#✦

[cicerobussytransplant]

wrt to my previous reblog abt persona

Yes, ma’am, the mother is a carnivorous animal that loves lush vegetation. The moment she gives birth, she spreads her legs — lacking any sense of her own position as something destined to giving birth — to earth, to fire, to air,

but then there’s one that wants to go back inside that damn cunt,

after trying to give birth to herself alone, sticking my head out of my uterus

(and since I can’t do this, I look to die and enter the foul lair of the occult occultress whose role is to occult)

Psychopathology Ward from Extracting the Stone of Madness: Poems 1962 - 1972 by Alejandra Pizarnik (tr. Yvette Siegbert)

But to who else can I write of all the things I should not write? I’m afraid I’ve become one of those childless women who reads too much about the deaths of children. Of the local woman who lured the girl to her house, then cut the baby out of her. Of the mother who threw her children off the bridge, not half a mile from where I sleep.

It’s not enough to say the heart wants what it wants. I think of the ravine, the side dark with pines where we lounged through summer days, waiting for something to happen; and of the nights, walking the long way home, the stars so close they seemed to crown us. Once, I asked for your favorite feeling. You said hunger. It felt true then. It was as if we took the bit and bridle from our mouths. From that moment I told myself it was the not yet that I wanted, the moving, the toward—

Incarnadine by Mary Szybist

[princepsumbra]

“Uncle! It seems you’re quite the popular man, today!” 

Crown prince grins down at disheveled blonde; with both Leo’s wife and son at the academy, of course they would be running him dry on this very special day. “I won’t keep too much of your time—I think Kanahara would make me pay for that. Here, uncle. Happy Birthday.”

A sizeable black box is offered to the dark mage. Inside resides a circular board whose pattern is split into colored squares.Two small boxes hold circular pieces, each with a different symbol on the top of the tile. 

“It’s a board game called Pai Sho. I’ve heard a lot about it, and it apparently has many different styles of play. I believe you and I would take a more methodological approach—but try playing with your son, and something tells me he’d make moves without thinking and keep things fast-paced. Why don’t we play a game later?” 

Kana roped him into not one, but two games of tag over the course of the afternoon. Leo knows his son wants to make up for lost time by expending every ounce of energy with his papa. If only he could have the energy to match. Elder Nohrian had to kindly but firmly put his foot down; otherwise the headache dully throbbing at his temples would soon bloom into a full migraine.

Not to mention the state of his appearance. His headband sits crookedly atop windswept locks. Royal purple cape is draped over one arm, golden clasps dangling loosely at his side. And of course his blasted collar inexplicably received a stain of some sort, though he blames his beloved for using the material to pull him in for a kiss before washing her hands.

A trip to the sauna seems in order. He is on his way back to his dorm when Siegbert catches him, a box in hand.

Tense features soften somewhat at the joke. "Indeed. You may be his next victim for a game of tag."

Leo accepts this rather hefty box, curiosity piqued. Lid is easily pried away. Attention turns back to his nephew as he explains the gift. A light has already sparked in Leo's eyes; a new strategy game is exactly the type of thing he'd enjoy.

"Pai Sho," he parrots back, focus again on the elegantly carved wooden tiles. "I will keep that in mind. Yes, perhaps tomorrow evening?"

For now, Leo replaces the lid. "Thank you, Siegbert."

[sabineelectricheart]

His Brother’s Widow

Summary: Leo might have loved his brother, but he still coveted one single thing that belonged to him: his wife. Now that he is the king, the oportunity dangles in front of his eyes.

Rating: T - Suitable for teens, 13 years and older, with some violence, minor coarse language, and minor suggestive adult themes.

Words: 1100

Notes: Ah, what loneliness does to a person! Shame a blond nerd does not come to cure mine.

As loved as Leo was, and between his father and his mother, such a statement can be disputed, there is a dark side to him. There is something evil and foul that had been nurtured in the cutthroat environment of the court of Nohr and the dispute for the throne against his brother.

A dispute that he lost, but there is no bitterness in his heart over that fact, at least not for itself. Obviously, there was no doubt the love and loyalty he had for his brother, and that fact was plain for anyone to see. He served as a minister and a general, and he has done his job in those positions to the best of his abilities, as well as being quick into suppressing any dissent that might have looked upon him as a favourable alternative.

His loyalty and service to King Xander’s court was well-known and obvious all over the realm. What did not have the same degree of transparency and respectable nobility, however, were the shame and regret he felt in yearning for Lady Corrin, his brother's wife.

When his brother dies, Leo mourned. He never truly recovers from it, nor would any of his sisters, even as the kingdom moves on and things return to a state of normality, just with a different head under the crown. His.

However, amongst his bereavement, in the corner of his eyes, standing in a dark corner of the castle, he sees her. The object of his desire finally in the grasp of his hands.

As per agreement, Siegbert and Kana, her children, were passed over to the new king as his heirs. He was unmarried and had no intention on having descendancy, so for him, it was very convenient that Xander managed to take his duty off of him before his untimely passing. He has also pledged to take care of the Queen Dowager, not in the way his forebearers usually handled it, but granting her a stipend and allowing her to remain in the castle.

Perhaps allowing is too generous of a word. He prefers it to be so, but intellectual honesty compels him to correct it to command, but solely in the privacy of his own thoughts. He would not allow her to retire from courtly life, in any case, and the fact he remains unmarried and shall be so for the foreseeable future makes it easy to argue that she must remain in her old role.

On the night after the day the appropriate mourning period ends, a knock is heard at the Dowager Queen’s bedchamber.

Left with a diminutive staff, Corrin tries to hide her surprise by opening her own chamber doors to see King Leo at your door. She welcomes him as he takes a seat and she serves him tea. A single cup, as she has no more boiled water and no-one to fetch it from the kitchens.

He just wants to talk, he says. As the people and the nobles shed their mourning whites, things take another significance, and he does not know if he is ready just yet to face their new reality. It feels too fresh, too foreign still, even if it has been the better part of a year in this state of affairs.

The two of them rekindle a bond that has been severed due to their diverging schedules, and soon enough his visits become quite frequent. Servants flood the chambers once again, and every other night, after dinner, dessert is had in that small coffee table.

It started with the two of you bonding over the fond memories with Xander. Soon, the topics starts to change. With that, new activities are proposed, and she is seen with the king by the court often. Tongues loosen and conjectures are made, but, again, dissent is quickly and swiftly supressed, with much more brutality than they were in years past.

Corrin tries to not raise a brow when Leo offers to walk alongside her to and from the dining hall. When his touches start to linger. The way he looks at her, with so much intensity that leaves you with a warm and nauseating feeling. It was wrong, to start to long for your husband's brother, dead he may be.

The lines of familiarity and amity began to blur when, in the privacy of her chambers, always her chambers, the king gifted her a beautiful necklace for her second birthday after widowhood. Turning her back to him as he places it around her neck, she does not miss the brief touches as he does so.

It becomes impossible to ignore all that she graciously pretended not to be there, and she throws herself to the profanity of it all.

When Corrin turns back to face him, her stomach flutters under his gaze. Her deceased husband loved her, she loved him, and it is hard to deny that the Royal Blood of Nohr is not strong, because Leo looks just like his brother, and he gazes at her just like his brother did. She misses it, she misses it too much.

Then, the regret seeps in when the man closes the distance. She melts under his touch. Feeling the kiss become more and more passionate, she finally finds the strength and moral fibre to pull away.

This was wrong, she told him. His hand gently cradled her face, lips brushing close to hers, yet not quite fully touching. He is letting her make the choice. Deny him, the voice in the back of her head tells her, but, in desperation for touch, to feel loved once again, it was her who closed the gap this time.

His hand reach for the back of her dress and the widow lets him. She pushes aside all the guilt and shame, allowing herself to indulge in the pleasure overtaking her.

Marry me, he utters under his breath, mouth pressed to her bare skin.

Unfortunately, she never had the heart to tell this to her children, in fear of their rejection. She forces them to find out when the king announced the union between himself and Corrin. She tries to tell them it was all done under an agreement. Leo had no choice in the matter, the marriage is all for political reasons. At least that is what he told her.

How can her look them in the eye ever again, when the king hosts a feast for the newly-wedded couple, when the seers predict a fruitful match?

When Leo, at the feast, proudly announces Corrin as the expecting mother of his heir?

*_*_*_*_*

Fire Emblem Masterlist

Conquest Masterlist

[duskroine]

[ Embrace ] - The sender gets in closer, practically embracing the receiver as they dance.

          dusk mistakes the embrace for a moment of peaceful slumber, disguised within the looks of a dance.  but no matter if true or not, ophelia allows her arms to hang from mitama’s shoulders, aware of mitama and where her arms curl around her waist.  the partners around them, too, have adapted to the dropping pace of the orchestra’s melody and harmony; two lines of music that twist into each other until both are unrecognizable as individual pieces.

            ophelia slowly takes the crown from overtop of her head and gently sets it onto mitama’s head.  there had been a tease earlier in the night, where mentions of siegbert confusing mitama for ophelia only if the crown upon her hair meant an identity of passable standards.

            there are many differences between the two, but there is one of those that brings a similarity up: they were beyond beauty itself with the crown on.  it is a thought that brings soft laughter from ophelia’s lips, a noise that mitama moves in response to.

            “   has fatigue clung to your limbs, mitama?   ”   ophelia asks, voice quite too low to her own preference but she understands that outright screaming would be an annoyance to everyone including mitama.   “   hehe~!  you wouldn’t make your dear friend carry you through the corridors of darkness leading towards the arch of faith that lies your abode, correct?   ”   if purpose called for it, then it would most likely be claude to take mitama back to her room, or rhajat; ophelia cannot exclaim any further delight to being able to drag the gloomy sorceress into multiple photographic opportunities.

            as the two ladies step into a small spin, ophelia pulls back her arms and presses her hands against mitama’s face   —   contentment in the way she winks down at mitama.   “   do you require for the Chosen One to shake you awake?  a squeezing embrace or two will fit right well!   ”   playful as a joke but serious as a concept, for ophelia isn’t against having to lift someone and shake them until they wake up.  though it is clearly only an idea as ophelia moves to press her thumb against mitama’s nose, completely forgetting the prior question of fatigue and exasperation.

            the orchestra has yet to rise the pace of the song; ophelia lets go of mitama’s face and tilts her head, returning her arms to hang from mitama’s shoulders.   “   thank you for spending moments of the night by my side.  this was surely an experience that the stars will remember and look back on with glee.   ”

[perfectionist-prince]

[ dance ] - for the photo, the sender and receiver pose in a way that suggests they are in the middle of a dance.

To his credit, Leo truly is trying to lighten up.

The atmosphere of the pictures certainly helps. With all the chaos going on, who is going to remember the Dark Prince of Nohr posing for a few himself?

"On your count, Siegbert."

“Certainly, uncle.” It was Leo’s idea that they pose in such a manner for the photos, but it was Siegbert’s idea—conveniently kept to himself—that they take a more relaxed tone for the portraits than a serious one, as his uncle preferred. 

Although it began seemingly normal, a grin split across the crown prince’s fast a mere moment before the camera flashed. In the blink of an eye, nephew dips uncle down, not only catching the other off-guard, but disrupting his manner of dress in the same breath. The photo prints; much to Siegbert’s delight (and Leo’s chagrin), it had come out exactly how he wanted. 

“See, there, uncle? I believe Aunt Corrin would call you cute here, for how your face scrunches up when you’re startled! … Oh, don’t look at me like that. We can take another set, if you really so please.”

[mautlie]

@hamartio sent:  "siegbert," as busy as duty keeps him, xander finds it of most importance to come check upon his son; even more important than that is that he knows he is not alone, even if his father remains busy. in his hands, a little white rabbit kit is curled up, sleeping peacefully. "it may not be quite the sort of pet you enjoy and i apologize if it is the case, but—i suppose it may still keep you good company while i am away."

  even as a child, siegbert is well aware that all the luxuries in his life are afforded to him by his father's due diligence. he is too young to understand quite what it is his father does for a living, but he knows all too well that what it is ensures that he is living. it must be an awfully tough job to keep him busy all the time, frequently out of sight and leaving behind an empty chair at the dinner table.

when siegbert is told that his father would be able to visit home and stay for the night for the first time in a long while, the boy sets about cleaning every inch of his room and then some. he does the same for the rest of the house, even if they have been afforded a nanny. for a jobless youth trying to mimic his father's hard work, the closest he can think of is treating home as his work — as if he were a chatelain and not the junior high student he actually was. this was his domain, and his father would be able to come to a clean household with no problems whatsoever for a short respite. siegbert might preen with the confidence of a job well done once his father looked things over and relaxed, without coming off as too needy in fishing for praise.

he stands straight, perhaps a bit too much so, when he sees his father emerge out of the door at last. what shall he say? what shall he think? he is so concentrated on these thoughts he fails to even realize the ball of white fur tucked against the man's hold.

he blinks once, then twice, unsure what to make of it. it is certainly cute, and he has thought before of having a pet, but then a piece of advice from a couple months prior echoes through his head.

...bunnies. whenever the people's beseeching eyes caused me to lose my nerve... i would imagine them as bunnies. even the most chickenhearted, after all, never shrank from a bunny's stare.

“ father, not at all...! i like it very much. thank you very much. ”  the transition from elementary school to junior high had proved more awkward than he would have liked, the woes of adolescence thrown into the mix to make it all the more complicated as he and his peers threw themselves into the chaos of carving out an identity. for siegbert, what was his but a boy chasing the shadow that his father created, one that seemed to grow increasingly longer with each passing year? siegbert trembles against the effort of meeting it the more he grows conscious of it — of the comparisons between him and his father — and perhaps he truly was chickenhearted against the pressure to simply be.

he pets the rabbit with a tentative hand, unsure if he was quite so ready to try holding it lest he disturb its peaceful slumber, and he smiles against the softness of its coat.   “ i hope it wakes up soon. ”

after all, it is only then that he could tell whether or not he would shrink from such a guileless stare.

[sireneia]

@sacrificedbirthright​ sent:  "If there's anyone who can do this, it's you." Forrest puts his hand on his cousin's shoulder adding in a kind smile to encourage him. "Just believe in yourself, I'll be right along side you." (for sieg !)

   the troubadour’s words are encouraging, and the slight trembling spell that has has cast itself over siegbert’s body abates. he takes a deep breath.  “ i wasn’t aware i was so transparently worried... ”  but he’s not surprised to know it’s shown on his face. he really ought to learn how to school his expression if he wishes to be anything like the man that his teachers stated his father is.  “ thank you, cousin. but... ”

he had sought out forrest’s help for the other prince’s soothing presence, and it certainly added a pressure to make sure that siegbert went through with his plan, but still...

“ i-i’m not quite sure i can manage a win this time. prince shiro is quite a commendable opponent. i still haven’t yet forgotten the last time and how i wasn’t able to use my right hand for the next few days...! ”  arm wrestling has never been his forte, and it’s not quite like there were many amongst the nohrian children who could help him train... least of all forrest himself. 

[sireneia-a]

my intention was to do one of these every month now to indicate what muses’ birthdays were coming up but oh god these are going to take up too much time if i try doing anything more than crayon scribbles

[tactful-kind-daedra]

Start of A Political Nightmare: Part 2

-----

[Link] to Part 1

TW: Disturbing imagery and description towards the end.

-----

Xander released a curt breath once the expected knock sounded from the outer door. He stole another glance towards Daedra, who was rousing Rose from her nap. As usual, the small girl made little fuss, letting out an impressive yawn before rubbing round fists against her eyes. Her mother atleast looked a bit happier in that moment, clearly endeared enough from the child’s antics. It was also more than enough for the generally stern man to allow himself the faintest pull at the corner of his mouth. With no reason to delay further, Xander opened the carriage door and stepped out, grateful to be able to stretch his legs to full length again.

The welcoming party was well on their way to greet them. Xander checked his attire covertly, before offering his arm once he’d heard Daedra shuffling out as well. She gently set her hand on his arm, Rose set at her hip, as she allowed her husband to assist her down. Such a task was normally expected of the footmen to handle, but Xander was nothing if not a gentleman first for his beloveds. The man prudently made no comment on Daedra’s suddenly bright and sunny expression, though.

It pained him a little to see it; knowing it was mostly for show. However, it would be addressed properly later. For now, they all had to perform their best for their gracious hosts. Catching a glimpse of Siegbert already out of his own carriage and approaching, he offered his son an affectionate nod, meanwhile Daedra pulled away from him to take the few minor moments they had to fuss on her son. Again, she kept her bright enthusiasm on full display for the young man. Regardless of her own feelings, she knew her son was actually quite happy, all things considered. Daedra would not spoil anything for the prince, not so selfishly. Moving to his one side, the redhead offered a warm smile as she brushed a wrinkle from his sleeve, framing him opposite Xander to make a fine display as the Royals of Nohr. King and Queen, framing the crown prince.

Daedra kept up her happy demeanor all through the procession - being escorted through the castle and before Hyrule’s grand royalty, through introductions of other visiting nobles and representatives of the vast landscapes under the Hylian rule. Never did she let the image fall, not once was she anything but the benevolent and kind-hearted, gentle Queen of the Dark Kingdom. In her defense, it had gotten quite easy to distract herself with all that went on. 

Xander practically glowed with pride. He knew his wife was offering her very best to be a shining example for their kingdom. While he was the firm and imposing image of a mighty monarch, she acted as his counter. A fine balance that he wished to push forward as Nohr’s grand rebirth. Gone from the dark days of vicious tyranny and ceaseless war-making and forward with a firm ruling hand, paired with better understanding and compassion. He was eased in the sense that things were going exceptionally well.

Their arrival would end the evening with a grand dinner, all the finery and lavish charm Hyrule had to offer. It was practically as grand as the finest ball, with copious amounts of food, entertainment, and dancing. Xander was placed at the guest’s head of the table, his standard seat for most things like this. Daedra merely took her place at his right hand, not allowing time for the table staff to bothering guiding her. It was her usual place back home, and she thoughtlessly went right to it, with Siegbert opposite her at Xander’s other hand.

The dinner went flawlessly with plenty of magnificent dishes and wine flowing. Little Rose was eventually sent safely off to bed with her attendants, leaving the adults free to mingle amongst themselves for the remainder of the evening. Of course, Daedra noticed Siegbert immediately bolt off the moment he could. No doubt to spend his company with the lovely princess of Hyrule. Xander kept at her own side, for the most part, but was taken here and there for some political discussion. The redhead would have followed, but strangely... she found herself with a throat tickle since dinner and did not want to cause rude distraction.

It had been small and quiet, but consistently kept coming up time to time. Daedra found she had to use one of her pocket silks to hide the little coughs. The talking must had made her very parched, she assumed, happy to partake of the various wines and sweet drinks to ease the tickling through the hours. The night dragged on, and a particularly aquatic looking musical group began a series of waltzes for dancing. Daedra, who would have loved to join in, found her tickle had grown annoyingly persistent. With the cloth pressed to her lips, she kept to the side-lines. Xander eventually noticed her there and politely pulled from his talks to approach. He found it strange to not see her already on the floor of dancers, but thought that perhaps she was now too upset enough to drop her charade. 

Daedra was unaware of her husband drawing near, much less anything else currently, as she found it suddenly hard to keep her coughs as quiet as she had been. Her throat hurt terribly, feeling as dry and raw as if sandpaper had been taken to it. Her lungs would not catch air so easily, promoting her to cough more as she kept the cloth to her face more obviously now. Xander drew in at a quicker pace to her suddenly, when he realized his wife was actually coughing at her handkerchief and not crying, as he’d originally thought. Daedra only turned her eyes up to him when he practically loomed over her, setting his hands over her shoulders. 

She found she could not speak suddenly. She could not draw the breath to do so or do anything but cough. Her throat was in agony and so dry, until there was a sudden gush from deep down her throat. Xander, feeling a building dread and terror in his gut, found himself unable to speak. A sudden burst of sticky dark red exploded from behind Daedra’s handkerchief. He watched her eyes turn wide in horror and panic; the silk completely stained in her hands as the same red flooded from her nostrils and over her lips and chin. 

Was it wine? Blood?! The air between then was suddenly doused in a sour aroma, foreign in a way Xander could not place. What spilled from his wife’s nose and mouth was thick, and a red so dark, he was unsure of it. He had spilled enough blood that seeing such a sight made him unsure of what it truly was. 

Xander was snapped from his stupor as Daedra made a pained wrenching noise again. She desperately tried to cover herself with her cloth, but it was no use. More of the mess gushed from her nose and mouth, down passed her chin and all over the marble floor in a sickening thick splatter. Her fine dark dress was stained in a new color, the red steadily spanning farther over the fabric; matching to Xander’s front and his no longer white cravat.

A shriek cut through the grand room, forcing everything to shocked silence.

It was short lived- once everyone realized what was occurring. Immediate panic broke out as nobles and guests rushed across the room to safety, while every guard present, regardless of nation, suddenly went into action of sealing doors and going on full alert. 

Xander hoisted his small wife off the floor, cradling her in his protective hold. He turned and began barking orders to his own sentries, sending some to secure Rose, others to gather Siegbert and his retainers. This dreaded event was not new to him; he was well ready and prepared for it. Loathe as he was to experience this again; he wished this part of his life to have been done with long ago. That did not matter in the moment. He had work to do and he would see it done... even as Daedra continued to cough and retch against him. Xander personally carried her somewhere safe, both of them getting doused in whatever illness plagued her, leaving a stained trail along the floor in their wake.

The party was over.

[emblemxeno]

I see some people say Nohr is based on France but honestly ? I think it’s mostly based on Germanic/Nordic countries. Sure, « Nohr » sounds similar to « Noir » but aside from that lots of other important names are Germanic/Nordic : Krakenburg, Siegfried, Brynhildr, character names like Gunther, Siegbert. There’s also the manga focused on Nohr that is titled « The Crown of Nibelung », a reference to the iconic and very old Nibelungenlied, a Germanic and Nordic tale that has characters like Siegfried, Brunhild/Brynhildr and Gunther (detail that I personally found very cool). And idk the very dark and gloomy setting with many blondes where there is barely any sun really reminds me of Scandinavia in winter.

Oh yeah definitely German and Nordic is more what inspired Nohr. The Kingdom name itself isn’t even French in the JP version either, it’s just Dark Night Kingdom, so all that’s left in terms of French inspiration is mostly just character names.

I’ve read that manga too! It’s very, very good, and it shows what you can do when you’re not bound by restrictions that a video game provides and can instead move the story along in a reading form instead.

[yukiwrites]

Unconditional Love for Them

For Corrianderweek, day 5: Nohrian Summer / Beach Time. This is a sequel to the mini-series I started back when I was doing the weekly Xandersday writings! Now with baby Katie’s first time at the beach!

________________________

By the time Katerina was born, the Sealing Rites of Valla had been mostly finished, which meant that the youngest princess of Nohr would not know nor experience the ethereal beauty of the Forgotten Kingdom. To make up for it, the Royal couple wanted to let her travel through as many Deeprealms as possible, since quite a few of them emulated the vallite aesthetic.

Well, since the princess was still too young to retain much information, and considering she was around the same Siegbert had been when they first took him to the Hotrealm, Kamui and Xander decided to bring the children to the beach once summer hit the dark kingdom.

Well, apart from a larger amount of rain along with its consequential landslides around the foot of the mountains, the nohrian summer was nothing to write home about, especially compared to their hoshidan counterpart. Because of that, to allow the children to experience a fulfilling family time at the beach, the King and Queen could only open the portal to the Hotrealm.

Kana led the way, pulling the tiny Katerina by the hand as they walked towards the nearest Dragon Vein. “It’s so bright! And so hot! And the water is wooshing wooshing!” The young prince excitedly gestured, receiving his little sister’s undivided attention. The toddler widened her bright, red eyes -- a trait shared with all of her siblings and mother -- gapping her mouth just enough to allow her to coo and yapper in response.

“Woosh woosh!!” She turned to Kamui as they stopped in front of the Dragon Vein, right before Xander started reciting the words to open up the portal to their desired Deeprealm. “Mama! Kana said water goes woosh woosh!”

The Queen smiled fondly, placing a lock of curly hair behind the little girl’s pointy ear. “It really does! And it’s reaaaaaly big, so you shouldn’t run off on your own without us, okay?” She booped Katerina’s nose with her index, grinning just as the little girl did.

“Wight!” She puffed up her chest in response, squeezing Kana’s hand.

“Good girl.” Kamui nodded, then turned to her eldest son. “Are you okay, Sieggy? You can hold my hand if you want.”

Siegbert, now a 12-year-old, jumped in surprise with the concern, blushing as he thought that he didn’t want to behave like a child and worry his parents. “I-I am alright, Mother! There’s no need to hold my hand.”

Observing the situation, just as Xander finished chanting the words, the King directed his gaze to the Crown Prince. “Then what about holding MY hand, Siegbert?” He smiled softly to the young boy, clearly remembering how their first time at the beach was.

Fidgeting, the boy’s cheeks flashed in a bright red as he slipped his hand into his Father’s, mumbling a quiet ‘thank you’ as they walked into the light pouring out of the Portal.

“When we cross, it’s gonna be FWOOMP!” Kana pulled Katerina, trying to emulate the sound one makes when they jump on soft sand, though Katie actually understood it and started hopping as they crossed the light.

“Don’t run to the water, you two!” Kamui warned as the world turned white around her, already used to jumping between Deeprealms like that. Once her sense of self was back, she was greeted by the bright sun, hot weather and glittering waters of the sea as the warm sands engulfed her feet.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!” Katerina yelled at the top of her lungs, startling both King and Queen and their Crown Prince as well. “SO PWETTY! PWEETTY!” She slipped her hand away from Kana’s hold, running ahead of him to roll around in the sand.

“Ah, your dress- Katieee, let me take off your dress first, pumpkin!” Kamui ran towards the two youngest children, “Kana, catch her! Catch, catch, catch!” She pulled her own dress up, discarding it on the wind, hoping Xander would get it from wherever he was behind her.

Chuckling, the King all but needed to extend his arm upwards to catch the flying dress, still not letting go of Siegbert’s hand as the both of them carried the bags with their beach supplies for their stay. “Is it still scary, Son?” Xander gestured with his chin towards the sea, understanding Siegbert’s concerns deeply as a fellow non-swimmer.

“Oh, not at all, Father!” Siegbert replied with sincerity. “Kana is an apt swimmer and his enthusiasm over the years shaved away my fear of the sea. It IS still rather overwhelming, though…” The prince looked down, sheepish.

Xander let go of their handhold to pat his son’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go have fun with your brother and sister? I shall set up our luggage here for the time being.”

Siegbert peeked at his siblings, gasping in surprise as he watched Kana sprint right at him.

“Here, Papa, our clothes!” Kana dumped the clothes he and Katerina had been using on Xander’s arms. “C’mon, Big Bro! The water’s super warm and Katie’s super excited to start swimming!”

“Swimming?! Isn’t she too small to start?” Siegbert held Kana’s hand as he followed the young prince towards their little sister, overly concerned about the tiny, excitable toddler.

Forgotten and full of luggage, Xander simply snorted to himself and placed the bags under a tree so he, too, could remove his formal clothing and join his family by the water.

“Papa!! Papa!!!!” Katerina huffed, tired from paddling, but too excited to care, “water is whooshy! WOOSHY!” She opened both arms to ask for upsies, not realizing she was in the middle of trying to swim from Kamui to Siegbert.

There was no cause to worry, however, since Kamui was still holding the toddler’s waist, so the little girl herself didn’t realize what she was doing. Frowning in concern, Xander took his daughter in his arms, sitting by the shallow water they’ve all gathered to introduce Katie to the sea. “It really does, does it not? However, be more careful, hm? The sea is as beautiful as it is dangerous.”

“Mhm, mhm!” Katie nodded, retaining absolutely no information whatsoever, as she wriggled herself out of Xander’s arms so she could try to paddle to her bibig bro instead.

“Awawa,” still unsure about how to properly hold his sister, Siegbert fidgeted once she was safely in his arms. “There, Katie, you’re with Big Brother now.” He smiled shyly, receiving her bright grin in response.

“Bibig bro is best!”

“Hey, I’m also your big bro! Aren’t I also the best?” Kana shoved his head in their midst, splashing water everywhere with his erratic hair.

“Bibig bro best!” Katerina puffed her cheeks, squeezing Siegbert’s neck in a too-tight embrace.

“Oh yeah? I’m gonna show you!” Kana wriggled his fingers towards Katerina, and, by the look in the little girl’s eyes, she knew what was coming. “Tickle tickle tickle!!”

“Nooo! Heeheehe!” Katie kicked water and brothers alike in her flailing, letting out that loud, adorable and absolutely fulfilling laughter only a toddler can make.

Covering her mouth with both hands to hide her huge grin, Kamui couldn’t tear her eyes away from the heartwarming scene she and Xander’s children were portraying, her chest suddenly being overcome with emotion.

Likewise, Xander slipped his hand into his Queen’s under the water, transmitting the thoughts and feelings they never tired of admitting to one another, no matter how long they’ve been married for: That they loved each other.

That they were overjoyed to have nurtured a family as loving and complete as this one.

That there was nothing they would’ve changed in their past, knowing that this was the future that awaited them.

At last, that they simply, truly, wholly and unconditionally love one another.

[macuilsung]

(gallant-gained) "Sing for me! Please."

@gallant-gained​​ via Send "Sing for me" for my muse to sing yours a song (closed!)

Result: . . . ?

“At once, milord!” With a lowly dipped bow to Prince Siegbert out of the way, Forwin already made to brandish his trusty instrument, testing with plucking and strumming to ensure that everything was in sound working order. For the future King of Nohr this eve, there would be no arrangement, not a borrowed tune with his added flair and whim providing new flavour... no, this next little ditty will be a Tyrell original. Time for Nohr’s esteemed court musician to do his job!

Key of G Major, for a jaunty prestissimo (200 beats per minute).  And a 1. And a 2. And a 1, 2, 3, 4...!

♪ “Well hey there, young master! Just another lov’ly day Birds a-singin’, flowers bloomin’ Won’t have it any other way

♪ “But wait there, young master! What’s got you feeling blue? I see your smile can’t reach your eyes My goodness, it’s all askew!

♪ “Could it be because you think of darkness way out there, Clouds casting doubt on whether you’re actually worthy?

♪ “Then here’s a secret with you I’ll share, my dear sweet little heir: His Royal Highness on the throne... We oft forget he’s just flesh and boooone~!

♪ “Though heavy be the head upon which the crown will rest Where every passing day puts your character to the test Don’t lose heart, young master, For your story’s just begun! Allow yourself some joy, good sir For you’re more than Xander’s son!”

Yes, Forwin wrote this number out of a sense of kinship he felt towards Siegbert. The rigid and demanding responsibilities of nobility, seeking a comforting gaze only to find expectations so heavy their weight could grind your soul to powder... these were the same troubles the bard knew all too well due to his own upbringing. Perhaps he would consider sharing his story with the prince over tea sometime...

...but for now, however, he would sing brightly and play on with vigour, his lyrics weaving in truths and lessons he wished he learned as early as his formative years.

[giratinalove3]

Different Mom prompts for Siegbert

Nobody asked of this from me but I’m going to do it anyways because Siegbert is undeniably one of my favorite characters in Fates and probably Fire Emblem. And I’m going to do one for Shiro next. ———————————————————— •Peri: He got ot her amazing cooking skills and a bit of her temper. And is a lot more bloodthirsty when it comes to fighting. Though he destests needless death, he’s not okay with innocent lives being taken for unjust reasons. He’s most likely to throw objects at people when he’s mad. Is probably one of the most hardest cryers, like Peri, out of the Siegberts. Outsiders can’t hurt him when they say something, unless they are about his mother; he will eviscerate them. ——————————————————— •Selena: He’s slightly more petty and sarcastic. One time he was feeling particularly petty he named one of his swords Xanfried to get back at his father for nameing him after his sword (though he soon learned that’s wasn’t the reason for the origin of his name. He still kept the name Xanfried for his sword though). He’s insecure about how his red hair looks on him. Is slightly a compulsive shopper. Which annoys his father to no end that both his wife and son love to go shopping. ———————————————————— •Effie: He’s undeniably one of the strongest versions of Siegbert. He likes to push himself to the limit. He is the most self-conscious about his body than other versions of himself since he works out so much; To bad puberty is weird stage of life that messes up your body. Can definitely out bench Xander, which makes Xander both proud and scared of his own son. He stress workouts and probably loves food(minus Azura Version) the most. Can likely crush a skull with ease with just his elbow. ———————————————————— •Corrin: He has more of lighter outlook on life(though the Xander part of his puts a damper on that). Is disappointed in himself that he can’t trasform like his brother or mother. When he does transform for the first time he will most likely scream then find it to be fun in a dragons body and runs for a little while before he collapses due to exhaustion. Is crazy protective over his brother. Sometimes when angry he snarls showing his teeth unconsciously letting his dragon claw grow. Is the most pacifistic out of the Siegberts. He trust people more often which gets him hurt a lot(both mentally and physically). Acts like a total cat when he’s happy; Purring, rubbing his head on you, sometimes you can even hear a little tiny baby mew. ———————————————————— •Nyx: Has very low immunity to magic which makes his constantly sick (explains his bad stats). He wants to wield Siegfried so, so badly but easily starts to get sick when constantly being near the divine weapon; He works hard to overcome this. He does know that his parents don’t want him to wield Siegfried for this very reason; he acts like it doesn’t bother him but it really does. Has the lowest self-esteem out of all of them. He has shown great magical prowess towards the dark arts. ———————————————————— •Beruka: He’s the most paranoid. He is also the least expressive. He has thought of every possible attempt on his life and has a very dark outlet of the world around him, for his mother drilling into him that since he’s the crown prince he’s a high target and once he becomes king he will have to constantly look behind his shoulder. Keep friends close and enemies closer after all. (Sorry there isn’t a lot, I don’t really ship Beruka and Xander together). ———————————————————— •Azura: Has the best singing voice out of all the Siegberts,though he’s to shy too demonstrate it. Like his mom, has to be bribed into coming to social event. He doesn’t want to take the throne but since Shigure has shown clear signs that he CLEARLY doesn’t want to be king leaves only him to become the king. He hates everything having to do with social events. Is a total wall flower that has extreme social anxiety that will be that one introvert at the party that stays near to food and drinks. ———————————————————— •Felica: Is the most clumsy- DEAR GOD HE DID IT AGAIN!😱 DON’T WORRY OTHER MOTHER or sister HAS COME TO SAVE YOU! He doesn’t have a good grasp on his height; Constantly hits his head on the door frames, walks into low hanging lights, trips on his own legs or trips someone with his legs, accidentally runs into door frames or walls, etc. Tries to keep his powers in check, seriously the boy’s hands are always freezing (LIKE ME BECAUSE IM A WALKING CORPOSE IN THE REAL WORLD) a room always has to be pre-heated before he enters because it gets cold real quick. Forrest makes everyone wear sweaters when entering into his cousin’s room. He gets hot extremely quickly. Doesn’t have a good grasp at how cold he can get let alone feel the cold weather natural or magic related. The only good that has come to the poor boy is that he has a very high pain tolerance. ———————————————————— •Charolette:He has the biggest lying and manipulative streak out of all the other versions. Fits in best with court. He also has his own version of Charrolette’s creepy smile, his is less harsh but it can still freak people out. Cares most about his looks, always keeping up with the lastest trend. Is the least trusting of people and doesn’t like opening to those that will abuse that power against him and shows his true colors sparingly. Like Effie!Siegbert, can out bench Xander, but not as much as Effie!Siegbert. ———————————————————— •Mozu: This Siegbert has his own garden and enjoys the slower pace of life. He serves foreign dignitaries some salad from his garden. Sometimes slips into Hoshidan when he’s either excited or lying. He has freckles on his face and his ma loves to call them angels kisses. He can out bench Xander but he can’t out becnh Mozu. He has a Saint Bernard and a lot of little annoying birds that come stop by Krakenburg from time to time. Hates those who talks bad or does bad things to the lower class. ———————————————————— •Hinoka: He trains the most out of all the Sieggy’s. Is probably the harshest in himself when it comes to training. Has to physically be stopped to end training. Has the shortest temper out of the Siegs. Doesn’t as along as well with his Hoshidan cousins as Sakura!Siegbert. Butts heads with Shiro a lot. Stubborn as hell. Headstrong. Has a bit to much pride to be healthy, though he isn’t cocky. (Also don’t really ship Hinoka and Xander together) ———————————————————— •Sakura: Got her stutter. Extremely shy. Can’t be bribed as easily into coming to social events. Extreme social anxiety. Gets along best with Shigure. Tried to play to koto but was bad at it and hasn’t tried to play an instrument since. ———————————————————— •Oboro: He’s always updated with the latest fashion in both Hoshido and Nohr. Knows how to sew. Takes pride in both his cultures. Has a different version of Oboro’s demon face, only shows it to people he truly despises (haters of Nohr or Hoshido will see his wrath, people who talk bad about the lower class, those who abuse their power, etc) ———————————————————— The one thing all these boys have in common is that they are total mama’s boys and would do anything for their mothers.I got really lazy on the last few.

[iasfuturekings]

🌟

A Director’s Cut: What IAFK Could Have Been

It’s been years since I started writing “As Dark Comes the Night” because I didn’t really think I’d make an actual fic out of it (and honestly the story barely is one), but it’s interesting to think about the original idea of what the story would have gone, which was a lengthy two part series spanning two generations. The first part would play out like a majority of the original Conquest plot, but the second generation would be main characters of a Revelations like plot.

Before, I hadn’t intended to make radical changes to the story, so Ryoma would have died, Hinoka would be made queen of Hoshido, and Takumi would “die”. By “die,” I meant that Anri and company would have defeated him, and kept him alive somehow, probably putting him in a chamber of a still functioning Vallite temple. To the public, and to the Hoshidan family, Takumi was dead. To the Nohrian royal family and a small set of mages, Takumi was not quite dead and needed a little something to go back to normal. The problem was that they didn’t know what that thing was. To make matters worse, Azura had disappeared the day Takumi was subdued, and despite Anri’s efforts to find her, she remained absent and unable to give them any answers.

Azura, Ryoma, and Takumi did have children before they died, so these children would grow up in a totally different world where Hoshido was in some ways in submission to the Nohrian empire. Shiro would be the next heir to the Hoshidan throne, and his siblings were Caeldori, Kiragi, and Rhajat. They’d grow up seeing the Nohrian royal family as tyrants who had killed the king and his brother, and their uncle Anri a traitor to the family.

On the Nohr side of things, Siegbert would be in preparations to fulfill his duties as crown prince of the Nohrian empire, while his sister Ornella would be his advisor and spymaster. Nina, Kana, and Forrest were honorary members of the royal family since they weren’t related to the royal family by blood, but they still help out all the same. Shigure, Laslow and Azura’s son was also included here, trained under House Lovell’s up and coming squadron of Dark Fliers.

What kicks off the second part is a minor skirmish where Siegbert encounters Caeldori, and starts questioning why Hoshido holds so much contempt for his uncle Anri, who tells him not to worry about such things. Ornella and Nina, who are learning the ropes of managing Nohr’s intelligence network, find troubling information that their parents are holding from them, and enlisting the help of Hoshido’s ninjas and royal family to figure out more about the truth of the battle that ended the Hoshido-Nohr conflict. Shigure also gets memories or dreams of his mother, who communicates with him to lead him to find the Tears of Anankos, the pendant that disappeared with his mother years ago. Together, they would be led to uncover the temple where Takumi is held, and also the reason why Azura disappeared, all while Anankos coming back from his failed possession of Takumi.

I didn’t write much of this plot once I decided to cut the second part and changed the plot again, but this would have been less happier of a stoy compared to the one I have now. At least in this story, Anri wouldn’t have any complications to his existence, meaning that he wasn’t experimented on as a child and wouldn’t be dealing with getting his soul ripped in and out of his body all the time. Most of his character would be coping with taking responsibility for a wider array of atrocities while still trying to make things right.

[duskroine]

immortal.

Born by the stars; she lived a thousand lives. She died a thousand times. She lived. She breathed. She bled. Fought. Spoke. Sung. 

     Her legend told a million times. To children. Adults. Friends. Forrest, Nina, Siegbert... Midori, Kana, Soleil, Mitama...? Myths told to crowds. Gravestones. Her father’s. 

          She lives; her father dies.

                         She died; her father lives.

                                       They both die.

                                                 They both live.

The stars glimmer.

     An Ophelia that follows her father. Everywhere he goes. Anywhere he goes. He goes home -- she goes, too. New faces. New kingdom. New country. 

    Nohr is gone. Hoshido has f a l l e n. 

    There’s a gravestone -- there are hundreds. Her father trades a tome for a sword. She does, too. The blade weighs feather-light in her hand.

The stars are bright.

     An Ophelia that grows and lives and follows a path that she made. Everything is white, her cheeks ache from smiling so much. She’s standing before friends and family. And strangers -- she doesn’t know a few of them. They look familiar, but their smiles don’t ring. Something does, though. 

    Bells...? Soleil... Forrest... Siegbert... who?

         The keys of a piano...? 

    There’s a bouquet in her hands. A blanket wrapped in folds. Around something. There’s crying; she’s crying.

The stars are burning.

     An Ophelia who falls as loud as thunder. Lightning crackles around her fingers, flickering out as easily as the blue flames curling in her irises. The lance tears through her body -- the knight’s armor singes from a single bolt of magic. 

     Her knees hit the ground, a hand curling around steel. Coated in blood and sweat and lightning. Someone’s running at her, an incantation bubbles on her tongue. 

          “ Ophelia! ”

     She coughs and splutters and chokes. A staff is raised in her direction.

         “ Don’t pull it out! Wait! ”

     White begins to pull at the corners of her vision just as her hands shake, yanking the lance from where it rested in her chest.

         “ OPHELIA! ”

The stars are dying.

     An Ophelia who isn’t pulled beneath the tide of a Chosen One. Dusk bleeds through the memory; it isn’t her surname. She’s just Ophelia. Just a girl standing within a meadow. Blades of grass brush against her ankles. The smell of spring hangs in the air -- heavy with rain and rebirth and...

          Rebirth??

               She’s... reborn?

                    A crown is set upon her head, stems of flowers weaved with each other and laced with silk. She sees frills. Pink. White. Forrest smiles at her -- bright, pure. She calls him prince, he gives her a bashful, small smile. A similar crown of flowers is rests on his own head.

          “ Hey! Ophelia, Forrest! ”

               She turns. Nina’s there, a journal in one hand and the other on her hip. 

                   “ Lunch is ready, come on! ”

Her vision shatters, the sky turns dark. The flowers are aflame -- her hands carry fire and not lightning. Blue. Aquamarine. The sky holds no stars. It’s empty. She’s lost. She’s dead. They’re gone. Where are t h e y? The air is cold. NOHR. The flowers, although bright, are fully bloomed and staring at her. HOSHIDO. The stars are gone. DEEPREALMS.

         “ Welcome to Fodlan! May I ask for your name, miss? ”

               She turns, once more. The ground shifts and she’s no longer herself. She’s no longer... her. She watches as someone sits down in a cushioned chair, plush with velvet. Ophelia sits across from him -- wearing clothing unlike her own. The man smiles; this Ophelia does, too.

                   “ Ophelia. ” she sucks in a breath as the other talks, “ The name is Ophelia Dark! The fairest swords-woman in all of... ”

[sireneia]

allisallies replied to your post: me finding out that siegbert abides by rating...

shiro vc: okay but rate those muscles sieggy

casts a cursory glance to shiro’s muscles before answering,  “ i’d say an eight. certainly one of the best builds i’ve witnessed, but sir arthur and benny may rival you yet, shiro. ”