Bradley Birthday SSR (2021)
Dec. 12th, 2021 10:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nerotealeavesChapter 1
Akira: Good afternoon, Bradley.
Bradley: Hey, Sage. What’s up? ...If you’re here to drag me out on a mission, it’s gonna be a straight no.
Akira: Oh, no, I’m actually here to speak about a legend that Snow and White let me know of. It’s called the “Ceremony of Starlight, Blessings and Wishes.”
Akira: Would you consider trying it out together?
Bradley: Ceremony of Starlight, Blessings and Wishes.…? The heck?
Akira: According to Snow, It’s a secret ceremony handed down through the years, involving the Sage and their wizards. It’s supposed to take place in the individual wizard’s home country, at a location where they have deep ties to…
Akira: This technique is to take place on a day where the wizard receives many blessings ーsuch as their birthday. It helps to strengthen their bond with the Sage.
Akira: The returns include health benefits, a sharper mind, and enhanced magical powers.
Bradley: Sounds pretty damn shady...
Bradley: You shouldn’t believe that shit. I bet it’s just the twins’ idea of a joke.
Akira: It is a legend, after all. I suppose we have no idea how accurate it could be.
Akira: But I think it’s worth a try! It’s your birthday soon, after all, and I’d like to do something in celebration of that...
Bradley: …Fine. I’ll play along.
Akira: Wait, really?
At my surprised response, Bradley smirked.
Bradley: Yeah, but if this turns out to be a flop...Trust that I’ll leave your sorry ass in the Northern Country.
Chapter 2
Akira: Sorry for the trouble, Cain. Thanks for helping me out.
Cain: It’s no problem at all! I’ll listen to your requests any time, Akira.
Owen: Add more. Enough taking your own sweet time, dump it all in.
Nero: C’mon, I really don’t have any more...
Nero: Hey, it’s Cain and the Sage. What do you two need?
Nero: ...If you need anything sweet, I’m all out.
Akira: Actually, we wanted to ask you for some help.
Nero: Help?
Akira: We were planning to perform a ceremony on Bradley’s birthday. For that ceremony, we’ll require a special outfit, along with blessings from three other wizards he has a connection to.
Akira: Snow and White are handling the outfits, but I wasn’t sure who to go to when it came to asking for blessings…
Cain: And that’s where I suggested we go to you, Nero. Bradley’s always in the kitchen, so I’m sure the two of you are real good friends, right?
Nero: Me…? Good friends with Brad...ley?
Owen: Who cares about that. Go away, Nero’s busy.
Owen: He’s to make something sweet for me. Nero, you’re hiding some stardust sugar, aren’t you? Use it.
Nero: Uh…I already have plans for those...I’ll make something else for you instead, okay?
Owen: Yay. Make me a whole bowl full of whipped cream.
Cain: ...Wait, how’s this? Since there’s three of us here, we can give our blessings!
Nero: What?
Owen: Seriously?
Akira: Blessings from the three of you... ?
Cain: Yeah! Bradley’s close to Nero, and Owen’s from the same country. I’d say I get along pretty well with Bradley too!
Pleased with his idea, Cain beamed.
Nero: You get along well with Brad...ley?
Akira: That’s a pleasant surprise.
Cain: I’d say I get along better with him than most do. We play cards sometimes, or if we both happen to be at Shylock’s bar, we even grab a drink together.
Cain: Oh, and on my birthday, he summoned a monster as a gift for me, saying it would make for special training! Man, that was some real good training material.
Owen: Are you stupid?
Nero: That idiot... he shouldn’t have done that to you...
Akira: Haha...Well then, everyone, may I receive a few words of blessing from you…?
I laughed wryly at the baffled looks on Owen and Nero’s faces, and began to note down the three wizards’ words of blessings for Bradley.
Chapter 3
Bradley: Did we really have to come all the way here?
Akira: It seems that the benefits may be stronger if we hold the ceremony in a natural area that the wizard has connections to.
Bradley: Eh...Whatever, I guess.
The place we chose for the ceremony was the Cavern of Time, located in the Northern Country. It’s a place that’s very familiar to Bradley.
The dimly lit cave was silent, save for the occasional sound of dripping water. Clad in the outfit Snow and White gave me, it all felt very mystical.
Akira: ...Let’s begin, shall we? Firstly, you’ll have to close your eyes, Bradley.
Bradley: …
Bradley’s eyelids fluttered shut.
I silently placed a hand on his chest, and began to recite the blessings written in the Sage’s Journal. I let the words flow from my mouth slowly and clearly.
Akira: To begin with, here are your blessings from Cain.
Akira: “I’m no match for you when it comes to cards, but I’ve been putting in some special practice with Murr lately. We’ve got to play a round when you’re back!”
Akira: And next, your blessings from Owen.
Akira: “Now that you’re a year older, I should teach you a lesson about respecting your elders. Just because you’re a little smart and you’ve got a way with words doesn’t mean anything. You need to be trained in manners.”
Akira: And now, your blessings from Nero.
Akira: “Don’t cause too much trouble for the Sage, you hear? After you’re done with the ceremony, hurry back before the food gets cold.”
Akira: Last but not least, my blessings to you.
Akira: Bradley, you’re dependable, and have helped us out of many predicaments. May you have a splendid day today, and even better days to come.
As I conveyed the last of blessings to Bradley, I felt a warmth growing in my chest. It spread through my hand and somehow, I think it reached Bradley, too.
Bradley: …
Perhaps Bradley felt something similar, for his eyes flew open, and he looked down to inspect his chest in slight surprise.
Akira: ...How was it?
Bradley: Pretty interesting, I’d say. Didn’t expect to hear blessings from some of these people.
From Bradley’s response, it seemed that the ceremony had gone fairly well, but there didn’t seem to be any notable changes.
Akira: (I suppose this means there weren't any of the effects I was expecting…?)
Just when I was starting to feel a little disappointed at the lack of results, the thrum of a bat’s wings echoed throughout the cave. Following that, the sound of voices from the past.
Young man with a Husky Voice: ...Hey, are we done here yet? We’re gonna catch colds, waiting out here like this!
Man with a Languid Voice: Nah, not quite yet. It’s been a long while since the last shower of stardust sugar, we’ve gotta bear with it till the basket’s filled.
Young man with a Husky Voice: Uegh…What’re you collecting these for, either way? Plan on makin’ something sweet?
Man with a Languid Voice: It’s for fried chicken. I sprinkled some in as a secret ingredient one time, and got really good feedback on it.
Young man with a Husky Voice: Fried chicken…? Oh, right! Today’s…
Man with a Dignified Voice: Still at it, huh? Workin’ pretty hard, aren’t you?
Young man with a Husky Voice: Oh, hey Boss!
Man with a Languid Voice: Heading off somewhere?
Man with a Dignified Voice: Yeah, seems like the village under my care got into some trouble, so I thought I’d head down to take a look.
Young man with a Husky Voice: Need me to follow too, Boss?
Man with a Dignified Voice: Hah, no need, it’s no big deal. I’ll wrap it up in no time, so prepare a round of drinks for my return.
The voices faded into the distance, and the Iestrum fell silent. All that was left was the sound of water dripping against the cavern floor.
Bradley: …
Words spoken from the distant past.
Bradley closed his eyes, without a word.
When I stole a glance at him, there was a gentle, content expression on his face.
Akira: (Though I’m not sure whether the ceremony had an effect…)
It must’ve been the right choice to have the ceremony here, on his birthday. I’m sure Bradley thought the same.
Bradley: …Time to get a move on, don’t you think?
Bradley: We gotta get back before the fried chicken gets cold.
Saying thus, Bradley turned his back against the Cavern of Time, where the past continues to slumber. By the time he began to make his way back out, his usual confident, bold expression had returned.
Card Episode
Akira: Bradley, remember when you received blessings from Cain, Owen and Nero? Did you celebrate with them after?
Bradley: Sure did. One of them pretty much refused to celebrate with me, though.
Akira: Could that be…
Bradley: Yeah, it’s Owen.
Bradley: Bastard sprinkled pepper into my fried chicken and had the balls to call it a present! I was this close to being reported missing on my own birthday…
Akira: Uh, well...it does sound like something Owen would do, I suppose. What else did you do on your birthday?
Bradley: I got invited to play cards with the lad from Central Country. He said he’d improved, and wanted to play a round.
Bradley: Bluffing my hand against him did feel tougher than before, but he’s a hundred years too early to try his luck against me!
Akira: Haha, that’s harsh.
Bradley: And for the Eastern Country chef…
Bradley: I invited him for a good drink, and he agreed without fuss. He doesn’t do that much, y’know...I wasn’t expecting it. What a surprising turn of events, right?
Akira: ...Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday.
Bradley: You can say I did. Not to mention, I got to hear some nostalgic voices during the ceremony, too...it was a pretty good birthday.
Akira: Good afternoon, Bradley.
Bradley: Hey, Sage. What’s up? ...If you’re here to drag me out on a mission, it’s gonna be a straight no.
Akira: Oh, no, I’m actually here to speak about a legend that Snow and White let me know of. It’s called the “Ceremony of Starlight, Blessings and Wishes.”
Akira: Would you consider trying it out together?
Bradley: Ceremony of Starlight, Blessings and Wishes.…? The heck?
Akira: According to Snow, It’s a secret ceremony handed down through the years, involving the Sage and their wizards. It’s supposed to take place in the individual wizard’s home country, at a location where they have deep ties to…
Akira: This technique is to take place on a day where the wizard receives many blessings ーsuch as their birthday. It helps to strengthen their bond with the Sage.
Akira: The returns include health benefits, a sharper mind, and enhanced magical powers.
Bradley: Sounds pretty damn shady...
Bradley: You shouldn’t believe that shit. I bet it’s just the twins’ idea of a joke.
Akira: It is a legend, after all. I suppose we have no idea how accurate it could be.
Akira: But I think it’s worth a try! It’s your birthday soon, after all, and I’d like to do something in celebration of that...
Bradley: …Fine. I’ll play along.
Akira: Wait, really?
At my surprised response, Bradley smirked.
Bradley: Yeah, but if this turns out to be a flop...Trust that I’ll leave your sorry ass in the Northern Country.
Chapter 2
Akira: Sorry for the trouble, Cain. Thanks for helping me out.
Cain: It’s no problem at all! I’ll listen to your requests any time, Akira.
Owen: Add more. Enough taking your own sweet time, dump it all in.
Nero: C’mon, I really don’t have any more...
Nero: Hey, it’s Cain and the Sage. What do you two need?
Nero: ...If you need anything sweet, I’m all out.
Akira: Actually, we wanted to ask you for some help.
Nero: Help?
Akira: We were planning to perform a ceremony on Bradley’s birthday. For that ceremony, we’ll require a special outfit, along with blessings from three other wizards he has a connection to.
Akira: Snow and White are handling the outfits, but I wasn’t sure who to go to when it came to asking for blessings…
Cain: And that’s where I suggested we go to you, Nero. Bradley’s always in the kitchen, so I’m sure the two of you are real good friends, right?
Nero: Me…? Good friends with Brad...ley?
Owen: Who cares about that. Go away, Nero’s busy.
Owen: He’s to make something sweet for me. Nero, you’re hiding some stardust sugar, aren’t you? Use it.
Nero: Uh…I already have plans for those...I’ll make something else for you instead, okay?
Owen: Yay. Make me a whole bowl full of whipped cream.
Cain: ...Wait, how’s this? Since there’s three of us here, we can give our blessings!
Nero: What?
Owen: Seriously?
Akira: Blessings from the three of you... ?
Cain: Yeah! Bradley’s close to Nero, and Owen’s from the same country. I’d say I get along pretty well with Bradley too!
Pleased with his idea, Cain beamed.
Nero: You get along well with Brad...ley?
Akira: That’s a pleasant surprise.
Cain: I’d say I get along better with him than most do. We play cards sometimes, or if we both happen to be at Shylock’s bar, we even grab a drink together.
Cain: Oh, and on my birthday, he summoned a monster as a gift for me, saying it would make for special training! Man, that was some real good training material.
Owen: Are you stupid?
Nero: That idiot... he shouldn’t have done that to you...
Akira: Haha...Well then, everyone, may I receive a few words of blessing from you…?
I laughed wryly at the baffled looks on Owen and Nero’s faces, and began to note down the three wizards’ words of blessings for Bradley.
Chapter 3
Bradley: Did we really have to come all the way here?
Akira: It seems that the benefits may be stronger if we hold the ceremony in a natural area that the wizard has connections to.
Bradley: Eh...Whatever, I guess.
The place we chose for the ceremony was the Cavern of Time, located in the Northern Country. It’s a place that’s very familiar to Bradley.
The dimly lit cave was silent, save for the occasional sound of dripping water. Clad in the outfit Snow and White gave me, it all felt very mystical.
Akira: ...Let’s begin, shall we? Firstly, you’ll have to close your eyes, Bradley.
Bradley: …
Bradley’s eyelids fluttered shut.
I silently placed a hand on his chest, and began to recite the blessings written in the Sage’s Journal. I let the words flow from my mouth slowly and clearly.
Akira: To begin with, here are your blessings from Cain.
Akira: “I’m no match for you when it comes to cards, but I’ve been putting in some special practice with Murr lately. We’ve got to play a round when you’re back!”
Akira: And next, your blessings from Owen.
Akira: “Now that you’re a year older, I should teach you a lesson about respecting your elders. Just because you’re a little smart and you’ve got a way with words doesn’t mean anything. You need to be trained in manners.”
Akira: And now, your blessings from Nero.
Akira: “Don’t cause too much trouble for the Sage, you hear? After you’re done with the ceremony, hurry back before the food gets cold.”
Akira: Last but not least, my blessings to you.
Akira: Bradley, you’re dependable, and have helped us out of many predicaments. May you have a splendid day today, and even better days to come.
As I conveyed the last of blessings to Bradley, I felt a warmth growing in my chest. It spread through my hand and somehow, I think it reached Bradley, too.
Bradley: …
Perhaps Bradley felt something similar, for his eyes flew open, and he looked down to inspect his chest in slight surprise.
Akira: ...How was it?
Bradley: Pretty interesting, I’d say. Didn’t expect to hear blessings from some of these people.
From Bradley’s response, it seemed that the ceremony had gone fairly well, but there didn’t seem to be any notable changes.
Akira: (I suppose this means there weren't any of the effects I was expecting…?)
Just when I was starting to feel a little disappointed at the lack of results, the thrum of a bat’s wings echoed throughout the cave. Following that, the sound of voices from the past.
Young man with a Husky Voice: ...Hey, are we done here yet? We’re gonna catch colds, waiting out here like this!
Man with a Languid Voice: Nah, not quite yet. It’s been a long while since the last shower of stardust sugar, we’ve gotta bear with it till the basket’s filled.
Young man with a Husky Voice: Uegh…What’re you collecting these for, either way? Plan on makin’ something sweet?
Man with a Languid Voice: It’s for fried chicken. I sprinkled some in as a secret ingredient one time, and got really good feedback on it.
Young man with a Husky Voice: Fried chicken…? Oh, right! Today’s…
Man with a Dignified Voice: Still at it, huh? Workin’ pretty hard, aren’t you?
Young man with a Husky Voice: Oh, hey Boss!
Man with a Languid Voice: Heading off somewhere?
Man with a Dignified Voice: Yeah, seems like the village under my care got into some trouble, so I thought I’d head down to take a look.
Young man with a Husky Voice: Need me to follow too, Boss?
Man with a Dignified Voice: Hah, no need, it’s no big deal. I’ll wrap it up in no time, so prepare a round of drinks for my return.
The voices faded into the distance, and the Iestrum fell silent. All that was left was the sound of water dripping against the cavern floor.
Bradley: …
Words spoken from the distant past.
Bradley closed his eyes, without a word.
When I stole a glance at him, there was a gentle, content expression on his face.
Akira: (Though I’m not sure whether the ceremony had an effect…)
It must’ve been the right choice to have the ceremony here, on his birthday. I’m sure Bradley thought the same.
Bradley: …Time to get a move on, don’t you think?
Bradley: We gotta get back before the fried chicken gets cold.
Saying thus, Bradley turned his back against the Cavern of Time, where the past continues to slumber. By the time he began to make his way back out, his usual confident, bold expression had returned.
Card Episode
Akira: Bradley, remember when you received blessings from Cain, Owen and Nero? Did you celebrate with them after?
Bradley: Sure did. One of them pretty much refused to celebrate with me, though.
Akira: Could that be…
Bradley: Yeah, it’s Owen.
Bradley: Bastard sprinkled pepper into my fried chicken and had the balls to call it a present! I was this close to being reported missing on my own birthday…
Akira: Uh, well...it does sound like something Owen would do, I suppose. What else did you do on your birthday?
Bradley: I got invited to play cards with the lad from Central Country. He said he’d improved, and wanted to play a round.
Bradley: Bluffing my hand against him did feel tougher than before, but he’s a hundred years too early to try his luck against me!
Akira: Haha, that’s harsh.
Bradley: And for the Eastern Country chef…
Bradley: I invited him for a good drink, and he agreed without fuss. He doesn’t do that much, y’know...I wasn’t expecting it. What a surprising turn of events, right?
Akira: ...Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday.
Bradley: You can say I did. Not to mention, I got to hear some nostalgic voices during the ceremony, too...it was a pretty good birthday.
