#plerxma

[lunabrae]

❝When was the last time you ate something?❞ Cue Aera fussing like the perpetual mother-hen she always wanted to be. Even god defying oracles still need sustenance! (That goes for chosen kings too, who also ought to eat their veggies.)

                                 “  angst   “    starters     /    accepting

           “   ah, your excellency, i  hardly think   ----    “    lunafreya’s ears turn a dangerous shade of pink, brain short   -   circuiting any previous inkling of thought. certainly, it had been a long time since lunafreya had been cared for, let alone mothered. the idea was   .   .    .   highly embarrassing.   (   though not unwelcome   ).             “   i,   i’ll eat something.   “

[holyguardian]

“As the wrangler doing a terrible job of calling a certain mischievous royal to heel, please allow me to extend my congratulations on your new courtship. If you can manage to put up with two Caelums for the evening, Ardyn and I would love to invite you and Somnus for dinner. “ Or just wine. Lots and lots of wine. And a few horribly incriminating stories about a certain person’s youth, naturally.

The implication that Ardyn Lucis Caelum could be wrangled earned an amused little titter and she apologetically waved her hand as if to excuse the reaction. It must have felt like trying to hold water, constantly spilling over cupped palms and draining through fingers — she understood it well. They were, after all, brothers.

"Oh, it won't be a problem managing them." Aerith answered in confidence. She reached to take up and wrap both her hands around Aera's. The hold suggested familiarity and comfort as though they had always been friends. "Those Caelum's will have to watch themselves around us."

She flashed a grin as she closed her eyes for a beat, gently untangling her hold from the Oracle as she straightened her posture again. Of course she understood how privileged she was to intermingle with royalty and nobles, her life had been so suddenly flipped into a tumble of change and she was still finding her footing in these new social circles... But it was people like Aera who made navigating the change easier. Not made to feel different. Or lowborn. Common. Just another person.

"I would be honoured. It's been some time since I've shared a meal with others so intimately," the servant halls were a battle zone, "and if I'm honest, it would be nice to spend time with more people from Som's life. I don't know if you could understand it. Having to steal so many moments away means missing out on time among others."

[sacrificedshe-moved]

❝ tell me that that is not the finest wine that has ever touched your tongue. ❞

G.OT BASED STARTERS (AC)  /  ↺ @plerxma​   ―   S.1 EP. 7

[thronescourge-archive]

Gifts aren’t her forte, but Aera means well with the books so diligently offered to mark this, the day of his birth. Two are inevitable, collections of stories she thinks he might enjoy, but the third is personal; a deeply & endearingly raw collection of letters and poems that affirm her feelings so strongly. It’s soft and perhaps cloyingly sentimental - but it’s earnestly sincere in its execution, even if a little less grand than she might have liked. "I know it's not much, but Happy Birthday." @plerxma​

The worn leather of these chronicles tell half of the stories, well-preserved and handed down with care many times until now reaching his hands. The last more journal  stitched together from notes and precious thoughts penned in raw emotion than book already gave him a hint what it’d reveal to him, but eager as he was to delve into it, it had to wait, saved for last. “You didn’t need to, Aera. My birthday was already the happiest it could be with you.” Sincere words of admiration and love, clumsy as they were chosen, still reached her through a smile of his. 

“Or at least I thought it was until just now.“ He corrected, not to undervalue her gift. Their shared curiosity for the ages past gone and forgotten bordered a wish to not allow it to fade from history. As irony would have it. “I think I’d be even happier if you joined me in perusing?” The shade under the nearby tree was inviting to sit under and the Astrals had graced the day with good weather- he felt certain that there wouldn’t be a cozier moment to spend together today. The comfort of his shoulder also wasn’t much, but he hoped she’d know it’d always be there for her. 

[stingslikeabee]

“this is what i have been raised for. this is all i am.”

Bridgerton starters . accepting

Aera’s words left her curved lips in such an affectionate tone that Lilian couldn’t help but mirror her smile. The other woman had been nothing short of tireless in her endeavors to make sure that the orphans in Lestallum had at least a modicum of comfort and love even if they had lost their parents and beloved ones to the vicious daemons that roamed Eos outside of the few safe spots in the world, such as their town.

The Madhu was but a small restaurant during the time where sunlight was real and not a memory – now, after the eternal night had taken over, it had turned into the headquarters for the efforts to keep children fed and healthy, particularly those without any living family members or guardians around.

Lilian had started it herself – she knew how hard it could be, arriving as a stranger to a foreign land and fearing for your life, although it barely compared to her own case from decades ago, even if she had fled from a real war. It was her way to contribute a little, since she could not fight, had no medical experience and could forge no weapons – she was all but useless at the frontlines, so she kept to the backstage.

And Aera was a welcome addition to the mostly female team that played an important part as the surrogate mothers, sisters and aunts to so many little souls that needed their guidance. And even if she didn’t know a lot about Aera’s former life prior to her arrival to Lestallum, it was evident how suited she was for the task – there was a gentleness to her words, a way to connect to others that Lilian had rarely seen before.

It was magnetic – her presence soothed the loudest kids and the worst trouble-makers; Lilian had to admit that even her, a grown-up woman, felt more at ease with the blonde around. And as she saw one of the orphans giggle and return Aera’s embrace before leaving the restaurant to play with her friends, she couldn’t help but chuckle as well.

“Well, then I guess we are lucky to have you. Giving hope to others - you make it look easy,” Lilian said in an earnest tone, “And we sorely needed it.”

[thronescourge-archive]

❛ i see little futures in the distance but none belong ❜ @plerxma​

Pyres burnt in his memory, the screams of the infected ringing in his ears still over the laughter and play of the children his betrothed described with heavy sentiment. Ardyn leaned against her shoulder for the comfort they both needed in those dire times. Prayers that went unanswered and holes in their hearts from the losses and silence, all was pouring through them and left a cold in its wake. “Sometimes I wonder if the disease or my brother will take away these futures faster. It’s beginning to feel like a race.“ Fingers begin to curl into his palm, but did not yet form a fist. “He won’t stop until he’s outrun it. There must be something we can do for them. If healing them is not enough, there must be something else to stop either.”

[an-mallaithe]

It’s been a long time since Aera’s had the chance to celebrate much of anything with him, but there’s genuine affection in the humbled gesture that greets him today. Wrapped in purple tissue paper, the oracle has seen fit to grace him with a new scarf, a soft little thing - inexplicably emblazoned in cats for reasons she can only blame upon her nephew.  ❝ I sincerely doubt I’m supposed to be reminding you of your age today, but I am glad you exist - you ridiculously attractive old man. ❞

Birthday barrage || @plerxma 

He genuinely hasn’t expected a gift on such a day, especially not from her. Though Aera might always remain prevalent and superior in his dark withered heart, the ages that passed had placed a rift that... even he could not explain. He could no longer read her as he once did. His mind was muddled and genuine thoughts replaced with curious ponderings. He wanted to believe that some part of her still held fondness for him, but he doubted. 

Yet, there she was, a gift presented to him. He carefully removed the layers of tissue paper, interest on his face-- and he stared at what was within, soft fabric unfolding and draping across his palms. 

“Oh. Aera,” he said softly, smiling. Leaning over, he placed an almost chaste kiss upon her cheek. “It’s perfect. Beautiful... Yet, not nearly as beautiful as you. Thank you, my dear.”

[ravusnightblossom]

“  it doesn’t always have to be you, you know?  your shoulders aren’t the only ones that can bear the weight of the world.  ”

A Meme Long Lost On The Dash | no longer accepting | @plerxma​

Of all the people to state such a thing to him, why did it have to be her? Ravus grimaced slightly, then nodded, slowly, his eyes lowering to stare idly at the ground. Whatever struggles he endured or weight that he carried, it felt like nothing compared to what Aera need have faced in her lifetime. 

“I suppose so,” he whispered, brows knit. “I cannot imagine... That is, what you have seen and aided in-- what I peril through must seem so insignificant by your standards.” In a way, it was like comparing apples to oranges. They both battled in their own times, in their own ways. 

What was she implying, however? Was she trying to encourage him to share his burdens with her? No, Ravus would not do that. Aera had seen too much in the grand scheme of things. Plus, she was family. It was his unspoken and self-declared duty to keep her safe in whatever ways he could. 

“But, I will manage,” he continued, eyes raising to look at her as he forced up a faint smile. “I always do, after all.”