#guest muse: opettaja aamunkoitto

[shiroi---kumo]

( @aquaticsoul is cuddly ) ->

✨📚 / ☀️📚 +

The blankets are all out of smells again. Normally, he would just swap them, but he cannot seem to find a way to do it without waking either of his friends this time.

After an increasingly stressful few minutes spent trying to figure it out, he finally finds a solution: moving his entire blanket and pillow supply from his room to their bed in a strategically-arranged pile.

They will just have to deal with him for a while. He picks up one of Valo's arms to put himself under it, burrowing his face against the historian's chest as he settles into the first proper Misterican nest made in the past sixteen years. This is his comfy spot now.

Hopefully they don't get too upset.

.·:¨༺ ✩★✩ ༻¨:·. There is an invader in their bed. A small blue invader that neither of them need to open their eyes to know who it is. He's crawled into their bed far too many times before from all the way back to his very first week of employment by the palace. It's almost too easy the way the newest member of the nest manages to sandwich himself between them.

An arm is lifted after a blanket is added. A body soon follows along with more pillows and once that arm is lifted and a smaller form of blue has squirmed his way underneath, the Historian only coos a little as his locks down and he gives the body a tight but quick squeeze. His eyes never open and his head leans to rub his horns against those of the man in his arms.

A larger arm swings over the both of them as the man of pink moves himself closer to keep that new form firmly (but gently) sandwiched between them. He took leans down without opening his eyes to place a gentle kiss on the top of a cyan head. It's then that the purring starts. Loudly does the pair begin to let their bodies fall to a natural rumble. It's so much warmer now and they're both so comfortable.

They've been so exhausted since finally finding a place they could call safety. Revon is still recovering from his injuries, Sielu is with them now and Pilvi is healthy and safe. There isn't much more to worry about now. They could sleep a little longer.

Like they used to all those long years ago. Now it finally feels like home.

[shiroi---kumo]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ Neither pair of eyes look up when footsteps enter room. The historian is perched in bed again, health failing for the day as it had so many times in years long past. Mint green eyes are focused in on the book in pale hands as the man of orange reads over the words as quietly as his mist.

"You can join us if you want Sielu, it's no trouble." The younger of the pair says as the dawn turns only to stop as deep pink meets jade green. "Ah - ah Your Highness I didn't -"

"Am I interrupting something-?"

"N-no not at all."

A head of orange is raising, soft mint meeting jade moons as a smiles stretches out behind the man's mask.

"Minun Pilveni. What can we do for you, Highness?" (My Pilvi)

That's enough of a welcome for the prince to enter as his weight shifts from side to side making his way across the room to take a seat beside the bed the historian occupies.

"What are you reading? Sorry I haven't -"

"Nonsense. I know you've been busy, Pilvi. There's no need for apologies. I'm just glad you're here and you're okay."

The Dawn shifts to pull a second chair up next to the young prince so he can join their conversation.

"Highness, we are aware that things that been complicated for you and for Sielu. We know Revon has needed your presence far beyond anything we could understand. It's alright that you've taken some time. We waited for you for sixteen years. Waiting a little longer is no trouble."

Jade drops down to his lap as hands stitch together to twist fingers into themselves. Fingers picking awkwardly at fingernails while the boy turned man starts fidgeting with what to do and what to say.

"I - I missed you both so much. I was so scared I lost you. I - did some pretty foolish things when you disappeared and I - "

A hand is moving from the lap of the man of pink to rest upon fidgeting hands in hopes of calming the lunar prince's nerves.

" -whatever you did is done, Highness. All that matters is you're here with us now."

There is a drop of his head as he nods, listening to the elder's words as the pink star speaks only for the orange to chime soon after.

"Come here, Highness. Come set with me. Let me hold you. It's been so long and I -please let me be this selfish."

So he rises, moves to shift himself up to the edge of the bed so he can perch himself next to the man of orange only for the starlight to reach forward and envelope him in his arms. Softly is he brought to the elder's chest, just as softly as tears start to rain like falling stars weeping from a sunlit dawn.

His mask floods back, lips pressing down with love behind the motion as they gently rest into snowy hair. His family. His binds. He's missed them all so much and how Opettaja Valo is acting now ... Is how he should have known it was all a trick.

This was the truth of it. This is what the man was really like. There was no ulterior motive or grand scheme to whisk him back into hell's grasp this time. This time it was just Opettaja Valo and Opettaja Aamunkoitto and this time he was safe.

He should have known. He should have known they would never be apart. He should have known Aamunkoitto would never leave Valo's side. Not with the state of his health and not since it seemed the state of said health hadn't improved even in all these years.

"Rakastan Sinua, Minun Pilveni. Paljon. Niin Paljon." (I love you my Pilvi. A lot. So much.)

And the scent of books and fresh ink is filling his senses to the brim. The smell of fresh tea and the soft dew of the morning. This was Opettaja Valo. No dust or mildew.

This was Tähtien for truth this time.

And he finds himself sinking into his hold. He finds himself sinking into his arms and melting against his chest so he can listen to the heartbeat that has always been a tad bit weaker than most but still proud all the same. He's sinking and he doesn't mind going under this time.

It's been so long...

The bed sinks down. There is weight just behind him and strong arms are reaching forward to wrap both himself and Valo within the embrace of the rising sun. He feels so small like this. He feels so small as he is neatly tucked into the space between both of them, and he doesn't have it in him to move because as Aamunkoitto's head leans down, he can feel the tears dropping onto his shoulder.

He's always been a crier. Despite the frowns and deep voices. Despite the strict rules and unwillingness to accept any of his tomfoolery, Opettaja Aamunkoitto has always been so quick to cry.

"I missed you so much, Highness. I was scared. So scared we lost you. I didn't know what to do. How to keep going. It was miserable. We thought you were -"

"But I'm not." The youngest sounds as he allows his body to fall into a low purr. "I'm not and I'm okay and I'm right here in your arms. I'm alive and you're not dreaming Opettaja. I promise you, I'm not a dream. I'm really here with you."

The tears rain harder. Both their souls storm. A torrential downpour that had been held a bay for so many years too long.

Both men can only hold on to him so tightly. Both men can only thank the heavens that he's okay. That he's alive and he doesn't know how to tell them the truth so for now he'll just allow himself to curl into their presence and he'll allow himself to be tucked away from the world where he can be safe within their arms.

He's no longer a child, long since grown into a man but for the next few moments he'll remain their boy just as they remember him. He doesn't have the heart to tell them they have to let go.

[shiroi---kumo]

( @aquaticsoul , the glitter pen has concerns. )

📚☀️ +

Sielu's being exceptionally clingy to Aamunkoitto today beyond just choosing a spot to nap. He's been like this since he's woken, ignoring any other possible places to be in favor of wrapping all four of his limbs around the mathematician, hands both tightened in a death grip around whatever fabric they could find. And he's stayed like that for hours. He's started to speak a few times, but cut himself off before he could get very far into it - and it's not out of fear. It's out of "trying to make the words make sense", and at least he did manage to explain that much a while ago. Finally, though, after spending time trying to think between short naps, he decides to just tell the truth plain and simple. "I'm having a bad day," he mumbles, and it's possibly the most honest thing he's ever said in his life. "My chest hurts and I'm tired and... the plants keep saying you're going to hate me when we find him. You're going to hate me and get rid of me because he's better than I am but... You wouldn't do that, would you? I don't feel like you would... They're lying, right?"

.·:*¨༺ ✩★✩ ༻¨*:·. Fingers are slowly stroking and twisting through blue waves and even if they've been stuck out here in the forest more often than not most days now because of his stupid mouth, that doesn't mean they've neglected basic care and that means making sure that Sielu's hair (and his own) got brushed each and every day. These musical waves of blue are an ever extending song nowadays and he'll listen to whatever tune they have to sing for him.

No matter the genre. Whatever it was, that was fine.

Sielu says he's having a bad day and with the way the musician is clinging to him like a lifeline he gathered that much. At least he's honest about it this time though. He's honest in his fears that once they find the prince - find Pilvi - that they'll simple replace him and turn on him as the prince apparently did.

He still wants to know the full story with that and wants to hear the reasoning for it from the prince's mouth because it doesn't make any sense no matter which one of it had been but it makes even less sense for it to have been Aqua Sielu of all people. Mr. Nap Spot Do Not Touch the Prince himself.

It hadn't mattered how old the prince got. Somehow he managed to drop that man from time to time and sure enough they would find the pair of them curled up and sleeping when they should have been working. They were so close. It was no mystery why having someone like Valkoinen Pilvi abandon him was so crushing. Soul Binding aside. Even if the two had not been bound it still would have hurt just as much. Sielu treated that boy as if he was his own from the day he met him and Pilvi - he adored Sielu so none of it made any sense.

So that's why he would still like to hear the reasoning straight from the prince. His answer would decide on whether he hugged him or he punched him. Even if the boy was his Liege, that doesn't mean he wouldn't knock him down a peg when he needed it and if he was still the same person - his Pilvi wouldn't have it any other way.

He expected his binds to check him and to keep him in line and on the right path.

It doesn't make sense, but doubting Sielu or questioning what he experienced wasn't going to change anything other than making it all worse. What happened, already happened and he couldn't do anything to take it back - so disqualifying what Sielu experienced because of his own questions and doubts would just make the musician spiral again and no one needed that.

"He is my liege and you are my friend. The two of you are not the same. He cannot replace you in my heart. It would be like saying I would simply stop being friends with Valo because of the prince and we all know that's impossible. No matter what His Highness has to say about it, you're not going anywhere. We won't just abandon you. He is my Liege and you are my Glitter Pen. Simply not comparable. I love you both for different reasons, but His Highness has never quite had the same sparkle that you do. Even now you're still so glittery."

His other hand moves and it slowly slips under cyan bangs and swipes them to the side so there is a clear path to the man's forehead and a light kiss is placed down on the top of his head.

"Whatever you're hearing is a lie. I will always want you in my life, as long as you'll have me. You're family to me. No one can ever replace that."

[shiroi---kumo]

( @aquaticsoul ) ->

📚☀️ +

"Hyvää syntymäpäivää," he says. "... No present really, but... I wanted to tell you."

It's plain. It's simple. He doesn't have anything to his name to offer as a gift aside from the cookies he's holding out.

"Thanks for being alive an entire additional year. I think I'd fall to pieces without you. Rakastan sinua."

It's not grand, but the attempt at humor is the best he can do. If one were to look closely enough, they'd be able to catch the hint of the very rare genuine smile creeping onto his face.

He smiles a genuine smile at the offered cookies and the well wishes but his arms open instead to pull the man of blue into them so he can hold him lightly with one hand pressed against cyan hair to allow the musician to rest his head against the elder's chest.

"Kiitos. I already have the best present I could ask for though. You. However, your cookies taste like your mother's, so I won't ever deny them. Thank you for being here with me. Rakastan Sinua niin paljon, Aqua."

[shiroi---kumo]

Misterica - Land of Mist || Always Accepting

Anonymous asked: 📚☀️☁️ + What made you fond of those twins you keep so close, anyway? They seem like the type of people you'd scold for a lack of discipline and try to avoid... and their Mist is nowhere even close in color to yours. How do their antics not get on your last nerve? Shouldn't they be working instead of slacking off? They're supposed to teach the prince, but are they even doing that? Why would you ever tolerate their behavior?

·:¨༺ ✩★✩ ༻¨:·. "For starters, you're getting on my last nerve faster than either of those two do. Also their names are Sielu and Sydän, not 'those twins'. Being twins doesn't sum up their entire reason for being. They're twins but they're entirely different people with different personalities, so I suggest you respect this.

As for slacking off, they hardly do either. Both of them are some of the hardest working Mistericans in their fields I have ever met. Do you think they became experts at their crafts over night? Obviously you know nothing of the arts.

So for your information if you must know, I tolerate their behaviors because they are both literal geniuses in the arts they profess in. They are teaching the prince and masterfully I might add. Prince Pilvi is becoming single-handedly the most talented musician and dancer, Misterica has ever seen and they're to thank for it.

There's more to life than your human based academics. The sheer arrogance ... I swear."

[shiroi---kumo]

Would you rather... || Accepting

@dont-call-me-a-lyre asked:

📚☀️☁️ + would you rather have to take on sielu or sydän in a fistfight? one is really strong and the other is extremely fast/agile. i'm sure you can figure out which you're statistically more likely to win though, right math man? what do you choose?

"While I could set here and ramble about statistics with you all night, the answer to this not question has a much simpler answer than you're giving them credit for. I would rather worry about factors over statistics and the fact of the matter is sydän is the only answer here. Sielu bites."

[shiroi---kumo]

( @aquaticsoul , for one very special birthday boy who he adores ) ->

It's taken a little bit of asking around to figure out birthdays, and it's taken a lot of pondering to think of what he can do for Valo's. At first, he'd thought maybe a book would do nicely, but... no, way too easy. Valo would enjoy any book handed to him any time, of course, but everyone knows that from the very moment they lay eyes on the man (who so often has one in front of him) that he likes books. Writing music is a possibility, too, but that's something Sielu is just known for and thus it is also much too easy. After several days and nights struggling over what makes a perfect gift for such a nice friend, he decides to do exactly what he does best: stop worrying about it and wait for the right thing to just appear. And Celestial Mother be blessed, it shows up just a couple of weeks before the day he needs it as he's helping his father and a few of his father's friends go through some boxes. It's falling apart. It's in dire need of some help. But most importantly, it's really old. And historians, such as Valo, tend to quite enjoy things that are really old. Sielu has no issue with taking the time each evening afterward to clean it oh-so-carefully, not telling a single soul what he's doing. Not even his twin, for once! This is Valo's present from Sielu and it needs to be a surprise. He just can't risk it. And he can't risk someone doing better than him, either. Finally, finally the day comes, and Sielu is up earlier than the sun so he can be the first (besides Aamunkoitto) to greet his friend. He shows up to the palace early and then to Valo's room as soon as he knows the man is good and awake (because of watching Aamunkoitto in the hallway), practically bouncing and all smiles. "Päivä tervehtii, Valo! I have something. It's for you," he explains, extending both a full gallon of water and a long, neatly-wrapped box that looks like it weighs far more than it actually does. In it rests a lyre carefully and securely packed so that it won't be damaged or broken. "I was just gonna get you a book, but this is way cooler. One of my teachers - who's a friend of my father's - got a few boxes of stuff sent to him. Mostly stuff that his choir could actually use, but also this. There was like... an entire debate on ethics and stuff, and we all eventually decided it should go to a historian, and I said I knew one, and then I told them about you and how you used to go looking in the ruins and stuff, and we all agreed you'd probably like it." He's got an awkward grin on his face by the time he's halfway done rambling, shifting a little to put his hands in his pockets. "But the reason we said it should go to you is because that thing is probably at least a few hundred years old, if not more. It's not playable at all anymore without a lot of work, and it was an argument between preserving a historical artifact and re-establishing playability. Uh... you can tell which side won that because I didn't even replace the strings. All I did was clean it up and put it back together, so be careful. I probably don't have to tell you that it'll fall apart if you mishandle it. It's not really like... a huge significant discovery or anything and there's no like... sign it should go to the church, so... there you go. A neat super-old instrument just for you, restored by yours truly. If you want an idea of how it would have sounded back then, I can get ahold of a more modern one sometime, and by that I mean I borrowed one and it's in my classroom and I'm totally using it in my lesson sometime soon. I'll bring it in here for you later. I've gotta tune it." He's still beaming, extra proud of himself because this makes two presents: the lyre and an evening performance (even if Sielu can barely play the lyre, and the performance will definitely be comedic in nature because of this). It seems he's just extremely happy about Valo's existence in general. And honestly, who wouldn't be?

·:*¨༺ ✩★✩ ༻¨*:·. That's right. He knows what today is and right now mint colored eyes are looking over the sleeping form that is resting in one of the two beds that exist within the small inn they've come to find shelter in. How long as it been? His heart is swelling at the memory and he's come to find that he is unable to look away from the sleeping form of pale and blue as his chest rises and falls with such a gentle rhythm.

He remembers it all so clearly and he was so touched when it happened. What a thoughtful gift. What a thoughtful action and while he finds himself wondering for a moment why his mind would give him that specific memory to recall part of him thinks he already knows the answer.

What a gift it was and he's looking at the slumbering form of his friend thinking the same thing. It's been so long since their home was lost to the abyss of the Great Dark's endless hunger that to be gifted something so precious as his friend...

Ah he can feel the tears building up in his eyes as he gets emotional thinking about it, so a hand is raising to wipe them away; mint eyes continuing to stare quietly. There's really nothing better he could think to have on such a day.

"Tähtien?" A deeper but concerned voice sounds as arms come to wrap around him from behind. "You look like you could cry, are you alright?"

"I'm alright, Nousi." He replies leaning into the strong body behind him for support. "A bit tired but alright. I was just remembering..."

"Remembering what?"

"One of my first birthdays at the palace once Sielu was there..."

"I see."

There is a soft nudge to rub the man of Pink's center most horn against that of the man of Orange. A gentle coo escaping once he does so.

"I was thinking how fortunate I am. That we're here and we survived and that ... "

"That?"

"...we found him. I feel so fortunate that we have Sielu with us now. He's the best gift I could ask for beyond still having you at my side."

There is a short moment when that horn of soft gold is rubbing against opal again, followed by another coo and tightening arms.

"Yes, I agree. Hyvää syntymäpäivää, Tähtien. Rakastan Sinua."

"Minäkin Rakastan Sinua, Nousi."

[shiroi---kumo]

relentless-understudy asked:

📚☀️ + I hope you know that Sielu is not the only other Misterican you'll find out in Wonderland. I also hope you're well aware that he's not the only person who has been torn apart by those people - really, not even the only Misterican. Be ready.

"Firstly, stranger, you should watch your tone. You shouldn't speak so boldly to strangers. Secondly what do you know of Sielu? That man is practically my family at this point, so I suggest you watch your words. Are you threatening him? What do you mean those people? Sielu says, Pilvi is alive. Do you mean the prince? Has something happened to him? Celestial Mother help me if anyone has dared lay hand on that boy."

[shiroi---kumo]

"I cannot believe you! For the sixth time today, I am fine!"

The words erupt from the pink haired man as just as equally pink eyes pierce into mint green. There is an awkward sounding laugh that leaves the sherbet toned man as his hands rise.

"Awww Aamu, don't get bent out of shape. I know things have been hard these past few years but we'll turn it around eventually." The elder of the pair chimes and it only leaves the man in blue grinding his teeth together as he glares through cracked frames.

It's a small quaint village that somehow has allowed to stay there as long as they have. One would think that three mist souls lurking in a world that seemed to be drowning in soul wouldn't go so unnoticed... but yet everyone seems to be lost in this place.

This place that seemingly has no name but yet it does. This Wonderland that the locals call it with terror and depression in their voices. Was that really what this place was or was it just something that seemed to pass along the wind? Either way it was strange.

"Do not start with me Valo." The man of rose snaps as glaring pinks level with his companion. "I don't want another one of your speeches, things will not turn around. The Celestial Mother is dead or do you not remember watching her form fall from the sky the same as I do?!"

It's like the air became thick with tension and anticipation the moment the words fell into it. Both pairs of eyes grew dark and silence creep in and made it's home between them. Shoulders dropped as the two men found themselves both resting on the same singular thought.

"I'm sorry." The man in green sounds with a sigh that strikes against the thin metal covering the lower half of his face. "I'm sorry Aamunkoitto. I just - we're still alive and that has to be a blessing in and of itself."

"Yes, but - " The ferocity seemingly gone from the other's voice as if ringing the water from a sponge. " - You know what that means and Valo, it's been sixteen years. Nothing's changed... it's only getting worse. You that means that - "

"-Pilvi is dead."

The voice cuts the tension between them like a knife and pink framed by green focuses in on him two companions. The expression stone cold to the words just spoken as gloved hands clench tightly at the eldest of the trio's side.

The youngers both side again as their shoulders slump further.

"We all saw the Celestial Mother engage with the Dragon Lord all those years ago and Lord Bahamut killed her. Pilvi performed his duties as prophesied and as we all feared - when he engaged with the Demon Gunman, he was delt his grim fate. We have to accept this. Misterica is gone and we won't be getting it back. Our Goddess and her Sacred Vessel are dead. We need to adapt to this world and survive if not for ourselves but for them. Now stop arguing. His Lord and Her Lady would be ashamed to see you like this."

The pair nods in unison as they sigh together. It's depression that makes their forms. Lost in this land of Wonder. Nothing has been stranger that this place that seems to be pieces that don't fit with one another smashed together. Surely even with the Celestial Mother gone, they must carry on her legacy.

"Yes, Revon. Sorry. You're right."