How did this happen? She was sitting in their tub, covered in blood and with no recollection of the events that led to this. She looked at her lover trying to figure out why he was cleaning away blood. And so much of it.
"Ardyn...? What happened to me?" She felt like she just woke up from a nightmare and her brain suppressed it to hide the trauma. She looked at the water which now ran red and brown from all the fresh and dried blood.
"Mnm." The five year old merely hummed his response as Novus slowly shook his head while continuing on his way to one of the many rooms in the citadel. He'd been lying down for what seemed like hours but having the Chocobo Pox while staying in his room wasn't exactly fun either. The boy was nothing but itchy and bored stiff.
"I wanna watch TV..." Novus mumbled continuing on his way, plopping down on the couch when he arrived already reaching for the remote. "I don't wanna go back down." The television was soon switched from the news to the only cartoon channel that he could think of and the boy began to feel somewhat better until he started scratching again.
Thankfully, he was only in the beginning stages so it wasn't too advanced in terms of the virus, it still wasn't fun to deal with though. "Daddy? The Chocobo's are making me itch. Can you make them stop?"
• Mark the ones your muse has done.
• Use your result as your post title.
• Please repost and don’t reblog!
Tagged by: @thecolosseumsfinest and @fragmenthearted
Tagging: anyone who wants to do this
[ x ] consumed alcohol
[ x ] slept in the same bed with someone of another gender
[ x ] slept in the same bed with someone of the same gender
[ x ] kissed someone of another gender
[ x ] had sex
[ x ] had someone in your room other than family
[ x ] seen porn
[ ] bought porn
[ ] tried drugs
[ ] been drugged
TOTAL: 7
[ x ] taken painkillers
[ ] taken someone else’s prescription medicine
[ ] lied to your parents (or parental figures)
[ x ] lied to a friend
[ x ] snuck out of the house
[ ] done something illegal
[ x ] felt hurt
[ x ] hurt someone
[ x ] wished someone would die
[ x ] seen someone die
TOTAL: 7
[ x ] missed curfew
[ x ] stayed out all night
[ x ] eaten a carton of ice cream by yourself
[ ] been to a therapist
[ ] received a ticket
[ ] been to rehab
[ ] dyed your hair
[ ] been in an accident
[ x ] been to a club
[ x ] been to a bar
TOTAL: 5
[ ] been to a wild party
[ ] been to a Mardi Gras parade
[ x ] drank more than three alcoholic beverages in a night
[ ] had a spring break in Florida
[ ] sniffed anything
[ ] wore black nail polish
[ ] wore arm bands
[ ] wore t-shirts with band names
[ ] listened to rap
TOTAL: 1
[ x ] dressed gothic
[ x ] dressed girly
[ ] dressed punk
[ ] dressed grunge
[ x ] stole something
[ ] been too drunk to remember anything
[ ] blacked out
[ x ] fainted
[ ] had a crush on a neighbor
TOTAL: 4
[ x ] had a crush on a friend
[ x ] been to a concert
[ ] dry-humped someone; been dry humped
[ x ] been called a slut
[ ] called someone a slut.
[ ] installed speakers in a car
[ ] broken a mirror
[ x ] showered at someone of another gender’s house
[ ] brushed your teeth with someone else’s toothbrush
TOTAL: 4
[ ] considered Ludacris your favorite rapper
[ ] seen an R-rated movie
[ ] cruised the mall
[ x ] skipped school
[ ] had surgery
[ x ] had an injury
[ ] gone to court
[ ] walked out of a restaurant without paying/tipping
[ ] caught something on fire.
[ ] lied about your age
TOTAL: 2
[ x ] owned/rented an apartment/house
[ ] broke the law in the police’s presence
[ ] made out with someone who had a GF/BF
[ ] got in trouble with the police
[ x ] talked to a stranger
[ ] hugged a stranger
[ ] kissed a stranger
[ x ] rode in the car with a stranger
[ x ] been harassed
[ x ] been verbally harassed
TOTAL: 5
[ ] met face-to-face with someone you met online
[ ] stayed online for 5+ hours straight
[ ] talked on the phone for more than 4 hours straight
[ ] watched TV for 5 hours straight
[ x ] been to a fair
[ ] been called a bad influence
[ ] drank and drove
[ ] prank-called someone
[ x ] laid on a couch with someone of another gender
[ ] cheated on a test
TOTAL: 2
If you have 00-10 … write [I’m a goody-goody]
If you have 11-20 … write [I’m still a goody-goody]
If you have 21-30 … write [I’m average]
If you have 31-40 … write [I’m a bad kid]
If you have 41-50 … write [I’m a very bad influence]
If you have 51-60 … write [I’m a horrible person]
If you have 61-70 … write [I should be in jail]
If you have 71-80 … write [I should be dead]
If you have 81-90 … write [I got a ticket to Hell]
♛ //Ardyn would like to restate that, unusually, he is very apprehensive and will likely be very awkward at this XD
Under the cut for length.....i got carried away....
The Chancellor sighed as he twirled the flute between his fingers. Parties like this were such a bore, and he was usually forced to look the part. At least casual formal wear was acceptable. And by casual, he was wearing the bare minimum of a dress shirt, the one he normally wore anyway, dress slacks and dress shoes. He missed his usual attire but around these...nobles, he had to look more the part. Thankfully this was also not a very important formal event. That’s why he gets away with dressing to the bare minimum.
He stood there, looking out at all the guest and dignitaries. How this bored him still. One by one they piled in, not wearing their finest but wearing their best still. He looked around, wondering if she would show. There was something about her. Something that, if he could dream, let alone sleep, she would haunt him. His eyes caught a flash of red. He turned his head to see that she had finally wandered in.
Emily looked around for her date. He said he was going to be here this evening before she arrived. Frowned when she couldn’t locate him, the woman wondered if she should just leave.
“Emily?” He called to her softly. Her head whipped around as she heard her name being spoken. She smiled at the figure standing before her.
“You clean up well Ardyn.” She teased the man. He scoffed.
“I’m always at my best Ms. Emily, you know this better than anyone.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in close. “But you, are more radiant than ever my darling.” He whispered into her ear, causing her to blush. Had this been when they first met, she would’ve smacked his chest for making her blush so heavy. Now? She just smiled as that color crossed her cheeks.
“I hate it when you tease me.” He chuckled a bit.
“I’m not teasing love. I’m being honest. Now, let us enjoy the evening before we...do our usual slip and dash?” She giggled a bit
“Let’s see how things go tonight okay? Maybe switch things up?” She pondered her words. As much as she enjoyed their evenings, she wanted to do something different. When the music started to play, she had a thought.
“Ardyn, dance with me!” She tugged at his hand. His face dropped.
“No I can’t possibly. My leg is too bad for even a simple slow dance love...” She pouted at him. “Emily no, you know I can’t...” She still attempted to pull him to the dance floor which made some guest observe them. He sighed as he tried to figure out how to get out of this. He looked back at his date. Well, maybe one dance. His leg was only half the reason he refused to dance with Emily. He couldn’t get the image out of his head. She couldn’t be. Would the astrals be so cruel to him? Almost three hundred years with no sign of a reincarnation. Suddenly she waltzes in and just, makes him question everything.
The new song was about ready to play and they got into their ready position. He took a deep breath as they started to dance. Thank Shiva the song was slow.
As they started their waltz, his memory went back so long ago. The very first time he danced with the woman he was in love with...
~
“Ardyn, where are we going?!” Emily called out as he continued to push her through the gardens. He chuckled at her reaction.
“Just trust in me, please? I promise you’ll love this.” He spoke sweet words to her all night. She wasn’t sure what was going on. He had a dress picked out for her, appropriate shoes, had some lady put her hair in a braid and then pin it up in a bun.
After a few minutes, he got to where he wanted them to be. He made her stand in the middle of the brick walkway. Her eyes were shut tight. Oops, he forgot about that.
“Open them...” He whispered to her. She opened her eyes, gazing at the gardens they stood in the middle of. She turned to Ardyn, who was wearing his usual attire that he and his brother wore to distinguish them as nobility. He always looked elegant in black and gold. She was confused though.
“Why...did you bring me here? And dressed up?” He chuckled at her expression. He approached her and gave her a gentle smile as he stroked her cheek lovingly.
“I wanted to practice our dance.” As soon as he said that, it clicked.
“Ardyn, I don’t know...there are others you could...” She couldn’t say it. Her heart couldn’t bear the truth. Even if it was a lie in reality. His smile didn’t waiver.
“I choose you.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. She blushed underneath the moonlight. To Ardyn, it didn’t matter what lighting there was, the red in both hair and eyes popped. He loved it so. He got them into the ready position, knowing what to dance to.
“May I have this dance?” He finally asked. Emily looked at him.
“And what music will be accompanying us?” She asked unsure how they would be able to dance with no music. He chuckled before giving her lips a quick, soft peck.
“Trust me, and I will not lead you astray.” He began to lead her into the dance. As soon as he started to hum, she knew which song. They twirled and stepped to the music in their heads with perfect timing. Each move in sync with one another. How he loved this.
~
When they stopped perfectly in time with the music, they could hear everyone applaud. Such elegance and grace. People congratulated the couple. Somnus stood off to the side, watching and plotting. What, his brother would not know for a few more years still.
~
“Ardyn? Ardyn?” He snapped to the present, a worried dance partner in front of him. He smiled, relieved it was still Emily.
“I’m sorry love. I got caught up.” She wasn’t sure what happened, but the dance was perfect. Pain suddenly shot up his leg, causing him to collapse where he stood.
“Ardyn!” The woman cried out, causing people to pause and stare. A few MT’s came along to help the Chancellor up, but Emily had him.
“I’m sorry...I’m so sorry...I didn’t mean to push you” she apologized again and again as they were led to a private room. The Emperor knew not to send anyone in after them so it was just them. He sat on the fainting chair and smiled at her.
“Please, don’t apologize. You don’t ask this of me often. I did indulge you.” He stroked her hair which calmed her down significantly.
“I won’t ask that again I swear.” He cut her off with a simple kiss. He broke the kiss, chuckling as he watched her come onto him literally just for another. She could annoy him at times but mostly found her entertaining. He pulled her close to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Darling, just stay with me. Don’t leave me.” She looked up.
“I won’t. I promise.” He waited a small while before he knew she was asleep. Stroking her back lightly, pulling her into a sense of security. It would be a while before his leg was back to normal, but it was healing. Damn that old wound. Even after 2,000 years. He sighed as he looked at her sleeping form. How unfair this was. How unfair to him that she’s seen her look at old pictures of friends. Gazing longingly at one particular photo. Even his Emily had looked at another that way. But, for that time, it was different. He wouldn’t have minded sharing her then. Now?
“I will never let you go. We will waltz again I promise...” He spoke harshly to himself, his grip on her firming up, but not enough to harm her. He calmed as she nuzzled his chest. Now, how to make her the perfect pawn.
The shard itself didn’t turn out exactly how I wanted it, and even this the composition might’ve worked just as well without it, but I was determined to stick with the plan. The color of the shard and the refraction of the light around it was tough to wrap my head around, I’ll have to come back to work at it some more.