[center][h3] [color=A4DDED]Ni Rensa – Frenzy Plant Stands[/color][/h3]
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Situated alongside her fellow soldiers in the guild seating area, Ni Rensa the War Sphinx heard the host blabber about Phoenix Wing before getting abruptly and excitingly to the point: today’s lineup for the pre-battle event.  The more aware members of Frenzy Plant faltered in their enthusiasm, however, when Demetri received the nomination for the day’s game.  [i]Demetri?[/i] Ni pondered, not yet noticing the green-clad man stealing up on her.  [i]Isn’t he still in the infirmary from that spear to his guts?  …![/i]  Spinning around, she fixed her eyes on the person behind her, and found herself faced with none other than General Sanders himself.  Though startled, she gave a bright smile to the formidable face.  [color=A4DDED]”…Hiya!  Oh, I meanya, good mornying, sir. Somethinya I do for you?”[/color]  She gave an informal salute.

Sanders nodded in the manner of a sage, which coincidentally constituted the color of his robe.  [color=8F9779]”Yes, miss.  Would you please run over to the announcer’s box an’ tell him that Demetri’s still recoverin’ from his wound?  We’ll replace him with Thor.  Go on.”[/color]  Grinning at the chance to do the general a favor, she sprang from her seat and raced down the aisle, running low to the ground.  Her metal shoeblades clinged noisily against the sandstone walkway, and in very little time she raced through the open door to the box where Sheldon, Jessie, and the other man sat.  [color=A4DDED]”Hiya!  I’m from Frenzy Plant.  Demetri’s still hurt, so we’re havinya Thor compete instead!  Hope ya got a bunch of electric puns in store; Thor’s gonnya shock your socks off!”[/color]  With a laugh she retired from the box, and returned at a more leisurely pace to the Frenzy Plant area.

[center][h3][color=d8bfd8]Nero the Genie – Crocus Pancake Parlor [/color][/h3]
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The minutes slid by too quickly.  As much as he enjoyed messing with others, and the profession of geniehood itself, Nero treasured time with his friends highly indeed.  This stunningly original sentiment rested in the hearts of many, but in the black heart of one so commonly regarded as a monster and a rook, a loner more than happy to drive off anyone professing themselves ‘friendly’, it resonated powerfully indeed.  What delighted Nero was not, as one might guess, talking to him.  Words the dark mage gave freely to anyone he met, enough so that people could easily conclude that he loved the sound of his own voice.  Rather, the silence pleased him.  In silence he sat, in the warmly-lit interior of Crocus Pancake Parlor, and pick at his food alongside Ayame and Eve.

By chance he stumbled into her earlier in the morning, though Eve, for whom it had been no chance at all, wasted no time before launching into an explanation.  After her transformative experience two days ago, she elucidated, she’d wanted a day to get to know not only herself but her guildmates in Dragon Fang once again.  Few, as it turned out, even recognized the girl.  Nero could not blame them, for his magical changed her inside and out.  The harmfully selfless, tragically troubled wallflower her acquaintances knew before existed no longer; instead, Eve held a new confidence and sense of self.  Of course, Nero loved every inch of her.  Her [url=https://danbooru.donmai.us/data/5ee60c8e2b7a2f5b199e4b051a1482f7.png]body and clothes[/url] made only part of the reason why; it was her soul that he adored.  Never before had someone liked him this way, and though he knew himself to be affection-starved, Nero could tell that his attraction to her went beyond superficiality.  Love?  Pff.  It pleased him to deny its existence, and so debase the nonsense that other people dreamt up to excuse their lusts.  How ironic that the faithless troublemaker might fall victim to his own prejudice.

[color=d8bfd8]”Hey,”[/color] he said after some time, while the three finished up.  [color=d8bfd8]”Whaddya say we head to the arena today?  Hang out with the Dragon Fangers, see some action.  Could be a lot of fun.  Might be some people want wishes granted, too.”[/color]  Eve wolfed down the last bite and nodded, smiling.  The Genie then looked toward Ayame, to see whether she agreed with his suggestion or wanted to do something else.  The slightest possibility that this day could be anything less than stupendous escaped him.