![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
odorekijin) wrote2026-01-30 11:44 pm
SSR Bradley (Scars Robed in Dayspring) “A Brand New Day with Bradley” (Birthday 2025)
“A Brand New Day with Bradley
~Pyjama Party with
the Northern Wizards~”
chapter one
[Wizards’ Manor, Second Floor—Akira’s Bedroom]
Akira: (If someone told me Snow and White would make me participate in a stall-lottery, and that I’d win on my first try…)
It was the eve of Bradley’s birthday.
The envelope, thick with my prize, felt a little heavier in my hands as I recalled how I came to win it, a few hours ago…
＊＊＊
Stall Owner: Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner~! Two entry-tickets to the most popular restaurant in the capital! Congratulations!
Akira: I-I hit the jackpot…?!
Snow: Incredible! Congratulations, dear!
White: Did you hear that? You won not one, but two tickets! Do you know who you will be inviting as your lucky escort~?
Akira: Errr… Let me think…
Ouh, I know! Bradley’s birthday is right around the corner, yes?
I could gift him these tickets for the occasion! That way, he’ll enjoy good food and good company with whoever he wants, on his special day…
Snow & White: … …
＊＊＊
Akira: (It’s already pretty late for a visit… I’ll give it to Bradley tomorrow morning.)
Bradley: Sage, quick! Hide me!
Before I could form any yelp or thought, I’d already shoved the envelope deep in my pocket.
Akira: B-Bradley? What’s going–
Mithra: 《 Arthim 》
A door materialised out of thin air.
The next second, I was in Bradley’s bedroom.
Mithra: There they are; satisfied?
Owen: Ahaha—now that’s a funny face, Master Sage.
Snow & White: Welcome, Master Sage, to our pyjama party!
Akira: Y-Your, what…?
Snow: You heard that right. We were thinking about how we should celebrate Bradley’s birthday this year, and we came up with this little idea. Of course, it wouldn’t have been complete without all of us, Northern wizards, gathered.
Owen: I’m only there because the twinsies said there would be tons of candies; though Bradley’s disgust is just as rewarding.
Mithra: The twins invited me, too. So long as I can kill time when I can’t sleep, I don’t mind participating.
Bradley: Damn ol’ farts, always stickin’ yer nose in my business off yer own bat…
Snow: Chasing after you, fresh out of your bath, proved to be the perfect strategy to have you with us~!
White: Had we personally visited your room, you would have locked your door and chased us away; yes, our plan was perfect~!
Akira: …Um, can I go back now? I wouldn’t want to interrupt this chummy get-together between Northern wizards…
White: My dear Sage, do stay with us. We intended to call you over, but you happened to be at the right time, right place anyway!
You see, though we managed to gather such a cast in the same room, we're not the kind of people that can quietly sit around to enjoy a cup of tea, at least not in each other’s company.
Snow: I’m certain Bradley feels less ill-at-ease to be with us now that you’re here. Isn’t that right, Braddykins?
Bradley: …Sure, y’could say that.
Akira: Well, in that case, I don’t mind sticking around for a bit… Hm?
It took me a moment to notice the hollowed pumpkin, filled with steaming risotto, sitting as the centrepiece in our gathering.
Snow and White clapped their hands in unison.
Snow: Now that every participant is here…
Snow & White: Let the ‘Pumpkin Crown Game’ begiiin~!
Bradley, Owen & Mithra: Wuh?
Snow: After our last game, Chloe gave us a refresher on the rules; you’re entitled to listen, too, of course.
White: Inside this pumpkin risotto is an almond, a walnut, a raisin, and a quail egg… along with a slice of tomato and chicken meat.
Snow: We will close our eyes, each have a bite, and whoever gets the almond is crowned “king.”
White: The “king,” then, can order the others to do anything they ask.
↑ back to top ↑
chapter two
[Wizards’ Manor, Fifth Floor—Bradley’s Bedroom]
Owen: Sure, sounds fun enough.
Mithra: “King,” huh… That has a nice ring to it.
Bradley: Don’tcha worry, I’ll get that almond a’right; y’can pack yer bags a’ready, cause y’all leaving my place pronto!
White: Good, very good! High spirits will make for an animated game!
If their satisfied smiles were any clue as they handed us spoons, I’d say their replies pleased Snow and White.
White: On my cue… Dig in!
Everybody: Munch!
Everybody: … …
Snow: I got the almond!
Bradley, Owen & Mithra: Tch…
Akira: That means you’re the king, Snow!
Snow: Indeed; as for my order…
Walnut and raisin must shower quail egg with love and affection !
Owen: I got the walnut.
Bradley: Ugh, yikes…
White: And judging by his reaction, Bradley must have gotten the quail egg.
Owen: 《 Cur Memini 》
Chains instantly coiled around Owen’s hands, shackling Bradley’s throat.
Before his instinct could even kick, Owen yanked Bradley forward.
Bradley: Gh… Fuckin’ bastard…!
Owen: Bwahah, you look like a puppy. Come on, chin up; let me pat your head.
Bradley: Lemme go, you sick fuck!
Snow: Hohoho, what an adorable display of love.
Now then, who ate the raisin?
White: I got the tomato.
Akira: I had the chicken.
Snow: Which can only mean…
Mithra: Oh. So that was raisin, got it.
In that case… 《 Arthim 》
Bradley: !!
Akira: Bradley…!
Mithra launched his spell towards Bradley, who, having just wriggled free from Owen’s iron grip, narrowly dodged the attack.
Bradley: You mad?! What the hell was that for, huh?!
Mithra: What? I thought you liked willingly putting yourself on the verge of death, no?
Bradley: Dun’ put words in my mouth! Damn it, why’s it gotta be my room that gets cheesed…
White: Pay it no mind, Bradoolie! We’ll fix it for you later, but you must calm down first!
We grabbed a spoonful of risotto again, Snow and White still trying to calm Bradley down.
Snow: Let’s have another go at it! Ready?
Everybody: Munch!
… …
White: Oh! I got the almond!
Bradley: Hol’on now, who’s to say y’all ain’t pullin’ a fast one with yer fortune-tellin’ shenanigans?
Snow & White: Why, we would never do such a thing~
White: …Ahem, anywho, here is my order.
…Tomato and walnut must go out on the town tomorrow! Yes, my command is absolute!
Akira: ..!! I’m the tomato.
Bradley: …I got the walnut.
Akira: (Which means… I’m going out with Bradley? Just the two of us…?)
Flustered and woefully unprepared to handle the chaos about to unfold, I instinctively turned my gaze toward Snow and White, seeking answers.
All I caught instead was a shared, knowing wink; their intentions clearly lurked beneath the surface.
Mithra & Owen: … …
Owen: Do you think we’re blind? They’re clearly hiding something.
Mithra: Why do you always get to be king anyway? This turn, I'm taking the almond. By force.
Akira: Uh-oh…
Bradley: Guys, no; keep yer damn magic tools outta my–
Mithra: 《 Arthim 》
Owen: 《 Cur Memini 》
Akira: GYAAAH…!
↑ back to top ↑
chapter three
[Wizards’ Manor, Fifth Floor—Bradley’s Bedroom]
Akira: Mngh…
(So bright… Is it morning already…?)
Bradley: Good morn’, sleepyhead.
Akira: ?!
I instantly sprung up on the bed.
Hints of drowsiness still weighing his eyelids, Bradley was looking at me as he was… Uh, changing clothes?
Bradley: Heh, looks like I ain’t the only one that finds that couch comfortable; ya slept like a log right up ‘til now.
Akira: Gosh, I’m so, so sorry, Bradley! I don’t… Wait, why was I sleeping here…?!
Bradley: Geez, relax; and get whatever ya reckon happened 'tween us outta your head. You just fainted when Mithra an’ Owen began fighting over who gets to be “king.”
With a mischievous grin stretched across his lips, Bradley yanked free the blanket still wrapped around my frame.
Bradley: Get up, it’s high time for ya to get ready, too. The tomato and walnut hafta go out today, remember?
Akira: …! Wait, you actually will comply with his order? With me?
Bradley: Yeah. ‘Sides, I’m gonna be in deeper shit if I stay in; I’d hear about it all day…
“Don’t keep our Sage waiting” this, “you should be out in town with our precious Sage” that. Got no choice, but I ain’t givin’ the geezers the stick to beat me up with.
Akira: Ahaha…
Bradley: This whole shebang put me against a wall, not gonna lie. I dunno where we should go...
Akira: Where, indeed... Oh, right!
The exclamation snapped through the fog of my memory.
Frantic, I dug out the envelope from my pockets.
Akira: I, uh, I actually won these entry tickets in a lottery in town…
They’re for a restaurant in the capital, and a pretty popular one at that. Maybe we could have lunch there, together? How does that sound?
Bradley: … …
Hah, y’know how to get me. Sure, let’s go with that.
Bradley plucked one of the tickets from the envelope, a genuine smile now settled on his lips.
His visible cheerfulness brought Snow and White’s “impromptu” invitation to mind.
Akira: (What are the chances that they threw this pyjama party just so that I had the perfect opportunity to invite him…)
Bradley: Phew, we can take the mornin’ easy, then. These kinda establishments dun’ open ‘til later, we’ve got plenty of time to get ready.
Bradley slumped down beside me, hints of a sweet-and-smoky cologne trailing behind him; it smelled as if the rich aroma of the night had seeped into his skin.
Akira: Woah… That’s a fancy fragrance you’re wearing.
Bradley: I’m goin’ out with you, no? Let a man dress up a li’l fo’ the occasion.
Speakin’ of, ya should put in the work, too. Catch my drift?
Bradley’s words held a palpable touch of playful mockery.
His long finger—silver jewelry decidedly suits him best—flicked my bangs.
Akira: Hm? …Gah, my bedhead looks crazy...!
I-I’ll brush it out! I’ll look much better in a minute!
My desperate attempts to hand-brush and pat down my hair drew a laugh out of Bradley.
The wishes I held silent these past few days now teetered at the edge of my lips.
As his amusement flickered, I perked up:
Akira: …Happy birthday, Bradley!
↑ back to top ↑
episode story
“Lord of the Night &
A Moment at Daybreak”
[Wizards’ Manor, Fifth Floor–Bradley’s Bedroom]
Akira: Sorry for invading your room and staying all night the other day, Bradley.
It wasn’t the most relaxing pajama party I’ve ever attended, but I can’t deny that it was a lot of fun! And… seeing you first thing in the morning, that was… that sure was unusual, in a good way.
Bradley: Oh yeah?
Akira: Yes, you always struck me as a nighthawk, so the contrast was a bit jarring in my head. I suppose it was, like, a different side of you.
Bradley: I get called “Lord of the Night” every once in a while, so technically yer impression ain’t half wrong.
Akira: “Lord of the Night…” Yep, no matter how hard I try to think of alternatives, no title quite suits you as well as that.
Since you’re primarily out at night, how do you usually spend your mornings?
Bradley: My mornings? Depends on which side o’ the bed I get up, honestly...
Hmm… Sometimes, I give my accessories a good buff to make ‘em shine. That dun’ take too much time, it’s pretty easy. That counts?
Akira: Of course! With how often you wear silver, I guess that makes sense…
Bradley: No legendary thief an’ leader worthy of the title would roll up to the function with dirty silver. Besides…
Akira: Woah, look at all those accessories on the table! There’s so much choice…
Earrings, rings… Ah, I see you also have multiple necklaces and bracelets as well. They’re beautiful, and so polished, I can almost see myself in them…
Bradley: A’right, I’ll go with those earrings and that ring today.
…As you can see, all that I obtain gets its moment of glory; I dun’ let no treasure o’ mine to corrode away.
voice line
“Haha, look who finally crawled outta bed. So, what happened? You partied too hard at my birthday party an' tuckered yourself out or sum’n? Hey, look at me. I dun’ go ‘round showin’ myself like this to anyone; yer a special case, y’know?”
↑ back to top ↑