would singlehandedly clear the Labyrinth and take on half his workload due to the shared expectancies of their ability. That, too, would be wonderful.

Speaking of wonderful, Charlemagne was plagued with something of a taboo that could hardly be resisted. Angelica clearly didn't understand the concept of undressing in privacy. She was absolutely shameless, and though she had no reason to be, he figured the Holy Father would have instilled a sense of propriety in his daughter. After all, followers of Father An were taught very specific things... such as doing the exact opposite of what Charlemagne was doing presently by watching an unwed woman undress. "Well when you put it like that, of course it sounds stupid..." he said. Even from behind her with all that hair in his line of sight, Charlemagne knew that dress was barely hanging onto the top of Angelica's body.

He should have turned away. He should have... stepped around for a better view. No! He should have turned away! Sadly, he did no such thing. All the lad did was stand there, baffled by the goings-on even while Angelica had the strangest form of verbal hiccup. Whatever that was, he didn't know. He did know it wasn't socially acceptable to do any of this, however. "It's normally only acceptable to see the person you're─" He paused there. Why? Angelica turned around. She'd never been shy on cleavage, but that chasm between her breasts seemed to have suddenly doubled in size. Of course it had to be directly in his line of sight, captivating him like some grand witch's spell. Charlemagne found himself bending over again, as if to continue unfastening his greaves. He had no such reason for that action. No, he felt something he shouldn't have. Maybe he should buy larger breeches in the future. "─married... to. . ."

[Apollymi]

Whatever Charles had planned for the future, there was only one for Angelica and it involved the two of them being wed and him being the Holy Emperor. More and more he made it obvious that this was his true calling, but beyond that calling there was the matter of these strange hang-ups with humans. Now one might have thought that Angelica might have been taught more propriety by her father, but that simply wasn't the case. In her own life she had very few conversations with her father and those concerning marriage and mana transfers had been rather simple. You will eventually have to get married and perform your duties to create, and you should only perform the mana transfers to ignite that sort of creation, with your spouse. Her own natural inclinations as a divinity determined her lack of shame and her inability to cope with the almost alien human logic. At this point even Charles agreed that the supposed separation didn't sound like a reasonable idea. "If even you think it's stupid why does the whole of society do it?" she asked seeming to not understand at all what this would confer.

Oh, but that was coming too wasn't it? Charles explained that even something like nudity was only supposed to be shared between spouses. That was... weird. Physical forms were beautiful and to be appreciated as everything in nature. Though you could adorn yourself as you saw fit, nudity shouldn't have been something to inspire great amounts of shame. Such a statement made Angelica wonder just briefly what kind of strange lessons her father had been passing to most mortals. If they were being told things like that, she was a lot less confused about initial reactions to her brashness and appeal. They simply weren't being prepared for it. That seemed counter productive to living among mortals, truly. But if the line of acceptability was marriage, then... "So it doesn't matter if you see me because we're getting married anyway," she said seeming to accept the logic. And with that she didn't stop doing what she was doing. That bent over Charles looked to be taking off his greaves so she would slip that dress of hers further down revealing several things at once. Apparently, Angelica didn't truly believe in underclothes, as her dress fell away her flesh was exposed completely. And she stepped out of both her shoes and her dress without the slightest bit of shame. Soon after she began looking through her bag for her bathing suit, seeming to not care if Charles literally saw everything she was completely laid bare before him. Her nudity was unmarred and her flesh seemed to have a slight hypnotizing effect, almost like a siren singing.

[Bloodedge]

Despite Angelica's lack of understanding for how most people went about life, she made some very valid points. It wasn't really sensible that people had such reprehensions about one another's nudity. Such was especially the case in this world, where the natural state of human bodies hadn't been sexualized by society itself. Maybe that's where Angelica's logic truly shined. However, there were a few problems remaining. Others from Charlemagne's original world did exist here, and they were not all the best of people. Moreover, the concept of God was widely accepted here, so one would surely wish to follow the rules... right?

Wrong. As devout a follower of Father An as Charlemagne was, he couldn't even make himself resist staring brazenly at the blonde woman ahead. His mind, among other parts, wished to see everything. That wasn't wholly the reason he couldn't look away, though. Actually, he couldn't even tell what the core reason was. What he could tell, was that only Angelica could stop the sin now. Alas... she'd do just the opposite. As casually as one commented upon the weather, she claimed they were getting married, so it didn't matter if he saw. The dress fell then, and Charlemagne's eyes fell with it. Ah, but his eyes ascended again... and fell again... and ascended, and so on. He could have gone blind, if not from the sight of her nakedness then from the speed at which his gaze darted across every inch of her being.

Where were her undergarments? That was too much to take in all at once, and he couldn't stop! How could she be so casual whilst being fully nude in front of a man? Did she even see him as a man? Oh, it was getting worse. He still shouldn't have been doing this. He definitely shouldn't have had that urge to reach out and touch something, which he was just barely able to stop his hand from doing. All the while, Charlemagne slouched more and more to conceal his own sinful crotch. "That's uh. That's not how it's supposed to go. . ." he commented halfheartedly. Luckily for him, she was already digging around for something else to put on. Charlemagne wasn't sure he could take much more, but that wasn't going to stop him in the moment. "Why the... I... you... your uh..."

[Apollymi]

Angelica definitely saw Charles as a man. A very kind, diligent and devout individual. She saw him long term as the sort of person who cared for others and who would continue to care for as time went on. She appreciated his honesty and his fun-loving behavior and here and now, she saw absolutely nothing wrong with him viewing her nudity. Should Father An be blamed for this misconception? Probably, but there was nothing to do about it now. No, she was busy, standing around digging through her bag. She'd noticed Charles staring, but still didn't have the sense to be embarrassed. She was a divinity after all, people worshiping her was nothing new truly. It was new for Charles to have such a thorough look, but she couldn't find anything negative about that either. "I am not sure about that... it seems unfair to not know about stuff before you're actually married. What happens if you were forced into one and the pair of you didn't like each other?" she said seeming to think the looks had a great deal to do with attractiveness in general. Besides that she was still carrying on conversation like all was normal.

So what would she start doing? Well, those bathing suit bottoms she'd brought were now in her hand, and she'd bend over to slip them up her hips and into place. They were little blue bikini bottoms appropriately calibrated for extended contact with the water. They'd easily slide up her hips for the sake of coverage. The top would soon be pulled out as well as she seemed to have no care truly about dressing in front of Charles. "I'm not sure I get what you're trying to say, Charlie... don't worry you can talk to me~" she said seeming to think the lad was just a bit nervous. That would be the only thing that made sense to her. That bikini top of hers was currently being tied around her neck so that she could get under her hair and tie it there as well. It was all to be fine. It wouldn't actually take her that long to dress and after some form of clothing returned to her body, surely the pull of her existence would be lessened enough for Charles to function at least a little.

[Bloodedge]

Never before had Charlemagne felt as if his brain was broken. Now though, he was quite sure it would never function properly again. Angelica was surrounded by sparkles, or... a glow? An aura? A flare? Realistically, he was probably seeing all of these things at once, none of it taking from the radiance he saw under it all. He was falling to lust faster than raindrops fell from the sky during a typhoon. This was terrible, wonderful, and everything between. And... once more, Angelica was making more sense than he could presently deal with. "But. Naked. Skin, curves, lights. Flawless." Perhaps he wasn't making an ounce of sense. Every word Charlemagne spoke was intended to be a full sentence, but only one of his senses was working properly at the time.

No, that wasn't right. He may have thought his sense of sight was the only one functioning, but he could also very much feel his pants becoming far tighter than they should have been. Moment by moment, Angelica was becoming... slightly more clothed. First was the bottom that he'd been wanting to dive headlong into. The first article to be slipped on solved that problem somewhat, yet still Angelica bared breasts that he felt should be taken unto himself. How strange. Charlemagne had never been one to know such temptation. If nothing else though, he was becoming more functional by the moment. "I'm not sure I know what I'm trying to say either. But, there's a lot of stuff I'm thinking, and I shouldn't be thinking any of it. Terrible... genius idea," he said, thinking over the plan to swim and fish a few hours away.

[Apollymi]

A series of words escaped Charles as Angelica began to dress herself. They didn't make sense completely, but it seemed to her that he was trying to string together some compliments. Aww!~ That was absolutely the best thing ever. She felt so flattered in a moment like this. Though she'd said herself that it wasn't much of a big deal, knowing he appreciated the view made her feel better about her decision. Though she had no shame, it probably would have been bad for her if he discovered he wasn't at all into the kind of form she boasted. "I'm not completely sure what you're getting at Charlie, but that last part sounded like a compliment so, thank you~" she mused happily. Now that most of her clothing was in place, she had a wrap for the rest of her body. It was just a light thing, to throw on to keep more sun off the skin of her hips, but surely that combined witht he bikini itself should rid Charles of his current speechlessness.

And lo, he was now speaking a mostly understandable complete sentence. He claimed not to know what he was trying to say, but being sure he shouldn't have been thinking many of the things on his mind. "What? That's ridiculous, Charlie. You're great and allowed to think what you want. Besides, I'm pretty sure if it's about me it should be fine. If we're getting married, we're going to be together, we should like each other, right?" she asked but most of that was just for show. She was certain she was marrying this man unless he actually objected and it seemed like he had fewer and fewer objections the longer time went on. "Now, you're supposed to be changing too, you have to teach me how to fish, and we have to go swimming~" she mused happily seemingly excited about their continued date, with or without the added nudity.

[Bloodedge]

A compliment? He wasn't aware one of those made its way through, nor was he aware he'd even been thinking one. If he did utter something along the lines of a compliment though, he surely meant even more than whatever came out. "Y-yeah, sure. . ." There was no real way to describe all the things going through the male's mind. Of course, there were a lot of things rushing about in there, few of them wholesome and all of them things he judged himself for thinking. The more she covered herself, the more he gained clarity. The more he gained clarity, the more he wondered why he didn't just walk away before.

Angelica claimed he was allowed to think whatever he wanted. Either he was wrong for thinking salacious things, or he was wrong for disagreeing with the Holy Princess. Frankly, he hoped for the latter. He shouldn't have hoped for that. It was fine though, right? Angelica thought so. They were going to be married, so all was well with what happened. Yeah... they were getting married. Suddenly, at least for the moment, all the negative things he thought about that potential marriage were dust in the wind. It could all be worth a try, he thought. "Yeah, that should make it fine," he said. Strangely, those words passed his lips as if by some foreign influence. Charlemagne wasn't truly enchanted in a magical sense or anything, though his proper brain still wasn't the one doing all of his thinking. His thoughts came from much lower on his body, and they currently said everything would be worthwhile if he could just look forward to...

... Wait, no! This was bad, and he still had to change. Well, since Angelica changed so freely right in front of him, it was only fair that he do the same... right? No, no. Charlemagne was already struggling with temptation; he couldn't go pulling his cock out on top of that! Still bent at the waist, he had both hands covering his groin while shuffling down the hall. "You're right; I should. We have to go swimming and fu-... fishing," he stammered along the way. A few paces down, he entered the bedroom and rounded the corner. His greaves were thrown off immediately, and the rest of his clothes were thrown all over the place while he approached a single, small dresser set between two windows. En route, he accidentally slammed himself into the wall. Moving and taking off his pants while sporting a raging erection proved quite difficult, but he recovered soon enough. There was an audible rambling while he sifted through the dresser. Was he speaking to Angelica? In truth, no; Charlemagne was mumbling to himself repeatedly. "Filthy sinner. Going to hell. Hell's real here. Gonna be sent out, die, and go to hell because of this thing being hard. So uncool!" he rambled, banging his knee on the dresser door as he moved to look deeper inside. "Ack, shit!"

[Apollymi]

As time passed, Charles seemed to be more and more agreeable to the entire arrangement that Angelica had proposed. Perhaps he was simply struggling the way humans tended to do. She couldn't really wrap her head around it completely, but she ended up dressed. "Um-hm, now come on Charlie~" she said seeming to be impatient about having the sort of fun she'd come here for. Of course, the lad eventually ran off seeming to think the better of stripping in front of her.

That was strange to Angelica. Was he ashamed of himself even though she'd shown him herself that there was nothing to being naked in front of someone? Was it some kind of strange human hang up about the nature of their bodies she simply would never understand? Whatever the case, she did understand something. The lad had run off to change and with that she took a seat on the couch and waited for his return. But while he was gone she heard lots of noise and his mumbles. She worried about him for a few seconds especially after the knocking around stopped and then a rather loud knocking sound look place. "Charlie, are you okay?" she asked aloud wondering of the lad needed help, Perhaps he'd hurt himself, she could help but she would leave him the privacy he apparently wanted for a while if he needed it. Navigating human emotions was a lot more difficult than Angelica expected, but all awkwardness tended to fade away between the two of them, she had no reason to assume this one would be long lasting.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne banged himself up a bit, he stumbled, and he swore. The situation he found himself in presently was far from ideal. One silver lining was that though Angelica heard all the commotion, she hadn't come bursting into the room for one of many nightmare scenarios. Had that happened, he'd have probably taken ages to recover. She did call out to him however, wondering if he was alright. "No!" he shouted back without hesitation.

That wasn't entirely true. In truth, he was more than alright. Charlemagne at the time was desperately trying to push down his own erection, desperately trying to get the images out of his head. He should never have tried either of those things consciously. In trying to remove the mental images, they were becoming even more vibrant─ evolving from what he'd seen to things he could almost feel, and scenes that could have been acted out right there in the sitting room. In trying to push down his erection while having those mental images, he was only feeling... more pleasant than he should have. "I mean... yes~♥" he said moments after claiming the opposite. Nothing was going his way today, though apparently everything actually was. Regardless, he had to free himself of one hand to fish out a red pair of swim trunks. He could get one leg into them easily, but what was he to do about the current situation? He very well couldn't finish putting them on just to walk out in a flimsy pair of trunks with their own active support beam underneath; he had to silence his mind somehow. . .

[Apollymi]

Angelica didn't seem to have much a problem with what was going on here. It seemed that Charles was just fumbling about in his room probably searching for clothing. That was her own assumption. She'd been known to toss about things while looking for something in particular, it wasn't all that odd. Though when she asked if he was alright he initially said no. This, of course made her perk up a bit and she opened her mouth to ask if he needed help only for his tone to change completely. How strange. Obviously, he'd found what he was looking for then, right? "Well, if you're sure... Don't take too long~" she mused picking up her oversized hat and placing it in her lap. She could wait patiently for his return, it wasn't as if she was in any particular rush to leave his company or anything like that.

Maybe while she was here, she'd find the lack of mana density and the quiet of the floor enough to do something about that nagging sensation trying to reach out to her? Yeah, that seemed like an alright use of time. She kept an ear open for Charles but allowed her eyes to close for a few moments. Just the same she couldn't really clear her mind. It was a busy day after all, and she was pretty excited she'd managed to get Charles to agree even tentatively to marry her. He was also really cute while trying to do the right thing and be nice. She wondered if it was a good that he seemed to flustered around her all the time? What would Jeanne have said if she asked her? Ugh, nothing going on right now was good for her concentration either.

[Bloodedge]

Speaking of concentration, Charlemagne's had reached the highest level it had ever been to. Sadly, he was concentrating on all the wrong things. It wasn't as if he'd never seen a naked woman before, but for some reason or another, the image of Angelica seemed permanently etched into his memory. He could tell as much even though it had been seen only moments ago. "Yeah, on the way in a sec!" he said when told not to take too long.

Naturally, Charlemagne could be ready in a few short moments. His swim trunks were half-equipped already. If only he could do away with that one blaring issue, he could finish pulling up the other leg. Ah, there was a trick for that, wasn't there? A bit of pacing around the bedroom would surely set him right, so he spent a minute or so doing that. Much to his satisfaction, the plan worked out perfectly! Charlemagne was able to slip into his swim trunks and grab a lightweight grey jacket to tie around his neck. A pair of flipflops were on the floor, so he stepped into them on his way out to the sitting room. Once there, Charlemagne made a beeline for the stack of rods to pick out two. "Alright... crisis averted. So, we can start a fire, go fishing, and do a little swimming while they cook. Sound good?" he asked for general purposes. If nothing else, talking about upcoming events could help keep his mind off... everything he'd seen and thought recently.

[Apollymi]

Some more words from Charles, he'd be out in a minute. Apparently, Angelica chose odd times for her supposed concentration, but that was fine too. She'd already realized that sort of deep thought wasn't going to happen without a few set up moments ahead of time. So she'd make sure she gave it her all the next time she reached her observatory. Beyond that though there was a bit more to do, and she would soon see Charles emerging from the room and grabbing up fishing rods.

He seemed no worse for wear than he had before and even came with something of a plan to get them started on the day. A fire set up, fishing for food and then... while their meal cooked they could, swim for fun? That seemed appropriate. Especially since swimming wasn't something she wanted to do on a full stomach anyways. "That sounds fine~" she said standing and stretching. She took a moment to appreciate his change in attire. Finding the look to be different from the norm, but not strange. Was this what it meant to be 'cool' she supposed she'd be figuring that out along the way. Just the same she'd give was likely very obvious appreciation to the lad's physical form before they made their way outside and to the gorgeous lake he'd set his house upon.

[Bloodedge]

Fine. Good. Excellent. The plan he had for their time together this day was a functional one, so they could move on without a hitch, right? That should have been the case. Why then, did Charlemagne have a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach? He didn't look Angelica's way, knowing how dangerous swimsuits were─ especially a two-piece. He couldn't look. Well, it wasn't like he needed to anyway; the visual was still right there on the inside of his eyelids every time they closed.

So, what would Charlemagne do about the issue? He'd keep moving. Picking out a net and the sturdiest pair of fishing rods he had, he gestured toward the rear door. There was a cutting between the trees behind Charlemagne's cottage, leaving room for a patio just over the flowing river. A few steps down, and they would be on a walkway headed upstream to the west. It was only a simple path of sand with embedded stones throughout, and a line of those same stones along the river's edge. Though things felt strange on this floor now, the smell of that river was something that could never go away. Charlemagne inhaled deeply as he walked along, looking ahead to the lake glistening in the afternoon sun. "Ahh! I missed this place!" he mused while holding out one of the fishing rods.

[Apollymi]

And then they were moving on, Charles hadn't given the girl a solid look since he returned but she assumed he was doing that thing he tended to do where he hyper focused on the task at hand. That was a bit cute of him, so she let it go. As they walked about she followed him out of the backdoor and up the path. Her feet were bare, assuming a swim would be happening soon, and by virtue of this she was able to feel the sensation of this new sort of nature against her feet. The sand was such a strangely new sensation she couldn't help but comment on it. "Ah? It's kind of grainy, what a strange thing...." she said of sand, dusting off the bottom of one foot and being sure she'd never felt anything like it before.

"Still, I can see why you missed this place, it's a very nice set of views and has a kind of calming aura around it~" she said having taken in the scenery as well. Maybe she should add more water features to her own castle. She only really had the one fountain. And the material under her feet, not the stones but the grains, perhaps she'd make some of that too for the next water feature. "So, is there some sort of weird trick to fishing?" she asked wondering exactly what that particular leg of her activity would be like. She enjoyed learning new things and this rod in her hand was a rather interesting tool. She couldn't say she'd seen one like it before and thus her curiosity was becoming higher by the second.

[Bloodedge]

While they walked along the riverside path, Angelica commented in a way Charlemagne hadn't been expecting. Something was grainy, she said. Despite his attempts to avoid looking at her directly, he did so just to see what she was talking about. Bad idea. The moment he looked her way, everything came flooding right back over the course of several seconds. On the other hand, a quick look down let him know exactly what she was getting at. Angelica hadn't brought, or at least hadn't put on, any form of footwear. Sand tended to feel strange in one's first experience with it, he supposed. "Uh─... ahem. New to sand? Careful; it gets in uh... a lot of places," Charlemagne claimed as he registered his own lingering gaze and looked away again.

Looking ahead was essentially the only way he could keep himself stable at present. It was going to take quite some time to get over the current situation, but he'd overcome it just like anything else. Angelica took the fishing rod while he kept his gaze literally anywhere else, and she wondered aloud if there were any nuances to fishing. They quickly approached the lake, and he gave a few moments of consideration to her query. "No, not really. If there's any sort of trick, it's patience. You cast your line, you wait until it bites, and you pull it up. Here's a good place to set things up," he stated. Right away, Charlemagne lodged his fishing rod between two rocks at the lake's edge. There was still the matter of firewood, but there seemed to be a pit and camp setup only a few meters away from where they stood. "Though there is the matter of bait. That's what this is for~" With that said, Charlemagne flung the net he'd been carrying into the water before pinning one end of it under rock as well. "Now we let that fill up and do something about a fire!"

[Apollymi]

According to Charles sand could get into a lot of places. He mentioned this after questioning if she was new to the substance. "Yes, there aren't any large standing bodies of water on my floor like this. I was thinking it might be good for the balance of things if I made a bigger feature like this," she said seemingly amused by the thought. If she had any residual thoughts about Charles obvious avoidance, she wasn't registering them currently. No she was too busy thinking, about sand, fishing and new things. This lad could stand to be a bit more carefree but someone like Angelica would never understand his current hang ups.

Moving on, the act of fishing was described as apparently simple. It would take only a few simple steps including that net he'd brought along. She still didn't really understand that either, but she supposed she would in a bit. Bait in this context was a bit unknown to her. "Okay, that doesn't sound too complex. Starting a fire, are we doing that the magical way or some other way?" she found herself questioning. It would be rather easy for her to start a fire, but... perhaps there was some other method which would lead to a richer experience.

[Bloodedge]

"Huh, you're right. Your floor is really green with a good atmosphere though, so it'd really be finished off by some freshwater features. Besides, what's the point of having a bathing suit if you don't have a place to swim? Unless you've got an indoor pool in that new palace," Charlemagne mused. He wasn't sure what her declaration had to do with sand specifically, but sand and water often went hand-in-hand, so he figured there was a connection somewhere in Angelica's head.

Now that the net was prepared, the method of their fire creation was brought into question. Charlemagne did offer this as an experience of living off the land, so there was only one real way to go. "Non-magical. The hardest quests anyone can ever go on are ones that end up in non-magical zones, whether they're made by an enemy or caused by some weird situation in the world. In those cases, you have to rely on the basics. There are even a few spots in the Labyrinth like that," he explained. "So, we'll need sticks. Thick and dry is the way to go. That's most of what we'll find around here, but we'll want to go a bit farther out from the lake to get it."

[Apollymi]

Freshwater features to be included in the nature of her place. That was definitely something Angelica could manage. It wouldn't even be very difficult. Of the things she found herself capable of making and manipulating with her mana, water was among the easier to control. She gave a gentle nod of understanding while she imagined some different ways to put in a feature or two that would help her feel more at home in her own space. "I don't have a pool, just a really big bath. I only have a swimsuit because it was one of the things that someone told me I might need, so I made it..." she claimed which was the truth. Jeanne had been very good for giving such advice and claiming that they could be used in public places if she found herself in need of a swim. Jeanne always spoke like some grand adventure was ahead of Angelica even though when they met she was just a girl locked into a singular floor of this place.

While she gave thought to such things the nature of the fire they were creating came up. According to Charles, making fires in non-magical ways was an important skill. He claimed that the most challenging things were places without magic usage. Hm, she hadn't really ever considered that could be a problem. But preparing for multiple eventualities was something she saw as a specialty of those like Charles who were good at adventuring. "I see. Dry, thick... sticks then? I'll go find some..." she said seeming to take the full brunt of a new adventure onto herself. So rare was it that she got to do anything she could easily go and explore the woods a little ways out to find these sort of sticks and the like. All the while she considered it rather exciting to actually put forth some effort into doing something. And so, she went poking about in the woods a bit, leaving Charles to accompany her or think on his own whichever he preferred.

[Bloodedge]

Angelica claimed she didn't have a pool, but did have a really big bath. Something about that made it sound as if the two things were synonymous, though Charlemagne couldn't question it without proper context. He did wonder why she was once told she'd need a bathing suit, however. Had someone foreseen this event? Did Father An once look into the future to see Charlemagne taking his daughter swimming? Had that been the reason this engagement truly kicked off? Oh... had he seen Charlemagne ogling his naked daughter as well?! Maybe he did, and maybe the engagement was a setup to leave Charlemagne in a vulnerable state for execution!

... No, all of that was beyond ludicrous. He was just letting his mind crowd itself with unnecessary thoughts again, when he should have been focusing on the upcoming journey for firewood. Angelica herself seemed raring to go. With that in mind, it was only right that he join the movement properly... extended silence aside. "Dry, thick sticks, yep! I'll grab some too," he said while following along. It wouldn't be until they were deep enough into the wooded area that Charlemagne took on a different path. He didn't have to do so, but... walking behind Angelica in a swimsuit was not the best idea, he quickly realized. The type of dress she wore did a very specific job of covering the curvature found underneath. Wait... bad thought. It was definitely for the best that he collect wood elsewhere, lest he have a different sort of wood to deal with in a few short moments. "I-I'll check this way. Shout if you need me over there!" he said, splitting their otherwise shared path to veer off in another direction.

[Apollymi]

Ah there were points of curiosity unexplored. Perhaps they'd come up later. In the meantime, Angelica started looking around for sticks finding a few and testing them for dryness and thickness she collected a couple by herself. Only after a moment or two of such walking, did Charles state he'd be off to look in another direction and to holler if she needed him. "Okay~" she chimed. It was very interesting. One of the things she enjoyed most about the lad is that he didn't seem to fuss over her or follow her around too much. She enjoyed the minute independence she had with someone reliable nearby. She had no reason to think anything lesser or sinister of him.

As she collected she wondered if this sort of thing would be appropriate for honeymooning? Perhaps they could go on a real adventure. She never got out much but she was sure Charles didn't intend to keep her locked up on her own floor. She could explore a bit and maybe have a look around. She did this now, looking at the trees and little spots of sun shining through foliage. She picked up an armful of sticks while admiring the scenery before she was thinking she may have had enough. "Oh, Charlie, I have like an armful is that enough?" she asked wondering if she should pick up some more. Of course, by armful, she meant she had an entire collection tucked under her arm, of about 15 to 20 thick, dry and sturdy sticks. Ah, yes, she'd turn herself around and begin walking towards Charles, having senses advanced enough to know where he was in relation to herself even with her eyes closed in a space so lacking in mana as this.

[Bloodedge]

Perfect! For at least a short while, Charlemagne could consider himself safe while using most of his brainpower to will away encroaching erection. He'd sinned more than enough with his mind alone. Judging by earlier interactions with Angelica, he feared her reaction to catching him... pitching a tent as it were. She was so casual about things like that, he expected something along the lines of "oh, so you want a mana transfer?" He could see it so clearly, it was... enticing. Wait, no! It was frightening! More terrifying still was his own reaction. If he said no, wouldn't he be doing himself a disservice in addition to shirking the quality of Angelica's mana? Surely he would. No, these weren't things to think about!

Charlemagne spent some time mentally beating himself over the head, all while gathering wood of one variety and badly fending off wood of another. Eventually, he heard the call of Angelica claiming she had an armful and asking if it was sufficient. "Yeah, that should be plenty," he called back. It would be sufficient if they each brought back an armful or so. Sadly, Charlemagne realized he didn't have nearly enough on his own person. Damn all those distractions in his mind! What could he do? Well, there was nothing he could do except bend at the waist and keep his eyes glued to the ground while snatching up every stick in sight. So, he'd begin doing just that. . .

[Apollymi]

Charles was having such a hard time, and Angelica wouldn't be making it any easier. True to his thoughts if she'd noticed such a thing she likely would have asked him about it in such a way. It seemed to her the completely normal way to address such a situation. She understood enough of human anatomy to know that this was to be considered a good thing since he was her chosen man. Still, there were some complexities in the way humans were being taught by Father An and the way that she'd had information explained to her. Strangely though, even thoughts like this were completely abstract to Angelica. She was excitedly focusing on her adventures, like learning to build a fire by hand! She'd never done anything like that before. Her life was truly becoming more adventurous over time. If only...

Whatever. Charles claimed she had enough and as such she began to move towards him. She found him, bent over picking up all sorts of sticks some that didn't fit the rule he'd given her. Perhaps there was something to this method she didn't understand. She'd likely question it later. "You're really picking up a lot. I could get some more you know... you don't have to stress yourself out about it~" she mused seeming to find his actions strange but not for any particular reasons.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne was frantically picking up sticks all over the ground where he stood. It seemed nothing could stop his snatching, until... Angelica spoke from nearby. He was picking up a lot, she said. He paused all movement to look under his own left arm, finding the strangest assortment of sticks. There was one more still in his right hand, which he let go of after a few moments of hesitation. "Eheh. Well, yeah... can't be too sure, right? We should be fine with all these," he proclaimed. With that, he looked up at last. What a terrible idea that was, as he upward shift of his gaze resulted in a full bottom-to-top view of the bikini-clad blonde.

Hesitation was inevitable. Charlemagne paused for several moments, once again struggling to function properly. Soon enough though, he stood up properly and took the first steps toward camp. "No stress here! Camping's relaxing, no room for stressful things!" he chanted along the way. When they reached camp again, he'd drop his own pile of sticks next to the prepped fire pit. Ah, but there was one thing he'd forgotten that was worth mentioning. "Oh! Tinder! We're going to need a little bit of dry brush of some sort to get it started."

[Apollymi]

Preparing for the eventuality of being short was Charles excuse for continuing to collect. That was reasonable. Angelica had never built a fire without magic so perhaps there was a bit of trial and error involved. What was interesting though, was the marked hesitation after Charles lifted his head. It took him a moment to get himself together, but he did so eventually. Angelica wasn't sure what to make of that reaction, she really needed to have a conversation with another girl to figure out this strangeness. Still, if he was content to keep up their living off the land, she'd continue to learn what he had to teach.

There was the claim that here was no stress, but it was quite obvious he was stressed out more than he'd been before she'd told him about their impending marriage. "Uh-huh, if you say so Charlie. If that's true though, you should probably actually relax a bit~" she mused. In this moment, it seemed they'd need dry brush to use as tinder. She'd never heard of tinder, of course she hadn't. Magical fires needed no extra catalyst. "And tinder is something that helps build a fire?" she asked seeming to find the whole thing strange. Even so she gave a bit of pause, picking up some dried dead leaves and some smaller straw like needles and sticks. Given his description this probably counted right? "You mean like this stuff right..." she said holding out the hand which had just dried leaves in it, while keeping that stack of dried sticks tucked under her other arm. This was going to be an interesting day for both of them.

[Bloodedge]

It was true that Charlemagne should make an effort to actually relax. He'd do so easily while they fished, hopefully. For the time being however, he had to make himself focus. "Yeah, I'll work on that. It should be fine," he said while bundling the drier of the sticks together in teepee formation within the circle of stone. Two particular sticks were set aside, however. They would have use of those only after collecting tinder, which Angelica took the liberty of after presenting a question. "Yeah, it's a necessity," he answered.

Angelica brought forth a collection of dry leaves and the like. Charlemagne reached out to take the pile into his own hands, shuffling it about within sight to make something almost resembling a bowl. "This'll work! So, what we need to do is get this burning. We're going to make coal out of... these!" he said after putting down the tinder, taking up instead the two sticks he set aside earlier. One was a fair bit thicker than the other, but they seemed to have originally come from the same tree. "Wanna get your hands dirty? We need these two, and one of these sharp rocks." While starting his explanation, Charlemagne took a seat on the ground. A quick glance toward the water let him confirm a bit of movement in the net placed within earlier. It looked like they were on the right track to a perfect agenda for the day.

[Apollymi]

Apparently, Charles would work on relaxing. That was good. It would be sort of bad if he didn't manage to relax while they were on a date. Still she couldn't quite place what it was about the situation that he managed to find so stressful. As far as she was concerned this was just like all other times they spent together, only she was getting more hands on life experience to think over.

Oh well, Charles took the dry pieces from her hands and formed them into a bowl. She watched this whole thing carefully while he described the next steps in their current journey. He claimed they had to get everything burning and instead of pulling out any individual pieces, he claimed sticks and rocks to get a fire started. She watched this process with wide eyes only to be invited to participate. When asked if she wished to get her hands dirty those eyes of hers sparkled and she nodded. She'd take a seat on the ground as well, ready and willing to take the directions necessary to begin this fire they were building. Of course, she was more than a little exciting by the prospect. "Of course I do. What do I do?" she asked seemingly excited to be included in such a thing.

[Bloodedge]

There were a few tedious steps to take when starting fires in the wilderness. Charlemagne wasn't sure what good this knowledge would do someone like Angelica, but in this life so far, Charlemagne himself had used life skills he never expected to need. Maybe she'd find it useful one day, even for a casual experience. When Angelica took a seat in the sand, Charlemagne scooted himself closer. Strangely, he didn't even think of any sexual implications when taking his place at her rear, his front against her back. There was only propriety as the male held those sticks out to Angelica's fore from the left, and the rock from the right.

His teaching method was to be a very direct one. If Angelica merely took the items in hand, he'd guide her movements by the forearms from behind. "First thing. It's always better if these sticks are from the same branch, or at least the same tree. One needs to be bigger, and your rock needs to be sharp. Ideally, you'd have a knife or something else handy, but we'll do it with nothing. Now, we want one side of this bigger stick stripped. Take the rock here and scrape it nice and flat, making it at least a bit longer than your hand. Once you've got your flat surface, carve a gentle groove lengthwise down the middle. Just don't take it along the whole flat part you've made."

[Apollymi]

Rather suddenly, Angelica was on the ground taking some very specific instructions from Charles. All of this was fine, he went about explaining how they'd start this fire using nothing but sticks and stones. How interesting. Ah, but when he settled in to completely explain it leading by example and using the woman's own arms and hands to make the proper movements after she accepted the things needed into her empty palms. She was surprised by something.

The flesh of her back was rather exposed by virtue of her being in a bikini. This wasn't a problem but there was a newfound closeness between herself and Charles which left the man's torso against her back. This wouldn't have been a problem either, but he was also shirtless. She could feel his bare skin against her back and it was warm and muscled and because of her enhanced senses she could also feel his mana through his body. She became overly quiet and seemed to turn into a completely different person. She hadn't expected what it would be like to be in such close proximity. Suddenly, she was feeling rather shy. Her own face had gained a heated tint and she was rather glad he couldn't see her. Oh, but now she was thinking about it and being rather quiet at the same time. What to do? "Uh-huh... so we strip the stick, flatten and end, and carve a little groove. Yes... I understand. I don't know why from the same branch but... I guess I don't have to understand everything..." she mentioned softly. Quite unusual it was for her to skip over information. But she kept her hands moving and tried not to think about the very muscled man pressed against her back. Yep. It was fine. No need to let her mind wander, in a moment like this though, she wondered what such a feeling would mean for the future. Whatever the case, the groove would soon be made and maybe the next set of instructions would be given. What she was doing here and now wasn't exactly pretty but it could be considered functional as she followed his directions and guidance.

[Bloodedge]

Perhaps it was strange that Charlemagne initially thought nothing of their current positioning. In truth, it was nothing new to him. He'd even been shirtless in the company of a topless Astolfo before, teaching a skill in a very similar fashion. With enough luck, Charlemagne could continue teaching without encountering a single hiccup. Sadly, even A-rank Luck couldn't help him in situations like these for long. Oh well. At least he had something to occupy his mind for the time being. He was also none the wiser to Angelica's state of fluster. Good thing he was holding her arms high enough to avoid his line of sight being far too convenient. "Yep! Strip, flatten, make a groove!" he said in the most casual manner.

Angelica had something very interesting to say. She wasn't sure why the sticks had to be from the same branch, and frankly, he wasn't sure either. "Huh. You know, I don't know for sure either. It's what I was told, so I always just went with it. Though it probably has a lot to do with texture or something. This takes a lot of rubbing together," he said. Charlemagne probably could have phrased something like that better, but it seemed he didn't have a mind to. Angelica was making decent work of the first stick. It wasn't something that needed to be attractive in a physical sense, but when judging it on potential functionality... "Beautiful! Alright, next is the other one. We only need to mess with the tip this time. We're making it into something like a wedge, one long slant and one short slant. Don't worry if the point isn't super fine; it doesn't need to be."

[Apollymi]

Something about the phrase, 'Strip, flatten, and make a groove...' was eating away at the mind of Angelica. Even as she got help from Charles, she couldn't help but hear the voice of a certain young woman in her mind. Once over drinks there was an utterance about innuendos. Words that could be taken sexually in specific contexts. Angelica in those moments, hadn't understood exactly what was meant, but here and now she was positive that Charles words could be viewed as such. Was innuendo about the state of mind of an individual... was that the missing context clue? She really needed someone to talk with, too bad her resident 'big sis' was long gone. It was tragedy, she could definitely use the advice. Though given that one's personality she was sure she would have seen this scene playing out, walked by, given a thumbs up, said aww... and left her to it. Yes that sounded right.

What didn't sound right though? The next sentence out of the mouth of Charles. He didn't know why they needed to come from the same tree or branch but he knew it would require a lot of rubbing together. "O-okay." she stuttered out. Yes, this was quite the interesting turn. She was certain that this whole situation was some sort of strange innuendo. Her mind twisted the words this man spoke and began relating them to her understanding of 'Mana Transfer'. Surely this shouldn't have been the case, but here she was... gaining a practical education to go along with her given knowledge on the subject. Somehow even on autopilot she managed to do what she needed to with the sticks. Of course, Charles mentioned they didn't have to be aesthetically pleasing simply functional. "Alright, I can manage that..." she said knowing full well her mind was several steps away from such a simple set of uses. She'd make the wedge to go along with the weird slot. Assuming it passed the test as well, she asked her next question. "Okay, what's next?" she asked her excitement was normal but she was quite distracted in addition. He was holding her quite closely, and though it was probably just to teach this activity, she was certain she liked it. There were obviously other situations in which she could be held like this right?

[Bloodedge]

Progress was being made, and nothing had gone awry just yet. Well... that much was true of Charlemagne, who was none the wiser to the mental hoops Angelica leapt through. He was doing fine, much to his own surprise. Even better, Angelica went about forming a wedge of the second stick. That little stammer in her verbal confirmation was odd, but Charlemagne attributed it to some light nervousness. "Nothing to worry about. You're doing fine," he assured for what he thought was the right reason.

Once that wedge was made, Angelica wondered what the next step was. Next on the agenda was basically the final step, though there were some requirements. "Alright, so next we take the bigger one and keep it held down firm. For that, uh... here, this'll work!" Charlemagne's idea was not the brightest. He shifted to hook one of his legs around Angelica, aiming to place it under her thigh while pinning the flat-sided stick under his shin. It needed to be as firm as possible, but he didn't want to subject the lass to any splinters. Sadly, Charlemagne created three issues for himself. In addition to feeling Angelica's soft thigh against his own leg, it was very difficult trying to keep his groin from pressing against her backside. That was only going to become more difficult over time, he imagined. Worse still, he could only continue offering assistance by looking down... which gave him an eyeful of cleavage from over Angelica's shoulder. Right... fine. He could ignore all that, right? Damned be the hastening of his heartbeat already. "Ah... Okay. So uh... now we just... take this stick... put this end of the wedge into the groove here... and... rub it... back and forth. Not too much pressure, but uh... it'll start to feel different when the friction builds up... so you can start moving faster. It might start smoking by then too. When it does, put pressure down as well. . ."

[Apollymi]

Oh? He thought that she was nervous... that was probably for the best. There was no way she was about to explain the random things moving through her mind. She didn't know much, but she knew for a fact it would be embarrassing. "Okay, I won't be..." she said knowing full well she was falling apart. She was certain her face wasn't meant to be the temperature it was currently.

And it would only get worse. Charles soon had a leg beneath the girl, tucking her into the space between his legs, leaving just enough room for her to breath but there was still the full texture of his leg beneath her own to deal with. Was he really this muscular? How had she not noticed before? Oh this was going to be great, wasn't it? No. Terrible. She couldn't say the things she as thinking aloud right now, they were on a date. She was learning a life skill. She needed to focus! Focusing was so hard! And it was made even harder by Charles, words. She was to take the wedge stick and rub it back and forth against the groove she'd created. It was supposed to be done without too much pressure initially but it was supposed to build up? This was definitely an innuendo! Her eyes were swirling. Still those movements of hers started. She couldn't let him know how far her brain had fallen today. No. She had to move. So she did. Slowly at first and then it became easier. There was a lot of friction involved in this and her body was moving steadily to accommodate this. She could do this, she could make a fire... just going to rub sticks together, in a manner which was way too similar to the mechanics of Mana Transfer and ignore the fact that it seemed to be a one to one understanding as far as she understood.

[Bloodedge]

Speaking of one-to-one understandings, Charles had a few of his own. The concept of mana transfers was once foreign to him, leaving the lad at the later end of an opposite extreme. He'd come from another world long ago. In that world he was first born into, the idea of sex had become an epidemic by his generation. Innuendo was a way of upholding normal conversation for some, and for good reason. Charlemagne was soon to understand said reason, if he didn't already.

Angelica began rubbing wood against wood in a way Charlemagne strangely hadn't equated to anything sexual. What he did make the connection to however, was the movements themselves in this strange position he had them in. Oh... now he was having problems. He had to keep an eye on Angelica's efforts for the sake of teaching, but all that back-and-forth shifting was making her breasts sway in the most hypnotic manner from where Charlemagne saw them. His attention was taken with ease. Just as well, the whole of her back was in his periphery. There wasn't much to see past all that hair, but there was just enough between swirls of blonde to endanger the young man. He was fidgeting. There wasn't much choice, lest his hardening manhood make obvious his train of thought. How long would it be now before he could stand up again?! Whatever the case, the teaching had to continue unhindered. "Alright. Now, apply pressure. Once you see the buildup start, you uh... push harder and faster, pushing more into a pile at the end there. We want to work up a good little amount so it stays hot for awhile after we stop."

[Apollymi]

Unlike Charles, Angelica was born in this world. She didn't know of the innuendo and euphamisms used by the sex-crazed youth of Charles' time. No. Instead she was left to discover some strange extra meaning that existed in Mana Transfers that she didn't know should. That being said, she didn't innately dislike it at all. She loved and appreciated things which were pleasing to her eye, which were useful and innovative. Why shouldn't her future husband be all of those things as well?

Obviously he should be. But right now they were way too distracted. Here and now, Angelica was receiving extra instructions while she was trying on purpose to keep her mind focused. She was busy, but her eyes were practically swirling. This was definitely sexual. She definitely understood how to start a fire now, she could almost feel one of a different sort, as she found a certain warmth spreading in her loins. Definitely unusual, but not unwelcome. It was fine, she just had to make a fire. That little build up was starting to occur, she'd added a bit more pressure as she moved. She was starting to get a feel for it, it had its own type of rhythm. Obviously she was almost there... almost to the point she was looking for. "Alright it's getting there, I guess...." she murmured. "I'll keep going..." she said in finality. Yep, she'd fully dive into this activity in the hopes that her reddened face, and spiraling mana weren't at all something anyone else would notice.

[Bloodedge]

It didn't take very long to start a fire. Charlemagne could surely survive this ordeal without the temptation of sin rampaging all over his mortal soul. This was all seeming worse than the idea of being captured and tortured by the Saxons; he'd probably have an easier time resisting them. The more pressure she applied and the faster she rubbed those pieces of wood together, the more Charlemagne saw the most appealing bounce of her breasts. That was only the visual factor.

Ah, but Angelica would keep going; she had to keep going. The buildup was starting to show in more ways than one. Charlemagne, in his position, was suffering a form of buildup that would prove dangerous in a matter of seconds. His angle made this all look like penetration could have been happening between them. Luckily there were no moans or heavy breathing coming from Angelica, but unluckily, that didn't stop the feeling of Charlemagne's crotch rubbing against his own trunks while it pulsed. The smell of Angelica's hair was also prevalent from where he sat with all that gentle wafting happening in front of him. It was so ridiculously pleasant, yet he couldn't compare it to anything. "Ah─... yeah, keep going," he said, simply meaning to encourage the activity so this could be over before any surprises came his way. It was almost over, right? The coal would be ready before things spiraled out of control, he could slide out of this dangerously-close position, and he could just... sit there for awhile, right?

[Apollymi]

Angelica was using her current activities to try and ignore any strange happenings. She'd come to understand the nature of bodies in a singular moment, she was quite certain she didn't need anything else on her plate right now. So imagine her surprise when hearing a sentence she couldn't take any way but sexually. Her eyes really were swirling now. How was she supposed to think? She seemed to be exhausting herself just a bit, basically holding her breath as she tried her best to just get this fire started. She really needed this fire to start. The build up was there, it was continuing to work. That smoking had to start any moment right?

At the same time, she felt quite nice tucked into Charles' body like this. She could even while her mind was practically blank even appreciate how attentive he was as a teacher. She could do this. She could put for the same effort not to be distracted that he was given his still spot on speech and catches. Maybe it was just her? Maybe she was the one blowing this whole thing out of proportions. Her work on those sticks had indeed become quite vigorous. Her body was starting to shift with her movements as she tried her best to keep the right pace while creating the fire.

[Bloodedge]

For once, it seemed things were starting to stabilize. Finally finding an end to the fidgeting by settling into a position that wouldn't incriminate him. Charlemagne didn't even realize he'd been holding his breath, but now that this moment had come, he certainly heaved a sigh of relief. Tension left the young man's body... at least most of it. Only time could reverse the stiffness of his member. Time... and lack of further prodding.

Alas, the metaphorical prodding had not stopped yet, nor would it stop until Angelica produced results. Thinking he could offer her greater freedom of movement and force, Charlemagne moved his hands away from her forearms. They settled instead upon her upper arms, just beneath the shoulders. After all, it wasn't his direct assistance she needed now; she could just do with a bit of guidance or... encouragement, rather. "Looks good. Your uh... arm work is pretty um... vigorous," he said, finally having an eye-widening link form in his mind. "I mean! In a good way, of course! It's a good way to start a fire!" he added suddenly.

[Apollymi]

It all kept going. Eventually there was a slight shift. Charlemange managed to stop holding on to her arms, well that wasn't entirely true. He moved to her upper arms without breaking contact thus it didn't change his closeness. That was both great and terrifying. Angelica was sure she was incapable of properly thinking with him so close. Even so, she couldn't help but be distracted by his presence. His words were shifting in her mind, making even things she knew were innocent sound sexual. Was this the real skill of humans? She supposed she'd be finding out eventually.

Still there was encouragement of Charles. He claimed that her arm work was, vigorous in a good way. "T-thanks, I'm trying my best," she managed to stutter out. Yes, she'd continue and it'd seemingly get easier. Of course, what wouldn't get easier was maintaining anything resembling normal thoughts in her brain. For instance, that compliment she'd just accepted, would that be applied to something else? Would she eventually be rewarded for her seemingly decent amount of stamina? Why was she even thinking that?! Whatever the case, those swirls in her eyes and her overly high temperature were bound to help this whole situation along. Was that smoke rising or steam from her own overly warm body? She wasn't sure, but perhaps... perhaps they'd actually manage to get through this.

[Bloodedge]

That was definitely smoke rising from Charlemagne's angle. If it were anything else, perhaps even the male's head was an option as his brain fried itself. Hopefully it wouldn't be too long before he could stand again. Of course, he doubted that. Assuming that smoke wasn't some random hallucination, they would be needing the tinder soon. There were no problems there, right?

Well... there was one massive problem, actually. Charlemagne could see the pile of tinder from where he was, if he could actually avert his gaze for more than half a second. Even not looking directly at it, he knew it was just ahead and yet out of arms' reach. He couldn't get it from where he was, which meant... oh. "Um. If you've got a good smolder going, you'll need the tinder. It's just... right over there," he stated, looking out ahead. Charlemagne himself surely couldn't move around Angelica and grab it, lest he reveal what he'd been intentionally hiding all this time. However, he could also see the potential of how Angelica reaching out would go. That wouldn't realistically happen though, right? Maybe his luck would pay off this time? One could hope. . .

[Apollymi]

Ah yes, freedom. Apparently the smoke she thought she was seeing wasn't just in her own vision and due in large part to the simmering thoughts passing through her mind. No, she'd actually achieved the goal of causing two sticks to smolder just a little bit. Okay, but according to Charles, the tinder was a bit away. She could get it, what would it hurt. "Oh, right... I suppose you're a bit pinned down at the moment," she mused seeming to mean that absently. Still she'd find herself leaning over trying to reach the tinder.

It was an excruciating process. She tried just to reach for it with one hand but it was just out of reach. What more could she do? She had to get it... well, she leaned her hips up quite a bit. the reaching became just a bit easier. "Almost got it," she was mumbling just a bit as her fingers tried to grasp that collection of twigs and leaves. Eventually she would feel the immense relief. None the wiser of any strange views she might have been providing only for her body to come rocking backward as she finally managed to grab hold of the tinder? Probably the erection that Charles had been so apt to hide. In fact, that might be something which stunned her quite a bit after she relaxed against him again. "Yes! Got it!" she let out excitedly only to have her mind blank completely.

[Bloodedge]

Why did Charlemagne believe, even for a moment, that this situation could become easier? What a stupid train of thought. It couldn't become simpler as long as Angelica was in such close proximity and within his line of sight. Worse still, it could only become more complicated as she kept moving. Ah, but there was one even worse potential. She could have a far enough reach to basically show Charlemagne the full curve of her buttocks from where he sat. Of course that one was the true path Angelica treaded.

"A─" He couldn't form a single word. Befuddled by being in the greatest and most sin-inducing viewpoint in Aincrad, he blew a gasket in his brain. Sadly, that would only make the next thing more surprising. He'd considered the possibilities that would lead to his erection's longevity against his own wishes, but... he'd forgotten to consider that Angelica could be the one causing herself to bump into it. She did, and he lamented... or did he? Those poor teenagers in the other world knew the majesty of a thing called dry-humping, and Charlemagne now felt its splendor directly. What could he say? Nothing. What could he do? Freeze. It seemed every muscle in his body, bar the one he wished to make still, had ceased operating. Could he even talk his way out of this? That pulsing bastard in his trunks was proof of his unholy thoughts─ toward the Holy Princess of all people! Surely he was on a one-way trip to Hell! Well, at least he was able to make a pitstop in Heaven first. Maybe that was a better way to think about things, or maybe... it was somehow even worse. . .

[Apollymi]

Charles didn't account for Angelica bumping into him. At the same time, Angelica was unprepared for what doing such a thing would mean while she had any real understanding of what could be going on. Her eyes widened. Was it normal to have contact with it? How should she approach this situation? She'd bumped into him and it'd been an accident but she wasn't expecting to feel something against her rear at all. There was so much in her brain right now!

First and foremost there was general knowledge, Charles was at least attracted to her as he currently had a lot of blood and mana flow directly to his groin. Second, something felt ever so slightly embarrassing about bumping into him. It was an accident, but continuing obviously wasn't an option. The man had practically froze when she did, well except for one thing, she shouldn't have noticed it right? No one prepared her for a moment like this, it was confusing, but pleasant and and and... "Woops, I didn't mean to... I'm sorry..." she said knowing she'd bumped into him, she moved forward a bit, she'd almost dropped the tinder. "I... ah, what do I do now? About the fire, I mean...." she stammered together rather quickly. She needed focus, and an adult woman to explain somethings to her. Maybe he'd frozen because she'd hurt him? Maybe she should be apologizing more? Maybe he was really just into her and their marriage would be nice. Ooops that last one might have been a bit of an overstep, but it seemed likely. Regardless, she put a bit of space between them, managing to scoot to the side, her face still a brilliant shade of red as she tried to find focus in this fire making process. She was supremely embarrassed so, her eyes only darted towards Charles a couple of times, as if encouraging the lad to focus as well. While she saw nothing wrong with mana transfers in general, she was no longer certain how to approach this situation at all. It didn't feel wrong, but calling it just a mana transfer no longer felt right. She didn't expect to feel any particular way about it, but now it seemed to be something she should be more invested in.

[Bloodedge]

Hell. Somewhere in the place known as Hell, there was an iron throne having the name Charlemagne engraved on its seat. Maybe it was even made of porcelain for thematic purposes, considering how quickly all his plans went down the proverbial shitter. Why didn't he just take the time Angelica was moving forward to put additional space between their bodies? Oh... probably because he was busy ogling the Holy Princess' ass the whole time! 'Stupid, stupid!' he thought of himself.

Angelica didn't mean to land against his groin; that much was obvious before she said so. There wasn't much point in her apologizing for it. If anything, Charlemagne should have been apologizing in confession for enjoying the experience. Maybe confession could save him from whatever this world's Hell was like? At this rate, he probably didn't have time before his name was etched into that throne. They definitely couldn't just throw it out; it had to be a very long-term reservation once completed. Oh. Right. They were doing something, weren't they? Angelica asked what should be done now, but one might wonder if Charlemagne's mind could even comprehend reality at the moment. "Um. You uh. You... put it in the hole," he stuttered. That was it, plain and simple. It was the only logical step at this current juncture, but maybe that wasn't exactly the right thing to say.

"Coal. Bowl! You put the bowl in the hole! I mean the hole in the coal! I mean─" Breathe. He had to breathe deeply a few times before trying again. "You put... the coal... in the h─... bowl." Finally, he managed to get it right! Of course there was more to it than that, as the next step was the most vital to starting fires. "Tap it in gently. Make sure it doesn't lose too much heat. Then you..." He gulped. "... Grab both sides of the bowl and push them together. Gently. Don't squeeze too hard, or you'll... smother it." Apparently, explaining fire-starting was nowhere near as easy as it once was. . .

[Apollymi]

Charles thought he was going to hell, meanwhile Angelica thought there was some nuance to this situation she'd been misled about. This didn't feel like it would ever be a simple exchange of mana. This made her heartbeat feel strange and her body warm up. Surely, nana transfer wasn't supposed to be something so emotional? Or maybe, it was? And that was simply something she was meant to discover for herself?

Whatever the case, Charles had nothing to say to her apology. So perhaps he wasn't as injured as she initiallly thought? And now she was asking about the fire building and he said she should put it in the hole...

Angelica's eyes widened and her face turned towards his as if on instinct. Still, that flush was so present she turned away quickly not wanting it obvious how her mind processed that statement. If it was even possible her face went even more red. She knew he was talking about something related to the fire, but why did she interpret it so sexually? Maybe because he had a boner and she was already kind of feeling strangely herself? Oops, but that wasn't what he meant. He clarified soon after slipping over several of the words. She went about following his instructions, taking a deep breath as well. "Coal, into bowl, gently..." she repeated. Soon after she was tapping that small piece of coal into the tinder and following the rest of his directions. "Hold both sides, gently, keep the heat..." she was musing quietly. Keeping these instructions but somehow ever since the first words, this entire thing still sounded sexual. "Not too hard..." she said as she cupped her hands around the tinder. Surely it began to smoke just a bit as she placed all her concentration on this thing. Of course, a few random glances towards Charles happened as well. She was suddenly very aware of his being a different gender from herself and she wasn't upset about it. Actually, she was pretty into it, if she was being honest.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne was finally realizing how many of his words were coming out. Thinking back, it had been that way since they first reached the lake. He could only hope the talk of fishing wouldn't go the same way, though it seemed every time he hoped for something, the opposite happened. They could at least somewhat move on from the awkwardness, at least verbally. Angelica took his instruction and set the tinder up for igniting proper flame. There was but one thing remaining before they could move on properly.

Right... the final thing didn't have to be an innuendo. This didn't have to be another high school situation brought into a magical world. This explanation could be plain, simple, and not at all capable of being misconstrued. "Alright. You're doing well. Just... blow on it gently─"

It never worked out. By now, he should just give up trying. Angelica wasn't the only one with that hasty aversion of gaze; Charlemagne was doing the same in her direction. It seemed he'd occasionally shoot a glance either at her face or her body... until after that final statement, at which point he looked over to see her looking his way as well. If he didn't know any better, Charlemagne would have assumed steam was spewing out of his ears. "Um. I mean... the fire. Blow gently on the embers, and it should grow into a fire. Not like... other stuff. Not that I was thinking other stuff! I mean, I wasn't not thinking of..." And there he went again. Eventually, Charlemagne slapped both of his own cheeks to force a bit of rational thought into himself. "... Fires."

[Apollymi]

Ah, the awakening was upon them both. It seemed that Charles was at least a little embarrassed by now as well. She hadn't meant to bump against him, but after apologizing for it, she was quite certain she'd do it again if the opportunity presented itself. Was it wrong to apologize for something you fully intended to do again? Her mind wouldn't be allowed to consider the intricacies of human interaction. Her own wandering mind wasn't currently the topic of conversation, which made her happy.

No instead she was being told to blow on it gently. Now, she took that as it was intended but the constant innuendo meant that she also processed it within her head a bit differently. Those little stolen glances had told her that Charles was in a similar situation to her already, and he obviously wasn't forcing himself to say such embarrassing words on purpose. He started fixing the sentence but much like the previous time he'd done so, it seemed to go a bit left. She was left to decide he did indeed think in a way similar than her, it made her feel better. But the fact that he immediately tried to cover it up, made her wonder if such things weren't just normal... A gentle pursing of her lips occurred as she began to gently blow upon the little cinder trying to help it become a proper fire. A single moment would see her speaking for the first time in a while. "Remember to breathe, Charlie... you don't have to explain your thoughts to me. I know I'd have a tough time explaining mine~" she said to reassure him and comfort herself as well. She wouldn't want to have to explain her own thoughts right just now either. It was fine, they could continue, concentrating on fires and thinking whatever... things they were thinking within their own minds. Yes, that was good. That little fire was starting to burn properly now and she needed to know what to do with it.

[Bloodedge]

Breathing was easy to remember. He wouldn't have even needed the extra breathing if not for all that temptation right in front of his face! "I am breathing, Angie! You and your... your..." Another heave accompanied the abrupt pause of his statement. Whatever he had to say, he decided to refrain for the time being─ maybe indefinitely. Strangeness was encroaching again, though. Angelica claimed he didn't need to explain his thoughts, further noting that she'd have difficulty explaining hers. What? That couldn't have meant anything resembling what he thought. This particular woman didn't even know there was a difference between mana transfers and sex, so it couldn't have been that ridiculous. "You... have no idea," Charlemagne insisted.

After a great deal of tribulations, the tinder had been lit. It was best if he moved on with what happened next, lest Angelica have her hands set ablaze in a matter of moments. Still breathing deeply, he looked toward the firepit. "I left a little space in the sticks. Shove it in that hole and..." He paused again. This couldn't keep happening. "Um. Yeah, just drop it in there and drop a few more sticks over the open space." That one went off almost without a hitch. Perhaps he was actually getting better at this. Now, if only he could keep his eyes off Angelica's unmentionable areas, he'd be alright to move around at some point this day.

[Apollymi]

According to Charles he was breathing, perhaps he was, but he wasn't internalizing the action. Actually, if the mana in his body was being sensed properly, she'd say he'd been holding his breath right up until the point it began to pool in his loins. Of course, she wouldn't mention that, it seemed almost rude to have noticed in the first place. "Uh-huh, if you say so," she said, not managing to avoid the teasing tone she normally had. It was far too much to ask of the lad, whatever he presently thought of her, he was still teaching her about making fires. She was sure this wasn't a lesson that would ever slip her mind. He claimed she had no idea, she begged to differ. What she did know had her more confused than anything had in at least 1000 years.

Speaking of the lesson, it was continuing. Yes still with the innuendo but that was almost starting to seem normal. But here and now she was to place her little starting fire into the space in the fire pit. And place some more sticks on top of it. She could manage at least that. "Okay, into the space, more sticks on top..." she mused. Seeming to keep up with the bit about fires. Of course, they were having a good time and she had a moment or two to get her life together without Charles pressed against the back of her. Her face might even be able to go back to its original pallor at some point. Good good. Now, what she really needed in life more than anything was to speak with someone who better understood humans, because it was obvious she was missing a lot. Times like this, truly made her miss the girl who'd dubbed herself her 'Big Sis'.

[Bloodedge]

It went without saying that Angelica didn't believe a word he said. It was always like this; she had to have some sort of sense for his lies. That'd make marriage either really simple, or really awkward in the future. Wait, no! He wasn't entertaining that idea! There was no way it could possibly work! He was here to... oh. He was here on a date, because he had already at least somewhat entertained the engagement. Charlemagne should have questioned when that even happened, as he couldn't remember reaching any conclusion besides no.

What he did remember, was agreeing within this 'date' to teach Angelica a useful survival skill or two. Now, she was placing tinder in her first non-magical fire. A few additional sticks placed atop it, and Charlemagne was sitting back to watch the smoke rise. They'd have a solid burning flame in a matter of moments. Now then, since he was already outed for his current state, Charlemagne wondered if he should bother continuing to sit. That still wasn't something to just leave visible, right? "Good work! We can go ahead with the fishing now. Well... not now. I uh... I'm gonna sit here for a minute," he said in the most direct way he could manage. If Angelica thought she needed guidance, Charlemagne was in the same boat. Between instinct and religion, he was going through the most difficult trial of his life. The Saxons would really be an easier thing to overcome than this. . .

[Apollymi]

Finally, a fire had been started. Those little flame tongues, were starting to move and that made Angelica breathe a sigh of relief. It was nice to know that even a distraction and mental meltdown the likes of which her age old mind had never known before, didn't manage to keep her from following through with a new goal. They were both unaware the extremes of effects they had on each other, but that was just another bit of an adventure. Now it was time for fishing, but not before Charles congratulated her on her most recent work. She would have responded to that alone but apparently they wouldn't be immediately moving on to fishing. Instead he would be sitting down for a minute... why? A bit of thought ensued before Angelica's eyes widened.

"Oh, yeah. Take your time... I'm gonna go... hang out over there..." she mentioned. Maybe if all else failed she could drown herself and no one would be any wiser. Well, that might traumatize Charles a little but, he seemed to be already on the trauma change. A single death would be fine, and would also remove the added tension of his potential getting married to her. Not that she didn't want to marry him. No, if anything she was more set on the idea now than she had been when she'd come up with it. Even so, she didn't expect this level of complexity to go along with it. But given the way she felt for so long, perhaps the humans understood better the merits of 'Mana Transfer' controlled by emotions.

[Bloodedge]

For a time, Charlemagne wondered if they would ever actually accomplish a fire. Things seemed rather dangerous as of the past few minutes. Finally though, a flame was growing properly. This situation could turn around toward a more positive direction. At least, that was how it seemed. Charlemagne didn't breathe a sigh of relief only to immediately enter a stressful situation this time, so that was something of a win already.

He would be sitting around until that pesky erection went away. Luckily enough, Angelica made the decision to move somewhere else for a while. That sort of separation wasn't exactly conducive to a date, but perhaps it could be likened to a quick restroom trip. Oh, that wasn't a good thought at all. There were a lot of things a single man could do with a restroom trip, and one of those things would be helpful right now. What a terrible thought! "Yeah, sure. I'll be there in just a minute... I think," he claimed. Of course, Charlemagne wasn't sure how long it would actually take. If Angelica made the wrong... or right move when taking herself elsewhere, he'd basically be back to square one.

[Apollymi]

Where would Angelica go in a moment like this? Well, she stood dusted off and wandered over towards the little dock. She'd casually find herelf sitting on the end of the pier looking out at the water and calming her mind. Actually, she really liked these big open expanses of water now that she was looking at it. Perhaps this was something worth considering, when she got around to a bit more landscaping to go along with her redecorating. Yes, that was something she should consider. All the while she was willing to leave Charles alone for just a bit. This place truly was rather peaceful. Besides, in a moment like this, a bit of cold water on her feet and a nice view was a good way to distract herself from whatever strangeness came to her thoughts were Charles was concerned. Yes, this was a date, it'd been interesting so far. Actually, she assumed most dates weren't this awkward, but again... she didn't have anyone to ask about it now. Maybe that would change soon as well?

[Bloodedge]

Maybe a lot of things would change soon. Maybe among those changes would be a change in the state of Charlemagne's manhood. That would have been lovely... if it didn't change in the wrong direction. Ah but no, he couldn't do the things necessary to make that happen. Instead, when Angelica stood up to take her leave, he let his eyes wander. Some credit could be given for his attempt to look away, right? Well... probably not. He thought he should look away, but never did he manage to do so. All he managed to do was make his trunks fit even more snugly. . .

Even with his terrible decision of watching Angelica walk away, Charlemagne was eventually set on the right track for her backside being out of sight. He could sit where he was, taking a bit of extra time to let the thoughts pass. All things considered, that could have been way worse than it was. Luckily, Angelica didn't prove to be so casual about a "simple mana transfer" as he expected. He wasn't sure why that was the case, but he would have expected her to treat the situation like it was nothing. Ah, some luck struck him this day.

It took Charlemagne a solid few minutes of relaxing/meditating before he reached an appropriate level of flaccidity. With that, he could finally get up and move around comfortably. Once he was up and about, he looked first to the moving water around that net he'd placed earlier. Many small fish on their way toward the river had been caught, and they would soon be useful. "Whew! Thanks for waiting; we can get started now! Er... I'd offer a drink, but all I have in the tent out here is beer. I could make a quick trip to the cabin if you'd like though," he said, assuming one called the Holy Princess wanted nothing to do with beer of all things.

[Apollymi]

It would probably be a while before this pair of people understood the kind of effect they had on each other. Such was to be expected when two teens met with different backgrounds at such a strange junction in their lives. Regardless, Angelica easily found herself staring out into space, her mind nearly blank enough to hear whispers over the water. Once again, she seemed to have dozed off a bit, well, not really... she was listening rather intently once more for that strange voice which kept trying to reach out to her, it was almost like a breeze, but once again, it disappeared. Her concentration broken but not in a way she minded at all.

It'd taken a few mintues, but eventually Charles was up and moving around again. He claimed they could now get started and this piqued her interest. Of course, he went on to offer a drink, claiming he only had beer in the tent but offering to get her something else. One of those preferred little blurbs popped back up into her head and she waved him off. "Beer is fine, I haven't had one in ages. But why is that the only thing in your tent?" she asked, seemingly more interested in why that specific drink than turning it down in favor of something else. She wouldn't send him out of the way just to get her something else to drink. Besides all that, she didn't dislike beer to start with, though she could see how it might be an acquired taste.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne had no idea what happened while Angelica looked out at sea, nor did he have any idea she'd been spacing out in such a way recently. It was the first time such a thing occurred around him, and he was rather preoccupied with his own situation at the time─ there was no noticing that. Now was the time to figure out what he'd be searching for in the cabin... except that wouldn't be happening. Just as he prepared to turn around, Angelica said beer was... fine.

What? Charlemagne had been attached to Aincrad for about a millennium by now, yet he'd never heard a stranger thing from anyone else here. Something about princesses of any sort and beer just didn't seem to mix naturally. It was a surprising thing to hear, albeit not unpleasant. Frankly, Charlemagne considered it to be something of a humanizing element to the otherwise beacon of holy majesty. "I'm not even going to ask when you've ever had a beer. Alright," he replied. En route to the tent, Charlemagne processed a question. Why was beer the only thing in his tent? The answer may have been strange. "It's kind of a tradition I guess? You're most likely to learn how to fish from some old guy, and they often have beer around. It sorta fits. It's a long, relaxing activity, so a few casual beers is the way it goes," he explained.

With that said, he'd reach into the tent and exert himself just a bit to lift a keg onto his shoulder. Two mugs were grabbed as well, just before he turned about and walked toward the dock. "Full disclosure, I'm cheating just a little," he said while lowering the keg. "This thing's a magic item that keeps the beer cold until it's poured. It's not exactly living off the land, but..." The clause ended there with a shrug. Charlemagne wasted no further time before tapping the keg and filling both mugs, one of which he offered to Angelica, while the other was placed on the dock. "Have that. I'll grab the rods and bait."

[Apollymi]

It seemed that there was a bit of strangeness when Angelica mentioned that she wouldn't mind drinking a beer. Of course, there was quite a tale behind most of Angelica's life experiences. She'd gone without talking about them for quite some time mostly because of her own remaining feelings about the person she'd experienced them with. Of course, she could talk about it now, but she was rather pleased. "I assume my first beer experience wasn't too strange a thing. I didn't expect that to be surprising at all..." she stated. Regardless, it seemed there was an open answer to the question she posed.

According to Charles, one was usually taught to fish by an old man. Said old man usually had beer and it became a part of the tradition of fishing. It was a relaxing and quiet experience and casual drinking seemed to go hand in hand with that. "I see. That does make a reasonable amount of sense. I am kind of glad that a random old guy isn't teaching me though. Seems like that would be boring," she said placing the thought away for a while. Charles came back from the tent with a keg and two mugs in tow. He claimed this was kind of cheating for their 'living off the land' scenario, but also made the claim that the beer was kept cold within the keg. "Well, if I am being honest, warm beer is disgusting so... thanks for the minor deviation from the original plan~" she mused. Soon after she accepted the mug and casually took a sip out of it. There really was something to the whole, old beer thing. She could easily find herself staring out into the distance again, this time being a bit more conscious of her surroundings given Charles was only walking away for a moment.

[Bloodedge]

Angelica didn't believe her first beer-drinking experience was strange. Charlemagne could imagine why. Apart from himself, there were only two likely suspects for introducing the Holy Princess to cheap alcohol. One was unrealistic at face-value, but... he knew a bit better than most how that one was. "I shouldn't be surprised. Apparently, beer is the common drink of many places here. There are these places, Mesopotamia and Egypt, where beer is super popular. Wine is a way more precious thing, but somewhere like this, wine is what's expected. The outside world is weird sometimes," he rambled.

Charlemagne had been taught the art of fishing by an old man in his original life, and again by an old man within Aincrad. Both of those elders were drinkers of beer, so it was only natural that he'd become one. It may not have even been his drink of choice, but it felt right when fishing. As for Angelica not being taught by an old man, Charlemagne scoffed. "You are being taught by an old man. I'm somewhere around a thousand by now," he said from a few meters away while dragging a net full of small fish out of the water. With the net slung over his shoulder, he took both rods in one hand to begin his return trip. "I know you are too; I'm not even sure which of us is older. But... a thousand years is more than ten times a normal person's lifespan. Where I come from, you'd be lucky to see eighty," he mused. Charlemagne took a seat on the pier's edge with that note. The two fishing rods were placed between Angelica and himself, and the net was secured just behind them. He took a moment before getting into the thick of things to pick up his mug and raise it to toast.

[Apollymi]

According to Charles, beer was a popular drink in a lot of places. But he mentioned two of the countries, which were part of the continent in the sky, as places which partook. He commented on the rarity of wine in such places as well. "Yeah, I remember hearing that. And drinking a bit. Wine is good too, but I find it a bit misleading..." she said. What was the truth of such a statement? She'd had several girls' nights with a certain young woman before. And during those she drank beer a few times, then wine and then some other sort of wine which was well beyond wine of normal quality. She was certain such things were likely hard to come by, given the strength was determined by mana quality at production. This meant the best wine had to come from the highest quality existence. "As for wine, does that really count?" she asked in an almost sarcastic way. After all, she'd had the 'wine' that was common in Aincrad and she'd also had some which was of a quality she couldn't even describe.

Moving on, Charles claimed that he was around a thousand years old, and though they were pretty close in age, he wasn't sure which of them was older. He made an interesting statement about that, claiming that where he was from the lives of the average person weren't expected to reach eighty. "Hm, that is really young... though I heard something similar before. I assumed that the mana density had to be exceedingly low for death to be something so very frequent," she said. Ah, her understanding of the world was rather spot on, but she wouldn't ever really know how right she was. "Regardless, you don't seem that old, and you're not stuck in your ways or anything so I wouldn't worry about it," she said of the aging difference. In this world, people like Charles would live quite a long time. She was certain she'd also live quite a while longer than most considering she was already 1000 years old give or take a few years. Still she held up her mug for a toast, tapping it gently against Charles'. "Not sure what we're toasting to but cheers~" she said happily. Yes, they were going to be fishing but that didn't mean they couldn't just have plain amounts of fun and conversation.

[Bloodedge]

"How's wine misleading?" Charlemagne wondered. He supposed there were some aspects of wine that could be considered in that way, but he had no context for Angelica's meaning. He also wasn't sure what she meant by asking if wine 'counted', though perhaps it had something to do with the quality she knew of. One Jeanne d'Arc had spoken ages ago about a wine of divine quality. "I guess it depends. I'm sure you know some people drink wine as a ritual, and some drink to get drunk. It all depends on the culture and wine quality," he stated.

Mana had to be a key factor in human lifespans within this world. Charlemagne hadn't given it much consideration due to being far too occupied with... staying alive, doing quest, etcetera. Comparing this world to the one he'd first been born in however, magic seemed to be the main difference, so there was a great deal of sense to be found there. "That's the most sensible take I can think of. And you can say all that, but it'll take another thousand years for me to stop thinking I'm old now. And by then, I'll be old!" he proclaimed. As for what they were toasting to when Angelica bumped her mug against his, was there even anything worth toasting to? Charlemagne took a moment to think. "Huh, I guess there's nothing really. It's just a habit at this point, so... to being old but not old?" Of course, that would do just fine, he thought. With nothing else to add, he lifted his mug for a few healthy gulps. Meanwhile, he dragged over the net of baitfish. "Step one: baiting the hook. Pick out one of these guys, make sure the hook's in it good and sturdy. That's all there is to it."

[Apollymi]

A light scoff came from Angelica in a moment like this, she'd tasted wine, and she'd tasted the thing being given out in Aincrad and called wine and they were two very different things. "The wine they hand out here is juice," she said. "Calling it wine feels wrong," she added. Of course, having tasted the best possible, it was only natural to call the false thing what it was. It would be equivalent to witnessing a miracle and then watching parlour tricks, the difference was so obvious that it didn't need to be rationalized. Ah, but Charles had a rationalization just the same, the claim that drinking for ritual and drinking for drunkness were different. "I suppose those two reasons are good enough for the types of wine to exist as they do," she said giving a shrug.

Ah, but there were more things to discuss than just that. Their relative ages, and Charles view on his own mortality and her thoughts about the mortality of mortals seemed to be something interesting. He seemed to agree with her idea about the lack of mana being the main reason for shortened lifespans. "Hm, I suppose if you are twice your age, that is a lot relatively, but still nothing to worry about. You don't seem like the kind to get left behind by the times or anything, if that's the case, you won't really be old even when you're like super ancient~" she mused. Of course, their toast was then to getting old, without getting old. She smiled then. "I can drink to that~" she said and then a few healthy sips of her own beer were taken as well. She'd spend the time after, having Charles explain how the whole fishing situation would work. She needed to use a small fish as bait, making sure it was on the hook properly. She went about attaching such a thing with her now free hands. Though she wasn't used to using her own hands for things like this, she had reasonably high amounts of dexterity. As such she had a relatively easy time attaching hook to fish, though it was quite slippery. After it was attached she washed off her hands in the water. "Does this become a waiting game now?" she asked seeming to have made a few assumptions based on the 'relaxing' nature of the experience.

[Bloodedge]

Juice. The wine produced in Aincrad was referred to by Angelica as... juice. How very specific. "Tell that to the people who drink it for leisure," he said, knowing a great deal of Templars who stumbled around the higher floors in their downtime, all due to the very 'juice' Angelica spoke of. His words weren't necessarily to point out a difference in wine qualities, rather the varying purposes of drinking it regardless of its potency. Of course, the more powerful varieties likely served a more specific purpose. Either way, he had little more than a shrug to offer the topic. "It's more than I bother to think about. If it serves whatever purpose you're going for, have at it," he concluded.

If he had any say in the matter, Charlemagne wouldn't change one bit in a negative way, even if he lived a billion years. Alas, there were a few things he occasionally shivered over. "I'd definitely try to avoid becoming some crotchety old man. My biggest fear might even be becoming one of those weird beard-having zealots with some gaudy getup and a 'back in my day' attitude about everything. I'll take my own head off before I become that uncool!" he stated with absolute certainty. A few swigs down, and both of them were hooking baitfish that would soon be put to use. Things were going well. Sadly, there was a certain occurrence that always followed things going well. "This is the waiting game. Put your wrist to work and fling. Watch where you're casting; go for the deepest part if you want a good... catch." Just at the end, Charlemagne hesitated. He'd once more come to realize additional implications of his own words. Well, perhaps that one wouldn't be so obvious.

[Apollymi]

Another scoff left Angelica when Charles mentioned those who drank the wine within Aincrad for complete leisurely purpose. Why? Well, by her own approximation the only way such a thing could function as such was if the body of the person drinking it was weaker than the drink. That was something which seemed like it shouldn't apply at all to 'Holy Knights Templar' which made it sound like they were made of way sterner stuff. Regardless, she couldn't actually counter any points and there seemed to be no reason to do so. Charles and her agreed about several things and the last of what he had to say was something that resonated with one of the life lessons she'd been given by her 'Big Sis' stand in. "You're right. I do believe that as long as its hurting no one, people should do what makes them happy," she said. She took that lesson herself, going on to even expand and change her own floor because it was something she did which made her happy.

Moving on from happiness, there was a new conversation to be had. Charles claimed that he had a steep fear of turning into a very specific kind of person. With such a stark desciption, Angelica could almost picture it. "Hehehehahaha~" a laugh left Angelica before anything else. "I'm sorry. I pictured it and I'm sorry. Don't worry... if you ever come close to being like that... I'll make sure you know how absolutely uncool you are, before you figure out how you're going to cut off your own head~" she said barely able to stop her laughter. She didn't know why, but there was a combination of that image being utterly ridiculous and also something she could imagine that made it funnier than she was sure Charles meant for it to be. Whatever the case, there was now fishing to take place.

She was told to work her wrist, and aim for the depths if she wanted a good catch. She could manage that, but... a quick glance to her side had her look at Charles directly. She wasn't sure what it was, but she was sure that sentence of his was a bit, suspicious. "Yeah, I got it... " she said, rod in hand she looked out at the water. She lifted that rod of hers, and then slung the line forward, keeping a firm grip on the rod itself. The line flew out quite a bit as the bait made its way to the water. She'd aimed for the deeper part of the water, where she assumed the bottom wasn't something easily reachable and then began the wait. She held the rod in one hand, and sipped from her mug with the other. Maybe there was something to this whole, relaxing fishing thing.

[Bloodedge]

The pair had a moral code that aligned seemingly at all times. To Charlemagne, it was relieving to know someone who spent their entire thousand years of life locked in one spot to have such fair viewpoints on anything. One could have expected her to be some jaded individual angry at the world for her own situation, or to have her head so far up her own arse the bulge of it could be seen in her torso. Everyone deserved a shot at happy life, and Angelica understood that.

Angelica also understood how ridiculous it would be if Charlemagne became the sort of old man he described. He didn't seem to be aging more than a year every few centuries at this point, but what if he randomly started to? If nothing else, Angelica assured him that she'd point out his lack of coolness and enable a bit of self-decapitation. Charlemagne heaved a great sigh of relief. "Whew! Good. If I ever even look like I'm becoming that, I give you full authority to slap the living daylights out of me and tell me what for!" he declared.

His explanation of casting a line was obviously taken as innuendo, or at least suspected as one. Charlemagne saw that quick glance in his direction a gulped. Ah, but Angelica moved on from that without a word spoken. Good. Once her line was out, Charlemagne flung his own rod to land in the water a few meters away. "And now... we wait. One of us will get a bite eventually," he said. A quick toast to the air, and Charlemagne was back to gulping beer.

[Apollymi]

Angelica wasn't jaded, nor did she really blame anyone for what was happening her life. She'd like to get out more and try things, but she figured all of that would come with time. Her own understanding of time was very different. Perhaps she was just being kept until she could protect herself? Or maybe her father wanted her to be happily married and all before he let her roam more freely? She could see those things as potentials, and the few people she'd had honest conversations with over the last millennia, had given her quite a well-rounded world view, even if she hadn't seen it for herself yet.

Moving on, it seemed Charles was happy to give Angelica a bit of control over him. Claiming that she had permission to smack him and send him back to the right path if he ever strayed from it. "Okay, just know... if I hit you that hard, you'll probably be unconscious for a bit," she said honestly. Whatever the case, they could at least keep fishing. She hadn't brought attention to his verbal slip and he didn't either. Soon enough they both had lines cast and were sitting and relaxing drinking beer and waiting. A bite would come eventually he said. So she'd wait for it. All the while carrying on a happy conversation and some light but appropriate drinking. "What do I do if I get a bite?" she asked, not sure how to go about the end game of fishing at all.

[Bloodedge]

Though Angelica agreed to give him a healthy smack if he ever veered onto the wrong path, she also claimed he'd be rendered unconscious if such a blow was delivered. Charlemagne knew the woman to be a high-level individual, even a higher tier of existence than himself, but that seemed a little extreme. "Oh come on, give me a little more credit than that! I've been knocked around by things you've probably never even heard of; I'm tougher than you might think!" he insisted with a finger extended upward.

Once more, Charlemagne brought a mug to his lips. He wasn't exactly a heavy drinker and should likely slow down because of that, but... recent occurrences had him needing to take the edge off a bit more. While he was gulping away, Angelica presented another question: what was she to do when a fish took the bait? The answer, surprisingly, wasn't the least bit incriminating this time. "Pull. That's all there is to it. When it takes the bait, that hook is going right through its cheek. All you have to do is pull it out of the water and to you. Careful, though. A lot of fish like to fight, so you might have to bring it in while not letting it snap the line. In that case, steady your hold until it runs out of energy for a bit, then pull. Make sense?"

[Apollymi]

Tougher than she might think. This was Charles, rebuttal to the idea that he'd be knocked unconscious by the blonde haired lass. His points for backing this was he'd been out and about a lot, and that he'd been knocked around by things she had never heard of. That was probably pretty reasonable to most people, but Angelica considered herself a bit differently than most people. She smirked in a moment like this enjoying her beer. "I was considering you to be pretty tough," she said though he had no reason to understand why she'd mention it in such a way. Angelica knew barehanded was her usual method. She was also the sort of person who was magical but seemed to prefer more brutish forms of combat than others would have thought fitting for her. "Just remember you asked for it, if you ever receive it~" she teased gently. Of course, she was being rather honest. Maybe she couldn't knock him out in one hit, but she was sure it'd jar his brain more than a little to receive such a hit from her.

Whatever, the likelihood of her needing to give such a punshiment to Charles was improbable at best. What was much more likely, was her or him having to catch a fish pretty soon. For clarification she asked about that, and was told to pull. There were notes made, about being careful of the line, tiring out the fish if need be but, the end result would be her wrestling a fish onto land. "Yeah, it makes sense... " she said. She'd begun thinking about fishing as a source of getting food, and decided that it was more about relaxing than eating. Drinking beer, sitting on a pier just having a simple conversation was actually pretty refreshing for her. So she continued to relax until of course, a bit of a wiggle occurred and then her line was being drawn.

Of course, such a thing happened when she was mid sip. She found herself wrestling with her rod while placing her mug down. "Oops, I got a bite!" she seemed excited, and was soon doing her best to wrestle it up. She could see the shadow approaching from the bottom of the lake and wondered what sort of fish this would be.

[Bloodedge]

Apparently, Angelica had already given consideration to his potential toughness. The way that sounded, she still figured she could knock him flat. Naturally, Charlemagne disagreed. He'd taken quite the beating before, but who was to know? It was possible that Angelica had some sort of secret punching technique that would make his heart explode or... something of the sort. That would be frightening as a discovery. "Well either way, the goal is to avoid the situation entirely. If things do come down to that, I'll try to keep in mind that I signed up for it," he answered.

The explanation of reeling in fish made as much sense as he'd hoped it would. Now that he thought about it, Charlemagne wasn't sure if this method was easier or somehow harder than methods used in his original world. Adding an actual reel to the rod may have been a bit much to deal with... though he did miss them. Maybe he could be the one to invent the fishing reel in this world! If he did, Angelica would be the first to hear about it since she seemed to be enjoying the experience so far. Speaking of the experience, Angelica made note of her bait being taken for the first time. At that moment, he shifted his gaze in her direction. He, too, had been mid-sip at the time; that came to a quick halt when he saw her line wiggle. Watching that, and taking note of the visible shadow in the lake, he made some assumptions about the fish itself. "Must be a big one! Can you handle it?" he asked. Once more, maybe things could have been phrased a bit differently. Oh well; Charlemagne hadn't noticed his own words this time either.

[Apollymi]

"Good, it'd be really awkward to do what you asked and have you be upset about it later," she commented. It was such a random day. Here she was drinking a cold beer, fishing and spending time with Charles. In all truth, she couldn't have asked for a better afternoon after deciding officially that it was Charles she wanted to marry. No matter what, she'd not come to regret that decision so far, even if there were apparently some nuances to human courtship that hadn't quite caught up yet.

Ah, and while she had such happy and plentiful thoughts, she eventually found herself wrestling with a large fish under the surface of the water. Charles had something to say about it being big and wondering if she could handle it. "I'm pretty sure I got it..." she said casting a quick eye in this man's direction. Her hearing his words as innuendo had to be her own fault at this point. She knew he didn't mean it that way, so it had to just be her. Perhaps she'd ask a woman sometimes if hearing things in such a way was normal. Or maybe there might be something wrong with her brain to translate such benign words into perversity. Of course, now wasn't really the time to consider it. Her line was jerking about quite a bit and she was standing with feet firmly planted pulling between the smaller motions. This was of course until the thing finally surfaced with one backward pull. Her line hadn't snapped and in the air was a large, toothed creature, blue in color and overly round. She pulled it up to the surface and dropped it behind them on the dock. "OOOH! I REALLY DID GET IT!" she said seemingly excited about the prospect. It flopped about on the ground as it tried and failed to take the breaths its gills needed.

[Bloodedge]

"I'm sure it would be," Charlemagne mused. He wouldn't be upset about being kept in check... at least that's what he believed currently. He'd never regretted anything else involving Angelica, bar his own wandering eyes and mind today. That was another issue of its own type though; he could only blame his own weakness for that. Moving forward, he'd have to gain some mental strength.

Angelica looked at him strangely for reasons Charlemagne didn't understand at the time. Regardless, there was a fish on her hook... and what a fish it seemed to be. She stood and wrestled with whatever would be found at the end of the line. Based on the water's movements, the tension of her line and the timing of her pulls, it seemed Angelica was doing exceedingly well. Charlemagne was sure that fish stood no chance of escaping, and lo, one heave caused the swimmer's exodus of its lake home. To Angelica's credit, the large fanged fish she threw behind them was of the highest caliber for a low-value catch. "Woah, nice! That one won't win you any trophies or money outside the food market, but it's a huge one for what it is! Good job!" he praised. Looking over his shoulder at the fish, Charlemagne thought to mention a couple of options. "So, do you want to try making that thing edible, or would you rather use it to try catching a higher-value fish? There's some old legends in this 'ere lake," he said, that final statement a mockery of something Charlemagne himself was once told by a local fisherman.

[Apollymi]

Charles agreed with her about the potential annoyance surrounding his hypothetical fall from grace. Whatever he thought of himself though, Angelica knew of his mental strength. She was quite certain it took a special kind of person to put up with her for longer than a few minutes. He even managed to stick around even when she lost her temper and that was more telling of his mental fortitude than anyone else.

Ah but that didn't matter right now. What did matter, is that she managed to catch her first fish. She felt vaguely proud of herself in a moment like this. And that feeling only grew when Charles congratulated her on her catch. He made the claim that it wasn't really worth a lot and it wouldn't get her any trophies but claimed it to be impressive nonetheless. "Really? Well I didn't expect too much, but this is a lot bigger than I thought it would be..." she mused seemingly happy about the situation. Moving on from that point, there was something else. He asked her about her desire, did she wish to try to make this one edible or did she want to go for something else. "Hm? Are there different types? I mean if that is just my first one, and I could get something better then I wouldn't mind doing that..." she said seeming to have a genuine interest in continuing. She wouldn't want to rush what was supposed to be a relaxing activity.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne continued to go without a bite on his own line, and Angelica managed to catch a rather large fish within her first few minutes of trying. There were a few things that could be done with something like that. Charlemagne knew that fish to be one with some issues. It could be eaten, though it would take a bit of effort. They could use it as bait for something greater, though that would also take a bit of doing. It was all up to the woman who made the catch. She apparently didn't mind the idea of catching something better, even though she wasn't aware of the types to be found. "There are multiple types of everything. You really need to get out more," Charlemagne joked.

The beer was already beginning to get to him. Even so, he chugged a few more gulps while rising from his seated position. "This one could be cooked. If we wanted to, we'd have to cook the inside as much as anything else's outside. Honestly, I'm not very good at making these anything but dry," he explained. Charlemagne walked over to the fallen fish after leaving his own rod behind, jammed between two planks on the pier. "There's another fish that can actually eat this guy though. The only problem is, these are apparently hard for that one to get. If one's recently dead, it's easy picking. You'll want to get it around the same spot this one was caught though." While Charlemagne spoke, he knelt and held down the still-flopping creature. "Or... even better if it's alive and struggling. If you want to go for the bigger one, pass me that rock and hook this guy," he suggested. If Angelica were to acquiesce, the fish she caught would soon find itself stabbed in the side─ an act that would puncture its swim bladder. It wouldn't immediately die from that alone, but things would then be left to Angelica; it would have to be returned to the water soon.

[Apollymi]

Charles joked about the things that Angelica didn't know, he claimed she should get out more. This would of course, lead to a rather snarky and indignant reply from the lass with her long curls. "Gee, Chuck, isn't my getting out more your responsibility. First as my friend and now as my fiancé?" she questioned. Her arms soon crossed and her nose turned up. This was of course, one of her more playful stances, her face was still relaxed, no jumping veins or anything to imply she was actually upset at all.

Beyond this playful banter, there was the matter of the fish. Apparently this type was harder to cook for someone like Charles. She didn't want their food to be unenjoyable, and as such she was more than willing to continue. He came with more information for her to interpret and keep in her memory. They could use this fish as bait for another one if they could get it back into the place it'd came from. She watched as Charles, went to puncture an organ within it, and did her part to make sure it was hooked by the same hook that had been in its mouth. This time it was weaved in near the meatier part of its head, without wounding it too badly. Ah, but now she had to get it back to the spot it'd been in before. "Okay, okay. I understand. This is going to take a bit... " she mumbled. With the rod back in her hand she stared out at the water, gauging the right distance for where she'd cast her line before. She'd then go on to perform a twisting movement while jerking her new line, at the end of this maneuver she'd jerk her own rod back to keep it from flying out of her hand and manage to put the now injured fish back only off by a few meters of where it had been before. "Huh, that was a little off..." she stated. "I'll blame the beer," she said with a gentle nod. Though she wasn't really drunk she was sure she suffered some effect from the drink, even if she'd barely noticed it.

[Bloodedge]

Oh, right. In her usual indignant manner, Angelica took it upon herself to provide a reminder. He, Charlemagne, had a duty of care as her fiancé. That was an important bit of information he'd actually allowed to slip his mind. Now that it was back, he was right back to thinking the engagement was a terrible idea. "See? Bad friend, bad fiancé, terrible husband material. Bad emperor too, in case you need to keep that in mind as well," he mentioned. Though this was officially a date, it still wasn't right for him to entertain the idea of marrying Angelica. No, that wasn't right. Marrying Angelica would be a great victory for him or any man, but her being married to him was a different story entirely.

As for the fish that would now be used as bait, Charlemagne pierced its swim bladder with minimal effort before leaving it to Angelica... who proceeded to do anything but pick it up normally to throw it out. Instead, she flicked her fishing rod with enough force and finesse to fling the large fish out into the lake. She claimed the landing was a little off, but getting it out there alone was something her physical build wouldn't have been capable of dreaming in his original world. "That's... not off at all. It's not the exact same place, sure, but it doesn't have to be. Though I might blame the beer on my ability to see. . ." In all fairness, it was possible Charlemagne couldn't really tell how far Angelica was from the original point. His mug was nearly empty when he reached out to refill it. Sadly, he'd only fill it halfway before his own line wiggled. "Oh!" he exclaimed, scurrying back over to the rod. A bit of a fight would ensue. Whatever this fish was, it wasn't massive. It did, however, have a great deal of energy to keep Charlemagne on his toes.

[Apollymi]

Angelica's attitude was met by Charles. It was almost laughable that he'd even bother arguing against her about this point. His current claim was that he was already a bad friend and a bad fiancé because he hadn't been responsible for her. The logical conclusion was that he would also be a bad husband and a bad emperor. "Listen Chuck, you aren't allowed to question my logic here!" she exclaimed as if that was all that was needed. Only to follow up with the most important point, "Besides, you said you were gone so long before because you were working. Work for you are orders given by Father... " she said seeming to have come to an epic conclusion. "The only thing that tells me is that I wouldn't want father in charge of my work assignments," she said that was the only logical conclusion. After all, she was sure one of this lad's first stops after coming back for more than just a stop was to see her. She couldn't actually believe he wouldn't be reasonable if he was incharge of his own schedule.

Moving on, Angelica cast her line and finished her beer, only to have Charles claim that her cast wasn't too far off at all. He also claimed that he might not be seeing straight enough at all. "Eh, well... if it didn't need to be exact it's probably close enough," she said willing to sit down. Of course, her own beer was soon empty but Charles was soon trying to reel in his own line. She chuckled just a bit. "You got it Chuck, you want me to finish your refill?" she asked, having already taken it upon herself to reach over and begin her own. Because well, if he was having another she might as well. They were going to be here for a while and it was bound to be useful to not be thirsty. And she'd wait noting the little pulls at the end of her own line because of the fish which was now swimming in a circle because of its injured swim bladder.

[Bloodedge]

Twice. Angelica referred to him as 'Chuck' twice in a matter of moments. It was always Charlie until she was either upset or telling him off in some way. In those moments, she always fell into calling him Chuck. More importantly, he was allegedly questioning her logic. About what? Well, he supposed it was the logic of her choice in fiancé. "Good thing I didn't ask for allowance, huh? Besides, I'm not questioning it. I'm saying you made a choice in ignorance!" he stated, sure she'd see the folly of her ways when meeting other people. She was right however, in noting that her father was the one sending him out all the time. "I'm not really upset about being sent out so much. Clearing the Labyrinth is a sign of ability. I don't have other occupations like Lady Jeanne did, so it's no surprise to me that he calls me up all the time. Though... it's kind of weird that he'd make that sacrifice by saying I could be Holy Emperor. . ." Now that he thought about it, there was something strange about the idea. No one was sent on quests more than Charlemagne, so what would happen if he did become emperor? Who would be dispatched then?

There wasn't much time to consider that, as he had quite the battle ahead. As he wrestled with the potential first catch of his day, Angelica offered to finish refilling his mug. She also addressed him as 'Chuck' once again, albeit not under the usual circumstances. Strange. Was that one a matter of intoxication? He wondered, but that was another thing he didn't have time for. "Please and thanks!" was his only verbal response to the offer. He pulled his line to one side, then the other, combating a fish that would find any method of escape it could. This was seeming quite familiar. . .

[Apollymi]

Appaerntly, Charles wasn't questioning her judgement nor was he asking permission to do so. He claimed her decision was made in ignorance. Untrue, her decision was made in a multifaceted way that was only beginning to fully surface as she came to fully understand her own life, body and needs. "No it wasn't. We've been through this and I am being honest. Merit alone makes you the best choice in my opinion," she said with a curt snort leaving her nostrils. He went on to explain that he didn't mind the lack of off time and considered it a statement about his ability. He brought up in the same breath a direct reference to Jeanne, claiming that she'd had other occupations and that was why she probably didn't have as much to do for Aincrad's leadership. "I suppose that is true. She came back for a while with a series of wild stories about her adventures. From all the things she was doing for France to fighting off some kind of monster with a bunch of other people. Her life was pretty busy," she said almost wistfully. Of course in a moment like that Angelica too became curious. If Charles was Father An's go to person, who would be sent out in his place once their marriage was official? "Maybe it wouldn't be a sacrifice and that choice would be yours, that would be the only thing that makes sense." she said.

Of course, he was now wrestling with his own fish and she was waiting on her line. Her offer to fill his cup was given both appropriate politeness in request and subsequent thanks. Okay, she could do that then. She poured up his mug as well as her own. Placing it back where she'd gotten it from. "There you are... All is well, now you must wrestle in your catch~" she said of his fish related woes. His was struggling quite a bit, she wondered what kind of fish it was..

[Bloodedge]

There were multiple caveats to the choice of Charlemagne as Holy Emperor, and many caveats to the potential reality of it as well. Angelica insisted that merit alone made her choice clear, but he disagreed. What did she know of merit? There were many other members of the Templar Order in Aincrad, many of whom had to boast an array of accomplishments. All he did was best the Labyrinth alone. That said nothing of his suitability for anything he'd been signed up for. By Angelica's logic, she'd have been better off marrying Jeanne d'Arc, who had many other accolades.

Whatever the case, he did indeed have a catch to secure. An epic battle with something deep in the lake was the height of any fisherman's day. He fought and fought, tooth and nail, down to the bitter end. This wasn't the sort of fish that would tire out for quite some time. What Charlemagne had to do was utilize the small breaks in its aggressive behavior to keep bringing it closer and closer to the surface, until... splash! Out came the fish in one jerking motion. It flew from the ocean in a grand explosion of water, and... landed at the pier's edge in a tiny plop. For all that fighting, he nabbed something barely larger than his own hand. It was a rare species of something known as the Medaka, boasting a brilliant sheen on scales black as night, scales the color of sunrise, and scales matching the open sea. This particular fish was rumored to be capable of predicting the weather, but it was so, so insignificant compared to other fish in its category. "... I knew this was a familiar catch. Another Dawncatcher. This is so uncool," said Charlemagne, quite the disappointed lad.

[Apollymi]

Charles might have thought that Angelica's criteria alone were off. It probably would seem that way since one other person also had those qualifications and a few more. Even so, that didn't change the fact that she thought he'd make an effective leader. Or rather, that he was chosen by people as their leader all the time, and that the role suited him. The fact that he had the presence of mind to doubt himself in any situation was one of the things that made it possible to appreciate him as a person. Surety was good, but having second thoughts was at least good in making sure one didn't do anything they couldn't undo. As that brief thought crossed her mind she was brought back to her thoughts about Jeanne. She'd died but people often came back from the dead. She wondered if that girl had simply decided she no longer wanted to visit anymore.

That rather sad thought aside, there was something more immediately pressing. The catch that Charles was seemingly struggling with was one which Angelica watched with wide eyes. What kind of monstrous creature would it be. Some leviathan style fish monstrous and huge? No. No it wasn't. It was a tiny fish that looked like it was more suited to an aquarium than out in the wild. Seeing that and hearing the utterance of the lack of coolness, Angelica could do nothing but laugh. "Hehehehahaha~" she had a thorough giggle at Charles expense. "It's alright, Charlie. Maybe you should keep it in a little bowl. It's cute at least... and if it's rare it's still worth picking up," she said even though the lad was probably not at all interested in having his ego put back together by someone who'd so recently been laughing at him. It was no matter. It was still a good time. She'd sip from her new mug in the meantime and wait for her next bite.

[Bloodedge]

A certain amount of disappointment was apparently fated to follow Charlemagne when fishing. This was far from the first time he'd experienced a fight that had to be something massive, only for it to be that exact fish. In fact, the first time he went fishing in this very lake, the same thing happened. "It's a curse. I'm cursed. This is the only fish I'll ever catch. I'd take a carp over this. I'd take a turtle over this. This is the worst thing possible," he rambled. Angelica claimed it would be alright, though only after laughing at his expense.

"Yeah, cool, it's all going to be fine. Let's laugh at old Charlie and act like his luck isn't somewhere down a thousand kilometer pit," he said in a huff. Even with that, he only really seemed upset at the fish itself. Well, he supposed it wouldn't be a bad little pet. Charlemagne himself didn't have use for it, but... "I'd be a bad fish owner too. Here," he said while tearing off a section of the bait net, tying it off around the new catch and connected it to the pier. That little runt could sit there and breathe as it wished. "You can keep it when we go back. I might have a bowl in the cabin big enough to fill with water and fit it. Since this is a date and all, treat it like a festival plushie," he said, temporarily forgetting that this world may or may not have such a thing.

[Apollymi]

Apparently, Charles was in the middle of an existential crisis. He made the claim that he always caught this 'Dawncatcher' fish. He claimed he would take a carp over it, or even a turtle. Turtles weren't fish though so that was a bit extreme. Her laughing at his initial distaste didn't seem to help him much at all either. "It's a fish. It's cute, and maybe this breed is attracted to your mana or something. It's really nothing to be upset about..." she murmured. She was trying to get her laughter and giggles under control. But it was almost harder to do so, when his feelings seemed to be in such disarray over the types of fish he caught. He claimed to have luck that was deep within a pit, "Again, it might not be about luck Charlie, I'm pretty sure you have better luck than I do," she said doing her best to comfort the man.

Ah, but he was already pretty far down the proverbial pit. Now he was making the claim that he'd be a bad fish owner as well. He claimed because of this she could keep it, and he went about making it possible for that little fish to live for the duration they were outside together. "Aww, I can have it? For real?!" she seemed to be very excited. Oh, maybe she'd make a pond for it. Something cute, at the bottom of a river or waterfall or something. She wasn't sure what kind of water feature she'd be going for just yet. Wait, he'd mentioned something strange, "What sort of festival, and what is a plushie?" she asked this bit of conversation was a bit strange. But given her context clues she assumed that plushies were some sort of gift. Eventually, that derpy fish on the end of her line, seemed to be swimming a bit faster, in some sort of panic and she was unsure why, but still held onto her rod just the same.

[Bloodedge]

"... Cute?" Charlemagne may have been able to accept the alleged cuteness of that fish... once upon a time. Now, he could only see it as a mark of unrivaled failure in the sport of fishing. If it was actually attracted to his mana, that made things even worse. Actually, that may have been the likelier reason. Angelica was right; his luck was statistically higher than hers by... a full rank, if he recalled. It didn't make sense for a stroke of off luck to apply multiple times while producing the same result each time. "I was right. I'm cursed by this damn fish," he declared.

Oh well; he had little choice but to move on. He didn't care to keep the fish, knowing his personal chances of catching another... and another... and another. Angelica, however, seemed to enjoy its look enough that he was satisfied with the idea of her keeping it. "Yeah, have it. I definitely don't want it!" he said, completely disregarding the thought of keeping it himself. Beyond everything else, he understood these kinds of things to be typical of dates and the like─ especially in the case of visiting a festival. Ah, but Angelica didn't know about festival customs where he'd come from, did she? She obviously didn't know about plushies and whatnot. "Oh, right. Where I come from, there's a thing called plushies. They're like... these things designed to look like animals and stuff, but they're uh..." He paused, needing a moment or three to consider an explanation. "Like pillows? They're stuffed animals usually. They don't have to be animals per se, but they are more often than not. It can be any sort of festival with games. That's what you'll see on a normal 'festival date' where I'm from. Guy plays game, guy wins prize for girl, yadda yadda."

[Apollymi]

There was a question on the table, apparently Charles questioned the cuteness of the fish he'd gotten. "Yes, cute. It's got nice coloring and it's small. Cute is the perfect descriptor." she said seemingly pelased by her assignment of the word to this particular creature. Of course, most things would become clearer over time, and in the case of this particular fish apparently Charles thought he was cursed. Angelica couldn't help but chuckle once more as her gaze shifted towards that fish at the of her line still swimming in circles but somehow seeming more panicked by the second. "We'd know if you were cursed. You aren't cursed Charles, maybe it really is a good thing and we just don't know it yet?~" she questioned in an almost teasing manner. Of course, she didn't really understand why he was so stressed about this fish, but she'd never completed an activty that should have been random and had it turn out one way every time.

Whatever the case, it seemed she would be keeping this fish as the emphasis of Charles' words implied he didn't want it at all. There was a smug look crossing Angelica's face at a time like this. Regardless of what Charles thought, she was deifnitely winning this exchange. "Okay. I will accept it!" she said as if it'd been offered as tribute. That didn't matter either. What did matter was plushies, and their description which was initially horrifying. "So a plushie is like a cute pillow that is sometimes shaped like an animal. And you can win them at festivals..." she said seeming to take that news in stride. "But why don't the girls win their own plushies, they don't sound like the sort of things that should be hard for a girl to win on her own?" she asked. It seemed there were still a few nuances that Angelica didn't understand.

[Bloodedge]

"If you say so," said Charles, who could not see that repulsive creature as anything resembling cute. If Angelica believed it was though, then it was all the better that she kept it in her care. He didn't mind one way or another. As long as he could get rid of it, Charlemagne had no concerns. Actually, Angelica owning the Dawncatcher may even make his view of it less terrible. That wouldn't be so bad, he thought. Moving on, he wasn't cursed according to Angelica. He supposed there was a very, very low chance of any actual curse affecting him, though the thought lingered regardless. It was hard to accept anything else as an idea.

Angelica accepted his offering of a single, terrible fish. Well... as long as she was happy with it, he was happy to consider it a gift. It wasn't the first souvenir he'd ever given the Holy Princess, but as part of a date, he supposed it was an... acceptable thing to offer. As for festivals and plushies, it seemed Angelica had a few concerns about at least the latter. Charlemagne knew festivals weren't exactly uncommon even in this world, but the little games and prizes went beyond her understanding... at least in terms of guys winning them for girls. "Well... it's not like it's physically impossible for girls or anything," he began to explain. "It's just that guys are usually the ones trying to impress. The guy wins a prize for the girl he's out with, and maybe she'll like him or something. Honestly, it just became a tradition at some point, so if you're a guy who doesn't do it, you're seen as not even trying. I think it's not so bad at its base though," the male concluded. Just then, he finally picked up his second mug of beer and began to drink, if only to keep himself from rambling without rhyme or reason.

[Apollymi]

Charles couldn't currently find the fish who plagued him cute. This was understandable. That being said, Angelica thought it was one of the more adorable creatures she'd seen. And found herself easily looking forward to doting upon it. Both as a creature in its own right, and as a gift given to her by Charles. He was one who was pretty fond bringing her souvenirs and though this was the first she'd received in quite a while, she considered it a bit special because they were on a more official date. That seemed to be the right reaction, in her own mind at least.

Regardless, she drank her beer, and heard out Charles. What he was speaking on, was the matter concerning prizes won at festivals. While he spoke, her gaze shifted from the open waters and the rather fast circularly swimming bait fish, towards Charles instead. His claims in this moment was that such prizes were won to give to the women to impress them. They weren't incapable of winning them on merit. It was instead one of those strange traditions that grew into normalcy. "Guys win small cute items to give to girls, to impress them. Seems a bit on the animal side of behavior but I don't think it's bad either," she said. In her head, she equated that sort of behavior to a predatory animal bringing a kill to its supposed mate. When giving it thought, such a thing was at least cute if you didn't think about it too much. An oppressive shadow was starting to become visible on the surface of the water. It'd been quite a few minutes since the last catch and now there was some oppression which that one fish swam in a circle on top of. Poor thing, perhaps if it wasn't so badly injured it wouldn't have still been here.

[Bloodedge]

The understanding of traditional date practices came with greater ease than Charlemagne expected. Truly, he thought there would be a great deal more explaining to do, if only because it hardly made sense as a custom even to some who practiced it. The way people adapted was at times a bit... odd to onlookers. As a product of the environment, Charlemagne fell into the more ignorant group of individuals. "I think animal is a little harsh, but yeah, I guess it's a bit like peacocks and stuff..." he said whilst rubbing the back of his neck.

There was something occurring out in the lake, and Charlemagne took notice for a very wrong reason. Luckily for him, it wasn't something randomly perverted this time. No, he actually had something on his line. There was a quick bite, but by the time he pulled the rod even a little bit, he came to realize his bait and hook were both completely gone. Sitting there with an empty line, he seemed almost concerned. "Um... that's different─" he said, looking toward Angelica's line afterwards.

[Apollymi]

According to Charles the comparison to animals was a bit harsh. Angelica gave that a bit of thought and decided the comparison to animals likely would hurt a few feelings, even if it was the truth of the matter. Ah, she'd keep it in mind not to make such comparisons, even when they fit to avoid upsetting anyone particularly distressed. Though, it was acknowledged by Charles as being behavior similar to that of peacocks. "The birds with the really big feathers? So, yes..." she said while taking another sip of beer. Her forefinger resting against a now throbbing vein at the top of her forehead. Humans were so very difficult. Knowing they were essentially showing off to impress their opposite sex potential partner but not wanting it to be said so obviously was kind of backwards.

But the backwardness of human interaction wasn't something to worry about right now. Soon enough there was a problem which was noted by Charles as different. His line had been taken quickly and had both hook and bait snatched as if by thief beneath the waters surface. Of course, Angelica immediately noticed the looming shadow beneath that little fish which was panicking beyond its proper belief and she was watching. "UHOH!" she seemed surprised as she watched a great fish open its jaws above the water, in an attempt to snatch up the injured fish she'd left out. Even so, she was now on the ready. "Uh... this doesn't seem like it's going to be normal Chuck!" she exclaimed. Yeah, this was going to require a great struggle.

[Bloodedge]

"Yeah, the butt-fan bird. Actually, peacocking became a thing that was said a lot... about that kind of behavior," Charlemagne admitted. It wasn't like Angelica was wrong in her comparison. Humanity on the whole, however, tended to take offense to being reduced to animals, despite any stark similarities. Even with that being the case, much of the world he came from believed humans evolved from primates, while others thought they descended from fish. There was a lack of consistency no matter what viewpoint one was hearing. . .

Oh well; there were more pressing matters to be concerned about... like the sudden loss of a hook, and the looming threat against Angelica's previous catch. Indeed, this wasn't going to be normal. There were only a few creatures that could cast a shadow like that in this lake, and all of them were considered legendary catches. Which one they would be seeing was a mystery, however Charlemagne had faith that the truth would soon be known. "Normal is for losers! This is gonna be so cool; bring 'em in!" he encouraged, sitting in a forward-leaned position with beer pouring into his face.

[Apollymi]

There was apparently an entire word which connected humans back to wildlife behavior and they apparently termed it themselves. Weird. Angelica found a lot of things strange about the people she encountered, but nothing was odder than people not wanting to be compared to things they were like. Whatever the case, she could at least follow the logic of doing everything possible to attract someone you were looking for. She'd recently started thinking about actively trying to make sure she could maintain her connection to Charles. "Uh-huh... weird," she said concluding all of her thoughts with just those two words.

Ah, but she wouldn't have gotten a chance to expand upon it anyways. There was now a large fish hooked to her rod and it was obviously fighting against her. She was remembering what she'd been told about fishing so far, and realized she'd have to fight it a bit to be able to pull it onto the land with them. She braced herself allowing her arms and the line to follow the movements of this fish as she did her best to wrest it from the waters. "I don't really know what counts as cool, but this is a lot stronger than that other fish," she explained of her current situation. She was fighting, it was swimming quickly just below the surface after fallling back. It was trying its best to rip free of that hook, but Angelica wasn't really going to allow that either. She'd never tussled with something which felt so strong, but she definitely had no intention of losing to a fish.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne fully accepted that everything he explained was weird. He didn't fully get it himself, so there was no arguing against Angelica's opinion. "Yeah," was all he could say. There was even a little shrug to accompany Charlemagne's agreement. With that, he moved on to drinking... while apparently watching the fishing battle of a lifetime occur. Angelica steeled herself to take on one of the most challenging fish this lake, and indeed all of Floor 22, could offer. Of course, Charlemagne fully believed she wouldn't have too much trouble with it.

Naturally joining his faith was a lack of concern. Charlemagne appeared excited, yet far from nervous about the battle happening just in front of him. Sure he was chugging beer like it was water, but that went hand-in-hand with the thrill of a moment. Angelica wasn't sure what made this moment cool? Well, he'd be sure to inform her. "Of course it's stronger! That's what makes it cool; I know you're gonna show that fish who's boss!" he cheered. As those swigs of alcohol hit him properly, he rambled even more. "Let's go! Who else is gonna have a fishing story about pulling a legend as their second catch? Not me; not anybody! Show 'em up Angie!"

[Apollymi]

Angelica was sure the human condition was strange. So strange in fact, that even humans didn't argue against being weird. There were many things she could have said to this, but she decided the unbothered silence was likely the best route she could go with. She didn't much care if humans were so odd in general, she only took a liking to understanding them deeply as she came to get to know the individuals who'd moved her in some way.

One such was was the random encouragement coming from Charles. He was cheering her on, and explaining that, if she was interpreting his words correctly, the winning this particular increased challenge was what made this situation cool. Okay. She could work with that. Whatever the case there was a pleasant warmth spreading within her body, whether that was from the alcohol or for some other reason wasn't something she'd think about much. Instead she was focused, waiting for just the right moment. A bit of slack is what she was waiting for, and this particular fish would give it, after only the longest of struggles. when it happened, when the line relaxed just a bit, in a moment a bit like a runner catching their breath, Angelica pulled the rod upward. A large fish with lots of fins and an a face only a mother could love, was pulled from the depths of the lake. It was quite the bit catch and Angelica in her atheletic approach to things, spun and slammed this creature into the ground seemingly please with the fact that she had pulled it form the water. "Hmph!~" she seemed rather pleased though she didn't have much to say. Such a success was exactly what she expected but all would not be as it seemed. This fish wasn't flopping as usual, instead it seemed to be sliding about a bit, like it was trying to roll over.

[Bloodedge]

In the moments following their talks of human strangeness, Angelica went to war with a great beast of a fish. In the meantime, Charlemagne drank and drank until his second mug was empty. That was about the amount of time it took for Angelica to find that perfect moment to reel in her catch. A massive creature erupted from the lake, and from such a close distance, Charlemagne could almost believe rain had started falling. Good thing his mug was recently emptied─ there may have been a bit of lake water splashed directly into it while a fish learned what it meant to fly.

Well... its flight was limited, as Angelica saw fit to slam the poor creature into the ground. That was no surprise after her previous catch, but now that he had a good look at the current fish, there was something off about it. "Nice catch! Super cool!" he exclaimed first and foremost. With that, he began looking at the fish itself. What a repulsive, albeit massive creature it was to be in a lake of Aincrad. "Hmm. It's not winning a beauty contest anywhere. Let's see, that one was a... I can't remember the name. I'm pretty sure there was something weird about this legend. Something's weird about all of them, but... this one..." he mused. No matter how hard he thought, Charlemagne seemed incapable of remembering this particular fish's oddity.

[Apollymi]

Angelica was left to look over her catch. According to Charles, it wasn't a very pretty fish, and in that case she had to agree. "Definitely not cute. This is not cute, the Dawncatcher is cute," she said giving a hearty nod. She had several hard opinions and currently they included the idea that this fish might have been one of the least appealing looking things she'd ever seen. Just the same, Charles called this catch nice, which let her feel a certain extra pride about her efforts. It was good to feel appreciated. Still, Charles tried and failed to remember the lore surrounding this particular fish, that was fine, Angelica couldn't imagine it having much of a story, unless it was something about its insatiable appetites or its monstrous face.

Oh no. It seemed whatever the lore was surrounding this particular creature, at least one feature of its existence was going to be made clear. It hadn't been flopping, and instead it was wobbling from left to right only to eventually find itself on its belly and once it did, something strange happened. Several of the gills along the bottom of its body seemed to unfurl or extend into proportionately tiny legs and it stood on its feet. It began taking steps towards Angelica and Charles in a manner most intimidating. "EWWWWW! IT WAS ALREADY UGLY WHY DOES IT NEED TO WALK!?" she said aloud, unable to control her initial grossed out reaction.

[Bloodedge]

None could argue the ugliness of this fish. Charlemagne wouldn't, nor would anyone he'd ever known. Seeing this thing for himself, even he had to agree with Angelica that the Dawncatcher had much appeal to it. "You know, I'm starting to believe Dawncatcher is actually cute," he admitted. No way would he think anything different while looking at this new... thing.

Speaking of new things, the oddity of this fish showed itself soon enough. It wobbled and wobbled until a pair of legs extended from beneath its body. If not for its clear lack of wings or magical ability, Charlemagne would have figured he imagined things, and that it was floating. Sadly, there was no such reality. What he hoped was the ugliest fish or creature in the entire world, had legs. He was disgusted. Angelica was obviously, even audibly repulsed. Worse still, the thing was moving toward him like some drunken beggar with a vendetta. "My first thought was flying. I think this is better, but grosser," he said. Charlemagne assumed some level of animosity from the fish, and instinctively reached for a sword that wasn't attached to his waist. Right, this wasn't an adventure─ it was a date. "Alright, maybe I'm seeing the benefits to weapons and armor during a date. I'll find a way next time," he promised. There had to be some way to remain cool while keeping effectiveness high. Whatever it was, he'd be sure to find it eventually.

[Apollymi]

"Told ya' so!" That was all Angelica had to say about Charles finally understanding the true nature of the Dawncatcher. Yes, it might have been plaguing him throughout his fishing experiences, but at least it wasn't this gross looking thing that Angelica had fished up. Speaking of that gross thing she'd fished up, it was now meandering towards Charles, giving him at least second thoughts.

Those second thoughts seemed to be moving around quite a bit. Initially, they shifted around about the fish's nature. He'd thought at first it was a flying fish but found the walking thing to be a bit cooler though admittedly grosser. "Yes, of course it's gross, it popped legs out of nowhere when it already has a messed up face!" Angelica seemed to take a great deal of issue with this creatures lack of conventional beauty. But Charles also took issue with his current lack of weapon and armor as the thing was moving towards him. He claimed that he might rethink the coolness of weapons and armor for dates. Angelica for her part in this didn't truly need weapons. Ah, but this was a non-magical date, she'd have to do something drastic. "It's fine. It's fine... " she mumbled to herself as she seemed to be in the process of hyping herself up for one reason or another. "I fished it up. I'll finish the job," she claimed as she stepped towards it, throwing what appeared to be a pretty solid right hook. Of course, she was no mere human so her fist making contact with the fish's face would send a shockwave through its body. She was trying to be careful not to go too far, but she did want it to disappear.

[Bloodedge]

There was a massive and disgusting fish with legs approaching, and Charlemagne was without a weapon to use against it. This was going to be an ordeal. He was no incapable without a weapon, but that creature seemed like it would require the use of a skill to take down fully. If he used the one Skill he had available however, the hideous fish wouldn't even be sellable─ much less anything else. What to do, what to do?

Since options were so very limited, Charlemagne decided upon the only thing he could. He'd have to ruin the fish if it became an annoyance. Mana was beginning to flow through his arm, but... what was this? Angelica was working herself up to take on the creature, insisting that since she'd been the one to bring it out, she'd be the one to put it down. Charlemagne stopped, stared, and blinked repeatedly in sequence. Was she going to touch that thing? That was a bit brutish for her normal demeanor, though not very out of character. Indeed, the blonde's fist collided with the fish directly. The concussive force was enough to make Charlemagne's hair billow from about two meters away; he doubted that fish would continue moving around normally... if at all. "Oh. Well... alright. That's always an option─"

[Apollymi]

Angelica was a bit brash, underneath all the pomp and circumstance. She was viewed by all as the Holy Princess, but if left to her own devices she'd likely be seen as nothing close to 'princess'. Fighting with her hands, was among these things she did, being rather prone to small fits like the one against the fish. She could have done something else, fought with gems, or even just magic, but no. That wasn't the way. In a moment with this ugly thing offended her with its existence, she decided punching it was the best option.

And to her credit it did stop the beast. She was pretty sure it suffered a broken neck and would be left, collapsed on its short legs twitching just a bit. Charles commented on the situation, claiming it was one way to handle it. It was only then that Angelica's brain settled down and she realized what she'd done. "Ewww, I just touched it!" she exclaimed heading over to the lake side to rinse her hand and grab her beer. Why did she think that was a good idea? Well, it had gotten the job done and now that the thing wasn't alive, it only offended her a little by being there. Perhaps she should think of a better way to fight something than punching it? Yeah, probably.

[Bloodedge]

If one were to ask Charlemagne, he'd say there were definitely better methods than punching an atrocious-looking fish to death. Of course, he knew that sort of thing wouldn't work on Angelica in the heat of a moment. She was brash, she was a bit impulsive at times, even though her impulsive actions were just as impressive as they were random. Just the same, there was much amusement to follow such moments when Angelica realized she'd acted against her own better interest. Right here, right now, she found the fact that she'd touched the fish repulsive. Well, that was guaranteed to happen whenever she started thinking straight. . .

"Pff─hahahaha! Seriously?!" he questioned, laughing without intent or restraint. What an oversight that was! "I was going to get that, you know? My Skill would have been a better thing to use than your hand. I mean, awesome punch! But still... you touched it." That final statement came with an air of disgust, as if Angelica had become something lesser for making physical contact with that fish. "I might have been wrong about that engagement. You've probably got some kind of plague now, like... a giga version of the ick, or something," he joked.

[Apollymi]

A laugh. Of course, after all she'd just done, Charles was laughing. What a ridiculous notion he was passing off this whole thing as if he was going to handle the fish, how utterly ridiculous. "Well Chuck you should have been faster about it huh? And how was I to know skills were on the table, Mr. LIVING OFF THE LAND!" she exclaimed. This was a conversation happening still in relatively good humor, even with the amount of childish argument currently taking place.

Whatever the case, he'd at least noted the awesomeness of her punch, so that was to be appreciated. But he claimed she'd touched it, so she had the ick or something to that effect. After rinsing off her hand and picking up her beer mug, she walked menacingly towards Charles with that same hand she'd punched into the creature extended. "Come here Chuck! No need to be shy!" she exclaimed. Was she planning to touch him with her 'infected' hand? Yes. Was that childish? Yes. But she'd been drinking and it seemed like it was in good fun given the lad's teasing of her about her brash decision. One could say many things about Angelica but at least she was consistent. "We can have ick or whatever together," she claimed as that playful little shadow of hers grew and grew. If nothing got in her way she'd be content to chase the other lad around with an extended hand while drinking her beer like some sort of deranged killer in a horror movie. Yes that's right, she wasn't even running. She was just calmly walking forward, each step the same weight and not even seeming bothered.

[Bloodedge]

Apparently, he should have been quicker about eliminating the fish if he was to do so. There was some logic to that clause, yet it was flawed. He'd been without his first option and debating being reliant on the second, but before he could voice his intentions to handle matters, Angelica jumped the proverbial gun. Who, then, was having an issue of timing? Surely it wasn't him. "Maybe you should have been slower about punching a gross, freaky-eyed mustache fish. You would have heard me then. Skills weren't on the table until the risk of having to touch that thing became real. In emergencies, even those of us who live off the land must use whatever is at our disposal," he said with certainty, as if sharing great wisdom from generations of development.

Much to his chagrin, Charlemagne was soon approached by Angelica. Well... it wasn't just that. Held out toward him was the looming hand of ick, wetted by the lake yet still plagued by that awful fish's touch. Oh no! She was going to touch him, and he was going to become some sort of freaky fish zombie! That had to be how something like that was born, right? By some kind of spread curse? "Whoawhoawhoa! Let's not do anything brash now, eh? We can just chop off your gross hand before anything happens, and nobody has to become a fishbie!" he stated. At this point, Charlemagne was holding both hands out while backing away, keeping pace with Angelica as to avoid being touched by that hand. Sadly, there was nowhere for his back-stepping to take him besides... the edge of the dock. In this very extreme moment however, he couldn't even think about his own placement. All he could think of was getting away from that cursed touch. "Let's just... chill out. We can still save you from the ick. Maybe. We can at least try!"

[Apollymi]

Should she have taken a bit more time for considering what to do about the freaky fish monster? Probably? "Why would I have done that, for all we know once it had legs it was going to start trying to eat me. I didn't want to get swallowed up by a giant walking fish, Chuck!" she exclaimed. He was always Chuck, in moments where her temper bubbled up. She wasn't quite sure why, but it seemed to slide of her tongue with the most ease when she was having a fury induced moment. Or maybe it was just when she was being a bit brash? Regardless, she kept moving towards him, watching with quite a bit of foreknowledge as he backed himself down the pier. She wasn't really chasing him so his movements seemed almost comical. Still she wouldn't stop moving forward. Her one hand remained extended less she lose the threat of touching him.

"Brash is the mark for the day, Chuck... also I don't know what a fishbie is but I am definitely not going to be one alone!" there was a declaration, childish as it was. Charles always seemed to have some rather strange things to say. Right now he was claiming they could probably save her from the ick, they could try. "I don't know, try isn't good enough," she claimed as she kept moving forward, would he fall into the water first or convince her to stop progressing. Only time would tell. Whatever the case, a swim was in their order of business for the day, and they still had to prepare the fish for roasting over their fire. Perhaps a cooling dip would bring Charles to his senses as she finished off her beer.

[Bloodedge]

The fish Angelica caught and murdered wasn't on the list of easily-eaten things. They had to put a stop to this nonsense and catch something edible, but most important was Charlemagne not being touched at all by that accursed hand of hers. "If you don't want to be one alone, don't be one at all! I'm not signing myself up for that kind of life! I'm still too young!" he pleaded. Whatever mental image of a zombie fish plague he had, it was nothing pleasant. Still, she tormented him with the idea of a single touch. One would think Charlemagne, or any man, would relish in the idea of being touched by the Holy Princess. In this case however, even his initial thought was to escape.

Sadly, an escape would not be the same as saving himself. Angelica's hand moved closer, and he moved farther away. In doing so... "Damnit Angie, don't you bring that thing any clo─whoa!" Splash. One step too far resulted in Charlemagne falling off the pier and into the lake. Almost comically, bubbles rose to the surface en masse before stopping abruptly. Though they did stop, there was frantic movement beneath the water's surface, which showed itself in the form of waves. What was going on down there? Time would tell. . .

[Apollymi]

There was a certain innocent hilarity to watching this entire situation play out. Angelica obviously meant Charlemagne no real harm. Even so, she couldn't really stop herself from chasing him down and teasing him without mercy. Her beer seemed to be approaching empty even as she took measured and menacing steps towards him. "You're a thousand years old, Chuck, that is hardly young by any normal person's standards..." she mentioned. She was after all, a thousand years old herself and still young, but as far as she knew her mother was much much older than that... so she was still a baby by comparison. Perhaps she should have spent some more time thinking about what it meant to be a relative baby in the world, but no.

Today she was watching as Charles seemed to finally break his cool. He claimed she shouldn't come any closer. But then nothing else. Why? Well, the thing she'd foreseen by placement alone finally happened. Charles fell into the water and she couldn't help but laugh initially. Then she watched the surface as bubbles rose up and then stopped. This water was far from completely clear, so she couldn't really see what was happening there. "Chuck? You alright down there? Release some bubbles if I should come save you~" she yelled. Yes. She wouldn't directly be interrupting, instead she'd finish her beer as she waited for some sign of life. She wouldn't leave Charles to any real harm, but she was sure there was something more to the situation unfolding beneath the waves than she could possibly know about without his words.

[Bloodedge]

In one terrifying fall, Charlemagne came to know true torment. He didn't have reason to fear for his life in this lake, or really anywhere in Aincrad. Why then, was he tormented? Well, for the same reason those bubbles stopped so abruptly. Angelica wasn't overly concerned, nor did she need to be for any safety-related reasons. Alas, it may have been necessary for concern regarding Charlemagne's coolness. He was underwater for quite some time, obviously moving, but without many bubbles appearing within the waves.

As for the reason, Angelica would soon enough find out. Charlemagne's head and shoulders emerged from the lake in a large splash, and there... one would see the source of his troubles. Within moments of falling into the water, it seemed a large fish had sauntered its way into his open mouth. It was still there when he rose; Charlemagne's maw was caught on the scales of a silver sea creature's side as if by suction. Displeasure was apparent in the male's face. Never had he felt less cool than in this current moment. Of course, this had to be how his first date in a fantasy world went. If not for moments like these, he could have become the coolest guy in the world. Sadly, that could never happen.

[Apollymi]

Angelica might have begun to worry about Charles' safety but before any major actions needed to be taken he actually surfaced. Apparently with a fish in his mouth. Oh. Is that why the bubbles had stopped? "Hehe...hehehe.... hahahaha!~" she couldn't help the laugh that built up and fell out of her face. "Sorry, sorry... it's okay Charlie," she said placing her mug down on the pier she extended a hand to help him out of the lake. "This is a bit dramatic, but you should probably get that fish out of your mouth," she mentioned as if it was the most normal thing to comment on. Of course she wouldn't well leave him in the lake forever.

"Come on Charlie, I'll help you up." she offered earnestly. Of course, there was one matter which seemed to slip her mind and that was... the hand she extended. It was the same hand, which she'd used to punch the fish. Obviously that made sense, it was her dominant hand and all, but there was still a bit of hysterical fun that could be had at the expense of that hand.

[Bloodedge]

Of course, Charlemagne emerged from the lake... only to be laughed at for this ridiculous turn of events. It seemed he wasn't capable of removing that fish from his mouth before surfacing, and now he would pay the price by hearing Angelica's laughter over the whole ordeal. This day couldn't have gotten any worse if he tried ruining it on purpose. No, that wasn't true at all. There was one worse thing soon to come after Angelica claimed he should remove the fish from his mouth. Firstly, if he could have done that any earlier, he would have done so before she saw it. Secondly, he was busy spiraling into crippling depression.

Ah, and of course there was the extended hand of Angelica. Without thinking properly, Charlemagne initially reached out with the intention of taking that hand. Luckily, he came to his senses just before contact was made. That was the hand she'd used against that monstrous fish! Charlemagne halted the advancement of his own hand immediately, shrinking away from the potential touch. Instead, with a deadpan expression, he pulled the new fish out of his mouth. "Still not touching that," was all he said, interestingly enough while throwing his new 'catch' at Angelica's torso. "You tried to trap me on purpose!"

[Apollymi]

Charles didn't know the amount of depression he didn't need. It wasn't as if Angelica was having a bad time, and beyond that she always found the time she spent with him to be more than a bit amusing. Whatever the case, she'd been willing to help him up and out of the water, but of course the lad wouldn't take her hand. She hadn't even thought about which had she offered him. It was utterly ridiculous for him not to take it. But, he had words to voice of his opinion as he tossed the newly captured fish towards her after pausing when reaching for her hand.

"Hey! I did no such thing. I offered you my dominant hand, it makes sense...." she said while catching the fish against her body. If he didn't want her help that was fine. Perhaps his ego was a bit bruised or it was all the same extended joke about the ugly fish she'd just punched. "Sure Chuck, whatever it takes to make you feel better. when that fish's mate swallows you whole. I'll be sure not to punch it..." she said with a solid nod of her head. "What are we doing with this?" she asked about the fish.

[Bloodedge]

It did make sense for Angelica to offer her dominant hand to help him up, just as it made sense for her to punch the fish with it if she was going to punch it at all. He wasn't going to be touching that hand either way, due to the latter note. Moving on, if that ugly beast's mate was to swallow him whole, it probably wouldn't be necessary for Angelica to punch it anyway. "Don't punch it then! If something like that touches me, I'm a lost cause anyway!" he insisted. Realistically though, he doubted there was another creature so hideous─ even within the same species and family. That one had to be even uglier than its relatives... right?

Regardless, there was a new fish brought into question, namely the one Charlemagne so recently threw at Angelica. As he reached out to grab the dock and lift himself up, Charlemagne addressed the woman's query. "Well, we're not eating your best friend over there; that's for sure. That one's normal and pretty big, though. Wanna share it?" he asked of the new 'catch' she was currently holding. "We'll need a long stick, either naturally or unnaturally sharp on one end."

[Apollymi]

As always, Charles was choosing to be more dramatic than the situation called for. Still, Angelica found this to be one of his more endearing qualities. She couldn't help but shake her head at his notion that if he got swallowed up by a fish, he should be considered a lost cause. "Come now, unlike you I don't consider you are really a lost cause just because a fish swallowed you. If you don't get out, you'll never recover being cool, and I don't think you have that in you..." she said in a haphazard way.

Moving on, and according to Charles, they weren't going to eat either of the two big fish she'd caught so this one was pretty big and edible. "I wouldn't mind sharing," she said. "Also I didn't think that one was edible," she said about the big one. "And it's definitely not my friend," she said with her nose turned up in the air. Of course, such dramatics were part of her own soul as well... Still apparently the lesson went on, and they'd need a stick with a sharpened end if they were to share this particular fish. "Fine, I'll make it happen," she said handing the lad back his fish after he finally managed to pull himself up. She went to get a stick and a rock. Based on all of Charles other advice, she went to find a stick a bit bigger than the fish was long and upon finding one, she began sharpening the end of it with the rock she picked up. She had no idea what it was going to be used for, but figured this was the right way to begin. Once she had it in hand she rejoined Charles. "So, why a sharp stick?"

[Bloodedge]

One of them wouldn't consider him a lost cause if he were swallowed by a grotesque fish, but Charlemagne was not that one. Nothing could possibly be more uncool than that; his only option would be death in such an event. "That's a total lost cause scenario! It's so far from cool, it might burn every structure on the planet down!" he stated.

Regardless of hypothetical fish-swallowing, Charlemagne did have to get out of the lake eventually... lest another creature of the sea find its way to him accidentally. He pulled himself up onto the dock in time for Angelica to return the one fish they'd be eating, and Angelica went about acquiring the sort of stick he mentioned them needing. Of course, she also expressed her opinion on the edibility of that giant... thing. "I'm pretty sure it's not. If it is, I say we sell it to whoever wants to eat it, and then never even look in that person's direction again." These words were accompanied by a firm nod while Charlemagne took his place by the fire. With that fish flopping in his hand, he awaited the return of Angelica, who questioned the stick she'd been preparing. "Sharp so we can stab the fish easier. To cook this thing out in the wilderness like this, we can run it through with a stick and keep it held near the fire," he said, taking his free forefinger and gliding it along the fish's body from front to back as example. "In the mouth, all the way through the body until it comes out the other side. Then we just jam the other end of the stick into the ground, angling it toward the fire, and wait."

[Apollymi]

"Chuck, you're being dramatic..." these were Angelica's words about the supposed lost cause. He truly couldn't believe that something as simple as being swallowed by a fish would leave her feeling any differently about him. Sure, it'd be worth teasing over, but that'd only be short term. What Charles really needed in Angelica's mind was the tiniest hint of flexibility in his understanding of coolness.

Regardless the other fish she caught wasn't edible and that was fine with Angelica, Charles suggested they sell it but she couldn't be bothered with something so trivial. "Or you could just give it to anyone who wants it. It was fun catching them but it isn't like I need funding for anything..." she said calmly. This was the generosity of the Holy Princess, as some would call it. But in truth, Angelica simply didn't see the point in selling something she couldn't use if someone else could get use out of it. All the while she sharpened that stick to hear out an explanation from Charles complete with a visual demonstration. Apparently they'd be running the stick through the fish and then just roasting it whole. That was a novel way to cook something she supposed. "I see. So are you going to do it or am I?" she asked holding out the stick in one hand and leaving her other open. The option here was for Charles to either give her the fish for her to run it through or for him to take the stick and do so himself. she couldn't say she'd mind either outcome but he was the one being weirdly picky about the hand she'd used to punch the other fish, so she'd leave it to him to decide.

[Bloodedge]

"Angie, you're being under-dramatic," Charlemagne reacted with the most deadpan expression he could manage. For a moment, it seemed he actually held coolness factor in the highest possible regard. Sometimes, that sort of statement may have even been true... but no matter. It seemed Angelica was more willing to give away that nasty fish instead of selling it. Charlemagne would agree based on the likelihood of it being an unwanted creature. He supposed Angelica also had zero use for monetary exchange; her life had been set for a thousand years. They were having the experience of living off the land, however, so... "It might still be worthwhile to keep some funds handy. What if something terrible happens and Aincrad is destroyed in some massive attack? If you survive the fall to the lower world, you'll be stranded. A few septims would help you survive until you got back on your feet."

Moving on, Angelica wished to know which of them would actually be piercing the fish they'd soon eat. A few moments of consideration were given. He could have shown her by example, or he could have led her to understanding more directly. There was, however, a method of doing both... so he used the pointed stick that was still in Angelica's hand, letting her keep hold of it while positioning the fish's mouth at its tip. "Why not both? I'll hold it steady, you put it where it needs to go!"

[Apollymi]

"There is nothing wrong with being reasonable, Chuck..." she stated plainly. This lad had his extremes but she knew he wasn't being quite as serious as his deadpan expression would have led some to believe. Of course, she couldn't help but stifle a giggle after thinking about it for a few more seconds. What else was happening? Well, Charles was explaining the need for funds. Not for right now, but for the future, just in case of some sort of disaster or catastrophe. He claimed she might need a few Septims for picking herself back up. Ah, but there was something missing here. Angelica had heard that other places didn't accept foreign currency in a straightforward way. And some places didn't even require it. "Emergency funding seems like preparing for an eventual doom. That being said, I thought other places didn't accept Septims as currency..." she said seeming to think about it from multiple perspectives. She supposed there was nothing wrong with being prepared though it seemed contradictory to assume the failure of a place that had been standing for a thousand years or more.

Beyond the discussion of money and its necessity for potential futures, Charles came up with the idea of a cooperative effort. He'd hold the fish and she could put the stick where it needed to go. "Okay, here I go..." she claimed. He even went so far as the place the stick in the mouth of the fish allowing Angelica to push against it making sure it went where it needed to go. There was something strange about being in charge of this part of this particular action. But she couldn't quite place her finger on it. As such, she continued to push forward with the stick following the guidance of Charles until she poked it out the other end.

[Bloodedge]

Angelica's counterargument about septims' lack of acceptance in other nations was a fair one, albeit slightly dated. He couldn't blame her for that. It had been ages since they last saw one another, and hardly as much time since great change came to the world around this floating organization. "There are a lot more places accepting the septim nowadays, and even more places accepting a currency exchange. At this rate, the septim will be the world's main currency in a matter of decades... probably," he explained, thinking ahead to the future spoken of by Father An.

Whether the currency issue was of major importance or not, they had a fish to cook, and that required driving a stick through the still-squirming creature's body. Angelica managed that with ease, quickly putting a stop to all that dry flopping in the process. "Aaaaand there we go!" said Charlemagne while he took the stick in hand. They could move on from matters of fish for the moment, starting with Charlemagne's effort to prop up the fish. Just by the fire, he jammed the stick into the ground. It boasted enough of an angle that their dinner fish hovered just out of the flame's direct reach. Since they planned to swim, a slower cook was what he aimed for. "Alright! Once it's gone dark, it's ready. Just uh... don't expect it to taste like a gourmet dish. The only thing seasoning it is the burned scales... maybe~"

[Apollymi]

According to Charles more places accepted Septims as currency now than they did before. He even claimed it could potentially be something which took over the whole of the world at some point. This was the overarching thought of Father An. She was sure it was his plan to spread the word of god to the entire world. Still that sort of thing always seemed a bit odd. Though she wasn't sure what about it she found so odd. "I mean I guess it would be helpful," she said. There were many long term things she couldn't have considered like the fact that if something happened with Aincrad things developed from it would likely lose value rather quickly.

Whatever, that wasn't a right now conversation. Right now, there was the matter of their fish which was properly situated on its stick and then placed next to the fire. According to Charles she shouldn't expect a gourmet meal but it would be cooked through. He even explained the signs she should look for, including a blackened outside. Strange, but she figured if Charles had eaten it before it couldn't really be bad. "I don't really mind. I am not really that picky..." she claimed, which was the truth. She ate what she did because it was prepared for her, but she'd never tasted anything she didn't like on these outings. Whatever the case, now was the time for their fun to continue as they progressed through this date. "So, we going for a swim?" she asked remembering that to be one of the key points of this entire endeavor.

[Bloodedge]

In an ideal situation, Charlemagne could see it all. The septim would be the world's singular accepted currency, and the word of God would be spread just as far. What a wonderful world that would be. Soon, he'd do his part to ensure righteousness was established everywhere. That was for another time, though. Satisfaction would be known to all when the time came, but today, Charlemagne himself would relax and take in the little things.

Among those little things to appreciate, there was the swimming they agreed to do when visiting the lake. He couldn't have put on swim trunks and sat through Angelica's bikini-related shenanigans for no reason, after all. First though, Angelica claimed she was fine with unseasoned fish straight out of the lake. If she insisted, he'd assume all would be well. "If you say so. I figured your tastes would be more refined. I personally like the charred flavor, but I'm used to stuff like that," he said with a casual shrug. "Anyway, yeah! Though I've already gotten an early start on the whole swimming thing─" There was jest, yet honesty in Charlemagne's final clause. If not for it being part of the original plan, he probably would have foregone swimming entirely. Since things had already been decided however, he stepped away from the cooking fish and moved toward the dock's edge.

[Apollymi]

The future was an interesting thing to think about. Angelica wasn't sure of the full details but she hoped it would involve more outings for her and more time spent with Charles.

Moving on from that though, there was the matter of their established swim, for which Charles made his way to the end of the dock. Angelica would do the same all while prociessing this 'charred' flavor bit. Ah, he thought her tastes were more refined, she found that odd given their earlier discussion about beer drinking. She would leave that one behind for a moment or two though... "Yeah, not really. I don't know what it'll taste like but I'm not super concerned," she said willing to give it and many other things a try simply because Charles made the suggestion. As for the start of their swimming adventure Charles claimed to have a head start. "Fine me first!" she claimed only to launch herself off the edge of the dock while abandoning her wrap and then making a ceremonious dive into the water. A few seconds after sinking towards the bottom she'd be found half floating on the surface. "Come on, Charlie, you've already been in the water already~" she claimed, knowing that he knew the temperature was nice and the whole situation was likely supposed to be relaxing.

[Bloodedge]

"I'm pretty sure it's going to taste like..." Charlemagne had a thing of great importance to say regarding the fish's flavor. There was a long, dramatic pause to the answer he had, which was one to encompass every facet of flavor, the very bouquet of the dish they'd be enjoying later. Its umami, its texture, its spiritual effects would all surely be explained by what he had to say. "...Fish. It'll taste like fish."

Ah yes, that was certainly the best way to explain it. Maybe it was a little sarcastic, but... oh well. Angelica had the go-ahead to dive, and she took it with what seemed to be the minimum amount of finesse she exemplified in anything... except apparently fish-punching. Upon rising from the depths, Angelica urged him to jump in as well. True enough, he'd already been in the lake once today. "Yeah yeah, I'm coming!" he announced. First and foremost, Charlemagne had to determine the coolest possible entry. Once he was sure what the method would be, he hyped himself up a bit. "Alright! Here I go!" he announced. With that, Charlemagne crouched low to launch himself high into the air. Easily clearing the tree line, he performed a series of spins which flung the wetness of the previous dip from his body. Such a maneuver reached its conclusion in favor of a tuck and three forward rolls on the way down, all ending in what appeared to be a sideways swan dive with his chest protruding toward the water. Charlemagne wasn't sure exactly where he'd land, but he was certain it wouldn't be in the shallows.

[Apollymi]

Fish. The grilled fish they were going to eat was going to taste like 'fish'. A scoff escaped Angelica at this statement, even she was aware that the thing they were eating would taste like what it was. It'd be really odd if they set out to eat fish and it tasted like something else. Still, she couldn't help but laugh it off in a moment like this, as she likely couldn't have done a better job herself of describing any random thing. "Thanks Chuck, that was inspiring..." she managed her own form of sarcasm.

All of this before she dove into the lake herself. Here and now she found herself half floating and waiting to be joined. Yes, her moods and fighting style were brash, but that didn't mean she couldn't have a bit of finesse in everything else she did. Oh and what a spectacle it would be when Charles did finally decide to join her. She watched him jump high, and perform several spins and flips high above the tree line. "Oooh?!" she seemed excited by the prospect and more excited yet to see the outcome. Where would he land? Would there be a big splash? The anticipation was killing her.

[Bloodedge]

That whole fish-in-the-mouth fiasco would soon be a thing of the past. Charlemagne had successfully executed a dive from the perfect height. He reached the perfect velocity. He managed the perfect transition from one move to another. Literally everything about his dive was perfect from start to climax. Finally, he could do something absolutely, unequivocally cool. Well... that would have been the case. It could have been the case. Perhaps one could say it should have been the case. Alas, it was not to be.

Why? Why was his maneuver going to be something uncool? Everything was in order except... the landing. From the looks of things, Charlemagne was slated to land directly atop Angelica. That wasn't good. The moment he realized where his descent would end, Charlemagne's eyes widened. "No no no no no no no!" he shouted to the universe. "Watch out!" he shouted additionally, this time to Angelica. His fall suddenly lost all descent, now involving a lot of unnecessary flailing as if Charlemagne thought he could flap his way in another direction. Sadly, he had no such ability. . .

[Apollymi]

There had been something rather epic in the making. His rise, his flips, his descent were all literal perfection. Of course, after a moment or two it became obvious that the one part that wouldn't go his way this day, was the landing. Charles wasn't going to stick a landing the way Angelica had into absolutely nothing but the cool waters of the lake. No, nothing so simple would happen and strangely he seemed to be flailing when he realized this.

Angelica for her part in watching his descent realized the lad would definitely not be making such a calm landing but instead of swimming away to let him flop into the water's surface, she floated with her arms spread wide. "I'll catch you~" she claimed as if this was a perfectly normal reaction to someone falling towards her. Of course, it looked at this point as if she was fully willing to accept the lad falling into her person. If he fell into her, which it seemed like he would a strange maneuver would be taking place. It would be almost like she was reaching out to embrace the impact and then she'd rather easily twist both of them around in a move right out of professional wrestling leaving both of them sinking for a moment or two but neither would be worse for wear. Well, except for the problem of the pair of them having a few extra moments of physical contact.

[Bloodedge]

Perhaps even worse than his uncool landing position, was the fact that Angelica extended her arms with the intention of catching him. That could have been fine, apart from the fact that he could see where he'd be landing in that situation. The way things were going, there was to be a chest-to-chest impact. "Wait, don─" There was no point in arguing against the coming impact, as it was upon them before Charlemagne could even finish speaking. Suddenly, he was... underwater?

Ah, yes. Charlemagne was beneath the water's surface. Any part of him that wasn't covered by water was apparently enshrouded by Angelica herself. There was a softness pressed against his fore... twice, at least. Not good. Charlemagne was relieved that impact hadn't been something terrible, but the aftermath was technically terrible for him... or so he thought. Yes, that was accurate. It was terrible because it was wonderful. Something was very wrong with this embrace. Whatever the issue was, he'd surely never forget it. Maybe that permanent memory was the issue? It was certainly possible in the mind of Charlemagne. In fact, he even failed to realize he was trying to breathe underwater. . .

[Apollymi]

Catching Charles in this way hadn't been bad for Angelica. She could move around beneath the water rather easily. Beyond that it was a maneuver she was fairly familiar with for some reason. What she wasn't familiar with was this lad's apparent distrust. Even so, she caught him, and twisted and they were both underwater. Their bodies pressed against each other and she got to feel something quite unique for her, a hard body pressed against her own which was rather pleasant. She might have relaxed into it a bit too much. Oh, and they needed to breathe, and while she'd managed not to take a breath apparently Charles hadn't properly braced for impact or something. She easily found herself surfacing and pulling him up as well.

"See, told you I'd catch you..." she said seeming to have abandoned any strange thoughts. Of course, she was still pretty close to him, but that was only to make sure he was alright. It'd be bad to let him cough himself into a watery grave or something right?

[Bloodedge]

If nothing else, he was officially caught. Safety was something Charlemagne could take solace in, though this wasn't how he envisioned safety at all. No, this was something else. This was the greatest danger his life had ever known. He'd gone to war with the Saxons, felled mythical beasts left and right, and Angelica's torso being in contact with him was the most intimidating thing yet. More than everything else thus far, this simple act of saving managed to nearly kill him.

Of course, he couldn't be freed from Angelica by death's sweet embrace. As he emerged from the water and expelled what managed to enter his lungs via coughing, Charlemagne realized nothing about his position had truly changed. Death claiming him would have been such a kindness. Instead, he was left in the clutches of sin, and the face of sin itself seemed to harbor zero concern for the true issue at hand. "... Yep. I've been caught. Not dead. Should have been dead," he mumbled while staring into the false, yet open sky.

[Apollymi]

Coughing fit successful. Soon enough, Charles was able to communicate in complete if not short sentences. Truly, Angelica didn't understand completely this lad's withdrawals about the future she'd decided for them but at least she understood that 'sex' and 'mana transfers' weren't mutually exclusive. She could understand that by the amount of strange feelings she had surrounding Charles. That being said, with him being alive and all she let him go, though there was a marked bit of hesitation to that action. "You're being really dramatic again Charlie," she said seeming to find that bit humorous.

They could continue to concentrate on other things and not each other for a while yet. "Besides the worse that would have happened is you landing flat on the surface of the water," she said seeming to understand the basic physics of a belly flop and knowing that it would have hurt not only his body but also his ego. Their shared contact aside she was willing to float along on her back giving only an occasional stroke so she could maintain her current level of submersion. "So, is the sky outside different from the sky in here?" she found herself asking, mostly because he was staring upwards, partly just to get his mind moving away from whatever strange trauma he'd managed to give himself.

[Bloodedge]

He wasn't being dramatic. He doubted she even knew why death would have been a better option for him. Surely enough, she claimed the worst thing that could have happened... would have been him landing on the water's surface. Nonsense. The worst thing would have been being subjected to Angelica's temptation. Of course, that was the thing that actually happened. Thoughts of impropriety came flooding back with a vengeance as he breathed air once more. "Not the worst thing. Not the worst thing at all," he murmured.

Luckily, Angelica had a knack for broaching new topics at the perfect time. While he was drowning in that which couldn't be according to Father An's teachings, Angelica took advantage of his point of view. She spoke of the sky, wondering if it differed in the outside world. Now that he thought about it, Charlemagne focused more intently on the false sky above. "You know, I never thought about it until you asked. This sky does look the same, but there's no real comparison. The sky outside is so many things, you know? The sun warms you when it's cold. The breeze cools you when it's warm. It can be so much, and besides all that, it's... endless. Even though this looks the same, it doesn't have that feel like it goes on forever. This looks expansive, but think about something having no end at all. It's actually sad that you've never seen it."

[Apollymi]

Charles was correct in one way. Angelica wouldn't have understood why death was something to consider over the feelings they both currently possessed. It was awkward sure, but that was mostly because they seemed to be reacting to the situation much differently than two people who would have understood what was happening. Of course, she was also something other than human and though she didn't understand that as a full truth, she knew she didn't possess anything near shame for her actions nor her feelings. She only managed to harbor a bit of confusion and had a plan to have that taken care of at some point.

Moving on, she had a random question for Charles about the sky. She had only a few solid memories of her life before coming to Aincrad, this of course included what her mother looked like, the sound of her voice and the feeling of her mana. Everything else was lost to her for the most part. So her life within this little bubble of created life support was all she knew. This sky was the only one she knew and many other things she only understood within the confines of Aincrad. As such Charles words were rather enlightening. He claimed that this sky, looked like the sky outside, but that there was so much more to the other sky. It was endless and full of things and extra feelings. Angelica couldn't even put together enough of that to figure out what it might be like. "Endless, huh?" she asked. That was a strange thing to note. She was more acutely aware than most that the size of this sky was an illusion. She had similar thoughts whenever she was outside at night looking up at the stars. "I don't know why that would be sad, I've only really known the floor I live on," she explained seeming not to realize exactly how bleak her life was by comparison to those who could freely move about. "I was just curious, I like watching the stars, but I can see where the sky ends here... I wondered if there was something more to what outside was like. I mean if all the floors here are so different I assume outside can be really different too..." she explained of her thought process.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne delved fully into his own thought process regarding the sky beyond Aincrad. It wasn't something he gave much consideration to at all until Angelica broached the topic. She spoke of stargazing and her enjoyment of it, and addressed the difference between floors in Aincrad. As Angelica assumed, the outside sky was quite different... but not just different to individual floors found here. "The stars? I guess that's the sort of thing that makes it sad. You don't have reason to get it, but... there's no real comparison. The real sky is so different. Floor 22, Floor 99, Floor 57 ─ Take every floor's sky and put them together. Sometimes it's obscured by the weather, sometimes it's totally unfiltered and you can see every color on the spectrum. It can look like every sky on every floor from moment to moment, even multiple at the same time. And the stars? They have the feel of something you can reach out to while being so far away that no one could ever actually make it."

He'd gone on a bit of a tangent, but there was much to be said. There were endless features in the outside world, and the sky was only part of it. While he floated around in the water, Charlemagne began to consider something very new. "You know..." he started, still sorting through the thought. Angelica was confined not simply to Aincrad, but to the 99th floor for around a thousand years. He'd taken her to other floors multiple times, but... "What if you went outside? I don't think it would be too difficult to get you out of Aincrad. Getting you back in would be a bit problematic, but if it could be managed... do you want to see the outside one day?"

[Apollymi]

While they floated about in the water, Angelica got to hear about the vastness of the true sky. Charles was one of her favorite people to talk about such things with as his descriptions were always rather open. Beyond that, there was a great deal of information to be gained from his understanding of the entire thing. Particularly his words about the stars gave her a strange bit of longing. She really wanted to see the sky outside. She'd only ever known Aincrad and didn't know about everything else taking place in the world. Still it was something she could only know from stories like these. "Oh? Is it sad because I can't see it for myself? I think I understand that..." she said, there was always a bit of excitement in her when she heard the answers to the kinds of questions she had, but there was also always a hint of emptiness knowing she'd never see it herself. "Still, it sounds really unbelievable. I was once told that from the ground level, you can't even tell there are whole continents in sky... I just wondered how it looked..." she mentioned.

Ah, one of the things she enjoyed about Charles came to light in a moment like this. He eventually asked about her leaving his place. Of course he'd think of that, to her knowledge anyone who talked to her about things she wondered was the type to want to show her what the outside world was like. Too bad... "That's a sweet sentiment really but I can't," she said with a sarcastic little smirk crossing her face. "I don't mean I am afraid or anything. I've tried before. I can't leave Aincrad, it's impossible for me to step foot outside of it..." she explained of the situation. "Jeanne once tried to get me out of here. She said I'd enjoy meeting a bunch of people she knew, but I couldn't leave Aincrad at all..." she explained of the situation. That'd been quite a while ago, and had been part of the reason Jeanne kept up her visits to tell her about all the stuff that was going on in her life. Not that the lass wasn't always friendly, she also said it was sad she couldn't leave, so she tried her best to make sure she experienced the 'fun of girl time' in her own words.

[Bloodedge]

The sadness of this situation came from more than simply Angelica's inability to see the sky. There was so much more to the world, so many more nuances than one could count. A few of such things existed here in Aincrad, but it was nothing compared to the living, breathing, varied world outside. Perhaps Charlemagne was a bit biased due to his previous life in a world without magic... but it could only be a little. "That's the core reason. The sky is just one thing different about the outside, though. And, yeah... to the lower world, it's like Chaldea doesn't even exist. You won't even see a shadow of a continent from down there, as if they're all removed from the same reality or something," he explained.

As for the idea of taking Angelica outside even for a single trip, apparently, she couldn't leave. It was not fear that kept her, nor chance of consequences, but instead... a literal inability. Jeanne d'Arc herself had previously attempted to take Angelica out of this floating stronghold to no avail, and it seemed to Charlemagne like the reason was unknown. That couldn't be right; there had to be some sort of caveat. "Huh? This might sound rude, but I figured you were at least partially a shut-in by choice. What could be keeping you locked in here? If we can find out, I'm sure there's got to be some way of fixing it. If you like looking out at the stars, you deserve to see the real thing at least once. It's been a thousand years already Angie! Time to get out of the house!"

[Apollymi]

More descriptions came from Charles. They came with a caveat of sadness associated with her lack of exploration, but at the same time there was quite a bit of detail. She couldn't imagine the amount of space which needed to exist between the surface and Chaldea to make it so that those on the bottom didn't even know of its existence. The idea of that alone was rather startling. She was trying to imagine it, but her own world was so very finite she had a hard time wrapping her head around the sheer mass of such a thing. "I can't imagine it..." she said. Still there was a smile on her face, it sounded to strange but also so very interesting. She really wanted to understand such a truth for herself.

Ah, about her future in leaving this place, it seemed that Charles thought it was at least partly Angelica wanting to be on her own which kept her inside. To find out that she physically couldn't leave was shocking to the lad. A casual movement of angelica's hand happened as she aimed to splash the lad with water. "Of course it's rude Chuck. I am not trying to be alone all the time," she said slightly huffily. Ah, what could be keeping her locked in here, well the answer was obvious wasn't it, "I assume it is some kind of magic, likely the same kind that keeps me on my floor..." she said with a casual shrug. But that implication made it so that it was likely odd such a thing had to come from her father. "Whatever the case it feels wrong when I try to get out of Aincrad. Moving around inside with someone else is fine but, something at the core of my being feels wrong when I try to leave," she said, giving that as the best description she could. "I don't want to be trapped in here forever or anything. I seem to enjoy people a bit..." she said as she closed her eyes again.

[Bloodedge]

"That's the point. It's that stunning; a description doesn't really do it justice. You just have to see it for yourself," said Charlemagne regarding the natural brilliance of the world. As much time as he spent outside, he thought himself to be decent enough at explaining it. Even then, it was impossible to grasp with words alone.

Within moments, there was a splash of water aimed his way. Why? Apparently, it was for assuming Angelica was partially just a shut-in. "Oy, don't blame me for assuming you were an agoraphobe!" he said while sweeping his arm across the water's surface, aiming to send a revenge splash Angelica's way. Moving on, she presumed the magic that kept her bound to Floor 99 was somehow involved in her inability to leave Aincrad as a whole. That didn't seem like it would be too ridiculous a task to overcome. It felt wrong when she tried leaving? All they had to do was stop that feeling. Charlemagne seemed to be in deep contemplation. Something had to work out, right? "Hmm. If it were something evil, I would have felt it... or I should have. Even if I didn't, your old man would have to. Maybe it's a side-effect of something? I mean, you're basically the cornerstone of Aincrad, so it could have something to do with consecration. Or... your dad's overprotective? One of those might be harder to deal with than the other," he said, hoping for anything but the latter scenario. If Angelica being sealed in Aincrad was due to Father An being overprotective, marrying her would be about the only method of breaking whatever seal there was in place. . .

[Apollymi]

The sky outside was something she had to see for herself. Of course, that was the case, too bad that wasn't something that would happen any time soon. "I see..." she said seeming to find that whole thing worth leaving behind. Why not? It wasn't like she was in any great rush. She was only a thousand years old and not being able to see something apparently indescribable wasn't really abnormal.

Apparently, Charles wasn't to be blamed for assuming she was agoraphobic. "I don't even know what that means, but I feel like I should feel insulted!" claimed as she was hit by a retaliatory splash. Still she didn't seem to mind. Charles seemed to be deep in thought about the things that could be keeping her held within Aincrad. He went through the usual suspects of problems, evil would have been something felt by most if not all magically inclined inhabitants of Aincrad. "Yeah, I doubt it is anything evil... " she said seeming to appreciate that conclusion just a bit. A side-effect could have been interesting, "I guess it could be. I've been here for as long as I can remember," she said calmly. The bit about her father potentially being overprotective was odd to her. She was all alone except for servants, even the man himself didn't seem to be very interested in coming to see her nor getting to know her very well... given that the idea of him being overprotective was a bit outlandish. Her being a cornerstone made a bit more sense, but she was just a singular person, she doubted her existence here should be anything so important.

[Bloodedge]

Should Angelica feel insulted by being called agoraphobic? Well, he supposed it depended on the individual. Some would be heavily offended, while others would take pride in being a total shut-in. "It depends. You don't act like much of a shut-in, except for the whole 'locked in your room' thing. It's not such a bad thing, though," he replied. Whatever the case, he was more concerned with Angelica's inability to leave. To be more specific, he was trying to figure out a way to make it possible without ruining something else. Perhaps it was a good idea to speak with Father An.

Anything evil was certainly off the list. Angelica had nothing to say about how overprotective her father may or may not have been, but she did believe it was possibly a side-effect of something within the system. If that were the case, Charlemagne would consider it a stroke of good fortune. If not, well... he'd still think of some way to make things work. "I'm hoping for side-effect. Whatever it is though, we'll deal with it. You're gonna see some real stars!" he declared while backstroking his way toward the dock.

[Apollymi]

Apparently being shut away and to oneself could be considered an insult or could be a compliment and it mostly depended on the person. This only made Angelica wonder, what kind of person would take pride in being locked in a space by themselves for extended periods of time. Maybe one day, she'd get to know such individuals and could ask them about it. For now, she was content to know that her current situation wasn't really a deal breaker of any sort for Charles. "Well, if I am not bad off I won't worry about it," she said seeming to only concern herself with her ability to leave her room. How other people saw her leaving or not leaving her room wasn't really a huge deal to her, instead she wanted simpler things in life.

According to Charles he was hoping her being locked in was a simple side-effect of her current existence. He claimed that whatever the issue was, they'd handle it, that was a comforting thought wasn't it? Charles might not have thought himself 'husband material' but he was definitely seeming more and more like it as time went on. Actually, his ability to want to conquer a problem that was one she'd known her entire life, was something that made her appreciate him a bit more. He'd even said 'we' when referring to the problem as if he didn't see it as exclusively hers. And to her own knowledge, this was just over something as simple as her stating that she wanted to see the stars and sky... no more no less. "Thanks Charlie!~" she managed seeming to soften up quite a bit. She'd be content to lay about in the water, splashing and talking until it was time for food and her inevitable return to her own floor.

[Bloodedge]

In response to Angelica's offered thanks, Charlemagne only nodded affirmatively. There was little else to discuss on the topic until something was figured out. Without any other topics on the proverbial table, Charlemagne swam around casually while contemplating. What could really be sealing Angelica in Aincrad? Depending on what it was, how easily could it actually be overcome? Could it be managed without great sacrifice? These were the questions floating through his mind while he worked up an appetite and enjoyed the lake.

Of course, all things came to an end eventually. In this case, as in many others Charlemagne strived for, the end was a sign of brighter beginnings... namely food. He'd been swimming close enough to the dock to smell the fish when it was well-cooked. Once that scent reached his nose, the male reached up to grab the dock and pull himself onto it. "Smells like lunch!" he called out. With that, he walked along the dock and had a direct gaze at the fish's blackened scales. They'd been swimming for quite some time, it seemed; the fish was obviously thoroughly cooked. As such, he dislodged the stick holding it from the ground, holding it away from the flame to cool a bit. "You want first bite?" he asked.

[Apollymi]

A comfortable conversation was one thing that Angelica could always rely on Charles to give her. An affirmative nod came after her thanks and then she went on to smile up at the sky, trying and failing to imagine something like an endless sky. Whatever the case, eventually their fish was ready and she found herself swimming back towards the dock and pulling herself back up. She'd walk back towards Charles as she shook water out of her weighed down hair causing it to curl up a bit tighter as the water left it. Probably for the best lest it drag the ground.

Once by the fire she saw him remove the fish from the flames allowing it to cool She looked it over. It truly was blackened but it didn't smell like it would taste bad or anything like that. She'd find herself beside Charles looking at the fish as she was offered the first bite. "I mean if you want me to have it... I'll take it," she said. It was Charles' fish and she didn't mind being the first one to taste it. After it cooled a bit she'd go in for a small bite on top of the creature just below its upper fin so she could have a clean bite. She couldn't help her initially reaction. "Ho...ho...hot!" she managed.

[Bloodedge]

When Angelica emerged from the lake, Charlemagne took note of her first action. It made sense for her to seek an immediate drying of her hair. How she walked around with it even in a dry state, he couldn't fathom. He'd never seen it in anything but those massive drills, making him wonder now how long it was when straight. Who even managed the upkeep? "Your hair is..." he started, obviously having an epic realization for the first time. "Exciting." That wasn't exactly the word he was going for. Even so, it remained accurate. He'd undoubtedly go without mentioning why exciting was the word that came out, but that was an aside anyway.

Ah yes, lunch was at hand. Charlemagne had worked up an appetite, but he was fully content with the idea of Angelica having at the fish first. Sadly, she was fated to make a mistake that proved how very normal she was under all the pomp and gaudiness. She bit into a freshly-cooked fish that was obviously still too hot, and her immediate vocalization gave that truth away without fail. "... Really?!" he questioned, shocked that she'd actually done something like that. Laughter escaped him immediately, seemingly to no end even as he continued speaking. "That is singlehandedly the most hilarious, and weirdly cutest thing I've ever seen you do. How could you let yourself bite it so soon?!"