#artificeheart

[visionsofecho]

"You should be cautious to display such confidence, Kaveh. Can you say without the slightest doubt that you'd remember marrying Alhaitham? Even if this happened, say, while you were intoxicated by alcohol?"

Be very careful, Kaveh.

Attempting the forbidden without a hint of fear is a punishable sin.

[daybreakrising]

@artificeheart sent: ❝Duke Wriothesley.❞ Neuvillette's acknowledgement is calmly spoken, his voice never one to betray his thoughts — most who came across the Iudex would find him to be a rather collected individual, even in the moments like this, when he is stood outside the Palais Mermonia in the rain, watching it fall from the sky. Most times they had meetings to attend to, for the work day never does end for him, Neuvillette was careful to be ready in his office, awaiting the other's arrival.

Today, it seems he has deigned to greet Wriothesley outside instead, if only to enjoy the weather before it inevitably would fade into sunlight once more.

❝If you would like to wait in my office, I will join you shortly.❞ His explanation is concise, his words almost commanding, as if the choice he leaves the duke is more of an illusion. However, he does not tell the other to head indoors, nor does he move his gaze away. ❝I trust that you were safe while travelling from the fortress to the court, however I must ask... Have you been keeping well?❞

This is not the first time he's found the Iudex standing in the rain without an umbrella.

Others might consider this peculiar, but the Duke doesn't think twice about it. People have their quirks - he knows this well, and who is he to begrudge a man from enjoying the simple things in life? As it is, he himself sometimes enjoys the odd stroll in the rain on the occasions where he surfaces from the Fortress.

It's been a while since he last felt rain on his skin, so he ignores the commanding tone of the other's voice and instead steps up beside him, hands coming to rest comfortably upon his hips as he looks out over the city before them.

"Keeping well?" His lips curve into an easy smile. "As well as I can. You know me - always something to be done. The work never ends, as I'm sure you understand."

He tips his face to the sky, almost mirroring the Iudex, and closes his eyes against the downpour, droplets hammering lightly across his cheeks. "No one ever told me I'd miss the rain."

[noctuafought]

@artificeheart / ♥️

"you have lovely hair." the redhead hums softly.

his fingers gently rake through aether's hair, gathering the silky locks before weaving them into a beautiful braid. once finished, he secures the end with a rubberband and a small gold bow.

"all finished."

[hoyoverserpcpositivity]

@artificeheart and @maquiscursed are the ultimate and wonderful brotp. They are both talented writers that will go far in the community and out.

[ironbloodcd-a]

@artificeheart

To say that the tour had been nothing short of a success thus far would have been an understatement. Every show had sold out in the first week, and from what he'd heard so far, their second week was looking to be just as promising. Lyney couldn't say that he wasn't pleased, and even excited by the turnout, but along with that came the nervousness that often plagued him during his performances.

With every successful performance would come the mounting pressure to do better - to be more impressive. Would there come a time when his skills could no longer improve? When he would run out of ideas, new ways to amaze the crowds?

It had been on his mind constantly during these past few days, and was definitely an indication that he needed a break - even just a short one. Thankfully, they'd reached a free day in their tour - a moment of peace before they would be heading to their next destination, another city on the list that they wouldn't be reaching the end of for some time. Lynette, on her part, wanted to spend the day in their hotel room decompressing and out of the prying eyes of the public. To Lyney, however, it felt like a shame to move on without experiencing some of what the city had to offer.

Which was what had brought him to the door of room 303, his fist rapping against the wooden surface rhythmically before he called out to its occupant - who, he imagined, was holed up and diligently working away.

"Aether! You in?" Time to see if he could derail that plan completely.

[abyssalxs]

i already lost you once. i'm not going to lose you again. (Aether)

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The expression on her brother’s face and the ache in his words made the warrior stiffen for a moment or two. Her expression was conflicted with grief and determination for a second — he was not ready yet in her heart. He would never be ready for that truth surely.

The traveler lowers her blade while her grip shakes around weakly around the hilt. Sucking in a jagged breath before turning her back towards her twin for her eyes will betray the words that escape her lips.

❛ You are still NAÏVE Aether about this land and how these so-called ARCHONS truly act. I would love nothing more than to be by YOUR side once more. But I will not ABANDON the Order. Tevyat needs to be REBIRTH, or even cleansed from this horrid corruption that FESTERS in its core. ❜

[erabundus]

@artificeheart &&. said... ❝If you think about life like its just a big bowl of alphabet soup, everything starts to make sense.❞ (Aether // modern verse)

the  burger  wrapper  crinkles  as  he  takes  another  bite.  it's  a  nice  day  —  pleasantly  warm,  with  enough  clouds  blocking  the  sun  that  he  feels  comfortable  loitering  around  the  roof  of  his  apartment  without  worrying  about  COOKING  himself  to  death.  the  streamer  doesn't  speak,  mouth  currently  occupied  with  his  lunch  —  though  he  does  narrow  his  eyes  at  aether  in  such  a  way  that  guarantees  he  has  words  about  that  comment.

chew.  swallow.  ❝  alphabet  soup?  ❞  alphabet  soup.  ren  makes  a  face  —  as  if  to  purposefully  exaggerate  his  confusion.  (  although  it's  just  as  likely  a  genuine  expression.  )  ❝  explain.  ❞  it  sounds  like  a  command.  it  is,  though  such  demands  are  rendered  toothless  from  the  frequency  at  which  they  spill  from  the  streamer's  lips.  he's  just  a  bit  irritating  like  that.  ❝  are  you  comparing  alphabet  soup  to  tea  leaves?  or  is  this  more  of  a  mad  libs  type  of  situation?  ❞   as  he  speaks,  ren  peers  idly  over  the  edge  of  the  building.  his  eyes  track  the  streets  below  —  though  what  he's  SEARCHING  FOR,  if  anything,  is  still  unclear.  ❝  if  you're  trying  to  spin  some  sort  of  complex  metaphor  to  make  yourself  sound  smart,  you  really  should  have  gone  for  something  a  little  more  distinguished  than  a  meal  for  toddlers.  ❞ not that he has any room to talk; a not-insubstantial portion of his diet comes from a box or can. sometimes he simply can't be bothered to put in the effort for anything else.

❝  i  think  life is  more  like  spaghetti?  ...  long  pasta.  ❞  this  is  such  a  stupid  conversation.  he's  kind  of  enjoying  it.  ❝  all  tangled  together  in  one  chaotic,  messy  lump.  ❞  a  little  ugly.  a  little  strange.  but  maybe  it  tastes  alright  —  and  that's  the  part  that  matters. ( or it's undercooked and overly salty and terrible. )

ren  blinks.  ❝  hold  that  thought.  ❞  there  he  is  —  there's  that  bastard  deliveryman  who  always  throws  his  packages  like  he's  playing  fucking  skee-ball  with  them.  the  streamer  snatches  up  a  packet  of  mayo  that  came  with  his  meal  and  tears  it  open  with  pointed  teeth.  then,  squeezes  its  contents  over  the  side  of  the  building.  he's  quick  to  dart  out  of  sight,  waiting,  waiting,  waiting.  it  doesn't  take  very  long;  a  faint  stream  of  avian-directed  CURSES  rises  from  the  ground  below  —  and  ren  smirks,  a  degree  of  malice  that  borders  on  almost  cartoonishly  evil  in  the  quirk  of  his  lips.  ❝  anyway.  ❞   attention  flicks  back  to  his  burger,  and  the  streamer  takes  a  triumphant  bite.  ❝  you  were  saying?  ❞

[dochttore]

❝ no matter how hard you try, i guess you can’t escape your past. ❞ (Arakan)

❝ hm . . . is that something you're learning the hard way or is it because your life seems to always circle back to me? ❞ their words rung identical to a certain god of wisdom & how a human struggled to make peace with themselves. the details behind what occurred with the meddling of irminsul were the details that interested the doctor the most, not so much their relationship with the god of wisdom herself.

❝ when you thought you've known just about everything there is to be known it is but a matter of time alone for that to be proven otherwise. ❞ dottore chuckled. ❝ wisdom is such a bountiful boon. ❞ it always gave & it gave.