𝕊𝕎𝕆ℝ𝔻 𝔽𝔸ℕ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℂ. » — ᴬᴾ

An indie sideblog for Ying'zi, Say'ri's son. Low-activity and will follow back from honorbourne. Written by Livi.

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ MISTER GANGREL .

{ 👑 } GANGREL STILL WASN’T CERTAIN AS TO why he took such great offence when it came to Say'ri. It wasn’t as if she was being called a nag, or hell, Ying'zi wasn’t even being THAT insulting, yet the thought of Say'ri being challenged curdles his blood and rankles his maw. He BEGRUDGINGLY accepts the boy’s apology with a shrug, capricious attitude turned away for a blessed moment, as if a crisis of intense magnitude has been avoided well and true.

❝WHETHER I’M CARRYING A TORCH FOR her or not ain’t none of your business,❞ he grumbles underneath his breath. TRUTH BE TOLD, he’s uncertain as to whether something like that would be appropriate to share or not, particularly as in all honesty, he doesn’t even know how serious they are. And even more so, he’s aware of how positively different he is compared to the rest of her friends. He could feel his bones ITCH at the thought. ❝She deserves more than us as friends. Well, no offence, I suppose.❞

SAY'RI WOULD VERY WELL LIKELY BOP him over the head if he disparaged Chrom, and she absolutely would give him a black eye if he said a thing about Tiki; nevertheless, the fact that she socializes less than he does is almost a truly BAFFLING thought. He has an idea, something worming inside his brain and threatening to eat it bit by bit.

HE’S NEVER ONE TO CARE TOO much about what he does, and now such a disparity is in full force. He’s perhaps a bit too loud, too CLUNKY when he deposits his box - albeit not so brutish as to actually break anything! - before he turns to face the kid as if noticing him for the first time. SHARP eyes like garnet daggers critical in their assessment.

❝YEAH, YEAH, THAT SOUNDS POSITIVELY FANTASTIC, kid. Absolutely wonderful. Always wanted a squire, gah ha ha~ and this is the next best thing!❞ Admittedly, he’s all too EAGER to lessen his his workload, but there’s another, newfound concern at hand. An arm is slung over youth’s shoulder, what he hopes to be a FRIENDLY gesture, and says, ❝now listen here … I’ve got one more thing for you to do. This one very simple, but IMPORTANT task — — try to keep your dear mother from working too hard, you hear? Poor girl works so hard as it is!❞

     As a former apprentice to a blacksmith, Ying’zi liked to believe he was at least good for  REPAIRING  weapons, so at the very least, he doesn’t mind creating less work for Gangrel. Why, if he could even make time to be self indulgent enough, he might also tinker around with some of his blades... like that one Levin Sword he had been eyeing for a good while now; in fact, maybe he could also add in a parachute feature or a button that would make it float. Oh, the possibilities were endless! 

    It’s only until after Gangrel deposits the box with a loud clank, however, does Ying’zi flinch alongside startled blinks. Judging from his subsequent reaction, on the other hand, it doesn’t seem like he was particularly angry, causing his shoulders slacken in relief.

     “ I-Is it? Awesome! In that case, I guess I’m your guy, ” Ying’zi states before issuing forth a boyish laugh. Truth be told, he’s glad that Gangrel has no objections, because it’s more likely he would have room to  EXPERIMENT...  provided he wasn’t around, of course. After his unlikely comrade hoists an arm around his shoulder, on the other hand, Ying’zi’s eyes would innocently widen with slight surprise; still, he’s quick to relax and flash a thumb’s up sign, upon hearing out his request. 

     “ You got it, mister Gangrel! If nothing else, I can safely say that’s a request I can actually get behind for once. ” This time around, his grin was less strained as he utters out those words. “ Not to worry, though. Now that I’m here, I will be sure to take over some of my mother’s errands for the Shepherds. Why, as her no-good son, it’s the least I could do for her, I think! ”

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ MAN, I MUST HAVE SET HIM OFF ...

{ 👑 } ADMITTEDLY, HE WAS A BIT JEALOUS of whoever this man who sired Ying'zi happens to be. It is only by the grace of Lucina’s words, drivel he hardly believes about changing timelines or whatever, that keeps him in any relative degree of sanity. The future could change, and so what? He’s not so SENTIMENTAL as to cling to a happy ending like a simpering maid. It is simply a JEALOUS thought gnawing on the roots of his heart, like a dog to a bone.

EASIER, FAR EASIER IT IS TO appear as empty minded and empty headed.

❝UNDOUBTEDLY~❞

A SIGH, DAYDREAMING PERHAPS, IF HE were so inclined towards daydreaming. Gangrel tilts his head, crimson gaze meeting Ying'zi’s; he can’t see any resemblance. Nose crinkles up. Just what reason would he have to be bothered by such a thing? He doesn’t strike up conversation until the lad has, easier perhaps to let it all play out as they walk. UNCERTAIN what to say, anyway, not since the possibility of being a father hangs over him like a heavy shroud. But it comes, perhaps quicker than he’d like.

❝DON’T BE RUDE, BOY. I’LL BOX you behind the ears if you call her a nag again.❞ Not that the boy is wrong, but Gangrel finds himself speaking without a single thought in his empty head. ❝She does INDEED worry for me, yes. I would say that it’s only natural for her to do so, gwa ha ha~ we’re friends, she and I.❞

     Of course, he’s quick to flinch once Gangrel utters out a threat. Ah, yikes, talk about one scary reaction! At the same time, though, Ying’zi could only wonder if what he said really could be classified as an insult - after all, it wasn’t as though he explicitly called his mother a nag. Why, last he recalls, he had only said that he hoped Say’ri wasn’t nagging him too much, but chances are, Gangrel didn’t see it that way, meaning he probably had to watch his tongue, lest this guy would follow through with punching him for real. Plus, something tells him it was  BETTER  off to not argue. Doing so never ends up going favorably for him, anyways.

    “ R-Right, sorry. Er... please don’t actually box me behind the ears, mister Gangrel, ” he’ll eventually stammer out in the hopes it’ll grant him leniency with him, for the last thing he’d want is his mother questioning why he suddenly received a bump behind his head. Still, from what it sounds like, Gangrel appeared to be quite fond of Say’ri, which proved... rather surprising. Honestly enough, he didn’t expect them to be friends all along; still, that would explain why he was so oddly protective towards her in the first place.

    “ That so? For a sec there, I thought you might have carried a torch for her. Well, regardless, I’m relieved she has someone else she can call a friend, besides miss Tiki, the lady tactician, and Lucina’s father. I-I dunno, I guess it makes me feel better at ease,  KNOWING  she has more people, caring about her the way I do, ” he’ll admit, mere moments before they reached the tent known as ‘the mess hall’. Once there, Ying’zi proceeds to enter through the flaps, only to pause and carefully lay down his box of cutlery onto a table, where stacks of napkins and dirty plates would be found directly across it.

    “ ...Phew, there we go! ” Soon, he’ll finally step back, eyeing Gangrel in the process. “ Again, thanks for the help, mister Gangrel. Um... would it be okay if I dropped by sometime to do some maintenance work on your weapons? I would  HATE  to not repay you back. ”

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ MISTER GANGREL .

{ 👑 } ADMITTEDLY, LOAD MAY BE SOMEWHAT TOO large and heavy for his arms, but the consequences of such a thing would arrive later, surely! Until he finds himself facing the results of his SWAGGERING, however, he simply oozes confidence in spades. A man has to revel in a compliment or two every so often, otherwise he’ll be too miserable by far on his worst days.

❝I TRY … I TRY … I’D BOW, but my arms are quite full.❞

FULL ARMS DO NOT SUIT GANGREL well, but he’s still carrying himself with as much grace as he could muster. And what grace does he muster! Swallowing the need to prance or make UNNECESSARY noise, showoff monarch that he is! Nevertheless, he does nothing to slow his walk, keeping up with the young male with ease — hoo boy, and what consequences he will receive from that later!

❝EH, I GUESS SO. PERHAPS STRONGER arm strength would be useful even t’ Lissa.❞ A shrug of the shoulders; he’s FAR from beefy, himself, even if he’s physically fit. ❝Would mean you don’t have to ask for my help, and I can SAFELY say that is a bonus, hee hee ~❞

THOUGH, AT THE MENTION OF ONE’S mother, it seems as if further interaction would be more than inevitable — —

❝OH YES, SAY'RI IS QUITE THE lovely woman~❞

      Truth be told, Ying’zi couldn’t help being curious; after all, he wouldn’t be surprised if his own mother proved forgettable, considering the Shepherds didn’t exactly lack their fair share of interesting people. Why, as far as he’s concerned, Gangrel might not have even talked to Say’ri before.

     As it turns out, however, he was proven wrong, for it seemed the two were on somewhat familiar terms. What their relationship specifically entails, on the other hand, remains to be seen; either way, it wasn’t long until his brows shot upwards in surprise.

    “ Ehhh, you really think so? ” he exclaims before shaking his head. “ Er... y-yeah, I guess she is, huh? My father, whoever he was, sure happened to be one lucky chap. ” In the end, Ying’zi couldn’t bring himself to jump to conclusions; besides, even if Gangrel did happen to be  INTERESTED  in Say’ri, it’s none of his business who his mother ends up dating. On top of that, he had no reason to believe this strange man must have been an unsavory person; otherwise, he wouldn’t have offered to carry most of this stuff for him, right?

    “ Well, anyways, I hope she hasn’t been nagging you too much, ” he’ll add after a short little while. “ My mother can be such a worrywart, you see... and while she does mean well, she also has trouble really understanding how to relax. If you don’t  MIND  me asking, though, what is she to you? ”

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ MISTER GANGREL .

{ 👑 } THE COMPLIMENTS ARE RATHER UNEXPECTED, FOR a moment he’s even more shocked than a few seconds ago when he chose to help on impulse, trying to replace a horrible habit with a good one. Far from perfect, but as he isn’t instantly filled with dread and regret, perhaps it is a good start. Keep it cool, he says to himself, with sauntering feet and swaggering hips. You’re not kind, you’re just doing this because you want to!

A MAD GRIN BEFITTING A MAD man, Gangrel pauses to flex a muscle. Not even close to as vain as Vaike over his strength, the mongrel king is nonetheless INCLINED towards showing off. A strange trait for someone who enjoys self deprecating himself, but Gangrel has never been known to be all there upstairs.

❝I’LL TAKE HALF, I SUPPOSE —- BUT if the rest is too much for you, well …❞ A roll of his eyes and a literal blowing of hot air, hands tap against the jeweled adornments of his hips before, with a flourish, he removes half the load - more than half - out of the younger’s arms. ❝Your buttering me up won’t work all the way; this was your RESPONSIBILITY, after all. But, I’ll take the worst of it. Can you carry the rest well enough?❞ And in truth, the load looked HEAVIER than initially thought.

    Truth be told, Ying’zi would prefer to at least handle some of the load, but he also didn’t wish to offend Gangrel, so naturally, he tries his best to be mindful about his own words. Well, regardless, it seemed like the compliments helped enhance the mad fellow’s mood, causing him to inwardly sigh with relief. Good, at least he was able to do something right.

    Before Ying’zi could bother commenting on how impressed he was, however, Gangrel is quick to  SNATCH  up more than half the load off his arms, which made his jaw momentarily drop, for he just made it look all so effortless. Man, perhaps there was some perks to being older and experienced.

    “ Whoa! You’re going above and beyond half, mister Gangrel! ” Sheer amazement seeps through his tone, yet nevertheless, he manages an eager nod. “ Yup, I can handle this much. Again, thanks for the help! I should probably work on beefing up my arms later. ” Upon figuring they shouldn’t be  STANDING  around like sitting ducks, Ying’zi began sauntering off towards the mess hall with a leisurely enough pace Gangrel would be able to keep up with. “ By the way, uh... do you happen to know my mother? Her name is Say’ri. ”

[what-the-fuck-khr]

The rain began again. It fell heavily, easily, with no meaning or intention but the fulfillment of its own nature, which was to fall and fall.

Happy birthday, Takeshi, my beautiful boy!  ღゝ◡╹)ノ♡ (24/04)

[varialeaderxanxus]

YAMAMOTO ⭐💙

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ MISTER GANGREL .

@bladerevered / s.c.

{ 👑 } UNMISTAKABLY SAY'RI’S CHILD, THIS ONE IS, bringing about a wave of strange emotions, a sense of parental nature being chief among them. Nose wrinkles, he’s not accustomed to feeling POSITIVE things. ❝Here, let me help you carry all of that. My hands are completely free.❞

     At first, Ying’zi thinks Gangrel might have possibly been put off by seeing him... for why else would he have scrunched up his nose? Luckily, though, it seemed he was proven wrong when next he spoke, causing widened blinks to roll off his eyes. Gods, that proved unexpected; still, he supposes he’s grateful, considering his arms were beginning to ache from all the sealed boxes of cutlery stacked upon his sleeves.

    “ Oh, uh... sure thing. How could I ever deny the help of such...  STRONG  yet kind looking hands? Seriously, I bet you could peel a ton of oranges with those! ” Of course, Ying’zi had to force himself to not ask if he’s certain, for something told him he might annoy Gangrel by second guessing him; either way, he’s quick to extend his reach forward until he could lift up a few off his limbs.

     “ Thanks, mister Gangrel. Do you think you could take these to the mess hall? O-Or is that too large a task for you? If so, then we should each take half and go together. That way, things could end up smoother sailing from there. Haha, just kidding! ” he hurriedly corrects himself with a sheepish laugh, upon recalling the fact Gangrel did offer to  CARRY  all of those boxes for him. “ I’m sure you’re more than capable of carrying them yourself, since you’re very... muscular and fit. ”

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ MISS EIR .

   Oh my…that’s an awful lot of food he’s piling into their bowls–she hopes that she finds it agreeable. On the other hand, she supposes his enthusiasm is…endearing, she believes the word is. She follows him dutifully towards the balcony, the cool air a pleasant contrast to the heat of the kitchens, and stares as he pulls out a chair without sitting. Indeed, he’s looking at her, as if expecting her to do something. 

  ….oh, yes, she’s seen this before, hasn’t she? Something about chivalry… Slowly, she steps forward and allows him to seat her. She waits for him to settle across the table from her before pulling one of the bowls towards her and picking up a fork. Unfamiliar as the notion of eating is to her, she knows more or less how it goes. 

     Flavor bursts upon her tongue, and her eyes widen. Necessity aside, she can see why this would appeal to the living.

     “It’s…good.” It is now that she realizes she has no words to describe the sensation in her mouth. “Very good.” 

     Ah, there was that strange look in her eyes again, causing him to blink over with barely suppressed surprise. Had he done something weird? Well, thankfully, it seemed Eir proved rather quick on the uptake, for before Ying’zi even knew it, she’s already making herself comfortable over the chair he pulls out. By that point, he’ll take that as a cue to meander his way over towards the other side of the table, where he’ll then  PLOP  himself down just across from her.

    Soon afterwards, Ying’zi begins scarfing down his own food, yet upon glancing up to ensure Eir was eating as well, he notices her gaze widening, which had him lower his spoon; still, once she speaks, it’s not long until a broad grin breaks out across his lips.

     “ Glad to hear it! Maybe we should bring you to the dining hall more often then. That way, you could start becoming a major foodie in no time! ” Perhaps Ying’zi might have been getting his hopes up or even expecting way too much of her, but he found it cute, how she had no words to describe the deliciousness she experienced firsthand. “ Oh, and I’ll tell miss Peri you said that too; after all, she was the one who cooked everything! Still, you’re right... it is very good, huh? ” Soon, he resumes carrying yet another spoonful of meatloaf  THROUGH  his mouth before chewing it rather contentedly. 

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ NOIRE .

    Hopeless for her, he says. Though he’s said similar things to her on more than one occasion, but she never gets tired of hearing such praises from him. Perhaps it’s just a result of her upbringing. Growing up, she didn’t get much attention…at least not the good kind. So how can she resist basking in it when he showers her with it so? 

    Even if she’s left a bit of an awkwardly long silence and stillness around them now. Sure, her words and the situation suggested it would be best for him to go back to his own tent. That would be the smart thing for him to do. For them both. Surely it was pure luck that no one had noticed them during her midnight chase (or hadn’t acknowledged it, at least). But part of Noire’s mind makes her think that this means ‘if no one noticed before, surely they won’t notice us now’. That and since the running had gotten her blood flowing and heart pounding, she’s not at all tired now. 

     So her hands cling to his nightgown, even if she doesn’t vocalize why. She just knows she wants to be selfish and not watch him leave yet. After all, she’d feared she’d just scared him away for good. The relief that he was still sticking by her made her a little clingier now (even more than usual). She wants him to stay and she wants him close and to be honest she doesn’t want to sleep she just wants to make out with him until she can’t breathe. 

    So perhaps there’s a noticeable twinkle in her eye when he asks to stay with her the rest of the night. She nods enthusiastically, perhaps a bit too quick to take him up on that offer, but she can’t help herself, gently pulling him further into her tent as she leans back into it. And she can’t help the giggle that leaves her at his following statement. “ Don’t be silly, when have I ever wanted that ?” She understands he’s being respectful, but she can’t recall a time where she ever suggested she didn’t want him touching her. 

    Noire does offer him a real smile though, even if it’s a little shy. And her voice is a little softer, a little more pleading. “ You’re not wrong, and I don’t think you can make me uncomfortable. You’re the only person I’m really…completely comfortable with. I would really like you to stay with me…please…The whole night .” Another gentle tug on his nightshirt, dark doe-like eyes looking up at him. “ I don’t want to sleep .”

     While he wasn’t much of a prude, the last thing he’d want is to misunderstand her intentions. Sure, Ying’zi liked to believed he knew Noire better than the average person, but at the same time, he couldn’t read minds and for all he knew, she might not want him to  SLEEP  with her. In the end, girls were just complicated like that.

     Why, it could be Noire simply wanted to cuddle; then again, he didn’t have to wait long before she had finally given him an answer in lieu of a nod... and come to think of it, was that a twinkle in her eye?

    Ying’zi blinks, yet regardless, he didn’t have long to really ponder over it, because Noire was soon dragging him inside her tent. By that point, he is quick to adjust, allowing his feet to pick up the same eager pace behind her heels. Once he ceases to a halt and hears a giggle emanating past Noire’s throat, however, he’ll sheepishly glance away with a finger lifting upwards to scratch at his  CHEEK.

    “ Yeah, well... j-just wanted to make sure, you know? In case you weren’t feeling up to it or something, ” Ying’zi awkwardly states. Little by little, he then turns to face her, only to find himself blushing when she gives his shirt another insistent tug and the reality of what they were about to do crashes over him.

    “ I mean... as long as it’s fine with you, I guess I could stay, ” he tells her, only to swallow down the lump caught in his throat. “ Alright then. ‘No sleeping’ it is!  ” Little by little, his hands soon eventually lower themselves upon her waist. “ Did you have... anything else in mind? Of course, I already have an idea, but I want to hear you say it, Noire, so I know for certain. ”

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ NOIRE .

    Oh, how good it feels to have him hold her again. After all the drama she’s just glad that things didn’t erupt and crumble. Part of her knew he wouldn’t just dump her on the spot over a disagreement, but her lacking confidence and constant fear kept telling her that was what would happen anyway. But his loyalty he promised to her was still unwavering, despite the high price she’d asked of him: tolerating her parents. 

    He’s so cute though, and that grin of his never fails to charm her, even with his cheeks all squished together between her palms. And she’ll never get tired of hearing him say that he loves her. And there’s that reminder of his devotion again. Maybe they don’t have her parents’ blessing yet, but she considers having him at all a blessing all its own. 

    “ If it’s any consolation, I think my parents would do the same for anyone who courted me .” Lon’qu had always been the protective and skeptical sort, and Tharja…well, this Tharja was borderline overprotective. “ But maybe one day we can wrestle it out of them. But…we can worry about that later .” She may not believe he’d be helpless without her, but she can’t deny that it’s a nice sentiment to feel needed. To feel wanted. 

    Noire continues to cling to him as she always does, selfishly wanting to never let him go and hoping he’ll hold onto her a while longer. But she does release his cheeks in favor of wrapping her arms around his torso instead. “ Well, at least in the meantime, your parents are…normal .” Stahl wasn’t scary at all, really. She didn’t have any nerves around him. But Say’ri…She was so kind and yet somehow terribly intimidating. Though Noire herself is half-Chon’sin on her father’s side, she knows almost nothing of the nation or culture because of his disassociation with it. 

   “ I am…a little afraid of your mother, though. She is a princess, after all. That’s…Well that seems like a lot to measure up to .” Sometimes it was so easy to forget Ying’zi was a prince. Even if technically he wasn’t from this world. Her fingers tug at the fabric of his shirt a little as she fidgets with it. “ She’s been nothing but nice to me but…She’s still so…Intimidating …” 

   She’s so perfect it seems. Something that always made Noire uneasy and self-conscious. 

     Now that everything was finally said and done, he’s just grateful to be able to put all this behind them. Sure, one might argue it’s only natural for couples to argue, but it didn’t change the fact he’s not a big fan of even small squabbles. Hopefully, though, Noire didn’t mind a difference in opinion  BETWEEN  them, because as much as he hates being difficult, he’s still his own person with thoughts and feelings at the end of the day.

    In the end, nothing could quite change that fact, yet since she made it rather clear she wasn’t about to break up with him over his questionable actions towards Tharja anytime soon, Ying’zi figures he’ll continue trying for Noire’s sake. “ Oh right, my parents! ” he brings himself to acknowledge right as soon as she brings them up.

    “ Not like I forgot I ever had them, of course. I mean, I guess we were so busy discussing yours, an opportunity where I could gush about them never really came; still, they’re pretty neat, huh? ” Ying’zi soon chuckles, allowing his arms to  TIGHTEN  a tad smidgen around her. He doesn’t know if ‘normal’ would be the exact term he’d use, considering they were both monarchs, yet at the same time, he supposes they were good enough parental figures for him and Alannah growing up.

    Well, regardless, Ying’zi gives her shoulder a firm squeeze before lowering it back down to join his other arm along Noire’s back. “ Her, ‘intimidating’? I mean, I always thought she’s serious and a bit on the high-strung side, but she never seemed that scary to me; then again, she is my mother, which I guess makes me a little biased, ” he points out with a few absentminded blinks rolling off his lashes. Upon further recalling his memories concerning Say’ri, however, his lips would then curl into a fond smile.

    “ Come to think of it... I did notice she’s a bit on the naive side. Once, I remember a merchant almost scamming her out of her own money when they presented her a low quality ceremonial sword. Honestly, if I hadn’t been around to tell her it’s not worth so  MUCH  gold back then, she might have actually spent a fortune on such a shoddy piece. Anyways, long story short: it turns out she’s not used to shopping by herself. Pretty surprising, isn’t it? ”

[thepersonalquotes]

[cuttlefishp]

My favourite character ❤

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ NOIRE .

    Oh, curse whoever decided to move about in the middle of the night and suddenly make her so aware of what’s going on around them. She supposes that she can’t really blame them. It’s not like this was an ideal location after all…nor was it anyone’s fault other than hers that they were out here to begin with. What did she chase him out here for again?

    Oh….her talisman…right. The inkling to take it back again creeps up but she pushes it out of mind. She doesn’t need a repeat of the embarrassment and near-attempted-maiming she just got out of. 

    As much as Noire wants to keep his hands on her, she knows he’s right. They should be getting back. While she wishes he’d come back to her tent with her and stay, she’s fairly sure that won’t be the case. He’s probably exhausted from having his sleep interrupted and having to run for his life in the middle of the night. So she nods in silent reply at first, then slowly manages to untangle herself from his limbs (however reluctantly). “ Yeah, we…I probably should .” Even if no one had heard them yet, they’d likely be discovered if they hung out here too long.

    Sneaking back into the camp under the cover of darkness, eventually making it back to her tent first (and she silently thanks Naga her father wasn’t on nightwatch that night or surely they would have been caught). But once she’s past the flap, she turns around towards Ying’zi again, still not quite ready to let him depart yet. Her fingers wrap around the collar of his torn night shirt. She tugs just a little bit, but not much. Just enough to hold him in place so he doesn’t scamper off right away.

   “ Thank you again…you know…for sticking by me despite all that. You…you really are the best, Ying’zi …” She smiles at him, but it’s clear that she’s reluctant to let go still even if she should…

     Frankly speaking, he had forgotten all about the people still sound asleep in their tents; then again, with how much Noire had distracted him earlier, Ying’zi wouldn’t be lying if he said it slipped his mind. Now that she had given him such a strenuous workout, however, he’s not sure if his eyes would stay closed; after all, exercise often leaves him feeling so awake, he’ll probably have to start counting  MORE  than a few hundred sheep to even begin experiencing the full lull of drowsiness from his bedroll.

    Still, for what it’s worth, Noire’s little cat and mouse game was nowhere near as overwhelming, compared to Frederick’s Fanatical Fitness Hours. Why, just thinking about the aforementioned man’s face sends an involuntary shiver down his spine as he loosens his arms and pulls them back to his sides.

    “ Then I guess it’s about time we get going, huh? ” Ying’zi acknowledges at long last. Mere moments later, he soon began the trek back towards Noire’s tent, allowing silence to descend upon them like a shroud during each second they walked. Sure enough, they finally arrived at the front flaps, prompting him to wait until she slipped inside. Before he could think of leaving, on the other hand, his girlfriend’s gaze stops him, gluing his feet to the ground.

    Once he feels her  GRIPPING  his collar, Ying’zi blinks, yet regardless, he shuffles just a tad bit forward to place a swift chaste kiss onto Noire’s temple.

      “ Don’t mention it. I mean, I am absolutely hopeless for you, ” he reminds her, accompanied by a crookedly sheepish grin. After making that apparent, Ying’zi then awkwardly remains, unsure as to whether or not he should go. Noire just seemed to look so... wistful, it was hard to abandon her. Eventually, though, he’ll clear his throat and peer earnestly into her eyes.

     “ Should I stay and keep you company the whole night? ” Upon asking her this, a subtle pink hue plummets along his cheeks. “ I don’t mind keeping my hands to myself, but... something tells me you’re anticipating something. A-Am I wrong? I’d rather not make you uncomfortable. ”

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ NOIRE .

     It wounds her to see how reluctant he is to see things her way. She knows that Tharja isn’t in the right, but what she doesn’t understand is why he so strongly feels the need to correct her or condemn her. Yeah, her mother is flawed. Very flawed…But she wasn’t evil. “ I get what you’re saying, I really do but…Do you really think yelling at her or insulting her is going to fix anything? That she’ll suddenly change because of your words ?” 

    That’s really the point she was trying to make. That it just isn’t worth it. Not when Tharja’s reaction could tear a rift between them…It was just a matter of who it was torn between. And it would fall on Noire’s shoulders to choose. A choice she dreaded. Because she could either choose her mother and lose Ying’zi, or she could choose Ying’zi and lose both of her parents. Maybe the coward in her is why she begs him to let it go. She’s too terrified to face such a situation. 

    So she visibly relaxes when he finally seems to do that. Maybe not in his mind, she can’t ask him to change his ideals. She wouldn’t wish to. But he agrees not to let these things come between them, to not put her in that situation. And that’s all she can ask of him. Her breathe leaves in a heavy sigh, rushing forward to embrace him. She practically throws herself at him, arms wrapped tight around his shoulders as she almost hangs from his taller frame. “ Thank you…I just…I just want to keep you all. I know it’s selfish but I can’t help it .”

    Her face pulls back slightly so she can look up at him. Finally, she smiles when he tells her how much it means to him that she didn’t give up on him. Truth be told, if worse came to worst…she would choose him. A new life in favor of an old one…But it would still be painful. Noire lifts her hands up to his face to squish his cheeks between her palms a little.

    “ You’re not an idiot, you big dummy ,” she teases, knowing how contradictory her words might sound. “ You mean well. You just want to make the world a better place. That’s…part of why I love you so much. Just uhm… Well you might have to do a little brown-nosing or laying low until this blows over. Maybe…maybe one day we can make things better…You’ll just have to earn some respect from them first. They don’t…give it very easily. But…They are more likely to listen after they do .”

    After all, change didn’t happen overnight. “ And I’ll help ,” she smiles. “ Someone has to keep you in check, after all .”

    She shakes her head at the mention of Laurent, though. He always was comparing himself to others. “ Hey, don’t talk like that. Laurent has…too many brain cells .” Her lips purse a bit in distaste. She doesn’t dislike Laurent of course! But admittedly, she never felt comfortable around him. She felt inferior, much like she did around Cordelia and Miriel or even Nah at times. “ I like you the way you are, silly. You shouldn’t compare yourself to others so much …”

     No matter what his opinion of her parents might be, Ying’zi didn’t find it all that necessary to argue back, for when it came down to it, focusing on this much negativity proved... tiring. Judging from the way Noire reacted, he’s inclined to believe she thinks the same as well; after all, they’ve already been through so much together, the last thing they’d probably want to do is fight.

     Thankfully, it seemed he picked the right words, for before he even knew it, she flings her arms around him in a tight enough hug to make him flinch. Rather than Noire’s grip hurting, however, Ying’zi’s more so unprepared to receive such a strong embrace; still, within mere moments, he manages to  WORM  his arms around her spine in a soft yet gentle grip, before giving her back a few comforting pats.

      “ Yeah, I get that, ” he reassures her, allowing each syllable to flow together in a soothing, relaxed tone. Truth be told, Ying’zi doesn’t blame Noire for not wanting to choose between him or her parents, because realistically speaking, who in their right mind would? Soon, he’ll yelp when she pulls back to squish his cheeks, but just as quickly afterwards, boyish laughter replaces the prompt noise.

     “ H-Hey! What gives? ” Ying’zi manages a broad grin while failing to sound the least bit annoyed with his eyelids fastened shut and a single brow twisting  UPWARDS.  Sure enough, he’ll finally peel open his gaze, revealing softened almond brown eyes.

     “ I love you too, though; in fact, I always will. It’s just... a downright shame your parents would sooner chase me off with a stick than offer us their blessing. Still, there’s no point in complaining, I guess. For now, I’ll simply stay out of their hair and hope for the best. ” At that point, Ying’zi proceeds to shrug.

     “ Honestly, I’d be helpless, not having you around. ” This time around, he sheepishly emits a chuckle. “ Right, right! Sorry... force of habit. I’ll work on correcting that eventually. ” Of course, Ying’zi wasn’t lying, for he did intend on keeping his word. Unfortunately, though, that was much easier said than done.

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ MISS EIR .

    “I don’t mind the cold.” Indeed, she hardly feels it, accustomed as she is to death’s chill. “But here…there is so much to take in. It is…dizzying, sometimes.” She’s not sure if it’s the smells or simply that she’s away from her usual haunts–quiet, often dimmed places where she can watch the living from a distance. It is easier, too, when she is outdoors, with nature itself ( vibrant, yes, but in a less frenetic way ) smoothing over the flurry of activity from the castle’s residents.

    It is something she will need to grow accustomed to, she knows, but she will worry about it later. There is something else she wants to grow accustomed to first. 

   “That sounds fine.” Despite her earlier thoughts, she does her best to drink in the sights and sounds and smells of the kitchen as she waits, feeling awfully out of place in her black dress. 

     Perhaps she really didn’t mind have a preference to begin with, but the fact Eir happened to be so agreeable sure made things a lot more easier and straightforward for both of them. Why, sooner rather than later, he’ll even grin, signifying how pleased he was to learn she wasn’t that picky.

     “ Great! Hold on one second, okay? ” Ying’zi tells her before scooping  UP  a generous heaping of food into both their bowls. “ There we go! ” Once he’s done, he then turns to face Eir. “ Now, let’s be off, shall we? ” With that said, he begins his trek towards the door he mentioned earlier. After reaching it, Ying’zi opens it and enters through the balcony, where he’ll proceed to subsequently place the tray onto the table situated along it.

    Upon ever being the gentleman, he pulls out a chair for Eir and gazes expectantly out at her.

[bladerevered]

▒ ▌❛ NOIRE .

    Teasing, he says. That doesn’t help the blush on her face any, let alone with the way he says them and the smirk that accompanies it. He really knew how to make a girl’s heart flutter, didn’t he?

    Well, maybe not, actually. She wouldn’t be surprised if he was blissfully unaware of just how charming and seductive he could be. Though not entirely, it was possible he didn’t know the extent of it. She swallows back her nerves, skin suddenly feeling warm despite the late-night chill in the air. 

     And she’s blissfully aware of his wandering hands. A pleasant shiver runs up her spine as one circles about her lower back, eyelids fluttering as he brushes her dark hair behind her ear. What he says does draw a bit of a giggle from her, though it sounds a tad nervous even if she feels more excited and anxious than apprehensive. 

    “ I don’t think you say cheesy things ,” she admits, a smile pulling to her face. “ I think they’re romantic .” He said the kinds of things the handsome heroes said to their love interests in those romance novels she liked to read so much. 

    Still, romantic words weren’t the only things between those characters in her books and she can’t help how her mind wanders. She knows this isn’t a book but she hasn’t exactly…had any relationship experience in real life. The only relationship she’d really seen was her parents and her father had died when she was eight. Though she knew they loved each other, Tharja hadn’t exactly taught her anything about love or romance and she didn’t get a chance to learn by observation, so what else did she have to reference besides the love stories she found in books? It seemed…similar enough so far. 

    However, she’s also painfully aware of where they are. Her heart wants to be impulsive but her head (and perhaps also the sound of someone shifting in their tent a few meters away back at the camp) reigns her back in, telling her that now is likely not the time or place to give into said impulses. Her eyes flicker back to the dim glow between the trees where the camp is before settling back to his face. “ You…you don’t think we woke anyone up, do you ?”

     Naturally, he too had little experience with relationships, but the few girls he did end up dating weren’t ones he even liked. Why, to this day, Ying’zi still had no idea what they saw in him, to the point where he couldn’t help questioning whether or not he was as captivating as Noire made him out to be.

    Seeing the bright magenta hue lingering over her cheeks, however, convinced him that he must be at least somewhat charming for her to remain that sheepish; either way, he’ll issue out a soft chuckle once she made her current thoughts apparent.

     “ Yeah? Well, I’m glad I don’t disappoint, ” Ying’zi whispers. “ So long as you’re into it, then I guess I’ll have to keep at it with the sweet nothings, won’t I? ” Judging from her words alone, it only seemed obvious to him Noire liked being flirted with and if nothing else, who was he to deny her that  ATTENTION?  Certainly not him!

     Little by little, he allows his hand to creep a bit higher along her back until it rested gently against the area composing her mid-upper spine. For as much as he wanted to touch her all over, Ying’zi figured that he should at least retain some form of self restraint, less poor Noire would find herself fainting. In the end, there was a time and place for everything, including ‘that’.

    If nothing else, however, Ying’zi was fairly confident he could control himself around Noire; after all, he did spend so many years, remaining celibate. While yes, he did have desires like any man, patiently biding his time seemed the safer option, which was why when they both heard a faint rustling beyond them, he’ll turn his head, accompanied by a lone bead of bead sliding down his face.

     “ That’s, uh... actually a good point, ” Ying’zi admits, now that his smile turns apprehensive. “ I can’t say for  ABSOLUTE  certain, but I would sure hope our voices didn’t carry that far. Did you maybe wanna go back to your tent? It’s getting late, I know... and people might talk. ”

[garou-art]

[bladerevered]

garou-art‌:

Rain again…