#trying to protect solenne

[invinciblevariant]

i have seven markeve kiddos made . lel

names ;

aurora "ro" luna grayson (oldest; looks like eve but is 100% mark's baby)

dominic "dom" oliver grayson (thank viltrumite dna for giving dom mark's looks and personality)

juniper "junie" magnolia grayson (takes after both mark and eve in looks and personality; perfect mix)

callen "cal" samuel grayson (looks like mark, takes after eve)

lyra kinsley & rhea kennedy grayson (twins; both look like + take after eve)

solenne "sol" delilah grayson (youngest; looks like a mix but takes after mark)

hc time !

aurora :

aurora was born during combat ; mark protected both her and eve while the two took shelter

she was very tiny (this really worried eve) but when examined by a gda medic was told that she was strong despite her size

she had certainly the loudest lungs (mark and eve's new house was far from quiet with her arrival)

rory developed her viltrumite powers at the age of just four (mark was shocked when she lifted the entire couch to retrieve her toy)

dominic :

dominic was born at home ; eve insisted on a home birth but had a midwife on standby in case anything went wrong

he was eerily silent when he entered the world , which terrified mark (who delivered him) , but when placed on eve’s chest , he finally wailed and both parents breathed a huge sigh of relief

rory was excited throughout the pregnancy to be a big sister (she loved giving eve's growing belly slobbery kisses and babbling nonsense to the baby), but only being 1 at the time , she didn't understand much and would instantly run away when mark or eve tried getting her to hold dominic . yes , she did warm up to him .

dom was a stark contrast to aurora when she was first born . mark and eve took turns checking the baby monitor obsessively ; would try to figure out what he needed just by cues and gestures

he developed his powers at ten … on a school field trip . the teacher immediately called mark and eve in a panic after he flew up to sit on top of a dinosaur skeleton's skull

juniper :

juniper was born during a particularly nasty rainstorm ; the power went out right as eve's water broke ; the first contraction came almost immediately after . mark had to deliver his second daughter using only a flashlight and bath towels .

she was born within a few hours of eve's first contraction starting (like , 2 hours tops) ; her cry was a little weak , contrasting against the storm outside (it was the most beautiful thing her parents heard that night)

juniper was a little bit like dominic in terms of being a quiet , mellow baby , but when her lungs grew stronger , you bet she let everyone know her voice .

dominic was wary of her the first few days (mostly due to the storm) , but she grew on him the first minute he held her in his arms … and then she pooped on him .

juniper developed her powers at seven when debbie babysat the three . debbie called her son while out on a date with eve , asking if "it was normal for juniper to be flying circles in the backyard" … and that's when the parents first found out about their second daughter's viltrumite side kicking in .

callen :

(tw: premature birth) callen was born a month early due to the discovery through scans and tests that eve’s powers could potentially malfunction and zap essential nutrients from the baby during labor (it had been happening during the older three's births , but it wasn’t enough to require medical intervention)

mark demanded cecil personally monitor eve and the baby very closely during the c-section while he watched the three littles at home ; cecil complied because an angry viltrumite as strong as mark could potentially cause a worldwide disaster

callen was immediately taken to the gda's advanced nicu , eve only getting to say a brief goodbye before he was wheeled off

eve stayed by their son's side the whole time , and mark had to make sure she ate and slept since she often would forget

aurora , dominic , and juniper were only allowed to visit for a few minutes at a time each day , and only one at a time (aurora gifted her baby brother a stuffed puppy as tiny as him ; dominic gave him a wet kiss through the incubator's glass {the nurses refused to wipe it away until he was out of the nicu} ; juniper gave him a rosebud) . yes , mark and eve cried their eyes out from the siblings' affection .

the day callen finally came home was the happiest yet most terrifying day of both parents' lives . he was still tiny , and mark and eve were so scared to even load him into the car . mark drove extra carefully , and eve stayed in the back watching cal like a hawk . however , they knew they would be alright when they opened their front door and six small feet came dashing to greet them , three chubby toddler faces beaming into the car seat .

life with four kids was an . . . adjustment , especially once they got their powers at young ages . callen developed his powers at two when he launched a sippy cup at the wall during a tantrum . . . and it ended up inside it .

lyra & rhea :

the twins' arrival was … very eventful . mark and eve were visiting another planet where their customs differed from earth's , and eve was placed into a pod before her water broke because the empress could sense that two babies were arriving . mark stayed outside of her pod while she gave birth to them , talking to her through an earpiece .

eventually , eve delivered two small yet healthy baby girls (and the veteran parents were celebrated on the spot when eve emerged with lyra and rhea in her arms , wrapped in vines and huge leaves) . it was … certainly one for the history books … or at least a story to be told at either of their weddings .

upon their arrival back to earth , cecil had them both triple checked at the gda since they were born on a different planet and could have been unknowingly exposed to any number of alien diseases . after an all-clear , mark and eve debriefed and the parents went home with their girls .

to say the rest of the siblings were surprised would be an understatement (callen had been convinced that "mommy had a huge alien in her tummy" at one point - mark made sure never to show him the alien movie after that comment) .

if mark and eve thought life with four kids was an adjustment period , they were in for it with four under five plus two newborns . lyra and rhea were identical in looks but vastly different personalities as babies and toddlers ; lyra was outspoken and rambunctious , rhea was mellow and introverted .

the twins developed their powers at different times when they were eight : lyra developed hers a few weeks after their birthday , discovered by eve when she unconsciously floated in her sleep . rhea discovered hers when she confronted a bully who made fun of her for her introversion and she sent him to the hospital for seven broken ribs .

solenne :

and finally , solenne was born while mark , eve , and the kids were visiting debbie and oliver , right on mark’s bedroom floor since it was late at night . eve profusely apologized to both her husband and mother-in-law after the birth and made sure to clean it using her powers .

mark had joked that , out of the seven , solenne's birth was "the most normal and non-chaotic" - that is , until the newborn projectile peed on him when he held her in his arms .

the other six kids were overjoyed to have yet another baby sibling (except for lyra who demanded outright that she wanted to trade solenne at the pet store for a puppy instead … mark and eve were left speechless , oliver howled with laughter , and debbie was holding back a smirk as best she could .)

she was very much a "daddy's girl" growing up . when she fussed , mark would merely touch her and she'd calm within minutes . her favorite tradition with her father was sitting on the rooftop of their family home and snuggling while mark told solenne about the planets he visited .

she got her powers at thirteen , being found by mark trying to fly off their roof . he gently scolded her , then promptly trained her the next day .

[shiorihyugawrites]

Diamond Of The First Water

In the aftermath of war, Paradis finds itself in need of powerful alliances. When Emperor Armand of Valoria offers his military aid in exchange for the hand of his daughter, Princess Solina, in marriage, Captain Levi Ackerman is thrust into an engagement that begins as a political strategy but soon becomes something much deeper.

Princess Solina, sheltered from the world and unaware of the realities of love and war, finds herself drawn to Levi—the man known as Humanity’s Strongest Soldier. As they navigate royal customs, public expectations, and the growing threat of Marley, the bond between them deepens into a genuine connection.

But neither Solina nor Levi are prepared for the challenges of a political marriage, the weight of intimacy, and the secrets that lie beneath the surface. As Solina enters a new life with Levi, her naivety is tested, and Levi faces a battle unlike any he’s fought before—the fight to protect his heart.

Can their love flourish in the midst of war, duty, and danger? Or will the forces conspiring against them tear them apart before they can find peace? (Levi x OC)

Chapter Forty Eight

The salty breeze of Paradis’ coast whipped against Solina’s face as she stood rigid at the edge of the docks. The steady crash of waves did nothing to ease the storm inside her. Before her, stretching across the horizon, was the gleaming Valorian fleet, their massive sails snapping in the wind, the gold and crimson banners of the empire flaring against the sky. The flagship cut through the water with imperial authority, towering and immaculate, like a beast ready to devour.

Her heart pounded, but she stood tall, her emerald eyes fixed unwavering on the ship's ramp as it lowered with a mechanical groan. Beside her, Levi remained stoic, his hand casually resting on the hilt of his sword. Solomon’s face was set in stone on her other side, jaw clenched so tightly it seemed it might shatter. Behind them, Soleil, Solenne, and Solandor waited silently, their faces a mix of confusion and dread. Lady Solana was ahead of them all, a scarlet cloak billowing around her like blood pooling on the wind, her expression as unreadable as glass.

The docks were lined with Paradis soldiers and the scouts, tense and prepared. Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Connie, Sasha, and Hange stood poised, their hands close to their blades, eyes watching the approaching Valorian forces. The air was thick with anticipation, the kind that suffocates just before an explosion.

Levi’s eyes darted to Solina every few seconds. She had insisted on standing here. He had nearly lost his mind trying to talk her out of it, but she was resolute. She wanted to face her father herself. Still, her pallor worried him. The fatigue from her pregnancy was beginning to show, no matter how hard she tried to mask it beneath the layers of her gown and veil. He had half a mind to scoop her up and march her back to their cottage, but she had whispered to him softly that she needed to do this. For her family. For her people.

"Don't overdo it," Levi murmured under his breath, low enough that only she could hear.

Solina’s fingers brushed against his, a silent gesture of gratitude and reassurance, but her gaze never left the ship.

Then, finally, he appeared.

Emperor Armand descended the ramp with the regality of a man who had never known defeat. His golden robes shimmered in the sunlight, his expression serene but unreadable. Behind him followed his highest-ranking generals, each armed and armored, eyes sharp, the very picture of imperial might. And behind them, legions of soldiers stood ready aboard the ships, watching, waiting for orders.

For a moment, Armand's gaze swept over Paradis' defenses. The soldiers. The scouts. The cannons along the cliffs. He could see the defiance brimming in every stance. But then his eyes landed on the family awaiting him, and for the briefest moment, his hardened façade faltered.

They looked well. Healthy. Safe. His children. His beloved Solana. And his Diamond, radiant as ever, standing proud despite the weight this day carried.

Solenne, unable to help herself, took a step forward, her small hand rising as if to wave, her lips parting to call out to him. But Solomon’s arm shot out, holding her back firmly. His glare burned into their father, his message clear. This was no family reunion.

Armand's gaze lingered on Solina. He studied her face, searching for any sign of softness, some opening in the walls she had built between them. But there was none. Her eyes, so like Solana’s, were cold and bright, shining like the cut of an emerald blade. For a man who once thought her the very embodiment of grace and warmth, it struck him harder than he expected.

Lady Solana did not speak. She stood tall, chin high, radiating an icy nobility that left no room for pleasantries.

"So this is how you greet your emperor?" Armand's voice finally broke the silence. It echoed over the docks, smooth and rich, but the undertone of irritation was there.

Solina stepped forward, ignoring Levi’s subtle, protective hand that tried to stop her.

"This is how we greet a man who brings an army to our home," she answered firmly, her voice carrying across the water. "To a man who comes not as a father or husband, but as a conqueror."

Armand’s brow lifted ever so slightly. "You wound me, Solina. I come to claim what is rightfully Valoria's."

"The people of Paradis are not yours to command," Solomon added sharply. "Neither is this island. And neither are its resources."

"You’ve left me little choice," Armand replied, his gaze flicking to the scouts, to Levi, who was standing beside Solina as if daring the emperor to step one foot too far. "My patience has its limits. I’ve waited for months. And still, you defy me."

Lady Solana finally spoke. "Perhaps if your plans were not built on greed and destruction, you would find less defiance in your own home."

Armand ignored her. His attention lingered on Solina again. His heart pulled at seeing her standing so strong, but... was it his imagination, or did she seem... frail? Tired? Pale?

His eyes narrowed, studying her more intently, but before he could open his mouth to question it, Levi stepped slightly in front of her, blocking her from the emperor’s gaze as if to shield her from the very weight of his attention.

"You’re not taking anything from this island," Levi said coolly. "Not while I'm standing here."

Armand exhaled through his nose, almost amused. "And you think you and your... little band of scouts can stop the full might of Valoria?"

"You'd be surprised what we're capable of," Levi replied flatly. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll turn that fleet around."

There was a long, thick silence.

The emperor studied them all. His family. His supposed enemies. And yet, the longer he stood there, the more his own heart twisted in conflict.

Solina held herself as tall as she could manage, but Armand could not unsee the way her hand discreetly rested on her lower stomach. Protective. Subtle. But there.

Something was different. Something was happening. But what?

He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing.

"You all look well," he said finally, his tone softer than before, though suspicion brewed beneath it. "For now."

And with that, he turned to his generals and gestured for them to remain at ease. For now.

But the tension hadn't broken.

It had only just begun.

The murmurs of the Valorian generals swirled around Emperor Armand as he stood just beyond the docks, his golden cape billowing in the wind. Their voices hissed in his ear like serpents.

"We outnumber them ten to one, Your Majesty," one general urged in a low voice, gesturing broadly toward the cliffs where Paradis’ forces stood ready but vastly smaller. "With a single order, we can seize the mines. The ice burst stone will be ours before nightfall."

Another added, "We cannot continue to delay. The world waits on Valoria's next move. Show weakness now, and our enemies will pounce."

Armand nodded absently, his gaze still locked on his family standing before him like an immovable wall. His precious Rose House. His Solana. His children. His Diamond.

This was why he initially offered the alliance, why he gave his favorite daughter’s hand in marriage to the very Captain who now glared at him with silent fury. This was why he had built his plans on the foundation of Paradis, staking their future—and his own—on the power of the ice burst stone.

He had dreamed of this moment for years. The stone. The weapons. The power. Valoria secured at the pinnacle of the world.

And yet…

He looked at Solina, the gentle curve of her face hardened by exhaustion but lit with the fire he had always admired. The same daughter who used to sit on his lap as a child, eagerly learning piano under his patient guidance, the daughter who once begged him to stay in the music room for just one more hour so they could finish the melody together.

That daughter now stood before him, prepared to defy him until the bitter end.

And then… she stepped forward.

Levi’s sharp eyes followed her every movement. He shifted as if to stop her, but Solina gently touched his arm, silently asking for trust.

Solina approached slowly, the wind catching her hair as her emerald eyes glistened in the sunlight.

“Father,” she said softly.

The word nearly undid him.

It had been months since he’d heard it in her voice like that—gentle, pleading, not filled with the venom of rebellion.

She stopped just before him. Not too close, not too far.

And then, carefully, as if they were back in the palace’s music hall all those years ago, she reached out and took his hand.

“Do you remember,” she whispered, “when we first began practicing the duet for the midsummer gala? I was so nervous I could hardly press the keys, but you kept telling me to breathe. To feel the music.”

Armand blinked slowly, the memory flashing across his mind like a ghost. He remembered the way her tiny hands trembled over the ivory keys. The way she looked to him for reassurance, and how proud he’d been when she mastered the piece.

"You said there was nothing more important than harmony," Solina continued, her voice trembling. "Not just in music... but in life. You said the world runs on harmony. That it's our duty to protect it."

A shadow flickered across Armand’s face.

"Where is that man now?" she asked quietly. "Where is the father who spent hours showing me how to move the world with music instead of destruction?"

The silence around them was so thick it suffocated. The soldiers, the scouts, her siblings—all watching. All waiting.

Solina glanced briefly back at Levi, who gave her the faintest nod of support. Then, swallowing the lump in her throat, she turned back to her father.

"I’m asking you to remember that man, Father. I’m asking you to remember us... your family."

And then, with a breath as steady as she could muster, she guided his hand gently down to her abdomen.

Armand's eyes widened as his palm rested over the soft swell of her belly.

At first, he looked down in confusion. And then realization hit him, slow and deep.

Solina didn’t speak the words out loud. She didn’t have to.

But she did anyway.

"Your first grandchild lives here, in this land you are so determined to wage war on."

The words hit him like a hammer.

His hand stayed there longer than she expected, his fingers twitching ever so slightly. He could feel it. The faintest hint of life. His blood. His legacy. His grandchild.

He looked up at her then, really looked at her. For the first time in months, Armand didn’t see the defiance. He didn’t see the rebellion. He saw his little girl. His Diamond.

And standing just beyond her, the man who had given her this child. The man he had once begrudgingly accepted into his family.

Armand’s throat tightened.

All this time, he thought conquering the world was the most important thing. Securing Valoria's dominance, ensuring its survival, leaving behind an empire unmatched.

But what did any of that mean if his family was gone?

If this child grew up in a world torn apart by his greed?

If his Diamond never forgave him?

The wind tugged at his cloak. The generals whispered.

But all he could feel was the small, delicate pulse of warmth beneath his hand.

"My grandchild..." he murmured, the words nearly lost to the sea breeze.

Solina gave him a small, hopeful smile. "Yes, Father. Please... please don't make this our legacy. Let’s find another way. For them. For all of us."

For the first time in his reign, Armand felt something fracture inside him.

And it terrified him.

Because for the first time...

He wasn’t sure if this war was worth it anymore.

But then suddenly, the sound of hooves scraping and pounding against the dock cracked like thunder. The sudden commotion sent waves of panic through the air. One of the emperor’s generals, a gruff, battle-hardened man, leaned in sharply, his voice slicing through the fragile moment like a dagger.

“Your Majesty, you must not falter now. Do not be swayed by sentiment. The ice burst stone is within our grasp—”

But before the general could finish, his stallion—edgy from the tension, the noise, and the sharp bark of his master—snorted loudly and reared back on its hind legs.

The sudden jolt startled the other horses nearby. Saddles creaked, men shouted, and the entire front line of the emperor's guard shifted into chaos as the chain reaction rippled down the line.

The emperor spun around, his mouth opening to bark an order, but his attention whipped back when he heard it.

Solina's gasp.

In an instant, the docks became a frenzy of hooves, heavy boots scrambling, and steel clattering against the planks. One of the guard horses kicked wildly, its hooves thrashing dangerously close to where Solina stood.

Levi didn't think.

He moved on instinct.

One second, Solina was standing there, her hands protectively covering her belly, her green eyes wide with alarm.

The next, Levi was slamming into her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her down beneath him as he threw his body over hers with every ounce of his strength.

They hit the wooden dock hard, Levi gritting his teeth against the impact as he shielded her completely, his back absorbing the brunt of the fall.

A horse’s hooves thundered down just inches from where Solina’s head had been moments before.

“Levi!” she gasped beneath him, her hands trembling as they clutched at the back of his shirt.

“Stay down,” he ordered hoarsely, his voice sharp and commanding, though his heart was pounding harder than it had in years. “Don’t move. I’ve got you.”

And he did.

Levi stayed pressed over her, his body a wall between Solina and the danger still erupting around them.

From where the emperor stood, it was painfully clear.

His daughter.

His grandchild.

All nearly lost—right in front of his eyes.

Solomon was shouting, pulling his sword free and barking orders to calm the guards and rein in the spooked horses. Soleil had grabbed Solandor and Solenne, shoving them behind Lady Solana as she shielded the twins with her own body.

Lady Solana’s face was pale as snow, her hands clenched at her sides, but her gaze was locked on Solina and Levi in terror.

When the scuffle finally died down, when the last horse had been steadied, when the last sword had been sheathed, all that remained was the shallow, labored breathing of everyone still standing.

And Levi.

Still curled over Solina.

Still holding her like the most precious thing in the world.

Slowly, he lifted his head.

Solina, shaken but unharmed, blinked up at him, her hands cupping his face.

“I’m okay,” she whispered softly. “We’re okay.”

Levi didn't say anything at first. He just closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers, drawing in the reassurance of her words. But in truth, his heart hadn’t stopped pounding.

And the emperor...

He couldn’t move.

He couldn’t breathe.

It felt as though someone had reached into his chest and crushed his heart in their grip.

Solina.

His baby girl.

The child who once fell asleep at his side on the piano bench. The daughter he called his Diamond. The woman he’d pushed away in the name of war and power.

And she had nearly been killed because of his stubbornness.

Because of his pride.

Because of this damn war.

The baby she carried—his grandchild, his own bloodline—nearly trampled under the chaos that his own men had started.

Foolish.

That was the only word echoing in his mind.

He was a fool.

A blind, stubborn, greedy fool who was about to tear apart not only Paradis but the very family he claimed to love.

Lady Solana moved toward Solina and Levi, kneeling beside them as Levi carefully helped his wife sit up.

“Is she hurt?” Lady Solana asked urgently, her hands hovering over Solina’s arms, her voice trembling.

Levi shook his head. “She’s fine. They're both fine."

Solina gave her mother a faint, reassuring smile, but her body was trembling.

Levi helped her to her feet, steadying her with both hands on her waist as if he didn’t dare let go.

And then...

The emperor stepped forward.

The crowd held its breath.

All eyes shifted to him.

He stared at Solina.

At Levi.

At his family.

At the chaos his ambitions had just unleashed.

And for the first time in his long reign, Emperor Armand of Valoria didn't have a single word to say.

He stood rooted to the spot, staring at Solina. Her face was pale, her body trembling as Levi helped her steady herself on shaky legs. She looked so small, so fragile, and yet she'd stood at the front lines, willing to face him head-on. His Diamond. His precious child.

And he had almost destroyed her.

Armand’s heart pounded painfully in his chest. His gaze drifted to the soft curve of her abdomen, the place where his very first grandchild grew. He thought of the future he'd been so obsessed with preserving through power and conquest... but what future would there be if it cost him everything he loved?

Solina lifted her eyes to meet his, and what he saw there pierced him deeper than any blade. Disappointment. Exhaustion. And heartbreak.

She didn't have to say it. He knew.

Levi stood beside her, his hand firmly resting on her back as though anchoring her to the earth. His other hand hovered near his sword, not out of aggression, but as a silent promise that if Armand dared threaten Solina again—even unintentionally—there would be no forgiveness.

Solomon stepped forward, his expression unreadable but his stance protective, standing slightly ahead of his sisters. Soleil clutched Solandor’s and Solenne’s hands tightly, watching the scene unfold with wide, nervous eyes.

And Solana...

She looked at him with tears gathering in her emerald eyes, the same shade as Solina's, as Soleil's, as Solenne’s and Solandor’s. Armand had once thought those eyes the brightest gems in the empire. Now, they stared back at him as if he were a stranger.

And in that moment...

He felt it.

The crushing weight of his pride.

The unbearable burden of his ambition.

And the irreversible damage he’d nearly caused to the people he loved most.

Slowly, Armand stepped forward. He held out a hand, trembling more than he would have liked to show.

“I... I was wrong,” he said softly, the words tasting foreign in his mouth, heavy as iron.

No one spoke.

The emperor of Valoria—unshakable, unmovable, and always right—just admitted fault.

“I was wrong,” he said again, louder this time, so there was no mistaking it. “All of it. The war. The stone. The force I brought here... I lost myself.”

He turned his gaze to Solina, and his voice broke.

“I nearly lost you. My daughter. My grandchild.” He paused, struggling to contain the wave of emotion choking his throat. “Solina... forgive me. Please.”

Solina blinked, stunned. For so long she had dreamed of hearing those words from him, but now that they were here, it felt almost unreal.

She looked at Levi, as if to silently ask if she’d heard correctly. Levi only nodded once, subtly, his sharp eyes never leaving the emperor but his hand tightening around hers.

“I didn’t want this,” Solina whispered, her voice shaking. “I just wanted my father back. I wanted the man who taught me music. Who danced with me in the garden. Who called me his Diamond.”

Tears welled in the emperor’s eyes, and for once, he did not blink them away.

“I lost sight of all of that,” he admitted. “I lost sight of what truly matters. Power… expansion… none of it means anything if it leaves me standing alone.”

The dock was quiet, save for the gentle lapping of waves against the shore.

Lady Solana moved closer to her husband, her expression softening for the first time in months. “Then prove it, Armand. Call off your men. End this before it goes too far.”

Solomon stepped forward. “Withdraw your forces. Disband this campaign. Let us return home, to the Valoria we once loved. Without war. Without greed.”

The emperor looked at them all, at the family he'd nearly destroyed with his own hands.

And slowly... he nodded.

“Stand down,” he ordered his generals, his voice commanding, leaving no room for argument. “Everyone. We are done here.”

There were murmurs among the ranks, confusion, disbelief—but no one dared disobey.

Armand turned back to Solina, his gaze lingering on the subtle swell of her belly, the life that was growing there.

“I don’t deserve to meet them... your child,” he murmured quietly. “But if you'll allow me... perhaps, one day, I can try to earn my place in their life. And yours.”

Solina’s heart squeezed painfully, but at last... at long last... she nodded.

“We'll see,” she whispered.

And Levi...

Levi watched the emperor, his jaw tight and his guard still high. But as he looked down at his wife, at the peaceful expression returning to her face, he knew that—for now—the battle was over.

And they had won the most important victory of all.

Peace.

~

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[serendehill]

Where sincerity begins

Solenne. The very reason Silas was here, because he wanted to create something meaningful for her. Something that held value, something that could bring her joy.

She wasn’t just his only sister. No. She was the only treasure he had. The one person Silas wanted to protect with everything he had, because in this world, Solenne was all he had left.

It had been almost an hour since Silas Hill began trying to craft something from his memory. But each attempt ended in imperfection. Some even failed entirely.

So he started again.

Again.

And again.

"Right, don’t think too much.." he whispered, trying to calm himself. As he had suspected, being sincere with himself was proving to be the hardest part. How could the fairies be drawn to what he created if he couldn’t even willingly open his heart to them? It sounds impossible, right? It is.

He steadied his breath. Slowly, his eyes drifted shut, hands moving instinctively. In the quiet that followed, the memory began to form. Clear, vivid, like crystal.

The silver sugar, now mixed with soft orange petals, began to take shape. Branches and sturdy stones, with delicate blossoms blooming between them, a quiet beauty rising from their strength.

He added a touch of light blue powder, and the sugar transformed into a cascading fountain, its form elegant and flowing. The blue shimmered, sparkling now and then with a mesmerizing light.

The best part? It whispered with the gentle sound of falling water, soothing and cool, just like the waterfall they once visited as children.

That place held one of Silas’s most cherished memories. It was the first time he had truly tried to bring Solenne’s smile back.

A younger Silas, desperate and unsure, had brought his tearful sister to that waterfall, hoping it would stop her from crying.

And it had worked.

Even though their parents had chosen to leave them, even though his heart was filled with confusion and helplessness—Silas had felt peace that day, because he had brought back Solenne’s smile.

The very smile that had become his reason to keep going. Because from that day on, Silas had vowed never to let that smile fade.

He froze for a moment, staring at his carving in disbelief.

After countless tries, this was the first time he felt satisfied.

“Beautiful,” he breathed.

So this is what it looks like when you create with sincerity. A quiet, proud smile curled on his lips.

If Solenne saw this, she’d probably be loud and full of questions, desperate to know how he made it.

Just imagining that moment successfully warmed his heart.

[hecate-black]

INFORMATION & STATISTICS FOR HECATE BLACK

"I have lived a thousand lives and I’ve loved a thousand loves. I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time…" — George R.R. Martin

ORIGINS & FAMILY:

Full Name: Hecate Black

Nickname(s)/Alias(es): HB, Hettie

Date of Birth: October 9th, 1988

Age: 36

Gender + Pronouns: Female, She/Her

Place of birth: Yuma, Arizona

Parents: Ronan (Incubi) & Maeve Solenne (Witch)

Siblings: Jasper (Younger brother)

Relationship with family (close? estranged?): Complex and deeply rooted in loyalty, responsibility, and love; She feels a deep sense of responsibility toward her parents since taking on their caretaker role when she was a child. While she loves them, this responsibility sometimes weighs on her, creating a mix of affection and a hint of resentment or exhaustion, though she would never openly acknowledge it. Her relationship with her brother is filled with mutual support and understanding. They are very close, rely on each other, often communicate without words, and share a deep bond from their shared struggles and survival. Despite the challenges, Hecate’s love for her family is unwavering. She is fiercely protective of them, and even though her lifestyle is wild and free-spirited, her family remains a central part of her life

Pets: Salem, a black cat

PHYSICAL:

Height: 5′ 2″ (157.5 cm)

Build: Slender and petite

Species: Siphoner Succubi Hybrid

Distinguishing Facial Features: High cheekbones, a defined jawline, full lips and slightly almond-shaped eyes, which gives her a striking and distinctive look

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Usual Hair Style: Braids with strands of hair escaping here and there and woven beads, feathers, or colorful threads

Eye Color: Dark Brown

Complexion (freckles, acne, skin tone, birthmarks, scars): Warm, light brown complexion; light freckles across her nose and cheeks that she usually covers with makeup

Disabilities (physical or mental, including mental illnesses): Anxiety, PTSD, A Bad Knee (an old injury she never got properly looked at as a kid)

What do they consider their best feature?: Her sharp and observant eyes that are capable of seeing through people’s lies and have a captivating quality that draws people in

Worst they’ve ever been injured (what, how did it happen)?: The worst injury Hecate sustained was when she was 12 and had to flee with her family after the attack. She was caught by one of the attackers and severely cut across her side with a knife while trying to protect her brother. The wound required stitches, and though it healed, it left a small scar and a reminder of her past

APPEARANCE:

Favorite outfit: A flowy, off-the-shoulder peasant top paired with a long, layered bohemian skirt and a wide belt with intricate designs. Accessorized with multiple necklaces, rings, bracelets, and shoes or barefoot

Glasses? Contacts?: She wears glasses for reading sometimes

Personal Hygiene: Casually clean with earthy scents

Tattoos? Piercings?: A septum piercing and multiple piercings in each ear; about fifty-five small and very meaningful tattoos scattered across her body

What does their voice sound like?: Her voice is low and smooth with a hint of raspiness

Accent?: None specific and subtle

Unique mannerisms/physical habits: She has a habit of fidgeting with her rings when she’s nervous or deep in thought, tilting her head slightly when she’s analyzing or trying to figure someone out, humming softly to herself when she’s relaxed or content, and pausing before she speaks, as though she’s measuring her words carefully

Left handed or right?: Ambidextrous

Do they work out/exercise?: Not regularly but does like dance, yoga, and walking

BELIEFS & INTELLECT:

Known Languages: Romani, English, Spanish, French, Basic Latin (for spells)

Zodiac: Libra

Gifts/talents: Exceptionally good at reading people and finding their weaknesses, Card Games, Gambling

Religious stance: Spiritual but does follow some Wiccan traditions

Political stance: Libertarian realist

Pet peeves: People who lie badly, Judgmental attitudes toward unconventional lifestyles, Overly loud or aggressive behavior in public spaces

Optimist or pessimist: Somewhere in between, leaning slightly toward optimism but very cautious

Extrovert or introvert: Extrovert

INTIMACY & RELATIONSHIPS:

Relationship status: Single

Sexual orientation: Pansexual

Ideal mate/qualities they look for in a mate: Looks for someone who is loyal, understanding, and adventurous; someone who can keep up with her wild side but also provide the stability she sometimes craves; A partner who respects her independence is crucial

Ever been in love?: Might be currently for the first time right now

What’s their love language?: Physical Touch and Acts of Service

Most important person in their life?: Her family, her sisters in her coven, her very good friend, and crush, Adelina

VOCATION:

Level of education: High School Diploma

Profession: Dealer at the Coral Diamond Casino

Past occupations: Various odd jobs during her travels like bartending and fortune telling at carnivals, fire dancing, and singing at small venues

Passions: Herbalism, Music, Collecting rare, old books

Which is more important – money or doing something they love?: Doing something she loves

SECRETS:

Phobias: Has a fear of fear of being trapped and/or losing her freedom and losing the ones she loves

Life goals: To find true love, no matter how much she would deny it if asked, and create a family of her own; one that’s stable and secure, unlike her own upbringing, To open a metaphysical shop where she can share her love of books and magic

Greatest fears: Failing the people she cares about, Betrayal, Being left alone

Most embarrassing thing ever to happen to him/her: Once, during her early days at the casino, Hecate was in the middle of a con she was running on a high-rolling customer. In the heat of the moment, she accidentally spilled a drink all over herself and the table, drawing attention to her con and forcing her to abandon it mid-execution. She was mortified, and the customer still jokes about it to this day

Something they’ve never told anyone: Hecate sometimes wishes she had gone to college, not for the education, but for the chance to live a more “normal” life, to have had a stable home and a routine; something she’s never admitted to anyone, not even herself fully

PREFERENCES:

Hobbies: Journaling, Stargazing, Dream Journaling, Learning new card tricks

Favorite color: Deep Purple (Dark Byzantium)

Favorite smell: Sandalwood, Old books

Favorite food: Cheesecake

Favorite book: The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Favorite movie: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Favorite song: Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac

Coffee or tea?: Herbal Tea that she brews herself

Favorite type of weather: The calm before a storm; when the air is thick with anticipation and the world feels charged with energy

Most used word or phrase?: “Keep it cool, babe”

EXTRAS:

MBTI: ENFP (The Campaigner) - Hecate’s free-spirited and adaptable nature aligns with the ENFP type. ENFPs are known for their enthusiasm, creativity, and strong sense of individuality. They thrive on exploring new ideas and experiences, much like Hecate’s nomadic upbringing and her diverse interests in books, partying, and con artistry. ENFPs are also empathetic and caring, which aligns with Hecate's role as a caretaker for her parents despite her wild exterior

Alignment: Chaotic Good - Hecate’s upbringing and lifestyle suggest a disregard for traditional rules and structures, making her chaotic. However, her actions are driven by a desire to protect and care for her family and those she cares about, indicating a fundamentally good nature. She may con people out of habit, but her intentions are not malicious

Enneagram: Type 7w2 (The Cheerleader) - Type 7 fits Hecate’s adventurous and spontaneous personality. She seeks new experiences, enjoys freedom, and avoids anything that feels limiting or confining. The Type 2 wing reflects her deep care for her family and her willingness to take on the responsibility of caring for her disabled parents, even at a young age

Celtic Tree: Vine - Hecate is the embodiment of the Vine: emotionally complex, enchantingly contradictory, and ruled by the pull of her heart no matter how hard she tries to hide it. Like the twisting tendrils of her namesake, she weaves herself through the lives of others quietly, intimately, with an empathy that often catches even her off guard. She’s poetic by accident and instinctively intuitive, sensing the undercurrents in every room she walks into. Prone to mood shifts and carried by tides of nostalgia and desire, Hecate lives in the in-between — between right and wrong, love and fear, illusion and reality. She doesn’t just feel deeply; she becomes the emotion, wearing grief like perfume and loyalty like a second skin

Temperament: Sanguine-Melancholic - Hecate’s sanguine side is evident in her outgoing, lively, and carefree nature. She enjoys socializing, partying, and living in the moment. However, her melancholic side comes through in her introspective moments, her love for books, and the deep responsibility she feels towards her parents

Hogwarts House: Slytherin (with deep Hufflepuff leanings) - Cunning wrapped in charm, Hecate is every bit the Slytherin; strategic, fiercely self-protective, and never without an exit plan. She reads people like a well-worn deck of cards and knows just how to play her hand. But beneath the armor and smirk is a heart quietly carved by Hufflepuff; one that loves deeply, defends fiercely, and craves genuine connection even as she pretends not to. She may not wear her loyalty like a badge, but if you’re one of the rare few she lets in, she will burn the world to keep you safe. She’s the storm outside the walls and the steady flame within them; complex, loyal, and always calculating just how much of herself it’s safe to give

Element: Water - Water represents adaptability, intuition, and emotional depth, which are all key aspects of Hecate’s character. She is adaptable to different situations, highly intuitive, especially in her role as a witch, and deeply connected to her emotions, particularly regarding her family

[blackrose-ffxiv]

A Shot Across the Bow 11/08

Idristan Agache moved with purpose down the path towards the beach. He had first been to the Tradehouse, but after failing to find the other Ishgardian, he had been forced to resort to less obvious methods of finding him. Fortunately, tall elezen dressed in black tended to stand out, even here. "Lebeaux!" he calls out sharply as he approaches. He's armed clearly, but his staff is still on his back. For now. The anger in his voice suggests that perhaps that might not remain the case forever, if things went badly. "We need to talk," he declares. Clearly pleasantries were not on the agenda for today.

Lebeaux Desrosiers stood calmly on the quiet beach. The Tradehouse was in an uproar about some special or another and he couldn’t even find peace in his own offices. The place that was generally avoided by anyone with any sense of self-preservation was currently occupied by a very chatty Duskwight who didn’t seem to understand that ‘go away I’m working’ meant shut up, even if he was only sitting around smoking somnus. The brief respite was broken by a sharp shout, a familiar voice calling his name with a very familiar anger. A shame. Here he was without his staff. Very well, there were always backups. He slipped his hand into his pocket as he turned, smiling serenely at the whitehaired man as he lifted a petite pistol that fit neatly into his large palm and leveled the snub-nosed barrel at the other medic. “Idristan. What a pleasant surprise. You can talk from there.”

Idristan does stop at that, his eyes narrowing as he studies the gunbarrel. His eyes occasionally flick from it to the other medic's face, before he finally seems to decide that yes, Lebeaux was probably a decent enough shot to make pressing the matter too much a risky proposition. Though then again, that had never truly stopped him before. His usual scowl seems to have deepened however. "Resorting to guns now Lebeaux?" he inquires. "Don't tell me your aether took that much of a hit." From the sound of his voice, he wouldn't be terribly upset if that was indeed the case. "Not that it matters. I'm only here because I want to tell you to leave her alone."

“Oh, that.” Lebeaux lowered the gun for the moment, but didn’t yet put it away. “You came all this way to threaten me to stay away from your little girlfriend.” He exhaled a laugh that could only be described as deeply sarcastic. “Have you already forgotten our ceasefire. If you attack me, even for her sake, that would be the end of it.”

Idristan's eyes flick briefly towards the gun once more as it moves, before resuming glaring at Lebeaux's face. At his sides his fingers curl into fists, and for perhaps a brief instant he seems deeply tempted to knock the laughter right out of Lebeaux. But then he draws in a deep breath. "Yes," he says through gritted teeth. "She would be worth it. And because," he continues quickly. "I'm sure you'd be quite happy to get rid of Lady Winter, if you thought you could manage it--and she wasn't included in our 'ceasefire'," he points out. Apparently he was fairly convinced that Lebeaux had already realized that as well.

Lebeaux moved closer, stalking slowly across the sand towards the shorter man. “I would like nothing more than to get rid of Lady Winter. And perhaps I shall have my chance.” He explained as he smiiiled at the other medic. “Someday. Strolling into Ishgard with the corpse of a dead heretic and known sympathizer would do nothing for me right now. Other than make me feel better about the situation. Hm, perhaps that would actually be good enough.” He mused as he turned to circle slightly around the other. “What luck there’s already someone who will take care of that for me. It doesn’t need to be by my hand for me to be satisfied.”

Though it is subtle, Idristan's stance shifts as Lebeaux draws closer, and he seems to instinctively tense. Perhaps the smile had something to do with it. That one always seemed to bode ill. "I would certainly consider you petty enough," he agrees. He doesn't quite turn to follow Lebeaux as he stalks around him, but instead tracks him with his eyes. He did have some pride, after all. At least, until Lebeaux's final words. At that his eyes widen, teeth clenching as he turns on his heel to look at the other medic head on. "And what," he begins slowly. "Exactly, you do mean by that?" he demands.

Lebeaux lifted his chin, smiling too-sweetly down his nose at the smaller man as he circled him before stopping with his back to the water again. “Is it truly so surprising that I would be the only one with the desire to see Lady Winter laid low?” He prodded. “The both of you are fools, to stroll along Kugane as though you haven’t a care in the world.”

Idristan moved to keep his eyes on Lebeaux. It likely looked a bit ridiculous, but at this very moment he didn't care. This topic, perhaps more than anything else, seemed to be a sensitive spot for him. "Of course not," he snaps. "But the fact that you're being vague makes me rather suspect you might be bluffing." That, in and of itself, was a bluff--one that he was hoping that Lebeaux would not call him on. "And as if you have not done the very same." As a number of unfortunate ambushes could attest to. "It's not like there are many of us here."

Lebeaux giggled at that. “That is the best part of the entire thing. This one doesn’t seem to be Ishgardian at all. She seems to make enemies wherever she goes. How fortunate for me.” He declared cheerfully. “Have you figured out who it is yet?” He teased.

Idristan actually takes a step towards Lebeaux at that. Apparently hearing the other giggle, of all things, was enough to temporarily break whatever hold on his temper he had. "As long as they're people like you," he growls. "Then I can hardly see that as a fault." Not that he likely would, even if they weren't. Poor thing seemed hopelessly smitten. However, something Lebeaux said seemed to make him pause. There was only one not-Ishgardian that immediately sprang to mind. He stares in disbelief at Lebeaux for a moment, then his eyes narrow once more in suspicion. "Surely you don't mean the duskwight," he demands, though internally his heart was sinking. That would be very, very bad.

Lebeaux didn’t flinch away from the small step forwards, but he did grip the pistol in his hand a little more tightly. “Oh, I don’t know. It can be so hard to tell them apart, can’t it.” He purred as he smirked at Idristan. “And there are ever so many around Kugane these days, aren’t there?” His head tilted thoughtfully, tapping the finger of his free hand against his own chin. “Shouldn’t you already know all of this? Don’t tell me… she hasn’t been telling you what she gets up to when you’re~ not~ looking~.”

Idristan seemed not at all impressed by this answer. "I suspect you know exactly which one I am referring to. And I would rather suspect not." Unless a certain other duskwight had done something truly stupid... He then stiffens, fingers curling as his mouth twists into a petulant scowl. "Don't be ridiculous," he snaps, lifting his nose slightly as he says it. "Of course she tells me. She wouldn't keep secrets from me." But he doesn't sound entirely convinced of his own words, even as he is saying them.

“Just as she told you when she left you all but standing at the altar?” Lebeaux mused as he took a small step backwards. He caught a small sniff of weakness there. Of Idristan not being entirely sure of himself. He had recalled the other Ishgardian’s low points and when he later ran into Idristan trying to get her back, it all sort of clicked into place. She had left him and now returned. “You have no idea, do you. You are a pathetic creature, Idristan.” He crowed brightly, waving the pistol lightly in the direction of the other man. “It would perhaps be a mercy to put you down once and for all. But then I do so enjoy seeing you miserable. I wonder, will you ask her. Would she tell you the truth? Or will you go skulk around and try to find what she’s been hiding from you all this time…”

Sure enough, that seemed to cause a crack in Idristan's attempt at trying to appear calm. Idristan snarls, fangs bared, and it appears as though he's seriously debating lunging at the other Ishgardian. Only the occasional gleam of light off the gun barrel is enough to cause him pause--and that only slightly. "It wasn't like that!" he snaps, but the pain in his voice suggests that no, it very much was. "And you're hardly one to talk! I doubt there's anyone who would even head up to the altar with you in the first place!" It was perhaps for the best he was unaware of where certain duskwights were at that particular moment. "And of course she would tell me," he adds, but his voice has grown softer--and for just a moment, he actually looks away from Lebeaux.

Lebeaux casually slipped the safety back on to the gun. If Idristan was going to attack him at this point it was unlikely that it would be anything calculated. Perhaps a slap or a punch at the rate he was going. The bastard seemed to be busier being angry with himself. Busier doubting himself and his newly rediscovered couples’ bliss. The moment Idristan looked away, Lebeaux struck. The pistol was turned in his hand and brought around to crack the bottom of it against the shorter man’s jaw with the intention of knocking him to the sand. The handle was inlaid with carved white wood and inlaid pearl, plainly made especially for the elezen’s personal tastes. “You are a fool, Idristan. You’ve always been one but now you’ve become reckless as well.”

Sure enough, Idristan was too distracted with his own thoughts to notice the gun coming towards him until it was too late to do anything about it. Wood and metal collide with flesh and bone with a loud crack. The shorter elezen half-stumbled, half-fell backwards, though it seems to take him a few moments to realize that he's sitting in the sand at all. One of his hands has gone to his chin, though whether he feared breaks or was simply in pain was an open question. Perhaps both. "Bastard," he growls, though the word is rather muffled.

Lebeaux stepped closer and gave the fallen elezen a kick for good measure to flatten him back onto the sand properly. “Pathetic.” He declared as he grinned down at the other Isghardian. “How strong must your relationship be if I can shake you so thoroughly with only a few idle musings. Is that why you felt the need to ambush me today. Playing the role of the loving partner soothes your worries and misgivings. Threatening me made you feel better, hm.”

Idristan lets out a yelp of pain and protest as a booted foot slams into him without warning (or at least, one he noticed. He was somewhat distracted at present). He looks up to cast a glare at Lebeaux, hate gleaming in his green eyes. "No," he spits. "I care about her. I wouldn't let someone like you hurt her," he insists, though there still seems to be the slightest hint of doubt. Not that he would acknowledge it. "I know what you're like," he adds, face twisting in pain and anger at the mere thought of what he could do to her, if given half the chance. "This isn't about me."

“Ohhh, I think it’s very much about you.” The medic reasoned as he walked slowly around the fallen man, looking like a professor preparing to give lecture. Yet if Idristan made the mistake of trying to get up or roll for his staff, he would earn another swift kick from Lebeaux’s perfectly polished boots. “You are angry at me for what I’ve done to you, understandable. Now here comes this relationship you so desperately want to work, this time. Because you just weren’t good enough last time. You couldn’t keep her. That will always be at the back of your mind, so you seek to be rid of any imagined threats by overreacting. Let me tell you, alpha posturing ill-suits you.” He teased, tapping the handle of the gun against his own hand to make his point. “You thought that threatening me and trying to scare me will give you some sense of security. Is it working, Idristan.”

Idristan actually flinches, though it's not quite clear whether it's at the memories that Lebeaux's words conjured, or else being told that he had failed. "No," he insists, despite the pain in his jaw. "It's very real. Inquisitor," he hisses, as if the word were a foul curse. "And she didn't leave because of me," he adds. Or at least, that's what she had said. He then falls silent, fingers curling in anger in the sand as he fumes. The teasing, however, does seem to finally do it. Greenish aether sparks around his fingers as he goes for the staff, apparently intent on showing Lebeaux exactly how well it was working. Violently.

Lebeaux inhaled sharply as Idristan lunged. The first thing he did was step forwards and bring his foot down hard, intending to catch the conjurer’s hand under his bootheel. The second thing he did was raise one hand to his ear, plugging it with a finger to protect his hearing as he pointed the pistol down and fired. The thing boomed like a cannon, the sound echoing off of the rock walls around them. He had aimed wide intentionally, to blow a hole in the sand a little ways away from Idristan’s head.

Idristan barely has time to react as Lebeaux's boot slams down onto his hand. He starts to move the other hand, intending to attack with that, only to freeze as a loud bang goes off far, far too close to his head. He instinctively closes his eyes as sand sprays, and when he opens them he can't help but stare at the new hole in he sand. It seems to have drained some of the fight out of him as he looks back at Lebeaux, back towards the gun that he seemingly had temporarily forgotten in his anger. Well, he certainly wouldn't be forgetting it for awhile now; not with the way his ears were ringing.

Lebeaux knew firsthand that Idristan would be unable to hear him for a time after that, and his ears would be ringing for even longer after that. The weapon was deceptively powerful for its size. And there were two barrels. He still had another shot before he would need to reload. The medic didn’t bother talking but rather smiled down at the dazed medic. He leaned more weight onto his bootheel, grinding it against the back of Idristan’s hand. Making his point before he removed it and took a few short steps away. Perhaps allowing him up. Perhaps waiting for him to try so he could kick him again.

Idristan bites his lip, trying to stiffle the hiss of pain that was brewing as Lebeaux ground his foot into his hand. Yes, he seemed to get the message indeed. He eyes Lebeaux (or perhaps more accurately, the gun) warily, clearly suspicious of this. Then he slowly starts to get to his feet--or tries anyway.

Lebeaux was very seriously considering kicking him back down. Yet he simply smiled and allowed Idristan to climb back to his feet. “Very good.” He said loudly. “Now tuck your tail between your legs and slink back home to sulk and brood and feel sorry for yourself.” Fingers of his free hand flicked in a shooing gesture.

@roses-and-grimoires  

mention of: @secrets-and-aetherlight

[secrets-and-aetherlight]

Recriminations

Michaux wraps his arms around himself, but he can’t stop shivering. Curse his inadequate servant’s garb. Curse the snow. Curse Ishgard and Thorn and Edarien and everyone who thought crashing this ill-fated party was a good idea. 

And curse Yves too for good measure. The other Duskwight is looming nearby, his mask off and his hair loose and billowing in the wind. In the night, the dark wings of his costume look like an omen of death.

“You made little enough use of your undercover position tonight,” Yves growls softly. “You were surrounded by gossiping servants. You can reads minds, for hells’ sake. Yet you still could not warn us about what was coming.”

Michaux huffs indignantly, still shivering. “My magic doesn’t work like that. I can’t just take a peek into someone’s mind without their knowledge. Not easily, anyroad. And do you think someone like Thorn would be so vulnerable to psychic attacks? All that would have happened if I’d tried that on him or his Flock is that I’d be dead or infected now.”

“And instead, it is possible that all of our companions have suffered that fate,” Yves says coolly.

“Who’s fault is that?” Michaux demands. At least his anger is starting to warm him up a little. He steps forward, glaring at his so-called ‘cousin’ and waving an accusing finger at him. “You left them behind! At least I can say I helped a few guests and servants escape. You just abandoned everyone!”

Yves doesn’t flinch under the accusation. He’s not even looking at Michaux, in fact. His gaze is distant. Michaux has to wonder if he even feels the slightest bit of remorse or fear for his allies, friend, or even his lover. The very person Yves tasked Michaux with protecting in Priarch was among those whom Yves deserted tonight.

Michaux is certain he will never understand this man. This monster.

“I cannot compel others to avail themselves of the safety I offer them,” Yves finally says, his pale eyes still focused elsewhere. “There was much I was willing to do. But in the end, that choice was taken from me. It was a betrayal, one you would not understand. You who will pursue any reckless act in the name of ‘love.’“

“Not true,” Michaux says, his own voice softening to match the low pitch of Yves’s. “I walked away from love only recently. But only because I knew the person I loved would always put himself and his calling before me and the other people I care about. I had to walk away in order to protect others.”

“Then we are in much the same position.”

Michaux feels like he must be missing something here. But there’s something new in Yves’s tone. Something that hints at sadness or regret. Only a hint, though. Yves isn’t one to weep over his losses.

He must have lost so many people over the centuries. Maybe turning his back on loved ones is routine now.

“What betrayal?” Michaux asks tentatively.

“Okuni has indebted herself to the Raven. I cannot predict what will come of it, but I doubt somehow that Raven will ask for something trivial in return. Thus she has effectively aligned herself with the enemy. It is likely that she is infected by now. It was an unnecessary gesture. A foolhardy, self-indulgent act. One which will greatly hurt Ghost and Marius. My loyalties lie with them.”

He finally turns back, fixing those ghostly eyes on Michaux’s face.“And If Idristan is lost to the Ink now because he was too stubborn to save himself,” he says harshly, clearly aware that that is the outcome which would cause Michaux the most pain, “it becomes even more important that I remain uninfected. So yes. I abandoned them to their martyrdom. I assume that is what they wanted.”

Michaux shakes his head, his anger returning. “You have no right to sneer at their bravery.”

“I have every right to sneer at their folly,” Yves replies with perfect calm.

Michaux just stares at him, feeling resentful and helpless. This conversation isn’t doing either of them any good. He can’t change Yves’s actions by continuing to scold him about them, and he can’t help Idristan by standing around in the cold. Nor can he risk going back to that house and exposing himself to the Ink in some desperate attempt to find his friend. 

Solenne. He should be at Solenne’s side now. If Idristan did escape somehow, that’s where he’s likely to go. And if not... she’ll need him.

“I’m leaving this freezing hell,” he says. “Do what you like. Go try to convince Ghost and Marius that your cowardice and heartlessness were necessary for their protection. I’m sure they’ll appreciate that.”

He doesn’t wait for a response before starting to weave his teleport spell. And for his part, Yves makes no attempt to stop him or break his concentration. But Michaux can feel those pale eyes on him as he works his magic.

The last thing he sees before teleporting away is the shadow cast by those dark wings on the moonlit snow.

Mentions: @the-duskfallen, @thedarknesssings, @priarch-enterprises-ffxiv​, @liminal-storage, @phantom-xiv, @marius-vieremont​, @roses-and-grimoires​

[iris-ymir]

Fighting Style :: Lareine / Iris

repost, do not reblog! bold what consistently applies. italicize situational, not always. both, a priority while fighting. 

fight honourably / fight dirty / prefer close-quarters / prefer range /  chat during /  go silent /  low pain tolerance  / high pain tolerance / attack in bursts  / attack steadily / go for the kill / aim to disarm / fight defensively / bait an opponent’s first strike / strike first /  provoked easily  /   provoke their opponent  / tease /  get visibly frustrated  / shout while attacking / use strategy / focus on their battle /  experience conflicting thoughts during battle / rush in recklessly / try to read their opponent before fighting /  fight wildly /  fight calmly apathetically / fight with anger / fight with excitement / fight because they have to  /  fight because they want to  / fight without regard to wounds /  run away when wounded  / hide wounds / take a blow to protect another /   prefer a blade  /  prefer a gun  / prefer a bow /  prefer a shield  /  prefer a spear naginata / prefer a personalized weapon  / prefer magic or spells  /   prefer brawling  / their greatest weakness is physical /  their greatest weakness is mental  / their greatest weakness is emotional / transform for battle  / fight as they appear /  rely on strength  /  rely on speed / use everything they have / hide their full potential / exhaust quickly /  high stamina /  doubt their strength  /  proceed with caution /   behave arrogantly  / brag after landing a hit  /  belittle their abilities / use psychological tactics / use brute strength /  avoid civilians  /  strike down civilians  / damage surroundings  / avoid damaging surroundings / signature fighting style / making it up as they go /  mastered skillset / learning their skillset / fancy footwork /  sloppy footwork /  messy fighter / elegant fighter / accept defeat / refuse defeat / beg for mercy / compliment their opponent /  insult their opponent /  use unnecessary movements ( flips, twirls ) / move efficiently /  barely move / prefer to dodge / prefer to block /  defend their blindside / has no blindside /  use all available advantages /  strictly use one main method  / play around  /  hold back /  fight ruthlessly  / show mercy /  wait for opponent to be ready / strike when opponent isn’t ready  / fear death  /  fear pain  / fear killing /  has PTSD / avoid fighting / has lost a fight / has won a fight / has killed / refuses to kill / want to die standing /  would succumb slowly.

Tagged by @under-the-blood-moonlight​! Thanks for the tag, hun! 🖤 

Tagging @thefreelanceangel​ @kazexvoss​ @alun-ura​ @lavender-hemlock​ @rifted-vitale​ @hangedemperor​ @thesinsofgreed​ @finishing-touch​ @coeurl-regina-solenne​ @a-sharlayan-abroad​ @addifore​ @sernoudenet​ @istolin​ @unatobajhiri​ @torr-sceadu​ & YOU!

[iona-xiv]

Fighting Style - Iona

repost, do not reblog! [[bold what consistently applies. italicize situational, not always. both, a priority while fighting.]] Tagged by: @ofthesilverlining​ Thank you for the tag! ♥

fight honorably / fight dirty / prefer close-quarters / prefer range /  chat during  / go silent /  low pain tolerance  / high pain tolerance / attack in bursts / attack steadily / go for the kill / aim to disarm / fight defensively / bait an opponent’s first strike / strike first /  provoked easily /   provoke their opponent  /  tease /  get visibly frustrated  /  shout while attacking / use strategy / focus on their battle / experience conflicting thoughts during battle / rush in recklessly / try to read their opponent before fighting /  fight wildly /  fight calmly apathetically / fight with anger / fight with excitement / fight because they have to  / fight because they want to / fight without regard to wounds /  run away when wounded  / hide wounds / take a blow to protect another /   prefer a blade  /  prefer a gun  / prefer a bow /  prefer a shield  /  prefer a spear naginata / prefer a personalized weapon / prefer magic or spells  / prefer brawling  / their greatest weakness is physical /  their greatest weakness is mental  / their greatest weakness is emotional / “transform” for battle  / fight as they appear / rely on strength  / rely on speed / use everything they have / hide their full potential / exhaust quickly  / high stamina /  doubt their strength  /  proceed with caution / behave arrogantly  / brag after landing a hit /  belittle their abilities / use psychological tactics / use brute strength /  avoid civilians  / strike down civilians  / damage surroundings  / avoid damaging surroundings  / signature fighting style / making it up as they go / mastered skillset / learning their skillset / fancy footwork /  sloppy footwork /  messy fighter / elegant fighter / accept defeat / refuse defeat / beg for mercy / compliment their opponent /  insult their opponent /  use unnecessary movements ( flips, twirls ) / move efficiently /  barely move / prefer to dodge / prefer to block /  defend their blindside / has no blindside /  use all available advantages /  strictly use one main method  / play around /  hold back / fight ruthlessly / show mercy /  wait for opponent to be ready / strike when opponent isn’t ready  / fear death  /  fear pain  / fear killing / has PTSD / avoid fighting / has lost a fight / has won a fight / has killed / refuses to kill / want to die standing /  would succumb slowly

Tag you’re it!: @yumeaino​ @manabuns​ @aeditha​ @this-desert-rose​ @coeurl-regina-solenne​ @seda-xiv​ @bookbornexiv​ @omaoide​ @madalinevossffxiv​ @smiling-while-wiping​ @ashe-the-spotted-bunny​ 

[the-stoked-flame]

Fighting Style || Orion Llewelyn

bold what consistently applies || italicize situational, not always || both, a priority while fighting

fight honorably / fight dirty / prefer close-quarters / prefer range / chat during / go silent /  low pain tolerance  / high pain tolerance / attack in bursts / attack steadily / go for the kill / aim to disarm / fight defensively / bait an opponent’s first strike / strike first /  provoked easily /   provoke their opponent / tease /  get visibly frustrated / shout while attacking / use strategy / focus on their battle /  experience conflicting thoughts during battle / rush in recklessly / try to read their opponent before fighting /  fight wildly /  fight calmly apathetically / fight with anger / fight with excitement / fight because they have to  / fight because they want to  / fight without regard to wounds /  run away when wounded  / hide wounds / take a blow to protect another /   prefer a blade /  prefer a gun  / prefer a bow / prefer a shield  /  prefer a spear naginata / prefer a personalized weapon  / prefer magic or spells  /  prefer brawling  / their greatest weakness is physical /  their greatest weakness is mental / their greatest weakness is emotional / transform for battle  / fight as they appear / rely on strength  /  rely on speed / use everything they have / hide their full potential / exhaust quickly / high stamina /  doubt their strength  / proceed with caution /   behave arrogantly  / brag after landing a hit  /  belittle their abilities / use psychological tactics / use brute strength / avoid civilians /  strike down civilians / damage surroundings / avoid damaging surroundings / signature fighting style / making it up as they go / mastered skillset / learning their skillset / fancy footwork /  sloppy footwork /  messy fighter / elegant fighter / accept defeat / refuse defeat / beg for mercy / compliment their opponent / insult their opponent / use unnecessary movements ( flips, twirls ) / move efficiently /  barely move / prefer to dodge / prefer to block /  defend their blindside / has no blindside / use all available advantages /  strictly use one main method  /  play around  /  hold back /  fight ruthlessly  / show mercy /  wait for opponent to be ready / strike when opponent isn’t ready  / fear death  /  fear pain / fear killing /  has PTSD / avoid fighting / has lost a fight / has won a fight / has killed / refuses to kill / want to die standing /  would succumb slowly

Tagged By: @tiergan-vashir​ (Thanks friendo!)

Tagging: @whitherwanderer @oneilmfruitpunch @shroudandsands @tehmi-ffxiv @nhajers @dt-xiv @dynamitecowboy​ @sliptohk​ @thepyriteprince​ @coeurl-regina-solenne​ @meandering-mind​ and anyone else!

[roses-and-grimoires]

Relationship & Courting antics Asks: 1-30. *whistles innocently and strolls away* >.>

Lol! Fine @thedarknesssings, you troll. *crackles knuckles* Let’s do this.

Cutting for length:

♥ Do they seek out love or let it find them? Are they even interested in romance?

Idris is a complete and utter romantic, so yes, he is interested in romance. Though, interestingly, he doesn’t tend to actively seek out love; most of his relationships he’s rather… fallen into. For someone who likes to pretend that they are confident and unflappable, he is rather shy when it comes to making the first move.

♥ When they have a crush on someone, how do they let them know?

Oh, Idris is so bad at this. The poor guy is both deeply romantic and wants someone to share that part of his life with and deeply afraid of rejection. He tends to be nicer to them, for starters, and will leave them gifts like flowers and the like, as well as doing favors for them. If those don’t work he might escalate and do some sort of grand romantic gesture.

♥Tell us about a time they were rejected.

Back when he was attending the Scolasticate he had a crush on a another student. It didn’t go well for him; she was a noble and he was a bastard without any claim to title. When he did try to ask her out he was very soundly rejected without her giving him a second thought.

♥ Do they spend a lot of time in the courting stage or attempt to get to first base as fast as possible?

Courting. Idristan really needs that connection with someone in order to feel safe enough to drop his guard and actually enjoy a relationship.

♥ Do they wait to be intimate until after marriage or break all the social rules?

Oh, he definitely doesn’t wait until after marriage, that’s for sure. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that he breaks all the social rules, but rather is aware of them and knows how to dance at the edges of them. After all, it’s fun to have people speculate about what you, a proper, upstanding Ishgardian might have been up to and know that they have no proof.

♥ Do they have open or closed relationships?

He used to be fairly strictly monogamous, but has soften a bit on it (partially thanks to being around some friends). The whole idea of an open relationship is honestly a bit new to him and he’s still trying to figure out how it all works.

♥ How do they feel about polygamy?

He’s overall neutral on it. He doesn’t really think it’s for him and definitely doesn’t get either Miqo’te culture at all, but he also truly could not care less what other people are doing. It’s Not His Problem.

♥ Are they loyal to their partners?

Oh, absolutely. He would go to war for them (and arguably has…).

♥ Are they patient with their partners?

More than most people. Which, to be fair, in his case is a very, very low bar to clear.

♥ Do they include their partners in most aspects of their life?

This is something he’s bad at. The fact of the matter is, Idristan is involved in a lot of things, from mercenary work to Ishgardian politics, and they’re not necessarily things he can bring people into (especially before they all blow up in his face). He’s trying to be better, but there’s only so much he can really do there.

♥ Do they make an effort to find someone with similar views, be they political or moral?

Absolutely. He could never be with someone who considered him sub-human or who couldn’t accept his heretic past or some of his current actions (which are very dubiously legal). Fortunately for him, the groups that he spends the most time with don’t tend to keep such people around for long (with one or two notable exceptions…).

♥ Do they seek to find a partner purely to further the bloodline and name, is it for true love, or is it for pleasure alone?

Mostly love, with a bit of pleasure thrown in. While his family name is very important to him, he is under no delusions that it is to anyone else. And while he might like children at some point, right now it isn’t a major priority for him. He’s content to enjoy how things are now.

♥ Do they sleep in the same bed/room as much as they can or do they sleep separately?

As much as they can. Touch is incredibly important to Idristan so he likes just being near those he cares about. Plus it helps him sleep better; having company is often better than being alone when the nightmares strike.

♥ Do they make it a point to eat at lease one meal a day together with their partner, or do they do as they please?

Idristan makes a point to eat with Solenne when he can, since that means that he knows that she’s had at least one decent meal. When he can’t do that, he trusts the cook he hired to see to it. Granted, a lot of this is because he knows how wrapped up in work she can get, as well as not trusting her to cook. At all. (And with good reason).

♥ Do they enjoy talking to their partners before going to sleep or is it straight to dreamland?

Typically straight to dreamland I think. Granted, a lot of that is because Idris often uses tea blends to help him sleep and ward off nightmares.

♥ Do they have at least one bonding activity they devote to doing with their partner exclusively?

Idristan and Solenne are both very good dancers. I think there’s been more than a few nights where they’ve just put on music and danced, or else went out to some high class party and utterly dominated the dance floor.

♥ What sort of characteristics or quirks draw them to someone?

A sense of humor. Since his own tends to drive people away, anyone who actually returns some jabs is automatically more interesting to him.

♥ Do they have a ‘type’?

Very much so. Idris needs people who can challenge him, who will stand up to him and banter with him. He appreciates wit and intelligence, someone who knows how to take care of themselves, and who is maybe just a bit dominant and unafraid of saying what they want. Elezen is a plus.

♥ What was their first impression about their partner/person they are courting?

Idristan’s first impression of Solenne was... quite an interesting one. He ran into her while she was essentially possessed. By the end of their meeting he had realized that she was in trouble and, of course, set out to try to help.

Ghost was a bit more low key in comparison. He noticed hoe good looking he was, of course, and how quieter he was compared to Marius, but sharp.

♥ How did their relationship start?

Idristan and Solenne’s began after a long, long period of mutual pining. The reason for this was because Idristan didn’t want to start one with her because he was fairly sure he was going to die (or worse), but... things got bad and Solenne managed to convince him that it was better to take advantage of the time he had. He’s very glad she did.

Idristan and Ghost I’d say properly got started after Idristan got shot during a Covenant mission. Ghost came to check on him, Idristan was honest, and Ghost offered to share aether with him, annnd things went from there. It probably helped that Idristan apologized for implying that Ghost is a monster that should be killed.

♥ What was the most romantic time they had with their partner?

I think it would have to be the time that Idristan and Solenne went down to the beach to dance under the moonlight. Especially that first time. That was special.

♥ Tell us about a sacrifice they made for their significant other.

While Idristan feels like his home will always be Ishgard, he knows how important Gridania and the Shroud are to Solenne. And so he bought the two of them a little house there.

♥ Do they apologize to their partner even if it wasn’t their fault?

No. While he is better with his partners than most people, he still has some difficulty apologizing even when he needs to, let alone when he doesn’t.

♥ Will they lie for the sake of their significant other’s happiness?

To a point. He mainly sticks to lies of omission, since he knows very, very well that he can’t get away with lying outright to Solenne. And even then he tries to avoid it, both because she can usually tell and because it doesn’t tend to work out for him.

He has bent the truth with around Ghost and is currently keeping quiet about some other things so as to not alarm him, but that’s less about his happiness and more because he would likely try to stop him if he knew what was going on.

♥ If they could choose their partner again, would they choose the same person?

Oh, absolutely. He deeply loves Solenne and would do anything she asked. If anything he would have wanted to run into her earlier; it might have saved both of them a great deal of pain.

He’s not quite there with Ghost yet, but he deeply cares about the thief. He’s going to do everything he can to protect him and to not abuse the power that he’s given him over him.

♥ What do they love most about their significant other?

Idristan loves Solenne’s confidence. She is someone who knows what she wants, how to get it, and has the stubbornness to know that she will get it. He absolutely adores that and has the highest respect for it. He is more than happy to help her with her ambitions.

As for Ghost, he loves how surprisingly tender and protective he can be. He feels safe around his thief, like he can completely drop his guard, and that’s not something that he can say about many people. And it’s not something that you’d necessarily expect from Ghost, so that makes it all the more special, as if it’s their own little secret.

Honestly... there’s some overlap here. Idris has a type and it seems to be confident people who are not afraid to get some blood on their hands.

♥ Have they had dreams about their partner/the person they are courting?

Oh, absolutely. All sorts of dreams. Some of them are quite pleasant, others he probably couldn’t describe without blushing. And some nightmares as well. Having something happen to the people that he cares about is one of Idristan’s biggest fears, especially if he is somehow involved (which, considering he has accidentally almost killed Solenne once, is not an unfounded worry).

♥ Do they understand their partners/person they are courting’s feelings without them having to say anything?

Yes. Despite how grumpy and curt he is around most people, he is actually very empathetic and good at reading people, and that goes especially for people that he cares about and has taken an interest in. While he’s missed a few things and has a few blind spots, on the whole he usually has a pretty good general idea.

♥ How do they express their love to their partner?

Touch. He will be borderline clingy with the people he cares about. Part of it is that it’s his preferred way of showing closeness, part of it is that he’s likely a touch deprived. He will also bring them little gifts (flowers are a big one), and just generally tries to be very attentive. He will sit and listen if he thinks they need that, or else will drag them out to go dancing or the like to distract them.

♥ Would they leave the person they love if it meant saving their life/giving them a better chance at life?

He actually tried that once. Solenne then proceed to figuratively kick some sense into him, and he wouldn’t dare to do it again. Whatever happens, they’re going to get through it together.

[marco-pierre]

Beginning of a New Friendship || Jeawon & Marco

When: Day of the storm

Where: At LeBleue Restaurant

Who: Jaewon Calves & Marco Pierre

Notes: Since being stuck at LeBleue Restaurant during the storm, an unlikely friendship is formed between Jaewon and Marco.

@jaewon-calves

Marco

Marco walked over to the table where Jaewon was sitting, they had talked in the group setting, but Marco wanted to be a social butterfly apparently and he was trying to talk to everyone in the bar. He stumbled over to him, "Hey man! I haven't talked to you, what's your story?" He plopped down and put his arm around his shoulders, being free and loose was his deal tonight. "I hope you don't mind a shirtless man hanging on to you, I just like being close to people when I'm getting to know them." That wasn't necessarily true, but with a few drinks in him, it was very true.

Jaewon

Jae looked up from his phone when he felt a heavy arm around him. It had been some time since a half-naked man embraced him, and he was some drinks in, so he blushed and smiled. "Trust me. I don't mind a handsome shirtless man hanging on me at all." He laughed at the notion. "My story? I don't have too much of a story. I'm a figure skater. I'm also a very good cook. And I'm a little drunk. What's your story?"

Marco

Marco laughed when he said he didn't mind him hanging all over him, "Good to know..." He laughed again and listened to him talk about him being a figure skater. "Wow, you're a figure skater? Have you gone to the Olympics? I really love watching the Olympics, it's my favorite thing to do." He was rambling like a crazy person, but he was more than a little drunk so he had no filter. "Thanks for saying I'm handsome too, it's nice to hear that sometimes." He was all over the place, but he just blamed it on the alcohol. "You can cook...awesome, I can't cook for shit, and yes I am a lot drunk but honest. My story is that I work as head of security for the House of....um....shit I forgot....it starts with an N!" He couldn't get his words out, but he was enjoying himself so that was the most important thing to him at this moment.

Jaewon

Jae laughed at the question. It was often the first question he got when he revealed he was a skater. "I have been to the Olympics. Silver medal. I was just at this year's World Championships." He was quite proud of how he'd performed there but smiled modestly. "Sometimes? Are you telling me you don't often hear that you're handsome? You shouldn't need to hang on anyone shirtless for them to tell you that. You are very handsome. I'm an expert in assessing handsomeness so you can trust me. Unless I'm using the word incorrectly. I'm not a Breton native." He smiled brightly and laughed. "Nantes?" he asked. "I'm in Anjou, as you could probably guess. Head of security though....that must be very serious work. Do you get scared sometimes?"

Marco

Marco was now even more impressed hearing he went to the Olympics and got a silver medal, "That...is...amazing! You're like a real Olympian! How cool!" He was so loud, much louder than he intended to be, so he looked around the room and tried to calm down a little. "I might have watched you on television." He was genuinely excited to meet him, and find out more about him. Then he started talking about how handsome he was, and he couldn't help but blush a little. "I might hear it every now and then, but never from a silver medalist!" He smiled and hit the table when he said the right name, "That's it! House of Nantes, that's where I work. I'm usually more....you know, but too much booze." He laughed, but then pulled him close and whispered, "Shhh...you can't tell anyone that I get scared, I'm supposed to be the strong guy that protects everyone."

Jaewon

Jae blushed and laughed as Marco made a big deal about his career. It did sound impressive. "Thank you. I think it's pretty cool too, but I'm biased. Did you really watch it? That's great. I'm always glad to hear people are actually watching what we do on television. It makes me feel less like we're all in some weird figure skating bubble." He chuckled. "All the Olympic silver medalists should tell you you're handsome!" And all the World Championship gold medalists too, he added in his mind with a smile. "Too much booze or just the right amount of booze?" He was surprised when he was pulled in close, chuckling again at the whisper. "You can be strong and scared at the same time. But if you want, I won't tell anyone."

Marco

Marco nodded. "It is definitely cool and I am sure I watched, I never miss the Olympics and I happen to love figure skating. And you should be biased, it is what you do and you're good enough to be at the Olympics so you're amazing." He shook his head and smiled, "You're not weird, you're an athlete and that is cool." He was truly excited about meeting an Olympic athlete, especially one that thought he was handsome. "I couldn't agree with you more, I would love to hear from other Olympic silver medalist tell me that I am handsome." He laughed, obviously joking, but it was fun so he went with it. He leaned in more to the man, "You know what...I think it's just right! As a matter of fact, we could use more!" He turned to face the bar, "Hey sexy bartender, we need more booze over here for me and my new friend..." He turned back and looked at the man, "What's your name?" He looked at him and waited for him to speak, but he smiled, "Thanks...I want to be strong, but scared is something that I never want others to know. It might make me seem weak."

Jaewon

"Do you just tune in for the Olympics or do you watch other figure skating events?" Jae asked, curious. So many people just watched the Olympics and forgot about figure skating for the next four years. Not that there was a shame to that, but Jae wished more would watch the full season every year. Jae laughed when the man called out to Solenn. "Jaewon. Jae," he said. "What's yours?" He couldn't remember if it had been mentioned already. Clearly, more booze was in order. "No. Strong is easy if you're not scared. It's more impressive if you're scared. I get scared sometimes. This storm could be really scary. If I weren't in here with all these nice people. Well, mostly nice people. And sometimes I get scared at work too."

Marco

"I usually watch all the events when I can, but I really watch the Olympics. I haven't watched a lot of TV lately because I've been working." Marco admitted, smiling at his new friend. Hearing his name, Marco nodded, "Jae...I like it, and that is what I'll call you. I'm Marco!" He slapped his shoulder, glad he was doing what he promised he would do about meeting new people, even if it was because they were trapped in a restaurant due to a storm. Hearing what Jae said, it was true, "You're right, being strong is easy, it's harder to be scared and strong and if I was honest I am scared a lot of the time because I am scared I am going to fail and that is my biggest fear." He knew it was the alcohol now having him talk like this, but he couldn't stop it if he tried. His lips were loose with all the booze."

Jaewon

"Oh, you must be really busy, working security for an entire house. It's okay if you can only watch a few things. But make sure you watch my performances next season. I promise they'll be really good." He grinned as Marco slapped his shoulder. "Marco! That suits you." He listened to what seemed like a drunken confession that the other man was giving him. "Failure. I'm afraid of that too. You work so hard and so many people are looking at you and depending on you. Very scary. But I bet you're a really good head of security. People probably like working with you. You're fun. And look at your arms! You're really strong obviously. And handsome. And tall. You're sitting now, but you seem like you'd be tall."

Marco

Marco sighed and nodded, "Unfortunately I am, running a house is a lot of work, but it has come to be something I really like doing, so I want to do it to the best of my ability." He nodded excitedly as Jae told him to watch his performances next season, "I'll definitely do that, I will make sure that I DVR your performances when I can't watch live." He chuckled when Jae said that his name suits him, "Thanks, I happen to like my name and I like yours too." He smiled and listened to Jae talk about his fears, and it was nice to know that he wasn't alone. "Exactly, you work hard and if you fail then you feel like you did all that for nothing." He let out a sigh, "I would like to think I am good at what I do, but when I work I am far from fun, I am definitely more serious than this. That is why I don't drink when I work because then I act like this..." He laughed, looking at the fact that he was sitting in a bar half-naked. He blushed at all the compliments from Jae, "You better stop complimenting me like that, or I am going to get an inflated head, I already have a big ego...hence being half-naked right now." He laughed.

Jaewon

Jae smiled. "Ah, it's good that you like what you do. It'd be miserable if you didn't." He considered himself among the fortunate, as he also loved what he did. He smiled as Marco promised to DVR his performances and told him he liked his name. Sure, they were drunk, but they'd become fast friends. He laughed again. "Oh, it'd be really bad if you went to work drunk. It does seem like a really serious type of job to have. I don't think you'd be good at keeping people safe when drunk since you already lost your shirt," he joked. "But I like giving out genuine compliments! And I like half-naked men with big egos!" He laughed.

Marco

"Yeah, you have to love what you do, or you won't do it to the best of your abilities. I refuse to let Katarin down, I owe her big time for this job." Marco hadn't had it easy when he came back from the military, and he had thoughts of when his family fell from grace the first time, it was a hard adjustment for all of them, but he worked his ass off to make things better for them and he was doing the same now. He laughed and nodded his head when Jae told him how bad it would be to go to work drunk, "I think it would be bad for the both of us, I mean you could fall a lot and hurt yourself. And I can end up half-naked and someone else can get hurt. So we just have to never go to work drunk...deal?" He held out his hand and smiled, "Jae...if I didn't know any better I would think you were flirting with me....and I have to say I don't mind it." He laughed, "I am very secure in myself to accept flirting from a guy, especially someone as nice looking as you." He smiled brightly and then looked back at Solenn, "She is hot right?" He looked back at Jae.

Jaewon

"I know what you mean," Jae said. He couldn't do what he did if he didn't love it. There'd be no point to the amount of physical and mental stress he put himself through. "Oh yeah...it'd be really bad. Especially if I was half-naked and drunk on the ice. I promise I'll never go to work drunk." He, too, took his work very seriously, and would never dream of drinking before skating. He laughed though when Marco mentioned his flirting. "Someone told me I get flirty when I drink. I used to be able to flirt with my partner when I was drunk but not now. Thank you for saying I'm nice looking. That's really sweet of you." He grinned and nodded. "Solenn? Yeah of course. You should flirt with her. And show her how half naked you are. She'd really like that I think."

Marco

Marco was having a good time with Jae, he was someone he knew he could be friends with. The fact that he was an athlete let him know that he was disciplined and he could relate to that. "That would be horrible if you got on the ice half-naked and drunk, it wouldn't be a good look." He knew that he was way too disciplined to let that happened, but the visual was funny. "They told me the same thing, I tend to flirt when I get some alcohol in my system, but I also speak the truth when I'm drunk and you are good looking." He smiled and listened to him talk about his partner, "You used to flirt with your partner? Were you guys in love?" He didn't want to get too personal, but he was a bit nosy when he was drunk. He nodded, "I tried to but she is too busy serving drinks to flirt back with me." He pouted a little.

Jaewon

Jae laughed. "If I weren't drunk, it'd be a great look though, me half naked on the ice," he said through his chuckles. "I like you drunk truth-speaking. Your drunk truth-speaking is right. I am good looking. And so are you." He laughed and smiled when asked about his partner. "Of course we were in love! We were romantic partners. Not business partners. I'm not in pairs skating." Looking over at Solenn it did seem that she was keeping herself busy making drinks. "She's keeping her mind off of the storm. I bet she'll take some time for you when she's settled a bit."

Marco

Marco laughed and nodded, "Oh definitely, a sober you on the ice half naked would definitely score you some points." He laughed and nodded his head, "Totally good looking....we are two good looking dudes!" This was definitely the alcohol speaking because he would never say he was good looking, he would leave that to others. He may have been a lot of things, but vain wasn't one of them. He nodded and finished his drink, "Just wanted to be sure, you can never tell these days, but it's nice to know you had a romantic partner. I never had one before, so I wouldn't know that feeling, but you said had, are you not together anymore?" He hoped he wasn't being too nosy, but he had word vomit so everything came out. He looked over at the bartender again, "Yeah I guess, this storm is pretty scary, and I am having fun talking to you so I am good."

Jaewon

"I hope so! It would be embarrassing to have points deducted," Jae replied with a chuckle. "Two good looking dudes." The word "dudes" sounded funny in his own voice. He never used the word "dudes". It made him laugh. He didn't laugh talking about Adrien though. "Mm...he passed away back in July." In a few days, it would be exactly eight months. He smiled at the other man, not wanting to wallow drunkenly in his own sadness. "I'm glad you're having fun. I am too."

Marco

"Psf...deducted...no way, you are way too hot to have them deduct points. The only issue you would have is if all that hotness of yours melts the ice." Marco bellowed out a laugh, it was actually pretty fun being carefree and just having fun with Jae. "That we are my friend." What he knew of some athletes, they were very strict, so this could be something out of the usual for Jae as well and he wanted him to have a good time also. He instantly stopped laughing when he heard his partner passed away, "Oh no...that is horrible. I am so sorry man...you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." He didn't want to bring the mood down, and hearing he was having fun was all he needed to hear, "That's perfect my friend, we should get more drinks over here."

Jaewon

Jae laughed. "That would surely be a real concern! I wouldn't want to destroy the ice for the other skaters." He liked joking around and being generally ridiculous. It was easy to do with Marco. Though, of course, it came to a halt as expected when the subject of Adrien came up. "Ah, it's okay. I don't want to ruin the mood. We're having fun. I keep getting told he would want me to have fun. So that's exactly what we should do." He smiled a little weakly. "More drinks! More drinks definitely."

Marco

Marco laughed more exuberant than before because he knew how ridiculous it sounded. "That is very considerate of you." He smiled but then shook his head as he talked about his partner, he didn't mean to bring up a terrible memory, thankfully Jae was ready to move on and not talk about it, although if he did, Marco would be ready to listen. "Okay then...if you want to have fun, then that's what we'll do." He smiled and waved at Solenn to bring them more drinks. "So tell me, what's the best part of being a figure skater?"

Jaewon

Jae nodded. "I'm very considerate of my fellow skaters! They deserve it," he said with a chuckle. He smiled when the other man agreed that they could just have fun, keep it light. He didn't need to get sad at this very moment. "Hmm...the best part...? I get to travel a lot. But the best thing is probably that I get to do something that is both athletic and artistic. I can express myself a lot with my skating. And when I do well, it feels like everything comes together perfectly. What about you? What's your favorite thing about your job?"

Marco

"That is very true, they all work very hard to get there." Marco smiled and listened to Jae talk about what he liked most about being a figure skater, and he could understand his reason because that was what he loved the most about being in the military, seeing a lot of new places. It was his other reasons that made him smile even brighter, "That makes perfect sense, it is very artistic and beautiful so I could imagine how it feels to see your hard work coming together." He thought about his job and smiled, "I think the best thing I like about my job is being able to keep people safe."

Jaewon

"They definitely do!" They were joking but it was true. He was glad that Marco could understand what he meant when he described his work. It was a little different from a lot of other sports. "Ah, it must be really fulfilling to have a job that is so important. Keeping people safe! What's more important than that? You do good work, friend."

Marco

Marco shook his head, he loved his job, it was nice to feel like he was doing something important. Keeping a house safe, and running the team that kept them safe. It was good to feel needed and not only by his parents. "It is, I can't even lie, and thank you my friend, so do you."

Jaewon

Jae smiled. "I just wear sparkly costumes and spin around on the ice," he said with a laugh, downplaying his work, though he knew how involved it was. He could only hope what he did brought people some joy or wonder. "What's the Duchess of Nantes like? I haven't had the pleasure of getting to know her."

Marco

"You do way more than that, I couldn't do what you do, so it is impressive to me." Marco admitted honestly, what Jae did was something spectacular. Hearing his question he smiled, "The Duchess is amazing. She's fair, kind and I love working for her and the house."

Jaewon

Jae chuckled. "Okay. I admit there's more to it than that," he said, scratching the back of his head. "But the sparkly costumes are definitely a big draw for me." He laughed. "Ah, I'm glad you work for a very nice person. It'd be hard if you had to protect someone you didn't like. Though I'm sure you're super professional. Still, better to work for someone you genuinely like."

Marco

Marco laughed, he knew it was a lot more to figure skating than Jae was letting on. It was a lot of hard work and dedication to become an Olympic skater. He laughed hearing that the costumes were a huge draw, "I bet it is, I mean it must be fun to wear a sparkly costume all the time." He nodded as Jae was talking about his work, "Yeah I guess, but if I had a job to do I would do it, no matter if I liked the person or not. I don't have to like you to do my job." He dropped his head and smiled, "I try to be professional."

Jaewon

"It's super fun. I get to feel pretty and wear makeup and spin around and jump and play." And work and train and train some more and basically always be training. "Of course, I know you'd always do your job no matter what. But if you can be happy doing your job, it's always better. A bad boss can really make things difficult. For a little while, I had a coach I didn't like and I did so poorly that season."

Marco

Marco could nothing but smile as he listened to Jae, it must have been awesome to do what you love and look amazing doing it. "Sounds fun." He nodded as Jae talked about liking your boss, "I guess you're right, you work better in more positive environments. And with my boss, she makes it very pleasant to do my job, so I do it better." Marco smiled, "I hate to cut this short, but I need to visit the little boy's room, so I am going to have to get back with you later. Nice meeting you Jae." He got up and quickly made his way to the bathroom.

[smouldering-dream]

Character Meme

full name.  Synn Heolstor pronunciation.  Sin He-ol-stor nicknames.  several people gave him the nickname Puppy/ other variations of such ( it didnt stick and hasnt really been used since)

height. average for a midlander so like 5′7 ish age. 25 zodiac. Sagittarius languages. Common Eorzean

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

hair colour.  Dark brown eye colour.  Dark brown skin tone.  light tan body type. Muscular, lean. accent. (Uhh, idk a lot about accents/ considered one in particular) dominant hand. Right posture.  Almost always on guard, closed off scars. Numerous across his body, one of note is on the center of his chest which spreads out from the center irregularly. tattoos. None most noticeable features. See scars.

CHILDHOOD.

place of birth.  Gridania birth weight / height. Average manner of birth.  the normal kind first words.  (I’m drawing a blank here ) siblings.   None parents.  Naois and Cinnia Heolstor parental involvement. Both of them along with two other close friends raised him until he reached around the age of a teenager, by then the Calamity was in full swing and they never returned from Carteneau.

ADULT LIFE

occupation.  Mercenary, Dark knight current residence.  A small house in the Mist close friends.  Adeya Evenar, Michaux Vidal, Solenne Lagarde, Idristan Agache relationship status. Married to Adeya financial status. Moderate driver’s license. None criminal record.  I mean, he’s a vigilante. so everything that entails vices. Booze

SEX & ROMANCE.

sexual orientation.  Heterosexual romantic orientation.   monogamous preferred emotional role.  submissive | dominant | switch  |  unsure preferred sexual role.  submissive  |  dominant  |  switch |  sex repulsed libido. high love language. He enjoys physical intimacy relationship tendencies.  cuddling, teasing, playing with his wife’s ears, playing the lute and singing

MISCELLANEOUS.

hobbies to pass the time.  Training, hunting with the pets,also playing with said pets, weapon/armor maintenance, writing song lyrics mental illnesses. ,  Some PTSD physical illnesses.  none left or right brained.  Right fears. Being abandoned, being powerless, failing to protect those he cares for self confidence level.  Varies on particular situations, ie its high in a fight and lowers quite a bit when trying to comfort another. vulnerabilities.  Slow to trust/ open up, reclusive, Prideful

Tagged by @sedatayuun tagging anyone who wants to give this a go

[iris-sistibly]

4R’s: Encantadia Season 2 (April 11, 2017 episode review)

Episode 192

Recap:

Silent agreement

Emre told Cassiopeia the story about the fifth goddess, Haliyah. She was one of the deities who set foot on Encantadia but wasn’t happy, she decided to leave and return to the paradise all gods came from (presumably heaven) but the gates were shut, and because she could no longer enter, she decided to live in the moon and become it’s guardian as well. But every night she comes down to Encantadia to bathe in the batis ng katotohanan which serves as her sanctuary in Encantadia. Cassiopeia knows exactly where the stream is and used her power to teleport the both of them to that place. Strange thing was, they seem to be ending up on the same place over and over again, Cassiopeia suspected that someone might be manipulating her power, and she was right, Ether appeared and was not going to let Emre succeed. Even with Emre and Cassiopeia’s forces combined, they were no match against Ether’s prowess, Ether warned them that she will follow them, watch their every move, and they can never escape. Emre and Cassiopeia were stuck in that place, later that night, Emre noticed Cassiopeia’s ability to communicate with her mind, it is one of Cassiopeia’s natural powers, Emre figured a way to devise a plan without Ether finding out, and that is through communication using their minds. Ether who has been keeping an eye on them from afar noticed something strange between Emre and Cassiopeia—they were staring into each other’s eyes and not saying anything, Ether initially suspected that the two must be falling in-love with each other but shrugged off that thought as it might be more than that, it didn’t take long for her to realize that they were actually talking through their minds, and by the time she found out, Emre and Cassiopeia already ended their conversation. Ether showed up once again in an attempt to stop whatever they were planning, Emre and Cassiopeia carried out their plans, the two split and tricked Ether, the goddess ran after Emre which gave Cassiopeia the opportunity to get away. Ether caught Emre, but Cassiopeia successfully made it to the batis ng katotohanan, no goddess of two moons were around, Cassiopeia assumed Haliyah was still in her home, nevertheless, Cassiopeia decided to wait for Haliyah to show up.

Hara

Aquil approached Danaya once again, the queen reminded him to stay away from her and maintain their distance towards each other. Aquil wanted to be contented by just looking at her from afar, but he can’t stand it, he can’t stay away from Danaya, and he would rather die than torture himself with the kind of situation they were in. The latter chided him and told him not to say such things, Danaya told him to be strong for her just as how she’s trying to be strong for him. Aquil apologized and left, Alena witnessed how pained Danaya was for brushing the love of her life aside. This was the very reason why Alena never desired to be queen, being a Hara does not give you the privilege to love, but even if Alena never wanted to be queen and chose to follow her heart, she ended up getting hurt. Alena didn’t want to suffer the same pain, and she wants Danaya to be free from her burden, Alena offered Danaya to let her take over the throne so that the latter can marry Aquil. It was a very tempting offer, and Danaya was grateful to Alena, but Danaya refused her offer for she still wants to defeat Etheria’s forces under her queenship.

It was already late at night, Alena was still for Pirena to return. Muros knew she wasn’t coming back, especially after the misunderstanding she had with Danaya, Alena was sad at how they seem to be falling apart once again. Alena told Muros to call it a night and stayed up a little longer, not long after, a group of familiar encantados appeared—the Gunikars headed by Memfes. The latter told Alena that something was happening in Adamya, Alena immediately followed Memfes. The houses of the poor Adamyans were destroyed and burned by the Gunikars which angered Alena, Memfes sure was testing her patience.

If I could turn back time

Disguised as an Etherian soldier, Pirena made it safely to the Etherian palace, there she followed Avria and found out that the golden hourglass is being kept in Avria’s room. It was easy finding the precious item, but it was difficult to obtain, Avria casted a protective spell from those who will try to steal it. Pirena used her fire gem and would have successfully stolen it if her attempt did not create a commotion in Etheria, Avria sensed that there was an intruder inside the palace, she immediately ordered her Mashnas to search the entire palace. Avria went to her room and knew that someone tried to steal the golden hourglass, and it was someone who has an ability to counter the protective spell. And while Avria did not mention names, Hagorn was certain she was suspecting Pirena.

Hagorn immediately went back to his camp where Deshna was, and where his other daughter went, Hagorn did not hesitate to slap Pirena’s face for being so reckless, Pirena reasoned that the golden hourglass was her only key to turn back to the time when the guardians were being murdered in Cassiopeia’s island so she could save Mira (and Lira). Despite Pirena’s reason, Hagorn warned Pirena not to set foot on Etheria for awhile because Avria will surely get back at her. Deshna however sided with her older sister, for like Pirena, she too wanted to save her friend, his daughters’ stubbornness snapped Hagorn’s patience and let them do whatever they want and vowed that if they get caught, he will surely disown the two of them.

Rave/s:

💚💛 That Danaya-Alena moment literally teared me up 😢, I would love to see Danaya marry Aquil, but I don’t want Alena as queen of Lireo. She’s working so hard to make Adamya great again so I want her to take over and rule Adamya, it would be nice and refreshing to see a huge castle in Adamya, filled with many different Adamyan tribes and Alena as it’s ruler, that would be pretty awesome!

⚜ Hoy! Ano’ng kaguluhan ang nagaganap? 😂 What’s up with the CassMaw and CassRe poll? But seriously guys, Zoren and Solenn have chemistry, the way they stare at each other, I know it was supposed to be civil but I’m telling you guys there is a spark, hahahaha! It’s funny and nice at how everyone is taking a break from bashing each other’s fandom and crack ship jokes about the characters that aren’t supposed to be romantically-linked, we all need that once in awhile right?

❤ I’m sorry but I can’t take Hagorn’s exasperation seriously, love how Pirena and Deshna are teaming up to give their father a major headache. I seriously, seriously have a strong feeling that Pirena’s intentions of bringing back time to save Mira and Lira will go too far thus drawing back to ancient Encantadia, OR she will accidentally let the Etherians and other encantados who were born on the ancient times travel through time, Juvila! I can’t wait for you my other favorite Heran! Please bring her back! And Lira and Mira too, who cares about those other useless guardians?

Rant/s: 😂 I’m not annoyed or anything but I found Memfes’ grand entrance way too inappropriate. So pag papasok ng Lireo kelangan production number lagi? Hahahaha! Kidding aside, Memfes kind of reminds me of Ybrahim in his younger years, like yow! Can’t you make Memfes’ character unique and not Ybarro-ish? But oh well, I am still interested to know why he wants to marry Alena so badly though.

Best performer/s for this episode: Sanya Lopez 🍃 Gabbi Garcia 🌊

Rating: 8 out of 10💎s

Photo credits: From Twitter: @GMAEncantadia (Encantadia 2016-2017 official twitter acct) @gmanetwork (GMA Network); official website: gmanetwork.com @GMADrama (GMA Drama)

From Facebook: Encantadia 2016; official website: encantadia.com.ph

Video credits: GMA Network via YouTube & dailymotion

[dreams-eaten]

The Linkoping Incident, Part 3

One always thinks a summoning happens quickly. In the movies, there’s a puff of smoke, a cackle of cruel laughter and then, the demon or entity shows its ugly face. Not in reality, though, as the four Siblings were now finding.

The air in the room, in their lungs, turned frigid and icy, as if each and every one of them had gone outside in winter without a coat. It felt like the very sweat on their palms, the saliva on their lips would flash-freeze. Flames that had been dancing on their candle-wicks seemed to stop in time, the shadows that arched from them kept moving, curving in strange, incomprehensible directions--crawling across the walls, ceiling and floor like worms, and into the center of the chalk circle. Like all darkness in the room had been inhaled, sucked into one tiny space, a dark pinprick-sized vacuum. Then, a whispery sigh, echoing through the stone, came like something waking from a long, deep sleep.

From the second Sister’s now-prone body, something that was not blood began to leak. From the wound on her hand--no, from behind it, from under, where the blood had collected under the herbs and chalk and stone--

Pure black fog, like frozen breath, spiraled upwards, and instead of dissipating, collected into a solid mass at the circle’s center. With it came the smell of seawater, of iron--then, the scent of herbs oft kept to keep away the plague; angelica, sage, mint. It was not unpleasant to the gathered Sisters and Brothers, but whatever pleasure they would have gotten from the scent was tempered by anxiety, fear and adrenaline.

The blackness wavered there, gathered until it grew a somewhat recognizable form. A long cloak that stretched in liquid waves to the stone ground, where it swayed as if it were underwater--that came first. From under the cloak peered bright, keen eyes--eyes that seemed to collect and store the light of the candles like a prism. Eyes of no singular color, set in the shadow of a dark hood, accentuated with the black pupils of a snake. From below the bright eyes laid a mouth human in features, but when it parted its lips to taste the air, the Siblings were horrified to see a mouth of thin, needle-sharp teeth within. The color of mother-of-pearl, the teeth glinted in what firelight still laid beyond the dark circle. From the hood appeared two horns of the same pearlescent color, arching tall like that of a giant beetle’s.

Upon the formation of the cloak and the appearance of the eyes and hood, the rest of the entity’s body came into view. Most was hidden by the undulating darkness of the cloak--the legs and arms were draped in the black fog of its clothing. However, when its fingers poked from the folds of the cloth in which they were hidden, they were pale, skin near translucent like that of a jellyfish-- with sharp nails the color of its horns.

The Siblings lost the ability to speak as the creature’s form became clearer and clearer; they had not even the thought to cry out in terror. The black fog finally stopped swirling, instead curling around the creature’s lower quarter, as it hovered behind the prone second Sister. It appraised the situation with those strange colored eyes, and paused upon seeing the bleeding Sister’s form.

When it spoke, it did so in a soft voice neither male nor female, neither high nor low; as beautiful and as eerie as a strange dream would be, as calm and cool as wind over the tops of wintry mountains,

“Who has called upon me on this night? Answer me or regret your invocation.”

The first Sister stepped forward, legs shaking. “We, clergy of the Church of Ghost, of the Unholy One have called upon you.”

The entity’s eyes languidly looked over the first Sister’s form, and when it next spoke, its voice was disdainful.

“You are too young to be clergy, Your scent is green as new earth. Lie to me again and perish slowly.”

“We--we aren’t trying to lie to you, Dishonorable One, we really are members of the Church of Ghost,” the second Brother spoke up, nervously.

“Young children in the eyes of the Unholy Father. Rambunctious and arrogant, to not speak of me with the correct nomenclature.”

“We apologize, sincerely, we do!” the first Sister responded. “What may we call you?”

“Did not you invoke me under the name of the Sorrowful One? The Hooded One? Perhaps Lo Spirito Solenne?”

“We...did,” the first Sister murmured. “Would these names please you?”

“They are my names, and it would please me for you to use any of the correct ones.” The spectre’s voice was sardonic, but no wry expression could be seen due to its hooded face.

The first Brother spoke in a quavering voice. “You have been known as the Dream Eater, as the Consumer of Ill Thoughts. Would these names please you as well?”

“They all suit me quite well, I believe.” The spirit paused, and its voice returned to its prior cold state. “I am still waiting for your response as to why I have been brought here.”

“We summoned you because….well, because…” The second Brother began, but was cut off by the first Sister.

“We require your assistance! Yes, O Sorrowful One, we request you ever so humbly to assist us--in...uh, we wish to introduce you to the highest of our Clergy to assert our claim to power.”

“Your claim to power?” The Dream Eater scoffed, incredulously. “What claim could you new children have to power?”

“We wish for the respect of our elders, our betters and peers. We wish for them to look upon us as they do each other, with no pity or disdain in their eyes.”

The Dream Eater paused again, as if mulling the words over in its mind.

“You brought me here, to this place, to assert your so-called claim to power; for a semblance of respect that will be as fleeting as a summer’s evening. What makes you think that I will give such a gift to you? What makes you think I can give such a gift to you?”

All of the Siblings seemed to be at a loss. Weren’t demons like this supposed to make deals? Take the souls of the innocent in exchange for giving the opposite party riches beyond belief, causing their dreams to come true?

“Please, at least we just want to tell our betters about you. To show them that we have the power to bring a...an entity such as you, O Sorrowful One, into the physical fold.” the first Sister cried.

The entity made a sound not unlike a weary sigh. It looked upon the arching stone of the Ritual room, the circle which kept it from moving outwards, and finally upon the pitiful body of the second Sister, breathing heavily and bloodied. The Dream Eater knelt--or, what looked to be kneeling--in midair.

“What of this poor creature? A sacrifice to bring me here?”

“If it please you, Sorrowful One,” the second Brother said hurriedly.

A heavy silence filled the area as the Dream Eater drew a talon gently over the prone Sister’s hair, poked at her wound.

“One of your congregation? Kin of your age, if not your blood.”

“Yes, she’s--”

“And you...made to sacrifice her to the wills of the Underworld?”

“She did this all herself, with the dagger, and--”

The creature cut off what weak speech the Siblings were trying to make.

“You are…..mere children. Mere children who play with forces you do not comprehend, have not yet learned how to comprehend….perhaps you have no merit or will to be able to understand.”

“Does this sacrifice not please you, O Dream Eater?”

Suddenly, its eyes flashed with icy irritation.

“Does the senseless culling of a child of Darkness please me? No, it does not. Perhaps my more callous brethren would find some pleasure in it, but not I. You know nothing of the rites of summoning, and yet I have been brought into the fold by will and speech alone, it seems.”

“But the Sister, she gave her blood willingly---what do you mean, culling?”

“She’s near death, do not you smell it on her blood? She carries a sickness that weakens the flow of her blood, makes it nearly impossible to staunch. You have done such a thing for my sake alone….without thought or reason behind it.”

“But we did this— all of this for you!” The first Sister pleaded. “Whatever mistake we made in bringing you here, we’ll take the punishment, we don’t care, just hear us out!”

The Dream Eater cast its strange and piercing eyes upon the group before it. The pale orbs beneath the shadow of its cloak blinked, then took on a disdainful look once again.

“If you truly do not care for punishment, then you are more foolish than I originally thought. Bringing an unknown creature into your home, your place of worship—such an act could call even for your deaths.”

The Sibling’s faces all paled significantly, tongues leaden. The creature continued.

“Furthermore, the fact of your fallen Sister. What would your superiors say? Would they be gentle even after they see the evidence of your guilt?”

The fog-like cloak swayed and rippled as the Dream Eater gestured a thin hand to where the second Sister laid bleeding.

“No matter your actions, how foolish or ill-thought they were, there is no changing them. Your superiors will arrive upon sensing the disturbance in the Church’s energy, I presume. If they are not already en route, they shall be soon.”

With those words that sent a chill of fear down the Siblings’ spines, the deep tolling of warning bells could already be heard. The church’s alarm system—elaborate entwining layers of protective charms that laid dormant, a mechanical and magical snake ready to strike—had engaged.

Panicked, the Siblings stared with wide eyes at one another. They hadn’t planned this far, and honestly they weren’t even expecting to get to this point. They had expected, perhaps, the demonic entity to be more receptive to their demands and desires instead of scolding, berating them like a school matron.

There was no going back, that was true. Was it better to hide or run from their punishment, or to stand tall? Weather the storm or take what flimsy shelter they could?

The first Sister’s eyes cast back over to the Dream Eater, hoping beyond hope for some sort of guidance. Instead, those cold bright eyes stared back, its fog-cloaked arms crossed and unmoving, posture expectant. It was waiting to see what would happen to them, the Sister realized and shuddered. Would it take some kind of glee in seeing the Siblings punished?

The sound of several clicking footsteps, authoritative and strong, came from down the hall, echoing across the stone. The first Sister’s heart plunged into her chest. It was too late. Even if the Siblings didn’t receive the highest of punishments, they would surely be cast from the church’s ranks, or imprisoned without benefits.

The footsteps stilled outside the oaken door to the Ritual room. The soft murmur of voices came with it, but what they said was unintelligible as was the identity of the speakers.

Then, with a slow and ominous creak, the door swung open.

[blackrose-ffxiv]

Pastry Picnic 11/16

Mor Dhona was even gloomier in the pre-dawn darkness and he had to follow the map very carefully to ensure he didn’t get himself lost in the Tangle. It was a dreary and drab place, but this unusual outcropping glittered with crystals. Reflecting the sickly sky into beautiful colors and breaking the first morning light into glimmering spectrums of color. Lebeaux Desrosiers approached the designated location, drawing close enough to startle another black-plumed creature that warked and warbled its dismay at the intruder. “It’s far too early for your noise, keep it up and I shall have a new feathered cap.” He noted to the chocobo before he climbed higher still. “What a curious place for a picnic.” He called out to Michaux.

Michaux Vidal grins when he hears Chanteur start squawking, but he places his hand on the hilt of his rapier anyway, just in case it's not Lebeaux. But fortunately, it is. Michaux chuckles. "It's a beautiful place for a picnic, you mean. Also, my old Free Company fought a battle here and won, so I like being reminded of the moment of victory." He takes another sip of tea, and then gestures toward the box and second thermos. "Anyroad, here is what you came for. I don't flatter myself that it was for me." A small smile follows this remark, but it fades quickly. "It sounds like we have some things to discuss, though."

The Ishgardian clasped his hands together in delight as his icy gaze fell on the offering of sweets. A fine variety of selections and judging by the box they sat in, from one of the finer establishments. “This doesn’t quite settle your medical bill, but it is a very good start.” He noted calmly as he moved closer to have a seat. Flicking out the tails of his coat so he wouldn’t sit on them. It was all rather nice, he had to admit. Hot tea, made just the way he liked it, fresh pastries without the taint of aetheryte travel or cold storage, a beautiful location for a perfect sunrise, all nicely orchestrated by the Duskwight beside him. The medic reached for one of the treats and took a small bite, remaining silent so he could savor the taste he had missed so dearly since his exile. Even going so far as to close his eyes to truly bask in it. “Several things, I suppose. You may go first.” He finally declared once he had returned to reality and swallowed that first bite.

"Well, I'm glad to have made a start, at least," Michaux says, amused and pleased. He hadn't done this as a way to pay off his bill, but if Lebeaux chose to see it that way, who was he to argue? His budget is still tight, since he hasn't received a payment from the host club yet. Once Lebeaux opens the box, Michaux looks around for a type of pastry he'd bought two of, and then takes one for himself. He doesn't often even sweet things like this, or even enjoy them much, but he wants to see what all the fuss is about. "Well," he begins after taking an experimental bite and swallowing, "you warned me not to return to Kugane for a while because of Leon. I'd like more details about your meeting with him. Are you in danger?"

Lebeaux’s attention seemed more than a little divided between the serious conversation they were having and the nearly obscene pleasure he was deriving from those delicate little confections. The medic leaned slightly, letting his shoulder rest against Michaux’s as he savored the next bite just as intently. “He came to speak with me. I don’t suspect I’m in any sort of danger from him, at the moment. He believes I would be of use to him or his organization or what have you. It’s all a bit convoluted.” He explained with a casual wave of his hand. “I set a rather steep price for my service so I doubt he’ll be returning any time soon. But.” He smiled sweetly over at the Duskwight. “He did make it clear that he’ll not suffer to see you around Kugane. At least without my supervision. I may have led him to believe that I have seduced you to my will.” He noted, the corner of his mouth quirking in amusement at the thought.

Michaux tries not to watch Lebeaux eat the pastry too closely, since the Ishgardian is doing so in a manner that is becoming distracting. It looks like he's having a near-orgasmic experience and… yeah, they have serious things to talk about. He needs to stay focused. He distracts himself with his thermos, drinking more of the bitter tea he likes, and then tries to eat a bit more of his own pastry. Not bad. Very sweet, but not to the point that the sweetness is all he can taste. It has a nutty flavor with hints of spices that he rather likes. He nearly chokes on it, though, when Lebeaux mentions his ruse. "Seduced me to your will? To the point that I'm no threat to Leon? Did he actually believe that?" He shakes his head, grinning, but then he sighs. "You're not going to work with him, are you?"

Lebeaux was certainly ensuring Michaux got his gils’ worth from these. Treating every bite as though it was the finest thing he had ever eaten. He even licked a bit of stray cream and powdered sugar from his gloves once it was finished. “Leon does not seem like the sort of man you say ‘no’ to.” He explained calmly. “At least not directly. That is how you get yourself stabbed.” He glanced aside pointedly at the Duskwight’s belly then smiled sweetly up at his face. “He believed it, after he was struck by a passing migraine. You did mention he has unusual powers akin to your own. Perhaps he saw something.” A shoulder shrugged casually. “Any roads. So long as you feign being my lovesick thrall and I continue to feign cooperation we’ve nothing to worry about.”

Michaux squirms slightly. It's hard to talk to Lebeaux without looking at him, but looking at him is dangerous at the moment. Why must nearly everything the man does be so seductive? He may not be quite seduced to Lebeaux's will, but he's definitely seduced. He sighs and takes another bite of his own pastry. He needs to focus, because Lebeaux is saying something important. Several important things, actually. "Yes," he agrees, "I think he gets visions that let him see memories from people around him. But I don't think he has much control over when it happens and what he sees, which is probably part of the reason my own abilities annoy him so much. If all he saw was that I have feelings for you, you should probably count yourself lucky." He rubs the back of his neck, looking pensive. "One of the reasons he wants to work with you is probably because he wants to learn more about you. He doesn't want an equal partnership - that's not how this organization seems to work. He wants blackmail material. He wants to control you. And you, Lebeaux… You're vulnerable to that."

The medic smiled calmly as he selected another pastry from the box, though he didn’t bite into it right away. “Michaux. I am Ishgardian. I was born to a High House and raised to join the clergy. Kugane may be Leon’s home field but the game he was playing was all but created in Ishgard and it is one I have been playing since I learned to speak.” Even if Leon did seem to be cheating by peeking at other players’ hands. “What does it matter if he unearths my past. It’s spread like wildfire as of late and has somewhat lost the leverage it once held.”

"It's not your past I'm worried about," Michaux says quietly. "It's your 'blessing.' It reminds me of something I've seen before. A tempered mind." His is speaking slowly, choosing each word carefully. Trying to get his point across without triggering immediate backlash. "Most people won't understand its true nature. And if a rumor spreads that you're tempered, you'll be in danger. You could be imprisoned or killed." He lowers his head and rubs at his left temple. Hr can feel a stress headache coming on. "You know I can't help you make any kind of deal with him. For Sol and Idris's sake, yes, but also for yours."

Lebeaux lifted a shoulder into a small shrug. “After you first mentioned that word I did a little research into what it was to be ‘Tempered’. It’s nothing like my blessing.” He explained flatly. “Those who have been tempered tend to gather crystals and hoard materials to summon their false gods. I have done nothing like that.” Yet. Nor did he mention the rest of the symptoms, which were rather close to his own behavior. Extreme devotion. Refusal to listen to reason. “In any case. I am in far more danger if I tell him ‘no’. Then there would be nothing to stop him from lashing out at me. The Kasaigumi and the Tradehouse will not be enough to protect me should he decide I’m of no value.” He finally took a bite of the sweet, but it wasn’t nearly as satisfying, it seemed. “Or should he suspect. Isn’t it better this way, buying myself some time to learn more about him as he tries to learn about me.”

Michaux heaves a sigh. Well, he tried, anyroad. And he does wonder about the crystal thing sometimes. Still, everything else fits too well with the tempering theory. Another sigh. "All right. Supposing you're right and you're really not in immediate danger from him. You've still probably already negotiated with him about getting rid of Solenne and Idristan. Obviously, I can't support that." He rubs at his temple again. "I wish you three could call a real truce. Solenne is willing to negotiate with you. She has also been looking into Leon Robinaux's past, and she thinks she may have discovered who he truly is. If you weren't at each other's throats, you could share information."

Lebeaux certainly didn’t hoard crystals. But he did have a penchant for stained crystal windows and items purported to be Halonic relics or sacred items. He wrinkled his nose and set the pastry he had bitten down. The idea of it putting a foul enough taste in his mouth to spoil even that long sought-after pleasure. “I will not ally myself with heretics and cowards.” He declared flatly. “I will stand back and let these mad dogs tear into each other and when only one is remaining, I will put down the survivor myself. If need be.”

Michaux nods slowly, avoiding Lebeaux's eyes. "Right," he murmurs. He doesn't seem angered by Lebeaux's remarks. Getting angry at Lebeaux is usually pointless anyroad. Michaux isn't even sure the man is capable of changing his mind on this point. His disgust and hatred toward Idristan and Solenne tie in too deeply with his religious fervor, and thus is probably influenced by his tempering. There's one thing Michaux doesn't quite understand, though. "Am I not a heretic? Or a heathen, I suppose. Why don't you lump me in with them?"

The medic stared wistfully at the pastries but instead he took a small sip of the tea, washing out the unpleasant taste of heresy with sugar and cream. “You are a heathen. There is no hope of salvation for you, as you were not deemed worthy to be born as one of Her chosen.” He explained calmly. “You may open yourself to Her teachings and learn our doctrine to ease the fate of your soul after your death, but you will not suffer any worse for choosing not to accept Her into your life.” Lebeaux waved his hand lightly. “On the other hand. A Heretic is one who has forsaken Her love. They were born into Her light and chose to turn away from it out of fear and cowardice. They are worse than the heathens, who were never given the choice to begin with. Worse than beasts.” He smiled and reached over to brush his fingers through Michaux’s hair. Non-Ishgardians weren’t ‘people’. That’s all there was to it.

Ye gods, what a belief system. Michaux lets out a quick breath of amusement, but there is pain under the surface. He can only imagine how frightening it could be to grow up with these beliefs. Since even the smallest of mistakes seemed to be branded as heresy under the old system, he's not sure how the whole city didn't go in fear and trembling for their souls. Perhaps they did. Perhaps only a few, like Lebeaux, had the boundless confidence to believe that they were blessed and could do no wrong. Others, like the Marchemonts, only paid lip service to the Fury while paying scant attention to her teachings. Michaux sighs and leans over to rest his head on Lebeaux's shoulder. "So I have committed no wrong. I simply wasn't worthy," he murmurs, trying to puzzle out this logic. "So do you pity me? Is that it?"

“Of course.” Empathy and sympathy were nigh-impossible concepts for him but he could easily pity the poor wretches who would never be able to truly bask in the Fury’s favor as he did. “There is no promise of salvation for you. There is only this life and the Hells that await after. Your actions only determine if it is a lighter or heavier punishment. Though for your magicks I suppose it will be the latter. It’s quite pitiful.” He shifted his arm around the other, allowing him to nestle in against the side of his chest to rest his head on his shoulder, as well as keeping his hand free to continue toying with the Duskwight’s hair. “Now consider those who were given the promise of that salvation, then spat on it. How could they be forgiven.”

Michaux smiles ruefully. "It does seem rather mad, in that context," he agrees. Not that he believes that context exists. Even if Halone does reward her faithful somehow, Michaux has trouble believing that Lebeaux would be one of them. He heaves another sigh, even know he knows it will be misinterpreted by the Ishgardian. "So, when you're in the heavens with the Fury, will you spare a thought for me?"

“Of course.” Lebeaux offered, again. “Perhaps even a prayer or two.” He seemed to be feeling better now that he had ‘enlightened’ Michaux as to the finer differences between your run of the mill heathen and a heretic. He reached for one of the pastries now, able to return to enjoying it without troubling thoughts marring its taste.

@secrets-and-aetherlight 

[roses-and-grimoires]

For the muse's heart meme: Solenne, Michaux, and Mirette

Solenne

VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: 💗💗💗💗💗Solenne has basically everything he looks for in a partner: poise, grace, an excellent fashion sense… Even before they were in a relationship he could admire her. To be honest, I think he’s done that ever since she showed off her command of Coerthan accents.

He’s going to need a bit of time to get used to the new hair color though.

FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: 💗💗💗💗Idristan considers Solenne one of his best friends, or at least he did. Recent events have shaken that ever so slightly; being drugged and tied up against one’s will don’t tend to improve relationships. And it is very clear that they are both keeping secrets from each other… one perhaps significantly more so than the other.

SEXUAL DESIRE: 💗💗💗💗💗Despite the time that’s pasted, Idristan is still very much attracted to her.

ROMANTIC INTENT: 💗💗💗💗💗Idristan is still hopelessly smitten with her, even after everything. Even if he desperately wishes that everything could go back to how it was a year ago.

Michaux

VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: 💗💗💗💗Though he likely would never, ever admit it, Idristan can definitely admire the other elezen. Michaux has a sense of style, on top of being good looking. Granted, it’s not quite always to Idristan’s personal tastes, but he can respect it. Most of the time.

FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: 💗💗💗💗💗Michaux is probably one of the few people he’s something close to completely honest with. He feels like he understands the duskwight. Way, way more than he wants to, in some respects. They’ve both seen and helped each other at some really low points of their lives, and there is definitely some camaraderie born from that. Even if Idristan is never, ever going to let Michaux forget about the whole trying to kill him thing.

SEXUAL DESIRE: 💗💗💗Maybe if they were both lonely and drunk…

ROMANTIC INTENT: 💗Idristan has gotten to witness some of Michaux’s relationships and that’s a level of dysfunction he has basically zero interest in dealing with. Probably for the best; the two already enable each other enough as friends.

Mirette

VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: 💗Idristan can recognize on some objective level that Mirette is cute, but the fact that she’s about 20 years too young for him puts a damper on anything beyond that. That, and her eyes can conjure up some bad memories.

FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: ?????Idristan has seriously mixed opinions when it comes to Mirette. He wants to help her, but there are certain things that he just can’t get over. It doesn’t help that whenever he does start to get comfortable around her, something happens to remind him of what she is–or perhaps used to be.

SEXUAL DESIRE: 💔No, absolutely not. Leaving aside the whole matter that Mirette looks and acts like a teenager (which in and of itself is a major turn off–Idristan is in his thirties and has zero interest in people who are essentially still children in his eyes), he is torn between wanting to protect her and seeing her as the person who ruined his life. 

Basically shit’s complicated, and not in a sexy way.

ROMANTIC INTENT: 💔See above.