devoted mercenary

[savboer-blog]

like two artificial gods

[savboer-blog]

thefetchingfletcher‌:

“Not gallivanting, but certainly causing trouble!” Leon insisted. Anyone with a reputation like Saber clearly didn’t have much in the way of innocence left. “It’s none of my business, but you would do really well if you settled down, got a ring, found a nice person- girl I guess,” Leon tacked on. Sometimes he forgot that other guys dated girls and only girls. It was like realizing other people had different dominant hands.

Ah right… Hubert. And him being a shit liar. “Well it’s true! I’m a honest man who keeps my word!” Leon couldn’t imagine being anyone but himself. Being himself was easiest and he liked it too much to stop. Lying sounded stressful, sad, as though he had anything to hide or anything to regret. “If I wasn’t myself then who would I be?! Hmph.” The way Saber said Hubert’s name made Leon pause. Maybe Saber didn’t know him. He sounded suspicious, but he’d probably still sound suspicious even if it was the cheerful gatekeeper Leon, as well as many other students, was also madly in love with on the side.

“I know how it looks. Hubert is a loyal, diligent, hard working guy with pretty eyes and a nice laugh.” Leon folded his arms defiantly. “You can’t miss him!”

He’d left out some critical information, but Saber could figure it out.

Saber snorted. “Just cause that’s what you want doesn’t mean it would work well for me, Leon.” He couldn’t imagine himself stuck at home with someone for the rest of his life. That wouldn’t be fair to whatever poor sap Leon might be thinking of sticking him with. Mercenary life was hard. Wouldn’t be fair to just dump that one someone else. “Person.” Saber amended before immediately shoving off of that discussion.

“Mmhm.” Saber sighed. He’d never understood how Leon managed to share so much and yet so little at the same time. Useful skill he had. Now if only he would put it to actual good use.

“Doesn’t look like much that matters to me. Your business. Just hope you’re not gunna be a fool about it.” Saber yawned and stretched. “You can’t spend your life trailing after others forever, yknow?”

With that said and done, Saber stood up from his desk. Another stretch to get the stiffness out of of his back. “So, any word on a tavern round these parts where we can actually let loose?”

[savboer-blog]

BRUSH BRUSH BRUSH

brush brush brush!

Saber let out a small huff as he placed his hand on top of Celica’s head for what was probably the third time. “I know you must be so eager to get outta here, but you’re making it take longer with all your fussing.”

She probably could’ve asked someone else to do it. He was pretty sure any of the pegasus trio would’ve been delighted to get their hands on their young leader’s hair. Well, maybe not Catria...Still, he wasn’t sure why he was recruited to help soothe out the knots in her hair when there were plenty of able candidates around.

It wasn’t...bad. If anything, the whole thing struck him as somewhat familiar. A lifetime ago, in a small house, his mother humming in the background as his sister laughed and babbled while he braided her hair for her...

Saber chuckled, lightly hitting the back of her head with his knuckle. “Alright, Lass. All done. Up and at em now.”

[savboer-blog]

a dagger before me

[savboer-blog]

celestialbloom‌:

She scoffs lightly, eyes alight with amusement. “Oh, my… first strike? I’ll have to make it count then, won’t I?”

Training sword is held securely in her grip, elbow bending as she holds it level with her chest. Feet move a shoulder’s width apart. Legs bend slightly at the knee, left hand flexing instinctively (though she had no plans on using magic here). Scarlet hues narrow with concentration, as mirth quickly morphs into keen focus. “Have at you, then.”

Celica sprints forward and draws her sword arm back, as if preparing for a stab. It was merely a feint, however. For in the moment she was within striking distance, she swings her blade forward, aiming to hit Saber’s shoulder instead.

Her posture still looks fine. Saber slipping into the familiar posture himself. Celica was far more graceful in her fighting. Saber did what worked and what was efficient, but Celica’s always seemed to carry some kind of elegance to it. Never did work out if that was from her being a royal or her just being Celica. Still, she had her tells. Anyone with any sense could see the little habits of a magic caster when she extended her hand. Saber snorted. He just hoped he didn’t end up getting charred.

Celica charged forward, but Saber held his ground. He didn’t earn his reputation from retreating all the time. As Celica feinted and swung for his shoulder, Saber moved quickly, blocking the weapon with his own. It was easy enough to shove her blade away from him, swinging towards her torso as she recovered from the parry. The swing was, of course, too light to do any lasting damage beyond a dull pain.

[savboer-blog]

like two artificial gods

[savboer-blog]

thefetchingfletcher‌:

“Hey now, can’t you be a little soft too? You sure did more for Celica than most mercenaries might’ve.” It sounded like a tease, but it was true. Saber hadn’t known Celica much longer than Leon, but he’d gotten attached to her side fast. “Sure she had coin, but you care about her.” Leon laughed softly so himself. “It’s why you’re so intent on chasing Alm around the school while demanding he recites the code of chivalry or something!”

The mention of tits, particularly Mila’s, really didn’t have an effect on Leon. He huffed and folded his arms. Of course cheekbones were vague- that was the point.

“Oh please, you gallivant around taverns and ports leaving a trail of broken hearts in your midst like the path of a hurricane! You’re an awfully naughty boy to try and lecture me. This guy and I- well depending on how you look at it we’ve had three dates, or officially none but still see each other every day.” Leon held his head high. “But he does understand loyalty! I think that’s important in a Hubert.”

Oh god. Why. Leon stomped his foot and threw his head back with a shout. “Damn it! That’s like the third time I’ve done that!”

Saber’s eye narrowed on Leon. “Like that brat would even know anything about codes.” Or like Saber had bothered to remember something so worthless after he’d left the army. Still, bringing up Saber’s...thoughts on Celica was not something he was here to have a heart to heart about. No one would believe Leon if he told them anyways.

Saber shrugged off the allegations of breaking hearts where he went. It was true. Sort of. He’d never done anything to intentionally give them the idea it would ever be more than a night. “I don’t gallivant.”

“Hubert.” Saber repeated, raising his eyebrows. He barked out a laugh, leaning back comfortably in his chair. “Ah, don’t sweat the small stuff. You wear your heart on your sleeve and all, you being a shit liar isn’t that surprising. So.” Saber couldn’t place a face to the name. At least knowing it was the red house narrowed it down a little. “Hubert, huh?”

[savboer-blog]

cry havoc

[savboer-blog]

rudlm‌:

A frown at the remark, however true it was. The fight at Zofian Castle was… unpleasant. Their sweet, long-awaited reunion had quickly went south as soon as their viewpoints on the Rigelian invasion were brought up. She didn’t want a war, and he, foolishly believing that war could be so easily resolved if the lost Zofian princess—if she had taken the throne—then all would be right; then it wouldn’t be his problem anymore. He could go home. He thought he could have gone home with Celica. The war, instead, was much grander than something as simple as bad blood between war-born barbarians and drunk aristocrats. 

“It won’t happen again,” he replies, eyes as hard as gems and expression serious. (For some reason, he feels like he’s speaking to Celica’s father, and he can’t help the small twang of nervousness that pricks at his resolve.) 

“We didn’t know… things then.” Like his heritage, like Duma. “And… though we… left the castle bitter, it didn’t stay that way.” He wets his lips when he smiles almost bashfully, eyes flickering away from Saber. He remembers their poignant albeit short reunion through magic. They were so quick to apologize to each other—and he was quick realize that she was the princess he had spoken so harshly of. 

Gaze returns to Saber when he adds, “We’re on the same page now. No more misunderstandings.”

“Damn right it won’t happen again.” Saber replied in a low grunt.

Though now he was stuck. He’d kind of been hopping this kid would turn out to be a brat. At least then he could justify himself to Celica if he decked the kid. Now though...for all his efforts, the kid seemed genuine. Or at the very least, he didn’t appear to be shit at lying.

Saber let out a slow breath through his nose and closed his eyes. What to do from here.

“Do you know exactly how  many times she was willing to die?” Saber asked. His attention was no longer on the brat of a king from a home he wasn’t going back to. “Willing to die to keep our asses and yours alive? How close she came to throwing it all away for everyone else’s safety?”

Saber sighed. “...far more often that I was happy with. And I’m not about to stand by and let her get back to that point again. So if you do anything. A single thing. That makes her even slightly unhappy...I will know about it, you understand me?”

[savboer-blog]

like two artificial gods

[savboer-blog]

thefetchingfletcher‌:

“Oh, Alm?” Leon hadn’t been in Alm’s army, but he could take one look at a man and formulate an opinion in no time. He closed his eyes for a moment and snapped his fingers. “Well, he’s sort of like a puppy! Cute, loyal, tags after her. He’d strong too and has a huge sense of responsibility that would look awfully conceited on a commoner but is fine for a king. He seems nice enough, like maybe Berkut got all the nasty bits of the Rigelian family.”

Yeah, that made sense.

“Heh, the Black Eagles are the red house. Celica joined the Lions, and she can do whatever she likes I suppose, like Alm, but-” Leon cut himself off. Folowing someone around? Leon didn’t always do that!

Well, he always wanted to have someone… and now he sort of was.

“No.” He made a face and groaned, tossing his hair over his shoulders. “I mean yes, but it isn’t official! I did tell him I wanted to devote myself to him and all but, uh….” don’t say Hubert’s name, don’t say Hubert’s name, “I’ll tell you he has nice cheekbones!”

Saber just scoffed as Leon began rambling about the farm boy. If his face grew sullen, he made not comment on it. “Yeah, I’m sure the farm boy’s real precious and nice. Rigelians’ll be sure to eat that up. We’ve always been known as the soft and kind sort.” Berkut. Who the fuck was Berkut now? The name pricked at something in the back of Saber’s mind. Probably not anyone important.

“Lions, right.” Saber mumbled, watching the look on Leon’s face as his comment was registered. Still didn’t explain how Leon was doing his reconnaissance job for Celica by scoping out another house, but he’d let the man have his fun for now.

“There it is.” Saber groaned, playfully rolling his eye. Figures. Leon had always seemed to wear his heart on his sleeve. Seemed to get tugged around by it quite a bit as well. Saber dropped the chunk of wood onto his desk. “Devote yourself to him, Mila’s tits, at least tell me you didn’t drop that on him on the first date.”

Cheekbones. Saber frowned. “Alright? Cheekbones doesn’t tell me jack shit about a person, Leon.”

[savboer-blog]

a dagger before me

[savboer-blog]

celestialbloom‌:

“Lady Rhea…?” She murmurs, surprised. The woman hadn’t seemed to pose any harm, as far as Celica was concerned. But ever since her own experiences with religions and gods, she had to admit that she was a bit wary of any person or system that heavily relied on them now. 

She still held faith in higher powers, and respected those who did, but the princess would be lying if she said her relation to faith also wasn’t a bit shaky, these days.

There wasn’t anything about Rhea that struck her as particularly suspicious, at least not for the time being, but if Saber had suspicions, she would trust him. He always had a keen eye, good instincts, and rarely ever steered her wrong with his advice. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll be sure to remain vigilant.”

Celica takes her training sword and readjusts it in her grip, smiling when Saber proposes a sparring match. They had taken to training together during their past journey, whenever they found the time to, so this had come as incredibly nostalgic to her.

“Oh, I’ve got plenty to spare!” She tightens the grip on her sword, readying her stance. “Perhaps I’ll even manage to best you this time, hmm?”

Saber figured that one was a hard sell. Religion had never exactly been his strong suit. Sure, he never did anything outright blasphemous, and he had certainly seen clear evidence later in life that the gods were real and not well. But he wasn’t exactly about to drop everything in his life for the sake of some being who likely didn’t give a rat’s ass about him. Religious people always seemed off to him. Growing up in Rigel with the Duma faithful off snatching kids or whatever it was they did didn’t help either.

But that was a worry for later. Saber let out a bark of a laugh as Celica immediately sprung back into action. Should’ve expected as much.

“I’m sure you could do that easily if you wanted to, Lass. But I’m not ready to just roll over and die just yet.” After all, he still had his own reputation to maintain.

Training sword a familiar weight in hand, Saber eased into the familiarity of it all and nodded towards Celica. “Go on then, ladies first, your Majesty.”

[savboer-blog]

too old to learn

[savboer-blog]

funslayer‌:

     “plenty to rattle off—”  to this guy about like nae.  his head spins with every hustled step taken, the scenery around him changing in blurring colors and lighting.      “hold on, saber!  i’m not some gossiping maiden with troubles in love, okay!?”  where was he taking him, anyway?

     stumbling into the office of a professor, he squints at how the space is decorated and taken care of in one sweep of a glance.  with the calloused, battle-battered hand off his shoulder—only to be smacked on the back, the impact sending jabbing jolts all at once into the center of his feeble back, he stiffened up and forces himself to turn around to face the red haired mercenary-now-professor man, saber.

      … this saber.  the very same guy.

     “you… need my help with something now?” came his flat voice in disbelief, tone completely different from the frantic one when he was caught off guard.  despite the change in tone, however, his eyes was still on him with ears ready to listen to what saber needed of him.  boey could do at least that much for someone he knew for over a year rather than rattle at him for his rough actions.

Saber snorted, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he wandered over to his desk. “Don’t sound so surprised now, lad.” He nudged his chair out with his foot before taking a seat. He wasn’t one for all this fancy set up. Didn’t see what a student could come and ask him in an office that wouldn’t be better taught on the training ground.

Still, that wasn’t what this was about right now. “We’re old friends, aren’t we? Figured you might be happy to give me a hand with a simple problem here.”

He took out a pack of papers that had been pawned off onto him. Lesson plans He’d been told. From professors who were no longer present at the academy. All well and good, and he could figure out the intent and how useful they’d be. But that also posed the biggest problem he was having right now.

“Celica ever mention I was born in Rigel?” He asked, flipping through the papers. He did his best to appear calm, despite his own annoyance. “I can guess what you Zofians thought the education was like for anyone who wasn’t fancy enough in Rigel. And you’re likely right.”

Saber cleared his throat and, after a moment, held the papers out to Boey. “Fancy words. Big ones. I haven’t had much experience beyond what I needed to follow orders and do my jobs.”

[rp-meme-central]

Send “brush” for my muse to brush your muse’s hair.

Send “brush brush” for your muse to brush my muse’s hair. 

[savboer-blog]

too old to learn

@funslayer

“Boey!”

The hand falling onto Boey’s shoulder was sure to be surprising, but Saber found that he cared little at the moment. There was far too much tension in his shoulders and stress at the back of his mind to bother playing nice and gentle with the young mage. Besides, he should expect that by now.

“What, did you think you could just avoid me forever now that you’re off at some fancy school?” Saber glanced briefly over at the other students. Some brats he didn’t recognize who looked shocked by Saber’s sudden appearance. Good.

He snorted and began steering Boey away from the group, ushering the mage off in the direction of the office Saber had been given with his position. “Well, no time like the present, is there, lad? Come on, I’m sure you’ve got plenty you want to rattle off to me about like Mae, come on now.”

Once they were far enough from the group Saber allowed the energy to drop, huffing as he released Boey’s shoulder only to pat his back roughly. “Need your help with somethin’.”

[savboer-blog]

a dagger before me

[savboer-blog]

celestialbloom‌:

“Oh, I—” Celica had honestly forgotten the sword she’d been training with, swept up in all the excitement of seeing Saber again. His leaving the castle without a word did bother her, but not terribly so. She’d known that Jesse had been trying to recruit him for the mercenary nation he was setting up in Grieth’s former territories, but when she heard Saber disappeared, well—

—how she felt then didn’t matter, did it? Saber was here now, alive and well, and that was most important. So when next she speaks, her voice is soft, earnest. “I was just happy to see you again.”

A moment passes, and an amused giggle leaves her as Saber begins to speak of Jesse and his distaste for procedures, and she nods in understanding. “So you simply chose to find your own way, then.”

She could respect that. That’s what they all fought so hard for, after all—to grant humanity the right to pioneer the course of their own lives, and not by the whim of the gods. Yet… Celica wishes that Saber could have made a different choice. That he might have, possibly, chosen to stay by her side. 

But there was no need to dwell on what could be.

“Oh, I’ve been wonderful.” Celica responds, genuinely. There was the matter of the Gofannon (for which she was thankful that her leggings were covering up the gruesome scar she’d gotten from it), but Saber didn’t need to know about that. Not now, when they were having such a pleasant conversation. “I’ve been making excellent grades, meeting new friends… and the others are here, too! Their presence greatly comforts me.”

She smiles. “My time here has been delightful so far. I do hope you can come to like it here too, Saber.”

There’s a pause that’s just a second too long for Saber to properly pass it off as him being casual and aloof. He cleared his throat forcefully, reaching up to thumb at the band of his eyepatch. “Yeah, it’s good to see you as well, Lass.”

“Don’t know if my leavin’ was anything as grand as that. Simply knew what things were like under preferable leadership.” That, and Jesse would not stop begging Saber for tips with women and Saber did not have the energy to become Jesse’s personal life coach for the rest of his days.

He chuckled as she began listing off her accomplishments. “Bout what I expected when I heard you enrolled yourself here.” And it was the honest truth. He couldn’t think of a single situation where Celica wouldn’t find some way to excel. “Still, best not to get too comfortable.”

He returned to her side and leaned down so that she was able to hear him when his voice dropped to a whisper. “Not sure I trust the woman in charge here. Not that there’s been any signs of anything wrong yet, but there’s no guarantee she’s not just a prettier lookin’ Jedah.”

Saber stood and wandered back to the center of the training field. “Yeah, we’ll see..so. Got the energy in you left for a spar? Let’s see just exactly how much this fancy school’s improved ya.”

[savboer-blog]

like two artificial gods

[savboer-blog]

thefetchingfletcher‌:

Saber was a fine specimen of a dad. Had he fathered children? No, but he may as well have been one. Celica seemed to have a type of rough mercenary to pick up, and that type was grisly, muscled, dreamy dad and big brother types who would kill for her.

Leon missed the old days sometimes.

Leon watched him whittle wood and act like he wasn’t paying attention in that way Saber had perfected. Honestly, Leon thought Saber was a little too rough around the edges for him without a shred of innocence anywhere under that rougish vest, but he could still look at the menu even if he wasn’t going to order. Hmmm, what had he been talking about? Ah well, Saber mentioned the magic word to get Leon’s attention.

“Valbar? Ah, he’s back home helping the royal guard. He mainly trains recruits. I miss him terribly but he’s as safe as can be back home. I write him a letter every week and he always responds with almost as many pages as me! Oh it was so cute, I sent him vegtable pasta recipies and he said all the recruits loved it! They added meat which is awful and disgusting but I forgive him for such a slight.”

Leon smiled proudly, puffing out his chest. “Celica sent me to scout ahead and see what Fodlan and the academy was like and here she is, a student here too! You can think of me as a sort of class auditor of sorts- although I am trying to learn while I’m here. Can’t be too perfect, right?”

Leon leaned closer to look at what Saber was carving. “I admit it isn’t as safe here as we thought, but where is it truly safe? The Black Eagle House has impressed me the most with their leadership.”

Like hell he was going to tell Saber he was there because of Hubert. Unless he wanted to make Saber jealous, but he suspected Saber had a much different crowd he preferred.

“Ah, right.” Saber should’ve figured Valbar would be off at home with the royal guard. He’d had all the bearings of a knight, for one thing, even if Saber couldn’t remember off the top of his head if Valbar was one or not. For another, he’d always liked taking care of others, and with no family to go back to...training the next generation seemed the perfect fit for someone like Valbar.

Still...the mention of the royal guard unsettled something in Saber’s stomach. He forcibly ignored it as always.

“Yeah, I’ve run into Celica. The lass looks like she’s doing well. Shame that farm boy came following after her.” Celica could likely use some time not thinking about Alm or Valentia or any of the gods. And maybe Saber just didn’t want Alm near her all the time.

“Well that’s nothing new.” Saber doubted they’d ever find anywhere truly “safe”. “Black Eagles?” That was...the red house, right? Saber frowned. “Isn’t Celica in that other one...the blue...cats or whatever? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to check out the house she was going to join if you were spyin’ for her?”

Then again, it was Leon. “You followin’ someone around again?”

[savboer-blog]

equivocator

[savboer-blog]

razurite‌:

      water marks the seal. ♪ Deft fingers idly pinch together the seam, creasing five folds to keep each dumpling shut before it is set aside into a woven bamboo basket. Flour, fill, seal, fold, set aside. Again and again, the motion is done without a thought or beat in-between. Dumplings scattered carefully across a single sheet, the soft gold of their eyes flicking back and forth between the stack of floured, carefully rolled-out dumpling skins set beside them and the bowl of meat filling slowly being edged away with every careful scoop.

      It had only been a few days since they had been released from the infirmary. Their bones adequately set, everything healed to the best ability that magic could afford. But everything, still, was weak from disuse and it was for that reason that Shigure finds themselves seated here alone in the dining hall and minding the duties left to them for today’s lunch whilst the monastery staff scurried off to the market to gather something else that had been forgotten.

      It is the third, no fourth, day now and they expect it to be much of the same as usual. ( They are bored, again but at least they are able to move this time. ) At least until they hear the quiet sound of shuffling, doors opening and closing again that Shigure quirks their head to the side. “Miss, are you back?” A pause, but no answer. So, the songstress’s child rises to their feet whilst folding another dumpling as they make their way into the storehouse and what should they find but no miss? Only the back of a head and a voice most assuredly not.

      “Ah,” comes their reply in a breath. “No, that’s not —” Not their responsibility, but they suppose it is for now until the others return, “— what, ah. What are you looking for?”

Saber grunted and glanced over his shoulder. A student. Not one he recognized either. Fine with him. Hopefully that meant that they didn’t recognize him either. He waved at them vaguely before he returned to his search. “Oh, you know. Just any kind of booze that hasn’t already been squirreled away by the other members of faculty. Nothing for a good student like you to worry your pretty little head about.”

Actually, were students supposed to be in here outside of dining hours? Saber couldn’t remember. Whatever. He wasn’t a knight. He wasn’t about to rat kids out to that weird religious lady. He’d rather avoid talking to her as much as possible, in all honesty.

But could this kid possibly know where the alcohol was. Saber pondered it, but then shook his head. Doubtful.

“What are you doin’ here anyways? Shouldn’t you be off doin’...student things. Studyin’ and the like?”

[savboer-blog]

the timeline in which they took a chance they didn’t in canon

slightly altered timeline

“Come on now...you’re a grown ass man, for fuck’s sake, how hard could this fuckin’ be.”

Saber fiddled anxiously with one of the treasures Celica had paid him with. For his “bodyguarding” she’d told him. As if he’d even still remembered he was just hired help half way through their journey.

They’d been back to the Zofian castle for just a few days and celebrations were still going strong. The mood was good. Rumors were spreading that the new king had gone ahead and proposed to Celica. He’d need to speak to her about that one. A few weeks collectively over the span of years was not enough time for these kinds of decisions. Everyone seemed in that same swing though. Determining what they’d do with the rest of their lives.

And where did that leave him?

Saber sighed, banging his head against the wall he was leaning on. Jesse had offered him a place in his new mercenary country he was planning. Saber wasn’t sure how he’d talked Celica into giving him the land for that. While the idea of it was an interesting concept, Saber wasn’t sure he was ready to dedicate his life to serving someone like Jesse. Just talking to Jesse daily was enough for him.

The door opened. His turn then. Weird to think he had to take up a fucking meeting to speak to Celica when just the week before they’d been sitting around a fire preparing to die. Saber chuckled to himself and pushed off the wall.

“Evening, Lass. Let’s get right to it then. Can’t imagine you’ve got a lot of candidates lined up as a retainer right now, huh?”

[savboer-blog]

1!

A slightly altered timeline

A timeline in which no opportunities are taken from Saber is, in all honesty, a timeline in which Saber and Celica never meet.

Saber’s family was poor farmers, which is not in itself an opportunity lost as it gives him the drive as a young man to prove his worth and provide for his mother and sister. With his father missing, it’s all they have after all.

As always, Saber joins the Rigelian army like most able bodied men do. It’s good coin to send home, and it’s the honor and pride of proving that you can protect your country, that you are worthy of Duma’s blessing of strength and that you are not like those in the south who take the hardships of life for granted.

What changes this time around is that being lowborn does not impede Saber the way it normally does. Saber is naturally talented with the blade and determined enough to provide for his family that he easily rises through the ranks of the Rigelian military, one of the few if only lowborns to do so in a long time.

Acknowledgement leads to pride, and with so much funds to send home to his family, Saber is likely more than happy to follow orders and do what is asked of him in order to keep his sister fed and mother smiling.

With the famine spreading and a Zofian rebellion charging its way into Rigel, the end for Saber is inevitable, despite his promises to his family that he would return to them. Two eyed and Captain ranked, Saber loses his life leading a defensive against the Deliverance’s war against Duma. 

[sagamemes]

a slightly altered timeline.   send me  ‘ timeline ’  and a number and i will tell you how my muse and their life would have turned out in a life slightly altered compared to their canon one—same universe, but where something little, or something big, went differently.

the timeline in which they live an ideal life, had no opportunities taken from them, were subjected to nothing terrible, where they grew up to fulfil their full potential.

the timeline in which they never met who would become the most influential or important person in their life, or that person was taken from them before they were capable of forming memories.

the timeline in which something important to them happened in a different stage of life.

the timeline in which they knew beforehand of something they would have prevented if given the chance.

the timeline in which they continue on from the current point in their lives to the best happy ending that is within their reach, where nothing that has happened so far is negated but from now on, the happy things start piling up.

the timeline in which everything that could go wrong from this point on… does.

the timeline in which they never experience the loss that taught them something important.

the timeline in which they gain everything they want, except for the thing they wanted the most.

the timeline in which they live the life they currently see the most likely for them.

the timeline in which something big to them never happened.

the timeline in which something very little happened differently, but it changed a lot.

the timeline in which they had a person in their life when they needed one the most.

the timeline in which instead of the most influential person in their life, they had a person who had the complete opposite effect on them.

the timeline in which they took a chance they didn’t in canon.

the timeline in which they let a chance go by.

[savboer-blog]

Office Hours

[savboer-blog]

swornprotect‌:

A new professor! Rumors had been swirling about the school about the handsome rogue of a swordplay teacher who’d taken up a position at the monastery and Mae just had to know all the juicy details. For research, of course. Leon couldn’t place all his eggs in the Hubert basket. She seriously doubted Hubert was actually the age he said he was. He had to be like…a vampire or something. Not that it would matter if Leon wanted to date a vampire but…well, she was getting off track.

As soon as classes let out, she bolted towards the teachers offices, smiling as she approached his door. Raising her hand to knock, Mae blinked in surprise as the door opened, revealing….Saber? No. Way. Saber was the new professor–yeah right. “Heeeey Saber! It’s super great to see you! Man, it’s been like….how long now? Sheesh, you run off like that without even a note! Had us all worried.” She shook her head, lips pressed together in a fake pout.

“Speaking of–I heard there was a new professor, have you seen ‘im? I have a….question about swords. Yeah!” That sounded right. “Are you working here now too? Like a knight of Seiros? Man, it’s hard to imagine you as a knight…oh maybe you have a job here? Is it the mercenary country? How is that place? Gotta be like…super weird living with only mercenaries….but to each their own I guess.”

She paused a moment, toying with the end of her pigtail. “We…really missed you, y’know.” Her voice grew quiet, not quite wanting to breech the topic. “Stupid dummy.” ( @savboer​ )

Saber had been surprised for a second. There was a moment of silence between the two of them where Saber had been sure Mae was just as shocked to see him as as he was to see her. He hadn’t even had enough of a chance to let the dread fill in his chest before she was off rambling again, and all of that was immediately squashed.

He winced. “Mae.” He managed to get out between her rambling sentences. He let out a sigh. Well, some things certainly never change. He opened the door enough so that she could enter and wandered into the office. He’d gotten used to her rambling while they’d traveled. Forgot how it was to have something constantly filling the silence.

“The new professor is me.” He answered, leaning against the desk. “And yeah, I’m just as shocked as you are. Place must be a real shit show if they’re picking up any old mercenary off the street.”

And then Mae got quiet again, and Saber wished he had kept that dread stored up so he’d be prepared for when she finally addressed the elephant in the room. Saber delayed answering, thumbing at the band for his eyepatch for a moment instead. “...yeah. That uh...probably could’ve found a way to leave you all a little better.”