scorched

hellfire. the devil is nothing, but you. enjolras travers. 70|31. fae.

[enjolrastrvrs]

portraitcfdcrian‌:

“Yes. It’s my nature. It’d be like asking a fish to fly.” He quipped. “You say that and yet not everything is predictable. There’s a difference between taking an interest in someone and having an audience. Yours is the latter. Once you leave this room, there isn’t a second thought given.”

“Aren’t there flying fish out there?" He asked, brow half raised in thought about it recalling a few fish out there that leapt from the water. “At least fish that make an effort to make a change,” he noted, a smirk settled against his features. “Bold of someone who just said that not everything is predictable to make a prediction of their subject. You may think you speak in riddles, but it all sounds like nonsense to me.”

[enjolrastrvrs]

alexandervbarrett‌:

Nadya’s hazel eyes met Alexander’s blue gaze as he addressed her. “Everyone is all set and I assured them that becoming fish food was the last thing they had to worry their heads about,” Nadya answered as a smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. There was always a nervousness that came with the risk of setting sail with a newer and more inexperienced crew but Nadya had the upmost confidence in both her captain and navigator. After years of working alongside one another the trio had perfected their own system of harmony aboard the Renegade, becoming one of the most notorious ships to set sail on the waters of Candoris.  

Her attention was pulled from Alex as she felt Nate’s eyes on her. Catching the fae’s gaze, her expression matched his as their captain spoke of the fae who had been married off to the vampire king not long ago. The chaos of the wedding between Sophia and the vampire king had sent shock waves throughout all regions of Candoris and it seemd as though her captain hadn’t been spared. 

“I haven’t spoken directly to any of the quartermasters since the shit show of a wedding,” Nadya admitted, glancing between Alexander and Nathaniel. “I can send word out to meet with them, though I doubt it’s going take very much convincing on our part to get the other lords and captains to rally behind us.” The brunette added while making a quick mental note to begin contacting the other quartermasters the moment the docked after this mission. 

@alexandervbarrett

Alex had lost his mother at such a young age that he hadn’t known what it was like to have a family; not really, anyway. It wasn’t until he’d fully immersed himself into life as a captain that Alexander began to find that family came in many different shapes and forms. It was only through Nadya and Nathaniel that Alex felt at home; with his quartermaster and his navigator by his side, he felt invincible. Each pirate was proud of their respective crews in their own ways, to be sure, but Alex had to admit…it would be difficult to beat someone like Kingsley or Travers in his eyes. He couldn’t have asked for more fearsome and loyal seconds-in-command; Nadya in particular had been such a fundamental part of his life for so long that he couldn’t imagine what would happen if she ever tired of the sea and decided to pursue a life on land instead. It was her birthright, after all, as the son of a noble family.

But it was a birthright, he had to admit, he hoped she didn’t claim. She was better than all those bastards on land; Travers, too, and the fae wilds he’d left behind. Their worlds hadn’t appreciated them. Alex had.

“That’s my concern,” Alex said at last, directing his full attention back towards his Nate. He made a good point about the fickle fae; after the disaster at the Beaumont-Wren wedding, it had been a private fear of Alex’s, as well. The vampires had seemed the best species to side with, given what Alex and the other Lords wanted from the sea, but he was beginning to have his doubts and reservations about putting the cart before the horse. It was important to keep the faeries complacent with the vampires; it benefited their cause in the end. And, to be frank, the entire world could burn itself to ashes, so long as Alex got what he wanted. “The faeries don’t usually partake in the war of mortals; it was a gamble getting them to ally with the vampires to begin with, but now? There’s no telling. They’d be fools to choose the merfolk–Liling would sooner saw her daughter’s arm off than swear fealty to anyone else.”

“Lead us onwards,” Alex said with a gesture of his hand, indicating the rocky waters leading toward the Impregnea Enclave. “And I think you should meet with the other quartermasters; feel them out. See if the quartermasters share the same sentiments as their captains. Svala is all fire and Oakley will probably be busy waxing poetic over the curve of his captain’s lips under the moonlight, but maybe you can redirect them towards a more profitable conversation.”

In all of his years aboard The Renegade, it was made evidently clear to Enjolras that with the fae he hadn’t ever been appreciated. Not by his parents, not by the rest of the court, and not by the royal fleet he was ready to dedicate his life to. He hadn’t even truly known of the neglect that was blatantly given to him until he had found respect with this crew. The captain and quartermaster never for a moment made him believe he wasn’t right where he needed to be. Perhaps it was one of the only things he had ever really wanted in his life was to be appreciated, and every day he was grateful for that small sliver of a chance he was given to prove himself. Alexander and Nadya were the only two people that he could fully trust in this world and frankly he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Nate couldn’t help but shudder when Alexander made the comment about Liling. He had always heard about the cruelty of the mer queen, but hearing that odd sentiment truly put a bitter taste in the fae’s mouth. He tried his best to hide the disgust now riddled on his features but found it to be extremely difficult. It wasn’t to say that he had a distaste for all mermaids considering he had been fraternizing with one, but he knew of the dangers they could bring to the pirates. He had seen it first hand when he had to save Alexander and Nadya from an ill fate. They were not all friendly or lovable as all of the stories had ever portrayed them. There was a darkness within them that allowed the to blend in effortlessly in the lurking dark depths of the sea. He gave Alexander a nod before beating his wings to guide them toward the Apregnea Enclave.

It hadn’t taken them that much longer to reach the Enclave. Or at least as far as he assumed was the Enclave in his experience. He had flown back to the deck, landing beside his captain. “The visibility is low, he should draw in our sails so the wind doesn’t take us straight into a rock,” he urged the captain as a subtle mist had begun to form around them. While the floating islands of the Enclave were said to be beautiful, Enjolras had never ventured into the waters below. With the question of how the islands were floating was still beckoning, it was safe to assume that any creature found in these waters may be different from the rest of the ones that had lurked in the ocean. “Nadya, I would get our men at the ready, who knows what sorts of things could attack us.”

@nadyakingsleyx​

[enjolrastrvrs]

rovnof‌:

Dear lord, what was going on with this week? Roan had never seen the Royal Guard in such a state of disarray. It made sense, given they had all somehow managed to black out and miss three whole days, which in itself was extremely concerning. Roan wasn’t much for going out drinking, not since he’d become Captain of the Guard, but today he bloody well needed a drink and he wasn’t going to get one sitting around his quarters. Besides, it would do him good to get out and see Acrine as a common man every now and then. With a sigh, Roan hauled himself down into the city proper, feet beating a path to a tavern he’d liked when he was younger and had more free time. Roan plopped himself onto a stool at the bar and sat in silence for a while, staring into space as his mind tried to decide if it should ponder the week’s events or go blank and take a rest. But it was saved this decision by a voice from beside him, coming from the youthful fellow who’d just sat down. “Oh, they do,” he answered, smiling tiredly at the man. “Old Ned just can’t run ‘round as fast as he used to. Or remember things like he used to. Such as serving people right away. Hang on a tick… Hey Ned! Come on, mate, we’re parched down here,” he called out to the wizened barmen a few feet away, then turned back to his new drinking companion. “What’s yer poison, friend? Their beer’s good, but their whiskey’s better.”

Enjolras had thought that he frequented this bar enough to know the tricks, but as the man spoke about the bartender as if he was a long time patron, the realization that he in fact knew nothing about this place settled in. It didn’t bother him being out of the loop, but it sure would have made his life easier knowing the man’s name in order to call out for a drink. At least he had met this blonde stranger sitting next to him at the bar. Enji pursed his lips a for a moment thinking about the question. “Whiskey, huh?” he arched his brow. “Do you know if it’s citrusy or more oaky?” he asked wanting to know. “Fruity I can do, but anything that tastes like it’s been rang out straight from a tree and garnished with an actual piece of bark, I’ll have to pass,” he admitted to the man he had just met. He still thought for a moment, “my poison...” he trailed off. “I guess I would have to say dark ales are my favorites. Light brews taste like piss, but dark ones are heavy and full of flavor. I assume that whiskey is yours then?” Asking the man before turning to the bartender to order something from him. “What brings you to this bar? Here to drink your woes away?” He teased lightly knowing that it might possibly be true.

[enjolrastrvrs]

portraitcfdcrian‌:

“Like I said, I’d heard you were back and wanted to see if there was a change. Times are tumultuous these days. Better to take note of your court, even those that have been gone for a while, then to wonder forever.” 

“Must you be so serious? So what if there is war at our doorstep. We are fae after all. Noble fae should be even less worried than the common folk. It just seems odd to take an interest in me, no?”

[backshelfpoet]

Dear sister, you’ve got to keep your chin pointed towards the stars or else you’ll end up on the ground with your knees a bloody heap of useless broken. Please know that all your kindness was never bad, all your softness was never weak. The world is hell-bent on loving you. Dear sister, we don’t talk as much anymore and it’s because I’ve run out of apologies. There’s only one thing I can say and it’s this: whatever it is you’ve ended up with, you probably deserve better.

Excerpt from “Dear Sister” // d.a.s (via backshelfpoet)

[enjolrastrvrs]

enjolras travers &&. aiden mac alistair // a moodboard

(( @aidenmacalistair ))

[enjolrastrvrs]

cstcrt‌:

‘You weren’t supposed to find me,’ he said and Ester’s heart broke all over again. He wasn’t here for her. He hadn’t come home. Who knows why he’s here but it wasn’t for Ester. She had always assumed that Enjorlas had been taken from her, that he could never leave her intentionally. It appeared she had been wrong. Maybe he really felt like he needed to protect her, she didn’t know, but she hated being told what she needed or was feeling. 

Finally, in frustration and heartache, she turned away, her hands clasped together with the angst of it all. Sorry. He was sorry. So was she. And still, she didn’t hate. All she wanted was for him to come home. “Just tell me where you’ve been. What you’ve been doing. I deserve at least that.” 

Enjolras could feel the strings of his heart pulling and stretching to the point of frustration. As if at any moment one wrong thing that had been said or done would fill his eyes with tears and cause him to not have the control that he prided himself on. It wasn’t a perfect method of control, really. One that came with reckless decision making that seemed senseless but was actually refined. If he went through his whole life pretending and believing he was fine, then was that not his truth? But Ester... She had always been the better half, and he thought he proved it again and again with each decision he made for them.

He knew that he should’ve told Ester the truth, about why he was here. But that would mean betraying Alexander, and that meant more to him than sparing his sister’s feelings. So he would lie, and she would none be the wiser. Could that possibly end up hurting him in the long run? Yes, but it was a risk he was willing to take. Being a pirate meant that he had spent many years learning to lie and do it well. While it was considering something that would be looked down upon as a fae, he was merely a commoner. The weight of his lie was nothing compared to one of a noble. And his morals of a fae were burned down when he left that part of him in the past. He was a pirate now, and he only abided by the code.

“I was whisked away to sea,” he started to say, drawing her attention back to him and offering nothing but a soft shrug. “You know... This place never felt like home to me. You had to have known that about me. If you were really my sister, my twin, you would have known.” Of course she should have suspected that this was inevitable. “You thrive, I burn. That’s how it’s been since we were kids. It’s how it’s always going to be.”

[enjolrastrvrs]

portraitcfdcrian‌:

“It is, but you didn’t seem too thrilled by it.” He mused, leaning back. “A ruin, hmm. But yes. Burning bridges will leave you stranded and alone.”

“Perhaps,” he shrugged. His eyes thinned for a moment, still trying to gauge at what the Lord of the Autumn court could have possibly called upon him for. “That’s not true. Sure, burning bridges means everyone on the side that you came might leave you alone. But there’s a whole world out there filled with other people who have burned their bridges,” he hummed slightly before finally speaking. “Can I ask why you called me here? I just, can’t tell why you of all people would want to talk to me.”

[enjolrastrvrs]

aidenmacalistair‌:

“The same as being the best there ever was? Obviously.” The Enjolras that was in front of him was not the Enjolras that Aiden knew. They were thrown together as young fae because of their affinity, but as it was Aiden, he excelled from the start. It took a while for the redhead to even see the other’s hesitation, so blinded by his own power and greatness, that he could never understand why the blond did not like his power. To feel the heat on his skin, the rumble of the flame, it was like nothing else. It could be nothing else. Fire was it’s own element, it’s own power. It meant different things to different people, and it seemed like Enjolras finally figured it out for himself.

“I don’t go near that mess. It’s a bloody endless hole. Nothing to look at for miles, just blue.” There was something in his mind, even through the swirls of smoke, a small memory like a dying ember. Aiden submerged in the blue, falling but not falling. But he couldn’t recall, not like memories he lost due to looking for the bottom of the bottle, but a memory like a dream that felt real. He has never liked the ocean before, but now, Aiden wanted to stay leagues away. The only thing he ever wanted to be swimming in was something to numb that fear, that hopelessness.

“So what hole did you finally crawl out of to make your presence known? I haven’t heard a single squeak about you since you disappeared. Now you’re coming back saying you’ve honed your skills? Tell me while I still have some interest in caring.”

Enjolras couldn’t help but scoff at his fellow fae as he gloated about how he had been the best singer. “If only people could understand the words coming out of your mouth,” he teased knowing there were many times Enjolras found himself absentmindedly nodding his head at all of the drunken slurs Aiden had ever managed to brew up when they spent time together. Even while he was sober, Enji could hardly understand the other fae. Thankfully there was nothing truly of value that had ever been conveyed between the two of them. Or at least, none that he was aware of. There could have been and it would have just gone right over his head.

“Isn’t that what makes it so exciting?” He raised his brow in question. That was something that had set him apart from other fae with their affinity— Enjolras had always been more fascinated by the ocean than any flame he could conjure on his own. “It is awfully nice to get lost on the open sea. Nothing for miles, no sight of land and no longing to feel the earth beneath your feet anyways,” he mused for a moment before shaking his head. There was a time and a place to go on and on about how much he had grown to love the sea in the past ten years as a pirate, but this was not it.

He contemplated for a moment, wondering if he could tell Aiden about his adventures of a pirate. All of the plundering he had done over the past decade, how he had grown into a person he was proud of rather than the one he had always believed to be ashamed of. Aiden was one of the people he could trust not to let his secret out for even if he had, there would really be no one to believe him due to the reputation he had earned himself. “I let the fire consume me. Instead of letting it define me while looming in the background and burning my heels,” he took a quick swig of whatever Aiden had been drinking, loving that burning sensation that traveled into his chest. “Burned all of my bridges, all of the fears I ever had to nothing but ash and rubble.” It was only when Enji let his fears take hold of him that he was able to control them. “What have you been up to when I was gone?” He asked. Perhaps he could get some information about the courts from Aiden. And maybe he would have known something about Ester as well, though it was doubtful. There was that small part of his mind that yearned to know of the life she had led since he left her behind.

[cstcrt]

The Travers Twins

@enjolrastrvrs

[enjolrastrvrs]

I SHIP YOU AND OPHELIA

“Ma petite fleur, Lady Ophelia would rather drown, I’m sure of it.”

@opheliaddsn

[rpmemesyo]

Anonymously or not, tell me who you ship my muse with.

[enjolrastrvrs]

✅ YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT

“You’re the better half; not me.”

@cstcrt

[enjolrastrvrs]

serafina // six word story

“There's no one else like you.”

@serafinastarling

[enjolrastrvrs]

serafinastarling‌:

Serafina couldn’t help but light up when he was around. She had taken on more than her fair share of lovers ever since she had first begun to explore the world above the ocean, but Nate had grown to mean so much more to her than just another casual hook-up or long-term fling. He…he was her friend, too, and an exceptionally close one at that, and she cared about him more than she had ever been able to express out loud. She had yet to ask him about his past or how on earth he had ended up as a faerie aboard a pirate ship, but she would be lying to claim that she hadn’t thought about it a thousand times - there was so much more that she wanted to know about him, but with her track record…well, she couldn’t stop herself from being terrified of scaring him away. Men didn’t like to stick around when it came to her, not really, and Nate was….special. She simply laughed and rolled her eyes when he promised that those coins of his would find their way into her pocket at some point; she wanted everything from Nate except his money, and she would quite happily shove it all right back down his pants if it came to that.

“Oooh! I could read your palm, if you’d like. It’s the easiest way to get started, especially if you’ve never had a reading before,” she offered with a warm, and hopefully encouraging smile, though she couldn’t help the sudden flush of rosy warmth that rose up from her decollete to the apples of her cheeks; this was a part of her life that she hadn’t quite opened up to Nate about yet, and while she was in no way ashamed of the crafts and trades her mother had been teaching her ever since she was a young girl…she didn’t want Nate to think anything less of her because of it. “It’s simple! Just give me your hand - “ Grinning up at him, she reached across the stall where he had sat down, and she very daintily took hold of his big, warm, and calloused hand, a pleased little murmur tumbling past her rosebud mouth as her tiny fingers brushed against his much larger ones. She knew these hands without even having to read his sturdy palms; they had baptized every inch of her on more nights than she could count. 

“And take a deep breath and relax. Just…try and think about it like this. It’s late at night, and we’re in my bed…” Gently, she began to massage the palm of his hand with both of her own, rubbing circles into his skin with the silky-soft pads of her thumbs in an attempt to unwind him. “…and I’m rubbing your back, and those ridiculous shoulders of yours that I keep mentioning, and your eyes are fluttered shut. You’re at-ease, right? My hands are moving up to the nape of your neck, and then massaging your temples, and I’m ducking my head to press kisses into your wings…we aren’t saying anything, but we can hear the ocean from my bedroom window.” She looked up at him, then, away from his hand that she continued to rub gently, and offered him a sheepish smile. “Did that work? Are you nice and relaxed?”

There was a lightness about Serafina that Nate had absolutely adored. How she would light up whenever she saw him, how she could light whole rooms on fire with just her smile. It was refreshing knowing someone like that. He had spent the last ten years aboard the Renegade, and while he respected the hell out of his crew and captain, it was nice to have something soft to return to. A form of escape from the trials of the ocean and the apathetic vibes he had always gotten on the ship. Nate knew he belonged on the ship with everyone else, when push came to shove he could be just as ruthless as them. But there was always that part of him that was just a little softer than the others on the ship. Perhaps it was because he was a fae and life didn’t matter to him as much as it did to the mortals.

He liked how excited she was about everything, how passion seeped out of every part of her and spread all around her creating an aura that was hard to resist. She was hard to resist. The way that her delicate fingers grabbed his rough hands, how they somehow carefully danced across the palm, but with intent. There was meaning behind her touch, and the same warmth that came from her personality was now directed to the energy in her hands. It was neat seeing her in this element. How she so easily had taken the reigns. She knew exactly what she was doing, and though Nate knew nothing about palm reading or fortune telling (considering it was a mortal thing to do) he felt as though if he had to experience it from someone, it was best that it was her.

Drawing a deep breath in, he let his eyes fall shut as her mellifluous words started pouring from her mouth, each one sounding sweeter than the last. He felt the tension ease from his shoulders, and if she could have seen his wings from the glamor, she would have seen them flutter with arousal as she spoke about all of the things he was to think about. Nate knew her hands were only working on his palm, but he could feel phantom like touches gently rubbing into his back and shoulders. Ghosts of kisses were left on his fiery wings and he could even hear the lull of the ocean drown out any noise of the marketplace. As if he was in a haze, he let his eyes open to look at her. There was the slightest dopey smile play across his features as he nodded his head. “Oh believe me, it worked,” he reassured her, still slightly dizzy from her elaborate and effective way to get him to relax. “So now what?” he asked, brows raising as he sank further into the chair.

[enjolrastrvrs]

nadya // six word story

“You can punish me any day.”

@nadyakingsleyx

[enjolrastrvrs]

jamesvbeircheart‌:

James was half-convinced he’d be ignored by the people milling about the village; those who frequented fisherman’s villages were travelers and often didn’t have time for idle chitchat from complete strangers. He hadn’t thought anyone would entertain his question, so when a man not only deigned to turn around, but responded with an actual recommendation for one of the vendors selling fish around the shop, James couldn’t help but stop short. His brows rose up towards his hairline, and he studied the blonde before him for a moment while making a mental note of the vendor he was referring to.

“Lockett, huh?” he asked, taking a step forward and watching as the man exchanged coin for fish. If he got a good feel for the marketplace here, he might be able to swindle a deal and sell the fish secondhand to shopkeepers and restaurateurs who didn’t wish to pay inflation rates for fresh catches from local fishermen. “And Gregory; I should probably be jotting all of this down, but I’ll just try to commit it all to the ol’ noggin.” He pointed at his temple, trying not to cringe at the thought of eating eel. It reminded James of a large, slimy sea worm. Disgusting.

“Oh, well–that’s not necessary; I’m sure I can find something to my liking from your list,” James said, and found that he meant it. It was nice to have a wide variety of men to choose from to con; he could figure out who had the best business, which fish sold better than the others in this market, and go from there. “Though you seem pretty well versed in the marketplace–are you a sailor, then?”

Nate couldn’t help the scoff turned laugh that came from him in that moment. He gave the boy a once over, figuring that he must’ve not come down to the fisherman’s villages that often. Flipping through all of the faces he could remember, this brunette man wasn’t one of them that stood out. The man standing opposite of him seemed like he had a face with dark features that stood out and a man that could have easily be forgotten at the same time— one might argue the most desirable traits to have in a world like this. “I could make you a list if you want. I can tell you who not to go to,” his face sort of twisted. “There’s Michael over there. Sells the freshest fish for three gold, tells you it’s a deal if you buy in bulk. Typically though, they can’t figure out they’re being scammed into paying the same price for fish they won’t eat,” he shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, I can admire a good scam, but that’s not even clever it’s just mean.”

He continued to walk a little with the man for a moment and raised his shoulders. “I suppose you could say that,” he chuckled to himself. It wasn’t wrong, he was a sailor truly, but he had been coming to this market far before then. “My dad is a merchant. When I was younger, he would take us here all time time. He wasn’t selling fish, but you know people in the trade know all of the other people. It’s a cutthroat competition out here,” he joked. “People take risks on selling more for less to see if they can turn a profit and overrun the other stalls. It’s crazier than the politics in the kingdom. And what about you,” he turned to him. “Just a traveler?”