#;day of devotion

[cavaliant]

❛ hey there, mister popular! ❜ lene calls out, flagging diarmuid down. when she catches up to him in the midst of the day of devotion festivities, she hands him a box of chocolates. ❛ i tried my best to pick out some that i heard nanna likes and that ares finds, well, tolerable. so go and use these to spark up some fun family moments, alright? that's what today's all about after all. ❜

Diarmuid’s cheeks pink at the nickname, and he turns on his heel with an open bag still dangling off one arm to come face to face with the caller. The familiar voice, at least, had let him know to slow his steps--had it been a stranger calling out that name, he doesn’t think he would have presumed to stop at all.

“Hello, Lene,” he says, befuddled expression morphing into a bright smile as he takes in the gift she’s handed to him. “And, thank you...I’ll be sure to offer them some the next time I run into them today. You never know--maybe a sweet tooth runs in the family?”

It’s silly to feel bad about something beyond his control, but...as they stand here, in the midst of all the celebrations, he wonders if Lene wishes she had family to spend this time together with as well. Though he’s sure Ares wouldn’t mind her tagging along today, given how close they are...he has no idea how Nanna would feel. He isn’t as close to either of them as he’d like, not yet able to predict with near-unfailing certainty what his cousin and sister would or wouldn’t like.

“Hold on, I also have something...” He rummages around in the bag on his arm, digging through the presents he still has yet to give. Though the stash is more depleted than it had been at the start of today, it still takes him a moment to pull out the deep burgundy cloth buried beneath the rest of the gifts.

“Here you are.” He holds out a cloak, slightly less neatly folded than this morning but still as soft and warm as ever. “I know it’s not exactly the prettiest piece of clothing, especially compared to your normal clothes...but since you mentioned that you might be travelling, I thought it could be useful. As a blanket if nothing else!”

[cavaliant]

Ares hands Diarmuid a bag full of pink and white candies. "Here." Totally counts for Day of Devotion.

@lionheartshadow​ | don’t enable him Ares he’s gonna have a giant stash :/

!!! Candy!!!!

…Ahem. “Thank you very much, Ares! Do you want some? I was going to get you some candy too, but I thought maybe you’d like a slightly more practical gift…here!”

He holds out a small wooden comb with roses carved into the handle. Now that he’s standing face-to-face with his sombre, serious cousin…it feels a little silly to offer him something so delicate-looking.

“Um…I know it’s not something that’s very useful for battle. But it matches the one Mother left me, and…your hair is longer than mine, so…”

[cavaliant]

@knightlydumbass​:

“Lachesis.” So many words tremble on his lips after that one. Words of apology, of regret. Words weighed down with sorrow. But heavy as they are, he does not speak them. Never again will he willingly bring tears to her eyes, even if speaking might dull some of the guilt that chokes him every time he catches sight of her.

No matter how many years may have passed for her, she will always be the little sister he had sworn to protect. Someone he should have been able to protect. Someone who should never have cried over him. What sort of brother can he claim to be when he has failed her so greatly? What sort of devotion can he even offer after shattering her trust so thoroughly?

So he only smiles, bright and without a shadow of the the bitterness he forces himself to swallow, and lays a sword, formed of roses and petals in her hands. “I thought this would suit you better than I.” A more fitting blade than the last one he had given her.

It is always so strange to look into the face of the brother she’d lost so long ago, to see him exactly as he had remained in the memories she’d held so tightly to her chest. She doesn’t know if she’ll ever grow accustomed to being older than him, no matter how vehemently she might protest that he is and always will be the older brother she looks up to above anyone else.

He’s smiling now--she’s glad. There had been little reason to smile when they’d seen each other last, neck-deep in war, so now--maybe he can be happy here, away from the burdens of his country and station. Maybe he can be free to let smiles light up his too-young face again, just like they used to.

“It’s beautiful...” She lets the sword rest atop her palms for a few moments, marvelling at the elaborate ornamentation and the fact that she’s allowed to indulge in such beautiful, elegant things again, no matter how impractical they may be. She blinks rapidly, though no tears fall, eyes shining as she smiles up at her brother’s face.

“Thank you, Eldie. Though--I would argue that it suits you just as well.”

[cavaliant]

"It may be a beorc holiday, but - " He reached up to place an ornament - elaborately twisted and braided out of flowers and stems - in Tibarn's hair. "You have had my devotion since the night you saved me, and you will not lose it until I take my last breath."

He held utterly still as Reyson affixed the adornment, waiting until he pulled away before raising his hand to reveal another ornament clasped in his fingers. It was far simpler in design than the one Reyson had made--a small bundle of spread-out feathers, some brown, some dyed a deep red. Slowly, he reached upwards, giving Reyson ample time to pull away if he wanted. When no such thing happened, he carefully tucked the accessory just behind his ear, drawing back so he could properly see Reyson’s face.

“Then I’ll treasure it.”

There was a lot he could say about Reyson never owing him his consideration or adoration, but--that was a conversation for another time. Now was simply the time to acknowledge the fact that--whatever he had or hadn’t done to earn Reyson’s regard, it was his job to appreciate it, and to prove himself worthy of continuing to have it.

“As both King of the hawks, and myself alone, I promise you in return that you will always have my aid. As long as I draw breath--I will do everything in my power to support you. This is my promise to you.”

[cavaliant]

“Beowolf!” Leans up to uwu him before handing him a bottle of wine ringed with flowers around its rim. “I though you might enjoy this better than the flowers alone. I am honored to have a friend so devoted as you on this day.”

Though the praise for his--devotion of all things is a little embarrassing, he can’t help but smile at Eldigan’s enthusiasm.

“Hey, I ain’t so rude as to say no to a gift from ya, flowers or not. But the drink’s certainly appreciated, no doubt ‘bout that. Ya wanna crack it open and have a lil’ taste with me? I got some chocolate-covered strawberries with your name on ‘em that’ll go great with it if ya want...”

[cavaliant]

"Sigurd - " He hesitates. Something burns behind his eyes as the echoes of their past sound in his mind. "I failed to keep my last vow to you, but if you will allow me to swear my devotion to you once more - then I pledge it to you until we both breathe our last here. Here in this world of second chances."

His eyes prickle as he stares into the face of his long-lost friend. He’d been neither the first nor the last of a long line of deaths he’d been unable to prevent, of losses and failures stacked so high upon his shoulders he’d felt as if he were stumbling beneath their weight.

“Eldigan.” The name trembles on his lips as tears begin to drip freely down his cheeks. “I have never–I have not once considered you an oath-breaker nor a failure. If you have broken our promise, then I have done so as well. But if you are willing to begin anew–then I will gladly accept your pledge, if you will allow me to make a similar one to you.”

His lips curve upwards into a watery smile, hand pressed over his heart.

“I swear, with this world as my witness. Now and forever, I will come to your aid in conflict or in peace. I will be the sword that fights at your side, and the shield that defends your back. So we swore once to each other, long ago–and so I swear again now.”

[cavaliant]

“ heya, jamke! y'know what today is, right? ” dew holds out one hand expectantly. still, his greed is not without some charity. with his other hand hidden behind his back, he unveils it and holds out a gift of chocolates. they all look horribly misshapen but the taste should be decent enough, the thief holds faith. “ from yers, truly! no stealin' involved, promise! ”

“I do.”

That doesn’t mean he’d expected a gift, to be quite honest. Though he supposes it isn’t all that surprising, what with Dew often handing gifts out to others like…well, like candy.

“Thank you. I’ll take your word for it about the stealing, though I’m not sure what kind of bakery would be trying to sell something like this anyway.”

The words are teasing, or as much teasing as he can make his normally serious tone convey. Poking fun at someone isn’t something familiar to him–certainly not with his brothers, and sometimes he wonders if it comes off too…harsh. Despite the amount of needling Dew does back. He smiles at him regardless, placing a small box of butter cookies down onto his outstretched hand.

“There. I made those for today. Feel free to poke fun at their shapes in return if you like.”