#ancientpokehistorian

[draconscious]

⏳️ (regular or F&S)

talk about the past / still accepting!! / fire & steel au

"...Do you ever think about the war?"

It's a cliché, time-worn question, one that Clair already knows the answer to, but she has to ask it, has to talk about it, lest it eat her alive. A gentle Vanitas breeze rolls across the barren practice range, and the hardened veteran shivers, her light-armor shimmering in the crimson sunset like dragon scales. The advisor's voice, usually so crisp and authoritative, dips into a whisper, along with her head.

"It haunts me. I still have terrible nightmares about it. My rampages--"

Clair shuts her eyes, as if trying to dam the murky thoughts that threaten to race forth into her subconscious. The tactic doesn't work. It never has.

She's back on the battlefield again, surrounded by an insurmountable number of foes. Her heavy blade arcs through the air with both crushing purpose and blinding speed, striking down all without mercy, a roar ripping deep from her throat as an entire unit folds satisfyingly beneath her might.

She won't remember any of this bloodshed. It will only be retold to her in the medical tent, when she awakens from her stupor with fresh injuries, streaks of red slashing across her dented armor. Despite Pascale's efforts to cover for her blackouts, Clair still struggles to control her enflamed fervor, tempered further within the heat of battle. She's never really learned how to properly tame her unstoppable dragon-heart. (She's never really tried.)

The threat of war looms once again. And Clair is scared. Even now, her sword-hand trembles in its gauntlet. Restless and hungry.

"I'm worried. About burning up again. And not...not being able to bring myself back under control."

"I'm worried about losing you."

[themerrymutants]

🩸 Pasc to Cael "You need to stop doing this. You promised me."

Meme: Are you ok? Prompt: ❤️‍🩹  to  find  my  muse  trying  to  hide  an  injury. Tagging: @ancient-pokehistorian Currently: Accepting

"I wasn't TRYING to get hurt this time," he offered. "It'll be better by the end of the week, we heal pretty quick."

[draconscious]

@ancient-pokehistorian (continued from here / fire & steel au.)

Pascale's demand doesn't register at first. In the breathless moments following the shadowed strike, Clair can only see red, can only hear the shrill whine of anger screeching in her ears, her pale features flushing with heat as she white-knuckles her blade and prepares to chase after the royal's mysterious assailant. How dare they? How dare they?!

"Let them go!"

The Queen of Vanitas finally makes herself heard, wincing with the exertion, and Clair snarls in feral protest, her shoulders heaving with panted restraint. The advisor's trembling free hand presses a worn cloth against Pascale's wound, trying to staunch the bleeding of the (thankfully shallow) slash. That's right. That's right...

Despite the adrenaline currently thundering through her veins, Clair must not give into the hunt right now. Tending to the queen remains--as always--her number-one priority. Still, she's smoldering--and Pascale's next words prompt a hot flare of incredulity.

"No," Clair retorts forcefully, before she can stop herself. "You are not attending any balls. Or any events at all. Not in this state, and not when somebody clearly is sending for your head." Despite the fire informing Clair's words, her attentiveness to Pascale's injury remains exceedingly gentle and tender.

"You also underestimate the severity of this injury. It's going to be impossible to hide from the public, it may even require stitches, and if...if I hadn't been here, if the assassin's dagger had struck true..." The advisor trails off and gulps, shaking her head derisively. She's not even close to budging her stance on this, stubborn and overprotective as always.

"...I'm going to lock the castle down until I find whoever did this. And then, they will answer for what they just attempted to do, lest I rend them to pieces."

Her thoughts burn. Just try to convince me to do otherwise. I dare you.

[draconscious]

@ancient-pokehistorian / of fire & steel (au)

Clair is hurting everywhere.

The adrenaline coursing through the advisor's system had all but dried up upon her exit from the royal throne room, Clair managing to maintain the façade of good health until she nearly collapses into her chambers, dirty armor rattling as the platings are hastily discarded to all corners of the well-kept domain. Gods, it feels so good to be back...and the steam from her private bath feels even better.

The hot water reveals all. Assorted cuts, bruising and stubborn dirt mottle the exile's pale skin, and an angry, blistering burn races up the musculature of her arm. Clair grits her teeth amidst the soapy bubbles, trying in vain to scrub the earth from beneath her fingernails. Everywhere hurts. Truthful to her word, the warrior turned reluctant diplomat had not charged into any fights, but countless bandit encounters and a Boariler stampede had left their mark on the hardened dragon wielder. (If only Pascale was by her side to ward off those dangers.)

Pascale. Clair feels her face flush as she stumbles from the bath with a pained groan. How she had missed her throughout this year away. And yet...how could she even begin to describe the feelings welling up in her heart upon seeing the queen of Vanitas again? The advisor towels off and slips into a light robe, falling onto her bed and sighing deeply. Damp blue locks pool around her, tension begins to drain from her sore shoulders, and--even though the royal dinner nears--Clair feels so exhausted. Pascale deserves to see the exile at her best, so...

Perhaps a little nap wouldn't hurt. She deserves this much.

[draconscious]

(From Pascale, Fire & Steel)

@ancient-pokehistorian // bingo machine, go!! [fire and steel au]

"That's a lot of, um...bingos," Clair mumbles, trying in vain to stop her face from reddening in front of the Queen. "That's good, but it's just a silly little game. A thought experiment. I didn't expect you to--" (How did Pascale get ahold of this? Jules? Eudes? Hm.)

"For the record, I will be worrying and fussing over you, whether you like it or not..." the advisor grumbles. "It's my job."

[draconscious]

(From Falkner-Pascale in a Minute)

"I am not certain what this is about, but I believe it to be a good thing?"

@ancient-pokehistorian // bingo machine, go!!

"Hm. None of this is very surprising," Clair observes with a bemused shake of her head. "It is a good thing--congratulations, you're more than tolerable--but your answers are just telling me that we need to spar more often. Maybe then you'll be resilient enough to take a punch or two..." (She laughs, feinting towards him.)

"You're a good friend, Falkner. I don't need some card to tell me that, even if you haven't quite come around to the idea of a cape. Yet."