//Due to being terrible at managing more than one blog at a time, I’ve decided that it would be best to migrate Mahad over to my multimuse at ironbloodcd. It’s my hope that I’ll have an easier time remaining active with him if he’s kept over there, rather than on his own separate blog.
I INTEND TO CARRY MOST OF MY ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS AND THREADS OVER TO THE MULTIMUSE, AND DON’T INTEND TO DROP MUCH, IF ANYTHING. I look forward to interacting with you over there!
//Due to being terrible at managing more than one blog at a time, I’ve decided that it would be best to migrate Mahad over to my multimuse at ironbloodcd. It’s my hope that I’ll have an easier time remaining active with him if he’s kept over there, rather than on his own separate blog.
I INTEND TO CARRY MOST OF MY ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS AND THREADS OVER TO THE MULTIMUSE, AND DON’T INTEND TO DROP MUCH, IF ANYTHING. I look forward to interacting with you over there!
//Due to being terrible at managing more than one blog at a time, I’ve decided that it would be best to migrate Mahad over to my multimuse at ironbloodcd. It’s my hope that I’ll have an easier time remaining active with him if he’s kept over there, rather than on his own separate blog.
I INTEND TO CARRY MOST OF MY ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS AND THREADS OVER TO THE MULTIMUSE, AND DON’T INTEND TO DROP MUCH, IF ANYTHING. I look forward to interacting with you over there!
//Due to being terrible at managing more than one blog at a time, I’ve decided that it would be best to migrate Mahad over to my multimuse at ironbloodcd. It’s my hope that I’ll have an easier time remaining active with him if he’s kept over there, rather than on his own separate blog.
I INTEND TO CARRY MOST OF MY ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS AND THREADS OVER TO THE MULTIMUSE, AND DON’T INTEND TO DROP MUCH, IF ANYTHING. I look forward to interacting with you over there!
"I was wondering if you would, perhaps, be interested in accompanying me for some lunch. There's a lovely cafe nearby that has many sweets that I believe you'd enjoy." After all, he wasn't about to let the boy spend his birthday all alone. So long as Ryou permitted it, the mage intended to spend the day with him. "I've heard that a new shop has also opened, and that it carries some unique oddities that you may be interested in. Maybe we could visit afterwards."
The offer had left the silveret smiling brightly, a warmth settling itself within his chest upon the thought of spending such a day alongside the other doing many a thing he enjoyed. Already could he feel his mouth water at the thought of pastries and sweetened teas, and with further thought, he could recall his MODEST collection of oddities growing to be quite the bore as of late– it could use one or two (or three!) new items… Oh, what a perfect suggestion!
“That would be absolutely lovely, yes!” Was the agreement, a series of EAGER nods causing a moonlight fringe to bounce wildly. “I would be more than happy to join you!” The other’s presence, after all, was more than simply enjoyable to be around. He was COMFORTING, a tall guardian that watched over him and made Ryou feel safe, even when he shouldn’t; A guiding hand that allowed the boy to both wander aimlessly and yet always managed to lead him back to purpose.
“Perhaps later tonight, we could even enjoy a small walk through the park…?” He suggested softly then, gaze wavering as COLOR nestled into his cheeks. “I-if you’d like, that is!”
For one to share their magecraft, one of an ancient era, with him, it was an honor. Modern magi treated their magic as if it were a longstanding family secret, something to be kept from the rest of the world. Sharing alone was enough for him to feel as though Mahad had bestowed upon him a grand gesture. “I… I did not prepare myself for this,” was said quietly, reeling in how taken aback by not only the scrolls but handwritten notes. The professor did not want to imagine how long it must have taken him to go through each piece, writing and translating. And for what? There was nothing he had offered in exchange nor did he believe there was anything at the moment that he could think would measure his gratitude.
“There is no need to ask for forgiveness. Your assumptions were correct, so I do not ask for an apology.” His hands did not reach for scrolls of old, for fear touch might ruin them from that alone, but only admired from where he sat. Yet he did take the first page of notes, carefully as if he were holding something valuable than a mere piece of paper. “I must admit, I am surprised you would willingly share this with me. There is a great deal magi have yet to understand, and many would try to use this to their advantage. Replicating it would be of no use to me; modern magecraft has deterred far too much from your era, but… It is worth preserving.”
His reaction drew a smile to the ancient mage’s face - a soft expression, but one that was no less pleased with Lord El-Melloi II’s response. Truthfully, he’d been expecting the reaction, if only because he’d come to learn that such texts were so very rare and precious in this era. That much was to be expected, given that the place which Mahad had called home so many millennia ago had been swallowed by the sands that they’d once rested upon. So many of their works had been lost, and destroyed by time’s unrelenting flow and the forces that came with it.
It was something that saddened the former priest, truth be told, and reminded him of just how old he truly was.
“It’s not something that I wish to keep locked away for however long I remain in this realm,” the Dark Magician admitted. With his elbows resting upon the arms of his chair and his hands clasped in front of him, chin resting upon them, Mahad’s gaze slid towards the books that filled his shelves. Despite his short time in this era, the mage had managed to acquire an expansive collection as he’d worked to familiarize himself with the modern world. Even with all that he’d read and seen, however, he felt so very out of touch with this time period - and he had to wonder if he would ever properly adjust to it.
“But - I recognize the dangers of allowing just anyone access to pieces from my time. There are subjects that I’ve left buried, and likely will never bring to light, lest they cause more harm than good - but as a general rule, I don’t believe that knowledge should be hidden away, when it could be otherwise used for learning.” Stormy eyes slid shut in thought, and for a few moments, the ancient mage was quiet. When they opened once more, Mahad returned his gaze to the younger mage, and once more allowed a smile to curve his lips.
“Even if you were able to make use of them, I would still be willing to impart them to you. I... don’t believe that you would abuse the information that they contain. Do with them what you will, Lord El-Melloi II. They’ll do no good, hidden away in my house where no one can lay eyes upon them.”
As did he, truth be told. Both Amir and Miriam had been kind to him, with their generosity extending beyond what Mahad would have ever expected. The priest had no memory of his own parents, save for the faintest recollection of a song, but that hardly filled the void their absence had created in the mage. Amaria’s parents, however? They’d all but treated him as a son, something which had filled Mahad with a warmth that he’d never known previously.
Though now, it felt as if something cold had settled into his chest, snuffing out some of the heat.
“I... may be able to arrange something,” the priest murmured as he sat alongside Amaria, arms circled around her in a gentle hug. Though the priest was normally careful of such contact, often becoming flustered when it came to anything that might be deemed as too intimate, such was far from his mind for the moment. Right now, Amaria needed someone to lean on - a shoulder to cry on, and a warm embrace to provide comfort. Besides that...
Mahad found that he too was in need of such comfort. Amir deserved to be remembered, regardless. He had been a great and loyal warrior, and a loving husband and father to his wife and daughter. Given his own duties, it wouldn’t be difficult to ensure that Amir was given a resting place that he deserved. It was, he thought, the least that he could do for a man who had been as close to being a father to him as the priest had ever known.
“And... if there’s anything else you would like to do, I’m sure we could. Perhaps... something that would involve your mother as well... ?”
Yugi was exhausted. It had been a long day of work and troubling customers, and to top it off the end of summer was drawing near. Even though it was a little less than a month away, the man could feel it in his bones, the slow, subtle difference from when he was super charged in the middle of the season.
Huffing, he decided to sit in the park and watch the moon rise. This was nice, just being in the quiet evening, trying to recoup. Honestly he could sleep right here in the grass or resting against a tree. There was always comfort when he was surrounded by plants after all.
But he knew that was a bad idea as he rubbed his eyes. Considering the recently quiet development in the city that was a danger to him. He couldn’t really turn off his brain anyway, there was too much to think about.
Then there was the touch against his back and he looked up, surprised to see the magician there. Yugi didn’t know what exactly called him there but, as he rubbed his back, the smaller man couldn’t say he minded. Tension slowly eased out of his shoulders and he slumped, tucking himself against Mahad’s side with a sleepy sigh.
“Thank you,” he whispered, feeling safe and calm for the first time today.
Oh... he’d seen children eating these before, if he was recalling correctly. Curiously does he take hold of one by the stick, turning it over in his hand to get a good look. The former priest could feel cold radiating down to his hand, despite the fact that he wasn’t actually touching the edible portion of the treat. He could only imagine that would make them quite refreshing in the hot summer weather.
“You made these... ?” he asks before, at last, taking an experimental lick of the treat. It was quite sweet, though it tasted more of fruit than of pure sugar, as many modern confections did. He... didn’t mind it - he might go as far to say that he liked it even, and a small smile tugs at the corners of his lips.
“It’s very good. Thank you, Yugi - I always appreciate your kindness...”
"Tasted-?” Lifting his head from where he’d been focusing intently on his scroll, stormy eyes settled upon the young man nearby - and his body soon stiffened as dread settled in his stomach. There was a cup in Ryou’s hand, a pitcher of water next to the boy, which had been brought in by a servant. The priest always made sure to cast a quick detection spell in order to ensure that his beverages were safe to drink, but the mage had been so caught up in his studies that he hadn’t bothered to do so yet.
Of course, the one time he’d waited
would be the moment that someone poisoned his water.
“How much did you drink?!” The mage was immediately on his feet, hurrying towards Ryou with wide-eyed concern. His robes billowed behind him at the sudden movement, but he hardly paid them any mind, swiftly removing the cup from the boy’s hands, as if that might prevent the further spread of any poison that might have been ingested. Of course, if a toxin had been added to the water, it was likely already beginning its work.
Gods damn his own carelessness.
“How do you feel?” Without waiting for a reply, Mahad’s hand settled over the boy’s brow, testing his temperature for the beginnings of a fever, “Are you nauseous? Dizzy? Anything like that?”
touch a gentle touch like rubbing their back, hugging them, holding their hand
cry wipe away their tears
steer place a hand under their chin to make them look up
“You are-- an impossible fool!” It was rare for Mahad to raise his voice, and even rarer for genuine anger to grip him as it did now. To see Seker like this, bandaged and lucky to be alive, was almost too much for him, for it was a reminder of how he’d almost lost the other man. It had been a close call - far too close for Mahad’s liking, and even now, there was a nervous quivering in his stomach. He hadn’t felt so terrified, so helpless, since that day when he’d stopped Seker from doing the unthinkable. He’d made the chaos mage promise to never attempt such a thing again, for to lose him, after all the death they’d already endured, was surely something that Mahad would have been unable to bear.
You wouldn’t have been able to save him this time. Those words echoed in his head, and as Mahad glared down at the injured magician, a stinging warmth grew in the corners of his eyes, much to his frustration. The last thing that he wanted was to weep, and yet that fear that still clutched hold of his heart remained, and seemed to squeeze them forth.
Gods damn his weakness, and gods damn Seker for reminding him of it. What good was all the power, all the magic, in existence, if it continued to fail him this way? He struggled to collect himself, a hand reaching up to rub his face as shuddering breaths were drawn in. He heard Seker utter his name softly, concern evident in his voice, but the priest wouldn’t lift his eyes - wouldn’t let the other man see how his desperation was threatening to run down his cheeks.
Then there was touch - a warm hand upon his shoulder, trying to coax him closer, while another touched his jaw. As trails ran down his cheeks, a thumb stroked them away gently. Even without Seker speaking, the contact urged Mahad to crumple into the other man’s hold, to let himself be wrapped up in an embrace from someone who was his dear friend - and to let the chaos magician apologize, perhaps, for upsetting him so.
Despite the temptation, however, that ache in his chest fueled his normally dormant temper, and with a sound of frustration, the priest tore away, glaring at the other mage as he straightened. Tears or no tears, he would not be coddled and told that everything was alright, and that Seker was fine - not when the other man had barely escaped with his life, the bandages wrapped around his torso acting as a testament to that.
“Do not,” he snapped, trying to keep his distraught rage from bubbling too far over the surface, “I don’t want to hear whatever you think will justify this, or how you think that it was necessary. I begged for your life once, and yet you continue to gamble with it, as if it’s worth no more than a dried piece of grain!”
Those trails came faster now, streaming down to drip from his chin, but now, Mahad paid them no mind. Taunting reminders swirled in his head, about how he’d failed those he cared most for once already, and now, he was doing so all over again. Did the other man not understand how afraid he’d been? How his belly had twisted with dread when he’d heard that Seker had been badly hurt, and when the thought of him dying had passed through his mind?
“I don’t know if I can stand to see the person I love do that to himself-”
It had been a simple slip, but an important one - not a general statement, as if Seker were merely one of Mahad’s close friends. The realization of what he’d said in his outburst had Mahad halting almost immediately, and very nearly did he choke on the air in his lungs, eyes widening while his body stiffened with horror. His legendary composure had already been compromised, and now, it teetered on the edge of falling completely.
Okay, but real talk: Mahad is terrible when it comes to romance, or even when it comes to having feelings for someone. He has the terrible habit of burying romantic affections, and tends to become incredibly flustered in instances where someone shows an interest in him. Granted, he can reach the point where he’ll confess to someone, but normally, it takes him a long time to work up the nerve.
Though once he’s in a relationship with someone, he can be quite sweet. He’s very loyal and protective of his partner, as well as quite soft. He’s the type to be completely content sitting with his other half in silence, and simply enjoy their presence, even if no conversation is taking place. Quiet cuddles are probably his favorite type of non-sexual activity when it comes to a romantic partner.
