a kingdom's requiem

a closed rp blog for shigure from fe: fates, associated with theofficersacademy.

[razurite]

in neptune

verseandrhyme:

Danger aside, she cannot stop the barking laugh their remark draws from her. She should have expected that. That angry, bitter Shigure would be the one to boldly declare their thoughts. She does not think they are wrong, or that their feelings are not shared by most of their group, but she worries still. 

Worries about the wrong person overhearing. Their words being spread to the wrong ears. What might come.

(They might simply demand they go home. They might simply treat them with derision. But considering past events, considering how readily they threw their students into the catacombs, into the forest, into everything they have seen so far, Mitama cannot help but fear there will be worse consequences.)

Shigure seems far calmer about the slumped form than Mitama’s still racing heart. She remains stiff as Shigure steps forward, ready to part at the first indication of danger. She watches with silent, held breath as Shigure reaches out and pries up a piece of rubble from the ground. 

They throw it and it bounces harmlessly against the strange form. She waits a moment longer. Nothing occurs. Mitama lets out a relieved sigh.

“Dusk blessed, that fright has likely taken years from my life.” She huffs. She lets go of Shigure’s arm. The soft sound of water echoes from her footsteps as she makes her way to the slumped…thing. A closer inspection, its human form is far bigger than any person she has met.

She frowns. There appear to be connecting tubes to the head portion of the of thing. A  helmet? Mitama frowns and casts a small spell. Some of the algae and moss flakes off to reveal a thin, nearly invisible seam. “It appears as though it is detachable.”

Perhaps it is a strange suit of armor. But were that the case, why did it seem to be connected to things… “Is this…this is algae, is it not? You are the ocean’s child, you are more familiar with these sorts of things.”

golden eyes follow as she steps forward, shigure falling into her step as they approach the behemoth that looks to be larger than any one individual than they’ve seen in their life. even benny, they reason, might’ve frightened at the sight of it, but for what their fears were: it does not lurch forward. even its heavy, fat fingertips do not twitch. the thought occurs to them briefly to consider stepping on it, only for shigure to immediately chastise themself for it.

then, chastise themself again for thinking this slumped form a living thing. "detachable?" they pause, glancing back at mitama. she would tell them if she could detect any malevolent magic, wouldn’t she?

settling their hands on either side of what appeared to be the helmet and hefting once, shigure snorts. "i!" well, they can't protest. they had just talked about shigure's preference for all things wet, apparently. a mage they were not, but what little magic lies in their veins likewise offers no defense. "well, you are right. that is algae, though—" the helmet doesn't budge for all that she claims it is detachable when they yank upward on the grates. shigure secures their fingers against the glass pane on the interior of the helmet, squaring their hips to make sure they're on even footing before pulling up on it again. "i'm not sure how algae even got on this."

"algae can't thrive without being in water." they reply, resting their hands on their hips as they catch their breath.

attention flicks toward the tubes connected to the head.

"it smells quite damp, but looks like it hasn't been touched in a while." securing their hands again beneath the grate, shigure gives pulling on it another try before the realization strikes them. they pause, twisting it to the left. the helmet releases with a hiss, detaching from the suit proper. it slumps forward and shigure bites their cheek to avoid screaming when it falls over onto the ground. "do you think?" they glance at the helmet and its metal interior, free inexplicably of rust even as the feeling of copper flakes off at their fingertips. they sigh, exasperated. "i do wish kiragi was here. he would've put this on without a second thought." shigure turns, then lifts the helmet over her head and drops it ( though fingertips catch at the edge to make sure it doesn't end up smacking against her head ). "you'll have to do."

the serene smile seems ill-fitting now.

[razurite]

[HARMONY] it’s that time of the week again— choir practise! muse b must discuss their melody and harmony with muse a. look for those dulcet tones~ 🎶

"Excuse me, you're Shigure, right?" Chrom's seen the older bluenette around—they're in the same House, after all—but it isn't until now when the choir coordinator asks the navy-haired prince to help out that the Ylissean has cause to approach. Why the coordinator thought to ask him remains a mystery, however; it's not like anyone's overheard him singing in, say, the dorms or the gardens, right? Right? Oh gods, what if someone did hear me sing?! Agh, I'll be so embarrassed if that really is the case!

Still, he has a job: deliver this week's sheet music to the choir members as well as the schedule of the rehearsal times. He's already done so to the rest of the members and now just has the light-haired student left. (He's also already caught himself humming something the choir practiced last week and had to stop himself before anyone can hear.) "The uh, the choir coordinator asked me to give this to you, it's the sheet music and rehearsal schedule for this week." He hands the papers to them with a smile, then glances down for a moment before looking back up at them with a sheepish expression. "S-Say, um, would you... you wouldn't m-mind if I, uh... s-s-sat in and l-listened, would y-you?"

monastery prompts. [HARMONY] it’s that time of the week again— choir practice! muse b must discuss their melody and harmony with muse a. look for those dulcet tones~ 🎶

"i am them," they answer patiently as hands gently guide their textbook shut. honey hues fall softly to the papers gathered in the other student's hands and shigure puts two-and-two together before chrom even thinks to explain the situation to him. tasked with delivering the music sheets for the choir director, was it? they'd thought that they had told that old man more than once. even if they might have enjoyed singing, that didn't necessarily mean that they would do so for his benefit. 

still, shigure says nothing of this as there's no reason to release their frustration on the messenger: taking the sheets into hand, noting the songs and the schedule as chrom suddenly speaks up again and stammers out his request to listen.

annoyance flickers across their expression, only to be swiftly replaced with something more permanent and serene. so, this was why they had asked him, was it?

gathering the sheets to their chest, shigure politely allows a bow of their head in agreement. "no, i wouldn't mind at all, though i am just one voice in the choir." they reply, shaking their head. sky blue follows loftily in the motion. "you'll have to ask more than just me if you'd like to sit in," they smile, "but i wouldn't mind you being there at all. i have no control over who comes and goes from the cathedral, after all." with a slight gesture, shigure waves the other in the direction of the cathedral proper, where they fully intend to stress their disapproval.

what did they want to sing for of a church they had close-held contempt for?

"do you like music?" shigure offers in way of conversation.

[razurite]

‽ – A hug around the waist

hug memes i am answering very late.

it has been three months. it is no easier to watch than it was the first day they arrived in the camps, newly retrieved from the deeprealms that their parents had deposited them in with the hope of shielding them from the war they were born into. they are, from the start, on unequal footing. they are born, then forgotten until they cannot be forgotten any longer. if they should feel guilt for this, that the world they hand to their children now is fractured and broken because of unchecked malice and hubris?

they do not express it to them aloud. again, shigure stands at the gate leading out of the astral realm: naginata in-hand, biting the inside of their cheeks to keep from asking that their mother stay as corrin gleefully tells them that this is for the best.

and they can do nothing, nothing but believe in their judgment.

white-knuckled and irritated, they watch the backs of their parents disappear beyond the gate. they realize belatedly that they can taste blood in their mouth. they realize, even after that, that a hand rests at their arm. their hand fall on top of hers, the hard gold of their eyes melting into honey as they clasp miko's hand tighter than they do their weapon. their eyes meet hers and when lips part to say something, they find nothing feels adequate. nothing feels quite worthwhile.

shigure does not pretend to know how she feels.

but, there is a senselessness to waiting for people who leave; so why should they wait here with bated breath for parents that never seem to want to stay, to live?

hand lightly catches her sleeve, trembling as they pull her into their chest. head is bowed, face buried in the soft pink of her hair. her arms loop loosely around their waist and they fall apart as effortlessly as a house of cards.

( but, the knowing does not make it sting any less. )

[razurite]

@prayerwitch:

[FISHING] descending the stone steps one decisive hop at a time, sara leads the way to the pond, picturesque as ever in its serenity for how bustling the surrounding area could be. the fact she’d agreed to the assignment speaks to her mood already. other students are known to jump at any chance to make themselves useful, but sara’s time has more value than that and the tasks she does volunteer for must be worth her while.

the old docks creak and moan beneath her footfalls, announcing their arrival to pond’s inhabitants. borrowed equipment clatters against its planks, carelessly discarded when she bends to kneel at the edge of water and moor. her hand dips shallow into the pond and though it is only a shade cooler than expected, she retreats soon after, making a half-hearted attempt to shake off the wetness.

“once,” sara says conversationally, and says so with a laugh that is unabashed, “i thought there might be a princess at the bottom of every lake. i've always believed that beneath the surface of each quiet pond, there is more yet unseen."

contemplating this for a moment, she silently casts her gaze out in the distance before turning bodily towards shigure after a heartbeat passes. something about them makes her smile unwittingly, too.

"maybe i just had the wrong address."

well now, wouldn't that have been nice? "is that so?" comes their reply in way of continuing the conversation, a bundle of supplies tucked beneath their arm and the willowy poles clutched in hand but resting against their shoulder. they fall into step: toe touching the stone step as she hops, their free arm extended to her in case she had need for it. it sounded like the stuff of fairy tales. a princess at the bottom of every lake. shigure's expression softens. their caretakers had read them half a dozen each night, though they can probably count on one hand how many of them had to do with produce. less, they realize, had to do with the princesses and princes of yore in favor of soldiers. laughter comes out in a breath.

maybe they knew more than shigure did.

that they would eventually end up keeping the company of royalty and that it was better to keep such fantasies from shigure's thoughts. that they were one themself, albeit of a fallen kingdom and second to their cousin.

"once, i'd thought my mother might've been," shigure offers, setting aside their supplies as she crosses the threshold of the dock. old wood creaks beneath their weight, but it holds steadfast. digits lightly tuck sky blue hair behind their ear and away from the gold of their eyes, sky knight allowing a slow nod in reply. there is something about sara that makes the thought of looking the part of a foolish child permissible. they cannot yet place why. "have you ever tried looking in hoshidan lakes?" this time, the laughter is clearer. "you might have had better luck then."

kneeling beside her, they dip their hand into the water too.

the reflection is not azura's, but theirs.

the water falls away between loose fingers. "shall we go look for one?" they offer with a tinge of amusement. "find the right address?"

[razurite]

where the river god splits

extenebris:

The way the stones ski across the water’s surface is mesmerizing in its own right. Rings of ripples mark each landing and disrupt the clear reflection of the sky on the lake’s once-placid surface, but more importantly, they reveal that whatever illusion has been cast here behaves as true as the water it imitates. From the bank, Salem gazes thoughtfully at the collection of pebbles with which Hayato has now speckled its surface. He had not come here in pursuit of a definitive truth, and the speculating is nothing but an idle interest at best, but he is well-aware of the way rumors follow the unexplainable. The unadorned mystery stretches before them now.

Salem kneels to examine the water. It’s clear, but he can see no sign of fish in the reeds. Cautiously, he dips his fingers into the water. At this distance from the bank, he can reach the rock and earth that make the lake bed without resistance, but he can feel the thrum of magic - faint but certainly present. Nothing else stirs.

“It seems to be a ward or enchantment of some kind,” Salem agrees. “It may be by chance that we have discovered it, as it appears to be absent from the bank.” And the lake is large - an hour or two to walk the entirety of its perimeter if they were thorough with their investigation. He pulls his hand out and shakes the water away. Nothing particularly noteworthy about the sensation either. An unsuspecting wanderer could wade into the water for a bath without noting anything particularly odd about it, if the stories of monsters lurking in its depths did not deter them first.

One final rocks skitters across the surface and sets the water aglow. A defense, or perhaps the weak point Hayato had been seeking, Salem cannot tell, but he sees his opportunity. Rising to his feet, eyes locked to the spot the pebble had hit the moment before the lake began to change, he conjures a Mire spell. Dark sludge explodes from the lake’s surface, and fissures begin to snake through the light like breaking glass.

Next: @razurite​ 

the water ruptures. the surface of the lake suddenly presses against itself until something in the illusion shatters when salem casts a spell preemptively against whatever threatens to emerge. but doesn’t. their arm is held up in defense, shigure’s boot half-settled into their stirrup when the lake seems to settle. their heart beats against their ribcage, sky knight half-hesitant as they watch the waters for any further signs of change. “perhaps that was it?” they offer, brows knitted together.

they are no mage, so any further speculation is hidden behind a small, albeit uncertain smile. what more could they offer beside that there were odd, but ancient magics at work here? stating the obvious was for people like, well.

kana.

tightening the leather rein in their hand, the suggestion of potentially making a tactful retreat before they further entertain forces that they are unfamiliar with is barely even thought of before the water begins to bubble from the corner of their eye.

freed of their apparent trappings, the waves retreat to the center of the lake and coalesce upward. the water reaches higher and higher before, abruptly, the tower collapses and, at once, the water clouds with a dark ichor, miming the sludge that had been expelled only a short few seconds before. then, it falls still again: as uninterrupted as the lake had been prior to their arrival and prior to their interference. the once-clear waters are cloudy and, tempted as they are to see if the water still truly is just water, mired in a deep violet. the lake moves no more, even as the wind blows as breezily past them as if the three of them were preparing for an afternoon picnic.

"i—" lips part, but what comes out is not an answer but thinly veiled contempt as shigure turns their attention toward the others.

"do you think that these professors of ours think even just once before they assign us these missions? just?" an incredulous gasp or sigh, they haven't decided which. "just once?"

they hardly notice the golden light gleaming at the center of the pool.

@tenkyuuzu!

[razurite]

the sky’s cradle

dragon-kiddos:

“That is most cats. Jeez, this might be harder than we thought, huh?” 

But he couldn’t blame her. She was just a little girl, and it must be so hard to have lost her precious kitty. At the same time, where were her parents, not keeping watch on the poor thing? “Here, kitty!”

(Even Kana felt silly, calling for it like that.)

Shigure nears, and a tiny mrow reaches his ears. Gaze slowly turns to the soot-colored bundle opposite them; Kana can’t stop the shocked gasp that leaves his throat. “That—that has to be…!”

Voice lowers to a hushed tone as dragon drops to a crouch on the edge of the building, peering intently at the feline lazing in the sun. 

“No doubt about it. He’s just a lil’ guy and he’s grey, and has to be super agile to get up here. And, I don’t see any other kitties up here, soooo…”

He looks pointedly up at Shigure. A slight cock of his head motions for the other to go and collect the little thing, all the way across on the other rooftop. 

“You’re the animal whisperer, what with birds and such always hanging out by you. Can you go get it?” 

an eyebrow quirks upward. "animal whisperer?" they reply almost sarcastically, though teeth catch the words before they accidentally sound resentful. it's true that shigure has better luck with animals than most. that included kitsune, they think with muted amusement as they think back to when they'd corralled selkie once before with a stern word and a quiet melody, and dragons—eyes flick in the direction of kana.

though, that the latter may very well have been as a consequence of their cousin merely heeding their word more than anyone else's with the rare exception of his mother and very possibly their own mother.

they shake their head, but there isn't any further signs of complaint. kana was hardier than most children, but he was likewise twice as reckless.

leaving something like this? to him?

the images flash before their eyes so quickly that shigure advances across the rooftop almost immediately, their throat tightening with the thought and songbird just as quickly forgetting that their bones are likely hollow by comparison. toes traipse along the rooftop and shigure lowers their shoulders, trying to make themself seem as small as possible. they click their tongue. the cat rolls over onto its back, but its eyes watch lackadaisically as if to suggest that they don't have a chance.

tongue finds the melody before they think of doing it.

"you are the ocean's gray waves, destined to seek life beyond the shore just out of reach ♪" cat sits up, newly attentive as its tail waves behind him. kitty walks closer. shigure takes another step, but gets no farther than that before the feline leaps. arms extend and sky knight yelps in surprise to try and catch kitty, only for its fat little paws to push sternly into shigure's face and send them stumbling backwards before it lands perfectly on its four little feet on the edge of the rooftop. body slinks down slowly. they rub at their face, glancing at the feline's sloping form as it disappears.

the corner of their mouth twitches.

they would not be made a fool of by a cat.

"hurry, kana! before it gets away!"

[razurite]

Gone Rowin’

theindigoflirt:

Hurtful, but true. He knows exactly what people say about him, regardless of if said rumors had any truth in them or not. Shigure is, thankfully, kind enough to not dwell on the subject long. They turn to the food basket as Inigo stows the oar. His poor arms are already growing tired from the repetitive motion. They can drift on the still lake for a little while; not like they’re in an danger of being swept away in a current. 

Inigo takes the offered food. “Did you make all this?” comes the question, curious glance inspecting this new treat. He’s seen some others eating this food before—what was it called? Something with an o. Popping it in his mouth, he chews thoughtfully. 

“Oh, this is good,” he comments, only once he’s swallowed. “Heh, I used to eat dirt soup. I would have loved some seaweed to spice it up.” Rocks can only add so much flavor to…more rocks. The rare times they did chance upon something more edible, it was rationed out jealously, every little crumb a gift from Naga herself. 

He licks a few grains of sticky rice off his fingers. “Very pretty. My mom’s an incredible singer, too. She picked it up during her time in a troupe. Do you like singing more? Or dancing?” Maybe this little boat ride won’t be so boring after all. 

they nod a little sheepishly, touching the back of their neck out of self-conscious habit. was it odd? the question is balanced on the tip of their tongue, but they're not quite courageous enough to ask. the last thing they need is to sound like they're ashamed, worse yet is to actually realize that they might've put more effort into this than the event actually required of them. they pick up an onigiri of their own, opting to simply settle their nerves by nibbling at it until what inigo says next nearly causes them to drop it into their lap altogether. their eyes widen, even as their lips seal into a line.

"dirt ... soup?" they parrot back, watching at any signs of betrayal on inigo's face before realizing that he was serious.

as serious as inigo could be about anything, at least.

dirt soup, but this would have been prior to the war that hoshido and nohr had faced. this is inigo of before, not laslow of the after. they'd never made a habit of asking much of their own mother. nevermind asking much more of laslow, who seemed miles away from the start. what conditions did he live in before this? what happened? their expression softens a little. digits twitch in place. how does anyone respond to that? still, shigure forces themself to offer a quiet laugh that sounds more like a breath to break the silence that songbird realizes has streched for much too much.

they fight back the urge to ask.

"i-i see." shigure answers, skirting around the matter altogether before taking another nibble. "oh, i wouldn't call myself much of a dancer or a singer." it was azura who was the performer of the two. they could carry a tune, but it wasn't anything more than that. shigure isn't quite so bold to say that they're very much talented at all. well, more gifted a dancer than they recall soleil ever being but that is neither here nor there. "and you?" they answer, turning their eyes toward the onigiri in their hands as if to escape.

"i don't suppose you sing or dance?"

[razurite]

lost lullabies.

violentiaed:

@razurite

Felix dragged his body around the grounds of the Monastery, exhaustion drawn out as he carried himself with difficulty. Blue hues stained the skin under his eyes, and his tousled hair was an indication of the tossing and turning he had gone through before finally giving up on sleep for yet another night. Everything was empty, and Felix found he did not at all enjoy the eerie silence that fell over Garreg March hours before dawn.

Restlessness forced him to keep on walking, covering the gardens with wide steps, as if searching for something. What he found, however, was Shigure. Felix was about to turn around, hoping to sneak out of view before the other student could realize he was there; when he heard the soft hum of their voice. There was something in their tone — tenderness, perhaps. It left Felix paralyzed, hands softly trembling as the wind blew.

The song could almost be a piece of his memory, as if Felix could recall Glenn singing it too. He couldn’t stop himself, approaching the fellow Blue Lion with no regards for his troubled appearance and disturbed expression. He attempted to say something, his throat feeling raw and uncomfortable. ━━ I… Do you mind if I listen to you for a bit? ━━ he chided himself for sounding so pathetic, but the softness Shigure offered was all Felix could hope for to feel better.

they are increasingly becoming more familiar with the night than they are acquainted with the day. shigure hasn't slept well in years. though, the reasons grow to be increasingly nonsensical with each and every evening that has passed since they were sixteen. before, it was the war and the fear of losing everything that made them lie awake at night. now, it was—what? the worry that they've forgotten an assignment? that kana wasn't getting along well with their classmates? that they were not ably suited to being here, even with the time away?

even with the knowledge that they really ought to try? they snort.

what lame things to worry about.

there is something wonderful about it.

still, they'd quite like if they could just sleep instead of sitting here and waiting for the dawn's arrival. the song begins as a quiet hum of a melody drawn from their memory. it only becomes singing when they sway, the flowing fabric of their clothes catching in the wind as they twist and turn beside themself. ( they are dancing with no one, but they imagine themself: in the middle of valla's halls, passing hand-in-hand between their family and their loved ones. ) "am i the one to hold this crown of ash and salt?" they sing softly, mindful to not be too loud as to cause trouble for the knights on patrol or to draw the attention of other students. not quiet enough. "their kindness calls to me; i have to block it out. my voice has grown so somber ♪"

they stop in their turn when eyes fall upon a navy-haired figure.

recognition: this is a classmate. one of the ones from the kingdom proper, but not the princeling but princeling's friend. "listen?" they ask, eyes widening slightly before embarrassment gives way to quiet understanding. birds of a same sleepless feather, shigure supposes. "if it will help, gladly." they won't ask why, instead shifting to hum the melody again to try and catch where they'd left off before offering a hand to the other to sway to the quiet beside them but not pressing beyond the wordless, belated invitation. "these words don't seem like mine, but the iron won't subside. no matter, no matter what i try ♪"

[oopsiewoopsie123]

⨳ — TYPES OF HUGS;

send one for my muse's reaction!

♥ – A romantic hug ☺ – A friendly hug ♫ – A hug while dancing ✉ – A hug goodbye ღ – A hug in greeting ❣ –A hug after being separated ✪ –A sleepy hug ✢ – An awkward hug ♢ – A familial hug ⊗ – A quick hug ☄ – A long hug ✾ – A passionate hug ☀ – A hug from behind ▲ – A surprise hug ☑ – A polite hug ✸ – A bear hug ✚ – A hug while cuddling ‽ – A hug around the waist ♠ – A squeezing hug ❋ – A silent hug ♣ – A spinning hug

[flamingopuuuunch]

In endless dreams, countless realms collide 

Here’s my full piece of Shigure for Another Turn, a Fire Emblem zine dedicated to the performing characters!

[razurite]

[ STRAYS ] muse a bumps into muse b while carrying leftovers from their last meal, and the cats and dogs of the monastery have started to encircle the both of you… :D

monastery prompts [STRAYS] muse a bumps into muse b while carrying leftovers from their last meal, and the cats and dogs of the monastery have started to encircle the both of you…

well, this is unfortunate. there's really no other way to describe the situation. hands flick residual food to the stone path beside them, sky knight sighing with the embarrassment. it's their own fault, really. they hadn't been paying attention when they'd turned the corner. and now to answer for it, they've got another student's unfortunate meal all over them. "i'm so sorry! i wasn't looking," comes their urgent apology. shigure's cheeks flush with the embarrassment as they shake their head, hands hastily moving to unbutton and remove the exterior coat of their uniform.

golden eyes meet the brilliant blue of hers.

"i would be happy to make up the difference and get you something else to eat—"

another flick of their coat sends food splattering to the floor again. shigure takes a step back, only to narrowly avoid stepping on the curling tail of one particularly gaunt-looking white feline. another step to the side yields one gray cat. and it is only when shigure looks up do they realize the arrival of one of the dogs that they'd passed before. the corners of their lips twitch as a flicker of recognition crosses their features and aforementioned white cat licks at their boot. their hands come together in front of them and they tuck the coat, stained-side out, in their arms. "perhaps we can get something for you and our fine furry friends here?"

[razurite]

the sky’s cradle

dragon-kiddos:

“I didn’t drop anything! I very intentionally set them down!” And very much intended to not put his boots back on. 

But his giggles fade as Shigure delves into a more serious tone. A pout takes over princeling’s features as, of course, he was made to see things from only the kindest of perspectives. Even that expression fades the more Shigure explains, and soon enough, Kana lets out a sigh. 

“You’re right. I do feel bad—let me guess. Are we gonna do something to make her feel better?”

One explanation later leads the duo to the rooftops of the monastery. Cats liked heights, didn’t they? And if this little girl lost her beloved Kitty, then surely it must be because the feline lay somewhere out of her reach. Perhaps for the better. 

“Did she say what kind of kitty it is?” Kana asks, balancing precariously on the lip at the edge of the rooftop. One (unfortunately booted) foot in front of the other, arms stretched out to either side—a single misstep could kill him, but Kana was no coward. 

“Cause the monastery has a bunch of—rock?”

The toe of his boot just barely nudges a rock positioned in his path, nearly sending it careening towards the head of some unsuspecting student. Scooping it up in his hands and turning it into the sunlight revealed its surface to be beautifully polished stone with a peculiar circular grid pattern layered over it. 

“Aw, neat! Anyways—the monastery has tons of cats, so, how are we meant to differentiate between this girl’s kitty and all the others?” 

leave it to kana to think of the only thing they hadn't. they would have never considered the possibility that the feline had taken to the rooftops or the towering stone towers dotted throughout the monastery. but, it made sense on second consideration. shigure had gone and searched the bottommost levels. all that remained left really was to go upward or outward and they somehow seriously doubted that either of them would have any luck finding the cat if it'd escaped from the grounds altogether.

traipsing along the rooftops, shigure follows closely behind kana with their arms half-ready to catch him the minute that he stumbles.

"no, i don't think she really knows." hand rests at the juncture between their shoulder and their neck with quiet resignation. shigure sighs. "she only really mentioned that it was gray and ought to answer to the name kitty, but there's an awful lot of cats around the monastery. she told me it was pretty agile and could jump pretty high, but …" their head goes back, shigure's face to the sky as they exhale. both their hands rest at either side of their neck. "... that's most cats, isn't it?" they frown.

it wasn't much to go on, but he couldn't really expect a child to know things down to the breed. nevermind the fact shigure didn't very much know anything about cat breeds themself either. if this was a search for a missing bird, then their knowledge might've been useful. but, this search would've been impossible for other reasons. "kitty!" shigure calls anyway.

golden eyes search the rooftops as they walk still. "kitty!" they call again.

this time, a soft thump as a gray cat stares back at them from a rooftop of a building opposite to their own. shigure watches. so does the cat. its tail sways slowly in the air behind it and sky knight crouches down slowly. the sole of their boot slides against the tile as they draw close to dragon and hunter combined.

"do, do you think that might be …?"

[razurite]

in neptune

verseandrhyme:

The reply is so…defeated, so unhelpful that Mitama cannot stop herself from letting out a loud, barking laugh in response. “The weather is nice.” She agrees, grinning despite her poor mood. There is something in the familiarity of ribbing with a friend of such close and long term existence that soothes more easily than joking with anyone else.

She falls into place behind them, waiting patiently for Shigure to carefully test the weight of the steps leading down below. She accepts his hand graciously and follows along carefully. While the steps held for them, she does not have any guarantee that they had not rustled anything loose and put Mitama at risk of tumbling down into the abyss. The steps are also slick with the very water she complains about, and Mitama thinks that slipping and dying would be a pathetic death after everything she has survived thus far.

Mitama sighs. “So did Corrin. But at least with that I felt the cause somewhat reasonable. Even if I am not from there and had never seen it before, I was not a fan of King Garon laying waste to Hoshido either.” But that is an age old tale now, one that they are both familiar with. There is no need to bring it up now. “I care far less about Rhea and whatever happens to her or the Church.”

Just confessing that feels risky, as the words leave Mitama and echo off the ruins of what she is certain was once a place of life, of prosperity. There is nothing here now, nothing that could have possibly survived, and yet Mitama cannot help but feel as though her words might echo into the wrong ears regardless.

Mitama scoffs. “Shallows unmoving / and the secrets there within / time unknown, calling.” His count is right, a welcome relief after so many painful and saddening attempts from others. She knew there was a reason she had missed Shigure so fondly.

“You know, when Kiragi tells me that he has a sight beyond belief to share, he takes me to a field of flowers. Perhaps you should learn from your cousin.” She follows along regardless, even being kind enough to not remark as he starts to sing that familiar song (it plays on the memory of a memory, something distant and unconnected. She wonders what it is. She does not think on it too long.)

As they turn the corner and the world is revealed to them, Mitama freezes. She reaches out and grabs Shigure’s arm immediately, staring out towards the corner of the room. Something sits there, human in nature but unmoving. The surrounding area seems to have accepted it as a part of its own, spreading and encroaching to cover the surface with moss or algae or…some kind of sealife. Mitama’s nose wrinkles as her heart settles in her chest once more. “What is that?”

they would have to agree to disagree. so often was the case with the now-reigning queen of their fallen kingdom. so often is the result of those conversations too: silence. but, mitama wasn't wrong in other things that she says.

"i certainly don't very much care for her or her church either."

the admission comes out a little bolder than they realize it should. their voice is soft, but echoes off the stone still. and yet, the fear so characteristic of the birds that they share a sort of kinship with is absent just this once. what would be the worst that could happen if straining ears tried to hear their conversation now? would they be treated with contempt for not understanding the archbishop, her goddess and her mission? would they be sent home? back to their native hoshido and valla.

oh no, they think to themself.

how terrible a fate that would've been.

shigure snorts, glancing back over their shoulder. "as if i don't take you anywhere nice?" they can very distinctly recall at least one outing to a perfectly pretty and still lake. "when we resurface, i—ah!" they stop in place when she stops him, their boot sliding and skidding against the wet stone as they step back. "bellberry's bones, mitama." sky knight peers around the corner, then across the room to the motionless lump that sits there overgrown in algae and moss. their nose crinkles. the smell is familiar like the leather of their saddles when it rained, but heavier somehow.

maybe from just the amount of time it must have been sitting there.

"nothing that i have ever seen before. that is for certain; but in case, ready yourself to run." they look around their feet before picking up a sizable piece of fallen rubble, hefting it in their hand and then tossing it. the rock skips across the narrow channel of water before it eventually sinks. the leathery mass does not move.

they try again. this time, the pebble clinks harmlessly against the heavy metal helmet.

nothing.

"i don't think it is … alive, at least."

[byubles]

GARREG MACH MONASTERY.

Located in central Fódlan amidst the mountains, Garreg Mach Monastery is the headquarters of two separate entities: the Church of Seiros and the Officers Academy. It is a neutral territory, not governed by any of the three nations of Fódlan. In addition to being a religious site, the monastery is home to an elite order of knights …

prompts based on the setting of Garreg Mach from the game Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Written in conjunction with ceres with a special thanks to soji! feel free to edit or expand on these prompts to your liking.

Keep reading

[razurite]

the sky’s cradle

dragon-kiddos:

Perhaps heightened senses really were more a curse than blessing. No doubt the surrounding humans could hear the wails and shrieks of a girl lamenting her kitty, but Kana could hear it for miles. Every sob had him slamming leather gloves over his ears in a desperate attempt to lessen the noise, but that could only do so much. And so he retreats, scrambling up the tallest tree he could find, hoping that the branches and leaves would offer a teeny bit more reprieve than the echoing walls of the monastery. 

That, and Kana liked to feel tall. 

Seteth would surely scold him for discarding his boots again and splashing around in the mud, but that was a problem for another time. By the time he made it to the highest part of the tree, his feet were kinda sorta clean from the mud, anyways! 

It was only a few moments before the crying stopped and naught but the wind rocking the branches and the leaves reached his ears. Kana had missed the very last part of the conversation with the little girl and her kitty, but he could have sworn a near-whispered voice calmed her. No matter, her plight was dealt with and he could relax. 

(The songbirds whisper to him that a friend is near.)

Knuckles rap; the vibrations zip right up the trunk to Kana’s sitting form, legs dangling over either side of a large branch with his back to the tree’s base. Little dragon doesn’t even need to look to know what awaited. Swinging his legs over to the same side, Kana drops down from his perch, neither a fear nor doubt in his mind that Shigure would fail to catch him. 

“Hel-lo, bluebird!” His legs hang free in the air a few moments before settling back to the ground; albeit taller, it seems he hasn’t gained any weight since their last grand departure. 

“Are you the one who made that girl stop crying? It was hurting my ears. But I heard everything get soft like a whisper, and then it stopped, so I’m assuming it was you.”

it is difficult to remember that kana has grown. he still comes running for them first. still calls them his bluebird. still relies on them to do things for him. still cries and laughs and screams and sleeps in their arms every now and again. still is the sweet child that they'd known from the moment that he was born.

but in other ways—in other ways, it is hard to forget that he has grown.

shigure swings with the weight of kana's arrival, sky knight working to try and not drop him with the momentum of his fall as laughter comes out unbidden. "hello, kana." they reply, rocking the dragon child up to hold him close before the strain in their arms means shigure does eventually need to put him back down. "i believe that you dropped something." they point downward at princeling's missing shoes with quiet amusement. this might be of the few things that would not change with time.

if kana's mother was anything to judge by at least.

"i might have, but that isn't very kind of you," shigure replies, lowering themself into a crouch so that their eyes could meet. hand reaches out, the back of their index finger gently sweeping across the apple of his cheek. no tears. "you wouldn't like it if someone told you you were being too loud when you were upset, right? don't you feel a little sorry for her?" it sounds scolding, but their voice is still soft.

shigure still smiles.

"are you busy today?"

[razurite]

Gone Rowin’

theindigoflirt:

Inigo blinks. 

Blinks again. He can’t tell if Shigure is joking just to get another laugh in return, or if they seriously considered putting a dress. Wait, what is that supposed to mean? “Heh, what rumors might those be?” Dancer lightly propels them forward again, grip tight around the oar. He’s been trying to hard to behave, lately! And people are still spreading gossip. Rude. 

Faint strains of a half-hummed melody taper off. Inigo wishes to hear the full tune; he has also heard rumors that Shigure is quite the singer, just like their mother. It hits him, then, that perhaps they’re more similar than they realize. 

Inigo peers at the basket. “I’m not picky! I do hate onions, though. Terribly smelly food. Not good for talking to the ladies, eh?” Oh, he did it again. It’s nothing more than reflex at this point. 

“…sorry. I would love to try something from your home.” Another gentle stroke of the oar sends them floating into the middle of the lake. “What song were you singing just now, Shigure?” 

"nothing you haven't already heard, i'd assume," shigure replies, azure peeking through the curtain of sky blue hair before attention wanes and returns to the water only temporarily before inigo says something entirely too in character that the songbird has to actively try to stifle the laughter. "right, of course."

and who were they to impede inigo's efforts with the ladies once this was all over?

"no onions, i—" shigure pauses, thinking over their selections once again before shaking their head. no, they hadn't packed anything that used onions. though, the mention of smell makes them hesitate to produce the onigiri that they'd packed. an easy enough snack that could be managed, but they did have to use copious amounts of rice vinegar. they had tried to use more common fillings too, but—"well, let me know if you mind. these don't have onion, but they do have fish and seaweed …"

shigure shifts uneasily, their gaze dropping to their lap again before they bark out—as opposed to simply speaking—that they had other things in case and the desserts were likely less offensive when a song is mentioned.

"song?" they parrot back, blinking. song? had they been s—oh. the humming. their expression softens, the panic giving way to something less anxious and awkward. "just something i heard my mother singing once." they wave their hand. "i don't know the name, but it sounds much better when she sings it." they smile, a little too proud maybe. "it's pretty, isn't it?"

[thekimersonshow]

Dancers can’t give each extra turns because they’re too busy critiquing the performances