ofdusk

[ofdusk]

Her gaze narrows, momentarily suspicious of Leo's willingness to indulge her. He's her opposite in most, generally all, things-- which means he is often the buffer that dampens the worse of her antics, that holds her to responsibilities she may otherwise ignore.

And, sure, their hands are definitely put to better use back where they came from. Corrin knows as much, it's why they're even here, but when has stealing a few moments been a crime?

She'll make it up to them later, anyway.

"I don't know yet," her voice has turned thoughtful, eyes falling down to her hands. Suspicious or not, she has never been the type to question it. What kind of ulterior motive could he have, really, asking her what she is going to name a crab?

The crab, for its part, doesn't really seem to care. It scuttles across her palm, pauses, then scuttles back. It's about as much personality as one could ever expect of, well, a crab.

"Any suggestions?" She's looking at Leo again, expectant, thrusting her still-cupped hands towards him for further inspection. "He seems a proper gentleman, so we should name him accordingly. Something that really demands respect."

Corrin is well aware of the silliness of her request, but she handles it as though it is of the utmost importance. In part because it's fun to give the little thing a name and personality as though it is not an animal the size of her thumb, and in part because it's just as fun to coax Leo into playing along.

"Surely you can think of something."

Are You With Crab?

[ofdusk]

She’s certain she would have heard the commotion from her own room, had she still been there when it begun. The telltale sound of beasts— always with those hungry, throaty growls and ear piercing screeches— would have been enough to send Corrin off her path and towards whatever poor thing had earned such wrath. Would have been, because they are certainly not the most concerning noise coming from the distance.

As though to echo the thought, the ground shakes beneath her feet with another impact of… something. There’s smoke rising above the tree line, making an easy enough trail without the charred bark and flattened underbrush that she follows now.

It’s about then that the corpses start.

Bodies by the dozen, one shredded monster after the other. Crimson eyes dart from one strung limply across two jagged tree branches down to a second, still smoking where it lays in equal halves directly across her path. Nose wrinkles as she darts past it, forcing her gaze forward. It’s hard to believe with how many there are that there could possibly be more. 

It becomes easy enough, however, when she finds them. More living than there had been carcasses, each taking turns swarming a giant metal body. Corrin swears beneath her breath, ducking behind a tree as another explosion (now identifiable as having come from that weird armor) sends the ground trembling. Two of them are better odds than just one, but something tells her the difference won’t matter for very long.

“Hey!” Now’s as good a time as any, if she hesitates much longer it may well end up just being her out here anyway. “I’ll get them off of you, just don’t stop swinging!”

Of course, her cry has come at the cost of swiveling monster heads, at least twenty pairs of beady eyes trained on their newest toy. She’s appealing prey— small, nowhere near as guarded as their other snack. The distraction, at least, works out.

Yato’s blade clashes hard with a set of dagger-sharp claws, her elbow crashes into a gnarled muzzle. Being easier prey is, unfortunately, just as much a challenge as it is a convenience. 

“They’re not going to stop coming,” a grunt, “they need something else to chase!”

toppling

          ⤷   mission task:   affluence  ( any skill +1 )

[ofdusk]

He’s right, yes, but then Sakura and Elise were always different in a way. They were born both to be good in the world— a pure, idealistic kind that only they could ever truly embody. Corrin cannot claim to know more of Lady Sakura and her role in it all, but she knows Elise.

And she knows the lengths taken to protect her younger sister for all of those reasons, lengths that could not be afforded to any other.

And he is looking at her now, the weight of his gaze different than the expectation that she has come to be so familiar with. He is not looking for her to preform as some noble hero, he is not looking to find a saint in her. He is seeing her for what she is, perhaps, or for what she is revered for that she is not.

Pale hair falls across her cheek as she tilts her head, a betrayal of her curiosity as he speaks again. “I don’t know either,” she pauses. She likes him despite this tension between them, finds relief in his asking of such a simple question. Court formalities are a language she still feels foreign speaking in, playing guessing games at the true meaning to every word another speaks.

“I think you might be angry with me,” she begins like a suggestion, “I think you have every right to be.”

✧ ` IT'S THIS PART THAT HE DOESN'T LIKE. there's something about being at court that sets him ill at ease. that was one part of a whole that didn't change. when you weren't standing as equals, it was some game to never say what they mean or mean what they say. everything is a double entendre. everything's a thinly veiled criticism. this too sounds like an implication, and there's a stutter in his breath as his thoughts hasten to reconcile it and his mouth fails to catch up.

everything's at odds and jumbled up in his head. it always kind of is when he thinks about her, about the great whole everything that only makes half-sense.

"i didn't say that," shiro corrects.

but, he didn't not say it either. "some things did. aunt sakura did." a pause, "your sister elise did." he thinks they'd be hard-pressed to find either of them could say anything otherwise about the two of them. he lightly taps the side of his wrist. he's never liked that part of his father either. never saying what he means. it's old-fashioned of him and that'd been the one thing that shiro told himself he'd never be. he sucks in a breath, straightens his back and meets her gaze. ruby to diamond.

clarity, sincerity and he tries to convey both to corrin without looking the part of the fool: "i don't know what you're thinking about." someone laughs. he thinks it could be a guard, or maybe he's just imagining it altogether.

"what do you think that i'm thinking?"

[ofdusk]

Dearest stranger, ( I'm glad you think so!)

It fills me with joy to know I could bring a smile to your face! And you are most welcome, I do hope my little spot serves you well. Nothing does the body better than a good nap, I agree.

I hear so often of the importance that is the connection between a horse and a rider. I'm often envious of that, I think it is so sweet to have such a friendship! It makes me wonder, you say you ride many horses but do you have a favorite?

Oh, nature rides sound lovely... I must admit I am less fond of plants than animals, but they're still so lovely. Flowers, especially! Back home, flowers have a hard time growing in the conditions, so I've always cherished them.

( I can't say I've seen an eagle or lion either, honestly. )

And please don't apologize for getting sad, I don't mind. It's touching to hear such a thing, honestly. I know we're strangers, but I love to learn things about others. It really tells you a lot about a person, knowing what they've been through. Like this; it tells me that you're very noble and caring. Those are two very admirable things!

My own siblings... it's a little complicated. I was raised with an older brother and two sisters, but I learned later that they aren't really my siblings. Which is okay, I think, because love and blood aren't equal. I do have 'real' siblings, too. Four of them-- two brothers and two sisters-- but I've never really gotten to know them.

Ah, now I'm the one getting sad!

For your final question... I think I've learned a lot here, and tried a lot of new things, but the most impressive of them all has been the people I've met. It's silly, I know, but I've always been like this. People are just so interesting, you can learn so much about the world just by seeing it through the eyes of someone else. I grew up alone mostly, with no idea what was out there beyond my home, but getting to meet so many people from so many places... it has been so lovely.

Like you :)!

Anyway, how about you? I'm sure you have done plenty of cool things-- I'd love to hear about them!

Sincerely, Your penpal!

Penpals!

[ofdusk]

✧ ⁺ - @princepsumbra asked:

a sweet little kiss to the back of their neck, after doing their hair or fastening a necklace, before letting the hair fall properly into place + a kiss on the corner of their lips

The delicate silver chain feels even more fragile held between his ungloved fingers. He peers over her shoulder at their reflection in the mirror, seeing where the little teardrop diamond rests on her skin. It suits her. Elegant, yet unobtrusive, unlikely to get caught on something and break. "Does that look alright?" At her word, he fiddles with the clasp, metal hook snagging under his thumbnail before he manages to connect both ends of the chain. Ridiculously complicated things, he thinks, hands curving around her shoulders. On impulse, Leo leans in, brushing a soft kiss to her neck. He is no longer a stranger to gestures of affection, those simple touches filled with unspoken meaning. He slowly pulls away, shifting his gaze once more to the mirror. "Beautiful," he murmurs, tilting his head enough to catch the corner of her lips with his own.

Both hands hold her hair out of his way, fingers curling and combing through pale curls while she watches him fret over where the little pendant lays. It settles daintily just between her collarbones, right beneath the curve of her throat.

"Perfect," she agrees, careful not to move lest he spend another half hour finding that spot again. Her answer would have been no different were it upside down or backwards.

Eyes round and impossibly soft, they follow his expression as he returns to his fiddling. The pinch of his brow and pointed curve of his frown, the seriousness with which he handles even this miniscule thing. How often he gives the impression that he does not care, and yet he proves no less than thrice a day that he cares more than anyone.

The brush of his lips comes with a surprised breath of laughter. Corrin releases the hold she has kept on her hair, her only reply a pleased hm. Newly freed fingers reach to cup his cheek, and only when he thinks he has gotten away with it does she turn to steal a kiss proper.

"That's better."

[ofdusk]

✧ ⁺ - @maligknightsthorns asked:

a kiss on top of a band-aid, to make it feel better

"It's fine, Camilla, really..."

Just the odd scrape, enough to sting when it's cleaned and stain her older sister's carefully wrapped bandage an ugly muddy red, but not enough to matter. Were she younger, she might've cried, but she's older now. She's taken worse beatings.

But, despite her objection, she doesn't stop the other. Even if it is unnecessary, even if she has grown past an age of believing that a kiss will make it stop hurting quicker. Her pride isn't worth the moment, no matter how short, of pretending that there has never been a wound deeper than this one.

And when Camilla has satisfied herself, Corrin makes a great deal out of stretching her injured leg. She's careful to test her weight on it, as though a mere flesh wound could be anything but, and give her sister a smile.

"Feels better already," her head tilts, "thank you."

[ofdusk]

Crimson eyes shift from creature to creature, then to her company. She's trying her best not to look nervous, but it's proving difficult. Even more so when one of the beasts snorts and thrashes its tail, just barely missing her in the line of fire.

"Well, I guess we better get moving then..." Though she doesn't look like she really wants to. It's just two beasts, and two people to handle them. Realistically, it should be no problem.

Her gaze darts to the pathetic leather lead rope in her hand, then to the single metal clasp attaching it to her assigned charge.

Really not the most reassuring thing she has ever seen.

"If we wait much longer, it'll be dark before we're back." Words spoken more to herself than her partner in this little task, followed closely by a determined sigh.

"Right, so... We're supposed to ride these things?" They hadn't really been provided saddles, or asked if they were qualified for such a task. "It'll take twice as long walking, but I don't know if these guys are really meant for that."

@goldoanheart

like uber but for gargoyles

affluence / flying +1

[ofdusk]

Glad she remembered, as though there is a world where she could forget. She is careful with her curiosity about Hoshido and its-- not hers, because she is not too naive still to think that she might can claim such a thing after her choice-- family. Careful to make sure she knows names of those lost and those burdened by their loss, that she does her best to honor them. For guilt or some more noble cause, she cannot say.

Corrin watches him, does her best not to look uncomfortable in the quiet that settles momentarily between them. Always this internal war between girl too young and sheltered to understand war and princess strong enough to win it.

And when his voice once more breaks the silence, she finds it is the girl who flinches and not the ruler.

Gentle, yes. She has heard that. Not from him, however, and it is strange to hear it now echoed in another's voice. It is not necessarily that being such has ever mattered to her, it is the implication that she is not and what truth lies beneath it.

"You disagree," not a question, a statement, because she does not need to hear him answer. Lips press to a thin line, and she cannot help when her gaze drops from his. "I've been told that few gentle things survive war."

✧ ` IT SOUNDS AS FOREIGN AS SHE LOOKS. his name. his name, and he smiles—trying his best to not look awkward. even harder to keep his brows from cinching together or looking angry because being angry isn't quite an option for him. "yeah, i'm glad you remembered." did he tell you? or is it something you learned from your sister, my aunt? that's not quite the way that you're supposed to speak to a queen. it's not the way she's supposed to be speaking to a crown prince either, though, but he won't correct her on it. they're family. are supposed to be family.

he lets her hand fall from his, lacing his fingers together behind his back.

the tendons in his wrist strain against his sunny skin. nails dig into his forearms.

he doesn't really know why she's nervous. no reason to be! he's in her court. in her country. what does she have to be afraid of? ( not all things that haunt the living are dead. ) something at the back of his head says that he should be happy that this is the reaction his presence invites, but another part that makes him feel guilty for thinking that. it's—"you look different than i expected," and it's not what he means to say or wants to say, but it's what comes out. "dad always said you looked gentle."

too kind, but she sits on a throne of thorns.

[ofdusk]

✧ ⁺ - @folternis asked:

* a kiss on the back of their hand, formal yet intimate

“lady corrin,” niles greets, taking her hand in his. he gives her a playful wink as his lips press to her knuckles. it’s a barely-there gesture, but he would be remiss if he didn’t greet his liege’s lady with all the respect she was owed ( for being that, and indeed for everything she had actually accomplished ) and though he isn’t typically a creature of formality, he knows the value of playing pretend. he knows she isn’t fragile, but something about the air of her still makes him treat her a little more delicately than he would someone else. “i hope you know i’m at your disposal if you ever have any... less-savory work that needs doing.”

Somewhere, she is most certain that Leo is bristling.

Not that Corrin has ever once minded Niles, or really much understood why anyone else did. She returns his greeting with the soft curl of a smile. They are not close, but they are as close as stranger perhaps ever could be. Leo trusts him, Azura trusts him, and so she has no reason to believe him deserving of any less.

Eyebrows quirk then, at the presentation of his... offer.

"Less-savory work," she echoes, then shakes her head. She preferred to make certain that there was never a need for such a thing, at least not of her own. Perhaps that is why he is Leo's to call upon, though she does not say as much aloud.

It would be rude to dismiss a kindness, in any case.

"I'll keep that in mind," though she does not ever intend to make good on it, "thank you, Niles."

[ofdusk]

✧ ⁺ - @geluksvxgel asked:

a kiss on the back of their hand, formal yet intimate goofy

“Lady Corrin, golly you’re here too! Hey!” The boy ran towards her as fast as he could, wyvern in tow. “How’s it goin’? Gosh, I’ll finally get to know you better! Pops told me all sorts of things about your super awesome doings!” Corrin was a person Lutz was well aware of- hard not to in Nohr, but he wasn’t the most familiar with or close to her. Most of what he knew were stories from others or distant glances, as he always watched with a starry gaze as if he were witnessing a real hero walk by. “Ah! Wait, gotta do this right!” He got on one knee, before grabbing her hand and pressing a smooch on the back of it- finishing it off with a big goofy smile. “Pop’s a royal retainer, and one day I’m gonna be one too! So I gotta start learnin’ all this stuff!” He then got up with a quick salute…that was mirrored by Ace. “I hope I get to train with you sometime, Lady Corrin!”

Her mouth has hardly been open a second, ready with a warm greeting of her own, before the boy is seizing her hand with such purpose that it is startled shut.

Not that it remains that way for long. Corrin can't help it, she covers a giggle with her unkissed hand.

"You're already a natural," she commends, laughter still warm in her voice. Arthur's son he certainly is, what with such an infectious smile. Eyes flit between him and his wyvern, amused and fond in equal measure. It's no wonder his father took to caring for Elise.

She reaches to ruffle his hair. "Now that is easily arranged," her head tilts, smile turning sheepish, "you two will have to go easy on me, though. Okay?"

[ofdusk]

✧ ⁺ - @raikuroji asked:

it's odd, seeing her in person after all of the stories. he'd never met her. not on the battlefield, not in their real lives removed from all of that until now. shiro thought corrin would've been larger than life. she had to have been to have shaken up their entire country, to have led to—people keep saying he should be thankful they'd brokered peace. that he'd eventually be able to lead hoshido to recovery when he was old enough to ascend the throne. he doesn't know if she's thought of what her peace cost. but, it doesn't really matter. he's here because he's an envoy for queen hinoka. not as shinonome, who is ryoma's son, who she killed without killing— he kisses the back of her hand and feels the blood come away against his lips. "nice to finally meet you, aunt corrin." / a kiss on the back of their hand, formal yet intimate; a la post-conquest, as it were!

Crimson eyes blink soft, slow, considering the boy before her the way one might a painting of a distant past. Boy, no, that's not quite right. He is something more, and yet it's hard to come to terms with such a fact.

Not for the strangeness of time, but rather a grief she still has yet learned how to stifle. A guilt that, no matter how assured she is and will always be in her choices, follows her to bed every night.

He looks like his father, no spitting image but Ryoma is written in his every feature. It makes her chest heavy, watching him, feeling where they touch and the ghosts that sit between their skin.

Aunt, he calls her and, whether he intends it or not, a knife's edge twists in her heart. She wonders if he sees it in her gaze, feels it in how her hand trembles. She wonders, distantly, if he feels better for her guilt.

"It is nice to meet you as well," her voice is soft, steady, but it catches when lips start in the shape of his name. Corrin swallows.

"Shiro."

[ofdusk]

╰┈➤ STARTER PROMPTS : Chaste Kisses a set of generic kiss prompts, tailored for fluff & softness ! all sfw ! ** these prompts were written to be a sfw version of the typical kiss prompt ! please keep them that way & do not use them for n.sfw !

please specify if sender or receiver is doing the action, when sending in the prompt !

* a kiss on the cheek, in passing * a tender kiss to each cheek, then to their nose * a kiss on the forehead * a kiss on the top of the head, cupping their face gently * a kiss on the top of the head, after leaning against them * a kiss on the back of their hand, formal yet intimate * a kiss to the back of their hand, before beginning to formally dance ( ex. waltzing ) * a kiss on their palm, then holding their hand against their own face * a kiss on top of a band-aid, to make it feel better * a kiss on top of a bandage, to comfort and apologize * a sweet little kiss to the back of their neck, after doing their hair or fastening a necklace, before letting the hair fall properly into place * a kiss on the corner of their lips * a kiss to their lips, smiling * a kiss to their lips, then breaking away, then returning into the kiss with a happy laugh * throwing themself into an embrace, kissing them with a smile * spinning them around, then kissing them as they set them down * a kiss in the rain after a heartfelt conversation, happy tears that blend with the light sprinkles of rain * a kiss to comfort, kissing each cheek after tenderly wiping tears away * a kiss to the back of their head, as they cuddle * peppering their face with butterfly kisses as they laugh * a kiss to say goodbye, before they leave on a trip * a kiss to their cheek, laughing after leaving a lipstick mark * a quick kiss to their lips, then commenting on their choice of lipgloss/chapstick/etc * a kiss to the forehead, to say goodnight

[ofdusk]

Dearest stranger,

Strange, yes, but fun just as well! I used to write to my siblings when I was younger, but it's been so long since then... Feels like being a kid again!

Oh! And you are a delightful storyteller. A nap by the water sounds so nice... Without the fish part, anyway. Though a nap in the water might not even be all that bad! Er... as long as you can float.

But here I go getting distracted. It's nice to meet you too! Or, well, if that's what this is. I guess so? I've never met anyone by letter before. There's a first time for everything!

(Oh, and don't worry, I haven't seen anyone get dragged into the pond recently. Or ever, really.)

In other news, I'd wager you and I are kindred spirits! I actually think about good nap spots all the time. Nothing beats just the right amount of sun to curl up in after lunch. Naps are always the nicest when warm! Where I come from, it's nighttime all the time, so I try and get the most out of the sun while I'm here.

Most often, I really favor the west side of the library. There are some super cozy chairs by the far windows that catch just the most perfect rays in the afternoons. Though I'm pretty sure it's frowned upon to sleep there... oops.

Not that that's the only thing important to me! I like to keep busy just as much as I like to curl up and sleep. It balances out pretty well, I'd say!

Let me think... Oh, like lately! I've been spending a lot of my time sneaking the horses treats while they're being switched out between classes. I don't ride much myself, but they're such sweet creatures... It's hard to resist!

Ack, I'm running out of room here... Um... Are you an animal person too?

Sincerely, Your penpal!

Penpals!

[ofdusk]

"Huh?"

Silver head swivels only to be greeted by her husband's back, far enough away to feign ignorance still even after his words register. An hour? That's hardly enough time to investigate all of these pools, and she really doesn't want to skip any.

Attention snaps back to the one she's standing in now, a flash of red along the rocks. An eager hand unfurls from where it had been holding her skirts out of the water, reaching to snatch the little creature before it can get too far. She lifts it for proper inspection.

"Hello there," a giggle, to which the crab has no reaction. Careful to hold away from its little pincers, Corrin decides it worthy enough evidence for her case.

She picks her way back through the pools to Leo, one hand still in her skirts and the other carefully carrying her new friend, eyes trained intently on the ground beneath her so as to avoid stepping on any other potential friends. Though there's really not much reason to bother with her skirts anymore, considering where seaweed has already begun to clung to their wet hems, she's at least trying to look like she cares.

When she comes to a stop at last it is beside him, where she forfeits one hand to tap his shoulder before sinking to her knees.

So much for pretending to care about her skirts.

Palms cup together and extend in silent offering, crimson eyes round and eager. "Look, isn't he cute?"

Are You With Crab?

[ofdusk]

✧ ⁺ - @indevouement asked:

"my lady," jakob greets her with a smile ( he always does ! ), warm & genuine. hands settle themselves upon teacup , fine porcelain , heated to that of her liking. it is a simple fact jakob is inherently a follower - and that he likes to be. where corrin winds up , he is not far from following , dutiful retainer as he is. "as you would have expected, i found my way to you, as always." truth be told, it was uncomfortable to be separate. come the day corrin left , he knew he would leave too. and thus time repeats itself, on her return to the monastery, jakob comes, too. he remembers the first day he arrived. tea finds its way to fine china, in which he settles atop of serving plate and rests it upon his palm. in mimicry, he speaks. "may i show you around ?" of course, he knows corrin knows this place better than he does. and yet, it is his silent playfulness, an inkling of his humour - unspoken, don't you remember that day you offered me this ? "of course, i understand if that's not of your preference . . . " he backtracks. corrin was one of the few ( the only. ) that had the benefit of seeing what was not his blatantly dry humor. "lady corrin."

"As always," Corrin agrees, smile creasing the corners of her eyes. She is a creature of habit, a loyal thing, and in that she has lived a life easily imprinted upon by others. So much so that she feels their absences like a severed limb when they are far.

And Jakob's weighs heavier than most.

She does not have to tell him that she is glad to be in his company again, but she does anyway. She will continue to, every morning and evening until she tires of it. Which she won't-- she hasn't for this long, after all. He is a memory of all that is good, because he has been there for it all. Her shadow, her most dedicated of friends. He would certainly reject the notion, of course, but that has never once stopped her from believing it.

If her smile could ever possibly span wider than it does now, she is sure that it would. A giggle into her hand; of course she remembers. Not even death could pry such a recollection from her, as with their every reunion.

"I would be most honored," she chirps, a mimic of his never-wavering formality. Another breath of laughter. "Please, lead the way!"

[ofdusk]

— OFDUSK ; closed & affiliated rp blog for female corrin of fates ; knight of seiros at the officers academy . established april 2022 & adored by elysia✧.*

this portrayal is written post conquest and follows corrin's paired ending with leo. any and all content including mention of this dynamic will continue to be tagged #leocorrin for blacklisting purposes.

 ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎  ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏ ‎‏‏ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎  ‎‏‏‎ ‎‎‏‏  ‎‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎‎‎( dossier / mun / graphic by jackie ♡ )

[ofdusk]

✧ ⁺ - @justicespeared asked:

[Spaghetti and Meatball ] "Huh? What the..." Cynthia looks down at the dish. "Who serves a dish with one lousy meatball!" She pokes at it with a fork distastefully. She's hungry! She doesn't want just one meatball. She turns to her companion. "Is your dish as lousy as mine?"

Though she was seldom one to complain, Corrin had been wondering the same. It takes a quick surveying of the other plates arranged on the serving table to realize that no, they are not the only ones in such a predicament.

"It would seem so..." Her brows pinch, fascinated. Never before has she seen such a modest serving. Though she is hardly too upset by it, the other seems to be. Corrin holds her plate out.

"Take mine, then! It's hardly much more, but it's better than one."