on the rosebling hug post what's your headcanon you were talking about
OKAY EHP hi sage :]
Okay so at 12, Gem & Fwhip go to Crystal Cliffs Academy – Theyre both magic attuned vampires why wouldnt they go? Besides, theyre inseparable at this point in their life.
At 13, Gem becomes the top student of their year. Fwhip isnt as good with magic or mana so he's not a top student.
At 15, Fwhip leaves the Academy because he has to become Count (it was him or Gem, and he knows she has a distaste for being royalty)
They dont see each other until theyre 18. They dont hug, they dont say "I missed you". They argue.
They argue about Fwhip, and the Grimlands, faith in gods. About Gem's disbelief in gods.
They dont talk until theyre 21 (this is the canon timeline for s1 :) Theyre 21 at the start, 22 by the end in my headcanon)
Theyre hostile, for a while, but loosen up. Especially when Xornoth starts appearing. (Gem goes to Fwhip first, she's having nightmares after Xornoth first appears. This is the first time the two of them have been proper siblings in six years.)
I was out shopping. Had an idea. Came back home. Got distracted. And then remembered the idea. So here is the idea :}
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
"This isn't exactly what I imagined when you asked me to come over," Scott huffed and wrapped fWhip's coat tighter around himself. The count didn't need it at the moment, seeing that he dragged Scott to the main fishing area of Grimlands to check the fishing nets. "Can't your fishermen check the damn nets themselves? And why this hour?" It was nearly midnight.
"Well, I can't really go and do stuff like this during the day, can I?" the vampire shot him an unamused look. "And Jimmy's been gone almost a month at this point and knowing him he'll come to ruin my nets long before saying he's back," he reasoned and Scott sighed even more. "Don't lie, you like the view," he chuckled and bent over to check another section of nets.
Scott only huffed. Yes, he did like to see fWhip bend over without his dumb, warm, coat. With his pants rolled up to his knees. For the moment it did a good enough job keeping them dry. fWhip was one handsome bastard as much as Scott didn't once want to admit it. He still wouldn't say it to his face. "It's too bad he missed Katherine's spring ball, you looked nice," he might as well use that he as fWhip not distracted by tinkering and chat about more amusing topics than fishing nets and fish wars...
"It was... a thing," fWhip shrugged, moving to a different section of nets. Scott followed along the bank of the river.
"I would think a properly raised noble like you would be more excited about a big fancy ball," fWhip might usually not look it with how much soot and dust there was on his clothes but he was Sausage's younger brother. A noble by birth and raised like one.
"You might have noticed by now that I prefer my workshop, fields and fishing nets more than 'proper noble stuff'. That suit was so uncomfortable," fWhip's retort formed into a whine. "And Gem and Sausage forced me to practice dancing... And then were angry when I didn't, as I told them I would."
"What?" that was news to Scott. He simply assumed fWhip knew how to dance and just didn't like to.
"Well, more like remind me how to... Gem lend us her ballroom since if we were in Mythland we'd be interrupted every five seconds. She even enchanted a piano to play on its own when I said I was not having anyone see it..." fWhip continued to complain in a way that made dance lessons sound like the worst thing that has ever happened to him.
"Would you have danced with me if I asked you?" Scott was really regretting not at least trying and asking fWhip for even one dance.
"I might have, especially since Jimmy wouldn't be there to make fun of me," fWhip chuckled.
Scott hummed. "Would you dance with me after you're done with these damned nets? YOu owe me for not just going home the moment you said that's what you're doing," he asked with a grin.
"You're a menace, and I do not have a ballroom," fWhip instantly turned to give him a flat stare. "Besides, the magic piano as at Gem's and..."
"I don't need some piano, I have this, and we can dance here, I'm not picky," Scott was not giving up and pulled out a rune stone. "It has only one song on it but that should be enough."
fWhip sighed and slowly left the river. Scott wordlessly passed his shoes to him. "Fine, I'll dance with you, the nets are all fine... You will not mention it to Jimmy though," he might have tried to sound annoyed but was smiling. Scott smiled back and as fWhip finished pulling his shoes back on turned the run on. It played a slow waltz. "*cough* Might I have this dance?" fWhip asked with a proper bow, extending a hand towards the elf.
Scott was not expecting it in the slightest and a blush managed to spread across his face. "I... um... and you call me a menace... Of course you can you idiot," he stammered and accepted fWhip's hand.
The vampire just chuckled. "I hope my ability to lead is not too rusty, Sausage did not practice it with me," he hummed and Scott could not help but giggle as he imagined it.
fWhip's ability to lead in a waltz was at all not rusty. In truth, he was annoyingly good at dancing. And damn handsome up close. Not something that happened too often with how busy both of them usually were...
But before he could voice his annoyance a familiar voice both of them have been missing nearly a month suddenly startled them. "Shouldn't you two be sleeping?"
When they looked to the source of it there was a Jimmy. A whole lot taller than they remembered and much more mature-looking Jimmy who was apparently done with his weird fish-demi-god puberty and glaring at them with crossed arms. His toothy smile betrayed how happy he was to see them.
"I don't have to sleep, and Scott was free to leave whenever he wanted," fWhip huffed and dipped Scott, resuming their dance. Scott suddenly had the urge to kiss him. It was an urge he had quite often but couldn't always act upon. Now wasn't one of those moments so he grabbed fWhip's face and kissed him.
"I was up because I wanted to sleep with at least one of my boyfriends," he grinned and escaped fWhip's hands to snatch and deactivate the rune stone. "So? Does either one of you want to sleep with me?"
"Yes," Jimmy and fWhip said at once. "And never show that rock to Gem. She was so proud of her piano," fWhip sighed.
"What piano?" Jimmy asked, easily picking both fWhip and Scott up.
"I'll explain another time," fWhip waved it off.
"Sausage was teaching him to dance." Scott giggled and earned himself a weak glare.
fWhip ignored the rest of the conversation. Even vampires got tired eventually and he barely rested the last week, too busy missing a certain merling ruler. "You're stupid tall now," he huffed, very displeased with said fact.
I just had a thought about how fWhip could have had a vampire story in Empires season 1 but things ended up differently. And the headcanon that actually he was a vampire, either it never came up in the story or he got turned some time after escaping with Gem during the finale… Imagine if Count fWhip turns up at some point this season! It probably won't happen, but April Fools is coming up and that's always an opportunity for YouTubers to do insane one-off stuff…
I am doing the weird cross-over oneshot and I decided to drop a preview before I wrap up for the night:
But back to the cute little witch he found. None of the stories he's heard about him mentioned he was a boney, pale little thing with fluffy dark hair. All the stories said was that he was a powerful necromancer and a monster. Not that monsters had to be ugly. fWhip has been called a monster on multiple occasions and would not call himself ugly. Quite contrary actually. But no amount of pretty could help him get the witch awake. fWhip knew precious little about medicine. Mostly just enough to take care of anyone he fed on and did not want to kill.
Possibly the weirdest mash-up AU ever. Or not? - ScWhip
I have no explanation for where this came to my brain from. It just appeared and now it's here :}
Hope you like it
AO3
Finding the Supreme Witch, just passed out in the middle of the woods was not on fWhip's list of things to do tonight. To be honest his only plan was to go to a nearby village and have a meal so he could spend the next month without leaving his manor. "What am I to do with you?" he spun his umbrella as he wondered. Little Mister Supreme was not breathing and his heart wasn't beating but fWhip was a vampire long enough to recognise fellow undead with ease. But even if the scrawny witch-boy was not capable of dying he was not about to just leave him passed out in the middle of a monster-infested forest.
So with some trouble due to his umbrella being still needed, he picked up the Supreme and turned back to his mansion. The villagers were paranoid enough with just a vampire around. Luckily he still had a few days to get his blood supply up before there would be any trouble. The village being so far that he needed to leave before sunset was the bigger problem than feeding itself. Or even the most powerful currently existing witch.
No. Scrawny little witch man was more of an opportunity. Having someone with this much power and influence could be great for fWhip if he ever got in trouble with witches. Or if he ever needed something from a witch. Or the Supreme himself even. All good things for fWhip but he still could not help himself but wonder - what was the Supreme doing so far from the Witch Lands? fWhip heard of no issues anywhere near him but it wasn't like he paid it all that much attention. Maybe he could get it out the supreme over some tea.
fWhip was glad he had his tea garden, especially in situations like this. The howling half-fish man from the lake was possibly the most frequent visitor he got. But he was noisy and came over during the day. fWhip would rather spend that time napping or reading. And he wasn't even half as cute as the Supreme With turned out to be when relieved of his muddy cloak and put on a free bed in fWhip's manor. He had spare bedrooms only. Guest bedrooms invited annoyances like a certain wither to try and stay with him. fWhip liked his peace and quiet disturbed only by his own explosions.
But back to the cute little witch he found. None of the stories he's heard about him mentioned he was a boney, pale little thing with fluffy dark hair. All the stories said was that he was a powerful necromancer and a monster. Not that monsters had to be ugly. fWhip has been called a monster on multiple occasions and would not call himself ugly. Quite contrary actually. But no amount of pretty could help him get the witch awake. fWhip knew precious little about medicine. Mostly just enough to take care of anyone he fed on and did not want to kill.
All he could do was get the kettle going and wait. At least he did not have to wait for all that long. The sun has just about almost set when the Supreme showed the first signs of waking up. fWhip calmly took one last sip of his blood-rose tea - he could drink it well enough but it did not satiate his hunger well enough - and gave his guest a chance to gather himself. He set it with maybe a bit more noise than necessary to announce his presence.
"Who are you? Where am I?" the Supreme asked while pulling out staff from nowhere.
"I'm count fWhip," fWhip introduced himself with as much of a bow as he could muster without getting up. "We're in my mansion," he added with a toothy grin. The best way to announce one is a vampire in his experience. Saved him the disbelief and doubt that led to his fangs being flashed anyway. "I found you passed out in the woods. Not the safest place," he added before it was asked. "I have more tea if you're interested.
Scott had no idea if he was actually awake. Since when could vampires have tea without spitting it out? Just who or what was this count fWhip? Or what weird herb was he using in his teas. "Only if you first tell me exactly what goes into this mysterious tea. As far as I know, all vampires can eat or drink is blood," if the competition for the Supreme title taught him anything it was that there was no such thing as being too careful. No matter how handsome someone was. And fWhip was unfairly handsome... Scott was a busy witch even if his original goal failed miserably. There were things he had to do that didn't have to do with handsome vampires and their weird tea.
"Of course. I grow all my tea myself and the one I'm drinking is a special Blood Rose blend..."
He barely paid any attention to what fWhip was saying. The flashing fangs were more than slightly distracting. And the unfortunately still present there even if Scott was a lich hunger started to make itself known. Wasn't the point of being dead that annoying things like that would be gone? It wasn't. And fWhip was asking something and Scott just said 'yes' because why would he say not to an attractive man. And now he was getting up and Scott was lost and confused and could only say 'heh?' when fWhip extended a hand to him.
"You said it's okay if I show you my tea garden," fWhip chuckled and it took a lot of Scott's willpower to not giggle like he was never in love before.
"I was just wondering where my coat went..." he tried to defend himself as fWhip helped him off the bed. It was a good thing he had no blood and could not blush.
"Oh, it was all muddy and wet so I set it aside to clean later if... if you'd stay long enough for that," fWhip explained as Scott fixed his robes. He was the Supreme Witch and so far did not act like it. "The name's Scott, I'm the new Supreme witch, umm. Thank you for not just leaving me..."
"It'd be a bad look on the area if I just let the local monsters rip our cute Supreme Witch to pieces," fWhip chuckled and offered Scott an arm.
Scott was fully aware vampires tended to be charismatic and smooth bastards. If one lived long enough one could master anything. What he forgot they could also do with that time was collect things. And in fWhip's case that resulted in a library that rivalled Scott's newly acquired along his tile library. It took one whole floor of his manor that was by no means small. And yes it was mostly alchemy and tinkering and not much on magic, especially necromancy but Scott could appreciate a good collection.
And fWhip's 'garden' was no less impressive. Scott was pretty sure he spotted a few herbs witches called extinct as he was given a tour of different flowers fWhip made into teas to not die of boredom and not be a bad host. He was an actual count and had the up bring to go with the title. What made Scott feel rather self-conscious when he was served dinner - he didn't really think who made it - the title of the Supreme Witch did not come with a lesson on table manners.
"If I might ask, what is the Supreme Witch doing this far from the Witch Lands?" fWhip asked while swirling what had to be blood - Scott dealt with it enough to recognise it - inside a decorative crystal goblet.
Scott had no idea how to say he had no idea what to do with himself. The title of the Supreme basically meant he was the most powerful witch currently ali... existing and that he inherited all the possessions of the previous Supreme Witches. Most notably the key to the giant library between dimensions. All that library allowed him to do was summon Milo's spirit and be told to move on and not bring him back. So now Scott was a lich with nothing to do, told by his dead lover to move on and be happy. He couldn't tell fWhip that.
"Well, I..." Scott was about to say something cool but... He could not bring himself to lie. fWhip was nice to him and even fed him a good meal and... Scott could swear that for just a second he could see a spirit of Milo shaking his head. But he was probably just seeing things. "Well, it's a long story."
"I believe we have a lot of time ahead of us. I certainly do not mind sacrificing some of it to a story," fWhip offered along another grin that almost had Scott's heart beating.
Almost. "You'll be the death of me with these," Scott chuckled. Maybe he could try and listen to Milo and move on. Or at least try to.
"I'm pretty sure we've both already done that," fWhip chuckled and Scott groaned. What did he get himself involved with?
I have no idea how often I'll update but I'm quite unreasonably excited about this one.
Hope you like it :}
AO3
Title is form Ship in a Bottle by Fin {Steffan Argus}
fWhip woke up with a pounding headache and a weird dry thirsty feeling in his mouth... Wait... Woke... Up? That didn't sound right considering the last thing fWhip could remember was the pirate ship he just captured suddenly starting to sink. Not much else was coming to him other than screaming and breaking of wood and a storm roiling around the battlefield. There was no way he survived that. And there were no islands anywhere close for him to wash up on.
And there was no explaining it if he kept lying down with his eyes closed, no matter how much his head was hurting and spinning, so he sat up and took a look around. He instantly regretted his decision.
In another corner of the room he was in, in a rocking chair sat a teal-haired man with mismatched, teal and gold eyes. A magenta, blue, teal and orange coat was hung over the back of said chair. The stranger must have been reading while waiting for fWhip to wake up but was now setting his book aside. Likely due to a groan fWhip could not hold back as he was sitting up. Damn it. "Awake already?" the stranger asked but did not approach the bed but a desk by a different window. It was covered in bottles and boxes and herbs.
"Where am I?" fWhip asked while looking for an escape route. Waking up in a stranger's house was never a good thing.
"In my house," the stranger said as if it was the most obvious thing ever - maybe it was a fair assumption but fWhip was not in the mood. "I was frankly shocked when you knocked on my door," he chuckled and said something else but fWhip was a bit distracted by what he just heard.
Knocked? That didn't add up. Or at the very least it was missing from his memory. "What day is it?" fWhip asked and tried to get out the bed to look out the window but the stranger stopped him.
"Stay on the bed," he asked sternly. "It's the end of April. Around twentieth, I think."
April? No. No... no... fWhip caught up to that pirate in January. It should have been February at worse... He was missing three months...
"Hello? Mister pirate? Everything okay?" the man asked, waving a hand in front of fWhip's face.
"I'm not a pirate..." fWhip protested but with no confidence. He had no idea what might have happened in these past three months he was missing.
"Not what the wanted posters say. I have to visit a town from time to time," the stranger shrugged. "Anyway, care to explain why you're here? I could barely get a word out of you this past week I was treating you, mister," he asked with a pout and returned to the desk now that fWhip was not moving.
"I have no idea... My last memory is from three months ago," fWhip explained before he could stop himself and come up with some random story. He did owe the man some sort of explanation but the truth? He wasn't sure. "I have no idea how I got here. The last thing I can recall is the ship I was on sinking..."
"Interesting. I suppose I should reintroduce myself then. I'm Scott. I'm a witch. And I'm assuming you do not remember how you became a vampire," he introduced himself and turned back to working on whatever it was he was working on before he turned to give fWhip a puzzled look.
"A what?" fWhip asked and leaned against a wall. He was pretty sure that he paled. If he could that is. He put the 'witch' part aside for now. It wasn't as weird if he was actually a vampire.
"A vampire, I'd offer you a mirror so you can see your new biters but I'm afraid those don't work for you," Scott chuckled but offered him a mirror nonetheless. And sat next to him. The lack of expression was a bit more alarming to fWhip than a stranger sitting next to him. "Well, I look pretty cute," Scott chuckled and for some bizarre reason exposed his left wrist. "I'm suspecting you're hungry - or thirsty, so here, and don't worry I do not mind and it's technically not our first time," Scott said as if it was an explanation and offered his arm to fWhip. "Just bite me. In case you lose control while we talk about important things. We can go with my neck if you prefer that."
The idea of biting Scott's neck was a bit much for fWhip so he hesitantly and relying purely on his new(?) instinct bit Scott's wrist instead. He still did try to not make it hurt too much but a pained gasp Scott let out as soon as his fang sunk in. It was quickly forgotten though as the flavour hit him. Sweet, heavy, heady and at all not as unpleasant as he suspected it'd be... If anything some part of his brain told him he's never had blood this good... And it was that realisation that had him pull back with a lot less care than he'd like to have, getting a pained hiss from Scott.
"Careful darling, I'm delicate," Scott chuckled and passed him the bottle he filled with something earlier. "Please pour this in me, it's to help recover from vampire bites faster," he added and fWhip didn't even question it. Between them, Scott knew far more about vampires than fWhip would ever want to. He'd probably have to learn at least some other than the no reflection and that Scott's blood was damn tasty...
The potion really proved Scott knew a lot. Just five minutes later - apparently without it he'd need a nap - he had fWhip take his shirt off and was checking bandages fWhip completely didn't notice were wrapped around his torso. "What happened to me?" fWhip asked even if he didn't really want to know. He felt rather awkward after the whole bite thing.
"Stabbing, sunburn, normal burns, bruises, gunshots, some weird bites. I barely opened my door before you fainted," Scott hummed nodding to himself as even more bandages piled on the floor. "If you weren't a vampire you'd be long dead... Actually, I think I should add 'half-starved' to that list," he added and fWhip felt a sudden urge to actually die.
How could any version of him come to visit s man as handsome as Scott while himself looking terrible? And why was he looking for a witch? And how did he find him? "I both wish I could know what I did these past three months and I'm happy I don't know," he sighed and distracted himself from Scott being very, very close by looking around.
Not that there was much to see. A desk buried in bottles and ingredients. Scott's reading chair and his coat and a set of bookshelves bending under books and jars. Aside from the bed and a small table next to it, there wasn't much else there... He really hoped this wasn't Scott's only bed. That'd be awkward.
"Any plans for what to do now? I might try to help since you went through all the trouble of getting here," Scott asked after a short while as he left the bed for fresh bandages. "Aware of it or not."
fWhip sighed and stared at the ceiling. What was he to do? If he was really wanted as a pirate he could not go to Gem and Sausage, not without putting them at risk. Joel... He was not sure how or why the pirate ship started sinking those three months ago but he had a feeling Joel had something to do with it. He was the only one other than fWhip himself with the authority to get the cannons shooting. And there wasn't much else that could make it sink... "I'm not sure but probably look for the how and why of me being a vampire and a pirate. What happened these past three months? And then who knows? A cure? Revenge?" it was the best he could offer at the moment.
"Hmm," Scott hummed with a mysterious smile. "Well, I happen to know about an artefact that can help. A Desire Compass, it's meant to point whoever's carrying it to what they desire the most at the moment," he offered.
"That does sound helpful if I can keep my desires in control," fWhip nodded. Maybe that's why he came to look for Scott. "Could even be why I came here in the first place."
"Mhm. And you should be fine to travel by the time sun set. Your ship's still out in the bay, as empty as it was when you arrived. And it gives me enough time to pack."
"Ship... Wait pack?" fWhip stared at the cyan-haired witch and blinked several times.
"Yeah, I'm coming with you but... your boat kind of destroyed my boat so we'll have to figure that out," Scott said with a smile. "There isn't much to do around here and a journey with you sounds interesting. And I'm not letting you starve yourself after I went through all the trouble of fixing you," he added, poking fWhip's cheek.
fWhip had no energy left to fight him. And was far more curious about the ship. Unfortunately, Scott kept him confined to the bed until the sun has set for good. And made a displeased face when fWhip pulled on his shirt.
In the bay, a fair distance from the shore there was indeed a ship. A ship fWhip did not recognise, made of dark wood and with, at least looking it while folded, black sails. And it looked completely deserted even if perfectly docked. It was just there eerily silent and... calling out to him for the lack of better words. It felt weirdly like home. And on some instinct fWhip knew it was home and whistled.
He had no idea why. And it clearly confused Scott, cutting his attempts at coming up with how they could get to the nameless ship. But the whistle did something. The ship lowered a small sailboat on it's own, that sailed towards them with no one onboard. "I think I solved it," fWhip grinned. He wasn't sure why he was so proud of his (?) ship.
"Okay Captain," Scott chuckled. "You think you can control the whole ship like that or?"
"I think I can. I had to get here somehow," fWhip shrugged with a grin.
"Dang, that's hot," Scott giggled, waving himself with his hand.
fWhip just shrugged. He wasn't quite sure how impressive controlling a whole ship on his own was compared to whatever Scott was capable of. "I might need a while to figure it out beyond just muscle memory."
"Well, at least it gives me time to pick a room."
"Captain quarters are mine," fWhip said almost instantly. For some reason, he felt possessive of that one room.
"Aw, and here I thought we'd keep sharing one bed," Scott pouted but fWhip was pretty sure he didn't mean it. At least the pout part. But he also left fWhip little tile to argue and complain, getting into the boat as soon as it arrived.
"Please tell me it's a joke," fWhip sighed as he followed, partially to make sure Scott and his bottomless bag were okay.
"Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't," Scott giggled giving fWhip a feeling he picked up a companion of the troublesome kind. At least he had a ship.
It's at all not what I set out to write but I like the place it went to.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
'Leading the alliance is too much on you fWhip, just pass it to Pearl of Gem... I... I'm leaving, I can't watch y... this.' Hearing Scott say that before withdrawing from WRA was not what really broke fWhip. It kind of broke him. Scott was a good friend and ally... And fWhip might have had a crush on him. He didn't stop being the leader of the alliance but he did withdraw from being active in Grimlands international affairs, simply leaving it all to his council. Excusing himself for not feeling too well.
He did in fact not feel too well. Random headaches and almost constant itching. Lack of appetite. The trouble with sleep. His knee hurt more than it usually did.
His healers had no idea what was wrong with him and almost begged him to ask Gem for help... Of course, his perfect, loving twin sister would know what to do. And berate him for being an idiot to do whatever caused it. fWhip did not want that so he firmly told them to figure it out and to not go to the Cliffs', threatened them even. His short and fiery temperament was well known among his people. The council itself didn't argue too much as long as they could bring at least the matters that required his attention to him. Not that stuff like that happened often.
They were probably glad their cripple count would finally stop 'overworking' himself. As if he was any less capable of making decisions because he had a bad knee.
Anyway, he stepped back from being as active as a ruler and almost never left his manor for... he wasn't quite sure how long. He buried all of his attention into the long overdue project on improving the town. Design of a new, faster and capable of transporting more train that would connect Eastvale to all the major mines and the gunpowder farms. Better gunpowder refining machine. Farming machinery. He simplified the heating system that was in the mansion and made it simpler and easier to install around the town. He buried himself in his inventions and how to make Grimlands better the only way he was confident he could...
Maybe Scott was right. Maybe he should have stepped back from leadership... At least that's what fWhip thought whenever he tried to sleep as rare as it was. He was simply not tired most of it. Or hungry, just weirdly thirsty. If he was honest food just tasted a bit meh, but wine was good. Nice dark wine.
He realised what was wrong with him about two months into this self-exile. When he went to see the new train set off for the first time. Or was supposed to at least, instead he had to be treated for major burns he suffered the moment the sun touched what little skin he had exposed. And since it was a nice event he dressed up a bit nicer, freshened up. Washed and brushed his hair. It grew up a significant amount but he didn't have time to cut it. And it wasn't like it bothered him.
In the end, he didn't show up. The tale of his sickness being more serious than it was got out to the citizens. And once again, fWhip loudly refused his sister or any ally to be informed. He could manage it. He could deal with it. He did not need any help from anyone.
Another month later, when a new mine was being opened he showed up. Covered from his boots to his neck, almost to his chin. Hiding under an umbrella an assistant had to hold for him as he leaned heavier than usual on his cane. He couldn't even carry his own umbrella with how bad the thirst for blood was. So far nothing he brewed in his alchemy lab could solve his thirst. Some managed to subdue it for a short time but not as well as blood could. Animal blood did not work at all. He was not giving up on that.
His public appearance has calmed the residents' worries for his health. Not completely since he did look rather pale and needed an umbrella but him being there had them speculating he was slowly recovering. He knew he'd eventually have to return to ruling more actively. But first, he needed to solve his thirst for blood so he locked himself in his manor for one more time. Hopefully.
He was hunched over his alchemy table. Any and all books relating to vampires his aides and advisors managed to find without alarming Gem. They got more wary of him and his moods since the change was discovered. He was hunched over a tome he'd read more than three times at that point when a cough had him turning around so fast he nearly fell. At his door there was... Scott.
As unfairly pretty as always. Not a hair or snowy white feather of his wings was out of place. Not a spec of dust or dirt other than some damp spots from the snow on his cloak. Why was he here? Wasn't he staying neutral, keeping out of everyone's conflicts? At least that's what fWhip's advisors told him. They did not mention he was somehow even more handsome now. "Scott?" he asked, rather dumbly. Congratulations fWhip, you're considered a genius and that's the best you can say when faced with a pretty face? "What are you doing here? Who let you in?" at least he managed to quickly recover.
"I broke in," Scott almost shrugged. "You weren't at the past three emperor meetings, you haven't said anything about Sausage almost starting a war with Lizzie's baby brother..."
"She's got a brother?" he asked a bit dumbly. Maybe just then realising he should have been a bit more involved.
"...and you missed a whole new empire settling between Mythland and Ocean Empire," Scott carried on but didn't look angry or disappointed. Just sad and worried. "And you missed my brother's wedding, but that's probably good, I was embarrassingly close to freezing the whole event... Why did you lock yourself in your mansion for six months?" and there was the question fWhip was worried about.
He could quickly come up with a lie. He could try and get Scott to leave. Or he could do what he actually did and crumble down and cry making Scott panic and rush to his side.
"I'm sorry if I shouldn't have come in but I was worried," Scott started to apologise as he pulled fWhip into a loose hug. "You vanish, skip what I thought would be a big thing and then show up barely standing up and under an umbrella... And so damn pale. fWhip... Please tell me it isn't because I was an idiot because I was a massive idiot when I..."
"You were right. All I did in those past six months I could have done without my dumb title..." fWhip huffed but didn't pull away. He didn't have it in him to move at all.
"I... I shouldn't have phrased it like I did," Scott cut him, tightening the tentative hug. "What I meant to say is 'I can't keep watching you lose sleep trying to solve everyone's issues'... I just couldn't keep seeing it and then you all but vanished and I heard some worrying rumours..."
Scott stopped. fWhip had no idea what to say to him. Partially worried the elf would notice he was technically dead...
"And then I heard you showed up in person and didn't look too good and I barely stopped myself from coming here then. I told myself you were likely getting better but then this whole border thing started and nothing from you... I came back to blaming myself... All I wanted was for you to take a break..." Scott continued as fWhip remained silent. "I hate that I needed a dumb reason to come and apologise... I was an idiot fWhip I'm..."
Now that fWhip could not listen to. "I was sick Scott," he stopped the elf. "At first I lost sleep and appetite, no one had any idea what was going on, sun made me itch. When I was supposed to present the train we discovered what happened. I was turned into a vampire," he stopped to give Scott a chance to pull back, to get distance between them. The elf stayed put and silent. "Based on how it happened we assume it's some sort of Blood Sheep blessing, Grimlands doesn't really have that many places of worship of any kind much less priests and I didn't want to cause undue panic so I locked myself in again to try and figure out a solution to needing blood..."
This time fWhip waited for Scott to speak. "Did you find anything?" the elven king asked. He didn't seem at all repulsed by what fWhip was.
"Nothing that would work in the long term, it either solves the thirst for not nearly long enough or almost not at all.." fWhip sighed, letting himself slump in Scott's arms. He was no longer too worried about Scott being disgusted or angry with him. Instead, he let himself realise how dumb he was to keep it all away from his allies and friends. "Wine is the best but not good enough, it doesn't really help me regenerate too much energy..."
Scott was silent for a moment. His heartbeat rang loudly through fWhip's head, making him damn aware of how hungry he was despite constantly testing blood alternatives. "Do you have to kill someone to feed?" Scott asked just as fWhip was about to warn him about his building-up hunger.
"I don't but..."
"I'm giving you my permission fWhip, and it better be as hot as I think it may be," the elf chuckled.
fWhip sighed. There was no arguing with Scott. Or how hungry he was. But there was arguing with the setting. "I'm not biting you on my workshop floor," the vampire protested and with shocking even to himself ease but lacking some grace on the account of his knee not being fixed in his transformation.
"Fine, but only because you're handsome," Scott almost giggled as fWhip helped him up. He was a noble after all, even if his clothes were sooty and dirty. And some of that soot rubbed on Scott's pale blue coat. Lucky for fWhip it didn't seem to bother him at the moment. "You let your hair grow out," he pointed out as fWhip led the way to his long unused bed chambers.
"It was easier to tie it back and ignore it than keep cutting it," fWhip almost shrugged. He never paid much attention to his looks unless he needed to attend a formal event. Well, even then he'd leave it to others. "I might leave it like this, it's not too hard to take care of."
Scott hummed and sneaked an arm around fWhip's shoulders. He didn't say anything but fWhip had a feeling him keeping his hair long was appreciated. Maybe he could bother fWhip about hair care sometime just to humour him, and maybe mess with him.
"Should I assume Rivendell wants back into WRA?" he asked as he let Scott in. The room was clean, bed made, curtains closed like in the whole mansion. "I think others may be persuaded with good enough reasons."
"My accursed council would have to be persuaded first but Xor's hubby joining Cod Alliance might help it along, we don't like forest elves up in the mountains," Scott had what fWhip would call the most attractive smirk he's ever seen in his life on his face as he made himself comfy on the plush couch fWhip lately used more than the bed. To read on and avoid his advisors and aides.
He just chuckled at Scott's words. He was fully aware how much the elven Royal Council liked their king. He had a feeling Scott's older brother's marriage made them a bit less fond of Xornoth. "We can talk boring politics later, maybe bother my council into being nice to you," fWhip hummed as he settled himself in Scott's lap. He had no idea how to go about biting Scott but this seemed like the best position. And it had Scott blushing slightly so... a win. "Changed your mind?" he asked just to be sure, baring his fangs just a little.
"That's hot," Scott breathed, blushing even harder. "And no, I did not..."
At that fWhip grinned wider, nodded and whispered, "Pull my hair if I take too much," and bit Scott's neck. Letting his instincts lead him but not take over.
And it was damn hard to not let his instincts lead him. He never experienced something he could even compare to how good it felt to sink his fangs into something... someone alive. But even that bliss paled compared to the taste of blood hitting his tongue. Sweet and savoury at the same time. So warm and sticky. It was so hard to pull back when he felt a cold hand in his hair. The pull barely registered at the back of his barely-in-control mind. Licking what spilled out the small wounds as he pulled off Scott before properly pulling back.
Not that he really did that. Scott's hands grabbed his shirt, his coat was unworn since he last left the house, and pulled him into a hungry kiss. fWhip fought neither the pull nor Scott's ice-cold lips. He was dead, the inhuman cold radiating off of the elf did not bother him in the slightest. If anything it added to the kiss.
"Bed?" Scott asked after pulling fWhip back. Unfortunately, Scott still had to breathe. fWhip hummed and practically dragged Scott to his bed. It would finally have a good use...
To say fWhip's council wasn't too happy to see Scott catching fWhip up on what was happening outside Grimlands over breakfast. Plans for Rivendell to rejoin did not make them any less upset. Not that they had any say. They were there to help fWhip, not make decisions for him. They could be easily replaced.
