Regent meets the Silent and goes: "SHE/THEY? You can have multiple sets of pronouns?? I simply MUST add more pronouns to my coterie now! Minions, update my carrd to He/She/They/Star/Prince/Princess, POSTHASTE!"
Do you have any old Xander stories you can post? We haven't seen him in a long time...ㅠㅠ
(Shoutout to @koriemma for recovering old archives from my lost blog! Here's Xander caring for a sick Corrin!!!)
Xander had more than enough on his plate at all times, every day, all year long. So worrying about you was something you strove to keep off it.
You didn’t want to be a burden to your husband, ever. He was always so diligent and strong. He held the weight of the world on his shoulders like it was nothing. The last thing you wanted to do was make it any more difficult.
So you swallowed the horrible feelings in your head, chest and stomach that morning, and bid him a good day as he left for his office.
You sank back onto the bed with a labored sigh. You could see in his eyes he noticed you were a little off. Mercifully he didn't question you about it and just left. You weren’t sure how long you’d be able to keep smiling if he had lingered, after all.
“Milady, shall I fetch a cleric for you?” Jakob’s voice sounded muffled. He was clearly worried, but you quickly dismissed him.
“I-I’ll be fine. I’ve just come down with a cold, or something.” You assured him in a voice far more hoarse than normal.
“Then I would like you to at least stay and rest in your bed, today. I’ll inform your sisters you will be unavailable for the council meeting to-”
“No!” You suddenly sat up, not doing your swirling head any favors, “I-I mean, I’m just going to sleep in a bit. I'm sure it's just because I didn't sleep until late, last night.”
“That would be wise, Lady Corrin-”
“Please, Jakob. I-I don’t want to worry anyone. Just let me sleep a while and I’ll feel better. …I promise.”
Jakob remained unconvinced despite your efforts. But he reluctantly conceded, offering little more than a frown and a curt nod.
The moment something went wrong, though, he was going to get you help.
Xander was hard at work in his office, reviewing potential strategies for the upcoming campaign. It had only been a few hours after having left you that morning.
He knew something was off, from the way you didn’t follow him out the door that morning, or even kiss him when you woke up (which you always did).
He didn't say anything when you forced the smile on your lips, trusting that you would eventually tell him what was wrong.
But when you failed to show up in his office like usual as well, he became a bit more concerned. Even if it had only been a few hours, and he’d been quite productive without your (welcome) distractions, he did miss you.
‘Perhaps I should go find her. It may be better to ask her directly rather than wait to find out if something’s bothering her.’ He thought, setting his quill down to rest his chin in his hand. ‘Although, she may push me away if I try to pry into her issues before she’s ready to talk. Maybe I could check on her and not claim a particular reason.’
He’d barely even considered the thought before the door suddenly flung open, Felicia bursting into his office.
“Lady Corrin’s collapsed!”
"What?!"
The quill didn't even hit the floor before he was sprinting out of the room.
“S-she just made it into the council and she was looking all flushed and feverish- she fainted right before the meeting started!!”
Xander poured on the speed. Forget looking undignified; he would leap across the castle grounds to get to his wife.
Strange looks were ignored when he practically flung himself at the ladder, skipping rungs up to the bedroom.
When he finally stormed his way in, he found the bed surrounded by healers and servants. But none of their concern could possibly match Xander’s.
“Corrin?” His call was more of a demand than a question, striding up to the bed as the crowd parted for him.
Your eyes were unfocused and hazy, and it took you a second before you could even recognize your husband.
“X-Xander?” You tilted your head, “Why are you here?”
He frowned deeply, arms crossed. “I heard that you had collapsed in the council meeting- why didn’t you tell me you were unwell?”
“I-I’m not. I’m just a little tired! Really...really, a-all of you are worrying so much over nothing.” You protested with a weak smile, trying to laugh it off.
Xander looked to Azama, who shook his head. No, it most certainly wasn’t exhaustion. You were very ill.
"How did this happen?"
"I suspect she has been sick for a while, milord. But these sorts of illnesses thrive when they're not treated quickly. She will be confined to bed for the next few days at minimum."
Xander sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. “…Is she stable enough right now? Or does she require more care?”
"She should be fine for a little while, until she falls asleep. If you're asking because we ought to make ourselves scarce, we can give you some time."
You shrank back into the pillows. Xander's grim expression only darkened.
"If it is possible."
The small crowd was quick to disperse. You could barely look at him, seeing how rigid and angry he’d become.
He did his best to control his breathing, determined not to make more of a scene than he already had. It wasn’t until everyone, Jakob included, left the two of you alone that he finally said something.
“What were you thinking?”
You flinched at his scolding tone, knowing full well you were about to get the full Anxious-Angry Xander experience. He sat on the side of the bed, his glare filled with disappointment and disbelief.
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
“You are this sick and tried to play it off like it was nothing! Corrin, you collapsed! Felicia ran to my office crying that you were unconscious. How could you do something so foolish?”
“I...I really didn’t want you to worry, Xander, that's all. Honest.” You repeated. He remained unconvinced. “Y-you’re always so busy, and stressed…the last thing you should worry about on top of all that is your wife. I-I’m capable, and I’m strong. I can handle being sick. …At least, I thought I could.”
Xander's jaw clenched, mulling your words. He could understand where you were coming from; it was a mindset he tended to carry more often than not.
But that was also why he knew it was a poor decision.
“Corrin…you are my wife. There is never a time when I’m not worrying about you.”
“B-but you shouldn’t-!”
“We will always worry about each other, Corrin. It would be more concerning if we didn't. So if you are feeling stressed, or unhappy, or ill, I need to know.”
“I-I understand, but...I honestly didn't think I was sick enough t-that this would be the result. I didn't want to bother you with something I could just sleep off.”
"According to Azama, you couldn't." He managed a small smile, “Please tell me if you ever feel unwell or abnormal in any way in the future. If there is anything upsetting you, please share it with me. I would do the same for you in a heartbeat; and honestly, I know I should confide in you more often. Perhaps that's part of the reason why you felt you shouldn't say anything.”
“It just feels...like-” You coughed suddenly, covering your face with your sleeve. Xander quickly came to your side with his handkerchief. "...Thank you. I-it just feels like you have so many more important things to be concerned about. Why should you have to be bothered with my silly issues?"
"That is where you are wrong, my love." He tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. "It is a privilege to worry about you. To have my thoughts filled with you, whether it is what you are eating today or if you were injured training...I am glad to worry. Because it is something only I can do as your husband."
Your feverish blush mercifully hid the happy rosiness caused by his sweet confession.
"Well...when you put it like that... I suppose it makes sense. I feel the same, you know. Worrying about you as my husband is just as much a privilege to me."
“It brings me great joy to hear you say that.” He replied with a quirked smile, taking up your hands. "Perhaps we should try to find a better way to keep an eye on each other. You know. To prevent unnecessary fretting."
“H-how would we do that?” You looked at the bed around you, knowing full well you wouldn’t be allowed to move from the spot for the rest of the day.
“Simple; I’ll bring my duties here. I can easily get my work done in our room while you rest. You can keep your eye on me, and vice versa. Does that sound amenable to you?”
“…I suppose.” You wheezed out, with a more than happy smile.
Xander beamed at you, giving your hand one last squeeze before he returned to his office to retrieve his belongings. Between the healers and siblings that visited you, you were sure to keep a watchful eye on Xander while he worked only a few feet away.
And he, naturally, kept a very close eye on you. Especially after you fell into a hard, deep sleep an hour into your surveillance of him. You were rather cute when you slept, after all.
So. Loop's body is a copy of Siffrin's, except in pristine condition. No scars. No beauty marks. Baby skin. Silky hair. Everything is uncannily new.
This weirds Loop out to no end. It's not bad, per se, they’re very healthy thanks to this, but it’s definitely off-putting. Their body feels fake, disconnected from them. From their past. Like everything before the loops was erased, forcing them to move on. (The only thing that stuck is being blind from the left eye)
Siffrin is aware of this fact, so when Loop asked to see his (and technically Loop’s) old scars, he easily accepted. He feels like it's the least he could do to help appease them, and maybe bond over shared past memories? But they quickly learn that Loop's memory of before the loops are. Rare. Still they ask to see the scars again and again so Siffrin indulges them.
At some point, though, Siffrin gets suspicious. Loop not only looks at them but scrutinises them, not paying attention to anything else, like they're trying to memorise where all the scars are. Siffrin can't help but imagine what they would do in Loop's place to "resolve the issue" of a perfect skin and it's... alarming.
[Under the cut: Tw for discussion of self harm (pretty vague and all written), if you want to skip it though, just jump to the second image!]
So he brings up his worries, prodding here and there, trying to see if Loop is planning to get the scars back by their own hand. They dont voice the exact idea in case Loop actually didn't think of it. (But of course Loop did think of it)
After a back and forth where Loop acts like they don't know what Siffrin's talking about and they try to change the subject, Siffrin starts talking about their own act5 self inflicted scars and how much he regrets making them. Loop snaps at that, screaming that they KNOW it’s a stupid idea, and tells Siffrin to shut up already!!
Cue silence where Loop instantly regrets yelling and grumbles in frustration while Siffrin is at loss as to what to say.
After calming down a bit, Loop speaks again. They explain that they thought about it. A lot. And yes, they were looking at the scars to see if they could recreate them. But they know that ultimately, they don't want to go through with it. They don’t miss the scars, they miss the memories tied to them. Recreating them now would only remind Loop of the moment where they hurt themself, not get back the actual memories they want to remember. So it'd be pointless. And hypocritical, with how Loop criticised Stardust over their self harming tendencies in the past.
Ultimately, Siffrin is glad Loop wont hurt themself (they promise), but this whole situation is just frustrating and sad, so the discussion kinda ends there that day.
Some time passes and that topic becomes known by the rest of the party after Loop accidentally gets a new scar and excitedly compares it with Siffrin's (and sees how it's different and THEIRS) And Siffrin?? Is also happy for them?? Huh???
Cue an intervention, then an explanation, then an understanding for the rest of the party. Loop solemnly promises not to intentionally hurt themself (for the second time!! Ugh!!) and is a bit upset that the party knows now, but what can they do.
Soon after though, Odile comes to Loop…
I like the idea of Loop getting tattoos eventually!! It would allow them to mark important memories on their skin WITHOUT the whole “hurting themself” part. It takes a while for them to commit to the idea though, and they're probably a huge dramatic baby during their first tattoo session lmao
Eventually I can also see Siffrin being like "Would it be okay 👉 👈 to have a small matching tattoo 👉 👈 " and oh my god stardust that's soooo corny that's so embarrassingggggg (the answer is yes. Absolutely. They NEED this, urgently.) And of course, they tease Siffrin when he's also a huge dramatic baby during his first tattoo session.
In the end Loop gets used to their new skin, and might even start liking it BECAUSE of these subtle differences, who knows!
I still have so much to say about Loop’s relationship with their body, especially when it comes to interacting with others and touch therapy, but I’ll stop there for now >:) I’ll work on a follow up but if you have any question please send an ask <3
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