AN: Next set up!

Erosion (Jusis, Machias)

Neither could pinpoint exactly when it happened, though they'd both probably agree that it at least began with a détente after Barehard.

Barbed words had shifted toward pointed quips, enraged glares had given way to exasperated eye-rolls, and hands that were once clenched into tight fists were now extended in camaraderie, a willing gesture of acknowledgement for a job well done.

It took time to move mountains, to grind away the earth and rock and soil so they could eventually stand together. Fortunately for them, the matter of friendship between noble and commoner proved to be far less than that.

Hot Chocolate (Machias/Emma, Celine)

"You two couldn't decide again, huh?" Celine quipped, a familiar scent having led her to the kitchen.

"He's being stubborn," Emma said with twinkling eyes and a theatrically put-upon sigh.

"Oh, because she's one to talk," he retorted, stirring more chocolate into the heated milk. "Whipping cream?"

"Please," and she had to smile when she saw Machias quickly lower a saucer of regular milk to the floor (much to Celine's audible satisfaction) before carefully pouring two mugs of decadent richness.

For a moment or two, silence reigned.

"… there's whipped cream on my nose, isn't there."

"Hehe. Just a little."

Victory (Alan, Patrick)

His opponent crashes to the ground gracelessly, the breath rushing from his lungs in a pained gasp. Alan doesn't dare to drop his guard, doesn't dare to even move because nothing is settled, not until –

"… I concede."

And just like that, it's over.

He closes his eyes and fights back a shudder, the adrenaline still coursing through his system. He's going to be like this for a while, he thinks.

And in spite of everything he said he would do when this day eventually came, Alan reaches down and extends his hand.

"Well fought, Patrick."

"Hmph. Same to you."

Doppelgänger (Crow, Rean, Towa Kokonoe, Towa Herschel)

"Holy crap. Holy crap," Crow said, unable to keep from laughing despite the insanity right in front of his eyes. "You really weren't kidding, huh?"

"No, but I'd hardly call this kidding material anyway."

Kokonoe, meanwhile, had sidled closer to her counterpart with a curious expression on her face. "Um…"

"Oh, introductions! This is Crow Armbrust," Herschel said, looking both fond and exasperated all at once. "He's a… character, to be sure, but he's also a dear friend of ours. Maybe he has a counterpart in your world too?"

Rean shook his head. "Now there's a scary thought."

"Hey. Rude."

Glass Houses (Fie, Gaius)

"Ugh. Don't tell me they're arguing again?"

"I truly wish I could." Gaius looked up wearily, the pair watching as Emma tried and failed to mediate yet another argument between Machias and Jusis.

"Figures. What started it this time?"

"I'm… honestly not sure. I don't think it matters at this point."

"It really doesn't. You think they'd have learned to shut up around each other by now, they're too alike for either one to be taking shots."

Gaius had to smile at that. "They're both in glass houses, as the saying goes?"

"Totally. Goddess forbid they just stop whipping stones."

Illusion (Vita)

Contrary to what most thought, it wasn't all supernatural.

Oh, there were undoubtedly some elements of the Hexen at work when Vita Clotilde brought Misty to life; that was beyond dispute. But there was no spellcraft involved with changing her body language, her mannerisms. She didn't need mana to inject friendly, welcoming enthusiasm into her voice for every episode of Abend Time. And at the end of the day, it was truly amazing what glasses and a hat could do.

She'd given life to an illusion, substance to a mirage. If that wasn't magic, then she didn't know what was.

Wings (Fie, Millium)

"So what's it like zooming around up there, anyway?" and for the first time in forever Millium found herself at a loss for words.

Try as she might, she couldn't find it in herself to explain how liberating it was to soar through the skies, to fly straight and proud without either wings or fear. It was probably like trying to describe sight to a blind person, or fun to Machias.

But as Lechter said once, when in doubt; show, don't tell.

"LAMMY!" and Fie watched with amusement as Airgetlam warped into existence, arm extended in welcome.

"Wanna find out?"