part of pleiadesfm darius alaric aurelius skywarden 49 • crown prince of vissai • dragon rider
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
Text
of course he'd let his mind wander. in fact, he'd done so many times before. wondering if his status as king would allow him to choose his partner for himself. would it be considered wrong if he did? who was to judge what was good for the kingdom & what wasn’t, right? if he felt binding the varlinnis kingdom to his own, then surely the kingdom would support his claim that the connection was profitable for both sides, would it not? would he be called out on his lies?
would it be obvious he chose who he chose because of his heart?
only few knew how darius felt about ryker, but the risk would forever remain. would he have to make himself unhappy just to avoid suspicion? truth be told, he’d never even asked his father what he thought of bringing two of the most powerful kingdoms together. too afraid of the answer & having to deal with the truth, darius had chosen to live life as it had been — in the shadows.
he’d never dared dream further. always worried about finding himself unable to return to reality. but now... it was feasible. not right now, not so shortly after his coronation, but maybe their future was written in the stars after all. he wondered if ryker felt the same — if he even wanted to spend his life with a king, away from his home & his brothers. would darius, if their roles were reversed?
he would’ve dropped his title & run with ryker if he so much as asked just once. so... he knew his answer. but he didn’t dare dream of ryker’s. the young varlinnis prince would have to decide for himself if they were to hold onto their love past the life darius had led up until now.
“did i? surely, you're mistaking me for someone else.” darius' eyes met ryker’s & ... well, he could get lost in them forever if offered the chance. they were so bright & beautiful, so vast & endless he could never get enough. he wanted to see what they saw. he wanted to see himself the way ryker saw him. better. because darius felt like a lot of things — a warrior, a son, a servant of his people — but a king? was he ready?
it was so difficult to filter what about his fears was justified & what was just... panic. he was terrified. so much responsibility suddenly resting on his shoulders & only his. other kingdoms had fallen under weak leaders. he didn’t want vissai to follow the same fate. "sometimes i wonder who you see when you look at me," he rumbled quietly, truly curious — & partially... not jealous, but... yearning. yearning to see the same.
“you did. and you were right, as you so often are.” darius hummed fondly, fingers squeezing the young prince's hand back before lips pressed against it. not quite a kiss, but something similar. affection, presented on a darius-shaped plate. he was glad ryker had been right. because while part of him was grateful for the chance to fulfill his life’s duty before he died, he’d never wanted his father to die. not for his crown. age, yes. he knew they would all die eventually. that was okay. fate would not be tricked by titles or status. death was ruthless & relentless.
the joke landed — light, almost offhand — but darius didn’t laugh. he only looked at ryker for a moment, like he was trying to decide whether to answer as a man or as a prince. the weight of the crown hadn’t touched his brow yet, but he already felt the press of it in his bones. in the stretch of silence that followed, he exhaled slowly, the tension in his jaw easing just enough to speak. "i’ll always be your princess," he murmured, lips curving, though the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes — not yet. "even if they crown me king, you’ll still get your way. you always do." he turned his head slightly toward the hand on his shoulder, leaning in just enough to show he wasn’t brushing ryker off. "if you asked me to renounce the throne..." a pause. his gaze flicked up to meet ryker’s. steady. quiet. “anything, for your love.” anything & everything for the varlinnis prince. no price was too high — but darius was sure ryker already knew that.
if he was truly bothered by darius’ title & legacy, if darius was ever asked to choose between the crown & happiness... raised to wear the crown, but yearning to find happiness, he would sacrifice one for the other. but it would hollow him out. becoming king was in his blood & soul. "but don’t ask." a breath, softer now. "please." not unless... not unless he really meant it. he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving his kingdom behind.
as his eyes further adjusted to the darkness, ryker's smile widened. listening to the other as he expelled his thoughts and worries into the space between them. feeling warm breath against his naked skin. the younger of the two brought the king-to-be up towards him to kiss him fondly. "it is no bother. yajiní mór doyman ghriasham ardú'an i gcónaíq." he would have to wake eventually. anything for you. conveyed in those words and his tone. the varlinnis prince would always try to stay up and/or wait for darius and more of the shared precious time with him.
selfishly, darius becoming king was good for him. for them. the hope of being his, completely, and darius, his too in turn, never left him, but never fully entertained either. except in flights of fancy, delusions of grandeur. (though that little voice that held hope against hope would say it wasn't all that impossible.) the voice of reason however... even if darius was to ask for his hand in marriage, there was no guarantee his father, eagan, would agree. but the patriarch of house feinhalnaar would be a fool to do so: it would be an easy way to secure a political alliance between their two kingdoms. though if darius wasn't going to, ryker would — it had been on his mind for quite some time already (in those same flights of fancy). but the burdens of duty always caught him. perhaps after the pressures of darius being king had simmered for a time, unless of course impulse gave young mage the courage, or misplaced confidence depending on how one would look at it.
"you’ve wanted this for as long as i can remember. it’s yours, take it, you deserve it dari." ryker heartened him, taking a hand in his and squeezing it. "i don’t know any other crown prince that works harder… don’t tell my brother that." he loved his eldest brother... but even he could not compare to darius' diligence. worry was also a perfectly natural reaction for the skywarden. and the doubts that darius had just meant that he truly deserved it and would make an excellent king, that he would not take his position for granted. ryker knew he would serve his people well. he had after all witnessed that service first hand. often. though now wasn't really the time to mention it. "steel yourself, you'll get through it. like everything else you've endured. then you'd be king, as you've always desired. you were meant for the crown." he'd compare darius' resolution to the undying king alaric's, but he knew his fellow prince could stand on his own without a reminder of that shadow. speaking of...
"and thank the gods. i told you you had nothing to worry about. your father's as hardy as dragonscale. maybe even as long lasting." he would indulge in darius' assessment of his father — it did after all have an inkling of truth: king alric was, respectfully, elderly in years while darius, the flamed bird and the winged beast bless him, was nearing fifty and only now was he to become king. of course he'd reassured darius when the situation had been concerning. ryker hoped knew it wasn't just empty platitudes he was giving at the time. he had sounded far more confident than he had felt then. and much to the phoenix's graces, he didn't have to retroactively lie to the love of his life — darius' father was as healthy as ever, barring the limp as permanent damage. and ryker was the rock the other prince needed, just as he portrayed himself to be.
and now just loomed something else. it was always one thing after another. but this... this should be a cause for celebration for everyone in the kingdoms, and darius most of all. not worry. "you know... soon i can't call you princess." he joked, hand on the other's shoulder, hovering around darius' face, gesturing. and trying to take away some of the stress his love was feeling. "truly devastating. maybe you should renounce the title after all..." the scary thing was... ryker had a feeling darius would actually do so... for him. perhaps even without hesitation. if he really asked for it. as much as he enjoyed power over darius, that sometimes felt like too much. like it was hubris to be able to hold as such over one man.
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
instagram
Happy birthday, King
9 notes
·
View notes
Text
the people of vissai were unique in the way that each & every one of them was born with courage in their hearts & passion in their souls. they loved their home fiercely & would die to protect it without hesitation. darius, too, prided himself on that passion running through his veins. he'd always given his all for his kingdom, & that wouldn't change until his dying breath—hopefully still a long while away. he had waited for this day, & now he wanted to savor it for as long as he could. preferably with elenorius & a certain varlinnis prince by his side.
"i wouldn't dare change my father's course." vissai was peace-loving, surely, but never afraid.
"always prepared for the worst. i much like the way you think." darius shot him a small smile, though he still felt a little lost in this grand new world that awaited him. "if they would hear me..." a weary sigh. "i would. i'd like to earn the great beast's blessing ahead of time. but what if they don't?"
what if all he was met with was silence & more uncertainty? he wondered if his father had faced the same doubt before taking the throne. the old man had always seemed so confident, so sure of himself. darius wished he shared that certainty.
titles didn't mean much to him, not even noble ones. apparent by the fact that elenorius gave up his own noble home, turned his back on lordship, to spend his life as the high priest of vissai. what's funny is that it meant he would then serve the highest title in the kingdom, the crown. one could say he just went from one house to the other. still, he had full faith in darius' father and now darius. he almost always acted like vissai was in good hands and nothing bad could happen. like he saw it in a vision or something.
even if he was setting up the barrier, nothing changed. "i always knew you'd be a bold king." he said with a small smirk.
"i haven't foreseen anything yet and neither have any of my apprentices. you know i'm merely just the cautious type. sometimes, this is the most opportune moment to strike." sure, the guards, dragons, and warriors were all in one place, but so were all of the men with titles. he took a step closer to darius, curiosity forming in his eyes. "it isn't written that a king must only pray for others. do you wish to commune with the gods?" religion was of great importance to him, so he always recommended that connection to others as well.
32 notes
·
View notes
Text


In honor for his birthday PEDRO PASCAL photographed for 'GLADIATOR II'
4K notes
·
View notes
Text
his father's political games with the other kingdoms had placed darius in a critical situation, especially with the young ritrinc prince. there was no doubt darius would have followed through, but was it fair? had it been right for his father to bind another to a loveless life? not that darius thought he was incapable of feeling for solomon, but his heart belonged to someone else & nothing the young prince could have done would have changed that. if the former (almost) king of vissai had spent less time speaking over the soon-to-be king’s head, he might have seen the error of his ways—but alas...
darius was glad they hadn’t crossed the point of no return, because the last thing he ever wanted was to hurt him. he liked it better this way—watching solomon’s eyes shine, silent awe on his face at yet another impressive vissaic sight. what felt so normal to them surely painted a whole other picture to outsiders. darius had lost count of the times he’d knelt at the beast’s feet & prayed.
holding solomon’s hand for as long as he wished, darius remained standing behind him, letting his own gaze wander over the statue, his heart thrumming a gentle rhythm. "yes, i've heard and seen of it. impressive." he had spent much of his youth studying the other kingdoms, ensuring he knew at least the basics of their native tongues & traditions. "are you a believer, prince solomon?" not all vissaians placed their faith in the winged beast. not all of them believed in the crown either. but darius—he believed in both. with all his heart. he was curious to know where the young prince stood on faith. not all royal households were deeply religious.
it was quite an unusual meeting for the two. solomon imagined he would not be seeing darius until the coronation was over and done, once he was king and had no more preparations or compromises to look over until the festivities had finished. but now they were face to face, the young spare holding onto the warm hand of his host while letting his smile take over the embarrassment he felt. he had missed darius' hands, calloused yet comfortable to hold. a tenderness only matched by his hooded brown eyes. had they been wed as intended, he would not have been unhappy - but he knew the vissaic heir would.
"no need to apologise, how could you have known." the compliments were well received, although the prince just scoffed in response. without resistance, solomon let himself be led further into the temple, where the grand dragon awaited them. majestic, standing above anyone who came seeking its guidance. "clearly so. it is difficult to imagine anything comparing to it."
the temple itself was an architectural feat, but solomon only had eyes for its rightful centrepiece. his hand remained holding darius, eyes tracing every inch of marble. every scale perfectly chiselled into the stone, the piercing eyes that sparkled in the dim sunlight, gazing down upon them. it reminded him of his first encounter with sepherina, the redhead rendered speechless once again.
it was a good question, what was he thinking? eyes turned away from the dragon, only to meet those of the king once again. green gaze falling to their hands, only then pulling his own back as he cleared his throat. "it is a beautiful construction, all of this. a true blessing on behalf of your winged beast." his smile was soft, one not many had the honour to see. "we have a beast of our own, back in my kingdom...the dragon and the hydra. different, but each just as enigmatic as the other."
5 notes
·
View notes
Text
darius had many little brothers, some younger than others - some bennett's age, though he'd likely not call the young guard his blood, he still considered him friend & maybe ... protegée of sorts. yes, someone he felt protective of & comfortable with. because the young sorcerer came by as often as his duties would allow, never once forgetting to bring gifts for seraphina, who was most important to darius, obviously. darius knew he'd have to adjust to changes after becoming king, but he refused to reject friends - crown or not. especially those who brought him gifts that clearly came from the heart.
the phoenix feather made sense as bennett was from varlinnis, but so was ryker, who... well, surely & truly owned the future king's heart, which made his gift even more special. though darius would not voice his thoughts on that. instead, he offered him the warmest smile, holding the bauble to his chest. "i'll keep it with me until the day the eternal flame swallows me." he knew how to let the stars & sun guide him, knew to ride the winds to find his way, but this... was wonderful. calloused palm cupped the boy's cheek, "thank you, bennett. but you'll always be welcome at regia ignis. crown or not. who else will bring my lady her treats?" he smiled, turning his head sideways to catch said dragon's eye. she'd been relaxing while darius' thoughts ran wild. "go on, you know she won't bite."
Bennett blushed and hugged back into the soon to be king. He respected Darius and looked up to him, of course Bennett had older brothers, even his twin was older than him but, it always felt like the dragon rider was watching out for him. Even if it was just in Bennett's mind and the royal never thought of him at all. It was hard to tell when people were just polite and when Bennett actually understood the relationship. "I used sand and phoenix ash to make the glass so it should be incredibly strong, it's also self healing a-and if it ever gets broken anyone with fire magic could fix it. A dragon could if they breathed on it lightly."
"The feather is also from a phoenix, it's a piece of a pinion feather." Bennett had spent many nights working on it on his own, not only was it a good chance to learn new spells and apply enchantments with items. He was always trying to push the boundaries of his skills. "I um. I just wanted to wish you luck and um. You're gonna be a great king I know it. I'm sad I won't get to like- talk to you like this ever again. But yeah. Um I brought some more snacks for her. If you are ok with that. It's rabbits. I hunted them on the way here. It's not as big as deer but I got a lot of them."
5 notes
·
View notes
Text
"years ago, huh? well, glad to know i’m safe for a little while longer." darius huffed out a short little laugh, pulling his brother down on the pillows & blankets to sit with him. he didn’t look like he’d been up long, his hair a mess, a simple robe slung over his shoulders & darius felt guilty being the cause his youngest brother was unwell. he didn’t want anybody to worry about him. not because he wasn’t in balance with himself. not because he was afraid of his future.
"you shouldn’t worry about me, flavi. i’ll be alright." he … would be, right? he had to be. vissai deserved a good king, someone who cared about its people & traditions. darius wanted to be all that for them, even if he didn’t know whether he could.
"thanks, though." shuffling a little to lean against his brother, head against his shoulder, he was still glancing up at the sky & all its stars glowing faintly in the night. "i still expect father to change his mind. and … i don’t know if i’d mind."
deep down he knew he would, because this was what he was made for. his destiny.
if not this, he wouldn’t know what else to do with his life, because this was all he knew. he didn’t know how his brothers did it, being raised into this life & yet … not. flavius grew up with more freedom to make his own experiences & while darius had … envied him over the years, he couldn’t imagine life like that. without structure, without a bigger picture in mind.
"you’ll never have to serve me, brother. all i could ask for is to know you’ll have my back."
The possibility of losing their father had weighed heavy on Flavius, everyone believed their parent immortal, but when it came to their father it seemed the entire Kingdom of Vissai believed him immortal. He had taken to praying, every night and every day for his father to make a full recovery, and fortunately he did recover, but the announcement he made next surprised Flavius. His father would be stepping down as King of Vissai, and Darius would finally take his place. It was always going to happen, but now, now it was actually happening.
Flavius had never thought about being King, why would he? He had three older brothers, they would all no doubt have children at some point, which would push him even further down the line to the throne. His upbringing had always been more relaxed, more carefree than that of his brothers, he had always assumed he'd be married off. Either to a powerful vassal or to a foreign prince for some great political alliance, but King? That was never in the cards for Flavius and he didn't mind that reality.
He knew however, that this had always weighed heavy on Darius' shoulders. Even if his brother did not want to admit it, Darius meant the world to Flavius, and he could read every spoken or unspoken thing, every expression on his brother. He knew the stress that he was under, and Flavius wanted to find a way to help relieve him of that stress, any way he could. He had been asleep but something stirred him to wake up, to go seek out Darius, and when he checked his rooms to find them empty he knew that his eldest brother would likely be in only one other place.
Clad only in a robe he had grabbed while leaving his room and the messy dark curls that graced his head, it was loosely tied around his waist, the pitter patter of his feet on the stairs as he soon found his brother star-kissed tower, he grinned and shook his head at the question,
"I fear I am not smart enough to successfully pull a coup off against my three older brothers. Else I would have years ago." He moved closer to his brother, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing. "No, I could sleep, but it hardly seemed fair for me to be sound asleep when I knew you'd be awake, unable to. I can only imagine how much weighs on you now brother. I want to help unburden you of some of that weight in anyway I can. You will not just be my brother before long, but also my King, and I want to serve you in both those roles."
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
solomon held a special place in his heart, not just for the time they shared, but for the sacrifice the young prince made for both of them. his choice had preserved darius's reputation, keeping it untarnished & allowed him to hold onto a small, buried hope—that maybe one day, he'd find a way to marry the man he loved. the soon-to-be king of vissai was undeniably grateful. especially because he knew the trouble he'd have been in if he'd been the one to call off the marriage—though, truthfully, he never would have.
if not for the young prince, they'd likely be married by now & solomon would have become vissai's queen. even now, darius's heart still clung to the hope that somehow, some way, he could share his throne with the young varlinnis prince who held his heart. but his mind would never allow him to voice that hope. still, seeing the ritrinc prince before him filled him with a familiar warmth, like meeting an old friend again, which—fittingly—was exactly what it was. "i'm sorry, i was a little distracted," darius said with a soft smile.
when the young prince stood again, darius gave him a quick glance, relieved to see he was alright. a hearty clap on his back & shoulder, “looking dashing as ever.” then darius took solomon's hand & pulled him inside. finding him here… was so... like him & the soon-to-be king couldn't help but smile. “no, surely not. no painting or engraving could ever capture it.”
solomon's presence was a welcome distraction, a reunion he had needed. "go on, take a look around. tell me what you're thinking." he was curious to know what this sacred place—so revered by the vissaians—felt like to someone else. much like the rest of vissai, the temple was lit only by braziers & daylight, the soft glow giving everything a warm, intimate feel.
the news had made it to ritrinc. alaric skywarden, in an unexpected turn of events, was to pass his crown early to his son, prince darius, and every royal family was cordially invited to attend the coronation. house saewine included, much to king calder's frustration. their last visit to the kingdom of dragons still too fresh in his mind. the excitement turned to rage after his arrogant son had turned down the marriage both kings had set up for them.
said arrogant prince had his own mix feelings in regards to the announcement. his memories of darius were ones he deeply treasured. the ride on the back of seraphina, the sights of shadowfell, and everything else that happened within the crown prince's chambers after. everything had been perfect, and yet at the end of his stay at regia imperis, he could not bring himself to accept the generous proposal. their hearts were not in the same place, and his hubris could not handle marrying into a life he did not find fulfilling.
and now he had to see his once betrothed take his rightful place on the throne, and muse about the life they could have had.
there were a few days left before attending the coronation and so the spare decided to visit some of the places he had missed on his first trip to vissai. one of those spots being the temple of the winged beast. muttering a prayer as he made his way past the door. he would have walked closer to the statue, but his balance was lost as soon as the door pushed him forward, falling knees first to the floor. agile hands stopping him before his face hit the cold marble.
had it been anyone else, the prince would have simply stood up and left in flushed embarrassment, but the sight of the future king brought a smile to his face - accompanied by the flush of his cheeks regardless. "darius." he called back, taking the calloused hand and pulling himself back up. "well sussed. i have only seen engravings of this very statue, but none can compare to its scale."
5 notes
·
View notes
Text
whenever darius was with ryker, time ... was but a mere construct to suck the life from his very soul, because no matter how many days they had together, when the day of saying goodbye yet again came, darius felt like they'd just reunited a few mere moments ago. he didn't know if ryker felt the same & had never dared asking, too afraid of giving away just how deeply he felt for the other in case he ... did not. deep down, the crown prince of vissai knew that fear shouldn't reign over him, but being in the position he was, fear was seemingly a natural companion. the other crown princes - those he even felt close enough to speak to about their potential takeovers, seemed to feel the same crushing weight upon their shoulders.
but he could forget about all that when they were together. when the gentle chime of ryker’s voice filled the silence, weaving warmth into the spaces where doubt had lingered, it was easy to believe—for a little while—that the weight of the future crown was not his alone to bear. he found himself lost in that world of make believe more often than he'd dare admit. especially when moments like this reminded him that they were indeed made for each other & darius had simply been lucky enough to meet his soulmate during his time alive. whether they could actually be together or not.
ryker never failed to remind him to focus on the now. that bite pulled him out of his own head, darius let out a soft, breathy whimper, fingers trembling where they tangled in ryker’s hair. the sharp sting of teeth against his skin sent a shudder rippling through him, his body instinctively arching into the touch rather than away from it, eyes finding the prince's again - dark & overflowing with trust need. heat bloomed beneath the surface, a brand that would fade far too soon, much like the space between them when duty inevitably called him back. marks didn't ... worry him for he could have lovers. he assumed he could, though he'd never explicitly inquired whether it was allowed or not. not that it mattered, the fact ryker wanted to leave his mark on darius' skin was ... compliment enough that consequences didn't faze him in the slightest.
his breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, catching in his throat as ryker’s fingers pressed against his jaw, his grip firm yet measured—controlling but not cruel. never cruel. darius had spent his life commanding attention, standing tall beneath the weight of expectation, but here, in ryker’s hands, he felt stripped of all that, unmade and undone in a way that only he was allowed to see.
his lashes fluttered, a quiet, needy sound escaping as ryker pulled his fingers from his mouth, leaving him aching for something to replace the absence. his lips parted instinctively at the light slap to his cheek, not from pain but from the sheer, dizzying rush of being handled like this. his voice, when he finally found it, was barely above a whisper, breathless and ...pleading.
“i—” he swallowed, the words caught, his throat tight beneath ryker’s hold. “please… i need you.” not want. need. his gaze flickered up, wide & wanting, stripped of all pretense. don’t make me beg for it.
fingers trailed down his thighs & that was all he could think about with fingers no longer pulling his whole attention. “f-forgive me,” he murmured, voice barely more than a breath, though there was a rushed worried undertone, laced with something dangerously close to pleading. “i must have forgotten myself.” a lie. they both knew it. he'd been afraid to stumble upon someone else. but if ryker wanted to hear him admit his fault, if he wanted submission wrapped up in pretty words, darius would give it to him freely. anything to keep him from holding back. anything to get what he wanted craved.
his fingers curled into the sand beneath him, grasping at something—anything—to ground himself. the heat of the grains pressed into his skin, fine dust clinging to his palms as if the earth itself sought to tether him, to keep him from floating away on the force of his own need. his hips shifted, barely, an unspoken invitation. “how shall i make amends. i'll do anything, ry.”
though he didn't get to, because ryker moved fast. the dragonrider's trembled beneath him, a shuddering breath torn from his lips as the smallest push of ryker’s fingers sent a shockwave through his body, want pooling low in his belly. gods please. it was maddening. his spine arched instinctively, hips betraying him with the yet another desperate twitch—more than enough to prove the varlinnis prince right.
the command was unspoken, but ryker made certain he obeyed. darius resisted at first, jaw tightening just slightly, but the fingers at his chin were insistent, tilting his head until his gaze followed ryker’s own. the sight before him sent fresh heat rushing to his cheeks—his own guards, standing firm, unwavering, but watching. some turned away, granting him a sliver of dignity, but others… others looked. their expressions unreadable, their loyalty unquestioned, but the weight of their eyes burned against his skin all the same. he usually tried to ignore them, for his own sanity, but found it difficult when so openly confronted with their presence.
shame curled in his gut & yet—gods, it only made the ache sharper. his fingers dug into the sand beneath him, grasping at something—anything—to ground himself. but there was nothing. only ryker, only the unbearable slowness, only the deep, satisfied chuckle from the man above him & the knowledge that if not until then, they definitely had an audience now. he swallowed hard, voice barely above a breath regardless, because those words from before still whirled around inside his head. like you can't wait to get your pussy cored out. he could indeed.....not wait. "for you—" audience not forgotten, but .. set aside to worry about later. let them see the real you, what about it, right? right.
darius’ breath hitched, his body taut with mortification & need in equal measure. the weight of ryker’s words pressed down on him, as heavy as the man himself, sinking into his very bones. show them. the demand curled around his mind, insidious & damning. the shame of it burned through him—but it did not chase away the arousal pooling in his gut. lifting one hand to grasp at ryker’s wrist where it held his jaw. not to push him away—no, he wouldn’t. he couldn’t. instead, his grip was�� weak, a silent plea as his thighs shifted, spreading wider beneath the man above him, his skirt & tunic riding up more. he turned his head just slightly, baring his throat further in unfiltered submission, letting the restriction of ryker’s hold control the movement rather than resisting it.
the ghost of hot breath against his lips sent a shiver through him & darius barely held back the whimper clawing at his throat. it was too much & not enough. his lashes fluttered, gaze heavy, imploring, as his mouth parted—his tongue flicking out ever so slightly, desperate for the taste of the man keeping him pinned. a quiet, trembling breath escaped him, and when he spoke, his voice was softer, stripped of every last remnant of his usual composure. "please." a confession in one word, an offering, submission laid bare in a way that left him trembling. "please, ryker. i—" eyes glossed over, body a mess of shivers, trying so desperately to angle his hips just right for more & voice his rough with quickened breaths.
not even the spectacle in the sky above could pull his attention, he doubted anything could with how his body was burning for the other's touch. if the tremble in his voice or dripping arousal underneath his tunic wasn't proof enough for how badly darius craved him, then... "i need you. gods, please. i need you."
"please what, zaejanfriónxa?" ryker's breath hot against the other's neck as he felt fingers tangle into his hair. he gave darius a possessive bite then, sucking at the skin after, sure to leave a mark in due time and one he would need a cloth or scarf to hide — nothing permanent, like ryker earnestly and really wanted to — before he lifted himself off the skin and away from the other's neck. ensuring his own words were clear as day; he could not very well fault the crown prince for his lack of enunciation if his own was not up to par. "articulate." as if to give the man a chance, the varlinnis sorcerer pulled his fingers out of the other's mouth, denying darius of his current fixation before giving him two light slaps against his cheek. "terribly churlish of you to not do so."
his sweat trickled down his face, dripping onto the other man's face, neck and armoured chest. the hand on the dragonrider's face moved, scratching at the facial hair as it quested down, fingers caught between the other's jaw and throat. squeezing lightly as he forced darius to give him an answer.
his focus was not lost on the happenings below the waist however. the feinhalnaar was determined to assault darius' senses from both fronts. divide and conquer, as in battle. ryker frowned as his saliva slicked fingers dipped down deep under the other man's tunic and found a hinderance to his earned prize. wicked grin, voiced raised in mock anger, "what's all this then. covering yourself up, hiding from me when i expressly ordered you not to?" fingers pulling linen cloth aside, the last two holding it back while index and middle aimed straight for darius' pretty hole. "hmmm? like you aren't going to give it up to me." a brush of two fingers at his rim. darius, he didn't deserve them just yet. ryker was far more composed than a man should be in his state. he certainly enjoyed the contrast between him and the vissai prince under him. just another thing that differentiated them. their age, their position in the bloodline, and now this.
the prince pushed in, barely, the slightest of his fingertips, but stopped there — the rider's saliva would have been enough to allow him to ease more in but ryker was holding back. "not when you're gagging for it like a whore. aren't you?" a pause as he looked down on the skywarden's body. letting the rhetorical question sink in. "your hips twitching, all wanton like you can't even control yourself. like you can't wait to get your pussy cored out. not even when we have an audience." he cast eyes to their guards, before he angled the crown prince's head towards them too. ryker wanted him to look at them, see how they were watching. darius' outnumbered his, three to one. some were indeed resolutely watching, taking their jobs seriously or mayhaps were intrigued or entertained by the proceedings; some turned slightly away, giving them the false illusion of privacy. ryker locked eyes with one of darius', almost like a dare: what are you going to do about it? your prince being claimed by his younger. all too willingly partaking in it no less. a thrill at being so public about his affections and more. but that wasn't all, it was about asserting his dominance upon the older, more well-respected man while other people, specifically his subordinates, were witnessing it.
"bheith ikun do sraoilleog jayimaith and show them how needy you are for my cock, dari. or even just my fingers in your cunt. could you even be content with just that?" the younger prince leaned back down, hovering above darius' face, lips just inches away from the other, hand still around his jaw and throat just narrowly restricting his movement... and breathed out, letting hot air blow right into the other prince. his eyes darkened in hunger and so did the clouds above them, magic bubbling under his skin as the late afternoon sky began to turn overcast. hard under his own pteruges and tunic but he paid it no mind currently, it'll get its due later when he's sinking into the other's tight heat. for now, darius had his full attention, however twisted.
#ashreclaimed [001]#* . ⊹ ❨ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴ ʙᴜʀɴꜱ ʜᴏᴛ ❩ ⌗ usfw#ashreclaimed#if ryker waits any longer... darius may need a system reset lmao
10 notes
·
View notes
Text
PEDRO PASCAL as HARRY CASTILLO Materialists (2025) | dir. Celine Song
457 notes
·
View notes
Text
“it has been many years since my father was crowned.” the people of vissai were unlike any other & darius would not trade them for all the kingdoms in the world. no doubt every realm had its loyal subjects, but none, he was convinced, were quite like his own. for the past week, the streets of drakereach had been bathed in firelight & music & even now, revelers carried on, as if unwilling to let the festivities end. he could only hope they would continue.
it would not do to be the first king in history to sour his people’s joy within mere days of his reign. many travelers had already taken their leave, yet not all had departed. darius, for his part, was simply enjoying the cool night air from the very balcony where, just yesterday, he had delivered his coronation speech. it had gone well—so well, in fact, that he might even allow himself a measure of pride.
with a little … breath, darius caught the prince's gaze, “good. i would not have missed yours.” vissai’s alliances were no trivial matter & darius had spent years ensuring their strength. he had traveled far & wide, forging ties between his house & the royal families of foreign lands, knowing that in times of hardship, division would mean ruin. to miss the coronation of another sovereign would be to unravel that work, to cast years of diplomacy & trust into question. such a slight, whether intended or not, would be unthinkable. if it had been him, his father would have kept the crown for another thirty years, surely.
he exhaled a quiet, breathy laugh, fingers idly twisting one of the many rings adorning his hands. "truthfully? it feels much the same as before—if one ignores the crushing weight of expectation and the ever-looming specter of failure at one’s back." his lips curled into a wry smile, head tilting slightly. "so, in essence—light as a feather."
ext. balcony overlooking drakereach, vissai. afternoon.
" perhaps i haven't missed the party after all, seeing as your people are still enjoying the revelry. " samras says, looking down from the balcony to the crowd still bustling below-- still drinking, dancing, and singing praises to their new king, though there are some that are already pulling down decorations and cleaning up.
he wondered then, if the time for his own coronation would come, would the people also celebrate him this way? the people of lysain, with all of their love and support for their crown prince, are still different from the people of vissai. would he even deserve the throne?
with a sigh, he finally turns to darius with the prettiest smile he could muster, even if it's small. " you look so different now, your highness. " he says, bowing to show his respect. " i really regret not coming to your coronation. how does it feel? the crown on your head? "
closed starter for @heavensoared.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Gladiator II (2024), dir. Ridley Scott
33 notes
·
View notes
Text
he’d known perseus for a long time—almost as long as the younger prince had been alive. maybe just as long, actually. some days, he felt his age more keenly than others, especially when he looked around at the faces surrounding him. perseus, samras, lys… he could have been their father, a thought that only underscored how long it had taken for his own to deem him worthy of vissai’s crown.
his head tilted back, resting lightly against perseus’ arm. the younger prince had always been good at this—at making him feel... lighter. whether it was at his lavish parties or just the two of them, away from the world & its expectations. "your kinghood, right." darius chuckled softly. "because it’s so common to forget who you are." as if any of them could. they were born with this weight & would carry it until the end of their days. would he... one day place that same burden on a child of his own? was there another way? perhaps he could find one. he did not wish this pressure on anyone else.
but right now, he was comfortable. this was comfortable. a soon-to-be king, curled up in the arms of a younger man—a sight to behold, surely. darius would never allow himself such ease in public, & his father... well, if he ever knew the truth about his son, speechless would be an understatement.
oh. he let the silence linger, the weight of his own words settling over him like a too-heavy cloak. the thought of seeing him again—of feeling the warmth of his touch, the quiet understanding in his eyes—was both a comfort & a torment. he wanted to be patient, to carry himself with the dignity expected of him, but gods, it was hard. his heart was a caged thing, restless & aching, beating itself raw against the bars of duty. he’d spent years learning to silence it, to put the kingdom first, to deny himself... but when it came to him, all those carefully built walls felt paper-thin. "he’s not in vissai yet," he murmured, half-lidded gaze drifting. "otherwise, i’d be hiding away with him already." he exhaled, slow & deep.
"when my father was injured, he came to stay with me for a while, but he returned home not long ago. he’s not expected to arrive for a few more days." him & the varlinnis royal family. “who knows, might just pack my pack and leave.” as if he could.
Darius' nerves stunk. Along with manipulating emotions, he could easily sense the emotions in someone else, their anxiety, fear, anger and pleasure, and Darius was very much in need for a day off, or at least the next couple of hours. As he not-as-soon-to-be king sunk deeper into the water, his arm reaching back and around Darius, he put a little more focus into calm and soothing breaths, that expelling out of him and into the air, only made stronger as Percy's arm resting against Darius' back, the skin to skin contact making it easier. " Let me take the edge off," He asked, not wanting to just do this without his friends' permission, his voice was a soft and deep. His hand on Darius' other side, reached forward, resting on Darius' shoulder as he rubbed it softly, " Trying to pent your nerves on me...making me think of my Kinghood," He teased, despite feeling those nerves all the same, as much as he was amazing at making those around him happy, was he capable of making an entire Kingdom the same? As Darius' leaned into him, Percy accepted the comfort, his legs moved closer in the water, pressed against Darius' own, arm slinking more around the other's shoulders, hand now pass Darius' shoulder, fingers dancing lightly on his chest, " I will say...I'm surprised you don't have Ryker here right now," He admitted, knowing full well of their courtship.
#pxrsxus [001]#pxrsxus#me: i need to do old replies#also me: ughhh it is right there in my activity#so... im sorry for the insta shooting it back lmaoo#and rambled....
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
the soon-to-be-king knew the moment he lowered his hood, his face would betray him. there was no real way to hide in drakereach—not for him. but temptation had won out. the chance to spend time with a friend, to let his mind rest from the endless fretting, had been too good to resist. lysandros was a close friend, someone who would one day bear the same weight on his shoulders. unless misfortune struck, which darius prayed it would not. to be born & raised a crown prince seemed a blessing to many, but few truly understood the burden it carried.
but he hadn’t come here to talk about thrones & crowns. he came to escape. his hood pooled against the back of his neck, his cloak parted to reveal the simple elegance of his toga—white, with golden embroidery at the shoulders & a not-so-subtle golden belt giving it shape. even in this dim, candlelit tavern, the bracelets around his wrists caught the light, gleaming with every slight movement.
"very, but what can you do? suppose they’re letting just about anyone in these days." settling into the seat beside his friend, darius’ lips curled into a small, knowing smile. at lysandros’ teasing remark, he scoffed, tilting his head with a smirk. "oh? i heard the same, though i was told he was devastatingly handsome and entirely too charming for his own good. must be a different prince."
taking a long, much-needed swig of ale, he let himself lean subtly against his friend’s shoulder. it was a comfortable thing, grounding. "great, i’m good. i’ve got no reason to fret, do i? i’ll just be responsible for thousands of lives, no big deal."
Vissai was not a place that was unfamiliar to Lysandros. He has visited countless of times before. Both as a prince for diplomatic duties, and under the guise of the magical bard, Nova, for his own pleasure. However, he could not recall the kingdom ever showcasing this level of power and admittedly pageantry, and it left the prince in awe. Lys looked around as if this was his first time stepping foot to an event of this caliber. Which could possible be the case the case since it was Darius' coronation after all. Maybe that's why he was so impressed. The sorcerer prince knew that this was all for his friend and it just made everything that much more special.
Still, Lysandros would have enjoyed all of this much more if this was under different circumstances. Even though Darius and his family were going to be the focus of people's attention, Lys was still a prince, and his own family had plans to look more than just presentable. And against his stern objections, his relatives managed to get him to dress in vestments fit for a Chasque royal. Instead of the ones that he preferred to wear which many confused him for a lower noble.
After the prolonged fighting among his loving family to get him to cooperate, Lysandros walked alongside them with his head held high. Confidence beaming from him despite being seemingly engulfed in darkness. His raven colored hair was slicked back all while he was draped in equally dusky finery. A representation of the kingdom's history of living among the shadows of their caves. However, there was one more thing they were also known for. The dark robes were lined with fine jewels, creating a beautiful embroidery that was hard to see with the naked eye. Yet, with every movement he made, it caught the light of the warm fires, making Lysandros look like the mysterious heaven from above.
Despite Lysandro's brief enjoyment of this showcase, he still felt like all of this was suffocating and decided to depart from his family and finding refuge at the bar. Fortunately, it seems like rescue has found him as he noticed an old friend approaching him.
"Unfortunate, isn't it?" Lysandros replied, raising his drink for the other. "Apparently, there's some snotty nosed prince finally becoming king. I thought it would be a nice way to kill some time." Bringing the cup back down to his lips, he punctuated his sentence with a generous swig of his ale followed by an all too common wink. "So..." He began, pressing his more against Darius' shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
elenorius had long devoted himself to the royal family & the kingdom of vissai—a fact that perhaps went unnoticed by many, but never by darius. he had grown up feeling safe, knowing that between the high priest, the royal guard & the dragons, nothing could ever come close enough to harm him. even now, that sense of security remained, steady in his heart. seeing elenorius here only reinforced it, a quiet reminder that the man would always have his back. it didn’t erase the weight in his chest, but it eased it, if only a little.
darius hummed, his fingers idly tracing the gold embroidery on his sleeve. "let them crave." a flicker of a smile, there & gone.
"i do know, though i reckon it would be foolish to strike now." with the entire realm come together in vissai. his gaze drifted toward the towering temple columns, their etched dragons bathed in candlelight. silence stretched between them, the soon-to-be-king’s thoughts seemingly elsewhere. "tell me, elenorius... do the gods still listen when a king prays for himself?" would it be weakness to ask for guidance in times like these?
if someone were to ask him if he thought that this day would come, he'd say of course. at least outwardly. inwardly, he'd think about how he always theorized that the king bought some sort of immortality spell. he never seemed like he was going to give up that throne. although he was happy for darius that this day had finally came. the high priest had to train to make sure he could handle all of his duties for the coronation. it'd be a shame if he died before that day ever came.
speaking of. the king to be was nervous. elenorius could tell the moment that he laid eyes on him. in the other's defense, he had just come to really know how to read him while they grew up together. “yeah, i know.” a simple nod. almost like a silent acceptance between the two of them. a way for him to say he knew about the nerves without calling them out. “i'm reinforcing the protection wards. while we may not be at war with anyone, you should know better than anyone that the kingdom of dragons has a lot to crave.” a small smile formed on his face. he dared someone to try something on his watch.
32 notes
·
View notes
Text

✨ its missing him hours... ✨
PEDRO PASCAL on the set of 'GLADIATOR II'
2K notes
·
View notes
Text
@flaviusxskywarden location: vissai, star-kissed tower
when their father fell ill just weeks ago, darius hadn’t spared a thought for himself. he knew he would manage—somehow, one way or another—but flavius? flavius was ... softer. a gentler soul, most of the time. if their father had passed... darius wasn’t sure how his little brother would have coped. thankfully, they never had to find out.
he was relieved their father had survived, & yet... there was a part of him that felt conflicted. having king alaric still by his side meant he had someone to turn to for counsel, but at the same time, the pressure of being just a crown prince had already been suffocating. now, with the crown upon his head, he wasn’t sure how he would bear the weight of it.
ever since he had learned of his father’s plans, his mind had been restless, thoughts swarming his head like a storm, leaving him with little peace & frequent headaches. not wanting to burden anyone, he had retreated to one of his favorite places in the castle—a tower so high it felt as though he could reach out & touch the stars. here, in the solitude of his choosing, he could usually find some measure of quiet. he often spent nights in this sanctuary, blankets & pillows piled for comfort & for the past hour, he had been stretched out on them, gazing absently through the windows.
very few people knew of this place, only those who sought him out in moments of true urgency. his little brother was one of them, of course. still, darius hadn’t expected to see him here in the middle of the night.
"can't sleep? what’s your excuse, flavi?" his voice was low as he glanced up at his younger brother, clad in a light gray tunic cinched at the waist with a golden belt, a small leather pouch fastened at his hip. a smirk ghosted over his lips, mischief glinting in his tired eyes. "plotting a coup to claim the throne before i can?" his chuckle gave away the jest before his words could.
4 notes
·
View notes