An Honorable Knight

I am Kieron Noel, Knight of Hyrule. If there's something you wish from me, please make it clear. As any other Knight, I have little time for fooling around.

[robed-bones]

Outreach || The Nameless Garo and Kieron

[robed-bones]

For half a moment there was something just shy of cheeky in the Garo’s eyes and posture, that little bit of life flitting temporarily back into the undead fighter. “We ahre one sstep ahhead of you, Kierron, asss we often sseem to be.”

“We hhave been whorking diligently in thhe passt monthss to gauge the possitions of sseveral figuress of note,” it explained patiently, reverting back to its soulless soldier’s stance and tone. “Youhr movement hass more power behhind it thhan you ahre aware, but it iss a scattered powerr. We hhave decided, for the purposess of both sstrength and ssafety, that it isss time that changed.”

"We are conffident, ghiven a ffew more weeks’ effohrt, you shhall find yousself whith quihhte the lisst of aliess," it concluded. "I asssure you the Oracless will not be thhe mosst surprissing names upon it.”

“Now, it sseems," it concluded, crossing its glove-and-bandage-covered arms in a subtle mockery of a firm and intimidating stance as that spark of personality came inching back, "thhat you forhget our termss. Ssecrets fohr ssecretss, and thisss one shhhall be vehry expenssive.”

[thesagelyknight]

He listened patiently, turning over the words his comrade was saying to him in his head. "Well, you always seem to be one step ahead of me, really. I'm starting to worry, actually. Maybe I'm a lot slower than I thought I was." He said with a half-grin.

"Now now, friend. Don't make such hefty promises quite yet! I'll have to see the list to believe it, and perhaps speak with a few of them. Not that I doubt your abilities-- far from it. It's just incredibly risky for me to approach any surprising allies." He clasped his hands over his chest, trying to look innocent.

"Truthfully my friend, I don't have any secrets worth bartering--well, I do, of course, but I think I might ask you to wait a bit. I'm sure in the future I'll make it worth your while. That is the nature of rebellion, isn't it?" He gave a charming smile, beaming at the Garo. Hopefully it'd be enough, if it wasn't, it didn't especially matter. He had enough secrets to go around, no doubt.

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Power Puff Knights (Ives, Kieron, Anax)

[the-false-knight-blog]

“Monster? What kind of monster?” Anax’s brow furrowed. He hated being out of the loop. They must really be keeping this one under wraps. “Come off it, Ivesy, what do they have you—”

Anax dropped his smirk at the list of names. Ten knights. He’d once commanded entire armies. Losing ten humans was a laughable number compared to his own past losses however many centuries ago.

But no. Thinking that way was dangerous. The original Anax would have mourned ten lives, and so he did.

He almost believed it himself.

Anax was quiet for a long time, his face uncharacteristically bleak. Then he said softly, “I almost married Caswell’s sister. And Hammond, he was my cousin on Mother’s side.” Hammond he’d actually liked. Caswell’s sister, not so much. “You’re saying they’re all dead? Ten knights in their prime taken down by a monster?”

Humans were so fragile. Regardless, a monster was a remarkably clumsy way to attempt an assassination. Most people would use a knife or a rope and be done with it.

Anax paced a moment before he moved to lean against the wall with his shoulder. He passed a hand over his mouth agitatedly and asked, “Is the monster dead? Is it loose? Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?” Unbidden, he glanced to Kieron before directing his attention back to the prince. “And more importantly, Ives, are you all right? And I don’t mean the injuries. Are you all right?”

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Ives’ brow creased as Larkos recalled memories, his gut twisting as he averted his gaze, trying to focus on Kieron’s question. War, huh? He shuddered to think what the losses would be like if the gerudo had more of those monsters at their command. “I’m not sure,” Ives exhaled, his voice lower. “Though I can’t imagine this will go over well. The king nearly died, he’s been maimed.” Anax’s curiosity never missed a beat, question after question that Ives struggled to answer in time before the next one dropped from the man’s lips. “No— It’s not loose, we trapped it— it’s better to keep it quiet for now, less we start a panic—” he stopped short, his brow creasing again. His default frown quickly overtook the torn expression as his jaw tightened. Anax was too kind for his own good.

"I’m fine," he lied, his face expressionless and stony as ever as he gave the man a short nod. He’d see through that, they both would, but Ives wasn’t ready to fall apart in such a piteous state. It wouldn’t do anyone a spot of good now. "I’ll need you to handle some things for me until they let me out of this confounded bed, though." His frown twitched into a grimace. How many bones had he broken exactly? "Be my voice for a bit. I should be better in a day or so." 

[thesagelyknight]

Ives was right-- there was no way he could report on something like this, and neither would the Times. It would be squashed until the time was right, but not forgotten. When Anax glanced at him, he gave him a stern look. They'd speak later, no doubt, when it was the two of them.

He wanted to joke, but the second he opened his mouth the words seemed to die in his throat. A few tries later he could finally speak. "Might be a bit longer than a day, Ives. I supposed you're the unlucky one, Anax, running around nonstop." He gave Anax a slight smirk. "It'll be good for you, I'm sure."

He looked away again, seeming to be fixated on whatever was outside. "Is there anything you have for me to do, Ives? Although no matter what, I'd like to go-" He paused a bit, feeling a tightness in his chest. "-deal with it elsewhere." He continued looking out the window.

If he hadn't been in the hospital, he had no doubt he would have been in there with Ives. If ten knights that had been his comrades through most of his life hadn't been lucky enough to survive, he--recently injured-- would have been doomed as well.

[robed-bones]

Outreach || The Nameless Garo and Kieron

[robed-bones]

Kieron’s grin was one of the rare occasions on which the nameless one felt that vague sensation of lightness it had forgotten the name for so long ago, if only momentarily. The levity faded quickly, that brief sliver of personality retreating from the dutiful shell of a warrior to make way for the matter at hand.

For as long as they had dealt with him the Garo warriors knew Kieron to be good on his word, and so it led with its own secret before requesting one he knew.

“It isss not a vissit of pleassure." It bowed its head slightly. "Thhe Oracle of Ages isss dead.”

It allowed only a moment for the news to sink in before continuing. “The girl wass reported to be blind, and abssent of mind, in the prior monthss. The church was ever sswift to resst the blame upon the country’ss leasst favored citizenss." It shifted its stance. "We exphect no lesss from thiss. We trusst you to take stepss to warn those vulnerable to the fallhout. Do sso before the church’s sstatement may emerge.”

It paused momentarily, eyes wandering as it thought, then added, “We alsso advise you to try to keep a tight tongue rhegarding whhat you know. A ssuspected information leak in the chhurch could further thin the icsse beneath the feet of an individual of sssignificance." Its eyes focused on him again, and it added with emphasis, "To bothh of uss.”

Its report done, the undead fell silent for a long moment, allowing the knight to take in the information it had given. After that, it inclined its head, looking at him expectantly for response and reciprocation—that was, after all, how these meetings always went.

[thesagelyknight]

When it was reported that the Oracle of Ages was dead he let out a long exhale of air, like he was deflating. Killing their own pawns? Even ones that had gone insane? It seemed a bit of a risk, given how well received the girls had been. The populace seemed to have a weakness for pretty girls. Perhaps that was why the Times had stayed silent.

He took another breath and deflated again, thinking. "Come now my friend, I know better than to report on news that hasn't been made news. If I ever let thing spill, it means I'm at the end of my rope regardless." He said with a wide smile, eyes glancing towards the blue violets that sat in a vase apart from the others.

He rubbed his chin, remembering he needed to shave in the morning. He was trying to think of some request, but the only thing he could think of could be exceptionally dangerous.

"After losing their dear sister, I imagine the other two Oracles should be..distressed, to say the least. If you can manage it--and it isn't dangerous, perhaps you should feel for what their position is on all these recent happenings. It's a long shot, but it'd be in the rebellions favor to create an alliance. And if the church killed one-- like I'm sure they did, the other two aren't safe."

He tried to think of the Oracle Nayru--a beautiful woman. If it wasn't for his persuasion and the fact she was far out of his league perhaps he would have flirted with her once. And the other two-- Helena would always be Haeyin's little sister to him, yelling and getting into fights. And Farore...he frowned slightly to himself. The last time they'd spoke was over breakfast. It felt like ages ago, forever ago.

"Yes, I think contacting the remaining two is in order. What do you think?" He laid back on the bed, folding his hands over his stomach.

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Power Puff Knights (Ives, Kieron, Anax)

[the-false-knight-blog]

Anax swept into the hospital with a quiet urgency. He’d been pulled away from his training sessions and told that it was imperative that he see the prince at the hospital, but no one would elaborate any further. He asked to be directed to where Ives was staying, and was told that the prince was not to be disturbed.

Annoyed, he tapped the sigil on his gilded armor. “Knight,” he reminded. “The prince sent for me. Now where is he?”

He was told to leave his spear and other weapons behind, and then directed into a private room where his knight commander lay battered and broken on a hospital bed. Kieron was in the room also, naturally. He had certainly made a remarkable recovery, Anax noted wryly, undoubtedly spurred by the news that Ives had been injured. He wondered what had happened to call for hospitalization.

And then he got a good look at the prince’s face. Anax’s mouth fell open with a wince.

“By the Three, Ivesy, you look atrocious,” he burst out. He crossed the room in two strides and leaned over to examine Ives’ bruised face with an appalled expression. His hand cupped the prince’s chin and his voice was soft as his eyes scanned his features. “Oh, fuck, that’s brutal, champ. And you’re supposed to be the pretty one .” As an aside, he added to the other man in the room, “You still look great though, Kie, good to see you.”

Anax loosed his hold on Ives’ face and crossed his arms. “What’s happened? No one’s telling me anything. Something big, clearly, to land you in here looking like that.” His eyes narrowed. “And why are you more melancholy than usual?”

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

His chest felt ice cold at the news that Ganondorf was nearby, rage branching through his lungs like frost. His eyes flashed as they glanced back at the man, his jaw tightening to an unbearable point as he murmured quietly, “Why is he being treated? He doesn’t deserve—“

Ives winced at the mention of Desmond’s name. Throat tight, he felt his chest freezing with another guilt-ridden shudder as he dropped his head more into his hand in what he’d hoped hid his expression from Kieron. “I fucked up, Kie.. They’re all dea—“

That’s when the door flew open again, Ives instantly drew up again, wincing from the sudden movement as Anax strode in.

Always lighthearted, it was almost cruel how innocent their friend was to the situation at hand. Painfully, he remembered once again how long they’d all known each other and how long they’d known the men lying lifelessly in the morgue.

 “Monster,” Ives said vaguely, not entirely ready to spread the rumors of Ganondorf at this time. “Someone tried to assassinate the king. We’ve never fought something like that before.” He hesitated, eyes flicking to Kieron’s wearily. What was the point in sugarcoating it? It wouldn’t bring them back now.

“We lost ten,” he said finally, averting his eyes as he mentally recalled the bloodied faces from the treaty room. Each one had been engrained in his mind. Gods he’d been so stupid. “Fletcher, Alduos, Caswell, Goswick..” Another painful tremor vibrated in his chest. “Hammond.. Jenkin, Stocks… T..Truscott.. Winters… And Perry..” 

[thesagelyknight]

Kieron was about to speak again when Anax walked in, and he closed his mouth. There was no sense in trying to lessen it with words, nothing would be able to comfort the man now.

He gave a slight smirk to Anax. "I suppose I'll have to take over as the pretty one, then. It's good to see you too."

All humor was removed from Kierons' features when the names were listed, and he couldn't keep himself from standing up to pace the room. Two of the names were his men, so to speak. He knew at least, that losing them would explain his pacing. He closed his eyes, trying to force out memories of them all as children. Kieron had a close friend group, of course, but these were men he'd known. Either grew up with, or looked up to.

It was like finding out about the murdered church guards all over again, only this time it wasn't his father running around, but Sir Desmond.

He wanted to kick something, he wanted to strangle someone. Wasn't Ganondorf the one that had extended an invitation to the embassy? Fuck-- he had to have dodged a bullet there by denying it. It wouldn't have looked good to be associated with someone who would be a knight-slayer a little ways down the line.

"Monsters are unheard of up here." Kieron said, hoping his mouth running would keep his mind from wandering. "Well, uncivilized monsters. What do you think the King is going to do about this? War, finally?" He asked, turning to the two of them. He glanced at Anax, but not too long. No point in making it look strange now.

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Power Puff Knights (Ives, Kieron, Anax)

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Kieron was just as upset as Ives over Fletcher’s death but seemed just as determined to keep his emotions in check while there were more pressing matters to discuss. Guilt stitched in the prince’s chest amidst all the tender fractures; Fletcher was only one of the men who died. How was he going to explain that many men dying under his command? Even if Kieron could forgive him, the families of his friends would not be as merciful, let alone himself.

“Why did this happen?”

Why indeed? Ives’ head tipped back on the pillow, the stretch sending a smarting pain through his shattered collarbone—gods he’d almost forgotten about it. He lifted his hand to pull back the bandages curiously to inspect the damage and grimace at the sight of his skin: red, puffy and stretched over the cracked and jutting bone. He let his hand slip away, concealing the contusion again before speaking once more. “I know very little unfortunately.. That’s.. that’s why I need to speak to Helen—Din.” He shook his head slowly, his brow creasing as the remorse returned at full force. “We heard the disturbance of that monster attacking the king. I don’t understand it myself—Ganondorf was already… gone? Changed?—by the time we got there.”

 “We weren’t prepared—I couldn’t kill it—“ The knight pressed his palm to his mouth, rubbing away indentations that had begun to form on his chin. He forced the deep breath this time, almost convivial to the searing pain that racked him. He deserved that, didn’t he? After all, he’d only managed to further the beasts rage in his stupidity which led to the deaths of so many good men. “Din was there before me,” he said finally, his voice muffled behind the hand at his mouth. “I’ll know more when I speak with her..”

[thesagelyknight]

Kieron clasped his hands and looked darkly down at the floor. Din seemed awfully involved in this--and hadn't his intelligence reported that she had been seen at the embassy twice? Not that it mattered-- Din was just like the knights in a way, although most of his members of her as a child involved the little girl shouting at them. He didn't want to think of her in the light, but perhaps in the future she was someone he'd have to contact--or send someone to speak with her.

He chose his words carefully. "I'm sure Haeyin would be pissed to know his little sister was in danger. I've already sent someone to get her, although considering recent events she might be unavailable."

He frowned thinking, looking at Ives. Surely he was so injured that he couldn't get up, right? "I'm certain you'll have another chance. Nobody is talking about it, but Ganondorf was brought to the hospital and is under the most serious looking guard I've ever seen, all armed to the teeth. Lena managed all that--having him brought here. Between her and Desmond, they're skittering around like ants. I don't think I've ever seen the old man so emotional. Or as emotional as he gets." Kieron rubbed his face, almost regretting speaking about Desmond. Kieron knew why the old knight was running around so much. Two of the deceased knights had been friends of his son, and Goddesses knew the man had taught the rest of the younger ones.

It really was like losing family, and Kieron had to look away again. "I don't think we've ever had anything this bad happen to us."

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Power Puff Knights (Ives, Kieron, Anax)

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

“It was..” Ives continued to stare at his hands, his brow creasing softly as the image of the beast flashed in his mind. His hand shook as he raked it through his hair, finding that at some point his crown had been removed, or maybe he’d lost it while fighting. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, instinctively taking a deep breath and coughing painfully as agony wracked his sides.

“D-dammit—“ he swore, doubling over a bit on the bed while glaring at nothing in particular as he willed the heat to leave his eyes. “It was some kind of monster,” he muttered quickly, glancing warily at the door. “It.. Hele—Din called it ‘Ganondorf’ but…” The prince sat back again with labored breaths, sweat beading his brow from the effort of moving. He shook his head with another stiff swallow. “That’s impossible.”

His green eyes flicked back to the man, a grimace tugging on the corners of his mouth. “It was like a boar maybe..” He hesitated before continuing, his eyes averting to the window drapes. “But it tore Fletcher in half like he was nothing.”

[thesagelyknight]

It hurt Kierons' heart to see Ives this injured. It hurt him to see the man struggling so much. His first instinct was to want to ease Ives' pain and make the person who hurt him pay, but he'd long since accepted that there would always be someone who hurt Ives that he wouldn't be able to make suffer.

He frowned as well at the comment about Ganondorf. What kind of magic could make a man into a monster? He couldn't remember any knowledge of the man having magic, but the Gerudo were always a mystery in the end. Was this just one more mystery? "It sounds impossible, but so does a giant boar being in the castle and that clearly happened." Kieron murmured.

The news about Fletcher made his eyes sting slightly, and Kieron was forced to turn away from Ives in order to keep at least some of his dignity. Fletcher had been someone they'd grown up with-- Goddesses knew he was a bit daft and easily pressured as a boy. Kieron and Anaxander had dared him once-- to eat a beetle. He'd wanted to hang out with their little group so much he did it.

Fletcher, who had a wife and a little girl at home. Kieron brought his hand up to cover his face, rubbing his eyes furiously. He took a sharp intake of air before recovering as best he could.

Kieron knew Ganondorf was in there--the hospital. In one of the far rooms, with guards stationed outside. Guards with rifles. Kieron had been confused as to why they needed such powerful guns to guard a man that seemed near-death when he came in, but now he understood.

Kieron turned to Ives and knew it wasn't time to reveal that. Kieron himself wanted to storm through the hospital-- if Ives knew, nothing but death would stop him from exacting revenge.

"Why did this happen?" He asked, shaking his head slightly in disbelief.

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Power Puff Knights (Ives, Kieron, Anax)

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Ives blinked twice, a dumb expression settling on his face as the familiar voice of his lover replied to him. He stared at Kieron blankly, unable to find his voice as the man smoothed his hair. The binding on his chest felt tighter as something swelled in the middle of it and his throat constricted painfully. He was grateful for the moments between when Kieron left his side and spoke to the guard. It gave him a moment to take a gulp of air and release the shudder that had been building in his chest. Ives realized again that it was far too easy to fall apart around Kieron.

The man returned and Ives kept his eyes on the blankets, dropping his hand into his lap again as he tried to find his words. The door had been shut; it should have been safe enough.

“I…” he began, finding out very quickly that he had no idea how to explain. A quick puff of air escaped him, causing him to wince as his ribcage protested. He grit his teeth and admitted dryly, “I don’t know where to begin, honestly. I’ve never seen something like that before.”

[thesagelyknight]

Kierons' eyebrows raised, trying to imagine what his friend must have seen. "Well, you can begin by telling me what it was?" He said softly, moving so he was sitting mostly on the bed.

He felt badly, but finding out what had happened appealed to the Sage editor in him. The King had also been brought in, barely hanging on it seems, missing a leg. Whatever had happened, it was big and being kept secret.

"And then from there we can talk about what happened afterwards, step by step if it helps. Everything I've heard thus far has been choppy at best. None of that has been good." He spoke equally softly at that. Knights had been brought in injured, but even more had been sent immediately to the morgue.

It had been odd that they the ones that had brought the knights in hadn't talked about it, but he imagined they'd been ordered by someone, perhaps Ives' himself. Curiosity gnawed at his insides about it, and a great deal of dread.

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Power Puff Knights (Ives, Kieron, Anax)

There were a few things Ives was vaguely aware of when he finally awoke. One, he was in the hospital. Two, someone had taken the liberty of removing his shirt and binding him in tight bandages to stabilize the numerous fractures he’d suffered. Three, everything hurt like hell.

He sucked air through his teeth, the sudden gasp pressing his lungs against the contusions of his bones and sending a searing pain through him. “F-uck—“ His eyelids fluttered reluctantly against the brightness of the room as he tried to gather his fragmented memory. He’d dreamed he’d been fighting a great beast—The king bleeding out while a great paw crushed the knight into the tiled floor of the treaty room—hadn’t Din been there as well? He loosely recalled her shouting to Ganondorf—

No, that was definitely not a dream, although the prince could still not for the life of him figure out how Ganondorf and that creature could have been the same thing. He grit his teeth and struggled to push himself up in a sitting position, only managing to grunt tenderly and hoist himself a little more propped up against the pillows at his back. He blinked wearily, forcing his vision to focus on the men that stood guard outside the door—another at his bedside.

He sighed (painfully) and lifted his good arm to pinch the skin between his brows, trying to clear his migraine by willpower alone. “S-end for Lark-os,” He spoke to the figure at his side blindly, voice croaking through his order and hardly sounding authoritative in his decommissioned state. “Hh..I’ll need to sp-eak with the Oracle, too, when she’s available.” 

[thesagelyknight]

"You're not even going to say hello? I'm hurt, Ives." Kieron said, sitting in an armchair placed in the room for visitors. He was no longer in the hospital dress, instead he was back in his normal clothes. Hearing that Ives had come in brutally injured had caused him to essentially jump out of bed and get dressed. The nurses were luckily too concerned over the King and the Prince to tease him for using his injuries as an excuse to skip work. Although he'd had plenty of reasons to stay in the hospital. One of the reasons was that he had no damned idea what to do with all those flowers. At least they'd make his apartment smell good.

He stood up, making his way over to the bed. "Anax and Lena, then?" He asked, brushing hair out of Ives' face. He wanted to joke, but every time he saw the mans' labored breathing humor was plucked from his tongue. "I'll have someone grab for Anax now." He stood up, going to the door and speaking with one of the men standing outside before he shut the door again and went to sit on the end of the bed.

"Ives, what the hell happened to you? I can't even fathom what did this to you." He said dryly, wanting to reach a hand out to hold the mans' but choosing not to quite yet. With the chance of a nurse coming through the door at any moment, it wasn't something worth risking right now.

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Haphazard Visitor | Kieron & Ives

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Ives sighed heavily, letting the breath escape from his nostrils as he returned the kiss urgently, holding his face to keep the man there longer before he disappointingly broke it to speak. He eyed the scar with heavy lids, a frown weighing on his lips. “Its fine,” he grumbled, “Not the scar, the other thing—it’s in the past.” He rolled his shoulder again, not entirely willing to recall the argument they’d had when his engagement had been announced. 

“I’ll get used to the scar, too. Maybe.”

His thumb hesitantly ran down the length of Kieron’s cheek and his brows furrowed in time. Even without the injury, it’d been damn near impossible for them to meet away from work—away from eyes—and yet still there were those who knew. How long could they keep this up?

His stomach clenched and he swallowed to calm it, his face screwing up in a look of remorse as he kissed him roughly again without explanation. The prince held that kiss longer; repeatedly reminding himself to be gentle with the still-healing laceration. His lips parted and he sighed again, raggedly this time, and let his forehead rest against his without opening his eyes. 

[thesagelyknight]

Kieron returned the kiss, trying not to wince at the roughness. It was fine, after all, hadn't he missed Ives? A little pain was nothing compared to the feel of the other mans' lips, or his body against him.

He couldn't help but smile as Ives sighed as he rested his forehead against Kierons'. Moments like this, Kieron could almost forget where they were, pretend they were teenagers again. It was definitely a sweet dream, one that kept him going through hard times.

"You know, I've never been with a married man before." Kieron spoke, only breaking the comfortable silence for a moment, and only because he'd been waiting days to finally use that joke. He grinned as widely as he could, clearly thinking of mischief. It has hard not to laugh at his own joke, although he was sure Ives wouldn't be as thrilled about it as he was.

Finally he let out a dumb "Heh heh heh heh." Hoping the man wouldn't think too badly of him for making such a bad joke.

[robed-bones]

Outreach || The Nameless Garo and Kieron

The Garo Warriors’ spy network was truly something to be applauded, for the very reason that only a select few would ever know to do so. They were a perfect secret, the very name of Garo relegated to a lost legend to the scholarly and even less to everyone else. None ever identified a Garo unless the Garo in question wished it, and they worked very, very hard to keep it that way.

Thus, sneaking into public places was not something the spies ever made a habit of.

Contacts like these were easily the most difficult part of the nameless one’s position, but given the situation the Sage editor had found himself in, it had been deemed a necessary risk. The second such ‘necessary risk’ within the week for the spies, in fact—escalating tensions never made their jobs any easier.

In through the nearest access point (a narrow window), find out if there’s unmonitored ground (there was hardly any room under the floorboards, but the rafters were high and dark), get as close to the target as possible (right over the knight’s bed seemed close until one factored in the 15 foot exposed drop, and the only walls to speak of were curtains), proceed with caution (pieces of furniture cast such lovely shadows against the outside wall in the dead of night).

It regarded Kieron from the foot of the bed for a moment before acting, for it hated waking people up. Even those who knew the Garo as allies usually yelled. Could it still make a throat-clearing noise? Never a better time to try.

It came out sounding more like a choked rasp (which was somewhat the standard for anything the spy said), but it served. Loud enough to wake Kieron, not nearly loud enough to alert anyone else.

It waited for the knight’s wakefulness and attention before speaking, examining him coolly with lit green eyes and inclining its head ever so slightly.

“If it’ss any consssolatiohn,” it rasped, lifting a hand to gesture vaguely at its old ally’s new scar as something that might have been amusement glinted in those ghostly eyes, “You’re ssstill thhe pretty ohne.”

[thesagelyknight]

Kierons' bruises had continued to make rest uncomfortable, even though he was beyond the the point where the nurses were worried. There had been plenty of jokes now-- of how the young man was only there to play hooky instead of being hurt. Only the ghastly bruises and the dizziness marked that he was still hurt. And the healing gash, of course.

Being uncomfortable, it didn't take much to wake the knight up, not that it had before. He'd drawn a sword at less than a cough before. But there he was, without a sword. Luckily his visitor this time was friendly. He winced, holding his middle as he sat up a little too quickly.

Not many would be so relieved to see a Garo, but the familar face(or lack thereof) made the knights' shoulders relax. Paired with the smartass remark, Kieron couldn't help but grin, the scarring allowing him to at least do that now.

"Hey now," He whispered, knowing that despite having his own room, if a nurse heard him talking they'd check on him, "I'm sure you're incredibly handsome for a Garo. Don't knock your own looks." He said, giving a good-natured chuckle before leaning forward slightly.

"To what do I owe this visit, my friend?" He asked, tone still remaining jovial despite what was most likely talk of business.

[thesagelyknight]

At the Hospital || Jasdaë and Kieron

[jasdae-isleen-deactivated201503]

Jasdaë sighed and crossed her arms, turning away from the flowers at his suddenly solemn tone. What was it that made Hylian knights so deadly serious? Their training must break them like horses. 

Her voice was careless even though her face was disapproving. “As you say, Sir Knight. Far be it from me to endanger an upstanding citizen such as yourself.” She said upstanding citizen like it was an insult. “I’ll relay your regretful declination to my king. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

She clasped her hands behind her back and rocked on her heels slightly. “Is there anything you need to make your stay more comfortable?” Her eyes swept the room wryly. “More flowers, perhaps? If not, I think I’ll be going.”

[thesagelyknight]

He smiled, going back to looking good humored gain. "I apologize, again. I wish I could give you more noble reasoning than protecting my own ass, of course."

He gave a half smile at her comment about the flowers, going through his memories of what meant what. "Apple blossom, fern, and freesia, if you're getting me flowers, my dear." He spoke, hoping they were close enough to the meaning he was conveying. Friends in secret, something he didn't mind, as he was friends with plenty of people on the down low.

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Haphazard Visitor | Kieron & Ives

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Ives cocked an eyebrow at him before glancing at the chair next to the bed. He paused and then gave it a justified kick before nodding to him again as if he’d fulfilled an unspoken order. “I suppose I’ll have to wage a war on furniture. It’ll be my first duty as king.” He tried to smile at that but felt his shoulders grow heavy instead.

He swallowed; combing a hand through his hair (effectively tangling his fingers in the curls) as he finally mustered the nerve to sit on the edge of the bed. He kept his back to Kieron for a moment, rubbing his mouth while trying to wipe the apprehension on his face. That hospital room felt dangerous.

At Kieron’s next quip, he turned to him, scowling in what was going to be admonishment but his lip twitched upwards at the wiggle of the other man’ brow. Dammit. His cheeks felt a bit warmer as he tried to keep his frown, giving him another once over. “It looks far too menacing on you. At least you won’t need that absurd black armor anymore after this.”

Kieron’s arms were still open and the prince eyed them warily, his fingers curling into fists in his lap. He wavered, silence filling the space between them before he jerked the man forward gently by the front of his shirt, his arms wrapping around him as his brow creased against Kieron’s nape. He kissed the skin there, breathing in the smell of medicine and Kieron as he held him tighter.

“Dammit, Kie.”

[thesagelyknight]

While Ives seemed serious, Kieron couldn't help but chuckle quietly as the man kicked the chair. "You definitely taught that chair a lesson, it'll think twice before messing with us again." He said with a smile.

"I wouldn't make too much fun of that armor, it was authentic darknut armor, and I think it kept me from being closer to death than I already was. Which, to soothe you, I wasn't at all. Just banged up a lot. Maybe if I'd warn the helmet I wouldn't even have a face scar, just a concussion and a bunch of bruises."

When Ives finally conceded to being held, Kieron finally did stroke his hair as Ives kissed his neck. This was the visit he'd been hoping for, ever since he got admitted to the hospital. "I've missed you." Kieron whispered.

"I feel like the last time we really spoke was forever ago, and I sort of fucked that up. I'm sorry for that." He continued, pulling up Ives face so he could kiss the man.

"I'm sure that felt a little weird, with the scar. Sorry about that too." He said with a half smile.

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Haphazard Visitor | Kieron & Ives

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Kieron’s voice broke him out of his stupor and at first, the painting remark would have given him validation to switch on the auto-frown, but when he whirled around to face him there he was with that stupid, crooked smirk. Dammit. It’d been too long since they’d spoken. There was a grin that tangled itself on the prince’s lips as he came to the side of the bed again and he fought hard to keep a façade of calm.

His eyes darted to the scar across his face and the grin faltered, a scowl reappearing as his brow creased. Guilt twisted in his stomach again and he cleared his throat to mask it. “Ridiculous, really,” he grumbled, frowning at the wound inquisitively. “I have a mind to station you in the library when this is over,” The knight paused, his hand lifting to hesitantly stretch out towards the laceration. He stopped short of letting it touch and dropped his hand with another short cough while averting his gaze back to the gifts with a hint of bitterness in his voice. “But knowing you, you’ll be in here again in a week because a bookcase fell on you.”

He blinked and then the look relaxed as he gave the habitual response, “I’ve been…the same as always.” He rolled his shoulder in a half-hearted shrug and then frowned again, realizing himself. That wasn’t entirely true this time, was it?

“Hurry and heal,” he murmured finally after a spell, still unable to look at him, apprehension wrinkling his crown again, “I need you safe.”

[thesagelyknight]

Kieron spread out his arms, a gesture for the princely knight to get on the hospital bed and embrace him. "I would, I would. Inanimate objects seem to have made me their enemy as of late. First it's the door, then it'll be a bookcase. You know, now that we're talking about it, my chair has been pretty hostile to me lately." He joked, still half-smiling at Ives as he tried to cheer the other man up.

"The same? I'm not sure that counts anymore, given how everything has changed." Although the joke faded instantly when Ives asked him to hurry and heal. That Ives needed him safe.

"I'm going as quickly as possible. The door packed a harder punch than I was expecting." He wanted to stroke the mans' hair, to kiss away the concern, but Ives was still out of reach for the moment.

"I have to ask, do you find me even more dashing? I think I look more handsome with the scar. If it didn't hurt to smile that is." He waggled his eyebrows, continuing his attempt to wrestle a smile out of the man.

[thesagelyknight]

At the Hospital (Totally open)

[merchantmelicus]

The veil concealed the more prominent features of Azrael’s face, but more importantly it shielded the sun from his eyes - something he was grateful for in light of the wicked hangover he suffered from.  His Zerala disguise was welcomed in his state of grief; the tightly laced corset and the fitted seams of the dress seemed to hold him together where his skin no longer could.

The guilt in his chest had settled there the moment he had watched Kieron fall to the floor, and it refused to lift no matter how much rum he consumed.  Eventually Azrael figured that where liquor could ease his broken heart, it could not relieve his soul.  If shadows even had those, of course.

In a light, feminine, and non-accented tone, he requested to visit Kieron, and though his height clearly intimidated the receptionist - how could Azrael refuse the opportunity to wear heels? - he was directed to the ward where Kieron was residing.  Swallowing his anxiety and gripping his cane fiercely, now disguised as an umbrella, Azrael entered the room.

[thesagelyknight]

Kieron was getting restless--all he wanted to do was get up and walk around the room, but the nurses kept catching him and talking about his safety. So he was stuck sitting on the side of the bed, leaning on a wheeled table and eating the sub par hospital food. He supposed the nurses were right, considering moving too quickly led to a dizzy spell.

The nurses only seemed to point visitors towards Kieron after an unfortunate incident that happened a few days ago, so when the door opened and he saw a strange woman instead of a nurse, it didn't phase him much. The day visitors were fairly tame, of course. It was the night ones who were always more interesting.

He raised an eyebrow at the strange, tall woman. He hoped one of his friends hadn't sent an interesting prostitute to him.

"Well, miss." Kieron said, straightening up and trying not to stare. The more he stared, the more he realized that this was probably a man in drag. This made him squint, and he gestured to a chair. "Have a seat?"

He hoped to get a closer look at her, and figure out what she wanted from him.

[thesagelyknight]

At the Hospital || Jasdaë and Kieron

[jasdae-isleen-deactivated201503]

Jasdaë crossed her legs and her eyes went to the ceiling and her voice was serious for the first time since she’d arrived. “I think I do, Sir Knight.” The meaning was clear. Then her airy tone returned. “Everyone’s important. The king is a firm believer in equality. He even invited a farm boy to the embassy. It’s beneficial to have associates in all walks of life.” Her gaze flickered to him for a moment. “But you knew that.” She took a drink from her flask before putting it away. Her gaze lingered on a cluster of blue violets. Martyrdom. “What’s the Hylian saying? It takes all kinds.” She laughed then, a dry sound. “Ironic, really. Considering how ‘all kinds’ are treated here.”

[thesagelyknight]

He wasn't entirely comfortable, and wondered how she'd figured out who he was--and no doubt that was what this was all about. Would it benefit him to have the Gerudo openly know who he was? Probably not right yet, the more people who knew who he was the more of a risk it was.

He listened to her, wondering who the farm boy was. She made another comment about him and he frowned this time.

"I'm going to be frank with you now, Miss Isleen." He said, all joking seem to be wiped from his features. "It's clear you know who I am, and how vital it is that attention stays as far away from me as possible. For a nobody knight like myself to receive an invitation from a foreign king would attract an unwanted amount of attention. What makes him so special? Why was he invited over higher ranking and frankly, more socially accepted knights?"

He smoothed the bedsheets, still talking. "So while I'm honored that your King wants to associate with me, I have to decline. I hope the both of you understand."

[sir-ives-emerick-deactivated201]

Haphazard Visitor | Kieron & Ives

Ives walked with white-knuckled, clenched fists through the darkened halls of the palace. Every sound seemed to set him on edge. Even the sound of his own footsteps sounded too much like a stampede of war horses. Jaw set tight, Ives shook his head and attempted to calm his nerves. He shouldn’t be there. He wasn’t expected to be there. He should never have left his room. But couldn’t bring himself to stay away any longer.

It was laughable, really. A prince skulking around in the dead of the night. A colorful string of swears were the only thing passing through his head as he walked down the empty hallways of the castle leading to the infirmary. He moved quickly, with the face of someone who had business to attend to—a face that he had summoned on the off chance that he was discovered by a passing guard. Luckily for Ives, the infirmary was not exactly a place of special interest.

Not even locked, but then, Ives wondered what point there would be to locking a hospital room. He frowned, turned the knob silently and entered the clinic with practiced secrecy. The side of him that was still Commander was pleased to see so many beds empty. The knights and guards who had recently been hospitalized from a particularly violent rebel agitation seemed to have healed very quickly. He might have smiled at that, had he not been so innerved by the curtained bed in the back complete with a mountain of flowers and gifts. Inhaling and exhaling quickly once—just for good measure—Ives made his way over to the curtain, pushing it back just a bit he took his first glimpse at Kieron since the night of the Masquerade.

He wasn’t sure what emotion he’d expected to feel at that moment, but he didn’t feel prepared for the dull pang in his chest. Nor the dead chill that came when his eyes skimmed the scar that marred his fellow knight’s face. The moonlight passing through the window gave Kieron a lifeless, blue tone. He looked too much like a corpse. A rigid hand raked back through Ives’ hair and he sighed forcefully, fretfully reminding himself of the slow rising and falling of the man’s chest as he continued sleeping. He swore under his breath and turned away from the bed, busying himself with inspecting the many gifts on the table that he could not have cared less about in that moment. 

[thesagelyknight]

Even if it was moonlight, his room lighting up roused him quickly, along with the sound of movement. Eyes slowly opened, and he squinted as he looked around the room, hand squeezing the knife he had in bed with him. It took a few seconds to recognize that it wasn't a threat, and wasn't one of his more interesting contacts.

It was Ives, standing in the moonlight, looking at his gifts. He smiled as much as he could without making his wound sting. He cleared his throat slightly, so as to not startled him too much.

"You know, if ever there was a scene that should be painted, you in the moonlight with flowers behind you trumps anything a royal painter could do." He spoke softly, pushing himself up to a sitting position.

"I was wondering when you'd get time to visit me." He said, smirking. "Look how dashing this scar'll be, and in a year I can make up a story that sounds way better then 'I got nailed in the face with a door'." He chuckled at his own joke.

His expression softened a bit. "How are you doing?"

[thesagelyknight]

At the Hospital || Jasdaë and Kieron

[jasdae-isleen-deactivated201503]

He certainly did have a lot of flowers. Too many for just simple well-wishing. Some were obvious. Coneflower, strength and health. Pear blossoms and moss, for motherly affection. But some were more intriguing. Quince, for temptation. Oleander, redbuds, and poppies. Beware, betrayal, oblivion. Ominous, that one. Plum sprigs. Keep your promises. Tuberose for dangerous pleasures, her favorite so far. Fig, dragon plant, and liatrus. Failure and argument, I’ll try again. Was he receiving messages through his gifts? Clever boy. Perhaps there was more to him than met the eye. Jasdaë stopped her round of the room and perched on the foot of his bed. With careless indifference, she pulled her flask off her hip and took a long drink (as Gerudo custom dictated, to alleviate any suspicion of poison) before tossing it in his lap. Idly, she studied the lacquer on her nails as she said, “How long do you expect to be recovering, Sir Knight? The king would be honored to have you as his guest at the embassy once you’ve healed. He enjoys entertaining the upper echelon of New Hyrule. I know he’s extended the greeting to few others. Various officials, even the prince. It would please the king greatly.”

[thesagelyknight]

She was looking at the flowers again. It was a bit too closely this time for simply curiosity, and he felt some suspicion towards the young woman at this time. It didn't particularly matter if she could decode them, there was no sign who sent them--he had destroyed that evidence immediately.

His eyes hadn't left her once, and he went back to smiling as she took a sip and tossed the flask to him. He took a long drink himself, handing it back over.

"I'm afraid I might have a concussion, so they want me here for a bit to make sure I haven't developed some sort of brain damage." He lifted his eyebrows at the invitation, almost wanting to shake his head. He knew it'd be disrespectful to turn it down, but he was just a knight. Compared to some of the more loyal ones he had a mar on his record from his time as a teenager. Wasn't that part of the reason why he got stuck with door duty with Auburn?

"I'm not sure I'm in any state to accept or decline, but I do have to stress that I'm not especially important when it comes to the knight hierarchy, there are many above me who haven't had their face rearranged by a door." He straightened up again, leaning forward slightly. "I'm honored for the invite though, Miss Isleen, although I'm not entirely sure you have me pegged correctly."