#scorchie writes

[scorchieart]

Budget Cuts

Leon: Alright, how about this one?

Chevalier: ...No.

Leon: You didn't even read the whole thing.

Chevalier: I have read enough to know it requires major revision.

Leon: Okay, fine. I can maybe cut back a few orders for the kitchens in Spring, but you'll have to answer to Yves when he—

Chevalier: Not that. Line 39.

Leon: Ah, yeah. That... It's a minor condition.

Chevalier: It does not belong in the budget plan.

Leon: It's just for one day. It'll fly by.

Chevalier: I refuse to comply.

Leon: It's your civic duty as the Second Prince to comply with the wishes of the citizens of Rhodolite.

Chevalier: And since when have the citizens of Rhodolite wished for this?

Leon: The Boys™ and I conducted an end of year survey. One question was: If you could demand one act of community service from any prince next year, what would it be?

Chevalier: Was it multiple choice?

Leon: Free response, actually.

Chevalier: Did Clavis "assist" you in your data collection?

Leon: Listen, you should be honored. And that wasn't even the top pick. But Sariel made an executive decision to veto that one. Didn't represent domestic values, or something.

Chevalier: What was it?

Leon: Jin Topless Tuesdays.

Chevalier: And yet, this was deemed adherent to "domestic values"?

Leon: Give me some leeway here, Chevalier. I'm letting you keep your bit about constructing fifty new bee sanctuaries across the kingdom, even though they pose zero military advantage as far as I'm aware. Aside from maybe stinging invaders.

Chevalier: Having additional sources of food along the journey decreases the need to overpack at the start. Additionally, the honey invigorates soldiers without risk of sugar crash.

Leon: So that's how Luke convinced you.

Chevalier: You need to revise your proposal.

Leon: You need to learn to be a team player. There are only 10 days left till the budget plan is due.

Chevalier: Meanwhile, I am counting down the days until I am crowned king and can veto any ridiculous suggestion that exits your mouth.

--— 11 days later —--

Townsperson 1: Hey, is that... is that Prince Chevalier?

Townsperson 2: Mhmm.

Townsperson 1: Wearing a giant, adorable, fluffy tiger costume?

Townsperson 2: Mmhmmm.

Townsperson 1: And handing out chocolates and terrifying grimaces to the children?

Townsperson 2: I think those are meant to be smiles?

Townsperson 1: This is why I voted for Topless Tuesdays.

Jin + Clavis: Psshhh! Speak for yourselves. *high-fives*

[deoxd]

Scalder and Scorch names both mean a wound by fire/burn, that means crackship potential. Scalder is a mean bitch that wants Scorch but he has zero interest on her (Scorchy wants the poison plant man) so she uses some mean bitch tactics to get to him. Lucasfilm hire me to write a bad Tantiss telenovela. Maybe people would hate watch it and bring you some sweet numbers.

[aquagirl1978]

I know you don’t write Sariel much, but if I could please have Sariel + Touches #1 + 🌶️ Thank you!

Hello and thank you for this very old request! Happy Birthday to the Palace Devil!

Devil Inside - Sariel Noir x Reader (Ikemen Prince)

A/N: Part of my New Year, New Celebration follower celebration.

Pairing: Sariel Noir x Reader

Prompt: touching foreheads

Word Count: 611

Tags: fluff with a hint of spice

“It’s getting late. I think we can call it a day.”

Sariel pushed his chair away from his desk; after standing up, he made his way around his desk to where you were seated and placed a gentle kiss on the top of your head.

“Why don’t you go to my room, and I’ll meet you there in a few minutes?” Sariel took the documents that were before you and peered down at you over his glasses. 

You would have rather waited for him and retreated to bed together, but you knew there was no point arguing with Sariel on points like this – the devil would always win.

Rising from your seat, you smiled at your lover. “Okay, but I expect to see you soon. You need to rest, too.”

He let out a low laugh as he perused the documents he took from you. ‘Yes, yes. I’ll be there soon.”

You left his office quietly and quickly made your way to his bedroom. Once there, you immediately flopped on the bed. It felt so good to lie down; you were so busy all day, you hadn’t realized how tired you really were.

And if you were tired, Sariel must be even more tired. The hours passed by quickly, but the days were long and with a week long full of visiting dignitaries, work never seemed to end, with Sariel working overtime most days.

The last of the visitors left earlier that day, making tonight the first night in over a week that you and Sariel were able to finish work at a reasonable time. And for that, you wanted to make tonight special for Sariel.

Excited, you jumped from the bed with a spring in your step. You hurried over to the cabinet where he kept his special ale; grabbing two glasses, you filled them with the amber liquid and set the drinks on the table. 

The winter winds howled outside – loud enough that their sudden sounds caused you to jump. When you glanced at the window, and realized it was just the wind, you chuckled under your breath.

That’s okay, you said to yourself as you shook off a small shiver. All the more reason to cuddle tonight. 

After fluffing the pillows and arranging extra blankets on the bed, you stepped back and admired your handiwork. The room was now perfect for Sariel.

There was a soft knock at the door before Sariel entered his room. “I see you kept yourself busy here,” he commented as he appraised the room with a smile.

“It’s been a very long and very hard week,” you said, handing Sariel a glass. “I think you earned a reward.”.

“My favorite,” he said, taking a sip from his glass. His smile turned seductive, his amethyst eyes darkening as his sultry gaze captured yours. 

Mesmerized by the way he looked at you, you found yourself leaning forward, your lips seeking his. Sariel sighed softly, and pressed his lips against yours. Desire overcoming your senses, your tongue probed open his lips and slipped inside his mouth. 

Lost in the kiss, your tired muscles relaxed as you pressed your body closer to his seeking his warmth. Sariel unexpectedly pulled away and broke the kiss, the taste of his ale – sweet and spicy – still fresh on your lips.

Sariel brought his hand to the nape of your neck, cradling you close to his body. With your eyes still closed and a soft smile on your lips, you looked like a sleeping angel. 

“Any more of that, and you will unleash the devil inside me,” he whispered, resting his forehead against yours. “Do you think you're ready for that?”

Tagging: @redheadkittys @alixennial @rhodolitesroseforclavis @kissmetwicekissmedeadly @chaosangel767 @queengiuliettafirstlady @queen-dahlia @ikehoe @ikemen-writer @talfollowingstuff @kpop-and-otome @kisara-16 @altairring @lucyw260 @umi-adxhira @crypticbibliophile @lancelotscloak @scorchieart @tele86 @nightfoxqueen @melodiousramblings @wendolrea @aceuuuu @randonauticrap @aria-chikage @nightghoul381 @judejazza @maries-gallery @xbalayage @xenokiryu @alydra @drachonia @ranhanabi777 @silver-dahlia @lunaaka @portrait-ninja @sh0jun

[maladaptivedaydreamsx]

Hey there! 👋

"Little Riccis" ㅡ Silvio Ricci, sounds so cute! What's it about?

Hi hi, tysm for asking Scorchie 💜

* Pregnancy/kids/afab warning for those whom the following may apply to!

To preface: I was going through bit of a "baby fever" for a bit with fics, just wanting to write really domestic fics with some suitors, or explore how they'd treat their own future kids with MC (given their childhoods and such).

WIP snippet:

As you slowly open the door to wake up the tiny royals, Silvio follows behind you into your children's bedroom, his eyes looking over each of your three precious creations, one by one. Aurelio and Lucia are both still fast asleep, but Antonio is already awake, playing with his toys. Silvio approaches Antonio as quietly as he can in his thick boots, bending to his level to ruffle the bluenette's hair affectionately.

"Mornin', Antonio. Yer up early today, huh?"

Silvio glances over at the sleeping Aurelio and Lucia, then back to Antonio with a questioning expression.

"Looks like yer the only one who couldn't sleep through the night. Did ya have a nightmare or somethin'?"

That's all I have for rn, just barely started on this one ngl. I'm not great at imitating Silvio's speech, so I'll have to touch that up later on!

[moonstruck-writing]

Hellooo! 💖

#6 on the ask wip game is a mouthful, but I am instantly intrigued.

Hi Scorchie <3 thank you for the ask!!

So back when I was first reading Rio's route, I happened to listen to the song "Opening Sequence" by Tomorrow x Together (kpop group) and there were some lyrics that particularly jumped out: "dance with me" and "I'm bleeding painfully".

(song + WIP under the cut!)

For some reason the "bleeding" reminded me of how Rio and Emma first met, and the "dance with me" made me imagine them dancing at a ballroom.

Here's what I wrote:

Emma is a noblewoman who gets invited to social events a lot. She’s also started attending events at the Royal Palace. Rio works as his knight – he is the servant son of the family that has worked for them for generations. They always had a friendship, but lately, their social positions have become more apparent, making them feel distant.

“Even if I get married away to another person, promise you’ll always be next to me, protecting me?”

“Promise.”

They never tried to fight their fate, since they knew they could stay together as friends – maybe even as unrequited lovers. Nothing could stop their feelings.

But when Rio sees that future threatened by the possibility that Emma could develop real romantic feelings for the man she ends up marrying, he starts rebelling.

“Will you allow me this dance, my lady?”

“Rio, what are you—”

“I believe I can be as good a dance partner as anyone else.”

“When did you learn?”

“Dance isn’t that different from training to fight.”

“Oh, I believe it is. Isn’t it about conveying your feelings for the person?”

“And fighting is about protecting the person you have feelings for.”

Emma blinked, trying to decipher if he was referring to himself or just teasing her.

“Have my feelings been conveyed, my lady?”

.

.

:)

I'm not comfortable writing historical settings, but I still like the idea a lot :c I always liked lady x knight stories, and even though I love Rio's route, a part of me wished he had simply stayed her attendant and friend.

[the12thnightproject]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love ❤

Hi Scorchie!

Thank you for the love! 🐱

Ok, lets see here... they are all my babies, but, if I had to pick only five:

A Simple Game (or here on Ao3). This was a prompt challenge where the prompts were: Mitsuhide, Shingen & Motonari + “I can explain” + Only one bed + SFW. These three characters, are three of the craftiest characters in the game. Two spy masters and the man called the God of Deceit. I loved creating a fic where all three of them tried to out-maneuver each other, seemingly for the right to the last room in an Inn on a stormy night... but actually for information about each other.

Snowglobe (or on Ao3) - Flashfic, Yoshimoto and an unnamed MC. Sasuke brings Yoshimoto a gift from the future - a snowglobe, unaware that the girl inside is real, and trapped. But who rescues whom? I just had fun with a kind of fairy tale tone. I kind of want to revisit this one and make a longer story or series out of it... but it's also sort of perfect as is.

What Dreams May Come (or on Ao3) - In which I discover that (1) AUs are very very hard for me to write and (2) sometimes the story knows better than the author. I tried to force the story into one direction - and the story wasn't having it. But I love the results, which possibly might not have gotten there if I hadn't been in such turmoil over it. Angsty Napoleanic War/English regency AU story about Hideyoshi dealing with guilt after Mitsunari is injured saving his life.

Dear Kitsune - Because comedy will always be my first love. This fic had me playing both with content and graphics, and it spawned a collaboration with @lorei-writes for what ended up being a really fun event later that year. It was also the first time I really tried to get into Mitsuhide's head... although... he kind of ended up going into mine instead.

Twelve Lies I Told Shingen Takeda - Because it was writing this fic that saved my sanity during the pandemic. I'd stopped writing fanfic a while before, and Ikesen / Shingen brought me back to it. It opened up a whole new community for me, and I'm very grateful to that. Plus... Shingen is pretty damn perfect muse.

[syneilesis]

Howdy, Syn! 🌿🎀💞💎 for the writer ask game, if you're up for it!

Scorchie!!!!!! Heeeyyyyyy! <⁠(⁠￣⁠︶⁠￣⁠)⁠> Thank you for the ask 💖 Hope your day is going well!! ✨

🌿how does creating make you feel?

It makes me happy! ✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧ The happiest, even! It just feels the best when you get to make the ideas you've thought about into reality.

🎀give yourself a compliment about your own writing

Lol this is absolutely hard I am not the kindest towards my own writing but but but I've been trying to be lately haha. Let's see ... I like the sound and rhythm of my sentences? I write with my ears in mind, if my prose sounds good and the beats right.

💞what's the most important part of a story for you? the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding, the technical stuff (grammar etc), the figurative language

Hmm ... It depends on the piece, really. If it's the serious stuff the structure is the most important to me. Because that determines the rest of the elements. For example, I don't think my Kicho fic would work as I wanted it to be if it wasn't for how it was structured (non-linear, stubbornly present tense).

For the lighthearted and humorous stuff, it's the characters! I usually have simple plots/scenarios so it's the characters that will make the fic for me 😆

💎why is writing important to you?

I love to create stories – original and fanworks! And writing is a crucial part of creation. It makes my stories real, material, and that makes everything worthwhile 💖✨

Fic writer ask game

[scorchieart]

Hit a wall with writing, maybe I just need some sleep.

Please feel free to ask away. I also need to check if my inbox is working.

I love ask games! So I decided to compile several questions from other ask lists as well as a few of my own into one list here that I thought might be enjoyable!! 

WRITER ASKS!

When did you start writing? How?

Has your writing changed over time?

Do you read your own fics?

Do you write every day? If so, do you have daily goals?

Do you plan? Or do you “wing it”?

If you plan, what does your planning process look like?

How would you describe your writing style?

Have any comments/tags/responses on a fic of yours ever made you laugh, cry or both?

Have you ever made yourself laugh with something you’ve written?

How many unfinished works are in your drafts?

Do you write for yourself, or for the readers?

Do you feel pressured to write some days?

Multichapter fics or one shots?

Do you take requests?

Angst or fluff?

What is your favorite character (or characters) to write for?

What piece of writing are you most proud of?

Which is more difficult, the title or the summary?

Do you have a beta reader?

Do you prefer to edit as you go, or once the piece is finished?

Do you listen to music as you write?

If you had to assign a theme song to [fic title], what would it be?

Have you ever stopped yourself from writing something? Why?

Would you ever collaborate with another writer for a story?

What projects are you currently working on?

Is there a specific scene or scenario you’re looking forward to most? (No, you don’t have to give away spoilers!)

Are there certain types of writing you won’t do? (style, pov, genre, tropes, etc)

Share a piece from one of your current WIPs!

Best writing advice for other writers?

Make up your own question! Ask me anything!

[scorchieart]

C is for Collaboration

Clavis: Gentlemen, and Chevalier, thank you for agreeing to meet on such short notice.

Luke: Ya dragged us here in a net.

Nokto: Against our wishes, I might add. My bum's all bungled, you bum.

Clavis: The urgency of the matter demanded I forgo comfort, little brothers. I promise my next trap will be more considerate of your posteriors.

Nokto & Luke: Hooray for us.

Clavis: Customer satisfaction is as important to me as my own, which brings me to the point of this meeting. Luke, the new dolls you distributed, while immensely adorable and true-to-form, have a glaring issue.

Luke: Like ya said, they're life-like. If you got a problem with the doll, bring it up with the model.

Clavis: Oh, no. You misunderstand me. The figures themselves are flawless. I, for one, find my likeness impeccably accurate. But as a concerned consumer, I must leave a comment on the detailing. You see, you reused the same letter for both Chevalier and myself.

Luke: So, on top of lousy handwriting, ya can't spell. Got it.

Clavis: Do let me finish. This is merely constructive criticism from your initial testers. We wouldn't want to cause a scandal once your products release to the market. Trust me, the public can be vicious.

Luke: Don't need 'em. I only ever planned on making the one set.

Nokto: Aww, so they're personalized gifts? Your sincerity is enough to make me vomit.

Luke: It ain't like that. I just had a lot of extra fabric... is all... really.

Clavis: I'm being serious here. The fact that even one version of them exists the way it is poses a huge risk for the royal family. One look at our dolls and people might mistake us for *gulp* f r i e n d s.

Nokto: [monotone] Oh, no. How could anyone possibly come to that conclusion?

Clavis: Exactly my point, brother dear. Now you understand the severity of this matter.

Nokto: Can I go now? Evie's making coconut clusters. Just you try and make me miss out on them again, Clavis. I dare you.

Chevalier: *ears perk up from behind his book*

Luke: Yum, coconut drenched in honey~ Hey, maybe I'll make a tiny cookie tin to go along with Yves's doll. Bet he'd like it? I mean— only 'cuz now I'm stuck with a bunch of fabric scraps.

Clavis: Back on track, boys. I'll bake you treats later.

Luke: Pass. I don't hear Chevie complaining. And Leon and Licht didn't yap about it either.

Clavis: That's because L is a regal letter to represent you three. You're the lovely little lads of Lelouch!

Nokto: [muttering] More like loony Lelouch.

Clavis: What was that, naughty Nokto?

Nokto: Oh, real clever. Is that why I'm really here? You're jealous my doll's got a unique letter so you're taking it out on me with lame alliteration? I didn't choose my name, I'll have you know.

Clavis: Perish the thought! You are here to help workshop ideas for our baby brother's newest business venture. Our combined experiences will set him on the path to financial AND social success.

Luke: Like I said, I ain't planning on selling 'em.

Clavis: [ignoring] Additionally, that dunderhead Sariel says we need to fill a monthly all-hands team meeting quota so people believe we are a legitimate faction. He's more full of stuffing than his doll, but I will not allow the public to spread rumors that we are less capable than the domestic faction.

Luke: I thought you didn't want anyone thinking we're friends. That part I actually agree on.

Clavis: [ignoring x2] Have faith, Nokto. We need you here. Your letter is as fitting and unique as you are.

Nokto: He said to the twin.

Clavis: I meant what I said, dear.

Nokto: So did I. Keep that mushy talk up and I'll puke for real.

Chevalier: Directed away from my desk, if you must.

Luke: Want me to sew a barf accessory for your doll?

Nokto: Spew you lot! I'm out of here.

Clavis: Wait! Luke, that's a wonderful idea!

Luke: Oh, so that part you heard. It was just a joke. I am always overstocked on shades of green, though.

Clavis: Yes, you're brilliant! You and Nokto both! What better way to differentiate Chevalier and myself than by depicting us as complete antitheses! The dashing, debonair, suave gentleman versus the uncouth, slovenly beast. We'll modify our dolls' looks with accessories and come up with new nicknames to boot. V can work nicely for Chev: 'Veritable Vomit'. But let's come up with some more options and pick the best ones. Ooh, I am simply bursting with inspiration! Let's see, we can do A for 'Abominable Aberration'. B for 'Bloodcurdling Behemoth" — Hey, where are you all going? We're just getting started!

Luke: Nah, I'm keeping it C for 'Can it, Clavis. Coconut clusters are calling'.

Nokto: Or D for 'Don't you dare drag us here again, you dunderhead'!

*Nokto and Luke look expectantly at Chevalier, who is the first to reach the door.*

Chevalier: ...E for 'The End'.

[xxsycamore]

Hello there! I finally mustered up the courage to request something! Could you try 🫂 for Yves?

Whenever you have time and the inspiration hits. Best wishes and congrats on the milestone! 🏅

Please, Scorchie, you should've come here earlier! It's my pleasure to write your request 🥺❤ And thank youuu!

[🫂] 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚋𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚈𝚟𝚎𝚜, 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚕 𝚑𝚞𝚐 。。。

YVES:

"WAAAAH!!"

A baking spatula soars from Yves' hands up in the air, spinning a few times before landing on the floor where it creates a mini crime scene with the obscure thick red liquid getting smeared around. It's jam, obviously, but you can't deny it makes quite the questionable sight for anyone that might happen to walk in the kitchen.

Maybe that's why Yves tries to get himself free from your embrace and bend over to retrieve it, only... he's met with resistance coming from you.

"I... um... I'm sorry for getting startled like that, I didn't hear you walking in and..."

Oh no, I'm the one that should be apologizing, you mutter against his shoulder, arms still clasped around his middle like a koala. It's exactly because you're feeling guilty that you can't get yourself away from Yves right now! You're not afraid of facing him or anything like that, you know that he's not angry with you, it's just that... what began as a greeting hug is now an apologizing hug.

Yves understands perfectly. Sweet Yves. He sighs a little, caressing your arm where it wraps around him.

"I'm not going anywhere. The cake is almost done, so you'll get to taste it soon. Well, I'll need to wash my spatula first."

Another tug to escape your grasp, and it proves to be futile again.

"You're... You're so cuddly today! W-What's with you?!"

He might be facing away, but you can't miss the reddening tips of his ears. Your giggle is muffled in his shoulder, and it only makes you inhale more in the sweet aroma of his pastries. You toy with the ties of his apron and hold him in the middle of the kitchen, not wanting to let go. Oh, c'mon, you wouldn't only wash and return the utensil, you'll help him with the rest, too! Surely he wouldn't mind if you sate the need to cuddle him first, seeing that he seems to enjoy that just as much as you...

∎ For You, My Valentine‼️ - xxsycamore’s 1000 followers celebration party | 💌 event masterlist

[aquagirl1978]

Hello I love all your works!

I'm trying to expand my fic library and I wanted to ask if you had any recommendations for any not well known writers or writers you think deserve more attention? Do you have any fics of theirs you recommend I check out first? For all the series and any genre is fine (SFW and NSFW both fine to)

Hi anon! Thank you for your kind words and reaching out to me. I'm flattered you came to me for some advice, and I do have some newer and lesser-known fic writers - I hope some of these are new to you!

@gilbertvonobsidian - writer of Gilbert x OC fics - doesn't post often, but when he does, you're in for a treat. His most recent fic Connection is a great read.

@naresnani - @batteryrose writing side blog. Lots of really unique storylines in his fics. I really liked this one, a fic about Chevalier.

@scorchieart - a relative newcomer to the scene, Scorchie has an amazing body of work, really unique ideas - and if you like group interactions, this is the blog to follow. One of my favorites is Dual Perspectives, a fic about the Klein twins.

@jozhenji - multi-fandom writer, wrote this amazing Jin/Leon fic that you can read HERE (I'm not a huge Jin fan, but this fic just sent me places)

@leonscape - clearly a Leon/IkePri fan, this writer has posted some IkePri fics (if you're into that series) - I enjoyed this Gilbert fic.

@yarnnerdally another relatively new writer, I just happened to read THIS Clavis fic (what list is complete without Clavis?). Bonus - I believe she is still accepting requests for Kinktober.

@lucyw260 - I was so pleasantly surprised to see this Leonardo fic earlier on my dash - it was cute and heartbreaking and captured Leo perfectly. I can't wait to read more from you!

@queen-dahlia - looking for some really dark and angsty fics? Check out this blog - be warned, there are some trigger warnings on THIS ONE.

I know there's many great writers who are not as well-known out there - feel free to add any of them to this list.

[scorchieart]

Table for Ten | AO3

Rating: G (no warnings)

W/C: 2312

Thanks to @unknwnrm for letting me post this.

“You are all incredibly well-behaved tonight.”

Sariel smiled as he sipped his drink. He was seated opposite the door of the roundtable room which was decked out with a delectable dinner of assorted game meats from different territories in the kingdom, a selection of artisan breads and cheeses, and a menagerie of colorful fruits and vegetables. Joining him were the eight princes of Rhodolite as they enjoyed a quiet dinner.

A too quiet dinner.

“What did you do?” Sariel’s cold voice cut through the silence like a knife.

No one responded, and the air grew thick with temptation. While it was not uncommon for the princes to dine together, especially in recent days with the princes each taking on even more duties after the death of the king, it was certainly a rarity for all eight to be gathered in one room, and even more so without a hint of commotion.

Sariel had grown accustomed to hearing arguments being thrown across the table over the years, ranging from petty squabbles among the princes to heated debates between factions about affairs of the kingdom. The only explanation for this ceasefire was that they were hiding something.

He lowered his glass and panned the princes more intently. To his immediate right sat Jin who immediately avoided his gaze and elbowed Leon to pass the mashed potatoes. Leon appeared all too eager to help his brother as he leapt out of his chair and reached for a bowl halfway across the table. Next to him, Yves was busy pouring spoonfuls of steamed vegetables from a barely touched dish into his neighbor Licht’s plate who, with a look of distaste, pedantically fished out the carrots and peppers and deposited them into Luke’s plate when Yves wasn’t looking. Luke sat directly across from Sariel and was completely unperturbed by his glaring as he shoveled down hordes of honey-glazed meats and sweet breads, as opposed to Nokto who sat beside him and instantly froze when he felt eyes focused on him, knocked over his knife, muttered something about having too much to drink and bent out of view to pick it up. On Nokto’s other side sat an incredibly still Clavis holding a glass to his lips he was barely taking sips from, and finally Chevalier who was staring intently at his plate, his mouth full with a piece of steak he was definitely chewing for too long.

Sariel’s lip twitched. Refusing to speak and avoiding eye contact all but cemented the princes’ guilt, but he shuddered to think of the magnitude of their transgression when not a single one dared to confess.

Sariel rubbed his temple as he let his mind replay the day’s events. He remembered joining Luke and the members of the domestic faction for breakfast, but those five seemed to be acting normally in the morning. Chevalier and Clavis returned to the palace at noon with a routine report on the current state of the northern border. Nokto even managed to squeeze in a detailed chat with him on their way to dinner about a new trade proposal with Benitoite, and though he seemed overly enthusiastic about the topic such behavior didn’t hint at any suspicious activity.

Save for a few minor inconveniences, the day was as commonplace as any other, even with his added responsibilities as king’s regent. If the princes were hiding something, it may as well just be their fear of living up to his perfect example once one of them is selected as king.

A glint shimmered in Sariel’s eyes as he refocused them on the table. “Where is Belle?”

The room instantly took on a chill as if the sharp breaths the princes took sucked out all the warmth. Several princes exchanged hurried glances, but none deigned to speak until Leon nudged Yves’s arm and he cleared his throat.

“W-well, regarding that matter, the domestic faction determined that it would be of the kingdom’s best interest if we were to postpone the installation to a later date due to a recent discovery of the acceleration of copper corrosion under the sun. Prince Nokto actually proposed a new trade agreement with Benitoite regarding their brass reserves which is being drafted now… isn’t that right?”

Upon hearing his name, Nokto reappeared with haste, steak knife in hand. “Yes, it’s like I was telling you before, Sariel. The ringing those marvels produce is truly a thing to behold!” He closed his eyes and began waving the knife in a bobbing motion akin to an opera conductor. “I was actually planning on heading over there sometime this week to finalize the details, and I’ll be taking Luke with me to give him a taste of how we negotiate foreign deals.”

Luke, currently stuffing his face with spoonfuls of Licht’s neglected vegetables, made no indication of hearing his name nor any of the conversation.

Yves puffed his chest and clapped his hands. “Excellent! I trust the town will be brimming with chimes again very soon then. Now that the matter is settled, let’s get back to—”

“Not bells,” Sariel hissed, his voice laced with poison. “Belle. The woman selected to choose from among you the next king.”

Yves deflated, sinking deep into his chair as his face took on a pink as brilliant as his coat. The confident air he wore melted away as quickly as it appeared and he busied himself with his dinner again.

“Oh, Belle!” Leon said, voice booming throughout the room. “Well, she was hanging out with us in the office for a while, but she left sometime in the afternoon. Something about lessons with you, if I’m not mistaken.”

Sariel sighed at Leon’s interruption. “Yes, she did arrive at my office, but an odd occurrence forced us to cut our time short.” He frowned as he reached for a bottle of juice and started to uncork it. “It was most peculiar, but the moment she opened a new bottle of ink, the liquid erupted and splattered us and my office entirely.”

There was a loud crash. Everyone turned their heads to find Clavis half-bent over the table sputtering and gripping the edge as his shoulders trembled, the glass once in his hand now shattered across the table. At first glance he appeared to be choking, but the noises he made sounded somewhere between a cough and a laugh and they ceased the moment a callous Chevalier delivered a forceful whack to his back. Clavis took a few deep breaths, murmured a quick apology, and grabbed a napkin to brush away the shards of glass, all the while failing to hide the grin that threatened to take over his features.

Sariel grimaced, passing the now opened bottle which Clavis snatched immediately and began chugging. “In any case, I instructed her to clean herself up and join us for dinner, though it appears she never arrived. I had hoped a sitting with you all would provide her a good opportunity to observe your decorum and propriety, though it appears we were fortunate enough to dodge multiple embarrassing oversights tonight.” His eyes fell again onto Luke who continued to inhale his meal obliviously.

“Although, it is not like her to be late like this,” he continued, looking around the room again. “And on that note, where is the dog?”

An uncomfortable silence blanketed the room once more as jittery looks darted between the princes.

Sariel sighed again and readjusted his glasses. This was getting ridiculous, he just needed to focus on one and force him to spill the beans. He felt like an animal tamer at a circus, assembling his lineup of beasts while each shied away from being singled out and put on display. Among the anxious lot he narrowed his sights onto Yves who, still fanning his face from the previous exchange, would likely be the easiest to extract Belle and Rio’s whereabouts from.

Just as Sariel opened his mouth, a flat voice broke the silence.

“They fell down the old garden well.”

There was another crash as the bottle Clavis was holding smashed on the ground, though everyone was too busy staring bewildered at Licht to pay it or Clavis, who was now howling with laughter, any attention.

“Sorry, the pressure was getting to me,” Licht said mildly, his expression undisturbed.

“Oh, Licht, we’re so sorry!” Yves lept up and pulled his chair adjacent to Licht’s to softly pat his head. “None of this was your fault, and we’ve made you bear the weight of it. Oh, you must have been yelling on the inside!”

“Yeah, yelling at you to stop flooding his plate with veggies.” Nokto dropped his stiff act and reclined his seat, grinning mischievously at Yves. “I bet you he was more disturbed about those carrots than about pushing Belle—”

“HE— DID— NOT— PUSH— HER!” Yves’s face quickly reddened again. His eyes threatened to pop out of his head at any moment. “He was helping her wash off that surly ink when she— she happened to slip! He was nothing less than a gentleman, which is more than I can say about you, watching her fall and laughing.”

Nokto languidly raised his hands in mock defense. “Hey, at least I bought us some time keeping Sariel busy, which is more than I can say about your comical excuse for misdirection. ‘Acceleration of copper corrosion’, you’re lucky I’ve got a stronger lid on my lips than Clavis.”

“I wish you would keep that lid on always.” Yves crossed his arms and pointed his nose to the ceiling. “And for your information, Prince Chevalier gave me that idea, and I thought I worded it very eloquently.”

Nokto tutted and turned to the back of the room. “Listen Sariel, these two prince charmings just got a little too enthusiastic helping their damsel in distress. You should have seen the look on Evie’s face when she fell in after nearly drowning her with a bucket.”

“I WAS HELPING HER!”

“If that’s your idea of helping, kindly stay far away from me the next time I have a wardrobe malfunction.”

“No offense Yves, but you should just stick to what you’re good at, like baking and watching from the sidelines,” said Licht.

Tears started to prick in Yves’s eyes as the three continued to squabble. Then Jin pushed back his chair and stood.

“Don’t listen to them Sariel, it’s none of their fault. Let me take responsibility, as the eldest—”

“No, Jin, it was my idea to cover it up.” Leon also rose and roughly put a hand on Jin’s shoulder, “And as faction leader, I should be the one to bear the blame for this.”

“That’s very noble of you Leon, but you should let your big brother handle this.” Jin flashed back a pointed smile.

“Nooooo,” Leon shook his head, his grip on Jin tightening. “You always take the blame, even when it’s not your fault. This time, you’re going to let me be the fall guy.”

“That’s an unfortunate choice of words, little brother.” Jin’s tone took on a sardonic twist, “You’re always so eager to lend a hand, just like Rio, and we saw where that landed him.”

Sparks flew between the two as they stared each other down, neither of them wavering. Sariel had half a mind to pull them apart and simply ask them to explain everything when a large belch echoed near the door.

“I’ve got it! Don’t worry Sariel, I have a plan to get ‘em both out in a jiffy!” Luke bolted up, wiped his mouth on his sleeve and reached for his sword from underneath the table.

Chevalier idly poked his head from behind Clavis, who was clutching his sides still cackling madly. “And what exactly do you plan on doing with that, Jumbo? Were you thinking of spreading it with honey and dangling it down the well hoping it would stick to them?”

His biting voice cut across the room, but Luke did not appear intimidated in the slightest.

“Hey, that’s not a bad idea. Seems like a waste of honey, though.”

“If that’s what you’re worried about, just go ahead and throw yourself down with them.”

“Oh yeah, that way we can make a human ladder and you guys can pull us up from the top. Man, you really are smart, huh, Chevie!”

The roundtable room, which until moments ago was deadly silent, now exploded with sounds of arguing, chortling, and passive aggressive bantering. Sariel furiously rubbed at his temple again, ears ringing and sanity slipping. It was his own fault for thinking that tonight would be a peaceful family dinner.

He wordlessly stood and passed by the princes, including stepping over Clavis who had laughed himself so hard his chair tipped back and fell on the floor, but no one seemed to notice when he left the room. The sounds from within were largely muffled once he closed the door, though that wasn’t enough to calm his nerves.

In less than a month, one of those men would be chosen as the next king of Rhodolite. The thought made Sariel’s heart stop, but he forced himself to remember the last will of the previous king and the duty he left him with. He knew each of them had the potential to offer something worthwhile to the kingdom, something that could keep their citizens smiling and their enemies at bay, but how could he trust even one of them with such responsibility when they couldn’t even cooperate for a single dinner?

Sariel sighed deeply for what seemed like the umpteenth time that night. He pulled out his whip from his belt and made his way toward the gardens, his mind abuzz with thoughts of reprimanding. He would have to think of a suitable punishment for the princes, but for now he had to rescue a certain rabbit and dog.

Sariel: You're all incredibly well-behave tonight

Jin:

Chevalier:

Clavis:

Leon:

Yves:

Licht:

Nokto:

Luke:

Sariel:

Sariel: What did you do?

[randonauticrap]

Good evening, Madame L~

I'm probably cutting it close to the deadline at this point 🙈 Might I request a sweet little hug from Yves?

Yes you can, dear Scorchie!! I'm not used to writing Yves and it's been awhile since I've played his route, so I'm a little rusty and it is quite short, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless! I am posting it soon.

[the12thnightproject]

Hi Impromptu! 🍡🍚🍘 for the asks please! Take care~

Hi Scorchie!

Thank you for the ask... ok... let's see what we have here...

🍡 Which of your fics was the most emotionally difficult to write?

What Dreams May Come. It dealt with PTSD, survivor guilt, and depression, and even though I would categorize it as "angst with a happy ending," what I wanted to write when I started it was light comedy.

🍚 What genre do you have the toughest time writing?

AU in general, just because I end up getting caught up in world building and casting - I just try to do too much and put ever possible character in it, and then suddenly it's like 6000 words long and I haven't even gotten to the plot yet.

🍘 Is there a fic or idea for a fic that you've abandoned?

Um.... yes.... I got about 29 chapters into a Phantom of the Opera AU, (set in an ice rink) and pretty much ran into a brick wall. The fic might still be findable via the wayback machine, but otherwise, the evidence is long gone.

[clavissionary-position]

I am new to this not many people write Jin O.o, I do, another low popular one I chose I see 😆😌

As far as I've seen anyway 😓 But like Scorchie said, he is a fascinating character and deserves every bit the same adoration that other suitors get. Even though he isn't my one of my favorites, it is still nice to see him receiving attention. So I'm glad that Jin and Luke have such awesome fans like you guys out there!

[jossujb]

You know what I also like about my Jago & Litefoot speculations xD I dunno if you remember, but few years ago I wrote my one and only soul mate-AU where signature of your soul mate written onto your skin. But Jago and Litefoot are fully unaware of of being each other’s soul mates, cos I speculated the other one has a decorated but hard to read handwriting and the other one is a doctor.

Anyway, in the last episode of the series, after I wrote that, it was actually canonized that Litefoot’s handwriting is so bad that Jago doesn’t even try reading it, and gives straight to Dr. Betterman instead. And I knew from previous episodes already that when Jago writes is so far fetched that you have to think about it hard to get the main point xD

I dunno, I just enjoy the fact that I called so many plot points before they happened. I do honestly hope that in the upcoming episode Jago would declare romantic feelings towards Litefoot, cos Litefoot pretty much did in Chronoclasm, and later in a smaller scale on Encore of the Scorchies.

Sure Jago also goes pretty close. He does say that he’s given a promise to be there and protect Litefoot and said their friendship is deeper than that, but I think Litefoot’s declarations come of more explicitly, that you can’t read them other way, where as Jago is on that fence.