起死回生

Ought I be the one?

[dueth]

#DUETH. Eir of Fire Emblem Heroes, Ashen Wolves student at The Officer’s Academy.

NAVIGATION. stats ✧ thread tracker

About under the cut:

MUSE.

I’ve done a character reset, which means Eir’s on a blank slate. She doesn’t recall anything about her previous run in TOA (because neither do I LOL). I write her as inherently not sharing a world with other Zenith muses, so if your muse knew her from back then, you can simply treat her as an Eir from another Zenith. Eir’s taken after the Life & Death TT+, in which she debuts her ascendant alt, with consideration of her appearances in following events. In the process of catching up with FEH, but it might take a bit.

She’s the princess (and acting sovereign) of life and death. While this sounds like a lofty title, I assure you Eir doesn’t know what the hell (heh) she’s supposed to be doing either. Additionally, while she doesn’t try to particularly hide this fact, she is trying to keep a low profile in Fódlan. Your muse likely won’t know this unless she tells them.

On that note… Eir is a magical girl (no, really: she turns on her ascendant Ymir form like a switch), nature/(non-human) life around her favours her because Ymir is in all living things, she can sense souls in other people, she can house souls within herself, and a bunch of other stuff owing to her being princess of life and death. This is all kind of insane to be able to do, so if you want to establish any boundaries on that front, just let me know!

MUN.

Hello! I’m Rei, 20, they/them, GMT+9. You can reach me through tumblr IMs. I typically wake up at 4am and sleep at 9pm like a GRANDPA but contact me whenever and I’ll get back to you as soon as I check in.

I’m down for whatever usually just be kind and clear to me and I’ll return the energy. And please poke me over anything I don’t take Nuts personally lol. Happy to accommodate always.

My favourite thing is to see Eir smile… as well as showcase a healthy variety of interesting emotions :) Having a good time takes precedence over all else in my writing, and I hope you feel the same way when we write together. I’m very rusty; I haven’t written in English for a very long time, so I’d appreciate your patience! Let’s get along well o7

credits: mik <3 (graphics, icon, & psd), paletterph (icon border & divider), contra_entry (header, commissioned)

[egittae]

who up pondering they orb | lambert & eir

closed starter for @dueth | any skill +1

[egittae]

His smile didn’t waver, nodding along her words with a pleased hum. “It is good to meet you, Eir. I am a man who prefers exploring unique approaches, so let this be our first lesson. Or something like that.” A ‘kind of’ justification for their bizarre meeting, but it wasn’t that ridiculous considering the circumstances. One way or another he’d come out of his with better knowledge about Eir, and for the girl…perhaps she’d leave knowing more about herself as well. Lambert didn’t consider the possibility of her learning more than what he perceived as essential about his identity.

“Indeed, let us not waste time. I believe the room may be empty at this time of the day…but let us be careful nonetheless.” The massive doors gave in surprisingly easily- and quietly. Whatever expectation of a long and piercing creak completely faded in the Abyss’ stale air as the way towards emptiness containing the orb was completely silent- so much so that Lambert couldn’t help but pause for a moment and wonder. 

At least in Palace Fhirdiad, some doors were fitted with hidden Silence sigils. Doors that usually led to areas meant to not be accessed. If there are any traps in there, they’d find out soon enough.

Step after step, the blond made his way into the room before waving for Eir to come along. The chamber was dark enough for him to be unable to tell exactly where each wall was, air chilling and humid, but it didn’t smell stale- incense, rather. Distant, as if he had been lit a couple of days before and left to linger. “Good day, is anyone here…?” Seemed unlikely, but it didn’t hurt to ask. The last thing he wanted was for them to be mistaken by thieves or troublemakers for coming in without announcing their presence, as if hiding something.

But alas, the orb. Sitting on a marble pillar at the far end of the room, barely visible as it sat cloaked in darkness. It was…

“...I did not expect it to be the size of an apple, if I am to be honest. Then again, I am not sure what I expected to begin with.” Small. Within it was a faint multicolored glow, flowing within like a hazy marble. Even with his abysmal aptitude for magic, Lambert could sense a shift of energy surrounding it- as if he had stepped onto an active sigil about to be casted. Looking around however, he saw nothing of the sort. “I do not see anything that could be configured as a trap nearby, but even so I would say it is best to remain alert.” Sparing the odd orb one last glance, he turned to Eir.

“There it is, at last. Would you like to go first?”

@dueth

[dueth]

Lambert is genial; all smiles and sincerity. His presence is puzzling, if not all-together unsettling. She watches with earned curiosity as he demonstrates his admittedly blasé approach to teaching— and follows along.

What catches her attention first is the smell. Mellow, muted, but overwhelming nonetheless— the princess instinctively takes a step back. The doors are wide open; Eir peers inside. The hall is bigger than she expects. Darkness obscures its corners, the walls seeming to stretch out wider than they should. The professor walks in first, his steps slow and sure. Eir hesitates to take after him. When he calls out, only silence answers.

With one final glance towards the doors, Eir enters, taking careful strides to Lambert’s side.

The glow of the orb insists upon no falsehoods: what she sees now is unmistakable. Magic thrums with a low buzz as reality itself seemed to warp and bend within, fragile and incorporeal. Eir has seen the summoner wield it— has witnessed them summon heroes, gods, and legends. It was a force without any obvious rhyme nor reason, an unknown variable they exploited if only simply because they could. Because it was a tool, a means available to them. Eir had never questioned it. Perhaps she should.

She is slow to react to Lambert’s words, and raises her head belatedly. The ends of her ears are warm as she nods. When Lambert offers her to go first, she can only blink. “I… all right. Thank you, professor.”

Her heart thunders in her ears as she steps forward. What would she see? Does she want to know? Her memories had always frightened her, then. They had pried at a past she could not recollect, could not seem to even believe— a dream-like scene she could not distinguish from illusion. And was that all it had been? Mere pantomime? Eir had wanted the truth so terribly; had ached for it, yearned with the all the desperation of a girl so close to death. Her memory had felt like a wound without an opening. The grassy plains, blue skies, and white wings overhead—

Tell Hel. She’ll erase those memories. She’ll erase them all…

Her fingertips skirt the surface of the orb. It’s warm, almost like an embrace. It’s warm, almost like blood.

There’s a ringing in her ears.

“Ymir! Do it again, please?” Eir doesn’t recognise this voice. She doesn’t recognise it. No, she’s sure… “Just one more time? I won’t tell Mother.”

‘Mother’?

“Hee hee! Oh, it’s wonderful. Look at all the colours! Surely everyone won’t mind if spring is a little early this year too, would they?”

She cannot explain the way her terror spears through her. It paralyses her, rooting her to the ground. Eir tries to open her mouth. No words escape her— or perhaps, she’s...

“Oh, all right… I’ll wait.”

There’s a girl, standing in an open field. She has white hair, blue eyes, and a face just like hers. She looks at Eir. She smiles.

Eir’s eyes snap open. Her mouth is dry; her chest heaves lightly. In her ears, only the loud drum of her heartbeat resounds. She swallows, hard. “I’m sorry, I…” Eir glances towards Lambert, then shakes her head. Words fail her when she needs them most.

[dueth]

SHADOW SHADOW.

HERALD.

[hresvelged]

"I am Edelgard von Hresvelg. Just Edelgard is plenty acceptable," she says as readily as the way her lilac eyes fix on oranges scattered from the distant horizon. She takes the solitary movement ahead by Eir as a cue that, perhaps, they should move elsewhere. She agrees. As much as she resents this decision, she does want to get to to know her.

The princess mimics the stride— Single, precise, to remove the small strain that had been created between their pacing.

Naturally, it leaves the matter of where to go. With this declaration being given by the church, it leads her to believe that they will be watching (as they always do; as they will continue to do). Why else would they cast this?

"Are you affiliated with one of the other houses?" She knows every face within the Black Eagles well enough to recognize that Eir is not one of them. "I lead the Black Eagles. Fortunately, this time of day lends to emptier classrooms and people lingering about." With the moon creeping towards its fullness, she rolls her shoulders back and keeps her head lifted.

Another small step, bringing her hand to reach the door's handle.

".. Our best options are either heading there momentarily or going somewhere else. If you have another suggestion, I will gladly follow." She has no choice, either way. Oh, how she loathes the feeling it sours in her heart. Still, she will do what the church will not want the most— Become the one on top; become companions with the person who is meant to teach her.

[dueth]

Just Edelgard, then. She nods. Eir is thankful for Edelgard’s efficiency, finding her steps evenly matched. Perhaps there was good to be made out of the situation yet.

“I am a student of the Ashen Wolves,” she answers, albeit not without hesitation. As much as they roamed about just as freely as other students, there still remained a courteous veil of discretion over the house. It is in Eir’s best interest to avoid inviting more inquisitive questions, though she has the feeling Edelgard will ask more. Her eyes are piercing— Eir looks away.

Her gaze drops to Edelgard’s hand on the handle. Situated atop a mountain, Garreg Mach was no stranger to its fair share of cold; convenient as it might be, Eir is ultimately not too keen on the idea of relocating to the classrooms. The matter of sleeping arrangements and the like aside, winter’s bite would be difficult to keep out of a place so otherwise empty. Still, she nods. “I’ll follow your lead.”

The hallways are empty when they step out, illuminated by the faint flames of torches by the wall. Shadows cloak them as they weave through the monastery, taking care to avoid anyone else lurking about— for the sake of saving themselves the embarrassment, if nothing else. But there are a strange number of monastery staff roaming about; grave-looking priests with hawk-like eyes. Green to the academy as she might be, even Eir recognises it as abnormal.

They stay out of sight. Still, Eir cannot help but glance towards Edelgard and wonder if it has to do with her.

At last, they arrive at the classrooms— only to find more staff moving in and out. In the low light, Eir can haphazardly make them out; she watches as they scan through shelves, flipping through books and checking under desks. Her hand squeezes Edelgard’s lightly in warning.

Eir turns around, waiting for Edelgard to follow. She gestures in the direction of the dormitories. “If you want to avoid others’ eyes,” —she avoids saying the church’s— “the Abyss would be a good refuge.”

[falchionchosen]

at least we're in this together

herald mission board. ━━ heavy armor+ lucina & eir.

[falchionchosen]

There's a slight raise of her brows in surprise, her answer quite unexpected. Eir has an air of grace and regality over her ━ something Lucina doubts she herself has. If anything, Eir would belong more at such an event than she herself would.

" I highly doubt it ", she reassures her companion. 'You seem like you belong in such an environment' she wants to say, but opts out of it. " Between the two of us, I think I'd stand out more than you do ", Lucina conveys. She simply doesn't see herself in a dress, dancing and mingling with others in a ball-esque manner: she is way more at home with a sword in hand, upon training grounds, sparring with anyone. Though.. she wouldn't lie and say she hasn't daydreamt about attending one.

Side-stepping a puddle of liquid and broken glass around it, she glances over at the mess in the entire hall: countless of ( half empty ) glasses upon the long tables, plates with food rests on and around them, tissues everywhere, spilled liquids. Whatever went on during the ball.. Lucina doubts she wishes to know.

" Perhaps, I'm not certain.. ", Lucina answers honestly. " I never really went to one. There was no reason to throw a Ball━ or any other kind of celebration━ where I come from. " Maybe there was, right after the Plegia-Ylisse War, either before she was born or when she was but a mere babe. However with the Valmese Invasion soon after, there was no reason to host or attend any Balls. Though, mayhaps now, things might have and are changed. It's something she likes to believe in. " I think I'd like to attend one, someday. "

Lucina leaves but for a moment and places down her bucket atop the table when she returns, now filled to the brim with water and soap. Placing a couple of rags beside it, she glances over at Eir. " What about you? Previous comment aside. " Stacking all the plates that were spread over the table, she carries them towards a cart in the middle of the Hall before depositing them: repeating the process with the glasses and cutlery.

[dueth]

Lucina’s kindness is not something Eir takes lightly, though the urge to rebuff it crawls up her throat. Raising her head, she opens her mouth to speak— but thinks better of it. “That might not be such a bad thing,” she replies, instead. Eir means it: as much as Lucina might stick out, her good-naturedness was certain to attract the right crowd. Her brilliance was plain to see, even when it wasn’t dolled up.

At last, the dirt gives way, and Eir stands to brush it aside with her broom. Seeing their slow but sure progress gave her a strange sense of satisfaction.

“I can sympathise. The land I come from… No, the land I grew up in, was much the same.” Hel brought time and everything that followed to a halt. The material, the immaterial; all things froze in place. No soul had reason to rejoice nor weep. It was ruin and rot stretching out for as far as one could see. Even the hall, in its untidy state, was bright in its recollection of the night. Traces left in crumpled lipstick-smeared serviettes, tablecloths stained bright with punch all told stories of their own. The land of the dead blew deeds and legacies away like sand. “Joy… or perhaps anything worth rejoicing over was difficult to come by. It would be more adequate to say that it didn’t exist.”

It’s the truth, as severe as it sounds. Raised in a kingdom that celebrated nothing— not even death, and certainly not life— Eir felt estranged from the notion despite her best attempts. In Askr she was content to simply watch. She wonders if that feeling might ever change.

As Lucina begins to gather the dishes and cutlery strewn about the hall, Eir begins washing them. She carefully removes her gloves, rolling the sleeves of her uniform to her elbows. Most would balk at the sheer amount grime, but she takes to the task unflinchingly. Blood was harder to scrub out than food.

“Someday,” she agrees, the word punctuated with the clatter of clean plates being stacked. If, one day, she could bring the realm of life back to what it had once been… that would be cause for celebration even she would not shy from. Maybe then, she could…

There’s a voice, barely inexplicable— the wisps of spoken word beneath a cheery chirp of agreement. Eir glances upwards.

A bluebird had flown into the hall through one of the open windows, sailing gracefully through the air before perching atop a chandelier. It stared intently at her. Eir only furrowed her brow.

“You’ve got your ear to the ground,” she murmurs, seemingly to no one in particular.

[dueth]

TOA* RAMEN RETSUDEN !!

[princessmacedon]

"--but you should get going! You had something else to get to, didn't you?"

"Oh--!" The shapes of Maria's eyes and mouth are one and the same as she throws a glance over her shoulder and in a vague direction: perfectly circular, and the picture of surprise. Behind her now, the shopkeeper chuckles, patting her purchase into her palm, and soon enough waving back to the hastily thrown farewell.

Further down the main path the little cleric wanders, until the warm scent of something unfamiliar wafts past her. That must be it...! Pace quickening, she sticks her arm up in the air and waves back at the woman who appears to be in charge of the stand.

"Hiiiiiii!" The greeting stretches alongside her steps, both drawn to a sudden stop as she pops up like a daisy in front of the pair. "Hee hee... almost... there... ... ... I made it!"

"Barely on time!" Their new boss shakes a finger teasingly, and throws in a wink for good measure. A grin begets a giggle, and a giggle unfurls Maria's palm, revealing three wrapped pieces of candy.

"Eeeeeeven if I have a bribe for everyone?" Her hand ventures closer to the boss, who takes her share, then toward her apparent partner for the day, offered with a beaming smile. "It's nice to meet you," she whispers, careful to set aside a greeting just for her.

"Hmm." A concise chomp into the candied peel is pocketed away behind the woman's teeth. "Perfectly on time, then. You must be Maria? I'm Raika, and this is your partner today!" Her palm turns toward the woman beside her, offering up a moment for self-introduction before Raika continues speaking.

"So, tell me: how much do you know about making ramen? Don't worry if you don't know anything -- that's what I'm here for -- but I'd like to get a sense of where to start."

"I've never had ramen before," Maria admits easily, chin thoughtfully propped on the ledge of her index finger and steadied by her thumb. "Oh, but I'm pretty good at cooking! Hee hee... I'll do my best to learn fast!"

"Perfect! That's all I could ask for." Raika's smile approves of the enthusiasm, her hands clapping together as her gaze swivels toward Eir. "What about you?"

[dueth]

Barrelling towards them is a bright bundle of light, and Eir is taken in instantly when Maria beams at her, holding a candy out in her open hand. A hesitant smile rises to her face; she accepts the gift, pocketing it somewhere safe. Eir watches as Raika wolfs down her bribe in one go, and finds herself curious about its flavour. She’ll have to ask Maria later on— though she hopes they can eat them together.

“Eir,” she replies, simply, and attempts a smile. Maria made it feel easy. “It’s wonderful to meet you, too.”

Following up fast on their brief exchange, Raika jumps into business. When it’s Eir’s turn to answer, she can only shake her head. She’d had the opportunity to participate in Hoshidan tradition when they’d rung in the New Year, once, though the only foods she had eaten then had been confectionery. The memory of mochi resurfaces; Eir’s brow furrows. “I cannot claim much experience with food… but likewise, I will do my best to meet your expectations.”

If Raika is unnerved by two total beginners, she doesn’t show it— in fact, she lights up instead. “Two total newbies, huh?! This is gonna be fun,” she says with a grin, beginning to march towards the kitchen door behind the stall. She’s in high spirits; Eir watched as she announces to herself, without looking behind: “All right, time to show you both what ramen’s all about!”

She turns to glance towards Maria before following suit.

Their new boss is quick to show them the ropes, putting names to different stations around the kitchen and listing out tasks. Several adjustments had been made to accommodate those completely new to cooking, Raika explains, so that a lack of experience wouldn’t deter anyone interested. The scope of their work today is easy enough to grasp— though Eir cannot quite nearly anticipate what it might feel like under pressure. She sets the thought aside for now.

With their drilling done, Raika dismisses them for the afternoon; she orders them to relax and have lunch while she prepares the stall for opening in the evening. Eir had offered to stick around to help, but the chef wouldn’t hear a word of it. Perhaps it was more appropriate to say that she had shooed them out.

Eir stands next to Maria outside of the stall. After a moment, she decides to let it go. She turns to the girl beside her instead. “Thank you for the gift earlier,” she says. Eir reaches into her pocket to fish out the candy— slightly melted, but still shapely. Joy is doubled when shared. “Shall we have them together?”

[falchionchosen]

at least we're in this together

herald mission board. ━━ heavy armor+ lucina & eir.

[falchionchosen]

When she first arrived, she saw the mess in the Monastery halls. Her guide, who had shown her the way around Garreg Mach, mentioned that a ball had been hosted the day prior and how Lucina 'was unlucky to arrive a day late and miss the spectacle".

Others were already cleaning that day, but the next day, they seem to have ditched their responsibility. If Lucina was unlucky to have missed the Ball, then her luck surely must've missed out these couple days: having woken by a knock on her door, she was met by an apologotic smile before a bucket with supplies and a broom got shoved into her hands.

Cue Lucina standing in the still messy halls of the Monastery, where a couple more unfortunate souls such as herself are attempting to clean and bring it back to its, assumedly, former glory.

A wonderful first day of her time here, isn't it? Although a sigh slips past her lips, Lucina isn't one to complain: with broom in hand does she walk over to the dirtiest corner of the hall, deciding to help out the woman who already seems to try and tackle it on her own.

" I assume it was a truly grand feast, by the looks of it ", Lucina announces herself to the woman with an almost emphatic smile. Putting some of the furnite aside, she soon starts sweeping ━ bringing all of the trash and dust to a spot she dedicates as her Trashy Spot to gather everything. " Did you attend? " A glance over to @dueth once more: the other seems, simply put, ethereal and elegant ━ definitely someone she can imagine attending such a grand Ball.

[dueth]

For the first time since her arrival, Eir steals away outside of the Abyss, stepping into a world of white. Snow blanketed the grounds completely. The sky overhead is clear of clouds, sunlight scattered by icy fractals. Life had grown quiet beneath winter’s heaviness, though it still hummed, low and lethargic. A handful of birds still flitted about, but it was evident most animals were already well into hibernation.

It makes her think, briefly, of Ymir, lounging about and curled up in the cold. Eir nearly smiles at the thought.

That is, until the dream-like tranquility is shattered by shouting. Eir whips around, only to be met by a stern-faced clergyman making a beeline for her. She isn’t afforded even a moment to react— he immediately jumps into a lecture, berating her for loitering around the grounds and looking air-headed when she should be helping out in the halls. Eir could only stare.

A broom is shoved into her hands. Her acceptance is frictionless.

“One fit for kings,” Eir muses half-heartedly. The hall is wide and discouragingly empty; a stark contrast, she imagines, to the night that had put it in its current state. She is no stranger to such manner of grandeur, of course, though she is wont to stand by more often than not. The image of Askr surfaces in her mind’s eye. She sees it clearly: raucous heroes and how they basked in merriment, adorned halls and glamorous lights. The scene before her was likely the aftermath of an occasion not so unalike.

The princess gracefully sidesteps the remains of what she can only assume was once a cake. The scene spoke for itself. “And a royal mess…”

She shakes her head as she meets Lucina’s gaze. “No. Although I suspect I would have looked out of place, besides.” It wasn’t an absence worth lamenting. Mingling with others had never been Eir’s forte— to say nothing of dressing the part and dancing. On the contrary, only being made to clean up after the fact agreed more with her disposition. Eir leans down to pick at a stubborn mound of dirt.

They were both fresh faces at the academy, then. A shame; Eir can imagine Lucina having enjoyed herself. “Would you have liked to go?”

[wolfhednn]

———　( modern au )　how do they feel about enabling location sharing on their phone with their partner? family? close friends?

dash game! reblog and include your muse's answer in the tags!

[dueth]

SHADOW SHADOW.

HERALD.

[hresvelged]

She rejects this silencing.

It is an irritating thought— How manufactured their greetings were, pretending that nothing is amiss until they confront her later with honeyed words. The church does not yet stare at her with conventional means of disappointment. She oft wonders how long this will last.

It is through warm smiles and knowing eyes that Edelgard understands. They have heard her. Again and again, they speak lessons of stillness. She will never listen. It is best, for now, to greet back with the same pretend smile and agree to what they ask.

With her free hand, the princess rubs the side of her head and wanders her gaze to the ground. Were she not currently labeled as someone with 'unfavorable' behavior, she'd find the act of hand-holding more embarrassing than anything. She doesn't understand the purpose, feeling her own palm warmer in comparison.

"...," she echoes the silence. Short, until she breaks it. "My apologies. This doesn't reflect a good first impression." Her head swivels to make eye contact, conviction at the forefront. "I may as well tell you. The Church requested this on behalf of my seemingly.. objectionable words, so to speak."

[dueth]

Her partner to this shared fate is the first to speak. Edelgard’s voice is crisp and clear, and serves to cleave through Eir’s dazed embarrassment, if nothing else. She turns to face her, and finds the other girl’s eyes ablaze.

Eir is no stranger to the look in her eyes. It is one she has seen in Edelgard before— perhaps the only thing she has ever found in her— a shared trait amongst the many versions of her summoned to the Order of Heroes. A fierce flame that refused to be put out. A soul that had clawed and scratched and crawled to survival, and then even further. The light of life shone well within her.

Eir had always found it admirable.

“…I see.” Her voice is small. That would explain it. Her time in Askr had made Eir vaguely aware of Edelgard’s feelings towards the church— but who was to say the Edelgard of this world was no different? She avoids asking. “Thank you for telling me.”

The awkwardness is deathly. The priests who had cast the spell have long since left, and the room they were in had started to feel suffocating minutes ago. Death glances towards a window— the sun had already begun to set. If she left for the Abyss now, perhaps…

Eir takes a step forward, only to feel a weight keeping her in place by the arm. Ah. Her eyes fall to her occupied hand. With a slow turn, she raises her head to meet Edelgard’s gaze. She realises, belatedly, that she hasn’t told the other girl her name.

“I am Eir,” she half-says, half-mumbles. Well, she is grateful to have to be stuck with Edelgard, if anything. She does not doubt there are worse options. “It’s nice to meet you.”

It’s not a lie. Eir just wishes they could’ve met in some other way. Any other way, really. Her gaze keeps darting down to their hands. She bites down, perhaps for the fifth time now, on the urge to pull away.

[dueth]

DOLLHOUSE.

[dueth]

Rumour has it that a rogue mage had once fled to the Abyss, suffering fatal wounds from his pursuers. He had succumbed to death alone in the dark depths, and now his soul haunts the unexplored and untravelled catacombs of the Abyss, where he uses his magic to play elaborate tricks on unsuspecting passersby. It is said that he warps the dimensions around you, trapping you until you fulfill his impish requests. Most of the denizens now simply wave it off as an old wives’ tale, a story simply meant to discipline children, but some still warn against going down desolate halls alone… 

When Eir opens her eyes, she finds herself in a dimly lit room.

How she comes to find herself here escapes her. She remembers a quiet voice, a dull hum– the trace of death leading her down a path she has never walked. Curiosity begets its rightful punishment. The final glow of the torches behind her had danced against worn walls before disappearing entirely. The voice went quiet. Darkness swallowed her whole.

Now, she stands in a place she cannot recognise. Casting a cursory glance around, her gaze lands on someone else– a woman with dark blue hair, a face Eir cannot claim she has seen. There is comfort, somewhat, in realising she is not alone. The princess does not know if it will last.

“Where…” Her voice trails off. There were no entryways or exits; cobble stretched out between all four walls, sealing them in completely. Only two torches adorned the room, placed high on opposite walls– a height neither of them would likely be able to reach. Grout grows between the cracks in the floor. 

The air is dank, unpleasantly warm. It felt laborious to even breathe in the space. 

Something in it shifts. 

“Hello.” A voice, seemingly from nowhere, reverberates throughout the room. “I’d like to play a game.”

Let's play touys, @crowsbite!

[dueth]

(translation in alt) some thoughts I’ve been having recently. stuff under the cut

CW suicide mention

iiiiiii don’t have the capacity to be putting this into words quite yet actually. well okay to preface:

(copy-pasting from my rant on twitter :hell:) I think it would be interesting if she formed an alter at some point, to somehow bear with (gestures)… but they just went dormant (or even fused?) once she ended up on her last life and had no reason to compartmentalise her suffering anymore. it would also help explain why she doesn’t remember ganglöt well (or that she adored eir, actually COOOUGH)

Though of course a lot of her memory loss is in part due to being killed over and over, as well as Hel’s own intervention… Eir clearly remembers dying and suffering and Ouch. it’s just a facet i’m curious about because it’s a very common defense mechanism the brain employs for the sake of survival. and also the fact that eir was probably also actively deluding herself about Hel.

As the host, Eir would always be present during her deaths regardless, but an alter would at least alleviate that weight long-term… They form because they 1. need to protect eir as the host; her feelings, her personality, who she fundamentally is as a person without her going insane and 2. in a way to enable her unconditional affection for Hel. as much as i think eir is so, so strong it is also… pretty impossible to be able to keep on like that despite yourself. She wants to love Hel so much. She still calls her Mother long after the fact… it’s my belief she was always constantly fighting to love her in the face of her pain

— none of this has any bearing on my portrayal of Eir in TOA (yet, at least); it’s just something I’ve been thinking about as of late. As much as Eir was a willing victim I also think she was always at odds with herself and her need to survive. She’s a princess of Life, after all; some things you are born with.

here’s the difference. Her alter probably took control of her dying moments and both stomached and swallowed her desperation to live. Kind of like overriding the final desire to carry on when you’re about to commit suicide.

Anyways, thanks for reading haha. Not sure if this is comprehensible at all… That’s all for today.

[dueth]

SHADOW SHADOW.

HERALD.

[dueth]

One sole question lies at the forefront of Eir’s mind: how did she get here?

There had been talk of the Church’s new measures to rein in unruly characters, the constant subject of stray chit-chat as of late that she had never paid much heed to. She is no troublemaker, after all— Eir excelled at staying quiet and keeping her head down. Her presence had the tendency to fade into the background, swallowed by the shadows lurking in corners.

It is the natural product of years spent trying to play the part of the perfect daughter that decrees as much, habits etched into blood and bone. Eir does not stick out. She is reserved, taciturn, at times severe— but nothing close to trouble.

So why does she find herself stuck to none other than the leader of the Black Eagles house, Edelgard von Hresvelg? Surely she is not what the church supposes is the poor model student on the other end…?

“…” Her hand feels cold in Edelgard’s. Death has found herself in a situation she has never once thought to anticipate. Various emotions war within, but none show on her face. “……”

Happy handholding, @hresvelged !

[egittae]

who up pondering they orb | lambert & eir

closed starter for @dueth | any skill +1

[egittae]

If rumors roam the monastery, then in truth they’ve been word of the Abyss for a while now. As detached as they may be from the surface, only a fool would state inhabitants of Garreg Mach’s bowels to be ignorant of what happens out there- they had hundreds, if not thousands of eyes and ears scattered around the mountain housing the monastery and its Academy, and once information was caught it became a matter of time until it spread like wildfire among the underground town. Hushes of gossip, rumors, some fake, others unclear or embellished, but most held at least a bit of truth somewhere in there.

And so when Lambert caught wind of a supposed orb able to reveal another version of whoever handles it, he didn’t think it too odd. The very fact he stood alive and well was enough to suspend his disbelief in regards to most things out there, some ball from a distant land wouldn’t shock him so much. Well, the idea of it existing didn’t bother him.

Now, what it could possibly show him on the other hand…he’d be lying to say he wasn’t curious, even though such curiosity was lined with a mild sense of dread. But the professor wasn’t one to back down so easily, and so even as some uncertainty gnawed at his heart, he stood before a pair of heavy wooden doors- at one of the many corridors in the Abyss that led into Garreg Mach’s basements. “The leads I got all mentioned the area beyond this door. Something about that orb being kept hidden from the public for further analysis…or something like that.” The professor spoke out loud, looking over his shoulder to meet the eyes of a young woman.

“I suppose you too are interested in whatever that orb has to offer, are you not? Even though it could very well show us something less than pleasant…” Lambert smiled, despite that relatively ominous idea. "As a man of my age, I have my doubts whether this orb will be able to surprise me with what it will ultimately show. Unless in another universe I am set to become a jester of sorts, somehow." All he knew about the girl was that she was meant to be part of the Ashen Wolves- and so what better way to get to know your newest student than to…take them to see the weird orb?

Well, better than a boring lecture. “What is your name, by the way? I am Lambert, professor of the Ashen Wolves- Lambert by itself is more than enough.”

[dueth]

She had initially followed him to investigate recent rumours concerning an orb from Zenith, an object that she finds hard to believe could ever belong in a place such as the Abyss. Had a summoner been clumsy with their supply? Eir cannot envision the mere notion of the Kiran of her world ever losing an orb. Regardless of to whom it belongs to or how it had arrived, it was in her best interest to confirm the rumours for herself. If an orb could find its way here, who was to say of anything else…?

Be as pressing of a matter as it may, however, she finds herself slightly distracted.

The man before her should not be alive; his soul is mangled beyond belief. When Eir looks at him, she sees a dead man walking— yet he smiles, pale skin diffused with warmth. It is unusual. She is accustomed to it, at least, in the Order of Heroes, but this is her first encounter with someone of such nature who was not bound by the summoner’s contract. In Askr, she had accepted that the summoner was capable of defying divine law; of raising the dead, of indenturing even gods to their service. But what she sees now demands explanations that nothing seems capable of offering.

Eir snaps back to attention when he turns to face her. Though she intends merely to nod and keep silent, he pins her with a question. “…Yes, I suppose I am.”

Even if it might show them something less than pleasant. If the rumours were truly all they say, what would Eir see? What was there left to be afraid of? The question tastes of blood. Lambert cracks a joke, but Eir does not laugh. She only watches him, observing the form of his soul.

What happened to you?

“My name is Eir.” The answer is practiced. She nods as he introduces himself in turn. “Thank you for your time today, professor.”

The name sounds strangely familiar, though Eir cannot quite place where she has heard it. Whatever the case, she is certain that Lambert is dead. Or has died, at least. There is something sinister about the whole ordeal— but she is not here to look into that today.

Eir gestures towards the door, wasting no time. “Shall we…?”

[aubins]

unearthed.

❥ what were you doing at the devil’s sacrament? — eir & yuri

[aubins]

the rap-a-tap-tap of their knuckles against the edge of one of the shelves of the shadow library is the only announcement of their presence offered, followed by a lazy drawl of, “...eir.”

to anyone who didn’t know any better, yuri is only making their rounds after returning to abyss after a few days spent away on some job or another. ensure abyss hasn’t been blown off its pillars since they were last home. check in on their men to see if anything pressing requires their attention. and, of course, that unofficial duty of theirs as the so-called leader of a house of wolves.

well, she should know better than to think this is just a polite greeting. it doesn’t take a genius to connect those dots.

“have a second?” but the answer doesn’t seem to matter much with how they press on without waiting for one. “i asked around for your name. hope you don’t mind. let’s call it my way of trying to make up for not being able to welcome you to our humble underground city in person.”

if yuri gave every lost soul that wandered into their safe haven a personalized greeting, they wouldn’t have time to do anything else. but the mockingbird merely shrugs, turning to lean a shoulder against the bookshelves. with a weary sigh, “...and for that terrible first impression.”

the heart of the matter, then, because they’ve never been one to dance in circles for very long: “whatever you think you saw, you probably saw right. no need to worry about him. i’ve sent him off to a better place if you believe in that sort of thing—flowers and burials and all. but i’d appreciate your discretion on the matter.” / @dueth

[dueth]

Teeming with the stench of death, the Abyss is quite unlike any place Eir has ever been— save for, perhaps, Hel itself. It is a strange feeling, and one she intends to investigate during her time in it. The traces of souls mark countless corners, lingering in stray shadows and cracks between walls. She hears and feels so much, often; the rightful denizens of her realm, stuck, cast out their final, fading emotions into empty hallways. They leave much behind, without a place to rest. The final embers of life burn out with resentment.

It is as she follows the sound of souls that she chances upon it— the moment it leaves the body, the crimson that pours out from a slit in the neck. The murderer stands tall, their profile obscured by purple locks. She watches, despite herself. The corpse is wordless, but Eir’s hands curl into fists. Its soul howls and howls.

Death had turned heel and left.

It was only a matter of time before that decision came to hound her.

Eir turns before the sound informs her of their presence; their soul held a heavy air. Her eyes narrow. She knows them— but she suspects in a matter not quite nearly as unscrupulous as how they had come to know her.

The princess takes care to tread lightly. The Abyss is Yuri’s turf, after all, and it is by their grace as house leader that Eir is there in the first place. Her countenance is unreadable; she merely watches Yuri with the same calm disposition she had when they had snuffed out a life in front of her only hours earlier.

Their hands are clean, bloodless. The knife is absent, but Eir knows they aren’t here to play nice.

There are few people who are so forthright, but the princess finds she prefers their honesty. Still, the words they choose send a sharp needle of discomfort through her chest. A better place? Eir’s lips are a straight line. Be it Hel or the Abyss, no such place awaited the dead. She tries to say nothing.

“A better place,” She echoes. She fails. Still, there remained no other way through this conversation than to regard their wishes with respect. “You have my silence. I would only ask…”

Death meets their gaze. Why did you kill him? “Where… did you bury him?”

[dueth]

wanted plots (7/4/2026)

HERALD. Eir is an Ashen Wolf, so she qualifies for any missions on the board! I’m personally interested in the following:

[Riding/Flying +1] — Eir’s got a knack for prolonging life, and she’ll try her utter best to get these flowers to their intended destination. She is less inclined, however, for arguments, accusations, and turbulent group dynamics. It’d be really amusing if she tries to quietly use her abilities as a Life royal and get on with the journey, only to be derailed by petty colleagues. Bonus: is your muse a little bit of a shitter who intentionally riles people up? Please get on her nerves. She can be slow to anger, but…

Handholding — Stuck together for a whole week? Constantly in her personal space? Not the most savoury character? Awesome: little beepo’s misery is increasing. Being on the reserved end, Eir’s the honour student in this scenario. She’ll probably mostly be feeling sorry for herself, having gotten roped into it, but she’s not one to let herself be dragged around the whole time, either. Who knows… you might just see what Eir gets up to around the abyss at night ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ smile

EDIT: Both taken, thank you! I’m still open to other threads though so just say the word o7

I’m also just generally open to any thread, mission board or not! If you want to write with Eir, I’d love to write with you too! You can contact me here through IMs if any of these interest you :) Thank youuuuuuuuuu

[dueth]

WRITER? I HARDLY KNOW 'ER!

continued from here

[dueth]

They are not entirely strangers; on Eir’s end, at least. She is acquainted with Bernadetta von Varley, if so can be said from what little exchanges they had shared at the Order of Heroes. She knows that the girl before her and the one she had known in Askr are different, but in this moment they don’t seem at all unalike. In her memories, Bernadetta had always been particularly skittish, a sworn recluse– but also a kind girl with a brilliant smile. It would be nice to see such expressions on her more.

Eir shakes her head. “No, not at all.

“Saw you…?” Doing what? The words nearly loose from her lips, but Eir thinks better of it. Had Bernadetta been watching her? It was unlike Eir to not notice a gaze directed her way— perhaps the night has run longer than she’d thought. Azure gaze watches as Bernadetta draws closer, warming. “Please, there is no need to apologise…”

The next words take her by surprise. Stunned, she can only blink; her gaze falls on the notebook instinctively. “Oh… were you writing something?” She pauses, hesitant. “A story?”

She hopes the question isn’t invasive— for Eir, at least, it serves to sidestep the thought of family. How would I… She wants to believe her true mother might have embraced love in all its forms. Could she say the same for Hel? She stares at the book for a moment longer before recollecting herself.

“No, of course not.” The ends of her lips curve into a barely hidden smile, amusement flashing over her tired countenance. Ah… hopefully Bernadetta doesn’t take that the wrong way. Eir raises a slender finger to her lips. “Just as long as you don’t tell anybody I was here, either. It’ll be our secret.”

@hermidetta

[dueth]

TOA* RAMEN RETSUDEN !!

[dueth]

As students flock to Garreg Mach from lands far and wide, the church has proposed an extra-curricular activity for those of The Officers Academy intended to show the surrounding townspeople their appreciation for their warm hospitality. Doubling as a cultural exchange program, some merchants hailing from Hoshido have set up a ramen pop-up stall in collaboration with the academy, inviting any and all interested to try their hand.

This is where dreams are boiled, strained, souped, garnished, and served! Is ramen just a beloved dish of Hoshido, or is it perhaps something more…?

The skies overhead are clear, golden rays washing Garreg Mach in its brilliance. The wind blows favorably today, and carry with them the tangy scent of salt. High up in the mountains, they are far from the sea— beneath the fragrance that wafts through the air is a pleasant heat, the undertone of spice. It is a smell both intriguing and inviting, and in following the whims of her nose, the princess finds herself at its source before long.

Before her stands the ramen stall, a fresh sight in the town of Garreg Mach. It had been constructed right by the main market, earning its fair share of foot traffic from both locals and travelers alike. Whether it is the taste that entices them, or the glimpse of a foreign land afforded only for a brief season, the fact remains that the stall was a huge hit. Outside, Eir’s glance falls upon a busy-looking woman, dressed in a uniform of sorts. She approaches.

“Good morning. My name is Eir… I was told that I was to work today’s shift?” Eir introduces herself, slightly uncertain. If this isn’t the chef she was told to report to today, the embarrassment would be nothing short of severe.

“Oh, Eir! Yeah, I got you on my list. I’m Raika, the chef in charge. Thanks for showing up today!” The chef grins, wide and toothy. Her warm enthusiasm brings out a small smile in Eir; the brilliance of life was so evident in her features. Raika looks down and ticks a box, the action punctuated with a self-congratulatory fist pump. “Awesome. Now I’m just waiting for one more person— your partner for today, actually..!”

Eir nods. Raika glances at the papers in her hand, then raises her head. They stare at one another for a moment. As Eir begins to harbour the thought of asking if anything might be askance, the chef angles her head, looking right over Eir’s shoulder. “Oh, there she is! Heeeey! Over here!”

Let’s rack up those 5★ reviews, @princessmacedon!

[dueth]

@hermidetta sent:

there's a deafening THUD out of nowhere. its source? a skittish student with purple hair, caught red-handed by the other girl whose presence she had been momentarily mesmerized by. the hefty pile of books and notepads once in her grasp is scattered all over the ground, with one having clattered right beside eir's foot. the noise bernadetta makes can't even be deciphered at this point. muffled, half muffled? a squawk, a screech? a croak, a cough? but what she does is dive down, zipping from book to book, panickedly gathering them back into a pile while avoiding eir's gaze.

until the one by her foot inevitably has to be retrieved. bernadetta has half a mind to abandon it, but that's her NOTEBOOK. with her latest stupid STORY that ABSOLUTELY NOBODY CAN SEE RIGHT NOW. so she just crawls to it in a hurry, unceremonious crab-like scuttling. the entire time, jumbled under her breath like some mantra: "sorrysorrysorrysorry—"

The light of the moon, a waning crescent high above in a sea of stars, pales when drawn in contrast to the candle flame beside her stack of books. Eir sits alone. The library was quieter in the evenings, save for only the hushed chatter of a handful of diligent scholars arguing over their theses in a faraway corner. It dims into a quiet drone in the background, a steady rhythm urging on her own work.

She squints down at the material. As much as it worked to keep her focused… some of Fódlan’s academic writers left much to be desired in terms of readability. Her brow furrows as she resolves to read a sentence a fifth time over, before—

THUD!

She sees— and hears— the mess before the girl. Eir stands to her feet immediately, pushing aside her chair. “…! Are you all right?” There’s a girl scrambling about on the floor. Well, a girl, but right now the figure is more like a… creature… desperately fighting to survive. Eir is, admittedly, unsure if she should lend a hand. As soon as her eyes land on something she might have offered to pick up, the girl snatches it immediately. It’s somewhat impressive, to be honest. Eir isn’t sure she’d be able to react if something came at her with such speed and dexterity.

She hears a mumbled string of words. Eir realises, now, who it is before her. She decides not to make any sudden movements. With a slow bow, Death carefully reaches down to pick up the last item Bernadetta had dropped: an open notebook, writing scrawled across the pages. Gently, she closes the cover.

“My apologies if I scared you,” she says, and tries to offer her a smile. The book is held out with both hands. “This is yours, isn’t it? Please, don’t worry: I didn’t look.”