Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Character Creation and Discussion

[LoweGear]

Originally Posted by Kha

Yeap.

..and fixed?

So Hachi = Raising Heart?

*runs*

Originally Posted by Kha

Fuyu the OC was first created by Satashi-nyan, and I've been following his footsteps. If you want or have plans, I can drop this.

Don't have any plans, so do as you will

[Kha]

Originally Posted by LoweGear

So Hachi = Raising Heart?

*runs*

The 4koma RH?


Alright then!

[LoweGear]

Originally Posted by Kha

The 4koma RH?


Alright then!

That works

Though since when did Raising Heart get the programs to do katana swordfighting?

[Kha]

Originally Posted by LoweGear

That works

Though since when did Raising Heart get the programs to do katana swordfighting?

Remember, this RH is not from this timeline...

Spoiler for Beware - Exploding Brains:

It's the AI extracted from the destroyed RH that Signum used when she was Nanoha before the Bad End of MSLN Alpha. The swordcraft belongs to the Takamachi school.

[Keroko]

Whoa, Deathkillz returns to the image thread in style, some nice stuff to make Cadians to wild as well:

Spoiler for Vice goes GAR:

[Kha]

Originally Posted by Keroko

Whoa, Deathkillz returns to the image thread in style, some nice stuff to make Cadians to wild as well:

Spoiler for Vice goes GAR:

Saved for Rebuilt of Vice.

[LoweGear]

Originally Posted by Kha

Remember, this RH is not from this timeline...

Spoiler for Beware - Exploding Brains:

It's the AI extracted from the destroyed RH that Signum used when she was Nanoha before the Bad End of MSLN Alpha. The swordcraft belongs to the Takamachi school.

...

Abort, Abort, Abort?

Originally Posted by Keroko

Whoa, Deathkillz returns to the image thread in style, some nice stuff to make Cadians to wild as well:

Spoiler for Vice goes GAR:

Originally Posted by Kha

Saved for Rebuilt of Vice.

... so he'll now be called....

Miami Vice?

*Runs from Humor Police*

[Nightengale]

Hey, mild backlog. Will tackle later, am in the election fever currently.

Though this being where I am, we aren't anywhere close the States and Taiwan in term of do-rama.

And once again, I have no idea of priority, as I ended up writing something that probably only happens in Bo6M II or III, instead of I.

Spoiler for teaser:

Null: [Let's get down to business! To become like Meister...

Did they send me kiddies, when I asked for knights?

You're the saddest knights I ever met.

But you can bet before we're through,

I will make a man out of you!!]

Erio and Koji were only left speechless, as the small petite girl in front of them sung a tune.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Keroko

Whoa, Deathkillz returns to the image thread in style, some nice stuff to make Cadians to wild as well:

Spoiler for Vice goes GAR:

stuff

Why do it bring me memories of Mad Max the Road Warrior?

[Chaos2Frozen]

Originally Posted by Keroko

Yes, it's definetely not a good idea to challenge a creator at his own creation.

First, you only caught the top part of the image, and yet the hair already looks out of place. Tesla's hair is wilder, and has more peaks standing in different directions. From your cut it looks more like Natsuki then Tesla. If you take the whole picture and start looking down the hair, you'll notice a style that is completely different from Tesla's.

Second, the face is much rounder then Tesla's. Tesla's features are much more hardened then this girls.

Third, eye collor. You said you could defend yourself with the lightning, but the lightning makes everything apear darker, and yet her eyes are still far to bright green to be Tesla's, who has a darker shade of green.

fourth, hair color. While most of it can be defended due to lightfall, the strands that are obviously in the light are still an entirely different blue then Tesla's.

Oh wait, didn't you say colours can be editted? Well there goes half your arguments.

In addition, All the points you have made are so minor and detailed that seems to me like you only accept a girl that has completely identical features.

Which just makes me wonder, just what the heck were you expecting?

I'm surprised, you were alot more open when it comes to Keroko images...

[FlameSparkZ]

Originally Posted by Nightengale

Hey, mild backlog. Will tackle later, am in the election fever currently.

Though this being where I am, we aren't anywhere close the States and Taiwan in term of do-rama.

And once again, I have no idea of priority, as I ended up writing something that probably only happens in Bo6M II or III, instead of I.

Spoiler for teaser:

Null: [Let's get down to business! To become like Meister...

Did they send me kiddies, when I asked for knights?

You're the saddest knights I ever met.

But you can bet before we're through,

I will make a man out of you!!]

Erio and Koji were only left speechless, as the small petite girl in front of them sung a tune.

N-n-NANI KORE?!!!

[LoweGear]

Originally Posted by Nightengale

Hey, mild backlog. Will tackle later, am in the election fever currently.

Though this being where I am, we aren't anywhere close the States and Taiwan in term of do-rama.

And once again, I have no idea of priority, as I ended up writing something that probably only happens in Bo6M II or III, instead of I.

Spoiler for teaser:

Null: [Let's get down to business! To become like Meister...

Did they send me kiddies, when I asked for knights?

You're the saddest knights I ever met.

But you can bet before we're through,

I will make a man out of you!!]

Erio and Koji were only left speechless, as the small petite girl in front of them sung a tune.

... and the Zerstros do MULAN OMFG

[Keroko]

Originally Posted by Chaos2Frozen

Oh wait, didn't you say colours can be editted? Well there goes half your arguments.

In addition, All the points you have made are so minor and detailed that seems to me like you only accept a girl that has completely identical features.

Which just makes me wonder, just what the heck were you expecting?

I'm surprised, you were alot more open when it comes to Keroko images...

You were the one asking for it.

The facial features and the hair style are the most important ones. They just don't 'click'. Far too young to be Tesla, and the hairstyle (do note the lower curles) is something you won't see Tesla wearing. Ever.

Almost all anime girls have 'completely identical features' if you look at it that way.

As for more open when it came to Keroko images, I've grown more detailed since then. Almost all images that are in my folder which looked so much like her back then now look a lot different. Nothing a little bit of editing can't fix, but I guess that comes with practice in the field.

[Nightengale]

Originally Posted by FlameSparkZ

N-n-NANI KORE?!!!

Null going around causing havoc for Zerstro despite being told to 'keep low.'

One of which involves her jumping into Erio and Koji's training session.

And later... a staring contest between her, Caro and Maren.

Originally Posted by LoweGear

... and the Zerstros do MULAN OMFG

Null, in her years on Earth, became a pretty big Disney fan.

Which... not strangely, Saga is not.

[Chaos2Frozen]

Originally Posted by Keroko

You were the one asking for it.

You're the one fighting so hard to defend .

Originally Posted by Keroko

The facial features and the hair style are the most important ones. They just don't 'click'. Far too young to be Tesla, and the hairstyle (do note the lower curles) is something you won't see Tesla wearing. Ever.

Isn't that the whole point?

The very idea in itself isn't meant to be relative to 'Canon' works.

Originally Posted by Keroko

Almost all anime girls have 'completely identical features' if you look at it that way.

However, Animes have the luxury of drawing their own characters.

We on the other hand have to scavage for them.

Originally Posted by Keroko

As for more open when it came to Keroko images, I've grown more detailed since then. Almost all images that are in my folder which looked so much like her back then now look a lot different. Nothing a little bit of editing can't fix, but I guess that comes with practice in the field.

In other words, you've changed.

You're no longer cool. No longer fun.

[LoweGear]

Originally Posted by Nightengale

Null, in her years on Earth, became a pretty big Disney fan.

Which... not strangely, Saga is not.

... I suddenly imagined her being the one responsible for writing that Setsuna/Marina Aladdin Crack

*runs*

[Keroko]

Originally Posted by Chaos2Frozen

You're the one fighting so hard to defend .

You should know me by now. I always fight hard to defend.

Originally Posted by Chaos2Frozen

Isn't that the whole point?

The very idea in itself isn't meant to be relative to 'Canon' works.

Tesla won't be caught dead in such an outfit, it draws her OOC. You know my standpoint on drawing characters OOC.

Originally Posted by Chaos2Frozen

However, Animes have the luxury of drawing their own characters.

We on the other hand have to scavage for them.

Scavage better. Or learn to shop. :3

Originally Posted by Chaos2Frozen

In other words, you've changed.

You're no longer cool. No longer fun.

Yes, I did not become your loyal disciple. I resisted.

[Wild Goose]

I have lost it. Hours of work, Megabust project. Thus, busting is delayed... and thus i attempt breaker. Not with canons. Not with busters. But with something else.

"Minna, junbi ka?"

"HA!"

"Yosh. Ikuze! Kyuugeki Hisatsu!



GESPENST RUSH!!!

Originally Posted by Reiji Tabibito

Hey, no one's holding a gun to your head and telling you to do all this: how involved you want to be here is up to you.

Same applies to you. In fact, if you can bitch about lack of love and incharecter RP aimed at Arcas, I can bitch too, Reiji.

Working on it - current scenario has Dirk as a combat engineer...

I've read. Not impressed. Why is a 4-year noob tapped to help design new patrol ships?

And I do NOT!

Funny, that's how it looked to me. Of course I was having a depressive episode that time.

KORA!!

Why AARON!!

Why not?

Mainly because it'd ruin my plans...

...crap. I said that out loud, didn't I?

...do you really think I'll let you get away with that excuse?

I will bust more tomorrwo. tired. BUt wtf, man. Do you even know what combat engineers do? Combat engineers and ship engineers are totally different lines, fella. *shakes head*

@thread: Am I the only one who reads up on this kind of stuff?!

Originally Posted by Reiji Tabibito

Currently Unaligned:

Freelancer Reiji, the mercenary. Currently refusing to be hired by either side due to a SEVERE LACK OF LOVE for his characters and fan creations, as well as just being ignored in general. Currently in possession of the rare skillset known as the Omens of Plot, these include the Omen of Romance, Omen of Comedy, Omen of Action, Omen of Drama, and Omen of Doom, which is the result of a near-encyclopedic knowledge of books, movies, TV shows, anime, and other media. Is also capable of achieving superior results under severe duress - he once managed a 98 on an exam (class average 71) on nothing more than 2.6 hours of sleep, 2 extra large pieces of pizza, 3 cans of Dr. Pepper, and 1 beer. Is alternatively grumpy, sweet, annoyed, and pissed off. Wears a pure white Barrier Jacket.

Bravo, Reiji. In one move fueled by presumably attention-seeking, you have demonstrated that you do not know much.

Khrack vs Kerokanon. Google the colors. And Sarge. And Sheila. And Tex. And Caboose. And Donut. And remember that Kagerou and I are Halo fans.

Originally Posted by Kagerou

[spoiler=KvK Episode 01]*lawl Khrack vs Kerokanon[/spoiler]

I loled and loled Lookin' forward to more.

@Thread: Lost my backlog. Will write more tomorrow.

Fuyu, Liingo, Lowe, if it's not too much trouble, could you help me hunt down the new OCs again -_-

Also, considered and rejected Genderbent of OFM idea. Leena is the spiritual genderbent of Leeron already, and genderbent can only work on Glen, Emili, Franz and Naomi. Turning them into Unknown, Emet (Life in Hebrew, IIRC), Franceska, and Nat.

....the Franceska/Nat dynamics would be a bit darker. <.<

But ERASE THIS FROM YOUR MINDS. It's erased from mine.

Sunset Encounter on good path to completion, as is PT is lotsa fun Director's Cut and Barfight. Franz, Smith, Wesson, hot blood, and a bar. This bar ain't big enough for all of them!

Night all!

[Chaos2Frozen]

Originally Posted by Keroko

You should know me by now. I always fight hard to defend.

Fight for the sake of fighting.

Originally Posted by Keroko

Tesla won't be caught dead in such an outfit, it draws her OOC. You know my standpoint on drawing characters OOC.

Yes, and it's due to this that you close your heart and mind to anything that could threaten that.

Originally Posted by Keroko

Scavage better. Or learn to shop. :3

Why learn when I have acolytes?

Originally Posted by Keroko

Yes, I did not become your loyal disciple. I resisted.

Notice I've never asked for your soul at all?

[Kyral]

Okay!

It's been a long time since I postet some of my writing...

This time the Thanks go to two persons!

One is Wild Goose who willingly sacrificed part of his already limited time to help me, but sadly had much trouble because of stress. Thank you!

The other one is PhoenixFlare who took over and reliefed Goose from this not so important extra work.

I am unworthy working with you two!

Spoiler for Chapter 2:

Memories of Blood and Sorrow
Part 2: Mock Battle

"So, they want to check out how I'll do in a mock battle?" Rinya asked.

Verossa steered the car through the gate and waved at the soldier who stood on guard. "Well, that's what the Brigadier-General told me." He smiled as he heard Rinya sigh. "Yes, Baskir has a very unique character."

"Ah! Sorry, Sir... I didn't meant to..." Rinya replied, blushing slightly.

"Don't worry about it, Lieutenant." Verossa stopped in the open space of the training grounds. "Here we are!" he said cheerfully.

Rinya left the car and let her gaze wander over the comb-shaped plates that were set into the ground. "A training space... Which environment do you think we will be fighting in, Sir?"

Verossa was now leaning with one of his elbows on the roof of the car. "I think a city was proposed. You may be in a disadvantage."

"So, he will have more cover..." Rinya said thoughtfully. But then, she gave Verossa a determined smile. "But, so will I. Don't worry, Sir. I can do this!"

Verossa chuckled. "Good to see that you are in high spirits. Ah! It looks like everyone is here now."

Another car was stopping right beside them. The driver left the car, and Rinya was slightly surprised to see that it was Elric. He nodded to both of them and continued to the rear of the vehicle to open one of the side doors and saluted as Brigadier-General Baskir alighted from the car.

"Investigator, Lieutenant!" Baskir said as he advanced towards them, Elric following closely behind. "What a pleasure to see you again." His smile seemed fake somehow as he shook Verossa's hand and returned Rinya's salute.

"The pleasure is all ours," Verossa answered for Rinya and himself, smiling like a fox. "Your Operative is ready, I see?"

"Of course he is!" Baskir said while patting Elric on one shoulder. Elric didn't move a muscle. "But, enough of the pleasantries. I'm sure we both have important matters to attend to. So, let's get started. Where is the technician!?"

"I'm here, sir! Sorry for the delay!" a young man in an overall of the maintenance staff said as he ran towards them. Rinya could now see that some spectators had gathered at the sidelines. She even spotted a medic team checking their equipment.

"Whatever!" Baskir's voice drew Rinya's attention back to the Brigadier-General. "Just bring this thing up, will you!?"

"Yes, Sir! Of course, Sir!" the technician said, quickly hammering his fingers on the holographic displays that hung mid-air in front of him. Rinya saw that Baskir didn't lose even one quarter of his 'charm' since she saw him this morning.

The air above the comb-shaped plates shimmered and, out of nothing, a landscape of a ruined city took shape. Urban Combat Grid Nr. 23, or whatever it was called.

Verossa cleared his throat and looked at Rinya first, then at Elric. "This mock battle will be executed in full Barrier Jacket. To provide equal opportunities, Operative Thorn's limiter will be released by one, to match Lieutenant Shuri's rank. Even if this is called a battle, please don't be reckless and have fun, understood?" he closed the announcement with a smile.

"Yes, Sir!" Rinya and Elric said simultaneously.

As they headed into the simulated battleground, Rinya watched Elric from the corner of her eyes. She was a little disappointed. She had hoped to talk with her new partner a little bit before the mock battle, but Elric seemed disinterested.

"Well... I'm in your care." Rinya tried to start a little conversation. Elric only looked at her and nodded. "Hm..." was the only sound he made.

Please... Give me a break! This will make working together harder than I thought, was the only thing that came into Rinya's mind and she sighed in defeat. But, he wasn't that distant when she met him for the
first time in Baskir's office. No... wait... that wasn't the first time... she remembered.

Both of them stopped in the middle of a ruined central plaza and a holographic window popped up before them, showing a smiling Verossa Acous. "Okay... now that the both of you are here, we will get a little more into the details. The mock battle will have no time limit and it ends as soon as one of you is 'shot down'." The picture switched to a map of the environment, where two of the buildings were marked in different colours and had nametags on them. The red one was named 'Thorn', the green one 'Shuri'. "As you can see, these are your starting points." Verossa continued. "The battle will begin as soon you are in position. So, please get into your Jackets and head to your starting points, now."

Rinya took a deep breath. "Ok..." she said. "Are you ready, Windlanze?"

[Jawohl!] the device answered. [Anfang!]

It felt like she was surrounded by wind made out of green energy. Her clothing transmuted into green particles that dispersed in the wind like dust: first her uniform, then her underwear. The wristwatch that contained Windlanze was floating beside her, glowing in a bright green light and changing shape until it resembled the weapon that was used by the Belkan knights in Rinya's homeworld long ago. Rinya's body was then covered by the green particles again, which were now shaping around her a skin-tight, green-white bodysuit. A second breeze of particles formed her armour parts as Rinya reached towards Windlanze's shaft-like hilt. As soon her hand grasped her device, the energy around her dispersed.

Now, in her Barrier Jacket and with her device activated, she was ready for battle.

Elric was still staring at the map and the dot that was his starting position. Beside him, the energy that was surrounding Lieutenant Shuri stopped. She was now in full combat-gear and started to make some stretching movements. After she finished, she faced Elric, her eyes shining in excitement. "Yosh! Rinya Shuri A'Kalash, heading out!" With a gust of wind, she lifted herself into the sky and raced towards her starting point.

Elric shook his head slightly. From what he saw, she was a friendly and energetic person. It really was a shame. He raised his arms a little and looked at his hands, remembering what Baskir had told him. That he should 'go all out' and 'show that AAS girl what the Special Forces are made off'. He clenched his hands into fists. He didn't like it one bit, but Special Forces was the only place he had left, so he would do it. He closed his eyes. "Carnage..."

[Activation!] Elric fell into darkness as black and red fires consumed his uniform and the bandage that was wound around his right forearm and half of his hand. Blackness was oozing out from the veins that covered his forearm, forming and hardening like the carapace of an insect until it took the shape of the Cursed Device. In its centre, the dark metal slid open like the lids of an eye, revealing the red core. The fire that burned painlessly along Elric's body began to form the clothing, coat, and armour of his Barrier Jacket. As he opened his eyes, they flashed in a crimson light for one short moment. Then, the fire and darkness was gone.

Elric rolled with his shoulders and levitated himself a little into the air. "Elric Thorn, heading out," he said quietly.


===================

Rinya dived downwards as red bolts of energy smashed into the building she was flying past. She turned in mid-air, bursting through a broken window into the building itself only to leave it on the other side. She floated towards the side of the building and peeked around the corner.

Elric Thorn was hovering in the air with his magic circle glowing beneath him, the arm pointed at the building. A ball of pure magical energy was forming at the tip of his finger.

"Oh, crap!" Rinya darted to the side, away from the building. Not a moment too soon, as a red beam cut through the building, leveling it and raining debris into the air. Rinya dived out of the cloud of smoke and dust towards Elric, who corrected his aim and fired two globes of energy that Rinya could only dodge barely. Seeing what was coming next, Elric stretched apart his fingers and brought up a shield in front of him. Rinya reached him and smashed the heavy blade of Windlanze against his shield. Both were struggling against each other's momentum, but only for a moment. Rinya suddenly broke the contact and rushed away, starting to fly in a circle.

[Twilight Bullet -- Full Auto Fire] Carnage announced, and Elric sprayed a volley of bolts into Rinya's flight-path. But, the aerial mage gained more speed, leaving the trail of shots behind her.

"Windlanze!" she shouted. [Explosion!] the device answered and ejected two empty cartridges out of its hilt. [Sturmangriff!]

Suddenly, Rinya was a green flash that darted in Elric's direction. All he could do was to activate his shield and bring up his device between himself and Rinya as she reached him. The attack smashed into Elric like a gigantic hammer, and Windlanze broke through his defence. Elric hissed in pain as the lance-like device cut his arm. He was flung backwards and smashed through the wall of a building. Rinya floated above and struck out with her device.

"Wind Reaper." [Windschnitter!] the device ejected another cartridge, and Rinya slashed at the building Elric smashed into only moments before. The air rippled as a blade made of compressed air was fired into the building, smashing through the wall and destroying two floors at the same time.

Rinya searched the dust-cloud for suspicious movements. "Did I get him?" she asked herself as nothing was moving. Then, there was a sharp pain as something hit her in the back. There was a red flash of light and the sound of an explosion, causing her to tumble downwards. What the...? she thought as she managed to break her fall. She looked upwards, and saw Elric floating above her. How did he get there?

Elric rushed towards her, his device in Melee Mode. Rinya blocked the assault with her blade, but Elric followed through with a flurry of blows. He was too close to use Windlanze other than for defence. Rinya thought quickly, then pressed Carnage's claws to the side and swung forward, kicking Elric away from her. She boosted upwards now, trying to bring more distance between herself and Elric. Suddenly, something black was in front of her. She couldn't see if it was a black cloud or a rip in the sky itself, but before she could react, her adversary dived out of the blackness.

Teleport spell!? Elric slammed into her, flinging his arms around her and taking her into a grapple. Rinya tried to free herself, but Elric was stronger than she was, his arms against her body.

"Let me go!" she screamed and tried to smack her forehead into his face as both were tumbling towards the ground. Elric didn't even react to it. "I said...!" Rinya managed to free one of her arms. "LET ME GO!" She smashed her fist on Elric's cheek.

And again. And again. And again. And then, they reached the ground.


===================

Elric made a groaning sound as he pushed himself into a sitting position. He blinked and shook his head to get rid of the numbness. He was sitting on something. He looked down. It was Shuri, why was she...? The battle! Adrenaline rushed through his body again and made him wide awake. Elric brought Carnage quickly into position, pointing the tip of its claws at her throat. Rinya still had her eyes closed; in fact, she didn't move at all. Is this a trick?

Someone applauded. "Thank you, Operative Thorn. Lieutenant Shuri was 'shot down'."

Elric looked at the person who had spoken. Verossa Acous lowered his hands as he finished his small applause. A few steps behind him stood Brigadier-General Iskan Baskir, looking quite pleased. Verossa cleared his throat, bringing Elric's attention back to him.

"I'm sure you have your reasons, but would you please get off Ms. Shuri, so that the Med-Team may take care of her?"

[Device Mode.] Elric quickly stood up. Only now he realised that his whole body was aching. "Yes, Sir." Pain stung his cheek as he spoke. Unconsciously, he touched the side of his face that was hurting, and he could taste blood. "Sorry, Sir."

A medic shoved Elric out of the way so that a stretcher could reach Rinya. A short time later, Rinya was carried away, while the medic that shoved Elric checked him through. After the medic was satisfied that Elric only had minor injures, he advised him to put ice on the wounded side of his face and followed the others.

"She seems to be only unconscious. But, we will keep her in hospital, just to be sure," another medic was reporting Verossa.

Verossa nodded in relief. "Thank you, Sergeant. Please inform me when she wakes up."

"Of course, Sir," the medic answered and left.

Elric winced as someone patted his shoulder hard. "Well done, my boy!" Baskir laughed. "You showed them not to mess with the Special Forces. We will drink to this victory!" He turned to Verossa. "How about it, Investigator? Want to join us?"

"I fear I have other duties to attend to, Brigadier-General," Verossa declined politely.

"What a shame. I'm really curious if you can hold your liqueur." Baskir laughed again. "Now come, Elric, I know a good bar!"

"Yes, sir..." Elric sounded unhappy.


===================

With a small splash, the stone disappeared into the water. Elric let out a sigh and picked up another small stone. His head felt funny. He had a little too much alcohol, so he decided to walk back to the dorm. His path crossed a riverbank, and he simply sat down on the grass. The fresh air of the night was good and he was able to soak a handkerchief in the water, which he used to cool his cheek.

As the second stone followed the first, he let the mock battle pass in review, which led to a feeling of guilt as he thought about how he knocked Lieutenant Shuri out. She probably hated him by now, and somehow, he didn't liked that thought.

"Well... What a great way to start a partnership," he said aloud to himself.

"Thorn-kun?" a voice said behind him.

"Huh?" Elric looked over his shoulder to identify the speaker. Maybe it was because she wasn't wearing her uniform and didn't use his military rank, or it was simply the alcohol in his blood, but he needed a few seconds to realise that the girl was Lieutenant-Colonel Yagami carrying a small shopping bag.

"Ma'am!" Elric jumped on his feet, and instantly regretted it as he felt dizzy. "Ah, shi-" he swallowed the last word and rubbed his temple.

"Are you alright?" Hayate asked as she left the path and came down the grassy slope to the riverside.

"Yes, Lieutenant-Colonel," he saluted, but it was a little sloppy due to pain and alcohol.

"No need to be so formal, I'm not on duty at the moment," Hayate said as she stopped in front of him. Then, her eyes widened as she saw the dark bruise on his face. "What happened to you?"

"I think I'm a little drunk, Lieu-... Yagami-san." He misunderstood her. "But, I'm not on duty, too, so I think it's alright."

Hayate shook her head. "I can see that, but that's not what I meant." She sounded a little concerned. "I mean your face."

"Oh that... I had a mock battle today, Ma'am, but, I'm fine."

She gave him a strange look. "Yes, I remember, Verossa told me about it. You won, right?"

Elric let out a grim laughter. "Yeah... if you can call 'sending your adversary to hospital' a win."

"In hospital? Was she hurt that bad?"

"They said she was only unconscious, but they weren't sure." He shook his head and continued with a melancholic voice. "I totally messed up..."

"Accidents can happen in a mock battle, Thorn-kun," Hayate tried to cheer him up.

"But, it was not an accident!" Elric said with an sulky voice. "I grabbed her and smashed her into the ground. It was not the nicest thing to do, but I did it! Now, there is nothing I can do about it."

"You could apologise." Elric stared at Hayate after she spoke those words. She turned a little and looked up into the night sky. "You see, people often make mistakes and end up hurting each other, even if they don't want to." She looked back at Elric. "You said yourself that you 'messed up', so you could tell her that you didn't want to hurt her."

Elric avoided her gaze. "I don't think it is that simple."

"Maybe you need a little courage, but it is simple." She gave him a warm smile. "So simple that people forget about it."

"And what if she didn't care about my apology?"

"Then, at least she knows that you didn't want to hurt her. Isn't that better than letting her think you wanted to?"

Elric fell silent again. "I think you're right," he agreed after a moment.

"Good!" Hayate said happily. "So, you are going to visit her in the hospital tomorrow? I think you should bring her some flowers when you do."

"Huh?"

"That's only common sense, right?" Hayate now seemed a little caught up in her thoughts. "I remember that the first time I met Nanoha-chan and Fate-chan was in the hospital, and now we are best friends!"

"Err... Lieu- Yagami-san?"

"Don't worry, you'll be fine, Thorn-kun." She focused her attention back on Elric. "Well, If you need help, I can come with you."

"No, thank you, that won't be necessary," Elric said with a determined look, but only with the purpose to end the direction in which the conversation was taking. "I will go alone."

Hayate nodded. "I see. I hope she will accept your apology."

Elric was relieved, but then he remembered something. "Yagami-san?"

"Yes?" Hayate asked, slightly surprised.

Elric felt the blood rushing into his face. "Did Inspector Acous say something?"

Hayate gave him a puzzled look. "About what?"

"About something I said."

Now, Hayate smiled again. "Ah! You mean that I shouldn't feel sorry for letting you stay on stand-by? Yes, he did. Thank you, Thorn-kun."

"That's all?" Elric asked, now more embarrassed than before.

"What do you mean 'That's all?'?"

"Nothing! It was nothing... My mistake." Elric took a deep breath and smiled in relief. "Sorry for asking something weird."

"Don't worry about it," Hayate returned the smile, but suddenly her expression changed into panic. "Oh no! I nearly forgot!"

"What?" Elric asked, startled.

"Vivio-chan got some great marks in school and Fate-chan and I had the idea of baking her a cake and surprise her tomorrow morning. But, we were out of ingredients and I went to get some." She showed him the shopping bag. "I'm sorry, I have to go! Good night, Thorn-kun!"

"Oh, good night, Yagami-san." Elric watched as Hayate ran up the slope and disappeared.

Well, at least his head was much clearer now. Elric took a deep breath and stretched. "Flowers, huh?" Elric said to himself as he started to make his way up the slope.