#jimpix

[starvingartist07]

Happy pride yall, I’m very aware it’s the last day of pride month but I’ve been super busy, also yes I did get into jimpix, I have a problem I know

[inaris-mage-of-storms]

Part 1 of The Codfather's Court AU

The meeting room at House Blossom was a beautiful place, with flowers dripping from the walls and the door propped open to let in the spring breeze and wandering sheep. Jimmy returned Katherine's encouraging smile as he entered, glad for the mask that covered all but his mouth and thus kept his nervousness hidden too.

"Hi Jimmy! I'm so glad you could make it." Katherine didn't stand to greet him, busy stroking a lamb that had wandered in to lay its head in her lap, but she gestured to a seat. "Not a lot of us today, but maybe that's better for your first meeting."

Right, she had told him the last time they spoke that alliance meetings weren't mandatory, but rather took place monthly and were open invitation to anyone with free time in their schedule. There were only two others seated at the table today: an elf with snowy white wings and blue hair, and a man who looked almost human but for a sleek tail with a tufted tip.

"This is Pixlriffs, king of Pixandria," said Katherine, and the brown-haired man nodded once in greeting, "and Prince Scott of Rivendell, brother to King Xornoth."

"Er, hi," said Jimmy as he sat, trying not to stare too hard at the elf's beauty. "I'm Jimmy. I've just been assigned to govern the Codlands on behalf of the Codfather. It's, um, part of the Ocean Empire, bordering Myth - "

"Yes, we know where it is," said Scott. "Our empires' memories aren't nearly so short as the human ones." He sipped at his tea. "I believe it was in my grandfather's time that Mythland relinquished that region to the Ocean Empire."

"I don't know if 'relinquished' quite describes it," said Pixlriffs. "Mythland's own history books would say that the Ocean Queen took it by force, after flooding the land as divine retribution for some unrecorded slight."

They both looked at Jimmy as if expecting him to clarify, but he just cleared his throat awkwardly. "Um...right. Anyway, Katherine heard of my appointment, and invited me to join the alliance, so - here I am. Oh, and I'm authorized to speak on behalf of the Ocean Queen, too, for most matters anyway. For now. She's unable to attend meetings in person as often as she'd like, because of...matters."

Scott raised an eyebrow at his vagueness, and he flushed under the haughty gaze. This was turning out to be more difficult than he thought.

He kept quiet for the rest of the brief meeting, deciding it was too early to judge if Rivendell or Pixandria could be potential allies in the codfolk's war against the salmon. Lizzie's network of spies reported that several of the mainland empires had fallen for salmon propaganda, believing the cod to be the aggressors in a war that had been ebbing and flowing since before some of their kingdoms had even existed.

That was why he had left the comfort of the Prisma Palace to live in the swamp, why he hid more than his face behind his carved mask. Enemy armies that had been successfully pushed back were suddenly growing, aided by supplies and weapons that should have been well beyond their means. He needed to find out who was helping them, and figure out a way to put a stop to it. Maybe he could even befriend them and convince them to change sides.

Once official business was concluded, Scott moved closer to Katherine to coo over a second lamb who had wandered in to see what its flockmate was up to and was chewing affectionately on Katherine's dress. Just as Jimmy was trying to decide the least awkward way to excuse himself, Pixlriffs caught his eye from across the table.

Jimmy gave him an awkward half-smile from under the mask, watching warily as Pix approached. He perched himself on the edge of the table right next to Jimmy, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Hello," said Jimmy nervously, and Pix's grin widened.

"The more of me you take away, the larger I grow. What am I?"

Shit. Katherine warned him about this, when she was giving him pointers on how to make a good impression on each emperor. Jimmy had never thought himself particularly clever, but as advised, he showed Pix respect by at least considering the question and giving a genuine attempt at an answer instead of brushing it off.

"Er - um...Oh! Hope. It's gotta be hope, hasn't it?"

Pix stared at him, long enough that Jimmy began to wonder if Katherine was wrong about the part where she said the sphinx never actually punished anyone for getting his riddles wrong. Then he grinned with delight, and for a moment Jimmy felt like he was being dazzled by the desert sun itself.

"That's right," he said, and chuckled when Jimmy punched the air with a triumphant yes!

Jimmy stood to make his goodbyes, muttering something about having to make a report of how the first meeting went, and Scott came to stand by Pix's side as they watched him leave. He glanced over at his friend, a knowing smirk playing on the corner of his mouth.

"I thought the answer to that one was 'hole'."

Jimmy was no longer in sight, but Pix continued to stare down the path anyway. "Yes. Well." He smiled at Scott, and there was an eagerness and wonder in his gaze he usually reserved for ancient texts. "He wasn't wrong, though, was he? I do think getting to know him better will be quite an adventure."

}{ Part 1a }{ Part 2 }{

[welcome-back-to-hoimycraf]

“Jimmy? Could we talk for a moment?” 

The Codfather paused from where he’d been undoing jewelry from his fins, blinking up at Pix. “Uh, yeah, ‘course. What’s up?”

Pix drummed his fingers against his arm as he stood in the doorway to their room, chewing the inside of his mouth. This was a conversation he’d been meaning to have for about a month, but this was the first time they’d been both in the same room and alone. It was now or never. “I want to, uh, talk- well, discuss our relationship and, er, how I’d like it to change.” Gods, that was probably a bad way of bringing it up, wasn’t it?

“Oh- yeah, yeah, sure!” Jimmy nodded rapidly, placing various jewels and fabrics on the dresser from where he’d been styled for the large dinner earlier, a celebration of the upcoming summer solstice and the reason the two were able to see each other. Jim stood up straight, giving his full attention to Pix and allowing him ample room to speak, a trait he loved about the man. “Is something wrong?”

“No, no, nothing’s wrong,” Pix flashed him a soft, reassuring smile. “I just sorta… realizedsomething, y’know?"

Jimmy tilted his head, eyes glinting with curiosity. “And what’s that?” 

The Copper King took a deep breath, doing their best to collect their thoughts. “I love you, but I don’t think… I don’t think I love you in the same way that you love me,” they admitted, and immediately started to back track. “Not- not in a bad way, more like- more like in a less ‘kissing’ way and more in a ‘holding hands’ way, and-” Pix slapped a palm to their forehead. “I'm not making any sense, am I?” 

Jim snickered to himself. “Not really. Try turning back a page?”

“Can we go back to being friends?” Pix paused before he made things worse. “That sounded bad, can I try again?”

The cod nodded, his amused grin never leaving his face. 

“I would like to stay together, but in more of a platonic way,” the brunette said slowly, thinking through each word before they came out of their mouth. “I love you, but not romantically. In fact, I don’t think I love anyone romantically. Is- is that okay with you?”

Jimmy frowned for a moment, thinking it through. “Can we still be close? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Pix shook their head. “You never have, Jim,” he assured. “And, yeah, of course I want to stay close. You’re the best man I’ve ever known, I gotta keep you around for at least a little while longer,” they teased. 

The cod rolled his eyes, stepped over to squeeze Pix around the shoulders. “Well, thanks for telling me, I just want you to stay comfortable. Would you wanna explain anything further?”

Pix nodded. Oh, how he was glad this went so well. 

day 3 of @mcyt-aro-week!! went with the _ to friends prompt! pixjim are so silly <3

and thank you to @holymolyguacomole for struggling with the ending with me lol

[den-of-the-chaosfox]

Part of The Codfather's Court AU

}{ Rating: Explicit. Newlyweds Jimmy and Pixlriffs find a way to make administrative work a little less tedious.

To say Jimmy's attention still lay with the paperwork in front of him would be so large a stretch that Pixlriffs would be able to skip that part of his morning routine for a week. It looked like he was reading it, but his fingers drummed on the desk, the end of his tail flicked back and forth, and his gaze kept sliding to Pix. Each glance lingered longer and longer, until Pix snapped his book shut and leveled his own gaze at Jimmy.

"You promised me you would at least finish sorting the budget requests," he chided gently.

"Careful with that," said Jimmy with a grin and a gesture at the law book in Pix's hands. "Pretty sure it's older than me."

"Pretty sure this binding style was only developed in the last 150 years or so," countered Pix, setting aside the tome and walking over to get a better look at how much of Jimmy's task remained.

"And how do you know that?" Jimmy wrapped an arm around Pix's waist and pulled him into his lap, nuzzling against his neck.

Pix laughed, his heartbeat quickening at the feeling that washed over him the moment Jimmy's skin made contact with his. "Because I'm the one who developed it." He tilted his head to allow Jimmy's lips easier access, brushing his fingers through unruly hair. A month since the drowning ceremony and two weeks since their wedding, and he still marveled at being able to physically feel Jimmy's love for him. "Tell me, dear husband: what do you keep after you give it?"

Jimmy's lips curled into a smile against Pix's pulse. "Your heart, of course. You should know; I gave you mine, and yet here it sits." He pulled Pix's hand to his chest.

A gentle rumble started up in Pix's own chest, pleased as always with Jimmy's knack for surprising him with answers that weren't what he had in mind and yet just as correct. "Your word, my love."

"Hmm. I like my answer better." Pix's chuckle was swallowed in Jimmy's kiss. "I'll finish it, really. Just need something to help me focus."

"A snack and some tea? Or coffee, perhaps?" Pix shifted his weight, intending to stand, but gasped when the loose arm around him tightened suddenly.

"Stay."

The divine command sent a tingle up Pix's spine, another one on its heels as Jimmy's hand slid under his robes and up his thigh. "Anything still sore after this morning?" Pix shook his head. "Good. Raise up for me a little."

Pix lifted himself obediently, sliding his arms around Jimmy's neck and leaning against him for support. Jimmy unlaced his own pants, freeing the bulge that already strained the fabric, then pressed himself into Pix with an almost uncharacteristic patience.

It had to be a literal miracle, thought Pix not for the first time, muffling a soft whimper against Jimmy's shoulder. There was no other explanation for how his husband's girth could fill him with absolutely no discomfort, even taking into account Jimmy's natural slickness and how frequently he made use of Pix's body.

There was no pain, but Pix's body was tense with the overwhelming heat of his own desire. He took deep, deliberate breaths, and with every one he relaxed a little more and slid down a little further. "There you go. So good for me," Jimmy murmured, idly stroking Pix's tail until he sat securely in Jimmy's lap. Pix expected only a moment of rest before Jimmy would demonstrate his usual vigor, but he was rewarded instead with only a deep kiss before Jimmy reached around him to pick up the document he'd been reading last.

Pix sat patiently at first, but it didn't take him long to start considering "forgetting" Jimmy's promise. He shifted his weight, hoping to encourage a little more from his usually attentive husband, but every time he did, Jimmy's arm only tightened around his waist.

"Patience, my little lion," he chided. "This is important work, as you said. And I made you a promise to see it completed."

Pix buried his face in the crook of Jimmy's neck, whimpering when a grind of his hips only made his own desire stronger while Jimmy remained composed. "Are you enjoying teasing me like this?" he complained.

Jimmy laughed. "I am, actually. My ever steadfast, calm, composed Pixlriffs, crumbling over something so simple?" He granted Pix the mercy of a kiss, at least. "Don't worry, your patience will be well rewarded."

True to his word, Jimmy finished the task before him, focus somehow restored rather than broken by Pix's body. He shoved the last paper aside, gripped Pix by the waist, and kissed him almost as deeply as he thrust into him.

Pix moaned, then clapped a hand over his mouth lest anyone passing by the library overhear. "Wait - Jimmy, you'll make a mess of me - "

Jimmy smirked. "Has that only just occurred to you? It's fine, we can bathe as soon as we get back to our room."

"And what if someone sees us?" Pix gripped Jimmy's shoulders, tilting his head as Jimmy began sucking a bruise into his neck. He wasn't worried about his own spend, easily wiped away and hidden under his robes, but Jimmy was good at filling him in more ways than one. Walking back to their quarters as if there were nothing out of the ordinary was an impossible ask.

"See what?" asked Jimmy. "The undeniable proof that you're mine? My mate," he breathed against Pix's ear. "My husband, so beautiful coming undone for me, by my hand."

And come undone Pix did, moaning as he shuddered around Jimmy's girth and again when Jimmy spilled into him. They left the completed paperwork scattered on the desk, a task for later, and Jimmy lifted Pix off of himself and into his arms. There were few servants in the halls this time of day, but not none. Pix kept his flushed face buried in Jimmy's chest, feeling his god's smugness as they made their way to the privacy of their own room.

"You suck," he mumbled, feeling petulant even as he felt pleased and warm in the afterglow.

Jimmy's rumbling laugh was full of mischief. "If you insist - " Pix slapped his shoulder, and he laughed harder, then kissed Pix's forehead as he set him down gently and ran a bath for the both of them.

[mcytscienceside]

Working on a playlist for a season 2 empires fic, so here’s where yall come in, anyone got any sings they would associate with JimPix?  Please I only listen to 5 songs on repeat I need some new stuff 

[inaris-mage-of-storms]

Part 35 of The Codfather's Court AU

}{ Contains implication of past sexual assault.

Scott took Jimmy's offered hand as he disembarked, wing flaring out as the swaying dock threw off his already precarious balance. Jimmy clasped Scott's hand and wrapped an arm around him as he fell against his chest, and Scott wasn't sure if it was the deep chuckle or the firm muscles that did more to fan the flames blooming across his cheeks and ears.

"You'll get used to it," said Jimmy. "Won't take long before it feels as natural as anything."

Scott knew he meant the way the planks heaved under his feet, but the emptiness over his shoulder weighed on him. "If you say so," he said quietly, tucking his wing tightly against himself as Jimmy led him to solid ground.

They were halfway to the palace entrance when a man in a mask patterned similar to Jimmy's came out, and at the sight of him Jimmy perked up immediately. Scott had spent many hours studying the fashions of other empires, and he examined the man's outfit with interest. It seemed like typical Ocean Empire streetwear at first glance - could it be called streetwear, in a place with so few roads? - but his sash marked him as a priest of the Codfather, and a high-ranking one at that. Stranger still, his jewellery was Pixandrian - and the tufted tail that swished behind him was decidedly non-mer.

"Welcome to the Prisma Palace, Scott. It was an easy journey, I hope," he said with a smile as warm as his voice. It was a voice Scott hadn't heard in years, but he recognized it straight away, and stared.

"Pixlriffs? Why are you here?" Pix took both of Scott's hands in his, and Scott returned the gentle squeeze. "I thought you'd be far away on some grand adventure."

Pix laughed. "I have been! The grandest adventure of my life, I'd say." Even behind the mask, the soft look he gave Jimmy was unmistakable. "It took some time, but I found where I was always meant to be. Maybe you can find the same peace here."

Scott looked up at Jimmy, finding comfort in his smile and managing one of his own. "Yes. I think maybe I will. I missed you, Pix. Goodness, it's so good to see you after all these years."

Jimmy and Pixlriffs shared another glance. Neither of them mentioned a particular night in the Codlands, when Scott's hold on life was so tenuous that Pix found himself drawn away from fWhip's side in the Cliffs by an urgent call he hadn't felt since his days serving the Vigil. He arrived expecting to have to light a candle and hold Jimmy close before morning, but as he slept he dreamed he stood at a crossroads by Scott's side and took his hand. Scott was still feverish the next morning and barely registered the presence of another person, but his breath came far easier and his heart beat more steadily in his chest than it had in a long time.

Pix smiled at Scott. "What can travel for miles and still feels like it's next door, or can always make you smile without saying a word?"

"A friend!" It was only for a fraction of a second, but Scott's wary, weary eyes shone with delight at Pix's roundabout way of saying I missed you too.

They showed Scott inside, giving him a very basic tour and promising a more in-depth one when he was better rested. Jimmy stopped by a council room as they passed, and Lizzie looked up from a map to give Scott a tense but kind smile before returning to her conversation with the soldiers around her.

Jimmy stepped closer and leaned in to ask something. Scott didn't catch the full answer, but he heard the words "Tulip Island," "stronger weapons," "close," and "massacre." Anger disturbed the calm confidence Jimmy had been wearing for Scott's sake, until Pix touched his arm and he took a deep breath before excusing himself to continue the tour.

Scott wondered what was going on, but it was easy to swallow the temptation to ask. The first and only time he had tried to join a war council in Mythland, as per the traditional duties of the king's spouse, Sausage had silenced him with a furious smile. His dismissal of Scott in front of his advisors was cheery, but that night he made it quite clear that Scott's empty head had no place in a meeting room. But if he needed to open his mouth that badly, Sausage would find a better use for it.

Scott pressed closer to Jimmy. He didn't expect the same treatment here, but in both Rivendell and Mythland he had learned his place far too late. If Jimmy wanted him to know something, he would tell him.

The entire interaction was soon chased from his mind entirely. They were in Jimmy's personal tower now, and as they rounded a corner, they came face-to-face with a very surprised fWhip.

For a brief moment, Scott looked alive once again, some of the light returning to his eyes as it sank in that his missing friend was alive and well. "You're okay," he breathed, steadying himself against Jimmy with one hand and reaching out to touch fWhip's face with the other. "We were all worried - "

fWhip slapped his hand away. The sound echoed through the hall, all the louder for the silence that followed.

"fWhip?" Pix put himself between them, resting a hand on fWhip's arm to draw his attention. "What's wrong, my love? What's this about?" He knew fWhip had been upset about Gem's state, and had told him about Jimmy's decision to bring Scott home the moment he learned of it himself to give him time to prepare, but neither Pix nor Jimmy had suspected the full extent of fWhip's anger until now.

"He hurt Gem," fWhip hissed, clutching at Pix's arm like he needed to be held back. Scott shrank against Jimmy's side, ears pinned low, staring at the ground.

"That's enough," said Jimmy warningly. "Scott is part of my court now. You don't have to like it, but you will at bare minimum show him the same respect I expect others to show you."

"He hurt my sister!" fWhip dug his nails into Pix's wrist to keep himself from grabbing Scott. "She almost died because of you! It's your fault!"

"I know," Scott whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so - "

"I don't want your fucking apologies, I want you out of my sight right this - "

Jimmy's sharp growl sent a shudder through all three of them. "That's enough. You have three seconds to get out of my sight. Go calm down."

fWhip glared at Scott a moment longer before turning on his heel and storming off. Pix hesitated before glancing at Jimmy uncertainly, and Jimmy sighed. "Go on," he said softly, kissing Pix's forehead before lifting a swaying Scott into his arms. "He needs you more than we do right now. I think Scott's tired. I'm going to get him settled in a room."

Pix went after fWhip, and Scott stayed quiet and small while Jimmy carried him. "I'm sorry," he murmured when Jimmy set him on a bed. "I didn't mean to cause problems."

"You didn't." Jimmy stroked his hair, and Scott pushed into the touch and closed his eyes. "He's just - well, you know how he is about Gem. He'll come around."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then I'll make him." Jimmy drew the blankets up around Scott. "I meant it when I said no one will ever hurt you again. I love fWhip, but he's not an exception to that. I will keep you safe."

Scott gazed up at him, still not used to such earnest, unconditional devotion being directed at him. "I'm scared this is a dream. That I'll go to sleep and wake up back in Mythland or Rivendell, and all this...this hope, and kindness, will be out of my reach."

Jimmy smiled and gently brushed a knuckle under Scott's chin. "That won't happen. This is your home now. Go to sleep, petal. I'll be right here when you wake up."

}{ Part 36

[inaris-mage-of-storms]

Part 11 of The Codfather's Court AU

"What is always on its way, but never arrives?"

fWhip didn't glance up from the map he was studying. "Tomorrow. Or the future. Either works, right?"

"That's right." Pix sighed, staring out the window instead of at his work. "Or a ship," he muttered.

"A ship?" fWhip looked up, puzzled, then looked out the window himself. There were a handful of ships scattered on the horizon, but none from the direction of the Codlands. "Ah. He supposed to be back today?"

"He was supposed to be back two days ago. But sometimes he has to stay a little longer than planned." Pix stood and stretched. "At least the Queen's consort is supposed to arrive today as well. Jimmy won't want to miss his visit."

fWhip wondered about the solo member of the Ocean Queen's court. He knew nothing about the man, other than that he was Pix's equivalent in status but didn't live in the Ocean Empire full time. The only other time he'd visited since fWhip's arrival, he and Lizzie had sequestered themselves away in her side of the palace for a week before he left again.

He could ask, he supposed. But he was tired, and what remained of his energy was being put toward studying the locations of the many islands of the empire, so fWhip put his curiosity about Lizzie's consort out of his mind and returned to his maps.

He didn't realize he'd fallen asleep until Pix's hand on his shoulder jolted him awake. They went down to the docks to meet Jimmy's ship, but Jimmy only granted Pix a brief kiss and fWhip a peck on the forehead before he was striding off so quickly that fWhip had to fly every few steps to keep up.

"I'm sorry, my love," said Jimmy, slowing down just enough to squeeze Pix's hand apologetically. "I need to talk to Lizzie right away. I'll fill you in later."

"Of course." Pix stopped trying to keep up as Jimmy resumed his quick pace, and fWhip stopped next to him, hands on his knees as he gasped for breath.

"Who lit a fire in his pants?" huffed fWhip once he'd regained enough air to speak. "Did we even need to come out here?"

"Something must be happening on the mainland," said Pix with a frown. "If it were about the war, we would have heard about it already."

fWhip rolled his eyes. "You would have heard about it already. No one ever talks to me except you." As if to prove his point, a busy dockworker slowed down long enough to nod to Pix and greet him with a warm good afternoon, your highness. But fWhip they ignored entirely, and nearly clipped him with the barrel hoisted over their shoulder as they passed by.

"See? I don't think Jimmy's little displays of affection are working." fWhip caught himself before he bared his fangs in the dockworker's direction, tamping down the urge to remember their face for the next time he was able to hunt.

"No, they are." Pix put an arm around fWhip's shoulders as they went inside. "You'll notice that no one has insulted you to your face, or 'accidentally' knocked you into the water, or attacked you."

"Oh...I knew people didn't like me, but I didn't think it was that bad," said fWhip. "Should I be checking my meals for poison?"

Pix pulled him closer as they passed a pair of guards, and the gesture was no doubt meant to serve the same purpose as Jimmy's kisses, but it still made fWhip's breath catch. "No, I already asked the head cook to make sure no one tampers with your food."

"I was - I was joking about the poison."

"It was more a precaution than anything else. I don't actually expect anyone to cause trouble, despite everything." Pix sighed. "They're good people, fWhip. I've come to love them as much as I love the people of Pixandria. But you must understand: it is wartime, and many of them have lost friends or family, and they are angry. You're a convenient target for that pain."

They were in the privacy of the main hall of Jimmy's side of the palace now, and fWhip pushed away from him. "Yeah, well, excuse me if I'm not exactly jumping for joy about being kidnapped - "

"Arrested."

"Oh, whatever. I'm going to take a nap before dinner." Pix reached for him, likely intending to squeeze his shoulder or offer some other comforting gesture, but fWhip brushed his hand away and stepped out of his reach. He was annoyed enough about the conversation, but what annoyed him more was that Pixlriffs smelled so damn good.

It wouldn't be much longer before his hunger would be out of control. But even if he weren't trying to keep his secret from Jimmy as long as possible, Pix still wouldn't be an option. fWhip was going to take the first opportunity for escape that presented itself just as soon as he was back at full strength, but he needed a clear head for that, and that meant he needed to feed from someone with little to no magic. He didn't know quite how strong Pix's magic was or how it might affect him, but imagined he had to be at least on a similar level as Scott. The one time Scott had offered a wrist, it was three hours before fWhip could fly home, and he spent the next two days brimming with so much energy he deep-cleaned and reorganized his entire forge.

Right now, though, fWhip could barely remember what that level of strength felt like. He was still groggy when a knock on the door roused him from his nap, and he wandered bleary-eyed to the dining room. For a moment, he wondered if he was still dreaming when he saw who else waited outside its doors.

"Joel!" fWhip grabbed Joel's hand, relieved to see a friendly face. "What are you doing here? Are Gem and Sausage okay? Oh gods, you didn't get arrested too, did you? No, wait, Mezalea's an ally of the Ocean Empire if I remember right, so you're probably here on business. Look, I need you to take a message to Gem for me. Tell her where I am, and to stop letting - "

"Whoa, easy there. Maybe remember to breathe. It's good to see you too, fWhip." Joel patted fWhip's hand. "Gem and Sausage are fine. Everyone's fine, other than buying into some stupid story about demon sightings. I can't take any messages for you, though, sorry."

"What? Why not!?" fWhip paced a few steps, flapping his wings in distress. "Joel, please, you have to tell her. I'm - I'm basically being held prisoner here!"

"Yeah, I know."

fWhip stared at him in disbelief. "What?"

Joel shrugged. "Nothing I can do about it. You had your trial, right? And you're alive and not in a cell somewhere, so seems like you came out of it with the best outcome you were going to get. Ow!"

He rubbed his arm where fWhip punched it. "How did you know that? And why aren't you helping me?" demanded fWhip. "I thought we were friends!"

"We are! So long as you don't hit me again, anyway. Look, if you got arrested in literally any other empire, I would do whatever I could to get you out. But - "

Before Joel could tell him why, Lizzie rounded the corner. Joel's face lit up, and fWhip put the pieces together with a groan. Of course Joel wasn't going to help him. It wouldn't be a good look for the First Prince of the Ocean Queen's Court to go against the wishes of either her or the Codfather, after all.

"Sorry for the delay. Sir Strawberry needed to talk to me for a moment." Lizzie pulled Joel to her and kissed him. "Jimmy and Pix are still catching up, I take it?"

"Probably." Joel had the same starstruck look fWhip remembered from every House Blossom meeting that Lizzie had attended before she handed that responsibility over to Jimmy. "I was chatting with fWhip in the meantime."

Lizzie hummed but barely glanced at her brother's concubine, too busy straightening Joel's sash and telling him about how she'd imported a particular tea he was fond of. fWhip made a face at how disgustingly adorable they looked together, and was almost relieved when Jimmy and Pixlriffs finally joined them.

"Joel! Hi!" Jimmy's wide grin was far too cute to be on someone so frustrating, fWhip complained silently to himself, then stared as Jimmy kissed the King of Mezalea almost as passionately as Lizzie had.

"So, like. They're sirens or something, right?" fWhip said to Pix as Joel grinned just as brightly as Jimmy. "They're sirens, and I'm immune for some reason, and that's why you and Joel both are so...like that."

Pix laughed as fWhip gestured to Jimmy, Joel, and Lizzie. "They're not sirens, and neither of us are under any enchantments. Just in love with our partners, that's all."

"Hm. No, definitely sirens." fWhip followed as everyone entered the dining hall now that they were all gathered. Jimmy and Lizzie shoved at each other playfully, arguing good-naturedly over who Joel would sit closest too. "So if Joel is Lizzie's consort, then what's with, uh..."

"Jimmy and Lizzie have a very close relationship," said Pix, sitting between Jimmy and fWhip. "They adore each other and share everything. So whenever Jimmy wants to, er, borrow Joel - "

"Ew."

"You asked," said Pix with a shrug. "And Joel's not exactly complaining, you might have noticed."

"It's a little hard to miss," said fWhip dryly.

Pix chuckled. "Lizzie's doted on Jimmy since they were children. That's why she flooded the Mari Peninsula when he was kidnapped by the salmon. She was terrified and furious and found them hiding out there."

"And I would do it again."

fWhip jumped at Lizzie's interjection. She had paid so little attention to him whenever she joined them for dinner that he hadn't expected her to be listening. "I refuse to show mercy to anyone who hurts or aids those who would hurt my brother. Mythland paid the price for abetting my enemies once. It's a shame they seem to have forgotten that recently."

Even with her upper face hidden behind her veil, the Ocean Queen's gaze felt so intense that fWhip looked down at his plate to avoid it. Maybe there was something to the belief that the king and queen of the ocean kept their faces hidden to protect mortals from their power after all.

}{ Part 12

[inaris-mage-of-storms]

Part 7 of The Codfather's Court AU

"I want to see the records."

Pixlriffs didn't look up from his work, busy comparing some report or other to an earlier version. "The records for what, dear?"

The unexpected term of endearment caught fWhip off guard, and he fought back the blush that threatened to rise in his cheeks. He was sure Pix didn't mean anything by it, not after only two weeks of living together. Perhaps it was just a habit.

fWhip regained his composure and clarified his question. "Records and reports about the war. Casualties sustained, descriptions of wounds, that sort of thing. I know what Jimmy told me, but I need to see for myself."

Pix put his papers aside, giving fWhip his full attention. "Are you sure? Some of the reports are rather...thorough."

"I'm sure. If people really did - " fWhip's nails bit into his palm. "If people really did get hurt because of my inventions, I need to know the extent of it. Maybe I can, I don't know, find a way to..." He looked away, unsure what to say. Explain it? Take responsibility? Come to terms with it? Make up for it? He didn't know what he wanted, or what the Ocean Empire wanted from him. But he knew he needed to know.

Pix watched him for a moment, then nodded. "All right. I'll ask Sir Strawberry what you can and can't have access to. And you might have to wait until Jimmy is back."

"Oh...when will that be?" fWhip hadn't seen Jimmy since their first one-on-one conversation, the Codfather having returned to the swamp the day after. He didn't know what to expect when Jimmy did return, and the ambiguity made his stomach twist itself into knots whenever he thought about it.

"Three days from now," said Pix. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Just one other thing." fWhip took a letter out of his pocket, though it was less a letter and more of a note. "Can you send this to Gem? All it says is that I won't be home for a while. No secret code or invisible ink or anything. I just - I don't want my sister to worry. Please."

Pix sighed and took the letter, glancing over it. "...All right. There's a merchant ship leaving in the morning, and he takes mail for us sometimes. I'll be sure it gets posted."

fWhip breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks. I'll, um, let you get back to your work."

Three days both took forever to pass and came all too quickly. fWhip stood on the pier next to Pixlriffs, waiting for Jimmy's ship to dock. At a glance Pix seemed as composed as ever, stance relaxed and hands clasped behind his back, but his masked gaze was fixed firmly on the approaching vessel, and every so often he leaned toward it, as if he was tempted to jump into the water and swim out to meet the ship.

fWhip's own gaze swept the rest of the horizon. The day was clear, and he could easily see several islands dotted across the ocean's surface. They were close enough to be considered part of the city...close enough that fWhip could probably fly to them without much difficulty. He stretched his wings thoughtfully. The problem was what lay beyond the islands; if the chain didn't continue close enough to the mainland, then he would be stuck. Maybe there would be a map of the empire in whatever reports Pix managed to procure for him.

But until he could solidify a plan, fWhip needed to pretend he'd accepted his role in the Codfather's court. The ship drew up alongside them, and Jimmy was first to disembark. fWhip fixed his expression into something polite and maybe even welcoming, but quickly realized he didn't need to bother - Jimmy didn't have eyes for anything or anyone other than Pixlriffs.

He bounded down the gangplank with a grin, sweeping Pix into his arms the moment his husband was within reach. Pix's smile was just as joyous, and Jimmy's enthusiastic kiss left him breathless. "Welcome home," he murmured as Jimmy pressed their foreheads together. "I missed you."

"Missed you too." Jimmy kissed him again, paying no attention to the people moving around them to unload the ship. "Get up to any trouble while I was gone?" He grinned slyly when Pix laughed and said no. "Sounds like you were bored without me. Guess we'd better fix that."

Jimmy didn't so much as glance fWhip's direction as he walked past him. It wasn't as if he'd expected a warm greeting. Anger, maybe. A glare, an annoyed scowl, something. Anything. Instead, Jimmy acted as if his existence wasn't even worth acknowledging, and fWhip was surprised at how much it stung.

The sailors and dockworkers who had been watching their king and his consort with fondness glanced at fWhip, then at each other, and fWhip grimaced. He could smell the gossip already. By dinnertime, everyone who worked near or in the Prisma Palace would be talking about how the Codfather was already snubbing his concubine.

Whatever. It's not like they were ever going to like me after that trial anyway. fWhip turned to follow Jimmy and Pix inside; ignored or not, he hadn't yet been granted permission to be outside Jimmy's side of the palace unaccompanied.

Pix was saying something quietly to Jimmy, who stopped walking and sighed heavily. fWhip wondered what the conversation was about, then came to a halt as Jimmy turned to face him suddenly. "Er - hi. What's - ?"

He didn't get a chance to finish his question. Jimmy wrapped an arm around fWhip's waist, yanked him close, and kissed him so deeply that all of fWhip's ever-racing thoughts came to a grinding halt.

Jimmy let go, put his arm around Pix's shoulders, and continued toward the palace. "There. Happy?"

fWhip stared after them, then put a hand over his mouth, feeling the heat emanating from his face. He didn't catch Pix's answer, and could barely hear the surprised whispers from the people around them. He was pretty sure his heart had skipped a beat or two - an impressive feat for a mechanical redstone pump he'd built himself. It had been a couple of centuries; maybe the damn thing was beginning to wear out. Surely there couldn't be any other explanation.

}{ Part 8