Crimson Paladin

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

You replying to the girl with the brimmed hat?
@HereComesTheSnow

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Fleuri is free now, he can talk to her if need be.

Champions Have Arrived in the New World: A Problem Children and No Game No Life-Inspired Isekai RP

Still here.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

I'm waiting for Flappy.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Fleuri Jodeau

"I've been to soirées akin to this before, but nothing quite as high profile as this, and not as an Iron Rose," Fleuri answered, before turning to the table to fill his plate. He assembled an impromptu entrée from the available meat and vegetables, taking his time to make the dish look presentable for what would be a very brief and largely unnoticed existence. Once Fleuri was satisfied with his creation, he turned back to the serpentine knight, plate in hand. "To answer your question, I am enjoying it so far. House Jodeau is no longer a player in the game of intrigue, but we're still considered aristocracy and are thus obligated to keep up appearances, and I am honored to have the opportunity to attend a ball hosted by the monarchy."

All the more reason we must be on our best behavior, Fleuri thought as he briefly glanced over at Tyaethe and Gillian, still arguing with that noble.

Fleuri picked up his glass and took another drink. "And if anyone here disparages you, they're a fool. It is because of the valor of knights like yourself that they, not Phoran Cal and his treacherous cronies, celebrate tonight within the Crown of Thaln. Granted, not everyone who sided with the monarchy did so for unselfish reasons, but they all gained from the efforts of those who took up arms against those traitors."

@FlappyTheSpybot

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Fleuri Jodeau

My work here is done, Fleuri concluded as he watched with some satisfaction. With Gerard and Jarde fully engaged in their storytelling, he took a few further steps back and turned around, slipping away from the conversation. He'd probably need to keep an occasional eye on them in case something unexpected came up, but it looked like they had this well in hand.

He took another look at what the other knights were up to. Near the refreshment tables he spotted Tyaethe near Gilliand and the captain, currently in the process of confronting a noble. Fleuri guessed it was some aristocrat who didn't like how the Iron Roses were run or how its captain was chosen. It wasn't an uncommon sentiment, especially after the order transitioned to a secular order in service of the crown, and it wasn't unheard of for even fellow Iron Roses to disagree with the tradition. With Fanilly being as young and new to the station as she was, such opinions would be emboldened for the time being.

It's best I don't get involved in whatever is going on over there.

He noticed Maritza at another table, currently gathering food and not engaged in conversation with anyone. I suppose it's as good a time as any to grab something, he mused. Fleuri weaved through the crowd to the table where the Knight-Serpenta currently stood.

"Good evening, Dame Verenna," Fleuri greeted her as he grabbed an empty plate in one hand and put his wine glass down with the other. "How are you enjoying the ball so far?"

@FlappyTheSpybot

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Fleuri Jodeau

Fleuri was a bit concerned that his banter had only served to darken Jarde's mood. To step into this world for the first time with relatively little under one's belt was a daunting and intimidating task for those not brought up in it. The young knight's lack of arrogance and appreciation for his inexperience in the area of aristocratic gatherings was no doubt a virtue, and a welcome departure from the arrogant nobles who thought more of themselves than was warranted, but it was clear that a little confidence would benefit him.

At Jarde's prompting, Fleuri glanced over at Gerard, who had been approached by a few young ladies, and was regaling to them the story of Bandit King Jeremiah. What Jarde had missed, however, was that Sir Segremors' body language suggested that he was similarly out of his element, in need of a fellow knight's aid as surely as if this were a battlefield. Fleuri glanced at Jarde and back at Gerard again as he concocted a plan.

Yes, that ought to solve solve both of their problems.

"You're right, Sir Devaron," he conceded as he turned his attention back to Jarde. "This is not an occasion for lamentation. It is a time for celebrating our victory. And if you would be so gracious to assist me in this celebration, simply follow my lead." Fleuri approached Gerard and the admirers that had entrapped him, paying careful attention to their conversation and movements. He approached it not dissimilarly to a battle, interpreting a foe's body language and rushing to the aid of a clearly overwhelmed knight-brother.

"Good evening, Sir Segremors," he spoke up, drawing close to the group. "Regaling the ladies of the tale of our recent triumph over Bandit King Jeremiah and his bloodthirsty band of brigands?"

"It was quite the battle afraid I myself took a rather uneventful role in it. I cut down a few bandits, sure, but unlike some of the others, I didn't have the excitement of crossing blades with the Bandit King. He was quite the terrible foe, from what I heard though. Strong enough to fell a massive tree with a single swing of his weapon, and so tough that he went into battle without armor," he narrated, intent on grabbing their attention.

"Sir Devaron, you fought Jeremiah too, might you assist our friend Gerard here on recounting the battle against that terrible fiend to these lovely ladies?" he asked, gesturing to Jarde and drawing the group's attention to him. On a battlefield, it'd be grossly irresponsible to hoist the center of attention to a junior knight or squire in such a manner, and perhaps it was somewhat irresponsible here as well, but Gerard needed help and Jarde needed this experience.

With the assumption that attention had been diverted from him, Fleuri backed away to observe the commoner-born knights tell their tale, taking another sip from his glass. Once he could be sure they handle the ladies without a chaperone, Fleuri would be able to slip away and mingle with the others.

@PaulHaynek@HereComesTheSnow@VitaVitaAR

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

I'm reading Lord Velbrance's lines in Nazeem's voice.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Fleuri Jodeau

Fleuri drooped his shoulders a bit at Jarde's reply, which was a bit sadder than he had expected. "Everyone has to start somewhere, and you're off to a decent start. Iron Rose, veteran of the skirmish that slew Bandit King Jeremiah. In my book you've done more to earn your place here than a lot of nobility your age," he assured the younger knight. "With Thaln's aristocracy diminished by Cal's rebellion and the Iron Roses' role in squashing it, it is an opportune time for aspiring knights to cement themselves as nobility by their deeds. And the prestige of being part of the order is far more meaningful for warriors like ourselves than the prestige associated with being born to an influential family."

"And I'm sorry about your attire. Not really anyone could have done about that, with how little advance notice we were given for this party. Ideally, we'd have a few days to prepare for it, sort out everyone's formal attire, and perhaps ensure everyone is familiar with dancing and etiquette." Fleuri took another careful sip of wine. "But I suppose it couldn't be helped that our triumph over Jeremiah coincided so closely with the date of the ball, giving just enough time for the Princess to extend her last minute invitation, but not enough time for us to make adequate preparations."

"Oh, and speaking of your borrowed outfit, a word of advice. Be careful if you sample the red wines, they leave very noticeable stains," Fleuri cautioned. "I made that mistake once and ended up spilling it on a tunic that had been in my family for generations."

@PaulHaynek

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

I seem to have been ninja'd, so I edited my last post to interact with Jarde.