#masouscrafty

[talesofghalidor]

(( Not your usual white mage, that’s for sure 8V @thetakenpokemon ))

[thevaloroushearts]

"Alyx, look, the rays...! Do you see them...?"

"Mm'yep, sure do, sis... sure do..."

Cloudy skies, lowering temperature, gentle chills blowing across the cityfolk of Altiel... the cooler seasons were arriving, meaning many citizens were bundling up and readying themselves for the holidays. Shopping, staying warm, making memories with photoshoots, families walking together... no matter the lowering temperature, there was still a sense of warmth bustling about...

"I'm not certain why, but seeing rays of light breaking through winter clouds... it's such a gentle yet inspiring sight..." the normally sheepish Gardevoir commented with a tender tint of excitement, ears lifting as she felt her artist fingers twitch her finger across an open page in her sketchbook.

“Yeah, it’s kinda pretty I guess...” Meanwhile, the pale Gallade just looked on towards the sea, his gaze seeming... disinterested...? This didn't go by Oriel unnoticed, of course...

"Brother?"

"... Yeah?"

"... Pardon me for saying so, but you seem distant... is everything alright? You've grown passive as of late..."

"Eh, well... it's just, we've been working here for a while, doing all these fights and whatnot, raising money to make our ends meet..."

"Yes...?"

"... I guess I've just been wondering..." Alyx just rubbed the back of his head as a pessimistic sigh left his lips, "Don't get me wrong, Oriel, I'm thankful we've gone this far, it's just... As psyched as I am, I was just wondering if we ever will... , or at least, if we did go to see them, if something would make things take a turn for--"

"Heeey li'l bro, hey li'l sis! What're YOU two doing out without your li'l jackets, hm? Heehee~!"

Well that was a pleasant change of pace. The twins ears shot up as they caught the wind of a very familiar doting sisterly voice, with Oriel being first to turn her neck and see their adoptive sibling Lixue hopping over ever-so-cheerfully, sipping a cold beverage.

"Ah, Lixue! Hello again!"

"Hiya hiya! Have you two been standing here this whole time? C'mon, we live in Altiel! Go walk around the city! See the sights! What's gotten my lively li'l bro Alyx and inspired li'l sis Oriel staying put like this? It's not like ya!"

"Ah! W-well, erm, we're just--"

"Catching our breath and taking in the sights for once. Day off and all, sometimes all we just need is fresh air, y'know?"

Lixue could only giggle. "I could believe Oriel saying that, but YOU needing a break, Alyx? Heehee, you have the stamina of a Mudsdale! That's just silly!"

"Erm, Lixue... where is Masou...?"

"Hm? Oh!" She stuck her tongue out as she took a sip of her lemonade before  giving a little sigh. "He's just back at the League, thinking to himself as usual."

"The guy's gotta get out more... can't go isolating himself all the time, y'know? Hasn't he beaten himself up enough yet...?"

Way back at the ABL, the Hellfire Hoodlum himself was perched upon the ceiling of their fighting organization workplace, looming over the city. His own version of sight-seeing, perhaps? Akin to what a nightwatcher would do, at least. The reptile let out a steamy hiss as a whispy trail left his nostrils, gazing down at the cityfolk while allowing himself to be lost in his own thoughts.

<< Mmh... this view of the city...>> he thought to himself, tail idly swishing about as he hissed behind his collar, <<... perhaps one day I'll allow myself to actually enjoy it, once my debt is repaid... >> A disgruntled yet brooding exhale left his mouth, wanting to uncover his head to welcome the breeze, but he held himself back, as if fighting temptation, or perhaps refusing for another reason...

As his eyes wandered, he noticed far off in the distance that the vacant block of space far away from the more lively part of the city had but a few souls attending to it... an area that gave a chillingly silent vibe.

---

"..."

A somber wind howled lightly around the tall dark knight as he glanced down at his subject, as a sigh echoed within his mask and helmet.

"Two years..." he muttered to himself, "... nearly two years now... how time flies..."

Zarathos remained still, unmoving not unlike a statue, as his thoughts continued to escape him...

" ... To think, had I not allowed something so... primal... so arrogant..."

The rest of those would-be words died in his throat, replacing the remnants with harsh mumbles. At a loss for what else to say, Zarathos pledged a hand powerfully to his chest, letting out an adamant snarl.

" ... rest well, soldier..."

Unbeknownst to the Bisharp, at least yet, there were two other Altiel citizens that happened to walk by the entry to this somber field, looking on at the terrifyingly tall warrior from a safe  distance.

"... Erm, how long do you think he's been there...?" a soft, concerned male Bisharp's voice uttered to the other.

"Ah, that I cannot say, mein Freund..." retorted the girl, holding a hand up to her mouth. "I... try to avoid areas such as these, yet seeing him here all by myself makes me wonder..."

"I agree, it's a somber place, but the fact that the Champion is all the way from the Battle League, here, all alone...?"

"Pardon me, but what are you two unlikely onlookers doing?"

"GCK--!" "ACK--!"

Takeshi and Eira nearly leaped at the sound of being addressed from behind, the Medicham behind the both of them merely chuckling in amusement. Adjusting his glasses, he continued to prod.

"Are the two of you here to spy our notorious battle-reigning brood? My my, how unusually rude of you two! Even the champion can't get a moment of peace during such glum displays of consciousness. I highly doubt you two came to merely stare at the dead from a long distance?"

"O-oh! I was just, er, fetching supplies for the Kirikuisine! Food supplies!"

"And I was, er, making my way to the Blue Moon Cafe!"

"The Blue Moon Cafe is not this many blocks away from the ABL, madame. And why come here when the food supermarket provides superior ingredients in the other direction for your quaint little foodshop?"

Just before the two could answer, they felt a burning glare pierce them from the distance.

" ... How long have you been there?" snarled the champion at his unwelcome 'audience.'

Needless to say, Takeshi and Eira were quick to make their ways away, but not before awkwardly waving to Zarathos and then each other.

"T-to the food market with me! Ahaha, farewell!"

"Oh of course! Take care, Takeshi!"

The Medicham just rolled his eyes and shook his head, raising a hand peaceably at the dark champion before walking off. <<Very well, leaving him to his charmingly depressing payment of respects is fair enough I suppose... my curiosity would only be squandered in a place such as this.>>

---

" ... I'm sure he'll be alright~!" Lixue remarked before sidling up to her adoptive siblings, tilting her head with a cute smile. "C'mon, cheer up Alyx! Masou does enough frowning for the rest of us, you don't have to stay so quiet! C'mon, let's see a smile," insisted the icy Lucaritales before hugging her adoptive Gallade brother.

"Nnh, Li, please--"

And then Alyx's blood sister joined, smiling up at the bladed brawler in hopes he would listen to the words of Lixue. Al could only sigh and give off an awkward grin.

"C-c'mon Oriel, Lixue, you're embarrassing me out here..."

"Heehee, you're beyond embarrassment at this age, Alyx!"

"There's that smile..." Oriel chimed with a little giggle. “How ironic, is it not? You’re usually the one who consoles me...”

"Hah, alright alright, ya win. I've just been thinking a lot that's all, but I guess I'll spend more time seein' sights as usual.”

"Yee~! There we go! Great idea! Let's walk around Altiel together!"

"I-If you're alright with that, Alyx...?"

"... Heh... sure, why not."

---

(( The Valorous Hearts is back! This is a soft boot; a continuation from the older archive blog, with some tweaks to designs, stories, motives and other details! Most relationships, unless desired otherwise, will remain canon, but some have been redone/adjusted! Some questions can be re-asked, feel free to ask which ones! ))

[thevaloroushearts-archive-blog]

“Heh, always flashy when it comes to your cooking, aren’tcha?”

“Why would I not have fun doing what I love, especially as my career in a place as grand as this?” chuckled the jolly green-eyed Bisharp, before eying any other passersby. Immediately, he picked himself back up and bowed to the newcomer. “Ah, look sharp, Doki, I think we have another customer!”

“HAH! Sharp, I get it,” laughed the little Pawniard as she rolled her eyes.

“Ahaha, greetings, and welcome to The KiriKuisine of the Altiel Battle League Foodcourt! I am Takeshi! And who might you be?”

---

(( Oh hey, look who it is! ))

[thevaloroushearts-rp]

Before the Long Departure

@traveling-medical-experiment

Well so much for getting a quick fight with Masou, It seems that Eira had a limited amount of time before she had to leave meaning that it was either now or a significant time of suspenseful waiting later to figure out exactly what was the deal between her and Masou. The main issue with figuring this out though was how should she go about getting the answer? On one hand she thought maybe she could just ease a conversation over to the climactic question of, ‘HEY, SO, WE KISSED DOES THAT MEAN WE’RE MORE THAN FRIENDS NOW?’ but at the same time the other hand reminded her of his past statement on love. If it really was for fools though, what would that mean he thought he was getting away with trying toy with her?

This thought brought Eira to a standstill and only briefly sent a wave of cold emotions through her, but it was quickly shaken off with her doubt that he would ever wrong her like that with all the kind words he’s shared with her in more recent events. This brought about her second issue though, where was Masou? What was his room number? Was he perhaps in a fight? Maybe he was-

“HH-AAH!” A cry out from the Gardekiss as she seemed to have tripped over something. Fortunately nothing was hurt for she managed to get her hands out beneath her just in time to catch herself and quickly got back up to her feet. After a brief pat down, she looked ahead to see what it was that caught her off guard like that and swiftly apologize before there could be any trouble but sure enough it was-

“OH!..Masou? Ahahah, I’m sorry, I didn’t see your tail there and uh..I guess I must have not been really paying attention in the first place…Heheh…Hi~”

“S-sss??”

Masou couldn’t help but flinch at feeling a sudden firm bump hit his tail, causing him to swiftly recoil it back as well as whirl over and see who the offender was. At first his shoulders were tensed up and his scowl formed behind his high mouth-covering collar, about to lash out at the clumsy one. However, upon seeing it was the golden angel Eira who had been the one, the Scrafty slowly eased himself from being all tense to looking more relieved, albeit... awkward.

Knowing this is EIRA of all Pokemon that tripped over him, it was coincidental considering he was wrestling with some thoughts of his own about the gal lately. The two of them never did get a chance to slip a fight in like they’d promised, so he wasn’t sure if it was due to him not speaking up, if it had slipped their minds just s equally, or if Eira had lost interest altogether. Moreover, after some... developments back in winter, Masou had been wondering how the Gardekiss was doing as is, which is rare for him to consider with... well, anyone, really. So this seemed all too perfect, for both convenience and awkwardness’ sake.

He wasn’t going to let this keep him down though... she was here, and seemed to be in a good mood all things considered. That much was good, thus urging Masou to take a step forward to inspect the lovely girl.

“... Eira,” he started with a hiss, “... it’sss been a while, hasssn’t it. Don’t... er, forget about the tail, there’ssss no harm done.” The fiery reptile shifted his collar, looking left and right before looking up at Eira in her gaze.

“... I’ve... been meaning to look for you lately, but erm... you sssseemed to have something on your mind first seeing as you tripped, so...” a soft huff of smoke blew from his nostrils...

“... Wassss there something you wanted to talk about? ... also, are you alright? I know you didn’t hit the ground, but... may as well asssk.”

[thevaloroushearts-archive-blog]

✸ <—- Leave this in my ask if you want to see an AU where our characters are in a family together 

---

(( Masou looks so at peace here, to the point where he no longer wears his hood, at least not around his family. He truly does look as though he’s had a[nother] chance at happiness, after all his angst. It almost makes me wonder if I drew the same person, haha. Either way, he looks happy, as does this entire picture. It’s like a photograph in a way, very cute. <3 ))

[ @tales-of-a-selucian-refugee​ ]

[thevaloroushearts-archive-blog]

Stolen Princess

[ @askthewanderingwarriors, continued from here ]

Alyx’s chest gem radiated a dancing tense light of violet, feeling his muscles tighten if even for a moment. It’s been a while since he’s even last SEEN Ailith, and while they haven’t known each other for quite that long, he knew she was always on the run and in danger. And yet, with the power and unshakable resolve she emanated, he didn’t think someone would succeed. Having gotten to know he so well, this came as quite a shock... and some emotions were welling up violently.

Before he could get a head of himself, Alyx paused and took a deep breath lest his feelings could make him lose focus. As a shock as this was to him, he had little to go on, and needed to know more. His stare was stern, a blend of some righteous determination yet concern, as well as looking inquisitive. He took a step forward, keeping his amethyst pupils locked on the Gothikiss.

“ ... So her blood and trail is all that’s known, huh?” Alyx grit his teeth. Easing his muscles as to allow his heart to ease, he hopefully tried to pry for more answers. “... Is there anything else to know? Is there any way to track her at all?”“

That’s when a soft hiss come from around the corner, from the concave where the  double doors were, as well as a low, sly, smooth reptilian voice was heard.

“... that’s...” Alyx muttered aloud before looking over.

Sure enough, from the tone alone, it confirmed his guess; the Hellfire Hoodlum of his team and family, Masou, stationed just at the corner of the entryway to the league’s back entrance.

“ ... Seriously...?” Alyx questioned with a look of disbelief but also a tone of hope.

“If there’sss anything I’m good at aside from fighting and ssssilencing targets, it’sss tracking them. All I’d need is the site of the attack for her sssscent and the general direction.” The rogue Scrafty flicked his tongue for emphasis before pulling his collar back up with folded arms.

“You sure about that?”

“I found you and your sssister, didn’t I?” argued Masou bluntly with overlapped arms. “I’m no ssstranger to traveling to entirely new territoriessss to find people. I may have blood in my hissstory, but I’m a tracker first and foremost. I’m jussst a free agent now.” With that point made, he glanced over at Estelle with a neutral sharp gaze.

“ ... It’sss up to you if you want to accept my help in the end. I merely sssensed something was off when I saw Alyx heading out with a concccerned acquaintance of Ailith’s without Ailith herself.”

[thevaloroushearts-archive-blog]

(( I’ve been playing Fire Emblem games lately, GBA ones on emulator as well as some games on my 3DS. Seeing as how Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and I wasn’t... really in the mood to work on the next plotpost but wanted to make SOMEthing, I decided to whip up some really cheesy Confession-type animations of the crew thus far, a lot like what you’d see from Awakening and Fates. xD;

This was fun to do, even if EasyGifAnimator was being difficult. Hope you all have a great V-Day! ))

[thevaloroushearts-archive-blog]

Huh... Biziil looks strangely cool...? I think so, anywho. Whoda thought? 8]

@sail0r-bunny / @ask-wilting-flower