I'M MARRIED TO SILVER AND SEBEK MY WIVES

call me cherry 🍒 | 18 | she/her | twst writing, reblogging, art and oc blog! | REQS for writing are CLOSED! SEBEK SEBEK SEBEK 🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊

[twstwonderlandstuff]

ITS SUMMERTIME!

warning: it's going to be a very long post, since it's a little annoying for me to break it off into different posts and link them & stuff.

about me & the blog:

call me Cherry AND AM HAPPILY MARRIED TO SILVER (silussy) AND SEBEK, MY BELOVEDS! I use she/her pronouns, and am a reblogging, writing, art and OC blog all at once!

I mainly reblog twisted wonderland, but genshin impact ,obey me , mystic messenger and ikemen prince make their rounds too.

as for my writing content, requests are currently [CLOSED] for twisted wonderland!

have an archive blog called @ramblings-of-an-internet-person for my old stuff, but that I believe tumblr shadowbanned that, or something.

as for the recent and upcoming stuff, I write it here! I have my rules written under the cut, so be sure to read carefully~!

art is something I do casually, and I'm a little over a year old to it, I still have much to learn! it's usually of my OC's or twisted wonderland.

speaking of my OC's, I have three of them! my most beloved people- I cherish them very much, so please don't be afraid to ask about them. my inbox is always open for them!

writing rules: [REQUESTS ARE CLOSED!]

🍉 I have the rights to reject any requests I don't vibe with~

🍉 If a rule is broken, I will attempt to work around it, but if I can't, then I can't.

🍉 None of my works are proofread, so sorry in advance for typos!

🍉 I'm not going to write ALL the boys, so the ones I CAN are listed as follows:

Riddle Rosehearts

Deuce Spade

Ace Trappola

Jack Howl

Ruggie Bucchi

Jade Leech

Floyd Leech

Azul Ashengrotto

Kalim Al-Asim

Epel Felmier

Malleus Draconia

Lilia Vanrouge

Silver

Sebek Zigvolt

Grim

🍉 and these are the boys I CAN'T write:

Trey Clover

Cater Diamond

Leona Kingscholar

Jamil Viper

Vil Schoenheit

Rook Hunt

Idia Shroud

Ortho Shroud

Staff (Dire Crowley, Ashton Vargas, Divus Crewel, Sam and Mozus Train)

Cheka Kingscholar

RSA (Neige Le'blanche, Chenya, Ambrose the 63rd)

🍉 I repeat, these are the boys I CANNOT and WILL NOT write.

🍉 I am open to write headcannons and short scenarios! How long/short these pieces are and their style depends on me and my mood~

🍉 You can and are encouraged to request more than once!

🍉 The limit is 4 characters for headcannons and 1 character for scenarios. The exception to this rule are the first years (Ace, Deuce, Epel, Jack and Sebek)

I can do:

Soft yandere (devotedness and love sickness)

Fem! Reader and GN! Reader (P.S.: if your request has no specified gender, I will automatically write them as gender neutral)

Suggestive content

Romantic

Platonic

Fluff

I cannot do:

NSFW

Male! Reader

Character x Character [but feel free to talk to me about them!]

Triggering content (non-con, incest, character death, the usual)

Angst (like, even the slightest pinch of angst. angst to comfort? NO, I cry)

Adult x Child

Things regarding mental illnesses

Song fics

AU's

taglist:

my tags aren't very organized because I started organizing them in 2020, stopped in 2021, then continued the process in 2022. I won't be retagging my stuff from 2021, so... 👍

writing tag:

#stuff hits the fan - my own writing that aren't from requests!

#cherry picking - 500 followers event writing tag!

#sugar rush - requests writing tag

other tags:

#news - either donation posts or actual news

#etc. - the dumpster fire that is tumblr or stuff I don’t have a tag for

#my art - my art. sometimes I forget to tag, but its either filled with my OCs or twisted wonderland.

#weddings!! - the recent trend of people coming to my blog for blessings on their weddings on various twst boys!!

oc tags:

#valencia karasu - my OC for twisted wonderland; my version of yuu a.k.a the main protagonist!

#vivica karasu - my OC for obey me! shall we date; my version of yuki a.k.a the main protagonist!

#himawari nikko - my OC for twisted wonderland; a side character for twisted wonderland!

for reblogging, the character tags are just their names. for example, #twst silver for silver from twst, or #sebek zigvolt for sebek from twst. #mammon is mammon from obey me!, and #gorou is gorou from genshin impact. I don't have the patience to customize my tags m'kay?

I guess that's it...? Be sure to stick around, cuz' I make some pretty cool stuff!

[twstwonderlandstuff]

I have never so wanted

to either strangle or shake silver so hard because what do you mean if given the choice, you’d be out here with a mere cloth covering your privates

my beloved…. 💀

Sayang…. (But in a cute aggression way;…

[oddberryshortcake]

Bout to Tarzan it

[4e7her]

hello, long time no see you!, I hope you are well! Can I please request the 2 knights, silver snd sebek zigvolt? With the Drabble “you really need to trust your instincts more.”

Take your time, and thank you kindly!

hi! yeah, it's been a while, nice to see you ^^ since you didn't specify im gonna try for subtle yandere vibes

might be ooc, not sure about the interactions between these two but there are interactions. cooperation vs competition hm… anyways hope you enjoy! if it’s not what you were thinking of you can feel free to send another request in

‧₊˚✧ for my march request event ✧˚₊‧

[accepting requests til april 1st 2026!]

-

prompt: “you really need to trust your instincts more.”

character: sebek zigvolt and silver, twst

contains: slight yandere themes, gender neutral reader, reader is yuu, ace and deuce mentioned

-

“You need to trust your instincts more.” Silver advised off-handedly, eyes half-lidded as he met Sebek’s gaze.

The half-fae bristled indignantly, snapping to face Silver, his expression twisting. He was already feeling rather sensitive, having failed to muster his courage to talk to you, and the knowledge that Silver had bore witness to his failure only made it sting more.

“And what do you mean by that?” Sebek scowled, crossing his arms.

“You were about to approach the prefect, were you not?” Silver hummed, looking past Sebek to where you stood - now being crowded by the two Heartslabyul first years that always clung to you, eating up your time and attention. “You should have. Now those two are hanging off them again…”

Quite literally, in Ace’s case. The ginger had slung his arm over you, leaning into you with an impish grin that had Silver’s pretty features twisting into a stern frown.

Sebek followed his line of sight, and that scowl of his deepened further.

“How vexing.” Sebek scoffed, promptly spinning on his heel and marching back towards you with a single-minded focus. His nerves were apparently forgotten in the face of a threat.

Silver trailed after, all too happy to hear Sebek causing a commotion as he scolded Ace for stopping the traffic of the halls, pestering the Heartslabyul first year into stepping away from you.

He cut in then, stealing away your attention as Sebek’s focus drifted to Ace and Deuce.

When the three first years finally settled down, you and Silver had already slipped away.

-

[click here to go to masterlist]

[sheepwater]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!1 SEBEK WOWOWOWOOW AGLUEHW;FAH AAAAAAAA <- my reaction when I saw his club card ✨

[hanafubukki]

Thinking about you who’s pregnant and comes to visit Silver at the castle while he’s training the guards.

You had visited Malleus for your weekly visits and thought to visit your husband.

You love to see him in his element.

You observed them for a few minutes when Silver gave motioned for Sebek to take over.

You were confused as he came to you. You were certain he wouldn’t be done for another couple hours.

What shocked you even more was when he picked you up in a bridal carry.

“Silver?!”

He kissed you softly on the head, “You looked like your feet hurt.”

Oh.

You thought you had hid that pretty well.

“It hurts a little bit.”

You felt him hold you closer.

You snuggled into him.

Well, you weren’t going to complain if you got to spend extra time with him.

I love when they notices discomforts that you try to hide. 🤲💞💞

[the-ramshackle-prefect]

THEY SLEEP ON THE ROOF OF YUU’S ROOM 😭

TEARS IN MY EYES THE RAMSHACKLE GHOSTS ARE FAM IDC IDC IDCCC

[oddberryshortcake]

SILVER SEBEK AND SILVER’S LITTLE ACCENT

[toffee4you]

Oooo Requests are open!

Ok, can I request a Silver x Reader? Established relationship, but Reader is a horse beastman, and Silver is a certified Horse Girl™

He's trying SO hard not to constantly let his partners ears or brush their "mane" or braid their tail, but they're so cute and he's doing that Mr Darcy hand flex trying to keep it together.

He sees Reader chilling with Samson, and he sees both of their ears flick up and they both perk up when he gets there and he almost passed out. Sebek is gonna hit him with a steel chair if he doesn't get his shit together.

Thank you!

My brainrot for horse!reader and horse!Silver is so bad right now, it's crazy... I may have skipped ahead to do this one 🫣 Silver definitely seems like his hands would give him away while the rest (most) of him stays stoic.

The hyperlinks are images I had in mind.

Content: anyPOV, established relationship, fluff, brief Sebek feature, Silver is a slight 🤏 fumbler.

Red dialogue is the reader, blue dialogue is Silver, green dialogue is Sebek.

To you, Silver was like a fairytale prince. To many others, he was just a goody two-shoes with a blank slate of personality. There were very few who could infer what went through his head, and none of them were helpful with his... Predicament.

•

There was no doubt that he loved you, his significant other. So much to the point where he was afraid of any misstep that could cause him to lose you.

Silver strived to respect your boundaries, understand your emotions, and treat you with the greatest respect. That's why, when he first realized his obsession with your resemblance to a horse, he did everything to resist it. The other beastmen seemed to refuse having their ears or tails touched. Did that mean it was dehumanizing to you, as well? Or perhaps it was uncomfortable? He couldn't risk such a thing.

He would often hold your hand or fidget with the baton at his side in an attempt at restraint. If he couldn't hold something, his hands would tense, extending and clenching his fingers where you wouldn't see. Silver's eyes did their best to remain gazing at your face, a mental reminder for every time his gaze trailed back to your ears.

Most of his efforts were sufficient enough, but his attempts at not speaking about your features was rather unsuccessful. You could be talking about the weather or the cafeteria's new food—Silver's expression dazed as usual—before unintended words slipped from his lips, like "your ears look adorable today, as always" or "your tail is soft and shiny, like fine silk."

It was especially egregious whenever he fell asleep, as he could no longer filter his language. He would mumble about his beautiful partner, more beautiful than any flower in the world, and how he would love to run his fingers through their hair or play with their ears. Hearing such things was hardly exclusive to one person, either. The thoughts had addled his mind so badly that most students who caught him sleeping would consequentially hear his subconscious confessions. By now, nearly everyone in Diasomnia knew—Lilia tried pushing him to "go for it", and Sebek considered his restraint "cowardice". Perhaps they were right.

•

He tried. He really did try.

Over the weekend, Silver invited you to a walk in the forest, finally planning on asking for permission. There was only the ambiance of complete silence as you walked side-by-side, occasional glances being cast in your direction, and hands clenching tightly again...

Why couldn't he peel his eyes away from the cute bounces your ears made whenever you took a step forward?

Or the sway of your tail that showed how you relaxed around him?

What was wrong with him? His father taught him patience and self-control, but the sight of you stole it all away.

He would've punched himself right now if he could, but that would alarm you. Silver opted on taking a deep breath instead, tapping you to sit against a tree with him as he internally reasoned a midway between his yearnings and your comfort.

"My love, would it be acceptable if I wished to brush your hair? I promise to be gentle—to not break a single strand, or tug on it.

"Brushing it? That's normal, isn't it? Come on, you don't have to be so serious about it!"

You playfully bumped his arm with your fist, sitting on his lap with your face turned away. He now had free range of a beautiful "mane"... and absolutely took advantage of every second. A brush was already prepared on the back of his belt for moments like this, starting from the crown to the ends. His fingers ran through the locks, letting out a romantic sigh at the otherworldly feeling. He would refrain from comparing it to a mane, just to be safe.

Silver could have been there all day had he not fallen asleep against your back, the sensation too calming to resist. Unbeknownst to everyone, besides his perceptive father, Silver had very quietly sulked in his room that night. All of that hard work, only to have his moment ruined by those accused sleep spells.

•

He decided to give it a break the next morning, figuring the previous encounter was more than enough to satisfy his reflexes. Silver was accompanied by Sebek for equestrian practice, a normal occurrence.

He wasn't prepared to see you laying across the field with Samson, soaking up the mild sun rays of early morning. His breath hitched when he caught sight of your ears perking up, sensing the sound of his familiar footsteps. You were almost like Samson in that regard, ears at attention and head turning in unison to Silver's direction. Both were very fond of him, and he was too.

It was also a very quick reality check for him to realize that yesterday's brushing did not prevent his intrusive thoughts from resurfacing. Your ears were far too expressive to ignore! He needed to pet them! To scruffle them up! But that wouldn't be chivalrous...

"Good morning, love..."

The rest of the words died in his throat, replaced with a non-existent lump he couldn't swallow down. He practiced this moment in front of the finches at his dorm window all night, yet the sight of your adorable gestures syncing with Samson left him speechless. He tried to be "forward" instead, as he was advised; that, too, was a failure.

You stared in confusion, watching Silver's hands reach for your head, only to retract at a halfway. This repeated several times. He tried at different angles, with different hands, even meditated a few minutes into this complicated ritual... But it only ended with a step back to a default, respectful distance. Though Silver's face remained stoic, he had a slight wobble. He was actually going to faint like some sort of victorian woman. His brain was completely overcharged from indecisiveness. Sebek had to grip his arms to keep him standing straight up, almost feeling the secondhand embarrassment.

"Do you need something, Silver? You've been acting odd for a while. Are you feeling ill?

"Ah..! No, I was... There was a leaf on your head."

Sebek gave a pointed look to Silver, then at your spotless hair. The lame excuse was more than enough to push his limited patience off the edge.

"SILVER! HAVE YOU NO SPINE?! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED AS A RETAINER OF MALLEUS! To have such trouble asking for a request as simple as petting a pair of ears... You CLEARLY aren't as good at courting as I would be!"

He was frustrated, then smug... Perhaps forgetting he was single, still. Nonetheless, it made the blood run to Silver's cheeks in a nervous blush. You had unmistakeably heard all of that when he was least prepared.

"That's it? You just wanted to pet my ears?"

"Yes, well..."

"Go ahead?"

You truly didn't mind, at all?

Silver looked at you like a deer in headlights, as if all of his concerns were simply insignificant all along.

How could you say that in such a casual way?

His steps towards you were hesitant, choppy, until he couldn't hold it in anymore. He slung himself onto you, mindful not to hurt, before scrubbing your ears with cuteness aggression. His fingers worked through the same motion he would use on Samson, just... A lot more enthusiastic to make up for lost time. It was rare for him to show such excitement.

•

Silver skipped equestrian practice for the first time, whisking you away to the same forest trail so he could do things the right way. He was humming softly now, tucking flowers into your tail as he braided it. You let his fingers tangle in your tail as he straightened the strands, a sigh of contentment escaping his lips. All of his previously tense and fidgety behavior was gone, replaced with his characteristically serene presence.

It became a new tradition in the relationship.

Scratching behind your ears when you met in the morning, falling asleep against your hair between breaks, combing your tail at night... He would have to thank Sebek for speaking up.

[ninisanchudeux]

at the gym in 4k

"Prefect, dearest. As much as I love you....try not to upload and spam this on your public magicam.....again." Silver muttered shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.

His face was a lovely shade of pink, the tips of his ears bright red as he watched his darling lover inspect his selfie on their phone.

Silver let out a noise of embarassment as he watched them zoom in on his veins and muscles, making concerning demon like noises like the gremlin they were.

"hey...pay attention to me instead.."

.....

elkie's note: ....i may have blacked out due to excitement and redid this gem of a draft sketch whilst staring at sleepwear silver's bedhead for a good hour. And yes i'm absolutely too terrified to colour it🧍‍♀️

[cozymochi]

who gave you that outfit? An anime liker? 😔

[violenteconomics]

the first-years accidentally start a secret support group for other freshmen in ramshackle dorm.

it's ortho's idea, really. it doesn't even start off as a support group. ortho just wants to have a large video game tournament like he often sees online, and the first-years decide to help him make it a reality.

at first, they just invite their roommates, which brings us to a healthy number of about 18 people. then their roommates invite a few friends, who are eager to escape the pressures of being in their respective dorms. before they know it, their "video game tournament" has turned into a hang-out group of about 36 who come over to play video games every other weekend.

one day, while they're playing a racing game, one of the scarabian first-years starts absentmindedly talking about how nice it is here. how ever since winter break, he's felt unsafe in his own bedroom, especially with jamil still lurking around. how it's nice to have an excuse to just get away from all of it for a bit.

then he notices the room's gone quiet. his words have unknowingly hit a serious nerve.

they all take a break from the tournament to just... talk. they're night raven college students, so they don't really talk much about their feelings, but in this empty space, as detached as they'll ever be from the brutally individualistic culture of this school...

it feels safe. it feels right.

epel starts bringing over criminally soft blankets from pomefiore's seemingly endless supply of cashmere bedding. jack brings over some cacti to lighten the mood. ace and deuce -- with trey's unknowing help -- learn how to make a decent (if repetitive) spread of cookies, soup, and popcorn. sebek brings over some scented candles from diasomnia just in case someone wants to close the blinds and be in relative darkness for a bit. and yuu, of course, offers their time.

before they know it, "video game tournament" turns into a codeword rather than an actual label. and the first-years have become the operators of night raven college's first -- and perhaps only -- support group.

(everyone collectively agrees to keep this a secret from the upperclassmen for as long as they can. it's nice to have a little space that's just for them.)

[ryllen]

.

[twistedpink]

Jealous Silver realizes that MC is receiving suitors from other students. ?

Jealous!Silver only really gets jealous if you want him to :’)

It’s only natural to want a special someone that covets you! Poor prefect can’t even get a handle on their own dorm, so how’re they supposed to chase off this many teenage boys??

Jealous!Silver that you’re not dating just yet, but he thought his intentions were obvious! Now that he’s keeping his eye on you (he’s convinced himself it’s for malleus’s sake), it’s impossible to not notice all the “friendly” attention you get..

Jealous!Silver that knows himself very well, and all these students fighting over you might just make him realize he looks at you the same way- all puppy loveish. He doesn’t blame them, but it doesn’t mean he won’t fight for you!

Jealous!Silver that goads you into naps when he knows you’re about to go out with someone. Turns out he’s a great weighted blanket, but “power naps” have turned into always touching you- and he’s not very subtle <3

Jealous!Silver that accidentally sicks Lilia on your other love interests,, complaining to his father turned very quickly into any other suitors receiving threatening letters from a mysterious “admirer” in intimidating cursive (accompanied by minor hexes)

Jealous!Silver that gets 10x clingier even after demolishing the competition- loaning you clothing and scented products to make sure everyone knows you’re an item <3

Jealous!Silver that’s not the type to leave any lasting marks (unless you ask) but’ll escort you anywhere on campus, and insists that you come home with him on breaks, even if you already know his family..

Jealous!Silver promises he’s not possessive type, but he’s not about to take any disrespect to your relationship lying down. Maybe you just like seeing him all protective.. you just have to ask, prefect, Silver’s very willing to show you that side in exchange for a kiss <3

[lynnie-ee]

Day 9; What if.

╰┈➤"Silver watches you from afar at the library, never adventurous enough to talk to you. Will he gather the courage to do so, or will it be too late by then?"

╰►Gender neutral reader, one-shot, 1.4k words. Angst in the final part.

╰► Character: Silver.

╰►Note: The prompts are based on words I found interesting and then I put them on a roulette to decide when I would write about them, lol. English is not my first language, so please let me know if there are any grammatical mistakes <3. Not proof read, I haven't written in a long time, so I apologise if anything is out of character.

╰►Masterlist / Inktober Masterlist.

⤿

⤿

You look pretty when you're concentrated.

That’s what Silver believes.

That’s what he has thought for months now, observing you from afar but never actually speaking to you. He had no reason for it, he reasoned. You weren’t classmates, you weren’t in the same year, you weren’t part of the same club as him, and you didn’t go to Diasomnia often. But still, he found comfort in observing you after class, two tables away from you in the library, too focused to even notice his gaze.

Lilia had suggested to him the library as a better place to study, saying that maybe he wouldn’t fall asleep so quickly there, with so many people around, but he wouldn’t be too distracted by sudden noises, as he would be in Diasomnia, and Silver followed his advice.

The first day he failed, horribly. He chose a corner that was way too lonely, making him fall asleep through the whole evening before the librarian went to him to ask him to leave due to the late hours.

The second day was better, as he chose a more transited table, with enough people passing around to keep him alert. But it was way too crowded, and when he got up to look for another book, someone else had already taken his seat.

On the third day, he found a nice spot, with few people and a lot of silence. He took a seat at the table next to the window, and that’s when he saw you. He knew who you were, as everyone in the school. A magicless student from another world wasn’t often seen around, after all, but you never had the opportunity to talk before.

And he found encouragement in how dedicated you seemed to read the giant books that awaited next to you, all of them providing you with information about a world you knew nothing about yet. At first, he gazed at you when he felt himself about to fall asleep, but a few weeks later, he watched you just for the sake of it.

His father had spoken to him about the concept of love at first sight, quite a lot of times, but he never thought much of it. He was a knight, he had a duty and no space for anything else for anything but his family, even less for affections originated from things as superficial as someone’s appearance.

But then he saw you, and it was more than that.

And you started to greet him after weeks of sitting on the same spots of the library, as you thought it’d be polite to do so, getting surprised at the soft reddish tone that appeared on Silver’s cheeks when you spoke to him. You never believed he’d be such a shy person.

From then on, you still sat in the same seats, but would engage in conversation, from time to time, even if it wasn’t often, as you were occupied most of the time with the pile of books that always followed you, never becoming smaller. Silver, on the other hand, was also busy with his homework, which he could finish faster if he hadn’t started to daydream as he gazed at you.

“Hi, Silver, had you been doing well?”

“Yes, I have, thank you for asking.” He answered with his usual blunt voice. “I’ve seen you struggle with History of Magic, perhaps you’d need help with it.” He’d add nonchalantly.

“I’d appreciate it, thanks for the offer.” You’d answer with a soft smile.

Yet he remained silent, not being able to offer his help, as you quickly went to your seat after the brief greeting. You had a test for tomorrow and no time to lose. And he had a report to finish for Crewel’s class, one that would be finished already if it wasn’t for his gazing habits.

“Lilia told me you were good at physical training, is that right?” You asked one day, as you carried your books as usual.

“He's right. As a knight, it’s important to have great strength.”

“Would you mind helping with a certain exercise Vargas taught us? It’s far more complex than I thought and I’d like to know before the next class.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t mind helping if I can.”

“Thank you, Silver.”

From then on, and after he had helped you with the exercise, you’d speak more often. About school, about your friends, about his training. About the restaurant you’ve been wanting to go to for the past month. About how he was free the next Saturday. About you telling him that Grim would stay with Ace and Deuce for the weekend. About him saying he had errands to run that day. About you asking him if he’d like to stop by the restaurant to join you for lunch.

Then you started to hang out at Diasomnia more frequently, saying it was nice and quiet as long as Sebek wasn’t around. It was natural, Silver thought, as you were Malleus’ friend, Sebek’s classmate, and an avid fan of the Pop Music Club, of which Lilia was part. You had a lot of reasons to be there, he believed, and he didn’t think much of it when you stayed even if it was only him, without Malleus, Sebek or Lilia.

But one day you’d stayed late, none of you noticing the darkness outside, too concentrated for it. Silver was quite proud of himself, getting focused enough to read for long hours, only noticing how much time had passed as he felt a light weight on his shoulder. You had fallen asleep. 'How funny', he thought, he was usually the one doing that.

So, he put all your books in your backpack and picked you up to carry you towards Ramshackle.

When he went back to his dorm, he realized. Was there something different in the way he held you, as if he was carrying a rare treasure? Or in the fondness he felt when you thanked him half asleep for bringing you home? Or in Lilia’s teasing when he arrived at Diasomnia, as he claimed to have raised a Prince Charming who treated his beloved with kindness?

But he knew he was no Prince. He was a knight, with a duty. To Lord Malleus. To his father. To his family.

Yet, when you confessed that you saw differently, one day, in the middle of the library, he couldn’t bring himself to reject you, too enamoured by the affection of your gaze and the tenderness of your voice.

'A knight can also be capable of love', Lilia had told him when he confided his worries.

You were perfect for him, after all. He could imagine you accompanying him through his training. Staying for the night at Diasomnia. Getting close to all the people he adored deeply. Fighting with Sebek at late hours when he wouldn’t allow you to have a night snack. Backing away when Lilia offered to make it for you. Laughing with Malleus as Sebek and him would try to convince the vicehousewarden to stay away from the kitchen. Coming back with him to his room to sleep in each other’s arms.

Coming back to his homeland with you for the holidays. Sending you letters when he was away in his fourth year. You moving to Briar Valley after graduation. Malleus becoming king and making him one of his main knights. Coming back home at night to your smile, after long days.

But then he blinked, once, twice, thrice. He had been falling asleep more often, lately. His eyelids were too heavy for him to avoid it, he couldn’t blame himself for it. He turned away his gaze from the window, looking at the seat that was two tables away.

The seat was empty.

It had become unbearable, the loneliness of that place. You wouldn’t come back with him to Diasomnia, or to Briar Valley, or to a home that was both yours and his.

You wouldn’t come back at all.

He was a knight, he couldn’t leave himself failing once again, as he had already failed the duty he had to you.

Only leaving him dreaming of what could have been if you hadn’t put yourself in front of him when Malleus attacked him during his overblot. If he had protected you from the pain and the fear that he observed in your eyes as you faded away in his arms.

Now you only existed in his dreams, and it wasn’t enough for him.

⤿

⤿

[oddberryshortcake]

I LOVE YOU GRIM!!!!

[llondonfog]

waltz right in

work really took it out of me this week. here’s some papa vanrouge. wc 1.3k who am i  you can waltz right in; i was made for you.

Lilia’s hearing was once legendary. 

Baul used to proudly remark to anyone hapless to the barrage of his booming voice how their own General Vanrouge had once determined the exact number of approaching troops, their accompanying horses, and the precise location of a squeaky cart wheel (rear, to the left) pulled by a three-legged donkey clinging to the foggy shroud of the Briar Valley forests blindfolded, tied to a tree trunk, and more than a little inebriated.

(That had been in the early days. The early days when Meleanor would roll her eyes with a smitten indulgence Lilia had not known she was capable of at Raverne’s earnest declarations of how to entreat the humans, how to enter into a new century of peace unlike any previously thought possible.

The early days, before any of them, with their brilliant youth and unlimited power, understood the true costs of war.)

His hearing is still quite keen, one of the few abilities left to him that has not begun to deteriorate so cruelly with time, only now he does not find himself attuned to the clanking of armor rattling the tranquil mountainside peace, the soft whisper of a sword unsheathing beneath the cover of darkness, or the curious and foreboding absence of animal chatter in the dense underbrush. 

Lilia wonders what the General would think, to know that his battle-hewed senses have so seamlessly shifted to listen for the quiet shuffle of socked feet over a wood floor and the stifled breaths haunted by the ghost of tears. 

He knows what, or rather who, he will find as he glances up from the half-finished letter he’d been writing to acknowledge the small figure lingering at the doorway to their living room, half-skulking in the shadows all the while gazing out at Lilia as if he might be the dawn itself.

“Another nightmare?”

Silver nods, eyes large and wet in the flickering light of the fire, and Lilia wonders again what the General might think, to hear how soft his voice has become, to know that the sight of a child, this one in particular, so in distress pains him worse than any iron-tipped spear driven deep into his heart. 

It startles him at odd times, frightens him even, how quickly he’s adjusted to this. 

The letter is easily forgotten, pen and parchment left aside on the table next to his current, lumpy armchair, as he wordlessly opens his arms to welcome the gangly bundle of tiny, sharp-edged limbs that wriggles its way into his lap, his own chin settling into a tufted cloud of hair that seems iridescent in the flame, catching the light as if Lilia held the sun itself in his embrace. 

(The sun or the moon, some days it is hard to decide which Silver takes after most. Either way, it’s blinding and Lilia has long made peace with the fact that he’s never cared much about his own health.)

Satisfied that the boy has made himself comfortable, Lilia coaxes a blanket from the sofa to float across the room and drape itself around them, swallowing a grin to himself at the rather adorable sight of only Silver’s eyes visible over his makeshift cloak. Their light and wonder has yet to return, and he nudges the boy gently until he can direct Silver’s gaze over to the shadows dancing together against the backdrop of the hearth. It’s easy magic, barely a drop in his dwindling reserves; a bunny hops carefree in a meadow of swaying flowers, a bird flutters its wings joyfully in an invisible breeze before soaring through the skies to return to its nest, a squirrel gaily scampering about the forest floor, collecting acorns— Lilia’s heart does an odd beat at that.

But it does the trick. Silver’s tense posture has begun to melt in his arms, and he’s even participating, calling out requests and giggling even when a shadowy butterfly breaks free of its scene to land on his nose, tickling his face with its intangible feelers before bursting into a soft shower of multi-colored sparkles. Lilia joins in his laughter, releasing the spell as they both sink back into the armchair, a tangled up bundle of smiles and limbs.

“It was so dark,” Silver whispers suddenly after their laughter has subsided and Lilia’s found himself absently stroking through that spider-silk hair with his claws, and the sheer ache of loneliness in his voice nearly takes Lilia’s breath away that he has to check to ensure he hasn’t accidentally pierced the boy’s arm. “And so quiet, Toto, there was— it was like I was the only person left in the whole world. I didn’t think anyone would ever find me again, I didn’t know how they even could.”

Lilia doesn’t know which is worse; the fact that Silver never dreams about that awful night when he was spelled into sleep for his own protection, or the fact that he dreams about the aftermath, about the long and lonely wait. 

But he knows a little something about darkness. And a little something about loneliness too.

“ . . . do you remember what you told me about the groundhog? What does he do each winter?” 

Silver scrunches up his face in confusion at the question, but instantly replies, hard-pressed to forget anything that involves his dear animal companions. “Hibernation?” His tongue trips over the word clumsily as he looks up for Lilia’s approving nod. 

“And as I recall, Malleus was out with you in the forest, so you asked him what that meant. Can you tell me what he said?”

Lilia watches with no small trace of fondness as the boy begins to parrot the words perfectly, amused by how completely Malleus’ words have been committed to memory.

“He said that groundhogs are a type of animal called a mammal, and that they burrow deep in the ground to keep themselves warm and safe during the winter,” Silver recites, a finger curling around a loose thread in the blanket while he thinks on the prince’s explanation. “They eat a lot of food before they do so that they can stay healthy, and then they sleep and sleep and sleep until the snow has all melted for good.”

Simplistic enough for his purposes. Lilia nods in confirmation as Silver settles back in his arms, the question remaining clear enough on his little face. “Don’t you think hibernation sounds a lot like your dream?” he murmurs, and the boy’s eyes widen now in wonder. “I imagine it’s pretty scary at first for your groundhog friend. He’s deep in a dark burrow, alone and away from all of his friends, and he knows it’ll be a long time before he wakes up.”

He lets Silver ruminate on that, and can see the awed appreciation in his gaze for the bravery of all the little creatures that know they must subject themselves to the order of nature for the chance to see a new spring.

“But there’s a difference you should be aware of,” he continues, and Silver’s head snaps up in confusion, mouth open— “You, my dear, are not a groundhog!” Lilia declares with a gentle tickle of his fingertips against the boy’s side and grins openly when full giggles erupt from the blanketed bundle in his lap, Silver squirming and laughing as he unsuccessfully tries to wriggle away from Lilia’s inescapable torment until the last of the worry pinched around his face vanishes for good.

“You are not a groundhog,” he repeats softly, and bends forward to press a kiss to the boy’s head. “And I will always find you when winter ends.”

“Always?” Silver asks him sleepily, fully spent from their conversation, and Lilia thinks about how much he used to hate the melting snow, the warmth of the sun in spring.

“Always.”