#( I talked on my Lucian about how awful this week was for me and it’s only gotten worse as the days tick by )

[lu-undy]

Chapter 43 - SBT

Here it is!

"Thank you, M." 

Both Lucien and Mundy were on the sofa still. The Frenchman had leaned his head on the Aussie's shoulder as he stroked Perle slowly. 

"Mundy."

"Pardon?" Lucien asked in his native tongue.

"My name, it's M for Mundy."

"Mundy…?" Lucien repeated and the Aussie blushed, hearing his name said with the delicate French accent. 

"Yeah."

"Beautiful, and exotic."

"Thanks." 

Silence fell. 

"Are you not curious about my name?" Lucien asked. 

"Course I am. But I won't force you."

"You could ask me, that is not forcing me."

"Guess so."

"Go ahead." 

"Right then, what's your name, L?" 

"Lucien."

"Lucian? Oh, that's where Lulu comes from, eh? Lucian?"

"Oui, almost." Lucien smiled. 

"Sorry about the accent, can't do much about it."

"No problem at all." 

Lucien scooted on the sofa, slightly closer to Mundy. Now his head could lay comfortably on the Aussie's shoulder and upper chest, as both were leaning their backs on the sofa.

"I… I want to tell you the truth, Mundy." 

"What about your contract?" 

"This is exactly what it is about. It seems that my contract had been invalid for weeks, months even."

"You didn't know about it?"

"Non. I was kept in ignorance purposefully." 

"Oh… Doesn't sound fair."

"It isn't. It is not fair at all."

In the spur of the moment, Mundy put his hand on Lucien's. He stared at it. It was quite bigger than Lucien's slim fingers, and more rough. But feeling the Frenchman's hand under his palm was pure bliss. His skin was soft, even with the lines on it. Mundy loved it.

"You can tell me if you want." Mundy said.

"Fine. I shall." Lucien cleared his throat. "Mundy, you will hate me and possibly beat me up again for hiding this from you."

"No, I won't. You told me you'd never tell me some stuff and I respect that, no problem. But if you feel like doing it now, if you feel like you can trust me with a few more things, then I'm not angry, I'm bloody grateful." 

Lucien raised his eyes to the Aussie and smiled, even though sadly. 

"Mundy, I am… I am a spy." 

"What?"

"I work for the French government. I was sent to capture and deal with Duchemin the way that I saw fit. The contract I talked to you about is my work contract. Once I became a spy, I signed to give up the freedom to be who I wanted. I was, and always have been, whoever the French government told me to be."

"Right, I see… Is your name really Lucien then, or did they choose that for you?" 

Lucien raised his head to the Aussie. 

"It is really Lucien." 

"Why are you lookin' at me like that?" Mundy asked.

"I am surprised, Mundy. I just told you something I have barely told anyone before and your reaction is to ask me about my name?"

"Y-yeah? What did you want me to say?" 

"I don't know, but not that. It is very… Innocent." 

"Hm. Maybe." 

"It is…"

"Did your fiancée know about you bein' a spy?" 

"Oui, I had to tell her if I wanted to build a family with her. The plan back then was to resign and get a civil job. But you know what happened."

"I'm sorry. You don't deserve that." 

Lucien smiled. 

"Merci." 

"I mean it's awful, like with my parents." 

"Indeed."

"But yeah, sorry, go on."

"Fine." Lucien took a deep breath. "A few months ago, I received a phone call. As usual, I did not pick it up. I was at home, in my apartment back in Paris and I had severed all ties with everyone, so whoever called me could go and cook himself some eggs."

"Cook what?" Mundy asked, confused. 

"It's an expression in French, when you want to say that the person can go and, you know…" 

"Go fuck themselves you mean?" Mundy asked. 

"Such poetry, Bushman, oui that was what I meant. Anyway, in French we say that they can go and cook themselves some eggs."

Mundy chuckled. 

"That's a weird one, mate."

"Well, you do have strange expressions in English too, Mundy."

"Like what?" 

"Raining dogs and cats." Lucien answered. 

"It's 'raining cats and dogs', mate…"

"The English have rain all the time and yet when they look up, they somehow see cats and dogs falling from the sky? Seriously?" Lucien asked. 

"Nah, it's just a thing we say, like you and your eggs. But anyway, come back to your story."

"Oui, so the phone rang and I didn't pick it up." Lucien resumed. "Until it rang more and more. My mailbox also received what looked like the same letter over and over again. One day, curiosity won over and I opened it. The Minister of Defense was asking to see me, so I visited him."

"Wait, the Minister of Defense? The Minister of Defense?" Mundy asked. 

"Oui, he himself. He asked me if I wanted to come back. After more than a decade of the secret services trying to find Duchemin, they finally did, with the help of Interpol and the Australian secret services. They located him here."

Lucien paused to catch his breath while Mundy was paying every bit of attention. 

"Thus the Minister of Defense was offering me the privilege of being the one who would deal with the man. Obviously, I accepted. From his point of view, I was the only one who could pull it off because I am the best spy of my generation."

"Really?"

"I am not saying this out of arrogance, Mundy. I am being honest with you."

"Right… So what's changed now?"

Lucien sighed. 

"Maurice called for me because he happened to come across some information. By the way, Maurice is part of the French secret services too. He is an informant and helps me out for this mission."

"Oh, that's what you meant the other day when you said it was his duty to help you?"

"Oui, exactly."

"I see, alright… So what did he tell you?"

Lucien took a deep breath and when he exhaled, Mundy felt his head slightly tremble on his shoulder.

"He told me that actually, the Ministry was sending me to my death."

"Yeah, well, we're off to kill Duchemin, mate, and you said it yourself, we're not gonna end with a trophy or anything…" Mundy said. 

"Non, you misunderstood me. The French secret services want me to die at the end of this. They sent me on this mission because they knew I had a situation to settle with that man. In that context, they knew there was a slight chance that I could get emotional and end up making mistakes that would lead to my death. But they also strongly believe that with all my experience, I will carry out the job and kill Duchemin. If that happens, then my days would be counted anyway and I would die at the hand of some of his goons. That is what my employer hopes for."

"Why would they hope for that? You said you're very good at what you're doing and I saw you, you are bloody good. Why would they want you to die?"

"Because I have made my time, and the best way to make sure that the intelligence I have, however obsolete it is now, doesn't fall into enemies hands is to have me killed."

"Bugger…"

"Mundy, if I don't die by Duchemin's hand or one of his goons, France will send people to find me and end me, and they will pass as Duchemin's associates who seek revenge. No one will ever know that it is in fact the retirement that France has in store for me."

Silence fell in the flat. Lucien was breathing a little faster than usual. 

"Lucien?"

"Oui?"

"Are you just… afraid to die?" Mundy asked. 

"Non… I…" Lucien's voice broke and he stopped talking for an instant, to clear his throat. "I am not afraid. I just don't want to die now." He put a hand on his face and rubbed it out of embarrassment.

"I don't want you to die now either, or even after we kill Duchemin." Mundy said. "You got Perle to take care of." 

"Oui and…"

"And what?" 

"I want to live a bit more, Mundy. There are things that I cannot begin to tell you about, but those things, they make me want to stay alive… Merde…" Lucien put his fingers on his eyes again. The emotion was getting to him. "Besides, the idea that the employer that I have been faithful to for all my adult life, the one I rescued and freed from the Germans, the one that I killed for, the one that I did all kinds of impossible tasks for; the idea that France wants to kill me after all I did saddens me beyond belief."

"I'm sorry…"

Mundy wrapped his arms around Lucien and pulled him against his chest more strongly.

"They're a bunch of cowardly bastards, mate. Fucking idiots, all of them. And ungrateful at that, you hear me, Spook?"

Lucien nodded his head against Mundy's chest. He was struggling to not let his tears run. But the Aussie has seen enough of what he could be when Lucien let his emotions and his despair overtake him. He didn't want to show him more of that. 

"Is there any way you can convince them to leave you alone?" Mundy asked.

"I do not think so…" 

"There's got to be something we can do, Lucien." 

"Mundy, I gave my life to this country… I gave… My adult life… Everything… I have done any and all questionable things, horrible things, all for that country, to protect it, to defend it and now they-"

"Ssh…" 

Mundy felt Lucien hug him back, clawing his naked fingers in the Aussie's sides.

"Hey, I'm here, it's ok, it's alright…" Mundy rocked him slowly left and right. 

"I am sorry, Mundy, I am so sorry…"

"Sorry for what?"

"This is not what I am… I am not like this… All that you saw of me today is not me, Mundy…" Lucien said with a muffled voice as his head was buried deep against Mundy's chest. 

"It is you, Lucien." 

Lucien raised his head to Mundy. 

"It's you and it's fine." He added. "You can't pretend that you are a robot that doesn't feel anything. You're made of flesh and blood, mate, like anybody else. You got feelings, you can't ignore that. You know how I know that?" 

Lucien shook his head. 

"Because I talked to you about them, when you were Lulu. We talked about feelings. And I see it when you sing too. You're a normal bloke, mate, nothing else."

"What normal man kills on command? What normal man tortures his fellow human because he was told to, as if he wasn't making the other man suffer his life out? What normal man commits acts of violence and slaughter like this, only to be thanked by being sent to his grave by the same people who asked him to strip off of his humanity?"

"Mate, I… I don't know… I'm sorry for you, I'm so sorry…"

The hug tightened on both parts and Mundy's eyes snapped wide when he heard the Frenchman sniff. 

"Look, those bastards can go fuck themselves, ok? I-I'm with you, ok? We'll find something, we'll find a way, surely there's something we can do."

"Meow…" 

Perle brushed herself on her master too, feeling that he needed comfort.

"Mundy… Mundy, why does it have to be like this…?" He sniffed again. "Why is it that when I finally find something to look forward to, I need to die…?"

"No, don't say that, you don't need to die, not now, ssh…" 

Lucien pulled himself away from his embrace with Mundy.

"Maybe this is the payback for the horrible things I have done in my life." Lucien wiped the shy tears that made his eyes glisten. He just put his index below his eyes and caught the tears before they rolled down his slender cheeks. 

"Did you really do things that were that bad?" Mundy asked, easing the hug for Lucien to get some air. 

The Frenchman raised his eyes to him and looked away. The shameful look he gave was enough of an answer. 

"Uhm, Lucien, listen… I-I don't know but-"

"I have killed men. I have deprived women of their husbands, fathers, and sons. I have tortured way beyond what you have seen me do with my knife. I have stabbed, sliced, skinned and burnt some men alive. I have spilled enough blood to flood your entire country and mine combined."

Lucien stood up and paced the room. He walked in front of the coffee table, left and right, and Mundy followed him with his eyes. 

"We were at war and our country was taken from us. Our homes, our jobs, our women and children, all were taken away, confiscated. They became the property of unfair hands, hands that enjoyed our suffering, hands that revelled in our pain and bathed in our tears."

"But you did it. France is free now, thanks to you, if I follow you."

Lucien stopped walking and sighed. 

"I did not do it on my own of course, and in no history book will you ever find my name. But oui, I was there and I helped. I carried coded messages, that is how I started, a simple courrier. Then, I proved myself and my superiors saw a potential in me. So I got promoted and was now in charge of making women talk."

"You tortured sheilas?" Mundy asked, half surprised, half horrified. 

"Non, I made them talk without applying any pressure to them."

"How did you do it?" 

Lucien smiled at how oblivious Mundy was. He resumed his walking back and forth as the Aussie stared at the vest that he was still wearing, his jacket. Would it get the perfume of the Frenchman?

"Believe it or not, a few decades ago, all the hair that you see on my head was pitch black. The lines that you see at the corner of my eyes would only appear when I smiled and my skin was much softer. Back in those days, women would queue for miles for me…"

"What are you talking about…?" Mundy rolled his eyes and shook his head with a smile. 

"I know it might be hard to believe now, but trust me, I used to be quite handsome."

"Spook, I'm not doubting what you're sayin'."

"What is it then?" Lucien stopped walking and looked curious. 

"Look at this pile of paper there." Mundy pointed at the letters. "That's fan mail and all of it comes from sheilas, doesn't it?"

"Oui." 

"Then you're sayin' nonsense. Nobody cares about your grey hair and the lines on your face, you idiot. Those sheilas who queue miles for you, they're still there."

Lucien smiled. 

"I wish." 

"They are! Look at the pile of papers! I mean, half the town is after you, mate!"

"Maybe." 

"Can't you see it?" Mundy asked. "D'you know what some blokes are ready to do to get one sheila? And you're here tellin' me that you used to be handsome when heaps of sheilas are literally writing it to you!"

Lucien sat back on the sofa. 

"I guess you are right. But it matters very little. I am not interested in any of them. There was only one woman in my life, and God has called her back."

"Yeah, well, you never know, maybe you'll find one that you'll like in all of those, eh?" Mundy said and Lucien chuckled. 

"I doubt it. You can look at the letters yourself. None of them sound sincere, they are all overly exaggerated and there isn't a hint of originality in any of them."

"Gosh, sounds like you think too much when you read them. Can't you just take the compliments?" Mundy asked. 

"Non, not when it sounds like a false note on a piano, untrue." 

"Alright, let's take a look at one of them, ok?" 

"Be my guest." Lucien invited him and Mundy fished one up.

"Roight, look at this. 

'Dear Lulu,' Well that's a good start, right?"

Lucien rolled up his eyes with a smile. 

"I have come to your past few shows and have always found your performance extremely nice and poetic. Even my husband agrees to come with me and enjoys the shows. I cannot wait for your next song,

Sincerely,"

"How do you find it?" Lucien asked. 

"That's great! The sheila loves it, even her man does, what are you unhappy about?" 

Lucien chuckled and shook his head. 

"Mundy, Mundy, Mundy… How naive you can be…."

"What? That's what it says, isn't it?"

"Oui, indeed, but you are not reading the meaning, only the words." Lucien answered. 

"Right then, tell me what you understood from it." Mundy handed the letter to Lucien. 

"She writes that my performance is 'extremely nice and poetic'."

"Yeah, and?"

"And that is a very poor choice of words! I know that English has fewer words than French but come on! If you wanted to write a letter to someone whom you admire, would you write it that way?" 

Mundy blushed out of embarrassment. He had already written to the man he 'admired', and he very well knew that that special man had received the letter.

"Yeah, well, no, I-I don't think I'd write that…"

"Exactly!" Lucien said. "Non, if this letter had any taste, it would be bland. Also, the mention of the husband, what do you make of it?"

"I don't know. Seems like the bloke doesn't really like that kind of thing but you made him change his mind, eh?" 

Lucien looked up at Mundy's deep blue eyes. 

"Is that really what you think?" He asked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah, why? What do you think?" 

"My view on this is much more cynical than yours." Lucien answered. 

"Go ahead." 

"I think that my shows put the lady in good dispositions for her husband, once they get back home, if you know what I mean. And that is why he enjoys my shows."

"Oh… You mean she's more likely to… uh…"

"Oui, exactly, and thank you for sparing me your most crude language this time, Bushman."

"Yeah, well…" Mundy put a hand behind his neck and scratched nervously. 

"So her husband doesn't like my shows for the artistic performance, but for what it means for him and his wife after."

"Bugger…"

"I told you it would be more cynical." 

"Yeah, you didn't lie." Mundy said. 

"Surprised?" 

"Nah," Mundy found the courage to look back into those ice blue eyes. "Grateful."

"You are welcome." Lucien answered with a sweet grin. 

"And all those letters sound the same you said?" Mundy looked at the pile on the floor. 

"Oui, practically."

"Crikey… That's a lot of literature though. Have you read it all?" 

"Oui, diagonally. None of it sounds half as true as the letter you sent me, Mundy." Lucien cocked an eyebrow as he looked towards the Aussie. Mundy slouched his back and wrapped his arms around himself. 

"Y-yeah, well… I, uh, I didn't know you'd read it. I wrote it to Lulu." 

"Not to me?" Lucien asked and Mundy looked the other way. 

"Hm." The Aussie mumbled for an answer, because he simply didn't know what the right words would be. Yes, he had written those words to the man he had drooled at Eddy's shop for…

"Let me bring some dessert." Lucien went to the kitchen.

When he came back, Mundy was on the sofa, smoking one of Lucien's menthol cigarettes, one arm on the sofa's back and one hand on Perle, scratching her and tickling her. She mewled happily and tried to fight back against those rougher fingers. 

"Someone told me…" Lucien said as he entered the room again with a tray on which were some yogurts. "And I quote, 'Would it kill you to ask before taking my stuff?' ". Lucien sat next to his friend again. "You said that to me when I took your hat at the Doctor's. Vanilla or strawberry?"

"Vanilla. And yeah, I told you that for my hat and I could say it again for my jacket, Spook." Mundy took the yogurt and spoon that Lucien handed him. "Thanks, Lucien."

"Hm, I can give you your vest back if you want." 

"Nah, you're the one freezin'. You can keep it for now." 

"Generous." Lucien said. 

"Surprised?" Mundy answered. 

"Non, not at all. You have saved me a few times already now. I am starting to think that you would do a far better job than me at catching Duchemin." 

"What's that mean?" Mundy asked. 

"Maybe the French government is right."

"What?!"

"Maybe my time has come, maybe I am too old to be of any use."

"Shut up…" Mundy finished his yogurt and lit a cigarette that he handed to Lucien. The Frenchman accepted it with a nod.

"Non, think about it, Mundy. I can hardly carry out that mission alone when a few decades ago I tracked and killed Nazis." Lucien took a long drag off of his cigarette. "What has become of me?"

"Nothin' wrong is what you've become. Look at you, and look at her." Mundy looked down at Perle on his lap and gave her a spoonful of yogurt. She lapped it happily. "You're a normal bloke. She can tell. You've just done and carried way too much."

Silence fell as both men stared at the kitten eating the yogurt. She lapped and lapped, quickly and happily. When she finished. Mundy put the spoon in the empty yogurt and put them back on the tray. He leaned back on the sofa and laid his arm on the sofa's back again.

"You are without a doubt very right." Lucien leaned back and laid his head on Mundy's arm. 

"Maybe. But I'll never get to Duchemin without you." Mundy answered and Lucien raised his head to him. 

"Meow…." Perle jumped from Mundy's lap to Lucien and stood up on her back legs to knead his chest. 

"Oh… What are you doing, mon bébé? You want to scratch me?"

"Nah, even grown up cats do that." Mundy answered. 

"Why?" 

"It's a gesture they'd do when they're kittens, to get the milk off their mum's."

"So you think that I am your mother, Perle?" Lucien asked with a smile. 

"Cats do that when they feel completely safe, as a proof that they're comfy with you." 

"I see." Lucien scratched Perle's head gently and she purred. "Mundy?" 

"Yeah?" 

"I will help you find Duchemin, on one condition." 

Mundy looked at him seriously. 

"You help me find him too." 

"I will." 

"We will find him together." Lucien said.

"Yeah." 

"And we will kill him." 

"Yeah, and then we'll get you out of your trouble. No one will kill you. I shot people for you and I'll do it again if I have to. I don't care, I have no reason to live." Mundy said. 

"Non, please. Don't say that. If you are willing to help me, then you must try to stay alive after all this. Never ever yield to anyone, never soften and never lower your guard to anyone, d'accord Mundy?" Lucien asked him.

[Understood]

Mundy stared in the Frenchman's eyes. He couldn't see his own ones half-closed, dreamy, and his lazy smile. But Lucien's light blue eyes looking up to him with his beautiful dark eyelashes were a strong sight.

"Too late." He said with the happiest grin on his lips.

Lucien snuggled up closer to him and put a hand on Mundy's chest. 

"Thank you, Mundy." 

"Yeah, to you too." 

And Mundy leaned his cheek on top of Lucien's silky hair. Each breath he took was scented with the Frenchman's perfume and Mundy's eyelids would fall lower, rolling his eyes in bliss.

#tf2 sniper #tf2 spy #sniperspy #SBT

[what-a-messsss]

1x10 rewatch

Ok, let’s get back to Walt Longmire: Disaster Boi of S1 and finish this season off with a...something.  Pleading look to the heavens, maybe?  

How do I keep forgetting that Lizzie is a thing, even after our decision to find her some nice Smitten Cowboy to be with?  Holy hell, but why are you still keeping your dead wife’s ashes in the kitchen?  At least you kept Lucian in your fucking truck.  In a coffee can.  What is with you and breakfast beverages??  We all know you need lots of therapy, but this seems like a kind of niche issue.

“Trust me, you don’t, uh, you don’t want that tea.”  Buddy.  

Poor Lizzie.  She really is so nice.  And he’s such a fucking disaster.  “You seem weird,” she says, in reaction to him going bug eyed from having to convince her not to drink his dead wife without her realizing that’s what he was doing.  Sweetie, you have no idea.  And she really does like him.  

This is.  So.  Gloriously awkward.  And Lizzie’s there in her bare feet.  And all we need is for Branch to show up and we’ll have a full house, and aaaaahahaha, Walt is so trying to freeze time with the power of his brain.  Staring off into the Not Here place with his mouth pressed just so...  Awwwww, suffer.

I had forgotten that Ferg was the one who actually did the body work on the Bronco!  Even did the paint work, because that old truck has never looked so good.  I know Omar loaned Walt his truck while the Bronco was “in the shop,” but I like that the writers gave Ferg the skills to do that.

“If anybody... has something they want to say, I suggest you think twice about it.”  We don’t need to say anything; we’re too busy laughing at you.

Oof, and then Lizzie hearing Martha’s voice still on the message greeting.  She’s really quite a good actress.  Lizzie isn’t a terribly subtle character generally, but she gives her these really fine microexpressions that give you occasional glimpses that there is more going on under the surface, and she’s not just an open book.  : (  Making me actually like her and feel bad, not just cringe when she comes on.  Dang iiiiiiiit.

Ok, that does NOT look like Sharpie.  I’m sorry, but that looks like a paint pen or lipstick more than it looks like a Shapie on the dead kid’s forehead.  Even if it were one of the jumbo Sharpies, they don’t write like that, they aren’t that colour on skin, and the thickness of the lines are all off.  Which is not really relevant, but it buuuuugs meeeee.  Pedantic little shit that I am.

Ope, Branch is basically past the angst about Walt not liking him and straight into just giving him nothing but attitude.  Which, while I can hardly blame anyone for giving Walt shit, does get old pretty fast.

Walt, you are So Bad at talking to people, even when it’s for the damn job!  Yeah, it’s fine to have Ferg fill Vic in, but at least acknowledge that she’s there, damn.  Honestly it would have been good for both Vic and Ferg for Walt to tell her to follow Ferg’s lead on this one.  He knows the case, the local history, the players, the situation, and probably more about archery than her, and she could stand to take the reminder that working 5 years in big city homicide still doesn’t make her the senior deputy and that she needs to be ok learning from even Ferg.  Shit, I keep finding more and more reasons to be annoyed at Walt.  Is he even really that good of a sheriff?  I’m shaking the ol’ Magic 8 Ball here, and signs point to frickin’ NO.  Ugh.

Five HUNDRED dollars says that he didn’t check with Mathias before going on the Rez for official police business again.  Jackass.

Can’t really blame Viho for being super bitter.  And Ayasha is so sweet.  This whole family dynamic is so well done.

Aw, Ferg is so excited about the gum wrapper.  “Still minty!”  How are you such a sparklebunny?  Bless.

Detective Falessssss.  His opening line is so great, but uuuuuuuhg, he’s as bad as Walt with his singlemindedness about the case.  

“Talk to Ruby.  She runs my life.”  She runs the department, bucko, and you’d be lost without her!  Lost, I say!  But you treat her like your personal social secretary, and that’s crap.

In Fales’ dubious defense, you were just super weird about that whole encounter.  

Omar!  You creepy little lecherous jackass.  Why am I still fond of you?  It’s really rather galling that I enjoy your character at all, but I doooo.  Thank gods he has the beard now; cleanshaven was just wigging me out.  “Vickie’s never shot before--”  “That is the second-to-last time you will ever call me that.”  And I chortle myself to distraction to the point that I have to rewind to catch the lines that I missed.  With her horrible plans when she gets drunk (I’m still cringing at that flashback of her with Travis) and her obvious thing for older men, I’m honestly kind of surprised she didn’t end up having a deeply regretted something with Omar at some point.  They do have good chemistry in an antagonistic way.  And he does so enjoy tugging her pigtails.  ...ew.  Why is my brain like this?  

“A little bit of practice, even a girl can make that shot.”  Aaaaaaand we’re back to kick him in the nuts.  Not that we ever really left there.  Such a butthead.

Boy oh boy, it sure is great the tone that all these shitty rich white people take saying “Indian.”

“That is what a normal person would do in your situation.”  Henryyyyyy, I love you so much.  Why can’t we spend more time with him in the early seasons?  Why are you drinking a Rainier?  Nooooo, please have better taste in beer than your boyfriend!  You have expensive tastes in bourbon, why can’t you have decent taste in beeeer?

Walt, what is the point of practicing darts when you are FIVE FEET from the board?  Seriously, you’re supposed to be like...  (a google later)  7 feet 9.25 inches away!  That’s...  That’s an oddly specific measurement.  Wtf.  No quickly apparent reason for that specific measure.  Resisting the pull of this particular rabbit hole to continue the ep.  

Aaaah, that’s right, this is still when Walt thinks that Henry may have killed the guy for him.  And BestDad Henry talked to Cady after the blow up about Branch, and he is a wonderful human being.  “It’s really none of your concern.”  Hoooooow dare you.  It is clearly a function of being bffs with that butthead that Henry just smiles (somewhat bitterly) at this instead of tripping him into the bar or shoving his head into the cigarette machine.  (Is that a cigarette machine?  Wtf is that thing with the yellow lit up portion towards the top? [14:05])  

“What a rich inner life you must lead.  From time to time, you should consider sharing some of it with the rest of us.”  The sass!  Swoon.  Henry.  Marry me.  

“I’ve got other problems.”  Buddy, you are other problems.

I wonder how many people/places Ruby just has on speed dial so that she can zoom through her list of “Where the hell is Walt now” to get in touch with him.

Aaaaand we’re back to Branch getting a bit big for his britches.  Whee.  Better fight about it like Big Boys.  Ffs.  “Go ahead.  Give me your best shot.”  ::Pat Benatar starts playing in the background::  Oh holy shit, I wish so damn much that I had any know-how about making vids.  I would be beyond amused by a spoofy hate vid of Walt and Branch being assholes to “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”  Ooo, oo, or “Hit Me Baby One More Time!”  Aaaahahaha, these fucking losers and their fragile masculinity.  Get rekt.

Children.  Childreeeeen.  Stop it, or you can’t go to Timmy’s birthday party next week.

The irony of Vic being the one who is actually calling them on their shit and getting to do their damn jobs.  Well shit, they actually have a warrant this time.  Will wonders never cease.

Damn, Viho is smart.  Politically savy, pointing out the election coming up.  He’s got the wrong end of the stick this time, but the fact that he’s seen these angles and considered a bunch of things about the consequences already is telling about how smart he is.

Ruby is so pleased to see Henry.  She sounds tired (dealing with Walt and Branch and the sheer volume of bs that is accumulating in that office, no wonder) but still fond.  And the look she gives him.  I love her so much.  She puts up with so much.  And I love Henry continually calling Walt and the department on their shit and just being a dedicated activist for his community.

Fuck right off, Branch.  “Woah.  I know you’re Walt’s friend, Henry, but you don’t have any particular rights here.”  You are sliding into being a full on trashbag of a human being so fast, Brancheroo.  Reminding a young man of his rights and helping him avoid getting railroaded by your biased ass isn’t a bad thing, you rusty wingnut.

Ok, it might not be Glasses!Henry, but cowboy boots!Henry with the glow of righteousness upon him is also quite A Look.

Aaaaahahaha, for once Vic’s unholy yelling saves the day.  Being able to shout over a mass of raucous teens is usually reserved for teachers, camp counselors, and stage managers.  Looool and using detention as the threat.  And then jail.  Heeeh.

This is soooo weeeeeird: I’m starting to genuinely like Lizzie.  She just showed up and I remembered that it’s for dropping off that present, and then Vic is such a butt about it, and this poor lady is just trying to date a guy that she really likes and even gave him about 5 different outs that morning and he pointedly didn’t take any of them and dammit, Lizzie deserves better, too.  Fuck, Walt, you are such a disaster zone.  And Vic is a whole other disaster area that’s looking to, uhhhh, share a border.  Yike.

The present is definitely more Lizzie than it is Walt, with the wrapping and everything, but it’s still a sweet impulse.  AND THEN VIC, who told Walt how many times that he should call her?? gets all up in her business?  Poor Lizzie trying to figure out what the fuck this has to do with Vic or how it is even on the same planet as any of her business.  She does have some issues from her previous marriage, but she owns them.  And her BS meter is actually pretty finely tuned.  Sure picks up on Vic’s awkward boner for Walt in no time flat.  Not that it’s particularly well hidden, damn.

This kid is a rapist and a murderer and The Bad Guy, but at the same time, he is a high school kid, chances are he’s a minor, and Walt is talking to him alone in his office without any parent, much less a lawyer.  What the fuck.  

“Because Ayasha Roundstone told me so,” is a good line, solidly so.  And Walt’s all in The Righteous Hand of Justice mode or whatever, with the gravelly voice and standing over the kid, staring him down.  Effective.  (But where are that kid’s parents?)  Ah, that’s right, his dad is taking a shot at whatshisnoodle to make it look like he’s the killer.

Awww, Cady.  Honey, how long have you been waiting for you FailDad to show up?  Fuck.  Right.  This was how she found out that Martha was murdered.  He lies to her so much.  He manipulates her so much.  He passes all of this off on it being Martha’s wish, but he even acknowledges that Cady had a right to know and he chose not to tell her.  He denies Cady her own agency again and again.  He makes decisions for her without ever giving her a chance to choose for herself, and punishes her when she makes a choice that he doesn’t agree with.

It’s not “protecting” her from the pain.  “Protecting you from the pain,” is not a father’s job; it’s to teach their child how to manage it, help them live through it, and how to grow past it.  You’re damaging her.  Into the suuuuuuun, Walt!  Into the fucking SUN.

But fuuuuuuuuuuuck, her delivery of that same line, “Well, let me relieve you of that burden,” is sooo good.  You done fucked up, buster.  And you just keep fucking up.  I would say in new and exciting ways, but it’s generally in the SAME DAMN WAYS, dammit Walt.

This flashback is really difficult.  

They’re right about that technically being kidnapping, too.  Wyoming  § 6-2-201 specifically includes defining kidnapping as unlawfully confining another person, with the intent to “facilitate the commission of a felony; or Inflict bodily injury on or to terrorize the victim or another,” with unlawful confinement defined as “accomplished (i)  By force, threat or deception; or (ii)  Without the consent of a parent, guardian or other person responsible for the general supervision of an individual who is under the age of fourteen (14) or who is adjudicated incompetent.”  Meaning that not only could Walt charge Jake with the kidnapping of Rich, but also probably of Ayasha, since she was ruled an unreliable witness and would more than likely be legally considered a “mentally incompetent person” according to the states’ legal definitions.  

Not... that I have the Wyoming State Criminal Code downloaded on my computer.  >_> Certainly haven’t skimmed about 80% of it trying to figure out what charges would most make sense to be levied against Jacob at the end so that I don’t have to deal with him going in to a Federal prison on RICO charges.  <_<  Or what Cady probably should have been charged with after that mess with Tate and Catori.  Nnnnnnope.  Sure don’t, didn’t, haven’t. o_o

This is about the only time I can remember there being a legitimate reason for Walt not to have backup.  Since they’re off checking other locations.  Also, damn, that was some classic Old West quickdraw shit, Walt!  Noice!

“Why did you stop me?”  Because you have to testify, you little shit.  HE is not terribly bright.

Ooooooo, somehow I forgot that it was Branch who went to Jacob.  But that makes total sense; I can’t really see Jacob seeking Branch out, but once he walks himself into his office, Jacob will certainly play those new cards for all they’re worth.  Ooooooooo, and the Hotamétaneo’o headdress!  I’d forgotten about Branch seeing it, too!  Nice call back and foreshadowing to finish off S1!

“You will not find a chili cheeseburger of this caliber anywhere in Colorado.”  And now it’s 4:30 in the morning and I want a chili cheeseburger.  Thanks, babe.   Some daaaaaay, I will figure out which is my favourite Henry, but it is not this day, because godsdaaaaamn, the red checked shirt with that vessssst, is *chef kiss* a wonderful thing.   And the director knoooooows it = that pan down Henry’s back as he turns after saying, “I said nothing,” for noooo reason other than to have Henry’s ass on screen.  Seriously.  He says his line, it pans down, we get a primo shot of his jeans, and then it cuts away.  Solely a pan for Henry Butt.  Who directed this, and where do I send the fruit basket?  Dang, it was Nelson McCormick, and this was the only ep of Longmire he directed.  Huh.  In S1, there’s only one repeat director, who did eps 1, 3, and 7.  Interesting.

Focus, kid.  You are less than 3 minutes from the end and you’ve had it paused for over 5 minutes to wander around IMDb.  No wonder it takes you three flipping hours to watch one of these episodes.  What a mess, indeed.

“We all process grief in our own way.”  Buddy.  You have not processed.  You are a human <BUFFERING> screen.  You’re a walking loading symbol.  Walt, he gives you some basic vital statistics on the guy, but...  You haven’t even asked who it was.  Walt, you are so bad at this.  Fffffffff---  And there’s season 1.  lawd.

#Longmire #episode commentary #cady longmire #cassidy freeman #Walt #Henry Standing Bear #Branch is such a tool #Lizzie (Longmire) #How many tangents did I manage to go on this time? #Yikes

[nikatyler]

Since you’ve mentioned having mixed feelings about Miracle’s storyline as well as Miracle and Adam, I was wondering if you could go into more detail about how you feel about them? Sorry if that’s a weird question I’m just always interested on how feelings change over time. Plus you always have such interesting things to say about your characters.

Sure thing! I hope this rambling won’t be too confusing. I’ve rewritten it like three times already because I just don’t know where to start. There’s so much to talk about, so many personal influences and whatnot, and I don’t know how to go about it without revealing too much personal stuff while also making my point clear...you know what I mean? But this is my final try, I don’t want you to wait any longer...even though I probably should’ve done that because my head isn’t in the right place today. You know how yesterday I said I wasn’t freaking out about uni at all? Yeah, I spoke too soon.

It’s under the cut because I talked too much, but here’s a TL;DR: Basically other ships just inspire me more, Miracle and Adam are bland compared to them. Also, Miracle’s storyline has some moments I’m not proud of.

I guess I don’t like them as much anymore because they don’t really have anything to offer. They’re a cute, happy, perfect couple, but that’s kind of it? I’m not saying good, happy couples are bad irl, it’s just that when I’m reading something and that’s the only thing I can say about a ship, then it’s not a ship I enjoy as much as others. I think Miracle and Adam might be too perfect. Even the best couples get into arguments sometimes, but they never had to face anything like that.

Let’s look at my other ships, the ones I claim are my favourites. I’ll give you a few examples of what they offer other than “we’re cute and happy”. Might contain spoilers but eh, as always, when will I get around posting these stories anyway?

Tyler and Sharon: They both carry these insecurities and secrets they don’t tell anyone about, only each other. Tyler might seem very confident and whatnot and often makes fun of his siblings, but deep inside, he thinks that they’re all so much better than him. He also has this mindset of “if I’m not good at music, then I failed at everything”. I won’t go into detail about Sharon’s secrets because that’s something I would really like to reveal when the time is right but…let’s just say that there’s a lot beneath this “we’re a badass couple oh and we also joke around each other a lot and sometimes it looks like we hate each other but nope, we’re actually madly in love”. I also love how equal they are in their relationship, like screw the traditional roles, we can do whatever the hell we want in our household. And like I mentioned, there’s this whole music thing, their relationship is very impacted by that. Last but not least, I just love the chemistry and dynamics that they have, this playfulness, sarcasm and sass. They’re just fun for me to write about.

Ross and Caleb: Okay, I will admit, they do fall a little bit under the “cute and happy” category now, but what I love about them is their long history and how their relationship developed over the years. There’s been quite a few changes and ups and downs. They started off as very unlikely friends, where actually, at first the friendship was kinda one-sided and Caleb was just like “okay, whatever, I’ll play videogames with you”. Over time, they grew closer, then they grew apart during Ross’s worst years…and so on. I feel like I get into this every other week in an ask, so I won’t repeat it again, I’m sorry :D

Caleb and Rachel: (other Caleb. original Caleb. my Caleb. redhead Caleb.) Again, seemingly just another “cute and happy” ship, but I think it works in their case because of this irony, I guess you could say. Caleb actually doesn’t want much, he just wishes for a happy boring life with a happy little family where nothing extraordinary happens, but he got the exact opposite. At one point his life was totally awful (divorce with Angel, he found out he couldn’t have children, was fired, and I mean, even the alien abduction kinda sucked, let’s be honest), then things changed again (birth of Miracle) and now he’s learning to live with all that because there’s no way he’s getting that boring life he wished for. And then there’s this whole fact that he’s kind of grumpy and sad and always sees the worst, but then he meets Rachel, who is always smiling, and she shows him how to be happier too. They’re not complete opposites though, they both share many interests. And yes, they do fight sometimes. Remember when they found out Rachel was pregnant and Caleb didn’t want to believe it?

Zoey and Isaac: My two nerds I hardly ever talk about but they own my entire heart. The progress of their relationship is one of my favourite things in this Golden Days story that I’m writing. They become close friends in ts3 universe, help each other heal, then the whole parallel universe mess happens, Zoey is thrown into the ts4 universe (I’m trying to really simplify it here because this whole post is getting too long and we’re not even halfway through), finds this universe’s version of Isaac too and so on. He knows the things she’s gone through, he’s always there for her, she’s there for him too because he has his problems too. They’re dealing with a lot.

I could talk about Josie and Lucian too but it’s too early for that and who knows, maybe eventually I’ll find out they’re not actually one of my most favourite ships.

And I know what you might be thinking - “but Miracle and Adam had a story too! They struggled too! ” Yeah, they had and yeah, there were struggles. But after that, they turned/I turned them into your generic happy cute couple. It’s partially because of the mess that gen 5 was, there just wasn’t space for any more interesting development.

I think one reason why I don’t like them as much anymore is Miracle’s storyline as a whole. I don’t connect to it as much as I did when I wrote it. It was really influenced by how I was feeling back then and I just didn’t know any better. Without getting too personal and sad, if I wrote it today, some things would be vastly different.

Yeah, Adam was a nice guy who turned out to be dating a mean girl, that’s kind of a cliche but whatever. Sometimes I enjoy cliches in a way. I would be cool with that, even though it’s dumb and, well, a cliche.

The thing that bothers me the most is the mixed message about insecurities. So yeah, Miracle doesn’t think she’s pretty, she thinks everyone would hate her if they knew she was half-alien (because that’s how it was for her at school before) and has low self-esteem because of that. And yes, there are people who are terrible to her because of that. But her friends and the people who matter (her family, Adam, Billie and Ed) would never give a damn about it, first and foremost they like her for who she is - a nice, kind, humble person. Then everyone finds out she’s half-alien, Adam then comforts her and tells her it doesn’t matter and that he actually loves her and she finally starts believing that okay, maybe it really doesn’t matter, maybe I’m pretty even though I’m not like the others.

At this point, if she had remained that way and just learned to love herself that way, that would’ve been fantastic and a great message. It’s also something I myself have learned in the past months. I don’t want to sound cheesy but yes, I found a way to love myself even though I’m not the definition of beauty standard in the slightest. (I know it’s not quite the same thing, but my relationship with myself was a big influence for Miracle’s storyline, so that’s why I used it as an example here.)

But no, I made it so that she still goes and finally changes into a fully human form. So yeah, people don’t mind her being half-alien, but still, let’s get rid of that aspect, it’ll be easier or something. A non-story reason why I did this is simply because I once found out what she would look like without the alien eyes and liked it a lot and wanted her to look like that in the legacy, which…I guess again contradicts this whole “you’re beautiful no matter what” message. I don’t know. It’s hard for me to talk about these things.

I kinda hate the fact that she only started believing in herself after a guy she loved told her to. Like…okay, I’m not saying it doesn’t happen in real life, but wouldn’t it be so much more satisfying if she realized that on her own? She would get so much stronger. What actually happened in the story didn’t get rid of her insecurities, in my opinion, she just hid them for years (until one day, she understood there are things in life that matter more than what she looks like - see Regan’s story in gen 6). 

There was also this damsel in distress aspect of her story at that point where Esme and god-knows-what-his-name-was find out who she is, threaten to beat her up (which is something I’m not proud of writing, that was too much and surely I could’ve done something else about it), suddenly Adam storms in and beats the guy up instead (which, let’s be real, is very much out of his character, but hey this damsel needed a knight to save her I guess - god, this bothers me so much).

Alright, so that happens, they move out of the dorm into their own house with Billie and Ed (that’s another relationship I have issues with, but that’s a story for another day)…and they turn into this exact happy perfect couple that doesn’t really inspire me to write anything about, except for maybe late night nightmare and comforting short stories. There’s not really anything else. Adam lowkey didn’t have a personality, Miracle is just a good girl who now doesn’t have to deal with what used to haunt her, and every interesting thing I could start a story about is gone. There are not even any good opposites about them, nothing in their personalities that would clash and make for interesting conflicts.

Wow, this was long and I’m getting lost in it. I didn’t think it would be so hard to talk about it, but it was hard. In my head, I know exactly how I feel about them, but then putting it down is difficult. Still, thank you for asking, it was interesting for me to go back to them.

#Anonymous #answered #i'm tired #if some things don't make sense it's because i'm tired #also it's totally okay if you like ships that are just happy and cute and that's kind of it #we all have different opinions and that's great #also i'd say it's a lot about a point of view #this story was heavily influenced by my own inner problems #they have since then changed and therefore the way i see the story changed #but maybe you still like it or you still connect to it (if you remember it because it happened 2 years ago) #and that's cool! i don't blame you for liking it #okay fine i'm leaving i'm actually tired and i still have things to do #this will be fun #also hey it's my sister's 15th birthday today! happy birthday! #sorry i will be no fun today i guess

[timetrickster]

Living W/ Immortality: Episode 3: Altair & Vega

EXT. FINN’S HOME

It’s been 3 weeks since what happened that night. Ever since LUCIAN had attacked WAN SHI TONG’S Library. FINN sits down at the table for breakfast with his MOM and ERIN’S had gone silent ever since that night. MOM looks at him knowing something’s wrong.

MOM

You’re silent. That’s never a good sign. What happened?

FINN

I’m fine mom.

She sits down next to him and looks him in the eyes.

MOM

No, you’re not.

FINN is silent after the truth in that simple statement cut deeper inside both hearts.

MOM

You boys have been silent for weeks and if there’s anything that I know about my own boys. Your silence means you’re facing something, but you don’t want me to worry.

FINN is silent and looks at his hands. He puts his headphones on then looks through his phone to play the next song. He presses on a song and plays “King Of The Clouds by Panic! At The Disco. FINN decides to leave and MOM doesn’t do anything to stop him. FINN slowly walks far from view from his house.

He murmurs the words to the song.

FINN

Some days I lie wide awake ‘til the sun hits my face. And I fade, elevate from the Earth. Far away to a place…   

He stops in his tracks, as he looks around him for a bit in silence. Suddenly LUCIAN appears in front of him.

LUCIAN

Boo.

He starts to freak out falling backward. Holding his head with both hands and guarding his face.

FINN

It’s not real. It’s not real.

He repeats to himself. Suddenly flash images of LUCIAN appear in his mind. He breathes heavily and tears fall down his face. His head shakes and heats up from the pressure of all the things overwhelming him. He clenches his teeth showing this face of mixed emotion, fear, and anger.

FINN screams in a rage then punches a hole in a random wall. He breathes heavy breaths before realizing what he’s done.

FINN

Crap…

He tries to budge his arm out but it’s stuck. The song stops at “

FINN

Really?! I have super strength and I can get my arm out of a stupid stone wall?!

SERENA shows up all of a sudden and notices FINN.

SERENA

Hey, Finn… uh…  you okay? Did you punch my wall?

FINN still awkwardly having half of his arm through the wall.

FINN

No… I touched a piece of the wall and it made a hole and my arm fell in.

SERENA

Uh… ok…  I’ll believe you for now, but you need help?

FINN

Yes, please.

SERENA laughs and pulls on FINN’S other arm and gets out of the wall. His right arm now covered in stone dust.

FINN

Thank you…

(looks at his right arm covered in dust)

Crap.

SERENA

You’re welcome and are you okay?

FINN

I guess I’m fine. Also, Hey.

SERENA

What do you mean by that? And Hi!

FINN

Just something happened last night that set me off and… I don’t know how to deal with it.

SERENA

Do you want to talk about it?

FINN shows reluctance, fearing that she wouldn’t understand the world of magic and the fact he’s an immortal with a 2nd personality in his head.

SERENA (cont’d)

It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about it. Maybe when you’re ready?

FINN nods ‘yes’.

SERENA

Okay then. Wanna walk to school?

FINN

I’d love that.

FINN smiles and they start walking together.

SERENA

Got any new oldies songs for me to listen too?

FINN

Uh… Yeah, let me… you know what, I’ll let you choose it.

She looks through the playlist labeled “Time”

SERENA

Time?

FINN

It’s a collection of songs that resonate with my vibes. Songs from now to the 50s.

SERENA laughs at him.

SERENA

You’re adorable.

FINN

Ok, no more songs for you.

FINN tries to grab his phone back and struggles with SERENA

SERENA

Please… I’m sorry.

FINN

Fine.

He lets go of the phone.

SERENA

Yay!

She scrolls through his playlist and presses on one song. The song, “Say Say Say” by Paul McCartney plays. The song plays as the two walks together to school and spends the entire day together. The song plays through a slow montage of scenes with them all together. In classes, at lunch, hanging around the campus.

CUT TO:

END OF THE SCHOOL DAY.

The song ends at Hook 2. It’s now the end of school and the two are walking together again.

SERENA

I’m fucking tired dude.

FINN

Same…

SERENA laughs at something.

SERENA

I did love Mr. Braistch’s class today. Best teacher ever.

FINN

Did he make another racist joke? Or did he throw another insult at Waipahu again? Wait… don’t tell me, Chinese or Filipino? Either one it’s fuckin hilarious.

SERENA

He picked on Steven and said “When China takes over America, I’d be the one white guy to help with capturing Americans.” then said, “Steven when you become the general of Ewa Beach, don’t forget about me. I helped.”

FINN laughs at the story.

FINN

Oh god. You know one time, he told the Filipinos in the room that he loves their president.

SERENA

What’s wrong with that?

FINN

The current president of the Philippines started a war on drugs and said anyone would be killed on sight even holding drugs.

SERENA

Wow… yeah, that’s dark.

FINN

I know… I’m probably going to hell for laughing.

SERENA laughs at what he said then touches FINN’S shoulder.

SERENA

Aw. You’re already going to hell.

She breaks into laughter again as well as FINN.

SERENA (cont’d)

I’m kidding, you know I love you girl.

FINN

Fuck you, dude.

He jokingly says. SERENA is still laughing. FINN gets a little bitter and had this angry face. Then keeps walking.

SERENA Aw. I’m sorry. Come here.

She stops him and holds out her arms and FINN was still bitter and shakes his head. He keeps walking. She laughs at him being bitter and still bothers him for a hug.

SERENA (cont’d)

Please…

FINN

No.

SERENA

Please. PLEASE please please please please, please! If you don't give me a hug I'm gonna DIEEEEE. If you don't hug me I'm gonna start crying. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. (making a song out of it) oh-baby please please PLEASE! Oh-baby, please. That was 'Please' by Serena with Finn on bass.

FINN finally stops being bitter as he finally gives in. Still holding a bitter face but smiles a little after accepting the hug.

SERENA

Yay! Thank you. I’m sorry.

FINN

(He laughs for a bit)

You’re welcome. I forgive you but bass? Really? Bass?

SERENA does an evil laugh. It makes FINN smile.

FINN

You’re weird. I like you, dude. Wanna hang out tonight?

SERENA

I’d love to. What are we doing? Arcade again?

FINN

I was thinking of heading to the park and doing some star gazing… I don’t know why but I’ve wanted to try it out and it doesn’t hurt to try something new.

SERENA

I like that idea. Are we gonna go by the benches?

FINN

Sure… better than laying in the grass. See ya soon.

He waves bye to her as she leaves.

ERIN (V.O)

I’m impressed. You actually didn’t freak out and over think.

FINN

Thanks, Erin. Erin? Hey! Where’d you go? You’ve been silent for weeks.

ERIN (V.O)

Just needed some time to think. After the whole Lucian thing, I just needed some peace. You know?

FINN

Yeah. Good to have you back bud.

ERIN (V.O)

Good to be back. Again, you actually asked Serena out, once again I’m impressed.

FINN

That’s a first.

FINN enters his house and rushes to his room to get ready for his stargazing date with SERENA. Reprise “Just The Two Of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. plays. Picks up 3rd Verse. Shows a montage of both FINN & SERENA getting ready for the stargazing date.

FINN & SERENA

I got to get ready!

CUT TO.

NIGHT. EWA BEACH

The song keeps playing in the background. FINN leaves the house and walks to the park with a bag of food in hand.

ERIN (V.O)

Food? Drinks? Clever.

FINN

Thanks, dude.

ERIN (V.O)

What are you planning Evers?

FINN smiles.

FINN

Nothing, why?

ERIN (V.O)

You have that specific smile on your face. The smile that tells me you have a plan or created something amazing. Come on Evers! TELL ME!

LUCIAN/NARRATOR (V.O)

How adorable… the immortal two faced dumbass finally found love. Well… hopefully, if the author figures out how to do that in the next few scenes when I try to take him and his romance. Along with the other two background immortals. The author’s a bit unpredictable… which I admire.

The song keeps playing. FINN is slowly walking to the park. Other people are out playing by the playground and other sports-related activities. Meanwhile, these two laid out a blanket over a park table and both sit down on the table top. Song finishes.

FINN

I brought us dinner from Chum Wah Kum.

He holds a plastic bag with two plate lunches inside, along with utensils and napkins.

SERENA

Aw, thanks!

She grabs her plate lunch out of the bag and begins to eat and look at stars.

SERENA (cont’d)

They’re really pretty tonight.

FINN

I used to do this from time to time. I’d sit on my roof and use a telescope. Watching the stars glow in the ocean of space. It was beautiful in the silence of the night.

SERENA

Holy shit, that last sentence was poetic as fuck.

He laughs a little.

FINN

I’m not a poetic dude.

SERENA

Stop lying, I know you are! Mr. Artsy!

FINN

Nah…

SERENA

Oh come on, you’ve done so many artsy stuff. I’ve seen you draw, paint, make short films for media club, write stories, take photos and edit them. I heard you wrote a poem for that one girl.

FINN

Uh, she rejected me by the way. But yeah, kinda left that guy behind.

SERENA

Oh damn, my bad. Well, she doesn’t deserve you, if you took the time and patience to write that girl a poem.

FINN

I know… I know.

SERENA

And what made you leave being Mr. Artsy behind?

FINN

Self-Judgement, being hypercritical, literally everything where I worry about myself and what people see come from me.

SERENA

But why?

FINN

Lost myself for a while… fell away from who I used to be.

SERENA Well, whenever you feel ready to come back to Mr. Creative, I’ll be waiting for you.

FINN

Thank you. Can we look at stars now?

SERENA

Yes, please!

They both lie down on the tabletop and look at the stars. The song “Lights Down Low” by MAX plays in the background as the gaze at random stars.

SERENA

What now?

FINN

Just look at the stars. Sorry, haven’t done this in a while. Forgot all the star systems and all that.

SERENA

It’s fine. You can point out whatever and make it up along as we go.

She points to one constellation.

SERENA (cont’d)

What’s that one?

FINN

That’s the constellation of Sagittarius.

SERENA

See you do remember something!

FINN

Yeah but that one’s my zodiac so I remember that one.

SERENA

What’s are those two?

She points to two different constellations. FINN looks at them and instantly recognizes them.

FINN

Altair and Vega…  There’s actually a love story between the two. I don’t know if you want to hear it.

SERENA

Tell me!

FINN

Uh okay.

(He laughs a little then gets into this narration style voice)

I’m trying to remember but Altair and Vega were deeply in love. But we're separated by the celestial river of the Milky Way. But on one special day a year, Vega’s tears would call upon all the magpies in the world and the would form a bridge so they could spend one night of happiness together.

SERENA was astonished by the story. FINN smiles a bit awkwardly.

SERENA

That’s beautiful.

LUCIAN/NARRATOR (V.O)

Uh! Boring!

Both FINN & SERENA hear LUCIAN’S voice. Record scratch sound effect plays and the song stops at 1st Chorus.

LUCIAN/NARRATOR (V.O)(Cont’d)

I will admit, it was a nice romantic story that you gave. But the author really likes to elongate the scenes.

Several shadowy figures appear before them. Only showing red glowing eyes. They grab FINN and attempt to grab SERENA but he manages to free her from their grip before they disappear in a flash.

CUT TO:

INT - ANCIENT TEMPLE

FINN wakes up in some sort of an ancient temple. He looks around, find two monsters guarding a doorway. ATHENA & TAVEN bound and stuck to the walls of this circular dome room. LUCIAN was on the other end doing some weird shit.

FINN

(Intensely worried)

Erin?

ERIN (V.O)

(Intensely worried)

Yeah?

FINN

(Intensely worried)

What do we do?

ERIN (V.O)

(Intensely worried)

I have no fuckin clue.

Tags: @cometworks, @cookiecuttercritter, @coloursintheblur 

[cristinablackthornkingson]

Shadowhunter’s Short Story #31.

It was a warm spring evening in March of 2014, the sun was just beginning to set, the days becoming longer now that Spring was well and truly here. Today, March 8th, is Max-Lightwood Bane’s 5th birthday. He had of course been spoiled rotten as usual, he had a wonderful, big party in the New York Institute, attended by all his friends and family, though Max mostly stuck with his big brother, their best friend Tavvy and their little cousin Cordelia Carstairs. Max had had a ball at his birthday party, he received so many presents and was surrounded by those who loved him all day, he had been  fussed over by his grandma and Aunty Isabelle, play fought with his Uncle Jace, had piggy back rides anywhere he wanted to go, from his Uncle Simon, he drew and painted with his Aunty Clary, listened to his Uncle Jem play violin, read with his Aunty Tessa, danced with his Aunty Catarina and played pranks with his Aunty Lily. The only person missing from the celebration was his grandpa, Robert, who had died 2 years ago. Max’s memory of his grandpa was faint, as he had only been 3 when he died, but he knew he loved him very much and he missed him a lot, but his dad said he was with The Angel now and looking out for their family, which made Max very happy. 

Magnus and Alec could hardly believe their baby was 5, it felt like just yesterday they had found him on the steps of The Academy, he was growing up far too fast for their liking, as was Rafe, who had the nerve to turn 7 at the end of last year. 

Currently, Magnus and Alec were standing in the doorway to their sons’ room, watching them sleep peacefully, snuggled up under the covers, warm and cozy, something Rafe had never had before he was adopted. 

“I wish they would stop growing up so fast.” Alec softly says, leaning against the door frame. 

“So do I, before we know it they’ll be teenagers.” Magnus lightly says, resting a hand on the small of Alec’s back. 

“Oh God, that will be fun.” Alec says in a sarcastic tone. Rafe and Max were a handful now at just 5 and 7, he dreaded to think how they would be when they were teenagers, especially if they were anything like their Uncle Jace and Aunt Isabelle. 

“Hey now, with The Consul as their dad, do you think they’re going to get up to much trouble?” Magnus lightly says. 

“Yes, they’ll probably get into more trouble knowing I can’t stay mad at them.” Alec says in an amused tone. 

“Especially if Rafe grows up to be like his namesake.” Magnus says, his mouth turning up into a smile. 

“Oh lord, Ragnor would love that.” Alec says, laughing lightly. 

“And Lily, she would be thrilled.” Magnus says. Alec sighs softly and slips his arms around Magnus’ waist. 

“I want another one.” He quietly says. 

“What, another Lily? Dear God why?” Magnus says in an exasperated tone. Alec laughs lightly and says 

“No, I mean I want another baby.” He had been wanting another baby for a while now, little Cordelia was giving him serious baby fever, and has been for the last two years since she was born, but he thought it would go away, but it hasn’t and he wants another baby more than anything. 

“Really?” Magnus quietly asks. He had secretly been wanting another child too, being a father was the best thing he had ever done and he adored it, Rafe and Max were his greatest achievements in life and what he was most proud of, he didn’t care that he helped Henry create the portal or that he was the one to find the demon who had ‘cursed’ Will and get it out of the demon that he hadn’t really cursed him at all, no he cared that he raised these two beautiful little boys and got the privilege of being their papa and loving them, that’s what he wants to be remembered for. 

“Yeah really, and this time... well... I-I’d quiet like to have a biological baby, don’t get me wrong, adoption is wonderful and beautiful and adopting Rafe and Max was the best thing I have ever done, they are mine no matter what anyone says, they’re mine, but I would love to have a biological child too, I would love to see myself in our child, I think it would so amazing, but I would be more than happy to adopt again.” Alec explains. Just a few months ago, Clary and Jace had had a baby boy who they named Stephen Lucian Herondale, after both his grandfathers and seeing his little nephew and seeing how much he looked like Jace, made Alec really want to have a biological child. 

“Alexander I think that would be a lovely idea, I would love to look at our child and see you in them, I think it would beautiful to be able to bond with our child before they are born, and be there to witness their birth, we don’t know anything about the boys’ births or medical history, Max came out of a horrible situation, we know that, but apart from that we know nothing, it’s unlikely but they could be predisposed to some horrible illnesses later in life, especially Max, this time we would know all that before the baby is even conceived, and the boys, they would be such wonderful big brothers.” Magnus softly says. 

“So you want to do it? You want to have another baby?” Alec asks in an excited tone. 

“Absolutely.” Magnus softly says, pulling Alec down for a kiss. 

________________________________________________________________

The day after Max’s 5th birthday, Magnus got in touch with Catarina and asked if anyone Shadowhunters had approached her or anyone in her hospital about becoming a surrogate. When he first became Consul, Alec passed a law that allowed Shadowhunters to seek mundane medical treatment for certain things, including HRT, surgery and anything else needed for someone to transition into their true gender (Diana helped with this one in particular and had offered to speak to other Shadowhunters wishing to transition, to talk about her experience and be there for them as someone to relate to, she was certainly not the only transgender Shadowhunter but she was one of the few who were out) treatment for things such as cancer, medication and/or therapy for mental illnesses, (Jocelyn was a huge advocate for this, having suffered severe post partum depression with both Jonathon and Clary) and Fertility Treatment, for anyone who needed it, no mater their gender, sexuality, family size, etc, if you wanted a child and were a fit and capable parent, and needed medical assistance, then you had every right to seek mundane medical treatment. 

Catarina told Magnus that she had in fact been approached buy a number of Shadowhunter women who wanted to help others have a child. She told him she would call around with the surrogates profiles (which included their picture, medical history, name, age, and everything you could possibly need to know) that evening after she finished work. That had been 4 hours ago, and now it was getting close to 1 A.M. Rafe and Max were sound asleep, but Magnus and Alec were wide awake, pouring over the 6 profiles Catarina had given them. They all seemed like amazing candidates, but for some reason, Magnus and Alec were continually drawn back to the profile of a young woman named Prija  Charoensuk. She’s the same age as Alec, 25, she’s tall with long black hair, and light brown skin. She’s originally from Thailand but moved to America when she was 18. 

Magnus and Alec decide to not make any decisions this early and agree to come back to it in the morning. 

A week after being presented with the surrogate profiles, Magnus and Alec had their hearts set on Prija Charoensuk carrying their baby. One morning, a week after Max’s birthday, Magnus had called Catarina and asked her to arrange a meeting between he, Alec and Prija. She agreed and got back to him a few hours later with the information that Prija was happy to meet them in two days time, at their home. They immediately began rushing around cleaning and tidying the apartment, begging Max and Rafe to stop making a mess. They asked Maryse to look after the boys for a few hours while they met with Prija, which she was more than happy to do. 

Today was the day they would meet the potential mother of their child, and neither of them had ever been so nervous. Prija was due to arrive in about 10 minutes. Alec had dropped the boys off with his mother about an hour ago, and arranged to pick them up that evening. The boys were delighted to be spending time with their grandma and didn’t ask any questions as to why they were staying with her for a while. 

When there’s a sharp rap at the door at 4:00 p.m on the dot, Alec practically jumps out of his skin.

“I’ll get it dear, you try and calm yourself.” Magnus calmly says, patting his husband’s arm before making his way to the front door. Upon opening it, he is greeted by Prija, who he instantly recognizes from her picture. 

“Magnus Bane?” Prija calmly asks. Magnus smiles at her and holds out his hand 

“Yes, pleasure to meet you, please come in.” He says, holding the door open and gesturing for her to step in. 

“Oh wow! This place is beautiful! You have wonderful taste!” Prija says, looking around her in awe. Magnus grins broadly and says

“Well I’m glad someone thinks so! It could be even better but with two little boys running around, I decided to keep it minimal, until they’re a bit older and can appreciate their papa’s style.” Prija laughs and says

“Yes, Catarina told me you had two sons, Max and Rafael, right?” 

“That’s right! Come this way and I’ll introduce you to my husband.” Magnus says, gesturing for her to follow him through to the sitting room where Alec was nervously waiting. 

“Prija, this is my husband, Alexander Lightwood-Bane, we’ve been together for 7 years.” Magnus says in a fond tone, once they enter the living room. 

Alec immediately stands up and shakes Prija’s hand. 

“Y-you’re The Consul.” Prija stutters her jaw dropping in disbelief. She had recognized his name of course, but she thought there was no way The Consul would want her to carry his child, she thought it was another couple playing a joke, she had agreed to come here to give them a piece of her mind about messing with such a serious issue, but hadn’t realized it really was The Consul and Magnus Bane until just now.

“I am, but please, don’t feel intimidated or anything, I am no better than you or any other Shadowhunter, and please, call me Alec, all my friends and family do, and I would like it if we became friends.” He gently says. He hadn’t thought about the fact that he is Consul may intimidate and frighten people off.

“It feels rather disrespectful.” Prija wearily says. 

“I don’t feel like it is, please, I want you to see me as just Alec Lightwood-Bane, dad and husband, not The Consul, we can compromise on Alexander, if you like.” Alec lightly says. Prija smiles wearily and says

“Alright, nice to meet you... Alexander.” 

“Nice to meet you too Prija, or would you rather I call you Miss Charoensuk?” He politely asks. 

“No, no of course you may call me Prija.” She says.

“Please, take a seat, would you like something to drink or eat?” Magnus asks. 

“No I’m fine thank you.” Prija says, sitting in an armchair facing Magnus and Alec on the sofa across from her. 

“So you’re interested in being a surrogate”? Magnus calmly asks. 

“Yes I am! I do not wish to have children of my own, I’ve known I don’t want kids since I was a teenager, but I always felt a little bit guilty, because there are so many people out there, like you, who desperately want a child but can’t have one, and I could probably easily carry a baby, but I don’t want kids. When I was about 22 I realized I could be a surrogate, I met Catarina shortly after I moved here and spoke to her about it and when you passed the new law, Alexander, she helped me build a profile that people having a child through surrogacy could look at it and decide whether they liked me or not. I haven’t carried before, no one has ever chosen me, so this would be my first pregnancy.” Prija explains. 

The three of them spend the next hour chatting and getting to know one-another and by the time they’ve talked everything through, Magnus and Alec are even more desperate for Prija to be their surrogate, she is a perfect match for them, no history of poor health, she’s fit and healthy, she’s a good person, not one The Cohort’s followers, and she’s great with kids, so Max and Rafe will love her. 

“Look, I’ve always said I’d take a week or so to think my final answer through, but I don’t need to, I would be more than happy to be your surrogate.” Prija tells Magnus and Alec. She never thought she would simply click with a couple so fast, but she has, has never met two kinder people more deserving of a child.

“Really?” Alec asks in a tone of disbelief. Prija grins broadly and nods.

“Yes, absolutely.” 

________________________________________________________________

It had been about 5 months since Magnus and Alec meet Prija, and decided to have another child. The first round of IUI happened about 3 weeks after they met Prija, but unfortunately it didn’t work, nor did the second, or the third, they were now on their fourth attempt and Alec was beginning to lose hope, the odds weren’t looking good and he and Magnus couldn’t afford more than another 2 rounds of IUI, they both had a lot of money, being The Consul paid well as did being The High Warlock of Brooklyn, but they couldn’t spend every penny they had on fertility treatment. 

It had been two weeks since the last round of IUI and Prija was coming over later today to take a pregnancy test. Magnus and Alec made it extremely clear that she absolutely did not have to come over to their place to take a pregnancy test, but she insisted and said she wanted to and that they should be there when they find out the result, especially if it’s positive. 

They had introduced Max and Rafe to Prija about a month ago, they didn’t tell them she might be having their brother or sister yet, instead they told them she was a friend of daddy’s from work who was going to around a lot for a while because she had to help their daddy with something for work. The boys accepted this no problem and instantly took to Prija, they adored her and she adored them, whenever she came over she was always playing with them, reading them stories, watching movies with them, taking them to the park, anything they wanted.

They all agreed that Prija would be a part of the baby’s life, and the baby would be brought up knowing they were born via surrogacy and that Prija is their birth mom and Alec is their biological dad. Prija wouldn’t be raising the baby or be called ‘mom’ by the baby or anything, she would be more like an aunt to the baby, which worked out well as Max and Rafe had started calling her Aunty. 

A  few hours later, Prija arrived to take a pregnancy test. She played and cuddled with the boys for a bit first, then excused herself to the bathroom to take the test. Magnus and Alec had herded the boys into their room so they wouldn’t have to know what was going on, and persuaded them to stay in there for a while by putting on a movie for them and letting them have chocolate and other candy, they would regret it when the boys didn’t sleep that night, but at the time it seemed worth it. 

Magnus and Alec were currently nervously waiting in the living room for Prija, as they always did. 

A few minutes after she had gone to the bathroom, Prija comes out with a completely neutral look on her face. 

“Well?” Alec nervously asks, jumping up from his seat. Prija breaks out into a huge smile and holds out the pregnancy test up for he and Magnus to see. 

“I’m pregnant.” she softly says, just as Alec realizes that the two lines on that test means positive. 

“Oh my god.” Alec quietly says clasping a hand to his mouth. 

“A-are you sure?” Magnus quietly asks, not knowing what else to say. 

“Yes, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to get your hopes up, but I have been feeling a bit odd lately, a couple of days ago I had some spotting like Catarina said I would, it’s still really early, but yeah, I’m definitely pregnant.” Prija softly says. 

Alec rushes to her side and hugs her tightly, tears of joy rolling down his face. 

“Thank you, thank you so much.” He says in a tight tone. 

“You don’t have to thank me, I want to do this, you deserve to be parents.” 

The rest of Prija’s pregnancy went extremely smoothly, she had no serious pain or vomiting or anything, no bleeding at all, and according to The Silent Brothers, the baby was always healthy. 

Max and Rafe were beyond excited to be big brothers, they loved touching Prija’s bump and feeling the baby move and kick, they loved talking to their sibling too, Max always talked about pirates and books and everything he would teach his sibling, while Rafe loved to sing the baby Spanish lullabies. 

When Prija was two months pregnant, they found out from Brother Enoch that they were expecting a baby girl. Magnus and Alec were thrilled, they had both always wanted a daughter, they felt a little girl would complete their beautiful family, but would have been overjoyed with another baby boy too. 

They decided they wanted the baby’s first name to be Thai and her second name to be after someone close to her fathers. After a few weeks of discussing names, Magnus and Alec settled on the name Madee Teresa Lightwood-Bane, Teresa after Tessa, who was one of Magnus’ dearest friends, she was also extremely kind to Alec and his family, she had delivered Jace and Clary’s son, who was Magnus and Alec’s godson. 

Rafe and Max loved helping their daddy and papa decorate the nursery, though Madee would be sleeping in a bassinet beside Magnus and Alec’s bed for the first few months. One evening, while Alec was out, Magnus used his magic to assemble the crib, he told the boys not to tell their dad, but of course they squealed on their papa, but Alec didn’t mind, he was just glad the damn thing was built. 

Prija was currently nine months pregnant, only a few days from her due date, and everyone was eagerly awaiting the arrival of baby Madee. Prija had decided to give birth in the NY Institute, in the infirmary, with a Silent Brother present to witness the birth as was tradition, and a Clave midwife there to deliver the baby. She only lived about twenty minutes from The Institute and therefore not far from Magnus and Alec, so she didn’t feel the need to stay with them or in The Institute as her due date approached. 

Today was a rare quiet day for Magnus and Alec, which meant they could stay home and be with their boys. Right now, Max is watching videos on Alec’s phone, and Rafe is helping Magnus organize his wardrobe, which really meant he was putting on shirts Magnus had discarded, jelled up his hair and ran around exclaiming that he was papa. 

“Daddy!” Max says, running up to Alec and holding the phone out to him. Alec sees Prija’s number on the screen, her call having paused Max’s videos. Alec was glad hadn’t hung up and resumed his videos. 

“Thanks buddy.” Alec says, taking the phone and ruffling his son’s hair. 

“Hey Prija, is everything okay?” Alec casually answers the phone, as Max plops himself down on Alec’s foot, wrapping his arms around his leg. Alec was use to walking through the apartment with Max hanging off his leg, at this stage, it hardly phased him at all anymore. 

“You’re gonna need to come to the Institute.” Prija says in what sounded like a strained voice. 

“Is everything okay? Is the baby okay?” Alec asks in a panicked tone. 

“Everything’s fine, I just... my water broke.” Prija says. Alec almost drops the phone in shock, he had not been expecting her to say that.

“We’ll be right there.” He says, before hanging up and shoving the phone in his pocket. 

“Max, can you get off please? I need to talk to papa.” Alec gently asks his son. Max shakes his head and says 

“Nu uh! I never letting you go again, daddy!” 

“What if I carry you instead?” Alec tries to compromise. 

“Okay!” Max exclaims, reaching up. Alec easily swings him up into his arms and makes his way to his and Magnus’ room. 

“Magnus.” He calls, just before stepping into the room. 

“Everything alright, Alexander?” He calmly asks, hanging one of his shirt up. 

“I just got a call from Prija, the baby’s coming.” 

________________________________________________________________

Prija had a very quick labor, only lasting four hours in total. Magnus and Alec never once left her side, Max and Rafe were with Clary and Jace, fussing over baby Stephen. 

After Prija had given birth and snuggled and bonded with Madee a bit, the midwife suggested Alec and Magnus take the baby and bond with her while she helped Prija clean up. So they were currently in Alec’s old room, and had yet to really properly see their daughter. 

“Here Alexander, you hold her first.” Magnus softly says, holding the baby out to his husband. Alec carefully takes the baby into his arms and pulls her blankets back to get a proper look at her. She had beautiful brown skin like Prija, and thick, curling black hair like Alec, she had Alec’s eye color too, and his eye shape, mouth shape and nose shape, she had Prija’s pallor and bone structure. She was absolutely perfect. 

As Alec gazes at his daughter, he can’t help the tears that well up in his eyes and roll down his face, he had never held a baby and met a baby knowing they were his, when he held Max and met Rafe he instantly wanted to bring them home but didn’t know if Magnus would want that, so couldn’t for sure say they were his boys, but he could for sure say this sweet little girl was his, his beautiful baby daughter. 

“Alexander, what is it? What’s wrong?” Magnus softly asks, putting an arm around his husband’s shoulder. 

“Nothing, nothing at all, she’s just so beautiful and perfect, and I can’t believe she’s really ours.” Alec says in a tight tone of voice. 

“She is rather perfect.” Magnus softly says, gently stroking his daughter’s cheek, with the back of his finger. Madee reaches out and grabs his finger, bringing Magnus close to tears too. 

“I never thought we’d have this, a marriage, two beautiful little boys and a beautiful little girl, I never thought I would get to have any of this, not happily anyway, I thought I would have to marry a girl and have children with her, and I never wanted that, I have always wanted to be a dad but I didn’t want to have kids with someone I didn’t love,.” Alec says in a remorseful tone, wiping at his tears. 

“I never thought I would have children either, I always knew I would like to have kids, but nobody ever wanted to adopt with me, and I knew I couldn’t be a single parent, I always settled for being the fun uncle, but when I saw Tessa with her children, I knew I wanted that for myself someday, I just never thought it would happen, our three babies are blessings for me, I’m not a religious person, you know that, but our little ones are a blessing and I know that, they’re our miracles.” Magnus softly explains, gazing down at his beautiful daughter. 

Finally, after centuries, Magnus feels truly happy and complete. 

Keep an eye out for part two where Madee meets her brothers and the rest of her family, coming soon!

#magnus bane #magnus x alec #alec lightwood #malec #lily chen #simon lewis #isabelle lightwood #max lightwood-bane #maryse lightwood #robert lightwood #jace herondale #clary fairchild #jace x clary #tessa gray #jem carstairs #jemxtessa #catarina loss #rafael lightwood-bane #raphael santiago #shadowhunters #the mortal instruments #the dark artifices #the wicked powers #carstairs baby #the shadowhunter chronicles #shadowhuntershortstories #cassandra clare

[charlottedabookworm]

The Cruellest Cut - Part 1

I’m bored and my mum won’t be home for another half hour, so.

@hamelin-born @sparklecryptid @distressedherbalist @luxroyalty @snappysprinkledog @theotherguysride

You are all giant enablers and I am blaming all of you for this. The title comes from @hamelin-born , who suggested it and it fits far better than the previous title that I’d thought up (oh father, tell me, did we get what we deserved) so I rolled with it. 

Under the cut, have the Cor & Nyx reunion in a verse where Cor is actually immortal and was Ardyn’s Shield. I want to write more for this - and I will, I have explanations and Regis’ POV planned, and Cor meeting Ardyn for the first time back in Solheim, and so much more because this is fun - but this is what I have so far. Scream about this AU with me.

Nyx had heard of Cor the Immortal. Of course, he had. He might never have met the man, might never have even seen him, but the Marshall of the Crownsguard was practically a celebrity in Insomnia. Everyone knew his name, everyone knew his deeds, everyone knew who he was. And he’d heard all of the stories – you couldn’t help but do so when the Guard was so proud of their Marshall. But Nyx hadn’t really cared. Why would he? Why would he care about someone who carried the title Immortal, simply because of his deeds? Nyx had scoffed, the first time that one of the Glaives had brought up Marshall Leonis and his title, had had to fight back the urge to laugh. Because immortal? Yeah, right. Nyx knew immortality – knew it down to his bones, knew it with every breathe he took and every beat of his heart, knew the truth of it in a way that so few did – and no one who truly understood what immortality meant would dare claim the title. People spoke of Cor Leonis with awe, due to his supposed immortality, and Nyx had to fight back his rage at their sheer ignorance. (Because immortality wasn’t great. It wasn’t awesome, it wasn’t venerable, it wasn’t something to aspire to. It wasn’t life. Immortality was everyone else dying. Immortality was watching everyone else fade away. It was war and disease and old age and losing everyone that you had ever cared for. It was funeral after funeral after funeral, battle after battle after battle. It was watching the world change until you no longer recognise it, it was longing to hear the language of your birth again – just the once. It was watching everything that you loved fall to pieces. It was a curse, and Nyx wanted to sneer at everyone who thought otherwise. Because immortality was a battlefield. And it was empty. Because everyone else had fallen) Still, humans – mortals – were idiots who couldn’t see the forest for the trees, who looked at immortality and thought life instead of wondering why. And he couldn’t kill them for that. Nyx pushed back his rage and did his best to ignore the topic every time that it came up – and the Galahdians were nice enough not to discuss it in front of him, especially since they knew that the name brought up far too many memories for their Chosen. Outside of the almost instinctive offence that his title caused him, Nyx didn’t particularly care about Cor Leonis. But he wasn’t expecting the man who swept into the King’s office without a care in the world. --- Nyx had been pulling a lot of guard duty recently – had been ever since he’d doubled back against orders to save Linus Bellum, one of the baby glaives, from a daemon. It was Drautos’ idea of a punishment – take him out of the field temporarily and give him something boring to do all day while surrounded by Lucians – and Nyx would probably complain more about it, but he’s mostly been shadowing the King recently, instead of guarding the wall. And, as much as he hates the Citadel – as much as he hates what it reminds him of, as much as he hates what it stands for (a monument to the being who had cursed his father, built by his uncles line) – Regis is a good man, a good King, and Nyx doesn’t mind guarding him so much. (No matter how much it pisses him off to have to listen to the Lucian nobles talk about his people as though there were lesser) So, he puts up with it – no matter how boring standing by the King’s office door watching him do paperwork all day was. Occasionally he’ll have to step outside for meetings, or the King will want to walk somewhere with Nyx shadowing him, but mostly Nyx spent his days acting as a well-paid door opener. (He’s had worse jobs) However, when Cor Leonis stalked into the Kings office and tossed a pile of paperwork onto his desk, Nyx stopped breathing. There was no way that this was happening. This was impossible. It couldn’t be him – it had been two thousand years. The man who had carried him on his shoulders and taught him to use a katana and who had looked at his father like he was his salvation was gone. Had fallen trying to buy them enough time to escape from the betrayal. Had been executed just as Nyx’s father had. He was dead. (“Go.” He stumbled as Cor shoved his father into his arms, the added weight forcing the two of them passed the boundary of the doorway. Swinging one of his father’s arms over his shoulders – and damn it, Uncle, how could you, the Scourge was already killing him anyway, what was the point in this? – he glanced back when he didn’t hear the tread of familiar boots behind him. Cor was standing with his back to them, sword out and held at the ready to defend them. Nyx swallowed, suddenly feeling like a young child again, being told his mother was dying. “Faeder?” “Go, Your Highness. Take His Majesty and be safe. I’ll hold them off.” The man who had been a second father to him his entire life said steadily, only a thread of heartbreak in his voice as he faced near-certain death at the hands of their own people to protect his King and Prince. He hesitated, knowing that he should go – that his father was depending on him – but unwilling to leave Cor behind. “Nyx!” He barked, and Nyx was turning away, reaching for the furthest warp-beacon that he could manage with his father’s dead weight – conditioned since childhood to respond to the command in that tone, even as he cursed fate and Bahamut and his uncle and the drugs that they had used on his father that kept him out of it. Just before the magic of the land carried them away, Nyx glanced back over his shoulder. “Faeder!” The scream tore itself from his throat, heartbreak and betrayal and grief and loss and rage mixing together, blood splashing across his face as one of his worst nightmares played itself out in real life. The last image he saw of Solheim’s crown city was of his Uncle standing over the body of his faeder, blade stained red with his blood) But the man in front of him was a familiar profile, unchanged from Nyx’s faded memories. His hair was a little shorter, his eyes darker and more shuttered, the way that he carried himself a little stiffer – but the voice was the same. The voice of the man who had talked him through his nightmares and helped him prank his father. “F-Faeder?” The word slipped off his numb tongue without permission, and from the corner of his eye he could see the way that the King had turned to look at him in confusion, but Nyx’s entire focus was on the man who froze at the almost-foreign word. His heart stutters in the silence of the room as the image of his faeder stares at him in shock and he can feel horrible, painful, hope growing in his chest. Please. Anyone, just, please. Let me be right. Let me have this, please. Just, give me this. Please. “Nyx?” And Cor was reaching out, exactly like he had always done when Nyx had come to him for comfort, and he couldn’t handle this. He looks his home in his eyes and shakes, falling apart at the seams even as he throws himself into the man’s arms. Nyx breaks. --- Cor swept into office, a scowl on his face and paperwork in hand. “We need to do something about the western border.” He’s started saying before the door has even swung fully shut, sending an absent nod to the glaive on duty as he stalked up to Regis’ desk and tossed the files he’s collected onto it. They spread out as they hit the desk, showing hints of the data that he had spent the past week compiling. Regis glanced down, keeping an absent eye on him even as the King began to peruse the files. “Daemon attacks are increasing and we’re still haemorrhaging resources. If we don’t do something soon then they’ll break through-” “F-Faeder?” A quiet, stuttering voice interrupted him. The moment that he recognised the word, he froze. The word, one almost foreign to his ears after all this time, made his heart stop. It had been so long since he had last heard that word spoken, last heard the title given to him by a young boy with bright eyes and an even brighter smile. And he had never heard it spoken like this. He’d heard it squealed during tickle attacks and yelled during battles and murmured late at night and yelped after embarrassing moments – he’d heard it screamed as an expression of raw grief and pain and anger and betrayal and loss, as the child that he had helped to raise, the boy who was his son in all but blood, had watched him be cut down by a man that they had all trusted absolutely – but he had never heard it like this. Never heard it tentative and disbelieving and pained and so full of heartbreak and with a thread of new-born desperate hope that it made him want to weep. Cor spun on his heel desperately – needing a proper look at the glaive who had spoken that word with a faint Solheim accent, ignoring the way that Regis tensed and half-rose from his chair at the look on his face – and then he stopped. And he was staring. He knows that he was staring. But standing there, in the black uniform of the Kingsglaive, is a ghost. (A ghost who looked exactly like his long dead son. Who had Ardyn’s facial structure and nose, who had flecks of gold in blue-grey eyes. Who wore the beads of a Chosen of Ramuh and the tattoos of a Galahdian hunter. A ghost who called him faeder and looked at him as though he couldn’t believe that Cor existed. A ghost who looked exactly like he had when Cor had last seen him) He swallowed past a sudden lump in his throat. “Nyx?” He asked, voice rife with emotions that he had rarely allowed himself to show over the years – rife with surprise and pain and old, unhealed grief and a growing desperate hope that hurt far more than the grief did. This isn’t possible. He wanted to say. You died. But he had never seen a body, had just trusted Somnus – trusted the man who had betrayed them – at his word. It’s been two thousand years. And it had been so long since he had heard that voice – Galahdian accent now far stronger than the Solheim one that he had used to sport – so long since he had seen his son, but he hadn’t changed. Cor couldn’t help but reach out – couldn’t stop himself from reaching for his son, for proof that he wasn’t some sort of illusion – and then he stumbled back a step when Nyx slammed into him. How did I not know? He thought, even as he brought his arms up to wrap them around his son – and this was his son, he was certain of that and even if he wasn’t then the way that the magic of the land was singing faintly in joy would be proof enough. Eyes shut against the burn of tears, he felt as though his heart had been ripped from his chest as he clutched at his shaking son – holding him as he sobbed silently into his chest. Never in his life had he ever felt like more of a failure of a father than in this moment – not even when he had been told that his son had died, alone and on the run and in the middle of nowhere. Standing there with his son – his son, the son of his King, who he hadn’t known was alive, who he hadn’t even seen in two thousand years, who was shattering into pieces in his arms – Cor was reminded of just how much he had failed, and it made the breath catch in his chest. Because this was his fault. He had sworn to protect them – sworn the oaths of a Shield to his King, the oaths of a man to those that he loved – and he had failed. Had failed in his duty, had failed to protect them, and because of that his King (his lover) had lost his life – had been murdered by his own brother – and his Prince (their son) had spent so long alone and broken. And Cor hadn’t been able to do anything – he’d failed them and broken the oaths that he had sworn as a child. Almost as though he could hear his thoughts, Nyx looked up at him through teary eyes – loosening his hold just enough that Cor was able to slide to his knees in front of Solheim’s lost prince. Regis made a noise of shock in the background, knowing him well enough to be surprised by his actions, but he didn’t look over at his friend. “My Prince,” he said, head bowed as he glanced up at the man who held his life in his hands through lowered lashes. “I have failed in my duties, failed the oaths that I swore, and it cost you your father’s life. Any punishment that you decree worthy-” “No.” Cor started in surprise as Nyx cut him off with a snarl. “No.” He said, yanking him to his feet again. “You do not get to do this, Faeder. You, of all people, do not call me that. You do not get to ask for punishment. Not when I watched you cut down so that your King could escape, not when I heard tell of your execution at His hands – mere days after my father’s. You gave your life for your King – just as the oaths you swore demanded, just as any Shield should – and what came after that was not your fault. And I will not have you blame yourself for it. Is that understood?” The words were accompanied by a fierce glare and royal bearing and, despite the red eyes and drying tear tracks, Nyx looked so much like his father at that moment that it made something in Cor ache. Still, at the command from his son – from the man who had never looked and sounded more like the Crown Prince of Solheim that he had once been than now – Cor could do naught but bow his head in submission. “Yes, Your Highness.” He met his sons’ eyes and waited for the other man to nod before he pulled him back in for another hug. Over Nyx’s shoulder, he could see Regis looking at them in surprise and confusion and intrigue, and he knew that he – they – would have to explain all of this to the King at some point but. But that could wait. For the first time in two thousand years – for the first time since they had been betrayed, since he had told his family to go, since their betrayer had come with words of his son’s death on his lips, since his king had been murdered – Cor was home.

#my fic #snippet #ffxv #ardynson au #the cruellest cut #cor leonis #nyx ulric #regis lucis caelum #so - Nyx's reunion is a little worse than his one with Ardyn #because Nyx was like 90% sure that he watched Cor die at his uncles hand when they escaped Solheim #the news of his execution was a shock - and then Nyx hated himself for not knowing that his faeder was alive #Cor blames himself #Nyx blames himself #Ardyn will blame himself when he finds out #it runs in the family #I need to write Ardyn's reunion with Cor #This is so much more heartbreaking - because at the moment it hasn't occurred to them that Ardyn might be alive #Cor watched him die - Somnus forced him to watch the execution #And Nyx has spent the last two thousand years certain he was alone #Cor is totally alive due to some mystical bone between a King and his Shield - caused by the fact that Old Kings where tied to the land #angst #nyx is ardyn's son #nyx is cor's son #he and Ardyn might not be married but Cor is as much Nyx's dad as Ardyn is #This is Cor who feels like he's failed his son - who looks at this broken man and remembers the bright boy he was and hates himself for it #you are all giant enablers #and I would be more irritated if I wasn't looking for an excuse to write it

[thedarklordmegatron]

Gilgardyn Week: Day 7

Prompt: Ardyn brings Gilgamesh out into the modern-day world.

Rating: General - there are mentions of period typical homophobia fyi.

@gilgardynweek2018 - Also Available on AO3

The idea had come about as any thought of Ardyn’s often did, over a shared bottle of wine and some Lucian cheese he had managed to ‘procure’ that morning. They were sitting on the canyon’s edge, backs pressed up against the rocky outcrop behind them, watching the sunset whilst Ardyn complained about corrupt scientists and awful Emperors who presumed themselves to be gods. 

“The man truly believes that he can wield the power of the Crystal!” Ardyn said in disbelief, throwing one hand in the air, his other holding an aged, wine-filled goblet. Shaking his head he muttered something intelligible, draining the remainders of his wine.

“I would be inclined to let the man obtain the Crystal and the ring, if only to see the look upon his face when the Six refuse to grant him their power.” Gilgamesh hummed “Though perhaps that would do little to prevent his mad delusions.” His words prompted an almost manic laugh from his partner. 

Grinning Ardyn looked over at him “My dear Gilgamesh, you have not witnessed the punishment those not of royal blood receive when they try to harness the power of the Lucii.”

“Punishment?” He enquired.

“Should someone they deem ‘unworthy’ put the Ring on, they will quite literally burn.” Smirking Ardyn swung one leg up onto the ledge, leaving the other to hand precariously over the edge. “Eos knows how many ‘unworthy’ souls I have seen burn over the years. One would think that someone would have been smart enough to make the warning public, it would at least prevent multiple assassination attempts I’m sure.”

“And you cannot be that person?” 

“Of course not,” Ardyn chuckled, winking at the other man “That would ruin my fun. Besides, who am I to stop mortals from trying to better themselves?” Gilgamesh rolled his eyes, drinking the last of his wine. He had never and likely would never, understand how Ardyn’s mind worked, it was far .easier just to leave him be. 

“If you detest Aldercapt as much as you imply, then why do you remain in his service? You are resourceful, it would not take you long to establish yourself elsewhere.”  Ardyn looked at him thoughtfully as he tapped his fingers on the rim of his goblet. 

“I am not as anonymous as I would have liked to be.” He admitted “Twas not my intention to be in the public eye when I joined the Imperial ranks, I just needed access to their scientists, but of course nothing ever goes according to plan.” The sun had set over the horizon by the time they had finished talking, the only light being that coming from the natural glow of the Crag itself. “I must ask,” He continued after several minutes as he moved to close the gap between himself and Gilgamesh, lifting his arm to cuddle into his side. “In the two millennia you have been down here, have you ever once left?”

Shifting around, Gilgamesh tightened his grip on Ardyn’s shoulders. “I have not. I could not bring myself to live in a world without you. It was far easier to hide away down here and test those who came looking for me.”

“You sentimental old fool.” Ardyn said fondly, wrapping his own arm around Gilgamesh’s waist and squeezing gently. 

“Indeed.” The two fell silent for a brief moment before Ardyn spoke up once more. 

“I do believe it is time we get you reacquainted with the world beyond this canyon.” He said firmly “We still have several years before dear Noctis will be old enough to fulfil the prophecy, which gives us plenty of time to explore the luxuries this world has to offer.” 

“You have an ulterior motive” Gilgamesh responded.

“Of course I do!” Ardyn laughed “But it is a pleasant one, I promise.” 

Blinking slowly, Gilgamesh observed the outfit Ardyn had laid out before him. A pair of ‘jeans’, a strange top that looked similar to one of the knitted blankets Ardyn had brought during one of his earlier visits, and some simple black boots. It was hardly something he would have chosen for himself, but according to the other man, whom for the first time in the months he had been visiting, was dressed in something other than his usual ten layers. 

“This is ridiculous.” He sighed before reluctantly reaching out to pick up the ‘jeans’. “This is utterly absurd. How can anyone be expected to wear such...useless clothing? There is no flexibility to these and they provide no protection." Glaring at the offending clothing Gilgamesh turned them around, poking his fingers through the tears on the knee. "No. I am not wearing these."

“Darling,” Ardyn purred, sidling behind him and wrapping his arms around his waist. “You possess a lot of gifts but a taste in fashion is not among them.” Oh he was one to talk. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do." The red-haired man moved to stand before him, taking hold of his wrists.

"Then trust me when I say you will look most handsome in these garments. "Besides, you cannot possibly wander into Insomnia looking as though you have just walked out of a history book, it will attract for too much unwanted attention."

With a heavy sigh, and having resigned himself to his fate, Gilgamesh nudged Ardyn aside.  “I cannot dress myself when you are hanging onto me.”

“What can I say? I have a weakness for a man with muscles.” There was a small voice in the pack of Gilgamesh's head that wondered if these 'jeans' would be strong enough to strangle a man with.

Gilgamesh had of course, known that the Insomnia of the present day would be nothing like the small and relatively inconsequential city they had left behind. What he could not have predicted was quite how much it had changed. His memories of a small city filled with shacks built by the inhabitants was long gone, in it’s stead stood buildings of greater magnitude than he could have even his dreams could have conceived. 

“By the Six...” Gilgamesh muttered in awe, stopping in the middle of the bustling city to simply take it all in. The people, an eclectic mix of cultures, were nothing like those they had once served; very few interacted with one another, bar obvious friends or families, their gazes instead focused on small rectangular items in their hands. The sprawling roads, no longer formed of rough stones and dirt, cut through the lines of buildings with ease,  the vehicles that travelled upon them equally as foreign as the land they explored. 

Looking around his eyes landed upon the vast expanse of businesses, their glass windows containing a variety of bright and luxurious-looking products; something one would never have seen in their times - very few could afford to feed themselves regularly, let alone spend money on material goods. It was a city of opulence, of that he was sure.  

Beside him Ardyn stood with his hands tucked into the pockets of his obscenely bright ‘cardigan’, his hair tied back into a loose bun and a pair of what he called ‘glasses’ upon his face. 

“Magnificent is she not?” He queried “Whilst I might not have any positive feelings about those in charge, I find that one cannot feel anything but awe when faced with their creation. Am I loathed to admit it, but the Mystic’s descendants have done a splendid job.”

“I-” Gilgamesh shook his head in disbelief “It does not seem real. It is so...”

“Different?” Ardyn supplied, looking at him with a quirked eyebrow.

“No. I do no believe there is an adequate word to describe my thoughts.” He reasoned. 

“Perhaps it is something that does not need to be described through mortal words,” Ardyn began, reaching up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind his ear “But is instead something that must be experienced in order to comprehend the full magnitude of it all.”

Chuckling Gilgamesh nodded “Of that I believe we are both in agreement.”

“There is one other thing I enjoy about these modern times.” Opening his mouth to reply, Gilgamesh was immediately silenced as Ardyn linked their arms together, intertwining their fingers. Paralysed and eyes wide with terror, the Shield looked around, waiting for someone to notice, for someone to cry out in disgust; yet nothing happened. People passed by without a word, very few even sparing them a glance. No one cared. There was no judgement, no guards rushing to arrest them. Just...nothing. 

A hand upon his face gently encouraged him to turn to Ardyn “Relax,” He said gently, a warm smile upon his face. “Crepera legalised such relationships centuries ago. We no longer have to hide in the shadows Gil.” Ardyn’s thumb gently caressed his cheek. “They cannot touch us.” He whispered before pulling Gilgamesh into a chaste kiss. Laughing giddily Gilgamesh swept him up into his arms, spinning him once prior to setting him back on his feet and pulling him into yet another kiss. 

“We are free.” He laughed against Ardyn’s lips.

“Indeed we are.” Was the joyful reply “There is one other thing I should like to introduce you to.” 

“I cannot think of anything that could top this revelation.” Gilgamesh shot back with a bright smile “But if you believe it to be worth my time, then I shall endeavour to enjoy it.”

“You shall not regret it, I promise.” Ardyn replied, freeing himself from Gilgamesh’s to take hold of his hand. Pulling gently he encouraged the man to follow him. “Now, allow me to introduce you to the life-giving gift that is a Salted Caramel Mocha.” 

#Ardyn is a low-key hipster who wear's his hair in a bun and lives on salted caramel coffees #Fight me #gilgamesh #ffxv gilgamesh #Ardyn x Gilgamesh #Gilgardyn #gilgardyn week #ardyn izunia #ardyn lucis caelum #final fantasy xv #ffxv #Vex Writes

[gummysungshine]

FFXV Loqi Week: Day 6 (Prompto and Loqi as siblings)

Fic masterlist: http://gummysungshine.tumblr.com/post/164077158169

Day and Prompt(s): Day 6, Loqi and Prompto as siblings. Pairing: Noctis/Prompto, Cor/Loqi, mentioned Ardyn/Loqi Rating: Teen??? Word count: 4646 Warnings: Omegaverse A/B/O, arranged marriage, unbeta’d so there might be mistakes.

By far the longest piece for this week. Why is this so long??? You can tell I love Omegaverse Corqi :3

---

Hosting and preparing for the Lucian prince’s coming of age celebration was certainly an arduous task. The sheer number of people invited to attend made the whole thing so much more troublesome, yet wholly necessary. After all, it wasn’t everyday that the crown prince of Lucis turned 18.

Reaching such an age marked a momentous and pinnacle moment in any royal’s life. It was common practice, among the nations of Eos, for an heir’s 18th birthday to pave the way for their future, with discussions of courting and marriage being the ulterior motive behind the grandeur of the celebratory events. It’d already been assumed that Noctis, only son of Lucian King Regis, would be set to marry the eldest son of Niflheim’s royal family. It was just the mere formalities that needed to be addressed, hence the invitation extended to Emperor Aldercapt and his two sons.

Having an Alpha heir to the throne put Regis in perhaps the most favourable position, especially when the only heirs to Niflheim both happened to be Omegas. The Lucian King knew that Niflheim’s Emperor wouldn’t give his sons away to any old royalty or aristocracy. No, no, no. The man could be very meticulous when it came to that. It was just a shame, Regis thought, that he himself didn’t have a second son - Alpha or Beta - to pair with the remaining Niff heir. But such luck was not on his side.

Standing at the very top of the steps leading up into the Citadel, both Noctis and his father greeted the Niff Emperor, his two sons, and their nation’s Chancellor upon their arrival. The eldest Aldercapt boy was full of warm smiles, his friendly demeanour rubbing off on Noctis, making a smile of his own pull at his lips.

“Prince Noctis.” Prompto bowed his head a little, Noctis doing the same. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Been a while, hasn’t it?” The Lucian prince looked the blond up and down.

It’d been several years since he’d last seen Prompto in the flesh, being only a young boy around 10 years of age. Noctis could see that he’d certainly changed, his eyes flitting over to the younger of the Aldercapt twins, thinking the same thing about Loqi. Out of the two of them, Loqi was still the more meek of the pair, standing slightly behind his twin with Chancellor Izunia, a somewhat shy air surrounding him. Noctis supposed Loqi fitted the stereotypical nature of an Omega better than this brother.

Leading Niflheim’s royals and Chancellor through the Citadel, Noctis stood close by Prompto’s side, noting how Loqi tried to latch himself onto his brother, seemingly wanting to distance himself from the Chancellor. He didn't know what the deal was between the younger twin and Chancellor Izunia, but it was obvious that Loqi didn't appear to enjoy his company.

“If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.” Regis smiled warmly at their guests, arriving at the guest wing, showing them to their rooms.

With the celebratory ball not until later that evening, the spare time gave them all a few hours still to prepare. Leaving them be for the time being - reluctantly, in Noctis’ case - the Aldercapts and the Chancellor were left to their own devices until the start of the celebrations. As much as Noctis wished to spend more time with Prompto, his duties came first. Both Noctis and his father still had the duty of welcoming the Fleuret’s upon their arrival, keeping themselves busy in the meantime while the Citadel’s maidservants handled everything else.

~~~

“So, what do you think of Noctis?”

Alone with his twin, while his father and the Chancellor no doubt used their time discussing the evening’s events, Prompto wondered what Loqi’s impression of the Lucian Prince was. It’d been a good few years since he’d last seen him, having changed an awful lot in that time, but his brother’s opinion still mattered to him. In the event that Loqi didn’t like Noctis, Prompto had already decided not to go through with the glaringly obvious marriage arrangement that was sure to be announced that night.

“He seems nice.” The younger twin nodded, standing by the window, looking out onto the view of Insomnia’s city. “I think he’d make a good mate for you. He seems to like you, at least.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Prompto laughed, sitting on the plush bed of the guest room. “He’s handsome, too.”

Letting out a soft sigh, shoulders slumping ever so slightly, Loqi stayed silent. He wanted to be happy for his brother, he truly did, but he knew that any marriage between Prompto and Noctis would come at an expense - an expense that he would sadly have to live with.

“What's wrong?” Sitting up straighter on the edge of the bed, Prompto could see something was bothering his brother. He had a gut feeling he knew what it was.

“Prom...” Loqi started out sadly. “I really don't want to marry Ardyn. But I know that's what father will have me do if you marry Noctis.”

As much as he didn't want the Chancellor as his mate, it seemed like an inevitable possibility. Regis didn't have another heir, which put him in a rather unfortunate situation.

“But father might try to seek a partnership with the Fleurets, their eldest son is an Alpha.” Prompto reminded him of Tenebrae’s Prince. “There's always that.”

“We’ll be apart still. If you live here with Noctis, and I end up marrying prince Ravus, I'll have to stay with him in Tenebrae.” He tried to get his sibling to understand the bigger problem.

“I know...but it's got to be better than being with Ardyn.”

“I guess. It's just...” Loqi paused, glancing to his brother with a sad smile. “I don't want to leave you.”

Having been rather clingy with his brother growing up, Loqi felt an ominous tug on their brotherly bond ever since talk of marriage had been added to the equation. He didn't wish to be separated from his twin. Such a thought had his heart aching of the loss that was still to happen.

“I know, I know.” Prompto sighed. “But there's not much we can do.”

“I just hope father reconsiders the idea of giving me away to Chancellor Izunia. I don't want to be with him, but I can't tell him that. I pray to the Astrals that he changes his mind.”

Knowing that praying alone wouldn't help his situation, Loqi couldn't do much else but hope things would change, hope that his seemingly sealed fate would be changed by some stroke of luck.

~~~

The hall was teeming alive with guests, people having travelled from far and wide to attend the Lucian prince’s coming of age celebrations. Royalty, aristocracy, and government officials made up most of the numbers, followed by the rich and elite of the city and their families. Gifts were bestowed in vast droves as a show of loyalty and honour to His Highness, prince Noctis; the young man accepting each and every one graciously, just as he’d been taught. But the most precious of those gifts were not the material kind. For Noctis cherished his soon-to-be announced betrothal to Prompto the most.

The intricacies had been discussed and agreed, both parties understanding what was to be asked of them and taking on that responsibility. As serious and significant as the betrothal was, Prompto initially agreed with very little thought. He knew it was the right thing to do for both Niflheim and Lucis, the marriage between both he and Noctis would help to strengthen the peace between the two nations as a result. Not only did he agree for the greater good of his nation, but he could tell that Noctis would be able to fulfil his role, as his mate, with utmost competence. Prompto had no qualms with the choice in Alpha. None at all. The thing that topped it all off for him - the cherry on the cake, as it were - was the fact that their liking was mutual. The last thing he wanted was to be paired with a mate that didn’t want him, or vice versa.

Regis ushered both Prompto and Noctis toward him in the midst of the celebrations and mingling, standing besides Emperor Iedolas and Loqi, garnering the room’s attention with ease. The murmuring of the guests slowly dimmed, all eyes watching the two families with focused interest, speculating what was about to be said.

“My esteemed guests, if I may have your undivided attention for just a brief moment.” He started, addressing the room. “With my son coming of age, it is with great happiness that I announce something all the more special to you all. With His Radiance’s approval and permission, my son, prince Noctis Lucis Caelum, is to be wed to prince Prompto Aldercapt of Niflheim.”

The room erupted into rounds of applause, congratulating the couple with smiles, Prompto and Noctis joining hands as they stood close to one another’s side. As happy as Loqi should’ve been for this brother, he couldn’t help but hate the idea of the marriage, knowing that his future with Ardyn seemed all the more plausible. Scanning his eyes over the guests, each of them had their eyes trained on his twin and Noctis, thankful that he was being spared any attention. Each and every person beamed brightly at the new couple, yet a pair of striking blue eyes caught Loqi’s attention among the smattering of people.

For they stared directly at him. Not at his brother. Not at Noctis. But at him.

Just taking a quick look at the owner of that powerful gaze, Loqi could tell the man was an Alpha. He seemed somewhat familiar - like a face he knew but had somehow forgot. The man must’ve been a noble of sorts, Loqi supposed. The sharp gaze never faltered, even as the Omega glanced away in his shyness. He could feel the man’s eyes on him, boring into his being even as the guests dispersed once more, as Prompto and Noctis moved to speak with the plethora of people wishing to congratulate them.

His attention on the stranger was torn all of a sudden, with Ardyn taking him by the arm and leading him away to speak with a bunch of Lucian aristocrats that he didn’t really care for. Being paraded around like the Chancellor’s possession only served to sour his mood further.

Taking Prompto by the hand, Noctis made a beeline for one person in particular that he’d been meaning to speak to all evening, even more so now that he he’d spotted something quite peculiar about the man’s behaviour. Even as he approached the elder Alpha, the man seemed to be a state of very near hypnosis, not even noticing both young princes’ presences.

“Cor.”

The sound of his name broke him from his daze, looking away from the one that’d held his attention.

“Your Highnesses.” He bowed his head a little in greeting. “Congratulations to you both.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Noctis waved him off with a roll of his eyes, making even Prompto laugh. “You weren’t even paying that much attention to the announcement.” He smirked.

“My apologies.” Cor looked off to the side in mild embarrassment. “My...attentions were engaged elsewhere.”

“They’ve been ‘engaged elsewhere’ for most of the night.” The young Alpha teased. “Prompto, this is Cor.” He introduced the two. “Not sure if you remember him. He’s Commander of the Crownsguard. Also a close friend of my father.”

“Pleased to see you again, Sir.” Prompto smiled friendlily, vaguely recalling the name from years back.

“Likewise, your Highness.” Cor bowed his head, smiling back politely.

“So...” Noctis nudged the elder man in the arm, nowhere near finished with teasing him. “You gonna tell me who you’ve been ogling all evening?”

“...Noctis.” Cor sighed with a shake of his head. “I was merely admiring.”

“Ah, so you don’t deny you were eyeing them up?” He grinned, Prompto watching on in amusement at his antics.

“Admiring, your Highness. Admiring.” Reminding him with a firm tone, Cor let his gaze wander back to the one that’d caught his attention in the first place.

“Just go talk to Loqi already.” The Lucian Prince nudged him again, this time with more force.

“Loqi? My brother, Loqi?” Looking up at the taller man, Prompto’s eyes widened in surprise, quickly taking a peek over to his twin who stood miserably next to Ardyn while the Chancellor chatted away to the guests.

“I, um, I was just...appreciating the charm your brother has, your Highness. I mean no harm. I apologise.”

Floundering for an explanation, Cor swore he could’ve hit Noctis upside the head for dropping him in it like that, especially in front of Prompto. Noctis had always had an excellent affinity for being perceptive, perhaps too perceptive, the elder Alpha thought.

“Don’t apologise, there’s no need.” Prompto shook his head. “Hey...you know...” The young blond glanced back to his troubled sibling. “You might just be able to help Loqi.”

“Help?” Cor questioned, struck both concerned and intrigued.

Stepping closer to the elder Alpha, Prompto made sure no one was eavesdropping, keeping their conversation between the three of them.

“How much do you like my brother?” He whispered. “Would you consider courting him if you had the chance?”

A little voice in Cor’s head screamed yes. Every inch of him thrummed at the idea of courting an Omega such as the youngest Niff prince.

“The look in your eyes tell me yes.” Prompto continued with a grin, a playful lilt colouring his tone.

“Your Highness.” The elder sighed. “I cannot simply wish for such things. Your brother is out of my reach. I have nothing substantial to offer him that he doesn’t already have.”

And he really didn’t. The Omega was a prince, of royal blood, while Cor was a mere commoner in all actuality. While gaining the title of Crownsguard Commander, one that saw him treated with the same respect as all the Lords and Ladys of Lucis, he was of no prestigious bloodline.

“You could save him from a future he hates, Cor.” The young blond spoke seriously. “I have a feeling he’ll like you. If I like you, then Loqi should, too.”

“I can convince my father to put in a good word for you to Emperor Iedolas.” Noctis piped up. “I’ll tell him how interested you are. I’m sure he’ll have no issues with it.”

“I can talk to my own, too.” Prompto nodded enthusiastically. “I mean, if I get to be happy then Loqi should, too. And being with Chancellor Izunia isn’t gonna do that.” Shaking his head, Prompto urged the man to consider the offer seriously.

“Chancellor Izunia? Is your brother set to marry him?”

Looking over to the other Niff Prince, Cor could definitely see the discomfort he had around the Chancellor, if the distressed look on his face was anything to go by. Watching him being paraded around like the man owned him of sorts, Cor wanted nothing more than to take him away, to calm his unease, to see him smile.

“Not officially. Well, at least not yet.” Prompto briefly explained, face showing his own dislike at the thought. “But I know my father will pair them up, it’s only a matter of time.”

Tired of the elder Alpha’s pussyfooting, practically trying to pull him towards Loqi, Noctis attempted to take matters into his own hands, seeing as Cor evidently wouldn’t.

“Go ask him to dance for Astral’s sake, Cor!” Noctis whispered, urging him to make a move. “I’ll speak to my father while you get Loqi away from Ardyn.”

Flitting his gaze between the two princes before him, the elder Alpha gave in. With a small nod of agreement, he left the two of them, making his way over to the younger twin, his heart beginning to thud heavily in his chest. The thought of what he was about do almost had him turning back, unable to approach him as anxiety rose. But he soldiered on, thinking back to what Prompto said about the prince’s pairing with the Chancellor.

“Your Highness.” He greeted, bowing his head as the young blond turned, the Chancellor busy chatting away with his acquaintances to notice. “I do apologise for intruding. But...would you do me the honour of sharing a dance with me?”

Nodding dumbly at the request, not able to formulate much of a response in front of the man whose eyes had been watching him, Loqi found himself taken by the hand and led into the centre of the room with the other dancing guests. A vast assortment of instruments played as the guests weaved in and around one another, moving and swaying to the sounds, chatting and dancing the evening away with partners of their choosing.

“Uh...I uh...” Loqi stumbled over his words, his shyness getting the better of him as he was pulled close to the Alpha, letting him take the lead in their dance. “Not to sound rude, but...who exactly are you?”

“Do forgive me, your Highness.” Cor chuckled, forgetting his manners. “Not sure if you remember me from your last visit to the Citadel. I’m Cor Leonis, Commander of His Majesty’s Crownsguard.”

“Cor...” Loqi tested the name on his tongue, familiarity hitting him again. “Your name and face ring a bell.”

“I don’t expect you to remember me that well, your Highness. It was a number of years ago since I last saw you myself. You were but a young boy then.”

Recalling the Omega at about ten years of age, he compared the bashful and demure child to the young man that now stood before him. He still retained a degree of his nervousness, but overall he'd matured well.

“If it's not too bold of me to say...” Cor leant in. “You've grown into such an extraordinary Omega.”

Face breaking out into a full on blush, Loqi didn't know what to say or where to look. Such words had never been directed his way before.

“O-oh, I'm not sure about that...but, thank you.” He graciously accepted the compliment, as a prince should.

“Believe what you want, but I’m not one to lie.” Cor smiled softly. “You're a wonderful dancer, your Highness. Has anyone ever told you that?”

Letting out a tiny laugh, a smidge of confidence returned to the Niff. “You're very good at sweet talk, aren't you, Mr. Leonis?”

“I don't sweet talk just anyone. And please, call me Cor.” The Alpha insisted.

Glancing over to Regis, Cor saw his King and Iedolas chattering away with Noctis and Prompto, the four of them looking over in their direction for a moment as they spoke among themselves. He wondered what the two princes were saying about him, how they were trying to convince both parties like they said they would. It would be no easy task, Cor told himself, but it was at least worth a try.

The Chancellor himself didn't exactly look too pleased, now that Cor had noticed. But he didn't plan on letting Loqi walk back into the Ardyn’s clutches so easily, not if he could help it. The only way he could keep the man away from him for the rest of the night was to keep himself and Loqi scarce.

“Loqi.” He grabbed the Omega’s attention once more. “Would you care to take a walk with me through the Citadel gardens? I'd like to talk a little more, away from the...festivities.” He side eyed Ardyn as the man glared at him from across the room.

While Loqi knew the man was of good standing, and wasn't a threat to his safety, a hint of hesitation bubbled up within him.

“Um, I-I don't know...I mean...”

“Don't worry, your Highness. I mean you no harm. I only wish to speak with you privately, you have my word.”

Trusting the look in the Alpha’s eyes, Loqi nodded in agreement, letting himself be led out of the hall and through the Citadel’s corridors. Reaching a large annex, two of His Majesty’s Glaives stood by by the entrance leading out into the royal gardens, keeping guests from wandering in and out.

“Marshal. Your Highness.” One of them spoke as the two of them bowed their heads.

“I need a while in the gardens alone with his Highness.” Cor explained.

“Of course, Sir.”

Without another word, the pair were let through. Smatterings of lights glowed around the walkway and among the flowers as they entered down a small set of stone steps, leading the way into the core of the gardens.

“Wow.” Loqi looked around in awe. “It's beautiful.”

If the inside of the Citadel had been a sight to behold, then the outside was just as remarkable. Loqi could tell the Lucian royals took great pride in appearances, seeing as nothing - both inside and out - around the Citadel seemed out of place.

“I'm sure your own royal gardens are the same, too.” Cor smiled, watching the blond gaze about.

“Pssh. Hardly.” Loqi waved off the remark, gazing around in wonderment. “It's too cold in Gralea for much to grow. We have an artificial bio-dome to grow exotic plants...but it's not the same as this. This is all natural— are those Sylleblossoms?!”

Hearing the excitement in his voice, Cor followed the Omega down the path, chuckling at the child-like innocence he displayed. Stopping at the patch of the native Tenebraen flower, the Alpha plucked one from its stem as they crouched down to get a better look at the plant, and placed it behind Loqi’s ear.

“A charming flower for a charming Omega.” He spoke quietly, acutely aware of the silence around them. “It suits you. Brings out the colour of your eyes.”

The glow of the lit walkway gave the prince’s eyes an almost violet tint, light reflecting off the blue in the most captivating way.

For the second time that night, Loqi found himself speechless. The Alpha before him certainly had a way with words.

“I'm sorry, have I said too much?” Cor apologised, sheepishness suddenly settling into him.

“No, no. It's okay.” With a shake of his head, Loqi assured the man he was fine. “It’s, um...thank you.” He averted his gaze, cheeks warming up yet again.

Taking a slow walk around the gardens, talking away about everything and anything that took their fancy, the evening drew on without much notice from either of the pair. It didn’t take long for the Alpha to know what he wanted from the prince. Though he bearly knew him, there was something, something he couldn’t place about the young blond that had him throwing all caution to the wind, letting him give his damn best at least trying to win the Omega over. Never having been more interested in someone - let alone a person he wished to court - to Cor, Loqi was a rare beauty, something to be treasured and cherished like the most precious of things.

Even as the evening gave way to night, Loqi never ran out of things to say to the Alpha, letting his thoughts flow freely in his company. It was nice, he thought, nice to have someone seem genuinely interested in him as person, and not just for his royal title. All worries of his impending future were forgotten, until the Chancellor’s name was brought up. Even the sound of it struck dismay into his heart.

“Your brother tells me there are plans for you to marry.” Cor recalled what the elder twin had said. “To Chancellor Izunia, correct?”

“Yes.” Loqi sighed. “I believe so.”

“You don't sound too happy. I'm sure the Chancellor has a lot to offer, being a well respected man among your father’s advisors.”

“I don't...” He trailed off, trying to find the right words to say. “Maybe it's foolish of me to think I could marry for love. Or at least companionship.” Playing with the lilies off to the side, Loqi admired them. “Prompto and Noctis seem to like one another well enough. I can see them building a strong bond quickly.”

“Is that what you wish for?” Cor asked, hearing the wistfulness behind his voice. “And you don't think the Chancellor can give you that?”

“I don’t feel anything for him.”

And he didn’t. If there was one thing Loqi did feel about the man, it was unease. It was as if the Chancellor knew of what was to come, knew he would be given a young, ripe Omega to take. Every ounce of Loqi’s being cringed with the thought of having to bear the man’s children.

“Maybe it might be bold of me to ask.” Cor took the Omega by the hand. “But... With your father’s approval, would you consider allowing me to court you?”

Blinking in confusion, wondering if the man was simply jesting with his offer, Loqi couldn’t quite wrap his head around what he’d said.

“You want to court me? But why?”

“Why? It's more a question of why not?”

Finding no fault with his wishes, the Alpha could still see it would be a struggle of sorts to convince Loqi of his sincerity.

“Cor...” Loqi gazed down at his hand in Cor’s own, doing it his utmost best to find the words to let the man down lightly.

It wasn’t that he loathed the idea of being courted by the Alpha, it was the thought that his father would vehemently disagree and immediately pair him with the Chancellor as a consequence.

“Your brother and Noctis were the ones that convinced me to come over to you. They saw me staring, embarrassingly.” Cor explained, a tad mortified at the memory of being caught out by the Lucian prince. “Your brother said he wants to see you happy. He, too, doesn't think the Chancellor is the right mate for you.”

Loqi knew Prompto felt the same. Yet there wasn’t exactly much either of them could do. It was up to their father to make such decisions, and whatever he decided wasn’t something to be contested lightly.

“And you believe you are?” Loqi asked, genuinely wondering what the man’s answer would be.

“If you give me the chance, Your Highness, I can most certainly try to be.” Cor spoke sincerely, squeezing the Omega’s hand gently. “I'm not one to rashly jump into things, but I've never wanted to court anyone more than I do with you.”

Speaking the truth, no matter how inappropriate it seemed in the presence of royalty, Cor sought to win him over, even if it meant being for more frank about his sentiments than he was usually comfortable with.

“You're a very genuine man, Cor. But I can’t see my father ever agreeing.” Loqi sighed with a shake of his head.

“Hmm, I wouldn't be too sure of that.” The Alpha smiled, his tone brightening. “Your brother and Noctis were already trying to convince your father and Regis when I whisked you away.”

“What?”

Blinking several times in surprise, Loqi could scarcely believe his twin had the audacity to do such a thing. But if his brother had no reservations with Cor’s wants, and was actively trying to make it happen, then maybe the whole idea wasn’t so bad.

“They didn't seem too put off by it, from what I could gather.” Cor recalled the looks of his King and the Niff Emperor. “Perhaps there is a chance. Only if you want the same thing, of course.”

“If...if they agree,” Taking a moment to think things over, Loqi cemented his decision. “I suppose I wouldn't mind giving you a chance.”

Lifting the Omega’s hand to his lips, the Alpha pressed the chastest of kisses to his skin, a newfound sense of challenge twinkling in his eyes.

“You won’t regret it. I promise you.”

#ffxvloqiweek #Loqi Tummelt #Cor Leonis #Corqi #Noctis Lucis Caelum #Prompto Argentum #Promptis #Ardyn Izunia #Regis Lucis Caelum #Iedolas Aldercapt #omegaverse #ABO

[robininthelabyrinth]

Fic: Nocturne (21/30) - Ao3 Link

Fandom: Final Fantasy XV Pairings: Mostly Gen

Summary: In which Cor Leonis loses his temper, accidentally acquires a kid, and tries to single-handedly dismantle the Lucian immigration system – and that’s before he and his lawyers find out about this Prophecy business. If the Astrals think Cor’s going to let his kid’s best friend die without a fight, they’ve gotten the wrong cheetah ‘taur.

(a young adult novel set in @kickingshoes’ ‘taur AU)

—————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————————————

Luna is shaking, she’s not going to lie. To think that war – invasion – came so close to Insomnia itself! And at the hands of the Kingsglaive, no less! With daemons, the scourge of Eos, as Niflheim's weapons of choice – she's heard of it before, of course, distantly, but she could barely believe it until she was seeing it - it’s vile, absolutely vile, and it shakes her to her core to know that any ‘taurs, any ‘taurs at all, would choose to use such a weapon.

"Don't be sad, Luna," Prompto says, patting her back comfortingly. "It's over now."

She nods. Over, at least until the trials for the traitorous Kingsglaive, and very likely Drautos' execution.

"Besides, the summoning thing was way cool," Prompto adds, which makes her smile.

"Never lose your sunny way of looking at things, Prompto," she tells him.

He grins at her.

There's a tap on her shoulder – it's Scientia. "I see that you listened to me about not dying," she tells Luna approvingly. "And my little troublemaker came back in one piece this time, too."

"It was one time," Ignis grouses. "And I got pneumonia last time, I didn't break something or anything."

"Lungs are a piece of you," Scientia says firmly.

Luna smiles at her, too.

"Now," Scientia says in her usual brisk manner, "would you like to go home or stay and hear the reports of what happened during the invasion?"

"Stay," Luna and Ignis both chorus.

"We get to?" Ignis adds, looking pleased.

"Well, you're certainly in the thick of it now," Scientia says, looking a touch rueful. "I doubt any of us realized quite how – eventful – these Covenants would be."

They all go to the sitting room, where poor Mr. Amicitia is still being patched up by his wife while Gladio watches worriedly, since Mr. Amicita refused to go to the hospital and take room from someone who probably needed it more, in his words. Luna’s not sure that was a good decision; he looks awful.

At least the King and Queen are all right, and the Kingsglaive they like, too, like the Ulric twins, even if Hemera has a nasty bandage on her arm and Libertus has a broken leg in a cast.

It's been hours and hours since they first arrived back, but this is the first opportunity they've had to all settle down and talk about what happened - everyone's been too busy putting down the last few daemons and restoring order to the city and capturing any remaining Kingsglaive traitors, and that's still ongoing, left in the hands of Cor's trusted Crownsguard lieutenants.

"So, today we went to form a Covenant with Titan," Cor says after a few moments of collectively stunned silence. "What'd we miss?"

That gets a laugh out of the room.

"I think you can gather the general outline of what happened here," King Regis says wryly. "And even I don't know all of the specifics yet. We'll be doing clean-up for days, if not weeks, yet to come"

"There is one thing I'd like to mention to the group up front, though," Mr. Amicitia says, frowning. "I was assigned to lead the division of the Crownsguard meant to arrest the emperor – unsuccessfully, as you can see –"

"How did that happen?" Cor asks, frowning as well. "You're easily a match for any of the MT guards they had, much less any of Niflheim's 'taur officers."

"I am," Mr. Amicitia says. "But not, it seems, for their Chancellor. He went through us like a knife through butter, and barely bothered straightening his posture to do it."

"Is he the Accursed?" Luna asks eagerly. She thinks he is, but it's not like they have any reason to know for sure.

"Still unconfirmed," Mr. Amicitia says, "but let's say – it seems reasonable."

"That would mesh with my observations as well," Queen Aulea says. "In fact, I'm hunting down a lead at the moment – Cyrella, your assistance in the library would be invaluable here –"

"Of course," Cyrella says.

"But that matter can be discussed further later," Queen Aulea continues, much to Luna's disappointment. "I take it from Titan's guest appearance that the Covenant was successful? I would appreciate the details."

The rest of the evening is mostly spent rehashing things and getting damage reports, which isn't quite as interesting as Luna thought it would be. And she's also extremely tired, so she's more relieved than she'll ever admit when Scientia insists that they go home after only a few hours.

Iggy complains, but a yawn breaks through right as he's trying to point out why he can stay, so Scientia doesn't accept his arguments.

When they get home, Luna wants nothing more than her bed, but it was a very exciting day, a very dangerous day. She's sure her mother will want to hear that she's doing fine, so, as much as she prefers to go straight to bed, she sits down at the little long-distance camera-phone set up she has on her desk and calls Tenebrae.

There's no answer.

Frowning, Luna tries again, but still – no luck.

Well, that happens sometimes, when her mother or brother are too busy to take her call. They'll call her back soon enough.

She goes to bed, secure in that knowledge.

That security becomes increasingly frayed when, over the next week, Tenebrae stubbornly refuses to either call her or answer her calls.

"I don't know what to do," Luna stresses to Scientia. "I don't want to bother King Regis with this – he's supervising all the rebuilding and everything –"

"It's important," Scientia tells her. "Not just because you're important, though of course you are, but because your mother is one of our allies. I'll set up a meeting with King Regis this afternoon, and I'll be happy to come with you when you talk to him, if you like."

"Yes please," Luna says, because she might be fourteen and have known King Regis for years now, but he's still scary when he's sitting on his throne.

King Regis listens to her concern and promises to make a few calls of his own, and, if those result in nothing, to send someone undercover to find out what's happened.

And so Luna waits, filling her time with school, and extra fighting lessons, and talking on her camera-phone with Cindy now that the other 'taur has all the pieces she needed to build her own receiver.

A month goes by, and then another, including Prompto's blissfully uneventful (albeit restricted to Insomnia) birthday party.

King Regis tells Luna that they've sent someone to go find out what's going on, and that they have a new receiver with them in case all that's happened is that the old one broke.

That's reassuring, a little, but not as much as she'd like. She wants news. She wants news now!

Sadly, the universe does not align itself with her whims, so she resigns herself to waiting.

Luna's in school when the call finally comes.

"– when I said now, I mean now," she hears Scientia saying from the corridor, sounding irritated, and gathers up her books with an apologetic smile at her classmates, who smile back, and slips out with a nod of approval from her teacher.

"I've gotten all my things," Luna says, seeing an annoyed Scientia with a harried-looking vice-principal. "Shall I be excused for the rest of today?"

"Yes," Scientia says before the vice-principal can respond. "Come along, Luna."

Luna comes along.

"What's going on?" she asks when they're in the car heading back to the Citadel. "Is everyone all right?"

If someone needs her healing – but no, she only does her healing sessions once a week, under Scientia's close observation to ensure that she's not over-extending herself – but maybe one of the children? Noctis?

"Everyone's fine," Scientia says. "Your mother called."

Luna brightens. "That's wonderful news! At last! What was it – did the receiver break?"

"In a sense," Scientia says, and says no more.

Luna rushes into King Regis' secondary office, since he also has a receiver there and her mother would more likely have called him than her given the time of day, not to mention the diplomatic protocol involved.

When she gets there, though, King Regis and Queen Aulea are there, and they look grave, and her mother is on the screen, and her steely mother’s eyes are wet with tears.

Belatedly, Luna begins to worry. "What's wrong?" she asks, looking at the adults. "Mother, what's happened? You got the new receiver working -"

"It's your brother," Queen Aulea says gently. "He's been taken by Niflheim; they broke the receiver to cover their tracks."

Luna staggers back, covering her mouth with her hand.

"It's worse than that," Luna's mother says, covering her eyes with her hands. "Ravus – Luna, Ravus went with them willingly."

"We will have to put our plans for the Inferniad on hold, of course," Regis tells Cor. "Which was likely the purpose of this gambit, assuming the Chancellor is in fact the Accursed."

Cor nods, agreeing. There is simply no way they can afford to split their forces for the Inferniad – every children's story and historical record they can find have all confirmed that Ifrit's fallen body, or his consciousness' consignment to deep storage if you preferred to think of it that way, had been rather notoriously placed within the Rock of Ravatogh, Lucis' most fearsome volcano.

A volcano, unfortunately, positioned very close to the border with Niflheim and Accordo.

Niflheim would need only send its fleet of airships to secure the location, and from reports they've been receiving, they already have.

That leaves only two approaches to get to the volcano: stealth, by some means they have not yet figured out, or a full-frontal attack.

Kidnapping Ravus Nox Fleuret was a very effective way to ensure that the latter option would not be feasible. Niflheim – or rather, its too-intelligent Chancellor – undoubtedly knows that Luna is being fostered in Lucis, and that Sylvia would demand Lucis' help in retrieving her son. Lucis could not afford to refuse, having taken the woman's daughter from her.

And so Cor was assigned to go attempt a resuce, and an elite division of the Crownsguard was to go with him as well; without them, no reasonable attack could be waged.

There was still some time before the Inferniad, but none of them thought the current situation likely to resolve in time.

"I would appreciate you taking some Kingsglaive with you as well," Regis adds. "The morale in that unit has been very low, given the ongoing trials."

Scientia is taking perhaps more glee than she ought to in ensuring that each and every traitorous wretch receives every single possible right they are due under the Lucis Charter, and rubbing it in their faces while she's at it. Her comparison of the laws of Lucis and Niflheim – pointing out that as traitors to the state, they would probably have just been shot on sight or possibly handed over as living specimens for experimentation if they had been prisoners of Niflheim – are growing increasingly less subtle.

Cor is in favor, though Regis worries that she's being cruel. Clarus is firmly on Scientia's side, though: he thinks that her comparisons might even be breaking through the shell of lies they've all told themselves, and possibly offering hope of eventual rehabilitation – though of course they will never be trusted with military service or even unmonitored access to the Citadel again.

The penalty for having been very good liars.

But for all that, it cannot be denied that morale amongst the Kingsglaive is in fact very low. The betrayals gave support to the unfounded accusations of their most bitterly xenophobic critics, who alleged that refugees would never truly become loyal to their new home and would thus turn on it at the first instance. Worse, the remaining Kingsglaive can't even defend themselves - the betrayals did occur, and Drautos/Glauca's particular choice of rhetoric had become public - other than to point out that most of the Kingsglaive did not betray Lucis, and that it was the Kingsglaive that suffered the highest casualties in opposing the traitors.

It wasn't much balm, though, especially during the seemingly endless series of funerals for the Kingsglaive that had been killed by 'taurs they considered to be brothers and sisters, often quite literally by being stabbed in the back.

No, the Kingsglaive needs something to cheer it back up, some heroism they can point to and say: we did that, for you. We are still willing to do what we must for Lucis, for Insomnia, for us all.

"I was already planning on it," Cor tells Regis. "I'm going to split up our attack, creating two teams: a larger armed force consisting of the main Crownsguard force, led by Monica, which will go straight to Tenebrae, focusing on liberating Sylvia's manor and assisting with the search using that as a springing off point, in case they've hidden Ravus near there, and a smaller strike force, let by me, to go straight into Niflheim to try to see if we can find him hidden in Gralea."

"Niflheim's capital," Regis murmurs. “That’ll be dangerous.”

Cor inclines his head slightly. "Agreed. As I said, I will lead the second strike force personally. Additionally, I plan to take some Kingsglaive – they're more accustomed to independent movement than the Crownsguard, since they're not as familiar with regular formation training."

"That makes sense," Regis says. "Not to mention the optics of the Immortal willingly going into battle supported by only Kingsglaive, demonstrating trust in them...yes, very good. You have my blessing – take whomever you like."

"I'll take the Ulric twins," Cor says.

"Oh?" Regis says, his eyebrows arching. "I'd rather thought that you'd want them to stay here - for the new leadership of the Kingsglaive...?"

Cor snorts. Regis would think that – he was never much of a war-leader, but then that's why he has Clarus and Cor.

"They're fantastic soldiers, and excellent leaders in the field," he says gently. "But they'd be awful captains. They're heroes by nature, not soldiers: they want to protect people from bad things, and that includes war. They'd name themselves to head every awful mission, just to spare others from having to do it; they'd refuse to assign the best people to the job for sentimentality's sake; and they'd probably get themselves dramatically killed by sheer over-exhaustion at the first instance."

"Never heard of anyone like that before," Clarus says dryly from where he's curled up on a couch. His injuries are healing well, though he's still bandaged up. "Not once."

"I," Cor says with dignity, "grew out of it. And they might, too, but they're not there yet. Besides, you've seen the quality of their paperwork."

Regis and Clarus wince. In the last few months, they've been jointly acting as the Kingsglaive's direct commander. Cor has taken a particular delight in forcing them to do all the paperwork that comes with the job – more, since they have to review Drautos’ past paperwork as well. At least for that project they have Scientia’s army of lawyers to explain the nuances, but the new documents? It’s all them.

Even for men accustomed to the paperwork of government, the paperwork of the military is an unpleasant beast of burden.

“No, they’re definitely not captain material, at least not yet,” Cor says firmly. “They’re heroes, and Kingsglaive needs heroes right now; I’m going to take them and give them a chance to do what they do best.”

“Any suggestions on who should be the next captain, then?” Clarus asks.

“Libertus.”

“Libertus?”

“Basically all of the Kingsglaive like him, he’s moderately easy-going but doesn’t let people walk all over him, he’s a decent fighter but a better strategist, and he has an entirely instinctual but very good code of ethics,” Cor says with a shrug. “And he somehow gets all of his paperwork done on time, which is frankly a miracle.”

Regis and Clarus look marginally convinced by that last one.

“Take it under advisement,” Cor suggests. “I’ll go pack.”

Packing, however, is complicated by the fact that when he gets home, there’s an overgrown puppy sitting in his pack instead of his clothing.

“Prom,” Cor says.

“I want to come with you,” Prompto says firmly.

“Prompto,” Cor says again.

“It’s Niflheim,” Prompto insists. “I’m a skeleton key, remember?” He waves his barcoded wrist. “I’d be useful.”

“Prompto. No.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re nine. I’m not taking a nine-year-old into a battlefield. Not on purpose, anyway!”

“But –”

“No, Prompto.” Cor lifts Prompto out of his bag and puts him down near the door. “This one’s just me.”

“It’s always just you,” Prompto grumbles.

“Yes,” Cor says. “Because I’m an adult.”

“Just like you were when you joined the Crownsguard?” Prompto asks innocently, looking up through his eyelashes.

“Nice try, sneaky,” Cor tells him. “I was older than you are now.”

By at least four years, he tells himself virtuously. Maybe something like three and a half if you want to be bothered by little things like rounding and birth certificates. Damnit, it still counts.

Judging from the look Prompto is giving him, Cor’s not doing a great job keeping an entirely straight face about it.

Also, Gladio, at eleven, is getting dangerously close to thirteen.

He really hopes they finish the whole Prophecy before then, or he'll totally run out of decent arguments.

Somehow divining the direction of Cor's thoughts, Prompto sits back on his hindquarters, crosses his arms, and says, "If Gladio was the one –"

"He isn't," Cor says firmly. "Besides, he'd be staying home anyway to take care of his dad. Remember that?"

Prompto looks a little shamefaced for a moment, remembering Clarus' injuries, but quickly rallies with, "Iggy –"

"Is trying to comfort Luna, given how upset she is over Ravus’ defection. And Noctis is your age, so don't even try."

"Noct can do the summoning thing," Prompto points out. "No one else can. He'd be useful, too."

Cor sighs and settles down on his underbelly to look at Prompto. "Prom, I'm not refusing to take you because you won't be useful. I'm refusing to take you because you could be in danger, and I don't want that to happen."

"Danger's a part of life," Prompto replies. He sounds like he's quoting someone. Probably Cor. "It's how you prepare for it and how you handle it that matters."

Definitely Cor.

Damnit.

"Prom –"

"You said I could get a present or a privilege if I exceeded my shooting targets," Prompto says. "I did. Two days ago. I want to come with you."

"Prom –"

"This is what I want!"

Cor hates saying no to Prompto. But sometimes a 'taur's gotta do what a 'taur's gotta do.

"No, Prompto. You're not coming with me."

"Fine," Prompto explodes, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. "You go by yourself and maybe get hurt like Gladio's dad or – or – or worse, just because you wouldn't take me, and then I'll be sad and it'll be all your fault! So there!"

"Prompto –"

But Prompto is already turning and fleeing to the door. "Guess I'd better say goodbye now," he says, sniffling. "Since you're probably gonna be gone soon. But I'm still mad!"

And then he runs out.

Cor didn't even get his usual pre-mission good-luck hug.

He feels bereft.

"Six, what he'll be like as a teenager," Cor murmurs, scrubbing at his face. "I don't even want to know."

He hopes that his bright, sunny Prompto rethinks his decision not to say goodbye any further, but he doubts it – Prompto's definitely absorbed Cor's stubbornness.

No – best to just accept the way things are. They'll make up when he gets back.

Besides, if the worst should happen, he's written letters for Prompto to open, reassuring him of his love for him, his pride in his development, everything. Cor rewrites those letters twice each year, updating it with new details, new compliments, to make sure they're as good as he can get them.

It won't be enough, he doesn't kid himself about that. But it'll be – something.

Cor turns back to his packing.

A 'taur's gotta do what a 'taur's gotta do...

Nyx is honestly shocked that Cor Leonis has lived as long as he has.

"You – you – the Immortal – head of the Crownsguard – most well-known fighter in Lucis – have been to Niflheim before – how many times?!"

"I've lost count," Cor (the reckless bastard) says with a shrug.

“And after all that, the best you can do is tell us that it’s cold?!”

"Well. It is cold."

"What a characteristically effusive description," Hemera signs, rolling her eyes. "Please, tell us what you really think."

Cor shrugs.

"Remind me about the part where we need all the luggage?" Nyx asks, jerking his head back towards the literal crates of luggage they have on the back of the truck. "Seems unnecessary. I thought you told us to pack light."

"Those crates are necessary."

"But there's nothing in them but clothing!" Nyx protests.

"You looked?"

"Well, at one of them..."

Cor looks long-suffering. "The luggage itself isn't important. Having the luggage is important."

"How?" Hemera asks.

"The reason I've been so successful at smuggling myself into and out of Niflheim is that I do it a different way each time," Cor explains. "This time, since I have you two, we're going to go with the direct approach."

"I feel like there's a hidden jibe in there about Kingsglaive discipline," Nyx says to Hemera, shaking his head mock-mournfully. He can only joke about it because he knows that of all people, Cor wouldn't.

"Crownsguard humor," Hemera agrees. "Sad. Very sad."

"Shut up, both of you," Cor says, sounding amused – which is better than the rather gloomy he's sounded since he left Insomnia. Something to do with his kid; Nyx isn't sure what.

"So what is the plan, and why does it involve luggage with clothing?" Hemera asks.

"You're going as a noble canidaetaur lady, Hemera," Cor says. "From Galahd; you're visiting Niflheim. You know they allow canidaetaurs in pretty liberally, even if they're from Lucis-aligned states."

"That's true," Hemera signs, but she's scowling. "But – a lady? Why?"

"Because then Nyx can go as your bodyguard, and since, as a lady, you'd never stoop to pantomime when someone doesn't understand you because of your deafness, that means I can go as your translator," Cor says. "Your meek, scholarly translator, who you have no choice but to take with you everywhere you go, even if it's technically barred to felidaetaurs."

"That's brilliant," Nyx says after a moment of sheer appreciation. "As a translator, they'd start seeing you less as a person and more as a floating narrative voice."

"Exactly," Cor says.

"Meek?" Hemera signs doubtfully. "You?"

"I'm a decent actor when it calls for it," Cor says dryly. "Also, I have an ugly set of glasses – you'd be amazed how much they help."

Nyx can't wait to see that.

"I see your tail wagging, Ulric First," Cor says warningly.

"Who, me?" Nyx says, deliberately wagging it harder.

"I feel like I should be Ulric First for this trip," Hemera signs. "Given that I'm the noble lady and all. Ugh, does that mean I have to wear jewelry?!"

"Looks like it, selena," Nyx says fondly. "Also, we're getting close to the ferry to Altissia – Cor, should she change?"

"No, no need; changing on board is fine," Cor says. "The ship itself is secure – staffed and filled with people we trust. I want to leave as soon as we get to the port."

"And here I was hoping to experience Galdin Quay for myself," Nyx says, sighing over-dramatically. "The largest population of Galahdians outside of Galahd, you know. They might have real food, not that bland stuff you makes us all live off in Insomnia."

"You'll live," Cor says.

Boarding the ferry is easy enough. Cor produces the snazzy new identity papers they're going to use. Hemera's is ridiculous – Lady Adrasteia delia Ushas, of the Laomedon Estates over on one of the northern isles. It's a real place, with a fairly notorious tendency to change hands between its many distant family members due to a very unfortunate testamentary decision made generations back . Nyx is Erebus Black, a longtime family retainer and her personal bodyguard, and poor Cor is Geryon Praeneste, a translator.

"At least you got the names right," Nyx says cheerfully. "I was worried you used Lucian roots, instead of Galahdian ones."

Cor rolls his eyes. "You done checking us in?" he asks the guy in charge of greeting guests. "Good. Let's be off as soon as possible."

"We delayed departure of an earlier timed vessel for you," the guy says. "So you're the last guests; we can leave at once as soon as your luggage is stowed. Go make yourself comfortable – the journey will be about five hours long from Galdin."

"Five hours?" Nyx asks blankly. He can sail, though as an inlander he doesn't make too much of a habit of it, and he can read a map. "How?"

"There's a cruise element," the guy says with a shrug. "For fancy vessels like this one, we prefer the scenic – and, coincidentally, slightly safer – approach to Altissia. There are more direct routes, but..."

"Not as fancy, not as safe, gotcha."

Hemera pokes Cor, who has his eyes turned back to shore with a very un-Cor-like gloom again. "Let's get something to eat first."

Nyx approves of her plan – and not just because he's always hungry, the way she's always teasing him about. Cor's a leader, first and foremost, and he takes care to ensure that his people are full and energized.

Even if he does pick at the food on his own plate like it's personally offended him.

"You okay?" Nyx asks after a bit.

Cor shrugs. "I have a food thing," he says vaguely. "Hasn't acted up in a while. I'll get down enough to be functional, don't worry."

They spend about an hour at the ship's truly stellar buffet, clowning around a bit in hopes of lifting Cor out of his sulk. They're not entirely successfully, but he does start laughing at the lobster quadrille they put on, complete with Nyx singing the words.

"All right," Cor says after a while. "Go get changed; if there's anything we need to fix, I want to know it now."

Nyx's outfit consists of an overcoat of dark greys and dark purples of the Laomedon estate, very stern but for the somewhat flouncy white shirt underneath – very piratical – which is pretty standard for more monied Galahdians to insist on for their households. He dabs kohl under his eyes, too, which he hasn't had to do for any practical purpose since he left Galahd, and braids the appropriately fierce set of beads into his hair: he's already got good luck ones for fighting, honor and good health in, but he adds loyalty and commitment, plus a whimsical strand signifying smooth sailing – which, in slang, is an indication that he's both single and open to sharing his next heat with the right 'taur if someone's interested.

He's about halfway through touching up his tattoos with a henna overlay that suggests a slightly more conservative heritage when he hears the yelp.

He's out of the door in half a second. "Hemera! What is it?"

Cor's out there too, sword in hand.

"You're going to have to break that habit if you want to come off as meek, you know," Nyx tells him. Now that he's had a second to consider, Hemera's yelp was surprised but didn’t sound like she was either in pain or afraid.

Cor rolls his eyes. He's in a pretty clever variant of understated Lucian servant dress – same colors as Nyx, yet somehow desaturated and even more conservative a cut, more business-suit than soldier. His clothing is a bit too large for him, making him even thinner than he already is and hiding his powerful shoulders. He does, in fact, have a set of spectacles on that somehow manage to complete the effect of a weedy, anxious little man.

It’s – actually really effective. And super weird.

Shit, how many people has Nyx overlooked while on guard duty if Cor the freaking Immortal can do that?

To avoid having to think about that too hard, Nyx knocks on his sister's door. "Selena? You okay?"

She knocks back 'yes, give me a second'.

"One sec," Nyx tells Cor.

"I know what that means, yes," Cor says dryly, putting away his sword.

A few moments later, Hemera opens the door partway. "You will never believe what I found in the luggage next to my dresses," she signs, looking exasperated, and then she opens the door the rest of the way and drags forward –

"Prompto!" Cor exclaims, rushing forward and embracing him.

"Hi, Cor," Prompto replies, smiling broadly and hugging him back.

"What are you doing here?" Cor demands after a few seconds. "I told you that you couldn't come!"

"I'm your skeleton key," Prompto says firmly. "I'm not gonna let you go without me."

"You do know I've been in Niflheim multiple times before, right?"

"Yes, but you've never been to Zegnautus Keep," Prompto replies. "I heard you and Uncle Clarus talking about it."

"Zegnautus Keep?" Nyx echoes, eyebrows arching. "No wonder you needed a noble lady involved, if you wanted to get an invite in there. Isn't that a giant airship that's only sometimes a city?"

"It's the seat of the Emperor when he's at Gralea," Cor says. "If Ravus went willingly, like Sylvia says, and they decided to leave Tenebrae, then that'll be where in Niflheim they take him. His pride won't permit anything less. Prom, I have half a mind to turn this ship around right now and send you back home!"

"Does that mean you have half a mind that you won't?" Prompto says hopefully. "You'd lose a lot of time that way, you know."

Cor sighs. "Prom, we're going undercover –"

"I know!" he interrupts. "I got Noctis to lend me some of his court clothing; I'll fit in with the nobility disguise, no problem!"

"Noctis?" Cor says, sounding alarmed. "Prom, if Noctis is there, I am turning this ship around, time loss or no time loss!"

"No, no," Prompto says quickly, though his tail's started going a million miles an hour at the suggestion in Cor's voice that he might not get left behind. "He had to stay back at home, since he's helping out with the rebuilding effort and doing a lot of public appearances and charity visits and stuff. Iggy's helping him with all of that, plus he's got to take care of Luna, and Gladio has to stay with Noctis 'cause he's his Shield and also 'cause of his dad –"

"Gladio knows he's not officially a Shield until he turns sixteen and gets his tattoo, right?" Cor asks, clearly having given up on turning the ship around, to judge by the way he's absently started grooming Prompto's fur and the way his tail has gone all relaxed and happy.

"He's still a Shield, even if it's unofficial," Prompto says firmly. "And that's everyone accounted for, except for me, and I'm with you."

Cor groans.

"He can be my son," Hemera signs. "I'll be a tragic widowed heiress, taking her only son and heir to visit the land of his father – a dashing Niflheim sailor who visited Galahd only briefly before dying tragically saving lives in a storm –"

"Glacian's jewels, Hemera, where'd you get that from?" Nyx exclaims. "A romance novel?"

"Telenovela, actually," she says, grinning. "They're kind of addictive. I've gotten Libertus into them – you're next."

"Fuck no I'm not next."

Cor has his eyes covered. "This is a terrible idea," he grumbles.

"But you're doing it, right?" Prompto asks eagerly.

Cor taps Prompto's nose with a finger, causing the puppy to giggle and hide his face. "I'm going to need you to be very careful, okay?" he says. "First sign of serious danger, you're going back on the boat."

Prompto's nodding furiously.

"You have a screwed up sense of danger, boss," Nyx can't resist telling Cor, even though it makes Prompto give him a dirty look. "You sure this is a good idea?"

"It's Niflheim," Cor says, like that explains anything. Perhaps figuring out from Nyx's glare that he needs to expand on that, he adds, "Prompto's originally from Niflheim – possibly even from Gralea proper. It's an important part of his heritage, and I don't want to keep him from it."

"An important part of his heritage which we're at war with," Nyx points out. "And currently infiltrating."

Cor makes a face. "In my defense, it isn't actually the stupidest thing I've ever done."

"Knowing you? That's totally not a defense," Hemera signs. "Come on, kiddo," she adds to Prompto, who – thank the Six – is fluent in LSL after all these years. "Let's get you dressed up – luckily your hair is just long enough for some proper braids – oh, and we'll get some henna on you, too –"

Nyx shakes his head in amusement. "We'll keep an eye on him, boss," he tells Cor. "Don't worry. We're really good at playing up the stereotypical Galahd thing when we need to – no one will question our disguises."

"I hope I'm doing the right thing," Cor murmurs, looking at Hemera's now-closed door with no little anxiety. "He's so young..."

Nyx clasps his shoulder. "He's clearly coming along whether you want him to or not," he tells him. "Might as well keep him safe and close to you. Turning around now would nuke the entire mission – the Niffs know our ferry schedules, and they have eyes in Accordo."

"I know," Cor says. "That's the only reason I'm agreeing."

He reaches over and snags a sandwich that Nyx smuggled out of the buffet for later. Taking a nice, big bite, he says, "Say, do you think the buffet's still open? Prom might be hungry."

"I'll check," Nyx offers, hiding his smile. In his opinion, this mission's chances of success just went up considerably: Cor is pretty fearsome as a general rule, but in a good mood and with a kid to protect?

Gralea doesn't stand a chance.

#final fantasy xv #ffxv #lunafreya nox fleuret #cor leonis #prompto argentum #nyx ulric #hemera ulric #regis lucis caelum #clarus amicitia #ignis scientia #apollonia scientia #my fic #nocturne

[iggys-sous-chef]

There’s Something About You(r Love)

I am so behind, but here is my contribution to Ignyx week! I will finish these prompts, I promise, real life has just been in the way of my creative process lately.  Sorry for the late post @ignyxweek

Title: There’s Something About You(r Love) Pairing: Ignis x Nyx Chapter 1 of 7 Word Count: 2623 Rating: Went ahead and slapped on Mature, will most likely jump by the final chapter Warnings: None this chapter.

For ease of reading you can also check it out on my AO3

Ignis hurried from his car, holding his satchel against his hip as he jogged toward the building. Class had already started thirty minutes ago and he couldn’t believe that he, Ignis Scientia - the man who would probably show up early to his own fucking funeral - was late. He’d already missed warm ups, and he huffed as he took the steps two at a time to reach the glass double doors.

He had been eyeing his watch as the conference carried on. It was supposed to have ended at five, giving him enough time to change and get a cup of coffee before driving across the city to find a decent parking spot at the Lucian Artist League, and make it to the studio and get set up before class began at six.

As the meeting droned on, Ignis formulated a plan. At 5:15 it was skip coffee; at 5:30 it was screw the scenic spot and pay to park in the nearby garage ; at 5:45 Ignis was doing all he could to not tear his hair out.

This class was important to him. He’d heard the lectures from his uncle before. He'd heard every variant of art not being a real profession when he initially admitted it was what he wanted to do for a living. “Why do you think they're called starving artists?” he'd been asked time and again in mockery. Ignis believed that maybe if he just followed the path set before him that he could at least take some classes to hone his skill, make some friends.

Yet twice a week he was still met with disdain when he parted to head for the League. Both his Uncle and Lucis Caelum Enterprises claimed his Monday through Friday; the president's son, who now had a seat at the board of directors table, kept him busy beyond his scheduled hours. All he wanted was six hours a week. Two three-hour long classes. He didn't think he was asking for much, which was exactly why he didn't let the usual hang ups stopped him from enjoying his time at the studio.

But he'd also never been late before and he was still in his attire from work perfectly pressed slacks and a crisp button-down hugged his frame and place of his usual 2 large T-shirt and paint spotted jeans. He simply didn't have the time to day and if he ruined one outfit and the name of something he loved then so be it.

The door was locked when he arrived, so he knocked and waited. If his timing was correct, they should only be halfway into the first twenty minute set. He idly tapped the toe of his foot as he waited, wondering if maybe he should have just gone home. Being late was awkward and he felt like he was only causing undue trouble. However, when the door opened, he was met with a soft smile from one of the instructors.

“I was worried when I didn’t see you at the beginning of class,” she commented as she ushered him inside.

“My apologies, Gentiana, work ran late this evening.”

She nodded gently in understanding. “When the next set begins do a few sketches to warm up first.”

Ignis grabbed an easel and took up a vacant spot with a sigh, passing on a hello or two to his familiar classmates. The small bell they used to signal sessions and breaks rang and Ignis abandoned setting up his palette in favor of his sketchbook and pencils.

Of course, it was only as he looked up that he noticed they had two models today. In addition to Crowe, who he had grown accustomed to seeing every week, stood a man with his hip cocked to the side, head tilted. His eyes raked over his sun kissed skin and back up, noting the toned nature of his muscles, the minimalist tattoos, the scar on his chest, how his hair was combed back, braids adorning the sides, and gods when did a five o’clock shadow ever look that good?

Slate blue eyes slid over to him and Ignis froze, feeling his face warm. His lips curled upward a bit and Ignis quickly looked away to his blank page. His heart was pounding and he couldn't make heads or tails of it. It wasn’t as if this was the first male model in class, but there was something about him that just… left him speechless. He grabbed his pencil and began to sketch the basic pose, not letting himself focus too much on the details.Then he did quick sketches of different parts of him, focusing on the curve of his bicep, or the flex of his calf, or the delicate bend of his toes.

When the bell rang again both he and Crowe put their robes back on, huddling together to talk. “Nyx!” she had exclaimed in a hushed voice before Crowe grinned over at him as the man whispered something to her and Ignis found himself feeling warm again as he tore his attention away to finish setting up his paints. The bell rang again and the models moved back to the center, disrobing. Ignis swallowed as the man took a chair and sat facing him, leaning back against it, legs parted, the right one stretched out comfortably, the toes of his left foot hooked around the leg of the chair.

Ignis couldn’t help but feel like it was some sort of challenge aimed directly at him. He loaded his brush, not one to back down, and began to paint. Nyx watched the latecomer, who he’d learned from Crowe was named Ignis. He was an intense guy, eyes as deep and green as a forest glanced between the easel and his body. Nyx wanted to mess with him, good naturedly of course, but found himself fascinated by his attention. The blush was gone from his cheeks now as he worked diligently, and if Nyx concentrated he could make out his brush strokes amidst all the others.  

When he’d lost the bet with Crowe and had to join her for class, he thought it was going to be some dreadfully boring experience. Nyx was comfortable in his own skin, but he hadn’t anticipated the way his heart pounded as he got undressed behind the partition and draped the robe over his body. He hadn’t been prepared for the stares or feeling his his breath get stuck in his throat as he walked out with her and introduced himself. But after sitting through the warm up exercises he had relaxed considerably. With Ignis’ arrival though, there was just something about him that he couldn’t pinpoint. He looked out of place all fancied up - and it was easy to imagine the top buttons done up and a tie around his neck - whereas everyone else was casual and comfortable.

When the bell rang again, Ignis sat back and set his brush down, taking the picture from his easel as Gentiana came around to collect and set it to dry. Nyx couldn’t help but look at it, and to say he was in awe was a bit of an understatement.  In just twenty minutes Ignis had painted him so… beautifully, and Nyx did not feel egotistical at all admitting that to himself, because right then it was less about him as a subject and more about Ignis’ skill. He decided then that there was definitely more to him under that suit and perfectly coiffed hair.

The evening continued on in twenty minute increments, breaking in between for a quick stretch. The last two sessions were done in the same pose to allow the students more time to focus on their work, and Nyx found himself eager to see what Ignis would do, only to find himself a bit disappointed that he had chosen Crowe for his final piece that evening. He and Crowe went and got dressed behind the partition while the students cleaned up, their chatter rising in the once stillness of the room - compliments and critiques flowing like gentle water over river rocks.

“You should talk to him,” Crowe suggested quietly as she pulled her jeans up.

“Don’t know what you're talking about,” he replied just as cooly as he sat to pull on his shoes.

“Um… Ignis, the guy you asked me about and have been making eyes at all night.”

“Excuse you, I have not been making eyes at him. What does that even mean?”

She snickered. “That you were trying to picture him just as naked as you were…”

Nyx looked up to her, his expression flat. “You have quite the imagination you know.”

She scrunched her nose up. “Just go say hi and introduce yourself at least. Then you can thank me for cheating at that game and getting you to come with me tonight.”

His mouth fell open. “I knew it, you bitch,” he whispered through a smile.

She blew him a kiss. “You know you love me.”

“I dunno… I’m starting to have doubts.”

She tossed her jacket over her shoulder and shrugged before walking off with a wave and a reminder. “It’ll be your loss.”

Nyx stared down at the shirt in his hands before sighing and pulling it on over his head. He stood and finished buttoning up his jeans before grabbing his jacket and heading out from behind the partition. Crowe was already talking with some of the artists, looking at their work.  He spotted Ignis talking with Gentiana and it looked to be a rather private conversation as they were away from the other students. So he counted it as a loss and walked out. Besides, there was always the second class that week for another shot.

As luck would have it, Nyx didn’t need the second class. He’d ventured down the street to this little cafe that served one of his favorite desserts and had some of the best coffee this side of Insomnia. He could use a little pick me up and after ordering, settled in at a little table near the window. The fairy lights overhead twinkled and Nyx pulled out his phone while he waited. He had a message from Crowe already, asking why he bolted. And then if he’d had success talking to Ignis, sent with a winking emoji. He was about to ask her what she meant when the overhead bell chimed and who else walked in but Ignis himself.

Nyx watched him walk up to the counter, order, and pay. While he was standing there Nyx’s name was called and he strolled up, tucking his phone away with a grin. He grabbed his coffee and the tart he’d ordered and then flashed a dazzling smile Ignis’ way. He smiled politely in return, before doing a double take, eyes widening.

Ignis hadn’t been expecting to run into him here of all places - or ever again really. So when he glimpsed that smiling face he didn’t think anything of it, but that gentle curl of his lips is what grabbed his attention. How many times had he drawn that smirk? His heart and his voice stuttered. “It’s you.”

Nyx grinned. “Yeah, what a coincidence running into you here.”

Ignis blushed, or maybe it was because of the dim lighting that Nyx thought he did. “Yes… I usually stop here on my way in to class, but my time was cut rather short today. The coffee here is superb.”

“I think so, too.” Nyx scratched at the side of his neck. “Hey, this may be weird of me to ask, but you wanna join me?”

Being this close to him, seeing more of the detail of his face, how much softer it looked in the ambient lighting, Ignis couldn’t help but be drawn in. “Sure, I’d like that.”

Nyx gestured with a nod of his head as he took his order and Ignis followed him over to the table. “So, Nyx was it? My name is Ignis, it’s nice to meet you… you know, now that I’ve seen you naked.” He smiled a little as he glanced to him and then averted his gaze.

“Nice to meet you, too. Your work is really nice. I was a bit amazed at how quickly you can get all those details down.”

Ignis smiled a little. “Lots of practice. This is my third year at the League. I enjoy it quite a lot.”

“With your get up I didn’t quite picture you as an artist,” Nyx commented off hand as he unrolled his fork from the napkin and prepared to cut into the pastry.

“Oh… I do it for fun, it keeps me sane when the nine to five gets a little … suffocating.”

Nyx supposed he could understand, but then again he ran a bar with one of his childhood friends and so it felt more like play than work - not to say it didn’t have its moments of being downright exhausting. “What is your nine to five? Are you a lawyer or something?”

“Or something. Officially I’m an accountant, unofficially I’m also a secretary, errand boy, and baby sitter,” Ignis replied with a soft chuckle.

Nyx pulled a face. “Sounds tough, buddy.”

Ignis loved his work, when it wasn’t consuming his life. And the president’s son had become one of his better friends, yet he was still quite demanding. “You’ve no idea.” His name was called then and Ignis stood, excusing himself to retrieve his coffee and the slice of apple pie he had ordered.

Nyx let his gaze shamelessly follow him, thinking that suit had to be tailored to his body because it was criminal how it hugged his frame. He smiled as Ignis returned and they sat in companionable silence as they ate, offering up a sample bite of each other’s treats. As the food slowly disappeared Ignis began to look a bit nervous. He probably thought he was hiding it well, but Nyx was pretty keen on reading other people. Crowe called it creepy. But he thought it was a useful talent to have. It was the subtle actions really, the finger gliding along the fork, the slow way he scraped bits of crumbs into the pie or tapped the side of his cup before lifting it to his lips.

“Hey Nyx-” he began at the same time he sighed and said “Out with it Ignis.”

They both stared at each other in silence for a moment before Nyx softly laughed. “Go ahead, Ignis, what’s up?”

Taking a deep breath, Ignis steeled himself. “Would you model for me? Privately, that is.”

Nyx’s eyes widened; he hadn’t been expecting that question. “Come again?”

Ignis deflated a little. “Because of my schedule I only attend the night classes. We have a project due at the end of the month and I need a subject. I know we’ve only met, and I know nothing of your personal schedule, but I will pay you to make up for any loss of income,” he offered.

Nyx thought for sure when he offered to pay that Ignis was either very kind or very desperate - or perhaps a bit of both. He looked down into his empty cup and then back to him, and those intense eyes of his pinched in hope. Part of him was drawn to this man, had been ever since he saw him walk into class, and for whatever reason fate or coincidence had deemed for them to meet again. Perhaps it was just for this moment to happen.

He pursed in lips in mock thought, drawing out the moment and the look in Ignis’ eyes. He sighed and offered up another smile. “Buy me another coffee and you’ve got a deal.”

#ignyx week #sfwignyx #sfwignyxweek #ignyx #ignis x nyx #ignis scientia #nyx ulric #deni writes #there's something about your love

[otdderamin]

Analysis Critical Role C2 Ep014 Molly's Backstory Part 5: Molly Awakens

This post is part 5 in a 7-part series examining everything we learned about Molly's backstory in Critical Role Campaign 2 Episode 014. They are meant to be read together in sequence, but 9 pages seemed a little long for Tumblr, so I've broken them up into separate posts. You can also find links to this series, as well as further reading, on my Molly Index.

Molly Awakens

Molly says, "I woke up without any names, or any past, buried in the ground two years ago." (CR C2 Ep014 1:59:22) "My first memory, my oldest memory, is dirt in my face underground." (CR C2 Ep014 1:59:42) "Alright that's not- that's not entirely true; it's a vague memory. I don't really remember it. It's kind of all jumbled. It's what I've been told about some of it." (CR C2 Ep014 2:01:04) He woke up alone (CR C2 Ep014 2:02:51), "not in any clothes, more or less. And also, with no hair. He was shaved; he had no hair. And not the tattoo set that- [he has now]. […] He had […] very, very super short hair. And had the red tattoos. Nothing else." (TM 2018-04-17 0:35:15) "[He] doesn't know how long he was down there, so [his clothes] could have just been put next to him." (TM 2018-04-17 0:35:29).

Molly says, "I did not feel good coming out of that." (CR C2 Ep014 2:08:45) Days passed before he met the circus. "I was practically catatonic; I was barely speaking." (CR C2 Ep014 2:02:17) I am told, although I don't entirely remember this part, that I only said the word 'empty' over and over again for the first week." (CR C2 Ep014 2:08:45)

"He didn't choose his name; it was chosen for him. […] By Gustav. By the head of the carnival, the head of the circus. […] Because they had to forge papers for him. […] [It's] because the only words he was saying for the first week or two was 'empty' they just started calling him MT. And it was Mollymauk Tealeaf, so it's just these initials. […] So, they just thought it was his name for a while, maybe his name is MT, so they were just calling him, you know, and it became Mollymauk." (TM 2018-04-17 0:47:38)

Molly set about distancing himself from whatever happened to that other person. Gesturing to himself up and down, he says, "A lot of this was in the hopes that maybe it would never happen. Keep moving. Keep quiet." (CR C2 Ep014 2:06:54) Some of that was building his own aesthetic he hoped would be different. Growing out his hair (CR C2 Ep014 0:13:13), and the flashy Artist™ clothes he wears. Body augmentation was part of that distancing. "The tattoos are an awful lot about just gathering circus skill and also covering any- not looking like whatever was in the ground, very specifically. […] Rebuilding a persona." (TM 2018-04-17 0:36:43). Although Taliesin also said he was omitting things about the meaning of the tattoos just prior to that.

"I show off the peacock a little bit, and one of the peacock feathers on the neck. […] One of the eyes in one of the peacock feathers is a bright crimson red. […] It's also the same place that he bleeds every time that he uses any of his powers. There's also a red eye on the snake on the palm, and there's a red eye on the snake on the opposite side of the head." (CR C2 Ep014 2:16:50)

When asked by Matt how much he shows, Taliesin says, "I'm just showing- I'm showing the snake, the two snake eyes, I'm showing the peacock eye, and then I'm going to show the eye in the floral arrangement." (CR C2 Ep014 2:17:37) This implies there may be more he hasn't shown. Molly says, "I tried to cover them, but they wouldn't take ink. So, I just did my best. […] I don't know what they are. […] They were just there." (CR C2 Ep014 2:17:57)

Part 1: Separating Molly and Lucian Part 2: Cree Part 3: The Tomb Takers Part 4: The Ritual Part 5: Molly Awakens Part 6: Disciple of The Moonweaver Part 7: Weird Blood Powers

If you like this transcript, please consider donating your time to Critical Role Transcripts, @CRTranscript on Twitter, to help them provide closed captioning to Critical Role. We’d like to share this wonderful show with as many people as possible, regardless of hearing ability or English language skills.

 Also, consider buying my a coffee (ko-fi.com/otdderamin). I’ve been working on these while struggling to adjust to disability. Donating helps me justify spending time on these projects.

References  

Mercer, M. (2018). Blood Hunter Class Details.  Retrieved from D&D Beyond.

Mercer, M., & Haeck, J. (2017). Tal'Dorei  Campaign Setting. Seattle: Green Ronin Publishing.

Transcript Critical Role C2 Ep014 0:13:00 Molly’s Backstory 

Transcript Talks Machina 2018-04-17 Alpha 0:35:07 Molly’s notion of identity

#critical role #critical role meta #Mollymauk Tealeaf #critical role analysis #analysis

[writerleo86]

Terravenger Season 5 - Part One: Episode 324 (Do Not Copy)

   At an area surrounded by large tree stood an old castle in the land of Corinth. Inside one of the large rooms stood the beautiful Lilah Lewis. She was joined by many other women.

   One of them was McKennah Roberts. She had fair skin, brown eyes, and long blond hair. She had on black eyeliner and brown lipstick. She wore a black blouse with tight white sleeves, tight black pants, and short black boots. And she had on a black necklace with a small silver key tied at the center.

   Lilah had bright skin, cerulean eyes, and short orange hair. She had on black eyeliner and red lipstick. She wore a long gown that was colored cream, many light flowers attached to the left part of her top, and a long cloth tied on her waist. And she had on a pair of slippers that was the same color as her outfit.

   The woman that helped her straighten the dress was Cordelia Fakinos. She had light skin, auburn eyes, and long brown hair. She also wore black eyeliner and red lipstick. She wore a long pale-violet dress with no sleeves. And she had on a pair of white slippers with high heels.

   Other women attended to Lilah as Cordelia claimed "Pluto will be in awe once he sees you in this."

   "This is the first time I've ever seen you in dress," McKennah implied. "I cannot understand why you don't wear them at times. You look so beautiful Lilah."

   Lilah gave out a soft laugh and responded "I wear them occasionally. I never liked to wear dresses though. I was always a tomboy. I rather wear pants, especially if I have to run somewhere."

   "I'm the same way," McKennah told her. "People including some in my family always thought I was into girls. But that all came to a close once they all saw me with Wood."

   "You and Wood do make a great pair," Lilah described. "I don't see him smile often. But when you two are together, his face lights up."

   "Lilah?" Cordelia asked. "How are things for Mercury? Is he alright?"

   "Mercury is happy for us," Lilah answered. "It is great for him since he was the one that introduced us. Pluto and I have been inseparable since."

   "I mean is he dating?" questioned Cordelia.

   Lilah thought for a moment. Then she said "Mercury? No. I haven't seen him with anyone. Since I've known him, Mercury always kept to himself."

   "Come to think of it," McKennah claimed. "I haven't seen the Counselor interact with anyone either unless it has to do with business."

   Cordelia lowered her head and responded "That is sad. I have known Mercury and this family for a long time. Mercury is like a brother to me. And he is a great uncle to Micah."

   "He's supportive to his brothers as well," Lilah added. "In fact, he has always stayed in touch with Keith since the time we fought against Lyris and Lucian.

   Cordelia shook her head and said "Keith and Mercury have always been close, even since they were wee high."

   Then McKennah popped her head and cried "Maybe we can get Keith to talk to him!"

   "We could," said Lilah. "If anyone can reach Mercury, it's Keith."

   Cordelia lowered her head once again and said "Maybe since Keith tries to spend time with everyone."

   "Is everything okay?" asked Lilah.

   And a saddened Cordelia cried "By the gods. I guess neither Pluto or Mother Rhoaina had told you this."

Episode 324:  The Fakinos Reunion - A Test in Strength Comes

   Inside another room at the other part of the castle was Pluto Fakinos staring at himself in a large mirror as he was joined by his three brothers.

   One of them was the eldest, Houston. He had light skin and brown eyes. He had short brown hair that popped up. And he had a muscular body.

   Another was Keith. He had pale skin, blue eyes, and a thin gray beard. His gray hair was down and parted to the right.

   The other was the youngest, Mercury. He had pale skin, blue eyes, and short dark-blond hair.

   And the three brothers wore an outfit consisting of a collared white shirt, a mauve bow-tie, a cream-colored suit, and white shoes.

   Pluto had peach skin, short black hair that popped up, and a thin beard. He had on a cream-colored toga with the family crest placed on his left shoulder while a red cross was placed on the other shoulder. He wore a thick brown belt, golden cuffs around his wrists, and golden shoes with long pads coming from the knees. And he had a golden wreath around his head.  

   Houston looked at him and told Pluto "You look magnificent Plu."

   "I cannot believe... " Pluto responded. "...that you have saved his toga after all the years Keith."

   A smiling Keith shook his head and said "You are the only one of us that has the same built as Father. And I made certain the toga was well-pressed for the occasion."

   "That is just like you," Mercury told him. "Reliable Keith. You will always take great care of us, even though it is not your job. Even Mother agrees."

   "Erik is right," Houston described. "You are the anchor that holds the family even during the darkest of times. Father would be proud."

   "I am only performing what he would have wanted," Keith claimed.

   Mercury placed his left hand on the right shoulder of Keith. And the youngest brother responded "We are very fortunate to have you."

   And Keith shook his head once again.

   Minutes later, both Keith and Mercury walked into the opened sanctuary of the castle.

   Mercury spotted the many chairs at the center. Then he found a small chapel that was built at the front.

   "The chapel is even greater since our last wedding," He claimed. "But the two colors for the scheme of Houston and Cordelia's wedding were blue and white."

   "Blue was always Houston's favorite," Keith described. "He has loved the color since we were children, especially the palest color."

   "And Pluto was always into cream," Mercury implied. "Because the color always reminded him of the lightest sand that covers our land."

   He soon turned to Keith and asked "How long now?"

   Keith turned to him and Mercury said "Your hair is more gray then usual. And you are out of breath more than ever. Not to mention your color of skin is not right."

   Next, Keith lowered his head and gave out a soft smile.

   "I know something is not right about you," claimed Mercury.

   "You were always very observant Erik," Keith responded. "Even as children, you were always the one to figure out that something was amiss."

   Then Keith blew a huge breath from his mouth and informed his brother "I have cancer in my pancreas."

   "Cancer?" Mercury repeated.

   Keith shook his head and said "I have had this form for two years. During the first day, I fell off my horse and Mother took me to the medics immediately. Both Pluto and another doctor confirmed it then. I have since gone through chemotherapy. So far, the spread of the cancer has slowed."

   Mercury lowered his head and asked "Did you have it during our battle with Lyris?"

   Keith turned his head away and answered "That was the first trimester. I had discovered this three weeks before the chaos with Lyris began."

   "Why didn't you tell me?" asked Mercury.

   Keith gave out a soft chuckle and told him "I did not want anyone to make a fuss. I hadn't informed anyone until last year, when I lost breath at certain times. Only Pluto and Mother know of my condition. And I begged them not to alert anyone including you, especially you."

   A distraught Mercury folded his arms in front of him and Keith said "I did not want to add another burden to you during the time we were pursuing of Lyris. I knew that you would not have let me assist you if you knew otherwise."

   "You should have trusted me," Mercury replied. "You should have come to me immediately."

   "I know Er," Keith told him. "I didn't want to worry you during this time as well. This is a great day for us all, especially for Pluto and Lilah. Why would I disrupt something pleasant with this?"

   After that, Mercury placed his arms down and gave out a calm smile.

   He said "It will be alright."

   "Erik?" Keith called.

   "We will get through this as well," Mercury told him. "You now have us all at your side. We will help you in what comes next."

   And a familiar voice yelled "Hey! Counselor!"

   Two people hurried to them.

   The one standing at the left side was the energetic youth, Tai Ravenstone. He had light skin, brown eyes, and short brown hair. And he had his black tattoo placed around the top of his left arm. He wore a black T-shirt with a yellow biohazard symbol printed at the front. He had on a pair of khaki shorts, white socks, and white shoes with red at the center.

   The other was his younger brother, Denny. He had brown eyes, bright skin, and short blond hair. He had a gray T-shirt with a red V-neck and a pocket on the left side of the front. He also had on khaki shorts, white socks, and gray shoes.

   Mercury greeted with a kind smile as Keith asked "How did your training go with the guards?"

   "Your guards were awesome!" Tai implied. "They taught me how to fight more with my fists! I can use my hands as spears now!"

   And Denny reported "Your training helped me a lot, Mr. Keith. I'm able to use my hands as spears too."

   "I am happy to assist you Dennis," said Keith. "You are the second student I have trained thus far."

   "Your second?" asked Mercury.

   Keith turned to him and answered "I train our nephew as well. He is excelling in both his movements and strikes as these two."

   "That kid of Mr. Houston's!" Tai cried. "He kicked my ass twice! He's good!"

   Mercury shook his head and responded "I was the same at the age Micah is now. I used to ask Father to train with me. Mother as well."

   "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree then!" Tai phrased.

   Denny informed Mercury "It was the same with me one time I fought Micah. He's a total champ!"

   And Tai told his brother "We aren't gonna tell anybody about this! Losing to a little kid!"

   "Totally," said Denny. "We keep this to ourselves."

   "Then you would not mind..." Mercury commanded Tai. "...to show what you have learned so far."

   "Whoa!" cried Tai. "You mean it Counselor?"

   Mercury took a few steps away from Keith and told Tai "You will come at me with your full power."

   "You're serious?" questioned Tai.

   Then Mercury stood ready for battle.

   "Looks like he's means it Tai!" Denny told his older brother.

   "Oh boy!" cried Keith.

   "You should not worry," Mercury informed his student. "The Commander himself consented that I am to train you with the best of my ability. So, come at me with everything."

   Tai rubbed the top of his nose with his left point-finger and went into his battle stance.

   "This is gonna be fun!" He yelled. "I'm gonna show you what I got!"

   Keith shrugged his shoulders and said "I guess this cannot be helped now."

   And the battle began.

   First, Tai jumped into the air. He balled his right hand into a fist as a fiery red light surrounded it. And Tai fell to his opponent as he blew out his first attack.

   "Fist of Argos..." He yelled. "Aftershock Strike!"

   A smiling Mercury avoided the attack by jumping the air. A clone of Tai fell from above and blew out a destructive strike using his Left Fist that was covered in the same energy.

   "Gotcha!" yelled the clone.

   Mercury caught the attack by wrapped his left arm around the youth's wrist. The Counselor turned quickly and struck the chest of the clone using his Right Palm. That was when the clone popped into a small patch of smoke. The real Tai landed to the ground and threw out a heavy Right Punch that was covered by yellow electricity.

   "Holy Stallion Strike!"

   The feet of the knight landed on Tai's right shoulder. And Mercury hopped onto the other side of the field after performing an aerial back-flip.

   "Wow!" Denny reported. "Tai was canceled twice! It's like the Counselor knew both attacks were coming!"

   Next, Tai rushed to him and struck with both fists. Mercury blocked every strike using his backhands as quickly as flowing water. Then Tai tried to make his opponent slip using an Inside Right Heel Strike. Mercury rose his Left Knee which avoided Tai's attack. And Mercury caught the right fist of Tai with both hands.

   After that, Tai spun around and attacked with his Left Fist. Mercury stepped to the left side and spun around. He soon wrapped his left wrist around the right wrist of the attacking Tai. And the pair jumped back to their corners.

   "That is incredible!" Denny cried. "The Counselor might be reading his movements. Tai may be done for!"

   Tai ran toward his opponent as he threw a Right Punch that was covered in red fire.

   "Burning Spear!" He called.

   The calm Mercury stood there as a large stream of earth rose from the ground. The top of it wrapped around the right fist of the attacker. And the fire had faded from Tai's hand.

   "What the hell?" Tai yelled.

   Mercury lowered his head and said "That will be all."

   After the stone around Tai's wrist fell into small pebbles, Mercury walked toward him and began to assess.

   "You have become much quicker. And your evasiveness has risen. But I still am able to predict what you will do beforehand."

   Tai fell to his knees and Mercury said "To put it simply, you must continue to build up your speed and agility."

   "In other words," Denny directed. "Act instead of being too loud."

   "Damn!" yelled Tai. "I thought I had you this time!"

   "But..." Keith informed Mercury. "He did summon his clone faster than before. That is one thing he has improved since coming here."

   Then Mercury shook his head and said "That is true. I was not able to detect your clone in time. And that... That was a sudden move that an opponent would not sense, not easily anyway."

   And he told Tai "Well done. But you must practice more on stealth."

   The counselor turned to Keith and asked "Were you the one that taught him to summon his clone quietly and quickly?"

   Two clones of Keith quickly appeared beside him as he shook his head with a smile.

   "Indeed," He answered.

   And Mercury implied "You are the only one that I have witnessed that can summon one or more without fail."

   Keith shook his head and answered "It was not difficult for him to memorize this. In truth, Tai is able to summon four clones now. And his stealth was used during that lesson."

   Tai stood up and told Mercury "So far, four's my limit. Even if I have faster skills like Mr. Keith in that department."

   And Mercury shook his head.

   In a dark room made with large stones, a small match was lit. Someone began to lit a pair of long candles that stood on the small glass table. And the person sat on a glassed chair that was at the right side of the table.

   The person was revealed as the mysterious man with clear blue eyes, light skin, short blue hair, and a thin beard. He wore a black shirt with a thick collar, black pants, and black boots. He also had on a long dark-blue coat with lighter outlines on certain parts. And the coat was buttoned.

   He sat with his head leaning on his left fist while his elbow was on the left arm of the chair.

   And the man closed his eyes as he ordered in a calm voice "Attack the castle. Harm all but two -- Tai Ravenstone and Mercury Fakinos. You are to test their abilities, and only that."

   An angry growl was heard in the background.

   Then the emotionless man opened his eyes and said "I must learn of what risks the both of them would take to save those around them, especially him. Mercury, the one he has always called The Magician."

[nikatyler]

Another week is ending, another replies post is here. Why is it that when there’s a million deadlines waiting for me, time just gets faster? I miss the old days when I had nothing to do. Kinda.

Remember when I rambled a lot in these posts before getting to the actual replies? I have nothing to say this time, other than Roses are coming back (which you’ve probably already noticed). I’m kinda sad to see gen 2 of NSB is truly coming to an end now (in my game, it’s been over for a few months). It was definitely an era and I want to thank everyone who’s been here for this crazy ride. It seems to me like you all enjoyed it way more than I expected. I hope you’ll stay and well, we’ll see them again in a few months. This time, Sunset will be in the spotlight.

I’m talking as if there weren’t a few more days of NSB left in the queue. It’s the FiNaL cOuNtDoWn...idk why I just thought of that song but I’m gonna go listen to it now. If I’m not mistaken, Friday is the last NSB day. Enjoy it.

mysticsheepplant replied to your photoset “Rose, Sammy protect this innocent bean has the voice of an actual...”

I'm exited, I love her

Thanks! ♥ Me too. I didn’t expect to love her so much but then she stole my heart

tiny-tany-thaanos replied to your photoset “Rocket, do you even remember our first meeting? I was beyond pissed...”

:(

Doggos should live forever!

Agreed

@ whoever runs this planet pls make dogs immortal thank you

dandylion240 replied to your photoset “Ross: “And like…once I become a vampire, the wrinkles will be gone,...”

Aw Ross can almost be sweet

He’s trying

jackssims replied to your photoset “Hey Lilith…why are you here?”

lajsglkdas Is Lilith going to deliver her brother's baby? Iconic

ikr? She showed up there and I was like “Oh no. Oh nooo. Oh yes. This couldn’t have gotten any better.”

jackssims replied to your photoset “Lilith: “Before we start -” Caleb: “Can we do it now? We can talk...”

sljagfdlks I was like "Lilith's really breaking the 4th wall here" before I even got to the tags and honestly? I'm here for it

This couldn’t have happened without me mentioning this let’s be real

Also, if I’m not mistaken, it will soon be the second anniversary of the original Caleb abduction. The abduction that changed pretty much everything for this blog.

simsandthensome replied to your photoset “I’m blue da ba dee da ba daa Da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa,...”

you say that like I don't willingly have this song on my phone in 2019

To be fair now that you say it, I’m surprised I don’t have it on my phone

It’s kind of an annoying song but in the best way

jackssims replied to your photoset “100 baby challenge but it’s with Caleb Vatore and you have to get him...”

Chsbdjdsjjf an iconic concept

madgnomes replied to your photoset “100 baby challenge but it’s with Caleb Vatore and you have to get him...”

I like this idea haha

mysticsheepplant replied to your photoset “100 baby challenge but it’s with Caleb Vatore and you have to get him...”

TBH I wanna do that with Don Lothario

Imagine if I actually did that. Should I? Also, I love the idea of doing that to Don Lothario instead. Don deserves it because he’s kinda the worst.

cafeheart replied to your photoset “Rose, Lydia wants to fight everyone basically an angry chihuahua ...”

looks like a cinnamon roll but will e a t y o u

As in...oh god I didn’t think of that and I hate it but also you’re not wrong. Good point lmao

Me: I’m an innocent child!!!1!1!11!

Also me: immediately thinks of this

tealiah replied to your photoset “Mid-Century Twin Houses I’ve been inspired by people putting multiple...”

This is SO cool!!

Thank you! I tried.

lilleputtu replied to your photoset “To quote one of my favourite P!ATD songs: you looked at death in a...”

Rocket Breeze - Vampire Dog, coming to a NSB near you very soon

tiny-tany-thaanos replied to your photoset “To quote one of my favourite P!ATD songs: you looked at death in a...”

Yay, long live the pup!

I wish we could have actual vampire dogs. Kinda weird but kinda cool

elisabettasims replied to your photoset “Ross: “Shhh, Lucian. Shhh…come on. Seriously, would you shut up? Your...”

Nice to see some things about Ross haven't changed. He's terrible with kids.

He might be a better person now but deep down in the core, it’s still our good old buddy Ross :D

elisabettasims replied to your photoset “I used to love this kind of cake…why do I hate it now? Caleb can eat...”

This sounds like a clear case of 'be careful what you wish for'.

Yup. But I guess giving up the cake is worth it

whysimstho replied to your photoset “Sunset: “Give me that ball, Rocket! We’ll buy you an age-down treat if...”

Me everytime there's a rocket post: not to be dramatic but I'd die for you my darling boy

Same

melideesim replied to your post “One of the best Not So Berry Simblrs! ��”

I agree with this. I binge-read the entire legacy from start to now yesterday!

GUYS YOU’RE TOO NICE TO ME

Thank you so much! I don’t feel like I’m doing anything special but really, thanks a lot :’)

fataleromeo replied to your photoset “Speaking of cakes, Ross is willing to give it a try again.”

I mean...cake! ����

I’ve only now noticed how obsessed my sims are with it

fataleromeo replied to your photoset “If this ain’t the cutest dark form I’ve ever seen”

❤❤❤

aestheicpixels replied to your photoset “If this ain’t the cutest dark form I’ve ever seen”

Awwww

simlovinggirl replied to your photoset “If this ain’t the cutest dark form I’ve ever seen”

Awwwww he's the cutest vampire oml ♥ ♥

It wasn’t really my intention to make him look cute, but then he did this and I knew he was trying to be scary but actually...it was just adorable.

jackssims replied to your photoset “Ross: “Told you this would be the best thing to do. I’ve always told...”

I'm soft for these two tf

We all are

whysimstho replied to your photoset “Ross: “Told you this would be the best thing to do. I’ve always told...”

Can I just say I LOVE that he still has his lighter hair color

I wanted to keep it to show that he’s different now, or something like that. I can’t think of the right word at the moment. Classic Ronnie

aestheicpixels replied to your photo “you’ll be mine”

He's such a cutie!!

This is where he was supposed to look all evil and scary but he’s already failing lmao

jackssims replied to your photo “you’ll be mine”

I thought of this the other day! Foreshadowing in plain sight, I love it

I was wondering if anyone would see it coming or if it would be more like “oh yeah, Halloween, vampires, of course she did that, no big deal, let’s move on”.

fataleromeo replied to your photo “you’ll be mine”

Oh wow, I love this! I don't think I was following you back when it was originally posted. Glad I am now!

♥♥

tiny-tany-thaanos replied to your photoset “He’s so cute and I’m dead. Also, I have a headcanon that babies who...”

Aaaawww he's really precious!

In each Form

This was the moment I was suddenly happy Caleb got abducted again

tiny-tany-thaanos replied to your post “This is gay sim twilight I'm living for it”

If twilight was gay I would be into it. Probably. I'm kinda proud that I never had "twilight phase"

I’ve only ever watched the first movie. I don’t remember it too much though. But I remember having like two Twilight posters from teen magazines on my wardrobe when I was about 11 because I wanted to be cool, even though I didn’t really know what it was. I just knew everyone was talking about it.

I also had this idea that “cool kids have posters everywhere” so...yeah. I was a weird kid at that time.

simlovinggirl replied to your photoset “Stella: that’s my otp”

Mine too Stella, mine too ♥

They’re everyone’s otp here, aren’t they? :D 

I’ll never forget when I asked who you guys ship Ross with and everyone who replied just said Caleb. There were a few other guesses, but everyone mentioned they were rooting for Caleb. The audience’s love for these two is one of my favourite things about this generation.

is it weird that i just called you guys audience

#replies #mysticsheepplant #tiny-tany-thaanos #dandylion240 #jackssims #simsandthensome #madgnomes #cafeheart #tealiah #lilleputtu #elisabettasims #whysimstho #melideesim #fataleromeo #aestheicpixels #simlovinggirl

[derrickperegrine]

@snakepitnet halloween challenge: week one - halloween at hogwarts

‘It’s a little foolish, isn’t it?’ Draco answered, an incredulous laugh wedged against the edge of his words, but never erupting from his throat. ‘I mean, what are we celebrating? How terrible magic is? Muggles’ fear of us? Monsters?’ He flipped a page with a huff of dramatic exasperation. ‘I just don’t get it.’

(click ‘keep reading’)

‘I don’t get any of this,’ Draco said as he lounged upon the chaise, pale hair reddish gold with the light of the flames coming out of the fireplace. It seemed at first that Draco could be referring to anything -- the current Charms assignment they were working on, some frustration regarding something his parents had said, or something concerning Potter -- but Blaise knew that he’d meant Halloween.

Chiefly, because Draco had not stopped talking about it for the past few weeks, ever since October rolled around the corner, and September had burned slowly away. The season’s orange seeped into Hogwarts’ halls, and Blaise found Draco being unusually, but not uncharacteristically, bothered by the upcoming holiday. He had never been like this about Halloween before; but then again, it wasn’t unlike Draco to suddenly develop some aversion to Halloween, and then decidedly declare war upon it.

‘What’s the matter?’ asked Theo, ever the responsive one out of them. Blaise looked over to him, reclining in a quilted armchair, his eyes not lifting from the book upon his lap. Blaise watched as his idly elegant fingers turned the page.

‘It’s a little foolish, isn’t it?’ Draco answered, an incredulous laugh wedged against the edge of his words, but never erupting from his throat. ‘I mean, what are we celebrating? How terrible magic is? Muggles’ fear of us? Monsters?’ He flipped a page with a huff of dramatic exasperation. ‘I just don’t get it.’

Pansy pulled the quill from her mouth. ‘Magic barriers are thin around Halloween; all the souls come out, so people celebrate to respect them,’ she explained, ever the history and mythology whiz.

‘But why the costumes?’ asked Draco.

‘It’s a disguise, so people won’t be spirited away,’ Pansy said flatly, as she dipped her quill into her floating inkwell, and jotted down her notes in a neat cursive script.

‘Well, it’s foolish,’ Draco declared, still adamant. But Blaise saw something else in his face -- the soft disappointment of dissatisfaction. It rounded his sharp features, making him seem much like the child he was, as opposed to the miniature Lucius that he had wanted to look like. Blaise sometimes forgot that Draco still had that side to him. The side that wasn’t content in just being superior; the side that didn’t really want to always demonstrate that he was above everything.

Blaise thumbed over to the next page in his Charms book. ‘I beg to differ, Draco.’ He instantly felt Draco’s dark grey eyes bore into him -- rare was the day anyone opposed him. Blaise tried not to smirk too much. ‘It’s important to celebrate Halloween, is it not? As purebloods, isn’t it our duty to uphold the sacred traditions of our society?’ Blaise noticed Theo flinch at that argument, and he felt the sour pangs of regret. Sometimes he forgot that what worked on Draco worked oppositely on Theodore. ‘Besides, it’s a good time to let loose; Merlin knows I’m sick of always working for the past two months.’

‘But isn’t it rather ... tasteless,’ Draco countered, wrinkling his forehead and making his elegant face seem suddenly obnoxious and unpleasant. Blaise frowned. He rather thought the campy nature of Halloween was part of its charm; it was fun-loving and enthusiastic like the festivals and celebrations of Italy and Spain. It saddened him that Draco could not appreciate this type of holiday; however he guessed that Malfoy could not be to blame, being raised a snooty, typical British pureblood by his parents

Pansy shrugged. ‘Everything about Hogwarts is tasteless, Draco. It’s a school, not a party; what did you expect?’ She examined her Charms notes with disinterest. ‘Might as well join the festivities anyway, since there’s not much to do around this school to begin with.’

‘Well, what would our parents think?’ Draco wondered, his voice made blunter and softer with a desperation for approval.

‘Honestly, they could probably care less about what we’re doing,’ Theo said quietly, though it sounded like a jab. Theodore’s father never really paid much attention to him at school, Blaise recalled; all of them received regular letters from their parents, but Theo did not. Perhaps it was for the best -- Theodore never talked much about his family, but from what Blaise could observe, their relationship was frigid at best.

Pansy nodded. ‘We don’t have to go reporting everything we do to our parents, you know.’ She turned back to her homework, and Blaise thought that he glimpsed a smirk curling up her elegant lips.

Draco scowled. ‘Well, you lot can do whatever you like. I for one am not participating in this absurd tomfoolery,’ he sniffed.

Blaise tried not to laugh. ‘Suit yourself, Malfoy.’ He closed his textbook across his lap, and raised his arms towards the ceiling, feeling the stretch settle into his body. ‘I for one am going to have a good time. Anyone else is welcome to join me,’ he offered, and winked at Theodore; who, to Blaise’s delight, ducked his head behind his textbook sheepishly, hoping that no one would see his burning ears.

‘I’m so bored by all this homework, I’m off to have some fun,’ Pansy decided, shoving all her homework beneath the sofa to be finished later. She dusted her robes and sprang up from her seat. Waving a hand at the boys, she said, ‘And I’m not keeping Draco’s misery any company.’

Draco glared at Pansy, but she was already on her way out the common room, towards the girls’ dormitory, presumably where she would find Millicent to accompany her on her adventures.

Theo closed his book as well. ‘I’m done with homework,’ he announced, ‘If there’s nothing you guys are gonna do, I’ll just be in my bed reading, then.’ Blaise felt a dash of panic at being left alone with a sulking Malfoy; but more than that, a surprisingly strong dismay at the thought of Theo leaving. Although Blaise and Draco were rather closer friends, Blaise had found himself enjoying Theodore’s company more and more lately. For certain reasons.

As Theo stood up to leave, Blaise impulsively grasped at Theo’s wrists, stopping him in his steps. ‘Wait!’

Theo turned back towards Blaise, his ears red in what Blaise hoped was more than mere embarrassment. ‘Let’s go find something to do. One should never spend a holiday alone, you know,’ and he winked; and Theo pinked, much to his delight. Draco made an annoyed sound beside Blaise. ‘Unless your name is Malfoy,’ Blaise added, shooting Draco a sharp look that said, Your fault for being a spoilsport.

Without further ceremony, Blaise threw his arm around Theo’s shoulders and sauntered out of the Slytherin common room.

Although Blaise did not particularly enjoy Professor Flitwick’s Charms classes -- he found them rather dull, and that Professor Flitwick was a much better demonstrator and tutor than a lecturer -- every Halloween, he felt enthralled by whatever decorations Professor Flitwick had put up.

It was astonishing -- proper Professor Flitwick, who only taught standard spells in class, had an arsenal of decorative charms that he showed off for any holiday or celebration. For Halloween, he’d enchant gold spiders to scutter across the walls and weave glistening glass cobwebs; he’d teach the jack-o-lanterns to sing silly songs; he’d make the white Hogwarts candles burn green and drip black wax; he’d enchant the ceiling to show clouds of chattering bats; and somehow, he’d managed to cast the entire school in an orange light, with severe shadows. Blaise rather liked that -- he thought that it brought out the richness of Theo’s brown eyes, and the sharp lines of his jaw. It was astounding how much magic Professor Flitwick could work in a single night.

The hallways were already bustling with students headed towards the Great Hall, where the Halloween feast was soon to be held; Draco could call it ‘foolish’ however he liked, but Blaise loved the decorations and the autumn food; and of course he liked being able to celebrate and party with his housemates. He loved scaring Astoria and Daphne with horror stories he’s memorised from books in the library; he loved scheming with Pansy to pull a Halloween prank on the Gryffindors; he loved receiving (handmade) candy from Quidditch health nut Lucian Bole for the only night in the year; and he loved just to be around his two best friends, Theodore Nott and Draco Malfoy, at the table.

As they settled around the tables, steaming with roast potatoes and turnips, great hams and ducks and pies, and a dazzling array of puddings, Blaise couldn’t help but realise that Draco had not quietly slid into the seat beside him. Of course the prat grumbled about Halloween every year, but usually he’d appear from the shadows around dinner time and partake in the celebration, if only under the guise of ‘just eating supper’. However, as Dumbledore began to tap his goblet to signal that it was time for the Hogwarts’ ghosts to tell awful and boring stories about their lives -- since it was a holiday to celebrate all departed souls -- Draco Malfoy was still nowhere to be seen. Blaise piled food onto his plate uneasily as the Bloody Baron opened his mouth to prattle on and on about the numerous pixies he’s bested in his life.

As soon as the Fat Friar finished with his story about growing the largest potato ever, with his new growing potion -- whose recipe was soon found to be highly explosive and dangerous, and therefore withdrawn from the market -- the entire Hall began to buzz with the talking of students.

‘Blaise,’ Pansy began, ‘What have you got in mind for this year?’ she asked, referring to their annual Zabini-Parkinson Gryffindor Trap. Blaise had indeed planned something, but now he was both distracted by the very pronounced absence of Draco Malfoy, and the amusing disparity between the manners in which Theodore Nott and Peregrine Derrick were ingesting Bole’s Halloween offerings. Theodore ate them like any pureblood lordling would, patiently and delicately, almost thoughtfully; after all these were a gift from a classmate, who no doubt put great thought into it. Well, at least Lucian always did -- his hobby was, strangely, cooking. On the other hand, Derrick ate very deliberately, in a practised but brusque way, irreverently scarfing it down whilst maintaining eye contact with a horrified Bole the entire time.

‘Blaise,’ Pansy said, snapping Blaise out of his dazed observation of his housemates’ eating habits.

‘Pansy, hold on, I’ll be right back,’ he said, pushing himself away from the table.

‘Where are you headed?’ Theo asked.

‘I’m going to find Draco,’ Blaise admitted. It just didn’t feel right without Draco, who, even though he was a total party-pooper, was one of them. Yet he was alone this night. Blaise thought of his own words; One should never spend a holiday alone, you know.

‘Wait, if you’re going to see him, bring him this,’ Bole said, and tossed Blaise a small bag of sweets for Malfoy.

‘If you fatten him up he won’t catch the Snitch,’ Blaise teased, and Bole scowled.

‘They’re sugar-free!’

But Blaise was already off to find his sulking friend.

The door of the Slytherin dungeon creaked open, and Draco Malfoy felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Who was coming in? Everyone else should be at the feast; they were all celebrating Halloween together. Unless your name is Malfoy.

Of course Blaise didn’t mean it meanly. But it nevertheless touched on something -- he was a Malfoy; a proper pureblood, who didn’t engage in these frivolous celebrations because they were pointless to him. Halloween isn’t going to help him pass all his classes, or catch the Snitch before Potter, or make him into Minister of Magic. It was just stupid. And after Malfoy read the history of Halloween at Hogwarts -- that it had become like this because of the way Muggles celebrated this holiday -- he felt himself in ever more disdain for it.

He stretched out lazily in his chaise, and levitated his Potions book towards him.

‘Malfoy,’ a quiet voice said, and he almost dropped the tome on himself.

‘Who is it?’ he asked perhaps too loudly, with too much of a quaver in his voice.

Someone in the shadows tossed a bag of sweets onto his lap. ‘Lucian wanted me to give these to you,’ the voice explained as its owner walked out of the shadows. Draco let out a sigh of relief. Blaise.

‘I thought you said you were going to leave me alone,’ Draco said, rather deliberately, as he opened the package and popped a chocolate into his mouth.

Blaise shrugged. ‘You’re wrong to think that. You’re my best friend, of course I’m not going to leave me alone.’

‘Well, I thought you had Nott to keep you company. You seem to like him well enough,’ Draco commented.

Blaise smiled sheepishly and Draco suspected there was something more. Call it a serpent’s hunch. ‘You know how I need the attention of all my friends to survive, Draco,’ he said, purposefully preening.

Draco rolled his eyes. ‘Just leave me. I don’t mind. This isn’t even the sort of holiday I should celebrate anyway. It’s terrible, common, and tacky. I can’t even imagine what Father would say if I --’

‘Your father can bugger off,’ Blaise said, and Draco’s head snapped towards him.

‘What did you say?’

‘I said that your father can bugger off,’ Blaise said calmly. ‘What does he think he’s saying? Draco, you’re still a child.’

‘I’m fifteen,’ Draco said adamantly.

Blaise raised an eyebrow. ‘Case in point. You’re only fifteen; you should be doing stupid and fun and pointless things that teenagers do. With us. Draco, we want you to hang out with us. We’re friends. You shouldn’t live like a ghost of your father at Hogwarts.’

Draco looked at him angrily. ‘Don’t talk about my father like that. He’s only doing what’s good for me,’ Draco looked aside into the dimly burning fireplace; he didn’t like looking at people when he talked about his family. For some reason, that felt like something he should defend and keep for himself.

‘Grown-ups aren’t always right,’ Blaise said. He was never one to rebel against authority figures, but his mother had told him that no one was always right in the world. Sometimes those illogical and senseless and spontaneous things are what make us human.

‘Blaise, just leave me,’ Malfoy said tiredly, the voice of someone who was always told he was wrong. He just wanted to live his own truth, because he was not one to live anyone else’s truth; even if his truth was more or less the one his father had imposed upon him, it was still his. He was not willing to let it go and believe it to be false.

Blaise looked at him unconvincedly, his fifteen-year-old self unsure of what words to say to fifteen-year-old Draco Malfoy. When they were older, they both realised that there were many words that could have been said that may have led the evening to end a little differently; but they also understood that nothing could have been said or done differently, on this particular night in Fifth Year. They were only fifteen years old and unaware of all that would befall them.

‘Go back to everyone else,’ Draco waved a hand at Blaise. ‘And thank Bole for the sweets.’

‘Listen, you could come with us, you don’t have to celebrate Halloween, it’s just all of us hanging --’

‘Blaise, it’s alright,’ Malfoy said in a clipped tone.

‘... Alright.’ Blaise tried to hide the resignation in his voice, but only succeeded halfway. Malfoy made a dismissive sound.

The heels of Blaise’s shoes made a hollow sound as he walked away from the Slytherin common room; from Draco Malfoy.

And Draco Malfoy was once again alone. Even though he had so many friends in Slytherin, he couldn’t help but feel like he was different from all of them; and alone all the time because of it. Potter’s words, He’s back! He’s back! echoed in his mind as he sat in an empty common room on Halloween; Father said nothing about it after the Tournament, but Draco knew it to be true.

Draco Malfoy would soon be alone no longer.

#snakepitnet #draco malfoy #blaise zabini #theodore nott #pansy parkinson #lucian bole #hp fanfiction #saladstuff #saladfic #saladedits #//on hiatus// #prev. peregrine-derrick #reb's gang #userlyra #crvdence #rip this is So Bad #but i want to be done with it #this is so so late but i'm going to finish this challenge even if it kills me #also fuck this was supposed to be lighthearted?? but got serious quick gjdkfg i hate myself

[faierius]

Touch Starved (A Promnis fic)

Ignis did not know what to do. It was not a feeling he had often, and it was definitely not a feeling he enjoyed. It agitated him to no end and prevented him from focusing on other tasks. Today his lack of focus lead to lack of care, which then lead to a slice across the pad of his left thumb.  The minor injury brought on more agitation when the source of his problem bounded across the came to see what had happened.

“You okay, Iggy? Need a bandage?” Prompto asked, tilting his head and looking up at Ignis with concern-filled periwinkle eyes.

Dabbing away the blood oozing from the shallow, stinging cut, Ignis offered a smile which felt tight and forced. “Thank you, but no. I'm quite alright.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

The pinched expression on Ignis' face eased at the enthusiasm radiating from the younger man. “Please, do not concern yourself. Dinner is almost prepared, so please have a seat.”

Twisting his mouth to one side, Prompto leaned heavily on Ignis' prep table. “But I wanna help! You never let any of us help,” he complained, wrinkling his nose.

“Prompto, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but it is entirely unnecessary. My workstation is far too small to have two bodies using it.”

“Oh. Okay then. Well, let me know if you need anything!” The young man covered his thinly veiled hurt with a smile and went back to where Prince Noctis sat, playing with his phone.

A disturbing twinge of guilt squeezed Ignis' heart as he watched Prompto flop down in a chair. It had been...difficult to handle the man's particular brand of affection the last few days. He had the bad luck to overhear a private conversation between Prompto and Noctis five days prior and had been unable to focus on much else.

It was an unusual thing, to hear of another's attraction to you and pretend everything was as it always had been. It was more unusual yet to see a friend in a new light that had never even crossed his mind a week ago.

Swallowing hard, Ignis readjusted his glasses and began ladling tonight's soup into a serving dish. From here, he distributed it into four bowls and garnished each bowl with a sprinkling of shallots.

“Dinner is served!” he announced.

With a shuffle of cloth and a faint scraping of chair legs on stone, Gladio, Noctis, and Prompto came to get their meal. Ignis handed each man a bowl. Gladio grunted a thanks and Noctis made a noncommittal noise in his throat as he eyed the shallots with distaste. When he handed Prompto his serving, their fingers brushed and he looked up to see a hint of pink coloring his cheeks.

Ignis nearly dropped the bowl in his surprise. He apologized, taking his hand away before he accidentally dumped the man's dinner down his front.

“By the Astrals,” Ignis cursed under his breath, turning away. He had never seen Prompto blush before. Considering the amount of teasing the man suffered, it was odd he had never been embarrassed to the point of flushing.

Inhaling a calming breath, Ignis took his dinner and joined the others. The last remaining chair was across the fire from Prompto. Glancing across the flames, he saw the blond look away. Now that he knew how Prompto felt, it was so painfully obvious. How had he never seen it before? It was quite adorable, actually.

A thought struck Ignis and he hid his amusement by sipping broth from his spoon. Noctis had made the comparison often in regards to Prompto's hair, but the young man was more like a chocobo than he realized. Flighty until you hard its trust, then companionable and affectionate. Though the same could be said about most baby animals. One could compare Prompto quite easily to a cautious yet enthusiastic kitten, or to an eager puppy.

“You gotta be more careful, Prompto,” Gladio scolded, gesturing with his spoon. The big man leaned forward in his chair, the black wings tattooed on his massive shoulders stretching.

“Huh? But I was! Not my fault the baby garula came outta nowhere!”

“Those things aren't small, you should have felt it barreling toward you! Or heard it, at the very least.”

“You try firing a gun two feet from your head and then tell me how easy it is to hear anything!” Prompto grumbled, sticking his tongue out at Gladio. “It was one little attention starved baby. The poor thing was probably orphaned.”

“We killed the MTs anyway, so it wasn't a big deal,” Noctis said, keeping his eyes on his food.

“Maybe this time, but it might be if you keep getting distracted,” Gladio growled.

“Gladio, stop picking on him. He has just as much control over wild beasts as you or I,” Ignis told to the man, hooking one leg over the other.

Even in the deep shadows of the firelight, Ignis could see the blush deepen on Prompto's cheeks.

“You don't have to defend his mistakes, Iggy.”

“And you hardly need to be such a crab,” Ignis huffed.

Noctis, Prompt, and Gladio's jaws dropped as they looked at Ignis.

“Who shoved a stick up your ass?” Gladio grumbled, raising a brow.

“Gladio,” sighed Ignis, “what occurred this afternoon was hardly Prompto's fault. Did we blame you when a coeurl kitten befriended you, bringing her mother upon us? Did we blame Noctis when an oddly curious Tonberry youngling followed us around for an entire night? No, of course not. Just because a battle did not go as planned, does not necessarily mean it is anyone's fault.”

Pouting indignantly, Gladio slouched in his chair and scowled at his soup.

“Ha!” barked Noctis, smirking. “Good job, Specs. You rendered Gladio speechless!”

“Not my intent. I was merely pointing out why the sloppy battle this afternoon was blameless.” Dipping his spoon into his soup, Ignis fished out a large chunk of meat. His eyes found Prompto's across the fire and he smiled softly. The blond returned the expression.

“We do attract a lot of weird animal and daemon attention, don't we?” Prompto chuckled. “Can't forget the time that Gigantuar kept trying to hug you, Ig'!”

“I'm not entirely convinced it wasn't merely trying to impale me at close range.”

Gladio smirked, sitting up again. “What about that day when we stopped for a break and a daggerquill perched on your shoulder?”

“It musta thought his hair was straw it could use for a nest,” Noctis teased, snorting as he dropped his spoon into his empty bowl.

“No need to be rude, Highness,” scoffed Ignis.

As they chatted, the men finished their meal. After dinner, Noctis, Prompto, and Gladio amused themselves with a round of King's Knight while Ignis cleaned up. He politely declined their invitation to join their game and set to storing away leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Halfway through washing up dishes, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

“Ignis, c'n I talk to you?”

Drying his hands, Ignis looked down at Prompto, who was deftly avoiding his gaze. “Of course.”

Hooking his thumbs into his belt and shifting his weight from one foot to the other, Prompto peeked up at Ignis. “Thanks for sticking up for me. I appreciate it.”

“Think nothing of it. Gladio was out of line, and he enjoys picking on you. Try not to take his words to heart.”

“I-I know, but even Noct doesn't stick his neck out for me against Gladio.” Prompto flashed a quick, uneasy grin.

Ignis did not like the self-deprecating tones of that grin. “Prompto, don't let a few little words get in your head like this. You are strong. You are reliable. I trust you to have my back in a war zone just as much as I would Noctis or Gladio. We have all made mistakes, and we learn from them. You're fine as you are.”

Prompto's cheeks turned red as a Lucian tomato. His jaw dropped, but no words came out.

“Come, now. No need to blush.” Ignis smirked, tilting his head to try and hold Prompto's gaze. He knew he was teasing, and he felt awful doing so, yet he couldn't seem to help himself.

A tiny squeak escaped Prompto's throat. His hands shot up to cover his face as his blush spread to his ears and down his neck.

“Hey, Specs!”

Ignis glanced up over Prompto's spiky blond hair to where Noctis and Gladio stood on the other side of camp. “Yes?”

“There's a catfish I wanna catch at the lake. It only comes out at night, so I'm taking Gladio with me,” said Noctis, jerking his thumb at their friend.

“Do be careful,” Ignis replied, nodding. He watched the pair disappear into the dark before turning his attention back to Prompto. The young man had dropped his hands, but his face remained bright red. Ignis had to force himself not to reach out and ruffle his hair.

“So, uh, it's just you and me for a bit, hey?”

“Would you like to help me clean up the last of the dishes?”

Prompto's eyes brightened at the prospect. “Sure! Where do ya want me?”

Ever the adorable, eager puppy. “Here is fine,” Ignis replied, handing over a towel. “If you could dry while I wash, I would greatly appreciate it.”

Bouncing the three steps to Ignis' make-shift wash station, Prompto started drying the dishes which had already been cleaned. Ignis smirked down at his basin as they settled into a quiet routine. Dishes clinked together, water swished, and ambient wildlife sounds filled any voids. Occasionally their hands touched and Prompto would jerk back, mumbling an apology. It was cute, yet so unlike his boisterous, cheery self, it pained Ignis.

Ignis' brow twitched behind his glasses. He hadn't noticed yesterday how rapidly Prompto's mood could shift when something was on his mind. He hadn't noticed many things about the young man before now. It was painful to his pride as a strategist. He was supposed to observe people, his surroundings, to know exactly what needed to be said or done. How could he miss so many things about someone who was supposed to be a close friend and ally?

“Hey, Iggy?”

“Yes?”

“Um, Noct and Gladio won't be back for a while. Wanna take a look at the pictures I took today?”

“I'd very much enjoy that, Prompto.” Smiling, Ignis extended his hand, indicating for Prompto to precede him.

Grinning that sweet, sunshiny grin, the young man bounded off to get his camera. Dropping to his knees to scramble into the tent, Prompto kicked his feet behind him, whistling. Ignis caught himself watching Prompto wiggle his rear end from side to side as he reached for his camera. Adorable. Anyone would be lucky to have such a sweet young man love them. Cindy didn't know what she was giving up by turning him away.

An unpleasant twang stabbed Ignis' heart. What was this awful feeling? Ignis folded his arms across his chest and squeezed his eyes shut. A finger pressed between his furrowed brows a moment later and he opened his eyes to see Prompto grinning up at him.

“Keep frowning like that and you'll get wrinkles!” Prompto teased.

Ignis consciously eased his frown. “Shall we sit?”

“Sure.” Grabbing a chair, Prompto positioned it next to another and flopped heavily into the seat. He curled a leg beneath him and powered on his camera.

Sitting more gently in the other chair, Ignis watched Prompto find the beginning of the day's pictures. His green eyes traveled from the bright screen to Prompto's profile. The glow from the camera display was harsh, but even it didn't mar the young man's attractive features. His parted lips shone with moisture, the curve of his nose was soft, his eyes sparkled brightly with excitement, and his freckles popped against his pale skin.

Ignis realized tonight was the first time he actually looked at Prompto. The first time he studied his face, drank in each spot, each strand of hair, eyelash, everything. The idea of Prompto being attracted to him wasn't quite as odd a concept now. It was exciting, different, fun. Being with Prompto would be fun, and he definitely needed more of that in his rather dull existence.

“Noct looks so dorky here!” Prompto declared, laughing as he held out the camera.

“A rather unflattering image to be sure,” chuckled Ignis.

Prompto clicked to the next picture. This one was a fantastic shot of Ignis mid-flip. “You look so cool here.”

“It's nothing special,” Ignis assured him.

“So modest!” The next picture was Ignis as well, snapped just as he released his daggers. Two more battle shots of the man followed.

“I seem to have caught your eye today,” Ignis observed, raising an eyebrow and sliding his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

“You do every day!”

Ignis blinked at Prompto.

When his words sunk in, Prompto's face lit up and his jaw hit the ground. He sputtered, brows drawn, periwinkle eyes wide. After a moment of incoherent babbling, he gave up, slouching in his chair.

“I'm flattered, Prompto. Though this is the perfect time for me to get something off my chest.”

The blushing blond barely cast him a sidelong glance.

“Last week when we made a stop in Old Lestallum, I overheard a conversation between you and Noct. I had no intention of listening in, and I do feel dreadful about it, but I heard you tell Noctis you harbor certain feelings for me.”

The color drained from Prompto's face. “Oh no.”

“It's alright, Prompto.”

“I'm sorry, Iggy. I know it's weird, and I'm really sorry you found out. I don't wanna bother you or anything, and I won't act any different. It just sorta came out of the blue and I, like, respect you a ton, and you're so cool and handsome all the time, and—”

“Prompto.” Ignis' voice was stern, enough to cut off the young man's babbling. “Listen to what I was saying without interruption, please.”

Eyes wide, the blond nodded.

“It's alright. At first, I admit it was an odd prospect. On the rare occasion growing up when I was informed an individual had a crush on me, I was always baffled. I would think to myself they probably wouldn't fancy me were they to actually know me. But you know me as a person, not the aloof bookworm everyone always took me for. This is why I'm a little shocked, honestly. Out of everyone, why me? You and Noctis are so close, so similar, you're a much better match. Gladio, though pushy, would even be a more suitable partner than myself. Not to mention all the women out there who would absolutely love to be with you.”

Prompto stared at Ignis, slack-jawed. “What? No! Iggy, you're amazing. You're so good at everything you do, you're confident, brave, have a big heart, and you don't put up with our crap. You're a great guy, Ignis.” His words started off strong, defensive, but melted into a mumble when he remembered he was pouring his heart out to the object of his desires.

Sighing, Ignis sat forward, propping his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers together.

“I know I'm not as important as you, or as skilled as you or anything, but I think you're awesome. None of this would be the same if you weren't here. I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable now or something.”

Ignis wasn't sure why, but he felt a burn of tears in his eyes. Not a sensation he had experienced in many years. Reaching under his glasses, Ignis rubbed at the corners of his eyes. “Nothing you could do would make me uncomfortable, Prompto. Your earnest, frank nature is breathtakingly refreshing in this world of liars and schemers.”

Prompto's brow twitched into a frown as he leaned forward to investigate the odd hitch in Ignis' voice. The orange glow of the fire made the moisture on the man's cheeks glitter. Shooting from his chair, Prompto fell to his knees in front of Ignis, putting his hands on the man's arms as he peered up into misty green eyes.

“What's wrong? Are you okay?” Prompto's voice was fearful yet demanding as his eyes searched Ignis'.

Chuckling, Ignis smiled down at Prompto while wiping his eyes. “Thank you for your concern, love, but I'm quite alright.”

“L-l-l-love?” croaked Prompto, eyes wide.

Had he said that? It must have slipped out by accident, along with the tears. It was so rare he was painted in such a positive light with such honesty...he almost forgot what appreciation felt like when it wasn't in the form of grunts and groans from Noctis or shouted compliments from Gladio on the battlefield.

In a display of emotion befitting his twenty-three years, Ignis slid out of his chair and wrapped himself around Prompto. He hugged the blond with the ferocity of a touch starved young man, holding him like he might disappear should he let go. Ignis never knew he felt this way, never realized how much comfort he could get just through a simple hug. It was frightening.

“Whoa, Iggy!” Prompto tried to lean back to look into Ignis' eyes, but the man held him too tightly. He put his own arms around Ignis' back and his forehead to the crook of his neck. Prompto let himself be held and held Ignis in return. It was so warm and comfortable, Prompto felt his eyelids droop as he sat there, wrapped in Ignis' embrace.

Five minutes passed and Ignis sat back, clearing his throat. “I apologize. That was unbecoming of me.”

Prompto fell back on his butt and grabbed Ignis' hand. “When was the last time you hugged someone?” he asked, voice low.

Adjusting his glasses with his free hand, Ignis frowned. “I...I'm not entirely certain.”

Prompto's chest hurt. “Iggy...”

Sighing heavily, he stared into Prompto's eyes and squeezed his hand. “Will you allow me to indulge myself?”

Jaw dropping, Prompto stuttered for a moment.

“I am interested in returning your affections, Prompto. Please, I would very much like to hold you more.”

“W-what? Seriously?”

Ignis' brow twitched. “Perhaps I was mistaken? Do you not enjoy physical interaction? I thought with the way—”

“Iggy!” Prompto grinned. “You think too much. I just never ever expected to hear this from you. It's just surprising to hear when the person you've been crushing on for months tells you they like you back. I'm just...kinda freaking out a little.”

“So...you'll allow me to hold you as much as I desire?”

“Of course! I'll never let you go hungry,” he said with a wink.

“I'm sorry?”

“Skin hungry. Touch starved, y'know? People need contact.”

“Ah. Please, feed me then.” The corner of Ignis' mouth quirked up in a smirk.

Prompto blushed but returned the smile. “Only if you do the same.”

Reaching out, Ignis pulled Prompto against his chest and squeezed him tight. He brushed his lips against the soft hair at his temple. It was unusual how this felt like the most natural thing in existence now. An hour ago he couldn't have pictured this if he tried.

“I suspect Noct and Gladio will be some time yet. Shall we ready for bed? I'm curious to see what it will feel like to sleep with someone in my arms.”

“In this weather? Prob'ly hot and uncomfortable. But I'm willing to try if that's what you want,” Prompto told him, giving him a shy glance.

“I would like nothing more, dear Prompto.” Getting to his feet, he helped Prompto up and admired the deep flush in his cheeks. He brushed his calloused thumb across his freckled skin.

“Is...is your cut okay?” Prompto mumbled, taking Ignis' free hand in both of his. He examined the thin red scab before bringing it to his lips and kissing the pad of his thumb.

“Much better, thank you.” Dropping his hand, he straightened his spine and looked down at the young man. “Alright now, enough dillydallying. Off to bed.” Smirking, he pinched the blond's backside.

Prompto squeaked, jumping. “Ignis!”

“It'll be a flat hand if you don't hurry along,” he teased.

“You're not, like, a sadist are you? Cause I'm totally not into that,” Prompto said, crossing the camp to the tent.

Pushing his glasses up, Ignis crossed his arms. “Hardly. You smack Noctis' backside often, so I thought I'd return the favor. Think of it as...light encouragement.”

Prompto kicked his boots off and crawled into the tent. “Dude, I get to cuddle with the most attractive man on all of Eos. I don't need encouragement.”

Following Prompto into the tent, Ignis chuckled. He didn't know how else to respond. Being held in such high regard was a new experience for him. Prompto was adorable and honest and painfully sweet. It was too much, yet not nearly enough.

Silently the men changed into their sleep clothes and settled down on Ignis' bedroll. Lying on his side, Ignis pulled Prompto against his chest. He propped his chin on top of gel-prickly blond hair and wrapped his arms around his back. Closing his eyes, he sighed softly.

“I must admit, this was hardly how I believed my evening would go,” Ignis whispered, tracing lazy circles in the center of Prompto's back.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to throw a wrench in the works,” mumbled Prompto, his voice muffled by Ignis' chest.

“Nonsense. It was unexpected, not bad. You hardly need to apologize for being a sweet, caring person.” Ignis didn't need to see Prompto to know he was blushing this time, he could feel the heat radiating from his face. “Now shush and go to sleep.”

“...Night, Ignis.”

“Goodnight, Prompto.”

~oOo~

“Better luck next time, Highness,” laughed Gladio, smacking the much smaller man on the back and nearly knocking him over.

“Eh, my heart wasn't in it anyway. Too concerned about leaving Prom alone with Specs.”

“Right. Actually forgot that's why we left in the first place. How do you think Sunshine made out?”

“It's hard to say with Specs. Could go either way.”

“I never really could picture him dating anyone, y'know?”

“Ignis? Yeah, I know what you mean. But Prompto's been fawning over him for months. I figured I'd give him a little push. Either it'll work out, or Specs'll tell him why it won't.” Noctis shrugged as they climbed back up to the haven.

“Either they killed each other, or they went to bed because no one's here,” replied Gladio, raising an eyebrow at the dying fire.

Noctis strode past Gladio, heading straight for the tent. Poking his head inside, he put his hand to his mouth to stifle a snort. Joining Gladio again, he stared at the fire.

“Well?”

“Looks like they figured it out.”

Gladio slung his arm around Noct's shoulders. “Does that mean we can stop hiding?”

“And have Iggy fussing about my health more than he does? No way.”

“You sayin' he might be worried I'd split you in half?” teased Gladio, grinning from ear to ear.

Noctis punched the big guy in the chest.

“Ow!” Gladio laughed, rubbing his pec. “Okay, I'll keep a lid on it until you decide.” Leaning down to cover the vast height difference, Gladio kissed his prince.

“Wanna sleep under the stars tonight?” Noctis asked when they parted.

“I'll get our stuff.”

“Good, cause I'm not going back in that tent tonight.”

A low chuckle rumbled Gladio's chest and he hugged Noctis close. “Wuss.”

#writing #fanfic #fanfiction #fan fiction #final fantasy xv #final fantasy 15 #ffxv #ff15 #prompto #prompto argentum #ignis #iggy #specs #ignis stupeo scientia #ignis scientia #promnis #ignis x prompto #iggy x prompto #iggyprom #noctis #prince noctis lucis caelum #prince noctis #gladio #gladiolus amicitia #faierius writes

[promptistrashqueen]

Group message (TXT4)

-Back by request for more in the TXT verse!~

Prompto and Noctis are sleeping soundly, curled around each other with their fingers laced together and lot of unresolved conversation waiting to be had, in the Prince’s bed. The Citadel is hyper aware of them just the same.

Ignis stands at attention, Gladiolus beside him, in the rear of the throne room as Regis argues with several of his advisors about the potential problems that may arise from the Lucian heir marrying a male.

It’s a half-hearted discussion at best, they’ve all known Noctis long enough to realize he’s likely to abdicate if they try to prevent him from this. He appears spoiled often, but he pays for things with money he earns, he cares about his people and does his best. In many ways, he’s just a normal teenager who spends an inordinate amount of time around big money. If they try to take the one person he’s actually asked to be allowed to spend time with, the one thing he’s asked of them for himself, he’ll turn away from his duty without much thought.

If they want him to save the world, like destiny says he’s going to, they have to let him save himself first and Prompto is the most likely person to help him along the way.

Ignis, personally, doesn’t care much about the reasoning. He cares that Noctis is in love and that Prompto is equally smitten and that they’re just a couple of kids who are doing things all backwards.

Gladio’s phone buzzes again and they slide closer together, looking at it without drawing attention to themselves.

The crownsguard and glaive are texting furiously about the new devlopement, but unlike the councilmen, they’re supportive and amused.

-How long until Prompto tries to get us to raise chocobos?

-I give it two weeks after the wedding.

-Okay, twenty crowns on that.

-You’re fuckin’ on Crowe!

-Oi, you lot better not be texting on duty! Also, kid’s awful shy about asking for things, I give it a solid year or Noctis gets them as a gift.

Gladio rolls his eyes and chimes in

-We’ll have ‘em before there’s a wedding, Noctis blurted out the proposal, they’ve gotta actually go through dating first.

-Please, with the way they’ve made eyes at each other for the last couple years? Wedding in no more than six months or I’ll eat Nyx’s cooking.

-Hey!

-Yeah fuck you man.

-Ladies and Gentlemen you have jobs to be doing. I suggest you do them. Also, official bets can be placed in my office.

-Yes sir!

The last text is repeated from various members of the staff and Ignis blinks in surprise, Cor get’s group texts...he wonders who else is seeing them.

A glance at the King confirms his suspicions as Regis subtly looks at his wrist where Ignis knows he wears a watch that shows him texts. He catches Ignis’ eyes and nods very slightly before continuing to listen to the men who have moved to arguing about when the wedding should take place.

In another part of the Citadel the Prince wakes. His eyes roam the planes of Prompto’s familiar but no less beloved features and he immediately groans, flopping over on his back.

Beloved. What is he, a character in a romance novel?

“Dude, whatever your damage is, can it wait until I’ve slept more?”

Noctis snorts as Prompto’s sleepy voice breaks the pseudo-silence. He squeezes Prompto’s fingers and releases his hand, yawning widely and stretching.

“Mmmm...”

Prompto knows the nuances of Noctis’ hums by now and he sighs, prodding the Prince.

“Look...we need to maybe talk about my parents, and the fact that you asked me to marry you, because as much as...I mean-I’m not saying no? but, as much as I would love that...dude.”

Noctis grunts his agreement and Prompto continues, “I’d like to just, kiss you and maybe grab some food together in a not best friends way first? Then I guess, we can talk about it?”

Noctis reaches an arm out and Prompto rolls his eyes, sliding under it and laying against Noctis. It’s not unfamiliar but it’s been a long time since they’ve slept like this and it’s got a new meaning now, but it’s still relaxing.

“Yeah. Kenny’s tomorrow?”

“Yeah....uh-kiss now?”

“Yeah”

Prompto licks his lips and scoots so he can press his lips to Noctis’. It’s gentle and nice, just the pressure of their lips and the slide of them as they move together to get comfortable. Noctis sighs a bit and Prompto hums in response, licking over Noctis’ lower lip.

The light touch is returned and they slowly taste each other, keeping things slow and languid. Warmth spreads through Prompto’s whole body as he carefully rolls his tongue over Noctis’ and he feels the slight upward curve of Noctis’ lips under his. They part with twin sighs and Noctis kisses Prompto’s forehead lightly, making them both turn a bit red.

“Sleep...need more.”

“Me too.”

Prompto’s out before Noctis and he counts it as a victory in it’s own way.

#Txt #part 4 #Noctis #Promptis #Gladiolus #Ignis #Prompto #fanfiction #FFXV #FFXV fanfiction #final fantasy 15 #Regis #kissing #booooooys #text deleted