Holy Templar Sanctum (Aincrad)

[Apollymi]

Angelica would find herself slipping into a dress and subsequently flattening it out while looking in the mirror. Once she was certain every curl was in place she came out to find Charles mostly dressed and near the foot of her bed. He apparently had interesting commentary about the man who'd been sent to fetch him and claimed some sort of difference in the man's personality when he waited too long. "I don't recognize the name or anything, but I don't know if I like how you said... different just then..." she mused. Still she was dressed and sure nothing was amiss with her attire.

"So, are you ready then? I'm ready~" she mused seemingly happy to create a path for them straight down the the gardens. They could descend into the gardens after taking less than 30 minutes or so to completely get ready for the day. Of course, she had no idea how this Fierabras would respond to the wait. In fact, that name didn't sound familiar to her at all, so she was left to wonder which individual they were. She didn't remember meeting anyone with a name like that at all. She have a bit of time to consider it while they made their way down the path to the gardens and then she'd see something quite unexpected.

[Bloodedge]

"Eh?" Thinking about it in the moment, Charlemagne realized Angelica had no reason to know Fierabras. She'd seen almost every member of his group, but Fierabras was added a bit after the party formed. "Ah, right. He was one of the Saracens back then. He got into it with us a lot back in the day, especially with Olivier. He joined the group eventually," he explained briefly. As for Fierabras being different after waiting, perhaps it wasn't as bad as he made it sound. A bit of clarification may have helped that as well. "That's the best way I could put it. I don't think he's unbrearable or anything. He's just... a little weird."

Perhaps Angelica would understand Charlemagne's meaning when they reached the garden. Down from the tower they went on a trip that would eventually bring Fierabras into sight. There he was, looking nearly two meters tall even while sitting at Angelica's garden table. He was staring down into a teacup with no tea inside, as he wouldn't have started drinking while others were sure to arrive. Once they were in range, he looked toward the pair. "Eighty-two pollen spores fell into my cup. I wonder if it will create a new flavor profile," he commented, much to Charlemagne's amusement. "Well uh... I can't say I've ever considered the flavor of pollen. I'm sure you'll let me know how it turns out though, yeah?" said Charlemagne. "Anyway. Angie, this is Fier. He's the one with the ridiculous sense of taste... and the weird tastes to go along with it, I guess."

[Apollymi]

Angelica was given a bit of background on the man known as Fierabras. He was a former enemy turned comrade. He had fought a lot against them, especially against Olivier. There was the claim that he wasn't an unbearable individual he was just weird. Meanwhile, Angelica simply found the entirety of the idea of joining up with ones enemies to become a trusted member of their group to be a bit strange. "I don't really get the enemy to friend thing, but maybe I don't really have to," she said with a nod. "If you say he's all right I can trust you about it," she said carefully. Whatever the case she was not prepared for the first thing she saw upon reaching the gardens.

This man was sitting at her table, and he was... huge. She was certain he'd have to look down at her even just a little while sitting in a chair. Standing he had to be absolutely frightening. She managed only a look of sheer curiosity. Even so, she maintained a quiet amount of shock while Charles and this man had a conversation about the number of pollen grains that had fallen within his cup? What? Yes, definitely odd, but that wasn't even the most pressing point here. "Listen here, Chuck I think you left out the most important point! This guy is huge!" she said seeming to have forgotten anything resembling manners, she recovered pretty quickly though. "Oops, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I've never met someone so tall... it's amazing... just different. I'm Angelica, nice to meet you. Do you want to try the tea? I have no idea of pollen will make a difference but I grew everything here so it isn't anything it wouldn't have already been exposed to," she explained of the situation. Ah, whatever the case, she seemed to have recovered though a bit sheepish she went to join this man at the table content to have tea. Someone like Turpin would have given them a rundown of what was going on with everyone else. She didn't know what to expect of Fierabras, but she could be friendly.

[Bloodedge]

One couldn't expect Angelica to fully grasp the enemy-turned-friend. That sort of thing was one of the random, impossible to predict things that could happen in the adventuring world. Charlemagne couldn't even properly explain how it all happened; it was unexpected to him as well. "I know it sounds weird, but he's one of the most stand-up guys I know! There are few people I'd take by my side before him. Though I'd say the same about all my friends..." he said with a casual eye roll.

Once they arrived, Fierabras proved his strangeness with only a few words. Charlemagne figured things would become clear, but what Angelica took issue with was something else entirely. She pointed out the gargantuan size of Fierabras in a manner none would ever expect of a princess. Apparently, that was the most important thing here, and Charlemagne had left it out entirely. He even seemed a bit confused by the mention. "Eh?! But he's an elf. Of course he's huge!" said Charlemagne. Fierabras had little to say, but something to say nonetheless. "Elf does not mean gigantic. Racist," the elf said plainly. While Charlemagne huffed over that ridiculous accusation, Fierabras set his gaze upon Angelica. To her, he had more words to share. "You're both glowing. The atmosphere of this floor must be amazing. I'll try the tea with more pollen if you have it. No sugar," he said. Fierabras spoke in a very flat manner, but it was his genuine tone. Charlemagne, for one, knew that his talk of the atmosphere was exactly what he assumed regarding the glow around them. As such, Charlemagne was snickering shortly after hearing the elf's speech.

[Apollymi]

Charles described Fierabras as one of the most stand up guys he knew. Angelica knew by words alone that he meant that trusted the man. She knew for a fact that those without trust didn't find themselves attached to Charles long term, so even if she didn't understand how they'd become friends, she was still happy for them. "I realize that, so as long as all of you are happy. I am happy for you," she said seeming to be content even while not truly understanding the situation.

That aside, there was the matter of Fierabras who was an Elf, now that Angelica was looking at him directly. Still that wasn't something to just assume, given how many different sorts of humanoids had pointed ears. She'd once read in a book that such a thing mean a connection to divinity. "I can't assume someone with pointy ears is an elf, that's racist," Angelica followed up. Playfully terse. Just the same, it seemed that Fierabras was equally capable of being in a good mood, as he didn't seem upset at all, even when calling Charles out for his 'racist' ideologies. Of course, Angelica hadn't shown the best side of her royal upbringing initially but she was still a fairly reasonable person as such, when the man said he'd try the tea, with extra pollen she thought about how to gather it. "I don't have it, but... give me a second," she said about the pollen. Comments about their glowing nature and the type of floor this was were an interesting connection, but given the snicker of Charles she thought the better of commenting. Instead a golden looking jewel was formed at the tip of her finger, and it seemed to magnetize pollen grains to it sucking it inside as she concentrated her mana on it. A few seconds of gathering later, and there was a small jewel with a small flaw which could have pollen poured out of it, in her hands. "Here, it's more pollen. I'm sorry you had to wait on us," she said offering before taking her seat at the table. No one could say that she wasn't a good host. She'd pour his cup of tea and one for Charles as well. This table included some fresh fruit and other small offerings in case of the princess' hunger as per usual. "Also help yourselves," she offered with a bright smile. Yes, a little breakfast with a new friend was no problem at all.

[Bloodedge]

"Eh? Eh?!" Charlemagne was baffled. One truth existed for him around those he knew. No matter what, he'd always end up the butt of someone's joke or teasing. In this case, both Fierabras and Angelica were calling him racist for calling elves tall individuals. "Both of you?! Literally every elf I've ever seen has been tall!" he insisted. Fierabras had little reaction to this, bar a few more words to share. "Your personal experience has created a stereotype. Elf does not mean gigantic," he reiterated.

Charlemagne had little choice but to give up. Apparently, he was just some sort of racist. Fierabras didn't seem to be legitimately bothered at all. Of course, he didn't seem to be much of anything other than pleased ─ as he always seemed. Apart from anything else, Angelica seemed willing to provide additional pollen for his tea, and that was something to be satisfied about. She produced some sort of gem which drew pollen into itself. By the time she was done with whatever magic she utilized, Fierabras was offered a small container of pollen to pour in as he saw fit. "You're too kind. I don't mind the wait. It gave me time to discover something that may be a delicacy," he claimed while shaking gratuitous amounts of pollen into his teacup. While they sat and drank, he would have more information to share. "I should catch you up. Everyone in the group is waiting on Floor 100. Astolfo learned overheard a conversation he wasn't prepared for last night, so Janessa has been keeping him tame. The same could be said of Roland now that Olivier has some free time. The coronation shouldn't be very problematic, nor should the aftermath," he explained.

So then, Charlemagne could assume Astolfo now knew of Jeanne d'Arc's fate. He'd been meaning to find a way of letting the lad know directly, but... it was going to come out eventually regardless. "That's a shame. I meant to tell him myself at some point. There's never a good time for it. Oh well. If he manages to stay rational about it, he might be able to help us solve the mystery."

[Apollymi]

Charles found himself flustered by the combined teasing of Angelica and Fierabras. Angelica found it humorous and thus kept a little giggle to herself even as she prepared the pollen for the man sitting at her table already. Even so, Charles and Fierabras seemed to have a pretty good friendship, as she'd noted between the man and all of the members of his party she'd witnessed him interact with. Truly, she was happy he had a group so enjoyable to keep him company.

According to Fierabras, Angelica was too kind and he didn't mind the wait as he may have discovered some new delicacy. "If you say so... I am not sure what kind of delicacy that might be, but if it adds something I'm interested in finding out. I could like raise bees or something in my spare time to help out the process a bit more," Angelica said. She wasn't as interested in nature as some other people, but she did have a wide variety of activities she used to keep herself busy. Moreover, there was the matter of something else, and that was, what the group that belonged to Charles had been up to for the duration of their evening.

Angelica added honey to her tea, and heard out the words spoken by the man. The idea that Astolfo had found out about Jeanne was something rather problematic. What was being done to keep him from freaking out though sounded strange. "I find myself slightly worried by the wording of everyone in this group when they talk about keeping anyone tame," she said her brows drawn together in confusion. Regardless, it seemed that Charles thought the man might have been good to help figure out the mystery of Jeanne d'Arc if he could be kept that way. Roland also being kept calm was pretty good. Still, perhaps there was some nuance to that lad that she didn't understand, mostly due to not understanding how simply being turned down had turned him into such a raging animal. Just the same she'd enjoy her tea and eat a few pieces of fruit, it would be bad to have a grumbling stomach during a coronation. Not that she figured she'd feel hungry considering the amount of energy she'd consumed. "You should eat a bit, Charlie," she mentioned figuring that it was more likely for him to feel fatigue than her, given the nature of mana exchange.

[Bloodedge]

Ah, it seemed the Holy Princess didn't share Fierabras's interest in eclectic cuisine. Oh well; he'd have to make new discoveries by himself before offering his feedback. If Angelica decided to start raising bees in the end, perhaps she'd have a regular visitor all for the purpose of acquiring... pollen. "I will let you know if it satisfies." Fierabras, at least to one who knew him well, seemed rather excited to try this pollen tea. Charlemagne watched the elf stir a cup of pollenated liquid, being nothing but pleased by the enjoyment experienced by a comrade... Even one who recently called him a racist. In the meantime, Charlemagne prepared his own cup. He would be steering clear of the pollen, but he'd take a bit of honey. "If you're using honey as a sweetener, you may as well start raising bees anyway," he commented.

The moment of truth was upon them. Upon taking his first sip of pollen-infused tea, Fierabras had a very unique sparkle in his eyes. Charlemagne knew in an instant how he felt about drinking pollen, and Angelica would find out soon enough. "It's incredible! It's chalky, but sweet. Much better than sugar," Fierabras explained. Overall, he figured there would never be a use for sugar in his tea again. Maybe he would even try raising bees. . .

Moving on, there was the matter of the Twelve Peers and their strange mannerisms when addressing each other's problems. Charlemagne shrugged in response to Angelica's concern, knowing there were many ways by which Astolfo could be... mediated. None of them, however, were any of his business. "We don't meddle. However Janessa managed to calm him down is her business. We can speculate, but we all pretty much agreed to keep out of each other's... preferences a long time ago. Astolfo is pretty much the only one who doesn't listen. Well, besides maybe Roland, but he's also kinda crazy," Charlemagne rambled while picking out a few pieces of fruit. Now that Angelica mentioned it, he was feeling a bit famished. "Yeah, good idea. I haven't eaten since the fish."

[Apollymi]

According to Fierabras, he would share if the pollen was a satisfactory addition to his tea. Good, technically speaking Angelica was pretty interested to know. As for Charles, commentary on her raising bees, she could only shrug. "Someone brings the honey to me. I know how it is made, and I know it is gathered on this floor but it isn't something I have a personal hand in. I don't even know where the nest is... or whatever," she stated of her own lack of bee based knowledge. Of course this was part of the strangeness of her upbringing. After all, no one would expect the princess to take much of an interest in where things come from, and most spent a lot of time diverting away from her when she asked questions... even though they were seriously just a point of curiosity.

The oddity of her upbringing aside, Fierabras had a concise and detailed explanation of the addition of pollen to his tea. He also seemed to be rather excited by the addition itself. "Hm, sounds more like dry honey, which also sounds pretty good..." she mused seeming to understand them a bit better. "I'm glad you found some happiness in your new experience. I may have to try it myself sometime~" she stated, figuring that pollen could have a few uses in some things she liked. She'd definitely put in some thought to raising a few bees. An apiary would be an apt addition to her many small works on this floor. Yes, an apiary would be potentially fun.

While she thought this over, Charles explained how the privacy of the Peers seemed to work. No one questioned the preferences of each other. And most didn't share them openly aside from people like Astolfo and apparently Roland. This reminded Angelica of her introduction to a certain member of Charles group which she thought to mention the oddity of, when it'd been sort of lost in their investigation the previous day. "Oh? Is that why we were ignoring the fact that Olivier was using a guy as a chair yesterday, in a way much less conventional than I would expect someone to do so?" she asked seeming to have made some sense of things. She imagined however the group kept each other out of their personal affairs was likely fine but she hadn't known the previous day if she was odd for noticing or not. Actually, several of the individuals she'd met seemed to have some rather odd quirks about them.

[Bloodedge]

Charlemagne believed Angelica's preference for honey should have her raising bees already. Angelica, on the other hand, kept herself distant from the process, leaving others to bring her honey instead of being involved somehow in its creation. That was strange for her; Charlemagne figured she would take joy in involvement. In this case however, her method of choice left him curious. "There it is. Your princess part is showing," he said flatly before sipping tea. While drinking, Charlemagne thought the better of that statement. His cup lowered slowly, and he shared additional words. "Alright. Never saying that again. Princess parts? Eugh," he cringed audibly.

Fierabras continued to enjoy his odd choice of tea. Angelica thought to try it herself at some point, which he certainly recommended to anyone. What he didn't recommend, was concerning oneself with Olivier's choices, which Angelica brought into question. "Yes," he stated firmly before Charlemagne could even speak. There was such certainty in his voice, as if it were taboo to address such things as Olivier did. In fact, it almost was in their group. Charlemagne himself would go on to add more of an explanation. "Yeah, that's a whole bunch of 'Olivier business' we tend to steer clear of. With people like her and Astolfo, speculation alone is automatically outlandish while still being in the realm of possibility. It's best for everyone's mental health to keep involvement at a minimum. To ask too many questions is to offer your own involvement in somebody's weirdness, so we all just decided to respect each other's differences and leave well enough alone."

[Apollymi]

The princess part of Angelica was showing. She assumed that to mean the part of her raised as a princess in the hands off manner she was. She did accept that she had some random rather extreme differences in what she actively did and what she didn't do. But what she didn't account for, was the use of the term 'Princess Parts' being something Charles seemed to dislike. Actually, hearing it said the second time, she also didn't really like it. "Yeah, that's probably for the best, I didn't think about it initially... but it does sound weird," she mused. Seeming to agree with the idea that Charles would never say something like that again.

Moving on, Fierabras had a strong, almost visceral reaction to the mention the habits of Olivier. Angelica gave that a bit of thought and came to a single conclusion, "Uh, that sounds traumatic, apologies," she managed seeming to understand that some difficulties might have during such a discussion. Of course, Charles went on to fully explain that whatever was going on with Olivier was her personal business. And that they as a group had agreed to not delve too far into each others personal interests. "That seems a bit strange, but if it works... I understand. I'll avoid questioning too many things~" she concluded rather easily. Well, maybe directly, but there would be at least a few members of this group who could make the princess ask more than a few questions about their 'interests' not that it mattered in the long run. She'd only pry after making friends, she decided.

[Bloodedge]

"Yeah. Let's all just pretend that never came up," Charlemagne said in the end. The sooner everyone forgot about the whole 'princess parts' exchange, the better all of reality would be for it. For now, Charlemagne would slowly sip his tea while trying to wipe his own brain. That sort of nonsense had no place anywhere; he'd remove it from its point of inception before anything else.

In the meantime, Fierabras was all but chugging tea from his cup. Pollen was a surprisingly delicious addition, it seemed. Ah, but maybe his actions had to do with drowning any Olivier-related memories that had come up again? The world may never know. "That woman is trauma. It's all in the eyes and that terrifying smile," he mumbled. For a moment, one might surmise that the cup in his hand was shaking as it touched the table again. In that same time, one might see his throat move as if gulping, even though no tea remained in his mouth to swallow. Charlemagne, as one who'd seen these signs multiple times before, chimed in quickly. "Yeah, Liv's a freak. Of nature, I mean. Well... she's a freak in a lot of ways, I'm guessing, but that's not our business. Not unless you want it to be, at least. Anyway, chin up! There's no way she'll be in person-chair mode at the coronation, so let those weird memories slip right out of your head!" With that said, Charlemagne dusted off his own cup of tea and lowered it as well. With a quick slap of his own cheeks, he seemed mentally prepared to begin the coronation. "So, you guys ready? I'd rather get this over with before I change my mind... again."

[Apollymi]

Charles apparently wanted to forget about his strange choice in alliteration. And for her part in this conversation Angelica was willing to let it go, considering she wasn't sure why she thought it strange, but she was quite certain she wanted nothing to do with it long term. Ah, that was fine too wasn't it. Now, beyond this point she'd issued an apology to Fierabras for bringing up his trauma. According to him, Olivier was simply trauma incarnate both in her eyes and her smile. Perhaps, Angelica wasn't truly the type to fear another, or perhaps whatever the men found truly frightening about Olivier wasn't something she would really understand. "I hear what you're saying, but I am not sure the sense I got of her makes that assessment make sense," she concluded. Maybe it was just men who were traumatized...

Yes, that seemed about right considering Charles follow-up sentences. Olivier was a freak of nature, but split in such a way as to imply some sort of strange meaning, maybe not even one he intended to share initially. He even went on to try to encourage morale in Fierabras, claiming that the woman known as the Grand Inquisitor probably wouldn't be in person-chair mode for this particular moment. Somewhere out in the universe a flag was being raised, but that didn't matter right now... Instead Angelica simply smiled. "I'm sure eveyrthing will be alright. And no, we can't have you changing your mind again, again..." she mused seeming fine to head out. "I'm ready when you both are..." she stated easily capable of going along with the pair on the next floor.

[Bloodedge]

Indeed, it was primarily men who understood what a frightening individual Olivier could be. Only men were subjected to even the idea of glorious, maddening torment at the Grand Inquisitor's hands, whether in life or death. Some had dreams of being pinned beneath that woman, and a surprising few of those dreams were considered nightmares by those experiencing them. Who viewed them as what, though? Well... even dreamers couldn't know for certain until their nightmares, or their fantasies, became reality. As for Angelica's perception of Olivier... "Skill issue," was said by Charlemagne and Fierabras simultaneously.

Moving on from matters of Olivier, there was a coronation to attend. Angelica agreed to avoid another change of mind by Charlemagne, and Fierabras had only come to Floor 99 for one purpose anyway. The giant elf stood once the others were in agreement, leading the way without a word spoken. "That settles it. I guess I'm off to become emperor. If there's time afterwards, I'd like to put more into research," Charlemagne said while moving toward the teleport gate.

The coronation would be taking place not within the Ruby Palace, but in front of it. Once the group moved to Floor 100, the main event would be just ahead of them. The 12 Peers were to be organized in the general vicinity of a large Holy Grail, before which stood Father An himself. The surrounding area was littered by other members of the Holy Templar Order, as well as nobles and those of high standing among Aincrad residents. Among the 12 Peers, there was a notable scene of Astolfo slouching. The poor lad looked as if he barely had life left in his body, yet there was a smile plastered on his face as if he were a drunken child. What had become of him? Well, many present had no idea, but many of the Peers knew well what the sight meant.

[Apollymi]

Skill issue. Apparently, this was the thought that both Fierabras and Charles had about Angelica's current understanding of Olivier. They both seemed traumatized in different ways so she was willing to say something else. "I don't know what that means, it sounds like a man issue," she replied instead. Yes, that seemed more or less the truth. None of the other women she'd come across had a problem with Olivier nor her behavior, which meant the individuals and their rules about the dominating nature of that one, were related directly to their gendered view of things. Of course, Angleica was sure of this, but she'd been called pushy quite a bit and she was nowhere close to the kind of nature that Olivier displayed. Even so, she took no personal issue and saw her not as someone frightening given her disposition in the amount of time she'd spent with her. Instead it seemed more like the men around her were easy to bend instead. That was a man issue.

According to Charels, they were all but decided on their trip to the top floor. Of course, in making this decision, it seemed that Charles was prepared to become Emperor. Beyond that point, if there was time he wished to do a bit more research. "I agree to that, Jeanne's personal writings might shed a bit more light onto things from her perspective, and might clear up any residual questions," Angelica replied. Of course the pair of them hadn't done much reading or anything else truly, instead they'd been getting to know each other, in the biblical sense. Whatever the case, they headed off to floor 100. And soon after, they'd come to see a gathering of the Peers and a large group of other high ranking nobles and officials.

Angelica for her part in this was completely unbothered, and instead of looking to strangers found herself taking a peek at the Peers under the direct control of her betrothed. In doing so, her eyes came across the pink haired lad who seemed to be happy but quite out of it. And the silver haired lass with exceedingly pointy teeth who seemed to be smiling from beneath a large hood. In fact her shiny teeth were visible and to Angelica she seemed to be almost vibrating energy. "Ah, mana transfer..." she murmured understanding how someone like Astolfo was being kept in check. Someone else was also being kept in check in a very specific way. Unlike Charles initial thoughts the blue haired Olivier was indeed still in person chair mode. But who was it beneath her rear as they approached? Well, the second person most likely to cause problems this day, had been... subjugated and she seemed to be pretty relaxed regardless. Was she sitting in front of the 'Holy Father' using a man as a piece of furniture? Yes. Did that matter to why she was here? No. She sat with her legs crossed at the knee her left elbow resting atop her highest knee with her face resting in her palm. Besides the look of sheer boredom, she didn't seem to be bothered very much at all.