[fatesprincess-blog]

Finally!

The blog is complete! Horray! Let me know what you think?

[fatesprincess-blog]

I’m going to be completely redoing this page as well as my application c: I have a spiffy theme in mind, so it’ll be all cleaned up within the next few hours.

[2ndbanana-blog1]

While life in the Deeprealms was no fun, she was just glad to be out of there really– experiencing the real world was her number one priority for now.

She smiled, clasping her hands together excitedly. Knowing that she was no different from a princess was surely a nice feeling!

“Really? That’s wonderful, ehe! I look forward to going with you.” She nodded.

She listened attentively to what the book was about, her eyes seemed to get even bigger at every word that Corrin said. She was kind of bummed that the book didn’t have anything about boys kissing, but what can you do?

“Eueheh! That sounds so sweet, I can’t wait to start reading it now! I’ll read as slowly as I can, though, so you can finish working on yours!” She was so thoughtful. “Thank you again, I can’t express how gracious I am!”

[fatesprincess-blog]

    “I look forward to it too,” Corrin smiled, actually rather excited to have a planned outing. It was a rather rare occurrence – though she imagined everyone felt similarly. Between constantly moving, fighting, and dealing with politics, it was a miracle if anyone managed to make plans. Of course, nothing was set in stone, but she thought it’d make sense to go while they were still near the city.

    “No need to thank me; I’m just glad you’re interested!” Her cheeks were rosy as she wondered how exactly to work out future plans. Though she was able to help lead an army, she could barely even work up the courage to be forward at times.

    She thought perhaps she’d go into town later to at least see when the play was going on. Tomorrow was going to be a slow day anyway; there was a chance she’d be able to sneak out for a few hours with little fuss. “Maybe we can catch up tomorrow,” she added. If nothing else, they could at least go into town; shopping was fun too. There was also a rather large library. Surely they could find something to do if she was interested.

[tacticalcaptains-blog]

Sword Bonding || Closed w/ Corrin

@fatesprincess

Everyone spoke nicely of Lady Corrin, and not just because of the fact of her royal status. People spoke of her as a kind, loving person, one who wouldn’t want to harm anyone. At least, this is what she has only heard.

Even after being in the army for a few months now, it seemed that the princess did not take much of an interest in Soleil, hardly speaking to her after the incident of her undressing (or rather, already undressed) in the cafeteria. It was not unheard of that she undresses in the strangest of places, even out in public, but even then, she has never had someone avoid her due to it. Perhaps it wasn’t the best first impression to leave on royalty.

Though she felt no regrets, Soleil still felt the need to try and bond with Corrin, hoping to establish some sort of relationship with her.

That was why she called the princess here today. Grasping her own weapon tightly in hand as the other approached her, she waved towards her, throwing her sword over her shoulder.

“Hey, Lady Corrin!” A smile curved onto her lips, happy to see that her invitation wasn’t declined. “Glad to see you made it!”

[fatesprincess-blog]

    Corrin knew every little about Soleil – she’d actually venture to say she knew less about Soleil than almost anyone else in the army. She was a beautiful young woman and an impressive fighter, but the few encounters Corrin had with her in the past were… strange, to say the least. Corrin wasn’t one to judge; she was accepting of all types of people. Mostly, though, she found that was because a part of her could relate to everyone. At this point, she still didn’t find that connection with Soleil.

    Soleil had invited Corrin to meet up with her that day, and she accepted. Corrin was actually excited for the opportunity to learn more about her. Perhaps that time in the cafeteria was a fluke! Though, there was also that time she tried to undress outside… and that other time when she…

    The princess quickly shook her head, trying to disregard what had happened. This was a chance to spend time with her, and she was going to do her best to make sure things went well.

    “Good morning, Soleil! I’m glad you invited me,” she waved as she approached. A part of her was relieved to find that she was fully clothed today. She took quick notice of her drawn sword. “Would you like to spar? I’m up for anything, really,” she added. She had brought her sword because she had planned to train later in the day anyway. Honestly, a bit of swordplay seemed like the most normal type of encounter she could imagine with the girl.

[fulminationprince-deactivated20]

practice || corrin [revelation]

“So tell me, Corrin. How much do you know about Hoshidan swordplay?”

The question was innocent enough, to an onlooker, but it was both laced with purpose and his own genuine curiosity - Ryoma had only a general idea of what the woman had learned while she was forcibly raised in Nohr, away from her family, all those years ago.

This also served as a chance for him to learn something about Nohrian swordplay as well - he was proud to see she could handle herself in battle on her own, but it annoyed him to the point of him wanting to do something tor her, and also prove that he was just as good sibling as a certain blonde prince.

Seated on one of the benches near the entrance to the arena, his crimson armor glinted in the midafternoon sunlight. Strapped at his side, as always, was Raijinto - he would not take any chances, not again.

“Come, sit.” He patted the empty space beside him.

[fatesprincess-blog]

    Corrin had woken up early, perhaps earlier than she needed to. Ryoma had requested to speak with her, and her curiosity kept her awake. She knew it probably wasn’t anything incredibly serious – at least not now. Afterall, she did want to spend more time with him. There was no reason to be nervous.

    “Hoshidan swordplay?” It only took Corrin a moment to consider her answer to the question she was posed with. “I’m afraid I know very little, actually,” she gritted her teeth slightly, realizing this was a major flaw in her combat knowledge.

    He must have noticed her silence as he directed her to have a seat with him. She did, placing herself on the bench beside him. It was a rather nice day out, and Ryoma seemed invigorated, to a degree. It wasn’t just sparring she missed out on – she missed out on her older brother. It still had barely even settled in her mind.

    “I would love to learn, though. Perhaps I could even teach you some Nohrian tricks!” She tried her best to keep her mind on track. If they were to spar, she’d certainly have to be on her game. Actually, she’d have to perform even better than usual.

[2ndbanana-blog1]

“Ah, correct!” Nina said, clapping her hands together. She hoped Corrin wasn’t mad about that– weapon checks were bo-ring, and she had better things to do. Maybe she’d understand? Nina would rather be doing things she enjoyed, truthfully.

“I enjoy going to see plays, actually!” She said, nodding. Her eyes lit up when Corrin mentioned wanting to see it. “Yes! That was the one I saw, it was so cuuuute and romantic, uhuhu.” It made her heart flutter just to think about it.

“I never knew you were the kind for romance, Lady Corrin! Next time there’s a play going on, we should see it together, don’t you think? And then we’ll have all soooorts of things to talk about!” She said, smiling sweetly. It was always a nice thing to find someone who shared a common interest– she thought so at least.

“M-My hobbies?” She staggered. “I think you hit the nail on the head, actually! I’m sure this book will be great! If someone as important as you likes it, surely it’s good!”

[fatesprincess-blog]

    Of course, Nina’s absence during weapon checks was… more work for Corrin. Regardless, she wasn’t really upset by it. After all, she was one of the children they had recruited. After having spent almost their entire lives separated from their parents in the Deeprealms, members like Nina were now having the remainder of their childhoods sapped by being told to fight. It was… no wonder Nina took any opportunity she could to get away.

    Corrin let out a small laugh, “That sounds fun, actually. I’d love to go sometime!” She wasn’t surprised that Nina was shocked to learn about such an interest from her. Hey, even princesses read romance novels! She just didn’t often have time after the war began.

    “I-It’s about a young woman who’s forced to fight in the war. A prince saved her from a group of bandits, so she joins his ranks in hopes of repaying him.” She thought for a moment. “She ends up falling in love with the prince, but he’s involved in an arranged marriage. Even after he marries, she stays in the army just to be near him.”

    Corrin tried her best to wipe the apparent smile off her face, “I have the other four novels in the series, but I haven’t started the second one yet. So, if you end up liking this one, I’d be happy to give you those too. Though, if you don’t like it, I’ve got plenty of books in my room you’re welcome to look at,” she added. Taking time off was important; she was actively trying to do so whenever she could spare it in order to avoid overworking herself. It was easier for her to justify it if she was helping another member of the army relax as well.

[fatesprincess-blog]

Butler for a Day {Corrin & Jakob}

[dourbutler-blog]

While he’d known full well his excuse was lame, there was something about Corrin’s pointing such out that made Jakob feel doubly foolish and ashamed for even trying to pull it on her. 

“Milady, I’m sure it’s just the chills,” he contested, correcting her in a last-ditch effort to at least deflect her concerns a little bit (he knew better than to try and dismiss her at this point) and bringing his free hand up to wipe at his forehead with the sleeve. He… really wasn’t feeling alright, and he couldn’t even deny it anymore: Jakob’s vision was still swimming, he knew full well he was sweating and flushed, and it was an uphill battle not to fall right back to sleep. 

He couldn’t even find it in himself to argue when Corrin, again, understated the degree to which she’d aided him–today and in the past. She was right, of course: he did need to get well soon, even if he disagreed on how much needed to be done for him to ensure he would make a timely recovery. 

“Mhm, of course… I will get well,” he murmured, almost slurring the words entirely, “but… if you were to fall ill…” 

For a few moments, Jakob rested against Corrin without fully realizing such, and just about dozed off… until the proximity of Corrin in relation to himself became evident by the hand placed on his back, from which he jolted and recoiled slightly. Gods, she shouldn’t be touching him, not in his state.

“Lady Corrin, I’m quite serious,” Jakob stated, concern lacing every word, “if you were to fall ill because of me, I’d feel terrible…” No sooner than when he’d spoken those words did he wish he could take them back. Of course, it was the truth, but he never wanted Corrin to assume she was at fault for his bizarre and borderline petulant decisions; yet, here he was, probably making her feel guilty over them.

Of course there was no stopping Corrin once she had her mind set to something… he just didn’t want her to feel bad for it, and he could feel his stomach twisting from his anxiety over the situation. He hoped it was an overreaction. 

[fatesprincess-blog]

    Jakob’s confirmation that he had the chills only served to further worry Corrin. She knew he was sick, and at this point it wasn’t even a question of exactly how sick he was. He was fatigued, shivering, and he seemed to be dizzy as well… Not to mention the fact that she was positive he was running a fever on top of it all.

    She looked down to see him leaning against her. She had taken the opportunity to try to help him upright with her arm, but he was quick to notice and jolt away. A small sigh escaped her as he began to speak again.

    “Believe me, Jakob, I know you’re serious,” she responded, her hand recoiling. She had no intensions of deliberately getting herself sick, of course, but if everyone avoided those that were ill or otherwise incapacitated… there would be no healers. Granted, she wasn’t a healer by any stretch of the imagination when it came to wounds or illness, but certainly she could afford to exercise some basic human care.

    She hadn’t really had to physically care for anyone before; rather, Jakob was always the one caring for her. Because of that, though, Corrin knew a thing or two about the procedures. She wanted to start off by making sure he was comfortable, in other words off the floor, so that he wouldn’t experience any muscular cramps. Being in bed would also help him control his temperature; he’d be able to open the windows or use the blanket depending on how he felt.

    She winced as he finally spoke again. She knew he’d be difficult to deal with if she got sick from this; she was well-aware. Yet, now that it was a confirmed consequence, she was nervous. She didn’t want Jakob to resent her or himself for something as benign as coming down with an illness. She lowered her eyes, wondering what the proper course of action was.

    “I’m sorry I’ve been so… forceful,” Corrin managed to push the last word out with some work. In her effort to emulate Jakob’s seemingly flawless performance, she simply became pushy and almost frustrated that things weren’t going as smoothly for her as they did for him. He wasn’t forceful, but he had a way about him that was sort of… all-business, in a way.

    “I promise I’ll do my best not to get sick… just,” she looked away, seemingly embarrassed. “Let me take care of you for a day. It’s just one day.”

[shslidk-blog]

     ❝Or at least they would like to be unknown.❞ Wearing a paper bag over one’s head didn’t exactly provide one much of a disguise, but they certainly didn’t want to be known. He might as well not out them without their permission. 

      Xander waited ever so patiently for Corrin to finish her train of thought. It was rude to cut in after all.

    ❝Excellent,❞ he smiled just a bit at her response. It’d be lovely to share fruit with his dear sister like they used to. It wasn’t often they could spend time outside of training and meetings, what with Nohr on the brink of war. 

     With a hum, he looked over the melon pensively. It probably would be easily cut if he used Siegfried, but that would be a blasphemous use for such a divine blade. Just an average kitchen knife should do the trick. ❝It might be, but the longer we put it off is longer that we have to wait to eat it.❞

     He motioned her to follow as he turned, with the melon in hand, toward Castle Krakenburg’s kitchen area. ❝Don’t worry, I’ll cut this myself. It shouldn’t prove too difficult for the crown prince of Nohr.❞ … He hoped.

[fatesprincess-blog]

    The fact that this delivery person wished to remain anonymous was… almost unsettling. Regardless, Corrin decided to brush it aside the best she could. She was grateful that anyone would take the time to give a gift, particularly during the economically draining times of the war. Granted, everyone in the army was paid for their service, but times were tough. A little thoughtfulness was sometimes hard to come by, especially when she and Xander were always so wrapped up in their work to begin with.

    She followed next to him, glancing at the melon again. Was it unusual that her first instinct was to slice the fruit with her Yato? Of course, she wouldn’t do that, but it was the first thing she had thought of. She wouldn’t admit it, though. Certainly Xander wouldn’t have thought of such a silly thing!

    Corrin nodded, her expression becoming brighter. “I just hope the kitchen has knives large enough,” she added, certainly not doubting his ability to slice a fruit. It just wasn’t often that they had a supply of watermelon, but the kitchen was well-stocked. At the worst, it’d just take a bit of muscle.

    She continued towards the kitchen with him, smiling inwardly. Something about sharing watermelon in the summertime with her older brother seemed so… normal. Well, it wasn’t normal for them, but she felt this scenario was common for those with regular lives – lives outside of war and conquest.

    She couldn’t help but to think about it again. It felt so normalizing. It was such an innocent time away from work that it was almost completely foreign to her. That wasn’t good, she thought. These scenarios shouldn’t be so unusual to her. Perhaps that just meant they ought to do more things in that vein together. Though, it wasn’t easy…

    “We’re finally here,” Corrin stepped into the kitchen with him after they made their way through the winding hallways. “The trip feels even longer when you know there’s watermelon at the end.” It was no surprise that she couldn’t wait as she looked over the impressive display of cutlery before them.

[fatesprincess-blog]

romanticrascal:

Fiction. She liked fiction, it was true. Hopefully Corrin would tell her what she was hoping she would tell her.

Did… she say… her heart skipped a beat, almost.

“R-Romance?” Were her hobbies really that obvious? (They were.) She had hoped that maybe Corrin had just given her the book on a whim, without knowing about… her strange hobbies.

Her hands turned the book over a few more times, and she began to skim through the pages.

“Oh my! This does look like a very nice book, ehehe! Thank you again, princess! I’ll enjoy every page of it, I assure you!”

She then titled her head to the side perplexedly.

“Hey… does this mean you’re a fan of romance novels as well, hm?”

    Ahhh… of course she asked for clarification. Well, Corrin supposed there was certainly no harm done. She did seem interested in the book, and her hobbies weren’t that embarrassing – particularly not around someone like Nina. If she were admitting this to, say, Xander… that’d be a different story.

    “Well, I noticed you had left the grounds one day while I was doing weapon inventory checks,” Corrin recalled. “When I asked where you were, I was told you were attending a play nearby.” She suddenly laughed, albeit a bit nervously. “I knew it was a romantic comedy because I myself was looking into going.”

    Of course, it was a bit of a leap to just assume she was interested in the entire genre based on one instance, but she thought there was a good chance. After all, it wasn’t an uncommon interest among young women. Though they were part of an army, they still enjoyed softer things in life.

    “But, more to the point, I really don’t know what your hobbies are,” Corrin’s face tensed up a bit. “I just thought perhaps you’d enjoy this novel. I, ah… I liked them a lot when I was your age, actually.”

    Nina wasn’t that much younger than Corrin, and she certainly wasn’t trying to sound condescending, but she definitely saw a bit of herself in her. She recalled reading a lot as a younger adult – so much so that she’d often be seen at gatherings with a novel in hand. During the time, she was almost entirely into fiction, so romance and fantasy genres came up often. She never told her brothers about it – she’d sometimes mention them to Elise, but she never went into too much detail.

    Truthfully, Corrin wanted to build a relationship with everyone in the army, and it was very difficult to know where to start. She sort of had to take a plunge based on the little info she had on the outlaw, and she hoped she’d hit the mark.

[fatesprincess-blog]

Butler for a Day {Corrin & Jakob}

dourbutler:

Jakob finally managed to grasp his cup properly, and took another sip as he observed Corrin, who looked troubled suddenly; he found out why before he could ask about it.

“I–” he started, before immediately clamming up; Jakob had no idea what to say. He certainly didn’t want to say anything that would give her the slightest reason to feel somehow responsible for whatever perceived discomfort he was experiencing.

“Well, I figured the floor would be a fine place to lie for the time being,” he mentioned–it was the truth, after all–and, pressing a now-bare hand on the ground as if to demonstrate, added, “Look here–it’s much cooler than a bed would be.” He tried to look at Corrin, wondering if she actually bought his excuse, but he suddenly found it hard to focus much on her at all–and she wasn’t even that far away. Jakob glanced back away; trying to focus onanything in particular seemed to just make him dizzier. She seemed upset however, and he knew it was something he’d done.

Why was she going so far out of her way to try and help him stave off some illness? Her well-being took precedence over his by far, and the thought of not only having become a burden to her–“Again,” Jakob recalled–but also risking bringing harm to her in the form of illness was almost too much to bear.

Jakob hated how Corrin had gotten the impression that she was ever a burden to him; that he somehow resented her; that he didn’t literally live to serve her; that serving her wasn’t an immense honor, nor a source of much joy to him; that he deserved such joy (happiness he selfishly relished in); that sheever owed him anything. Jakob hated how he could not bring himself to tell Corrin, concisely, plainly, how important she was to him.

“Lady Corrin, you’ve done so much for me already,” Jakob murmured quietly, as he loosened his sleeves–how could he feel so uncomfortably flushed and still be shivering?– “ You really shouldn’t concern yourself so much over something like this.” Jakob realized he had been leaning heavily on the hand he’d set down as part of his little demonstration, and, as uncomfortable as the position was, feared moving from it, lest he fall over.

   Corrin watched as Jakob attempted to justify the floor being a suitable space for him for the time he was ill. Of course, from the moment he spoke, Corrin had no real intentions of taking the argument to heart. It was ridiculous. If he was cold, he could simply lay on the bed without using the blankets. How was he to get well like this?

   “But you’re shivering, Jakob,” she said firmly, remaining seated next to him. His movements wouldn’t be incredibly obvious on any other person, but, on him, these slight falters were so difficult not to notice. Even in combat he was so poised. In the heat of battle, Corrin always found herself trying to locate him. When she did, he was always so steady. He’d stand as he always did with his chest perfectly straight and sometimes even an arm behind his back. Corrin knew it wasn’t a skill everyone had, because she looked like a mess half the time. She was always pushing hair out of her face and whisking sweat off her forehead that it almost added another element she had to incorporate into her strategy.

   She knew she wasn’t mistaken about him either: though her focus was unwavering, she alwayskept an eye on him on the field. It wasn’t that she felt he was incapable – quite the contrary – rather, she knew he was one of her greatest assets both on and off the battlefield. He never strayed far from her even in the confusion of battle, but she always made sure he, in particular, was as unwavering as always.

   He finally spoke again, but it still wasn’t to agree with her. “I really haven’t done that much for you,” Corrin winced. She knew this wasn’t easy for him, but she wanted him to understand that no one else would see him like this – he truly didn’t have to worry about saving face, if that was the issue. Corrin saw everything in the army, and if she was someone who held people to an impossible standard or judged others based on their falters, she wouldn’t be where she was today. Of course she understood how incompetent he must feel for not being able to do his job for a day or two – she imagined she’d be twice as stubborn if put in the same situation – but this was so important.

   “Jakob,” Corrin spoke softly, almost wondering if the words would even come out. “It is your dutyto get well again, isn’t it?” She placed a hand behind his back, hoping he would use the support to pull himself back up and sit on the bed.

[2ndbanana-blog1]

¤

¤: a book to read

Nina’s eyes lit up at the book Corrin was holding before her. Was… was it for her? It must have been!

“Wow, for me? Oh, Lady Corrin… you really shouldn’t have!” She says, as if it’s no big deal, but she can’t help feel simply ecstatic at the fact that she’s giving her something. Getting gifts from other people was enough to make her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Nina took the book from the other, and turned it over in her hands a few times before speaking again.

“Soooo… what’s it about? Surely it must be important if you’re gifting it to me, ehehe…” Maybe it was about boys?! She could dream.

[fatesprincess-blog]

    Corrin found herself almost immediately chuckling. Nina’s reaction was heartwarming; she hadn’t expected her to be excited over a silly book. Though, it was one of her favorites. She knew if anyone would enjoy it, it’d certainly be Nina.

   “It’s nothing important, really,” she smiled. “A-Actually…”

    Corrin paused, suddenly feeling almost shy about the whole thing. She only just realized she hadn’t considered the fact she’d have to explain what exactly the book was. The others in the army probably didn’t know about her hobbies; she was almost positive they just assumed she spent all of her time working.

    That wasn’t the case, though. At night, she often enjoyed reading in her room, particularly when she couldn’t sleep. She read all sorts of things from battle strategy manuscripts to entertaining fiction. She… actually had quite the interest in stories outside of textbooks.

    “It’s actually a fictional novel; I just finished reading it,” she admitted, still not completely getting to the point. She knew Nina was incredibly intelligent, and she also knew she enjoyed her hobbies and interests without hesitation. This was a mutual interest, after all. So… she could probably just tell her.

    “It’s the first volume in a romance series, actually,” she added. The book was actually beautifully written which was the main reason she wanted to give it to her. It wasn’t even so much about the genre as it was about the writing. Corrin had heard that Nina enjoyed plays and fantasy stories, and, truthfully, Corrin did as well. She… actually lacked a friend to talk about those hobbies with.

[fatesprincess-blog]

Morality Meme

⚖: Has your muse broken the law before? Broken a vow or promise?

⚔: Would your muse kill if they had to in order to protect a loved one?

🌟: Do they consider themselves a good person?

👑: Is your muse honorable?

☯: What do they think of 'good' and 'evil'?

🌹: When would they tell a lie?

🍷: Would they manipulate someone to get what they want?

⛨: What would they sacrifice their life for?

💋: How easily are they tempted?

☽: What is their alignment?

⚠: Would they seek revenge against someone who's harmed them or the people they care about?

[fatesprincess-blog]

Hey Corrin, it's watermelon season! -Hands u a watermelon grown in the shape of a valentine with sprinkles on top... for some reason- Enjoy.

    Corrin’s face read with nothing but sheer bewilderment as she looked down at the romantically-shaped fruit at her doorstep. She was no stranger to gifts; townsfolk often greeted her with incredibly generous offers of things they really couldn’t afford to give to her in turn for saving them. One part of her always told her to refuse, but another force was telling her it was rude to turn down someone’s act of generosity. It seemed to hurt them far more when she’d insist she didn’t require any sort of compensation.

    She stepped out past the fruit, looking around. There was no one in sight. She wondered if perhaps they hid in the bushes, watching to see how she’d respond. No, that’s ridiculous. It was just a simple gift, probably from one of the local villagers.

    But… the shape…

    “Well…” Corrin called out, hoping perhaps the person was still in the general area. “Thank you for the gift!”

    She reached down to lift it, finding it to be surprisingly heavy. She was thankful, though. It wasn’t often they had watermelon lying around the dining hall. Perhaps she’d share this with the rest of the army, or at least anyone that stopped by to visit her. The heart shape and sprinkles, though… She secretly wished she could keep intact and on display in her room…

[fatesprincess-blog]

"I received a mysterious watermelon from unknown person. But it's relatively large, would you like some?"

     “An… unknown person?”

     Corrin stared down at the fruit, gritting her teeth momentarily. Well, he was right though: it certainly was sizeable. Whoever it was must have had quite a time carrying it to his doorstep. Perhaps it was from one of the more physically fit members of the army…

     A small silence passed, though it was obviously to accommodate Corrin’s pondering time.

     “I’d definitely like to share some,” she agreed. Well, whoever it was certainly did a nice thing for Xander, and, in turn, for her. Just who was this mysterious watermelon delivery person?

     “This is going to be quite the task to cut… isn’t it?”

     Corrin’s eyes drifted from Xander back down to the fruit in question. Gods, just what was this about? It was rare for there to be such innocent and pleasant surprises such as this, so perhaps that was the source of her skepticism. Either way, she was fully prepared to indulge in some watermelon with him.

[fateprincess-blog]

After Dusk {Corrin & OPEN}

[shslidk-blog]

     He was used to being up this late; studying and whatnot. Night was Nohr’s element. His element. It bothered him at first, of course. When the sun hid behind dark, grey clouds never to be seen unless, by some miracle, it decided to show it’s golden crown. It was those times he really enjoyed, especially with his family.

     But this night was different. It… It made him uneasy... As if his past sins were looming in that darkness, as it prepared to strike him with a fatal blow. ( And, at times, it nearly did. )

     Walks tended to clear his mind when he felt this way. When that darkness somehow seemed into his chest and made it hard to breath as he normally could. The thoughts of previous battles and the ghosts of those he had killed would cloud his mind and he’d feel absolutely horrid. As if the blood were still fresh on his blade. 

     Hah! What a joke of a prince. How was he supposed to take the crown and make hard, sacrificial decisions, if he couldn’t even handle this! Father worked hard for his country, to give them the peace they wanted. Even if the way he went about it seemed… selfish. 

     A welcome voice disrupted his thoughts as he turned his gaze to the source.  ❝Corrin…?❞ He said aloud, as if he meant to spoke to himself rather than her. ❝What are you doing awake at this hour? You should be asleep, not wandering the castle. It’s dangerous.❞  

     He prayed his voice held steady enough to push back his thoughts and to fool his sister. As much as he loved, cared, and trusted her… There were things he couldn’t bring himself to say to her. One of them being her true origins. ( He feared she would leave the family in favour of them. It was only natural for others to want to be with their ‘true’ family… right? )

[fatesprincess-blog]

    Corrin’s eyes narrowed, straining to see through the darkness. The figure appeared to have noticed her, but the air was thick and almost foggy. It certainly wasn’t the most beautiful night for a walk, but it was dark. Sometimes the darkness was comforting, contrary to popular belief. With less stimulation, Corrin often found it easier to relax.

    Though, she did wonder if perhaps it had something to do with the land in which she was brought up. Perhaps her feelings came from spending long hours awake in the castle staring out at the moonlit water. Maybe her energy was a result of the long nights she spent going through the motions. She almost lived in the moonlight, come to think.

    Corrin’s tapered ears nearly perked up as a familiar voice responded. It wasn’t just a familiar voice – it was perhaps the most familiar voice in her life.

    “Xander…!”

    The princess replied, her breath almost escaping her. She admitted that she was quite relieved; though she wasn’t scared, the fact that it was Xander wandering outside made her feel less alone. She liked her time without company – she did, truly – but gods the nights could get so quiet, especially when she couldn’t sleep.

    “I’m fine, Xander,” she finally continued. She immediately felt herself become less tense, though she imagined it probably wasn’t so obvious through the dusk. “I just… couldn’t sleep. I’m sure you’re familiar with this.”

    She let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the air a little. He was right – of course she ought not to be wandering around at such odd hours, but she really didn’t have too much to worry about. At least, that’s what she told herself. And, anyway, he wasn’t a stranger to midnight strolls himself. She knew that perfectly well, and yet she still felt a tinge of guilt any time he caught her. Perhaps guilt wasn’t the correct word, she thought. She simply knew there was no other way to counter the bouts of restlessness – at least, not that she knew of.

    Of course, she could easily ask what he was doing outside at such an hour, but she hesitated. He always seemed to have an answer to everything. He could easily just brush it off as a product of his late-night studying, but something always felt unusual to Corrin. She had no real reason to doubt him, and she never really consciously did, but she wondered if perhaps he had other reasons behind his seemingly benign actions.

    “What brings you outside tonight? Were you studying again?”

    A small smile formed on Corrin’s lips. She tried to sound lighthearted about the question, because she truly wasn’t trying to pry, but she hoped he’d at least entertain the conversation. After all, there was a chance he’d simply dismiss her and tell her she shouldn’t be outside at night, but she was willing to take her chances.

[fateprincess-blog]

After Dusk {Corrin & OPEN}

    Corrin couldn’t sleep. Again. 

    It didn’t help that she had been getting into the habit of staying up late. The problem was, she always set aside time before bed to review books on battle strategies. The trouble was, of course, the inability to stop mid-chapter. If she stopped, she knew she’d have to start over from the beginning the next day.

    Well, either way, she stood almost aimlessly in the center of the castle grounds. Again.

    She supposed there was no real harm in it – midnight strolls could be relaxing, after all. Everyone was asleep… It was rather quiet. There were a few soldiers standing around, just as a general safety precaution in regards to a night watch, but they were all located around the boarders.

    Corrin let out a breath, running a hand over a bush that stood beside her. Everything about the castle grounds seemed so different at night. The trees were almost looming, and it seemed… lonely without the usual hustle and bustle. It… sort of reminded her of when she first started her journey. Even then, it wasn’t this quiet.

    Her thoughts slowed until she found herself mostly unable to focus. She wasn’t really tired, but her brain seemed to want to check out for the night. She knew staying up this late wasn’t healthy, but what good would lying in bed do anyway?

    The princess felt a breeze. It caused the foliage to move a bit, but it also seemed to produce a bit more sound than she expected. The gusts weren’t particularly strong… though perhaps it had knocked something over?

    No, that couldn’t be the case. Even after the wind halted, Corrin continued to hear sounds. Footsteps? Now that she considered it, they certainly did sound like that. She hadn’t thought about it previously because she mostly assumed no one was wandering around the castle interior at this hour. Who was it?

    Corrin turned around, squinting in the direction of the sound. Sure enough, there was a figure a few feet ahead. She certainly couldn’t make out who it was, but she didn’t worry much. No one suspicious should have gotten past the guards, and they were all still at their posts, seemingly alert. Even if it was someone she didn’t recognize, she knew she’d be able to handle it. The wind suddenly picked up again, forcing her to push the blonde hair out of her face as she stepped forward.

    “Excuse me,” Corrin raised her voice, still at a distance, “Is everything alright?”

[fateprincess-blog]

Butler for a Day {Corrin & Jakob}

[dourbutler-blog]

Preposterous! Jakob could not stand the thought of the rabble harassing his liege; he’d just gotten to the point where he’d become unpleasant enough for them to leave him alone for the most part! Before he could properly object however, Corrin slipped into the side room to change; when she’d re-emerged, she immediately spoke up, reminding him he needed to eat, in spite of how he felt, before slipping out, presumably, to prepare breakfast. 

With that, his objections were successfully stifled, and he shivered as a chill came over him. 

 Jakob didn’t even bother to wait ten seconds before sliding onto the floor, taking Corrin’s plush comforter with him. It was as good as soiled anyway; he made a mental note to be sure to burn the comforter later, in addition to the rest of the bedding and bed itself (just in case); he could afford to buy Corrin a new bed and sheets–better ones if need be. 

As he lie there, simultaneously shivering against the chills and starting to sweat from overheating, Jakob tried to remember the last time he’d fallen ill. The only other times he could think off were the unrelated occurrences of when he’d passed out from dehydration and an incident where he ended up vomiting from stress, both of which occurred when he was quite young, and early in his years of service to the castle. Anything else must have been much earlier still; it was probably for the best he had no recollection of such. As terrible as he liked to pretend Gunter was, to some degree, the man did look out for Jakob’s well-being better than his parents ever did. As he reminisced, Jakob found himself nodding off, and deciding it couldn’t hurt to rest his eyes for a moment… 

He awoke with a jolt at Corrin’s cheery greeting upon her return, and was completely disorientated for a few moments, dully murmuring, “m-milady I apologize–I should have been up sooner, I should have–” as the wave of dizziness from his sudden movements hit him, he hazily recalled the context for the situation, and calmed down, though not completely. 

 “…welcome back, milady,” Jakob greeted as the delirium ebbed away somewhat. A dull headache was beginning to bloom, and he figured he’d need something to drink soon. He looked over the offered breakfast; simple, toast and tea (with various spreads for the former) but inoffensive enough. “Thank you,” said Jakob, with a small smile. All things considered, the food didn’t look terrible.

“With how our lessons turned out, it should be much worse,” he thought sourly as he took a piece of toast; he owed it to Corrin to make that up to her at some point. The toast was… it wasn’t good (being burned at all tended to ruin what otherwise would be merely passable foods), but he could manage it, and the burns were not so bad as to render it a bitter, inedible mess. Additionally, the spreads certainly helped (he helped himself to the strawberry jam in particular). The tea, too, was perfectly serviceable, and given how parched he was, Jakob wondered if he’d have complained about it even if anyone but Corrin served him such. A bit watered down, but there was enough sugar in it that it tasted pleasant enough. 

She was far from a master chef, but Corrin certainly knew how to compensate at least.

She’d muttered something that he couldn’t quite catch, and Jakob turned his attention to her, as he poured himself another cup of tea, seemingly having forgotten their arrangement, and asked, “pardon, Lady Corrin?” When he stopped paying attention, Jakob forgot about his present issues of steadiness, and began missing the cup entirely as he swayed.

[fateprincess-blog]

    The princess watched as he tried to grab the tea with awfully shaky hands. He did eat the food – granted it was with no comments – but he didn’t seem to be making any expressions that were similar to disgust. Perhaps he was just trying to be nice. After all, it was toast. Even with how badly the lessons had gone in the beginning, toast was really very basic. The only reason it turned out presumably alright was because it was the most basic dish she could come up with. Now, had she tried to make anything more advanced than that, she’d be back to the early days of their tea-making lessons.

    And, anyway, the toast was still burnt, and the tea cold, so she really hadn’t succeeded in any way aside from not burning the kitchen down. Perhaps his standards had simply lowered. Well… he seemed to like it at least, right? Perhaps like was a strong word. She knew he needed to eat something at the very least – going on an empty stomach was simply going to make him worse.

    She started to wonder if she really knew anything about how to properly take care of a person. Well, she knew the routine, but she couldn’t seem to execute even the most basic steps. The toast was burnt; the tea was cold… With another sigh, her eyes drifted towards the scene before her. Corrin realized she had gotten almost completely consumed by the thought of whether or not the breakfast would be edible that she hadn’t addressed the elephant in the room.

    “Jakob… What are you doing on the floor?”

    Sure enough, he was actually lying on the floor. Corrin found herself in such disbelief that she almost thought she was seeing things. The idea of her caretaker lying on the ground instead of in the empty bed next to him would seem incredibly cruel had he not been the one to do it to himself. She couldn’t quite decide what the reason for it was either. She thought perhaps he genuinely believed it was inappropriate for him to be resting in her bed, but that seemed almost absurd to her. Perhaps he was more worried about the spread of his illness.

    Her expression softened as she considered it. She supposed that was a valid argument, but she didn’t necessarily always go with the most rational decisions if she could help it. No, she had already made up her mind. He was to stay in her bed, and if he wanted to, she would allow him to wash the blankets when he was well again.

    She noticed he was looking at her again, seemingly confused. He was having an awfully difficult time focusing, or so it seemed. Gods, perhaps he was worse than she thought. 

    Corrin took a moment to consider the fact that perhaps she had been to brash. She let her concern get the better of her. Actually, she let her concern completely dictate her behavior. Gods, that certainly wasn’t a good quality for a leader to have.

    “Jakob…” her face finally read with an almost helpless worry. At first, she tried to hide her concern through just… taking over all of his duties. Certainly she wasn’t capable of that, but she knew he wouldn’t go for the suggestion she wanted to make from the very beginning. 

    Perhaps his delirium would allow her to squeeze a yes out of him. After all, he could barely pick up his cup on his own, and he was laying on the floor.

    “Let’s get you back on the bed, okay?” Corrin gritted her teeth a bit, glancing away in a hint of embarrassment. She couldn’t get herself to say it. This is what she knew she was trying to avoid from the beginning. By being all-business about the situation, she could stay away from saying anything embarrassing. More to the point, it would have helped her at least keep her emotions at bay.

    Now that she realized this path wouldn’t work, though… She was right back at square one. Her emotions were getting the better of her, and she just wanted him to let her help. He had agreed, but by throwing himself out of the bed he was actively disagreeing. Though she wanted to make him well again, there was the side of her that knew she probably couldn’t do a very good job of it no matter how hard she tried. 

    She looked towards him, hoping he would just agree to at least rest in the bed. Now that he had a little bit of food, perhaps he could rationalize enough to realize that was what was best for him both in regards to Corrin and his illness. It would be easier for him to finish the meal in bed anyway, and, if he were eating a good amount, she could take a moment to figure out how to properly care for him. Despite what he thought, his duties weren’t what was most important, and Corrin was finally prepared to push them aside in favor of helping him for the day.