Hello I'm Batty! Everyone here can call me Bats, I'm somewhat new to posting here on Tumblr! But aside from that fact I'm really into writing and TWST, so I've decided this is where I'll be posting the entirety of my Lilidia timeskip fic "Lagging in Love"
It's been a few years after everyone had finally graduated from the NRC. However two gamers still interact every night, MuscleRed and Gloomurai, the two play together every night almost into morning forgetting their important jobs. Steadily their online relationship grows into something more, MuscleRed and Gloomurai start E-Dating?! Months pass between the two before curiosity finally gets the best of them and they decide to meet up.
Hopefully this fic will do well with everyone
Idk
Lilidia is just one of my favorite ships and it brings me so much joy
So I hope to share with you all my greatest wonder!!
Like yes I have Lagging in Love written out plot wise like what is planned to happen, but actually written out? Not yet, I need to be forced to lock in.
Eighteen years had passed since Lilia Vanrouge graduated from Night Raven College.
Not that anyone in Briar Valley particularly cared.
Titles mattered more than accomplishments within the royal court. Ancient bloodlines held greater value than talent ever could, and Lilia despite his reputation possessed neither a prestigious family name nor noble standing to shield him from the quiet disdain of aristocracy.
It was almost amusing.
After all, the same nobles who dismissed him in candlelit banquet halls slept peacefully each night because of wars he had won for them.
The same nobles who refused to acknowledge him outside official ceremonies lowered their heads immediately when military matters arose.
Respect born from necessity was still respect, he supposed.
Though only barely.
The towering doors of the throne room creaked shut behind the final advisor of the evening, leaving blessed silence in their wake.
At last.
Lilia exhaled slowly through his nose, crimson eyes drifting toward the stained-glass windows overlooking Briar Valley’s sprawling capital below. Moonlight blanketed the kingdom in silver hues, illuminating twisted black forests and glowing fae lanterns scattered throughout the valley like fallen stars.
Beautiful.
Quiet.
Exhausting.
“Was that truly the last of them?” came a voice from the throne.
Deep. Calm. Slightly tired.
Malleus Draconia sat alone atop the throne of Briar Valley, one gloved hand propping against his cheek as stacks of untouched documents rested beside him. The crown upon his head shimmered darkly beneath emerald firelight elegant and heavy in equal measure.
A king’s crown.
Even now, years after the coronation, the sight still felt strange sometimes.
The former Queen’s passing had shaken Briar Valley deeply. Court politics turned vicious in the aftermath, old noble families clawing desperately for influence while Malleus still painfully young by fae standards ascended to the throne beneath the watchful eyes of an entire kingdom waiting to see whether the heir of the Draconia line would flourish…
Or crumble beneath expectation.
They underestimated him.
Terribly.
Lilia smiled faintly.
“Yes, My King,” he answered, voice lighter now that the court had emptied. “Unless another duke wishes to wage civil war over flower arrangements.”
Malleus sighed.
“I still fail to understand why the eastern court considers lilies offensive.”
“Neither do I, and I attended the meeting.”
A quiet laugh escaped the king before exhaustion settled over his features once more. Subtle. Brief. But Lilia noticed it instantly.
He always did.
“You should rest,” Malleus said after a moment. “You have overseen military inspections since dawn.”
“And yet I remain devastatingly youthful.”
“Lilia.”
Ah...
There it was again.
Not a king addressing his right hand.
Family.
Affection softened Lilia’s expression for only a heartbeat before his usual grin returned in full force.
“Worry not, Your Majesty. I intend to spend the rest of my evening engaging in highly important strategic exercises.”
“…Gaming again?”
“It sharpens the mind.”
“It causes you to scream at strangers through your headset.”
“In my defense, they deserved it.”
Malleus closed his eyes briefly as though enduring a terrible burden.
“Goodnight, Lilia.”
“Goodnight, Malleus” Lilia said with a soft whisper
The throne room fell silent once more after Malleus departed through the towering back corridors reserved for the royal family.
Only then did Lilia allow his posture to sag.
The smile slipped from his face like water.
Oh seven, he was tired.
Centuries of warfare had been easier than noble politics.
He gathered the remaining documents tucked beneath his arm and stepped into the palace halls. Guards straightened immediately upon seeing him, armor clinking sharply as they saluted.
Unlike the nobles, the soldiers did not look at him with quiet disdain.
The fae army adored General Vanrouge.
He had bled beside them. Fought beside them. Protected them.
That loyalty had never needed noble blood.
Lilia offered the younger guards an amused salute in return before continuing down the moonlit corridors toward his private chambers.
The second the doors shut behind him, The great Ex General and the current Right hand of the King of Briar Valley vanished entirely.
His cloak hit the floor first.
Then his boots.
Then several classified military reports.
One unfortunate document drifted directly into a candle flame.
“…Ah.”
He stared at it for a moment.
Then shrugged.
Probably not important.
Across the room, hidden beneath glamour magic and several books meant to appear scholarly at a glance, a soft array of colorful lights blinked patiently in the dark.
Lilia’s grin returned instantly.
Now this.
This was the best part of the day.
He dropped into his chair with far more enthusiasm than dignity, the glow of his monitor illuminating sharp crimson eyes as the game loaded across the screen.
WELCOME BACK, MUSCLERED.
A terrible username.
Absolutely magnificent.
His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard as he logged in, already opening his friends list before the main menu had fully loaded.
Offline. Offline. Offline.
Then.
ONLINE -- Gloomurai.
Ah.
There he was.
Warmth bloomed unexpectedly in Lilia’s chest, small and embarrassingly genuine. Strange how someone he had never met could make the endless noise of court politics disappear so easily.
A notification appeared immediately.
> Gloomurai: ur late
Gloomurai: did ur meeting finally kill u?
Lilia snorted loudly enough to echo through the room.
His hands flew across the keyboard.
> Musclered: Tragically no.
Musclered: Though one moron did speak long enough to make me consider violence.
Musclered: Are you prepared to witness unparalleled greatness tonight?
The response came instantly.
> Gloomurai: if u explode another potion station im logging off and unadding u
I threw all these sketches together a year ago as a gift/celebration and then didn’t finish them until now. I don’t know how the incel bagged a goth baddie, but that’s how it always goes, huh?
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