#rhys pent

[rhyspent-ffxiv]

Better With Age: Rhys

20 - Is there a self-aware person who does not squirm when he remembers what he was like at twenty? ~Eric Hoffer, Reflections on the Human Condition, 1973 / Live as long as you may, the first twenty years are the longest half of your life. ~Robert Southey, The Doctor

40 - At 20 years of age the will reigns; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgment. ~Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac, 1741 (June) / I'm not 40, I'm eighteen with 22 years experience. ~Author unknown | No one becomes forty without incredulity and a sense of outrage. ~Clifford Bax (1886–1962) [Written at age 39, in 1925. –tg]

60 - He who devotes sixteen hours a day to hard study may become at sixty as wise as he thought himself at twenty. ~Mary Wilson Little | The man who is happy is fulfilling the purpose of existence. ~Fyodor Dostoyevsky

[rhyspent-ffxiv]

Movie Night

It starts with Xiao Lu because honestly? It always fucking does. 

That’s a lie. Rhys is just as much of an instigator as she is, but this is his internal monologue so fuck her.

She comes over unannounced, letting herself in with her key and shooing the dogs away when they come to investigate. It isn’t hard: Xiao Lu isn’t Javier and they know her dislike of them, so they simply confirm who she is and then venture off. 

Her heels click on the wood floor as she explores around, heading first to the bedroom and the bathroom not far from it. Rhys listens as she moves, head poking out from the blankets. She checks the office upstairs and the balcony there, moving to the office downstairs. 

“In here.” He calls, finally. 

Xiao Lu comes into the living room, hands on her hips as she eyes him.

“How long have you been there?” She asks. Sharp eyes take in the scene: empty take-out boxes and bottles are strewn about the coffee table, Rhys’ laptop and phone plugged into the coffee table and the man himself buried under a mountain of blankets.

“Dunno.” He answers with a shrug. A shriek startles out of him as Xiao Lu snatches the blankets off of him, tossing them aside. There’s a stare-off for what feels like an eternity before Xiao Lu points to the bathroom and demands he shower. 

“Avenai and Thomas are on their way over with dinner. We’re going to have a movie night!” Xiao Lu’s voice battles against the sound of rushing water and her throwing about things but Rhys hears her all the same, tossing his head back with a groan. Washing and drying quickly Rhys throws on a tank top and a pair of sweats, taking a brief moment to look presentable. 

Retaking his seat on the couch he’s soon joined by Xiao Lu, who relents when he bugs her into letting him rest against her.

“What are we going to watch?” Rhys asks after a few moments of silence, Xiao Lu flipping through channels. She opens the Amazon app and scrolls until she opens the movie section. 

“I want to watch 10 Things I Hate About You.” She answers. The menu is up, the movie bought and paid for long ago. 

“We always watch this.” Rhys’ complaint is half-hearted. He likes the movie, Xiao Lu loves it, and he loves her, ergo, they’ll watch it. “We have to watch Easy A after.”

The door opens and Xiao Lu calls out.

Avenai answers, as does the smell of Indian food.

Thomas disappears into the kitchen to dish out food, trailed by the dogs who are eager for scraps. Avenai takes the spot next to Rhys and she returns the smile Rhys shoots her, and she does not protest when Rhys throws a part of his blanket onto her. Xiao Lu buries her way into the blankets as well, grabbing the extras off the floor to include Thomas when he returns. 

Masala and rice is the meal for the night and it’s comforting, somehow. 

“Everyone in?” Xiao Lu waits for Thomas to sit, his arm thrown over the back of the couch to wrap around Xiao Lu’s shoulder. He lifts his hand to allow for Rhys to continue to lean against the woman, and out of the corner of his eyes, Rhys sees scarred fingers brush Avenai’s shoulder. 

Once she’s insured that everyone is in and comfortable Xiao Lu starts the movie, settling back into the couch. 

The four of them watch the trials of Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona Rhys tries not to fall asleep, lulled into drowsiness by fake teenage romances and the warmth of bodies not lined with fur. Gabe had been around, of course, but it’s different, here and now with his close friends.

It doesn’t work and when Rhys wakes next it is to the ending credits of the movie.

“[Are you okay, Little Brother?]” Looking up Rhys finds his head has dropped lower, his body bent awkwardly in his sleep. A quick glance around shows that Avenai has dozed off as well, head bent awkwardly to the side. Thomas is awake but the slow, lazy way he scrolls hints at his nodding off soon.

“[I’m okay.]” He answers, voice rough with sleep. “[Do you need me to prepare the guestroom?]”

“[I know how to make a bed, excuse you.]” She jostles him lightly, though she makes no move to get up. “[If you need anything you’ll let me know, won’t you?]”

Rhys makes a noncommittal sound, one that earns him a light smack on the shoulder. 

They sit in silence for a bit, Xiao Lu turning on Easy A. 

“[I love you. You know that right? Avenai does too, and Thomas, I guess, in his own way.]” Now it’s Rhys’ turn to smack at Xiaohu. 

Together the two of them watch as Olive Penderghast takes her school by storm. 

“[I love you too.]” Rhys says after a moment.

Xiaohu gives a small hug as they settle in.

@avenai​ @thanidiel​ @trained-trainwreck​ @atomicdeke​ & @hactenusinvictus​​ for the smallest of mentions

[rhyspent-ffxiv]

Depression

Do you want to judge a dance competition?

Felore’s text message tone is specific, made to be obnoxious in the most painful of ways. The saxophone solo is the only reason Rhys keeps his phone off silent when he’s around the other. So it’s no surprise when the sound startles Rhys awake.

Pulling himself free from his nest of blankets he grabs blindly for the device, ignoring the way Macaroon groans and mouths at his hand. Of the three dogs she takes being woken up early the worst, and she only relents when he snakes said hand back under the covers. Her rest, however, is long gone, her brothers sensing their master’s strange movements. Kenji picks himself up from his spot against Rhys’ back, blocky head smacking down on his chest, while Imber stands, whole body wiggling with awakeness.

Sure. 

He responds. His phone has been quiet these past few months.

Throwing back the covers he pulls himself from the bed, dodging dogs and old clothes and bottles in his trip from the bed to the dresser to the bathroom. Cranking the shower as hot as it will go he steps inside and spends at least five minutes letting the water beat against his skin. It’s only when Kenji pushes his way past the curtain and into the tub that Rhys starts washing, arguing softly with all three dogs as they bark and speak and let him know how much they hate the shower. All three have pushed the curtain aside before, joining him in showers or baths, but if they’re not in with him he might as well not exist, and that’s not acceptable. 

Master and beast exit the shower when the water turns off, both getting a quick rub down. Rhys slips on a pair of sweats, wrapping a towel around his shoulders and heading towards his office. 

The workbench has sat untouched for months, gun parts and various pieces of equipment strewn about. Rhys takes the chair, hands gripping the side of the chair as he stares at his hobby.

He isn’t sure how long he sits there, staring at everything, but it’s long enough that the hounds come to get him, Imber carrying a leash while his sister barks up a storm. She relents only when Regulus stands, grabbing a tank top and a light jacket as he heads upstairs. 

The three of them lead him to the beach, turning a washed-up sea sponge into a toy as they run through the surf. Regulus rests himself against the wall that separates the beach and the ward, knees drawn to his chest and arms acting as a cushion when he rests his head. Every so often one of the dogs brings him the sponge and he launches it, delighting in the way all three take off without hesitation. 

They play for quite some time, long enough that the sun has started to set, and those out for a romantic stroll give him odd looks, concerned about the dogs who barrel past but make sure to avoid everyone. When Regulus calls them back the dogs trout over, leaning against their master as they groan. There’s no need for leashes on the walk back; Macaroon leads, sponge still in her mouth, and she steps at every corner, at the top of every staircase to make sure she’s still being followed.

Regulus opens the door and they fly inside, Imber in front of the fireplace, Kenji to the couch, and Macaroon for the bed. None of them bother him as he changes, though Macaroon watches from her perch with sharp eyes. 

It’s a disco, he’s reminded as he stares at his wardrobe. He eyes the large woolen sweater for a good while, considering disappointing Felore and their guests by showing up dressed like a grandparent. Instead, he grabs a tight purple shirt and even tighter pants, bouncing around as he gets ready. 

Dabbing concealer along the bags under his eyes Regulus frowns when very little changes, the bags somehow managing to stick out. With a huff he grabs a pair of sunglasses, slapping them on his face as he tries to summon the confidence he needs. 

Petting each dog he steps outside, and locks the door.

@quelfabulous​ for the mention

[deviri]

Day 11: Ultracrepidarian

WARNING: Vague sexual content, hinted nsfw, mention of sex

“What was it like growing up in Garlemald?” The man in his bed stares down at him, naked interest of all types in his eye. Kei, Regulus thinks his name is but he can’t say for sure and he isn’t about to be rude to the man. Not after the decent enough fuck that man provided. Sweat drenched sheets cling to his skin as he rolls around but eventually he turns around enough to prop himself up on his elbows, forcing Kei to lean back.

“What? Why do you ask?” Uncle Aelis had made an exception about anyone knowing who he was in Kugane, seeing as how it would be near impossible for no one to notice Regulus coming off the airship. Even dressed in his plainest of clothes there was no mistaking him for a crew member. 

“I’ve never met just an average Garlean. The only people we see from your land are soldiers or nobles looking for something ‘exotic’.” Kei reaches out, trailing a hand down his chest. It draws a shiver out of Regulus and he catches the hand in his own hand, using it as leverage to shift their positions, planting himself firmly in the other’s lap. “And if you listen to the foreigners from the West they talk about what horrible people the Garleans are. The only thing I have to go on is what other people say.”

“I don’t care what other people say.” Sucking a bruise into Kei’s neck he rolls his hips against the other. 

“I imagine that it must have been horrible, growing up in such a bleak place so full of militant rules and -” Kei falls backwards as Regulus pushes him down. 

“Do me a favor,” Regulus smiles down at him, watching Kei nod slowly. “Shut up and put your mouth to better use.”

[deviri]

Day 10: Avail

He likes to help them. There’s no reason not to; his monthly allowance is more than most of them have ever had at any given time, and he doesn’t even use all of it. His home is paid off, there is no outstanding to his name, fake or otherwise, and he’s hidden enough away that his future is secure.

So he buys them things. Little knick-knacks mainly, but sometimes lunches and oddities that he knows they will like. He’d buy their homes for them too if he thought they’d allow it. He knows how the others seem him: a young man with too much of everything at his disposal, no fear of losing something because of a bad day. And they’re right, in their own way. But he knows his uncle, and so he knows that this is all temporary. So he has to do as much as he can.

[deviri]

Day 7: Nonagenarian

Long, gnarled fingers grabbed Regulus’ chin, grip tight enough that the young boy cannot pull away when tries. Gold eyes faded over with age stare at him with a level of scrutiny he has never seen before, not even from Uncle Aelis and he judged everything Regulus did. Still, the fingers were not bruising or demeaning. Merely… authoritative. Fitting, for the still Emperor of Garlemald.

“Look at you,” Emperor Solus hisses. His voice sounds like a wheeze, a bitter morning wind on those grey days between fall and winter. “Always the troublemaker, aren’t you?”

Regulus has never met the Emperor in person before. He had been staying in the palace for two months now, having moved in at the silent request of Avenai and the very vocal request of Selenae. The only royal that he saw daily was the shadow of Prince Zenos and that was because of his tendency to watch Avenai spar. 

“I haven’t done anything.” Regulus says with a pout. He hadn’t, honestly. Prince Varis had said that he was allowed anywhere the royal family was with only a few exceptions and the library was not an exception. No one came in here but Avenai and Prince Varis. And the Emperor it seems.

“Of course you haven’t. You never do anything.” The grip on his chin starts to hurt and turns to a bruising point when Regulus tries to pull away. “Your penance should be an apology. You should be on your knees, begging!”

“Let go of me!” With a strength he didn’t know he had, Regulus manages to pull away, falling backwards when he’s no longer being supported. Staring up at the Emperor, Regulus freezes, waiting for the call for the guards or the quick strike of a hand, but neither come. Instead, the Emperor spats out a noise and waves him away, turning to stare back out the window.

“Be gone, fiend. I’ve no need for shadows.”

[deviri]

You should tell him.

“Did you sleep well?”

“I did, did you?”

“Like I was dead. I don’t think I’ve ever slept better.”

You really, really should tell him.

“Do you want breakfast?”

“Do you want me to stay for breakfast?”

“I asked didn’t I?”

Tell him. Just tell him.

“I’ll make crepes.”

“Can we have chocolate with them?”

“No. Chocolate isn’t healthy, even if it’s the abomination you call dark chocolate.”

“Hey!”

Tell him. You aren’t the only one.

“Hey… Are you going to stay for a bit?”

“Yeah? I’m making breakfast.”

“Oh. Fair enough, I suppose.”

Coward.

“Why do you ask?”

“Maybe I’m just curious.”

“You don’t do idle curiosity out loud.”

This is agonizing.

“Shut up, and make the crepes.”

@hactenusinvictus @sporebat (for briefly allude to Francoix)

[deviri]

“ what is your deepest, darkest fear ?”

The question draws a pause from the young man, causing him to pause in his seemingly absentminded swirling of the whisky glass.

“I have always belonged to someone. My father’s son. My mother’s son. The Pasidia’s black sheep. Even now, here in this land where no one really knows me, I belong to someone else. Xiaohu’s friend. Avenai’s cousin.I would like to be my own person, I think.

And I’m terrified I’ll never get that opportunity.”

@atomicdeke ty ty!