sanzuqu

[sanzuqu]

send 🌷 for my muse to receive flowers from yours!

#‣ 问答 (askbox). #flowers for lonky .......... :)

[sanzuqu]

There's a certain instinctual comfort in swords for her. The broad back of her big brother. The strong defiance of Hana. It was no wonder that her feet carried her to the training grounds, prompted by a familiar sound. A lens of nostalgia painting the figure of the swordsman in front of her with brother's shadow. It was only when she'd already curled her fingers around his hand that she realized.../RYOMA WASN'T THERE/. Grip turned to iron by a sudden spike of panic, a hell of her own making.

( 乌鸫 ) — Every swing clears his mind. Every breath replaces the merciless sighs that bubble forth like a babbling brook. It's frustrating, he thinks, as he allows the killing edge to fall to his side with a final labored breath that he is only ever at peace with a sword in his hands. He wonders if it would be easier if he always had one drawn. Maybe he'd be more at ease in this new and strange place. Surrounded by people with whom he is unfamiliar. 

( Most of whom seem to delight in his idiosyncrasies. )

A cheap, useless thought. Onyx gaze fixates on the palm of his empty hand. Calloused, cut — maybe, this was all to simply say he only was suitable as a weapon or an extension thereof. Never to be considered, to be thought of as anything but. Hard eyes narrow. Pathe — thoughts fall interrupted, slender digits trace the curve of his thumb before settling as it grips his hand proper. Shoulders set, his muscles tense the minute that the faint smell of incense and soap enters his nose. The minute he realizes how small this hand is compared to his.

Maybe if he doesn’t move and doesn’t breathe, she’ll just go away.

#meekmiko #‣ 答 (answers). #‣ 樱花 (sakura) — spring blossom left the world forgotten. #i thoguht he was gonna react more violently but actually he just froze up

[sanzuqu]

Submitted by Anonymous

#‣ 刺槐 (virion) — leaving behind a kingdom of roses. #‣ 乌鸫 (lon'qu) — an eye for an eye. #seems apt for today's round of asks on here

[sanzuqu]

[ kiss ]  for your muse to come up to mine and kiss them without warning 💜

nonverbal memes / kiss, for your muse to come up to mine and kiss them without warning.

( 乌鸫 ) — Peace was never an option. The edge of his killing edge is tipped upward, its sharp blade turned just slightly away from a loud-mouthed archer he doesn’t particularly care for. ( Were all of them so colorful? So obnoxious? ) “Don’t try it.”

#thefetchingfletcher #‣ 答 (answers). #‣ 狮 (leon) — lovefool sick with the loneliness.

[sanzuqu]

[ fix ]

nonverbal memes / fix, for your muse to treat mine’s injury.

( 乌鸫 ) — He stares. Pauses. Then walks away while clutching his side, the blood seeping through his fingers. "No."

#healingmist #‣ 答 (answers). #‣ 蒙 (mist) — a helping hand belies fiery spirits. #IM SOR R Y MI SISTTTT

[sanzuqu]

[ F i x + ]

nonverbal memes / fix, for your muse to treat mine’s injury.

( 乌鸫 ) — He is no healer. The assumption thereof is ridiculous. More incredulous is the assumption that he ought be tasked with the responsibility of taking care of some foolish girl who thought to throw herself onto a blade when she had the constitution of a mochi. So, he stares from across the room. Quiet, pausing, before he picks up a roll of bandages, throws it directly at the miko without so much as a word of warning and walking away. 

He doesn’t have time for this. If she was in so desperate of help, she could ask one of the actual clerics. Otherwise, he didn’t know. Didn’t particularly care. She could chop off her arm or something. An easy enough solution that requires nothing more of him. ( Though, the guilt might wear at him until he checks on her later, at least. )

#meekmiko #‣ 答 (answers). #‣ 樱花 (sakura) — spring blossom left the world forgotten. #he's not a nice person im so sorry lmAO #or well he's nice he just isn't a good healer ................. #also women scare him so ......... begone #this is reverse right did i read it right

[sanzuqu]

nonverbal memes

add + to reverse who does the action

[ attention ] for your muse to touch mine as a way of getting their attention  [ sleep ] for your muse to wake mine  [ cover ]  for your muse to cover mine with a blanket or a jacket  [ lift ] for your muse to give mine a hand stepping up or over something etc.  [ kiss ]  for your muse to come up to mine and kiss them without warning  [ run ] for your muse to run their fingers through mine’s hair  [ braid ] for your muse to braid mine’s hair  [ embrace ]  for your muse to hold mine  [ smile ] for your muse to smile at mine from across the room  [ wave ] for your muse to gesture to mine to come closer  [ panic ] for your muse to grab mine’s arm or get behind them in a moment of danger  [ touch ] for your muse to rest their forehead against mine’s [ weep ]  for your muse to catch mine crying  [ eat ]  for your muse to offer mine food [ hit ] for your muse to attack mine  [ love ] for your muse to touch mine as a show of affection or reassurance  [ nap ] for your muse to fall asleep against mine  [ rest ] for your muse to rest their head in mine’s lap  [ look ] for your muse to catch mine staring  [ seduce ] for your muse to touch mine sexually  [ help ] for your muse to lean on mine for support  [ give ] for your muse to offer mine their arm  [ entwine ] for your muse to hold mine’s hand  [ laugh ] for your muse to laugh at something mine did  [ dance ] for your muse to dance with mine  [ sit ] for your muse to pull mine into their lap  [ yell ] for your muse to calm mine down  [ cry ] for your muse to wipe mine’s tears away  [ dream ] for your muse to wake mine from a nightmare  [ surprise ] for your muse to show up at mine’s house without explanation  [ fix ] for your muse to treat mine’s injury  [ sacrifice ] for your muse to get hurt protecting mine  [ guard ] for your muse to step between my muse and danger  [ taste ] for your muse to cook for mine  [ sing ] for your muse to sing to mine 

#‣ 问答 (askbox). #and here too but i'll stagger lmao #i just like this meme it's cute

[sanzuqu]

CHARACTER TAG ASKS, BUT MAKE IT FRESH ! ✧

because i have a lot of character tags and have a lot of stupid questions that i want to hear answers to! send one to either be answered as a headcanon / theoretical question or to be written out in drabble format. dealer’s choice, really. shoutout to eli, avril & athena for help on these questions!

HER BONES SING OF A THOUSAND LAVENDER HYMNS. pick one color to describe your muse. why that color? we’re getting all english 101 in here.

HONEY-MOUTHED GIRL FOR WHOM HEAVEN WAS IN REACH. is your muse the type of person who would lie if it was to protect a person’s feelings? or would they tell them the truth, even if it hurts?

ARROWS DIPPED IN GOLD SPLIT A COUNTRY WHOLE. is your muse prone to excessive self-indulgence? do they know where to draw the line? what if it’s harmful to those around them or to a greater cause?

YOU WERE ALWAYS PERSEPHONE’S FAVORITE SON. in what ways has your muse grown and changed from their childhood up to this point? what are the possibilities for their character arcs going forward?

UNHALOED ANGELS BREAK SOFTLY IN THEIR DESCENT. what does your muse think of martyrdom? is it something they think is, at times, necessary to move people to action or is it something they think is a needless waste of life?

REVOLUTION IS TO LEARN HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF. how has your muse’s opinion of themself changed, if at all?

THE SONGBIRDS STILL KNOW HER NAME IN SPRING. is your muse the type to keep people closely or at a distance? why?

GOLDFINCH MAKES ITS HOME OF THISTLE AND THORN. has your muse ever made a decision that could have or did harm them or someone else despite knowing the risks? if so, why did they choose to do it?

RUNAWAYS KNOW NO OTHER WAY TO LIVE. how does your muse respond to conflict? are they the type to avoid it at all costs or do they confront their issues head-on?

TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED IS NEVER ENOUGH. describe some of your muse’s oldest, but no longer existing relationships. how did they end up falling out / growing apart?

A SUNDROP THAT THE WINDS GAVE FORM. who is the brightest person in your muse’s life? have they changed your muse at all? how?

LIKE FLOATING LANTERNS, THE WINDS GUIDE HIM HOME. what and how would your muse describe home as, whether it be a person, place or thing?

APPLE STRIVES TO FALL FARTHER FROM ITS TREE. in what ways has your muse’s parents shaped them?

TO CATCH A DREAM AND KNOW IT TO BE FALSE. what dream or ambition has your muse given up on because they felt they weren’t able to personally fulfill it? why?

DAISY SEEDS IN THE SPACE BENEATH EACH EYE. where do your muse’s loyalties lie?

A LIFETIME OF BROKEN HEARTS BETWEEN HIS RIBS. has your muse broken any hearts that they know of? and what about the ones they don’t know about?

LITTLE PRINCE AND HIS GOD’S KINGDOM COME. what is something about your muse that makes them special or unique, but that they don’t really think about or consider plain?

A RESURRECTION IN THE HISTORY OF THE NIGHT. is your muse the type to stargaze / cloudwatch? what kinds of things do they normally think of or see?

SAVE ALL THE STARS IN HER EYES AND CHILDISH FAITH. look up your muse’s western zodiac sign. in what ways does your muse align with it and in what way do they not?

THE SERENITY THAT FOLLOWS A QUIETER STORM. is your muse afraid of the unknown? how do they deal with that?

THE STARDUST INSIDE HER IS DYING. how does your muse think of their own mortality? is it something always kind of lurking at the back of their mind or something they’re consciously aware of? can someone say existential crisi(es)?

A KING WHOSE CROWN IS OF THORN AND BONE. how does your muse view the idea of family? what do they think of their family? who do they think is their family?

IMPERFECT AND YET FULL OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES. what are your muse’s greatest flaws? are they aware of them and trying to fix them? or do they not notice them at all? why?

WITH EVERY BREATH HE MISSES WHAT WAS NEVER HIS. is your muse the type to get fixated on the events of their past? their future?

SHE DREAMS OF CITIES FALLING INTO THE SEA. imagine if your muse experienced reset theory — in which every time that a player resets their game, only your muse remembers this. how would they respond to seeing the events of their stories happen again and again? would they try to change anything?

TO HAVE SEEN HOW FAR INFINITY CAN REACH. if your muse could ask any one question answered truthfully by any person in their life or some omnipotent being, what would it be and why? what do they hope the answer would be?

#‣ 问答 (askbox). #yeeeeep here too

[sanzuqu]

A : AFFECTION. how does your muse show affection?

valentine's day asks.

08 | on affection. lon'qu shows his affection in the things he does for people or in his criticism, lmao. he isn't great with his words and usually bungles it when he tries to be affectionate. he's even worse with pda. like, he'll debate it, then decide it's stupid and then back out. or more embarrassingly, he'll end up half-executing it and then chicken out halfway through so he'd rather just not do it all together knowing what he does know. ( it's worse with any woman because he'll be 10000% more likely to just not even look at you. )

he's not outwardly affectionate intentionally, but he will make a point to go out of his way to do certain things for you that he otherwise wouldn't bother to with other people. like, he'll save you an extra slice of cake or something even though he hates sweets. he'll let you borrow his coat or help you step over a puddle or the like. i do think, also, that he can show his affection through his words if he isn't consciously thinking about it.

exhibit a, in his future past 2 dialogue with inigo:

LON'QU: ......INIGO: Father? Is that you? But...how can you be here? You're dead... Oh no... You've come from the afterlife to collect me, haven't you? I'm finished.LON'QU: ...Finished, you say? If you're that ready to die, I won't bother with any speeches.INIGO: Huh?LON'QU: Inigo... I sentence you to death here and now... Prepare to die.INIGO: Ack! Wait!LON'QU: What's the matter? Come at me. I'll make it painless for you.INIGO: But... I don't want to die...LON'QU: You don't? ...Then don't let me ever hear you say you're "finished." If the afterlife sends someone to collect you, you put that messenger in the ground.

lon'qu speaks similarly with his other potential children. ( i'm quite fond of his dialogue with owain, particularly this line: if you want to keep your friends safe, then fight. live to keep defending them. look at what happened to your father. he died to save you. but he also lost his chance to ever save you again. ) he's not critical aimlessly, but he's also not going to let you put yourself down or give up because the going gets tough / beat around the bush really either. i think he's very much like that in normal contexts as well.

in that, he won't let you talk yourself down or talk in possibilities like they're definites. he's very roundabout, essentially. but, tl;dr he's basically just a very actions-oriented person because he's awkward and doesn't know how to say things straightforward when it comes to expressing concern / affection and pda makes him want to spontaneously combust.

#meekmiko #‣ 答 (answers). #‣ 臆 (headcanons). #this is a really long answer for no reason im so sorry nJK NRLKGJ #lonk has good dialogue with his potential kids in the future past lmao.......... #i know this is supposed to be romantic affection but like #he's like this platonically and romantically #just a big ass disaster bc he can't

[sanzuqu]

Did some quick doodles of Lon'qu

#‣ 乌鸫 (lon'qu) — an eye for an eye.

[sanzuqu]

V : VALENTINE ; how does your muse feel about valentine’s day?

valentine's day asks.

08 | on valentine's days and others. he doesn't really have any strong feelings about valentine's day ( or whatever the fantasy equivalent of this would be )! he doesn't really care if people do or don't celebrate it. he doesn't himself, though he can kind of understand the reason why people do. he's pretty unlikely to be the kind to make a big show of it given to the fact he just isn't That Kinda Person, but he'll definitely go out of his way to get flowers or something at least nice if his partner makes it known that they want to celebrate it.

#dragonkiddos #‣ 答 (answers). #‣ 臆 (headcanons). #he's just largely indifferent but he will do things if asked :') #otherwise it's just another day AHAHA #thank you for asking!!!!!!!!

[sanzuqu]

𝑇𝑅𝐴𝐼𝑇𝑆 & 𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑅𝐴𝐶𝑇𝐸𝑅𝐼𝑆𝑇𝐼𝐶𝑆

repost & tag away!

BOLD all that applies to your muse. // italicized - applicable in some way.

lon’qu áinle’lí.

eyes : blue | green | brown | hazel | gray | gray-blue | red | golden | other hair :  blond | sandy | brown | black | auburn | ginger | grey | white | red | multi-color | other body type :  skinny | slender | slim | built | curvy | athletic | average | muscular | pudgy | overweight skin :  pale | light | fair | freckled | tan | olive | medium | dark | discolored | other

gender :  male | female | trans | cis | agender | demigender | genderfluid | other | doesn’t like labels sexuality : heterosexual | homosexual | bisexual | pansexual | asexual | demisexual | other | unsure | doesn’t like labels romantic orientation :  homoromantic | heteroromantic | biromantic | panromantic | aromantic | demiromantic | unsure | doesn’t like labels species :  human | undead | shapeshifter | demon | angel | witch | ghost | incubus / succubus | werewolf | alien | mutant | android | deity | dragon | other education :  high school | college | university | master’s degree | PhD | other | none i’ve been : in love | hurt | ill | mentally abused | bullied | physically abused | tortured | brainwashed | shot | stabbed

positive traits :  affectionate | adventurous | athletic | brave | careful | charming | confident | creative | cunning | determined | forgiving | generous | honest | humorous | intelligent | loyal | modest | patient | selfless | polite | down-to-earth | diligent | romantic | moral | fun-loving | charismatic | calm negative traits :  aggressive | bossy | cynical | envious | shy | fearful | greedy | gullible | jealous | impatient | impulsive | cocky | reckless | insecure | irresponsible | mistrustful | paranoid | possessive | sarcastic | self-conscious | selfish | swears | unstable | clumsy | rebellious | emotional | vengeful | anxious | self-sabotaging | moody | peevish | angry | pessimistic | slacker | thin skinned | overly dramatic | argumentative

living situation :  lives alone | lives with parent(s) / guardian | lives with significant other | lives with a friend | drifter | homeless | lives with children | other parents/guardian :  mother | father | adoptive | aunt | uncle | foster | grandmother | grandfather | other | none sibling(s) :  sister(s) | brother(s) | none | other relationship : single | crushing | dating | engaged | married | separated | it’s complicated | verse dependent

has a(n) :  developmental disorder | learning disorder | personality disorder | mental disorder | anxiety disorder | sleep disorder | eating disorder | behavioral disorder | substance-related disorder | PTSD | mental disability | physical disability | other | none

things done before :  had alcohol | smoked | stolen | done drugs | self-harmed | starved | had sex | had a threesome | had a one-night stand | gotten into a fist fight | gone to infirmary | gone to jail | used a fake ID | played hooky | gone to a rave | killed someone | had someone try to kill them

#‣ 臆 (headcanons).

[sanzuqu]

(     *     VALENTINE’S DAY ALPHABET   !    

send some letters to find out more about my muse   !

A   :   AFFECTION.   how does your muse show affection?

B   :   BOUQUET.   does your muse like flowers? which ones are their favourite?

C   :   CHOCOLATE.   does your muse like chocolate? which one is their favourite?

D   :   DATE.   what is your muse’s ideal date? where / who with / etc?

E   :   EMBRACE.   does your muse like hugs? what are their hugs like?

F   :   FLIRT.   is your muse good at flirting? how do they flirt?

G   :   GIFT.   is your muse good at gift - giving or do they struggle to get it right?

H   :   HEART.   is your muse quick or slow to give their heart away?

I    :   I LOVE YOU.   does your muse find ‘i love you’ easy or hard to say?

J   :   JEALOUSY.   does your muse get jealous in a relationship?

K   :   KISS.   is your muse a good kisser? why / why not? 

L   :   LOVE.   who does your muse love?

M   :   MOONLIGHT.   what is your muse’s ideal date? where / who with / etc?

N   :   NAUGHTY.   what is your muse like in bed?

O   :   ODE.   does your muse have a way with words?

P   :   PARTNER.   what does your muse look for in a partner? looks / personality?

Q   :   QUESTION.   would your muse ask the big question or expect their partner to?

R   :   ROMANCE.   is your muse a romantic or a cynic?

S   :   SWEETHEART.   did your muse have a childhood sweetheart?

T   :   TRUE LOVE.   does your muse believe in true love?

U   :   UNREQUITED.   has your muse had their heart broken?

V   :   VALENTINE.   how does your muse feel about valentine’s day?

W  :   WEDDING.   would your muse get married? why / why not?

X   :   XOXO.   does your muse use / like pet names?

Y   :   YOURS.   does your muse get protective easily?

Z   :   ZZZ.   how many people has your muse slept with?

#also here......................

[sanzuqu]

Send A Number to Experience One of My Muse’s Memories

Memories are vignettes for one’s past, and often times, they are very telling.

1. Their First Memory 2. A memory of their father 3. A memory of their mother 4. A memory of a sibling 5. A memory of a pet 6. A turning point in their life 7. A memory they want to forget 8. A hazy memory 9. A photographic memory 10. A disappointing memory 11. A memory that may or may not have happened 12. A happy memory 13. A memory of a friend 14. A memory of a relationship 15. A heartbreaking memory 16. A memory that makes them angry 17. A memory of something they regret 18. A memory they’d love to change 19. A memory of someone they don’t see anymore 20. A memory of someone who is deceased 21. A memory of the first time they did an activity they love 22. A childhood memory 23. A school day memory 24. A holiday memory 25. A birthday memory 26. A memory they want to share 27. A memory of something they’re proud of 28. A memory that strains a relationship 29. A memory they can’t let themselves forget 30. Asker’s choice 31. Writer’s choice

#‣ 问答 (askbox).

[sanzuqu]

44 and 45 baybee

excessively detailed headcanons.

07 | on religion and superstitions. there's really no indication of there being any religious baseline in chron'sin, but that's largely because of the fact it's kind of a one-off mention in a game that otherwise focuses largely on ylisse and minorly on regna ferox and plegia. for that reason, it's kind of hard to say if lon'qu really has any context to say he feels one way or another. i don't think he's particularly reverent of the dragon gods and he's seen at least one of them, but i do think he sort of holds himself accountable to the philosophic tenaments of buddhism ( or the fantasy equivalent therein ) given what we do know about chron'sin.

basic teachings are that life is inherently full of suffering and to learn how to free yourself from the conditioned existence. every action has a consequence and things are because of previous lives and conditions. by following the eight-fold path and practicing the four noble truths ( all of which are as previously stated ), the path to nirvana will reveal itself to the practioner. the eight-fold path draws back to three principles: wisdom, morality and concentration. while again, it's not really clear in awakening and buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion; i do think he reflects a lot of these beliefs.

wisdom composes two of these branches, focusing on having the right understanding and the right intention. right understanding refers to the knowledge of suffering, where that comes from and knowing how to stop it. the right intention, however, refers to being at peace with the formal rejection of ill will and the intent to be harmless. this ties into the second branch focused on morality — abstaining from lying, divisive speech, abusive speech and idle chatter. while curt, lon'qu doesn't appear to really ever lie about anything and doesn't intentionally try to hurt anyone when he does speak to them.

even when it would be more convenient to lie to people ( even about his fears at the expense of his pride ), he doesn't. that said, he doesn't abide by all those rules. the most obvious of these being that he shouldn't take lives, though i do believe he abstained from stealing and tries mostly to abide by the right rules. don't steal, try to keep an honest livelihood. beyond that, he shouldn't have corrupt motivations, avoiding greed and withdraw from useless mental qualities. he doesn't have a particularly apparent sense of justice, but he doesn't really appear to use his skills or talents to gain wealth or notoriety.

even though, he's literally the champion of the west-khan. he's just kind of like ' WELL, WHATEVER ' to it and just kind of quickly dismisses any actual troubles. he seems to view his suffering as kind of a vessel to enlightenment. if he suffers or is patient now in this life, it will eventually end if he continues moving forward.

as far as superstitions, i think he doesn't particularly have many since buddhism similarly rejects it by nature. did y'all need a quick run-by lesson on buddhism? no, but i occasionally like to flex what little i learned from sunday school at temples. this all said and done, i don't think he thinks much about this like actively. lon'qu only lived in chron'sin for his childhood before he eventually fled following ke'ri's death.

but, i think he would have had these basic principles indoctrinated on him. he was allegedly a homeless child from the slums and most temples will offer aid to the poor, so i think the monks would have impressed these teachings upon him though he doesn't actively register that he has. i also feel this probably shaped his food palate, given the food offered at temples are similarly plain or leans sweet in its taste.

#rudlm #‣ 答 (answers). #‣ 臆 (headcanons). #this is entirely too long winded but if you want a drive by lesson on buddhism #you really only need to read the first paragraph and know that lonk isn't real superstitious #this took me too long to answer lmfao #i just wanted to make sure it was a fair assumption #y'all at me: it was so obvious though!!!!

[sanzuqu]

aqura·:

Mouth twists into a small grimace. Her tongue tastes of venom and cynicism and she has half a mind to mouth off to him. Nothing personal, nothing personal, he says, with a hard glare. She thinks he’s from Nohr, maybe the offspring of one of King Garon’s previous retainers—perhaps he knew of what she was, of who she was, and he despised it. Did she hurt one of his family members? Maybe she killed one, and at this point, with the way he treats her, she wouldn’t put it out of the realm of possibilities.

His hands shake—is he inane? Daft? Or perhaps his pride encompasses him that much that he can’t so much as look at her or step aside when he purposely bumps into her. He’s so large, that she is slightly pushed into the cabinet, one hand going out to catch her before she completely falls. Eyes narrow in his direction, the ocean inside her turns hot with frustration, and she’s ready to leave.

But she doesn’t. Azura watches Professor Áinle'lí sit down slowly on the edge of the bed with his back towards her. Her muscles relax, the tide subsides, and she obeys, stepping backwards until she feels the wall behind her. Hips leans against the wall for support—wood creaks as she lets it hold her weight—and her hands grip her skirt. (He’s sweating, yet she feels so cold).

The scars on his back tell a story. They tell of a man who pushes others away—one scar is from a puncture wound, with pink skin stretching around the now-healed wound like a glorified star a blind man painted. It is not that it makes the swordsman unbecoming in any way, it is that scars do not heal like that. Wounds that have been properly tended to do not heal like that. (And there are more, but she only stares at that puncture wound, teeth clenching together when she smells tainted iron.)

Lips rub together before she says, voice softer than before, “Professor Áinle'lí, I…” Gods, she’s a fool for jumping so quickly to conclusions. There’s more to him than the surface, and she chides herself mentally for treating him the same way others have treated her before.

”Professor Áinle'lí,” she repeats his name, letting the name roll off her tongue. “Your wound will heal… awkwardly… like the ones on your back.”

”It could hinder your ability to fight one day, if you keep this up,” she adds. “And I think your students would be disappointed if that happened. That wound is from protecting a student, am I correct?” Like a siren, her tone is inviting; rather, asking that he invite, ask her, for help.

( 乌鸫 ) — Pinking from the slight agitation as fibrous threads are torn away from skin, each inch reveals a tapestry of wounds both old and new from battles he had fought before. Rough, pink skin raised over injuries, stitching together the whole of his back as if he were an old doll loved so much until it tore at the very seams. All ugly and healed in odd ways from the times he fled at the sight of a healer and from the others where magic could do no more than stop the bleeding but it could not mend where a sword or lance ran through. 

It is only the ones from the war that did not remain.

If only because the healers he contested were doubly as resistant as he was and doggedly pursued him until he eventually was forced to yield.

This wound would heal as all the others had. It would be easier to allow himself to ask for help. But, things being easier does not assuage his worry nor would it resolve the instinctual fear to recoil or twist away from the woman standing just behind him. It is precious seconds, minutes before the bandages are cast aside at last and Lon'qu turns his attention to unrolling the newest ones as dark brown eyes inspect the sloppily, stitched together wound. 

Flecks of dried blood remain and he picks idly at sore skin as he inspects the injury again and decides that it is clean enough in spite of the threads dyed red. He reminds himself quietly that this is not as if though he were still in Regna Ferox nor was he in the plains of Ylisse. Surely, there must be another healer here. One of the male persuasion that must have known some magic or medicine that would ease what would otherwise become limiting. But even as he debates this, the woman speaks up again and his attention is returned to her.

Eyes land on her, standing dutifully at the farthest wall as he looks from over his shoulder. “It is,” Pausing, hesitant — the words already on his lips to dismiss her, but faltering instead. She was not wrong, though he severely doubts that any of his students would care. 

So, he wonders why she raises the point at all. Shoulders tense involuntarily as he extends his hand outward, the roll of bandages still gripped tightly in his white-knuckled hand. 

And he trembles, more from the fear than the pain.

duly noted

#aqura #‣ 沧 (azura) — dragoness sings her last song. #‣ 线索 (thread) — duly noted.

[sanzuqu]

theindigoflirt·:

Annoyance is clear in both Lon’qu’s expression and voice. Inigo surreptitiously wiped at his eyes. He kept a handkerchief in his jacket for such occasions, though if anyone asked, it was in case he ever came across a lady in need. He refrained from retrieving the cloth, afraid such an action would lower the other man’s opinion even further.

“Heh, I simply thought you may have news from home. No matter; I’ll just write a letter upon our return.” Inigo’s nose twitched. Left hand tightened on his sword hilt as he used his right to absentmindedly play with his earring. Truthfully, that’s all he wanted. News from home, some sign that their sacrifice had actually paid off.

Inigo can’t help the tiny smile that formed at the mention of Basilio and Flavia. He could well imagine the raucous nature of Regna Ferox. A brief wave of homesickness flared through him. The kingdom of his childhood did not exist any longer. Visiting Ferox again after traveling back in time both soothed the hurt and highlighted the loss of what once was.

Perhaps talking to Lon’qu was a bad idea after all. Inigo bit the inside of his cheek in an attempt to focus. Thinking of home clearly offered little reward.

Inigo’s hand dropped from his earring. Hearing Robin’s name, knowing the truth of what hid behind a familiar face, filled him with dread. He thought of Owain, terrified and teary-eyed at the prospect of spending a month in a foreign country with it.

“Seems we can’t escape the past.” He’d said as much to Owain. The words rang hollow in his ears, an empty motto repeated in a futile attempt to push back the chilling reality of their unique situation. Lon’qu goes quiet, muttering his final response.

“Oh. Well, thank you for answering my questions. Hope I didn’t distract you too much, eh?”

( 乌鸫 ) — He thinks of that place as home?

His attention returns to the dancer's child, stern expression giving way to genuine curiosity. It was a surprise to him that any of them would, given the way they had all taken off after the war had ended and with it their duty-bound missions. To think of this world as home was to think of it as somewhere that they belonged. ( Maybe part of him can't help but feel guilty that he still does not think of Regna Ferox as his home. Just as he couldn't think of Ylisse or Chron'sin as one. ) 

And though he hesitates even as the question surfaces in his mind, he asks it out loud.

"Then, why did you leave?"

Alarm crosses his features then, gaze swiftly returning to the horizon even as his arms fall back to his sides. Pinned there as if he were uncertain as to what to do. It was not that he was concerned for them, but it was that the others. Fabric bunches in calloused hands. They worried for them and they had all left. Some without another word, others leaving but never really saying why. Lon'qu was neither any of their fathers nor did he know of what familial ties each had to their parents, but, he wonders. He has always wondered and the answers seem just out of reach. Ready to emerge if he so willed it.

For their sake, he wishes to know why though he has no one to share that answer with. It was not as if they were friends or anything more than acquaintances united only by obligation. "Forget it." He says abruptly, narrowing his gaze again. It wasn't important. What was he doing? Looking for answers for people he didn't even speak to anymore. What was he doing?

Maybe the heat of the desert still addles his still tired brain.

"Hm." He manages at last, recovering from the temporary embarrassment that was his initial query. Grima. He still does not understand it. Robin was a woman that he respected. A firecracker of a spirit and a tactician with her mind trained so far ahead of the horizon that he could never begin to fathom the limitless boundaries she would face if the world allowed it. Yet, she falls again as was with the future that they feared. Perhaps that was what kept these temporal trespassers here.

"You —" You didn't, he wants to say. "You." He settles at last. 

"The others. Did all of you run away to this place?"

a more vibrant indigo

#theindigoflirt #‣ 靛 (inigo) — heliotrope turns in arabesque. #‣ 线索 (thread) — a more vibrant indigo.