smile. like you used to...

☾  It was all my fault… Don’t look so sad. [Closed Lyon RP blog. Affiliated with FERP]

[lordalmightywindsock]

Something in the Wind | open

[theprincesdespair]

lordalmightywindsock:

The creature moved so slowly that Levin couldn’t understand why his partner seemed so… almost protective, of him. He was quick enough to dodge, no need for extra protection-

And then suddenly, for a brief moment, he’s off his feet, dragged back by the other mage to a safe distance. Once there, his mouth opened and closed in shock, but he didn’t argue, and he didn’t move as the man prepared his spell. If the hair on the back of his neck was just tingling before, it’s completely on end now; the energy from the tome was undeniably dark, and it’s really – deeply – unsettling.

The blast of dark magic completely obliterated the beast, and his partner was left panting and Levin was left gaping in shock. “That’s – that’s dark-“ he managed to squeak out, but now wasn’t the time to get all worked up about dark magic, not when there were skeletons pouring out of the woods towards them. He could question that later, when they weren’t, you know, possibly about to die.

Besides, the Loptous cult probably didn’t call upon Saints, did they?

With a deep breath, he pulled himself together as much as possible, and stepped forward, flashing the other mage a broad grin that showed more confidence than he felt. “’Course I got somethin’ fancy up my sleeve. I’m a bard.”

In truth, he just had speed, an Elwind tome, and holy blood; not that the latter would help too much here. If he hadn’t run away from home, if he had the Divine Wind Tome, Forseti… Well, then, he probably wouldn’t be here either, and he wouldn’t have to fight these things.

He hastily began chanting spell after spell, moving with the wind – but what good that would do, with so many enemies, and a tome that could only be used so many times… His voice shifted, from a spellchant to a prayer, to Forseti, Lord of Winds, if mine enemy is truly deserving of judgment, then rain down your justice with the wind…

Perhaps it’s just his imagination that the wind is swirling around him now, that Elwind’s blast seems more forceful than usual. At least the skeletons seem knocked off their feet, for now anyway. He hopes they don’t get up.

A bard? Lyon almost scoffed. And he seemed scared of Lyon’s dark magic on top of that. Did he have any idea the amount of knowledge Lyon carried because of his tomes? 

Still, Lyon couldn’t help but watch how his battle partner seemed to dance with the wind magic he cast, the Wights being pushed back while Lyon recovered from his spell. Finally, the monsters get knocked to the ground and Lyon finds enough energy to finish them off.

He waits a moment, carefully eyeing the forest’s edge for reinforcements, before accepting their victory. He lets out a long sigh and relaxes his shoulders. “That seems to be the last of them,” he says to the bard. “I thank you for your help fighting those beasts.”

[lordalmightywindsock]

Something in the Wind | open

[theprincesdespair]

lordalmightywindsock:

Well, okay, he kind of maybe deserved this stranger giving him dirty looks; he’d probably do the same if some random weirdo from the streets did the same thing to him. But the look turns to shock at something behind him, and Levin turns his head to see…

…Well, okay, he didn’t really know what that thing was, except it was huge and it had one eye. That’d definitely be cause for concern. The initial shock at seeing the creature causes him to freeze, until his Newfound Companion jerks him back towards reality, and he pulls Elwind from his sash in one fluid motion. “’Course I can fight!” he exclaims, blasting the beast with his own magic. The creature gives a pained noise at that; it seemed as though magic really had an effect on… whatever it was!

He’s almost too distracted by the fight to question what sort of magic this person was using, and what about it made the hair on his neck stand on end.

Almost.

Lyon scowled at the beast’s cry. It was low and it rumbled through the entire town. While his tome wasn’t Naglfar or Gleipnir, it was still one of the more powerful dark tomes available. He still cursed the fact that neither he nor this other mage wielded any light magic. It would certainly help them take the monster down a lot more easily. 

He did his best to keep his battle partner out of harm’s way, though; it was his fault that these things were roaming Magvel again, after all.

An idea suddenly popped into his head. He grabbed the mage by the back of his shirt and dragged him away from the cyclops to put some distance between them. Preparing a devastating spell would take a little time, but thankfully, these things moved slowly. “Stay back,” he ordered.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and focused all of his energy on his tome, the book lifting from his hands and floating in front of him. He muttered the ancient runes quickly as dark energy poured from the book into his palms, and once the spell was fully ready, Lyon blasted every ounce of the magic at the beast, completely obliterating it.

He was left panting and trying to gather himself, but unfortunately a brigade of Wights poured out of the woods behind the now-nonexistent cyclops. “Saints above,” he hissed as he prepared another spell. “I don’t think I have a second one of those in me,” he said to the other mage. “You got anything fancy up your sleeves?”

[theprincesdespair]

Grand Hero? Battle | Open

[theprincesdespair]

macedonking:

Ah, yes, Michalis thinks, the Summoner did mention we would be receiving someone new today… But, it wasn’t Michalis’s job to greet new arrivals, so he pondered Lyon’s question with a frown. Why was he here?

“You are newly arrived, are you not? And not from the usual way of summoning, so that must mean… Ah.” Michalis snaps suddenly, and smiles. He can only pray he’s not being too strange to the man. “Welcome to Askr, my friend. You must have been recovered from the most recent Grand Hero Battle.”

Michalis held out a hand. “You were being controlled, and were freed from the enemy’s shackles as you were defeated in battle. Trust me, it’s far less painless than you would imagine - I know from my own experience with it,” he says with a wry smile. “You end up here without any wounds that were incurred. I imagine that the last thing you remember is your defeat?”

“I must say, though,” Michalis wondered aloud suddenly, “you don’t seem like the usual types to get rounded up as one of the Grand Heroes. Typically those chosen have done dubious things in the past, or have taken pity on the enemy. I’ve… done some things I am not proud of, yes, and paid the price for it twice over. You seem quite normal to me.”

“Summoning?” Lyon echoed. Like how he’d conjured the demon? “And what is this... Askr? In all of the texts I’ve ever read, not once have I ever come across something called Askr.”

He shuffled uncomfortably at the mention of being controlled. Again. Though this time was significantly less his fault. But it was good to know he wasn’t the only one. “Did they make you fight the ones you love?” he asked, the vision of Ephraim’s spear rushing at him yet again playing over and over in his mind.

Lyon couldn’t help letting out a sarcastic laugh. “I’m the furthest thing from normal.” He absentmindedly rested a hand over his chest, on top of the old scar from Siegmund. “I’ve done horribly regrettable things that can never be undone. I’ve hurt the ones closest to me and broken their spirits and trust in people beyond repair. All just to save my people, and I didn’t even do that right.”

[theprincesdespair]

Grand Hero? Battle | Open

All Lyon remembered was being in a battle again, in a dark temple, accompanied by countless soldiers with armor he’d never seen before. They couldn’t be from Magvel. What was going on? And why was his head so clouded? It was similar to how he felt during the war. But that wasn’t possible, was it?

Before he could think much on it, the enemy forces were upon them. He thought he saw a familiar face amongst them, drawing their weapon and charging toward him, but- no, he wouldn’t. Not again. Please-

Next thing he knew, he was suddenly in a foreign castle, completely unscathed. He took in the new environment quickly and saw so many strangers around him. Just where was he? Was that all a dream?

He rushed to the person closest to him and tapped their shoulder, desperate for answers. “E-excuse me,” he said. “What is this place? How did I get here? What happened to me?”

[sinsations-art]

don’t forget to teach your units important vocabulary

[macedonking-deactivated20180824]

@theprincesdespair

[theprincesdespair]

Fun in the Sun | Ephraim & Lyon

For @restorationprince because he needs a damn vacation.

Ephraim always kept himself so busy with paperwork and managing both Renais and Grado. To say Lyon was surprised when he suggested a short getaway to the ocean was an understatement, but it sounded so nice. And time out of the castle could be good for both of them.

They found a private and unvisited section of the beach to keep Lyon out of view in case anyone were to pass by the area. Ephraim made sure there was plenty of shade close to the water. Not wanting too much exposure to the hot sun, Lyon said he wouldn’t leave the shade, but Ephraim pulled out a bottle of some white ointment. Growing up, Lyon had never spent much time outside, not even in the courtyard, so he’d never heard of such a substance. But Ephraim nearly swore on his life that applying it would protect his pale skin from being burned.

Ephraim offered to show him how it was used, and when he did, Lyon thought he brought the ointment so he had an excuse to touch every inch of him that was bare (not that he minded). Then, it was Lyon’s turn to rub it on Ephraim’s back, which he was more than willing to do.

Still, he was hesitant to go near the ocean, despite Ephraim’s insistence. While his physical health has been better since he came back, he had still never learned how to swim and had never been close to water any deeper than a fountain. He was content to sit on the beach and watch Ephraim swim. And show off. He would check to see if Lyon was looking at him before rising out of the water dramatically.

Lyon playfully rolled his eyes and smirked, but it got him up and walking towards the waves that crashed at his feet. He gave Ephraim a nervous smile as he took a few steps into the water, hoping Ephraim would come closer to the shore to join him.

[lordalmightywindsock]

Something in the Wind | open

There’s something ill on the wind tonight, something sour and stifling that closes in on him like a cage. The hair rises on the back of Levin’s neck as he hears it (listen, listen, warning, warning), and it takes an effort not to turn and flee on instinct. The winds weren’t supposed to feel like that.

Instead, he keeps walking, every part of him wound up like some tightly coiled spring. There’s no bounce in his step, no wide grin, no hum of a song - only silence, thick and threatening. It appears he’s not the only one to sense it, either; he passed through this town two days ago and it was bright and lively as any, but now all the townsfolk are hiding away behind closed doors and hushed whispers.

At least, almost everyone.

It’s at the edge of town that Levin sees them, that one singular person who seems to bounce along wholly unphased by the thick sense of dread that’s settled upon everyone else. The warning on the wind is only growing louder in his ears, and it’s almost in a fit of desperation that he launches himself towards them and taps their arm. “Hey!” he hisses, all senses on alert, “what are you doin’, don’t you sense it? There’s somethin’ not right goin’ on here-“

And then, before he can even finish his sentence, it is upon them.

[theprincesdespair]

The air in the town was tense, but Lyon wasn’t horribly bothered by it. After experiencing the dark atmosphere of Magvel during the war, he was no longer phased by quiet and dreary towns. What he wasn’t accustomed to, however, were strangers coming out of nowhere and touching his arm.

Lyon whips around to face the offender, his entire color scheme hurting his eyes, and also sees a massive cyclops heading toward them. Lyon stared at it, only slightly shocked, but with how ominous the town felt, it could have been much worse. 

I thought most of the monsters had vanished with the Demon.

Well, he was a capable mage, and hopefully his company had something up his sleeve, too. Lyon stepped forward, brandishing the black tome from his belt and launching powerful magic towards the beast. “So can you fight or will you just stand there?” he asked the stranger.

[theprincesdespair]

In Another Time | Lyon? & Ephraim

[theprincesdespair]

restorationprince:

Ephraim moved before he could think. He’d raged in silence for so long, and all of it bubbled at once to the surface. Lyon’s body was so easy, too easy to shove and pin against a tree, Ephraim’s hand fixed at his throat. 

“Don’t you dare threaten her,” he snarled, inches from a face still too familiar. “I killed you once – I killed Lyon once. Don’t think I won’t do it again.” 

There was still that chill of dread, that he could do it again, that he’d ever done it in the first place. But Ephraim had grown skilled at swallowing it. If it had to be done, he could do it. He could bear anything. 

His lips curled into a smirk. Finally, the tipping point. Perhaps if He played His hand right, He could get Ephraim to kill the boy right after He enters His new vessel, make all of his efforts for naught. Whatever He can do to break these thorn-in-His-side twins as much as He possibly can.

“At ease, King Ephraim,” He said calmly, voice strained by the hand on His throat. “So long as you keep your promise, no harm will befall her. Now unhand me.”

[theprincesdespair]

[theprincesdespair]

In Another Time | Lyon? & Ephraim

[theprincesdespair]

restorationprince:

Ephraim’s heart sank all at once. The demon hadn’t mentioned anything about the moon before. He couldn’t imagine spending another month like this. It was hard enough to imagine another day.

“No,” he said, rigid and tight as he’d been for what felt like ages. “It’s only going to get colder, and you can’t be seen in towns. You’ll freeze.” 

Lyon would freeze. Even though Ephraim hadn’t seen a single hopeful sign in so long, he still ached to believe there was something there worth saving. Some sliver of truth to all he’d been told, some hope that the happiness he’d finally found wasn’t a lie all along.

He didn’t believe in saints or gods anymore, but if any such power ever existed, maybe it would show him mercy so close to a site meant to be holy. 

“Besides, my sister will be searching for us. We won’t elude Renais’ knights for much longer. We can’t just stay idle.”

“Then we will set out for Grado,” He hissed in response to Ephraim’s resistance. “We’ll go to the castle. Surely, her people would be thrilled to see that their beloved prince is alive and well?”

And that pesky Eirika and her knights couldn’t just attack Him while they’re in the castle. Tensions must still be high from the war, and an assault would only drive a wedge through Grado and Renais’ fragile relations. Both Ephraim and Eirika had to know that.

Still, He had to make sure Ephraim would stay in line. He turned on His heel and looked over His shoulder at him. “We will head to Grado, and if your sister finds us and I suspect for even a second that you had anything to do with it, you will lose her and this boy in one fell swoop.”

[theprincesdespair]

Negotiations | Lyon? & Eirika

[theprincesdespair]

restorationprincess:

“Don’t say that,” Eirika insisted. The three of them belonged together. Didn’t Lyon know what it did to them, those years without him? 

“Ephraim has escaped now, and he’ll think of something. We’ll succeed this time, Lyon.” 

Her hands were busy holding her knife and keeping his wound covered, so she kissed the gathering tears out of his eyes. 

The door flew open and she jolted to see two guards standing in the doorway. Did Fomortiis call for them somehow? They took in the scene, the knife in Eirika’s hand, the blood over them both. 

Ephraim doesn’t have the resources we need now, though, Lyon almost said out loud, but he couldn’t tip off the demon. But Eirika was bright. Surely, if Lyon gave her a hint, she would know what to do, and if he acted quickly before he lost control again, he could spare her the same short-leash treatment Ephraim had received.

He jumped at the sound of his guards slamming his door open. As they mentally pieced together what happened, Lyon threw a protective arm around Eirika’s shoulders. “This isn’t what it looks like,” he said quickly. “An assassin came for Queen Eirika, but I intercepted the attack.”

He rose to his feet, knees shaking, but he pulled Eirika up with him and ushered her to the guards. “There are still tensions between Renais and Grado, it seems. Her safety is your top priority. Take her to my old chambers and keep her well protected. No one enters her room without her permission, not even myself. And she is free to wander the keep as she pleases as long as she is guarded. Do I make myself clear?”

The soldiers sputtered in protest. “But Yo-”

“That is an order.” Lyon faced Eirika one last time, feeling control of his body being wrestled from him, and took her hand to place a gentle kiss on her knuckles. “My dear Eirika, I am truly sorry for all of this. I hope your stay from here on out is comfortable. I will have clothes and amenities sent to your room.” He briefly flashed her a hardened look. “After you have settled from this ordeal, you should go down to the library and find ‘The Legend of the Five Heroes.’ I know we’ve heard the tale a hundred times, but that book in particular is one of my favorites.”

[theprincesdespair]

🍷 So it's really true then. You are back.

Lyon took the drink, hesitant at first, but took a sip anyway. He had vague memories of the man, and he obviously knew Lyon and, by the sounds of it, not the Lyon he was before the war. He looked like Queen Ismaire of Jehanna, another life that was lost because of his doing. So this must be-

“King Joshua,” Lyon greeted him gently. “It’s true, though I’m not sure how. I’m hoping to use this opportunity to make amends.”

[theprincesdespair]

fortunes-favors:

Joshua searched Lyon for any malice or subterfuge in his words, yet his usual harsh scrutiny was absent. Simply given Grado and Jehanna’s relations prior to the war, he didn’t know what the man was like before.

And though Grado had lead the charge against his home, still it was not Lyon - or the Demon, or whoever - that had done in his mother. He could not make sense of a man that he could not see through.

“Maybe we’re meeting for the first time really.” He says actually honest. Joshua had many adjustments of his own to make, and becoming familiar with Lyon might have to be another.

It was hard to put the past out of mind, but he might need to now. He gives a solemn nod before it twists to a wry smile.

“There might be hope for us. Just maybe.”

Lyon held Joshua’s gaze. Looking for signs of the demon, maybe? Not that Lyon could blame him. 

“So it seems,” he agreed. If he was to return to Grado’s throne, he had a lot of work to do with the other leaders of Magvel, but Joshua’s words gave him hope. With Ephraim and Eirika to vouch for him, maybe his efforts won’t be fruitless after all.

He gave Joshua a nod of his own and grinned. “We’ll just see what the future holds, then.”

[fireemblemtcg]

fecipher twitter, 30-11-2017: “Prince of Grado, Lyon” and “Demon-Stained Pure Heart, Lyon”

[Card Showcase] “I want to save the people… To save my dear family…!” A kindhearted wish from youth throws open a door long forbidden. Lyon, prince of the Grado Empire, engages in study of the Sacred Stone that seals the Demon King and attains power beyond what ordinary men can know. His sacred desires are twisted into the form of an evil beyond compare, bringing a grave tragedy to the land. (Illust. Setsu)

Card stats/skills:

B11-046N Prince of Grado, Lyon Shaman/Cost1 Purple/Male/Tome 30ATK/20SUPP/1-2RNG

“I’m… My name is Lyon. Uh-huh. That’s me… The son of the emperor.”

Study of the Sacred Stone [ACT] [ONCE PER TURN] If you have more than 1 other <Purple> ally, choose one of your orbs and look at its face

[ATK] Darkness Emblem [SUPP] If your opponent has 5 or more cards in their hand, your enemy chooses one card from their hand and places it in the Retreat Area.

Illust. Setsu

B11-045R Demon-Stained Pure Heart, Lyon Necromancer/Cost4(3) Purple/Male/Tome 60ATK/0SUPP/1-2RNG

“I am the Demon King… I know nothing of human frailty. I am supreme…”

Forbidden Summoning [ACT] [ONCE PER TURN] [FLIP 2] Choose up to 1 <Monster> card with a deployment cost of 3 or less from your deck, and deploy it. Afterward, shuffle your deck.

Pulse of the Demon King [ALWAYS] For each <Monster> unit name type on the battlefield, this unit gains +10 attack.

Shattered Sacred Stone [TRIGGER] When this unit’s attack destroys the opponent’s lord, until the end of the turn, all <Monster> allies gain +10 attack.

Illust. Setsu

More Fire Emblem Cipher Series 11 translations!

[theprincesdespair]

{HELLO NEW ICON I JUST SPENT 10 MINUTES CHASING MY DUMB DOG AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD THEN CAME BACK TO THIS DISCOVERY AND I DON’T CARE WHAT HAPPENS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE}

[theprincesdespair]

Negotiations | Lyon? & Eirika

[theprincesdespair]

restorationprincess:

The look in his eyes changed entirely: gentle again, horrified, in pain– 

Eirika went boneless. Lyon – it was Lyon, now – was able to shove her off and sit up, and she could only stare at the knife wedged into his shoulder and the stain spreading out from it. 

“Lyon,” she gasped back before she found the strength to move. She hurried for him and pried the blade out, bracing him by the uninjured shoulder. (Because she couldn’t bear the sight, couldn’t bear to hurt him; but she needed her weapon back, too.) Tears spilled down her face. 

“Lyon – Lyon, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to do…” 

She was supposed to kill him, but how could she think of her dearest friend as a vessel – especially when he was present now, and injured and so frightened, and it was all her fault? She pressed a hand over the wound to staunch it, coating her palm at once in his blood. She wanted to be sick. 

“H-He’s so cruel…how can I…?”  

Lyon flinched when Eirika reached for his wound to cover it. It stung, but the pain of one of his best friends being forced into stabbing him again hurt worse. Even though tears formed in his own eyes, he wiped Eirika’s face with his shaking hands. 

“Eirika, please don’t apologize,” he said, voice quivering. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I was so stupid. I deserve this.”

He rested a hand over Eirika’s. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want either of you involved in this, but he resurfaced when I was with Ephraim and I was powerless to do anything.” It was a pathetic explanation, but he didn’t know how much time he had before the demon took control again. “I should have never come back.”

[theprincesdespair]

In Another Time | Lyon? & Ephraim

[theprincesdespair]

restorationprince:

It was cold. They couldn’t just leave the fire burning freely all night, but Ephraim had little else to offer.

“Stay close to me,” he said. And without another word, he wrapped the cloak around both of them, tucking his body close to offer at least his own body heat. It was too much like what he’d had before to be comfortable, and he doubted he’d be able to sleep much at all like this. But if he was ever to get Lyon back, he couldn’t allow this body to deteriorate. 

They continued in the same pattern until Ephraim lost track of the days. The journey wore on him, but he spoke less and less each day, until his dialogue with the demon was reduced to simple commands, as if the creature delighted in straining Lyon’s form: Eat. Wash up. Rest. He learned that replying to taunts with anger only worsened them, and regained the demeanor he remembered so well from the end of the war: hard, cold, with a focused rage he could only spare for battle. 

He’d avoided most outposts, lest some messenger spot them. By now, Eirika had to be looking for him. He knew his letter wouldn’t keep her in the first place, but she really had to be worried by now. He’d have to try to send her more word, at least another apology. 

On an early morning, just at the cusp of winter, they reached the location Ephraim had in mind. It was just south of Rausten’s capital, so as not to alert the demon to his plans. Perhaps it would work. He could hope. 

“It’s just a little further to the city,” he said. “The stone’s heavily guarded. I don’t know how we’ll retrieve it yet.” 

They wouldn’t, if he had his way. He’d pull the demon into the Gate he’d found nearby, and take whatever happened to him as a result. 

Ephraim only grew colder as the days past, and He absolutely delighted in watching it happen. The mighty king of Renais snapped orders at Him whenever He pushed this body to its limits and even stopped responding to His tormenting, no matter how vicious. 

But even more delightful than that was listening to the boy within slowly giving up as well, like watching the one he loved do the same was too much to bear. Perhaps if He played His hand right, He and His new vessel could easily get rid of them both. 

They finally arrived in Rausten. He hummed in thought. Of course the stone would be well guarded; it was the last one keeping His full power contained. 

“Well, then, let’s fall back for now,” He said. “I do not wish to enter the castle and attempt to get the stone until I am ready. We just missed the full moon and I have not yet selected a vessel. Taking the stone and keeping it in my possession until then would be too risky, don’t you agree?”

[theprincesdespair]

Negotiations | Lyon? & Eirika

[theprincesdespair]

restorationprincess:

“I am not at your –”

He cut her off by grabbing her jaw. It hurt. Was Lyon’s hand really that strong on its own? 

Fear flashed down her spine in reflex, but coupled with Valter’s name, it surged into panic. Eirika charged forward, knocking them both hard to the ground, fumbling for the knife while He struggled. 

(It was one thing to suspect, but to hear Him say it aloud – in Lyon’s voice – !) 

With a defiant shout, she stabbed down. 

He let out a growl when His back hit the ground and fought the girl, but she had the advantage of towering over Him and damn this body for being so weak. He tried to wrestle the dagger out of her hand, but He smirked when He realized she was really going to go through with it, a sinister gleam in His eyes. The plan formed in His head immediately, a way to hurt everyone. 

And just like He had before, just like the last time one of these twins resolved to use their weapon on the boy...

He let go.

The first thing Lyon felt was the blade plunging into his left shoulder. For a moment, he just lied still and stared up at Eirika, too stunned to move. This couldn’t possibly be happening again. 

Only the commotion Eirika caused-the fear of guards coming into Lyon’s chambers and seeing Eirika on top of him with a knife in his chest-willed Lyon the strength to shove her off of him, away from Him, and force himself into a sitting position. He couldn’t find it in him to say anything, his breathing rapid from the panic.

“Eirika, I-” was all he could gasp. He couldn’t even look at her.