#alt: ffxv ; post tenebras spero lucem

[altrxisme]

@swordofthreekings // cont.

When prison warden had been droning on about their newest batch of prisoners, Johanne was glad that her helmet covered the drowsiness that threatened to bring her to sleep. She had returned from a deployment that morning and was beyond exhausted, deciding to stop by one of the bases to take a rest. More so since her unit needed it just as much as her, needing to pray for the losses in battle and to recover.

Eventually the warden swept his arm to showcase what was, in his words, the biggest catch of the lot. The woman's eyes widened underneath her helmet, but from the outside it just appeared as if she was staring down the man that had scarred her those years ago.

Cor Leonis was a complicated figure in her life. It certainly frustrated her to no end that he had bested her in combat, more so since he was the only other person that has wounded her. Her head slowly turned to the warden, the man's words tumbled into silence when she hasn't responded to anything he's said.

"How long has the Immortal been here and why has he not been treated?" There was a chill to her tone and the man attempted to speak clearly, tripping over his own words.

He was under the impression that he had taken a kill she had been planning for. It was far from the truth, but she'd let him sink with that thought.

[altrxisme]

@fracturcdlight // hero x villian sentence starters

While he knew it would have been less suspicious if he changed out of his usual retainer uniform, time was of the essence when it came to getting in contact with the Prince and his entourage on the Princess's behalf. Unfortunately, the remaining Crownsguard that were looking out for the Lucian heir hadn't been made aware of the infamous retainer's allegiances, immediately locking the young man up.

It was simply chance that the very people he was looking for were at this stop.

❛ don’t do anything stupid until i get back. ❜

"It's not that they would let me do so in the first place," Jackson huffed as he sat back in the make-shift cell he was thrown in. Already he could see the areas where he could have easily used to escape but refrained from doing, wanting to offer some from of trust to whoever he could.

He's not certain how much Luna has told the Noctis about him— he knew that she only had good things to say as it was in her nature— so it was all up to the other to draw his own conclusions of him.

[altrxisme]

@swordofthreekings sent ∗ 96﹕ sender  tackles  receiver  out  of  the  way  of  danger . (Nif!Cor for Jackson's retainer verse?)

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝑵𝑶𝑵𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑩𝑨𝑳 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺 .  // still accepting!!

He was glad that he'd gotten Luna completely out of the way before the man had tackled him to the ground. Otherwise he'd truly start punching his way to get to her, nevermind the possibility of Ravus murdering him should news of his sister being injured reach him. He would do the same in his position.

Bright blues spotted the assassin, the glint of their scope making their position terribly obvious. Jackson grabbed onto the other's shoulder to steady him when he sat up, and pulled out his gun to aim at them. One shot was all it took for the assassin to collapse, a heap onto the floor with blood pooling around him.

With a deep sigh, Jackson released his hold and let himself lay back down on the floor with a lazy grin.

"—Thanks for the opening"

[altrxisme]

@swordofthreekings sent “no, you don’t get to die” (For nif general Jo. >:3c)

send  “no, you don’t get to die”  for my injured muse to react to yours saying this while they’re bleeding. 

A rare, faint laugh tumbled past her lips, her helmet making the sound ring a bit. "So you can kill me yourself, Immortal? How sweet." Her grimace can be heard as she pulled herself up from the rubble.

A different brigade of the Niflheim Army decided to indiscriminately attack where her unit fought. She was able to get her people out in time, but at the cost of her remaining there to keep the fight on her.

"Leave me or cut me down. Death is preferable at this point..." The side of her armor had been shattered, her side bleeding heavily as she swayed on her feet.

[altrxisme]

@sylleblosscm sent ❰❰ SUPPORT ❱❱ for Jackson, it's what he deserves <3

An Extremely Self-Indulgent Meme // accepting!!

He sat on the balcony balustrade, one leg hanging of the edge while he held the other to his chest, cheek pressed against his knee. Trails of dried tears were still present on his face as he curled into himself.

If only he had kept him mouth shut, his Nana would still be alive. Jackson could deal with the week long solitary confinement, doing everything and anything to keep his mind intact before he lost himself. Having witnessed his grandmother being shot down in front of him before they threw him in a cell had him spiraling those first few days, throat raw from him crying out in anguish until he lost his voice.

He doesn't know if he could face his mother when she returned from Gralea. Either the Chancellor already told her or he withheld that information until she returned. The man was known to like adding insult to injury after all, and it didn't seem too far off.

Jackson felt a hand on his shoulder, jolting from surprise and quickly turned to look who it was. His sight was turned to the stars above, the dark night looking right back at him, as he was being held. He didn't need to see who it was to know and the tears returned as he buried his face into Luna's shoulder, his entire frame shaking from the comfort of her arms. It was difficult to keep his composure in front of his liege, the loss and fear too much for him to hold it in at that point.

He couldn't let the Empire see how much it broke him to have his family taken away, but this was the closest they got to making him yield to them.

[altrxisme]

@swordofthreekings // cont.

Johanne found herself not minding the other's presence the longer he stuck with them. She had an idea of why he was assigned to them in the first place, but it seemed that his own ties to the Empire was one of his own convenience if anything. There's a slight sense of trust built up to where she can comfortably take her helmet off around him.

It was about time too. The first few times were bearable, but she needed some fresh air while around her unit.

"It was home before my father and I got captured." She put the cubed meat in the pot, breathing in the smell of seared meat with a faint smile.

[altrxisme]

@galahdborn // cont.

For once, the stoic expression of her helmet aligned with the one she held. The Glaive before her was a familiar face, she's seen him in battles where she had to step in for General Glauca to keep up appearances. She had a feeling this was one of the General's own students when he was in Insomnia.

She greatly disliked having to fight against the Kingsglaive for two reasons; one was that they were similar to her own unit in a way, victims of a war that has been going on for so long where they've been put into a position either to fight or to die. The second was that being in such close proximity to magic like theirs made her blood cry out as her ancestors once held such magic, only for it to be taken away by the Astrals centuries ago.

There was no conscripting this one. If his conviction was as strong as what she's seen, then he would be able to make it out of this prison one way or another.

"I will not argue that, Glaive." The woman waved for her medic and her soldier who came with her to leave the cell, seeing no injuries on the man to attend to. Just as she was about to leave, she turned to the other once more. Perhaps some motivation for him to break out of there faster before the next day comes.

"Do give it some thought, Glaive. Joining my unit to live another day is a far kinder fate than being taken to Gralea." With that, she continued on conscripting the other prisoners.

[altrxisme]

[ FIVE DEATHS ] ( for Jackson, I'd like to suffer pls <3 )

𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 ‘𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒’ 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 // still accepting!! — [ FIVE DEATHS ]  send for five times our muses almost died together and the one time the sender does.

i. Luna could tell from their eyes, the shameless glee in their eyes, as Jackson writhed and struggled for air on the floor after he'd been told to taste her food as one of his duties as her newly appointed retainer. They looked at them, disgusting amusement curled on the corners of their lips as they tried to hide it behind shocked expressions.

Their fun didn't last long, however, turning into sheer HORROR when the young girl took a bite of the same food that had made the young boy collapse. Screams and the clink of glass vials, antidotes, quickly opened for both of them.

They learned not to make such an attempt at the little retainer after that, lest they PROVOKE the Oracle-in-training.

ii. Being scolded by a distressed Ravus felt as if death itself had come for them. Jackson shut his eyes whenever the older boy was in his face, yelling about how he should be taking his role as a retainer more seriously and to stop putting his sister in dangerous situations. He hadn't meant to, he wanted to gather the flowers that grew off the cliffs so that she would SMILE more.

When Ravus turned around, the young retainer opened his eyes slightly to glance at Luna to see how she was doing.

The sadness on her expression was much worse than when the entire debacle first started and he felt a part of him die in GUILT.

Part of her grieved in knowing that she had someone in her life willing to risk their well-being for her HAPPINESS, despite the fate the Astrals had set out for her.

iii. Some retainer he was if he couldn't even prevent his liege from getting kidnapped of all things.

Jackson sped down the streets after Luna and her captors, jumping over carts and dodging people that were in his way. It was part of her responsibility to travel the continent and heal those affected by the Scourge. Certain groups of people though, believed her to be a sacrifice to the Astrals to rid Eos of it. While that was partially true, they took the SACRIFICE portion of it farther than what was acceptable in society.

Legs pumping from fear of what they had in store for her, Jackson decided to bite the bullet and drew his gun, aiming at the legs of the people he pursued, thankful that Luna was being carried to avoid hitting her. They were quick to fall, but the person that had snatched the princess was certainly picked for a reason.

As if that was going to stop him.

He set his aim higher, praying that he doesn't hit Luna as he repeatedly shot at the man's back. The two tumbled onto the ground and he pushed himself even further to drag his liege away from the man. He was successful in keeping her behind him but was pulled down to by the desperate zealot who laid punches on him with the intent to KILL. A shot to his face was what took him out.

It was one of the few instances Jackson got to see Luna in tears outside the comfort of their rooms.

iv. At least they learned to not separate the two of them. The problem was that the two of them were now better coordinated for hostage situations.

Although, neither of them expected to be left hanging above a pit of DAEMONS and slowly getting lowered into it while the zealots chanted tongues unfamiliar to either of them. The group was certainly giving the Lucians a run for their gil when it came to successfully kidnapping the Princess.

Any other time, they would both find some HUMOR to this.

"—How long before Ravus comes ta rescue us, Luna? My arms are gettin' numb."

v. The Astrals were cruel beings if they were the ones that continuously put Luna in the most dangerous situations.

Jackson knew that the treaty signing wasn't what it seemed, it was clear as day to those who knew the Empire well. What he hadn't expected was for General Glauca himself to take her away in the middle of the night. He was frantic when he approached the Glaive, Nyx Ulric, about his missing liege. He'd been almost dismissed by the man until something in his communicator made him think twice.

When she went to defend Nyx with only herself against Glauca, he didn't pull her away to leave the Glaive on his own or take her place. Jackson STOOD BY HER to take the first blow in hopes that she wouldn't get the worst of it.

He could never take away the goodness within her that could very well get her killed. It was a decision SHE made, not led by anyone or anything else.

ø. He had to be dragged away from the ruins, refusing to leave his closest friend in her watery grave. His hands bled, voice hoarse, vision blurred with tears as he tried to keep them from taking him to the train.

He couldn't leave her. He will not leave her. He will not let her be alone in DEATH, just as he did for her in LIFE.

[altrxisme]

“I thought you didn’t love me and I didn’t want you to feel responsible for this…” (for either one of them )

Hanahaki disease starters // accepting!!

The urge to call him foolish was at the tip of her tongue, but she held it instead. Johanne was a woman of action, emotions unsaid but expressed through gestures and gifts to keep herself from saying the wrong things. She believed that she had made her affections for man she knelt beside quite clear, but the petals of daisies and daffodils in her hands made her think otherwise.

"Elskr..." She shook the petals away so she could pull off her helmet, taking his hands in hers as she pressed her forehead against his. "Forgive me, that I've led you to believe such a thing. I..."

[altrxisme]

❛ i wasn’t there for you when you needed me, and i’m sorry. ❜ (for Nif Jo)

&. 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐱 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. // still accepting!!

"Leonis, it is hardly your fault for not being present when it happened. You've other matters to attend to." Johanne sat near the flame in the middle of the haven she decided to camp in, using a stick to prod at the flames to keep it going. She's even more dressed down that she usually is and could even be mistaken as any other civilian who decided to go out for a solo camping trip.

Perhaps in another life, she is.

However, she is where she is, and right now she's been separated from her unit once again after another attempt on her life by her own superiors. She's certain at this point that they're either trying to take her unit away from her, kill her off to continue to attempt creating an MT commander, or both.

"You can not fix everyone's problems, elskr."

[altrxisme]

@swordofthreekings sent “Don’t touch her/him” (Either or both?)

Send “Don’t touch her/him” to see my muse’s reaction to your muse defending them against a physical threat // accepting!! — You're getting both! Have a Jackson first ;)

This particular cultist was either quite bold or they were ready to die as Cor's arm kept Jackson behind him, the man's blade kept the sword swing from following through.

The brunet wasn't completely defenseless, far from it even, but certain weapons had quite the advantage over him. More so if they were able to get the drop on him and close the distance.

He was thankful for the other's presence there. Jackson wasn't about to let the princess be on her own.

[altrxisme]

@galahdborn sent a flirtatious kiss on the back of the hand . (for jackson too bc why not :3c)

kiss & tell

"My my, aren't you delightful." Jackson smiled at the Prince, feeling his liege next to him practically buzzing with amusement. He could understand the irony of Tenebrae's Silvertongue being charmed in such a way.

He had expected a handshake initially after introducing himself, but didn't mind it in the slightest. It was different, yes, but not unpleasant. Especially from such a lovely looking prince. The tabloids certainly were right on the money in describing him.

A visit from another nation wasn't something out of the ordinary, First Secretary Claustra was known to visit Tenebrae from time to time either for business or for her own leisure. The Empire may have taken control of the land, but they would be hard pressed to attempt to prevent others, aside from Insomnian citizens, from visiting it.

The distance between Galahd and Tenebrae was quite a ways away, however, so he wondered what the reason for the Prince's visit was.

[altrxisme]

@topmechaniic // seggsual tension! // [pin] u know who :3c

It was an unexpected turn of events and something that he should have paid more attention to in the fight, his attention being split from protecting Luna and making sure Cindy had enough cover while she took fire. The only small mercy he was given by chance was that Aranea was close enough to the princess that he didn't have to think twice about getting between the falling debris and their resident driver.

The impact on his back was definitely going to last a week at most, something he wasn't looking forward to once the others got the debris off of him and Cindy.

Speaking of...

"—Pardon my positioning, Miss Cindy." Forearms on either side of her head, caging her in to keep her from getting crushed, while his knee had hooked her leg over his hip to get her on flat on her back. "Just... bear with it a while longer, yes?"

[altrxisme]

@swordofthreekings sent “Don’t touch her/him” (Either or both?)

Send “Don’t touch her/him” to see my muse’s reaction to your muse defending them against a physical threat // accepting!! — Now Johanne's turn c:

She already expected that they weren't going to be looked at kindly when she arrived to the Crownsguard's temporary base. Johanne doesn't blame them for it, her unit and herself have been in battle with them various of times throughout the years. They would be fools to immediately give them the benefit of the doubt.

The Guards she approached who were on patrol were about to strike her down despite her raised hands in surrender and showed that she had no weapons on her. She could sense the Einherjar she ordered to hide until they were safe ready to jump out the moment she was hurt.

Hearing C— the Marshal's voice sent a sense of relief in her, happy to know that he had made it out of Insomnia after that damned treaty signing. Johanne knew she shouldn't be surprised, but she was still worried.

[altrxisme]

{ alternate ffxv verses }

alt: ffxv ; post tenebras spero lucem

The last of the Valkyrie family, General Johanne Skadi Valkyrie is one of the most revered warriors of Eos who serves the Empire. A woman with a hardened upbringing, she's infamous for her prowess on the battlefield and for leading one of the few human-only units in the Niflheim Army. Her unit is known as the Einherjar, conscripted prisoners of the Empire that she deemed worthy, offering them freedom from their captors in exchange for fighting alongside her. Their unwavering loyalty to her, and only her, is a trait that confuses many. It's quite clear that her morals and goals don't align with the Empire's, but there's something preventing her from outright defecting. +++ After Jackson Renard Mercure's family failed to flee after the attack on Tenebrae directed into capturing the Prince of Lucis, the Mercures were spared by the Empire when Eva Victoria Mercure revealed her findings on the Starscourge. Finding this useful to further his ambitions, the Emperor decided to fund her research to focus on other ways of weaponizing the disease. In exchange for her service, he guaranteed her mother and son's safety, going as far as to assign the boy as Lunafreya Nox Fleuret's retainer despite his status as a bastard. The Emperor believed the boy would fail the duties he was never meant to have, but he had sorely underestimated him. +++

alt: ffxv ; vestis virum facit

It all happened on accident really. Jackson Renard Mercure simply stumbled upon an 'incident' on his way home, recognizing a few people from his Nana's job in trouble with some rather suspicious looking individuals cornering them. He may not have known them well, but the goodness in his heart had him march up right into the thick of it. Next thing he knew, he become the mediator of a deal he unknowingly got a great deal on for the mafia business the Lucis Caelum family had covered by their fashion agency. Having caught wind of this, he was offered a place in the fashion agency's PR department and to be one of the family's negotiators and informants. He agreed, under the condition that he finish his Master's degree in university first before joining. Credentials were important in the game after all. +++ A known dancer for her appearances in various music videos and an occasional band member of a local band, Vizual Bandit, Johanne Nivis lives as normally as she possibly could. There's little more she could ask for in the life her late father has secured for her. She's content with what she has. Though, she does wish that her younger brother would keep out of trouble with his secondary job at the fashion agency. There's only so many skulls she could crack throughout the week on top everything else she does; part-time model for Lucis Caelum included. It doesn't help that said secondary job involves some business her father had wanted to put far behind him. Business that involved the Aldercapt family. +++