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@calaglin-iarian
The Other Mother - Part 1
So I lost the post when I tried to save it as a draft, but a long time ago, @safrona-shadowsun sent an ask to Lin's mailbox requesting a little scene in which the Courier meets the triplets when they were kids. I meant to answer it much sooner than this, but I got a little carried away. So, uh... because this is kind of long, here's part 1 for you. The rest will be coming to a tumblr near you shortly.
Hope you enjoy it, Safrona.
37. do you read a lot? whats your favorite book?
Lin used to enjoy reading and he was a big fan of satire. Unfortunately, he has brothers and his siblings get a lot of joy from making him the butt of their pranks. He’s not much of a reader these days--not out in the open, anyway.
@safrona-shadowsun -- Thank you for the ask!
Hello I was just curious about who you use for FC's for your triplets?
This guy. His stage name is Aoi and he’s the rhythm guitarist from a VK band called the GazettE. To be honest, I used him as a springboard to help me design my idiot trio and get a good feel for their appearances and style; I don’t really use much in the way of the faceclaim these days since I prefer to draw the triplets’ responses. Feels more personal that way, I suppose, as if they are actually responding and not just chattering in my head.
But if you like rock (and don’t mind that it’s in Japanese), I highly recommend the GazettE. They’ve been going for over 15 years and they’re fantastic.
Thank you for the ask!
“I know I'm not the person you want, but--” He glanced down at the index card in his hand, made a face, and tossed it over his shoulder as he slid into the booth. Propping his elbows on the table, he leaned forward and rested his chin on his hands. An impish grin replaced his baffled frown, bringing out the deep dimples in his cheeks. "That was a terrible pick-up line, so allow me to start over. You remind me of whiskey: smooth, mature, tasteful, and I'd love to pound you all night."
Though it was neither her establishment or her booth today, Safrona had gradually found some comfort in its placement, in the company of the living, in the taste of something the living served. If slowly. She’d only began to inspect the label of a provided bottle when the familiar face slid into her booth as if he belonged there. The dramatic flip of the musician’s apparent cue card encouraged a chuckle from her, but the largely ribald re-introduction earned a few blinks, and the feathered arch of a burgundy eyebrow.
“Let’s...go back to clarifying that you are not the person I want, lovely boy, and I’m certainly not the drink you need.” Her eyes dropped to the whiskey label conveniently at her table, opening it masterfully. “I might look like these things...smooth, mature, tasteful, but I am on reserve for another. And...even if I were open to give you a taste,” her gaze lifted with a penetrating, hungry glint of the Maw-Damned. “I’d likely put a fire in your veins, use you, and leave you prone for the morning light. If you are “lucky”.”
{ @calaglin-iarian }
@safrona-shadowsun
The paintings hanging in frames on the walls in the background of this comic were all painted by my friend, Xunyll. I claim no ownership of them, but they were used with his permission.
what is your biggest fear?
@waroftwowolves -- Thank you very much for the ask! I apologize this turned out a little longer than I intended, but to clarify Lin’s fears:
1.) Horror films. He hates them, especially since Bren and Ji have a habit of picking the scariest films they can find for the weekly movie night.
2.) Cream puffs. The Harlequin and Ji played a rather nasty prank on him that involved cream puffs stuffed with IcyHot, toothpaste, sour cream, and spiderwebs. He’s never looked at them the same since.
3.) Ghosts, particularly banshees. Back when he and his brothers first found Ji, they told her about Halloween and invited her to participate in their tradition of sitting around the campfire and telling ghost stories. She declined and, instead, waited until everyone fell asleep so she could astral project herself as a banshee and scare the shit out of them.
In short: Lin hates Halloween and Ji, Bren, and the Harlequin are all unrepentant gremlins.
How did you come up with the concept for the triplets? Was there a particular inspiration, or did they just make themselves known?
@astralfox0893 -- Thank you very much for the ask! I apologize for the late reply. T.T
Speech Patterns - Calaglin
𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒: 1 / 2 / 3 + Although much smarter than he lets on, Lin was never terribly interested in academics. He earned high marks in school mostly because Dhel was a terror about enforcing study time, but Lin’s interests lay in girls, music, and outdoor activities. When it comes to languages, he only fluently speaks two and can say a handful of words and/or phrases in others. In FFXIV, he speaks Common and ancient Hingan. In WoW, he speaks Thalassian and Common, and a smattering of Zandali. In my own universe, he speaks English and the language of his people.
𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄: high / average / deep. His speaking voice hovers around the G2-C2 range.
𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓: yes / no. When speaking English, Lin sounds like his native language was probably a hodgepodge of eastern Russian, Welsh, and Japanese.
𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐑: confident / shy / approachable / hostile / other. Walk right up to him. His arms are probably already open to welcome you in. Lin is like sunshine: warm, inviting, and always beaming regardless of clouds.
𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄: slumped / straight / stiff / relaxed. In many cases, he will try to make others comfortable by slouching and bringing himself down closer to their level; he’s well aware that his enormous height often intimidates people without his conscious efforts to do so. You’d never know he had extensive etiquette lessons.
𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐒: head tilting / swaying / fidgeting / stuttering / gesturing / arm crossing / strokes chin / er, um, or other interjections / plays with hair or clothing / hands at hips / inconsistent eye contact / maintains eye contact / frequent pausing / stands close / stands at distance. If he wants to see your face when he talks to you, he has to tilt his head. Lin talks with his hands and has a tendency to stand close to people when in conversation. While he’s often willing to slouch to make you feel more comfortable, he’s still going to make sure you subconsciously know he’s the one in charge by imposing on you. He’ll put himself in your space, he’ll take over your space by standing a little too close--all while making himself seem smaller, less threatening. Lin is a jerk.
𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙇𝙀𝙓𝙄𝙏𝙔 𝐕𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐘: - ◼◼◼◻◻ According to Lin, lyrics are no good if they don’t make people feel something. Feelings are complex, but words shouldn’t be or there won’t be anything but confusion. And anyway, even a simple butter knife can cut you. By that same token, simple words can fell a person.
𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: - ◼◼◼◼◼ Lin comes off as extremely expressive and full of life and feeling. He’s demonstrative, engaging, and can be overwhelming in his enthusiasm. Imagine a walking, talking Charybdis just waiting to pull you into his undertow and that’s Lin.
𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄: - ◼◼◻◻◻ For the most part, his sentences are fairly simple. It’s the words he chooses and the tone of his voice that deliver the punch. Listen in and you might hear him taking Dhel to task for his obsession with his students’ grammar when grading papers.
𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙁𝘼𝙉𝙄𝙏𝙔 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘: - ◼◼◼◼◻ When his target is cornered, Lin is not shy with his less pleasant words. His favourite swears are “bloody fucking hell” and “by the stars.” I know, I know, the second one doesn’t sound like much of a curse--but to a people who revere the heavenly bodies, it’s pretty vile. Unlike Dhel, Lin is a decent hand at keeping a lid on his temper, so you won’t hear him curse often unless you have good ears and catch his mumbles. Or you surprise him. Startle him and you’re bound to get something.
𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐘: - ◼◼◼◼◼ His brain is wired to make things. Mostly music, but when he’s inspired, Lin can say some pretty interesting things. Especially if those things revolve around seducing you or laughing at himself.
𝘽𝙊𝙇𝘿 𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝘼𝙋𝙋𝙇𝙔 I assume these are all things people have called him at some point in his life. Or things he’s said himself.
arse. ass. asshole. bastard. bitch. bloody. bugger. bollocks. chicken shit. crap. cunt. dick. frick. fuck. horseshit. motherfucker. piss. prick. screw. shit. shite. shitass. son of a bitch. twat. wanker. pussy.
𝙂𝙄𝙑𝙀𝙉 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙋𝙀𝙍 𝙍𝙀𝙇𝙄𝙂𝙄𝙊𝙐𝙎 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙓𝙏
christ on a bike. christ on a cracker. damn. goddamn. godsdamn. hell. holy shit. jesus. jesus christ. jesus h christ. jesus h. roosevelt christ. lord have mercy. jesus, mary and joseph. sweet jesus.
𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎 𝙊𝙍 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙏
contractions or enunciation? straightforward and or cryptic? jargon and or toned? complexity or simplicity? finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind? masculinity, neutrality, or femininity? formalities or abrasiveness? praise and or equivocation? frankness and or lies? excessive or minimal hand gestures? name-calling and or magnanimity? friendly and or blunt nicknames?
𝙄𝙈𝙋𝙊𝙍𝙏𝘼𝙉𝙏 𝙌𝙐𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎
DO PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING OR UNDERSTANDING YOUR MUSE? almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never. Understanding? Not usually; he might not say it, but Lin generally doesn’t have a high opinion of other people and their brains, so he tends to make things quite simple for them. Hearing him? Sometimes. When he’s frustrated, he has a tendency to mumble.
DOES YOUR MUSE’S POINT COME ACROSS EASILY WHEN THEY SPEAK? almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never. Most likely, yes. Lin doesn’t often mince his words. He just occasionally holds back pertinent information to leave you guessing.
WOULD YOUR MUSE INITIATE CONVERSATIONS? almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never. This extrovert has no trouble walking up to people and starting conversations. If you catch his attention, best be sure he will find a way to chat you up.
WOULD YOUR MUSE BE THE ONE TO END CONVERSATIONS? almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never. Keep him engaged and he’ll keep talking. Or have something he wants and he’ll keep you engaged himself. Otherwise, when your usefulness is currently spent, he will move on to the next high.
WOULD YOUR MUSE USE “WHOM” IN A SENTENCE? yes / no / only ironically. Unlikely. Lin is not a stickler for grammar. He uses whatever sounds right to his ears.
YOUR MUSE WANTS TO MAKE A COUNTERPOINT. WHAT WORD DO THEY USE? but / though / although / however / perhaps / mayhaps / maybe "But” is his go-to; it’s short, sweet, and simple. “Maybe” is good for those situations when he doesn’t want to come off as confrontational while correcting someone or suggesting something. Lin says everything else just sounds pompous.
HOW DOES YOUR MUSE END CONVERSATIONS? walk away / ask if that’s everything / say that that’s everything / give a proper goodbye / tell their company they’re done here / remain quiet / they don’t. Depends on his company. But for the most part, Lin is relatively polite. Even those people he doesn’t like will get a send-off; a firm, sometimes violent goodbye, depending on his level of dislike and what they’ve done to earn it. In other cases, he enjoys his company so much that he doesn’t want the conversation to end and he’ll look for ways to keep it going.
HOW DOES YOUR MUSE ADDRESS OTHERS? titles / first names / surnames / full names / nicknames / dependent As another way to make himself seem personable, Lin will immediately address people by their first names and invite them to do the same to him; he’ll even go so far as to give you his most common nickname to refer to him. If he feels closer to you, he’ll use a nickname to call you. He doesn’t bother with titles, mostly because he doesn’t think most people stand higher in the world than he does.
WHAT SOCIAL CLASS WOULD OTHERS ASSUME YOUR MUSE BELONGS TO, HEARING THEM SPEAK? upper / middle / lower. He might not employ the same rigid posture, grammar, and diction Dhel does nor does he appear to look down on people, but there’s no mistaking this boy comes from the cream of the crop. Lin is too sure of himself, too much of a social butterfly, too carefully dressed and well-spoken to be anything but.
IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE WAY YOUR MUSE SPEAK STAND OUT TO OTHERS? accent / vocabulary / dialect / tone / level / politeness / brusqueness / it doesn’t. As previously mentioned, his accent is an odd blend. Unlike Dhel, Lin speaks in a way that makes him seem approachable and engaging--which means that his dialect often mirrors whomever he happens to be speaking with at the time. His tone is musical and his words ride the waves; listening to him speak is like listening to a song. Though he’s generally energetic in his conversations, he doesn’t often raise his voice and, inn fact, when he gets angry, his voice grows quiet and cold.
No tag this time. I just wanted to do this for the other two brothers to illustrate their differences in how they approach speaking.
Tagging: @rineah-darkfall @unabashedrebel @auraine-zara @silvertonguedaggermaw @asneakyrogue @ivyprayed @draenei-tales @valishoneybee @ma-at-thought @behindeverymask and anyone else who sees this and wants to do it. If you do, please tag me so I can be sure to read it.
For Munday, anonymously ask the mun something you want to know about them, their portrayal, or what they will/won’t write.
Especially if it’s something you’re too shy or afraid to ask off-anon.
(Admin note: If you reblog this from someone, try to send them something, even if it’s just a basic question. The mun will really appreciate it.)
“Are you a wall, my brother?”
“No. Why?”
“Because you’re already plastered.”
It was time for a change. Presenting: Lin’s new hairstyle. Please forgive my poor sketching.
top 10 favorite songs
In no particular order:
1.) 「月世界」- Buck-Tick 2.) “Icaross” - Pierrot 3.) “Sepia” - Duel Jewel 4.) “Genesis” - 摩天楼オペラ 5.) 「心の行方」- ジャンダルク 6.) “Deep [Acoustic]” - The Underneath 7.) “Fall” - The Underneath 8.) “Tears I Cried” - Siam Shade 9.) “Crusade” - Rentrer en Soi 10.) 「解毒まがいに Suicide」- Rentrer en Soi
月世界 : world of the moon 摩天楼オペラ : skyscraper opera 心の行方 : circumstances of the heart 解毒まがいに suicide : suicide as a means of cleansing oneself
@unabashedrebel - Thank you for the ask.
6. describe your personality in 3 words or less
@dae-shadowvale - Thank you for the ask. I apologize for this fool.
Like a cloud you drift across endless space You’re so far away I can’t touch your face
Can you hear me singing to you tonight? Does my lullaby ever reach you despite
the distance between us? I can’t seem to cross all these oceans of stardust My voice just gets lost I’m drowning in diamonds in over my head in the sound of your silence in the words left unsaid
So I
dread the end of the night ‘cause come dawn I open up my eyes and realize I’m all alone If I hold my pillow tight feels like you’ve come back home but I know this dream is just a lie ‘cause you’ll still be gone
So tell me how to stop time and I’ll keep right on dreaming I don’t wanna wake up I wanna be your Endymion Wanna be your Endymion
I run through my days so impatiently ‘cause I shamelessly wanna fall asleep
And I feel like I’ve been sleepwalking through my whole life to get close to you
They say I take lazy to extremes but their words don’t mean a thing to me
‘cause I’ll brave the distance between us It’ll one day be crossed But on these oceans of stardust I’ve turned and I’ve tossed You’re spanning the heavens always one step ahead and I’m counting each second ‘til I go back to bed
So I
dread the end of the night ‘cause in the light of day I wake up screaming all the words I never got to say If I fall down on my knees and bow my head and pray would you ever quit your shining seas and come back to stay?
So many people crowd around me and in the darkness burns a single light If I follow when she calls out to me what will happen to me tonight? If she fans the flames and she digs my grave do you lay the blame on the master or the slave? (Ah) Please, Emma, don’t leave me yet...
“And so I told her that of course the sun shines through my ears. That’s what makes me so bright! Ha!”
“If the world relied on you for light, we’d all be living in the dark.”
“... Bright as a snuffed candle, maybe.”
Anon love letter: "I see the stalking wolf in a sea of eyes all gawking at me, enraptured. Though I'm desperate to peek beneath her disguise, she never allows herself to be captured. Please, listen a moment at poor Orpheus's feet; come, she-wolf, seat yourself at my feast. And gorge yourself 'til you sleep, on all of my stringy meat. Don't you know music soothes the savage beast?"
The wolf mask bobbed for a moment as she removed bloodied gloves from her hands so that she could pick the letter up between delicate fingers. Looking over the words before a small smile touched to her lips. “This has the touch of a musician. And is certainly something to make you think. I wonder…” Voice trailed off, boots thudding softly as the mask maker moved towards her desk. Pausing with a thoughtful pursing of lips before she carefully tucked it into the locked drawer with a faint flush tinting over her cheeks. “My very first letter like this…I…well. I can’t help but wonder if maybe there may be more later on down the line.” Wistful smile touching upon lips before it was replaced by that placid one as she heard the bell from her door opening and turned to greet her customer.
Her customer grinned at her like a little boy who’d dropped a lizard down the back of his crush’s dress. He towered over her counters, filling the room with his presence, and he had to duck to avoid braining himself on the chime hanging above the door–a door he nudged closed using one enormous, booted foot.
With his thumbs tucked in the belt loops of his slacks, he straightened up and cocked his head, piercing eyes staring at her as if they could see straight through her mask to the face beneath it.
“Only if you take the bait, pup,” he said, his voice quiet. It spread across the room, soft and dark and warm as a black velvet blanket. “Why waste time at the pond when the fish won’t bite?”
Pushing away from the door, he cleared the space between them in three long strides and when he reached her workbench, he leaned forward and down, bringing himself closer to her eye level. Lin rested his elbows atop the counter and propped his chin up with his hands.
“As a matter of fact, I am a musician. And any good entertainer knows how to dress the part… but I’m afraid I may need your help with that, little she-wolf. Are you game?”
@behindeverymask
A slow blink of vibrant green was given, head tipping back just a tad to peer up towards him before a little smile tugged at the corner of her lips only half shadowed by the wolf mask that seemed to ever grace her face. Head cocked to the side as she watched him enter, an unseen brow arching upwards. A quiet murmur of. “Hey there little red riding hood.” Came almost singsong before she smiled.
Removing her coat and setting it carefully upon a nearby table before she turned to face the man fully, hands folding before her body and that serene smile making it’s way back to her lips.
“I suppose the bait has been taken then hasn’t it?” Head cocked, fingers pushing through dark hair as ear tips twitched at the quiet tone of his voice. A soft chuckle slipping from her as she carefully settled herself onto the stool just before her workspace.
She watched him move towards her, hands resting within her lap and fingers laced together. Picture of placidness and serenity. Glowing green caught and held his gaze as he leaned down to be at eye level to herself.
“I figured so. There was a quality about the words. Either poet, musician or both.” She chuckled before tipping her head at him. “What help can I give you then?”
@calaglin-iarian
“That depends.”
Arching both brows so high they touched his hairline, Lin’s mouth curled into the moue of a man who feared the rejection hammer might fall on him, heavy, hard, and fast, driving him so deep into the earth he’d never be able to crawl out of the dirt. The lamplight caught the stone on his lip ring, turning the opal into a star that sparkled brighter than the heavenly river arching across the midnight sky.
But it couldn’t outshine his lime green eyes, glowing like twin neon signs. Burning into her as though he could see each word written in the story of her life, and he memorized every single one. Those eyes narrowed into glittering slits that crinkled at their outer corners, lending him the look of a sly cat who’d figured out how to unlock the canary’s cage.
Unable to keep his pout, the left side of his mouth followed suit, curling up and creating a deep dimple in his cheek.
“How does the lovely little wolf feel about accepting an invitation to discuss business with the big, bad riding hood over a dinner that tastes better than any of your grandmother’s home-cooked meals?”
He cocked his head, cheek resting on his palm and his gaze wandered away from her face. Down her arms. Slid over the counter and inspected her current project with the glint of a wine connoisseur grading a vintage bottle. His fingers drummed the countertop and he shrugged, a small, secretive smile still clinging to his face.
“Songs are nothing more than poems accompanied by music,” he said. “And in the grand scheme of emotional tapestry, one is warp and the other weft. Now.”
Lin straightened up to his full height. The top of his head missed scraping the supporting beam by an inch, but he paid the near concussion little mind. Instead, he slipped his thumb into his belt loop and held out his other hand, offering the broad, calloused palm to her. The shadows slid from his smile like clouds sprinting across the sky, leaving nothing but pure sunshine behind.
“What do you say? I know a great bistro. They say the chef there is to food what a virtuoso is to the violin.”
@behindeverymask
Head cocked just a tad as she listened to him, watching him from under both mask and dark fan of lashes. Vibrant jade never seemed to leave him and that soft, placid smile never leaving her lips. Weight shifting as she perched upon stool, hands folding together before her. She was content for a moment to just inspect him, looking him over from head to toe before chuckling quietly.
The affected pout only caused her to giggle quietly, hand lifting to smother the sound as she offered him an amused grin. Fingers reaching upwards so that she could gather mask and gently pull it away to place it on the counter before her. Fingers combing back through dark locks for a moment as a quiet and thoughtful hum slipped from between her lips.
His offer seemed to surprise the small woman, causing an actual jerk of head that had gaze jerking to his eyes and the tinge of surprise showing through in them before she cleared her throat and let serene smile grace lips once more. “Well…” Voice trailed off for a moment, lower lip worried between teeth as she thought on it.
She couldn’t help the tiny shiver as she felt his gaze traveling along her, script of black ink tattooed across her neck and green ivy flourishing down along her left arm that was bared by short sleeves to make work easier. Fingers gently touching over half finished mask that looked like it was cut to appear like lace. Oh yes, mask maker was a tad nervous and perhaps a little shy now.
“Music is a grand thing. Both comforting and exhilarating at the same time. Why should the words that come with them not be the same?”
Smile danced for a moment before low laughter bubbled from her. Her gaze shifted from his face to his hand, watching for a moment before one of her smaller ones reached out to gently clasp with his. “I suppose I could take you up on this offer.” There was a faint tease to her voice, only added to by the warmth that was finally starting to show in her smile.
@calaglin-iarian
“Then please, by all means, take this poor Jack to the top of the beanstalk, my pretty princess.”
Keep reading
“Pretty…princess?” The mask maker sounded dumbstruck for a moment, a faint pinkening to her cheeks before she cleared her throat softly. Perhaps just a tad nervous now but doing her best not to fully show it.
Keep reading
“All the better to behold beauty, my dear.”
Keep reading
“What a silver tongue you have, Little Red.” She crooned out teasingly, low laughter bubbling from her throat.
Keep reading
Sharper than a spear driven straight through naked flesh, Lin's penetrating stare studied the parts of her face her mask failed to conceal. Lips, chin, nostrils, eyes, he took it all in and his unwavering attention could have fooled onlookers into believing Vela was the only thing that existed in his world. He watched her with hungry eyes that gobbled up her every reaction when his fingers trailed over her skin, their touch light as a waterbug skittering across the surface of a pond. His greedy gaze devoured the vulnerable throat she displayed when her chin lifted in time with the silent command of his fingers.
And though his shrewd eyes missed little, he felt her shiver more than he actually saw it. He felt the way she twitched when his fingertips followed the winding path of her vines and danced along her shoulder. Like a doe finally noticing the hunter's arrow trained on her, Vela stilled and Lin found the urge to release the string creeping up on him sure as the ivy stretching over her skin. Okay, yes, right now she might seem like a wild thing paralyzed by the strange push and pull between predator and prey, but trying to end the chase too soon left flight a very real option that he didn't want to encounter. Not when he needed her and her clever hands, her skill in her craft.
The sound of her lips popping open and the hitch in her breathing immediately drew his eye the same way movement caught the attention of a cat. Lin's gaze dropped to her mouth and he gawked, fascinated when he both heard and saw the breath leave her. She exhaled as though he'd gut-punched her rather than stroking her with hands that treated her like a priceless treasure and he wanted to lean in. Wanted to steal more and more of her breath until he forced her to rely solely upon him for air.
Kissable lips, he mused, eyes narrowing while he considered her. Kissable lips that seemed more than ready for a lover to swoop in and capture them. Did she realize she looked like a fortress with its doors thrown wide to welcome invaders?
Lin gritted his teeth, fighting back the sudden grimace that threatened to curdle his face. It snuck in around the edges and created little cracks in his veneer of civility, turning his grin ten times as wolfish as the mask she wore. In the privacy of his own head, he throttled himself. Scolded himself like a child who'd been caught with chocolate all over his face only minutes before dinner. He came here to conduct important business, he reminded himself, and if Dhel caught him fucking around before he achieved his purpose in tracking the She-Wolf, he knew he'd be subjected to another of his brother's fierce, lengthy lectures.
Business before pleasure, he heard his twin's voice chiding him.
And then Bren's voice joined the chorus with its own cryptic threats that Lin understood much better than he would have ever wanted.
Any mouse who plays while the cats are away will find his tail tied in a goddamn Gordian knot.
He cleared his throat and the sound was a string that yanked his attention upward, away from her tempting lips and directly into a pair of eyes more glazed than a box of doughnuts.
Well. At least he hadn't completely lost his touch. Vela had failed to scream at him when he entered her shop and the lack of excited squealing and desperate shrieking left him wondering if she knew of him at all. Instead of drowning him with the praise he always soaked up like a thirsty flower, she bantered with him in a cool voice that only drove the nails of his suspicions deeper. He doubted she even had any clue that his references to music were anything more than idle flirts to get her attention.
He might never admit it, but the lack of recognition had grated on his nerves. Dhel would have said he should be grateful for small miracles, but Lin wasn't about to thank of the gods he knew for her ignorance. Didn't matter if that ignorance paved the way for a smoother business transaction bereft of a need to wade through the flood of infatuation he typically encountered in fans.
That he'd had some effect on her relieved him, especially when she handed over such visible, audible cues. The knowledge improved his spirits, made his eyes glitter like stardust under the moonlight and when she slapped the ball right back into his side of the verbal court, he couldn't help his amusement. Throaty, rich, and warm as a July night, the laughter bubbled out of him and he shook his head, offering her the sly, hooded gaze of an alligator who had learned to climb the trees where the monkeys lived.
"Is that so?" he purred in a voice like a velvet blanket. Pressing one hand to his chest, he closed his eyes and exhaled one long, slow breath as if her words relieved him. "Then what good fortune that this Woodsman's blood runs bold and hot enough to turn even the frigid moon into a blazing sun, ma belle la loup."
Lin made the endearment sound remarkably like her name. "Ma belle la loup." My Vela-wolf. The underlying current of threat in her response didn't seem to phase him at all; he only carried on, teasing her right back as if he had no doubts that he was the sun instead of a poor Icarus. And as the sun, he should be capable of burning through any traps tossed in his path and that included pulling back the fur to reveal the elves in lupine guises.
Even when those elves snarled and bared their teeth at him. They still found themselves drawn into his stride and once on the road through the city, Lin never changed the pace he set for her. Never deviated from his destination, even when he tilted his head and kept his eyes on her. Loping down the streets with the easy certainty of someone who knew his way forwards, backwards, and sideways while blindfolded, he managed to avoid most of the crowded sections of the city and in those traffic jams where the press of busy bodies tried to separate him from his companion, he inserted himself between Vela and any careless shoppers. He turned himself into the immovable wall that fended them off, killing their momentum before they had a chance to bump into her and send her bouncing away. When they inevitably lifted their heads to see what they'd hit, Lin ignored the gasps his presence and their recognition elicited, choosing to turn on his heel and steer Vela away while using his massive frame to shield her from their view.
Heaven forbid his fans take too much note of her and turn her into their next victim simply because she'd had the (mis)fortune to be the woman on his arm for an hour.
Under his careful guidance, they reached a quiet side street that curved around the west end of the Bazaar. Cozy apartments and small balconies overlooked quaint shops boasting fanciful signs with names such as "The Cobbler's Pie" and "The Widow's Peak"; a quick glance in the windows revealed a pricey boutique full of high-end footwear and outdoor gear for the more wealthy and discerning hobbyist. Lin ushered her along, bypassing an entire market row obviously designed to cater to people with more money than good taste or fiscal sense, and he had to duck to avoid braining himself on no few of the hanging signs. His colouring might label him Sin'dorei, but Silvermoon had certainly not been built for people of his size.
Still, he didn't seem too bothered by his occasional need to crane his neck or bend forward to dip, duck, and dodge; in fact, he moved like a man who had memorized this dance a thousand years ago and performed it every single day of his life since. He led her to a bistro where several patrons enjoyed conversation over expensive food and after-dinner coffee on a patio that teemed with enough flora to keep an army of gardeners busy. The sign hanging above the stained glass entryway read "Moonlight Down Cafe" and at the river stone steps leading up to the door, he finally picked up his pace and outstripped his companion.
Though his arm uncurled and released her, he still didn't free her fully. He caught Vela's elbow in a gentle grasp that couldn't quite disguise the iron strength of his fingers as they circled around her bicep. His palm slid down the underside of her forearm, callouses rough as they glided across her skin. Once he reached her hand, he captured it, lifted it as though he meant to kiss her knuckles or toast her... but he did neither. Instead, he turned and pressed his shoulder into the cafe door, ducking down and putting himself closed to her eye level while he backed into the restaurant and the merry tinkling of a bell above the door announced their arrival.
"Stories lie," Lin murmured as he stood back to allow her to enter the cafe ahead of him. His breath brushed over her knuckles, hot enough to melt Winterspring permafrost and his electric green gaze pierced the shadows the door frame threw across his face. Those eyes burned, flickering like the flames of a starving wildfire. His hand was warm around hers, warmer than the lava inside Blackrock Mountain, but it was a dry heat. Rather than closing that last inch and pressing his lips to the back of her hand, he only gave her fingers a single squeeze. Did he mean to reassure her or threaten her with the gesture? "The firstborn son is not always the lazy son who misses out on the adventure and the prize, Princess."
The sound of cheerful voices broke the spell. Lin turned away from Vela, flinging his free arm out wide and beaming at the cafe's staff as they greeted him by shrieking his name.
"Lin's here!"
"Lin is back!"
"Look, it's Lin!"
"Lin, we missed you!"
Their cries echoed around the dining room and Lin accepted their words with a smile so bright it outshone the chandelier hanging above the foyer. He waved at all these people who seemed to know him even as the hostess led them away from the main floor and off to a table in a darkened corner, removed from the view of the other patrons and waitstaff. With the effortless grace of a prince born and bred, Lin pulled Vela's chair out for her and he waited for her to seat herself before he slid her in and claimed his own spot across the other side of the table.
Either he had visited this cafe enough to have memorized their offerings or he was cocky enough that he felt they'd make allowances for him and whatever he decided to order, because he didn't bother glancing at the menu in front of him. The reaction of the servers didn't offer any clues to solving the mystery, either, and seated in this private corner, Lin paid their admiration little mind; intense and measuring, his gaze remained locked on his companion. A playful light still danced inside them, but that light had been overshadowed by a steely, calculating glint that said he'd laid his trap and she had wandered straight into it. Now that she had accompanied him to his destination, the trap had been sprung, the wild thing caught, and it was time to get down to the proper business of weighing, gutting, and skinning.
"What foods do you prefer."
It wasn't a question. Not at all. His voice hadn't lost its musical lilt, but the melody had gained a thrumming bass that commanded an answer. Lin never tore his eyes from her, even as his hands busied themselves with the satchel he'd settled on his lap when he sat down and he produced a sketchbook from the bag's confines. This, he plopped down on the table between them. One large palm remained flat on the cover, preventing her from opening it while he slid the book across the table to rest in front of her.
@behindeverymask - I apologize for the late reply. Thank you for your patience and I really appreciate your writing with me!
Brotherly love. Red - Lin. Purple - Dhel. Blue - Bren.
![Endymion [Vocaloid Melody Test]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/939de12357f738a1feaed01dd3cc7f3a/50b6463c1aace249-97/s512x512u_c1/4aa74a13d1ec81a6168cf5ac397203f2569a02a6.jpg)
