#v: datv

[beautifulmonster]

when you’re a queer disaster playing veilguard and the neve + lucanis team-up praise your rook a bunch in the same fight

[archaeval]

“i am weak. i am fragile. i am mortal.”

the cruel prince // @wakesleft ;;

𝑰𝑻 𝑾𝑨𝑺 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑺𝑻 𝑻𝑰𝑴𝑬 𝑬𝑴𝑴𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑪𝑯'𝑺 𝑭𝑬𝑨𝑹 of death had caught up with them, shattering the peaceful night. Ruby had jolted awake as soon as he had, heart in her throat, reorienting herself as quickly as she could. "You are safe," she hushes as the sight of their wide eyes chase away the last dregs of sleep. "You're alive, Emmerich, and you're safe."

It was useless to think she could fight such a deep-set terror permanently, but still Ruby caressed Emmerich's face, guiding them gently to look at her instead of the shadows lurking in the corners of the room. She was nothing more than a bandage -- a temporary solution that will not last -- but it had to be enough for now.

Ruby pressed a kiss to their brow and pulls them close, letting them hear the rhythm of her pulse in her chest. "It's only us here. Nothing and no-one else can reach you. You're safe." It was not a promise she can keep. There was so much out of anyone's control; illness, injury -- even an aneurysm could sneak up in the middle of the night without warning. But still she held them, as if that would ever be enough to shield them from death itself.

[archaeval]

a kiss on the forehead

basorexia // @wakesleft ;;

𝑺𝑯𝑬 𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑳𝑫𝑵'𝑻 𝑭𝑨𝑪𝑬 𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑴. 𝑺𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑬 𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑫 her pale face pink and colored the tips of her pointed ears. No doubt Emmerich looked at her with unbearable fondness even now, which was exactly why Ruby had set her gaze firmly on the wall. The stiffness in her posture worsened as they came near, and she nearly buried her face in her hands as they kissed her brow.

"You're being too kind," she protested, and made a decidedly poor effort of pulling away. Even now, Emmerich's nearness comforted, a gentle breeze to soothe the fire burning her cheeks. "I can't bear it."

Were they smiling at her? At last, she allowed herself to loosen the iron grip on composure and let her head fall forward and coming to rest against their shoulder. Her reading glasses dangled loosely on the thin chain that hung around her neck. She'd been searching for them for nearly an hour before Emmerich had arrived and helpfully pointed out that they were perched on her nose.

It would be kinder if she simply melted into nothingness, a memory of a memory, so she might never have to face reality again.

[archaeval]

[ hair brush ]

taking care of you // @wakesleft ;;

[  hair  brush  ]  sender  carefully  brushes  receiver’s  hair  back,  slow  and  soothing

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑳𝑫 𝑶𝑼𝑻𝑺𝑰𝑫𝑬 𝑰𝑺 𝑨 𝑮𝑹𝑬𝒀 𝑯𝑨𝒁𝑬, rain and mist coating the landscape until only vague shapes remain. It plays havoc on Ruby's joints, and she leans more heavily on her cane than she'd like, crossing the room to sit besides Emmerich. The couch is more of a relief than she'd like to admit, but the true balm is their fingers, brushing hair away from her face. She leans into their touch, letting her eyes close against the dreariness of the world and revel only in their warmth.

"I missed you," she breathes, turning for just a moment to kiss his palm. "The world is quieter when you're near." Each stroke of Emmerich's fingers soothes further, until she feels as a contented cat in a sunbeam. There is no true silencing of her overactive mind -- even now, she remembers the dull throbbing in her joints, the maid down the hall bringing a tea service, the schedule that needs rearranging tomorrow -- but a muslin sheet falls over them all, rendering her thoughts as distant and dreamlike as the impressions of trees in the window.

[archaeval]

Iago falling for Ruby was so gradual that I don't think they could pin down an exact moment. If anything, it would've dawned on them eventually that it was a long time coming rather than a sudden realization, maybe brought on by something very simple. While Ruby is combing their hair or they hear her laugh at something. Something really mundane that felt so easy with her after so many years. It was a very comforting realization and they wouldn't have made a big deal about it at the time. They were just happy to be Whatever they ended up being to her, and that was enough.

when your muse realized they'd fallen for mine // @accultant ;;

𝑰𝑻 𝑯𝑨𝑫 𝑻𝑨𝑲𝑬𝑵 𝒀𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑺 𝑻𝑶 𝑮𝑬𝑻 to this point of comfort, an unplanned closeness that had grown out of a sense of loyalty and admiration. She enjoyed being around them, simple as that. At some point, she realized she wanted to kiss them, but the deeper implications escaped her even then. She was so used to being around Iago at that point that it felt ruinous to peel back the layers and see what bubbled between them just under the surface.

Thus, she was happy to be whatever they needed her to be in turn. Their assistant, their companion, their friend...it would be a good few years yet before she realized she wanted to be their partner.

[archaeval]

"i still want to kiss you."

d.eathless // @wakesleft ;;

𝑻𝑯𝑬𝒀 𝑾𝑬𝑹𝑬 𝑺𝑼𝑷𝑷𝑶𝑺𝑬𝑫 𝑻𝑶 𝑯𝑨𝑽𝑬 𝑴𝑬𝑻 that evening for dinner. In her excitement, Ruby had chosen her outfit two days in advance and changed her mind four times since then. Too much had gone wrong since then. Small issues at work, a delay in Jane's return from the fade, and a nightmare she hadn't had in years left her sitting at the mirror, hands trembling as she'd tried to put on eyeliner. Ruby hadn't even gotten to her hair by the time Emmerich had arrived.

They had seen her disheveled before, and even if they hadn't, she knew they would have understood. Even still, she only opened the door reluctantly, still in her housecoat, unable to keep the fear at bay that Emmerich would turn and leave the second they saw her like this.

But they stayed. Of course they stayed. It was one of the countless reasons she loved them. Ruby's hand shook as she reached out to take theirs, linking her little finger with his. It was the smallest touch, a plea to forgive as much as it was an olive branch. I'm glad you're here.

Ruby stepped back slowly, leading Emmerich inside. The door shut quietly, closing them off from the world just enough that Ruby could breathe a little more easily. "I was going to wear green tonight," she said quietly, as if that would make up for the fact that their plans were ruined. There was a small parlor just past the foyer with a comfortable sofa where they could sit side-by-side, well away from any noise from outside.

She couldn't kiss them. Not tonight. It was difficult to even hold their hand, but she still held on, refusing to let Emmerich think for a second that they weren't wanted here. "Tomorrow," she promised, able to at least lace their fingers together properly and squeeze. "Kiss me tomorrow. Just sit with me tonight."

[archaeval]

Ruby write a poem (the best you can?) abt Emmrich!

Ask about her relationships // @laperlina & @wakesleft ;;

𝑨 𝑪𝑶𝑹𝑵𝑬𝑹 𝑶𝑭 𝑹𝑼𝑩𝒀'𝑺 𝑴𝑶𝑼𝑻𝑯 𝑻𝑼𝑮𝑺 𝑫𝑶𝑾𝑵, 𝑩𝑬𝑳𝒀𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑯𝑬𝑹 sheer dread at such an idea. As fond as she is of poetry, Ruby has known better than to sully the page with her sad attempts since she was young. Still, the powers that be force her hand. She cringes with each stroke of the pen.

The lilies in the graveyard Are soft as your eyes, my dear I can face things that are hard When you are near

It will have to be enough. Ruby puts her head in her hands, using every ounce of willpower not to rip the paper to shreds. She can only hope Emmerich will select a lovely coffin for her, seeing as she's about to die of shame.

[archaeval]

“I don't want you to go.”

sweet & spicy // @prophetyse ;;

𝑰𝑻 𝑾𝑨𝑺 𝑭𝑨𝑹 𝑭𝑹𝑶𝑴 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑺𝑻 𝑵𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑬𝒀 had spent tangled in each other's arms, hair in a clouded mess of curls, and it was far from the first time Ruby had extricated herself when the first rays of dawn filtered in through the window. But she grew restless in the daylight, unable to sit still without something to do. A book, at least, would occupy her mind, but there were more pressing matters to tend to.

"I have to, dearest. The Veilguard returns today, and they'll be wanting things in order." Perhaps it wasn't as important as Ruby was making it out to be, but she took her duties all too seriously, no matter how small. She threw on a dressing gown and sought out a hairbrush to get started, but paused to lean over Sabina. "Stay in bed if you like," she said with a kiss. "I'll be back when I'm done."