divinity ( нιαтυѕ )

rhaxis; archon of kings

[divinebeast-blog]

✘ from Hiskoris

✘ = hugging them

Rhaxis heard him coming, but he pretended like he didn't. The footsteps were much heavier than most of the other Kings, a noticeable and familiar sound as the Kell entered the room, however much Hiskoris tried to be quiet as he did so.

He didn’t stop what he was doing right away, his hands working skillfully as they organized the vials of ether he had gained. Tomorrow, the majority of it would have to go out into the House, separated between their members to keep them alive and well. Their Prime could be considered generous, and between its blessings and the ether provided by the smaller servitors, the House of Kings had a steady supply of the precious ether they needed.

The steps grew barely louder, until Rhaxis could feel the Kell’s looming presence right behind him. He pulled his head up and his hands back from his task just in time to feel the arms wrap around him from behind, both Hiskoris’ primaries and secondaries, coming to hold him tightly.

Even now, years and years after they’d become mates, Rhaxis could feel the warmth in his cheeks from the touch.

“What can I do for you, my Kell?” His words come quietly, though he feels like he already knows the answer. It was already late, many already tucked away in their rooms for the night. The reasons that Hiskoris would come see him at this hour were few.

The Archon felt a chin rest on the top of his head, before he heard the low voice tease.

“Stay with me tonight.” To the point, and yet, still enough to cause an embarrassing shiver to pass through Rhaxis’ body.

He tried to compose himself, though he wouldn’t doubt that his kell took note of the shiver either way. Rhaxis moved his hands forward, closing the containers that held the supplies of ether, pulling hands back once everything was secured.

He shifted under Hiskoris’ touch, turning his body around. The grip on him loosened but didn’t disappear completely, hands resting on his side and his hips as he looked up at the older eliksni, a gentle purr rolling from his throat.

“As you wish.”

[sovereignsubordinate-blog]

Khasiskar steps aside, letting Rhaxis exit the room. He is quick to follow the much taller Eliksni, having to take many hurried steps just to keep up with him. He’s relieved that Rhaxis already knows the reason for his visit, hating to even acknowledge the fact that part of him was .. not working the way it should.

“I’m sorry to bother you so early.” He says to the Archon, thankful that he has someone he can rely on in this situation. “There isn’t anywhere else I could go. The medics, they… they aren’t any help anymore.” The only suggestion medics give him now is to re-dock his arms. Let them grow back again and see if that fixes the problem. But that is not something Khasiskar considers a solution. His first docking had been quite enough. “I won’t stay long, I don’t want to hold you up from your duties.”

[divinebeast-blog]

When he was given the space to do so, Rhaxis quickly exited his room to join the smaller eliksni. As they began to make their way down the hall towards where the Prime was kept, Rhaxis walked with a poised and calm manner, despite the fact it was so early. A calmness that some might even find eerie about him.

His eyes shifted down to Khasiskar as he speaks, apologizing, pushing to make it known that he felt bad for being there. "Shhhh." Rhaxis was gentle with his tone, though, not intending it to be harsh. "Don't worry, Khasiskar. Helping my house is one of my duties. Your presence isn't a bother."

He knew that the scribe would not be there if he didn't feel it necessary. Rhaxis was aware of the situation with his arms to a detailed point, and could only imagine what a struggle that had to be for someone who's daily tasks involved use of his hands. Khasiskar was brave.

It was barely any time at all before they came to the room. The Archon Priest moved forward, placing his hands on the large and heavy doors and pushing them open to reveal the large room before them.

The Prime was already alert, it's gaze towards the door, as if it had sensed their arrival.

[sovereignsubordinate-blog]

It is an early morning trip he hadn’t expected to take. Khasiskar knows the Archon will be awake. In fact, he can’t remember a time he’s ever seen Rhaxis sleeping. He’s sure he does, it’s just odd.

He hurries down the halls, secondaries wrapped tightly around his waist. They hurt, they twitch, they’ve woken him up from (what he would consider) a decent night’s sleep, but he can’t take the pain anymore. The medics have all looked at him and there’s nothing more they can do. Visiting Rhaxis is always his last resort.

As he approaches the Archon’s room, he knocks quietly, waiting a couple seconds before entering. They are close, he knows he won’t mind.

[divinebeast-blog]

Rhaxis was awake, as of a few hours ago, though he still lingered in his room now. He sat on his bed, eyes closed and his legs crossed. Meditating, almost, clearing his mind and calming himself for the day to come as he let his chest rise and fall with gentle breaths.

Then, the knocking game. Rhaxis wasn't surprised when he heard it, and though it snapped him out of his moment, he wasn't all that startled. Almost every day members of Kings would come to him, seek his help or guidance for matters that involved their Prime. He assumed this was no different.

He shifted to a standing position, crossing the room and opening the door. He was almost fully armored besides the lack of a helmet, a piece he hadn't yet put on for the day. His eyes cast down, then, catching the sight of the small Khasiskar.

It wasn't the first time that the scribe had come to him, and Rhaxis assumed it wouldn't be the last, either. He could see the secondary arms pressed against the smaller eliksni's side, nodding at him like he understood without the words needing to be spoken.

"Come." He said, motioning a hand for Khasiskar to step back and allow him to exit the room. The place where the Prime was kept was a very short walk down the hall. Rhaxis liked to be near it as he slept.

[filthycraftything]

Mahrvis blinks once, staring at Rhaxis before glancing away, clearly thrown off guard by his response. 

   “I… Well.. I s-suppose.” It’s strange hearing that. He rubs the back of his neck. “It was the other way around with the Devils.” That’s just how it was. You weren’t treated with kindness until you proved yourself useful, and you weren’t treated like you were worth something until you proved you weren’t worthless. 

The medic flinches away suddenly when a hand approaches his face, two of his own lifting to shield himself– but to no avail, as a finger presses to his chin first and tilts his head upwards. Too used to (trying to) defending himself, it seems. 

   “But, I’m not–” Mahrvis shrinks backwards slightly, hands folding together as he looks away; his head would duck down if it wasn’t held up. “I’m not important like you are..”

[divinebeast-blog]

Rhaxis touched Mahrvis only barely before the smaller eliksni flinched away completely, and he allowed it to happen. The Archon was not a creature of force, like some, pulling his hand back to drop at his own side.

He made a small growling sound in the back of his throat -- not threatening, but a small sign of his disapproval of what Mahrvis had said to him. This small eliksni was so set in his thoughts of himself, how he was unworthy of kindness, unworthy to even take care of himself properly.

"You are tasked with saving lives, now. I'd say that is one of the more important jobs." He murmured passively, then. Perhaps in the hierarchy, Mahrvis was technically below Rhaxis. However, how was a medic supposed to do his job if he was exhausted, either?

The Archon almost felt like all of his words would fall on deaf ears anyway. He had gotten the impression that he life Mahrvis lived before Kings was bad, though he didn't know the details. Whatever had happened to him, though, had conditioned the small eliksni to hate himself...

"Either way, you need to rest." He spoke, searching his mind for something that could motivate behind his statement. Suddenly, he had a small idea, a glint in his tired eyes as Rhaxis added. "You wouldn't want to disappoint our Kell, would you?"

[theynameusfallen-a]

Things are beginning to look up now.

[filthycraftything]

   “I do…” The words are a quiet mutter, not anything really meant for the Archon to hear him. He feels ashamed of it, that he was ever part of them– he felt so out of place. Maybe he’ll forget it all in time, if the trauma of what happened to him in it isn’t so stubborn.

Still. It doesn’t matter, now. Hopefully, in spite of his own paranoia, he won’t have to run into them again. He can forget about them, for the most part.        Just thinking about that cheers him up. 

   “Really?” Mahrvis asks, looking up with a smile squinting his eyes. “Well… It makes me feel better to know at least somebody was almost as small as I was.” Almost. He nearly laughs.

He sighs again, shoulders slumping as he leans forward, nearly pressing his forehead to the Archon’s shoulder. Nearly, but he draws back first. Just barely. He looks down at his hands, flexing the fingers on one of them. Yes, he found his calling– after they docked him of three arms. He’s already numb in his secondaries.

Part of him wants to protest again, but he doesn’t. He’ll just try to accept the.. compliments. Or whatever they are– the not-insults.

   “Thank you.” Mahrvis reaches up, rubbing a hand across one set of eyes. He didn’t realize how tired he was… “Even if I still don’t understand why so many of you are so nice to me…”

[divinebeast-blog]

His eyes still followed the medic as he moved a bit, leaning forward and then back again. He was such a curious little eliksni, Mahrvis. He acted almost as if he was scared everything would go to hell at any moment, or at least, that's how Rhaxis interpretted it.

"You haven't earned any unkindness, as far as I'm concerned." He replied to his first comment. The Archon didn't miss the motion that Mahrvis made, rubbing at his face. Rhaxis moved slowly, bringing his hand closer to the smaller eliksni's face. His entire palm was just about as big as the medic's head.

Taking one finger, gently, he touched the bottom of Mahrvis' chin and pushed his head up a little, a small glint in his eye as he spoke. "You've been worrying and scolding me." He said. "But it seems like you could use some rest as well."

[theynameusfallen-a]

jusT a quick sketch for the funsies

[theynameusfallen-a]

The words spoken by the Archon made him giddy. They were ones he enjoyed hearing, no matter how many times they were said and would be said. It made him further acknowledge his own authority. Fortunately, he did not think of it as Rhaxis sucking up.

But Hiskoris says nothing about it and merely begins leading Rhaxis off, a smirk plastered on his face. There was a certain sense of satisfaction in knowing that he was about to surprise his Archon with where they were going. Ready to see him clam up.

And he did, the Kell noticed this as he stood in place and turned to look at Rhaxis, taking note of the rigidness in his form. He didn’t move to explore. All of that was clearly being done with his eyes. Hiskoris takes a step closer again after dropping his cloak and scarf on the bed, a purr breaking the silence as he takes Rhaxis’ wrist to gently pull him closer to the center of the room.

     “Come now, don’t be so shy.” He teases as he pulls him away, soon stopping in his tracks when he is satisfied. But he doesn’t move his hand away. “The room won’t eat you.” He lets his hand drop then, his secondaries moving to rest on his own hips as he starts to undo a strap on his arm so that he may remove the plates.

     “… Neither will I.” There could be a dirty joke in there somewhere, but Hiskoris refrains. “Has the Prime been treating you well? I imagine you must be so tired.”

[divinebeast-blog]

It seemed almost like the longest few seconds of his life as Rhaxis stood there, terrified. His eyes looked off to the side for a short moment, and when he looked back towards the Kell, the larger eliksni was approaching him again, slightly less dressed than he had been a few seconds before.

A small sound, almost like a gasp, came from under the Archon's mask as he felt himself being grabbed and gently led forward. But of course, he obeyed, his eyes now locked on Hiskoris as he was led further into the room.

"Yes, sir," He almost stutters again, murmuring the words quietly. When Hiskoris moved away again, he was fully aware of the movements of the other form in front of him. Fully aware that his Kell was undressing from his armor in front of him.

On one hand, he was honored that his Kell trusted him as much as this. On the other hand, he accidentally stared for a little too long, missing the words that were said to him at first. His mind seemed to catch up seconds later, and he had to forcefully had to tear his eyes away.

Under his mask, Rhaxis felt his skin growing hot. He hoped that Hiskoris hadn’t noticed his gawking.

"Not any more than usual." His answer both says 'yes' and 'no' at the same time. He was tired, it was almost always painted into his features. But it wasn't any different from normal.

"The Prime has behaved well, lately. I've been doing everything I can to keep it..." His eyes finally flicked back to Hiskoris then, without really thinking about it. "... Satisfied."

[filthycraftything]

To call Mahrvis naive, even still, wouldn’t be inaccurate. He never had many friends if any at all– Devils didn’t take kindly to soft hearts. At least, not if you were too soft to kill anything.

He shivers a little, still. Perhaps it’s better to be fearful of something so… important. Not that it’s hard to get Mahrvis to be fearful at all. It’s just something that won’t go away.

   “I doubt I would do much for it, though,” he jokes weakly despite such, gesturing to his entire self with one smaller, secondary hand, “I’m not even six foot.” 

And even with the new ether he’s been supplied, it doesn’t seem as if he’ll grow any more than this. Probably been stunted on too little for too long. Not that he particularly cares, at this point. He’s long since given up growing any bigger than a vandal– or a dreg.

Mahrvis settles down, crossing his legs and watching Rhaxis as he turns to him.

  “I keep having to remind myself that I am not useless anymore, so I am not asking why I’m still here,” he admits suddenly, one dominant hand picking at his gloves on another. “I was.. In all honesty, I was probably the worst Devil. The worst vandal. I thought if I asked to change my rank, they’d probably just rip my head off.” He pauses thoughtfully, laughing under his breath, though it’s forced and bitter. “They probably would have. I doubt anybody even knows I’m gone, let alone notices.” 

Well. Maybe some people notice, but not for the reasons he’d like.

[divinebeast-blog]

The Archon was tired, but he listened to the words that the small eliksni spoke to him.  Just laying down, resting, made him already start to feel a bit better. Though he also knew it would be a few long days before he felt completely to his usual self, again. He would have to make due and continue working in the meantime. There was no way that he could neglect his duties for as long as he probably needed.

"I don't think that it's a terrible thing that you were a bad Devil." Rhaxis said, chuckling slightly in his throat. He hated Devils -- they were dirty scoundrels, as far as the Kings' Archon was concerned. He didn't leave the watch much himself, but when they dragged the occasional captured Devil to give to the prime... they always looked much, much more disgusting than the usual King.

Or maybe Rhaxis was just biased.

"I was almost as small as you, when I was young." The Archon told him. "I wasn't able to fight well, though I tried."

Of course, even now, he still had training. The Archon was supposed to fight for the house, too, if it came down to it. But it was very rarely that it did come down to it.

"My calling came elsewhere. As yours has." Rhaxis blinked slowly as he spoke. "It just took you longer to find it."

He usually wasn’t so openly nice. But he was tired, plus, the Archon somehow had found a soft spot for such a precious, tiny eliksni before him.

[filthycraftything]

He shifted a little, getting down on his knees as the Archon lays, scooting close to him. He remembers Sepiks Prime, even if he never saw it himself. All the bodies fed to it. Barely alive ones. He remembers one of the vandals of his first squad telling the rest of them, while they were dregs, that if they were ever bad they’d feed them to it.

Mahrvis’ face scrunches up behind his mask at the thought. 

  “Do you feed prisoners to it?” He asks suddenly, curiosity piqued. “How do you feed it? Do you kidnap people for it? Or take people from their beds at night? Or–” 

He pauses for a moment, before coughing bashfully and looking off to the side.

   “I heard a lot of stories about Primes. When I was a dreg.”

With no more comments on that, he resumes sitting in silence next to the now resting Archon, moving off to the side and getting one of the only blankets in the room, attempting to nudge it under his head as a makeshift pillow. He gave Rhaxis a look, blinking once before staring back down at his hands with a small smile.

     “Yes.”

[divinebeast-blog]

A question flowed from the medic's mouth, and then another, and then another. Rhaxis couldn't help but find it funny, in a way. He knew that young dregs told stories of how scary Primes were. Even the archon remembered the first time that he had seen the mighty machine God, a trembling dreg servant under the previous priest's reign.

Even still, he feared the Prime a bit. It was hard not to. The Kings' Prime was an old machine, protected like the rest of their House from harm for years upon years. It was intelligent, and sometimes demanding. If Rhaxis ever angered it badly enough, he knew it could end his life with ease.

"If the Kell does not execute prisoners himself, then yes, sometimes they are brought as offerings to it." He answered, a huff of breath coming from him. Perhaps it was his species' nature, but Rhaxis enjoyed those moments more than he probably should. "Same with traitors, those who turn against their own House. But no -- innocents are never sacrificed to the Prime."

He shifts, turning onto his side to face the small medic and opening his eyes to look at him. "You could have easily been fed to it, probably, if Hiskoris had not taken mercy on you." Rhaxis' voice added, serious sounding, but quietly joking.

[filthycraftything]

The prospect is… ..Frightening, to him. It’s been some time since anything has been truly frightening to him. He’s never actually seen a Prime before. Not even Sepiks. 

Mahrvis stands up regardless, circling around Rhaxis once before huffing, gently trailing his fingers down the side of his face before he hums, giving him the smallest of pushes to ease him to lay down. He looks as if he’s going to fall over.

   “Thats so–” That’s so scary, he nearly says out of pure reflex just from how terrible that sounds. It makes him glad he’s not an Archon– not that he’d ever be. “Just.. partially? I don’t understand how that works.”

He gives him another push.

   “You need to rest.” A pause. “And maybe stop doing that, but I suppose it isn’t an option..”

[divinebeast-blog]

He felt the gently nudges, obeying the motions and moving to lay his body down so that the much-smaller medic could actually attend to him. Rhaxis' tired eyes looked at Mahrvis, thinking quietly to himself how much the small medic had changed since the moment he'd been given a chance in Kings. Rhaxis distinctly remembered the first time he'd ever seen the tiny eliksni, how he'd looked like he was so terrified he could pass out at any moment.

It was a nice change.

"My relationship with our Prime goes both ways. If we expect it to give, I must allow him to take." He tried to explain further, but his mind was getting cloudy and his eyes closed again to converse the energy he did have left.

Quietly, Rhaxis laughed just a little. Others didn't ever quite understand what it was like. Though draining, there was something amazingly powerful about allowing the Prime to feed off his energy, knowing that in return, the machine would take care of his House.

"... Will you feel better if I say I'll be more careful?"

[theynameusfallen-a]

Hiskoris almost doesn’t notice the shiver, but he feels the slight tremor due to his hands on Rhaxis’ shoulders and already he feels a sense of satisfaction. He slides his hands downward, resting them upon his biceps instead as he listens to his Archon speak, purring a little louder.

The way he stutters around him — even if only slightly — is already one of his favorite things.

    “Such a good, hard worker, then. I admire your efficiency.” Hiskoris goes quiet, letting Rhaxis resume and becoming a bit more amused by the deep breath that he had taken in prior to asking his question. A question which he first responds to with a thoughtful rumble, giving the arms of his Archon a gentle squeeze.

    “Nothing in particular. I saw you out here and decided to talk.      If you’re willing to stay awake with me to do so…”

If Rhaxis agreed to it, then Hiskoris would bring him to his room. Not for anything more than talking, for certain, but he is a bit eager to see just how Rhaxis will react to this, wanting to rile him up as much as he could.

          Nothing wrong with a bit of fun conversation before retiring for the night.

[divinebeast-blog]

Rhaxis was hyper aware of every touch as the hands slid further down his arms. He wasn't used to being touched, and though he nearly trembled slightly from it, he would be lying if he said that he didn't find some sort of... satisfaction, from the hands touching him, if not just barely.

He found a purr in his throat at the compliment, tiny and quiet. He always took his position very seriously -- he had to, to prove those who hadn't believed in him wrong.

"Of course, sir." He answered, though he wasn't sure what someone like Hiskoris could possibly want to speak to him about. "There is always time for my Kell."

As the words left his mouth, he quickly wondered if that was too much. Was he sucking up? His mind reeled, continuing to do so even after Hiskoris pulled away and began to lead him somewhere. He didn't think much of it at first, until the winding halls of their lair began to lead towards a certain place.

The Kell's own room.

The Archon's heart was beating heavy in his chest when they arrived, stepping into the quarters behind Hiskoris. Every part of his mind screamed that he shouldn't be in there, that he wasn't worthy despite being of such high rank himself. His body was visibly rigid as his eyes darted around the room, standing awkwardly in place as if he was waiting for a further invitation.

[theynameusfallen-a]

    “There you are.”

Three words spoken gently as Hiskoris steps up behind Rhaxis, primary hands resting upon the Archon’s shoulders. A purr begins to rise while a smile creeps up his face, visible through only a glance back as he has already removed his helmet for the night.

   He figured that now was the perfect time to prod at how Rhaxis had the tendency to turn shy in his presence, and thus he sought to amuse himself with this endearing behavior. He hoped for that satisfaction.

   “It is so late, should you not be seeking some rest?”

[divinebeast-blog]

As soon as he heard the voice, the Archon found himself freezing in his tracks. He was about to turn, but he was stopped when he felt the figure looming behind him, hands touching his shoulders. A slight shiver ran through Rhaxis' entire form as the Kell touched him.

His mind drew a complete blank, though he struggled to search for words. It was hard, entirely aware of the eliksni that stood right behind him. But after a few seconds, he mattered to find slightly stuttering words.

"I-I was just making sure that everything was in order before turning in for the night." He said, mentally cursing himself for stuttering slightly. He took a deep breath and then spoke again, this time managing to be a little less obviously awkward. "Is there something you needed from me tonight, my Kell?"

He felt awfully hot, and was thankful that he didn't have to look Hiskoris in the eyes in that moment.

[filthycraftything]

   “This is the fourth time,” he says, and for the first time, Mahrvis actually sounds slightly bitter. 

He shuffles just slightly out of the way to make room for the Archon, watching him uneasily as he settles down. His neck already hurts just straining it to look upwards, so he stops bothering until he’s seated.

    “–I don’t understand how you can keep doing that…”

[divinebeast-blog]

Rhaxis waved his hand weakly, brushing off the scolding that he was hearing. He'd heard it all before, if not from Mahrvis, than from the other medics. This had happened more than four times, though only four since the small eliksni had joined then.

He sat down, closing his eyes for a small moment in the company of someone familiar. He inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly, feeling like he was about to pass out.

"Our Prime gets testy, sometimes." The Archon murmured, opening his eyes back up and looking down at the small medic with exhaustion on his face. "I must offer myself to it at times, to prove my loyalty, or it may not cooperate."