#threnodas

[90calibre]

[ run ] / hi for sett and cait, obvs.          @threnodas​​          ▸          affectionate gestures,       accepting.

𝐜𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞,       𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.       bearing the title of piltover’s finest sheriff allowed her many different freedoms,       some of which included venturing beyond the city       &       into lands unknown in search of escaping truths or diabolical schemes seeking refuge away from her scrutinizing gaze.       long before she assumed this position,       the criminal underground of both zaun       &      piltover had planted its roots beyond their borders into further lands,       bringing trouble to the world beyond her greatest imaginations,       &       to the reputation that piltover was attempting to uphold.

she had thought him to be loud,       unruly,       far too brash       &       trigger   -   happy with his fists,       something she thought to be terribly ironic when she was the one with her finger on the trigger of a gun.       he had become something of an unwilling companion to her journey across ionia,       someone she felt responsible to keep a watchful eye over,       but as much as she complained       &       as much as they bickered,       her brimming heart       &       its endless compassion found a place within its nooks       &       crannies to nestle a touch of care for him,       too.       sett had even found himself in piltover,       a place of beautifully gleaming,       yet rigid       &       cold in their towering stone       &       steel,       buildings with few trees in sight,       save for the neatly lined trees along cobblestone streets,       &       those scattered across the hillsides beyond the city.       it surely wasn’t ionia.       their homes are as different as they are,       &       are almost reflective of them both as people                   ionia,       with its beautifully wild       &       raw magic,       everything boundlessly unpredictable,       &       piltover,       with its law       &       order,       with the sprinkle of ingenuity       &       extravagance thrown into the mix.

they have butt heads so often,       &       neither of them would have ever thought that sett would be laying his head so comfortably,       so vulnerably,       upon caitlyn’s lap with her hands cradling it gently against her torso,       lithe fingers running carefully through his hair that just moons ago,       he would have caught her wrist inches before she could brush even a fingertip to those fiery strands of his head.

the pad of her thumb brushes over his cheek,       across the scars written into his skin,       &       over the freshly placed bandage on his face.          “          you’re too reckless,          ”          caitlyn chastises,       voice low       &       soft as her hand shifts upward to run her fingers through his hair.       she even steals a moment to rub her palm over one of his ears in a delicate petting motion,       &       she does it all over again,       fingers running through a bed of hair.

sett huffs,       closing his eyes as a crooked grins sets over his lips.          “          yeah,       yeah,       so you keep saying.       but i turned out fine,       didn’t i       ?       besides,       someone needed to hold those guys still for ya.       i knew you’d get ‘em.          ”

caitlyn rolls her eyes,       but she doesn’t cease in her soothing motions.          “          yes,       you’re lucky you keep piltover’s best shot as your companion.       were it anyone else,       you would have been in trouble.          ”

“          guess i’m lucky that you’re not just anyone,       then,       huh       ?          ”          his grin widens,       toothy       &       charming,       &       it earns him a snort of laughter.       caitlyn simply sighs,       continuing to run her fingers through his hair.

“          i suppose that you are lucky.       but please try to be more careful.       unless you’d like me to continue nagging at you.          ”

sett pauses for a moment,       as if considering caitlyn’s words.          “          i can’t make you any promises,       sheriff.       but,       i think i could get used to this.       kinda makes me feel like a king.          ”

a bell of laughter escapes caitlyn as she shakes her head.       her hand shifts down to pinch       &       pull sett’s cheek.          “          oh,       shut up.          ”          she holds him closer to her belly,       returning to gracefully gliding her fingers back       &       forth in his hair.          “          i suppose whatever new scar that’s coming along will fit right in.          ”

“          it’ll look good,       yeah       ?       see,       ain’t all bad.          ”

she smiles,       diminutively tender,       &       a soft hum passes between her lips.          “          mm,       it’ll suit you,       yes.          ”

caitlyn’s hand lowers to brush over the bandage again,       then gingerly upon the scar over his lip,       then back to his hair.       she hopes he’ll listen,       though;       she wouldn’t know what she would do if one day,       he wasn’t fine.

[90calibre]

lil draaaaaabble for @threnodas​​ ft.  viktor  !!  and nagging baby sister caitlyn  !!!!!!!

personal blogs DO NOT interact.  do not reblog or touch this post.  thank you.

𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧.       its flame dwindles and fizzles into the smallest of sparks clinging to the falling remnants of heat,       of life.       it was a gradual thing,       one that caitlyn didn’t notice at first.       she wonders,       had she caught on sooner,       would it have made a difference      ?

caitlyn remembers when she first met viktor.       bright   -   eyed as jayce has always been,       with the same brilliance twinkling in their eyes,       with all of the crazed ambitions stemming from hearts swelling as wide as the open seas to change the world as they knew it.       she liked him from the start,       finding him to be a similar,       yet contrasting all the same,       spirit to jayce.

her friendship with jayce had made her into something of a pesky nuisance,       with her mind just as curious as the pair of inventors.       caitlyn always had so many questions,       but more than that,       she enjoyed the company of her friend,       and soon enough,       she came to see viktor as an extension of her family,       too,       just the same as jayce.

knowing how often they cooped themselves in their studies and lab,       with any bit of free time she had,       caitlyn made sure to drop small snacks by,       or even full meals.       she’d have a cook prepare something,       and she had even taken to learning how to bake,       something she had grown to be quite proficient in.       eat,       eat,       she would insist,       always shoving the treats into both men’s arms;       caitlyn would refuse to depart until she saw every last crumb disappear.

short occasions became habit,       and it wasn’t long before it was simply part of her regularly scheduled routine,       even as she joined the ranks of the enforcers.       in between training,      drills,      patrols,       or other jobs and investigations,       she always made time for viktor and jayce.

caitlyn’s eyes are keen,       the sharpest pair piltovan forces had ever seen.       they always have been attentive to the most minute of details,       able to spot things the naked human eye typically struggle with seeing;       it’s what makes her the formidable sniper that she is.       it is with those very eyes that she spent years watching as viktor’s health deteriorated.       little by little,       slowly but surely,       she noticed as his skin grew paler,       as he became what seemed like little more than the husk of skin clinging to bones.       his face grew gaunt,       hollowed with darkened eyes and thinning cheeks.

she is the foremost of rookie enforcers for a reason,       not simply for her household name.       she is talented,       observant,       gleaning the smallest details ordinary people would miss,       but caitlyn is far from ordinary.

sorrow swims in rich ocean blues,       surging into a stormy tempest tearing the surface asunder,       as she gazes upon viktor.       jayce is far too wrapped up in the throes of political turmoil these days,       but it cannot be helped.       still,       his absence is strongly felt.       caitlyn has visited their research study far too often just to find viktor sitting alone in silence,       working through countless nights into dreary mornings without reprieve.       working himself to death,       she’d say,       but it’s far worse than she would ever know.

caitlyn carries the packed lunch box of food close to her torso as she treads further into the study until she arrives just behind viktor.       she taps on his shoulder,       offering him a weakly faltering smile when he turns in his seat to face her.

“          you’re working late again.       alone,          ”          caitlyn comments,       setting the lunch box down upon the table top.       she begins unzipping it to pull out its contents.       a container of a light salad,       a thermos of warm soup,       slices of fresh baked and buttered bread,       and grilled fish.       this time,       she made it herself;       she had the time.          “       here,       eat.       you need to take a break.       when was the last time you slept or had a meal       ?       ”

viktor lifts his head to peer up at caitlyn.       she can see the exhaustion in his eyes.       they brighten for a moment,       but it is a fleeting light that is quickly snuffed out by the engulfing hand of bared disappointment.          “          ah,       well,       jayce had other matters to attend to.       it cannot be helped.          ”          his shoulders roll into a small shrug,       and a hand reaches towards the offered fork that caitlyn ushers into his fingers.       the prongs of the fork stab at a small piece of fish,       but he makes no move to eat.       caitlyn frowns.

she nags,       but it is out of love,       out of care.       viktor has become akin to a brother to her,       too.       growing up as an only child to a wealthy family left her to a lonely life,       and having jayce,       then viktor,       along with her meant everything.

caitlyn pulls up a chair and falls comfortably into it.       an elbow rests upon the table and she places her chin in the palm of her hand,       gaze absentmindedly wandering across viktor’s workspace,       then up to his face.

it is unfathomable just how much he works,       how hard he works.       the moments where he wasn’t lingering here in this space,       especially as of late,       were rare.

“          you should get home,       viktor.       rest.          ”          caitlyn’s words cut short,       fading into an unfinished pause as she hesitates to continue,       but she quickly shakes her head,       eyebrows knitting together with fierce determination flickering into electric blue irises.       she has never been one to cut corners or beat around bushes,      no matter how arduous the journeys in life became,       no matter how abhorrent and ugly the truth was.       her chest trembles with a shaky,       faltering exhalation of air finally escaping from the confines of her tightly caged ribs.          “          you’re not well,       are you,       viktor       ?          ”

it is less of a question,       a statement that borders on being an accusation searching for an answer she already knew.       jayce had to know,      right       ?       of course he does.

when viktor doesn’t respond,       caitlyn’s fist curls into a tightly wound fist and falls softly atop her lap.       the silence is as much of an answer as any string of words he possibly could have pulled together,       and it is more than enough for caitlyn to know.       a weight presses upon her chest,        a burdening boulder set on crushing her lungs,       and it grows tighter and tighter until the discomfort grows into a stinging pain at the thought alone.       she has watched him become a shell of the man she had first met,       just a few years ago.       whatever ails him,       it is nothing good and has deteriorated horribly.

she doesn’t quite know what to say,       in this moment.       fury burns in her eyes                   the most horrible fates always damn the best and undeserving people to a life of anguishing pain,       and it is unjust,       pathetically unfair.       

a sigh passes between her lips,       with yet another heavy exhale escaping her nostrils.       caitlyn raises her head and reaches forth to gently grasp viktor’s free hand by his wrist.       viktor meets caitlyn’s gaze with a web of confusion winding together when she squeezes his wrist.

“          tell me what you need,       viktor.       you’re family.       i will not allow you to suffer when my family name is in a position to do anything about it,          ”          caitlyn says,       at last.

shock blazes within viktor’s warm gaze,       but he soon slips a weak smile over his lips.          “          thank you,       caitlyn.          ”

money be damned.

she will not watch as he dies.       no matter what it takes,       she will help him.       besides,       it isn’t as if the kiramman wealth is being put to any use.

a small smile of her own crookedly twists a single corner of her mouth.          “          don’t thank me just yet.       just eat,       get some meat back on those bones.       then,       i am forcing you to go home.       i will put you on house arrest,       viktor.          ”

“          an unlawful thing,       to abuse your position like that,       especially without probably cause or evidence of a crime.          ”

caitlyn laughs,       a softly sweet sound with its characteristic husky rasp.          “          do not test me,       viktor       !       now do as i say       !          ”

[mukagen]

all in all,   though this mission had gotten a bit  emotionally  complicated,   it had been solved rather quickly.     the mystery was solved and the curse was exorcised.     often,   that was all one could hope for in this line of work.   on one hand,   killing the false sorcerer   (   a task that was never easy  )  would make the obvious point:   they  couldn’t  save  the  life.     gojo,   however,   would counterargue  ------  they’d saved the mother who bought the false infant from perhaps falling to her own curse.     they saved the child who knew that something was wrong,   and was powerless to stop it without their help.     they’d  saved  people.

he’d  also  managed to break the news about sukuna’s vessel to nanami.     all in all,   gojo believed this went better than he’d hoped.

he’s thinking about how he’ll punish the higher ups for trying to keep this mission from him when the train hits a bump on the track and the cart shakes,   prompting him to look at his unwilling partner for the last few days.     nanami looked tired,   a bit hungover.     he looked like he,  too,   was deep in thought over the recent mission.     he always got like this after he had to kill someone.     a night of drinking wouldn’t cure how sensitive gojo knew he was.

❛     ------  oi,   nanami.     you should always stand with your butt facing the doors.     you’ll get groped if you don’t.      ❜    

            @threnodas​,         gojo request.

[ritterblood]

‘twixt all the missives and scheduled meetings,  the preparations for the firmament’s restoration well underway to become a yet bigger and grander endeavor than he ever could have hoped for, ‘twixt all the duties that come with hammering out agreements,  treaties and regulations both within the nation as well as with the other nations, haurchefant would fain accept any opportunity at some much needed respite  ━ and no opportunity comes as a more gladdening surprise than the letter received a fortnight ago, announcing the visit of someone he has come to count as one of his closest and dearest friends. 

with his father and brother occupied in the congregation, emmanellain in camp dragonhead with honoroit, haurchefant has seen fit to use the fortemps manor for their meeting.  with tea readied and a supple lunch provided,  all that remains is for the guest of honor to arrive  ━ and no sooner has he laid the finishing touches to the parlor, does the manservant announce urianger’s entry. 

“ my friend! “ haurchefant calls out ere even seeing him, too joyful to wait,  “ full glad am i to know you   ━, “ and there does his sentence peter off, expression going from happy to nigh flabbergasted as the other elezen steps into the room and into view.  gone is the baggy cloak,  the hood, the goggles keeping most of his visage from sight and instead  ━  “ look well, “ haurchefant finishes faintly,  blue eyes running up and down the finely fitted robe, showing off more skin than he has ever chanced to see on the man. something flutters in the pit of his stomach.  he does not even notice the slip of his tongue.  “ by the fury, urianger.  you mentioned a lot happening in your missive, but just how much has happened that it’d warrant a complete wardrobe change? “   / @threnodas​

[deckofclubs]

“  look at me,  you’re safe.  and you’re not alone.  and i’ll never let you be alone again.  you understand?  ” / rei and tenko!

angst w me || still accepting

it feels like rei's voice is far away, like he's floating underwater and rei is calling to him from the surface. his head's been in a fog for a while now, barely able to process his surroundings. safe? that was a laugh. that word was meaningless to him now. try as hard as rei might, he knew it would only get the old man killed. he knew that, so why couldn't rei get it through his thick skull? he was fighting a useless battle. still, if rei ever did get fed up and try to go, he thinks he'd try to stop him. it was a confusing emotion to feel. it's useless to stay, you're an idiot for being so stubborn, but don't go. what does he call that feeling? a slow hand reaches up to rub at his eyes. red, hazy eyes meet rei's own. he doesn't believe him just yet, but with time he might. but at least he can sleep, knowing rei's here. there's a level of trust in that. and he's so tired. ' pipe down, old man. let me sleep. ' that was the closest to handing the reigns to rei and saying i trust you he could get.

[deckofclubs]

“  i’m here now.  i know i wasn’t before.  but i should’ve been.  and i’m not going anywhere.  i’m not gonna let that happen again.  ” / for nanami and yuuji :)c

angst w me || still accepting

' you are not atlas, yuuji. you can't hope to carry the entire world on your shoulders. ' he recognized that stubborn idealism. he had that once. the desperate need to protect everything you hold dear, and protect it from all harm. he wishes he could keep yuuji that innocent forever. but this line of work would make him realize it was not possible. if nanami could protect him from that fate, he would.

' take it from me. i lost someone very dear to me when i was your age. and i spent a long time blaming myself for it. you can't be everywhere at once. you are young, and you're learning. you cannot be responsible for me. i am an adult, and you are a child. it is my duty to protect you, not the other way around. if i fail in that duty, the only fault is mine. ' he knows it sounds harsh. and it was a truth yuuji didn't want to hear. so he pats his head. ' but you're getting stronger every day. and i'm proud of you all the same. '

[90calibre]

𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞,       pouring into the dips of his scars so that they shine like the stars glistening across the midnight canvas.       peace overturns the curves of sett’s features in a way caitlyn has not often had the privilege of bearing witness to,       &       she finds herself in a spell of stupor in her admiration,       something that she cannot help but to lightly scoff at.       caitlyn remembers a time where she wanted little to nothing to do with him.       she thought him to be brash,       terribly loud with a mouth she wanted to twist between the hinges of her snap   -   traps,       but somewhere along the way,       everything she had convinced herself for so long that she abhorred came to become the very things she found infectiously endearing.       vulnerable turn after another,       moons       &       moons later until they crept into a blooming year       &       their ever   -   changing seasons passing them by,       she never would have imagined herself as she is now,       skin to skin,       simply feeling the comfort of his warmth against her own chilled skin.

caitlyn presses her cheek softly against sett’s shoulder,       eyelashes dancing in a flutter as she blinks.       lithe legs shift,       ankles moving to hook between sett’s own,       before she rolls over onto her stomach to rest her chin atop his chest.       her expression is still,       at first,       lips neutral before slowly lifting at a corner.          “          i didn’t know you ran so warm.       if i didn’t know any better,       i would’ve thought you were burning with fever.       you’re cozy.          ”

@threnodas​ dear little meow meow

[90calibre]

☀️ 💙 💘 / you know EXACTLY for who this is settcait.

relationship wishlist meme          ▸          accepting.

☀️     :     best friends 💙     :      slow burn 💘     :      friends to lovers

ME TWIRLING MY HAIR AT YOU HI YES HELLO