[h3][color=f26522]Paro[/color][/h3]

The steak in Paro's hands was still untouched. Instead, he stood in place with a distant gaze and barely perceptible smile, chewing on the emperor's words.

[i]"Before ending their petty lives."[/i] His expression shrank and his mood stumbled again and again over the vitriol. In five words, the speech had switched from unity to spite and violence. The pair of swords at Paro's side reminded him that he must have known this was coming. He'd come with a life's worth of preparation and gathered steel, and yet... He shook his head and glanced over his shoulder at the golden sword on his back.

A midnight blue ribbon met his gaze instead -- literally. As the cloth nudged his eyes like an insistent Persian, the wide end of the tassel gingerly poured long-awaited sauce on his steak.

[color=f26522]"Etan, what are you--?"[/color] The sword had agreed not to reveal his sentience unless he absolutely had to: possessed steel drew various kinds of suspicion. But before Paro could finish objecting, he realized the hall was nearly empty. Exclaiming under his breath, he took off running for the door.

Then, remembering the incredibly fine Phoenician dinnerware still in his hand, he jogged back to the table and set the plate down as softly as he could, grabbed his dinner in one hand, and dashed backwards toward the door again, spinning mid-step. As he tore at the steak with his teeth, he wished a long and glorious summer to the chefs, who had left it so tender that it fell apart in his mouth. Speed was of the essence.

Soldiers had already formed multiple platoons, lining up together in preparation. The tardy boy could only fall in with the nearest group, half a steak hanging from his teeth. He gulped and joined his hands behind the small of his back, still gripping his dinner.

[color=f26522]"Paro of Leonias, reporting!"[/color] As he spoke, the blue handle of his sword unwrapped again, stuffing several bite-sized, fishy-smelling snacks into his pocket. Paro's eyes darted from the scarf's shenanigans to his fellow soldiers -- but if there were a time to let the secret out, this was probably it. [color=f26522]"And...this is Etan. I promise you, he's better-trained than I am."[/color] He blinked. [color=f26522]"I-in combat, I mean!"[/color]

[@c3p-0h][@ananfal][@nuttsnbolts][@chexmix]