That One Time in Malta

The Old Guard's Joe x Nicky stan blog. Statistically, 50% shitposts. Avatar by Andy C. White.

[zairaalbereo]

Yusuf Al-Kaysani, self portrait of a homeless poet 🌺

[zairaalbereo]

Booping you all like Joe does Nicky! 😄

Because it’s a rainy April 1st, and we’re being silly, so what better than to make some silly Joe & Nicky art. ❤️

(Obviously inspired by the epic hair & make up test)

[zairaalbereo]

Thank you for all the pas raining down on me today! I’m leaving you with one last boop and this excellent head canon by @nemicoamatomio 💕

Sweet dreams. 🐾🐾🐾🐾

[zairaalbereo]

Booping you all like Joe does Nicky! 😄

Because it’s a rainy April 1st, and we’re being silly, so what better than to make some silly Joe & Nicky art. ❤️

(Obviously inspired by the epic hair & make up test)

[zairaalbereo]

“Nicky and I met in the crusades.”

The accompanying redraw of Nicky to this crusades era Joe.

Also on Redbubble.

[zairaalbereo]

“The love of my life was of the people I was taught to hate.”

I’ve been experimenting with hatching techniques and decided to do a redraw of the first Yusuf Al-Kaysani art I ever posted on here three years ago.

Also on Redbubble.

[zairaalbereo]

Lazy Sunday Morning

Thank you for the prompt, dear anon! 💗

[zairaalbereo]

The Old Guard Circus presents… Come in if you dare!

For @theartguard server’s bimonthly theme “Circus”!

Click to enlarge the image!

[mannadraws]

The colors were originally way more muted but that isn’t my way haha anyways! Seeker Andy!

[ID: Digital fanart of Andy from The Old Guard, colored to resemble oil paint. She is in side profile position, wearing decorated grey armor inspired by the Seekers from Dragon Age. On her left shoulder is an embroidered robe. The background is dark, textured turquoise with a golden-red circle behind her head and lines of muddy orange extending out from the circle. Her hair is black and short, her eyes are blue, and she is holding a goblet that is pouring out wine. End ID]

[zairaalbereo]

Like Breathing Underwater

Drawn for Mermay and my bingo prompt “Water”

[goldheartedsky]

*judges you in French*

Thank you so much to @laviejaguardia for letting me snag the funniest reference suggestion in the world. It's what Booker deserves 😌🤣

[xjustonemoremiraclex]

Joe/Nicky + Text post

[zairaalbereo]

You’re the moon. ✨🌙

So after, when they are safe again, far away from the building where someone put a gun in Nicky’s mouth and pulled the trigger. Far away and yet too close to those long, long seconds when Joe’s heart stood still. When they are alone, and Nicky is beautiful and whole in the moonlight, Joe reaches for him—just like then. And he kisses that mouth, because he has to make sure. That it doesn’t taste of blood. That it hasn’t gone cold. And when Nicky kisses him back, Joe is finally able to breathe again.

[parkersloths]

I decided to remake the first tog/Nicky fanart I made and the difference is pretty intense XD

[zairaalbereo]

✨Happy Holidays to all of you!✨

Whatever and however you might celebrate—or even if you don’t—may there be some brightness in your days, and may the coming year be kind to you. ❤️

[nemicoamatomio]

Aghhhhhhhh they look so cozyyyyyy. It’s currently -9° where I live, so a nice warm smooch looks SO GOOD. And those fluffy Marshmallow Man coats 🥰

[zairaalbereo]

Yusuf and Nicolò — Isfahan ✨🌙🕌

(Architecture inspired by the Ali Gholi Agha Hammam, built in 1713.)

[nemicoamatomio]

Ahhhhhh look at themmmm. At the bath house?? Guh it’s about the Atmosphere™️

[luminarai]

the beginning // the end

prints here. inspiration under the cut

arctic monkeys - 505 // florence and the machine - kiss with a fist // warsan shire - under their breath, someone said. // richard siken - saying your names // the wombats - be your shadow // hozier - shrike

(reference photos found on pinterest. unfortunately I can’t find any of the og photographers for those, even when I’ve reverse image searched them.)

[zairaalbereo]

For the @theartguard October theme. I’m not much for horror but I do love ghost stories... ✨🦇🍂🍁

Joe makes it to two weeks before he can’t take it anymore. The silences, the awkward looks, the pity.

He is in his room, packing his bag when Andy shows up at the half open door, leaning against the frame.

“Where are you going?” she asks, her voice casual. Like she isn’t worried.

Joe halts, shirt in hand. It’s one of those that still smells like Nicky. He hasn’t really thought this through, if he’s honest. He tries not to think too much. But he’s sure about this one.

“Malta.”

He doesn’t look up to see her expression. Doesn’t need to. 

“Joe,” she says and there’s just that little extra exhale at the end. Not a sigh. Not yet. But close. “Nicky’s gone.” 

Blunt, if not unkind.

But she doesn’t get it. None of them do. Even Joe himself didn’t, not before.

But Nicky did. 

Nicky said, “We go together.”

Nicky said, “It’s destiny.”

Nicky believed that in his heart, and now Joe believes it with every cell of his body. Because Nicky isn’t gone. Joe can can still feel him.

“If one of us gets lost,” Joe reminds her. “We go to Malta.” As if she has forgotten.

And there it is. That look on her face. “Nicky isn’t lost, Joe.”

Joe takes a deep breath, blinks against the tears.

“Well, I am,” he says quietly “And I’m going to find him.”